Hong Kong: Hands-on approach to mental illness With the aim of combatting the fear and misconceptions surrounding mental illness, Castle Peak Hospitals Mind Space museum enables visitors to experience hallucinations, similar to the sensory experiences mentally ill patients encounter, by way of rooms that utilise virtual reality (VR) technology. A group of secondary students recently embarked on a journey through Mind Space after registering and receiving patient wristbands. This unique mental health experience museum provided them with a comprehensive understanding of the development of psychiatric services in Hong Kong. Displays in the museum showcase intriguing relics, including the evolution of restraints and handwritten patient records. Additionally, the students were given the opportunity to explore a mock protection room designed to provide a calming environment for patients. Furthermore, students could learn about the scientific aspects behind the causes of mental illness at the Brain Tour zone. One of the highlights is the Symptom Experience Rooms where VR technology simulates the visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations that those with mental illness can experience. Tremendous influence Ho Hin-man, a Secondary 6 student, admitted to underestimating the profound impact of mental illness on patients' lives. She said: Their condition significantly impairs their visual and auditory senses, leading to heightened levels of mental tension, extreme nervousness, and intensified worrying. Apart from acknowledging that he had a limited understanding of mental illness before taking the Mind Space tour, Chan Ngai-sum, another Secondary 6 student, pointed out that he gained valuable insights from the Symptom Experience Rooms. I had the chance to personally undergo the sensations that individuals with mental illness encounter. It was an uncanny experience - something intangible yet vividly visible. Personal experience Mind Space also employs ex-mentally ill individuals as Peer Support Workers who share their own mental health experiences with visitors. One such Peer Support Worker is Jecko who was diagnosed with psychosis approximately 20 years ago. Jecko recounted experiencing auditory hallucinations during the initial onset of his mental illness, including hearing the crinkling sounds of plastic bags in his apartment or loud noise of pile driving. He also mentioned visual hallucinations of a head popping up from a dehumidifier and tactile hallucinations of insects crawling on his body. Eric, another Peer Support Worker, shared a similar experience. He developed insomnia and had auditory hallucinations subsequently. He described hearing a voice ordering him to board a bus to a destination he did not wish to go to. The experience resulted in him being discovered in the suburb of Tai Po Lam Tsuen. Both Jecko and Eric emphasised the importance of seeking medical assistance and following instructions on prescribed medications, as doing so significantly alleviated the severity of their symptoms. Adequate support While they highlighted that support from family and friends is crucial, they cautioned that such support should be offered in an appropriate manner. Jecko shared an example involving his sister who genuinely cared about him but expressed it through an overwhelming barrage of questions like, Have you finished your meal? What did you eat? How many bowls of rice did you have? Such detailed interrogation left Jecko feeling uncomfortable, as though he was being subjected to intensive questioning. What is more, he advised relatives and friends not to dismiss patients' symptoms as mere figments of their imagination because such dismissive attitudes can be disheartening and discourage patients from sharing their experiences. Eric made it clear that his role as a Peer Support Worker has given him the opportunity to serve as a role model and demonstrate to the public that mental illness is not a dead end but rather a path to recovery. He expressed that as patients relatives witness first-hand the possibilities of recovery, their fears and concerns about their loved ones' conditions are likely to diminish. They will gain confidence that their relatives can also achieve recovery, just as we have. Targetting teens Castle Peak Hospital plans to invite more schools to visit Mind Space with the aim of enhancing young people's understanding of mental illness and mental health. Dr Jane So, Associate Consultant at Castle Peak Hospital, stated that the museum was designed with the youth in mind. She explained that the goal behind the museum is to employ intervention strategies during this crucial phase of their lives, when their values and perspectives on mental health are being shaped, with the objective of correcting any biases they may have and providing education on mental health. Those interested in touring the museum can book online. This story has been published on: 2023-12-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. More than 70,000 delegates worldwide gather at COP28 in Dubai to work out a solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and mankind. By Cho Hye-yoon POCHEON, Gyeonggi Province "You see, that kind of corrupt behavior is not tolerated in Korea. But migrant workers who aren't familiar with the Korean language can easily get intimidated. That's why if you befriend Pocheon Migrant Workers Center, you won't be cheated. Ahmed, I assure you your boss won't be able to sue you," Rev. Kim Dal-sung, head of the Pocheon Migrant Workers Centers, told Ahmed, a Bangladeshi worker who goes by his first name, during a special consultation he organized for migrant workers in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 28. "I was so close to having a stroke but my boss did not call the ambulance," Ahmed who refused to disclose his actual name said. The two were talking about a head injury Ahmed sustained at an arboretum where he used to work. "If Ahmed's colleague had not escorted him to a nearby hospital, he would've missed the golden time," Kim, 68, recalled. With the help of Kim, Ahmed successfully claimed compensation for the workplace accident. The consultation session was a part of the monthly "Koinoia" program organized by Kim, with Koinoia meaning fellowship and unity in Christianity. Both Koreans and migrant workers meet at a workers' dormitory for dinner once a month. Residents of the dormitory cook food from their home countries and Koreans bring gifts in return. The program started in 2019. "The goal of Koinoia is to invite Korean natives into the lived realities of migrant workers. We talk together and exchange thoughts. Nowadays, we open it to the public every fourth weekend," Kim told The Korea Times in a recent interview. The consultations usually takes place over dinner but on Oct. 28, it took place at his center. Koinoia is only a part of what he does for migrant workers. Kim helps migrant workers file documents for workplace accidents and compensation, accompanies injured workers to occupational hospitals and monitors the working conditions for agricultural workers who often stay in makeshift dormitories without proper heating. At night, he is often on the phone giving advice to workers. His service and dedication are well-known among migrant workers in Pocheon, and those who live farther away reach out to him for help. On Oct. 28, he was visited by migrant workers residing as far away as Anseong and Ansan in southern Gyeonggi Province and Guro District in Seoul. From med school dropout to labor activist Kim believes it was God's calling for him to advocate for labor rights. "During my sophomore year of medical school at Chungnam National University, I went to a church and first learned about Jesus' ministerial work. A son of God, who had the highest status of all, served the marginalized of the marginalized," he recalled, adding he thought working as a Christian minister could be more meaningful than working as a medical doctor. Shortly after, he dropped out of the school and transferred to a Methodist theological seminary. And it was during his senior year when he interned at a workers' church in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, that his yearning to serve those in need grew bigger. "That church was so different. The pastor was wearing a jumper. The congregation consisted of workers who had been injured in workplace accidents, those who had been unfairly fired and laborers who were fighting for unpaid wages. I saw the new church there," Kim recalled, adding that he envisioned himself doing the same. In the winter of 1979, Kim got a job at Guro Industrial Complex. "I thought if I wanted to do the ministry that serves workers, I should at least experience labor firsthand," he said. Kim worked at an optical company in the complex which had 3,000 workers. After graduation, he started his ministry work for the poor and laborers in Seoul's Sadang-dong and Bongcheon-dong, and Juan Industrial Complex in Incheon. He settled in Pocheon in 2011. Arriving in Pocheon, the number of migrant workers in the city shocked him. "When I went downtown on weekends, I thought I was in Southeast Asia. And in 2018, I decided to focus my ministry work on migrant workers," he said. "There, I saw countless migrant workers suffering from workplace injuries, but they weren't aware of the compensation and insurance system they could benefit from. Even if they knew of it, they didn't know how to apply for it. So I visited them like a friend, checked up on them and helped them claim compensation." Kim has a lot to say about problems with the Employment Permit System (EPS). Under the EPS, workers who arrive in Korea and work on the E-9 non-specialized work visa are not allowed to extend their visa or change their workplaces without the consent of their employers. "For example, when migrant workers work for three years, they are given the opportunity to extend their stay by one year and 10 months. The employer's permission is required. If they work for four years and 10 months, they are given the opportunity to leave the country for one month for vacation and return for up to another four years and 10 months. Again, they need a signature from the employer," Kim explained. "This creates a viscious cycle. EPS limits workers' ability to file complaints about workplace accidents because they fear antagonizing their employers, losing their jobs and thereby losing their legal status to work in Korea." According to the 2022 Employment and Labor White Paper published by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of workplace accidents among foreign workers rose more than 20 percent between 2017 and 2021. Yet, Kim doesn't oppose the EPS system entirely. He argues there needs to be reforms to be made within the system to protect migrant workers' rights to safety and job security. "I demand that the subordinate relationship be abolished and an equal relationship be established, including guaranteeing workers' freedom to change workplaces without needing their employers' consent," he said. "One last thing I'd like to add is that Korea's migration policy has perceived migrant workers as readily available, disposable laborers. We need a paradigm shift in migration policy: Treat migrant workers as humans and make laws and policies accordingly." Those who have received help from Kim call him a "lifeline." "I worked for a metal factory in Anseong and got industrial lung disease from iron dust. The only safety equipment I got was a fabric mask. With the help of Kim, I was able to file compensation," Ajit Roy, 36, said. "I've never seen a person like Rev. Kim in Korea. Perhaps he is even better than parental figures. He takes on so much responsibility, but receives no commission whatsoever. He answers his phone even after midnight. He fought for me when my company responded with intimidation, threatening to withdraw my insurance. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be able to get treatment while waiting for the result." Cho Hye-yoon (hyeyoon.cho@mail.mcgill.ca) was a Korea Times intern. NEW YORK With sales of non-alcoholic beverages recently becoming a nearly half-billion dollar industry, even Target is becoming sober curious. The chain is partnering with Sechey, an online retailer that sells alcohol-free spirits and wines, to add a selection of popular brands rolling out to 450 Target stores across the U.S. ahead of the typically booze-filled holiday party season. Drinks in the lineup include two celebrity-backed companies: Kin Euphorics, a trendy brand co-founded by model Bella Hadid, and Katy Perrys De Soi, which makes non-alcoholic aperitifs. Other brands include NOPE and Ghia, both of which produce non-alcoholic canned cocktails, and alcohol-free wine company Surely. Target said in a statement that its adding the selection for customers to enjoy as they prepare to entertain for the holiday season and beyond. The company regularly partners with external companies to lure in customers, and this holiday season added a collection from jewelry designer Kendra Scott. Sechey is a great curator of non-alcoholic brands and will help Target to really elevate its offer, Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail, told CNN. This is good for the younger generations that Target already attracts, its also a sensible way of creating some interest in the grocery side of the business. Booze-less boom Drinkers, or perhaps non-drinkers, are increasingly looking for elevated offerings instead of water and soda. Also, younger people are ditching alcohol and emphasizing wellness. That has created a boom in sales for non-alcohol spirits, wine and beer, which surpassed $500 million this year according to research firm NIQ. Both big brands and celebrity-backed startups are taking note. Earlier this year, beer maker Molson Coors launched a zero-proof canned cocktail called Roxie, which was created when the company noticed that its customers were moderating their alcohol intake. Roxie lets consumers to stay in the moment while they are drinking their favorite alcoholic beverage, but can also vacillate between an alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage as well, Jamie Rotnicki, vice president of innovation for Molson Coors, previously told CNN. For Katy Perry, helping to make De Soi with cofounder Morgan McLachlan was the result of the superstar taking breaks from drinking, often when she was touring or writing her music and wanted an alternative. We created this line out of my desire for still wanting to be part of the party, but wanted to wake up the next morning with full clarity and control, Perry told CNN. Perry, who still drinks in moderation, said shes often approached to promote various alcoholic drinks but that she would rather sell an empowering product since alcohol is really fun but could be really challenging for some people. This year, De Soi added new retailers including Whole Foods and Fresh Thyme supermarkets, and the company told CNN that it expects sales to more than double year over year in 2024. ___ SIOUX CITY The Sioux City Council will be asked Monday to approve plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for construction of the Headington Park splash pad project. The citys consultants estimated cost for the project is $400,000. JEO Consulting Group, Inc., of South Sioux City, completed the plans and specifications for the project at the park, 2951 Isabella St. The project includes new construction of a splash pad and general site work, earthwork, sodding, sidewalk construction and concrete slabs, according to city documents. The documents state that the project will include Bid Alternate 1 for exterior benches around the splash pad and Bid Alternate 2 for the installation of umbrella structures around the splash pads exterior. The project was originally bid on April 18, but no bids were received. City staff worked with JEO to modify the scope of the project to extend the completion date and remove the splash pads features to be bid separately. Sioux City Parks and Recreation Director Matt Salvatore previously told The Journal that he thinks the lack of bids and high construction costs for recreational projects are due to American Rescue Plan Act funds that have flooded the market. The project was rebid on Aug. 8. Christiansen Construction Company, of Pender, Nebraska, submitted the sole bid of $755,000. Since Christiansens bid was well above the estimated cost of $400,000, the council voted to reject it. During its Nov. 20 meeting, the council voted to adopt the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the splash pad. Before the vote, Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott asked Parks and Recreation Manager Angel Wallace if the city has ever applied for an Iowa Economic Development Authority grant for a splash pad. Wallace responded that her department has not. You might want to do that going forward, just to see, Scott said. Rebidding the project includes the removal of the pre-cast building and its foundation. Bids will be received on Dec. 19. The project, which is expected to be fully completed by Oct. 15, 2024, will be funded with general obligation bonds and covered under the Capital Improvement Programs aquatic comprehensive plant, which has a total budget of $559,968.38, according to the documents. Salvatore told The Journal that residents living in the neighborhood requested the splash pad at Headington Park. The city currently has five splash pads, which can be operated longer than the swimming pools. The splash pads are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend daily from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. In addition to those splash pads, the city also has a new water feature at Chris Larsen Parks Floyd Plaza. Misters and fountains rise up from the ground, with a push of a button. The fountain is operational during park hours, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Israel pounded targets in crowded southern Gaza on Saturday and ordered more neighborhoods designated for attack to evacuate, driving up the death toll even as the United States and others urged it to do more to protect civilians a day after a truce collapsed. The prospect of further cease-fires in Gaza appeared bleak, as Israel recalled its negotiators and Hamas' deputy leader said any further swap of Gaza-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel would only happen as part of ending the war. "We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and it's impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. At least 200 Palestinians were killed since the fighting resumed Friday morning following the weeklong truce with the territory's ruling militant group Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Several multistory residential buildings were hit Saturday, engulfing neighborhoods in huge clouds of smoke. Separately, the ministry said the overall death toll in Gaza since the Oct. 7 start of the war surpassed 15,200. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people were wounded since the war began. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in diplomatic talks with Arab leaders Saturday, focused on shaping the outlook for a post-conflict Gaza while calling on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians from the devastating bombardment. She made a hastily planned trip to the United Arab Emirates as the top U.S. representative at the U.N. COP28 climate conference in Dubai but the war was a main objective of her visit. She met with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan and spoke by phone with Qatars emir. She said in a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi that "under no circumstances" would the U.S. permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or redrawing of its borders, according to a U.S. summary. 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. Appeals from the U.S., Israels closest ally, to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. About 2 million people, almost Gazas entire population, are now crammed into the territorys south. Israel's military said it hit more than 400 Hamas targets across Gaza over the prior day, including over 50 in Khan Younis city and surrounding areas in the south. Palestinian Red Crescent spokesman Mahmoud Basal told broadcaster Al-Jazeera that there were more than 300 "martyrs" in Gaza City's Shujaia neighborhood and homes were flattened. Israel's military said it killed Hamas' Shujaia battalion commander but gave no details on the operation. Residents could not be reached. In northern Gaza, an airstrike flattened a building hosting families in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on Gaza City's outskirts. It left dozens dead or wounded, said residents Hamza Obeid and Amal Radwan. The Israeli military confirmed it was operating in Jabaliya and said it destroyed Hamas tunnels in the surrounding area. A powerful strike hit multistory buildings in Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development on the outskirts of Khan Younis. Smoke engulfed the complex. There was no immediate word on casualties. Also in the south, at least nine people, including three children, were killed in a strike on a house in Deir al-Balah, according to the hospital where bodies were taken. Meanwhile, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza said they fired a barrage of rockets on southern Israel. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesperson, said Hamas launched more than 250 since the cease-fire ended. There were no immediate reports injuries. The Israeli military published an online map carving up Gaza into hundreds of numbered parcels and asked residents to familiarize themselves with the number of their location ahead of evacuation warnings. On Saturday, the military listed more than two dozen parcel numbers around Gaza City and east of Khan Younis. It dropped leaflets with evacuation orders over towns east of Khan Younis. The maps and leaflets generated panic and confusion, especially in the crowded south where people are unable to go to northern Gaza or neighboring Egypt. "There is no place to go," said Emad Hajar, who fled to Khan Younis a month ago. "They expelled us from the north, and now they are pushing us to leave the south." Mark Regev, a senior advisor to Netanyahu, said Israel was making "maximum effort" to protect civilians and the military used leafleting, phone calls and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gaza residents to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering a future security buffer zone that would not allow people direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Saturday it received the first convoy of aid trucks through the Rafah crossing with Egypt since fighting resumed. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 100 trucks entered including three carrying nearly 40,000 gallons of fuel. Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in a raid Oct. 7 in southern Israel. About 240 people were taken captive. The Israeli military said 137 hostages are still held after 105 were freed in the truce. A 70-year-old woman held by Hamas was declared dead Saturday, according to her kibbutz, bringing the number of known dead hostages to eight. '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' 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48 Posted on 2 December 2023 by John Hartz Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on theduring the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more than double last decades annual average Just above this column on the weather page of the Guardians print edition is the daily atmospheric carbon dioxide readings from Mauna Loa in Hawaii, the acid test of how the world is succeeding in combating climate change. A week before the 28th annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention opens in oil-rich Dubai, it makes depressing reading. At the time of writing it is 422.36 parts per million. That is 5.06ppm more than the same day last year. That rise in 12 months is probably the largest ever recorded more than double the last decades annual average. To give some perspective, exactly a decade ago the concentration was 395.64ppm. Then the scientific community worried about the effect on the weather if we were to pass the 400 mark. Now we know: the result is catastrophic heatwaves, storms, droughts, floods and rapidly increasing and unstoppable sea level rise. The figures underline the fact that after 27 annual meetings of the convention, all the efforts of nearly 200 member states to tackle the menace of the climate crisis have been a failure, so far. The situation continues to get worse ever more rapidly. There is no sign of carbon dioxide levels going down, let alone reaching the safe level of 350ppm. Click here to access the entire article as originally posted on The Guardian's website. CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more than double last decades annual average by Paul Brown, Environment, The Guardian, Nov 24, 2023 Articles posted on Facebook Sunday, Nov 26, 2023 Monday, Nov 27, 2023 Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023 Wednesday, Nov 29, 2023 Thursday, Nov 30, 2023 Friday, Dec 1, 2023 Saturday, Dec 2, 2023 Im genuinely curious about and a little afraid of what is going to happen to a certain kind of film lover when All of Us Strangers comes out in late December. If the reaction to the press tour so far is any indication, expect mass fainting spells and/or riots. There are a bunch of reasons I have pegged this moviea gay romance from director Andrew Haighto bring the Letterboxd crowd, me included, to our knees, but the chief one is that it stars not one but two certified internet darlings: Andrew Scott, best known as Fleabags Hot Priest, and Paul Mescal, who rocketed to fame via Normal People early on in the pandemic and has been an object of ardent fan obsession ever since. Advertisement Despite the movies English director and setting, the other thing Scott and Mescal have in common is that theyre Irish, which youd think would make their coming together to maximize their joint slay a shoo-in for Irish movie moment of the year. But it turns out competition for that title is pretty stiff in 2023. In November alone, audiences saw Barry Keoghan make his mark on an English country estate in Saltburn and Michael Fassbender scoot through Paris in The Killer, the latters first major acting job in three years. This is after a summer absolutely dominated by Corks own Cillian Murphy, who played a Jewish American scientist in Oppenheimer with so much conviction that it matters not a whit that no one in history has ever looked more Irish. All of this came in what is still the same year that The Banshees of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Keoghan, was nominated for nine Academy Awards, and Mescal was up for best actor for Aftersun. They didnt actually win any of those Oscars, but that doesnt change a growing body of evidence proving that these days, some of the buzziest stars hail from the Emerald Isle. Ask any film fan whom theyre excited about, and youre likely to get an earful of Mescal, Keoghan, Saoirse Ronan, and so on. Im not the first to point this outin August, Elle declared that it was hot Irish guy summer. But summer has turned into fall, and the hot Irish guys (and gals) remain with us. During awards season, Mashable made a guide to the Irish it boys of the Oscars. Several months later, theyre still it. So, whats the craic with this Irish invasion? Advertisement Irish people tend to be very good-looking and charming, Rachel Connolly, a novelist and critic who has written about Irish cultures place in the world, told me via email. That would have to have something to do with it Id imagine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True, but why are they so good-looking and charming, and so many of them at once? When I asked Ruth Barton, a critic and film studies professor at Trinity College Dublin, what unites performers like Mescal, Scott, and Keoghan, she posited that they all embody a kind of soft masculinity. This wasnt always the case. In earlier eras of Hollywood, Irishmen played priests and cops, not romantic leads. Irish actors and Irish identity, particularly Irish masculinity, got sexier around the turn of the century, Barton said. The Troubles ended in 1998. You get this new image of Ireland coming through, with the Celtic Tiger, with the boy bands, with the chick lit, with U2, with Bono and all that kind of thing, which changes the image of the Irish male in particular. Advertisement Barton cited Chris ODowds performance in Bridesmaidsas a cop, which is a typical Irish role, but a sexy oneas a key turning point that paved the way for the ascendance of the Irishman as soulful and sexy male lead. This also then makes room for weirder actors like Keoghan to become fan favorites. Hes the underdog, Barton said of Keoghan in Banshees. Hes not good-looking. Hes not tall. Hes none of those things. But hes really heartfelt. Thats what he brings to these roles. (And some people would beg to differ about the good-looking part, I imagine.) Advertisement It helps that Ireland is also in the midst of a huge literary moment, Barton said. Sally Rooney is only one of the generation of incredible young women writers coming through. Rooney, the 32-year-old author of Normal People, is known for portraying [her] generations anomie and discontent in a way that can also be viscerally sexy, Barton said. Advertisement Advertisement And again, this is still kind of a new thing! Ireland used to be this repressed Roman Catholic country, Barton said. We abandoned Catholicism, and then we really let rip. Saoirse Ronan notwithstanding, its true that the viral internet boyfriend phenomenon that so benefits people like Mescal and Scott doesnt quite have a female equivalent. Still, Irish actresses have been able to take advantage of the spotlight too: Kerry Condon received praise and award nominations for Banshees, Sharon Horgans Bad Sisters featured five plum roles for Irish actresses in 2022, with a second season on the way, and were still not that far out from the end of Derry Girls, the Netflix show set in Northern Ireland in the 90s. Irish actress Nicola Coughlan parlayed her role in that show into work on Bridgertonshe will be the lead of an upcoming seasonas well as a spot in one of 2023s most enviable ensembles, Greta Gerwigs Barbie. (She fittingly played Diplomat Barbie.) Otherwise, Barton cited Jessie Buckley in particular, of last years Women Talking, as an Irish actress on the rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Is Natalie Portman a Bad Actress, or Is She Just a Master of Playing One? Read More In a larger sense, for millennials and Gen Z audiences who care about such things, Irelands politics seem refreshingly unproblematic: Ireland stands for nothing on the world stage, Barton said. Were not an aggressor. Were not a colonizer. The Troubles are over. We actually live in one of a few countries with a fairly stable democracy. We dont have crazy leaders. Its a benign kind of identity, Irishness. In other words, the Irish have all the charm Americans find in a British accent, maybe moreBarton cited a certain richness to Hiberno-Englishwith none of the baggage of the Brits. Irelands history, of course, has trickle-down effects on the national character. According to Michael Patrick Gillespie, a professor at Florida International University who has studied Irish film, Irelands past is infused into the whole countrys sense of humor. They have a great sense of irony, he said. I mean, they were an English colony for 750 years. I think that would certainly give anyone a bit of cynicism. Theres a great deal of value placed on wit and on repartee and being able to think on your feet, to think quickly and to deal with ambiguity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That may account partly for why such a small countryit has a population of 5 millioncontinues to leave such an outsize cultural impression. Theres a tremendous creative vitality in Ireland, and that fosters a wide range of artistic projects, Gillespie said. It also builds up a callus and a stamina because theres just not a lot of money. Theres never money in the film industry. Theres not a lot to support Irish films. And so to make it, to be successful, you really have to endure. Things may be improving on the money front: In February, the Hollywood Reporter published a piece on why the Irish film industry lately seems to be punching above its weight. Some Irish filmmakers pointed to specific funds that have been set up to encourage homegrown talent, leading to projects like Normal People and The Quiet Girl, which was a Best International Feature Film nominee at this years Oscars. Barton, meanwhile, pointed out that Ireland also offers quite a bit of state-subsidized theater, so much so that theres now a fairly well-established trajectory for young actors to follow: After making a name for themselves in theater, they usually move into Irish TV, then parlay that into work elsewhere. When Hollywood productions cast Irish actors, theyre getting pretty accomplished actors coming in who know what to do, who speak English, and who dont have to deal with the kind of cultural adjustment either because, you know, we can see American TV here, Barton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its also easier now than ever before to work in Hollywood but stay Irish. Before, you had to really move to America to work, whereas now people go backwards and forwards very, very easily, Barton said. Somebody like Cillian Murphy is very, very insistent that this is where he lives, this is where his children are being brought up, they are being brought up with Irish values, not with American values, etc. For some American fans, this only makes this class of actors more swoon-worthy for how not Hollywood they are. Advertisement Still, Gillespie worries that American audiences are at risk of over-romanticizing the simple, quaint Irish life. I think that Americans have a very naive sense of Ireland, he said, a sense that is sometimes amplified by movies like Banshees, in Gillespies view. Theres almost a patronizing view of the Irish that that I think causes many Americans to underestimate their complexity. In other words, Ireland and Irish actors are more than a vision of a sensitive man who reads poetry in bars or, say, really loves his donkey. I think American audiences are more than capable of seeing the complexity that is there in Irish films and appreciating the complexities that Irish actors can convey, Gillespie added. Something to keep in mind while youre watching Mescal and Scott smooch next month at a theater near you. Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) are the most critically endangered animals in New Hampshire. Only one known population of these once abundant animals remains in the Granite State. With that in mind, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, self-described guardian of the states fish, wildlife, and marine resources, keeps the whereabouts of these rare creatures a virtual state secret even to most of their employees. They scrub the dens location from maps in official documentation and police physical access to italthough, Im assured, the guardians wont deceive if you do discover the site. Certainly, there are others in these woods who know of it. Wildlife biologist Brendan Clifford is one of the states appointed silent caretakers, sworn to keep the snakes hidden and manage their well-being. When I first spoke with him, over the phone, I learned he had been monitoring this population for nearly 15 years by tracking their seasonal movements, recording the ebb and flow of their births and deaths, observing the ravages of a fungal disease plaguing the population, and rehabilitating injured and sick snakes. His tenderness toward these animals sat in stark contrast to many 18th-century settlers and naturalists, the subjects of my historical research, who either avoided rattlesnakes or set out to annihilate them. Brendan surmised that for some of the serpents in this isolated community, he was the sole human being they had ever seen. One contemporary nature writer, I learned, had already been blacklisted in herpetology circles for not taking sufficient care on the printed page to keep the location of this and other rattler dens unknowable and untraceable. Despite the professions unease with authors, after our phone conversation, Brendans supervisor, for whatever reason, granted me permission to follow Brendan to the hibernaculum. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Since Europeans first invaded this landscape, the ancestral and still-unceded homeland of the Pennacook, Abenaki, and Wabanaki peoples, rattlesnakes have had figurative targets on their cursed backs. Current secrecy efforts help guard the animals from an extermination ethos shared by many early settlers: a belief in a God-given duty to kill rattlesnakes as a satanic stain on an Edenic landscape. Brendan informed me of a snake slayer named Rudy Komarek, deceased as of 2008, who remains notorious among the conservation community as a fanatical enthusiast and federally convicted wildlife trafficker. He single-handedly removed thousands of timber rattlesnakes from dens in the northeastern United States, often under the guise of protecting public safety. Komarek killed snakes, traded their limp bodies for bounty payments, sold some alive into the commercial trade, left some for dead in sealed bags as he evaded wildlife officers in hot pursuit, denied water and care to others for so long that their bodies aborted their babies, stillborn. He reportedly sold maps of den sites to like-minded collectors in a direct reversal of the conservationist practice of geographic occlusion. In the snake community, Brendan said, he was the No. 1 guy to look out for. Herpetologists William Brown, Len Jones, and Randy Stechert had harsher words for Komarek in a co-authored journal article, branding him a pathological snake-hunter on a par with the settler-exterminators of early New England, a nefarious hominid who seems even to relish the idea of his power to exact a devastating toll on this species. Early America, I learned, is never far from the minds of timber rattlesnake biologists when dealing with the likes of Komarek. They look back to the 18th century and its purposeful snake-hunting raids as the prelude to the mess they must work to clean up today, assured that they are themselves part of a different lineage of rattlesnake investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Brendan wasnt keeping the den secret from only the Rudy Komareks of the world. He told me how the merely curious, people not unlike myself, seeking to observe these rattlesnakes either for their extreme rarity or for the unique black coloring of this particular population, could cause the community distress and unintentionally expose the sites whereabouts to others. I thought back to the Enlightenment-era naturalists I studied. Some killed these animals out of fear, or even a desire to enact revenge. But others captured them as a curious pursuitto study and dissect their bodies and convert them into specimens and images or to parade not-yet-dead snakes and their live-birthed youngwhich distinguished rattlesnakes from many other serpentsin public displays. The states recent efforts worked to sever human and snake worlds, curiosity be damned. Advertisement To see these secretive serpents, we were beholden to their own schedule and rhythms. We counted down the days until warmer weather would coax the vipers en masse from their winter hideaway, many fathoms deep in dark fissures of rock. We waited. And we waited. Once the snakes emerged from their hibernaculum, they would bask in the sun to raise their body temperature and then disperse miles into the woods for their short summer window of terranean activity. Postpartum mothers who had given birth to litters of live young the previous year would continue the slow labor of rebuilding their fat stores after their resource-intensive pregnancies. And those females in the population who had mated in a dance of intertwined tails last autumn, who had been holding and quietly tending sperm in their bodies all winter, would now begin their formal gestation at the very moment we sought them. Advertisement Advertisement Only, as luck would have it, this particular year was the infamous 2020. Our snake communitys spring exit happened to coincide with the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, wrought from some unknown form of human-animal intimacies. I worried our expedition would be delayed indefinitely on account of the strict lockdown. But despite the virus raging around us, care of these endangered animals was deemed essential state business, given their precarious hold on existence. Advertisement When I told my friend Charlotte about the upcoming trip, she asked an offhanded question that I couldnt shake from my mind: Whats more dangerous: A stranger in a mask or a mama rattlesnake? The mama rattlesnake, I thought to myself without hesitatingbut perhaps not for the reason you might answer the same. I feared a masked stranger, but I had faint premonitions of what a mother was capable of. For I, too, was pregnant. Advertisement I hadnt left the house in months, apart from scaled-back prenatal visits to the hospital. Faced with the prospect of venturing into an apocalyptic world, to root around for a potentially lethal animal across steep terrain, with a creature in my body I was determined to care for, and, as I saw from the ever-updating weather report, all during a massive heat wave, I began to feel some apprehension. I debated whether to reveal my pregnancy to Brendan, the wildlife biologist, in advance for fear I would be banned from seeing the den, my state of being too much of a risk for the state of New Hampshire; and then, when I decided to tell him and he was happy to proceed, I felt trepidation that this trip was actually going to happen, only days before I would enter the turbulent third trimester, as my lungs started to lose precious capacity and my abdomen and sense of balance grew yet more unwieldy. Would I react like 18th-century naturalist William Bartram, I wondered, who, when faced with one rattlesnake, felt so shocked with surprise and horror as to be in a manner rivetted to the spot, for a short time not having strength to go away? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before I left in search of snakes, my father-in-law, Guillermo, offered a bit of family loresomething we call a Robles Story. A woman who worked at the ranch and general store of Guillermos grandfather in Veracruz, nestled along Mexicos Gulf Coast, also encountered a rattlesnake as an expecting mother. Early one morning, while she milked a cow in the semi-dawn, a serpent hiding behind the livestock struck out from the shadows and envenomed her leg. The woman cried out in pain, only to find, to her surprise, that the rattlesnake died instantly and collapsed in a limp spiral at her feet. A physician was called to the ranch to treat the woman. But when he arrived, he told her not to fear: He insisted that the forces of vitality flowing through her body from the pregnancy had simultaneously killed the serpent and protected her unborn child. He assured her: There is nothing more poisonous than a pregnant woman. After a grueling labor several months later, she gave birth to a baby who was unscathed. And out with the child came a tidy sealed sack of rattlesnake venom. Advertisement Advertisement The morning of our journey, I found my husband, William, already on the couch downstairs. He had woken hours before me due to a serpentine knot of nerves in his stomach, which he hoped either to ease or exacerbate by watching videos of timber rattlers, looking for some sign that these beings would not harm his wife or child. Brendan had given William permission to join the excursion since social distancing requirements made Brendan unable to help a substantially pregnant woman scale a cliffside. As William and I started our drive shortly thereafter, a large and surly snapping turtle lumbered across the road and temporarily blocked our path, perturbed at the humans who dared help it to safetyas good a reptile omen as any. The thermometer in our car soon read 95 degrees, highly unusual for a New Hampshire morning in late May. It was yet another reminder of our tinderbox of a world, which seemed ready to ignite on all sides from fires and pandemics and melting permafrost and police brutality, as protests over George Floyds murder would erupt in just a few days, his body not yet laid to rest beside his mother, inside the earth. The trees on distant hillsides shimmered sickly from the heats haze. Advertisement Advertisement We drove to a location I cannot speak of, passed trees whose nomenclature I should not name, leapedas much as the gestating can leapacross rocks whose form and geologic history must go unsaid. The rocks, I will note, were towering and magnificent, ancient wardens sheltering legless spirits in their stony wombs. But there are other things I cant tell you. We initially greeted Brendan from afar in a parking lot. He asked us to follow his vehicle, which made strategically confusing twists and turns, to the undisclosed location. Increasingly alarmist signs on our ascent warned Stay on Trail or Stay Homethe forests own version of Dont Tread on Me. But with the blessing of the state, we diverged from the sanctioned path, entered the brush, and let the bushwhacking begin. Advertisement Advertisement I actually did own something like wide sailors pants, Swedish explorer Pehr Kalms outfit of choice for navigating rattlesnake territory in the 18th century. (Kalm also mentioned that people in labor draped rattlesnake skins over their bodies to promote an easy delivery, though I wasnt yet sure such a thing existed.) Opting for modern protections that day, I instead wore maternity jeans covered by snake gaiters that Brendan had supplied to provide bite protection from ankle to knee. Given the distinctive onyx hue of the snakes in this population, known as black morph or black phase, as opposed to the yellow-brown coloring of most timber rattlers, Brendan told us to be on the lookout for anything that resembled a clump of moose poop. They loved to hide along the edges of fallen trees, he warned. He also said that this sheltered and fragmented population in New Hampshire bears so little ill will toward the foreign form we call the human that they dont typically even rattle when he approaches. With each step, I surveyed the land past the hill of my pregnant abdomen to ensure I didnt step on a coiled snake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I daydreamed that we would find the rattlesnakes emerging together from the rocks, their remarkable reptilian social structure on view. To survive, they must join, or die. But once we reached their stone stronghold, we realized the snakes had beaten us to the punch. Already dispersed into the woods, they likely would not return to the den until later in the fall or, in the case of pregnant females, a bit sooner to begin a gestational sun vigil together. These beings were not the writhing spectacle of vulnerability I expected to find, which had so exposed rattlesnakes (especially pregnant ones) to settler predation in early America. In fact, tracking devices that had been affixed to four females provided the only clues to the existence of any snakes at all in these quiet woods. Brendans team had placed radio transmitters either directly onto their rattles with glue or, more invasively, through surgical insertion at a veterinarians office. Each snake had her own FM wavelength, and to track her down Brendan would hoist a giant metal antenna above his headsimilar to the ones youd once expect to find on the roofs of suburban homesand follow a steady beeping that intensified as we ranged closer. In addition to listening for their quivering rattles, as so many 18th-century wanderers had done, we readied our ears for very different soundwaves. Advertisement Advertisement As we moved deeper into the forest, I felt not fear but a surprising alertness and calm. I silently repeated a mantra that would carry me through this miles-long search over and through bramble, steep cliffs, slippery leaves, mosquito clouds, and menacing logs to meet the one I sought, a mantra I would repeat again, just months later, throughout my own labor: There is nothing more poisonous than a pregnant woman. The rattlesnakes and Iwe had all been waiting. Life had been paused, dormant, latent, on hold. Timber rattlesnakes, near the northern limit of their range in New Hampshire, spend the majority of every year underground, deep below the frost line. Brendan hoped to acquire a borescope, a camera on a wire dozens of feet long that could explore the network of stony channels hosting this community. But without the human technological snake, this pit of pit vipers stayed hidden in darkness. Their underworld lives were perhaps better known to Blanketa Cherokee man who told of his travels to the serpent underworld to witness an emotional rattlesnake funeral in the 18th centurythan to modern-day herpetologists or to me. Advertisement Many female rattlesnakes spend these dim subterranean months readying themselves for a spring and summer gestation. In summer, pregnant females join together as if to form one mass, enveloped in each others coils and folds while exposed on sun-soaked slabs of rock near their maternal den, one more instance of the firm sense of home ingrained in the species. In late August or early September, these females will give birth to reptilian replicas in miniature as the surrounding treetops burst into fireworks of redback salamander and burnt orangethe very same season when I would be due to deliver a daughter. Advertisement Advertisement So while this community of snakes had been waiting, I was waiting out a biological and cultural winter of my own. In early March of 2020, I retreated into my own den, into my own self, for quarantine, all while tuning my senses to the small life growing inside me. And then March became April became May. Time twined, knotted, rolled over itself and concealed its true shape. I felt my childs first tadpole twitches in this state of suspended animation; early modern women called a fetuss initial perceptible taps quickening. Pregnancy wasnt the worst time to slow down and simply be, for those like myself with the tremendous privilege to afford stasis. I was curled up, becoming, snake-like in my incubation, expecting, expectant, waiting for things not yet seen. Advertisement Advertisement And yet, the early season of this pandemic was a trying time to be with child. To have little choice about bringing new life into a major historical event, as I was already pregnant when lockdown began and soon realized my daughter would enter a world quite different from the one she was planned in; to know in your mammal gut (and from basic logic) that gestation put you at a higher risk of severe illness and death, only to be dismissed by doctors and federal agencies until the needed data vindicated you long after it mattered; to flee at the sight of people, given the very real consequence, should you or your partner be infected, of birthing a baby alonea baby that would then be whisked away from you for days or weeks, under hospital protocol; to miss out on any sense of normalcy before such a metamorphosis in ones life. All this, to emerge and suddenly find that the village you were promised is empty. Advertisement Advertisement Scientists do not typically describe rattlesnakes, or other reptiles for that matter, as pregnant. Instead, they are termed gravid, from the Latin gravis, meaning burdened or heavy. The word initially struck me as more clinical, less humanan attempted bulwark against anthropomorphism. It was not until I became pregnant that I would realize just how clinical and yet human it could be. When reviewing my medical records, I noticed the label G1P0 on every document: G to denote gravidity, the number of times a person has entered this state of burden and heaviness, and P for parity, defined in the United States as the number of previous pregnancies that made it past 20 weeks of gestation. Various pregnancy-induced medical conditions, like the brutal onslaught of chronic vomiting known as hyperemesis gravidarum, likewise imbue human pregnancies with this notion of gravidity. Interacting with the medical establishment quite literally makes pregnant humans into gravid specimens. The violence of that association has been truest for people of color, stretching back to the abuses of enslaved women as research subjects of early obstetrics and lingering into the present with stark racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates. Advertisement Advertisement In the 18th century, naturalists feverishly quantified and described every facet of the animal specimens they collected. This was especially true when it came to matters reproductive. In possession of a dead rattlesnake, they would count the number of joints in its rattle, measure the snakes length and girth, tally up its total number of scales, and, were it a gravid female, slice its abdomen to unearth and account for the offspring inside, as when the colonial traveler Jonathan Carver carved opened one rattler with a reported (and perhaps exaggerated) seventy young ones in its belly perfectly formed. Advertisement Advertisement Herpetologists continue to carry out aspects of this calculus. Their practice relies on unfettered manual access to specimens, to bodies. They count up a snakes scales to differentiate species and sexes, for instanceeven though it can be gallingly difficult to get right. For male rattlesnakes, biologists quantify and characterize each minute feature, fringe, spine, and lobe of the rattlesnake phallus, a two-pronged member known as a hemipenis that resembles dewy, barbed bunny ears. For females, as shown by Brendans labors, they surveil pregnancy and postpartum life, enumerate the young. Advertisement Each prenatal checkup, I would lie down, exposed like a curiosity, while a doctor, midwife, or more typically a resident in training calculated the size of my growing uterus with a tape measure and palpated my bare stomach. They rarely referred to me by name; I was suddenly mom. Medics in masks logged each pound I gained, pondered every blood pressure reading, sought any trace of protein in my urine. I almost thought I fooled them when my apparently nonbinary blood type went undiagnosable for monthsuntil they found a term for that, too. Once I started experiencing heart palpitations from the increased blood flow of pregnancy, a cardiologist fastened electrodes across my chest and ribs, which he connected by wires to a device that monitored my internal rhythms for several days, making me feel not unlike a radio-tagged snake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During labor, I would be strapped with monitors again to chart the thump thump of my babys heartbeat and the crescendos of each contraction. Birthing at a university hospital, I was a pedagogical specimen, like many an early modern snake. Accommodating, pliant, compliant, and female, my body was a teaching moment, a canvas for heuristic mistakes. (One blunder by an unsupervised resident during labor could have become life-threatening, had I not noticed it.) My baby, as well, became an object of study and specimen to track, her early weeks marked by an obsession over pounds, ounces, minutes of milk, inches from head to toe, centimeters of head circumference. When I first saw her on this side of existence But there are still things I must keep from you. Advertisement Vulnerability has always attended being pregnant, writes historian Sarah Knott in Mother Is a Verb, a memoir-history of motherhood through the ages. Projections of vulnerability on the visibly pregnant, too, she adds. Both rattlesnake bodies and pregnant human bodies have been viewed through a lens of danger: one capable of inflicting it, the other of receiving. But vulnerability cuts all ways. Historically and now, gravid females have been the most exposed snakes in any timber rattlesnake community, as pregnancy prompts them to bask conspicuously on rocks, heavy with young that distend their bellies and spread their scales. In distinction to a human pregnancy, they will also forgo food during gestation and eventually lose around a third of their body weight, which takes years to regain. Even as females in this condition remain vulnerable, they are also a snake communitys cornerstone and perpetuating force. The yearslong intervals between each snakes gestation means that, in the words of recent biologists, Removal of a single animal, especially an adult female has a relatively high negative effect on the population, damaging its ability to sustain itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These snake matriarchs guard the next generation, too. After giving birth, the assembly of basking mothers will stay by the sides of their vulnerable newborns and protect them for a week or longer, until propelled by hunger into the forest for that first, precious postpartum meal. Rattlesnakes have their village. Familial affection and ties of kin in the reptile world have often been hard for scientists to see, though they have always been there. Take the small carnivorous dinosaur known as Oviraptor, whose name translates to egg thief. Ever since the dinosaurs discovery in the 1920s, when a fossil uncovered in Mongolia showed an adult specimen hovering over a clutch of oblong eggs, paleontologists assumed the dinosaur was scavenging the eggs right when catastrophe hit and preserved them all in a prehistoric snapshot. It took until the 1990s for Mark Norell, after finding an actual oviraptorid embryo in another oblong egg and then a fossil of a dinosaur actively sitting on a nest in full brooding position, to fully convince and document for the paleontological community that these reptilian raptorsthe kin of modern birdswere parenting just like birds do. In fact, modern birds probably parent because the practice existed among ancient dinosaurs, birds simply being those dinosaurs who averted extinction. Some scientists suspect that, contrary to human norms, it was the Oviraptor fathers, not the mothers, who sheltered the eggs, given the presence of male parental care among the so-called ratites, like ostriches and cassowariesthe most basal and dinosaurian of modern bird groups. As with the terrible lizards, it has similarly taken some time, retraining, and mental openness for naturalists to appreciate rattlesnakes not as unemotive killers and loners, but as parents, too: mothering as not just warm and soft, but also cold, scaly, and hard. Advertisement Advertisement A mile into the woods, we were surrounded by female timber rattlesnakes, assured by the beep beep beep at every frequency of Brendans radio. We knew they were there, hidden from view. One, we determined, had found refuge somewhere in a nearly vertical cliff wall, which dropped beneath our toes many dozens of feet. We debated sending a nongestating person to scout but agreed it would be far too treacherous for anyone to attempt to scale from our vantage at the top. We could take time to circumvent the cliffside and try from the bottom, but there were still no guarantees, and we would be further, and downhill, from other signals, potentially without a snake to show for it. Knowing the terrain, Brendan could tell from the beeping that a second rattlesnake had traveled across a dense marsh that would be similarly difficult to maneuver. A third was just too far. Trying to find these snakes would have been dangerous on this oppressively hot day. Advertisement One lone signal, however, held out an electric promise. It hailed from a direction that, though deep in the forest, wasnt filled with cliffs or marshes, according to Brendan. We put our faith in this sound, and in her direction we went, eager to find this subtle serpent, not-so-subtle antenna hoisted overhead. After what seemed like an eternity, Brendan pointed his antenna at a fallen tree and an adjacent patch of bramble. Advertisement Advertisement And I knew from his body language that we had found her. Advertisement Advertisement We approached slowly, reverentially. She was as unmovable as a mound of brain coral. Due to her infrared-sensing abilities, we must have appeared like lumbering towers of magma. The serpents gaze almost seemed to narrow at us, an artifact of a rattlesnakes characteristic supraocular scales, which create a permanent hood above each eye. Without the aid of technology, we likely never would have found this statuesque snake curled quietly atop a scrim of dead leaves. She was a lighter charcoal color than most of her kin out here, her hallmark banding pattern faintly visible like veins in marble. Brendan estimated that she was four feet long when fully extended and that she could strike about half the length of her body from this pose. We remained more than a couple of feet back. Brendan recognized her as a postpartum female who had given birth to at least six live young the previous fall. She was near the start of the long journey of a mothers recovery, not to give birth again for several more autumns. The offspring she had sheltered and cared for were now in the woods as well. Advertisement Advertisement Brendan described her as confident. She barely budged when we approached, assured of her own power. Yet, he noted, she probably didnt want to resort to expending her venom if it could be avoided, given the cost of cultivating it. I wondered if she may have also been afraid: She was one of the snakes who had been radio-tagged through surgical means. Ironically, as we gathered around this stoic and highly potent being, a commonplace bald-faced hornet began to divebomb our heads, its venom posing more of an immediate threat than that of the calm snake. In that moment, Brendan and I jovially agreed that wed both rather die by rattlesnake bite than a horde of wasps. William wasnt so sure. Brendan found a long stick and used it to lightly lift the veil of bramble covering the serpents face to allow us a better photo op. Advertisement Advertisement She made no sound at the sticks approach, demurring even to reveal her eponymous rattle, let alone shake it in alarm or defense. William said she had the air of a grandmother, putting him at immediate ease. He told me later that he felt a desire to move closeran urge he suppressed out of respect, both for biologist and snake. I, too, felt a magnetic force, similar to what one 18th-century Vermonter named Elias Willard experienced. Initially planning to kill a rattlesnake he encountered, Willard wrote that my curiosity led me to view him while I forcibly dragged off my body, my head seemed to be irresistibly drawn to the enchanter, by an invisible power. Advertisement Advertisement Brendan gently lowered the bramble over the serpents face again, leaving her as obscured as we had found her. And that was that. Our encounter had to be brief, by design. Lingering any longer might have perturbed her. We dont want to distress endangered species, Brendan said, unironic about the understatement. We said our goodbyes to the snake and began our way back. Advertisement On our descent, we decided to travel down and around to the base of the cliffside from before to see if we could glimpse the snake whose signal had appeared first on our radar. But peering up from the bottom confirmed our fears: The stone fortress was not safe for human wandering. The rocks formed a theater in the round that scattered our radio waves, making any effort to pinpoint that snakes location a ruse. Just by looking, we could see why the snakes would call this architectural stronghold home. Nothing else in the forest resembled it. I resisted the urge to take a photograph, as that somehow felt disrespectful, or profane. Nor did I want to tempt myself with a record that could lure me into retracing my footsteps. Advertisement Advertisement That we could only find one snake made sense in retrospect. Her singularity was compelling: a reminder of cryptic and unseen worlds underfoot, of invisible scent trails and pheromonal chains linking these snakes in a dispersed network of communion, of gestations best left hidden from human view, and, more solemnly, of vastly diminished snake numbers in this region. Advertisement We didnt see a single human soul on our adventure. Perhaps for the better. I wondered if this snake had any inkling of the storms of the human world raging around her. If the pandemic retreat of people into homes had coaxed her and the three others to venture farther, wider, wilder than before. In the minds of Brendan and his colleagues, their task wasnt simply a matter of ensuring people dont find the site. They saw victory not only in humans losing some knowledge of rattlesnakes, but in rattlesnakes losing some knowledge of humans, too. For eastern timber rattlers, memory of the human is a tragedy. Advertisement Related From Slate The Shark Species That Can Chomp a Chunk Out of AnythingEven Apex Predators Read More Into the underland, writes Robert Macfarlane, we have long placed that which we fear and wish to lose, and that which we love and wish to save. Coexistence of humans and rattlesnakes is fundamentally fraught. Yet efforts to completely divorce the worlds of snakes and people are also futile. If snakes can elude human knowledge, they can also elude human attempts at estrangement. One quite conspicuous trace of humanity already encircles the denthough to avoid divulging the site, I once again wont say what. The three biologists who penned the aforementioned diatribe against the snake-slaying Komarek write: The timber rattlesnake is one of the last symbolic wilderness species remaining in eastern North America. Many of our mountainous deciduous forests would be lacking an element of pristine excitement without this species. Such a vision of wild species and wild lands would have been incomprehensible to settlers who arrived in the New World in the 17th and 18th centuries. To them, wilderness was a vile and desolate thing. And it was never really wild, given the manifold ways that Native people shaped, and continue to shape, the landscape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The environmental historian William Cronon delivered the most famous and trenchant critique of the concept in 1995, writing that there is nothing natural about the concept of wilderness. It is entirely a creation of the culture that holds it dear, a product of the very history it seeks to deny. Wilderness, far from preceding humans, in fact depends on civilization for its creation. That snake biologists Ive spoken with dont know that they are in significant ways borrowing a long-standing Native practice, already established in the 18th century, of hiding rattlesnake dens likewise points to a collective amnesia of how these lands and animals have been managed since long before Europeans ever set foot on the continent. Advertisement But even if the notion of a pristine nature is illusory, something did tangibly shift for these snakes when settlers invaded. Now, even more changes will afflict them due to further upheavals in our global system. Remove human bodies from the den of the snakes, if you can or should, and the tentacles of climate change can still find their way in. Looking back into the green hush of the woods, hand on the growing orb of my belly, I wanted to ask that snake a question I had been quietly mulling for months. How do you mother when the world is burning? This piece is an edited excerpt from Curious Species: How Animals Made Natural History, by Whitney Barlow Robles (Yale University Press, November 2023). Craft businesses can be both fun and profitable. However, you first need to find the right idea that will maximize your strengths and appeal to customers. If youre looking for the perfect craft business idea to start, heres a full list of options to consider. What Crafts Are in High Demand Right Now? There are a variety of crafts in high demand right now, as consumers value the personal nature of handmade gifts and custom designs. Some of the most popular categories for craft items include jewelry, candles, bath and beauty products, handmade clothing, and artwork. ChatGPT Prompts for Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Sell Your Business Advertise Your Business Here Selecting the Best Craft Business Ideas: Our Methodology For crafting business ideas, its important to assess factors that blend creativity, marketability, and practicality. Heres an evaluation of key criteria, along with their importance on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 indicating utmost importance: Creativity and Uniqueness of Products Importance: Essential (10/10) The uniqueness and creativity of the crafts are crucial in differentiating the business in a crowded market. Market Demand and Target Audience Importance: High (9/10) Understanding the preferences and demands of the target market is vital for the success of the craft business. Quality and Durability of Products Importance: High (9/10) High-quality and durable crafts are more likely to attract and retain customers. 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Adaptability to Trends and Customer Feedback Importance: Moderate (7/10) Being adaptable to changing trends and responsive to customer feedback can help in staying relevant and innovative. 50 of The Best Craft Business Ideas If youre a creative person looking to start your own craft business in this billion-dollar industry, here are some of the best craft business ideas you can start today. 1. Gift Basket Business Gift baskets can include handmade baskets and a variety of crafts, from candles to fashion accessories, making this an adaptable idea with high market demand. 2. Greeting Cards Design your own paper goods like holiday cards and stationery and offer them in small packages. Small Business Deals 3. Candle Making Scented candles are some of the most popular gifts around. Make your own blends and offer candles in a variety of sizes and styles. 4. Home Decor Theres a huge array of home decor items that you can make by hand and sell online or at local shops. For instance, you may weave unique tapestries, create resin coasters, or even craft upcycled furniture. 5. Jewelry-Making Business Theres a huge array of jewelry to make and sell for profit. Consider specializing in beaded bracelets, simple necklaces, or offer a variety of earrings, rings, and more. 6. Customized T-Shirts Design and print your own t-shirts with unique designs. You can either customize this by hand or use a printing service to speed up the process. Its easy to offer these items through ecommerce platforms, and they can be quite cost effective. 7. Fashion Industry If youre handy with a sewing machine, craft your own fashionable clothing items like dresses and stylish tops and offer them at local boutiques or online. 8. Knitting Business Love knitting? Use your skills to craft hats, scarves, blankets, toys, or a huge array of items. Theres significant room for creativity and adaptability. 9. Sticker Business Start your own sticker business where you print unique designs and sell them to consumers or offer packs to businesses on a wholesale basis. 10. Dried Flower Business You can use dried flowers in a variety of crafts, from wall art to paper goods. 11. Calligraphy Business Start your own business offering hand-lettered greeting cards or other products to consumers. This is also one of the best creative business ideas that can be turned into a service; offer calligraphy to those needing invitations or cards addressed to specific individuals. 12. Essential Oils Make your own blends of essential oils and offer them in bottles or other home and beauty products. This can be a successful business due to the high demand for natural products. 13. Bath Bombs Bath products are huge in the craft industry right now, including bath bombs made of salt and other natural ingredients. 14. Digital Art Create your own designs and offer them as a digital download online. This can be an incredibly lucrative business, since you can sell each design multiple times and dont need to invest in shipping. 15. Picture Frames Offer handmade frames for sale, or provide custom framing services in your area. This can also be a scalable business idea, with room for various products. 16. Make Christmas Wreaths If you want to use your artistic skills to create Christmas crafts, make and sell, design and make holiday wreaths. You can use various materials, from real greenery to synthetic fibers. 17. Online Courses in Crafts If youre looking for a business venture that can be done mainly online, create online courses where you teach your craft of choice to other creatives. 18. Craft Blog You could also start a blog where you share craft tutorials or a behind-the-scenes look at how you run your craft business. 19. Custom Ornament Business Another craft business idea thats especially popular around the holidays offer custom ornaments in a specific style. Customers often pay extra for personalization, like names, dates, or images. 20. Costume Business If you want to create a shop specializing in Halloween crafts, offer handmade costumes for kids or adults. 21. Basket Weaving Basket weaving is a traditional craft you can turn into a business by selling your handmade creations online or in a local market. 22. Furniture Business Make your own furniture or upcycle finds from your local thrift store. Since these pieces are large, theyre usually best suited for sale locally. 23. Photography Business Take beautiful photographs and then offer them as prints or digital downloads. This can be quite an adaptable idea, with lots of room for creativity. 24. Embroidery Business Offer embroidered products or provide custom embroidery services for customers who want to provide their own garments. 25. Hair Accessories Sell unique hair accessories like headbands, bows, or barrettes. 26. Handmade Toy Shop Make toys out of wood, fabric, or felt and sell them to parents or local gift shops. 27. Holiday Decor Business Whether you specialize in Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving crafts, you can sell tons of decor items to families throughout the year. 28. Sell Original Paintings If you love painting, sell your creative canvases to consumers at art galleries, local shops, or online. 29. Pottery Business With a few pieces of pottery equipment, you can make your own mugs, bowls, and ceramic products to sell. 30. Soap Business Handmade soaps are popular gift items with high market demand. Sell products individually or as part of gift baskets. 31. Glass Blowing With the right glass blowing equipment, you can create one-of-a-kind vases, beads, and glassware. 32. Craft Supply Business You can also sell many craft supplies to other hobbyists or small business owners. 33. Weaving Business Weaving is a traditional craft where you create unique textiles out of fibers like yarn and thread. 34. Custom Illustrations Use your drawing skills to create portraits or other illustrations requested by customers. 35. Woodworking For those with some woodworking skills and equipment, there are many creative products you can sell for profit, from furniture to birdhouses. 36. Quilting Quilting is another popular traditional craft. Sell large pieces locally or offer squares that can be shipped easily. 37. Custom Fabrics Use your design skills to create fabrics with unique patterns to sell. There are online platforms you can use to create and market these products. 38. Yarn Shop You may also spin your own yarn using raw fibers and sell these pieces at a premium. 39. Hand-Dyed Textiles Dye various fibers like yarn and fabric and sell your creations to other crafters. 40. Craft Patterns Many crafts, like knitting and sewing, use patterns as a sort of instruction manual. You can sell physical patterns or offer them as a digital download on various online platforms. 41. Scrapbooking Business If you love scrapbooking, offer materials for sale or create custom pages for your customers. 42. Screen Printing Screen printing can be used on t-shirts, mugs, and a huge range of products that can easily be sold online. 43. Resin Crafts Resin is an incredibly versatile material that you can use to make jewelry, beads, coasters, and more. 44. Craft Book Author If you specialize in a particular craft for a niche market, consider writing a book offering tips for other business owners or sharing your story. 45. Craft YouTube Business YouTube provides a great platform for building an online business. Share tutorials or behind the scenes looks at your operations and earn income from the sites ad sharing program. 46. Craft Podcast With a craft podcast, you can share tips and insights for crafters in an audio format and earn money from sponsors. 47. Craft Influencer As an influencer, you can share content on your website and social media channels and partner with brands like craft suppliers. 48. Craft Fair Operator Start a craft fair in your area and partner with makers looking for places to sell their handmade goods locally. This can be a scalable idea as you host more events and your vendor list grows. 49. Craft Marketplace Website You can even start your own online store where other craft business owners can sign up for an account to sell their creations. This may be especially useful if you have a specific target market, since there are already plenty of options for general craft DIY craft business owners. 50. Craft Business Consultant Consult with handmade business owners to help them select the best DIY business ideas, hone their skills, and master search engine optimization. What are The Most Profitable Craft Business Ideas? The most profitable craft business ideas include low cost products that can be sold at scale, like jewelry, art prints, and soaps. Where to Sell Handmade Items from Your Craft Business Once you determine what crafts to sell, its time to figure out where to sell handmade items to customers. There are a variety of channels you can use, from online to in-person. Some sellers even utilize multiple techniques. Check out the options below to create your own strategy for selling crafts. Local Retailers Partner with small shops in your area to sell your crafts on a wholesale basis. This often involves selling larger quantities of items on a wholesale basis. And the shop will mark them up slightly to sell them to consumers. Retail Shops There are also larger nationwide retailers that sometimes offer handmade crafts. This is often reserved for craft businesses that are able to produce large quantities. Social Media Platforms Sell directly to customers on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Many platforms have purchasing options built in, or you can facilitate sales through direct messages. Your Own Website Set up your own site where you list products for sale and market directly to customers. Crafts Fairs Research local events that partner with independent vendors. This is an ideal place to reach local customers without a large upfront investment. Online Marketplaces Online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon Handmade let craft businesses list products and reach shoppers who are searching for specific products on these sites. Effective Marketing Strategies for Your Craft Business Once youve decided on the craft business idea that suits you best, its essential to market your products effectively to reach your target audience and boost sales. Here are some marketing strategies to consider for your craft business: Create a Strong Brand Identity: Develop a unique and cohesive brand identity that reflects the essence of your craft business. This includes a memorable logo, a consistent color scheme, and a clear brand message. Develop a unique and cohesive brand identity that reflects the essence of your craft business. This includes a memorable logo, a consistent color scheme, and a clear brand message. Build a Website: Set up a professional website where you can showcase your craft products, provide information about your business, and offer an easy way for customers to make purchases. Set up a professional website where you can showcase your craft products, provide information about your business, and offer an easy way for customers to make purchases. Utilize Social Media: Create business accounts on popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Regularly share high-quality images of your crafts, engage with your audience, and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility. Create business accounts on popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Regularly share high-quality images of your crafts, engage with your audience, and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility. Content Marketing: Start a blog on your website where you can share craft tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your creative process, and valuable tips related to your craft niche. This will establish you as an authority in your field and attract potential customers. Start a blog on your website where you can share craft tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your creative process, and valuable tips related to your craft niche. This will establish you as an authority in your field and attract potential customers. Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested customers and potential leads. Send out regular newsletters with exclusive offers, new product launches, and updates about your craft business. Build an email list of interested customers and potential leads. Send out regular newsletters with exclusive offers, new product launches, and updates about your craft business. Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your craft products. Influencers with a significant following can expose your brand to a broader audience. Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your craft products. Influencers with a significant following can expose your brand to a broader audience. Offer Discounts and Promotions: Encourage sales by offering limited-time discounts, bundle deals, or free shipping for a certain order value. Encourage sales by offering limited-time discounts, bundle deals, or free shipping for a certain order value. Participate in Craft Fairs and Events: Attend local craft fairs, trade shows, and community events to showcase your crafts and interact with potential customers face-to-face. Attend local craft fairs, trade shows, and community events to showcase your crafts and interact with potential customers face-to-face. Implement SEO Strategies: Optimize your website and product listings with relevant keywords and meta tags to improve your search engine rankings. Optimize your website and product listings with relevant keywords and meta tags to improve your search engine rankings. Provide Exceptional Customer Service: Offer excellent customer service to build trust and loyalty. Respond promptly to inquiries, handle complaints professionally, and consider adding a personal touch to your packaging. Offer excellent customer service to build trust and loyalty. Respond promptly to inquiries, handle complaints professionally, and consider adding a personal touch to your packaging. Collaborate with Local Businesses: Partner with local retailers, cafes, or gift shops to display and sell your crafts in their establishments. Partner with local retailers, cafes, or gift shops to display and sell your crafts in their establishments. Offer Customization: Provide personalized options for your crafts, such as custom engravings, monograms, or color choices, to attract customers looking for unique and one-of-a-kind items. Provide personalized options for your crafts, such as custom engravings, monograms, or color choices, to attract customers looking for unique and one-of-a-kind items. Showcase Customer Testimonials: Display positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers on your website and social media platforms to build credibility. Display positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers on your website and social media platforms to build credibility. Use High-Quality Product Photography: Invest in professional product photography to showcase your crafts in the best light possible. High-quality images can significantly impact the perceived value of your products. Invest in professional product photography to showcase your crafts in the best light possible. High-quality images can significantly impact the perceived value of your products. Monitor and Analyze Results: Regularly track your marketing efforts, analyze the data, and adjust your strategies accordingly. Use tools like Google Analytics to measure website traffic, conversion rates, and customer behavior. Marketing Strategy Description Create a Strong Brand Identity Develop a unique and cohesive brand identity for your craft business, including a memorable logo, consistent color scheme, and a clear brand message. Build a Website Set up a professional website to showcase your craft products, provide business information, and offer an easy way for customers to make purchases. Utilize Social Media Create business accounts on popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Share high-quality images of your crafts, engage with the audience, and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility. Content Marketing Start a blog on your website to share craft tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and valuable tips related to your craft niche. Establish yourself as an authority in your field and attract potential customers. Email Marketing Build an email list of interested customers and potential leads. Send regular newsletters with exclusive offers, new product launches, and updates about your craft business. Collaborate with Influencers Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your craft products to a broader audience. Offer Discounts and Promotions Encourage sales with limited-time discounts, bundle deals, or free shipping for a certain order value. Participate in Craft Fairs Showcase your crafts and interact with potential customers face-to-face at local craft fairs, trade shows, and community events. Implement SEO Strategies Optimize your website and product listings with relevant keywords and meta tags to improve search engine rankings. Provide Exceptional Customer Service Offer excellent customer service to build trust and loyalty. Respond promptly to inquiries, handle complaints professionally, and add a personal touch to packaging. Collaborate with Local Businesses Partner with local retailers, cafes, or gift shops to display and sell your crafts in their establishments. Offer Customization Provide personalized options like custom engravings, monograms, or color choices to attract customers seeking unique items. Showcase Customer Testimonials Display positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers on your website and social media platforms to build credibility. High-Quality Product Photography Invest in professional product photography to showcase your crafts effectively. Monitor and Analyze Results Regularly track marketing efforts, analyze data, and adjust strategies accordingly. Use tools like Google Analytics to measure website traffic, conversion rates, and customer behavior. By implementing these marketing strategies, you can effectively promote your craft business, attract more customers, and establish a strong brand presence in the market. Remember that consistency and creativity are key to standing out in the competitive world of craft businesses. Why Starting Your Own Craft Business is a Great Idea Craft businesses can be both fun and profitable, allowing you to sell in-demand products that you enjoy making. Many of the craft business ideas listed above can even be run out of your own home. Turning Your Craft Hobby into a Successful Business Many people find joy and fulfillment in crafting as a hobby, but have you ever considered turning your craft hobby into a profitable business venture? Its a dream come true for those who are passionate about creating handmade products. In this section, well explore how to transition from crafting for fun to running a successful craft business. The Transition from Hobbyist to Craft Business Owner Identify Your Niche: Determine what type of crafts you enjoy making the most and where your skills shine. Consider what sets your creations apart from others in the market. Finding your niche is the first step in crafting a successful business. Market Research: Investigate the demand for your craft products. Are there potential customers who are interested in buying what you create? Look at competitors in your niche to understand pricing, target audience, and product offerings. Create a Business Plan: Develop a clear and concise business plan that outlines your goals, target market, pricing strategy, marketing plan, and financial projections. A well-structured business plan will serve as your roadmap to success. Legal Considerations: Register your craft business and ensure you comply with any local, state, or federal regulations. This may include obtaining licenses, permits, and paying taxes. Set Up a Workspace: Organize a dedicated workspace where you can efficiently create your crafts. Make sure its well-equipped and organized to maximize productivity. Quality Matters: Maintain a commitment to quality craftsmanship. High-quality products are more likely to attract and retain customers. Pricing Your Products: Calculate the cost of materials, labor, and overhead to determine your pricing strategy. Ensure that your prices not only cover expenses but also provide a reasonable profit margin. Create an Online Presence: Build a professional website or establish a presence on craft marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon Handmade. An online platform is essential for reaching a broader audience. Photography Matters: Invest in good product photography. High-quality images are crucial for showcasing your crafts effectively and attracting potential customers. Marketing and Promotion: Develop a marketing strategy to promote your craft business. Utilize social media, email marketing, content marketing, and paid advertising to reach your target audience. Networking: Join local craft communities and online forums to connect with fellow crafters and potential customers. Networking can lead to valuable collaborations and partnerships. Customer Service: Provide exceptional customer service. Respond to inquiries promptly, address concerns professionally, and prioritize customer satisfaction. Continuous Learning: Stay updated on crafting techniques, trends, and industry developments. Attend workshops, take online courses, and read relevant books and magazines to enhance your skills. Inventory Management: Keep track of your inventory and materials. Efficient inventory management ensures that you have the supplies you need to fulfill orders promptly. Financial Management: Maintain accurate financial records and a budget for your craft business. This will help you track expenses, monitor cash flow, and make informed financial decisions. Scaling Your Business: As your craft business grows, consider scaling your operations. You may need to hire additional help, expand your product line, or explore new sales channels. Balancing Passion and Profit One of the challenges of turning a craft hobby into a business is striking the right balance between passion and profit. Here are some tips to help you maintain that equilibrium: Set Realistic Goals: Establish clear and achievable business goals. While passion is essential, its equally important to have realistic expectations about what you can accomplish. Value Your Time: Recognize that your time and expertise have value. Dont underprice your crafts to the point where youre not adequately compensated for your work. Continuous Learning: Invest time in learning about the business side of your craft. This includes understanding finances, marketing, and customer management. Stay Passionate: Remember why you started crafting in the first place. Dont let the business side of things overshadow your love for creating. Passion is what makes your crafts special. Adapt and Evolve: Be open to change and evolution. Craft trends and customer preferences may shift over time, so be ready to adapt your offerings. Time Management: Efficiently manage your time to balance crafting, administrative tasks, and marketing efforts. Time management tools and techniques can be valuable. Overcoming Challenges Running a craft business can come with its fair share of challenges. Here are some common hurdles and tips for overcoming them: Competition: The craft market can be competitive. To stand out, focus on unique designs, high-quality craftsmanship, and excellent customer service. Seasonality: Some crafts may have seasonal demand. Plan for seasonal fluctuations by diversifying your product range or offering complementary items. Marketing Costs: Marketing expenses can add up. Start with cost-effective marketing strategies like social media and email marketing, and gradually explore paid advertising as your budget allows. Burnout: Crafting for profit can sometimes lead to burnout. Take breaks, set boundaries, and practice self-care to avoid burnout and maintain your passion. Inventory Management: Balancing inventory can be challenging. Use inventory management software to track stock levels and reorder supplies when necessary. Scaling: Scaling your craft business can be daunting. Consider seeking guidance from mentors or joining entrepreneurial support networks to navigate the scaling process. Legal and Tax Complexity: Dealing with legal and tax matters can be overwhelming. Consult with professionals or use software to help manage these aspects of your business. The Bottom Line Running a successful Etsy shop or other craft businesses can be personally fulfilling. But you first need to find an excellent craft business idea that suits your skills and preferences. Check the list above for tons of profitable craft business ideas to try this year. Craft Business Ideas FAQs What is The Best Craft Business Idea? The best craft business idea is one that you enjoy and where theres demand for your specific type of product. There are many things to make and sell for profit, including knitting projects, resin crafts, and mason jar crafts. See the list above for even more small business ideas in the handmade crafts space. What are Some Good Craft Business Ideas? Nearly any craft you are interested in can be turned into a business. Some popular craft business ideas include handmade candles, jewelry, and home decor. See the list above for even more ideas. How do I Start a Small Craft Business? To start a small craft business, determine what type of products you want to sell and master your craft. Once youve created some products, take photos and list products online, either on your own website or on marketplace sites like Etsy. You can also sell handmade products in person at craft fairs or flea markets. What Craft Business Can I do at Home? You can make many crafts at home and sell online or at local events. For example, you may make jewelry in your guest room or set up a candle making operation in your kitchen. What is the Best Craft Business to Start? Many craft business ideas can be profitable and enjoyable. Some examples include making Cricut crafts, creating custom portraits, and starting a candle business. See the list above for even more ideas. Can a Small Craft Business be a Profitable Business? Small craft businesses can certainly be profitable. However, you need to price items with both your business costs and time in mind. You also need to market your business to your target customers effectively in order to make enough sales to turn a profit. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. A commercial air freshener elevates your business by eliminating odors, enhancing customer experiences, and boosting employee morale. A clean, pleasant atmosphere shows attention to detail and complements overall cleanliness. Customizable scents can cater to diverse preferences, while reducing allergens promotes health. Ultimately, a fresh environment fosters customer retention and loyalty. Selecting the Right Air Freshener for Your Business Environment Every workspace, whether its an office, a retail store, or a commercial warehouse, can benefit from maintaining a pleasant atmosphere. One way to do this is to provide a refreshing and odor-free environment. With various commercial air fresheners available in the market, choosing the right one for your business needs can seem hard. Understanding the details of each type can simplify the decision-making process. Spray Air Fresheners Discover the Zoho Ecosystem ChatGPT Prompts for Business Sell Your Business Advertise Your Business Here Versatility : Manual sprays offer flexibility, allowing employees to refresh spaces as needed. Automatic sprays, on the other hand, ensure consistent fragrance without manual intervention. : Manual sprays offer flexibility, allowing employees to refresh spaces as needed. Automatic sprays, on the other hand, ensure consistent fragrance without manual intervention. Portability: Theyre easily movable, making them ideal for spaces that might need a quick freshening up, like conference rooms after meetings or reception areas. Plug-In Air Fresheners Consistency : These offer a steady release of fragrance, which maintains a pleasant scent at all times. : These offer a steady release of fragrance, which maintains a pleasant scent at all times. Customizability: The ability to adjust fragrance intensity lets businesses cater to diverse preferences. Passive Air Fresheners Sustainability : Since theyre battery-free, theyre an eco-friendly choice for businesses trying to reduce their carbon footprint. : Since theyre battery-free, theyre an eco-friendly choice for businesses trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Low Maintenance: They work quietly in the background without any need for intervention until its time for replacement. HVAC and Whole-Building Systems Uniform Distribution : An HVAC system ensureseven distribution, making them perfect for large spaces or entire buildings. : An HVAC system ensureseven distribution, making them perfect for large spaces or entire buildings. Efficiency: These systems can cover large areas without the need for multiple individual units, which is cost-effective in the long run. Choosing the Right Commercial Air Freshener: What to Consider When selecting a commercial air freshener for your small business, its important to consider several key factors to ensure that the product meets your specific needs. Weve used these criteria when curating our product list: Small Business Deals Effectiveness (Scale: 9/10) The air freshener should effectively neutralize and mask odors. It should be powerful enough to cover the intended area without being overwhelming. Longevity (Scale: 8/10) The duration of the scent is crucial. A good air freshener should last a reasonable amount of time before needing a refill or replacement. Safety and Health Considerations (Scale: 10/10) Products should be non-toxic and safe for use around people, especially in businesses that cater to children or health-sensitive individuals. Prefer air fresheners that are free from harmful chemicals or allergens. Cost-Effectiveness (Scale: 7/10) The air freshener should offer good value for money, considering both the initial purchase price and the long-term costs (like refills). Scent Variety and Appeal (Scale: 6/10) A variety of scents allows for customization based on personal preference or business branding. Scents should be pleasant and not too overpowering. Ease of Use and Maintenance (Scale: 8/10) The product should be easy to install and maintain, requiring minimal effort for refills or adjustments. Environmental Impact (Scale: 7/10) Consider eco-friendly options that use natural or biodegradable ingredients and minimal plastic packaging. Brand Reputation and Customer Reviews (Scale: 6/10) Look for products from reputable brands with positive customer feedback. By considering these factors, weve curated a list of commercial air fresheners that are most suitable for various small business environments. Whether you run a boutique, a cafe, or an office, these criteria will help you find an air freshener that aligns with your business needs and values. Commercial Air Freshener Options on Amazon Rubbermaid LCD Chrome Aerosol Dispenser The Rubbermaid LCD Chrome Aerosol Dispenser is a cutting-edge odor management solution for small businesses. This battery-powered device incorporates advanced technology and design features to provide an efficient and cost-effective approach to maintaining a fresh environment. Key Features: Microtrans Odor Neutralizer for effective elimination of unpleasant smells Smart chip technology extends refill life to 90-180 days, reducing replacement frequency Customizable programming: 12/24 hours daily, or 5, 6, 7 days weekly for tailored cost control Visual indicators for battery level and refill replacement schedule Pharmaceutical-grade steel valve for superior mist distribution and performance Pros: High reliability in odor control Flexible programming options to suit specific needs Extended refill life reduces maintenance and replacement costs Efficient and long-lasting performance Rubbermaid LCD Chrome Aerosol Dispenser Buy on Amazon Oxygen-Pro Commercial Air Freshener and Deodorizer The Strong-Scent Starter Kit includes two batteries and two fragrance cartridges, Tropical Waves and Sweet Amaretto, designed to tackle powerful odors in areas like restrooms, kitchens, or smoking rooms. Key Features: Oxy-Gen Powered technology for consistent, continuous fragrance delivery Carbon Footprint Approved: 100% pure fragrance oil, no CFCs, VOCs, or propellants Effective odor control with proprietary odor eliminator ingredient 30-day cartridge lifespan, 20mL of pure fragrance oil per cartridge Easy installation and servicing: wall-mountable with double-sided tape or screws Oxygen-Pro Commercial Air Freshener and Deodorizer Buy on Amazon SVAVO Automatic Air Freshener Dispenser The SVAVO Automatic Air Freshener Dispenser is a customizable and efficient solution for small businesses to maintain a pleasant atmosphere. This manually powered dispenser offers adjustable frequency and compatibility with various air freshener brands. Key Features: Adjustable intervals: 5, 15, or 25 minutes, with Day/Night/24H working modes Compatible with international standard-size aerosol cans (10 fl. oz/300 ml) Battery-operated (2 AA batteries, not included) with a green LED low battery indicator Flexible placement options: wall-mounted or placed on a flat surface 90-day money-back/replacement guarantee and 1-year warranty SVAVO Automatic Air Freshener Dispenser Buy on Amazon OdoBan Fogmaster Jr. Electric Handheld Fogger and Liquid Air Freshener If you want a different form factor to freshen the air, the OdoBan Fogmaster Jr. is a versatile handheld electric fogger designed to provide effective odor control and freshening for small businesses. This compact device is compatible with sanitizers, water, or aromatherapy solutions, with a 1-quart tank capacity. Key Features: Multiple applications: sanitizing, plant misting, aromatherapy Suitable for various facilities: hotels, salons, restaurants, restrooms, schools, and more Ready-to-use 1-gallon jug for long-lasting freshness Effectively neutralizes stubborn odors from pets, tobacco smoke, cooking, and mustiness Multi-use: can be diluted for use on surfaces like carpet, hard floors, and upholstery OdoBan Fogmaster Jr. Electric Handheld Fogger and Liquid Air Freshener Buy on Amazon Aroma Beam Commercial Air Freshener The Aroma Beam Scent Machine is capable of refreshing up to 2,000 square feet. This device uses Bluetooth controls and a reliable fan motor for optimal scent distribution. Key Features: Scent coverage up to 2000 sq. ft., depending on ceiling height and airflow Bluetooth controls via Scent Bridge App for Android or iPhone Suitable for both residential and commercial environments Utilizes scent bars for customizable fragrance intensity Can be wall-mounted or used as a standalone device Aroma Beam Commercial Air Freshener Buy on Amazon Rubbermaid Commercial Microburst Automated Aerosol Air Care System The Rubbermaid Commercial Microburst Automated Aerosol Air Care System is an effective solution for small businesses seeking effective odor elimination. This battery-powered dispenser uses Microtrans Odor Neutralizer and smart chip technology to provide consistency and distribute the fragrance reliably. Key Features: Advanced dispensing technology with a range of fragrances Smart chip technology for 30 to 168 days of odor control effectiveness LCD model with customizable programming options: 12/24 hours per day; 5, 6, or 7 days per week Visual indicators for battery life and refill status High-quality, pharmaceutical-grade steel valve for fine mist distribution Rubbermaid Commercial Microburst Automated Aerosol Air Care System Buy on Amazon Fowod Programmable Aerosol Spray Dispenser The Fowod Programmable Aerosol Spray Dispenser is a wall-mounted or free-standing unit that runs on two AA batteries and has a programmable smart chip that allows you to set the spraying frequency, working mode, and interval time according to your needs. It is compatible with international standard-size air freshener refill cans, such as Glade, Air Wick, Rubbermaid, Hospeco, etc. Fowod Programmable Aerosol Spray Dispenser Buy on Amazon Big D 757 Light-Activated Aerosol Dispenser The Big D Light-Activated Aerosol Dispenser is programmed to turn off when there is no light in the room, saving your aerosol canister and ensuring efficient use. You can easily set the dispenser to spray every 5, 15, or 30 minutes for 24-hour dispensing, or to spray only at specific intervals when the lights are on in the room. The dispenser also features an indicator light that alerts you when its time to replace the aerosol canister. Big D 757 Light-Activated Aerosol Dispenser Buy on Amazon Georgia-Pacific ActiveAire Powered Air Freshener Dispenser The ActiveAire Air Care Systems collection offers coordinated scents for the stall, wall, and urinal, with a variety of scents available to provide a consistent, pleasant fragrance throughout the restroom. The collection includes Automated Air Freshener Dispensers for Compact Toilet Paper Dispensers, Powered and Passive Whole-Room Air Freshener Dispensers, and Low-Splash and traditional Deodorizer Urinal Screens. Georgia-Pacific ActiveAire Powered Air Freshener Dispenser Buy on Amazon CD.PANG Commercial LCD Programmable Fragrance Dispenser The CD.PANG Commercial LCD Programmable Fragrance Dispenser comes with a 300mL refillable liquid bottle that allows you to choose your preferred fragrance. Each individual dispenser covers a room size of up to 2,000 cubic feet, making it suitable for large spaces of up to 600 square feet. With 3,000 metered sprays that can last up to 60 days for optimal performance, this dispenser is designed for programmable options that include spraying every 1-60 minutes across 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week. CD.PANG Commercial LCD Programmable Fragrance Dispenser Buy on Amazon Frequently Asked Questions How often should I change the air freshener in my commercial space? The frequency of changing air fresheners depends on the type and usage. Monitor scent strength and follow manufacturer guidelines for refills and replacements. Regularly inspect cartridges, gels, or pouches for depletion or damage, and replace them as needed to maintain a pleasant atmosphere in your commercial space. Are commercial air fresheners safe for people with allergies or sensitivities? Many commercial air fresheners are safe, but some may contain chemicals that trigger allergies or sensitivities. Opt for eco-friendly, non-toxic options with natural or organic ingredients to minimize potential health risks. Always consider customer and employee feedback to address any concerns. Can I use multiple types of air fresheners in my business? Yes, combining different air fresheners can enhance fragrance distribution and effectiveness. Try using complementary types, such as plug-ins for small spaces and HVAC systems for larger areas. Be mindful of scent combinations to avoid overwhelming or conflicting fragrances. How can I make my own custom scent for my commercial air freshener system? Collaborate with a professional perfumer or scent marketing company to create a unique, custom fragrance that represents your brand. Alternatively, experiment with blending essential oils to develop a distinctive aroma for use in compatible air freshener systems, such as diffusers or HVAC-based solutions. Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. The printing industry is thriving. According to the Commerce Department, commercial printing shipments recently exceeded $7 billion in market value. With the sector on the rise, entrepreneurs looking for a business to invest in may want to think carefully about a printing and copying franchises. FedEx Office Print and Ship Services Inc. formerly Kinkos may be a leading global name in the printing and copying industry, but there are plenty of other options available. Benefits of Owning a Copying and Printing Franchise Buying into a copying and printing franchise offers several advantages that make it an attractive business opportunity. The most significant benefit is the brand recognition that comes with an established franchise. Customers are more likely to trust and use services from a known brand, providing a steady stream of clientele. Franchises often come with a proven business model, reducing the risk and uncertainty that come with starting a business from scratch. This model includes established operational practices, marketing strategies, and supplier relationships, making it easier to run the business efficiently. Additionally, franchisees receive ongoing support and training from the franchisor, which is invaluable for navigating challenges and staying competitive in the market. Benefits of buying into a copying and printing franchise include: Brand Recognition : Leverage the established reputation of the franchise to attract customers. : Leverage the established reputation of the franchise to attract customers. Proven Business Model : Follow a tested and successful operational blueprint. : Follow a tested and successful operational blueprint. Supplier Relationships : Benefit from established relationships with suppliers for better deals and quality materials. : Benefit from established relationships with suppliers for better deals and quality materials. Marketing Support : Access to pre-designed marketing strategies and materials. : Access to pre-designed marketing strategies and materials. Training and Support : Receive ongoing training and support from the franchisor for business operations and growth. : Receive ongoing training and support from the franchisor for business operations and growth. Network of Franchisees : Connect with a network of other franchisees for advice and shared experiences. : Connect with a network of other franchisees for advice and shared experiences. Technology and Innovation : Stay current with the latest industry advancements provided by the franchisor. : Stay current with the latest industry advancements provided by the franchisor. Reduced Risk: Lower risk compared to starting a new business independently. Methodology for Choosing the Best Copying and Printing Franchises Copying and printing franchises are integral for businesses, especially in sectors where physical documentation and branding materials are essential. We used the following criteria to rate each franchise on our list. The importance of each factor is rated on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most essential. Heres our approach to evaluating these franchises: Small Business Deals 1. Range of Services Importance Scale: 8/10 Why It Matters: A diverse range of services, including digital printing, large format printing, and copying, is crucial. We look for franchises offering a wide array of options. 2. Quality of Output Importance Scale: 10/10 Why It Matters: The quality of printing and copying is paramount. We assess the clarity, color accuracy, and material quality of the final products. 3. Pricing and Cost Efficiency Importance Scale: 9/10 Why It Matters: Affordable pricing is key for small businesses. We evaluate the cost-effectiveness of services in relation to quality. 4. Speed and Turnaround Time Importance Scale: 8/10 Why It Matters: Fast turnaround times are essential for meeting business deadlines. We consider the efficiency and reliability of service delivery. 5. Customer Service and Support Importance Scale: 7/10 Why It Matters: Responsive and helpful customer service enhances the overall experience. We look at the availability and quality of support offered. 6. Technological Advancements Importance Scale: 6/10 Why It Matters: Franchises utilizing the latest technology in printing and copying tend to offer better quality and more options. 7. Eco-Friendly Practices Importance Scale: 7/10 Why It Matters: Sustainability is increasingly important. We prioritize franchises that employ environmentally friendly practices and materials. 8. Brand Reputation and Reviews Importance Scale: 7/10 Why It Matters: A strong reputation and positive customer reviews indicate reliability and quality of service. 9. Location and Accessibility Importance Scale: 6/10 Why It Matters: Conveniently located franchises ensure easier access for frequent printing needs. 10. Franchise Support and Training Importance Scale: 5/10 Why It Matters: For entrepreneurs buying into a franchise, ongoing support and training are critical for successful operation. Copying and Printing Franchises Take a look at the following 10 copying and printing franchises to conquer FedEx. Allegra Marketing Print and Mail Allegra was founded in 1976 in Michigan and started franchising a year later. For entrepreneurs looking for professional independence and personal balance, an Allegra franchise might be just up their street. Allegra Marketing Print and Mail is a recognized leader in business-to-business opportunities. Through ongoing franchise support and training, Allegra franchisees can successfully provide digital and print marketing communication services. An initial franchise fee of $25,000 to $45,000 is required to own a franchise with Allegra. Only Proforma Founded in 1978, Only Proforma is experienced in providing businesses of all sizes with printing and promotional services. The company has been franchising since 1985 and is a $500 million leading network of printing and promotional products distributors. The company provides franchise owners with the education and resources required to gain customers, build sales and improve profits. Investors are required to make an initial investment of between $5,000 and $40,000. Better Deal Printing Better Deal Printing was established in 2001 with the aim of providing high quality, low cost printing and graphic design services to local clients. Better Deal Printing franchise owners can enjoy many benefits, including having their franchise listed on the companys industry-leading website. Franchisees must invest between $5,000 and $80,000 initially with Better Deal Printing. Sir Speedy For decades, Sir Speedy have proudly operated on the slogan Got a challenge, go to Sir Speedy. Since opening in California in 1968, Sir Speedy has been providing high quality printing services. Sir Speedy franchises offer printing and marketing services, including copy and mailing. An initial investment of $229,981 is required. Successful candidates receive 80 hours of training and additional training at regional meetings. To own a franchise with Sir Speedy, entrepreneurs need to have unshakeable ambition, a dedicated work ethic and a deep desire to succeed. Minuteman Press Inc. Minuteman Press proudly asserts to be the worlds largest and number one rated printing franchise. The company has been serving businesses for over 44 years, providing professional design, print and promotional services. The firm opened in 1973 by a father and son team in New York. The first franchise was established two years later and today Minuteman Press has more than 950 centers throughout the world. Franchisees must make an initial investment of $64,000 $164,000. Three employees are required to run each franchise. Ongoing support is provided to Minuteman Press franchisees. Goin Postal Goin Postal operates a network of enthusiastic, proactive and positive entrepreneurs who are put on the path to making the companys financial goals a relating. Goin Postal has been franchising since 2002 and has around 244 units in operation. A cash investment of $20,000 is required to be the owner of a Goin Postal franchise. AlphaGraphics AlphaGraphics boasts a network of around 300 like-minded business owners. In 2016, AlphaGraphics witnessed strong growth, with median sales of over $900,000. The company opened its first store in Arizona in 1970 and began franchising nine years later. It now operates franchises across the US and in seven different countries. AlphaGraphic centers offer printing, marketing communications and document management. An investment of $261,000 $394,000 is required to be a AlphaGraphics franchisee. FastSigns Discover a win-win franchise opportunity with FastSigns. The company opened its business model in 1985 and quickly developed to becoming one of the most highly trusted names in the franchise industry. FastSigns now has more than 120 corporate employees serving in over 650 locations. A cash investment of $80,000 is required to become a FastSigns franchisee. PIP Printing and Marketing Services PIP Printing has been creating and supporting entrepreneurs for over 40 years. The company was established in 1965 and started franchising four years later. Today PIP has more than 1,200 printing and business services centers worldwide. Successful candidates of PIP Printing will receive training seminars, a dedicated business management team and what it claims to be the most comprehensive marketing and sales support in the business. A $228,000 0 $278,000 initial investment is needed to own a PIP Printing franchise. Bizcard Xpress Bizcard Xpress was founded in 2006 and has been franchising since 2009. Delivering customer designed and printed business cards to busy entrepreneurs in one hour or less is the cornerstone of Bizcard Xpresss One Stop Business Improvement Shop. Entrepreneurs can join in the success of Bizcard Xpresss superfast printing and signage services by becoming a Bizcard franchisee. After making an initial investment of between $114,000 and $197,000. Bizcard Xpress franchise owners receive ongoing training and marketing support. No matter who you are, money talks. But its not just the salary figure that employees look at when evaluating job opportunities. Financial perks and benefits, or a lack thereof, often come into play. Benefits Benefit Everyone A few years ago, when unemployment numbers were high and the job market was slow moving, benefits packages took a hit. Employers didnt have much practical motivation for luring and enticing candidates with attractive perks. After all, a job offer alone was enough to get people excited. But today, with business thriving, benefits packages are once again valuable in enticing candidates to accept job offers. And beyond that, they keep employees engaged and allow organizations to motivate and retain top talent for much longer periods of time. According to a recent survey from Glassdoor, 60 percent of candidates report that perks and benefits are a major factor in their decision to take a job offer. Even more noteworthy is the fact that 80 percent of employees would rather get additional benefits than a pay raise. Small businesses and companies with tight budgets often feel like they dont have much to offer in terms of benefits. After all, not everyone can afford to follow Silicon Valley trends like putting massage chairs in reception areas and replacing elevators with slides. But you might be surprised to learn that these arent the perks employees even want. Employees want perks that are practical and rewarding. As the Glassdoor survey shows, this includes things like flextime and unlimited vacation. But it also includes practical financial perks. Offering a solid employee benefits package can bring numerous advantages to businesses. Heres a bulleted list highlighting these benefits: Small Business Deals Attracting and Retaining Talent : Provides a competitive edge in the job market. Appeals to top candidates who seek comprehensive benefits. Encourages employee loyalty and reduces turnover rates. : Boosting Employee Satisfaction and Morale : Enhances job satisfaction through additional non-wage compensations. Improves morale by showing employees they are valued. Leads to a more engaged and committed workforce. : Enhancing Productivity : Reduces absenteeism by supporting employees health and wellbeing. Increases focus and efficiency at work. Creates a positive work environment that stimulates productivity. : Improving Company Reputation : Enhances the companys image as an employer of choice. Attracts more clients and partners who value socially responsible businesses. Strengthens the companys position in the industry. : Financial Incentives for the Business : Offers tax advantages in some cases for providing certain benefits. Reduces costs associated with high employee turnover. Can be more cost-effective than offering higher salaries. : Supporting Employee Health and Wellness : Provides healthcare benefits, leading to healthier employees. Offers mental health support, crucial for employee wellbeing. Encourages a work-life balance through flexible schedules or remote work options. : Fostering Diversity and Inclusion : Tailored benefits can address the diverse needs of the workforce. Shows commitment to inclusivity and equality. Helps in building a diverse and robust employee base. : Legal Compliance and Risk Management : Ensures compliance with laws and regulations related to employee benefits. Reduces legal risks associated with non-compliance. Protects the company and employees through insurance and other benefits. : These benefits collectively contribute to a strong, sustainable, and positive company culture, ultimately driving business success. Methodology for Selecting Financial Perks and Benefits for Employees When we, as a small business or entrepreneurial venture, evaluate the various financial perks and benefits to offer our team, its vital to consider a range of factors. These factors ensure that the benefits align with both our employees needs and our business objectives. Heres a breakdown of the criteria we considered when crafting the following list: Relevance to Employee Needs Scale of Importance: 10/10 The benefits should address the real needs and preferences of our employees. This could include health insurance, retirement plans, or flexible spending accounts. Cost-Effectiveness for the Business Scale of Importance: 9/10 While offering competitive benefits, its essential to consider the financial feasibility for the business. The perks should not strain our financial resources. Competitive Edge in the Job Market Scale of Importance: 8/10 The perks offered should help position our company as a desirable place to work, helping to attract and retain top talent. Ease of Implementation and Management Scale of Importance: 7/10 The benefits should be straightforward to implement and manage, without requiring excessive administrative overhead. Scalability and Flexibility Scale of Importance: 6/10 As our business grows, the benefits should be adaptable and scalable to accommodate changing needs and employee numbers. Legal Compliance and Tax Benefits Scale of Importance: 8/10 Ensuring that the benefits comply with legal requirements and offer potential tax advantages is crucial. Employee Engagement and Morale Scale of Importance: 7/10 The perks should contribute positively to employee morale and engagement, fostering a productive and happy workplace. Long-Term Value to Employees Scale of Importance: 9/10 Benefits should offer long-term value, like retirement savings plans, which help in building employee loyalty and commitment. Customizability to Individual Needs Scale of Importance: 6/10 Offering customizable benefits, where employees can choose what fits their unique situation, can be highly appealing. Alignment with Company Culture and Values Scale of Importance: 7/10 The benefits should reflect and reinforce a companys culture and values, strengthening our brand from the inside out. Best Financial Perks and Benefits for Employees You dont have to give out pay raises to financially lure and retain top talent. There are plenty of other cost-effective, tax-friendly perks that are mutually beneficial. Lets highlight a few options that you may consider. 1. Offer HAS Contributions Did you know that you can set up Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for your employees? If youre unfamiliar with HSAs, theyre essentially savings accounts that are funded using pre-tax income and used to pay for qualifying medical expenses. In addition to the tax-exempt funds, a HSA can also be maintained for years, Boost Health Insurance points out. That means that if you dont withdraw those funds, your HSA can continue to grow, year over year. That tax-free money can also accrue interest, or even be used to invest in mutual funds. As an employer, you can help employees set up HSAs and even make regular contributions to them. Youll have to study the annual limits to understand how much you can contribute, but these calculations can be handled pretty effortlessly. Its also important to note that HSAs are set up in the name of the employee, which means you dont control how the funds are spent. And if an employee leaves, the account goes with them. Just something to keep in mind. 2. Offer 401(k) Match Programs For employees in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, retirement benefits are very attractive. And while you can automatically enroll employees into a 401(k) program, take things a step further by offering to match their contributions. A dollar-for-dollar match up to a certain percentage point usually 6 to 9 percent of their salary is a huge perk. Now, instead of contributing $6,000 a year to a 401(k), the employee knows shes getting a $12,000 contribution. That little boost can enhance a retirement portfolio by hundreds of thousands of dollars down the road. Educate your employees on the power of compounding interest and use a competitive matching program to entice and retain them. 3. Pay Off Student Loan Debt Helping employees save for retirement is great, but not every employee is as focused on this long-term goal as they should be. Instead, helping them accomplish short-term goals may be more enticing. If youre triaging immediate needs, newly-graduated students arent focused on saving for some nebulous retirement event at 62; they are focusing on paying off their student loans, says Jenny Chou, chief strategy officer at student lender Darien Rowayton Bank. One option is to match payments like in a 401(k) program. For example, you can offer to match the first 5 percent of annual student loan payments an employee makes beyond the minimum. Another choice is to help them refinance. With the proper guidance, you could help your employees save thousands of dollars per year something theyll be eternally grateful for. Better yet, some companies promise to pay off a certain dollar amount for every year the employee is with the company. 4. Offer Credit Assistance Americans arent very good at handling credit. This has become quite evident over the past couple of decades. If your employees are indicative of the average, then you probably have a number of individuals on your payroll who have poor credit. One perk that may be enticing is free credit assistance and monitoring. From your perspective, credit monitoring services are defined by the IRS as a form of identify theft protection, which makes them non-taxable. This makes it a savvy choice on both ends. 5. Provide Personalized Financial Guidance The fact that Americans have such poor credit scores speaks to the financial illiteracy of todays consumers. Most people havent received much financial guidance from parents and peers and, therefore, dont know what it looks like to be smart with their money. While its technically only your job to pay employees, many would appreciate you taking the time to help them get on the right path. Optional financial guidance is a really good perk to offer. You may even want to hire a financial guidance counselor for your team. Some of the different topics to help your employees with include: personal budgeting, savings techniques, investing strategies, retirement planning, debt repayment, and home buying. 6. Give Childcare Discounts Childcare is one of the biggest issues new parents face after the birth of a child. In many cases, the cost of childcare is such a large percentage of a persons income that they decide to quit the job and stay at home. Others are forced to look for better paying jobs. You might not be able to provide onsite childcare, but you can help out in other ways. Facebook, for example, offers four months of paid leave to new parents, as well as $4,000 in cash to help offset expenses. Other companies give monthly childcare stipends, or work out deals with local daycare facilities for discounted rates. Could you do something similar? Financial Perk/Benefit Description Advantages for Employees Considerations for Employers HSA Contributions Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are pre-tax savings accounts for medical expenses. Employers can contribute to these accounts. Funds can grow and accrue interest or be invested. - Tax-exempt savings for medical expenses - Accounts grow over time - Funds can accrue interest or be invested - Must understand annual limits for contributions - Employees control the funds and accounts follow them if they leave 401(k) Match Programs Employers match employee contributions to their 401(k) retirement plans, usually up to 6-9% of their salary. - Enhanced retirement savings - Employer matching effectively doubles contributions up to a limit - Benefits from compounding interest - Cost consideration for the employer in terms of matching funds - Can significantly improve employee retention and satisfaction Student Loan Debt Payment Employers assist in paying off employee student loans, either by matching payments or helping with refinancing. In some cases, employers pay off a set amount per year of employment. - Reduces personal financial stress - Accelerates debt repayment - Can result in substantial financial savings - Can be costly depending on the level of assistance provided - Attractive to younger employees or recent graduates Credit Assistance Offering services like free credit assistance and monitoring, recognized by the IRS as non-taxable. - Helps improve personal credit scores - Access to identity theft protection and monitoring services - Non-taxable benefit - Relatively low cost as a non-taxable benefit - Can improve employees' financial management skills Personalized Financial Guidance Providing optional financial guidance on topics like budgeting, savings, investing, and debt repayment. Employers may hire financial counselors for their team. - Access to professional financial advice - Improves financial literacy and management - Can lead to better financial decisions and savings - Costs associated with hiring financial counselors - Demonstrates employer's commitment to employee well-being Childcare Discounts Offering benefits like paid leave for new parents, cash bonuses, childcare stipends, or discounted rates at local daycare facilities. - Eases financial burden of childcare - Allows for better work-life balance - Attractive for employees with young families - Can be a significant financial commitment - Indirect way to support employees and boost morale Let the Benefits Do the Talking According to a MetLife study on the topic of employee benefits, theres a direct correlation between benefits and company loyalty. Specifically, the data shows that 71 percent of employees who are satisfied with their benefits are very loyal to their employers. While you have the ability to offer whatever benefits you want and customizable packages on an employee-by-employee basis is often a smart idea financial perks like the ones outlined in this article provide a solid foundation. A five-term lawmaker quit the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Sunday, claiming the DPK has become a personal party of leader Lee Jae-myung with pro-Lee extremist members exercising too much influence. "I am parting ways with the Democratic Party of Korea as of today," Rep. Lee Sang-min said in a statement to the press. "Since Chairman Lee Jae-myung took over as leader, the party has become Lee Jae-myung's personal party and a party of Gaeddal, let alone becoming a better party." Gaeddal, short for "daughters of reform" in Korean, refers to rank-and-file DPK members extremely loyal to party leader Lee. They have often come under criticism for taking collective actions, such as online attacks on anyone criticizing the leader. One of the non-mainstream DPK lawmakers, Lee Sang-min has hinted at the possibility in recent months of leaving the DPK, prompting speculation that he could join the ruling People Power Party (PPP) ahead of April's parliamentary elections. Lee said he will look for a "new path" and think about what course of action he will follow. (Yonhap) The best seem smooth and effortless, but great sales pitches are carefully crafted and delivered. Heres a guide to some powerful ideas that may benefit your sales team. The Importance of Great Sales Pitch Ideas Crafting a great sales pitch is crucial in the competitive landscape of business. It serves as the bridge between a product or service and its potential customers, often determining the success or failure of a sale. A well-crafted pitch does more than just inform; it engages the audience, builds trust, and creates a compelling narrative that highlights the value and uniqueness of whats being offered. The ability to effectively communicate this value in a concise and persuasive manner can significantly impact the growth and profitability of a business. Key points on the importance of crafting a great sales pitch include: Sell Your Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem ChatGPT Prompts for Business Advertise Your Business Here Captures Attention : A great pitch grabs the attention of the audience immediately, making them want to learn more. : A great pitch grabs the attention of the audience immediately, making them want to learn more. Builds Connection : It creates a rapport with the audience, making the pitch more relatable and the product or service more appealing. : It creates a rapport with the audience, making the pitch more relatable and the product or service more appealing. Highlights Benefits : Clearly articulates the benefits and unique selling points of the product or service, differentiating it from competitors. : Clearly articulates the benefits and unique selling points of the product or service, differentiating it from competitors. Addresses Needs : Tailors the message to address the specific needs or pain points of the target audience, making it more relevant and persuasive. : Tailors the message to address the specific needs or pain points of the target audience, making it more relevant and persuasive. Encourages Action : Includes a strong call to action, guiding potential customers on what to do next, be it making a purchase, scheduling a meeting, or requesting more information. : Includes a strong call to action, guiding potential customers on what to do next, be it making a purchase, scheduling a meeting, or requesting more information. Builds Trust : A well-crafted pitch demonstrates expertise and credibility, fostering trust between the seller and the potential buyer. : A well-crafted pitch demonstrates expertise and credibility, fostering trust between the seller and the potential buyer. Improves Sales Efficiency : A compelling pitch can shorten the sales cycle and improve conversion rates, leading to more effective and efficient sales efforts. : A compelling pitch can shorten the sales cycle and improve conversion rates, leading to more effective and efficient sales efforts. Adaptable: Allows for flexibility to tailor the message for different audiences and situations, maximizing its impact. Methodology for Assessing Sales Pitch Ideas Generating effective sales pitch ideas is key for entrepreneurs and small business owners. We evaluated the top ideas using an objective scale. Each factor below is rated on a scale of one to ten, with ten reserved for the most important. Heres how we approach the evaluation of sales pitch ideas: 1. Clarity and Conciseness Importance Scale: 9/10 Why It Matters: A good sales pitch is clear and to the point. We look for ideas that communicate value propositions succinctly. 2. Uniqueness and Creativity Small Business Deals Importance Scale: 8/10 Why It Matters: Pitches that stand out in a crowded market capture more attention. We prioritize original and creative approaches. 3. Audience Relevance Importance Scale: 10/10 Why It Matters: The pitch must resonate with the target audience. We assess how well the idea addresses the specific needs and interests of the intended customers. 4. Call-to-Action (CTA) Effectiveness Importance Scale: 8/10 Why It Matters: A compelling CTA is crucial for conversion. We evaluate the persuasiveness and clarity of the CTA in each pitch idea. 5. Emotional Connection Importance Scale: 7/10 Why It Matters: Creating an emotional bond with the audience can significantly boost the impact of a pitch. We look for ideas that evoke emotions effectively. 6. Evidence and Credibility Importance Scale: 8/10 Why It Matters: Pitches backed by data, testimonials, or demonstrations are more convincing. We consider the presence of supporting evidence in the pitch. 7. Adaptability and Flexibility Importance Scale: 6/10 Why It Matters: The pitch should be adaptable for different contexts and audiences. We assess how easily the idea can be customized. 8. Problem-Solution Fit Importance Scale: 9/10 Why It Matters: The pitch should clearly articulate how the product or service solves a specific problem faced by the audience. 9. Brand Alignment Importance Scale: 7/10 Why It Matters: The pitch should align with the brands values and messaging to maintain consistency and trust. 10. Memorability Importance Scale: 6/10 Why It Matters: Memorable pitches leave a lasting impression, increasing the likelihood of future engagement. This framework allows us to thoroughly evaluate sales pitch ideas, ensuring that they are effective and aligned with the goals of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Sales Pitch Ideas From carefully choosing your words to staying on point, here are 20 sales pitch ideas that should keep your team morale high. Choose Words Carefully You need to get the message out on the goods and services youve got for sale. Choosing the right words gives a pitch the power to close. Dont underestimate simple words like new , saleand off to make a big difference to any pitch. Know Your Client Salesforce reports 82% of sales people dont understand their prospects. If you dont research their preferences, youre more than likely telling them why you like the product. If thats the case, your pitch could fall on deaf ears. Talk to the Right People Even if your pitch is perfect, it wont close if youre wasting it on the wrong people. Finding out who the decision makers are is a big part of your due diligence. Sometimes all you need to do is ask your contact in the small business youre trying to sell to. Craft a Call to Action A good pitch needs to direct your prospect to the end goal. The very best way to do that is with a call to action. Even if theyre not ready to buy, setting up another meeting with one of these moves things along. Be Unique Cookie cutter doesnt cut it when it comes to an effective sales pitch. American Express Open Forum suggests you stay professional but try to stir up some curiosity at the same time. You might start with something like: Ive got something to show you, if you think youre ready. Be Personable Stodgy isnt the way to act if you want sales. Being informal means being personal. You can even share a little something from you life to warm things up. Have a Central Idea Being all over the map wont help close that deal. You need to have a central point you keep coming back to. This glue that holds a lot of sales pitches together is often the benefit to the customer. Stick to 3 Big Points Most people cant remember more than three things at once. That means your whole sales pitch needs to revolve around three ideas to be effective. Avoid Metaphors These are thought provoking in great works of literature. However, they can confuse prospects in a sales pitch. Telling someone your product is the Holy Grail of merchandise will only cloud the waters. Dont Try to be Smarter than Everyone Else Building a good team around you draws on the people that have other areas of expertise. Putting together a team of experts helps your sales pitches have depth and scope. Define the Target Audience The Hubspot blog takes this old adage a step further. You need find your target audience and imagine how they will use the product to fully engage with them. Dont just find them. Try and get inside their skin. Checking out their social media posts helps. Rehearse Often Practice makes perfect. Try to find that medium ground where you can hit all the big points in your presentation without sounding like youre reading from a script. Work in front of a mirror or friends. Invite Conversation A good sales pitch is a two way street. Letting prospects ask questions helps to understand their needs better and starts conversations. Dont Ignore Social Media SuperOffice makes a great point about successful modern sales pitches. They report 90% of successful sales people use social media to craft great pitches that work. Sharing relevant content and responding to comments qualifies. Use Icons Remember this is a sales pitch. It needs to have a good rhythm and pace. Using icons with statistics keeps things moving along. We process visuals much faster than text. Use Catchy Email Opening Lines Email is effective but competitive at the same time. A good sales pitch in cyberspace shouldnt just be an introduction. Engage right away with a statistic or timely reference to news of the day. Something like: Have you seen the latest on? Focus on Being Helpful Using hard sell techniques is old school. The traditional pitch is all about closing the sale. The new method is about asking the right questions, listening and solving a real problem with your goods or service. Upwork has a good graphic on the subject. Try Rhyming Ever wonder why the best tag lines stick in you head? Its because they rhyme. Try adopting this proven method into your sales pitch. Start with a Question People generally answer questions. If you start your sales pitch with one, youve started a back and forth that can wind up in a sale. Try something like, Have you ever wondered about ? Learn to Tweak the Pitch Not everyone will buy what youve got to sell. However, you can learn from even the folks that say no if you engage them. Finding out what works and what needs to be changed is a process. Sales Pitch Idea Main Idea Benefits Considerations/Challenges Choose Words Carefully Use simple, impactful words like "new", "sale", "off" Makes pitch more compelling Finding the right balance of words Know Your Client Understand the prospect's preferences Tailored approach to client's needs Requires thorough research Talk to the Right People Identify decision makers Ensures pitch reaches influential individuals Identifying the correct person can be challenging Craft a Call to Action Direct prospects towards the end goal Encourages clear next steps Crafting an effective and appropriate CTA Be Unique Avoid generic pitches; create curiosity Stands out from competitors Balancing professionalism and curiosity Be Personable Use an informal and personal approach Builds rapport and trust Maintaining professionalism Have a Central Idea Focus on a key point or benefit Creates a clear and memorable message Sticking to the central idea throughout the pitch Stick to 3 Big Points Limit pitch to three main ideas Easier for the audience to remember Choosing the most impactful three points Avoid Metaphors Keep language clear and straightforward Reduces confusion Avoiding over-simplification Don't Try to be Smarter than Everyone Else Collaborate with a diverse team for depth and scope Leverages diverse expertise Balancing input and maintaining coherence Define the Target Audience Understand and relate to the target audience's use of the product Creates a more engaging and relevant pitch Deep understanding of the audience required Rehearse Often Practice the pitch for perfection Enhances delivery and confidence Balancing rehearsal with spontaneity Invite Conversation Encourage questions and dialogue Fosters engagement and understanding of needs Managing time and maintaining pitch focus Don't Ignore Social Media Use social media for crafting and enhancing pitches Reaches a wider audience, modern approach Staying relevant and interactive on social platforms Use Icons Incorporate visuals and statistics in the pitch Enhances engagement and comprehension Choosing effective and relevant visuals Use Catchy Email Opening Lines Start emails with engaging lines Captures attention in competitive email space Creating lines that are both catchy and relevant Focus on Being Helpful Prioritize solving a real problem over hard selling Builds trust and long-term relationships Balancing helpfulness with the objective to sell Try Rhyming Incorporate rhyming for memorable pitches Makes the pitch more memorable and engaging Creating appropriate and effective rhymes Start with a Question Engage audience with a question Initiates interaction and interest Crafting relevant and thought-provoking questions Learn to Tweak the Pitch Adjust the pitch based on feedback and responses Allows for continuous improvement and customization Requires adaptability and willingness to change Related reading: 12 Sales Pitch Examples That Close Deals How a cancer survivor and refugee from Ukraine didnt waste her time after Russias invasion and started to also help Slovaks. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Ukrainian version | Slovak version As the weather outside gets colder, it is getting busier in Hanna Semenovas salon in Bratislava. People are hoping that the Ukrainian aesthetician will help them prepare their skin for the winter. If she isnt in her salon, which she runs with other Ukrainian women, applying skin care products to a clients face, Semenova may be offering consultations to Ukrainian women or writing skin care protocols for Slovak clients. The skin care specialist even squeezed in a few tips on how to make your skin look better during an interview with The Slovak Spectator, recommending professional cosmetic products selected by a specialist, leading a healthy lifestyle and self-massaging your face. At least one and a half minutes during face washing in the morning and in the evening, the opponent of facial injections says about the length of a self-massage. Ideally, you should do a 20-minute massage during the day with special facial products. She believes that a person can look good regardless of age or health problems. Semenova knows it well. Hanna Semanova at work. (Source: Archive of H. S.) Cancer made her aesthetician Ten years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer. After a while I realised that I dont look very good. I really wanted to have good skin, she says. But doctors, unlike aestheticians, did not allow her to undergo any cosmetic treatments. She wasnt the only woman dealing with the same problem and striving to look great at the same time. So she herself decided to become an aesthetician. She says that she chose aesthetic cosmetology because it doesnt require medical education, and doesnt involve any serious interventions such as facial injections. The treatments she offers to clients, like facial cleaning, do not have an immediate effect, but week after week she claims that the condition of a clients skin improves. Maybe a person does not feel that wow effect the first time, but over time you see how your face and skin have changed, the Ukrainian says. To be sure that she uses top products, the Ukrainian adds that she always tests all the cosmetics she uses at work on herself at first. When someone makes an appointment to consult their skin care with her, Semenova always asks for their facial photo and about cosmetic products they use as well as potential health problems to be of help to the client. For example, cosmetics containing seaweed cannot be used by people with thyroid problems, the Ukrainian explains. Then, in addition to a consultation, cleaning the clients face can begin. Read also: Read also: Ukrainian photographer helps young refugees on Bratislavas rugby pitches Read more Queen of disinfection Starting a business in Slovakia was not a walk in the park. Semenova found herself in Slovakia three days after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. My house is 30 km away from the Russian border. I saw how the invasion began, the Ukrainian recalls. A real war started. The Kharkiv native packed her stuff in 15 minutes and left the city with her family and grandchildren, except her husband, in a car. Slovakia wasnt a big unknown to Semenova. She had visited Bratislava before the war to see her niece. However, her situation was different and confusing. At first it was a shock, we did not know where to start and what to do next, she recalls, It was difficult to accept the situation. But after Ukrainian refugees were granted temporary refuge in Slovakia, things were gradually starting to settle down for Semenova. Soon she found a job at Medirex laboratories, where she cleaned and disinfected five floors of offices and laboratories until January of this year. It was not an easy job, she notes. But if you see the positives in every job, it brings satisfaction. She was then telling herself that she was the queen of disinfection. Apart from work, Semenova also took up free Slovak lessons in the hope of going back to her profession as aesthetician in Slovakia later on. Her colleagues at Medirex also used to read childrens books with her to help her overcome the language barrier. Slovaks are very open people and are always ready to give help and support, the building designer-turned-aesthetician says. After passing the necessary exams in Slovakia, Semenova received certificates that would help her open a salon in the Slovak capital. In her opinion, Slovak women are very cautious when it comes to cosmetic products. They sometimes dont understand what some treatments are for, the aesthetician says. Ukrainian women are more interested in cosmetics and learning about it, Semenova thinks. In their salon, Ukrainian women from Odessa, Kyiv and Kharkiv and she work together. They all met at cosmetology courses in Bratislava. In Ukraine, each had their own salon. Hanna Semenova in her Bratislava salon. (Source: Archive of H. S.) In love with Slovak cuisine If she doesnt work, Semenova usually spends her free time with family and grandchildren. The aesthetician also continues to work on her Slovak skills. Moreover, she and her sister are Nordic walking enthusiasts. Semenova hopes that other Ukrainians will learn from Slovaks and share their experience with Slovaks in return. Despite the invasion, she says, Ukrainians shouldnt waste their time, embracing the opportunities offered to them and the culture that they have found themselves in. If we respect the residents of other countries, we will be treated the same way, Semenova says. Unlike Slovak health care, which the cancer survivor finds overcomplicated, the Ukrainian woman fell in love with Slovak cuisine. She adores local knedliky (dumplings) and chlebova polievka (bread soup). She says that in Slovakia, traditions and family always come first. Ukrainians, unfortunately, often forget about these things, Semenova thinks. At Christmas, for example, Slovak families usually gather together. I would like to take this tradition with me to Ukraine - as well as the understanding that people need to rest and take time for themselves. This story was published with support from the International Press Institute's Ukraine regional reporting fund. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/israeli-military-says-destroyed-about-500-shafts-to-hamas-tunnels-in-gaza-since-october-27-1115363370.html Israeli Military Says Destroyed About 500 Shafts to Hamas Tunnels in Gaza Since October 27 Israeli Military Says Destroyed About 500 Shafts to Hamas Tunnels in Gaza Since October 27 Last week, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce, the exchange of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. On Friday, the Israeli military resumed fighting against Hamas, saying the group had violated the humanitarian pause by opening fire on Israeli territory. 2023-12-03T17:53+0000 2023-12-03T17:53+0000 2023-12-05T09:24+0000 world palestine-israel conflict middle east israel gaza strip hamas israel defense forces (idf) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/02/1114667508_0:13:1024:589_1920x0_80_0_0_3ddd1f22b6fbc5566ab699f151817461.jpg The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday its had discovered over 800 shafts to Hamas tunnels since the start of its ground operation in the Gaza Strip on October 27, with about 500 of them destroyed so far."Since the beginning of ground operations in the Gaza Strip, IDF soldiers have located over 800 shafts to Hamas underground tunnels. About 500 of the tunnel shafts have been destroyed using a variety of operational methods, including with explosives and blocks," the IDF said on Telegram. On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231202/israel-bans-entry-of-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-through-rafah-crossing-1115341630.html israel gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International last week, qatar mediated a deal between israel and hamas on a temporary truce, the exchange of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid into the gaza strip. on friday, the israeli military resumed fighting against hamas, saying the group had violated the humanitarian pause by opening fire on israeli territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/over-2500-trucks-stuck-at-ukrainian-polish-border-amid-strike-by-drivers---border-guard-1115356002.html Over 2,500 Trucks Stuck at Ukrainian-Polish Border Amid Strike by Drivers - Border Guard Over 2,500 Trucks Stuck at Ukrainian-Polish Border Amid Strike by Drivers - Border Guard More than 2,500 trucks have been stuck in line at the Ukrainian-Polish border due to a strike by Polish carriers, demanding the resumption of permits for border crossings by Ukrainian carriers, which were canceled by the "transport visa-free regime," the Ukrainian Border Guard Service said on Sunday. 2023-12-03T11:48+0000 2023-12-03T11:48+0000 2023-12-03T11:48+0000 world ukrainian crisis poland ukrainian border guard service /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/17/1115167893_0:416:2730:1952_1920x0_80_0_0_ca6b7e05d9424ffe6dae1409ffcf6cc2.jpg "There are four directions where the protesters across the border have been blocking the movement of trucks on access roads. These are the directions of the Yagodyn, Krakovets, Rava-Ruskaya checkpoints, and the direction of the Shehyni checkpoint has also been on the list since November 23. As of this morning, according to the information we have received from Polish border guards, there are over 2,500 cargo vehicles in the queue," Andriy Demchenko, a border service spokesman, told the Ukrainian parliament's official broadcaster.Most of the trucks, or 850 cargo vehicles, are crowded at the Rava-Ruskaya checkpoint, he said, adding that another 600 had been stuck at Krakovets and Shehyni checkpoints each, and 450 at the Yagodyn border crossing. A certain number of trucks have managed to cross the border, but they are very few compared to the time before November 6, when the protests began, Demchenko said. Polish carriers started blocking automobile checkpoints on the border with Ukraine in early November to protest what they said was the Polish government's inaction over their loss of business to foreign competitors. Their disconnect is associated with the fact that Ukrainian truckers have been exempt from obtaining permits to cross the Polish border since February 2022, which has made their services cheaper and more attractive to customers. The protesters demand the reintroduction of restrictions on Ukrainian truckers entering Poland and a ban on Poland-based transport companies with capital from outside the European Union. The strike is expected to last until January 2024. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/poland-ukraine-may-face-complex-relations-in-coming-months---govt-1113886892.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/poland-warns-ukraine-failure-to-respect-its-interests-to-affect-every-decision--1113874328.html poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian crisis, ukraine poland tensions, ukraine polish carriers, visa-free regime https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/palestinian-leader-calls-on-icc-to-speed-up-israeli-war-crimes-trial--reports-1115353279.html Palestinian Leader Calls on ICC to Speed Up Israeli War Crimes Trial Reports Palestinian Leader Calls on ICC to Speed Up Israeli War Crimes Trial Reports Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a meeting with International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan, during which he urged Khan to expedite the trial of Israeli soldiers, who reportedly committed war crimes against Palestinians, Palestinian news agency reported on Saturday. 2023-12-03T10:01+0000 2023-12-03T10:01+0000 2023-12-05T09:24+0000 world palestine-israel conflict israeli-palestinian conflict israel-gaza conflict palestine mahmoud abbas international criminal court (icc) middle east gaza strip /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115322800_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_fded78d19d9786322dfad69f8f5b5411.jpg Abbas informed Khan of the recent developments in Palestine, as well as the acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing carried out by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank, the news agency reported.Israeli Military Struck Hamas Facilities in Gaza Strip StatementThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday it had struck at infrastructure and weapons storage facilities of Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, eliminating five fighters of the movement.The Israeli naval troops also struck at Hamas targets over the past 24 hours, the statement read.On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.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 truce was extended several times, but on Friday, December 1, the Israeli military resumed fighting against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, saying the group had violated the humanitarian pause by opening fire on Israeli territory.Israeli Airstrikes on Refugee Camp in Gaza Claim Lives of 14 People ReportsAt least 14 people, including children and women, were killed in the Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian news agency reported on Sunday.The death toll is expected to increase as rescue operations continue, the report added.Shia Muslim Militant Groups Attacked US Base in Iraqi Kurdistan - StatementThe Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which includes Shia Muslim militant groups, said on Saturday that it had carried out a drone attack on a US base at Erbil Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan."In response to the crimes the enemy is committing against our people in Gaza, Iraqi Islamic Resistance fighters used a drone to attack the US occupation base at Erbil Airport," the group said in a statement.On Thursday, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said that US forces in Iraq and Syria had been attacked 74 times since October 17. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/genocide-becomes-functional-when-israel-us-deny-palestinian-existence---academic-1115335342.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/israels-gaza-offensive-ends-in-political-and-military-defeat--scott-ritter-1115278076.html palestine gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel-hamas conflict, israel-hamas at war, gaza strip crisis, gaza conflict, israel-palestine conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/ukraine-admits-its-unable-to-increase-military-production-to-keep-up-with-russia-1115364455.html Ukraine Admits It's Unable to Increase Military Production to Keep Up With Russia Ukraine Admits It's Unable to Increase Military Production to Keep Up With Russia Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Sunday admitted that Ukraine alone is unable to increase military production to be on par with Russia. 2023-12-03T21:12+0000 2023-12-03T21:12+0000 2023-12-04T02:03+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia nato us arms for ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/19/1115203120_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8d353d3c353376b85eb987bed495a0ea.jpg Western countries have been providing military aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Ukraine, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231101/ukraines-weapons-wish-list-whats-on-it-and-will-the-west-deliver-1114649076.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International military production, ukraine military industry, will ukraine par with russia, will russia defeat ukraine, mykhailo podolyak https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/us-to-deploy-ground-based-missiles-in-indo-pacific-in-2024---reports-1115352084.html US to Deploy Ground-Based Missiles in Indo-Pacific in 2024 - Reports US to Deploy Ground-Based Missiles in Indo-Pacific in 2024 - Reports The US military is planning to deploy ground-based intermediate-range missiles in the Indo-Pacific region in 2024 in order to deter China, the Asian newspaper reported on Sunday, citing US Army Pacific spokesman Rob Phillips. 2023-12-03T06:00+0000 2023-12-03T06:00+0000 2023-12-03T06:00+0000 military us indo-pacific us army pacific (usarpac) tomahawk inf treaty donald trump asian version of nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106746/17/1067461735_0:313:6000:3688_1920x0_80_0_0_5847cad263ea82ba0575c95da172833a.jpg The United States might deploy land-based versions of the Tomahawk cruise missile and the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) with an estimated range of 500 kilometers (310.6 miles) to 2,700 kilometers, media reported, adding that the US official did not specify the expected location and timing of deployment. This will be the first arsenal in the region since the end of the Cold War and the first deployment of intermediate-range missiles by the United States since the country withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (the INF Treaty). The INF treaty, signed between the Soviet Union and the US in 1987, banned the countries from developing and possessing ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges from 500-5,500 kilometers. In 2019, former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the treaty. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/scott-ritter-us-pushing-nuclear-arms-race--can-only-have-tragic-ending-1115332523.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231120/no-trust-in-us-nuclear-umbrella-why-france-is-upgrading-its-strategic-missiles-1115081051.html indo-pacific Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, us militarism, asia pacific, asian version of nato, us indo-pacific https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/whats-behind-russias-drive-to-provide-africa-with-grain-1115358187.html Whats Behind Russias Drive to Provide Africa With Grain? Whats Behind Russias Drive to Provide Africa With Grain? Speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit in July, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged that Moscow would deliver free grain as humanitarian aid to six African countries. 2023-12-03T15:04+0000 2023-12-03T15:04+0000 2023-12-03T15:04+0000 world russia somalia vladimir putin grain supplies deliveries ukraine west brics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/03/1115359000_0:0:3169:1784_1920x0_80_0_0_d825678374e379cec08d9dab8bfb1f76.jpg A ship carrying humanitarian grain from Russia arrived in Somalia's capital Mogadishu earlier this week.Somali media reported that the Horn of Africa nation had received a "much-needed aid shipment of 25,000 tons of grain from Russia to address the [consequences of] flooding in the country."He was echoed by Richard D. Wolff, a professor of economics emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a visiting professor in the graduate program in international affairs at the New School University in New York, who said in an interview with Sputnik that he expects "the West mostly to ignore [Moscows] grain shipment to Somalia."When asked about what differences there are between Ukrainian grain supplies that mostly went to developed European countries and the Russian strategy, Rossi, for his part, singled out the Wests politically-motivated position on the matter.Touching upon the Russian strategy, Rossi called it part of a geopolitical effort made by a spate of emerging economies since the beginning of this decade.He stressed that by delivering raw materials to Global South nations, Russia signals its "real interest in integrating them within an expanding community of emerging economies." The same view was expressed by Wolff, who told Sputnik that Russia is "messaging its eager integration into the BRICS side of the world economy allied with the countries of the Global South."Rossi, in turn, noted that Moscow is seeking to set up and develop a "multipolar global economy, where there will be some other key currencies beyond the US dollar.This, he concluded, could stop America from exploiting its "soft power" that so far "has allowed it to give without taking, to lend without borrowing and to acquire without paying as already noticed by the French economist Jacques Rueff in his 1971 book entitled The Monetary Sin of the West."Shortly after the expiration of the grain deal, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that Moscow would continue providing African states with grain and fertilizers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/russia-leads-way-for-global-south-by-providing-grain-for-africa--experts-1115330321.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231027/russia-to-be-able-to-export-65mln-tonnes-of-grain-in-2023-2024-1114528797.html russia somalia ukraine west Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.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 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg humanitarian cargo of grain from russia, arrival of humanitarian cargo of grain from russia in somalia, ukrainian grain deliveries, global south nations Downtown Scottsbluff hosted the third annual Very Merry Christmas Market on Saturday with vendors selling everything from coffee to arts and crafts. While slow at first, the event brought out plenty of community support. Initially, vendors had difficulty in reining in their stalls and tents as the wind and the cold were moving tents around and knocking over items. Once everything was secured and roped down, the shoppers were able to start. Along with drinks like coffee and food from Rositas food truck, vendors offered plenty of variety for attendees who milled through the market. One vendor, Ashley Guzman, had focused her stall on macrame. Macrame uses ropes and knots to create all kinds of things, including jewelry and even rugs. Guzman described the process as tying cords into knots to make art. This was her second year selling at the market, and she was happy for the opportunity to return and sell her items again. Last year I did really well. The town was super supporting and it was a beautiful day, and so I figured we might as well give it another shot, Guzman said. Mayra Heeman, owner of the Western Nebraska Pioneers, also set up a stall at the market to sell merchandise and try to raise awareness about the team. This was the first year she had been able to make it to the market. Previously, she said, they had always been out of town the day of the event. She was happy that she was able to keep involved in the community and inform more people about the team. The Pioneers are a wood-bat college team that plays in the area every summer. Were going into our seventh year and I sometimes get surprised because theres people that have never heard of us, Heeman said. So hopefully, you know, we can bring more awareness for the team in the community. Vendor Diane May runs her business as more of a side hustle. She creates Christmas decorations, including one of her favorites for which she incorporates used doors and cuts them into Christmas tree shapes. I try to (sell) during the Christmas season mostly. I do pop-up shops around Christmas time, May said. Its just I like to create things so I just need people to buy them. For vendors like May, the Christmas market provides an opportunity to make money off their hobbies and show community members what they can do. Some shoppers were return customers, while others were visiting the market for the first time. All customers were able to shop while listening to Christmas music as a choir performed carols throughout the day. Shopper Paulette Schnell made several purchases during the day, including a scarf and some gift baskets. She said events like the market are important to keep the community involved. I just think it brings people into the downtown where we really need to revitalize and get people seeing whats down here, Schnell said. Despite the wind and the cold, the market seemed to be a success for all those involved. This was the first year the market was held in the newly completed 18th Street Plaza. It was under construction last year, and the market had to be held on Broadway. The Very Merry Christmas Market will be one of many Christmas events in the coming weeks. Process of approving $504 billion state budget slows down amid parties' confrontation By Jun Ji-hye, Nam Hyun-woo Tension between the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is deepening as the latter is pushing for special counsel probes into issues unfavorable to the ruling party and the government, including a stock manipulation case allegedly involving first lady Kim Keon Hee. The DPK is also pushing for a parliamentary investigation into the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun who died in July after being swept away by a torrent during search and rescue operations for victims of heavy monsoon rains. That issue provoked public criticism as troops mobilized for the operations without wearing life vests. In addition, civic groups filed a complaint in October against President Yoon Suk Yeol and four former and current senior security officials over allegations of attempting to influence an investigation into the death of the young Marine. Amid mounting tensions between the rival parties, the process of approving the 657 trillion won ($504 billion) state budget has slowed, resulting in the failure of the National Assembly to meet the deadline set for Saturday. The deadline for the budget is set for Dec. 2 every year, and the Assembly also failed to meet the deadline for the two previous state budgets. The DPK with 168 lawmakers at the 300-strong Assembly is moving to unilaterally pass motions to designate two special investigation proposals during a plenary session slated for Friday. One of the proposals deals with allegations that first lady Kim was involved in manipulating stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012. Kim has denied the allegations. "Recent public opinion polls showed high support for the special counsel probe into the first lady's alleged involvement in stock manipulation, even from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province," Rep. Seo Young-kyo of the DPK said during a radio appearance on Saturday. The regions mentioned by the opposition lawmaker are considered home turf for conservatives. The ruling party denounced the opposition party's move as a "politically motivated act of violence." These issues are adding to already existing conflicts caused by the DPK's attempt to impeach a controversial broadcasting watchdog chief that forced him to resign, and the president's veto of 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 Assembly was set to take place. Lee reportedly expressed his intention to step down on Thursday. The DPK 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. The rival parties have been butting heads over the isue regarding 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 party has been arguing that the KCC chairman is tasked with normalizing broadcasting, and the impeachment attempt is the main opposition party's attempt to use left-leaning TV programs for the general elections. The DPK said Lee's resignation is "a mean trick" to avoid impeachment. "Accepting the KCC chairman's resignation is a blatant impediment to the Assembly's 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 DPK's disregard for the rule of law cannot prevail over the country's 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." 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, believes they will help improve the independence of broadcasters, while the government believes they will make broadcast networks more vulnerable to political influence. WASHINGTON Among images of the bombed out homes and ravaged streets of Gaza, some stood out for the utter horror: Bloodied, abandoned infants. Viewed millions of times online since the war began, these images are deepfakes created using artificial intelligence. If you look closely you can see clues: fingers that curl oddly, or eyes that shimmer with an unnatural light all telltale signs of digital deception. The outrage the images were created to provoke, however, is all too real. Pictures from the Israel-Hamas war have vividly and painfully illustrated AIs potential as a propaganda tool, used to create lifelike images of carnage. Since the war began last month, digitally altered ones spread on social media have been used to make false claims about responsibility for casualties or to deceive people about atrocities that never happened. While most of the false claims circulating online about the war didnt require AI to create and came from more conventional sources, technological advances are coming with increasing frequency and little oversight. Thats made the potential of AI to become another form of weapon starkly apparent, and offered a glimpse of whats to come during future conflicts, elections and other big events. Its going to get worse a lot worse before it gets better, said Jean-Claude Goldenstein, CEO of CREOpoint, a tech company based in San Francisco and Paris that uses AI to assess the validity of online claims. The company has created a database of the most viral deepfakes to emerge from Gaza. Pictures, video and audio: With generative AI its going to be an escalation you havent seen. In some cases, photos from other conflicts or disasters have been repurposed and passed off as new. In others, generative AI programs have been used to create images from scratch, such as one of a baby crying amidst bombing wreckage that went viral in the conflicts earliest days. Other examples of AI-generated images include videos showing supposed Israeli missile strikes, or tanks rolling through ruined neighborhoods, or families combing through rubble for survivors. In many cases, the fakes seem designed to evoke a strong emotional reaction by including the bodies of babies, children or families. In the bloody first days of the war, supporters of both Israel and Hamas alleged the other side had victimized children and babies; deepfake images of wailing infants offered photographic evidence that was quickly held up as proof. The propagandists who create such images are skilled at targeting peoples deepest impulses and anxieties, said Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that has tracked disinformation from the war. Whether its a deepfake baby, or an actual image of an infant from another conflict, the emotional impact on the viewer is the same. The more abhorrent the image, the more likely a user is to remember it and to share it, unwittingly spreading the disinformation further. Similarly deceptive AI-generated content began to spread after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. One altered video appeared to show Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordering Ukrainians to surrender. Such claims have continued to circulate as recently as last week, showing just how persistent even easily debunked misinformation can be. Each new conflict, or election season, provides new opportunities for disinformation peddlers to demonstrate the latest AI advances. That has many AI experts and political scientists warning of the risks next year, when several countries hold major elections, including the U.S., India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Taiwan, Indonesia and Mexico. The risk that AI and social media could be used to spread lies to U.S. voters has alarmed lawmakers from both parties in Washington. At a recent hearing on the dangers of deepfake technology, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, Democrat of Virginia, said the U.S. must invest in funding the development of AI tools designed to counter other AI. We as a nation need to get this right, Connolly said. Around the world a number of startup tech firms are working on new programs that can sniff out deepfakes, affix watermarks to images to prove their origin, or scan text to verify any specious claims that may have been inserted by AI. The next wave of AI will be: How can we verify the content that is out there. How can you detect misinformation, how can you analyze text to determine if it is trustworthy? said Maria Amelie, co-founder of Factiverse, a Norwegian company that has created an AI program that can scan content for inaccuracies or bias introduced by other AI programs. Such programs would be of immediate interest to educators, journalists, financial analysts and others interested in rooting out falsehoods, plagiarism or fraud. Similar programs are being designed to sniff out doctored photos or video. While this technology shows promise, those using AI to lie are often a step ahead, according to David Doermann, a computer scientist who led an effort at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to respond to the national security threats posed by AI-manipulated images. Every time we release a tool that detects this, our adversaries can use AI to cover up that trace evidence, said Doermann. Detection and trying to pull this stuff down is no longer the solution. We need to have a much bigger solution. Misinformation about Israel-Hamas war floods social media; here are the facts Claim: Black flag calls Muslims to action Claim: Kim Jong Un blames Biden for war Claim: Turkish president threatens to intervene Claim: Israel confirms it bombed hospital Claim: Qatars emir threatens to cut off worlds natural gas supply Claim: BBC reports Ukraine provided weapons to Hamas Claim: Video shows actor in fake blood for propaganda Claim: Hamas fighters storm sports field to attack Israelis Claim: Putin warns US to stay away from war KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll has surpassed 15,200 and that 70% of those killed were women and children. The figure was announced Saturday by ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra, who did not provide further details. The previous toll given by the ministry was more than 13,300 dead. Al-Qidra did not explain the sharp jump. However, the ministry had only been able to provide sporadic updates since Nov. 11, amid problems with connectivity and major war-related disruptions in hospital operations. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. More than 40,000 people have been wounded, al-Qidra said. Israel intensified a renewed offensive that followed a weeklong truce with Hamas, giving rise to renewed concerns about civilian casualties, even as the United States urged ally Israel to do everything possible to protect civilians. This is going to be very important going forward," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday after meetings with Arab foreign ministers in Dubai, wrapping up his third Middle East tour since the war started. "Its something were going to be looking at very closely. Get the full story here: 'Let me tell them goodbye before they get killed': How eSIM cards are connecting Palestinian families 'Let me tell them goodbye before they get killed': How eSIM cards are connecting Palestinian families Taking 'baby steps together across the world' As 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. 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. Photos: Inside the new Standing Bear High School in southeast Lincoln Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Theres a new way to help beautify downtown Kelso and spread holiday cheer. So, grab your ugly Christmas sweater and a wreath for your car grille. A recently renewed Kelso business association is hosting a holiday-themed parade-style drive to Kelso Rotarys Lights in the Park on Dec. 15 to raise money to buy downtown flower planters. Participants are asked to wear holiday attire, decorate their cars and meet at 5 p.m. at the Kelso City Hall parking lot at 203 South Pacific Ave., according to a Kelso Business and Community Association press release. At 6 p.m., drivers will head about six minutes east to Tam OShanter Park and drive through about a mile of lighted displays in the third year of Lights in the Park, presented by the Rotary Club of Kelso and the Cowlitz County Public Utility District. All vehicles must be legally allowed to drive on the streets and no roads will be closed for the vehicles, so regular traffic rules apply. Lights in the Park runs Dec. 15-24. Payment and decorating vehicles arent required, but a $20 donation is suggested. Lights in the Park will receive $5, and the rest will go toward the business associations America in Bloom project to purchase new flower planters in downtown Kelso for the spring. Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify when Lights in the Park runs in 2023. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain An emerging consensus among school technologists is that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is irrepressible, so the process of embracing it has to start somewhere. One approach that has made progress at La Canada Unified School District (LCUSD) in California: forming a task force of stakeholders to deal with emerging technology. Explaining her task force to a room of her peers on Thursday at the California IT in Education Conference in Sacramento, LCUSD's Associate Superintendent of Technology Services Jamie Lewsadder said the idea was to have an open conversation about the district's position and eventually workshop safe and ethical guidelines for using GenAI, what kids need to know about it and what the respective responsibilities should be for students, teachers and parents. To do this, she wanted to avail herself of other people's thoughts and expertisenot just faculty but parents, students and community members. "I put out a note to our families and said, 'I'm looking for parents who want to be involved in an emerging tech council.' I purposely did not name it 'AI task force,' I named it an emerging tech council, with that concept that it's going to be changing, so whatever comes next, this group will be in place," she said. "I'm telling all of my teams that there's an asterisk by everything we do. Just be ready, nothing's set in stone. Just due to the nature of the change, we have to just continue to be ready and hold onto the roller coaster ... It's appropriate to be skeptical, terrified and feeling the awe at the same time." Lewsadder said the response was massive and varied, including worried moms, a father who got his Ph.D. in artificial intelligence 30 years ago, and even a ninth grader with autism. In addition to getting the ball rolling on answers to looming questions, she said it also helped get a hesitant district leadership on board with GenAI. "The emerging tech council helped a lot, because one of the parents saidand I can quote because it's the bumper sticker for our task force'We're all in. Let's get started,' and that was the takeaway," she said. "Again, with safety, with guardrails, all those pieces, but we needed somebody on the outside, and that influence really impacted the room." Lewsadder cited special education as one department that might be a key entry point for discussion or open minds about new technology in some districts. "I know in our district, our special ed kids were the first ones to have iPads, and they were the kids that looked a little bit different because they were the only ones in the room with tech," she said. "I worry about teachers removing tech to deal with AI, and now suddenly our special ed kids who don't have tech written into their IEPs (individualized education programs) anymore are losing an accommodation, so that's what I've been telling teachers, is, 'You can't go back to paper.'" Lewsadder said she also created an AI Slack channel in her tech team's workspace so anyone interested could post information, continue learning and invite teachers. "In technology, we've learned that you don't have to know all the answers, you have to know how to get them," she said. "If we can get that message to our educators, they will feel more confident with technology tools, so that's something else to think about." Several useful pieces of information emerged, including that many people lack general knowledge about data privacy with GenAI. Lewsadder said many students were shocked to learn that if they had entered their resumes into ChatGPT, they gave away that personal information. This prompted her to send emails to families and encourage regular communication about these issues among staff. "It's a quick message. I think you just do PA announcements, you send it to the parents, the teachers can say these thingsit doesn't have to be a revolutionary change, but getting the message out about the risk is really important for the kids," she said. Jennette Vanderpool, an education strategist with the ed-tech service provider CDW Education, said another reason to maintain open conversation among faculty is that they use different tools, and some have better content restrictions than others. For example, ChatGPT will give a user the recipe for a Molotov cocktail, while Merlyn Mind will not. "We're really waiting for Google and Microsoft to get on board with the educational safety component," she said. Vanderpool added that teachers need to know these things so they can set their own personal classroom rules accordinglydefining which tools they want to use, amending their syllabus language with basic guidelines, and teaching students APA and MLA citation rules for generative AI. "We can't tell teachers how to teach, we can't tell them how to grade, but if we create policy around AI usage, then it can be on the teacher's plate to define how specifically they want it written in their syllabi," she said. Paradoxically, for all its risks, another key hurdle in adopting GenAI is the student tendency to view it through a negative lens, which won't be helpful to them entering a workforce that has integrated with the technology. "The kids don't really see it as something they're supposed to be doing, so they have this negative connotation, and I think that's one thing we all really have to fight to break," Lewsadder said. (c)2023 Government Technology Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Kevin Kim Australian-Korean starlet BEBE YANA is back with her latest single "VROOM VROOM," a tender drum and bass track that tells the story of Yanas summer of love. The beats refreshing and dreamy feeling combined with the tracks playful lyrics, catchy melody, and BEBE YANAs tantalizing voice, transport listeners to a place filled with wanderlust and discovery. Recorded in Paris, the track is produced by DJ/producer h4rdy, who previously collaborated with Yana on Side A of her recent double single "Vision Getting Blurred." The new single is accompanied by a music video filmed in Paris and gives fans a glimpse of her recent adventures overseas. The video depicts her travel diaries that range from behind the scenes of her live performance in Paris, participating in Paris Fashion Week as a model, to drifting in empty parking lots and strutting the streets at night with garments provided by ACNE STUDIOS. Listeners can hear the developing sound of BEBE YANA and see the flirty and playful side of her as they travel across Europe together through the video. Debuting in 2012 as part of the K-pop group EvoL before going independent in 2017, BEBE YANA is the rising Seoul-based vocalist and artist carving out her own space between mainstream K-pop and her citys electronic underground. Her unique color, strongly influenced by K-pop, new wave Pop, Drum & Bass, Jersey Club, and 90s Pop, has garnered the attention of listeners worldwide. Fans are eager to learn more about this mysterious artist pushing different sounds within Korea. "Strawberry Kisses" and "Space Mulan" have garnered popularity, setting the foundations for BEBE YANAs sonic trajectory. BEBE YANAs clear voice paired with experimental beats, has allowed her to become the bridge between K-pop and underground; thus creating Underground K-pop. Australian-Korean starlet BEBE YANA signed with her current label A MASS CULTURE and continues to push herself artistically to experiment with different styles of music across cultures. A MASS CULTURE is a record label, music production team, event management and creative agency based in Seoul, South Korea. The label fuses together commercial and underground music with the goal of amassing artists, creatives, and spaces through discovering, developing and distributing artists work. The corporate team members have an international background as well as a balanced mix of business and creativity. When scouting for artists, the label looks for originality, individuality, artistry, drive, and overall, a larger sonic vision. As a label, resources can be provided to help and develop the artists, but the artists themselves should also hold a strong sense of self and have a clear idea and mission regarding their music. BEBE YANA shares the mission and goals with the label to push for new global trends: changing the sonic landscape and building bridges with creatives internationally in the process. After signing with the current label, YANA released the single "64" produced by German producer Ludwin Wandinger and underground Seoul DJ and producer KHYO, who has worked with mainstream Korean artists like Crush, Woo, Mokyo, and K-pop group WayV. Experimenting with ambient sounds, crisp highs, and deep bass, "64" was a futuristic down-tempo track that took listeners on a mystical ride. Inspired by angel numbers, "64" encourages listeners to trust the universe and rid themselves of negative thoughts, all while referencing the classic 64 Chevy Impala, the vehicle for this sonic journey. YANAs second single "CHEMISTRY" blurred K-pop, new wave pop, DnB, Jersey Club and 90s pop. Collaborating with U.S. DJ/Producer AUS10, known for his Jersey, Afro, and Baltimore house sounds in the Korean DJ scene, producer cheno, known for his work with artists such as MXM, GEMINI, Hash Swan etc., and 19-year-old hyperpop producer chilloud. "CHEMISTRY" is the perfect club track with Jersey kicks, unique hyperpop textures, and bright playful lyrics. The song exemplifies the mission of merging K-pop and the underground scene. Double single "Vision Getting Blurred," features two versions of the same song along with contrasting characters in pursuit of love. SIDE A, is a soft DnB dream-like track produced by Boiler Room DJ / producer, h4rdy. This version of the song showcases a softer side to BEBE YANA that attracts the attention of listeners through the tracks angelic synths, soft adlibs and clear highs. SIDE B is a bold reggaeton and break-beats-inspired track produced by DJ/producer Kwakseungeun (moI) with compositional help from NYC DJ/producer Sammy, known for his work with artists like Shygirl and Eartheater. This version shows a more confident BEBE YANA that is assertive and desires control. The character's confidence and bold personality are showcased through the tracks harsh kicks, crisp highs, and BEBE YANAs tantalizing voice. BEBE YANA continues to engage and expand within her field as she has been featured on Rolling Stone Korea, HYPEBEAST, HYPEBAE, marie claire, Mixmag, IGGY Mag, AVYSS Magazine etc. with the support of Spotify editorials like K-pop Fresh, TrenChill K-R&B, Fresh Finds Korea and more. In 2022, BeBE YANA was chosen among the Top 5 Female Rookie Artists by i-D Korea and her track "Satellite" was selected among The 100 Best Songs. Recently, she was featured on Apple Musics UP NEXT KOREA. Constantly growing, collaborating, experimenting, and evolving, BEBE YANA is pushing the boundaries of K-pop through her unique blend of crystalline vocals, edgy visuals and curation of production that fuses underground and mainstream. Her ability to connect with collaborators at both ends of the spectrum, from K-pop royalty to producers that dominate Seouls electronic clubs, has allowed her to cultivate her own space, Underground K-POP. Kevin Kim (kevin.kim@routenote.com) works in the music industry as the head of Asia for the global music business company, RouteNote. He worked for YG PLUS and CJ E&M Mnet before joining RouteNote. HAMPTON Central Valley Ag has announced it will build a new corn cleaning plant at the existing CVA Hampton site. This new plant will allow the cooperative and its member-owners to tap into additional market opportunities for food grade corn and take advantage of the growing demand for corn products. By investing in projects like this Corn Cleaning Plant, we can assist our farmers in meeting the demand for food-grade corn, said Jeff Bechard, senior vice president of grain at CVA. Food-grade corn is good fit for Nebraska, and this is an opportunity for us to assist our growers in producing it. Located in Hampton, the plant will be an expansion built upon the facilitys existing north concrete elevator, which will now be dedicated to food-grade corn. The expansion will include the cleaning and shipping plant and provide shipment by rail, truck, and in 3,000 pound tote bags. The facilitys existing south complex will continue to be dedicated to corn and soybeans. The significant increase in demand for food-grade corn encouraged the development of this plant. As a farmer-owned cooperative, CVA looks for ways to bring value to its member-owners and their operations. This plant will create market value for customers, as well as job opportunities for the Hampton community. CVA is excited to get this project finished and in use. The corn cleaning plant is expected to be completed by harvest 2024. Also, CVA has begun work on a new grain shuttle facility and agronomy plant in North Central Kansas. This new facility will be located at the Courtland Hub at the intersection of Highway 36 and Highway 199. With an expected completion date of summer 2025, the Courtland hub facility will provide a high-speed shuttle loader on a loop track with access to BNSF Railroad, and on-site storage of approximately 5.5 million bushels. The agronomy plant is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025 and house a 3.5-million-gallon liquid fertilizer plant with a chemical and seed warehouse. This Liquid Fertilizer Plant will have the ability to receive tons by rail or truck. Central Valley Ag is a farmer-owned cooperative with locations in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. CVA is an innovative leader providing products and services in grain, agronomy, feed and energy. You can find more information about Central Valley Ag by visiting www.cvacoop.com. Major infrastructure investments needed to spur northern midlands, highlands growth in Vietnam By Minh Hue Sun, December 3, 2023 | 8:48 am GMT+7 Vietnam should build and upgrade expressways and airports to boost development in the northern midland and highland region, said Singapore-headquartered EnCity International Consulting JSC. Ta Leng field in Tam Duong commune, Lai Chau province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Voice of Vietnam (VOV). It said this region holds an important national security, socio-economic and political position, but faces many challenges and drawbacks. The northern midland and highland region includes Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces. EnCity International, which is a consultant for the master plan for the northern midland and highland region for the 2021-2030 period, with vision until 2050, outlined several solutions at a feedback gathering conference held in Hanoi on Friday. It argued that the region plays a decisive role in the energy, water resources and ecological environment for northern Vietnam as a whole, but finds its growth hampered by poor traffic connections. It still takes a long time to travel within the region and from there to the countrys major economic centers and border trade areas. For instance, to get to Hanoi, the average travel time is over six hours and the maximum travel speed in the East-West direction is just 30-40 km per hour. Therefore, investment in the North-South Expressway should be prioritized until 2030, and there should be more routes leading to the sea, border gates and socio-economic hubs. The expressway section connecting Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces and National Highway 16 linking with Thanh Hoa and the north-central region need particular attention, the firm said. The government and localities also need to upgrade National Highway 4 and National Highway 37 to speed up the East-West connection. The planned upgrades for the Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Na San (Son La) airports and as well as the new airport in Sapa, a famous tourist attraction in Lao Cai province, will also boost socio-economic development through tourism and increased commerce. The consultant also proposed adding a high-speed route (80 kilometers per hour) from Hoa Binh to Ninh Binh province in order to increase connectivity with North-South routes. After 2030, the government and concerned localities should focus on strengthening the East-West connection, and consider investing in the Son La-Yen Bai Expressway (along National Highway 37), cutting travel time from the agricultural product hub of Son La and the northwestern region to major ports by more than an hour as well as linking the Dien Bien-Son La-Yen Bai tourism chain, the firm advised. An expressway linking Lang Son province and Tien Yen district in Quang Ninh province should be built to have one more route to the sea, it added. Tap China proximity Commenting on the master plan, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized the need to boost infrastructure connections with China as this region borders two Chinese provinces - Yunnan and Quangxi. The region should take optimum advantage of its proximity to China, the worlds second largest economy, he reiterated. It is necessary to strengthen connections with China to create development momentum for the whole region as well as localities in the plain," he said. About the proposal to invest in the Hoa Binh-Thanh Hoa expressway, the minister agreed that it was a solution to connect the region with Nghi Son seaport in Thanh Hoa province. "The routes, when formed, will quickly link remote mountainous provinces with coastal areas, airports, seaports and important border gates," he said. Four sub-regions EnCity International also proposed dividing the northern midland and highland region into four sub-regions, six economic corridors, three belts and growth poles to create closely linked areas capable of sharing infrastructure effectively. Sub-region 1 will be a green growth area associated with sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism and clean energy, with Hoa Binh as the growth pole and Son La as the center of agricultural product processing and social services. Sub-region 2 will be a major tourist area, a hub for economic and cultural exchanges with Yunnan and other southwestern provinces of China with two growth poles in Lao Cai and Phu Tho. Sub-region 3-Thai Nguyen province will be the medical, tourism and industrial center of the whole region, as well as a place to preserve history with the potential to develop tours of historical relic sites. Sub-region 4, including Lang Son and Bac Giang, will be a place of great growth and the industrial center of the region. This sub-region has one of the country's most important international border gates connecting with Guangxi and other southern provinces of China. Bac Giang can also be developed into the region's semiconductor industry hub and one of the country's centers in this industry. Vietnam suggests cooperation orientations for G77 By The Investor/VietnamPlus Sun, December 3, 2023 | 9:51 am GMT+7 Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed three cooperation orientations for the Group of 77, a coalition of 135 developing countries, at the G77 summit on climate change in Dubai on Sunday. G77 at the United Nations is designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a speech at the G77 summit on climate change in Dubai on December 2, 2023. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency. Addressing the summits main debate, PM Chinh hailed Cubas initiative to hold the event and affirmed the Caribbean countrys leadership as Chair of G77. He emphasized the importance of effective climate change response to the world and Vietnam and proposed three cooperation orientations for G77. First, it is necessary to promote a global and all people-based approach and uphold multilateralism with the motto of common but differentiated responsibilities, justice, and reasonableness with socio-economic development demand of developing countries taken into account. Second, science, technology, and innovation should be turned into the key cooperation area of G77 on the basis of establishing an inclusive cooperation mechanism and capitalizing on the strengths of both developed countries (capital, technology) and developing ones (markets, resources). Third, preferential climate finance should be promoted in a way that makes it more accessible, does not increase the debt burden, and not at the expense of resources for realizing other development goals. The PM highlighted Vietnams green transition resolve as seen in its strong commitments announce at COP26, participation in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and implementation of plans, projects, and strategies on green growth, sustainable development, and energy transition. The Vietnamese leader expressed readiness to coordinate and share experience with other G77 members. In his remarks, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez underlined the importance of enhancing international solidarity and cooperation in response to major global challenges. He called on G77 countries to stay united, share voice, and ensure the rights and legitimate interests of developing countries that are being directly and severely affected by climate change. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the role of developing countries in promoting a multilateral process for climate targets and calling for climate justice. He urged developed nations to quickly increase assistance for the countries of the Global South and, especially, deliver on their climate finance commitments. The summit welcomed and highly valued the turning-point significance of the adoption of the Loss and Damage Fund. It affirmed the need to bring into play the role of G77, step up actions, and boost effective solutions to climate change. 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 The MUSC-Orangeburg Auxiliarys Annual Christmas Tree Lighting event is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in the patient registration lobby. The hospital is located at 3000 St. Matthews Road in Orangeburg. The hospital will be offering people a chance to honor a loved one while contributing to the MUSC Regional Medical Center Auxiliarys Verna Martin Compassionate Care Fund. A light can be purchased for the tree to honor or remember a loved one. A donor can contribute any amount to dedicate a light. IN PHOTOS: 2023 Childrens Garden Christmas Orangeburgs yuletide decor draws thousands who want a glimpse of the more than 1 million lights from now until New Year's. The Childrens Gar For a donation of $5 per individual, RMC will list the individuals name on scrolls that will be displayed in the hospitals lobby throughout the holiday season. Five scrolls may be purchased for a $20 donation. A special scroll can be displayed for a donation of $50 per listing. Examples include titles, companies, couples and family designations. 30 years of the Children's Garden Christmas at Edisto Memorial Gardens Started in 1993, the lights in Edisto Memorial Gardens are a part of the Orangeburg holiday tradition. To submit donations for scrolls, make checks payable to MUSC RMCs AUXILIARY. Mail payments to RMC Auxiliary/Volunteer Services, 3000 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg, S.C. 29118. Please print the following information and enclose it with each donation: Purchasers name Email address Mailing address Phone number Amount enclosed Names of those being honored/remembered This story has been corrected to reflect the day of the event. EDGEFIELD Wild Turkey Federation in collaboration with the National Deer Association of South Carolina hosted a veterans deer hunt in Troy. Veterans hunt Eight veterans gathered for a day of hunting, fellowship and unity at the Puckett Homestead, a National Deer Associations leased property use The collaboration between NWTF and the National Deer Association exemplified the power of unity in crafting an event that resonated deeply with our veterans, said Jennifer Hodge-McLain, member of the Lexington Longbeards chapter. It showcased the strength that arises when organizations join forces for a common cause. This unique hunting experience allowed each veteran to forge a personal connection with nature, acknowledging their skills as seasoned outdoorsmen. The day was not just about hunting, as eight veterans gathered for a day of hunting, fellowship and unity at the Puckett Homestead, a National Deer Associations leased property used for education, research, youth and military hunts. Exceptional food added a touch of warmth to the outdoor endeavors, fostering conversations and shared moments among our honored guests. One veteran participant encapsulated the day of hunting well. "I had a great time getting to know fellow veterans that shared the same passion for the outdoors as myself, Myran Hunt said. This felt more like a family get-together than a scheduled hunt." A poignant highlight of the event was the moment when one veteran achieved a significant milestone, harvesting his first buck. This accomplishment underscored the importance of providing meaningful experiences for veterans, connecting them with the great outdoors in a profound way. Reflecting on the memorable day, Hodge-McLain notes the success of the event and looks forward to continued collaborative events between the NWTF and NDA in the future. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this veterans hunt, she said. Your support and collaboration not only made this event possible but also created an atmosphere where our veterans could connect and relish the joys of the great outdoors. About the National Wild Turkey Federation Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has conserved or enhanced over 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to drive wildlife conservation, forest resiliency and robust recreational opportunities throughout the U.S. by working across boundaries on a landscape scale. 2023 is the NWTF's 50 th anniversary and an opportunity to propel the organization's mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50 th anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and NWTF's people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us reach these lofty goals. President is ultimately responsible for state affairs On Friday, President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed two bills sponsored by the majority opposition party. One was to protect striking workers from what unionists perceive as extreme demands by employers for compensation. The other was to shield public broadcasters from excessive government interference. It was Yoons third exercise of his veto privilege since taking office 18 months ago. In April, he rejected a bill that protects farmers from falling rice prices by buying surplus crop yields. It was also the first presidential veto in seven years. In May, Yoon dismissed a bill to better ensure the rights of nurses. These bills aim to protect the weak from the strong. Each, of course, has its opponents. Industrialists say Koreas rice farming is no longer competitive. Doctors are afraid nurses will encroach upon their domain. Employers claim the pro-labor bill will encourage unionized workers to down tools too often. Conservatives complain that progressives are dominating public broadcasters. Presidents can sign or veto bills. However, what is more important is the process. U.S. presidents meet or call opposition lawmakers to save or stall a bill. Their Korean counterparts hardly do so. Yoon has not even met the opposition leader face-to-face over the past year and a half. Consequently, Yoon has had to appoint 18 cabinet minister-level officials without the endorsement of the opposition-led National Assembly. One cant help but wonder what the total will end up being when he leaves office. The presidential system has a critical weakness: a national administration can become paralyzed when opposition parties hold a majority in the parliament. In such a case, presidents should seek to unify the nation and collaborate with their political opponents. Otherwise, nothing moves an inch forward and the nation is stuck where it was five years ago whenever political power changes hands. Regrettably, it appears that Korea is in such a situation right now. The nation cannot afford to let the remaining three-and-a-half years pass by like that. Unfortunately, Yoon has acted in the least desirable way in order to steer opposition-dominated politics. He split the nation along ideological lines and urged his government to act combatively instead of compromising. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has shifted from the center-right to being a far-right party under a neo-conservative leader. That could also force the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to change from a center-left to a far-left party. In most advanced countries, political parties are moving toward the center. Sadly, politics in Korea is moving to the extremes under a divisive leader. The DPK is not setting the best example, either. The relatively progressive party is understandably frustrated with the conservative leaders one-way rule. However, the liberal opposition is abusing its impeachment card. At least eight of the 20 ministerial officials have been on the block. Some radical party cadres called for impeaching Yoon himself by winning more than 200 parliamentary seats in the general elections next April. They are going too far. Impeachments are strictly legal proceedings. Politicians must not seek to impeach their opponents no matter how undesirable their policies may be -- unless the latter betray their country or commit grave acts of corruption. We woke up to find Korea an underdeveloped country. That is the headline often seen in vernacular dailies. Koreans had to see drastic setbacks in their national reputation in the wake of the Itaewon crowd crush, the bungled Jamboree event, the administrative computer network stoppage, and the excruciating defeat in the nation's bid to bring World Expo 2030 to Busan. It may be unfair to put all the blame on the Yoon administration for these fiascos. They may reflect Koreas accumulated problems and limitations, if temporary. However, the incumbent government must take the biggest responsibility and prevent their possible recurrences. Can the president, with an approval rating in the 30-percent range, do this alone? Hardly. Yoon recently reshuffled his chief secretaries. However, many Koreans believe the president himself should change first. We also think so. Yoon must reach out to his opponents first, not by words or gestures, but throgh action. Politics is meant to improve the peoples livelihood and promote national interests. However, that simple proposition seems far easier said than done. And all leaders say that they do this. Only the voters can judge. They will do so four months from now. (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. GLOBAL growth is expected to remain weak, with the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region projected to experience 2% GDP growth in 2023. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggests that T&Ts economy is on a broad-based recovery path. Explore these and other international, regional and local economic insights from the Chambers Trade & Business Development Unit. 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. By Robert Neff Unless you have lived in Korea for a long time, you are probably unaware of Son-dol Day, which occurs every year on the 20th day of the 10th month of the lunar calendar. This year it falls on Dec. 3. According to legend, during the Mongol invasion in 1232, King Gojong of Goryeo (r. 1213-1259), seeking safety on Ganghwa Island, hired Son-dol, a ferryman, to guide him to the island. In the narrow channel separating the island from the mainland there is a particularly dangerous area filled with wild shifting currents and whirlpool and it was here that the ferryman apparently became lost. The king, fearing treachery, ordered his hapless guide to be decapitated. The ferryman could offer no excuse to appease the king but assured the monarch that even in death he would continue to guide him to safety if a gourd was placed in the water in front of the boat and then followed. Son-dols professed loyalty was not enough to spare his life and he was promptly executed. One version of the legend claims that as the ferrymans head was removed, a powerful wind began to blow. In a desperate bid to calm the malevolence permeating the area, a horse was sacrificed and the winds died down. However, the most popular account claims that the gourd was placed in the water and, as Son-dol had promised, the vessel was led to safety. With deep regret, and undoubtedly some fear that the spirit of the boatman might haunt him, the Korean monarch had his body honorably buried and a shrine erected so that yearly sacrifices could be made on the twentieth day of the tenth month. Perhaps as a reminder, a very cold wind named after Son-dol frequently blows through the strait on this day and fishermen and sailors loathed to go to sea for fear of offending the spirits. This tradition of honoring the loyal ferryman was also recorded by the accounts of Westerners living in Korea in the late 19th and early 20th century. In 1902, Mark N. Trollope wrote that on the anniversary of Son-dols death a boisterous whirlwind blows though the [the narrow strait] which bears his name, and the passing boatman is fain to pour a libation and breathe a prayer to the restless spirit of the dead. There is a curious twist to the legend of the ferryman. During the French-Korean Conflict in 1866, General Yang Heon-su and his army were forced to cross the strait in the middle of the night from the mainland to Ganghwa Island. Prior to the crossing, General Yang went to Son-dols tomb and offered sacrifices and prayers. Despite the dangerous currents and the cold (it was the first week of November), his army managed to safely cross and engaged the French forces the following day. General Yang dealt the French a serious beating nearly 50 French casualties while the Koreans suffered only one death and three wounded. This strait was also the likely site where an Irish captain named Patrick Hodnett lost his ship, Zephyr, in the fall of 1884. The Zephyr sailed from Jemulpo and was bound for Mapo which was then a port on the Han River serving Seoul when it suddenly struck a submerged stone or reef in the middle of the channel. Hodnett recalled: [The] tide was so rapid I thought she [the Zephyr] would turn over; a whirlpool with fifteen fathoms was close alongside of us. The rocks were rugged, and the tide ebbings so fast kept her on the reef. There were a couple of small Korean ships in the vicinity but they did not come immediately to the Zephyrs rescue for fear they, too, would suffer a similar fate. Eventually the strength of the current subsided with the change of tide and Hodnett and his crew were rescued by Korean sailors. The Zephyr was not rescued and by the following morning was gone presumably smashed by the incoming tide or sucked down into the depths by the whirlpool. Hodnett seems to have toyed with the idea that supernatural forces were responsible for the loss of his ship. Not the guardian spirit of Son-dol, for he knew nothing about this legend, but avenging Japanese spirits for his perceived slight at Kotohira-gu, a sailors shrine in Japan that he had visited prior to arriving in Korea. However, Westerners living in Jemulpo who were familiar with this treacherous strait did not blame the supernatural guardians (Korean or Japanese) but laid the blame solely upon Hodnetts seamanship and hubris. A German captain working for the Korean government noted the Korean sailors were aware of the potential dangers but had little, if any, difficulty in passing through the strait in good weather. There is another variation of Son-dol that has nothing to do with the strait. According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture: Son-dol was a merchant from Gyeong Province who was advised to buy warm clothing in preparation for winter. Son-dol, however, dismissed this advice as being too hasty as the weather was still quite warm. Instead of buying clothes, he bought a mortar so that he could continue to make money. Tirelessly, he worked every day and was unaware the weather was growing colder and colder. Suddenly, on the 20th day of the 10th month, the weather because extremely cold and Son-dol, who had no warm clothing, froze to death. I suppose each legend has a moral to it. The first cautioning against being too hasty to vilify the acts of someone trying to aid you and the second to quickly heed the advice of those trying to be helpful. If you have a chance tonight and feel inclined to do so, lift a glass in honor of Son-dol the loyal ferryman, who, judging by the wind, continues to serve his liege. Dress warmly. My appreciation to Thomas Duvernay for allowing me to use his photographs of Son-dol Mok. Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters. It was one of the best tributes (eulogies) I saw or heard, and perhaps the best speech Presi Changing Woman: A Novel of the Camp Grant Massacre by Venetia Hobson Lewis. Bison Books (The University of Nebraska Press); 260 pages. $24.95, Kindle $10.70. With this masterful work of historical fiction, Venetia Hobson Lewis illuminates one of the most shameful events in Southern Arizonas past with a well-researched and richly detailed account of the Camp Grant Massacre. The particulars of the massacre in which a raiding party composed of Anglos, Mexicans and Papago Indians attacked an unprotected Apache encampment, slaughtering defenseless women and children as they slept will not be unfamiliar to students of Arizona history. Lewis, however, offers a previously unexamined and thought-provoking perspective by viewing the event through the lens of its life-changing impact on two young women. Valeria Obregon, a recent arrival in the Arizona Territory, is a young wife with an ambitious husband and a promising future until her husbands secret involvement in the raid irrevocably undermines everything she thought was true. Nest Feather, a 12-year-old Apache girl, has just experienced the deeply meaningful rite of passage into womanhood symbolized by the spirit of Changing Woman (from which the novel takes its title). Kidnapped by the raiders after witnessing her sisters brutal murder and handed over to a Mexican family in Tucson to be raised as a Christian, Nest Feather must process her loss and cope with her terrifying new surroundings by drawing strength from Changing Womans teachings. Deftly blending fiction with actual historic figures and events, the author lays out the circumstances that, day by day, led up to the raid in Aravaipa Canyon, imagines what might have occurred that fateful morning during the assault, and considers its aftermath, including the trial of the accused murderers, based on actual courtroom transcripts and eyewitness newspaper accounts of the day. The joy of good historical fiction like this is the way it fleshes out the skeleton of historical fact to create a well-informed, atmospheric narrative; in Lewiss capable hands, the reader is immersed in the complex cultural and political atmosphere in 1870s Tucson and the result is a thoroughly compelling read. Lewis, who lives in Tucson, is the author of several award-winning western short stories. Helene Woodhams Gregory A. Turtle Watches Nature with a Friend: A Pondside Adventure by Alice R. Brown; illustrations by Giada Gallo-Quiroz; design by Demian Quiroz. Wonderland Waters; 21 pages. Available in Tucson at Petroglyphs, 160 S. Avenida del Convento; $14.95. Gregory A. Turtle is sitting by a pond, thinking his thoughts and wondering to himself about the nature of nature: what are the birds saying? And, what about the fish? And the clouds? His friend, a bouncy frog named Florence, provides a welcome interruption to his reveries, and a conversation ensues in which the two consider the condition of the pond, the growing scarcity of water, and what that might portend for the future of their friends. Everyone, after all, needs clean air and water, and plenty of both. Being conservation-wise is everyones responsibility, even the youngest readers. In this gentle tale the author underscores the inter-connectedness of all creatures, the role we all should play in preserving our environment, and the joy of having a good friend to talk things over with. A question-and-answer page, with kid-friendly advice about conservation rounds out this read-aloud, along with instructions for drawing frogs and turtles. For some local fun watching turtles, notes author and Tucson resident Alice R. Brown, try an outing to the pond near the University of Arizona Main Gate on Park Avenue. Helene Woodhams Jack Larner was just an average guy and by no means a committed seeker of the truth but a stint in solitary confinement while serving a prison sentence for a crime he didnt commit somehow mystically tweaked his persona. He became, bizarrely, the man to whom no one could lie. Not surprisingly, it complicated his life. Total strangers reveal their darkest secrets to him, unprompted, and law enforcement is keen to put his new-found talent to work to elicit confessions from unwilling suspects. Larner is disinclined to cooperate with the law, given how unjust incarceration has ruined his life. But the law, to his dismay, isnt done with him. Misadventures follow him to Tucson, where he tries to start over as a listener, figuring that if people are going to spill their guts to him, he might as well capitalize on it. But the truth, he discovers, will not set you free. Just the opposite: hes never felt so trapped, and the consequences could be dire. In this latest outing, Tucson author Bruce Weber offers interesting food for thought about the constructs of truth and freedom and the downsides of both, playing out against a familiar Old Pueblo setting. This is Webers 12th work of fiction; a collection of short stories is planned for release next year. Helene Woodhams When first we saw our boy Enrique Aguilar, in Aztec Eagle, he was a poor Puerto Penasco kid with uncanny intuition, hustling on the beach and dreaming of becoming an intergalactic fighter pilot. When Crystal Desert opens the second in Catherine Wellss young adult series 17-year-old Enrique is on his way to the planet Alpha with other teenaged trainees, to realize that dream. Over the course of their multi-year deployment with the Alphian resistance, those characters sexy Lyla and her thoughtful cousin Miriam, plus Enriques nemesis, Blake will complicate Enriques life, as someone is attempting to thwart his pursuit of pilot glory. Whatever Enriques considerable gifts, he has to fight to get recognized. In addition to her effective character development and personal interactions, Wells writes tight, convincing battle scenes. You look forward to Enriques next chapter. Christine Wald-Hopkins So, what do you get when you cross a beautiful Ph.D. student with a love for One Hundred Years of Solitude with a handsome cartel country rancher with a penchant for Shane? A killer Western thriller spiced with literary allusion, touched by magical realism and dogged by the question of what constitutes a man?, thats what. Long-time Tucson travel and history writer Leo W. Banks makes superb use of his familiarity of Patagonia and the borderland in The Flying Z, his fourth novel. Out monitoring the trek of drug-carrying mules skirting his borderlands ranch, the Flying Z, Will Zachary comes across a woman whos run her car into a ditch. Hes on horseback, and shes in danger, so he persuades her to hop on for a ride to his ranch house to call for a tow. Turns out, shes just finished Harvard and was driving to Stanford for grad school when she wandered off the highway and into the ditch. It also turns out that itll take several days to get the parts for her vintage Mustang, so she will need to stay at the ranch house, which Will shares with his aging uncle, suffering from dementia but ever the rifle-ready cowboy. Its that readiness along with his love for the family ranch, and a secret cartel arrangement which Will made to protect the property that will get them all into trouble. Memorable characters, a clear fondness for the area, touch-and-go romance, an old-time honor-of-the-West attitude, and one-on-ones with contemporary bad guys make this a lively, entertaining read. Christine Wald-Hopkins Briefly noted At Grande and Congress by Mari Herreras. R&R Press, LLC. 56 pages. $15. This debut collection of poems by former Tucson Weekly editor and fifth-generation Tucsonan Mari Herreras is exactly what youd expect: Authentic. Personal. Local. Culture-political. Raw and affecting. Place is central to the poems, from the title poem, where the speaker sits on her beat-up porch couch, swilling red wine and sucking in/nicotine and all the filthy bits, through The Last Rooster of Menlo Park (dont forget the tile murals they gave us/an unnecessary gift/from an urban renewal clearance sale) to A Dunbar/Spring Kitchen (my soul remains/in your kitchen), Herreras traces challenges and rewards of growing up to be a professional Mexican-American woman in this divided city. Christine Wald-Hopkins At Midnightby David Ray. Whirlybird Press. 103 pages. $15. The intensity in these compelling poems by essayist and poet David Ray testifies to the role poetry can have in social and environmental justice. Ray, a widely published English literature and creative writing instructor at multiple institutions and professor emeritus from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, threads artists like Edward Hopper, writers like Edward Abbey, and other poets like Tennyson through these pieces, which deal with grief, environmental degradation, the immorality of war, social injustice. Hes serious, yet poet Martin Tucker calls Ray a doubting optimist, one who heals wounds by the expression of compassion for acts of human behavior. Christine Wald-Hopkins 54 Poemsby John Levy. Shearsman Books. 103 pages. $18. Theres delight to be found in these wide-ranging, accessible, conversational poems by retired Pima County criminal defense attorney John Levy. Witty, thoughtful, but not anguished; they derive from Levys sojourns in Tokyo, Greece, Tucson; and they touch on family, felons, friends, poetry and life: Do you have/to believe/in the (or/an) afterlife/to talk to the dead? // Because/I do. And dont. Add word- and language-play such as the letter K: On its back K is a two-legged/Table of Contents // upside down and waiting // for an author to fill its/funnel, and you have a sense of what Levy offers. Christine Wald-Hopkins Mark Wood, an original violinist for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, brought his music education program to students at five Tucson Unified School District campuses. Electrify Your Orchestra worked with stringed instrument students at Booth Fickett K-8, Gridley Middle School, Magee Middle School, Secrist Middle School and Sabino High School. Woods program partners with educators, aiming to inspire students, boost self-esteem and motivate energetic stage presentation. To prepare for a final concert with students, Wood teaches students improvisation, composition, and personal expression on their violins, violas, cellos and basses. Wood also uses Electrify Your Orchestra to help connect the worlds of classical and contemporary music. The TUSD master classes culminated with a performance Thursday night at Sabino High School. Financial literary lessons Santa Clara Elementary School received some special financial literacy lessons thanks to Junior Achievement of Arizona. On Thursdays JA Day, the nonprofit took over Santa Clara to teach students the importance of financial literacy, readiness for work, and entrepreneurship. Volunteers visited every class to teach the students. Nearly 25 staff members from Wells Fargo Bank volunteered to visit the classes. The bank also provided funding for JA Day totaling $25,000. Santa Clara, at 6910 S. Santa Clara Ave. in Sunnyside Unified School District, serves 441 students in grades kindergarten through sixth, according to the Arizona Department of Education. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Being informed and caring citizens these days must be toxic to the psyche. Highly disturbing and cringeworthy reports in the media are pervasive; pleasing and comforting ones are in short supply. For example, our senses are currently bombarded by the continually depressing and frightening news from the: Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia conflicts, relentless gun violence, progressive climate change, fears of AI, rise of autocrats worldwide and ghastly unimaginable yet real possibility that a twice impeached, four-time indicted, adjudicated rapist, business fraudster, and deeply mentally troubled malignant narcissist could actually be re-elected to the presidency of our nation. Yowzah! Every decade in history has had its troubles. But especially now with the internet always in our faces, it is difficult to catch our collective breaths from this constant media assault on our nerves. Yes, we all love to be informed; but the information these days is alarming, heartbreaking, and suffocating. How do we maintain sanity in a seemingly insane world? Fact: We obviously cannot personally control world events. But we can act in ways that at least make us feel we are making a difference. We can speak out, organize, protest, donate to worthy causes, and volunteer where and when needed. Rewarding and gratifying? Probably. Ultimately helping to solve the problems? Not a chance. That said, might it also be helpful and reasonable for our mental health to just completely disengage, or perhaps embrace timely interludes of disengagement, from the distressing reality in which we live? Many years ago, I took piano lessons from a man (Ill call him Bob) who professed his only love was the piano. Bob lived a spartan if not cloistered existence. No TV, radio, newspaper, or computer. No transportation other than bus or bicycle. His apartment was stark. It contained, as far as I could observe, only the bare necessities along with his bicycle, a baby grand piano, and hundreds of record albums. As time went on and we got to know each other better, we began to share info about our lives. At times I brought up some current events about which he knew little or nothing. This intentional ignorance prompted me to probe more specifically into his background, views on life, and choice of lifestyle. He was indeed a unique individual. Bob held a masters degree in music. Teaching piano and playing gigs provided all his income. Bob obviously knew what gave him pleasure and how to obtain it. He seemed totally comfortable with this solitary and highly focused lifestyle. His reasoning and defense for the way he chose to live gave me a perspective I had never really considered. Bob said that listening to beautiful piano compositions, along with the challenge of playing them, teaching, and being in the company of fellow musicians gave him such pleasure that nothing else mattered. From his perspective, the outside world was a place filled with mediocrity, disorder, and disappointment an albatross he could easily live without. It was other peoples reality, not his. He made the decision to ignore that perceived dysfunction and create a world that to him was more understandable, comforting, and controllable. Bob observed (and I paraphrase): Since this messy world is not of my doing, I choose not to be part of it. Let those responsible for its condition clean it up. Life is short and there is much to accomplish and enjoy. In my apartment, I am away from the variables that confuse, conflict, and complicate peoples lives. Here is where I find contentment. And Bob filled that apartment with the beautiful music of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart along with many other piano geniuses. It brought him happiness and peace. Is there anything wrong with such a lifestyle? Was his choice rational? Question: Is it unreasonable, at times, to just tune out the world to avoid the daily situational depressions that the tragic events of the world engender? While the answers to this question can be debated, my personal decision has been to try to relegate the constant stream of negative news to a bracketed off and compartmentalized part of my consciousness. As someone who is by nature a worrier, Ive needed to counterbalance the worlds daily horrors with uplifting positive thoughts and actions. Ive convinced myself that doing so does not mean that I am ignoring or being unsympathetic to the plight of my fellow human beings. I try to think and do things that make me smile. I also try to remember that although messy and unfair, our world contains a lot of joy and beauty. I try to appreciate that. James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. 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 Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol may be a quintessentially English story of the holiday season, but American Theatre Companys musical adaptation of the tale is all Tulsa. The company debuted the musical, created by founding members Bob Odle (book) and Richard Averill (music and lyrics), in 1976, thinking it would be a one-off show. But audience demand prompted the company to restage it a few years later, and now American Theatre Companys A Christmas Carol is the second longest-running adaptation of this holiday story in the United States (The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis debuted a few years earlier). The 2023 version will be directed by Cody McCoy, who has appeared in several past productions, including last year as Fred, the genial nephew of Ebenezer Scrooge. Karl Krause, whose portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge garnered the attention of the New York Times a few years ago, returns as the miserly moneylender, whose dour view of the world, and the people in it, is transformed during a supernaturally eventful Christmas Eve. The cast features some 50 local performers, including Nick Bushta as Bob Cratchitt, Cathy Woods as Mrs. Cratchitt, Dale Sims as Jacob Marley, Liz Brillhart as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Sean Rooney as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 8-9, and Tuesday-Saturday, Dec. 12-16 and 19-23; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 and 17, at the Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. Tickets are $25-$45. 918-596-7111, tulsapac.com. Stomp comes to BA Eight people show up to clean a junkyard and proceed to whack and wallop on everything they find. That is about as simple a description one can come up with for Stomp, the percussion-based work of physical theater first put together by London performers Luke Cresswell and Steve MacNichols in 1991. Not that Stomp is a simple show. Its as tightly choreographed as a ballet, as theatrical as a musical comedy and as edgy as a good jazz performance. The performers need the grace of dancers, the stamina of athletes and the intuition of musicians. All this effort and skill is used to elaborate on the simplest, most basic element of music: rhythm. And what has helped make Stomp an international sensation that has captivated audiences for more than three decades is the fact that its a show that connects to audiences in a personal way. After all, most everyone can clap hands, snap fingers, stomp feet and whup upon all manner of industrial items. The national touring production of Stomp will come to the Broken Arrow PAC, 701 S. Main St., for one performance, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. Tickets are $40-$60. bapac.com. Youth Symphony to perform The Tulsa Youth Symphony, which has been providing young musicians from northeastern Oklahoma with musical training for 60 years, will present its Winter Concert, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Union High School PAC, 6636 S. Mingo Road. The Tulsa Youth Symphony is made of three distinct ensembles: the Preparatory String Orchestra, led by Amelia Ivory; the Concert Orchestra, led by Pete Peterson and Kenneth Baird; and the Symphony Orchestra, led by Richard Wagner and Micah Neely. The concert will feature two guest artists. Ron Wheeler, who served as the orchestras music director from 1973 to 2021 and now holds the title of Conductor Emeritus, will lead the Symphony Orchestra in the Variations on an Original Theme, also known as the Enigma Variations, by Edward Elgar. Jade Holt, an 11-year-old piano prodigy from Tulsa, will also perform with the Symphony Orchestra, as the soloist for the Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major by Mozart. Holt, a fifth-grade student at the University School at the University of Tulsa, makes her Tulsa Youth Symphony debut with this performance. Other works on the program include compositions by Johannes Brahms and Dmitry Kabalevsky, as well as seasonal selections. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 students and seniors, and can be purchased at the door, or online at tulsayouthsymphony.org. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Baum Glass Jayne Carwile & Peters is pleased to announce that Taylor A. Burke and NicoleMathews have joined the firm. Burke will continue to practice in the areas of complex estate, trust, and business litigation, probate, guardianships, estate planning, family law, and political related matters. Burke has a statewide practice and has been involved in many notable cases in state and federal court during his 17-year career. I am pleased to continue growing my practice with this special firm, said Burke. I have been involved in widely diverse disputes in my career and that informs my advice to clients. Understanding how estate plan documents should be drafted and how business entities are properly formed makes a significant difference in my advice to clients in my more complex litigation matters. In the same vein, having tried challenging cases in many different courts helps me assist clients in unique ways. This firm gives my clients a great platform for resolving complex disputes. Burke is a 2006 graduate of the University of Tulsa College of Law and a fourth generation Tulsan. He is active in the Hudson HallWheaton Inn of the American Inns of Court and numerous other community, education, and church related volunteer positions. He also chaired the successful campaign for Tulsa County District Judge Kevin Gray in 2022. Mathews was admitted to practice in September and has since been admitted to each Oklahoma Federal District Court as well as the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and she is a member of the Council Oak/Johnson-Sontag Inn of Court. Mathews is a double alumnus of the University of Tulsa (TU). In 2020, Mathews graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Then, in 2023, Mathews earned her Juris Doctorate with highest honor. Throughout her tenure at TU, Mathews has consistently achieved academic excellence, reflected in her repeated inclusion on honor rolls and in honor societies. In Nicoles final year of law school, she worked for TUs Buck Colbert Franklin Legal Clinic, serving north Tulsa residents and businesses pro bono, where she was awarded the Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award. At Baum Glass Jayne Carwile & Peters, Mathews practice includes contract litigation, business transactions, probate, medical malpractice, and other complex litigation with an emphasis on research and writing. To submit an announcement in Business People, which highlights new hires and promotions, call the Tulsa World Advertising Department at 918-581-8510. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton 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 Despite being touted by state Superintendent Ryan Walters as a way to stem the ongoing teacher shortage, public records show that only a handful of districts are participating in the initial rollout of a merit-based teacher salary program. According to documents provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education in mid-November in response to an open records request made in July, just nine districts statewide applied to participate in the first round of the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Fund Program. All nine were approved, including three that did not submit applications until October. The initial application deadline was announced as June 15, although district guidance published on the OSDE website now states that the initial application window will remain open until further notice. Approved in 2022, House Bill 4388 directs that any Oklahoma lottery proceeds in excess of $65 million be put into a revolving fund to finance the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Fund Program. The program, which received $22.5 million in lottery proceeds in September, provides additional one-time bonuses of at least $6,000 to educators who are designated as advanced, lead or master teachers by their school districts. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, that money is made available to districts twice a year on a first-come, first-served basis and districts are required to provide matching money to participate. However, the number of teachers who would be eligible for those funds would be capped at 10% per district. Additionally, those teachers would have to be nominated each year to receive the pay increase and would have up to 15 days added to their contracts. According to an OSDE spokesman, the state has paid out $168,500 in matching money to date. Warner Public Schools, the second largest of the nine participating school districts, hosted an OSDE press event in April about the initiative. At the time, district Superintendent David Vinson publicly expressed some reservations about the program due to the matching money requirement. Although the bulk of it went to cover teacher pay raises, Vinson said the program became a more palatable retention tool after the Muskogee County school district received additional aid from the Legislature in May. The more we talked about it as a district, we just realized that in Warner, we have some really, really great teachers that are working extremely hard and doing a phenomenal job, Vinson said. If we had the opportunity and could afford it, then we needed to take the opportunity to just take note of those teachers and give them a little extra. After implementing an application process that included peer nominations, seven Warner teachers are getting additional funds this year. Five are through the state-matched empowerment fund program, and two are completely district-funded. However, Vinson reiterated that those payouts will not be permanent raises and that any decision about Warners future involvement with the program would hinge on its finances. Weve made it very clear from the start that this is on a year-to-year basis and that it may or may not be something that we can continue, he said. Itll be a springtime budget decision for me as to whether we can continue this. One of the smaller sites to participate in the program, Kay Countys Kildare Public School, is a dependent district between Ponca City and Newkirk that serves about 100 students. Thanks to its small size, Superintendent Bruce Shelley said his district was able to put only one teacher forward for the program in order to stay within the 10% cap. Rather than create an additional vetting process, the district opted to award it to the districts Teacher of the Year, who is voted on by its employees. Although he was happy to be able to provide a little extra financial boost for Kildares Teacher of the Year, Shelley acknowledged the potential impact the program could have on teacher morale had he been able to put additional names forward. If we were a bigger school, we probably wouldnt have done it, Shelley said. It would have been too negative for everyone else. Other participating districts around the state are Crooked Oak, Depew, Drumright, Oktaha, Talihina, Tuskahoma and Dibble, an independent district in western McClain County with about 700 students. Representatives from Tulsa Countys seven largest districts all previously said they would not be participating in the initial rollout. 100 teacher vacancies at Tulsa Public Schools despite up to $6,000 signing bonuses Tulsa Public Schools leaders say the states largest school district has two serious challenges to overcome in its fight to fend off a state takeover. Both are about whos not showing up for school. #oklaed Spanish police on Friday said they had arrested a man wanted by Washington for allegedly conspiring with cryptocurrency experts to help North Korea evade U.S. sanctions over its nuclear programme. Alejandro Cao de Benos, the founder of a pro-Pyongyang affinity organisation who bills himself as a "special delegate" for the government of North Korea, was arrested on Thursday at Madrid's Atocha train station as he arrived from Barcelona, a police spokesman told AFP. The 48-year-old Spaniard faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted, Spanish police said in a statement. His extradition to the United States must be approved by the Spanish government and courts, a process that can take months. U.S. federal prosecutors last year charged Cao de Benos and a British businessman, Christopher Emms, of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions. They accuse the two of arranging for American expert Virgil Griffith to travel to North Korea in April 2019 to attend the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference which they organised. At the event Griffith allegedly taught members of the secretive nation's government how to use cutting-edge blockchain and cryptocurrency technology to launder money and circumvent sanctions. Griffith, who holds a doctorate from the California Institute of Technology, was sentenced in April 2022 to 63 months in jail and fined $100,000, after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. Emms is still at large according to his description on the FBI's Most Wanted list. The United States prohibits the export of goods, services or technology to North Korea without special permission from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Cao de Benos, a descendant of Spanish aristocrats, appeared before a High Court judge who released him without conditions while the extradition process runs its course. In a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, he thanked police for their "good treatment and personal support." "There will be no extradition. The U.S. accusation, besides being false, does not exist in Spain," he added. Cao de Benos founded the Korean Friendship Association in 2000, a club that is officially recognised by Pyongyang and claims on its website to have more than 10,000 members around the world. The former IT consultant has also coordinated visits by foreign journalists to North Korea and has acted as a middleman between the country's reclusive communist regime and foreign investors. In 2016 he opened a small North Korean-themed bar, the Pyongyang Cafe, in his hometown of Tarragona on Spain's Mediterranean coast. (AFP) Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques 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 As dispensaries, gas stations and other shops are selling an increasing amount of chemically altered THC products, state officials worry no oversight means no consumer protection. Producers of hemp byproducts like THC-O-acetate, delta-8 vape cartridges and edibles are using a legal loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill to make products with similar effects to marijuana while avoiding the regulations, authorities say. The director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority said earlier this week that the agency hopes to see legislation regulating hemp, specifically hemp byproducts, in the next legislative session. Right now, I dont know that consumers always know what theyre purchasing when they buy these products. Oftentimes, itll say hemp on the label, OMMA Director Adria Berry said. So people might think its not something thats gonna get them high, when in fact, it really could get them high. Hemp has industrial uses in highly durable textiles, biodegradable plastics and cosmetic oil and is the same species of plant as marijuana. The difference between hemp and marijuana is in the amount of THC: the psychoactive cannabinoid that causes a high. Cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC potency by dry weight are considered hemp. Any cannabis plant exceeding that THC potency is classified as marijuana, which under federal law is an illegal substance. The main nonintoxicating cannabinoid found in hemp can be chemically altered to create THC products like delta-8 and THC-O-acetate. The Department of Agriculture already regulates hemp that is used for industrial purposes, and even for CBD purposes, said Berry. But where the regulatory gray area begins is when its changed from basic CBD into these intoxicating products. So thats where we need clarity. THC analogues like delta-8 can be put in consumer products without the age restrictions or package warnings that are placed on regulated marijuana. We want to ensure that consumers are protected by requiring testing, proper packaging and labeling, Berry said. Hemp plants are exposed to a solvent and a strong acid to create the THC analogues, which need to be cleaned to prevent solvents and acids from being in the final product. The unregulated nature of these products means cleaning is not guaranteed, Berry said. If solvents were used, consumers would want the product to have gone through a rigorous testing schedule to ensure that no solvents are remaining on that product, she said. If there are solvents remaining on it, then you are inhaling those into your lungs or you are eating them and putting them into your body or applying them topically. Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, has been working on cannabis regulations since medical marijuana was legalized in Oklahoma. He pointed out he has put forward variations of a bill to regulate hemp products for the past three legislative sessions. The first attempt was House Bill 3786 in 2020. I mean, its federally legal, so they can sell it on the internet, too, said Fetgatter. And so theres got to be some laws that we put on delta-8 that deal with testing and those kinds of things. The barrier for growing hemp in Oklahoma is low, compared to the process for growing marijuana. A grower must be 18 years old and submit an application and fee to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF). The application requires a criminal history report for each key participant in the business and proof of ownership or the lease for the area in which the hemp will be grown. ODAFF regulates hemp to verify the product is under the legal limit for THC (0.3% by dry weight) and, for hemp that will be used to make CBD products, there are pesticide restrictions and safety checks for fungal contamination or levels of heavy metals in the plant. If the CBD is converted to delta-8 THC (or any THC analogue, as long as it isnt delta-9 THC), ODAFF has no regulatory authority over the resulting products. One basic concern, besides the health concerns of unregulated products, is lack of labeling requirements. Without regulations, it can be difficult to tell and almost impossible to verify what level of intoxication should be expected from the product. They dont state what the concentration of the product is, said Kenny Naylor, director of Consumer Protection Services with the Department of Agriculture. So the person whos buying it doesnt know. If you go buy marijuana gummy, you know the concentration of the delta-9 THC levels. If you go buy a delta-8 product, for example, you dont know what the concentration is. Other states have attempted to regulate or ban these products and ended up being sued. Arkansas, Maryland, Indiana, Virginia and most recently, Alaska have faced lawsuits over the constitutionality of regulating or banning hemp products that were made legal by federal law. I mean really the federal government needs to get their act together on all this stuff, said Fetgatter. It would free the state to be able to do the things that they need to do. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Binh Dinh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment JSC (Bidiphar) inaugurated its anti-cancer drug manufacturing plant in Binh Dinh Province, south-central Vietnam on Saturday. The facility spans an area of 1.5 hectares in the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone in the provincial capital city of Quy Nhon, with a total investment of more than VND500 billion (US$20.5 million). The Bidiphar plant, whose work started in August 2018, is expected to churn out three million anti-cancer injections and 70 million cancer-fighting tablets per year, in line with the GMP-EU standards. The European Medicines Agencys good manufacturing practice (GMP) describes the minimum standard that a medicine manufacturer must meet in their production processes. The facility is outfitted with fully-automated, self-contained equipment. It is configured to produce over 10 types of drugs that have undergone a successful study and are currently undergoing an appraisal process before seeking approval from the Health Ministry for circulation. During the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen commended Bidiphar for their endeavors in researching and developing drugs. He highlighted the use of advanced technologies in the manufacturing process, aiming to replace current cancer treatment drugs that are typically imported. The establishment of the plant will enable Vietnam's healthcare sector to consistently secure high-quality drug supplies at reasonable prices for patient treatment, as stated by the senior health official. Bidiphar's general director, Pham Thi Thanh Huong, revealed that the company collaborated with institutes and universities to successfully research and develop more than 40 cancer drugs featuring 17 active ingredients. These drugs have received approval from the health ministry for circulation. Bidiphar on the same day broke ground on a project to build a small-volume aseptic drug manufacturing plant adhering to GMP-EU standards. This facility, spanning over 25,000 square meters in Binh Dinh, is projected to cost VND840 billion ($34.5 million) and is scheduled to commence operations in 2027. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Former South Korean President Lee Myung Bak called on his countrys enterprises to invest in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam at an investment, trade, and tourism promotion conference held in the province on Saturday. At the conference held by the Thai Binh administration, the former South Korean leader expressed his pleasure at the considerable development of the Vietnam - South Korea cooperation in various sectors. In 2022, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries bilateral trade reached $88 billion last year. South Korea was the largest provider of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam, at US$80.5 billion. According to Lee, there is still a lot of room for the two sides further cooperation. The Korea Desk Thai Binh model, which promotes South Korean investment in the Southeast Asian country, has proved effective. I expects the local authorities to enhance dialogues to promptly remove difficulties and provide the maximum support for South Korean enterprises, Lee said. Nguyen Khac Than, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Thai Binh Province, says the province always creates favorable conditions for investors. Photo: T.Thang / Tuoi Tre Nguyen Khac Than, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Thai Binh Province, stressed that the Thai Binh - South Korea investment, trade, and tourism promotion conference was important to open up many new cooperation opportunities between Thai Binh and South Korean partners as well as between the two countries as a whole. Thai Binh is considered a dynamic province with great potential and competitiveness. Its gross regional domestic product was estimated at VND68 trillion ($2.8 billion), 1.3 times higher than that in 2020. The provinces average economic growth is likely to reach 8.56 percent in 2021-23. Thai Binh has a young workforce with some 1.2 million laborers. It can provide about 40,000 laborers, including 25,000 trained ones. The province has attracted over $3 billion in FDI this year. South Korean investors have registered to pour $256 million into 30 projects in the Vietnamese province. However, the figures were modest and not commensurate with the provinces potential, Than added. With a favorable geographical location, traffic systems, human resources, and a land bank for large industrial production, Thai Binh is an ideal destination for investors, he remarked. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The United Arab Emirates conglomerate International Holding Company (IHC) and Norwegian energy company Equinor would like to invest in infrastructure development, digital transformation, and offshore wind power projects in Vietnam, the leaders of these businesses said at their meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Dubai on Saturday. A leader of IHC affirmed that the holding company considers Vietnam a top strategic priority and it explored the possibility to cooperate with the Southeast Asian nation in the seaport, logistics, digital transformation, smart city, and non-tariff area sectors. PM Chinh spoke highly of the outstanding business outcomes that IHC has achieved and added that infrastructure development and digital transformation are also among Vietnams top priorities. Vietnam pledged to create optimal conditions and keep its business climate stable for foreign investors, including those from the UAE, to do business effectively and sustainably in the country, PM Chinh said. With its rich resources, experience, and modern administration capacity, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, a subsidiary of IHC, should collaborate with Vietnamese state agencies in researching and developing infrastructure projects in Vietnam, PM Chinh suggested. The Vietnamese government leader proposed that Sirius International Holding, another subsidiary of IHC, and other IHC units expand cooperation with Vietnam in digital transformation in the years to come. At the meeting, Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Sirius International Holding exchanged memoranda of understanding on cooperation with the Vietnam Maritime Administration and Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications National Digital Transformation Agency, respectively. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives the leader of Norwegian energy company Equinor in Dubai, UAE, December 2, 2023. Photo: Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre As for Equinor, its leader said the Norwegian energy company had opened its representative office in Hanoi in May last year and looks to facilitate cooperation with the wholly state-owned Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) in developing offshore wind power projects and engaging in green transition in Vietnam. The top Vietnamese official requested Equinor to continue effectively executing existing projects in Vietnam and maintaining good cooperation with PetroVietnam as well as relevant agencies in studying and developing renewable energy projects to serve domestic consumption and export. Vietnam pledged to offer favorable conditions to and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors, PM Chinh added. IHC is a major listed company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE, with its market capitalization exceeding US$250 billion. The firm has more than 480 subsidiaries operating in various fields such as real estate, agriculture, technology, energy, and retail. Among them, Abu Dhabi Ports Group focuses on logistics, industrial park, and free trade area development, while Sirius International Holding operates in digital transformation, digital solutions, and information technology. IHC invested in Vietnam through TTEK Company, centering on providing technology solutions for the customs sector and digital payment services. Regarding Equinor, it is the largest energy company in Norway, whose major shareholder is the Norwegian state with a 67-percent holding. Equinor booked $75 billion in profits last year. With 50 years of experience in developing offshore industry and over a decade of experience in implementing offshore wind power projects, Equinor has made its presence in 33 countries and territories. It aims to be a net-zero emissions company by 2050. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam's government will investigate the central bank's handling of credit growth, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Saturday, after the government complained that credit was growing too slowly. Deputy Prime Minster Le Minh Khai has asked the Government Inspectorate to conduct the investigation, the ministry said in a news release. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Vietnam's economic growth largely relies on credit growth managed by the central bank, which sets annual targets for banks, with the aim of controlling lending and managing growth. The SBV, which targeted 14% credit growth for the banking system this year, said on Thursday lending was up only 8.21% as of Nov. 22 from the end of last year and credit growth were uneven among banks. Khai told the SBV in a meeting this week that credit growth had been too low, instructing the central bank to review the lending activities of each commercial bank, another government statement said. The SBV said credit growth was low because "the economy was still facing difficulties with a slow economic recovery and therefore the demand for loans was weak," according to the statement. An SBV official has also been embroiled in a financial scandal that police said entailed fraud of more than $12 billion, or 3.2% of the economy. Truong My Lan, chairwoman of real estate developer Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, and her accomplices embezzled 304 trillion dong ($12.5 billion) from Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank, according to the investigation, which found that a senior SBV official took a multi-million dollar bribe from Lan to ignore its wrongdoings. MANILA -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned a deadly bombing on Sunday, blaming "foreign terrorists", as police and the military strengthened security in the country's south and around the capital Manila. At least four people were killed and at least 50 injured after a bomb exploded during a morning Catholic Mass in a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city in the south of the country besieged by Islamist militants for five months in 2017. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists," Marcos said in a statement. "Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society." Law enforcement operations to bring to justice the perpetrators of the "terrorist activity" will "continue unabated", Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told a press conference. There were "strong indications of a foreign element" in the bombing, Teodoro said, refusing to elaborate so as not to compromise ongoing investigation. Fragments of a 16-mm mortar were recovered at the scene, senior police official Emmanuel Peralta told the press conference. Lanao Del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. looks on as law enforcement officers investigate the scene of an explosion that occurred during a Catholic Mass in a gymnasium at Mindanao State University in Marawi, Philippines, December 3, 2023. Photo: Reuters High alert The blast in Marawi, capital of Lanao del Sur province, followed a series of military operations against local pro-Islamic State groups in the southern Philippines, the military chief said, including one on Sunday in Lanao del Sur that led to the killing of a leader of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute group. "It is possible that what happened this morning was a retaliatory attack," Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner told the press conference. The Islamic State-linked Maute seized Marawi on May 2017, seeking to make it a Southeast Asian "wilayat" or governorate - for Islamic State. In the ensuing five-month battle, Islamist fighters and Philippine forces killed more than a thousand people, including civilians. Military officials surveyed the gym at the Mindanao State University, which appeared intact except for burn marks in the centre where the explosion occurred, according to images shared by the Lanao del Sur government on Facebook. White plastic chairs were strewn about. Videos posted by DZBB radio on X showed rescuers carrying injured people out of the gym on plastic chairs. Police offices in Mindanao and the capital region were placed on high alert and police checkpoints tightened "to prevent possible follow-up incidents", police official Peralta said. The coast guard directed its districts to intensify pre-departure inspection at ports. Mindanao State University is "deeply saddened and appalled by the act of violence that occurred during a religious gathering," the school posted on Facebook. "We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless and horrific act." The university said it was suspending classes until further notice. Lanao Del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. visits the injured at a hospital following an explosion during a Catholic Mass in a gymnasium at Mindanao State University, in Marawi, Philippines, December 3, 2023. Photo: Reuters MANILA -- Philippine residents were allowed to return to their homes on Sunday after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country's south, killing at least one person, with disaster officials reporting minor damage to some infrastructure. The Saturday night quake shook parts of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces, triggering coastal evacuations and tsunami alerts in the country and in Japan. A woman was killed when a wall collapsed as she and her family were fleeing their home in search of safety in Tagum city in Davao del Norte province, said disaster official Mon Cabonilas. "The tsunami threat associated with this earthquake has now largely passed the Philippines," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a statement but advised people in threatened communities to heed the instructions from local authorities. In the coastal town of Carrascal in Surigao del Sur, all evacuees have returned to their homes, disaster official Antonio told DWPM radio station. "We are ready in case there is a need to evacuate again." More than 600 aftershocks were recorded, and Phivolcs urged caution as people resumed normal activities. The Philippine Coast Guard put all its vessels and aircraft on alert for potential dispatch. "We started going back to our homes early on Sunday, although we are still shaking because of aftershocks," Julita Bicap, 51, a front desk staffer at GLC Suites hotel in the seaside town of Bislig, said on Sunday morning after power was restored around 5 am. "There are aftershocks even now. Last night we were at the evacuation centre, including my two foreigner guests. One of them came back to the hotel already," Bicap told Reuters, adding that she noticed a small crack in the hotel's front wall. Authorities recorded minor damage to homes, while the aviation agency reported minor cracks on wall tiles in some regional airports. The strongest aftershock was magnitude 6.5, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. People evacuate following an earthquake, in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines December 2, 2023. Photo: Reuters Earthquakes are common in the Philippines, which lies on the "Ring of Fire", a belt of volcanoes circling the Pacific Ocean that is prone to seismic activity. Philvolcs' Hinatuan-Bislig Bay station recorded maximum waves of 0.64 metre (2 feet). Japan's Hachijojima island, some 290 km (180 miles) south of Tokyo, recorded waves of 40 cm (1 foot 4 inches), the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System had initially warned of waves of up to 3 metres (10 feet) above the usual high tide level. The quake, which struck at 10:37 pm on Saturday, was at a depth of 25 km (15 miles), Philvolcs said. Vietnam has proven to be a steadfast friend of Cuba, consistently offering support to help the latter overcome various challenges throughout its socio-economic development, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel told a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday. Their meeting was part of their trips to the UAE to attend the ongoing 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28), which lasts until December 12. The Cuban leader also sent his gratitude to the Vietnamese government for its valuable support when Cuba faced multiple difficulties such as a trade embargo. President Diaz-Canel views the relationship between Cuba and Vietnam as a significant symbol of collaboration, fostered by late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, late State President Ho Chi Minh, and other leaders from both nations throughout the past decades. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1960. He also thanked the Vietnamese government, state, and Party leaders, and people for a warm welcome given to Esteban Lazo Hernandez, president of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, when he visited Vietnam in September. His Vietnam trip was aimed at marking the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's visit to the liberated zone in Quang Tri Province. PM Chinh affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, state, government, and lawmaking National Assembly always attach much significance to the traditional and close ties, as well as multifaceted cooperation with Cuba. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson at the COP28. Photo: D. Giang / Tuoi Tre The Vietnamese government leader congratulated Cuba on its success in hosting the G77 summit on climate change within the framework of the COP28. Besides, PM Chinh conveyed warm regards from Vietnam's Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Vo Van Thuong to the Cuban president, and other Party and state officials. The leaders of the two nations reached a consensus on deeper cooperation at multilateral forums, as well as stronger partnerships in the areas of investment, trade, and agriculture. On the same day, PM Chinh met with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson in the UAE, underlining that Vietnam always expects to cement the traditional friendship with Sweden, which is one of the formers key partners in Europe. The Swedish prime minister hoped that he would visit Vietnam as soon as possible to foster bilateral ties. Sweden will step up efforts to spur multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, he said, proposing the two sides work closely to open more direct air routes to enhance tourism and facilitate increased people-to-people exchanges. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Celik Gedik, a 19-year-old German student, shared his astonishment and admiration for the altruistic spirit of Vietnamese youth as they enthusiastically participated in a blood donation program this weekend. Gedik, presently serving as a volunteer teaching assistant at the Hanoi University of Industry, recently made his inaugural blood donation at the 'Voluntary Hearts' program. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Hanoi Blood Association, took place in the capital city of Hanoi on Saturday. The German man said long lines of people waiting to donate their blood astonished him. "I appreciate the sense of community among the Vietnamese people. While Germany also has blood donation programs, they lack the widespread support seen in Vietnam. Here, the participation of young donors is notably high, and it's akin to a hobby for them," Gedik said. "As a volunteer, I believe engaging in such acts of kindness is truly commendable. Maintaining good health to travel to various locations and donate blood serves as a meaningful way to support disadvantaged individuals." Long lines of people waiting to donate blood. Photo: Thu Hieu / Tuoi Tre He also mentioned that he had previously participated in activities aimed at assisting individuals facing health challenges in Germany. Hence, the blood donation program in Hanoi provided him with an opportunity to contribute his blood, thereby enhancing the vitality and confidence of the patients in need. Clutching his blood donation certificate, Gedik expressed a sense of pride, considering it akin to a 'medal' of honor. He extended his heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to under-treatment patients, hoping they would soon resume their normal lives. Joining the queue at the event, Tran Duy Hoang, a student at a university in Hanoi, shared that he attended the event with five friends. Instead of spending their time socializing, they collectively decided to participate in the blood donation, emphasizing the value of contributing to a greater cause. In contrast, Vu Thi Yen, a Hanoi resident, revealed that she, along with her husband and two children, traveled over 20 kilometers to attend the program. This marked her ninth blood donation and her husband's fourth, highlighting their consistent commitment to this charitable cause. "I've been donating blood since my university days, and I've made an effort to sustain this practice. Bringing my children to the program today was important to me, as I wanted them to witness the value of voluntary activities that contribute to helping many people in need," Yen added. The family of Vu Thi Yen, a resident of Hanoi, joins the blood donation program. Photo: Thu Hieu / Tuoi Tre Launched in 2009, the 'Voluntary Hearts' program is one of the four largest blood donation drives in Hanoi. The program has attracted more than 40,000 donors and received nearly 32,200 blood units over the past 14 years. (A unit is about 250 milliliters.) Doctor Tran Ngoc Que, director of the National Blood Center under the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, emphasized that the institute aimed to collect approximately 110,000 blood units in the next three months. This ambitious target is crucial to address the treatment demand from 182 medical units spread across 31 localities, Que added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! One person died and another was injured after an assailant attacked passersby in central Paris near the Eiffel Tower, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Saturday on social media. "The police have just courageously arrested an assailant attacking passersby in Paris, around the Quai de Grenelle. One deceased person and one injured person treated by the Paris fire brigade. Please avoid the area," the minister posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. AFP, citing a source, said the suspect had shouted out "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) but Reuters could not confirm that. The antiterrorism prosecutor's office said it had not yet been put in charge of an investigation. "The assailant was neutralised very quickly by police. We tried to save the life of this man. It's a man who died and they (the people who were attacked) were tourists," Dr Patrick Pelloux told BFM TV. BFM, citing police, said the man who died was of German nationality and that the assailant's weapon was a hammer. Saturday night's incident in central Paris occurred less than eight months before the French capital hosts the Olympic Games and could raise questions about security at the global sporting event. Paris plans an unprecedented opening ceremony on the Seine river that may draw as many as 600,000 spectators. (Reuters) Many international experts and investors put forward a slew of suggestions to help Vietnam achieve net-zero emissions at some events on the sidelines of the ongoing 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28), which lasts until December 12, in the United Arab Emirates. Addressing the COP28 climate summit on Saturday, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reiterated Vietnams net-zero emissions goal. Vietnam is steadfast in its commitment to achieving a net-zero emission target by 2050, he said, adding that the nation's determination underscores its pivotal role in fostering trust among nations during the collective effort to address climate change. Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), told the Vietnam Business Forum, themed 'Mobilizing Resources for the Green Transition,' jointly held alongside the COP28 by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE and the GWEC on Saturday, that many of the councils wind power firms had worked with Vietnamese agencies and showed their interest in building a sustainable wind power industry in the Souheast Asian country. "Offshore wind is a cost-effective and price-predictable renewable energy solution for countries planning their energy transition," said Backwell. GWEC recognizes wind powers pivotal role in tackling climate change and energy security and we applaud Vietnam's commitment to prioritize wind energy for sustainable economic growth and large-scale renewable energy generation." Anders Opedal, CEO at Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor, said at a meeting with PM Chinh in the UAE on the same day that his firm had set up a representative office in Hanoi, and expected to boost cooperation with state-run oil and gas group PetroVietnam (PVN) in the offshore wind power field. Opedal recommended that Vietnam promptly establish comprehensive mechanisms to facilitate the growth of renewable energy, ensuring that investments in the sector yield maximum effectiveness. Jannicke Nilsson, executive vice president at Equinor, suggested that the Vietnamese government build a detailed legal framework and complete marine space planning to facilitate the exploitation of maritime resources. Vietnam should put together an inter-ministerial team to speed up work associated with simplifying procedures for wind power investment, she recommended. John Rockhold, the leader of an energy-focused working team at the forum, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper the importance of creating an appealing electricity purchase contract to attract foreign investors. Additionally, he highlighted the need to foster the development of a local supply chain. Dao Xuan Lai, head of the Climate Change and Environment Unit of the United Nations Development Program in Vietnam, said that to achieve net-zero emissions, Vietnam should remove obstacles to investment capital mobilization. Transitioning toward a green economy, embracing circular practices, and reducing carbon emissions will incur substantial costs, he said. Lai suggested Vietnam should concentrate on instigating institutional reforms and building a transparent investment climate to raise high-quality capital inflows. Another of his recommendation was that the country should accelerate technology transfer, while bolstering international cooperation in offshore wind power, solar power, and smart electricity transmission development. In response to these suggestions, Prime Minister Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is placing a priority on green and digital transitions, along with a focus on the circular economy and innovation. In addition to supporting and facilitating favorable conditions for investors, the Vietnamese government leader affirmed a commitment to addressing legal procedure obstacles and refining pricing frameworks to cultivate a robust investment environment. PM Chinh arrived in the UAE early Friday morning (Vietnam time) to attend the COP28 and other activities at the invitation of the UAE government. His trip was scheduled to wrap up on Sunday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A seminar chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday centered on an approach to phase out coal-fired power, featuring the participation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The discussion, themed Speed up Clean Energy Transition, was held on the sidelines of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The seminar highlighted the significance of ending the reliance on coal power, and accelerating renewable energy transition. Speaking at the event, PM Chinh said that it was high time to switch to clean power while ensuring economic development and energy security. The Vietnamese government leader underscored that Vietnam would quickly build a legal framework and complete mechanisms for its shift to clean energy. The top Vietnamese official expressed his gratitude to the G7 countries, including France, for helping Vietnam during its energy transition journey, mainly through the implementation of a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). PM Chinh also called on Vietnams partners to provide Vietnam with financial support, advanced technology, and human training to speed up its efforts in the clean energy transition. Responding to his call, the leaders of France, the United States, and the European Commission affirmed that they would accompany Vietnam on this important journey. Speaking at a meeting with the French president on the same day, PM Chinh lauded the Vietnam - France strategic partnership over the past 10 years, expecting the two nations to keep boosting bilateral cooperation. The Vietnamese prime minister hinted at quickly deploying cooperative plans endorsed by Vietnam's Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and French President Macron during their phone talks on October 20. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at a seminar on clean energy transition chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron in the UAE, December 2, 2023. Photo: D. Giang / Tuoi Tre Notably, the two nations should ramp up all-level delegation and people-to-people exchanges, and deepen partnership in trade, investment, defense, education, innovation, digitalization, green transition, and science-technology, PM Chinh said. Vietnam expected France to actively help it preserve historical relics to promote its cultural values and to step up the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), he underlined. French President Macron highly valued the potential for the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. He said that some French ministers would be sent to Vietnam in the coming time to work with the Vietnamese side to foster partnership in the economic, commercial, and investment aspects. President Macron appreciated Vietnams efforts in implementing the JETP political declaration, affirming that the French government would stay on the Southeast Asian countrys side during the journey. PM Chinh arrived in the UAE early Friday morning (Vietnam time) to attend the COP28 and other activities at the invitation of the UAE government. His trip was scheduled to wrap up on Sunday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The title of the worlds best rice that Vietnam has recently claimed at the 15th world's best rice competition held in the Philippines has proved the quality of the countrys grain in the international market, Nguyen Nhu Cuong, head of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Cuong informed that three Vietnamese enterprises brought six rice varieties to the competition, specifically Ho Quang Tri private business with ST24 and ST25 rice, Loc Troi Group with LT28 rice and Nang Hoa 9, and Thai Binh Seeds with TBR39-1 rice and A Sao glutinous rice. Cuong shared that three Vietnamese enterprises participated in the competition, showcasing six distinct rice varieties, including Ho Quang Tri private business' ST24 and ST25 rice, Loc Troi Group's LT28 rice and Nang Hoa 9, and Thai Binh Seeds' TBR39-1 rice and A Sao glutinous rice. Among the showcased rice varieties, ST25 had previously emerged victorious in the competition in 2019. The outcome of the competition is expected to have a notably positive impact on Vietnam's rice exports, particularly for high-quality rice. Cuong emphasized that this achievement serves as a motivating force for localities, enterprises, and farmers to further invest in the production of high-quality rice. He added that the organizer of this year's competition did not attribute the best rice title to a specific rice variety. Instead, they awarded the recognition to the country as a whole, pursuant to the organizers rules amended in 2022. In 2022, Cambodia was the winner. Vietnam won the title in 2023 and was followed by Cambodia and India. Cuong said the Department of Crop Production would propose that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development honor the enterprises that participated in the competition and played a crucial role in securing Vietnam's highest award. The competition was part of the World Rice Conference Summit organized by the Rice Trader, a publication providing in-depth analysis of the global rice industry, in the Philippines between Monday and Friday this week. Vietnam shipped US$4.41 billion worth of rice in January-November this year, up 36 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Many rice varieties of Vietnam have seen their prices reach record highs. In particular, five-percent broken rice is currently priced at $663 per metric ton, 25-percent broken rice at $643, and Jasmine rice at $748. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, have proposed a pilot program for swimming and scuba diving at four new spots in Nha Trang Bay to ease overtourism at Hon Rom Island. These four new sites are located in the northern part of Hon Rua Island, an artificial reef area in Vinh Hoa Ward, the northeastern part of Tri Nguyen Island, and the waters between Bai Tranh and Bai Soi beaches, the Nha Trang administration announced at a recent meeting. Relevant agencies agreed to the pilot opening of the four new diving sites, according to Huynh Binh Thai, head of the Nha Trang Bay management authority. The Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang proposed that relevant parties assess the ecosystem of these locations so as to arrange appropriate diving activities in terms of scale and frequency, Thai added. A coral reef ecosystem in Nha Trang Bay, located in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Chuong / Tuoi Tre At the meeting, various travel firms expressed their concerns regarding challenges associated with the introduction of the four new diving sites. Vo Minh Tin, a local dive guide, highlighted that the two diving sites in the northern part of Hon Rua Island and the artificial reef area in Vinh Hoa pose logistical challenges due to their considerable distance and the absence of docks for convenient transport of tourists to the diving spots. Therefore, Thai suggested a collaborative approach among diving tour operators, suggesting the shared use of private docks, including Ana Marina and another one in close proximity to the Amiana resort. The dive guide emphasized the necessity of implementing regulations and recommendations for diving activities to safeguard the ecosystem once the four new diving spots receive approval for operation. Dinh Van Thieu, vice-chairman of the provincial administration, urged relevant agencies to conduct assessments on the condition of coral reefs and provide detailed reports to the provincial administration. Thieu underscored the importance of a thoughtful approach in the pilot opening of the new diving sites, balancing the promotion of local tourism with the imperative of preserving the marine ecosystem. Visitors are not allowed to take single-use plastic items along with them during trips to islands in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre Participants at the meeting discussed measures to reduce plastic waste and protect the marine ecosystem. Le Thi Bich Huyen, vice-president of the Vietnam Womens Union in Nha Trang, said the union and the Nha Trang Bay management authority had jointly provided more than 300 trash bins for 300 households in the citys Vinh Luong Commune and Tri Nguyen Island for waste classification. Huyen explained that a significant portion of the waste collected will be transformed into bio-fertilizer, while recyclable waste will be sold, generating funds to support the union's operations. The Vietnam Womens Union in Vinh Luong also offered 130 mesh bags to fishermen for use as trash bags. Following just two fishing trips, local fishermen successfully gathered over two metric tons of plastic waste, as reported by Huyen. Starting from October 1 of this year, stringent measures were implemented to curb plastic pollution in the Nha Trang region. Tour operators and tourists are now prohibited from bringing non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plastic items to the Nha Trang Tourist Pier and during their excursions to island destinations. Household businesses in the tourist pier area are not allowed to use and trade non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plastic items either. According to the Nha Trang Bay management authority, the coastal city is home to seven diving sites, with six in Hon Mun Island. In June last year, the city halted swimming and scuba diving activities in the areas around Hon Mun Island in an attempt to revive its damaged coral reef. Since then, Hon Rom Island has become overwhelmed by a huge number of tourists joining swimming and diving activities. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The World Records Union (WorldKings) has officially awarded a World Record certificate to the 'Map of Vietnam,' a distinctive masterpiece crafted from over 115,000 bamboo toothpicks. Conceptualized by a Vietnamese architect, this incredible artwork was meticulously created over eight months, with the collaborative efforts of nearly 12,000 individuals. Hoang Tuan Long, the visionary behind the 'Map of Vietnam' artwork, was presented with the well-deserved World Record certificate on Saturday. The certificate was officially granted by the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings) and the Vietnam Record Association, acting under the authorization of WorldKings. The architect was honored with the title The Author of 'Map of Vietnam' The bamboo toothpick artwork created by the largest number of people in the world, as reported by WorldKings. The 'Map of Vietnam,' a Boarc-style artwork made from bamboo toothpicks, originated from the creative vision of Vietnamese architect Hoang Tuan Long. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre Under Long's leadership, the unique map of Vietnam measuring 1.8m x 2.8m was meticulously crafted from over 115,000 bamboo toothpicks by a remarkable collaboration of 11,898 individuals. This incredible endeavor spanned more than 240 days and took place across 10 locations in four provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Thua Thien-Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. The participants included individuals from schools, museums, pagodas, churches, festivals, and various public places in the localities visited by Long and his team during their journey from April 6 to November 12 of this year. The map was crafted in the Bamboo Acrylic Art (Boarc) style, a technique that seamlessly integrates bamboo toothpick material with contemporary laser-cut Mica pieces, as detailed by WorldKings. On the west side of the map, intricate patterns inspired by the Dong Son bronze drum adorn the surface. This iconic design reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Dong Son civilization, which existed from 700 BC to 100 AD among the ancient Vietnamese people. At the top of the artwork, the Vietnamese words Non song Viet Nam (Country of Vietnam) are prominently displayed, adding a meaningful and patriotic touch to the piece. This remarkable achievement also earned the architect a Vietnamese record certificate from Vietkings, recognizing it as the Map of Vietnam, a bamboo toothpick work created by the largest number of people across northern, central, and southern Vietnam." The record holder shared with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that his extraordinary map will be showcased at BoArc Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City's downtown District 1, or it may also find a place in select museums in the near future. Later on, he plans to grant authorization to Vietkings for the auction of the artwork, with the proceeds dedicated to assisting approximately 20 orphans residing at Quan Am Pagoda in southern Dong Nai Province, as well as other children facing similar circumstances in different localities. "It is the orphans who motivate me to undertake community projects, including the creation of this map," Long confided. The architect expressed his readiness to embark on two additional art projects in the near future, including a depiction of Vietnam's Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, measuring 0.8 x 2 meters, and a world map with dimensions of 2.5 x 5 meters. This provided image captures participants engaged in the creation of the 'Map of Vietnam' using bamboo toothpicks, a visionary work conceptualized by Vietnamese architect Hoang Tuan Long. Long said he would appeal to everybody to continue supporting him in making the two new works. This marks the second occasion that Long, a graduate with a master's degree in architecture from the Belarusian National Technical University, has set a world record in the field of art. In 2020, he was recognized by WorldKings as The first person who created and built miniature models of many famous architectural heritage works in the world using Boarc Art." Two years later, Long achieved another milestone by setting an Asia Record for Mandala Universe, a Boarc-style painting crafted from 27,000 bamboo sticks over a period of three months. The 49-year-old architect, a native of Ho Chi Minh City, is also the creative mind behind numerous renowned toothpick architectural models in Vietnam. Notable examples include the Mot Cot (One-Pillar) pagoda in Hanoi, Ngo Mon (Meridian Gate) in Hue City, and Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, among others. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nine News has appointed Jessica Millward as its new European Correspondent replacing Carrie-Anne Greenbank who is returning to Nine in Melbourne. News Director Darren Wick in a note to staff said the role followed many years of hard work and tenacity as a journalist. She began her career in regional television learning the basics with WIN News Queensland. In 2012, she moved to Brisbane and into the 9News Queensland team, where she quickly grew and then shone as a producer and reporter. In 2015, Jess made the leap into breakfast television as Todays Brisbane reporter, he noted. These breakfast roles are some of the most challenging in our network. Sleep deprivation, live television, breaking news and high adrenaline assignments are daily fare. Jess threw herself into it all and thrived. In 2022, she returned to 9News Queensland as a senior reporter in our award-winning Brisbane team and has continued to perform at an exceptional level in another ratings-winning year. She will start at Nines London bureau in February. After recovering from a prolonged health scare, and newly based in Western Europe, Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev stepped back onto the international stage at this years Marrakech Film Festival. Better still, the director of Oscar nominated films Loveless and Leviathan will soon step back behind the camera, as he readies the oligarch drama Jupiter, his first film made outside of his native country. Variety spoke with the filmmaker in Marrakech. After this significant interval between Loveless in 2017 and next years shoot, do you feel as if youre picking back up where you left off or starting anew? More from Variety To be honest with you, Im hoping to start from scratch. Though extremely difficult to put into words, Im absolutely convinced that I have new sensibilities, and that Im at a new stage in my life. In any case, Im absolutely certain that this new sensibility is not just linked to the passage of time. The events of my life have changed so much since Loveless, and I myself have changed as well. I cant quite describe it, but Im sure that this newness will be reflected in my next film. How so? The film will no doubt be more verbose [than my previous work]. Some films are almost silent, but the visuals speak to us. We read the text and subtext through the images on screen. And then on the other side, at the other end of the spectrum, you have the films of Eric Rohmer, which are particularly talkative. Up to this point I havent tried to avoid that latter style, I just preferred I to have an observers position that was somewhere between the two extremes. Now, I wont rule out that this next film will maybe be a little closer to Eric Rohmer, and that Ill probably call things by their name more than before. Story continues Has your perspective on your home country changed since moving abroad? The force of inertia keeps my mind there, even though my body is somewhere else. I now live in France, but Ive lived for so long in Russia that I feel, in some ways, that I continue to do so. I continue to breathe in Russia, I continue to feel the Russian context, and so I know that I can continue to bear witness to this society, even if Im no longer there. Especially as the idea for my next film emerged several years ago, when I was still there. What I dont know, however, is when the moment will come when I consider that I can no longer bear witness to Russian society. When that will be, I dont know, but it wont be now. What more can you tell us about Jupiter? So, what I can tell you is that Im planning to shoot in the spring of 2024, in April, May, June, and no doubt Ill still have a few scenes to do in the autumn. Ill be shooting in France, Ill be shooting in Spain, in Palma de Mallorca. Thats where I scouted out where I wanted to shoot. And so, as far as the content of the film is concerned, were going to delve into the life of a very wealthy man, into his intimate life, into the conditions in which he lives. Well delve into his family. Theres him, his wife, his child, and there will be a fourth person. But I never say what the film is about beforehand, because I want it to remain a surprise for the viewer. I would like the viewer to discover the film as if they were opening a box. And so its complicated to tell you anything more than that. Its about this life of oligarchs. All I can tell you is that were going to stay with a Russian mentality. In any case, hes in a context of patriarchy, a patriarchy thats also very particular because were in another world. Hes not at home; hes also in Europe. In any case, were thrilled to see you doing better, and cant wait for the next film. Yes, me too! Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was heading to Beijing on Sunday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Belarusian state media reported, the second trip of the close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China this year. Lukashenko, who according to Chinese state media was welcomed with a gun salute and military honours during his official Feb. 28 - March 2 visit, was this time heading for "a working visit," BelTA state news agency reported. "Negotiations between the head of the Belarusian state and president of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping will take place in Beijing," BelTA said, citing Lukashenko's press service. "The agenda includes issues of trade, economic, investment and international cooperation." After their first talks this year, Xi said that the China-Belarus "friendship is unbreakable, and the two sides should constantly enhance political mutual trust and remain each other's true friends and good partners." Lukashenko, the president of Belarus since 1994 who has been shunned by the West, backed Russia's invasion in Ukraine in February 2022 by allowing Moscow to use its territory to launch the war. China maintains close ties to Russia and has never condemned its invasion of Ukraine, but Beijing became vocal earlier this year in calling for peace as the Ukraine conflict drags on. After their March 1 meeting, both Lukashenko and Xi called for the "soonest possible" peace deal for Ukraine. But the war, now in its 22nd month, has no end in sight, with neither side willing to compromise to negotiate. (This story has been refiled to correct the date to Feb. 28 in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard and Guy Faulconbridge) Could AI be used as a tool for good? (Image: Pixabay) On Remembrance Sunday, honouring a tradition started by his great-grandfather more than 100 years ago, King Charles III laid a wreath at the Cenotaph to remember those who have "have served and sacrificed." Lest we forget. In World War I, millions of people lost their lives. Are they truly honoured, these statistics of the "war to end all wars", if there are still combat casualties over a century later? A few days before that solemn ceremony in London, Sir Donald McCullin was interviewed on BBC Radio Four. His name might not be familiar to you, but you may have seen his work. He is arguably Britain's greatest living photographer; his camera witness to global atrocities for over six decades. From hostilities in Biafra, Vietnam and Northern Ireland, plus documenting AIDS, London gangs and even the Beatles, his impactful photographs are understandably award-winning. This venerable and thoughtful artist potently proclaimed, "Everything I have done and contributed to showing how awful international conflict is, has been a waste of time really... I have been in so many wars and NOTHING has changed. What I am seeing is horrendous and tragically sad." A few days before McCullin's broadcast despair, the government held an artificial intelligence summit. This international conference was held at Bletchley Park, appropriately enough, which was, of course, the base for Second World War codebreakers. Artificial intelligence has many applications, from medical diagnosis, to creative arts and writing. In general, the digital brain ingests large amounts of data, which it analyses to find structure and regularities. It then uses these patterns to make predictions about future states. Technology secretary Michelle Donelan trumpeted that, AI is already improving lives; from new innovations in healthcare, to supporting efforts to tackle climate change. In the opposite corner was multi-billionaire investor and space junkie 'X'-traordinaire, Elon Musk, who conjectured at the conference that AI is one of the biggest threats to humanity. Story continues It could be argued that, particularly having created what some see as the existential threat of artificial intelligence, that man is one of the biggest - if not THE biggest threat to humanity. But what if we can use AI to find the solution to humans' interminable need to destroy each other? Could the futility of war be solved with the utility of artificial intelligence? We could feed into the ersatz Einstein the inexhaustible amount of information about military strategy and the horrors of war. Stir in treaties and pacts; statistics of deaths and casualties, the surfeit of words written about Hitler, the march of the Roman Empire, the squabbles of ancient Greece. Maybe even Don McCullin's archive. And if the self-thinking machines can't tell us that war is stupid using this weight of academic postmortem, then maybe the lesson that we have learned from history is that we never learn from history. Jeremy Corbyn MP states, "All wars end with some kind of peace conference. Let's jump to that stage." The millions of war dead deserve a better legacy than perpetual conflict. Vladimir Putins troops have been accused of executing Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered near Avdiivka amid heavy fighting. In a video posted to Telegram, footage appeared to show two men coming out of a shelter, one with his hands above his head, before lying on the ground in front of soldiers. Gunfire and smoke appears, before the video cuts off. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the footage was evidence of war crimes and slammed Russia as showing its terrorist face. The video has not been verified. Today, a video of the execution by Russian servicemen of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered as prisoners appeared on the internet, Mr Lubinets said. This is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention and disrespects international humanitarian law. The Russian side shows its terrorist face again. It comes after Ukraine destroyed 10 out of 12 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks alongside a cruise missile, Ukraines air force said today. The Iranian-made Shahed drones were headed towards Ukraines northwest, the air force said. Most were downed in the Mykolaiv region in Ukraines south. Key Points Russia hits Ukraine with 12 drones and a cruise missile Putin orders Russian military to increase troop numbers by 170,000 Russian president really needs elections- expert Moscow repelled on six fronts on battlefield Deputy commander of Russia's 14th Army Corps killed in Ukraine - regional governor 10:16 , Tom Watling Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of Russias 14th Army Corps, has been killed in Ukraine, the governor of Russias Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, said on his Telegram channel on Monday. Details of Zavadskys death have not been released, though Ukrainian outlets on Telegram have claimed that he stepped on a mine on 28 November. Major General Vladimir Zavadsky was killed in Ukraine, according to Russian sources (Telegram) Ukraine attacks oil depot in Luhansk with drones -RIA 09:35 , Tom Watling Ukraine's forces attacked an oil depot in Russia-controlled Luhansk last night using combat drones, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing Russian-installed authorities in the Ukrainian region. Story continues A fire that broke out after the attack has been extinguished and there was no information about casualties, RIA reported. A fuel tank in occupied Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, is seen on fire overnight after an alleged UAV strike (Telegram) What's happening this morning in Ukraine? 09:00 , Tom Watling A winter storm has been declared in far western Ukraine, on the border with Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Heavy snowfall has threatened to shut down roads and civilians have been warned against unnecessary travel. On the frontline, dropping temperatures and foggy conditions appear to have also impaired both sides ability to conduct aerial reconnaissance and mechanised assaults, which are attacks using tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs). The Ukrainian head of the Avdiivka military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said on Sunday that they believed Russian forces were waiting the weather out before resuming heavy assaults on the eastern Ukrainian city. Nonetheless, fighting continues. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said there was intense fighting in multiple eastern cities and towns. Overnight, Russia launched 23 drones and a cruise missile, according to the Ukrainian air force. They said in a statement this morning that they had destroyed 18 of the drones. Meanwhile, at least three people were killed on Sunday as a result of Russian shelling in eastern and southern Ukraine, including a 69-year-old woman. Below are some of the latest photos from Ukraine. A woman and a child walk along the bank of the Uzh river during heavy snowfall in far western Ukraine (REUTERS) An ecological investigator collects soil in the area that was flooded following the Kakhovka dam explosion, for a war crime investigation into allegations of Russian ecocide (AFP via Getty Images) Debris is scattered inside an apartment after shelling in a residential block in Kherson that killed at least one and wounded seven others (via REUTERS) Russia launches 23 drones, cruise missiles overnight on Ukraine - Ukraine's Air Force 08:02 , Tom Watling Russia launched 23 drones and a cruise missile overnight on Ukraine, Ukraines air force said on Monday, adding that its air defence systems destroyed the missile and 18 of the drones before they reached their targets. Anti-aircraft defense was deployed in at least 9 regions of Ukraine, the air force said on the Telegram messaging app. The air force did not provide details on what happened to the drones that were not destroyed or whether there was any damage in result of the attack. People remove shards of glass from broken windows of a building housing a beauty salon following recent shelling in Donetsk (REUTERS) Russia accused of killing unarmed and surrendering Ukrainian prisoners of war 07:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine has accused Russia of committing a war crime by executing two unarmed Ukrainian soldiers who had already surrendered, and said an investigation has been launched into the killings. The Ukrainian prosecutor generals office said it had launched a probe into a video purporting to show the incident, saying it took place near an observation post outside Stepove village in Donetsk. The video shows a Ukrainian soldier crawling out of a foxhole as six Russian soldiers wait for him outside. He is seen holding his hands up and then lying on the ground. Within seconds, another Ukrainian soldier stumbles out of the dugout and lies down. The Russian soldiers then fire upon the two unarmed Ukrainians. Russia accused of killing unarmed and surrendering Ukrainian POWs Ukraine says it is repelling Russian attacks across six fronts as Zelensky orders more fortifications 06:00 , Alexander Butler 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. Ukraine repelling Russian attacks across six fronts as Zelensky seeks fortifications Officials walk out as Russias Sergei Lavrov speaks at European security meeting 05:00 , Alexander Butler 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. Officials walk out as Russias Sergei Lavrov speaks at security meeting Putin wont consider stopping Ukraine war until after US election, says Biden official 04:00 , Alexander Butler Vladimir Putin will not consider ending his invasion of Ukraine until he knows the result of the 2024 US presidential election, a senior official from the Joe Biden administration has said. Experts have said Russia appears content to grind down Ukraines resolve in the conflict rather than risk losing yet more troops in an all-out assault, and that wearing down the patience of Kyivs Western allies appears to be a key part of that strategy. Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, the Biden administation has dedicated over $60bn in aid to Ukraine, with a significant portion exceeding the $43bn budget allocated for military assistance. Further funding is being held up by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, with Democrats outraged by the latest GOP efforts to tie Ukraine aid to a crackdown on immigration to the US. Putin wont consider stopping Ukraine war until after US election official Finland closes last crossing point with Russia, sealing off entire border as tensions rise 03:00 , Alexander Butler Nato member Finland on Wednesday closed its last remaining border crossing with Russia after the government decided to seal the entire border with its eastern neighbor amid rising political tensions. The decision to close the entire 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border was made by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday over concerns that Moscow is using migrants to wage hybrid warfare to destabilize the Nordic country following its entry into Nato. The Raja-Jooseppi crossing point in Finlands Arctic Lapland region, located some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the northern Russian city of Murmansk, was closed at 2pm Wednesday, according to the checkpoints normal November schedule. Finland closes last crossing point with Russia The director of Russia's Mariinsky Theatre, Valery Gergiev, is also put in charge of the Bolshoi 02:00 , Alexander Butler The Russian government on Friday named Valery Gergiev, the renowned director of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, to also lead Moscows Bolshoi Theatre. Gergiev is replacing Vladimir Urin at the Bolshoi. Urin announced Thursday that he was stepping down after a decade, but didnt explain the reason behind his move. Some Russian media said the departure of 76-year-old Urin was related to health issues. Others speculated it was linked to a letter calling for an end to Moscows military action in Ukraine that he and some other prominent cultural figures signed after the Kremlin sent troops across the border in February 2022. The director of Russia's Mariinsky Theatre, Valery Gergiev, is also put in charge of the Bolshoi Senior Russian general killed by one of Putins own landmines in Ukraine 01:00 , Alexander Butler Russia may have lost as many as six high-ranking officers in Ukraine in just one week following reports a senior general was killed by a landmine placed by his own side. Major general Vladimir Zavadsky, 45, the deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps, died in occupied Ukraine on Tuesday, reported pro-Kremlin newspaper Lenta. The elite military academy where Zavadsky studied, the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, also announced his death in a social media post, although that has now been deleted. Senior Russian general killed by one of Putins own landmines in Ukraine Putin urges Russian women to have eight or more children amid soaring deaths in his Ukraine war 00:00 , Alexander Butler Vladimir Putin has urged Russian women to have eight or more children and make large families the norm amid soaring numbers of casualties in his war against Ukraine. Russias birth rate has been steadily falling since the 90s and the country has suffered more than 300,000 casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to data maintained by Kyiv. In a speech via video link at the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said boosting the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades. Putin asks Russian women to have eight or more children amid deaths in his war Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Sunday 3 December 2023 23:00 , Alexander Butler Russian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow Friday night, less than 48 hours after the countrys top court banned what it called the global LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization. Police searched venues across the Russian capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a bar that hosted LGBTQ+ parties, under the pretext of a drug raid, local media reported. Eyewitnesses told journalists that clubgoers documents were checked and photographed by the security services. They also said that managers had been able to warn patrons before police arrived. Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Schoolboys hilarious reaction to Zelensky walking into classroom Sunday 3 December 2023 22:00 , Alexander Butler A video of a schoolboys hilarious reaction to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walking into his classroom has gone viral. Footage from the presidents office shows Zelensky going from classroom to classroom to interact with students, accompanied by the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov. As Zelensky enters the boys classroom, the stunned student stares wide-eyed at the president, immediately raising his hands to his head in apparent amazement. The underground classrooms were opened in September inside the University metro station to protect the students from ongoing Russian attacks. Schoolboys hilarious reaction to Zelensky walking into classroom Russia has lost 332,040 troops in Ukraine Sunday 3 December 2023 21:00 , Alexander Butler Russia has lost 332,040 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said. This number includes 930 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day. The military also said Russia has lost 5,575 tanks, 10,396 armored fighting vehicles, 10,432 vehicles and fuel tanks, 7,949 artillery systems, 913 multiple launch rocket systems, 602 air defense systems, 323 airplanes, 324 helicopters, 5,995 drones, 22 ships and boats, and one submarine. Over 7,000 Russian troops lost in one week, Kyiv claims Sunday 3 December 2023 20:00 , Alexander Butler Ukraines First Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Pavliuk has claims Russia has lost 7,210 troops over the last week. Posting on Telegram, he added that the Russians had lost 534 units of weapons and military equipment. Ukrainian military thanks UK for Challenger tanks Sunday 3 December 2023 19:00 , Alexander Butler The Ukrainian military has thanked the UK for providing Challenger 2 tanks which have helped repel Russian attacks on the country. Today, we want to thank our British partners. The UK was the first European country to send weapons to the Ukrainian army to repel russian aggression. And we are also grateful for one of the best modern tanks Challenger 2. The Challenger 2 became an effective weapon in professional hands of Ukrainian warriors. The spectacular combination of technology and talent helps to liberate our land from occupiers, it said on X. 3rd Day of Ukrainian Advent Calendar Today, we want to thank our British partners @DefenceHQ. The UK was the first European country to send weapons to the Ukrainian army to repel russian aggression. And we are also grateful for one of the best modern tanks Challenger 2. The pic.twitter.com/GYaD1XTA4z Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 3, 2023 Watch: Ukraine claims it destroys Russian armoured vehicles Sunday 3 December 2023 18:00 , Alexander Butler The Ukrainian millitary has shared footage which it claims shows its 14th Separate Regiment destroying Russian armored vehicles, a tank repair base and a truck. Professional and effective work of our warriors from the 14th Separate Regiment. As a result, occupiers armored vehicles, a tank repair base and a truck were destroyed, it said. Professional and effective work of our warriors from the 14th Separate Regiment. As a result, occupier's armored vehicles, a tank repair base and a truck were destroyed. pic.twitter.com/iVC6ZLUUIw Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 3, 2023 At least two dead in Kherson after shelling Sunday 3 December 2023 17:00 , Alexander Butler Ukraine said at least two people were killed and four injured by Russian shelling in the Kherson region Sunday, while air defences downed 10 Russian drones overnight. Kherson was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in November 2022 but has since faced relentless shelling by Russian forces from the opposite bank of the adjoining Dnipro river. Officials said a 78-year-old man was killed Sunday morning when the village of Sadove was bombarded, while a woman in Kherson city was killed by shelling in a street. Hundreds of settlements without power Sunday 3 December 2023 16:00 , Alexander Butler Over 500 settlements in a dozen Ukrainian regions experienced power outages due to bad weather, and over 400 more lost power due to Russian attacks and equipment disturbances, the Ukrainian energy ministry said. In Lviv Oblast, 41,000 households in 388 settlements were left without power due to weather. Up to 422 settlements have been without power due to hostilities and technological disturbances, the ministry said. Ease up of offensive on Avdiivka shows Russian's "running out of steam" Sunday 3 December 2023 15:00 , Alexander Butler Ukraine has claimed the ease up of Russias offensive on the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka shows its military is running out of steam. Over the past 24 hours, the number of ground attacks has decreased, Vitaliy Barabash, the head of the citys military administration, said. There are fewer and fewer Russian people willing to go on assaults voluntarily, and there are more and more refuseniks, Mr Barabash said. He explained that difficult weather conditions, large losses in both Russian and manpower meant the Russian army was running out of steam. Ukraine to open crossing for lorries on Monday to unblock Polish border Sunday 3 December 2023 14:00 , Alexander Butler Ukraine and Poland will open an additional border crossing for empty trucks on Monday in order to open up a much-needed route for Kyiv, with some crossings blocked by weeks of protests by Polish drivers, Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday. Those protests, over what Polish truckers see as unfair competition from their Ukrainian peers, started on 6 November, with four border crossings now under blockade. Polish hauliers main demand is to stop Ukrainian truckers having permit-free access to the EU, something that Kyiv and Brussels say is impossible. The opening of Uhryniv is the first point on the list of measures implemented to unblock the border, reduce queues and increase the capacity of the Ukrainian-Polish border, the border service said. Ukraine said last week it had agreed some measures with Poland that could ease the pressure at the blockaded border crossings, but that they had not discussed the main demands of the protests. Elderly man killed in Russian strikes, Kyiv claims Sunday 3 December 2023 13:30 , Alexander Butler An elderly man was killed during Russian shelling of Ukraines southern region of Kherson on Sunday, regional officials said. The occupants attacked the Sadove village. One of the hits was to a private garage, where a 78-year-old man was at the time. He died on the spot from the explosive injury, the Kherson military administration said on the Telegram messaging app. Russian troops had abandoned Kherson and the western bank of the Dnipro river late last year, but now regularly shell those areas from positions on the eastern bank. Soviet war memorials destroyed in Eastern Europe Sunday 3 December 2023 13:00 , Alexander Butler Soviet war memorials are being destroyed in some Eastern European countries, Russia has claimed. Regrettably, memorials dedicated to Soviet liberator soldiers are presently being destroyed in some Eastern European countries as part of a campaign to falsify history, Russias foreign ministry said. The Russian Foreign Ministry brings these outrageous facts to public attention and actively works to preserve and restore these memorials. The memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our future remains immortal. It comes as Russia celebrates the Day of the Unknown Soldier, a day established to remember fallen soldiers in Russia and abroad. Ukrainian parliaments chairman accuses Russia of war crimes Sunday 3 December 2023 12:19 , Alexander Butler The chairman of the Ukrainian parliament has shared a still of a video which is said to show Russian soldiers executing two prisoners of war. Ruslan Stefanchuk said: This is another crime committed by russian terrorists. Violation of the rules of war. The killing of unarmed soldiers. Russia has once again proved that it is a terrorist country for which there are no laws and norms of international law. Execution of Ukrainian soldiers by russians when they surrendered. This is another crime committed by russian terrorists. Violation of the rules of war. The killing of unarmed soldiers. russia has once again proved that it is a terrorist country for which there are no laws and pic.twitter.com/rcyapnbD8R Ruslan Stefanchuk (@r_stefanchuk) December 3, 2023 Ukraines war with Russia complicated by winter, Zelensky says Sunday 3 December 2023 12:00 , Alexander Butler Volodymyr Zelensky said on that the war with Russia was in a new stage, with winter expected to complicate fighting after a summer counteroffensive that failed to produce desired results. Despite setbacks, however, the president of Ukraine said his nation wouldnt give up. We have a new phase of war, and that is a fact, Zelensky said, speaking in Kharkiv after a morale-boosting tour of the region. Winter as a whole is a new phase of war. Am I satisfied? Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. Ukraines war with Russia complicated by winter, Zelensky says Execution of surrendering soldiers a 'war crime', Ukraine says Sunday 3 December 2023 11:00 , Alexander Butler Vladimir Putins troops have been accused of executing Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered near Avdiivka amid heavy fighting. In a video posted to Telegram, footage appeared to show two soldiers coming out of a shelter, one with his hands above his head, before lying on the ground in front of soldiers. Gunfire and smoke appears, before the video cuts off. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the footage was evidence of war crimes and slammed Russia as showing its terrorist face. The video has not been independently verified. Today, a video of the execution by Russian servicemen of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered as prisoners appeared on the internet, Mr Lubinets said. The Strategic Committee of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said it had confirmed the authenticity of the footage showing Russian troops gunning down two Ukrainian soldiers upon surrender. The published footage depicts the execution of two prisoners of war from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to verified information, the Russian occupiers have once again treacherously fired upon unarmed soldiers, the Ukrainian army said. Destroying ground air defence systems most important contest of the war Sunday 3 December 2023 10:30 , Alexander Butler Destroying both Ukrainian and Russian ground air defence systems remains the most important contest between the two adversaries, the UK ministry of defence said. The efforts of both Russia and Ukraine to overcome their adversarys ground-based air defence systems continue to be one of the most important contests of the war, it said. The MoD explained the Russian SA-15 surface-to-air missile plays a critical and largely effective role in the war, which is used to combat Ukrainian unmanned aerial attacks. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 3 December 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/zdC12U25Sp #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/NPUXvUXHxQ Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) December 3, 2023 Russia eases attacks on Avdiivka Sunday 3 December 2023 10:00 , Alexander Butler The Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told national television that Russian attacks on Avdiivka had halved over the past 24 hours, largely as a result of heavy losses. The coking plant is controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces, Shtupun said. Enemy forces are trying to make their way inside, but are suffering losses in infantry and equipment. The Russian military had set its sights on seizing Avdiivka and its vast coking plant since mid-October in attacks described as meat grinder assaults. Russia launches 12 drones and a cruise missile at Ukraine Sunday 3 December 2023 09:30 , Alexander Butler Russia launched 12 drones and a cruise missile at Ukraine overnight, with Ukraines air defence systems destroying 10 drones before they reached their targets, Ukraines air force said on Sunday. The cruise missile was not destroyed but did not reach its target, the air force said without giving further detail. It did not say what happened to the two drones that there were not destroyed. The Iranian-made Shahed drones were headed towards Ukraines north-west, the air force said. Most were downed in the Mykolaiv region in Ukraines south. Putin orders Russian military to increase troop numbers by 170,000 Sunday 3 December 2023 09:00 , Shweta Sharma Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a significant boost in the countrys military, increasing the troop numbers by nearly 170,000 to reach a total of 1.32 million as the Kremlins full-scale invasion enters its 22nd month. Mr Putin signed the decree on Friday in response to the aggressive activities of the Nato bloc and its special military operation in Ukraine, as stated by the Kremlin. In accordance with the decree of Russian president signed on November 29, 2023, the maximum size of the armed forces of the Russian Federation has been increased by 170,000 military personnel to 1,320,000 military personnel, the defence ministry said. Putin orders Russian military to increase troop numbers by 170,000 Ex-president stopped from leaving Ukraine over Russian plot, security service says. Sunday 3 December 2023 08:30 , Shweta Sharma Ukraines security service said it had prevented former president Petro Poroshenko from leaving the country on grounds that Russia planned to exploit a planned meeting with Hungarys prime minister to hurt Ukrainian interests. Mr Poroshenkos political party, European Solidarity, said the former president had scheduled only meetings in Poland and the US and warned the SBU security service against becoming involved in politics. Mr Poroshenko was turned away at a border post on Friday. The SBU said yesterday he had planned to meet Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, who maintains ties with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and opposes opening talks on European Union membership with Ukraine. An SBU statement said Russia was preparing a series of provocations to discredit Ukraine among its foreign allies as the war against Russia stretches beyond 21 months. Of the possible meeting with Mr Orban, the SBU said: Russia planned to use this meeting (like other working meetings with ... representative of countries voicing pro-Russian narratives) in psychological operations against Ukraine. The SBU said Orban systematically holds an anti-Ukrainian position, was a friend of Putin and sought the removal of sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Mr Orban, who is open about his friendly ties with Putin, opposes the start of EU membership talks with Ukraine, to be considered at the blocs forthcoming summit. He called this week for the creation instead of a strategic partnership with Kyiv. Russia eases attack in Avdiivka after failure to capture southwest town Sunday 3 December 2023 08:00 , Shweta Sharma Russian forces eased their attacks on the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, as unofficial reports from the region indicated that they were unsuccessful in capturing the devastated town of Maryinka to the southwest. Russian reports on Friday suggested Moscows troops had taken control of Maryinka, 40 km (25 miles) to the southwest, engulfed in fighting for well over a year. But unofficial Ukrainian reports yesterday said its forces were holding some districts. Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told national television that Russian attacks on Avdiivka had halved over the past 24 hours, largely as a result of heavy losses. The coking plant is controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces, Mr Shtupun said. Enemy forces are trying to make their way inside, but are suffering losses in infantry and equipment. Fighting was still intense, he said, in an adjacent area outside the town centre known as the industrial zone. Russias popular war blog Rybar said the zone had fallen under Russian control. Vitaliy Barabash, head of the towns military administration, told Channel 24 television that Avdiivka was starting to look like Maryinka, a settlement that basically no longer exists. It has been razed to its foundations. There were no official Ukrainian reports on Maryinka, but military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said reports of its capture by Russian troops were untrue. We acknowledge that there was an advance there of the Russian military, Zhdanov said in an online presentation. But the southwestern and northwestern parts of the town are under the control of Ukrainian forces. Russia and Ukraine to conduct mutual visits to prisoners of war Sunday 3 December 2023 07:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova and Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets plan to conduct several mutual visits to prisoners of war, Russias RIA news agency reported on Sunday. Russian military personnel will be visited on the Ukrainian side. Ukrainian military personnel will be visited on the Russian side. There will be several of these visits, we have a schedule, RIA cited Moskalkova as saying. We will not let Hamas or Putin win, says US defence secretary Sunday 3 December 2023 07:30 , Shweta Sharma US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, vowed to not let Hammas or Russia win in their respective wars as he delivered a lengthy address to defend the US support of Ukraine and Israel. He criticised those endorsing an American retreat from responsibility at the Reagan National Defense Forum and stressed the necessity for consistent US leadership to contribute to a free and safe world. In both Israel and Ukraine, democracies are fighting ruthless foes who are out to annihilate them, Mr Austin said. And we will not let Hamas or Putin win. And we will not let our enemies divide or weaken us. So as we surge support into Israel, we remain focused on Ukraine. Watch - Schoolboys hilarious reaction to Zelensky walking into classroom Sunday 3 December 2023 07:00 , Lydia Patrick Russia hits Ukraine with 12 drones and a cruise missile Sunday 3 December 2023 06:30 , Shweta Sharma Russia launched 12 drones and a cruise missile towards Ukraines northwest in overnight attacks, Ukraines air force said today. But Ukraines air defence systems successfully destroyed 10 drones before they reached their targets, it added. The cruise missile was not destroyed but did not reach its target, the air force said without giving further detail. It did not say what happened to the two drones that were not destroyed. The Iranian-made Shahed drones were headed towards Ukraines northwest, the air force said. Most were downed in the Mykolaiv region in Ukraines south. There were no immediate reports of damage from falling debris or the drones that were not destroyed. Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Sunday 3 December 2023 06:00 , Lydia Patrick Russian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow Friday night, less than 48 hours after the countrys top court banned what it called the global LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization. Police searched venues across the Russian capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a bar that hosted LGBTQ+ parties, under the pretext of a drug raid, local media reported. Eyewitnesses told journalists that clubgoers documents were checked and photographed by the security services. They also said that managers had been able to warn patrons before police arrived. Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Global Red Cross suspends Belarus chapter after its chief boasted of bringing in Ukrainian children Sunday 3 December 2023 05:00 , Lydia Patrick The International Red Cross on Friday suspended the Belarusian chapter after its chief stirred international outrage for boasting that it was actively ferrying Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies halted the membership of the Belarus branch after it refused to oust its leader Dzmitry Shautsou. He is accused of having breached the Red Cross much-vaunted and much-defended standards of neutrality and integrity. The board of IFRC had given the Belarus Red Cross until Nov. 30 to dismiss him, and said it would suspend the branch if it didnt. The suspension means that the Belarus Red Cross loses its rights as a member of the IFRC, the Geneva-based international organization said in a statement Friday. Any new funding to the Belarus Red Cross will also be suspended. Global Red Cross suspends Belarus chapter after its chief boasted of bringing in Ukrainian children Putin orders Russian military to increase troop numbers by 170,000 Sunday 3 December 2023 04:00 , Lydia Patrick Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a significant boost in the countrys military, increasing the troop numbers by nearly 170,000 to reach a total of 1.32 million as the Kremlins full-scale invasion enters its 22nd month. Mr Putin signed the decree on Friday in response to the aggressive activities of the Nato bloc and its special military operation in Ukraine, as stated by the Kremlin. In accordance with the decree of Russian president signed on November 29, 2023, the maximum size of the armed forces of the Russian Federation has been increased by 170,000 military personnel to 1,320,000 military personnel, the defence ministry said. Putin orders Russian military to increase troop numbers by 170,000 Ukraine says it is repelling Russian attacks across six fronts as Zelensky orders more fortifications Sunday 3 December 2023 03:00 , Lydia Patrick 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. Ukraine repelling Russian attacks across six fronts as Zelensky seeks fortifications Watch - Ukraines war with Russia complicated by winter, Zelensky says Sunday 3 December 2023 01:30 , Lydia Patrick Ukraines war with Russia complicated by winter, Zelensky says Russians ease attacks in eastern Ukraine, shattered town may still be held by Kyiv Sunday 3 December 2023 00:30 , Lydia Patrick Russian forces eased attacks on the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka on Saturday and unofficial reports from the region suggested they had failed to capture the devastated town of Maryinka to the southwest. Russias military has focused on eastern Ukraine since abandoning an advance on Kyiv in the first days after the February 2022 invasion. Since mid-October, the military has set its sights on seizing Avdiivka and its vast coking plant. Russian reports on Friday suggested Moscows troops had taken control of Maryinka, 40 km (25 miles) to the southwest, engulfed in fighting for well over a year. But unofficial Ukrainian reports on Saturday said its forces were holding some districts. Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told national television that Russian attacks on Avdiivka had halved over the past 24 hours, largely as a result of heavy losses. The coking plant is controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces, Shtupun said. Enemy forces are trying to make their way inside, but are suffering losses in infantry and equipment. Fighting was still intense, he said, in an adjacent area outside the town centre known as the industrial zone. Russias popular war blog Rybar said the zone had fallen under Russian control. Reuters could not verify accounts from either side. Schoolboys hilarious reaction to Zelensky walking into classroom Saturday 2 December 2023 23:30 , Lydia Patrick Schoolboys hilarious reaction to Zelensky walking into classroom Ukraines war with Russia complicated by winter, Zelensky says Saturday 2 December 2023 22:30 , Lydia Patrick Ukraines war with Russia complicated by winter, Zelensky says Putin orders Russian military to increase troop numbers by 170,000 Saturday 2 December 2023 21:30 , Lydia Patrick Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a significant boost in the countrys military, increasing the troop numbers by nearly 170,000 to reach a total of 1.32 million as the Kremlins full-scale invasion enters its 22nd month. Mr Putin signed the decree on Friday in response to the aggressive activities of the Nato bloc and its special military operation in Ukraine, as stated by the Kremlin. In accordance with the decree of Russian president signed on November 29, 2023, the maximum size of the armed forces of the Russian Federation has been increased by 170,000 military personnel to 1,320,000 military personnel, the defence ministry said. It has expanded the Russian forces to approximately 2.2 million, including 1.32 million troops. The decree came into effect immediately. Putin orders Russian military to increase troop numbers by 170,000 Ex-president barred from leaving Ukraine amid alleged plan to meet Hungarian PM Saturday 2 December 2023 20:30 , Lydia Patrick Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko was denied permission to leave Ukraine for a planned meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Ukraines security service has said. Mr Poroshenko announced on Friday that he had been turned away at the border despite previously receiving permission from parliament to leave the country. Under martial law, Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 years of age are not allowed to leave the country without special approval. The 58-year-old, who lost his re-election bid in 2019 to current Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said he had planned to meet US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and visit the Polish parliament during his trip. But security officials said that Mr Poroshenko had also agreed to meet Mr Orban, who has previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and refused to support Kyivs bid for EU accession. In a statement on social media, they said such talks would make Mr Poroshenko a tool in the hands of the Russian special services. Mr Poroshenko, who called his experience at the border an attack on unity, is yet to comment on the allegation that he planned to meet Mr Orban. Russia Ukraine War (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Saturday 2 December 2023 19:30 , Lydia Patrick Russian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow Friday night, less than 48 hours after the countrys top court banned what it called the global LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization. Police searched venues across the Russian capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a bar that hosted LGBTQ+ parties, under the pretext of a drug raid, local media reported. Eyewitnesses told journalists that clubgoers documents were checked and photographed by the security services. They also said that managers had been able to warn patrons before police arrived. The raids follow a decision by Russias Supreme Court to label the countrys LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization. Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant suffered power outage-energy ministry Saturday 2 December 2023 18:30 , Lydia Patrick Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost its power supply after the last remaining line to it from Ukrainian-controlled territory was disrupted, but it has since been repaired, the energy ministry said. The plant was occupied by Russia in March 2022 and is no longer generating power, but needs a supply of electricity to cool one of its four reactors which is in a state of hot conservation - meaning it has not fully been shut down. According to a statement published by Ukraines energy ministry on Telegram, one power line to the plant was disrupted late on Friday, while the last, 750 kW, line was broken at 2:31 a.m. (0031 GMT) on Saturday. This is the eighth blackout which occurred at the (Zaporizhzhia plant) and could have led to nuclear catastrophe, the statement said. The ministry said that after losing grid connection the plant turned on 20 backup generators to supply its own electricity needs. It said that at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) Ukrainian specialists repaired the 750 kW line which was now bringing power to the plant once more. Russia warns those who try to divide country Saturday 2 December 2023 17:30 , Alexander Butler Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned those who try to divide Russia by sowing ethnic or religious discord. Any attempt to sow ethnic or religious discord, to split Russian society is betrayal, a crime against all of Russia. We will never allow anyone to divide our country, the UK Russian embassy reported Putin as saying. Russian forces make advances in Avdiivka Saturday 2 December 2023 16:26 , Alexander Butler Russian forces have made advances in the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, according to a US think tank. Russian forces continued offensive operations near Avdiivka on 1 December and made confirmed advances. Geolocated footage published on December 1 indicates that Russian forces advanced east and SE of Stepove, The Institute for the Study of War said. Eastern #Ukraine 1/ Russian forces continued offensive operations near #Avdiivka on December 1 and made confirmed advances. Geolocated footage published on December 1 indicates that Russian forces advanced east and SE of Stepove (3km NW of Avdiivka). https://t.co/RzJ9ij4TXo https://t.co/ik2XVrwnBD pic.twitter.com/0O1qFHBIbA Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 2, 2023 Ukraine blows up petrol station used by Russian army' Saturday 2 December 2023 16:07 , Alexander Butler Ukrainian troops blew up a petrol station used by Russian occupation forces to refuel military equipment in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia, according to the countrys military intelligence agency. The explosion damaged military equipment and killed several Russian military personnel, it said. The attack was reportedly carried out at around midday. Russian military forces in Melitopol are the frequent target of attacks by Ukrainian resistance groups. Putin urges Russian women to have eight or more children amid soaring deaths in his Ukraine war Saturday 2 December 2023 15:00 , Alexander Butler Vladimir Putin has urged Russian women to have eight or more children and make large families the norm amid soaring numbers of casualties in his war against Ukraine. Russias birth rate has been steadily falling since the 90s and the country has suffered more than 300,000 casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to data maintained by Kyiv. In a speech via video link at the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said boosting the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades. Putin asks Russian women to have eight or more children amid deaths in his war Officials walk out as Russias Sergei Lavrov speaks at European security meeting Saturday 2 December 2023 14:30 , Alexander Butler 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. Officials walk out as Russias Sergei Lavrov speaks at security meeting Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Saturday 2 December 2023 14:00 , Alexander Butler Russian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow Friday night, less than 48 hours after the countrys top court banned what it called the global LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization. Police searched venues across the Russian capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a bar that hosted LGBTQ+ parties, under the pretext of a drug raid, local media reported. Eyewitnesses told journalists that clubgoers documents were checked and photographed by the security services. They also said that managers had been able to warn patrons before police arrived. Police raid Moscow gay bars after a Supreme Court ruling labeled LGBTQ+ movement 'extremist' Zaporizhizhia power plant loses power Saturday 2 December 2023 13:25 , Alexander Butler The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost its power supply after the last remaining line to it from Ukrainian-controlled territory was disrupted. In its statement, the Ukrainian energy ministry stated that it was the eighth blackout at the nuclear power plant, which was captured by Russia in early March 2022. The ministry warned that this latest incident could have led to nuclear catastrophe. Latvia accuses Russia of committing war crimes Saturday 2 December 2023 12:34 , Alexander Butler Russia has violated human rights and committed war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine, Latvias representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe claimed. Speaking at the organisations conference in North Macedonia, Katrina Kaktina said Russia was waging an unprovoked war and was deliberatley killing civilians. It is Russia that is waging an unprovoked and unlawful war against Ukraine, and it is Russia that is obstructing the OSCE agenda, she said. 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. A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, followed by four major aftershocks that sent residents fleeing from coastal areas amid fears of a tsunami. The initial quake struck off the coast of the country at a depth of 32 kilometres (20 miles) at 10:37 pm local time (1437 GMT) about 21 kilometres northeast of Hinatuan municipality on Mindanao island, the USGS said. Early on Sunday, over the span of several hours, four powerful aftershocks of magnitudes 6.4, 6.2, 6.1 and 6.0 rumbled through the region, the USGS said. The initial quake triggered tsunami warnings which were later downgraded across the Pacific region and sent residents in northeast Mindanao fleeing buildings, evacuating a hospital and seeking higher ground. "Destructive tsunami is expected with life threatening wave heights," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on X, formerly Twitter. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii also issued an alert but later posted that the danger had passed. "There is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake," it said in a message. The Philippines seismology institute said in a bulletin at 3:23 am (1923 GMT) local time that the highest waves generated by the seismic activity were .64 meters (25 inches) tall on Mawes Island, but that the tsunami warning had ended. Small swells were reported as far as Japan's eastern Pacific coast, where a tsunami warning was also briefly in effect. Palau, a western Pacific archipelago some 900 kilometres (560 miles) off Mindanao, reported no impact. Hinatuan police Sergeant Joseph Lambo said the quake was "very strong" but that there were no reports of casualties or major property damage. "Appliances fell off the shelves at the police office and two TV sets were broken. The motorcycles parked outside also tumbled down," Lambo told AFP. "Right now we don't have reports of damage or casualties but people are evacuating because of the tsunami alert." Lambo said the 45,000 residents in the municipality had been ordered to leave their homes and many were going on foot or in vehicles to higher ground. A video posted on social media and verified by AFP showed bottles of drinks and other products falling off shelves in a convenience store as staff fled outside. Another video, shot by Dennis Orong, showed people screaming as they ran along a street in Lianga, a coastal municipality of Surigao del Sur. "I was shaking in fear, mainly because of exploding electric poles," the 26-year-old hairdresser told AFP. "It was very traumatic." Previous quake killed nine Social media reports of a tsunami hitting Lingig municipality, about 35 kilometres south of Hinatuan, were "fake news," said police Master Sergeant Robert Quesada. "We're at low tide," he said. "People evacuated away from the coast soon after. We can't say how many at this point, but pretty much the entire town is along the coast." Many people, including Bethanie Valledor, were asleep when the quake struck. "I felt like the room we're staying in would be destroyed," Valledor, 24, told AFP after fleeing the resort where she had been staying, about 20 kilometres southwest of Hinatuan. "Our place is very near the sea. The resort owner asked us to evacuate immediately. Honestly, I was screaming. I panicked." In Butuan City, northwest of Hinatuan, orderlies evacuated patients on gurneys and in wheelchairs from a hospital, their drip and IV bags hanging from support stands. The quake came nearly two weeks after a 6.7 magnitude quake hit Mindanao, killing at least nine people, shaking buildings and causing part of the ceiling of a shopping mall to collapse. Quakes are a daily occurrence in the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of intense seismic and volcanic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. Most are too weak to be felt by humans, but strong and destructive quakes come at random with no technology available to predict when and where they will happen. (AFP) DUBAI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met representatives from the Copenhagen Infrastructure Partner (CIP) and the Enteprize Energy Group (EE) two of the leading energy groups of Denmark and the UK respectively - in Dubai on December 3, on the sidelines of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28). Associate Partner at CIP Robert Helms and EE Chairman Ian Hatton informed the Vietnamese Prime Minister of their offshore wind power and renewable energy projects, calling on the Government of Viet Nam to direct agencies and localities to cooperate to promote their investment projects in Viet Nam. They also proposed some projects with cooperation potential, saying that the groups are willing to support Viet Nam to implement the resource-mobilising plan in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the countrys plan on net-zero emission by 2050. PM Chinh spoke highly of the groups' effective business activities, including offshore wind power development projects in Viet Nam. He said CIP and EE have experience and capacity in the field of renewable energy, especially offshore wind power and new energy, which is very suitable for Viet Nam's policies and development potential. Chinh said that since COP26, Viet Nam has comprehensively implemented measures to implement its commitments, adding that in the coming time, Viet Nam will focus on promoting the completion of strategic infrastructure, green energy transition, renewable energy, and digital transformation towards realising the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and developing a green, sustainable economy. He asked the energy groups to coordinate closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and localities to effectively implement their projects in Viet Nam. He said he hopes that the two groups will continue to share experiences and support Viet Nam in training human resources, improving mechanisms and policies, management capacity, research, and technology application to promote the development of renewable energy and energy transition. Viet Nam is committed to creating favourable conditions for foreign investors in general and CIP and EE in particular for long-term business in Viet Nam, PM Chinh said. VNS HAI PHONG The coast guards of Viet Nam and China conducted a joint patrol from November 29 to December 1 on the waters adjacent to the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin, contributing to strengthening peace, stability and the rule of law at sea. This is the second joint patrol this year and the seventh since the Viet Nam-China agreement on fishery cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin expired on June 30, 2020. The joint patrol stretched across 13 points over a distance of 255.5 nautical miles. A wide range of activities were conducted during the patrol, including discussions on the phone, inspections of fishing boats operating in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line, and educational activities to raise fishermen's awareness and compliance to the law when operating at sea. On this occasion, the Vietnamese Coast Guard established some inter-sectoral working groups to monitor Vietnamese fishing boats observance of legal regulations and the European Commission (EC)s recommendations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In his phone talks with the Chinese side to sum up the outcomes of the patrol, Colonel Luong Cao Khai, Vice Commander and Chief of Staff of the Viet Nam Coast Guard Region 1, stressed that the joint patrol is a successful start of the upcoming joint activities between the two coast guard forces in the coming time, including a friendship visit to Guangzhou city by the Vietnam Coast Guards CSB 8002 ship, and the 7th meeting of the Viet Nam and China coast guard forces in China. The two sides shared the hope that they will continue joining hands to maintain peace, security, order and safety at sea, contributing to nurturing the two countries traditional friendship, solidarity, cooperation and development in the Gulf of Tonkin. VNS HA NOI The Viet Nam - United States comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development is an important milestone, opening a new historical period of friendship and cooperation, suitable and worthy of the stature of the bilateral relationship in the new global context. The United States fully believe in and respect Viet Nam's political system and territorial integrity, said US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc E.Knapper at a conference US-Viet Nam: 10 years of comprehensive partnership in retrospect and prospects of comprehensive strategic partnerships for peace, cooperation and sustainable development, held on Saturday morning in Ha Noi. The conference was co-organised by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations and the US Embassy in Viet Nam. He also said that the United States was proud to be Viet Nam's partner, working together to achieve common goals and ensuring security and prosperity for the people of the two countries. The success of the United States was also the success of Viet Nam and vice versa, he said. According to the ambassador, the Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Partnership had developed very well over the past 10 years, marked by the 2023 event, during the visit to Viet Nam of US President Joe Biden, the two sides had upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. Speaking at the event, chairman of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations Phan Anh Son said the conference was an opportunity to look back at the bilateral relations between the two countries over the past time, consisting of achievements and difficulties as well as pillars promoting the relationship between the two countries. The pillars included the important contributions of people-to-people diplomacy that was boosted by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations, he said. Son said after nearly 30 years of normalising relations and establishing diplomatic relations as well as 10 years of establishing the comprehensive partnership, the two countries had witnessed many important advances in many fields. In terms of politics and diplomacy, many high-level visits had been made. Each visit marked new steps forward, opening up new stages of cooperation in the two countries' relationship. In economics and trade, bilateral trade turnover last year reached US$123 billion, an increase of more than 270 times compared to 1995. The turnover reached over $61 billion in the first seven months of this year. In security and national defence cooperation, the two countries continued to carry out the Security- National Defence Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level and gained many positive results in overcoming war consequences, resolving non-traditional security issues, ensuring maritime and aviation security and safety in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea). In cultural exchanges, education and training cooperation, Viet Nam and the United States had operated more than 10 programmes. The number of Vietnamese students studying in the United States had grown dramatically, from 800 Vietnamese students in the United States in 1995 to nearly 30,000 in 2023. In health cooperation, the United States had provided Viet Nam financial supports worth more than $1.8 billion and many cooperation activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In regional and global issues, the two countries had coordinated more and more closely at international and regional forums as well as in handling many other global issues. People-to-people diplomacy activities between the two countries had met new requirements with many improvements in content and methods of operation, contributing to creating a favourable, broad and solid foundation for the relations development between the two countries. Son added that September 10, 2023 continued to mark an important milestone when the two countries upgraded to the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development, opening a new historical period of friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and the US. "Those achievements are the result of the tireless efforts of both countries in putting aside the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities and looking towards the future, he said. Looking back at Viet Nam-US relations, former chairman of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations Vu Xuan Hong said that in 1946, Uncle Ho sent a letter to US President Harry S. Truman, expressing his wish for Viet Nam to be completely independent and fully cooperated with the US. Therefore, the two countries upgraded relation to the comprehensive strategic partnership had fulfilled President Ho Chi Minh's wishes, he said. VNS DUBAI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had separate meetings with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, and Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson in Dubai on December 2, on the sidelines of the World Climate Action Summit at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). Talking to the Cuban President, PM Chinh congratulated the Caribbean country on successfully chairing the G77 summit on climate change within the COP28 framework. He noted that the Vietnamese Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people always treasure and are determined to further intensify the traditional solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Cuba, and support the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people. The PM also reaffirmed Viet Nam's consistent stance on objecting to the unilateral sanctions and embargoes against Cuba. The Cuban leader expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese Government and people for their precious assistance for his country in the face of socio-economic development difficulties caused by sanctions and embargoes. He described the Cuba-Viet Nam relations as a fine symbol nurtured by Presidents Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh, along with generations of the two countries leaders. The two sides agreed to coordinate their countries stances and increase opinion exchanges at multilateral forums. They also concurred in stronger cooperation to boost economic, investment, and trade ties, including in agriculture and food security ensuring. Meeting with President of the WB Group Ajay Banga, PM Chinh spoke highly of the banks support for and cooperation with Viet Nam, particularly in giving policy advice and finance to help fruitfully carry out many projects, which have considerably contributed to local socio-economic development and poverty reduction. Banga congratulated Viet Nam on its positive results in economic development and highly valued its Governments effective governance to obtain those results. He stressed that the WB continues viewing Viet Nam as an important partner and will continue assisting the country. To boost cooperation effectiveness, the two leaders agreed to accelerate current projects and promote large-scale and influential strategic ones. As the WB is restructuring its presence in the world, PM Chinh suggested it establish a regional centre based in Viet Nam and pledged the best possible conditions for this office to run projects in Viet Nam and regional countries. In response, Banga highly valued the idea and said he will seriously consider the establishment of a regional centre. The WB Group President particularly applauded the Vietnamese Governments efforts and determination in green transition, climate change response, and sustainable development, especially the low-emission cultivation of 1 million ha of high-yield rice. He considered the cultivation as a model project on green agriculture of the WB in the world. Banga also proposed Viet Nam consider joining the global carbon credit market, affirming support for the country during this process and the realisation of climate commitments and targets. At the meeting with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson, PM Chinh stated that Viet Nam always attaches importance to and wishes to enhance the traditional friendship with Sweden, one of its priority partners in Europe. He proposed both sides to step up mutual visits at all levels, especially in 2024 when they will celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. As there remain much potential and room for the two countries cooperation, he called on them to bolster partnerships across the board, especially in economy, trade, investment, digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, education - training, and tourist visa extension. He also asked Sweden to share its success experiences in cultural, human, and social security development with Viet Nam. Kristersson took in PM Chinh's suggestions and expressed his hope to visit Viet Nam in the near future to comprehensively promote cooperation. He also affirmed that Sweden will make efforts to enhance substantive ties in all potential fields, asking relevant agencies of both countries to consider the opening of direct air routes between Viet Nam and Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden, to foster tourism and people-to-people exchanges. He also high valued Viet Nam's stance on peacefully resolving international disputes and conflicts on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, not using or threatening to use force, ending all acts causing casualties for civilians, and guaranteeing security, safety, and freedom of international navigation and overflight. The Swedish leader said he believes Viet Nam will keep making active contributions to maintaining the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the settlement of issues of the international communitys common concern. On this occasion, the two sides also agreed to further strengthen cooperation at multilateral forums and serve as bridges for the ASEAN - EU cooperation. They also discussed many international and regional issues, including the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea). VNS DUBAI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Minister of State for Foreign Trade at the UAE Ministry of Economy Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and representatives of some major enterprises of the country in Dubai on December 3 morning (local time). The meeting was part of his trip to attend the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) and some bilateral activities in the UAE. Expressing their delight at the progress in the two countries friendship and cooperation in multiple areas, PM Chinh and the UAE minister shared the view that both sides still hold huge cooperation potential to foster economic, trade, and investment ties, including UAE funds investment in renewable energy and infrastructure in Vietnam. The UAE official spoke highly of the Vietnamese delegation and PM Chinh's active contributions to COP28. He noted that thanks to strong directions from both countries leaders, the negotiation on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between Viet Nam and the UAE has made breakthrough strides and could be signed in 2024. PM Chinh applauded the negotiation results obtained in a record short period of time and asked both sides to keep promoting the negotiation to complete the work soon. He welcomed enterprises and investment funds of the UAE coming to explore opportunities and expand operations and cooperation in Viet Nam, adding that the Southeast Asian country is devising preferential investment policies for emerging and hi-tech sectors that the nine firms attending the meeting, including Mubadala, Masdar Energy, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, are interested in. Together with existing regulations, CEPA and those preferential policies once taking effect will provide important bases for businesses to carry out their projects, the Government leader said, suggesting the UAE firms develop seaport cities or financial centres in Viet Nam. At the meeting, executives of the UAE enterprises said they have high expectations for the CEPA so as to step up investment partnerships with Viet Nam in such fields as infrastructure, seaport, digital transformation, clean and renewable energy, financial centre building, health care, and agriculture. On this occasion, PM Chinh and Minister of State Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi witnessed the handover of cooperation memoranda of understanding between the Port of Abu Dhabi and the Viet Nam Maritime Administration, and between digital technology firm Sirius IHC and the national authority of digital transformation under the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications. The same day, PM Chinh had a meeting with the team of Vietnamese students who obtained a high achievement at a contest within the COP28 framework. From November 27 to December 2, university students from 100 countries introduced their creative projects on resolving issues related to natural science, humanities, technology, and innovation in Dubai. The students from the Ha Noi University of Mining and Geology brought to the contest a project on green concrete that is completely free of cement. Their project, attracting great attention from many businesses and partners, surpassed others of over 3,000 teams to be selected as one of the 100 most effective and benefit-generating ones for the community. Later on December 3, PM Chinh, his spouse, and the delegation of Viet Nam left Dubai for Ha Noi, wrapping up the working trip to the UAE. VNS PHNOM PENH A delegation from the Foreign Ministry led by Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang paid a visit to Cambodia from November 30 to December 3 to strengthen cooperation and friendship between Viet Nam and Cambodia. Within the framework of the visit, the delegation made a courtesy call to Permanent Secretary of State of Cambodias Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sea Kosal and Permanent Secretary of State of Cambodias Ministry of Interior Mao Chandara; and had meetings with Secretary of State of Cambodias Ministry of Interior Keat Chantharith and Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh Nuon Pharat. Hang congratulated Cambodia on successfully organising the 7th National Assembly election, expressing her impression of Cambodia's socio-economic development, especially its organisation of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). She also said that on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the victory over the genocidal regime in Cambodia (January 7, 1979-2024), the Vietnamese side plans to hold a solemn celebration in Ha Noi. The important event will help the two peoples, especially the younger generation, understand further the tradition of solidarity and friendship between the two countries. The diplomat thanked the Government and people of the Kingdom of Cambodia for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and do business stably in Cambodia, and proposed Cambodia continue to pay attention and support solving issues related to people of the Vietnamese origin in the country. She said she hopes that the Cambodian side, especially local authorities at all levels, help people of the Vietnamese origin better learn and comply with Cambodia's laws, guidelines, and policies. Representatives from Cambodian ministries and Phnom Penh proposed that the two sides accelerate the connection of the Phnom Penh-Bavet highway (Svay Rieng province) with the HCM City-Moc Bai highway (Tay Ninh Province) to increase trade and tourism ties. Regarding the issue of people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia, they affirmed Cambodias policy of continuing to create favourable conditions for foreigners, including those of the Vietnamese origin to live stably in the spirit of complying with Cambodian law. VNS HCM CITY The Thai Consulate in HCM City organised a blood donation event on December 2 to mark the birth anniversary of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the National Day of the Kingdom of Thailand and Thailands Fathers Day, which falls on December 5. Speaking at the event, Wiraka Moodhitaporn, the consul general, said the blood donation drive was an opportunity for the Thai and Vietnamese communities living in HCM City and neighbouring provinces to make contributions to community activities. It is also part of activities to mark the 10th anniversary of the Viet Nam-Thailand Strategic Partnership, she said. Chinoros Benjachavakul, senior vice president for human resources and corporate affairs at C.P. Viet Nam Corporation, came to the Thai consulate early on Saturday morning to donate blood. This is the 58th time I have donated blood, including 32 times for donation blood drives in Viet Nam and 26 times in Thailand, Benjachavakul said. Blood donation is a beautiful deed from our compassionate heart and a lifesaving gift, he said. Together, we can give blood to save the lives of people in need and make contributions to the community, he added. A total of 148 units of blood were donated by officials at the consulate, the Thai community and locals. A bicycle parade was held on the same day to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation. The annual event was organised by the Thai consulate in collaboration with the Viet Nam Red Cross Society and the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Viet Nam. VNS Countries once colonized by empires are striking back on global warming and they have the pope's blessing. Leaders of developing nations jumped into Saturday's high-level speeches at the U.N. climate summit to press rich industrial countries to share their knowhow to fight global warming and ease the financial burdens they face while trumpeting their own natural resources that swallow heat-trapping carbon in the air. The 28th annual U.N. Conference of the Parties, or COP28, in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, featured about 150 presidents, prime ministers, royals and other leaders who are presenting their plans to cut heat-trapping emissions and mostly seek unity with other nations to avert climate catastrophe that seemed to draw closer than ever in 2023 . Injecting moral authority into the talks, Pope Francis said the destruction of the environment is an offense against God in a letter read on his behalf because he had to cancel plans to attend because of a lung inflammation. In the letter read by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Francis noted that almost all of the world thats needy is responsible for scarcely 10 percent of toxic emissions, while the gap between the opulent few and the masses of the poor has never been so abysmal. The poor are the real victims of what is happening: we need think only of the plight of Indigenous peoples, deforestation, the tragedies of hunger, water and food insecurity, and forced migration, the popes letter said. Several African leaders noted their continent's rainforests help gobble up excess carbon dioxide in the air and emphasized how their countries belch out only a tiny fraction of heat-trapping emissions compared to richer countries. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea one of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producers faulted developed nations for failing to deliver on their pledges to meet their commitments on financing for climate action and meet their own targets to curb their industries' emissions. President Jose Ramos Horta of Timor-Leste, next to Indonesia and north of Australia, blasted shark loans from multilateral lending institutions, saying developing nations cannot recover from heavy debt burdens that squelch their ability to put money into fighting climate change and grow economically. Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, the incoming head of a group of 20 climate-vulnerable nations, called for a change of attitude about access to long-term capital and put a challenge to the private sector: We need new players at the table in terms of the insurance companies and in terms of the credit rating agencies and the bank regulators. Conference organizers were quick to highlight what they said were early accomplishments during the two-week gathering that opened on Thursday, though environmentalists cautioned against over-billed pledges and even some of the leaders acknowledged that upbeat words would need to translate into action after the meeting is over. Adnan Amin, the CEO of the summit, said that a loss and damage fund that was formally launched on Day One had already reaped nearly $700 million and was still growing. Experts say countries need hundreds of billions to fully adapt to climate change. Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expressed support for the fund which is aimed mostly to help poorer countries respond to climate-related disasters but said it was just a first step, and urged strong oversight to ensure the money will get to people in need. Availability of funds is one thing, but the flow of the funds is a different thing," said Chapagain, noting that some money today aimed to help countries adapt to climate change doesn't all get where it should. Like adaptation funding: At the moment, only 10% of the adaptation funding actually reaches the local communities -- only 10 percent!" "Thats the type of pitfalls we have to avoid in developing the existing mechanism for the loss and damage fund, he said in an interview. Also Saturday, 50 oil companies representing nearly half of global production pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030 . The companies also signed up to reach net zero for their operational emissions by 2050. With U.S. President Joe Biden staying home, Kamala Harris became the first vice president to lead Americas delegation since Al Gore now a major climate activist at COP3 in 1997. Harris said the United States is pledging $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund , which helps developing countries access capital to invest in clean energy and nature-based solutions. In a statement, the U.S. Treasury said the pledge is subject to funding availability. Harris also said the U.S. was joining over 100 countries that have committed to double energy efficiency and triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 , saying her country was on track to meet those goals because of investments like building 30 gigawatts of solar energy and laying thousands of miles of more efficient high voltage transmission lines. We understand the whole world will benefit from our work, she said. "When the United States increases renewable energy production and innovation, it lowers the costs and boosts the efficiency of renewable energy technology around the globe. Earlier Saturday, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry joined French President Emmanuel Macron to push for development of nuclear energy, which doesn't produce greenhouse gas emissions, even if it also presents security and waste challenges. Overall, a group of more than 20 nations called for a tripling of nuclear energy generated in the world by 2050. I want here to reiterate the fact that nuclear energy is a clean energy and it should be repeated, said Macron, whose country gets around two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power, the most of any industrialized country, and exports some of it to France's neighbors. Kerry also announced that the U.S. was joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which means the administration commits to building no new coal plants and phasing out existing ones. It's in line with other Biden regulatory actions and international commitments in the works that had meant no coal by 2035. Whatever their perspective or national interest, leaders almost universally voiced their shared views that Earth is in crisis with the United Nations and other environmental groups warning that the planet has recorded the nine hottest years on record over the last decade. Bolivian Vice President David Choquehuanca called for "saving Mother Earth and staving off the multiple crises which have been caused by neocolonial, capitalist, imperialist, patriarchal, Western culture. The climate crisis is but the latest chapter in a long history of hypocrisy and lies: The Global North' is responsible for the global imbalance that were seeing," he said, using a catchall term for industrialized countries. "They seek permanent growth to the detriment of the global South. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said science shows that the world needs to step up the pace to battle climate change, but took a more upbeat tone, saying: We have what it takes to meet these challenges. We have the technologies: wind power, photovoltaics, e-mobility, green hydrogen. Demand for fossil fuels has slowed and the peak is "in sight, he said. (AP) Dubai Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the Group of 77 (G77) summit on climate change in Dubai on December 2 (local time), as part of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The event was chaired by President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez of Cuba, which holds the 2023 chairmanship of G77 a group of developing countries. It saw the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and leaders and representatives of 134 member states of G77 and international organisations. Addressing the summits main debate, PM Chinh hailed Cubas initiative to hold the event and affirmed the Caribbean countrys leadership as Chair of G77. He emphasised the importance of effective climate change response to the world and Viet Nam and proposed three cooperation orientations for G77. First, it is necessary to promote a global and all-people-based approach and uphold multilateralism with the motto of common but differentiated responsibilities, justice, and reasonableness with socio-economic development demand of developing countries taken into account. Second, science, technology, and innovation should be turned into the key cooperation area of G77 on the basis of establishing an inclusive cooperation mechanism and capitalising on the strengths of both developed countries (capital, technology) and developing ones (markets, resources). Third, preferential climate finance should be promoted in a way that makes it more accessible, does not increase the debt burden, and not at the expense of resources for realising other development goals. The PM highlighted Viet Nams green transition resolve as seen in its strong commitments announced at COP26, participation in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and implementation of plans, projects, and strategies on green growth, sustainable development, and energy transition. The Vietnamese leader expressed readiness to coordinate and share experience with other G77 members. In his remarks, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez underlined the importance of enhancing international solidarity and cooperation in response to major global challenges. He called on G77 countries to stay united, share voice, and ensure the rights and legitimate interests of developing countries that are being directly and severely affected by climate change. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the role of developing countries in promoting a multilateral process for climate targets and calling for climate justice. He urged developed nations to quickly increase assistance for the countries of the Global South and, especially, deliver on their climate finance commitments. The summit welcomed and highly valued the turning-point significance of the adoption of the Loss and Damage Fund. It affirmed the need to bring into play the role of G77, step up actions, and boost effective solutions to climate change. VNS By Thanh Nga Bronze casting at Ngu Xa Village is one of the four elite professions of the royal capital city of Thang Long, now Ha Noi. However, in modern time of industrialisation, craftsmen are facing challenges in preserving the essence of their craft. For centuries, numerous renowned craft villages have thrived along the banks of the city's West Lake. In the 1500s, skilled bronze-casting craftsmen migrated to Thang Long and established a casting workshop. This workshop eventually expanded to encompass five neighbouring villages, which collectively adopted the name Ngu Xa, meaning "five villages". Ngu Xa Village earlier boasted over 20 workshops of many families from four clans Nguyen, Le, o, and Tran, each occupying a sizable area and housing one or two furnaces. They produced a wide range of items, including pots, trays, vases, as well as bells, statues, candleholders incense burners, and other altar items. The village is now situated by Truc Bach Lake in Ba inh District, Ha Noi. The bronze bells and statues crafted by local artisans have gained widespread acclaim. Bronze bells from the village can be found in numerous pagodas and temples across the country. Notable examples of the villagers' craftsmanship include the bell in the Mot Cot (One-Pillar) Pagoda and the bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu in Quan Thanh Temple, which stands nearly 4m tall and weighs 4 tonnes. These statues exemplify the talent, unique technique and creativity of Ngu Xa artisans. Additionally, Than Quang Pagoda houses a 4m-tall and 12.3-tonne bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha, created between 1949 and 1952. It is recognised as the oldest bronze Buddha statue in the country. Over the past 500 years, Ngu Xa bronze casting has evolved into magnificent masterpieces of national art. However, enduring various challenges, only one family-run bronze-casting workshop remains operating in the village, which belongs to Nguyen Van Ung, a master artisan, and his wife, artisan Bui Thi Minh. Their workshop specialises in producing traditional altar items. "My father-in-law was a renowned artisan in the village. When I arrived here, I witnessed the decline of this craft, which greatly concerned me. I felt a deep connection to the unique art of bronze casting and desired to follow this job," Minh told Viet Nam News. "I truly resonate with what my father-in-law once said: 'If you create a product that you feel reluctant to sell, then you should pursue this profession. But if your sole motivation is to make money to buy rice, then you should reconsider carefully.'" Minh believes that each of her creations is an enduring work of art, representing the tradition and identity of the Ngu Xa bronze casting craft. A meticulously crafted Buddha statue possesses a captivating aura that can inspire people to embrace goodness, perform acts of kindness, and shun evil. This embodies the inherent value of Vietnamese spiritual culture. Throughout history, Minh's family has weathered the storms of the market economy. Over nearly five decades of dedication, alongside her husband and children, Minh has amassed a wealth of experience and produced numerous trusted products, preserving the traditions passed down by their ancestors. "I am deeply honoured that my entire family of five pursues this profession and has been bestowed with the title of 'Ha Noi Artisan'. It is a weighty responsibility that compels us to safeguard and promote the artistic value and quintessence of our nation," Minh said. According to Minh's son, Nguyen Thanh Tuan, creating flawless and intricate products is an art that draws upon diverse knowledge encompassing culture, religion, painting, technology, and, most importantly, the craftsman's mindset. "Bronze casting is not inherently difficult, but it demands meticulous research, diligence, skill, and attentiveness to imbue the works with their own soul and spirit," Tuan said. "The process of crafting a product involves shaping, moulding, casting, curing, carving, and finishing. Each step is crucial and must be executed precisely. However, to achieve delicacy and soulfulness, the curing step is of paramount importance." Tuan explained that traditional Ngu Xa bronze products are renowned for their monolithic casting and colouring methods, which are predominantly done by hand. Inheriting the family's secret techniques, Minh's workshop has gained a reputation for crafting high-quality bronze casting products. With several 4-star "One Commune One Product" items and numerous domestic awards, Minh's family has successfully carried on the tradition and fostered the growth of the bronze-casting craft village. "I truly resonate with what my father-in-law once said: 'If you create a product that you feel reluctant to sell, then you should pursue this profession. But if your sole motivation is to make money to buy rice, then you should reconsider carefully.'" The workshop provides employment opportunities for about 20 workers, all of whom receive comprehensive training and guidance from the outset. Vu Thi uong, 43, has worked at the workshop for over a decade, said: "I hail from ong Xam silver carving village in Thai Binh Province. I had some prior experience in silver carving, so transitioning to bronze carving wasn't too challenging. I feel proud to contribute to the preservation of our ancestral craft." Minh's workshop remains bustling with daily orders. However, she continues to harbour concerns about the potential loss of the ancient craft of bronze casting as young workers become increasingly scarce and the artisans themselves grow older. "I truly desire to preserve this workshop, transforming it into a tourist attraction. I also earnestly hope that the authorities will support us in securing a space to impart the essence of bronze casting to future generations," Minh said. VNS By Ha Linh The heart of E e culture beats with the rhythmic threads of their unique handloom weaving. Beyond a mere fabric, it acts as a symbol of cultural identity for the E e ethnic minority. Viet Nam boasts a rich tapestry of diverse ethnic groups. Among these is the E e, the 12th largest out of 54 in the country, with a population of over 331,000 residing mainly in the provinces of ak Lak, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, and Phu Yen. E e women meticulously weave cloth on handlooms. The resulting fabric serves various purposes, from everyday blankets and skirts to precious dowries for weddings or offerings for the deceased. E e handloom weaving begins with cotton. After harvesting, it undergoes a meticulous process of beating, spinning and dyeing, with natural sources like mud, leaves, tubers, roots, and forest bark being used to create colours. Traditionally, the palette was simple, including the two main colours black and red. Over time, the range expanded to include five colours: red, black, yellow, blue, and white. To achieve these colours, the E e used to rely completely on natural sources. For example, black tones owe their richness to crushed and cooked tree bark, while vibrant yellow comes from turmeric. They usually use dark backgrounds, either black or dark indigo, representing their desire to harmonise with nature. The patterns on the E e handloom fabric showcase stylised geometric forms of trees, flowers, leaves, birds, and other animals, along with straight, zigzag, curved, and broken lines. These patterns often denote gender, occasion, status, or prosperity. Decline in tradition Traditionally, in the E e community, girls were taught by their grandmothers and mothers how to weave from the ages of 12 or 13. But that tradition is fading away. My great-grandmother knew how to weave cloth. However, in my generation, the craft of handloom weaving has faded. Me and my sister didnt have the opportunity to learn, said HDau Eban, a 23-year-old E e woman in Buon Ma Thuot City. Ami Loan, a resident of Ako Dhong Village, also in Buon Ma Thuot, reminisced about a time when women in her village all wove fabric on handlooms. Today, their looms stand silent. Out of 67 E e households in the village, only four or five continue to do weaving, mostly by the elderly. This decline is not unique to the village. Y Hong, chief of Buon Lac Village in Khanh Hoa, also spoke about the loss of traditional crafts in his community. Once a village bustling with over half of its population engaged in handloom weaving, now there is only one artisan. The labour-intensive nature of handloom weaving combined with its low profitability has deterred young people from pursuing the craft. Jobs such as sugarcane harvesting offer quicker and more attractive returns. If this situation continues, the traditional craft of E e weaving will face extinction, leaving no one to cherish or mourn its loss, said HLer Eban, chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Buon Ma Thuot City. Glimmer of hope However, amid these challenges, a ray of hope shines through. Collective efforts have been made to rekindle the ancient craft of E e handloom weaving. Artisans spend weeks weaving traditional fabric, but finding buyers is tough, HLer Eban, a local dressmaker, said. It discourages the weavers to continue. To change this, HLer opened Ami Sia, a dressmaker's shop with the aim of not only preserving traditional cloth weaving but also infusing modern innovation. Collaborating with local weavers, she creates costumes by combining ribbed spandex with their handloom fabric. The outcome is remarkable. My shop sells hundreds of pieces of ethnic costumes annually, HLer said. Im happy that I was able to help encourage several artisans to continue with handloom weaving and provide them with stable incomes. Similar to HLers vision, the womens organisation in Suoi Trai Commune, Son Hoa District, Phu Yen, has set up a handloom weaving club. The club was established to foster learning and doing handloom weaving in the commune. It helps nurture the love for the weaving tradition and strengthens the preservation process, said So a, chairman of the People's Committee of Suoi Trai Commune. Beyond the village borders, costumes and designs using ethnic patterns have been showcased on the international stage. HHen Nie, Miss Universe Viet Nam 2017 and Top 5 Miss Universe 2018, is an E e ethnic. Born and raised in ak Lak, HHen has always been immersed in the rich culture of the E e. After being crowned in 2017, she has been seen wearing her traditional E e costumes and ao dai (Vietnamese national long dress) with ethnic patterns in multiple local and international events, including during the Miss Universe 2018 in Thailand. Images of her wearing ao dai with ethnic patterns have received positive reactions worldwide. The patterns on her ao dai are stunning, said a comment under a post of HHen wearing ao dai with ethnic patterns on Vogue Thailands Instagram account. HHen said that her traditional E e costumes and fabric patterns on her ao dai were woven by artisans in her hometown, and whenever she wears them, she thinks about the effort and time spent making them. Wearing ethnic costumes is not only a way to promote the costumes themselves but also a way to express my gratitude to the artisans who tirelessly work day and night by the loom, said HHen. I hope that both Vietnamese and foreigners will come to love dresses made of handloom fabric as I have, and that others can be inspired to create new designs. Some designers have embraced cloth with ethnic patterns. Among them is Trung Beret (Nguyen Thanh Trung). As a native of the Central Highlands, Trung drew inspiration from the E e handloom fabric patterns for his own designs. Trung is determined to use handloom cloth in his design instead of printed or embroidered materials, despite the rough nature of the traditional cloth making it challenging to use in modern designs. His choice to incorporate handloom fabric into his designs stems from its profound cultural value and his hope to bring it closer to international audiences. Trung also shared his plan to showcase Vietnamese handloom fabric on the global stage by participating in the International Fashion Week scheduled in Thailand and the Philippines in November and December. I want to bring handloom fabric products that can appear more approachable and appealing to international customers while preserving the essence of Vietnamese ethnic culture, Trung said. Luu Vu, the founder of E e Yarns, treads a different path with the same goal preserving the E e ancient craft. A society cannot have its own distinctive colour while developing without native knowledge, Vu said. This concern has inspired Vu and a group of young people to form E e Yarns, a project to restore the most authentic E e handloom weaving. Their journey was not without challenges. In ak Lak, original E e handloom weaving has not been practised for over 40 years, Vu said. Many key stages in the process of weaving havent been properly recorded, making it hard to restore truly original fabric. Vu and his team sought expertise from cultural collectors, local artisans, and fabric weavers in other cities such as Nghe An or Ha Noi and joined garment-making courses. One by one, the team restored each phase in the process, from making a traditional loom to finding and using indigenous plants for making yarns and for dyeing. I could never forget the surprised expression and the tearful eyes of an old artisan after hearing the creaking sound from the loom we rebuilt, Vu said. She said it had been years since she heard the familiar sound. Moments like this encourage E e Yarns members to continue their journey. Going forward, the team aims to refine their knowledge related to traditional handloom weaving. Viet Nam offers more than just picturesque beaches. The striking handloom fabric patterns that adorn the mountains and forests of the region are truly captivating." These efforts hold the potential for lasting benefits, not only for preserving handloom weaving, but also for developing the culture of ethnic minorities. In recent years, many foreign tourists have been drawn to the Central Highlands region, alongside popular destinations in coastal cities, to delve into the ethnic cultures. "I really enjoyed my visit to Central Highlands, said Lee Jeong-min, a Korean tourist. Viet Nam offers more than just picturesque beaches. The striking handloom fabric patterns that adorn the mountains and forests of the region are truly captivating." According to Thai Hong Ha, director of ak Lak's Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, their strategy to 2030 involves leveraging resources to preserve and promote ethnic cultures. The plan includes establishing cultural institutions and nurturing community-based tourism in minority villages to enhance and protect their traditional cultures. Boosting conservation initiatives and incorporating handloom weaving into visiting tours will highlight E e craftsmanship, and ethnic diversity while improving local economies. VNS The UNESCO General Conference has passed a resolution on the list of eminent personalities and historical events commemorated, including the 300th anniversary of the birth of talented Vietnamese medical herbalist Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac. Over the years, seven Vietnamese figures have been celebrated by the UN culture agency in this way, including the 600th birthday of Nguyen Trai (approved in 1980), the 100th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (1990), the 250th birthday of poet Nguyen Du (2015), the 650th death anniversary of scholar Chu Van An (2019), the 200th birthday of poet Nguyen inh Chieu (2021), and the 250th birth and 200th death anniversaries of poetess Ho Xuan Huong (2021). Le Huu Trac, saint of herbal medicine Le Huu Trac (1724-91), alias Hai Thuong Lan Ong, hailed from the northern province of Hung Yen. He was not only a great herbal doctor, but also an excellent poet and writer, and a progressive thinker with a profound humanitarian spirit. After passing away, he was honoured as the Patron Saint of Medicine in Viet Nam. He left a large number of works, which reflect his deep knowledge, progressive thought, and morality, and set a bright example in medical ethics and practice for generations. For these reasons, he is considered one of the fathers of Viet Nams traditional medicine. Nguyen Trai, man of culture Nguyen Trai (1380-1442) was a prominent Vietnamese poet, scholar, and statesman during the early 15th century. He is considered one of the greatest literary figures in Vietnamese history. He played a significant role in the political and cultural landscape of Viet Nam during the Le Dynasty. He is best known for his poetry, which is characterised by its eloquence, depth, and patriotic themes. His most famous work is the epic poem Binh Ngo ai Cao (Great Proclamation upon the Pacification of the Wu), which celebrates the successful war of resistance against the Chinese Ming invaders and the restoration of Vietnamese independence. He is revered as a national hero and a symbol of Vietnamese literary and intellectual excellence. Ho Chi Minh, national liberation hero At the General Conference of UNESCO in 1987, President Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) was hailed as an outstanding symbol of national affirmation, who devoted his whole life to the national liberation of the Vietnamese people, contributing to the common struggle of peoples for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress. For the Vietnamese nation, President Ho is a genius leader and a hero of national liberation, a great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, an outstanding diplomat and the inspiration for the confidence in the victory of the struggle for national independence and peoples prosperity. For people around the world, the president is a close and loyal friend, a symbol of the aspiration for peace and the struggle against oppression and inequity, and an emissary of peace, solidarity, friendship, and cooperation among nations. Nguyen Du, celebrated poet Prominent Vietnamese poet and World Cultural Celebrity Nguyen Du, also known as To Nhu and Thanh Hien, was born on January 3, 1766, to a noble family in Thang Long (former name of Ha Noi). His literary masterpiece Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) is regarded as the most significant literary classic of Viet Nam. The work has been translated into more than 20 languages and is cherished for its creativity, independent thinking and distillation of Vietnamese culture. Throughout the poem, Du depicted the beauty of true love and loyalty, and the unyielding hope for justice. Chu Van An, eminent educator Chu Van An (1292 -1370) is considered a brilliant educator of Viet Nam, who devoted his life to the humanistic education philosophy regardless of his students wealth, teaching that learning goes hand in hand with practice, and lifelong learning contributes to society. His thoughts not only affected multiple generations of Vietnamese but also contributed to the development of humanistic values in the region. His educational perspective has progressive values, close to the modern values that UNESCO summarised as learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be human. Nguyen inh Chieu, great patriot, poet Nguyen inh Chieu (1822-88) was born in Binh Duong District, Gia inh Province (now District 1, HCM City). The blind poet was not only known for his nationalist and anti-colonial writings against French colonialism of Cochinchina and his exemplary teaching, but also a popular medical practitioner. He is a shining example for people with disabilities around the world. Despite his blindness, he studied Confucianism and herbal medicine with his relatives. His typical work of Luc Van Tien (The Tale of Luc Van Tien) is an epic poem written in nom (the ancient Vietnamese ideographic script) in the 1850s. It is regarded as one of the two most recognisable and influential epic poems in Vietnamese history, besides The Tale of Kieu. His poems tell us about the peoples worries in wartime, their war injuries and losses. Ho Xuan Huong, 'The Queen of Nom poetry' Ho Xuan Huong (1772-1822), whose name means Spring Essence, is also one of the most Vietnamese prominent poets. Born into feudalism, which disregarded the role of women, she became renowned for her poetic skills, especially for her subtly risque poems which used double-entendres and sexual innuendos to comment on several social, religious and political issues. A concubine, she had the courage to mention many topics that were taboo for women at that time. VNS New Cameron Park Zoo Director Brendan Wiley had a busy first week on the job, officially taking the post Nov. 27 during a period of significant growth at the zoo. With two ongoing construction projects set to open by the summer, the Cameron Park Zoo is set for big changes in the near future, though Wiley is used to taking on challenges. Wiley, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, got started in the zoo business through volunteering at the Kansas City Zoo while in college. That turned into an 11-year stay at the zoo, working as a zookeeper before eventually being given responsibility over half of the zoos animals and staff. In 2005, Wiley crossed the Kansas River into Kansas City, Kansas, to join an animal shelter nonprofit called Animal Haven, where he said he learned great lessons on taking care of animals and building programs that can carry an organization forward. When he took the job as director of the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center in Topeka, Kansas, in 2010, the zoo was not in a good place. Several years of constant turnover with a revolving door of multiple directors had left the zoo with a poor public image and a culture problem, said Fred Patton, president of the Friends of the Topeka Zoo board of directors and a member of the Kansas House of Representatives. According to articles from The Topeka Capital-Journal, prior to Wiley taking over, the zoo had dealt with several animal deaths, compliance issues with federal zoo regulations and was close to losing its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which it had previously lost in 2001 and regained in 2003. Many employees were embarrassed to even be associated with the zoo, Patton said. However, Patton said when Wiley came in, he immediately took charge and became focused on fixing problems and uniting zoo staff. He said under Wileys leadership, the zoo saw construction of three major projects as well as the beginnings of a fourth, changed from being run by the city to being privately run by the Friends of the Topeka Zoo, significantly increased its operating budget and became one of the top tourist attractions in northeast Kansas, drawing a number of annual visitors nearly double Topekas population. The zoo was falling apart, and he turned it into something we are all really proud of, Patton said. When asked why he wanted to make the move to Waco, Wiley cited the incredible story of the Cameron Park Zoo, the upcoming opportunities the zoo will have in the next few years and the people and community of Waco. Originally opened in 1960 as the Central Texas Zoological Park on 10 acres near the Waco Regional Airport, voters countywide approved bonds that led to the zoo being moved to a 52-acre plot of land in Cameron Park in 1993. Its a story about a zoo that was in one part of the city, that a group of community members said We can do better, Wiley said. Its kind of a legendary story in the industry. Its a well-known, well-respected zoo. Its a leader in a number of different areas. With only a few days on the job, Wiley said he has mainly been spending time getting to know the zoos staff and getting acquainted with Waco, with the citys food being his favorite thing about the city so far. He gave an especially good review to Slow Rise on the Brazos, just across the river from the zoo. Looking to the future, he said he is thrilled to finally bring penguins to the zoo this summer when the new penguin exhibit opens, as well as the new education center and veterinary clinic. Kristi Webb, interim executive director of the Cameron Park Zoological and Botanical Society, said the society is looking forward to working with Wiley on future zoo projects. She said his background in both publicly and privately owned zoos gives him a good blend of expertise to apply at the Cameron Park Zoo. Wileys start during the slower holiday season also gives him plenty of time to get situated in Waco, Webb said. The Cameron Park Zoo is operated under an agreement between the zoological society and the city, with the city owning and governing the zoo and the zoological society operating zoo fundraising, capital expansion planning and volunteer recruitment. Prior to 2019, the zoological society had more direct control over the zoo, but the city took over more responsibilities following an inquiry by an accounting firm into cash-handling practices at the zoo and a former employees allegation she had been groped by former zoo Director Jim Fleshman, who was asked to resign amid the accounting firms inquiry. Waco City Manager Bradley Ford said the candidate pool for the zoo director job was excellent, but Wileys time in Topeka really stood out to the selection committee. Topekas zoo is roughly the same size as Cameron Park Zoo in terms of collection size, and Ford said Wiley led the Topeka Zoo through a rebirth and was able to get the community excited about the zoo again while also aligning zoo staff and partners. Hes a leader who can be collaborative, and a builder and visionary, Ford said. Hes positive and he has good energy. Ford also said Wiley has a good vision for the future of the Cameron Park Zoo. After the current projects are finished, Ford said the city will work together with the zoo and the zoological society to determine what maintenance needs to be performed next at the zoo and keep building for the future. Ford said Wileys approach in Topeka was to develop three-, 10- and 20-year plans for the zoo, which will also be done in Waco to determine what exhibits need to be remodeled, upgraded or replaced. Ford also expressed his gratitude for Duane Hills, the zoos deputy director who served as interim director since March following the retirement of Johnny Binder. Ford said Hills did an excellent job leading the zoo during the search for a new director. Wiley said he first began working in zoos because of his desire to work with a diverse range of animals, but soon realized it was actually the people he enjoyed working with the most. Thats how I found that I can make the most impact, is working with people and whether its internally or externally, telling the zoo story and connecting people to what our mission is, Wiley said. And for a zoo the size of the Cameron Park Zoo and a community the size of the metropolitan Waco area, over 300,000 people a year are going to come through our gates. Thats an amazing opportunity to pair what we offer, our mission, with every one of those people that come through the gate. And thats my why. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Texas on Friday to remove the floating barrier it deployed in the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass this summer, affirming a lower courts ruling. In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the court found that the river is navigable where the barrier was placed and that it is an obstruction, meaning that Texas needed to receive permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which regulates activities in waterways and wetlands under federal law before deploying it. Judge Don Willett, a Trump appointee, was the dissenting vote in the ruling, arguing that the Rio Grande cannot accommodate commercial boat traffic and is therefore not navigable. Texas argued that the barrier was also meant to save lives and force migrants to cross the border at ports of entry, but Willet said Texas hasnt proved thats the case. At this stage, however, Texas has not offered concrete evidence that the barrier has saved lives or reduced illegal crossings and drug trafficking, Willet wrote. Gov. Greg Abbott posted a statement on X calling Friday's ruling "clearly wrong" and said he and Attorney General Ken Paxton will seek an immediate rehearing by the entire Fifth Circuit. "Well go to SCOTUS if needed to protect Texas from Bidens open borders," he said, referring to the U.S. Supreme Court. Abbott ordered the barrier deployed in June as part of Operation Lone Star, his multi-prong effort to halt illegal immigration along the 1,200-mile border. Texas spent $850,000 on the barrier, a 1,000-foot-long string of buoys separated by saw blades that supports a submerged mesh net designed to deter migrants from crossing the Rio Grande. The barriers sparked protests from the Mexican government and migrant advocates. In July, the U.S. Justice Department sued Texas in an Austin federal court, arguing that the barrier was installed without required federal authorization. Texas argued that the barrier was designed to direct migrants to appropriate entry points and deter unlawful crossings and drug smuggling. San Antonio-based Federal District Judge David A. Ezra ruled in September that Texas must remove the barrier. The state appealed to the New Orleans-based Fifth Circuit, halting Ezras order while the Fifth Circuit considered the case. Weather was perhaps the major problem facing the Eighth Air Force flying out of England for combat over the European continent. In spite of the efforts of specialists in the weather units,forecasting even a few hours before a planned takeoff was risky at best. Bad weather created major problems for the Eighth Air Force during World War II. Enemy action never caused the Eighth to cancel, recall or abort a mission; dangerous weather conditions did! Out of the 10,631 total missions flown, 6,900 (or sixty-five percent) encountered weather-created hazards. In the 303rd Bomb Group the weather officer would conclude his mission briefing forecast with I think: maybe; I hope!A typical entry into a pilots flight diary appears in the mission records kept by 1st Lt. Leslie B. Hull of the 486th Bomb Group.He wrote: *Mission #26. Flak from IP to target, accurate and heavy. Had several large holes in tail surfaces. No trouble. Flew #3 of high flight in low squadron. Lead of high flight aborted. so flew #3 of lead low. Took off in snow storm: landed just before another snow storm hit the field. Assembled at 21.000 feet above lousy weather. Fair mission all in all. Broad area weather reconnaissance could not report rapidly changing local conditions. Accidents occurred and bombs missed targets. One frustrated bomb group commander, Colonel Budd J. Peaslee, of the 384th Bomb Group, developed a plan to allow additional weather reconnaissance on the day of the mission and took it to Major General James H. Doolittle, Commander of the Eighth Air Force. Peaslee proposed selecting lead bomber pilots, who had completed their tours, and training them to fly P-51s. These former bomber pilots were familiar with the concerns of the bomber commander and became his eyes thirty minutes ahead of the bomber formation. The idea was to have special fighter pilots fly out in advance of a mission checking the weather to give an accurate picture to all agencies of what the weather actually was from our bases to the targets and return. They not only gave up-to-date weather information, but reported anything they could observe about other problems the bombers and fighters might encounter. The newly trained P-51 pilots needed the added protection to combat trained fighter pilots. General Doolittle approved the plan with the proviso that It be tried for a short period before Introducing the Scouts into all three Air Divisions of the Eighth Air Force. Ten former lead bomber pilots and eight fighter pilots formed the Experimental Scouting Force, SF-X, hosted by the 355th Fighter Group at Steeple Morden, England. With Colonel Peaslee in command, his Experimental Scouting force began operations on July 16, 1944. The experimental phase proved successful and on September 6, 1944, General Doolittles headquarters issued orders creating a Scouting Force in each of the three Air Divisions. The 355th Fighter Group and flew thirty-five missions through September 12, 1944. The experimental period ended with a re-designation of SF-X to First Scouting Force and assignment to the B-17 equipped First Air Division. Colonel Peaslee took his Scout personnel to the 364th Fighter Group at Honington Airfield, new host for the First Scouting Force. Although the official transfer date was September 21, 1944, Colonel Peaslee flew the Scouts first mission on September 19, 1944. In December 1944, Lt Colonel Allison C Brooks took command of the First Scouting Force in the waning days of the war in 1945, these Scouts transferred to Bassingbourn Airfield and the 91st Bomb Group where they few only four missions before the wars end. They completed a total of 130 missions with their final one on April 25, 1945, the last day of the Eighths strategic bombing campaign. To learn more about the history of the Scouting Force read THIS excellent article by Bill Marshall. CEDAR FALLS The City Council will consider a design contract Monday with AECOM Technical Services for plans to extend the public sanitary sewer system to numerous properties along South Main Street. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, 220 Clay St. These properties rely on private septic systems. Although the exact number of properties potentially impacted was not noted in a memo to the council, the engineering department has previously said 18 properties were slated for the connection on the west side of South Main Street and north of Greenhill Road. If approved, the design fees would not exceed $107,500. However, the construction and easement acquisitions, which would be up for approval at a later date, are currently budgeted as a $1.08 million expense for fiscal year 2024. The proposed sewer lines would extend east from the area of Cedar Prairie Trail and James Drive, and along the western edge of the private property lines. The council will first meet in committee at 6 p.m. to hear a report on the potential creation of a youth commission as well as an update from the Human Rights Commission and Grow Cedar Valley. In other business at the 7 p.m. meeting, the council will consider: Submitting a Certified Local Government grant application to the State Historic Preservation Office for a survey of the Overman Park Neighborhood. The end goal would be to identify and protect historical sites and educate people about them. The proposed survey became an initiative of the Historic Preservation Commission after seeing a number of historic structures razed, including the former Mennonite church at 215 W. Ninth St. Per Commissioner Sally Timmer, the grant would cover $10,000 of the $16,750 total cost. Adopting new job classifications for a construction project manager in the engineering division and policy & administration specialist in the administrative office, as well as revisions to the principal engineer job classification. Accepting the resignation of Hannah Crisman from the Planning & Zoning Commission, effective Dec. 31, after she was elected to a four-year term on the council. Approving an alcoholic beverage license for Zurys Taco Bar at 2214 College St., the former longtime home of the Other Place restaurant and bar on College Hill. Owners of Zurys say they expect it to be a Latin American restaurant with specialty tacos, drinks, good music and friendly service. They plan to share more details at a later date. GFH Financial Group (GFH) has joined the World Economic Forum (WEF) as an Associate Partner in line with the groups expanding global presence and commitment to fostering meaningful collaborations. Through the partnership, senior leaders from the group will actively participate in and contribute to WEFs annual meeting in Davos, a gathering that convenes over 200 influential leaders shaping the global agenda. Additionally, GFH eagerly anticipates its involvement in WEFs Shaping the Future of Financial and Monetary Systems initiative, which brings together distinguished representatives from leading global companies and subject matter experts. Unique access Salah Sharif, Chief Operating Officer of GFH, said: The partnership reflects the groups commitment to further expanding our business, global presence and networks, and provides us with the opportunity to do so by leveraging the unique access provided by WEF at the highest levels. We are excited to contribute to essential global economic conversations by sharing our expertise and insights relating to our core investment sectors and the multiple geographies in which we are active. By actively engaging with WEFs platforms, we look forward to collaborating with other industry leaders to identify and create new opportunities for growth and development, and to tackle some of the worlds most pressing issues. Joanna Lahham, Regional Manager- Business Engagement, Middle East and Africa at WEF, said: The World Economic Forum is thrilled to broaden its presence in Bahrain, aiming to amplify its representation in shaping global agendas. The Forum anticipates that a partnership with GFH, a key player in Bahrains financial landscape, will further deepen engagement and impact within the wider GCC region. GFH is a leading financial group with a growing global business. It has assets and funds under management exceeding $19 billion, and maintains a strong international footprint with offices and affiliates across the GCC, US, UK and Europe.--TradeArabia News Service Israel pounded targets in crowded southern Gaza on Saturday and ordered more neighborhoods designated for attack to evacuate, driving up the death toll as the United States and others urged it to do more to protect civilians a day after a truce collapsed. The prospect of further cease-fires in Gaza appeared bleak, as Israel recalled its negotiators and Hamas deputy leader said any further swap of Gaza-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel would only happen as part of ending the war. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. At least 200 Palestinians were killed after the fighting resumed Friday morning following the weeklong truce with the territorys ruling militant group Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Several multi-story residential buildings were hit on Saturday, engulfing neighborhoods in huge clouds of smoke. The military also dropped leaflets ordering the evacuation of areas that make up about one-quarter of the Gaza Strip, with hundreds of thousands of residents, U.N. monitors said. Ahead of a resumption of fighting, the United States had warned Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement. Separately, the ministry said the overall death toll in Gaza since the Oct. 7 start of the war had surpassed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on Nov. 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people had been wounded since the war began. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. Appeals from the U.S., Israel's closest ally, to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. Some 2 million Palestinians, almost Gaza's entire population, are now crammed into the territory's southern half. Israels military said it had hit more than 400 Hamas targets across Gaza over the past day, including more than 50 in Khan Younis city and surrounding areas in the south. Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City and a six-story building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israel's military said it killed a Hamas battalion commander in the area but gave no details on the operation. Residents could not be reached. The strike in Jabaliya left dozens dead or wounded, said residents Hamza Obeid and Amal Radwan. The building turned into a pile of rubble, Obeid said. AP video showed smoke rising as men, some in sandals, picked their way over debris. The Israeli military confirmed it was operating in Jabaliya and said it had found and destroyed Hamas tunnels in the surrounding area. The residential building was hit 90 minutes after troops had dropped leaflets ordering residents to evacuate, U.N. monitors said. A powerful strike also hit a cluster of multi-story buildings in Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development on the outskirts of Khan Younis. Smoke engulfed the complex. There was no immediate word on casualties. Where is it safe? I swear to God, no one knows, where are we going? asked Zohair al Raai, who said his family received a recorded message saying their building should evacuate. Meanwhile, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza said they fired a barrage of rockets on southern Israel. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesperson, said Hamas had launched more than 250 since the cease-fire ended. There were no immediate reports of injuries. During a Saturday visit to Israel and the West Bank city of Ramallah, an International Criminal Court prosecutor said his office is serious in moving forward to investigate allegations of war crimes on both sides. Every actor should be without doubts that they must comply with the law now, Karim Khan told broadcaster Palestine TV. And if you dont comply with the law now, dont complain later. With the resumption of fighting, the Israeli military published an online map carving up Gaza into hundreds of numbered parcels and asked residents to familiarize themselves with the number of their location ahead of evacuation warnings. On Saturday, the military listed more than two dozen parcel numbers around Gaza City and east of Khan Younis. Separately, it dropped leaflets with evacuation orders over towns east of Khan Younis, Jabaliya and eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City. One Khan Younis resident said a neighbor received a call from the Israeli army warning that houses in the area would be hit. We told them, We have nothing here, why do you want to strike it?" said the resident, Hikmat al-Qidra. Al-Qidra said the house was destroyed. The maps and leaflets generated panic and confusion in the crowded south, where people cannot go to northern Gaza or neighboring Egypt and are left to move around within the 220-square-kilometer (85-square-mile) area. There is no place to go, said Emad Hajar, who fled to Khan Younis a month ago. They expelled us from the north , and now they are pushing us to leave the south." Mark Regev, a senior advisor to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort" to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering creating a security buffer zone that would not allow Gazans direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighborhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. Also Saturday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said it had received the first convoy of aid trucks through the Rafah crossing with Egypt since fighting resumed. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 100 trucks entered including three carrying 150,000 liters (nearly 40,000 gallons) of fuel. Meanwhile, Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in a meeting that under no circumstances would the U.S. permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders, according to a U.S. summary. The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people , mostly civilians, in southern Israel. Around 240 people were taken captive. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages , who the Israeli military says are still being held after 105 were freed during the truce . A 70-year-old woman held by Hamas was declared dead on Saturday, according to her kibbutz. She is the eighth hostage known to have died. At a rally of tens of thousands in Tel Aviv, released hostages called for the rest to be freed. In a video address, Yaffa Adar, 85, spoke up specifically for children being held, saying, I want to see them now not when Im in a coffin." During the truce, Israel freed 240 Palestinians . Most of those released by both sides were women and children. (AP) CEDAR RAPIDS Former President Donald Trump urged his supporters to turn out on caucus night, blasted President Joe Biden, ridiculed his Republican challengers several times and boasted about state and national polls that show him far ahead during a meandering address Saturday in Cedar Rapids. The four-times indicted former president who faces charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, said Saturday: "If Joe Biden wants to make this race a question of which candidate will defend our democracy and protect our freedoms, I say Crooked Joe and hes crooked is the most corrupt president weve ever had. But Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy, Trump said. Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy. House Republicans' investigations into the financial dealings of President Joe Biden and his family have not found evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Biden. Trump faces criminal charges in two separate cases over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, his alleged mishandling of classified documents and charges of business fraud over an alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The indictments amount to more than 90 felony charges. Trials are scheduled to begin in March and May, 2024, while a trial on state charges in Georgia has not yet been scheduled. When Marxists, communists and fascists indict me, I consider it a badge of honor, Trump said to loud applause. Im being indicted for you. Trump also continued his relentless, unproven claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and stolen during the campaign event at Kirkwood Community College. He said he wants same-day voting on Election Day, paper ballots and instating requirements for voter ID. He also called for the death penalty for drug dealers, and praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him a piece of granite who is tough, smart and at the top of his game. Trump said China has "no drug problem" because it executes drug dealers after swift trials. He also promised to conduct "the largest domestic deportation operation in American history" should he win election to a second term in 2024, claiming terrorists and criminals are pouring into the country. Doing so would require building large camps to house migrants waiting for deportation and tapping federal and local law enforcement to assist with large-scale arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country. If elected, Trump said he would also immediately restore and expand a travel ban on entry into the U.S. from Muslim-majority countries and proposed "strong ideological screening" of immigrants. The former president also touted his support of Iowa farmers and trade policies while in the White House including reached a deal with Canada and Mexico to restructure the North American Free Trade Agreement in hopes the new trilateral accord will reinvigorate the U.S. manufacturing sector, and protecting and expanding ethanol. We are going to keep fighting for Iowa families, he said. The current Republican presidential front-runner has ramped up his campaign and appearances in Iowa over the last two months as he looks to solidify his lead over the 2024 GOP field in the state that will kick off the presidential nominating contest. Trump is scheduled to return to Iowa Tuesday for an exclusive town hall in Davenport hosted by Fox News Channels Sean Hannity. Hes also scheduled a campaign event in Coralville on Dec. 13. Democrats respond The Biden-Harris campaign has ramped up its attacks, going on offense against Trump and the GOP field as the former president doubles down on his call to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Biden campaign launched a new TV ad airing Thursday in several key battleground states attacking Trump's health care policies. Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social last weekend that hes seriously looking at alternatives to replace the health care law if he wins a second term. On Saturday, Trump said: It's open season right now on Obamacare. And everybodys seeing the staggering and brutally expensive that plans are becoming. Were going to give you great health care. The health care law has proved increasingly popular for its consumer protections to bar insurers from turning away or charging higher prices for people with preexisting conditions, and policies enabling young people to stay on a parents insurance plan until age 26. If Trump gets rid of the ACA, Iowans would be kicked off their insurance, insurance companies could discriminate against people with preexisting conditions, and health care costs would soar, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. State of the race Trumps visit comes just six weeks before the first-in-the-nation Iowa Republican caucuses on Jan. 15, and as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley jockey for second place as they try to cement themselves as a clear alternative to the former president. The caucus race in Iowa has remained largely static, according to poll results released last month by Iowa State University and Civiqs. Trump maintains commanding double-digit leads over the rest of the Republican primary field in state and national polling. Mark Lucas, a Wilton native and decorated Afghanistan War veteran with the Iowa Army National Guard who previously served as Iowa state director of Americans for Prosperity, endorsed Trump at the Cedar Rapids campaign rally. Lucas mentioned Trump signing VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act and making reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs. President Trump kept his promise to our nations heroes, Lucas said. What voters had to say Jerry Miller, 68, of Kalona, and Merle Olsen, 72, of Cedar Rapids, were among the close to 1,000 people gathered Saturday afternoon in a gymnasium on the Kirkwood Community College campus. Both said they are committed supporters of the former president and intend to caucus for him on Jan. 15. Nothing, they said, could sway their support of the former president and dismissed Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats endorsements of DeSantis. Ron DeSantis is a good governor. Im not sure how good he would be at running a country, Olsen said. Vivek (Ramaswamy), I do like a lot of his ideas. Nikki Haley, I think shes too pro-war. Miller added: Youve seen the polls. Theres a lot of money going down the tubes to support those guys. Theyre unproven on the national scale. Donald Trump has been there. Hes done that. Both Olsen and Miller said they believe Reynolds has done a good job as governor and are turned off by Trumps personal attacks and criticisms of her and Haley, but are willing to overlook them in support of his policies. I dont care for that kind of stuff, but I do think (Trumps) the strongest president that we could have, Olsen said. Put the little personality things aside, and see how he governs. The pair separately touted Trumps trade and farm policies, protecting American jobs and undoing Democratic President Joe Bidens immigration policies and electric vehicle incentives. Miller also said he supports Trumps calls to open more land for oil drilling. Olsen cited Trumps calls to ban "critical race theory" from schools and his vow to stop gender-affirming care for minors if re-elected president. She also opposes sending aid to Ukraine to help it fight against Russias invasion of that country, and supports Trumps foreign policy. Trump has claimed if he'd been in office, Russia wouldn't have invaded Ukraine. I dont think we necessarily need to be involved and we need to support Ukraine, Olsen said. If we keep giving them money, were just extending the war out. Thats whats been happening. So why do we have to be the police between Russia and Ukraine? What business is it of ours? Miller, who said he caucused for Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016, lauded Trumps appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices, which led directly to the overturning of what for five decades had been a legally protected right to an abortion. Several Trump supporters and likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers interviewed by The Gazette at the event dismissed the federal investigations as what they see as politically motivated prosecution and a witch hunt intended to sideline Bidens chief political opponent. James Cox Since Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th, the Government's calls for Israeli restraint in the escalating conflict have been stronger than the stance in many EU member states. Indeed, the Government's stance has drawn the ire of Israeli officials. Israel's foreign minister has criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on a number of occasions, while Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich has been a prominent name in Irish news headlines, even accusing President Michael D Higgins of spreading misinformation. While Coalition leaders have said Israel has the right to defend itself, the Taoiseach said the country's response to the Hamas attack resembles something more approaching revenge. I think its very important we never forget where this started. This phase of the conflict started with a Hamas attack on Israel, where 1,400 civilians were killed. I strongly believe that, like any state, Israel has the right to defend itself, has the right to go after Hamas so that they cannot do this again. But what Im seeing unfolding at the moment isnt just self-defence. It looks, it resembles something more approaching revenge. Thats not where we should be, and I dont think thats how Israel will guarantee its future freedom and its future security." He also said: collective punishment is a breach of humanitarian law, but theres a process by which these things are determined, and I dont stand in judgement in that sense. But certainly the targeting of civilians, collective punishment, these are breaches of humanitarian law, whoever commits them. Tanaiste Micheal Martin and other government leaders have taken a similar stance to the Taoiseach. As Israel resumed strikes on Gaza on Friday as a temporary truce with Hamas expired, the issue is likely to dominate political discourse once again. Both the Taoiseach and Tanaiste have received hundreds of messages on their comments regarding Israel and Hamas since October 7th. A sample of these letters and emails, seen by BreakingNews.ie following a Freedom of Information request, shows a mixed public response with some praising the response while others accuse the Government of being anti-Israel. I am very grateful that you are a dissenting voice. One letter to Mr Varadkar, six days after Hamas' attack, thanked him for being a "dissenting voice". "Dear Mr Varadkar, "I am dismayed to find that there are very few people condemning the actions of Israel towards the Palestinian civil population. "I am very grateful that you are a dissenting voice and have criticised the switching off of power and water and supplies to the Palestinian people. "More of the same please in a louder voice and keep up the good work." Other messages to the Taoiseach and Tanaiste suggested Ireland should take refugees from Gaza, "at least until the situation is resolved". One less complimentary email to the Taoiseach on October 11th had the subject line: 'Nobody cares about you." It read: "Nobody in Israel or the European Union cares about what you have to say, really nobody! Israel has the right to defend its country and its citizens. So please be quiet, nobody is interested in your opinion. Democratic countries of the western world will support Israel. I am sure that people in Ireland will support Israel too, and that they also don't care about your opinion! No money and no food for terrorists!" Others agreed with Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin's stance, but argued that they should make more effort in pushing for a ceasefire or sanctions. "I have been so disappointed by the lack of vim in your condemnation of the unfolding ethnic cleansing of Gaza that I will no longer support Fine Gael," one person wrote in an email to the Taoiseach. One Jewish person in Ireland wrote an impassioned letter to Mr Varadkar in which they expressed their fears about the conflict. "You are now asking for restraint and to lower the temperature. We have heard lower the temperature once before, and it was done at the crematoriums in Auschwitz to save fuel. "I am living in Ireland and am the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. Jewish blood has always been cheap. The IDF stands for the Israeli Defence Force. It defends. It is never the aggressor. "As a Jew living in Ireland, which is very clearly pro-Palestine, I feel nervous and honestly I feel scared. 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', means the full extermination of Jews and Israel. Where do you or any of the politicians want us to go?? "If a terror organisation came into Dublin or Kildare or Sligo and slaughtered your women, children, babies, elderly or men, what would you do? What would you do if a terror organisation went into Electric Picnic and slaughtered innocent civilians and then raped women next to their dead friends who were there just to live life or enjoy music - what would you do? "What would your citizens want to do? It certainly wouldn't be to 'lower the temperature'. "Thank you for your time and I hope you can remain open minded, and please stand with the people of Israel." You had the courage to see through the smoking ban. Have you courage still? One person compared Mr Martin's stance with his work in bringing in the smoking ban in 2004. "Micheal Martin, this is what I will remember you for. Whether or not you stand with Palestine when they are being bombed and starved by Israel. "Please do not disgrace Ireland's history. If you do not support Palestine, I will remind everyone I know about the humanitarian crimes that Fianna Fail stood by on. "You had the courage to see through the smoking ban. Have you courage still? When a race of people is being annihilated, it is no time for realpolitik." On October 11th, one person asked Mr Varadkar why Ireland had not lit state buildings up with Israeli colours, like some other European countries have done since the beginning of the conflict. "Should we not show our support for Israel in a similar manner? Our lack of such a display could be seen as an indication of an unspoken support for Palestinian terrorism. "If we as a nation cannot openly show support for a nation who have had their citizens murdered in such barbaric ways, babies' heads cut off, children murdered, women stripped naked and raped and murdered, and hundreds kidnapped and held hostage, then I think we are in danger of moral cowardice." The reports of children being beheaded are unverified Israeli reports. Another person thanked Mr Varadkar for his government's stance on Israeli bombardment of Gaza, despite having some previous problems with the Fine Gael leader. On October 13th, they wrote: "As a FG voter, you can be a bit of a [redacted] at times. However, I am full of admiration for your conscientious and intelligent position on the Israel/Gaza situation. "I am proud as an Irishman having you as our leader." On the same day, another person thanked the Taoiseach for calling for restraint, while comparing Ireland with Germany's "pro-Israel mood". They mentioned German politician Saskia Esken cancelling a meeting with US senator Bernie Sanders over his support for Palestine. Thank you for calling for restraint and please do so again and again. "Thank you for calling for restraint and please do so again and again," they wrote, while drawing attention to the "extreme pro-Israel mood in Germany". "Saskia Esken, SPD, cancelled a meeting with Bernie Sanders over his support for Palestine. This attitude of deep racism towards Palestinians pervades society. The biggest Palestinian community in Europe lives in Berlin and I would very much appreciate it if Ireland could speak out about this." Another person wrote: "I want to thank you for your clear, unambiguous and carefully thought out rejection of violence, cruelty and mayhem. Your excellent dealing with the aftermath of the terrible and savage killing of innocent people in Israel and the Gaza Strip is commendable and a surer gateway to peace than the attitude of other leaders in the EU and US." Another email saw the Government urged to confront the United States over their support for Israel. It also said People Before Profit was "right". They did not elaborate on this, but presumably it refers to the party's calls for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the referral of Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Dated October 15th, it read: "What has Ireland communicated with the US on their backing of Israeli [redacted] of Palestinians. The USA should not back Israel and People Before Profit were right." As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Martin received a number of critical messages, as the Taoiseach did. "Shame on you and your bias during this appalling time in Israel," one person wrote. In response to the Tanaiste's calls for peace talks, another person said: "Hamas and Hezbollah will never entertain peace talks, they are both terror groups. You said that 'it was vital a voice of moderation come to the fore'... are you living in the real world?" Other letters called for sanctions to be placed on Israel. This is a moment in history to be counted with your influence. One on October 16th read: "Cut all diplomatic ties, trade and military ties with Israel. Demand the EU does the same and criticise the inaction of both the EU and the US enabling Israeli war crimes. "This is a moment in history to be counted with your influence." The following day, another person wrote: "As Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I urge you to work with our Government leaders to pursue a strategy of sanctions and genuine actions. It is so important that Ireland emphasises that Israel should and will be subject to sanctions should they continue to breach international law, as has rightly been done with financial, trade and diplomatic sanctions against Russia." One letter the same day, addressed to Mr Varadkar, Mr Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, asked the Coalition leaders to make a direct appeal to US president Joe Biden. "Dear Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Minister Ryan "I sincerely urge you to advise president Joe Biden, and other leaders, to take a more balanced and measured approach with the Israelis, just like past American politicians and diplomats did in our own island's senseless and bloody war up North." The lack of a direct train link from Ireland West Airport Knock to other parts of the country is hampering the facilitys efforts in attracting new airlines. This was the message given to councillors from the Ballymote-Tubbercurry MD at their meeting this week at Ireland West Airport by Donal Healy, Head of Marketing, Aviation Business Development & Communications at the airport. Mr. Healy told councillors that train services readily available for people at the doorstep of the airport would be a major asset for all concerned. This combined with the proposed upgrade to the N17 have been described as a game changer for not only the airport but the wider northwest region. Speaking afterwards to Ocean FM, Cllr Michael Clarke said the Government needs to prioritise both projects and that the railway was crucial for the development of the northwest. Together with the N17 they had been told that there was the potential to add between 250,000 and 300,000 bed nights for tourism in the Sligo area. Cathaoirleach of the Ballymote Tubbercurry MD Cllr Joe Queenan praised the vision and foresight of the late Monsignor Horan and said that Sligo County Council will do everything it can to support the airport. Malachy McKenna, in his play, The Quiet Land, introduces us to two elderly farmers, Eamon and Nashee. We meet them at a gate on a remote hillside. The men are old friends, old rivals, old neighbours. Nashee is thinking of going into a nursing home and is rebuked by Eamon. To justify his position, Nashee says about the idea: There are pros and cons for, and pros and cons against. As the play continues, the men find themselves arguing about the demise of turf cutting and the proliferation of wind turbines. Wild wind There was a time on the high Ox Mountains when the sight of a meitheal of men cutting a bank of turf was commonplace. The turf provided essential fuel for the winter and no small amount of enjoyment in its cutting, saving and drawing home. Nowadays, in the outer reaches of the mountain, the old turf banks are overgrown and the sounds of men working and children playing are distant echoes. On the other hand, you will not walk far in such places today without catching sight of a wind turbine and where you see one, you will see a whole herd; grazing quietly, chewing up the wild wind that feeds in off the Atlantic. The loss of one energy source and the growth of the other presents us with a remarkable contrast. The pros Of all of the places on earth to position a wind turbine to generate electricity, there are few more suitable than the mountain tops of the West of Ireland. We have rain most days, sunshine not as often as we might like, but in such places, we have constant wind. We have a resource in the wind that is always available and it will never run out. In the same way that a passing smile costs nothing, the wind has the potential to bestow its gift and then, simply move on. As of 2021, the Republic of Ireland has 4,309 MW of installed wind power capacity, the second highest per capita in the world. In 2020, wind turbines generated 36.3% of Ireland's electrical demand only Denmark is higher at 55%. Ireland has over 300 wind farms, which are mostly on our mountains and hills. Our wind power generation is higher during winter and lower in the summer but the overall capacity factor of Irish wind farms is high compared to the global average of onshore wind farms which usually ranges around 20%. The overall cost for each fully installed 800kW turbine is around 2 million. All in all, it would seem that the wind turbine is a very worthwhile weapon in the fight to meet our increasing demand for energy and our huge responsibility to curb our carbon footprint in the face of global warming. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) gives a good account of wind-generated energy and renewable energy technologies. It is both Ireland's largest and cheapest renewable electricity resource. In 2020, wind provided over 86% of Ireland's renewable electricity and it is the second greatest source of electricity generation in Ireland after natural gas. A power greater than either the wind or the turbine is the high priest of technology. It marries them both and it is the key, the catalyst, the potential underwriter of all our energy debts. George Duval, writing for Todays Homeowner (USA), builds the story further when asked how long it takes a wind turbine to pay for itself. The environmental payback period is the amount of time it takes for a wind turbine to generate the amount of energy used during manufacturing and installation. For most wind turbines, the time it takes to offset this energy use is between six months to a year. The cons The typical life span of a wind turbine is 25 years, with routine maintenance required every six months. However, little is yet known about the scrapping or disposal of worn-out turbines. The worst-case scenario is that they are abandoned on-site and left to rot while they are replaced with the latest model. But that is the very worst possibility and the hope is, in such a green industry, that best practice will prevail. rsted is a renewable energy company that, according to itself, is taking action to create a world that runs entirely on green energy. It owns and operates a 360MW portfolio of onshore wind farms in local communities across the island of Ireland. Its following statement seems very reassuring. When wind turbines eventually reach the end of their lifespan after at least 25 years, we recycle up to 95% of what theyre made of. Weve made a commitment to find the right recycling solutions for the final 5%, too. Every mountain wind farm is accompanied by tens of kilometres of roads. These roads are needed for turbine construction and maintenance. Very often additional excavations and construction work are required to carry the freshly generated electricity out to a grid connection. Its all a far cry from bringing the turf from the bank to the road with an ass and a pair of creels. These roads are injurious to both the surface of the mountain and the flora and fauna that survive there; the delicate flowers and the sensitive nesting birds. Wind turbines are now more common on our bogs than turf-cutters. Decision time There is no doubt, the meitheal of men and the ass and creels are gone. While many cling to the idealism of cutting their own mountain turf, the reality is that few would take the trouble or have the time. If it was to be done, it would be done by machine and that process would not leave the landscape, or the flora and fauna, without injury either. Modern living, in houses without chimneys, is now the new standard. These houses are warmer, more energy efficient and dust-free and depend hugely on electricity. In our race, and it is now a race, to clear our conscience of past environmental indiscretions, we have to make every effort to stem the spiral of global warming. We will likely never stall it, much less reverse it, but we can slow it down. The individual, the simplest household, the smallest country have the potential for change. If we find ourselves resenting the sight of wind turbines on our mountain tops, if we continue to think that old ways are best and that the issue of finding alternative and renewable energies is someone elses problem, maybe we should think again. The cost of the turbines footprint is substantial and the very creation of the turbines themselves is another environmental expense but the wind is plentiful and it is free and it is ours to use without fear of injury or exhaustion. The same wind that turns the blades of a turbine in Ballycroy will turn another at Bonniconlon and another at Ballaghaderreen before it passes over Ireland to drive more turbines in the Irish Sea and on the English Pennines. While not without their faults, when it comes to electricity generation, wind turbines have more pros than cons. Next week the old derelict cottages of the Ox Mountains. Israel's military on Sunday ordered more areas in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis to evacuate, as it shifted its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it says many Hamas leaders are hiding. Heavy bombardments were reported overnight and into Sunday in the area of Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israel's blistering air and ground campaign. Many of the territorys 2.3 million people are crammed in the south after Israeli forces ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the 2-month-old war, sparked by an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. Around 240 more were taken hostage. With the resumption of fighting, hopes receded that another temporary truce could be negotiated. A weeklong cease-fire, which expired Friday, had facilitated the release of dozens of Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. Since the cease-fire collapsed, Hamas has fired scores of rockets into Israel, setting off air raid sirens across southern and central areas. Most rockets are intercepted or fall in open areas, but the fire continues to disrupt life across wide swaths of Israel. Over 200,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes along the Gaza and Lebanon borders due to rocket fire since Oct. 7. On Sunday, the Israeli military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, telling residents of at least five more areas and neighborhoods to leave for their safety. Several hundred thousand Palestinians have received evacuation orders since the fighting resumed but they have few places to go. Residents said the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. U.N. monitors said in a report issued before the latest evacuation orders that those who were told to leave make up about one-quarter of the territory of Gaza home to nearly 800,000 people before the war. Much of Gazas population is now packed into the territorys southern half. The territory itself, bordering Israel and Egypt to the south, is sealed, leaving residents with the only option of moving around within Gaza to avoid the bombings. There are nearly 958,000 displaced people in 99 United Nations facilities in the southern Gaza Strip, including 34 in Khan Younis, according to Juliette Toma, director of communications at the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. The average number of displaced people in U.N. shelters is 9,500, more than four times their usual capacity, according to the agencys report on Nov. 30. The United States, Israels closest ally, has warned Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement. The main hospital in Khan Younis received at least three dead and dozens wounded Sunday morning from an Israeli strike that hit a residential building in the eastern part of the city, according to an Associated Press journalist at the hospital. Separately, the bodies of 31 people killed in Israeli bombardment across the central areas of the strip were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Gazas central city of Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, an administrative employee at that hospital. AP video showed bodies in white bags on the ground outside the hospital in Deri al-Balah as dozens of people held funeral prayers Sunday morning. One woman wept, cradling a child's body on her lap as she sat on a chair. Another adult carried the body of a baby as he got into a truck taking the remains for burial. The Israeli military said Sunday that its fighter jets and helicopters struck terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnel shafts, command centers and weapons storage facilities overnight, while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. In northern Gaza, rescue teams with little equipment scrambled Sunday to dig through the rubble of buildings in the Jabaliya refugee camp and other neighborhoods in Gaza City in search for potential survivors and dead bodies. They strike everywhere, said Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in Jabaliya, an urban refugee camp. There is the non-stop sound of explosions around us. Mohamed Abu Abed, who lives in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, also said there were relentless airstrikes and shelling in his neighborhood and surrounding areas. The situation here is unimaginable, he said. Death is everywhere. One can die in a flash. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Saturday that the overall death toll in the strip since the Oct. 7 start of the war had surpassed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on Nov. 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people had been wounded since the war began. U.S. appeals to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters Saturday during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering creating a security buffer zone that would not allow Gazans direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighborhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City and a six-story building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defense, said rescuers lack bulldozers and other equipment to reach those buried under the rubble, confirming the Red Crescent estimate of about 300 people missing. He said the block had housed over 1,000 people. Meanwhile, Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in a meeting that under no circumstances would the U.S. permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders, according to a U.S. summary. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages, who the Israeli military says are still being held after 105 were freed during the recent truce. Israel freed 240 Palestinians during the truce. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. The hostages' plight has drawn widespread attention and sympathy in Israel, and the release of some during the cease-fire put pressure on the government to negotiate additional releases. The resumption of fighting appears to have put those efforts on hold and raised fears that the remaining hostages could be in danger. The families of hostages have called for an urgent meeting with Israel's Security Cabinet, saying time was running out to save those still held by Hamas. A group formed by family members of hostages said Sunday the prime minister and Security Cabinet had a moral and ethical obligation to meet with the relatives. Security Cabinet members must provide families an answer to the question: How do they plan to maintain the supreme goal of the war returning the hostages alive. Now, they said. (AP) Walt Disney Pictures Movie The Kylo Ren depicter reveals one scene that 'Star Wars' fans always bring up when they meet him following his performances as the villain in the new movies. Dec 3, 2023 AceShowbiz - Adam Driver gets reminded "every day" that he killed Han Solo. The 40-year-old actor played Kylo Ren in the final "Star Wars" trilogy and though it has been eight years since his villainous alter ego murdered his dad - who was played by Harrison Ford - in 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", fans still want to talk about it. "Somebody reminds me about that every day. Not every day, but yeah. It used to be more, but now it's probably once a month someone will let me know that I killed Han Solo," Adam said during an appearance on "Who's Talking to Chris Wallace" when the host mentioned the movie's shocking ending. Adam reflected on filming the scene, and admitted it wasn't necessarily "tough" but it was "very emotional actually" and he praised his "generous" co-star for guiding him through the moment. He said, "Harrison was so generous and contemplative, and to me, that was a great moment on set, even though it was his death." The "Marriage Story" actor previously admitted he "felt sick to [his] stomach" when he went to the "Force Awakens" and sat waiting for the audience to see the dramatic finale. He told GQ magazine in 2017, "The people behind me, when the scroll started, were like 'Oh my god. Oh my god. It's happening.' Immediately, I thought I was going to puke. I was holding my wife's hand, and she's like, 'You're really cold. Are you OK?' Because I just knew what was coming - I kill Harrison - and I didn't know how this audience of 2,000 people was going to respond to it, you know?" You can share this post! Celebrity The 'My Sister's Keeper' actor is revealed to have died from an accidental overdose following an autopsy which was held after he was found dead at his home in Fontana. Dec 3, 2023 AceShowbiz - Evan Ellingson's death has been determined an accident. The 35-year-old actor was discovered dead in a bedroom at his residence in Fontana, California, earlier this month and after his autopsy took place in the days afterwards, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's coroner told People magazine he had passed away due to an accidental fentanyl overdose. To TMZ, the "Complete Savages" actor's father had previously said Evan - who hadn't been on screen for 10 years before his death - had struggled with addiction and died in a sober-living home. Following Evan's death, his "My Sister's Keeper" co-star Abigail Breslin paid tribute to him as "a genuinely thoughtful person" who was the "life of the party" on set. Abigail wrote on Instagram, "Evan Ellingson was a kind, funny and extremely talented human being." "He played my big brother in a film I did called My Sisters Keeper. Evan was a genuinely thoughtful person who cared so much about turning in the best performance, which he accomplished. Some of his scenes in MSK still give me chills. He was also silly, funny, a prankster, a lover of Red Bull (I hated the smell of Red Bull [laughing emoji]) and he was energetic and the life of the party." "I didn't keep in touch a lot with him after the film, but he always stayed in my mind as a wonderful and sweet soul, one I am grateful to have crossed paths with. My prayers and condolences are with his family at this difficult time (sic)." Abigail also asked social media users to refrain from speculating about Evan's passing. She added, "Evan, I know Heaven will welcome you with open arms. Your time on this earth may have been, devastatingly, short. Your humor, exuberance, kindness and bright light will linger forever. Sending you peace on your journey to the great beyond and who knows... maybe one day, I'll meet you in Montana. Xx, abster." "Side note, the details of Evan's passing have not yet been released. I ask you to kindly not speculate on the details out of respect for his family including his daughter (sic)." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity When revealing the near-tragic incident at her home to her social media followers, the 48-year-old model and entrepreneur also thanks the fire department who 'quite possibly saved our lives.' Dec 3, 2023 AceShowbiz - Kimora Lee Simmons' weekend did not go as expected. The model revealed on social media that her house had caught fire, but luckily, she and her kids are "fine." The 48-year-old detailed the incident in an Instagram Story post on Saturday, December 2. Sharing a photo of members of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) standing in front of a smoke-filled fireplace at her home, she began, "My house caught fire. The kids and I are all fine." "I cannot express the deepest gratitude to the numerous battalions, ladders and units that attended to us for many hours today and quite possibly saved our lives," the entrepreneur continued. "THANK YOU!" Kimora is mother to five children. She shares daughters Ming, 23, and Aoki, 21, with ex-husband Russell Simmons, son Kenzo, 14, with ex Djimon Hounsou, and son Wolfe, 8, with estranged second husband Tim Leissner. She also has a son Gary, 10, whom she adopted in 2020. Back in May, Kimora opened up about being a single parent. "Being a single mom, I think about my kids all the time and that's it. My kids, their friends, my other kids, like, you know, I have a lot," she told PEOPLE. "[My kids'] smiles, I feel like that's the work that I do every day to keep that smile on their face. And again, that 'smile' means so much." You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye's Vision Celebrity The 'I Am Legend' actor cracks a joke about the recent woes in his life that included a clash with Chris Rock and trouble in paradise with wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Dec 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - Will Smith quipped he "started making my own problems" because life was going too well. The 55-year-old actor - who was slapped with a 10-year ban in 2022 from the Academy Awards for slapping Chris Rock on stage - admitted he has made "tons of mistakes," but with the help of Quincy Jones, he is trying to "win as a human." "I love puzzles, I love problems. Yeah, so I started making my own problems. Life is going too well," he said at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. "I have made tons of mistakes. Quincy has always made himself available," Smith said. "He wants me to win as a human. He is devoted to me as a human, not just as an artist. Fame is a unique monster. You can't get too excited when people say good things about you." "Because then when people say bad things about you, you struggle and suffer more. I have to be clear about who I am and what I am attempting to do in the world. And I can't need others to applaud for me to stay focused on my mission. I want you to feel good. And at the same time, I am deeply human. And I am in the process of perfecting my virtue." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Will said he is always open to learning. He said, "I am a steadier. The important thing in life for me is that I continuously learn. I have studied the stories that last for thousands of years." And, Will also revealed that he is working on a sequel to "I Am Legend" with Michael B. Jordan, saying, "I have a call with Michael B. Jordan tomorrow. I can't tell you anymore." However, he did share that the original DVD included an alternate ending showing that his character lived and added, "So we are going with the mythology of the DVD version where my character lived." You can share this post! By Sean Murphy, Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY An iconic chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller, inspired countless Native American children as a powerful but humble leader who expanded early education and rural healthcare. Her reach is now broadening with a quintessential American honor: a Barbie doll in the late Mankillers likeness as part of toymaker Mattels Inspiring Women series. A public ceremony honoring Mankillers legacy is set for Tuesday in Tahlequah in northeast Oklahoma, where the Cherokee Nation is headquartered. Mankiller was the nations first female principal chief, leading the tribe for a decade until 1995. She focused on improving social conditions through consensus and on restoring pride in Native heritage. She met with three U.S. presidents and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian award. She also met snide remarks about her surname a military title with humor, often delivering a straight-faced response: Mankiller is actually a well-earned nickname. She died in 2010. The tribes current leader, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., applauded Mattel for commemorating Mankiller. When Native girls see it, they can achieve it, and Wilma Mankiller has shown countless young women to be fearless and speak up for Indigenous and human rights, Hoskin said in a statement. Wilma Mankiller is a champion for the Cherokee Nation, for Indian Country, and even my own daughter. Mankiller, whose likeness is on a U.S. quarter issued in 2021, is the second Native American woman honored with a Barbie doll. Famed aviator Bessie Coleman, who was of Black and Cherokee ancestry, was depicted earlier this year. Other dolls in the series include Maya Angelou, Ida B. Wells, Jane Goodall and Madam C.J. Walker. The rollout of the Barbie doll featuring Mankiller wearing a ribbon skirt, black shoes and carrying a woven basket has been met with conflicting reactions. Many say the doll is a fitting tribute for a remarkable leader who faced conflict head-on and helped the tribe triple its enrollment, double its employment and build new health centers and childrens programs. Still, some Cherokee women are critical, saying Mattel overlooked problematic details on the doll and the packaging. Mixed emotions shared by me and many other Cherokee women who have now purchased the product revolve around whether a Wilma Barbie captures her legacy, her physical features and the importance of centering Cherokee women in decision making, Stacy Leeds, the law school dean at Arizona State University and a former Cherokee Nation Supreme Court justice, told The Associated Press in an email. Regina Thompson, a Cherokee basket weaver who grew up near Tahlequah, doesnt think the doll looks like Mankiller. Mattel should have considered traditional pucker toe moccasins, instead of black shoes, and included symbols on the basket that Cherokees use to tell a story, she said. Wilmas name is the only thing Cherokee on that box, Thompson said. Nothing about that doll is Wilma, nothing. The Cherokee language symbols on the packaging also are wrong, she noted. Two symbols look similar, and the one used translates to Chicken, rather than Cherokee. Mattel spokesperson Devin Tucker said the company is aware of the problem with the syllabary and is discussing options. The company worked with Mankillers estate, which is led by her husband, Charlie Soap, and her friend, Kristina Kiehl, on the creation of the doll. Soap and Kiehl did not respond to messages left by the AP. Mattel did not consult with the Cherokee Nation on the doll. Regrettably, the Mattel company did not work directly with the tribal governments design and communications team to secure the official Seal or verify it, the tribe said in a statement. The printing mistake itself does not diminish what it means for the Cherokee people to see this tribute to Wilma and who she was and what she stood for. Several Cherokees also criticized Mattel for not consulting with Mankillers only surviving child, Felicia Olaya, who said she was unaware of the doll until about a week before its public launch. I have no issues with the doll. I have no issues with honoring my mom in different ways, said Olaya, who acknowledged she and Soap, her stepfather, are estranged. The issue is that no one informed me, no one told me. I didnt know it was coming. Olaya also wonders how her mother would feel about being honored with a Barbie doll. I heard her once on the phone saying, Im not Princess Diana, nor am I Barbie, Olaya recalled. I think she probably would have been a little conflicted on that, because my mom was very humble. She wasnt the type of person who had her honorary degrees or awards plastered all over the wall. They were in tubs in her pole barn. Im not sure how she would feel about this, Olaya said. Still, Olaya said she hopes to buy some of the dolls for her grandchildren and is always grateful for people to learn about her mothers legacy. I have a warm feeling about the thought of my granddaughters playing with a Wilma Mankiller Barbie, she said. Social media influencer, actress and author Tabitha Brown will come to two Alabama cities to promote her new book in February 2024 as part of her book tour. The book is called, I Did a New Thing, and shes planning to stop in Opelika and Birmingham, along with seven other stops across the country. In a social media post, Brown said this tour is in honor of her birthday and going to places shes never been to before. Its me doing a new thing as well! Browns first Alabama stop will be a book signing in Opelika at Books-A-Million at Tiger Town on Feb. 1. Then she will stop in Birmingham on Feb. 3 for a live show at The Lyric Theater. Tickets for the Opelika event is sold out, but tickets for the Birmingham show are available now on Ticketmaster. This is Browns second book with HarperCollins Publisher. The first one is titled Feeding the Soul (because its my business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom. She also has a cookbook titled Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations. The actress built a large following on TikTok during the pandemic in 2020 with her vegan food, comedic content, and Southern charm. She now has over 5 million followers on TikTok and over 4.2 million followers on Instagram. Brown is also known for her Emmy-nominated childrens show, Tab Time, and for hosting the Food Networks first plant-based cooking competition show, CompliPlated. Former New York Congressman George Santos behaved in gross unethical conduct that created an unprecedented situation requiring unprecedented action, said Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt of Haleyville. Aderholts statement was released on Friday, the same day he became the only Alabama Republican to vote in support of expelling Santos from Congress. The expulsion resolution passed the U.S. House with a 311 to 114 decision with 105 Republicans voting with the overwhelming majority of Democrats in favor of expulsion. Only two Democrats voted No while two voted present. Alabamas other GOP congressmen -- Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Gary Palmer and Mike Rogers -- voted against expulsion. Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, the only Democrat in the Alabama delegation, also voted for expulsion. Would you have voted to expel New York Republican George Santos from Congress? He was expelled on a 311-114 vote today. Here's more: https://t.co/BMihk7ans6 pic.twitter.com/C6kNb2vndh AL.com (@aldotcom) December 1, 2023 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. Santos is the first House member who was not a Confederate or who hasnt been convicted of a crime to get expelled from office. He does face 23 criminal charges of wire fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. In addition to legal issues, Santos has been criticized for months over revelations that he fabricated large parts of his life story, including significant elements of his resume and biography. Before he was sworn into office, reports emerged that he had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. Santos had survived a previous expulsion vote on Nov. 1. But a report from the House Ethics Committee released two weeks ago found there was substantial evidence that Santos repeatedly broke the law. Aderholt voted against expulsion along with the rest of the Alabama GOP House delegation in the Nov. 1 vote. In a statement Friday, Aderholt said the following: Voting to expel a member of Congress is a very solemn action that I do not take lightly. Many of my Republican colleagues voted no, and I understand how they could come to that conclusion, especially in light of the fact that since the Civil War, the House has not voted to expel a Member of Congress that has not been convicted of a crime. Each member had to review the facts and come to their own conclusion. That being said, as I reviewed the House Ethics Committee written report with all the charges that were made against him, George Santos was given multiple opportunities to defend himself and explain the allegations that were made against him, yet he refused. I believe the situation Congressman Santos finds himself in rose to the level that he should no longer be serving in the House of Representatives. While George Santos is a fellow Republican, and the Republican majority will now be less, I dont believe that even a slim majority should excuse such gross unethical conduct. Politics should not be considered in such a matter. Moreover, I also had to ask myself if a member from the other side of the aisle was facing the same or similar situation, would I vote to expel and I found myself reaching the same conclusion. Members of Congress must be held to the highest standards. This was an unprecedented situation, and, I believe, required this unprecedented action. Carl, who is running for reelection in the 1st congressional district primary against Moore, said he believes the decision to expel Santos sets a dangerous precedent and will be a vote that will haunt us. An armed man who threatened suicide outside a Bessemer hospital is now in another hospital after police say he was shot during an eventual confrontation with police. The ordeal began at 1:03 p.m. Saturday when Bessemer police were dispatched to the rear parking lot of UAB Medical West. The caller told dispatchers he was armed with a gun and wanted to die. Officers arrived on the scene to find the man with a gun and blocked off the surrounding streets. Negotiations began and continued for almost five hours. Roughly 20 officers were on the scene. After that time, the armed subject continued to approach officers, Det. Justin Burmeister said in a news release. The subject was injured on scene and transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham by ambulance. Police officials would not say whether the man was shot by police but said the man was conscious and communicating with officers before he was taken to UAB Hospital. ALEA officials on Tuesday said the 36-year-old Birmingham man brandished a handgun at officers and was shot. He was taken to UAB Hospital. The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe. Indonesias Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province erupted Sunday, spewing white-and-gray ash plumes for more than 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) into the air, and hot ash clouds blew several miles to the north, according to Indonesias Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center. There were no casualties, said Ahmad Rifandi, an official at the Marapi monitoring post, adding that villagers were advised to stay 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the craters mouth and be aware of the danger of potential lava. National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson, Abdul Muhari, said several villages were blanketed with falling ash, blocking out the sun in many areas. Authorities distributed face masks and urged residents to wear eyeglasses to protect them from volcanic ashes, he said. Marapi's eruption alert level was maintained at the second-highest level, Abdul Muhari said, and confirmed that authorities have been closely monitoring the volcano after sensors picked up increasing activity in recent weeks. Japans Meteorological Agency said Sunday it is currently assessing whether there is a possible tsunami in the country because of Marapi's volcanic activity. In case a tsunami reaches Japanese coasts, the earliest possible swelling is expected in the Okinawa region at around 2100 JST (0900GMT), it said. The nearly 2,900-meter (about 9,480-foot) mountain has been active since January when it erupted, generating dense ash-and-steam plumes that rose as high as 400 meters (1,300 feet) above the crater. No casualties were reported. Marapi is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. (AP) Gunfire erupted at a Birmingham intersection Saturday afternoon, leaving two people injured. The shooting happened at 3:40 p.m. in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue North near the Chevron gas station, just off I-65. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said police arrived to find two men wounded inside a vehicle that had stopped in the roadway. Two people were injured in a Saturday shooting at Fifth Avenue and 10th Street North in Birmingham.(Carol Robinson) One of the victims sustained critical injuries. The second victim is expected to be OK. Fitzgerald said investigators believe another vehicle pulled up to the victims vehicle and opened fire before fleeing the scene. No arrests have been made. Earlier Saturday, about 2 p.m., a woman was shot in the leg at 50th Street and Ninth Avenue North. Today has been an extremely violent day in our city,' Fitzgerald said. Many of these shootings have been targeted. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. The Alabama prison system is responding to claims that an officer died in one of its prisons after exposure to a tear gas spray. According to Alabama Department of Corrections spokesperson Kelly Betts, Correctional Officer Senior Yashea J. Chapel died on November 10. The prison where she worked, Donaldson Correctional Facility, was notified by Chapels mother, Betty Ann Davidson. Officer Chapel had died at a local hospital following an asthma attack at home, said Betts. The incident sparked outrage on social media after an Alabama Political Reporter article claimed the officer died of exposure to mace. The Equal Justice Initiative also posted an article, citing the APRs story, on its website. But, the prison spokesperson said there were no documented incidents of Chapel, who had been with the department since 2018, being directly exposed to chemical agents at work. She was mentioned in an incident report on November 6, 2023, where she escorted an inmate to the Health Care Unit and that inmate had been exposed to chemical agents, said Betts. She did not report any illness following that incident and finished her shift on that day. She also worked three subsequent shifts with no report of any illness. The department provided information on the times of Chapels shift for the following three days. Betts said prison staff have been in regular communication with Davidson and Chapels sister. Those talks have been to express condolences, assist with necessary paperwork, arrange for an ADOC Honor Guard at the funeral, assist with applying for support from the Alabama Correctional Employee Support Fund and the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, and other matters. According to Betts, prison staffers attended Chapels funeral and collected money and Christmas gifts for the family. At no time during these encounters did any family member ever mention any concerns about an exposure to chemicals in the workplace, said Betts. The prison wasnt asked about chemical exposure prior to news articles being published, said Betts. Davidson hasnt returned AL.coms request for comment. English News China makes positive progress in addressing climate change Alwihda Info | Par pd - 2 Decembre 2023 China actively responded to the UN Secretary-General's call for early warning systems for all. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment signed a trilateral cooperation agreement in May this year with the World Meteorological Organization and the China Meteorological Administration, with an aim to support the enhancement of disaster warning capabilities in other developing countries. By Liu Yi, People's Daily China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment(MEE) recently held a press conference to introduce the progress China has made in addressing climate change. It also released the 2023 report on China's policies and actions to address climate change. The report comprehensively summarizes the new progress and achievements of China's efforts to address climate change since 2022. It also elaborates on China's basic stance and propositions regarding the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is expected to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the end of November. China attaches great importance to addressing climate change. According to MEE official Xia Yingxian, China has implemented a national strategy to tackle climate change, announced carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, and put in place a "1+N" policy framework for carbon peak and carbon neutrality. China has been promoting structural adjustment in industry, energy, and transportation, adopting a series of measures such as energy conservation and efficiency improvement, establishing and improving market mechanisms, and increasing forest carbon sinks. As a result, positive progress has been made in addressing climate change. According to Xia, China's carbon intensity decreased by over 51 percent in 2022 compared to 2005 levels, and the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption in total energy consumption reached 17.5 percent. The country's ability to adapt to climate change continued to strengthen, and the Chinese society's awareness for green and low-carbon development kept improving. The report indicates that China is actively mitigating climate change while proactively adapting to it. Significant progress has been made in key areas of green and low-carbon development. China has actively promoted industrial restructuring and optimization, with the sales and production of new energy vehicles ranking first globally for eight consecutive years. Non-fossil energy developed rapidly. The installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power generation exceeded 750 million kilowatts by the end of 2022, and the clean utilization of fossil energy continuously improved. Market mechanisms have been continuously improved. China has the world's largest carbon emissions trading market, which started in July 2021 and currently regulates over 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. As of Oct. 25 this year, the cumulative trading volume of carbon emission quotas had reached 365 million tons, with a total transaction value of nearly 19.44 billion yuan ($2.67 billion). The report points out that China actively participates in global climate change governance, deepens bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the climate field, and has made positive progress in South-South cooperation on climate change. It has joined efforts with other countries to build a green Silk Road. Xia said that as a responsible major developing country, China has been continuously promoting South-South cooperation on climate change through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It has continuously improved the construction of the BRI International Green Development Coalition, providing support and assistance to other developing countries to the best of its ability. As of September this year, China had signed 48 memorandums of understanding on South-South cooperation on climate change with 40 developing countries, built four low-carbon demonstration zones in cooperation with other countries, implemented 75 projects to mitigate and adapt to climate change, organized 52 capacity-building training courses, and helped train more than 2,300 officials and technicians from over 120 developing countries. In 2021, China and African countries jointly issued the Declaration on China-Africa Cooperation on Combating Climate Change and launched a three-year action plan. In September this year, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu announced the implementation of a solar power project at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, which aims to utilize China's advantages in the photovoltaic industry to solve lighting problems for 50,000 electricity-deprived households in Africa. In 2022, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center was established to support Pacific island countries in coping with climate change. China has also conducted research on mangroves and building low-carbon schools and communities together with ASEAN countries. China actively responded to the UN Secretary-General's call for early warning systems for all. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment signed a trilateral cooperation agreement in May this year with the World Meteorological Organization and the China Meteorological Administration, with an aim to support the enhancement of disaster warning capabilities in other developing countries. "China has always been a proactive advocate and pragmatic practitioner of South-South cooperation in addressing climate change. The tangible and effective results of this cooperation have received widespread praise from the international community, especially developing countries," Xia stressed. 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) I cant help but notice striking similarities between two controversial moments in American history, and the contention that surrounds them. Those similarities may mean that the official narratives in both cases were correct, but it could also mean that they were notthe two moments of which Im speaking are the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the 2020 presidential electionlets take a closer look. What seems common to both is an apparent lack of publicized factual evidence that would prove the official versions beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, supposedly persuasive, but logically invalid arguments have been used, in addition to falsely describing all skeptics of official versions as mentally-defective conspiracy theorists. One could lend a benefit of doubt to those who, apparently knowingly so, resort to analyses with purposes not of truthful discovery, but of winning the dispute surrounding the controversies, and acknowledge the possibility that they are just overzealous in protecting our government and its agencies against the loss of public trust which arguably, would be detrimental to our national coherence, strength, and even survival. But then, if government officials and the so-called mainstream media can deceive the American people for a good cause, such as defending truth that they are just unable to prove, how can we know they would not be doing the same for a bad cause, such as perpetuating falsehoods? Perhaps the officials and media members find Americans cant be trusted with the truth, or couldnt understand or handle itif so, unlike the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution clearly implies, We the People cannot remain the political authority in America. Such a speculation explains why so many self-appointed defenders of American democracy are not only among the most relentless critics of our foundational document, but are also portraying those patriotic Americans who cherish and live by it as ignorant or misinformed far-right or MAGA extremists (as if there were something inherently wrong with making America great, again) that are more dangerous to our continuity than Adolf Hitler reincarnate. After all, We the People are not immature and naive little children who need a wise and virtuous ruling elite to keep us uninformed for our own protection. As a matter of fact, there are no objective and evenly applied criteria for testing the mental fitness or morality for those who are admitted to this ruling classso how can we be sure that any of these people are even wiser or more virtuous than the average American? Some of them may well be, but statistically, its all but impossible to believe they largely are. I am sure one could find plenty of examples that strongly support the notion that a majority of our ruling class are of subpar intelligence and short of impeccable ethicality. Getting back to the controversies that are subjects of this article, it seems quite obvious that the ruling elite knows it cannot prove that Oswald was the lone assassin, just like it cannot prove that there was no outcome-determinative fraud during the 2020 presidential election. For otherwise the respective proofs would have been presented to the American public. And when I write proof I mean a verifiable argument in which the conclusions logically follow from the publicly known facts without resorting to political pressure, demonization and intimidation of critics, censorship, and other forms of discouraging free intellectual inquiry into officially predetermined conclusions. For instance, watching the published edition on the Zapruder film showing President Kennedys assassination one can notice that the secondand, apparently, fatalshot that hit the president caused backward movement of his head and upper torso, as well as deposition of what reportedly were parts of his head on the back of the limousine. That would suggest that at least one shot might have been fired from a location other than the 6th floor of Texas School Book Depositorywhere Oswald supposedly was situated behind, and not in front of the presidential motorcade at the moment the assassination took place. If it actually were the case, then the official thesis that Oswald was acting alone would have been false. Although some theories supporting the official narrative were offeredlike the notion that a shot in ones head could cause the victim heads movement and the blow-out of heads soft tissue to move towards the shooterthey were less than convincing and did not prove that said thesis was correct. In particular, a recent article uses (among other things) integral calculus and partial differential equations to derive the desired conclusions from such facts as that the president was shot from a high-powered military rifle, or that his hat size was 7 3/8 in., and reads more like emotionally-loaded, outcome-driven persuasion delivered from behind the shield of amply-used college math and physics than a disinterested scholarly analysis based on relevant facts, logic, and well-structured calculations. Similarly, there were many videos showing seemingly fraudulent activities while processing and counting the votes during the 2020 presidential election that raised a reasonable doubt in the validity of the elections result. Also, real-time statistical distributions of numeric data during the vote counting exhibited a considerable number of anomalies that could suggest systemic manipulations of the prescribed counting process. Yet, rather than thoroughly investigating all the elections red flags noticed, recorded, and reported, those advocating the official version claimed, without providing proofs of their claims, that the 2020 presidential election was the safest and most fair and honest in American history and that fraud and cheatingif they did happenwere not outcome-determinative. It appears that 60 years have passed but the more things change the more some of them stay the samethe same defenses of the Warren Commission after the Kennedy assassination became the defenses for the validity of the 2020 presidential election. If emotionally-loaded fallacious reasoning, threats, and name-calling are the best proofs of the official versions of the events discussed above, then perhaps they are not as correct as the officials and the so-called mainstream media insist. According to the common-sense reading of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, We, the Peopleand not our ruling class have the constitutional authority to ultimately decide what the truth is. So far we, as opposed to many members of the ruling class, have dutifully fulfilled that responsibility. So, there is no good reason for abdicating our power and delegating to our governments and their agencies our fundamental right to search for truth and the evidence thereof as we see it fit. Mark Andrew Dwyers previously published work at American Thinker can be found here, and other recent columns are posted here, here, and here. Image generated by AI. This weeks column on the ongoing fight between civilization and barbarity focuses on the role of the United Nations and its various agencies in keeping jihadism alive and well; the outrageous efforts by the incompetent Anthony Blinken to hamstring Israels justified defense, and the little-known or publicized support by Arab leaders for Israels eradication of Hamas. Winkin Every one of the United Nations agencies involved in the Middle East has placed it on the side of the most barbarous enemies of civilization. The worst is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Disgusted by the agencys role, Germany has frozen its substantial contributions to UNRWA (Germany is UNRWAs second largest donor at $202 million last year), and the United States should do no less. (In 2018, President Trump cut funds to UNRWA; the Biden Administration rushed to restore them.) UNRWA was formed in 1948. There was already in existence the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which had successfully resettled refugees. UNRWA, in contrast, has hired radical Islamists and used the schools, hospitals, and programs it manages to propagandize generations into serving as Islamist foot soldiers and martyrs. Zach Lewis is right: Its benefits fund terrorism and are a pillar of the festering sore that is the right of return to all of Israel and the restoration of a mythical Palestine that never existed. Although UNRWA claims to aid over 5 million refugees, these people (and registered deceased and non-existent people) are not refugees by any definition. Refugee status is not maintained when people are resettled, let alone to offspring of those displaced. UNRWA was wrong in conception and disastrous in execution. Its 1.5 billion annual budget (funded by the US, other countries, and NGOs) is sponsoring terrorism, totalitarianism, anti-Western hate and virulent antisemitism. Their facilities, personnel and budget are co-opted by criminals. They sometimes ignore, and often aid and participate in terrorism and crime. Its time to end the farce that is UNRWA. It is long past time to #DefundUNRWA. Cut their funding and boot them out of Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. Israel has informed the U.N. that it will not renew the visa of Lynn Hastings, a resident U.N. functionary for humanitarian coordination, who criticized Israels actions in Gaza while never drawing attention to the Hamas acts which prompted them, putting all blame on Israel for the humanitarian crisis. In the latest conflict, one UNRWA teacher stuffed a child hostage in his attic, starved him, and deprived him of medicines. UNRWA relief supplies were found in Hamas tunnels. Attached to an abandoned backpack in Gaza were two identification tags, one describing the owner as a member of Hamas, the other the same owner as an UNRWA employee. Disturbed that it is suddenly receiving the attention and opprobrium it has long deserved, UNRWA tweeted: Spreading unsubstantiated claims about @UNRWA must stop immediately. David Burge responded: Or well hold your children hostage in an attic and starve them. In response to the terror attacks of October 7, UNRWA teachers, principals, and administrators reacted this way: Reality surpasses our wildest dreams, welcome to the great October, and more. The massacres were justified as restoring rights and redressing Palestinian grievances. Lebanese-Iraqi Hussain Abdul-Hussain nails it: UNRWAs very existence is political and unjustified. All the worlds refugees get one UN agency, UNHCR, and Palestinians get their own agency UNRWA. Also, UN refugee mission is to resettle refugees, like UNHCR does, not maintain Palestinian refugee status and make it hereditary, even when these Palestinian refugees have long been settled. The entire U.N. organization is as odious and dishonest as UNRWA. It took over 50 days for UN Women to say anything about the numerous rapes, mutilations, kidnappings, and murders of Israeli women by Hamas (and the Gazan civilians who followed the fighters into Israel and added to the rampage). Shamed into posting even the smallest, very tardy condemnation of the Hamas depredations against Israeli women, they then retracted even that and replaced it with another that omitted condemnation of Hamas. The delayed response was weak, calling for protection of Israeli and Palestinian women. Nothing at all has yet been heard from another of the UNs many agencies -- the UN Against Violence in Conflict. In traditional Islam, women war captives may, consistent with Sharia law, be kept as sex slaves, and the suspicious refusal of Hamas to return a number of young women reasonably suggests they are being so used, if not yet murdered. In fact, one bound Israeli woman with a cut Achilles heel to prevent escape and bloody pants was videoed by Hamas as she was roughly handled and paraded through Gaza. She is one of the women hostages not returned. Indeed, besides creating more terrorists and keeping them well-supplied through UNRWA, ignoring its mission to protect women from violence, the U.N. actively propagandizes for terrorism. In its latest outrage, a five-year-old Israeli child, Ido Avigal, who was murdered in 2021 in Sderot by Hamas rockets, appears in an exhibition sponsored by the U.N. in Geneva described as a Palestinian child killed by Israel in Gaza. In every way I can think of, the U.N. winks at, supports, and encourages terrorists in the Middle East. The entire organization is corrupt and has outlived and abandoned its purpose in Creation, and we should get out of it. It is a confederacy of dunces, thieves, and dictatorial monsters. Blinken Having played a role in the negotiation of the cease-fire and its extension, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said little, if anything, about Hamass repeated violations of the terms of the agreement. Families were to be released together. They were not. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was supposed to be given access to the hostages to oversee their existence and conditions. It was not. Indeed, the ICRC repeatedly refused to provide an elderly hostage with needed medicines given to them by her daughter. Upon her release, she is in very poor health. Hamas has tortured hostages and their families. They said one young girl was dead and then said she wasnt. She returned home in a severely traumatized state, whispering because, for almost two months, she had been forbidden to speak. She was fearful, obviously poorly fed, and covered in head lice and bug bites. Another young hostage who saw his father murdered was forced to watch over and over videos Hamas took of the onslaught in Israel with a gun held to his head, forbidden to cry. A father was filmed by Hamas crying as they told him his family a baby, a toddler, and his wife -- were dead. (Whether they are or not, no one knows.) Nevertheless, Blinken, who played a significant role in the disastrous flight from Afghanistan, decided this week that he should tell Israel how to proceed. Israel has done more to preserve the lives of civilians than any military force in history. Blinken, however, decided to publicly warn the Israelis that they must preserve such lives and tried at the same time -- inconsistently -- to tell them they were running out of credit and had to speed things up. I read it as a message that they should return to their former ways and leave before the job was done. Unfortunately for Blinken, Hamas followed that bluster by refusing to release even a list of future returnees and -- doubtless resupplied by fuel sent to Gaza as a humanitarian gesture -- fired rockets on Israeli civilian centers. His efforts to return to the status quo -- Islamists attack, get hit back, the media, the Democrats, and the outright Islamist supporters force an end to the conflict so it can happen again and again -- blew up. Mewlings about placing the Palestinian Authority in charge of postwar Gaza are nuts, too. We still do not know the fate of the Americans held hostage, and Blinken seems to care as much about them as he does about Americans and our allies he left behind in Afghanistan when, equally deluded, he thought he could negotiate with the Taliban. Nod What gets little coverage in the media is that many Arab countries share Israels belief that there can be no peace or prosperity for all in the Middle East unless Hamas is eradicated. The Saudis, UAE, Egypt, and Jordan want Israel to eliminate Hamas, even if the UN and the State Department might not. Indeed, the reliably very left-wing Israeli publication Haaretz reported this week that in behind-the-scenes talks with Israeli officials, almost every Arab leader told Israel that it should not end the war with Hamas until Hamas is totally destroyed. They obviously see Hamas as proxies for Iran and Qatar, who are their domestic enemies, even if Blinken thinks they are our allies. The House voted 307-119 this week to force the administration to permanently freeze $6 billion in funds it had opened up to Iran. While 118 Democrats opposed this, all but one Republican voted for the bill. If you have used an AI-generated browser lately, such as Microsofts Bing, you may have noticed that-- no matter the topic left of center citations show up almost exclusively, especially on the first several pages of results. These browsers appear to be more biased than ever before, which is saying something. A New York Post or Fox News listing may show up on, say, page 4 or 5, but typically only after a user is made to wade through those of a slew of liberal to far-left sites. Looking for something on the Israel-Hamas war? Get ready to see a cavalcade of posts from NPR, CNN, and MSNBC. Wish to do a little research on global warming? Your search results will be heavily skewed to NPR, CNN, and MSNBC againbut will also direct you to posts from preposterously radical left-wing sites such as Salon, AlterNet, Slate, Huffington Post, and the Daily Beast. Though most folks arent talking about this, it has obvious and far-reaching implications foreverything. If it becomes harder and harder for most people to access less-biased sites, or even to check out sites tilted to the right for balance, eventually the truth will be lost. At some point in the future then, virtually all knowledge that the vast majority of people possess will be false knowledge. And that is, in a word, scary. We have already seen what can happen when giant social media companies of their own volition or under pressure by government entities hide or manipulate information to favor a certain candidate or point of view. This is likely to get exponentially worse. I recently typed how does wisdom differ from intelligence into a Microsoft browser. Here is the Bing AI-generated response I received: Wisdom and intelligence are both positive qualities involving the mind, but they are not the same. Intelligence refers to a persons ability to learn, understand, and apply knowledge and skills. In contrast, wisdom refers to using knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments. Intelligence is largely innate and can be measured through tests, while wisdom is gained through life experiences and is not easily measurable. Wisdom involves seeking truth, using knowledge, and making good decisions. People, of course, base their actions and decisions on the information they have. Whoever controls that information effectively controls the world. Learning from sources that promulgate fake news does not lead to intelligence. Lets pray that most folks are granted the wisdom to seek the truth. No matter how hard it may become to do so. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License As Cosmopolitans CEO, Helen Gurley Brown took the magazine from being a high-end literary magazine and turned it into the ultimate guide for single women in the swinging '60s. Now, under the aegis of Jessica Giles, Cosmopolitan is promoting satanic abortions as a way to undo the religious rights grip on abortion laws. Its stories such as these that make me wonder whether the 2024 election even matters, given that I honestly dont see how a culture can walk back from this abyss. In 1962, one of the biggest bestsellers in America was Browns Sex and the Single Girl. That book, which coincided with the advent of the Pill, probably did more than anything else to advance the sexual revolution. Thats because Brown encouraged women to leave the home, get jobs, and have sexual relationships without the benefit of marriage, a concept that, not long before, had been anathema to Americans across the political, geographic, and cultural spectrum. Three years later, Cosmopolitan magazine, which had been seeing its readership dramatically decline, asked Brown to step in as editor to help turn the magazine around. Brown was up to the job, turning Cosmopolitan (or Cosmo, as it was known for short) into a magazine about women and sex. It was, in essence, an extension of her book, telling women how to optimize their sex lives, whether by dressing to attract men or by giving them tricks for the bedroom. In the early years, Cosmo stood out from other womens magazines. Publications such as Glamour and Seventeen were still giving dating advice for nice girls who wanted to get married and start families, while Vogue was just telling its readers how to look ultra-chic. In stark contrast, Cosmo was telling how best to pick up guys in bars and what to do with them once youd brought them home. Image: Screen grab of Cosmopolitan article supporting Satanic abortions. Fair use. With the passing decades, the distinction between all these magazines began to blur. Now, Teen Vogue is telling young girls how to have anal sex and giving advice about gifts for that friend who had an abortion. (And if youre wondering why young people support Gazan culture, which is profoundly misogynistic and homophobic, while attacking Israel, which is not, that grotesque set of values got help from Teen Vogue, too.) The problem for a publication like Cosmo is to stay cutting-edge in a world where your competitors keep diving deeper into the muck with you. One way to stand out would be to be classier than the next publication. That, however, is not the path that Jessica Giles, the current editor-in-chief, has chosen for Cosmo. Instead, Giles, a veteran of The New Yorker, Vogue, Glamour, Marie Claire and Teen Vogue, has opted for the ultimate debasement. Cosmo is encouraging its readers to view with admiration satanic ritual abortions: The womens magazine details the specifics of how the ritiual abortion is meant to take place and writes favorably about The Satanic Temple (TST) and their New Mexico abortion clinic named after Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos mother. Cosmo writes that for The Satanic Temple, abortion is a religious ritualone they argue deserves legal protection even in restrictive states. The Satanic Temple also claims that a uterus is private property that comes with a set of ownership rights that do not extend to an uninvited fetus. So how does a Satanic abortion ceremony even work? Cosmo asked. Patients of all faiths are welcome at Samuel Alitos Moms Satanic Abortion Clinic in New Mexico. Along with medical counsel, TST offers free ceremonial support to everyone. Abortion ceremonies are totally optionaland customizable. Cosmo then describes an abortion ritual recommended by the Satan worshipers. It doesnt matter whether you believe in Satan to find this beyond appalling. Its what Satan stands for that should horrify us all. No matter how leftists try to dress up Satan, the fact is that Satan is understood to be the antithesis of God. Whether you believe in God, the Judeo-Christian God stands for two important things: Noahide and Mosaic morals and a reverence for the value of human life that has morphed into our American concept of individual liberty. Understood this way, those who embrace Satanism, whether they believe in Satan or God, are explicitly siding with a world that rejects the principles that are the bedrock of Western culture. It was not a pretty world. In the pagan world that preceded Judeo-Christian culture, human sacrifice, especially child sacrifice, was normative. Slavery was omnipresent. It was Exodus that recognized slaves as humans with rights, the Ten Commandments that made stealing a moral wrong that eventually had to be applied to a persons liberty, and Christianity that took these ideas and embraced abolition. Tyranny was practically the only form of government because the idea of Might Making Right was untempered by individual rights. In other words, if you want to know what a satanic world looks like, look at a world governed by Sharia law. Im not saying that Muslims are Satanists. Im just saying that theirs is the modern equivalent of a world that has none of the values that belief in the Judeo-Christian God has advanced. We are a very sick society, and we have eleven months within which to turn that aroundthat is, we have until the next election. If Biden retakes the White House, the American experiment is over in every way. The Constitution will be a dead letter, and American culture and values will have been ground into the dust. The coming year will be beyond ugly, but keep your eye on the ball, which is to have Republicans prevail in November 2024and to let them know that, once in office, theyd better abandon their Uniparty, Vichy ways. Nearly $100 million worth of reserved tax credits in California went to the production of two television shows that have allegedly promoted suicide and teenage sexual promiscuity, according to government records. Government watchdog organization Open the Books recently reported that Californias Film and TV Tax Credit program awarded $45.8 million in reserved tax credits to the first four seasons of the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why and $48.4 million to the first three seasons of the HBO drama Euphoria. Taxpayer dollars well spent? 13 Reasons Why chronicles the factors leading to a high-school students decision to take her own life-- and was associated with a 28.9% increase in suicides of Americans age 10-17 just one month after the shows 2017 debut, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Euphoria, for its part, follows a queer teenage girls struggles with drug addiction, sexual relationships, and other issues, and has been accused of intentionally marketing extremely graphic adult content, including sex, violence, profanity and drug use, to teens and preteens. Californias governor, Gavin Slick Newsom, of French Laundry infamy, claims to have made the mental health of teenagers a top concern, yet he hasnt spoken out against either series. Quite the contrary, in fact. The ultra-modern leader of the erstwhile Land of Milk and Honey recently said in support of expanding the Film and TV Tax Credit Program: As other states roll back peoples rights, California will continue protecting fundamental freedoms for all and welcome businesses that stand up for their employees. And perversity. Because, in Newsomes twisted mind, fundamental freedoms doesnt refer to the freedom of speech or the right to bear arms, but instead means the freedom/right to have the money you earned confiscated to subsidize television shows that are detrimentaland possibly deadlyto young people. Netflix, not satisfied with its close relationship with Barack and Michelle Obama, happens to be a significant donor to Newsomes political campaign. Paramount-- and HBOs parent company, Warner Brothers Discoveryalso donate a great deal of money to help Newsome in his political campaigns. Might just be coincidence. Using taxpayer money to fund one show that encourages promiscuity, and another that leads folks to kill themselves seems a bit of a weird mix. Procreate. Kill yourself. Might make perfect sense to the government, though. Net zero, I guess. Image: State of California, via Picryl // public domain I overheard a conversation at Walmart that gave me an idea about an unlikely group of warriors who might be able to save America. The conversation was between two women, one small, frail, and lively, the other portly, serene, and demure. You are absolutely correct, said the frail woman pushing a small cart. Our country is indeed in a profound mess and in a lot of trouble, and we of the middle class are in grave danger of losing everything! Well said, agreed her portly friend, pushing a large cart, adding, And did you notice that the pastor was in complete agreement when we talked after church last Sunday, but then he said, What can we do? Right, what can we do? rejoined the frail one. We octogenarians are just old and useless, and half the younger ones seem to be on the other side. While distressing to overhear, this conversation revealed the germ of a counterattack. Many have despaired of finding a silver bulletthat magic munition that can destroy wokismbut it lies tacitly implicit in this Walmart conversation. What did Sun Tzu advise? He said to attack the enemys strategy and tactics. Our enemys goal is global totalitarianism. His strategy is to dissolve all resistance by fragmenting all humanity into utterly malleable individuals with no core sense of sense. His tactic is to obliterate the family by converting all the children into sexual perverts. Implementing that tactic requires using the government schools legal hold on the children as the platform for this perversion. Image: The ladies aid community kitchen at the Church of the Good Shepherd (1944) by Howard R. Hollem, Public domain. The obvious counter ploy to this perversion program is to extract the children from the government schools. However, most families lack the financial resources required for this. An exodus from government school requires either home school or private school, and, for most families, home school is a bridge too far because they cannot get by on only one income. In the same way, most families cannot cough up private school tuition. However, the churches can be the key to implementing this exodus. Every church can become a school for all the children of its congregation at a fraction of the cost of the government schools. The government schools are already in financial distress due to enrollment decline. A serious Christian exodus would push them into chaos. But, natch, there is a problem: the pastors. Too many pastors already play the role of gendarme, halting progress towards the church school. That Walmart conversation, though, revealed the way around this impasse: the church matrons. You see, every local church body is a polity. That is, it has some political organization, typically taking the form of a corporation. There is a church board, and the chairman of the board is not the pastor but an elder member of the congregation. Although the pastor usually has his way with the board, the pastor is but an employee. The church board is typically all male, but their wives are all members of the church matron grapevine. And if these matrons get their dander up and their act together, they can elbow aside the pastor and get the board to authorize creating a school. In any polity, the men may hog the titles and the credits, but it is the matrons that hold the real power. History tells the tale. Everyone has heard of the Rape of the Sabines. However, almost no one knows the rest of the story. Here is Plutarchs version, with my improvements: Romulus, the Eminent Archon of Rome at the time, noted there were too few children in the city to support the size of the army he desired, and concluded that this shortfall was because Rome had too few women. Upon being advised that the nearby Sabines were well-provided in that department, in the dark of night on August 18, 750 BC, Romulus and his thugs fell upon the Sabine villages and kidnapped some 500 teenage girls. The Sabine warriors, rather than give immediate chase, dithered for a full year before the combined effect of scolding at home and liquid courage around the campfire propelled them to march against Rome. The two armies faced off in a large open field. During the pre-slaughter warm-up, as each side shouted boasts and insults at the other, the 500 Sabine girls, who were now Roman wives carrying their months-old babies, scampered onto the field between the two armies with hysterical screams directed at both sides. They screamed at their Sabine fathers and brothers, You did not come to vindicate our honor while we were virgins, but do come now to force wives from their husbands and mothers from their children. Which shall we call the worst? The Romans love-making or your compassion? And on and on and on. As you can well imagine, both armies melted at this matronly tongue-lashing, and the Sabines and Romans joined together as one. The ultimate power in any polity lies with the matrons. If they mobilize, the exodus can become a reality. Indias Hindu nationalist party was headed for a clear win in three out of four states Sunday, according to the election commissions website. The crucial poll has pitted Indias opposition against the ruling party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of next years vital national vote. Ballot counting showed Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, was poised to wrest control of the states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan from the Indian National Congress, Indias main opposition party. The BJP was also likely to be re-elected in Madhya Pradesh in for a record fifth term. The Congress was comfortably leading in Telangana state which is ruled by the strong Telangana Rashtra Samithi, known for opposing BJP in the state. Final results are expected later Sunday. Vote counting in a fifth state, Mizoram, is set for Monday where BJPs regional ally, Mizo National Front, is in power. Elections in the five states were held last month where more than 160 million people, or a sixth of Indias electorate were eligible to vote in the polls. Polling in India is generally done in phases owing to the large population. Modi thanked voters for their unwavering support in the states his party was leading. The results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan indicate that the people of India are firmly with politics of good governance and development, which the @BJP4India stands for, Modi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Modi and his party remain popular on a national level after nearly a decade in power and surveys suggest he is expected to win a third consecutive term in 2024. But a new alliance of 28 opposition parties, called INDIA, is expected to challenge Modis party nationally. The acronym, which stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, comprises Indias previously fractured opposition parties and is led by the Congress party. Both the Indian premier and the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi flew across the five states to woo voters as they campaigned to support their parties candidates. The charged-up voting campaigns witnessed both leaders promising voters subsidies, loan waivers and employment guarantees. Modi will seek reelection next year at a time when Indias global diplomatic reach is rising . But in recent polls, Congress has dented his partys image of invincibility by toppling local BJP governments in state elections in southern Karnataka and northern Himachal Pradesh. The elections come at a time when India is facing multiple challenges; rising unemployment, attacks by Hindu nationalists against the countrys minorities, particularly Muslims, and a shrinking space for dissent and free media. (AP) Could the Republican Party as currently constituted be any more ineffective? Any more cowardly? Any more easily and willingly steamrolled? Not likely. There are a few good men and women, to be sure, but they are too few to fight the limp-wristed, irresolute majority of their colleagues. Most of them work for the opposition, Kevin McCarthy being the recent prime example. He made promises to become Speaker, did not keep any of them, and was justifiably dethroned. Now he wants to submarine the new speaker, Mike Johnson, who may be entangled beyond his ken. Johnson may just be a good man who has been thrown to the wolves of Congress. Will he survive? Will he have the courage to do what McCarthy would not? Hold the corruptocrats accountable? That would be the Biden family of grifters; Christopher Wray, the despicable, lying head of the FBI; Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas, the chief saboteur of the nation with his calculated importation of ten million illegal aliens from all over the world; and Merrick Garland, the thoroughly venal Attorney General who has persecuted any and all persons who were in D.C. on January 6, 2021. Garland is singularly the face of the police state America has become with the acquiescence of the Republican Party. What have our elected Republicans in Congress done to fight back against the treachery of the left since the Obama administration? They made a few noises, held a few hearings, but beyond that? Nothing. They caved on Obamacare, a disaster by every account. Along with their partners in crime, the media, some of them perpetrated the Russia collusion hoax for years, a colossal lie from the outset. They allowed the impeachment of President Trump twice on wholly fabricated and insignificant charges. So malleable is this Republican Party, the Democrats stole the 2020 election with impunity. And theyve done nothing to bring those guilty to light. Why? Because they fear Trumps promise to drain the swamp every bit as much as the Democrats do. They are all, with the exception of a treasured few, committed members of that swamp. They refuse to stop the extravagant spending that has put us $34 trillion in debt. They will vote to expel one of their own but do nothing about the long list of criminals that currently sit in Congress: James Bowman, Rashida Tlaib, Robert Menendez, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, etc. Each of them has committed numerous crimes that should get them expelled from office. Will the Republicans fight back? Not a chance. The few who do speak out are shouted down, silenced. Consider how Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are treated by their fellow Republicans. The Biden family malfeasance is not only grotesque, it has been proven over and over and over, from Hunters laptop to the testimony of witnesses, to the massive numbers of suspicious bank transactions. If all that corruption had been leveled on a Republican, what would the Democrats do? We know exactly what they would do because they are doing it to Donald Trump. They make up crimes he is not remotely guilty of and drag him through courts throughout the land to hamper his re-election campaign. They get their unscrupulous, far left judges to shred the Constitution in order to thwart his candidacy. Do the Republicans stand up as a party to object? No, they do not. They are either lily-livered cowards or else never-Trumpers pretending to be conservatives. Given the obvious breaches of the Constitution that has characterized our federal government for decades, but certainly since the Obama administration, it is safe to say that the United States is no longer a representative republic but an oligarchy, run by malignant organizations like the WEF, the WHO as well as our own CDC, FDA, FBI, DOJ, DHS and CIA, all propaganda arms of the Marxist, globalist left. Oh, and then there is big pharma and big tech, and the media, the elephants in the room. They do the bidding of all those alphabet agencies and get paid big bucks to further their big profits agenda. The wholly illegitimate tyranny that was imposed on us all for the probably phony COVID pandemic, mask mandates, and lockdowns were dictatorial. The vaccine mandate was genocidal; those jabs have killed thousands of Americans, and millions worldwide. Have the Republicans in Congress done anything to address this crime against humanity? Sure, theyve held a few hearings, grilled the criminal Dr. Anthony Fauci a few times, but countless articles/studies have been published that prove the vaccines were lethal. Nevertheless, no one has really been held accountable, least of all China, the FDA, the CDC or the WHO, criminal institutions all. The Republicans in congress are useless. Any conservative paying attention surely knows by now that the RNC is working for the opposition. Ronna McDaniel is an agent of the left, as is her uncle, Mitt Romney, which surely explains why no one paying attention is donating to the RNC. Have the Republicans in Congress called for her resignation? Nope. And eight Republicans voted against impeaching Mayorkas! What does that tell us? They are traitors to America, supporters of Bidens open borders to all comers. Bottom line? The left has succeeded in rendering the Republican Party inoperative, non-functional. They are mere tools of the left. They cower in the face of potential social media cancellation, or disses from the New York Times or the Washington Post, both known propagandists for the Marxist left. They live in fear of being called out by morons like Joe Scarborough, Joy Reid or the cretins on the View. Cowards all. What is to be done? We need to vigorously support the actual conservatives the left seeks to destroy, those who dare to speak up against the radical left the Democrat party. Certainly not Nikki Haley who is a confirmed globalist, a neo-conservative who supports war anywhere and everywhere. Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis might be viable in 2028 but is not now. Republican voters need to decide which candidate is going to actually stand up for America, for the middle class, for working people. Who will defeat the bogus cult of climate change as a tool of the globalist left that means to control how we live, what we drive, how we cook, what we eat, what we own, how our kids are indoctrinated? Think hard and consider your vote carefully. This country is on the edge of an abyss and the Republican Party is nowhere to be found. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License One of the things Ive been saying to anyone who will listen is that the most interesting thing about the current war between Israel and Hamas is that the surrounding Sunni Arab nations are staying out of it. This observation may be meaningful, for Haaretz has reported that not only are the Sunni Arabs staying out of the war, but they are also encouraging Israel to finish what she started. This is great news if only Biden doesnt undermine this excellent situation. Here in America, we know that Democrats are now the party of antisemitism, something that Democrat Jews are only slowly realizing. Its in Democrat enclavese.g., big cities, academia, the White House, the State Department, and the CIAthat rampant Israel hatred, a mere variant of antisemitism, is making itself known. Biden is paying lip service to supporting Israel, but the ceasefire he bullied Israel into only benefitted Hamas because Israel lost momentum and Hamas was able to regroup. Even worse, as Caroline Glick reports, Israel has no ability to push back against Bidens pressure because Biden holds the keys to Israels armory. Without America, Israel has no weapons. All her systems integrated with American-supplied ammunition. Even after the Obama administration made plain that Israel could not count on having a friend in the White House, Israel didnt or couldnt disengage from her dependence on Americas defense contractors. For that reason, Biden is now effectively managing Israels warand he is, as I said, no friend to Israel. Image: Gazan protesters in 2018. YouTube screen grab. Thats depressing but, on the bright side, Israels Sunni Arab neighbors have been strangely passive. It turns out that, according to a Haaretz report from a couple of days ago, before Hamas broke the ceasefire and Israel reengaged in battle, this passivity is because they are as anxious as Israel is to see Hamas destroyed. The Haaretz report is behind a paywall, but this is the gist: There are rumors that Qatar, which is headquarters for Hamass billionaire leaders, has been trying to broker a cease-fire that would see Hamas release its hostages in exchange for Israel releasing every single tried-and-convicted Gazan and West Bankians in its prisons. Of course, its worth noting that, while the hostages are women and children, the people in Israels prisons ended up there for attempted murder. Moreover, Omri Ceren believes some have been too badly tortured to be released. The Qatar plan, if real, is a terrible deal for Israel. To drive home how bad it is, remember that Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the October 7 attack, was one of those released many years ago in exchange for Gilad Shalit, the Israel soldier that Hamas had kidnapped. Now, Sinwar is saying that October 7 was just a rehearsal and that his goal is Israels annihilation. He is the essence of evil, and those who support Hamas have no moral excuse for doing so. Fortunately, so far, its unlikely that the Israeli people will support a deal of the kind Qatar is allegedly trying to broker. For them, it would be like finding you have a deadly tumor and starting surgery to remove it. Then, halfway through the surgery, with only part of the tumor removed, the surgeon not only closes you up but also gives you vitamins that, rather than strengthening you, feed the remainder of the tumor. Haaretz claims that Israelis arent the only ones opposed to this deal. According to the article, even as countries like Egypt and Jordan make the usual noises about Israel being the bad guy in all this, talks behind the scenes are quite different. In those talks, almost every leader in the region, including in most of the Gulf states, is urging Israel to end the war only after Hamas is defeated, since they view the organization as a dangerous domestic enemy. That contention is entirely believable. Every nation thats ever taken in people from Gaza and the West Bank has come to regret it. Gaza and the West Bank dont produce productive citizens. They produce people who are completely dependent on government largesse and whose only skill is protest and revolution. In the Book of Exodus, after the Jews left Egypt, God didnt want people who had been conditioned to be slaves to enter the land of Israel. Instead, He consigned them to 40 years in the desert so that the old generation would die before the new generation entered the Promised Land. In the case of the Gazans, we have a people conditioned for either dependency or violence, and theres no desert in which to put them. The Sunni nations dont want them, so theyre hoping that Israel will do the dirty work of destroying their worst elements and bringing the rest of the population to heeljust as the Allies did with the Germans and Nazis during and after WWII. It has been obvious from day one that the fraud prosecution of President Trump in New York is a political hit job. The state, the banks, and no one else lost money because Trump supposedly exaggerated his net worth. They can't find another case in New York where anyone else was charged with fraud who exaggerated their net worth. The courts would be full if there were cases like that. The financial statements contained a statement that said no one should rely on the numbers on the statements. Banks are required to do an analysis before they make loans. They don't just take the borrower's word. There is nothing in New York Attorney General Letitia James's or the judges' background that would indicate they have any expertise in valuing real estate or anything else. Expert witnesses from the bank have testified that they were not harmed by anything Trump or anyone in the organization did, yet somehow, the media, which has anxiously covered the trial from day one, has not shown any interest in telling the public the truth. The goal is to destroy and harm Trump no matter how many jobs are destroyed in the Trump organization. Isn't that pathetic? Bank Executive Destroys New Yorks Case Against Trump in Loan Case: Not Unusual A Deutsche Bank AG executive told a court in New York on Tuesday that it is not unusual for loan clients to overstate their net worth, and that the bank does its own due diligence in determining eligibility for loans. Another executive testified that the bank had benefited from its business relationship with Trump and had wanted to continue that relationship all of which runs against Attorney General Letitia Jamess civil fraud case against Trump: there was no one harmed by alleged overestimates of his worth. Trump faces the first case ever brought in New York in which a borrower is being sued for fraud when no one is claiming actual harm. The state is seeking a $250 million fine against Trump, and wants him to be forced to give up control of his businesses. The evidence shows that banks made money on these loans, which were paid off either early or on time. In fact, none of the banks complained about the Trump organizations estimations, which were accompanied by a warning that the banks should not rely on those estimates. If Letitia James and the Judge really cared about fraud or exaggerated financial statements, they would go after the brokers that took public green energy companies, like electric cars, solar, wind, and plug-in companies, which made billions for brokers but caused investors to lose hundreds of billions. Another political hit job case is the lawsuit against Trump for damages for the January 6th protest. The appeals court judges idiotically ruled that Trump could be sued for damages even though Trump told the protesters to march peacefully and patriotically to the capitol. BREAKING: Trump Has No Immunity From Jan 6 Lawsuits, Appeals Court Says The decision by the court is stemming from several lawsuits that have been brought against Trump by Democratic members of Congress and Capitol Police Officers Trump suggested that Pelosi bring troops to the Capitol on January 6. Pelosi and Schumer didn't secure the Capitol even though they were warned. Shouldn't they be the ones who are sued since that was their job? The FBI has said it wasn't an insurrection, so why do so many continue to report that it was? The answer is the truth hasn't mattered for a long time, only destroying Trump. The FBI has found scant evidence that the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was the result of an organized plot to overturn the presidential election result, according to four current and former law enforcement officials. Though federal officials have arrested more than 570 alleged participants, the FBI at this point believes the violence was not centrally coordinated by far-right groups or prominent supporters of then-President Donald Trump, according to the sources, who have been either directly involved in or briefed regularly on the wide-ranging investigations. ...and... FBI confirms there was no insurrection on Jan. 6 The Judicial system is nuts and biased. Where would the lawsuits stop if cases like the ones against Trump are successful? Maybe Biden should be sued for all the deaths, rapes, and other crimes because he refuses to secure the border and essentially invites criminals and terrorists in. Should Biden be sued for the deaths in Afghanistan? Should Dr. Anthony Fauci and others be sued for all the damage they caused with all their lies about COVID? Maybe all the people who paid off their student loans should sue Joe Biden, who's forgiving the student loans of those who haven't, for unequal treatment. Should Biden and others be charged for all the losses caused by their green energy push, which is a massive fraud? The media and others should stop pretending that the justice system is unbiased and that there is equal treatment under the law. They have been targeting Trump and his supporters for years, while Hillary, Biden and others can commit many crimes and go unpunished. The media and other Democrats should also stop with the talking points that they want to run against Trump because he would be the easiest to beat. They want to jail him and keep him off the ballot. Republicans should also not fall for the propaganda as many on the left root for Trump's rival, Nikki Haley. If they are able to dispose of Trump, they will set out to destroy whoever ends up as the Republican candidate. It is their standard procedure. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License At 11 foot 8 inches, the Norfolk SouthernGregson Street Overpass, located in Durham, North Carolina, United States, is a bit too short. The federal government recommends that bridges on public roads should have a clearance of at least 14 feet. But when this railroad trestle was built in the 1940s, there were no standards for minimum clearance. As a result, trucks would frequently hit the bridge and get its roof scrapped off. Durhan resident Jurgen Henn has been witnessing these crashes for years from across the street where he worked. Wishing to share these hilarious mishaps with the rest of the world, Henn set up a video camera in April 2008 and began recording them for his ever popular website 11foot8.com. By the end of 2015, more than one hundred trucks had their tops violently ripped off. These scalping videos, which are also available on his YouTube channel, have racked up millions of views bringing this particular bridge nicknamed the can opener a fair amount of international fame. The worlds largest can opener. Photo credit: Mark Clifton/Flickr As Jurgen Henn explains in his website, the bridge cannot be raised because doing so would require the tracks to be raised for several miles to adjust the incline. North Carolina Railroad doesnt want to pay for the enormous expense it would entail. The bridge cannot be lowered either because there is a major sewer line running only four feet under the street. Instead, the city authorities installed an alert system that detects when an over-height truck tries to pass under and flashes yellow warning lights several feet ahead of the bridge. But many drivers either do not pay attention or fail to heed the warning, and crash into the bridge. The railroad department, who owns the bridge, installed a heavy steel crash beam in front of the bridge that takes most of the impact, protecting the actual structure of the train trestle. This crash beam is hit so often that it had to be replaced at least once. As far as both parties are concerned the city of Durham and North Carolina Railroad adequate steps have been taken to solve the problem. The railroad authorities' concern is with the bridge and the rails above, not the trucks. Hence, the beam. The city, on the other hand, has posted prominent low clearance signs from 3 blocks away leading up to the trestle, over and above the automatic warning system that is triggered by vehicles that are too tall. Apparently, these measures are not enough to prevent accidents. On average there is one crash every month. When Henn interviewed a few drivers as they deflated their tires to lower their vehicles enough to free them, some told him that they didnt know their trucks heights, while others insisted they didnt see the signs. Durham officials are now trying out a new tactic. A few months ago, they installed a traffic signal at the intersection before the bridge, and hooked up the height sensor to it. When an over-height truck approaches the intersection, the light turns red, and stays red for a long time. The light eventually turns green, but the city hopes that the long delay will give the drivers enough time to realize their truck will not fit under the bridge. Unfortunately for the drivers, and to the delight of the rest, the bridge continues to shave the tops of over-height vehicles. Here is a compilation of some of the best crashes. I bet you cant watch this without laughing. Photo credit: Mark Clifton/Flickr Photo credit: 11foot8.com Sources: 99percent Invisible / Citylab / Vox / Indy week / Wikipedia / 11foot8.com Some of the earliest legal codes concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment were formulated in the ancient Middle East. The Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Elamites, Hurrians, Kassites, and Hittites, each had their own laws. Among them, the Code of Hammurabi is perhaps the best-known, but there have been many law codes that predates Hammurabis famous code. The earliest law code from Mesopotamia was the Code of Urukagina, written in the 24th century BCE. No surviving cuneiform tablet of the codes have been discovered yet. We only know about its existence through references in other ancient works. The oldest surviving law code is the Code of Ur-Nammu that was written about 300 years before Hammurabi's law code. Although issued under the king Ur-Nammu of Ur (2112-2095 BCE), some historians think they were actually published by his son Shulgi, after Ur-Nammu's death. The cuneiform tablet inscribed with the Code of Ur-Nammu at the Istanbul Archaeology Museums. The first copy of the code was found in two fragments at Nippur, and was translated by Samuel Kramer in 1952. Owing to its partial preservation, only the prologue and 5 of the laws were discernible. Further tablets were found in Ur and translated in 1965, allowing some 30 of the 57 laws to be reconstructed. Another copy found in Sippar contains slight variants. Samuel Kramer later recalled how luck had favored him in finding the tablets: In all probability I would have missed the Ur-Nammu tablet altogether had it not been for an opportune letter from F. R. Kraus, now Professor of Cuneiform Studies at the University of Leiden in Holland ... His letter said that some years ago, in the course of his duties as curator in the Istanbul Museum, he had come upon two fragments of a tablet inscribed with Sumerian laws, had made a "join" of the two pieces, and had catalogued the resulting tablet as No. 3191 of the Nippur collection of the Museum ... Since Sumerian law tablets are extremely rare, I had No. 3191 brought to my working table at once. There it lay, a sun-baked tablet, light brown in color, 20 by 10 centimeters in size. More than half of the writing was destroyed, and what was preserved seemed at first hopelessly unintelligible. But after several days of concentrated study, its contents began to become clear and take shape, and I realized with no little excitement that what I held in my hand was a copy of the oldest law code as yet known to man. The code begins with a prologue that details how the moon god Nanna selected Ur-Nammu as King of Ur, helped him defeat the city of Larsa, and provided him with laws under which all subjects were considered equal regardless of social status so that "the orphan did not fall a prey to the wealthy, the widow did not fall a prey to the powerful, the man of one shekel did not fall a prey to the man of sixty shekels". The laws were framed in the conditional if-this-then-that formata pattern followed in nearly all later codes. For example, If a man divorces his first-time wife, he shall pay (her) one mina of silver. If a man, in the course of a scuffle, smashed the limb of another man with a club, he shall pay one mina of silver. Nearly all crimes attract monetary compensation, including bodily damages as opposed to the eye for an eye' principle of many of the later Babylonian laws. If a man knocks out the eye of another man, he shall weigh out half a mina of silver. If a man knocks out a tooth of another man, he shall pay two shekels of silver. Under Hammurabis code, if one knocked out another mans eye, he paid with one of his own and likewise with a tooth. However, murder, robbery, adultery and rape were capital offenses and were punishable by death. If a man commits a murder, that man must be killed. If a man commits a robbery, he will be killed. If the wife of a man followed after another man and he slept with her, they shall slay that woman, but that male shall be set free. The code gives us a glimpse at the societal structure during Ur's Third Dynasty, as well as enables us to learn what issues were considered significant by the society at that time. Beneath the lugal or the king, all members of society belonged to one of two basic stratathe lu or free person, or the slave. The son of a lu was called a dumu-nita until he married, becoming a "young man" (gurus). A woman (munus) went from being a daughter (dumu-mi) to a wife (dam), then if she outlived her husband, a widow (nu-ma-su), who could remarry. Who was Ur-Nammu? Ur-Nammu was the founder of the Sumerian Third Dynasty of Ur, in southern Mesopotamia, after two hundred years of Akkadian and Gutian rule. The Akkadian Empire ruled Mesopotamia from 2334 BCE to 2083 BCE until they were toppled by the Gutians who descended from the Zagros Mountains. However, the Gutians proved to be poor rulers. An illiterate and nomadic people, their rule was not conducive to agriculture, nor record-keeping, and the region was crippled by severe famine and skyrocketing grain prices. The Gutians were eventually defeated by a coalition of rulers of Uruk and Ur, and Utu-hengal of Uruk declared himself as the first native kings of Sumer. In the seventh year of the kingship Utu-hengal tragically died in an accident and was succeeded by his son-in-law, the governor of Ur, Ur-Nammu, who proceeded to found the Third Dynasty of Ur. Ur-Nammu rose to prominence as a warrior-king when he crushed the ruler of Lagash in battle, killing the king himself. After this battle, Ur-Nammu earned the title 'king of Sumer and Akkad.' Ur's dominance over the Neo-Sumerian Empire was consolidated with the famous Code of Ur-Nammu, probably the first such law-code for Mesopotamia since that of Urukagina of Lagash centuries earlier. Ur-Nammu was also responsible for ordering the construction of a number of ziggurats, including the Great Ziggurat of Ur. Bobby Brazier has said it was a privilege to honour his late mother Jade Goody with his couples choice dance on Strictly Come Dancing last week. The 20-year-old EastEnders actors emotional routine to This Womans Work by Maxwell with professional partner Dianne Buswell secured him a score of 37 points. Brazier said he wouldnt be surprised if he got his confidence on the dancefloor from his mother, who died in 2009 aged 27 with cervical cancer. Reflecting on how it felt to perform the routine in memory of his mother, he said: It was a privilege. I knew (for) my couples choice I wanted (it) to be that. Although it was daunting to perform because that song is perfect but Im really, really, really glad I did. Brazier received a standing ovations from judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse for the performance and revealed he had also been sent a lot of positive messages on social media. He said: It really touched people, which is what I wanted to do so I welcomed all the love. We communicated, we translated something to people and thats what I wanted to do, he added. I think thats what happens when you dance authentically and from your heart. So Im really glad that that happened. Discussing his fathers thoughts on his dancing ability, he said: Hes shocked and he doesnt know where I get whatever it is that makes one get to the quarter-finals in Strictly from, because he doesnt see so much of that in himself. Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell performing their couples choice dance (Guy Levy/BBC/PA) Asked if he thinks that special quality may have been passed on from his mother, he said: Could be, Im not sure, I wouldnt be surprised though. This week for the quarter-finals he took on the salsa to (Ive Had) The Time of My Life from the hit 1987 movie Dirty Dancing. Buswell revealed she had never done the lift within their routine before with any professional dancer on any show she has worked on as it is very difficult. The Australian dancer said she decided to incorporate it into the routine now as the stakes were getting higher as they were getting further into the competition. Hes done a great job and I feel really safe in his hands, she added. Reflecting on his time on the show so far, Brazier said it has taught him so many things including what hard work feels like and how to be with someone intensely everyday. He added that he also feels like he has grown up more while competing on the show, to which Buswell agreed, saying: From those first two weeks til now, (youre) like a different person. Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One. Baroness Glenys Kinnock died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday with her husband and former Labour Party leader Lord Kinnock by her side, her family said. She served as a minister in the New Labour government and also represented Wales in the European Parliament as an MEP. Her family, which includes Labour MP Stephen Kinnock and daughter Rachel, said they were devastated by her death. Mr Kinnock, who serves as the shadow immigration minister, said he was heartbroken and called his mother a truly formidable person in every single way. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called her a true fighter for the party as he paid tribute to her life and career. The 79-year-old had been diagnosed with Alzheimers six years ago. In a statement to PA news agency, her family said: It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Glenys Kinnock. Glenys died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning, at home in London. She was the beloved wife and life partner of Neil, the cherished mother of Steve and Rachel and an adored grandmother. Neil was with her in her final moments. They had been married for 56 years. A proud democratic socialist, she campaigned, in Britain and internationally, for justice and against poverty all her life. Baroness Kinnock served as an MEP for some 15 years before leaving Brussels in 2009 to take up a life peerage when then prime minister Gordon Brown appointed her minister for Europe. In their statement, the family continued: Passionate to the end about education, she was a valued and respected school teacher before she began her own political career, as a member of the European Parliament, then being made a peer in the House of Lords from where she served as minister for three of the great passions of her life, Europe, Africa and the UN. Baroness Kinnock pictured with her husband Lord Kinnock (Dominic Lipinski/PA) She was a great friend to many people and causes, and was truly loved. Glenys endured Alzheimers after being diagnosed in 2017 and, as long as she could, sustained her merriment and endless capacity for love, never complaining and with the innate courage with which she had confronted every challenge throughout her life. The family is of course devastated and would ask that their privacy be respected. Funeral details will be communicated in due course. Her son Mr Kinnock tweeted his own heartfelt tribute to his mother. The Labour MP for Aberavon wrote: Heartbroken that my Mum passed away peacefully in her sleep last night, after many years of Alzheimers. She was a beloved Mum & Nain who was adored by her family & friends. A truly formidable person in every single way, and with such a cheeky sense of humour! Rest in peace. Sir Keir said Baroness Kinnock was a passionate lifelong campaigner for social justice at home and abroad who had an impressive political career in her own right. Heartbroken that my Mum passed away peacefully in her sleep last night, after many years of Alzheimers. She was a beloved Mum & Nain who was adored by her family & friends. A truly formidable person in every single way, and with such a cheeky sense of humour! Rest in peace Stephen Kinnock (@SKinnock) December 3, 2023 Neil and Glenys had the most wonderful partnership, there for each other through thick and thin, with a love and commitment that was instantly obvious when you saw them together, he said. As the family have detailed, in recent years that meant looking after Glenys as Alzheimers did its worst. But what we will all remember is Glenys as a true fighter for the Labour Party and the values of the labour movement, a pioneering woman, to whom we owe an enormous debt. My sincere condolences to Neil, Stephen, Rachel and all the family at this sad time. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Baroness Kinnock was a leader in her own right, away from her role supporting her husband Neil, who was Opposition leader between 1983 and 1992. Sir Tony, who led Labour between 1994 and 2007, described her as incredibly smart, brave, determined and resolute in standing up for what she believed was right. Offering his condolences to Lord Kinnocks family, he said: Whether in fighting the cause of development, and the eradication of global poverty, social justice in Britain, equality for women or making the case for a European Union of weight and influence in the world, Glenys was passionate and persuasive. Neil Kinnock and Glenys following the announcement of his victory in the Labour Party leadership election in 1983 (PA Images) She was of course an enormous support to Neil but she was a leader in her own right. And as a couple, they were a joy to be near, full of fun, the life and soul of any gathering. Glenys will be mourned in many countries and corners of the earth. Mr Brown, Sir Tonys successor in Downing Street, spoke of his and wife Sarahs sadness following the death. He said she had borne her lengthy illness with great fortitude. All who met Glenys admired her for her generosity, her warmth and her passionate support for the best of national and international causes, said Mr Brown. She was a highly effective and popular minister for Europe in the last Labour government and I was delighted to have persuaded her to become a member of the government. Charity Dementia UK said that by publicly discussing their experiences of Alzheimers, the Kinnock family had helped raise awareness about the illness and the challenge that a diagnosis can bring. Hamas could end the war with Israel immediately by releasing hostages and returning to the table for truce talks, according to a senior Government minister. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the UK Government wanted to see further pauses in the fighting after a truce between the Palestinian militant group and Israel broke down last week. We were very supportive of the humanitarian pauses, she told Sky News Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme. And we very much hope that Hamas will get back around the table and agree to more of these pauses and release more hostages. They could end this tomorrow today, even. British hostages are still held by Hamas. Their freedom is our utmost priority. Hamas should release them & all hostages now To aid ongoing rescue efforts, unarmed UK aircraft will begin carrying out surveillance flights over Gaza to help locate hostages https://t.co/0gd4QYXOXb Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) December 3, 2023 The UK has confirmed it is to conduct unarmed surveillance flights over the Middle East, including over Gaza and Israels airspace, to search for potential hostage locations being used by Hamas. In the weeks after Hamas bloody October 7 raids on Israel, Downing Street said at least 12 British nationals had been killed in the attack and a further five are still missing. Some of those are believed to have been kidnapped but the UK Government has not confirmed how many might be in Hamas clutches. Ms Atkins said in broadcast interviews on Sunday that the hunt for hostages would be carried out by unmanned.. surveillance drones but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that was not the case. Officials said Shadow R1s, a manned aircraft used for intelligence gathering by the Royal Air Force (RAF), would be the first to be deployed on the reconnaissance missions. Any information on the potential whereabouts of captives will be shared with the Israelis, the MoD said. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: British hostages are still held by Hamas. Their freedom is our utmost priority. Hamas should release them and all hostages now. Hostages taken from Israel continue to be held by Hamas (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)) To aid ongoing rescue efforts, unarmed UK aircraft will begin carrying out surveillance flights over Gaza to help locate hostages. Fighting resumed on Friday following a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas despite more than 130 hostages remaining in captivity in the Gaza Strip. The lull in the fighting during the truce allowed for 105 hostages held by Hamas and other militants to be freed. Some had been kept for several weeks in underground tunnels dug by the Gaza rulers. In exchange, Israel released 240 Palestinians from its prisons. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported that more than 200 Palestinians have been killed since the violence resumed, taking the death toll within the territory to beyond 15,200. Some 1,200 Israelis were killed when Hamas carried out its incursion almost two months ago. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, said the war had resumed because Hamas was not serious about releasing hostages. She told Sky News: It is Hamas that failed this pause and the reason is that they are still holding 15 women, two children, one of them is a 10-month-old baby. Tzipi Hotovely, Israeli ambassador to the UK (Jonathan Brady/PA) We have over 100 hostages still in the hands of Hamas. They are the ones who started firing on Israeli cities and towns on Friday. We are back fighting as it seems like Hamas were not serious when they said well release the women and children. Heavy bombardments by Israeli forces were reported overnight in the southern part of the besieged enclave where most of the 2.3 million Gazan population is based, having following instructions to evacuate the territorys north in the early of the two-month-old war. Israels military ordered more areas in and around Gazas second-largest city of Khan Younis to be evacuated on Sunday, Tel Aviv is shifting its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it claims many Hamas leaders are hiding. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was very concerned with what has happened in the last day or two with the resumption of hostilities. He told BBC Radio 4s Broadcasting House programme on Sunday: We need to get back to that pause, that cessation. That of course provides the space for discussions about hostages but also desperately needed aid into Gaza and a foot in the door for the process. Sir Keirs party has been split on the issue of a ceasefire, with the leadership refusing to back one in favour of calling for humanitarian pauses to allow people to leave Gaza and for aid to enter. The position matches that held by the UK Government and the United States. He said that stance was producing results following the truce last week but that in the long run, there is going to have to be a ceasefire. A Palestinian boy is assisted following an Israeli strike strike at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis GAZA/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli forces bombed wide areas of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, as civilians in the besieged territory sought shelter in an ever-shrinking area of the south. The Hamas Palestinian militant group said its fighters clashed with Israeli troops about 2 km (1 mile) from the southern city of Khan Younis, as residents said they feared a fresh Israeli ground offensive was building there. There was no immediate comment from Israel. The Jabalia refugee camp in the north of the Hamas-ruled enclave was among the sites hit reported hit from the air. A Gazan health ministry spokesperson said several people were killed by an Israeli air strike. Footage obtained by Reuters showed a boy covered in grey dust, sitting weeping amid crumbled cement and rubble from collapsed buildings. "My father was martyred (killed)," he cried in a hoarse voice. A girl in a pink sweatshirt, also coated with dust, stood between piles of rubble saying: "No, no, no." Bombardments from war planes and artillery also concentrated on Khan Younis and Rafah, another city in Gaza's south, residents said, and hospitals were struggling to cope with the flow of wounded. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the reported actions. The renewed warfare followed the end on Friday of a seven-day pause in the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants which had allowed an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The violence took place despite calls from the United States - Israel's closest ally - for Israel to avoid further harm to Palestinian civilians. More than 15,523 people have been killed, according to Gaza's health ministry, in nearly two months of warfare that broke out after a Hamas cross-border raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage. Israel says it is acting to annihilate Hamas, saying it poses a mortal threat to the Jewish state's very existence. The initial Hamas attack and the ensuing war amount to the bloodiest episode in the decades-old wider Israel-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, speaking to ABC News, said the military pressure was to force Hamas to make a deal on further exchanges of prisoners and hostages. "And that military pressure continued on Friday (after the truce ended) and will continue in the days and weeks ahead." GROUND OFFENSIVE FEARED Gaza residents said on Sunday they feared an Israeli ground offensive on the southern areas was imminent. Tanks had cut off the road between Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, effectively dividing the Gaza Strip into three areas, they said. The Israeli military ordered Palestinians to evacuate several areas in and around Khan Younis. It posted a map highlighting shelters they should go to west of Khan Younis and south towards Rafah, on the border with Egypt. But residents said that areas they had been told to go to were themselves coming under attack. Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah on Sunday morning, residents said. There was no immediate comment from Israel on that. There was hardly any space for more displaced people in the south after hundreds of thousands had fled the Israeli ground invasion in the north of the enclave, the residents said. "Before, we used to ask ourselves whether we will die or not on this war, but in the past two days since Friday, we fear it is just a matter of time," said Maher, a 37-year-old father of three, who spoke to Reuters by telephone. "I am a resident of Gaza City, then we moved to Al-Karara in southern Gaza Strip and yesterday we fled to deeper shelter in Khan Younis and today we are trying to flee under the bombardment to Rafah," he said. U.N. officials and residents said it was difficult to heed Israeli evacuation orders because of patchy internet access and no regular supply of electricity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel was coordinating with the U.S. and international organisations to define "safe areas" for Gaza civilians. TUNNELS HIT The Israeli military said on Sunday its war planes and helicopters had struck Hamas targets including tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities. Naval forces had hit Hamas vessels on the coast, it said. The military declined to give figures on the number of air strikes carried out. Palestinian health officials said air strikes destroyed several houses in the Al-Karara town near Khan Younis overnight, killing several people including children. Journalists on the border between Gaza and Israel said huge plumes of smoke were rising from a wide area, turning the sky grey. Hamas said it targeted the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv with a rocket barrage. There were no reports of damage, but paramedics said one man was treated for a shrapnel injury. On another front, Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants traded fire across the Israel-Lebanon border and Israel said several of its soldiers were wounded when an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit a vehicle in the Beit Hillel area of northern Israel. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts. About 1.8 million people, or 80% of Gaza's population, have fled their homes since Oct. 7, the United Nations says. More than 400,000 displaced people have sought shelter in Rafah and nearly 300,000 have taken shelter in Khan Younis, according to the U.N. humanitarian office. (Reporting by Suhaib Salem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Mohammed Salem and Roleen Tafakji in Gaza, Ari Rabinovich and Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Maggie Fick in Beirut, Andrew Mills in Doha, Nandita Bose in Dubai, Steve Holland and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Angus MacSwan and Andrew Heavens; Editing by Alison Williams) The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sunday called on both sides of the war between Israel and Hamas to adhere to international law, and to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the besieged Gaza Strip. "On humanitarian access, the law does not allow for doubt," ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said after a four-day visit to the sites of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and to the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank. "Civilians must have access to basic food, water and desperately needed medical supplies, without further delay, and at pace and at scale," Khan said, adding that Hamas must not misuse such aid. "All actors must comply with international humanitarian law. If you do not do so, do not complain when my office is required to act." Khan offered Israel the court's assistance in investigating crimes committed by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attacks, even though the country is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognise its jurisdiction. "The attacks against innocent Israeli civilians represent some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, crimes which the ICC was established to address," Khan said. But he also called on Israel to do all it can to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip during its attacks on Hamas militants and to stop Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank from attacking Palestinians there. Accusations of war crimes and human rights abuses have been made on both sides since Hamas gunmen overran several Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and seizing around 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. In response, Israel launched air strikes and an invasion by tanks and ground troops in the enclave, killing more than 15,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health authorities. Khan said the Israeli military response was subject to clear legal parameters. "Credible allegations of crimes during the current conflict should be the subject of timely, independent examination and investigation," he said. Following the Oct. 7 attacks, Khan said his court had jurisdiction over potential war crimes carried out by Hamas militants in Israel and by Israelis in the Gaza Strip. The court has had an ongoing investigation in the occupied Palestinian territories into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity there since 2021. (Reuters) FILE PHOTO: Members of Ukraine's National Guard Omega Special Purpose unit fire a mortar toward Russian troops in the front line town of Avdiivka (Reuters) - Kyiv officials accused Moscow of committing a war crime after a grainy video on social media appeared to show several soldiers shooting two surrendering military personnel who emerged from a dugout at gunpoint. The unverified video shows one soldier coming out of a foxhole on the battlefield with his hands up and then lying on the ground. A second soldier stumbles out and also lies down. The Russian troops then appear to open fire and the video ends. The Ukrainian General Prosecutor's Office said: "The video shows a group of people in Russian uniforms shooting, at point-blank range, two unarmed servicemen in the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were surrendering." Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity, date or location of the video clip. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia denies committing war crimes during its 21-month-old war in Ukraine. Kyiv says Russia regularly violates the rules of war. "The execution of those who surrender is a war crime!" Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said late on Saturday on the Telegram messaging platform. "Today, a video of the execution by Russian servicemen of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered as prisoners appeared online. This is another violation of the Geneva Conventions and disrespect for international humanitarian law." Deepstate, a popular Ukrainian war blog which posted the video clip, said the footage was filmed near Stepove on the Avdiivka front line in Donetsk region. The General Prosecutor's Office said the incident took place in Pokrovsk district, a large area of the Donetsk region that runs close to Avdiivka, site of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks. Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavria military command, told the Ukrainska Pravda news website that the video was "glaring confirmation" that Russia violates the rules of warfare on a daily basis. In March, a Ukrainian sniper was seen being shot dead in a video after defiantly saying "Glory to Ukraine," or "Slava Ukraini," a phrase that has taken on special significance as a common public greeting since the start of the war. (Reporting by Maria Starkova in Lviv and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; editing by Tom Balmforth and Bernadette Baum) Artist Marina Abramovic has said she had a very violent childhood and that her parents slept with their pistols next to their bed. The 77-year-old Serbian artist grew up in Belgrade, which was then in post-Second World War Yugoslavia. Speaking about her upbringing to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs, Abramovic said that the expectation was for her to focus on her education and study. She said: I had French lessons, I had English lessons, I had a ballet teacher, piano teacher. We had (a) maid. Marina Abramovic with the Artist of the Year award at the Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year 2023 awards (Ian West/PA) She added: Its very spoiled, looking from (the) outside, but at the same time, most parents never talked to each other. It was very violent, it was one of the darkest parts of my life. Abramovic said that when you grew up communist and had parents who were national heroes like hers, you were privileged, like a red Bourgeois. In spite of this, she said she had an unhappy childhood and described her parents marriage as hell. I never felt happiness at home, back home mother and father never even talk(ed) and there was incredible violence toward each other, she said. They slept with their pistols next to their bed. And, I was thinking, thats the way how it was. She said she realised she was completely deprived of happiness and love when she looked at the way other families functioned. In spite of the violence, she said she would not go back and change her childhood. Its been very hardcore, my upbringing, but I learned so much, I became so strong, she said. Now Ive been doing this work 55 years and Im 77 and people go to pension and they stop working, Im not even thinking of stop(ping) working. I mean I have so many projects still in my mind. One of her most well known projects was her 1974 performance art piece Rhythm 0 in which she laid out 72 objects on a long table and invited the public to do whatever they wanted to her body as she stood there, still and passive. Marina Abramovic (Ian West/PA) She told Laverne that the public were getting more and more violent as the six-hour performance went on and described how people had cut under her neck to drink her blood. Abramovic has been creating performance pieces for decades and said solitude was an important part of her life and work. She said: I love solitude. I spent three months in the forest, in a cell, just repeating (a) mantra and I finished (the) mantra after three months, repeating one million, one hundred thousand (and) one time(s). And I only had one meal, which the monastery (would) bring me up in the mountain. She said that she did not see anyone and would have a meal a day which would be taken to her at 12 oclock. After three months, once she had finished her mantras, Abramovic said that she sent a message to the monastery, left the cell and then burned all of her possessions. She currently has her work on display at the Royal Academy of Arts and in November she won the artist award at Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year awards ceremony, in recognition of her decades-long career. Desert Island Discs airs on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 4 at 11.15am on Sunday. Political spouse became a force to be reckoned with in her own right Glenys Kinnock, wife of the one-time Labour leader, Neil (later Lord) Kinnock, became a prominent politician, and an outspoken one at that, in her own right. She served as a member of the European Parliament for some 15 years, before being appointed minister for Europe and receiving a life peerage at the same time. It was sometimes said of her, before she became an MEP, that she played a large part in formulating Labour Policy over breakfast with her husband. And even though she was regarded by some as even more of a left-wing firebrand than Neil, that story was always fiercely denied. Labour leader Neil Kinnock and his wife Glenys, fooling around on Brighton beach (Archive/PA) Baroness Kinnock had a wide field of interests but she was especially well-known for her work designed to alleviate poverty and starvation in Africa and other parts of the world. Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock (nee Parry) was born on July 7 1944, and was educated at Holyhead High School, Anglesey. She graduated from University College, Cardiff, in education and history. She met her future husband at university and they were married in 1967. Baroness Kinnock subsequently worked as a teacher in secondary, primary, infant and nursery schools. She became an MEP in 1994 and was a prominent member of several committees and for a period was Labours spokeswoman on international development in the European Parliament. But it was not all plain sailing. In 2004, she was caught up in an expenses scandal in which she was one of scores of MEPs who allegedly signed in for the day at the European Parliament (to qualify for the 175 daily allowance) and then promptly left the building. And in November, 2006 she was criticised in the press for taking what was described as a junket in Barbados to discuss world poverty issues. Then Labour leader Neil Kinnock, with his wife Glenys (right), makes his concession speech outside the Labour Party HQ in Walworth Road following their defeat in the 1992 general election (Fiona Hanson/PA) She had the unenviable reputation as the most travelled British MEP and, along with her husband, also acquired the no less enviable title as Brussels very own Lord and Lady Expenses. Baroness Kinnock was required to leave the European Parliament in 2009, when then prime minister Gordon Brown appointed her minister for Europe, following the resignation from that post of Caroline Flint. Although, when her husband was ennobled some years earlier, she was entitled to be called Lady Kinnock, it was a title she never used. However, on her appointment as minister for Europe she became a peeress in her own right. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, who was with her in her final moments, and her children Stephen, a Labour MP, and Rachel. She was described in a family tribute as an adored grandmother. A Cabinet minister said it is speculation that a stop-the-boats treaty with Rwanda could be sealed this week. The Sunday Times reported that the east African country is to be given a 15 million top-up payment to agree fresh terms on its agreement with the UK to take migrants who arrive in Britain via small boats. The Conservative UK Government has already agreed to provide Kigali with 140 million as part of the proposal to put asylum seekers crossing the Channel on a one-way trip to Rwanda. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said suggestions a treaty could be ratified this week were not confirmed. It comes as more than 500 migrants braved icy conditions to embark on the perilous sea crossing on Saturday, making 2023 the second highest on record for small boat arrivals. Put to her on Sky News Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme that more money could be given to Kigali for a treaty, Ms Atkins said: I dont think that has been confirmed yet. I think it is speculation. Downing Street insiders have not ruled out the prospect of Rwanda being given additional funding as part of a treaty deal. They told the PA news agency that any potential cash boost would be to cover additional costs associated with addressing the concerns raised by the Supreme Court when it ruled the plan was unlawful. It has been suggested that the reported additional 15 million will be used to pay for extra personnel to improve and expand the Rwandan asylum processing system. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Rwandas president Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday. He declined afterwards to say how much more money he would spend to get the scheme off the ground. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said reports of a Rwanda treaty being signed this week was speculation (Victoria Jones/PA) Mr Sunaks attempt to save his flagship policy involves the signing of a new treaty with Kigali and the introduction of emergency legislation allowing Parliament to deem the country safe, despite concerns raised by senior judges. The Conservative Party leader has set the target of deportation flights taking off by the spring. Arrangements are understood to be in place for Home Secretary James Cleverly to fly out to Rwanda to ratify a new treaty. The Cabinet minister could travel out as soon as Monday, with emergency legislation also potentially to be tabled this week, according to The Sunday Times. But Ms Atkins would only say that it would take a little bit of time to draw up the emergency legislation because we want to make sure it is in the right form. She refused to commit to it being published before Christmas but said Mr Cleverly was working incredibly hard and quickly on this. Sources inside No 10 said the UK Government was hopeful that the legal update would be ready this week but that it could not be guaranteed. The bid to send some asylum seekers on a one-way trip to the African nation was dealt a blow when the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful last month. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to stop the boats (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The Rwanda proposal is seen as key to delivering on Mr Sunaks pledge to stop the boats before a likely general election next year. January will mark one year since he made the commitment but Labour sources pointed out that a steady flow of new arrivals across the Channel in recent days means this year has become the second highest on record for migrant crossings. Home Office figures show that 519 people braved freezing December temperatures to land on Englands south coast on Saturday, arriving in 11 boats. PA news agency analysis shows almost 29,000 migrants have arrived this year, topping 2021s 28,526 figure. A group of people, thought to be migrants, were brought in to Dover, Kent, on Saturday (Gareth Fuller/PA) Arrivals in 2023 are about a third down on the same period last year when a new record was set. Following the judgment by the Supreme Court on November 15, Downing Street originally said a new small boats law would be published within days but the wait has gone on for more than two weeks. The Sunday Times said Mr Sunak is still considering two options for his emergency legislation. One, dubbed the full fat option and favoured by right-wing Tories, would remove the right to judicial review of asylum decisions by including notwithstanding clauses to allow ministers to ignore rulings by domestic judges and the European Court of Human Rights. A so-called semi-skimmed option would disapply the UK Human Rights Act only in asylum claims, the newspaper reported. The Scottish Government will fund solar energy installations for 15 childrens operating theatres in Africa, Humza Yousaf has announced. Through its International Development Fund, the Government will provide almost 325,000 for KidsOR to provide power to the facilities in Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda. The First Minister announced the move at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai on Sunday. A further 250,000 will be provided to Zambia to finance mini-grids to increase access to electricity as well as for the proliferation of clean cooking methods in Rwanda. He said: The Scottish Government is committed to playing its part as a good global citizen and helping to tackle global challenges like poverty, injustice and inequality. These initiatives illustrate what that means in practice whether it is providing energy security to ensure that paediatric operations can reliably go ahead, or access to cleaner methods of cooking to reduce premature deaths from household air pollution. Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda are key partner countries for Scotlands international development efforts. As a country that has long benefited from the industrialisation which has contributed to the current climate crisis, it is only right that Scotland contributes its fair share to support countries that have been disproportionately impacted by its consequences, and ensure we can meet the aims of the UNs sustainable development goals together. Sir Keir Starmer was accused of trying to ride on the coattails of Margaret Thatchers success by praising the former prime minister while appealing to Tory voters. The Labour leader, in a move likely to annoy some on the left of his party, used a Sunday Telegraph opinion piece to praise Conservative Mrs Thatcher for having sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism. He named her alongside former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Clement Attlee as those leaders in modern British politics who sought to deliver meaningful change by acting in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them. Sir Keir, speaking to the BBC, said Mrs Thatcher had a driving sense of purpose although he made sure to stress his comments did not mean he agreed with what she did. But Sir Keir did appeal to Tory voters to make a switch at the next general election, urging them to look again at Labour as he criticised the Government for allowing the UK to drift over the last 13 years. Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher (PA) Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I think the public will see this for what it is. Dont forget, he wasnt appealing to Margaret Thatchers entrepreneurial spirit when he was courting votes from the hard-left. And I suspect the great lady herself would view a man that is trying to ride on the coattails of her success with the following words: No, no, no. Ms Atkins was referencing a 1990 Commons rebuke Mrs Thatcher gave to then European Commission boss Jacques Delors as he sought greater Brussels control. Scotlands First Minister Humza Yousaf, writing on X, said: What Thatcher did to mining and industrial communities was not entrepreneurialism, it was vandalism. Starmer praising Thatcher is an insult to those communities in Scotland, and across the UK, who still bear the scars of her disastrous policies. Sir Keir, speaking to BBC Radio 4s Broadcasting House, said: The point Im making in the article really is that you can distinguish political leaders, certainly in the post-war period, into those that had a plan and those that drifted essentially. And thats why I referenced: Attlee, who obviously had a strong plan, New Jerusalem; Tony Blair, who captured the optimism of the 1990s having changed the Labour Party; and Thatcher, who did have a plan for entrepreneurialism, had a mission, it doesnt mean I agree with what she did but I dont think anybody could suggest that she didnt have a driving sense of purpose. And the reason I referenced all three of them is because weve drifted as a country the last 13 years, weve declined as a country in the last 13 years, and the characteristic of an incoming Labour government if were privileged enough to come in to serve will be this sense of mission, this sense of having a plan that were operating to, a driving sense of purpose. Sir Keir said he has fundamentally changed Labour compared to the Jeremy Corbyn-led party defeated at the 2019 general election. Sir Keir added: What I say to those many people who will have voted Tory in the past is if you believe in not just fixing your country but renewing it and taking it forward, if you want to be part of a national project that will take our country forward, build up our economy in the way we want, build our security, make sure that we take advantage of the transition that comes with the energy transition, then the Labour Party is the party for you. I think there are many people in that camp who say Look, I may have voted for the Tories in the past, but I do believe in my country, I do believe in a sense of purpose and the national mission is for me. He added: I do want to persuade those that have voted Tory in the past to vote Labour this time around, look again at Labour. Sir Keir was told that by saying such things, including about Mrs Thatcher and his stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, he has left some Labour members feeling unrepresented. He replied: My focus, whether its on the renewal that our country needs or the resolution of the awful situation in Israel and Gaza is not on the Labour Party members and the Labour Party movement. Weve spent a decade before I became leader obsessing about our membership and having a discussion with ourselves. My change of the Labour Party means weve turned inside out and we face the voters and face the country. Thousands without electricity in Cumbria as people rescued from snowbound cars More than 2,500 people in Cumbria were without electricity on Sunday morning, as the countys fire and rescue service said it worked through the night to rescue drivers from cars trapped in deep snow. Power cuts followed Saturdays heavy snow in Cumbria, with the Met Office issuing new weather warnings for across the UK on Sunday morning. The Met Office said last night saw the coldest temperatures since last winter, with minus 12.5C recorded in Altnaharra in the Highland region of northern Scotland. Meteorologist Tom Morgan said unofficial reports indicated there was comfortably in excess of 20cm, probably in excess of 30cm, of snow across the Windermere and Coniston area of the South Lakes and also down towards Ambleside and the far south of Cumbria. Sunny spells across Northern Ireland and Scotland this afternoon, with scattered showers Cloudier across England and Wales with outbreaks of rain and hill snow Feeling cold for most, but milder across southern England and Wales pic.twitter.com/XFfUWtC1a0 Met Office (@metoffice) December 3, 2023 He told the PA news agency: It was quite an unusual situation that led to it because it became slow moving and gave the same areas of south Cumbria hour after hour of heavy snow and thats what led to the significant disruption there. The Met Office meteorologist said the weather on Sunday had turned a bit milder in the south, but added it was still cold further north across the UK and theres going to be some further wintry showers and ice as we go through tonight. It is turning milder later this week so there is an end in sight to the wintry weather, he added. (PA Graphics) Electricity North Wests list of live power cuts showed that 2,508 customers were affected across Cumbria at 10am, including 256 in Lowick, South Lakeland. In most cases, the electricity operator estimated that power would be restored at 10pm on Sunday. In a post on social media, Electricity North West said: Access is difficult and our teams are using 4x4s to try to reach sections of the damaged network. Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) said a multi-agency response was ongoing after Cumbria Police declared a major incident in the county on Saturday in response to heavy snowfall on roads. The multi agency response is still ongoing to the weather related major incident in Cumbria.CFRS have been working through the night rescuing people from their cars trapped in deep snow.Please do not travel unless necessary as many roads are still affected with snow and ice. pic.twitter.com/mbLGtGigLF Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service (@CumbriaFire) December 3, 2023 In a post on social media on Sunday morning, it said: CFRS have been working through the night rescuing people from their cars trapped in deep snow. Please do not travel unless necessary as many roads are still affected with snow and ice. Cumbria Police also urged people not to travel to the county on Sunday unless necessary, adding that some highway teams had been verbally abused as they attempted to deal with the situation. Superintendent Andy Wilkinson said on Saturday night that the snow had ended up being much more significant than forecast. Mr Wilkinson added: We are aware of a number of incidents in which highway teams and those assisting in the efforts to support those affected by the snow have been verbally abused. We understand peoples frustration during this time; however, agencies are working hard to improve the situation in Cumbria and are also facing the challenging road conditions when responding. A number of local community venues were opened to provide support to those affected by the heavy snowfall, including Ambleside Parish Centre, Braithwaite Hall and Esthwaite Primary School. Kendal resident Hannah Smith said she had never seen such heavy snow in Ambleside and Grasmere. It took Ms Smith nine hours to return home to Kendal from Grasmere on Saturday night a journey which usually takes under 30 minutes by car in normal weather conditions. She said she decided to abandon her car and walk to the nearest train station in Windermere after waiting in traffic with two eight-year-old children for four-and-a-half hours on Saturday night. The communications manager told the PA news agency: Rather than sleeping on the floor of a church or a community centre, we were just going to walk as long as it takes to get near the train station. We were quite lucky in that sense because the kids had walking boots and we knew they could walk. Ambleside resident Harrison Ward said the snow was the heaviest he had seen during eight years of living in the Cumbrian town, adding that lots of people had abandoned their vehicles on Saturday as they tried to find refuge. Mr Ward, who works as an outdoor cook, told the PA news agency: It really feels like youre walking through the Alps or some ski resort at the moment. Heavy snow has caused severe problems in Cumbria today. The latest update from Cumbria Police: https://t.co/FThNnllFOk Please only call 999 in an emergency. If you are worried and need medical advice please visit https://t.co/Q9820lk3SO pic.twitter.com/9EqBW1S3rU North West Ambulance Service (@NWAmbulance) December 2, 2023 He added: Once a few cars have stopped or crashed or been abandoned, then it all comes to a halt. So weve seen complete gridlock through the town with lots of wheel spinning going on theres a real smell of burnt clutches in the air. Some vehicles moved about 100 metres in an hours time. One driver said they were stuck between Ambleside and Windermere for more than five hours on Saturday. The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told the PA news agency: Weve had no communication from any of the authorities and weve not seen a single gritter trying to free anyone. My wife and four-year-old had to walk two miles there were cars driving on the wrong side of the road that caused more jams. Windermere Cruises said on Sunday that it was suspending all its sailings on Lake Windermere for the day because of the snow. The Met Office had issued an amber warning for snow in Cumbria throughout Saturday saying 10-15cm of snow was possible, as well as issuing a warning for ice until 11am on Sunday. The weather service also issued a yellow weather warning for ice in the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the north of England, and much of north and central Wales from 5pm on Sunday to 12pm on Monday. In its warning, the Met Office said: Some snow is also likely, mainly across the hills and mountains of north Wales and The Peak District. Yellow weather warning issued Snow and ice across parts of Scotland Sunday 1700 Monday 1200 Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/ukwffOBEv0 Met Office (@metoffice) December 3, 2023 There was also a separate yellow weather warning for snow and ice in eastern Scotland from 5pm on Sunday to 12pm on Monday. In its warning, the Met Office said occasional wintry showers will affect eastern Scotland this evening and through Monday morning, the showers falling onto frozen surfaces giving the risk of ice. A cm or two of snow is possible at low levels inland with 5-10cm over the hills, but showers at low levels expected to turn increasingly to rain overnight. A farmer with her cattle in the snow in the North York Moors National Park (Danny Lawson/PA) On Saturday morning, Glasgow Airport said it had temporarily suspended all flights because of heavier than forecast snow. Flights were also cancelled and delayed at London Stansted Airport on Saturday evening. The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued amber cold health alerts in five regions, the East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber, until December 5, meaning cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time. Rwanda is to be given at least 15 million extra to sign a treaty with the UK to take migrants who arrive in Britain via small boats, it has been reported. The Sunday Times said the money would be on top of the 140 million already given to Kigali as part of arrangements for the east African country to accept asylum seekers arriving in the UK after undertaking the perilous journey across the English Channel. Downing Street insiders did not rule out the prospect of Rwanda being given more money as part of a treaty deal, telling PA news agency that any potential cash boost would be to cover additional costs associated with addressing the concerns raised by the Supreme Court when it ruled the plan was unlawful. Arrangements are understood to be in place for Home Secretary James Cleverly to fly out to Rwanda to ratify a new treaty. Home Secretary James Cleverly could reportedly travel to Rwanda this week to sign a treaty deal (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The Cabinet minister could travel out as soon as Monday, with emergency legislation also potentially to be tabled this week, according to The Sunday Times. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Rwandas President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday. He declined afterwards to say how much more money he would spend to get the scheme off the ground. It has been reported that the additional 15 million will be used to pay for extra personnel to improve and expand the Rwandan asylum processing system. The Conservative Party leader told a press briefing while at Cop that he was finalising legislation designed to push through the Rwanda proposal, which is seen as key to delivering on his pledge to stop the boats before a likely general election next year. The Prime Minister has set the target of deportation flights taking off by the spring. Sources inside No 10 said the UK Government was hopeful that the emergency legislation would be ready this week but that it could not be guaranteed. The bid to send some asylum seekers on a one-way trip to the African nation was dealt a blow when the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful last month. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Rwanda President Paul Kagame while at Cop28 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Sunaks attempt to save the policy involves the signing of a new treaty with Kigali and the introduction of emergency legislation allowing Parliament to deem the country safe, despite concerns raised by senior judges. Following the judgment by the Supreme Court on November 15, Downing Street originally said a new small boats law would be published within days but the wait has gone on for more than two weeks. On Wednesday, the Home Offices top official confirmed to MPs that negotiations on a Rwanda treaty were in their final stages. Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft told the Home Affairs Select Committee that officials were in the capital Kigali putting the finishing touches to the talks. Migrants have continued to brave freezing December conditions to cross the Channel. Home Office figures show that 93 migrants travelling on two boats arrived in Britain on Friday, with more believed to have landed on Saturday. Almost 28,500 asylum seekers have arrived in 2023 using the sea route, with the one year anniversary of Mr Sunaks stop the boats pledge approaching next month. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed the Rwanda policy as a gimmick and accused the Tories of a betrayal of their 2019 manifesto commitment to lower migration. Sir Keir, who is on course to become the next prime minister according to opinion polls, said he would not shy away from discussing contentious issues such as immigration. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer the Rwanda plan was a gimmick (Andrew Matthews/PA) Writing in The Sunday Telegraph about his efforts over the past three years to give Labour shock therapy in order to make it electable following a disastrous showing at the polls four years ago, Sir Keir said his reforms meant ridding us of the nonsensical idea that some subjects are simply off limits for us. I profoundly disagree with the idea Labour should not be talking about immigration or small boats crossings, he added. These are matters of serious public concern and deserve to be treated as such. He added: When people see Government ministers wasting their time on gimmicks like Rwanda, they are right to conclude they are more interested in talking about small boat crossings than stopping them. Labour would use the full force of Britains intelligence and policing to smash the criminal gangs growing fat on the misery of human trafficking, destroying their evil business model. The Government should do the same. The leader of the Opposition also appeared in his article to praise the pro-privatisation former Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher, saying she sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism, in a move that is likely to irk those on the left-wing of his party. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely You can make one of these winter sides in just 20 minutes or less. From glazed beets and carrots to warm broccoli and cauliflower, these dishes are packed with seasonal veggies and will pair nicely with your favorite cozy meals. Try our Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dressing or Caramelized Broccolini & White Beans for a delicious, easy and healthy addition to the dinner table. Broccoli Salad with Bacon Classic broccoli salad, the perfect dish for a potluck, is updated with cauliflower, bacon and a sprinkle of crunchy sunflower seeds in this so-easy recipe that's sure to be a new picnic favorite. View Recipe Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dressing Pure maple syrup adds body and rich flavor to the dressing, providing a perfect counterpoint to the smoked cheese. View Recipe Caramelized Broccolini & White Beans Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Broccolini takes on a smoky char from the cast-iron pan before it's combined with white beans and aromatics in this savory side dish. A vibrant parsley and hazelnut sauce finishes the dish with a bright and nutty flavor. View Recipe Cauliflower Rice Learn how to make cauliflower rice with this quick recipe. The two easiest ways to make riced cauliflower are with a food processor and with a grater. Here, the cauliflower rice is made into an herbed pilaf that can be served alongside any protein. View Recipe Garlic Mashed Potatoes What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? In this garlic mashed potato recipe, the potatoes are flavored with poached garlic, thinned with chicken stock and enriched with a small amount of sour cream. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you're cooking for a crowd--say for Thanksgiving dinner. View Recipe Simple Cabbage Salad Greg DuPree (Photographer), Ruth BlackBurn (Food Stylist), Julia Bayless (Prop Stylist) Cabbage maintains a nice crunch when it's tossed with an easy dressing in this simple cabbage salad recipe. View Recipe Balsamic Berry Vinaigrette Winter Salad This festive winter salad recipe features colorful greens, fruit and cheese tossed with a light and zesty dressing. View Recipe Bang Bang Cabbage Slaw Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman Here we pair Bang Bang sauce, a sweet and spicy sauce made famous by the restaurant chain Bonefish Grill, with shredded cabbage and crunchy carrots and celery. You can swap out the carrots and celery for other crunchy vegetables like thinly sliced sweet bell peppers and radishes. Serve this easy slaw alongside grilled shrimp or use it to top a grilled fish sandwich. View Recipe Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad Photographer: Stacy K. Allen; Prop stylist: Julia Bayless; Food stylist: Ana Kelley Sweet cherries complement the tart goat cheese in this easy shaved Brussels sprouts salad. Pistachios add an extra layer of crunch. A sharp chef's knife works well to slice the Brussels sprouts thinly. A microplane grater is best for finely shredding the goat cheese. View Recipe Broccoli, Chickpea & Pomegranate Salad Simple steps give this broccoli salad recipe a more nuanced flavor: soaking the onion tempers its bite and toasting the cumin enhances its aroma. Serve alongside grilled chicken, pork or fish. View Recipe Simple Sauteed Spinach Sauteed spinach (or any greens) with garlic and a squeeze of lemon (or vinegar) is a simple formula that lets spinach shine and will never go out of favor. View Recipe Simple Green Salad with Citronette Frisee and radicchio are both assertive, slightly bitter greens that add color and texture to any salad. Match them with mellower-flavored greens, such as red leaf lettuce, baby spinach or even Boston lettuce. View Recipe Broccoli with Creamy Parmesan Sauce Topping steamed broccoli with a good-for-you cheese sauce is an easy way to entice picky eaters to eat their veggies. View Recipe Apple, Fig & Brussels Sprouts Salad Salad dressing made from sweet and mellow white balsamic vinegar balances out the assertive greens and Brussels sprouts in this healthy winter salad. If you have one handy, a small mandoline makes it easy to slice the Brussels and apple. To make it a dinner salad, top with shrimp or chicken. View Recipe Brown Sugar-Glazed Beets Try a sweet glaze on beets or other root vegetables to help balance their earthy flavor. This easy recipe will work with steamed carrots, turnips or rutabaga too. View Recipe Winter Salad with Toasted Walnuts This salad was one of the favorites chosen from over 1,000 salad recipes for our 30th anniversary issue. In 2004, Deborah Madison waxed poetic about winter ingredients, particularly nuts. "In the chill air of winter, nuts move up to center stage as do their warming, substantial, golden oilsso good with winter salad greens and vegetables, such as shaved fennel, all of which are likely to end up in a salad together," she says. Madison suggested using a mix of lettuces that balance each other herea mild, tender variety, such as Boston, with a more intense and sturdy green, such as escarole, for instance. View Recipe Spicy Cabbage Slaw Sliced radishes add a peppery kick to this 10-minute slaw, which can serve as both a side and a topping for sandwiches. View Recipe Pan-Roasted Carrots Alexandra Shytsman This recipe gives you a faster route to "roasted," lightly caramelized carrots. Instead of cooking in the oven (and waiting for it to preheat), here you cook the carrots on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet. The key is to keep the carrots still; you'll cook them for 5 minutes without stirring, then stir and cook undisturbed for another 5 minutes. The results are beautifully browned, crisp-tender carrots that take about a third of the time as oven-roasted. A hint of hoisin and maple syrup enhances the sweetness of the carrots without rendering them cloying. View Recipe Balsamic Broccoli & Cauliflower Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh Reaching for a frozen broccoli & cauliflower blend to make this flavor-packed side dish helps save time on chopping, plus the frozen veggies cook quicker than fresh! View Recipe Warm Beet & Spinach Salad View Recipe Read the original article on Eating Well. An American warship responded to attacks on three commercial ships Sunday in international waters of the Red Sea, a possible escalation of the war just as Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip intensifies following a weeklong truce. The USS Carney shot down three drones while responding to distress calls from the vessels after they were targeted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the Pentagon said in a statement. The assaults with ballistic missiles lasted about seven hours and damaged two of the ships, according to the statement. The Defense Department initially described the assault as an attack on the Carney before providing more details, but later said it was unclear if the warship was targeted. "These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security,'' the U.S. Central Command said. "They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world. ... The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners.'' The Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is described on its website as "505 feet of American fighting steel." It was not damaged and no serious injuries were reported, a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press. Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have ambushed multiple ships in the Red Sea in recent days, claimed responsibility for attacking two commercial ships saying they were from Israel, but made no mention of the Carney. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the ships don't have a connection to the country. The attacks, combined with an increase in clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah near the Lebanon border, could represent steps toward an expansion of the war in the region, something the Biden administration has labored to prevent. The war began Oct. 7, when militants from Gaza swept across the Israeli border in a murderous assault that left about 1,200 people dead, many of them women and children. Israel says close to 100 of its soldiers have died in the ensuing attack on the Palestinian enclave. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says more than 15,500 Palestinians have been killed, 70% of them women and children, and upward of 41,000 have been injured. VP Harris calls on Israel to respect international law, stop killing innocent Palestinians Developments: Five members of an Iran-backed militia were killed in an airstrike blamed on the U.S. near Kirkuk in northern Iraq, Reuters reported, citing Iraqi security sources who said the group was preparing to attack U.S. forces with projectiles. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the administration is working "hour by hour" to get Israel and Hamas back to the negotiating table but doesn't know when it might happen. Israel has sent its negotiators home. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said a permanent cease-fire must be on the table for the group to resume talks. Hamas said more than 700 Palestinians were killed in the first 24 hours after the truce ended and fighting resumed. "There is NO SAFE PLACE in Gaza as the Israeli occupation forces commit atrocities everywhere in the Strip," the group's leaders said in a statement. The Ziv Medical Center in the Israeli city of Safed near the Lebanese border said it had admitted 12 people wounded from a Hezbollah missile attack. Lebanon-based Hezbollah has so far declined to become fully engaged in the war. The bodies of 31 Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardment across central Gaza were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, a hospital administrative employee. The United Nations estimates that 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced. The intensifying combat will likely interfere with humanitarian aid to Gaza. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, told the Associated Press that 100 aid trucks entered Sunday. But U.N. agencies have said 500 trucks per day on average entered before the war. Israel expands ground offensive in Gaza The Israeli military said Sunday that operations in southern Gaza would be no less strength than its previous offensive in the north. More evacuations were ordered as the Israeli military's ground offensive expanded to every part of Gaza on Sunday. Heavy bombardment followed the evacuation orders. Palestinians, who had fled from north Gaza seeking an escape from the Israeli bombardment, said they were running out of places to go in the sealed-off territory bordering Israel and Egypt. The U.N. says nearly 960,000 Palestinians are sheltering at its 99 facilities in the south. UNICEF spokesman says leaving danger zones 'not possible' The Gaza Strips second-largest city, Khan Younis, has become the focus of the Israeli military campaign as it continues in the southern part of the enclave. Israel has been dropping leaflets telling civilians Khan Younis is a "dangerous combat zone" and directing them to go to Rafah farther south or to a coastal area in the southwest. The message has also been relayed through phone calls and TV and radio broadcasts, for those who have access to them. But UNICEF spokesman James Elder said the warnings are useless for people who may not have the means to move and will force them instead to seek refuge in a shelter with no toilets or running water. Its not scientific, its not rational, its not possible, he told CNN from Khan Younis. The only things I think it is are calculated and cruel. Elder pointed out the bombardments are absolutely relentless, making getting away from them difficult, and said doctors had told him the so-called safe zones would soon be riddled with disease, likely leading to more deaths. UNICEF aims to provide humanitarian aid and education to children. In one post on X Sunday, Elder raised the alarm about the endless killing of children here, and in another he said, I am seeing massive child casualties. We have a final warning to save children; and our collective conscience. Israel's Gaza bombardment targets crowded south; map marks evacuation orders British aircraft to aid search for hostages Unarmed British aircraft will carry out surveillance flights over Gaza to support efforts to locate and free hostages held by militants, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps said Sunday. He said Britons remain in Hamas custody and that "their freedom is our utmost priority." Hamas condemned the announcement, saying Britain had become a partner in the Israeli occupation. "The UK should have corrected its historically negative stance towards our people," the statement said. "It should remind the world of its shameful colonial past." Militants seized about 240 hostages and brought them to Gaza on Oct. 7. Israel says 110 have since been freed 86 Israelis and 24 foreigners in exchange for about 240 Palestinian prisoners. UN laments 'brutal resumption of hostilities' Israels military, which for weeks directed more than 1 million Gazans to evacuate the northern region of the enclave, ordered more areas in southern Gaza evacuated Sunday as residents scrambled to find somewhere to go. Israel has shifted much of its bombardment to the south, near Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis. Israeli officials say they believe many members of the Hamas military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, have fled northern Gaza with the evacuees and are hiding in and around the city. "We fought hard and thoroughly in the north of the Gaza Strip, and we will do it now in the south," Israel military Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said. Khan Younis was home to more than 200,000 people before the war. Now it is far more crowded after residents of the north sought refuge in the area. "Brutal resumption of hostilities in Gaza and the terrifying impact on civilians underscore the need to end the violence," said U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk, adding that civilian suffering was too much to bear. Israel destroys hundreds of tunnels The Israeli military said Sunday it had located over 800 shafts of Hamas underground tunnels and many miles of tunnel routes in the Gaza Strip since the war began almost two months ago. Some of the shafts connected "strategic" underground Hamas assets, and weapons were found in many of them, Israel said. About 500 of the tunnels and miles of tunnel routes were destroyed with explosives or blockades. "The shafts were located in civilian spaces, and many of them were located near or inside buildings such as educational institutions, kindergartens, mosques and playgrounds," the Israeli military said. Israel has stepped up its military offensive across Gaza since a truce that allowed for the exchange of militant-held hostages and Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners ended over the weekend. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel-Hamas war: US warship shoots down drones in Red Sea Alaska Airlines has reached a deal to buy Hawaiian Airlines, the company announced Sunday. Alaska Air Group, Inc. will pay $18 a share a transaction value of approximately $1.9 billion for Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines. The boards of both companies have agreed on the deal, which is expected to close in 12-18 months, according to a statement from the airlines. The deal still needs the approval of U.S. regulators as well as Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. shareholders. Regulatory approval is not a guarantee. The Justice Department is currently trying to block JetBlue's proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines. Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled JetBlue and American Airlines needed to end their partnership, saying the alliance weakened competition and hurt consumers. Competition between airlines is the biggest cause of cheap flights, according to Scott Keyes, the founder of Going, a subscription service focused on finding airfare deals. "A merger between these two airlines whose route maps have dozens of flights that overlap would result not in more cheap flights for consumers, but fewer," Keyes said about the Alaska-Hawaiin deal. Under the terms of the new deal between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the combined organization will be based in Seattle under the leadership of Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. On an investor call about the merger, Minicucci said that out of about 1,400 plus daily flights, they'll overlap in just 12 markets. The CEO said he believes "that lands very well" for regulatory approval. "This combination is an exciting next step in our collective journey to provide a better travel experience for our guests and expand options for West Coast and Hawai'i travelers," Minicucci said in a statement. The airlines said the move will preserve both brands and unlock more travel destinations for flyers. The combined company will offer service to 138 destinations, including non-stop service to 29 top international destinations in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, the statement said. Hawaiin Airlines' fleet is varied, including the Airbus A330 and A321, Boeing 717s and an order for 12 Boeing 787s. Alaska is an all 737 fleet. Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram said Alaska Airlines approached Hawaiian about the merger. "With the additional scale and resources that this transaction with Alaska Airlines brings, we will be able to accelerate investments in our guest experience and technology, while maintaining the Hawaiian Airlines brand," Ingram said in a statement. Earlier this year, travel website The Points Guy ranked Alaska Airlines as the third-best airline in the U.S., after Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines took sixth place. Alaska Air Group reached a deal in 2016 to buy Virgin America. Alaska Airlines later dropped the Virgin America name and logo. What's next for Rush? Cary Grant: The man we thought we knew Companies, countries battle to develop quantum computers | 60 Minutes Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography that he wanted to build a hall in Philadelphia the design in building not being to accommodate any particular sect, but the inhabitants in general; so that even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service. Last week such a pulpit was denied me (not for the first time), not because I was going to preach Mohammedanism but because I was going to speak of Islam, Palestinians and Israel at a difficult and trying time; speak at a time when far too many people of all faiths and persuasions are submitting to fears, prejudices, and false narratives rather than do the hard work of reaching out to embrace the humanity of peoples in conflict. Peoples in conflict who live in a land between the river and the sea. Robert Azzi A friend, whom I once wrapped in a keffiyeh as an expression of love and solidarity, recently explained to me why they weren't wearing it in public: "The more important and frustrating thing for me is that although I know what the keffiyeh represents there is a risk of it being misunderstood by so many and that scares me. On the one hand it feels so complicated and on the other so very simple." On the one hand it feels so complicated, on the other so very simple. It scares me, too, and I have stopped wearing my keffiyeh in public. I stopped on the day I learned of 20-year-old college students Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad three life-long friends who have been together since the first grade in Ramallah, occupied Palestine were shot in Burlington, Vermont. All were speaking Arabic, two were wearing keffiyeh. I was canceled this week. Twice, in fact; once by a school, another by a local community that claims on its website it wishes to promote dialogue and understanding between diverse peoples. The cancellations didn't surprise me much. Of course, my feelings were hurt but that's happened before. Over the years they've been hurt by unrequited lovers, unobservant friends and colleagues, unseeing photo editors, and unsympathetic publishers who might occasionally hold back a column until they can solicit counterpoints to my opinion. Hurt by those who fail to understand that America is not about religious "toleration," but about religious liberty that liberty denied to one is liberty denied to all that "speech" denied to one is speech denied to all. Actually, I'm in rather good company. In Germany, Palestinian writer Adania Shibli's voice was silenced when a ceremony at the Frankfurt Book Fair honoring her was canceled. She won the award for her novel "Minor Detail," which begins in 1949 and includes an account based on a true story, which was described by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion as a "horrific atrocity," of the gang rape and murder of a Bedouin girl by an Israeli Army unit: .. a group of soldiers capture a girl, rape her, then kill her, twenty-five years to the day before I was born; this minor detail," Adania Shibli wrote, "which others might not give a second thought, will stay with me forever; in spite of myself and how hard I try to forget it, the truth of it will never stop chasing me, given how fragile I am ... Hundreds of writers and editors including Nobel laureates Annie Ernaux, Abdulrazak Gurnah and Olga Tokarczuk denounced the cancellation, saying that the Frankfurt Book Fair had a responsibility to be creating spaces for Palestinian writers to share their thoughts, feelings, reflections on literature through these terrible, cruel times, not shutting them down. I'm in good company. In New York City the 92nd Street Y, canceled a reading by Pulitzer-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of "The Sympathizer," because he was one of more than 750 writers who had signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Given the public comments by [Viet Thanh Nguyen] on Israel and this moment, we felt the responsible course of action was to postpone the event while we take some time to determine how best to use our platform and support the entire 92NY community, a spokesperson for the Y told Reuters. I'm in good company. Nathan Thrall, an American writer who lives in Jerusalem, had planned a speaking tour promoting his new book, "A Day in the Life of Abed Salama," with the book's subject, Abed Salama, a Palestinian father in search of his 5-year-old son who was in a bus accident in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. After Hamas launched its deadly attacks on Oct. 7, Thrall's readings in London, New York, Los Angeles and Washington were either canceled or postponed. You can simultaneously condemn barbarity and war crimes and the most horrific slaughter, Thrall responded, while also talking about [an Israeli] system thats not going anywhere While I feel I'm in good company I believe the intolerance reflected in the number of events literary, musical, educational being internationally postponed, canceled, or censored is not just because of anti-Israel or antisemitic real or presumed bias. I believe this is not just about a war between Hamas and Israel but is designed, opportunistically, to further silence critical voices that might promote greater understanding, or counter-narratives, at this critical time in the Levant. It is to silence the voices of oppressed and occupied peoples and compel them to submit to the colonizer's will, to allow privileged colonizers and their enablers to define the very meaning of language. Its obviously a very sensitive issue, said Aaron Terr of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in the New York Times. Thats exactly when free speech is so valuable. We should want to maximize expression on such a fraught and controversial issue. We should try to work out our differences through dialogue and criticism. The need to let suffering speak," Theodor Adorno wrote, "is a condition of all truth. The need to let suffering speak is a condition of mutual survival. Robert Azzi, a photographer and writer who lives in Exeter, can be reached at theother.azzi@gmail.com. His columns are archived at theotherazzi.wordpress.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Azzi: The need to let suffering speak is a condition of all truth The Caldwell Police Department abandoned an idea to unveil a new autism awareness patrol car at the Dec. 2 Treasure Valley Night Light Parade, just four days after announcing it. We want to respect the autism community and the symbols used to represent them, said Char Jackson, spokesperson for the city of Caldwell, in a news release. Our role is to always remain neutral and unite the community, and the car was causing too much division. Jackson said the car featured puzzle pieces, which were a popular symbol for autism but have fallen out of favor over the years. She said the department recognized the symbol was a tipping point for some people, with some thinking it was not proper representation. We just came to realize the car was causing a division in the autism community, Jackson told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Thats the last thing we want to do. Tiffany Klauba, executive director of the Autism Society of Idaho, called it a difficult subject and said there are camps on both sides of the puzzle-piece symbolism. The Autism Society of Idaho, which is based in Coeur DAlene, provides statewide support for those in the community, including help with referrals, estate planning, education, training for businesses and first responders, and assistance with legal issues. Klauba told the Statesman that the organization is trying start more support groups in Southwest Idaho after the Treasure Valley Autism Society dissolved earlier this year. Klauba said some members of the autism community find the puzzle piece symbol to be extremely offensive, and believe it represents that something is missing and they need to be fixed. Others, however, see it as a way to show their uniqueness and how they fit in like a puzzle piece. Its very hard to have conversations with individuals about this, Klauba said by phone. The Caldwell Police Department scrapped its plans to unveil a new autism awareness patrol car after receiving backlash over their use of a puzzle piece symbol. According to a study published in Autism, a research journal associated with the United Kingdoms National Autistic Society, the puzzle piece symbol can evoke negative associations. In a study of 400 participants, the researchers found participants associated puzzle pieces with incompleteness, imperfection and oddity. One criticism of the puzzle piece is its implication that autistic people are a problem requiring a solution, according to an editorial published in the journal following the study. A related point is that the puzzle piece implies that autistic people are somehow incomplete and need to be made whole. The journal changed its own logo from the puzzle piece to a design with circles after the study was published, according to news organization Disability Scoop. Other symbols, such as a rainbow infinity symbol, have become more popular representations for the community, Klauba said. But people often get hung up on the symbol. Thats not what this is about. This is about autism, she said. The symbol is such a minor detail in the grand scheme of things. Learning lessons After police had the car finished, Jackson said she spoke with Klauba and other groups aligned with the autism community to learn more, and said the departments decision came after these discussions. It was an educated decision that we came to, Jackson said. We will continue to work with groups like that. Klauba said the Caldwell Police Department received a heavy amount of backlash after driving the car around town and admitted that police had not done a lot of research on the symbol beforehand. They did have the best intentions, Klauba said. They really were trying to bring attention to autism. Jackson said CPD has not decided whether it will roll out a new, different car or do something else. But with April set as Autism Awareness Month, she said officials are thinking about more things to do to support the community. (Were) definitely not just tabling everything for good, she said. The car was set to join five other specialty cars in the Police Departments fleet, according to the original news release. The department has cars for The College of Idaho, breast cancer awareness, domestic violence awareness, the Caldwell Night Rodeo and Caldwell High School. Ex-police sergeant denies in Boise courtroom that he used his role to victimize women Idaho investigation into school district finds mistreatment of students with disabilities Josh Hawleys is up for reelection in the U.S. Senate, and a handful of challengers are vying to unseat him in the 2024 election. Among them are Marine veteran and antitrust advocate Lucas Kunce, Joplin businessman Jared Young, Columbia-based activist December Harmon and state Sen. Karla May. May did not respond to a request for comment. St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell had been in the race, but he has since decided to run for the U.S. House seat representing Missouris First Congressional District, which is currently occupied by Rep. Cori Bush. In this July 29, 2019 file photo, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell speaks during an interview in Clayton, Mo. Bell announced Wednesday, June 7, 2023 he is running for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Republican Josh Hawley. Bell is a former member of the City Council in Ferguson, Missouri, the St. Louis suburb where 18-year-old Michael Brown's death at the hands of a police officer in 2014 helped spur the Black Lives Matter movement. As I've campaigned around the state, Ive heard one refrain from Democrats above all else: yes, we need you in Washington, but St. Louis needs you in the House of Representatives, Bell said in a release. Hawley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018, defeating Democrat Claire McCaskill, and this election is the first challenge hes faced as an incumbent. No other Republican candidates have entered the race to challenge Hawleys bid for his partys nomination. The radical left is motivated to beat Josh because he has stood with working families to take on the big and powerful, said Kyle Plotkin, campaign manager for Hawley, in an emailed statement. The News-Leader's attempts to interview Hawley directly were unsuccessful. During his time in office, the country has navigated a global pandemic and the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, when protestors stormed the U.S. Capitol. On that day, Hawley was seen greeting the crowd with a fist pump, but later caught on video fleeing as the mob surged into the building. Those images, juxtaposed alongside the release of his book, Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs, have been fodder for late-night comedians as well as opponents looking to unseat him in 2024. For $29.99, you can get the secrets of masculinity from the coward of Jan. 6. How about that? said Kunce, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the August 2024 primary. Lucas Kunce, Marine veteran and antitrust activist, seeks to serve Missourians, revitalize state Kunce is a Missouri native, born and raised in Jefferson City, who feels that there hasnt been enough focus on bringing home investments to benefit everyday Missourians. This state deserves federal investment. We need to bring our tax dollars back, Kunce said. Roy Blunt, for example, brought back $350 million a year to this state. That's critical investment that we see the fruits of all around the state. Josh Hawley brings back $0 a year. What is the job of a U.S. Senator if it's not to bring money back to this state and to invest in our communities? Kunce has seen his own hometown, the states capitol, decay and fall into disrepair, a loss he finds heartbreaking and one he hopes to prevent others in the state from experiencing. As someone who has seen his community fall apart, a beautiful piece of Americana, to just have waste laid to it, I'm tired of that, Kunce said. I'm going to bring the money back. It's going to be my top focus. U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce. Kunce said his childhood in Jefferson City was characterized by the love and support he received from his community when his sister required several open heart surgeries. Like many things for paycheck-to-paycheck families, a health disaster is one of those things that you just can't really survive, Kunce said. After filing bankruptcy, Kunce said his family was at their lowest point. However, the community rallied around them, gathering donations at his church, bringing countless tuna casseroles and helping look after Kunce and his siblings while their parents were at the hospital with his sister. That's just a beautiful way that every day Missourians take care of each other, Kunce said. I've spent my life trying to pay that back and do something similar for everybody. Kunce has since dedicated his life to serving others, spending 13 years in the Marine Corps with tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he led a police training team. He also worked in the Pentagon doing arms control negotiations with Russia. The heartbreaking thing for me was I signed up to serve my community, and every time I went home, it was worse off, Kunce said. Kunce sees this as a sign that Missouri politicians are not focused enough on supporting local communities, but are instead serving the interests of lobbyists and special interests known for making large campaign contributions. This is why Kunce wont accept campaign donations from certain entities. I'm not taking money from corporate PACs, no federal lobbyists, no big fossil fuel executives, no Big Pharma executives, Kunce said. We have a pretty stringent list because we want to make sure that my guiding light is only ever everyday Missourians, like the ones I grew up with. Even with these strict limits on campaign donations, Kunce outraised Hawley during the third quarter of 2023, from July through October. He raised $1.5 million, compared to $856,000 reported by the Hawley campaign during the same period. From lowering drugs prices to standing up to the Chinese Communist Party to holding Big Tech accountable, Josh has made the right enemies, Plotkin, Hawley's campaign manager, wrote in an emailed statement. Thats why powerful special interests are going to flood the state with tens of millions of dollars to buy Missouris Senate seat. However, Hawleys campaign remains ahead in its fundraising total, with $4.7 million cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, compared to $1.7 million for Kunce. Still, Kunce has more funds for his campaign at this point in the race than Democrat Jason Kander did in his 2016 run, when he narrowly lost to Republican Roy Blunt. Additionally, Kunce has received donations from every county in Missouri since launching his campaign. The average donation in this quarter was $31, with 99% of donations under $200. U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce. We have support from all around the state, Kunce said. It just reminds me of growing up, when people see something they can believe in, they want to take care of each other and they do that. People chip in, and we help each other out. Hes also collected a large number of endorsements, including from The Missouri AFL-CIO, The Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, MO State Council of Machinists, The League of Conservation Voters, Social Security Works, the SEIU Missouri State Council, Freedom, Inc., and several other labor unions. He is also endorsed by current and former elected officials across the state. The interesting things about the firefighters is that I spoke at their conference the other day, and you know, the other speakers were Ann Wagner, Eric Schmitt, Mike Kehoe, Kunce said. Its a bunch of Republicans, but they see what Josh Hawley has done to the state, and they see my record of service and the way that I'm going to take care of our communities. I find that compelling, and that's why we're gonna win this race. Hawley has also touted his support of labor unions, even showing up to the UAW picket line a few months ago. However, some labor leaders have pointed out Hawleys past voting record, which indicates he voted against legislation boosting domestic manufacturing. He also has a failing grade on the AFL-CIOs legislative scorecard, which ranks lawmakers on their labor-related voting record. Kunce also pointed out Hawleys vote against the PACT Act last year, which aimed to ensure veterans exposed to burn pits would have access to health care to treat conditions that could arise due to exposure. Every Veterans Day, these politicians come out, they drape themselves in the American flag, they throw out the Support our troops, et cetera, but they still just play politics with us nonstop, Kunce said. I lived right next to a burn pit in Iraq. It was a terrible thing and a lot of people are suffering from it. More: Missouri Attorney General candidates make for competitive primary, general election races Jared Young, Joplin-based businessman, hopes to lead state out of political dysfunction Running as an independent candidate, Jared Young is tired of the dysfunction he sees happening in national political leadership. Young, who has a law degree from Harvard and an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University, thinks his skills would be best used in service to the state in the U.S. Senate. I felt like I could either keep crossing my fingers every election and wishing things would get better, or I could stand up and put my skills and experience to use and offer the kind of option that I think we need, Young said. U.S. Senate candidate Jared Young Young is no stranger to international culture, having lived in Europe and the Middle East and earning a degree in Middle Eastern studies and Arabic. He thinks many current lawmakers lack these lived international experiences, making him uniquely suited to serve. I think it just gives me an important perspective on the role that we play in the world and the role we need to continue to play in the world, Young said. I think some of our leadership, especially Sen. Hawley, who Im running against, has lost that perspective or never had that perspective. He is the chief acquisitions officer for G&A Partners, a human resources outsourcing and payroll services company based in Joplin. While he didnt grow up in Missouri, he, his wife and their six children have made it their home, living in Webb City for the past eight years. I've lived in Missouri at this point longer than I've lived anywhere else in the country, so it's very much home for me, Young said. Young feels that his experience as a businessman would bring valuable skills and insight to the U.S. Senate. He thinks that the interests of small businesses are often overlooked, while the needs of Fortune 500 corporations are put before smaller, local businesses. I think Congress is severely lacking in people with business experience, people who have actually balanced a budget before and who understand how the laws they're making actually impact the frontline business owners, Young said. I have just seen over and over again, the unintended consequences of the laws that Congress makes, even when they're well-intentioned and trying to help. While Young recognizes that running as an independent candidate is an uphill battle, he remains encouraged by the support he has seen from Missourians as he has campaigned across the state. Polling that we've done shows how great of an appetite there is for an independent in Missouri, Young said. Over two thirds of Missourians have indicated they are open to the idea of voting for a third-party candidate in the Senate race. U.S. Senate candidate Jared Young Young, who announced his candidacy near the end of August, recognizes the obstacles he may face gathering enough funds to inform Missourians of his candidacy and platform. Federal campaign finance reports show that he had nearly $60,000 cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, just two months after entering the race. The big challenge is just gathering enough resources to get in front of voters to make sure they're aware they have a viable third option, Young said. Young has characterized his campaign with the slogan, We can be better, which he has taken to heart in the way that he plans to conduct his campaign. While he wont hesitate to point out how he differs from his opponents, he is resolved not to resort to personal attacks on other candidates. Our tagline is We can be better, not just our politicians can be better, Young said. We can all be better, better at reaching out to people who disagree with us, better at having just civil friendly discussions and disagreeing better. More: Mike Hamra to run for governor, challenging Crystal Quade in the Democratic primary December Harmon, Columbia activist, hopes to be a better choice for frustrated voters Following the 2022 U.S. Senate race, December Harmon found herself frustrated with the outcome of the election. She felt that she didnt have good choices, and that the candidates running were always the same kind of people. U.S. Senate candidate December Harmon. Inspired after a conversation with friends, Harmon decided that the only way she was going to see a change in the choices she was offered was if she did something about it. She entered the race as a Democratic candidate, competing against Kunce and state Sen. Karla May for the Democratic nomination. I want representation. I want someone like me, and I figured it was gonna have to be me then, Harmon said. She has staked her campaign on her concern for the future and the direction that our country is headed. Since entering the campaign, that concern has only grown, along with her frustration with the political machine. I started to realize how cynical things were from the inside because I had people advising me saying, What are you doing? You're like actually running and you're supposed to be trying to figure out how to cut deals and get a payout to leave the race and things like that, Harmon said. Harmon characterizes herself as brutally honest, a trait that she hopes to use to bring more truth into politics. She recognizes that every political party has its own problems, including the Democratic party, and she would like to be part of the effort to correct those issues. I don't have to pretend that the party is doing great, and that the Republicans are all evil, and independents are just lost. I don't have to pretend with those tropes, Harmon said. I can just go to Democratic events and say, I think the Democrat Party has problems. Prior to entering the U.S. Senate race, Harmon became known in the Columbia community for standing up to the Citizens Police Review Board, and confronting them about racial discrimination against Black residents. She gained a seat on the board, and began questioning members about the disproportionate rates of traffic stops and deaths for Black members of the community. I ended up getting a lot of hate at first, because I wasn't following the script, Harmon said. Then it shifted. Somewhere along the way, people started asking more questions, and I started to become more confident. U.S. Senate candidate December Harmon. Her efforts also helped defeat the implementation of Fusus surveillance technology in the city. She continues to advocate for social equality for a multitude of disenfranchised groups in the community. As a member of the LGTBQ+ community, Harmon has lost friends who have moved away from the state following legislation that curtailed their rights. But she says she loves Missouri and feels compelled to stay and fight for what she believes in. I could just get up and move, but that means I gotta leave people behind, people who are very scared right now, Harmon said. I don't want to abandon the state. I want to go fight for my state. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Challengers seek to unseat Josh Hawley in 2024 Senate race Warren Buffett sold a whopping $7B worth of stock in Q3 he even unloaded shares of 2 American 'dividend kings.' But here's why the Oracle of Omaha could be dead wrong Dividends can serve as a key source of passive income, and when it comes to consistently delivering this income to shareholders, a select group of companies stands apart: the "dividend kings." The "dividend kings" are publicly traded companies that have increased their dividend payouts to shareholders for at least 50 consecutive years. This is an extraordinary feat, especially when one considers the myriad of events that can transpire over half a century, such as economic booms and busts, technological revolutions, and major shifts in global market trends. Dont miss Despite these challenges, "dividend kings" have thrived, delivering bigger dividend checks to shareholders every single year. This impressive record is a clear indicator of a strong and stable business, often marked with a durable competitive advantage in its industry. Warren Buffett, an investing legend who values these competitive advantages and calls them "economic moats," famously said that his favorite holding period is forever a philosophy that aligns well with investing in companies that consistently increase their dividends. However, this doesnt mean hes not going to sell any of the stocks in his portfolio. In fact, Buffetts company Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) sold $7 billion worth of equities while buying only $1.7 billion in Q3 2023 meaning it was a net seller of about $5.3 billion worth of stocks. Among the stocks Buffett sold during the quarter were two renowned "dividend kings." While it may be tempting to follow the Oracle of Omaha, keep in mind that each investors financial circumstances are unique and Wall Street still sees upside in this duo. Heres a closer look at the two companies in question. Johnson & Johnson With deeply entrenched positions in consumer health, pharmaceuticals and medical devices markets, healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has delivered consistent returns to investors over the long haul. A superficial glance at recent performance would reveal that the stock has been flat for several years, currently trading at about the same price it fetched in late 2020. But it pays to look deeper. For one thing, many of the companys consumer health brands such as Tylenol, Band-Aid, and Listerine are household names. In total, JNJ has 29 products each capable of generating over $1 billion in annual sales, according to its 2022 Investor Fact Sheet. Moreover, not only does Johnson & Johnson post recurring annual profits, but it also grows them consistently: Over the past 20 years, the company's adjusted earnings have increased at an average annual rate of 8%. The stock has trended up for decades, all while returning an increasing amount of cash to shareholders. JNJ announced its 61st consecutive annual dividend increase in April and now yields 3%. According to Berkshires latest 13F filing to the SEC, it offloaded its entire investment in JNJ in Q3 of 2023. JNJ shares have fallen over 13% year to date, but Raymond James analyst Jayson Bedford sees a rebound on the horizon. The analyst has an outperform rating on JNJ and a price target of $172, implying a potential upside of about 11%. Read more: 'It's not taxed at all': Warren Buffett shares the 'best investment' you can make when battling inflation Procter & Gamble Berkshire also sold off its entire stake in Procter & Gamble (PG) in Q3 a company with an even longer dividend growth track record than JNJ. P&G announced a 3% dividend increase in April 2023, marking its 67th consecutive annual payout increase. The stock currently offers an annual dividend yield of 2.6%. Its easy to see why the company is able to maintain such a streak. P&G is a consumer staples giant with a portfolio of trusted brands like Bounty paper towels, Crest toothpaste, Gillette razor blades and Tide detergent. These are products that households buy on a regular basis, regardless of what the economy is doing. While the share price has fallen in 2023, it's up 58% over the last five years, and JPMorgan analyst Andrea Teixeira sees further upside on the horizon. The analyst has an overweight rating on P&G and a price target of $169 around 17% above where the stock sits today. Still a dividend junkie Despite selling off these two dividend giants, Buffett still reaps substantial income from his portfolios other holdings. In fact, all of Berkshires top five publicly traded holdings as of Sept. 30 had a dividend policy. Notably, his fourth-largest holding was Coca-Cola (KO) at the end of Q3. Coca-Cola is another dividend king the company has increased its payout to shareholders for 61 years straight. Buffett has claimed he drinks five cans of Coke daily. Berkshire has held Coca-Cola in its portfolio since the late 80s and it continues to collect dividends from the investment. And the amount might surprise you. Coca-Cola is on track to pay four quarterly dividends totaling $1.84 per share in 2023. Considering that Berkshire owns 400 million shares of Coca-Cola, its on track to collect $736 million in dividends from the beverage giant this year. What to read next Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.) Rising prices are throwing off Americans' retirement plans heres how to get your savings back on track This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Kansas game wardens are asking for help in finding the person who shot a mature buck from the passenger side of a white truck just feet away from a farmer and then sped off. The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 24, a few miles south of Zeandale in rural Riley County, the Kansas game wardens said in a Facebook post Friday. The farmer was out feeding their cattle and about 100 yards from the road. The deer ran out just a few yards away. At that same time, a white colored Chevy truck was driving south down the road and fired one shot from the passenger side of the truck, striking the deer, the post said. The farmer was walking in the pasture near the cattle and witnessed the shot, first assuming it was towards them ... The truck then sped off. Kansas game wardens said they have a partial tag as well. The deer died after being shot through the hind end with a rifle. Unfortunately, a first-time youth archery hunter has been hunting this trophy relentlessly and was devastated to see the warrior fall this way, the post says. The meat was salvaged and did not go to waste. We appreciate the assistance. Anyone with information is asked to call game warden Jedlicka at 785-256-3614 or Lieutenant Gehrt at 785-256-1199. The Granite State is no stranger to the opioid pandemic that has taken lives and devastated communities across America. In fact, data from the state medical examiner's office final report for 2022 shows that fatal drug overdoses are increasing faster in New Hampshire than anywhere else in the United States. The nation saw a 0.5% increase in overdose deaths from 2021 to 2022, but for New Hampshire, the increase over that same time period was 14%. According to the state medical examiners final report for 2022, 486 people died of a drug overdose, the highest number since 2017. These figures represent more than just data on a statewide crisis. Portsmouth law enforcement and first responders are on the receiving end of countless fatal and near fatal overdose emergency 911 calls. We respond to these crises and witness the tragic, real life consequences for those who battle with addiction, their loved ones, and their communities. Rochester police Capt. Todd Pinkham, left, and Portsmouth police Capt. Dave Keaveny. We have served the Portsmouth and Rochester communities for more than two decades on the front lines as law enforcement officers. We have watched the indiscriminate devastation that this crisis leaves in its wake as it takes the independence, and sometimes the lives of our neighbors. Addiction can feel hopeless, but Portsmouth and Rochester residents have done an exceptional job of supporting those who are struggling. Community events like HCA Healthcares Crush the Crisis, which works in tandem with the Drug Enforcement Agencys National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, offers a safe place to dispose of unused or expired prescription medication while also providing educational resources on addiction to those searching for support. During Crush the Crisis, which is held locally by Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Frisbie Memorial Hospital, the hopsitals partner with local law enforcement to collect tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). Portsmouth, Rochester and the surrounding communities are better off thanks to the combined efforts of our law enforcement officers and local heathcare heroes who have found ways to make their community safer and healthier beyond the hospital doors. Addiction can feel hopeless, but Portsmouth and Rochester residents have done an exceptional job of supporting those who are struggling. Events like Crush the Crisis forge the partnerships necessary in the community to promote the high quality of care available to those seeking treatment; together we can better educate, heal and overcome addiction and the consequences for all those afflicted by it. Both hospitals also offer additional resources in the form of an outpatient adult Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and have behavioral health pods in their emergency departments, providing members of our community with access to care in a setting designed to best meet mental health needs and reduce ER wait times. Those arent the only resources available to those looking to overcome addiction. The Seacoast Mental Health Center is a community leader in mental health and wellness. Their Substance Use Disorder Treatment is a valuable resource for those struggling with addiction and their loved ones because the path to recovery is one we walk together. Their 24/7 Behavioral Health Crisis Support through the NH Rapid Response Access Point is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekby phone, text or chat: 833-710-6477 or NH988.com. There is no simple solution to the opioid crisis here in New Hampshire and across the country. However, as a community, we are saving lives by working together to ensure the resources, education, and recovery initiatives needed to help addicts and their families are available. Dave Keaveny is captain of the Investigative Division for the Portsmouth Police Department. Todd Pinkham is captain of the Rochester Police Department. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Local police: Alarming increase in drug overdoses in New Hampshire Lionel Hahn/Getty Images Michael B. Jordan was involved in a fender bender on Saturday, December 3. Jordan, 36, was driving his Ferrari in Los Angeles on Saturday night when he crashed into a parked Kia, a spokesperson for the LAPD told Page Six. Police officers noted that it was a traffic collision of a vehicle into a parked [car] and there were no signs of foul play or evidence of a DUI. The LAPD rep confirmed that there were no arrests or charges were made on the scene. Jordan and the other driver did exchange information after the incident, per the police. According to photos of the car, the right fender of Jordans car had been ripped off, as had one of the tires. Michael B. Jordans Style Gallery. - 042 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Arrivals, Los Angeles, California, USA - 12 Mar 2023 undefined The Creed III director has not addressed the accident. Us Weekly has reached out for comment. Jordan got his big break in 2002, playing Wallace on season 1 of HBOs The Wire. He later appeared on Friday Night Lights and Parenthood before landing a leading role in 2013s Fruitvale Station. Jordan has gone on to star in the Creed franchise, Black Panther, A Journal for Jordan and Without Remorse. APEX/MEGA Many of Jordans film roles have required him to bare his body, of which he doesnt mind. Were only going to be at this age once, to be physical and take my shirt off, he quipped to The Hollywood Reporter in July. Im in my physical prime right now in this moment. So, I have been like, Yeah, were gonna milk this. Michael B Jordan Dating History undefined He continued: Lately, Ive started to really think about and daydream about the future and what roles and what direction I want to go in, so there have been moments where I want to throw on a suit rather than a tank top. To stay in shape to do so, Jordan has remained committed to his fitness routine. Its his ability to not quit and push harder. A lot of people who [are] under the stress of getting ready for movies have to deal with day-to-day life and businesses. They have the leisure of not going as hard. Michael is the opposite, his fitness trainer Corey Caillet exclusively told Us in April 2021. When its time for us to lock in and get it done, its like a machine and he does it all. A lot of times, we would film mostly at night He would come in, itd be two, three oclock in the morning, hed want to go to the gym and train. So, you know, very impressive because you dont see that all the time when it comes to, like, different actors. Photograph: Delcia Lopez/AP A few months ago, the former president Donald Trump accused the Republican party of speaking very inarticulately on abortion. And yet, for the GOP presidential frontrunner, inarticulateness seems to be a feature, not a bug, of his own approach to abortion. Trump thinks he can run in 2024 as a moderate on abortion, Rolling Stone reported this week even though hes currently running ads in Iowa, a crucial state in the Republican primary, proclaiming himself the most pro-life president ever. Its a title to which Trump has a legitimate claim: his three nominees to the supreme court not only handed the nations highest court a definitive conservative majority, but all three voted to overturn Roe v Wade in summer 2022. Related: Republicans beware: hostility to abortion stands to haunt Trumps party in 2024 | Lloyd Green That move handed the anti-abortion movement the victory of a lifetime, but Republicans have been paying for it ever since. They underperformed in both the 2022 midterms and the 2023 Virginia state elections, losses that have been widely credited to the partys inability to figure out a path forward on abortion. Abortion rights advocates, meanwhile, won every abortion-related ballot measure of the last 18 months, even in red states. After Ohio, seemingly a conservative stronghold, voted to enshrine abortion rights in its state constitution earlier this month, abortion rights activists rushed to remind Democrats that abortion is a winning issue in 2024. While Republicans have flailed over how to message on an apparently toxic issue, Trump has in typical Trump fashion flip-flopped on it with apparent ease. Shortly after the 2022 midterms, Trump blamed the abortion issue for Republicans poor performance. He has refused to say whether he supports a federal ban and called the decision by Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, to sign a six-week abortion ban a terrible thing. But all the while, Trump continues to take credit for overturning Roe. I was able to kill Roe v Wade, he bragged on social media in May. Howard Schweber, a professor of American politics and political theory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that Trump has what, in my experience of observing politics, seems like a nearly unique ability to maintain cognitive dissonance in ways that his supporters find untroubling. His supporters will say, Oh, well, he really means that when he says and then finish that sentence with whichever position they approve of. Thats the gamble that hes taking, he said. Trump has not said what, if any, specific abortion policy he would support as president. DeSantis has said that he would support a 15-week national abortion ban, a position championed by the powerful anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, has said that she would sign an abortion ban as president, but doubts that Republicans could muster the votes in Congress. Iowa has a reputation for conservative evangelicalism, but most Iowans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. By not letting himself get nailed down on a specific abortion policy, Trump might be approaching Iowa as though the presidential primary is already over, said Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa. (Which it very well be: Trump is polling far higher than any of his competitors, who have largely cratered.) In a general election, where voters are more likely to be less dogmatic, it can pay to be vague particularly on a charged issue like abortion. Things that you might say a little more forcefully during the nomination process during the primaries, you back off a little bit when it comes time to time for the general election, Hagle said. And thats been a strategy of candidates for decades. Republicans in Iowa have launched an effort to amend the state constitution and clarify that it does not protect abortion rights. In order for the amendment to show up on the ballot, the Republican-controlled state legislature would have to pass it before handing the measure to voters. That could backfire, increasing turnout among abortion rights supporters who oppose Trump. But then were also talking about turnout in the presidential year, which is high anyway, Hagle said. So if you lose turnout in a midterm year, thats going to make more of a difference than in a presidential year. Most Americans oppose the overturning of Roe. But that doesnt mean voters are all that motivated by it: numerous polls since Roes overturning have found that Democrats are highly energized by abortion, while Republicans are less so a reversal of the status quo while Roe was the law of the land. As long as Trump wins the primary, hes in little danger of losing the conservative evangelicals who oppose abortion rights. While they may want him to be more forceful on the issue, its improbable that they would turn to a Democrat in response to Trumps reticence. Sometimes the option is to not vote at all, but I cant imagine that they would want to do that either, Hagle said. It does create a little heartburn on the part of the pro-life folks that supported him if all the sudden hes taking a more moderating position, but he may see that thats more appropriate given his electoral strategy. Even people who say that they would like to keep abortion mostly legal are not always that invested in doing so. A recent poll from the New York Times which did not look at Iowa found that, among voters who want abortion to be mostly legal, Biden led by only one point. Those voters are also twice as likely to say they plan to vote based on economic issues, rather than social issues like abortion. Schweber, though, is convinced that there are would-be Trump voters who will defect solely based on their support of abortion. Women voters particularly middle-class and upper-class, suburban women voters do take abortion rights seriously, he said. In 2016, Schweber said Republican women told him, It doesnt matter, theyre never going to overrule Roe. That sense of security is obviously gone, he added. By Gloria Dickie, Elizabeth Piper and Alexander Cornwell DUBAI (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates and several charities at the U.N. climate summit on Sunday offered $777 million in financing for eradicating neglected tropical diseases that are expected to worsen as temperatures climb. Climate-related factors "have become one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century", COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber said in a statement. The pledges, made as the COP28 summit on Sunday focused on climate-related health risks, included $100 million from the UAE and another $100 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Others to announce funds for climate-related health issues included Belgium, Germany and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The World Bank launched a program to explore possible support measures for public health in developing countries, where climate-related health risks are especially high. The burden of tropical diseases will worsen as the world warms, along with other climate-driven health threats including malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. Many tropical diseases are already easy to treat. River blindness and sleeping sickness, for example, are both endemic to Africa and spread through parasitic worms and flies that are likely to proliferate in a warming world. More than 120 countries have signed a COP28 declaration acknowledging their responsibility to keep people safe amid global warming. The declaration made no mention of fossil fuels, the main source of climate-warming emissions, which the Global Climate and Health Alliance called a "glaring omission". Activists including physicians in white coats held a small demonstration on Sunday within the COP28 compound to raise awareness of the issue. "We are in a lot of trouble," said Joseph Vipond, an emergency physician from Alberta, Canada. He recalled the case of a child dying from an asthma attack made worse by smoke inhalation from Western Canada's record wildfires this year. "This is having real world impacts." Climate change is also increasing the frequency of dangerous storms and more erratic rainfall. In September Storm Daniel killed more than 11,000 people in Libya, and last year's massive flooding in Pakistan fueled a 400% increase in malaria cases across the country, according to the World Health Organization. Earlier on Sunday, Microsoft co-founder turned philanthropist Bill Gates said scientists were working on new treatments for and prevention of mosquito-spread malaria as the rise in temperatures creates more hospitable habitat for the insects to breed. "We have new tools at the lab level that decimate mosquito populations," said Gates, whose foundation supports public health research and projects for the developing world. "These new innovations give us a chance, at a reasonable cost, to make progress." Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke on Sunday, urging reform to the world's insurance system as another key requirement to keep people safe. "Right now insurance companies are pulling out of so many places, they're not insuring homes, they're not insuring businesses," Clinton said, addressing a panel on women and climate resiliency. "It's people everywhere who are going to be left out with no backup, no insurance for their business or their home." ___ For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here. (Reporting by Gloria Dickie, Elizabeth Piper and Alexander Cornwell; Additional reporting by Simon Jessop, Kate Abnett and William James; Editing by Katy Daigle and Jan Harvey) Dr. Carissa Etienne, the medical doctor and public health trailblazer whose calm demeanor and resolve helped steer Latin America and the Caribbean through the COVID-19 pandemic, has died. She was 71. Her death was confirmed by the Pan American Health Organization, which she recently retired from after 10 years as its director. The organization, which is the Americas office of the World Health Organization, did not give a cause of death. Caribbean media reports say Etienne died in the early hours of Friday after collapsing at her home in Maryland. Carissa was a dear friend and colleague, and under her steadfast leadership and guidance, PAHO achieved significant milestones for the region of the Americas while facing one of our greatest public health challenges with COVID-19, said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, who replaced Etienne as PAHO director. I am very saddened by her passing, and my thoughts are with her family, friends and all of us at PAHO who cared deeply for her. In a statement, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States said Etiennes legacy and illustrious career as a highly-respected leader in the field of public health will continue to inspire the region. Her contributions to strengthening health systems, promoting infectious disease control, and addressing health inequities have left an indelible mark on the region, the regional bloc said. Her passion for improving the lives of others was evident in her dedication to serving the most vulnerable populations, having also made significant strides in addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health in the Americas. In 2022, Dr. Carissa Etienne, the Dominica-born public health trailblazer, was given the Honorary Freedom of Barbados award by Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Etienne, who died on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, was the director of the Pan American Health Organization, the Americas office of the World Health Organization. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said she was shocked and deeply saddened to learn about Etiennes untimely death. The two spoke less than a month ago. Whether at midnight or midday, she was one of the few people who was most there for our country and our people when we most needed it, Mottley wrote on X, formerly Twitter. It was for this reason that the Government awarded her the Honorary Freedom of Barbados in 2022. By the time COVID-19 arrived, Etienne, a longtime advocate of universal health coverage, had already distinguished herself as regional director for the Americas of the World Health Organization. Week after week in video press conferences, she updated journalists on the latest deaths and hospitalizations as she called on Caribbean and Latin American governments to do more. Though she sympathized with governments about the pandemics devastating effects on their fragile economies, she also challenged them to take hard decisions by considering its threat to indigenous and poor communities. Its difficult to ever imagine a pandemic of this magnitude, Etienne told the Miami Herald in a wide-ranging 2021 interview in which she offered a glimpse into her daily life as both a wife and mother of three. Morning prayer before dawn, followed by a long succession of back-to-back meetings and caring for her elderly mother in between. READ MORE: Baptism of fire: Tested Caribbean trailblazer leads COVID response in the Americas Building a legacy Born in Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean, Carissa Faustina Etienne would rise to international prominence during her efforts to rebuild her island homelands health care system after a devastating Hurricane David in 1979. One of the most destructive storms at the time, Davids 150 miles-per-hour winds and rains wiped out crops and destroyed most of Dominicas healthcare facilities while leaving more than three dozen dead and 60,000 homeless. At the time, Etienne was six weeks into her internal medicine postgraduate studies in Jamaica, where she earned degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of the West Indies at Mona. After deciding to return to Dominica, she would lead the health systems rebuilding as medical officer at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Dominica, demonstrating her leadership abilities and setting her off on a distinguished career. That career would include various prominent roles in her native Dominica, including as director of primary health care services, coordinator of the National AIDS Program, disaster coordinator for the Ministry of Health, and chair of the National Advisory Council for HIV/AIDS. Between 2003 and 2008, she served as assistant director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau where she led five technical areas: health systems and services; technology, health care, and research; health surveillance and disease management; family and community health; and sustainable development and environmental health. She would earn a reputation as a primary health care crusader who championed universal health care. She would spearhead policies to reduce health inequalities, increasing people-centered care and integrating health into broader public policies. We have lost a great public health champion, Dr. Barbosa said. Dr. Etiennes invaluable experience will be sorely missed in global health discussions to improve the lives of people and to ensure better preparedness for global health emergencies. In 2012, while serving as assistant director general for health systems and services at the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, she went after PAHOs top post with the support of her countrys prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit. He led an aggressive campaign to rally support within the 15-member Caribbean Community to secure her victory. She came up against candidates from Costa Rica and Ecuador, Skeritt said at the time. This is no doubt a very proud moment for her family, herself and indeed all Dominicans and CARICOM citizens because we were able to get the support of CARICOM in that regard. He credited Etiennes accomplishment as a testament of what the Caribbean had to offer and of its advances in the foreign policy realm. In addition to her degrees from the University of the West Indies, Etienne held a Master of Science Degree in Community Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London. There is no way that 10, 15 or even 20 years ago that a Dominican could even think of wanting to be a candidate, far more to be a candidate and far more to be elected as the Director of PAHO, the prime minister said. In a statement, PAHO noted that during her tenure, Etienne not only led the response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic in the region of the Americas, but also efforts to control Zika and chikungunya epidemics and cholera and yellow fever outbreaks in Haiti and Brazil, while significantly improving the organizations response to emergencies and disasters within 48 hours. In September of last year, she was named director-emeritus of the organization. Under her leadership, the Americas eliminated the endemic transmission of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome, and made considerable strides in the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases, PAHO said. Legislative and regulatory mechanisms gained traction, as countries enacted legislation on the labeling of food products and introduced taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. Advances were also made in strengthening national health systems and in progress toward universal health. In the last five years of her mandate, PAHO said deliveries by skilled birth attendants increased from 95% to nearly 100% and, for the first time, the region of the Americas reached the recommended target of 25 physicians and nurses per 10,000 people While sorting through a collection of arachnids in South Africa, researchers recently discovered a unique eight-legged critter. The experts were searching for details about the genus Festucula, a type of jumping spider, according to a study published Dec. 1 in the scientific journal ZooKeys. Thats when they came across one female specimen they didnt recognize and realized it was a new species. Known as Festucula botswana, the spider was collected from the surface of a swamp in Okavango in Botswana, researchers said. Its named after its country of origin. The arachnid measures about 0.3 inches long, and its legs range in length from just shy of approximately 0.1 inches to about 0.16 inches, the study said. Scientists distinguished the new species from other similar species by its uniquely shaped glands. Researchers said they discovered the Festucula botswana specimen after it had already been preserved in alcohol, so they could only provide descriptions of its color after preservation. The tiny creature has a brown body and yellow legs. In alcohol, the creature has a brown body with light brown bands, the study said. Its eye area is brown with dark patches, and it has a black patch around its multiple sets of eyes. The spiders have mostly yellow legs, and photos show that some regions have short, hair-like bristles, according to scientists. The new species chelicerae and palps, which it uses to feed, are brownish yellow. The Okavango Delta is an inland delta in northwestern Botswana, according to UNESCO. The region includes swampland and seasonally flooded grassland. It is a rare inland delta system that does not have an outlet to the sea, instead draining into the Kalahari Basins desert. A range of wildlife inhabits the delta, including some of the worlds most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion, according to UNESCO. Large sea creature breathes with its legs, sucks prey with straw. See new species Cryptic 8-legged critter carrying 40 eggs found in Ecuador. Its a new species Giant cave-dwelling creature carrying 6 eggs found in Ecuador. Its a new species To the world, Rosalynn Carter was known for her dedication to humanitarian efforts and as a devoted partner and trusted adviser to her husband of 77 years, former President Jimmy Carter. To her family, the former first lady who died November 19 at age 96 was remembered as a lover of people, a hero, an adventurer and a cool grandma who did Tai Chi with a sword, as her grandson, Jason Carter, shared at her tribute service in Atlanta on Tuesday. Rosalynns final journey through her home state this week stretched over 100 miles, starting and ending in her and Jimmys birthplace of Plains, Georgia. As mourners paid their respects and revisited her life and legacy, occasional laughs from heartfelt anecdotes punctuated the somber moments during a series of ceremonies held in her honor between Monday and Wednesday. Theres no place on this earth that you can find anyone that has anything bad to say about Rosalynn Carter. Not one word. Not a news article. Not even one person on the left or anybody on the right, said Pastor Tony Lowden at Wednesdays private funeral service in Plains. I believe the reason why is because she did not worship the donkey or the elephant. She worshipped the lamb, Lowden said, referring to Rosalynns faith. Heres how she was remembered this week. Just like everyone elses grandmother From the mayonnaise included in just about all of her recipes to the birthday cards she stuffed with $20 even for her adult grandchildren Rosalynn Carter was like everyone elses grandmother, her grandson Jason Carter told mourners at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church at Emory University on Tuesday. When I was 45, $20 bill, Jason said to laughter from attendees. He reflected on his grandmother as a down-to-earth woman who made sure no one went hungry on a trip family and strangers alike. We were on a flight on Delta from here to somewhere, and we were all sitting in the back of the airplane together and took off, Jason recalled of one getaway. We looked over, my grandmother took out this Tupperware of pimento cheese and this loaf of bread and she just started making sandwiches. Rosalynn distributed the sandwiches to her grandchildren but didnt stop there, Jason said. Then she started giving them to other people on the plane, and people were sitting there like, Rosalynn Carter just made me this sandwich! he said. They couldnt believe it, but she loved people. She also loved her family and adored the little ones, grandson Josh Carter said. She was happiest whenever theres a new baby, every time we had a new baby in the family, she could not wait to play with them, Josh Carter said at Wednesdays private funeral service. In the same Carter Center boardroom where my grandparents would host presidents and other world leaders, Mom, in her 80s, would get on the floor and chase babies and play peekaboo, he said. An adventurer, a voyager, a mountain climber Rosalynn Carter was not a person to shy away from adventure, as could be seen in the fantastic Disney World photos of her beaming with excitement from the top of the Tower of Terror her favorite ride as the Secret Service agents behind her appeared on the verge of being sick, Josh Carter described to chuckles from attendees. James Earl Chip Carter III reflected on his time as a second grader at Plains High School. The school hosted a donkey basketball game fundraiser in which Rosalynn participated, he said Tuesday. My mother rode her donkey as fast as it would slowly go, right under the goal, spun around so she was facing its tail, caught the pass and made the winning two points, he said. She was my hero that night, and shes been my hero ever since. Amy Carter speaks during a tribute service for her mother and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, at Glenn Memorial Church in Atlanta. - Andrew Harnik/AP Jason Carter remembered his grandmother as an adventurer, a voyager, a mountain climber who learned to ski in her 60s and continued the hobby for 25 more years. Rosalynn fished trout streams from Georgia to Wyoming, and from Venezuela to Siberia, Jason shared. The life of adventure she shared with her naval officer husband took her to over 120 countries in her lifetime. The former first ladys role as the rock for our family, as Jason called her, may have made Rosalynn well suited to explore the mountains, including Kilimanjaro and Fuji, he said his grandmother dared to climb. I know that she went to the Everest base camp in Nepal, and I can guarantee you she was looking up at that thing and thinking, if they would just let me, and based on what she did, I think she could have done it, Jason said. A staunch mental health advocate Rosalynns family highlighted her decades of tireless dedication to mental health reform, and how she and her husband partnered to start the Carter Center to allow her to continue fighting the stigma of mental illness. Her advocacy for mental health was a 50-year climb that is as remarkable as any other, Jason Carter said. But if you imagine just how far our society has come in the last five years on issues of mental health, and you think that she decided in 1970 to tackle the anxious stigma associated with mental illness, it is remarkable how far she could see and how far she was willing to walk, and that effort changed lives, and it saved lives, including in my own family. During a time when mental illness was looked on as a failure of character, Rosalynn stepped up to eliminate the stigma and treat it as any other diagnosable, treatable illness, Josh Carter said. She built programs such as fighting for mental health parity and teaching journalists how to write about mental illness, he said. She saw people that are suffering from mental illness as people who also have hopes and dreams and are worthy of love. A champion hula dancer Carter family members wore leis during Wednesdays funeral service in honor of the time Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter spent in Hawaii during the former presidents time in the Navy, Matthew De Galan, Carter Center spokesperson, told CNN. Rosalynn learned hula dancing while living there and once won a hula dancing contest, De Galan said. Josh Carter described his grandmother as a champion hula dancer. Chip Carter said his mother still had the moves well into her later years and while living with dementia. One day, my mother was sitting with my wife Becky and she was reminiscing on what it was like to live in Hawaii, and she was talking about learning all the native dances, Chip said during Tuesdays tribute. She got up from the sofa, pushed her walker away which she couldnt take a step without and proceeded to do the hula for two or three minutes, he said. She grabbed her walker, turned around, sat back on the sofa and turned to my wife and said, thats how you do it. Journalist Judy Woodruff pauses at the casket of first lady Rosalynn Carter, after speaking at Wednesday's tribute service. - Brynn Anderson/AP A close and trusted adviser Journalist Judy Woodruff, who first met Rosalynn Carter in 1970 as a reporter during Jimmy Carters gubernatorial campaign, described how she redefined the role of first lady. Woodruff shared how Rosalynn would sit in on cabinet meetings and immersed herself in learning about subjects that mattered to her. What we witnessed was a first lady who saw her role as going well beyond the essential warm and welcoming host to being a close and trusted, yes, adviser. In essence, an extension of the president himself, Woodruff said Tuesday. Woodruff recalled a diplomatic trip Rosalynn took to the Caribbean, Central and South America early in the Carter administration. She wanted to report concerns to Jimmy, Woodruff said, especially ones involving human rights. Ill never forget the looks on the faces of some of the Latin leaders as they realized that they were dealing with a serious, supremely well-informed and well-briefed representative of the President of the United States, she said, as one of the journalists on the trip. The person closer to him than anyone else. Criticism ahead of time that she would be dismissed melted away. The love of Jimmy Carters life Rosalynn Carter, who married Jimmy Carter in 1946, spent much of her life in love with my dad, said the couples only daughter, Amy Lynn Carter, on Tuesday. Their partnership and love story was a defining feature of her life, she said. Jimmy Carter, 99, is unable to speak, so Amy Lynn shared a letter written by the former president to his wife 75 years ago while he served in the Navy. The excerpt read: My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I return to discover just how wonderful you are. While I am away, I try to convince myself that you really are not, could not be as sweet and beautiful as I remember. But when I see you, I fall in love with you all over again. Does that seem strange to you? It doesnt to me. Goodbye, darling. Until tomorrow. Jimmy. CNNs Alta Spells and Elise Hammond contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NORTH EAST Former Secretary of Homeland Security and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge quietly walked into state Rep. Jake Banta's office Saturday morning to join what he called a "distinguished group of veterans." Among them was M. Richard Mellon, a former Erie resident who will invest millions to buy the historic Granite Ridge campus and transform it into a veterans outreach and wellness center. Mellon, 77, hadn't even toured the facility when in November he put a $2 million down payment on the property in hopes of honoring his late father and father-in-law for their military service. Ridge, the two-term Republican governor appointed by President George W. Bush as the nation's first secretary of Homeland Security after 9/11, said he was grateful for the invitation to the private gathering. "I wanted to be part of it," he said. "Mr. Mellon, I'm sure, has a lot of people pulling on his coattails to get him involved in many philanthropic and community enterprises. To have him be so committed to this puts an exclamation point on how important it is for all of us to rally around him." Ridge, a U.S. Army veteran who earned a Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War, said he is committed to helping make Mellon's dream a reality. "Bet on a vet," Ridge said, echoing the words of a friend and former Marine. Melanie Mellon, left, watches as her husband, M. Richard Mellon, shakes hands with state Rep. Jake Banta during a meeting Saturday at Banta's North East office. The Mellons plan to buy Granite Ridge and open a veterans outreach and wellness center. He wasn't alone. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th Dist., pledged his support to the cause, too. And Banta, R-4th Dist., a former Navy Seal, said he's excited to tell his statehouse colleagues on the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee on which he serves, about Mellon's plans. "This could really be something special," Banta said. Mellon, his wife Melanie, and Banta toured the 200,000-square-foot facility on Friday. Mellon, who lives in Naples, Florida, but owns a home in Erie, could close on the $3.3 million purchase of the property from Ehrenfeld Cos. later this month. Mellon is the founder and president of the Mellon Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization. Former Gov. Tom Ridge, an Erie native, talks Saturday about M. Richard Mellon's plans to open a veterans outreach and wellness center at the Granite Ridge facility in North East. "Melanie and I were overwhelmed," Mellon said about his tour of the facility, which served as the Mercyhurst North East campus between 1991 through 2021 but was originally a Redemptorist seminary shortly after the first buildings opened in 1868. "We had no idea of the opportunities the facility will offer. We had no idea there was going to be a facility where they trained nurses. We could bring nurses in and students and in the interval help veterans with what they need medically. "When a veteran comes back it's kind of like the door is closed to them and they need to be able to return to civilian life," he continued. "We can train them to do that. It's beyond our wildest imaginations and we're grateful for the opportunity." Mellon is trying to fulfill a longtime dream of honoring his father, Capt. Edward Mellon, and father-in-law, Pvt. William H. Knight. Edward Mellon was a World War II pilot with the Army Air Corps. Joe Benacci, director of Erie County Veterans Services, a retired first sergeant for the U.S. Army Reserves, said Mellon's commitment has flipped the script on how such projects tend to work. "Normally, we've got this great plan, we've got this great thing to do, but where are we going to do it," Benacci said. "Now we've got it backwards. Now we've got this diamond ... and nothing can stop us now. That's the hard part. Now all we need is ideas and brain power." Banta presented Mellon with a card and a coin from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. "I look forward to what we're going to do here," he told Mellon. Banta said there will be a study done of other wellness centers and how they work. "It's such an inspiration to see what Mr. Mellon decided to do here because a lot of us have a lot of good ideas and we're inspired to do these kinds of things but the fact of the matter is we can't get from A to B to make that happen. He stepped up to the plate." M. Richard Mellon, left, shakes hands with former Gov. Tom Ridge on Saturday at the North East office of state Rep. Jake Banta. Ridge's wife, Michele, and U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th Dist., are seated to the left of Ridge. Ridge said he likes the emphasis Mellon has placed on outreach since too often veterans either are unwilling to seek help or don't know where to find it. Mellon's plan, Ridge said, could give veterans a "world of normalcy, social interaction and love. "That's what this is all about," Ridge, 78, said. "Outreach and wellness. Get them here, help them improve their lives. Any of us who've served in combat know that but for the grace of God (go I)." Mellon followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam in hopes of becoming a pilot. He served 3 years and was honorably discharged with the rank of 1st lieutenant due to a reduction-in-force that kept him from flying in combat. Ridge joked with Mellon during the meeting, asking if Mellon was the pilot who "dropped me off on the wrong side of that mountain" during his own service. Mellon has said he wants to work closely with the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center to provide complementary programming for veterans. "We have a community center," Mellon said. "We have an IT center. We can put them into an environment where they can meet other veterans. They need that support. We can help them do it. "They're patriots and we have to recognize their sacrifice and give them the most wonderful opportunity to come back and make a meaningful contribution to themselves, their family and to continue to contribute to their country," he said. Ridge's wife, Michele, said the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie, which opened in 1886, was the first facility of its kind for veterans. "This community has been incredibly supportive of soldiers and sailors," she said. "This is a new opportunity for a new generation of veterans." Kelly said it will be a "heavy lift" but he'll connect Mellon with the right people who can help him. The possibilities are "limitless," he added. "What you're doing is incredible when you just look at the asset that's sitting there unused and what it could become as opposed to what it is now today," Kelly said. "It was a center for learning and it's still going to be a center for learning. We can take a population, a veteran population that too often is forgotten about, and make them the center of attention again." Once the sale is finalized, Mellon will take possession of most of the property, including a conference center that Mercyhurst University had named in honor of Tom and Michele Ridge. However, on Nov. 3, Ehrenfeld Cos. sold 5.1 acres of the property to Brick & Mortar Property Management and Pero Real Estate for $4 million. This portion of the property includes townhomes and apartments that total 39 residential units. Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Tom Ridge backs Mellon's plans for veterans center in North East PA Quotes of the Week: Golden Bachelor, Found, Bookie, Amazing Race and More Hard to believe were already in the final month of 2023 television, huh? Well, lets enjoy it while it lasts and recognize the latest standout Quotes of the Week. More from TVLine In the list below, weve gathered nearly 20 of TVs most memorable sound bites from the past seven days, including moments both scripted and unscripted from broadcast, cable and streaming series. This time around, weve got bon mots and zingers from The Golden Bachelor, Days of Our Lives, For All Mankind and NCIS: Sydney, plus debut appearances from new holiday flicks Candy Cane Lane and Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas. Also featured in this weeks roundup: double doses of Bookie and The Amazing Race, plus quotable moments from Squid Game: The Challenge, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and more shows. Scroll through the list below to see all of our picks for the week, then hit the comments and tell us if we missed any of your faves! SURVIVOR SURVIVOR This is such a sick, twisted, disgusting, ridiculously delicious, enjoyable, terrifying game. We couldnt have said it any better ourselves, Katurah! BOOKIE BOOKIE I swear you will get your money. I am this close to being a judge on Japans Got Talent. Charlie Sheens career has seen better days BOOKIE (Bonus Quote!) BOOKIE (Bonus Quote!) Talk to that Jon Cryer much? Not for a long time, no. He was a hoot my favorite. Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco) lets Charlie Sheen know who he really thought was the star of Two and a Half Men WWE RAW WWE RAW Daddys back. Randy Orton, announcing his triumphant return to Rhea Mami Ripley after being out with an injury for a year and a half THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS He had a bigger team than I did. He could fight me harder. It was like Princess Leia against Darth Vader and all the Storm Troopers. Sutton Stracke is one of the last people we ever expected to drop a Star Wars reference mid-confessional, yet here we are DAYS OF OUR LIVES DAYS OF OUR LIVES You want me to throw the love of my life under the bus? Very tired cliche, by the way, under the bus. Dead phrase walking. I would prefer sell him down the river or better yet, forsaken. A bit musty but not nearly as tiresome. Leo (Greg Rikaart) objects to more than just Jadas suggestion that he dodge jail time by selling out Dimitri CANDY CANE LANE CANDY CANE LANE Why yall dressed like Prince? Chris Carver (Eddie Murphy), dueling with nine of the 10 lords-a-leaping CANDY CANE LANE (Bonus Quote!) CANDY CANE LANE (Bonus Quote!) Christmas is about giving. And Christmas is about the power of a childs imagination. And its about giving the least popular reindeer with a red nose a chance to be great. Unless you wanna go the religious angle. [Laughs] Jesus Christ, no. Ill ring you up. Chris Carver (Eddie Murphy), trying to prove to rogue elf/deceptive salesgirl Pepper (Jillian Bell) that he understands the true meaning of Christmas NCIS: SYDNEY NCIS: SYDNEY How do you X-ray a shark? Very carefully, I reckon. Evie (Tuuli Narkle) asks a valid question, gets a valid answer from JD (Todd Lasance) FOUND FOUND I am the basement. I lock the part of me that Sir took in there; the part that I never got back; the part that craves the darkness, loneliness and pain. Its the place that I go in my mind where I become what we hunt, to help us with our cases and bring people home. Gabi (Shanola Hampton), being emotionally truthful to Lacey about what the basement represents while also withholding the fact that Sir is chained up down there LADIES OF THE 80S: A DIVAS CHRISTMAS LADIES OF THE 80S: A DIVAS CHRISTMAS Five. Same number as your husbands. Shrew. Slut. Hag. Cow. Oh, Ive missed you so much! Reunited soap stars Dana (Donna Mills) and Margaux (Morgan Fairchild), discussing how many children Dana has adopted LADIES OF THE 80S: A DIVAS CHRISTMAS (Bonus Quote!) LADIES OF THE 80S: A DIVAS CHRISTMAS (Bonus Quote!) Girls, girls, girls. Now just because your long-lost, newfound sister is a vulgar, deceitful gold digger does not mean you get to behave this way on Christmas Day. Oh, mother, please. We all know about the affair and the alien son that you birthed whos also in hiding. Now we have just had enough of these secrets. Daytime queen Margaux (Morgan Fairchild) and pie-wielding Juliette (Nicollette Sheridan), improvising during the food fight that livens up the live holiday episode of their soap FOR ALL MANKIND FOR ALL MANKIND A woman without coffee is a very dangerous woman. Tatyana (Ania Bukstein) explains to Margo why she helped her with a vending machine even though she was instructed to stay away from her SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE (Episode 8) SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE (Episode 8) I dont know these people from a can of paint. Ashley finds herself without any alliance among the final 12 THE GOLDEN BACHELOR THE GOLDEN BACHELOR No offense I can think whatever the fk I want. Leslie will not let Gerry tell her how to react to being dismissed THE AMAZING RACE THE AMAZING RACE Did you know that all the Swedish battleships put barcodes on the front? Yeah, they always want to Scandinavian. BFFs Joel and Garrett employ a good old-fashioned dad joke to help relieve some stress THE AMAZING RACE (Bonus Quote!) THE AMAZING RACE (Bonus Quote!) Were blessed to be here and we cant lose sight of that. Thats what people who are losing say. Its safe to say that married couple Todd and Ashlie had very different energies while racing (and losing) in Stockholm, Sweden Best of TVLine The following story was published before the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P. Read a recap of those arguments here. Washington Long before Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy, before the series' "Dopesick" and "Painkiller" brought the Sackler family and devastation of the opioid crisis into Americans' living rooms, and before her son died of a drug overdose at the age of 33, Ellen Isaacs was sounding the alarm about the opioid epidemic. Isaacs herself was prescribed OxyContin, the powerful pain killer manufactured by Purdue and promoted as "non-addictive," after undergoing surgery in the late 90s. That was around the same time her son, Ryan Wroblewski, got a prescription for the drug after injuring his back in a fall from a bridge. Isaacs weaned herself off the drug in 2001 and became passionate about raising awareness about the dangers of opioids, all while trying to secure help for her son amid his own addiction. Wroblewski, though, lost his battle five years ago. Isaacs said she began "vehemently" giving out Narcan, a nasal spray used to treat people experiencing an opioid overdose, and appearing on the news to demonstrate how it works. During the course of her advocacy, Isaacs has protested outside the Justice Department. She wrote a letter to the late Queen Elizabeth II urging her to strip Theresa Sackler, who was married to Purdue co-owner Mortimer Sackler, of her "dame" title. She rallied in White Plains, New York, where a federal bankruptcy judge oversaw Purdue's bankruptcy and approved legal protections for the Sackler family. On Monday, Isaacs returned to Washington as part of her efforts to fight the bankruptcy plan and, specifically, the decision to release the Sacklers from civil liability for the opioid epidemic. The matter is under review by the Supreme Court, which held oral arguments in the case, known as Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., on Monday morning. "It's really important to me that these people get held accountable for all the people that they've murdered," Isaacs told CBS News. "They're criminals and they needed to be treated as such." This Tuesday, May 8, 2007, file photo shows the logo for pharmaceutical giant Purdue Pharma at its offices in Stamford, Connecticut. / Credit: Douglas Healey / AP The Purdue Pharma bankruptcy Purdue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2019. Scores of states, local governments, Native American tribes and victims had filed lawsuits against the company seeking damages arising from its manufacture and sale of OxyContin, which helped fuel the opioid epidemic. Purdue separately pleaded guilty in 2007 to a felony count of misbranding OxyContin and has paid more than $600 million in fines and other costs. Though the Sackler family, which owned Purdue, did not enter bankruptcy, they negotiated a settlement with claimants. The Sacklers agreed to contribute more than $4 billion across a decade an amount that ultimately rose to $6 billion toward efforts to fight the opioid crisis. The settlement also includes $750 million to compensate victims, who may be eligible to receive between $3,500 and $48,000. The agreement requires millions of documents to be made public and for Purdue to restructure itself as a public benefit company, with its profits used to make products that combat opioid addiction. In exchange, and crucially, the plan included a release that shields the Sacklers from civil lawsuits stemming from the opioid crisis. The family would also potentially be able to keep billions of dollars in revenue from Purdue that was distributed between 2008 and 2017, according to court filings. The bankruptcy plan was approved by 95% of victims. However, several states, Canadian municipalities and indigenous tribes, plus more than 2,600 individuals, voted against it because of the legal protections for the Sackler family, their affiliates and related entities. A bankruptcy court in New York, though, approved the plan in September 2021. The states and other detractors challenged the approval in a federal district court in New York. They were joined by the U.S. Trustee, an arm of the Justice Department that oversees the administration of bankruptcy cases. The group focused on the legality of the plan's shield for the Sacklers, since even those who refused to approve the deal cannot pursue claims against them. A federal district court agreed, and in December 2021 it rejected the plan. Purdue and other plan proponents appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. While their case was pending, the District of Columbia and the eight states that had objected to the deal reached an agreement with Purdue and the Sacklers for them to boost their proposed contribution to the bankruptcy estate by $1.75 billion bringing their total contributions to between $5.5 billion and $6 billion. A divided 2nd Circuit panel reversed the district court's decision in May, after which the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to review the appeals court's ruling and temporarily put the bankruptcy plan on hold. The high court agreed to pause the plan in August and said it would take the case. Ellen Isaacs, left, and Lee Nuss, center, both from Florida, hold each other and a sing of remembrance of Randall M. Nuss, Lee's husband, during a protest with other advocates for opioid victims outside the Department of Justice on Dec. 3, 2021. / Credit: Carolyn Kaster / AP A division among victims The issue before the court is whether detractors from federal bankruptcy agreements can be bound by releases that shield entities that have not declared bankruptcy themselves, like the Sacklers. "The question will be, does the code need to specifically allow or specifically prohibit these types of releases?" Anthony Casey, a law professor at the University of Chicago, told CBS News. "That's the question the court is asking." The U.S. Trustee, represented by the Justice Department, has argued that the agreement to exempt the Sacklers, who did not file for bankruptcy, from civil lawsuits violates federal law. The government is urging the Supreme Court to reject the plan. The case has split victims of the opioid crisis and families who lost loved ones to overdoses. A group of more than 60,000 people affected by Purdue's opioid products said the plan settlement "represents a watershed moment" and offers the "best (and perhaps only path forward)" for those seeking to hold Purdue accountable. "Save for one personal injury appellant, the actual victims here want this plan, want the releases, and want closure, not the opportunity for endless, damaging, and assumedly futile litigation against the Sacklers," they told the justices in a filing. Similarly, 15 others who are victims themselves or whose loved ones were, told the justices in a filing that the bankruptcy plan approved by the 2nd Circuit "supplies the only viable mechanism for affording victims the aid they need and need now," and will help provide increased resources for treatment and prevention to stem the opioid epidemic. "No amount of money can bring back a beloved family member lost to addiction or undo the traumas routinely caused by opioid addiction," they said. "The confirmed reorganization plan, however, is needed and needed now to provide monetary relief to long-suffering victims of the opioid epidemic and also to prevent more families and communities from suffering the same fate." But Isaacs, as an opponent of the plan, said she should be able to pursue her own case against the Sacklers in front of a jury of peers. "Here, we have several family members on the board [of Purdue] and they turn around and they make this product, it turns out to be a drug that is killing now over 1 million people, and there's no accountability," she said. Isaacs recalled receiving her ballot to vote on the plan, which recommended a "yes" vote. She said it was "ludicrous that someone wants to speak for me." "It's just all wrong," she said. "I want my day with Richard Sackler." Michael Quinn, Isaacs' attorney, said the release for the Sacklers amounts to special protection that is not afforded to others. "The Sacklers have at their availability, because of these releases, an escape hatch from liability, whereas people like you, me and Ellen would never have that ability to escape liability," he said. "We don't have billions of dollars to push a carcass of a company into bankruptcy and then hide behind it." The third-party releases at issue in the case allow corporate owners and decision-makers to "shirk their responsibility for risky decisions," he said. "If these nondebtor releases are upheld by the Supreme Court, then suddenly every company can act with impunity and the individuals will always be able to get away with it," Quinn said. OxyContin pills are arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vermont, on Feb. 19, 2013. / Credit: Toby Talbot / AP The impacts of a decision Casey said third-party releases are common in major Chapter 11 bankruptcies and warned that if the court ultimately rejects Purdue's bankruptcy plan and says these protections are not allowed, it would have reverberations across the bankruptcy system. A decision is expected by the summer. "There's lots of pending mass tort cases which they were planning on and hoping for third-party releases that would have to revisit this," Casey said. One case involves the Boy Scouts of America, which entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in 2020 after it was named in numerous lawsuits alleging sexual abuse. The organization emerged from bankruptcy in April with a reorganization plan that was approved by 85% of voting survivors, and then confirmed by a bankruptcy court followed by a federal district court. The Boy Scouts' agreement includes a trust with nearly $2.5 billion in cash, as well as releases for nonprofit local councils, chartering organizations and other third parties, and victims have begun receiving payments from the trust. The group warned in a filing that if the Supreme Court finds these third-party releases are not allowed by the bankruptcy code, it would have "devastating consequences for both victims and venerable non-profit institutions in mass-tort situations." The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also urged the court to uphold the 2nd Circuit's decision, citing the releases from liability that were included in reorganization plans for dozens of dioceses who filed for bankruptcy after facing litigation related to sexual abuse allegations. "Although the Church deeply regrets abuse and acknowledges the need to compensate victims, the Bankruptcy Code has long been understood to give them a fair, orderly, and lawful pathway out of the thicket of mass tort liability that now envelops them so that they can carry on the Church's mission," the group, whose members are active Catholic bishops, told the justices. "The court should not close off that pathway in this case." What's next for Rush? Cary Grant: The man we thought we knew Companies, countries battle to develop quantum computers | 60 Minutes Tributes have been paid to a selfless British soldier who died while off-duty in Kenya. Major Kevin McCool, 32, died in the African country on November 29, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on Saturday. He was attacked while on a motorcycle trip away from base, the BBC reported. The MoD said Maj McCool, who saw service in Europe, the Middle East, the Falklands and Africa, thrived in the military environment, adding that he was at his best when deployed, and at his very best when the conditions were at their very worst. It said he had a glittering operational record and aced many of the militarys hardest courses, adding that his fitness levels were legendary once beating a whole battalion in a two-mile run. Maj McCool was commissioned from Sandhurst in August 2014 and the MoD said he had the unwavering loyalty of the recruits in his platoon and rifle company. Maj McCools commanding officer said he will be missed but never forgotten. They added: Kevin McCool was living his best life, doing a job he loved, with people he loved. A man of the utmost integrity, he was fearless and oozed moral courage. I will never forget my final memory of him, which was on operations; he had just come off the ground having slept a handful of hours in as many days. We discussed the possibility of having to deploy another team into the operational furnace from which he had just come. He stopped me mid-sentence, fixed me with his piercing blue eyes, and simply said, Send me. A bright light has gone out amongst our ranks. He will be missed, but never forgotten. Maj McCools officer commanding said: Kevin McCools eyes shone with his spirit of adventure and with his focussed, determined nature. He was a pilgrim soul in the truest sense. My heart goes out to Maj McCools family, friends, and fellow soldiers today in the face of their tragic loss. The tributes pouring out for him show a man who served his country with pride, integrity and bravery. His service will not be forgotten. https://t.co/V8uu7fLgzB Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 2, 2023 Intelligent, pro-active and selfless, he was at his best and at his happiest whilst serving others and whilst facing challenges in the arena. As a soldier, his courage and talent were proven on operations. As a leader, he had a compelling character and easy charm that all who met him warmed to. And as a man, he had a deep humility which displayed a wisdom beyond his years. Spotting opportunities, restless to serve and to seek out challenges, pushing himself to the frontiers, helping others; that is how we will remember him. He was the best of us. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: Its clear from the tributes of those who knew him that Maj McCool was an exceptional person and an exceptional soldier, loved and respected in equal measure, who served his country with distinction. My thoughts and sympathies are with his family, friends and colleagues currently coming to terms with this most tragic loss. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: My heart goes out to Maj McCools family, friends, and fellow soldiers today in the face of their tragic loss. The tributes pouring out for him show a man who served his country with pride, integrity and bravery. His service will not be forgotten. The British Army has a permanent training support unit based mainly in Nanyuki, 124 miles north of Nairobi, with a small element also based in Kenyas capital. It provides demanding training to exercising units preparing to deploy on operations or assume high-readiness tasks, according to the Armys website. The British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) consists of around 100 permanent staff and a reinforcing short-tour cohort of another 280 personnel. Under an agreement with the Kenyan government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya. WASHINGTON - Vice President Kamala Harris gave remarks in Dubai on Saturday that sharply criticized both Hamas and Israel, saying the Biden administration wants the conflict to end and for both to provide more protection for Palestinians in Gaza. Harris, in her most extensive public comments to date about the war in Gaza, stressed that Israel had a right to defend itself from attacks by Hamas, which killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 240 in a brutal Oct. 7 cross-border attack. She acknowledged that the U.S.-designated terrorist group wants to wipe out its existence, but added that Israel must do more to protect civilian life in its military response. More: Biden is sending $100M in aid into Gaza. Is any of it ending up in the hands of Hamas? "Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed In conversations with Israeli leaders, Harris said that she and President Biden have stressed that, The United States is unequivocal; international humanitarian law must be respected. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, Harris added. The vice presidents remarks appear to go further than the Biden Administration has in the past in terms of criticizing Israels attacks on Hamas in Gaza, which have destroyed much of Gaza City. Harris made them after meeting Saturday with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, key mediators in the Israel-Hamas conflict, to discuss the efforts to release all hostages taken by Hamas and the future of people in Gaza after the war, according to the White House. The meetings were held on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference known as COP28 in Dubai, where Harris is representing the Biden administration along with other senior officials. Saturday also marked the first day after Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza following the breakdown of a weeklong truce with Hamas. The Israeli military said it struck over 400 targets, including many in the crowded south of Gaza where many residents of Gaza City in the north have fled to escape Israeli bombardment. In all, more than 15,200 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out nearly two months ago, the Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday in its most recent update. At least 200 Palestinians were killed in the day since fighting resumed, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said. Calling on Israel to show more restraint More: Could an independent probe help assess blame for Gaza strike? Yes, but it's tricky. In her speech, Harris also called on Israel and other parties to show more restraint once the conflict is over. No forcible displacement, no reoccupation, no siege or blockade, no reduction in territory and no use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism, she said. And she said the Palestinian Authority that oversees the Gaza Strip and West Bank must strengthen its security forces so that it can eventually assume security responsibilities in Gaza. Until then, Harris said, there must be security arrangements that are acceptable to Israel, the people of Gaza, the (PA), and international partners. "Today, the Gaza Strip is once again the most dangerous place in the world to be a child," UNICEF said in a statement. "After seven days of respite from horrific violence, fighting has resumed. More children will surely die as a result." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris issues sharp rebuke of Israel for Gaza loss of life A common grave in a county cemetery in Juarez is the final resting place for many unidentified bodies, including migrants who die in the border city attempting to or entering the United States. The Borderland is stunned by the record number of migrant deaths in the region in 2023. Jesus Ivan Sepulveda Martinez was a beloved son, husband and father of a newborn, 6-month-old Sophie. He was just starting his own life, hoping to reach Austin to work and save money to build a house for his family. Sepulveda died near a waterhole when twin, 60-year-old brothers allegedly shot him while he walked with others south of Sierra Blanca, Texas, in late September 2022. Two weeks after his death, authorities returned his remains to his family in Juarez in a simple, blue casket. We're destroyed, said Napoleon Sepulveda in Spanish, weeping into a handkerchief while three family members cried on his shoulder. Jesus Ivan Sepulveda Martinez was a migrant. His story illustrates the human toll of the migration crisis at the U.S. border. That suffering was brutally emphasized six months later, when 40 men locked in a Mexico detention center died when it went up in flames. This week we launched a special report, "'La perdida - The loss: Deadly disaster at El Paso, Juarez border." The series, the culmination of a year of reporting, tells the human story of the sons, daughters, wives and husbands who died hoping to find a new life in the United States, and of the families and loved ones left behind. Tim Archuleta It's a story too often lost in the partisan bickering over immigration policies and fear-mongering reports of faceless masses crossing the border. Drawing on police reports, Border Patrol records, medical examiner reports and interviews with immigration experts, officials and, most importantly, the families of migrants, the El Paso Times sought to answer the questions: Who were the people dying at the border, and why did their simple dream of a better life so often turn deadly? We had no idea when we started the project earlier this year that 2023 would close out as the deadliest year ever for migrants along the 268 miles of international border in the Border Patrol's El Paso Sector. One hundred and forty-nine migrants died in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, soaring from six migrant deaths recorded six years ago. Our reporting took us to cities and villages across Mexico and Guatemala, where we spoke to grieving families and learned about their loved ones who ventured north hoping to flee violence or provide support for their families back home. The reporting showed how out-of-date immigration laws, ports of entry closed to many immigrants and razor wire on the Rio Grande led migrants to take deadlier risks to seek relief in the U.S. Some migrants died alone in the desert, some died falling in desperate attempts to scale the border fence and others drowned in the Rio Grande canals. Still others died in the hands of smugglers loyal to the drug cartels or they died crammed into vehicles that slammed into concrete highway barriers pursued by Texas troopers. Four people are confirmed dead after an Oct. 30, 2023, pursuit by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper of a car whose driver refused to pull over earlier that day. All are believed to be migrants, but their identities are yet to be confirmed, a DPS official said. El Paso Times journalists faced significant obstacles reporting this series, tackling unresponsive agencies, physical challenges and political strife in Guatemala that upended one of their reporting trips. Oftentimes, Texas authorities and border-based consulate officials don't publicly identify the victims. Key agencies including El Paso Countys Office of the Medical Examiner and the Dona Ana Sheriffs Office declined interviews for this series. Reporter Lauren Villagran spent weeks making records requests and reviewing documents obtained from regional law enforcement agencies to stitch together a database of migrant deaths. The Times would like to highlight the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator for its transparency, including providing unprecedented access to the agencys investigators and leadership as their workload swelled through the summer. Villagran and photojournalists Omar Ornelas and Gaby Velasquez took extra care reporting through one of El Pasos hottest summers on record as they followed first responders into the desert in temperatures well over 100 degrees. Villagran and Ornelas traveled to Guatemala in early October 2023 to meet with the parents of five men killed in the detention center fire, who all belonged to the same Mayan community. Migrants from Venezuela head north from Mazetenango, Guatemala on a private truck on Highway 2. The truck driver offered them a ride after a blockade prevented public transportation from heading north on Oct. 8, 2023. They traveled there despite a growing political crisis. Mid-trip, protestors shut down key highways to and from the capital of Guatemala City and threatened to close access to the international airport. Evaluating the risks, Villagran and Ornelas cut their trip short and left the country on foot via the Mexican border, following the same path used by so many migrants and reporting on the political crisis and surging migration along the way. Ornelas and freelance correspondent Aline Simerman returned to Guatemala in late October to finish the reporting. Simerman, too, spent months working sources in Juarez, Chihuahua state and the Mexican federal government to create a picture of the fatalities and risks migrants face in Juarez, the final leg of their migration journey to the U.S. border. Our sister newsroom, the Arizona Republic, contributed with two important stories, one from Mexico's southern border and another about strategies used in the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector to handle migrant deaths with dignity. We dont normally show dead bodies or even body bags in our coverage, but we took great care in selecting those images used in this special report. We are publishing select stories in Spanish to serve readers in the communities many migrants hail from, as well as bilingual communities in the U.S. The name of the series purposely used Spanish and English. La perdida was the repeated wail of a Guatemalan mother whose toddler son was killed in a pedestrian crash at the border. She lost her pregnancy, as well, when she was hit trying to save her son. Tim Archuleta is the editor of the El Paso Times. You can reach him at tarchuleta@elpasotimes.com. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Migrant deaths soared at fortified border, harsh desert conditions Since last year armed forces have started celebrating their annual days outside Delhi "The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra on December 4. At around 4.15 pm, the Prime Minister will reach Sindhudurg and unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort," said a government statement. (File Image: Twitter) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Navy Day celebrations at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra on December 4. He will also witness the "operational demonstrations by the Indian Navys ships, submarines, aircraft and special forces from Tarkarli beach, Sindhudurg. "The Prime Minister will visit Maharashtra on December 4. At around 4.15 pm, the Prime Minister will reach Sindhudurg and unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort," said a government statement. After that, the Prime Minister will attend the programme marking "Navy Day 2023" celebrations at Sindhudurg, it added. India celebrates December 4 as Navy Day every year to acknowledge the role of the Indian Navy and commemorate its achievements in "Operation Trident" during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. "Navy Day 2023 celebrations at Sindhudurg pay homage to the rich maritime heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose seal inspired the new naval ensign, which was adopted last year when the Prime Minister commissioned the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant," said the statement. On December 4, the Indian Navy will display its operational prowess and capabilities through an operational demonstration covering a spectrum of naval operations by ships and aircraft at the iconic Maratha Fort, Sindhudurg, on the western seaboard of India. This is the first time that the Indian Navy will be organising such a major operational demonstration outside a major naval station. The event will witness the participation of 20 warships along with 40 aircraft, comprising MiG 29K and LCA Navy, as major attractions, along with combat beach reconnaissance and an assault demo by the Marine Commandos of the Indian Navy. Built in the year 1660 by the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Sindhudurg Fort boasts of Indias rich maritime history and also meets the Navys requirement to conduct an operational demonstration with its frontline assets. The Fort is known for being the coastal capital of the Maratha empire and a major naval base during the time of Shivaji Maharaj. The location of the Sindhudurg Fort is 550 km from Mumbai and about 135 km from the naval station at Goa. Last year, the Navy Day celebrations were held at Vizag with the President as the chief guest. Since last year, the armed forces have started celebrating their annual days outside Delhi. The government convened an all-party meeting where the Opposition camp listed out the issues it wants to be taken up during the session For the Winter Session, the government has listed 19 bills, including two to extend provisions of the Womens Reservation Act to Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry, three to replace the criminal laws and two financial items. (PTI Photo) New Delhi: Amid indications that the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, beginning on December 4, will be a stormy affair, the government on Saturday asserted that it is ready for a discussion on all issues, provided the Opposition ensures an enabling environment in the House. The government convened an all-party meeting, chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, where the Opposition camp listed out the issues it wants to be taken up during the session. Issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict, Manipur situation, unemployment, price rise, "imposition" of Hindi in the new criminal laws and misuse of probe agencies are top on the Opposition's agenda. For the Winter Session, the government has listed 19 bills, including two to extend provisions of the Womens Reservation Act to Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry, three to replace the criminal laws and two financial items. It called for discussions to be held "following the rules and procedures of the Houses. Commencing a day after the results of the Assembly elections in four states -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana -- will be declared, the first few days could also see the impact of the election results in both Houses. Also, the ethics committee of the Lok Sabha will be tabling its report on the first day recommending the expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra embroiled in the cash-for-query case, which the Opposition parties are expected to oppose vociferously. While the TMC wants a discussion on the issue before any action is taken on the panels report, a letter to the Speaker Om Birla by Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in his personal capacity said Ms Moitras expulsion from Parliament is an "extremely serious punishment and has very wide ramifications". In his four-page letter to the Speaker, Mr Chowdhury demanded a relook at the rules and processes of parliamentary committees, asserting that there is no clear demarcation in the roles envisaged for the privileges committee and the ethics committee, especially on exercising penal powers. "If the media reports on the recommendations of the ethics committee on choosing to recommend expelling Ms Moitra from Parliament are right, it would perhaps be the first such recommendation of the ethics committee of Lok Sabha," Mr Chowdhury said in his letter to the Speaker. After the meeting, parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said the government assured during the all-party meeting that it is ready for discussion on all issues. He, however, said the Opposition must ensure an enabling environment for discussion to take place. Mr Joshi said the government is fully ready for a structured debate and has requested the Opposition to let the House function smoothly. He added that the government has taken the Opposition's suggestions positively. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said the Opposition has flagged concerns over the issues of China "taking away" our land, Manipur, price rise and "misuse" of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Those who attended the meeting also included commerce minister Piyush Goyal, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, and Pramod Tiwari, TMC member Sudip Bandyopadhyay, NCP member Fouzia Khan and RSP member N.K. Premachandran among others. The Winter Session of Parliament from December 4 to December 22 will have 15 sittings. Ahead of the commencement of the Winter Session, TMC representatives during the all-party meeting claimed that the panel's report on Ms Moitra had been made public "brazenly" before being tabled in the House. TMC parliamentary party leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively -- Mr Bandyopadhyay and Derek O'Brien -- sources revealed, said while a few MPs are already under suspension, they have seen reports in the media that one member of the TMC is going to be expelled shortly. In the meeting, both TMC members also accused the government of reducing all-party meetings to a "waste of time". The government is bringing bills to Parliament without discussing them in all-party meetings, they alleged, according to the sources. They also urged the government not to pass the three bills to replace the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act. The TMC leaders also raised the issue of pending MGNREGA payments for West Bengal and alleged that the federal structure is under threat. They also sought discussion on issues like unemployment and price rise. The RSP member said most members raised objections against imposing Hindi in the criminal laws by giving new nomenclature to the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, as well as the Indian Evidence Act. It is even very difficult to pronounce as far as the people belonging to the southern states are concernedthe government has not responded..., said the leader after the meeting. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Mahua Maji demanded that smaller parties be given more time to raise issues in the House. On the separate bills to introduce the women reservation in Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry, the two Union territories, Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal explained that there is no provision yet to extend the provisions of the law in the UTs. The government has listed the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023, for introduction, consideration and passage in the session beginning Monday. It seeks to insert provisions for providing reservations to women in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to reserve for women a third of the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. While there is a provision for a Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory is under President's Rule at present. Officially known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, the women's reservation law seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. According to its provision, "It shall come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint." During a Special Session of Parliament in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described the law as "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam". The Constitution amendment bill was passed by the Lok Sabha with near unanimity and the Rajya Sabha with unanimity. The law will take some time before being implemented, as the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise -- redrawing of the Lok Sabha and the Assembly constituencies -- will ascertain the particular seats being earmarked for women. The hard reality is that the Modi factor was absent in all the four states. The BJP has won three of the states north of the Vindhyas -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh -- with clear margins. The Congress has scored an emphatic victory in Telangana for the first time since the state was formed a decade ago. There are three ways of interpreting these results. First, that the BJP retains its hold in the Hindi heartland. Second, it can be seen as a clear anti-incumbency vote in the four states. Though the BJP came to power after the Congress lost its majority due to the defection of Jyotiraditya Scindia in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress had won the 2019 election. So, the 2023 verdict marks the electoral return of the BJP in the state. The third way is to see it as a disaster staring the Congress in the face, and how these results in the Hindi-speaking states weakens its position in the INDIA formation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Of the three, the second one, of anti-incumbency, seems to be the realistic interpretation. The BJP is in a curious position as it stands on the victory stand. There are enough internal problems in the party in Rajasthan and in Madhya Pradesh. But the victory pushes the cracks under the carpet, as it were. But this is a testing time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah because there are enough challenges to the leadership in the two states. And it will be difficult for either of them or their supporters in the party high command to claim that these electoral victories are an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the leader of the party and of the nation. The hard reality is that the Modi factor was absent in all the four states. It is the local factors that were behind the Assembly election results, and they cannot very easily be enumerated or outlined. But the BJP would want to refurbish Mr Modis image through these results, which is a legitimate political tactic. The Modi image has frayed in the last nine years, and though the party and the leader hang on to the charisma of the leader idea, they know that it is not so. The partys victory then remains a puzzle, and as long as they are winning there is no need for them to dig out the facts of the case. An interesting aspect of these Assembly elections is that despite headline numbers of Assembly seats won and lost, the vote share tells a different story. It shows that the Opposition in these states has not been wiped out as suggested by the majorities, and that is a good sign. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has nearly 50 per cent of the vote -- 48.50 per cent to be exact -- to the Congress 40.37 per cent, though the figures suggest that the margin of difference in the vote share should be greater going by the fact that BJP has double the number of seats of the Congress 150-plus to 71-plus. Similarly, in Rajasthan, though the victory margin is less compared to that in Madhya Pradesh, with the BJP getting 110-plus seats to the Congress 65-plus, the vote share is comparatively narrower: 42 per cent-plus for the BJP and 39 per cent-plus for the Congress. In Chhattisgarh, the BJPs lead is past the halfway mark of 45 in a House of 90, and the Congress is hovering at 35-plus, but the vote share is closer, the BJPs 45.84 per cent to the Congress 41.82 per cent. The imbalance in the number of seats compared to vote share is quite clear, but that is the discrepancy we have to learn to live with. Also, it has been a battle between two dominant parties in each state, but it remains to be seen what the role of the local leader is. In Rajasthan and in Chhattisgarh, the Congress had a clear position as to who the leader is: Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel respectively. In Madhya Pradesh, there was no clarity though Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Kamal Nath have remained the nominal leaders of their respective parties in the state. The BJP went into the polls in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh without a local leader in the forefront. It was clear at the same time that Prime Minister Modi was not the reason the party had won in these states. So, people vote in a way that stumps the best-laid plans of parties and their leaders. The peoples choice remains inscrutable even as politicians and pundits look for the reasons of their victories and losses. In many ways, it is good for democracy that people in their unplanned and collective exercise of the vote, manage to keep everyone guessing, or even on tenterhooks. It is but natural that the BJP will get into campaign mode enthused by the victories in the three states and with greater confidence. The BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and home minister Amit Shah, have always been boastful in victory as well as in defeat. But the victories in the three states will increase their boastfulness. The Congress faces an uphill task of trying to make out how to regain its foothold in North India, which is the clinching factor in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. But the vote share shows that the Congress regains a quite bit of the ground, and it need not sink into despair. It remains a party to reckon with where it is a fight between the BJP and the Congress. Though the BJP would want to shout from rooftops that the victories are an endorsement of its Hindu-first programme, and that the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has swayed the sentiments of the people in its favour, the reasons are more mundane, if also more complicated. But the usual game in politics is details be damned, it is victory that matters and once victory is achieved, one can give it any name one wants to. Now that the BJP has won in the three Hindi-speaking states, it can attribute it to the Ram Mandir factor, which it may not have been. The results in these Assembly elections cannot in any way be considered a precursor to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Even if the BJP wins, and going by todays reckoning it looks a winner, it will not certainly be due to its victories in these Assembly elections. The Congress and INDIA, the Opposition conglomerate, have to look at the 2024 contest as a fresh round. The media space was saturated with rocket attacks on Kabul, boosting Islamophobia sky-high. When the dust settles on the Israel-Gaza war, Israel will be confronted with an existential question: should it redesign itself to harmonise with the region and beyond? Or continue in the old, exceptional ways? The exclusive Israeli-style vengeance seen in 50-plus days of bombardment, a jaw for a tooth, was possible only with the American hegemon standing foursquare behind all of Israels actions. Todays situation is this: Brics is standing firm while the G-7 are falling apart on the Israel-Gaza conflict. A target must quickly swim into their ken to keep the G-7 in an anxious huddle. What might this target be? Islamic terror may well spiral upwards from Gazas ashes. An initiative to resurrect the Islamic menace already been taken by Naor Gilon, Israels ambassador to India. With considerable alacrity, he sought to enlist Indias support by fulfilling his end: Israel declared Lashkar-e-Tayyaba a terrorist outfit. It has poked two fingers in Pakistans eye. The Israelis hope this will move New Delhi to proscribe Hamas as a terrorist organisation. But while Israel has proscribed Pakistan-based Lashkar as terrorist, India shirks from casting Hamas in similar terms. The media, especially in the West, may not appreciate the umpteen arguments New Delhi may have for its equivocation. The Israeli ambassadors initiative falls far short of the florid imagery of Ukraines ambassador to describe Russian troops in Ukraine: Like the Mughal massacre of Rajputs. The Israeli initiative came when Hamas was more in the news than ever before but so was Gaza, with optics so horrible as to make Israels sales pitch unbelievably insensitive. Millions of television viewers worldwide see Hamas and the Palestinian resistance as one. It must all be extremely embarrassing for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority chief, who the US and Israel hope to foist as leader, quite incongruously, of the men holding wounded babies in their arm, women carrying their meagre belongings, bombed hospitals and scenes of horror like Dresden in the movies. Those bearing the pain dont know Mr Abbas. The idea to resurrect Islamic terror as the last-ditch effort to patch up a crumbing world order has many takers, but credit for its earliest authorship goes to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He was fiercely opposed to picking quarrels with Russia because that would divide Europe, he argued. Islamic extremism attracts a wider coalition which, according to him, would include Russia and China. After all, the last two had their own Muslim problems in the Caucasus and Xinjiang. In disgrace for having fudged an official document to go to war in Iraq, Mr Blair persisted nevertheless: the West will pay a heavy price for not entering the war in Syria, he warned. Mr Blair is a holdover from the George W. Bush sole superpower era. In fact, the Anglo-Saxon trio of Mr Bush, Mr Blair and Australian PM John Howard were in the vanguard promoting post-9/11 Islamic terror as a suitable substitute for the vanished Soviet Union to cast as the enemy to sustain Western cohesion. AUKUS has the same three in concert. The concept seemed valid until the fall of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Francis Fukuyamas End of History proved wrong. The antecedents to post-9/11 Islamophobia could be traced to the 1973 Yom Kippur war, when the Arabs did so well as to give the Gulf states the self-confidence to quadruple the price of oil. Pockets bulging with petro-dollars, the Arab sheikhs turned up in London to see the rain. The Savoy and the Dorchester hotels had full occupancy notices hanging in the lobby, all booked by the sheikhs. Marks and Spencer had signs in Arabic. Savile Row oversold. The anti-Christ had entered the citadel. To get even, publishers gave hefty advances to Sir Vidia Naipaul and Salman Rushdie for Among the Believers and The Satanic Verses. The booming Gulf economies attracted Indian labour, primarily from Kerala. The states neat, austere skyline began to be dotted with garish Dubai houses. The resentment at Muslims (mostly) acquiring new prosperity spilt over into communalism. This coincided with Gen. Zia-ul Haq beaming the Nizam-e-Mustafa from Pakistan, tremors from the Meenakshipuram conversions -- all boosting communalism locally which was, in due course, to tie up with global Islamophobia, one reinforcing the other. It was the thick saffron wave on which Narendra Modi rode to power in Gujarat in 2001. On October 18 that year began the US fireworks over Afghanistan. The media space was saturated with rocket attacks on Kabul, boosting Islamophobia sky-high. Under this canopy, the Gujarat pogrom of February 2002 appeared to have international endorsement. Hindutva basked in the thought that the war on terror would help it prosper. But it was soon seen that the war on terror created more terror. Egged on by the neo-cons seeking comprehensive global dominance, Washingtons lightning war on terror began with Afghanistan. It ended ignominiously with the messiest departure from a country which the US had occupied for 20 years. By now the decline of the US, Chinas rise, and the emergence of a multi-polar world, the weakening G-7 and an expanding Brics were all causing anxiety. After the Afghan debacle, Natos westward expansion up to the Ukraine-Russia border became the provocation for another war. Russia would be brought down on its knees, Vladimir Putins nose would be rubbed in the dust and, willy nilly, a victory would be manufactured to resurrect the hegemon. Alas, victory eluded the US once again. All of this imbues the current round between Israel and Gaza with consequences way beyond the immediate. Either a beginning towards a two-state solution will soften the Arab view of Israel. Or Israel will continue to look for support for all its tantrums by a hegemon which is in retreat. At least four people were killed and dozens injured in a very serious attack against Christians at the university in the Muslim-majority city in Mindanao, which was the scene of five months of war in 2017 after a local Islamist group took control and proclaimed Islamic State. Philippine bishops' president Msgr David: 'Killed while professing their faith. But the Church will go on working for peace'. Marawi (AsiaNews/Agencies) The beginning of Advent in the Philippines is marked by the blood of a group of Christians struck during the celebration of the Eucharist. In a very serious attack, 4 people were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion that occurred in the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University of Marawi, where Mass was being celebrated. Marawi is the capital of the province of Lanao del Sur, one of those included in the Bangsamoro, the autonomous Muslim region officially established in 2019 as a result of the agreements to put an end to the long war with the Muslim militias of Mindanao, the large island in the south of the Philippines where the Islamic presence is strongest. The attack was immediately attributed to the local Islamist group Daulah Islamiyah-Maute - which does not accept the Bangsamoro solution - which in recent days had seen 11 of its militiamen killed in an operation by the Philippine army. It is likely that the explosion in the gymnasium of MIndanao State University - one of the largest universities in the country - was caused by a grenade or a rudimentary bomb. With its 200 thousand inhabitants - the vast majority of whom are Muslims - Marawi is a city where the wounds of the five months of war in 2017 remain deep, when the Maute Group, a terrorist group linked to the Islamic State, assumed control. More than a thousand people, including many civilians, died in the weeks of fighting between the Islamist militias and the Philippine army which only managed to regain control on 23 October 2017. Already on that occasion the local Christian community was directly targeted: the vicar general Fr. Teresimo Chito Suganob and numerous parishioners of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians were taken hostage and were released only after four months. However, years after those events, the promises to rebuild Marawi have remained largely unfulfilled: in this city there are still tens of thousands of people living in the makeshift shelters set up during the emergency. In a statement, the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the bishop of Kalookan Msgr. Pablo Virgilio David, underlined the concomitance between the attack and the first Sunday of Advent, which the Church celebrates today. The perpetrators, said the bishop, "chose precisely this occasion to explode a bomb". Surely the murderers who provoked such a horrendous act of violence also have their loved ones. What would it take to ensure that they see in the families of their victims their own families?" - said David. "This violence should not only be denounced, but also rejected as a way to seek reparation from every peace-loving Filipino." Recalling that only last Wednesday in many countries around the world Catholics experienced "Red Wednesday", the day that remembers persecuted Christians, Msgr. David adds that these faithful killed during the Mass in Marawi shed their blood as a libation like the blood of Christ. They professed their faith in the last Mass they attended, especially in the communion of saints, in the forgiveness of sins, in the resurrection of the body and in eternal life." Saying he agrees with the statement of the affected university - which states that "violence has no place in a civil society" - the president of the Philippine bishops reaffirms "the incessant commitment of the Philippine Catholic Church for peace" and solidarity "with our Christian community and with all those who have been affected by this tragedy". The Archbishop Emeritus of Cotabato, Card., also spoke today about the Marawi massacre. Orlando Quevedo, always at the forefront for the promotion of peace in Mindanao and for this reason member of the Council of Leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The massacre, perpetrated on the first Sunday of Advent, a period of hope, and at the beginning of the Week of Peace in Mindanao comments card. Quevedo - is the most terrible and harmful terrorist crime against innocent believers on a Christian holy day. It is a tragic reenactment of the crazy attack in Jolo Cathedral during Sunday Mass several years ago, Quevedo said. For this reason he urged the police to identify those responsible for the explosion as soon as possible. ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY VIA E-MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER HERE There was a glimmer of hope for Alfa Romeo when the Turinese automaker unveiled the 952-series Giulia in 2015 for the 2016 model year. Alfa Romeo enthusiasts and motoring journalists got really excited in 2016, hoping that the Stelvio rear-biased crossover would help the Italian marque get closer to German rivals Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. Photo: Alfa Romeo via CocheSpias kWh WLTP Come 2023 going on 2024, it's pretty obvious that Alfa Romeo is nowhere near the Germans in terms of sales volume. Rather than blaming the Giulia and Stelvio for these appalling results, one should point the finger the poor management and even poorer product planning. How poor? Well, how about the lack of touchscreen infotainment despite the Tonale having a touchscreen infotainment system?Speaking of which, big kahuna Jean-Philippe Imparato famously demanded better performance from the plug-in hybrid powertrain of the Tonale , thus delaying the small crossover's launch. Joined at the hip to the Dodge Hornet, the Tonale will gain a smaller brother in the form of a B-segment crossover. To debut in 2024, the newcomer was previously believed to bear the Brennero nameplate.It won't be called that, though. None other than Alfa Romeo issued a call to action in June 2023, with the Stellantis-owned automaker urging the Alfisti to come up with a moniker for the subcompact crossover. Internally referred to as Kid , but also known under the 966 codename, the yet-unnamed model is described by its maker as being a sport urban vehicle rather than a sport utility vehicle.The urban part may lead certain people to believe that all-wheel drive isn't on the menu. However, leaked images of the vehicle's digital instrument cluster happen to reveal a two-motor configuration. A front-mounted electric motor should be on the menu as well, along with a 1.2-liter turbo connected to a manual. The Groupe PSA-supplied engine is further expected with mild-hybrid assistance and a dual-clutch transmission with six forward ratios, a combo that premiered on the Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid.Having mentioned leaked images of the instrument cluster, guess what? The crossover's exterior design is also known. The folks at Halo oto have rendered the Stelvio's smaller brother based on said images, and the end result looks pretty close to the real thing.Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but one thing is clear: the proportions of the vehicle are similar to those of the Jeep Avenger and technically similar Fiat 600, which are based on the CMP vehicle architecture (a.k.a. eCMP for electric applications). With Alfa Romeo intending to go electric by 2027, chances are the subcompact sport urban vehicle may come with electric muscle exclusively.Looking at the bigger picture, a three-cylinder turbo wouldn't sit well with the Alfisti. The 1.2-liter engine in the Avenger isn't fit for a Jeep either, although it should be highlighted that Jeep is pivoting to electric vehicles as well. Think Recon and Wagoneer S, with both due in 2024 for model year 2025.Given the existence of the Avenger EV and 600e, it's easy to imagine the all-new crossover getting a 54-battery pack for a-rated driving range of up to 400 kilometers (249 miles) in the combined test cycle. The Jeep and Fiat both feature a front-mounted electric motor with 156 ps and 260 Nm on deck, meaning 154 horsepower and 192 lb-ft. The updated colors Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution The horrible dark mode Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution The updated color scheme was supposed to make Google Maps feel more natural and straightforward, but the search giant achieved the opposite in many ways.Google Maps now feels ugly, cold, and sometimes impossible to use. Stick with me to understand how awful Google Maps has become, especially when driving at night.Google Maps' refreshed interface comes down to colors that Apple users might find familiar. Google looked at Apple and probably thought the iPhone maker's color palette was gorgeous, so it decided to copy its rival's idea and bring a similar look to Google Maps.The result makes sense with the light visual style but is a horrible refresh when the dark mode is enabled.Google uses multiple shades of grey for roads, teal for water (such as lakes), and mint for forests and parks. I can hardly find this color selection a natural choice, but it somehow looks good and makes Google Maps feel more modern.Following the suggested route is easy, as users can see the map highlights and the nearby roads more conveniently. This happens when the daytime mode is enabled, so the navigation experience gets a welcome facelift on mobile devices and infotainment screens with Android Auto or CarPlay.I've always been a fan of dark modes, and if you're a tech-savvy user, you probably know that this visual style is the latest trend in the software world. Everybody updates their software with a dark mode; even Windows and macOS now sport such a theme.Google Maps integrates a dark mode, too, and it makes sense. The application must feel comfortable to use when driving at night, so looking at a black screen instead of a white interface reduces the glare and doesn't make the driver temporarily blind.I use all my navigation apps with an automatic setting, so they keep the daytime visual style when driving during the day and automatically switch to the dark mode when the car's light sensor turns on the headlights.The new color palette makes Google Maps' dark mode a painful mess.The screenshots I included in this story were captured a few minutes ago while driving home from the Christmas market. I knew the route but typically keep the navigation app on the screen for additional information on things I should know about, such as accidents, closed roads (which are more common during the holiday season due to Christmas markets), speed traps, and so on.My favorite choices are Waze and Google Maps, and I sometimes use both simultaneously. I enable navigation in Google Maps and keep Waze running in the background, as it can show traffic reports on top of any other application running on the screen.The experience with the new Google Maps in the dark mode is painful. Following the suggested route is a huge challenge, mainly because you can no longer see where it's going. You must look at the screen for more than a couple of seconds, which is dangerous, not recommended, and a big no-no. I used to only glance at the screen to see the highlighted route, and Google Maps now forced me to check the display regularly as I couldn't tell where the next turn was located.The dark mode now feels cluttered and less straightforward. It's exactly what a navigation app should avoid, as such software should make driving more convenient at all times, including at night. Ironically, Google Maps felt more natural before the Mountain View-based search giant released the update supposed to make it feel more natural.I never liked Waze's cartoonish interface, as it looks like a navigation app drawn by my kid without modern design elements. However, its dark mode is now cleaner and more straightforward, so instead of keeping Google Maps on the screen, I'll switch to Waze full-time due to this horrible update.I'm not the only one who criticized Google for this update, and while I originally thought that getting used to the new color palette was a matter of time, I now think that using the application with the dark mode is dangerous. I can't see myself using Google Maps with the dark visual style in the long term unless the company releases major refinements, so for now, my workaround is going back to Waze.Before you ask, you can't go back to the previous Google Maps colors, so you'll have to stick with this awful new interface. Downgrading to an earlier Google Maps version doesn't make a difference, as the new UI was enabled with a server change.It's impossible to tell if Google is interested in this feedback, but I can only hope the company listens to its users; otherwise, I can't imagine how people will use the navigation app with the dark mode in their cars. While the Lamborghini Huracan will be replaced next year, it still has some fight left in it. As it turns out, it's particularly aggressive against the Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06. DCT The first time the world saw the Huracan model was in 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show. In 2024, it's meant to be replaced by the Revuelto-based model. The Tecnica has a 5.2-liter NA V10 engine, which delivers 631 hp (640 ps) with 417 lb-ft or 565 Nm of torque. It can hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph (325 kph). Photo: DragTimes This raises the question, is it worth the $140,000 difference? Well, let's find out. During the first race, the Corvette jumped the gun by a split second, but the Lambo decided it wasn't having any shenanigans, so it won the race just to spite its competitor. The Tecnica finished in 10.558 seconds at 131 mph, while the 'Vette did it in 11.199 seconds at 128 mph. The second time was really intense. Both cars launched at the same time and were neck and neck right until the last split second. Quite literally, because the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica crossed the finish line in 10.535 seconds at 131 mph, while the Corvette C8 Z06 finished in 10.566 seconds at 128 mph. Because it was so close and entertaining, they decided to go for a third time. Sadly for the Chevy, it didn't launch properly and got left way behind in the Lambo's rearview mirror. The Tecnica finished in 10.451 seconds at 131 mph, and the C8 in 10.995 seconds at 127 mph. The race was superb, no doubt. Seeing these two gems go head to head was a thing of beauty, even though the price difference justification is still floating in the air like a bright metallic blue elephant. The first time the world saw the Huracan model was in 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show. In 2024, it's meant to be replaced by the Revuelto-based model. The Tecnica has a 5.2-liter NA V10 engine, which delivers 631 hp (640 ps) with 417 lb-ft or 565 Nm of torque. It can hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph (325 kph).It's RWD with a 7-speed transmission system, weighs 3,350 lbs., and costs nearly $300,000. It's just $20k shy of double the cost of the Corvette C8 Z06 This raises the question, is it worth the $140,000 difference? Well, let's find out. During the first race, the Corvette jumped the gun by a split second, but the Lambo decided it wasn't having any shenanigans, so it won the race just to spite its competitor.The Tecnica finished in 10.558 seconds at 131 mph, while the 'Vette did it in 11.199 seconds at 128 mph.The second time was really intense. Both cars launched at the same time and were neck and neck right until the last split second. Quite literally, because the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica crossed the finish line in 10.535 seconds at 131 mph, while the Corvette C8 Z06 finished in 10.566 seconds at 128 mph.Because it was so close and entertaining, they decided to go for a third time. Sadly for the Chevy, it didn't launch properly and got left way behind in the Lambo's rearview mirror. The Tecnica finished in 10.451 seconds at 131 mph, and the C8 in 10.995 seconds at 127 mph.The race was superb, no doubt. Seeing these two gems go head to head was a thing of beauty, even though the price difference justification is still floating in the air like a bright metallic blue elephant. Undoubtedly, these blue beauties are as stunning as they come. They're painfully pricey in this economy, or any economy for that matter, but luckily, we're merely window shopping. So our bank accounts are way behind the yellow line.The Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06, otherwise whispered in secret as the "American Ferrari," comes with a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. The Vette's powerplant can produce 670 hp (679 ps) with 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque and weighs 3,600 lbs. or 1,633 kg.Pushing it over the horizon is its rear-wheel drive system, together with an 8-speed. After all is said and done, this model will run you $160,000.It's important to note that the C8 Z06 is the first regular production 'Vette from the past 70 years with a rear-mounted engine (technically a rear mid-engine setup). Aside from bragging rights, this also means the rear wheels have more grip, better acceleration, and overall better performance.Switching over to the Italian side, we have the lovely Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica , specially designed for the track. It's being driven by Brooks Weisblat from "DragTimes." AMG You have to wait "a few years" to get your hands on it, according to the Mercedes CEO , but "the daughter or son of the big G is going to come to G fans around the world." This is where the official stuff ends, and the speculation begins, starting with its name and ending with its size and powertrain options.Word on the street is that they might christen it the g-Class (or the g-class) instead of the G-Class to emphasize its smaller nature. Nonetheless, it might not be that small, as the Suzuki Jimny won't be its biggest rival in the segment. Chances are it will actually take a swing as the two-door versions of the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, albeit with a premium twist and the obvious price boost.Another big news revolves around the power options, as it has been reported that it won't launch with internal combustion engines at all. The three-pointed star could use the MMA architecture, which was developed for electric vehicles and features the 800V tech for quicker charging times. At first glance, this might come as a shock, given the hairy-chested nature of the real G-Wagen, but let's not forget that Mercedes is also putting the final touches on the EQG as we speak, as the model will survive the electric era with all-quiet power and no tailpipes.Considering that it is still a few years away, it is likely that its design hasn't been approved yet. However, it will probably resemble a smaller G-Class with similar boxy proportions. Starting from this idea several rendering artists have already sketched it out . The latest digital take on the model came from SRK Designs on YouTube and shows it dressed up in off-road attire, looking ready to take on some arduous tracks and emerge victorious.The boxy styling is on deck, alongside the famous round headlamps inspired by its larger sibling and a normal Mercedes grille with horizontal slats, as it is not in theflavor (there's no word so far about a possible version signed by the Affalterbach sub-brand). The off-roader has wide fenders, underbody protection, a large bulbar up front integrated into the steel bumper, humongous tires wrapped around its wheels, a big ground clearance, and a roof rack complete with additional lights.We think this is an exaggerated unofficial take on the baby G, as it could look more down-to-earth once it breaks cover. Nevertheless, tuning companies are bound to release some interesting upgrades for it, and in a more extreme proposal, its off-roading credentials could be boosted. All we have to do now is wait and see how it looks, what powers it, and how big it is. Three brands come to mind immediately when speaking about high-end luxury sedans: Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Maybach. Nonetheless, some would argue that the latter cannot compete with the former two, as its proposals are normal Benz S-Classes with extra appointments. SUV Photo: Brabus kW Photo: Brabus Truth be told, it is hard to compete against the likes of the Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost with the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class . Not to mention the mighty Phantom that sits in a league of its own as the epitome of four-door luxury. But then again, the three-pointed star has no problem selling Maybach versions of the S-Class worldwide, not to mention the GLS or the EQS, with the latter representing their first-ever venture into the electric game.Do you know what's missing from Maybach's current portfolio? That would be a Pullman version of the latest S-Class . The one before it came out in the mid-2010s as a chauffeur-driven limousine that is so long that it wouldn't fit in most garages. It measures 6.5 meters (255.9 in) in length, a whole meter more than the normal Maybach, and is almost 1.6 meters (63 in) wide. At over 4.4 meters (173.2 in) long, the space between the two axles is truly staggering, as you could, theoretically, fit an entire VW Polo there, and you'd still have room to spare.Due to the massive space, the rear compartment of the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 (and S 650) Pullman has two sets of seats facing each other for ultimate business meetings on the go. Separating the peasants in the front from the immortals in the rear is a partition wall that can be operated electrically, doubled by an 18.5-inch monitor. As you can expect, stuff such as high-end audio, luxurious materials, folding tables, curtains for extra privacy, and ultra-comfortable seats are included here, alongside the multi-zone climate control. This model manages to offer everything required from a limo without going over the top.You probably know that the V12 engine is a dying breed, not only at Mercedes but also across the industry. However, it is the sole firepower here, with the Pullman boasting a 6.0-liter V12 unit assisted by two turbochargers. The output and torque aren't impressive at all, but they are enough to keep it in the single-digit zone when it comes to the zero to sixty miles an hour (0 to 97 kph) sprint time.It has 523 hp (530 ps/390) and 612 lb-ft (830 Nm) of torque in the S 600 configuration and 621 hp (630 ps/463 kW) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque in the S 650 version of the Pullman (and not only). China's S 680 is basically the same car as the S 650, with only the name being different, as number 8 is associated with wealth and luck in the People's Republic.The combined fuel consumption wouldn't interest someone who is truly in the market for a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Pullman, but Brabus says this S 600 returns the equivalent of 20.3 US mpg (11.6 l/100km) combined and emits 270 g/km of CO2. The famous tuner also claims that it can hit 62 mph (100 kph) in just five seconds flat and will tap out at 155 mph (250 kph).Their Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Pullman is a 2018 car that was first registered in the first half of the year. It has 12,365 miles (19,900 km) on the odometer and a huge amount of gear, not to mention the reinforced suspension and brakes, and LED lights. It is presented in a very temperate black-on-black look, with the usual chrome appointments here and there, and looks like a brand-new car despite turning six years old in a few months.Although it doesn't feature any Brabus goodies , the tuner was still charged with finding it a new home, and they should get a healthy commission when they flip it. The online ad, which reveals some of the highlights of this German limo, can be accessed here and does not reveal the asking price. Nonetheless, as you likely suspect, it will probably fetch some $1,000,000, or about as much as ten brand-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans, with the base model starting at $114,500 in our market.The entry-level S 500 4Matic, which is part of the latest generation S-Class that came out in 2020, has a 429 hp 3.0-liter six-banger, and the S 580 4Matic comes with 496 horsepower and a 4.0L V8 from $124,000. The electrified S 580e 4Matic is a $122,550 affair, excluding destination, options, and dealer markups.Over in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class stable, customers can choose between the S 580 and the S 680. The former has a V8 with 496 hp, and the latter brings a V12 with 621 hp. Pricing for these models starts at $193,400 and $229,000, respectively. The Maybach EQS SUV kicks off at $179,900, and the Maybach GLS at $174,350. I have to admit, I personally am not all that into trains. I mean, I like them, I understand their usefulness and how they've contributed to the creation of the modern-day society, and I have traveled plenty of miles inside them. But I never really collected trains, or researched them extensively, or built intricate dioramas to satisfy my lust for trains. Yet even I, the uninitiated that I am when it comes to trains, know a thing or two about the Union Pacific Big Boy. Photo: LEGO Ideas/Whiz Photo: LEGO Ideas/Whiz The Union Pacific Railroad needs little introduction as it is, after all, one of the oldest companies in the world. Established in 1862, it is still around, and it is presently considered the second largest railroad freight operator in the U.S., trailing after BNSF Railway.Union Pacific is the proud owner of an incredibly large fleet of some 8,300 locomotives, which zig-zag across 23 American states with regularity, covering a total of 32,200 miles (51,800 km) of railway network. Just to give you an idea of much that is, considered our planet's diameter at the equator is 7,900 miles (12,700 km)!The locomotives presently fielded by Union Pacific are among the most powerful such things you could find anywhere, including of the Challenger and Northern varieties. The company also once operated the Big Boy we're here to discuss now, one of the most impressive steam locomotives ever made.The Big Boy is a product of a crew called the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and it was only in production for three years during the Second World War (1941 - 1944). Just 25 of them were made, but they were more than enough to break records.The locomotives were made to satisfy the cargo transportation needs between Utah and Wyoming, but that's not what made them special. The first thing that did was the fact they were the only ones in the world to use a 4-8-8-4 wheel setup: the first four were used to increase stability during curves, the following 16 provided support and movement for the locomotive, and the final four held the firebox.Measuring 85 feet (26 meters) in length (almost 133 feet/40 meters complete with tender), the locomotive has the longest engine body of any such vehicle of its kind. And, tipping the scales at an impressive 772,000 pounds (350,000 kg), it was also the heaviest of the bunch.Burning coal like crazy, the Big Boy was capable of developing a total system power of up to 6,290 horsepower, more than enough for it to reach speeds of up to 80 mph (130 kph) when the conditions were right.The last railway run of the Big Boy in regular service took place back in 1959, and of the 25 units ever made only around eight survive to this day, most of them in various American museums. One of the lucky eight was briefly brought into the spotlight in the 2010s as a means to celebrate the 150th anniversary of America's first transcontinental railway, but overall these incredible pieces of engineering are slowly sinking into oblivion.Well, not if a LEGO Ideas user called Whiz has anything to say about it, because we're now facing a potential revival of the Big Boy in plastic brick form.The design was submitted to the toy maker's LEGO Ideas platform, and it's a simply (and fittingly) huge design. When fully assembled, it measures 31.5 inches long (80 cm), and that does not include the track segment it can be fitted on.The design comes together after no less than "1,950 meticulously designed components" are put in their right place, resulting in a "detailed representation of the locomotive." The designer aimed to accurately mirror the exterior design of the Big Boy, down to the aesthetics of the locomotive.The exact specs of the model are not known, but we are told the LEGO Big Boy comes with a lot of internal components, down to the boiler that in the original vehicle was used to produce the steam that powered the locomotive.Like all LEGO Ideas design, the Big Boy needs a total of 10,000 supporters to make it into production. At the time of writing there are just 815 of them, but the design has an extra 401 voting days left to reach 1,000 backers and move into the next stage, when it will have six month to reach 5,000 votes (and then another six to reach the goal set by LEGO for production).Like with all other fine ideas that try to make it into the world this way, the Big Boy might not actually make it into production. Personally, the train non-fan that I am, I kind of hope it will make it through though, as this is probably one of the best ways to cement the image of what is the largest and most powerful steam locomotive ever made into our collective memory. 3 December 2023 20:30 (UTC+04:00) Within the framework of the 28th Session of the Conference of parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28), organized in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 3, 2023, the state oil company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) hosted an event on SOCAR's decarbonization strategy and future prospects, Azernews reports. According to the information provided by SOCAR, Azerbaijan Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev had a speech at the event as the guest of honor and gave detailed information about the works and implemented programs in the direction of environmental protection and restoration of ecological balance in the country. Later, Rovshan Najaf, the president of SOCAR, who welcomed the participants of the event, gave information about SOCAR's environmental activities and goals related to reducing emissions in the medium and long term. The president of SOCAR said that reducing flaring in the gas production process to zero, reducing emission intensities, and achieving the goals of "Zero methane" and "Net Zero" by 2050 are the main goals of the company. Rovshan Najaf emphasized that these steps were taken in the direction of turning SOCAR into an exemplary energy company in terms of environmental protection, along with corporate social responsibility. During the event, a detailed presentation was held at SOCAR on environmental protection works, implemented projects, stated goals and future steps to achieve them, application of green energy in oil and gas operations, strategic goals in the field of decarbonization and energy transition. On the same day, at the same time, an event was held on the implementation of the concept of "Carbon neutrality" in Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions. Azerbaijan Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev and Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, made an opening speech at the event. In the speeches, information was given about the large-scale restoration and reconstruction projects implemented in Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions, and it was pointed out that the main goals are to ensure carbon neutrality through the application of green energy, green agriculture, and nature-friendly technologies in these areas. Later, a presentation was made about the "green energy" potential of Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions, projects implemented in this direction and future goals. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 December 2023 14:00 (UTC+04:00) Wester Azerbaijan Community issued a statement about the reportage prepared by the French-German Arte channel, Azernews reports The statement read that in the reportage prepared by the French-German Arte channel, the delusions of Armenians from Garabagh that Armenia would become stronger and "take back Garabagh" and "kill all the Turks" were included. This once again proves that Armenians left Garabagh precisely because of ethnic hatred against Azerbaijan and because they did not want to live under the Azerbaijani flag. It was noted that the recent statements about the inadmissibility of the return of Azerbaijanis in Armenian society, the actions held by the Armenian opposition in recent years in the capital Yerevan with the participation of thousands of people under the slogan "Armenia without Turks" show that the Armenian society has not only been unable to get rid of the feeling of Azerbaijanophobia, but on the contrary, this trend has become stronger. The lack of reaction to such racist acts by some states and organizations trying to impose themselves on everyone as the international community raises questions. Why do not France, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, "Freedom House", "Amnesty International" condemn these cases? "If the Armenian authorities really want to achieve lasting peace with Azerbaijan, then they must seriously fight against the dangerous Azerbaijanophobia raging in the Armenian society," the statement emphasized. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The 5th World Media Summit (WMS) has kicked off in Guangzhou, China, Azernews reports. The 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. Azerbaijan is represented by Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov, Chairman of the AZERTAC Board Vugar Aliyev, Head of the Section on Foreign Media Affairs of the Department for Work with NGOs and Communication of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Orkhan Sattarov. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the summit will address topics including bolstering media confidence, coping with opportunities and challenges presented by new technologies, exploring new markets in the digital age, and striving for a shared future in global media cooperation. Speakers included Hu Heping, Executive Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party, Wang Weizhong, governor of Guangdong province, Fu Hua, President of Xinhua News Agency, Sue Brooks, Reuters Managing Director, First Deputy Director General of TASS agency Mikhail Gusman. Speeches mainly centered around active news exchange, application of artificial intelligence, challenges facing journalism etc. The summit will run until December 8 with plenary and panel sessions. Co-initiated by a collection of media organizations with global influence -- including Xinhua News Agency, the Associated Press, Reuters, TASS Russian News Agency, the first summit, organized by Xinhua, was held in Beijing in 2009. With Moscow hosting the second in 2012, followed by the third in Doha, Qatar, in 2016, and Beijing in 2021 for the fourth summit via video link, the World Media Summit has demonstrated its commitment to inclusivity and a diverse representation of global media perspectives. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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) 3 December 2023 15:40 (UTC+04:00) Western Azerbaijani Community issued a statement about Alexandra Khantaki, the special rapporteur of the UN on cultural rights, allegedly made absurd claims about the "destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in Karabakh," Azernews reports. The statement reads: "First of all, we would like to emphasize that the completely anti-Azerbaijani content and tone of the special rapporteur's letter, and the fact that Armenian diplomats immediately shared it with joy, suggest that the letter was written in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. We strongly condemn and categorically reject the claims of the special rapporteur that threaten the sovereignty of Azerbaijan. It is also unacceptable for the special rapporteur to use fictional toponyms such as "Nagorno-Karabakh", "Mardakert", "Karmir Shuka", "Khramort": Let the special rapporteur of the UN go and use the toponyms presented by the UN itself." let him get acquainted with the important documents. It is sad that the special rapporteur of the UN, who spoke about the "deportation of Armenians from Lachin", has disrespected international law and turned into a full-time Azerbaijanophobe, falling into a pitiful situation. This letter discredits the UN itself. We regret to inform you that the destruction of the historical and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people both in Armenia and in the territories that were occupied at the time has not been reacted to by the UN and UNESCO, and silence has been shown. As you know, the special rapporteur is also an expert on Caucasian Albania, and the fact that the Udi community visited the religious centers in Garabagh hurt him. The special rapporteur states that the Blue Mosque in Yerevan is not an "Azerbaijani heritage". In general, it is not known what the purpose of A. Khantaki is with these nonsense claims. If A. Khantaki's goal is "Armenian heritage", then what does he have to do with the Blue Mosque! The special rapporteur also deliberately distorted the activities of the Western Azerbaijani Community. It was noted that the special rapporteur should correct his gross mistake and express his opinion on the destruction of the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people by Armenia and contact the Armenian government in this regard. Otherwise, it will be fully proven that he acts on the basis of ethnic and religious sympathies and that he is an Azerbaijanophobe. "In general, one gets the impression that one of the reasons why A. Khantaki is so biased that he is from Greece. We demand the special rapporteur to act independently and impartially in accordance with his mandate, to put an end to low claims against Azerbaijan," the statement emphasized". --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 December 2023 17:55 (UTC+04:00) Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov visited the UAE at the invitation of Adnan Z. Amin, Chief Executive Officer of COP28 for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Azernews reports. According to the information provided by the Energy Ministry, the minister and his delegation will be held on December 4-5 in Dubai, UAE, within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) "Renewable energy and He will participate in the round table of the Ministers of Energy Efficiency, as well as in the event dedicated to investment opportunities in the field of green energy in Azerbaijan, which will be organized in the Azerbaijan pavilion. It is planned to hold bilateral meetings within the framework of the visit. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 December 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00) Japan is considering up to $230 mln in financial aid to Egypt because of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the neighbouring Gaza Strip, NHK World-Japan reported, Azernews reports. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about the plan at a dinner in the United Arab Emirates on Friday. Kishida said Egypt has played an important role during the conflict by continuing diplomatic efforts and delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, with which it borders. Japan would consider providing financial support to Egypt, which has faced difficult economic and financial conditions, he added. The conflict between Israel and Hamas is adding to the problems caused by soaring food and fuel prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Kishida also said it was important to suspend fighting in Gaza and de-escalate the conflict. He added that all sides should adhere to international laws and take all measures to prevent civilian casualties. Sisi thanked Japan for its support in trying to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the importance of efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire. He said the international community must take serious measures for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian problem. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 December 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00) The Turkish army has neutralized three PKK terrorist members in Operation Claw-Lock zone, northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Sunday, Azernews report, citing Anadolu Agency. The ministry said on X: "As a result of our determined operations in the area of Operation Claw-Lock, three PKK terrorists were identified and neutralized by the Turkish Armed Forces." Turkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last year in April to target the PKK terror groups hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq, located near the Turkish border. In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and European Union has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is its Syrian branch. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 December 2023 18:59 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye on Saturday welcomed a decision by the UN Security Council to lift an arms embargo on Somalia, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. "We wish this historic decision will usher a new era which will sow the seeds of peace, prosperity and strong hopes for the future of Somalia," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that Ankara "as always, will continue to stand by the people of Somalia and support Somalia in this new era." The statement came after the Security Council on Friday unanimously voted to lift the final restrictions on weapons deliveries to Somalia's government and its security forces. The Security Council first imposed a general and complete arms embargo on Somalia in 1992 as a reaction to the then-conflict and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 December 2023 20:05 (UTC+04:00) The first electric vehicle (EV) of China's automotive company Chery has rolled off the production line in Indonesia, the company said on Saturday at its production base in Bekasi, a city east of the capital Jakarta, Azernews reports, citing Xinhua. President of Chery International Zhang Guibin is optimistic about the Indonesian market, as the carmaker has received positive appreciation from customers. "The OMODA E5 EVs locally assembled in Indonesia will be launched soon. They carry the latest technology and our commitment to environmentally friendly innovations that are comfortable for consumers as well," Zhang said. Indonesian Coordinating Minister for the Economy Affairs Airlangga Hartarto expressed his hope that Chery would make Indonesia a production base for exports, especially for consumers in Southeast Asian countries. China's automotive company Chery's electric vehicle model OMODA E5 is seen during the rolling off ceremony in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2023. The first electric vehicle (EV) of China's automotive company Chery has rolled off the production line in Indonesia, the company said on Saturday at its production base in Bekasi, a city east of the capital Jakarta. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 December 2023 22:10 (UTC+04:00) A volcano in western Indonesia erupted Sunday, belching a column of ash around three kilometers into the sky, officials said, Azernews reports, citing Al Arabiya. Ash from Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra was observed 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) above its peak, according to Hendra Gunawan, head of Indonesias Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties after the eruption at 2:54 pm local time (0754 GMT). The column of ash was observed in grey color with thick intensity leaning toward the east, Gunawan said in a statement. The eruption is still ongoing. The volcano, with a peak of 2,891 meters, is on the third-highest alert level of Indonesias four-step system and authorities imposed an exclusion zone around Marapis crater. Communities around the Marapi volcano and tourists are not allowed to hike the Marapi volcano within a three kilometer radius from its crater/peak, Gunawan said. Ahmad Rifandi, an official at the Mount Marapi monitoring station, told AFP that ash rain was observed after the eruption. For the ash rain, it has reached to Bukittinggi city, he said, referring to the third-largest city in West Sumatra that has a population of more than 100,000. It is hoped for people who have activities around Marapi mountain to wear hats, glasses and masks. Mount Marapi, which means Mountain of Fire, is the most active volcano on Sumatra island. The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity. In May, its most active volcano, Mount Merapi in Java, spewed lava more than two kilometers from its crater. The Southeast Asian country has nearly 130 active volcanoes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bapco Energies, the integrated energy company leading the energy transition in Bahrain, has signed an MoU with Bahrains government hospitals represented by Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). This partnership aims to support members of the community in accessing essential medical screenings, particularly those pertaining to breast cancer and colorectal issues. Under the terms of the MoU, Bapco Energies has committed to sponsor 140 mammogram and 70 colonoscopy screenings for patients of Salmaniya Medical Complex. This initiative underscores Bapco Energies commitment to community engagement and the advancement of health initiatives. The screenings are scheduled to be conducted at Awali Hospital, a state-of-the-art subsidiary of Bapco Energies, ensuring expert medical support and the highest standard of care. The MoU was signed by Bapco Energies Group CEO Mark Thomas and Government Hospitals CEO Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Ansari in the presence of Dr Tareq Hameed, Chief Medical Officer of Awali Hospital, and a number of officials from Bapco Energies and the hospital. Thomas emphasized the significance of undertaking substantial and progressive measures to improve societal well-being and align with the companys institutional values. The commitment involves making a beneficial difference in the lives of individuals and their families through the establishment of partnerships with government hospitals. The objective is to exchange resources, expertise, and knowledge, resulting in a suite of services that can effectively address healthcare issues and facilitate access to essential medical examinations. "Through this partnership, we are committed to offering essential screenings for the early detection of breast cancer and colorectal issues. The goal is to alleviate the burden on the largest medical complex in the Kingdom and ensure swifter access to crucial medical services for diverse segments of society," he added. Lauding the Bapco Energies initiative, Dr Al Ansari said: "Our partnership with Bapco Energies will enhance the services offered to patients of government hospitals and is seen as a tangible manifestation of the community partnership between the health sector and various development sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain." "This collaboration is crucial for achieving the nations desired goals and aspirations," he added. Adrienne Steiner-Brett and Ginny Driscoll, assistant professors of music therapy, along with Pitt County Group Homes Foundation President Jacob Parrish and Executive Director Mary Grace Bright receive a plaque for ECUs new on-campus music therapy clinic. (Photos by Rhett Butler) Musical notes from the Sonic Gates were the perfect accompaniment to the ceremony announcing a new music therapy clinic in the East Carolina University School of Music.The space in 219 Joyner East was dedicated Friday to the Pitt County Group Homes Foundation (PCGHF) in an event on the Sonic Plaza. The naming honors the foundation's longstanding relationship with ECU, including gifts and commitments totaling $60,000 to support the music therapy program.The music therapy clinic is dedicated to all those seeking healing and comfort through the power of music, said Dr. Linda Kean, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. Kean thanked the donors for the opportunity to share the music therapy clinic with the community as aKean said.Christopher Dyba, vice chancellor for university advancement, recognized the longstanding partnership between ECU and the Pitt County Group Homes and described its philanthropic support as one part of their 40-year relationship.Dyba said.Dyba said the foundation created a priority fund to support the new on-campus clinic and is establishing a scholarship endowment in music therapy. The fund will allow the College of Fine Arts and Communication and the School of Music to meet one of its top priorities of supporting clinic operations.The School of Music and ECU faculty have been pioneers of music therapy. Chris Ulffers, director of the School of Music, said his knowledge of the program was formed by former faculty, Drs. Barbara Memory and Michelle Hairston, who attended the clinic announcement.Ulffers said.Ulffers also recognized the impact of music therapy pioneer the late Dr. Ruth Boxberger. She was the first woman to earn a doctorate in music therapy in 1963 and is considered one of the founders of the profession. Boxberger taught at ECU from 1967 to 1987.Ulffers said.Ulffers said the clinic will bring music therapy services to the community by creating access to innovative new health care and wellness options in eastern North Carolina and by providing access to evidence-based and advanced clinic training and research opportunities for ECU faculty and students.Ulffers said.The ECU music therapy department and Pitt County Group Homes have been friends since 1984 when the first group home opened in Grifton.Mary Grace Bright, PCGHF's executive director, remembered former ECU faculty member Dr. Rosemary Fisher's weekly visits to share her love of music with residents, Bright said.Bright said.As new group homes were added and the music therapy program grew, residents began coming to the ECU campus for music therapy. The Heart and Soul Choir was formed and many residents joined and continue to participate today.When Bright retired in 2021, music therapy students and faculty helped the choir write a song to honor her.Bright said.Faculty with the music therapy department found ways to provide services during the pandemic when group homes were on lockdown for months.Bright said.Bright said.Music therapy students, program clients, PCGHF board members and former music therapy faculty cheered as the plaque honoring the group homes was unveiled.Driscoll and Steiner-Brett provided tours of the new space, where guests could see musical instruments arranged in stations based on age group and ability and supply closets ready to house new music therapy equipment.Seeing the clinic become a reality was exciting for Cheryl Stephenson '85, who studied music therapy at ECU. As director of the Music Academy of Eastern Carolina she frequently collaborates with the music therapy program.Stephenson said. 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. Derry-born singer Peter Cunnah (57) has expressed regret about allowing his bands hit song to be made political as he continues to enjoy the fruits of his success. The D:Ream frontman has recalled living a hand-to-mouth existence before the dance-pop group hit the big time back in the 1990s when he spent 2,000 getting a new suit or two made every week by William Hunt. Things Can Only Get Better was among the string of hits and sold more than 600,000 copies to secure the Number One spot for four weeks in 1994. Three years after topping the UK charts, the track made its way back into the Top 20 after it was used as the soundtrack to the Labour Partys general election campaign. Most of us were behind Tony Blair in 1997, but then a few years later he took us to war in Iraq, so I wouldnt have any of my music associated with a political party again, Cunnah told The Sunday Times. No [one] is ever going to cover the song because of its association with Labour, so in a way I shot myself in the foot by allowing them to use it. Peter Cunnah of D:Ream Despite other hits, such as U R The Best Thing and Shoot Me With Your Love, Cunnah quit showbiz for a while when he was just 36. As soon as I tasted chart success with D:Ream, my manager told me in a thick East End accent to put the money in bricks and mortar, he recalled. So I bought a four-bedroom house in west London for 178,000. I sold it in 1999 for 350,000 and paid 450,000 for a five-bedroom house in Ealing. But after getting divorced from my first wife I downsized to a 250,000 flat. Cunnah, who now lives in Donegal with his second wife Ruth, bought Elsonore House for 260,000 four years ago a Victorian cliff-edge property overlooking Lough Swilly. The couple, who live in the top-floor apartment and rent out the two ground-floor units, have spent around 300,000 doing it up and painting it Miami blue which hasnt gone down well with some of the locals. Peter Cunnah Cunnah also admitted to splurging on the odd limited-edition signed print by the likes of Damien Hirst and said he once splashed out around 10,000 on an unforgettable helicopter ride in St Lucia for Ruth and his two grown up daughters from his previous marriage. In the candid interview, the entertainer talked about being put in a Catholic orphanage by his birth mother Ann after being born out of wedlock they met during a special moment when he was 24. Luckily I was adopted by a loving family, Cunnah said The star described his late adoptive mother Monica as a simple but glamorous Derry girl and recalled recalled how his Manchester-born dad Les (86) walked door to door from Catholic to Protestant houses as an insurance man after a career in the Royal Navy they bought him his first guitar. [He] managed to keep his mouth shut and stay safe throughout the Troubles, Cunnah added. Still earning about double the average, Cunnah still enjoys buying guitars and currently owns around 18. Cruelty of any animal is something that the courts will not tolerate Two Belfast men who admitted engaging in disgusting and despicable hare coursing in rural Co. Antrim have been handed suspended jail sentences. Despite defence counsellors for 27-year-old Darren Prenter and Patrick McGourty (28) urging Deputy Judge Martina Connolly KC to quash the suspended sentences handed out by the lower court last October, the judge said hare coursing is a blight, literally, on the landscape and it involved horrific cruelty on animals. Cruelty of any animal is something that the courts will not tolerate, declared the judge adding that hare coursing in effect is a day out of planned cruelty. At an earlier hearing in the Magistrates Court Prenter, from Velsheda Court and McGourty, from Cranbrook Court, entered guilty pleas to aggravated trespass on Glenwherry Moor where they disrupted habitat management by engaging in hare coursing on 22 January this year. A third man, Patrick Robert Shannon, 51, from Annesley Street, also entered guilty pleas and he is due to be sentenced next week. Following the admissions, the PPS withdrew two further charges of killing game, namely a hare on a Sunday and participating in a hare coursing event. The judge in that court handed the pair two month jail sentences which he suspended for three years in order to give them every incentive not to reoffend. This wasnt a casual endeavour, said the judge, these men went all the way from Belfast to this area; they didnt decide to do this on the way home from the pub, this was a deliberate act but Im minded to leave something hanging over their heads that will encourage them not to repeat this behaviour. The pair opted to appeal those sentences however and in Coleraine County Appeal Court on Thursday, a PPS lawyer described how the moors game keeper alerted the police to suspected hare coursing and shortly after police arrived beside a people carrier, the three defendants came walking across fields with three lurcher dogs and a springer spaniel. Police spoke to them and they said they had been out walking their dogs, said the lawyer, adding that a search of the car revealed two dead hares behind the passenger seat. The trio were given a formal police caution and claimed they were looking for rabbits and foxesand that the hares were found by the road side. The court heard however it was likely the two dead hares had been coursed as there were puncture wounds but the defence argued there was no evidence they had been killed on Glenwherry Moor. Defence barristers for McGourty and Prenter argued that given their guilty pleas and clear records the threshold for a custodial sentence was not necessarily passed, suggesting that less draconian conditional discharges could be used to ensure the pair do not reoffend in the future. Judge Connolly said however I take the view that the custody threshold is clearly passed and the [lower] court was perfectly entitled to take that view and I echo that. She told Prenter and McGourty they had pleaded guilty to what I consider to be serious offencesthese are really horrible offences. Accordingly, she dismissed the appeal and affirmed the original sentences. Terror chief Winkie Rea said hed been betrayed by release of murder confessions Rea saw the ghosts of his bloody past return to haunt him Rea was the head of sectarian killing machine Sun 3 Dec 2023 at 20:15 Terror chief Winston Winkie Rea told the Sunday World he had been betrayed by the release of his murder confessions to the PSNI. The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney intervened to protect commercial ships under attack by Houthis (Petty Officer 3rd Class Bill Dodge/AP) A British-owned ship came under attack in the Red Sea as part of an hours-long assault by Iranian-backed rebels which forced a US warship to open fire in self-defence. The Bahamas-flagged Unity Explorer, owned by a British company, was among two commercial vessels targeted in the drone and missile assault on Sunday, according to reports by AP. The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney reportedly shot down two drones in the attack after responding to a call for assistance from the bulk carrier. The British military was reported to have said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea. Yemens Houthis have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel in response to its war against Hamas in Gaza. Earlier in November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. Missiles also landed near another US warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment. Faith leaders, bereaved families and politicians of all parties have come together in one of the UKs first mass vigils since the Israel-Hamas conflict began to speak out against antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. People stood in the cold and rain outside Downing Street and heard Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby say there is no good ever in the death of an innocent Israeli, there is no good ever in the death of an innocent Palestinian. Fighting brings agony to the families, fear for the future and it drives peace far away, he added. The vigil was arranged in an effort to help protect community relations in the UK. Justin Welby speaks at the anti-hate vigil (Yui Mok/PA) The Archbishop stepped on to the stage and said he was awed and humbled after just hearing extraordinary and remarkable testimony from survivors of the conflict with relatives who were killed on October 7, who said they wanted peace and not hatred. He told the crowd: As we are here, tomorrow there will be children thinking about going to school in the UK who dread going because they will be spat at, shouted at and hated because they are Muslim or Jewish. They will have to go without their uniforms because they identify them too clearly and that (is happening) in our streets. To applause, he added: We are called to clean up our doorstep in this country, to clean away all antisemitism and all Islamophobia, and to make sure that when we speak of peace we have lit a light of peace here that can give a beacon elsewhere. The event called Building Bridges, Together For Humanity was billed as a space to mourn the loss of life on all sides of the conflict and to stand united against antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate in the first mass event of its kind since Hamas militants entered Israel on October 7. Screenwriter Jemima Khan, who has Muslim and Jewish family members, plus barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder, who is of Jewish descent, were among those who joined the crowds. Jemima Goldsmith and Robert Rinder attended the event (Yui Mok/PA) Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who is of Palestinian descent and has a family member who died in Gaza, told the crowd that hope must come out of the bloodshed. She said: It is wonderful that so many children have been brought here today. We will do everything in our power so that this is the last time. Labour MP Stella Creasy said the people of Palestine and Israel are paying the price of the failure of politicians to find the words to deal with the conflict. Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood told the crowd they were standing in the shadows of Big Ben and at a time when our politics seems ever tribal. He said the unfolding events in the Middle East bring the serious prospect of a deepening humanitarian crisis and the unacceptable loss of lives of both sides demands us to rise above the party political. He added that this is a time to stand tall with other political voices and leaders from across our national community and to have the courage to speak up. Tobias Ellwood was among the speakers (Yui Mok/PA) The vigil was held as new figures showed 75% of people agreed that bringing people together to mourn all innocent lives lost in Israel and Palestine and stand against both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate is important given current levels of tension in the UK. The poll of 1,538 people, commissioned by Hope Not Hate and Together For Humanity, also found that 50% of people said they felt the conflict has worsened community cohesion in the UK. A total of 51% of people agreed that the war is increasing anti-Muslim hatred in the UK, 56% agreed the conflict is increasing anti-Jewish hatred. Just 11% and 9% respectively disagreed. Brendan Cox, whose wife the Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a right-wing extremist during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, was one of the vigil organisers. Brendan Cox helped organise the event (Yui Mok/PA) After hosting the event, he told the PA news agency: This is about sharing in our collective humanity. It is to leave one message which is that no matter where we disagree there can be no space for hatred, antisemitism or Islamophobia. Extremism prospers when good people go quiet. If we leave the debate to the most extreme voices then what that does is it provides a culture of hate, intolerance and dehumanisation. It is then that we know that violence results. I know that from my own family experience. I also know that when good people step forward and challenge hatred in all of its forms, particularly when it is coming from people whom you might not agree with on other issues, that it makes a huge difference. Mr Rinder told PA: This is called Together For Humanity for a reason. There is so much noise on Twitter and other social media spaces across the board that this is a gift and an opportunity to remind our nation and communities that we are alongside one another, whatever your background and whatever your faith. This is demonstrable physical proof of good, of light in the darkness and we need that now more than ever. A minutes silence was held and lanterns were lit to end the vigil. Glenys Kinnock with her husband at the Labour Summer Party at the Roundhouse, in Camden, north London (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Glenys Kinnock, wife of the one-time Labour leader, Neil (later Lord) Kinnock, became a prominent politician, and an outspoken one at that, in her own right. She served as a member of the European Parliament for some 15 years, before being appointed minister for Europe and receiving a life peerage at the same time. It was sometimes said of her, before she became an MEP, that she played a large part in formulating Labour Policy over breakfast with her husband. And even though she was regarded by some as even more of a left-wing firebrand than Neil, that story was always fiercely denied. Labour leader Neil Kinnock and his wife Glenys, fooling around on Brighton beach (Archive/PA) Baroness Kinnock had a wide field of interests but she was especially well-known for her work designed to alleviate poverty and starvation in Africa and other parts of the world. Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock (nee Parry) was born on July 7 1944, and was educated at Holyhead High School, Anglesey. She graduated from University College, Cardiff, in education and history. She met her future husband at university and they were married in 1967. Baroness Kinnock subsequently worked as a teacher in secondary, primary, infant and nursery schools. She became an MEP in 1994 and was a prominent member of several committees and for a period was Labours spokeswoman on international development in the European Parliament. But it was not all plain sailing. In 2004, she was caught up in an expenses scandal in which she was one of scores of MEPs who allegedly signed in for the day at the European Parliament (to qualify for the 175 daily allowance) and then promptly left the building. And in November, 2006 she was criticised in the press for taking what was described as a junket in Barbados to discuss world poverty issues. Then Labour leader Neil Kinnock, with his wife Glenys (right), makes his concession speech outside the Labour Party HQ in Walworth Road following their defeat in the 1992 general election (Fiona Hanson/PA) She had the unenviable reputation as the most travelled British MEP and, along with her husband, also acquired the no less enviable title as Brussels very own Lord and Lady Expenses. Baroness Kinnock was required to leave the European Parliament in 2009, when then prime minister Gordon Brown appointed her minister for Europe, following the resignation from that post of Caroline Flint. Although, when her husband was ennobled some years earlier, she was entitled to be called Lady Kinnock, it was a title she never used. However, on her appointment as minister for Europe she became a peeress in her own right. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, who was with her in her final moments, and her children Stephen, a Labour MP, and Rachel. She was described in a family tribute as an adored grandmother. French gendarmes patrol the Trocadero plaza near the Eiffel Tower after a man targeted passersbys late Saturday, killing a German tourist with a knife and injuring a British man (Christophe Ena/AP) A man who allegedly killed a German tourist and injured a British national in a suspected terror attack in Paris had pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, authorities said. The man, named by AP as Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, is accused of stabbing the German-Filipino man to death before using a hammer to injure a British man and a French national on Saturday near the Eiffel Tower. Frances anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard said he had opened an investigation into the attack on Sunday. He said Rajabpour-Miyandoab, a French national, had posted a video on X before the attack pledging his allegiance to IS alongside other recent posts in which he made references to the Israel-Hamas war. A man jogs past a blood stain at the site where a man targeted passers-by (Christophe Ena/AP) Mr Ricard said Rajabpour-Miyandoab, born in 1997, converted to Islam at the age of 18 and in 2016 planned on joining IS in Syria before being imprisoned for four years on a charge of planning violence. He received psychiatric treatment and was under surveillance for suspected extremism, the prosecutor confirmed. Three other people from Rajabpour-Miyandoabs entourage and family have been detained by police for questioning, Mr Ricard said. After killing the tourist, the attacker crossed the bridge to the citys right bank and injured the British and French nationals, authorities said. Mr Ricard said both of them were able to get back home on Sunday. Emmanuel Macron sent condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died (Peter Dejong/AP) The suspect cried Allahu Akbar (God is great) and a police officer twice tasered the suspect before arresting him, authorities said. French interior minister Gerald Darmanin reportedly said that when questioned by police, the suspect expressed anguish about Muslims dying, notably in Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, and claimed that France was an accomplice. Mr Darmanin said this person was ready to kill others, and praised the quick response of the police. In a statement to the PA news agency, a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said: We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris and are in contact with the local authorities. Writing on X on Saturday, Frances president Emmanuel Macron said: I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening during the terrorist attack in Paris and think with emotion of the people currently injured and in care. My most sincere thanks to the emergency forces who made it possible to quickly arrest a suspect. A powerful explosion, believed to have been caused by a bomb, ripped through a Catholic Mass, killing four people and injuring dozens of others (Provincial Government of Lanao Del Sur Public Information Office/AP) The president of the Philippines has blamed foreign terrorists for a bomb blast that killed four Catholic worshippers and injured dozens of other people in the south, and sparked alarm, including in the capital, Manila, where state forces were put on alert. The suspected bomb, which the police said was made from a mortar round, exploded while students and teachers were attending Mass in a gymnasium at Mindanao State University in southern Marawi city on Sunday morning, Taha Mandangan, the security chief of the state-run campus, told the Associated Press. Dozens of students and teachers dashed out of the gym and the wounded were taken to hospitals. Students and teachers were attending Mass in a gymnasium at Mindanao State University when the bomb went off (Froilan Gallardo/AP) Regional military commander Major Generak Gabriel Viray III said four people were killed by the blast, including three women, and 50 others were taken to two hospitals for treatment. Six of the injured are fighting for their lives, said Mamintal Adiong Jr, governor of the Islamic province of Lanao del Sur, which has Marawi as its capital. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said in a statement: Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao State University. Mr Marcos did not explain why he immediately blamed foreign militants for the high-profile bombing. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr later told a news conference without elaborating that there was a strong indication of a foreign element in the bombing. Dozens of people were taken to hospital after the blast (Froilan Gallardo/AP) Military chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr said the bomb attack could be retaliation by Muslim militants for a series of battle setbacks. We are looking at possible angles, he said. It could be a retaliatory attack. He cited the killing of 11 suspected Islamic militants in a military offensive backed by air strikes and artillery fires on Friday near Datu Hoffer town in southern Maguindanao province. Regional police director Brigadier General Allan Nobleza said the killed militants belonged to Dawlah Islamiyah, an armed group that had aligned itself with the Islamic State group and still has a presence in Lanao del Sur province. Mosque-studded Marawi city came under attack from foreign and local Islamic militants who had associated themselves with the Islamic State group in 2017. The five-month siege left more than 1,100 dead, mostly militants, before it was quelled by Philippine forces backed by air strikes and surveillance planes deployed by the United States and Australia. A Filipino trooper guards the entrance of the site where a bomb exploded in Marawi, southern Philippines (Froilan Gallardo/AP) Army troops and police cordoned off the university shortly after the bombing and began an investigation, checking security cameras for any indication of who may have been responsible for the attack. Security checkpoints were set up around the city. Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta told reporters that military and police bomb experts found fragments of a 60mm mortar round at the scene of the attack. Such explosives fashioned from mortar rounds have been used in past attacks by Islamic militants in the countrys south. The deadly blast set off a security alarm beyond Marawi city as the Christmas season ushered in a period of travel, shopping sprees and traffic jams across the country. Police and other state forces were put under heightened alert in metropolitan Manila, security officials said. Filipino troopers man a checkpoint near the site where a bomb exploded in Marawi, southern Philippines (Froilan Gallardo/AP) The Philippine coast guard said it ordered all its personnel to intensify intelligence gathering, stricter inspections of passenger ferries and the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs and sea marshals. Amid this barbaric act, best public service must prevail, coast guard chief Admiral Ronnie Gavan said. The southern Philippines is the homeland of minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation and the scene of decades-old separatist rebellions. The largest armed insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed a 2014 peace deal with the government, considerably easing decades of fighting. But a number of smaller armed groups rejected the peace pact and press on with bombings and other attacks while evading government offensives. Brave consultant anaesthetist saving lives in Sierra Leone A soldier on the streets of Sierra Leone (Photo by SAIDU BAH/AFP via Getty Images) A consultant anaesthetist has refused to abandon a mercy mission to Sierra Leone despite an attempted military coup. Dr Michael McBrien, from Templepatrick, was told of the trouble as he was about to board a plane from Brussels to Freetown, the capital of the west African country, but went ahead anyway. At least 23 people have died in the violence so far and thousands of freed prisoners remain on the loose. Dr McBrien said: Gunmen attacked military barracks and prisons, releasing 2,000 prisoners, many of whom were apparently supporters of the opposition to President Julius Maada Bio, who was elected in June under contentious circumstances. Dr McBrien in theatre He works several weeks every year with the Christian Mercy Ships charity, which operates floating hospitals for people in dire need. After being told of the coup, Dr McBrien sent a message to his ship, the Global Mercy, and was assured he and the other volunteers would be safe. When he arrived in Freetown, he and his team were unable to leave the airport because a curfew had been imposed. An army chief eventually escorted them the five miles from the airport to a hotel in total darkness. The following morning, they were told the attempted coup had been contained and were taken to the Global Mercy. While a night-time curfew remained in place for several days, the team members were able to set about their work. Their ship, which will stay in Freetown for 10 months, offers free surgery and medical and nursing training. Dr McBrien said: The need is great in an impoverished country of eight million. A soldier on the streets of Sierra Leone (Photo by SAIDU BAH/AFP via Getty Images) The operations that are carried out by his team include tumour removal, cleft lip and palate correction, cataract removal, orthopaedics and plastic surgeries. Dr McBrien said the 450 volunteers on the Global Mercy came from 40 countries and saw themselves as followers of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to patients, no matter what beliefs or religion they hold. It is a privilege to be able to use your skills to help people who have nothing, he added. Each patient I have had the opportunity to care for was memorable, from the youngest child of three months to the oldest adult, aged around 60. As Dr McBrien continues to help people with nowhere else to turn, an uneasy calm has been restored on the streets. Government officials said 14 suspected leaders of the attempted coup had been arrested, but only a handful of the freed prisoners have been apprehended. Nuala McGowan puts her many talents into action in The Night Before Christmas Daniel Rivers as the Duckling, Katie Shortt as Queen Talia and Nuala McGowan as the Little Pig Nuala as the Little Pig in The Night Before Christmas Actress, singer and musician Nuala McGowan is delighted to be using all her talents in a new festive show that opened at Belfasts Mac over the weekend. She said anyone who buys a ticket for the high-energy The Night Before Christmas could expect a feast for the senses. Moving between the characters of Jem, Grandmother and Little Pig, the actress is one of a talented cast of five who sing and play instruments throughout. It is quite nostalgic in that it is about stories you would have had read to you as a child, and its full of music and singing, Nuala said. The light projection is just amazing, absolutely gorgeous. Everyone is going to love it. (The show) is happy, energetic and really heart-warming. Its been a joy to work on. The 33-year-old is originally from Lisburn but moved to London as a teenager to study drama. Daniel Rivers as the Duckling, Katie Shortt as Queen Talia and Nuala McGowan as the Little Pig As well as an impressive list of theatre credits, she landed a role in the horror film The Pointer, only to be left gutted after its cinema release was cancelled because of the pandemic. It was a brilliant experience, and the film actually was nominated for a best newcomer award at the Baftas, Nuala told Sunday life. I was part of a really small cast of just seven. It was filmed in an abandoned hospital in Essex and set in the 70s. We all had to wear nurse costumes, which was really funny because my mum was actually a nurse in the early 80s. The cinema release was cancelled because of Covid, and instead it was streamed on the horror platform Shutter. My friends are all too scared to watch it. The Pointer was not her first role on screen. She and her twin sister Niamh appeared in the acclaimed 2016 comedy short Rhonna & Donna, by award-winning Croatian director Daina Oniunas-Pusic, playing conjoined twins. Nuala joked: We literally were joined at the hip throughout filming. It was so rare to get to act with her. It was a great experience and the film did really well. Theatre was my first love, and as someone who likes to crack a joke, I love doing comedies because you get to laugh. Nuala on stage with her guitar Nuala finishes on The Night Before Christmas on January 7, and the following day begins rehearsals for Teachers, which runs from January 25 until February 10, also at the Mac. She will then return to England for her second year in The Velveteen Rabbit with the Spinning Wheel Theatre company. As well as acting, she plays the bodhran and sings in the traditional band Ceolini with her best friend and two sisters, performing at festivals and events in London. Her latest role at the Mac allows her to combine her love of singing and music with acting, Nuala said: This show has loads of singing and everyone plays an instrument. Allison Harding (her co-star, who plays the Storyteller) turned up with 17 instruments. I play four the guitar, the bodhran, the saxophone and the ukulele. It has been very organic how the music has been put together, and weve all joked we want to be able to learn three new instruments each before the show finishes. It is my first Christmas show and I am very excited. Its a feast for the senses. The Night Before Christmas will bring fairytale characters to life. As well as Nuala and Allison, it features Sean Kearns as the Commissioner and the Big Bad Wolf. Daniel Rivers plays the Duckling and Little Pig, and Katie Shortt is Queen Talia and the Little Match Girl. Director Lisa May said audiences were in for a treat. Both quaint and quirky, our Christmas show boasts a stunning set, fabulous costumes, wonderful special effects and a beautiful new score by Garth McConaghie, she added. The show is co-written by Stephen Beggs and Simon Magill, and produced by the Mac. The Night Before Christmas runs at the MAC until January 7. Visit www.themaclive.com for bookings and information Salvation Army teams up with Glentoran as it faces busiest year because of cost-of-living crisis Northern Irelands longest-running Christmas toy appeal is braced for its busiest year yet as more families face a choice between heating and eating. The Salvation Army expects record demand for help in the run-up to the festive season as more people feel the pinch because of the cost-of-living crisis. Glentoran FC, who also run an Christmas initiative, have joined forces with the church to ensure no child misses out. The Family Appeal has been helping bring festive cheer to countless families for the past 44 years. Sean Patterson, who manages Glen Alva, one of two Salvation Army homelessness hostels in Belfast, said: We have 77 families here and 72 in our other hostel, Grove House. Many are local families who have lost their homes this year because they couldnt afford to pay the rent. We always had a wee source of food and vouchers and other stuff donated throughout the year to help make life that little bit easier for people in the hostel, but that hasnt been happening this year. People arent donating because they have so much stress in their own home lives with trying to keep themselves warm. It is the worst year I have seen in 15 years. Sean is hoping people will dig deep and donate to this years appeal, which he expects will be needed more than ever. The appeal is so important, the generosity of people is quite incredible, he said. Thousands of families apply for help, and this year we already have people asking how they can apply. Usually people try to put a few quid away each week for Christmas, but no one has the money to spare this year as they are struggling to keep warm and feed their children. Our volunteers spring to life in December its like a real version of the movie Elf as they distribute the toys, which are usually stacked 30 foot high, from our main drop-off point in Belfast. When you see the faces of the children and the worry lifting from the parents, it really is priceless. We just hope people will dig deeper than ever to help as we expect a record number of applications this year. Salvation Army services manager Sean Patterson As well as donations from the public, the appeal is indebted to the support of business partners including Tesco and Bridge Commercials, which help distribute the items. Last year the appeal brought toys to more than 5,200 children in 2,500 families. New and unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at all Salvation Army churches and centres, as well as some Tesco stores, until December 15. Members of the public and businesses are encouraged to make a donation online or in person. Whether you wish to contribute towards craft items, books, family board games or gifts for teenagers, all donations are gratefully received. Applications for support are primarily made to The Salvation Army through social workers, health visitors, teachers and other professionals. Salvation Army divisional commander Neil Webb said the appeal brought happiness to countless children and their families at what can be a very difficult time of the year. We want to reach out to the people who are suffering the most by bringing joy and hope into their lives this Christmas, he added. We rely mainly on gifts donated by the general public, as well as our partners and donors. We could not do this without their help. We have every confidence that this years appeal will be a success because the people of Northern Ireland have generous and loving hearts. Glentoran FC director Ian Clarke echoed his comments. Volunteers within our club have been running the Glentoran Christmas Appeal for the homeless and local families for nearly a decade, so we are delighted to be involved in this initiative from the Salvation Army, he said. This is a time of extreme hardship for a rapidly increasing section of our communities, so it is increasingly important that, particularly at Christmas, those among us who can help bring comfort and joy to others take every opportunity to do so. If you would like to donate to the Salvation Army Christmas appeal, visit www.justgiving.com/page/familyappeal. For further information, see www.salvationarmy.org.uk/family-appeal, call (028) 9067 5000 or email familyappeal@salvationarmy.org.uk Police believe shamed civil servant Damien Craig, who confessed to abusing two little girls at his wifes child-minding business, could have even more victims. The 64-year-old was handed an eight-year sentence half to be spent in prison, the rest on licence following a highly charged hearing on Monday. Downpatrick Crown Court was told Craig manipulated all those around him the children, their families and his own wife. Sunday Life tried to contact his spouse, who was a registered child minder, but got no response. Read more Hiding in plain sight: Victim and families speak out after paedophile husband of NI childminder jailed Craig, a former senior civil servant, found himself at the centre of a police investigation after a brave tot told her mum he was touching her where he should not have been. The sicko later confessed to police officers, describing it as a moment of madness, but we now know there was at least one more victim. Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan said: The second child very quickly came forward, and again he then made full admissions and finished with the line but Ive never done it any other time, its just those two. We have reason to believe there are more (victims). During the course of the investigation, we spoke to the families of more than 20 children. We believe they could have been at risk. We also believe he could have used other positions he could have had in the community to make contact and abuse other children. Asked if Craig was possibly a prolific offender, the officer replied: Spanning many years. She continued: He created this false narrative of himself that he was an upstanding member of the community, that he had a good job. He presented himself as mild mannered, but it was a mask to allow him access to peoples children to normalise sexual behaviour. I am an experienced detective, and I was shocked by how he presented himself, the abuse of trust and the impact it has had on families and the whole community. I want to commend the bravery of those two girls who came forward. It doesnt matter what age you are or how long ago it was, you will be heard. The teenager who courageously spoke to Sunday Life about what Craig had done to her urged others to follow in her footsteps. She said: Speak out. Its okay to say youre not okay and bring the people who abused you to justice. Asked if she felt better now Craig was behind bars, she replied: Its something Im going to have to work on, (but) Ill be better, yes. Actor and playwright on making ends meet in tough times as her new comedy runs at the MAC Playwright Caroline Curran has spoken of her admiration for hospitality workers ahead of the opening of her new Christmas play Are Yule Being Served? The Belfast-based writer revealed how pubs and restaurants are a godsend to actors, supplementing their incomes while they are out of work between stage and screen jobs. Drawing on these experiences Caroline penned Are Yule Being Served? a bittersweet adult comedy that opens at the Mac Theatre on December 7. The east Belfast mum explained how Covid-19 decimated the acting industry, forcing many of her colleagues into jobs in the hospitality trade. The play took a few months to write. There was three drafts, said Caroline, who had a part-time job cleaning in a major supermarket. I put a call out on social media for people in the hospitality trade to talk to me about their experiences. I was hoping that one or two got back to me, but no joke, there was around 100. For actors hospitality work is a stop-gap. You need stability and to pay your bills when there is no jobs in our industry. You need to sustain yourself. Caroline Curran Caroline revealed how her last Christmas play, the acclaimed Jingle All the Hairspray, was rained off from its run at the Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey because of Covid-19. But rather than wallow in self-pity she bounced back, using it as inspiration for Are Yule Being Served? She said: The reason why I did this play is because last year I didnt have any jobs. So I decided, because I wanted to do something at Christmas, I decided to fund it myself. Its all about moving forward and taking risks. I met the people from the Mac and asked what are you doing at Christmas? I had my previous show Jingle All the Hairspray, which was very successful with five actors, but we got rained off because of Covid. So no one really got to see it, but I kept the set. So I had this show ready to go, but it was for a bigger space. Are Yule Being Served? is set in the fictional Wind Your Neck Inn which Caroline describes as a downmarket Crawfordsburn Inn. Caroline Curran as a waitress in Are Yule Being Served? She diplomatically refuses to reveal if the inn is based on a real-life Belfast bar, only hinting its somewhere which you think is going to be classy, but the reality is different. Set on Christmas Eve, the pub is packed with staff run off their feet covering a wedding, wake and demands from the regulars. The storyline is loosely autobiographical, about an ageing actress who is turning 40, explained Caroline. Shes working in the Wind Your Neck Inn, and she gets this opportunity from her agent for a big job. I play a waitress, and we have a manager and a chef. They are the three central characters and then you have the customers we are trying to deal with as the functions are going on. Caroline promises a night of great craic, saying the hour-long show is filled with laughs, adding: Its an adult comedy, a Christmas show at heart and it will put smiles on faces and there are heartfelt moments. I suppose its bittersweet, but my shows have always had that, and there is also some music and the craic that goes with that. I want to give people a good laugh at Christmas. Are Yule Being Served? runs from December 7-31 at the Mac Theatre in Belfast. For tickets visit www.themaclive.com EXCLUSIVE | Hiding in plain sight: Victim and families speak out after paedophile husband of NI childminder jailed Co Down civil servant used access to children for sick kicks Damien Craig surrounded by children, including one of his victims Sharon O'Neill Sun 3 Dec 2023 at 08:10 A young girl who was abused by her childminders pervert husband has branded him a vile human being. Bad-tempered OAP lucky to avoid prison over attack in Coleraine This is the pensioner caught on camera throwing bleach over a homeless man in a busy town centre before making his getaway on a mobility scooter. James Hull (69) narrowly avoided jail at Coleraine Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to common assault. When Sunday Life called to his door a dishevelled Hull said it was only a wee bit of bleach, but insisted he regretted the incident nonetheless and had sent his victim an apology letter. He threw stuff around me first, I dont know what it was, some sort of liquid. It was only a wee bit of bleach but I do regret what happened, yes indeed, he said. When asked if hed like to apologise to his victim for the assault, which was caught on CCTV, he added: I wrote an apology to him in a letter. The bad-tempered retiree was slapped with an eight-month suspended prison sentence by District Judge Peter King who compared the assault to an acid attack and said the victim was fortunate not to be blinded. The court heard how the victim had been sitting outside Poundland in Church Street, Coleraine on August 2 this year when Hull approached him. After berating the injured party Hull went into a nearby branch of Poundland and bought bleach which he then proceeded to squirt all over his defenceless victim. Hull, from Hezlet Court in the town, then sped away from the scene on his mobility scooter before returning a short while later to find his victim still lying on the ground before once more spurting bleach on his face. The victim tried to protect himself while Hull continued to try and splash him with the substance before bystanders intervened and he was arrested. The court was told a Good Samaritan offered to take the victim to his home for a shower and to wipe the bleach from his face which had suffered reddening. Despite the offer the victim said: I just want to get out of the area and go back to Belfast. Defence solicitor Emma Glenn said the pensioner suffered from a multitude of health conditions and added: He had been wound up by the injured partys actions. He believed this man was trying to scam vulnerable members of the public. He is extremely regretful about what happened and had come off his medication, which caused him to behave out of character. He accepts full responsibility and is extremely thankful the injured party was not more seriously injured. District Judge King told Hull: This could have been absolutely disastrous. You could have caused life-changing injuries. The fact you didnt was not due to design, it was due to good luck. We could be looking at somebody who was scarred for life or blinded or worse. The papers are full of stories about people becoming damaged by acid attacks. I have absolutely no idea what was going through your mind. This was not a one-off, you returned. If there is anything remotely similar to this in the next three years, the starting point will be eight months imprisonment. Party committee apologises to family for unintended omission The family of a veteran republican has hit out at Sinn Fein for omitting his name from its Tyrone roll of honour. At an event last weekend in Coalisland to mark the 40th anniversary of the Army killings of IRA men Brian Campbell and Colm McGirr, a list of deceased local republicans whose names are engraved on a memorial stone was read out by Mid-Ulster MP Francie Molloy. The date also marked the 50th anniversary of IRA man Dessie Morgan being shot dead by the RUC in the town. But absent from the roll-call was Neil Lafferty, an active IRA member since the 1940s who died in 1975, a year after being released from prison on medical grounds. The omission angered his family who took to social media to question Sinn Feins motives but the party has apologised and insisted it was a mistake. Neil Laffertys grandson, who shares his name, said: As a family deeply rooted in the struggle for Irish freedom, we express our profound disappointment and deep anger regarding the recent actions of Sinn Fein during the commemoration of IRA volunteers. The exclusion of Volunteer Neil Laffertys name from the roll of honour, as unveiled and read by Francie Molloy, is a painful and incomprehensible act that betrays his lifetime of dedication to the cause of Irish freedom. Francie Molloy at the commemoration Demanding Sinn Fein offer an explanation, Neil Lafferty Jnr, who is involved with the dissident 1916 Societies, added: It is critical to acknowledge and honour all our volunteers who gave everything for Irish freedom. Overlooking their contributions is not only a disservice to their memory but also an affront to the principles and history of our cause. Sinn Fein may have recently decided to selectively commemorate IRA volunteers, but they must understand that they will never delegitimise or discredit the sacrifices made by volunteer Neil Lafferty, nor any other volunteer. A spokesperson for the Sinn Fein Tyrone Commemoration Committee said the name had not been included because of an unintended omission that would be rectified. The Sinn Fein Tyrone Commemoration Committee has apologised to the family of Volunteer Neil Lafferty for the hurt caused by the unintended omission of Neils name on a commemorative plaque, they added. Neil Laffertys name was read out from the Roll of Honour at last Sundays commemoration, and he continues to be remembered with pride by republicans across Tyrone. The Commemoration Committee will take steps immediately to address this accidental omission. Addressing last weekends commemoration, Sinn Fein MP Mr Molloy said: The Tyrone roll of honour has 55 volunteers who sadly lost their lives. A very large total of young volunteers, all young men in this area who lost their lives for the cause of Irish freedom. This is not the first time Sinn Fein has found itself caught up in a roll of honour row with the family of dead IRA members. Two years ago, relatives of ex-Provo prisoner Eamon Peggy McCourt, who passed away from coronavirus aged 62, said they were cutting all ties with the party over his name not being added to the roll of honour in Derry. McCourt was badly wounded in a 1981 gunfight with the SAS in which IRA men Charles Pop Maguire and George McBrearty were killed. cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk Gortin man on mission to help 300,000 people by March 2025 A Co Tyrone man who masterminded a project to provide glassless shelter for up to 3,000 homeowners in war-torn Ukraine has told of his mission to roll out one million windows there by 2025. Harry Blakiston Houston (27) was studying for a PhD in biotechnology at the University of Cambridge last December when he read a newspaper article about Ukrainian homeowners having to live in sub-zero temperatures after their windows had been blown out during fighting. The Gortin man, who grew up on a farm before moving to England to study, set about inventing a product that was simple in design but effective in its aim to keep homeowners warm. After a month of working on the design, Harry came up with a glassless window made from four sheets of recycled polythene plastic stretched around a PVC piping frame, secured with duct tape and insulating noodles. Four boys Harry helped to move back home He and some friends, Louis Hall (27), from Scotland, and 28-year-old Mississippi man Edward Terry then travelled to eastern Ukraine to put the windows to the test and teach locals to build and install them. The product offers more insulation than double-glazed windows and costs no more than $15 to make and put in. Speaking to Sunday Life, Harry explained the inspiration behind his glassless window mission. Growing up on a farm in Northern Ireland taught me most things that I needed to know about finding solutions to problems and building something with my bare hands, he said. The engineering aspect is about solving a specific problem, playing around with things to make them work and fixing things. I saw that the skills Id developed could impact people in positive ways and that the best places to go were those countries that were facing the biggest difficulties and in need of the most help. Places like Gaza and Ukraine have huge problems. If, as engineers, we can focus on these areas, then its a great opportunity to carry on with the work that we care so much about. A member of Harry's team installing one of the windows The first glassless window was installed in Ukraine on Christmas Eve 2022. A worker on the ground made and set up the product, and the team back in the UK waited anxiously to see if it would work. The woman had been sleeping in her bathtub because it was the warmest room in her house, said Harry. A few days after the window was installed, Alexi, one of our team, went back and checked, and her house was much warmer. She was able to live more comfortably in her own home. But she is the norm, not the exception. Thousands of people are living in houses without windows in freezing temperatures. A month later, Harry and his friends travelled to Izyum, fewer than 50 miles from the eastern front line to see the product at work. The town was captured by Russian forces in April 2022, before being freed from occupation, but it was left devastated. Following the liberation of Izyum, mass graves of 445 murdered civilians and soldiers were discovered in a pine forest outside the city. Destroyed buildings in Izyum (Bram Janssen/AP) Surviving residents of the town were using carpet, sandbags, OSB boards and plastic to keep out the cold, but the temperature inside the homes often fell below zero. After installing the first batch of windows, word soon got out and spread, and the team was inundated with requests for help. That first week we went out to Ukraine, we got over 1,000 calls from locals asking us to install windows for them, explained Harry. In April this year he set up the NGO Insulate Ukraine, and now provides work for 32 Ukrainian civilians in five war-torn zones: Kherson, Nikopol, Mykolaiv, Izyum and Lyman. Insulate Ukraine makes more than 500 windows a week, and just last month hit the 10,000 window mark. In total, around 3,000 civilians have moved back home because of Harrys initiative. But it doesnt end there. The plan is to make and install 50,000 windows by March this year and, if funding from the US is secured, one million by March 2025. This will help up to 300,000 live in their own homes. A woman looking through a broken window With much of the country facing poverty, the windows are offered free to civilians, and funding for costs comes from individual and corporate donations. But more is needed to keep people warm this Christmas, and Harry is hoping he can rely on the generosity of the Northern Irish public to help. Whats really struck me is the resilience of these people. Against a backdrop of destruction and devastation, there is the innate ability of humans to cope in extraordinary circumstances, he added. Life goes on for them, but we could help make it that bit easier this Christmas. Even the smallest donation could make a big difference. To find out more about Insulate Ukraine or to make a donation to the project, visit www.insulate-ukraine.org Commando gunman accused his boss of stealing Red Hand cash Red Hand Commando (RHC) gunman Frankie Curry had a blazing row with Rea in the run-up to his death, accusing him of personally pocketing tens of thousands of pounds he had stolen in a series of robberies. Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. (second from right) looks on as officers secure the scene of an explosion during a Catholic Mass in a gymnasium at Mindanao State University in Marawi, Philippines, Dec. 3, 2023. Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET on 2023-12-03 A bomb believed to have been planted by foreign militants tore through a university gymnasium hosting a Catholic Mass on Sunday, killing at least four and injuring dozens in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, police and military officials said. The explosion occurred at 7:30 a.m. at the Mindanao State University in Marawi, which was taken over by militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) in 2017. During the five-month battle that followed, at least 1,200 militants, soldiers, police and civilians were killed before the military regained control of the city. In Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denounced the attack. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao State University and Marawi communities early this Sunday morning. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society, Marcos said in a statement. Despite his allegation, investigators did not name any specific suspects. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the victims, their loved ones and the communities that have been the target of this latest assault on peace. Government assistance to those impacted is ready and forthcoming, Marcos said. Shalimar Sani-Rakiin, medical chief of the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi where all the victims were taken, said four people were pronounced dead and seven others suffered serious injuries. About 40 others were treated for less serious injuries and released. A university student who was treated at the hospital said the bomb went off during the first Bible reading, according to Agence France-Presse news service. It was really sudden and everyone ran, Chris Jurado, 21, told AFP from his hospital bed. When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didnt know what happened because everything happened so fast. Marawi and other parts of the southern Philippines are Muslim strongholds in the majority Catholic nation. The region has seen years of violent rebellions by Islamic militant groups. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., (left) and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., huddle during a news conference in Manila following the Marawi gymnasium attack, Dec. 3, 2023. [Gerard Carreon/BenarNews] Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the attack could be a retaliatory strike for a government offensive on Friday that killed 11 whom he identified as members of the local Daulah Islamiyah cell in Maguindanao province. The Daulah Islamiyah is the Filipino name for the Islamic State. We are looking at the angle that the bombing this morning might be a retaliatory attack, Brawner said. Also on Sunday, military forces killed militants identified as Mundi Sawadjaan and Jalandoni Lucsadato in coordinated actions, Brawner said. Authorities identified Mundi, a sub-leader of Abu Sayyaf Group and nephew of the late Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan who was Abu Sayyaf's presumed leader, as the mastermind of twin suicide bombings that killed 14 people in August 2020 on the island of Jolo, where the Abu Sayyaf was born. A year earlier, he masterminded a suicide bombing at Jolo Cathedral, leaving 23 people dead. International response Local and international condemnation of the attacks poured in on Sunday. I condemn the violent bombing incident that transpired this morning. Terroristic attacks on educational institutions must also be condemned because these are places that promote the culture of peace, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. said in a statement. Here in my province, we uphold basic human rights and that includes the right to religion. Terroristic attacks on educational institutions must also be condemned because these are places that promote the culture of peace and mold our youth to be the future shapers of this country, Adiong said. The university issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims and their families. We are deeply saddened and appalled by the act of violence that occurred during a religious gathering at the university gymnasium this morning, it said. We are working closely with the local government units and law enforcement authorities to investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. visits victims of the Mindanao State University gymnasium bombing at a hospital in Marawi, Philippines, Dec. 3, 2023. [Lanao del Sur Provincial Government/Handout via Reuters] European Union Ambassador Luc Veron called the explosion deeply disheartening, adding, violence has no place in schools. U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson extended condolences on behalf of her government. We condemn this act of violence and support efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable, she said. Jeoffrey Maitem and Mark Navales in Cotabato City, Philippines, contributed to this report. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. By SA Commercial Prop News Mall of the North, Polokwane Over a million shoppers spent in excess of R100-million at the new super-regional Mall of the North, Polokwane, in Limpopo, during its first full month of trading. Mall of the North opened to crowds of eager shoppers on 14 April 2011. Nearly 80,000 shoppers visited the mall on its opening day. This figure swelled to 260,000 shoppers within the malls first four days of trading. Comprising 75,000sqm GLA, the fully-let Mall of the North has delivered the biggest, most comprehensive selection of shopping to Polokwane. Here consumers, for the first time, have access to over 180 new shops offering compelling variety in one breathtaking shopping destination. In addition to the enthusiastic welcome by consumers, Mall of the Norths opening trade achievements have been hailed by the centres retailers. With just a month of trading complete, Game has traded very strongly at Mall of the North, reports Jan Potgieter, Managing Director of Game. Potgieter notes that the opening of its store was highly successful, with strong trading from the minute the ribbons were cut at 07h30 in the morning to welcome queues of shoppers waiting to take advantage of the great deals on offer. Mall of the North is well positioned to grow as the region develops. The original Game store in the CBD continues to perform very well, clearly proving that there is a significant demand for Games value offers in the growing region, says Potgieter. Mall of the North also became home to the fourth Foodco store to open, the first Foodco outside of the Western Cape. Foodco is Games new no-frills grocery store-within-a-store that offers private brand fresh produce, dry goods and health and beauty products. Foodco was launched in Cape Town last year. The original Game Polokwane store is historically one of our best performing stores nationwide. Based on this trading, we are confident that Mall of the North is an excellent choice to continue our expansion of our new store format, Foodco, says Potgieter. Edcon is also impressed with the opening trade of its stores at Mall of the North. The opening of Edgars at Mall of the North has been a great success. There was a constant flow of customers through the Edgars store throughout the opening days, says Michael Pienaar, Edcon Group Property Executive. Customers clearly appreciated the fact that the mall opened before the Easter holiday period, with a steady flow of Polokwane visitors and customers continuing their shopping at Edgars over the Easter weekend. Pienaar confirms that the mall has settled quickly and will, as predicted, be a weekend destination for Edgars with the majority of Edgars trade taking place on a Friday to Sunday. Edgars biggest sales during opening trading days came from ladies-wear, menswear and active-wear respectively. The store will settle into a trading pattern, which may differ slightly in the weeks ahead, but on an on-going basis, we look forward to an overall gain in customer satisfaction and market share in Polokwane, says Pienaar. There is little wonder that these, and other national retailers are raving about their opening performance. Mall of the North General Manager Sumari de Ridder reports department stores attracted the highest customer spend during Mall of the Norths opening month, followed by fashion, restaurants, homeware, sportswear and outdoor, footwear, and health and beauty. According to Pienaar the opening of Jet was also met with huge customer excitement. The store managed to achieve sales far in excess of its sales target during the first four days of trade, points out Pienaar. Jet Mall of the North has continued to trade extremely well throughout the month. Pienaar notes that the opening was equally successful for CNA. Our new concept Legit store opened at Mall of the North on the 26 May 2011 and we are confident that it too will enjoy the same consumer support, says Pienaar. Restaurateurs too are thrilled by the warm welcome that Limpopo customers have given Mall of the Norths appealing selection of restaurants. The Amarillo Spur signature specification flagship store opened to exceptional trade, according to Spurs Wouter Mentz. The the two-level store was full with local people. It was an amazing sight and a pleasure to serve, says Mentz. Spur employed approximately 100 people from the region, many who are working in the restaurant trade for the first time. Mall of the North is jointly owned and developed by JSE-listed company Resilient Property Income Fund, Flanagan & Gerard Property Development & Investment and Moolman Group. It represents the single largest real estate investment and development in the Limpopo province to date. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, left, founder of Ayudando Latinos a Sonar, appears with an accordion ensemble at Half Moon Bay High School on Saturday during a celebration of the nonprofits 10th anniversary. Ayudando Latinos A Sonar A dance ensemble celebrates the 10th anniversary of Ayudando Latinos a Sonar at Half Moon Bay High School on Saturday. Ayudando Latinos a Sonar Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, left, founder of Ayudando Latinos a Sonar, appears with an accordion ensemble at Half Moon Bay High School on Saturday during a celebration of the nonprofits 10th anniversary. Ayudando Latinos A Sonar A South Bay nonprofit serving Latino families and essential workers celebrated its 10th anniversary over the weekend with a musical mix of culture and community. The program Saturday by Ayudando Latinos a Sonar (Helping Latinos Dream) featured an accordion session by a farmworker ensemble, Tonantzin folk dancing, a performance of traditional Mexican music by the childrens group Mariachi Media Luna, and singing from the Corazones de Oro seniors group. Ayudando Latinos a Sonar, known as ALAS, offers free programs of arts, education and mental health services for Latino families and essential workers. The Half Moon Bay nonprofit presented an October Day of the Dead celebration and participated in a May summit seeking housing and health care reforms for farmworkers in the aftermath of January mass shootings at two mushroom farms. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Saturdays event was a celebration of the culture, creativity and strength of the community, ALAS founder Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga said in a statement. The collective strength of our Latino Coastside community was felt on and off stage. It was a magical night after a very difficult year for so many. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, founder of Ayudando Latinos a Sonar, appears at a celebration of the nonprofits 10th anniversary Saturday with San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller and Zenon Barron, the groups art and culture director. Ayudando Latinos a Sonar San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller presented an award at the event to Hernandez-Arriaga recognizing the group as Half Moon Bays leading farmworker nonprofit. I express my gratitude to our supporters and the community we serve, she said. ALAS has provided accordion classes to farmworkers as a means of healing from the trauma of the January attacks, in which a former worker is accused of killing seven people and critically injuring another. The farmworkers presented their skills at Saturdays celebration, held at Half Moon Bay High School. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th, the Government's calls for Israeli restraint in the escalating conflict have been stronger than the stance in many EU member states. Indeed, the Government's stance has drawn the ire of Israeli officials. Israel's foreign minister has criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on a number of occasions, while Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich has been a prominent name in Irish news headlines, even accusing President Michael D Higgins of spreading misinformation. Advertisement While Coalition leaders have said Israel has the right to defend itself, the Taoiseach said the country's response to the Hamas attack resembles something more approaching revenge. I think its very important we never forget where this started. This phase of the conflict started with a Hamas attack on Israel, where 1,400 civilians were killed. I strongly believe that, like any state, Israel has the right to defend itself, has the right to go after Hamas so that they cannot do this again. Advertisement But what Im seeing unfolding at the moment isnt just self-defence. It looks, it resembles something more approaching revenge. Thats not where we should be, and I dont think thats how Israel will guarantee its future freedom and its future security." He also said: collective punishment is a breach of humanitarian law, but theres a process by which these things are determined, and I dont stand in judgement in that sense. Advertisement But certainly the targeting of civilians, collective punishment, these are breaches of humanitarian law, whoever commits them. Tanaiste Micheal Martin and other government leaders have taken a similar stance to the Taoiseach. As Israel resumed strikes on Gaza on Friday as a temporary truce with Hamas expired, the issue is likely to dominate political discourse once again. Both the Taoiseach and Tanaiste have received hundreds of messages on their comments regarding Israel and Hamas since October 7th. Advertisement A sample of these letters and emails, seen by BreakingNews.ie following a Freedom of Information request, shows a mixed public response with some praising the response while others accuse the Government of being anti-Israel. I am very grateful that you are a dissenting voice. Advertisement One letter to Mr Varadkar, six days after Hamas' attack, thanked him for being a "dissenting voice". "Dear Mr Varadkar, Advertisement "I am dismayed to find that there are very few people condemning the actions of Israel towards the Palestinian civil population. "I am very grateful that you are a dissenting voice and have criticised the switching off of power and water and supplies to the Palestinian people. "More of the same please in a louder voice and keep up the good work." Other messages to the Taoiseach and Tanaiste suggested Ireland should take refugees from Gaza, "at least until the situation is resolved". Advertisement One less complimentary email to the Taoiseach on October 11th had the subject line: 'Nobody cares about you." It read: "Nobody in Israel or the European Union cares about what you have to say, really nobody! Israel has the right to defend its country and its citizens. So please be quiet, nobody is interested in your opinion. Democratic countries of the western world will support Israel. I am sure that people in Ireland will support Israel too, and that they also don't care about your opinion! No money and no food for terrorists!" Others agreed with Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin's stance, but argued that they should make more effort in pushing for a ceasefire or sanctions. Advertisement "I have been so disappointed by the lack of vim in your condemnation of the unfolding ethnic cleansing of Gaza that I will no longer support Fine Gael," one person wrote in an email to the Taoiseach. One Jewish person in Ireland wrote an impassioned letter to Mr Varadkar in which they expressed their fears about the conflict. "You are now asking for restraint and to lower the temperature. We have heard lower the temperature once before, and it was done at the crematoriums in Auschwitz to save fuel. "I am living in Ireland and am the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. Jewish blood has always been cheap. The IDF stands for the Israeli Defence Force. It defends. It is never the aggressor. "As a Jew living in Ireland, which is very clearly pro-Palestine, I feel nervous and honestly I feel scared. 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', means the full extermination of Jews and Israel. Where do you or any of the politicians want us to go?? "If a terror organisation came into Dublin or Kildare or Sligo and slaughtered your women, children, babies, elderly or men, what would you do? What would you do if a terror organisation went into Electric Picnic and slaughtered innocent civilians and then raped women next to their dead friends who were there just to live life or enjoy music - what would you do? Advertisement "What would your citizens want to do? It certainly wouldn't be to 'lower the temperature'. "Thank you for your time and I hope you can remain open minded, and please stand with the people of Israel." You had the courage to see through the smoking ban. Have you courage still? One person compared Mr Martin's stance with his work in bringing in the smoking ban in 2004. "Micheal Martin, this is what I will remember you for. Whether or not you stand with Palestine when they are being bombed and starved by Israel. "Please do not disgrace Ireland's history. If you do not support Palestine, I will remind everyone I know about the humanitarian crimes that Fianna Fail stood by on. "You had the courage to see through the smoking ban. Have you courage still? When a race of people is being annihilated, it is no time for realpolitik." On October 11th, one person asked Mr Varadkar why Ireland had not lit state buildings up with Israeli colours, like some other European countries have done since the beginning of the conflict. "Should we not show our support for Israel in a similar manner? Our lack of such a display could be seen as an indication of an unspoken support for Palestinian terrorism. Advertisement "If we as a nation cannot openly show support for a nation who have had their citizens murdered in such barbaric ways, babies' heads cut off, children murdered, women stripped naked and raped and murdered, and hundreds kidnapped and held hostage, then I think we are in danger of moral cowardice." The reports of children being beheaded are unverified Israeli reports. Another person thanked Mr Varadkar for his government's stance on Israeli bombardment of Gaza, despite having some previous problems with the Fine Gael leader. On October 13th, they wrote: "As a FG voter, you can be a bit of a [redacted] at times. However, I am full of admiration for your conscientious and intelligent position on the Israel/Gaza situation. "I am proud as an Irishman having you as our leader." On the same day, another person thanked the Taoiseach for calling for restraint, while comparing Ireland with Germany's "pro-Israel mood". They mentioned German politician Saskia Esken cancelling a meeting with US senator Bernie Sanders over his support for Palestine. Thank you for calling for restraint and please do so again and again. "Thank you for calling for restraint and please do so again and again," they wrote, while drawing attention to the "extreme pro-Israel mood in Germany". "Saskia Esken, SPD, cancelled a meeting with Bernie Sanders over his support for Palestine. This attitude of deep racism towards Palestinians pervades society. The biggest Palestinian community in Europe lives in Berlin and I would very much appreciate it if Ireland could speak out about this." Another person wrote: "I want to thank you for your clear, unambiguous and carefully thought out rejection of violence, cruelty and mayhem. Your excellent dealing with the aftermath of the terrible and savage killing of innocent people in Israel and the Gaza Strip is commendable and a surer gateway to peace than the attitude of other leaders in the EU and US." Another email saw the Government urged to confront the United States over their support for Israel. It also said People Before Profit was "right". They did not elaborate on this, but presumably it refers to the party's calls for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the referral of Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Dated October 15th, it read: "What has Ireland communicated with the US on their backing of Israeli [redacted] of Palestinians. The USA should not back Israel and People Before Profit were right." As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Martin received a number of critical messages, as the Taoiseach did. "Shame on you and your bias during this appalling time in Israel," one person wrote. In response to the Tanaiste's calls for peace talks, another person said: "Hamas and Hezbollah will never entertain peace talks, they are both terror groups. You said that 'it was vital a voice of moderation come to the fore'... are you living in the real world?" Other letters called for sanctions to be placed on Israel. This is a moment in history to be counted with your influence. One on October 16th read: "Cut all diplomatic ties, trade and military ties with Israel. Demand the EU does the same and criticise the inaction of both the EU and the US enabling Israeli war crimes. "This is a moment in history to be counted with your influence." The following day, another person wrote: "As Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I urge you to work with our Government leaders to pursue a strategy of sanctions and genuine actions. It is so important that Ireland emphasises that Israel should and will be subject to sanctions should they continue to breach international law, as has rightly been done with financial, trade and diplomatic sanctions against Russia." One letter the same day, addressed to Mr Varadkar, Mr Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, asked the Coalition leaders to make a direct appeal to US president Joe Biden. "Dear Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Minister Ryan "I sincerely urge you to advise president Joe Biden, and other leaders, to take a more balanced and measured approach with the Israelis, just like past American politicians and diplomats did in our own island's senseless and bloody war up North." Artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes will be a factor in the upcoming elections in Ireland, according to a senior computer science lecturer. A recent motion tabled by Fianna Fail Senator Malcolm Byrne called for the Electoral Commission to create a strategy to tackle the misuse of artificial intelligence in political campaigning. Advertisement Dr Dympna O'Sullivan, senior lecturer in computer science and academic lead of the Digital Futures Research Hub at Technological University Dublin, feels the threat is very real, as Ireland heads into a busy period of elections. There will be local and European elections in 2024, and while the Government has to call a general election by March 2025, there is consistent speculation that the Coalition may call one next year. Dr O'Sullivan told BreakingNews.ie: "Whether it's images, voice synthesis... they can be really easily produced now, even by anybody without AI expertise. I think it's something we'll have to be very vigilant of in elections." Advertisement The EU AI Act aims to bring some regulation to the area. However, Dr O'Sullivan pointed out that it will probably not come into force until around 2025 as it has hit stumbling blocks over generative AI. Advertisement "I think the bigger problem is that we haven't really established rules and norms for the digital space in general. Where that has come to the fore is social media and we're seeing what I would call disasters of social media. "Self regulation does not work, we know that. We've seen the issues around social media tools around toxic content, spreading misinformation without any regulation, they've become really key tools in the culture wars." She added: "There are some things that the EU AI Act will bring in that will be applicable for this context, for example things like if you generate something using AI, there must be some sort of watermark. Of course, for that, it has to be someone following the rules, not a bad actor, but I think there are other things we need to be looking at. "Along with regulation, we have to work with the tech companies on this. What are the advanced detection technologies that can be used to debunk and understand these deepfakes? Fact-checking processes are really important too." Advertisement Advertisement Dr O'Sullivan also feels information and education campaigns for the public on AI are vital. "One of the things I talk about a lot is poor levels of AI literacy in the general public," she said. "Most people have a poor understanding of AI, how it works, and what the general implications are, so that sort of education and awareness about the potential of deepfakes are all part of this broader picture. "We have to bring lots of people together on the journey: tech companies, policy-makers, regulators, politicians and the public." Advertisement Fianna Fail representatives Niamh Smyth TD, Senator Malcolm Byrne, Senator Lisa Chambers, and Senator Shane Cassells speak to the media on artificial intelligence at Leinster House, Dublin. Dr O'Sullivan often works in citizen think-ins around AI, and she said: "The two most common things are Netflix recommendations and killer robots. There are so many AI applications in the middle there. "Not just with toxic content and misinformation, but people are really unaware of how many decisions are being made about them now by algorithms. What happens to information when they upload it to social media, how your data is aggregated, how often you're caught by surveillance systems. With a lot of the stuff there is no harmful impact. "I think just generally educating people and allowing them to understand these things... and why legislation is important. Advertisement "Think about something like GDPR or data protection. If you're unhappy with how someone has handled your data, you can complain to the Data protection commissioner, but we don't have anything like that for AI or social media. Advertisement "Most citizens don't know what to complain about, or how to articulate a problem or breach, and that is because AI literacy is really poor." She said a big problem is that legislation and acts on AI are "being rolled out really slowly" due to the complexity of the issue, while "the tech is the exact opposite, speeding ahead. This time last year, we wouldn't even be talking about ChatGPT, now it's not even the leading generative AI tool". Dr O'Sullivan said images that can be made with generative AI are "frighteningly good". She said the Electoral Commission, which will look at AI along with the oversight of elections, should work with media and individuals to establish norms for fact-checking. While it may be impossible to prevent bad actors using AI in an attempt to interfere with elections, Dr O'Sullivan said the Electoral Commission should focus on a public information campaign. "Manipulated content: What is it? How can it be used? What will the different types be? They could be video, audio, identity theft. Just a general campaign on what misinformation online looks like... that's good practice in general to educate your citizens on that, not just in an election scenario, but it's very important for that." Advertisement Many social media companies have offices in Dublin including the likes of Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), X, formerly Twitter, and TikTok. Dr O'Sullivan said the Government and the Electoral Commission should try to take advantage of this proximity to leading tech companies. The Electoral Commission will be tasked with combatting misinformation in the upcoming elections. Photo: Getty Images "One big problem is that a lot of the tech expertise lies solely within these companies, not within organisations like the Electoral Commission," she explained. "There needs to be a joining up of people who really understand elections and the people who understand the technology and how it can be used." One example that has been given of how AI could significantly impact an Irish election would be a fake video of Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin indicating he would be open to a coalition with Sinn Fein. Dr O'Sullivan said the current generative AI would make it possible to make such misleading content relatively easily. "They can be pretty realistic... video and audio. Simpler things like text that portrays political figures making statements, or engaging in actions can be convincing too. "It could easily be done in a way that's engaging enough and manipulating enough. That's where the social media aspect comes in... it's about profiling the users it could be more influential on, and that's something which I think is really important for the Electoral Commission, getting in there." Advertisement She added: "It would have been the same for gardai around the riots, actually having access to social media networks and understanding those users who are more manipulable. "The people creating are doing that, they're profiling people, so we should be doing that on the other side of the fence." Year of elections Next year will see the local and European elections in Ireland, a possible general election, a likely UK general election, and the US presidential election. Dr O'Sullivan said this heightens the risk of the use of AI to interfere in them. "The confluence of different elections. Even look at the Dublin riots, there was a lot of commentary from far-right groups in the UK and the US on it. It's a global phenomenon. Particularly around Facebook, we've seen how that was used to manipulate and interfere in elections across the globe. People will be using elections across the globe to perfect these techniques. I think it could be a pretty bleak couple of years before we have the regulation in place and these pretty high-profile elections going on. "The US election will be a huge target; it's so polarised, the culture wars are so ingrained there. I think what we see there could be really nasty." Pointing to how easy it can be for generative AI to go viral, Dr O'Sullivan referenced the famous image of Pope Francis wearing a puffer jacket. "That has probably been the most effective deepfake so far. It wasn't produced by any disinformation warrior, it was just a hobbyist who created it. It just shows how easy it is now, and how things go viral." This AI-generated image of Pope Francis wearing a puffer jacket went viral. Dr O'Sullivan also fears that the talk around AI and deepfakes will lead to people becoming more sceptical about elections. "People talk about how AI will change the world with all the existential stuff. I don't buy into it, but one of the things I think will really change the world is everyone having access to such powerful AI in their pockets. "It democratises AI, which is a good thing in one way, giving these tools to people, but you will always have bad actors who use them for malign purposes. "Since there has been more talk about regulation of AI, people are more fearful of AI, which they weren't a year ago, because they probably weren't thinking about it much. "What you might see is, we'll have the elections, all the discourse around deepfakes, and what we'll probably end up with is people more sceptical of the electoral process because there'll be more of this talk around things being manipulated." I think the Electoral Commission need to be thinking about what this process will look like now. However, she added: "I think that's a journey we have to go through. "We have to raise awareness about it, bring it to the fore and talk to people about it. But I think in the interim, while we're at this cusp between technology and elections, we are going to see a dip in public trust in elections, which is destabilising, there's no question about it. "It's the only way we can protect trust in the institutions and the democratic process. There has to be education and awareness. I think we should be starting to think about... of course, voters are older, so targeted campaigns for them, but we should be teaching AI literacy in our primary schools. "People need to be aware of the difference between real life and AI-generated life, but because of what's coming ahead of us, I think the Electoral Commission need to be thinking about what this process will look like now." Here, we have a look at the issues which will dominate proceedings in the Dail in the coming week. No-confidence motion in Minister for Justice Sinn Fein has tabled a motion of no-confidence in Minister for Justice Helen McEntee following the Dublin riots. Advertisement The vote on the motion will take place on Tuesday, December 5th. In all likelihood, Ms McEntee is likely to survive the motion as it would take a significant change of heart from a number of Coalition or Independent TDs who usually back the Government to pass. Mary Lou McDonald's party has accused the Justice Minister and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris of not being prepared for the violence that broke out in the capital on the day in which three children were injured in a stabbing. However, Government TDs have accused the main opposition party of political grandstanding. Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Minister of State for public health and wellbeing Hildegarde Naughton told RTE the Government has absolute confidence in Ms McEntee, adding that Sinn Fein had a murky relationship with law and order. She said: Fine Gael has no problem debating issues of law and order with Sinn Fein. What Minister McEntee is focused on, and what Government is focused on, is addressing those issues and making sure that the gardai are supported. These are the guardians of our State, and we need to make sure they are ready for events like this in the future. That is our focus, not political stunts. Advertisement A new Ireland Thinks poll for the Sunday Independent found 38 per cent of respondents were satisfied with Ms McEntee's performance as Justice Minister. Meanwhile, 49 per cent are not happy with Minister McEntees performance. However, her popularity has still increased by nine points since the last poll. When it comes to the parties, the opinion poll shows Sinn Feins support has dropped three points to 28 per cent. Fine Gael is on 21 per cent, unchanged, Fianna Fail is up one to 19 per cent and Labour has risen by one to 4 per cent. Advertisement Advertisement The Greens have fallen one to 3 per cent and Independents and others have gone up by three to 14 per cent. The Social Democrats are unchanged on 5 per cent, Solidarity-People Before Profit are also the same on 4 per cent, and Aontu are on 3 per cent unchanged. Ryan's return trip Climate Minister Eamon Ryan will fly home from the Cop28 climate change conference in Dubai to vote in the no-confidence motion, before returning. This is likely to be a source of Dail debate, but Mr Ryan has insisted he would rather stay, but has to come back to vote. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there was no alternative for Mr Ryan's return trip, as 'pairing' arrangements are not permitted in no-confidence motions. Paschal's future Fine Gael will have looked at the Bloomberg report that Paschal Donohoe was eyeing up a leadership bid for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with concern. However, the Taoiseach appears to have ruled out a political exit for the Minister for Public Expenditure. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Mr Donohoe remains committed to his current role. "I think it's important to bear in mind that the IMF has a managing director in Kristalina Georgieva, and she hasn't decided yet whether or not she's going to seek a second term," Mr Varadkar said. Advertisement "So this issue doesn't arise at the moment, but what Paschal says to me is that his intention is to run again for the Dail in Dublin Central and to stay on as president of the Eurogroup." Abroad In the UK, the Covid-19 inquiry continues this week. Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson will be giving evidence in what will be the most high-profile sittings of the inquiry thus far. Mr Johnson is reportedly set to tell the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that he unquestionably made mistakes in his handling of the pandemic. But according to The Times, the British leader during the coronavirus outbreak will argue that decisions he took, including ordering three lockdowns in England, ended up saving tens if not hundreds of thousands of lives. In the US, all eyes are on the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election, despite the fact it is just under a year away. Democrats are reportedly nervous at the lack of alternative candidates in the event of president Joe Biden, 81, not running for any reason. The frontrunner for the Republican nomination, former US president Donald Trump, has told his supporters to "go into" Philadelphia and two other Democratic-run cities to "guard the vote" in 2024, repeating his unfounded claims of widespread election fraud in 2020 as justification for the call to action. Speaking in Iowa, Mr Trump attempted to flip the script and paint the winner, president Joe Biden, as a dangerous autocrat, calling him a communist, fascist and a tyrant. A Sinn Fein motion of no-confidence in Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is a political stunt, a Government junior minister has said. Minister of State for public health and wellbeing Hildegarde Naughton said the Government is focused on assisting An Garda Siochana so violent scenes which erupted in Dublin recently are never repeated. Advertisement Tens of millions of euro worth of damage was caused to public infrastructure after disorder broke out following a knife attack near a school in which three children and a care assistant were injured. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said a lack of Garda members and government inaction had resulted in people feeling less safe in the city, as well as in other parts of the country. Advertisement She announced the motion of no-confidence in Ms McEntee, which is to be debated in the Dail on Tuesday, claiming there needed to be accountability for the catastrophic failure to keep people safe. Advertisement Ms Naughton, Fine Gael TD for Galway West, told RTE the Government has absolute confidence in Ms McEntee, adding that Sinn Fein had a murky relationship with law and order. She said: Fine Gael has no problem debating issues of law and order with Sinn Fein. What Minister McEntee is focused on, and what Government is focused on, is addressing those issues and making sure that the gardai are supported. These are the guardians of our State, and we need to make sure they are ready for events like this in the future. Advertisement That is our focus, not political stunts. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is facing a vote of no-confidence this week (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Naughton added: What Sinn Fein are doing is politicising a very serious event that happened in our capital city last Thursday week. Advertisement What we all should be doing is supporting An Garda Siochana, not turning this into a political stunt. What we need to be doing as a political body is ensuring we are concerted here in relation to addressing further legislation that may be needed, not wasting Dail time in relation to motions that are really not helpful. Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny defended the posting online by Mrs McDonald of a photo depicting a person sitting on steps that she claimed was near the scene of the knife attack. Advertisement He said: The people in that area have for years had situations where they have had huge under-investment in policing, in social services, in community services and it has resulted in an area which is lawless, they never see a guard. Advertisement After the vicious attack and the huge spotlight that was on it for a week, less than a week later it is back to this abnormal situation. The point that Mary Lou McDonald was making was we have to change, there has to be a step change in how this is looked after. Labour Party TD Aodhan O'Riordan said he could not have confidence in how the Government had handled the situation. He said: On the day after the events I was heartbroken, we were all heartbroken. We didnt immediately reach for politics, other members of the opposition did, talking about the Garda Commissioner needs to resign, the Minister needs to resign. We have been focusing on issues of Garda resources, numbers, but also on tackling the far right. I am not impressed by Fine Gaels rhetoric in the last couple of days, which is predictable I am also not impressed by the Sinn Fein antics during the week in terms of that photograph of the vulnerable person. Advertisement However, we cant have confidence in how the Government have handled the situation. We almost had industrial from the gardai in October, we had barristers having a day of strike action and any guard that you speak to speaks of the lack of morale. The UK is to conduct unarmed surveillance flights over the Middle East to search for potential hostage locations being used by Hamas, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. Fighting resumed on Friday following a week-long truce between Israel and the Palestinian military group despite more than 130 hostages remaining in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement In the weeks after Hamass bloody October 7th raids on Israel, Downing Street said at least 12 British nationals had been killed in the attack and a further five are still missing. Some of those are believed to have been kidnapped but the UK government has not confirmed how many might be in Hamass clutches. Advertisement The MoD on Saturday said ministers had been working with allies across the Middle East to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who have been kidnapped. Advertisement In a statement published on the UK government website, the department said: The safety of British nationals is our utmost priority. In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the UK Ministry of Defence will conduct surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza. Advertisement Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue. MoD officials said a range of unarmed aircraft would be used for the reconnaissance flights, including Shadow R1s which are used for intelligence gathering by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Information on the potential whereabouts of captives will be shared with Israel. Advertisement Irena Tati holds a picture of her grandson Alexander, held by Hamas in Gaza, during a demonstration to call for the release of hostages in the Hostages Square at the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP) The lull in the fighting during the truce allowed for 105 hostages held by Hamas and other militants to be freed. Some had been kept for several weeks in underground tunnels dug by the Gaza rulers. Advertisement In exchange, Israel released 240 Palestinians from its prisons. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. But fighting commenced again from Friday morning, with the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reporting that at least 200 Palestinians have been killed since the violence resumed, taking the death toll within the territory to beyond 15,200. Advertisement The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) pounded targets in the crowded southern half of Gaza on Saturday. There are fears of mounting civilian casualties after Israel dropped leaflets warning residents to leave the southern part of the strip where two million people almost the entire Gazan population are based following instructions at the outset of the IDF ground invasion to leave the north of the enclave. The US and others have urged Tel Aviv to do more to protect Gaza civilians as the Israel-Hamas conflict reignited, something Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed. On Saturday, Mr Starmer reiterated his call for a further pause or further cessation of hostilities so further work can be carried out to release hostages and send aid to the besieged Palestinians. Former UK prime minister Liz Truss has urged for the UK to give Israel its backing no ifs, no buts (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Speaking to the BBC during his trip to Dubai for the Cop28 climate summit, he urged both sides, while the fighting is continuing, to attempt to limit the impact on civilians. Mr Starmer said: While we are in this phase of resumption, it is important for me to say that we cant go back to the way the first phase of this war was conducted. Too many people, innocent individuals, have lost their lives in Israel and across Gaza. Advertisement We cant go back to where we were just a week or so ago. We have to see this as a different stage. Former UK prime minister Liz Truss struck a different tone as she urged her successor Rishi Sunak to give our full support to the Israeli government in the fight against Hamas. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, the Conservative MP and the UKs shortest serving prime minister in modern political history said there should be no ifs, no buts for Britains backing for Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his administration. I dont want to see double standards applied, that Israel is held to different standards than other countries, she said. They are a free democracy in a part of the world where free democracies are rare and the heinous crimes, the rape, the brutality, the kidnapping of children that has taken place is truly horrific. When officers tried to leave the area their vehicle was surrounded by other protesters. Some sat in the road blocking their path. Additional officers were deployed and the arrested man is now on his way to custody. Officers remain at the scene and will take action if further pic.twitter.com/rYOhDEJY7g Advertisement Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) December 2, 2023 While Stateside this week for a delegation visit with the Conservative Friends of Ukraine, Ms Truss told right-wing US broadcaster Fox News that people are being allowed to demonstrate in favour of terrorists on Londons streets during pro-Palestinian marches. Ms Truss said protesters were showing they would rather support authoritarian regimes than Western values. The comments come as police said they were surrounded by pro-Palestinian supporters in south London following a rally organised during a day of action by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. London's Metropolitan Police said officers were encircled and prevented from leaving after making two arrests in Windrush Square, Brixton, on Saturday. More than 80 people have been charged in the UK over alleged hate crimes and violence linked to pro-Palestinian protests since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Lord Cameron, the former UK prime minister who returned to frontline politics almost three weeks ago to serve as Foreign Secretary, said the UK cannot pretend we can somehow insulate ourselves from these crises such as that seen in the Middle East. Writing in The Sun On Sunday, he said: Conflict in the Middle East doesnt stay in the region. It can destabilise our allies and trigger mass migrations. Advertisement And it deeply affects Jewish and Muslim populations in our own countries. Our response needs to be one of strength, resilience and unity. The peer said he will be travelling to Washington DC next week to work with our closest and strongest ally on the response to international issues, including the Ukraine conflict. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex should be allowed room to voice whatever their misgivings are about their lives in the British royal family, the granddaughter of former South African president Nelson Mandela has said. Activist Ndileka Mandela was asked on the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme if she believes that Harry and Meghan were victims of racism in the UK. Advertisement It comes after a row about whether members of the British royal family discussed the potential appearance of the mixed-race couples unborn baby. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Ms Mandelas grandfather became the first president of a post-apartheid and democratic South Africa with a landslide victory when the country held its first national non-racial elections in April 1994. Advertisement This happened after he decided to follow his own path, according to Ms Mandela, who said the royal family should acknowledge its part in colonialism and could perhaps consider reparations. Advertisement She told the programme: I believe that Harry and Meghan had to find their own voice, in a similar way that granddad had to find his own voice when he had to run away from an arranged marriage. So they should be given, like any other person, room to voice out whatever their misgivings are. I cannot speak to whether Harry and Meghans children have been discriminated. I dont have first-hand information of that. However, I can say that he should be allowed to voice out whatever it is that he wants to voice out and to choose his own path. Had granddad not chosen his own path when he ran away from an arranged marriage, we would not have the South Africa that we talk about today. Advertisement So people should be allowed to present different journeys and should be allowed to walk different journeys in life. A race row has erupted over the book Endgame which paints unflattering portraits of several royals. The Dutch version of the book which was recalled pointed the finger at two senior royals who were alleged to have raised concerns about the possible skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son, Archie, before he was born. Advertisement While the English version made no mention of who said what, the Dutch version made headlines around the world and saw the book pulled from shelves. Advertisement Author Mr Scobie insists he never included any names in the original text. Ms Mandela was also asked on the programme if she thought the royal family should think about paying reparations. The British royal family should think about paying reparations, a campaigner said (Victoria Jones/PA) Advertisement She said: I think it starts with acknowledging before reparations. If there can be an acknowledgment of what was done to countries that were colonised because we are still suffering a great deal from colonisation in as far as our culture as black people is concerned. She said there has got to be first admission of the things and a situation created where someone is saying yes, that we acknowledge that we displaced you as a people, then you can talk of reparations. On whether she would like to see such a move from the British royal family, Ms Mandela added: Yes I would, that is where healing begins. She said: If you sit around the table and admit your part, both parties admit their part in the dissolution of whatever it is that happened, it is then that healing begins. If that happens then the healing will definitely begin. Advertisement Historian Andrew Roberts disagreed with Ms Mandelas view on colonialism and reparations, stating that no king has owned slaves since Charles II. He also told the programme that it is within Harry's power to quell the race row, stating it is absolutely up to Prince Harry to say that this a terrible lie and that members of his family are not racists. The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had expanded its ground operations to every part of Gaza and ordered more evacuations in the crowded south, followed by heavy bombardment, as it vowed that operations there against Hamas would be no less strength than its earlier offensive in the north. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip said they were running out of places to go in the sealed-off territory that borders Israel and Egypt. Advertisement Many of the territorys 2.3 million people are crammed into the south after Israeli forces ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the two-month-old war. An Israeli army flare is seen over the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) A Health Ministry spokesman asserted that hundreds had been killed or wounded since the truce ended on Friday. Advertisement The majority of victims are still under the rubble, Ashraf al-Qidra said. Advertisement Fears of a wider conflict have also intensified after a US warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said. Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks on two ships they described as being linked to Israel but did not acknowledge targeting a US vessel. With the resumption of fighting, hopes receded that another temporary truce could be negotiated. A week-long ceasefire, which expired on Friday, had facilitated the release of dozens of Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Advertisement Palestinians look for survivors of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Saturday night: We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the US is working really hard for a resumption of negotiations. Advertisement Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said resuming talks with Israel on further exchanges must be tied to a permanent ceasefire. On Sunday, the Israeli military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, asking residents of at least five more areas and neighbourhoods to leave for their safety. Residents said the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering residents to move south to Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. Advertisement Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. Advertisement UN monitors said, in a report issued before the latest evacuation orders, that the areas residents who were told to leave make up about one-quarter of the territory of Gaza. The report said these areas were home to nearly 800,000 people before the war. Ahead of a resumption of fighting, the United States, Israels closest ally, had warned Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement. The Israeli military said on Sunday that its fighter jets and helicopters struck terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities overnight, while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) In northern Gaza on Sunday, rescue teams with little equipment scrambled to dig through the rubble of buildings in the Jabaliya refugee camp and other neighbourhoods in Gaza City in the search for potential survivors and bodies. They strike everywhere, said Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in Jabaliya, an urban refugee camp. There is the non-stop sound of explosions around us. Mohamed Abu Abed, who lives in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, said there had been relentless air strikes and artillery shelling. Death is everywhere. One can die in a flash, he said. Advertisement The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said on Saturday that the overall death toll in the strip since the October 7 start of the war had passed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on November 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It added that more than 40,000 people have been wounded since the war began. US Vice President Kamala Harris said too many innocent Palestinians have been killed (Rafiq Maqbool/AP) US appeals to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. Much of Gazas population is packed into the territorys southern half. The territory itself, bordering Israel and Egypt to the south, is sealed, leaving residents with only the option of moving around within Gaza to avoid the bombings. US Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Saturday during the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai: Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Mr Netanyahu, said Israel is making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. Advertisement He added that Israel is considering creating a security buffer zone that would not allow Gazans direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighbourhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel said at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. Rockets are fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City and a six-storey building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city, said the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 were buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gazas Civil Defence, said rescuers lack bulldozers and other equipment to reach those buried under the rubble, confirming the Red Crescent estimate of about 300 people missing. He said the block had housed more than 1,000 people. Retrieving the martyrs is extremely difficult, he said in video comments from the site of the attack. Advertisement Meanwhile, Ms Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in a meeting that under no circumstances will the US permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders, according to a US summary. The war was sparked by an attack on southern Israel on October 7 by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Around 240 people were taken captive. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages, who the Israeli military says are still being held after 105 were freed during the recent truce. Israel freed 240 Palestinians during the truce. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. Palestinians flee from east to west of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, during the ongoing Israeli bombardment (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) Elsewhere in the region, Lebanons militant Hezbollah group said it struck Israeli positions near the tense Lebanon-Israel border. Eight soldiers and three civilians were wounded by Hezbollah fire in the area of Beit Hillel, army radio reported. The military said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon and its fighter jets struck other Hezbollah targets. Iraqi militants with the Iran-backed umbrella group the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said they struck the Kharab al-Jir US military base in Syria with rockets. A US military official said rockets hit Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria but there were no reports of casualties or damage. Later Sunday, officials with Iranian-backed militias in Iraq said five militia members were killed in an airstrike blamed on the US near Kirkuk. A US official said the US had carried out a self-defence strike near Kirkuk targeting a drone staging site. UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to ride on the coattails of Margaret Thatchers success by praising the former UK prime minister while appealing to Tory voters. In a move likely to annoy some on the left of his party, Mr Starmer used a Sunday Telegraph opinion piece to praise Conservative Mrs Thatcher for having sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism. Advertisement He named her alongside former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Clement Attlee as those leaders in modern British politics who sought to deliver meaningful change by acting in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them. Former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher (PA) Speaking to the BBC, Mr Starmer said Mrs Thatcher had a driving sense of purpose although he made sure to stress his comments did not mean he agreed with what she did. Advertisement Advertisement But he did appeal to Tory voters to make a switch at the next general election, urging them to look again at Labour as he criticised the UK government for allowing the country to drift over the last 13 years. UK health secretary Victoria Atkins told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I think the public will see this for what it is. Dont forget, he wasnt appealing to Margaret Thatchers entrepreneurial spirit when he was courting votes from the hard-left. And I suspect the great lady herself would view a man that is trying to ride on the coattails of her success with the following words: No, no, no. Advertisement Ms Atkins was referencing a 1990 Commons rebuke Mrs Thatcher gave to then European Commission boss Jacques Delors as he sought greater Brussels control. Scotlands first minister Humza Yousaf, writing on X, said: What Thatcher did to mining and industrial communities was not entrepreneurialism, it was vandalism. Starmer praising Thatcher is an insult to those communities in Scotland, and across the UK, who still bear the scars of her disastrous policies. Mr Starmer, speaking to BBC Radio 4s Broadcasting House, said: The point Im making in the article really is that you can distinguish political leaders, certainly in the post-war period, into those that had a plan and those that drifted essentially. Advertisement Advertisement And thats why I referenced: Attlee, who obviously had a strong plan, New Jerusalem; Tony Blair, who captured the optimism of the 1990s having changed the Labour Party; and Thatcher, who did have a plan for entrepreneurialism, had a mission. It doesnt mean I agree with what she did, but I dont think anybody could suggest that she didnt have a driving sense of purpose. And the reason I referenced all three of them is because weve drifted as a country the last 13 years, weve declined as a country in the last 13 years, and the characteristic of an incoming Labour government if were privileged enough to come in to serve will be this sense of mission, this sense of having a plan that were operating to, a driving sense of purpose. Advertisement Mr Starmer said he has fundamentally changed Labour compared to the Jeremy Corbyn-led party defeated at the 2019 general election. He added: What I say to those many people who will have voted Tory in the past is if you believe in not just fixing your country but renewing it and taking it forward, if you want to be part of a national project that will take our country forward, build up our economy in the way we want, build our security, make sure that we take advantage of the transition that comes with the energy transition, then the Labour Party is the party for you. Advertisement I think there are many people in that camp who say Look, I may have voted for the Tories in the past, but I do believe in my country, I do believe in a sense of purpose and the national mission is for me. He added: I do want to persuade those that have voted Tory in the past to vote Labour this time around, look again at Labour. Mr Starmer was told that by saying such things, including about Mrs Thatcher and his stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, he has left some Labour members feeling unrepresented. He replied: My focus, whether its on the renewal that our country needs or the resolution of the awful situation in Israel and Gaza is not on the Labour Party members and the Labour Party movement. Weve spent a decade before I became leader obsessing about our membership and having a discussion with ourselves. My change of the Labour Party means weve turned inside out and we face the voters and face the country. A powerful earthquake that shook the southern Philippines killed at least one villager and injured several others as thousands scrambled out of their homes in panic and jammed roads to higher ground after a tsunami warning was issued, officials said on Sunday. The US Geological Survey reported that the quake on Saturday night had a magnitude of 7.6 and struck at a depth of 20 miles (32km). Advertisement The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia, but later dropped its tsunami warning. The USGS recorded further earthquakes on Sunday with a magnitude of 6.6 and 6.9, but there was no tsunami alerts. In Japan, authorities issued evacuation orders late on Saturday in various parts of Okinawa prefecture, including for the entire coastal area, affecting thousands of people. Advertisement A house damaged by the earthquake in Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines (Local Government Unit of Hinatuan/AP) Advertisement A pregnant woman died when she was hit by a 15ft (4.5m) concrete wall that collapsed as the ground shook and prompted her to flee her home in Tagum city in Davao del Norte province, the citys disaster-mitigation chief, Shieldon Isidoro, told the Associated Press. Her husband and daughter were injured. Two other children and their parents jumped from a second-floor window in panic as their house swayed but were not injured after landing on a patch of grass, said Mr Isidoro, who was at his home when the ground started to shake. Initially the swaying was weak. Then it quickly became stronger and I could hardly stand. My perfume bottles fell off a table, pictures on my wall swung and I heard people screaming outside Get out, get out, earthquake, earthquake! he said. Advertisement While he feared the roof of his house would collapse on him, Mr Isidoro said he was more worried that there could be many casualties in Tagum, a city of about 300,000 people, where he had led regular earthquake drills that he thought helped prevent more deaths and injuries. Advertisement Villagers in a temporary evacuation centre in Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines (Local Government Unit of Hinatuan/AP) Hundreds of patients were evacuated from a hospital in Tagum but were later escorted back after an inspection showed no major damage to the building, officials said. Advertisement Thousands of residents stayed outside their homes for hours in many towns due to the earthquake and tsunami scare, including in some that were drenched by an overnight downpour, officials said. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr told a news conference that authorities were assessing the quakes impact but initial reports indicated there was no major damage except to two bridges, and pockets of power cuts. One death was reported with a few injuries, he said. Teresito Bacolcol, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told the AP shortly after the quake hit that his agency had advised residents along the coast of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces, which were near the epicentre of the undersea quake, to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move further inland. Residents look at a store damaged by the earthquake in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, southern Philippines (Ivy Marie Mangadlao/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Pictures posted on the Facebook account of Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur province show residents fleeing to higher ground on foot or in cars, trucks, motorcycles and tricycle taxis overnight. Many villagers who fled to evacuation centres returned to their homes on Sunday, officials said. After undertaking inspections, civil aviation officials said there was no major damage in several airports in the south and there was no disruption to flight operations. The Philippines, one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. A large crowd marches through downtown San Francisco on Saturday calling for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle A large crowd marches for a Free Palestine in downtown San Francisco. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Saturdays pro-Palestinian march was one of several in recent weeks calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle A large crowd demands a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war during Saturdays march in San Francisco. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Palestinian flags filled the streets of San Francisco once again Saturday afternoon as protesters rallied in support of a permanent cease-fire and urged local politicians to do the same. Thousands attended Saturdays protest, the latest to attract a crowd of such a size. This one happened as the San Francisco Board of Supervisors weighs a potential resolution to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. Similar action has been taken by other local governments, including Oakland and Richmond. A temporary cease-fire agreement lasted a week until the fighting resumed Friday, the Associated Press reported. This time, protesters said they wanted permanent peace. An initial group of several hundred gathered outside City Hall starting at 2 p.m., holding up a large banner that read, free Palestine, permanent cease-fire now. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Toward the front of the crowd, Arwa Kaddoura, a Palestinian American living in the East Bay, stood with her Jewish friend one of many Jewish attendees sporting black shirts with the slogan not in our name. It was Kaddouras second time coming across the bay to attend a pro-Palestine protest, she said. Hundreds of people march along Market Street in San Francisco as they protest for a Free Palestine. Organizers called for a permanent ceasefire on the Israel-Hamas war. Santiago Mejia / the Chronicle With the cease-fire being broken, we felt like we needed to come back and demand a cease-fire again, Kaddoura said. Im feeling very hopeless, still hoping that theres a glimmer of hope here that can give Palestinians something to cling to, but its very tough. Elsewhere in the city, separate groups rallied together before marching to City Hall. Drag artist Mama Ganuush gathered in the Castro with Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism, a group promoting solidarity between the LGBTQ community and Palestinians. Ganuush cheered alongside others beating drums as they marched through Civic Center Plaza to join the main protest. Ganuush, a Palestinian refugee who came to San Francisco from Egypt 14 years ago, lost 172 family members who were killed in the war, they said. The true number could be even higher given that information blackouts in Gaza have kept them from making contact with some other relatives. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theyve attended nearly every protest held in the Bay Area since, they said, including showing up to support the Oakland City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire. Demonstrators rally for a Free Palestine outside San Francisco City Hall on Saturday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle I cant tolerate this killing anymore, Ganuush said. I feel like a cease-fire is just one of the basic rights for Palestinians. Just after 3 p.m., the crowd began marching into the streets, taking up an entire city block at a time as they moved from City Hall to the Federal Building, where organizers paused to chant and deliver speeches condemning U.S military support for Israel. Its been just under two months since Hamas Oct. 7 attack launched the war between Israel and the militant group, first prompting Bay Area protesters to take to the streets. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But protest participation has yet to drop, according to Irom Thockchom, an organizer with the Party of Socialism and Liberation. Thockchom said theyve seen more awareness and more people turning out as the war has continued. Ganuush agreed. The numbers are consistent, which is very impressive to me, they said. People did not forget about Palestine. Thockchom cited the Oakland and San Francisco cease-fire resolutions and President Joe Bidens declining poll numbers among young adults as proof that the protests are working. A recent NBC News poll found 70% of people polled between the ages of 18 and 34 disapproved of Bidens handling of the war. Its a really, really optimistic sign. Its something that we havent seen before, Thockchom said of the local cease-fire resolutions. From the federal to the state level to the local level, what weve seen in the past is a complete unanimous consensus to support Israel. Right now, this is an example of cracks beginning to form. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ganuush hopes the support for a cease-fire will ease hostilities against Palestinian Americans. Recently, someone burned the Palestinian flag hanging outside Ganuushs home in the Castro. Meanwhile in Vermont, state and federal authorities are investigating whether the shooting of three Palestinian American men was a targeted hate crime. One of the men was born in San Francisco, the Associated Press reported. Seeing more people from all communities show up to pro-Palestinian protests makes Ganuush feel seen, they said. Money editor Dominic Powell and our experts share tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money. Real Money, a free weekly newsletter giving expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money, is sent every Sunday. Youre reading an excerpt sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox. As the calendar ticks over into December, so it begins. Mariah Carey has finished warming up her vocal cords, prawn farmers are gearing up for their biggest month of the year, and the shops are teeming with people hunting for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Thats right, its Christmas baby! Sometimes called the most wonderful time of the year, its a month filled with good food, family catch-ups, and a good dose of awkward office Christmas parties. Its also unsurprisingly filled with spending. Like, a lot of spending. Christmas is an expensive time of year, but gift-giving neednt cost the earth. Credit: Aresna Villanueva The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgans annual spending predictions for the lead up to the big day is a whopping $67.1 billion, up just 0.6 per cent on last year but still the highest figure on record. This calculation also includes spending over last weeks Black Friday weekend, an American tradition which has well and truly taken root locally with about $6.3 billion expected to have been spent. 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 The Australian Federal Polices top secret undercover program was for years compromised by systemic failures including outdated technology, inadequate security and a box-ticking approach to psychological support even though police whistleblowers say covert operations have become more important and dangerous than ever in the fight against global organised crime. A scathing classified inquiry commissioned by AFP command, and obtained by this masthead and 60 Minutes, has also found that a revolving door of managers and wildly variable funding for the undercover program fuelled problems that were ignored for years, leading to serious and avoidable risks to officers. The secret inquiry was conducted by retired veteran federal agent Frank Prendergast, who was previously the assistant commissioner responsible for counter-terrorism, and its findings were finalised in late 2020 and circulated among select officers in 2021. The AFP insists that after a leadership change in 2019, new commissioner Reece Kershaw commissioned the Prendergast inquiry and responded to his call for reform by overhauling the undercover program and appointing a board of international and national law enforcement experts to oversee changes. Describing undercover officers as some of Australias unsung heroes, Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney said in a statement that the oversight board was still meeting and that other agencies on the board were now adopting some of those reforms for themselves. The leaking of the Prendergast inquiry comes as three undercover program operatives have made confidential and contested claims to the AFP that their safety remains at grave risk after they left their covert posts. Last month, Kershaw privately flagged the appointment of a retired eminent judge to deal with the stand-off with the officers, two of whom left the AFP many months ago. The third is on sick leave. Advertisement Two AFP insiders with knowledge of the undercover program said the ex-operatives faced a real risk of being killed if identified, while others in the agency have stressed there is no evidence their identities have been compromised. You cant talk about the lie Former long-time AFP intelligence and security officer John Coyne said the revelation of the Prendergast inquirys scathing findings comes at a time when undercover operatives are more crucial in the task of investigating serious criminality, partly because encrypted communication methods have made it harder for police to tap phones and employ other traditional investigative tools. Coyne said Australian police were increasingly forced to rely on covert infiltration of high-level international criminal groups, those who are dealing across multiple nations in illicit drugs, who are laundering money, who are abusing children. He said using undercover operatives was often the only way to get inside [such groups] to get the evidence to disrupt, investigate, arrest and prosecute them. But going undercover is also becoming more dangerous. The wide availability of facial recognition software and open-source DNA tracing through ancestry websites means criminals can more easily uncover the true identities of undercover operatives attempting to infiltrate their networks. Former long-time AFP intelligence and security officer John Coyne. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen One AFP insider with knowledge of the undercover program said the Australian approach was not like a lot of the other undercover programs around the world. Undercover police dont carry guns or any weapons; the only thing they have is their ability to talk and read a situation. Advertisement The insider said AFP operatives had been able to infiltrate, trick and manipulate some of the worlds best crooks and deeply penetrate some of the most dangerous organised crime groups that previously could smell an undercover from a mile away. Needless to say, these sorts of criminals have made a very long living out of killing anyone for the smallest of reasons let alone an undercover. Such work has potential significant human costs, according to Coyne. Theres some really deep psychological challenges to that, not the least of which is living two lives one of which is a lie, and the other one where you cant talk about the lie. An anonymous source talks about life undercover. Credit: 60 Minutes The inquiry by Prendergast concluded that the federal police systems backing up covert agents were underfunded, badly managed and patched together. Among many failures were problems in legend building giving undercover officers credible fake identities to allow them to infiltrate organised crime groups and backstopping, which involves providing documents and aliases that can withstand intense scrutiny. In some cases, secret police agents deploying overseas on assumed identities had been forced to use their real passports for travel and accommodation. Advertisement If youre doing that, theres really no point in being issued identities, said one insider, because theyre compromised straight away. According to Prendergast, The [backstopping] team appears to have insufficient resources to carry out its core functions. On the greater ease of facial recognition, he found, there does not seem to be any co-ordinated and urgent effort to address its future implications. McCartney said in response that the AFP had created a dedicated intelligence team to support undercover operations with timely and appropriate intelligence assessments. An inquiry into the undercover program was conducted by former assistant commissioner Frank Prendergast. Technology snafus Prendergast also found the program offered minimal psychological support for officers who are at particular risk of mental health harm. Psychologists, who had once been dedicated to the unit, had been put into the general pool of busy AFP Wellbeing Services with the result that undercover operatives contact with psychologists only occurred during their annual psychological assessment, which members of the program perceive as a box-ticking exercise. Rapport between the psychologists and members of the program has diminished, contact with families has ceased, and follow-up with members who have left the program appears to be limited, Prendergast found. Advertisement McCartney insisted that, since the Prendergast reports recommendations, the AFP had recognised the psychological toll on officers and their families, delivering them tailored support. Prendergast also pointed out that the technology used by the undercover program was out of date and not fit for purpose. A special IT registry for assumed identities which was the subject of an October 2014 report that found it posed a significant risk to the organisation was still being used six years later. An AFP source said that when one undercover operative deployed to Central America, the technology used to track the agent as he met criminals suddenly failed, meaning he disappeared and so was alone and without support. The Prendergast inquiry confirmed the failure of critical tracking technology and discovered that on some occasions, covert operatives were forced to borrow technology from partner agencies. It is untenable, Prendergast wrote, for officers safety to be put at risk or evidence to be compromised by substandard technology. Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney addresses the media during a press conference at the AFP headquarters in Canberra in 2020. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen McCartney said the AFP took safety extremely seriously, and that senior managers, some of who have been undercover members themselves, are fully aware of the dangers these members face. Protective measures are applied to current and former members tailored to their individual security requirements, he said in a statement. Advertisement Superannuation funds representing $2.5 trillion will be pushed to fill a widening deficit in defence, energy and social services spending as Treasurer Jim Chalmers meets executives on Monday seeking hundreds of billions of dollars of private investment in crucial sectors of the economy. The Albanese government is assembling what is believed to be the highest net worth group of investors to meet in Australia because taxpayers cannot afford to bankroll some of its most high-profile initiatives. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the roundtable is about delivering strong returns for investors and strong returns for our people. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen. This week, were bringing the most influential investors and philanthropists in the country around the table to get capital flowing to where its needed most in our economy, Chalmers said. Our investor roundtables are all about getting capital flowing towards opportunities that are in the national interest, delivering strong returns for investors and strong returns for our people. Judges will be able to order people released from immigration detention to be re-detained under new laws the federal government wants to enact this week, while demanding the opposition support the new detention regime. The new laws are being introduced on Wednesday by the federal government in response to the High Courts decision in the case brought by a Rohingya man, known as NZYQ, which found people could not be indefinitely detained, and are modelled on the High Risk Terrorism Offenders scheme. Minister for Home Affairs Clare ONeil during question time on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The Albanese government wants the laws passed this week, which is the final parliamentary sitting week of the year. The proposed laws would create both a community safety detention order and a community safety supervision order, which the minister for immigration would apply for and the Supreme Court would then rule on. Its a wonderful time for Malaysias retail landscape and economy as The Exchange TRX, a world-class experiential lifestyle destination, finally opened its doors to visitors last week on the 29th of November. Among the array of new brands making their debut in Malaysia, one stands out as the main attraction, South Korean brand Gentle Monster. You may have seen the eyewear label during travels to Seoul, heard about it through word of mouth from friends, or have come across it through the sheer influence of Jennie of Blackpink, who has collaborated with the brand on two separate occasionseither way, Gentle Monster has undeniably established itself as a prominent name in the realm of luxury eyewear. Essentially, Gentle Monster was established by founder Hankook Kim in 2011 as an optical brand addressing the needs of Asian consumers, particularly those with low-bridge noses who prefer oversized frames. Since then, the brands audacious storytelling, innovative retail approach and unconventional marketing and collaborative efforts continue to push the boundaries of creativity. Aside from the ones with Jennie mentioned above, other notable collaborations include Maison Margiela, Moncler, Alexander Wang, Heron Preston and the Parisian brand Dheygere. Gentle Monster Kuala Lumpur 1/3 Gentle Monster Kuala Lumpur 2/3 Gentle Monster Kuala Lumpur 3/3 Spanning 3,522 square feet, the Gentle Monster Kuala Lumpur store boasts a meticulously designed space that offers an extraordinary spatial experience. For the uninitiated, the brand is highly influenced by contemporary art, and each store or showroom across the globe features 3D installations and lifelike robotic elements, creating thought-provoking and unfamiliar scenes. Globally, Gentle Monster boasts a network of 41 stores, each offering a unique experience. In the TRX store, the facade artwork and metal structures are contrasted with the fluid movements of hyper-real animatronic bisons. Combined with various flowing paths, these elements deliver a dynamic, colourful, not to mention picture-worthy experience to the shopper. Alicia Amin and Daiyan Trisha 1/10 Ashley Lau 2/10 Awal Ashaari and Scha Alyahya 3/10 Cyii Cheng 4/10 Jestinna Kuan 5/10 Gaston Pong 6/10 Christinna Kuan 7/10 Shalma Ainaa 8/10 From left: Zhen Ning, Kittie Yiyi, Yaya Zahir and Maggy Wang 9/10 Eyka Farhana 10/10 The exclusive store launch offered KLs fashion crowdmade up of celebrities, influencers, content creators, fashion designers and entrepreneursthe opportunity to discover Gentle Monsters latest 2024 Optical Collection. The lines daring, futuristic designs were on full display, echoing the brands identity. See the fabulous event on opening day below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by BURO Malaysia (@buromalaysia) Find Gentle Monster at G.12A, Ground Level in The Exchange TRX. For more fashion reads, click here. Victoria Ernst seeks to have fully electric appliances in her San Francisco home but has encountered long wait times for approval from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Victoria Ernst and her husband had kept up with alarming headlines about the warming planet. Theyd heard urgent calls from environmentalists and California officials for people to stop using natural gas. So when renovating their 1913 home in San Franciscos Glen Park neighborhood, they decided to replace all gas appliances the stove, water heater, the furnace with electric ones. That was April 2022. One year later, they are still waiting for needed upgrades from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I thought by now wed be moving in, Ernst said. It just doesnt end. Bay Area residents are under growing pressure to get rid of gas appliances in their homes. Last month, regional pollution regulators passed rules barring new gas-powered residential furnaces or water heaters from being installed, even in existing homes, starting a few years from now. And people will be charging their electric cars at home in growing numbers heading toward 2035 when sales of new gas-powered cars will end in the state. But homeowners who want to abandon fossil fuels are confronting a major obstacle: getting PG&E to move quickly enough to provide more electricity. An new electrical panel needs PG&Es approval to be installed at Ernsts home. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Homes connected to the grid have electric panels, a steel box holding circuit breakers that manage the flow of electricity into the building. Residents adding more electricity-gulping appliances sometimes need a new panel capable of supplying more amperage, or amps, so more electricity can flow into a home. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The process requires a collaboration with PG&E. Property owners may need to make renovations to accommodate new equipment, including not only the panel but also the wiring into a building and other parts connecting the system to neighborhood power lines. PG&E is closely involved in the work to ensure it follows safety codes. PG&E said the part of the process it works on most directly reviewing and approving the wiring changes and connecting the home to neighborhood power lines takes on average four weeks (and the company seeks to reduce that to three). About half of all panel upgrades are simple requests that take less than a month, according to PG&E. But the other half are more complex and time-consuming, with a process that PG&E says typically runs five to 14 months from start to finish for individual residential panel upgrades. That timeframe includes homeowners negotiations with PG&E over issues such as where to locate the panel which is the responsibility of the homeowner, but ultimately requires PG&E approval. In other words, this scenario requires time, patience and money and is likely to become increasingly common as more households electrify appliances in older homes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ernst knew her house would need far more electricity than the old stucco bungalows 125-amp electric panel, especially because they plan to get an electric car. So she called PG&E. Shed already gone through the process before. The home had a 40-amp service when she and her husband bought it in 2019, and it took PG&E about five weeks to connect the new 125-amp electric panel. This time, her panel upgrade request was assigned to PG&Es express connections department. She bought the bigger 320-amp panel to replace the smaller old one. Her contractor just needed to know where to install the new panel, which is about four times larger than her current panel. It couldnt be located in the same place as the old one, Ernst said, because of space constraints and other technical limits. Ernst has exchanged dozens of emails with a PG&E express connections employee based outside the Bay Area, according to a review of these files by The Chronicle. Shes sent diagrams, measurements, detailed descriptions, photographs from various angles and her contractors notes. Ernst is frustrated with the pace of approval as she seeks to add all-electrical appliances to her San Francisco home. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle At one point, a PG&E staffer passed along a photograph to Ernst that was marked up by another utility employee with three location options for the new panel. The first option was actually the neighbors house and the other two were areas too narrow. In another exchange, PG&E recommended Ernst use an external door to the first floor garage space to build a utility closet and give the company the keys. Ernst declined because that would cut off access to the first floor through that door and reduce storage space. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Not once in the last 12 months has a technician or any other PG&E staffer visited her property, she said. This is the crux of the problem, according to Ernst, who said PG&E simply cannot do this work remotely by reviewing photos with any efficiency. PG&Es Express Connect department, which generally operates remotely, is meant for simpler projects, according to utility spokesperson Lynsey Paulo. However, PG&E attributed the long time frame to Ernst, saying her original application for a new electric panel was originally filed twice. Applications were incomplete and (the) customer did not respond to requests for additional required information, so applications were canceled, according to an emailed statement from Paulo. Ernst said shes had to answer the same questions repeatedly and the PG&E representative seemed to be failing to log the information. She said she was shocked to learn her application had been canceled without warning earlier this year, and it has since been reinstated. Ernst is hopeful they have finally reached a compromise that only requires they demolish old stucco planters built into the front of her home to install the new panel. But theres no guarantee. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Who in their right mind is going to say: Sure, Im ready to electrify, Ernst said. If people hear about my story forget it. Workers marked the sidewalk after PG&E removed the gas lines into Ernsts home. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle PG&E has acknowledged that its response times for a variety of services have been slowed because of urgent demands that the utility prioritize wildfire prevention work, such as putting power lines underground. In addition to individual homeowner upgrades, the utility has been slow to connect new housing developments to the grid prompting complaints from officials in areas like Tracy, and leading state Sen. Scott Wiener to propose a bill to address the problem. The experience of having a funky, old home is common in the Bay Area, where about 65% of homes were built before 1978 before many current building codes and when demand for electricity was far less, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. But soon, the upgrade difficulties could become more widespread as swapping out appliances becomes mandatory. In the coming years, anyone with unrepairable water heaters (starting in 2027) and gas furnaces (in 2029) must install electric ones, according to new regulations from the air district, which is seeking to reduce health-harming pollution from nitrogen oxides. Greg Nudd, deputy air pollution control officer with the air district, said property owners who adopt electric appliances gradually can get by, at least at first, without time-consuming panel upgrades. Nudd said he installed an electric water heater in his home without triggering an upgrade, though he will need a panel upgrade when he replaces his furnace. Nudd says the air district tried to build in time before the rules kick in to allow for the industry to catch up with more energy-efficient appliances and for PG&E and homeowners to prepare on their ends too. We do recognize were pushing the envelope on technology, Nudd said. But some residents say the challenges are immense. Sunnyvale resident Mike Kapolnek spoke out during air district meetings to warn board members about potentially troublesome consequences for homeowners who cant make those upgrades without getting into a monthslong queue for PG&E. Kapolnek told The Chronicle hes been waiting since September to have PG&E approve a location for a new electric panel so he can forgo most gas appliances for electric ones. Utility staff at one point directed him to install metal poles in front of the panel for safety reasons in his narrow driveway. He lives on a residential street with older homes and huge magnolia trees both complicating factors, despite the charm. Hes anticipating further delays once the utility grapples with where to install a new electric drop, the line bringing electricity from street power lines to the house because of those magnolias sprawling branches. Indian Navy Day is an emblematic celebration to honour the valor, commitment, and patriotic fervour of the Indian Navy. It is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the significant contributions of the naval force towards ensuring the security and sovereignty of India. Every year on December 4, Indian Navy Day is observed to commemorate the contribution and accomplishments of Indian naval forces. The day also commemorates the commencement of Operation Trident against Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. During the war, the Indian Navy played a critical role. Indian Navy Day is held to memorialise the attack and to pay respect to all Navy soldiers who gave their lives while serving the country. The Indian Navy is a three-dimensional force that protects our country's interests above, on, and beneath the ocean's surface. Its principal goal is to enhance its position in the Indian Ocean Zone. This day is marked with a variety of events, each with a particular theme. History of Indian Navy Day The Indian Navy was established in 1612 by the East India Company and was later renamed the Indian Navy in 1950 after India gained independence. During the Indo-Pak war in 1971, Pakistan attacked an Indian Air Base on December 3rd. In response, the Indian Navy launched 'Operation Trident' on the night of December 4th and 5th. This operation successfully struck the Karachi harbor, causing significant damage to the Pakistani naval capabilities. The operation involved the use of Vidyut-class missile boats, anti-submarine corvettes, and was led by Commander Babru Bhan Yadav. The attack resulted in the sinking of four Pakistani Navy ships and the destruction of the Karachi harbor fuel fields. Over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel were killed in the war. Indian Navy Day is observed to honor the achievements of the Indian Navy and to recognize the challenges faced by its personnel during times of war. Theme of Indian Navy Day Indian Navy Day 2023 will revolve around the theme of "Operational Efficiency, Readiness, and Mission Accomplishment in the Maritime Domain." This theme reflects the Navy's commitment to maximizing operational efficiency, maintaining constant readiness, and successfully completing missions in the maritime domain. It emphasizes the Navy's important role in safeguarding national interests, promoting regional stability, and collaborating with allied nations. The Navy aims to utilize advanced technology, rigorous training, and strategic partnerships to effectively navigate and secure the seas. The theme represents the Navy's dedication to maritime excellence and its contribution to the nation's overall prosperity. Significance of Indian Navy Day Navy Day is a significant event in India as it allows the nation to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the Indian Navy. It is a day to remember their unwavering commitment to protecting the country's maritime boundaries and ensuring national security. The celebration serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by naval personnel and their dedication to keeping the nation safe.The occasion also serves as a platform to showcase the technological advancements and capabilities of the Indian Navy. The Naval Festival allows the public to witness firsthand the impressive warships and aircraft of the Indian Navy. This not only gives the citizens an opportunity to appreciate the navy's preparedness but also fosters a sense of pride and patriotism among the people. The festivities that accompany Navy Day create a festive atmosphere and provide an enjoyable experience for all who attend. Indian Navy Day Celebrations The Indian Navy Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour across the country. The celebrations include various activities like the Beating Retreat and Tattoo Ceremonies at Gateway of India, Mumbai. The navy personnel display their skills through various drills, including naval demonstrations and air shows. A "Day at Sea" is organized where civilians are invited onboard naval ships to witness the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy. This day also sees the release of documentaries and films depicting the valiant efforts of our naval force. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are devices used in India for casting votes in elections. They have brought about a significant transformation in the voting process by replacing traditional paper ballots. Understanding the structure and functioning of EVMs is crucial in order to ensure transparency and integrity in the voting process. It allows for efficient and accurate counting of votes, reducing the chances of errors or tampering. EVMs have played a significant role in streamlining elections in India, making the process more convenient and reliable for both voters and election officials. Structure of an EVM An EVM typically consists of two units - a control unit and a ballot unit. The control unit is operated by the election officials while the ballot unit is used by the voters to cast their votes. These units are interconnected and communicate with each other through cables. The Control Unit is responsible for activating the Balloting Unit, allowing the voter to cast their vote. It also keeps track of the number of votes cast and ensures that each voter can only vote once. The Balloting Unit has a set of buttons or symbols representing each candidate or party, and the voter simply needs to press the button or symbol corresponding to their preferred choice. Once the vote is cast, the Control Unit locks the Balloting Unit, preventing any further votes from being cast. One of the key advantages of EVMs is their efficiency and accuracy. They eliminate the need for paper ballots and manual counting, which not only saves time but also reduces the chances of errors or tampering. EVMs are also designed to be tamper-proof, with various security features in place to protect the integrity of the voting process. Additionally, EVMs are portable and can be easily transported to remote or inaccessible areas, ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their vote. Functioning of an EVM Understanding the functioning of an EVM is simple. The Polling Officer presses the 'Ballot' button on the Control Unit to activate the Balloting Unit for the voter. The voter then presses the button against the candidate and symbol of his choice, thus registering the vote. The machine locks itself after each vote, preventing multiple votes by a single person. The EVMs are designed to operate fully on a battery, making them functional even in areas with power challenges. These machines have revolutionized the voting process by eliminating the need for paper ballots and manual counting. They provide a quick and efficient way of casting votes, ensuring accuracy and transparency in the electoral process. The EVMs also reduce the chances of tampering or manipulation of votes, as they are highly secure and tamper-proof. Additionally, they save time and resources, as they eliminate the need for printing and storing paper ballots, as well as manual counting of votes. With their user-friendly design and reliable functioning, EVMs have become an integral part of elections in many countries around the world. Advantages of EVMs 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. Andrea Thomas-Paul of Oakland was able to alleviate her rent woes while battling health problems and the rising cost of living with help from the Season of Sharing Fund. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Andrea Thomas-Paul has a large and far-flung family. She has siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins in Sacramento, where she was born and raised. Four of her eight children, who range in age from 12 to 32, live with her in Oakland; the others are in San Francisco, Atlanta and Sacramento. Its an emotional safety net, but not a financial one. So last year, when Thomas-Paul, 51, fell nearly $5,000 behind on rent, she was in danger of losing the three-bedroom apartment she and her kids have occupied for the past five years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Money had always been tight, she said during a recent interview. But conditions got worse after she took medical retirement in April 2022 from her job as a program technician for the California Department of Social Services. Andrea Thomas-Paul watches her daughter Yasmine Paul prepare dinner. Four of Thomas-Pauls eight children, who range in age from 12 to 32, live with her in Oakland. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle I started getting my payments the next month, she said. And my income dropped by 50%. Thomas-Paul had to give up her job because of a combination of health problems. She suffers from Crohns disease, as well as sciatica and lower back problems that were exacerbated by her desk job. Working from home through the COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It seemed like when I was at work, I got up and moved around a lot more, she said. I at least had to go outside for a break or to go get lunch. More about Season of Sharing Since its inception in 1986, the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund has raised and distributed $192 million to help house, care for and nourish Bay Area residents. All administrative costs are covered by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, so 100% of donations go directly to help people facing crises. For more information or to donate, visit www.seasonofsharing.org/donate. But at home, I was just stuck to that computer. Thomas-Paul reached out for help to the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, which works year-round across the nine-county Bay Area to prevent homelessness and hunger among residents in need. She had a Zoom screening with caseworker Natalia Alvarez, who was able to confirm the details of her circumstances. I got in contact with her landlord, got a W-9, and went ahead and submitted her application, Alvarez recalled in a phone interview. It was a pretty quick turnaround. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Season of Sharing provided a cash payment that allowed Thomas-Paul to pay down almost all of her back rent. More importantly, it gave her some much-needed peace of mind. That money helped pay the bills, but also it lessened my worry of being homeless, she said. Because I think thats the biggest fear at the end of the day the instability. Thomas-Paul has been able to keep her rent current since then. But its a struggle. She and 21-year-old daughter Kennedy sometimes team up to do delivery for Uber Eats, which adds some spending money to the family budget. I have mobility issues, so I just do the driving, and she picks up and drops off. That brings in a little something to help us pay for little extra things we might need on a daily basis. In addition to Kennedy, Thomas-Paul has her two youngest children, ages 12 and 16, at home with her. Her son Dreyan, 19, was living there until he left for college at Oregon State University. At that point, Yasmine, 22 a full-time design student at San Francisco State University moved back in. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thomas-Paul speaks of them all proudly, and she dotes on her three granddaughters, who live with their father in Sacramento but come down for an occasional stay. During a reporters visit, the youngest grandchild, 2-year-old True, played happily on the living room rug. Andrea Thomas-Paul visits with her children Craig Warren and Yasmine Paul as they help cook dinner. Season of Sharing provided a cash payment that allowed Thomas-Paul to pay down almost all of her back rent. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Thomas-Paul has an interest in herbal medicine, and shes taking business classes online in hopes of turning that enthusiasm into an entrepreneurial project of some kind. My daughters are interested in helping, and I have some friends that are interested, too. Its like a hobby or a passion that I have, and I hope to bring it to fruition. But theres a persistent air of worry about her, an outgrowth of her close brush with homelessness, as well as concerns about the crime rate in Oakland. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Would she consider moving somewhere else? Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-CA and Gov Ron DeSantis, R-FL engaged in debate on national TV, unique in the fact they were not running for office against each other, for the moment. The debate was proposed to be a red state vs blue state, conservative vs progressive discourse. Mostly it was a war of words about COVID, crime, taxes, border security, controversial textbooks and abortion. They often talked over each other trying to make their points. DeSantis was making a point of Newsom keeping schools closed longer than most states during the COVID lockdown while his own children returned to their private school. Gavin, playing the sideshow illusionist, scolded DeSantis for mispronouncing the vice presidents name. Somehow I dont believe parents struggling with balancing care for children with work demands cared if the vice presidents name was mispronounced, but it gave the clever Gavin an out to avoid answering. Looking at different news analyses one thing most agreed on was Newsom spent a lot of time as Joe Bidens defender or his surrogate (CNN, ABC, The Hill, NPR, Time). That was because as Joes defender he could avoid answering for his own actions. As DeSantis team issued a steady stream of his clips on line, it was Joe Bidens crew sending out video of his proxys performance (Time 11/30/23). A performance it was, as he easily schmoozed an NPR reporter more interested in Newsoms pearly whites and Pat Reilly hair never meeting a camera it didnt like (D Montenaro 12/1/23) than Newsom dodging questions about high taxes and mass exodus from California (The Daily Caller 12/1/23) or personal attacks on DeSantis using talking points from the left. Ignoring issues, the women on The View liked Gavin too as did their star struck audience. The debate revealed two frightening things. Biden and his surrogate want the Progressive X model of California adopted throughout the entire nation. So where would the rest of us flee if that were to happen as did the 6.1 million who left California for other states over the last 10 years? (AP 5/7/21) Ralph Miller * * * To echo what Mr. Miller has clearly pointed out, when one looks beyond the DeSantis - Newsom debate and focuses on the big picture, one comes to the conclusion that progressive Democrats are a train wreck when it comes to governing. Whether it is a city (Chicago, Baltimore, San Francisco, Philadelphia, etc.), a state (California, Illinois, New York, etc.) or a country (America), we have seen the results of their destructive governance in terms of education, crime, inflation and immigration policy to name but a few. Despite all of the gaslighting that the Democrats and their trusted allies in the media throw at us, using the comparison of California to Florida as reasonable surrogate of how to govern, it shows anyone paying attention that there is really no choice in coming elections if they want a better life for themselves, their children and their grandchildren. James Nelson I recently profiled two long-overdue Medal of Honor awards to recipients, Col. Paris Davis and Chattanooga's own Cpt. Larry Taylor. Both men are Vietnam Veterans whose medals were finally approved almost six decades after the actions that earned them. Why such delays? Having met most of the 65 living recipients, I can attest to what any of there fellow veterans already know about them they are, by nature, humble men whose first allegiance was to their fellow warriors under the umbrella of God and country. Thus, the lengthy delays for some recipient recognition is most often the result of a lack of advocacy because genuine heroes of this stature do not advocate for their own recognition. I should note that even when recipients have been approved, some nominees are left waiting until a president can time the award ceremony for his own political benefit. Disgraceful. Chattanooga is irrevocably linked to the First Medals of Honor. Those medals were awarded by Abraham Lincoln in March 1863 for the actions of the Andrews' Raiders in April 1862. Their valorous actions were memorialized in books and films as The Great Locomotive Chase. That chase ended just south of Chattanooga, when The General, which the Andrews Raiders had commandeered for their mission to disrupt critical rail traffic between Chattanooga and Atlanta, ran out of fuel for steam. The Raiders abandoned the train and headed for the hills, but within two weeks, most of the 24 Raiders were captured. Andrews was hung as a spy on June 7, 1862, and 10 days later seven other Raiders Union troops George Wilson, Charles Shadrach, Marion Ross, John Scott, Samuel Slavens, and Samuel Robertson, and Andrews civilian guide William Campbell were also hung. After the War Between the States, the bodies of those eight men were exhumed from a ditch and reburied near the entrance to Chattanoogas National Cemetery, where a prominent monument of The General locomotive was erected at the cemetery entrance in their honor. The Raiders would become the first Medal of Honor recipients, Jacob Parrott the very first, followed by 18 others. One Raider declined the Medal saying his role did not qualify. The two civilians, Andrews and Campbell, were not eligible for the military award. Chattanooga's National Medal of Honor Heritage Center next to the TN Aquarium was established to recognize the first recipients -- and all since. There are a total of 3,517 men and one woman who have been recognized by a grateful nation for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, valorous actions above and beyond the call of duty. However, 160 years after those first Medals were awarded, two Raiders, Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach and Pvt. George D. Wilson, have never been recognized for their actions, despite the fact that President George W. Bush signed legislation authorizing the Medals of Honor for both men back in 2008. Today, the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and our Advisory Board Chairman, Gen. B.B. Bell, continue to advocate for the recognition of Shadrach and Wilson, and we hope that long-overdue recognition will be coming soon. Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach and Pvt. George D. Wilson, your example of valor American Patriots defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty is eternal. Mark Caldwell (Please consider a designated gift to support the National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund through Patriot Foundation Trust (https://patriotfoundationtrust.org), or make a check payable to: NMoH Sustaining Fund and mail it to Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407.) A man told police he left his marinara sauce and $60 in change at the self-checkout at Walmart at 8101 E. Brainerd Road. When he returned to the store about an hour later, customer service had his marinara sauce, but not his $60. * * * A doctor at 6138 Preservation Dr. told police the roof of her vehicle had been keyed while it was parked at her work. She said her vehicle was wrapped in green vinyl and would have to be rewrapped due to the damage. She estimated the damage to be around $1,500. She didnt have any suspect information. * * * A woman on Grand Avenue told police she had an issue with her neighbors sometimes parking on the street in front of her house. She said it made it difficult to get her mail. She said another officer had spoken to her neighbors, but they didnt speak English and the issue was ongoing. The officer told the woman the vehicles were legally parked. * * * A woman at Motel 6 at 7707 Lee Hwy. told police she had put her bag down outside her room. She turned her back and the bag was gone. The bag contained her debit card, approximately $100 cash, and a full bottle prescription of gabapentin. The woman requested a report. * * * A woman called police and reported her identity had been stolen and used to apply for a Mastercard. That card was used and currently has a $750.61 balance. She said a debt collection agency reached out to her to let her know this occurred in September, 2022. The woman told them it wasnt her at that time. They reached out to her again in March, 2023. They reached out again this month and have requested she make a police report. The woman said the fraudulent card was associated with an address in Albany, Ga. She said she has never lived at that address and has in fact never been to Albany. * * * A man on Highland Avenue told police he loaned his EBT card to a friend so she could buy groceries and he was having trouble getting it back from her. After discussing the situation with the man for several minutes he decided he would just call and attempt to have the card canceled. * * * An employee at Mens Wearhouse at 2021 Gunbarrel Road told police a black female built a tent on the side of the building. The man said he wanted the woman trespassed. An officer spoke with the woman and explained she had to leave the property and wasnt able to return. She said she understood, gathered her belongings and left the area. * * * A woman on Preserve Drive told police her son was acting weird and scaring her. Police spoke to the son who said there were people after him. Police asked him if he wanted to harm himself or others and he said he did not. Police assured him no one was in the house or outside and he said he would go to bed for the night. * * * A man on Tacoa Avenue told police his wife has dementia and keeps accusing him of things from the past as if they just occurred, and he was just tired of it. An officer told him that there was nothing police could do, but the officer tried to talk to her and convinced her to go to bed. Eventually, the officer convinced her to leave him alone and go to bed. * * * A man on Allemande Way told police he and his brother had gotten into an argument and that his brother needed to leave. The man said he lived there with his mother who was the only one on the lease. Police spoke with the brother who said he was playing with his mom and the man took offense to it and started the argument. The mother said the brother did put his hands on her but it was in a playful manner and she didnt believe that he intended to harm her. Police told all of them to stay separated and they agreed. While leaving, the man walked back inside and police heard him yelling from outside. Police spoke with him and highly suggested that he needed to find somewhere to go for the night. The man found a place to stay and left. * * * A woman on Browndell Drive told police she received a notification that there was movement outside of her home. She observed what appeared to be a white male standing in her driveway staring at her home and at the fenced-in backyard. She said he was wearing rainboots, shorts, a plaid jacket with shoulder length hair. He was seen walking back to Isbell Road. The home was placed on the Watch List for the next three weeks on all three shifts. * * * While en route to shift start, police saw a business at 6238 Lee Hwy. with what appeared to be a shattered front door. Police immediately turned around and ensured the safety and security of the business. There was a shattered front right glass door that appeared to have been punctured by a small entry point, potentially a rock or bullet hole. The front panel of the window was busted and shattered. There werent any projectiles or items used to break the glass found. Police determined no entry was made to the building as no other points of entry were damaged and the building was still secured * * * An anonymous caller asked police to do a wellness check on a woman in a blue sedan at Boylston Street and Tremont Street. Police spoke with the woman who said she was borrowing the Chevy Impala from a friend and was going to give it back. An officer looked up the registration on the vehicle and it was not entered in as stolen. Later in the afternoon, police received a call for an auto theft for the vehicle. An officer checked the location it was last seen; however, the woman had moved on. * * * Police were asked to conduct a wellness check on Bonny Oaks Drive. Police spoke with the apartment maintenance personnel and the mother of the man they were checking on. She said she came to her sons apartment and got no answer at the door. When she found out her son didnt show up for work and wasnt answering the phone, she became worried. Police entered to search the apartment and her son was found in the rear bedroom asleep. * * * A man on Sofias Circle told police he was in a verbal disorder with his three roommates over money and the perceived disrespect when they talked to him. He wanted them out of his house and wanted them to move. Police told the man they were not able to kick the roommates out because they were also on the lease. The three roommates told police the man was the problem, had an anger issue and was unstable. They said he got easily upset over the slightest thing, which always turned into an argument. After speaking to all, the man decided to leave for the night. This woman has three children who have big age differences between them (about 6 to 7 years apart). Her oldest child is 14-years-old. During the summer, the family goes on trips for the day or over the weekend. Plus, they are members of zoos and museums in their area, so she does try to take her children to do a lot of fun activities. Aside from this, she hasnt been able to do a bigger trip further away, like to Disney World, due to the high cost. Her younger sister and her sisters partner are child-free. Several years ago, her sisters in-laws moved to Florida, so her sister and her partner travel to visit them a lot. While in Florida, her sister and her partner usually go to Disney. My sister asked me recently about taking my oldest kid to Disney as a Christmas present from her, she said. I think it is a really cool and exciting opportunity, but I also feel it is unfair to the two other kids. I also said I would rather save up and take all of them together someday but that I would think about it. While growing up, she and her sister deal with similar age differences between themselves and their other sibling. She was the oldest, her sister was the middle child, and their third sibling was the youngest. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. If youre a parent, was there ever a child at your kids school that you wanted to help or noticed was struggling? One woman recently brushed out her daughters friends hair after she noticed it was matted and bothering her. Now, the friends father is threatening to sue her over it. She has a daughter who is friends with and goes to school with a 13-year-old girl. Her daughters friend has been through the wringer, as she has some health issues and lost her mom at a young age, so it was just her and her dad for a long time. Recently, her daughters friends dad started dating a new woman, and shes noticed that his daughters well-being has been cast aside ever since. This was proven when her daughters friend began walking around with extremely matted hair. [Her] hair has been extremely matted as it had not been brushed for months, she explained. [She] had been hiding her hair under hats and hoods at home and trying to disguise it at school in buns. She stayed over on the weekend, and I only found out about her hair when they came downstairs after getting a comb stuck in [her] hair [after] trying to fix it. I comforted [her] as she was ashamed about her hair but had hoped that she and my daughter could fix it. Her daughters friend eventually confided in her that she didnt like her hair and needed her help to fix it. So, while she was over at her house, she helped her daughters friend detangle and smooth out her hair. She sat the girls in front of a few movies and got to work. It took a few hours, but by the time she finished the girls hair, it looked great. She brushed it out and put it into Dutch braids. Her daughters friend thanked her for her help and went home very happy. Just when she thought everything was all good, she got a very angry call from the girls dads girlfriend, who angrily told her that she had booked a salon trip to fix the girls hair and had to cancel it. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home Church & Ministries Perry Noble says he never thought he would pastor again, announces new Second Chance campus Approximately seven years after he was fired from NewSpring Church in South Carolina for alcohol abuse and other "unfortunate choices and decisions," Perry Noble is thanking God for allowing him back into the megachurch space with the announcement of the Greenville campus of his Second Chance Church. Noble, the founder and senior pastor of Second Chance Church, revealed in a post on Facebook Tuesday that he never thought he would ever be a pastor today after his firing in 2016. "I didn't want to announce @thesecondchancechurch was going to start a Greenville campus heck, for the longest time I actually didn't want to start another campus at all!" he wrote, adding that he never thought he would "pastor again." "When we finally did open up the doors at our first location (aka - the liquor store - IYKYK) - I honestly didn't know if anyone would show up!" After Second Chance Church moved to its current location in Anderson in 2018, Noble said he figured "that was it" and was "content with it all." "If Jesus never blessed me with anything else in my life I've' always been given/blessed way more than I ever deserved! But the Lord kept pressing into me," Noble stated. "[God] kept reminding me that the local church has more to bring change to the world than anyone or anything!" He said God kept reminding him of the Great Commission and "made a way for Greenville to happen." "[S]tepping into this next season I am both excited and a little scared as well!" he said. "I know the accusations of not being qualified are coming as well as reminders of my past!" he said. "But I also know the grace of God, His mercy to me and His relentless pursuit (He never gave up on me!)" Second Chance Church did not immediately respond to questions from The Christian Post Friday about how the work of the new campus is progressing. In October 2016, three months after his firing as senior pastor of NewSpring Church, Noble, who would later divorce his wife, Lucretia, went public with details of his marriage, drinking issues and other aspects of the double life that led to his exit from the church. "I was a hypocrite I preached, 'you can't do life alone' and then went out and lived the opposite," he wrote. "I chose isolation over community. Isolation is where self-doubt dominated my emotions, causing me to believe I just could not carry the weight anymore, and alcohol was necessary for me to make it through another day. I hated myself, literally HATED myself for doing what I was doing, but believed the lie that this was just the way things were, and there was no way it could ever get better." Though NewSpring leaders voiced opposition to his return to ministry, seven months after his firing, during which time he completed a rehab program, Noble returned to the pulpit with the blessing of his friend and confidante, Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in North Carolina. He also continued preaching at other churches while running a consultancy business, The Growth Company, which teaches churches how to grow. Home Opinion God wrecked me by what I saw in the Dominican Republic When my team at Compassion traveled to the Dominican Republic for a work trip, I expected to be moved by the work of the local church in the lives of kids and families in our program. What I didnt expect was for God to wreck me. We spent some time visiting homes in the field, and we met a family whose house had been swept away by recent storms. When we asked where they were staying, they explained that they were living with their next-door neighbors family until they could rebuild. As we left, they showed us the tiny home that was now housing two families. When I looked through the open doorway, I noticed a teenage boy on the bed. He was maybe 13 or 14 years old, and he had Down syndrome. His legs were weak and frail, and it appeared from his lack of muscle tone and the way he scooted to the edge of the bed to look up at me that he had likely never learned to walk. As we left the home and walked along the road, I asked one of our Dominican staff members if the boy was in our program, and she said that the local church didnt have the resources to support his level of need. I asked what it would take for the program to support him, and she explained that the church would need the right accommodations to handle his disability, special training for the staff, and a social worker. While some larger cities were better equipped to address his needs, the cost was too expensive for the rural community church to take on. I wept for the next 20 minutes. The boys family clearly loved him. They had done everything they could to clothe, feed, and care for him, but his options were limited based on the available resources in his community. I knew this boy should have more, and I knew this could have been my son if he had been born in a different place. My son Cade is two years old, and he has Down syndrome the same disability as this boy. Its hard to explain, but your childs disability connects you to other kids with the same disability. You feel protective of that childs struggles and story even their family members. I instantly felt that. And I thought of my son. Hes already starting to walk. Hes chubby. Hes sweet and ornery and 100% toddler. Not only do we know that hell walk and be potty trained and go to school, but we expect that hell make friends, find a job, and enjoy the world around him. With a big support network and resources like early intervention therapies where we live in the US, his world isnt limited by circumstances like poverty. In low-income countries, disability funding is often limited, and support services can be out of reach for families struggling to survive. Even in high-income countries, societies and communities arent always built with the disabled community in mind. They might have more resources, but they still have to overcome hurtful stigma, inaccessible environments, and unsupportive systems to receive the services they deserve. The result is more than 200 million children living with disabilities 1 in 10 children worldwide being denied basic rights like receiving education. My trip to the Dominican Republic showed me how profoundly different a childs life could look when they cant access essential support. My colleague Amberle Brown, a monitoring and evaluation specialist for gender, equity, and social inclusivity (GESI) at Compassion, explains, Children with disabilities are often pushed to the edges of society. Because disability and poverty perpetuate each other, these children also tend to be the poorest of the poor. We have to do better, which is why Compassion is developing disability-inclusive interventions for each of our 8,500+ frontline church partners around the globe. Brown continues, Were motivated by the thousands of children in our Compassion family with disabilities, the millions more in the world that we want to surround with the love of Jesus, and Jesus own example of inviting people with disabilities in. More than 28,000 children with disabilities are currently registered in our program. These kids receive the unique support they need to step into their God-given potential, and every day, our local church partners see this impact in action as kids with disabilities break down barriers and achieve incredible things. In Burkina Faso, 15-year-old Kaders single mom couldnt afford to send him to a specialized school for blind students until Compassions church partner covered the cost. As it turns out, Kader is such an excellent student that he won the Presidents Prize for being the nations top student with a visual disability. Doctors predicted Melany, who has Down syndrome, would never walk. After her center in El Salvador provided access to ongoing therapy, she took her first steps at 18 months old, even earlier than my son Cade. Now at age 3, shes not only walking shes running, climbing, and apparently always searching for toys. When I hear stories like this, Im encouraged by Gods goodness and faithfulness, but the work is nowhere near finished. This Sunday, December 3, is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. As of today, we have 369 children in our program with physical or intellectual disabilities waiting for a sponsor and so many more we want to welcome into the program. When I returned home and told my husband about my experience in the Dominican Republic, we decided to sponsor two additional kids with disabilities. Our son might never fully understand poverty, but we want him to know that there are kids like him all over the world who might not have everything they need. People with disabilities dont need our pity. They need us to champion their worth, see and celebrate them for everything they are, help them access resources that will give them the fullest life, and advocate for them to the best of our ability. Its not a quick or easy fix, but the least of these is who were called to. The world looks at disabilities and just sees the challenges. Its not that we dont see our sons challenges. Its just not all we see. When we look at him, we see the redemptive nature of God and the beauty he uniquely brings into the world because of his Down syndrome. And children with disabilities in a poverty context deserve to be known, loved, and protected in the same way. Home U.S. Hamas hostage Guy Iluz, son of American mother, among 6 hostages found dead The tragic fate of six Israeli hostages, including Guy Iluz, a 26-year-old soundman who attempted to escape Hamas, has been confirmed. These individuals were abducted by the terrorists during the Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel. Iluz was attending the Supernova music festival on Oct. 7 in Reim, where Hamas terrorists killed over 260 people. He was abducted while many of his friends were killed. His high school in Raanana announced his death, marking him as the sixth former student killed by the terrorist group, The Times of Israel reported. Iluz, known for his work with prominent Israeli musicians, made a desperate attempt to flee in his Jeep with four other passengers. Terrorists shot at Iluz's Jeep during the failed escape, killing his four passengers. He was able to exit the vehicle and climb a tree, which is where he was when he last spoke with his parents before being taken hostage, the Times of Israel added. The Israeli army also confirmed the identities of five other hostages killed by Hamas: Maya Goren, Ronen Engel, Eliyahu Margalit, Arye Zalmanovich and Ofra Keidar, Haaretz reported, noting that these individuals, hailing from various backgrounds and ages, shared the tragic fate of being abducted by Hamas. Zalmanovich, 86, a founding member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was among the oldest hostages. His dedication to the kibbutz, even in the face of adversity, was highlighted by his son during a demonstration for the captives release. Maya Goren, 56, a kindergarten teacher, was taken after the terrorists murdered her husband and dog. Ronen Engel, 54, a recent graduate in water engineering, was abducted along with his family, who were later released. Eliyahu Churchill Margalit, 75, a long-time resident of Nir Oz, was known for his commitment to cattle raising. Ofra Keidar, 70, from Kibbutz Beeri, was captured during her morning walk, her last moments filled with confusion and fear. On Friday, health officials reported that a committee of experts, using classified information, declared three additional hostages deceased, according to The Wall Street Journal, which said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed their deaths despite the inability to access their bodies, which are believed to be in Gaza. The Israeli militarys recovery efforts have been ongoing. They managed to retrieve the body of Ofir Tzarfati, 27, from Gaza for burial in Israel, the Journal said. Doris Liber, the mother of Iluz, told The Christian Post last month that she remembers hearing the sound of gunshots during her last phone call with her son, who called to say his last words before the terrorist group Hamas took him hostage. Liber and Guys father divorced when her son was about 2, and until the boy was 7, the mother said that it was just [her] and [Guy] against the world. As an adult, she and her son kept in touch through phone calls, and he came over once a week for dinner. They frequently chatted about philosophy. When her son called, Liber told CP she heard gunshots in the background as he told his mother and father that he loved them. He spoke in a whisper during that last phone call, but his voice didn't sound terrified, she recalled. He said, Nobody is coming out alive. Everybody is dead; nobody is getting out of this alive, so I need to say my last words, Liber recounted. Iluz's father advised his son not to speak so he could remain hidden from the terrorists, and Liber did the same. And so, I told him, Guy, I love you, she said before hanging up for his safety. I regret that because that was the last time that I heard from him. Liber took part in a protest held by family members of those kidnapped by Hamas outside the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland, last month. Im a single mom, and Guy is my only son. Guy is a very sensitive kid, she said. Hes a musician. We actually bought him an electric guitar when he was 9 years old, and he has been composing music since a very early age. Hes surrounded by his pack of friends, most of them neighbors, who practically lived at my house as well. Ray Light dances at the intersection of 10th and Folsom streets Saturday during SF Is a Drag, in which 100 drag queens and kings simultaneously perform on various street corners in San Francisco. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Drag queen Vanilla Meringue, center in red, takes a selfie Saturday during SF Is a Drag, where 100 drag queens and kings simultaneously perform on various street corners in San Francisco. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Fauxnique performs for a crowd near Union Square on Saturday during SF Is a Drag. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Franzia Rose dances at the intersection of Polk and California Street, as a pedestrians and motorists watch. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle DArcy Drollinger, San Francisco Drag Laureate and one of the organizers of San Francisco is a Drag, center in red dress, and Chyna Maykit, right, perform for passing pedestrians. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Drag queen Evian dances at the intersection of Polk and Pine streets. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Pedestrians react as drag entertainer Lucinda Puss ducks under their umbrella while performing in the rain near the Powell and Market cable car turnaround. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Juanita More displays a ring during the pop-up performance Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Ray Light dances at the intersection of 10th and Folsom streets Saturday during SF Is a Drag. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Kiki Krunch performs a cartwheel at the intersection of 10th and Folsom street during the pop-up drag performance Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Drag queen Leggy Pee performs in front of Cafe Trieste in North Beach on Saturday as part of SF Is a Drag, a weekend-long event of pop-up drag performances throughout the city. Danielle Echeverria/The Chronicle Drag queen Dulce de Leche sings in the middle of Columbus Street in North Beach on Saturday as part of SF Is a Drag, a weekend-long event of pop-up drag performances. Danielle Echeverria/The Chronicle Tourists and locals walking around North Beach on Saturday were treated to an only-in-San Francisco surprise: pop-up drag performances on the neighborhoods famous street corners. Passersby smiled and snapped photos of a drag queen dressed like the Little Mermaid dancing in front of Vesuvio Cafe; of one performer lip-syncing a rendition of Jingle Bells in front of Cafe Trieste; and of another, Dulce de Leche, taking her performance into the middle of Columbus Street, with the Transamerica Tower in the background. The performances, which took over other parts of the city including Union Square, SoMa, the Castro and the Haight on Saturday evening and were to continue Sunday, were part of a weekend dubbed SF Is a Drag, organized by nonprofits Oasis Arts and the Civic Joy Fund, featuring San Francisco drag queens Juanita More, Honey Mahogany and DArcy Drollinger, the citys drag laureate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nearly 100 drag queens and kings were scheduled to perform throughout the weekend. Laicey CropTop dances at the corner of Fillmore and Pine streets Saturday, the first day of the SF Is a Drag pop-up performances. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle We really wanted to help change the narrative about San Francisco, Mahogany said of the event. San Francisco has been going through some hard times, but its one of the most special cities in the world, and its one of the only places where you could do something like this. The performers, singing and dancing to songs ranging from Christmas carols to Beyonce to show tunes, interacted with passersby, smiling, winking and waving at the smartphones and cameras people pulled out as they stumbled across the scenes. Drag queens who had already performed went from corner to corner to support each other, cheering them on and posing for photos together. Drollinger, in front of Cafe Trieste on Grant Avenue, said the corner was her favorite, as she grew up just four blocks away. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Being able to come back to my old stomping grounds in my new life feels very full circle, she said. It certainly does make me feel like I just dont live in the city anymore, but I contribute to making the city what it is. Its really special. Drag queens Honey Mahogany, center, and DArcy Drollinger, in red, speak alongside drag performers in front of Cafe Trieste in San Franciscos North Beach on Saturday. The two helped organize SF Is a Drag, a weekend-long event of pop-up drag performances throughout the city. Danielle Echeverria/The Chronicle Drollinger added that it was particularly significant to be able to have drag performance traditionally limited to nighttime venues such as LGBTQ bars and clubs out into the open, in the daytime, for everyone to see. She said she loved seeing the surprise of people walking by suddenly getting to see a drag performance in real time. Drag is political, in a sense that it is pushing the boundaries of what we think is acceptable, she said. Yes, were entertaining, but I feel like its a way of creating social change in real time. For her, the moment was monumental, she said. I hope we can start doing this once a year. Home Church & Ministries This week in Christian history: English pope elected, PCA holds first General Assembly, OVU closes down Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many people. The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the election of the only English pope in Catholic Church history, the Presbyterian Church in America holding its first General Assembly, and the closure of Ohio Valley University. 1 2 3 4 Next Home Opinion Gods Church: Called to heal Its hard to imagine all the ways our world has changed since Jesus walked among us. The cultures, nations, technologies, and ideologies that have risen and fallen in the past two thousand years are difficult to count, much less comprehend. What, one could rightfully ask, could our world have in common with the world Jesus lived in? One constant is human nature. A part of that human nature I am especially interested in is how we treat people who have different levels of physical ability. If youre reading this, youre probably aware of the many miracles Jesus performed to heal people. (Did you know that the largest number of Jesuss miracles mentioned in the New Testament were cures for diseases?) Jesus healed eyes, bones, skin, blood, muscles, ears, and vocal cords throughout His ministry. In addition to demonstrating His holiness, these miracles show His compassion and willingness to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Jesus also showed a strong desire for society not to overlook children. Taken together, it is clear that God cares deeply for children with disabilities. Although we certainly have tremendous room for improvement, Americans have made great advances in how we interact with, and improve the lives of, people with disabilities. Unfortunately, this is not true everywhere. Across Africa and much of Asia, children born with a disability are often shunned by society, mocked at school, and/or literally locked in their homes. A sense of shame is the driving force behind these harmful actions. Many cultures (even among Christians) errantly believe that disability is the direct result of a parents sin or a curse by God on a family. Therefore, children with disabilities are frequently hidden away from the public eye. The organization I am privileged to serve, CURE International, helps children heal from treatable disabilities (such as clubfoot, cleft lip/palate, knock knees, bowed legs, and hydrocephalus) in eight countries, from Niger to the Philippines. These children are among the most undervalued and overlooked humans on our planet. You could say that these precious children are treated like the lepers of our day. This year, in an attempt to counter the cultural misunderstandings in the societies where we operate, CURE hospitals across the world partnered with hundreds of local churches to teach a biblical theology of disability. We teach that disabilities are nothing to be ashamed of and God loves people regardless of their level of ability. We also tell them about our high-quality, no-cost hospitals that serve their local communities. This initiative has changed lives forever. To date, over 30,000 people have attended our Theology of Disability seminars (including more than 2,000 church leaders). CURE has distributed 65,000 Bibles, while PraiseWorks has allowed us to share over 50,000 age-appropriate Gospel materials with children. Over 375 children suffering from a treatable disability have been referred to CURE hospitals, and 435 people with disabilities have joined local churches. We are also excited about a new partnership with One Hope to distribute additional Christian literature to our patients and their families. Parents are getting their children the help they need. Churches are inviting children with all levels of ability to participate in worship. Schools are restricting bullying and encouraging parents to have their children medically evaluated. The stigma is fading, but not fast enough. My purpose in sharing this with the readers of The Christian Post is to encourage you to do what you can to make the world more accessible to all of Gods children. I challenge you to see your world through the eyes of someone with a different level of ability than yourself. Be a catalyst for change to ensure your world is accessible to people of all levels of ability. Human nature has not changed, but neither has Gods nature. He still wants us to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2). DP World, a global leader in smart end-to-end supply chain logistics in Dubai, has joined the First Movers Coalition (FMC), thus setting a ambitious target of getting 5% of its marine power from hybrid engines and zero-emission fuels by 2030. In a move that makes clear its commitment to decarbonisation, DP World said it will adopt emerging technologies to accelerate a green and inclusive transition to a net zero future. Led by the World Economic Forum and the US Government, the FMC is dedicated to addressing the decarbonisation challenges of seven hard-to-abate sectors -- aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel and trucking -- which collectively contribute to 30% of global emissions. As a collective of leading industry players, the members work to aggregate their purchasing power, prompt more investments in zero-emission solutions and scale their production. DP World has committed that by 2030, at least 5% of its short-sea shipping will be powered by zero-emission fuels, through the introduction of two hybrid-electric and five methanol-enabled vessels. This year, P&O Ferries, part of DP Worlds Marine Services arm, introduced the worlds first ferry designed with a hybrid diesel-electric power plant. The Dubai group expects its total demand for clean methanol to power the five vessels will be around 38,000 tonnes annually by 2030. Unifeeder Group, another part of DP World Marine Services, has already signed a long-term time-charter agreement for two new methanol-capable container feeder vessels, which will be deployed in Europe. DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said: "Joining the First Movers Coalition is a clear signal of our intent to tackle the climate impact of our operations, while maintaining the efficient flow of global trade. Electrification and alternative fuels are integral components of our sustainability strategy, playing a pivotal role in significantly reducing emissions in our business and tracking towards our ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2040 and net zero by 2050. Driving demand for new fuels and technology will be key to creating an efficient market that works for everyone." Group Chief Operating Officer (Marine Services) Jesper Kristensen said: "Decarbonisation is a core focus for DP World, and as part of the First Movers Coalition, we're able to work collectively with like-minded organisations to actively drive positive change." "The entire supply chain, from producers to distributors to shipping companies, must come together to facilitate the decarbonisation transition this is because the ambition to drive this change can only happen when all players of the supply chain move from commitment to action together," Kristensen added. The FMC currently has more than 90 members, whose commitments will represent an annual demand of $15 billion for emerging climate technologies and 29 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in annual emissions reductions by 2030.-TradeArabia News Service There are no current plans to phase out gas stoves in California, even though air pollution regulators are working to stop installation of gas-powered furnaces and water heaters. Sean Gallup/Getty Images Bay Area air quality regulators voted last week to phase out pollution-churning furnaces and water heaters that run on natural gas, starting as soon as four years from now. But the regulators made no reference to gas stoves, which emit many of the same harmful gases that pose risks to human health. Theres a key reason: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which approved the new furnace and water heater rules Wednesday, doesnt regulate pollution inside homes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We do not regulate indoor air quality, BAAQMD spokesperson Kristine Roselius told The Chronicle. The agency has jurisdiction over stationary pollution sources that impact outdoor air quality in nine counties surrounding San Francisco Bay. These sources range from oil refineries to residential heaters. At the state level, the powerful California Air Resources Board, which has led the charge against smog and greenhouse gas pollution, has also left gas stoves alone even as it approved a plan last year to end the installation of gas-powered water heaters and furnaces statewide in the coming years. We dont have authority on indoor air, said a spokesperson for the state air board. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gas water heaters and furnaces, which operate more continuously than stoves, generate higher amounts of pollution over time. However, the unhealthy gases produced by stoves circulate inside homes especially those that are not properly ventilated with a range hood where people breathe them directly. Gas stoves are potentially an area where we could make a big difference in exposures, said Stephanie Holm, a pediatrician at UCSFs division of occupational, environmental and climate medicine. But so far, the regulations have not included gas stoves. The BAAQMDs new rules prohibit new installations or sales of water and space heaters that emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), a group of gases that contribute to neighborhood-level smog and particulate pollution. Its a de facto ban on gas-fired heaters because the only ones that currently comply are electric. The rules kick in as early as 2027 for water heaters and 2029 for furnaces. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Last year the California Air Resources Board voted on an overall climate change- and pollution-fighting strategy that included a plan to start prohibiting sales of new gas furnaces and water heaters in 2030. The rules are expected to be finalized in 2025. Gas stoves will likely be phased out in California first in new construction, which is increasingly encouraged or required to be all-electric by regulations in Berkeley, San Francisco, Marin County and numerous other local communities. California Energy Commission standards currently require that new buildings accommodate all-electric appliances, including stoves. In Southern California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District which governs a region with 17 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties is working on zero-NOx standards for new heating appliances plus cooking appliances that, if approved next year, could be in effect by 2029. There is clear and bountiful science on the health effects of outdoor pollution. Far fewer studies have examined the risks of gas stoves, but new research links them to childhood asthma. A study released late last year and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health estimated that indoor gas stoves can be linked to 12.7% of all incidences of childhood asthma similar to the proportion blamed on secondhand smoke. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Early this year, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission official told a reporter his agency should look at regulating gas stoves. It set off a firestorm in Washington, D.C. The agencys top official issued an explanation, seeking to calm concerns that the government would be racing into peoples homes to claim an appliance beloved by many home cooks. Research indicates that emissions from gas stoves can be hazardous, commission Chairman Alex Hoehn-Saric said, adding, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the (commission) has no proceeding to do so. However, the agency this month issued a request for information on gas stoves, indicating that it was taking a closer look at the health risks associated with them. Mary Prunicki, a Stanford University expert on the health effects of air pollutants, said an air monitor for particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in her home is triggered when the stove is on but also when her daughter uses hair spray. She said indoor pollution is just as important as outdoor pollution when it comes to health hazards. You want to remove as many triggers as you can, especially if there are people at risk like small children, the elderly or others with respiratory disorders, Prunicki said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the meantime, people with gas stoves can lessen their risk, according to Holm, who is studying asthma rates among children whose families got rid of their gas stoves in the Central Valley. Pollution comes off cooking in multiple ways, Holm said. The food itself sends particulate matter into the air. Burning gas emits other substances like NOx, carbon monoxide, methane and benzene. Ventilating the house with an open window or, ideally, a range hood can help clear the air, said Holmes. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. The U.S. Supreme Court is about to consider what limits should there be on social media and who should set them. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images This summer, an obscure lower court judge single-handedly muzzled the federal government when he ordered it to stop pressuring the worlds most influential social media companies to take down posts the government considered threats to public health and election integrity. The ruling came in July when U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana ordered a halt to what he, a Trump appointee, breathlessly called arguably the most massive attack against free speech in United States history. What Biden administration officials did to trigger this hyperventilation was not, as well see, such a big deal. But the appeals court Doughty answers to supported enough of his sweeping injunction that the case, brought by Republican attorneys general from two states and a handful of private plaintiffs, has gone to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There, it will join two additional cases over online political discrimination that raise the same core questions: What limits should there be on social media, and who should set them? Does any attempt by public authorities to rein them in violate constitutional guarantees of expressive freedom? And if the government cannot interfere in what social media companies do, who can? The two other social media cases going to the Supreme Court challenge laws in Texas and Florida. They are a mirror image of the Louisiana ruling, which targeted the Biden administration for trying to keep vaccine disinformation and claims of election fraud from reaching millions of social media users. The Florida and Texas laws authorize those states to stop the platforms from blocking posts on political grounds. They were enacted by Republicans who were furious over the decision of Twitter (now renamed X) and Facebook to suspend President Donald Trump for encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, and who believe the platforms routinely silence conservatives. These state laws direct Republican attorneys general to interfere with social media in ways the Louisiana ruling forbids a Democratic presidential administration to even suggest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theres plenty of inconsistency here. For its part, the Biden administration argues for its right to cajole social media platforms into blocking posts that contradict its medical guidance while it simultaneously argues with no less fervor that letting states meddle in the platforms content decisions is unconstitutional. Its true that the conduct covered by the Louisiana ruling and the state laws differs in major ways. Biden officials were slapped down for what appears, at worst, to have been energetic insistence. Although the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans its 16 full-time members including 12 Republicans, six appointed by Trump found that officials coerced Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google with foreboding, inflammatory, and hyper-critical phraseology that was on-the-whole intimidating, the bullying looks pretty toothless. The administration noted coercion was alleged despite the absence of even a single instance in which an official paired a request to remove content with a threat of adverse action and despite the fact that the platforms declined the officials requests routinely and without consequence. The state laws are much more aggressive. The Texas statute permits the state and private citizens to haul media platforms into court if they believe moderation policies prohibit them from posting comments because of their viewpoints. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Florida law was enacted, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared, to fight against (the) big tech oligarchs that contrive, manipulate, and censor if you voice views that run contrary to their radical leftist narrative. It forbids social media to block political expression, to bar political candidates or to limit access by journalistic organizations. Press advocates like me bridle at governmental meddling with media expression, especially when it has nakedly partisan motives and comes with teeth. Even faced with the bedrock duty of protecting the public and what could be more bedrock than ensuring that people know how to keep themselves safe from a lethal pandemic? it seems wise to point out to officialdom they have no monopoly on truth; we defend expressive freedom not just because we value divergent opinion, but because it ensures that dissenting truth claims are aired. Although the Biden administrations entreaties to media platforms did not seem, to anyone but zealots, to cross the line into strong-arming, it would be good to see a reminder from the court that such a line exists and matters. So governmental coercion, whether via closed-door pleas or legal prohibitions, is a real issue. But so is media accountability. We have no choice but to defend vigorously the free speech rights of corporations, as repugnant as that is to liberal sensibilities, since those rights are inextricably linked to our tradition of private ownership of the media. How else would we defend the editorial freedom of the Chronicle or the New York Times if corporations had no such rights? Advertisement Article continues below this ad But when that freedom enables social media barons to unilaterally dictate thanks to staggering marketplace dominance the conditions, character, content and limits of public discourse, questions must be raised. If a platform owner decides to expose billions of people to a blinkered, biased and hateful worldview, is that really a problem to allow the market to manage? Are we prepared for the social costs that would impose? There was little in the decision by the hyper-conservative 5th Circuit Court upholding the Texas law that I agreed with. Still, I was struck by this assertion: Today we reject the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say. It's been three years since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the idea of working from home upended the office landscape for good. While some employers have decided to fully embrace a remote work environment, and experts declare that "return to office is dead," major employers including Amazon and Google are mandating their employees to return to the office, and in some cases, tying promotion and performance reviews to in-person attendance. Sallie Krawcheck, CEO of Ellevest, an investment and financial literacy platform for women, has been a vocal advocate for remote work. The various benefits lower fixed costs, a larger talent pool, and added flexibility for women and under-represented groups factor into why Ellevest has remained fully remote since the pandemic. At the recent CNBC Workforce Executive Council Summit in New York City, Krawcheck said since going fully remote a decision that she said was made predominantly as a result of being a lean startup that could not justify the office costs and because the model enabled her to recruit a more diverse workforce teams have been more productive and successful at hitting deadlines. "We're hitting deadlines like never before," she said. But she added that the one drawback is a less creative company. "Let's have a Zoom to brainstorm? Not many people do it, and you can't run into each other at the coffee machine when you're on Zoom," Krawcheck said. "We are more productive and we are less creative." Krawcheck's opinion isn't unpopular, especially among her former colleagues on Wall Street she held top posts at Citigroup and Merrill Lynch before founding Ellevest. She described the Wall Street CEO view as often being tied to a "command and control" approach they came up in, and which leads them to still want to see people physically in the office, even if that alone is a weak reason. Among top CEOs who have publicly cited losses in creativity, innovation, and spontaneity to justify RTO mandates, there's JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. When he began the bank's return-to-office campaign in September 2020, he said virtually functioning "with Zoom and Cisco" during the pandemic could maintain productivity, "at least in the short run." But in an annual letter to shareholders, Dimon went on to say that remote work "virtually eliminates spontaneous learning and creativity because you don't run into people at the coffee machine, talk with clients in unplanned scenarios, or travel to meet with customers and employees for feedback on your products and services." Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has referred to remote work as "an aberration." It's not just banks arguably reliant on their workers being in office due to their investments in commercial real estate that are pushing for RTO. As the Google and Amazon examples illustrate, CEOs of tech companies which previously embraced WFH as the way of the future have shifted positions. Meta , which vocally embraced fully remote work, now has many employees back three days a week. In October 2020, a Microsoft study found that working from home hampered workers' creativity, with the percentage of leaders thinking their companies were innovative dropping 16% due to the pandemic. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said back in May that "one of the tech industry's worst mistakes in a long time was that everybody could go full remote forever, and startups didn't need to be together in person and, you know, there was going to be no loss of creativity." Stanford economist and professor Nicholas Bloom, an expert on WFH since long before Covid who recently made the proclamation that "return to office is dead," agreed to a certain extent. "I think fully-remote can be problematic, although it depends on how this operates," he said. To Bloom, a hybrid work set-up is still optimal: "There are no obvious productivity or innovation downsides of a hybrid plan with three days a week in the office, but employees really value this so it's hugely impactful on recruitment and retention outcomes." In this article ALK HA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now Alaska Air Group has agreed to buy rival Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal, setting up another potential regulatory battle in the second proposed airline merger in less than two years. Alaska would pay $18 a share for Hawaiian and would take on $900 million of its debt, the companies said Sunday. Shares of Hawaiian Airlines closed on Friday at $4.86, giving the company a market capitalization of about $250 million. They're down nearly 53% this year. The airline has struggled with challenges including the Maui wildfires, increased competition from Southwest Airlines , which has ramped up service in Hawaii in recent years, and a lagging recovery of travel to and from Asia after the pandemic. Hawaiian has posted net losses in all but one quarter since the start of 2020, while Alaska and other carriers have returned to more solid financial footing as the pandemic waned. "What we saw here was a unique opportunity in time at the valuation that we saw Hawaiian at," said Shane Tackett, Alaska Airlines' CFO, in an interview. He said the deal would also enable the combined companies to become a "market leader" in the premium-travel Hawaii market. Hawaiian's stock nearly tripled on Monday to $14.22 a share, though still below the proposed purchase price. Alaska's shares lost 14.2% to end the day at $34.08. Regulatory hurdles Carriers have faced strong opposition from President Joe Biden's Justice Department when they have argued that they need to pair up to better compete with larger rivals. Earlier this year, the Justice Department won a lawsuit to break up a regional partnership in the Northeast between JetBlue Airways and American Airlines . The Justice Departments also sued to block JetBlue Airways ' proposed acquisition of discount carrier Spirit Airlines . A trial is expected to wrap up in the coming days. Four airlines American, United , Delta and Southwest control about 80% of the U.S. market, consolidation that resulted from years of mergers. Hawaiian and Alaska said they expect the transaction to close in 12 to 18 months, subject to approval by regulators and Hawaiian's shareholders. On a call with analysts on Sunday evening, Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci expressed confidence that the deal will get approved, citing 12 overlapping markets, a combined 1,400 daily flights and a larger network that he said would allow the airline to compete with the four largest carriers. "We are hopeful that it will be seen in a positive light," he said. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents cabin crews at both airlines said it would evaluate the deal. "Our first priority is to determine whether this merger will improve conditions for Flight Attendants just like the benefits the companies have described for shareholders and consumers," the AFA said in a statement. "Our support of the merger will depend on this." The combined company will be based in Seattle, where Alaska Airlines is headquartered, and be led by Minicucci. "Given the transaction dollars we paid we feel this is strategically a step-change for us to accelerate not only our financial performance but the growth of our network," he said said on the call. Shift for Alaska The two airlines said they will keep each carrier's brand but operate under a single platform, combining into a 365-airplane fleet covering 138 destinations. Prior to pursuing Hawaiian, Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America for $2.6 billion in 2016. The Hawaiian deal is a major shift for Alaska. It operates Boeing 737s and it spent years whittling down Virgin's fleet of Airbus planes to streamline its fleet. Purchasing Hawaiian would bring a complex mix of Boeing and Airbus jets, both narrow-body and wide-body planes, under Alaska's roof. "The Hawaiian brand will remain an important part of our home state with Honolulu becoming a strategic hub for the combined company and expanded service for Hawaii residents," Hawaiian CEO Peter Ingram said on the call Sunday. The combination will allow Alaska Airlines to triple nonstop or one-stop flights from the Hawaiian islands to destinations throughout North America. It will also bring Hawaiian's long-haul flying to and from Asia under Alaska's umbrella. Hawaiian last year struck a deal to fly converted-cargo planes for Amazon . "We will be closely assessing whether further dedicated freighter flying for ourselves or an asset-light model for others could make sense for the combined company over time," CFO Tackett said on the call Sunday. Alaska Airlines said the deal should bolster earnings within the next two years with at least $235 million of "run-rate synergies." WATCH: Maui tourism still not back to full strength since wildfires With generative AI tools like ChatGPT bound to create more powerful personal assistants that can take over the role of customer service agents, the privacy of your online shopping chat conversations is becoming a focus of court challenges. Generative AI relies on massive amounts of underlying data books, research reports, news articles, videos, music and more to operate. That reliance on data, including copyrighted material, is already the cause of numerous lawsuits by writers and others who discovered their material has been used, without permission or compensation, to train AI. Now, as companies adopt gen AI-powered chatbots another legal can of worms has been opened over consumer privacy. Can an AI be convicted of illegal wiretapping? That's a question currently playing out in court for Gap 's Old Navy brand, which is facing a lawsuit alleging that its chatbot participates in illegal wiretapping by logging, recording and storing conversations. The suit, filed in the Central District of California, alleges that the chatbot "convincingly impersonates an actual human that encourages consumers to share their personal information." In the filing, the plaintiff says he communicated with what he believed to be a human Old Navy customer service representative and was unaware that the chatbot was recording and storing the "entire conversation," including keystrokes, mouse clicks and other data about how users navigate the site. The suit also alleges that Old Navy unlawfully shares consumer data with third parties without informing consumers or seeking consent. Old Navy, through its parent company Gap, declined to comment. Old Navy isn't the only one to face similar charges. Dozens of lawsuits have popped up in California against Home Depot , General Motors , Ford , JCPenney and others, citing similar complaints of illegal wiretapping of private online chat conversations, albeit not necessarily with an AI-powered chatbot. According to AI experts, a likely outcome of the lawsuit is less intriguing than the charges: Old Navy and other companies will add a warning label to inform customers that their data might be recorded and shared for training purposes much like how customer service calls warn users that conversations may be recorded for training purposes. But the lawsuit also highlights some salient privacy questions about chatbots that need to be sorted out before AI becomes a personal assistant we can trust. "One of the concerns about these tools is that we don't know very much about what data was actually used to train them," said Irina Raicu, director of the Internet Ethics Program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Companies haven't been straightforward about information sources, and with AI-powered chatbots encouraging users to interact and enter information, they could presumably feed personal data into the system. In fact, researchers have been able to pull personal information from AI models using specific prompts, Raicu said. To be sure, companies are generally concerned about the data going into generative AI models and the guardrails being placed on usage as AI is deployed across corporate enterprise systems, a new example of the "firewall" issues that have always been core to technology compliance. Companies including JPMorgan and Verizon have cited the risk of employees leaking trade secrets or other proprietary information that shouldn't be shared with large language models. Lawsuits show US lagging on AI regulations When it comes to regulations about AI, and online interactions more generally, the U.S. is behind Europe and Canada, a fact highlighted by the Old Navy lawsuit. It's based on a wiretapping law from the 1960s when the chief concern was potential privacy violations over rotary phones. For now, states have different privacy rules, but there is no unifying federal-level regulation about online privacy. California has the most robust laws, implementing the California Consumer Privacy Act, modeled after GDPR in Europe. Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia have comprehensive consumer data privacy laws that give consumers the right to access and delete personal information and to opt-out of the sale of personal information. Earlier this year, eight more states, including Delaware, Florida and Iowa, followed suit. But rules vary state by state, resulting in a patchwork system that makes it hard for companies to do business. With no comprehensive federal online privacy legislation, companies are free to charge ahead without having to put privacy protections in place. Generative AI, powered by natural language processing and analytics, is "very much imperfect," said Ari Lightman, professor of digital media at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College. The models get better over time, and more people interact with them, but "it's still a gray area here in terms of legislation," he added. John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, speaks at a COP28 session between the U.S., China, UAE and Nigeria on the global need to reduce methane emissions in Dubai on Dec. 2, 2023. Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said countries must prioritize the fight to keep global warming to 1.5C after it was revealed the COP28 president claimed there was "no science" behind calls for a phase out of fossil fuels. In comments first reported on Sunday by The Guardian and investigative journalism organization the Centre for Climate Reporting, COP28 President and United Arab Emirates climate chief Sultan Al-Jaber suggested a fossil fuel phase out would not allow sustainable development "unless you want to take the world back into caves." The remarks, which were made by Al-Jaber during a live online event on Nov. 21, were described as "farcical" by climate scientists. Asked to respond to Al-Jaber's comments, Kerry replied, "That's not the argument." "The G7 countries voted that there should be a phasing out of unmitigated fossil fuel emissions and what there is science for is keeping 1.5 degrees as your North Star," Kerry told CNBC's Tania Bryer at the COP28 climate summit on Sunday. watch now "Every decision we make should be geared to say, 'does this advance the 1.5 degrees or is it going to be more destructive and take us in the wrong direction?'" A spokesperson for COP28 told CNBC the story regarding Al-Jaber's comments was "just another attempt to undermine the Presidency's agenda, which has been clear and transparent and backed by tangible achievements by the COP President and his team." They said Al-Jaber has been "unwavering" in saying that keeping global warming to 1.5C involves action across a number of areas and sectors. "The COP President is clear that phasing down and out of fossil fuels is inevitable and that we must keep 1.5C within reach. We are not sure what this story was supposedly revealing. Nothing in it is new or breaking news." watch now Looking ahead, "the COP President is focused on working with parties to deliver a plan that will deliver maximum transition and minimal disruption for everyone in the world," the spokesperson said. "He has repeatedly communicated our position on fossil fuels and invited all parties to work together and come up with solutions that can achieve alignment, common ground and consensus." The spokesperson added that the COP28 host has been "excited with the progress" made so far and for the delivery of a decision on the global stock take. "Attempts to undermine this will not soften our resolve," they said. Early victory For many at the U.N. talks, which is being held in the United Arab Emirates, COP28 can only be recognized as a success if it results in a deal to phase out all fossil fuels, the burning of which is the chief driver of the climate crisis. The language of the final agreement, expected by or around the Dec. 12 end of the conference, will be closely monitored. A "phase out" commitment would likely require a shift away from fossil fuels until their use is eliminated, while a "phase down" could indicate a reduction in their use but not an absolute end. COP28 had kicked off with an unprecedented early victory on Thursday, when delegates adopted a new fund to help nations reeling from damages caused by the climate crisis. A flurry of COP28 announcements since have sought to help decarbonize the energy sector, with nearly 120 governments on Saturday pledging to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, Al-Jaber's comments marked another embarrassing setback for the COP28 host. It had been reported in the run-up to the conference that the UAE planned to use its role as host of the climate talks to lobby for oil and gas deals, an allegation a COP28 spokesperson said was inaccurate. Al-Jaber was seen as a controversial choice to lead COP28 discussions in Dubai given that he also works as the head of the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. watch now "People are arguing that the fossil fuel industry, which is obviously responsible for the emissions that are going up, needs to step up and do more. I think that Sultan Al-Jaber would say that I say that certainly. They can and must do more in order to solve this problem much more rapidly," Kerry said. "We are in a race against time, and I know that everybody here does accept that concept," he added. The 1.5C temperature threshold is widely recognized as crucial because so-called tipping points become more likely beyond this level. Tipping points are thresholds at which small changes can lead to dramatic shifts in Earth's entire life support system. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price will allow the Berkeley Scanners founder and editor to attend her news conferences again. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle 2022 Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has put local news site the Berkeley Scanner back on her press list and will allow its editor in chief to attend her offices news conferences, reversing a decision earlier this week to exclude the outlet. During several transitions of the (District Attorneys Offices) communications staff over the summer, the DAO media list was modified and reduced to a limited number of news outlets, spokespeople for Prices office wrote in a statement Saturday, three days after Berkeley Scanner founder and editor Emilie Raguso said she was barred from entering a news conference on issues related to crime victims. Raguso had displayed her credentials a press pass from the Oakland Police Department upon request Wednesday, but was told they were under review. Prices staff offered the same explanation weeks earlier, after Raguso stopped receiving news releases from the office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Journalist organizations, free speech advocates and colleagues of Raguso condemned Prices move, saying it violated the First Amendment and amounted to punishment of a reporter for occasionally publishing critical coverage. Price, a former civil rights attorney elected to Alameda Countys top law enforcement seat last year, has pledged to reduce prison sentences while vigorously investigating and prosecuting police misconduct. Six months after taking office, she became the target of a recall petition drive that intensified this fall. Asked earlier this week about Ragusos removal from the offices media lists, Prices spokesperson, Patti Lee, emailed a statement that invoked standards requiring a newsroom with a management structure and editorial oversight. The definition seemed to eliminate publications like the Scanner, a small independent site run by one person. Beyond the threat to Ms. Ragusos press freedoms, your offices actions exert a chilling effect on the journalism community as a whole, David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, wrote in a letter to Price that was jointly signed by the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. No reporter should have to couch their coverage of public officials for fear of losing basic rights guaranteed to the media, the letter continued. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the statement Saturday, Prices spokespeople said that several news outlets, including the Berkeley Scanner and Bay City News Service, were omitted when the district attorneys staff updated the media list. They said the office has corrected the oversight. Military personnel stand guard at the entrance of a gymnasium while police investigators look for evidence after a bomb attack at Mindanao State University in Marawi on Dec. 3, 2023. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned a deadly bombing on Sunday, blaming "foreign terrorists", as police and the military strengthened security in the country's south and around the capital Manila. At least four people were killed and at least 50 injured after a bomb exploded during a morning Catholic Mass in a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city in the south of the country besieged by Islamist militants for five months in 2017. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists," Marcos said in a statement. "Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society." Law enforcement operations to bring to justice the perpetrators of the "terrorist activity" will "continue unabated", Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told a press conference. There were "strong indications of a foreign element" in the bombing, Teodoro said, refusing to elaborate so as not to compromise ongoing investigation. Fragments of a 16-mm mortar were recovered at the scene, senior police official Emmanuel Peralta told the press conference. Career changes can be hard, even for Bill Gates who credits a simple, lifelong habit for his switch from a narrow-minded, decades-long focus on computers and software to international philanthropy. "I had a long period from about age 18 to 40 where I was very monomaniacal ... Microsoft was everything," Gates, 68, recently told comedian Trevor Noah on the "What Now? With Trevor Noah" podcast. "I was lucky enough that as other people took over Microsoft, I got to go and read and learn about all the health challenges, why children die." The billionaire Microsoft co-founder has long been known as a voracious reader. The habit planted the seeds of his career transition three years before it actually occurred: In 1997, Gates and his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, read an article about children across the globe dying of diseases that were easily cured in the United States. The story stuck with him when he stepped down as Microsoft's CEO in 2000. With even more time to read, he researched ongoing global health crises and decided to make the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation his primary focus, he said. His ability to research thoroughly and synthesize information effectively honed by a lifetime of reading helped get him up to speed on health inequities, identify areas where his money could help and illuminate potential solutions, he's said. "Reading fuels a sense of curiosity about the world, which I think helped drive me forward in my career and in the work that I do now with my foundation," Gates told Time in 2017. Since 2000, the foundation has spent $53.8 billion to fight global health crises like AIDS, malaria and tuberculous, according to its website. It's played a significant role, by Gates' estimation, in halving the number of children under age 5 who die each year though it's been criticized by political scientists and development scholars for a lack of transparency and oversight, and difficulty measuring its impact. Gates is far from the only public figure with his nose in a book: Plenty of prominent people in tech, politics and business self-identify as avid readers. Those who want to be successful need to be reading every day, billionaire investor Mark Cuban told comedian Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast last year. "Somebody 40 and over, even 30 and over, if you're not reading, you're f---ed ... because you're not expanding your mind," Cuban said, adding that he tells his kids: "Somebody who doesn't read lives one life, somebody who reads an unlimited number of lives." Reading strengthens empathy, communication and leadership skills, according to experts. As a daily habit, it can even help you live longer, according to a 2016 study. DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter! Get CNBC's free Warren Buffett Guide to Investing, which distills the billionaire's No. 1 best piece of advice for regular investors, do's and don'ts, and three key investing principles into a clear and simple guidebook. The view from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on Dec. 3, 2023, as smoke billows over the enclave during Israeli bombardment. Israel faced growing U.S. calls to avoid further harm to Palestinian civilians in its fight against Hamas militants in Gaza, as the warring sides on Sunday showed no sign of moving toward reviving their collapsed truce. As Israeli forces pounded the enclave after the breakdown of a truce, Vice President Kamala Harris said too many innocent Palestinians had been killed in Gaza, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin deemed it a "moral responsibility" for Israel to protect civilians. The senior U.S. officials' remarks on Saturday reinforced pressure from Washington for Israel to use more caution as it shifts the focus of its military offensive further south in the besieged Gaza Strip. With renewed fighting stretching into a third day, residents feared the air and artillery bombardment was just the prelude to an Israeli ground operation in the southern strip that would pen them into a shrinking area and possibly try to push them across into Egypt. On Sunday morning, the Israeli military' posted a statement on X ordering Palestinians the Gaza Strip to immediately evacuate half a dozen areas in and around Khan Younis. ] The military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee instructed them to move to what he described as "well-known IDP (internally displaced person) shelters" west of the city, including south toward Rafah, and included a map highlighting the areas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel was coordinating with the U.S. and international organisations to define "safe areas" for Gaza civilians. But U.N. officials and people in Gaza say it is difficult to heed Israeli evacuation orders in real time because of patchy internet access and no regular supply of electricity amid Israel's military offensive. A U.S. naval ship shot down several Houthi drones after commercial vessels were attacked in the Red Sea, the Pentagon reported on Sunday, the same day Yemen's Houthi rebel group said it had targeted two Israeli ships there. "We're aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available," the Pentagon said in a statement. Later in the day, a National Security Council official said that preliminary assessments of the situation show that only the commercial ships, not the Carney, were targeted. The attacks on took place over several hours and are believed to have come from Houthi missiles, according to defense officials, which would represent an escalation of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The Carney, a U.S. naval destroyer, observed a ballistic missile fired at a civilian commercial ship named the "Unity Explorer" and then responded to distress reports from the vessel. As it assisted the Unity Explorer, the Carney destroyed another Houthi drone headed towards itself and the Unity Explorer. The Iran-backed Houthi group said in a statement on Sunday it had launched missile and drone attacks against two ships it believed were connected to Israel in the Red Sea's Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, also known as the Gate of Tears. The Houthi statement didn't mention any attacks on U.S. ships, only the "Unity Explorer" and the "Number Nine," both of which the group said are associated with Israel. "The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red and Arab Seas until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops," the Houthis said. Yemen's military has previously warned that all Israeli ships or any entities connected to Israel will be a "legitimate target" for attack until the war in Gaza end. In November, the group said it had captured an Israeli ship. WATCH: Israel resumes its offensive in Gaza NEW MEXICO Wildlife managers will continue to track wandering Mexican gray wolf ALBUQUERQUE It's been a long journey for one lone Mexican gray wolf from the forests of southeastern Arizona, across the dusty high desert of central New Mexico to the edge of what is known as the Yellowstone of the Southwest. Having reached Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico, she has wandered far beyond the boundaries established along the Arizona-New Mexico border for managing the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America. The recovery area spanning tens of thousands of square miles is home to more than 240 of the endangered predators. Federal wildlife managers have confirmed to The Associated Press they have no immediate plans for capturing the lone female wolf nicknamed Asha. But they will continue tracking her movements. Known to biologists by her formal name of F2754, the wolf is outfitted with a GPS collar. Data collected since her release in June in the Apache National Forest in Arizona shows she has traversed more than 650 miles. From late October into early November, she was traveling about 13 miles a day. Then she began slowing down as she ventured into and out of the Valles Caldera preserve an area that includes thick forests, vast meadows and some of New Mexico's most famous elk herds. It's also an area held sacred by Native American tribes in the region. It is hunting season, and wolf recovery experts say it's likely F2754 is feeding on elk carcasses. Small game like rabbits is another possibility since she's without a pack to help her hunt. If federal officials were to eventually recapture F2754, she would be placed into captivity and paired with another wolf in the hopes that they have pups. Then the family could be released back into the wild the following spring or summer. Until then, all eyes will be watching the pings from her GPS collar. Ethics board issues advisory after AG's payment to outside lawyers SANTA FE New Mexico's ethics board has issued an advisory opinion on contracts entered into on a contingency basis in the wake of a report about how much the state attorney general's office paid outside lawyers. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported on Nov. 16 that the state AG's office paid nearly three times as much as other states to negotiate opioid settlements. The newspaper said the 11-page advisory opinion by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission concluded that the state's procurement code generally applies to a state agency's or local public body's procurement of contingent-fee contracts for legal services. A contingent-fee agreement occurs when a law firm does not bill or expect payment until and unless the contingency is achieved, according to the advisory opinion. A spokesperson for the New Mexico Attorney General's Office said in a statement that the contingency fee allocated as a part of the recent settlement with Walgreens "was paid pursuant to a contract that contained no limit on fees" and done before Attorney General Raul Torrez took office. She also said Torrez has instituted "a new policy that sets strict limits on contingency fee cases moving forward and will follow the practice of other state attorneys general in relying on in-house attorneys as local counsel whenever possible." NORTH DAKOTA Judge rules redistricting violates two tribes voting rights BISMARCK North Dakota's 2021 legislative redistricting plan violates the rights of two Native American tribes because it dilutes their voting strength, a federal judge ruled Friday. U.S. District Chief Judge Peter Welte said the redrawn legislative districts violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The ruling came months after a trial held in June in Fargo. The decision could lead to another surprise special session of the legislature. In his ruling, Welte said the plan approved by the state Legislature to redraw voting districts in accordance with the latest census data "prevents Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice" a violation of the landmark civil rights law. Welte gave the Republican-controlled legislature and the secretary of state until Dec. 22 "to adopt a plan to remedy the violation." The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake Tribe alleged the 2021 redistricting map "simultaneously packs Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians members into one house district, and cracks Spirit Lake Tribe members out of any majority Native house district." The two tribes sought a joint district and unsuccessfully proposed to the legislature a single legislative district encompassing the two reservations, which are roughly 60 miles apart. Republican House Majority Leader Mike Lefor told the AP that legislative leaders plan to visit with the secretary of state and attorneys to determine their options, such as convening a special session of the legislature or appealing the judge's decision. North Dakota's Legislature, which meets every two years, just wrapped up a three-day special session in October to fix a budget mess from a major state government funding bill that the state Supreme Court voided in September. The next regular session isn't until January 2025. MONTANA Man intends to plead guilty to threatening U.S. Sen. Jon Tester BILLINGS A Montana man intends to plead guilty to threatening to kill Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester under the terms of a deal filed on Nov. 27 by federal prosecutors. Anthony James Cross of Billings faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing if the plea agreement is accepted by the court. A second charge based on allegations that Cross also threatened to kill President Joe Biden would be dismissed at sentencing, according to a court filing by his defense attorney. A court date has not yet been scheduled. Cross, 30, has been jailed since late April, when he was arrested on a state charge for allegedly threatening a neighbor with a pellet gun. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge and was scheduled to go on trial in late October but the proceeding has been delayed, according to court records. Federal prosecutors alleged in a September indictment that Cross said, "I will personally kill Joe Biden," on April 10 and threatened Tester's life on April 17. The indictment did not indicate how the threats were made. Cross' federal defender, Gillian Gosch, did not return a voicemail seeking comment. A phone number for Cross' attorney in the state case, Robert Kelleher Jr., repeatedly rang busy. Tester's office declined comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The plea deal comes after another Montana man, Kevin Patrick Smith of Kalispell, was sentenced in August to 2 1/2 years in prison for threatening to kill Tester in voicemails left at his office in Kalispell. KANSAS Officials blame five-week disruption of court system on 'foreign cyberattack' MISSION Cybercriminals hacked into the Kansas court system, stole sensitive data and threatened to post it on the dark web in a ransomware attack that hobbled access to records for more than five weeks, officials said on Nov. 21. The announcement of a "sophisticated foreign cyberattack" was confirmation of what computer security experts suspected after the state's Judicial Branch said Oct. 12 that it was pausing electronic filings. Until now, state officials had released few details, describing it simply as a "security incident." Upon learning about the attack, the state disconnected its court information system from external access and notified authorities, the Judicial Branch said in a statement. That disrupted daily operations of the state's appellate courts and all but one county. Johnson County, the state's most populous, operates its own computer systems and had not yet switched over to the state's new online system. In recent weeks many attorneys have been forced to file motions the old fashioned way on paper. Analyst Allan Liska of the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said no ransomware group leak site has published any information yet. Judicial Branch spokesperson Lisa Taylor declined to answer questions including whether the state paid a ransom or the name of the group behind the attack, saying the statement stands on its own. a Its the holidays, which means Christmas songs are on the radio and in every store you enter. And when you flip on the TV, yuletide movies are omnipresent, whether its places like Hallmark pumping out a ton of new cheesy wintertime films or cable channels endlessly repeating classic Christmas flicks. But how many of them are actually funny? Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. Myriad Christmas movies are billed as comedies, but few are especially great. Sorry to lovers of Love Actually or The Holiday or Jingle All the Way, but those seasonal staples just dont do much for me. Are they a pleasant way to kill a couple hours with your family when you all need something to do? I guess, but in terms of legitimately good comedies, I think we can do a lot better. With that in mind, Im presenting my very subjective list of the 10 funniest Christmas movies. While putting these rankings together, I was surprised that a few recent holiday films ended up making the cut: one, a goofy musical; the other, a wonderfully violent action film. But beloved older chestnuts are here, too. Some of my picks are appropriate for all ages, while some youre gonna have to wait to watch once you put the kiddies to bed. Also, I can practically guarantee that one of your favorites will not be on here, which will probably lead you to suspect I am a horrible grinch with no yuletide spirit. (Its okay: Ive been accused of worse.) But maybe I can help turn you onto a funny, terrific Christmas movie you havent discovered yet. Advertisement 10 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989) Although not as popular as the original Vacation, this third installment in the Clark Griswold saga gets to the heart of how excruciating it can be to have family around over the holidays. Chevy Chase went full Homer Simpson back before Homer Simpson was a cultural icon in Christmas Vacation, smacking into things, falling down, forced to deal with his and his wifes nutty relatives. Whatever your feelings on the divisive comic John Hughes, who penned Christmas Vacations screenplay based on a piece he wrote for the National Lampoon in 1980, later grumbled, (T)hose movies have become little more than Chevy Chase vehicles at this stage theres great satisfaction in watching Clark suffer so. Also, lets be fair: Clark did get a shitty holiday bonus anybody would be well within their rights to lose it in front of the in-laws after something like that. Advertisement 9 Violent Night (2022) With apologies to Bad Santa fans, when I want a jaundiced yuletide comedy, Im going with an even badder Santa, this one played by David Harbour. Except, heres the thing: He actually is the real Santa, who gets trapped Die Hard-style on Christmas Eve in a rich familys compound, going toe-to-toe with a bunch of well-armed bad guys who have taken over the joint. Bloody, profane, really funny and heres the craziest part actually oddly touching, Violent Night celebrates the true spirit of Christmas while delivering myriad shootouts and compiling a massive body count. Gratuitous gore has rarely been so hilarious. Who knew Santa kicked so much ass? Advertisement Advertisement 8 Spirited (2022) A holiday comedy-musical starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds sounds like it would be a tiresome smirk-fest. Imagine my surprise, then, when Spirited proved to be a sweet, touching Christmas movie in which the song-and-dance numbers were actually taken seriously. Ferrell plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, who every year visits Earth to teach one coldhearted human about the importance of being good and this year, that human is Reynolds cynical ad exec Clint. That premise might seem predictable, but director and co-writer Sean Anders (Daddys Home) comes up with some clever twists, encouraging his smart-aleck stars to, mostly, play it straight. So if you go into Spirited assuming it will be a snotty parody of Hallmark fare, you may be caught off-guard by how gleeful and generous (and very, very funny) it is. Advertisement 7 A Christmas Story (1983) Based on the writing of Jean Shepherd, who viewed Ralphies obsession with getting a Red Ryder BB gun as a metaphor for Vietnam, A Christmas Story wasnt a hit initially, eventually becoming a cable staple. The films appeal is obvious: Heres a nostalgic look back at a quaint, uncomplicated small-town America, full of gentle humor about family dysfunction and schoolyard bullies. The dreadful sequels have only demonstrated how difficult it was to achieve A Christmas Storys delicate charm. And that it was directed by Bob Clark, whod previously made the slasher flick Black Christmas and the infamous horndog comedy Porkys, may be the films best joke. Advertisement Advertisement 6 The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) Even the biggest Muppets enthusiasts have to admit that, after 1979s The Muppet Movie, Jim Hensons endearing critters big-screen excursions could be a mixed bag. But who can deny the humor and smarts of their take on Charles Dickens yuletide chestnut? Michael Caine is wonderful as Scrooge, bringing the necessary gravitas to the role without forgetting hes acting alongside Kermit and the gang. The Muppet Show often ingeniously riffed on classic narratives, but Christmas Carol, as well as being a hoot, understands why this poignant story has stood the test of time. The film, which was the first Muppets movie made after Hensons passing, is funny and sincere, goofy and serious, all at once. Henson would have been proud. Advertisement 5 Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Yes, its a heartwarming film about the importance of believing in things, but Miracle on 34th Street is far from sappy. And a big reason for that is Edmund Gwenn, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar playing a man who swears hes the real Santa Claus, which nobody in New York City buys. But hell prove to them hes telling the truth, all the while delivering a series of tart one-liners to cynics and greedy jerks who have lost their Christmas spirit. Decades later, Gwenn remains the Kris Kringle most of us imagine not just because hes so kind but also because he seems like hed be a very fun hang. Advertisement Advertisement 4 Tangerine (2015) Christmas in Los Angeles is so weird: Theres no snow, the sun is out, and its usually kinda warm. No movie has ever captured that seasonal strangeness better than indie auteur Sean Bakers breakthrough film, which cast Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as Sin-Dee Rella, a transgender sex worker in the City of Angels who gets released from jail on Christmas Eve, determined to track down her no-good, two-timing lover (whos also her pimp), who cheated on her while she was in the clink. Teaming up with her best pal (and fellow transgender sex worker) Alexandra (Mya Taylor), Sin-Dee goes on a wild SoCal odyssey, resulting in an uproarious, R-rated comedy. Baker went on to make the higher-profile The Florida Project and Red Rocket, but Tangerine may still be his funniest and best film. Advertisement 3 A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011) After the disappointing Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, it seemed like maybe it was time for John Cho and Kal Penn to move on from their lovably irreverent stoner characters. Then came this follow-up, which is nearly as sharp and stupid as the unimpeachable original. Initially presented in 3D for, hilariously, no good reason A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas pulls off the nifty trick of chronicling Harold Lee and Kumar Patel as they navigate becoming legitimate grown-ups, all the while maintaining their mischievous side. Neil Patrick Harris returns for another great cameo, but the movies scene-stealer is Wafflebot, the most impractical kids toy ever that I am still mad does not exist. Advertisement Advertisement 2 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Writer-director Shane Black has a thing about setting his movies around Christmas. His scripts for Lethal Weapon and The Long Kiss Goodnight take place then, and Iron Man 3 (which he directed) does as well. But Im going with his raucous buddy-comedy in which a private dick (Val Kilmer) is assigned to show an actor (Robert Downey Jr.) the ins and outs of his job for a film role. (Theres a twist, though: The actor isnt really an actor but, in fact, a thief who, because of a wild misunderstanding, has been confused for a thespian.) Blacks trademark rat-a-tat dialogue is combined with some pretty great action scenes. But Kiss Kiss Bang Bang largely rules because of the endlessly comedic combustion between Kilmer and Downey, who do such a fabulous job of playing guys who must work together to solve a mystery despite delightfully, profoundly hating each others guts. Advertisement Speakers wait in line on Nov. 27 during the public comment portion of a special session of the Oakland City Council to consider a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. D. Ross Cameron/Associated Press The question is reverberating in the wake of a viral video of members of the public weighing in on an Oakland City Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza: Who cares what the Oakland City Council thinks about whats going on in the Middle East? Or the Richmond City Council, for that matter, which was the first city in the country to pass a resolution in October that said the city stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza, and accused Israel of ethnic cleansing. Or the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which is likely to consider a resolution this week calling for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages. Or the Berkeley City Council, where demonstrators demanding a cease-fire resolution have forced it to convene meetings on Zoom, so it could conduct the citys business without interruption including demonstrators pounding on the walls of a nearby bathroom to disrupt the gathering, the citys mayor told me. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why should voters care what any local politician says about foreign policy? Shouldnt those elected officials be more focused on crime, the lack of affordable housing, the fentanyl crisis and the many other problems California cities face? Local officials are facing a unique challenge with determining how, when and if to speak out about the Middle East war that is dividing their communities. Oakland City Council Member Dan Kalb acknowledged that I totally get that some voters want to know why local electeds are spending any time on an issue they have no control over. But, he told me, I just want people to know that it is not taking away any of my time in terms of doing that. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That is tough to believe after the Oakland council spent nearly six hours Monday discussing the resolution at a special meeting. The intent of the resolution, said Council Member Carroll Fife, was to to lift up the city of Oaklands Love Life motto and to not call out what we condemn, but what we stand for. What we stand for is peace and the love of life around the world. Ultimately, the resolution called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the protection of innocent civilians. Kalb tried to offer amendments that mentioned how Hamas infiltrated Israel, brutally murdered over 1,200 people, but failed. Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas said if the council were to entertain the amendments, it would also have to acknowledge that the conflict did not begin on Oct. 7, but rather started hundreds of years ago and that there have been 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners and more than 1 million people displaced. The council approved the resolution unanimously, without the amendment condemning Hamas. Kalb said the high-profile discussion may take up a few hours in the meeting. But in terms of the work that elected officials are doing or the city administration or whoever, it doesnt take up a lot of time compared to everything else were doing. It just isnt. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So whats the point? Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin told me his city has no plans to consider a resolution on the conflict, no matter what activists demand. Personally, he would like to see all the hostages freed, a pause in fighting and a two-state solution pursued. But he said the city wont be bullied into weighing in. At a recent meeting, he said, we had people literally going to the bathrooms, banging on the walls to try to make noise and disrupt our meeting. It was pretty rowdy. Were going to continue to do the peoples business, he told me. Council members will continue to speak out on their own, but Arreguin said the city wont use taxpayer resources in a public meeting to do that when we have public safety issues, homelessness, a housing crisis. I dont think Berkeley passing a resolution is going to change the outcome of the conflict, Arreguin told me. I dont think Benjamin Netanyahu or Hamas is going to change their thinking on the basis of what the city of Berkeley does. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wait, is this the same Berkeley City Council that has made its thoughts known through resolutions on international issues for decades, from the Ukraine-Russia war to the Iraq War to apartheid in South Africa? I think a majority of Berkeley was opposed to Russias war in Ukraine. We oppose the war in Iraq, we oppose apartheid in South Africa, Arreguin said. But there are divisions within the community about whats happening in Israel and Gaza. Arreguin said he is concerned about the rise in both Islamophobia and antisemitism. I think my responsibility as a mayor is to focus on ensuring the safety of the community, Arreguin said. Unfortunately, resolutions like this are not are not productive and are going to create further division and create an environment where not everyone feels safe. That is why before Richmond considered its resolution in October, Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia instead proposed that representatives of the local Jewish and Palestinian communities come together to craft a joint resolution to avoid potential division. The council disagreed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gioia has served 25 years on the county board and is one of the longest-serving county supervisors in California. Taking tough votes that may divide the community is always a difficult part of the job. And hes supported several resolutions over his tenure that involve international issues far from his district. But I always step back and say since this international resolution is not going to have a meaningful impact on international policy, what effect is it going to have in my own community, and is it going to divide my community further at times when we need to come together to solve local issues? Gioia told me. But Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told me that these resolutions do have intrinsic value for local communities. Billoo said that to those whose communities have been affected by the violence, resolutions like this communicate very strongly that We see you. Our hearts are breaking with you. We care about this also. CAIR is helping organize support for San Francisco Supervisor Dean Prestons cease-fire resolution. And while these resolutions dont carry legal weight or affect local tax expenditures, Billoo said they can serve to influence local members of Congress. That body controls where federal tax dollars are spent, including the $3.8 billion annually the U.S. gives to Israel for its military and missile defense systems. It is an important way for communities and local legislators to articulate that U.S. funding should be focused in the U.S., Billoo said. We dont have money for schools or homes, but are sending billions of dollars to Israel. Measuring the impact of these sorts of resolutions is challenging. But Billoo sees success in how public opinion polling has shown support for a cease-fire. An Economist/YouGov poll released Wednesday showed that 65% of adults support a cease-fire in the region. That same poll also found that 38% of the respondents felt more sympathy toward Israel in the conflict, 11% felt more toward the Palestinians, 28% felt an equal measure toward both and 23% werent sure. But few polls of that scale are being taken on the local level. That forces many local politicians to rely on their knowledge of their communities. And it also explains why some would rather not take a position. Gioia explained in his letter to the Richmond City Council before its vote last month that it would be better if the council would play a leadership role to bring together our Muslim and Jewish communities. I think if you were to ask the average resident in Richmond, theyd say, Hey, stick to solving our problems locally. We have enough local issues to work on from crime and homelessness and our schools, then (for you) to weigh in on this and spend your time on that, Gioia told me. Over his decades in public office, Gioia said he has learned that he only has a finite amount of political capital to solve the most pressing local issues, let alone international ones that he has virtually no power to influence. Most voters only truly care about one or two key issues. Local elected officials cant risk alienating them, as personal relationships are key to getting work done. So lets say you take a position on an international issue, and it may be important, and then that position impacts your relationship with people youre trying to work with to solve a local issue, Gioia said. And theyll look at you and say, I dont trust you. Im not going to work with you. Gioia would rather leave complex international issues to Congress. Christian Leonard is a data reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. He joined the Chronicle in 2022 as a Hearst Developer Fellow. He previously worked as a senior staff writer at the Outlook News Group, a collection of community newspapers in Los Angeles County. He is a graduate of Biola University, from which he received a bachelors degree in journalism and integrated media, and interned at NBC Los Angeles. He can be reached at Christian.Leonard@sfchronicle.com. In & Out of the Kitchen: Cookbook collection a treasure trove for more than just recipes Afghanistan has been at war with itself and others since the 1970s. Through it all, Afghanistan has been the biggest loser. There have been some improvements. For example, during the 20 years the IRA (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) ran the country in 2001, its literacy rate grew. When the IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) took control in 2021, the literacy rate began to fall. At that point the adult (all those over 15) literacy rate was 46 percent compared to 31 percent in 2001 and 18 percent in 1979, when over four decades of war began. The current literacy rate for school-age Afghans is nearly 50 percent because, since 2002, over a third of Afghans have received at least a basic education and nearly half of those have been female, despite vigorous Taliban efforts to block that. Since 2014 the Taliban have put a priority on destroying schools, especially those that educate girls. The number of girls getting an education has been declining. The current Afghan literacy rate is 46 percent compared to 72 percent for India, 96 percent in China and 87 percent in Iran. Countries with higher literacy rates tend to have stronger economies and more prosperity in general. The U.S. has a literacy rate of 99 percent, as does Britain and most other Western nations. The more prosperous Arab states, like the UAE (United Arab Emirates) have a 93 percent literacy rate. The higher literacy rate usually leads to a better educated and more productive workforce. The two decades of IRA rule were made possible by $2.3 trillion dollars of American aid to the Afghan government. Some of this money also went to Pakistan, which turned out to be a mistake. In 2019 Pakistan admitted that for the last fifteen years it had lied about the presence of over 30,000 armed men in Pakistan and Kashmir working for 40 Islamic terror groups. That deception was one of the reasons the U.S. cut off all aid to Pakistan. In addition to halting cash assistance of Afghanistan, the United States pulled the last of its troops in late 2021 and the U.S. backed IRA government collapsed, replaced by the IEA. If the IEA does allow groups based in Afghanistan to make attacks on the United States or American in other countries, the response will be sanctions and air strikes on Afghanistan. Untrustworthy Afghan governments are nothing new, it is a tradition that is several centuries old. Outsiders are considered fair game for all manner of deceptions and costly mistakes while trying to do business in Afghanistan. The Americans proved to be the most lucrative victim and, after 20 years of persistent corruption, decided the situation was not going to change and left. The U.S. still supplies support for Afghanistan through its donations of UN food programs for Afghanistan. The IEA recently persuaded some of the exiled finance and banking officials who had served the IRA to return and get the Afghan currency stabilized, while also enabling the Central Bank to handle more transactions and larger ones as well. The national currency, the Afghani, has also increased in value over the last year to the point where only 78 Afghanis were needed to buy a dollar. Since the Afghani was getting stronger it was easier to efficiently handle the $5.8 billion in aid received since mid-2021. The Central Bank can now ease limits on businesses or individuals withdrawing dollars. The Central Bank is considered stable and efficient by foreign investors and that accelerates plans by foreign companies to invest billions of dollars to create mining operations in Afghanistan. China is negotiating with the Taliban government to provide food and other aid in exchange for allowing China to safely establish surveillance cameras throughout the country and use Afghanistan as a transit zone for Chinese operations in surrounding countries. Inside Afghanistan, the only organized opposition to IEA rule is a successor to the 1990s Northern Alliance. This new anti-Taliban group reassembled in 2022 as the NRF (National Resistance Front) and initially appeared to be a major threat to IEA rule and possibly something that was more than the IEA could handle. NRF leaders blame the United States and the former IRA government. Both misjudged and mishandled efforts to deal with the ISIL and TTP (Pakistani Taliban) presence inside Afghanistan. Now the resistance to the revived Taliban rule in Afghanistan is opposed by an updated version of the pre-September 11, 2001, Afghan resistance. This time the United States was not interested in trying to remove a pro-Islamic terrorist government in Afghanistan. Some of the NRF leaders are sons of successful Northern Alliance commanders. Iran threatened to provide more support to the NRF than they gave the Northern Alliance. By late 2022 the NRF dominated Panjshir province (northeast of Kabul) and believed they could resist any IEA attack. That was optimistic because IEA forces suffered some losses initially but soon turned that around and inflicted heavy losses on NRF in terms of gunmen, territory and local support. Now the NRF is based in northern neighbor Tajikistan and only conducts raids into Afghanistan. This was not a repeat of the 1990s when the Northern Alliance dominated the Panjshir Valley (a 90-minute drive from Kabul) right up to the defeat of the Taliban government after September 2001. Northern Front leaders became members of the IRA government and now their sons reassembled as the NRF, which had some initial success but no staying power. Not enough Panjshir Valley residents are willing to die opposing the ruthless IEA government. The remaining resistance fighters have moved north to Tajikistan. It is not true that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. In almost all cases, terrorists are terrorists whether you approve of their aims or not. They do disgusting things, with disgusting results, in the false belief that the rightness of their cause excuses the crime. The same is often true of nations, which in the past century have grown very ready to excuse the most frightful actions because their cause is just. But it is true that one man's terrorist quite often becomes the same man's negotiating partner. The Olympic champion in this sort of hypocrisy is the United States of America. During my short stint as a correspondent in Washington DC, I saw it twice at first-hand and cannot forget it. Within days of beginning my assignment in that most beautiful capital city, I found myself on the White House south lawn as Yasser Arafat, the leader of Fatah, was cajoled into a grisly handshake with the Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin. A Palestinian fighter from the armed wing of Hamas takes part in a military parade to mark the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel Israel might take note. President Biden's apparently solid public support for the Jewish State might appear reassuring Neither of them much wanted to take part, but President Bill Clinton got them to do it. The gesture was, in the end, futile. Rabin would die violently a little more than two years later at the hand of an assassin. The anti-Semite Arafat, by my guess, never truly intended to reach a peace deal. He had gone on the record with such specific statements as, 'I have no use for Jews. They are and remain Jews', and 'Peace for us means the destruction of Israel'. If he had ever agreed a final deal, it would probably have got him killed by his own side. But Clinton wanted it and he used all his power to achieve it. Which makes it quite amusing to look at my archives and find there a sleek red handbook, from my days as a defence reporter, produced by the Pentagon in November 1988. It is called Terrorist Group Profiles. It devotes three pages to Arafat's outfit. These include a long list of the various murders and other atrocities it has carried out. There is also a neat description of its cynical shifts in policy to try to launder itself. In a foreword, the future President George Bush (senior) dismisses attempts to equate terrorists with freedom fighters. He says: 'To permit this distinction to become blurred is to play into the terrorists' hands.' And he proclaims: 'The American public needs to understand terrorism, what it is and is not, and how the US government takes action against the terrorist threat.' The Clinton White House's totally cynical decision to welcome Adams was one of the most shocking and abrupt political betrayals I have seen in my life writes PETER HITCHENS Less than five years later, Arafat was a guest at the White House. I saw it with my own eyes. It happened. But that was only the start. On December 7, 1994, Gerry Adams, leader of the Provisional IRA's political arm, Sinn Fein, was likewise welcomed to the White House. On this occasion, the south lawn was not deployed. Reporters had to hang around in the winter cold on Pennsylvania Avenue. It was the same a few months later when Adams was invited to a St Patrick's Day reception in the Presidential Mansion. Yet six years before, the Provisionals had been accorded five whole pages in the Pentagon's manual, three of them filled with an illustrated list of murders, bombings and assassinations since 1972. The document named Gerry Adams (who to this day denies any terrorist involvement) and the late Martin McGuinness as the organisation's leaders. It said: 'The PIRA has focused its energy on creating maximum casualties from the beginning. The over 1,000 victims who have died, and a far greater number who have been injured, are grim testimony to the PIRA's determination to 'wash the British out of Ireland on a wave of blood'.' The Clinton White House's totally cynical decision to welcome Adams was one of the most shocking and abrupt political betrayals I have seen in my life. The vast British Embassy in Washington suddenly found itself cut off from its usual privileged treatment. Its stammered protests were coldly ignored. Its status was publicly and humiliatingly diminished. 'Special relationship', indeed. Yasser Arafat (R) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (L), as U.S. President Bill Clinton stands between them On December 7, 1994, Gerry Adams, leader of the Provisional IRA's political arm, Sinn Fein, was likewise welcomed to the White House Well, Israel might take note. President Biden's apparently solid public support for the Jewish State might appear reassuring. But Mr Biden's Democratic Party, long committed to supporting Israel, is finding that many of its voters are shifting on this issue. This process has been speeded up by Israel's unwise bombardment of Gaza with its accompanying horrible civilian deaths. Do not be especially surprised if, within a few years, the leaders of Hamas are at the White House too. Of course, it is unthinkable. But so were the welcomes given in the same place to Arafat and Adams, once. Joke at my funeral and I'll haunt you for ever In Alan Bennett's best play, Forty Years On, he sums up modern Britain in two bleak sentences. It is a country where 'a butterfly is an event' and where 'death is a telephone call from the doctor'. As we live our lives more frantically and intensely, and more individually, we find death not so much frightening as unthinkable. We don't want to think about the deaths of those we love, or of our own. And a survey by the think-tank Theos last week found that, among other things, we are giving up on funerals. Astoundingly (to me anyway) it reported 'fewer than half our respondents said they want a funeral at all'. A procedure known as 'direct cremation', a plain disposal of the remains, is becoming popular Well, I oppose this trend. I understand that the expense is great for many. I couldn't care less if I am carried to my long home in a cardboard coffin, as long as the handles are tough enough to take the strain, and the material robust enough to cope with the heavy rain which will undoubtedly be falling. But death must be properly marked or we will cease to be properly human. And I have stated in my will the beautiful and thoughtful ceremony I wish to have. Any Englishman is entitled to it, as it is the burial service in the Church of England's 1662 Prayer Book, too little used. It is properly tough-minded. It dares to mention worms, and earth, and contains the words, 'Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.' These sentences, spoken at a graveside, are almost unbearably powerful and do not attempt to stifle or avoid the grief we must endure. I should note here that I absolutely do not want the edges of my grave hidden by ghastly green fake grass, and that if anybody tells a joke in church, I will do my very best to haunt him for the rest of his days. The Upstart is outshone by the Empress Despite deliberately not drinking anything for some time before going to see the vast new film Napoleon, I did find myself wishing that Prussia's Marshal Blucher would hurry up and arrive at, er, Waterloo knowing from history that until he did the film couldn't possibly end. Vanessa Kirby, as the Empress Josephine, is utterly captivating (as she was as Princess Margaret in The Crown I'd say two other things. Vanessa Kirby, as the Empress Josephine, is utterly captivating (as she was as Princess Margaret in The Crown). And perhaps someone could make a movie about the Duke of Wellington, in my view a greater and cleverer man than the Corsican Upstart. In the next couple of weeks, I shall present a Bill in Parliament to strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their Royal titles. I'm not a republican and support the monarchy, but after the latest instalment of the couple's feud with the rest of the Royal Family, I believe that Parliament and the Privy Council should consider a nuclear option. The Duke and Duchess can be Mr and Mrs like the rest of us. My Titles Deprivation 1917 Act Amendment Bill would allow a vote in Parliament to advise the ancient advisory Privy Council to strip a member of the Royal Family of their titles. My aim is simple: if someone doesn't want to be Royal, that is a decision we respect but they should not keep the titles and privileges if they trash an institution that plays an important part in our nation's life. In the next couple of weeks, I shall present a Bill in Parliament to strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their Royal titles writes BOB SEELY Sources close to the Sussexes have stressed that Harry and Meghan are not behind claims made in Omid Scobie 's book Sources close to the Sussexes have stressed that Harry and Meghan are not behind claims made in Omid Scobie's book. But I suspect that few people believe such denials. Of all Scobie's allegations, the use of race to smear the Royal Family is the most poisonously insidious, guaranteed to leave a whiff of stigma and impossible to prove when false. It is the catch-all slur of the modern era. The allegations jar with so much of what we know about the Royals and this country. The late Queen and King Charles have done extraordinary work over decades reaching out to everyone in the country, including ethnic minorities and those from Commonwealth nations. I feel genuine pity for Harry and the life choices he has made. It can't have been easy for him. But the couple and their supporters have a track record of attacking the Royal Family with unproven and incendiary allegations, which they then appear to deny or refuse to back up, which is indefensible. It is time for us all to move on. I believe it is time they dropped their titles or were made to and lived by their own talents, if they have any to speak of. The title of Scobie's book, Endgame, is Freudian. The author talks about the monarchy's fight for survival. But I see no fight for survival. I see the monarchy in safe hands. The real endgame, I believe, is for Meghan and Harry and their clique and I suspect it is fast approaching. 'Meghan is busy working on creating something safe and timeless,' wrote Scobie. 'Something that won't be accused of riding on the back of anything Royal.' Does one laugh or cry? Scobie's won't be the last dirge from the Sussex supporters' club, but they will get fewer and more desperate. The sooner the Duke and Duchess become just Mr and Mrs Sussex, the better for us all. Don't miss our brilliant new podcast, The Crown: Fact or Fiction with Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone. Listen now on Spotify , Apple or wherever you get your podcasts For the most part, she characterises herself as a 'mum and a wife with a really cool day job' and millions of social media followers to boot. But Queen Rania's outspoken comments on the bombardment of Gaza and civilian suffering are a reminder of her own background in the region. Last week she was pictured with Palestinian children undergoing cancer treatment as she visited a medical centre in Amman. The Jordanian royal, 53, visited the King Hussein Cancer Centre where children from the Gaza strip who are currently battling cancer have been evacuated so they can continue their treatment. Her visit came durng the recent pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas, which has allowed for Israeli hostages captured on October 7 to be released, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Queen Rania of Jordan, 35, describes herself as a 'mum and a wife with a really cool day job' to her millions of social media followers She studied at the American University in Cairo, where she graduated with a business degree in 1991 She met the Jordanian Prince, Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, at a dinner party hosted by his sister in January 1993 On June 10, 1993, five months after they first met, Rania and Abdullah were married Rania Al-Yassin, Queen Consort of Jordan, was born on August 31, 1970, in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, her doctor father Faisal Sedki Al-Yassin, and mother Ilham Yassin. The same year, she moved to Amman, Jordan, to where her parents had moved after fleeing Kuwait along with thousands of other Palestinians following the Gulf War. The family would eventually settle in a comfortable home in Tulkarm on the West Bank, close to the border with Israel. Rania was educated first at the New English School in Kuwait City and then at the American University in Cairo, where she graduated with a business degree in 1991. In her early professional career, Rania worked with Citibank, before later taking on a marketing position with Apple. She met the Jordanian Prince, Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, at a dinner party hosted by Prince Abdullah's sister in January 1993. They were engaged two months later. Just five months after they first met, they married. Their lavish ceremony took place at the Zahran Palace in Amman, capital of Jordan. The day was declared a national holiday. Tradition dictated a royal bride must wear jewels from her own family at her wedding, but born into a modest Palestinian family, Rania did not come from a noble family with an impressive range of jewels at her disposal. Having been raised alongside her two siblings in the town of Tulkarm on the border of Israel and worked hard for her achievements, her decision made a statement marking that she would not forget her humble beginnings. Rather than the expected tiara, she wore an embellished headband attached to her wedding veil, which was styled around her intricate up-do. Following their nuptials, the pair became parents to Crown Prince Hussein, 29, Princess Iman, 27, Princess Salma, 23, and Prince Hashem, 18. While Abdullah II was the late King Hussein's eldest son, his father changed the line of succession in favour of Abdullah's uncle when he was just three years old. This meant that Rania had never expected to become Queen. However, on his deathbed in 1999, King Hussein unexpectedly named his son his successor as King of Jordan, and Rania his Queen Consort. Rania was brought up in a comfortable home in Tulkarm on the West Bank. Here she is pictured with her three-month-old baby girl, Princess Salma, Prince Hussein, right and Princess Iman, left King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan and their family in a photo released on New Year's Eve Queen Rania has become admired for her strong voice and charitable work Queen Rania alongside her daughter-in-law Rajwa al-Saif during a pre-wedding dinner party in Amman on May The mother-of-four is also known for her sense of style Rania was educated first at the New English School in Kuwait City and then at the American University in Cairo, where she graduated with a business degree in 1991. Since then, Queen Rania has been admired and renowned for her charitable work. Having been named one of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes magazine in 2011, she has been known to champion projects across key issues, such as women's rights, child protection, the environment and youth empowerment. From curry flavoured baked beans to barbecue flavoured mayonnaise, Heinz is no stranger to unusual taste combinations. The company's latest offering is a twist on their much loved tomato ketchup - and it's leaving fans of the sauce extremely divided. Heinz Tomato Ketchup Pickle hit shelves in November, bringing a tangy new twist to the popular condiment. It is expected to hit shelves in the US in 2024. Pickles have hit new levels of popularity this year, largely thanks to TikTok. With over 5.4 billion views for #Pickle, internet challenges brought the food item back to the centre of attention - with even celebrity pickle fans like Florence Pugh and Amanda Holden joining in by sharing their love for the veg. Heinz Tomato Ketchup Pickle hit shelves in November, bringing a tangy new twist to the popular condiment. It is expected to hit shelves in the US in 2024 The Heinz website describes their new creation as 'Our classic Tomato Ketchup with a delicious twist. We've added a pickle flavour to give it a sweet tanginess that will take your burger to the next level. 'But don't just save it for the burgers! It's just as tasty with sausages and toasties and transforms crusty bread and cheese into a pickly ploughman's.' The sauce is available to buy in Tesco stores nationwide for 3.39. One fan of the combination tweeted: 'We are living in the future and we don't even know it,' while another said: 'Omg am I wrong for actually being excited about this?' Others wrote: 'Might be good,' 'that's cool!' and 'Yum'. But not everyone is queuing up to buy the divisive product, with one person saying: 'Hard pass' and another: 'That is nasty'. The latest combination is a twist on their much-loved tomato ketchup - and it's leaving sauce fans divided (stock image) The Heinz website describes their new creation as 'Our classic Tomato Ketchup with a delicious twist' The sauce is available to buy in Tesco stores nationwide for 3.39 and people are already sharing whether or not they think they'll like it The sauce has divided opinion on social media, with people guessing whether or not they will like the strange combination 'I'm gonna throw up just thinking about it!' wrote another disgusted user. One sauce lover rejoiced 'Heinz is making pickle ketchup!!!' and another said 'Gimme! Please?' A happy fan added 'I feel like the only thing @HeinzTweets was missing was combining ketchup & pickles into one condiment. Now my life is complete'. Some customers are sitting on the fence, unsure of whether they want to try it. One X user reasoned 'I'd eat it if its mixed with regular ketchup but it would have to be the right combination because theres already vinegar in ketchup so if its not perfect it would be too bitter.' Others questioned 'pickle ketchup?? hmph' and 'Love pickles, dont care at all about ketchup but maybe I'd try it'. Princess Diana's iconic leopard print Gottex swimsuit has been reissued for a limited time - and fans are going wild for the famed design. Diana was pictured wearing the eye-catching one-piece while on holiday in the Mediterranean with her partner Dodi Al-Fayed in July 1997. The swimsuit was made especially for Diana after a meeting between the Princess and Leah Gottlieb, the founder of Gottex, at the brand's studio in London. Designed with a halterneck and racy low back, this piece became a luxury collector's item after Princess Diana was captured wearing it in dozens of paparazzi photos. Now, the animal print swimsuit is back for purchase at 150, available in sizes 10 to 18, marking its return for the first time since the 90s. The late Princess of Wales wears a Gottex leopard print swimsuit while on a yacht off Saint Tropez Acknowledging Princess Diana's courage in wearing bold silhouettes and unconventional prints, Gottlieb designed the leopard one-piece specifically for her. The contemporary style became synonymous with the Princess' vibrant aesthetic, prompting the The Crown's creators to approach Gottex and request the recreation of the swimsuit, especially for the show. The sixth season of award-winning Netflix series The Crown premiered last month. The opening episode thrilled fans as Princess Diana, portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki, showcased the beloved Gottex swimsuit. The Australian actress, 32, was entirely reminiscent of the late royal as she sported the animal print one-piece, while lounging on the luxurious yacht with Khalid Abdalla, who plays Diana's lover Dodi. Elizabeth shielded her eyes with a pair of cat-eye sunglasses as the pair travelled on a replica of the yacht Jonikal, owned by Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed. Unknown to Diana and Dodi, the event would take place just weeks before the tragic accident in which they were both killed. For Autumn/Winter 2023, Gottex has released a limited edition of the iconic swimsuit. Elizabeth Debicki, 32, slipped into the swimsuit as she filmed scenes of Princess Diana's Mediterranean cruise with Dodi Al Fayed for The Crown Now the 150 animal print costume is available to buy again for the first time since the 90s Fans were thrilled to see the return of the iconic leopard print swimsuit Aptly named Diana, the style is available in two silhouettes - one with a halterneck like the original version and another with a V-neckline and conventional straps. The Diana Swimsuit is available to buy on the designer's website in sizes 10 to 18. Announcing the launch on Instagram, the brand wrote: 'Recreate the look of the Princess of Wales shown in the latest season of The Crown. The Diana suit was made especially for her after a meeting between the princess and Mrs. Leah Gottlieb, the first lady of Israeli fashion and the founder of Gottex.' A number of elated fans were quick to comment on the post, commending the company with heart and clapping emojis. It comes after Elizabeth Debicki reprised her role as Princess Diana in the sixth season of The Crown on 16 November - and viewers have hit out at producers for scenes depicting Princess Diana's ghost talking to King Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth. Part one of the Netflix hit's sixth series includes four emotional episodes focusing on the late royal's last few days before her death. However, while many were in tears at how the programme depicted Princes William and Harry's grief - in particular the final phone call they shared with their mother - audiences were largely baffled by the imaginary conversations her non-corporeal spirit had with other royals. Spitting image: Elizabeth (left) embodied the late Princess of Wales she recreated one of Diana's very recognisable vacation looks The Australian actress, 32, was entirely reminiscent of the late royal as she sported the animal print swimsuit The first instance, in episode four, happens when the then Prince of Wales, played by Dominic West, flies to Paris to collect Diana's body. On the flight home, Charles is greeted by Diana's 'ghost' - Elizabeth Debicki - who says: 'Thank you for how you were in the hospital. So raw, broken - and handsome. Ill take that with me.' But her ex-husband admits that he's felt 'regret' since her passing, which she reassures 'will pass'. Later, she once again materialises after the Queen has a disagreement on how much the Royal Family should be showing their grief for the late Princess. Diana's ghost appears and takes hold of the Queen's hand. The monarch tells Diana she has started 'a revolution'. She replies: 'It didnt need to be. By making an enemy of me - not of me personally - but of what I stand for, then it starts to look like one.' The spirit then encourages the Queen to show the public she is 'willing to learn'. Some of the most impressive attempts of all time include a 1.32-mile-long pizza, a bubbling saucepan filled with 26,000 liters of broth and a 576-kilo wheel of cheese Advertisement Every year, chefs and cooking aficionados across the globe compete for a new Guinness World Record - be it the largest, longest, or heaviest food item of all time. From an incredible 1.32-mile-long pizza made in California to an enormous 576 kilogram wheel of cheese in the Netherlands, here DailyMail.com looks back at some of the most spectacular attempts to win a spot in the coveted book of records. But be warned: look away now if you're hungry! Men from the Alkmaar Cheese weighing house in the Netherlands celebrate their record-setting wheel of Beemster cheese on April 27, 2002. The dairy product measured in at a whopping 567 kilograms Volunteers feed the final section of the world's longest pizza into a mobile oven in Fontana, California. The 1.32-mile-long pizza dwarfed the previous record held by Italy at 600 feet Mexican chefs assemble more than 80,000 traditional marinated pork tacos in Guadalajara on February 15, 2015. The 2.5-kilometer-long taco line set a new Guinness record Workers scramble to set the Guinness World record for the longest hot dog line in Guadalajara, Mexico, on August 12, 2018. They succeeded with a row measuring 1,417 meters long Salvadoran cooks poses for a photo with the biggest pupusa in the world during the 18th Festival of the Pupusa in 2021. National Pupusa Day has been celebrated since 2005 in honor of the iconic local dish, a thick cake made with cornmeal or rice flour Lebanese chefs set a new world record for biggest tabbouleh in Beirut on October 25, 2009. The achievement came just a day after Lebanon broke another Guinness record with a two-ton serving of hummus Roberto Estrada and his team prepare a massive enchilada on October 8, 2000. Guinness officiates say the top spot belongs to Mexico, but the New Mexico restaurateur - who held the record for a decade - insists his three-layered, flat enchilada is the largest flat enchilada, while the one made in Mexico is the largest rolled enchilada Bakers prepare 6.5-kilometer-long cake in a attempt aim to break the Guinness World Record in Kerala, India on January 15, 2020. Hungry onlookers descended upon the dessert as soon as the record was confirmed - and it was gone in 10 minutes A little boy gleefully tastes a giant sandwich that is nearly his height in Mexico City on April 24, 2004. The sandwich, made of ham, cheese and lettuce, weighed 3,178 kilograms and set a world record Chefs whip up pancakes under a tent in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 26, 2018. They cooked a total 12,874 pancakes within eight hours and shattered the last record The world's longest strand of noodles was completed on February 3, 2004 in Germany. The strand took 250 eggs, 50 kilograms of flour and 25 liters of water to make After 15 attempts, a 10-chef team in China made the world's longest rice noodle, which they laid out in front of a store on November 2, 2008 in Zhengzhou Over 100 Chinese cooks slice noodles into during the opening ceremony of Shanxi wheaten food culture festival on August 26, 2016. In addition to attracting hundreds of spectators, the event set a record for the most people slicing noodles together Members of the California Sushi Academy celebrate their victory after preparing the worlds largest California Roll at the Hollywood Guinness World of Records Museum on February 24, 2000. Over 50 students and chefs created a 108-foot piece of sushi, which was wrapped in seaweed and composed of rice, crab, avocado and cucumber Turkish chefs smashed the Guinness record for biggest baklawa in the world on March 22, 2018. The baklawa consisted of 11,800 slices and weighed an eye-watering 515 kilograms Chinese cooks work to make the world's largest serving of fried rice in a record-breaking attempt on October 22, 2015. The achievement was revoked four days later, after the tourism bureau that organized the event admitted to wasting some 150 kilograms of the total of 4,192 kilograms of rice, drawing criticism online Members of the Embera tribe prepare a giant patacon - fried, flattened pieces of green plantains - in Panama, on October 16, 2019. They managed to cook the largest in the world and enter the Guinness World Records A total of 418 people banded together in Beijing in an attempt to set the record for most people having breakfast in bed at the same time. However, rules changed and a new record was achieved five years later, in 2020. While just 184 people participated, Guinness Records required that all of them were in a real bed, had at least two breakfast food items and a beverage, and ate continuously for at least one minute Philadelphia set the record for the largest cheesecake, measuring 2.5 meters in diameter, 55 centimeters high and weighs 2 tons. The gigantic dessert was made using more than 800 kilograms of cream cheese and was displayed at a Mexican university on January 25, 2009 A restaurant owner and his employees cooked the world's largest kebab on October 24, 2005 in Greece. The city's poor were among the first to have a taste Argentina secured the Guinness World Record for most pizzas baked in twelve hours after baking 11,287 of them on November 11, 2018. This usurped Italy's previous record of 10,065 Chef Jon Lovitch broke records with a huge gingerbread village on December 17, 2013 in New York City. It was open to the public at the New York Hall of Science after Lovitch spent 1,500 hours preparing it. Like the city that inspired it, the village featured five gingerbread train cars, an underground lolly subway station and road signs made of sugar Chefs in the western Netherlands prepared the biggest saucepan with tomato-vegetable soup ever on May 16, 2009. With 26,000 liters of broth, the group snagged a record from the Guinness Book A judge examines a large display of cheese varieties at the World Dairy Summit in China on April 23, 2016. The record was set that September by in France, where 2,140 cheeses of 730 different varieties were displayed in a 40-meter-long refrigerated tent Ranchers in southern Mexico managed to set a new world record with an enormous string cheese ball, weighing 558 kilograms, on August 31, 2023. It used about 6,000 liters of milk A woman examines a fish as members of Lebanon's Batroun Traders Association break a Guinness World Record for the largest seafood display on September 4, 2016. According to event organizers, a total of 2,613 kilograms were displayed General Manager of Ranchero King Buffet, Elias Duran, frosts one of nearly 1,400 Rosca de Deyes in a Houston park. The bread, also known as Three Kings Cake, is customarily eaten 12 days after Christmas. Weighing a total 1000 pounds, the pastries set a record for the world's largest Rosca de Reyes on January 9, 2010 Employees of Japan's Nissin Foods stacked 69 layers of cup noodle packages to celebrates the 44th anniversary of the establishment of the Cup Noodle. Guinness World Records recognized the 'largest packaged product pyramid' on September 18, 2015 Muslim Aid staff and volunteers attempt to cook the world's largest samosa on August 22, 2017. The record-breaking pastry was served to the neighborhood's homeless as part of the traditional good deeds associated with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha The global practice aims to balance the womb space and heal trauma Healthcare trends have boomed in 2023, with people turning to alternative and uncommon treatments in a bid to enhance their wellbeing - and, of course, parting with their hard-earnt money to do so. The latest trend taking Tiktok by storm is womb healing - which claims to cleanse your sacral chakra with the promise of healing trauma and helping you reconnect with your 'feminine essence'. The practise of womb healing goes beyond physical treatment and promises to delve into the spiritual realm. The practice claims to heal postnatal wombs, prevent illness, and transform a woman's relationship with her body, to name a few. As practitioners advertise womb healing with such promising claims, it's no surprise that both the amateur and accredited people carrying out womb healing have got the TikTok generation hooked on social media. In conversation with FEMAIL, trauma therapist, podcast host, and self-proclaimed 'Womb Medicine Woman' Melanie Swan, from Stoke-on-Trent but now based in Thailand, revealed how becoming aware of one's menstrual cycle can 'truly transform' a woman's relationship with her body. TikTok has witnessed a boom in content regarding womb healing in recent times, the practice that claims to clear the area of trauma Melanie, from Stoke-on-Trent, first noticed the power of the womb at 16 years old- the age she first experienced period pain. She dealt with the monthly discomfort like most, until the age of 32, when she was a practicing therapist and noticed a connection between stress and pain levels. Melanie found her pain levels would proportionately match that of her stress levels; when she felt particularly tense, her pain would vary accordingly, and vice versa. The epiphany led Melanie to tune into her body to assess what was happening, and over time, she closely observed her menstrual cycle and found there were patterns at play. 'As I was already a therapist, I began asking women about this too, and then started sharing my findings on my website and podcast. I developed my work from there', Melanie said. 'I work with the physical womb the menstrual cycle, the metaphysical womb the energetic womb and the collective womb, from which the whole of creation is birthed.' According to practitioners, womb healing is applicable to many different types of trauma that can impact the female reproductive organ. Medical mishaps, birth and pregnancy trauma, sexual trauma, and generational or cultural trauma from damaging cultural norms about periods, being a woman, and sexuality, are all types of problems that the practice claims to heal. For followers of the movement, the womb is a sacred space that can carry trauma from experiences such as pregnancy There are many ways to heal the womb space, including womb healing sessions and fertility massages 'Trauma is our response to something that was previously unbearable. Because it's too much at the time, we store it in the body and created defences around it until a time we are resourced enough to understand and process it', Melanie said. She added: 'It's so important to heal womb trauma, otherwise women carry this pain around with them their whole lives thinking it's something that we just need to "put up with." 'It can affect our ability to conceive, our creativity, our sex life and relationship with our bodies.' Melanie believes that partaking in a womb healing ceremony can offset the negative emotions and physical pain associated with distressing events. She said: 'Essentially, womb healing ceremonies follow a general pattern of setting intention, re-sourcing, processing pain, reconnecting, amplifying love within and with others and reconsolidation and grounding.' 'I use breathwork, connection with the body, body sensations, bi-lateral music, nervous system regulation, shamanic healing and journeying, creativity, attachment theory, sound healing, generational and past life healing, in a nutshell.' Melanie Swan (pictured), from Stoke-on-Trent, currently carries out womb healing sessions in Chiang-Mai, Thailand Melanie explained: 'Healing means to 'become whole' and the womb is intrinsically part of our make up as women. Womb healing is the process of bringing back the physical and metaphysical womb into our awareness and integrating it into our consciousness and daily lives. 'For centuries, women and society have held a collective disgust towards periods and cyclical changes, regarding them as an inconvenience, resulting in a woman pulling away from their womb physically, and staying disconnected from the gifts of the menstrual cycle and the power of the womb to create and nurture life itself. 'When we become aware of our menstrual cycle as something that is helpful, it can truly transform a woman's relationship with her body.' 'Periods and monthly changes go from being a pain and something to manage to a cycle that supports us into our full range of experience and expression. We can attune our creativity, productivity, sex drive and exercise routine, so that we're going with the flow of our natural state of being on any given day.' The sessions can involve a range of different practices, from sound healing to fertility massages The average age group of women accessing Melanie's service, who now practices in Chiang-Mai, Thailand, is 32 to 48 years old. Each client arrives with the intention of restoring their physical and metaphysical womb to its natural, healthy state. Melanie aims to 'clear the womb centre of any past pain, to restore the relationship a woman has with her menstrual cycle and cyclical nature, and to fill the womb with love for both a healthy menstrual cycle, and a healthy relationship with the body.' 'The aim is to restore the physical and metaphysical womb to its natural, well state.' An hour of Melanie's services cost 100, and while the number of sessions will inevitably vary depending on the person, on average, a client can expect to experience some relief and changes after a few sessions. After undergoing healing sessions, Melanie claimed that her clients feel 'more whole', 'more at peace with themselves', and enjoy greater energy levels holistically. 'They have a greater understanding of their connection with nature, and value themselves more as a woman,' she said. Marisa Tommasini (pictured), who lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, found her way into womb healing after a traumatic birth Elsewhere, Marisa Tommasini, a sound therapist and womb and fertility massage practitioner, 46, who lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, found her way into womb healing later in life. Marisa underwent a pivotal event during a bodywork session, where she experienced an overwhelming need to self-massage her womb space, particularly her caesarean scar. 'As soon as I started massaging this area, I had trauma resurface relating to my youngest child's traumatic birth', Marisa said. 'From then on, I wanted to understand the womb as an energetic place where women tend to store fear, trauma, and pain both emotionally and physically. 'I wanted to learn about womb massage and it's incredible benefits.' She added: 'In my own personal experience with womb healing and massage, I have greatly reduced my own adenomyosis and sciatica pain through regular massage and other healing techniques.' Marisa incorporates sound healing in her services. Pictured is Marisa holding a singing bowl, and inverted bell thought to offer healing vibrations Broadly speaking, Marisa defines womb healing as a route for women to reconnect with their feminine essence. She said: 'Women tend to soften and fully step into themselves when they reconnect with their femininity and their womb space. When they clear trauma, energies from past lovers or negative experiences, it can really have a profound impact on the woman's life.' In doing so, Marisa also offers fertility massages, a non-invasive abdominal procedure to heal and nurture the area, with the aim of boosting fertility. 'Womb and fertility massage is a blend of holistic modalities, which aims to reconnect the woman to her body, as well as increasing blood flow to the reproductive, digestive and sacral areas of the body and the removal of toxins', she said. 'A womb massage is also beneficial for clearing stagnant energy, particularly if you are trying to conceive, but also beneficial for those with period pain or womb conditions such as adenomyosis and endometriosis.' She added: 'I am of the opinion that women could benefit greatly from receiving womb healing postnatally, once they have healed physically from the birth. 'Many other cultures have healing practices for the women post birth, which help the woman recover and prevent illnesses later in life.' For Marisa, her service is complete when she has helped to restore the balance within a woman's womb and offered a safe space for a given client to reconnect with their body. In doing so, clients can let go of unwanted energies to feel totally present in their bodies. She concluded: 'In my workshops, I have witnessed deep healing of the women present.' 'Many arrive tense and perhaps disconnected from themselves and leave soft and more connected to themselves.' 'Women have been deeply grateful for the experiences and practices which allow them to go deep within themselves. . : But by age 22, she began to regret her decision and started to detransition A detransitioning woman who had a double mastectomy at age 19 has opened up about her journey from female to male then back again while admitting that she feels like she's living a 'double life' because she's too scared to tell her family that she changed her mind. Nikita Teran, 24, from Stockholm, shared her story with Newsweek recently, and she explained that she felt like she was different from other girls for as long as she could remember. After years of feeling like she didn't belong, Nikita said she came across a YouTube video shared by a transgender boy at age 16, and suddenly, everything 'made sense.' She began medically transitioning from female to male soon after her 18th birthday. A detransitioning woman who had a double mastectomy at age 19 has opened up about her journey from female to male then back to female again. She's seen after her detransition Nikita Teran (seen as a kid), 24, from Stockholm, shared her story with Newsweek, and she explained that she felt like she was different from other girls for as long as she could remember After years of feeling like she didn't belong, Nikita came across a YouTube video shared by a transgender guy at age 16, and everything 'made sense.' She's seen after her transition Nikita started testosterone, legally changed her name to Nicolas, and went under the knife to get a double mastectomy one year later. 'I started testosterone two weeks after turning 18, and I was on that for half a year before I changed my legal name to Nicolas, and started living completely as a man,' she explained to Newsweek. 'That was when I noticed a change in my voice and [facial hair], and I felt ready to take that next step.' She began medically transitioning from female to male soon after her 18th birthday - she started testosterone, legally changed her name to Nicolas, and went under the knife to get a double mastectomy one year later. She's seen after she transitioned to male After getting her breasts surgically removed at age 19, Nikita said she was overjoyed after she began to feel like 'one of the boys.' 'It's hard to explain the joy. I just felt like I fit in for the first time,' she shared. 'I would think, "Wow I haven't cried for months," but it was because there was nothing to cry about anymore.' And while at first, she said the changes left her feeling like 'everything had fallen into place,' by the time she was 22, she had begun to regret her decision. She explained that she started to wonder if she had made the right choice after she landed a job at an LGBTQ+ bar and started hanging out with people that encouraged her to experiment with her sexuality. She soon started 'pushing away' from her newfound 'male identity,' and instead started 'exploring femininity' again. 'In that world, you can be whoever you want, and no one will judge you. People assumed that I was a trans woman, but I didn't care about it because no one else did,' she added. And while at first, she said the changes left her feeling like 'everything had fallen into place,' by the time she was 22, she had begun to regret her decision She started to detransition two years ago. She has changed her name back to Nikita and stopped taking testosterone. She's seen before (left) and after (right) her detransition She admitted that having to explain that she now identifies as a woman again to her loved ones had been the hardest part. She's seen after she began her detransition She started to detransition two years ago and she has since changed her name back to Nikita, stopped taking testosterone, and began undergoing laser hair removal treatments to get rid of her facial hair. She admitted that having to explain that she now identifies as a woman again to her loved ones had been the hardest part. While she has opened up about it to some of her friends, the only family member that knows so far is her sister. She has yet to tell the rest of her siblings or her mom, which means that despite going by her birth name again and dressing like a female in her everyday life, she has to answer to Nicolas and put on clothes that are 'as neutral as possible' when she spends time with them as to 'not raise any suspicions.' 'It took a while for me to tell my high school friends as I find it stressful to say that I'm going through this,' she revealed. 'I still haven't told everyone. A lot of the stress is just in my head because they were all supportive and understanding. 'I just get stressed very easily about the idea of saying I'm de-trans. It's difficult for me.' While she has opened up about it to some of her friends, the only family member that knows so far is her sister. She's seen telling her sister She has yet to tell the rest of her siblings or her mom, which means that despite dressing like a female in her everyday life, she has to put on clothes that are 'neutral' around them Nikita explained that 'living a double life' has become her 'new normal,' which has started to 'affect her wellbeing' Nikita explained that 'living a double life' became her 'new normal,' which started to 'affect her wellbeing.' She said she felt like she was reaching her 'breaking point' over the summer after 'navigating' most of her detransition 'completely alone,' but when she started opening up about her experience on social media, it changed everything. Nikita explained that because she didn't talk about what she was going through with a lot of people in her real life, she had found 'comfort' in 'telling complete strangers.' She often shares videos discussing her story to TikTok, where she has gained more than 28,000 followers and 1.4 million likes. And she hopes that being so open will help others feel less alone. 'I started sharing more about my double life and people took an interest in my story. I didn't think I would grow a following like this,' she dished. 'I've had people commenting that they are either going through this or already have, [or I've received comments from people] who have someone close to them who detransitioned. 'I would like to be there for others and make the experience less lonely.' The 55-year-old often shares real live slivers of their tumultuous relationship The ex-wife of the real life Wolf of Wall Street has revealed another jaw-dropping tale about ex-husband Jordan Belfort. Nadine Macaluso, who was married to Belfort from 1991 to 2005, recalled the time the former stockbroker crashed his car after taking too many drugs - with their young daughter in the vehicle. Appearing on the Juicy Scoop podcast, the 55-year-old - who shares two children with her ex - explained it had gotten to the point where her own physical health was suffering in the toxic relationship. 'We had gone to a drug counselor [and] he [Jordan] didn't come back the next day.' Macaluso, who is now a licensed family therapist, told host Heather McDonald. Nadine Macaluso, who was married to Jordan Belfort from 1991 to 2005, has revealed another jaw-dropping tale about her ex-husband The two tied the knot in 1991 and welcoming two children together, before they ultimately divorced in 2005 after 14 years of marriage 'The drug counselor looked at me, and she said: "If you don't leave this man, you're gonna get cancer,"' she recalled. Macaluso said the drug counselor's words 'snapped' some sense into her. 'She was like, "This is way too toxic,"' she recalled. 'So I said to him, you have to get sober. 'I said, "I'm not gonna sit here and watch you kill yourself,"' she said. According to Macaluso, that was the moment the Wolf of Wall Street went 'crazy.' '[He] threw my clothing, jewelry, lit them on fire, put them in the fireplace,' she recalled. The mom-of-two said she made the decision to leave their home that night, knowing her kids were safe because the housekeeper was there. 'Then I came back, and that's when he said to me, "I'm taking our daughter to Florida, I chartered a private plane,"' she said, adding she knew he was 'wasted.' Macaluso recalled realizing she was in a dangerous situation and telling Belfort he had to get sober, which made him furious Macaluso, 55, met Jordan Belfort, 61, when she was just 22 years old and working as a model Their relationship was portrayed in the 2013 flick Wolf of Wall Street, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan and Margot Robbie as Nadine, who was renamed Naomi for the movie 'I'm like, over my dead body, you're doing that,' she said furiously. 'And I went after him.' Macaluso said 'luckily' her own mother had told her to call the police before she got home, as she was going back to a domestic violence situation. 'I chased after him, and he kicked me down the stairs,' she recalled. 'Luckily, I was in really good shape at 31, and I called the police, and they came.' Macaluso continued: 'I was able to stop him because I said to my housekeeper, close the garage door, [so] we were able to stop him.' Although the closed garage door did stop Belfort from driving away with their daughter, that's when he drove into the garage door. Macaluso, who now works as a marriage counselor and family therapist in California, met Jordan Belfort, 61, when she was just 22 years old and working as a model. The couple's relationship was famously portrayed in the 2013 flick Wolf of Wall Street, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan and Margot Robbie as Nadine, who was renamed Naomi for the movie. In real life, after Macaluso and Belfort went their separate ways, the marriage counselor and family therapist accused the broker of physical and mental abuse, which she said was fueled by his rampant drug addiction and multiple infidelities. The model-turned-therapist has become a viral TikTok star recently for spilling numerous secrets about their marriage - and revealing which scenes of the Martin Scorsese film were accurate and which were exaggerated for the sake of views. Belfort spent 22 months in prison after it was revealed he had scammed more than 1,500 people through an stockbroker scheme in 1999. It is perhaps because my bosoms are bursting out of my bra, that a gentleman in genteel Chelsea Green stops in the street, and stands there beaming. But it may be my nipples that have caught his eye - but actually, they are not mine. They are just knobs of foam, built into my bra, for I am wearing the Ultimate Nipple Bra from Skims, the fashion brand founded by reality TV tycoon Kim Kardashian. In an Instagram ad, Kim K explained: 'I'm introducing a brand new bra with a built-in nipple. So no matter how hot it is, you'll always look cold. Some days are hard. But these nipples are harder. And unlike the icebergs, these aren't going anywhere.' No one needs any help looking cold right now. Everyone is cold, given that it's winter and the cost of living crisis means many of us are afraid to put the heating on. So I wouldn't have thought there'd be much call for clothing that makes you look cold. However, the Nipple Bra launched on 31st October, and when I looked online just a week later, it had sold out. London-based journalist Samantha Rea (pictured) tried out the Ultimate Nipple Bra from Skims, the fashion brand founded by reality TV tycoon Kim Kardashian Samantha, seen wearing the bra, says: 'Road testing the Nipple Bra myself, I didn't mind the attention or the comments because none of the men had actually seen my nipples' Who had bought all the Nipple Bras? I put a shout out on X, formerly Twitter: 'WHO IS BUYING KIM KARDASHIAN'S NIPPLE BRA??! The Skims website says it's sold out in every size and every colour. Who has bought all these nipple bras?!! Message me if you've bought one, I need to know!!' I received responses from men wanting to know more about this nipple-tastic lingerie - but I heard nothing from women who'd actually bought one. Had they really sold out? Or was this a PR stunt to frame the Nipple Bra as this season's fashion must-have? It brought to mind the naked pop-up restaurant The Bunyadi, that sprang up in London in 2016. At the time, The Bunyadi's website claimed that over 46,000 people were on the waiting list to eat there. Yet I had a press table for two, and no one wanted to join me (bar a guy I'd once briefly dated). So I suspect the figure may have been fabricated and the Nipple Bra 'selling out' seems to be a tactic from the same PR playbook. Turning to eBay, I found three Skims Nipple Bras for sale, none of which were my size, so I picked the closest fit and hoped for the best. In an Instagram ad, Kim K (pictured) explained: 'I'm introducing a brand new bra with a built-in nipple. So no matter how hot it is, you'll always look cold. Some days are hard. But these nipples are harder. And unlike the icebergs, these aren't going anywhere.' The journalist, seen wearing the bra, added: 'As far as I can see, the Skims Nipple Bra is not for women. It's a gift to men, bolstering the fantasy that women are walking around in a state of perma-arousal that means they might just be up for it' The bra cost twice the price of the Skims website, plus shipping from the US, and when it arrived, I found I could barely get it on. After wrestling my breasts into the bra, I saw that it gave me a four-boob effect, as my cleavage bulged above the heavily padded cups. My actual nipples were only just encased within the bounds of the bra, while the pseudo nipples sat several inches below. It is perhaps little wonder then, that my bumpy terrain attracted attention, but committed to the cause of road testing this celebrity fashion bestseller, I assured myself I looked fine and set out to see how I'd fare amongst the celeb set in Chelsea. Starting out at The Pie Man, in Chelsea Green, I warmed my hands on a mug of hot chocolate. Whopping great sausages filled the windows and I was sure that, surrounded by such meaty bangers, no one would notice the synthetic nipples protruding through the taut fabric of my top. I was wrong about this though, as I found out when the elderly gentleman stopped to enjoy the view. Moving along, I came across a flower stall on King's Road, but as I browsed the blooms, a traffic warden appeared and threatened to ticket the Chelsea Tractor I was travelling about in for the day. As a model citizen, I promptly engaged in setting off, but the traffic warden took a flurry of photos anyway. Only, I'm not entirely sure that the focus was on the car. 'The Nipple Bra launched on 31st October, and when I looked online just a week later, it had sold out,' revealed Samantha I think my personal speed bumps (or at least those built into my bra) had hijacked his attention. It wasn't really a ticket that he wanted to give me. Heading down King's Road, I dropped into newly opened Mexican restaurant Ixchel. It's drowning in connections to the Made In Chelsea crowd, so I hoped to rub shoulders with some celebs. Posh people are notoriously unconstrained by middle class conventions such as not drawing attention to one's nip-nips, so who knows - maybe they're the ones who've bought all the Nipple Bras? But if anyone spotted the counterfeit cherries on my Belgian buns, they were too polite to say. Back at home, I posted pictures from the day's outing on my social media - only I don't mention that I'm wearing a Nipple Bra. The upshot is that several men unwittingly froth at the mouth over two bits of foam. 'Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to point?' asked one guy on X following his question with cry-laughing emojis. 'My eye got stuck to the screen,' said a chap on Instagram, explaining that he'd been zooming in on the picture. 'Was it a cold day?' asked another, with an open-mouth emoji. The winky-face emoji also featured heavily in the responses. 'The majority of men, with manners and a sense of social etiquette, will grow out of publicly commenting on women's nipples,' insisted the journalist, pictured wearing the bra Just as a caveman's instincts would alert him to a saber-tooth cat on the kill, maybe men are hardwired to notice hard nipples: 'Aha! Evidence of arousal! I could be in there!' The majority of men, with manners and a sense of social etiquette, will grow out of publicly commenting on women's nipples. However, given that a sub-section of men feel compelled to comment when they spot an erect nipple (or what they imagine to be an erect nipple) I'm flummoxed as to why any woman would want to wear a bra that sets off the Carry On klaxon in men's brains. And apparently they do, as looking through the Nipple Bra reviews on the Skims website, this seems to be a huge selling point: 'Yes, I get lots of attention! Samantha said the bra 'didn't fit' and she 'wasn't sure' which women would want to buy it 'Why else did we buy this bra? The nipple bra looks natural and I receive tons of compliments' exclaims one verified buyer. 'People were staring at my chest everywhere I went' declared another verified buyer who gave it five stars. Road testing the Nipple Bra myself, I didn't mind the attention or the comments because none of the men had actually seen my nipples. Instead, they were coming over all unnecessary at the sight of a couple of bits of sponge that might have otherwise been made into cleaning supplies to wipe down kitchen surfaces. However, if they had been letching over my actual nipples - if these had been erect and visible through my clothing - I would have felt extremely uncomfortable. And I can't help but wonder if mass consumer sales of the Skims Nipple Bra will increase and normalise these sorts of comments - to the embarrassment and mortification of women who actually just want to go about their day without a running commentary on their nipples. As far as I can see, the Skims Nipple Bra is not for women. It's a gift to men, bolstering the fantasy that women are walking around in a state of perma-arousal that means they might just be up for it. Fabricio proposed to girlfriend Erica at the scenic Friar Waterfall in Ceara, Brazil A bride-to-be slipped seconds after saying 'Yes!' in a romantic waterfall proposal - but took the unfortunate moment in her stride. In a clip, filmed at the Friar Waterfall in Ceara, Brazil, Fabricio is seen showing an engagement ring to the camera before heading towards his partner Erica, who is standing at the edge of the water. Fabricio takes her hand and gets down on one knee, asking Erica to marry him. She quickly nods as says 'Yes!', but as she steps forward to hug a cheering Fabricio, slips on rocks underneath the water and falls. The couple both laugh as Fabricio also clambers into the water, with their tour guide Alex Lima catching the entire incident - from 26 November - on film. This is the moment a bride-to-be slipped seconds after saying 'Yes!' in a romantic waterfall proposal Afterwards, the happy couple are filmed sitting in the water giggling over the moment, and relishing in their brand new engagement. Mr Lima said: 'They were already engaged, so I suggested filming Fabricio asking Erica to marry him. The couple accepted right away. 'But at the moment of the proposal, Erica slipped and fell. It was very funny. Everyone laughed a lot. In a clip, filmed at the Friar Waterfall in Ceara, Brazil , Fabricio is seen showing an engagement ring to the camera before heading towards his partner Erica 'Thank God she didn't get hurt, and we then continued to other tourist sites.' Mr Lima said 'cool things always happen' while on tours. He added: 'I've been working as a guide for 20 years, and cool things always happen. 'The fall was the first time. I'm glad everything went well, nothing serious.' Princess Charlotte has taken after her mother Kate Middleton with her newfound musical hobby - learning how to play the piano. The Princess of Wales, 41, proudly discussed her daughter's musical prowess while attending the Royal Variety Performance at Prince Albert Hall in London on Thursday. She told pianist Lang Lang - who had just performed with a 13-year-old blind girl named Lucy - that her eight-year-old daughter has recently taken up the instrument. Lang Lang told Hello! Magazine: 'We talked about Charlotte. Her Royal Highness talked about Charlotte's piano playing, I'm sure she's good. 'Her Royal Highness said to me that she said to Princess Charlotte "Hey, look, if you practice a lot you can be like him".' The Princess of Wales, 41, proudly discussed her daughter's musical prowess while attending the Royal Variety Performance at Prince Albert Hall in London on Thursday The pianist added: 'I was like, wow, I'm sure she will do well at the piano. I think she is practicing.' Charlotte's newfound piano hobby was likely music to Kate Middleton's ears, as the mother-of-three is also a keen pianist. Kate's interest in music dates back to her childhood, when she was learning piano, flute and attended the school choir, reportedly reaching Grade Three in piano. She has recently demonstrated her musical prowess publicly, performing at the first Together at Christmas concert with Tom Walker in 2021. 'Without doubt, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,' Mr Walker said at the time. 'I thought she absolutely smashed the performance; it's not easy to just jump behind a piano with a bunch of musicians you've never played with before and record live takes to camera, but she completely nailed it.' Kate's former piano teacher has also shared his experience teaching the future Queen of England when she was around 10 years old. 'She was absolutely lovely, a really delightful person to teach the piano,' Daniel Nicholls told the Evening Standard in 2012. Kate told pianist Lang Lang - who had just performed with a 13-year-old blind girl named Lucy - that her eight-year-old daughter has recently taken up the instrument Charlotte's new-found piano hobby was likely music to Kate Middleton's ears, as the mother-of-three is also a keen pianist Kate's interest in music dates back to her childhood, when she was learning piano, flute and attended the school choir, reportedly reaching Grade Three in piano 'I don't think anyone would say she was going to be a concert pianist, but she was good at it, she always did everything she was told.' But Charlotte isn't the only royal youngster to take on a new hobby. Her older brother Prince George, nine, has recently taken an interest in sports. Former British triathlon competitor Non Stanford said: '[Prince William] was telling me how George has been doing triathlon at school. 'There is also a gentleman who now works for William, who has done a bit of triathlon and has been giving George advice about putting talcum powder in his shoes. 'George has been sharing his talc with his classmates, and they are all excited about these tips.' King Charles and Queen Camilla have stepped out this morning to attend church in Sandringham. Embracing a business-as-usual attitude, the British monarch, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday, and his wife, 76, was spotted heading to the service in Norfolk - despite the racism row that has engulfed the Royal Family this week. The royal couple were all smiles as they journeyed to St Mary Magdalene church, with the impeccably-dressed King walking with purpose before shaking the vicar's hand ahead of the service. Beaming Camilla combatted the chilly weather in a cream coat with a check scarf and statement hat, while holding an umbrella in one of her hands. But their relaxed appearance comes amid a tumultuous time for the Royal Family after the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie's new book Endgame named two royals alleged to have expressed 'concerns' about the colour of Prince Archie's skin. King Charles and Queen Camilla have stepped out this morning to attend church in Sandringham 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. This week, Buckingham Palace officials will meet with aides to Prince William for critical talks in how to deal with the fallout. The gathering of the two households will see them discuss how to respond, with 'time and care' to be taken before any decisions are made, one source told the Sunday Telegraph. All options are believed to be 'on the table', including legal action, while Charles, who flew back to the UK after several days at the COP28 environment summit in Dubai last week, is said to be taking the furore surrounding the book 'very seriously'. It is reported that during the week Charles will discuss the situation with senior advisers, while also carrying out his duties with aides telling the Mirror it will be 'business as usual' with royals to be seen as 'rising above' the row. He is expected to remain in Sandringham today before returning to London for a series of official engagements this week, including a ceremony at Buckingham Palace and a charity carol concert at Westminster Abbey. A source close to the Palace told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Discussions [have been] had and we'll continue those discussions this week, but not in a crisis talks manner... 'Decisions [will be] made with care and time and professionalism rather than rushed over a weekend.' Embracing a business-as-usual attitude, the British monarch, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday, and his wife, 76, was spotted heading to the service in Norfolk - despite the racism row that has engulfed the Royal Family this week The royal couple journeyed to St Mary Magdalene church, with the impeccably-dressed King walking with purpose before shaking the vicar's hand ahead of the service MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment. Meanwhile, the Mail understands that Buckingham Palace is investigating who at their end could have seen the letters between the King and Meghan Markle in which the names were allegedly mentioned. However, it is confident the leak has not come from within, believing only a 'tiny handful' of people have ever seen them. Harry and Meghan, meanwhile, have not commented publicly on the scandal. Scobie has been accused of acting as a 'mouthpiece' for the Sussexes, an allegation he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not 'Meg's pal'. 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 for them to be publicly identified'. They insist that the contents of the letters were 'not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp', the Telegraph reports. But one source close to the Royal Family has now called on Harry and Meghan to speak out publicly on the issue. The source told the paper: 'For the couple that talked about 'death by a thousand no comments', the silence at this point is deafening.' Beaming Camilla combatted the chilly weather in a cream coat with a check scarf and statement hat, while holding an umbrella in one of her hands But their relaxed appearance comes amid a tumultuous time for the Royal Family after the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie's new book Endgame named two royals alleged to have expressed 'concerns' about the colour of Prince Archie 's skin This week, Buckingham Palace officials will reportedly meet with aides to Prince William for critical talks in how to deal with the fallout. Pictured, King Charles and Queen Camilla arriving for the morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church King Charles and Queen Camilla arriving for the morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk Another insider added that the decision not to respond was 'interesting' given the Sussexes' previous complaints about not being supported against negative press stories. The scandal - which Scobie has been forced to insist was not a publicity stunt - has kept Endgame in the headlines for more than a week as excerpts were published in the days before its release in a French magazine. The most eye-grabbing extract serialised in Paris Match claimed that there was a second so-called 'royal racist' - after Harry and Meghan alluded to a member of the Royal Household expressing discomfort over Archie's skin colour in 2021. They told Oprah Winfrey in their interview a year after they quit royal duties that there had been conversations about 'how dark' Archie's skin would be when he was born. Meghan did not name the member of the household, saying at the time: 'I think that would be very damaging to them.' The names did not appear in the English edition of the book when it was released on Tuesday. Scobie had written a paragraph in which he said he could not name them under UK law. But the names appeared in the Dutch version of the book, prompting the publishers to pulp copies that were on sale. The Dutch translators who worked on the volume maintain that the manuscript they were given featured both names verbatim. Saskia Peeters, speaking to MailOnline, said this week: '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.' Sources have said it will be 'business as usual' for the Royal Family as discussions take place on how to respond to the race row claims. Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at the Royal Variety Show on Thursday Harry and Meghan (pictured in Dusseldorf in September) have not commented on the scandal publicly A copy of Endgame, pictured left, which was released last week. In the book author Omid Scobie made a number of bombshell claims about the Royal Family. Pictured right, Author of Endgame, Omid Scobie (pictured on Newsnight last week) has been accused of acting as a 'mouthpiece' for the Sussexes, an allegation he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not 'Meg's pal' Newspapers in the UK avoided reporting the names after the allegations came to light after Endgame's release on Tuesday, but Piers Morgan revealed them on his Uncensored show on Wednesday. Morgan added, however, that he did not believe the allegations of 'racist comments'. He said: 'Because I don't 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.' He then doubled down on his defence later in the week, saying on Thursday: 'I took a view it was ridiculous that British people couldn't be aware of this information. I also said when I named them that I didn't believe a word of the racist allegations made against them.' A British cocktail guru has stunned his followers by creating a margarita for the festive season using Tenderstem broccoli. Jack Sotti, who is also the mixologist on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, settled on the stringy green favourite after trying a variety of other vegetables with tequila, lime juice, olive oil and sugar syrup. His creation, dubbed 'The Broctail', received a mixed reception from fans after he shared it on Instagram (@jack_sotti), where he has over 12,100 followers. 'Christmas cocktails can get a bit 'samey' with choices limited to cinnamon, mulled wine and eggnog,' said Jack. 'It was time for something fresh to shake things up this Christmas, I tried a few different vegetables and this one worked the best! A British cocktail guru has stunned his followers by creating a margarita for the festive season using Tenderstem broccoli 'I'm pleased too because I actually love Tenderstem. When in my bar, I'm able to get creative with my concoctions. 'I eat Tenderstem on a regular basis and thanks to its versatile flavour profile, along with it being sweet but nutty, I thought it would be the perfect centerpiece for a new cocktail.' Users came out in droves to comment on the post, with some baffled by the bizarre drink, while others were 'intrigued' to try it during the festive season. One person vowed to give it a go straight away, saying: 'I'm so intrigued, will definitely have to try!' Another person added: 'Think you're onto something there!!' However, some weren't so convinced, with another saying: 'When you said blitz the broccoliI'm out, I'm a celebrity get me out of here.' One person added: 'No wtf!?!? Tenderstem on my Sunday dinner but in my cocktail??!!' Swapping olives with veg, Sotti uses blanched florets of Tenderstem in his mix. Released just in time for December, the 'Broctail' (ABV 18%) pairs the tang of tequila with the sweet and nutty flavour profile of Tenderstem broccoli, balanced with citrus, salt and the aromas of extra virgin olive oil. Jack Sotti, who is also the mixologist on Channel 4 's Sunday Brunch, settled on the stringy green favourite after trying a variety of other vegetables with tequila, lime juice, olive oil and sugar syrup. Pictured, the cocktail His creation (pictured being made), dubbed 'The Broctail', received a mixed reception from fans after he shared it on Instagram (@jack_sotti), where he has over 12,100 followers Users came out in droves to comment on the post, with some baffled by the bizarre drink (pictured being made), while others were 'intrigued' to try it during the festive season Released just in time for December, the 'Broctail' (ABV 18%) pairs the tang of tequila with the sweet and nutty flavour profile of Tenderstem broccoli, balanced with citrus, salt and the aromas of extra virgin olive oil Sotti is a star within the drinks industry, having partnered with Emma Watson's brother Alex on carbon-neutral gin Renais, devising the opulent cocktail menu for The Standard's talk-of-the-town bar 'Sweeties' and frequently hosting a cocktail segment on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch. He also holds 19 bartending awards from all over the world, including being listed within Bartender Magazine's 100 Most Influential Bartenders three years in a row. Tenderstem spokesperson, David Samuels said: 'Tenderstem broccoli is a British favourite, especially during Christmas, this is certainly a departure from our typical offering but one we can't wait to experience! 'We're proud to see Jack's creativity and originality produce a concoction with Tenderstem in it, proving just how versatile and tasty Tenderstem is and cocktail fans can now get their greens too!' Anyone keen to try the yuletide cocktail can watch the step-by-step guide on Jack's Instagram or visit Ester bar in Camden, London between 1-31st December for a professional serve. A postman has undergone a pioneering operation to 'rebuild' his finger after it was savaged by a dog while he was delivering letters. Plastic surgeons took a section of Royal Mail worker Alasdair Ross's big toe and transplanted it on to his hand replacing the missing top of his index finger. The married 41-year-old from Bristol, who is also a part-time music teacher, chose to have the procedure as it would enable him to continue playing guitar. Today, five months after the op, Alasdair is playing again and has regained nerve sensation in the tip of his new finger. It is believed this is the first time the unusual procedure has been offered to a dog bite victim. The case was discussed at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons annual conference last week, where doctors heard there had been a 180 per cent rise in plastic surgery referrals for dog bite injuries. Postman Alasdair Ross, 41, from Bristol, lost his finger after it was savaged by a dog while he making deliveries. Alasdair, who is also a part-time music teacher, chose to have the 'pioneering' procedure as it would enable him to continue playing guitar It is believed this is the first time the unusual procedure has been offered to a dog bite victim. It comes against a backdrop of rising incidence of dog attacks, which experts claim has been fuelled by the 3.2 million British households acquiring a pet since the start of the Covid pandemic. Recalling the incident, which happened on a morning round in July, Alasdair says: 'There are different types of letterboxes, and many have an internal flap. 'This letterbox had one external flap and the inside was open. As I pushed a leaflet through with my left hand, I felt something clamping down on my index finger.' Although he couldn't see it, Alasdair immediately realised he was being attacked by a dog. 'I started to kick the door and shout, and after about ten seconds, although it felt like longer, managed to wrench my hand free. 'The shock hit hard I saw how bad it was. The end of my finger had been gnawed off and I could see the bone. 'I didn't throw up or pass out, which I would have thought would be a natural reaction. And it didn't hurt as much as it should have, perhaps because I'd also lost nerves.' One of the household's neighbours came to Alasdair's aid and drove him to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where he was rushed in to surgery. 'In theatre, the doctor cleaning up the wound said they could amputate the top of my finger, or I could wait and see a plastic surgeon to see if something could be done to reconstruct it,' says Alasdair. 'My recurring thought at this point was: will I ever be able to play guitar again? 'I teach drums at a local secondary school, but mainly I'm a guitarist and I've played for 30 years. I'm in a band now. If it had been my right hand, then it wouldn't have been so much of a problem, but you need the fingers of your left hand for the fretboard of the guitar. I said I'd give reconstructive surgery a go.' Alasdair was bandaged and sent home with instructions to attend Southmead Hospital in Bristol a week later. 'My wife Sophie was an absolute hero I was on painkillers but my hand wouldn't stop hurting.' At his next appointment, plastic surgeon James Henderson explained the plan: to rebuild Alasdair's finger with a transplant using his big toe. 'I was unsure at first,' says Alasdair. 'I thought they were going to chop my toe off and stick it on to my finger, but that's not what they actually do.' During the complex operation, surgeons took an inch-square section of tissue from the inside of the big toe, along with blood vessels from another part of the foot Mr Henderson, who performed the operation with his colleague Emily West, says: 'Alasdair had lost the skin and pulp of his fingertip on the palm side and some bone. 'Typically, you'd just shorten the finger to the level at which there was skin. These kinds of injuries are most commonly caused by power tools, and builders may be more concerned with getting back to work quickly, so opt to have the amputation. As Alasdair wanted to continue playing the guitar, we opted for a different solution.' During the complex operation, which takes about two hours under general anaesthetic, surgeons take an inch-square section of tissue from the inside of the big toe, along with blood vessels from another part of the foot. 'Unlike a skin graft, which is just skin, this is more like a transplant operation as we take the underlying tissues, nerves and blood vessels in order to rebuild the finger,' explains Mr Henderson. The surgeons attach the blood vessels and nerves from the transplanted tissue to the stump, and the skin is then stitched into place. The finger was bandaged and Alasdair spent a week in hospital recovering. 'You have to keep an eye on it, as if there are blood clots or other problems the transplant won't take,' Mr Henderson says. Alasdair continues: 'The pain in my hand after the operation was excruciating I thought I was going to lose my mind. But once they removed the bandages it subsided. 'My finger was very swollen and bloody at first. Then sensation began to return if you imagine when your hands get really cold, and then warm up those uncomfortable pins and needles, that's what it felt like. 'Now it's healed, my new finger is a few millimetres shorter but I have sensation in it. I was given exercises to do, to build up the strength of the finger, and I can do most things now, like do up zips and use the handbrake in my car. 'A few weeks ago, I started playing guitar again. It was a wonderful moment. I wasn't quite as sharp as I was, but that means I can get better and it's deeply encouraging.' Most people would rather have artificial intelligence (AI) assess them for skin cancer than wait to see a doctor in person, a survey suggests. Last month, the NHS announced plans to expand the use of the technology, which can analyse images for signs of the disease. Studies show that AI is just as accurate as a doctor at spotting skin cancer and can complete the assessment in seconds, potentially saving thousands of hours of cancer specialists' time and cutting waiting lists. Currently, patients considered at urgent risk of the disease have to wait about two weeks for a scan. Non-urgent patients can wait months. However, experts say there were concerns that patients would be unwilling to let AI software check them for cancer because they did not trust the technology was accurate. Most people would rather have artificial intelligence ( AI ) assess them for skin cancer than wait to see a doctor in person, a survey suggests Melanoma kills about 2,300 people in the UK every year, while squamous cell carcinoma leads to about 1,000 deaths But new research shows that 62 per cent of patients would rather see an AI than wait weeks to see a doctor. Nearly 80 per cent said they were confident a computer could assist doctors analysing photos of possible skin cancer. Just 15 per cent said the prospect of having scans assessed by computer made them uncomfortable. There are about one million urgent skin cancer referrals on the NHS every year. This is usually after patients or their GPs notice a new skin lesion, an abnormal lump, bump, ulcer or sore on the skin. While most lesions will not be cancerous, about eight per cent of people referred for a scan will be diagnosed with melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common skin cancers. Melanoma kills about 2,300 people in the UK every year, while squamous cell carcinoma leads to about 1,000 deaths. The survey of 300 people was carried out by AI firm Skin Analytics, whose skin cancer detecting software DERM is already used in the NHS. The software analyses images of skin lesions and then decides whether it is a low-risk case which means the patient will be told they need no further investigation or high-risk meaning a consultant dermatologist will then take on the case in order to make a diagnosis. 'There's an urgent need for solutions to help dermatologists prioritise the early detection of skin cancers,' says Dr Lucy Thomas, consultant dermatologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. 'Encouragingly, the findings show us that patients are ready to embrace AI, to support decision-making and ease some of the burden on NHS services.' New direction: Nathaniel Rothschild Volex traces its roots back to Victorian times, making electrical goods in Gorton, just outside Manchester. Successful for many years, the company hit problems in the early 2000s and underwent a difficult period until new management were appointed in 2015, under financier Nathaniel Rothschild, scion of the famous Rothschild banking family. Rothschild and his team have devoted time and energy to turning Volex round, through a combination of organic growth and selective acquisitions. The company specialises in electric and electronic products, from components for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to high-speed cables for data centres. Volex is also the world's largest producer of power cords and plugs, used for TVs, computers, dishwashers and virtually every other electric gadget. In order to make Volex more resilient to economic cycles, Rothschild has expanded across five key industries: consumer goods, medical equipment, electric cars, industrial technology and off-road vehicles, such as trucks and diggers. Half-year figures to October 1, 2023 show the benefits of this spread of businesses. Overall sales rose 11 per cent to $398 million (313 million), profits rose 15.5 per cent to $34 million and the interim dividend was raised by almost 8 per cent to 1.4p. Within this however, sales relating to electric cars and consumer goods fell, as end demand declined and Volex customers used up existing stocks built up last year. But sales in the other divisions increased at pace, particularly industrial technology, which delivered organic growth of more than 30 per cent. Analysts are optimistic about the group's future, predicting sales of $850 million, profits of $73 million and a 4.5p dividend for the year to next March, with further gains thereafter. (Figures are in dollars because most of the company's sales are in the US currency.) Rothschild said last year that he planned to take sales to $1.2 billion by 2027 and raise profit margins to around 10 per cent. The group remains confident of delivering those targets, even if economic conditions are mixed. Slower markets are likely to bounce back, as consumer confidence returns and the electric car industry regains momentum. Volex has also deliberately chosen to work in industries with long-term growth prospects. And a global network should make the firm more resilient, including the recent purchase of Turkish offroad specialist, Murat Ticaret, which is a big player in Europe and is now expected to expand into North America. Midas verdict: Midas recommended Volex in September 2022 when the shares were 2.63. Today, they are 18 per cent higher at 3.10 and brokers say they should hit 4 over the next 12 months. Nervous investors may want to bank some profits after recent gains but they should retain some stock as Rothschild and his crew are determined to deliver much more growth and rising dividends too. Traded on: AIM Ticker: VLX Contact: volex.com or 01256 442570 MBABANE What is believed to have been a quiz or exercise for purposes of creating profiles for legislators has seen MP Nomalungelo LaZwide Simelane declaring that her mandate is to lobby her colleagues in Parliament to push for an all-inclusive dialogue. This happened on Friday, which was the last day of the induction for the members of the 12th Parliament. Having participated in different sessions of empowerment for a whole week, the legislators summed up the induction by responding to some questions, which came in a quiz format, whereby they had to provide information about themselves. This information they had to provide by filling up a form which had the title Legislators Booklet Questionnaire and contained about six questions. Just like in an examination room, the forms were circulated and placed like question papers on the tables, where the legislators were sitting, just before the last session ended on Friday. proper profiles As the forms were circulated, some of the legislators enquired what they were all about and clarity was provided by Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba, who said the aim was to create proper profiles for them. As legislators, you will be invited to conferences and big events. This information will make sense in that when you go there, the people already know who you are and how you look like, Xaba said. A leaked one which is believed to have been filled by the Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) reflects how she purportedly responded to the questions, including one which sought to ascertain what she believed was the mandate she was elected for. Following the leakage of the form containing responses, this reporter contacted the MP to ascertain if she was familiar with all the information or content written and she responded to the affirmative. Simelane first asked to know how this reporter laid her hands on the form. She mentioned, however, that despite that she was surprised, she had no problem with her constituency knowing what she had written, as she believed that it would, in the end, be made public. Parliament property She then asked not to say much about the responses, as she was of the view that the form was Parliament property until it is made public. In her response, she stated that her constituency remained devastated after the unfortunate upheavals of June 2021, whereby people had gone to deliver petitions at their tinkhundla. They were met with gunshots that resulted in some dying while others are crippled for life. As I went about during the campaign period, I was asked what I would do to see that there is justice for the people who were shot to death, maimed for life both in Siphofaneni and countrywide leading to the massacre of June 29, 2021, Simelane wrote on the form. She added that the people felt strongly that their MP for the 11th Parliament, her husband Mduduzi Gawuzela went into exile while his colleagues Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were jailed. Expanding on the response, Simelane said the people of Siphofaneni openly called upon the need to respond to the petition delivery and needed clear answers as the petitions did not only include issues of national interest, but Siphofaneni specific service delivery bottlenecks that need to be addressed. all-inclusive dialogue It is, therefore, my primary mandate that the legislators influence the government to consider an all-inclusive dialogue with the sole purpose of nation building. The people who lost their loved ones during the unrest must be compensated together with the maimed, the incarcerated MPs be released together with all politically-charged individuals and the exiled MP and all other exile return home where we can all sit down and map a way forward, reads part of the response. The declaration of the MPs primary mandate being to lobby legislators to influence a consideration for an all-inclusive dialogue comes at a time when government stated in no uncertain terms that the recently held Sibaya concluded the dialogue. In our publication last month, both the Kings Office Communication Director Percy Simelane and Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, were quoted saying they did not think that at this stage there would be another dialogue as envisaged by Southern African Development Community (SADC). This publication had sought to ascertain the recently concluded Sibaya was part of the process of dialogue that was proposed by the SADC to solve the countrys political impasse. Meanwhile, it was not possible to ascertain from LaZwide, how she was going to go about her so-called mandate of lobbying her colleagues. This is because she stated that she could not discuss the contents of the form save to confirm that all that was written was exactly how she had put it. Expanding in her responses on the form, LaZwide said another issue that the people of her constituency were passionate about was the legislation that regulates game rangers. She wrote in the form that the electorate mandated her to work with other legislators to see if there could be amendments to the current law, that they believe seeks to degenerate human life to that lesser than an animal. While protecting wildlife, we must be seen to be protecting human life too. In essence, the people of Siphofaneni have mandated their member of parliament to influence laws and policies that restore the dignity and preciousness of human life, she wrote. role as a legislator Another question she provided a response to, according to the leaked form, was on what she understood to be her role as a legislator. To this, she responded by saying it was not only her honest opinion, but an ideal one, that as a parliamentarian she had come to represent the aspirations, views, feelings, emotions and dreams of the people of Siphofaneni, the people who elected her. She said she would achieve such through collaborations with other legislators, in influencing laws and policies that will fulfill improved quality of the peoples lives, while at the same time exercising the role of being a watchdog or oversight to the executive and the legislature. Another question posed to the legislators, which LaZwide responded was on what the country was likely to benefit from them in the five years in office. Simelane responded by saying she was a natural peacemaker and not only a peacekeeper. unjustly treated I will do all in my power to facilitate peace-making between the people who feel they were unjustly treated in June 2021 and the State. Peace making demands standing for the truth within the confines of the law until both parties accept responsibility to restore peace. It is only when there is peace that there could be progress. For the people of Siphofaneni and the country, I promise that by the end of this term, I would have worked hard for peace and progress, she said. Lastly, Simelane provided a response to a question on the service delivery that her constituency should expect from her. service delivery goals She responded by saying that together with the indvuna yenkhundla, bucopho, and other strategic social and economic development stakeholders they have prioritised a variety of things as key service delivery goals. Efforts to get more clarity from Xaba were not successful as his cellphone number rang unanswered yesterday. Meanwhile, an MP who spoke on condition of anonymity said there was nothing wrong with the form and responses being made public. sent us to do In my view, the responses we provided will allow the electorate to see if we will do exactly what they sent us to do. During our campaigns, we made a lot of promises and the people want assurance that we will deliver, the MP said. However, a former legislator said in his view, the questions were aimed at assessing if the mindsets of the legislators had changed after they had undergone the weeklong induction. The investment managers and board of investment trust Fidelity Asian Values were in London last week to attend the fund's annual general meeting. Lead manager Nitin Bajaj, based in Singapore, was in buoyant mood as he reflected on the past year and the year ahead. A past financial year (to the end of July) that has seen the trust edge up its dividend payments and generate double-digit overall returns for shareholders. And a year ahead full of promise, especially if a global stock market recovery triggers a re-rating in smaller companies the sector of Asian markets that the 344 million trust is concentrated on. The trust, launched 27 years ago, invests in smaller companies across all Asian stock markets with the exception of Japan. It has holdings in more than 150 listed stocks with the biggest country position in China. Catherine Yeung is Asian Equities investment director for Fidelity and the trust's investment director. Like Bajaj, she was in the UK for the AGM, travelling back to Hong Kong last Thursday where she is based. She says the trusts' universe listed businesses with market capitalisations ranging from below 1 billion to 10 billion-plus is rich in investment opportunity. She adds: 'Smaller companies in Asia are under-researched. Provided you are prepared to do lots of hard work, meet companies on the ground and build relationships, the potential to extract stellar returns is significant. It's what we do at Fidelity. 'We have boots on the ground across the region in the shape of research analysts digging out investment opportunities and fund managers based in Singapore and Hong Kong.' The latest performance figures, provided by investment data provider Trustnet, support Yeung's thesis. Over the past year, the trust has generated a return of 6.5 per cent. Annualised returns over the past ten years average 10.4 per cent. Although antipathy towards China remains strong among UK investors, Yeung says many Chinese companies are doing all the right things improving their corporate governance and paying dividends to shareholders. 'China is a big part of our overall investment thesis,' she explains. 'I was there last month and many smaller companies have adapted to the regulatory changes made by the Chinese Government. Yes, we are mindful of geopolitical considerations, but our focus is on investing in good businesses run by good people at an attractive price.' Among the trust's top ten holdings are stakes in pork supplier WH Group and gold jewellery retailer Chow Sang Sang. Both are listed in Hong Kong. Financials is one of the trust's biggest sector themes with key stakes in Indian banks Axis and HDFC and Indonesian banks Bank Negara and Bank Mandiri. 'Access to credit and banking is a compelling long-term story across the region,' says Yeung. 'It is being fuelled by demographic change and the emergence of a middle-class with money to spend and save.' Fidelity Asian Values pays a dividend equivalent to just below three per cent a year. In the past ten years, payments have grown in all but two years (2014 and 2020). The payment in the last financial year was 14.5p a share with the shares currently trading at around 4.90. Its stock market ID code is 0332231 and ticker FAS. Annual charges total 0.96 per cent. Separately, Fidelity will cement its reputation as a leading international investor in Asia and China, following the announcement that its China Special Situations trust will absorb the assets of rival trust Abrdn China Investment Company subject to shareholder approval. If the deal goes ahead, it will create a trust with 1.2 billion under its stewardship. A plethora of journalists, PR and political professionals gathered last week to rub shoulders at a press awards ceremony hosted by communications outfit Pagefield. Among the gongs on offer was 'Best Campaign of the Past 12 Months', which was described as sitting at the 'heart of British journalism'. So attendees were somewhat surprised when the winner wasn't a journalist at all. Scoop: Nigel Farage won the award for his 'campaign' against the decision by NatWest-owned Coutts to close his bank account Instead, it was former Ukip leader and Brexit architect Nigel Farage who scooped the award for his 'campaign' against the decision by NatWest-owned Coutts to close his bank account. The debacle caused a massive PR crisis for NatWest and ultimately led to the resignation of boss Alison Rose as well as Coutts head Peter Flavel. Of course, Nigel was not present to accept the award as he is languishing in the Australian jungle, appearing in the latest series of I'm A Celeb. Time for some celebratory kangaroo anus perhaps? T-shirt fundamentalist switches to wearing a suit T-shirt fundamentalist Greg Jackson made a concession to formality at last week's Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court by wearing a suit jacket and polo neck top. Luckily no one seemed to notice the red wine stain on the Octopus energy boss's jacket from pre-summit drinks the night before which was blamed on Kamal Ahmed, editor of the Gen-Z-focused brand The News Movement. Break out the Vanish! Changes at Revolut There were some changes on the board of fintech firm Revolut as the group announced that Romanian tech entrepreneur Dan Teodosiu would be joining as a non-executive director. Teodosiu counts Silicon Valley giants Google and Microsoft among his former employers. His last job was tech boss at Onfido, an identity verification firm based in London. Perhaps he can help Revolut get its UK banking licence, which it claimed in March would be granted 'imminently'. We make it 278 days and counting. Whispers notes that the Revolut board includes just one woman Deloitte alumna Caroline Britton so perhaps next time they recruit they could hunt for some gender balance. Checking Labour's breakfast receipts Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves hosted a breakfast last Monday with about 35 bosses and executives in what some in the City deemed an attempt to steal thunder from the Government's Global Investment Summit on the same day. Those attending included Sir William Lewis, the newly appointed head of US newspaper The Washington Post. One wonders whether Starmer and Reeves were more tight-lipped than usual around Lewis, who as editor of The Daily Telegraph in 2009 led the team that broke the MP expenses scandal. This was before Starmer and Reeves' time in office. But Whispers expects the receipts were checked extra carefully. Saga: Eros is under investigation by regulators in India One of the City's biggest investment firms has bowed to pressure and agreed to help long-suffering savers who bought bonds in the Bollywood film group Eros Media World. The move by Axa Investment Managers paves the way for an action group to be set up to safeguard the interests of investors, who bought bonds in good faith but have seen the price plummet from 1 to little more than 9p. Eros has delayed or missed interest payments, tried to restructure its bonds and has been forced to settle a class action by shareholders in the US. The firm is under investigation by regulators in India, its UK arm was put into administration earlier this year and Bank of India has taken the firm to court in London over unpaid debts. Plucky investment firm 365IM has spent months trying to cajole big institutions, including Axa, Investec and WiseAlpha, to join an action group to protect bondholders' interests. The Marlow-based minnow needed support from investors in 20 per cent of the 50 million bond before it could take action. But big City firms sat on their heels. A week ago, 365IM could only speak for investors with 17.5 per cent of the bonds. Then Axa abruptly changed its tune. Its customers own 5.2 per cent of the bond issue, taking 365 over the threshold. Swift steps are set to follow, starting with a letter to the bond issue's trustee, M&G. Investors will demand overdue interest of 2.25 million, assurance that future interest payments will be settled and the 50 million will be repaid when it falls due in 2026. But there are fears the big firms' prevarication may have hindered the action group's chances. Axa admitted that it spoke to 365IM earlier this year. Investec was contacted too but continues to sit on the sidelines. Its wealth management arm, now part of Rathbones, owns 14 per cent of the issue on behalf of investors. Investec Bank, which brought the bond to market in 2014, owns bonds too and says it is monitoring the situation. Investec's wealth business said: 'We're engaging with 365 to review its proposals to determine the best resolution for our clients.' It is known to have engaged directly with Eros this year but to little apparent effect. The decision by PricewaterhouseCoopers to resign as Wilko's auditor without giving any warning about the company's precarious finances was like a 'doctor turning away a cancer patient', according to a leading accountancy expert. The High Street chain and 12,500 jobs might have been saved if PwC had raised the alarm before it quit in 2019, Atul Shah, a professor of accounting and finance at City University, told The Mail on Sunday. The broadside comes just days after Wilko's former chairman and granddaughter of the founder Lisa Wilkinson was raked over the coals by MPs on the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee. She was questioned over her role in the collapse of the 93-year-old firm earlier this year. Time for change?: The role of PwC and EY in the Wilko debacle is likely to rachet up pressure on Ministers to reform the UK's audit and accounting sector PwC audited Wilko's accounts until 2019, after which it was replaced by fellow 'Big Four' outfit EY. The two firms were called in for scrutiny following criticism that they had not done enough to investigate the company's finances before it went under. In the accounts for the year to February 2019, PwC did not challenge the directors' conclusion that the business had the resources to continue for the foreseeable future. It added that this 'was not a guarantee' because 'not all future events and conditions can be predicted'. Shah interpreted this to mean that PwC was aware of potential issues at Wilko. 'Auditors resigning from a risky client without giving a warning about the financial situation is like a doctor turning away a patient suffering from cancer,' he said. Shah, who was among several expert witnesses to give testimony to the committee during the Wilko inquiry last week, said auditing firms were now more concerned with 'monitoring the risk to their own reputation rather than acting professionally'. He said: 'Whether it's a risky client or non-risky, you do your job.' PwC declined to comment. EY was previously lambasted for its oversight of the group after signing off its accounts despite Wilko having warned last year that it did not have enough funds to cope with a sharp drop in sales. The role of PwC and EY in the Wilko debacle is likely to rachet up pressure on Ministers to reform the UK's audit and accounting sector and to break the dominance of the 'Big Four' firms PwC, EY, Deloitte and KPMG. The industry has been under close scrutiny for years since the collapse of outsourcing giant Carillion, which was one of the Government's biggest contractors. The company was audited by KPMG in 2018. Usually when the price of a commodity such as a metal or oil shoots up, there is an obvious reason. But a rally in the price of uranium, which is used to produce nuclear power, has left many in the City scratching their heads as there has not been an obvious trigger. Uranium is trading at a 15-year high of more than $80 a pound. Experts say the astonishing rise from $48 a pound at the start of the year is partly a sign of the times. After years of rhetoric about cutting carbon emissions, many countries are now setting out longer-term ambitions to use nuclear power. For some, such as the UK, China and Sweden, this means building a plethora of new power stations, while for others it is about extending the life of existing sites. Keith Watson, portfolio manager for the uranium-focused Geiger Counter Fund, said: 'The sea-change has occurred at both a public and a government level, where we now have much more pro-nuclear policies.' But this comes after the sector fell out of fashion for several years in the wake of the Fukushima power station disaster in Japan in 2011. Watson said: 'After Fukushima it was easy to park it in the shade and ignore it, but as a result we've seen lots of underinvestment.' The world currently produces roughly as much uranium as is required for use. Ramping up this production by getting new mines and processing plants up and running will take time. Uranium sales are also what is known as a very 'tight' market where there is not much of the material available to trade. Robert Crayfourd, co-fund manager at the Geiger Counter Fund, said the disruption caused by the coup in Niger earlier this year tightened supply even further. Niger only produces 4 per cent of the world's uranium the most important producers are Kazakhstan, Namibia, Canada and Australia but it was an important supplier to France, a major producer of nuclear power. In the wake of this, Western utility companies have been even keener to pin down contracts to ensure they have access to uranium in the long term. This means there is even less to trade in the general, non-contracted market, known as the 'spot' market. It is this spot price that has ballooned. The UK will be drawn into the wider scramble to secure access to uranium, as the Government is convinced that nuclear energy will be crucial in the coming decades. Ministers are struggling to find finance for new projects such as Sizewell C power station on the Suffolk coast and there are efforts to set up a fleet of mini nuclear plants, known as small modular reactors. So is the rally likely to last? John Meyer, mining analyst at consultancy SP Angel, believes it will. Meyer said: 'We see prices potentially rising year-on-year for the next ten to 20 years, or until the world finds another source for large-scale uninterruptible baseload power with a low carbon footprint.' One of Switzerland's oldest private banks is to invest up to 200 million in British firms in a vote of confidence in the UK. Geneva-based Pictet is understood to be looking at companies in education and IT, as well as sectors such as facilities management dealing with the maintenance of offices and other buildings. Drawing a line: Pictet is to invest up to 200 million in British firms in a vote of confidence in the UK Founded in 1805, Pictet manages 572 billion of assets. Last week it announced it would inject millions into British office cleaning and maintenance group Pareto in its first private equity investment in the UK. London-based Pareto was founded in 2014 and made a profit of 2.1 million last year. Under the deal, it will receive up to 60 million from Pictet to extend its services and attract new clients in return for a controlling stake in the business. Edmund Buckley at Pictet said: 'Pareto is an exceptional business with a differentiated brand and high-quality service.' There are fears thousands of Ukrainian men and women are still being raped and tortured by Russian soldiers in occupied areas of Ukraine today Russian soldiers have raped and tortured men as well as women in Ukraine as a weapon of war to 'destroy' the population for generations to come, international activists and lawyers have revealed. Some Ukrainian men who were detained by Russian soldiers in the Kherson region were raped with sticks while others were tortured with electrical shocks to their genitals, experts say. The stigma surrounding wartime sexual violence and Ukraine's conservative society means it can be particularly challenging for male rape victims to report what happened to them. While there are hundreds of cases of Ukrainian women being raped by Russian soldiers as part of a pattern of systematic sexual violence since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, there is very little documentation of men being raped. But activists who help survivors of wartime sexual violence and torture say there are cases of both men and women having been abused by Russian soldiers. 'It's not just women who are being raped, we have cases with men as well,' says Anna Orel, a project coordinator at the Andreiev Family Foundation's Assisto project where she helps survivors of rape in Ukraine. 'In the Kherson region, there were men who were tortured with electrical shocks to their genitals,' Ms Orel tells MailOnline. 'They tortured them and raped them with sticks and other objects. We work with men but it's very complicated because they don't want to talk about what happened to them.' And there are fears that thousands of Ukrainians are still being raped and tortured by Russian soldiers in occupied areas of Ukraine. Ukrainian medics and psychologists from the Assisto project support a rape victim in Ukraine Rescuers work at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Novohrodivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine on November 30 It will only be when these areas are liberated by Ukrainian soldiers and Vladimir Putin's men are forced to retreat that the true scale of the horrors will be uncovered, international lawyers say. But they believe that the same war crimes to emerge from Bucha and Kherson after Russian soldiers retreated will be happening 'on a daily basis' in areas such as Mariupol, which has been under occupation for 19 months. 'Unfortunately, I think we are still only seeing the tip of the iceberg,' Yulia Gorbunova, a lawyer and senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, tells MailOnline. 'It's becoming increasingly difficult to get information out of these occupied areas like Mariupol but I do believe that the horrific abuses that we've seen before are still happening there on a daily basis and that we will find more and more evidence of war crimes going on.' There are fears that the number of victims could go into the thousands - and the longer Russian soldiers occupy cities, towns and villages, the more war crimes will be uncovered. 'I fear that there will be hundreds if not thousands more victims of torture and sexual violence that we will find once Russian soldiers are forced to retreat,' says Ms Orel. 'But because we can't reach the victims in these occupied areas, it's impossible to know the real number,' Ms Orel adds. Ukrainian lawyer Anna Mykytenko, who is assisting Ukraine's prosecutors, has the same fears. 'The longer Russian soldiers occupy an area, the more victims and crimes we will uncover,' she says. 'We can make an early assessment that there will be thousands of victims of war crimes and that's based on what happened in the Kyiv region, which was occupied for a month, and then what happened in the Kherson region,' Ms Myktenko, a lawyer at the international human rights law firm Global Rights Compliance, says. She says that there's no evidence to suggest that Russian soldiers will have stopped terrorising civilians and committing war crimes. 'There is no indicator that this could have been a possibility, and I believe the more territories to be liberated in the coming months, then the more crimes will be uncovered,' Ms Myktenko explains. Julian Elderfield, a human rights lawyer who travelled to Kyiv in late 2022 with Global Rights Compliance to support the Ukrainian prosecutor's office, agrees and says war crimes will still be being committed in occupied areas of Ukraine. 'I believe that these war crimes will be happening in other parts of Ukraine where Russia still has control,' Elderfield says. 'If Ukraine is able to liberate those areas and investigate those crimes, I believe they will find evidence of war crimes such as rape and torture. The numbers will probably be in the thousands.' But for now, it's impossible to know the full scale of the war crimes being committed against Ukrainian civilians by Russian soldiers in occupied areas. The testimonies of rape and torture victims reveal the harrowing experiences of those who were trapped under Russian occupation - and how wartime sexual violence is a tactic of war for Putin's men. A man inspects a flat damaged by recent shelling in Donetsk, Ukraine, on November 28 Karina, 22, (pictured) told MailOnline how a Russian soldier dragged her from her home and raped her in her neighbour's abandoned house Karina, 22, told MailOnline how a Russian soldier dragged her from her home and into her neighbour's abandoned house where he raped her at gunpoint. She had been 20 when Putin's men arrived in her village in huge tanks on March 8, 2022. Within minutes of arriving, they had terrorised the families who lived there, invaded their homes and stole from them. Karina, who worked as a medical worker at a hospital when the war broke out, recalls how on the third day furious Russian soldiers had gone house to house to seize their mobile phones and computers after Ukrainian artillery began firing at their positions. Karina, her voice now hushed, remembers how the Russian soldiers had forced their way into her home and shot at her boyfriend before they snatched their phones away from them. 'When the Ukrainian military began firing artillery at the Russians near our village, they blamed me and my boyfriend for giving away their positions,' Karina says. ''They shot at my boyfriend with a gun and missed him by inches to scare him.' 'The Russian soldiers took me out of my home and blamed me, they accused me of transferring data about their location to our Ukrainian military,' Karina says, recalling how one soldier began hauling her across the yard away from the other soldiers to her neighbour's abandoned home, not knowing what would happen to her. The soldier dragged her up to the small and dark attic before slamming the door behind them. 'I remember seeing used condoms strewn across the floor. I understood that I wasn't the first to be taken there,' Karina said. 'He pointed the gun at me and kept shouting at me that I'd been sending messages to the Ukrainian military about their location,' Karina says. 'He kept cocking the trigger and threatening to kill me. And then he pointed the gun at my head and told me to start to undress.' 'And then he raped me,' Karina says. 'After he was done, he said he would rape me again and that he would kill me if the shelling from the Ukrainian military started again.' 'I remember him saying with such hatred "I will kill you" if I told anybody - even other Russian soldiers - about how he had raped me. He said I must keep silent and not tell anybody.' But a defiant Karina did just that - she told her closest family and boyfriend about what the Russian soldier did to her. In the days that followed, Karina says she showed no emotion and felt numb. Another Ukrainian woman suffered a similar horrific fate. She was gang-raped by Russian soldiers at gunpoint in front of her six-year-old daughter before they subjected the little girl to the same horrific abuse. Russian soldiers also gang-raped a 22-year-old mother, sexually abused her husband and made the couple have sex in front of them before raping their four-year-old daughter in the Kyiv region. Two Russian snipers - Yevgeny Chernoknizhniy, 27, and Vadim Shakhmatov, 31, are accused of committing the horrific crimes against the family and are set to face trial in a Ukrainian court. A formal indictment has been sent by Ukrainian state prosecutors to the court and they will be tried - Shakhmatov in absentia and Chernoknizhniy posthumously after he died in the war - for multiple acts of rape and using sexual violence as a weapon of war. Another mother was raped by Russian soldiers while they forced her teenage son to watch - a common tactic by Putin's men to traumatise generations of Ukrainians - while one woman was raped for several hours by an officer after he dragged her to an abandoned classroom in Kharkiv. Two Russian snipers accused of gang raping a mother at gunpoint in front of her husband are to face trial in a Ukrainian court. 27-year-old Yevgeny Chernoknizhniy (left) will be tried posthumously, while 31-year-old Vadim Shakhmatov (right) will be tried in absentia While there are also reports of men being raped by Russian soldiers, experts suggest it is more common for them to be tortured while in detention. Often, the men are tortured with electrical shocks that are attached to their genitals. Ukrainians Roman and Olexiy told MailOnline how they were taken by Russian soldiers to a torture chamber in Kherson after they were caught putting Ukrainian flags along their street to mark Ukraine's Independence Day in August last year. For months, the two neighbours were beaten to within an inch of their lives, tortured with electrical shocks to their ears and genitals, waterboarded and had guns placed on their temples as part of mock executions. 'I can't even describe the pain. It's like nothing I've ever felt,' Roman said. 'I don't know how long the torture would go on for, time had no meaning then.' Ms Orel said she knew of other men who were tortured in Kherson. 'In one case, they put a Ukrainian man in a shower and started to torture him with electrical shocks to his genitals. They wanted him to suffer more with the water.' One woman was detained by the FSB in Kherson because they thought her husband was involved with Ukrainian forces. 'The Russian soldiers terrorised her and then they found her husband,' Ms Gorbunova says. 'The wife could hear her husband being beaten in the next room and she could hear him screaming in pain and begging them to stop.' Meanwhile, a UN report released last month revealed how former detainees, both men and women, had been threatened with rape and other forms of sexual violence. One young woman said that while she was being interrogated by a Russian soldier, he told her that if she didn't tell him the names of Ukrainians who were helping the army, he would bring 30 men in to rape her. One Ukrainian man, who was detained by Russian forces, said the soldiers threatened to throw him into a cell with regular prisoners who would rape him. Another said Russian soldiers threatened to cut his genitals off. Ms Orel says that this evidence of Russian brutality only adds to her fears that thousands more Ukrainians could be facing the same fate. 'I fear that there will be hundreds if not thousands more victims of torture and sexual violence that we will find once Russia are forced to retreat,' Ms Orel says. 'I fear this because it's the Russian way of war to behave with such brutality. They are worse than animals. They don't act like people, it's like they don't have children, they don't have families. They just want to destroy everything, anything with life.' If you are a victim of wartime sexual violence, you can contact Andreiev Family Foundation's anonymous hotline at 0800 300166 for help and support. If you have fled Ukraine, you can WhatsApp call on +38 067727 2185. It's the massacre of Australian wildlife no-one wants to talk about. But the reality is for every wind turbine that's built in Australia, there's a grim body count that follows. It's almost a contradiction in terms; wind is at the centre of Australia's optimistic goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. But the unique wildlife Australians hope to protect by reducing emission and thereby slowing global warming, including wedge-tail eagles, falcons, magpies and other birds and animals, are falling victim to wind farms throughout the nation every day. Meanwhile, other wind farms are being built in prime koala habitat, meaning some will starve and die. The detail comes from the reports of billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's Squadron Energy, the biggest provider of renewables in Australia, in which wild farm operators must provide the 'carcass reports' of dead wildlife. Squadron has a portfolio of 11 wind farms throughout Victoria and NSW, as well as the Clarke Creek site in Queensland, which is up to the second stage of development. And while the company has repeatedly expressed a commitment to protecting wildlife, compulsory carcass reports posted by each wind farm during the early stages of development indicate that is not always possible. The reality is for every wind turbine that's built in Australia, there's a grim body count that follows Squadron has a portfolio of 11 wind farms throughout Victoria and New South Wales , as well as the Clarke Creek site in Queensland (pictured), which is up to the second stage of development The carcasses of noble wedge-tailed eagles (pictured) and falcons have been found near wind turbines A biodiversity management plan for Clarke Creek notes the project may result in the destruction of up to 1,513 hectares of koala habitat. In addition to habitat loss, there have already been mass bird and bat casualties on these wind farms due to collisions with turbine blades and throughout vegetation clearing processes, and that number is only expected to rise further. Bango Wind Farm in south-west NSW detailed a carcass count from September 2022 to August 2023, during which six wedge-tailed eagles, one peregrine falcon, six magpies and 10 dead bats were found. And at Crudine Ridge Wind Farm, in northwest NSW, 19 dead bats were found, along with five wedge-tailed eagles, two falcons and five kestrels. Clarke Creek also had a 'fauna euthanasia' clause, which vividly detailed how 'blunt force trauma' should be administered to injured koalas which could not be saved. Squadron Energy said in a statement they have 'a zero-harm policy for native animals and holds itself to the highest environmental standards. 'No koala has been injured or killed during construction of the Clarke Creek Wind Farm and clearing for stage one is 60 per cent complete. Billionaire Andrew ' Twiggy ' Forrest is Australia's largest owner of renewable power projects - Squadron Energy 'We have experienced wildlife officers on site who conduct assessments 24 hours before work starts and monitor and supervise work as it occurs, to prevent injury to fauna. They are qualified to respond to fauna encounters and relocate animals if required. 'In the unlikely event of injuryany animals encountered must be assessed for injury to determine whether the animal requires further treatment and care by a vet or wildlife carer.' The biodiversity management report details how 'euthanasia' should be carried out using 'blunt force trauma' when a dying animal can't be saved. 'This is a hard, sharp blow to the base of the back of the skull with a blunt metal or heavy wooden bar,' the report stated. The report was written prior to March 2022, when Mr Forrest's Squadron Energy acquired the project, and was signed off by the then Coalition government, under Scott Morrison. Australians were horrified by revelations that Clarke Creek also had a 'fauna euthanasia' clause which vividly detailed how 'blunt force trauma' should be administered to injured koalas which could not be saved Bango Wind Farm in south-west NSW detailed a carcass count from September 2022 to August 2023, during which six wedge-tailed eagles (stock image pictured), one peregrine falcon, six magpies and 10 bat species' corpses were found Michelle Landry, the Liberal Party MP for Central Queensland electorate Capricornia, said she was 'horrified' by the Clarke Creek Wind Farm proposal. '203 animal species have been identified in the region where these wind farms are being constructed. It is prime habitat for Koalas, Greater Gliders and Squatter Pigeon.' She described the fauna euthanasia clause as 'absolutely sickening'. Ms Landry said local grazier Glen Kelly warned 'there is going to be dozens upon dozens of animals killed and maimed in this process'. 'There is areas in the region where there is cleared land. Why is this not used instead of knocking down the habitat of our native animals?,' he argued. Squadron has committed to providing a third of the clean energy the Labor government needs to hit the targeted 82 per cent renewables on the grid by 2030. Australia has committed to growing its renewable energy sector, with more than 300 wind farm projects currently operating, under construction or proposed throughout the nation, according to the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner. Meanwhile the Coalition advocates an 'all of the above' approach which would combine the use of small doses of nuclear alongside renewable energy, to keep prices down. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is expected to take a nuclear energy policy to the next election. Just last week, Energy Minister Chris Bowen slammed the nuclear proposal as 'a fantasy wrapped in a delusion, accompanied by a pipe dream'. He said nuclear energy 'would not move the dial at all' on transitioning to renewables and described the support from the Coalition as 'an attempt at a distraction'. It was the winter of 2020 when an acquaintance arrived unannounced at Helen Mort's door telling the mom-of-one he had made a grim discovery. This man who Helen has chosen not to identify had found dozens of graphic images of her plastered on a porn site. Some depicted obscene and violent sex acts. They had been online for over a year. 'At first it didn't really compute,' Helen, now 38, tells DailyMail.com. 'How could I be on this website? I'd never taken a nude image of myself?' Then it became clear: She was the victim of a deepfake porn attack. Her keyboard perpetrator had pilfered images from her social media accounts and used artificial intelligence (AI) and other sophisticated computer software to transpose her face onto the bodies of porn actresses. Some pictures were so realistic the untrained eye wouldn't be able to pick them out as fake. In one, Helen's face is seen smiling the original photo had been taken on vacation in Ibiza but was now stitched onto the body of a naked woman down on all fours and being strangled by a man. It was the winter of 2020 when an acquaintance arrived unannounced at Helen Mort's door telling the mom-of-one he had made a grim discovery. This man had found dozens of graphic images of her plastered on a porn site. Some depicted obscene and violent sex acts. They had been online for over a year. 'I felt violated and ashamed,' she says. 'I was shouting, "why would somebody do that? What have I done to deserve it?"' Next to the vile cache, was a message: 'This is my blonde girlfriend Helen, I want to see her humiliated, broken and abused.' However, she says she knew instinctively that her boyfriend, the father of her toddler son, was not to blame. What she couldn't work out was why she had been targeted. 'I thought this was something that only happened to celebrities,' she says. 'I'm a nobody. Clearly somebody had a vendetta against me.' Helen works as poet and part-time university lecturer in creative writing, living in Sheffield, in the UK. Victim: Helen Mort Three years on, though the pictures have since disappeared online, the identity of her abuser remains a mystery. But not for want of trying. Helen contacted the British police immediately but was eventually told there was nothing they could do. Since the images were faked, her case did not constitute a 'revenge porn' crime. The law here in the US is the same at a federal level. 'I had really bad nightmares for quite a while, and I was just generally very on edge,' she said. 'Your mind goes into overdrive and you think, 'If somebody put all this time into doing that, what else would they do?' Unfortunately, Helen's case is far from isolated and adds a grim thread to a wider tapestry of growing online depravity. As computing power in personal mobile phones and the capabilities of AI technology have advanced at pace, the emergence of deepfake content has taken many by surprise. Readers will likely recall recent faked videos or pictures of politicians and celebrities that have gone viral from President Biden transformed into a Bud Light-drinking Dylan Mulvaney, to the Pope fashioned in a chic white puffer jacket. The darker side of this deepfake dawn is pornographic. Shockingly, porn makes up 98 per cent of all deepfakes, according to a recent report by security firm Home Security Heroes. Much of that content involves celebrities. Indeed, the sick phenomenon appears to have been 'born' back in 2017 when a Reddit user uploaded lewd though rather rudimentary images and videos using the faces of Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence and other female A-listers. The Reddit user posted under the name 'DeepFake'. As computing power in personal mobile phones and the capabilities of AI technology have advanced at pace, the emergence of deepfake content has taken many by surprise. Readers will likely recall recent faked videos or pictures of politicians and celebrities that have gone viral including the Pope fashioned in a chic white puffer jacket. Porn makes up 98 per cent of all deepfakes. Much of that content involves celebrities. Indeed, the sick phenomenon appears to have been 'born' back in 2017 when a Reddit user uploaded lewd images and videos using the faces of Emma Watson (right), Jennifer Lawrence (left) and other female A-listers. The Reddit user posted under the name 'DeepFake'. The practice gained popularity fast, with the required technology moving from being the remit of professional photography editors to becoming widely available in just a few years. Now, countless applications and websites exist for users to tweak, polish and yes generate entirely fake imagery at the touch of a button. Deepfakes expert and visiting researcher at Cambridge University Henry Ajder told DailyMail.com there are two main types of tool. Most common are the so-called 'face-swapping' apps easily accessible on Apple and Android app stores which can graft faces onto existing pornographic images and videos. One of the most popular apps, 'Reface', boasts a 'community of over 150 creators around the world' who create 'stunningly realistic' images. Apple gives the app a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Deepfakes expert Henry Ajder 'Lifetime' access costs as little as $32.99. On this type of app, 'stills' are relatively easy to create needing only one image of a desired face to be pasted into place. Videos, meanwhile, require the analysis of hundreds of photos of a subject at different angles, to allow for a face to be rendered as if it were moving in a recording. Terrifyingly, however, thanks to the proliferation of social media, many of us now have just such a collection of images readily available online. A single 15-second Instagram story, for example, contains 450 individual 'frames' which is more than enough to generate a convincing video. The second and more advanced type of deepfake tools involve AI. These don't use existing porn clips, but instead create computer-generated and ultra-convincing nude bodies under a chosen face. They often work by approximating what genitals would look like based on the curves and shape of a clothed body. One website called 'DeepNude' boasts that you can: 'See any girl clothless [sic] with the click of a button.' A 'standard' package on 'DeepNude' allows you to generate 100 images per month for $29.95, while $99 will get you a 'premium' of 420. Disturbingly, most of these AI tools do not work on images of men. In fact, when the news website Vice tested one app by uploading a picture of a man, his underwear was replaced with female genitalia. One website called 'DeepNude' boasts that you can: 'See any girl clothless [sic] with the click of a button.' A 'standard' package on 'DeepNude' allows you to generate 100 images per month for $29.95, while $99 will get you a 'premium' of 420. As for disseminating these 'creations'. Deepfake porn is already a massive industry with entire dedicated and seemingly unregulated sites. A recent investigation by tech magazine Wired estimated that some 250,000 deepfake videos and images exist online currently across 30 main websites. Though experts say that is a very conservative estimate. Of that figure, 113,000 were uploaded in the first nine months of this year alone proof, if any were needed, of how new and fast-growing this phenomenon is. The associated problems are already being made particularly apparent among the younger, school-aged generation, raised on free and easy-to-access porn. In October, male students at a New Jersey high school were caught sharing AI-generated nudes featuring the faces of their female classmates, some as young as 14-years-old. 'We're aware that there are creepy guys out there,' said one victim, 'but you'd never think one of your classmates would violate you like this.' However, the problem is that deepfakes created by people who know their victims are becoming increasingly prevalent. As expert Henry Adjer explained, 'previously, you would have to have had intimate experience with a person to capture that content. Now, you don't if you've got access to their social media profiles [as many classmates or colleagues do], and there's lots of pictures of them on there [that's all you need].' The ramifications can be life shattering. Even low quality and 'obvious' deepfakes are enough to cause serious damage. 'It doesn't have to be something that people think is real for it to be traumatic and humiliating,' Adjer says. Noelle Martin, from Australia, was just 17 when she discovered hundreds of deepfake pornographic pictures of her online after innocently Googling her name in 2012. On some sites, comments below the images revealed intimate details of her life. One stated who her childhood best friend was another printed Noelle's home address. Frightened and not knowing what to do, Noelle only told a few close friends at first. She later went to the police and even hired a private investigator. But each time she confronted the same frustrating answer: there were no specific laws against this kind of abuse. Noelle Martin, from Australia, was just 17 when she discovered hundreds of deepfake pornographic pictures of her online after innocently Googling her name in 2012. On some sites, comments below the images revealed intimate details of her life. One stated who her childhood best friend was another printed Noelle's home address. Frightened and not knowing what to do, Noelle only told a few close friends at first. 'For the first few years, I did everything to get rid of them,' she says. 'I'd made fake accounts to confront the perpetrators directly, only to be met with comments like, 'it's supposed to be a compliment', 'we're just men being men, what did you expect?'.' Then in 2018, things got worse when Noelle then 23 received an email from an unknown address with a link to a porn site containing deepfake videos of 'her' having sex. 'I watched as my eyes connected with the camera,' she says. 'It was convincing even to me.' It took Martin a year to tell her parents who are conservative Indian-Catholics and since then they have 'barely discussed it', she says. They urged her not to speak out publicly - but Noelle eventually decided she must: 'This meant that when I did come forward, I had to stand alone.' To this day, over a decade since the deepfakes first started to appear online, she is still battling to have them removed. '[I'm] living a lifelong sentence,' she says. 'The harm of these deepfakes is the flow-on effect into your whole life: your employability, your interpersonal relationships, your romantic relationships, your economic opportunities.' She likened the fight to get the abusive content taken offline to a game of Whac-A-Mole for every image or video she gets deleted, a new one pops up on a different site. As of now, Google has a process for people to submit 'removal requests' for certain links to be deleted from search lists. However, it can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. The route to legal recourse is also fraught with difficulty. A loophole in the 1996 Communications Decency Act says that US websites are not liable for third-party content, which means they are not obliged to remove even the most offensive deep fakes. Nor are they incentivized to do so in fact, more extreme content means more clicks, which means more money. Currently, there is no federal mandate that bans the creation or distribution of deepfake pornography. Twelve states including California, New York, Texas and Virginia have passed early-stage regulations against deepfakes. Some of these allow for victims to press criminal charges, others only allow for civil cases to be brought. Ajder fears that the problem isn't going to go away until we see meaningful action from all involved parties from legislators to the likes of Google and Apple. One big legal sticking point is determining which party is to be held liable. Should it just be the creator? The website? The apps and tools that are used to make the deepfakes? Even the search engines that direct sex-starved voyeurs to such content? Many experts are now calling on search engines like Google in particular to banish these harmful sites. Between July 2020 and July 2023 monthly traffic to the top 20 deepfake sites increased 285 per cent, according to internet analytics firm SimilarWeb. A spokesperson for Google told DailyMail.com: 'Like any search engine, Google indexes content that exists on the web, but we actively design our ranking systems to avoid shocking people with unexpected harmful or explicit content they don't want to see. 'As this space evolves, we're in the process of building more expansive safeguards, with a particular focus on removing the need for known victims to request content removals one-by-one.' In October, the US government introduced a bipartisan bill, titled the 'No Fakes' Act that would hold people, companies and platforms liable for producing or hosting deepfakes. Whether or not the bill will actually pass into effect, however, remains to be seen. And in the meantime, deepfake victims are left to pick up the pieces themselves. Helen doesn't devote much time to wondering who her abuser could be. 'I just don't know and I'll never know,' she says. 'One of the reasons that I felt strongly about speaking about this is that I want other people to know that if it happens to them, they shouldn't feel ashamed.' Noelle, meanwhile, is now a lawyer who has successfully campaigned for laws criminalizing image-based abuse in Australia. A triumph, certainly. But it has come at a cost. 'I actually think it's just caused me more pain than it has given me strength or resilience,' she says. 'It really has almost destroyed me.' EXCLUSIVE Ten news reporter Tegan George was left suicidal and turned to alcohol after she was traumatised by the devastating 2019/20 bushfires, new court documents allege. The former Canberra political reporter said she was haunted by the harrowing scenes she saw while covering the catastrophic fires around the NSW south coast for Ten. She said she suffered PTSD and nightmares after seeing apocalyptic scenes of dead livestock killed in the blazes and terrified families fighting for their lives and homes. One panic-stricken local even threatened to start shooting at others during a row over fuel as they desperately tried to escape the flames, court documents reveal. George alleged she was 'required' to file a distressing report on a father and son who tragically died while trying to protect their dairy farm from fire. Former Canberra political reporter Tegan George says she is haunted by the harrowing scenes she saw while covering the catastrophic fires around the NSW south coast But George said TV bosses still ordered her to drive into danger zones at the height of the fire crisis despite safety fears and ash falling from the black skies above her. She claims that she and a colleague ignored an instruction from Canberra news chiefs to drive into Bermagui which had already been evacuated after fire circled it. But they still had to dodge flames by zigzagging through remote backroads to try to reach safety - and never knew if they were driving into an inferno, she alleged. George, 38, is now suing for personal injury caused by Ten's alleged negligence and breach of duty of care in a fresh legal action in ACT Supreme Court against the network. She filed another lawsuit in the Federal Court in February 2022 claiming Ten's former political editor Peter van Onselen, 47, sabotaged her career and tried to make a star out of another reporter to 'get back' at her. Dr van Onselen is one of several senior employees named in that lawsuit, which alleges Ten failed to provide a safe working environment for her at the Canberra bureau. He is named again in the latest legal action, which was launched in March this year with an updated statement of claim made in October which links the two cases. Dr van Onselen is understood to have been working in Melbourne for The Project prior to going on leave over Christmas and played no part in Ten's bushfire coverage. George said the trauma of the bushfires in Bega, Bermagui, Merimbula and Cobargo which she covered between January 1-5 in 2020 wrecked her mental health and career. Her claim against Ten said the trauma left her 'intermittently incapacitated for work from February 27, 2020 and then totally incapacitated for work since June 7, 2021'. It alleges the experience left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse/dependence. George - who is still employed by Ten but has been on sick leave for more than two years - said she now suffers panic attacks and suicidal thoughts and has had to be admitted to full-time psychiatric care. Tegan George says she suffered PTSD and nightmares after seeing apocalyptic scenes of dead livestock killed in the blazes and terrified families fighting for their lives and homes Ten news reporter Tegan George was left suicidal and turned to booze after she was traumatised by the devastating 2019/20 bushfires , new court documents allege George alleged TV bosses ordered her to drive into danger zones at the height of the fire crisis despite safety fears and ash falling from the black skies above her She still suffers 'distressing dreams' about the bushfires and is haunted by the memories of the suffering she witnessed and what she went through personally. Her legal action says she can't sleep as a result, struggles to concentrate or focus her attention, and has 'numbness on the left hand side of her body'. She is still unable to work, the court documents say, and she has 'feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness'. She has 'reduced energy, motivation and interest and engagement in enjoyable activities', the court documents allege, and suffers headaches and jaw pain. George needs to take several drugs, including 'increased dosage' of antidepressants fluoxetine and venlafaxine, tranquilliser diazepam and the anti-panic attack/PTSD drug Sertraline. The legal action claims Ten ignored George's symptoms of 'psychological disturbance' and failed to protect her against criticism of her work by Dr van Onselen and former executive editor Anthony Murdoch. George also alleged her sick leave triggered by the trauma was questioned by the TV station's network news content editor, Ross Dagan. She claimed was put under pressure to become involved 'against her will' in a workplace action against a colleague. She said Ten failed in its duty of care to her by not giving her bushfire training in advance of being sent out to cover the blazes, failing to minimise the risk of injury and failing to identify the risk to her health and safety. 'A reasonable person would have seen a person of normal fortitude might suffer a recognised psychiatric illness if reasonable care was not taken,' alleges the lawsuit. 'But for the [trauma], she would not have developed the psychological response to subsequent workplace events that she ultimately did - which culminated in her being incapacitated for work on June 7, 2021.' Tegan George says the trauma of the bushfires in Bega, Bermagui, Merimbula and Cobargo which she covered between January 1-5 in 2020 wrecked her mental health and career She and a colleague had to dodge flames by zigzagging through remote backroads to try to reach safety - and never knew if they were driving into an inferno, she alleges Tegan George's lawsuit alleges the experience left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse/dependence Ten's formal defence denies all allegations of negligence and says George's claim relies on the 'benefit of hindsight'. It adds: 'No contemporaneous "warning signs" were reasonably apparent to the defendant.' The bushfires lawsuit against Ten has been filed through Sneddon Hall & Gallop Lawyers in Canberra, a different law firm from George's earlier legal action against Ten, which is being pursued by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. A spokesman for Ms George told Daily Mail Australia it was the latest attempt by her to expose 'the horrible way' Ten allegedly treats its staff. 'Both legal cases have caused Ms George considerable stress and ill health,' said a Maurice Blackburn spokesman. 'She is determined to continue both cases to expose the horrible way Network Ten treats its staff, particularly female journalists, and to expose how it has allowed a work place culture that is hostile and toxic towards women.' Ten responded to the new claim by Ms George by insisting that staff were supported by the TV network. 'Supporting our staffs wellbeing and ensuring a safe working environment is a key priority for Network 10,' said a spokesman. 'We offer a comprehensive employee assistance scheme and bespoke health and wellbeing services for news staff who require additional support, including for dangerous and affecting environments. 'We work very hard across our entire business to ensure we have supportive work environments.' Mbabane FESBC has an MoU with ERS that seeks to assist local private companies to get out of tax debts. It also assists the companies on how to honour tax obligations. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has helped companies struggling to pay tax to access options for tax relief or programmes to reduce debt. This was confirmed by both Vusi Norman Dlamini, the Director Marketing Communications at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) and Mavela Sigwane, the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC). The ERS-FESBC relationship is two years old. Sigwane said the terms of references for MoU has three main concentrations: * Creating easiness to comply with tax obligations; * Making it easy for ERS to collect tax; * Looking into tax debts incurred by private companies. He said they looked at the financial situation of a business to assess affordability to pay the debt. Sigwane mentioned that it happened in the past, where a company would owe E2 million in taxes, but need the capacity to pay E1 million to reduce the debt. He said it was better for ERS to negotiate a win-win settlement, which, perhaps, entailed taking the E1 million and writing off the balance. than to lose all Sigwane said it was better to take the E1 million than to lose the whole E2 million. The business transformation manager said it was possible that some companies owed taxes because government did not pay them. He urged directors to join FESBC, as it was difficult for them to work in silos or shout in the wilderness. He advised them to join the federation. Sigwane made it clear though that FESBC assisted even non-members. He said they had two types of members: registered and non-registered members. Sigwane said it was pointless for companies to close down because they owed tax. He said it might happen that the debt was on company tax yet the business honoured Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes. If the company closes down, he said, ERS only lost revenue that was derived from PAYE. He said it was for this reason that FESBCs relationship with ERS was crucial. We are not saying people must not pay tax. We are saying to them we can pay tax. But come to us when you face difficulties, he said. Sigwane said they have helped many small and medium businesses in the country. He mentioned that FESBC held a Vusumnotfo Expo every year. Vusumnotfo means resuscitate the economy. He explained that the expo formed part of the business healing process. Sigwane said it was beneficial to businesses. He disclosed that FESBC had access to funding to assist people with viable business ideas. Vusi Dlamini, ERSs Director Marketing Communication, said the public entity has a programme styled Sondzela Sikhulume (come closer so that we can talk). He said this programme helped a lot of Eswatini businesses. Dlamini said business owners should not hide or run away from ERS, as it was also a key stakeholder, a partner in developing the economy of the country. Sanele Mashwama, the ex-Managing Director of liquidated Pots Construction, lamented how his company, which had employed 270 people ceased to operate against his will. invaded his company Mashwama said ERS officers accompanied by armed police invaded his company head office and took everything that was inside, including computers which contained sensitive and vital information for the business. The businessman said he would never forget the day when he had to tell his employees that he was liquidating the business. Police and ERS ordered us out of the offices, he narrated. I feel like I have been castrated. He said he tried everything in his powers to save his business and jobs but failed. I wrote several letters to ERS explaining that we were incapacitated in 2013 to have all audited statements in place but we wanted to cooperate, he said. He said they appealed to the minister and did everything possible to survive in the construction industry, where his company had made its name. Reacting to this predicament, Sigwane said they wanted to approach Mashwama as part of their programme to transform businesses and heal directors with broken hearts. He said there was still a lot that Pots Construction could offer to the construction space. Despite that the company was liquidated, he said there was an alternative, insisting that there was a way out. He said they would find some means to get hold of Mashwama as his story is a painful one. Last week, this publication reported that government has written off a tax debt for the Eswatini Television Authority (ESTVA) amounting to E113 million. The decision was reportedly sanctioned by the Ministry of Finance. ESTVA owed the ERS in PAYE. It could not be ascertained whether management has been deducting money from salaries from staff to honour the PAYE tax obligations but ended up not remitting it. taxation obligation However, records indicated that employees were not honouring statutory taxation obligation as the employer was not remitting the money to the ERS. It must be said that it is the responsibility of the employer to remit the taxes to ERS in terms of the tax laws. ERS is under the Ministry of Finance. Nation Debtline says if a creditor writes off a debt, it means that no further payments are due. In addition: the balance should be set to zero on credit reference agency reports; the debt will be registered as a default on credit reference agency reports. Sources said ESTVA appeared to have benefited from spillovers arising from the positive outcome of the negotiations on the University of Eswatinis (UNESWA) request for debt relief. Arguably, the university is the first institution or entity to receive a huge PAYE debt relief. A total of E1.36 billion in respect of PAYE arrears was written off in March 2023. This write-off has seen a decline in current liabilities from E1.36 billion to E494.67 million by March 31, 2023. On the other hand, it has reported that ESTVA, a taxpayer-funded public enterprise, had debts amounting to E160.7 million by December 2022. The debts included outstanding statutory remittances and sundry creditors for the Authoritys operations. Legendary retired NYPD detective Frank Serpico claims police officials have purged secret files from his record that could have finally revealed whether he was set up during a drug bust gone wrong 52 years ago. Now 87, Serpico blew the whistle on widespread police corruption involving gambling and narcotics in the 1960s and 1970s. he has waited five decades to get his hands on his files. Five months ago, he filed a Freedom of Information request where he sought internal files surrounding his police career. What he got back was 20,000 pages of never-before-released documents dating back to the 1960s. But the documents related to the near-fatal on-duty shooting - memorialized in an Oscar-nominated film Serpico starring Al Pacino - have vanished from his dossier without a trace. 'My files were purged,' Serpico told DailyMail.com. 'I got 11 boxes of b******t and the essential stuff wasn't there. They didn't 'lose' anything. The important stuff had to have been intentionally expunged. Anything that shows how I was left to die is missing.' A NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com that they had provided files to Serpico, saying: 'Pursuant to a request, the NYPD provided all available documentation following an extensive search which was conducted over the course of several months. 'The information provided included more than 20,000 pages of materials dating back more than fifty years.' Legendary retired NYPD detective Frank Serpico claims police officials have purged secret files from his record that could lift the lid on what really happened on the night he was nearly shot dead in a drug bust gone wrong 52 years ago. He told DailyMail.com that his files had been purged by police officials Serpico, pictured with his lawyer during a 1971 commission into police corruption, was reviled by the NYPD's stodgy old guard for his bohemian ways Serpico was nearly shot dead in a drug bust gone wrong in 1971. The harrowing night was later turned into a biographical film starring Al Pacino in 1973 (pictured). But, the retired NYPD whistleblower insists that the events that unfolded the night he was shot remain murky Serpico told DailyMail.com that when he confronted an NYPD lawyer about the missing files, he was told, 'these things happen'. In a series of interviews with DailyMail.com last month in a small New York hamlet, not far from his home outside Albany, Serpico angrily lashed out at the NYPD. He insisted that the document dump was evidence of the agency's willingness to engage in a cynical cover-up designed to hide embarrassing truths from both him and the public. Serpico, who was once reviled by the NYPD's stodgy old guard for his bohemian ways his long hair, beard, gold earring, leather sandals, a fondness for opera and a bachelor's pad in Greenwich Village where he entertained stewardess girlfriends remains the embodiment of anti-establishment cool. During this interview, he was alternately buoyant, incensed, aggrieved, profane and ribald. He offered unfiltered and animated rants, sometimes vilifying particular individuals whom he felt had betrayed him, irked him, belittled him or otherwise failed to appreciate his sacrifices. His biggest gripe, however, lay with the missing documents. 'There's boxes of stuff we know from the 1971 Knapp Commission,' he railed, referring to the investigative body NYC Mayor John Lindsay created in response to Serpico's shocking disclosures about crooked cops being the rule rather than the exception, 'but nothing to do with me being shot'. 'Anything related to the shooting is not there. They just made it disappear, like it didn't happen.' The documents were released in response to a May 18 letter drafted by Serpico's attorney, Peter Gleason, asking former Commissioner Keechat Sewell to make available 'Serpico's employment file, which includes but is not limited to Serpico's personnel file [and] Serpico's medical records.' The NYPD provided Internal Affairs files, police and court memoranda on a thumb drive. The drive contains 11 individual 'boxes' of documents, each box containing approximately 2,000 pages, NYPD officials wrote to Gleason. Serpico, pictured in 1974, blew the whistle on police corruption before he was nearly shot dead. He maintains that he was set up on that fateful night Gleason likened the bowdlerized files to a bad joke. 'Sometimes what is missing is more compelling than what is present. Such is the case with NYPD internal affairs file that contained nothing of the attempted murder of Frank Serpico,' Gleason said. 'Many in law enforcement are still perplexed by the official narrative of the Serpico shooting. The NYPD and the Brooklyn District Attorney's office have an obligation and a duty to correct the record.' The trove of documents include once-confidential intelligence reports analyzing the policy, or 'numbers business' and profiles of criminals in that arena, such as the late Genovese underboss Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno and Raymond 'Spanish Raymond' Marques. There are newspaper clippings, photographs, copies of handwritten notes; transcripts of grand jury testimony and depositions of cops who were then being probed for suspected corruption. But missing is anything that pulls back the curtain on the February 3, 1971 shooting that nearly cost Serpico his life. That botched police operation was dramatically captured in the 1973 movie 'Serpico' that won Academy Award nominations for Al Pacino, playing Serpico, and director Sydney Lumet. It was based on the book written by author Peter Maas. Prior to the shooting, Serpico had received a series of death threats. As far back as April 1966, NYPD records show, he reported a $300 cash bribe, purportedly on behalf of a prominent Brooklyn gambler. He had also testified against former police colleagues in The Bronx accused of accepting monthly payoffs from gamblers. More than a dozen were charged with perjury and other offenses. Some were fired or retired abruptly; others went to prison. Serpico's paranoia might sound excessive, but his refusal to accept any graft and his demonstrated fearlessness in willingly testifying against cops who did made him a likely target for retribution. 'It is no coincidence he wound up on the wrong side of a would-be assassin's gun,' said Gleason, who is a former NYPD cop. Late former NYPD Police Commissioner Patrick V Murphy wrote in a 1978 book, 'I do not believe Serpico was set up, and even more, I do not believe that Serpico believes it either.' Serpico railed against his former boss, telling DailyMail.com: 'How the hell would he know what I thought? He never once asked me what I was thinking' Serpico's brush with death unfolded when he and two cops assigned to a narcotics unit Patrolmen Gary Roteman and Arthur Cesare converged outside apartment 3G at 778 Driggs Avenue, in Williamsburg, to bust suspected heroin dealer, Edgar 'Mambo' Echevarria, 25. The plan was for Serpico to get Echevarria to open the door so he might purchase some heroin, thereby allowing his partners to rush in and grab up the suspect. 'My partners said, 'Just get the door open and leave the rest to us,' Serpico recalled. During his struggle to get the door open, Serpico had to fire his gun and wounded Echevarria in his hand. But Echevarria, hiding behind the apartment front door, fired his own .22 caliber gun. A slug tore through Serpico's face and damaged his auditory nerve, leaving him deaf in his left ear. At Greenpoint Hospital, he was given the last rites by a Catholic priest. Echevarria was able to flee through a rear fire escape, stealing Serpico's .38 caliber snub-nosed revolver. He was captured after another off-duty cop, Patrolman Maxwell Katz, shot Echevarria in the stomach. Fifteen months later, Echevarria was convicted of attempted murder and related crimes. He was sentenced to 15 years-to-life, paroled on June 18, 1990 and is presumed dead. In December 1971, nine months after he was shot, Serpico provided riveting televised testimony before the Knapp Commission, detailing the anguish honest cops were made to feel for refusing to accept bribes or petty gratuities, whether from hardened criminals or ordinary businessmen. Serpico found several troubling inconsistences in his shooting he hoped the new NYPD files might illuminate. He said his partners failed to share a key detail with him beforehand, including how Echevarria was thought to be 'armed and dangerous'. 'I knew how dangerous [undercover work] was because that was my business. But not being forewarned that he was armed and dangerous removes all doubt that I was put in harm's way,' he said Serpico said he believes his partners were slow to rush to the apartment door before he was wounded. He also suspects his back-ups failed to get him prompt medical assistance. Following the shooting, the NYPD announced how both Cesare and Roteman fired their guns at Echevarria, although Serpico has no such recollection and remains dubious. Serpico questioned why an emergency telephone call made from a neighbor's phone after he'd been shot was mistakenly transmitted as a '10-10,' or 'shots fired,' rather than a '10-13,' the more serious code for 'officer down' and in need of assistance. As a result, only one police car initially showed up at the scene, whose driver rushed him to the hospital before an ambulance showed up. Cesare, in a 2013 self-published book, 'Iron Men in Blue,' contradicted several of Serpico's assertions. Serpico insists that the documents he received from NYPD was evidence of the agency's willingness to engage in a cynical cover-up designed to hide embarrasing truths from both him and the public. He obtained a copy of a two-page detective report years ago that details the arrest of the man who shot him during a 1971 drug bust, but the document is missing from his official files He wrote that he stormed the door and broke the chain lock to the apartment single-handedly something Serpcio insists he did first. 'I rushed towards the door and tried to push it open, striking the door just above Frank's head,' Cesare wrote. 'The chain holding the door to the door jamb broke away. Gary [Patrolman Gary Roteman] hit the door to my left. The door was halfway open, but we couldn't gain entry. 'Gary said, 'I'm going to get a running start,' so I stepped back from the door. At that moment,' Cesare added, 'someone came running out from inside the apartment. A shot rang out and Frank slumped to the floor.' Serpico obtained a copy of a two-page detective report years ago that details Echevarria's arrest, but the document is missing from the new files. The lack of such data makes it impossible to determine if any cops were questioned about what went wrong, or if anyone was disciplined. There were, for instance, no ballistic reports in the trove of released material proving Cesare and Roteman actually fired their weapons. Al Pacino, who starred as Frank Serpico in a film based on the botched drug bust, is seen in a scene reenacting the scene where the famed cop hides in the hallway before being shot Cesare passed away in 2020, according to records and Roteman could not be reached for comments. Both patrolmen were awarded commendations just two months after the shooting. Serpico meanwhile waited five decades to receive the full recognition he deserved. It was not until February 2022 that he was awarded the NYPD Medal of Honor, the department's highest recognition for valor, along with a certificate, after NYC Mayor Eric Adams stepped in. Serpico reserved his harshest vituperation for late former NYPD Police Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy, who wrote in his 1978 book, A View From the Top of American Law Enforcement, that, 'I do not believe Serpico was set up, and even more, I do not believe that Serpico believes it either.' 'How the hell would he know what I thought? He was the police commissioner and I was a lowly patrolman. He never once asked me what I was thinking,' Serpico railed. But locals near the scenic Loch Linnhe in Argyll, Scotland, are fighting back Millions of fish could be introduced into a picturesque Scottish loch to transform it into an industrial salmon farm - sparking fears it will kill wildlife and pollute the water. The scheme to create Scotland's first semi-closed salmon farm at Loch Linnhe, near Fort William in the west of Scotland, are being slammed by locals as 'ludicrous'. Fish farming company Loch Long Salmon is making its second attempt at an experimental fish farm after its first application was rejected at Loch Long in Argyll. After the planning authority refused the plans for the farm - which is currently under appeal - the company is now trying to put it just three hours up the coast at Loch Linnhe instead - a beautiful stretch of water near Ben Nevis. But the locals say it will cause 'irreversible damage' to the natural beauty of the area as the farm will require an industrial site set up on the shoreline, with an office, silos, car park and a mortality handling station. Calling the farm an 'act of vandalism', nature-lovers are also concerned that urine from the 8,000 tonnes of fish - the equivalent weight of 11,000 live cows - will lead to the marine life dying, with one saying 'all this life will die - they don't stand a chance'. An aerial image of Loch Linnhe in summer in the Argyll region of Scotland Plans to create 'Scotland's largest fish farm' at a popular scenic spot are being fought by outraged locals who have labelled it as 'ludicrous'. Credit: Jane Hartnell-Beavis Wild swimmers who love to visit the loch have also slammed the plans, saying the industrial farm will ruin the 'tranquillity' and put people off swimming. Credit: Long Live Loch Linnhe But the locals are concerned about 'irreversible damage' to the natural beauty of the area and have called the venture an 'enormous gamble'. Credit: Long Live Loch Linnhe Loch Long Salmon is proposing eight 'semi-closed' 50-metre fish pens, which would each hold thousands of fish and would need a large shoreside installation running 24 hours a day. The new farms differ from the standard open-net farms in that a bag separates the salmon from the sea. Water is pumped in from below the pen, and solid waste, which gathers at its base, is collected, brought ashore and treated. It says this method of farming excludes sea-lice, catches organic waste and improves the 'health and welfare of the farmed stock'. Scottish salmon farming is suffering massive mortalities - with 17 million last year - and some hope this new method is the solution. In 2021, the company applied for permission for the farm to be at Loch Long, near Beinn Reithe. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency granted them a permit for the farm, but the Board of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park refused planning permission - stating that Loch Long Salmon 'fails to recognise the value of this nationally important landscape'. Now the company is applying for permission to put the farm a three-hour drive away at a different loch, enraging a new band of locals, fearful their own beauty spot will become a 'test bed'. It has run five community consultations regarding the proposal to submit a planning application for the salmon farm, but locals have banded together and say they are going to launch a petition with the Scottish Parliament to oppose it. A diagram of the semi-closed technology by FiiZK which Long Loch Salmon wants to use in its fish farms. Credit: FiiZK An artist's impression of the proposed farm at Loch Long, which is at a smaller scale than the one proposed for Loch Linnhe. Credit: Loch Long Salmon An illustration of the site plan for the proposed farm at Loch Long. Credit: Loch Long Salmon According to plans submitted for a scoping request into the project, the site on the shore of Loch Linnhe would include: A building including an office, workshop, sleeping quarters and storage areas A car park for staff vehicles A new access road and junction from the A828 Up to eight feed silos with a maximum height of 10m A water treatment plant including wastewater storage tank with a height of 13m Mortality handling station including ensilage and/or incineration Diesel driven electrical generators to provide independent back-up power and diesel storage tanks The initial plans say the construction phase would take place over 18 months. The scoping application also says the farm has the 'potential to lead to disturbance, displacement, injury or mortality of otter' and disturbance of protected mammal species. Pictured: A sunset over Loch Linnhe with Shuna Island in the background Pictured: Jane Hartnell-Beavis at Loch Linnhe Jane Hartnell-Beavis, a who is part of a community group opposing the farm, said the farm will damage the marine life and be 'incredibly visually intrusive'. She told MailOnline: 'The state of fish farming all over the world is terrible and it's wrecking the environment and damaging the wild population of fish. But it's important for the economy. 'The Scottish government are trying to decide whether this technology is the solution to the problem. 'But the farm proposed for Loch Long was half the size of the one they want to put at Loch Linnhe. 'Our loch is full of the most wonderful marine life, it's full of otters and dolphins and other wildlife. It's incredible. 'But all the crustaceans will suffer from all the pollution from the farm. Even if it collects the solid waste from the fish, all the urine will go into the water. 'Loch Linnhe is enjoyed by everyone who lives here. People go kayaking, canoeing, swimming, sailing, snorkelling... 'You can imagine that all underneath these cages, all this life, will die. They don't stand a chance. 'These farms are incredibly visually intrusive. In order for them to function they require containers of oxygen, waste extraction, transportation...huge lorries coming through the area. 'It would have 24/7 lighting, 24/7 security. Concrete would be poured next to the shore. The normal fish farms just have a little hut but this is different. View across Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil in Lochaber from the Nevis Range near Fort William So now the company is applying for permission to put the farm a three hour drive away at a different loch, but locals are outraged. Credit: Long Live Loch Linnhe Local angler David Gunn, who has fished these waters for 61 years,is against the proposed fish farm. Credit: Long Live Loch Linnhe Loch Long Salmon is proposing eight 'semi-closed' fish pens which would hold millions of fish and would need a large shoreside installation running 24 hours a day (stock image) 'It's money. It's all about money and the fish but it's being done under greenwashing. 'It's not sustainable - that's nonsense. They also say the semi-open pens will eliminate sea lice. That's not true - it alleviates it. 'These pens will have super density - they'll be packed with fish. So if a disease gets in, it'll be like covid for the fish. You've got a problem.' Sea lice are flesh-eating lice which eat salmon alive. Its an agonising experience for the fish whose heads and bodies are covered with pain receptors. James Standley, a retired professional diver with 25 years of experience, lives on the boundary of the proposed site, and has raised concerns about the project's impact on the loch's wildlife and surrounding community. He said: 'The damage this fish farm would have on the area would be irreversible. 'We've only got one shot at protecting Scotland's natural beauty, so to pave over it would be an act of vandalism. 'Coming from a background of diving, it's really worrying to think of the impact this could have on our wildlife. I've seen basking sharks in the loch - yet I could soon be swimming next to 50 metre fish pens. 'I've watched the volume of marine life diminish over the years and projects like this play a massive part in that. 'My neighbours and I bought our homes to be close to the outdoors, so we could nip down to the loch for a dip and enjoy the view with our morning coffee. Just like that, we could lose all of it.' Local angler David Gunn, has fished the waters for 61 years. He fears a fish farm could kill off the area's wild Atlantic Salmon population He said: 'Without a doubt, fish farms have had a huge impact on the declining numbers of wild salmon in our waters, and it is a problem that has been exacerbated on the west coast of Scotland. 'This has always been a good area for wild salmon, and there was even a surplus in Loch Linnhe - but since the advent of salmon farms, the wild salmon population has declined by 95 per cent and so many salmon in Loch Linnhe's rivers are now extinct. 'The level of excrement that will be dumped in the loch is frightening. 'Loch Long Salmon is effectively proposing eight massive fish farms and while they say they can capture some of this waste the majority of it will settle on the loch bed and will filter on the shellfish and make its way into the food chain, restaurants aren't going to want to put that on their menus. 'Everywhere this new technology has been tested so far has been at a much smaller scale and it hasn't worked effectively. A diver in the waters of Loch Linnhe encounters a jellyfish. Credit: Long Live Loch Linnhe The loch is known as a wild swimming spot. Charlotte Parkin has been swimming in the loch for five years. Credit: Long Live Loch Linnhe Farming company Loch Long Salmon is making a second attempt at an experimental fish farm after their first application was rejected at Loch Long in Argyll, Scotland (stock image) 'To go straight into something at such a huge scale is an enormous gamble in an area of outstanding natural beauty we don't want to be used as a test bed.' The loch is popular with wild swimmers. Charlotte Parkin has been swimming there for five years and feels a new mega farm would ruin the area's natural beauty. She said: 'It is incredibly peaceful and you get a real sense of euphoria while swimming in the loch. 'There is a huge number of people that use the loch and it is not uncommon to have 30 people by the beach on a summer's night enjoying the water it's incredibly valuable to the community. READ MORE - Flesh-eating SEA LICE are biting people in Britain's seafront lakes as swimmers are warned to stay away Advertisement 'Fish farms have a major impact on the tranquillity of the loch, I have swum close to nearby fish farms and it completely spoils the serene experience. 'Sometimes we've seen scum on the loch surface near these farms and it is enough to put anyone off swimming.' Stocks of wild Atlantic salmon, a fish abundant within British rivers a generation ago, are in a state of collapse. Some now believe the entire future of the species is threatened. Overall numbers are down by 70 per cent since the turn of the century, falling from around ten million to between two and three million. In 2018, the last year for which records are available, 37,196 salmon were caught by Scotlands anglers. That has fallen from over 100,000 a decade ago, and is the lowest number since records began in the 1950s. CEO of Long Loch Salmon, Stewart Hawthorn, said: 'I have been working in fish farming for over 35 years. Salmon is not only good for our health but it's also one of the most low-carbon proteins you can get. 'Some of the claims being made are inaccurate and wrong. There has been an eight year research project in Norway - so to say it is untested technology isn't true. 'It worked for the welfare, the health and performance of the farm. 'The sea lice might get in but they won't reproduce because of how the farm is. 'I take comfort from the eight year research project, from visiting these systems, speaking to the people behind them and seeing them with my own eyes. 'That is why I think it is important to bring this technology to Scotland. 'The claims over an industrial site are a gross exaggeration. It is a small patch of land. 'It's inaccurate to say it will be a huge blight - it won't be visible from the land. 'It is important to the economy in Scotland. It's not just about the tourist economy, but a mixture. This will be a good thing for Scotland. 'I'm frustrated. This is an opportunity for Scotland to bring in something used in Canada, in Norway. 'We have a climate crisis going on. And we are a small company looking to bring in in innovative technology to help.' The hard-left Code Pink activists who face congressional scrutiny over their links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also have longstanding sympathies with Iran and Hamas and a record of bashing Israel, DailyMail.com can reveal. House Republicans have in recent weeks launched a probe against the outspoken, anti-war group to find out whether its leaders take Beijing's money and in return spread CCP propaganda. Against this backdrop, DailyMail.com spoke to observers who have tracked Code Pink's activities these past two decades, and found that members have sympathized with other despotic regimes globally. Code Pink leaders have attended a conference with Holocaust deniers in Iran, helped Hamas spread its concerns, and used an antisemitic slur about influential, rich Jewish people pulling the strings in Washington, DC. Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin (left) and others campaigning against Israel's war against Hamas Code Pink wants the US to stop sending arms to Israel that help secure the Jewish state from attacks Code Pink's past contacts with Hamas are particularly worrisome in the wake of the armed Islamists' rampage through southern Israel on October 7, where they raped, murdered and kidnapped hundreds of people, mostly civilians. Code Pink, which denies taking money from Beijing, did not answer our request for comment. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish rights group, said Code Pink's 'extremist agenda' included cutting US military aid to Israel and letting exiled Palestinians back in to the Jewish state. He said the group's support for a boycott of Israel, known as BDS, was 'antisemitic.' 'They are an over-the-top group that calls for social and policy changes that would change the face of the United States,' Cooper told DailyMail.com. 'Insofar as Israel is concerned, they would lead to Israel's destruction, without any question.' Founded by Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin and other anti-war feminists in 2002, Code Pink stages protests, disrupts meetings and heckles politicians in an effort to end 'US imperialism.' They've interrupted speeches by everyone from Barack Obama to the late Senator John McCain. Benjamin joined Holocaust deniers and conspiracy theorists at an anti-Israel meeting in Iran in 2014 Code Pink presented Hamas' deadly rampage in Israel on October 7 as an act of 'resistance' Critics say their anti-Americanism has seen them get worryingly cozy with other countries and groups with a history of human rights abuse around the world. At a Code Pink rally in 2015 against Israel's US lobbying group in the US, known as Aipac, one protester displayed the flag of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist-cum-political group. The previous year, founder Benjamin attended the New Horizon conference in Tehran, Iran's capital. The meeting was the brainchild of Iran's hard-line former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Other attendees included anti-Israel activists and such Holocaust-denying conspiracy theorists as Kevin Barret and Claudio Moffa. Panel sessions covered everything from Israel's lobbying machine in the US to 'Mossad's Role in the 9/11 Coup,' documents from the conference said in a reference to Israel's spy agency. The meeting was panned at the time for antisemitism. The US-based Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish campaign group, said Iran's mullahs had co-opted Code Pink and other US activists to spread an anti-Israel message. The US Treasury in 2019 slapped sanctions on the conference organizers, New Horizon, citing its ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It was one of several trips Code Pink members made to Iran and other Middle Eastern destinations. Code Pink members were in 2015 campaigning for peace with Iran, which was understood to be developing nuclear weapons Ann Wright, a former Army colonel and US diplomat and who sits on the group's board, was interviewed while aboard a ship headed to Gaza in 2010. She used risque language about Jewish money. 'The tail wags the dog,' Wright told the interviewer. 'There are powerful influences in the United States, key Jewish persons with lots of money, who use that that money and influence to influence our US Congress,' she added. For some, linking Jewish people with money is an antisemitic canard. The previous year, Tighe Barry and dozens of other Code Pink members visited Gaza. There, they 'met several times with Hamas officials,' according to the group's website. They urged the Islamists to write a letter about the suffering of Palestinians to then-president Obama. The Hamas letter praised Code Pink as a 'grassroots peace group'. The Hamas official who wrote it said the Islamists sought a 'just resolution' to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and urged Obama to visit Gaza. Other Hamas officials routinely call for Israel's destruction. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish rights group, said Code Pink has an 'extremist agenda' Code Pink envoys worked with Hamas to write a letter to then-president Barack Obama Code Pink's record with Hamas is especially pertinent in the wake of their deadly raids on farms, villages, and a music festival in southern Israel last month. The bloody rampage left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead, and 240 others taken hostage. Israel's retaliatory strikes against Hamas have left some 15,000 people dead and led to swaps of hostages for Palestinians in Israeli jails. On the day of the attack, Benjamin, a Jewish American, appeared to justify them as 'resistance' against an 'occupying force.' 'The Israeli government can't keep two million trapped in an open air prison in Gaza and not expect resistance,' she posted on X/Twitter. For Lawrence Peck, an advisor to the North Korea Freedom Coalition, it was the latest sign that Code Pink had gone off the rails. 'Code Pink and its key leaders have for years been notorious for variously supporting, defending and making excuses for some of the world's most murderous dictatorships, terrorist groups, and Jew-haters,' Peck told DailyMail.com. Code Pink has been one of the main organizers of protests against Israel's military retaliation in Gaza, saying the US should stop giving the Jewish state arms that it uses to commit war crimes. On a boat headed to Gaza in 2010, Code Pink board member Ann Wright spoke about 'key Jewish persons with lots of money' Millions of Americans are also alarmed by the suffering of blameless Palestinians under Israel's fierce military operations against Hamas, stoking divisions between those who support and oppose the campaign. This has also provoked a debate about whether criticizing Israel's actions, or questioning the legitimacy of the Zionist quest for a Jewish homeland, amounts to antisemitism. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in an opinion article on Wednesday warned that 'many Americans are exploiting arguments against Israel and leaping toward a virulent antisemitism.' Code Pink did not answer our requests for comment. They have rejected claims of taking money to spread CCP propaganda as 'ludicrous.' House Republicans in November launched a probe into Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans and her husband Neville Roy Singham over their financial and ideological ties to the CCP. Singham, a Connecticut-born tech entrepreneur and self-proclaimed socialist and mega-wealthy benefactor of 'far-left causes,' is based in Shanghai, China. A letter, signed by 10 GOP members of the Natural Resources Committee, said they are 'deeply concerned' with Code Pink's ties to the CCP, and probing whether it has illegally failed to register as a foreign agent. Jodie Evans, left, pictured with husband Neville Singham, right They requested all communications between Code Pink, Singham and the CCP between 2017 and today. They also asked for any documents related to transactions between Code Pink and any foreign entity and proof of whether or not Code Pink registered as a foreign agent. A damning New York Times report in August revealed Singham 'works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.' The report tracked hundreds of millions of dollars to groups that 'mix progressive advocacy with Chinese government talking points.' Code Pink, meanwhile, has shifted its stance on China since Evans and Singham married in 2017. The group once criticized China's human rights record and treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority. It now has a campaign listed entitled 'China is Not our Enemy.' 'The US is heading towards a dangerous confrontation with China,' the Code Pink site reads. 'Mounting hostilities are stopping us from addressing existential challenges like the climate crisis.' Code Pink protesters raise their painted hands in protest for Gaza against Israel's counter-offensive Evans pictured in 2015 protesting China, before doing an about-face on the CCP Evans, after she married Singham, has adopted a much more pro-China stance Code Pink frequently disrupts congressional proceedings It adds: 'The US believes they can win a nuclear war against China and is preparing for war. One of those preparations is to manipulate the mind of US citizens to support this war, which threatens our society, as much as China and the rest of the world.' Evans, 68, managed the presidential campaign of California Gov. Jerry Brown in 1992 and heavily involved in Democratic circles. After the Iraq War began, she rededicated herself to activism, forming Code Pink with Benjamin. She soon became known for donning hot pink outfits and heading to Capitol Hill for disruptive demonstrations that often ended in arrest. And until a handful of years ago, she criticized China without hesitation. 'We demand China stop brutal repression of their women's human rights defenders,' she posted to Twitter in 2015. But since her marriage in 2017, around a quarter of Code Pink's donations, more than $1.7 million, have come from Singham's groups. Evans is now an ardent defender of China. A Code Pink demonstrator holds a sign as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, testifies on Capitol Hill Evans at a ceasefire protest Jodie and Neville are pictured at their Bob Marley-themed wedding in Jamaica in 2017. Guests included socialist ice cream behemoth Ben Cohen, of Ben & Jerry's When former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan in 2022, Evans tweeted: 'This would be an irresponsible act of war! The pentagon generals are begging her not to go. Who are 300m US to dictate to 1.5 billion and break a One China agreement? Are you that arrogant?' Singham made his money though his software consulting company, Thoughtworks, which he launched in 1993 in Chicago. He sold it to private equity firm Apax Partners for $785 million. Singham shares an office in Shangai with a Chinese media company called Maku Group, which appears to be dedicated to producing foreign propaganda. Singham claims he does not work with the Chinese government, but a network he owns is co-producing a YouTube show with China's propaganda department and working with a Chinese university to 'spread China's voice throughout the world.' Singham's groups work on behalf of Chinese interests by producing YouTube videos that have racked up millions of views, meeting with congressional aides, running candidates in African elections and organizing protests. None of Singham's nonprofits have registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, as is required for groups that peddle ideas on behalf of a foreign government. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became a 'pariah' in Congress after alienating her own party with her grandstanding, a new book claims. The firebrand Democrat Rep, commonly known as AOC, was so uncompromising she generated 'hostility' from all ranks of Democrats ranging from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi down to her fellow-progressives, according to The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution. Journalist Ryan Grim, the Washington bureau chief for nonprofit news site The Intercept, claims the left-wing congresswoman was so arrogant she 'wanted to remake the system and to be thanked for doing it'. While AOC started her political career with a bang, Grim explains that her arrogance led her to become 'closed off' to meeting donors, repeatedly canceling meetings at the last minute, and 'infuriating' her critics with her infamous 'Tax the Rich' dress at the 2021 Met Gala. US Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez started her political career with a bang only to alienate her party with her 'arrogance', according to a new book Author and journalist Ryan Grim claims AOC's 'overconfidence' was also to blame for the failure of her signature policy the Green New Deal AOC was one of four freshman representatives who shared similar far left viewpoints who later became known as 'The Squad' first coined by group Donald Trump. The other original members of the informal grouping were Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley Despite her 13.2 million followers on X, she has barely achieved anything in Congress because she 'sacrificed her relationship with colleagues' and repeatedly voted against her own party. Grim claims that AOC's signature achievement, the Green New Deal, was a 'total s***show disaster' and that the botched rollout left critics joking she wanted to ban cows from farting. Ocasio-Cortez was elected to the House in the 2018 elections as the representative for New York's 14th Congressional District, which covers parts of Queens and the Bronx, one of the poorest areas in the city. The former Manhattan bartender famously beat Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley, a 10-term incumbent, amid a wave of populism after Donald Trump's shocking presidential election victory in 2016. From the beginning AOC was a social media sensation with her online posts generating millions of views, commanding a cultural influence unlike anyone else in Congress. Due to her far left views, she was also embraced by what became known as 'The Squad', a group of four female freshman representatives who had similar viewpoints. The Squad, written by Intercept journalist Ryan Grim is set to be released Tuesday December 5 It was Trump who gave the moniker to the group, which consisted of Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress, Ayanna Pressley, the first black congresswoman to represent Massachusetts, and Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American member of Congress. Since then four other members including two men have aligned themselves with the informal grouping The new book, which is out Tuesday, December 5, reveals that even before she was elected to the House, AOC had a testy relationship with Pelosi, starting with their first in-person meeting in July 2018. According to Grim, Pelosi told AOC that the phrase 'Abolish ICE' - referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one of AOC's signature policies, should be dropped. Pelosi thought that it had been 'injected into political discourse by the Russians and that Democrats should 'quash it'. The author writes: 'AOC wondered. This is how the leader of the party thinks?' After taking office, the feisty congresswoman took part in a sit-in protest in Pelosi's office in Congress, a move which highlights what Grim called the 'irreconcilable contradiction' with AOC. 'While somebody like Obama wants to be seen as being all things to all people, Ocasio Cortez actually thinks she can be all things to all people while leading a political revolution,' Grim writes. Despite representing the same party, AOC quickly developed a testy relationship with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, once claiming that there had been an 'explicit singling out of newly elected women of color' under the Pelosi regime After taking office, the feisty congresswoman took part in a sit-in protest in Pelosi's office in Congress, a move which highlights what Grim called the 'irreconcilable contradiction' with AOC The firebrand congresswoman was seen speaking during a House Oversight Committee impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden in September 'She believed she could occupy the Speaker's office and have Pelosi appreciate it'. Grim notes how AOC also upset another representative who might well have been an ally for her: Pramila Jayapal, the progressive Democrat from Seattle. Up until then, Jayapal had been the most well known proponent among Democrats for fighting climate change but was 'firmly usurped' by AOC. That was 'not something (she) would quickly forgive', Grim writes. Tensions flared literally from day one of AOC's time in Congress when she and two other progressive representatives voted against their own party on a rule that required any new spending for entitlements or tax cuts be offset by revenue increases or budget cuts. The measure, designed to ensure that spending did not expand the federal deficit, did not meet AOC's approval and she called it 'bad economics' and a 'dark political maneuver'. But Grim is scathing about AOC's vote. He writes: 'The gap between AOC's power outside the Capitol and the display of it on day one inside could hardly have been greater. Tensions flared from day one of AOC's time in Congress when she and two other progressive representatives voted against their own party 'To reshape that landscape she was rapidly sacrificing her relationships with colleagues'. AOC had already 'alienated' Pelosi and Jayapal and her vote on day one had 'done it again with both'. In the book, Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC's chief of staff, tells Grim how he and AOC were called into a meeting by Jayapal who said she 'needed to keep her staff in line.' Chakrabarti said that Jayapal was 'so annoyed' but he flippantly claims that it felt like they 'went to the principal's office'. Jayapal also complained to colleagues that AOC had 'very little track record of actually organizing' despite touting her record as an organizer. The 'growing hostility' towards AOC was built on a 'strong wariness' on the part of House Democrats who saw in the celebration of the Squad a 'challenge to their own integrity', the book claims. More tensions erupted after AOC was overlooked for the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. AOC didn't even get a place on the committee to look into climate change but she claimed Pelosi had offered her a spot but she turned it down. Amid mudslinging from both sides, AOC claimed that under the Pelosi regime there had been an 'explicit singling out of newly elected women of color' which the former Speaker denied. Adding to the frustration with The Squad was the controversy about Omar hitting back about former House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy for threatening to punish her for being critical of Israel. In an apparent swipe at the McCarthy, Omar took to what was formerly known as Twitter, to tweet: 'It's all about the Benjamins baby', a lyric referring to $100 bills from a Diddy song. The comment sparked a furious row about anti-Semitism with Omar eventually backing down and apologizing. According to the new book, AOC also upset another representative who might well have been an ally for her, Pramila Jayapal (pictured) a progressive Democrat from Seattle, who had been the most well known proponent for fighting climate change until she was 'firmly usurped' by AOC In the book, Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC's chief of staff, tells Grim how he and AOC were called into a meeting by Jayapal who said she 'needed to keep her staff in line' Two months into the new Congress and this was 'not the fight democrats had envisioned' for The Squad, Grim writes. In fact the 'repeated cycles of outrage and reaction left less room for the Squad to strategize toward a shared objective'. Outside of Congress, AOC continued to have a huge cultural influence and videos of her dancing in the halls of Capitol Hill went viral. Overseas, foreign governments held her up as an example and her Green New Deal led to Spain adopting a similar policy. But in Washington, things were very different and the launch of the Green New Deal was a mess, Grim claims. According to book, the rollout of the policy ultimately failed because 'overconfidence had crept in' among AOC and her acolytes. She and the rest of the Squad had become the 'It Kids' of Washington, Evan Weber, the co-founder of Sunrise Movement, which worked closely with AOC on the Green New Deal, told Grim in his book. He said: 'I think we had done such a good job up until that point of massaging the language that there was a kind of arrogance of like: "We can actually appease everyone here" instead of sticking to our guns and making a real choice about charting a different direction.' Weber said that a 'haphazardly' put together FAQ on the Green New Deal led to derision because it talked about methane from cows, leading to mocking headlines about banning the animals from farting. Even the rollout was botched, with journalists getting the first draft of the FAQ instead of the finished version. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in 2020 In 2021 AOC live streamed a critique of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's speech against President Joe Biden's spending plan As Weber put it, these blunders served up the Green New Deal to AOC's critics 'on a silver platter'. He called the launch a 'total s***show disaster'. Then AOC began supporting progressive candidates who were standing in primary elections for Democrat seats, just as she had done in New York. AOC angered the Democratic establishment further by supporting Bernie Sanders in the 2020 election, but eventually threw her weight behind Joe Biden after he won the party's nomination. Grim claims that AOC was hamstrung because, despite her public persona, she was 'conflict averse'. Giving an illuminating insight into her personal struggles, he writes that her colleagues 'keep feeding this utter vulnerability and failure'. 'This constant sense she's failed at something. And she lets it in her head. She really takes that s**t to heart'. Even when AOC tried some 'personal warmth' with colleagues in Congress, it only made them 'more suspicious' of her. They could 'not accept and even have a working relationship with someone from a different party faction', as Grim puts it. Grim writes: 'They simply didn't believe that Ocasio-Cortex didn't plan to oust them'. Events where AOC attended began with her being asked to apologize for Tweets from her staff, leading to extreme awkwardness. As Grim puts it: 'Ocasio-Cortez's curse was her desire to win consensus that she was there to help, coupled with her radical politics. 'She wanted to remake the system and to be thanked for doing it'. AOC infuriated the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which supports House Democratic candidates, by refusing to pay her dues because she was worried who it would support with her money. Staff working for other representatives would call her and ask her to meet, only to find AOC would back out at the last minute. Ocasio Cortez was already a controversial figure when she further 'infuriated' her critics with her infamous 'Tax the Rich' dress at the 2021 Met Gala Critics called her a hypocrite for making such a statement at one of the most tony events on the social calendar She refused to go out in the evenings and meet other Democrats, interest groups or Washington power players. Grim writes bluntly: 'This was fine for an architect but it's a challenge for a rising star with ambitions for the highest office'. All of this led to AOC becoming a 'pariah' in the House, the book claims. The constant drama even led to tensions in the Squad, admits Dan Riffle, AOC's former legislative aid. While the other three original members of the group had all previously been elected officials and came to Congress hoping to make friends and gain influence, Riffle said AOC's approach was: 'I'm gonna f***ing throw Molotov cocktails'. By 2021 the 'joy was fading' from AOC's job, her former staffers admit. The new book about The Squad was written by journalist Ryan Grim, the Washington bureau chief for nonprofit news site The Intercept Corbin Trent, her former spokesman, said that they tried to do 'half a revolution' and that her staffers got 'too big for (their) britches). Trent said: 'If we weren't going to move fast and break things, if you're not trying to f*** with people, why are you f***ing with people?' AOC sparked perhaps her biggest row yet when she attended the Met Gala in September 2021 wearing a white dress with the words 'Tax the Rich' on it. Critics called her a hypocrite for making such a statement at one of the most tony events on the social calendar. Grim writes that it 'infuriated every organization that had either been told she couldn't attend their event or, more commonly, simply been ignored by her office'. A House ethics investigation found that AOC was within her rights to accept a free ticket to the $35,000 event as she was a guest of Vogue, which was organizing it. But it criticized AOC for not paying the rental cost of the dress and other accessories until after it began its investigation. That included $990 for the dress but she did not repay the cost of the handbag, shoes, jewelry, makeup and transportation to the gala, estimated to be worth nearly $7,000. Grim writes that looking back now on the early days of The Squad in Congress, some of those closely involved felt like it was a 'lost opportunity'. Trent admits that they 'didn't build any relationships', something that should have been 'obvious' at the time. Despite AOC's headline grabbing Tweets, she didn't have a 'coherent economic vision', as Trent put it. Mainstream Democrats eventually began to view The Squad as 'consumed by toxic infighting and grievances' and no use to actually wielding power. Vladimir Putin could resort to deploying nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine if the Russian despot feels his forces face defeat on the battlefield, a retired US Army Brigadier General has warned. Kevin Ryan, who served as Chief of Staff for the Army's Space and Missile Defence Command, said nuclear war is an 'entirely feasible' option for Putin if Ukrainian forces make gains on the battlefield and even retake captured territory like Crimea. Ryan, who also served as the Defence Attache to Russia, said Moscow is not just at war with Ukraine, but with the West too - and it's for this reason Putin is much more likely to see the use of tactical nuclear weapons as 'prudent deterrence'. 'The exploding of a nuclear weapon inside Ukraine may seem like "overkill" in a war against Ukraine, but in a war against the West, it could be seen as prudent deterrence,' Ryan tells MailOnline. 'The bottom line is that the use of a nuclear weapon is entirely feasible and the negative outcomes could be dismissed if the alternative is defeat.' He says that if Ukrainian forces do begin to make gains on the battlefield, Putin and his military leaders wouldn't be phased about the prospect of irradiating territory inside their occupied lands with tactical nuclear weapons. These nuclear weapons can have yields of up to 100 kilotons - five times the amount of the American atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. A Russian Iskander-K missile launched during a military exercise at a training ground at the Luzhsky Range, near St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2017 Kevin Ryan, who served as Chief of Staff for the Army's Space and Missile Defence Command, said nuclear war is an 'entirely feasible' option for Putin if Ukrainian forces make gains on the battlefield and even retake captured territory like Crimea. Pictured: Iskander missile launchers 'As far as Russia irradiating territory that is inside their occupied lands is concerned, I think Russian leaders would weigh that against losing a war - or against losing Crimea or a large part of their own army,' Ryan says. 'That's not a bad trade in those cases for Russia.' Ryan says that the only reason why Putin has not deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Ukraine yet is because Kyiv's much-anticipated counteroffensive is stalling ahead of a second winter. Ukrainian soldiers have been unable to make significant gains against Russian troops who are entrenched in captured territory during their counteroffensive and casualties on both sides - already in the hundreds of thousands - continue to mount. 'The only reason we haven't seen tactical nuclear weapons is because Ukraine's counteroffensive hasn't been as successful as hoped,' Ryan says. Indeed, Putin has warned since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Moscow is ready to use 'all available means' to fend off attacks on Russian territory deemed existential - a reference to its nuclear arsenal. Russia is thought to have around 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons - compared to America's 100 - which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery rounds. The tactical nuclear weapons are intended for use on the battlefield and have a short range and a low yield compared with much more powerful nuclear warheads fitted to long-range missiles that are capable of obliterating cities. Moscow views them as a way of compensating for NATO's strength in advanced conventional weapons since the Cold War. 'Although the West has relied more on conventional weapons since the end of the Cold War, Russia has had to continue to rely on tactical nuclear weapons to be prepared to achieve battlefield goals,' Ryan says. 'That's largely because Russia has been not been able to modernise its conventional forces satisfactorily.' 'The bottom line is that Russian military leaders see tactical nuclear weapons as a valid and useful escalation tool,' Ryan says. 'So does Putin.' Indeed, Russia has in recent years raised the threshold on their use of nuclear weapons in its security doctrine - from 'situations critical for the national security of the Russian Federation' in 2000 to the more precise 'aggression involving the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is under threat' in 2014. For Putin, that would be losing territory such as Crimea which would in turn threaten the despot's position of power. And Ryan warned that Ukraine is just 'the first battlefield' of Putin's war with the West, pointing to how Putin is preparing Russia for a 'larger conflict' with the movement of troops and nuclear weapons into Belarus. Ukrainian soldiers of the 57th Brigade prepare the explosive artillery charge, in their fighting position, in the direction of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, on November 27 Ryan, who also served as the Defence Attache to Russia , said Moscow is not just at war with Ukraine, but with the West too - and it's for this reason Putin (pictured on November 29) is much more likely to see the use of tactical nuclear weapons as 'prudent deterrence' Officials in Moscow and Minsk have said that the warheads sent to Belarus could be carried by Belarusian Su-25 ground attack jets or fitted to short-range Iskander missiles. 'The West has not fully awakened to the reality that we are in a war with Russia,' Ryan says. 'Countries like Poland and the Baltics believe Putin's words and actions and think we are at war. 'But the US, UK and much of NATO? I think they believe this is only a war between Russia and Ukraine - one where we can be on the side-lines helping.' Indeed, the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, which has a 673 mile border with Ukraine, will allow Russian aircraft and missiles to reach potential targets there more easily and quickly if Moscow decides to use them. It would also extend Russia's capability to target several NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe with the tactical nuclear weapons, which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said were around five times more powerful than US atomic bombed dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. 'Ukraine is the first battlefield of Putin's war with the West,' Ryan warned. 'There is evidence that Russia is preparing itself for a larger conflict than what is happening in Ukraine.' He pointed to how Putin has ordered his military to increase to over 1.5 million active duty troops by 2026, increased his military budget to $109 billion for 2024, and moved troops and nuclear weapons into neighbouring Belarus. 'This suggests that Putin is doing more than just replacing losses in his "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine,' Ryan says. Putin and his cronies have warned for months that the war in Ukraine could turn into a nuclear war. The Russian despot warned in June that 'there will be no winners, including America' in a Third World War. Putin said in a thinly veiled threat: 'The United States pretends not to be afraid of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, but sane people there clearly do not want to take this to a Third World War. 'In the event of a Third World War, there will be no winners, including America.' And earlier this year, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, warned that attempts by Ukraine to reclaim control over Crimea in its counteroffensive was a 'threat to the very existence the Russian state' - something that warrants a nuclear response under the country's security doctrine. 'Every day of supplying Western weapons to Ukraine makes the nuclear apocalypse closer,' Medvedev said at the time. Ukrainian military analysists have said that Putin's goal is to discourage Ukraine's Western allies from providing Kyiv with more weapons during their counteroffensive by using 'nuclear blackmail'. But Ryan says the West must provide Ukraine with more weapons that would mean Kyiv wins a 'decisive' victory over Russia. To that end, Ryan says Ukraine must be made a member of NATO for the nation - and the West - to achieve their goals of a Ukraine that is 'sovereign and free'. 'We need a Ukraine that is inside NATO and the EU, as a bulwark against the malicious actions of a Russia under the control of Putin and his acolytes,' Ryan says. 'The goals [of Ukraine being sovereign and free] will not be won at the negotiating table,' he adds. 'They must be asserted by Ukraine and the West and protected with military power.' 'We should not delay Ukraine's admission to both NATO and the EU,' Ryan insisted. 'If we fail to achieve our goals against the Russia we face today, we will be harder pressed to achieve them against the Russia that Putin is building.' Wearing a blush pink blouse by the designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel, Diana, then 19, looked ethereal as she gazes out of the pages of the February 1981 edition of British Vogue for her official engagement portrait. Now the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, which bought it for 27,500 at Kerry Taylor Auctions on June 8, 2010, is planning to sell the blouse. It is estimated to raise up to 79,000 at auction, making them a substantial profit. The blouse is one of a series of lots being sold in a four-day auction, which begins at Juliens Auctions, in Los Angeles, on December 14. This Elizabeth Emanuel blouse was worn by Diana in her engagement portrait by Lord Snowdon. It will be auctioned later this month and is expected to raise nearly 80,000 Diana's ballerina-length evening dress designed by Moroccan-British fashion designer Jacques Azagury and worn in Florence, Italy April 23, 1985 Diana is photographed wearing the Azagury gown The event, entitled Glamour, Grace & Greatness: Classic Hollywood Auction, also includes the first dress that couturier Jacques Azagury designed for Diana. The romantic blouse features flowing sleeves that are gathered at the shoulder and finished with flounced cuffs, the auction house writes. The blouse comes with a satin ribbon that ties under the collar into a bow. There is a single-button closure at the back of the neck and a single button at each cuff. The blouse has a light pink silk lining, no label or size is present. It was on January 28, 1981, that Vogues beauty editor Felicity Clark called the Emanuels and told them she was doing a shoot for the magazine on English Roses and wanted something very romantic for someone very famous. Hanging in their studio was the perfect garment: a pale pink silk chiffon blouse with a soft floaty ruffle collar and pink silk satin bow. They sent it round the corner to Vogue, and photographer Lord Snowdon, then divorced from Princess Margaret, shot Diana in the blouse for the feature on Upcoming Beauties. The engagement was announced on the day of the magazines release and Diana chose the image for her official engagement photograph. In their book A Dress for Diana, David and Elizabeth Emanuel wrote, It was this blouse that was hanging up in our studio when we suddenly received the phone call from Vogue requesting something which had a high neck and was very romantic. It was only later that we discovered that the blouse had been worn by Lady Diana (whose sisters both worked at Vogue), they added. The fashion team had assembled a large collection of clothes from several designers for her to try, just as you would for any fashion or beauty shoot. When she saw our blouse on the rack, she fell in love with it, asked who had made it and was directed to us. That was the beginning of our relationship with Diana. The other famous Diana dress being auctioned by Juliens is the black ballerina-length evening gown, embroidered with blue stars, designed by couturier Jacques Azagury, the first he designed for her. The dress, which measures 37 inches across the bust, 33 inches around the waist and 34 inches across the hips, was amongst the gowns which were auctioned by the princess at Christies on June 25, 1997, two months before her death. It was sold it to People magazine for 15,910, before being donated to the New York Historical Society in 2015. It is estimated to raise up to 158,000. Couturier Jacques Azagury first met Diana when he was showing his 1985 autumn/winter New Romantics Collection at the Londons Hyde Park Hotel now the Mandarin Oriental. Vogue fashion editor Anna Harvey tapped him on the shoulder and said: Jacques, I would like you to meet somebody. I turned around and there she was straight in front of me, he recalled, which kind of threw me. Then literally we were just talking. She had this magic of making you feel comfortable and at home within seconds. Whilst I was talking to her, she was looking at a dress, which I wasnt aware of. Then, two or three weeks later we got a call from the Palace saying: Princess Diana would like to visit your atelier. Would that be ok? And we were, of course, absolutely delighted. Audrey Hepburn's Marigold Givenchy coat from the movie Charade is up for sale Greta Garbo's personally-owned turquoise Ottoman silk shirt dress And we said: Yes. Yes. We would love her to come, and that was really the start of our relationship. I usually take everything in my stride, but I have to admit, every time I saw Diana wearing my clothes I did get very, very excited. Jacques and his sister Solange were then invited to Kensington Palace to discuss the dress which was made in Jakob Schlaepher fabric. Diana wore it to a mayoral dinner at the Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence, Italy, on December 11, 1985, and a performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at The Orpheum Theatre, in Vancouver, Canada, on May 5, the following year. The sale will also items from Hollywood's golden era, including an evening coat worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Charade and a silk shirt dress owned by Greta Garbo. It was June 1999 in California's Napa Valley and the bride rode into her wedding, sidesaddle on a speckled horse, her wealthy Prince Charming waiting to help her down. All of San Francisco society - its powerful families and ambitious newcomers - had gathered for the glittering Renaissance-themed union of Vanessa Jarman and oil heir Billy Getty. Getty's best man was Gavin Newsom. Conducting the ceremony was Newsoms father Bill. And, sitting in the audience, was Vanessas new friend, Kamala Harris. The wedding was a microcosm of San Francisco politics as guests whose family names - Getty, Brown, Pelosi - criss-cross through the generations were joined by some of the candidates they support. And, for political siblings Newsom and Harris, then both in their early 30s, it was the start of separate paths to power that could soon converge and see them competing against each other for the highest office in the land. Gavin and Kamala were very much kind of rising at the same time in San Francisco, James Reginato, Vanity Fair writer at large and author of Growing Up Getty, told DailyMail.com. Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021 Billy Getty (left) and Vanessa Getty attend the Breakthrough Prize Inaugural Ceremony at Nasa Ames Research Center in December 2013 Newsom, now 56, and Harris, now 59, would rise in parallel, both winning offices in San Francisco that launched their national careers. The city has launched some of Californias biggest Democratic names - Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Willie Brown - and it would do the same for Newsom and Harris. But their rise together meant a constant overlap. They moved in the same political circles, were both friends with the mega-wealthy Gettys, wooed the same donors, and hired some of the same consultants. In 2003, Newsom ran to be San Francisco mayor and Harris the city's district attorney, and they both won. That resulted in the city's youngest mayor in more than 100 years and the state's first black district attorney being sworn in together in January 2004. Newsom told NBC earlier this year: 'We knew each other before we were both in politics. The day I got sworn in as mayor, walked across the street, she got sworn in as district attorney. Extraordinarily close working relationship, including her time in the Senate, my time up here.' Harris would go on to make a national name for herself as a senator from the state, using her prosecutorial skills to grill Donald Trumps nominees in Congress. Newsom made his name as mayor. In 2004, Newsom decided his city would ignore the law and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The move rocketed the then-36-year-old Democrat to national attention. He and his then wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, were the toast of the town and posed for a photo in Harpers Bazaar, lounging on the floor in designer clothing surrounded by antiques. They posed in the home of heiress Ann Getty, the San Francisco bay visible in the window behind them. Gavin Newsom and then-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle after they cast their ballots for the mayoral run-off election December 9, 2003 in San Francisco Kamala Harris dated San Francisco's first black mayor Wilile Brown in the 1990s - above the duo are pictured together a dinner in 1995 The Getty family was instrumental in Gavin Newsom's (center) ascent to public office. He is pictured with Peter (left) and Billy Getty (right) in 1992 Newsom was considered a son by Gordon and Ann Getty the philanthropists from one of worlds wealthiest families. Gordon and his brother Paul the sons of oil magnate J. Paul Getty - went to school with Gavins father, Bill Newsom II, spending most of their childhood at the Newsoms home due to their own parents absence. Gordon considered Bills father William as a father to him. Bill Newsom became a judge and later managed the Getty family trust on behalf of Gordon, which is estimated to be worth more than $2 billion. Gavin spent much of his childhood running around the Getty home in San Franciscos wealthy Pacific Heights area. Reginato said Newsom has a blood relationship with the Getty family that goes back 80 years to his grandfathers time. Gordon Getty is not a political kind of operator like the Koch brothers, Reginato said, pointing to the wealthy and politically active Republican family. There's real love between the Newsoms and the Gettys. The Gettys would help fund Newsoms first business venture, a San Francisco wine store called PlumpJack. That business would grow to include boutique hotels, wineries, bars and restaurants mostly in Northern California. Newsom, who grew up poor with divorced parents, become a millionaire. The Gettys would be there for him in good times and bad. Members of the family donated more than $500,000 to his various successful political campaigns. Ann and Gordon Getty also threw his wedding reception in 2001, when he married Guilfoyle, a prosecutor and former Victoria's Secret model, in what the San Francisco Chronicle called the social event of the year. The party at the Getty mansion had 500 guests, including author Danielle Steel. But absent were Billy and Vanessa Getty he and Gavin had a rift in their friendship tied to a disagreement about Plumpjack. Billys father Gordy Getty, 90, remains close to Gavin and bought out Billy's share of the business. Gordon later bought out Newsom's share when Newsom was elected mayor. After Newsom and Guilfoyles marriage ended in divorce, it was revealed Newsom had an affair with an aide who, at the time, was married a close friend. The affair happened in 2005 with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, wife of Alex Tourk, Newsom's former deputy chief of staff, who had been running Newsom's mayoral re-election campaign. After The San Francisco Chronicle broke the story in February 2007, then-Mayor Newsom confessed. 'Everything you've heard and read is true,' he told a press conference. 'And I am deeply sorry about that.' Newsom declared, 'I've hurt someone I care deeply about, Alex Tourk, and that is something I have to live with.' He later married Jennifer Siebel, an actress and filmmaker. They have four children. There are other famous names who boosted Newsom along the way. He got his start in politics from legendary San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who appointed Newsom to the citys Parking and Traffic Commission. Brown would later appoint Newsom to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors at the urging of Democratic lawmaker John Burton, who was childhood friends with Newsoms father. Newsom and his family were also friends with Jerry Brown, the former governor of the state. Jerry Browns father, Pat Brown, ran for San Francisco district attorney, losing in 1939 but winning in 1943, with the help of his close friend and Gavin Newsoms grandfather, William Newsom. And one of Newsoms fathers sisters Barbara married Ron Pelosi. Barbara Newsom and Ron Pelosi divorced in 1977. But Rons brother Paul married a girl from a Baltimore political family: Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi. Taking an alternative route through San Francisco politics was Kamala Harris. The daughter of immigrants and born on the wrong side of the bay literally across the bridge in Oakland Harris dated legendary San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown for two years, splitting with him after his election as mayor. Brown was 31 years Harris' senior. They met when he was 60 and Harris was 29. He was married at the time but separated from his wife. They remained friends after their breakup. And when Brown became the state Assembly speaker, he helped her like he aided Newsom. Brown put her on the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the California Medical Assistance Commission, part-time posts that supplemented her prosecutors salary with nearly $100,000 in extra annual pay. Harris also knew how to work her connections taking any offers to join boards like the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco and the San Francisco Jazz Organization; going to galas like the San Francisco Symphonys annual Black & White Ball; and having her photo taken at all the society events. When she first ran for district attorney, she used her society connections to put together her finance committee, which included Vanessa Getty. And she raised money in the living rooms of homes in Pacific Heights the neighborhood of the Gettys, the Pelosis, and the Newsoms. As she rose in the citys politics and high society, she would often run into Newsom. Vice President Kamala Harris is embraced by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at an event in San Bernardino in January 2022 Then President Barack Obama walks with California Attorney General Kamala Harris and California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in February 2012 Both were seen as rising stars: him for his natural charisma and her for her personal story that appealed to both black and white, progressive and moderate voters. Together, they ascended California political rungs: first as lieutenant governor (Newsom) and state attorney general (Harris), and later as governor and senator. The two have been described as 'frenemies.' Both seen as ambitious potential rivals for higher office, they have worked out their career paths in the past - endorsing one another without competing against each other. There have been close calls. In 2015, both of them were eyeing the Senate seat left vacant by Barbara Boxer, who decided to retire. But Newsom ended up deferring to Harris, opting to run for governor instead. Each won their races. When Harris ran for president in the 2020 contest, Newsom was quick to endorse her. And she repaid the favor when she was vice president, campaigning for him in 2021, when he faced a recall election as governor. Newsom ultimately prevailed and stayed in office. Now both are seen as eyeing a White House bid in 2028. Theres always been a healthy dose of California competition between them, a California Democratic strategist told DailyMail.com. But, ahead of that next step in their political lives, is the 2024 presidential election where Harris will be on the ballot as Joe Bidens running mate and Newsom will be a top surrogate for the campaign as he was on Thursday night in a debate with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Next years contest could prove a testing of the waters for each of them. Because, as the strategist warned, there is a lot that could happen in the next five years - including the results of the 2024 election and concerns about Joe Bidens health. Those factors could affect what ends up happening in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, and whether or not the two would finally compete directly against each other. What does happen the next few years could cascade a number of different things, the strategist said. Nella Roses family say they are watching her in the jungle and convinced that her Congolese spirit will see her win Im A Celebrity. A relative said the 26-year-old YouTube star is from a close-knit family and told of their sadness that she didnt reach out and ask them for help when her mother died suddenly in her arms and she was evicted from the family home. Nella and her brother were given just 30 days to get out of the north London flat they shared with their mother after she passed away. The social media star - who rose to fame making TikTok videos, was only 19 and living in crowded university halls with nowhere else to go. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the relative said: All of Nellas siblings and other members of her family, wherever they are in the world, are watching her in the jungle and praying that she wins. We are very proud of her achievements, its amazing what shes done. She is showing the fighting spirit of the Congolese people and we are all with her. There is a lot of love for her as we are a caring Congolese family even though we live in different countries. She also has an aunt, her mothers sister, who lives in London. And her father came from a very large, well to do family. There are lots of them in the Congo and others spread across Europe. She could have turned to anyone of us for help. Pictured: Nella (in glasses), her father Paul Hollela (top left) her brother Albert (in white t-shirt) her sister Omoyi (in red) her sister Charonne (in pink) and her sister Caroline (at the back) Nella's father, Paul Hollela (pictured, left) died in May 2020 in Belgium in his mid-60s after contracting COVID and had spent three months in a Brussels hospital fighting the virus Her outburst at Fred Siriex following his comment clearly touched a nerve and underlined the close relationship she enjoyed with her father and pain she still feels following his death, despite his tumultuous personal past A relative said the 26-year-old YouTube star is from a close-knit family and told of their sadness that she didnt reach out and ask them for help when her mother died suddenly in her arms Nella revealed her family heartache in the jungle when she exploded at Fred Siriex for his seemingly innocent joke that he was old enough to be her father Two years after Albert, Nella was born but the relationship between her parents soon started falling apart. Pictured: Nella and Albert travelling by train Nella and her brother Albert (pictured with youngest half-sister Charonne) were given just 30 days to get out of the north London flat they shared with their mother after she passed away Nella's mother Eseho Omolongo (pictured) died of a stroke in August 2016 aged 46 at Northwick Park Hospital, north-west London, surrounded by Nella and her older brother Albert, 28 Nella called Fred Sirieux out for making a 'disrespectful' comment on this year's I'm a Celeb Nella revealed further family heartache in the jungle when she exploded at Fred Siriex for his seemingly innocent joke that he was old enough to be her father hours after she had opened up to campmates about how her father too had been tragically taken from her. She was born Nella Rose Hollela in Belgium and has only spoken briefly in the past about the death of her father, Paul Hollela in May 2020 but never revealed that he died in Belgium in his mid-60s after contracting Covid and had spent three months in a Brussels hospital fighting the virus. READ MORE: The story behind Dadgate: I'm A Celeb star Nella Rose's rise from homeless to YouTube sensation and why a painful family tragedy sparked THAT row with Fred Sirieix Pictured: Nella Rose on I'm a Celebrity Advertisement Her mother Eseho Omolongo died of a stroke in August 2016 aged 46 at Northwick Park Hospital, north-west London, surrounded by Nella and her older brother Albert, 28. Her outburst at Fred Siriex following his comment clearly touched a nerve and underlined the close relationship she enjoyed with her father and pain she still feels following his death, despite his tumultuous personal past. And her run-in with Nigel Farage, when she told him he was hated by many people, leading to viewer opinion being deeply divided over her behaviour was no doubt driven by her fathers journey as an immigrant who arrived on European shores in the mid-1970s. Mr Hollela left his home in the Wembo-Nyama district of central Congo and settled in Paris, where he met a local woman of Congolese descent. His first child and Nellas eldest half-sister Omoyi Ly was born in the city and still lives there and is now in her late 40s. She still maintains contact with Nella and other members of the family with the half-siblings regularly meeting over the years. While in Paris, Mr Hollela studied for a PhD in agriculture and was then working as an agricultural engineer. But following the break-up of his relationship with Omoyis mother, he moved to Brussels in the mid-1980s. Once in the Belgium capital, the flamboyant Mr Hollela enjoyed a colourful personal life and was considered something of a playboy character while running a womens boutique in central Brussels that specialised in selling African clothes. His business was a hub for the Congolese and African diaspora in Belgium and adjoining countries, with Mr Hollela becoming one of the communitys leading figures. Pictured: Nella, far right, with her father Paul, left, her sister Omoyi, second left, and her sister Caroline, second right Mr Hollela's first child and Nellas eldest half-sister Omoyi Ly (pictured) is now in her late 40s Paul Hollela was regularly visited by all his children right up until his death and despite the fact that they were spread over three countries, family sources indicated Mr Hollela then met Cecilia, another woman of Congolese descent living in Brussels. They went on to have a daughter, Charonne, (pictured) who is Nellas youngest half-sibling and believed to be aged around 19 Cherone (pictured, left) is Nella Rose's half-sister; they share a father Soon after arriving, he met another local woman of Congolese descent who was a regular customer at his city centre shop, which was called Kamango Boutique. They had a daughter, Caroline Hollela, now aged 38, who still lives in the city and is Nellas second oldest half-sister. Over the years she has regularly met Nella and her brother Albert during their visits to Brussels to see their father and for other family events when the five siblings came together for meals or outings. Caroline works as a Higher Education consultant in Brussels for a government run organisation that focuses on the countrys French speaking communities. It was around 1993, while running his clothes shop, which became hugely popular with women of Congolese and wider African descent that Mr Hollela met Nellas mother Eseho. The two quickly fell in love and then married, giving birth to Albert, their eldest son, in 1995. Two years later, Nella was born but the relationship between her parents soon started falling apart. Dozens of pictures posted by Paul on his Facebook show him, Nella and her other siblings beaming at the camera during happy family get togethers. Pictured: Nella with brother Albert and sister Charonne Nella's father was an immigrant who arrived on European shores in the mid-1970s Soon after arriving, he met another local woman of Congolese descent who was a regular customer at his city centre shop, which was called Kamango Boutique' (pictured) Mr Hollela left his home in the Wembo-Nyama district of central Congo and settled in Paris, where he met a local woman of Congolese descent Eseho packed her bags and decided to leave Brussels, moving to London in 2004, when her daughter was aged seven and Albert nine. Pictured: Nella's father Paul with Albert A family source told MailOnline: Pauls personal life was very erratic and problematic and there was always a lot going on. He was always smartly dressed and was a very good-looking man. And because he ran the boutique, he was always very popular with the women, because it was only women that shopped there. I remember visiting him when he was married to Eseho, and he told me that things werent good, and they werent speaking or living together. I never even saw her, things were that bad. But that was Paul for you. None of his relationships ever worked out. The source added: He was a wonderful, charismatic man and thats why people liked him. And despite what was going on, his children always loved him. On his Facebook page, which still exists, Mr Hollela described his relationship status as Its complicated accompanied with a love heart. But even before the complete collapse of his marriage to Nellas mother, Mr Hollela then met Cecilia, another woman of Congolese descent living in Brussels. They went on to have a daughter, Charonne, who is Nellas youngest half-sibling and believed to be aged around 19. Following the end of the marriage to Nellas mother, Eseho packed her bags and decided to leave Brussels, moving to London in 2004, when her daughter was aged seven and Albert nine. It was around this time that Mr Hollela was forced to close his womens boutique, which was located on the forecourt of Brussels main railway station, because of rising rents imposed as part of a wider redevelopment plan. Nella (pictured) has spoken movingly about being made homeless following her mothers loss and revealed that she had to live at her accommodation in Leicester University or sofa surf with friends Smiling photos of family get-togethers underline the deep bond they all shared. Pictured: Nella (right) with her sister Caroline (centre) and their brother Albert (left) Family sources indicated that the siblings have always been close and have always been a source of comfort and support to one another. Pictured: Nella and her sister Omoyi With Nella routinely hitting the headlines for her clashes with Fred Sirieix and Nigel Farage on Im a Celebrity, further boosting her profile, members of her family have been closely following the show. Pictured: Albert, left, Nella, centre, and Paul, right But he continued to stay in the city, living with Cecilia and their daughter, and the couple tied the knot around 2009. He was regularly visited by all his children right up until his death and despite the fact that they were spread over three countries, family sources indicated that they have always been close and have always been a source of comfort and support to one another. Dozens of pictures posted by Paul on his Facebook show him, Nella and her other siblings beaming at the camera during happy family get togethers, underlining the deep bond they all shared. Talking of her difficult past, Nella has spoken movingly about being made homeless following her mothers loss and revealed that she had to live at her accommodation in Leicester University or sofa surf with friends. She told fans on You Tube: She (my mother) died in my arms. It is the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my life. But then my brother and I get a letter telling us we had 30 days to move out. So, I'm in my second year of uni, I'm dealing with my mum's death and now we're homeless. She added: 'You all thought I was living my best life, but in reality, I was homeless, living out of a suitcase and hopping from bed to bed.' A family source told MailOnline: Despite all the problems Paul had with all their mothers, this never affected the relationship between the children. With Nella routinely hitting the headlines for her clashes with Fred Sirieix and Nigel Farage on Im a Celebrity, further boosting her profile, members of her family have been closely following the show. The relative added: We all really love her a lot and despite Pauls troubled relationships, he never stopped loving her. He and Nella were very close. Shes had a very difficult life and her family life is very complicated, but shes come through it all. Georgian-American businessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze says a federal appeals court is poised to give him the relief he has been seeking for years since the Mueller report identified him in the infamous 'golden showers' footnote about Donald Trump. Rtskhiladze sued former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Justice Department after he was quoted informing former Trump fixer Michael Cohen that he had 'stopped flow of tapes from Russia.' Its inclusion proved explosive in light of rumors included in the Steele dossier about alleged salacious conduct by Trump in the Moscow Ritz-Carlton hotel rumors that were never substantiated. Rtskhiladze continues to argue he was defamed by the footnote, which altered his texts to Cohen in the buildup to the 2016 campaign. 'The Mueller report has published a wrong version of what I told them during my grand jury testimony,' Rtskhiladze told DailyMail.com from Kazakhstan after his lawyer appeared before a D.C. Court of Appeals panel. Georgian-American businessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze is suing Robert Mueller and the Justice Department over a footnote that mentioned his texts with former Trump fixer Michael Cohen A lower court judge had ruled that the businessman born in the former Soviet republic of Georgia he was inaccurately identified as Russian in the report lacked standing to sue. His lawyer Jerome Madden told a three-judge panel Friday that was the wrong decision. 'This is a case where the Department of Justice itself put into the public forum in a highly media feeding frenzy part of the transcript (of his client's grand jury interview with prosecutors). And when it did that, it misquoted the transcript and it left out material parts,' he said in court. The attorney continued to rail against Footnote 112. 'This footnote destroyed my client's livelihood. All he wants to do is to be able to go to the public forum and say: Look, this is what I actually said. That's all. 'We knew nothing about tapes,' said Rtskhiladze, who is in Kazakhstan for a meeting among film producers, the Georgian culture minister in an effort to bring more Hollywood movie shoots to Georgia. Recalling how the episode began, he said he was at his home in Connecticut when he got a call from a friend in Moscow who phoned wanting to pass on some gossip because he knew he was in business with the Trump Organization. 'I heard somebody bragging about some tapes of Trump from Russia. And I told Michael: beware there are some rumors.' 'Of course I had no idea of the golden shower ... Nobody was talking about any shower,' he said. Rtskhiladze wants access to the original grand jury transcript. Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled to keep the transcripts under seal. His lawyer said we wants the ability to publicize it. In the passage at hand, Rtskhiladze texted Cohen in 2016, 'Stopped flow of some tapes from Russia.' But the Mueller report left out a word when it included the details, saying Rtskhiladze had said 'Stopped flow of tapes from Russia,' a small but significant difference that his complaint says suggests he knew about the content. Rtskhiladze has said repeatedly he believed it was only 'bragging.' He previously told DailyMail.com the information was included to damage Trump and 'kill me' as a scapegoat. The lower court U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper, held that Rtskhiladze had failed to show intentional malfeasance, and that the 'obvious explanation is a mere drafting error,' Bloomberg Law reported. Rtskhiladze isn't the only one fixating on the Mueller report years after its release in April 2019. The messages, obtained by DailyMail.com, show Rtskhiladze told Cohen: 'Stopped flow of some tapes' When Rtskhiladze mentioned it was 'not a big deal' but said there are 'lots of stupid people,' Cohen responded: 'You have no idea' The Mueller report referenced the 'unverified allegation that the Russians had compromising tapes' of Trump when he was in Russia for the 2013 Miss Universe pageant Special Counsel Robert Mueller included a footnote about the texts and said it may relate to part of the golden showers dossier The Mueller Report mentioned the Steele Dossier's 'unverified allegation that the Russians had compromising tapes of the President involving conduct when he was a private citizen during a 2013 trip to Moscow for the Miss Universe Pageant.' It was a reference to unsubstantiated allegations regarding the Carlton Hotel, formerly the Ritz-Carlton Moscow Trump himself continues to bring it up, along with the golden showers episode, as he rails against the 'witch hunt' while facing four criminal trials. He did so again in Fort Dodge Iowa last month. 'It started with Russia, Russia, Russia, remember that?' Trump told a crowd. 'He was with four hookers. You think that was good that night to go up and tell my wife, 'It's not true, darling, I love you very much. It's not true!' Actually, that one she didn't believe, 'cause she said, 'He's a germaphobe; he's not into that, you know?' He's not into golden showers, as they say they called it, he's not.' 'I don't like that idea. No, I thought that would be a big problem. I was going to have a rough night. But that one, she was very good on,' he said of former first lady Melania Trump. Even if the three-judge panel rules against him, Rtskhiladze could try to get an en banc review of the entire circuit. 'We are going to go all the way to wherever we have to go. If I have to go to the Supreme Court and go on a hunger strike,' he said he would do so to clear his name. 'It should never happen,' he said. A 25-year-old man has been charged after a 10-month-old baby was found with critical injuries in southern Tasmania. Tasmanian Police were called in to investigate on Friday morning after paramedics found the child at an address in Warrane about 1.10am. On Saturday, detectives revealed they believe the child was injured in a 'serious assault' but warned the investigation is expected to take 'some time'. 'Police were called to the Royal Hobart Hospital around 5:20am ... after a child presented with critical injuries that are believed to be suspicious,' a spokesman said. Tasmanian Police were called in to investigate on Friday morning after paramedics found the child at an address in Warrane about 1.10am On Sunday morning, police said they had charged the Warrane man with causing grievous bodily harm to a child. He was detained in custody and will appear before a court today. The infant remains in hospital in a critical condition. 'Police including officers from CIB, Forensics and uniform are continuing to investigate and conduct examinations,' a statement from police read. Anyone with information that may help the investigation is asked to call Bellerive CIB on 131 444 or report to Crime Stoppers. Ports operators that provide a broader, deeper, and more sophisticated range of services, moving beyond simply handling in-port cargo and containers, will thrive no matter how fraught geopolitical stresses become. That was a key finding from a new whitepaper unveiled by AD Ports Group, on Navigating Geopolitical Shifts: Strategies for Ports in an Uncertain World. The whitepaper was launched following the conclusion of the landmark International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) World Ports Conference - Abu Dhabi 2023, hosted by AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, held, for the first time ever, in the Middle East region. Case study At a time when traditional maritime practices are being reevaluated and reinvented, AD Ports Group serves as a case study for the ports industry, thriving amid global uncertainty through strategic acquisitions, capital investment, and diversification. The report highlights that fundamental to success is positioning businesses to capitalise on opportunities, such as new trade routes that develop in response to challenges. It also explains how diversification fosters robust relationships with international stakeholders, as well as local economies, supporting those ports. These pioneering strategies are not merely reactive measures but proactive steps in shaping a more interconnected and stable global trade landscape. Ross Thompson, Group Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, AD Ports Group said: Geopolitical aspects have been part of trade for many hundreds of years, it is part of the operating environment our sector regularly finds itself navigating. AD Ports Group objective is to best position our company and assets to deal with those fluctuations and those changes. Our group aims to have a diverse number of trade routes, a diverse number of trading partners and multiple product sectors. This diversity in operations often means that activities can be positively affected by geopolitical ructions, offsetting those negatively impacted by the same events. Sustainable prosperity The whitepaper presents a narrative of AD Ports Group's journey, showcasing how enhanced inter- and intra-regional trade, forging new agreements with frontier, and emerging markets and collaborating with multilateral trade organisations, can bring greater and more sustainable prosperity to a myriad of societies while delivering returns to its shareholders. AD Ports Group has put these principles into practice, illustrating its success with multiple recently-inked agreements; one highlight includes a joint venture with Uzbekistan oil and gas company SEG to launch a logistics and freight businesses in the central Asian country and develop a food trading hub for the surrounding region. Additionally, AD Ports Group has introduced new shipping routes to align with global trade dynamics and embrace adaptability. The company has partnered with French logistics company CMA CGM Group to launch a shipping service between Singapore; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Chennai, India. Other new routes include a UAE-China service connecting Abu Dhabis Khalifa Port with the Chinese ports of Shanghai, Qingdao, and Ningbo. Connecting strategic ports across Asia and the UAE, demonstrates AD Ports Group's role as a catalyst in unearthing untapped trade flows.--TradeArabia News Service Mbabane The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has elevated over 100 officers to higher ranks. Among those promoted are senior officers, who were in the forefront in the investigation of cases related to the political unrest, which culminated to looting, torching of property and loss of lives. They include among others Head of the Crime Investigations Department (CID) in the country, Clement Sihlongonyane, who has been promoted from being Senior Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner and Thabo Hlophe, who has been elevated from Superintendent to Senior Superintendent. Hlophe, who was also in the forefront in the arrest of those implicated in the political unrest, is the Manzini Regional Crime Branch Officer (RCBO). Also in the list is Jabulani Madlopha, Hhohho RCBO, who has been promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent. Another senior police officer, Sikhumbuzo Fakudze has been promoted from Senior Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner. recently applauded Fakudze is the officer who was recently applauded by the High Court for his investigations in the murder of businessman and former Mbabane Swallows Boss Victor Maradona Gamedze, who was shot in cold blood in 2018. Nicholus Jele, who is the Hhohho Head of Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit has been elevated from Senior Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner. Not to be left out, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati has been promoted to Senior Superintendent. Her deputy, Nosipho Mnguni has been promoted from being Inspector to Assistant Superintendent. The promotions were announced by the Office of the National Commissioner of Police. In a press statement, the office said the promotions were in furtherance of the objective to improve the command and control mechanism geared primarily at improving the efficiency of all portfolios at strategic, tactical and operational levels. The vacancies have been created by the wide range of attrition factors. The promotions are with effect from December 1, 2023, reads part of the statement. Worth noting is that gender parity was applied in the promotions, as despite that the list is dominated by males, a significant number of women were promoted to higher ranks as well. Female pupils and staff in Scotlands schools are at risk from an alarming rise in toxic masculinity which has sparked an urgent classroom crackdown. Social media influencers such as Andrew Tate whose hateful online rants have earned him millions of followers, especially among teenage boys are blamed for fuelling misogyny among secondary and primary school pupils. Staff report boys using catchphrases that belittle women, pulling at girls clothes, sending unwanted explicit photos to female classmates and harassing female teachers. In one example, a group of boys refused to be taught by one teacher and then distributed a faked pornographic image of her. Staff also report worrying signs of violence and coercive control in teenage relationships. Andrew Tate is followed by millions on social media, especially teenage boys Teenage boys are particularly susceptible to content on platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, as well as being increasingly influenced by violent porn. However, campaigners say toxic masculinity is spreading even in primary schools, with children as young as nine being influenced by Tate. Now a group representing police, NHS, charities and local authority experts has issued guidance for Scottish schools on dealing with the issue. The document by the Fife Violence Against Women Partnership (FVAWP) states: FVAWP co-ordinators have received concerns that an increased rate of misogynistic behaviour is being seen among school pupils. 'This is particularly, but not exclusively, among boys and is being seen in both primary and secondary schools. It is thought that this is linked to content from social media and influencers, including Andrew Tate. This is not limited to Fife we have been advised by colleagues that it is being seen across Scotland. It warns misogyny can lead to rape, sexual offences, harassment and bullying, and domestic abuse, putting female pupils and staff at a heightened risk of violence. Group co-ordinator Laura Pearson said: There was a period, probably before the summer, where Andrew Tate was at his absolute peak and that was when it really came to our attention that we were hearing boys speaking positively about Andrew Tate. One report concerned children as young as primary 5. Staff reported pupils using catchphrases popularised by Tate, including make me a sandwich issued as an order to belittle women. Teachers are worried about behaviour in primaries Female teachers were also reportedly harassed. Ms Pearson added: We did have a particularly distressing report of a female teacher being targeted. There was a group of boys that refused to be taught by her because she was a female teacher. 'They imposed her photo onto the body of a porn star or a glamour model and were distributing that around the school and that was very degrading to her. She said it was important to talk about other behaviour such as banter, pulling girls hair, pinging their bra strap, pulling at their skirts its not just a joke to girls. Its about a power imbalance. Staff have now been trained to talk to pupils about misogynistic comments and to encourage critical thinking about online content. Teachers said sexist attitudes and a culture of misogyny in schools and wider society were concerning. EIS union assistant secretary Anne Keenan said more than half of respondents in a survey believed boys were more likely to exhibit violent and aggressive behaviour towards women teachers. She added: In recognising the impact of misogyny on both pupil and teacher wellbeing, we urgently need the Scottish Government and Cosla to take action. Passengers told by budget airline to pay to reserve a seat or queue at the airport Having charged passengers to reserve a seat, stow a suitcase and print a boarding pass, you might have thought Ryanair had run out of add-ons to squeeze out of its customers. But now the budget airline appears to have come up with yet another wheeze, with fliers told they must pay to add a random seat if they wish to receive their digital boarding pass. Those who refuse to pay between 8 and 21 are told to queue at the airport to receive a printed boarding pass. Airport staff told The Mail on Sunday the change, which has been rolled out in recent days, had caused outrage with customers. Vivien Lovrin booked to fly from London to Germany last Thursday and having opted not to pay extra to reserve a seat, proceeded to check-in with a randomly allocated spot. But after filling in her details, the Ryanair app told her: 'Check-in done! Get your boarding pass now and avoid queuing at the airport by adding a seat.' Ryanair now appears to be charging passengers for downloading a mobile boarding pass Passengers are now being told they must pay to add a random seat in order to print off or download their boarding card Those who refuse to pay between 8 and 21 are being told they must queue at the airport to be issued with a boarding pass The new policy makes a mockery of the 55 fine imposed on fliers if they fail to check-in online Most airport lounges are of 'poor quality' BY HARRIET SIME DEPUTY TRAVEL EDITOR The majority of UK airport lounges are overcrowded, unclean and serve poor food, according to a report. Undercover inspectors from Which? visited 20 lounges to review the food and drink selection, facilities such as toilets and showers, if there was a runway view and if there were designated quiet areas and spaces for families. None of the lounges achieved higher than three stars out of five. The worst was Southend Skylife Lounge, which got one star. Gatwick North's Plaza Premium, Manchester Terminal 1's Escape and Birmingham's No 1 Lounge achieved one and a half stars. Rory Boland, of Which? Travel, said: 'Using an airport lounge was once synonymous with luxury, but now that's rarely the case.' Advertisement On clicking through she was told to pay a fee to secure a random seat or else face yet another airport queue to get her boarding pass. She said: 'When you thought Ryanair couldn't sink any lower, they find a way to force you to buy a seat. How is this legal? 'Isn't the whole point of online check-in to avoid people queuing at the airport?' Ciaran Murtagh was faced with the same issue. He said: 'So Ryanair, you are making travellers, who do not wish to book a seat, queue up at a desk and have their boarding pass printed. That's great for the environment and another cheap shot at passengers to pay more to travel. A new low for Ryanair. Absolutely disgraceful.' Fabien Mauroy, who was flying out of London on Friday, commented about Ryanair on X (formerly Twitter): 'Worse experience for people, long queue at airports, [and] polluting planet for money.' The new fee makes a mockery of a 55 fine the budget firm imposes on passengers to print out their boarding pass at the airport if they don't check-in online. Italian traveller Marcello Maggio said: 'Ryanair says I must check in online, but it doesn't give me the boarding pass online to force me to pay for a seat. What am I buying with the ticket if not a seat to fly?' Other add-ons for those who book online include 4 to 15 to reserve a seat, while bags cost between 20 and 60, with an excess fee of around 10 per kilo. Other online add-ons include a charge for reserving a seat and luggage fees, which range from 20 to 60 per bag Some passengers have reported being issued with a mobile boarding pass for free If a passenger requires oxygen for medical reasons they are not allowed to bring their own and must pay 55 to use Ryanair's. The latest fee does not appear to affect all travellers, with some saying they got a digital boarding pass for free. A Ryanair spokesman said: 'Passengers have the choice of choosing a seat for a small fee or be randomly allocated a seat free of charge.' The firm did not respond to claims that it was effectively forcing customers to pay for a digital boarding pass. A British-Israeli woman whose mother was held hostage by Hamas has told the Mail on Sunday how she had to break the heart-breaking news to her that one of her sons had been murdered by the terrorists. Ayelet Svatitzky, 46, was overcome with relief after Channah Peri was freed by Hamas during the seven-day ceasefire last month. Her British-born brother Nadav Popplewell, 51, is still being held along with 160 others. But Mrs Svatitzky said her reunion with her mother was bittersweet, adding: 'On the one hand it's a huge relief and she is doing as well as can be expected given the ordeal she went through for seven weeks. 'We are delighted that she is home, but our thoughts are with Nadav who is still in Gaza and with all the others being held and who must be freed as soon as possible. Ayelet Svatitzky, 46, (pictured) was overcome with relief after her mother was freed by Hamas during the seven-day ceasefire last month Terrorists burst into the family's home at kibbutz Nirim - just 1.5 miles from the border with Gaza on October 7, and snatched Channah Peri and Nadav Popplewell. Pictured: Nadav and Channah in their living room with armed guards Mrs Svatitzky said her reunion with her mother was bittersweet. Pictured: Channah Peri 'My mother had no idea that my elder brother Roi had been murdered when she as freed and crossed into Israel, she called me and asked after him, what could I do? 'I told her as gently as I could that, that somethings I could only say in person and not on the telephone and I think she knew what I meant. 'She prepared herself for what I was about to tell her when we eventually met and when I did tell her she was obviously completely devastated.' Terrorists burst into the family's home at kibbutz Nirim - just 1.5 miles from the border with Gaza on October 7, and snatched Mrs Peri and Nadav, who lived next door. Hours later the family was horrified when evil Hamas took pictures of Mrs Peri and her son with an armed man in the foreground and sent them to everyone listed on their phone. That was the final contact they had until November 24 when Mrs Peri was freed in the first group of hostages, taken to hospital in Israel. Mrs Svatitzky, who grew up in West Yorkshire, said: 'My mother and brother were held together in tunnels deep underground, and they slept on thin mattresses but had very little food and no medication.' When her mother was told she would finally be freed, Mrs Svatitzky said she 'hung on to my brother, she didn't want to leave him alone. She was scared at what might happen. 'They swapped a few words and a hug and then she was taken away she genuinely thought he would be freed a couple of days later.' Three days after she was released, Mrs Peri was able to visit the grave of her murdered son Roi. Mrs Svatitzky said: 'It's just more trauma on top of multiple later of trauma. One son has been murdered and one son has been kidnapped. My mother is very strong and has amazing willpower, and we are all taking an active role in her rehabilitation. Ayelet Svatitzky holds an image of her mother Channah Peri and British-born brother Nadav Popplewell, who is still being held by Hamas 'It's baby steps at the moment...She was held captive for 49 days, she is 79 years old and was fully independent prior to October 7, the only things she didn't do was drive because of her diabetes. 'But now she must stay with us, and she has lost 10 per cent of her body weight and her muscles have wasted away. 'She will need medication and physiotherapy and that's just the physical aspect, she also has to get over the emotional and mental aspect of the horrific experience she endured. 'She has talked a little of how she as kept but because of security reasons I can't go into too much detail, as there are hostages still in Gaza, my brother included, and we don't want to jeopardise anything.' A high school mathematics teacher has been arrested and charged with child exploitation offences after he allegedly shared explicit messages with a young boy. Roberto Charles Messina, 51, has been fired following his arrest at John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School in Mirrabooka, north of Perth, on Thursday. Messina appeared at Armadale Magistrates Court on Friday accused of attempting to procure a child under 13 for sexual activity. The married father's charges do not relate in any way to students at the Anglican school he has been teaching at for the last 16 years. Western Australian Police confirmed the arrest of the 51-year-old and said detectives searched his Wattle Grove home and seized various electronic devices. Teacher Roberto Charles Messina (right) has been charged with child exploitation offences Police allege he used a number of online sites to speak with someone he believed was a young boy and that these conversations were of a sexually explicit nature, including sharing sexual images. Messina has been charged with intent to procure a person believed to be under 13 years for sexual activity, possessing child exploitation material and distributing it. It has also been revealed that Messina's had taught at one of Perth's most elite private schools in the early 2000s, the West Australian reported. In March 2005, Messina was suspended before leaving Guildford Grammar School, where he was believed to have worked as a Year 8 mathematics teacher. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Messina's suspension from Guildford Grammar School was related to the matters over which he is currently charged. John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School principal Jason Bartell first raised the alarm to parents and carers on Friday in an email. Mr Bartell said he only became aware of the allegations only when police attended the school a day earlier. The principal said Messina had given verification of his registration with the Western Australian College of Teaching when he joined on January 1, 2008. He said the teacher also appeared to have a clear criminal check and that he had passed previous ones before. The school immediately terminated Messina's employment according to a statement obtained by WA Today. John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School principal Jason Bartell alerted parents and carers to the allegations on Friday in an email 'The school first become aware of the allegations when contacted by police on 30 November,' the statement read. 'The teacher met all the government and school child safe checks, including a valid Working With Children Check. 'Any allegations relating to child safety are taken very seriously and the school is cooperating with all enquiries.' Mr Bartell also said students and staff members have been offered counselling. Messina did not apply for bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on January 12. A WA Government spokesperson said they were unable to provide comment as the matter was before the courts. 'The paramount consideration is the best interests of the children,' they said. Daily Mail Australia contacted John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School for comment. A senior journalist on The Daily Telegraph has become the third member of its editorial team to object to the paper's proposed take-over by a UAE-backed fund. Janet Daley wrote in the paper's pages that RedBird IMI, which is funded by the rulers of Abu Dhabi, 'must not be permitted to take ownership of this newspaper'. Ms Daley said: 'In a free society no government including the country's elected one should own a news media outlet. The power wielded by a state must be, always and without qualification, separate from the presentation and analysis of information in the public domain. 'That principle has been one of the distinguishing differences between tyrannies and democracies in the modern world.' Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has ordered media regulator Ofcom to investigate if the deal with the fund risked 'the need for accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers' (Stock photo) Former Telegraph editor Charles Moore has also spoken out against the deal. And last night, former Prime Minister Liz Truss also urged the Government to protect The Telegraph's editorial independence. Ms Truss said it was vital that it was able to publish 'freely' after Ministers decided to launch a review of the deal amid fears of censorship and foreign interference. She told the Telegraph: 'I want the Government to ensure that any ownership of the press enables them to freely publish according to what they believe to be the case.' The remarks come after associate editor Camilla Tominey warned in the paper's pages that the newspaper should not be owned by a 'sexist regime', and claimed the controversial deal 'doesn't pass the sniff test' because 'the UAE falls short of Western standards and values'. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has ordered media regulator Ofcom to investigate if the deal with the fund risked 'the need for accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers'. The remarks come after associate editor Camilla Tominey (pictured) warned in the paper's pages that the newspaper should not be owned by a 'sexist regime' In Ms Tominey's article, headlined 'A misogynist foreign state must not be allowed to own The Telegraph', she said that Ms Frazer should recognise that a newspaper 'promoting women as key columnists' might 'struggle to operate under the guise of any authoritarian regime that implements sexist laws'. The Spectator magazine, which is also part of the proposed deal, and is edited by Telegraph columnist Fraser Nelson, has also argued that 'it is not 'sentimental' to be uncomfortable at the prospect of Britain's oldest weekly magazine being snapped up by the Emirates'. Ms Daley wrote in her article that newspapers were an essential to avoid having a 'public discourse dominated by the grotesque absurdities of 'deep fake' video clips, manipulated photographs, unchecked hysterical testimony and outright deception... overseen by unqualified and possibly irresponsible social media billionaires who are accountable to no one.' Aircraft near-misses are on the rise in the US, amid a severe air traffic controller staffing shortage that controllers say is pushing them to the brink physically and mentally. In the fiscal year through September 30, 'significant' air traffic control lapses jumped 65 percent from the prior year, to 503 incidents, according to internal Federal Aviation Administration data reported by the New York Times on Saturday. Citing records and interviews with current and former controllers, the Times revealed incidents of controllers sleeping and drinking on the job, fights breaking out in control towers, and complaints of dismal working conditions including black mold and biting insects. Staff have also complained of having to bring lightbulbs in from home to illuminate dilapidated control towers, whose lifts sometimes break - leaving them to trudge up hundreds of steps. Workers are accused of smoking weed during breaks and downing up to nine vodkas to get to sleep, despite strict FAA rules prohibiting the use of such substances close-to or during a shift. Controllers say that due to staffing shortages, they are often forced to work 10-hour shifts six days a week, on irregular schedules that leave them exhausted, mentally depressed, and turning to alcohol to cope. In a statement, the FAA said the lengthy Times report 'does not reflect the high level of safety of our nation's airspace.' 'Flying has never been safer, due in large part to our air traffic controllers. We encourage them to report safety concerns and incidents without fear of reprisal,' the agency added. A simulation shows an incident February in Austin, Texas, when a FedEx cargo plane and a Southwest Boeing 737 came within about 115 feet in poor visibility conditions. The controller had cleared the FedEx plane to land and the Southwest plane to depart on the same runway In October, Michael G. Whitaker became FAA Administrator. One of his most urgent tasks has been addressing a surge in close-calls between planes at major airports From 2011 to 2022, the number of fully certified controllers declined more than 9 percent, even though traffic increased, according to the times. According to target staffing levels set by the FAA and the union that represents controllers, 99 percent of the nation's air traffic control sites are understaffed. Under looser guidelines preferred by the FAA, only 63 percent of the facilities are considered understaffed. To make up for the shortage, controllers at 40 percent of the nation's facilities are required to work six-day weeks at least once a month, and some of them have to do so every week, according to the union. While overtime pay offers a nice padding to controller compensation, which typically runs in the six figures, some controllers say they have been pushed to the breaking point. 'We have recently had a heart attack, multiple panic attacks (including my own), people losing their medicals due to depression and some that just outright quit the FAA because it has gotten so bad,' a Jacksonville controller wrote in a confidential safety report obtained by the Times in an open records request. 'Who knows how many other stress-induced physical and mental issues are happening that we don't even know about yet,' the controller added. 'This place is breaking people. We need help. I'll say it again, SOS!!' Ashley Smith, who worked as a controller in Atlanta for more than a decade, told the Times she witnessed an increase in mistakes at her facility, which had 77 fully certified controllers instead of the target level of 110. As morale sank, arguments and even physical fights broke out in the control room, she said. After a controller error led to a near-miss between two Delta planes, Smith sent an email complaining to a senior FAA official, writing: 'The staffing is ridiculous and getting worse.' 'What level of fatigue is the agency trying to get this work force to before they recognize a serious safety issue?' the email added. Smith quit the job three months later. In October. two commercial planes almost crashed shortly after one took off from Portland International Airport during a storm, as seen in a virtual re-creation The FAA said in a statement that it is 'is deeply committed to the health and well-being of our air traffic controllers and all of our employees.' 'We make it clear to our employees that they can and should report incidents, without the risk of reprisal,' noting that the behavior in the Times report 'is unacceptable and has already been addressed.' 'Nothing is more important than the safety of everyone who flies in our National Airspace System,' the agency added. In October, Michael G. Whitaker became FAA Administrator following a career in executive roles in both private industry and the agency. One of his most urgent tasks has been addressing a surge in close-calls between planes at major airports. In August, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Cessna Citation 560X business jet came less than 100 feet apart in San Diego. The FAA said an air traffic controller cleared the Cessna to land on a runway even though Southwest Flight 2493 had already been told to taxi onto the same runway. A similar near-collision occurred in February in Austin, Texas, when a FedEx cargo plane and a Southwest Boeing 737 came within about 115 feet in poor visibility conditions. The controller had cleared the FedEx plane to land and the Southwest plane to depart on the same runway. The FAA said in March it was taking steps to improve its air traffic control operations, which are short-staffed. Last month, an independent review board issued a series of recommendations to improve safety in the national airspace. The FAA said it would take immediate action on several of the recommendations, including measures to expand hiring and training capacity for controllers. 'Aviation is safe because we are continuously looking for ways to improve,' Whitaker said in response to the report. 'The independent safety review team made some excellent recommendations and we are adopting some of them immediately. Braverman & Herbert clashed over his opposition to a crackdown on protesters The head of the police training body was last night at the centre of a Whitehall power struggle over his 'woke' beliefs. The Mail on Sunday understands that Lord (Nick) Herbert was due to be removed as chairman of the College of Policing by ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman after they clashed over his opposition to a crackdown on environmental protesters. However, Mrs Braverman was sacked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following a row over the policing of pro-Palestinian marches before the decision could take effect. That opened up the prospect of a reprieve for Lord Herbert under her successor as Home Secretary, James Cleverly. Last night, Lord Herbert's fate was hanging in the balance after a source told this newspaper that Mr Cleverly was minded to reappoint Lord Herbert but that No 10 was 'less keen'. The Mail on Sunday understands that Lord (Nick) Herbert was due to be removed as chairman of the College of Policing by ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman Suella Braverman and Lord (Nick) Herbert clashed over his opposition to a crackdown on environmental protesters The source said: 'Nick's suitability, or otherwise, for that job is one of the few things which Suella and Rishi agree on.' Before entering the Lords, gay rights champion Lord Herbert served as a Home Office and Justice Minister, and was MP for Arundel and South Downs for 14 years. In 2021, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed him as UK special envoy on LGBT rights. The peer, the first openly gay Tory parliamentary candidate when he entered the Commons in 2005, angered some party colleagues by warning against a culture war over transgender rights, saying: 'It distracts from the practical things we need to do to support people. 'I wouldn't like to see the Government in any way take a side in what some are seeing clearly as a culture war.' Lord Herbert was approached for comment. Footage of a now suspended mayor sitting on top of an Aboriginal child in a shocking 'citizen's arrest' has sparked calls for legal action to be taken against him. Jeffrey McLaughlin, Mayor of the Barkly Regional Council, in Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, was filmed sitting on the back of a young boy after making what he claims was a citizen's arrest on August 21. Mr McLaughlin said the child had tried to break into his home. A 61-year-old man who was with Mr McLaughlin at the time allegedly made threats towards the boy and has been charged with assault. 'I'll sit here as f**king long as I have to,' Mr McLaughlin is heard saying in the video. Footage of a now suspended mayor sitting on top of a child in a shocking 'citizen's arrest' has sparked calls for legal action to be taken against him 'One of you guys is going to get killed. I told you the other day. You're really lucky you're with me. We don't want to live like this anymore.' The other man meanwhile can be heard saying, 'I'd love to stamp on your head'. He then lifts his leg up as if he was going to kick the child who cries out 'go away'. 'Keep your f**king head down or I'll stamp on it,' the man says. 'If I had my way I wouldn't be ringing the cops. You're lucky I don't punch you right in the head.' The man then makes a fist with his hand before shoving his boot into the child's head. A 61-year-old man has been charged with assault over the incident After the footage circulated, Mr McLaughlin defended his actions. 'The force I used to apprehend the youth was entirely reasonable in the circumstances,' he wrote on Facebook. 'I immediately called NT Police and requested their attendance at the scene. Whilst the spontaneous remarks and conduct of the other adult male in the footage can rightly be described as inappropriate, they are not mine and I did not encourage them. 'As soon as police arrived, I complied with their directions and NT Police took the youth into their custody. 'My actions were neither illegal nor inconsistent with my position as the Mayor of the Barkly Regional Council. It is disappointing that this footage has been released for self-evidently political purposes. 'I will not be resigning from my position as the Mayor of the Barkly Regional Council.' The parents of the boy have since signed a letter that has been sent to the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) by Barkly councillor Elliot McAdam. The NAAJA offers legal services to Aboriginal people in the NT. 'As a person in high office he should [have] stopped this assault almost immediately, but he didn't,' the letter reads, the ABC reported. Mr McLaughlin (pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) has resisted calls to resign '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.' Earlier the mayor had told the publication he knew the child's family very well, and had spoken to them and 'did restorative justice'. The parents have denied this. Mr McLaughlin and all members of the Barkly Regional Council were suspended in October over 'fiscal management concerns'. Mr McLaughlin's suspension is understood to not be related to the citizen's arrest. A senior family court judge has been treated in hospital after being assaulted by a defendant in a case he was hearing. The defendant, who was representing himself in court and cannot be named for legal reasons, has since pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress. He will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court. The judge, who is now recovering at home, is being offered counselling and support by senior colleagues. The Family Law Bar Association said it was 'shocked' by the violence but conceded that family law cases can often be fraught, due to the highly sensitive topics, such as rape and domestic abuse, that are frequently discussed. Hannah Markham, head of the Family Law Bar Association, said: 'There hasn't been another example of an assault like this over the past 40 years. But it does not make this incident any less shocking. A man who assaulted a senior family court judge during a case will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court 'These moments happen in a second and you don't always know that they are going to come.' She added: 'You get very robust security services at the door of the building, but once you're in the court we're trying to make it a comfortable setting and give people the space to give their best evidence. 'So you don't want people watching and undermining that process.' Security at the entrance includes full body searches, making people drink a small sip of any liquid they attempt to bring in to prove it's not acid, and asking people to hand over any glass objects. But while there is a security presence on the door of the building, no guards are visible in the corridors, in the courts or outside the courtrooms themselves. The shocking attack comes amid cuts to legal aid that mean more people are representing themselves in court and do not have a lawyer. When asked about legal aid cuts, Ms Markham said: 'When you have representation you have someone who can manage your expectations, talk you through what's going to happen and help you respond to difficult things. 'But people representing themselves might not understand what is going on.' A spokesman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service described the assault as 'shocking' and said that 'Ministers had been in contact' with the affected judge. They said they take the safety of judges 'very seriously' and will be 'urgently reviewing' the attack's circumstances. First-time shoplifters could be tagged with tracking devices in a major crackdown on the high-street crime epidemic, the Justice Secretary has said. Alex Chalk told The Mail on Sunday the electronic ankle tags will hang 'like a sword of Damocles' over those who consider reoffending, adding: 'They know, if they step one inch out of line, they are liable to go to prison.' Britain's most prolific shop thieves will have 'exclusion zones' imposed on them that ban them from high streets or even certain stores under threat of prison. The tags, which use GPS-monitoring technology, can immediately alert the police if offenders stray into areas they are banned from. Mr Chalk said he planned to have 25,000 criminals 'man-marked' by the devices, which can track location and enforce curfews. In an exclusive interview, he said: 'We have doubled the number of tags available to the courts so they can choose to punish a first-time shoplifter with a tag. If there are repeat offences, because they are on that tag it means it is overwhelmingly likely they will go to prison.' First-time shoplifters will be tagged with tracking devices, with the most prolific thieves banned from high streets or even certain stores Britain's shoplifting epidemic has been highlighted by a Mail on Sunday campaign calling for the police, prosecutors and courts to be much tougher on offenders. We revealed how a theft takes place every two seconds in UK stores. Retailers lost over a 1 billion in stolen goods last year, forcing them to raise prices. Police forces have been criticised for failing to investigate shoplifting or treating it as a low priority. But a new police operation called Project Pegasus will see officers take a 'zero-tolerance' approach, investigate every reasonable lead and provide the 'highest grade of emergency response' when store staff detain a thief. Mr Chalk said the number of reusable GPS tags which cost up to 1,500 each will double to 25,000 by 2025. He added: 'We are absolutely in favour of maxing out the use of these tags because we think it provides that additional reassurance that the British people want. 'We have to ensure we are making the maximum use of technology to enforce robust sentences.' A trial scheme has led to 58 thieves being charged after they committed another crime while wearing one of the tags, which tracked them 24 hours a day from a control room in Manchester. The 'trail mapping' devices monitored those convicted of shoplifting, burglary, theft and robbery, and are currently being tested by 19 police forces. Mr Chalk said he planned to have 25,000 criminals 'man-marked' by the devices, which can track location and enforce curfews Each day, forces submit crime data that is matched against tagged criminals. In May, Ryan Cooney, from Kent, was jailed for more than three years after he stole a handbag and robbed a McDonald's while wearing a GPS tag. Videos on social media have shown criminals cutting off the tags and tricking other devices that monitor alcohol consumption by placing ham or chicken skin between the monitor and their skin. But officials say the new tags have been 'tested to death' and now have cut-proof Kevlar-lined straps and a fibre-optic cable that triggers a control-room alert if they are tampered with. MBABANE Government says its doors are open to engaging emaSwati in exile in talks about forgiveness. Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Press Secretary, said forgiveness would always go via the path of accountability. Nxumalo said repenting emaSwati wishing to come back home should be ready to be subjected to a process of full disclosure regarding atrocities committed against their fellow countrymen. These included members of the security forces who were gunned down in cold blood in broad day light. After they had been subjected to a full disclosure, he said they could be considered for immunity for their heinous crimes. The spokesperson said Eswatini is a State that was committed to justice and the rule of law. There are no shortcuts to liberation and forgiveness, he said. The government press secretary said Cebile Shongwe, popularly known as Cece, was subjected to another form of gender-based violence (GBV) if it was true that she was recruited and hoodwinked to exile in the way and manner in which she narrated in a circulating video clip. He issued the statement in reaction to the circulating videos posted on social media by Cece on the treatment she received in exile. He mentioned that after seeing the video clip for Cece circulating on social media platforms, wherein she was apparently expressing anguish and frustration for having been prematurely hoodwinked by a certain gentleman to resign her job and go to exile in order to engage in an illegitimate and fraudulent struggle, government was obliged to say something. humanitarian He said government would like to further reiterate that it was upholding and maintaining an open door policy, which was guided by international and humanitarian law. The government spokesperson pointed out that the open door policy related to those subversive and militants elements who were repentant of their violent and terroristic activities and were ready to come back home. Nxumalo urged them to take responsibility for their past activities and also embrace a rehabilitation programme designed to integrate them back to society. Nobody is born a terrorist. Therefore, nobody should die a terrorist, he said. He said terrorism was not a viable strategy in social change. As a result, he said government was keen to putting in place measures to prevent the recruitment of young people to join terrorism. He said government was keen to adopting an anti-terrorist strategy that would facilitate the exit of older members from terrorism and proscribed organisations and activities. On social media, Cece has been criticising certain elements within the pro-democracy movement, mainly one of the members whom she accused of having published sensitive stories while she was in the country. After the publication of these stories, she said she felt insecure, resulting in her migration to South Africa. She said she hurriedly left Eswatini before she could apply for an international passport. She said she was disappointed because the member did not give her a meagre E400 on her low days, despite the huge role she has been playing in sharing crucial information with him. Cece complained about the treatment she has been receiving of late. She said there were comrades who had stopped assisting her pay rent. On her social page, Cece alleged yesterday that one person advocating for political reforms stopped the Swaziland International Solidarity Network from burning forests belonging to Montigny Investments in Bhunya. She alleged that she was taken aback when this democrat asked for E3 million from one of the employees of the company as a token of appreciation for saving the companys property. complained At some point, she warned her followers to run away, very fast, from a person who called himself an investigative journalist. She also complained about womanising comrades. The former police officer said these people were not concerned about the struggle for political reforms as their concentrations were on women and wine. One woman, Slindile Dlamini, challenged Ceces legitimacy in the political reforms, using words that cannot be published for ethical reasons. However, Cece came back strong and got personal with Slindile, a noticeable character in political reform conversations. While social media clients have been following Ceces posts, Bhekani Magagula, a former warder, who escaped the country to South Africa at the height of the civil unrest, made startling allegations on Swazi Voice of the Peoples News. He talked about plots to kill journalists. Magagula said these plots were orchestrated by a leader of a political party. The exiled warder alleged that the political leader received millions of Emalangeni from donors to finance the struggle for political reforms. He said it was a pity that the money was not used for the intended purpose. Magagula said any person who differed in opinion with this leader faced death threats. He wondered how a leader who failed to manage a team of 16 freedom fighters could run a country of 1.3 million people. He said the political leader mistreated self-styled commander of the underground forces, Thabo Kunene, who was arrested on May 31, 2023. Magagula said the senior comrade talked to Kunene as if he was addressing a child. He said their political agenda would have long been achieved if the commander was not arrested. He also alleged that there was an underhand in the arrest of Kunene, suspecting an inside job. He said some comrades might have sold him out to the police. In an interview, Cece said she had not seen the statement, but requested government to walk the talk in this matter. She said there was no crime that she ever committed. However, she said she was aware that the call was just a trap than a commitment to solve the countrys crises. If they are real, she urged government to set free the two innocent former MPs who were also jailed for speaking the truth. These are Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza. May they commit that they are not going to kill us, she said. difficult You know bhuti (referring to this reporter) a lot has happened and its very difficult to trust government. She said her biggest wish was to see government bringing solutions to the political chaos faced by the nation. The ex-police officer mentioned that only that fact could serve as a demonstration of a political-will backing the promise of immunity and tolerance to dissenting voices. Cece said it was a fact that Eswatini would forever be her home. She said she would always want to go home when authorities have embraced the fact that the country belongs to all emaSwati, regardless of their diverseness in the political space. When this political battle comes to an end, I shall celebrate with all both in and out of the country, she said. For now I think I am safe and I am still not convinced that it is safe to go back home, unless government convinces me otherwise and I dont know how it can convince me. One liSwati in exile said he would return home on condition that government committed itself to an inclusive political dialogue and elimination of repressive laws. Sivumelwano Nyembe, the Public Relations Officer of the Swaziland Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) could not be reached for comment through his mobile phone. He had not responded to a questionnaire texted to her phone by 6pm yesterday. Associated Press reported in October 2023 that Pakistans former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had arrived home on a chartered plane from Dubai, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London. A Pakistani federal court granted him several days of protection in graft cases, clearing the way for his return. Alpheous discusses plot to kill Thabo On June 9, 2023, the Government Press Secretary, Nxumalo, issued a statement that there was a plot to kill Kunene. His statement was described as sheer propaganda orchestrated to sow the seeds of discord within the pro-democracy movement. The statement issued by Nxumalo was titled Threats on suspect Thabo Kunenes life. Kunene appeared in the High Court of Eswatini charged with contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008. He was slapped with attempted murder and murder charges. Sibusiso Nkomonye was arrested with him. Meanwhile, the government spokesperson said a credible intelligence report showed that there was a plan to harm Kunene. He said the killing of the former police officer was intended to manipulate the information, which Kunene was divulging to the law enforcement agencies that were interrogating him. Nxumalo urged the public to report any suspicious persons to the nearest police station. He assured the nation that the self-styled commander would get maximum protection. Government wishes to inform the nation that all is being done by national security services to ensure that the suspect, Thabo Kunene, is provided with maximum protection as he and his accomplice await trial, the press release stated. Government warned that all those who were or might be involved in this diabolical plan to harm the suspect while in the custody of government, should desist from it right away, for the law shall take its full course. Government also warned the nation and all emaSwati to be on the lookout for people whose intentions were to cause chaos and confusion in the country so that they could blame others for their respective criminal activities. A young man left fighting for life after he was buried alive in sand on Bribie Island fell into a hole which had been dug in order to cook a pig, it can be revealed. Queensland Paramedics and an RACQ LifeFlight rescue helicopter crew were called to help Josh Taylor, 25, after he fell into a hole and was buried in sand on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, just before 2pm on Saturday. Paramedics spent two hours at the scene trying to revive Mr Taylor, who was without a pulse for 45 minutes. He remains in critical condition. Witness Nathan, who was among those who helped dig Mr Taylor out told Seven News that the 1.5metre hole had been dug so a pig could be cooked under the sand. 'He stood up off the chair, the sand had given away a little bit underneath him,' he said. Josh Taylor (right) is now fighting for life, fell into a hole that had been dug to cook a pig Paramedics and friends worked desperately to free him. Photo: 7News 'He stumbled back. He'd put his arms out to obviously to break the fall, he's continued going down and knocked sand as he's put his arms out. 'He was that deep in the hole that you could not see him, his feet, unless you were standing on top of the hole.' Onlookers rushed to Mr Taylor's aid, digging him out before tying a rope to his feet to pull him from the hole. 'There were 15 fully grown men on the end of this rope and he still would not budge,' Nathan recalled. 'That's when the paramedic was like pull him this way .. . the suction gave way and he popped out. 'I'm praying that he pulls through this.' Mr Taylor's family are by his side at the Princess Alexandra hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition, The Courier Mail reported. The witness Nathan was leaving the beach with his family when a group of men ran over yelling for help to rescue their friend from under the sand, he told NCA NewsWire. When he arrived at the scene, the 25-year-old's family and friends were desperately digging to to get him out. Josh Taylor's family remain by his side at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital Josh was buried underneath the sand for an extended period of time. Picture: Nine News 'I realised someone was head first in a hole and I was just digging digging digging...' he said. 'When I first went up to the hole, I couldn't even see his foot. That's how deep it was,' he said. There were more than 15 people digging in the sand to get the man out before paramedics and rangers arrived. 'All of his family, were screaming at us, telling us to help, telling us to get rope so we could pull him out. It was pretty gruesome,' he said. 'There were like 15 men on the rope pulling and he did not budge.' After some time of pulling and digging, the young man finally burst through the surface of the sand, but the force of being pulled out caused him further injury, Nathan said. 'It was pretty gnarly when he popped out. I threw up,' Nathan said. 'He broke. The suction, the force, of everyone pulling.' When they got him out, the man did not have a pulse and rangers began performing CPR. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed the man was flown to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition. Picture RACQ LifeFlight Rangers in the area also applied a defibrillator before the arrival of paramedics. A helicopter pilot landed on the beach to deliver the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Critical Care Doctor and flight paramedic as close to the scene as possible. The rescue crew then flew the man to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition for further treatment. It is understood it took 45 minutes before the man's pulse returned. QAS Paramedic Peter Batt praised the actions of the people who helped out. 'The fact that they have got a return of pulse on this young man after an extended period of CPR, is evidence that good CPR was being done, it's a credit to those people who got in and helped with their first aid,' he said. Bribie Island, part of Queensland's Moreton Bay region, is a popular holiday destination. The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew was called to the remote beach scene. Picture RACQ LifeFlight A treasury minister has been urged to correct the record in Parliament after claiming that people's taxes are falling. Laura Trott, the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury, recently told MPs that 'taxes for the average worker have gone down by 1,000' since 2010. Questioned about her statement, she did not provide proof to back up her claim. The House of Commons library has calculated that personal taxes will in fact have risen by about 1,200 between 2010 to 2024. Laura Trott (pictured) recently told MPs that 'taxes for the average worker have gone down by 1,000' since 2010 Last month Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) announced cuts to National Insurance, which will come in in January Labour has written to Ms Trott demanding she correct the Parliamentary record. The letter by shadow Treasury minister James Murray says: 'The tax burden in our country is set to increase by 4,300 per household between 2019/20 and 2028/29. 'Even limiting ourselves to personal taxes, the tax burden is still projected to rise by 1,200 per household.' It repeats the request for Ms Trott to give an 'urgent clarification' of her comments, and, if she cannot do so, to 'correct the record' in the Commons. Last month Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced cuts to National Insurance, which will come in in January. The Prime Minister told the Mail on Sunday the cuts are just the 'start of a journey', fuelling speculation that the Spring Budget will see cuts to income tax. The Treasury responded by saying that Ms Trott was referring to increases to tax allowances since 2010. Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas believes the silence from the Sussexes is 'unusual.' Mr Markle, 79, who fell out with daughter Meghan when he suffered two heart attacks on the eve of her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry and was unable to walk her down the aisle, said: 'Another letter? Again?' Meghan wrote her father a five-page letter after her wedding. The existence of the letter was 'leaked' to People magazine by five of her friends six months later. Mr Markle said: 'Here we have another letter from my daughter which has somehow made it into the public domain. Another letter? Again? The fact that Harry and Meghan have not publicly distanced themselves from this strikes me as unusual.' Meghan Markle's estranged father has branded the Sussexes' silence over the Scobie book furore as 'unusual' Thomas Markle has repeatedly appealed to Meghan to allow him to see his grandchildren Omid Scobie's book Endgame caused controversy after two royals identified by Meghan as having expressed concerns over her future son's skin colour were named in the Dutch edition Meghan sued the Mail on Sunday after this newspaper published excerpts of the letter to her father. Mr Markle suffered a devastating stroke last year and still struggles to talk. He has repeatedly appealed to Meghan to allow him to see his grandchildren, four-year-old Archie and Lilibet, two, but has not heard from her even though her home in Montecito is around a five-hour drive from his house in Rosarito, Mexico. Washington DC police have issued a warning about armed robbers targeting and stealing thousands of dollars worth of winter coats in broad daylight. In the span of 48 hours, multiple residents were robbed of their Canada Goose and Moncler jackets at gunpoint. Police said that three to four masked thieves wearing dark clothing approached the victims and demanded their jackets as well as other items before making off with them in a car. In Georgetown, a woman whose outerwear was nearly stolen said she was walking home when a group of girls noticed her Canada Goose jacket and attempted to steal the expensive item. 'I just heard, "Ooh, she's got a Goose," and I thought maybe it was a compliment, and then I felt a hand on my arm and I was like, "Oh, they actually want to take it off me", she said. 'At that point, I threw my coffee cup to the side just to distract them; specifically, I did not want to hurt anyone, but I just wanted them to be like, "Oh, what was that?" And it worked, and then I ran really fast, and I've not run like that in a while,' the woman explained. In Georgetown, a woman said she was walking home when a group of girls noticed she was wearing a Canada Goose jacket and attempted to steal the expensive item In the span of 48 hours, multiple residents were robbed of their Canada Goose and Moncler jackets at gunpoint by robbers Canada Goose coats and parkas are known to be priced over $1,000, with the most expensive woman's parka costing $1,850. In one incident that happened near the Estonian Embassy on M Street, Northwest, the muggers stole a jacket along with the man's wallet, a pair of Jordans and several other items after assaulting him. While in another incident, suspects approached another male victim on P Street, Northwest, held him at gunpoint and took his $1,800 Moncler jacket as well as his wallet. Thieves also stole a victim's blue Canada Goose jacket after confronting them along the 1900 block of S Street, Northwest in a third incident. Police have not clarified if all of these incidents are related. Incidents have occurred all over Northwest DC Canada Goose coats and parkas are known to be priced over $1,000, with the most expensive woman's parka costing $1,850 In light of these thefts, DC police have advised residents to buy AirTags to not lose their jackets forever In light of these thefts, DC police have advised residents to buy AirTags to not lose their jackets forever. Commander Sylvan Altieri said: 'AirTags. Ive seen people use them on tool kits, suitcases, I think thats probably the best thing you can do as far as if it gets taken, because its a nice way to track it.' Officials believe that these stolen jackets are being resold on online websites. Reports of expensive jackets being stolen from locals come after images and videos of pharmacies being empty due to thefts and adults using children to steal items have emerged. A CVS in DC has had its entire shelves cleared by gangs of children who attack the store every day. A sole security guard at the store in Columbia Heights is no match for up to 50 teens who routinely strip the store both before and after school, Fox 5 reported. The pharmacist chain is in the process of closing 900 stores across the US in the face of a crimewave that the National Retail Federation says is costing the industry $112billion a year. Desolate shelves greet visitors to the CVS in DC that is routinely stripped by shoplifting children on their way to or from school Whole sections of the store have been cleared of products by shoplifters And little remains that is not locked up at the beleaguered outlet in the center of the city. 'When you walk into this CVS, you'd think the store is closing because there's barely anything on the shelves,' Fox 5 reporter Sierra Fox told viewers. 'I did ask an employee what gets stolen the most, and they just laughed and said "everything". 'A big group of kids, like 45 or more, walk in before school, after school and late at night to steal chips and drinks. 'They even throw the food and beverages on the ground and stomp on them, leaving behind a big mess.' Analysts at UBS predict that at least 50,000 shops will close in the US over the next five years driven by the move to online shopping and the impact of theft on their bottom line. While multiple big chains have closed stores across the nation due to shoplifters, the situation seems more grim DC after videos of children and adults stealing Halloween decorations went viral. A homeowner in Washington, DC, was horrified to see her Halloween decorations stolen from her front porch by young children under the supervision of two adults The incident was caught on a Ring doorbell camera and shows the kids walking up to the property in the Hillcrest neighborhood around 8.30pm on October 12 The incident was caught on a Ring doorbell camera and shows the kids walking up to the property in the Hillcrest neighborhood around 8.30pm on October 12. One adult was seemingly directing them as two baskets filled with Halloween-themed items were stolen. A second adult was seen standing on the sidewalk outside the house and guarding while the theft occurred. The homeowner, who was named only as Shelly, was left 'disgusted' by the incident and said she was concerned about the behavior of the young children. Footage shows three kids climbing on to the porch of the property and looking through the window to see if anyone was home. An adult then appears in front of the children while they scour the area. Another grown-up was also spotted standing guard on the sidewalk during the incident. The kids were seen inspecting Halloween decorations on the porch before two of them picked up baskets. They immediately ran from the scene with the two adults who homeowner Shelly believes are their parents. 'I was just really disgusted that the parents were there,' she told WUSA9. 'It was almost like they were being directed which was concerning to me. The Metropolitan Police Department has asked residents to contact the office if they have any information about the missing jackets. Harry and Meghan are facing a mounting backlash as they continue to maintain their silence on royal racism claims made by their 'mouthpiece' Omid Scobie in his new book. The couple are yet to speak on the book publicly and a meeting between King Charles and Prince William is now set to take place next week to discuss the topic. It could have serious consequences for Harry and Meghan as William is believed to 'want action' after his wife Kate was named alongside Charles as the two royals who expressed 'concern' about Archies skin colour. Meanwhile, an MP has revealed his intention to introduce a Bill calling on Parliament to strip the Sussexes of their titles in wake of the row. And in a shock snub, Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, has decided not to invite Harry and Meghan to his society wedding to avoid 'drama'. One of Prince Harry's closest friends and godfather to his son Archie, he is believed to have been keen to invite the Sussexes before deciding not to so his nuptials wouldn't be overshadowed by royal tensions. William and Kate and the King and the Queen are all invited, with the Prince of Wales even thought to be in the running to be best man. William is said to want action after his wife Kate was named alongside Charles as the two Royals identified by Meghan in a private letter to the King, which claimed concern was expressed about her future sons skin colour. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with Archie in 2019 Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have decided against inviting the Sussexes to avoid clashes on his big day amid soaring tensions following the release of Omid Scobie 's new book. Pictured: With fiancee Olivia Henson It comes as tensions are already high between Harry and William - after King Charles III and Kate Middleton were named as the royals alleged to have made comments about the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie prior to his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie's latest tome, Endgame Known as Hughie to this friends, the billionaire Duke is also godfather to Williams son Prince George, ten. A life-long friend for each of the brothers, he is thought to be the only pal both chose to mentor their children. The King will confer next week with William over how to handle the fallout from Scobies book. Determinedly, the Royal Family has adopted a business as usual stance, but the possibility of legal action remains. The final decision on the next step rests with Charles, who, according to sources, will not act hastily. A Palace source said: Most right-thinking people would expect an apology who wouldnt? Being falsely branded a racist in print is a serious allegation that must be treated seriously. All options are still on the table. Sources close to the Sussexes have attempted to distance the couple from the book. They say Meghan never intended the King or Princess of Wales to be publicly identified in the race row and say the letter was not leaked to Scobie by anyone close to her. She is likely to be less disappointed than her husband to miss out on the Dukes wedding celebrations, expected to be held at his 10,872-acre Eaton Hall estate in Cheshire. Scobie has said she is loathe to return to England and dive back into the soap opera. It comes as Conservative MP Bob Seely is putting forward a Bill that could deny the Sussexes their Duke and Duchess titles. To rub salt in the wound, it is thought Prince William is in the running to be Grosvenor's best man. Pictured: William with Grosvenor in 2004 Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have picked the Prince and Princess of Wales over the Sussexes to avoid clashes that would overshadow his big day. Pictured: Prince William (right) and Hugh Grosvenor (second from left) during the official handover of the newly built Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre in 2018 It comes as tensions are already high between Harry and William. Pictured: Prince Harry (third from right) visits the Khulula Care for Wild Centre in South Africa in 2015 with Grosvenor (right) Writing in The Mail on Sunday, he said that he felt compelled to act because of the use of race to smear the Royal Family and proposes to revive First World War laws that could pave the way to making the couple plain Mr and Mrs Sussex. The Isle of Wight MP wants to adapt laws originally passed to deny enemy German nobles their British titles. Mr Seely said he had to act because of the attempt to use race to smear the Royal Family, which he called 'poisonously insidious'. He is applying for his Titles Deprivation 1917 Amendment Bill to be listed on the Commons' Order Paper next week. It would resurrect the wartime powers by removing references to 'enemies' and 'present war'. He has cleared the wording with Parliament's Table Office, which oversees draft legislation. The Duke of Westminster had originally planned to invite Harry and Meghan to his June 6 wedding to Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral. However the 32-year-old aristocrat changed his mind because of the drama surrounding the couple and the fear their presence would overshadow the day, The Sunday Times reports. Another serious consideration was the feelings of Charles, Camilla, William and Kate. Conservative MP Bob Seely (pictured) is putting forward a Bill that could deny the Sussexes their Duke and Duchess titles A life-long friend for each of the brothers, Grosvenor is thought to be the only pal both chose to mentor their children. Pictured: At the wedding of Harry's school friend Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks The broadsheet understands that the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but eventually decided against it as he feared the tension it would cause with the other Royals who have been invited - including the King and Queen. 'It's incredibly sad it has come to this,' a friend of William and Harry's told The Sunday Times. 'Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry's who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it's unlikely to happen before the wedding.' 'He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn't want any awkwardness.' A spokesman for the Duke said last night: We are not in a position to comment on the guest list. Buckingham Palace also declined to comment. Archie's other godparents have not been named publicly by his parents - but include Tiggy Pettifer, Harry and William's former nanny, Mark Dyer, his minder, and his school friend Charlie van Straubenzee. It comes as tensions are already high between Harry and William - after King Charles III and Kate Middleton were named as the royals alleged to have made comments about the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie prior to his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie's latest tome, Endgame. The King is said to be taking the taking the furore over the book 'very seriously' and will consult senior advisers next week on the family's next step, with 'all options' including legal action set to be considered. Prince William (right), and the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor (centre) in 2018 Hugh Grosvenor attends the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle with Charlie van Straubenzee at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 The Sunday Times understands that the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but eventually decided against it as he feared the tension it would cause with the other Royals who have been invited - including the King and Queen Harry and Meghan, meanwhile, have not commented publicly on the scandal. Scobie has been accused of acting as a 'mouthpiece' for the Sussexes, an allegation he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not 'Meg's pal'. But 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 for them to be publicly identified'. One source close to the Royal Family has now called on Harry and Meghan to speak out publicly on the issue. 'For the couple that talked about 'death by a thousand no comments', the silence at this point is deafening,' the source told The Telegraph. Another insider added that the decision not to respond was 'interesting' given the Sussexes' previous complaints about not being supported against negative press stories. The scandal - which Scobie has been forced to insist was not a publicity stunt - has kept Endgame in the headlines for more than a week as excerpts were published in the days before its release in a French magazine. The most eye-grabbing extract serialised in Paris Match claimed that there was a second so-called 'royal racist' - after Harry and Meghan alluded to a member of the Royal Household expressing discomfort over Archie's skin colour in 2021. The pair were allegedly identified in the Dutch version of the book - and were named widely by media organisations around the world tonight, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and Kate. Meanwhile, this newspaper understands that the King will confer next week with William over how to handle the fallout from Scobies (pictured) book Royals aides say the week will be 'business as usual' - as they prepare for a series of glittering events that will see them 'rise above' the last week, the Mirror reports. Pictured: William and Kate at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 30 Determinedly, the Royal Family has adopted a business as usual stance, but the possibility of legal action remains. The final decision on the next step rests with Charles, who, according to sources, will not act hastily. Pictured: The King speaks during an opening ceremony of COP28 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. And newly revealed extracts from the Dutch version of the book - which have been changed or omitted from the UK edition - look set to further heighten tensions within the firm. The text called the Prince of Wales 'heartless' - a term that does not appear in the UK edition, The Sun reports. It further claimed that the reason why William was still angry with Harry when the Queen died was because of the couple's interview with US TV star Oprah the year before. A series of quotes - which are attributed to 'sources close to the Sussexes' - calls William 'heartless' and 'petty' as it claims he 'ignored' Harry as the royals rushed to Balmoral. Grosvenor, who is thought to own more land than the King, has an estimated net worth of 9.42 billion and has a long history with the royal family - with his late father Gerald acting as King Charles' own godfather. The Duke was the third child and only son of Gerald Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Natalia who is a descendant from the Russian Imperial House of Romanov, specifically from Nicholas I of Russia. Grosvenor, who is thought to own more land than the King, has an estimated net worth of 9.42 billion and has a long history with the royal family - with his late father Gerald acting as King Charles' own godfather. Pictured: With his mother in 2018 When he was baptised on 23 June 1991, the King - then the Prince of Wales - agreed to officiate as godfather. He even had an official role in the King's coronation procession - carrying the Standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms and Standard of the Principality of Wales alongside the Marquess of Anglesey, the Earl of Caledon and Scottish peer and Conservative politician the Earl of Dundee. Grosvenor was raised at Eaton Hall with his three sisters: Lady Tamara, Lady Edwina, and Lady Viola. They attended a local public primary school before he attended the small, private Mostyn House School, followed by Ellesmere College in Shropshire where fees are 40,635 a year. He later studied at Newcastle University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Countryside Management The Duke, whose Latin family motto Virtus Non Stemma means Virtue not Ancestry, was originally titled Earl Grosvenor from his birth until 2016, when his father died and he became the seventh Duke. At the time he was labelled Britain's most eligible bachelor but in April this year he announced his engagement to Olivia Grace Henson. Ms Henson, the Dukes girlfriend of two years, works for an ethical food company. She attended Princess of Waless old school, Marlborough College, where Princess Eugenie was a contemporary. He confirmed the engagement through a statement, which said: 'The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson are delighted to announce they are engaged to be married. 'The couple, who have been together for two years, recently became engaged at the Duke's family home at Eaton Hall in Cheshire. 'Members of both their families are absolutely delighted with the news. 'Hugh Grosvenor, The Duke of Westminster, is Grosvenor's Chair as well as Chair of the Westminster Foundation. Miss Henson works for Belazu, a B-Corp certified food company based in London.' MailOnline has contacted the Sussexes for comment. Pope Francis has called for the elimination of fossil fuels in an historic speech to the UN climate conference Cop28 in Dubai. He was suffering from a lung infection and was too unwell to deliver the speech, so it was given by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State. He said: 'Destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin . . . that greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable in our midst and threatens to unleash a conflict between generations. 'Are we working for a culture of life or a culture of death? To all of you I make this heartfelt appeal: Let us choose life!' The Pope also called for a 'decisive acceleration' in energy efficiency, renewable sources, eliminating fossil fuels and educating people to do without them. Pope Francis has called for the elimination of fossil fuels in a speech delivered for him at Cop28 As the Pope was unwell, the speech was given on his behalf by the Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin The Pontiff, leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics, also warned against blaming destruction of the environment on 'the poor and high birth rates'. 'It is not the fault of the poor, since almost half of our world, that is more needy, is responsible for scarcely 10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, while the gap between the opulent few and the masses of the poor has never been so abysmal,' he said. The future of fossil fuels is a key issue at the talks, where countries are debating whether to commit to 'phasing out' or 'phasing down' fossil fuels. Cop28 president Dr Sultan Al Jaber, who is from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has signalled he favours a 'phasedown' of fossil fuels reducing the emissions of oil and gas. Cop28 president Dr Sultan Al Jaber from the UAE has signalled he is in favour of phasing down fossil fuels, despite his country increasing oil and gas production capacity by 42 per cent by 2030 But analysis by pressure group Global Witness found that the UAE will increase its oil and gas production capacity by 42 per cent by 2030. US Special Envoy John Kerry also announced for the first time that America would build no new coal power plants, and phase out existing ones. Twenty-two countries, including the UK, US and France, also committed to tripling nuclear power. Leaders from nearly 200 countries and around 100,000 delegates are attending the summit, which runs until December 12. The Dutch version of Omid Scobie's book, Endgame, has claimed that Prince William denied Harry the chance to fly to Balmoral with the royal family to see the Queen before she died. Scobie claimed the Prince of Wales did so because he was 'still angry' at Harry because of the Sussexes' Oprah interview in 2021, according to The Sun. The Dutch version also branded William as 'heartless' for the alleged move - a highly inflammatory term that is likely to deepen the rift between the two brothers. However, that term does not appear in the UK version. The chapter recounts the hours before the Monarch passed away in September last year, including how members of the the Firm rushed to Balmoral to see her. Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh travelled in a plane up north. Kate appeared to stay in Windsor as she was photographed picking up her kids in England later that day. However, Prince Harry made his own way there and later claimed that he was not invited on the trip. The Dutch version of Omid Scobie 's book, Endgame, has claimed that Prince William denied Harry the chance to fly to Balmoral with the royal family to see the Queen before she died The chapter recounts the hours before the Monarch passed away in September last year, including how members of the The Firm rushed to Balmoral to see her The Dutch version also claimed that the reason why William was angry was because of Harry and Meghan's 2021 Oprah interview The Dutch version of Endgame has since had to be pulped after it named King Charles III and Kate Middleton as the royals alleged to have made comments about the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie before he was born He flew to Scotland alone - and by the time he got to Balmoral, the Queen had sadly passed away at age 96. The royal told host Anderson Cooper that he texted his brother to see how he and Kate were going to get to the estate, but that he was never given the flight details. 'I asked my brother - I said, "What are your plans? How are you and Kate getting up there?"' he recalled. READ MORE: Harry and Meghan are excluded from high society wedding of his childhood friend Hugh Grosvenor - but William and Kate ARE invited Advertisement 'And then, a couple of hours later, you know, all of the family members that live within the Windsor and Ascot area were jumping on a plane together, a plane with 12, 14, maybe 16 seats.' 'You were not invited on that plane?' Anderson asked him, to which Harry replied, 'I was not invited.' The Dutch version of Endgame has since had to be pulped after it named King Charles III and Kate Middleton as the royals alleged to have made comments about the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie before he was born. Scobie refused to apologise for the scandal that has erupted and claimed: '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'. He has been accused of acting as a 'mouthpiece' for Meghan and Harry, an allegation he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not 'Meg's pal'. This comes as the Sussexes did not get an invite to the wedding of Harry's childhood friend - after William and Kate received one. Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have wanted to invite the Harry and Meghan but decided against it to avoid clashes on his big day amid soaring tensions between the royals. He picked the Prince and Princess of Wales over the Sussexes to avoid any awkward moments for King Charles and Queen Camilla during the wedding, The Sunday Times reported. One of Britain's richest men, 32, the billionaire aristocrat proposed to fiancee Olivia Henson at his family seat, Eaton Hall in Cheshire. They are set to get married at Chester Cathedral on June 7 in the wedding of the year. It comes as he was revealed to be the godfather of Harry's son Archie - alongside being the godfather for Prince George, who will be at the wedding. A life-long friend for each of the brothers, he is thought to be the only pal both chose to mentor their children. And to rub salt in the wound, it is thought Prince William is in the running to be Grosvenor's best man. The broadsheet understands that the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but eventually decided against it as he feared the tension it would cause with the other Royals who have been invited - including the King and Queen. 'It's incredibly sad it has come to this,' a friend of William and Harry's told The Sunday Times. 'Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry's who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it's unlikely to happen before the wedding.' 'He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn't want any awkwardness.' A spokesman for the Duke said last night: We are not in a position to comment on the guest list. Buckingham Palace also declined to comment. Kensington Palace, Archewell and Dutch publishers Xander Uitgevers were contacted for comment by MailOnline. More than seven in ten teachers suffer with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression when their schools are inspected by education watchdog Ofsted, according to new research. A survey by Education Support, a charity which offers people in the profession therapy, showed that 71 per cent of those who took part in the questionnaire blamed the pressure of an inspection on poor mental health. More than 3,000 teaching staff who had undergone school inspections took part in the survey. It comes as an inquest into the death of head teacher Ruth Perry continues at Berkshire Coroner's Office in Reading. Ms Perry's family claim that the 53-year-old took her own life in January after her school, Caversham Primary School in Reading, was downgraded from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns. The school has since been rated as outstanding. Ruth Perry's family claim that the 53-year-old took her own life in January after her school was downgraded from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns Her death has sparked widespread calls from school leaders for the watchdog to overhaul its school rating system Caversham Primary School (pictured) has since been rated as outstanding Earlier this week, her GP, Dr Tom Beck, told the inquest that she took her own life because she feared her family would be in financial ruin if she lost her job as she was 'main breadwinner'. READ MORE: Headteachers struggling to sleep due to stress of Ofsted visits is 'usual', Ruth Perry inquest hears Advertisement He told the inquest she was left 'completely devastated' after the Ofsted inspection in November - after which she contacted him as well as local mental health services. 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. It came on the same day that Ms Perry's husband told the inquest that she had 'dark thoughts' about ending her own life after the Ofsted inspection. Ofsted has said that it is 'extremely saddened' by the mother-of-twos death. Her death has sparked widespread calls from school leaders for the watchdog to overhaul its school rating system. Primary teacher Lee Parkinson told the Mirror that he wants Ofsted to be reformed so that stress to staff is minimised. 'The system we work under, because of Ofsted, has made the profession completely unsustainable', he told the newspaper. 'I speak to colleagues on a daily basis who are on the brink of collapse'. He is campaigning for Ofsted to abolish the scoring system, which rates schools from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'. 'We can't stop holding schools accountable, but it can be done in a more supportive, positive way that doesn't impact mental health', he said. Ruth Perry's death sparked an outpouring of emotion from the local community (two women pictured with signs in March) People attend a vigil for Ruth Perry outside the offices of Ofsted in Victoria, central London in March According to the Mirror, one teacher, who was not named, said staff were 'sick in toilets, cried and nearly passed out' during a recent inspection. Another told the newspaper they have a 'nervous breakdown' following an inspection, leading them to take antidepressants and reduce their hours to part time. A spokesperson for the Department for Education told the Mirror: 'We recognise the importance of the service that headteachers, teachers and other school staff provide. 'We have doubled our wellbeing support for teachers and are investing over 1.1 million to provide supervision and counselling to school and college leaders and nearly 1,000 have benefitted so far, and this will be expanded beyond March 2024.' For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org An Israeli schoolgirl who was taken hostage by ruthless Hamas terrorists has revealed how she managed to keep her beloved shih tzu alive during 53 horrifying days together in captivity. Mia Leimberg, 17, was finally released on Tuesday night along with her mother and was filmed clutching her dog Bella close to her chest as she was handed back to Israel by Hamas fighters. The five-year-old dog was only spotted by Hamas gunmen when Mia, her mother Gabriela, 59, and aunt Clara Merman, 63, arrived in Gaza, having been snatched from Israel during the barbaric October 7 attacks. The terrorists had initially assumed that Mia was clinging on to a cuddly toy - but when they realised Bella was real, they threatened to kill or dump her on the way back to Gaza. A defiant Mia refused to let Bella go and was eventually allowed to keep hold of her pet. She kept Bella alive by sharing her meagre rations with the dog for almost two months. Mia's cousin Geffen Marman, 36, told The Sun on Sunday: 'Mia and Bella are inseparable. The kidnappers had broken into the family safe room and put them in a pick-up truck, but Mia is very determined and held Bella close as they were driven to Gaza. Mia Leimberg was freed from captivity on Tuesday night. She was filmed being handed over with her dog Bella Mia, Gabriela, Clara and Bella re pictured back in Israeli territory after spending weeks as hostages in Gaza 'Bella is five-years-old but she's tiny and the terrorists thought Mia was clinging to a toy. 'It was only when they reached Gaza they saw the dog moving and a big arguments started about what they were going to do.' Gaza plunged back into hell: Horror and heartbreak in Palestine as Israeli airstrikes leave 200 dead after Hamas rocket shattered seven-day ceasefire Advertisement Geffen said that after they finally agreed to let Mia keep Bella, the family were taken to a place where they could hear bombs falling around them. The dog provided 'great comfort' to them during a 'terrifying' time. Mia's cousin also revealed how the family were given very little to eat - usually just rice and pitta bread - which was shared between all of them, including Bella. Bella's survival is even more surprising as Islamic attitudes often see dogs as 'impure'. Geffen said that Bella was initially terrified and whimpered as gun-toting terrorists stormed the Nir Yitzhak kibbutz, three miles from Gaza, on October 7. The family thought that Bella must have escaped amid the rampage until they saw her in Mia's arms during the hostage releases across the seven-day ceasefire. Geffen said the family could not believe it when they saw Mia and her mum - and Bella as well. During the video, a masked Hamas terrorist is seen stepping forward and speaking to Mia about the dog in Arabic. Mia's cousin also revealed how the family were given very little to eat - usually just rice and pitta bread - which was shared between all of them, including Bella. Pictured: Mia Leimberg Smoke billowing over Gaza during Israeli bombardment amid continuing battles between Israel and Hamas yesterday Injured people are brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on December 2, 2023 Injured people, including children, are brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment after an Israeli attack in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on December 2, 2023 It's not clear what was said but Geffen explained that there was no way Mia was going to be separated from Bella after the ordeal they faced together. The family are now praying for the release of Clara's partner Luis Har, 70, and her brother, 60-year-old Fernando Merman. Israeli authorities estimate that around 100 women and children were among the 240 people abducted by Hamas terrorists as they stormed kibbutzim in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, on October 7. Renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages who, according to the Israeli military, are still held after 105 were freed during the truce. A 70-year-old woman held by Hamas was declared dead on Saturday, according to her kibbutz, bringing the number of known dead hostages to eight. The prospect of further ceasefires in Gaza appeared bleak, as Israel recalled its negotiators and Hamas' deputy leader said any further swap of Gaza-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel would only happen as part of ending the war. 'We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and it's impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. At least 200 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting resumed Friday morning following the week-long truce with the territory's ruling militant group Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. A picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 2, 2023, shows an explosion and smoke billowing over the Palestinian territory during an Israeli strike Explosions and smoke in Gaza City amid Israeli airstrikes on December 2, 2023 An Israeli air force attack helicopter fires a missile while flying over the border with the Gaza Strip near southern Israel on December 2 Several multi-story residential buildings were hit on Saturday, engulfing neighborhoods in huge clouds of smoke. Separately, the ministry said the overall death toll in Gaza since the Oct. 7 start of the war had surpassed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on Nov. 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people had been wounded since the war began. 'Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating,' U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters during the the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. An increasingly fraught political climate has led to more Americans than ever picking up and leaving their homes for areas that better match their beliefs. Idaho, which has increasingly become a conservative safe haven in the last half-decade (at the very least), reports that of the 119,000 voters who have moved to the Gem State in the last 10 years or so, some 65 percent of them are Republican. Idaho is a red state, though its partisan makeup is comprised of just 58 percent GOP voters, according to the Seattle Times. The data, which came from the Idaho Secretary of State's Office, shows that just 12 percent of new Idahoans registered as Democrats, 21 percent as 'unaffiliated,' and two percent selected Libertarian. Figures support the heavily scrutinized pattern of out-migration from intensely blue cities to areas with more conservative, traditional values. The Times reported that last year 14,400 Washingtonians moved to Idaho, while just over 10,000 went the other way. Tim Kohl and his wife Jennifer moved last year to a suburb of Boise, Idaho to get out of Los Angeles, where Tim had spent his career as a cop and saw his station firebombed during the 2020 George Floyd riots Regional swapping appears to be reaching an all-time high due to increasingly disparate rules of law and governance in red vs. blue regions. In Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco, highly progressive leaders have overseen the softening of law enforcement in ways that make life anywhere from unpleasant to dangerous for some residents. States like Idaho, which have overwhelmingly conservative state legislatures - laws including abortion bans and those that reinforce the gender binary - have sent some liberals running. VOA interviewed Tim Kohl and his wife Jennifer who moved last year to a suburb of Boise, Idaho, where he is free to fly his Thin Blue Line flag without fear of recourse - something he could not do in his former city of Los Angeles, where he was a cop for many years. Jennifer said they were 'scared to put it up,' but felt assured they had chosen the right place for their new home when neighbors began complimenting them on the display. The couple said they felt like they weren't being served by the government services for which their tax dollars paid. Garbage, they recall, began to pile up in and around massive homeless encampments, and their taxes went to serving illegal immigrants over US citizens. Jennifer's mother was one such citizen who was placed on many a waiting list to receive government assistance for which she qualified because of her income level. Idaho has been one of the fastest growing states in the last few years, but has managed to maintain a politcally conservative bent and culture Jennifer said they felt assured they had chosen the right place for their new home when neighbors began complimenting them on their Thin Blue Line flag display Kathleen Rickerson moved from Minnesota (a generally blue state) to Colorado to rid herself of neighbors who doubted mask and vaccine mandates during the pandemic Tim's police station, located in the mountains that spread across West Los Angeles, was firebombed during the violent protests that followed the death of George Floyd in 2020. 'Here, the tax dollars naturally goes to the citizens, not the immigrants,' Tim said. 'Most of the people we've met here are from California originally.' University of California, San Diego professor Thad Kousser said the increasing political sameness among state populations is and will continue making it harder for individuals from both parties to feel invested. 'It gives one party the ability to move a state further when they're doing exactly what their constituency wants,' he said. Idaho has become such a promised land for conservatives that 12 counties in Oregon have sought to secede from their home state and instead join their staunchly Republican neighbor. The so-called Greater Idaho movement came after Oregon decriminalized possession of all illegal drugs, leading to huge spikes in crime in its biggest city Portland. Portland and Oregon's other cities have also become bywords for anarchist, anti-police activity, homelessness, open-drug taking and extremely woke policies on issues pertaining to race and gender identity. Many rural Oregonians say those beliefs are too far to the left of their own and want to change their state without moving. But efforts to join Idaho face an uphill struggle. Even if approved by county ballots, Oregon's state legislatures and the United States Congress itself would have to approve such a move. MBABANE It is now official, the proposed construction of a multimillion residential village for parliamentarians could become a reality sooner than many could have anticipated. And while it is one project that others might regard as expensive, it appears to be one of the best ways in which Parliament will save costs of hosting conferences in hotels and lodges and spending money on bookings for the accommodation of legislators. The project will come into fruition courtesy of a public private partnership (PPP) set to be signed between the Parliament of Eswatini and investment powerhouse, African Alliance. While the cost of the project has not yet been ascertained, it is anticipated that it will be over E100 million when judging from similar projects undertaken in neighbouring countries like South Africa. construction It should be pointed out that a few months ago, the Clerk to Parliament, Benedict Xaba, said the project had been put on hold. The construction of the residential village is part of the controversial project of building a new Parliament, which some critics arguing that it was not urgent or a necessity at this point in time, since there were other pressing issues which required government attention. These are, among others, the provision of drugs in hospitals, food security and energy generation projects. When the news of the Parliament building surfaced, it was discovered that the project was to include the residential village. accommodate It was said that the village would be made up of 120 houses to accommodate members of the House of Assembly (MPs) and senators. The members of the previous Parliament were among the critics of the project, in particular the 120 houses. The argument by the former MPs was that it was enough that a new Parliament building would be constructed. They were against additional costs to the project such as building the houses. In April this year, the clerk to Parliament clarified that the construction of the houses formed part of Phase II of the project. agreement However, it seems it is now all systems go with the project as the African Alliance has already agreed in principle to construct the village through the PPP agreement. On Wednesday, the African Alliance made a presentation to the new parliamentarians, where it detailed how the village would look like. The presentation was made by General Manager Victor Langa. On Friday, Xaba, in an interview confirmed by saying: Yes, a model that we will use as Parliament and African Alliance will see the construction of the campus. So basically, Phase I is about the Parliament structure then the campus will be the second phase. When asked to state when the construction would probably begin, he said they had not yet agreed on timelines. Xaba was asked to explain the funding and he confirmed that the African Alliance would pay the costs and Parliament would, in turn, repay the money in accordance with the agreements. What I should state is that we have not finalised yet, which is why some of the details cannot be revealed for now. We have not signed the documents yet, he said. He explained that cost benefits would come with the construction of the residential village. necessarily As you are aware, we spend a lot of money to host conferences and workshops in hotels. Once we have the residential villages, the MPs will be accommodated there. It will have a kitchen as well. They will not necessarily stay there, but will spend some days and nights whenever there were sessions, the clerk said. Elaborating on the saving of costs, he said whenever there was to be no sessions; the structure would generate income as the apartments would be leased out for bookings. It does not mean that the MPs will leave their homes and constituencies. We will use a block approach. For example, the members will come for one of two weeks, work on Bills and then once that is done, Parliament will take a break and they return to their constituencies he said. benefits Regarding where the project was piloted, Xaba said the Parliamentary Service Board did a proper homework. He said the Board looked at countries like Tanzania and Kenya. He said it was found that such projects had enormous benefits. Xaba was asked how African Alliance was selected when there was no invitation to tender. In response, the clerk-to-Parliament said the entity submitted a proper model, which they felt was appropriate. An MP who spoke on condition of anonymity said after listening to the presentation, he was satisfied with the whole plan. What I am happy about is that the residential village will be constructed by a local company. It is a fact that when it comes to major projects like this one, we secure external loans which come with strict terms and conditions. granted For example, there were reports that the new Parliament building loan had a condition that the material would have to be sourced from India, as it was the one that granted us the loan. This was a big concern, he said. If African Alliance eventually enters into the PPP agreement with the Parliament of Eswatini, the MP said there would be a lot of benefits for the country as whole. Our economy is in a state where we want money to circulate locally. We have seen African Alliance investing in major investments and I do believe that the country will benefit a lot in this one as well, he said. In June last year, members of the 12th Parliament clashed during a sitting at the House of Assembly, when they debated the issue of the Parliament building. supported The clash emanated from a division wherein some declared that they supported the proposed plan, others were against it. Other MPs said they were against the terms and conditions that came with the loan the country has sought from India for the project. This was despite the fact that it was the former MPs themselves who passed a Bill for the construction of the new Parliament together with the terms and conditions of the project loan. It should be noted that the African Alliance is not new to undertaking major investments. Early this year, His Majesty King Mswati III officially opened two major projects under the African Alliance Group. These were the Matsapha Link, which is estimated to be worth E159 million and Malkerns Square, which is valued at E149 million. Also, the African Alliance committed to the Manzini Arch project, which was said to possibly have about E4 billion invested upon completion. The company is also known for being the majority shareholder of the Select Group of companies, which was established to cater for short-term loans for emaSwati. financed The first branch of Select was established in 1999 and it was the first micro-finance house in Eswatini before it spread its wings to other parts of the African continent. Meanwhile, the project for the new Parliament has been financed by the Government of the Republic of India, which extended to Eswatini a soft loan of US$108.28 million through the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank). This is the equivalent of E1.9 billion at the current foreign exchange. The Eswatini Parliament currently has about 101 parliamentarians, who include 71 MPs and 30 senators. In terms of their remuneration, it is provided in the Circular No.2 of 2023, that they are entitled to a housing allowance. The circular is the framework that determines the terms and conditions of service of parliamentarians, designated office bearers of the 12th Parliament and the Attorney General (AG). However, the current set-up is such that it is only the prime minister (PM), deputy prime minister, presiding officers, ministers and regional administrators who are allocated government-owned residences for official purposes. It the cases of South Africa, while having the parliamentary villages has had positives, there have also been negatives. In 2019, it was reported that the neighbouring country had three parliamentary villages, which were not just low class buildings, but ones which were up to standards and its upkeep and transport had cost almost three quarters of a billion Rand, over the two previous parliamentary terms. The parliamentary villages house Members of Parliament in Cape Town (and officials) when they attend committee meetings and sittings within the parliamentary precinct during the year. upkeep It was reported that the costs of upkeep, levies, construction and transport for the three parliamentary villages was R363 million over the five years of the fifth term, according to the Department of Public works. It was said that because Parliament is located in Cape Town, a two-hour flight from the administrative capital in Pretoria, MPs are housed in three parliamentary villages in the Mother City when Parliament is in session. As of late December 2018, it was said that they had a total of 666 housing units managed by the Department of Public Works. According to News24, a majority of the units - 493 - are located at Acacia Park, with 65 at Laboria Park and 108 at Pelican Park. In late 2018, about 224 housing units were occupied by MPs at Acacia Park, 55 at Laboria Park and 63 at Pelican Park, while ministers and the president were reportedly having separate accommodations. When it was enquired how much had been spent for the upkeep and management of the three villages over the five years, the figure was said to be E363 million. Dozens of accused or convicted criminals granted executive pardons or sentence commutations by Donald Trump are now backing his bid for a second term, according to a new report. An analysis by the Washington Post found that at least 24 of those who received clemency from Trump are now backing his campaign with donations or public appearances on his behalf. During his term, Trump signed 238 clemency orders. That's a relatively low number compared to most modern presidents, though Trump was criticized for focusing clemency on people in his personal or political orbit. Additionally, Trump frequently bypassed previously standard Justice Department screening and review processes, instead doling out pardons to allies, or convicts whose causes were championed by celebrities. Now, many of his most high-profile clemency grantees are returning the favor, including former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, rapper Lil Wayne, and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Post found. Dozens of accused or convicted criminals granted executive pardons or sentence commutations by Donald Trump are now backing his bid for a second term Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (left) and rapper Lil Wayne (right) are two clemency recipients who now vocally support Trump's campaign Blagojevich, a lifelong Democrat convicted of public corruption, now calls himself a die-hard 'Trumpocrat' and champions Trump in media interviews. Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, was facing a federal firearms charge when Trump pardoned him as one of his final acts in office. The rapper responded by endorsing Trump in his lyrics. Arpaio, convicted of disobeying a judge's order to stop profiling Hispanics, was one of Trump's first pardons, and is now a vocal Trump supporter as he also campaigns for mayor of Fountain Hills, Arizona. Other Trump pardon recipients have donated to his campaign, boosted him in media interviews, and one even works for his campaign, the Post found. Some of the pardon beneficiaries were close Trump allies well before the grants of clemency, including Mike Flynn, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon and Roger Stone. Several clemency recipients told the Post they would be supporting Trump now regardless of whether he had intervened on their behalf, including Arpaio, who said: 'He reflects what I believe in.' Trump himself has touted the presidential pardon power as 'a beautiful thing' and has suggested he will pardon many of his supporters who were charged in the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot. Former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik and author Angela Stanton have both backed Trump after receiving pardons Adrianne Davis Miller met with Trump at a campaign event after her commuted her prison sentence for drug crimes on his last day in office Overall, Trump granted less than 2 percent of clemency petitions filed during his term, a rate lower than any president since 1900 with the exception of George W. Bush, according to Pew Research. But his concentration of pardons on allies drew fury from critics, similar to the blowback Bill Clinton faced for his infamous pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, whose ex-wife had made substantial donations to Clinton's presidential library. Following the Clinton pardon scandal, George W. Bush made only sparing use of the pardon, issuing clemency just 200 times. One that drew fire was his commutation of the sentence of former Dick Cheney aide Scooter Libby for his role in the Valerie Plame CIA leak scandal. But he resisted pressure from his vice president to issue a full pardon. It would be Trump who would issue a full pardon for Libby in 2018, at a time when the Robert Mueller probe was in full swing. Barack Obama boosted grants of clemency dramatically, giving 1,927, but still granting just 5 percent of requests amid a huge spike in clemency petitions during his term. However, Obama steered clear of pardoning people close to him, although drew some controversy for the commutation of Chelsea Manning's sentence following a massive security leak. Obama commuted the sentence to seven years, amid international concern over her being held in solitary confinement for prolonged periods. The teen pleaded guilty to driving alleged shooter William Innes, 18, to where Pershal was shot with a pellet gun loaded with metal bullets A San Diego teenager sobbed in court as he was sentenced for his role in the death of a homeless woman who was allegedly shot dead by his friend with a pellet gun. Ryan Hopkins, 19, pleaded guilty in August to driving suspected shooter William Innes, 18, to where Annette Pershal, 68, was sleeping on the street in the early hours of May 8. Pershal was shot in the head, leg and torso, with metal bullets loaded into the air gun also rupturing her aorta. Before the killing, Inness had allegedly texted multiple friends to say he was going on a 'hobo hunt.' As he received a three-year suspended sentence on Saturday, Hopkins tearfully told the homeless woman's family: 'I'm sorry to all you guys and the pain you have to go through... I'm sorry we're here today.' Ryan Hopkins, 19, sobbed as he received a three-year suspended sentence for his role in the fatal shooting death of homeless woman Annette Pershal, 68, in May Pershal, affectionately known as 'Granny Annie' in the California neighborhood she lived in for seven years, died after being shot by metal bullets loaded into a pellet gun Alleged shooter William Innes (pictured after his arrest) is facing charges of first-degree murder, with prosecutors claiming he told friends before Pershal's shooting that he was going on a 'hobo hunt' Innes is set to stand trial for Pershal's murder this month, with pre-trial proceedings revealing the chilling text message he allegedly sent to friends, including Hopkins, shortly before, reading: 'I'm going hobo hunting with a pellet gun.' While Innes faces a first-degree murder charge, Hodges was charged with aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon, as his attorneys argued he did not know what Innes was planning when he drove the alleged shooter. His attorney Vikas Bajaj argued that Hopkins was trying to connect to the car's Bluetooth at the time, before he heard Innes say 'watch this'. The prosecution countered that Hopkins purposefully drove Innes to the spot besides Innes, and appeared to wait to see her pained reaction to being struck. 'He drove himself and his codefendant across the street, stopped right before Ms. Pershal who was shot, and they watched 15 to 20 seconds to see if they hit their target,' the prosecutor said. As his client sobbed beside him, Bajaj also took the opportunity to condemn the senseless shooting. 'Shooting at someone who is sleeping on the ground in a helpless, vulnerable state? That's disgusting,' he said. Pershal was struck by the pellet gun in the head, leg and torso, with one bullet also rupturing her aorta, and she died in May after spending three says in a coma Hopkins (pictured after his arrest) and Innes were detained in August following further investigations into the incident after a coroner determined that Pershal's death was a homicide Cops discovered Pershal unconscious in the street where she lived for around seven years, and was reportedly known to be a friendly and harmless person with the nickname 'Granny Annie.' She was rushed to hospital, where 'doctors noticed that it appeared the woman had ben shot multiple times with a pellet gun' containing metal bullets, court documents said. After spending several days in a coma, it was determined that 'the woman's injuries were non-survivable', and she succumbed to her injuries. Coroners officially ruled the death a homicide on July 31, and further investigations led them to Hopkins and Innes, who were detained in August. Both teenagers initially pleaded not guilty when they were arrested and both were charged with homicide, however Hopkins pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon. Alongside his first-degree murder charge, Innes is also facing charges of possession of an assault weapon illegal in California, failure to comply with state legislation designed to track firearms by applying for serial numbers. Tributes poured in for Pershal after her shooting death, with her daughter Brandy Nazworth telling The Guardian she was a fond sight for locals in the her Serra Mesa neighborhood. 'She was a grandmother figure, and she wore her 'Granny Annie' title very strongly,' she said. 'She wouldn't bother anybody. She loved the neighborhood and I know she loved the community,' Nazworth added to ABC 10. Police fear at least 1,700 serious organised criminals from Albania are walking free in Britain. Drug bosses, people smugglers, fraudsters and sex traffickers are believed to be among the individuals currently at large. Officers from the Metropolitan Police and National Crime Agency (NCA) have requested records on each of the suspects from authorities in Albania in a bid to bring them to justice. It is believed all the suspects arrived illegally in the UK on small boats and lorries. At least 1,700 organised criminals who are believed to have arrived illegally in the UK from Albania are feared by police to be at large James Cleverly met with Albanian Interior Minister Taulant Balla last week to discuss tackling illegal immigration The figure came to light as Home Secretary James Cleverly met Albanian Interior Minister Taulant Balla last week to discuss tackling illegal immigration and serious organised crime. An insider said: 'UK police requested records on 1,700 Albanian migrants suspected of being serious organised criminals, which the Albanian police supplied very promptly. The Albanian police have requested data on all nationals who have been convicted of crimes in the UK so they can start confiscating ill-gotten gains such as property, cash, jewellery and vehicles in Albania.' Earlier this year, drugs kingpin Denis Xhelili, 38, an Albanian migrant, was jailed for ten years for plotting to import thousands of kilos of cocaine and heroin into the UK. The Home Office said that the UK and Albania were keen to target 'illicit finance, corruption, narcotics and organised immigration crime'. December rail strikes will continue today with a week of chaos after Aslef members voted to stage another six months of walk outs in a long-running dispute over pay. Overtime will also be banned until next weekend which will lead to further disruption and cancellations. Drivers on East Midlands Trains and LNER went on strike on Saturday, crippling services on a busy pre-Christmas shopping day. Aslef members on Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, West Midlands Trains and Great Northern/Thameslink will strike on Sunday, with an expected knock-on impact on services on Monday morning. No Great Northern or Thameslink trains will run on Sunday and they will restart between 7am and 9am on Monday. December rail strikes will continue today with a week of chaos after Aslef members voted to stage another six months of walk outs in a long-running dispute over pay Jenny Saunders, customer services director, said: 'We're really sorry for the disruption customers will experience as we make significant timetable changes during this period of sustained national industrial action. 'I strongly urge customers to check every journey, every day, so they aren't caught out. 'No two consecutive days will be the same, so please plan all your journeys carefully, including any connections with other operators, in advance at nationalrail.co.uk, and once again before you set off. 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 'Industrial action is terrible for everyone and we hope for a national resolution as soon as possible.' Avanti West Coast urged passengers not to attempt to travel on Sunday as none of its services will run. The company said: 'Avanti West Coast services on the days either side of the strike will also be affected, along with industrial action impacting other train companies throughout the week, so we recommend you check your entire journey before you travel.' Passengers were told they can claim a full, fee-free refund from their point of purchase. No Chiltern Railways or West Midlands Railway services will operate on Sunday because of the industrial action. Aslef members last week voted overwhelmingly in favour of continuing taking strike action for the next six months, which the union said was proof they were still solidly behind the campaign for an increase to a pay offer worth 8% over two years. The Rail Delivery Group and the Government have urged the union to put the offer to a ballot, saying it would increase annual pay from almost 60,000 to almost 65,000. The dispute remains deadlocked after 18 months, with no sign of a breakthrough. 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. 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. Overtime will also be banned until next weekend which will lead to further disruption and cancellations '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.' 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. 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.' Israeli warplanes launched a devastating dawn raid inside Syria yesterday, killing two senior officers of Iran's Revolutionary Guards who were in the country training terrorists. In an escalation in its war on terror Israel targeted the commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in an air strike just ten miles from Damascus, the Syrian capital. The base was being used by the Tehran-backed terrorism group Hezbollah, which is closely allied with Hamas in Gaza. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said: 'The two IRGC officers were the target of the Israelis. They struck immediately after the pair went into the Hezbollah site.' A picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 2, 2023 showing an explosion and smoke over the Palestinian territory Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: 'Hamas did not fulfil its obligations under the agreement that included releasing all the women and children that were on the list' (Pictured, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) The attack came as intense fighting resumed for a second day in Gaza following the collapse of Israel's ceasefire with Hamas, during which 105 hostages were released by the terror group. Hopes for a renewed truce broke down last night after Israel ordered its negotiating team to withdraw from talks being held with mediators in Qatar, claiming Hamas was still holding women and children it had promised to release. Around 160 people are still being held by Hamas following its invasion of southern Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,200 people. Relatives of the hostages still being held in Gaza spoke of their turmoil after hostilities resumed. Jimmy Miller's cousin Sheri Bibas, 32, is being held with her husband Yarden, 34, and children Kifir, ten months, and Ariel, four. Hamas claims the mother and children were killed in an Israeli air strike last month. But Mr Miller told The Mail on Sunday: 'We still believe the family is OK and they are alive. We try to be optimistic. 'A ceasefire would be good, but the terrorists are playing with us. I don't trust them.' Gil Dickman, 31, whose cousin, Carmel Gat, 39, is being held, said: 'Seeing the hostages come home has given us hope, but now fighting has resumed we are worried.' After talks set up to secure a new ceasefire broke down yesterday afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: 'Hamas did not fulfil its obligations under the agreement that included releasing all the women and children that were on the list.' French PM Emmanuel Macron has offered to negotiate a ceasefire, and US Vice President Kamala Harris has urged Israel to show restraint, adding: 'Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.' Smoke rises on the Lebanese side near the border with Israel, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces Hamas fired dozens of rockets into Israel yesterday, but no injuries were reported. (Residents of the Qatari-funded Hamad Town residential complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, carry some of their belongings as they flee their homes) The Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said 200 people had been killed since the ceasefire ended on Friday, bringing the death toll to 15,200 since the war began. Hamas fired dozens of rockets into Israel yesterday, but no injuries were reported. Israel said it had hit 400 targets from Gaza City to Khan Yunis in the south, where many civilians have taken refuge. Israel has promised to help to get 200 aid trucks into the war zone to relieve the humanitarian crisis. British spy planes will fly over Gaza to track hostages who include UK nationals held by Hamas, the Ministry of Defence said last night, adding: 'Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the authorities responsible for hostage rescue.' Eye-witnesses said they saw at least seven boat-loads being brought back to Dover by Border Force patrols throughout yesterday (sat), as migrants crossed the Channel despite the freezing weather. This year became the second highest on record despite Rishi Sunak's pledge to reduce the number of boats arriving in Britain, for which he handed half-a-billion pounds to the French government to better police its beaches in Northern France. Since the migrant boat crisis began in 2018, last year had the highest number of migrants reaching Britain, with 45,774 arrivals on dinghies. The second highest on record was 2021, with 28,526 arrivals. But this year is now set to overtake 2021, as an estimated 28,653 have reached Dover, if yesterday's figures are included. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, during freezing conditions from a Border Force vessel on December 2 This year became the second highest on record despite Rishi Sunak 's pledge to reduce the number of boats arriving in Britain. Pictured, people brought to Dover in a Border Force vessel on December 2 Yesterday, Border Force cutters were deployed before dawn to pick up migrants in the middle of the English Channel, under extremely poor visibility due to the fog. The boats kept on arriving, with the last one arriving just before 6pm, said an eye-witness. Last night, Labour criticised the Government's efforts to stop the boats, which has been one of Mr Sunak's key pledges since becoming Prime Minister. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Rishi Sunak claimed he would stop the small boats this year but instead this weekend's figures are set to make it the second highest year of crossings on record. Since the migrant boat crisis began in 2018, last year had the highest number of migrants reaching Britain, with 45,774 arrivals on dinghies (Pictured: Migrants in Dover) 'The Tory asylum chaos is continuing, and he has broken another promise he made to the British people.' But a Government source said: 'Crossings are down by a third in a year. They are trending downwards - whereas across Europe they are going up.' The source added that Labour is 'getting a free pass' on their illegal migration policy. He said: 'Their plan to stop the boats is to do in the future what we have already been doing, and which is having results.' Mexican fast-food chain Guzman y Gomez (GYG) has announced the discontinuation of its popular shredded shitake mushroom filling. The decision has sparked outrage among vegetarian customers who considered the filling a fast-favourite since its launch in 2021. GYG confirmed the news, expressing regret over the removal of the beloved mushroom filling. The chain's spokesperson stated, 'Unfortunately, our Shredded Mushroom filling has been removed from menus.' 'We hope you can take advantage of our amazing sauteed veggie filling!' Guzman y Gomez has confirmed it has removed shredded mushroom (above) from its menus, sparking fury and devastation from customers. The plant-based filling has been popular among vegetarian customers since its launch in 2021 As the news circulated, fans of the shredded mushroom filling flooded Guzman y Gomez's social media platforms with pleas to reconsider the decision. 'Bring back the mushroom filling. It is the only thing I order, and I order every week.' Another expressed disbelief, stating, 'I can't believe the mushroom filling is gone. It was so good.' A particularly heartbroken individual added a touch of humour, saying, 'I don't know who decided to take shredded mushrooms off the menu, but I hope your pillow is warm on both sides!' The shredded shiitake mushrooms filling (above) was launched in 2021 - the first to be introduced to the GYG menu since 2018 In response to the public outcry, GYG issued a statement explaining that menu items, including fillings, are regularly reviewed. 'Unfortunately, our shredded mushroom filling wasn't selling enough to stay on our menu at this time,' it said. 'GYG are working on new menu items in our test kitchen which are even more delicious, so we hope to have some new menu innovations for our guests to try soon! Watch this space!' Amazon was last night embroiled in a row over selling clothing bearing an allegedly 'anti-semitic' message. The online retail giant faced calls to remove T-shirts bearing the controversial slogan 'From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free'. Tory Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson told the Mail on Sunday: 'It's disgusting to see Amazon cash in off vile anti-semitic products. 'When their own guidance says they prohibit the sale of items that promote, incite, or glorify hatred or religious intolerance, it begs the question why this merchandise has slipped the net.' Mr Anderson added: 'Amazon should read their own policies and take these products down immediately.' Amazon faced calls to remove T-shirts for sale bearing the controversial slogan 'From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free' He was joined by non-affiliated peer Lord Austin who also urged Amazon to take immediate action. Lord Austin, who quit the party over handling of anti-semitism complaints while Jeremy Corbyn was leader, said: 'This slogan calls for Israel to be wiped off the map, for the destruction of the world's only Jewish state which would inevitably mean the murder of the Jewish people who live there, just as we saw with the barbaric atrocities of October 7. 'They should remove this merchandise immediately.' The slogan and chant has been used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the UK, with 'from the river to the sea' referring to land between the river Jordan, which borders eastern Israel, and the Mediterranean to the West. Conservative Party Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson said it was 'disgusting' that the online retail giant was selling the shirts and called on Amazon to 'take them down immediately' And supporters deny that it is anti-semitic and is more a call for Palestinians to live in their own homeland. However, last month, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer insisted it was anti-semitic, adding: 'I think that is extremely offensive.' The T-shirts, by B & S Boutique, are featured on Amazon alongside other shirts and hoodies bearing the Palestinian flag. Amazon was approached for comment. Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg is believed to be seriously considering running again for his old Melbourne seat of Kooyong in the election due in May 2025. Mr Frydenberg, 52, lost the blue ribbon seat to Monique Ryan in the 2022 election - one of a series of formerly safe Liberal seats lost to so-called Teal candidates. Two months after losing, he joined investment banker Goldman Sachs as a senior regional adviser for the Asia Pacific region, based in its Melbourne office. In September, Mr Frydenberg said he was not interested in running for again and instead took a promotion to chairman of Goldman Sachs Australia and New Zealand. But the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 led to him contacting several Australian political leaders about anti-Semitic protests. Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured with his wife Amie) is said to be considering trying to win back his old seat of Kooyong in Melbourne That, in turn, led to some Jewish community and Liberal party leaders asking him to reconsider his decision not to run again, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Mr Frydenberg was also reportedly shown an internal Liberal party poll showing that he could win the seat back off Dr Ryan if he challenged her, and that he was more likely to be able to do so than any other Liberal candidate. A Liberal MP said the former treasurer had been 'kicking the tyres' about running again and that 'He's definitely been up and about lately.' One of the reasons Dr Ryan could be vulnerable is due to the high profile court case taken against her by her former adviser Sally Rugg. Ms Rugg claimed the MP breached general protections under the Fair Work Act and was awarded almost $100,000 in an out-of-court settlement in April. Another reason the seat could be in play is because of the declining fortunes of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Labor government. In the latest Newspoll Labor's vote fell four points to 31 per cent in just three weeks, while the Coalition's rose a point to 38 per cent its highest support since the election in May 2022. Mr Albanese's personal approval rating, which fell two points to 40 per cent, is now level with Liberal leader Peter Dutton. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Frydenberg seeking comment. Victorian police officers have begun revealing the location of speed cameras as a bitter pay dispute between the state government and the police union continues to intensify. The industrial action, led by the Police Association of Victoria - the peak union for police and protective service officers in the state - is the latest stoush in negotiations for improved pay and conditions in Victoria Police's new workplace agreement. The association's demand for a 4 per cent wage increase and nine-hour work shifts has become a sticking point in negotiations, with Treasurer Tim Pallas saying the state's financially strained budget cannot accommodate the request. With negotiations reaching an impasse, police cars will flash their lights to alert motorists to fixed speed and red light cameras from December 4 in an attempt to reduce the state's revenue from fines. The industrial action will see around 2,000 police cars emblazoned with anti-government messaging. A police vehicle (pictured) signalled a speed light camera to incoming traffic in Melbourne on Sunday, December 3, 2023 Association members will also refuse to work unpaid overtime. The industrial action has been approved by the Fair Work Commission. Association secretary Wayne Gatt told reporters that his members were 'burnt out, day by day' and were demanding an end to the protracted pay dispute. 'It's on like Donkey Kong,' Mr Gatt said. 'Our members will be telling the government exactly what they think of them.' 'Exactly what needs to be done to correct the issues that are causing the slash and burn mentality in our police force - a police force where services are being slashed in the community.' Victorian police officers have begun revealing the location of speed cameras. A mobile speed camera is pictured In a statement released by Victorian Police, the force said it would continue to negotiate with the VPA in 'good faith'. 'We have made significant progress and are confident of reaching an agreement that recognises the challenges of policing and is fair for police, protective services officers and the Victorian community,' the statement read. Frontline policing will continue to be provided. The preceding enterprise bargaining agreement, which encompassed approximately 17,500 police and protective services officers was struck in 2020, but it ended on Thursday. The COP28 Presidency joined the World Health Organisation (WHO) to announce a new COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health to accelerate actions to protect peoples health from growing climate impacts. The Declaration was developed with the support of a number of country champions including Brazil, Malawi, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Kenya, Fiji, India, Egypt, Sierra Leone, and Germany. This joint action comes as annual deaths from polluted air hit almost 9 million and 189 million people are exposed to extreme weather-related events each year. It was announced at the World Climate Action Summit, where world leaders gathered for the start of COP28. Signed by 123 countries, the Declaration is announced one day ahead of the first-ever Health Day at a COP and marks a world first in acknowledging the need for governments to protect communities and prepare healthcare systems to cope with climate-related health impacts such as extreme heat, air pollution and infectious diseases. "The impacts of climate change are already at our door. They have become one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century. Governments have now rightly recognised health as a crucial element of climate action," said Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President. "The Declaration sends a strong signal that we must reduce global emissions and work together to strengthen our health systems," he stated. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation, pointed out that the climate crisis was a health crisis, "but for too long, health has been a footnote in climate discussions." "WHO thanks the UAE for making health a key priority in its COP28 Presidency, and welcomes this declaration, which emphasises the need to build climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems, to protect the health of both planet and people," he noted. "Climate change is increasingly impacting the health and wellbeing of our communities, said Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi - one of the first countries to endorse the Declaration. Malawi has experienced these impacts first-hand extreme weather events have displaced tens of thousands of our citizens and sparked infectious disease outbreaks that have killed thousands more. This year, at COP28, we are calling for a bolder path forward that prioritises investments in health and wellbeing, ensures a just transition away from fossil fuels, and creates a healthier future for all of us," he added. The Declaration covers a range of action areas at the nexus of climate and health, including building more climate-resilient health systems, strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration to reduce emissions and maximise the health benefits of climate action, and increasing finance for climate and health solutions. Signatories have also committed to incorporate health targets in their national climate plans and improve international collaboration to address the health risks of climate change, including at future COPs. It is also recognised that finance will be a significant driver of the Declarations success. As such, the COP28 Presidency joined with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Green Climate Fund, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the WHO to unveil a set of ten principles to bolster financing for climate and health, mobilise new and additional finance, and foster innovation with transformative projects and new multi-sector approaches. Endorsed by over 40 financing partners and civil society organisations, the COP28 Guiding Principles for Financing Climate and Health Solutions signal the growing collaboration across funders and the momentum to support climate and health solutions in a sustainable manner. It also welcomed the finance announcements made by a wide range of stakeholders including governments, development banks, multilateral institutions, philanthropies, and NGOs to expand their investments in climate and health solutions. Collectively, these partners have committed to dedicate US$1 billion to address the growing needs of the climate health crisis. Speaking on the climate health principles, Mafalda Duarte - Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund said, These Guiding Principles come at a pivotal moment in our fight against climate change. By creating and implementing this holistic and more equitable framework, we will find whole-of-economy benefits for prioritising health in climate financing. The COP28 Presidency recognises that reducing the health impacts of climate change will require action across all of society, including rapid and large-scale action to decarbonise energy systems to reduce emissions by at least 43 percent over the next seven years. To this end, the announcement of the Declaration at the World Climate Action Summit on December 2nd was just one of a number of announcements from the COP28 Presidency, which recognised the need to reduce the health impacts of climate change beyond the health sector and included new initiatives to drive rapid decarbonisation to reduce emissions by at least 43 percent over the next seven years to keep 1.5C within reach. On 3rd December COP28s Health Day - will see the first ever climate and health Ministerial at a COP. Ministers of Health and senior health delegations from over 100 countries are expected to attend. The COP28 Presidency will also gather climate and global health financiers, development banks, countries, philanthropies, and the private sector to respond to the country priorities and needs raised at COP28 and scale up finance interventions that will protect and promote human health. Passengers have unleashed on a budget airline after their flights were suddenly cancelled, with many now down hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Australia's newest low-cost airline Bonza announced on Thursday they would be cancelling flights between Darwin and the Gold Coast during the entirety of December. The airline's first flight between the two cities was due to take off last week, however the carrier has blamed 'regulatory approval processes' for the issue. Around 1,100 customers have now been offered flights to Queensland's Sunshine Coast instead, while those no longer able to make the trip have been offered refunds. Many Aussies have since aired their grievances online and say they are now at risk of losing money for accomodation and other transport arrangements that were already booked. Australia's newest low-cost airline Bonza announced on Thursday they would be cancelling flights between Darwin and the Gold Coast during the entirety of December Others have said because they've had to buy a last-minute flight, the price of their new ticket is now much more expensive than their original fare. 'I'm at least 1K down because of these clowns,' one person wrote on social media. 'Do they want to reimburse us the accommodation and transport arrangements that now have to be cancelled? I bet not!' said another. 'I'm now out of pocket LOTS of extra money because I'm booking with other airlines at last minute prices. If they'd let me known earlier I would have been able to get cheaper replacement flights.' Others questioned how the airfares were even allowed to be made available if they had not been approved. 'We booked flights with Bonza to avoid the other two biggies and they cancelled as they didn't have permission to fly the route. How are they allowed to sell tickets on an unauthorised route? Airline industry in Australia is stuffed,' said another. Some passengers also claimed they spent hours trying to get onto someone from the customer service team. It's expected as many as 1,600 passengers have been impacted by the cancellations. As many as 1,600 Bonza travellers are expected to have been impacted by the cancellation One customer said they spent hours trying to get onto someone from customer service Others have said because they've had to buy a last-minute flight, the price of their new ticket is now much more expensive than their original fare CEO of Bonza Tim Jordan apologised for the inconvenience and said that flights to the Gold Coast now had to be run by their Canadian counterparts Flair as the budget airline continues to hire more staff. 'As we've previously shared, in the short term we will use an aircraft leased from our partner Flair at our Gold Coast base whilst we recruit Aussie crew for this third base,' Mr Jordan said. 'This arrangement brings with it a separate regulatory approval process. That process is progressing but is not yet complete and as a result, we've had to make the regrettable decision to defer some flights between Gold Coast and Darwin in the coming weeks. 'We are acutely aware of the impact this has on our customers and we are very sorry for this.' Mr Jordan said the airline is working with customers impacted by the cancellation and said they would provide a full refund to those who are now unable to travel. 'At this point our priority is to assist our impacted customers as efficiently as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements,' Mr Jordan said. Bonza announced the Darwin to Gold Coast route in September along with two other travel routes between Darwin and the Sunshine Coast and Alice Springs to Melbourne. Flights between Darwin to the Gold Coast were set to commence in late November. They are now expected to resume in January. Bonza entered the Australian airline market in January 2023 as 'Australia's new and only independent, low cost airline'. The airline operates several flights across multiple interstate destinations including NSW and Victoria. Thousands of protesters have rallied in Sydney and Melbourne for the eighth week in a row, using the gathering to call for more support from the unions. Protesters filled Sydney's Hyde Park while those in Melbourne took up the entire road in front of Flinders St Station on Sunday as they called on Australian leaders to call for peace and end the fighting in Palestine. They were heard chanting 'peace is union business, peace is all our business'. A strong feature of the Melbourne rally was organisers calling on union executives, especially Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Sally McManus to join the calls for peace. Pro-Palestine supporters took up the entire road in front of Flinders St Station as they urged unions to join the growing calls for peace in the Middle East Protesters have gathered each week since fighting broke out between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7 In Melbourne, pro-Palestine protesters occupied entire city streets 'The leaders of the ACTU, I want to tell them this, we want you to organise, organise and organise a union rally, one that bands them together,' Maritime Union of Australia WA Secretary Christy Cain called over the microphone. 'Sally McManus we need you, we need you at these rallies, we need you calling for peace. 'We need you to mobilise the masses around Australia and our connections around the world.' While Ms McManus has not attended the rally, the ACTU says it 'condemns attacks on civilians' and has called 'for an end to the occupation of Palestine'. 'The ACTU calls on the Australian Government to exercise all avenues of diplomacy to stop the bombing and ground assault by Israel into Gaza and call for an immediate ceasefire,' the union said in the weeks after the first attacks. 'We reiterate the Australian union movement's strong opposition to war, violence and racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.' Many protesters took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu An enormous Palestinian flag was laid down at the Sydney protest 'Free Palestine' was the overwhelming message of both protests Protesters young and old joined together on Sunday 'The killing of civilians & collective punishment must stop,' Ms McManus wrote on X, adding to the statement. Red, green white and black were overwhelming as hundreds of Palestinian flags were raised by protesters or worn around their shoulders. With tensions high on Australian streets in the fallout from the attack, protest organisers were quick to declare they were calling for peace rather than religious violence. 'Once again lets make it really clear, this is not a war and more importantly this is not a war on Jews against the Muslims,' one protest organiser was heard saying over the microphone. 'This has nothing to do with interfaith issues. We demand our leaders stop lying, we demand it.' Her call was met with cries of 'shame' from the audience, directed toward politicians and other leaders. 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' was used as a rallying cry at both protests. The protest have occurred each week since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1500 people and taking dozens of hostages. Many of the Israeli hostages have been freed in a prisoner swap amid the recent ceasefire, though both sides brushed off calls to renew the expired truce on Saturday. At least 240 people have been killed since the pause ended on Friday and the assault on Gaza's north continued. Areas in Khan Younis in southern Gaza have come under fire over the weekend while sirens have sounded in Israel's south as Hamas targeted Tel Aviv. More than 15,000 Palestinians including 6150 children have been killed in the conflict while Israel's official death toll stands at 1200. Protesters gathered in their thousands in capital cities once again on Sunday Many protesters raised Palestinian flags and became emotional during the speeches A ceasefire and an end to the fighting were at the forefront of protesters calls Prayers in English and Arabic were read out, with the crowd falling silent as they wished safety to Palestinians under siege. Enormous Palestinian flags were seen at both protests, with Melburnians carrying theirs through the streets while Sydneysiders laid theirs on the ground. A large watermelon flag, used as a symbol of Palestinian resistance, with messages for Palestinians written onto it was also carried through the Sydney protest. 'Where were you when people were being killed, where were you when hospitals were getting demolished, where were you when entire neighbourhoods were getting bombed. We're going to remember, whatever you're doing, keep doing it.' 'Demand better!' A strong police presence could be seen at both rallies to keep things calm, with public order and riot squad officers, mounted police and other crew seen at the protests. The events remained calm on Sunday afternoon and no arrests were made at either rally not any incidents recorded. A man has died after a fire inundated a shed in a Victorian coastal town. Emergency services were called to a home on Howard Street Lorne, in Victoria's south west, about 8.45am on Sunday. Police said a man was found deceased inside a shed attached to the property. The man is yet to be formally identified but is not believed to be a resident of the property. A man has died in a shed at a property in Lorne, in Victoria's south west, after the shed caught on fire (stock image pictured) Police are investigating the circumstances which led to the fire (stock image pictured) An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said paramedics treated and transported a man in his 40s to Lorne Hospital with injuries to his upper body, according to the Geelong Advertiser. It is understood he is in a stable condition. The property is believed to be a holiday house available for rent. A nearby resident told the Geelong Advertiser he had seen the smoke at about 8.30am Sunday morning from Deans Marsh Rd. The resident said a man who lived in the area attempted to go into the shed to help, but 'something exploded' and hit him in the shoulder. Detectives are investigating the circumstances behind the fire. Anyone who witnessed the incident or with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. More to come. Gravano's comments come after a bank investigator was alarmed by 'unusual' and 'erratic' activity in Hunter's financial transactions with a Chinese company A famous former crime boss says Hunter Biden would be in line for 20 life sentences for his alleged financial crimes if he wasn't the president's son. Salvatore 'Sammy the Bull' Gravano, a convicted former head honcho for the Brooklyn-based Gambino family, told Fox News the allegations facing the first son are are 'beyond theft, it's treason.' His comments came after a bank investigator was alarmed by 'unusual' and 'erratic' activity in Hunter Biden's financial transactions with a Chinese company in 2018. The ex-underworld mobster said to Jesse Watters: 'It's mind-blowing. I don't understand how the country is just sitting back listening to these things and no action is being taken. Salvatore 'Sammy the Bull' Gravano, the convicted previous underboss for the Brooklyn faction of the Gambino family, said that Hunter Biden's crimes are 'beyond theft, it's treason' His comments come after a bank investigator was alarmed by 'unusual' and 'erratic' activity in Hunter Biden's financial transactions with a Chinese company in 2018 'There are so many guys I know who would go for 20 to lifetime sentences for this kind of stuff and when it comes from the President, Vice-President and people like that, it's beyond theft; it's treason to a country. 'I remember when I was younger and was in the military, treason was something that you faced the death penalty for because you are robbing every man, woman and child. Every race, black, white, Hispanic, and Asian. 'You cannot get a more disgusting crime than this. I have been hearing it over and over again and I don't understand why there are no actions.' The gangster, who has had two new Netflix docuseries based on his life, also said that he knows many people in media and the federal government who are not speaking up against the Biden family over the fear of losing their jobs. As a veteran, he said he feels bad for those who served in the military and returned to see the government allegedly operating in this way. 'Everything they gave for us, and we're sitting back and doing absolutely nothing. I don't care how much power they got on their side. We have the people. The people are the power. If we don't talk, if we don't say something, then we're part of it,' he said.' After a while, the mobster deterred from his criticism of the Biden family and went on to explain how migrants were causing riots in the country, particularly in New York, instead of spreading love and respect. 'There are so many guys I know who would go for 20 to lifetime sentences for this kind of stuff and when it comes from the President, Vice-President and people like that, it's beyond theft; it's treason to a country,' the former gangster said. After a while, the mobster deterred from his criticism of the Biden family and went on to explain how migrants were causing riots in the country, particularly in New York, instead of spreading love and respect He said: 'I fight for a lot of things. The open borders, poor people pouring in there, invading our country by the million and we do nothing at all. 'We [the mob] did things. I don't even want to compare. We were like choir boys compared to these people. 'We always had a thing about protecting the public. I have friends in New York and family and they turn around and say "Sammy, we were so much better when the mafia was in New York". 'I see them lighting up the tree. These things are so important to me, not for religion, not for anything like that, but it's so festive, and it brings love and respect. 'There used to be hundreds and thousands of people lighting up the trees and looking at the Macy's windows; it brought love to your heart no matter how bad of a person you are. 'Now I'm seeing riots. I'm seeing things that are going on. How do you have the audacity to come to this country and do this. 'And you getting away with this is mind-blowing.' A money trail beginning in July 2017 snaked from Chinese oil giant CEFC - one of Hunter Biden's joint ventures - into Joe's account in the form of a $40K check, say Republicans Recently, Republicans pushing for Joe Biden's impeachment publicized an email from a bank investigator who was alarmed by 'unusual' and 'erratic' activity in Hunter Biden's financial transactions with a Chinese company. The money from the flagged transactions then trickled down to Joe Biden in the form of a $40,000 'loan repayment' check from James and Sara Biden in 2017, say Republicans. According to bank records obtained by Republicans, a money trail started with a $5 million payment from Chinese oil giant CEFC, a Hunter venture, through several Biden-connected entities, resulting in the $40,000 deposit into Joe's account. The Bank Secrecy Act manager wrote in a bombshell June 2018 email released Wednesday that Hunter's financial transactions sparked concern over their 'unusual' nature. Specifically, the money transferred from the CEFC payment into Hunter's entities Hudson West and Owasco did not appear to have 'any services rendered' and serves 'no current business purpose,' the email continues. In addition, the investigator raised the issue of China's targeting of 'children of politicians' where they 'purchase' political influence through 'sweetheart deals.' Based on those concerns, the bank investigator ultimately recommended requiring a 're-evaluation' of the bank's relationship with 'high risk' client Hunter. Chairman James Comer told DailyMail.com in a statement that the bank investigator 'was so concerned about Hunter Biden's financial transactions with the Chinese company, he wanted to re-evaluate the bank's relationship with the customer.' 'Even worse, we know that the sitting President of the United States knew about, participated in, and benefited from his family's shady China dealings,' continued Comer. He slammed the White House for attempting to 'coverup' what he called 'blatant corruption.' Comer's Oversight Committee is spearheading the probe into the Biden family's 'influence peddling' operation as part of the larger impeachment inquiry into the president. They say that Joe Biden has been at the center of an extremely lucrative 'extortion scheme' between members of his family and foreign actors - including China. The $40,000 check is at the center of their allegations. Both Hunter and Joe Biden deny all allegations of criminality. WhatsApp messages from August 2017 previously published by DailyMail.com, Hunter demanded $10 million from CEFC and claimed his father was 'sitting here' next to him during the exchange. Joe Biden has previously stated that Hunter never made money from China, and the White House has maintained that the president never benefitted from his family's business ventures. The Brooklyn-born mobster played a huge role in the prosecution of John Gotti, the Gambino crime family's boss (right), by agreeing to testify as a government witness against him and others in a deal. He also confessed to being involved in 19 murders Hunter faces separate tax crimes and firearms charges after a plea deal collapsed earlier this year. He now faces a full trial and could spend up to 25 years in prison on those charges, as well as find himself liable for $750,000 in fines. The Brooklyn-born mobster played a massive role in the prosecution of John Gotti, the Gambino crime family's boss, by agreeing to testify as a government witness against him and others in a deal. He also confessed to being involved in 19 murders. Gravano was one of the first high-ranking members of New York's iconic Italian-American mafia gangs, titled the Five Families, to break his blood oath and cooperate with the government on an investigation. It was due to his testimony that Gotti and Frank Locascio were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in 1992 for the murder ex-Gambino boss Paul Castellano. Apart from having two Netflix docuseries on his life, he was consulted many times for the 1997 biographical book on his life by Peter Maas titled 'Underboss'. Los Angeles police have nabbed a man accused of killing three homeless men - and a fourth victim gunned down in his garage during a 'follow-home' robbery. On Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore announced that the man arrested for the murders is 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell. He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Nicholas Simbolon - a father of two - which took place last Tuesday night in San Dimas. Moore said the department suspects Powell was responsible for four murders in four days. The suspect, who is a Los Angeles resident, is alleged to have shot three homeless men across the city from November 26 to November 29. His vehicle was identified by the police in Beverly Hills last Wednesday. Upon conducting a traffic stop, authorities recovered the gun used in the murders - he was subsequently arrested. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was arrested for the killings of three homeless men in Los Angeles and one San Dimas father of two An image released by police shows a person suspected in the killings of three homeless people in Los Angeles On Saturday, Moore said: 'Over the course of the investigation of our murders, we were able to identify the vehicle we believe is connected to our three homicides as being the same vehicle that Mr. Powell used in the murder of Mr. Simbolon.' '[We learned] that it was being held in custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department as evidence of their murder. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna discussed the use of the controversial license plate reader system law enforcement officers sometimes use to identify suspicious vehicles. 'We know theres controversy out there about the usage of this system, but let me tell our community something. If we did not enter that plate into the system, this individual that we believe is responsible for at least four murders may have [still] been out there and reoffended,' he said. Detectives in Beverly Hills identified a vehicle that may have been involved in Sambolon's murder the night before and plugged the license plate into the automated reader system, which led to the traffic stop and Powell's eventual arrest. He was ultimately arrested for the follow home murder of Sambolon as well as the three homeless men. Powell was described as a convicted felon with 'violence in his background.' Further details of his past convictions were not shared. 'The next objective is to put this guy away at minimum forever, because he doesn't deserve to be out on the street,' said Luna. LA Mayor Karen Bass lauded the police and sheriff's departments for their speedy work. 'Twenty-four hours ago, we announced there was a killer on the loose, now he is in custody,' she said. 'Right after the conclusion of yesterdays press conference, my office was able to convene more than four hundred people representing city departments, housing service providers, regional agencies and elected officials at the city and county level to ensure that they would [get the word out] about the threat facing our unhoused community.' LAPD Chief Michel Moore delivered an update to the case on Saturday LA Mayor Karen Bass commended the local authorities for their swift operation in identifying and arresting the alleged murderer The suspect was apprehended after authorities ran the plates of a suspicious vehicle in Beverly Hills One of the men was fatally shot as he slept against a wall Police had been searching for the gunman responsible for murdering three homeless men as they slept in different parts of the city. Authorities believed the same person was responsible for all three deaths, which occurred in the early hours of last Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. All three victims were men sleeping in open areas, like alleys or sidewalks. One of the men's murders was described by Moore as 'brutal' and 'ruthless.' A motive for the killings has not yet been established. A Labor minister has dismissed polling that characterised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a 'follower, not a leader', 'bland' and a 'beta male' who was ineffectual in tackling nation's cost-of-living crisis. The disparaging labels emerged in focus groups carried out in marginal seats in Queensland and South Australia by Victorian-based polling company RedBridge for NewsCorp. During an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt insisted Mr Albanese was making 'tough' decisions. 'So I am not concerned about those sort of remarks and I think the record shows that Albo and the entire Cabinet have taken the tough decisions that the country has needed,' Mr Watt said. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt (pictured left having a beer with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) says he is not worried about unfavourable comments coming out of focus groups READ MORE: Single poll detail shows why Anthony Albanese should be worried about what happens after the Voice vote - as he rallies supporters at Uluru Advertisement However, Mr Watt conceded the focus groups showed sky-rocketing costs was a key issue for Australians. 'What I think it highlights is the importance of the cost-of-living issues that so many Australians face,' he said. 'Obviously when people are doing it tough, as they are right now, they look for the government to take tough action to address those cost-of-living issues and that is exactly what we are doing.' Mr Watt downplayed the reported personal assessments of Mr Albanese. 'I am not very concerned about that,' he told Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell. 'It is, as you say, a focus group and all sorts of people say all sorts of thing in focus groups. 'I reckon if I walked down the main street of Brisbane this morning there would be a few people giving me a bit of free character assessment as well.' Since the resounding defeat of the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament at a referendum in mid October Labor's polling has started to nosedive. Mr Albanese (pictured in outside his Marrickville home) is facing falling popularity in recent polling This trend has been exacerbated by the outcry surrounding the Albanese government's handling of a High Court ruling to release immigration detainess with serious criminal backgrounds into the community. Monday's Newspoll showed the Prime Minister's approval rating had sunk to its lowest level since Labor won power 18 months ago. It also showed Labor's primary vote in freefall, plunging by four points to 31 per cent in the past three weeks, while the Coalition's has risen a point to 38 per cent its highest support since the election in May 2022. On a two-party preferred basis, Labor and the Coalition are tied 50-50 in the poll, which would likely lead to Labor losing five seats and its majority if an election was held now. Redbridge surveyed voters from the electorates of Brisbane, Griffith, Ryan, Sturt and Boothby. The participants voiced the worrying perception for Labor that Mr Albanese was distracted by things not of central concern to most Australians 'He hasn't really addressed cost-of-living and I get there's global factors at play but I don't think he's done much concrete action on it,' one participant said. 'I just don't see a lot of action on cost-of-living pressures. He's missing in action and now he's running off overseas again,' one said. Even Mr Albanese's working class authenticity, normally considered one of his strengths, came in for questioning. 'He plays on Australian colloquialisms and wears that bloody Rabbitoh's cap, it makes me cringe. It looks so staged,' a focus group participant commented. A doting grandmother who died after her car veered into a four truck convoy was only minutes away from her destination and had only just reconnected with her only daughter. Mother-of-three Catherine Ergovic, 49, was on her way to visit family in Northam, 97km north east of Perth, Western Australia on Wednesday night when tragedy struck. Ms Ergovic was travelling along the Great Eastern Highway in Wundowie when her silver Hyundai Elantra veered across the road into the westbound lane. Her car crashed into the third truck of the convoy and crumbled on impact. Ms Ergovic died at the scene, just 20 minutes from her destination. Daughter Tenielle Nugent, 25, had only recently rekindled a relationship with her mum after a six month 'falling out'. Catherine Ergovic was travelling along the Great Eastern Highway in Wundowie when her silver Hyundai Elantra veered onto the other side of the road and collided with a truck convoy READ MORE: Mascot crash: Three teenagers rushed to hospital and driver flees the scene after two cars collide on Southern Cross Drive Advertisement 'My older brother called me and said, 'Mum was in a car crash and unfortunately she didn't make it',' Ms Nugent told the West Australian. 'I fell onto the floor on my hands and knees screaming. I thought it can't be real but then I saw the photos of her car, I knew she didn't survive that. I screamed and cried over the phone.' Ms Nugent said she did not know how the crash happened but believes her mum may have fallen asleep or had a medical episode while she was driving. She described her mum as a 'kind' and 'amazing' mother who always put her children first. 'It's so hard to put into words the kind of mother she was, she was such a beautiful caring lady,' Ms Nugent said. 'She loved cooking for us, she loved country music and she loved shopping.' 'My dad is devastated and heartbroken. They were separated but they still loved each other very much.' Ms Nugent praised the first responders who were confronted with harrowing scenes. She has also spoken with the wife of the truck driver and hopes that he's doing okay. Ms Ergovic is survived by her three children - Tenielle and sons Bronson and Zac, along with three grandchildren. Major crash detectives have launched an investigation into the crash. Anyone with information or dash cam footage is urged to call Crime Stoppers. Buckingham Palace officials will meet with aides to Prince William this week for critical talks in how to deal with the fallout from accusations of racism after the publication of Omid Scobie's book Endgame. The gathering of the two households will see them discuss all how to respond, with 'time and care' to be taken before any decisions are made, one source told the Sunday Telegraph. All options are believed to be 'on the table', including legal action, after claims King Charles and the Princess of Wales remarked on the skin colour of Prince Archie, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the Dutch edition of the book. Charles, who flew back to the UK after several days at he COP28 environment summit in Dubai last week, is said to be taking the furore surrounding the book 'very seriously'. It is reported that during the week Charles will discuss the situation with senior advisers, while also carrying out his duties with aides telling the Mirror it will be 'business as usual' with royals to be seen as 'rising above' the row. King Charles was pictured this morning heading to Sunday Church service at Sandringham Buckingham Palace officials are set to meet with aides of Prince William this week. Pictured: King Charles at the COP28 sumit in Dubai on Friday Sources have said it will be 'business as usual' for the Royal Family as discussions take place on how to respond to the race row claims. Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at the Royal Variety Show on Thursday Author of Endgame, Omid Scobie (pictured on Newsnight last week) has been accused of acting as a 'mouthpiece' for the Sussexes, an allegation he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not 'Meg's pal' A copy of Endgame which was released last week. In the book author Omid Scobie made a number of bombshell claims about the Royal Family, including that letters between Meghan Markle and King Charles named two people who allegedly remarked about the skin colour of her son Prince Archie He is expected to remain in Sandringham today before returning to London for a series of official engagements this week, including a ceremony at Buckingham Palace and a charity carol concert at Westminster Abbey. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE: Commons will be told to strip Harry and Meghan of their Royal titles 'after the latest instalment of the couple's feud with the rest of the Royal Family' Advertisement A source close to the Palace told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Discussions [have been] had and we'll continue those discussions this week, but not in a crisis talks manner... 'Decisions [will be] made with care and time and professionalism rather than rushed over a weekend.' MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment. Meanwhile, the Mail understands that Buckingham Palace is investigating who at their end could have seen the letters between the King and Meghan Markle in which the names were allegedly mentioned. However, it is confident the leak has not come from within, believing only a 'tiny handful' of people have ever seen them. Harry and Meghan, meanwhile, have not commented publicly on the scandal. Scobie has been accused of acting as a 'mouthpiece' for the Sussexes, an allegation he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not 'Meg's pal'. 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 for them to be publicly identified'. King Charles III is said to be taking the furore over Omid Scobie's book Endgame 'very seriously' Harry and Meghan (pictured in Dusseldorf in September) have not commented on the scandal publicly Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex (pictured with Harry in 2017) have insisted she 'never intended' for the alleged 'royal racists' to be identified They insist that the contents of the letters were 'not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp', the Telegraph reports. But one source close to the Royal Family has now called on Harry and Meghan to speak out publicly on the issue. The source told the paper: 'For the couple that talked about 'death by a thousand no comments', the silence at this point is deafening.' READ MORE HERE: Harry and Meghan are excluded from high society wedding of his childhood friend Hugh Grosvenor - but William and Kate ARE invited - in latest sign of Royal rift between the two brothers Advertisement Another insider added that the decision not to respond was 'interesting' given the Sussexes' previous complaints about not being supported against negative press stories. Boris Johnson, writing in his regular Daily Mail column, has suggested that asking questions about a baby's skin colour could not be construed as racist. He said: 'To ask such questions, in anticipation of a happy event, is simple human nature. 'It is one of the greatest joys and mysteries of life that we have no real idea, in utero, what our children will look like. 'That, I expect, was exactly the kind of ruminative debate that the so-called royal racist was having.' Meanwhile, Sir Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Commission for Racial Equality, called it a 'nonsense story' and said the comments were 'a mark of excitement, I suspect'. The scandal - which Scobie has been forced to insist was not a publicity stunt - has kept Endgame in the headlines for more than a week as excerpts were published in the days before its release in a French magazine. The most eye-grabbing extract serialised in Paris Match claimed that there was a second so-called 'royal racist' - after Harry and Meghan alluded to a member of the Royal Household expressing discomfort over Archie's skin colour in 2021. The original 'racism' claim was made in the Sussexes' infamous 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview (pictured) 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 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 They told Oprah Winfrey in their much vaunted interview a year after they quit royal duties that there had been conversations about 'how dark' Archie's skin would be when he was born. She did not name the member of the household, saying at the time: 'I think that would be very damaging to them.' The names did not appear in the English edition of the book when it was released on Tuesday. Scobie had written a paragraph in which he said he could not name them under UK law. But the names appeared in the Dutch version of the book, prompting the publishers to pulp copies that were on sale. The Dutch translators who worked on the volume maintain that the manuscript they were given featured both names verbatim. Saskia Peeters, speaking to MailOnline, said this week: '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.' Newspapers in the UK avoided reporting the names after the allegations came to light after Endgame's release on Tuesday, but Piers Morgan revealed them on his Uncensored show on Wednesday. Morgan added, however, that he did not believe the allegations of 'racist comments'. He said: 'Because I don't 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 King is said to be consulting senior advisers on the scandal next week, with all options reportedly on the table, including legal action It was Meghan who first alleged that family members raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' Archie would be He then doubled down on his defence later in the week, saying on Thursday: 'I took a view it was ridiculous that British people couldn't be aware of this information. I also said when I named them that I didn't believe a word of the racist allegations made against them.' EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE: Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas dubs the Sussexes' silence over Scobie book as 'unusual' Advertisement 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. Although it was billed as a look 'inside the royal family and the monarchy's fight for survival', Endgame's relentlessly savage tone and attacks on the Princess of Wales has seen it roundly denounced and attracted a slew of brutal reviews. The author first rose to worldwide fame with Finding Freedom, a book on 'Megxit' he authored with American journalist Carolyn Durand. On Newsnight earlier this week 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. He claimed: '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.' 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. The French Iranian knifeman who allegedly stabbed a tourist to death and wounded two others including an Englishman in Paris has now been named and pictured, and is a well-known convicted terrorist with severe psychiatric problems. Despite this, Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, was released from prison in 2020, and left to live at home with his parents while undergoing 'psychiatric and neurological treatment'. On Sunday he was under armed guard and facing multiple charges including murder following a bloodbath close to the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night. Rajabpour-Miyandoab allegedly used a knife and hammer to kill a 24-year-old German-Filipino tourist, before attacking two more as-yet-unnamed victims, including a British father. He shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he was taken in by Paris police, who immobilised him with a stun gun. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab was in 2016 convicted to four years in prison for terrorist conspiracy. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he was taken in by Paris police, who immobilised him with a stun gun Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, (pictured) was released from prison in 2020, and left to live at home with his parents while undergoing 'psychiatric and neurological treatment' The son of two Iranian refugees who was born in France, he had converted to Islam in 2015 after being radicalised online by an ISIS supporter, according to prosecution documents. Rajabpour-Miyandoab was well known for forging online links with other terrorists including Larossi Aballa, who went on to stab two police officers to death in Magnanville in June 2016. Another Facebook friend was Adel Kermiche, one of the perpetrators of the stabbing to death of a Catholic priest in Saint-Etienne du Rouvray in the same year. Many of those linked with such crimes were, like Rajabpour-Miyandoab, on an S-File, which means they are officially under surveillance. Rajabpour-Miyandoab later claimed to have completed a 'deradicalization programme', claiming he had lost interest in terrorism. He was let out of prison early in 2020, and put on a treatment programme for 'psychiatric and neurological problems,' according to an investigating source. In court in 2018, he said: 'Islamism was ruining my life,' while claiming he had taken to drinking beer and eating pork - activities which are barred to practising Muslims. But online activity showed that Rajabpour-Miyandoab was still researching how to make phosphorus bombs, and posted a video of himself disguised, and making political statements. He regularly bemoaned the number of Muslims who were being killed in global conflicts including Afghanistan and Israel-Hamas. At one point he accused France of 'being complicit' in 'war crimes' committed by Israeli forces against thousands of massacred Palestinian civilians. During his time in custody he had frequently complained about 'Muslims being killed in Afghanistan and Palestine'. He had also referenced the current Israel-Hamas conflict, claiming that 'France was complicit' with Israel in the massacre of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. The attacker, who has been named locally as Armand R., shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he was taken in by Paris police, who immobilised him with a stun gun The deadly attack in central Paris during a busy weekend night came with the country on its highest alert for attacks The attack has rocked France, which has seen tensions rise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict Tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip The deadly attack in central Paris during a busy weekend night came with the country on its highest alert for attacks, as tensions rise against the background of the war between Israel and Hamas. He fatally stabbed the as-yet-unnamed German tourist, born in the Philippines in 1999, with a knife in the back and shoulder, which led to a cardiorespiratory arrest before he passed away. The second victim of the attack was British, and was out walking with his wife when Armand R. attacked him from behind. 'The family were on the Avenue President Kennedy when they were set upon,' said an investigating source, who added: 'A hammer was used to hit the man over the head.' The Englishman was rushed to hospital, where his condition was later described as 'stable'. A third victim was also badly hurt in a hammer attack, said the source. The UK's Foreign Office said today: 'We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris, and are in contact with the local authorities.' The area by Bir Hakeim bridge, usually thronging with tourists and locals, was cordoned off by police and bright with the flashing lights of security forces and emergency services. A taxi driver who witnessed the scene intervened, Darmanin said. 'He had threatened them very violently... he will now have to answer for his actions before justice,' Darmanin said. The attack has rocked France, which has seen tensions rise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending his condolences to the family of a German killed in the 'terrorist attack'. A police source said that the attacker was known for psychiatric disorders and had said he could not stand Muslims being killed in the world. Pictured: French police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge A man has been stabbed to death while a British tourist is reportedly among two others badly injured after a knifeman screaming 'Allahu Akbar' launched a frenzied attack in Paris. Pictured: Police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge near the Eiffel Tower A police source said that the attacker was known for psychiatric disorders and had said he could not stand Muslims being killed in the world Macron, writing on X, thanked security forces for their quick arrest of the suspected attacker and said justice should be served 'in the name of the French people'. 'We will not give in to terrorism,' Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote on X after the attack. 'Paris is in mourning after this terrible attack,' Transport Minister Clement Beaune wrote on X. Joseph S., a 37-year-old supermarket manager who asked not to give his last name, witnessed the scene as he sat in a bar, and said he heard screams and people shouting 'help, help' as they ran. He said a man wielding an object attacked a man who had fallen down, and within 10 minutes the police arrived. One person died and another was injured, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on social media platform X Police officers stand guard. Officers said there was no early indication as to the motive of the stabbing France has suffered several attacks by Islamist extremists, including the November 2015 suicide and gun attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 people were killed. There had been a relative lull in recent years, even as officials have warned that the threat remains. But tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Security in Paris is also under particular scrutiny as it gears up to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. In October, teacher Dominique Bernard was killed in the northern French town of Arras by a young radicalised Islamist from Russia's Caucasus region. Four people have been killed and dozens wounded in a bomb attack at a Catholic mass in the Philippines. The blast happened during a regular service at Mindanao State University's gymnasium in Marawi, the country's largest Muslim city, with regional police Chief Allan Nobleza said. Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta said more than 50 people were wounded and hospitalised by the attack, which is being blamed on 'foreign terrorists' by President Ferdinand Marcos. Other security officials said the bombing may have been a retaliatory attack for a series of military operations against Islamist militant groups in recent days. Photos posted on the Lanao del Sur government's Facebook page showed several overturned plastic chairs and debris around a black patch on the floor of the gymnasium. Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta said more than 50 people were wounded and hospitalised by the attack, which is being blamed on 'foreign terrorists' by President Ferdinand Marcos Other security officials said the bombing may have been a retaliatory attack for a series of military operations against Islamist militant groups in recent days University student Chris Jurado, 21, told local media from his hospital bed that the explosion happened during the first Bible reading of the morning mass at 7.00am local time. He said: 'It was really sudden and everyone ran. 'When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didn't know what happened because everything happened so fast.' Rowena Mae Fernandez, 19, said she did not know what the blast was at first - then others started running: 'My companion and I also ran, even though we fell on the ground at one point. That was the only thing I remembered until I got out of the gym and I fell again,' she said from hospital. 'My friends were crying because they saw my injury.' President Marcos condemned the attack by 'foreign terrorists', describing it as 'senseless' and 'heinous'. Military chief General Romeo Brawner said the bombing may have been a revenge attack for military operations against three Islamist militant groups - Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, Abu Sayyaf and Maute - in western Mindanao in recent days. He said at a press conference: 'That [a revenge attack] is one angle we are looking into. 'Based on the evidence that we gathered there is a big percentage that points to the Maute-ISIS.' Pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants - including foreign and local fighters - held Marawi under siege in 2017. The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,000 lives. The blast happened during a regular service at Mindanao State University's gymnasium in Marawi, the country's largest Muslim city Military chief General Romeo Brawner said the bombing may have been a revenge attack for military operations against three Islamist militant groups - Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, Abu Sayyaf and Maute - in western Mindanao in recent days Pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants - including foreign and local fighters - held Marawi under siege in 2017 Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning 'the act of violence', as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,000 lives Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region The country's Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism The country's Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism 'There are strong indications of a foreign element (in Sunday's attack),' Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told reporters. Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur are part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The country's Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism. Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region. Manila signed a peace pact with the nation's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion. But smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. Communist rebels also operate in the region. Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning 'the act of violence', as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus. 'We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy,' the university said. Marawi city Mayor Majul Gandamra urged members of the Muslim and Christian communities to remain united. 'Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,' Gandamra said in a statement condemning the attack. The Ministry of Investment of the UAE and the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, represented by Samruk-Kazyna, a sovereign wealth fund, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on low-carbon energy development. Aligned with each countrys national policies in this field, the agreement is testament to the two nations efforts in advancing sustainable energy initiatives to drive climate action and further their positive impact on the wider economy. Under the MoU, the parties aim to explore and leverage investment opportunities in the low-carbon energy field, which includes support for the development of new sources. It also sets out that the two countries will exchange information as well as conduct joint seminars and conferences to advance knowledge exchange in the field. Collective expertise Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment of the UAE, said: This agreement is set to facilitate the proliferation of low-carbon energy sources, which are already playing an important role in both nations. By leveraging our collective expertise, we will propel our nations towards a cleaner, more energy-efficient future in support of sustainability ambitions and objectives, which will benefit generations to come. The MoU builds on an existing history of deep bilateral relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan, which span over three decades.--TradeArabia News Service More than 400 strikes have been carried out by Israel in Gaza in the past 48 hours after Hamas broke the fragile week-long truce. The Israeli army said it had conducted hundreds of bombardments since the ceasefire collapsed on Friday, while Hamas announced 'rocket barrages' against multiple Israeli towns and cities including Tel Aviv. The Israel Defense Forces said that fighter jets carried out extensive strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas leaders are thought to be stationed. Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli strikes hit the Nuseirat refugee camp late Saturday, killing at least 13 people, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. A week-long truce, brokered with the help of Qatar and backed by Egypt and the United States, led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. But that truce collapsed with both sides blaming each other for violating its conditions. More than 400 strikes have been carried out by Israel in Gaza in the past 48 hours after Hamas broke the fragile week-long truce The Israeli army said it had conducted hundreds of bombardments since the ceasefire collapsed on Friday, while Hamas announced 'rocket barrages' against multiple Israeli towns and cities including Tel Aviv The Israel Defense Forces said that fighter jets carried out extensive strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas leaders are thought to be stationed Israel said that Hamas had tried to fire a rocket before the ceasefire ended, and that it had failed to produce a list of further hostages for release. Israeli negotiators left Doha on Saturday after reaching a dead end in talks aimed at securing a fresh pause in hostilities. The Israeli army on Saturday said 137 hostages were still being held in Gaza. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters on Saturday that fresh military action was needed to 'create the conditions that push (Hamas) to pay a heavy price, and that is in the release of hostages'. Meanwhile, Saleh al Arouri, the deputy Hamas chief, told Al Jazeera that there will be no further exchanges of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners until 'the war on Gaza is over'. He said the remaining Israeli soldiers are civilian men who served in the military. It comes as a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Israel's plans to create a 'buffer' zone within Gaza to stop Hamas from being able launch any attacks like October 7 again. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Jerusalem needs a 'security envelope' around the coastal strip to prevent Gazans accessing the border fence on foot. Mr Netanyahu's government has reportedly already informed several Arab neighbours of its desire to demarcate a section on the Palestinian side of the border as part of proposals for the post-war future of the enclave. Smoke billowing over the Palestinian enclave during Israeli bombardment on Saturday Israeli soldiers with their armoured fighting vehicles gather at a position near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, 2 December 2023 Palestinians flee from east to west of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, during the ongoing Israeli bombardment, Saturday, December 2, 2023 Asked whether Israel was seeking a buffer zone between itself and Gaza to prevent future attacks, senior adviser Regev told reporters: 'Israel will have to have a security envelope. We can never again allow terrorists to cross the border and butcher our people the way they did on October 7.' 'If you ask me about a buffer zone, let me be clear; you won't have a situation in the future where you can have Hamas terrorists on the border, directly on the border, positioned just to cross over and kill our people again,' Regev said. 'That is not Israel taking territory from Gaza,' said Regev. 'On the contrary, that is creating security zones where you have a special situation on the ground which limits the ability of people to enter Israel to kill our people. It's common sense.' However, the proposals received a lukewarm reception in Washington, where John Kirby, the White House's leading spokesman on the conflict, said: 'We don't support any reduction of the geographic limits of Gaza.' Kamala Harris, the US vice president, sketched out the US's own vision for a post-war Gaza. She said: 'We want to see a unified Gaza and West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.' Hamas fighters broke through Gaza's militarised border into Israel on October 7, killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 240 Israelis and foreigners hostage. Israeli hostages released from Gaza spoke publicly on Saturday for the first time urging their government to secure the release of the remaining captives held in the war-torn Palestinian territory. 'The moral obligation of this government is to bring them home immediately, without hesitation,' said Yocheved Lifschitz, 85, who was released by Hamas in October, before the truce deal. Meanwhile, United States Vice President Kamala Harris sharply rebuked on Saturday the rising civilian toll in Israel's eight-week war. 'Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed,' she told reporters at UN climate talks in Dubai. 'Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating.' According to the United Nations, an estimated 1.7 million people in Gaza - more than two-thirds of the population - have been displaced by eight weeks of war. Gazans are short of food, water and other essentials, and many homes have been destroyed. UN agencies have declared a humanitarian catastrophe, although some aid trucks did arrive Saturday. Speaking in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Netanyahu said the war would continue 'until we achieve all its aims' including eliminating the Islamist movement. 'Our soldiers prepared during the days of truce for total victory against Hamas,' he said at his first press conference since fighting resumed. 'There is no way to win except by continuing the ground campaign,' Netanyahu told reporters, underscoring that this would be done while 'observing international law'. Israel's air, naval and ground forces have attacked more than 400 targets in Gaza since the end of the ceasefire, the army said on Saturday. The figure is roughly in line with the daily average number of strikes prior to the pause, according to military figures released previously. Warplanes hit 'more than 50 targets in an extensive attack in the Khan Yunis area' of southern Gaza, according to the military. Some 1.7mn Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, the UN said late in November Residential buildings lie in ruin following Israeli strikes at the Qatari-funded Hamad City in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip December 2, 2023 A view of damage in the street between Rafah and Khan Yunis cities due to Israeli attacks after the end of the humanitarian pause in Khan Yunis, Gaza on December 2, 2023 Separately, members of an Israeli armoured brigade 'eliminated terrorist squads and directed fire against terrorist targets in the north of the Gaza Strip', the military said. In the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army said troops shot dead a Palestinian at a checkpoint near the city of Nablus after he 'drew a knife and started to advance towards them.' Syria said Israel carried out air strikes near Damascus on Saturday. Iran's Revolutionary Guard accused Israel of killing two of its members in Syria who it said had been on an 'advisory mission'. Hamas in October last year said it had restored relations with Syria's government. Israeli attacks on targets in Syria have intensified since the Israel-Hamas war began. A multiphase strategy is expected to see Israeli forces sweep south from their forward bases around Gaza City in an effort to kill Hamas' top officials, according to sources familiar with Israeli operations. Israel will look to target Hamas' three top leaders in a bid to displace Hamas from its de facto governance of the Gaza Strip. Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa were identified as top targets for Israel by sources speaking to the FT. Between them, they form a secretive triumvirate responsible for planning and executing the October 7 assault into Israel. SInwar, 61, is suspected to be based in a Hamas command and control centre under the Al Shifa hospital, which Israel has been steadily navigating since its raid last month. As the Head of Hamas in Gaza, he is the second most powerful member of Hamas after Ismail Haniyeh. The latter now lives in Doha, Qatar and has been suggested as another main target for assassination, as reported in October. Sinwar is believed to be a key planner of the October 7 attacks that left some 1,200 Israelis dead. He set up Hamas' armed outfit, the IQB, but the division has since been taken over by chiefs Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa. The whereabouts of Deif, 58, are unknown, though he is most likely in Gaza in the maze of tunnels under the enclave. An Israeli security source said in October he was directly involved in the planning and operational aspects of the attack. Pictured: Yahya Sinwar (left) and Mohammed Deif (right) Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip in this handout picture released on December 2, 2023 Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, after a temporary truce expired between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this handout picture released on December 2, 2023 'There are two brains, but there is one mastermind,' the source said, referring to Sinwar and Deif without elaborating. Marwan Issa, 58, is the deputy leader of Hamas' IQB military wing. Two military experts told Reuters 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. Meanwhile, a total of 110 hostages taken prisoner during the October 7 attacks on Israel were released during the truce after extensive negotiations. Seventy-eight of them were Israeli woman and children, freed as part of a deal between Israel and Gaza mediated by Qatar. Three Russian-Israelis, two women and one man were also released outside of the deal. The freeing of Yelena Trupanov, and her mother Irena Tati, were understood to be part of a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin from Hamas. Under the main deal, 180 Palestinians were also released from Israeli jails. The Palestinian Prisoners Society said that as of November 22, two days before the truce began, 7,200 prisoners were being held by Israel, among them 88 women and 250 children 17 and under. Most on Israel's list of prisoners to be released were from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jerusalem and were held for incidents such as attempted stabbings, hurling stones at Israeli soldiers, making explosives, damaging property and having contacts with hostile organisations. None are accused of murder. Many were held under administrative detention, meaning they were held without trial. Keir Starmer was condemned by the Left and mocked by Tories today after he heaped praise on Margaret Thatcher in a bid to seal the deal at the election. The Labour leader hailed the Conservative doyenne for acting to 'drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism'. The comments - the latest effort to distance himself from the Corbyn era - come as Sir Keir mounts a push to seal the deal with voters, potentially less than a year before an election. But critics pointed out that Sir Keir once represented striking miners for free as a lawyer, and backed nationalisations of key infrastructure. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins ridiculed Sir Keir with a quote from Thatcher, saying: 'No, no, no.' The Corbynite Momentum group said that Sir Keir had 'brought shame on the party' with the remarks. Labour has been enjoying consistent double-digit advantages in the polls, with YouGov last week putting the gap at 23 points. However, there are still nerves in Sir Keir's ranks about the possibility for the picture to change dramatically as polling day gets closer. Keir Starmer heaped praise on Margaret Thatcher today as he bids to woo Tory supporters The Labour leader hailed the Conservative doyenne (pictured) for acting to 'drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism' Tories insist that there is no great love for the Labour leader among voters, and are hoping that an easing of the cost-of-living crisis and revival of the Rwanda deal before the election can turn the tables. Sir Keir also needs a massive swing to overturn the majority Boris Johnson secured at the last election in 2019, and failure to make enough progress in Scotland could thwart his ambitions for an overall majority. In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, Sir Keir included Baroness Thatcher in a list of PMs who had identified the challenges the country faced and moved to address them. 'Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people rather than dictating to them,' he wrote. 'Margaret Thatcher sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism. Tony Blair reimagined a stale, outdated Labour Party into one that could seize the optimism of the late 90s. 'A century ago, Clement Attlee wrote that Labour must be a party of duty and patriotism, not abstract theory. 'To build a 'New Jerusalem' meant first casting off the mind-forged manacles. That lesson is as true today as it was then.' Reassuring voters that the era of Corbynism is over, Sir Keir claimed his party is 'moving back towards voters' while 'the Tory party has been steadily drifting away'. ' 'Years of sowing empty promises, cynical falsehoods and false dawns is now reaping inevitable consequence,' he said. 'The Tories have talked the talk on fiscal prudence while wasting untold billions, weighing the country down with debt and raising the tax burden to a record high. 'They have squandered economic opportunities and failed to realise the possibilities of Brexit. They will bequeath public finances more akin to a minefield than a solid foundation.' Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House this morning Sir Keir defended the article, saying: 'The point I'm making in the article really is that you can distinguish political leaders, certainly in the post-war period, into those that had a plan and those that drifted essentially. 'And that's why I referenced: Attlee, who obviously had a strong plan, New Jerusalem; Tony Blair, who captured the optimism of the 1990s having changed the Labour Party; and Thatcher, who did have a plan for entrepreneurialism, had a mission, it doesn't mean I agree with what she did but I don't think anybody could suggest that she didn't have a driving sense of purpose. 'And the reason I referenced all three of them is because we've drifted as a country the last 13 years, we've declined as a country in the last 13 years, and the characteristic of an incoming Labour government if we're privileged enough to come in to serve will be this sense of mission, this sense of having a plan that we're operating to, a driving sense of purpose.' Sir Keir said he has 'fundamentally changed' Labour compared to the Jeremy Corbyn-led party defeated at the 2019 general election. Sir Keir added: 'What I say to those many people who will have voted Tory in the past is if you believe in not just fixing your country but renewing it and taking it forward, if you want to be part of a national project that will take our country forward, build up our economy in the way we want, build our security, make sure that we take advantage of the transition that comes with the energy transition, then the Labour Party is the party for you. 'I think there are many people in that camp who say 'Look, I may have voted for the Tories in the past, but I do believe in my country, I do believe in a sense of purpose and the national mission is for me'.' He added: 'I do want to persuade those that have voted Tory in the past to vote Labour this time around, look again at Labour.' Ms Atkins told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'I think the public will see this for what it is. 'Don't forget, he wasn't appealing to Margaret Thatcher's entrepreneurial spirit when he was courting votes from the hard-left. 'And I suspect the great lady herself would view a man that is trying to ride on the coattails of her success with the following words: 'No, no, no'.' Ms Atkins was referencing a 1990 Commons rebuke Mrs Thatcher gave to then European Commission boss Jacques Delors as he sought greater Brussels control. SNP leader Humza Yousaf said on the X social media site: 'What Thatcher did to mining and industrial communities was not 'entrepreneurialism', it was vandalism. 'Starmer praising Thatcher is an insult to those communities in Scotland, and across the UK, who still bear the scars of her disastrous policies.' A neo-Nazi march through a Victorian city has sparked outrage with the actions of police being questioned. Ballarat locals were left shocked when dozens of masked men dressed in black from the National Socialist Network paraded down Sturt Street in the city's centre on Sunday afternoon. Led by a single unmasked man and another holding a megaphone, the group were heard shouting 'Australia for the white man', which also adorned the white banner they carried, while they marched down the middle of the road. 'Heil victory,' they were also heard chanting. A neo-Nazi group has brazenly marched through the centre of the Victorian city of Ballarat READ MORE: Nazi salute set to be banned in Victoria after following anti-Semitic incidents in Melbourne Advertisement The group were also heard singing Rule Britannia as they marched and were seen taking photos at Ballarat's Eureka memorial. Victoria Police have confirmed they attended the unplanned demonstration at 12:30pm. 'There were no major incidents of note during the demonstration. However, as a matter of course, police will review any vision or CCTV from the day,' a spokesperson said. 'Our top priority was keeping the peace to ensure the event did not impact the safety of the broader community. 'Everyone has the right to feel safe in our community regardless of who they are. 'We understand incidents of anti-Semitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened and vulnerable. Hate and prejudice has no place in our society.' Ballarat Community Alliance said they were aware of the protests and had demanded a swift response from police, adding that 'neo-Nazis are not welcome'. The neo-Nazi marchers were also seen being escorted by police along the back roads near the popular tourist attractions of Sovereign Hill 'We condemn this group of blow-ins and their message of hate,' the group said. 'They have come to Ballarat to co-opt the Eureka legacy on the inclusive and peaceful commemoration of the anniversary of Eureka Stockade. 'We are a proud multicultural city and at the recent referendum were one of the biggest yes votes in regional Australia. We are a safe and inclusive city and we unequivocally condemn their presence in this city.' The group questioned why police did not enforce new laws that prohibit the performance or display of Nazi symbols and gestures. 'Why weren't these laws enforced by police who instead helped the neo-Nazis by making safe passage through the street for their protest?' they wrote on social media. A man who witnessed the event said that the rally sparked disbeliefs in bystanders and said that the event was likely timed to coincide with the Spilt Milk music festival held the day before. The group were also spotted walking along rural roads at the back of Sovereign Hill, trailed by a police car with lights on. The neo-Nazi group were also seen posing and taking photos in front of the Ballarat Police Station A bank of cars was seen behind as the group took up the entire lane of traffic. Many questioned why police did not step in when they took to the streets, 'So they disrupt traffic and don't get arrested? Climate protesters would be in jail almost immediately!' one person wrote on social media. It's not the first time the area has been the target for neo-Nazi protests, with residents saying they felt in danger after a group of men descended on the town of Halls Gap, 150km northwest of Ballarat, on Australia Day in 2021. Pictures of the gathering showed shirtless men wearing balaclavas burning a cross. The protest was likely connected to the anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, where gold miners battled with police and the military over land rights and policing of their work. In October Victoria banned the Nazi salute, with the law also covering anything closely resembling a Nazi gesture or symbol. This happened only days after Daily Mail Australia recorded unsettling images of a young man performing a Nazi salute and yelling 'Heil Hitler' have emerged amid footage of a large Nazi protest in Melbourne. Daily Mail Australia on Saturday revealed video footage of a group of masked men and woman throwing banned Nazi salutes and carrying a banner reading 'Expose Jewish Power' at Flinders Street train station. In October a group of men , identifying themselves as from the National Socialist Network, stormed through a central Melbourne rail station before boarding a suburban train. Once onboard they terrified passengers on board by taunting them and singing white supremacist songs. Victoria Police have been contacted for comment. Rob Rinder has shared the chilling testimonies he received from Israeli volunteers after visiting the war-torn country following the barbaric October 7 attacks. The TV judge recently returned from Israel where he met with first responders from the country's ambulance service, Magen David Adom. Accompanied by a cameraman, his mission was to capture the stories of those who helped save lives during the atrocious day. On Rinder's first stop to the city's ambulance centre in Sderot, which is less than a mile away from Gaza, he met with Ophir Tor, a 61-year-old volunteer and former paratrooper commander. Tor heroically fought terrorists on the dreaded day, swerving bullets and warning locals to hide amidst the attack. He saved the life of a mother and son by ushering them away from the carnage before helping others to safety - before even starting his shift - Rinder explained. 'He saw bodies in the road children's bodies, headless bodies and described it 'like watching a horror film'. And he remembered hearing the terrorists laughing. 'They were enjoying it. They came only for death,' he told The Telegraph. Rob Rinder has shared the chilling testimonies he received from Israeli volunteers after visiting the war-torn country following the barbaric October 7 attacks The TV judge recently returned from Israel where he met with first responders from the country's ambulance service, Magen David Adom A blood-stained wall in a kibbutz in Israel following the barbaric attacks A burned house at the Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip attacked on October 7 'Ophir immediately went into survival mode,' said Rinder, adding that something about his 'quiet understanding' reminded him of his own grandfather. His maternal grandfather, Morris Malenicky, was a Holocaust survivor who made it out of Treblinka concentration camp. Back in Sderot, Ophir retraced his steps with Rinder, 'as if deconstructing a crime scene a head blown off here, a rocket attack there. We ended up in the ambulance centre car park, where he listed the bodies of that day, scores of them: Holocaust survivors, children, young IDF soldiers,' added Rinder. He had what Rinder described as a 'kindness of eyes... and was so stoic, so logical'. Rinder also visited the site of Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Re'im, which was invaded by Hamas gunmen and hundreds of attendees were killed. 'What we're learning now is that many of those young people were engaged in activism for a peaceful two-state solution for Israel and Palestine', he said. Rinder, who alongside his mother, received an MBE for his work in Holocaust education stressed how this attack and rise in antisemitism is 'different'. He said: 'There's denial of this massacre happening in real time, and there's an increasing and truly malignant metastasisation of anti-Semitism.' Rinder has been particularly outspoken on the issue of anti-Semitism and shortly after the attacks revealed his Jewish mother no longer felt safe in Britain. The TV judge also told Good Morning Britain that his young nephews go to school 'under risk' and may 'not come home' as he fears for the safety of all Jewish people across the country. Rinder, who alongside his mother, received an MBE for his work in Holocaust education stressed how this attack and rise in antisemitism is 'different' Aerial view of abandoned and torched vehicles at the site of the October 7 attack on the Supernova desert music Festival Israeli soldiers with their armoured fighting vehicles gather at a position near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, 2 December 2023 Rinder was born into a Jewish family and received an MBE in 2021 - along with his mother Angela Cohen - in recognition of their services to Holocaust education. He learned how seven of his relatives were slaughtered in Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War while delving into his family history on a 2018 episode of the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? Speaking to GMB, he said: 'My mum is sitting there saying she feels unsafe - there's less than 270,000 Jews in this country, and my nephew, kids as young as seven, are going to school today and they do so under risk. 'There's a chance they're going to not come home. Sending your kids to school shouldn't be an act of courage - that's the life-lived experience of Jewish kids just going to school. 'And of shop owners in London and in other cities, we've got a lived memory of that - of what that means not to be safe because of your religion, because of being Jewish.' He added: 'It's personal for me but it should be personal for every person, whoever you are, up and down the country. 'It's worth remembering when you think about how you're going to respond today. 'I was at a vigil outside Downing Street. What happened at that vigil was that there way no chanting, no happiness, there was prayer for peace, for every singe human life, every single human life that has value. 'Whatever happens in the Middle East should have no impact on the safety of our communities - and its your job whoever you are to stand alongside us because we need you.' He added: 'Be mindful of that is what I'd say before you post.' Rinder made an emotional plea to social media users to 'think carefully' before they post following the death of two of his friends in Israel. Rinder said: 'Sending your kids to school shouldn't be an act of courage - that's the life-lived experience of Jewish kids just going to school' He said: 'My mum is sitting there saying she feels unsafe - there's less than 270,000 Jews in this country, and my nephew, kids as young as seven, are going to school today and they do so under risk' Speaking to Sky News at the Attitude Awards in London, Rinder said: 'Be kind, read and educate yourself and think carefully before you post (on social media). 'Kindness requires thought, it requires hope, it requires you to try and be as mindful as possible, as you can have to learn a little bit and we invite that from other communities and that's true of the Jewish community as well. 'Right now, our Jewish community, many of my friends, my kids who I taught, I've got friends who were killed at that dance party, for example, a couple who planned to get married, two women in Israel, they spent their lives trying to work and campaign for peace and they're gone tonight.' Rinder took a pause during the interview as he appeared to break down and look tearful and upset before, saying: 'Hamas doesn't speak for the people of Palestine, it does not speak for the people of Gaza, it's a tragedy and a horror for what might befall them, but be mindful of the Jewish community tonight. 'Thousands of people have died, many of whom are working for justice, for freedom, for the people who celebrate this so joyously, remember them too and don't ask them questions about whataboutery, they don't deserve that. 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation. It's one that hates gay people... They do not speak of or by for the good people of the world, remember that when you post, be mindful. 'Remember all human life is a value and we as a Jewish community, just like the LGBT+ community, need you, we need you more than ever and be an ally, and think, and be kind.' A West Australian father who tragically died while at the beach has inspired a board shorts range which will raise funds for defibrillators to be installed at regional beaches. Father-of-two Andy Rutherford collapsed while with mates at Greens Pool in Demark, a beach located in the Great Southern region, 423km south east of Perth in April. His friends and St John ambulance volunteers performed CPR on the 48-year-old but he died from heart arrhythmia, despite their efforts. Renee Rutherford described her late husband as an 'incredibly loyal' husband, father and friend who was very active and engaged with his children. She added her husband was lucky to have friends who knew CPR and were able to give him the care that he needed. Father-of-two Andy Rutherford, 48, (pictured) died in April from heart arrhythmia while at Greens Pool in Demark, 423km south east of Perth, Western Australia READ MORE: I'm a cardiologist and these are the six things women should never do to keep their heart healthy Advertisement 'He was incredibly lucky that he was with two people that knew what to do because you never know when you will be expected to call on those skills or will be expected to know where a defibrillator might be,' Mrs Rutherford told 9News. 'Definitely brings me much greater comfort knowing that he received absolutely everything that he needed immediately and he was given the best of care.' Kirsten Lopez, the owner of Fremantle-based South Beach Boardies created a board shorts range in memory of Andy who was a big supporter of the store. 'Some days when you're having a bit of a tough day as a business owner, I'd see Andy and be like, I got this,' Ms Lopez said. The board short range feature Willie Wagtail and Djiti-Djitis designs. Djiti-Djitis were Mr Rutherford's spirit animal. South Beach Boardies has created a board shorts range featuring a Djiti-Djitis design in Andy's memory (pictured, Andy's sons Fraser and Maxton modelling the shorts range) All profits from the sale of the shorts will be donated to St John Ambulance WA. Mr Rutherford's young sons have given the board shorts a big thumbs up. 'He loved mountain biking and he loved taking our dog out,' Maxton said. Younger brother Fraser added: 'Dad loved Djiti-Djitis.' Andy's wife Renee Rutherford said her husband was lucky to have friends who knew CPR and were able to give him the care needed (Andy pictured with his wife and two boys) The funds raised will go towards the purchase of defibrillators to be installed on regional beaches in Western Australia at the request of Andy's family. St John Ambulance volunteer Lesley Murphy performed was among the paramedics who performed CPR on Mr Rutherford. 'We did everything we could and he was not alone when he died.' She urged Aussies to learn how to use a defibrillator and how to administer CPR. 'Anybody who doesn't know how to do CPR and doesn't know how to use a defibrillator, do not hesitate to get that training,' she said. 'You just never know.' They stumbled through the darkness of the hurriedly-dug tunnels underneath Gaza City, wondering if they'd ever see their loved ones again. Elderly women, young mothers and frightened children were taken and used as gambling chips to further the cause of a terror group that killed 1,300 Israelis on October 7, the single deadliest day in the Jewish nation's history. For weeks, they were starved, beaten, drugged, branded and made to watch footage of Hamas terrorists invading their homeland with weapons pointed to their heads, until the moment was right for the terror group. In exchange for four days of precarious ceasefire, the release of 150 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons, and the permission for at least 200 aid trucks to enter Gaza each day, Hamas promised to release at least 50 prisoners it had taken in the midst of chaos and spilled blood. The deal was open-ended, and allowed for additional days of ceasefire to be agreed in exchange for additional hostages. Hamas, desperate for a brief respite from the war that has already killed at least 15,000 of its civilians in Gaza, according to figures deemed trustworthy by the UN, made the most of the extensions, releasing a total of 105 hostages as of this weekend. Yagil and Or, ages 12 and 16, were drugged and branded by Hamas when they were hostages, their uncle said Eitan Yahalomi, 12, (pictured) was one of several young hostages made to watch footage of Hamas terrorists invading their homeland with weapons pointed to their heads Danielle Aloni, who was a hostage of Hamas along with her 5-year-old daughter Emilia, was reportedly made to write a propagandistic letter to her family Israeli hostages released on November 26, 2023: Top L-R: Hagar Brodutch and children Ofri, Yuval and Oriya, Roni Krivoi; middle: Chen Almog Goldstein and her children Agam, Gal and Tal Almog; bottom: Avigail Idan, Elma Avraham, Aviva Siegel, and siblings Ela and Dafna Elyakim Some 13 Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity: Margalit Moses, Adina Moshe, Danielle Aloni and her daughter Emilia, Doron Asher and her daughters Raz and Aviv, Hanna Katzir, Keren Munder and her son Ohad, Ruti Munder, Yaffa Adar, and Hannah Perry The hostages released tonight, pictured top-left to bottom right: Bilal and Aisha Ziyadne, 18 and 17, Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, Nili Margalit, 40, Shani Goren, 29, Amit Soussana, 40, Sapir Cohen, 29, and Mia Schem, 21 Just over 100, hailing from all corners of the globe, remain in the dark, musty tunnels beneath Gaza, as Israel and Hamas once again hurl fire and brimstone at each other, eight weeks into the deadliest war between the two in decades. The families of those who are still held by Hamas are terrified for their safety and wellbeing, both mental and physical. The testimonies of those who have already been released is doing little to abate these fears. Relatives of recently-released hostages who have taken care of them in the days and weeks since their release have slowly begun revealing to the world just how badly they were treated by Hamas. Yagil and Or Yaakov, aged 12 and 16 respectively, were handed back to their families last Monday, after being captured along with their father Yair Yaakov and his partner Meirav Tal, both of who are still thought to be in captivity, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Smoke rising from buildings after being hit by Israeli strikes, after battles resumed between Israel and Hamas militants, on December 2, 2023 Some 1.7mn Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, the UN said late in November Israeli soldiers with their armoured fighting vehicles gather at a position near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, 2 December 2023 Their uncle, Yaniv, revealed that the two young boys were branded to make sure they were identifiable if they ran away. 'Hamas took the leg of each child and stuck it in on a motorcycle tail pipe to make a mark in case they escape, so they could find them,' he said this week. 'They were drugged, they were treated so bad, but at least they are with us.' The terrorists treated Mia Schem, a young 21-year-old taken from the Nova festival, with a little more care. Her aunt, Vivian Hadar, revealed that a veterinarian operated on her badly injured hand, which was shot while she was raving with her friends on October 7. She said that the treatment was a bodge job, and has stayed very quiet about her weeks underground. Mia, flanked by gunmen and surrounded by hundreds of screaming men, looks petrified as she is put into a Red Cross vehicle Mia Schem (pictured, centre) was one of the two women released by Hamas today after the ceasefire deal was extended minutes before it was due to time out The French-Israeli hostage had been held captive for 54 days since October 7 when she was dragged away in to Gaza 'She isn't telling much,' Hadar said, adding that the moment relatives started asking questions, 'we saw that it was very hard for her.' It's not clear whether this lack of resources was real or artificial to weaken the hostages. But other survivors have revealed that they subsisted on paltry meals for weeks as they were held. An aunt of Abigal Idan, an American-Israeli citizen who was taken hostage after she was orphaned during Hamas' incursion, and who turned 4 a few days before being released, said her young niece shared just one piece of pita bread with some za'aatar, a Middle Eastern spice mix, with four other captives each day. She and the four other captives she was with did not bathe once during their 50 days as hostages, and were kept in a series of above-ground flats. As a result of a lack of washing, Abigail developed a significant case of lice, and her head was shorn off. 'She was covered in it. It took quite an effort to help her get rid of some of it the first night,' her aunt told the New York Times. Even as they held back food, water and news from the hostages, Hamas made them act out propaganda that benefited its image. Sharon Hertzman Avigdori embraces her son after she was released along with her daughter from Hamas captivity, early on November 26. With a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas now in its final 24 hours, a picture has started to emerge about the dire conditions in which the freed hostages were being held by the terror group over the last seven weeks Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, (pictured, centre) was taken against her will from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas' incursion into Israel on October 7 Sharone Lifschitz, whose mother was freed in October, heard this week that a returned hostage had seen her father, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, in captivity Danielle Aloni, who was held along with her six-year-old daughter Emily, reportedly penned a letter that was published by Hamas while she was a hostage that claimed they were both fine and being treated well. She praised the terrorists for their 'extraordinary humanity' towards her daughter. 'Kids shouldn't be in prison, but thanks to you and other kind people we met along the way My daughter considered herself a queen in Gaza,' the letter, which was published in Hebrew and Arabic, read. It is not clear if Danielle wrote the note of her own free will, or if she was forced to pen the gushing tribute which also said she would 'always be captive to gratitude' because her daughter did not leave captivity with 'psychological shock.' Her family quickly rebuked the letter, with one of her cousins' writing shortly after the letter was published: 'Hamas just published more propaganda of my family.' Danielle later said in an interview: 'Our girl saw things that children at this age or any age should not see. 'It was a horror movie.' A Hamas fighter and Red Cross medics help a newly released Israeli hostage Maya Regev into a Red Cross vehicle, in the Gaza Strip early on November 26 Emily ws led to safety and reunited with her father after 50 days in captivity Nine-year-old Irish Israeli former hostage Emily Hand embraces her father at a hospital in Israel after being released by Hamas, amid an exchange operation of hostages against prisoners between Hamas and Israel, on November 26 Raz Asher (left), four, her two-year-old sister Aviv (right) and their mother Doron, 34, reunite with their father and husband Yoni at the Schneider Children's Medical Centre on Sunday Raz Asher (left), four, her two-year-old sister Aviv (right) and their mother Doron, 34, reunite with their father and husband Yoni at the Schneider Children's Medical Centre on Sunday Other parents of hostages agreed with Danielle in saying that children should not have been subjected the horrors that lay waiting for them beneath Gaza. Thomas Hand, the father of Emily, who turned nine as she was held by Hamas, stunned the world when he said he was glad his daughter was dead, and not in the hands of the terror group. But his world was changed when Israeli officials told him their intelligence was wrong, and that she was alive. Emily and her friend Rotem Shoshani, 13, were kept above ground in a home in northern Gaza, in comparatively luxury. But that would've done little to make up for the horrors seen at Kibbutz Be'eri, the site of the worst settlement massacre, where at least 130 people were slaughtered in their homes. Sickening photos of the aftermath of the Be'eri kibbutz massacre revealed that Israeli civilians were killed in their bedrooms in the first hours of Hamas' surprise attack. Almost all of the photos, passed on to MailOnline by the Israeli Embassy in London, were too graphic to share publicly, and depicted several dead bodies strewn across a small room in the community of around 1,000 people near the border with Gaza. The photos were some of the clearest representations of exactly what happened in the settlement. On top of the horrors the young pair witnessed in their homes, Emily saw a man get shot to death while she was held in Gaza, her sister Natali Hand revealed. Aviv Asher, two, her sister Raz, four and mother Doron, step off an Israeli helicopter Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, after a temporary truce expired between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this handout picture released on December 2, 2023 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on Saturday that ministers had been working with allies in the region to 'secure the release of hostages', including British nationals Natali added that the pair were left despondent, as they were not told of their releases until the last moment. The testimonies of the released survivors has pushed the world into finding more of them before Hamas can exploit them further. The RAF is set to conduct 'unarmed surveillance flights' over the Middle East in a bid to find locations where Hamas are keeping kidnapped civilian hostages. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on Saturday that ministers had been working with allies in the region to 'secure the release of hostages', including British nationals. Fighting resumed between Israel and Hamas on Friday after a week-long truce, despite more than 130 hostages remaining in captivity in the Gaza Strip. In the weeks after Hamas's bloody October 7 raids on Israel, Downing Street said at least 12 British nationals had been killed in the attack and a further five are still missing. Adina Moshe was released by her Hamas captors from Gaza back to Israel on Friday Some of those are believed to have been kidnapped but the UK Government has not confirmed how many might be in Hamas's clutches. In a statement published on the Government website, the MoD said: 'The safety of British nationals is our utmost priority. 'In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the UK Ministry of Defence will conduct surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza. 'Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages. 'Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue.' MoD officials said a range of unarmed aircraft would be used for the reconnaissance flights, including Shadow R1s which are used for intelligence gathering by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Information on the potential whereabouts of captives will be shared with Israel. Family members of a British woman murdered at her Italian dream home have visited the scene for the first time. Grandmother Michele Faiers, 66, was found stabbed to death by a friend who called round after she was unable to reach her for three days. A postmortem later revealed she had nine knife wounds mainly to her back and was dressed just in her underwear and covered with a sheet on the floor of her bedroom. The murder happened in late October in the picturesque hilltop town of Casoli, near Chieti, on the Adriatic Coast. Three days after she is believed to have died Michele's partner Michael Whitbread, 74, was arrested by British police and is currently awaiting extradition to Italy. British Michele Faiers, 66, pictured with her partner Michael Whitbread, 74, was found stabbed to death at her Italian home The family of the grandmother murdered at her Italian dream home visiting the scene for the first time Local TV captured two of Michele's three daughters, Harriet, 38, and Sarah, 27, as they were seen entering the remote farmhouse where their mother died accompanied by their lawyer. Both women wore black hoodies and were also with a British Embassy official as they spent two hours inside the house gathering personal items and being shown around. As they left with their lawyer they covered their faces and declined to speak to waiting journalists. Last month MailOnline revealed that Michele had rowed with Whitbread after suspecting he was having an affair with another British expat who lived in the area. Court documents seen by MailOnline also revealed how she had slept at a friend's house three weeks before she died after he allegedly attacked her. The home of Michelle and Whitbread in Verratti, Italy, where Michele was found dead Besides the stab wounds, an autopsy also revealed Michele had injuries to her hands, allegedly from trying to fight Whitbread. Two knives were found at the scene following a search by forensic teams and these are being examined by police as well as material found under her nails. Lawyer Massimiliano Sichetti is defending the interests of Michele and her family and said: 'They just wanted to come and see for themselves where their mother died. 'The house had been impounded by the police and prosecutor but that order has now been removed and they were allowed to enter and gather effects.' Former diving instructor Whitbread is due in court again on Thursday at Westminster Magistrates for his next extradition hearing. Rishi Sunak is poised to hand Rwanda another 15million to sign a treaty that could keep his Channel migrants deportation plan alive. The PM is expected to offer extra cash on top of the 140million already given to Kigali as part of the much-vaunted deal. The top-up emerged with Home Secretary James Cleverly set to fly to the African nation as soon as tomorrow to seal the new agreement. Government sources told MailOnline that they hope the text is on the verge of being ready to finalise. It will include provisions on the treatment of those deported to Rwanda, and is seen as essential to overcoming the objections of the Supreme Court to the government's policy. Emergency legislation spelling out that Parliament regards Rwanda as a safe country could also be tabled this week. Home Office figures show that 93 migrants travelling on two boats arrived in Britain on Friday, with more apparently coming yesterday (pictured) Home Secretary James Cleverly is set to fly to Rwanda as soon as tomorrow to seal a new agreement Mr Sunak met Rwanda's President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday. He declined afterwards to say how much more money he would spend to get the scheme off the ground. According to the Sunday Times, the additional 15million will be used to pay for extra personnel to improve and expand the Rwandan asylum processing system. Mr Sunak told a press briefing while at Cop that he was 'finalising' legislation designed to push through the Rwanda proposal, seen as critical to deliver his 'stop the boats' vow before a general election next year. The PM has said he wants to see the first deportation flights take off by Spring. No10 sources said the UK Government was hopeful that the emergency legislation would be ready this week but that it could not be guaranteed. The bid to send some asylum seekers on a one-way trip to the African nation was dealt a blow when the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful last month. Mr Sunak's attempt to save the policy involves the signing of a new treaty with Kigali and the introduction of emergency legislation allowing Parliament to deem the country safe, despite concerns raised by senior judges. Following the judgment by the Supreme Court on November 15, Downing Street originally said a new small boats law would be published within days but the wait has gone on for more than two weeks. On Wednesday, the Home Office's top official confirmed to MPs that negotiations on a Rwanda treaty were in their final stages. Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft told the Home Affairs Select Committee that officials were in the capital Kigali putting the 'finishing touches' to the talks. Migrants have continued to brave freezing December conditions to cross the Channel. Home Office figures show that 93 migrants travelling on two boats arrived in Britain on Friday, with photos showing more apparently landing yesterday. Almost 28,500 asylum seekers have arrived in 2023 using the sea route, with the one year anniversary of Mr Sunak's stop the boats pledge approaching next month. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has dismissed the Rwanda policy as a 'gimmick' and accused the Tories of a 'betrayal' of their 2019 manifesto commitment to lower migration. But the Labour leader acknowledged that he needs to set out how his party would tackle illegal and legal migration. Mr Sunak met Rwanda's President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Sir Keir said his leadership had been ridding Labour 'of the nonsensical idea that some subjects are simply off limits for us'. 'I profoundly disagree with the idea Labour should not be talking about immigration or small boats crossings,' he added. 'These are matters of serious public concern and deserve to be treated as such.' He added: 'When people see Government ministers wasting their time on gimmicks like Rwanda, they are right to conclude they are more interested in talking about small boat crossings than stopping them. 'Labour would use the full force of Britain's intelligence and policing to smash the criminal gangs growing fat on the misery of human trafficking, destroying their evil business model. 'The Government should do the same.' A friend of Princes William and Harry has said it's 'incredibly sad it has come to this' after the Duke of Sussex was not invited to a close friend's wedding over the potential awkwardness the rift with his brother could cause. Harry and his wife Meghan were snubbed by Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, who decided not to invite them to his nuptials with Olivia Henson next year in a bid to avoid 'drama', it is claimed. Despite the fact he is godfather to the Sussexes' son, Prince Archie, and one of Harry's oldest friends, it is claimed the Duke has not invited him so the row won't overshadow his big day. It's believed William and Kate and the King and the Queen are all invited to the June 6 wedding at Chester Cathedral, with the Prince of Wales even thought to be in the running to be best man. It comes as tensions are already high between Harry and William - after King Charles III and Kate Middleton were named as the royals alleged to have made comments about the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie prior to his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie's latest tome, Endgame. William is said to 'want action' after his wife Kate was named alongside Charles as the two Royals identified by Meghan in a private letter to the King, which claimed 'concern' was expressed about her future son's skin colour. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with Archie in 2019 Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have decided against inviting the Sussexes to avoid clashes on his big day amid soaring tensions following the release of Omid Scobie 's new book. Pictured: With fiancee Olivia Henson The row between the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex has been reignited following the release of a book by the Sussexes' biographer Omid Scobie. Pictured: Harry and William during the unveiling of a statue commissioned of their mother at Kensington Palace The Sussexes are yet to speak on the book publicly and a meeting between Charles and William is now set to take place next week to discuss the topic. It could have serious consequences for Harry and Meghan as William is believed to 'want action' after his wife Kate was named alongside Charles as the two royals who expressed 'concern' about Archie's skin colour. The Duke of Westminster had originally planned to invite Harry and Meghan to his wedding, but the 32-year-old aristocrat changed his mind, fearing their presence would overshadow the day, The Sunday Times reports. Another serious consideration was the feelings of Charles, Camilla, William and Kate, who are all likely to be there. A friend of the pair told the paper: 'It's incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry's who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. 'He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it's unlikely to happen before the wedding. He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn't want any awkwardness.' A spokesman for the Duke said last night: 'We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.' Buckingham Palace also declined to comment. Known as Hughie to this friends, the billionaire Duke is also godfather to William's son Prince George, ten. A life-long friend for each of the brothers, he is thought to be the only pal both chose to mentor their children. It comes as tensions are already high between Harry and William - after King Charles III and Kate Middleton were named as the royals alleged to have made comments about the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie prior to his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie's latest tome, Endgame To rub salt in the wound, it is thought Prince William is in the running to be Grosvenor's best man. Pictured: William with Grosvenor in 2004 Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have picked the Prince and Princess of Wales over the Sussexes to avoid clashes that would overshadow his big day. Pictured: Prince William (right) and Hugh Grosvenor (second from left) during the official handover of the newly built Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre in 2018 It comes as tensions are already high between Harry and William. Pictured: Prince Harry (third from right) visits the Khulula Care for Wild Centre in South Africa in 2015 with Grosvenor (right) A life-long friend for each of the brothers, Grosvenor is thought to be the only pal both chose to mentor their children. Pictured: At the wedding of Harry's school friend Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks Archie's other godparents have not been named publicly by his parents - but include Tiggy Pettifer, Harry and William's former nanny, Mark Dyer, his minder, and his school friend Charlie van Straubenzee. Meghan is likely to be less disappointed than her husband to miss out on the Duke's wedding celebrations, expected to be held at his 10,872-acre Eaton Hall estate in Cheshire. Scobie has said she is loathe to return to England and 'dive back into the soap opera'. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE: Commons will be told to strip Harry and Meghan of their Royal titles 'after the latest instalment of the couple's feud with the rest of the Royal Family' Advertisement Grosvenor, who is thought to own more land than the King, has an estimated net worth of 9.42 billion and has a long history with the royal family - with his late father Gerald acting as King Charles' own godfather. The Duke was the third child and only son of Gerald Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Natalia who is a descendant from the Russian Imperial House of Romanov, specifically from Nicholas I of Russia. When he was baptised on 23 June 1991, the King - then the Prince of Wales - agreed to officiate as godfather. He even had an official role in the King's coronation procession - carrying the Standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms and Standard of the Principality of Wales alongside the Marquess of Anglesey, the Earl of Caledon and Scottish peer and Conservative politician the Earl of Dundee. Grosvenor was raised at Eaton Hall with his three sisters: Lady Tamara, Lady Edwina, and Lady Viola. They attended a local public primary school before he attended the small, private Mostyn House School, followed by Ellesmere College in Shropshire where fees are 40,635 a year. He later studied at Newcastle University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Countryside Management The Duke, whose Latin family motto Virtus Non Stemma means Virtue not Ancestry, was originally titled Earl Grosvenor from his birth until 2016, when his father died and he became the seventh Duke. At the time he was labelled Britain's most eligible bachelor but in April this year he announced his engagement to Olivia Grace Henson. Prince William (right), and the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor (centre) in 2018 Hugh Grosvenor attends the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle with Charlie van Straubenzee at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 The Sunday Times understands that the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but eventually decided against it as he feared the tension it would cause with the other Royals who have been invited - including the King and Queen Grosvenor, who is thought to own more land than the King, has an estimated net worth of 9.42 billion and has a long history with the royal family - with his late father Gerald acting as King Charles' own godfather. Pictured: With his mother in 2018 Ms Henson, the Duke's girlfriend of two years, works for an ethical food company. She attended Princess of Wales's old school, Marlborough College, where Princess Eugenie was a contemporary. He confirmed the engagement through a statement, which said: 'The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson are delighted to announce they are engaged to be married. 'The couple, who have been together for two years, recently became engaged at the Duke's family home at Eaton Hall in Cheshire. 'Members of both their families are absolutely delighted with the news. 'Hugh Grosvenor, The Duke of Westminster, is Grosvenor's Chair as well as Chair of the Westminster Foundation. Miss Henson works for Belazu, a B-Corp certified food company based in London.' MailOnline has contacted the Sussexes for comment. It comes as the King will 'confer' next week with William over how to handle the fallout from Scobie's book. Determinedly, the Royal Family has adopted a 'business as usual' stance, but the possibility of legal action remains. The final decision on the next step rests with Charles, who, according to sources, will not act hastily. A Palace source said: 'Most right-thinking people would expect an apology who wouldn't? 'Being falsely branded a racist in print is a serious allegation that must be treated seriously. All options are still on the table.' The King is said to be taking the taking the furore over the book 'very seriously' and will consult senior advisers next week on the family's next step, with 'all options' including legal action set to be considered. Royals aides say the week will be 'business as usual' - as they prepare for a series of glittering events that will see them 'rise above' the last week, the Mirror reports. Pictured: William and Kate at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 30 Determinedly, the Royal Family has adopted a 'business as usual' stance, but the possibility of legal action remains. The final decision on the next step rests with Charles, who, according to sources, will not act hastily. Pictured: The King speaks during an opening ceremony of COP28 But 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 for them to be publicly identified'. One source close to the Royal Family has now called on Harry and Meghan to speak out publicly on the issue. 'For the couple that talked about 'death by a thousand no comments', the silence at this point is deafening,' the source told The Telegraph. Another insider added that the decision not to respond was 'interesting' given the Sussexes' previous complaints about not being supported against negative press stories. The scandal - which Scobie has been forced to insist was not a publicity stunt - has kept Endgame in the headlines for more than a week as excerpts were published in the days before its release in a French magazine. The most eye-grabbing extract serialised in Paris Match claimed that there was a second so-called 'royal racist' - after Harry and Meghan alluded to a member of the Royal Household expressing discomfort over Archie's skin colour in 2021. The pair were allegedly identified in the Dutch version of the book - and were named widely by media organisations around the world tonight, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and Kate. The inclusion of the names led to 5,000 copies of the book called 'Final Battle' in Holland being withdrawn from sale on the bookshelves and pulped. Bookstores were ordered to remove the paperback from their shelves and return to the publisher. The book will go back on sale next week. And newly revealed extracts from the Dutch version of the book - which have been changed or omitted from the UK edition - look set to further heighten tensions within the firm. The text called the Prince of Wales 'heartless' - a term that does not appear in the UK edition, The Sun reports. Conservative MP Bob Seely (pictured) is putting forward a Bill that could deny the Sussexes their Duke and Duchess titles Meanwhile, this newspaper understands that the King will 'confer' next week with William over how to handle the fallout from Scobie's (pictured) book It further claimed that the reason why William was still angry with Harry when the Queen died was because of the couple's interview with US TV star Oprah the year before. A series of quotes - which are attributed to 'sources close to the Sussexes' - calls William 'heartless' and 'petty' as it claims he 'ignored' Harry as the royals rushed to Balmoral. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Bob Seely has revealed his intention to introduce a Bill calling on Parliament to strip the Sussexes of their titles in wake of the row. Writing in The Mail on Sunday, he said that he felt compelled to act because of the 'use of race to smear the Royal Family' and proposes to revive First World War laws that could pave the way to making the couple plain Mr and Mrs Sussex. The Isle of Wight MP wants to adapt laws originally passed to deny enemy German nobles their British titles. Mr Seely said he had to act because of the attempt to use race to smear the Royal Family, which he called 'poisonously insidious'. He is applying for his Titles Deprivation 1917 Amendment Bill to be listed on the Commons' Order Paper next week. It would resurrect the wartime powers by removing references to 'enemies' and 'present war'. He has cleared the wording with Parliament's Table Office, which oversees draft legislation. A British solider who was shot dead in Kenya while off-duty was set to leave the country three days after he was killed, his father has revealed. Major Kevin McCool, 32, was tragically killed while on a motorbike trip away from base in the East African country on November 29, his father Joseph McCool said. The soldier, who attended Sandhurst, had served in Europe, the Middle East, the Falklands and Africa, and had just 72 hours left of his tour of duty in the African country. Mr McCool said his son, from Northern Ireland, had gone out on his motorbike for 'one last ride up a local mountain'. He said: 'He was due to leave Kenya in three days. He had three days left on that tour of duty. Major Kevin McCool, 32, was tragically killed while on a motorbike trip away from base in the East African country on November 29 The soldier, who attended Sandhurst, had served in Europe, the Middle East, the Falklands and Africa, and had just 72 hours left of his tour of duty in the African country 'He decided to go out on his scrambler motorbike for one last ride up a local mountain. 'He went up a road and two guys jumped out at him with a gun. It seems that he thought the gun was a dummy, he didn't think it was real. 'He made the mistaken assumption that the gun was artificial and they shot him.' Mr McCool said his eldest son Fergal and wife Joan travelled to Kenya to be with Kevin before he died from his injuries. He said: 'I don't know what to say. Every life is precious but this guy was really, really special. 'He was 1,500m Ulster champion. He ran for Ireland. He played piano, harp, tin whistle. He went to Sandhurst. He progressed up the ranks very quickly to be a major. 'He won several military cross-country races and various sporting events. A very strong sporting guy. 'He was loved, I am tempted to say adored, by his fellow officers. We are getting that from the horse's mouth. That is what we are being told by top brass because he was so good.' Mr McCool said his family is weathering the storm as best it can. He said: 'We are all in bits. We are incredibly proud of our son and what he has done.' The MoD said Major McCool's fitness was legendary, and he 'aced' many of the military's hardest tests, saying his 'enthusiasm was infectious'. Mr McCool said his eldest son Fergal and wife Joan travelled to Kenya to be with Kevin before he died from his injuries. (File image of British Army soldiers holding a training exercise near Kenya's Laikipia MoD officials confirmed the soldier's next of kin have been informed, but said it would not be releasing any details of what happened. The British Army has a permanent training support unit based mainly in Nanyuki, 124 miles north of Nairobi, with a small element also based in Kenya's capital. It provides 'demanding training to exercising units preparing to deploy on operations or assume high-readiness tasks', according to the Army's website. The British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) consists of around 100 permanent staff and a reinforcing short-tour cohort of another 280 personnel. Under an agreement with the Kenyan government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also paid tribute to the soldier. He said: 'It's clear from the tributes of those who knew him that Major McCool was an exceptional person and an exceptional soldier, loved and respected in equal measure, who served his country with distinction. 'My thoughts and sympathies are with his family, friends, and colleagues currently coming to terms with this most tragic loss.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'My heart goes out to Maj McCool's family, friends, and fellow soldiers today in the face of their tragic loss. 'The tributes pouring out for him show a man who served his country with pride, integrity and bravery. His service will not be forgotten.' Maj McCool's Commanding Officer said: 'Kevin McCool was living his best life, doing a job he loved, with people he loved. 'A man of the utmost integrity, he was fearless and oozed moral courage. I will never forget my final memory of him, which was on operations; he had just come off the ground having slept a handful of hours in as many days. 'We discussed the possibility of having to deploy another team into the operational furnace from which he had just come. He stopped me mid-sentence, fixed me with his piercing blue eyes, and simply said, 'send me'. 'A bright light has gone out amongst our ranks. He will be missed, but never forgotten.' Maj McCool's officer commanding said: 'Kevin McCool's eyes shone with his spirit of adventure and with his focused, determined nature. He was a pilgrim soul in the truest sense. 'Intelligent, pro-active and selfless, he was at his best and at his happiest whilst serving others and whilst facing challenges 'in the arena'. 'As a soldier, his courage and talent were proven on operations. As a leader, he had a compelling character and easy charm that all who met him warmed to. And as a man, he had a deep humility which displayed a wisdom beyond his years. 'Spotting opportunities, restless to serve and to seek out challenges, pushing himself to the frontiers, helping others; that is how we will remember him. He was the best of us.' The MoD said in a eulogy: 'Kevin thrived in the military environment. He was at his best when deployed, and at his very best when the conditions were at their very worst. 'His fitness was legendary, once beating the whole Battalion on a two miler, as was his endurance. He had a mischievous twinkle in his eye, that made him tremendous fun to be with. 'Yet his professionalism and sense of purpose was paramount, and clear to all those lucky enough to serve with him. Whether it was his recruits in his Catterick Platoon or those in his Rifle Company, he had their unwavering loyalty. 'Kevin was a big family man, from a big, loving family.' Bill Gates in the New York Times: As we head into COP28, the annual global meeting on climate change underway in Dubai, there are two dominating schools of thought, both of which are wrong. One says the future is hopeless and our grandchildren are doomed to suffer on a burning planet. The other says were all going to be fine because we already have everything we need to solve climate change. Were not doomed, nor do we have all the solutions. What we do have is human ingenuity, our greatest asset. But to overcome climate change, we need rich individuals, companies and countries to step up to ensure green technologies are affordable for everyone, everywhere including less wealthy countries that are large emitters, like China, India and Brazil. Lets start with what rich individuals, like me, can do to help. More here. A Sudanese national has boasted about illegally earning cash in the UK by brazenly spraying 10 and 20 notes in his taxpayer-paid hotel room. Omer Muhammad, 34, was in France posing for photos by the Eiffel Tower just before he was seen crossing the English Channel in a small boat packed with migrants. Footage posted on social media now shows Mr Muhammad grinning as he sprays a wad of cash in his free hotel in Derby. The video, originally posted on Mr Muhammad's TikTok account, is accompanied by rap music and shows him throwing the money on the floor, sitting in it and dancing. Another clip filmed by Mr Muhammad showed a Border Force cutter arriving to rescue migrants and take them to the UK. Footage posted on social media now shows Omer Muhammad grinning as he sprays a wad of cash in his free hotel in Derby Mr Muhammad, 34, was in France posing for photos by the Eiffel Tower just before he was seen crossing the English Channel in a small boat packed with migrants The clips are expected to fuel fears that the astonishing ease with which migrants can illegally earn cash in Britain is encouraging more migrants to attempt the perilous Channel crossing. The Mail On Sunday tracked down Mr Muhammad to the Midland Hotel in Derby, where he has been living for the past year and a half, alongside 200 other asylum seekers. He said he works in takeaways and building sites, earning up to 60 per day. He added that half of the migrants in the hotel work illegally, saying: 'Plenty of work in food delivery.' When asked about the money he was throwing on the floor in the TikTok video, Mr Muhammad claimed the cash belonged to a friend. He said he left his wife behind in Darfur, Sudan, and headed to Libya by land, before boarding a migrant boat to Malta. After working there illegally for three years, he flew to Milan with an Italian passport bought on the black market, and then headed to Paris by train, posting Instagram photos in front of the Eiffel Tower. He then went to Calais, where he boarded a small boat to Britain after paying a Kurdish smuggling gang 600. The video, originally posted on Mr Muhammad's TikTok account, is accompanied by rap music and shows the man throwing the money on the floor, sitting in it and dancing A clip filmed by Mr Muhammad showed a Border Force cutter arriving to rescue migrants and take them to the UK Channel migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels are earning up to 1,500 a month working illegally for fast food delivery firms like Deliveroo despite a Minister demanding the practice be stamped out. A Mail on Sunday investigation today exposed how couriers working for Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats are secretly subcontracting out their deliveries to migrants who are banned from working, in exchange for a weekly fee of up to 100. They are able to do so as the tech giants behind the UK's 13 billion food delivery business allow low-paid 'substitute' riders who they have not vetted to work for them. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick last night branded the practice 'completely unacceptable' and warned it is encouraging further illegal migration. He last month demanded the food delivery giants 'end the use' of unverified riders to 'prevent the scourge of illegal working'. Last night, after the MoS presented evidence of its investigation, Deliveroo said it would change its policy and introduce checks for substitute riders next year. Our expose reveals a booming black economy with one migrant admitting that he and more than 100 fellow asylum seekers living at a Home Office-funded hotel are working illegally, many of them as takeaway couriers. The revelations come days after Home Office officials admitted they do not know the whereabouts of 17,000 asylum seekers whose claims have been withdrawn. Channel migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels are earning up to 1,500 a month working illegally for fast food delivery firms like Deliveroo despite a Minister demanding the practice be stamped out A Mail on Sunday investigation today exposed how couriers working for Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats are secretly subcontracting out their deliveries to migrants who are banned from working, in exchange for a weekly fee of up to 100 Reform UK leader Richard Tice said: 'Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have been turning a blind eye to illegal working by asylum seekers on a massive scale in the UK. They should be ashamed of themselves and they should immediately stop all substitution accounts. The Government must pass urgent legislation with heavy fines on these delivery companies if they transgress.' Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats allow their couriers to rent out their jobs, telling them they are responsible for checking that their 'substitutes' are allowed to work in the UK and have no unspent criminal convictions. But many couriers fail to carry out any checks and let migrants work illegally, in exchange for a weekly fee. The MoS has discovered that hundreds of delivery accounts are available to rent on Facebook Marketplace, with riders willing to provide work to illegal migrants. Earlier this year, researchers at Nottingham Trent and Heriot-Watt universities found migrants working as food couriers earn between 900 and 1,500 a month. Deliveroo said: 'We have introduced facial recognition technology which will help to counter any abuse on the platform and... we plan to strengthen this further with a registration process and right to work checks for substitutes.' They are able to do so as the tech giants behind the UK's 13 billion food delivery business allow low-paid 'substitute' riders who they have not vetted to work for them Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick last night branded the practice 'completely unacceptable' and warned it is encouraging further illegal migration Uber Eats said: 'All couriers must pass a criminal background check, be over the age of 18 and hold a valid right to work in the UK.' A Just Eat spokesperson said: 'We are working closely with the government on this issue. At Just Eat, we have high standards and a robust criteria in place for couriers delivering on our behalf. This includes ensuring couriers are over the age of 18, carrying out basic criminal checks (DBS), and making sure they have the right to work in the UK. 'Self-employed independent couriers have the legal right to use a substitute. Under the UK's employment laws, the courier account-holder is responsible for ensuring their substitute meets the necessary standards to deliver on our network. 'If we find that our high expectations are not met, we will immediately take action, including removing couriers from our network.' Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo all said they were 'working closely' with the Government, and that any courier found to not meet their criteria would immediately be removed from their network. The RAF is set to conduct 'unarmed surveillance flights' over the Middle East in a bid to find locations where Hamas are keeping kidnapped civilian hostages. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on Saturday that ministers had been working with allies in the region to 'secure the release of hostages', including British nationals. Fighting resumed between Israel and Hamas on Friday after a week-long truce, despite more than 130 hostages remaining in captivity in the Gaza Strip. In the weeks after Hamas's bloody October 7 raids on Israel, Downing Street said at least 12 British nationals had been killed in the attack and a further five are still missing. Some of those are believed to have been kidnapped but the UK Government has not confirmed how many might be in Hamas's clutches. In a statement published on the Government website, the MoD said: 'The safety of British nationals is our utmost priority. 'In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the UK Ministry of Defence will conduct surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza. The RAF is set to conduct 'unarmed surveillance flights' over the Middle East in a bid to find locations where Hamas are keeping kidnapped civilian hostages The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on Saturday that ministers had been working with allies in the region to 'secure the release of hostages', including British nationals 'Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages. 'Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue.' MoD officials said a range of unarmed aircraft would be used for the reconnaissance flights, including Shadow R1s which are used for intelligence gathering by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Information on the potential whereabouts of captives will be shared with Israel. The lull in the fighting during the truce allowed for 105 hostages held by Hamas and other militants to be freed. Some had been kept for several weeks in underground tunnels dug by the Gaza rulers. In exchange, Israel released 240 Palestinians from its prisons. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. 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. Families of hostages who have not been released are still waiting in desperation, calling on the government to bring their loved ones home. Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, after a temporary truce expired between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this handout picture released on December 2, 2023 Sharone Lifschitz, whose mother was freed in October, heard this week that a returned hostage had seen her father, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, in captivity Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, (pictured, centre) was taken against her will from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas' incursion into Israel on October 7 Sharone Lifschitz, 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, who spells the family name differently, 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 dont know how long he can survive in such harsh conditions.' But fighting commenced again from Friday morning, with the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reporting that at least 200 Palestinians have been killed since the violence resumed, taking the death toll within the territory to beyond 15,200. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) pounded targets in the crowded southern half of Gaza on Saturday. There are fears of mounting civilian casualties after Israel dropped leaflets warning residents to leave the southern part of the strip where two million people - almost the entire Gazan population - are based following instructions at the outset of the IDF ground invasion to leave the north of the enclave. The US and others have urged Tel Aviv to do more to protect Gaza civilians as the Israel-Hamas conflict reignited, something Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed. Sir Keir on Saturday reiterated his call for a 'further pause or further cessation of hostilities' so further work can be carried out to release hostages and send aid to the besieged Palestinians. Speaking to the BBC during his trip to Dubai for the Cop28 climate summit, he urged both sides, while the fighting is continuing, to attempt to limit the impact on civilians. Sir Keir said: 'While we are in this phase of resumption, it is important for me to say that we can't go back to the way the first phase of this war was conducted. 'Too many people, innocent individuals, have lost their lives in Israel and across Gaza. Israeli soldiers with their armoured fighting vehicles gather at a position near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, 2 December 2023 Smoke rising from buildings after being hit by Israeli strikes, after battles resumed between Israel and Hamas militants, on December 2, 2023 Some 1.7mn Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, the UN said late in November 'We can't go back to where we were just a week or so ago. We have to see this as a different stage.' Former prime minister Liz Truss struck a different tone as she urged her successor Rishi Sunak to 'give our full support to the Israeli government' in the fight against Hamas. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, the Conservative MP - and the UK's shortest serving prime minister in modern political history - said there should be 'no ifs, no buts' for Britain's backing for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration. 'I don't want to see double standards applied, that Israel is held to different standards than other countries,' she said. 'They are a free democracy in a part of the world where free democracies are rare and the heinous crimes, the rape, the brutality, the kidnapping of children that has taken place is truly horrific.' While Stateside this week for a delegation visit with the Conservative Friends of Ukraine, Ms Truss told right-wing US broadcaster Fox News that people are being 'allowed' to demonstrate 'in favour of terrorists' on London's streets during pro-Palestinian marches. Ms Truss said protesters were showing they would 'rather support authoritarian regimes' than Western values. The comments come as police said they were 'surrounded' by pro-Palestinian supporters in south London following a rally organised during a 'day of action' by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The Metropolitan Police said officers were encircled and prevented from leaving after making two arrests in Windrush Square, Brixton, on Saturday. More than 80 people have been charged in the UK over alleged hate crimes and violence linked to pro-Palestinian protests since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Lord Cameron, the former prime minister who returned to frontline politics almost three weeks ago to serve as Foreign Secretary, said the UK cannot 'pretend we can somehow insulate ourselves from these crises' such as that seen in the Middle East. Writing in The Sun On Sunday, he said: 'Conflict in the Middle East doesn't stay in the region. It can destabilise our allies and trigger mass migrations. 'And it deeply affects Jewish and Muslim populations in our own countries. 'Our response needs to be one of strength, resilience and unity.' The peer said he will be travelling to Washington DC 'next week' to work with 'our closest and strongest ally' on the response to international issues, including the Ukraine conflict. An L-plater accused of sparking a high-speed chase where a police officer was allegedly dragged along by his luxury car has claimed he was 'set up' before telling the magistrate to 'f*** off'.' Sean Matthews, 33, from Eastwood was travelling in a silver Audi sedan at 'excessive speed' when he allegedly failed to stop for police in Gladesville in Sydney's lower North Shore about on Saturday night. Police gave chase but ended the pursuit because of safety concerns. The Audi allegedly crossed to the wrong side of the road and collided with a Toyota Kluger with a mother and child inside on Gladesville Road, in Hunters Hill. Police attempted to pull Matthews out of the car but it is alleged he drove off with an officer hanging on to the side of the vehicle, causing him to dragged for 2-3 metres. A silver Audi sedan crashed in the Sydney north shore suburb of Hunters Hill on Saturday night Matthews then allegedly reversed into two approaching officers before the car crashed into a concrete pillar. During his arrest, Matthews allegedly choked an officer before he was subdued by an off-duty officer and a member of the public. Two male police officers aged 20 and 33 were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital suffering neck and leg injuries. Matthews was taken to Gladesville Police Station and was charged with assaulting police in execution of duty causing actual bodily harm, hindering or resisting police and intentionally choking a person with recklessness. He was also charged with not stopping and driving dangerously during a police pursuit, being an unaccompanied learner driver and not displaying 'L' plates correctly. Representing himself in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, Matthews claimed that police made the story up because they wanted him 'to go to jail' and that he 'accidentally' ended up on the wrong side of the road. Sean Matthews, 33, faces a string of serious charges after allegedly dragging a police officer and resisting arrest 'They've (police) conjured up a story to put me in jail ... I would've just lost my licence and gone home,' Matthews told the court, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'They attacked me when I got out of the car, I didn't do anything wrong, I would've just lost my licence'. Matthew also claimed that police have 'had it in for (him) for ages'. When asked why he should be granted bail, Matthews claimed he has mental health problems, as well as 'a lot going on with (his) family'. Magistrate Estelle Ann Hawdon denied the bail application, citing the seriousness of the police allegations as well as his previous record. 'Your record does not assist you,' she said. Matthews allegedly tried to choke one of the police officers trying to arrest him and was subdued by off-duty police officer and member of the public 'I accept that you say you have mental health concerns but, I'm sorry, given what are serious allegations, which include two police officers being hospitalised as a result of this, I have no option but to refuse you bail'. Matthews replied: 'Mate, show me the evidence, what am I going to jail for?' before telling Ms Hawdon to 'f*** off'. Matthews will reappear again in court on Tuesday. The junior probationary officer, 20, taken to hospital with leg injuries has since been released. His colleague 33, remains in hospital suffering from abrasions and neck injuries. 'It's always concerning. We as police officers are aware of the inherent risk involved,' acting Superintendent Traci Watts told reporters on Sunday. Critics have slammed a United Nation's women's women's rights body for taking nearly two months to criticise Hamas for its rape and murder spree. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, known as UN Women, has been blasted as a 'disgrace' for 'staying silent' on reports women were raped and tortured by the terrorist group during the October 7 atrocities. In the immediate aftermath and the weeks that followed, there have been widespread reports of the terrorists using sexual violence against women during the attacks, which also claimed the lives of more than 1,200 innocent civilians and saw over 200 people taken hostage. However, despite issuing numerous statements condemning the attacks and the subsequent response by Israel, UN Women stayed silent on the reports of gender-based violence perpetrated by Hamas. On Friday, December, it finally issued a statement saying it was 'alarmed' by the reports, sparking ire from anti-Semitism groups, women's rights campaigners and the Israeli ambassador to Britain, Tzipi Hotovely. This was followed by a demonstration in Whitehall this morning, where protesters slammed the organisation for its perceived silence by holding signs with pictures of women kidnapped by Hamas. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to Britain, questioned why it took so long for the UN Women organisation to speak out about the sexual violence in the October 7 attacks A protester holds a sign with a picture o Shiri Bibas, who was kidnapped by Hamas, during a rally in Whitehall today A rally-goer holds a sign saying 'UN Women your silence is loud #speakup' after it took nearly two months to issue a statement on reports of rape by Hamas terrorists Women with orange tape over their mouths hold signs as they gather in Whitehall for the protest Demonstrators in Whitehall this morning demanding that the UN condemns alleged sexual violence by Hamas In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday morning UN Women said: 'We reiterate that all women, Israeli women, Palestinian women, as all others, are entitled to a life lived in safety and free from violence.' In a follow-up post it added: 'We unequivocally condemn the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. We are alarmed by the numerous accounts of gender-based atrocities and sexual violence during those attacks.' READ MORE HERE: RAF will conduct 'unarmed surveillance flights' over the Middle East to search for dungeons where Hamas are keeping kidnapped civilians hostage Advertisement However, the length of time taken to address the issue has brought fury from some quarters. Speaking on Sky News, Tzipi Hotovely said: 'It took over 50 days for the UN women's organisation to condemn something that is so clear. 'Why and how come it took the UN women's organisation 50 days to deal with that? 'It was part of Hamas' plan, to use sexual violence against women, and we want to make sure the world understands what we are dealing with. 'Hamas brutally murdered and raped innocent women.' Leading US campaign group Stop AntiSemitism wrote: 'It took UN Women FIFTY SEVEN DAYS to condemn the brutal rape and sodomy Jewish women experienced at the hands of Hamas terrorists. 'FIFTY SEVEN DAYS. And they couldn't even do it as a main post - they sub posted it.' Journalist Nicole Lampert added: 'All-a-f******-yula. UN Women mentions how it is 'alarmed' by the rapes. It has taken 8 weeks. EIGHT. 'NOW CAN IT ASK HAMAS TO GIVE THE YOUNG WOMEN BACK. Because I'm worried the rapes are continuing.' Yael Sherer, an internationally respected forensic expert with experience in collecting evidence from victims of sexual violence, said it was a 'disgrace' it had taken so long for the body to speak out. Israel and Hamas had held a several day long ceasefire to allow for the exchange of hostages, but the conflict has since resumed despite more than 130 still remaining in captivity in the Gaza Strip. UN Women released a statement on Twitter on Saturday saying it was 'alarmed by the numerous accounts of gender-based atrocities and sexual violence' by Hamas during the October 7 attacks Campaign group Stop AntiSemitism hit out the group for taking '57 days to condemn the brutal rape and sodomy Jewish women experienced' A street in kibbutz Kfar Aza is seen on October 27 - 20 days after Hamas stormed the area People are seen fleeing the Nova music festival as Hamas launches its attack on October 7 There has been outcry in recent weeks from Israeli women and legal activists over what they see as a conspiracy of silence over alleged rapes an sexual crimes committed by Hamas militants during the October 7 attacks. Even before forensic examinations began, an abundance of images pointed to the gruesome nature of the attacks, with pictures shared online and live footage streamed by the militants as they killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to an Israeli count. In addition to investigating the bloodshed, Israeli police say they have been exploring evidence of sexual violence, ranging from alleged gang rape to post-mortem mutilation. Their inquiry has, so far, gathered 'more than 1,500 shocking and difficult testimonies', a senior police officer told Israel's parliament this week, from witnesses, medics and pathologists. Shortly after the attacks, Israeli rights experts sent letters detailing the evidence to key international bodies such as UN Women and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). But until this week, when both the UN secretary-general and UN Women issued statements on the allegations, campaigners say the responses were minimal, leaving them deeply frustrated and accusing the global human rights community of betrayal. In a response to AFP late Friday, UN Women said it was 'aware of concerns' about the reactions of women's organisations, saying it was 'the first part of the UN system to publicly express alarm at reports of gender-based violence including sexual violence'. In its full statement issued on Friday, UN Women said: ' We deeply regret that military operations have resumed in Gaza, and we reiterate that all women, Israeli women, Palestinian women, as all others, are entitled to a life lived in safety and free from violence. 'We unequivocally condemn the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. We are alarmed by the numerous accounts of gender-based atrocities and sexual violence during those attacks. This is why we have called for all accounts of gender-based violence to be duly investigated and prosecuted, with the rights of the victim at the core. 'In all conflicts, UN women fully supports rigorous investigations and Commissions of Inquiry where they exist. We are actively supporting the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, which began its investigation into sexual violence very shortly after the attacks occurred. We welcome that the Commission has opened its call for submissions on gender-based crimes since 7 October.' It said that UN Women and other bodies within the United Nations would 'proactively share UN-sourced and verified information on incidents, patterns, and trends of conflict-related sexual violence to aid all investigations'. It added: 'We continue to call for accountability for all acts of gender-based violence committed on and after 7 October, the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages, and a humanitarian ceasefire. 'For the sake of everyone in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, and especially women and children, we call for a return to a path of peace, a respect for international humanitarian and international human rights law, and an end to the suffering of people in Gaza and in Israel, and those families still waiting for their loved ones to return.' Israeli soldiers look at the photos of people killed or taken captive by Hamas militants at the Nova festival on October 7 Drone footage shows the devastation in the aftermath of the Hamas attack at the Nova festival on October 7 Israeli soldiers carry the body of a victim of an attack by militants from Gaza at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, October 10 Personal belongings lie among the debris of a house destroyed during the October 7 attack by Hamas militants in kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip on October 18 Legal expert Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, who has been at the forefront of efforts to challenge the silence from global institutions, told AFP: 'This is the statement they should have issued two months ago.' The issue has fuelled growing anger in Israel. A cartoon last week in Yediot Aharonot newspaper depicted an Israeli woman in bloodied, torn clothes saying 'Me too' to a panel of three UN women - one covering her ears, one covering her eyes and one covering her mouth. In the weeks after October 7, statements by UN Women predominantly focused on the situation in the Gaza Strip, where the Hamas government says Israel's retaliatory bombardment has killed more than 15,000 people, mostly women and children. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE: 'The music stopped and the nightmare began': Israeli reveller reveals how she smeared herself in blood and pretended to lie dead for three hours as Hamas festival massacre unfolded Advertisement On October 27, CEDAW urged 'all parties to systematically address the gender dimension of conflict'. A UN commission has now invited submissions on 'allegations of gender-based crimes, with an emphasis on murder and hostage-taking, rape and other forms of sexual violence'. Halperin-Kaddari accused international organisations of wilfully ignoring evidence for nearly two months. 'None of these bodies acknowledged the fact that there were war crimes committed here or crimes against humanity,' she told AFP. 'And none mentioned the sexual violence against women that was used systematically, intentionally and deliberately, which is a case of weaponising women and using rape as a weapon of war.' Halperin-Kaddari, a former vice-chair of CEDAW, said the reticence of such UN entities was 'a shameful abuse of their mandate and their mission'. At an Israeli parliamentary hearing on Monday, senior police investigator Shelly Harush provided harrowing evidence of sexual violence and mutilation including 'an apocalypse of corpses, girls stripped bare above the waist and below', and a grisly witness account of the gang rape, mutilation and murder of a young woman. Another witness she cited spoke of wounds to the 'genitals, abdomen, legs and buttocks' with some having their 'breasts cut off' or sustaining 'gunshot wounds'. First responders described encountering bodies 'with their hands cuffed behind their backs, a woman's corpse bleeding from the genital area'. Police investigations chief Shlomit Landes said they were attacked 'just for being women', including some who were pregnant. More than 400 strikes have been carried out by Israel in Gaza in the past 48 hours after Hamas broke the fragile week-long truce The Israel Defense Forces said that fighter jets carried out extensive strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas leaders are thought to be stationed Residential buildings lie in ruin following Israeli strikes at the Qatari-funded Hamad City in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip December 2, 2023 'Most were murdered. Those who survived - because they hid, among them children - we've not yet spoken to... due to the depth of their trauma,' she said. European Parliament vice president Pina Picierno told the hearing that Hamas had committed 'war crimes' that were 'beyond what any woman in the world could ever imagine... Israeli women cannot be left alone in this terrible time.' 'All international organisations and women's organisations should condemn the Hamas attack and defend the victims,' she said. 'Pretending to not see... for political reasons is a second terrible violence.' Israel Women's Network head Einat Fischer Lalo said the global feminist struggle and the MeToo movement had turned into 'a struggle of 'Yes, but... '.' READ MORE HERE: Israel launches deadly strike on Iranian officers training Hezbollah terrorists in Syria just ten miles from Damascus Advertisement ''Yes, we are against rape, but not of all women', 'Yes, we are against sexual abuse, but it depends on what nationality you are', 'Yes, we believe you, but if you are Israeli women who have been hurt by terrorists, then please bring us proof otherwise we are not on your side',' she said. On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement on X, saying: 'There are numerous accounts of sexual violence during the abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas on 7 October that must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted.' Yael Sherer, an internationally respected forensic expert with experience in collecting evidence from victims of sexual violence, said it was the first time he had addressed the issue, dismissing his reaction as 'too little, too late'. 'It's a disgrace,' she told AFP, saying his reaction came after 'immense public pressure' and thousands of emails to UN departments. She said she had encountered unprecedented levels of cynicism about the allegations, despite her expertise in the field. 'The fact that people were found naked, restrained with their hands behind their backs and tied to chairs wasn't enough for them?' she said. 'It's outrageous and insulting.' Halperin-Kaddari said international bodies' reticence was partly driven by preconceptions about the decades-long conflict including 'the difficulty of stepping away from the conventional construction of Israel as the aggressor as the Palestinians as victims'. 'Here, the situation flipped,' she said. 'They could not attribute such evil to those who they always prefer to see as being the victims.' Former deputy PM Therese Coffey has spoken of how she 'almost died' from a brain abscess that left her slurring and unable to remember where she lives. The Tory MP for Suffolk Coastal needed emergency surgery after the symptoms from a headache dramatically escalated in a matter of days. Ms Coffey, who left government in Rishi Sunak's recent reshuffle, said she blamed the stress of politics for the extraordinary episode. In an interview with the Sunday Times, the 52-year-old - known for her love of whisky, cigars and karaoke - described in detail the harrowing health scare that happened in 2018. Having apparently suffered an ear infection, Ms Coffey said she could barely continue a Commons debate on the reduction of plastic waste in the marine environment And when the local elections were taking place the next day, May 3 2018, Ms Coffey knew 'something was badly wrong'. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Therese Coffey - known for her love of whisky, cigars and karaoke - described in detail the harrowing health scare that happened in 2018 She said: 'I can always tell when I'm not well because I don't eat, but also when I dragged myself out to vote, I couldn't actually remember exactly where I lived. 'Luckily there was another MP there who lived in the next door block to me. I knew what my name was and I knew which block I lived in, but I couldn't remember exactly which (flat).' Ms Coffey said she had asked for help from a colleague who was a GP, before going to accident and emergency at St Thomas' Hospital near Parliament. Despite having hallucinations, she was told to go home and return at the weekend if there was no improvement. But by that time Ms Coffey said she was 'starting to slur my words and repeat myself'. The MP, who lives alone spending most of her time at a flat in London, said her sister Clare - who works as her secretary - phoned the hospital to voice alarm. 'She said she had never known me the way I was, and they told me to go straight in,' Ms Coffey said. An MRI scan was carried out, and it revealed that there was an abscess on her brain. She was moved to King's College Hospital and had emergency operation that night. 'I woke up the next morning, and the thing I was most distressed about was that I had lost my eyebrows,' Ms Coffey said. 'They had just gone. I think it was just the stress of it all.' She spent a month recovering in hospital, and could not drive for a year. Ms Coffey - who has a PHD in Chemistry - has also needed to rebuild her memory, saying: 'I couldn't remember the words for certain things. I can remember thinking ... I can't remember what these thing are. It was slippers, and it still happens now. It's like my brain had locked itself and then if I said a word again, it would come back again.' She attributes the serious turn in her condition to the pressure of politics - although she went on to be promoted to the second most powerful job in government under Liz Truss. Ms Truss said Michael Gove had 'upped the pace' when he became Environment Secretary and they were 'working very long hours'. Ms Coffey attributes the serious turn in her condition to the stress of politics - although she went on to be promoted to the second most powerful job in government under Liz Truss (pictured together) 'I burnt the candle at both ends,' she said, saying that Mr Gove immediately told her to take time off and assigned her responsibilities to colleagues when he found out what had occurred. 'Ordinarily, I quite enjoy pressure. I learnt from having been ill, and sometimes when I recognised a couple of the signals I would bring a meeting to a close a bit earlier. Then, I would switch off the lights for 15 minutes and close my eyes to allow my mind to refresh as opposed to just powering on.' Ms Coffey said she 'values life more now than ever'. 'I came close to dying, and I think looking back that if my sister hadn't phoned St Thomas' and they hadn't done that scan, I probably would have been dead in a matter of days. 'It gives you a different outlook on life and it's not me trying to be a depressive Catholic on this, but the truth is this could all stop tomorrow.' Three out-of-control dogs escaped and mauled a pet and its owner before armed police destroyed two and seized the third. Police were called to the scene on Handsworth Road in Sheffield this morning following reports that three dogs were running loose. Officers then received another report that two dogs - believed to be of a bull breed -had escaped from a property and attacked a dog being walked by its owner. The dog had to be taken to the vets while the owner also suffered injuries that required hospital treatment. The dogs then became increasingly aggressive towards officers when they were sent to Handsworth Road to capture the animals, it is understood. Police were called to the scene on Handsworth Road in Sheffield this morning following reports that dogs, believed to be of a bull breed, were running loose Officers received a report that two dogs - believed to be of a bull breed - had escaped from a property and attacked a dog being walked by its owner (Stock photo) Firearms officers destroyed two dogs to stop any risk of further injuries, while the third dog was contained by officers and has been seized. A 27-year-old man from Sheffield was arrested on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control and remains in police custody. Handsworth Road has been partly closed after the dog attack. South Yorkshire Police has urged anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident number 250 of 3 December 2023. A knifeman has stabbed four family members to death before setting their house on fire and stabbing two responding officers. Courtney Gordon, 38, was killed in the ensuing scuffle - by one of the officers who he stabbed seconds earlier. NYPD Chief Jeff Madrey said cops found themselves unable to enter the residence - due to the blaze started by the suspect as he left the home with a suitcase. One of the officers was stabbed 'in the neck-, chest-area,' according to Madrey, while the second was struck in the head. Once inside the home, officers found a 12-year-old boy, an adult man, and a 44-year-old woman all dead, and an 11-year-old girl fatally stabbed at the entrance. She was transported to a nearby children's hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds. The incident is believed to be a domestic dispute. Scroll down for video: Police officers walk through the area and investigate the crime scene Cops descended on a Queens home Sunday morning after a stabbing that left three dead and two officers injured, at a home on Beach 22nd St in Far Rockaway A suspect was shot in the lower extremity during an ensuing skirmish - which happened outside 467 Beach 22nd St in Far Rockaway just after 5am. Identifeid as 38-year-old Courntey Gordon, he is now dead after being shot on the street outside the residence Speaking to reporters from the hospital where the cops are being cared for, Maddrey shed some light on the still-shrouded situation. 'Unfortunately we are frequent customers here at Jamaica Hospital, and they are always extremely professional and give our cops the best care so thank you,' the chief said at about 9am, joined by other senior ranking officers in the department. Revealing that another unnamed 61-year-old woman remains hospitalized in critical condition, the top cop described how the two officers initially came across the suspect while responding to a 911 call from a young female inside the house. Now being questioned by detectives at the 101 Precinct, the girl claimed to be a cousin of Gordon, Maddrey said. 'This morning, at about 5:10am, in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, in the 101 Precinct, members from the 101 Precinct received a 911 call of an assault in progress,' the chief said. 'Basically, a young female caller stated that her cousin is killing her family members.' He added that two members of the nearby 101 Precinct, 'a 28-year veteran and a 16-year veteran,' responded to the call in a marked vehicle during their regular patrol. As they get to the location on East Beach 22nd Street, Maddrey told the press, they came face to face with the man said to be responsible for the slew of deaths. 'As they get to the location on East 22nd Street,' Maddrey said, 'the officers pulled up to the block. Attempting to 'set the stage' for the incident at followed, the chief described how the two family home at 467 22nd Street is set on 'a residential block with homes on it, with apartments, with private houses', at the end of a driveway where 'there's another four or five private homes.' 'It's like a little residential community in a residential community,' he said, before describing in-depth the fatal altercation. Dozens of cops remained on the scene into the morning, as well as firefighters who responded a fire at the residence first reported around 5:17am Once inside the home, officers found a 12-year-old boy, an adult man, and a 44-year-old woman all dead, and an 11-year-old girl fatally stabbed at the entrance. She was transported to a nearby children's hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene during cops' response. A fourth person stabbed died shortly after, while another three were taken to a local hospital The two officers slashed were then taken to Jamaica Hospital while the suspect was also hospitalized, the lawmen with non-life-threatening injuries. Several, including the unnamed teenage girl, are said to be in critical condition After the fire was knocked down, officers were seen removing several victims The incident, believed to be a domestic dispute, remains under investigation The four victims, meanwhile, were all stabbed to death, with three dying before officers even arrived. The fourth, reportedly a 12-year-old girl, died after being brought to a hospital Several described hearing gunshots during police's response, during which police officers shot the suspect before discovering the additional victims with multiple, unspecified injuries 'Our officers pull up to the driveway, [and] as they get to the driveway, they see a male walking out he's carrying luggage', Gaddrey recalled. 'Our officers asked the male a question or two, and in an encounter that lasted about ten seconds, the male draws a knife on our officers. 'He stabs one officer in the neck-, chest-area, [and] he strikes the second officer in the head. 'Our 28-year veteran [was] able to draw his firearm [and] able to discharge his weapon to the stop the assault, and he was able to stop the perpetrator. 'Our two officers were removed to a local hospital, Jamaica Hospital, [and] our perpetrator was removed to [another] local hospital. 'He has since been pronounced dead on arrival.' The chief proceeded to describe how additional officers called to the scene responded to the still-unfolding situation, initially coming across 'a young child laying in the front of the house' outside before even gaining entry. 'Unfortunately,' Gaddrey continued, 'that young child died of her injuries,' revealing her to have been only 11 and stabbed several times. The other victims, all believed to have been related, were later found inside in a pair of bedrooms toward the back of the house, but not before officers grappled with how to get inside due to a fire started by the suspect. Speaking to reporters from the hospital where the cops are being cared for, Police Chief Jeff Maddrey (center) shed some light on the still-shrouded situation The other victims, all believed to have been related, were later found inside in a pair of bedrooms toward the back of the house, but not before officers grappled with how to get inside due to a fire started by the suspect The chief proceeded to describe how additional officers called to the scene responded to the still-unfolding situation, initially coming across 'a young child laying in the front of the house' outside before even gaining entry 'They were not able to enter the home because there was a fire inside the living room/foyer area,' the chief told reporters without providing a specific timeline of the fast developing situation 'They were not able to enter the home because there was a fire inside the living room/foyer area,' the chief told reporters without providing a specific timeline of the fast developing situation. He said that FDNY, however, soon responded and were able to put out the fire and rescue the 61-year from the home to be brought to another hospital in Manhattan. Once the fire was extinguished and officers were able to get into the apartment, lawmen found the three other victims, Maddrey said - revealing they were 'all dead.' He added the belief that everyone who died 'the four family members', as he called them were all killed as a result of stab wounds they sustained during the incident, which cops are calling a domestic dispute. He further revealed how at the scene, cops quickly recovered the weapon that was used to injure the officers - a typical kitchen steak knife that was photographed and shown to those in the audience. 'At this time, this was the only weapon we recovered,' Maddrey added. 'This part of the investigation will determine whether it was the weapon used to harm all the victims.' An investigation has since been launched by the NYPD's crime scene unit, Maddrey said, adding that the Queens South Homicide division and detectives with the 101 Precinct are also aiding in the effort. Officers went on to provide the name of the suspect - along with a brief synopsis of his criminal history in his home borough of the Bronx. There, Gordon - who had no history with police linking him to the location on East Beach 22nd Street - had one prior arrest for a domestic strangulation incident, police said Sunday. He further revealed how at the scene, cops quickly recovered the weapon that was used to injure the officers - a typical kitchen steak knife that was photographed and shown to those in the audience The incident, as of 11am, remains under investigation with the NYPD. DailyMail.com has reached out the department for comment Watch live as NYPD executives brief the media on an ongoing investigation in Queens https://t.co/4gSTDKbXru NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 3, 2023 'It seems he is a Bronx resident that was visiting family members at this location,' the added. As for the 911 caller, cops said she is currently being questioned at the 101 stationhouse, and 'may be able to shed some light on what occurred' as cops continue to vet the killings. At this point, though, officers conceded the investigation is still ongoing, with Maddrey electing to not identify the deceased due to relatives still needing to be notified. Cops did, however, provide ages for all of the victims killed or wounded during the attack - including the male 12-year-old, female 44-year-old, 'and a male in his 30s' found inside two back bedrooms of the location. Also described was the female 11-year-old who was found in the front of the location, who officers revealed was transported to Cohen's Children's Medical Center elsewhere in Queens, before ultimately passing away. Also hospitalized was 'a female 61-year-old who is currently at Mt Sinai Hospital in [critical] condition suffering from multiple stab wounds. 'It seems [the victims] were all family relations,' cops added. Dozens of cops, meanwhile remained on the scene well into the morning Sunday, as well as firefighters who responded to the fire at the residence at around 5:17am. Within minutes, the fire was knocked down, and officers were seen removing victims from the domicile - with investigators later revealing the belief that the suspect lit a couch at the front of the location on fire as he was leaving. Several described hearing gunshots during police's response, during which police officers shot the suspect before discovering the additional victims with multiple, unspecified injuries. 'I heard pop pop pop,' one neighbor told amNewYork of the early-morning incident, as preliminary reports indicate that police shot the suspect outside the home before discovering additional victims inside the residence. 'It woke me up out my sleep and then I heard the sirens. It is scary,' the witness added. Radio chatter indicated more of the same, as firefighters were heard telling dispatchers they removed at least one person with minor injuries from the scene. Police are now asking the public to stay clear of the area as they continue to probe the incident, which sparked a prominent police response and saw portions of the Van Wyck closed. Sources familiar with the matter told outlets like The News, amNewYork, and ABC 7 that cops first received reports of the person wielding the knife during a domestic dispute, but did not provide any additional details. The incident, as of 11am, remains under investigation with the NYPD. DailyMail.com has reached out the department for comment. An elderly great grandfather is expected to be charged with the murder after he allegedly stabbed his wife to death amid claims he was angry over the state of their marriage of more than 50 years. Maria Dimasi, 85, was found dead inside the couple's home in Findon in Adelaide's west late Saturday night. Police were called to the home following 'reports of an incident and found Mrs Dimasi's body with multiple stab wounds. It's understood Mrs Dimasi had earlier returned home from a community event. Her husband Frank Dimasi, 91, who uses a walking frame and is believed to suffer from a neurological disability, was arrested at the home and taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital under police guard for treatment for non-life-threatening, self-inflicted injuries. The great grandfather is expected to be charged with murder on Monday. Adelaide great grandmother Maria Dimasi, 85, (pictured) was found dead inside the couple's home of 60 years in Findon on Saturday night Maria Dimasi (left) often volunteered her time at her grandson Stefan Dimasi's (right) kitchen Nonna's Cucina - a community-based meal service which provides meals to the vulnerable READ MORE: Tourist dad-of-five accused of stabbing his wife to death in front of his horrified children while on holiday in Australia Advertisement Dimasi was described by shocked neighbours as a 'frail' man suffering from what appeared to be early onset dementia and would often be seen walking from their home to the corner store and back. Forensic officers were seen searching the home for evidence on Sunday before a deep-clean van was called to the property. Mrs Dimasi's death was sparked an outpouring of tributes from everyone who knew her. Mrs Dimasi, better known in the Adelaide's Italian community as 'Nonna Maria', was a beloved cook who would always make meals for the vulnerable. She volunteered her time at her grandson's kitchen Nonna's Cucina - a community-based meal service which provides meals to those recovering from illness or medical treatment, the elderly and people with disabilities. Mrs Dimasi was also regarded as the communities 'matriarch' who was known for sharing her Italian recipes and for attending local children's birthday parties. It's believed her 91-year-old husband Frank was unhappy with the state of their marriage and allegedly killed her in their home of more than 60 years (pictured) after she returned from a community event Neighbours said she was in 'good health' and would often be seen using her mobility scooter along her street. Mrs Dimasi was also known for being incredibly proud of her family and always doting on her three children, grand children and great grandchildren. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas paid tribute to Mrs Dimasi, praising her volunteer work at Nonna Cucina. 'On a personal level, Maria Dimasi was a very significant contributor to our state, particularly in the western suburbs' Italian community,' Mr Malinauskas told reporters. 'Nonna's Cucina, which will be very well-known to a lot of South Australians, did amazing work delivering meals to people that are vulnerable, particularly the elderly. 'This is a good person who has lost their life in tragic circumstances.' Mrs Dimasi was also regarded as the communities 'matriarch' who was known for sharing her Italian recipes and for attending local children's birthday parties Federal health minister Mark Butler also praised Mrs Dimasi for her dedication in giving back to the community. 'Maria lit up the kitchen at Nonna's Cucina,' Mr Butler said. 'She was always extremely generous and made sure no one ever left her company hungry. 'Maria gave so much to her community and will be greatly missed by her loved ones and everyone who had the pleasure to meet her.' Long-time friend Frank Tripoli knew the couple for more than 50 years. Mr Tripoli moved to Australia when he was 11 and had fond memories of the Dimasi home in the 1970s. 'He was a good man, very good man,' Mr Tripoli told The Advertiser. 'She was a lovely woman. I couldn't believe it.' Alleged murder victim Maria 'Nonna' Dimasi (left) with chef Maggie Beer (centre) and grandson Stefan Dimasi (right) Another friend described the the pair as 'really close neighbours' and 'a happy couple'. Neighbour Dmytry Makukh said he was 'really shocked' by the tragedy as Mrs Dimasi was a 'very helpful lady'. I'm shocked, I'm really shocked. I can't believe this,' Mr Makukh told 9News. 'She was very helpful lady and always cooking with my wife and teaching her Italian cuisine.' The couple's home remains a crime scene as an investigation continues as police try to piece together the exact circumstances. A terrified woman sent a five-word WhatsApp plea for help after a masked gang broke into her family home, locked her inside her bedroom and took off with a stolen Audi. Offenders struck the family, who had been in all day, within an hour of them leaving their home in Lozells, Birmingham, on Wednesday night (November 22). They made off with an Audi A8 - plus the car owner's trainers, watches and cash - at around 9.25pm. Despite the brazen burglars thinking the house was empty, the youngest family member, a 22-year-old girl, had been asleep upstairs. As the burglars raided the home, she awoke to them entering her bedroom. Panicking, the gang quickly closed the door and locked her inside. The girl, who is now 'too scared' to be left home alone, then sent a message to the family WhatsApp group, warning: 'There's burglars in the house'. A terrified woman sent a five-word WhatsApp plea for help after a masked gang broke into her family home, locked her inside her bedroom and took off with a stolen Audi Offenders struck the family, who had been in all day, within an hour of them leaving their home in Lozells, Birmingham on November 22 Her family rushed straight back home to try to thwart the burglary - but they were 'five seconds too late' and arrived to see the car being driven away. Chilling CCTV footage shared by BirminghamLive shows the disguised men running from a grey BMW parked opposite the street. They then rush in, breaking through the front door with 'a tool' before searching the house. Three minutes later, they run out - one darting into the stolen Audi and another fleeing in the original BMW. The family are then seen arriving home just as the offender pulls off. The woman's 29-year-old brother, who owned the car, and had trainers and cash stolen, spoke to BirminghamLive about the ordeal. 'My sister was sleeping upstairs and she thought it was me coming home, however, when they went into her room, and realised there's somebody here, they closed the door and locked her in because her key was on the outside. 'Straight away we came[home], we probably missed them by five seconds, but there was contact, when my uncle and cousins pulled up into the drive, the guy was reversing so it was just a matter of seconds. 'Now, my mum and my sister feel very scared, they don't want to stay home alone, which you can understand. My sister doesn't want to go to work, she's taken days off.' A hooded burglar can be seen sprinting towards the home after getting out of a BMW Chilling CCTV footage shows the disguised men running from a BMW parked across the street The offenders rushed into the home, breaking through the front door with 'a tool' He thinks the same BMW X4 has been used to do multiple burglaries in the area. 'It's just surprising that these criminals haven't been caught - especially when they're coming through the front door. I think three to five burglaries have occurred,' he said. West Midlands Police said they have found the Audi and are conducting a forensic examination on it. 'It appears the burglar was working alongside an accomplice in a grey BMW which we've been able to establish was on false plates. 'We're continuing our enquiries to trace the real identity of this car and who the driver was. 'This would have been extremely frightening for the person who was in the address at the time and we are determined to identify those involved. 'We're investigating whether this is linked to four other recent car key burglaries in the city. Vehicle crime is a top priority for the force and we remain committed to tackling this crime,' a spokesperson said. This is the moment armed police arrested an alleged knifeman who killed a tourist and injured two others, including a British father, as it was revealed he is a French-Iranian convicted terrorist. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, was released from prison in 2020, and left to live at home with his parents while undergoing 'psychiatric and neurological treatment'. On Sunday he was under armed guard and facing multiple charges including murder following a bloodbath close to the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night. Video of the arrest shows him slowly backing away from several French police officers while carrying what appears to be a hammer. Two officers stride towards him as he backs away on the corner of a street in Paris. Though he was reported to have screamed 'Allahu Akbar' shortly before his arrest, the video shared with MailOnline did not show this. Reports said that he was taken down after police officers immobilised him with a Taser. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he was taken in by Paris police, who immobilised him with a stun gun Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, (pictured) was released from prison in 2020, and left to live at home with his parents while undergoing 'psychiatric and neurological treatment' The French Iranian knifeman who allegedly stabbed a tourist to death and wounded two others including an Englishman in Paris has now been named and pictured, and is a well-known convicted terrorist with severe psychiatric problems. Rajabpour-Miyandoab allegedly used a knife and hammer to kill a 24-year-old German-Filipino tourist, before attacking two more as-yet-unnamed victims, including a British father. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab was in 2016 convicted to four years in prison for terrorist conspiracy. The son of two Iranian refugees who was born in France, he had converted to Islam in 2015 after being radicalised online by an ISIS supporter, according to prosecution documents. Rajabpour-Miyandoab was well known for forging online links with other terrorists including Larossi Aballa, who went on to stab two police officers to death in Magnanville in June 2016. Another Facebook friend was Adel Kermiche, one of the perpetrators of the stabbing to death of a Catholic priest in Saint-Etienne du Rouvray in the same year. Many of those linked with such crimes were, like Rajabpour-Miyandoab, on an S-File, which means they are officially under surveillance. Rajabpour-Miyandoab later claimed to have completed a 'deradicalization programme', claiming he had lost interest in terrorism. He was let out of prison early in 2020, and put on a treatment programme for 'psychiatric and neurological problems,' according to an investigating source. In court in 2018, he said: 'Islamism was ruining my life,' while claiming he had taken to drinking beer and eating pork - activities which are barred to practising Muslims. But online activity showed that Rajabpour-Miyandoab was still researching how to make phosphorus bombs, and posted a video of himself disguised, and making political statements. He regularly bemoaned the number of Muslims who were being killed in global conflicts including Afghanistan and Israel-Hamas. At one point he accused France of 'being complicit' in 'war crimes' committed by Israeli forces against thousands of massacred Palestinian civilians. During his time in custody he had frequently complained about 'Muslims being killed in Afghanistan and Palestine'. He had also referenced the current Israel-Hamas conflict, claiming that 'France was complicit' with Israel in the massacre of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. The attacker, who has been named locally as Armand R., shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he was taken in by Paris police, who immobilised him with a stun gun The deadly attack in central Paris during a busy weekend night came with the country on its highest alert for attacks The attack has rocked France, which has seen tensions rise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict Tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip The deadly attack in central Paris during a busy weekend night came with the country on its highest alert for attacks, as tensions rise against the background of the war between Israel and Hamas. He fatally stabbed the as-yet-unnamed German tourist, born in the Philippines in 1999, with a knife in the back and shoulder, which led to a cardiorespiratory arrest before he passed away. The second victim of the attack was British, and was out walking with his wife when Armand R. attacked him from behind. 'The family were on the Avenue President Kennedy when they were set upon,' said an investigating source, who added: 'A hammer was used to hit the man over the head.' The Englishman was rushed to hospital, where his condition was later described as 'stable'. A third victim was also badly hurt in a hammer attack, said the source. The UK's Foreign Office said today: 'We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris, and are in contact with the local authorities.' The area by Bir Hakeim bridge, usually thronging with tourists and locals, was cordoned off by police and bright with the flashing lights of security forces and emergency services. A taxi driver who witnessed the scene intervened, Darmanin said. 'He had threatened them very violently... he will now have to answer for his actions before justice,' Darmanin said. The attack has rocked France, which has seen tensions rise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending his condolences to the family of a German killed in the 'terrorist attack'. A police source said that the attacker was known for psychiatric disorders and had said he could not stand Muslims being killed in the world. Pictured: French police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge A man has been stabbed to death while a British tourist is reportedly among two others badly injured after a knifeman screaming 'Allahu Akbar' launched a frenzied attack in Paris. Pictured: Police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge near the Eiffel Tower A police source said that the attacker was known for psychiatric disorders and had said he could not stand Muslims being killed in the world Macron, writing on X, thanked security forces for their quick arrest of the suspected attacker and said justice should be served 'in the name of the French people'. 'We will not give in to terrorism,' Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote on X after the attack. 'Paris is in mourning after this terrible attack,' Transport Minister Clement Beaune wrote on X. Joseph S., a 37-year-old supermarket manager who asked not to give his last name, witnessed the scene as he sat in a bar, and said he heard screams and people shouting 'help, help' as they ran. He said a man wielding an object attacked a man who had fallen down, and within 10 minutes the police arrived. One person died and another was injured, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on social media platform X Police officers stand guard. Officers said there was no early indication as to the motive of the stabbing France has suffered several attacks by Islamist extremists, including the November 2015 suicide and gun attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 people were killed. There had been a relative lull in recent years, even as officials have warned that the threat remains. But tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Security in Paris is also under particular scrutiny as it gears up to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. In October, teacher Dominique Bernard was killed in the northern French town of Arras by a young radicalised Islamist from Russia's Caucasus region. Charles Duhigg in The New Yorker: At around 11:30 a.m. on the Friday before Thanksgiving, Microsofts chief executive, Satya Nadella, was having his weekly meeting with senior leaders when a panicked colleague told him to pick up the phone. An executive from OpenAI, an artificial-intelligence startup into which Microsoft had invested a reported thirteen billion dollars, was calling to explain that within the next twenty minutes the companys board would announce that it had fired Sam Altman, OpenAIs C.E.O. and co-founder. It was the start of a five-day crisis that some people at Microsoft began calling the Turkey-Shoot Clusterfuck. Nadella has an easygoing demeanor, but he was so flabbergasted that for a moment he didnt know what to say. Hed worked closely with Altman for more than four years and had grown to admire and trust him. Moreover, their collaboration had just led to Microsofts biggest rollout in a decade: a fleet of cutting-edge A.I. assistants that had been built on top of OpenAIs technology and integrated into Microsofts core productivity programs, such as Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. These assistantsessentially specialized and more powerful versions of OpenAIs heralded ChatGPTwere known as the Office Copilots. More here. A family are suing a sheriff's office after an ex-state trooper catfished a teenage girl, drove cross-country to her home and killed her mom and grandparents. Austin Lee Edwards, 28, murdered Mark Winek, 69; his wife, Sharie Winek, 65; and their 38-year-old daughter, Brooke Winek, on November 25 2022. He set fire to their Riverside, California, home and drove away with Brooke's 15-year-old daughter. The former Virginia state trooper pretended to be a 17-year-old boy online, and gained access to the girl's family home by pretending to be a detective. He later shot himself during a confrontation with police in the Mojave Desert. The girl was physically unharmed. The victim's family has now accused the Washington County Sheriff's Office of failing to properly investigate Edwards before hiring him on November 16, 2022. Former Virginia state trooper Austin Lee Edwards, 28, who catfished a girl, 15, and then killed three members of her family gained access to their California home by pretending he was a detective Authorities are continuing to investigate the deaths of Mark Winek, 69, and Sharie Winek, 65, as well as the girl's mother, Brooke Winek, 38 A previous legal notice said the family intended to sue Washington County federally, citing gross negligence in Edwards' hiring and claiming more than $100 million in damages. The filed lawsuit does not specify how much money the family seeks. The lawsuit, filed by the girl's aunt Mychelle Blandin and younger sister, claims Edwards was 'unfit to be a sheriff's deputy, given his mental health background' when he was hired. They state that in 2016, Edwards was accused of 'threatening to kill his father' during a mental health crisis. He was taken for a psychiatric evaluation and put into a treatment facility. Family says that should've stopped him from buying or possessing a firearm under Virginia law, but Edwards never informed Virginia State Police about the ordeal, the lawsuit claims. The girl's mother had her throat slit and died from a stab wound to her spinal cord, and both grandparents were hogtied with bags over their heads, the lawsuit said. Their coroner's report said they died from asphyxiation. One of them was still moving when the ex-trooper set the house on fire, according to the kidnapped girl. Blandin said in a statement: 'I am bringing this lawsuit because my family wants to know how Edwards was hired as a sheriffs deputy and given a gun when the courts expressly ordered he could not possess a firearm. 'He used his position as a sheriff to gain access to my parents home, where he killed them and my sister. 'I want the Washington County Sheriffs Office held accountable for giving a mentally unfit person a badge and a gun.' The lawsuit reads: 'Defendant WCSO's negligence in hiring, supervising, and/or retaining Edwards was a substantial factor in Edwards carrying out the murders of Decedents Mark Winek, Sharon Winek, and Brooke Winek.' This is the Riverside, California home where Edwards allegedly killed three members of the Winek family before setting the home on fire David Ring, Blandins attorney, said: 'Edwards never should have been hired by the Sheriffs Department. He was barred by the courts from owning or possessing a gun because of his mental illness and because he was a clear danger to the community. 'He used his position as a sheriffs deputy and the gun they gave him to kill these innocent victims.' Brooke's sister, Mychelle Blandin, revealed to the Los Angeles Times that she was on the phone to her mother Sharie when Edwards arrived at the Winek's home. Her mother let Edwards into the home. Blandin said her mother had sounded panicked when she answered the phone and in a shaky voice said that a detective had shown up at her home to speak to her 15-year-old granddaughter and that it was urgent. Brooke and her two teen daughters were out at the time and Blandin alleges that Edwards asked to question the 15-year-old, he said if the younger sister came home she would also need to be interviewed. Blandin went on to explain to the outlet that to avoid that her mother asked if the younger sister could go to her house while the detective carried out his questioning. Edwards then proceeded to request both girls' cellphones be brought along - he also requested that the 15-year-old stay in his car while the adults in the house were questioned. Listening to her mother, Blandin recalls her mother telling her that the detective had pictures of the inside of the house. Edwards then proceeded to take the phone from Sharie and speak to Blandin. 'I'm here with your mom,' he said according to Blandin. 'She is kind of being anxious and freaking out.' 'My mother wants to be cooperative,' said Blandin at the time. Records show that Austin Lee Edwards purchased this home in Saltville, Virginia, 11 days before he murdered three people in southern California The home is described as a two bedroom, one bathroom, home in the town of Saltville, with a population of less than 2,000 Photos, flowers and prayer candles left in front of the home in Riverside, California 'Everything is going to be OK,' he said. 'Everything is going to be OK.' He handed the phone back to Blandin's mom. Blandin then said that Edwards asked to see the 15-year-old's room. The Los Angeles Times reported Blandin hung up after speaking to Edwards but checked in with her mother later to no avail. Before Edwards approached the family, it was reported that he'd visited the house earlier at 6.58am walked back and forth from his car twice before leaving in his Kia. Around 9am he returned this time approaching the door. A neighbor saw Edwards and had called police because he was parked in their driveway, according to the outlet. She watched him then open the back passenger side door where the 15-year-old was sat inside. The neighbor said she believed she saw the teen then mouth 'help me' at the time. Police in Riverside were first called to the 11200 block of Price Court just before 11am on November 25 to check on the welfare of a young girl who appeared distressed while getting into a red Kia Soul with an unknown man later found to be Edwards. While officers were responding to the scene, police began to receive calls about a fire just a few houses away. The Riverside Fire Department discovered three adults lying in the front entryway and took them outside, where rescue personnel 'determined they were victims of an apparent homicide,' police said. At that point, law enforcement officials in the town about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles distributed a description of Edwards' vehicle to other agencies nearby. Within a few hours, police were able to track down Edwards' Kia as he drove the teenager in Kelso, an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County. When police finally caught up with him, they say, Edwards fired shots at them. Edwards was pursued by police, and then shot himself dead - the teenage girl was unharmed. The deranged killer made the 2,500-mile journey to the girl's home after he deceived her with a false identity, claiming he was a 17-year-old boy. It was revealed that Edwards had previously groomed an underage girl online almost a decade ago, encouraging her to send him explicit photos when she was 13 and he was 20. The LA Times also reported that Edwards failed his mental health evaluation before being hired by the Virginia State Police. According to the legal notice, Virginia State Police officials 'ordered' a mental health evaluation of Edwards after he disclosed a 2016 incident in which he visited a mental health facility. After Edwards failed the evaluation, state police 'deliberately buried' the results and hired him, the family's lawyers allege. Edwards was employed by the state police for just nine months before he resigned on October 28 and joined the Washington County Sheriff's Office as a patrol deputy on November 16. He had worked at the sheriff's office for less than two weeks when he killed the Wineks in Riverside. Tributes have poured in for the top cheerleader and star student who had multiple college offers Nine teenagers have been arrested in connection to her death - five of them have been charged with murder Hailey Stephens was shot in the head by a stray bullet at a house party in Casa Grande in the early hours of Nov. 26 A 17-year-old high school cheerleader died after being shot in the head by a stray bullet at a house party in Arizona - and now nine teens face charges in connection to the case. Star pupil Hailey Stephens was at a party in a vacant house along East Silver Reef Road in Casa Grande when a gunfight broke out around 1.30am. Police said Stephens and another 17-year-old girl were 'innocent bystanders' and were hit by stray bullets. Stephens was taken to a hospital in Phoenix in a critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head and died a few hours later. 'Hailey had a huge life left in front of her. Somebody did something wrong and they should pay for their crime,' her mother said. Nine teenagers, including a 13-year-old, have been arrested in connection to the shooting. Five of them have been charged with murder and the other four with criminal trespassing. Hailey Stephens, 17, died after being shot in the head by a stray bullet at a house party in Arizona in the early hours of Nov. 26 She was a star pupil and beloved daughter with a bright future ahead of her and several college offers The other victim was hit in the arm and is expected to recover. Tributes to Stephens have poured in and her fellow Casa Grande Union High School students have left flowers and cards around campus. She was a star pupil with a 4.3 GPA and college offers pouring in, and a top cheerleader who had even appeared on Friday Night Fever. Her mother, Vanessa Stephens told 12News: 'She was a great kid. She far exceeded our expectations all the time. 'She only had those 17 years with us. I made her my No. 1 priority from when she was born. For the past months I had been seeing signs of her maturing. 'Its a horrible, awful crime,' the heartbroken mom added. The vacant home was riddled with bullets after the fight, with local news counting over a dozen holes. The owner of the house was devastated and said the house had been left trashed after the party. Stephens's father, Chris Stephens, is a firefighter in Casa Grande. The house was left riddled with over a dozen bullet holes The owner of the home was devastated when they found out and said it had been trashed during the party Police said a fight broke out at the home in East Silver Reef Road around 1.30am Nine teens have been arrested in connection to the shooting, five of them have been charged with murder He told 12News: 'I know they didnt go there meaning to shoot my daughter in the head, but they did. I hope they feel the pain that we feel and I hope theyre sorry for it.' The firefighters set up a GoFundMe page to support the family with medical bills and funeral costs, saying: 'Hailey was an active student that excelled academically and in extra curricular activities. 'She was truly loved by her family and friends. Please if you can, help support the Stephens family in this time of grief.' As of Sunday morning, they had raised over $74,000. On Friday night, students, parents and teachers held a vigil for Stephens and lit candles in her memory. Of the nine teenagers arrested in connection with her death, eight are minors and one is just 13 years old. Stephens was a star cheerleader at Casa Grande Union High School and had even appeared on Friday Night Fever Her parents said she was a 'great kid' and urged anyone with information to come forward Tributes have poured in to Stephens with fellow students leaving flowers and cards Students, parents and teachers held a candle lit vigil for Stephens on Friday night At least five of them faced murder charges and four others faced charges of criminal trespassing, according to the Casa Grande Police Department. The first arrests were made on Tuesday when a 16-year-old boy from Casa Grande and a 17-year-old boy from Coolidge were charged with second-degree murder. Both were booked into the Pinal County Juvenile Detention Center. An 18-year-old suspect turned himself in on Wednesday night. He was booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on charges of second-degree murder. Then on Thursday, police said another four Casa Grande teenage boys one 15-year-old, two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old, were arrested. On Saturday, two more teenage boys aged 13 and 15 were arrested and booked into the Pinal County Juvenile Detention Center on first-degree murder charges. Police said in a statement on Saturday: 'CGPD Detectives continue to actively investigate this case. 'As a reminder, we are asking anyone with information regarding this party and/or incident to contact Detective Nicholas Elliott immediately at our non-emergency number at (520) 421-8700 #7 or email Nicholas_Elliott@casagrandeaz.gov.' A man has tragically drowned at a popular beach in front of shocked bystanders and holidaymakers. Beachgoers raised the alarm after spotting an unconscious swimmer floating in the water near a rock breakwater at Perth's Cottesloe Beach on Sunday afternoon. Swimmers dragged the man to shore where surf life savers worked frantically to resuscitate the man while waiting for emergency services to arrive. They spent almost half an hour performing CPR on the man at the busy beach Lifeguards held up towels to protect the man from the view of beachgoers. A man tragically drowned at Cottesloe Beach on Sunday. Pictured are police at the scene The man was rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital under lights and sirens but died en route. The man is believed to have been swimming alone and was aged in his 60s or 70s. Uvin Kojada said other beachgoers helped try and save the man. 'They carried him out using a surf board and they were just around that area giving him CPR, surf guards and a few other members of the public with a medical background,' he told Nine News. Five people have ben arrested in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old who was shot dead in South London. A murder investigation was launched after police found Rico Andrews injured on Shuttleworth Road, near Battersea Park, having been called to reports of gunshots on October 5. Mr Andrews died at the scene. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest. Detectives arrested a man, 32, on suspicion of murder on Saturday at a commercial venue in Guildford, Surrey, and taken him into custody. He is being transferred to a custody suite in north west London. One man, 27, and three women - 31, 33, 38 - were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They are also in custody. A murder investigation was launched after police found Rico Andrews injured on Shuttleworth Road, near Battersea Park, having been called to reports of gunshots on October 5 Detectives arrested a man, 32, on suspicion of murder on Saturday at a commercial venue in Guildford, Surrey, and taken him into custody One man, 27, and three women - 31, 33, 38 - were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender Mr Andrew's next of kin have been updated on this development and continue to be supported by specialist officers. Detective Chief Inspector Neil John from the Mets Specialist Crime Command who leads the investigation said: These arrests mark another significant development in our investigation, but I must reiterate that we still need help for the public. "I continue to appeal to anyone who was in the area to area and saw events unfold, or anyone who has captured this incident on phone or doorbell footage, to contact police immediately. Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 8285/05OCT. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. Russia's former richest man has given a troubling prophesy about the global impact of Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Exiled oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has predicted the conflict will topple the regime - but warns his downfall would lead to 'unstable nuclear-armed states' replacing Russia as we know it today. The Yeltsin-era oligarch warned a breakup of the eastern European giant would be 'an enormous mistake', because its nuclear arsenal would fall into the hands of 'local thugs' like Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. He called on the West to try to avoid this catastrophic outcome by helping unite Russian exiles to create a 'coalition of opposition forces' and 'be smarter in its application of sanctions'. Khodorkovsky, 60, had a net worth of $15 billion at the peak of his Yukos oil empire - until Putin jailed him for alleged tax fraud in 2003. He was released 10 years later following pressure from international human rights groups. Russia 's former richest man, Mikhail Khodorkovsky (pictured) has given a troubling prophesy about the potential global impact of Vladimir Putin 's war in Ukraine The Yeltsin-era oligarch cautioned that the break-up of the eastern European giant would be 'an enormous mistake' because its nuclear arsenal would fall into the hands of 'local thugs'. (Pictured: Khodorkovsky when he was Russia's richest man with Putin in 2002) Former Chief of Staff for the US Army's Space and Missile Defence Command Kevin Ryan has also said that nuclear war is an 'entirely feasible' option for Putin if Ukrainian forces make gains on the battlefield. Writing in German publication Korber-Stiftung this weekend, Khodorkovsky said that the war in Ukraine has exposed Putin's weaknesses, and now 'his regime is doomed to fail'. The political exile, who now lives in London, said it's 'impossible to predict' when this downfall will come around - but said one thing that's certain is the war has 'unleashed forces' that will inevitably bring him down. Khodorkovsky cited the attempted coup by Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin as the first glimpse of this, saying his mutiny could have enabled 'the kind of crisis essential for toppling the regime'. He said the consequent alleged Kremlin assassination of Prighozin and his associates 'shows how widespread dissatisfaction with Putin is within the military and how weak the regime feels, as it felt unable to put the insurgents on trial'. The Moscow-born commentator said 'splits are likely to occur again' but people like Prigozhin 'will not deliver democratization and the rule of law' and could be even more dangerous than Putin. 'Toppling Putin is a prerequisite for a democratic change, but we also need a vision of what comes next,' he wrote. 'The break-up of Russia would be an enormous mistake. The states that would emerge would inherit nuclear weapons and be ruled by local thugs like Chechnya's Ramzan Kadyrov. Exiled oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky (pictured) has warned that the ongoing invasion in Ukraine will eventually topple Putin's regime - and as Russia crumbles, 'unstable, nuclear-armed states' will be left in its wake Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) talks to chairman of the board of Yukos oil company, Mikhail Khodorkovsky (R) during a meeting with members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in the Kremlin, Moscow 31 May 2001 Putin's forces have now been at full-scale war with Ukraine for 647 days, after launching the mass invasion on February 24 last year Ukrainian soldiers are placed in trenches retaken from the Russian army on the Vuhledar front line as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on December 01, 2023 'A totalitarian figure could emerge, determined to rebuild the Russian empire, and the resulting militaristic, expansionist entity would again turn its grievances against Ukraine and the West.' Khodorkovsky said he's doubtful Russia would be in any position to orchestrate a 'power shift towards the rule of law' and that 'peaceful demonstrations alone' have little effect against 'Putin's brutal regime'. He said to avoid a nuclear catastrophe, the West must utilize the thousands of Russian exiles like him who 'provide a cadre of potential revolutionaries' to prepare to build Russia's 'future democratic governance'. 'The opposition abroad needs to be recognized as a political representative of at least the anti-Putin and anti-war part of Russian society,' he wrote. 'This would help opposition-minded Russians find one voice and would signal an alternative center of power.' Lamenting how the replacement of Putin with another 'strongman' dictator would mean continued 'corruption, stagnation and repression' and 'expansionist aggression abroad', Khodorkovsky advocated for the creation of a 'democratic federal republic'. 'We need a federal structure that is empowered by the regions rather than a system in which a strong tsar at the center enables petty tsars on the periphery.' Khodorkovsky also urged the West to be 'smarter in its application of sanctions' against Putin's allies. 'We need a predictable mechanism for the introduction and removal of personal sanctions,' he wrote. Khodorkovsky, 60, had a net worth of $15 billion at the peak of his Yukos oil empire - until Putin jailed him for alleged tax fraud in 2003. He was released 10 years later following pressure from international human rights groups Khodorkovsky has said that to avoid a nuclear catastrophe, the West must utilize the thousands of Russian exiles like him who 'provide a cadre of potential revolutionaries' to prepare to build Russia's 'future democratic governance' 'A selective lifting of sanctions via granting of visas, banking services and free ownership of assets could incentivize struggle against the regime. 'At the same time, there should be zero tolerance towards Russians who want to live in European countries but refuse to dissociate themselves from Putin's regime. 'This is simply dangerous, as it implies their dependence on the regime and their likely willingness to be its tool. 'I believe that not discriminating against Russian citizens who have distanced themselves from the Putin regime would undermine some of the Kremlin propaganda and help to drive an additional segment of Russian society away from the regime.' Khodorkovsky's warning came as an exclusive Daily Mail investigation revealed that Russian soldiers having been raping and torturing men as well as woman in Ukraine. Putin's forces have now been at full-scale war with Ukraine for 647 days, after launching the mass invasion on February 24 last year. Families of victims have now called for the company to require that each rental has a detector before being listed The rental properties were not equipped with detectors that warn of the toxic gas Airbnb rentals across the world have seen 19 lives end due to carbon monoxide poisoning Nearly 20 people have died in recent years from carbon monoxide while staying in Airbnb rentals, and heartbroken families say the company hasn't addressed the issue. 'And that's terrible that Airbnb, knowing exactly what's happening, they haven't done anything to stop it,' Rosa Elena Martinez told NBC News. Her son, Jaime Mejiam, is one of the 19 who died since 2013 from carbon monoxide while staying at short-term rentals through Airbnb across the globe. The gas is known as a silent killer as it's odorless. In 2014, Airbnb said that they would 'require' all of their hosts to install carbon monoxide detectors. This mandate has yet to take place and more lives have been lost. But, families say that hasn't happened and three lawsuits have been filed over the situation. They called for Airbnb to mandate all homes on their site must be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. Jaime Mejia, 24, lost his life to the toxic gas after he moved from Miami to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2022 In 2014, Airbnb said that they would 'require' all of their hosts to install carbon monoxide detectors. This mandate has yet to take place and more lives have been lost Airbnb did not respond to Dailymail.com requests for comment in time for this report. NBC noted Airbnb issued statements after seven of the deaths, and in five said it was pay for the costs associated or had removed the listings from the site. 'The safety of our community is a top priority, incidents on Airbnb are exceptionally rare and we take action when a concern is reported to us,' an Airbnb official told the outlet. One of the most recent victims, Mejia, 24, lost his life to the toxic gas after he moved from Miami to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2022. Mejia was traveling on a Fulbright scholarship to study Indigenous communities and was on a tight budget, so he found an affordable Airbnb to stay. On October 5, 2022, Mejia was found dead in the shower of his Airbnb after he turned on the heater that was located inside the bathroom to warm up the water. According to a wrongful death lawsuit against Airbnb from Mejia's family, his naked body was found face up with the water still running the following day. 'Due to an improperly installed and damaged exhaust duct, the water heater began emitting dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide into the bathroom, slowly killing him,' the lawsuit said. An investigation by the Rio de Janeiro police revealed that the carbon monoxide levels that surrounded Mejia at the time were four times the 'maximum acceptable levels.' They also found that the rental apartment did not have any detectors to warn him of the imminent danger. After their family member's death, Mejia's loved ones said that Airbnb never reached out to them. It also took a total of 10 days to have his body go through the repatriation process before his body was brought back to the US. 'Unfortunately he has not been the first and he will not be the last, and other families have to go through the same experience,' Martinez told NBC News. Cortez Hall, 33 (left), Kandace Florence, 33 (left), and Jordan Marshall, 28 (right), died from carbon monoxide poisoning after their bodies were discovered on October 30, 2022 at an Airbnb rental in Mexico City On November 17, 2018, Ed Winders and his partner Barbara Moller's died after they were poisoned by carbon monoxide in their Airbnb in Mexico Just weeks later, three more victims who were living in an Airbnb in Mexico City died after they all inhaled carbon monoxide. Jordan Marshall, 28, and Courtez Hall, 33, were discovered dead alongside Kandace Florence, 33, at the rental during a wellness check on October 30, 2022. Marshall's sister Jasmine previously told DailyMail.com their family last heard from him when he called to let his mother know that he was on the way to the airport with Florence on October 29. They then met up with Hall, who flew in separately that day. During a conversation with her boyfriend, Florence told him that she was feeling sick before the call dropped and they lost communication with each other. He then reached out to the Airbnb host. The Mexico City attorney general's office said security and police then visited the apartment after a report of a strong gas odor was reported and discovered Marshall, Florence and Hall dead. Jasmine said she learned of her tragedy after Florence's boyfriend had contacted her via Instagram on October 31 and she flew out with her parents on November 1. She said her brother's remains were repatriated to the United States two days later and that a funeral service was set for the Friday. On November 17, 2018, a couple died after they were poisoned by carbon monoxide in their Airbnb in Mexico. Police said Ed Winders and his partner Barbara Moller's lifeless bodies were discovered by the apartment's landlord after they didn't hear from the couple for a couple of days. Eric Winders, Ed's son told ABC News he was informed of his father's death by the US Embassy. 'This is a devastating loss that totally -- should not have happened. Nobody should die like this,' Eric said. He then went on to say the couple, who were from New Orleans, had just arrived for their 11-day vacation in Mexico- a place they visited frequently. Eric and his sister Jennifer told NBC News they had one meeting with Airbnb in February 2022 and gave suggestions on the issue. 'I wonder after seeing all these deaths in 2022, to be honest, if any steps were taken, Jennifer said. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, odorless, and tasteless gas that is created when fuel doesn't burn completely. Ed (right) with his son Eric Wanders (left), his daughter Jennifer (middle). Eric said that he was informed of his father's death by the US Embassy The couple had frequently traveled to Mexico and had just arrived for an 11-day vacation before they died Carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels burn without enough oxygen. This can occur via household appliances that run on gas as well as fires and clogged flues It can kill someone just by being breathed in and is often referred to as the 'silent killer'. Common sources where the gas is found include smoke inhalation from fuel-burning appliances, vehicle exhausts, fires and cigarette smoke. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning often first present as flu-like symptoms including headache, weakness, upset stomach, and vomiting. Mejia's family has asked for legal action against Airbnb that would force them to remove listings that don't have the proper carbon monoxide device installed. They also requested the use of the detectors be mandated along with the inspection of fuel-burning devices that often trigger the spread of carbon monoxide. NBC News has identified six lawsuits against the company, with three still ongoing, two settled and one dismissed. A trial date for Mejia's family suit has not been set as of yet. 'They could pay us $1. But if they change the policy, and we make these public, it will be totally worth it,' Martinez said. A British-owned ship passing through the Red Sea has reportedly been hit by rocket fire, a UK-based maritime security group said on Sunday, with another agency reporting possible drone activity in the area. The unnamed Bahamas-flagged vessel was 'struck by a rocket' while sailing south around 35 nautical miles off Yemen's western coast, maritime security firm Ambrey said. 'The affected vessel was issuing distress calls relating to piracy/missile attack,' the UK-based company added. It noted reports that 'an international naval asset in the vicinity of the incident' was likely proceeding to the ship's location, though it did not specify which nation or group the vessel was likely to belong to. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, run by Britain's Royal Navy, said it had received 'a report of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) activity including a potential explosion... originating from the direction of Yemen'. The unnamed Bahamas-flagged vessel was 'struck by a rocket' while sailing south around 35 nautical miles off Yemen's western coast It advised vessels in the area to 'exercise caution'. The reported incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding waters after Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo vessel, the Galaxy Leader, last month. Within days two ballistic missiles were also launched from an area controlled by Huthi rebels in Yemen, landing around 10 nautical miles from a US destroyer, the USS Mason, according to the US Department of Defence. The Huthis have fired a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since Hamas militants poured over the border into Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240. The spike in maritime incidents prompted G7 foreign ministers at a meeting earlier this week to urge the rebels to cease threats to international shipping and to release the Galaxy Leader. A helicopter approached the Galaxy Leader and dropped off several Houthi fighters The cargo ship (pictured) travelled south past the Arabian peninsula on its way to India . It is registered under a British company which is partially owned by Israeli tycoon Abraham Ungar In the latest apparent attack, Ambrey said the targeted vessel - en route from the United States to Singapore - had transited the Suez Canal five days ago 'The bulker was reportedly struck by a rocket and the crew retreated to the citadel,' it added. 'Numerous vessels passed the incident location today but no unusual manoeuvres were observed.' The Houthis have declared themselves part of the 'axis of resistance' of Iran's allies and proxies, and have also launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel. They have also said they may start taking more ships, civilian or military, that come too close to them. A video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Houthi military media showed the commander of the rebels' naval forces, General Mohammad Fadl Abdelnabi, aboard the captured vessel. 'Allies of the Zionist enemy who ensure passage through Bab al-Mandab are also considered to be a legitimate target,' he said of the choke-point at the foot of the commercially vital Red Sea. 'We say to the Zionist entity that Bab al-Mandab is a red line... Every civilian or military (Israel-affiliated) ship is considered a legitimate target,' he added. The vital seaway is a narrow strait between Yemen and Djibouti through which a significant portion of the world's maritime traffic passes. One of the world's busiest shipping lanes, it carries about a fifth of global oil consumption. Since the capturing of the Galaxy Leader, the UK's Royal Navy sent in one of its most advanced warships to the Gulf to protect international vessels from terror attacks. HMS Diamond will seek to thwart Iranian attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important passages of water. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Recent events have proven how critical the Middle East remains to global security and stability. 'Following the onset of the renewed conflict in Israel and Gaza and the unlawful and brazen seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by Houthis in the Red Sea, it is critical the UK bolsters its presence, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world. '[The] deployment will help to keep critical trade routes open and prove that our commitment to regional security not only endures but is enhanced.' The Whitehouse said last month it was considering redesignating Yemen's Houthi movement as a terror organization after it hijacked the ship in the Red Sea. More to follow. Ron DeSantis is confident he will win the Iowa caucuses next month after completing the 'full Grassley' by visiting all 99 of the Hawkeye State's counties. The Florida Governor deflected when asked Sunday morning what he plans to do if he doesn't perform well in Iowa on January 15 but DeSantis doesn't appear to have a contingency plan should that be the case. 'Well, we're going to win the caucus. We're going to win Iowa,' he told NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker when she asked if he would drop out if he doesn't do well in the first-in-the-nation primary contest. Iowa will lead all other states in hosting the first 2024 primary contest, followed by New Hampshire's primary election eight days after on January 23. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is confident he will win the Iowa caucuses on January 15 and deflected when asked if he plans to drop out if his showing isn't good in the Hawkeye State WATCH: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) says he will win Iowa, adding Donald Trump would make 2024 a referendum on the issues that hes dealing with. I'll be able to stand for a positive vision going forward. We have a much better chance if we're doing it with me as the candidate. pic.twitter.com/crpm1kWGfQ Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 3, 2023 DeSantis has spent much of his time, focus and money in Iowa. He clinched some key nominations in the state from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats. An analysis of 2024 candidates' ad buys shows that DeSantis is the biggest spender. He spent nearly half of his total $46 million on television, digital and radio ads to persuade Republicans in Iowa to caucus for him. The 2024 hopeful also completed on Saturday his promise to campaign in all 99 of Iowa's counties, a feat known as the 'full Grassley.' Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) congratulated DeSantis ahead of his rally in Jasper, Iowa over the weekend: 'I compliment any candidate that holds meetings in all 99 counties and completes what's now called the 'Full Grassley.' I have found it is the best way to show Iowans everyone is important to hear from and no one is forgotten.' Speaking on NBC News the day after visiting the final of 99 counties, DeSantis said he believes he will win in Iowa. 'I think it's going to help propel us to the nomination, but I think we'll have a lot of work that we'll have to do beyond that,' he added. 'I don't think you'd take anything for granted.' On Saturday, DeSantis completed his vow to visit all 99 counties in Iowa before the caucuses. Pictured: DeSantis speaks to supporters of his presidential bid in Jasper County, Iowa Saturday Donald Trump was also in Iowa on Saturday, visiting Ankeny for a commit to caucus event DeSantis usually places second in Iowa polls, sometimes tying with former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley in distant to frontrunner ex-President Donald Trump who consistently dominates in state-wide and national surveys. But DeSantis says if Trump wins 2024, he would just make his primary run and potential presidency a 'referendum on him and a lot of the issues that he's dealing with.' 'I'll be able to stand for a positive vision going forward,' he contrasted. 'We have a much better chance if we're doing it with me as the candidate.' DeSantis said if he were the GOP nominee, his general election bid would be 'a referendum on Biden's failures, on all the issues in the country that are affecting people.' A survivor of the October 7 massacre has told of the unfathomable atrocities he witnessed on the dreaded day as Hamas terrorists raped, tortured and killed young, innocent women. Yoni Saadon, 39, who survived the Supernova peace festival by hiding under dead bodies, now wakes at night in anguish to the faces of the fallen women, including one with 'the face of an angel'. One image indiscriminately glued to his brain, is the horrifying moment a woman's decapitated head rolled across the road, after she refused to be stripped naked. As the sun rose on the desert festival and Hamas terrorists stormed in, Yoni took cover under a music stage. But a woman hiding alongside him was identified by terrorists. 'She fell to the ground, shot in the head, and I pulled her body over me and smeared her blood on me so it would look as if I was dead too,' he told The Sunday Times. 'I will never forget her face. Every night I wake to it and apologise to her, saying 'I'm sorry'.' Revelers flee from the Supernova peace festival during the October 7 attacks, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead Abandoned and torched vehicles at the site of the October 7 attack on the Supernova desert music festival in southern Israel Personal belongings left behind by Israelis in the aftermath of an attack that killed more than 260 people during a music festival on October 7, near Re'im, Israel After an hour, the shift manager peeked out. 'I saw this beautiful woman with the face of an angel and eight or ten of the fighters beating and raping her.' The woman was screaming 'stop it' he said, and begged the terrorists to kill her to put her out of her misery. 'When they finished they were laughing and the last one shot her in the head', he said. The father of four admitted how his mind kept reminding him it could of been one of his daughters, or his sister, who at the last minute bowed out of the festival. The horror was far from over for Yoni as, hiding in the bushes, he saw two more Hamas fighters catch a woman. 'She was fighting back, not allowing them to strip her', he recalled. 'They threw her to the ground and one of the terrorists took a shovel and beheaded her and her head rolled along the ground. 'I see that head too', he admitted. Yoni shared his story with The Sunday Times at a support group for the festival survivors in Sitria, southeast of Tel Aviv. Three times a week survivors from around Israel get together with parents whose children were among those slaughtered. Volunteer therapists on hand included Bar Yuval-Shani, 58, who lost her only sister, Deborah, and brother-in-law, Shlomi Matias, both musicians and peace activists, killed on Holit kibbutz by militants who broke into their safe room. Festival attendees flee the outdoor party after Hamas launched airstrikes and swept through the site with assault rifles. The identities of alleged victims in the investigation into sexual violence has not been shared by Israeli police Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military (pictured: an alleged paraglider crossing into Israel) Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life Yoni Saadon's account is one of several witness accounts of rape Yuval-Shani has heard from festival survivors, all of whom, she says, are 'deeply traumatised'. Eight weeks after the attack in which 1,200 were killed and 240 taken hostage, there has been mounting evidence of widespread rape on October 7. Israeli police have opened up the biggest investigation into sexual violence and crimes against women ever in the nation. The leader of the investigation Shelly Harush said: 'It's clear now that sexual crimes were part of the planning and the purpose was to terrify and humiliate people.' Police have collected thousands of statements, photographs and video clips that have been called unbearable to watch from a mother's perspective and include 'girls whose pelvises were broken they had been raped so much'. According to the people who had to take away the lifeless bodies from the massacre sites, many of the women were left naked with serious signs of bleeding from their genitals. Haim Outmezgine, commander of a special unit of Zaka, that collects the remains of bodies said: 'We collected 1,000 bodies in ten days from the festival site and kibbutzim. No one saw more than us. 'It was clear they were trying to spread as much horror as they could to kill, to burn alive, to rape it seemed their mission was to rape as many as possible.' David Katz, head of the Lahav 443 criminal investigation unit, said: 'We have no living victims who said "we have been raped"', but, he said, 'we have multiple witnesses for several cases'. While he did not give a precise figure for the number of cases under investigation, Katz said the inquiry could take 'six to eight months'. Mustafa Ahmed, eight, was killed while holding his father's hand across the road A mother ran one-and-a-half miles from her home to the crash scene where her eight-year-old son was run over - before collapsing in the street when she found him dead. Mustafa Ahmed, eight, was killed while holding his father's hand as they tried to use a pedestrian crossing on the way to a mosque in Plumstead, east London, on February 19. Unlicensed and uninsured Nicholas Hopkins, 20, ploughed into the family - including Mustafa's 11-year-old brother Ahmed - on his motorcycle, throwing the youngest several yards into the road before he died at the scene. His mother Heyfa Akubar, 43, ran from Woolwich Dockyard all the way to Greenwich Islamic Centre after hearing Mustafa had been hit by the bike. Family friend Swaleh Bocus said he saw Ms Akubar rushing through the police cordon and collapsing to the ground in a state of despair. 'She had seen her son's things, she knew he had died. She just fell down and collapsed and the officers and paramedics surrounded her to comfort her,' he told The Mirror. Mustafa Ahmed, eight, (right) was killed while holding his father Mohamed Mao's hand alongside his 11-year-old brother Ahmed in east London on February 19 Mustafa was thrown several yards into the road before he died at the scene in east London 'She didn't stand up for nearly half an hour, she was just crying. They said ''leave her! Don't run to her! She's the mum!'' She could see the boy.' Hopkins pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Inner London Crown Court last week - with a mugshot released by police showing him grinning. Mustafa's father Mohamed Mao, 49, a bus driver, endured serious head injuries and a smashed hip during the incident, leaving him in a coma for weeks. He still uses the same Islamic centre but has to be taken by car, while Ms Akubar prays at a different mosque. Mohamed said: 'The children and my wife don't want to stay in the house. 'There are too many memories.' Asked how Mustafa's brother Ahmed has recovered, Mohamed said: 'He's recovered but not perfectly. He likes to be alone, he's quiet all the time.' Nicholas Hopkins, 20, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Inner London Crown Court last week - with a mugshot released by police showing him grinning Swaleh and Mohamed are helping a campaign to urge Greenwich Council to make road changes to the spot where Mustafa was killed. A council spokesperson said: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Mustafa Ahmed and by the serious injuries caused to his other family members. Immediately after the incident we met with representatives of the Greenwich Islamic Centre, and we have continued to do so. 'We have been working with the Met Police as part of its investigation to help secure a conviction. An individual has been charged with several offences including causing death by dangerous driving. 'The Police have not suggested that there were any issues with the highway that could have prevented this tragic loss of life. While there are no measures that will ever fully protect the public from anyone who chooses to drive recklessly and illegally as a borough, we are committed to Vision Zero: for all deaths and serious injuries from road collisions to be eliminated from our streets. 'Alongside Transport for London (TfL) we have identified steps we could take to make the road safer - such as refreshing road markings and as part of our upcoming review alongside all other roads in the borough, will consider introducing a 20 mile per hour speed limit.' One of the three Palestinian students gunned down in a Vermont street has a bullet lodged in his spine and is paralyzed from the chest down, his mother has revealed. Elizabeth Price said her family had suffered a 'gut-wrenching and difficult six days', since son Hisham Awartani, 20, was shot with his two friends in Burlington on November 25 as they walked to a Thanksgiving dinner. Jason J Eaton appeared in court on Wednesday charged with three counts of attempted murder as prosecutors trawl his electronic devices in an attempt to discover a motive. Awartani meanwhile is to be released from hospital next week before beginning a lifetime of rehabilitation. 'We believe that Hisham will meet this challenge with the same determination I've witnessed this week,' his mother said. Elizabeth Price said her family had suffered a 'gut-wrenching and difficult six days', since son Hisham Awartani, 20, was shot with his two friends in Burlington Hisham Awartani shared a hospital bed photo on Instagram. His family say he is unlikely to move his legs ever again Jason J. Eaton, 48, of Burlington appeared in court on Wednesday where he denied three counts of attempted murder 'It's been a gut-wrenching and difficult six days, but it's also been a remarkable and awe-inspiring time - first to watch Hisham and his two childhood friends meet this experience with resilience, strength and even deep concern for others,' she told CNN. 'And to see and feel the incredible support from all over the world, including messages of love and support from many of you.' The Brown University student was chatting in English and Arabic with his two friends Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad when the 20-year-olds were approached by the gunman who said nothing as he opened fire. Awartani told his mother he 'suddenly found himself on the ground' as he heard Ahmad 'screaming with pain' from a chest wound. 'We see this man standing on the porch of his house, kind of looking away from us,' Abdalhamid of Haverford College said this week. 'As soon as he turns around and sees us he didn't hesitate without a word to just run down the stairs of the porch, pull out a pistol and start shooting.' Abdalhamid was shot in the back but managed to run away from the scene and hide in a backyard, while the shooter hovered over the other two as they writhed on the ground. Awartani thought he would 'continue to shoot them and kill them', his mother said. She and her husband Ali had advised their son to stay in the US for the holidays, believing it would be safer returning to the West Bank where all three boys had grown up together. Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed wearing keffiyeh scarves and chatting in English and Arabic when they were shot Eaton, 48, told police 'I've been expecting you', when they arrived at his house overlooking the scene the following day, and a search of his home uncovered a pistol and ammunition that were connected to bullet casings found on the street. Police are working with the FBI to analyze the contents of five cell phones, an iPad and a backpack full of hard drives to determine whether the attack should be prosecuted as a hate crime, but the families of the three victims have little doubt. 'We believe a full investigation is likely to show our sons were targeted and violently attacked simply for being Palestinian,' they said in a joint statement. 'Our children, Palestinian children, like everyone else, deserve to feel safe.' Abdalhamid's parents said he was 'afraid to leave the hospital' ahead of his release on Tuesday and Ahmad continues to receive treatment for the bullet wound to his chest. A gofundme appeal was set up on Saturday for Awartani whose medical costs are expected to hit $1million over the next year. 'Hisham's first thoughts were for his friends, then for his parents who were thousands of miles away,' his family wrote. 'He has demonstrated remarkable courage, resilience and fortitude - even a sense of humor - even as the reality of his paralysis sets in. Eaton's mother said he is a 'very religious' person but had seemed normal on Thanksgiving Supporters have raised $240,000 via a gofundme appeal for Awartani (pictured with dad Ali and mom Elizabeth) First responders loading one of the victims into an ambulance after the Burlington shooting 'We, his family, believe that Hisham will change the world. 'He'll change the world through his spirit, his mind and his compassion for those much more vulnerable than himself, especially the thousands of dead in Gaza and many more struggling to survive the devastating humanitarian crisis unfolding there.' The appeal raised $240,000 in its first 24 hours and his mother said that any excess would be used to support Palestinians who are 'much less fortunate than him'. 'We ask that you stand in solidarity with all those who ache knowing the natural conclusion of dehumanization of any people is hateful violence,' she added. Tributes have poured in for Baroness Glenys Kinnock of Holyhead, a former minister the wife of ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock, who has died aged following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's. In a statement, her family said the 'cherished mother and adored grandmother' had died peacefully in her sleep at her London home on Sunday with her husband at her side. Labour grandees including Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as current party leader Sir Keir Starmer, have paid touching tributes to a woman who many have remembered as a 'formidable' person and force in politics. While she had been a huge support to Lord Kinnock throughout their 56 years of marriage, Mr Blair said, she was a leader herself and her passing would be mourned across many parts of the globe. He called her a 'huge figure in progressive politics' and said the world had lost an 'incredibly smart, brave' woman who, along with her husband, was the 'life and soul of any gathering'. Sir Keir Starmer said she was a 'passionate lifelong campaigner for social justice' who had 'the most wonderful partnership' with her husband, while former party spin doctor Alastair Campbell called her a 'formidable political force in her own right'. The wife of ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock, Baroness Glenys Kinnock, has passed away at the age of 79. Pictured at the Labour Party conference in Blackpool in 1988 Many have remembered Baroness Kinnock as a 'formidable' person and force in politics. Pictured at a CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) march in 1983 Lord and Baroness Kinnock stand on the steps of a BAE aircraft at a factory in Hertfordshire during the 1987 general election campaign Baroness Kinnock was both a staunch supporter of her husband's political career and a prominent politician in her own right Sir Tony also said in his statement that he and his wife Cherie were saddened by the news of her passing, and offered their deepest condolences to the Kinnock family. He said Baroness Kinnock was 'determined and resolute in standing up for what she believed was right. 'Whether in fighting the cause of development, and the eradication of global poverty, social justice in Britain, equality for women or making the case for a European Union of weight and influence in the world, Glenys was passionate and persuasive. He added of her final years, echoing the sentiments of her family, that 'she took her illness with the same steadfastness which had governed her life.' Mr Brown, Sir Tony's successor in Downing Street, spoke of his and wife Sarah's sadness following the death. Baroness Kinnock passed away six years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and Mr Brown said she had borne her lengthy illness with 'great fortitude'. 'All who met Glenys admired her for her generosity, her warmth and her passionate support for the best of national and international causes,' said Mr Brown. 'She was a highly effective and popular minister for Europe in the last Labour government and I was delighted to have persuaded her to become a member of the government.' Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Anas Sarwar also paid tribute to Baroness Kinnock remembering her as a 'relentless campaigner for social justice.' 'Deeply sad news,' the MSP for Glasgow wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding that 'my thoughts are with Neil, Stephen and Rachel.' Her son Stephen, the Labour MP for Aberavon, described his mother as a 'truly formidable' person who had a 'cheeky' sense of humour. Neil and Glenys Kinnock at the funeral for Frank Dobson at St Pancras Church in London in 2019 Labour grandees including Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have paid tribute to Glenys Kinnock following her death Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Anas Sarwar remembered her as a 'relentless campaigner for social justice' Cherie Blair, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, with Glenys Kinnock in 1995 He wrote on X: 'Heartbroken that my Mum passed away peacefully in her sleep last night, after many years of Alzheimer's. 'She was a beloved Mum & Nain who was adored by her family & friends. 'A truly formidable person in every single way, and with such a cheeky sense of humour! Rest in peace.' Another Labour MP, Jess Phillips, paid a heartfelt tribute, calling Baroness Kinnock 'beautiful' and describing her family as 'welcoming'. Taking to X, she wrote: 'Glenys Kinnock beautiful inside and out. Love to the loveliest family you could hope to meet all so big hearted and kind. 'Never acted like a political power house family just lovely and welcoming.' Brendan Cox, widower of Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered more than seven years ago by a far-right extremist, recalled the kindness and support Baroness Kinnock had shown his wife. 'Glenys gave Jo her first job in politics, working in her Brussels office,' he wrote on X. 'She supported Jo always, challenged her & helped inspire her into politics. 'Even when ill her eyes have always twinkled with mischief & we will miss her, her singing & her love.' Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell said she was 'devastated' by the news, calling Baroness Kinnock 'a kind, generous, beautiful person who went out of her way to support and encourage women, especially in politics.' She added that not only did the veteran Labourite support her in her early career, she revealed that she even had a hand in her marriage, adding 'I will be forever grateful to her'. Harriet Harman, MP and Mother of the House of Commons, also shared her personal memories of Baroness Kinnock, describing her as a 'joyous, clever, caring, dynamic [and] vivacious woman'. 'So political, so witty. She made change from the very local to the international. Such a loss,' she said. 'My thoughts with Neil, stephen & Rachel.' Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to her and offered his condolences to her family, calling her a 'true fighter for the Labour Party.' 'On behalf of the whole Labour Party, I want to pay tribute to Glenys Kinnock on the sad news of her passing,' he said. 'Glenys was a passionate lifelong campaigner for social justice at home and abroad. Baroness Kinnock stands with her husband Neil and their son Stephen at the unveiling of an English Heritage blue plaque in Chelsea in 2015 'She supported Neil through his leadership and went on to have an impressive political career of her own as a member of the European Parliament, in the House of Lords and as a minister in the last Labour government, focused on Europe and Africa. 'Neil and Glenys had the most wonderful partnership, there for each other through thick and thin, with a love and commitment that was instantly obvious when you saw them together. 'As the family have detailed, in recent years that meant looking after Glenys as Alzheimer's did its worst. 'But what we will all remember is Glenys as a true fighter for the Labour Party and the values of the labour movement, a pioneering woman, to whom we owe an enormous debt.' Baroness Kinnock was both a staunch supporter of her husband's political career and a prominent politician in her own right. She served as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Wales from 1994 to 2009, before being appointed minister for Europe and receiving a life peerage at the same time. It was sometimes said of her, before she became an MEP, that she played a large part in formulating Labour Policy 'over breakfast with her husband'. And even though she was regarded by some as even more of a left-wing firebrand than Neil, that story was always fiercely denied. She had a wide field of interests but she was especially well-known for her work designed to alleviate poverty and starvation in Africa and other parts of the world. Last year her family had described the 'slow grief' of seeing her go through Alzheimer's and 'losing a little bit of he person you love every day'. In a column for the Sunday Times they heartbreakingly revealed she had been left unable to make a birthday cake for her grandchildren, something she had taken 'particular pride' in. They added she had been 'mortified' by her diagnosis and that while much of her personality remained 'we can't talk or get through to her'. Speaking in May 2022 to Talk TV, Lord Kinnock revealed she had ben diagnosed after they noticed her 'slipping words' being confused on a family holiday to Kefalonia in 2016. He added: 'She has supported me for 50 years and I've been helping her out for five so I've got a way to go to catch her up.' Paying their own tribute, her family said in a statement today: 'It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Glenys Kinnock. 'Glenys died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning, at home in London. 'She was the beloved wife and life partner of Neil, the cherished mother of Steve and Rachel and an adored grandmother. 'Neil was with her in her final moments. They had been married for 56 years. 'A proud democratic socialist, she campaigned, in Britain and internationally, for justice and against poverty all her life.' Baroness Kinnock's family said they were 'devastated' by her death. Baroness Kinnock while on the campaign trail in support of her husband Neil in 1987 Baroness Kinnock during a service of prayer and remembrance for Jo Cox at St Margaret's Church in London Baroness Kinnock stands with her husband Neil during the 1992 election campaign in London Baroness Kinnock stands astride a moving car with her husband amid the 1987 election campaign Continuing their tributes to Lady Kinnock, her family said: 'Passionate to the end about education, she was a valued and respected school teacher before she began her own political career, as a Member of the European Parliament, then being made a peer in the House of Lords from where she served as minister for three of the great passions of her life, Europe, Africa and the UN. 'She was a great friend to many people and causes and was truly loved. 'Glenys endured Alzheimer's after being diagnosed in 2017 and, as long as she could, sustained her merriment and endless capacity for love, never complaining and with the innate courage with which she had confronted every challenge throughout her life. 'The family is of course devastated and and would ask that their privacy be respected. Funeral details will be communicated in due course.' Baroness Kinnock laughs as she walks alongside her husband towards the conference centre at the 2007 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth Baroness Kinnock stands alongside former Labour leader Michael Foot during a memorial for Baroness Barbara Castle of Blackburn in 2002 Lord and Baroness Kinnock smile as they arrive for the Labour Summer Party at the Roundhouse in Camden in 2014 Baroness Kinnock helps her husband get up after he took a tumble on Brighton beach at the Labour Party conference in 1992 Former journalist and Labour strategist Alastair Campbell called Baroness Kinnock a 'great woman' and a 'bright and beautiful light'. He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'The whole family devastated by the news that Glenys Kinnock has died. She has been a big part of our lives for forty years and a part of our children's lives since they were born. There could be no more loving friend and counsel. 'Devastated today above all for Neil. It is impossible to think of one without the other. 'Their love was deep and unshakable and never more on display than during these recent years when her horrible illness increasingly took hold. Neil vowed to look after her till the end and that is exactly what he did. Lord Kinnock and Baroness Kinnock pictured together as they arrive at Westminster Abbey for the memorial service of Lord Richard Attenborough in 2015 Baroness Kinnock pictured at a press conference in 2003 'Glenys would understand that many will remember her as part of that remarkable couple. But she was a formidable political force in her own right. Mandela no less adored her. 'She was a committed MEP heartbroken by Brexit and a brilliant minister for Europe, Africa and the UN Many people in many parts of the world will be very sad today. 'A bright and beautiful light has gone out, leaving the world a sadder place, but those who knew her with so many memories of a great woman.' Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock (nee Parry) was born on July 7, 1944, and was educated at Holyhead High School, Anglesey. She graduated from University College, Cardiff, in education and history. She met her future husband at university and they were married in 1967. Baroness Kinnock subsequently worked as a teacher in secondary, primary, infant and nursery schools. She became an MEP in 1994 and was a prominent member of several committees and for a period was Labour's spokeswoman on international development in the European Parliament. But it was not all plain sailing. Baroness Kinnock smiles during the Welsh Labour Conference in Swansea in 2009 Baroness Kinnock pictured speaking to reporters in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum in 2010 In 2004, she was caught up in an expenses scandal in which she was one of scores of MEPs who allegedly signed in for the day at the European Parliament (to qualify for the 175 daily allowance) and then promptly left the building. And in November, 2006 she was criticised in the press for taking what was described as 'a junket' in Barbados to discuss world poverty issues. She had the unenviable reputation as 'the most travelled British MEP' and, along with her husband, also acquired the no less enviable title as Brussels' 'very own Lord and Lady Expenses'. Baroness Kinnock was required to leave the European Parliament in 2009, when then prime minister Gordon Brown appointed her minister for Europe, following the resignation from that post of Caroline Flint. Although, when her husband was ennobled some years earlier, she was entitled to be called Lady Kinnock, it was a title she never used. However, on her appointment as minister for Europe she became a peeress in her own right. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, who was with her in her final moments, and her children Stephen, a Labour MP, and Rachel. The mother of the teen who was allegedly lured to death by her 59-year-old neighbor said the suspected killer acted like a 'jealous boyfriend' before taking the 17-year-old's life. Valerie Tindall, 17, vanished on June 7 from Arlington, Indiana. She was last seen with her neighbor Patrick Scott, 59, who she worked for. Tindall's mother, Shena Sandefur, told WRTV that Scott and her daughter 'had a bond' before she went on to admit that she soon became worried about the way Scott was treating the much younger teen. Sandefur revealed she moved her family from Indianapolis to Arlington in an attempt to distance themselves from violence, but instead 'moved across the street from a predator.' However, Tindall reportedly didn't see anything wrong with her relationship with her suspected killer. Shena Sandefur, Valerie Tindall's mother, said Scott and her daughter 'had a bond,' before she admitted that she soon became worried about the way Scott was treating her daughter Patrick Scott, 59, was arrested and charged on Tuesday for the murder of Valerie Tindall, 17, who vanished on June 7 from Arlington, Indiana Valerie Tindall's body was found in a homemade barrel on Patrick Scott's property on Tuesday. Valerie worked for Scott's lawn care business Tindall worked for his landscaping company and was also friends with his granddaughter. On Tuesday, police found her remains in a homemade barrel on Scott's property. He was charged with murder and taken to Rush County Jail. According to Fox News, court documents revealed Scott is also set to face obstruction of justice charges for previous false statements he gave to police. When agents arrived at Scott's property, they discovered two boxes that he had crafted himself. Tindall's body was found in one of the boxes while the other box was filled with VHS tapes and paperwork. Scott admitted that before he built the box, he kept the teen's body in his office and that he used the other box to 'put sh** in' since July. Investigators also noticed orange-painted fingernails on the girl's body that they knew matched the color she sported in her last social media post that was uploaded the day she disappeared. It is unclear why he allegedly decided to take the girl's life, but court documents detailed that Scott confessed he strangled her with a belt in his bedroom that he then went on to wear. 'I put it around her neck and I held onto it until she quit,' Scott allegedly told police. He then went on to say that the killing 'just kind of happened' and accused the victim of seducing him so he would buy her a new car. Valerie vanished from her home on June 7. Her body was found in her neighbor's yard on Tuesday, just 100 yards from where she went missing Her mother said she wanted to seek help for her daughter, even though Tindall didn't want it. Her mother said that Scott 'took advantage' ofthose feelings Scott also said the pair frequently spent time together outside of work where they went shopping and out to eat. Sandefur told WRTV that someone else had overheard Scott telling her daughter that he was planning on taking her out to lunch 'someplace special' in Indianapolis just hours before she vanished. Tindall's vehicle was later found abandoned near Shelbyville and Scot. Shortly after Tindall was last seen, Scott was caught burning down his garage, where the teen's body was later found, Fox 59 reported. Court documents revealed that after his arrest and confession, Scott told police that his wife and daughter 'don't know nothing.' Sandefur has gone on to remember her daughter as a 'sweet kid' and 'really good person' who endured trauma at a young age. Tindall was friends with Scott's granddaughter and also worked for him at his lawn care business. Scott admitted to police that he and Tindall frequently got together outside of work Agents searched Patrick Scott's home on Tuesday in Arlington, a suburb of Indianapolis, and found the teenager's body. They have continued to search the home for evidence 'She worked hard to get her grades up, she was gonna go to college, she was accepted and now she'll never have the chance,' Sandefur said. She added she wanted to seek help for her daughter, even though Tindall didn't want it. Her mother said that Scott 'took advantage' of that. Allan Rice, the Rush County Sheriff said that the case is 'far from over' even with Scott in jail. His property has continued to be searched to gather as much evidence as possible for his prosecution. Tindall's mother said the family 'moved away from violence' to a neighborhood that she thought would be safe. Police are still seeking any tips from anyone who might have seen Tindall or Scott in Shelbyville on June 7. Britain's first Sea Lord Admiral has blasted threats from Argentina's new president Javier Milei to recapture the Falkland Islands. Lord Admiral West, 75, said that the president-elect would be 'silly' to think he could reclaim the archipelago and that there was 'no prospect' of a military conflict. He said that Mr Milei was 'playing to his own audience' and pointed to the lack of appetite from the islands' population for joining Argentina and the UK's insistence that the issue of sovereignty is not up for negotiation. Mr Milei, who will take charge on December 10, has vowed to 'make every effort' to get the Falkland Islands back but stopped short of saying he would go to the war to claim them. Referring to Britain's military power, Lord West said that the UK was 'better prepared' than in the past but added that it need to 'keep its guard up' over the issue. Lord Admiral West, 75, said that the president-elect would be 'silly' to think he could reclaim the archipelago Javier Milei vowed to 'make every effort' to claim the islands but stopped short of saying he would go to war over them During his presidential campaign, Mr Milei insisted that questions over the future of the islands 'could not be ignored' Javier Milei arrives at a performance of Madame Butterfly with his girlfriend Fatima Florez Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982 and lost the two-month war which claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers The former Sea Lord Admiral recalled the 'bloody' ten-week conflict between Argentina and the UK in 1982, He said it took years to remove the landmines - which were only declared clear five years ago - and that some could still remain. He told the Sun that the then Argentinian president Leopoldo Galtieri was 'unpopular' and used the undeclared Falklands War with Britain to distract from domestic issues. Argentina believes the Falklands were illegally taken from it in 1833. It invaded the British colony in 1982 and lost the two-month war for the archipelago in a conflict that claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers. While Britain says the Falkands are self-governing under its protection, Argentina maintains its claims to the islands. A referendum in 2013 saw 99.8% of its islanders vote to remain British. During his presidential campaign, Mr Milei insisted that questions over the future of the Malvinas 'could not be ignored', while also saying that the 'war option' was not a solution. He said: 'What do I propose? Argentina's sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands is non-negotiable. The Malvinas are Argentine. 'What we are proposing is to move towards a solution like the one England had with China over the Hong Kong issue and that in this context the position of the people who live on the islands cannot be ignored. ' Mr Milei previously hailed Margaret Thatcher, Britain's prime minister during the Falkland Wars as one of 'the great leaders in the history of humanity'. Known as 'el Loco' or 'the madman', the populist has supported a range of policies including the sale of body organs and scrapping government departments. He also pledged to 'drain the swamp' in curtailing the influence of special interests and lobbyists. Mr Milei uses a medium of communication to take advice from his dead dog on political matters, and dresses up as his superhero alter-ego 'General AnCap', which is short for his ambition to be an anarcho-capitalist. But he blamed Argentinian governments for making a series of errors and accepted that reclaiming the islands would take a 'long negotiation'. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has ruled out any reopening of negotiations on the islands' sovereignty. His official spokesperson said: 'It's obviously a settled issue, a long settled issue, and we have no plans to revisit it. 'The position of the Falkland islands was settled some time ago and will not be changed.' Argentina's foreign ministry said its claim to the Falkland Islands constituted a 'permanent and unwavering objective' for the nation and rejected Rishi Sunak's comment that the islands' sovereignty was not up for discussion. British troops patrol the Falkland Islands last year Mark Pollard, Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly said that the islanders were 'clear in their desire' to remain part of the British family Another diplomatic row ensued after the European Union appeared to endorse the Argentine name 'Islas Malvinas' in a joint declaration between Argentina and other Latin American countries. Mark Pollard, the Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, said the Falklands 'are British' and that its people were 'clear in their desire' to remain a British Overseas Territory. He said: 'We exercised our right to self-determination ten years ago where 99.8 per cent of people voted to retain our status as a United Kingdom Overseas Territory in which there was a 92 per cent turnout. 'We urge the Government of Argentina and others to respect our wishes and our right to self-determination. 'The United Kingdom continues to support and protect our peoples inalienable right, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.' An American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack in the Red Sea on Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed. The attack on US maritime vessels potentially marks a major escalation in a series of attacks in the Middle East, linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The Pentagon confirmed that Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney - stationed in the waters between Africa and Asia - was under attack. On October 19, images showed the US vessel defending itself against a combination of Iran-backed Houthi missiles and aerial vehicles - which it successfully shot down. Yemen's Houthi rebels later took credit for attacking two ships - without saying they were American - one with a missile and one with a drone. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the attacks would continue as long as Israel remains at war with Hamas in Gaza. Pictured: USS Carney, DDG 64, in Jacksonville, Florida. The Pentagon said: 'Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available' This image, taken on October 19, 2023, shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) defeating a combination of Houthi missiles The Pentagon said on Sunday morning: 'Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available.' The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea, without elaborating. Houthi rebels have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea - as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel as it wages war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Yemeni rebels were officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States under the Trump administration - until Biden removed the militants from the list in 2021. Aid groups had said at the time of Trump's move that it could further devastate the country, which was plunged into civil war in 2014. Backed by Iran, the group expressed support for Hamas in the wake of the terror group's October 7 attack on Israel and has launched other attacks since. Just last week, Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired missiles at a US Navy destroyer off the coast of Yemen in a 'significant escalation' with American forces. The USS Mason had responded to a distress call on Sunday from an Israeli-linked chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden that had been seized by armed rebels. The Central Park tanker was carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid when its crew called for help, saying 'they were under attack from an unknown entity'. Allied ships from a counter-piracy task force that operates in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, including the USS Mason, responded to the call for help and 'demanded the release of the vessel' upon reaching the tanker. 'Subsequently, five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat,' the US Central Command said in a statement, adding: 'The Mason pursued the attackers resulting in their eventual surrender.' Hours later, at 1.41am local time, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen then landed near the US warship - a guided-missile destroyer, raising the stakes amid a series of ship attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas war. Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Ionian Sea, in October 2023 Both missiles fell short by 10 nautical miles and landed in the water. The tanker hijacked last Sunday was identified as the Liberian-flagged Central Park by the vessel's company Zodiac Maritime after its seizure. Yemen's internationally recognized government blamed the Houthi rebels for the attack, though the rebels in control of the capital, Sanaa, did not acknowledge either the seizure or the missile attack. The Central Command did not identify the attackers, but said a missile launch from Houthi-controlled Yemen followed early Monday morning. 'The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately 10 nautical miles (18.5 kilometers) from the ships,' the statement said. 'The USS Mason - was concluding its response to the M/V Central Park distress call at the time of the missile launches. There was no damage or reported injuries from either vessel during this incident.' Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM commander said: 'Maritime domain security is essential to regional stability. We will continue to work with allies and partners to ensure the safety and security of international shipping lanes.' The shell explodes. The ground rocks; the camera jolts. The men hurl themselves to the floor amid the chaos. The images refocus: several Ukrainian soldiers dressed in Khaki fatigues slowly stand up. Alongside them, an elegant white-haired man in a black suit and white shirt gets to his feet as well. The man is world-renowned philosopher, journalist and war correspondent Bernard Henri Levy and the scene is from his new film Glory to the Heroes, which is out this week, and which emerges from the time he spent during summer 2023 in eastern Ukraine, At 75 years old, Levy is still going to places that others won't. Here, he is Chasiv Yar, near the city of Bakhmut, home to what was the fiercest battle of the war in Ukraine, that he was forced to dive for cover. Levy believes that to understand conflict you need to go to the very front lines, and this is what he has done since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. His goal is twofold: to record for the world and for history the bravery of Kyiv's resistance against brutal imperialism; and to bear witness to Russia's relentless attacks on civilian populations wherever it goes. Levy made his name in the 1970s as war correspondent reporting on the Bangladesh war of independence against Pakistan and as a philosopher taking on what he saw as the malignant fallacies of communism and its fellow travellers. Journalist Bernard Henri Levy and the group of Ukrainian soldiers he was with were in a wooded area close to the frontline when they suddenly came under fire. The moment was captured in his new film Glory to the Heroes, which was filmed in Summer 2023 In one terrifying scene the group are forced to dive for cover as their trenches are bombarded by Russian artillery The group retreat from away from the frontline, with senior officers worried more missiles are on the way He has been fighting the same struggle against forces of violence and autocracy that threaten us all for almost fifty years. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE - How Putin's troops are raping and torturing Ukrainian MEN as well as women: Horrors endured by male prisoners are revealed Advertisement This film is many things: a gripping narrative and a striking tale of heroism and suffering. But it is also something far more important: a necessary reminder that if Ukraine falls to the Kremlin's aggression, it will be a blow against all of us in the West. The Russians have long believed that we will abandon Ukraine just as they say we abandoned Iraq and Afghanistan. They believe the flow of assistance and weapons will dry up. The West, they believe, have no more stomach left for the fight. Glory to the Heroes is a rebuttal to these attitudes; it is a rebuttal to the barbarism of Russia's war crimes in Ukraine; and it is an affirmation of the Western values that we have had to fight to preserve for centuries. From the Ukrainian amputee who tells Levy that losing her leg was the best day of her life because it made her understand the importance of what her country is fighting for, to the bombed-out Ukrainians refusing to leave their homes, to Ukraine's brave soldiers, this films tells the story of the war in all its brutality, and in all its many tales of individual bravery and selflessness. It is now more important than ever that the world understands what is happening in Ukraine and the desperate need to continue to support Kyiv in its fight against the brutal, modern-day Tsar Vladimir Putin. Glory to the Heroes. A fitting title indeed. Glory to the Heroes, which is out in US cinemas on 8 December, with a UK release date yet to be announced. World-renowned philosopher, journalist and war correspondent Bernard Henri Levy (left) in a scene from his new film Glory to the Heroes In another scene Henri Levy follows a mobile air-defence unit who are set of in the middle of the night to fight combat Russian drones The high-risk approach allows the drones to approach before shooting it down at the last second In one section Henri Levy joins wounded veterans who are recovering from wounds received in battle A pair of dogs are being sought after causing more than $350,000 in damages at a car dealership in Texas. Surveillance footage from G Motors in Houston shows the four-legged assaults in full - and how they were all enacted by the same two pooches with impunity. In the clips, which must be seen to be believed, the dogs are seen ripping off fenders from vehicles of all shapes - from full-sized SUVs to the most trusty sedans. Also left behind by the dastardly duo - who are stronger than they look - are a range of bite- and scratch-marks, further fueling the damages. So far, staffers at the dealership say five vehicles have fallen prey to the canine's seemingly personal scourge - propelling the costs of the damages to nearly $400,000. Cops, meanwhile, have refused to take action, citing how the dogs have not hurt anyone. Scroll down for video: A pair of Texas strays are being sought after causing more than $350,000 in damages at a car dealership in Houston. Surveillance footage from G Motors shows the four-legged assaults in full - and how they were all enacted by the same two pooches with impunity In an interview with ABC13 that saw him repeatedly point to the unbelievable footage, manager Imran Haq described how the dogs did a fresh round of damage on Friday night. 'You see how they are using full power,' Haq, G Motor's finance manager, said, narrating the video proof of the pooches' most recent strike. In the clip, the pair of mutts are seen laying waste to a black Toyota Corolla, with one relentlessly working to rip off its fender with nothing more than his teeth, as his partner happily parades on the hood with his tail wagging. 'The dogs are continuously working on the same car and this dog is standing and trying to eat the light and the hood area and everything,' Haq said of the seemingly systematic assault, which ceased when the dogs left the lot after 9 pm. However, hours later, according to Haq, the tag-team showed up a few hours later to finish the job, nearly ripping off the sedan's bumper while mangling several important parts. Gaby Fakhoury, sales manager for G Motors, told the station the filmed behavior is nothing new, and said that is the fourth time the dogs have carried out such an attack in a matter of weeks. Producing more video that shows them tearing off bumpers and fenders from their cars in three separate incidents - all of which occurred overnight between November 6 to November 18. Conceding how he usually loves dogs, he, like his customers, said he views the occurrences as no more than a nuisance. In the clip, the pair of mutts are seen laying waste to a black Toyota Corolla, with one relentlessly working to rip off its fender with nothing more than his teeth Also left behind by the dastardly duo - who are stronger than they look - are a range of bite- and scratch-marks, further fueling the damages So far, staffers at the dealership say five vehicles have fallen prey to the canine's seemingly personal scourge - propelling the costs of the damages to nearly $400,000 The attacks have caused the dealership to start looking to relocate, after cops in the city refused to take action since the dogs have yet to hurt anyone At first, she and other staffers chalked up the source of the unusual damages to wolves, but closer analysis of security footage revealed the culprits to be a pair of possibly domesticated - or stray - canines 'People, you know - they are aware of what's going on,' the sales exec said as he and other staffers struggle to foot the bill with repairs. 'We are not getting customers, so they damaged the business,' he added. 'We are scared they are going to torture people, my employees, most of them are not coming to work.' At first, he and other staffers chalked up the source of the unusual damages to wolves, but closer analysis of security footage revealed the culprits to be a pair of possibly domesticated - or potentially stray - canines. Citing the bite force of the pair - enough to remove a full sized bumper with what appears to be ease - the staffer added: 'This is very unusual. I mean we love dogs; I have a dog in my house, but those are very aggressive dogs. 'They need to be taken away.' Cops in H-Town, however, hold a different view, telling the dealer that police cannot intervene due to the issue, at root, being a civil matter. REPEAT PAW-FENDERS: More clips shows them tearing off bumpers and fenders from their cars in three separate incidents - all of which occurred overnight between November 6 to November 18 In one clip recorded last month, one pup targets the car's bumper, while his partner happily parades on the hood with his tail wagging The dogs, not confirmed to be strays, remain at large. G Motors is planning to move to a new site as early as next month In an interview with ABC13 that saw him repeatedly point to the unbelievable footage, manager Imran Haq described how the dogs did a fresh round of damage on Friday night Gaby Fakhoury, sales manager for G Motors, added that he is now even considering legal action against the city, who recommended he hire a private investigator as the costs pile up Speaking to ABC, he said G Motors is now planning to move locations elsewhere in the city, and in the meantime, they have filed complaints with Houston police At first, he and other staffers chalked up the source of the unusual damages to wolves, but closer analysis of security footage revealed the culprits to be a pair of possibly domesticated - or potentially stray - canines The dogs, not confirmed to be strays, remain at large. G Motors is planning to move to a new site as early as next month. Until the pups hurt someone, reps from HPD said, their hands are tied. They said if Fakhoury could find the owners of the dogs, the situation might be different, giving her the opportunity to sue the owners. As for animal control, they have left some humane traps in an attempt to either capture or deter the dogs, none of which have proved successful. Speaking to ABC, he said G Motors is now planning to move locations elsewhere in the city, and in the meantime, they have filed complaints with Houston police. He added that he is now even considering legal action against the city, who recommended he hire a private investigator as the costs pile up. Visibly frustrated over the ordeal, he told ABC 'We've been catching cats. We call them back and they pick them up, but we are not worried about that we are worried about people getting hurt people getting attacked by these dogs.' Marveling at the almost unbelievable nature of the situation, he told the station of his shock: 'You just never think a dog has the kind of power to tear up a car like that.' The dogs, not confirmed to be strays, remain at large. G Motors is planning to move to a new site as early as next month. A music venue in Cardiff said it was 'absolutely heartbroken' after a young woman died at one of its events. Vaults in Bute Street released a statement after a 21-year-old woman died after she was taken ill at a techno event early on Saturday morning. South Wales Police said that the woman's death was 'sudden and unexplained' and added it was investigating the incident, which took place at Vaults underground dance venue where techno DJ and producer Azyr had been playing on Friday night. In a statement on social media on Sunday, the venue said it was 'absolutely heartbroken due to the events of Friday night.' It said: 'During the event, concerns were raised for an individual who was immediately taken to the onsite medic for medical assistance. South Wales Ambulance Service arrived within minutes to the aid of our medic, but tragically the individual passed away despite every effort from the medical staff.' Vaults is located in the downstairs of Portland House, a historic building in Cardiff The statement added: 'We would like to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individual and offer our continued support during this tragic time.' It also thanked South Wales Police, SEMS Medical Services, Vaults staff and Rubicon security for their 'incredible efforts' during the incident and added: 'Safety is our number one priority as a venue, and we will continue to implement our strict policies through our upcoming events.' Following the incident, the event scheduled to take place on Saturday night was cancelled. Vaults is located in the basement of Portland House, a historic listed building in Cardiff that regularly hosts events. South Wales Police confirmed on Sunday it was continuing its investigation. A spokesperson said: 'Police in Cardiff are continuing to investigate the sudden and unexplained death of a 21-year-old woman who was taken ill at a music event in Butetown in the early hours of Saturday morning.' French officials last night launched a probe into a 'terror plot' after a convicted Iranian Islamist allegedly stabbed a German tourist to death and wounded two others including a Briton. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, was arrested at the scene on Saturday following a violent rampage with a knife and hammer near the Eiffel Tower. He viciously attacked three men, including a 24-year-old German-Filipino nurse who suffered a fatal heart attack following the assault, which took place in front of his wife and a female friend. He then allegedly targeted a 66-year-old British tourist in the foyer of a block of flats, plunging a knife into his right eye, before hitting a 60-year-old French father around the head with a hammer as he was out walking with his wife and child. Terrorism prosecutors said on Sunday they were investigating the attacker, who is suspected of murder and attempted murder, 'in connection with a terrorist plot'. Three people 'close to' Rajabpour-Miyandoab were being held in custody yesterday afternoon following the incident by Bir Hakeim bridge over the River Seine, prosecutors said. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, (pictured) was released from prison in 2020, and left to live at home with his parents while undergoing 'psychiatric and neurological treatment' A French national born to Iranian parents and known radical Islamist, he shouted 'Allahu Akbar' - Arabic for 'God is greatest' - and professed his support for ISIS as he embarked on his vicious attack, according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. The 26-year-old suspect had previously been sentenced in 2016 to four years in prison for a failed attack in the Paris business district of La Defense, and Darmanin confirmed the suspect had officially been on an 'S-list', for surveillance. The deadly attack during a busy weekend at around 9pm (8pm in the UK) near the Eiffel Tower came as France is at its highest alert level, as tension rise amid the war between Israel and Hamas. Rajabpour-Miyandoab was let out of prison early in 2020, and left to live at home with his parents, in the Essonne region south of Paris, while undergoing 'psychiatric and neurological treatment'. He told police he could not stand Muslims being killed in 'Afghanistan and Palestine' and accused France of being 'an accomplice to what Israel is doing' in the Gaza Strip, Darmanin added. Investigators will scrutinise his medical history, a security source said, saying the attacker was 'very unstable and easily influenced'. Rajabpour-Miyandoab was 'being monitored in a way that did not mean he was being hospitalised, and was supposed to follow a course of treatment' for his mental health issues, said Aurelien Rousseau, the French health minister. Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he was taken in by Paris police, who immobilised him with a stun gun 'As often in these cases, there's a mixture of an ideology, an easily influenced person and, unfortunately, psychiatry,' he added. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that he was 'devastated' by the attack, saying that 'our thoughts are with the wounded, their families and friends'. His Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had earlier warned that 'the war in Gaza after Hamas' terrorist act (of October 7) has worsened the threat,' saying that 'the threat of Islamist terrorism is acute and serious'. Police and security sources confirmed the attacker had claimed responsibility in a social media video as he struck, speaking about 'current events, the government (and) the murder of innocent Muslims'. The 24-year-old German-Filipino nurse was killed as a taxi driver intervened to keep the attacker away from his wife. Patrick Pelloux, an emergency doctor on duty at the time of the attack, said the couple were both nurses, adding that the woman was severely shocked but unhurt. Video of the suspect's arrest shows him slowly backing away from several French police officers while carrying what appears to be a hammer. Two officers stride towards him as he backs away on the corner of a street in Paris. Following a chase, and the intervention of a taxi driver, Rajabpour-Miyandoab was finally disabled by police using tasers. Rousseau told broadcaster France 3 that the wounded victims suffered only 'superficial (physical) traumas, but of course psychological traumas that will be enormous'. On Sunday both surviving victims were still undergoing medical care - one at the Georges Pompidou hospital in Paris, the other at the city's Cochin hospital. Their condition was said to be 'stable'. Prosecutors announced a press conference for 7:30 pm on Sunday to give updates on the investigation. French gendarmes patrol the Trocadero plaza near the Eiffel Tower following the bloodbath on Saturday French police attend the scene following the terrorist knife attack near the Bir Hakeim bridge and Quai de Grenelle A forensic police officer works at the scene on Saturday night following the terror attack in the French capital Rajabpour-Miyandoab converted to Islam in 2015 after being radicalised online by an ISIS supporter, according to prosecution documents. Rajabpour-Miyandoab was well known for forging online links with other terrorists including Larossi Aballa, who went on to stab two police officers to death in Magnanville in June 2016. Another Facebook friend was Adel Kermiche, one of the perpetrators of the stabbing to death of a Catholic priest in Saint-Etienne du Rouvray in the same year. Many of those linked with such crimes were, like Rajabpour-Miyandoab, on an S-File, which means they are officially under surveillance. Rajabpour-Miyandoab later claimed to have completed a 'deradicalization programme', claiming he had lost interest in terrorism. In court in 2018, he said: 'Islamism was ruining my life,' while claiming he had taken to drinking beer and eating pork - activities which are barred to practising Muslims. But online activity showed that Rajabpour-Miyandoab was still researching how to make phosphorus bombs, and posted a video of himself disguised, and making political statements. The attacker, who has been named locally as Armand R., shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he was taken in by Paris police, who immobilised him with a stun gun The deadly attack in central Paris during a busy weekend night came with the country on its highest alert for attack The attack has rocked France, which has seen tensions rise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict Tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip The deadly attack in central Paris during a busy weekend night came with the country on its highest alert for attacks, as tensions rise against the background of the war between Israel and Hamas. The second victim of the attack was British, and was out walking with his wife when Armand R. attacked him from behind. 'The family were on the Avenue President Kennedy when they were set upon,' said an investigating source, who added: 'A hammer was used to hit the man over the head.' The Englishman was rushed to hospital, where his condition was later described as 'stable'. A third victim was also badly hurt in a hammer attack, said the source. The UK's Foreign Office said on Sunday: 'We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris, and are in contact with the local authorities.' The area by Bir Hakeim bridge, usually thronging with tourists and locals, was cordoned off by police and bright with the flashing lights of security forces and emergency services. A taxi driver who witnessed the scene intervened, Darmanin said. 'He had threatened them very violently... he will now have to answer for his actions before justice,' Darmanin said. The attack has rocked France, which has seen tensions rise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending his condolences to the family of a German killed in the 'terrorist attack'. A police source said that the attacker was known for psychiatric disorders and had said he could not stand Muslims being killed in the world. Pictured: French police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge A man has been stabbed to death while a British tourist is reportedly among two others badly injured after a knifeman screaming 'Allahu Akbar' launched a frenzied attack in Paris. Pictured: Police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge near the Eiffel Tower A police source said that the attacker was known for psychiatric disorders and had said he could not stand Muslims being killed in the world Macron, writing on X, thanked security forces for their quick arrest of the suspected attacker and said justice should be served 'in the name of the French people'. 'We will not give in to terrorism,' Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote on X after the attack. 'Paris is in mourning after this terrible attack,' Transport Minister Clement Beaune wrote on X. Joseph S., a 37-year-old supermarket manager who asked not to give his last name, witnessed the scene as he sat in a bar, and said he heard screams and people shouting 'help, help' as they ran. He said a man wielding an object attacked a man who had fallen down, and within 10 minutes the police arrived. One person died and another was injured, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on social media platform X Police officers stand guard. Officers said there was no early indication as to the motive of the stabbing France has suffered several attacks by Islamist extremists, including the November 2015 suicide and gun attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 people were killed. There had been a relative lull in recent years, even as officials have warned that the threat remains. But tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Security in Paris is also under particular scrutiny as it gears up to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. In October, teacher Dominique Bernard was killed in the northern French town of Arras by a young radicalised Islamist from Russia's Caucasus region. The family of a missing Wyoming mom has said she sent scared and panicked texts before vanishing during a cross country trip with her ex-boyfriend. Kathryn 'Katie' Ferguson, 33, left her home state for Alabama earlier this year with her two daughters to live with her biological mom and escape from her ex, Adam Aviles Jr, according to her relatives. However, in October, Ferguson asked Aviles, 26, to come get her, and they started traveling home together. But only three made it. Now, Ferguson's stepmom Angela has shown Fox News a series of frantic messages she sent her in the months and weeks before her disappearance. They show that Ferguson believed she was being followed by Aviles at times, and that she was 'scared' to go outside with her daughters, aged four and 11 months. The family of missing Wyoming mom Katie Ferguson (pictured) has said she sent scared and panicked texts before vanishing during a cross country trip with her ex-boyfriend Adam Aviles, Jr. is the ex-boyfriend of Ferguson. He is currently being held on a federal charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition, which he has pled not guilty Ferguson's stepmom Angela (pictured) has shared a series of frantic messages she sent her in the months and weeks before her disappearance During the road trip, Ferguson wrote to Angela: 'I don't want to be stranded on the side of the road with two kids. 'I know you're probably thinking, well you should have thought about it and planned about it, but Adam kept following us. 'I kept seeing him everywhere. I couldn't stay in Cody (city in Wyoming) I'm not asking for a lot. I just need help.' For the next few months, Ferguson stayed with her biological mom until they appeared to have a disagreement, and she vowed to move back to Cody. She asked Angela if she could book her a cheap hotel while en route back to the city. 'September 25 she was asking for money and was asking for us to put her up in a hotel... she was really just reaching out to us,' Angela told Fox, adding that she booked her a room. Ferguson's texts to Angela show she thanked her for the booking and added: 'We didn't know what we're going to do, and we're almost out of gas. 'We are so exhausted. We just want to get as far away from him as we can because we're tired of looking over (our) shoulders constantly or scared to take the girls anywhere.' During the same exchange, Katie said Aviles was using drugs again. It appears that she called him to pick them up and take them back to Cody. 'In my heart, I know she's not alive anymore. I don't need any kind of proof from anybody because I know that if she was here she would have got ahold of one of us,' said Ferguson's sister, Nicole (pictured) Katie (pictured left) is smiling alongside her family in this undated photo Her sister, Nicole, told Fox she was 'always so loving' and the last time they spoke in September she 'seemed fine'. 'She said I love you and I said I love you too and that's the last time we spoke,' she said. But she claimed Aviles has a dark history of 'mental abuse' against her sister, and he would question her whenever she wanted to leave the house. 'He was very very protective over her and would not let her do much to be honest,' Nicole said. 'He was very possessive and very controlling about a lot of things she did especially towards the end.' 'What I think happened after talking to the investigator - I know they can't tell me everything - but I think that he snapped,' Nicole said. 'In my heart, I know she's not alive anymore. I don't need any kind of proof from anybody because I know that if she was here she would have got ahold of one of us. 'Katie doesn't hide out, she's not that type of person.' 'I'm hoping if that is the case that she died instantly and didn't suffer,' she added. A map showing the timeline of Ferguson's cross-country roadtrip before she went missing Federal court documents reveal that Ferguson left Alabama in early October with Aviles and her two daughters, aged four and 11 months. She was last seen in Arkansas on October 5. But, four days later, on October 9, when Aviles was pulled over by Texas State Patrol officers noted a 'projectile hole' on the passenger side of the vehicle and no sign of Ferguson. Aviles was pulled over again in Colorado and was the only adult in the car, the federal complaint alleges. Aviles reportedly returned to Wyoming, with Ferguson's children but still no sign of their mother. On November 4, his car, a 1999 Dodge Durango, was later found in Oregon Basin area near Cody, Wyoming. That was two days after police started to look for Ferguson and she was reported missing. When members of the Park County Sheriff's Office found the vehicle, Sheriff Darrell Steward said he could smell 'putrefied blood' coming from the vehicle, according to the Cowboy State Daily. The front passenger seat was missing and multiple Clorox wipes were found inside the vehicle. Police also found a loaded Glock pistol inside the vehicle. DNA tests from the scene have yet to be identified, according to the report. A search warrant was executed by federal agents two days after his vehicle was located. A smiling Ferguson (pictured) in a swimming pool with a loved one in an undated photo The couple pictured together during happier times Family member said Ferguson was having some issues with her ex before she vanished On November 8, police spoke to Aviles and he reportedly told officers that Katie 'was not missing, but she just does not want contact with her mother,' court documents allege. One of the children did make statements about the father accidentally hurting her mother, the Cowboy State Daily noted. Aviles was convicted of heroin possession in 2017 and was charged recently with having the firearm ammunition. But, police have not yet charged him in connection to Ferguson's disappearance. The missing woman's mother, Angela Ferguson, told a local news outlet KTVQ News that 'it all points in a very tragic direction, and so it's hard.' 'It's hard to hear the rumors, to hear what might have happened to her. It's just unfathomable, she added. 'It's devastating. It's the most tragic, awful thing.' The family continues to wait to hear from investigators about potential DNA on clothing and other items investigators found in the truck. Aviles is being held in a jail in Casper, Wyoming on federal charges that he has plead not guilty. A trial date has been set for January 24. Aviles's lawyer, David Weiss, did not immediately return DailyMail.com's request for comment. Liz Cheney argues that the end of the U.S. Republic sits at the end of another Donald Trump presidency. In her new book Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning, the former representative for Wyoming's at-large district says that Americans are 'sleepwalking into dictatorship.' Meanwhile, former New Jersey Gov. and 2024 presidential candidate Chris Christie agreed in a separate Sunday morning interview that Trump, his top primary election competitor, 'wants to be a dictator.' Speaking with CBS News reporter John Dickerson, Cheney explained why she feels Trump spells trouble for the future of America's political system. Former Rep. Liz Cheney told CBS Sunday morning that another four years of Donald Trump presidency would mean an 'end to the Republic' and said the U.S. is 'sleepwalking into dictatorship' 'You say Donald Trump, if he is re-elected, it will be the end of the Republic. What do you mean?' Dickerson asked. 'He's told us what he will do,' Cheney said. '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 sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States,' she explained. Cheney's upcoming memoir Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning details her journey becoming one of the most anti-Trump voices in the Republican Party Dickerson pushed: 'Is Donald Trump a fascist?' 'I think that he certainly is employing fascist techniques,' Cheney replied. 'I think that the tools that he is using are tools that we've seen used by authoritarians, fascists, tyrants around the world.' 'The things that he has said and done, in some ways, are so outrageous that we have become numb to them,' she added. Cheney is among the anti-Trump Republicans who feel the potential of another four years of him in the White House is dangerous. Gov. Christie, who is running against Trump in the Republican presidential primary election, agrees that he is a threat to American democracy. 'Look, I can't speak for everyone in my party, I can only speak for myself,' Christie told CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan on Sunday: 'I haven't been silent since the day I got into this race.' 'Drama and chaos seem to follow him,' he said of Trump. 'The reason is that he acts like someone who doesn't care about our democracy, acts like someone who wants to be a dictator. He acts like someone who doesn't care for the Constitution.' Christie is the candidate most fiercely critical of Trump, though he is polling among the bottom of the remaining field looking to unseat the former president for the GOP nomination. Cheney, although not in the 2024 race, is one of the most vocal critics of Trump from within the Republican Party. She was one of the two Republicans in the House in the January 6 Select Committee and was among those who voted to impeach Trump after the Capitol attack. Her actions, however, first cost Cheney her position as the GOP conference Chairwoman and later her seat in Congress when her constituents voted her out for now GOP Rep. Harriet Hageman. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly bomb attack today at a Catholic mass in the Philippines which killed four people and hurt at least 50. The blast happened during a regular service at Mindanao State University's gymnasium in Marawi, the country's largest Muslim city, with regional police Chief Allan Nobleza said. The Islamic State terrorist group released a statement on its Telegram channels saying it had detonated the bomb. Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta said more than 50 people were wounded and hospitalised by the attack. The country's police and military have beefed up security in the south and around the capital. Lt. Gen Peralta told a press conference fragments of a 16-mm mortar were recovered at the scene. Earlier, before ISIS claimed it was behind the blast, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos described the attack as 'the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists'. Photos posted on the Lanao del Sur government's Facebook page showed several overturned plastic chairs and debris around a black patch on the floor of the gymnasium. Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta said more than 50 people were wounded and hospitalised by the attack, which is being blamed on 'foreign terrorists' by President Ferdinand Marcos Other security officials said the bombing may have been a retaliatory attack for a series of military operations against Islamist militant groups in recent days University student Chris Jurado, 21, told local media from his hospital bed that the explosion happened during the first Bible reading of the morning mass at 7.00am local time. He said: 'It was really sudden and everyone ran. 'When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didn't know what happened because everything happened so fast.' Rowena Mae Fernandez, 19, said she did not know what the blast was at first - then others started running: 'My companion and I also ran, even though we fell on the ground at one point. That was the only thing I remembered until I got out of the gym and I fell again,' she said from hospital. 'My friends were crying because they saw my injury.' Pope Francis offered prayers for victims during his Sunday address in Rome and in a separate written message appealed to 'Christ the prince of peace (to) grant to all the strength to turn from violence and overcome every evil with good'. President Marcos condemned the attack by 'foreign terrorists', describing it as 'senseless' and 'heinous'. Military chief General Romeo Brawner said the bombing may have been a revenge attack for military operations against three Islamist militant groups - Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, Abu Sayyaf and Maute - in western Mindanao in recent days. He said at a press conference: 'That [a revenge attack] is one angle we are looking into. 'Based on the evidence that we gathered there is a big percentage that points to the Maute-ISIS.' Pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants - including foreign and local fighters - held Marawi under siege in 2017. The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,000 lives. The blast happened during a regular service at Mindanao State University's gymnasium in Marawi, the country's largest Muslim city Military chief General Romeo Brawner said the bombing may have been a revenge attack for military operations against three Islamist militant groups - Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, Abu Sayyaf and Maute - in western Mindanao in recent days Pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants - including foreign and local fighters - held Marawi under siege in 2017 Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning 'the act of violence', as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,000 lives Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region The country's Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism The country's Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism 'There are strong indications of a foreign element (in Sunday's attack),' Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told reporters. Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur are part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The country's Muslim minority were given self-rule in Bangsamoro under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism. Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region. Manila signed a peace pact with the nation's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion. But smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. Communist rebels also operate in the region. Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning 'the act of violence', as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus. 'We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy,' the university said. Marawi city Mayor Majul Gandamra urged members of the Muslim and Christian communities to remain united. 'Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,' Gandamra said in a statement condemning the attack. His extensive lies were documented in a scathing report by the House Committee on Ethics, and he stands charged with several federal offenses The fall came one day after his expulsion from the House, where a bipartisan vote brought the final tally to 311 in favor George Santos has been spotted tripping and breaking his watch on a hotel staircase a day after being expelled from the House of Representatives. The former congressman was walking up the rain-soaked steps at Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, DC just before 10pm Saturday when he slipped and smashed his watch as onlookers snickered. This marked the latest humiliation in what has been an extraordinarily bad week for the disgraced New York representative. Santos was voted out Friday after he was confronted with his extensive record of lying and hit with multiple criminal charges including laundering campaign funds and defrauding donors. 'Why would I want to stay here? To hell with this place,' Santos told reporters outside the US Capitol after the vote. George Santos took a tumble on the stairs of the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC, one day after he was expelled from Congress The former U.S. representative tripped on the wet stairs and fell, shattering his watch, much to the amusement of onlookers His former colleagues voted him out of Congress Friday, with Republicans joining Democrats in a 311-114 vote Over 100 Republicans joined Democrats in booting out the serial fabulist, bringing the final tally to 311-114. Santos stormed off the House floor minutes before the vote concluded and warned reporters that the House 'set a new dangerous precedent for themselves.' His lies were laid out in painstaking detail in a report by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics. They include fabricating family links to the Holocaust, the 9/11 death of his mother and recovering from a brain tumor. Santos survived a vote to expel him last month after 31 Democrats and most Republicans voted to keep him, with many saying they would rather wait for the Ethics Committee report. It takes a two-thirds majority in the House to expel a sitting member of Congress. Tensions were high in the days and hours leading up to the vote. After Rep. Max Miller labelled Santos a 'crook,' Santos fired back: 'My colleague wants to come up here, call me a crook. The same colleague who's accused of being a woman beater.' He was referencing unproven claims that Miller slapped and grabbed his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Grisham. The former Long Island Congressman's expulsion from the House is immediate and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will declare the seat vacant and call for a special election to fill his position. 'I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York's 3rd District,' Hochul wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. 'The people of Long Island deserve nothing less.' Hochul is required to call a special election within 10 days of the expulsion vote. Both parties expect the election to be held sometime in February. Santos survived expulsion last month after 31 Democrats and most Republicans voted to keep him, with many saying they would rather wait for a report from the House Committee on Ethics The days leading up the vote were laced with tension - on one instance, Santos fired back at fellow Republican Rep. Max Miller, calling him a 'woman beater' Santos is the sixth representative in history to be kicked from the U.S. House of Representatives 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 trial until next September. According to the House Ethics Committee, Santos 'sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.' The scathing report accuses him of diverting campaign money to pay for Botox treatments, designer bags, OnlyFans purchases and cash withdrawals at a casino. The Republican used $3,000 in campaign funds for an Airbnb in the Hamptons, while another multi-thousand-dollar transfer to his business was spent on luxury Ferragamo goods and rent. Santos is also accused of inflating six personal loans to his campaign, claiming they were worth $80,000 when they only amounted to $3,500. The other lies he told span nearly every aspect of his life. According to the Ethics Committee, Santos diverted campaign funds to pay for designer bags, porn and an Airbnb in the Hamptons He is also accused of inflating six personal loans to his campaign, claiming they were worth $80,000 when they only amounted to $3,500 '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. He claimed his family name on his mother's side was 'Zabrovsky' and explained: '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 there have been no successful efforts to trace any Jewish or Ukrainian heritage in his family tree. In 2020, Santos claimed that he was raised by 'a white Caucasian mother, an immigrant from Belgium.' However, his mother, Fatima Devolder, was born in Brazil, according to her obituary. In a July 2021 post to social media, Santos wrote, '9/11 claimed my mother's life,' after hitting out at a user with the handle '9/11 was a victimless crime.' In all actuality, his mother died in December 2016, more than 15 years after the attack. Santos confirmed the real date in a December 2021 tweet that read: 'December 23rd this year marks 5 years I lost my best friend and mentor. Mom you will live forever in my heart.' A New York Times report described Santos' mother as a housekeeper, although his campaign website described his mother as 'the first female executive at a major financial institution.' The ex-Congressman has pleaded not guilty to 23 charges in federal court including identity theft and submitting false campaign reports He took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, hours after the vote to announce his plan to file complaints against several of his former colleagues - through the House Ethics Committee Hours after he was expelled from Congress, Santos went on a social media rampage, announcing his plan to use the House Ethics Committee to file complaints against several of his former colleagues. The frenzy began just before midnight on Friday. In the first post, Santos questioned Rep. Nicole Malliotakis' stock trading, seemingly implying she used inside information. 'Before joining the committee the congresswoman didn't have an active trading habit or a high volume stake,' he wrote. 'The question is, what set of information is she trading with?' He clarified his stance in another post, likening her to Paul Pelosi and declaring: 'The signature bank trades she did REEKS of insider trading!' A subsequent post accused Rep. Mike Lawler of 'questionable campaign finance violations.' 'The concerning questions are; is Mr Lawler engaging in laundering money form his campaign to his firm then into his own pocket? I will let the Office of Congressional Ethics be the judge of that,' Santos wrote. Yet another accusation was lobbed at freshman Long Island Rep. Nick LaLota of attending law school while he was supposed to be working at the Board of Elections. 'The questionable actions are? Did Rep Lalota no-show to his tax pay funded job while going to school and if so he can potential have stolen public funds form the tax payers of NY,' Santos wrote. He concluded: 'I will let the Office of Congressional Ethics determine the validity of this grave allegation raised in his local media.' It has yet to be seen if Santos will follow through with filing the reports tomorrow. The couple went missing on November 10 and their house was found filled with blood and shell casings The bodies of the couple who were allegedly murdered by their tenant were believed to have been found after police were called to the gruesome discovery on Saturday afternoon. A manhunt was launched for Davido and Karen Koep after they went missing on November 10, and on November 18 Timothy Burke, 45, was arrested in connection to their disappearance. On Saturday, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the report of a body found off of Stedman Road Southeast on Joint Base Lewis-McChord land in Olympia, Washington, and a second body was found during the investigation. The Thurston County Sheriff's Department stated that a preliminary investigation has led authorities to believe the bodies of Davido and Karen were located, though coroner results will 'positively identify the deceased.' 'Nothing that occurred today is going to bring Karen and Davido back,' Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a press conference Saturday evening. Two bodied that were discovered on Saturday afternoon in Olympia, Washington, are believed to be Davido and Karen Koep, the couple who went missing on November 10 Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders appeared in a press conference on Saturday evening to address the findings On November 20, Burke, who was arrested for first-degree murder and kidnapping, made a preliminary appearance. The Thurston County Superior Court denied his release. Davido was known as a successful landlord to several properties in the area and Karen was a well-known chiropractor, who raised alarms when she didn't show up for work one morning. The victim's two sons and their wives attended the court hearing and were seen wiping away tears and comforting each other. Prosecutor Jennifer Lord said 'the amount of blood that was in the home was unsurvivable.' 'Further, there was blood found in both Mister Burke's vehicle and there was blood found in Ms. (Koep's) vehicle,' Lord said at this week's bail hearing. During the hearing, a family friend was heard shouting from the gallery 'Tell him to give that family some closure and tell them where the bodies are.' The scene was discovered by deputies who visited the couple's Lacey home to do a welfare check after they disappeared on November 10. During the recent press conference, Sanders revealed the bodies found on Saturday were 'less than half a mile' from where Burke lived. Court documents stated that responding detectives found large pools of blood at the couple's home, along with signs that someone had tried to clean it up. According to court documents, Burke was a tenant living on an Olympia property Davido owned alongside several other properties. Investigators found 'very negative' emails from Burke to Davido. Timothy Burke was arrested on November 18 for first degree murder and kidnapping made a preliminary appearance Police found no sign of the couple when they were called by anxious friends to a welfare check at their lakeside home in Lacey after Karen failed to show at work in early November Davido was known as a successful landlord to several properties in the area and Karen was a well-known chiropractor who raised alarms when she didn't show up for work one morning A close friend told investigators Davido was preparing to evict Burke. 'I believe this was definitely a dispute, a tenant dispute. They own property and he was a tenant,' Pauline Dutton, Koep's sister told KOMO News. Prosecutors said their strongest evidence is that shell casings from Burke's .45-caliber weapon were found in the couple's home. Authorities believe the couple were shot and then their bodies were loaded into the trunk of their car before he dumped them. Their 2015 silver Toyota Yaris was then found abandoned five miles from their home eight hours after police were called. During the press conference, Sanders said that one of the individuals that found the first body was riding a quad bike near the property when they made the discovery. 'We have talked to the family. They were grateful for our efforts to recover Karen and Davido,' Sanders said. Thurston County Sheriff's posted an updated news release to their Facebook page on Saturday after bodies were found Though the couple's cause of death has yet to be determined, Sanders said the discovery of shell casings and firearms has led them to believe that 'that is going to be a part of the investigation.' In terms of the location of where the bodies were found, the Sheriff said an investigation has to be done to determine how they got there, but it is 'presumed that maybe there was some transportation involved with the bodies.' 'We definitely have a crime scene that is quite a ways away from where we located the bodies,' Sanders said. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information is urged to contact the Thurston Police Department. The Archbishop of Canterbury is among the faith leaders joining politicians and celebrities at a Downing Street vigil for victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict. People stood in the cold and rain outside Downing Street to hear Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speak out against antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. The vigil, arranged in an effort to help protect community relations in the UK, was spearheaded by Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered British lawmaker Jo Cox. It was supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury along with a leading British rabbi, imam and peace activists. Screenwriter Jemima Khan, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, Rob Rinder, and heiress Jemima Goldsmith were among the well-known faces to turn up in support. The event, called 'Building Bridges, Together For Humanity', was billed as a space to mourn the loss of life on all sides of the conflict 'in the first mass event of its kind' since Hamas militants entered Israel on October 7. The Archbishop of Canterbury said he was 'awed and humbled' after hearing 'extraordinary and remarkable' testimony from survivors of the conflict with relatives who were killed, who said they wanted peace and not hatred. He told the crowd 'there is no good ever in the death of an innocent Israeli, there is no good ever in the death of an innocent Palestinian'. Fighting brings 'agony to the families, fear for the future and it drives peace far away', he added. The Archbishop of Canterbury is among the faith leaders joining politicians and celebrities at a Downing Street vigil for victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict The Archbishop said he was 'awed and humbled' after hearing 'extraordinary and remarkable' testimony from survivors of the conflict with relatives who were killed Pictured: Jemima Goldsmith and Robert Rinder at the vigil The event, called 'Building Bridges, Together For Humanity', was billed as a space to mourn the loss of life on all sides of the conflict 'in the first mass event of its kind' since October 7 People light flameless candles during a vigil for people who have lost family in Gaza and Israel The Archbishop spoke from a stage: 'As we are here, tomorrow there will be children thinking about going to school in the UK who dread going because they will be spat at, shouted at and hated because they are Muslim or Jewish. READ MORE - How kidnapped Israeli women and children were drugged, starved, shot and threatened with violence if they spoke Advertisement 'They will have to go without their uniforms because they identify them too clearly - and that (is happening) in our streets.' To applause, he added: 'We are called to clean up our doorstep in this country, to clean away all antisemitism and all Islamophobia, and to make sure that when we speak of peace we have lit a light of peace here that can give a beacon elsewhere.' Screenwriter Jemima Khan, who has Muslim and Jewish family members, plus barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder, who is of Jewish descent, were among those who joined the crowds. Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who is of Palestinian descent and has a family member who died in Gaza, told the crowd that hope must come out of the bloodshed. She said: 'It is wonderful that so many children have been brought here today. 'We will do everything in our power so that this is the last time.' Labour MP Stella Creasy said the people of Palestine and Israel are 'paying the price' of the failure of politicians to find the words to deal with the conflict. People stood in the cold and rain outside Downing Street to hear Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speak out against antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate Imam Monawar Hussain, The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby and Rabbi David Mason during the anti-hate vigil on Richmond Terrace Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who is of Palestinian descent and has a family member who died in Gaza, told the crowd that hope must come out of the bloodshed Brendan Cox, whose wife the Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a right-wing extremist during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, was one of the vigil organisers Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood told the crowd they were standing 'in the shadows of Big Ben and at a time when our politics seems ever tribal'. He said the unfolding events in the Middle East bring the 'serious prospect' of a 'deepening humanitarian crisis and the unacceptable loss of lives of both sides demands us to rise above the party political'. He added that this is a time to 'stand tall with other political voices and leaders from across our national community and to have the courage to speak up'. The vigil was held as new figures showed 75 per cent of people agreed that bringing people together to mourn all innocent lives lost in Israel and Palestine is important given current levels of tension in the UK. The poll of 1,538 people, commissioned by Hope Not Hate and Together For Humanity, also found that 50 per cent of people said they felt the conflict has worsened community cohesion in the UK. A total of 51 per cent of people agreed that the war is increasing anti-Muslim hatred in the UK, 56 per cent agreed the conflict is increasing anti-Jewish hatred. Just 11 per cent and 9 per cent respectively disagreed. Brendan Cox, whose wife the Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a right-wing extremist during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, was one of the vigil organisers. After hosting the event, he said: 'This is about sharing in our collective humanity. It is to leave one message which is that no matter where we disagree there can be no space for hatred, antisemitism or Islamophobia. 'Extremism prospers when good people go quiet. 'If we leave the debate to the most extreme voices then what that does is it provides a culture of hate, intolerance and dehumanisation. 'It is then that we know that violence results. I know that from my own family experience. 'I also know that when good people step forward and challenge hatred in all of its forms, particularly when it is coming from people whom you might not agree with on other issues, that it makes a huge difference.' Rob Rinder - criminal barrister and television personality - said: 'This is called Together For Humanity for a reason. Labour MP Stella Creasy said the people of Palestine and Israel are 'paying the price' of the failure of politicians to find the words to deal with the conflict Imam Monawar Hussain holds up a lantern as part of the Together for Humanity vigil 'There is so much noise on Twitter and other social media spaces across the board that this is a gift and an opportunity to remind our nation and communities that we are alongside one another, whatever your background and whatever your faith. 'This is demonstrable physical proof of good, of light in the darkness and we need that now more than ever.' A minute's silence was held and lanterns were lit to end the vigil.' British-Israeli Magen Inon, whose parents were killed in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, was among the speakers. Others included Palestinian peace activist Hamze Awawde, who lives in Ramallah in the Palestinian Territories and has had relatives injured recently in the conflict. Together for Humanity has emerged since Israel began bombing Gaza in response to the October 7 attack, which has prompted a spike in anti-Semitism in Britain. At least 1,747 incidents were recorded between October 7 and November 29 by the Community Security Trust, whose role is to protect the UK's Jewish community. Pictured: Rabbi David Mason and Imam Monawar Hussain Television personality Rob Rinder said: 'This is called Together For Humanity for a reason' Meanwhile, London and other UK cities have seen large-scale protests on recent weekends in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which have polarised public opinion and been blamed for stoking social divisions. Ahead of the vigil, Cox, a father of two, said the 'loudest and most extreme voices have drowned out the vast majority of the public' when it came to the conflict. His wife was killed by a Nazi sympathiser days before Britain's contentious 2016 Brexit referendum, and he subsequently co-founded the Together Coalition charity. It is supporting the vigils initiative, which began last month to honour 'Palestinians and Israelis, Muslims and Jews, everyone suffering from this war'. Organisers have said they are intended to be a 'sombre moment of reflection and togetherness - without flags or placards'. 'We're working to turn a moment into a movement - one that holds hope for peace, stands against prejudice, and reminds us all of the importance of placing our common humanity above all else,' they added. An Arizona lawmaker has called for the National Guard to be deployed to help deal with the spiraling migrant crisis. Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani's desperate please comes as the Tucson Border Sector grapples with a significant increase in crossings from Mexico. That same day, CBP reported more than 9,400 migrant encounters in a span of 24 hours - 7,700 of whom were apprehended by Border Patrol agents. Ciscomani - a 41-year-old conservative who was born in Mexico - called on Alejandro Mayorkas to 'immediately request the DoD deploy the Arizona National Guard to help with this dire situation.' On Friday, during an interview with Fox News, Ciscomani cited the current state of the Tucson Sector compared to other communities in Texas and New York. Arizona lawmaker Juan Ciscomani - seen here on Fox News Friday - has demanded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deploy his state's National Guard to provide support to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the border. The request, aired by Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani Thursday, comes as the Tucson Border Sector grapples with a significant increase in migrant traffic following the rollback of Trump-era guidances like Title 42 AZ: The Tucson sector saw 2800+ people on a single dayThe influx is prompting CBP to take an all hands on deck posture, pulling agents from all areas including the nearby port of entry. Last week, Tucson Sector Border Patrol encountered nearly 15,700 migrants. The people I pic.twitter.com/SUtp8l45Rf Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) November 28, 2023 'Tucson Sector is leading in encounters and our agents and officers are overrun and undermanned,' Ciscomani writes in the initial request, penned hours before senators issued a statement revealing another popular port of entry would close amid the influx of arrivals. 'The situation is far past a breaking point and those on the frontlines of this crisis are in need of immediate support,' he added, citing the 3,000 encounters seen at the Tuscon Center on Thursday. Demanding immediate federal intervention, the rep stated: 'We must be doing all we can to help our local communities, law enforcement officers, and CBP agents and officers. 'No one knows the gravity of this situation better than our local officials,' he went on, as the Lukeville Port of Entry 150 miles west was similarly overrun. He told Mayorkas, who assumed to top spot at Homeland Security in 2021: 'As you consider this request, I urge you to work with Governor Katie Hobbs, as well as Arizona county supervisors, mayors and sheriffs. 'I look forward to your timely response.' More than three days later, the demand has gone unanswered, but within hours, paved the way for a closure of the port of entry in Lukeville - one of several choke points migrants flood in from before being brought to centers like the one in Tuscon. There, the mostly Central American travelers are processed - before being funneled across the country to sanctuary cities as far as New York and as close as Texas, with some traveling from farflung countries like Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania and Liberia. On Thursday, Lukeville - flanked by the Nogales ports of entry roughly 200 miles east and the San Luis Port of Entry some 130 miles west - found itself with roughly 700 migrants lined up near its border wall waiting to be picked up an relocated on taxpayers' dime. A stretch of border seen near the Tuscon Sector Border Patrol HQ is seen here. Last week along, Tucson Sector Border Patrol encountered nearly 15,700 migrants. On Thursday, Lukeville - flanked by the Nogales ports of entry roughly 200 miles east and the San Luis Port of Entry some 130 miles west - found itself with roughly 700 migrants lined up near its border wall waiting to be picked up an relocated on taxpayers' dime For the past four months, the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector - which covers most of the State of Arizona from the New Mexico State line to the Yuma County line - has become the busiest corridor for migrant encounters . The traffic is somewhat uncharacteristic for a passage that typically sees less traffic than other sectors like the Rio Grande Valley, and shows the constantly evolving state of the country's continued border crisis as Biden tries to deflect to Congress Seeing this, CBP officials - citing 'increased levels of migrant encounters at the Southwest Border' - issued a written statement announcing that the entry at Lukeville will remain closed for the foreseeable future. That maneuver was quickly slammed by senators Kelly and Sinema and Democrat Governor Hobbs, who called the decision in their own statement issued hours later 'unacceptable. 'This is an unacceptable outcome that further destabilizes our border, risk the safety of our communities, and damages our economy by disrupting trade and tourism.' The trio proceeded to call on the Biden Administration to 'act swiftly to maintain port of entry operations [and] get the border under control. Citing how the government is tasked with keeping its citizens, including those in Arizona, safe, the progressives added: 'Enough is enough - Arizona deserves real solutions to our border crisis. 'The Administration must send immediate resources to secure the border and help our communities.' The spike comes months after Joe Biden, 81, controversially rescinded the Trump-era Title 42 order, which allowed border agents to more freely send migrants back across the border. If Congress doesnt change our asylum system, this isnt going to stop. The current system is enriching the cartels and masses of economic migrants know they can cross illegally, claim fear or say certain key words, and be released into the US with a court date often years away. https://t.co/dy2LnK897f Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 28, 2023 In the letter, Ciscomani - a 41-year-old conservative who was born in Mexico - called on US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to 'immediately request that the DoD deploy the Arizona National Guard to help with this dire situation' the letter saw the lawmaker put the blame on Arizona's current state on the Biden Administration,' as well has Homeland Security head Alejandro Mayorkas (at left) 'who continues to play a deaf ear to what's happening' AZ: Smugglers over in Mexico roll up in an SUVOne jumps out pretending he has a long gun pointed right at BORTAC and Border Patrol agentsThe first shot is my video zoomed so you can see his gestureThe shot that follows is the same but zoomed out so you can see the agents jump pic.twitter.com/c1Warq4Nr5 Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) December 1, 2023 Migration numbers in states like Texas have increased drastically as a result, with Arizona - the state with the second-most land along the Southern Border - serving as a sort of lesser known casualty. According to federal data released earlier in the year - when monthly border crossings reached a record 218,763 encounters - an average of 1,000 people have been sent back across the border each month since Title 42 ended, compared with 3,000 the month before. The spike, seen in September, came after a summer that saw 181,509 arrests at the Mexican border in August, up 37 percent from July but little changed from August 2022. Numbers have dipped slightly since October, which historically has been the case regardless of the year - though the surge being seen in Arizona is somewhat new. For the past four months, the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector - which covers most of the State of Arizona from the New Mexico State line to the Yuma County line - has become the busiest corridor for migrant encounters. In response, officers previously stationed at the Lukeville port will now be used to help Border Patrol with processing, as the agency announced it would suspend vehicle processing operations at the Eagle Pass International Bridge 1 in Eagle Pass. The traffic is somewhat uncharacteristic for a passage that typically sees less traffic than other sectors like the Rio Grande Valley, and shows the constantly evolving state of the country's continued border crisis as Biden tries to deflect to Congress. As migrants on the Mexico-side of the border continue to attempt to cut through the bollards in Lukeville with power saws - an occurrence agents say now happens 'regularly' - the current administration wants state reps to pass laws that would provide more funding for the border processes. House Republicans, in turn, have rejected such legislation, blaming the continued arrivals on Biden and his repeal of Trump-are guidances. As this happened, the CBP has been surging resources and personnel to the Tucson Sector, which has been focusing on transporting migrants laterally to other parts of the border to deal with the surge. That strategy, combined with an increase use of expedited removal as an alternative to them being simply released elsewhere in the US, has far failed to quell the Arizona arrivals, which last week, in Tuscon alone, stood at nearly 15,700. Ciscomani's request, as of Sunday, has yet to be heard. The situation, meanwhile, continues to worsen, with footage showing overrun processing facilities this past Wednesday elsewhere in Arizona Seeing this, CBP officials - citing 'increased levels of migrant encounters' - issued a statement Friday announcing that the entry at Lukeville more than a mile away (seen here last week) will remain closed for the foreseeable future, with agents stationed there relocated to Tuscon AZ: While Border Patrol was able to respond and stop men in Mexico from cutting through the wall in one instanceThese crews have been wildly successful over the last few monthsThe wall is littered with patch marks and replacement bollards. You can even see some of those pic.twitter.com/opN3Qn8Gvd Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) December 2, 2023 'As we respond with additional resources and apply consequences for unlawful entry, the migration trends shift as well,' CBP officials said in their statement announcing Lukeville's closure to better bolster the center at Tuscon. 'We continue to adjust our operational plans to maximize enforcement efforts against those noncitizens who do not use lawful pathways or processes such as CBP One and those without a legal basis to remain in the United States.' The 'all hands on deck' approach is set to officially commence on Monday, but Ciscomani over the weekend told Fox that he believes the situation only puts a band-aid on the very serious crisis. Citing the state of sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago, he told the station: 'What you're seeing with the border crisis is every sanctuary state has become a border state - and now we're seeing it in New York as well. Pointing to footage played by his interviewers that showed Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez being booed for her stance on the situation, he called the negative reaction 'a reflection of that.' 'That's what we've been saying for months now - now even months, years.' He then pivoted to how Arizona is now suffering the consequences of the massive influx of migrants - while also citing how his state gets much less federal funding from also overrun New York. 'If New York is feeling that pressure, imagine what Arizona feels.' He declared: 'This is a reflection of the failed policies of the left. 'People voted for these sanctuary cities, and they are facing the consequences of that. 'But the blame,' he continued, 'is on the Biden Administration,' and Alejandro Mayorkas who continues to play a deaf ear to what's happening, even in states like New York. 'New York has been getting tens of millions of dollars more than Arizona, and they are still in bad shape. My job is to advocate for Arizona.' He sniped in his letter: 'The situation is far past a breaking point and those on the frontlines of this crisis are in need of immediate support.' In a statement, he similarly told Fox: 'The Biden Administration must take action to fix this crisis of their own creation and the best way to start is by providing CBP with the support they deserve. 'By immediately deploying the National Guard in Arizona, we provide the men and women charged with securing our border the much-needed reinforcement to do their jobs.' Ciscomani's request, as of Sunday, has yet to be heard. The situation, meanwhile, continues to worsen. House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Turner said the US is now helping Israel identify its blind spots in information gathering and how it missed Hamas' attack as the war continues with the terrorist group. The Ohio Republican, 63, said the US is 'working closely' with Israeli intelligence 'to see the gaps that they have,' after reports suggested that Israel knew about a potential threat from Hamas before October 7 happened. He spoke after an Israeli soldier told CBS News that Israel 'didn't take anything seriously' when they were warned of Hamas' potential in the last few months. Over 1,200 innocent Israelis were massacred on October 7 - caused by a 'complete breakdown' of communication between Israel and its intelligence agents, Turner suggested. Turner told 'Face the Nation': 'I think what you saw was just a general dismissal by Israel and Israel's intelligence community of the possibility of this level of a threat, which really goes to the complete breakdown that occurred here. Ohio Republican Mike Turner said the US is ' working closely' with Israeli intelligence 'to see the gaps that they have,' after reports suggested that Israel knew about a potential threat from Hamas before October 7 happened Shocking footage showed festival goers flee carnage as Hamas terrorists gunned down revelers at a music festival on October 7 'This obviously could have been an institutional bias that resulted in dismissing it, but the other aspect that made this so dangerous, is that even when October 7 began to unfold, their forces didn't react. 'They didn't have the deployment ability to respond, not just the intelligence ability to prevent it 'It's one thing to be able to look to try to identify a specific individual and provide information as to their location and operations and actually directing an operation. '[CIA Director William] Burns has been very clear that we are not just providing direct access to our intelligence and that certainly gives us the ability to have caution.' Burns recently returned from the Middle East, and according to Turner, he tried 'to make certain that our intelligence apparatus is working closely with Israel to try to fill some of those gaps that they clearly have.' It followed reports that 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. This graphic (above) shows how the Hamas massacre on the Kfar Aza kibbutz unfolded The blood-stained floors of a kibbutz after Hamas terrorists ripped through the area 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. 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. 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 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.' On Sunday, more than 400 strikes were carried out by Israel in Gaza after Hamas broke the fragile week-long truce. The Israeli army said it had conducted hundreds of bombardments since the ceasefire collapsed on Friday, while Hamas announced 'rocket barrages' against multiple Israeli towns and cities, including Tel Aviv. The Israel Defense Forces said that fighter jets carried out extensive strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas leaders are thought to be stationed. There is 'no science' behind phasing out fossil fuels and the policy will take the world 'back to caves', according to the head of COP28. The president of the Dubai climate change summit, Sultan al Jaber, made the comments during an online question and answer session at a She Changes Climate event. As well as running Cop28, Al Jaber is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates' state oil company, Adnoc. His appointment as head of the Cop28 was branded 'completely ridiculous' by eco-warrior Greta Thunberg. Sultan al Jaber made the comments during an online question and answer session at a She Changes Climate event It is believed that cutting out fossil fossils will stop the world's temperatures rising by 1.5C (Stock photo) Al Jaber has allegedly used the climate summit to bag more oil and gas deals for his national petro-firm Adnoc In the recently emerged video, obtained by The Guardian, the sultan was responding to questions from Mary Robinson, the chair of the Elders group and a former UN special envoy for climate change. Ms Robinson said: 'We're in an absolute crisis that is hurting women and children more than anyone... and it's because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel. 'That is the one decision that Cop28 can take and in many ways, because you're head of Adnoc, you could actually take it with more credibility.' Al Jaber replied: 'I accepted to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. Critics say Sultan Al Jaber shouldn't head both a UN climate summit and a massive oil firm More than 70,000 officials, campaigners, and experts are expected to attend COP28 in Dubai 'I'm not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist. 'There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what's going to achieve 1.5C.' He added: 'Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves.' Video of the question and answer session took place on November 21 but it only emerged on Sunday. More than 100 countries already support a phase-out of fossil fuels. It is believed that cutting out fossil fossils will stop the world's temperatures rising by 1.5C. The sultan's appointment as head of the Cop28 was branded 'completely ridiculous' by eco-warrior Greta Thunberg There have also been accusations that he plans to hash out new oil and gas deals on the sidelines of Cop28 (Stock photo) The video emerged days after UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres called on the world to cut emissions to 'save' the planet. Mr Guterres told the conference: 'The science is clear: The 1.5C limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. 'Not reduce, not abate. Phase out, with a clear timeframe.' Climate leaders have since reacted with fury over the sultan's controversial remarks. Chief executive of Climate Analytics Bill Hare said the comments were 'verging on climate denial'. Meanwhile, Mohamed Adow director of Power Shift Africa said: 'The recent comments from the COP28 president show how entrenched he is in fossil fuel fantasy and is clearly determined that this COP doesn't do anything to harm the interests of the oil and gas industry.' When the United Arab Emirates announced in January that Sultan Al Jaber would lead this year's COP28 climate talks, the news was met with high praise and harsh criticism in equal measure. For some, Al Jaber - who earned his PhD in business and economics from Coventry University - was a fantastic choice. In 2006, he was put in charge of Masdar, the UAE's renewable energy vehicle, and set off on a global fact-finding mission to assess obstacles and opportunities. The UAE has since invested heavily in its nuclear and solar sector, building a massive state-of-the-art nuclear power plant, and Masdar has made shrewd investments in technologies in over 40 countries - moves which have earned Jaber a reputation for getting results. But for others, there's one incontrovertible problem. Because for all his work on renewable energy, 'Dr Sultan' also happens to be the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company - a giant producer of fossil fuels which plans to up its output to 5 million barrels of oil per day by 2027. And Amnesty International has accused him of being responsible for instituting a stringent media censorship programme when he served as chairman of the National Media Council (NMC). The backlash following the announcement earlier this year was significant, with some campaigners comparing the decision to 'appointing the CEO of a cigarette company to oversee a conference on cancer cures'. Teresa Anderson, the global lead on climate justice at ActionAid, made a similar comparison, likening the appointment to 'putting the fox in charge of the henhouse'. There have also been accusations that he plans to hash out new oil and gas deals on the sidelines of Cop28. They are the latest claims to cast doubt on whether the talks will boost efforts to cut emissions of planet-heating gases, or are more akin to a public relations exercise for the Gulf petro-monarchy. The Cop28 is the United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC. This is the 28th conference and it is being held from November 30 until December 12 at Epo City, Dubai. Cop28 is to serve as a formal meeting to negotiate and agree on action about how to tackle climate change. The event has attracted such big names as King Charles III and Pope Francis. US President Joe Biden is however skipping the talks. More than 70,000 officials, campaigners, and experts are expected to attend COP28 in Dubai. The sun is setting on liberal professors in the Sunshine State as Ron DeSantis's war on woke starts to bite, with some accusing the governor of 'open hostility' to higher education. Turnover has jumped by a quarter in the last two years at the University of Florida after a slew of new laws cracked down on diversity, trans rights and jobs for life. And the number of tenured professors leaving Florida State University is up by half with college authorities struggling to attract replacements, and the state's academics look as far as Canada for new opportunities. 'We have seen more people pull their applications, or just say, 'no, I'm not interested it's Florida,' said University of Florida law professor Danaya C. Wright. DeSantis has made education reform a cornerstone of his governorship, promising to 'push back against liberal elites who suppress freedom of thought in the name of identity politics and indoctrination'. Gov Ron DeSantis has axed all government-funded DEI spending at Florida's public colleges and universities and started a purge of their governing boards Psychology professor Walter Boot is leaving Florida State University for Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, and Professor of Education Hope Wilson is leaving the University of North Florida for a new job at Northern Illinois University. DeSantis has pledged that all students graduating from public universities in Florida will be required to study 'actual history and actual philosophy that has shaped western civilization' He abolished diversity programs in state funded universities and vigorously used his powers to overhaul their governing bodies. And turnover at the University of Florida's law school has now reached 30 percent with many blaming 'political interference'. Professor Maryam Jamshidi who left the school for the University of Colorado Boulder said a 2021 law allowing students to record their professors in class left some fearing they might see their lectures replayed on Fox News. 'As a Muslim woman who works on issues of racism and American power, I didn't feel like UF was a place I could safely be myself and do my work,' she told The New York Times. Psychology professor Walter Boot is leaving for Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and he blamed last year's 'Don't Say Gay' law which restricts teaching about gender, even though it applies only to elementary schools. 'The run-up and aftermath of its passage involved hostile rhetoric painting queer and trans individuals as pedophiles and groomers, rhetoric that came not just from citizens but from state officials,' he told the Tallahassee Democrat. 'It's been very difficult, from a day-to-day perspective, not feeling comfortable or even safe where I live.' The crackdown on diversity has persuaded Professor of Education Hope Wilson to leave the University of North Florida for a new job at Northern Illinois University. Conservative activist Christopher Rufo (left) has described the departures as a 'net gain for Florida', but Dr Neil H Buchanan who is leaving for Toronto say they signal an attack on academic freedom She has a transgender child and was active in providing LGBT support at the university, but grew tired of the state's demands for more information on what services they were providing and how much they cost. 'It just felt very dystopian all the way around,' she told the Times. 'Florida isn't a state where I can raise my family or do my job.' And the governor's attack on tenured professorships is also driving an exodus of those who previously had exceptional job security. In February he slammed them as the 'most significant deadweight costs' faced by colleges and warned that holders would lose their jobs 'if they're not performing to expectations'. That was enough to do for economist Dr Neil H Buchanan who gave up his position at the University of Florida for a teaching job in Toronto. 'It's not just that the laws are so vague and obviously designed to chill speech that DeSantis doesn't like,' he said. 'It's that they simultaneously took away the benefit of tenured faculty to stand up for what's right.' 'The Republicans who are running Florida are squandering one of the state's most important assets by driving out professors who otherwise wouldn't have wanted to leave.' Conservative activist Christopher Rufo was appointed by DeSantis to the board of New College in Sarasota and said he welcomed the wave of departures. 'To me, this is a net gain for Florida,' he explained. Rufo's assault on diversity schemes as a trustee of New College led to student protests at the Florida campus - pictured here in May 2023 'Professors who want to practice DEI-style racial discrimination, facilitate the sexual amputation of minors, and replace scholarship with partisan activism are free to do so elsewhere. Good riddance.' And Dr Sarah D. Lynne, of the University of Florida's faculty senate warned not to read too much into departures from a state which still has a lower than average rate of turnover in academic staff. 'Florida isn't really a unique scenario when it comes to the politicization of higher education,' she added. 'It's a beautiful state to live in and we have amazing students, so we're staying.' A heartbroken mother is suing a building firm over failures that saw her 10-year-old son plunge 20ft down an open manhole to his death. Shea Ryan, 10, was playing with friends near a park in Drumchapel, Glasgow in July 2020 when he got into a building site through a fence which had not been secured. The schoolboy's grieving mum, Joanne Ferguson, is understood to be seeking a six-figure sum in compensation in a civil case against contractor RJ McLeod. The building company was fined a staggering 860,000 in April after it admitted to breaching health and safety laws by failing to sufficiently assess the risk of people gaining access to the site. On Friday, solicitors Digby Brown reportedly confirmed that a case has been launched against the firm at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Shea Ryan fell down a manhole on a construction site in Drumchapel, Glasgow on July 16, 2020 Shea's mum said in the aftermath of the hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court that she hoped the company and other firms would learn lessons from the tragedy. The 36-year-old said at the time: 'My son is not here and that destroys me every day. 'That totally avoidable accident has ruined my life and my kids' lives - I don't even feel human anymore at times because of the grief. 'I just hope this makes them consider site safety everywhere - not just for RJ McLeod but for companies everywhere because the safety of these places is so important.' Ms Ferguson thanked the prosecution for 'holding this company accountable', the first responders who tried to save Shea's life and the community for supporting her. She added: 'Wee Shea is missed every second of every day and his family and friends will always love and miss him.' Shea slipped on a ladder inside the hole close to a play park near his home in on July 16, 2020. Shea was able to get into the Drumchapel, Glasgow construction site (pictured) because the fence around it was not secure He had entered the construction site through an insecure fence before sitting beside the open cover situated 60 metres from the park. The 10-year-old told his friends 'I want to go down' before he entered the shaft. He began to climb down the ladder before he slipped and fell into the water below, the hearing heard. The distance between the ladder and the bottom of the manhole was 6.3 metres. The other children raised the alarm and Shea's stepdad Graham Patterson entered the manhole. Police found Shea lying on his back with Mr Patterson and a neighbour beside him. Shea (pictured) began to climb down the ladder, slipped and fell into the water below, the hearing heard. His cause of death was found to be 'head injury and drowning' 'Shea was seen to have severe head injuries, cold to the touch and was not breathing,' Prosecutor Saud Ul-Hassan told Glasgow Sheriff Court. 'An officer brought Shea to the surface and performed CPR before he was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital, but he could not be saved. His cause of death was found to be 'head injury and drowning'. RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited was fined in April over safety failings and was ordered to pay a 60,000 victim surcharge. Sheriff Matthew Jackson, KC, told the court in April: 'Nothing this court can do can bring back Shea who was a wonderful son and friend as well as a loss to his family, school and all of us...Everyone can learn from this dreadful mistake.' In April, building contractor RJ McLeod admitted failing to sufficiently assess the risk of people gaining access to the site at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Pictured: Floral left at the site in 2020 after Shea died The firm's defence lawyer Paul Marshall said that the company accepted responsibility which was 'failing to carry out a sufficient risk assessment on people gaining access to the construction site'. Speaking at the time, Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said the death of a child was 'particularly tragic'. A fatal accident inquiry into Shea's death is to be held at a later date. Nat Barr has questioned why Anthony Albanese's government is stubbornly refusing to adopt nuclear power, saying Australia is now an 'outlier'. It comes as French president Emmanuel Macron calls for Australia to lift the ban on nuclear energy. 'I hope that you (Australia) will manage to lift the ban,' Mr Macron told Nuclear for Australia founder Will Shackel at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in the UAE. 'I mean, nuclear energy is a source that is a necessary to succeed for carbon neutrality in 2050,' Mr Macron said. France, the UK, and the US are among 22 countries that have committed to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2030. Barr asked Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek why her government was against nuclear energy if world powers were taking it on. 'Because it's slow to build and it's expensive,' Ms Plibersek said. 'But we're an outlier though by the sounds of it,' Barr interjected. 'We've got endless amounts of cheap solar and wind in Australia and that's what we're getting on with building,' the minister continued. 'We've got an 82 per cent renewable energy target because it will bring down power prices and it will do it in a way that doesn't damage our environment.' 'Tanya, it's slow though. We're not going to do this overnight we all know that so should we take on more options like big countries like the UK, America and France are doing around the world?' Barr hit back. Nat Barr has questioned why Anthony Albanese 's government is stubbornly refusing to adopt nuclear power, saying Australia is now an 'outlier' (pictured, a nuclear power plant) Ms Plibersek said nuclear was much slower to build and 'fantastically expensive'. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce challenged Ms Plibersek to lift the prohibitions on nuclear energy on a state and federal level and 'let the market decide'. 'If it's fantastically dear, no one will bother building it,' he said. 'You've got this prohibitions in, yet what we've got is France, England, the United States and Sweden all saying you gotta go nuclear.' Barr asked Barnaby why he didn't put the plans for nuclear energy in action when he was Deputy Prime Minister and in power for over 10 years. 'Because at that point in time we had coal-fire power stations all across the nation and they were producing cheap power,' he replied. However, Ms Plibersek reminded viewers that nine power stations closed under the Opposition who had 'no plan to replace them'. 'That's the problem. No plan for the future,' she said. Australia was one of more than 100 countries to back declarations that will strengthen climate action in farming and healthcare at the Cop28 climate summit being held in Dubai from November 30 to December 14. However, it refused to sign a commitment to triple nuclear energy by 2050 despite backing from world powers like France, the US, Canada and the UK. The Sunrise host (centre) asked Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek (left) why her government was against nuclear energy if world powers were taking it on The fiery clash comes after millionaire businessman Dick Smith says it will be impossible for Australia to run completely on renewable energy and urged Anthony Albanese's government to invest in nuclear power. His comments came after Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the idea of Australia going nuclear in order to fulfil Labor's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 was a 'fantasy wrapped in a delusion, accompanied by a pipe dream'. Mr Boween told the ABC's Insiders program last Sunday that the government will focus on renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, battery and hydro. However, Mr Smith argued 'there's no way we're going to be able to get our carbon emissions down without going nuclear'. 'The Liberals are supporting it, but the Labor party is against it,' he told Radio 2GB. 'The worst thing they believe is the country can be completely run on renewables.' Self-made millionaire Dick Smith has urged Anthony Albanese's government to consider nuclear energy as it pushes towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 Mr Smith described himself as a renewables expert, revealing that he owns electric cars which he powers with the solar energy on his roof. But, he added: 'I can tell you, in a huge country like Australia, it would be impossible to completely run on renewables.' The businessman noted that France derives 70 per cent of its energy from nuclear power - first switching its energy system to the power in the 1950s. 'We should replace our coal power plants with nuclear and get on with it,' he said. The idea of Australia going nuclear has long faced community opposition following the disasters in Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima - despite the country's large deposits of uranium which is the critical fuel. However, a Resolve poll released at the weekend found that fewer than one in five Australians are opposed to ending the country's moratorium on nuclear energy. Labor is aiming for the country to hit 82 per cent renewables by 2030 - up from about a third at present - to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 (pictured, Anthony Albanese) Some 49 per cent of Australians were in favour of revisiting the nuclear moratorium, while just 18 per cent were opposed and 33 per cent were unsure. Labor is aiming for the country to hit 82 per cent renewables by 2030 - up from about a third at present - to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The government will introduce an expansion of a taxpayer-funded investment scheme for clean energy projects, including wind, solar, battery and hydro. The scheme guarantees companies will receive revenue when committing to renewable energy projects but also allows taxpayers benefits when prices soar. States can continue to invest in new gas generation under their own capacity plans, but not under the federal scheme. An Idaho father accused of killing his pregnant wife before making off with their baby has appeared blank-faced his mugshot - as relatives of the alleged victims speak out about their 'unimaginable' pain. Mechanic Jeremy Albert Best, 48, looked dazed and disheveled amid a mane of wild hair and a gray beard in the booking photo, taken one day after he was found naked in a forest near the body of his dead 10-month-old son. Police believe Best killed his wife Kali Jean Randall, 38, at their home in Victor, Idaho, on Thursday, before abducting their baby, Zeke Gregory Best. Randall's cousin, Meg Fischer, released a statement on behalf of her family thanking friends for their support amid horrific circumstances. 'We thank all of you for walking with us during this time,' Fischer said in a message sent to East Idaho News. Idaho father Jeremy Albert Best, who is accused of killing his pregnant wife before making off with their baby has appeared blank-faced his mugshot released on Sunday Best, 48, looked dazed and disheveled amid a mane of wild hair and a gray beard in the booking photo, taken one day after he was found naked in a forest near the body of his dead 10-month-old son Police believe Best killed his wife Kali Jean Randall, 38, and abducted their baby, Zeke Gregory Best, at their home in Victor, Idaho on Thursday. (Pictured: Randall and Zeke) Best was seen walking through a Swan Valley General store naked on Thursday before the alleged homicide of his wife 'Our Zeke is now at rest with his loving mama and unborn sibling. The pain we feel is unimaginable and we thank everyone for their support. 'You will never know how you have lifted our family up during this time. As this is an ongoing investigation, we ask for privacy as we take time to process and grieve.' Fischer previously said she was 'shattered' to learn that Randall had also been expecting her second child at the time of her death. Paying tribute to her cousin, Fischer said: 'She was a beautiful and free spirit. 'She was called to the mountains and made her home there. She was a lover of animals, especially her dogs. 'Motherhood was her greatest joy and we assume she gave her life protecting her children. We love her endlessly.' Footage obtained by East Idaho News shows Best roughly 24 hours before the kidnapping, walking through the Swan Valley General store naked. Best can be seen in the video with a cigarette in his mouth as he slouches over the store's counter next to the cash register. Deputies with Bonneville County Sheriff's Office responded to the store and identified Best. He was evaluated by EMS teams outside the store and was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center over mental health concerns. Zeke Gregory Best was just 10 months old. He was found dead in a forest on Saturday morning Kali Jean Randall was found unresponsive in her home in the Idaho town, and her death is being investigated as a homicide An amber alert for Best was issued at 4:30am on Friday morning, with police warning he was 'heavily armed' It remains unclear what happened at the hospital, but a spokesperson confirmed that Best was discharged on Thursday afternoon. Later that day, officers arrived at the family home in Victor to find Randall unresponsive, with her death being treated as homicide. An amber alert for the couple's child was issued at 4:30am on Friday morning, with police saying Best was last seen driving a Black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV with an Idaho license plate 1T39349. They warned the public not to approach the 'heavily armed' white 5'11'' male suspect and asked anyone with information to come forward. On Saturday morning, hunters discovered Best resting in a sleeping bag beside Kepps Crossing Road near the Dan Creek Road, east of Idaho Falls, and called police. Bonneville County Sheriff deputies rushed to the scene and identified Best, placing him in a patrol car until medics arrived to treat him for any injuries. His black Chevrolet was found down a nearby embankment off the roadway. Deputies combed the area and found Zeke's body. In a statement from the family, they said: 'In the wake of the devastating loss of our beloved Kali and her unborn baby, our family is overwhelmed with grief and sorrow. 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 Police said Best was last seen driving a Black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, which they later located close to the forest where he was found naked in a sleeping bag by hunters An amber alert for the couple's child was issued at 4:30am Friday morning 'Our hearts ache, and our focus is entirely on the safe return of baby Zeke. 'In the midst of every family's worst nightmare, we humbly request privacy as we focus our energy on the safe return of Kali's beloved son, Zeke.' 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'. At least 47 people have been killed and over 85 injured in landslides and flooding in northern Tanzania, local officials said on Sunday, with warnings that the tolls were set to rise. Heavy rain on Saturday had hit around the town of Katesh, some 300 kilometres north of Dodoma, district commissioner Janeth Mayanja said. 'Up to this evening, the death toll reached 47 and 85 injured,' Queen Sendiga, district commissioner of the Manyara region, told local outlets. Officials said that the count of dead and injured was 'likely to increase'. The landslides occurred near the slopes of Mount Hanang. Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is out of the country attending the COP28 climate conference in the United Arab Emirates, said that she had ordered the deployment of 'more government efforts to rescue people'. Officials said that the count of dead and injured was 'likely to increase', and that there was significant damage to infrastructure East Africa, which until recently had been experiencing an unprecedented drought, has now experienced weeks of torrential rain and flooding linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon 'We are very shocked by this event,' President Hassan said in a message posted online by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health. East Africa, which until recently had been experiencing an unprecedented drought, has now experienced weeks of torrential rain and flooding linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon. Heavy rainfall killed and damaged property across Tanzania last month, while farmers' crops have also suffered damage. El Nino is a naturally occurring weather pattern that originates in the Pacific which drives increased temperatures globally. It can bring drought to some areas and heavy rains elsewhere. Scientists expect the worst effects of the current El Nino cycle to be felt at the end of 2023 and into next year. Between October 1997 and January 1998, flooding exacerbated by El Nino rains caused more than 6,000 deaths across East Africa. These extreme weather events are being made longer, more intense, and more frequent by human-induced climate change. The Tanzania Meteorological Agency has advised that heavy rains are likely to continue this month. Los Angeles Police officers were called to reports of a burglary at an address in the Granada Hills neighborhood on Saturday morning A homeowner shot and killed a home invasion suspect in Los Angeles early Saturday morning while a grandmother and toddler were in the house in the fifth such crime reported in the area in the space of 10 days. Officers were called to a home in the Granada Hills section of the San Fernando Valley, north of Beverly Hills, around 5am on Saturday after someone reported a 'hot prowl' - a burglary where the homeowner is present. 'The officers preliminary investigation determined that approximately three to four armed males in their 20s entered the home with the intent to burglarize the location,' according to LAPD officials. 'A suspect pointed a weapon at the victim and while the suspects were inside the residence, the victim produced a firearm and a shooting occurred.' One of the suspects - a man - was hit by gunfire and died at the scene. Officers were called to a home in the Granada Hills section of the San Fernando Valley, north of Beverly Hills, around 5am on Saturday The name of the deceased burglar has not been released. The other three suspects fled the scene and have not yet been identified, but police said a 'trail of blood' suggested one of them had been injured. There was also a grandmother and a toddler in the house at the time. Video from the scene shows the unnamed male homeowner being detained by police during the initial investigation, but it is not known if he has been charged. LAPD Valley Bureau Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said that the investigation in ongoing and that it's up to the District Attorney's Office if charges will be filed in the case. 'Anyone inside their residence that is faced with a deadly threat and is perceived as a deadly threat has the right to protect themselves,' Hamilton said. Police found what they believe in the suspect's car, a black BMW sedan as the group fled the vicinity on foot. Neighbors were alarmed by the incident but told KTLA that they aren't surprised. Pat Walsh said: 'Weve been having burglaries every day in this neighborhood. 'So Im not surprised at all. Its been a real problem. Residents here are fed up.' Other neighbors were glad the victims were not harmed or killed. 'The suspects messed with the wrong homeowner,' one neighbor said. 'So hopefully this will stop them. It makes me feel good that people are able to protect their homes and stop these guys.' It follows a spate of 'dinnertime burglaries' in the area with burglars breaking into homes when they think residents are out for dinner. Deputy Chief Hamilton said that the gang who attempted this robbery are likely related to other similar crimes that have occurred in the area. 'Our Devonshire detectives have been investigating a number of burglaries in this area that have been centered north and south of Rinaldi and we believe this incident is related to that series of crimes,' Hamilton said. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department. Handsome, 6ft 3in tall and an architect to boot, when David Cohen's profile came up on the Plenty of Fish dating website, Lise Johansen had no hesitation in swiping right. The year was 2018 and the then 55-year-old mother of two was not long out of a 25-year marriage. 'When I first saw David, I liked the look of him,' she told the Mail exclusively last week. 'First of all we swapped phone numbers and then we arranged to meet. And it didn't take long before it developed into a relationship. It was mutual, or at least that was what I thought. I needed somebody to hold my hand, a partner to share things with, I needed to be close to somebody that was what I was looking for.' Unfortunately, instead of finding the man of her dreams, Lise ended up walking into a nightmare that has cost her her health, wealth and happiness. Because the man she met on that dating app turned out to be one of Britain's cruellest conmen. His real name, it would eventually emerge, was David Checkley and his claim to be an architect was as false as the pretence that he was her loyal partner. Susan Baio (pictured with David Checkley), who used to own a nursery in Bath, lost her business as a result of Checkley's trickery 'He hasn't done a day's work in his life other than defrauding people,' Sharon Shearer, another of his former victims told me last week. 'I dubbed him 'The Man With The Golden Tongue'. And that's what he is he is an expert at what he does.' Checkley's expertise lies in what is known as romance fraud, or 'rom-con' as the crime has been nicknamed. Targeting middle-class women, he mercilessly exploited their vulnerabilities to inveigle his way into their affections, before persuading them to hand over increasingly large sums of money. His technique was honed over decades, starting in the mid-1980s when he obtained 27,000 from one victim after marrying her and remortgaging her house. Then, in 2010, he was jailed for more than six years for defrauding ten women out of hundreds of thousands of pounds, one of whom was divorcee Sharon. Not that he learned any lessons. Because by 2017 he was back up to his old tricks, spinning a web of lies that saw dozens more conned out of over 100,000. The money was used to fund his lifestyle and indulge his love of Harley-Davidson motorbikes and foreign holidays. In the end, as we shall see, in July 2021 his past once again caught up with him and he was arrested by police. Eventually charged with offences against ten women, following an eight-week trial he was convicted of 19 counts of fraud and one of theft, and was last week sentenced to a further 11 years in jail at the Old Bailey. True to form, the 65-year-old showed no remorse, dismissing his victims as 'friends with benefits'. Divorcee Sharon Shearer had lost 200,000 to Checkley after being conned by David Checkley Detectives who investigated the case say Checkley is the 'most prolific and heartless' criminal of his kind they have ever come across. There were stronger words from those whom he deceived. As he was led to the cells, four of his victims were in court, cheering and shouting: 'Scum'. Having recently undergone surgery for cancer, Lise was not able to attend court, but it is a sentiment she shares, blaming her former 'boyfriend' for her illness and the financial woes that saw her losing her home and ending up living in a car and then a hostel for the homeless before being finally re-housed by the local council, on benefits. 'I'm glad he is in prison because it is the only place he can't do this to any other woman,' she told the Mail. 'I no longer trust anyone and I do believe that the stress levels have caused me to have cancer. This has ruined my life on every level.' In recent years, the number of women looking for love, who are deceived into false relationships by fraudsters whose only aim is to steal their money, has soared. Shaffeena Ahamed (pitured), a 54-year-old healthcare worker from North London, handed over 16,000 to Checkley less than two months after meeting him According to data from Lloyds Bank, romance scams increased by almost a third last year, with those aged 50 to 65 accounting for more than half of the money stolen. The real figures are probably much higher, with victims of the crime often too embarrassed at having fallen for these conmen to go to the police. And, indeed, given the outlandish claims made by Checkley, some will wonder how he got away with it for so long. During his latest trial, the court heard that he told some of the women he seduced that his former wife was a cousin of the Hollywood actress Lucy Liu while boasting of his children's successful careers as hospital consultants and DJs. They were lies which would be repeated in various forms to his other victims. Other stories included him being a U.S. fighter pilot, and a veteran of the Vietnam War, despite him having come to the UK aged ten from the Caribbean island of Grenada and being just 17 years old when the conflict ended. Checkley also claimed to own a successful architect's practice, explaining his frequent absences by saying he was travelling the world for work, designing palaces for 'kings and princes' in the Middle East. Checkley, 65, was convicted of 19 counts of fraud and one of theft, and was last week sentenced to a further 11 years in jail at the Old Bailey In reality, he was the director of an inactive company called Greater Income Group Ltd, the initials of which adorned the private number plates of his various motorbikes and Mercedes cars. Companies House records show the firm was set up to invest in property, with Checkley having the nerve to describe his occupation as 'financial engineering'. As for home, that was a rented 500,000 semi in St Albans, Herts. Quite how long he was actually there is unclear given the amount of time he spent between the various women in his life, all of whom believed they were in monogamous relationships with him. Checkley's victims were chosen from the Plenty of Fish dating site and aged from their 40s to their early 70s. 'It is clear from the evidence that the defendant chose his victims knowing their vulnerabilities,' prosecutor Rekha Kodikara told the court. 'Some of the victims had unhappy relationships, some were lonely, some were ill and they were looking for a long-term relationship.' READ MORE: Internet Romeo conned dozens of women out of 500,000 pretending to be terminally ill Advertisement And Checkley knew the right strings to pull. Described by one woman as 'charismatic, confident, elegant, intelligent and wealthy', he would come across as someone dependable and trustworthy, a loving father and grandfather. (Twice married, he has at least five children of his own.) He took one 68-year-old woman, recovering from cancer and mourning her mother, to view a house in North London, where he said they could live with her children and grandchildren. 'He was a charmer,' another of the victims, a divorced businesswoman in her early 60s, said. 'He was attentive and told a really, really good story and supported everything with photos of his family and of his grandchildren.' Having gained their trust, Checkley wasn't slow to ask to borrow money from the women, offering to invest it on their behalf, to buy a Rolex watch at a knock-down price or to refurbish homes which they would one day share. 'He said he needed the money for new windows, and that he couldn't get hold of his funds because the guy in his finance department was away in Germany,' said the woman, who gave him a total of 3,000 during the seven weeks they knew one another in 2021. 'I should have known better to hand over money but I did.' Others lost much bigger sums one 61-year-old felt confident enough to open seven credit card accounts and hand him 30,000. Another gave him 45,000. As for Danish-born Lise, she lent him 15,700 over a three-year period. 'He was very upfront when asking for money,' she said. 'I'm not a wealthy woman but there was so much it could be anything from 10 to thousands.' At another point one of her rings went missing, stolen by Checkley. The crook had used victim's cash to buy two new Harley Davidson motorbikes worth approximately 40,000 'It was my mum's ring, she died in 1989 and wanted me to wear it after her death,' she said. 'I took off my three rings and left them on my table and when David left, my mum's heavy white gold solitaire ring, with seven brilliant-cut diamonds had gone.' Checkley denied knowing what had happened to it and the relationship continued, despite her suspicions growing towards the end. 'There was a time when he asked me to look for a garage to store something for him in,' she recalled. 'I said why don't you just rent a space in Big Yellow or one of the storage places and he asked me to get prices. I did and when he came round to see me and we were talking about it, it turned out he didn't understand how to work out what was a cubic metre. 'I thought, if he couldn't work out how to calculate a cubic metre, how could he be an architect? Can you imagine the houses he would be building if he didn't know how to do that?' And yet, like many of the women, she only learned the full truth of his deception with a call from the police in the summer of 2021. By then, Checkley had been rumbled by several other victims, who had alerted the authorities. The businesswoman was among them. She worked out his real identity after paying 15 for an online check to see who was really behind an email address he used in the name of David Cohen. Some of the victim's money was also spent on buying this Mini Cooper 'When I found out it was someone called David Checkley, I Googled him and there it was, all in front of me,' she said. 'I read the articles and saw the photos and found out about his previous victims.' Among them were reports about the court case involving Sharon and others from 2010, whom she tracked down on Facebook and then met in person for a chat. It was early 2021 and she believes she was the first one to report Checkley to police. Others weren't far behind. 'There was about six of them who got in touch and I just said to all of them: 'You need to go to the police,' said Sharon. 'The fact that he came out of jail and did it all over again beggars belief, but leopards never change their spots. They said they couldn't believe he was like this, and I told them to read the stories that were out there.' Those stories told how Sharon had lost 200,000 to Checkley. Other women who featured in the 2010 case included Shaffeena Ahamed, a 54-year-old healthcare worker from North London, who handed over 16,000 to Checkley less than two months after meeting him and Susan Baio, who used to own a nursery in Bath, but lost her business as a result of his trickery. His new victims also learned about another case Checkley had been involved with, which provided another terrifying insight into his true character. Checkley spent cash on this Mercedes after conning his victims In 2002 he was jailed for five years for his role in a ruthless, London gangland plot to abduct and murder the former Channel 4 presenter Mark Levy. The comedian, once a familiar face on the channel's Big Breakfast show in the 1990s, was a cocaine addict and had become involved in various scams to make money. Checkley had lured him into a deal to buy fake Rolex watches at the gangland workshop from where he was subsequently abducted and murdered. Checkley was convicted of false imprisonment and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. At his sentencing hearing last week, Judge Jonathan Laidlaw directly addressed Checkley's newest victims. 'I am quite certain no sentence is going to do justice, but I hope it will become clear that these are criminal offences, they are not your fault on any of these convictions,' he told them. In 2010, the crook was jailed for more than six years for defrauding ten women out of hundreds of thousands of pounds, one of whom was divorcee Sharon Kind words but ones that will do little to erase the trauma of what they have all endured. On top of the financial hit, is the emotional trauma. 'It's been a nightmare,' said Lise. 'The three years I was with David Checkley, it was nice when we were together, there were never any arguments. The problem was that he would sometimes disappear for a week or two or three when I couldn't get in touch with him, so it was stressful throughout the relationship. 'People have asked how I felt afterwards and maybe that was my depression kicking in, but it was like David had died and I was grieving for what could have been but I knew I could never get.' She says it has also damaged her ability to trust anyone, a sentiment shared by the businesswoman, who has now tentatively returned to online dating albeit very cautiously. 'Obviously I'm very suspicious of everyone,' she says. 'So when any man asks me what I do for a living, I tell them that I am a policewoman. And what happens? As soon as I say that, they block me. 'There must be thousands of scammers out there.' Thankfully with Checkley now back behind bars, at least there is one less to contend with. She was, or so they all thought, just a secretary. Tea rounds, dictation, letter-writing: Hester Leggatt was a hard-working member of staff at MI5, often spotted pacing the hushed corridors of 57-58 St James's Street, London, where the service was based during World War II, and keeping the other secretaries in line. Colleagues there knew her as 'The Spin', short for 'spinster': strait-laced, a fastidious rule-follower and prudish when it came to discussing her private life. But little did they realise just how much Hester, who died in 1995 aged 89, was hiding beneath that prim and proper facade. It wasn't until 2010, when Operation Mincemeat, by Ben Macintyre was published that Hester's name first entered the history books. And not until this year that her loved ones found out what an unsung heroine she was. The Operation Mincemeat story will, no doubt, be familiar: that of the celebrated but utterly bizarre naval deception, in which the body of a homeless Welshman was deposited off the coast of Spain, disguised as a Royal Marine and carrying fake intelligence documents, in a bid to trick Hitler into diverting his troops from Sicily to make way for the Allied invasion. The far-fetched plot, carried out in 1943, is widely credited with saving thousands of young soldiers' lives and drastically changing the course of the war. Ben Macintyre's book about it inspired a 2021 film of the same name starring Colin Firth Hester Leggatt, known as 'The Spin', is believed to be the third woman from the left Mrs Joan Gerard Leigh, wife of Lieut. Col. W.H. Gerard Leigh, Officer Commanding the Household Cavalry.Mrs Leigh, was 'Pam', the girlfriend of the Man Who Never Was, and was one of the key figures in 'Operation Mincemeat' during World War II Macintyre's book about it inspired a 2021 film of the same name starring Colin Firth, while the hugely-popular musical, currently receiving rave reviews in the West End, was inspired from an episode of a podcast called Stuff You Should Know about Operation Mincemeat. READ MORE - Operation Mincemeat FIRST LOOK: Colin Firth looks dapper in a Naval uniform as he transforms into a World War Two intelligence officer in the upcoming drama Advertisement In every re-telling of the ruse, and there have been several, an MI5 secretary plays a vital role as 'Pam', the fiancee of the fictional Major William 'Bill' Martin, whose body the Nazis thought they'd found. Pam was tasked with writing love letters, a crucial part of Bill's backstory, replete with girlish, light-hearted details of life back home in England, which her superiors stashed in the dead man's jacket pocket to be found along with his remains. If not for these letters, historians say, the Nazis might not have believed Bill's carefully constructed story and Operation Mincemeat would have been doomed to fail. But for eight long decades, the true identity of their author remained a secret. Then, in June, out of the blue, Hester Leggatt's great-nephew Will received an email from someone purporting to be a 'Mincefluencer' the name given to super-fans of the musical, which has accrued something of a cult following since its West End debut in March this year. The fan asked Will if the Hester Leggett misspelled with an 'e' named as the woman behind the love letters in Macintyre's book might, in fact, be his great-aunt Hester Leggatt, with an 'a'. Pictured: James Fleet as Charles Fraser-Smith, Colin Firth as Ewen Montagu and Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmondeley 'It was quite a shock but a pleasant one,' says Will's daughter, Freya, 20, who lives in London. 'We never met Hester, and Dad had seen that a Leggett had been involved in Operation Mincemeat, but had assumed it wasn't anything to do with us because of the spelling. We don't even think my Grandad, Hester's nephew, can have known about it.' So with her own family in the dark, how did the Mincefluencers connect this seemingly ordinary secretary with the infamous wartime operation? Cue a remarkable reconnaissance mission not dissimilar to Mincemeat itself. SpitLip, the four-piece theatre company behind the musical, started the ball rolling earlier this summer with an online plea to fans to #FindHester: the one character in their play, they said, about whom almost nothing apart from her name was known. The fans took up the challenge with gusto, and what followed was an incredible feat of modern-day sleuthing. Communicating with one another online, mostly via X (formerly Twitter), they delved into research at the National Archives, the Imperial War Museum, local village census records, newspaper clippings, school attendance logs, even piano exam results. In total, 25 contributors including teachers, solicitors, a cancer research scientist, a barrister, cybersecurity experts and authors scoured resources both on and offline, compiling their results in a shared web document which now extends to 59 pages. What they found was nothing short of astonishing. Pictured: Simon Russell Beale as Winston Churchill and Jason Isaacs as Admiral Godfrey The fan asked Will if the Hester Leggett misspelled with an 'e' named as the woman behind the love letters in Macintyre's book might, in fact, be his great-aunt Hester Leggatt By changing the spelling of 'Leggett' to 'Leggatt', they unearthed the real Hester's birth and death certificates, home addresses, employment records, handwriting samples and black-and-white photographs of her as a young woman. One online sleuth even got official confirmation from MI5 that Hester worked as a 'Grade 2 administrative assistant' for the service from 1940 to 1945 in section B1a, the division responsible for running double agents during the war. The mysterious 'Pam' at the heart of Operation Mincemeat could, at last, be traced back to a real person. And now the world knows who she was, a plaque, the definitive historical accolade, will be erected in Hester's honour on December 11, at the Fortune Theatre, where the musical is running until next summer. Legions of fans are expected to attend the unveiling among them Bill Unsworth, another of Hester's great-nephews, who says the amount of work that went into finding her is 'mind-blowing'. He, like other members of her family, had no idea that his great-aunt played such a key role in the legendary plot. 'I don't ever remember it being mentioned at family gatherings when I was little,' says Bill, 52, a graphic designer who lives in Reading. 'She certainly didn't go around talking about it. It strikes me that Hester was the sort of person who took the Official Secrets Act to her grave.' To his great regret, he never met her, though his mother, Angela, now 88, did, and Angela's twin sister, Sue, who died in 2018, was a great friend of Hester's. Operation Mincemeat left to right is Claire-Marie Hall Zoe Roberts David Cumming Natasha Hodgson and Jak Malone Credit Matt Crockett 'Mum met her when she was very little, in 1939 or 1940, so it was very much at the time Hester was doing that job,' he says. 'She went to London to see her a couple of times with her mother, Connel. She described her as very sharp and not a cosy person.' The picture fits with other fragmented memories of Hester, described in Macintyre's book as a 'sharp-tongued dragon... who demanded absolute obedience and perfect efficiency among her girls'. Born in Karachi, India (now Pakistan) in 1905, Hester had public service in her blood: her father, Ernest, was in the Indian Civil Service. Ernest, his wife, Jessie and their children, Hester, William and Donald, moved back to the UK before World I, where Hester attended Tormead School in Guildford, then Wycombe Abbey girls' school and later St James's Secretarial College. Records are scant until the 1930s, when her name resurfaces as a private secretary to the writer Osbert Sitwell. She also did some work for the publisher Golden Cockerel Press, before joining MI5 in June 1940, nine months after the start of the war. Jean Leslie, a junior secretary in 'The Beavers', the nickname for the office team which served under Hester, remembered her as 'skinny and embittered'. Another description from Macintyre's book says she was 'fierce and demanding... she devoted herself utterly to the job of marshalling a huge quantity of secret paperwork'. Her brusque, no-nonsense nature has led to her being characterised as much older than her years: in the 2021 film, she was portrayed by Dame Penelope Wilton then aged 75. Operation Mincemeat left to right is Zoe Roberts Jak Malone Natasha Hodgson and Claire-Marie Hall. Credit: Matt Crockett In real life, we now know, Hester was just 37 when she took part in Operation Mincemeat. Reading the letters she wrote as Pam, full of sweet nothings to her 'Darling Bill', the young secretary seems to have taken on a very different persona on paper. In one, she writes: 'Bill, darling...don't please let them send you off into the blue the horrible way they do nowadays now that we've found each other out of the whole world, I don't think I could bear it.' READ MORE - How MI5 secretary's beach snap was planted with fake plans about Allied invasion of Greece on corpse that was dumped in the Med under Operation Mincemeat Advertisement Another, the inspiration for a heart-wrenching solo by her character in the musical, played by Jak Malone, continues: 'Darling, why did we go and meet in the middle of a war, such a silly thing for anybody to do.' Some have speculated that Hester had her own brother, William, whom she also called 'Bill', in mind when injecting such heartfelt endearments into her work. Bill Leggatt had much in common with Hester's fictional fiance: he commanded the 11th Regiment of the Honorary Artillery Company in North Africa, the very same group of men who were the first guns ashore in the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. In making the dead man's story so convincing, she was ensuring the safety and survival of her own beloved brother. But Hester was shy and would have felt bashful about such a brazen show of emotion; so much so that it's likely she didn't tell her superiors it was she who actually wrote the letters. Ewen Montagu, the intelligence officer in charge of Operation Mincemeat, wrote in his 1953 book, The Man Who Never Was: 'We asked a girl working in one of the offices whether she could get some girl to do it. She took on the job, but never would tell us the name of the girl who produced the two magnificent letters.' Instead, Hester, who had never married, used the opportunity to paint a picture of the romance she could only dream about, pouring out her innermost thoughts and feelings while maintaining her stiff upper lip and steadfastly serving her country. Her written forays as Pam, it would seem, were the closest she ever came to love. One of the saddest discoveries made by the Mincefluencers in their epic bid to track her down was that Hester had, in fact, died almost two decades ago. Having moved to work at the British Council after the war, she eventually left her home in London and retired to a cottage in Chilton, Buckinghamshire, where she lived alone later moving in to a nursing home. Hester's great-nephew Bill Unsworth, says his Aunt Sue visited Hester several times before her death. 'She had the demeanour of being extremely polite, with impeccable manners and an impeccable appearance, despite being bedbound at that stage,' he says. 'She was a lovely, classy old lady, very understated and polite. 'You'd never dream that she'd done something so huge when she was younger. 'To think that back then, in the days when women really were put in their place by men, she had such an important role it makes me very proud that I'm related to somebody who did that.' Freya believes her great-great aunt was woefully 'underestimated' in the history books. 'But she didn't let that define her,' she adds. 'She was a strong-willed person and she ran rings around some. It's such a shame she never got to read the book or see the musical, and such a shame that we never got to know her.' A plaque with Hester's name on it is, they agree, long overdue. 'I just wonder how many other stories there are of people who did extraordinary things during the war, completely unseen and unacknowledged,' says Bill. There are most likely many Hester Leggatts out there, but recognising the work she did goes some way to acknowledging the others who, quietly and without complaint, did their bit, too. And, also thanks to a modern-day musical and its legions of committed fans, the name of this once unsung heroine is, at long last, being sung. Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical runs until 15th June 2024 at the West Ends Fortune Theatre. OperationMincemeat.com Boris Johnson asked the security services to draw up plans to raid a Dutch Covid vaccine factory after the EU 'stole' millions of doses destined for Britain during the pandemic, it has been claimed. Diplomatic sources said the former prime minister was 'enraged' after the EU effectively blocked the export of five million doses of the AstraZeneca jab at the height of the vaccine rollout in March 2021. At one point Mr Johnson asked the security services to investigate 'military options' for retrieving the doses from the plant in Leiden, in the Netherlands. The idea was only abandoned after diplomats warned it would scupper relations and jeopardise the supply of vaccines from plants elsewhere in the EU. Mr Johnson will allude to the extraordinary episode when he appears before the Covid Inquiry this week. His written evidence is expected to underline his frustration at the actions of the EU, which was struggling with its own vaccine rollout at the time. Boris Johnson asked the security services to draw up plans to raid a Dutch Covid vaccine factory after the EU 'stole' millions of doses destined for Britain, it has been claimed Two diplomatic sources told the Mail that, behind the scenes, Mr Johnson was so angry about the interference from Brussels that he considered ordering a covert raid to seize the vaccines which had been paid for by the UK Government. One source said: 'The EU had basically sequestered five million doses of our vaccine. Of course the PM was enraged they were putting British lives at risk to make a political point and distract from their own failings. 'He ordered officials to look at all options for responding, and that did include asking the security services to look at whether there were any options for physically going and taking the vaccines from the Netherlands and bringing them here.' A second source said the EU's 'Trumpian' actions had 'set back relations with Brussels for at least a year'. The source added: 'The EU could not accept the fact that we had negotiated a better deal with AstraZeneca and so they essentially impounded these vaccines in the Netherlands. They were effectively stolen; it was Trumpian. 'Boris was infuriated, as you would expect, and he wanted to look at every avenue for responding. It went well beyond trade retaliation; it was diplomatic, security, everything. 'He felt he was fighting for British lives and at one point he did ask whether there were military options for just going and getting these vaccines. 'Obviously that would have had major repercussions, not least in terms of other vaccine supplies that were being manufactured in the EU. I don't know how far the idea got. AstraZeneca doses (yellow) were produced domestically as well as in the Netherlands, where the EU 'sequestered five million doses' of UK-bound doses; British officials were able to replace most of the Dutch vaccines with supplies from India's Pune plant This chart shows a snapshot on March 28 2021, demonstrating how Britain was racing ahead of the EU in vaccinating its population against Covid-19, supporting Mr Johnson's expected argument that the British Government 'got the big calls right' during the pandemic The former PM's written evidence is expected to underline his frustration at the actions of the EU, which was struggling with its own vaccine rollout at the time (File Photo) 'But at that point the EU's actions were so aggressive that it did not seem such an outlandish idea.' A spokesman for Mr Johnson declined to comment on the claims, saying only that he was 'looking forward to assisting the inquiry with its important work' next week. But a senior ally of the former PM acknowledged he had been 'infuriated' by the actions of a supposed ally. 'Boris was always prepared to use whatever means necessary to ensure that the UK got the vaccines it needed and had rightly obtained,' the friend said. 'He had no interest in playing the EU's political games and the petty politics some displayed over this issue were absolutely infuriating.' Mr Johnson asked the security services to investigate 'military options' for retrieving the doses from the AstraZeneca vaccine plant in Leiden, in the Netherlands, run by Dutch firm Halix (pictured) The diplomatic crisis was triggered when the European Commission threatened to block the export to the UK of five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from a 'finishing plant' run by the Dutch firm Halix in March 2021. At the time, Brussels was in dispute with the Anglo-Swedish biotech giant, which had warned production problems meant it could only deliver a quarter of planned supplies to the EU. AstraZeneca refused to divert supplies from UK plants and Brussels responded by threatening to ban exports from its own territory. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the measure was about 'making sure that Europe gets its fair share'. Mr Johnson was only dissuaded from retaliatory action after officials warned it could jeopardise the supply of an even larger batch of Pfizer vaccines being manufactured elsewhere in the EU. British officials were able to replace most of the Dutch vaccines with supplies from India, allowing the rollout in the UK to continue. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the measure was about 'making sure that Europe gets its fair share' In his evidence this week, Mr Johnson is also expected to reference a separate episode in which the Commission threatened to impose border controls on the island of Ireland to prevent vaccines produced in the EU being sent to Northern Ireland. The EU's approach led to what sources describe as a 'breakdown' in relations. Mr Johnson is said to have had a 'furious' call with French president Emmanuel Macron, who was suspected of encouraging the EU's hardline stance, and an 'even worse' one with Ms Von der Leyen. In his evidence, Mr Johnson will cite the UK's vaccine rollout programme as evidence that the British Government 'got the big calls right' during the pandemic. The UK was the first country in the world to license a Covid vaccine, and had one of the fastest rollouts. The former PM is expected to apologise for mistakes made by the Government during the pandemic but stress that in many areas the UK did well, such as opening up society rapidly after the final lockdown. Among other things, he will acknowledge the huge pain caused by the shocking death toll, but point out that the UK ended up 'in the middle of the pack' for excess death rates. A 10-month-old baby boy has died after being rushed to hospital with critical injuries following an alleged assault in Tasmania's south. Khaylan Shane Butler was rushed to hospital with serious injuries from a home in Warrane, in Tasmania's south, during the early hours of Friday morning. Daniel John Ridgers, 25, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the child by allegedly shaking him and dropping him into a cot. Tasmania Police on Monday issued a statement saying the little boy had died. 'Our condolences are with the family and loved ones of the baby,' a statement said. 'The police investigation is ongoing.' The 10-month-old was rushed from a home in Warrane, on Hobart's eastern shore, to Royal Hobart Hospital (pictured) during the early hours of December 1 On Saturday, detectives said they believed the infant was injured in a 'serious assault' but warned the investigation is expected to take 'some time'. 'Police were called to the Royal Hobart Hospital around 5:20am ... after a child presented with critical injuries that are believed to be suspicious,' police said. Ridgers did not enter a plea or apply for bail during the out-of-hours hearing in Hobart's Magistrate Court and was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to next appear in court on Monday, December 4. Anyone with information that may help the investigation is asked to call Bellerive CIB on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers. The Israeli military says it is expanding its ground operations against Hamas's strongholds to cover the whole of the Gaza Strip, vowing that its battles in the south will be of 'no less strength' than its offensive in the north. Israeli forces continued to bomb swathes of the territory on Sunday, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, with civilians seeking shelter in a shrinking area of the south. For weeks, Israel has warned civilians in Gaza to move south in the enclave as their battles against Hamas raged in the north, and it continued to be labelled as a safer option despite continuous Israeli bombing of Khan Younis and other areas. Now, the IDF has declared that they are fighting 'strongly and thoroughly' in the south, with warnings to displaced civilians to evacuate even further south away from the fighting. Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said on Sunday: 'Yesterday, and today, we eliminated brigade commanders, company commanders, many operatives, and yesterday morning we started the same process in the southern Gaza Strip,' he said. An Israeli military tank rolls near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 3, 2023 Smoke billows over the Palestinian enclave during Israeli bombardment amid continuing battles between Israel and Hamas Palestinian citizens inspect the destruction caused by air strikes on their homes on December 3, 2023 in Khan Yunis Young children injured in Israeli airstrikes arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital on December 03, 2023 in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Smoke rising after Israeli attacks in Gaza, is seen from Sderot in southern Israel 'It will be with no less strength than that, it will be with no less results than that, and Hamas commanders will meet the IDF everywhere in a very, very strong way.' Hamas reported on Sunday that its fighters clashed with Israeli troops about one mile from the southern city of Khan Younis. Video on Arabic social media showed tanks near Khan Younis, where Israel claims Hamas leaders are holed up. Residents, many of whom had moved there to flee earlier attacks in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, said they could hear tank fire and feared a new Israeli ground offensive was building. On Sunday night Israel also announced it had eliminated a key Hamas figure who had organised the October 7 attacks. In a statement it said an IDF jet has struck and killed Commander Haitham Khuwajari, head of Hamas' Shati Battalion. As the war moved into its 58th day leaflets were dropped onto the Gaza Strip urging people to move further south and maps were posted on social media showing people safe routes. More than 1.8 million people out of Gaza's 2.3 million population are said to be displaced across a strip of land 25 miles long and 7.4 miles at its widest point. The Israeli military earlier ordered people to evacuate some areas in and near Khan Younis, but has only now announced a full-scale ground assault in the south. 'The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) continues to extend its ground operation against Hamas centres in all of the Gaza Strip,' spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters in Tel Aviv. 'The forces are coming face-to-face with terrorists and killing them.' Israel yesterday revealed it had carried out more than 10,000 airstrikes on the strip since the war started. This image, taken on October 19, 2023, shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) defeating a combination of Houthi missiles Pictured: USS Carney, DDG 64, in Jacksonville, Florida. It responded to distress calls from three vessels in the Red Sea and provided assistance, US Central Command said Fuelling fears the conflict could spread to destabilise the region, Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi movement said it attacked two Israeli ships in the Red Sea with an armed drone and a missile on Sunday, in a move to stand with the Palestinians. The US Central Command has since confirmed that four attacks were carried out against three commercial ships in the Red Sea on Sunday. It said the USS Carney responded to distress calls from the vessels and provided assistance. 'These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security,' it said in a statement. 'They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world. 'We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.' A Palestinian woman brings a baby to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital as Israeli attacks continue in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Injured and displaced Palestinians seek shelter in the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis The Jabalia refugee camp in the north of Hamas-ruled Gaza was among the sites reported to have been hit from the air. A spokesperson for the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said several people were killed by an Israeli airstrike. Footage obtained by Reuters showed a boy covered in grey dust, sitting weeping amid crumbled cement and rubble from collapsed buildings. 'My father was martyred,' he cried in a hoarse voice. A girl in a pink sweatshirt, also coated with dust, stood between piles of rubble. Bombardments from war planes and artillery were also concentrated on Khan Younis and Rafah, another city in Gaza's south, residents and health officials have said, and hospitals were struggling to cope with the flow of wounded. Israel's government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, said the military had struck more than 400 targets over the weekend 'including extensive aerial attacks in the Khan Younis area' and had also killed Hamas fighters and destroyed their infrastructure in Beit Lahiya in the north. An adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is making 'maximum effort' to avoid killing civilians. Pictures have shown severely injured children covered in blood at the Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Younis, which James Elder, from the children's agency Unicef, described as a 'warzone'. He told the BBC that children were arriving with head injuries, terrible burns, and shrapnel from recent blasts. A home in Khan Younis, southern Israel, ripped apart by airstrikes Children play as smoke rises following Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip 'It's a hospital I've gone to regularly and the children know me now, the families know me now. Those same people are grabbing my hand, or grabbing my shirt saying 'please take us somewhere safe. Where is safe?'' 'They are unfortunately asking a question to which the only answer is there is nowhere safe. And that includes for them, as they know, that hospital,' he said. He told the BBC that he could hear 'constant large explosions' close to the hospital. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 500 people have been killed since bombing resumed after the end of a seven-day pause in the fighting on Friday. The temporary truce between Israeli forces and Hamas, which had allowed an exchange of 105 hostages held by Hamas, most of them Israelis, for 240 Palestinian prisoners. The latest violence took place despite calls from the United States - considered Israel's closest ally - for the country to limit harm to Palestinian civilians in the new phase of its offensive, focused on the south. Israeli flares light the sky above Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on December 3, 2023 Israeli troops and military vehicles are positioned near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 3, 2023 More than 15,523 people have been killed, according to Gaza's health ministry, in nearly two months of warfare that broke out after a Hamas cross-border raid on southern Israel on October 7 in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 240 taken hostage. Israel says Hamas continues to hold 136 hostages. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas. The Iranian-backed group is sworn to Israel's destruction. The initial Hamas attack and the ensuing war amount to the bloodiest episode in the decades-old wider Israel-Palestinian conflict. Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas official, accused Israel of pursuing a deliberate strategy of urging Gazan civilians south in order to trap and kill them there. Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to the hospital in Deir al Balah Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to the hospital in Deir al Balah 'It has become clear that the occupation's claim... of the existence of safe areas in the south of the Gaza Strip, and its constant call for citizens to go there, was a premeditated plan and trap to commit more massacres against unarmed civilians and displaced people in the south,' he told reporters without citing evidence. 'There are no safe areas.' The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment but has consistently said it is targeting Hamas military strongholds and has asked civilians to move to safe zones so they can get humanitarian aid. Gaza residents said earlier on Sunday they feared an Israeli ground offensive on the southern areas was imminent. Tanks had cut off the road between Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, effectively dividing the Gaza Strip into three. The Israeli military ordered Palestinians to evacuate several areas in and around Khan Younis. It posted a map highlighting shelters they should go to west of Khan Younis and south toward Rafah, on the border with Egypt. Injured Palestinians, including children, receive medical treatment at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Many residents started packing but said that areas they had been told to go to were themselves coming under attack. Nabil Al-Ghandour told Reuters he and his family would leave Khan Younis for Rafah later on Sunday, their fifth move in search of safety since the conflict started. 'We can't see any safe areas,' he said. 'But we move because what can we do? We have children and all night there's shelling.' Later on Sunday, a Gazan health ministry official said seven people were killed in an air strike on a house in Rafah. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli military said on Sunday its war planes and helicopters had struck Hamas targets including tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities. Naval forces had hit Hamas vessels on the coast, it said. The military declined to give figures on the number of air strikes carried out. On another front, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters traded fire across the Israel-Lebanon border and Israel said several of its soldiers were wounded when an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit a vehicle in the Beit Hillel area of northern Israel. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts. A New York City knifeman who murdered four family members - including two young children - has been pictured. Courtney Gordon, 38, carried out the killing spree in Far Rockaway, Queens, in the early hours of Sunday morning before being shot dead by cops. A knife used by the mass-killer was snapped on the ground after the bloodbath, with a body bag also being wheeled out of the crime scene. Gordon, 38, killed an 11 year-old girl and 12 year-old boy, as well as a 44 year-old woman and a man in his 30s. They were his relatives, but further details have not been disclosed. Christine Watson - his 61 year-old aunt - was also knifed, according to the New York Daily News, but survived. She is said to have invited Gordon to stay with her after his marriage ended and he became homeless. His mother briefly spoke Sunday, saying: 'I spoke to him yesterday. He just said to me, 'Mama, I love you,'' I said, 'I love you too, son' and then I get the news.' Courtney Gordon, pictured, murdered four relatives - two of them children - before being shot dead by police in Queens Sunday morning Police have released the photo of the knife used by a man to stab four family members to death before setting their house on fire and stabbing two responding officers DailyMail.com cameras so emergency workers carrying away victims in body bags as blood still remained on the front door to the Queens home City workers remove bodies from a Queens home where a man allegedly went on a stabbing rampage 'My aunt took him in because she felt sorry for him because he's telling her he's trying to get his life together,' Gordon's sister, who remained anonymous, told the New York Daily News. Gordon - a father of three - had spent the past year in and out of homeless facilities following the dissolution of his marriage and the loss of his job. She said that he was 'suffering deeply, deeply from depression and mental illness,' 'I knew it was going to be bad. I wanted to tell her this is bigger than us, to let him go back to the shelter, but no one was listening to me. She took him in. There's no reason for this.' 'He loses his wife, he lose his happy home, he was gone,' she continued. 'He lost his job. He just lost it.' His sister also blames the mental health system on her brother's deterioration, saying that she kept trying to get him help. 'They're telling me he's a grown man [and] because of his age, I couldn't sign the consent and give him the treatment,' she said. 'I really tried because I know he wasn't stable.' She added that he'd told her he was going to try and get a job while their aunt helped him out. Gordon - a father of three - had spent the past year in and out of homeless facilities following the dissolution of his marriage and the loss of his job His sister also blames the mental health system on her brother's deterioration, saying that she kept trying to get him help 'My aunt, she's a sweetheart,' his sister said. 'She's a wonderful person. I didn't think anything like this would happen,' Despite what became of him, his sister wants people to know that her brother's demons consumed what was once a decent man. 'He was a good person. He was happy,' she said. 'I just want everybody to know mental illness is really serious. It really is.' NYPD Chief Jeff Madrey said cops found themselves unable to enter the residence - due to the blaze started by the suspect as he left the home with a suitcase. One of the officers was stabbed 'in the neck-, chest-area,' according to Madrey, while the second was struck in the head. Once inside the home, officers found a 12-year-old boy, an adult man, and a 44-year-old woman all dead, and an 11-year-old girl fatally stabbed at the entrance. She was transported to a nearby children's hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds. The incident is believed to be a domestic dispute. Police officers walk through the area and investigate the crime scene Cops descended on a Queens home Sunday morning after a stabbing that left three dead and two officers injured, at a home on Beach 22nd St in Far Rockaway A suspect was shot in the lower extremity during an ensuing skirmish - which happened outside 467 Beach 22nd St in Far Rockaway just after 5am. Identifeid as 38-year-old Courntey Gordon, he is now dead after being shot on the street outside the residence Speaking to reporters from the hospital where the cops are being cared for, Maddrey shed some light on the still-shrouded situation. 'Unfortunately we are frequent customers here at Jamaica Hospital, and they are always extremely professional and give our cops the best care so thank you,' the chief said at about 9am, joined by other senior ranking officers in the department. Revealing that another unnamed 61-year-old woman remains hospitalized in critical condition, the top cop described how the two officers initially came across the suspect while responding to a 911 call from a young female inside the house. Now being questioned by detectives at the 101 Precinct, the girl claimed to be a cousin of Gordon, Maddrey said. 'This morning, at about 5:10am, in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, in the 101 Precinct, members from the 101 Precinct received a 911 call of an assault in progress,' the chief said. 'Basically, a young female caller stated that her cousin is killing her family members.' He added that two members of the nearby 101 Precinct, 'a 28-year veteran and a 16-year veteran,' responded to the call in a marked vehicle during their regular patrol. As they get to the location on East Beach 22nd Street, Maddrey told the press, they came face to face with the man said to be responsible for the slew of deaths. 'As they get to the location on East 22nd Street,' Maddrey said, 'the officers pulled up to the block. Attempting to 'set the stage' for the incident at followed, the chief described how the two family home at 467 22nd Street is set on 'a residential block with homes on it, with apartments, with private houses', at the end of a driveway where 'there's another four or five private homes.' 'It's like a little residential community in a residential community,' he said, before describing in-depth the fatal altercation. Dozens of cops remained on the scene into the morning, as well as firefighters who responded a fire at the residence first reported around 5:17am Once inside the home, officers found a 12-year-old boy, an adult man, and a 44-year-old woman all dead, and an 11-year-old girl fatally stabbed at the entrance. She was transported to a nearby children's hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene during cops' response. A fourth person stabbed died shortly after, while another three were taken to a local hospital The two officers slashed were then taken to Jamaica Hospital while the suspect was also hospitalized, the lawmen with non-life-threatening injuries. Several, including the unnamed teenage girl, are said to be in critical condition After the fire was knocked down, officers were seen removing several victims The incident, believed to be a domestic dispute, remains under investigation The four victims, meanwhile, were all stabbed to death, with three dying before officers even arrived. The fourth, reportedly a 12-year-old girl, died after being brought to a hospital Several described hearing gunshots during police's response, during which police officers shot the suspect before discovering the additional victims with multiple, unspecified injuries 'Our officers pull up to the driveway, [and] as they get to the driveway, they see a male walking out he's carrying luggage', Gaddrey recalled. 'Our officers asked the male a question or two, and in an encounter that lasted about ten seconds, the male draws a knife on our officers. 'He stabs one officer in the neck-, chest-area, [and] he strikes the second officer in the head. 'Our 28-year veteran [was] able to draw his firearm [and] able to discharge his weapon to the stop the assault, and he was able to stop the perpetrator. 'Our two officers were removed to a local hospital, Jamaica Hospital, [and] our perpetrator was removed to [another] local hospital. 'He has since been pronounced dead on arrival.' The chief proceeded to describe how additional officers called to the scene responded to the still-unfolding situation, initially coming across 'a young child laying in the front of the house' outside before even gaining entry. 'Unfortunately,' Gaddrey continued, 'that young child died of her injuries,' revealing her to have been only 11 and stabbed several times. The other victims, all believed to have been related, were later found inside in a pair of bedrooms toward the back of the house, but not before officers grappled with how to get inside due to a fire started by the suspect. Speaking to reporters from the hospital where the cops are being cared for, Police Chief Jeff Maddrey (center) shed some light on the still-shrouded situation The other victims, all believed to have been related, were later found inside in a pair of bedrooms toward the back of the house, but not before officers grappled with how to get inside due to a fire started by the suspect The chief proceeded to describe how additional officers called to the scene responded to the still-unfolding situation, initially coming across 'a young child laying in the front of the house' outside before even gaining entry 'They were not able to enter the home because there was a fire inside the living room/foyer area,' the chief told reporters without providing a specific timeline of the fast developing situation 'They were not able to enter the home because there was a fire inside the living room/foyer area,' the chief told reporters without providing a specific timeline of the fast developing situation. He said that FDNY, however, soon responded and were able to put out the fire and rescue the 61-year from the home to be brought to another hospital in Manhattan. Once the fire was extinguished and officers were able to get into the apartment, lawmen found the three other victims, Maddrey said - revealing they were 'all dead.' He added the belief that everyone who died 'the four family members', as he called them were all killed as a result of stab wounds they sustained during the incident, which cops are calling a domestic dispute. He further revealed how at the scene, cops quickly recovered the weapon that was used to injure the officers - a typical kitchen steak knife that was photographed and shown to those in the audience. 'At this time, this was the only weapon we recovered,' Maddrey added. 'This part of the investigation will determine whether it was the weapon used to harm all the victims.' An investigation has since been launched by the NYPD's crime scene unit, Maddrey said, adding that the Queens South Homicide division and detectives with the 101 Precinct are also aiding in the effort. Officers went on to provide the name of the suspect - along with a brief synopsis of his criminal history in his home borough of the Bronx. There, Gordon - who had no history with police linking him to the location on East Beach 22nd Street - had one prior arrest for a domestic strangulation incident, police said Sunday. He further revealed how at the scene, cops quickly recovered the weapon that was used to injure the officers - a typical kitchen steak knife that was photographed and shown to those in the audience The incident, as of 11am, remains under investigation with the NYPD. DailyMail.com has reached out the department for comment Watch live as NYPD executives brief the media on an ongoing investigation in Queens https://t.co/4gSTDKbXru NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 3, 2023 'It seems he is a Bronx resident that was visiting family members at this location,' the added. As for the 911 caller, cops said she is currently being questioned at the 101 stationhouse, and 'may be able to shed some light on what occurred' as cops continue to vet the killings. At this point, though, officers conceded the investigation is still ongoing, with Maddrey electing to not identify the deceased due to relatives still needing to be notified. Cops did, however, provide ages for all of the victims killed or wounded during the attack - including the male 12-year-old, female 44-year-old, 'and a male in his 30s' found inside two back bedrooms of the location. Also described was the female 11-year-old who was found in the front of the location, who officers revealed was transported to Cohen's Children's Medical Center elsewhere in Queens, before ultimately passing away. Also hospitalized was 'a female 61-year-old who is currently at Mt Sinai Hospital in [critical] condition suffering from multiple stab wounds. 'It seems [the victims] were all family relations,' cops added. Dozens of cops, meanwhile remained on the scene well into the morning Sunday, as well as firefighters who responded to the fire at the residence at around 5:17am. Within minutes, the fire was knocked down, and officers were seen removing victims from the domicile - with investigators later revealing the belief that the suspect lit a couch at the front of the location on fire as he was leaving. Several described hearing gunshots during police's response, during which police officers shot the suspect before discovering the additional victims with multiple, unspecified injuries. 'I heard pop pop pop,' one neighbor told amNewYork of the early-morning incident, as preliminary reports indicate that police shot the suspect outside the home before discovering additional victims inside the residence. 'It woke me up out my sleep and then I heard the sirens. It is scary,' the witness added. Radio chatter indicated more of the same, as firefighters were heard telling dispatchers they removed at least one person with minor injuries from the scene. Police are now asking the public to stay clear of the area as they continue to probe the incident, which sparked a prominent police response and saw portions of the Van Wyck closed. Sources familiar with the matter told outlets like The News, amNewYork, and ABC 7 that cops first received reports of the person wielding the knife during a domestic dispute, but did not provide any additional details. The incident, as of 11am, remains under investigation with the NYPD. DailyMail.com has reached out the department for comment. APM Terminals Bahrain, operator of Khalifa Bin Salman Port, hosted its first-of-its-kind Investor Day at the port attended by investors and the companys executive management. The investors were given a comprehensive presentation by the CEO Matthew Luckhurst, CFO Farooq Zuberi and Interim CCO Mahesh Manikoth, who outlined the company's financial performance, strategic roadmap, upcoming investments, its decarbonisation project and overarching goals. The session incorporated an interactive Q&A segment, encouraging direct and transparent interaction between investors and the management team. APM Terminals Bahrain organised an exclusive port tour conducted by COO Abdelrahman Elshamy, where the Investors gained valuable insights into the intricacies of port logistics and witnessed the cutting-edge facilities that underpin APM Terminals Bahrains commitment to excellence. "We were thrilled to welcome our valued investors at the port during our Investors Day. This occasion underscores our firm commitment to transparency, strategic growth, and building stronger partnerships with our investors, said Luckhurst.--TradeArabia News Service Boris Johnson has mocked David Cameron's return to government as 'great news for retreads everywhere'. In a thinly veiled swipe at the recently-appointed Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson suggested Lord Cameron was a prime example of 'nails peeling out of the coffin lids' across the world. The former prime minister - who has been commissioned to write a book on Shakespeare - went on to quote a famous line from Hamlet about the 'sheeted dead... squeaking and gibbering in the streets'. It is a stark contrast to Lord Cameron's own assessment of Mr Johnson. The Foreign Secretary recently heaped praise on his fellow Old Etonian for his ardent support for Ukraine since the Russian invasion. But speaking to estate agents in Ontario, Canada, Mr Johnson said: 'Look, I think it's great news for retreads everywhere. The new Foreign Secretary appeared to offer an olive branch to Boris Johnson when he visited Ukraine last month Boris Johnson has mocked David Cameron's return to government as 'great news for retreads' 'Across the political landscape, the nails are peeling out of the coffin lids. And the sheeted dead are wandering and gibbering in the streets.' The original line in Hamlet, spoken by Horatio, refers to the myth that the dead rose from their graves and ran through the streets of Rome before Julius Caesar was assassinated. READ MORE - The unlikely comeback of David Cameron marks extraordinary return to front line for the hoodie-hugging former PM and architect of the Brexit referendum who became mired in a lobbying row Advertisement Mr Johnson, now a Daily Mail columnist, also weighed in further on the conflict between Israel and Gaza - one of Lord Cameron's key responsibilities in his early months in government - by suggesting it was important to maintain 'moral clarity' about Hamas' October 7 attack. 'There is a difference, in my view, between the terrorist attacks of Hamas militias, which were brutal - and the rape and the torture and the murders - these were indiscriminate attempts to cause massive human suffering and degradation,' he said. Though Mr Johnson served on Lord Cameron's frontbench when the latter was Leader of the Opposition, the two have not seen eye to eye on many occasions since their Eton days. The most visible split came during the Brexit referendum, when Mr Johnson backed Leave while Lord Cameron led the campaign for Remain. However, the new Foreign Secretary appeared to offer an olive branch to Mr Johnson when he visited Ukraine last month. 'I had some disagreements with Boris Johnson, he was my friend for 40 years, but his support for you was the finest thing that he introduced,' he told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. George Osborne met the Greek foreign minister and proposed sending up to half of the Elgin Marbles back to Athens, according to reports. The meeting allegedly took place last week only hours before Rishi Sunak abruptly called off his meeting with his Greek counterpart. According to the Politico website, ex-Chancellor Mr Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, suggested sending either a third or half of the Parthenon Marbles back to Athens in a temporary swap arrangement. In exchange, ancient Greek artefacts never seen in Britain would be sent on loan to the UK. The sculptures at the centre of the row were created in the 5th century BC and were once part of friezes that adorned the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis. They have been displayed at the British Museum in London for more than 200 years. Ex-Chancellor George Osborne allegedly met the Greek foreign minister last week to propose sending up to half of the Elgin Marbles back to Athens Mr Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, suggested sending either a third or half of the Parthenon Marbles back to Athens in a temporary swap arrangement The meeting took place just hours after the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak called off a meeting with his Greek counterpart, according to reports Mr Osborne said it had become clear that Mr Sunak's administration would not support an exchange. The British Museum Act of 1963 prohibits the removal of objects from their collection a position in law that Mr Osborne said would mean Greece would have to eventually return the sculptures. Speaking on his podcast Political Currency last week, Mr Osborne said negotiations will continue and that he would carry on pressing for an exchange deal that would allow the ancient sculptures to be displayed in Greece. He said he intended to reach a deal where the sculptures spent time in both London and Athens, with 'Greek treasures coming our way in return'. He added: 'And that is, I think, something worth exploring. And we can go on doing it whether or not Rishi Sunak meets the Greek prime minister.' Mr Osborne outside the British Museum with its interim director Sir Mark Jones On Wednesday Rishi Sunak accused the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of 'grandstanding' as he defended his decision to cancel a meeting between the two of them a few days earlier. Mr Sunak said his counterpart had broken a promise that he would avoid using his trip to the UK to campaign publicly for the return of the sculptures. At the time Greek foreign minister Giorgos Gerapetritis called the move 'a massive diplomatic indiscretion' and that 'even Israel and Hamas communicate'. Yet he went on to calm the situation by saying the 'unfortunate incident will not affect relations'. A British Museum spokesman said trustees had been 'public and open about the fact we're talking to the Greek government' and hoped for an agreement 'within the existing law'. The secret to losing weight could be as simple as choosing crunchier foods. According to the findings of a study, we eat up to half as fast when we have to chew more - and may also feel fuller more quickly, consuming a fifth less. Researchers gave 50 people four similar lunches - two classified as ultra-processed and two that were minimally processed. Importantly, one meal in each category was harder and crunchier - making it harder to eat fast - while the other was easier to consume. The study found people consumed 26 per cent fewer calories when the lunch had a harder texture, largely regardless of the degree of processing, since these meals could not be wolfed down as quickly. The lowest average calorie intake in the study, of 483 calories, came when people ate the hard, minimally processed meal (stock photo) Harder meals included boiled rice instead of soft mashed potato, a crunchy salad instead of coleslaw, and a chewy chicken breast instead of fish bites. Among the other features were a hard fresh apple instead of canned soft mangos and thick, unflavoured yoghurt instead of a flavoured yoghurt drink, as well as a lumpier tomato salsa instead of tartare sauce. The lunches contained the same amount of calories and were rated similarly on how good they tasted. But people consumed fewer calories - about 300 calories less - of the harder, crunchier lunches because they ate less of them. They appear to have eaten less because they had to chew their food more before swallowing, slowing the overall rate at which the meal was consumed by up to half. The researchers believe that eating more slowly gives the body a better opportunity to keep track of the amount of food consumed, so that someone may realise they are full faster and stop eating. Professor Ciaran Forde, senior author of the study from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, said: 'We now have more than a decade of evidence that people choosing textures which encourage them to eat more slowly, like crunchier, harder or chewier foods, can help to consume fewer calories, while still feeling equally satisfied. 'What is appealing in using meal textures to change behaviour and intake is that people can still enjoy eating the foods they like, while reducing the risk of over-consumption. 'It means people can still enjoy a meal and eat until comfortably full, without having to feel restricted.' The researchers believe that eating more slowly gives the body a better opportunity to keep track of the amount of food consumed (stock photo) Among the other features were a hard fresh apple instead of canned soft mangos and thick, unflavoured yoghurt instead of a flavoured yoghurt drink, as well as a lumpier tomato salsa instead of tartare sauce (stock photo) The lowest average calorie intake in the study, of 483 calories, came when people ate the hard, minimally processed meal and the highest intake, of 790 calories on average, came from the soft, ultra-processed meal. The research team has previously studied the different aspects of food texture linked to eating speed and found that, even for a simple carrot, it can be eaten about three times more slowly if it is cut into larger, thicker segments with no mayonnaise to lubricate it during consumption. To build on the current findings, the researchers - whose findings have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - will next look at whether meal texture and eating speed can influence calorie intake over a longer two-week period. They aim to demonstrate for the first time that it is not just what you eat, but how you eat that may be driving the size of your meal. Jim Moore, employment expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, told DailyMail.com that these hints are revealed in your boss's behavior The current economic climate has left many people worrying about losing jobs, but an expert has shared four 'warning signs' that they are on a path of firing. Jim Moore, employment expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, told DailyMail.com that these hints are revealed in your boss's behavior. These signs could be a change in workload, your position in the company and how your superior communicates with you. It's worth taking a few precautions to stay one step ahead of the danger,' said Moore. Keep your resume up-to-date, and keep in contact with contacts in similar roles at different companies. Maintain a close relationship with recruiters so youve got a good picture of the job landscape for when you need it. Your boss starts emailing, not talking Most employees enjoy a chat with the boss here and there, but when discussions move to email, Moore said it might be time to worry. From their point of view, this will all be useful evidence to show theyve done the right thing if it ever comes to an employment tribunal,' he said. If you notice this happening to you, fight fire with fire and make sure you create your own paper trail. You suddenly get a lot more work The current economic climate has left many people worrying about losing jobs, but an expert has shared four 'warning signs' that they are on a path of firing There is a difference between being busy at work and drowning in work. If you find your work objectives and targets are being revised, especially if they suddenly shoot up to unrealistic levels, it could be a sign youre being set up to fail. The key thing to do at this point is to communicate, in writing, with your managers, Moore said. Highlight your concerns and seek clarification in polite and professional written communication,' he shared. Taking this step could be enough to avoid the matter being taken to the next level. Other managers are CC-ed on emails to you Seeing several managers within your company added to emails from your boss is also a warning sign. Moore said this can be a sign that management is creating a 'paper trail' to eliminate you. Ensure any verbal conversation is followed up with an email to confirm the key points and get it on the record,' he continued. Don't be prickly and difficult in your responses you must ensure your messages are professional and reasonable. 'If HR ends up reviewing the documentation, the last thing you want is to be seen as a problem child. You get moved to a new part of the company It could signal that someone is planning for your departure if youve moved off an important project, and its not immediately obvious why. READ MORE: Half of managers complain it's 'difficult' to work with Gen Z employees- while more than a third reveal they've had to fire younger staff because they're too 'easily offended' In a new study by a US-based company, team leaders were asked about their workforce - with shocking results. Advertisement These are some of the things that can happen if bosses know a redundancy process is on the cards,' Moore said, Similarly, if co-workers start acting differently, especially managers, this can be a sign that rumblings about possible actions are circulating. This should be a red flag. At your next one-on-one session with your manager, make it clear that you want to be assigned high-value, impactful work. Youll soon discover if that discussion leads anywhere. Again, always follow up any verbal conversation with an email to confirm the key points and get it on the record. Youre given a performance improvement plan (PIP) While Performance Improvement Plans are theoretically meant to improve performance, they can also be a sign your bosses want to manage you out. Moore said, Appropriately used, a PIP is meant to get you back on track, rather than get you out of the door. But there have been cases where managers have used a PIP in bad faith to push people out. Performance issues at work fall into two categories: capability, which is where staff cant do something, and disciplinary, which is where they wont do something. Both can lead to dismissal if theres no improvement, so you must understand how that improvement will be measured. If faced with a PIP, take the time to clarify what the concern is. Sometimes, its just a case of their expectations for your work not aligning with your understanding of the role. Next, dont be shy to discuss the support you need to meet those expectations. Managers are generally keen to help remove obstacles if you cant get something done, but theres little sympathy for people who could, but wont, perform. Make sure to keep notes of performance discussions. Even a follow-up email after a verbal confirmation to summarise and confirm the key points is sufficient. READ MORE: Bat uses its penis as an 'arm' during sex which can last 12 hours From voyeurism to fetishism, many people have unusual sex kinks they'd love to fulfil. But these preferences pale in comparison to many creatures in the animal kingdom, who have some downright bizarre sex rituals. This week, scientists revealed how male serotine bats use their massive phallus as an 'extra arm' during romps that can last up to 12.7 hours. Meanwhile, female praying mantises brazenly devour the male during or after the mating process. Here, MailOnline looks at the most unusual sex rituals in the animal kingdom. From the echidna with a four-headed penis to banana slugs that can mate with themselves, here's some of nature's weirdest sex stories READ MORE Bats use their penis as an 'arm' The serotine bat mates without penetration Advertisement SHORT-BEAKED ECHIDNA The term 'four-headed monster' isn't just consigned to horror stories. In fact, you can find one on the male short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) from Australia. Although most famous for its spines and long snout, the mammal has a 'very long' and bright red phallus that makes up a third of its body while erect. What's really special about this member is it has four endings or 'heads', all of which can be used for reproduction with the female. But it gets weirder; when the echidna has sex, two of the four heads are engorged while the others are flaccid. What's more, the female has two separate reproductive tracts which take a penis head each during sex. Having four heads on the penis may be to please the female, who scientists believe may mate with up to a dozen males while ovulating. Photos of the creature's apparatus are not for the faint-hearted and one particular male looks dead chuffed with what he's got. The echidna is native to Australia, has spiky pines, a bird-like beak, a pouch like a kangaroo and also lays eggs. The 'very strange and unusual' echidna penis remains a mystery to researchers who still don't understand why it has four heads READ MORE Male bats secrete saliva, faeces, urine and semen to attract females Pictured, a male long-nosed bat during the mating season Advertisement In case you wanted more interesting sex facts about the male short-beaked echidna, its testes are internal (they never descend) and it has no scrotum. Also, when not in use, the penis is stored internally and their ejaculate contains bundles of up to 100 sperm that swim cooperatively until they reach the egg. In most other species, sperm swim individually and its every sperm for themselves. PRAYING MANTIS Possibly one of the most famous and extreme sexual practices comes courtesy of the praying mantis, the ruthless predatory insect. The bigger adult female devours the male during or after the mating process, to give its offspring a source of nutrition as it develops. Sometimes the female partially eats the male before he even mounts her but rather than considering this a sexual faux pas, the male carries on regardless. 'In this case, the headless wonder swings his legs around until his body touches hers, climbs onto her back, and copulates as though nothing were amiss,' writes behavioral ecologist Marty Crump. In this photo, taken at Brenne regional nature park in France, a female praying mantis eats the male just after the coupling. This behaviour is common especially when female is starved Pictured, a female South African mantis (Miomantis caffra) specimen laying her eggs. The species is a moderately sized mantid with one of the highest known rates of pre-copulatory cannibalism. More than 60 per cent of sexual interactions end in males being consumed, mostly without mating What is sexual cannibalism? Sexual cannibalism is the bizarre act displayed by many species of eating a sexual partner. The cannibalism can happen during, after or even before copulation has taken place. The killing and consumption of mates has been described by ecologist Jutta M. Schneider as the 'ultimate example of sexual conflict'. Females are usually the cannibals, and males the victims. Advertisement Some of the most courageous mantis males wrestle with their female mate in an attempt to avoid being eaten resulting in a violent and dramatic struggle. There are more than 2,400 different species of mantises, or mantodea, who have been given the additional 'praying' due to its prayer-like posture. Around 90 per cent of the predatory species of mantises show sexual cannibalism, according to a 2009 paper. ORB-WEB SPIDER Another sexually cannibalistic species is the orb-web spider (Nephilengys malabarensis), but the male has an ingenious solution to help it survive. Its sperm-transferring organs called 'palps' located on the side of its head and analogous to penises can be detached from the rest of its body. It means the male spider can leave its penis to finish inseminating the female while making its exit, reducing the likelihood of it being killed. This form of 'remote copulation' increases the total amount of sperm transferred, and is thought to boost chances of the male becoming a father. Pictured, an orb-web spider female with a severed male palp (in red) still lodged in her sexual organs. The smaller, half-eaten mate is to the left Salamanders will walk nine MILES for sex - read more Researchers looked at the endurance of two types of mole salamanders Advertisement An added bonus of the detachable penis is it will 'serve as a plug' to prevent other males from mating with the female, a 2012 study said. Losing its maidhood also means it weighs less, which makes it more agile and able to fend off other males. BANANA SLUG Banana slugs named in recognition of their bright yellow colour are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. They usually cross-mate, with both slugs delivering sperm and laying eggs, but in rarer cases they even fertilise themselves. Two banana slugs will also engage in an elaborate courtship dance, where the circle each other, prod each other with their tails and nibble at each other's bodies. They eventually intertwine before intercourse begins, which can take several hours as the two take turns transferring sperm from one to the other. A banana slug's male genitalia can be as long as its entire body, making its penis-to-body ratio one of the largest known to scientists. Banana slugs usually cross-mate, with both slugs delivering sperm and laying eggs, but in rarer cases they even fertilise themselves Male banana slugs must choose their mate carefully because if the female is too small their penis might get stuck. Unable to pull out afterwards, the only option left is to bite off the other slug's reproductive organ. PORCUPINE Porcupines are into what can only be described as a very niche sexual fetish. It involves the male drenching the female in urine from around seven feet (two metres) away. If she is not ready to mate, she shakes off the urine and leaves. Porcupines are into what can only be described as a very niche sexual fetish involving urine (file photo) But if it turns her on and she is impressed with his pheromones, then they will mate, and she won't let him stop until he's physically exhausted. When that happens, the insatiable female finds another prickly partner with a full bladder. Perhaps unsurprisingly, porcupine sex is very rare as females are only receptive to sexual advances for between eight and 12 hours per year. You may imagine that porcupine sex would be a prickly affair due to their sharp spines, but in fact, both animals relax their spines to avoid injury. ANGLERFISH Deep-sea anglerfish take sexual intimacy to the next level by 'fusing' bodies with their partners when they mate. In an amazing show of sexual submission, the smaller male anglerfish becomes permanently attached to the relatively gigantic female. This results in their tissue fusing and the two animals establishing a common blood circulation system, a 2020 study found. In this photo, it's easy to miss the male anglerfish attached to the much bigger female. Look at her belly, towards the bottom of the photo The male becomes entirely dependent on the female for nutrient supply, like a developing fetus in the womb of a mother a process called 'sexual parasitism'. In an incredible display of charity from the female, the male supplies sperm to his mate while simultaneously receiving these nutrients. Ultimately, what seems weird to us about another animal's erotic practices comes from thousands of years of evolution and it's worth bearing in mind that we're not so normal ourselves. Humans are one of the few species that have sex for pleasure and stress relief, and to establish emotional connections with each other. Our penchant for bizarre sexual fetishes from bondage to voyeurism and feederism also really sets us apart. Cellphone users across the U.S. are experiencing frustrating reception levels as more calls, texts and data dropped in 2023 than in previous years. According to a J.D. Power report, Americans experienced 11 dropped calls, text or data out of every 100 times they used their phones, up from nine in 2021. This statistic affected major carriers, including Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, all of which experienced worse scores in 2023 than two years previously. Fixing the problem is both simple and complex: carriers just need to build more cell towers, but to do that requires investing billions of dollars. Cellphone users across the U.S. are experiencing frustrating reception levels as more calls dropped in 2023 than in previous years. Your cellphone relies on several external factors to ensure your call goes through and doesn't drop, or the text message you've been drafting can be sent when you've finished it. Mobile phones depend on your network provider, the phone's distance from a cell tower, and the weather to function as it should. A technology expert, Peter Tran, recently revealed that problems with all three factors are coming together to form the perfect storm that impacts reception. Speaking about the reason for reduced cellphone reception, Tran told CBS News: 'It is absolutely possible for a number of reasons,' adding that while it is a lesser issue, smoke from wildfires can absorb or reflect cell signals, but more likely, is the issue of the number of cell towers not meeting the demand. Tran said cell traffic throughout the country is increasing, but the number of cell towers isn't. Trans compared the issue with traffic, saying: 'Just like you have car traffic congestion that is going into one lane, it is similar to that where you have over 300 million cell phones in this country coming into just a limited amount of access to the towers.' Verizon is working to build more cell towers to meet the growing demand. Carriers are working to build more cell towers and are also buying larger spectrums of frequencies, which gives providers the ability to deliver coverage in multiple areas, Time Magazine reports. The problem is that issues are rising in areas with growing populations, meaning the existing number of cell towers is no longer sufficient for that area. Verizon did not immediately respond to Dailymail.com's request for comment. But a spokesperson from the company told CBS News in August that they had finished major upgrades that would make a significant difference for cell phone users. 'Now we are able to take that two-lane highway and make it a 20-lane,' the spokesperson said. A report revealed which carrier offers the best network availability 'Customers are going to see massive amounts of faster data speeds to their mobile phones.' READ MORE: Report compares T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T for download speeds, video quality and coverage A report has revealed the best US cellphone carrier in the US - and more than 300 million Americans might want to consider switching. Advertisement In some places, carriers are getting pushback from residents who don't want new cell towers taking up space in their town. Residents of Beacon, New York have an ongoing petition on Change.org demanding Verizon stop the construction of a 125-foot-tall cell tower in a local cemetery. The petition argues that building the tower will displace animals like deer, bears, and foxes and put their homes and children at risk. They also argue that a cell tower in their backyards will put off people's ability to sell their homes. 'This cell tower is being proposed as a short-term solution with long-term ramifications and decreased property values falling on us, the taxpayers, and homeowners,' the petition says. Aside from waiting for or fighting against new cell towers to go up in your area, cellphone users can take several steps to ensure they are getting the best possible service. Keeping your phone's software up-to-date is imperative because it fixes any known issues or bugs in its operating system. It also improves your phone's overall performance and functionality, while ignoring the updates can make your phone slow down. Users can also check their cell plan, some of which have soft data caps even unlimited plans which will drastically slow your service down without your knowledge. Dailymail.com has reached out to AT&T and T-Mobile for comment. Advertisement History is alive and kicking in Ireland - as is revealed in this book of deserted treasures. Abandoned Ireland by Dominic Connolly, published by Amber Books, shows the extraordinary past of the small island country, exploring everywhere 'from the sparsely inhabited west coast to the urban buzz of Dublin and Belfast'. Beautifully illustrated with 180 photographs, readers are taken on an enthralling tour of the 'lesser-known corners' of the 'enchanting island' - where they'll see stranded shipwrecks, a magical stone supposed to give 'great eloquence', a ruined castle with a 'murder window', and more. In the introduction to the book, Connolly writes: 'Ireland is a land settled and fought over again and again by various peoples over many hundreds of years, all of whom have left their imprint on its soil.' He adds: 'The past two centuries in particular have seen the urbanisation of Ireland and, sparked by the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, the depopulation of much of the rural areas, leaving many abandoned houses, schools and villages. But similar fates have made some buildings redundant, with the rich as well as the poor suffering. However, Ireland always has the capacity to reinvent itself, with parts of the country being rediscovered for their heritage and stunning scenery, and built-up areas getting surprising new leases of life.' Below you'll find 16 abandoned sites on the island of Ireland that appear in the tome, with caption information courtesy of the author. ABANDONED COTTAGE, ISLE OF DOAGH, COUNTY DONEGAL: 'Doagh is still called an island but the channel between it and the mainland has silted up. Despite this it still shows signs of rural depopulation, including this house,' writes Connolly in reference to this ruined structure. He adds: 'Donegal is sometimes known as the "forgotten county" because it is remote and difficult to access' SS JUSTICIA SHIPWRECK, COUNTY DONEGAL: 'Launched in 1914, this troop ship was sunk by U-boats in World War I off Malin Head four years later,' the book reveals. Delving into its history, Connolly writes: 'She had been built in Belfast by the company that had only a few years earlier completed the Titanic, Harland & Wolff. When she was destroyed she was unladen, heading from Belfast to New York to pick up troops' DERELICT COTTAGE, WATERVILLE, COUNTRY KERRY: Connolly says there are many derelict cottages across Ireland, which shows 'signs of rural depopulation, as people have been attracted elsewhere by better prospects than living off the land'. Describing the cottage above, he adds: 'Ironically, this dwelling is in a village that acted as a focal point for the Irish side of the first transatlantic cables' CENTRAL HIDE AND SKIN CO LTD, DUBLIN: Watling Street, which is where 'this business once thrived', says Connolly, 'was a centre for Dublin's leather and tanning industry'. He adds: 'In 1850 there were 19 houses in the street where such or similar trades took place. The company was still in operation in 1984, when it was bought out' MINARD CASTLE, DINGLE PENINSULA, COUNTY KERRY: 'Constructed in the mid-16th century for the Fitzgerald clan, the structure of this castle was so strong that it withstood four charges being detonated at its corners by Oliver Cromwell's English troops in the 1650s,' Connolly says of this isolated fortress. He adds: 'However, all its occupants were killed in the attack and the castle was rendered uninhabitable' FORT DUNREE, COUNTY DONEGAL: 'This complex started to be built as the 19th century became the 20th, and the buildings were used as barracks, stores, workshops, messes, a canteen, military hospital, and even a chapel,' the author writes. The corrugated-iron structures, Connolly says 'were an addition to the 18th-century Fort Dunree, which was built after revolutionary Wolfe Tone had tried to land with a French fleet at nearby Lough Swilly, in his attempt to end British rule'. He adds: 'Lough Swilly was later used to anchor British ships during World War I. The fort was handed over to the Irish Free State in 1938 and now operates as a museum' LACKEEN CASTLE, COUNTY TIPPERARY: Connolly says: 'When this medieval tower house was rebuilt in the 16th century, the Stowe Missal was found, an illuminated mass book dating from seven centuries earlier.' The author reveals that Lackeen Castle was originally constructed in the 12th century as a stronghold of the Kennedy clan MV ALTA, COUNTY CORK: 'This ship was abandoned at sea in October 2018 and finally washed up on shore in February 2020,' the book reveals. Built in 1976, Connolly says it suffered total engine failure near Bermuda. He adds: 'The crew were rescued by the US Coast Guard, and the ship was carried by currents, ending up in Ireland' MOORE HALL, COUNTY MAYO: Connolly says this abandoned house was built at the end of the 18th century by George Moore 'who had made a fortune in Spain in the wine and brandy trade'. He says his descendants continued to live there until it was burned down in 1923 'by opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, as the-then owner Maurice Moore, was pro-Treaty'. He adds: 'It was designed by John Roberts, who was also the architect for Tyrone House in County Galway, as well as Waterford Cathedral. It stands in the limestone karst landscape of County Mayo, which provides the conditions for various exotic plants to grow' D.W. PARKE CHEMIST, CLOMNEL, COUNTY TIPPERARY: The founder of this shop, Connolly writes 'was a Protestant who emigrated to America as the creation of the Irish Free State saw customers shun him'. In 2016, the author adds 'a painting by John Doherty of this ornate shopfront - called Prescriptions Accurately Prepared - was sold at Sotheby's in London' TEMPLEMORE BATHS, BELFAST: This run-down bath house in Belfast, Connolly says, opened at the end of the 19th century. When they closed in 2020 for a 17million redevelopment, they were the last functioning Victorian baths in Ireland, the book reveals. Delving into its history, Connolly writes: 'Templemore Baths were often used by Harland & Wolff shipbuilders' employees living in East Belfast who did not have running water. During World War II the baths were repurposed to become a makeshift morgue and they have also served as a children's hospital' ROCHE CASTLE, COUNTY LOUTH: 'Standing on a rocky hilltop, this 13th-century Anglo-Norman castle can be viewed for miles around,' Connolly writes of the eye-catching structure. He adds: 'It was built by Lady Rohesia de Verdun and it is said she promised to marry the architect but that when he went to claim her hand, she had him thrown out of one of the windows, known today as the "murder window"' CLIFDEN CASTLE, COUNTY GALWAY: 'Built for landowner John DArcy in 1818, this Gothic Revival-style house suffered when the Great Famine struck, and many tenants could not pay their rent or emigrated,' Connolly says, revealing that the DArcys later went bankrupt. He adds: 'In the 20th century, the house was leased to joint tenants who stripped it of its remaining valuable assets' BLARNEY CASTLE, COUNTY CORK: Connolly reveals this castle was built by chieftain Cormac MacCarthy in the 15th century and is now 'most famous as the home of the Blarney Stone - which, it is said, gives the gift of eloquence if kissed'. Explaining the history behind its name, the author says 'Elizabeth I is credited with first using "blarney" to mean "coaxing talk" exasperated at excuses regarding taking the castle, she called them all "blarney"' BAD EDDIE, BUNBEG, COUNTY DONEGAL: The remains of this fishing boat can be seen from the derelict Ostan Gweedore hotel that overlooks the waters, Connolly says. The book reveals it was abandoned after running aground on the beach in the 1970s. 'Known as "Bad Eddie's boat", she has become a local tourist attraction,' the author adds BALLINGEARY FOODMARKET, COUNTY CORK: 'The remote Ballingeary foodmarket with its old petrol pumps stands in the Shehy Mountains near the border with County Kerry,' the book reads. Connolly adds: 'According to the 2016 census, more than 42 per cent of the population speak Irish there on a daily basis, and Ballingeary is part of the Muskerry Gaeltacht, in which Irish is spoken' Legendary actress Shirley MacLaine was seen stepping out for lunch in Malibu just weeks after being honored with a lifetime achievement award. The Hollywood veteran, 89, was flanked by her health aide as she stopped by popular local restaurant Kristy's earlier this week, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show. MacLaine appeared frail but in good spirits, dressed casually and comfortably for the sunny, mild weather in a blue sweatshirt, teal sweatpants, and long beige cardigan. Shirley MacLaine, 89, was joined by her health aide during a lunch outing at Kristy's in Malibu this week The Hollywood veteran, who turns 90 next April, appeared frail but in good spirits during the outing The actress opted for patio seating, keeping cool with a visor and large sunglasses, exclusive photos show MacLaine kept cool under the sun with a visor and large sunglasses and opted for patio seating at the chic cafe. The lunch outing came just weeks after the television and film star was honored at the 2023 Industry Dance Awards & Cancer Benefit Show. While MacLaine, who will turn 90 in April, requires a health aide these days, she has not shied away from industry events or red carpets. She was seen beaming on the red carpet at the October 19 event, where she looked as stylish as ever in a floral embroidered black blazer, black slacks, and black flats. With a deep-rooted history in dance, MacLaine received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the ceremony, which was presented to her by actress Annette Bening, 65. The two are actually sisters-in-law, with Bening being married to to MacLaine's brother, fellow Hollywood star Warren Beatty, 86. MacLaine was dressed casually and comfortably for the sunny, mild weather in a blue sweatshirt, teal sweatpants, and long beige cardigan While MacLaine now requires a health aide, she has not shied away from industry events or red carpets MacLaine's career onscreen spans over seven decades, winning an Oscar in 1984 for her starring role in 'Terms of Endearment' After posing solo for photographers, she also snuggled up with Bening for another round of pictures, and again with Peter Levine, who appeared to be her date for the evening. MacLaine's career onscreen spans over seven decades, winning her first Oscar in 1984 for her starring role in Terms of Endearment. With hopes of being a ballerina, MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty) began with ballet when she was just three-years-old in 1937, as a means to strengthen her weak ankles. The Richmond, Virginia, native ended up moving to New York City to try her hand at acting the summer before her senior year in high school, resulting in her earning minor success in the chorus of Oklahoma! In October, MacLaine was presented with the LifeTime Achievement Award at the Industry Dance Awards by actress Annette Bening, 65, her sister-in-law through her marriage to brother Warren Beatty Debut: MacLaine began her career as an actress nearly 70 years ago with a role in the 1955 movie The Trouble With Harry alongside John Forsythe MacLaine and her Terms of Endearment co-star Jack Nicholson both won Oscars for their roles in the 1983 movie One of MacLaine's most memorable performances was in 1989's Steel Magnolias alongside Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton and Sally Field After graduating, she returned to Manhattan and landed a spot on the dancing ensemble of the Broadway production of the musical Me And Juliet (1953-1954) at the Majestic Theatre. She rose to prominence in Around The World In The Trouble With Harry (1955), 80 Days (1956), Some Came Running (1958), Ask Any Girl (1959), The Apartment (1960), The Children's Hour (1961), Irma la Douce (1963) and Sweet Charity (1969). Eventually, MacLaine landed one of the lead roles in the drama film The Turning Point (1977), which centered on the world of ballet in New York City and featured choreography by George Balanchine and the famed Alvin Ailey, who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater that's still up and running. One of MacLaine's most memorable performances was in 1989's Steel Magnolias alongside Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton and Sally Field MacLaine has been nominated for six Academy Awards during her illustrious career, five for Best Actress and once for Best documentary for her 1976 effort The Other Half of the Sky. She has also won six Golden Globes and an Emmy for Gypsy in My Soul. Arnold Schwarzenegger has met with the survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel. The former Governor of California, 77, welcomed relatives of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas, as well as survivors of the October attack, at his Santa Monica office on Friday. The Terminator star - who condemned anti-Semitism last month - said that the unprecedented attack was unlike anything he's ever seen in his lifetime and offered his support for Israel. 'It's extremely important that the world hears those stories,' he told People. 'We hope that will make this hatred slowly disappear. Because a huge amount of damage is done through hatred, a huge amount of lives are lost.' He added, 'When something like this happens, I feel personally that we have to speak out.' Arnold Schwarzenegger has met with the survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel at his Santa Monica office on Friday Arnold also went on to say: 'I have never dealt with anything like this before. I always want to be there for the Jewish people, and for Israel.' Among those met was Ella Shani, 14, who is a survivor of the attacks and traveled from Israel to Santa Monica. She told the story of how she woke up and fled for her life while still wearing her pajamas. Later, she learned that her father was murdered by Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7. Her cousin Amit Shani, 16, was kidnapped from a safe room in his home when Hamas set the structure on fire and broke down the door to where he was hiding, TMZ reported. Ella spoke for about 30 minutes detailing how she woke up to sounds of gunshots and explosions. 'And it's like in the movies when you see the bullets hitting the wall right behind you and you hear them whistling next to your ear,' she said. The former Mr. Universe teared up and after she finished speaking, hugged the teenager and, to lighten the mood, showed her some of his movie memorabilia. The meeting was organized by the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem - which Arnold has partnered with for years. The Holocaust Museum Los Angeles posted an image from the event on Instagram. 'Our hearts continue to go out to all the families whose loved ones are still being held captive and pay for their safe return,' the post was captioned. The former Governor of California, 77, also welcomed relatives of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas The Terminator star - who condemned anti-Semitism last month - said that the unprecedented attack was unlike anything he's ever seen in his lifetime and offered his support for Israel The meeting was organized by The Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem Earlier this month Schwarzenegger took the opportunity to speak out against 'anti-Semitism raging throughout the world' while collecting the Award of Courage; seen with 101-year-old Holocaust survivor Joe Alexander at the event on November 6 Earlier this month Schwarzenegger took the opportunity to speak out against 'anti-Semitism raging throughout the world' as he collected an anti-bigotry award in Los Angeles. He insisted 'we cannot let them get away with the lies and hatred' at the Holocaust Museum's annual gala, according to the museum's chief executive Beth Kean. Schwarzenegger, the son of a decorated Nazi soldier, called for people to 'speak out' against online hatred while receiving the award for his long-term advocacy against antisemitism and bigotry. 'The more we speak out about that issue, the better it is, so every day you have to talk about it... over and over again because we cannot let them get away with these lies and with this hatred', he said. The former governor of California also spoke about visiting Auschwitz in September last year, where he signed a guestbook at the camp with The Terminator's iconic line, 'I'll be back'. He said: 'It was amazing to be there and see that first hand. 'I wrote in the book I'll be back because I will be back there with a whole bunch of Hollywood celebrities so they can see what went on there and put the spotlight on this issue.' Nicole Kidman has risked backlash by partnering with controversial fashion brand Balenciaga for its latest campaign launch. The French-based fashion house sparked controversy in late 2022 after it was linked to a shoot that placed children alongside BDSM-themed items. The saga prompted more revelations to emerge about Balenciaga's previous campaigns, with fans discovering the Spring/Summer 2023 campaign featured pages from a US Supreme Court decision on child pornography laws. While many celebrities publicly cut ties with Balenciaga in the aftermath, Nicole has ignored the controversy and made no mention of it on her social media or in interviews. On Sunday, the Australian actress was officially announced Balenciaga's newest celebrity ambassador during the brand's Fall 2024 fashion show in Los Angeles. Nicole Kidman has risked backlash by partnering with controversial fashion brand Balenciaga for its latest campaign launch. (She is pictured modelling a coat from brand's Fall 2024 campaign) Nicole attended the event dressed in a dramatic black coat paired with oversized pearl drop earrings, tights and pointy-toed heels. Taking to Instagram, the Moulin Rouge! star shared a series of moody, black-and-white images of herself showing off her coat while posing against a plain concrete wall. Nicole's latest collaboration with Balenciaga comes a year after the company received immense criticism for releasing a set of images that showed children posing alongside a slew of BDSM-related items. On Sunday, the Australian actress was officially announced Balenciaga's newest celebrity ambassador during the brand's Fall 2024 fashion show in Los Angeles The Australian actress starred in the fashion brand's Spring 2023 campaign, which was unveiled just as the BDSM scandal broke (pictured in Balenciaga in July 2022) THE BALENCIAGA SCANDAL: BONDAGE BEARS, CHILD PORN DOCS AND AN ARTIST KNOWN FOR DEPICTING NAKED KIDS The Bondage Bears Christmas campaign The scandal erupted when Balenciaga released its 2022 Holiday ad campaign that featured children posing with its Plush Toy Bag. The bags look like teddy bears and are dressed in BDSM gear. In the photo shoot, the kids also appeared surrounded by empty wine and champagne glasses. The distinctly adult themes immediately troubled many who asked why children had ever been used. Balenciaga ignored the scandal at first and seemingly allowed the photographer who was involved, Gabriele Galimberti, to take the heat. He released a statement saying he had no control over the content of the shoot and eventually, Balenciaga released its own statement agreeing with him and taking responsibility for the campaign. It has now been pulled from the internet. The hidden child porn documents After the BDSM bears fiasco, eagle-eyed critics started examining the rest of Balenciaga's campaigns closely. They soon discovered that in the background of an image from the Spring '23 campaign was a printout of a Supreme Court ruling on whether or not internet child porn can be legally considered free speech. On the back of the bears scandal, many critics said it pointed to a troubling pattern within Balenciaga. Balenciaga was quick to blame North Six, a production company that helped arrange the shoot, for the inclusion of those documents. They claimed that they entrusted all of the props from the photoshoot to North Six, and that their team was assured everything that was included was fake. The troubling book of artist whose work depicts naked, castrated toddlers Balenciaga is yet to answer for the inclusion of a book by Michael Borremans in the background of two of the images from the Spring '23 campaign. Borremans is a Belgian painter whose work includes a troubling 2017 series called Fire From The Sun. It depicts naked toddlers - some of them castrated - playing in a group and at times alone. Lawyers for the brand are yet to address DailyMail.com's questions about how the book ended up on the photoshoot. In this image from Balenciaga's scrapped Spring '23 campaign, Isabelle Huppert sits in front of a stack of books including one that celebrates Michael Borremans, a Belgian painter whose work is known to include depictions of castrated toddlers Borremans' other work includes his 2017 series Fire From The Sun, which features castrated toddlers and babies holding what look like severed limbs, while playing together nude in a large group Advertisement In the photo shoot the kids also appeared surrounded by empty wine and champagne glasses. The distinctly adult themes immediately troubled many who asked why children had ever been used. Balenciaga ignored the scandal at first and seemingly allowed the photographer who was involved, Gabriele Galimberti, to take the heat. He released a statement saying he had no control over the content of the shoot and eventually, Balenciaga released its own statement agreeing with him and taking responsibility for the campaign. Nicole is pictured wearing Balenciaga in July 2022 On the back of the bears scandal, many critics said it pointed to a troubling pattern within Balenciaga. A Twitter user discovered that one of the photos in a separate shoot contained an excerpt from the 2008 US Supreme Court opinion in United States v. Williams, which upheld part of a federal child pornography law, which Twitter's own fact-checkers confirmed. Balenciaga was quick to blame North Six, a production company that helped arrange the shoot, for the inclusion of those documents. They claimed that they entrusted all of the props from the photoshoot to North Six, and that their team was assured everything that was included was fake. We revealed last month that Shetland star Ashley Jensen and Vera actor Kenny Doughty had married in secret, and there was no hiding their happiness when the pair, below, appeared on the red carpet on Friday. They were at An Audience With Kylie, where Ashley, 54, flashed her wedding ring, circled, and her hubby, 48, sported a Johnny Depp-style beard. They met on the set of 2017 BBC drama Love, Lies And Records and tied the knot in a low-key ceremony in August. Newlyweds Ashley Jensen and Kenny Doughty attending An Audience With Kylie at the Royal Albert Hall in central London There was no hiding their happiness as Ashley, 54, flashed her wedding ring Carol sells seaside flat after a big subtraction Carol Vorderman's seaside home in Wales is under offer With rumours swirling that celebrity maths whizz Carol Vorderman is planning to become a Labour candidate at the next Election, a new development in her home life has emerged. I hear that her seaside home in Wales is under offer. The plush clifftop flat on the Pembrokeshire coast was put on the market back in July for 500,000, but it languished unsold for five months until the 62-year-old slashed the price by 50,000 last month. The two-bedroom apartment, which has a hot tub on its balcony, features heavily in the former Countdown star's Instagram feed where her 450,000 fans would often see her posing in a range of colourful bikini tops. Ms Vorderman, below, was last month axed from her BBC Radio Wales show following a string of anti-Tory tweets and told yesterday's Daily Mail: 'I know what's about to come: there is a lot of news to be announced and I'm really happy. I'm looking forward to the General Election. 'Dismantling the Tory Party is my aim for the rest of next year.' Ian Ziering expressed support for former Beverly Hills 90210 co-star and friend Shannen Doherty as she battles stage four breast cancer. The 59-year-old actor acknowledged her strength, speaking to People after Shannen, 52, last month revealed her cancer had spread. 'Shannen has always been a fighter,' he told the publication while attending iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023 in Los Angeles on Friday. He added, 'It's not over. She's got a long road in front of her. She's so courageous and strong, and stands as a role model to those that are facing similar adversities.' Ziering then added about the actress, 'She's really an incredible woman.' Ian Ziering expressed support for former Beverly Hills 90210 co-star and friend Shannen Doherty as she battles stage four breast cancer; seen at iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball in LA Ziering acknowledged Doherty's strength, speaking to People after the 52-year-old actress revealed last month that her cancer had spread; Shannen is about to launch a podcast about her cancer journey Doherty recently told People that she, Ziering, and Brian Austin-Green formed a close bond in the last few years. 'I would say out of anybody in [the 90210] cast, Brian has been the one who's stayed consistent in my life. 'Brian and I never really lost touch with each other. We always checked in. We've always made a point of trying to see each other,' she said. Shannen added about Ian, 'I think Ian and I, it was like once we got older, we really came to appreciate each other in a very different way and be able to sit down and talk about what we were both going through as individuals back in the original 90210 days.' Giving a glimpse into their friendship, she noted, 'But once we were all in Canada shooting the reboot... Yeah, it often was the three Musketeers. Myself, Ian and Brian, we would just go to dinners together and hang out. It was pretty awesome.' Earlier this year Doherty announced that her cancer had spread to her brain in an Instagram post that showed her undergoing radiation therapy. In the vulnerable video clip, she cried as the camera focused in on her face. First diagnosed with breast cancer which included the presence of multiple tumors in 2015, the Charmed alum had a single mastectomy in May 2016. 'Shannen has always been a fighter,' he said while attending iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023 in Los Angeles on Friday The two performers starred on the original Beverly Hills 90210, as well as the recent reboot Shannen is about to launch a podcast about her cancer journey, she told her social media followers this week. '7 more days until the first full length episode comes out! I am honored to share my life and journey with you all. December 6th is the date!' she wrote in a caption along with a photo of her that had the podcast title, Let's Be Clear, printed across it. Engaging her 2.1 million Instagram followers, she added, 'You can go to Apple podcast and click 5 stars if you like my intro (hope you do) and also leave messages @letsbeclearpod about things youd love me to discuss and people you want on.' 'You can catch my podcast on @iheartradio and anywhere you listen to your podcast. Much love to you all,' she finished the note. He is living in Brisbane with his family while filming Ron Howard's survival thriller Eden. And Daniel Bruhl was spotted enjoying some quality time with his wife and kids on Saturday as he enjoyed a well-deserved break from set. The Spanish-German actor, 45, was spotted leaving his hotel with his wife Felicitas Rombold and their two young sons ahead of a sunny day of exploring. Daniel was dressed perfectly for Queensland's summer climes, sporting a loose white T-shirt, blue shorts, sneakers and long socks. He completed his look with a blue cap worn backwards and pair of sunglasses. Daniel Bruhl, 45, (right) was spotted enjoying some quality time with his wife and kids on Saturday in Brisbane, as he enjoyed a well-deserved break from set of Ron Howard's Eden His former model wife meanwhile sported a white-and-yellow striped crop top, khaki mini skirt, sneaker and crew socks. The couple were seen helping their children into the back of the car before putting several shopping bags in the boot, including one emblazoned with the Rebel sport logo. It comes as Daniel continues to film Eden alongside an A-list cast of Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby, Ana de Armas and Jude Law. The Spanish-German actor was spotted leaving his hotel with his wife Felicitas Rombold (centre) and their two young sons ahead of a sunny day of exploring The film 'follows a group of people fuelled by a profound desire for change; in order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos,' according to an IMDB synopsis. Producers on the thriller - which also includes Howard - informed Deadline last month in October the film 'explores the human condition in ways that are unexpected, absurd, humorous, sexy, but above all thrilling and deeply suspenseful.' Both Sweeney and Kirby replaced actresses Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alicia Vikander who had initially been cast in the project. His former model wife meanwhile sported a white-and-yellow striped crop top, khaki mini skirt, sneaker and crew socks Noah Pink wrote the screenplay for Eden - which was originally titled: Origin Of Species. According to Deadline, Hans Zimmer will score the film and this will be the composer's 10th time collaborating with Ron Howard. During an interview with Business News Australia earlier this month, Ron expressed his excitement to return to Queensland - which was where he also filmed Thirteen Lives. The couple were seen helping their children into the back of the car before putting several shopping bags in the boot, including one emblazoned with the Rebel sport logo 'I have always been impressed with the professionalism and creative spirit of the Australian film community,' the filmmaker stated. 'My experience with our Queensland crew on Thirteen Lives only confirmed that and more,' he added. 'I'm thrilled with the opportunity to bring Eden to Queensland and continue the collaboration.' Advertisement Cardi B made a show-stopping runway debut at the Balenciaga Fall 2024 fashion show on Saturday. The rapper, 31, modeled a bright blue fur coat as she strutted down South Windsor Boulevard in Los Angeles with the Hollywood sign in the background and Kim Kardashian sitting in the front row. This comes after the luxury fashion house faced a massive controversy over a year ago when consumers claimed their ad campaign that showed children posing with bears wearing BDSM gear promoted 'child exploitation.' Following the backlash the brand received, the Up hitmaker who looked stunning in a colorful leather ensemble after leaving a fitting in West Hollywood just days earlier took to the runway wearing the vibrant coat teamed with Balenciaga's famous pantaleggings with attached pointed-toe heels. She opted to wear the coat in an off-shoulder style and held the front closed as she walked down the street. Cardi B made a show-stopping runway debut at the Balenciaga Fall 2024 fashion show on Saturday The rapper, 31, modeled a bright blue fur coat as she strutted down South Windsor Boulevard in Los Angeles with the Hollywood sign in the background and Kim Kardashian sitting in the front row. The Up hitmaker took to the runway wearing the vibrant coat teamed with Balenciaga's famous pantaleggings with attached pointed-toe heels The Grammy winner also wore an eye-catching, diamond-encrusted chain necklace and delicate stud earrings for her jewelry of choice. She parted her extremely long, raven black tresses down the middle and slicked it back into a sleek and polished ponytail. For makeup, she rocked wispy lashes as well as jet black lip liner and a deep red gloss. Kardashian, 43, took to her Instagram to share photos and videos of the models as she sat in the front row observing the show. She recorded a clip of Cardi B walking during the show and modeling her fab garb. She also posted a photo of actress and model Brigitte Nielson, 60, making her way down the sidewalk catwalk in a chic, all-black ensemble. The blonde bombshell donned a pair of over-the-knee, latex boots with a very tall platform and pointed heels as the statement piece of her outfit. She also rocked an extremely long and pointed manicure with glossy black nail polish to match her look. She opted to wear the coat in an off-shoulder style and held the front closed as she walked down the street She parted her extremely long, raven black tresses down the middle and slicked it back into a sleek and polished ponytail. For makeup, she rocked wispy lashes as well as jet black lip liner and a deep red gloss She joined the likes of Meadow Walker She also posted a photo of actress and model Brigitte Nielson , 60, making her way down the sidewalk catwalk in a chic, all-black ensemble. The blonde bombshell donned a pair of over-the-knee, latex boots with a very tall platform and pointed heels as the statement piece of her outfit She also rocked an extremely long and pointed manicure with glossy black nail polish to match her look The fashion line was bold with exaggerated silhouettes and pops of vibrant color From midriff-baring tops to their signature pant boots, Balenciaga sent show-stopping looks down the runway One model looked phenomenal in a dramatic white feather coat The models trekked down South Windsor Boulevard Kim Kardashian, 43, arrived to the fashion show wearing a black zip-up jacket and floral-printed, sheer-looking pantaleggings The entrepreneur was spotted carrying a goodie bag as she posed for photos alongside her younger sister, Kendall Jenner, 28. The supermodel donned a figure-hugging black gown with a floor-sweeping cape Kardashian put on a daring display in the nude-appearing ensemble. She left her raven black tresses down in wet-looking waves Kardashian was spotted arriving with Jenner as the sister duo both sported all-black outfits for the fashion show Jenner had her brunette tresses slicked back into a low ponytail to showcase a pair of statement earrings The Kardashians reality star was spotted arriving at the fashion show herself in a similar all-black look featuring floral tights as pants and a pair of wraparound, reflective sunglasses. Ahead of the show, she stepped out of her car and was joined by her younger sister and supermodel Kendall Jenner who slipped into a skintight, black dress for the event. Nicole Kidman, 56, also sat front row at the fashion show wearing a chic, all-black outfit. Kidman also shared a series of stunning black-and-white snaps of herself modeling the Balenciaga outfit she wore to the fashion show. The Big Little Lies actress donned a tweed peacoat tea dress with a structured neckline that revealed her shoulders and highlighted decolletage. Underneath the chic dress, she wore sheer tights and suede pumps. For accessories, she wore opera gloves as well as a pair of circular, retro sunglasses. She left her blonde tresses down in a sleek and straight hairstyle and tucked the ends into the collar of her coat dress. Nicole Kidman , 56, also posed for photos before sitting front row at the fashion show wearing a chic, all-black outfit. She took off her sunglasses for a quick snap all while carrying a chic clutch purse She sported statement pearl earrings in a teardrop shape Ahead of the show, Kidman also posed for a photo with actress Samara Weaving who donned a cropped, black turtleneck top as well as oversize denim jeans and a floor-sweeping trench coat The fashion show was also graced by the presence of Salma Hayek and her husband, Francois-Henri Pinault. The Magic Mike's Last Dance star showed off her incredible hourglass figure in a figure-hugging, ruched midi dress with an asymmetrical neckline and quarter sleeves For a pop of color against her otherwise all-black look, she rocked Barbie pink pumps and a matching leather purse She also pulled back her brunette curls into a chic ponytail to show off a pair of silver statement earrings to go with her stacks of rings Ahead of the show, Kidman also posed for a photo with actress Samara Weaving who donned a cropped, black turtleneck top as well as oversize denim jeans and a floor-sweeping trench coat. The fashion show was also graced by the presence of Salma Hayek and her husband, Francois-Henri Pinault. The Magic Mike's Last Dance star showed off her incredible hourglass figure in a figure-hugging, ruched midi dress with an asymmetrical neckline and quarter sleeves. For a pop of color against her otherwise all-black look, she rocked Barbie pink pumps and a matching leather purse. Her billionaire businessman beau looked dapper in an all-black suit worn over a classic T-shirt and paired with patent leather dress shoes. The Balenciaga fashion show was also a family affair as Lisa Rinna made an appearance with her daughters Amelia Gray Hamlin and Delilah Belle Hamlin. The reality TV star and her daughters posed for fun photos ahead of the event. For the show, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alumna donned a floor-sweeping, deep blue raincoat-style trench coat over a turtleneck top and black pantaleggings. Eva Longoria, 48, thrilled in a tight black turtleneck dress, which she paired with a textured black Balenciaga bag She added a touch of bling to her look with large silver earrings Rapper Cardi B, 31, was a vision in an opulent bight blue fur coat and later walked the Balenciaga runway The Balenciaga fashion show was also a family affair as Lisa Rinna made an appearance with her daughters Amelia Gray Hamlin and Delilah Belle Hamlin. For the show, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alumna donned a floor-sweeping, deep blue raincoat-style trench coat over a turtleneck top and black pantaleggings Her eldest daughter wore an oversize gray blazer teamed with the matching, distressed dress pants. She sported massive, rectangular-shaped sunglasses and toted around a leather shoulder bag Amelia Gray Hamlin wore an oversize but cropped peacoat as a dress to go with a pair of shiny pantaleggings She was spotted carrying a metallic silver purse and rocking funky sunglasses in a wavy frame Zooey Deschanel, 43, cut a chic figure in a black blazer and leggings. Tracee Ellis Ross, 51, put on a theatrical display in a wide-shoulder jacket, a plunging black shirt and a maxi skirt Her eldest daughter wore an oversize gray blazer teamed with the matching, distressed dress pants. The stylish ladies were pictured posing together Leonardo DiCaprio's model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, 25, looked cool as ever in an oversized suit, which she teamed with a black purse and high heel boots The Italian beauty wore her dark tresses slicked back Ashley Graham, 36, stunned in a Matrix style long black coat and trendy black sunglasses She accessorized with a black clutch and wore her brunette tresses lightly curled Brooklyn Beckham, 24, was joined by wife Nicola Peltz, 28, for the fashion show Nicola thrilled in a tight fitting black dress and leggings, as well as chunky black boots. Her husband went shirtless underneath a black zip-up hoodie, which he teamed with sports pants and white sneakers She flashed a bright smile for the cameras The stylish duo have been married since 2022 Teyana Taylor, 32, showed off her edgy style in a Balenciaga shirt dress and an oversized coat Teyana mingled with Justine Skye at the star-studded fashion show Meghann Fahy, 33, showed off her fashion credentials in an oversized Balenciaga blazer and black stockings. Joey King, 24, looked stylish in a houndstooth pattern blazer, black turtleneck and unique fishnet pattern leggings Natasha Lyonne, 44, looked cool in a pink hoodie and black pentaleggings and was joined by Billie Lourd, 31, who rocked an all-black look Lourd was pictured striking a pose for the shutterbugs Samara Weaving and Stella Maxwell showed off their edgy styles at the event Anastasia Karanikolaou, 26, kept it casual cool in a Balenciaga tracksuit and heels She sported massive, rectangular-shaped sunglasses and toted around a leather shoulder bag. Amelia Gray Hamlin wore an oversize but cropped peacoat as a dress to go with a pair of shiny pantaleggings. She was spotted carrying a metallic silver purse and rocking funky sunglasses in a wavy frame. In the snaps, she leaned against a plain white wall and posed with her arms spread open in a melodramatic manner. Following the show, many other A-list attendees also took to Instagram in sharing their Balenciaga x Erewhon goodie bags and sipping their bottled beverages. According a photo shared by Zooey Deschanel, the celebrity guests were treated to a cold-pressed apple juice ahead of the fashion show. The bottled beverage was made to look black to match Balenciaga's branding using activated charcoal powder amongst other organic ingredients. Amelia Gray Hamlin took a selfie of herself rocking a mullet hairstyle and enjoying the drink in the car. She appeared to be wearing an oversize blazer and Balenciaga chain-linked earrings as she also played around with a bow filter on the social media app. Her mother, Lisa Rinna, also took a snap of the bottle of juice sitting in the cupholder of her car as she headed to the fashion show. Anastasia Karanikolaou also shared a photo of herself drinking the juice while sitting in the car and on a video call with Luka Sabbat. While sitting front row, Kardashian took to her Instagram Story to share photos and videos of Cardi B on the runway. From her point-of-view, she posted a clip of the rapper in her bright blue look Kardashian posted several photos of models making their way down the runway in outfits that caught her eye She shared many snaps of models sporting chunky sneakers and bundled up in layers of Balenciaga garb Nicole Kidman, 56, also shared a series of stunning black-and-white snaps of herself modeling the Balenciaga outfit she wore to the fashion show The Big Little Lies actress donned a tweed peacoat tea dress with a structured neckline that revealed her shoulders and highlighted decolletage Underneath the chic dress, she wore sheer tights and suede pumps. For accessories, she wore opera gloves as well as a pair of circular, retro sunglasses She left her blonde tresses down in a sleek and straight hairstyle and tucked the ends into the collar of her coat dress In the snaps, she leaned against a plain white wall and posed with her arms spread open in a melodramatic manner She appeared to be sporting a minimal makeup look to highlight her natural beauty In one photo, she showed off her gloved hand juxtaposed with her shadow Another photo was Kidman posing with her sunglasses in her hand and facing against the wall to show off the back of her coat dress Kim Kardashian also shared a photo of her goodie bag from Balenciaga in collaboration with Erewhon Amelia Gray Hamlin took a selfie of herself rocking a mullet hairstyle and enjoying the drink in the car Anastasia Karanikolaou also shared a photo of herself drinking the juice while sitting in the car and on a video call with Lukas Sabbat According a photo shared by Zooey Deschanel, the celebrity guests were treated to a cold-pressed apple juice ahead of the fashion show Lisa Rinna also took a snap of the bottle of juice sitting in the cupholder of her car as she headed to the fashion show Ashley Graham also took a snap of her own bottle of the drink next to her Balenciaga handbag in her lap as she also sat in the car heading to the fashion show Ashley Graham also took a snap of her own bottle of the drink next to her Balenciaga handbag in her lap as she also sat in the car heading to the fashion show. Over a year ago in the summer months 2022, Balenciaga incited a firestorm after they released two controversial campaigns. Consumers alleged that the depictions of children alongside bondage-style attire promoted child exploitation. Following the backlash, Balenciaga removed imagery from the campaigns off of social media as well as sued the designer and production company, seeking 'redress for extensive damages' of $25 million. The Bachelors' Luke Bateman, Wesley Senna Cortes, and Ben Waddell are set to make their reality TV debut on Sunday night. And ahead of their stint on the Channel 10 dating show, the trio spoke about some of their deepest secrets, from first crushes to their sweetest indulgences. Opening up about his romantic past, Wesley Senna Cortes told The Daily Telegraph, 'A first person in real life was my high school sweetheart.' The Sydney based theology student continued: 'I was in love with her for two years, and it took me two years to declare myself to her. And I finally did at our graduation party.' Wesley, who claims to be perfection in everything (albeit with a hint of humour), listed his three best attributes as his love for people, generosity, and a positive outlook towards life. The Bachelors' Luke Bateman, Ben Waddell and Wesley Senna Cortes (pictured L-R) are set to make their reality TV debut on Sunday night When it comes to laughter, Wesley confessed his love for scaring people and pulling pranks. As for what makes him cry, Wesley became emotional discussing his mum. When it comes to finding a partner, he seeks someone clumsy, funny, and with big dreams. Ahead of their stint on the Channel 10 dating show, the trio spoke about some of their deepest secrets, from first crushes to their sweetest indulgences. (Pictured: Wesley, 33) Luke, 28, says he is the romantic of the trio, reminisced about his first crush, Courtney, from primary school Luke Bateman says he is the romantic of the trio and reminisced about his first crush, named Courtney, from primary school. 'I was in love with her,' the lumberjack and former NRL player from Toowoomba recalled. 'We had an on-and-off thing all through primary school and early high school. I bought her earrings from eBay. I've always been a romantic.' Luke's laughter is inspired by his dry-witted father, and he shared that he's looking for a partner who loves him and wants the same things. Meanwhile, Ben Waddell, known for his generosity, loyalty, and ambition, recalled his first crush on Kelly from Grade one Meanwhile, Ben Waddell, known for his generosity, loyalty, and ambition, recalled his first crush on Kelly from first grade. Sharing a bit of mischief, the model, 36, mentioned giving her a kiss on the cheek at recess, which got him into trouble with the teacher. Ben claimed not to have a smooth icebreaker line, preferring a straightforward introduction. When it comes to seeking a partner, Ben values genuineness, love, and motivation. The Bachelors Australia premieres Sunday 7.30pm on Channel Ten Lisa Rinna stole the spotlight at the star-studded Balenciaga show in LA on Saturday by showing up with her two stunning daughters and a brand new hair color. The former soap star and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills vet, 60, looked sensational as she posed alongside her mini-me girls Delilah, 25, and Amelia, 22, whom she shares with her husband Harry Hamlin, 72. She also traded in her signature brunette bob for a platinum blonde cut that gave the beauty an edgy look for the controversial fashion brand's outdoor runway show. Rocking a deep blue turtleneck top and matching oversized trench coat, Lisa commanded attention as she was flanked by Delilah, who rocked a baggy grey suit, and Amelia, who gave goth chic in a black jacket and leggings. The terrific-looking trio gave their best serious supermodel poses before breaking up with laughter, proving the family puts fun first. Lisa Rinna stole the spotlight at the star-studded Balenciaga show in LA on Saturday by showing up with her two stunning daughters Delilah and Amelia The former soap star and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills vet, 60, looked sensational as she posed alongside her mini-me girls Lisa traded in her signature brunette bob for a platinum blonde cut that gave the beauty an edgy look The Days of Our Lives actress also took to her Instagram to share photos of her new look while on her way to the event in a backseat of a car. The three ladies had plenty of star sighting to take in during the event, as Nicole Kidman, Eva Longoria and Cardi B were just some of the famous faces attending. Kim Kardashian and her sister Kendal Jenner commanded attention as they posed together on the same street runway as Lisa and her daughters. The outing comes after Kim was featured in a brand new Balenciaga ad in October - almost a year after the brand became embroiled in a child ad scandal that rocked the fashion world. Back in November 2022, the fashion house came under fierce fire after it released an ad that showed kids posing alongside various BDSM-themed items. Balenciaga, a globally-renowned Spanish fashion house which dresses the likes of Kim in addition to Beyonce and Nicole Kidman, apologized for the photo set. Meanwhile, Lisa's daughter Amelia has been successfully tacking her own modeling career. She notably strutted on the runway for brands such as Vivienne Westwood and also Ann Demeulemeester at Paris Fashion Week. Amelia gave goth chic in a black jacket and leggings LIsa posed like a pro on the streets of Los Angeles The Days of Our Lives actress also took to her Instagram to share photos of her new look while on her way to the event in a backseat of a car The three ladies had plenty of star sighting to take in during the event, as Nicole Kidman, Eva Longoria and Cardi B were just some of the famous faces attending, seen in 2021 Lisa is well known for her brunette bob; seen in 2019 During a recent interview with Vogue France, Amelia opened up about modeling and when asked what the 'best part' of the job was, she replied, 'For me personally, it just makes me feel so empowered being in this profession.' 'I love the collaboration that happens during the whole process of showing or shooting a collection. We get to work with masters of so many different crafts, from the designers, hairstylists, makeup artists and nail artists to the other models.' 'Every single person collaborates on the entire experience, creating art together. For me, its such an incredible feeling when a designer decides to include you in their vision, wanting you to represent their clothing in your way,' Amelia gushed. The budding supermodel has had a successful year in the industry, having appeared on her first Vogue cover, and most recently - graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar for the magazine's October issue. In regards to her future goals, Hamlin expressed to Vogue France, 'I have so many dreams. A lot of that involves of course covers of magazines and campaigns.' Margot Robbie joined her Barbie costars at the Faber & Faber Screenplay book party in Los Angeles on Saturday. The 33-year-old actress put on a show-stopping display as she modeled a hot pink minidress with bows and peep-toe heels for the event. She posed for several photos with Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera at the party held at the Pendry West Hollywood hotel. Other A-list guests in attendance at the release party included Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish who are both featured artists on the film's official musical soundtrack. At the star-studded event, the Babylon star who was joined by her husband, Tom Ackerley, at a screening of Greta Gerwig's hit fantasy flick earlier this week left her honey blonde tresses down in soft waves. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling attended the Barbie Faber & Faber Screenplay book party in Los Angeles on Saturday The 33-year-old actress put on a show-stopping display as she modeled a hot pink minidress with bows and peep-toe heels. She posed for several photos with Gosling and America Ferrera at the party held at the Pendry West Hollywood hotel She also rocked a rosy pink monochromatic makeup look which highlighted her natural beauty. For a subtle and sweet flush, she wore rose gold blush and topped it off with a mauve pink lip gloss. Gosling looked handsome as he bundled up in a gray coat worn over a black button-down and dress pants. The stylish pair were also seen joining their other costar, Ferrera, for a cast photo. The Ugly Betty actress donned a cropped, tweed blazer teamed with a suede midi skirt for the special party. To match her chic top, she wore a pair of white pumps with delicate stitching details. Robbie also posed for photos with Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish. The Houdini hitmaker was dazzling in a silver, sequined minidress with ruching along the side as well as knee-high leather boots. The trio of leading stars of the Barbie film also posed for a photo with the director Greta Gerwig Robbie also posed for photos with Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish Eilish who later posed for a sweet snap with Ferrera donned a vintage Barbie graphic T-shirt, baggy jeans and a cozy beanie The two musicians were also seen beaming in a photo together as they showed off their juxtaposing and chic styles The Houdini hitmaker was dazzling in a silver, sequined minidress with ruching along the side as well as knee-high leather boots. She also sported dainty silver jewelry to match her outfit , which was accentuated by her new red velvet hair Eilish who later posed for a sweet snap with Ferrera donned a vintage Barbie graphic T-shirt, baggy jeans and a cozy beanie. The two musicians were also seen beaming in a photo together as they showed off their juxtaposing and chic styles. Lipa and Eilish also chatted with and took a quick snap with Mark Ronson one of the masterminds behind the Barbie movie's official soundtrack. At the event, Eilish was joined by her brother, Finneas O'Connell, in a photo with Gosling. At one point, Eilish bundled up in a bubblegum pink hoodie and put on silver, silver and rose-tinted glasses as she posed for a photo with her brother. O'Connell looked effortlessly stylish in a black and white sweater and slacks. He also posed for a photo with Gosling as the stylish pair showed off their monochromatic, dark outfits Ronson was also spotted with the music supervisor of the Barbie soundtrack, George Drakoulias who looked put-together in a navy sweater vest worn over a sky blue button-down and forest green, corduroy pants. Lipa and Eilish also chatted with and took a quick snap with Mark Ronson one of the masterminds behind the Barbie movie's official soundtrack At the event, Eilish was joined by her brother, Finneas O'Connell, in a photo with Gosling At one point, Eilish bundled up in a bubblegum pink hoodie and put on silver, silver and rose-tinted glasses as she posed for a photo with her brother who looked effortlessly stylish in a black and white sweater and slacks O'Connell also posed for a photo with Gosling as the stylish pair showed off their monochromatic, dark outfits Ronson was also spotted with the music supervisor of the Barbie soundtrack, George Drakoulias who looked put-together in a navy sweater vest worn over a sky blue button-down and forest green, corduroy pants Andrew Wyatt, the other hitmaker behind the original motion picture score, was seen in a group photo with Robbie and Ferrera, director Gerwig as well as musicians Ronson, Eilish, and Lipa The entire cast and musical talents behind the soundtrack for Barbie also posed for a group photo with Warner Bros. co-chairs and CEOs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca at the release party as well as cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto Robbie showed off her hot pink ensemble matching retired model and bombshell Barbi Benton's own vibrant look featuring a fur coat and fedora At the party, Robbie and Gosling also posed for a photo with Abdy Robbie's husband and Barbie producer Tom Ackerley was also spotted in attendance and posing for a snap with Lipa Ferrera was seen beaming alongside Jon Batiste who looked effortlessly stylish in a leather jacket and black jeans Earlier in the day, Robbie joined Gosling and Ferrera at the Special All Guild Screening and Q&A in Burbank, California She donned another vibrant outfit with bows but in a bright and sunny yellow. She modeled a peplum blouse with bows and the matching miniskirt and Mary Jane heels to answer questions at the screening with her costars The trio chatted enthusiastically as they answered fan questions about their hit fantasy flick Gosling and Ferrera were also spotted shaking hands while chatting onstage Earlier in the day, Robbie joined Gosling and Ferrera at the Special All Guild Screening and Q&A in Burbank, California. She donned another vibrant outfit with bows but in a bright and sunny yellow. For the screening, she modeled a peplum blouse with bows and the matching miniskirt. She completed her monochromatic look with a pair of vibrant Mary Jane shoes in the same shade of yellow. Gosling had also changed his look and appeared cozy-chic in a white T-shirt teamed with a button-down cardigan. He donned dark slacks and completed his look with shiny, patent leather oxford shoes. Ferrera put on an elegant display as she modeled a pinstriped, cream suit and chunky black boots. Patti Newton made a heartbreaking confession on Sunday about her legendary late husband Bert, two years after his tragic death. The veteran entertainer, 78, told The Sydney Morning Herald that her late husband Bert will always be her one true love and she is still haunted by his death in 2021. 'Bert will always be the love of my life. I'll never stop thinking about him,' she began. She then revealed some of the ways she keeps Bert's memory alive since he passed away on October 30, 2021, following a long illness. 'When Bert was in Epworth Hospital, he had this little wooden cross. A friend of mine had given it to him. Bert used to pick it up from the tray and kiss it,' she said. Patti Newton made a heartbreaking confession on Sunday about her legendary late husband Bert, two years after his tragic death. Both pictured 'He'd hold it for a minute and then put it down. I take it to the theatre with me and before a show I pick it up and kiss it. 'I hold it to my heart as he did and say, "Come on Bert, we're on." He comes on stage with me.' The Melbourne native added their five decades long love story began in 1966 when she was 21 and he asked her out, and the rest is history. Patti laid her husband to rest in November 2021. He had been receiving palliative care at a clinic in Melbourne at the time of his death. Bert was hospitalised in March that year and underwent surgery on his leg in May after his toe became infected before Christmas. The veteran entertainer, 78, told The Sydney Morning Herald that her late husband Bert will always be her one true love and she is still haunted by his death in 2021 'Bert will always be the love of my life. I'll never stop thinking about him,' she began The infection was 'linked to his diabetes' and was threatening his life, with doctors telling him the surgery was a 'life or death decision'. Doctors told Bert that if he kept the leg then he would have just 'months to live' rather than years if he chose to amputate. He is survived by children Matt and Lauren, and grandchildren Sam, Eva, Lola, Monty, Perla and Alby. She also revealed some of the ways she keeps Bert's memory alive since he passed away on October 30, 2021, following a long illness Bec Judd is nothing if not a dedicated follower of fashion. And on Sunday, the WAG arrived at Melbourne Airport carrying the must-have item of the year, a Goyard tote. The French luxury bag retailer sells their famous totes for $2,400 and up, with a bag like Bec's going for as much as $5,300. The 40-year-old kept things casually chic, wearing a striped black and white shirt from her own brand, Jaggard, under a leather jacket. Bec added a pair of black tights, as well as well loved glittering sneakers and white socks. Bec Judd (pictured) is nothing if not a dedicated follower of fashion. And on Sunday, the WAG arrived at Melbourne Airport carrying the must-have item of the year, a Goyard tote She completed her look with a soft makeup palette and wore her caramel locks down around her face, with a pair of designer shades sitting atop her head. Bec was accompanied by her former AFL star husband Chris Judd, 40, who also dressed down in a pale blue shirt and jeans. The fashion designer recently revealed that her irrational fear of spiders is taking a toll on her home life. She admitted she can't even be in the same room as the eight-legged creatures and revealed she'd leave her Brighton home if one were ever to crawl in and make itself comfortable. The French luxury bag retailer sells their famous totes for $2,400 and up, with a bag like Bec's blue number going for as much as $5,300 The 40-year-old kept things casually chic, wearing a striped black and white shirt from her own brand, Jaggard, under a leather jacket Bec was accompanied by her former AFL star husband Chris Judd (left) who also dressed down in a pale blue shirt and jeans Bec added a pair of black tights, as well as well loved glittering sneakers and white socks She completed her look with a soft makeup palette and wore her caramel locks down around her face, with a pair of designer shades sitting atop her head 'I pack up my bags and go and stay in a hotel or with family and I don't come home until pest control have come,' she said on social media. During her appearance on The Amazing Race Australia, Bec had a public meltdown over a fried tarantula in Cambodia. 'Nup, this is like my worst nightmare,' Rebecca said, letting out a scream as she put both hands on her head. 'I think we take a time penalty. I can't do it. I can't even be in the vicinity [of the spiders].' Bec is so deathly afraid of spiders that she's seeking professional help. Chris was on hand to collect the couple's luggage from the carrousel Dynamo cosied up to wife Kelly Frayne on Saturday night as they made a rare appearance together at the Adidas Originals party in London. The magician, 39, whose real name is Steven Frayne, seemed in high spirits as he posed for pictures with his glamorous wife at the event. The performer wrapped up warm by layering a number of jumpers including a navy hoodie, a knitted beige cardigan and a zip jacket. Dynamo, who has been open about his battle with Crohn's disease in recent years, kept comfortable in a pair of black jogging bottoms which he teamed with a pair of trainers. Meanwhile, Kelly looked incredible in a stylish black leather long sleeved midi dress which donned a fur collar and dramatic cuffed sleeves. Dynamo cosied up to wife Kelly Frayne on Saturday night as they made a rare appearance together at the Adidas Originals party in London She added a pop of colour to the look by elevating her frame in a pair of towering red heels and left her long red tresses loose. The beauty completed her evening outfit by applying a flawless palette of makeup, including a swipe of bold red lipstick and accessorised with a pair of gold earrings. Kelly, who met Dynamo in 2011 and tied the knot in 2012, flashed her gorgeous smile as she wrapped her arms around the performer while posing for photos. Dynamo's first TV appearance was back in 2002 on Richard & Judy which soon led to a fly on the wall documentary series called Dynamo: Magician Impossible. The magician was diagnosed with Crohn's when he was a teenager and had to have part of his intestine removed when he was 17. Back in 2020, Dynamo had a hospital stay during a flare-up and also contracted a 'severe' case of Covid-19. He put up a statement on Instagram, writing: 'Today is IBD (irritable bowl syndrome) awareness day. 'I was supposed to be doing some talks about it to let people know what its like and to help those suffering, but unfortunate I suffered a flare up yesterday and will be unable to fulfil my commitments today. The magician, 39, whose real name is Steven Frayne, seemed in high spirits as he posed for pictures with his glamorous wife at the event The performer wrapped up warm by layering a number of jumpers including a navy hoodie, a knitted beige cardigan and a zip jacket while Kelly looked stylish in a black leather midi dress 'Really sorry to let people downespecially today. But for us going through it, it's an IBD life, not just one day, and it can affect us when we least expect it. 'Hate to burden you with my woe's but feel bad to those who I have let down today. Heading to hospital to get checked out, my team will keep you posted and I will be back before you know it. Stay strong out there everyone. [sic]' Speaking previously on The Chris Evans Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, Dynamo said he was working his way back to full health after self-isolating for two weeks. Reflecting on his experience with the virus, Dynamo admitted his symptoms were exacerbated because of Crohn's. He explained: 'I obviously was struck down by COVID. My case was, you know, it was possibly a mild case, but it got quite severe because of my existing condition. 'Last couple of weeks, I spent a lot of time, you know, in bed. I've been self isolating and following all of the rules. Now I'm definitely feeling in much better spirits. Still a little bit croaky, so I apologize for my husky voice right now.' Reaching out to fans, the Bradford born star insisted the merciless, indiscriminate nature of the virus should encourage people to live life in the moment. He said: 'I think everybody right now is going through it. And I think, you know, if anything, it just in some ways, it shows us that we shouldn't take things for granted and we should make the most of the moments that we go through. 'And most of our family and I will hope everyone's taking this time as well as, you know, taking care of themselves, but trying to be positive and use this time wisely.' The magician admits his underlying battle with Crohn's disease, a condition he was diagnosed with at 17, helped him prepare for two weeks in self-isolation away from his loved ones. Dynamo - who lives with his family in north-west London - revealed his hospitalisation with the illness served to foreshadow his enforced quarantine with the coronavirus. 'I spend a lot of time, obviously, in hospital myself,' he added. 'And there was a point when I was going through my worst with my Crohn's disease and food poisoning, where the doctors thought I was contagious so they wouldn't allow people to come in or me to go out. 'So I was literally on my own with just my imagination for a couple of weeks. And this was a couple of years ago. So right now, you know, I'm kind of doing it again like everybody else in the country and around the world.' Nigel Harman looked downcast on Saturday evening as he departed the Strictly Come Dancing studios for the final time. The actor, 50, was forced to bow out of the show on medical grounds after he was hospitalised with a rib injury - just two weeks away from the final. Nigel looked glum in the back of his taxi from Elstree studios, while his pro partner Katya Jones put on a brave face as she made a peace sign despite their late exit from the show. It was confirmed Nigel had left the BBC dancing contest just hours before Saturday's live show after he hurt his rib during a jump. He looked to be holding onto his ribs and grimaces in discomfort as he made the journey home. Nigel Harman looked downcast on Saturday evening as he departed the Strictly Come Dancing studios for the final time The actor, 50, was forced to bow out of the show on medical ground after he was hospitalised with a rib injury Speaking to host Claudia Winkleman on Saturday, Nigel said: 'I was about to be caught by some very handsome men but when I landed, I've done something to my rib. I'm a little high on painkillers.' Asked by Claudia if he had enjoyed his time on the show, Nigel said: 'Oh I've loved it, I've loved it. This hasn't really sunk in. 'When I was watching everyone coming down the stairs, it was real that I'm not part of it anymore.' Also leaving Elstree were the show's contestants for the 2023 Christmas special: Danny Cipriani, Jamie Borthwick and Tillie Amartey. Katya was full of praise for Nigel's hard work on the show and looked emotional at the thought of them no longer getting to perform together. She said: 'I have absolutely loved every moment of us creating magic on the dancefloor. 'I know the reasons he did this were for your daughter and your parents and I know your parents will be very proud of you. I hope you've got something out of this that you will cherish forever in your broken rib.' Nigel replied: 'The only reason I'm standing here is because of all the work you've put in. You challenge me, you push me, you support me. Most of all, you're just part of me now.' Becoming emotional, he added: 'I can't even look at you!' He looked to be holding onto his ribs in discomfort as he made the journey home His pro partner Katya Jones put on a brave face as she departed Elstree studios just seconds later She made a peace sign despite exiting the show just two weeks away from the final Katya was joined by her best friend Aimee Fuller who was supporting her during the difficult time Danny Cipriani, who is due to appear on the Strictly Christmas special, was also spotted As was Jamie Borthwick - best known for playing Jay Brown in EastEnders for over 17 years Children's TV presenter Tillie Amartey will also appear in the Christmas day special He and Katya were due to perform a Charleston to Step in Time from Mary Poppins as part of the programme's 'musicals week.' Nigel's exit from the show comes a week after 'steamy' photographs emerged of him and Katya practising their moves of their steamy Rumba routine at a North London studio. Sources close to the pair say that they had been 'training late every night' last week in a bid to remain in the competition and make it to next week's semi-finals. One said: 'They've been training since last weekend, they were determined to stay in the competition. 'They were starting early and finishing late, they knew they were in with a chance of winning so they were giving it their all. It's very sad for them both.' Just one day before his exit, Nigel had discussed how gruelling the fast-paced Charleston had been on his body and admitted he was very worn out. During an appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch on Thursday, the star said he would be 'impressed' if he was still standing after the difficult routine. Nigel's exit leaves just Ellie Leach, Bobby Brazier, Layton Williams and Annabel Croft still left in the contest battling it out in a bid to win the iconic glitterball trophy. The BBC confirmed to MailOnline: 'Unfortunately Nigel has sustained an injury which means he is unable to perform in tonight's show and has had to withdraw from Strictly.' Nigel and Katya both appeared on the show where the Downton Abbey star told how he hurt his rib during a jump in rehearsals He said: 'I was about to be caught by some very handsome men but when I landed, I've done something to my rib. I'm a little high on painkillers' Just one day before his exit, Nigel had discussed how gruelling the fast-paced Charleston had been on his body and admitted he was very worn out (pictured last week) 'We wish Nigel a speedy recovery and they both will be very much missed by our entire Strictly family,' the official Strictly Instagram account added in a post confirming his departure. Just one day before his exit, Nigel had discussed how gruelling the fast-paced Charleston had been on his body and admitted he was very worn out, while pictures from Friday also showed him rehearsing in the studio for the fast-paced routine. Nigel had opened up about his love of musicals during an appearance on It Takes Two on Friday and seemed in good spirits about the extravagant routine. He told host Fleur East: 'I just love musicals, I love the singing and dancing and the heightened emotions of it all. We've got this banger this week, it's full on showbiz.' He added: 'There's leaps, there's carries and we're flying around and I end up needing oxygen every time I do it. It's full on but it's exciting.' 'I'm not gonna lie, the Rumba just sort of mincing around wafting my hips in a general direction with some arms was lovely, maybe one bead of sweat. 'This week, St John's ambulance are on standby.' Had Nigel remained with the show and gone through to the next round, he would have made it to the semi-finals and hinted he would have struggled to learn two routines in one week. He said: 'Two dances in a week, I hear it's possible but I'm just going to walk blindly with it and pretend that everything is fine!' Nigel - who is married to Lucy Liemann - reportedly missed training on Saturday morning, while Katya was seen in attendance, after working 'really hard' in rehearsals to try and secure a place in the final. Pierce Brosnan cut a dapper display as he headed out with his wife Keely Shaye for a date night at Nobu in Malibu on Saturday night. The Irish actor, 70, wore a black suit jacket and casual jeans with a vibrant scarf and tan shoes. Keely, 60, looked effortlessly stylish in a black ensemble and overcoat, teamed with chic platform shoes. The loved-up duo, who tied the knot in 2001, look happier than ever as they stepped out for a romantic dinner together. Pierce struck a pose for the cameras as he stuck his hands in the air and pouted his lips. Pierce Brosnan, 70, cut a dapper display as he headed out with his wife Keely Shaye, 60, for a date night at Nobu in Malibu on Saturday night The loved-up duo, who tied the knot in 2001, look happier than ever as they stepped out for a romantic dinner together The couple have been married for 22 years after tying the knot at Ballintubber Abbey in Ireland in 2001. The pair first met in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 1994, three years after the death of Pierce's first wife, Cassandra Harris, in 1991. He has previously said of Keely: 'I found a great woman in Keely Shaye. Not if I searched a million times over would I find one as good.' In September, Pierce gifted Keely 60 roses and shared a sweet tribute to his wife as she marked her 60th birthday. 'Sixty roses for my brown eyed girl on her 60th birthday,' Pierce began in his birthday post. 'Forever happy and blessed was I to be sitting there when you walked around the corner early one morning in Cabo San Lucas,' he added of their first meeting. Pierce and Keely share two sons, Dylan, 26, and Paris, 22, who are the youngest of the actor's five children. The Mamma Mia! star also has a son Sean, 38, and an adopted son Chris, 49, as well as his late adopted daughter Charlotte with Cassandra. Pierce struck a pose for the cameras as he stuck his hands in the air and pouted his lips In September, Pierce gifted Keely 60 roses and shared a sweet tribute to his wife as she marked her 60th birthday Pierce is renowned for playing secret agent 007 in four of the James Bond films - Golden Eye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day Pierce adopted Cassandra's children, Chris and Charlotte, after their father, Dermot Harris, died in 1986. Pierce is renowned for playing secret agent 007 in four of the James Bond films - Golden Eye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day. The actor had his last outing as 007 in Die Another Day in 2002 and although he was eager to do a fifth film, producers decided they wanted to reboot the role to stay relevant in a post-9/11, post-Jason Bourne world. He previously insisted he has 'no regrets' about how he left the franchise, when he was told he was being replaced over the phone. Speaking to The Guardian in 2020, Pierce said: 'There's no regret. I do not let regret come into my world It just leads to more misery and more regrets. Bond is the gift that keeps giving and has allowed me to have a wonderful career. 'Once you're branded as a Bond, it's with you for ever, so you better make peace with it and you'd better understand that when you walk through those doors and pick up the mantle of playing James Bond.' Cardi B turned heads in a striking cut-out dress as she arrived at the Balenciaga after party in West Hollywood on Saturday evening. Earlier in the day, the rapper, 31, made a show-stopping runway debut at the Balenciaga Fall 2024 fashion show. This comes after the luxury fashion house faced a massive controversy over a year ago when consumers claimed their ad campaign that showed children posing with bears wearing BDSM gear promoted 'child exploitation.' Following the backlash the brand received, the Up hitmaker looked incredible as she arrived in a busty tight-fitting gown. She flaunted her ample cleavage in the black skin-tight ensemble as she posed for the cameras as she got out the car. Cardi B, 31, turned heads in a striking cut-out dress as she arrived at the Balenciaga after party in West Hollywood on Saturday evening This comes after the luxury fashion house faced a massive controversy over a year ago when consumers claimed their ad campaign that showed children posing with bears wearing BDSM gear promoted 'child exploitation' Following the backlash the brand received, the Up hitmaker looked incredible as she arrived in a busty tight-fitting gown The beauty struck a smile as she arrived into the star-studded after party and showcased her slender physique. At the fashion show, Cardi B modeled a bright blue fur coat as she strutted down South Windsor Boulevard in Los Angeles with the Hollywood sign in the background and Kim Kardashian sitting in the front row. Cardi B is currently preparing to headline TikTok's inaugural live event, In The Mix. According to Variety, the function is scheduled to take place at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on December 10. In addition to the Up rapper, the event's lineup includes performers such as Charlie Puth, Niall Horan and Anitta. TikTok's global head of music partnerships and programming, Paul Hourican, issued a statement to explain the social media powerhouse's intentions for the event. He stated: 'Our vision is to create a show that is reimagined for the TikTok era and our music-loving global community.' Cardi B is also hard at work on her second record, which has been in the works for several years. She flaunted her ample cleavage in the black skin-tight ensemble as she posed for the cameras as she got out the car Cardi appeared to be in great spirits as she couldn't wipe the smile off her face following her exciting day on the runway The beauty struck a smile as she arrived into the star-studded after party and showcased her slender physique She wowed in a black cut-out maxi dress which showcased her curves and tiny torso as she posed before entering the event She styled her long raven hair in a slick middle parting and wore a deep red lipstick Earlier in the day, the rapper made a show-stopping runway debut at the Balenciaga Fall 2024 fashion show The performer's debut album, Invasion Of Privacy, debuted in 2018 and peaked at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart. The rapper spoke about her upcoming project during an interview on The Breakfast Club, where she said that she was having trouble settling on a tracklist for her second record. She stated via Billboard: 'I have like a couple of songs that are like definite, I don't know. I don't know what's going on with me. I need to just make up my mind,' she said. However, the hitmaker stated that she would make a dedicated effort to 'put it out next year.' The Only Way Is Essex stars Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Mallet have announced their marriage - two days after exchanging vows in a private wedding ceremony. The couple, parents to two-year-old son Brody, confirmed the surprise news in an Instagram post on Sunday morning and admitted they were keen to marry before the end of the year. Sharing a joint post shortly after the service, Georgia, 32, and Tommy, 31, wrote: '1st December we done a thing. 'After a challenging year. We decided we wanted to end the year happy, in love & together as husband & wife/ Wedding part 2 coming soon.' Georgia also confirmed the second part of their wedding, understood to be a larger ceremony, will take place in Spain. The Only Way Is Essex stars Georgia Kousoulou, 32, and Tommy Mallet, 31, have announced their marriage - two days after exchanging vows in a private wedding ceremony Georgia also confirmed the second part of their wedding, understood to be a larger ceremony, will take place in Spain Their former TOWIE co-stars and other close friends flooded their comments with sweet tributes congratulating the newlyweds. James Argent wrote: 'Love you both so much, congratulations. I can't wait to see you Tuesday.' Amber Dowding commented: 'Just love everything about this so much. Perfection... bring on part 2... love you all so much!!!!' Chloe Lewis shared: 'Beautiful! Can't wait to be apart of your special day. Love you all'. Dani Dyer penned: 'Absolutely stunning. Congratulations you both deserve so much happiness xxxx' In September Georgia, who became engaged to the trainer entrepreneur last year, recruited several of her former TOWIE co-stars to be bridesmaids at her upcoming wedding. She asked a host of her girlfriends for dinner and drinks at Sheesh restaurant in Essex. And it certainly was a busy night for Georgia as she asked TOWIE pals including Chloe Lewis, Lydia Bright, Chloe Ross and Amber Dowding to be by her side on her big day. The couple, parents to two-year-old son Brody, confirmed the surprise news in an Instagram post on Sunday morning and admitted they were keen to marry before the end of the year Sharing a photo taken shortly after the service, Georgia and Tommy in a joint post wrote: '1st December we done a thing Their former TOWIE co-stars and close friends flooded their comments with sweet tributes congratulating the newlyweds Tommy proposed to Georgia after eight years together on a beach pergola surrounded by roses after they jetted to Mexico for a family getaway in February 2022 In September Georgia, who became engaged to the trainer entrepreneur last year , recruited several of her former TOWIE co-stars to be bridesmaids at her upcoming wedding She asked a host of her girlfriends for dinner and drinks at Sheesh restaurant in Essex (pictured with bridesmaid Chloe Lewis) In August, Tommy revealed the duo had postponed their nuptials following a devastating miscarriage earlier this year. The ladies were just one of twelve ladies who will be Georgia's bridesmaids, with the reality star posing with the whole of her bride squad in a glam snap on Instagram. Tommy and Georgia postponed the nuptials following a devastating miscarriage earlier this year. But remaining optimistic, Tommy, who owns successful footwear company Mallet London, told MailOnline his future plans with Georgia. He said: 'The wedding is going ahead bigger than ever next year. We pushed back the planning of the wedding after we lost the baby. 'We were meant to fly to Majorca to plan the wedding and have some alone time but didn't go because we discovered the miscarriage. 'But we haven't cancelled anything. We're going strong, we've got a big day to plan and Georgia needs it as well. 'I want her to have the same second name and she deserves a really good day now and next year we're making it happen.' The reality star has said he has always lived his life with the mentality of 'what's meant to be, is meant to be'. But remaining optimistic, Tommy, who owns successful footwear company Mallet London, told MailOnline his future plans with Georgia Georgia, who began dating Tommy in 2014 (pictured) revealed in December that she was hoping Tommy would propose sometime in 2022 In May 2021 Tommy and Georgia revealed they'd welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Brody, gushing that giving birth was 'greatest experience of [her] life' He added: 'My whole life has been lived with what's meant to be is meant to be, and I know that's awful saying that after losing a child but the past four months me and Georgia have been trying to just get through the next day, it's tough. 'For me, I'm just so lucky I have Brody, I've met people who have lost every single baby that they ever had so I'm just so blessed to have my little boy. 'Obviously we are going to have more kids, we will do anything in our power to make it happen.' Tommy proposed to Georgia after eight years together on a beach pergola surrounded by roses after they jetted to Mexico for a family getaway in February 2022. The reality star had decorated a beach pergola with hundreds of red roses for the grand gesture. In May 2021 Tommy and Georgia revealed they'd welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Brody, gushing that giving birth was 'greatest experience of [her] life.' Kayla Itsines has married her fiance Jae Woodroffe. The fitness entrepreneur shared the happy news to Instagram on Sunday evening, alongside a stunning picture from their lavish nuptials. In the image, the happy couple are seen sharing a romantic kiss at their outdoor wedding ceremony in Adelaide. The newlyweds look deeply in love as Jae wraps his arms around her waist, while Kayla tenderly caresses his cheeks. 'Just married my best friend and we couldn't be happier. The most perfect day ever,' she captioned the image alongside a white love heart and ring emoji. Kayla, 32, looked stunning in a sleek and slinky white wedding gown with a short train and sheer hood. Kayla Itsines has married her fiance Jae Woodroffe. The fitness entrepreneur shared the happy news to Instagram on Sunday evening, alongside a stunning picture from their lavish nuptials. Both pictured Jae went for an off white tuxedo and made the modern choice of wearing crisp white sneakers for his wedding shoes. The pair exchanged vows on a podium surrounded by lavish floral arrangements and were flanked by a little flower girl in a sweet white gown. Before the ceremony, Kayla shared her wedding makeup look, designed by artist Leah Baines. Kayla's announcement was quickly inundated with well-wishes from her celebrity friends. Before the ceremony, Kayla shared her wedding makeup look, designed by artist Leah Baines 'Just married my best friend and we couldn't be happier. The most perfect day ever,' she wrote 'Congratulations to you both!!!! So beautiful,' wrote fashion designer Pip Edwards alongside three red love heart emojis. 'Congrats your guys!' added celebrity stylist Jules Sebastian. 'THE BEST DAY!! So happy to have been able to celebrate this with you two,' wrote fitness trainer Katie Martin. 'So so happy for you. See you soon my angel!!!' added model Ellie Gonsalves. Steph Claire Smith soon joined the chorus, writing, 'Congratulations', alongside a clapping hands and red love heart emoji. Kayla announced her engagement to Jae after one year of dating in July last year The 32-year-old, who is a multimillionaire thanks to her popular workout app Sweat (formerly Bikini Body Guides), confirmed the happy news on Instagram Kayla's sister earlier revealed she will be shirking a major wedding tradition during her nuptials. Leah Itsines revealed behind-the-scenes gossip during an Instagram Q&A where she said Kayla would not be having bridesmaids at her wedding. The news came out after some eagle-eyed fans noticed Leah wasn't looking for a bridesmaid dress for her sister's matrimonial ceremony. With many speculating the mum-of-one wasn't asked to be in the bridal party, one fan asked her if that was the case. The Adelaide native proudly showed off her diamond ring in a series of photos taken shortly after Jae, 30, popped the question 'No, she banned me after I wore this to her hen's lunch,' Leah joked, referencing the brightly-coloured suit she wore to the happy occasion at the time. However, she quickly went on to explain. 'Kidding ya'll. She isn't having bridesmaids,' she said. Kayla announced her engagement to Jae after one year of dating in July last year. The multimillionaire confirmed the happy news on Instagram. The Adelaide native proudly showed off her diamond ring in a series of photos taken shortly after Jae, 30, popped the question. Kayla's sister earlier revealed that Kayla would not be having bridesmaids at her wedding. Pictured at her bridal shower 'YES #engaged @jaewoodroffe @itsjlahhere,' wrote Kayla, who wore a brown crop top and jeans as she displayed her sparkler. In another photo, she embraced her new fiance as he smiled for the camera. Little is known about Jae, who is one of the 732 people Kayla follows on Instagram, but his social media activity suggests he enjoys travelling and motorcycles. The pair went public with their relationship more than a year after Kayla confirmed her split from ex-fiance Tobi Pearce in August 2020. Little is known about Jae, who is one of the 732 people Kayla follows on Instagram, but his social media activity suggests he enjoys travelling and motorcycles The former couple, who dated for eight years and are parents to daughter Arna, co-founded Bikini Body Guides - later renamed Sweat - after meeting in late 2012. The business partners sold their health and fitness empire to U.S. software giant iFIT for $400million last year. Tobi has since departed the company. In May last year, Jae hinted he wanted to have children with Kayla during an Instagram Q&A. He answered the question 'would you like biological children of your own one day?' with a photo of himself playing with his stepdaughter Arna and writing 'absolutely'. Before he started dating Kayla, Jae was in a long-term relationship with a woman named Lauren Belotti, who is believed to be one of Kayla's friends. Danny Cipriani was all smiles as he departed Elstree studios on Saturday night following Strictly Come Dancing training. The newly single former rugby ace, 36, cut a casual figure in a beige hoodie and leather jacket as he departed after attending the BBC show's Musicals Week. His Strictly Christmas special professional partner Jowita Przystal seemed in high spirits as she headed home for the night. She looked effortlessly chic in a beige sweatshirt, Khaki leggings, a black padded coat and a grey winter hat. The dancer wore a glamorous palette of makeup and completed her look with a pair of white lace up boots. Danny Cipriani was all smiles as he departed Elstree studios on Saturday night following Strictly Come Dancing training His Strictly Christmas special professional partner Jowita Przystal seemed in high spirits as she headed home for the night It comes after Danny was pictured cosying up to his Strictly Come Dancing co-star Jowita just days after he announced his split from his wife Victoria. In pictures obtained by The Sun, the former rugby star was seen gazing at his dance partner after the pair finished a day of training for the upcoming Christmas Special. Danny and Jowita, who had met just hours earlier, will take to the dancefloor for a festive special, which will air on Christmas Day. Sources claimed the pair could be a 'sizzling pairing,' and will spend many hours together during two weeks of rehearsals before their performance. An insider said: 'BBC bosses must have had some idea it would be a sizzling pairing on the dancefloor, but on a personal level probably didn't expect them to get so close, so soon. 'They join a long line of stars and pros who've found themselves growing closer as a result of long, intimate sessions in the rehearsal studio.' Jowita is thought to be single after splitting from Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice earlier this year. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Danny Cipriani and Strictly Come Dancing for comment. The newly single former rugby ace, 36, cut a casual figure in a beige hoodie and leather jacket as he departed the rehearsal She looked effortlessly chic in a beige sweatshirt, Khaki leggings, a black padded coat and a grey winter hat It comes after Danny was pictured cosying up to his Strictly Come Dancing co-star Jowita just days after he announced his split from his wife Last month, MailOnline exclusively revealed that Danny and his wife Victoria called time on their relationship a fortnight ago Danny is one of six stars taking part in this year's Strictly Christmas Special, joining Keisha Buchanan, Tillie Amartey, Sally Nugent, Dan Snow and Jamie Borthwick. He said: 'Ive always enjoyed the concept of Strictly Come Dancing, it wasnt something I ever thought Id do. 'After addressing my own ideas and beliefs, I am very much looking forward to expressing myself through dance with no limitations. 'Strictly brings joy to everyones living rooms, being a part of that for Christmas Day will be special.' Last week, MailOnline exclusively revealed that Danny and his wife Victoria called time on their relationship a fortnight ago following a series of 'difficult' rows over text messages on his phone. At the time, Danny released a statement to announce the news, telling his Instagram followers that he 'only wished the best' for his ex. Since then, Victoria has announced that shockingly, she was 'made aware of the situation at the same time as the public' in a now deleted post. The media personality opened up about the difficult time and apologised for her 'emotionally charge response.' She wrote: 'Danny publicly announced our split without any prior notice or discussion with me. I was made aware of the situation at the same time as the public, and this has caused me a great deal of pain. 'I apologise if my reactions and responses have seemed reactive or emotionally charged. In pictures obtained by The Sun , the former rugby star was seen gazing at his dance partner after the pair finished a day of training for the Christmas Special Jowita (pictured with her celebrity dance partner Jody Cundy) is thought to be single after splitting from Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice earlier this year 'The truth is, I am still going through a difficult time, and it is challenging for me to see Danny speaking about our seperation publicly while I have not yet found the strength to process it, adjust or heal. Victoria concluded: 'I really don't want to be caught up in the fanfare. Sorry for any hurt I have caused.' It comes after she allegedly had a furious spat with model Isa Yasmijn after she saw her husband chatting to Isa at an event. Victoria is said to have confronted fitness trainer Isa at the event before later finding the messages shared with Isa and other women. It is claimed there was nearly a scrap between Victoria and Isa at a November 4 event hosted by rugby player Danny and self-help guru Garrett Kramer at the Four Seasons in Londons Mayfair. A source told The Sun: 'Something was different about him. Normally Danny only has eyes for Vic but he wasnt giving her half the attention he usually would.' They added: 'It was like he didnt really want her there. When they got to the talk, Danny was playing the crowds. 'Vic noticed he was looking at other women including Isa, chatting them up, and alarm bells started going off.' MailOnline has contacted Danny's representatives for comment Drama: Since their split was announced, Victoria has said, she was 'made aware of the situation at the same time as the public' in a now deleted post The couple, who married in April 2021, are set to call in divorce lawyers after they parted a fortnight ago. A source in their inner circle and close to the couple revealed that up until the summer, all had been well in the marriage. But the source added: 'Victoria had been increasingly unhappy over the last few months. Things got tense and then she saw some text messages on his phone and it led to some difficult rows between them and they have now split up.' The former England rugby ace has moved out of their Kent home and is staying at another address, although he has been seen visiting there over the last week, the source added. 'They are both devastated at the breakdown of their marriage' the source said. Danny released a statement after the split, telling his 221,000 Instagram followers that he 'only wished the best' for his ex. But in a blunder, he claimed they were separating after four years of marriage - when their wedding day was two years ago. Simone Holtznagel and her celebrity personal trainer beau Jono Castano went public in October with the news they'll soon welcome their first child. On Sunday, the 30-year-old model shared a hilarious photo to Instagram capturing a worn out Jono, 33, sleeping in a sprawled out position on their couch. The celebrity personal trainer looks dead to the world in the side-splitting picture which captures him lying on the couch with his legs splayed over the top. A blanket partially covers the dead tired fitness expert who rests his head on a cushion as he catches up on some much needed sleep. 'This guy has been like this all afternoon,' Simone wrote next to the picture alongside a laughing emoji. Simone Holtznagel and her celebrity personal trainer beau Jono Castano went public in October with the news they'll soon welcome their first child. Both pictured On Sunday, the 30-year-old model shared a hilarious photo to Instagram capturing a worn out Jono, 33, sleeping in a sprawled out position on their couch. In October, Simone went public with the joyful news she and Jono are expecting their first child. The model revealed in an Instagram post that the couple are expecting a baby girl in March 2024 and later admitted they had already decided on a name. The stunner, who went public with her relationship with the celebrity trainer in 2022, told Who magazine she was overjoyed with the news. 'Kids have always been in our plan. We started talking about it more and more and then it just happened,' she told the publication. Simone told the magazine she discovered she was pregnant after she felt unusually sick following a holiday in the Maldives to celebrate her 30th birthday. She decided to take a pregnancy test 'on a whim' and it turned out to be morning sickness. In October, Simone went public with the joyful news she and Jono are expecting their first child 'The first couple of weeks were a little bit tricky but not as bad as some people have it. We're very grateful,' she added. The blonde beauty added the celebrity couple are already preparing for their little bundle of joy's one's arrival. 'We have two names that we both really love. I've bought two items of clothing and my mum and Jono's mum have bought me some little presents,' she added. Jono debuted his romance with new girlfriend Simone in May last year. The model revealed in an Instagram post that the couple are expecting a baby girl in March 2024 and later admitted they had already decided on a name Brooke Blurton has welcomed a new member of her family. On Sunday, the former star of The Bachelorette shared a clip to Instagram Stories in which she was having a video call with her brother Troy. 'Got news my beautiful nephew Harlyn Hayes Blurton has arrived. Congrats,' she wrote in a caption on the video. In July, the reality TV star revealed that she is once again single. The podcaster, 28, posted to Instagram to announce her mystery boyfriend of one month had pulled the plug on their relationship. Brooke Blurton (pictured) has welcomed a new member of her family Brooke posted an aerial view from her flight to Melbourne and captioned it with some reflective words. 'Perth was such a nice reset for my soul. After the guy I had fallen for broke it off, I was really questioning who I was,' she began. 'Sometimes a reset helps you get back into alignment. As much as it stung, I know in my heart that it isn't me. I haven't met the right person yet and that's okay. The Bachelor, Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise star went on to say she was putting her love life on hold for awhile while she focused on other priorities. On Sunday, the former star of The Bachelorette shared a clip to Instagram Stories in which she was having a video call with her brother Troy. 'Got news my beautiful nephew Harlyn Hayes Blurton has arrived. Congrats' she wrote in a caption on the video 'I love my work, friends and really do love what I'm doing. I just need to chill on the 'love' aspect right now,' she added. The reality star briefly found love with Darvid Garayeli on The Bachelorette, but the couple split shortly after the show's finale. Brooke has had quite the successful media career since shooting to fame season six of The Bachelor in 2018. She appeared on Bachelor In Paradise in 2019, and then became Australia's first ever bisexual Bachelorette in 2021. In July, the reality TV star revealed that she is once again single Gwyneth Paltrow who essentially retired from the film business over a decade ago is at the centre of an 'arts-washing' controversy after agreeing to fly to Saudi Arabia for a controversial film festival. The Red Sea Film Festival is said to have offered 'talent' a cool $1 million each to appear and has so far attracted actors Will Smith, Sharon Stone and Johnny Depp to the red carpet. Oscar-winner Paltrow, 51, is the latest and most surprising A-list signing, particularly as outside of her appearances as Pepper Potts in Marvel films she's not had a leading role in a film since Mortdecai in 2015. She said in an interview in 2020 that she had 'hit the bullseye' aged 26 by winning an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love and then realised that she didn't love acting 'all that much'. She has since made a fortune with her Goop wellness brand. A spokesman for the festival yesterday confirmed that Paltrow is to appear 'In Conversation' with Jomana Al Rashid, the CEO of Arab News on Wednesday night. Festival: Gwyneth Paltrow is at the centre of an 'arts-washing' controversy after agreeing to fly to Saudi Arabia for a controversial film festival Red carpet: Johnny Depp attends the Opening Night screening of 'HWJN' at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 Actor: Will Smith speaks on stage at In Conversation with Will Smith during this year's Red Sea International Film Festival Event: Sharon Stone attends the Women In Cinema Gala during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 on December 01, 2023 The Festival in Jeddah is run by a foundation chaired by the Saudi culture minister. Critics regard it as a part of the regime's 'arts-washing' and 'sports-washing' in which glamorous international events are held in order to distract from human rights abuses. Homosexuality remains a crime punishable by death in the kingdom and widespread outrage greeted the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, by agents of the Saudi government at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. READ MORE: Sofia Vergara exudes elegance in chic black dress as she joins Naomi Campbell and Sharon Stone at the Women In Cinema Gala during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 Advertisement On Friday, the Puck news website ran an item about 'the Saudi's blood red carpet' claiming: '$1 million was the standing offer that went around the talent agencies for major stars to walk the carpet Will Smith may even have gotten more than that.' Depp appears as he has a long-standing relationship with the festival as its foundation were among the backers of his comeback film Jeanne Du Barry. A spokesman for Paltrow did not respond to requests for comment about her fee for attending. Speaking at the festival last night (Saturday), Oscar-winner Will Smith rebuilding his reputation after the Oscars slap in 2022, said he was keen to work in the Kingdom, saying he had ambitions to make: 'A movie with Denzel yes! A movie with Denzel Washington in Saudi!' He added: 'You know, I think that right now the thing I'm really excited about is the transfer of knowledge. I really want to teach. I really want to teach filmmaking. I want to work with people on big movies. 'And so what's exciting to me about Saudi is it's a it's a brand new film community. So it's brand new filmmakers. And there's a style of global storytelling that I've traveled the world and I understand tiny little adjustments that make things global - to be able to take local stories and make them global. 'So I'm excited to travel the world and collaborate and be able to teach and build build global storytelling community. I have a deep faith in the power of sharing our stories with one another, to help heal wounds; to help learn about each other. Star: Sofia Vergara attends the Women In Cinema Gala during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 on December 01Sofia Vergara Pink: Sharon Stone turned heads at the HWJN screening at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 in Saudi Arabia Dress: Model Alessandra Ambrosio looked incredible in Saudi Arabia Suit: Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick attended the Opening Night screening of 'HWJN' at the Red Sea International Film Festival Film: Depp appears as he has a long-standing relationship with the festival as its foundation were among the backers of his comeback film Jeanne Du Barry 'I feel like this next phase of my life is going to be working in global collaboration to create an exchange of our stories that creates bridges. I just don't feel like politics will necessarily create the change so I'm putting the burden on myself and on global artists. Absolutely. I love it here. Someone tell me where my house needs to be!' The chair of the jury this year is the Elvis and Moulin Rouge! Director Baz Luhrmann who has also spoken warmly about Saudi Arabia. The country banned cinema until six years ago but is now pouring millions into incentives to and this festival as part of its strategy aimed at moving the economy away from its dependence on oil. READ MORE: Sharon Stone turns heads in a plunging pink gown as she joins Alessandra Ambrosio and Michelle Williams at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 Advertisement Its selection as the opening title is seen as a sign of the growing strength of the film and TV business in Saudi Arabia, just six years after the lifting of the country's 35-year cinema ban as part of its 2030 strategy aimed at moving the economy away from oil. Baz Luhrmann said he came to Saudi before accepting the role. 'I came in a quiet way to do my own investigation For 30 years there was no cinema and then, all of a sudden, movies are being seen. I got to know the studios but what I was really struck by was the young, emerging filmmakers and how hungry they are to tell their story. That's why I am here. At a time when politics fails us, storytellers have to be heard and that's what we're here to support.' A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch said earlier this year: 'For a number of years the Saudi government has been using this high profile Festival as a means by which to draw attention from its egregious human rights record - and they are continuing to do this, unfortunately. 'The human rights record in the country is only getting worse. We have documented an awful case of a retired teacher who was sentenced to death based on his peaceful twitter and YouTube activity in July this year. 'It is deeply concerning that this Festival is engaging powerful artists and performers and celebrities who have made use of freedom of expression through their art and yet are participating in a Festival which is hosted by the government which does not tolerate that freedom.' The message from the charity is: 'If you must go, then use your platform to raise awareness about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.' Arianna Ajtar sent temperatures soaring in a slew of sizzling Instagram snaps on Sunday. The former Coronation Street actress, 27, who played the character of Olivia Radfield in 2018 and 2019, ensured all eyes were on her in the revealing ensemble. She flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a semi-sheer lace dress and a black bodysuit which cinched in her waist. Arianna boosted her height in silver heels and swept her brunette locks back into a bun. Alongside the stunning images, Arianna penned: 'happy to be here' Arianna Ajtar sent temperatures soaring in a slew of sizzling Instagram snaps on Sunday The former Coronation Street actress, 27, who played the character of Olivia Radfield in 2018 and 2019, ensured all eyes were on her in the revealing ensemble It comes after she previously showcased the fruits of her labour in June as she stripped down to a tiny black thong bikini. The beauty, who is director of fashion brand Mars The Label, put on a very busty display in the barely there two piece, which boasted string bottoms and a skimpy top. Arianna flashed some major underboob in the skimpy two-piece as she confidentially posed for the mirror selfie. Arianna looked sensational as she showcased her washboard abs and toned legs. completing her look with a black bucket hat and gold jewellery around her wrist. Just the week previously, the actress-turned-businesswoman stripped off to another plunging bikini as she soaked up the sun on the island. She left little to the imagination in the tiny blue crochet bikini from her own range accessorising with a blue and white chain and gold earrings. The former actress has been seen soaking up in the sun in the likes of Ibiza, Cannes, Dubai, Crete, Paris and Barbados over the last year, after setting up her own clothing brand Mars The Label. She flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a semi-sheer lace dress and a black bodysuit which cinched in her waist Arianna boosted her height in silver heels and swept her brunette locks back into a bun During her soap opera stint, her character Olivia unknowingly became a drugs mule after arriving on the cobbles to pose for an Underworld fashion shoot. The pair then foiled Antoine's dodgy scheme by replacing the drugs with icing sugar. Olivia made her last appearance on Corrie in January 2019, when Duncan was involved in a shocking accident, but hasn't appeared on the soap since. Coronation Street remains Arianna's only acting credit. Charlotte Dawson mimicked her late dad's legendary gurn during rehearsals of Beauty And The Beast panto at The Globe in Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Sunday. The daughter of comedian Les Dawson, 30, rocked a bold swipe of red lipstick as she copied her fathers famous pose. She looked incredible as she put on her makeup in her dressing room ready to portray Fortulicious over the festive period. Charlotte pulled her long brunette waved tresses to the side as she showed off her tattoo in tribute to her late dad Les. Comedy legend Les, a household name during his 1970s and '80s heyday, died of heart failure on June 10 1993, aged 63 - just eight months after Charlotte was born. Charlotte Dawson mimicked her late dad's legendary gurn during rehearsals of Beauty And The Beast panto at The Globe in Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Sunday Comedy legend Les, a household name during his 1970s and '80s heyday, died of heart failure on June 10 1993, aged 63 - just eight months after Charlotte was born (pictured 1981) Taking to the stage, Charlotte wowed in a black off the shoulder dress which boasted a daring thigh high split up the front, a glittering corset and a dramatic feathered collar. The TV personality put on a leggy display as she rocked a pair of coordinated thigh high boots with a pair of fish net tights and a dazzling silver choker. While posing on stage, the mother-of-two was joined by her baby son Jude, who she shares with fiance Matt Sarsfield. The couple also share son Noah, two, and welcomed their second child after suffering a miscarriage at 10 weeks in April 2022. It comes after Charlotte finally revealed she knows who the nasty troll that has been reporting her to social services is. The reality star has in total been reported to social services twice and once to the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) - since giving birth to her second child Jude three months ago. And speaking of the upsetting times where she was accused of mistreating and abusing her son Noah Charlotte has finally come to the bottom of the 'outrageous' claims. During an appearance on the Nip Tuck podcast with Lauren Harris and Ashley Stobart, Charlotte disclosed that she knew who her troll was - and it is someone who is surprisingly closer to home than she thought. She said: 'Well I do know [the troll], but obviously I can't say anything just right now. It's someone close to home which Is quite shocking, you always find that though don't you. The daughter of comedian Les Dawson, 30, rocked a bold swipe of red lipstick as she copied her fathers famous pose Charlotte pulled her long brunette waved tresses to the side as she showed off her tattoo in tribute to her late dad Les She looked incredible as she put on her makeup in her dressing room ready to portray Fortulicious over the festive period Taking to the stage, Charlotte wowed in a black off the shoulder dress which boasted a daring thigh high split up the front, a glittering corset and a dramatic feathered collar The TV personality put on a leggy display as she rocked a pair of coordinated thigh high boots with a pair of fish net tights and a dazzling silver choker 'We are getting there. It's actually stopped, it has stopped, I've not heard anything recently but obviously...' Speaking about the awful time, Charlotte added that when the troll reported her to the NSPCC it 'broke her heart'. Someone accused Charlotte of giving her eldest son alcohol and showing him naked on social media, Charlotte explained. Charlotte, who is engaged to the father of her sons Matt Sarsfield, said the report was 'shut down' by the investigating officer once they had spoken to her. Taking to her Instagram Stories to explain the situation at the time, she said: 'Happy Monday my darlings. Chazza has not had a happy Monday. Mine has been horrendous, awful. 'You know they say it comes in threes, bad news doesn't it. I've had three bad news today. 'One of them is social services again. Saying that Noah is drunk and he's been seen with drink. 'The next one is that they're worried for our sons because there's excessive alcohol. I've not even drank once, I've not even been out of the house. I've been breastfeeding. The mother-of-two was joined by her baby son Jude, who she shares with fiance Matt Sarsfield The couple also share son Noah, two, and welcomed their second child after suffering a miscarriage at 10 weeks in April 2022 Charlotte was joined on stage by her co-stars 'I know you can have a wine when you're breastfeeding. I've not even had any drink, I'm absolutely baffled.' She continued: 'Then the next one. Apparently I'm showing his genitals on Instagram. I'm so baffled. When have I showed, I just don't understand. Literally.' Explaining the impact it was having on her mental wellbeing, she said: 'But it's hilarious. They've got him down as six weeks old. 'Whoever you are he's actually two weeks old and the fact that you rang f*****g social services on me when my son is two weeks old, and I have a two and a half year old.' 'I'm not even in a normal state of mind right now. I'm still really down and low. I'm not in real life, you know when you're in your baby bubble, one minute I'm happy and one minute I'm low. 'Hearing this again, it's making me want to come off Instagram. I don't know what to do, maybe I'm best not showing Noah and Jude, I'm just trying to be a good mum.' Charlotte was first targeted by the troll last year and again in May. She continued: 'Wasting social services time, it's absolutely ridiculous, I do have things in place, but these people whoever it is, I've had a baby, I've been busy, I've not forgot about what's going on but there have been more important things in my life than trying to find this weirdo that is not letting up. 'But I'm going to have to move faster because this person is literally trying to ruin my life. It's horrific, I feel sick, I don't know how they can get away with giving us all this stress. I literally have no words. No words. I feel like my head is going to fall off. I feel like my baby bubble has been popped.' She continued: 'The social services lady was lovely on the phone, obviously she closed the case down immediately. She was just ringing me to warn me really, that they'd called again, through the NSPCC which is child abuse, wow.' It comes after Charlotte finally revealed she knows who the nasty troll that has been reporting her to social services is Charlotte has in total been reported to social services twice and one to the NSPCC (pictured with son Noah, two, Jude, three months and fiance Matt Sarsfield) In another video, Charlotte cuddled her newborn Jude and told fans: 'My boys are my life. I eat, sleep, look after them, and that's it at the moment. 'I mean you just have to look at Noah and look how happy he is. And this little one loves his mum. 'It makes me depressed and heartbroken really because I'm literally trying my best. Why me? Why are they wasting time ringing me when social services have families who need help and support. 'This person will not stop until something really bad happens to me. I love you all on Instagram and I am so grateful for the support and love. But it's been a really rough couple of days. 'I am heavily pregnant. He's blooming, our lad. And as much as I want to come off social media, I've just got to put my big girl knickers on.' The stunning silk evening dress worn by A-lister Dame Helen Mirren when she won a BAFTA is set to go up for auction. The British actress, now 78, wore the strapless floor-length gown and bolero jacket in 2007, when she received her Best Actress award for her performance in The Queen. It was designed for her by renowned fashion designer Jacques Azagury, who also created clothes for Princess Diana. This was the first dress Azagury made for the Oscar-winner and started a 15-year relationship between the pair, with him creating many more red carpet looks since. He has now put the silk taffeta outfit up for auction on December 7 with Penzance-based Lay's Auctioneers, where it is expected to sell for 4,000 . The stunning silk evening dress worn by A-lister Dame Helen Mirren when she won a BAFTA is set to go up for auction The British actress, now 78, wore the strapless floor-length gown and bolero jacket in 2007 The dress is champagne silk taffeta and the jacket is a contrasting dusky mink colour. There is also a ruffled sash and bow on the dress to match the bolero. The much photographed outfit has been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum since Dame Helen wore it. Azagury opened his flagship store in Knightsbridge, London, in 1987 with his sister and business partner Solange. From the 80s onwards his dresses were regularly featured in Vogue and appeared in collections at Harrods, Browns, Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman. Throughout his career he dressed some of the world's most glamorous women, but he retired in September and is now auctioning some of his celebrity dresses and some fixtures from his boutique. Mr Azagury said: 'Her stylist got in touch to see if I wanted to provide a dress for the BAFTAs. They get sent lots of dresses to consider, sometimes as many as 200, so I was competing with lots of other designers. 'I chose this dress and took it to her house. I only took this one dress because I knew it would look fantastic on her and the colours looked sensational on her. 'Out of all the dresses she tried she just absolutely loved it, it fitted her perfectly and only needed a few little nips and tucks to make it perfect. Dame Helen, now 78, is pictured earlier this month at the L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth in Hollywood The Queen focused on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and whether the Queen would return to London from Balmoral to pay tribute (Dame Helen pictured in the 2006 film) 'It was a big moment for her (getting her award) and it was a really big moment for us because it led onto this great relationship. She was always really easy to work with. 'She looked so fabulous and glamorous and it was important because it showed that women of a certain age could look sensational. 'I'm happy to part with it now because it would just be locked away in a cupboard so it's great for people to see it and connect with it.' The drama, written by The Crown creator Peter Morgan, focused on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and whether the Queen would return to London from Balmoral to pay tribute amid growing public pressure. After the Queen passed away in September 2022, the Dame revealed she had written a letter to her during filming as she realised she was dealing with a sensitive moment in her life. She told Radio Times: 'I realised we were investigating a profoundly painful part of her life, so I wrote to her. How do you write to your Queen? Was it Madam, or Your Highness, or Your Majesty? received her Best Actress award for her performance in The Queen 'I said: "We are doing this film. We are investigating a very difficult time in your life. I hope it's not too awful for you". 'I can't remember how I put it. I just said that in my research I found myself with a growing respect for her, and I just wanted to say that. She didn't write back, of course, but her secretary did. 'You know, "Yours sincerely, da di da di da," on behalf of the Queen. I was very relieved subsequently that I had written that letter.' Mimi Connell-Lay from Lay's Auctioneers said: 'Helen Mirren wore this dress for a really big moment in her career. 'I think it's one of the roles she is most known and admired for. All eyes were on her at the Baftas and she went on to receive an Oscar for this role as well. 'We are expecting a lot of interest, not only because of the historical significance of who wore it but also because it is a fabulous, glamorous frock.' Strictly's Dianne Buswell has shared her disappointment over her and Bobby Brazier's dance during musicals week on Saturday. The pair danced a Salsa to (I've Had) The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing - along with the famous lift that Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray did in the 1997 movie. It was one of the riskiest lifts the show has seen in its 19-year history, and not even professional dancer Dianne has ever done it before. Bobby appeared unsteady as he lifted Dianne above his head, but the pro dancer still flashed a smile. After the show, Dianne penned on Instagram: 'Gutted the LIFT didn't go to plan like it had in most rehearsals but I do have to say we took a risk and didn't play it safe that dance was hard and so iconic that of course there was pressure to do it justice and the feeling of just not quite getting it was a bit low for us. Strictly's Dianne Buswell has shared her disappointment over her and Bobby Brazier 's dance during musicals week on Saturday The pair danced a Salsa to (I've Had) The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing - along with the famous lift that Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray did in the 1997 movie 'HOWEVER Bobby wanted to challenge himself and so did I and that is success and growth in its self... 'Let's focus on the amazing parts of the dance the fact bobby was leading me around the floor his hips foot work expression and just overall improvement for a guy who started dancing only 11 weeks ago is incredible! 'Your strength your movement has improved so so much and I'm sure so many people agree. We are so excited and grateful to be dancing in the semi finals next week but I also send my love to Nigel and Katya who have been incredible this whole competition.' Bobby, who only had three days to practice for the routine said: 'It's a risk that I really want to take. However, he did admit that he has dropped Dianne since they have been dancing together. Bobby admitted: 'I have dropped her in rehearsal. We both went backwards. I fell on my back, and you've been on your front.' It comes after Bobby's emotional tribute to his late mother Jade Goody reduced head judge Shirley Ballas to tears. It was one of the riskiest lifts the show has seen in its 19-year history, and not even professional dancer Dianne has ever done it before Bobby appeared unsteady as he lifted Dianne above his head, but the pro dancer still flashed a smile After the show, Dianne penned on Instagram: 'Gutted the LIFT didn't go to plan like it had in most rehearsals but I do have to say we took a risk and didn't play it safe that dance was hard and so iconic that of course there was pressure to do it justice and the feeling of just not quite getting it was a bit low for us.' Strictly 2023: Week 11 Leaderboard Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin - Paso Doble to Backstage Romance from Moulin Rogue The Musical - 40 points out of 40 Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola - Quickstep to Belle from Beauty and The Beast - 36 points out of 40 Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell - Salsa to (Ive Had) The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing - 34 points out of 40 Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe - Foxtrot to Good from Wicked - 33 points out of 40 Advertisement And since his heart-wrenching routine last Saturday , the star says he has been inundated with letters and messages from those who have also suffered the loss of a loved one. Millions watched as the actor and his dance partner, Dianne Buswell , performed his couple's choice dance to 'This Woman's Work' by Maxwell a song that reminds him of losing his beloved mum in 2009 when he was just four. Bobby, 20, told The Mail on Sunday: 'There's been a lot (of letters). I haven't opened or read a lot of them but I've seen there's been a lot of people writing.' 'We connected to a lot of people and communicated and translated something and that's what I wanted to do. I think that's what happens when you dance authentically and from your heart. I'm really glad that that happened. 'It was a privilege. I knew that my couple's choice had to be that. It was daunting before though because that song is perfect. So to touch perfection is daunting, but I'm really, really glad that I did. 'After every dance, everyone's always really supportive and complimentary, but especially after last week. I definitely welcomed all the love.' Since Bobby's heart-wrenching routine last Saturday, he says he has been inundated with letters and messages from those who have also suffered the loss of a loved one (pictured with his late mum Jade Goody in May 2006) Millions watched as the actor and his dance partner, Dianne Buswell , performed his couple's choice dance to 'This Woman's Work' by Maxwell a song that reminds him of losing his beloved mum in 2009 when he was just four (pictured last week) Since he started on Strictly, Brazier has won over an army of young fans who now regard him as a 'sex symbol.' While some young starlets would be shy about such a label, the EastEnders actor confesses: 'I love it!' The same goes for the comparisons drawn between him and Sir Mick Jagger. It was in week three when Bobby and Dianne danced a Samba that fans began noticing how similar Brazier is to the wrinkly rocker. Bobby admitted he is bemused that he is mentioned in the same sentence as Sir Mick, 80, saying: 'People weren't expecting my hips to be so hippy, I think that's where these crazy claims are coming from.' Some of Hollywood's biggest stars have been accused of turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia's 'egregious' human rights abuses by going to a film festival in the Kingdom. The likes of Will Smith, Sharon Stone and Johnny Depp have already attended the Red Sea Film Fesival in Jeddah, which human rights groups say is being for 'arts-washing'. The festival, which is run by a foundation chaired by the Saudi culture minister, is said to have offered stars as much as $1million each for their appearances. Also among those gracing the event over the weekend, which Puck news referred to as the 'blood red carpet', are Baz Luhrmann, Ed Westwick, Alessandra Ambrosio and Sofia Vergara. It was confirmed last night that even Gwyneth Paltrow, who essentially retired from the film business over a decade ago and has made fortune from her wellness brand Goop, is set to attend. Festival: Gwyneth Paltrow is at the centre of an 'arts-washing' controversy after agreeing to fly to Saudi Arabia for a controversial film festival Red carpet: Johnny Depp attends the Opening Night screening of 'HWJN' at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 Actor: Will Smith speaks on stage at In Conversation with Will Smith during this year's Red Sea International Film Festival Event: Sharon Stone attends the Women In Cinema Gala during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 on December 01, 2023 Oscar-winner Paltrow, 51, is the latest and most surprising A-list signing, particularly as outside of her appearances as Pepper Potts in Marvel films she's not had a leading role in a film since Mortdecai in 2015. She said in an interview in 2020 that she had 'hit the bullseye' aged 26 by winning an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love and then realised that she didn't love acting 'all that much'. A spokesman for the festival yesterday confirmed that Paltrow is to appear 'In Conversation' with Jomana Al Rashid, the CEO of Arab News on Wednesday night. READ MORE HERE: Sofia Vergara exudes elegance in chic black dress as she joins Naomi Campbell and Sharon Stone at the Women In Cinema Gala during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 Advertisement Critics regard the as a part of the regime's 'arts-washing' and 'sports-washing' in which glamorous international events are held in order to distract from human rights abuses. Homosexuality remains a crime punishable by death in the kingdom and widespread outrage greeted the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, by agents of the Saudi government at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. On Friday, the Puck news website ran an item about 'the Saudi's blood red carpet' claiming: '$1 million was the standing offer that went around the talent agencies for major stars to walk the carpet Will Smith may even have gotten more than that.' Depp appears as he has a long-standing relationship with the festival as its foundation were among the backers of his comeback film Jeanne Du Barry. It is understood that Depp was not paid for his attendance. A spokesman for Paltrow did not respond to requests for comment about her fee for attending. Speaking at the festival on Saturday, Oscar-winner Will Smith rebuilding his reputation after the Oscars slap in 2022, said he was keen to work in the Kingdom, saying he had ambitions to make: 'A movie with Denzel yes! A movie with Denzel Washington in Saudi!' He added: 'You know, I think that right now the thing I'm really excited about is the transfer of knowledge. I really want to teach. I really want to teach filmmaking. I want to work with people on big movies. 'And so what's exciting to me about Saudi is it's a it's a brand new film community. So it's brand new filmmakers. And there's a style of global storytelling that I've traveled the world and I understand tiny little adjustments that make things global - to be able to take local stories and make them global. 'So I'm excited to travel the world and collaborate and be able to teach and build build global storytelling community. I have a deep faith in the power of sharing our stories with one another, to help heal wounds; to help learn about each other. Star: Sofia Vergara attends the Women In Cinema Gala during the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 on December 01Sofia Vergara Pink: Sharon Stone turned heads at the HWJN screening at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 in Saudi Arabia Dress: Model Alessandra Ambrosio looked incredible in Saudi Arabia Suit: Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick attended the Opening Night screening of 'HWJN' at the Red Sea International Film Festival Film: Depp appears as he has a long-standing relationship with the festival as its foundation were among the backers of his comeback film Jeanne Du Barry 'I feel like this next phase of my life is going to be working in global collaboration to create an exchange of our stories that creates bridges. I just don't feel like politics will necessarily create the change so I'm putting the burden on myself and on global artists. Absolutely. I love it here. Someone tell me where my house needs to be!' The chair of the jury this year is the Elvis and Moulin Rouge! Director Baz Luhrmann who has also spoken warmly about Saudi Arabia. The country banned cinema until six years ago but is now pouring millions into incentives to and this festival as part of its strategy aimed at moving the economy away from its dependence on oil. READ MORE: Sharon Stone turns heads in a plunging pink gown as she joins Alessandra Ambrosio and Michelle Williams at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 Advertisement Its selection as the opening title is seen as a sign of the growing strength of the film and TV business in Saudi Arabia, just six years after the lifting of the country's 35-year cinema ban as part of its 2030 strategy aimed at moving the economy away from oil. Baz Luhrmann said he came to Saudi before accepting the role. 'I came in a quiet way to do my own investigation For 30 years there was no cinema and then, all of a sudden, movies are being seen. I got to know the studios but what I was really struck by was the young, emerging filmmakers and how hungry they are to tell their story. That's why I am here. At a time when politics fails us, storytellers have to be heard and that's what we're here to support.' A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch said earlier this year: 'For a number of years the Saudi government has been using this high profile Festival as a means by which to draw attention from its egregious human rights record - and they are continuing to do this, unfortunately. 'The human rights record in the country is only getting worse. We have documented an awful case of a retired teacher who was sentenced to death based on his peaceful twitter and YouTube activity in July this year. 'It is deeply concerning that this Festival is engaging powerful artists and performers and celebrities who have made use of freedom of expression through their art and yet are participating in a Festival which is hosted by the government which does not tolerate that freedom.' The message from the charity is: 'If you must go, then use your platform to raise awareness about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.' Kim Zolciak's marital drama is not only causing problems within her family, but with her friends as well. The reality star, 45, who has been selling husband Kroy Biermann's designer shoes on Instagram, is embarrassing her friends with all the drama of the couple's volatile on-again, off-again relationship, according to TMZ. As a result, many of Kim's friends have pulled away from her. There is some speculation the pair are playing up the situation, which includes loud arguments and calls to the police by their minor children, to score a new reality show to help them solve some of their crippling financial woes. The couple are parents to Kroy, Jr, 12, Kash, 11, and twins Kaia and Kane, nine, along with Kim's daughters from a previous relationship, Brielle, 26, and Ariana, 21, whom Kroy adopted after they married in November 2011. Kim Zolciak's marital drama is not only causing problems within her family, but with her friends as well. The reality star's pals are reportedly 'embarrassed' by the high profile back and forth and are pulling away from her, according to TMZ (Pictured in Atlanta in November 2019) Kim's friends are also reportedly worried that their four youngest children are being needlessly exposed to the couple's bickering. The Don't Be Tardy star's blowups with Kroy some of which have earned them visits from the police may have also forced their kids to relive them via news stories on their antics. Part of the problem seems to be that the friends believe Kim is starting to enjoy fighting with Kroy, and the sources said it seemed like a 'game' to the couple. Kim is no stranger to reality TV. She is best known for The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. She and Kroy, 38, both starred in Don't Be Tardy. Other efforts for the Bravolebrity to resolve some of her financial woes have infuriated her millions of fans. Kim was blasted by her Instagram fans and followers after posting a link to a clickbait article that appeared to imply her daughter Brielle Biermann was pregnant. However, anyone who was fooled into clicking on the story discovered that Brielle wasn't pregnant at all. The deceptive Instagram post included a fake sonogram image which further confused Kim's fans. The influencer was paid to post it, sources familiar with the situation told TMZ . The eyebrow-raising move was apparently in reaction to a couple of lawsuits the couple are face. Kroy is being sued by Chase Bank for $13,000 in overdue credit card payments. There is some speculation that Kim, 45, and Kroy, 38, are playing up the situation, which includes loud arguments and calls to the police by their minor children, to score a new reality show to help them solve some of their crippling financial woes (Pictured in New York in October 2017) After fighting over it for months, the couple have listed their palatial mansion for sale. They are asking $6 million for the home which features seven-bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, a pool, wine cellar and more Kim has also found herself in legal trouble with Bank of America, which is suing her for more than $56,000 due to unpaid credit card debt, accrued interest and late fees. After fighting over it for months, the couple have listed their palatial mansion for sale. They are asking $6 million for the home, which includes seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. The house sits on nearly two acres of property and includes a wine cellar, a heated pool, a home theater, a game room and a gym, among other amenities. Carol Vorderman flaunted her sensational figure in some skin-tight leather trousers as she posed at Channel 4's Sunday Brunch studios this weekend. The television presenter, 62, took to Instagram to shared some snaps of herself in her figure-hugging attire, which perfectly showed off her gym-honed legs. Former Countdown star Carol wore a cropped leopard print jacket over a black top. She boosted her height by opting for a pair of edgy black platform boots to complete her look. The maths whizz was seen smiling as she gave a wave to the camera while the show's crew prepared to go live on television in the background. Carol Vorderman flaunted her sensational figure in some skin-tight leather trousers as she posed at Channel 4's Sunday Brunch studios this weekend The television presenter, 62, took to Instagram to shared some snaps of herself in her figure-hugging attire, which perfectly showed off her gym-honed legs She captioned her post: 'Lovely morning on Sunday Brunch....I'm stuffed now...need a Nana Nap.' It comes after Carol was axed from her BBC radio show after she refused to tone down her anti-Tory social media posts. Carol, who had been at the station for five years, was told to leave her job at BBC Radio Wales after she breached the broadcaster's new social media 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' and branded Tory ministers a 'lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks'. It has since been asked if Carol will run as a Labour candidate at the next general election. 'I know what's about to come: there is a lot of news to be announced and I'm really happy,' she told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden 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. She captioned her post: 'Lovely morning on Sunday Brunch....I'm stuffed now...need a Nana Nap' 'Dismantling the Tory Party is my aim for the rest of next year.' On her departure from BBC Radio Wales, she added to the Daily Mail: '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.' Last month, Carol was told to leave her BBC Radio Wales show for breaching the broadcaster's new social media guidelines as she vowed to continue her anti-Tory rants. She said at the time: 'Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.' The BBC brought in new social media rules for its presenters following outrage earlier this year over Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker's tweet which comparing the Government's Rwanda policy to Nazi Germany. These prevent high-profile stars from attacking political parties and individual politicians as well as weighing into controversial issues before elections or referendums. The rules apply when their show is on air and in a two-week window before and after. Carol said in a statement: 'The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines, which I respect. 'However, despite my show being light-hearted with no political content, it was explained to me that, as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines would apply to all and any content that I post all year round. It comes after Carol was axed from her BBC radio show after she refused to tone down her anti-Tory social media posts 'Since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, I've ultimately found that I'm not prepared to lose my voice on social media, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil this country finds itself in. 'My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK Government for what it has done to the country which I love and I'm not prepared to stop. 'I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on. 'Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions. 'I'm sad to have to leave the wonderful friends I've made at Radio Wales. 'I wish them, and all of our listeners, all the love in the world. We laughed a lot, and we will miss each other dearly. 'But, for now, another interesting chapter begins.' The BBC said: 'Carol has been a presenter on BBC Radio Wales since 2018. We'd like to thank her for her work and contribution to the station over the past five years.' Four years after Robert Downey Jr. played Iron Man for the last time, Marvel president Kevin Feige has explained why the actor was almost passed up for the role and why he will never return to it. Speaking to Vanity Fair for the 58-year-old Hollywood icon's cover story, Feige said studio executives were hesitant to cast him due to his sketchy past, which included a 1996 conviction for possession of heroin, cocaine and an unloaded .357 Magnum. 'It purely came down to the Marvel board being nervous at putting all of their chips in their future films on somebody who famously had those legal troubles in the past,' he dished to the publication. What changed their minds was Downey Jr.'s screen test, which was filmed on September 25, 2006. And after the Golden Globe winner completed reshoots for 2019's Avengers: Endgame, Feige said, 'We promised him it would be the last time we made him do itever.' Four years after Robert Downey Jr. played Iron Man for the last time, Marvel president Kevin Feige has explained why the actor was almost passed up for the role and why he will never return to it as Downey graces the cover of Vanity Fair 'It purely came down to the Marvel board being nervous at putting all of their chips in their future films on somebody who famously had those legal troubles in the past,' Feige dished to the publication; still from Iron Man (2008) And for fans who think Tony Stark could be revived, as Marvel often does with its powerhouse characters, Feige says it's out of the question. 'We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,' he said about the figure's final turn. 'We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way,' he confirmed. It was noted that Robert was hesitant to redo lines of dialogue for the final Endgame edits. 'Wed already said tearful goodbyes on the last day of shooting. Everybody had moved on emotionally,' explained Kevin. Anthony Russo added: 'That was a difficult thing for him to do to come back to pick up that [final] line. 'When he did come back, we were shooting on a stage directly opposite where he auditioned for Tony Stark. So his last line as Tony Stark was shot literally a couple hundred feet from his original audition that got him the role.' His wife Susan Downey also spoke to journalist Anthony Breznican for the VF story, which was written before the SAG-AFTRA strike was resolved, prohibiting Robert from being interviewed. Speaking to Vanity Fair about the 58-year-old Hollywood icon, Marvel president Kevin Feige said studio executives were hesitant to cast Robert in Iron Man due to his past legal woes, which included a 1996 conviction for possession of drugs and a weapon Robert and wife Susan Downey attended a Netflix event together in May Of her Oppenheimer actor husband, she said he enjoys TV and film 'like a sporting event.' 'Hes so excited for what someone just pulled off or the degree of difficulty that he recognizes,' she described. Susan, who heads production company Team Downey with her beau, continued that her partner will note while watching something: 'Like, "Oh, my God, they shot that at night. That was probably really cold. He had to go do this physicality, give this speech, turn around, do this emotional beat." 'Hell break it down in a way that you just see: This is somebody who respects that its hard.' Noor Alfallah looked sleek in all black as she arrived at pal Vas Morgan's lavish birthday party in West Hollywood Saturday night. The 29-year-old, who claimed she's 'not the marrying type' after quashing rumors she and boyfriend Al Pacino, 83, were going to walk down the aisle, stepped out in an edgy black leather bomber jacket and a lacy black top. The film producer, who gave birth to son Roman Pacino in June, showcased her toned legs in a pair of black leggings and black ankle boots. Her long, dark hair was styled straight and she wore natural looking makeup. The socialite arrived with a friend who was dressed in black and blue color block pants and a black, blue and green puffy jacket and sneakers. Al Pacino's girlfriend, Noor Alfallah, 29, looked sleek in all black at pal Vas Morgan's birthday party in West Hollywood Saturday night The socialite arrived with a friend sitting in the front seat of her luxury SUV. Sitting in the back was Noor's old flame, Nicolas Berggruen, 62 He and Noor dated for a while after Noor ended her year-long relationship with Mick Jagger. It appears the two have remained friends after going their separate ways. The pair were spotted attending a Sting concert together in early October Sitting in the back seat of her luxury SUV as she pulled up to the valet stand was Noor's old flame, Nicolas Berggruen, 62. The billionaire looked handsome in a black suit with a black T-shirt and slip on shoes. He and Noor dated for a while after Noor ended her year-long relationship with Mick Jagger. It appears the two have remained friends after going their separate ways. The pair were spotted attending a Sting concert together in early October. Among other things, Nicolas is the founder of the Berggruen Institute, an independent think tank aiming to reshape political and social institutions on governance, economic systems, globalization, geopolitics, and technology There was some speculation that Noor and the Godfather star were on rocky ground after they filed a custody agreement about their now six-month-old son in September. The documents give Noor full physical custody of the boy, with the Oscar winner paying her $30,000 a month in child support. The 83-year-old actor will also give Noo with six-percent of his 'annual gross income in excess of $2,500,000 per year' which will be capped at $4,000,000, or up to $90,000. Both parents will 'consult with one another on all major decisions relating to Romans health, education, and welfare.' Both maintain legal custody of the tyke. According to Pacino's publicist, Stan Rosenberg, the couple are still together and the custody agreement was made for the benefit of the child. Proof of that was shared in Noor's Instagram Stories early Sunday morning, when she posted a photo of her own birthday party with several of her friends and Pacino at the Formosa Cafe in Hollywood. The Little Death producer turned 29 December 2, but reportedly celebrated at an earlier date, according to a pal who wrote she 'consistently has a birthday party the month before her birthday.' For his part, Al is still busy working in a variety of projects, including Modi, a film based on the life of artist Amedeo Modigliani. Johnny Depp is directing the biopic about 'a turbulent and eventful 48 hours that will become a turning point' in the artist's life that will determine his legacy. Noor, 29, stepped out in an edgy black leather bomber jacket and a lacy black top. The film producer, who gave birth to son Roman Pacino in June, showcased her toned legs in a pair of black leggings and black ankle boots. Noor linked arms with her pal as they walked into the party The billionaire looked handsome in a black suit with a black T-shirt and slip on shoes Among other things, Nicolas is the founder of the Berggruen Institute, an independent think tank aiming to reshape political and social institutions on governance, economic systems, globalization, geopolitics, and technology Noor and Nicolas dated for a while after Noor ended her year-long relationship with Mick Jagger Noor's friend friend was dressed in black and blue color block pants and a black, blue and green puffy jacket and sneakers There was some speculation that Noor and the Godfather star were on rocky ground after they filed a custody agreement about their now six-month-old son, Roman, in September The documents give Noor full physical custody of the boy, with the Oscar winner paying her $30,000 a month in child support Both parents will 'consult with one another on all major decisions relating to Romans health, education, and welfare,' and both will maintain legal custody of the child The Oscar winner's publicist confirmed he and Noor were still together and the custody arrangement was for Roman's benefit Proof of that was shared in Noor's Instagram Stories early Sunday morning, when she posted a photo of her own birthday party with several of her friends and Pacino at the Formosa Cafe in Hollywood. The BAFTA winner will star as the title character in the family drama Billy Knight. Noor is listed as an executive producer on the project. The versatile actor will also star in the mystery titled In the Hand of Dante, which from the plot description appears to be a modern day telling of Dante's Inferno. IMDB says the movie will 'follow the dark and violent path of a man who plunges into a metaphorical hell until he reaches paradise in search of his forbidden and impossible love.' Fellow Hollywood A-listers Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac and John Malkovich are co-starring in the project directed by Oscar winner Julian Schnabel. Bowen Yang is one of the most hilarious cast members starring on Saturday Night Live, but his 'bad bouts of depersonalization' forced him to take a three-week mental health break back in July. 'Taking a very short break from [my podcast Las Culturistas],' the 33-year-old comedian explained to his 579K Instagram followers at the time. 'Bad bouts of depersonalization are f***ing me up bad, but I am doing my best to get better! Please take care, be back soon.' Last Thursday, Bowen glammed up in a purple velvet blazer to attend the American Museum of Natural History Gala and said his 'mental health is great.' 'It's very good,' Yang told Page Six. Bowen Yang is one of the most hilarious cast members starring on Saturday Night Live, but his 'bad bouts of depersonalization' forced him to take a three-week mental health break back in July (pictured last Thursday) The 33-year-old comedian Instastoried at the time: 'Taking a very short break from [my podcast Las Culturistas]. Bad bouts of depersonalization are f***ing me up bad, but I am doing my best to get better! Please take care, be back soon' Last Thursday, Bowen glammed up in a purple velvet blazer to attend the American Museum of Natural History Gala and said his 'mental health is great' 'I had a really rough patch and people were very patient with me...I barreled through. I powered through.' Depersonalization is described as having an extreme out-of-body sensation by the Mayo Clinic such as feeling like you're floating above yourself or out of control and robotic like your memories and emotions aren't your own. Depersonalization frequently stems from trauma, and the three-time Emmy nominee's Chinese immigrant parents Ruilin and Meng Yang forced him to attend eight sessions of gay conversion therapy when he was 17. 'I think ultimately that made me value and, in a literal sense, appreciate what I'm able to withstand and survive,' Bowen - who's now in a 'healthy place' with his parents - told Rolling Stone back in June. 'You get this sense that you can overcome.' Yang is 'really excited' to plan a holiday family trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico with his older sister and her children. 'Most importantly, the kids,' the Australian-born, Colorado-raised funnyman told Page Six. 'I'm a generous [uncle]. I'm cool, but I'm also like, I think I also want to, like, give them a nice, healthy distance from, like, you know, being too spoiled. [They've] grown up with a lot of things [that I didn't], and I will do a good job of reminding them of that every time!' Last night, Bowen reprised his role as expelled Representative George Santos for the cold opening of the NBC sketch show in which he belted Scandal in the Wind, a parody of Elton John's 1973 hit Candle in the Wind. Catch more of Yang in the 49th season of Saturday Night Live, which will next feature host Adam Driver and musical guest Olivia Rodrigo. The Good Burger actor was originally hired as a staff writer in 2018 before being promoted to featured player in 2019. Bowen not only made history as SNL's first-ever Chinese-American cast member, he's also the third openly gay male cast members after Terry Sweeney and John Milhiser. 'The dream is to do SNL for as long as it makes sense and I'm not dead weight,' Yang told InStyle last Friday. Yang told Page Six: 'It's very good. I had a really rough patch and people were very patient with me...I barreled through. I powered through' Depersonalization frequently stems from trauma, and the three-time Emmy nominee's Chinese immigrant parents forced him to attend eight sessions of gay conversion therapy when he was 17 Bowen - who's now in a 'healthy place' with his parents - told Rolling Stone back in June: 'I think ultimately that made me value and, in a literal sense, appreciate what I'm able to withstand and survive. You get this sense that you can overcome' 'Most importantly, the kids': Yang is 'really excited' to plan a holiday family trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico with his older sister and her children (pictured October 8) Last night, the Australian-born, Colorado-raised funnyman reprised his role as expelled Representative George Santos for the cold opening of the NBC sketch show in which he belted Scandal in the Wind, a parody of Elton John's 1973 hit Candle in the Wind Catch more of Bowen in the 49th season of Saturday Night Live, which will next feature host Adam Driver and musical guest Olivia Rodrigo Yang will next voice Sidney in Paramount Pictures' big-screen animated adaptation of Laurence Yep's 2003 novel The Tiger's Apprentice, which is scheduled to hit US theaters January 19 and UK theaters January 26 'What [SNL creator Lorne Michaels] says all the time is you want to build the bridge out, while you're here, to the next thing.' Las Culturistas, the Please Don't Destroy star's Big Money Players comedy podcast with his NYU college buddy Matt Rogers, currently airs every Wednesday. Bowen will next voice Sidney in Paramount Pictures' big-screen adaptation of Laurence Yep's 2003 novel The Tiger's Apprentice, which is scheduled to hit US theaters January 19 and UK theaters January 26. Raman Hui, Yong Duk Jhun, and Paul Watling directed the Chinese zodiac-inspired animated film also starring Michelle Yeoh, Sandra Oh, Lucy Liu, Henry Golding, and Brandon Soo Hoo. Camila Mendes put on a fashionable display on Saturday as she and boyfriend Rudy Mancuso enjoyed a date night in Los Angeles. The 29-year-old former Riverdale actress was clad in a beige co-ord consisting of a moto jacket and miniskirt. She flaunted her toned legs in a pair of black pantyhose as she teamed the outfit with a black graphic T-shirt. She and Mancuso put on a public show of affection as they held hands while showing off their couple style. For his part, the YouTube sensation was dressed in belted black pants, a white shirt, and a black peacoat. Camila Mendes put on a fashionable display on Saturday as she and boyfriend Rudy Mancuso enjoyed a date night in Los Angeles The 29-year-old former Riverdale actress was clad in a beige co-ord consisting of a moto jacket and miniskirt Mendes finished her look by layering black socks over her tights and slipping her feet into a pair of shiny black loafers. Her longtime beau tucked his scoop-neck shirt into his high-waisted trousers and wore black Chelsea boots. He was clean-shaven for the night out and slicked his short dark hair into a glossy pompadour. Camila, who wrapped up her role on Riverdale in August, wore her lustrous dark locks loose. They flowed freely down her back and she looked typically beautiful in a face of warm-toned makeup. The pair have been dating publicly since November 2022 but were spotted together prior to that. Two months before going public with their relationship, Camila and Rudy were seen arriving at the Venice Film Festival together. And according to Us Weekly, they were also seen attending a Halloween party. She and Mancuso put on a public show of affection as they held hands while showing off their couple style On November 20 Camila posted a social media roundup of life outtakes, including a cozy mirror selfie with Rudy The fashionista attended the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards in NYC last month In January the two were seen putting on a loved-up display as they celebrated the new year on the beach in Miami. Last month Camila posted a social media roundup of life outtakes, including a cozy mirror selfie with Rudy. The Musica actor hugged his girlfriend from behind as he planted a kiss on the back of her head. A smiling Mendes leaned her head to the side and smiled softly while dressed in a button-up black shirt, charcoal jeans, and black ballet flats. Rating: The casual confidence of John Lennon's last prediction, on the day he was murdered, is so tragically ironic, it makes the skin prickle. 'My work won't be finished,' the former Beatle told RKO radio producer Laurie Kaye, taping his final interview, 'until I'm dead and buried and I hope that's a long, long time.' In a three-part documentary released this week, John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial (Apple TV+), Kaye describes how a pushy, distracted fan badgered them outside Lennon's apartment block in New York that day in December 1980. Ignoring him, she turned and walked away. The man, a 25-year-old from Hawaii named Mark David Chapman, demanded an autograph from Lennon then waited till the star returned that evening and shot him dead, firing five bullets. The story of Lennon's murder is so well known that it's extraordinary to realise how much has never been revealed till now and how many people have not been asked for their testimony. For the first time, Jay Hastings, the concierge of the Dakota building where Lennon and his family lived, gives his account describing how Lennon ran a few steps past him gasping, 'I'm shot,' blood streaming from his mouth, before collapsing. John Lennon arrives at the Times Square recording studio 'The Hit Factory' in 1980 Richard Peterson, taxi driver, in "John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial" Pictured: Elliot Mintz in the upcoming documentary The man, a 25-year-old from Hawaii named Mark David Chapman (pictured), demanded an autograph from Lennon then waited till the star returned that evening and shot him dead Narrated by Kiefer Sutherland, the documentary's title hints at the reason for this: Chapman pleaded guilty to murder, surprising his own defence team, who expected him to claim he was 'not guilty by reason of insanity'. As a result, he never stood trial. But the insanity is clear. One New York detective relates how he accompanied Chapman to the toilet at the precinct station: 'I said to him, 'Do you know what you've done here?' And he said, "Yes, I killed myself, I'm John Lennon".' To his defence team, he spun a different fantasy, saying he thought that the murder would transform him into the hero of his favourite book: cynical teenager Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher In The Rye. And to the judge, explaining why he was changing his plea to guilty, he claimed God had spoken to him in his cell. In his first TV interview, speaking from prison to talk show host Larry King in 1991, Chapman talked about himself in the third person. Even as he insisted he was now mentally healthy, he seemed deranged, and he has never been released from prison. Recollections of friends from adolescence come closest to explaining the source of his psychotic delusions. Chapman was beaten brutally by his father as a child, and sought escape, using drugs including opium, LSD and mescaline, and also becoming a born-again Christian. But other kinds of insanity were on display. One of Lennon's close friends, DJ Elliot Mintz, describes how distressing it was for widow Yoko Ono to have crowds besieging the Dakota building, singing Lennon's songs, as if that would bring him back. Strangest of all, we hear tapes of Chapman's conversations with his lawyers for the first time, as he undergoes hypnosis and relives the moment of the murder. That feels eerily like seeing the killing itself. Pete Wicks enjoyed a boozy night out with Nick Pickard's girlfriend Sarah Corrin in a Brisbane night club on Saturday. The TOWIE star, 35, looked typically stylish in a white shirt and black jeans, while accessorising with silver chains. Meanwhile, Sarah put on a leggy display in a black mini skirt and plunging crop top, teamed with sliders. Pete was also seen chatting to a mystery blonde women, who was with the group, and received a kiss. The group, which included Danielle Harold's Mum Lisa Marie Carter and stepdad David Murray, downed shots and carried on until 3am. Pete Wicks enjoyed a boozy night out with Nick Pickard's girlfriend Sarah Corrin in a Brisbane night club on Saturday Pete was also seen chatting to a mystery blonde women, who was with the group, and received a kiss Also present was Mia Williams, Josie's friend alongside Danielle's friend Avinash Goury. Pete arrived at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 on Tuesday as he prepared to take his flight to Australia to greet Sam Thompson when he leaves the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle. The TOWIE star, 35, will be the one who greets Sam, 31, at the end of the bridge when he leaves camp instead of the Made In Chelsea star's girlfriend Zara McDermott. While some celebs will have their mother, father and partners waiting for them at the end of the bridge, Sam, 31, has chosen to have just his best friend fly to Australia. Sam turned down the opportunity for his girlfriend Zara, 26, to greet him once he escapes the jungle despite her being voted off Strictly Come Dancing in time to make the flight. Zara told Fleur East on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show: 'When I left Strictly I was like 'Shall I pack my case?' and he went 'Oh no it's already been arranged Pete is coming'.' She continued: 'When I suggested maybe Pete and I could both go, he said, 'No, just Pete!' Maybe I can get Pete to take a cardboard cut-out of me But you know what it's fine, absolutely fine. 'I've got all the time in the world to live with him and see him. If he wants Pete at the end of that bridge I respect and appreciate that - also I can't wait to see that hug!' The TOWIE star, 35, looked typically stylish in a white shirt and black jeans, while accessorising with silver chains Sarah put on a leggy display in a black mini skirt and plunging crop top, teamed with slidiers The group, which included Danielle Harold's Mum Lisa Marie Carter and stepdad David Murray, downed shots and carried on until 3am Pete was pictured chatting to a stunning blonde at their table The group appeared in high spirits during the night out Zara was the first former Love Island star to compete on Strictly Come Dancing , and she was eliminated in week six. Her early elimination meant she was effectively at a loose end. At the same time, Sam, who had gambled on her still being in the competition, jetted off to Australia for his own reality TV adventure. Speaking to breakfast hosts Fleur East and James Barr, he said: 'When they asked [me to go into the jungle] I did think, if Zara was still on Strictly would I be a bad boyfriend if I went - but then decided I had to!' This decision made him question whether he would even have a girlfriend by the end of the three-week competition. He said: 'As it turns out she's tapping out of Strictly just as I'm tapping in. 'But because I thought she would still be doing Strictly, Pete's [Wicks] coming with me!' he admitted. 'I don't know if I'm going to have a girlfriend at the end of it' With a duffle bag in hand, Pete was pictured strolling through Heathrow Airport sporting an oversized grey hoodie, black tracksuit trousers and checked vans. But as the first jungle exit draws near, the cast's loved ones have made the long journey Down Under to support them. The first arrival at Brisbane airport on Tuesday morning was Nick Pickard's girlfriend, Sarah Corrin It comes after Pete arrived at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 on Tuesday as he prepared to take his flight to Australia to greet Sam Thompson when he leaves the I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle The TOWIE star, 35, will be the one who greets Sam, 31, at the end of the bridge when he leaves camp instead of the Made In Chelsea star's girlfriend Zara McDermott The first arrival at Brisbane airport on Tuesday morning was Nick Pickard's girlfriend, Sarah Corrin. Sarah, who has been in a relationship with Nick for several years, was in great spirits despite her long flight, beaming for the cameras as she pushed her luggage through arrivals. She told MailOnline she had been begging family and friends to vote for the Hollyoaks actor for his first Bushtucker Trial. 'I've still yet to see him do a Bushtucker Trial and all my friends and family are like, 'What shall we do?' And I keep saying, 'Vote! Vote' and people are like you're not meant to vote him in but I think we are! I think he'd enjoy it,' she said. 'I've heard a lot of people say we've not seen enough of him on the screen,' she added. The 48-year-old is the longest-running soap actor on Hollyoaks - playing Tony Hutchinson for 28 years - but he is one of the only celebrities on this year's show yet to have been voted in for a Bushtucker Trial. Sarah said: 'It's nice people get to see the Nick part of him and not just Tony. But you haven't seen all of him yet. I've wanted him to do it for years. Relationship: Sam turned down the opportunity for his girlfriend Zara, 26, to greet him once he escapes the jungle despite her being voted off Strictly Come Dancing in time to make the flight Sarah said: 'It's nice people get to see the Nick part of him and not just Tony. But you haven't seen all of him yet. I've wanted him to do it for years' (pictured together in 2022) The celebs families have been keeping their Instagram followers with their outings while waiting for their loved ones to exit the jungle 'He's very competitive and a good team player so that's why I've always said, out of all the things he could do, I'm A Celebrity would be a good one for him.' The couple live together in Liverpool but their relationship has remained out of the public eye. 'I'm really surprised I haven't seen him have a hunger tantrum. He is the most positive upbeat person you'll ever meet but don't mess with him and his food. 'When people are going off for the Trials he's like 'Don't worry if you don't get all the stars' but I know on the inside he's like inside, 'You have to get all the stars'.' Air India pilot unions IPG and ICPA on Saturday expressed "deep concern" over the flight duty and rest period scheme adopted by the Tata Group airline, accusing the carrier of deviating from the DGCA-approved norms. The two unions -- Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) and Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) -- in a joint communication to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation also alleged that the introduction of a side policy, along with the flight duty time limitation (FDTL) scheme, by Air India seems to "undermine the authority and purpose" of the DGCA approval. The pilot unions have also sought a review and assessment of the issue by the DGCA, requesting it to take appropriate measures to address the matter. Pilots and cabin crew's flight duty time limitations are governed by the aviation safety regulator DGCA, which proposed more rest hours for the pilots last month. In recent months, the issue of fatigue has been in focus, especially after the death of an IndiGo pilot, who had collapsed at the boarding gate of Nagpur airport in September. And last month, an Air India pilot during a training session showed signs of discomfort and later died at the Delhi airport.However, Air India said the pilot was not on active flying duty and was undergoing conversion training to operate wide-body aircraft. "We are writing to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding recent developments concerning the Flight and Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) scheme at Air India," the two Air India pilot unions said in the communication addressed to the DGCA. Alleging that there has been a "deviation" from the DGCA-approved Air India FDTL scheme, and an "Air India Rostering practices Policy" has been suddenly framed and implemented by the management from December 1, the letter stated that the "policy is in violation of DGCA CAR FDTL and that it is not part of the DGCA-approved Air India FDTL Scheme. "The said policy is not approved by the DGCA. The DGCA plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations in our country. The approval of the FDTL scheme is a testament to the thorough evaluation and consideration of safety measures to protect both airline crew members and passengers," it added. "The policy seems to undermine the authority and purpose of DGCA approval. "We kindly urge the DGCA to review and assess the implications of Air India's side policy on the FDTL CAR. It is crucial to ensure that any changes made by airlines align with the approved regulations and do not compromise the safety and well-being of crew and passengers," the letter noted. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank of England on Friday signed an initial pact for cooperation and exchange of information related to Clearing Corporation of India Ltd (CCIL). The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a framework for the Bank of England (BoE) to place reliance on the RBI's regulatory and supervisory activities while safeguarding the UK's financial stability, the RBI said in a statement. "The MoU also demonstrates the importance of cross-border cooperation to facilitate international clearing activities and the BoE's commitment to deference to other regulators' regimes," it added. Further, the statement said the MoU confirms the interests of both 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," the statement said. The MoU was signed by RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar and BoE Deputy Governor for Financial Stability Sarah Breeden in London. The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday filed a charge sheet against AAP MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, officials said. The prosecution complaint has been filed before a local court under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This is a supplementary charge sheet in this case as the agency had filed about five such complaints earlier. Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested in this case by the ED in October. The anti-money laundering agency had alleged that an accused businessman Dinesh Arora gave `2 crore in cash at the Rajya Sabha MPs residence in two tranches. Singh has rebutted the claim. The AAP MP was arrested by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the 2021-22 Delhi Excise policy case and was the second high-profile leader after Manish Sisodia, a former deputy chief minister, to be held in this case. The AAP that rules Delhi has called the arrests and the case a political witch-hunt. An investigation by the ED has revealed that Arora has given `2 crore cash at Singhs house on two occasions `1 crore each time the agency alleged in its remand application. The period when the cash was allegedly given was between August 2021 and April 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatars Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on Friday. They discussed bilateral partnerships and the well-being of the Indian community in the oil-rich country. The meeting took place against the backdrop of eight former Indian Navy personnel being sentenced to death on October 26 by a court in Qatar. The Indian government has reportedly filed an appeal against the sentence. On the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet HH Sheikh @TamimBinHamad, the Amir of Qatar. We had a good conversation on the potential of bilateral partnerships and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar, Modi posted on X on Saturday. The Indian nationals, who worked with the private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year in an alleged case of espionage. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public. India described the ruling by the Qatari court as deeply shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said here on Friday that the government is making all efforts to bring back the eight former Indian Navy personnel. 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 given the death sentence by Qatars 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 admitted the plea. The appeal has been filed by the legal team of the detained Indian nationals. The Indian nationals, who worked with the private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year 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 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 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. The imminent expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Winter Session on Monday marks an acrimonious start to the last fully-fledged session of the Modi-II government. The largest Opposition party, Congress, in both houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) of Parliament has come out in defence of Moitra. Meanwhile, Moitras party, TMC, is demanding a discussion before a decision on impending action against their Parliament colleague. The next session will be the Budget Session in February, where only an interim Budget will be brought due to the general elections scheduled in a few months. The report of the Lok Sabha panel recommending the expulsion of Trinamool leader Mahua Moitra from the lower house over a cash-for-query complaint is listed for tabling in the House on Monday, the first day of the session. In the Centre-convened all-party meeting on Saturday, where it appealed for cooperation in the smooth functioning of the Winter Session, TMC leaders demanded a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the ethics committees recommendation to expel party MP Mahua Moitra from the House in a cash-for-query case. Moitra can be expelled only if the House votes in favor of the panels recommendation, according to the rules. The committee, at a meeting on November 9, adopted its report recommending her expulsion from the Lok Sabha. The Centre asserted that it was ready for a discussion on all issues, provided the opposition ensures an enabling environment in both houses of Parliament in the upcoming Winter Session. As leaders of political parties in Parliament met to discuss the agenda for the session beginning Monday, opposition leaders demanded English nomenclature for the three bills seeking to replace criminal laws while also flagging issues of price rise, misuse of probe agencies, and Manipur. With the government urging the Opposition to ensure a conducive environment, it informed that three bills to replace criminal laws and a proposed law for the appointment of election commissioners are issues set to dominate the Winter Session. In the meeting, Trinamool MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek OBrien accused the government of reducing all-party meetings to a waste of time. Contrary to being vocal against his rival party in West Bengal, Congress party Leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has come to the defense of Moitra, who is all set to be disqualified from Parliament on the first day of the Winter Session, pertaining to allegations against Moitra in the cash-for-query case. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government assured during the meeting that it is ready for discussion on all issues. However, he emphasised that the opposition must ensure an enabling environment for discussion to take place. Joshi stated that the government is fully prepared for a structured debate and has requested the opposition to let the House function smoothly. He added that the government has taken the oppositions suggestions positively, mentioning that 19 bills and two financial items were under consideration. Deputy leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, said the opposition has flagged concerns over issues such as China taking away our land, Manipur, price rise, and the misuse of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Joshi had convened the meeting, which was attended by senior leaders such as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, and Pramod Tiwari, Trinamool leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, NCP leader Fouzia Khan, and RSP leader NK Premachandran, among others. TMC representatives at the all-party meeting called by the government claimed that the panels report had been made public brazenly before being tabled in the House. Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek OBrien, the TMCs parliamentary party leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively, represented it at the meeting. During the meeting, they mentioned that while a few MPs are already under suspension, they have seen reports in the media that one member of the TMC is going to be expelled shortly, according to sources. The Winter session of Parliament begins on December 4 and will have 15 sittings till December 22, during which it is expected to consider key draft legislations, including three bills to replace the colonial-era criminal laws. They alleged that the government is bringing bills to Parliament without discussing them in all-party meetings, according to the sources. They also urged the government not to pass the three bills to replace the IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act. In a major security lapse at Tihar Jail, one of the largest prison complexes in the world, the Delhi Prisons Department has terminated the services of 50 jail staffers posted on its premises after a verification drive found a mismatch in their biometric identification records. Among these 50 terminated jail staffers, 39 are warders, 9 are assistant superintendents, and 2 are matrons. This comes after the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) detected manipulation of fingerprints during their recruitment process. Sources said the department initiated an investigation after receiving reports of inconsistencies in the biometric data of some officials. A team of experts was formed to examine the data, and the findings revealed that 50 staffers had tampered with their biometric information. According to sources, the notice was served as per the direction of the DSSSB, which conducted the exams and recruited about 450 applicants for these three posts. Of these 450 employees, the biometric identification did not match for 50 of them, leading to the issuance of termination notices. The staffers were on probation for two years and are required to respond within one month to the notices issued to them. A months termination notice has been issued to these officials who are currently posted across Tihar, Mandoli, and Rohini prisons, after which their services will be discontinued. It is suspected that somebody else took their exams. The DSSSB, responsible for recruiting personnel here, communicated the order to us, and we have proceeded accordingly, sources added. Tihar is home not only to dreaded gangsters such as Lawrence Bisnoi, Neeraj Bawana, Kala Jathedi, Deepak Boxer Manjeet Mahal, and Hashim Baba, but it has also housed, or currently houses, a diverse group of VIP inmates. This includes former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, politicians Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, activist Umar Khalid, and Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar. While jail brawls and extortion rackets being run from prison kept Tihar in the news for most of the year, even Delhis jail minister Satyendar Jain receiving massages and special treatment has courted controversy. Notably, the two killings Prince Tewatia on April 14 and Tillu Tajpuriya on May 2, both by fellow inmates have exposed major lapses in the prisons security system. Despite rules, inmates have, in the past, managed to gain access to phones, alcohol, hard cash, and even weapons, according to former Tihar officials. Owing to rampant construction across metros in India, from Mumbai to Bengaluru, Gurugram to Delhi, all in the pursuit of development, we humans have invaded an extremely fragile ecosystem and its inhabitants. When these displaced individuals wearily return to a place they once called home, they are treated like criminals. Voiceless animals are being stoned and subjected to lathi charges for crimes they never committed. Indeed, not even aware. Cut to the present: Sainik Farms, a residential colony in South Delhi. The poor leopards fault was its tireless effort to return home. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) sent alerts: Do not step out. Keep your pets at home. The leopard may enter your homes. When was the last time a tired, hungry, and homeless human became a predator or a social menace? The frightened leopard just wanted to return home, not attack or devour humans. Last we heard, the leopard, a healthy 4 to 5-year-old male, was brutally attacked by a mob of 400-500 men from Deoli village adjacent to Sainik Farms as it silently walked towards its home. Stones were hurled at him just when the Animal Welfare team, headed by Sushil Jain, had tranquilised the cat and were only 6 inches away. The mob attacked the rescue team because they wanted to kill the leopard. At this point, the hungry, tired, and tranquilised leopard roared back, attacked the stone hurlers, and desperately ran. We humans may term it a leopard attack, but imagine this: You are quietly walking down towards your home, and someone hits you on the head from behind. Human instinct would be to hit back, not walk away. Why cant we respect animal instinct? The leopard is on its way to recovery and should be in Asola forest by dawn, provided we humans dont turn into demons. Yet again. Four people from Manipur, including two women, have allegedly been assaulted in southeast Delhis Sunlight Colony after unidentified people asked them to book an Uber ride to Munirka as their phone had died. Police added that the victims told them that they were Meteis and suspect that they were beaten up by people from their "opponent group". The victim , who works at a private firm and resides in of Jeevan Nagar in Ashram, suffered abrasion on his knees, redness and swelling in the eyes, and swelling on the left side forehead. According to police, a case under relevant provisions of the law has been registered and efforts are being made to arrest the accused. Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes between the Meitei and tribal Kuki communities since May resulting in the death of more than 180 people. Following the outbreak of violence in the northeastern state, the Delhi Police had issued an alert. Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast district) Rajesh Deo said a case of hurt, rioting and outraging the modesty of women has been registered at the Sunlight Colony police station. Police said a call was received at 2.30 am on Friday from Kilokari village and found that a man had been taken to hospital after he was beaten up. The police learned that the victim, his wife and his sister were dropping a friend home on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. "On the way, three strangers, including a woman, accosted them and asked them to help book an Uber ride for Munirka as their phone batteries had run out," a police officer said. While waiting for the ride to be confirmed, one of the accused started abusing and insulting the man and assaulted his wife and his sister, the official said. "The accused called a few more people to the spot and they also joined the attack," the official added. CCTV footage of the incident shows a brawl inside a narrow street, with a group of people punching and kicking the complainant, his friend and the two women even as one of them screams. Teams have accessed footage from CCTV cameras from the area and trying to apprehend the accused. AIIMS Bhopal's Department of Biochemistry proudly announces the inaugural Central Zone Biochemistry Conference on January 19 and 20, 2024, in collaboration with the Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (ACBICON). This groundbreaking event offers clinicians and biomedical scientists a unique platform for collaboration and interaction with leading experts in clinical biochemistry. The first official conference flyer, highlighting key details, is now available for viewing. Designed to foster knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, the conference will feature engaging sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, contributing to advancements in clinical biochemistry in the Central Zone. Interested participants, including clinicians and biomedical scientists, are encouraged to register and secure their spots for this exciting scientific endeavor. For more information and registration, please contact: 07553672319/9897800194. Delhi on Saturday woke up to a thick layer of fog while the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to remain in the very poor category at 375 at 10am which further settled at 353 at 4 pm. Due to fog, as many as 20 flights at the Delhi airport were diverted due to bad weather on Saturday morning due to low visibility at the Delhi airport as visibility dipping down to 400 metre in the morning hours. The official said the flights were diverted to Jaipur, Amritsar, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Chandigarh. The diversions happened between 0730 and 1030 hours. A total of 13 flights were diverted to Jaipur, four to Amritsar and one each to Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Chandigarh, the official added. In a post on X around 0810 hours, Delhi airport said low visibility procedures were in progress at the airport. Flight UK954 from Mumbai to Delhi (BOM-DEL) has been diverted to Jaipur (JAI) due to bad weather at Delhi airport and has arrived in Jaipur (JAI) at 0842 hours, Vistara airline said in a tweet on X. Flight UK832 from Chennai to Delhi (MAA-DEL) has been diverted to Amritsar (ATQ) due to low visibility at Delhi (DEL) airport and is expected to arrive in Amritsar at 1100 hrs. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the average air quality index was stood at 353 at 4 pm. The average AQI is based data received from 35 stations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the wind direction in Delhi was now northwesterly, which is expected to bring down mercury once more, lowering the minimum temperature on Saturday Forecasts show that there will be no significant change in meteorological conditions over the weekend either, with wind speeds to touch around 5-6km/hr during the daytime and pre-dominantly stay calm at night. Four separate complaints to the Election Commission by the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee were submitted, said State Congress Vice President J.P. Dhanopia. Congress has demanded from the Election Commission that the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on December 3, 2023 and President of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee, Kamal Nath had earlier also expressed concern that due to delay in counting of postal votes on December 3, 2023, it is not possible to declare the election results soon. It is necessary to complete the counting of postal vote election results as soon as possible, it is known that 500 postal votes will be counted on one table and there is a possibility of around 1500-2000 postal votes in each assembly constituency and more postal votes in many assembly constituencies. By setting up separate tables for counting every 500 postal votes, the Commission has assured that the number of tables for counting postal votes is being increased so that the results can be declared quickly. In another complaint, Dhanopia said that for the counting of votes in the Assembly elections, the concerned election officers should allow the candidates to take their mobile phones with them in the counting premises as per provision 15.4.4 of the Returning Officer's Handbook at the counting venue. The candidate will be able to use the mobile as and when required, which will be justified. Meanwhile in another complaint, it has not been shown in any of your manuals that the counting agent is prohibited from carrying a calculator and the calculator does not have any facility of any kind of photography-video-graphy-recording the voice, the calculator is only for calculating the marks. It is used and calculators are also used by your election team and if calculators are banned then try to ensure that calculators are not used in counting of votes even at the government level. Dhanopia said that Subhash Kumar Sojatia, the authorized Congress candidate from Assembly Constituency 227- Garoth, has requested that his agent along with the employees appointed by the election to bring the EVM machine from the strong room to the counting venue on December 3, 2023. The trouble of ensuring attendance so that no apprehensions arise in the future. Permission should be given to do videography only in the presence of the candidate or his agent along with the employees appointed by the Election Commission while ensuring that they are present on the occasion of opening the strong room and taking the EVM machine to the counting venue. The voting for the state assemblies was held in all seven assemblies of Bhopal on November 17, while the counting of votes took place on December 3 in the Old Jail. Earlier on Saturday, training was given to both employees and party agents. From 9 am, training was given to agents of candidates of BJP, Congress and other parties. They were told every information related to counting. So that there is no chaos during counting. After this, the second training for a total of 842 counting employees started from 12 noon. It was here that they were also given ID cards. One phase of counting training has already been given to the employees, while the final training is being given in a single shift on Saturday. Master trainers at MVM College gave information related to counting to the employees. The training took place at MVM College from 12 noon to 3 pm. The assemblies were already allotted to the employees taking training. Therefore, they sat in the room made assembly wise. That is, there were separate rooms for Berasia, Bhopal North, Narela, South-West, Bhopal Central and Govindpura, Huzur Assembly. Before this, party agents were also given training. They were told what precautions need to be taken during counting. Every point related to counting including what will be the process of counting of postal ballots, how the votes will be counted through EVMs will be told to the employees. This information was given in detail. So that there is no problem during counting. Counting will take place in the old jail on December 3. Counting of postal ballots will start from 8 am. Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday and invited him to inaugurate the Global Investors Summit-2023. The summit will be organised on December 8 and 9 in Dehradun. In the meeting the CM expressed gratitude to the PM for his guidance and help in the rescue operation to evacuate trapped labourers from the partially caved-in Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. He said that the labourers were successfully rescued due to the resources provided by PM Modi and his regular monitoring of the situation which boosted the morale of the rescue team, trapped labourers and their family members. Dhami also thanked the PM for including the Jamrani dam project in the Pradhamantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and approving assistance of Rs 1,730.21 crore for it. He requested the PM for approving financial asiantance of Rs 2m460 crore for Song dam drinking water project and Rs 3m000 crore special grant for upgrading the Dehradun airport at Jolly Grant. In the meeting the CM requested that Uttarakhand should be included in the kiwi feasibility study being done with the help of New Zealand and setting up an All India Ayurved Sansthan in Rishikul college campus, Haridwar. He also sought financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for 508 kilometre long roads in Pithoragarh and development of the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission. Dhami said that the Kathgodam- Bhimtal Dhanachuli- Khetikhan- Lohaghat- Pancheshwar road, Mogan- Bhatronjkhan- Bhikiasain- Deghat- Bungidhar-Mehelchori and Kherna- Ranikhet- Bhatrojkhan motor roads should should be upgraded to National Highways from State highways. The CM also requested that the Tanakpur- Bageshwar rail project should be included in the national project and approval of Rs 44,140 crore for it. He also demanded three tunnel projects in the Kumaon region. Dhami requested the PM for allowing fixed wing aeroplane service from Naini Saini airstrip and extension plan of the Pantnagar airport. Dhami said that approval for the proposed hydropower projects on Dhauliganga and Gauri Ganga rivers in Pithoragarh district should be given. He said that the 11 non -controversial power projects of 771 MW capacities on Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and their tributaries should be approved. Similarly the approval of construction of ten projects recommended by the Expert committee II with combined capacity of 1,352 MW on Alaknanda and Bhagirathi should be given, the CM said. Hundreds of members of five organizations of survivors of the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal on Saturday marched with torches to honour those killed by the disaster. The torchlight procession ended at the foot of the statue of the Mother, a memorial built opposite the abandoned pesticide factory. The leaders of the organizations presented their demands amid chants of Mourn for the Dead Fight for the Living. Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh said, Union Carbide and Dow Chemical are yet to pay damages for the health injuries, including birth defects, of children of gas exposed parents. Also the principle of polluter pays is valid in both India and USA, the US corporations must pay for environmental contamination of soil and groundwater up to five kilometres from the factory. Speaking on the organizations lack of success in making Union Carbide and Dow Chemical pay additional compensation through the Curative petition in the Supreme Court, Balkrishna Namdeo of Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha said, The 1991 order of the Supreme Court on the settlement is very clear on this. The union government is committed to pay the survivors the shortfall in compensation. During the proceedings of the Curative Petition the Attorney General has repeatedly stressed that the compensation paid by Union Carbide is indeed inadequate. Rightfully the Bhopal survivors now expect the central government to pay adequate compensation to them. Demanding penal action against corporations who broke the law and continued to do business with Union Carbide while it was absconding, Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said, We have evidence that Gas Authority India Limited (GAIL), ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, Gujarat Alkalies Chlorides Limited and others continued to do business with Union Carbide while it was absconding. The representatives of these PSUs must be punished for aiding a killer corporation. Nawab Khan President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha called for the setting up of an Empowered Commission on Bhopal that has the authority and the corpus fund to ensure long term medical care and social rehabilitation of the survivors and their next generation. Such a commission was indeed approved by the Manmohan Singh government in 2008 and is the best means to address the long aftermath of the disaster. Pointing at massive funds that remain unutilized by the Department of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation, Nasreen Khan of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karmchari Sangh said, Over Rs. 100 crores meant for job creation for survivors children remain unutilized for last 13 years, while tens of thousands of young men and women are looking for gainful employment. In a ceremony presided over by the commandant of Indian Military Academy (IMA) Lieutenant General VK Mishra, degrees were awarded to 21 cadets of 122 course of Army Cadet College (ACC) at Chetwode Hall of IMA on Saturday. The cadets were conferred degrees from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. In his convocation address, the IMA commandant congratulated the cadets for successfully completing the rigorous training and having crossed an important milestone in their professional career. He emphasised that character, self-discipline, courage, motivation, positive attitude and professional competence are pillars of a successful army officer. The commandant complimented the commander of ACC wing, Brigadier Sameer Karol and his team of instructors and faculty members for their efforts in shaping the cadets into potential officers. On the occasion, the Commandants Banner to the Champion Company was awarded to 'Bogra Company. The banner is awarded to the company, which excels in various competitions like sports, academics, camps, debates and interior economy. The ACC trains selected personnel from other ranks of all three services who have the potential to become officers in the Indian Army. After three years of training at the ACC , the graduated course joins the IMA for one year for their pre-commissioning training. Award Winners list I Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Medals. 1 Gold Medal :Rahul Singh Sikarwar 2 Silver Medal- Karampal Singh 3 Bronze Medal Patil Suraj Sivaji II Commandants Silver Medals. 1 First in Service Subjects Karampal Singh 2 First in Humanities Stream: Rahul Singh Sikarwar 3 First in Science Stream- Ankit Sheokhand Kanchan Devi, a 1991 batch Indian Forest Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the director general of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dehradun. She is the first lady IFS officer to hold this prestigious position. Devi has more than 30 years of professional experience in different areas of forestry, including forest management, forest administration, education, HRD and research and extension in the state of Madhya Pradesh and Government of India including as a faculty member at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun.During her service tenure, she worked for upliftment of rural communities by implementing, analysing and recommending updation of existing forest policies etc. She has been serving in ICFRE as deputy director general (Education) for the last four years and has been instrumental in promoting forestry education in the country, accrediting forestry courses, conducting forest policy research studies, human resource development, recruiting and promoting scientists and technical officers of ICFRE. She played an important role in the establishment of the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM) and implementation of the World Bank funded Ecosystem Services Improvement Project (ESIP) at ICFRE. In a major relief to people living in rural areas in the national Capital, the AAP-ruled MCD has announced that house tax notices will not be sent in any rural residential areas and house tax will not be collected from them in future. The announcement to this effect was made by Mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi on Saturday announcing that from now on MCD will not collect house tax from any rural residential area. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday claimed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD)was forced to withdraw lakhs of notices issued people of Delhi Dehat villages following continuous protest by the people of Delhi Dehat and BJP workers. Stating this here, he also said the AAP was forced to withdraw these notices fearing peoples wrath in ensuing 2024 election. Sachdeva said BJP Councilors in MCD strongly protested against the property tax being levied on villages in the monthly meeting of MCD when the topic came up for discussion. As per the directions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a few days ago, we held discussions with the heads of Delhi's rural areas. Following this, there was a high-level meeting with all the officials of Property Tax on Friday and it was decided not to collect property tax from the rural dehat. Property tax department has been issued orders not to collect taxes from villages. Property Tax will be collected as usual from all designated commercial areas of the MCD, Oberai said. During the 15 years of BJP rule in the civic agency, the public was harassed a lot by sending house tax notices. A few days ago we discussed with the Pradhans of rural areasof the city and a high level meeting was held with all the concerned officials following which directions were given not to collect tax. House tax will be collected from all notified commercial areas of MCD as before, the Mayor said. Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal stated, In all 70 constituencies of Delhi where there are rural areas, be it Lal Dora or Extended Lal Dora, property tax will not be collected from there. Under the leadership of CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal, a decision was made in a meeting with officials of the property tax department. Chaudhary SurendraSolanki, Pradhan of 360 villages said that the mayor has given a clear message that there will be no house tax in all the rural areas of Delhi. There are 2138 roads notified by MCD, there tax will be given on commercial but if any villager is doing small employment, then house tax will not be collected from him. We had also taken this decision in the Panchayat of Peeragadhi. We are happy that our voice was heard. We hope that whatever other issues will be heard as soon as possible, Solanki said. Earlier Sachdeva said he along with a delegation of BJP leaders of Delhi Dehat and the members of Delhi's 360 Villages Panchayat had met Lt. Governor V K Saxena and extended support to the Panchayat's demand for withdrawal of notices. Delhi BJP leaders regularly extended support to the dharnas and protest organised by the people of Delhi by participating in them and this rattled the Aam Aadmi Party ultimately forcing the Mayor of Delhi to announce withdrawal of the property tax notices. Delhi BJP President said after coming to power AAP Councilors tried to make property tax department a medium to extort from people of Delhi especially those living in Dehat but BJP will not let this happen. Sachdeva said now BJP will agitate for restoration of property tax discount taken back by MCD from Group Housing Societies. In recent years, the Yogi Adityanath governments proactive measures against illegal drug dealers have significantly disrupted their operations. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths direct monitoring has resulted in the seizure of over 2,41,000 kilograms of illegal drugs in various districts of the state from 2020 to October 2023. The estimated international market value of these seized drugs exceeds Rs 1,400 crore. Responding to Chief Minister Yogis directives, a new campaign has been launched, resulting in swift action against drug dealers. In a 10-day operation, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) targeted and dismantled 11 drug gangs. ANTF DIG Abdul Hameed said that Chief Minister Yogi had given instructions to run a campaign against illegal drug dealers. He said as part of this effort, the ANTF team conducted raids and registered cases against 11 illegal drug gangs and arrested 28 people. The seized items include 220.170 kg of ganja, 5.200 kg of opium, 4.266 kg of charas, 1.920 kg of morphine, 1.410 kg of heroin/smack and 15,000 bottles of codeine syrup, collectively valued at Rs 6.52 crore in the international market. Taking a stern view of the member teachers who are continuing to discharge the duties of officiating principals in the government schools, the Rajkeeya Shikshak Sangh (RSS) has threatened to expel them from the organisation. On the directive of the RSS, the influential association of lecturers of government schools, more than 800 officiating principals had recently relinquished their posts. The association wants the department to promote the lecturers to the posts of principals instead of ad-hoc measures such as officiating principals. In a circular the president of the RSS Ram Singh Chauhan said on Saturday that the association has undertaken an agitation in support of its demands and on November 17 it had asked all the officiating principals to relinquish their charge. However, the teachers were asked to continue taking up their teaching assignments. Chauhan said that despite the order many teachers are continuing to work as officiating principals. The association will issue show cause notice to all such teachers and will expel them for a period of three years and six months in case their reply is not found satisfactory The association is up in arms against the government for its many demands which include inter-divisional transfer of teachers and according to the status of gazetted officers to the employees having grade pay of Rs 5,400. Meanwhile, the department has handed over the charge of officiating principals to the ministerial (clerks) employees in the schools where the teachers have relinquished this duty. The Uttar Pradesh Police has launched an investigation after a Noida resident found herself at the receiving end of a new cyber fraud trend, wherein she was duped of more than Rs 11 lakh and held under "digital arrest" for a day. This is the first case in the new trend of "digital arrest fraud" lodged at the Cyber Crime police station in Noida. The thugs posed as police officials who mentioned the names of an IPS officer in the CBI and the founder of a grounded airline, associating the 50-year-old victim in a fictitious money-laundering case. A similar case was recently reported in Haryana's Faridabad where cyber thugs, posing as police personnel, got a woman "digitally arrested" for more than a week after convincing her that her personal IDs were used for illegal activities. The thugs then asked her to stay online via Skype and not share this information with anyone even as they kept a watch on her throughout the period. In her complaint, the Noida-based woman has claimed that she was contacted over an IVR (interactive voice response) call on November 13 and told that a mobile phone SIM card was purchased using her Aadhaar card in Mumbai and used for illegal advertising and harassment of women. "Then my call was transferred to a person (who identified himself as a Mumbai Police officer) who did the initial interrogation over the call and then on Skype VC. Then he informed that I have another allegation of money laundering related to (the founder of an airline) for which an FIR has been registered against me and an arrest warrant issued by the Supreme Court for which he sent documents on Skype," the woman has said. "After the interrogation, he said I am innocent and not guilty, so he is transferring the interrogation (to an IPS officer posted with the CBI, Mumbai) for further investigation of this case. Then he gave the Skype ID and asked me to request the CBI officer to do the priority investigation on VC to remove my arrest warrant," she has said in her complaint. The said CBI officer told her that during the investigation of the airline founder, police found 246 debit cards from his house and one of those had the victim's name on it, which was used to open a bank account with her Aadhaar card. "He then said my account was used for a fund transfer of Rs 2 crore for which I have been paid Rs 20 lakh. However, he said I do not look to be involved in this case, so to complete the investigation, I need to transfer funds from all my accounts to my ICICI account and subsequently, transfer the funds from the ICICI account to the PFC account as per the directives of the Supreme Court...," she said. The woman has claimed that she was told not to disclose this information as it was related to "national security and will make me liable for further action". "Also, to prove not guilty of the crime, he asked me to keep sufficient balance in my accounts for which he also advised to apply for a personal instant loan of Rs 20 lakh from ICICI and gave the details of how to apply for the same, which I denied but he forced me to arrange Rs 3 lakh more through the same and after much pressure, I had applied for the same, which is also transferred to the PFC account," she said. "They also took a picture of my signature on Skype on the pretext of validating my Aadhaar card for investigation," she has alleged. The woman reported the matter to the Uttar Pradesh Police's Cyber Crime officials and alleged a fraud of Rs 11.11 lakh with her, besides being "digitally arrested" from morning to night. Inspector Reeta Yadav, in-charge of the Cyber Crime police station in Noida Sector 36, said an FIR has been lodged under the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC). "An investigation into the case is underway," she said. The officer urged people to be cautious of emerging online crimes and reach out to police at the earliest either on the central helpline number 1930 or emergency number 112 or report such activities to the cyber desk of local police stations. "People should also know that police never question any person digitally. If someone threatens you like this, ask them to send you a proper notice, ask for their details and tell them that you are coming to the police station to meet them," Yadav said. All about life is how we relate to the self, immediate surrounding, and the world at large. So said renowned philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. Rightly so because we are an inseparable part of the universe operating as an integrated unitary organism, in which no existence has a reality independent of the whole. Indias learned masters had realised this truth of life thousands of years back. Now, even modern theoretical physics agrees as would renowned Australian physicist Paul Daviess words mean: For a naive realist, the world is a collection of objects. For a quantum physicist, it is an inseparable web of vibrating energy patterns, where no individual component has a reality independent of the entirety. Included in that entirety is the observer. The world is in fact so made out that all and sundry need to discharge their respective obligations, to collectively carry on the cycle of life. Purposely so because no individual is capable of servicing even existential needs in ones own right. We need support from various groups of people engaged in production of different need-based items. Also, we need continued support of common pool of natural resources such as Space, Air, Sunlight, and Water. In fact, even small organisms like termite service existential order in their own ways. They create hole deep inside the soil structure to facilitate entry of oxygen, which improves dynamic potential of earth mass. In the process, it eats earth mass, and to digest it, its body secretes necessary enzyme. Having consumed a small part to sustain, it excretes the rest, which being rich in enzymes, further adds to the fertility of soil. It then loses its life before the crop comes up, but not without serving the cause of larger world. If you look at the construct of universe, all but human beings, spontaneously follow the design parameters driving them, with no scope for making any exception. Humans on the contrary enjoy the exclusive privilege to guide their actions by choice. But if there is choice in hand, the probability of its use and misuse remains equal. And being an integral part of the world order, aberration on the part of even an individual could upset familial and societal dynamics. To overcome this vulnerability, human beings are armed with Buddhi (the faculty of discriminate intelligence). Applying which, they can dispassionately visualise things in the right perspective to pick up the right lead. The irony, however, is that every individual is born unique, manifesting varying inherent traits, often in conflict with others. The world, thus, turns out to be a natural breeding ground for conflict of interest. That makes it incumbent upon us to have a lesson in the art of living. Here comes the role of how we relate to the self. For, thats what defines how we conduct individually and the way we relate to those around and society at large. Relating to the self means looking within to identify and acknowledge ones inherent negative traits that would be detrimental to individual and societal interests. Having known thus, one could make necessary amends. But here again, our ego plays spoilsport. It doesnt let you dispassionately analyse and understand ones own inherent trends, and the least of all the fault lines. Here, astrology comes handy, which reflects upon personality trends with a fair amount of precision. The paradox, however, is that ordinary mortals passionately pursuing their aspirational and selfish urges, seldom remain conscious about getting into self-search mode. It is only when confronted with unmanageable situation that they wake up to look for support. Here is a case in point of someone who came seeking guidance only when his marital life came to a dead end: Sir, what is wrong in my destiny that it so happened? Well, you need to look within for the answer. Mind signifying Moon placed adverse to Neptune makes you stuck to illusionary beliefs and perceptions, distanced from ground realities, and not keen to look beyond for a reality check. Your lagna lord Mars as well as the Sun are both placed adverse to Uranus and Saturn. That makes you temperamental, impulsive, bad tempered, revengeful, irrational, and even brutal at times. My way or highway seems to be your attitude. That did not let your positives, though enough, play out to your advantage. The result is there to see. How do I go about now? He asked. Well, learn to live with the inevitable and start afresh. Also, address your negatives so that they do not pull you down in future. The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at Tel: 91-11-9818037273/9871037272 Email: bharatbhushanpadmadeo@gmail.com India, at a crucial geopolitical juncture, aligns with Artemis Accord and plans Chandrayaan-4 mission with Japan. Drawing from riparian regimes, the discourse on lunar governance explores adaptive solutions and common pool resource principles, positioning India as a leader in shaping lunar explorations future India is in an interesting geopolitical moment. On one hand, India has joined the Artemis Accord, and on the other hand, it has plans to collaborate with Japan to send a probe called Lunar Polar Exploration Mission in 2026, also referred to as the Chandrayaan-4 mission. With this astute act of balancing, in the coming years, some space analysts estimate that Indias Lunar South Pole capacity can help scale up some of the goals of the Artemis programme, including lunar resource utilization. However, while these incidents suggest an acute act of external balancing, one needs to also ask whether governance and geopolitics have a meeting point. As India navigates its position, it should carefully consider the nature of space norms. In this context, one must ask whether there are any suggestions for lunar governance, particularly after Indias successful moon landing of Chandrayaan-3. There has been substantial public interest in the topic of lunar water ice since then. Questions related to water ice on the Moon have been a focus of lunar exploratory missions in the past. In fact, a recent report claimed that water has not only accumulated at the lunar poles but may also be found in Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSR) depressions that have been permanently blocked from sunlight. It has also been estimated that some of these PSRs must have been eliminated in the past, with water sublimating into gas. This implies that PSRs are non-renewable and finite resources. Given the unique ecosystem of space and its multiple resource systems, questions related to the sustainable management of lunar governance have become significant. When conceptualising how lunar ice (and other non-renewable lunar resources) might be governed, terrestrial water governance regimes can provide an important reference point, shedding light on numerous complex dynamics in managing common pool resources. However, the significance lies not in its strategic value but in the analogous criteria it offers from the perspectives of water laws, politics, and governance. These provide a lens through which we can understand how lunar resources of strategic value may be governed. Given the significance of governance in Outer Space, many analogous references have been made. Facets related to ocean governance, which were negotiated through the United Nations Convention on the Laws of Seas (UNCLOS) have highlighted issues related to sustainable management and freedom of movement in global commons. Similarly, questions related to soft and hard laws through the Antarctic Treaty System are also significant. However, when one deliberates on the nature of challenges and the politics of space resources, the management of the oceans is not the only relevant analogy. Riparian laws and regimes also offer a significant paradigm on which to build. Some of the issues explored in riparian regimes pertain to property rights, questions of ownership and regulation, adaptive and risk governance, and temporal priority, among others. Riparian regimes are significant because they have negotiated similar governance issues relevant to outer space in general, lunar governance in particular, and more specifically, the management of lunar water ice in Permanent Shadowed Regions. For instance, the issue of property rights has been enduring, especially concerning water rights. In rivers, these rights are partially public and partially private. Significantly, the articulation of property rights differs between surface water regimes and groundwater regimes. Riparian regimes typically grapple with balancing two competing principles. In surface water regimes, the Harmon Doctrine suggests absolute use over resources within its territory, regardless of the impact on lower riparians. On the other hand, the Riparian Integrity doctrine states that a country may not alter the natural flow of water in a way that adversely affects upper or lower riparians. A compromise formula has been suggested, stressing equitable and reasonable use and the No Harm principle. Most countries have negotiated bilateral and multilateral arrangements according to their interests. In both groundwater and surface water debates, reasonable use is normatively emphasised, meaning one cannot exhaust the water source or prevent others from using it. However, given the politics of water resources, water laws have been interpreted and translated differently by countries worldwide. Similar issues are nearly guaranteed to arise with respect to lunar resources, where rules regarding the prohibition and extraction of resources are ambiguous. In riparian governance, several potential solutions have been explored: water shares, collective rights, and prior appropriation. Proportionate sharing rights entail that users can use rights in proportion to their licensed allocations, converting water rights into water shares. Alternatively, some cases emphasise correlative rights, limiting water users to reasonable shares, as opposed to unlimited use. The concept of prior appropriation advocates that only those with a permit may divert water from the resource-meaning the one who captures the resource first gets to use it first. These alternate and sometimes contentious approaches provide analogous perspectives to space resource use, emphasising the importance of crafting an overarching architecture while considering these debates. Thus, the long history of riparian negotiations, its issues, and solutions should be relevant for lunar governance, where distinct resource systems are available for exploration and use. For instance, the Permanent Shadowed Regions and Lunar Regolith are small ecosystems with their own specific characteristics associated with the roles different stakeholders can play. In this case, activities like mining, scientific investigations, manufacturing, construction, and tourism draw attention to the concept of boundaries, specifying who has access, how resources are allocated, and the purpose of such allocation. Principles of adaptive governance can help shed light on some of these complex areas. What lessons can be drawn from riparian regimes? In terms of solutions for riparian regimes, adaptive governance has emphasised the need for integrated management and conjunctive uses of surface and groundwater. This involves formulating resilient water institutions based on self-organization principles articulated by Elinor Ostrom. These principles address collective action problems, suggesting that actors should be able to switch between levels and solve problems collaboratively. A networked governance structure, grounded in effective communication, collaboration, and interaction, is key to such institutional designs. Thus, elements that could enable, bridge, match, and facilitate actor interaction were considered fundamental for adaptive governance. Moreover, like rivers, we can characterise outer space resources such as lunar water ice as common pool resources and draw on the rich literature and insights of Ostrom and her followers in successfully managing such systems. These insights are valuable for understanding the resilience of international regimes, the nature of multi-stakeholder interactions, and global rule-making. Questions like these can significantly inform issues related to lunar and outer space governance. Similar to terrestrial common pool resources, methodological frameworks of socio-ecological systems (SES) can effectively help study the interactions between social, ecological, and governance systems. To date, no effort has been made to create an SES model for the Moon. While much of the current debate centres on great power politics and the control of lunar resources and their impact on geopolitical configurations, it is crucial that aspirational emerging powers like India consider the architectures of lunar governance, enabling them to assume a leadership role. By expanding the debate to include the use of common pool resources, India could lead in establishing principles of adaptive governance. Insights from ongoing water governance debates could offer valuable suggestions toward creating a workable lunar governance system. (The writer is Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, South Asian University) Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 14 rallies in Madhya Pradesh during campaigning for polls and reached out to young voters by reminding them of the failures of previous Congress governments on various fronts as he doubled down on development of all sections. Modi's appeal seemingly clicked with voters, including women, in the central state where the ruling BJP has won 33 seats and leading in 131 out of 230 constituencies where results are being declared on Sunday. The prime minister also led a roadshow after elections were announced last month in MP. As BJP devised a strategy to defeat anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh which has been under its belt since 2003, barring 18 months from December 2018 to March 2020, Modi reached out to various sections of voters, including women, youngsters, tribals, besides the traditional supporters of the saffron party. . The BJP's campaign theme "MP ke mann mein Modi, Modi ke mann mein MP" received wide acceptance during the campaigning. On the penultimate day of electioneering, Modi addressed three election rallies and led a road show. Modi was joined by Union Home Minister and strategist Amit Shah. Hitting out at Congress, Shah raised the Ram temple issue at the hustings. He said the people of Madhya Pradesh will celebrate Diwali again on December 3 when votes for the assembly elections will be counted, and on January 22 when the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated. In September, Shah took upon himself the tasks of poll management and forming strategies for the November 17 elections. Shah toured Madhya Pradesh extensively. In a bid to quell dissent over the distribution of poll tickets, he camped in the state for three days. He also made rebels beat a retreat and reached out to BJP cadres and other leaders. As the top brass of BJP was leading from the front, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh, popular among voters as "mama", propagated the flagship Ladli Behna Yojana, which has become a hit among women.. Under the scheme, women get Rs 1,250 per month. The number of beneficiary women is a staggering 1.31 crore out of 2.72 crore women voters in the state. Chouhan is the longest-serving chief minister of Madhya Pradesh who has been at the helm since 2003, except from December 2018 to March 2020 when Congress was in power. Notably, the BJP didn't project any leader from the state as its CM face, apparently to beat anti-incumbency, and sought votes for "lotus", the poll symbol of the party. This was the first time since 2003 that the BJP didn't project the chief ministerial face. As part of a strategy, BJP leaders, including JP Nadda, Shah, and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, launched five Jan Ashirwad Yatras instead of Chouhan.. Smarting under its defeat in the 2018 MP assembly polls by a slender margin against Congress, the BJP didn't take any chances this time. . The BJP appointed Union minister Bhupendra Yadav as the state electionincharge and his cabinet colleague Ashwini Vaishnaw as the co-incharge for the assembly elections in July. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar was named as the convenor of BJP's election management committee for Madhya Pradesh polls. While Congress had promised financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to women under Nari Samman Nidhi if voted to power, Chouhan rolled out the Ladli Behna scheme by providing Rs 1,000 per month to women. He promised to hike the assistance to Rs 3,000 in tranches and implemented a Rs 250 monthly hike. On November 17, Madhya Pradesh recorded an impressive 77.82 per cent voter turnout with around 76.02 per cent of women voters casting their ballots. Several Union ministers and leaders from other states, including Yogi Adityanath, campaigned for BJP in MP.. For Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were the star campaigners. State Congress president Kamal Nath addressed one to two election meetings daily during the campaign. In contrast, Chouhan (64) addressed eight to ten rallies on average every day to drum up support for the BJP. Israel's military on Sunday ordered more areas in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis to evacuate, as it shifted its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it says many Hamas leaders are hiding. Heavy bombardments were reported overnight and into Sunday in the area of Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israel's blistering air and ground campaign. Many of the territory's 2.3 million people are crammed in the south after Israeli forces ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the 2-month-old war. With the resumption of fighting, hopes receded that another temporary truce could be negotiated. A weeklong cease-fire, which expired Friday, had facilitated the release of dozens of Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and it's impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. On Sunday, the Israeli military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, asking residents of at least five more areas and neighbourhoods to leave for their safety. Residents said the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. The main hospital in Khan Younis received at least three dead and dozens wounded Sunday morning from an Israeli strike that hit a residential building in the eastern part of the city, according to an Associated Press journalist at the hospital. Separately, the bodies of 31 people who were killed in Israeli bombardment across the central areas of the strip were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Gaza's central city of Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, an administrative employee at that hospital. AP video showed bodies in white body bags on the ground outside the hospital in Deri al-Balah as dozens of people held funeral prayers Sunday morning. The bodies were then taken on a truck for burial. One woman wept, cradling the body of a child on her lap as she sat on a chair. Another adult carried the body of a baby as he got into a truck. UN monitors said in a report issued before the latest evacuation orders that those who were told to leave make up about one-quarter of the territory of Gaza home to nearly 800,000 people before the war. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has warned Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement. The Israeli military said on Sunday that its fighter jets and helicopters struck terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities overnight, while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. In northern Gaza, rescue teams with little equipment scrambled Sunday to dig through the rubble of buildings in the Jabaliya refugee camp and other neighbourhoods in Gaza City in search for potential survivors and dead bodies. They strike everywhere, said Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in Jabaliya, an urban refugee camp. There is the non-stop sound of explosions around us. Mohamed Abu Abed, who lives in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in Gaza City, also said there were relentless airstrikes and shelling in his neighbourhood and surrounding areas. The situation here is imaginable, he said. Death is everywhere. One can die in a flash. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Saturday that the overall death toll in the strip since the October 7 start of the war had surpassed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on November 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but it said 70 per cent of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people had been wounded since the war began. US appeals to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. Much of Gaza's population is packed into the territory's southern half. The territory itself, bordering Israel and Egypt to the south, is sealed, leaving residents with the only option of moving around within Gaza to avoid the bombings. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, US Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters Saturday during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering creating a security buffer zone that would not allow Gazans direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighbourhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City and a six-story building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence, said rescuers lack bulldozers and other equipment to reach those buried under the rubble, confirming the Red Crescent estimate of about 300 people missing. He said the block had housed over 1,000 people. Retrieving the martyrs is extremely difficult, he said in video comments from the site of the attack. Meanwhile, Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in a meeting that under no circumstances would the U.S. Permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders, according to a US summary. The war was sparked by an October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. Around 240 people were taken captive. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages, who the Israeli military says are still being held after 105 were freed during the recent truce. Israel freed 240 Palestinians during the truce. Rajasthan Elections 2023 Results Live The BJP crossed the halfway mark in Rajasthan with its candidates leading in 114 seats while the Congress was ahead in 68, according to Election Commission trends available on Sunday for the assembly polls in Rajasthan. The Bharat Adivasi Party and independents were ahead in five seats each while the BSP and CPIM in two each. The RLD and Aazad Samaj Party were ahead in one seat each, according to the EC. As the trends poured in, BJP candidate from Kota North Prahlad Gunjal said that the BJP is going to form the government. "Rajasthan has given the mandate and the picture will become clear in some time," he said. Live News Updates 1:57 PM: Latest result tally, BJP - 111, Congress - 73 1:41 PM: Former CM and BJP candidate from Jhalrapatan, Vasundhara Raje leading by a margin of 51,484 votes after the 21st round of counting, garnering a total of 1,21,682 votes so far. 1:15 PM: As per the latest trends, BJP leads in 110 seats in the state while Congress candidates lead in 73 seats. Others are ahead in 14 constituencies This is the curse of opposing Sanatan Dharma, says Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on party trailing in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh #WATCH | On Congress trailing in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, party leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam says, "Opposing Sanatan (Dharma) has sunk the party. This country has never accepted caste-based politics...This is the curse of opposing Sanatan (Dharma)." pic.twitter.com/rertLLlzMS ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 To ensure the development of Rajasthan, and improvement in law and order, people have voted to remove the corrupt Congress government and gave full support to BJP. Now the double-engine government will develop Rajasthan: BJP Rajasthan co-incharge Nitin Patel on state election results #WATCH | BJP Rajasthan co-incharge Nitin Patel on state election results "To ensure the development of Rajasthan, and improvement in law and order, people have voted to remove the corrupt Congress government and gave full support to BJP. Now the double-engine government will pic.twitter.com/AllaBrh5Qv ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 12:31 PM: Will happen very soon and smoothly: BJP's poll in-charge for Rajasthan Pralhad Joshi on when new CM will be decided. 12:15 PM: Results show people accept PM Modi's guarantee of delivering on guarantees: BJP's poll in-charge for Rajasthan Pralhad Joshi. BJP workers dance and celebrate at the party office in Jaipur as the party continues its lead in the state. As per official EC trends, BJP - 115 and Congress - 67 #WATCH | #RajasthanElections2023 | BJP workers dance and celebrate at the party office in Jaipur as the party continues its lead in the state. As per official EC trends, BJP - 115 and Congress - 67 here. pic.twitter.com/sRyvMRIk6k ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 11:48 AM: Ex-BJP state president Satish Poonia is trailing in the Amber assembly seat by 921 votes 11:47 AM: BJP's Kirodi Lal Meena is leading in the Sawai Madhopur seat with a margin of 1,177 votes. 11:45 AM: Sachin Pilot is leading on Tonk seat with a margin of 943 votes 11:27 AM: BJP edges towards the majority mark with the party candidates leading in 108 seats. 'Magic' has ended in Rajasthan: Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat takes dig at Ashok Gehlot as poll trends show BJP edge Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat arrives at BJP headquarters during counting of votes for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, in Jaipur Rajasthan BJP cadre celebrate party's lead in state elections, in Jaipur #WATCH | Rajasthan BJP cadre celebrate party's lead in state elections, in Jaipur pic.twitter.com/WzqB4lVrZe ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 10:43 AM: BJP is way ahead of Congress with a lead in 107 seats. Congress candidates are leading in 71 seats. I have been saying from day one that the BJP will get a huge majority. BJP will win in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. This is due to the work done by PM Modi to bring change in the lives of the poor: Rajasthan: Union minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. #WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: Union minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says, "I have been saying from day one that the BJP will get a huge majority. BJP will win in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. This is due to the work done by PM Modi to bring change in pic.twitter.com/qbwzCdJQEQ ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Visuals from outside BJP office in Jaipur as poll trends suggest lead for the party. Visuals from outside BJP office in Jaipur as poll trends suggest lead for the party. #RajasthanElectionResult2023 #AssemblyElectionsWithPTI (Full video is available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/5BhE8Mv54S Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023 10:34 AM: BJP leader Vasundhara Raje is leading in Jhalrapatan with over 10,000 votes 10:35 AM: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot leading in Sardarpura while deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot trails In a veiled dig at Ashok Gehlot, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "The BJP will win with huge majority in Rajasthan. Jadugar ka jadoo khatam ho gaya hai ". 10:05 AM: The BJP maintains the lead after crossing the halfway mark. The saffron party is now leading in 109 seats while Congress candidates are ahead in 75 constituencies. "It is going to be 'balle balle' for the BJP. The BJP's score is going to be 3-0," says BJP leader @JaiveerShergill as initial trends suggest lead for the BJP in MP and Rajasthan. VIDEO | "It is going to be 'balle balle' for the BJP. The BJP's score is going to be 3-0," says BJP leader @JaiveerShergill as initial trends suggest lead for the BJP in MP and Rajasthan. #AssemblyElectionsWithPTI (Full video is available on PTI Videos - pic.twitter.com/m1oniQMIi3 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023 9:41 AM: In early trends, BJP has gone above 100 in Rajasthan, one of the most important Hindi heartlands 9:38 AM: Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot trails in Tonk constituency BJP MP and candidate from Vidhyadhar Nagar, Diya Kumari offers prayers at Govind Devji temple in Jaipur. #WATCH | Counting of votes | Rajasthan: BJP MP and candidate from Vidhyadhar Nagar, Diya Kumari offers prayers at Govind Devji temple in Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/TMw5iqmtzJ ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 BJP-34, Congress-28, as per official ECI trends Rajasthan elections 2023 | BJP-34, Congress-28, as per official ECI trends https://t.co/dLB9iDlVqH pic.twitter.com/Yo2foMCzaT ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 The latest EC trends suggest BJP leading in the state PHOTO | Latest EC trends suggest BJP leading in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. #AssemblyElectionsWithPTI pic.twitter.com/NlTfyR0fAc Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023 9:29 AM: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is leading from Sardarpura while former CM Raje is ahead in Jhalrapatan 9:26 AM: Latest trends show that the saffron party is comfortably ahead in 106 seats 9:24 AM: Congress MLA candidate Amin Kagzi from Kishan Pole constituency leading in early trends, as per ECI. 9:21 AM: BJP continues to lead in 103 seats while Congress candidates ahead in 79 constituencies The bad governance will end in Rajasthan, and the BJP will form the government with a clear majority: BJP leader Upendra Yadav. VIDEO: VIDEO | Rajasthan elections 2023: "The bad governance will end in Rajasthan, and the BJP will form the government with a clear majority," says BJP leader Upendra Yadav.#AssemblyElectionsWithPTI #RajasthanElections2023 pic.twitter.com/fSvhF4BJ48 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023 9:07 AM: Latest trends show the saffron party leading in 84 seats and Congress in 75 constituencies. The majority mark in the state is 100. State BJP chief confident of complete majority, cites 'public blessing' The public has blessed BJP with complete majority. Misgovernance and injustice will lose; Good governance and justice will prevail: Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi on poll result. Watch# #WATCH | On poll results day, Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi says, "The public has blessed BJP with complete majority. Misgovernance and injustice will lose; Good governance and justice will prevail." pic.twitter.com/KiLVJ4pXtf ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 8:56 AM: BJP leads in 69 seats, Congress in 61 and others in 2 seats 8:54 AM: Early trends show close battle between Congress and BJP in Rajasthan 8:52 AM: Diya Kumar, who was once billed as BJP's potential CM candidate in Rajasthan, is leading from Vidyadhar Nagar 8:34 AM: Congress leads in 26 seats, BJP in 24 seats 8:25 AM: As per early trends, Congress leads in 18 seats, BJP in 16 8:20 AM: Early trends are expected to be available in some time 8:05 AM: Counting of votes begins for 199 seats The BJP office opposite the counting centre, and close to the Congress HQ, remained quite, witnessing only a handful of supporters throughout the day. (Image: DC) Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won eight Assembly constituencies against the lone MLA candidate in the 2018 Assembly elections that was further boosted by two seats in the byelections. Despite that, the party office wore a forlorn look with no senior leader present. The BJP received 13.9 per cent of the vote and stood a distant third behind the Congress with 39.38 per cent votes and the BRS 37.37 per cent. Senior party leaders like Dharmapuri Arvind, Bandi Sanjay and Soyam Bapu Rao who are MPs from the north Telangana, which is considered its stronghold, lost their bid to enter the Assembly. The party also lost from Amberpet, which forms a part of BJP state president G. Kishan Reddys Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency. He also represented the constituency, having won from Amberpet in 2009 and 2014. As a saving grace, the party made good gains by winning four seats Nirmal, Sirpur, Adilabad and Mudhole in the erstwhile Adilabad district. It also won the Armoor and Nizamabad Urban constituencies. The last minute announcement of the turmeric board in Nizamabad failed to help Aravind, who contested from Korutla. The promise of the Chief Ministers post to a candidate from the Backward Classes communities and to speed up categorisation of reservations for SC communities failed to catapult any of its candidates from the 19 reserved constituencies to victory. The party had looked poised to making gains in 2020 after winning the Huzurabad and Dubbak bypolls and securing 48 of the 150 wards in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party, which won the lone seat of Goshamahal Assembly seat in 2018 with 6.98 per cent votes, secured four MP seats in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Secunderabad parliamentary constituencies with 19 per cent votes piggybacking on the BJP nation-wide sweep the party made decimating the Congress. The party graph looked down after allegations that the BRS and the BJP were in a secret alliance and began to stick to it in the backdrop of the Centres alleged inaction against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos daughter Kavitha in the liquor scam case. Added to this despite allegations levelled against the BRS by the BJP top brass of using Kaleshwaram as an ATM, no action was taken after giving all clearances for the project from the central bodies like the Central Water Commission and the environmental clearances. Live Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections Result 2023 Chhattisgarh: As the sun rises on a crucial day for Chhattisgarh, the Election Commission of India has set the stage for the much-anticipated counting of votes in the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly. The atmosphere is charged with excitement and tension as security personnel maintain a vigilant watch over counting centers spread across the state's 33 districts. Having unfolded in two phases on 7th and 17th November, the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections saw a spirited battle featuring candidates from prominent political players such as the Congress, BJP, BSP, and others. The exit polls, unveiled just days ago, suggest a neck-and-neck competition, primarily between the ruling Congress and the BJP, with a slight advantage seemingly tilting towards the Congress. In this live blog, we will bring you real-time updates, insights, and analysis as the electoral drama unfolds. Stay tuned for a gripping account of the unfolding political narrative in Chhattisgarh! LIVE NEWS UPDATE 03 Dec 2023, 16:06 PM IST: Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister, T. S. Singh Deo, loses his seat by 240 votes. 03 Dec 2023, 16:06 PM IST: Congress' First Reaction On Poll Trends: We will introspect and review these results, says Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha 03 Dec 2023, 12:59 PM IST: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is leading from Patan. 03 Dec 2023, 12:57 PM IST: Bhupesh Baghel has been very steady and delivered on many fronts. So it comes as a nasty surprise, says Congress' Renuka Chowdhury. 03 Dec 2023, 12:50 PM IST: BJP takes lead over Congress in Chhattisgarh, crosses halfway mark. 03 Dec 2023, 12:40 PM IST: BJP leading with 53 seats, Congress trailing with 36, as per the Election Commission trends. 03 Dec 2023, 12:15 PM IST: BJP leader Raman Singh said that people of Chhattisgarh have a lot of faith in PM Narendra Modi. 03 Dec 2023, 11:05 AM IST: BJP leading with 46 seats, Congress trailing with 40, as per the Election Commission trends. 03 Dec 2023, 11:05 AM IST: Key constituencies poised to capture significant attention: Patan: The electoral battle in Patan intensifies as Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel faces off against his nephew, Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel. Ambikapur: Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo is in a crucial contest, making Ambikapur a seat to closely monitor. Kawardha: The spotlight is on Kawardha, where Mohammad Akbar, who secured a remarkable victory in 2018, is challenged by Vijay Sharma. Sharma, implicated in the 2021 communal violence in Kawardha, currently leads the race. Lormi: Arun Sao, Member of Parliament and BJP's state in-charge, aims to secure victory in this strategically significant constituency. Rajnandgaon: Former three-time Chief Minister Raman Singh seeks to reclaim power in Rajnandgaon, adding to the electoral intrigue. Bharatpur-Sonar: Union Minister Renuka Singh, representing the BJP, emerges as a prominent candidate in this constituency, adding to the electoral dynamics. Chitrakot: PCC Chief and Bastar Lok Sabha MP, Deepak Baij, become a pivotal figure in the Chitrakot electoral landscape. Kondagaon: The battle in Kondagaon features Mohan Markam, the former PCC Chief and Minister, striving to secure victory after a narrow margin in the previous election. Narayanpur: The contentious issue of conversion takes center stage in Narayanpur, where former minister Kedar Kashyap from the BJP seeks a comeback after a close defeat. . . . Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) December 3, 2023 03 Dec 2023, 06:00 AM IST: Exit Polls suggest a closely contested battle between the Congress and BJP, with the ruling party holding a slight advantage. According to the India Today-Axis My India Exit Poll, the BJP is projected to secure 36-40 seats, while the Congress is expected to win 40-50 seats. The remaining 1-5 seats are predicted to be claimed by other parties, making a total of 90 seats. In the C-Voter Exit Poll, the BJP is anticipated to secure 36-38 seats, while the Congress is projected to win a higher range of 41-53 seats. Other parties may secure 0-4 seats. The Republic TV-Matrize Exit Poll suggests a range of 44-52 seats for the Congress and 34-42 seats for the BJP, with other parties potentially claiming 0-2 seats. TV 9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat Exit Poll indicates a competitive scenario with the Congress projected to win 40-50 seats, the BJP securing 35-45 seats, and other parties potentially claiming 0-3 seats. DK Shivakumar Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar addressed a press conference in Hyderabad following Congress crossing the halfway mark in Telangana Elections. Speaking to the media, DK Shivakumar said that the top leadership would decide on the future process in Telangana. When asked if he wanted to give out any message to KCR and KTR, he stated that this was not the right time to comment and that he would reply via tweet to the tweet put out by the BRS leaders soon. The Karnataka Dy CM also went on to state that the people of Telangana had already given their reply to the BRS. Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi with BJP National President J.P. Nadda arrives to attend celebrations after party's victory in elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, at BJP headquarters, in New Delhi (PTI) NEW DELHI: In a message to the Opposition camp, which had recently rechristened itself from UPA to INDIA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday advised the bloc not to support anti-India and divisive forces that are against the country's democracy. The Prime Minister also chided the Opposition bloc for trying to stall the country's development path. Addressing the BJP supporters and cadre after the poll results in four states were declared, Mr Modi asserted that the "echo" of the Assembly polls results will be "heard across the world", adding that it will further strengthen the trust of other nations and investors. Mr Modi claimed the poll results are an indication of the BJP scoring a hat-trick in 2024. The Prime Minister also attacked the Congress for indulging in caste-based politics, as he reiterated that for him, empowering the lives of four castes -- women, poor, farmers and youth -- is the mission. Speaking at the BJP headquarters annexe after the election results of four states showed the party winning in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Mr Modi also mentioned how some people have been claiming that the hat-trick results have given a "guarantee" of a hattrick in 2024, predicting the BJP's will again win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He also hinted at the party's possible poll slogan for the general polls -- "Modi ki guarantee." The PM asserted that for the people, the BJP government means development. "Today's triumph is historic and unprecedented. This day signifies the success of the vision for a developed India. It signifies the triumph of state development for the overall progress of India. Today stands as a victory for honesty, transparency, and good governance," said Mr Modi as hundreds of BJP cadres and supporters cheered him. Senior BJP leaders, including party president J.P. Nadda, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Purshottam Rupala and Anurag Thakur, and several other party leaders, joined the celebratory mood at the BJP headquarters annexe. Slamming the Opposition for lacking "rashtra seva ka bhaav," Mr Modi used the term "ghamandiya" for the Opposition bloc while advising them that some dynastic politicians can come together to get a good photo opportunity, but it will not help winning the people's trust. "These election results are also a big lesson for the Congress and its 'ghamandiya gathbandhan'. The lesson is that the country's trust cannot be won just by a few family members coming together on stage. The spirit of national service that should be there to win the hearts of the people of the country is not there in the ghamandiya gathbandhan..." claimed Mr Modi. "The echo of these results will not be limited to Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. The echo of these results will go far...The echo of these elections will be heard all over the world...The world is watching how Bharat's democratic values are maturing," said the Prime Minister, asserting that India's trust in development will further strengthen the trust of other nations and investors from there. Mr Modi also said that Indians now vote for a stable government with a full majority and are well aware that the BJP's "niti aur nirnayay" has the nation and its people at its core. "People are now well aware of what greed and people's interests are... Those who try to win by building castles in the sky are rejected by voters. People are now more interested in knowing what the roadmap and credibility of a party are than fake promises," said the Prime Minister. Mr Modi also claimed that the poll mandate has proved that people have voted out those forces that are against people-centric politics, as he listed out the reaction of the Opposition party leaders towards various Central government's initiatives, including Vande Bharat trains, the Ayushman scheme and rural development initiatives, among others. Mr Modi also asserted that people want the momentum of the development process to continue as they are now aware that a developed nation means a developed state, which is in the favour of every citizen. "I want to tell you with full honesty that your dream is my resolve," said Mr Modi. Hitting out at the Opposition, Mr Modi said the mandate has proved that people have zero tolerance for corruption, favoritism, dynastic politics in the country and those who provide a shield to corrupt individuals with various arguments, as he referred to the allegations levelled by the Opposition of misuse of investigating agencies against some of their leaders. In a stinging attack on the Opposition, Mr Modi said the poll verdict has proved that anyone who comes between them and the development will be removed. Mr Modi also reached out to the youth and women voters, who have been playing a crucial role in the BJP's win. "I used to say in election rallies that women have decided to lift the victory flag...if the naari shakti is the armour of someone, no one can harm that person. Women know that the BJP is the biggest guarantee of women's protection. This is Modi's guarantee that we will fulfil every promise made to them," said the Prime Minister,mentioning the women reservation law. Reaching out to the youth, Mr Modi said, "The election results have made one more thing clear. The youth of the country solely desire development. Wherever governments have worked against the interests of the youth, those governments have been ousted from power. Whether it is Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh or Telangana, all these governments were embroiled in allegations of paper leaks and recruitment scams. The result is that in all three states, the parties in power are now out of government." Hailing the hard work of the BJP cadre, Mr Modi said their task has further increased as "negative forces" will now make more attempts to foster discord in society and will be on the lookout for opportunities to create discord. "It is imperative not only to confront and counter them but also to counter their false narratives. Most importantly, for us, maintaining the trust of the people remains paramount," said the Prime Minister. TPCC leader Revanth Reddy waves to people after Congress passed the halfway mark in Telangana ElectionsPic: Deepak Deshpande Hyderabad: TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy dedicated the Congress victory to Telangana martyrs and assured to revive democracy in the state by opening the gates of the Secretariat and Pragathi Bhavan to the common people. He also announced that Pragathi Bhavan would be renamed Dr BR Ambedkar Praja Bhavan. Addressing a press conference in Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday after the victory in the Assembly polls, Revanth Reddy said: "This time, we have got the mandate to take forward the ideals of the martyrs of Telangana. We will make sure to deliver all the promises. I thank the high command on behalf of Telangana Congress. People of Telangana know how and when to respond." Sharing that outgoing minister K.T. Rama Rao congratulated him, Reddy appealed to the Opposition and other parties to cooperate in forming the government. "KTR welcomed Congress government. This spirit should continue when we (Congress) run the government. For 10 years, you (BRS) were in power and now, you will sit in the Opposition. We value the opinion of the Opposition," he said, in an apparent public response to Rama Rao. Assuring that the Congress government would keep its promise of Six Guarantees and those made by Rahul Gandhi, he thanked the Gandhi scion for lending moral support during problems. He also cited Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra for the partys breakthrough in the state. Invoking the death of Srikantha Chary, a Telangana youth, during the statehood struggle on December 3, 2009, Revanth said the win was especially dedicated to him. Revanth said that he would use the win to develop Telangana and help the poor, adding that he, along with CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Shabbir Ali would take the TPCC forward. He also thanked actress Vijayashanthi, who joined the Congress from the BJP ahead of the polls, for playing a role in the partys success. Saying that "people have decided who should be in Opposition", Revanth Reddy said that the "perseverance of 30 lakh unemployed youth was evident in Congress win." Heaping special praise on AICC Telangana incharge Manikrao Thakre for coordinating the internal affairs of the TPCC, Revanth Reddy said: "We will move forward with CPI and TJS. Rahul gave us the spirit through Bharat Jodo Yatra and Congress achieved the victory with the cooperation of all senior leaders." "Apart from our natural allies, the CPI, which contested the elections with us, we will also consider the CPM, which did not contest the elections. We will accept suggestions and advice from Telangana Jana Samithi president Professor Kodandaram, who gave his full cooperation," Revanth Reddy said. In a message to the outgoing BRS, he said: "People gave a clear verdict and decided the role of the other parties, even in the Opposition. Taking the mandate of the people as a message, we expect full cooperation from the BRS in forming the government. We want the BRS to come together to restore the traditional and democratic values of Telangana state. We hope that attempts made to damage democracy in the past will not happen again." Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, A. Revanth Reddy, during a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan. Hyderabad: TPCC chief Revanth Reddy addressed a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan soon after learning that people of Telangana had given his party the mandate. The President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, A. Revanth Reddy, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming mandate received from a stated with a population of 4 crores. He acknowledged Rahul Gandhi's impactful Bharat Jodo Yatra and the significant campaigning efforts of Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Telangana. Reddy stressed that the Congress will be dedicated to fulfilling the promises made to the people of Telangana. Graciously accepting KTR's congratulations to Congress, he emphasized the collaborative approach between the ruling party and BRS in policymaking. Recognizing the substantial role of the opposition in governance, the coalition underscored its commitment to the betterment of the poor and the people of Telangana, attributing their success to the people's desire for change and defeating Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. . Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH) pays an annual dividend of $1.88 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 1.48%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 12 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is 84.68%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, BAH will have a dividend payout ratio of 33.81% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for BAH. Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) pays an annual dividend of $0.64 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 1.01%. The company does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 9.43%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, BYD will have a dividend payout ratio of 10.60% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for BYD. Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE:AKR) pays an annual dividend of $0.72 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 4.28%. AKR has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. The dividend payout ratio is 288.00%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, AKR will have a dividend payout ratio of 56.69% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for AKR. Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Mills, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. The company offers coated unbleached kraft (CUK), coated recycled paperboard (CRB), and solid bleached sulfate paperboard (SBS) to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. It also offers various laminated, coated, and printed packaging structures that are produced from its CUK, CRB, and SBS, as well as other grades of paperboards that are purchased from third-party suppliers; designs and manufactures specialized packaging machines that package bottles and cans, and non-beverage consumer products; and installs its packaging machines at customer plants and provides support, service, and performance monitoring of the machines. The company markets its products primarily through sales offices and broker arrangements with third parties in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Graphic Packaging Holding Company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Nevro Corp., a medical device company, provides products for patients suffering from chronic pain in the United States and internationally. The company develops and commercializes the Senza spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, an evidence-based neuromodulation system for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as Senza II and Senza Omnia SCS systems. It also provides 10 kHz Therapy, which delivers neuromodulation solutions for treating chronic pain based on available clinical evidence. The company's Senza HFX iQ IPG system includes HFX iQ implantable pulse generator, HFX trial stimulator, and HFX iQ patient remote, as well as HFX App, a patient remote control and the wireless trialing system. In addition, it offers surpass surgical and percutaneous leads. The company sells its products through its direct sales force, and a network of sales agents and independent distributors. Nevro Corp. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. Procore Technologies, Inc. provides a cloud-based construction management platform and related software products in the United States and internationally. The company's platform enables owners, general and specialty contractors, architects, and engineers to collaborate on construction projects. It offers Preconstruction that facilitates collaboration between internal and external stakeholders during the planning, budgeting, estimating, bidding, and partner selection phase of a construction project; and Project Management, which enables real-time collaboration, information storage, design, BIM model clash detection, and regulation compliance for teams on the jobsite and in the back office. The company also provides workforce management that helps contractors to schedule, track, and forecast labor productivity, enhance time management, communication with workforces, and manage profitability on construction projects; and Financial Management, which provides customers with visibility into the financial health of their individual construction projects and portfolios, as well as facilitates untethered access to financial data, linking the field, and the office in real-time. It serves owners, general contractors, and specialty contractors operating in the commercial, residential, industrial, and infrastructure segments of the construction industry. The company allow users to access its products on computers, smartphones, and tablets through any web browser or from its mobile application available for iOS and Android platforms through its direct sales team. Procore Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Carpinteria, California. Bid Corporation Limited provides foodservice solutions in Australasia, the United Kingdom, Europe, and internationally. The company distributes fresh ingredients, including fish, seafood, meat, produce, dairy products, and ambient goods for the hospitality, institutional, catering, and retail sectors. It also provides foodservice and beverage distribution services for the HoReCa sector; and develops e-commerce solutions. In addition, the company manufactures and distributes meat, poultry, dairy, and general food ingredients, as well as baking ingredients and equipment; and offers a multi-temperature foodservice for various ambient, and chilled and frozen food products. Further, the company distributes specialty products for the western styled food market; and frozen, chilled, and ambient local products for the independent street market, as well as sells non-food catering requirements and equipment. Bid Corporation Limited was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Franklin Covey Co. provides training and consulting services in the areas of execution, sales performance, productivity, customer loyalty, and educational improvement for organizations and individuals worldwide. The company operates through Direct Offices, International Licensees, and Education Practice segments. It also provides a suite of individual-effectiveness and leadership-development training and products. In addition, the company operates Strive platform, a learning deployment platform; Impact platform that helps automate implementation of learning initiatives; All Access Pass, a subscription platform that enables improved deployment of content, services, technology, and metrics to deliver behavioral impact at scale; and Leader in Me, which provides access to digital versions of student leadership guides, leadership lessons, illustrated leadership stories, and other resources. Franklin Covey Co. was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Trocaire has said that donations made here at home are saving many lives in Gaza. The organisation made the announcement as it launched its Christmas Appeal, which is focusing on Children in Conflict and highlighting the fact that one in six young people in the world live in conflict zones. On launching the appeal, Trocaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra said that the horrendous situation in Gaza has already resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent women, men and children and the unacceptable death toll continues to rise. As well as those who have tragically lost their lives, many more people have been seriously injured. The situation is posing huge challenges for Trocaires partners but they are making a difference thanks to the support of the public in Co. Derry. Trocaires partner organisation, Medical Aid for Palestinians, is working against the odds in Gaza to ensure that those injured, many of them children, receive urgent medical care to give them the best chance of survival. "Another partner, Caritas Jerusalem, has seen their medical centre and clinic in Gaza City damaged in the bombardment but staff are continuing to strive to provide whatever medical support they can. This life-saving work has been made possible by the generosity of people here at home, said Ms. De Barra. The recent temporary truce allowed for limited humanitarian aid to reach those desperately in need of food, water, and medical assistance, and the release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained allowed them to be reunited with their families. However, a pause is not enough. A permanent ceasefire needs to be brokered to bring an end to the hostilities that have seen thousands of Palestinian and Israeli civilian lives lost, the majority of them women and children. Many of Trocaires local partner organisations in the Gaza Strip have been unable to operate in recent weeks, and they have suffered their own horrendous ordeals through displacement and loss of friends and families. When they are able to do so, they must be allowed to return to delivering lifesaving medical care, psychosocial support and legal assistance to the people of Gaza, Caoimhe de Barra said. Before the escalation of violence last month, the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip already faced acute humanitarian needs, with more than 80% of the population dependent on some form of humanitarian assistance. Today, 1.7 million of the 2.2 million residents of the Gaza Strip are internally displaced, in an area that is only one sixth the size of County Derry. Gaza is quite rightly in the headlines at the moment but its not just there where children are bearing the brunt of violence and conflict. From Gaza to Ukraine, from Ethiopia to Sudan, today we are highlighting the fact that over 450 million children in the world - one out of every six young lives - are living in a conflict zone. Imagine life for a child caught in a conflict zone this Christmas. In many cases they have no food, no clean water to drink or safe place to rest their heads. Fragile. Frightened. We are asking people here at home to support our Christmas Appeal which will provide survival kits, emergency dignity kits and essential food baskets for these children and their families, as well as supporting critical work across Trocaires global programmes. Please, if you are able, make a donation at www.trocaire.org, Caoimhe de Barra said. Its not hard to understand how people lose faith in politics. Time and again, promises are made to our city and then remained unfulfilled. Strategies are drawn up and then lie gathering dust on shelves in Stormont. Ministers give nods to regional balance in their rhetoric and then take few actions to deliver in practice. Derry deserves better than this. Im bringing a new law to change the way Stormont works so that it finally delivers for Derry. That delivery must start with expanding higher education here in the North West. No other intervention could be more decisive in changing the fortunes of our city and reversing its decline. Research has shown time and again how higher levels of graduates drive higher wages, encourage investment and increase productivity. And the figures reveal the cost of our failure to invest in higher education here. Derry City and Strabane has the fourth lowest percentage of the population with a third level education of any Council area at 29.6% just as Donegal boasts the fifth lowest percentage of any Local Authority in the South at 33.4%. There is a direct correlation between this low share of graduates and the high rates of unemployment on both sides of the border. While Derry has the highest rate of unemployment of any Council district, Donegal has the second highest of any Local Authority in the South. And the figures are stark when it comes to levels of disposable income. The Derry and Strabane Council area has the lowest disposable income of any Council area at 15,470 while Donegal has the lowest disposable income per head of population of any Country in the South at 18,579. In other words, the failure of government to invest here is failing not just the people of Derry but is suffocating our cross-border economy as well. It is no accident that cities like Limerick and Galway with smaller populations than Derry boast five times as many students. It is a deliberate policy choice and one that our Executive has failed to take. In 2020, Colum Eastwood MP secured the target of 10,000 students in the New Decade New Approach agreement. Since then, there has rightly been a focus on what efforts Ulster University has taken to deliver on this target, with some welcome progress in the establishment of the Graduate Entry Medical School. Yet while these efforts have been made, too often the Executive has shirked its own responsibilities to live up to this promise. Too often, the Minister for the Economy has pointed to the half-hearted nods in their Departments strategies as evidence of action. Too often, the Minister for Communities has evaded any responsibility for investing in the student accommodation our city will need to make expansion a success. Too often, the Minister of Education has used warm words when it comes to the skills pipeline that must drive investment to our region but has failed in practice. Indeed, in some areas where the Executive has failed, the Irish government has stepped in. While Stormont has turned a blind eye, the government in the South has allocated 44.5m most recently for new facilities through the Shared Island Unit. Thats why I am proposing this Private Members Bill and calling on the Executive to make it a day one priority, so that we can ensure that the expansion of higher education in Derry is the law of the land. It is not enough for Ministers to simply point the finger at each other or insist that all responsibility lies in Derry. No more excuses. They must get it done. Since launching this proposal, I have been heartened and grateful for the many wishes of success I have received and to those people who have told me directly that they feel such an intervention is both necessary and long overdue. I am convinced that if this city continues to come behind our call for this law, we can change the way our economy works for the benefit of everyone here in Derry. Ebdaa Bahrain Microfinance Company has provided about BD10 million ($26.6 million) in soft financing to some 9,800 Bahraini women to establish microenterprises since it came into being in 2009 as a branch of AGFUND. Some of these projects have grown, now employing dozens of individuals, while others have expanded to regional markets with their services and products, said Mona Almoayyed, the Chairwoman of Ebdaa. In a statement made during a celebration organised by Ebdaa on Bahraini Women's Day, Almoayyed highlighted that women constitute 60% of the total workforce within the company and they hold 45% of the positions on the Board of Directors. Crucial role She emphasised the significance of supporting and appreciating Bahraini women, underscoring the crucial role played by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women. Almoayyed commended Her Highness's dedication to ensuring the advancement of women in Bahrain, their active participation in society, and their increased contribution to the processes of development and national prosperity. Dr Khalid Al-Ghazzawi, the CEO of Ebdaa, said the celebration of Bahraini Women's Day signifies the kingdom's leadership key role in empowering and advancing its women. He highlighted the favourable environment that Bahraini women enjoy, enabling them to harness their energies and contribute to the development process. Distinguished presence He pointed out the distinguished presence of Bahraini women across various levels and fields, including microfinance, and elaborated that the proportion of Bahraini women within Ebdaa Bahrain is the highest among the nine branches of the AGFUND programme in the region. Underlining the company's commitment to celebrating Bahraini Women's Day, Dr Al-Ghazzawi underscored the national responsibility towards Bahraini women, and acknowledged their significant community participation, which has propelled national achievements and aligned with the comprehensive development goals of Bahrain. Dr Al-Ghazzawi said Ebdaa has been at the forefront, giving considerable attention to empowering Bahraini women, and this commitment is evident in the company's efforts to attract talented women, provide job opportunities, and offer financial products supporting projects initiated by Bahraini women entrepreneurs. During the ceremony, all female employees received souvenirs, and certificates of appreciation were awarded to those who had rendered long services exceeding five years. These certificates were presented by the company's Human Resources and Training Officer, Afnan Saqr, and the Credit Officer, Fatima Kamal.--TradeArabia News Service Students from North West Regional College (NWRC) were among thirty young people from Northern Irelands Further Education Colleges recognised as the first recipients of a Northern Ireland Traineeship at a ceremony in Stormont. The students, five from each FE College, were among the first cohort from Northern Ireland to complete a NI Traineeship. The new NI Traineeships enable school-leavers and adults to gain a qualification equivalent to five GCSEs (Level 2), while also gaining valuable work experience in the sector they are interested in. The students were recognised for exceptional progress, personal achievement, and their commitment to completing the Traineeship. Receiving the NI Traineeship from NWRC were: Shea Glenn, Matthew Hassan, Faolan Boyd, Eoin Hamilton, Caemgen Kelly. Some 2,400 people are now studying on a NI Traineeship programme through local FE colleges. The programme was introduced in 2021 to offer a new accessible route to further study and employment, including Higher Education and apprenticeships. The Traineeships are available across 27 professions and are funded by the Department for the Economy, in line with its 10X Economic Vision and associated Skills Strategy. Career pathways include auto electrics, joinery, animal care, professional chef, hospitality and tourism, travel and tourism, and childcare and early years. Participants on a Traineeship may be eligible for financial support through Education Maintenance Allowance or FE Grants. Hardship funds, free school meals, equipment, and travel passes may also be available. Applications will open across all six FE Colleges for September 2024 entry in January and February. Further details of whats on offer at each College are available online by searching for Traineeships on the NI Direct website. Leo Murphy, Chair of the College Principals Group and CEO and Principal of North West Regional College, welcomed the students to the awards. He said: NI Traineeships were created to offer students a more dynamic and relevant vocational programme of learning than traditional academic pathways. In FE we know purely academic routes of education arent for everyone and there is more than one pathway to success. "Our award recipients tonight perfectly illustrate this fact and we are incredibly proud of the work and commitment they have shown in completing their Traineeships so successfully. "Id also like to acknowledge the support of all our employers who participate in the programme and who, along with our talented FE colleagues, ensure NI Traineeships provide participants with the skills employers really need. While undertaking their NI Traineeship, students explore real-world challenges developed by local employers and complete a period of structured work-related learning with an employer. Students also have the opportunity to achieve additional qualifications deemed necessary for work within their chosen sector, as well as skills valued by employers including problem-solving, teamwork, time management, and e Clement Athanasiou, Head of Apprenticeships, Careers and Vocations Education at the Department for the Economy, which supported the awards, added: Traineeships have been in place for more than two years and the fact that so many people are choosing this option across Northern Ireland demonstrates how effective they are as way to learn and progress in a career pathway. "In 2021 the Department committed 180million to creating almost 20,000 Traineeship places over seven years and it is fantastic to now see participants gaining their qualifications and advancing in their careers by securing employment or moving onto further learning. I am hugely encouraged by the enthusiasm and skill shown by people engaged in Traineeships and it is testament to the hard work and dedication not only of themselves but also of their educators in our local further education colleges. I also want to congratulate all of the Traineeship achievers and wish them well for the future. To embark upon an NI Traineeship, applicants must hold a minimum of a Level One qualification, defined as four GCSEs at grades D to G, including Maths and English grades D to E, or equivalent. Students can contact their local FE College for further information or visit: www.nidirect.com and search for NI Traineeships. PICTURED ABOVE: NWRC Trainees Shea Glenn, Matthew Hassan, Faolan Boyd, Eoin Hamilton, and Caemgen Kelly were among thirty young people from Northern Irelands Further Education Colleges recognised as the first recipients of a Northern Ireland Traineeship at a ceremony in Stormont. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Patricia Logue, has met with a deputation from Buddy Bear Trust to learn more about the work they currently do with families in the North West with a child or young adult who has Cerebral Palsy. The Buddy Bear Trust are a charity established over 30 years ago to provide specialist Conductive Education to children with Cerebral palsy and Motor Disorders The group run a successful Conductive Education School based in Dungannon specialising in teaching children with Cerebral Palsy which affects an average of 55 children born in Northern Ireland each year. Brendan McConville, Chairman and Founder Member of the Trust and the Conductive Education School, explained more about their work: Our aim is to provide Conductive Education to children with Cerebral Palsy and Motor Disorders and provide support and encouragement to their parents and wider family circle. Through an individually tailored education programme, we try to provide each child with the tools to enable them to reach their full potential in life,. Brendan discussed how essential it is to work with children as young as four months old as early intervention during the Golden Years of four months to 6-years-old can have the biggest positive impact. We advised the Mayor that a number of children from the North West that have attended our School from we opened in 1993. We have plans to look into opening a satellite school in Derry, so we need to know the number of parents that would be interested in sending their child there. Mayor Logue praised the work the Trust does to support local children and families: I was delighted to learn more about how children from our Council area have benefitted and continue to benefit from the Buddy Bear School in Dungannon, Since it opened its doors in 1993 the school has worked hard to meet the needs of parents and children and give them a set of life skills that will help meet the challenges they will face and improve their quality of life. The Chairman and Trust members were delighted when Mayor Logue accepted the invitation from Principal, Ms Ildiko Veres to visit the School to see the Conductors and Staff working with the children and to talk to the parents. Brendan McConville, Chairman confirmed that he and the Trust would be delighted to make a presentation to all the Councillors at a council meeting in the New Year as the old Derry City Council had supported Buddy Bear Trust from the beginning when they needed to take children to Budapest to receive Conductive Education from especially trained Conductor/Teachers before the Conductive Education School was opened in Northern Ireland in response to the pleas of parents. Visit www.buddybeartrust.com for more information on the Buddy Bear Trust. Four fishermen have been rescued after a fishing boat sank on Lough Foyle. The alarm was raised at around 1.40pm on Sunday when a personal locator beacon was activated. The Portrush RNLI all-weather lifeboat, Greencastle Coast Guard and the Sligo-based Rescue 118 Coast Guard helicopter all responded to the incident and began a search after it was confirmed a vessel had sunk. The casualties were located at 3.25pm and recovered by Greencastle Coast Guard before being transferred to the Portrush Lifeboat. They were then winched onboard Rescue 118 and taken to hospital. The crew are understood to be well following medical assessment. Conditions at the time were described as perfect, with calm seas and excellent visibility. The Maritime Rescue Sub Centre in Malin Head and Belfast Coastguard coordinated the rescue. Carl Kennedy of Portrush RNLI Launch Authority said the rescue of the four crew was a great outcome for all concerned. Our volunteer crew practice with our colleagues in the Irish Coast Guard in anticipation for this type of scenario. All crews involved worked well to recover the casualties and we are delighted that we were able to report a good outcome due to the personal locator beacon being activated. Louth County Council last week celebrated the launch of a new outdoor dining area in scenic Carlingford, County Louth. The outdoor facility is located in the green area of the picturesque north Louth town, and is already being enjoyed by local people and visitors. The official launch, which took place on 22nd November 2023, followed a Failte Ireland investment of 118,175 towards the outdoor dining area in 2021. Failte Ireland launched an Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme, in partnership with Local Authorities, to support upgrading and enhancing streets and public spaces and implementing weather-proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round outdoor dining. This investment scheme is being delivered under the Failte Ireland Opening the Outdoors strategic pillar which aims to capitalise our outdoor assets and re-imagine our urban spaces. Brian OFlynn, Head of Irelands Ancient East at Failte Ireland said: Carlingford is a key destination within Irelands Ancient East and were so pleased to further enhance this destination with Carlingfords outdoor dining infrastructure, which was funded by Failte Irelands Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme and developed in partnership with Louth County Council. "Outdoor dining is now a permanent feature of our tourism and hospitality offering post-COVID, and facilities like these allow visitors to access outdoor dining options for longer periods of the year, supporting local businesses to sustainably develop and adding to the atmosphere in the town. The project has been widely supported by the local traders in Carlingford, Carlingford Tidy Towns and the Carlingford 31 Vision Committee. OCSC (OConor Sutton Cronin) completed the detailed design and tender for the project. James Oliver Hearty and Sons carried out the construction works and installed the benches. Construction and installation were completed in October 2023. Louth County Council Chief Executive, Joan Martin spoke at the launch, saying: I am delighted to unveil the new permanent outdoor dining facility in Carlingford. It is wonderful to see the successful installation of this project. We received approval from Failte Ireland of 118,175 back in 2021 for this project, but to have the final installation finished and ready for use is a great achievement and reflects our continuous efforts to create a vibrant and welcoming environment for residents and tourists. "The support of Failte Ireland has been key to delivering this facility, and Louth County Council will continue our partnership with Failte to work towards delivering greater capacity in outdoor dining across the county and implement weather proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round dining. The Chief Executive added: Another crucial element of this project has been the support for it by local traders in Carlingford, Carlingford Tidy Towns and Carlingford Vision Committee. I want to thank all who gave support for it and assisting us in delivering the final work. "The new benches will offer visitors outdoor dining options for longer periods of the year, support the sustainability of local businesses and add to the atmosphere of the town. A Tyrone GAA Club has described news of a beloved player's death abroad as "shattering". Twenty four year old Matthew McGuigan reportedly died in Australia after falling sick over the weekend. He was known as a talented player, having formerly captained Kildress Wolfe Tones. According to Extra.ie, Matthew had just arrived in Sydney earlier last week with his girlfriend, Clodagh. In a statement, a spokesperson for Kildress Wolfe Tones said: "We are absolutely devastated here in Kildress tonight with the sad news of Mattys death. Our thoughts and prayers are with the McGuigan & Tracey families at this very difficult time. "We all know the importance of looking out for and supporting each other and even more so in times like this. Therefore we have made the decision, with the support of the families, that our 5k a day will continue this week, in the hope that it will bring comfort to our community during this time. "Kildress Wolfe Tones will have the doors of the Hub open and are encouraging everyone to call in for a cuppa. Rest in peace Matty, you truly were one of a kind!" Another Tyrone GAA club, the Pomeroy Plunketts, also released a statement, which reads: "Pomeroy Plunketts GAA wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Kildress Wolfe Tones captain Matthew McGuigan. "We are all shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. A young, talented man with such a bright future ahead of him. This is another crushing blow to our neighbouring club and a massive loss the the GAA community. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Matthews family at this time. May he rest in peace." Errigal Ciaran GAA stated: "As a club we are deeply saddened by the sudden death of Mattie McGuigan. We offer our deepest condolences to the McGuigan family, his friends and all those at Kildress Wolfe Tones. "Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal." Strabane Sigersons GAA also expressed sympathies, calling the news "tragic". A spokesperson stated, "A top-class player who lit up many pitches around Tyrone, he was a joy to watch. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the McGuigan and Treacy Families, his partner Clodagh, to all his friends, and to all at Kildress Wolfe Tones." A man who got into a row at home decided to start drinking for the morning and he ended up coming to the attention of gardai several hours later when he produced a knife as he shouted at people on Shandon Street. Sergeant Pat Lyons said that at 5pm on July 7 gardai received reports of a man armed with a knife shouting at members of the public on Shandon Street, Cork. Garda Ross Broekhuizen observed Cian Barry discard a knife by throwing it across the street when he was intoxicated. Sergeant Pat Lyons said: On CCTV he was observed brandishing a knife and threatening members of the public with it. Barry of 23 Churchfield Avenue pleaded guilty to having a knife in his possession on the occasion as well as being drunk and a danger and engaging in threatening behaviour. Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said: Mr Barry is aware this is a very serious offence. He was granted bail and thankfully he has not got into any more trouble or come to the attention of gardai. On the day he had a row with his partner and started drinking at home early in the morning. The solicitor said the row in the public place was a row with his partner and later with members of her family. He was just holding the knife. Thankfully, there was nothing worse than that. He is off drink since this occurred. He is 27. It is a very serious incident but I would ask you to look at it as an isolated incident, Mr Collins-Daly said. Judge Mary Dorgan said, It merits a prison sentence but I will look for a probation report. The judge adjourned the case to Cork District Court on March 27, 2024, for that purpose. Approximately one thousand people took to the streets of Cork on Saturday calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. It marked the eighth week of people gathering to protest in support of Palestine, calling for an end to the war and peace in the region. The protest was held one day after Israeli air raids and artillery fighting resumed in Gaza after a seven-day pause in fighting. The Israel-Hamas truce began on November 24 and was renewed twice before ending on Friday. Under the truce, fighting was paused and humanitarian aid was allowed to enter Gaza as Hamas released captives in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners. Approximately one thousand people gathered in Cork city centre on Saturday, December 2 calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Photo credit: Breda Graham. The deadline for the extended truce passed with no announcement of an extension from either side and fighting resumed. On Saturday, chants of Free, free Palestine echoed through the city centre as one thousand people marched from Grand Parade through Patrick Street, Winthrop Street and Oliver Plunkett Street. Some of those taking part also held a silent die-in on Oliver Plunkett St as a means to highlight the multitude of deaths since the conflict began. Speaking to The Echo following Saturdays protest, Joe Moore of Cork Says No to Racism, who is also a member of Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: The fact that it is our eighth week and we had about one thousand people on Saturday again. The numbers are still coming out. The demand for justice continues. Despite the extra cold weather, it didn't affect the attendance and it didnt affect the rally. Theres a difference across the age groups and people from different parts of the world are united on one single issue - its fantastic. He said the main demand of the people is an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Approximately one thousand people gathered in Cork city centre on Saturday, December 2 calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Photo credit: Breda Graham. People were hoping up to Friday morning that those truces would be extended but unfortunately that wasnt the case and you had a resumption then of this brutal attack where you have 75% of the population driven into the southern part of Gaza with no escape whatsoever, he said. Speaking about the die-in demonstration that took place on Saturday, Mr Moore said: The whole concept of the die-in was to represent people that are being butchered and it allows for contemplation as well. The fact that we had the die-in and that it was silent and there was no chanting and no noise and it did impact on pedestrians that were on the street at the time and it was emotional and important I think as well for people to internalise to some degree whats happening in Gaza, he said. Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign continues to organise pro-Palestine rallies taking place each Saturday at 1pm in the city centre. Could it be the Christmas House Party is making a comeback this year? A festive gathering of friends and neighbours has been absent from the social calendar for far too long, and Id quite like to welcome it back home. I conjure up an image as the effortless unharried hostess festively adorned with sequins; Bing Crosby crooning softly over the speakers, Christmas lights twinkle in the background, chilled bubbles in clinking glasses, and a few tastefully selected nibbles. This is an admittedly Nigellafied version of the Christmas House Party, and so Im not interested in an array of brown and beige overpriced oven-baked things from the freezer aisle. Im thinking colour, freshness, aroma, flavour, enticement. If youre already hosting Le Grande Christmas, any other festive gathering needs to be free of endless hours slaving over the stove - once more, with feeling. The best party food is casual but delicious. The best way to achieve this is to know that adding one great product with another results in perfection. Here are some of my favourite no-hassle but gorgeous party foods achieved from a good aul rummage through the larder of Great Irish Ingredients. Goatsbridge Smoked Trout Pate Im rarely without this Kilkenny-made pate any time of year. Silky, addictive, and fabulous, spread on a Seymours of Cork cheese sable biscuit and top with some Goatsbridge Trout Caviar for a classy bite. Spiced Beef and Beetroot Bites A slice of Tom Durcans Spiced Beef is a perfect foil for wrapping around award-winning pickled beetroot from Andreas Kitchen in Ballycotton. Like a little one-bite festive gift to your mouth! Chips & Dips Im obsessed with Joes Farm Crisps Potato Medley with their purple, pink and white potatoes. Set them out with a limited-edition jar of Ballymaloe Foods seasonal Truffle Mayo, and everyone will be winning at life! Basil, Buffeta and Tomato Pairing salty, buttery Macroom Buffalo Greek-style salad cheese with Olives West Corks oak smoked sun blushed tomatoes and a fresh leaf of basil is an oh-so contemporary version of cheddar and pineapple on sticks. The Gilda This classic tapa has been all the rage this year, and at Toons Bridge Dairys stall in The English Market pick up everything you need to recreate it at home: salty green olives, pickled guindilla peppers and slaking anchovies. Simply load onto a toothpick and serve. Maki Rolls and Rayu All supermarkets stock packs of nori seaweed sheets. Cut them in half and stuff them with thin strips of crispy, fresh veggies (carrots, cucumber, scallions and radish work well), add a little protein (tofu, prawn, chicken), and wrap into a cone shape hey presto, a maki roll! A little dab of water will seal the roll and hold the filling in place. Serve it with a pot of Sage (Midleton) Peanut Rayu for dipping. Buffalloumi Fries Take a packet of Macroom Buffalo Buffalloumi, cut in half then cut each half into four strips. Coat with panko breadcrumbs and fry in oil until golden and crunchy. Serve with Cork Chilli Company Totally Tropical hot sauce, flavoured with pineapple, jalapenos, lime juice and coriander. A loaf of focaccia bread, fresh from the oven, topped with rosemary and rock salt. Bread, Blue and Fire Select your favourite focaccia, (from Alternative Bread Co in The English Market, Pike Deli in Clonakilty, The Grumpy Bakers in Midleton, or Wild Flour in Innishannon), layer on your favourite blue cheese (Cashel Blue, Dart Mountain, Stilton), and leave it beside a pot of Terra Igniss lacto-fermented Hot Sauce from The English Market for drizzling. Perfect combination, every time. Devilled Eggs Not as simple, but your guests will love you for making them! Straight out of the 1980s party food playbook but one thats worth re-embracing for its sheer tastiness, devilled eggs require you to hard boil some eggs (say 12), cool, shell, cut in half and scoop out the yolk into a bowl. Add to that: 4tbsp of Ballymaloe Mayonnaise 2 tsp English mustard 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce tsp hot sauce A generous pinch of paprika Sea salt and pepper Mash together with a fork to combine, add 2 tbsp of olive oil, place in a blender and wiz. Add some water a little at a time to achieve a piping consistency. Fill a piping bag and fill the cavity in the egg white with the devilled mixture. If youre not very good with a piping bag, spoon it on instead. Garnish with chopped chives, or parsley, or even some of the peanut rayu. Prawn Vol-au-vents Purchase ready to use vol-au-vent cases in the freezer aisle. Simply bake according to instructions, whip up some Mary Rose sauce and add a generous amount of fresh Glenmar Shellfish prawns. When the cases have cooked and cooled, load up with the prawn filling and serve. Why not try a cheese board - but put a Cork slant on it! Cheese Board A cheese board always goes down well. If you have plenty of other tasty bites to keep your guests entertained with, three well-chosen cheeses with crackers and a chutney will see you right. But if youre looking for a bit more interest, showcase the variety of milks used in contemporary cheese making in Ireland today. My suggestions are: Classic Gubbeen natural washed-rind cows milk cheese (pasteurised) The Lost Valleys Carrignamuc raw cows milk cheese Cratloe Hills mature sheeps milk cheese Ardsallagh hard goats milk smoked cheese Young Buck blue cows milk cheese (raw) Confectioners Platter Nothing screams Christmas like an abundance of colourful sweet confections. Create a sweet smorgasbord of Made in Cork delights, including Hadji Bey Turkish Delight, Mellas all-butter fudge, chocolate slabs from Exploding Tree, Milsean or O Conaill, and Toffee Brittle from Second Street Bakeshop. Add extra indulgence with handmade truffles from The Hungry Crow, Judes Chocolates, Praline Patisserie, or Cocoa in Winthrop Street Arcade, and for little fingers, add a selection of handmade sweets from Lenihans of Shandon. Peanut butter, spread on a Medjool date, topped with redcurrant jelly, is delicious, says Kate Ryan. D&PBJ Take a delicious Medjool date, slice it open, remove the stone and fill with crunchy peanut butter and a dab of redcurrant jelly. You can thank me later. Ginger Biscuit Ice Cream Sambo West Cork Biscuit Co make a square Ginger Spice biscuit thats closer to gingerbread than biscuit. Studded with pieces of candied ginger, take two biscuits and nestle a scoop of the best quality vanilla ice cream you can lay your hands on between them. (Psst, excellent with a dram of whiskey) Vodka Cranberry Sauce Negroni Make the most of Ballymaloe Foods seasonal Vodka Cranberry Sauce by shaking it into this festive take on an (usually stirred) Negroni. Ingredients (makes one cocktail) 25 ml Minke Irish Vodka 25ml Valentia Island Vermouth 25 ml Campari 2 tsp Ballymaloe & i-Stil 38 Vodka Cranberry Sauce Ice Slice of fresh orange and two fresh cranberries to garnish Method : 1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the vodka, vermouth and Campari. Add in the cranberry sauce, close the cocktail shaker, and shake for 30 seconds or until an icy coating appears on the outside of the shaker. 2. Get a tumbler and add some more ice. Open the cocktail shaker and pass the liquid through the strainer. Garnish with the orange segment and fresh cranberries. The NFU is leading a campaign for a total ban of sky lanterns in England and Wales as farmers say they continue to cause problems to the safe running of their farms. The union has joined forces with farming, environment, animal and fire organisations to call for a national ban of sky lanterns as part of a long-running campaign to ground them for good. Since May 2022, more than 100,000 members of the public have signed its petition calling on the government to follow the lead of hundreds of local councils and introduce an outright ban. Parliament recognises 100,000 signatures as the most significant milestone a petition can reach. Environment Minister Trudy Harrison MP has responded by saying that Defra have now commissioned research into the harms caused by sky lanterns. In November 2023, the NFU wrote to Defra again, calling for them to share the research findings given the ongoing support from the public calling for a ban. Every year up to 200,000 sky lanterns are released in the UK and farmers continue to report the threat they are posing to their farm businesses. Farming groups say these floating flames are highly dangerous and can start wildfires, kill livestock, destroy crops and set homes and buildings alight. Germany, Austria and Brazil are among the countries that have already implemented a total ban. Following campaigning which mobilised thousands of people to email their council, 187 councils out of 333 across England and Wales have voluntarily banned sky lanterns. But this only covers the land they own. Now the union has launched a petition so that farmers and the public can show their support for a total ban. It follows a letter to Environment Minister Rebecca Pow that detailed how other countries considered the release of sky lanterns to be an environmental crime due to the harm they cause animals, habitats and the countryside. NFU vice president David Exwood said sky lanterns continued to be a real danger to many living and working in the countryside. He said: "They can cause serious injury to livestock if they are eaten, particularly with so many calves and lambs in the fields in the spring and summer months. As the weather gets and drier the potential for damage to crops and buildings is also increased. By launching this petition and galvanising the support of the British public, we can show the UK government, and the Defra minister with responsibility, Jo Churchill MP, that there is widespread support for a total ban of sky lanterns in England and Wales. "I urge farmers and growers to add their name and help ground sky lanterns for good." I am generally interested in things which are unexplored, uncomfortable and dark. If everything is light and happy, it is a little boring. Its important to show women as not essentially someone you can look up to. Rather as women, you can relate to those who are complicated and going through different emotions. Humiliated, insecure, needy, vulnerable these make for interesting characters, be it as a director or actor. I do believe that life is a series of distractions from death. The only certainty is that you have to die, so do things that make you happy. At the end of your life, you will not remember your best work, but will remember just moments with people. I don't like this word, 'Feminazis,' or 'libtard.' I don't like these words, because I feel there's no true understanding of the word 'feminism,' there's no understanding of the word 'liberal,' and I find these very derogatory and insulting. I believe that any good idea can change the world. Now, all films are not meant to be thought-provoking but some of them are, surely! is somebody who has carved an identity of her own, and every time she graces the screen, her unique qualities shine through.An accomplished actor, writer, producer and director, all thanks to her debut feature filmand her recent work The Mirror in Lust Stories 2 with each project, she consistently proves to be a noteworthy figure in the realm of cinema. As the multifaceted performer ushers in another year of adventures, were looking back at the five instances her insightful words left a lasting impact. Aishwarya Rai-Vivek Oberoi Relationship: In the glitzy world of Bollywood, the love saga between Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi remains one of the most discussed topics among their fans. The duo reportedly started their romantic journey after Aishwarya's much-publicized breakup with Salman Khan. However, their love story was short-lived, and they had a publicized split in 2003. The aftermath of their breakup took an unexpected turn when Vivek Oberoi, in a press conference, shed light on the alleged threats he received from Aishwarya's ex, Salman Khan. This revelation not only exposed the darker side of the film industry but also hinted at the reasons behind the Aishwarya-Vivek breakup. WHEN AISHWARYA RAI TALKED ABOUT BEING TOGETHER WITH VIVEK OBEROI But, just when everyone thought their episode was over, Aishwarya grabbed major attention with a bold statement in December 2004. The versatile diva who has graced the cover of Stardust Magazine, told the magazine, "Vivek and I are still together." The unexpected claim sent shockwaves through the industry. WHEN VIVEK OBEROI TOOK AN INDIRECT DIG AT AISHWARYA RAI Fast forward to today, when both of them are settled, Vivek Oberoi, in an interview on Anas Boukhash's podcast, indirectly addressed his past relationships. Sharing his experiences of heartbreak and the challenges of being an "all-or-nothing guy," he said, "I love with all my heart, but people like me get hurt. The path that many such people take after getting hurt is that they try not to be who they are and be superficial." He further added, "I was never dishonest. I wouldn't commit to somebody and leave. I would be straightforward and tell them I am not looking for anything serious." Today, while Aishwarya Rai is married to Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, too tied the knot with Priyanka Alva in one of the most lavish weddings of all time. Randeep Hooda-Lin Laishram Wedding Reception: Bollywood heartthrob Randeep Hooda tied the knot with the love of his life, Lin Laishram, in a traditional Meitei ceremony on November 29 in Imphal, Manipur. The newlyweds are now set to extend their wedding celebrations with a grand reception in Mumbai. As per reports in Hindustan Times, Randeep and Lin, who opted for an intimate affair in Manipur, will now be hosting a reception on December 11, that will witness the presence of their industry friends who missed the picturesque wedding. The reception is expected to be a star-studded event, with invitations already making their way to the couple's extensive circle of friends in the film industry. While the venue is yet to be disclosed, sources confirm that the reception will uphold the couple's cultural roots, with Randeep and Lin gracing the event in traditional Manipuri attire. A source close to the couple revealed, "Randeep and Lin have a huge circle of friends as they have worked extensively in Mumbai. So all of them have been invited. Besides that, Lin's close friend and immediate family will be traveling from Manipur to Mumbai to attend the reception. Just like their wedding, the couple will stick to their culture and don ethnic Manipuri outfits." Pictures and videos of the wedding went viral on social media. The wedding which took place for over seven hours, featured a series of traditional rituals that immersed the couple and their guests in the rich cultural tapestry of Manipur. The ceremonies included the bor-jatra, where Randeep Hooda was guided through the initial wedding rituals and the mesmerizing exchange of garlands. The source further revealed that Hooda displayed great enthusiasm throughout the ceremonies. As quoted by the portal, "Never for a moment, while taking pheras did the smile leave his face. His family was equally captivated by the local rituals. They chose to embrace traditional outfits over designer outfits, not only during the wedding but also for temple visits. They had bought lehengas from Mumbai for the festivities but never took them out of their bags. The emotional significance of the ceremony deeply moved Randeep's mother, who had tears in her eyes during the ceremony." Rakhee Gulzar Comeback: After a hiatus, the legendary Rakhee Gulzar is set to grace Bengali cinema once again, showcasing her brilliance on the silver screen. Her last appearance in a Bengal theater was in Rituparno Ghosh's 'Shubho Mahurat' (2003), while she was featured in Gautam Halder's 'Nirban,' an acclaimed film that toured various film festivals in 2019 without a theatrical release. As she gears up for 'Amar Boss,' directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, where she will play the protagonist alongside Shiboprosad and Srabanti Chatterjee, it marks two decades since her last Bengali film. 'Nirban' earned a spot in the Indian Panorama section of the 50th edition of the International Film Festival of India and later screened at the Kolkata International Film Festival in 2019. Rakhee's return to the big screen in Bengal has been eagerly awaited, and filming for 'Amar Boss' is scheduled to commence on January 3. Reflecting on her tranquil life in Panvel during KIFF (2019), Rakhee shared her experiences of exploring Kolkata anonymously and enjoying the local markets, expressing delight in moving around without much recognition. Known for her selectiveness, she spoke about having no regrets about her choices and praised her favorite director, Tapan Sinha. Nandita Roy expressed her excitement about collaborating with Rakhee Gulzar, stating, "I have great regards for Rakhee di and wanted to work with her for a long time. Amar Boss was conceived keeping her in mind. We are delighted about getting this opportunity to work with her." Notably, Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee's Puja film, 'Raktabeej,' marked the successful comeback of another veteran actor, Victor Banerjee, and is set to complete 50 days in theaters soon. The anticipation for Rakhee's return to Bengali cinema with 'Amar Boss' is high, adding another chapter to her illustrious career on the silver screen. Bigg Boss Tamil 7 has been coming up with new twists almost every day and it is keeping everyone on their toes. While the contestants are often surprised by the tasks or the wild card entries, the audience is always intrigued by what will be coming up next on the popular reality show. Interestingly, Bigg Boss Tamil 7 is heading for an exciting weekend ka vaar episode with host Kamal Haasan and it is time for another elimination on the show. This week eight contestants have been nominated for elimination including Sarvana Vickram, Poornima Ravi, Manichandra, Cool Suresh, Jovika Vijayakumar, Vichithra, Ananya Rao and Dinesh Gopalasamy. While it has been a tough fight to survive, the battle is between Vickram and Naincy who have been in the bottom two. As they are fighting for their survival, do you know who is charging a whopping amount among these two? According to media reports, Sarvana Vickram is charging Rs 18 thousand per episode for his stint on Bigg Boss Tamil 7 while Jovika is taking Rs 13 thousand per episode. It is evident that Vickram is charging a massive amount for the show, Meanwhile, as per the recent buzz, Jovika is set to get eliminated from Bigg Boss Tamil 7 tonight. As per the voting trends, Jovika has received the least number of votes so far which happens to be 5.76% votes. However an official announcement about her elimination is yet to be made. Talking about Jovika, she happens to be the daughter of Tamil actress Vanitha Vijayakumar who was also a contestant in the third season of Bigg Boss Tamil. Born on September 22, 2003, in Chennai to Vanitha Vijayakumar and businessman Akash, Jovika is a popular YouTuber and social media influencer and enjoys a massive fan following on social media. Bigg Boss 17 ranking: Salman Khan's reality show has managed to keep the audience glued to their television sets with its drama-packed episodes. The contestants of the show are leaving no stone unturned to grab eyeballs and secure themselves from eviction. While Isha Malviya and Samarth Jurel's game has turned better, the likes of Ankita Lokhande, Mannara Chopra, Anurag Dobhal and Khanzaadi have become crybabies. BIGG BOSS MUJHE GHAR JANA HAI! From asking the makers to evict them to constantly saying 'mujhe ghar jana hai', a few contestants have become irritating. While Bigg Boss has been quick enough to point out such antics, even the viewers have expressed their displeasure over the same. The netizens asked the makers to evict the contestants who have been requesting them to allow them to leave. Unlike the previous contestants, who were excited to be showcasing their true selves on national television, BB 17 housemates are only busy whining in the show. BIGG BOSS 17 NOMINATION In a major development, Bigg Boss gave a special power to Neil Bhatt, who has been nominated for the entire season. He was given a tray of coffee cup which the contestants could use to nominate anyone by throwing coffee on their face. Yes, you read that right! According to Bigg Boss Tak, Arun Srikanth Mashettey, Khanzaadi, Mannara Chopra, Neil Bhatt, Vicky Jain, Munawar Faruqui, Abhishek Kumar and Anurag Dobhal have been nominated for eviction. Eight contestants are in the danger zone in week eight. Voting lines will be opened on JioCinema after the nomination episode airs on Colors channel. BIGG BOSS 17 ORMAX RANKING If the Ormax Ranking for the most popular Bigg Boss 17 contestants is to be believed, Munawar Faruqui has all the chances to emerge as the winner of BB 17. The Lock Upp winner took the number one spot in the latest list of 'Ormax Characters India Loves: Top 5 most popular Bigg Boss 17 contestants for November 25- December 1'. None of the YouTubers (UK07 Rider, Arun Srikanth and Sunny Arya) were able to enter the list till date. Munawar Faruqui claimed the number one spot while Ankita Lokhande secured the second position. Aishwarya Sharma, Vicky Jain bagged the third and fourth positions respectively. Aishwarya's husband Neil Bhatt was placed at the number fifth spot. Munawar Faruqui has been already hailed as the mastermind of the season. Ekta Kapoor mentioned that his game has become weaker in recent weeks after a good start in the show. Can he win Bigg Boss 17? Only time will tell. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai update: Producer Rajan Shahi has expressed his displeasure over certain actors 'creating troubles' on the sets of his hit show. The ace producer said that the production house faced trouble due to certain actors. His latest interview set several tongues wagging as fans wondered if he was talking about Harshad Chopda and Pranali Rathod. WHAT RAJAN SHAHI SAID ABOUT YEH RISHTA KYA KEHLATA HAI ACTORS? As Harshad Chopda and Pranali Rathod have just left the serial, the netizens wondered if Rajan was taking a dig at them for throwing tantrums on the sets of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The producer said that fans are sometimes biased as they believe the popular actors. Calling it 'wrong', he said that the fans don't believe the production house's side as he has not said anything about the same. "Yeh Rishta ki unit se bata du na. 4-5 logo ne tang kiya hai, kaise kaise tang kiya hai. How much these people troubled to the core? Everybody works in a daily soap, not just the faces who work hard. It's not only about the actors, some writers and editors work as late as 2am. Hum toh sari raat nhi sote. Some people are the same in front of the media and behind the media. Fans are sometimes biased. Hum log clarification nhi dete, unke kiye jo actors keh rahe, vo hi sahi hai," Rajan Shahi told Aaj Tak's Saas Bahut Aur Betiyaan. WHY HARSHAD CHOPDA-PRANALI RATHOD LEFT YRKKH? Harshad and Pranali played the respective roles of Abhimanyu and Akshara in the serial. After the makers introduced a generation leap, the duo bid adieu to the show, leaving the audience heartbroken. Ardent fans of the show believed that AbhiRa's story had potential and they deserved a happy ending. While Harshad's character was assumed dead, Pranali was replaced by Preeti Amin as new Akshara. Both the actors recently reunited for Siddharth Kannan's television roundtable segment in Mumbai. DID RAJAN SHAHI TALK ABOUT HARSHAD CHOPDA-PRANALI RATHOD? After the interview went viral, fans wondered if Rajan was talking about Harshad and Pranali. One user tweeted, Well why blaming on actors? He was the one who promised reunion and all and now giving gayan..Why is his gen4 and serials failing now?" Another wrote, "could have been gutsy like Ekta? And now gen 4 actors r not bad so why doesn't he deliver and same Anupama actors are not creating trouble why is he struggling there? (sic)" One fan said, Ithna hi tang kiya toh last interview main ye kyun kaha dinner party arrange kar rahe hai hum, harshad and pranali has worked hard. Unki legacy hai." Ithna hi tang kiya toh last interview main ye kyun kaha dinner party arrange kar rahe hai hum harshad and pranali has worked hard. Unki legacy hai liar, liar pants on fire. Diya (@Firewings_diya) December 3, 2023 It remains to be seen how Rajan Shahi will react to the backlash on social media. Yeh Rishta now stars Shehzada Dhami and Samridhi Shukla as the new leads. Harshad Chopda Update: Renowned television star Harshad Chopda embarked on his acting journey with ZEE TV's Mamta in 2006, and since then, his career has been marked by remarkable success. However, it was his portrayal of Cadet Ali in SAB TV's Left Right Left, alongside Rajeev Khandelwal, that truly propelled him to fame. Following the success of Left Right Left, Harshad Chopda continued to enthrall audiences with his performances in various well-known shows, establishing himself as one of the most cherished celebrities in the television industry. In 2021, he made his entry into Rajan Shahi's Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai as the new male lead, Abhimanyu Birla, opposite Pranali Rathod after a generation leap. After a sting of two years in the long-running Star Plus shows, the actor finally bid adieu to the much-loved character as the makers introduced another generation leap. Since then, Harshad Chopda fans have been eagerly awaiting his comeback on the small screen. However, his loyal fans must be aware that he's known for taking long breaks in between his shows. You don't believe us? Well, we've fetched the required date for you. HARSHAD CHOPDA'S LONG BREAKS BETWEEN LAST 3 SHOWS Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: Why Fans Are Trending 'Boycott' TMKOC? Here's All You Need To Know Katha Ankahee Last Episode | Adnan Khan Shares Heartfelt Note For Co-Star Aditi Sharma: Working With One Of... After Left Right Left, Harshad Chopda did back-to-back shows like Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki, Tere Liye, and Dharampatni among others. For those who are unaware, Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava ended in 2012 after which the actor took his first long break of two years. After Saubhagyavati Bhava, Harshad Chopda returned to the small screen with Sony TV's Humsafars in September 2014. Co-starring Shivya Pathania, the show had a rather short run as it ended in February 2015 within five months. After a gap of three years, the actor made his comeback with Colors TV's Bepannaah in March 2018. Featuring Jennifer Winget as his leading lady, the romantic drama was hugely popular among viewers as they loved the lead duo's onscreen chemistry. It aired for around eight months and went off-air in November 2018. Guess what? Harshad Chopda again took a 3-year break after Bepannaah and made a strong comeback with Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai in November 2021. YRKKH was his longest-running show in the last 10 years and fans loved him as Abhimanyu Birla in it. HARSHAD CHOPDA UPCOMING PROJECTS Only a few weeks have passed so far since Harshad Chopda's exit from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The TV star is currently enjoying the break and is yet to finalize any new projects. But, here's hoping that the actor chooses his next one super soon and doesn't take another long break now. Do you agree? Share your views in the comments section below. Masdar, the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, signs agreement with Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water at COP28 to develop solar plant in southern Angola Project will create up to 600 jobs and deliver clean energy to 90,000 homes in region with significant electricity supply challenges Agreement signed at COP28 demonstrates Masdar's commitment to just energy transition in Africa and around the world DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, has announced plans to develop a major 150 megawatt (MW) solar PV project in Angola to deliver renewable energy to 90,000 homes while creating hundreds of jobs, spurring economic growth, and cutting carbon emissions. As global leaders engaged in climate negotiations at the UN's climate change conference COP28 in Dubai, Masdar - the UAE's clean energy powerhouse - signed a concession agreement with Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water to build and operate the ground-mounted solar power project in the Quipungo region, Hulia province, southern Angola. The area enjoys strong solar irradiation levels but struggles with a lack of access to reliable electricity. Energy insecurity remains one of the most significant constraints on Africa's development. In Angola, less than half of the population has access to electricity, that proportion falls even further in rural areas. This project will significantly support Angola's goal of increasing its national electrification rate to around 60 percent by 2025. The agreement was signed by HE Joao Baptista Borges, Angola's Minister of Energy and Water and Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi. HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President, said: "Africa has what it takes to become the world's renewable energy powerhouse. At COP28 and beyond, we will continue to work with Africa for Africa. The UAE stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Africa as we strive to secure a just energy transition at this COP of action and COP for all. We are delighted to be moving forward with plans to build this solar power plant in Angola that will bring vital clean energy and jobs to communities. We look forward to developing this strong partnership with Angola as we work together to maximize the country's huge clean energy potential." Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: "Developing renewable energy capacity is the key to unlocking Africa's enormous economic potential, and Masdar is excited to be playing a major part in this effort. Masdar is the largest renewables energy company in Africa, through our platform Infinity Power. To accelerate a just energy transition, Masdar recently joined forces with Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investment platform. Our mission is to fast-track and scale projects so we can deliver 10GW of clean energy in Africa by 2030. Masdar is an anchor partner of the UAE-led Africa Green Investment Initiative and has committed to mobilize US$10 billion in clean energy finance, of which US$2 billion will be generated from equity with an additional US$8 billion from project finance. This transformative project in Angola is a proud milestone on that pivotal journey." Provinces like Huila, where this solar project will be built, are highly constrained by their dependence on emissions-intensive, unreliable fuel. Once completed, the solar facility will displace over 224,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year, the equivalent of removing 50,000 cars from the roads. The solar plant will support homes and businesses to leapfrog from patchy, traditional-fuel powered electricity to accessing continuous clean energy. The project will boost the local economy too. Up to 600 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase. Afterward, the supply of reliable, clean energy is expected to help grow sectors including agriculture. The solar project in Quipungo forms part of a wider commitment made by Masdar in January, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023, to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects across Angola, Uganda and Zambia. The Agreements were signed under the umbrella of Etihad 7 - a global development fund launched by the UAE to provide 100 million people across the African continent with clean electricity by 2035. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291186/Masdar_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291185/Masdar_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291187/Masdar_3.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4435248/Masdar_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/masdar-to-develop-150mwac-solar-plant-in-angola-to-power-90-000-homes-and-boost-just-energy-transition-302003857.html LANCASTER, Pa. and MASON CITY, Iowa, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New Energy Blue, the clean-tech creator of biomass refineries that turn crop residues such as corn stalks into some of the world's lowest-carbon fuels and chemicals, announces the formation of New Energy Farmers LLC, which will be headquartered in Mason City, Iowa. New Energy Farmers is a biomass aggregation company jointly owned by Iowa farmers and New Energy Blue. Its purpose is to supply clean, sustainable feedstock to the New Energy Freedom Biomass Refinery, also in Mason City, and support the build-out of other New Energy Blue biomass refineries throughout Iowa and the American Midwest. New Energy Blue has just completed the engineering of New Energy Freedom, scheduled to break ground early 2024 and begin operation late 2025. Because top-quality biomass is critical to efficient refinery operation and delivery of climate-healing products, over the past decade the New Energy Aggregation System was developed to assure a continuous supply of clean, dry stover in tight, compact bales. During the Iowa corn harvest this past fall, the New Energy Aggregation System was again rigorously tested by chopping, baling, and stacking excess stalks across extensive acreage. New Energy Blue conducted the field trials using the latest methods and machinery from New Holland, Case, John Deere, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Mil-Stak. From the fall harvests of 2024 and 2025, New Energy Farmers will provide a total of 275,000 dry tons of feedstock to the Freedom refinery-enough to produce a year's worth of next-generation ethanol (made from the corn plant's sugars) and clean lignin (taken from the stiff structure of the plant). Stalks from about 50 farmers with 110,000 acres are sufficient due to the exceptional productivity of North Iowa corn growers, who typically have three tons of excess stalks that need to be removed. Using the latest aggregation advances, bale weights increase from about 900 pounds to as much as 1500 pounds, cutting transportation and storage costs. "We're tenaciously focused on every impact to our supply chain, from soil to product," says Thomas Corle, CEO of New Energy Blue. "For our first five U.S. refineries, we expect corn stalks to be the raw material for biobased fuels and chemicals-replacing oil and gas refining in the future. We're going into business with the American farmer, making a substantial investment." New Energy Farmers will become majority-owned and managed by the corn growers who have already committed to supplying their excess corn stover as a feedstock to the Freedom biomass refinery. Members receive a cash payment for every dry ton bale of corn stalks, own a stake in the business based on acreage, receive new farm equipment for harvesting and aggregation, and share in the annual profits of their own company. Lead farmers on the management board will oversee the process of procuring and collecting the stover from within a 20-30 mile radius of Mason City, managing off-site storage, and delivering the bales to the refinery. Given that sustainable biomass sourcing and traceability are important to customers like Dow, "we're pursuing ISCC Plus certification of our facilities," Corle says. Manav Lahoti, Global Sustainability Director at Dow, says "we strongly support a bio-circular and low-carbon ecosystem for converting excess corn stover into feedstock for our bio-based plastics. ISCC Plus certification enables Dow to verify the presence of renewable materials in our products to help customers meet commitments to improve sustainability in their own supply chains." Dow and New Energy Blue have signed a first-of-its-kind agreement for cellulosic ethanol from New Energy Freedom and subsequent biomass refineries to convert into bio-ethylene at the New Energy Chemicals ethanol-to-ethylene facility planned for the U.S. Gulf Coast. Every five years the U.S. Department Of Energy produces a "Billion Ton Report" calculating the potential supply of available biomass in the United States available for fuel and chemical projects. "But the great potential remains largely untapped," says Joe Ahrens, Biomass Strategist and Logistics Officer for New Energy Blue. "The reason is simple. Nobody up until now has developed a system that can aggregate this feedstock sustainably and cost efficiently with minimal impact to the grain harvest." Ongoing research and field testing by New Energy Blue, says Ahrens, is expected to boost farmer yields and crop value while shrinking carbon impact on the environment. "So we'll continue to promote carbon-retaining practices such as no-till seeding and planting cover crops to discourage wind and water erosion." Though the 2023 Billion Ton Report portrays the enormous opportunity for converting biomass into greener energy, "we're developing the roadmap," says Ahrens. "Everything we learned in the fields this fall, and will learn in our 2024 and 2025 harvests, will improve our New Energy Aggregation System and strengthen New Energy Farmers. Both will play major roles in our future expansion across the American Midwest." More information at https://newenergyblue.com/waste-nothing CONTACT Roger Moore 717-224-0245 rogermoore@newenergyblue.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291006/NewEnergyFarmers_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-energy-blue-launches-farmer-owned-business-to-supply-clean-sustainable-feedstock-for-its-biomass-refineries-302003771.html STOCKHOLM, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Normative , the enterprise carbon platform, today publishes the '2023 Carbon Accountability Report', uncovering enterprises' core challenge in the transition to net zero. It reveals that over 70% of 200 businesses surveyed are not calculating scope 3 emissions - a serious compliance risk. The EU's CSRD requires companies to report on 2024 value chain emissions in 2025, subject to materiality assessment - which is currently strongly recommended by the UK's Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting policy. "The message is clear - we have to address scope 3 emissions, but no business can tackle the size and complexity of global value chains alone. They need solutions enabling them to collect and exchange primary emissions data from suppliers at scale. There is an opportunity to make real reductions and create business impact together."says Maggie Buggie, COO of Normative. Businesses cannot fulfill their net-zero commitments with the low quality, incomplete data available to them. This causes a critical business execution gap. Researchers interviewed 200 enterprise executives and sustainability leaders across 5 European countries. Key insights include: Alarmingly 72% of respondents do not calculate scope 3 emissions. Although businesses factor ESG considerations into decisions - 71% use ESG considerations while selecting suppliers. 91% acknowledge they need to improve use of carbon accounting data to reduce environmental impact. 47% want improved supply chain emissions visibility, while 37% want improved relationships with suppliers through data sharing. With Normative's Carbon Network , organizations can collect, work with, and share supplier carbon data to tackle scope 3 emissions, benefiting from access to vetted service providers, consultants, auditors, and data platforms. "This is exactly why we have launched the Carbon Network, to make carbon visible for everyone, so that it can be managed and reduced." Maggie Buggie concludes. Read the study . About Normative: Normative is an enterprise carbon platform providing a foundation of reliable emissions data for companies like Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Nordea, and The Restaurant Group to plan, implement, and verify the impact of sustainability initiatives. With a carbon accounting engine built on science, a carbon network of supplier data sources, and a team of climate experts, Normative empowers companies to take control of their emissions. Headquartered in Stockholm, Normative aims to accelerate the transition to net zero by partnering with leading climate change organizations including the UN. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2204331/4426819/Normative_Logo.jpg Press Contact Cassandra Julin press@normative.io 0046702866861 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/normative-study-reveals-data-blindspot-scope-3-emissions-missed-by-72-of-businesses-301999779.html Ambition to add up to 500 megawatts (MW) to existing 145MW (192MWp) Cirata floating solar PV plant Masdar, the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, also signs green hydrogen agreements with Indonesia's PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP) at COP28 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, has signed agreements to collaborate with Indonesia's state-owned utility company, PLN, to move ahead with major development plans for Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power plant and explore green hydrogen opportunities. The development at the UN's Climate Change Conference COP28 in the UAE builds on years of successful collaboration between Masdar and PLN. The partnership has already resulted in the launch of Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power plant, the innovative 145 megawatt (MWac) (192MW peak) Cirata project. Located on the Cirata reservoir in West Java, Indonesia, the plant was inaugurated earlier this month and generates enough renewable energy to power 50,000 homes, while displacing 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The latest agreements were exchanged at COP28 and witnessed by HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste, HE Abdulla Al Dhaheri. The agreements were signed by Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of PLN Group, Darmawan Prasodjo, and President Director of PLN NP, Ruly Firmansyah. They included a framework agreement for a joint study into the tripling of Cirata's capacity to up to 500MW. The companies also agreed to explore renewable energy options around the world and the prospect of developing green hydrogen, which has huge potential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries, including steelmaking, construction, transportation, and aviation. With abundant solar resources, the UAE and Indonesia are in prime position to become green hydrogen production hubs. Both countries have bold net-zero targets which the deepening cooperation between Masdar and PLN will help to support. Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, said: "Masdar looks forward to expanding its pioneering clean energy work with PLN. We were extremely proud to inaugurate the 145MW (192MWp) floating solar power plant with our valued partners earlier this month. The Cirata project shows how innovation can be used to meet multiple needs at once. The plant powers homes, cuts emissions, has created jobs and reduced land use because it is built on water. As the world looks for urgent solutions to the climate crisis at COP28, we need more smart projects like Cirata. With its robust economy and abundant renewable resources, Southeast Asia is a key investment destination for Masdar. Through our deepening cooperation with PLN, we will continue pioneering innovation in solar, green hydrogen and other key areas in support of the region's energy transition." In September, Masdar and PLN signed an agreement to develop Phase II of the Cirata plant to triple capacity by up to 500MW. This came after a recent regulatory change from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Indonesia, which now allows up to 20% of water coverage for renewable energy uses. Built on water, the Cirata plant reduces land use, a key consideration for countries such as Indonesia where land is limited but water abundant. The water's cooling effect can also improve efficiency and the panels reduce evaporation, saving water for drinking and irrigation. In February, Masdar also entered the geothermal market after making a strategic investment in Indonesia's Pertamina Geothermal Energy. Indonesia is the world's second-largest geothermal market. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291224/Masdar_PLN.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4435328/Masdar_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/masdar-and-pln-advance-plans-to-develop-worlds-largest-floating-solar-plant-in-indonesia-302003893.html Masdar and EDF sign landmark agreement with government of the Kyrgyz Republic to explore development of up to 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of hydro and renewable energy projects Deal represents Masdar's first entry into the hydropower space Agreement strengthens existing ties between UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar, the UAE's clean energy powerhouse, and EDF have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic to explore the development of hydropower and renewable projects with a combined capacity of up to 3.6 gigawatts (GW). The agreement was signed during COP28 in Dubai by Kyrgyz Minister of Energy, H.E. Taalaibek Ibraev, Masdar Director, Development and Investment (EMEA), Ahmed Al Awadi and EDF Assets Development Director for Europe and Central Asia, Emmanuelle Chevennement. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Sadyr Japarov, UAE Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Sharif Al Olama, and EDF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Luc Remont. Despite an extensive clean energy portfolio encompassing solar, floating solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, floating wind, geothermal, battery energy storage systems and green hydrogen, today's memorandum of understanding (MoU) represents Masdar's first entry into the hydropower space. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President and Masdar Chairman, said: "At COP28 it will be incumbent on the world to utilize all clean energy sources at its disposal to keep the ambition of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C within reach. Hydropower is one of the oldest clean energy sources and has many positive attributes that can help a number of countries around the world achieve their climate goals and meet their net-zero targets." H.E. Taalaibek Ibraev, Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic said: "This agreement serves to further strengthen the existing ties between the Kyrgyz Republic, the UAE and France. Hydropower is a very important energy source for the Kyrgyz Republic and this agreement will help our nation to strengthen its existing clean energy supply and to develop projects utilizing other renewable energy sources." Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said: "This agreement represents a new chapter for Masdar in our clean energy journey. With over 17 years of pioneering renewable energy technologies and successfully delivering utility-scale clean energy projects, we are glad to have the opportunity to bring the energy, passion and focus to hydropower that we have utilized for so many other renewable energy sources as we seek, in partnership with EDF, to build a successful collaboration with the Kyrgyz Republic, deepening the strong relationship between the UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic." The Kyrgyz Republic has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 44 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The country already generates around 90 percent of its electricity from clean energy resources, almost exclusively from hydropower plants. Central Asia is a significant emerging market for Masdar which has several agreements to develop solar and wind projects in the region. As the UAE's clean energy powerhouse and one of the world's fastest growing renewable companies, Masdar is at the vanguard of advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar is active in more than 40 countries and has more than 20GW of renewable energy capacity including operational, under construction or advanced development projects in its worldwide portfolio. Masdar has invested, or committed to invest, in worldwide projects with a combined value of more than US$30 billion with ambitious growth plans to reach 100GW of renewable energy capacity and 1 million tonnes of annual green hydrogen production by 2030. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291273/Masdar_EDF_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291280/Masdar_and_EDF_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4435248/Masdar_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/masdar-and-edf-sign-major-agreement-with-government-of-the-kyrgyz-republic-to-develop-up-to-3-6gw-of-hydropower-and-renewable-projects-302003935.html Baazigar, that came out in 1993, made Shah Rukh Khan an overnight star and sensation. Ripped off from the Hollywood whodunnit A Kiss Before Dying, Abbas-Mustan, who directed the film, added their own pulp to the juicy narrative. However, actor and director Deepak Tijori, who worked with the director duo a year before Baazigar in Khiladi, has revealed how the film was supposed to happen with him. While speaking to Bollywood Thikana, Tijori said, I saw a film, A Kiss Before Dying, and narrated a story to them. Back then, this is how it used to function, there was no concept of copyright, studios system had not come into play. So, most films were inspired by Hollywood films. He added, After Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Khiladi, people from the distribution circle were looking at me like I am progressing and soon enough I will become a hero. I pitched the idea to Pahlaj Nihalani too and he gave me a go ahead, only to inform me about a twist in the tale few days later. The actor continued, Pahlaj ji said Abaas Mustan were in talks with Venus for the same film. I was shocked. Back then Shah Rukh and I were friends. We would party every night. I asked him if he was approached for the film, he said he was. Tijori said the director duo promised to make another film with him which never happened. He did have an extended cameo in their 1999 comic caper Baadshah though. Baazigar marked the launchpad for Shilpa Shetty and also starred Kajol along with SRK. Its also known for Johny Levers gags, especially with Dinesh Hingoo. It had Dalip Tahil as the antagonist and Rakhee Gulzar as the helpless mother, Adil Irani as the friend and Ananth Mahadevan as the wronged father. Veteran actor Junior Mehmood, who has acted in more than 200 films and was the highest-paid child actor at one point, has been detected with Cancer stage 4, as reported by Times Of India. Mehmoods close friend Salam Kazi said, The cancer was detected only a month ago and hes on its fourth stage and has affected his lungs and other parts. Doctors have told us that he only has 40 days but we all are praying for him. He also spoke about how actor Johny Lever came for financial aid. Junior Mehmood has produced Marathi films and earned money from them But he is grateful to Johny Lever who was the first person to visit from the film industry. American actress Julianna Margulies was under the ire of the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities after her recent controversial remark against them. On the The Back Room with Andy Ostroy podcast, she said how Black people were brainwashed to hate Jews and that a Black lesbian club at Columbia University put signs up saying No Jews allowed. Actress apologises After the backlash that followed, she issued a clarification and apology in a statement to Deadline. She said, I am horrified by the fact that statements I made on a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, communities I truly love and respect. She added, I want to be 100% clear: Racism, homophobia, sexism, or any prejudice against anyones personal beliefs or identity are abhorrent to me, full stop. Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to combat hate of all kind, end antisemitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and forge a united front against discrimination. I did not intend for my words to sow further division, for which I am sincerely apologetic. Back in 2017, Julianna Margulies revealed that she was harassed by Steven Seagal and Harvey Weinstein in separate encounters during the 1990s. Recalling the ordeal with Seagal, in an interview on Sirius XMs Just Jenny, Marguiles said that she was asked by a female casting agent to visit the Under Siege star on the pretext of discussing some scenes from the audition. After reaching the venue, the agent was nowhere to be found. Margulies says, I got to the hotel at 10.40 (pm), and she wasnt there. And he was. Alone. And he made sure that I saw his gun, which I had never seen a gun in real life. And I got out of there unscathed I dont know how I got out of that hotel room. I sorta screamed my way out, reported Vulture. The Assembly election results are out and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained big, with three Hindi heartland states Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in its kitty. While some exit polls had predicted a victory for the saffron party in Rajasthan and MP, the BJPs win in Chhattisgarh has come as a surprise, particularly for the Congress. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP is set to win 54 seats, while the Congress is trailing at 35 seats. The saffron party is ready to sweep MP with 164 seats and the Congress is reduced to the second spot with 65 seats. Rajasthan has given 115 seats to the BJP against Congress 69 seats. The Grand Old Party has registered a notable victory in Telangana with 64 seats, while K Chandrasekhar Raos Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is a distant second with 39 seats, followed by the BJP with eight seats. Expressing gratitude to the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attributed the BJPs victory in the three states of the Hindi belt to the politics of good governance and development. I thank the people of these states for their unwavering support and assure them that we will keep working tirelessly for their well-being, he wrote on X. We bow to the Janta Janardan. The results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan indicate that the people of India are firmly with politics of good governance and development, which the @BJP4India stands for. I thank the people of these states for their unwavering Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 3, 2023 Congress MP Rahul Gandhi humbly accepted defeat in the three states, saying the battle of ideology will continue. He also thanked the people of Telangana, promising a prajalu (common people) state. Will these Assembly results impact the 2024 general elections? What do the results mean for the BJP and Congress? We explain. Impact on 2024 Lok Sabha polls The Assembly elections held in the winter months ahead of the general elections are seen as a semi-final ahead of the main battle. However, the Assembly election results are not always in line with the Lok Sabha polls as witnessed previously. In 2018, the Congress won Rajasthan, wresting power from the BJP. But in the general elections held next year, just months later, the Grand Old Party failed to secure even a single seat from the desert state, with the BJP bagging all the constituencies, noted The Quint. The Congress had also formed the government in MP in 2018, but it won only one seat in the Lok Sabha elections only a few months later. Since Chhattisgarh was formed in 2000, the BJP has dominated Lok Sabha seats from the state, irrespective of being in power in the state or not, according to The Quint report. The Congress has managed to win just one or two out of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state. In Telangana, the BJP and Congress performed better in the 2019 LS polls as compared to the Assembly elections in 2018 when the BRS had formed the government in the state, the report added. It is only in Mizoram where the ruling party wins the lone Lok Sabha seat from the state as witnessed since 1998, reported The Quint. The counting of votes for Mizoram will take place on Monday (4 December). ALSO READ: BJP juggernaut and national politics: Seven takeaways for 2024 elections What the win means for BJP Bagging three states in the Hindi heartland is surely to enthuse the BJP rank and file with new vigour. Defeating the Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as well as retaining MP is already a shot in the arm for the saffron party. As the BJP fought the Assembly elections in these five states in PM Modis name and under a collective leadership, the results show his popularity remains intact, particularly in the Hindi belt. The saffron party will credit the victory to Modi in these three states, publicising it as another badge of honour in the long list of achievements of the PM. As journalist Iftikhar Gilani wrote in a piece for Moneycontrol, the Assembly election results have revealed a clear north-south divide. The BJP has once again shown that its machinery and message are intact in the Hindi heartland. According to The Quint, while the Assembly results may not indicate what will happen in the Lok Sabha polls next year, it is likely to shape the narrative in the run-up to the general elections as the three states Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are mostly bipolar contests between the BJP and the Congress. These elections may not be a barometer of the popular mood, but they give the political parties an idea of how they want to position themselves for the big battle in the coming months, as per the Moneycontrol piece. What about Congress? The Congress has much to take away from these Assembly election results. As Gilani wrote in the piece, The narrative of supporting caste census without having a significant OBC (Other Backward Classes) leader in its national leadership and toeing a soft Hindutva line is not working. The Grand Old Party has called for a nationwide caste census. The Congress failure to retain both Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh could affect the morale of its workers in the Hindi heartland. It may also be a setback to the partys credibility to lead the INDIA alliance and affect its bargaining power during seat-sharing talks. However, it is not all bad news for the Congress, which would be taking solace from its victory in another southern state after Karnataka in May. The success in Telangana is sweeter in the point of view of funds for the party for next years Lok Sabha elections, noted The Quint. With inputs from agencies The BJP jumped into pole position in Chhattisgarh after early trends favoured the Congress. According to the latest trends from the Election Commission of India, the BJP is leading in 54 seats, while the Congress has the edge in 35 seats. The magic number for the 90-member Assembly of Chhattisgarh is 46. While Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is leading in Patan by 5,598 votes against BJP candidate and his distant nephew Vijay Baghel, the others in his government are not faring so well. Deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo faces an uphill battle against the BJPs Rajesh Agrawal by 5,106 votes in Ambikapur, while home minister Tamradhwad Sahu is behind the BJPs Lalit Chandrakar by 8,941 votes in Durg Rural. In Chitrakot, state Congress chief Deepak Baij trailed BJPs Vinayak Goyal by 3866 votes. But what went wrong for the Congress in Chhattisgarh? Lets take a closer look: BJPs wooing of farmers, poll promises The Congress in 2018 defeated the then Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh. As per The Wire, the unhappiness among paddy farmers was thought to be a key reason why the BJPs footprint was reduced to just 15 seats in 2018. The piece noted that while the BJP has focused on government corruption this time, it has also reached out to farmers. It stated that the BJP in its poll manifesto vowed to procure paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal (21 quintal per acre) Rs 500 more than the Congress government. It further vowed to fulfill the pending paddy procurement bonus at Rs 300 per quintal by 25 December. A strong, sustained and aggressive campaign and its matching Congress in poll promises seem to worked for the BJP. Corruption charges, anti-incumbency The BJP, all through its high-voltage campaign in the state targeted the Congress government led by Baghel on alleged scams, corruption and the hawala money funding related to the Mahadev app. During the aggressive campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted Baghel. I have some questions for the Congress leaders who are fond of teaching mathematicsI want to ask some questions about the party. The Mahadev betting app scam is worth Rs 508 crore and the investigating agencies have recovered loads of cash in this case. A close aide of the Chhattisgarh CM is also in jail, Modi had said during the election rally in Chhattisgarhs Mungeli. Congress should reveal how much money the CM received in this. How much money have the other leaders of the party received and how much money has reached Delhi? he added. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), which is investigating the Mahadev Book Online Betting APP syndicate, claimed earlier that by questioning Asim Das, an arrested cash courier from the UAE, and the forensic examination of the phone recovered from him, and examination of an email sent by one of the high-ranking accused of Mahadev network, many startling facts came to light. The agency claimed that regular payments were made in the past and, so far, about Rs 508 crore has been paid by the promoters of the Mahadev betting app to Baghel. The source of these alleged payments is under investigation, they added. Anti-incumbency may have played a role in dislodging the Baghel government. Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao told Hindustan Times, In the last five years, Congress has destroyed Chhattisgarh. People of Chhattisgarh know that only the BJP can protect the state, and thats why they will give their blessings to us, Senior BJP leader Raman Singh told reporters in Raipur that the people had rejected Baghel. Bhupesh Baghel has been rejected by Chhattisgarh. Bhupesh Baghels corruption, liquor scam, Mahadev app scam contributed to this results, Singh told NDTV. Modi magic Singh, echoing his party colleagues, said the people had demonstrated their faith in Modis work and guarantees. The people believed in Modijis guarantee, thats what the trends show. We could see the undercurrent, didnt know it would be this huge, Singh added. VIDEO | Chhattisgarh elections 2023: People know that their (Congress) guarantees are fake, they know that Bhupesh Baghel didnt fulfill his promises, and thats why they believe in PM Modis guarantees, says former CM and BJP leader @drramansingh as trends show BJP leading in pic.twitter.com/ALGaWu3EPY Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023 The way we are moving towards a huge majority in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, it is clear that the people trust Modis guarantee and has rejected the Congress gimmicks (nautanki). Modi magic is the real magic and every other magician has failed, said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla. People have blessed BJP in three states endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and rejected the Congress false promises, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said as counting day progressed and celebrations broke out in BJP quarters in several places. The polling in the state was held in two phases. The first phase was held in 20 constituencies on November 7 with 223 candidates in the contest while the polling in the remaining constituencies with 958 candidates were held in the second phase on November 17. The voter turnout for both phases combined was 76.31 per cent, slightly lower than the 2018 polls. In the first phase, 78 per cent of voter turnout was recorded and in the second phase, it was 75.88 per cent. The four main contenders in the Chhattisgarh Elections 2023 are the BJP, Congress, Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Other regional outfits like the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), Hamar Raj Party (HRP) and the Left parties are also in the contest. The elections, which set the momentum for the 2024 polls, have seen the BJP and the Congress go head to head in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Telangana was a direct contest between the Congress and the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) that was hoping for a hat-trick. While many Congress workers still held out hope that the party would retain power in Chhattisgarh, the task looked increasingly difficult. Counting began at 8 am on Sunday amid tight security and huge anticipation in the four states. Votes in the fifth state that went to the polls, Mizoram, will be counted on Monday. A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, election officials said. With inputs from agencies As the counting progresses in the states of Madhya Pradesh, the state is turning saffron. Workers and supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came out on the streets and began celebrating by dancing, and chanting slogans as trends predicted a comfortable win for the party. Workers distributed sweets and chants of Modi, Modi began ringing out loud. According to the latest data, the BJP has scored 162 seats of the 230-seat Assembly. The Congress lags behind with 66 seats. With its numbers, the BJP has crossed the target of 116 to secure a win in the state. Incidentally, its way higher than the partys performance in the previous polls the BJP had won 109 seats then, with the Congress securing 114. The possible win in the state is contrary to the exit polls, which had predicted a tight race and some even giving the Congress an outside chance at ousting the BJP from a state it has dominated since 2003. Four of nine exit polls had given the BJP a comfortable win; three gave it over 139 of the Assemblys 230 seats. Catch all the live updates from the results HERE The BJP has won three of the past four elections since Digvijaya Singh led the Congress to back-to-back wins in 1993 and 1998. Those wins were the last time the Congress defended the state. Several BJP leaders themselves also celebrated the partys anticipated win, with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan saying: I had said the BJP will get a comfortable majority and we are getting it. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also chimed in, saying: This is a great victory for BJP in Madhya Pradesh. BJP government has done work, people have faith in the double-engine government, the leadership of PM Modi and the performance of CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. I congratulate everyone. As celebrations unfold, we decode the partys win in the state and the possible reasons behind it. Significance of Shivraj Singh Chouhan Perhaps one of the biggest reasons for BJPs anticipated victory in the state is Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Even though he hasnt been the face of the partys campaign this time around there were fears that feelings of anti-incumbency would work against him its hard to miss his importance for the party. A four-time chief minister, Chouhan, popularly known as Mama, continued to work in the state and used his humble image to attract the voters. He was also unafraid of showcasing his emotions to the public at times, he shed tears while seeking voters and at other times, he told voters they would miss him when I am no longer around. Also read: Election Results 2023: Whos leading, whos trailing? He also focused his campaigning on women; he was the star of his governments The Ladli Show, where he took questions from girls. During an event in Burhanpur, he also washed the feet of two women, who then showered him with flower petals. And despite the in-fighting in the party, Chouhan persevered and unlike other leaders elsewhere, such as Vasundhara Raje, he kept his displeasure quiet and never once uttered or indicated his resentment towards the central leadership. In fact, even at a time when the results indicated a win for the BJP, he credited it to Prime Minister Modi, rather himself. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji. There is immense faith towards him. He held public meetings here and appealed to the people which have touched the peoples hearts. Such trends are coming as a result of this, he was quoted as saying, adding that the election campaign got the right direction due to the infallible strategy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, guidance of BJP chief JP Nadda and other leaders and hard work of the party workers. Women power A big factor in BJPs win in the state could be their focus on women voters. Womens participation in the state has only risen with time. Data shows that the female voter turnout ratio in Madhya Pradesh was 65.9 per cent in the 2008 elections. This rose to 70.1 per cent in 2013, 74.0 per cent in 2018, and 76.0 per cent in the current Assembly elections. Realising they are a crucial vote bank, the BJP began welfare schemes targeting them, in a bid to woo voters. There is the Ladli Behna scheme, initiated this year, which provides financial assistance worth Rs 1,000 per month to eligible married women aged between 23 and 60 years. Theres also the Ladli Laxmi scheme, which was launched by Chouhans government in 2007. The policy mandates monetary assistance from the state for the education of girl child. Reacting to the results, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the schemes such as Ladli Behna and Ladli Laxmi have touched peoples hearts in Madhya Pradesh. Analysts believe that many may have feared that a change in the government in the state could pause or delay any future payments, and, therefore, didnt vote for the Congress. Congress failed to sustain lead Apart from Chouhans influence and the welfare schemes, many analysts note that the Congress once again failed to capitalise on the anti-incumbency feeling. The Grand Old Party was also unable to make the final push. A BJP functionary explained to Indian Express, On the day of polling, we had 90 per cent of our booth committees functioning at 8.30 am while the Congress was scrambling to get their booths set even by 9.30 am. The high percentage of voter turnout in the first half itself happened because of our mobilisation. Many poll pundits also noted that the Congress was unable to sustain their own campaign with strong messaging. Among the Congress theres also a belief that the bashing of Sanatan Dharma could have played a role in their loss. Congress Acharya Pramod Krishnam said that opposing Sanatan Dharma sunk his party. With inputs from agencies Is it curtains for Kamal Nath? Thats what many are wondering after the BJPs massive victory in Madhya Pradesh. The saffron party is leading in a whopping 167 seats compared to the Congress 62 as per the latest trends from the Election Commission of India. The magic mark in the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly is 116 seats. Nath, the 77-year-old state Congress chief, will get cold comfort from the fact that he has a massive lead in his home seat of Chhindwara over the BJPs Vivek Bunty Sahu. He is currently in a war room meeting with senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. So, is the end near for Nath? Lets take a closer look: The Congress under Nath had formed the government in Madhya Pradesh in 2018. However, the Nath government collapsed in March 2020. This, after Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP and nearly two dozen MLAs resigned leading to the BJPs Shivraj Singh Chouhan returning as chief minister. As per a piece in News18, Nath had launched a sentimental appeal to the Madhya Pradesh public ahead of the polls. What was my fault? Why did they bring down my government? Nath asked in November at an election rally. The article said that the Congress going down to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh was a sign that voters did not agree to give Nath one last go as chief minister. This time, those close to Nath said people would take revenge on Scindia. However, this card also did not work as the BJP has performed impressively in the Gwalior-Chambal region, which is Scindias stronghold, the piece stated. The article also stated that despite Naths jibes at Chouhan about waking up to the plight of women before the polls, women seemed to trust the incumbent chief minister more. The piece noted how Nath enlisted both Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi to campaign in Madhya Pradesh. however, all failed in face of the popular Ladli Behana scheme of Chouhan. Kamal Nath had been the Chhindwara MP since 1980 and became an MLA in 2019 from the assembly seat of Chhindwara to become CM. But his dream to be a CM of Madhya Pradesh for a full term will in all probability remain a dream, the piece concluded. As per NDTV, Nath had earlier Sunday expressed confidence that the Congress would win Madhya Pradesh. I have full faith in the people of Madhya Pradesh that they will keep their future secure, Nath was quoted as saying by ANI. But Naths confidence was misplaced. An article in Deccan Herald said Nath appeared out of tune and out of touch with reality. The BJPs victory over the Congress has meant that Nath failed to get the act together despite getting a carte blanche from the partys high command. Questions will be asked about the way Nath and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh were given full charge of the state, the piece argued. The piece, calling the election Naths swansong, argued that the way Nath rejected Akhilesh Yadavs request for seats in Madhya Pradesh despite the Samajwadi Party being an important part of the INDIA bloc indicated that he was not up to scratch. The piece also said that Nath was unable to switch a partnership with the Gondwana Ganatantra Party and Left outfits. Another piece in Deccan Herald noted that Nath is 77 and Digvijaya Singh is 76. the party may be forced to look for a new generation in leadership at a time it is no secret that behind the duos public bonhomie lies intense intrigue to control the party in the state where both were Chief Ministers, the piece stated. Even some in the party are blistering Nath. It was one-upmanship. Arrogance of one leader led to this. We could have won the state, a senior state Congress leader told the newspaper. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday gave credit for it to Prime Minister Narendra Modis poll campaign and said people have immense faith in him. Chouhan credits PM Modi, double-engine Chouhan also said they have properly implemented welfare schemes of the double engine government (of BJP at the Centre and in the state). Double-engine is a term used by the BJP for its governments at the Centre and state level, which party leaders claim brings about development due to better synergy. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji. There is immense faith towards him. He held public meetings here and appealed to the people which has touched the peoples hearts. Such trends are coming as a result of this, Chouhan said. He also said the election campaign got the right direction due to the infalliable strategy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, guidance of BJP chief JP Nadda and other leaders and hard work of the party workers. The MP government implemented schemes like the Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna and works have been done for the welfare of farmers, poor people and youth, which also touched the peoples heart, the CM said. I had said the BJP will get a comfortable majority and we are getting it, Chouhan said. With inputs from agencies While the BJPs thumping victory in Madhya Pradesh may have come as a surprise to many, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wasnt one of them. I had said the BJP will get a comfortable majority and we are getting it, Chouhan said earlier Sunday. Chouhan gave the credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and other BJP party leadership. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji. There is immense faith towards him. He held public meetings here and appealed to the people which has touched the peoples hearts. Such trends are coming as a result of this, Chouhan said. While Chouhan seemed to be downplaying his role in the victory, the 64-year-old has spent the past few months tirelessly campaigning for the polls. Lets take a closer look: A blistering pace As per Indian Express, Chouhan has maintained a blistering pace since January. The incumbent chief minister from 1 January to 15 November when campaigning ended addressed around 1,000 events, as per his team. That works out to approximately three programs per day. Chouhan would begin the day around 8 am and return to his home in Bhopal well after midnight. Then, hed be up by 6 am when it would be time to discuss Assembly seats till 8 am. Prior to elections being announced, Chouhan at spoke 53 women-only rallies in 53 districts. After 9 October, when the model code of conduct took effect, Chouhan upped the ante considerably speaking at 165 rallies in around three dozen days. As per the newspaper, Chouhan stepped into the spotlight in a manner few have done before since the ascent of Modi. Meanwhile, Chouhans rivals in the Congress Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh simply could not keep up with his verve. Kamal Nath looked like he had set the pace with his high-visibility campaign, but towards the end, the duo of Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh appeared to have lost steam. While Chouhan was everywhere meeting people, Kamal Nath was more visible heli-hopping for brief visits and giving interviews, the newspaper noted. Will Chouhan return as CM? That appears to be the question. An article in The Times of India noted that the massive BJP win in Madhya Pradesh solidifies Chouhans claim to the CMs chair or at least leaves him in pole position to do so. If he again becomes the chief minister, he will be set to surpass Pawan Chamling of Sikkim, Jyoti Basu of West Bengal and Navin Patnaik of Odisha as the longest-serving CM of India, the piece noted. A piece in ETVBharat noted that Chouhan kept his flock together and safeguarded that his party members. Chouhan travelled to the far-flung corners of Madhya Pradesh and also stumped for his party candidates, the piece added. It noted that Chouhan is now the firm favourite to return as chief minister. A piece in Deccan Herald noted that Chouhan at public events repeatedly polled the public, particularly women voters, if he ought to become the chief minister again. Political observers believe that the messaging by Chouhan was to alarm party high command that you cannot write him off so easily. Now, with this handsome victory, Chouhan has further insulated his position, the piece stated. Chouhan himself remained humble in victory. He said the party properly implemented welfare schemes of the double engine government (of BJP at the Centre and in the state). He also said the election campaign got the right direction due to the infalliable strategy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, guidance of BJP chief JP Nadda and other leaders and hard work of the party workers. The MP government implemented schemes like the Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna and works have been done for the welfare of farmers, poor people and youth, which also touched the peoples heart, the CM said. Party leaders praise PM, Chouhan Party leaders said an effective booth-level strategy, strong organisational manoeuvre and the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan are among the key factors that turned the tide in favour of the BJP in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls. Popularly known as Mama (maternal uncle), Chouhan is hugely popular among the masses, especially women and youngsters, while the MP ke man mein Modi (Modi in the mind of MP) campaign also helped consolidate the support for the BJP in the state, party leaders said. One of the challenges that the saffron party faced in the run-up to the election was internal factionalism and de-motivated workers. The task was to get everyone working together at the organisational level for the ultimate cause of bringing the BJP back to power in the state, sources in the party said. The leaders drafted in for the state by the central leadership played a crucial role in bringing together the various groups within the party and motivating the workers with their exceptional organisational skills, a source said. The sources said the leaders sent by the party high-command devised a strategy of assigning 14 senior leaders to 14 districts, where they interacted with the local functionaries as well as the elected representatives of the municipal corporations and panchayats. They organised more than 50 meetings, in which Chouhan listened to the grievances and suggestions of the party workers. The sources said the BJP leaders simple and straightforward behaviour as well as constituency visits and the stay of senior leaders in the state played a big role in strengthening the mutual trust and coordination among the workers up to the booth level. An effective poll strategy and campaigns by Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J P Nadda and other leaders created a wave in favour of the party, they added. The Mera Booth Sabse Majboot campaign launched by Modi in Bhopal with an eye on the Assembly polls in five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha election, helped the party strengthen its organisation at the booth level, the sources said. Another factor that contributed to the partys grand success in the Madhya Pradesh polls was Chouhans charisma. While the announcement of the Ladli Behna scheme by the chief minister ahead of the polls helped the BJP consolidate women votes, the sustained campaigns of the party highlighting its double-engine governments achievements in Madhya Pradesh served as an effective counter to the Congresss poll pitch, the sources added. With inputs from agencies The Congress has lost two states Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, with Telangana emerging as its sole consolation. The revolving door policy of the desert state is set to oust Ashok Gehlot from power and mark the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) return. The saffron party has crossed the halfway mark of 101 out of the 199 constituencies that voted on 25 November in the state. The BJP has secured 49 seats and is leading in 66 seats, while the Congress has won 23 seats and is ahead in 46 seats, according to the trends at 4.50 pm on Sunday (3 December). What does Congress drubbing in Rajasthan mean for its key leaders in the state Gehlot and his former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot? Lets take a closer look. How Congress bigwigs performed The results may not be shocking for the Congress as several exit polls had indicated its defeat in Rajasthan. The party has secured 39.49 per cent vote shares as compared to the BJPs 41.83 per cent, as per the latest trends. The incumbent CM Ashok Gehlot is set to win from his Sardarpura constituency by a margin of over 26,000 votes against the BJPs candidate Dr Mahendra Rathore. Pilot has trounced BJPs Ajit Singh Mehta from the Tonk constituency by a margin of more than 29,000 votes. CP Joshi, Congress candidate from Nathdwara, has lost to BJPs Vishwaraj Singh Mewar by 7504 votes. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra is winning from the Lachhmangarh seat by a margin of over 16,000 votes against the BJPs Subhash Maharia. Gehlot-Pilot tussle Gehlot, the son of a magician, has held the chief minister post in the state three times though never in a row, noted Indian Express. When the Congress came to power in Rajasthan in 2018, Pilot was the state unit party chief. However, the party chose the veteran leader for the top job and Pilot was made his deputy. The rift between the two leaders often took centre stage during Gehlots tenure. When their strife was at its peak, Gehlot had called his former deputy CM nikamma (useless) and even a gaddar (traitor). Pilot, who aimed for the CM post, had rebelled against the Gehlot government in 2020, claiming the support of 30 MLAs in a 200 members Assembly. While Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had managed to save the state government, the revolt had cost Pilot his deputy CM post and his role as the president of the Rajasthan Congress. Last September, Gehlot was successful in sticking to his CM chair after the Congress high command tried to replace him with Pilot and move the 72-year-old to national politics. Over 80 MLAs from the Gehlot camp had threatened to resign, forcing the party to keep Gehlot in Rajasthan rather than making him the Congress president. The public feud between the took a backseat in the run-up to the elections, with the Congress trying to present a united front. However, it is believed that their tussle impacted Congress strength in Rajasthan. ALSO READ: Will it be Vasundhara Raje again? Who will be Rajasthan CM as BJP is set for a win? Whats next for the two leaders? As Gehlot and Pilot put their differences aside for the elections, the incumbent Rajasthan CM put his bet on his governments welfare initiatives, including the health insurance scheme, to win the desert state again. Gehlot, who helmed the Congress campaign in the state, sought to achieve what had not happened in nearly three decades the incumbent returning to power. It was his face on posters and banners publicising the governments welfare schemes, with other state leaders getting a space only on the eve of the elections, noted The Week magazine. According to News18, Gehlot could consider a national role after the loss in Rajasthan. However, the veteran leader had told The Wire ahead of the elections, I want to dedicate my life to the people of Rajasthan till my last breath. It remains to be seen if Gehlot will change his mind after the Congress drubbing. He may attribute the loss to the internal rift within the party, as an article in ThePrint had mentioned earlier this year. Experts believe Pilot is likely to benefit in this situation as Congress reflects on why it lost three major states in the Hindi belt. He may get more responsibility if the state unit undergoes a leadership change. While the Congress tally in Rajasthan has some amount of respectability and suggests a strong fight put up by the incumbent in the face of the tradition of the state voting out the incumbent, the defeat is expected to strengthen voices of opposition against Gehlot within the party. Demands are likely to be made for a change in the leadership in the state and the party high command would now be expected to bring about a generational change in the state, according to The Week. With inputs from agencies Rajasthan has stuck to its revolving door tradition. The Congress has been voted out and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has registered a convincing victory, bagging 115 of the 199 Assembly seats. Now comes the next big challenge picking a chief minister for the desert state. Vasundhara Raje is by far the states tallest leader. She has held the position of chief minister two times before. Will she be third time lucky? Or will the party pick a different leader? A name doing the rounds is that of another royal Diya Kumari. We take a look at where the two women stand as the BJP celebrates its big win. Also read: Raje, Gehlot, Baghel and more The big winners and losers of the Assembly elections Who is Diya Kumari? Princess Diya Kumari is a BJP leader and a member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. She is the granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Jaipur, and the daughter of Sawai Bhawani Singh, who earned distinction in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war as a lieutenant colonel and the commanding officer of the Para Commandos of the 10th Parachute Regiment. On Sunday, the Rajsamand MP registered a thumping victory from the Vidhyadhar Nagar seat. She won by a margin of 71,368 votes defeating Congress candidate Sitaram Agarwal. In the polls this year, she was portrayed as the daughter of Jaipur and the princess who walks on the streets. This is the second time that Kumari has emerged victorious in the Assembly polls. She first became an MLA in 2013 from Sawai Madhopur. In the 2019 parliamentary polls, she was sent to the Lok Sabha by the voters of Rajsamand. She was elected MP with one of the biggest victory margins of 5.51 lakh votes. The 52-year-old has over the years grown in stature. She has rooted for the environment, education, healthcare, and womens empowerment. She was elected to serve as a member of the governments National Tiger Conservation in 2019. Now as the buzz around the next Rajasthan chief minister grows, her name has been doing the rounds. While Kumari has said the party leadership would decide on the CMs post, she did not shy away from making her ambition clear. It is the love of the people who want to see me as CM of Rajasthan. The parliamentary board will take a call on who will be CM, she was quoted as saying by India Today. #WATCH | Rajasthan BJP MLA candidate Diya Kumari, in Jaipur says, The credit for this win goes to PM Modi, Amit Shah ji, JP Nadda ji, state leaders and party workers. Modi jis magic worked in Rajasthan and also MP & ChhattisgarhWe will ensure good governance and development pic.twitter.com/3stn8l8Vj1 ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 What are Rajes chances of becoming CM? Seventy-year-old Raje has been sidelined by the party for the last five years. The BJP did not project any CM face during the campaigning even though Raje has a massive following. However, the veteran leader has her eyes on the top post and has sent out several signals to the leadership in Delhi. Now, she has bagged the Jhalrapatan Assembly seat by thumping 53,193 votes beating Congress Ram Lal Chouhan. Raje has been winning the seat since 2023 and her victory only reiterates how relevant she is to the state. Raje loyalists were demanding that she should be the partys face in Rajasthan polls. An outfit like Vasundhara Raje Samarthak Manch was also launched all signs that she is still influential in the state BJP. In meetings held in Rajasthan, party president J P Nadda has often acknowledged Rajes stature, highlighting the achievements of her previous two governments, according to a report in The Indian Express. Also read: Will it be Vasundhara Raje again? Who will be Rajasthan CM as BJP is set for a win? During the elections, Raje campaigned across the state extensively. She also attended religious yatras in large numbers. Considered a moderate among BJP leaders, she has earlier steered clear of talking about religion and focused on development. And over the years, is said to have drifted from the top leadership in New Delhi. But during the campaign for the 2023 Assembly elections, she adopted a different tone. She hit out at the Gehlot government, accusing it of appeasement politics. Raje has also been doing the rounds of temples since the voting got over on 25 November. This is a victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Sabka saath sabka vikas philosophy, the strategy of Amit Shah and the leadership of JP Nadda, of the hard work of our party workers and the will of the people, who will give a chance to the prime minister to serve them again, she told the media. In the Hindi heartland states, the BJP fought the elections under the banner of PM Modi. It has worked well and the party scored 3/3, winning in Rajasthan, retaining power in Madhya Pradesh, and flipping Chhattisgarh. Raje has played by the rule book. But now she is up against other CM contenders Rajasthan has probably the most number of hopefuls. Diya Kumari is one among the many. The other names include Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat, state BJP chief CP Joshi, and Rajasthans Yogi, Baba Balak Nath. There is buzz that Raje may have to sit out this term. However, this is politics and nothing is set in stone. With inputs from agencies Its counting day. As early leads start to pour in for the four states which voted last month, its a test of nerves in Rajasthan. The desert state has a political history of picking alternate parties its called the revolving door policy. The question that everyone is asking is if Congress Ashokh Gehlot will be able to break the incumbent jinx. The counting of votes for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly began at 8 am Sunday. Assembly Elections 2023 Results LIVE: BJP comfortably leads in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, MP; Congress leads in Telangana What is the revolving door policy? The state has been ruled by no other party than the Congress and BJP. Janata Dal was in power in the state when the BJP was part of it. Since 1993, when BJPs Bhairon Singh Shekhawat returned as chief minister, the power in the state has switched between Congress and BJP. Voters in the state have not elected the same party for two terms in a row for decades now. This is the biggest challenge for Congress and the biggest advantage for the BJP. Since 1998, elections have been dominated by Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje Scindia they have been winning the top post alternatively. Gehlot has been the face of the Grand Old Party and faced his biggest challenge from within the party by his former deputy Ashok Gehlot. Raje, who assumed office in 2003, remains the tallest leader of the BJP in the state. However, over the past five years, she has been systematically sidelined. Also read: Who is winning, who is losing in Rajatshan? What happened in the 2018 and 2013 Rajasthan Assembly elections? In 2018, Rajasthan stuck to its political tradition of voting the incumbent out. Congress emerged as the largest party in the state with 100 seats, short of the majority by one seat. The BJP, which was in power, won 73 seats, much lower compared to the previous election, in which it won an absolute majority of 163 seats. The Congress formed the government with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which had six MLAs, and Ashok Gehlot took over as the chief minister. In the 2013 elections, BJP defeated the Congress. It won a record 163 seats in the 200-member assembly. This was the best performance of the party in the state. What do early leads say about Rajasthan? There are 200 seats in the Rajasthan Assembly and polling was held in 199 seats, as the election in Karanpur constituency was adjourned due to the death of a Congress candidate. The halfway mark is 100. The saffron party hopes to consolidate the anti-incumbency sentiment this year. Early trends show the BJP leading in the state with the Congress lagging. The Election Commission of India website shows the BJP leading in 109 seats and the Congress in 72. According to CNN-News18, the BJP has crossed the halfway mark, leading in 109 seats with the Congress in 74. However, these are trends and are likely to change as counting progresses. Who are the big players in Rajasthan? Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot are the big names in Congress. The two have been engaged in a power tussle but the feud has been on the backburn for weeks leading to the elections. They appear united for now for the cause of the party. Early trends show Gehlot leading in the Sardarupur constituency and Pilot trailing in Tonk. Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra is trailing from Lachhmangarh Constituency. In the BJP, the big names former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Raje, fighting from Jhalrapatan is leading while Rathore is trailing for Jhotwara. These trends are also likely to change. BJPs Mahant Balak Nath, called the Yogi of Rajasthan is trailing from from Tijara, according to early trends. Diya Kumari, often dubbed as the new royal who may replace Raje, is also trailing, from Vidhyadhar Nagar. #WATCH | Rajasthan BJP cadre celebrate partys lead in state elections, in Jaipur pic.twitter.com/WzqB4lVrZe ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 What did exit polls predict about Rajasthan? Exit polls gave the BJP had edge over the Congress in Rajasthan. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat survey has anticipated a maximum of 110 seats for the saffron party, while the Congress could win between 90 to 100 seats. With anywhere between 94 to 114 seats, ABP News-C Voter predicts a clear majority for the BJP, with Congress winning between 71 to 91 seats. Jan Ki Baat has given an upper margin to the BJP of 122 seats while reducing the Grand Old Party to 62-85 seats. The exit poll results of Dainik Bhaskar point to a close contest between the Congress and the BJP, predicting 85-95 seats for the former and 98-105 seats for the saffron party. It is only the India Today-Axis My India exit poll that indicated a victory for the Congress with a maximum of 106 seats. The saffron party could get anywhere between 80-100 seats, the exit poll says. Who will be Rajasthan CM if the BJP wins? Former CM Rajes name takes centre stage as the possibility of BJPs win is discussed. Will she secure the CMs seat for the third time? Political experts say that if the saffron party comfortably crosses the majority, it could be the end of Rajes chief ministerial aspirations. However, if the BJP wins 90 and the 199 seats and Raje loyalists from the party and Independents secure big victories, she could be in a stronger position to make her demand. She could argue that she could play a pivotal role in government formation with the help of MLAs in her camp and Independents. The BJP, so far, has not committed to who the CM could be. Rajes colleague Rathore was confident that his party would win in the state. He said that the fight was between the massive governance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the misgovernance of Congress. When asked about the CM if the party wins, he told NDTV that the leadership would announce once the results were out. Everything comes at the right time. Once the results are out, the party leadership will decide. It is a team effort, a collective effort, somebody will lead. Party will decide at the right time, he was quoted as saying by the news channel. With inputs from agencies Indias youngest state, Telangana, is poised for a change in power. The Congress in on the path to success it has secured wins in 64 seats unseating the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). While many will credit the partys win to Revanth Reddy, theres been another quiet force who has been working in the background ensuring that the partys fortunes turn in the state. That man is none other than the elusive Sunil Kanugolu, the same person responsible for turning the tide for the Congress in the previously-held Karnataka elections. Lets take a better look at who is Kanugolu and how he helped Congress script a victory in Telangana, upsetting K Chandrashekhar Rao and his party, the BRS. Catch all the live updates of the Assembly Election results HERE The personal life of Sunil Kanugolu Very little is known about Kanugolus personal life and that can be attributed to his nature; hes shy, introverted and prefers to stay away from the limelight. Born in Karnatakas Ballari district, he later moved to Chennai and then the United States for his education. It is reported that he studied engineering as an undergraduate and then achieved post graduate degrees. He then returned to Indian in 2009. He has worked as a consultant with McKinsey, which could be blamed for his habit of staying away from the public glare. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has stated that Kanugolu has held the post of director in three companies SR Independent Fisheries Private Limited, SR Naturo Foods Private Limited and Brainstorm Innovation and Research Private Limited (BSIR) all of which have ceased to exist. Hes known notoriously for staying away from the limelight with even one Congress leader telling The Print, He is as elusive as Bagheera (the black panther from Rudyard Kiplings Mowgli stories), and leaves no trail. The one fact, however, that is known about Kanugolu is his love for food. His friends, according to a News18 report, call him a militant meat-eater. From Modi campaign to Congress win Kanugolus start in political strategy began way back with him co-founding the Association of Brilliant Minds, a firm that came up with political strategies for the BJP. He was also a part of Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG), a group brought together by renowned poll strategist, Prashant Kishor, to propel Narendra Modis prime-ministerial campaign in 2014. According to the Indian Express, he closely worked with Amit Shah until February 2018 and helped the party in the Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Karnataka polls. Incidentally, BJPs win in 2018 in the southern state was under his watchful eye. In 2021, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul had a meeting with Kanugolu and employed his company, Mindshare Analytics, services. In May of 2022, then Congress president Sonia Gandhi named Kanugolu a member of the partys 2024 Lok Sabha election task force. Hes also credited with strategising Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir last year. Please also read: Madhya Pradesh Election Results: How the BJP decimated the Congress Will it be Vasundhara Raje again? Who will be Rajasthan CM as BJP is set for a win? Election Results 2023: Whos leading, whos trailing? Chhattisgarh Election Results: As BJP surges, a look at what went so wrong for Congress The Telangana task After being credited with steering the Congress to victory in Karnataka, he was given the uphill battle of securing Telangana for the party. And Kanugolu, it seems was up for the task; he worked tirelessly seven days a week to ensure the partys win in the state. A News18 reported states that he realised that a larger vote share for the BJP would help Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to stay in power and hence, first tried to limit BJPs influence in the state. He was also able to persuade YSRs daughter YS Sharmila not to contest the polls in the state. Sharmila, who was driven by vengeance, realised the value in his argument and decided to drop out of the elections in order to dethrone KCR. An MSN report stated that it was Kanugolus team that was responsible for including five guarantees, known as Abhaya Hastam, which were specifically tailored to Telanganas needs. News reports also state that it was Kanugolus idea to showcase the BRS as having a tacit alliance with the BJP, in order to polarise voters and win them over to the Congress. Interestingly, this was the same tactic that he used in Karnataka, where the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) was branded as the B-team of the BJP. Speaking of the win in Telangana, a senior member of Kanugolus firm told Indian Express, In Telangana, we were given a free hand. We worked on internal surveys and acted accordingly. This is in no way to say that party leaders did not contribute to the victory. They always patiently heard us and heeded to our advice. It seems that in Telangana in the battle of the Ks, the second K Sunil Kanugolu emerged victorious over K Chandrasekhar Rao. With inputs from agencies The counting of votes for Rajasthan Assembly Elections is currently underway. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have been the dominant parties in the desert state every five years since 1993. With 114 seats, the BJP feels more confident about winning the polls in Rajasthan. Speculation about the potential next chief minister is rife in the party circles, since it has fielded many Lok Sabha MPs this election. Here are possible choices. Vasundhara Raje The former two-time CM Vasundhara Raje continues to the BJPs most popular face in the state. However, political experts believe there is little chance she will hold the position a third time if the party wins a clear majority in the 200-member Assembly. If this happens, the high command wont be forced to play along with Raje, considering its tense relationship with her. On the other hand, the party might rely on her leadership to unite its forces if it wins a razor-thin majority in the close race. Even in this scenario, experts believe the leadership is confident about tackling Raje, having managed to run the show in the state without completely isolating her and her supporters. According to Indian Express sources, granting Raje a ticket to Jhalrapatan was a strategy to satisfy her and her supporters while ensuring they remained confined to their constituency, therefore decreasing the likelihood of stirring troubles. This move also signifies that the party feels this pragmatic approach is necessary, considering senior leaders been instructed to provide Raje the respect she deserves but not to take orders from her. If the BJP wins about 90 of the 199 seats, Raje might also be in a position to tell the party that installing her as CM is the only choice. She may contend this with the support of loyal independent MLAs, which could lead to the establishment of a government. Nonetheless, many still view Raje as a leader who defied expectations, lived a public and private life on her own terms, and faced a patriarchal system, as per India Today. She differs from her other party members as she is unwilling to change or give in to changing circumstances. Thus, it remains to be seen how likely is it that the BJPs central leadership will give in to her demands or stick to their firm stance. Other possible choices Experts believe Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat might be the top pick, as he is trusted by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Shekhawat, who rose through the party levels, has overseen several key initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission and partys electioneering in Punjab. However, the BJPs high command may also not consider him as the potential candidate due to his link to the alleged Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam in Rajasthan. The party might also not want to pick another leader from the upper caste, as it already seen in UP (Yogi Adityanath) and Uttarakhand (Pushkar Singh Dhami). BJP Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore and former Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, could also find the Rajput factor going against them. In light of the Oppositions campaign, Mahant Balaknath, the sitting BJP MP from Alwar who is running for the Tijara constituency, has emerged as the dark horse if the OBC factor outweighs other castes. Additionally, he is seen as someone who resembles UP CM Adityanath, both of them belong to religious sect, the Naths. He even brands himself as Rajasthans Yogi. If the BJP continues with its agenda of promoting Hindutva ideology like the one in UP, Balaknath would be a good choice. Moreover, Balaknaths single status could work in his favour considering he would commit his whole life to governance, just like Adityanath. One factor that could go against him is his lack of experience, unlike Adityanath, who served five terms as a Lok Sabha MP prior to becoming a chief minister. Several other names that could take the chief ministerial post include Jaipur royal Diya Kumari who is contesting from Vidyadhar Nagar, Union ministers Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Rajasthan Assembly elections 2023 The results for the state assembly elections this year, coming ahead of the 2024 general elections, are seen as semi-final polls. Most of the exit polls on 30 November predicted a close contest between the Congress and the BJP in Rajasthan Assembly polls this year. However, a decisive victory in favour of the saffron party will ease things for the partys top leadership, especially after recent losses in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. The BJP won 24 of Rajasthans 25 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections, with its ally obtaining the remaining seat. A victory here will bolster the BJPs standing in the northern Vindhyas, as opposed to its essentially nonexistent standing in the southern region following the defeat in Karnataka earlier this year. It would also be major loss for the Congress and Ashok Gehlot, who has been the CM for three times. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami asserted on Sunday that the people of the nation place their trust solely in Modis Guarantee, highlighting the perceived decline of Congress influence in the Hindi heartland states of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh during the 2023 Assembly polls. Taking to X, Uttarakhand CM and BJP leader Pushkar Singh Dhami said that there is only one guarantee that is being trusted across the county. In India, people trust only one guarantee and that is Modis Guarantee, he said. As the vote counting process unfolds, the BJP has established a substantial lead in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, with efforts to seize Chhattisgarh from the Congress. Simultaneously, in Telangana, the Congress is positioned to replace the BRS government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao. Congress appears to be on the brink of losing ground in Rajasthan, following the states cyclic voting pattern. The loss of these three heartland states raises concerns for the Congress, indicating a lack of acceptance for its electoral strategy, particularly the Caste Census. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP has disrupted the Congress momentum, leading in 54 of the 90 assembly seats, while the Congress trails with 35 seats, according to the latest information from the Election Commission. With inputs from ANI The patterns of election results in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh have shocked political analysts and parties alike. The Bharatiya Janata Party is prepared for another term in Madhya Pradesh following an 18-year tenure. The outcomes of these four states state assembly elections are seen as a critical preliminary round ahead of the general elections that will take place in less than six months. On Sunday, the four states started counting votes at eight in the morning. The vote-counting for the 2023 Assembly Elections in Mizoram was originally scheduled for December 3, but it was moved to December 4 instead because Sunday is a special day for the states Christian majority population. In Rajasthans Legislative Assembly, the BJP secured 115 seats. 69 seats were won by Congress. The candidates from Sardarpura and Tonk constituencies, respectively, were Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. The Election Commission reports that former chief minister and prominent BJP leader Vasundhara Raje has won the Jhalrapatan Assembly seat. Eight independent candidates have become victorious in the Rajasthan assembly elections, four of them are BJP rebels. One of them is Chandrabhan Aakya, who ran on his own but was ousted by the BJP in Chittorgarh and replaced by a relative of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. The Rajasthan assembly elections resulted in the defeat of 17 out of the 25 ministers in the Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot, including Govind Ram Meghwal, who also headed the partys campaign committee. Madhya Pradeshs state Assembly elections saw the Bharatiya Janata Party pull off a historic victory, retaining power in the state. The BJP secured 163 members in the 230-member Assembly, while the Congress could only muster 66 seats. Apart from the brief 15-month period during which the Kamal Nath-led administration held power when the Congress took office in 2018, Madhya Pradesh has been a BJP stronghold for the past 20 years. Remarkably, though, four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the BJP has not been formally announced as the partys nominee for president in 2023. Based on data from the Election Commission of India, the BJP has secured its victory in Chattisgarh after securing a majority of 46 seats in the state, following in the footsteps of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Following the crushing defeat of the Congress party in Chhattisgarh, outgoing chief minister Bhupesh Baghel submitted his resignation to the governor. I have tendered my resignation to the Governor. I accept the peoples mandate and we are now in the opposition. We need to introspect the reason for our loss. I want to congratulate BJP, he told the media. In the Telangana Assembly elections, the resurgent Congress staged a stunning comeback, taking the lead with 64 out of 119 votes. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of K. Chandrashekar Rao was unable to complete a hat-trick as a result of the results. The Congress faces an increasing challenge ahead of the 2024 elections, as evidenced by the BJPs 3-1 victory in the Assembly elections for four states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. However, the Congress can find some comfort in its victory in the Southern State of Telangana, where it ousted a formidable regional contender, BRS. Pollsters predict the ruling Mizo National Front will win in Mizoram, where the results are expected to be released tomorrow. The Congress is expected to come in second. It has historically been challenging for the Congress to remove regional parties that it has lost elections to. In Tamil Nadu since 1967, in Uttar Pradesh since 1989, in Bihar since 1990, and in Odisha since 2000, there hasnt been a Congress government. In Sircilla segment, BRS working president K T Rama Rao is leading by more than 204 votes over his nearest Congress rival KK Mahender Reddy after the first round of counting was completed. Two hours into the counting of votes for the Telangana Assembly elections, the Congress is maintaining its lead on 70 seats, surging ahead of the ruling BRS as it gains on 37 seats. The BJP and AIMIM are trailing with leads in 8 and 3 seats. The majority mark in the 119-seat Telangana Legislative Assembly is 60. Two of Congresss three chief ministerial frontrunners are trailing from their respective constituencies. Revanth Reddy is trailing in both Kamareddy and Kodangal, while Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu is trailing in Madhira. But Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, a former Naxalist, is leading from Mulug. In the high-voltage polls in the southern state on November 30, founding father K Chandrasekhar Raos Bharat Rashtra Samithi is banking on its social welfare programmes to stay on top while the Congress is aiming for a repeat of its electoral success in neighbouring Karnataka. The BJP, on the other hand, is hoping to make inroads into the state to expand its reach in South India. In the 119-seat Telangana Assembly, the parties will need to reach the magic number of 60 to form a government. In a seat-sharing agreement, the BJP and Jana Sena contested on 111 and 8 seats, respectively while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI. Most exit polls have given Congress the edge, predicting a victory on more than 60 seats with BRS taking the second place, winning over 40 seats and the BJP trailing behind, registering a win on only 7 seats. I think Congress defeating a regional party like BRS is huge. Thats the big headline. In Chhattisgarh, our showing despite BJP trying every dirty trick is big. In Rajasthan, this is our best performance, said Supriya Shrinate, Congress spokesperson as counting in all the five states which went to polls last month progressed. Chhattisgarh Assembly Election Results 2023: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in 57 of 90 assembly seats while the Congress is ahead in 31 seats as per the latest trends. Counting of votes in elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly got underway Sunday morning, with security personnel maintaining a strict vigil in counting centres in the states 33 districts, including those affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), a poll official said. As per early trends, it seems a close fight between BJP-Congress. The elections were held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Voter turnout stood at 76.31 per cent, which was slightly lower than the 76.88 per cent recorded in the 2018 polls. Counting of votes for all the 90 seats started at 8 am in 33 district headquarters. A three-layer security mechanism is in place at each counting centre, Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Kangale said. The Congress party aims to retain power in the state in the state. However, the BJP has deployed various strategies, including leveraging the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an attempt to stage a comeback. Although the likely contenders for the Chief Minister position from Congress and BJP are Bhupesh Baghel and Raman Singh, respectively, official announcements from either party are yet to be made. Key candidates in Chhattisgarh include Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, contesting from his hometown Patan; former Chief Minister Raman Singh, running from Rajnandgaon; Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo, in the fray from Ambikapur; and BJPs Vijay Baghel, challenging Bhupesh Baghel in Patan. In December 2018, the state witnessed the election of its first non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in 15 years. The Congress secured 68 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the BJP, which had been in power since the first assembly election in December 2003 under Raman Singhs leadership, was reduced to just 15 seats. As reports of Congress workers demanding ban on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) emerged after the party suffered a routing in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, BJP leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that it is unfortunate that Congress is so devoid of agenda and is identifying as bad losers once again. #WATCH | On BJPs lead in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Union Minister and party leader Piyush Goyal says, people of four elections of the state have given their blessings to Prime Minister Modi. If you look at it closely, this is not an ordinary win. In Madhya pic.twitter.com/H6GXZP91ZU ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Speaking to ANI news agency, Goyal said, It is unfortunate that Congress is so devoid of agenda and is identifying as bad losers once again Indias political and election system is famous across the world but it seems Congress doesnt want India to move forward. It (Congs EVM allegation) is just a matter of joke among the public. According to an India Today report, slogans such as EVM Ban Karo and placards demanding the banning of the EVMs were seen inside the Congress headquarters. In one of the videos, members of the Rahul-Priyanka Gandhi Sena members were seen holding banners seeking a ban on the voting machines, added the report. Goyal said that people of four states that went to the polls have given their blessings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If you look at it closely, this is not an ordinary win. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP received a historic lead. In Rajasthan, all trends were left behind and BJP won with an absolute majority. We were written off in Chhattisgarh but we BJP registered a fabulous victory thereIn Telangana, BJP won just one seat last time. But going from there to double digits makes it clear that the faith of people in PM Modi is increasing day after day, said the Union Minister. According to News 18, as of 2 pm, BJP is leading on 158 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 115 in Rajasthan and 55 in Chhattisgarh. In Telangana, Congress is leading in 64 seats, and BJP in 9 seats. With inputs from agencies Counting of votes polled in the November 30 Telangana assembly elections began at 8.00 am on Sunday. Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were taken out from the well-protected strong rooms and placed at the counting centres where police have deployed a 3-tier security ring to prevent any unexpected incident. Every counting centre has 14 tables except for six constituencies where the number of polling stations is more than 500, and at such places 28 counting tables will be used. At 8.00 am, postal ballots were taken up first for counting. After 30 minutes, counting of votes stored in EVMs follows, officials said. A voter turnout of 71.34 per cent of the eligible 3.26 crore electors was logged in elections to the 119-member Legislative Assembly on November 30 which passed off peacefully, apart from a few minor incidents. A clear picture on whether the voters gave a thumbs up to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS regime for a third term or prefer the six guarantees of the Congress or want the BJPs BC chief minister, will emerge by afternoon. Whether there is a fractured mandate for the assembly will also be known by around that time. As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray in the elections, including BRS chief KCR, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao. KTR said in a post on X, Hattrick loading 3.0. Get ready to celebrate guys, indicating BRS will triumph again. The BRS fielded candidates in all 119 seats. The BJP and Jana Sena contested in 111 and 8 seats respectively in a pre-poll pact while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI and fought from 118. Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city. CM KCR contested from two segments-Gajwel and Kamareddy- so did Revanth Reddy, from Kodangal and Kamareddy. The BJP fielded its MLA, Etala Rajender, from Gajwel, besides Huzurabad, where he is the incumbent legislator. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) announced on Sunday that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has sent out 21 teams for rescue and relief operations in anticipation of Cyclone Michaung, which is predicted to make landfall on the west-central Bay of Bengal off the coasts of south Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring north Tamil Nadu by December 4 forenoon. The inputs were presented earlier on Sunday at the second NCMC meeting, which was chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba. Reviewing state governments and federal ministries and departments readiness for the approaching cyclone Michaung in the Bay of Bengal was the purpose of the conference. The committee was briefed by the Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on the current state of cyclonic storm Michaung. The cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of nine kmph during the past six hours and lay centred at 4.30 pm on Sunday over the same region near latitude 11.8 degrees North and longitude 82.2 degrees East, about 260 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 250 km southeast of Chennai, 380 km south-southeast of Nellore, 490 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 500 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, IMD Director General informed the NCMC. Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Puducherry and Special Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Andhra Pradesh apprised the committee of the preparatory measures being taken. The committee was informed that low-lying areas have been identified and evacuation of people to relief centers has started. Alerts are being issued in local languages through SMS and weather bulletins. Fishermen and vessels at sea have returned to safety. Essential commodities have been stocked. The local administration has deployed a sufficient number of officials for 24/7 supervision and monitoring of the situation, mentioned the statement. The NDRF has deployed 21 teams in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry and eight additional teams have been kept in reserve. Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircraft have been kept on standby, it further said. Reviewing preparedness measures of the central agencies and governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Puducherry, the Cabinet Secretary stressed that all preventive and precautionary measures should be taken. He said that the aim should be to avoid any loss of life and minimize property damage. Evacuation should be completed timely. He also directed that timely alerts should be sent in local languages, pointed out the statement. The Cabinet Secretary directed the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Indian Coast Guard that all boats/ vessels and manpower deployed at offshore installations should be moved to risk-free areas immediately. He assured the Governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Puducherry that a sufficient number of NDRF teams shall be deployed as per requirement and all Central agencies are available for any assistance. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Puducherry, the Special Chief Secretary, of Revenue and Disaster Management, Andhra Pradesh, the Union Home Secretary, Secretary, of the Department of Fisheries, the Secretary, of the Ministry of Power, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Additional Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Member Secretary NDMA, DG IMD, DG Coast Guard, CISC IDS, IG NDRF and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The first NCMC meeting was conducted on December 1. (With agency inputs) ? Tras lamentar los hechos en Pataz, La Libertad, la presidenta de la republica, Dina Boluarte, se pronuncio y asevero que la @PoliciaPeru ya tomo control de la zona. ? La mandataria indico que la mineria ilegal le hace dano a la patria, no solo porque estan armados, sino pic.twitter.com/a6AMVlYfYf The Congress has surged ahead in Telangana where votes are being counted today for the 119 assembly seats. According to early trends of the Telangana assembly poll results, the Congress is leading on 63 seats, three more than majority, while the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) is ahead on 25 seats. If the trend continues, this will be the first time that Indias youngest state sees another party at the helm. The BRS has been in power since the states birth in 2014. The ruling BRS was trailing behind its main challenger, the trends indicated. Counting of votes in elections to the 119-member Telangana assembly started at 8 am on Sunday, amid tight security at counting centres in the state. Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal Jain told the media that her party is very sure about winning. We are confident that we will form the government, she said, about all four states that have results due today. On sending feelers to rebels and leaders from other parties, she said the Congress is not planning any operation like Operation Kamala. If people and other parties want to join, they are welcome. We are not going to poach, thats not how Congress works, she said. Anti-incumbency has been building up against the ruling party in Telangana and it was banking on welfare measures, including the Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima schemes for farmers, Dalit and BC Bandhu schemes for the deprived classes and the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to give housing to the poor. The exit polls have predicted a narrow victory for Congress, which is predicted to win 62 seats, while the BRS may be reduced to 44 seats. The states turnout in the November 30 election was 71.34%, two percentage points less than in 2018. In the 2018 elections, the TRS emerged victorious by capturing 88 seats. The Congress secured the second position with 19 seats, while the Telugu Desam Party managed to win only two seats. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed seven seats, while the BJP managed to win only one. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) edges towards victory in Rajasthan in the early trends, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, BJP will win with a huge majority in Rajasthan. Jadugar ka jadoo khatam ho gaya hai. In MP, the BJP will form govt with a 2/3 majority. In Chhattisgarh, the party will form the govt, he added. #WATCH | Union minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says, BJP will win with a huge majority in Rajasthan. Jadugar ka jadoo khatam ho gaya hai. In MP, the BJP will form govt with a 2/3 majority. In Chhattisgarh, the party will form the govt. pic.twitter.com/G2kO36kHlu ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 As per the Election Commission of India latest trends, BJP is leading to majority mark in the state. With BJP leading in MP and Rajasthan, party leader Jaiveer Shergill said, BJP will win 3-0 in this assembly elections. The partys vijay rath will come to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In Telangana, if not this time, BJP will fly its flag high in the state the next time. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is leading from Jhalrapatan. Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan is leading from Sardarpura constituency. Sardarpura is on the list of key constituencies as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has won this seat since 1998. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Mahendra Singh Rathore from the Congress bastion. Rajasthan went to the polls on 199 of 200 assembly seats on November 25. The majority mark in the state is 100. Meanwhile, BJP has taken a comfortable lead in Madhya Pradesh as per the latest trends of the Election Commission of India. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said that he is confident that his party- Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Madhya Pradesh with an absolute majority. We knew that as far as Madhya Pradesh is concerned, given the public welfare schemes of our double engine government peoples blessings will be with us I am confident that their blessings will be with the BJP and we will form the government with absolute majority, Scindia said while speaking to the reporters. The BJP fought the poll under a largely collective leadership while Congress projected former Chief Minister Kamal Nath as its chief ministerial face. Nath has been the MP Congress Committee (MPCC) president for several years. He has represented the Chhindwara parliamentary seat for nine terms since 1980, becoming one of the longest-serving MPs in the country. With inputs from ANI Counting votes in elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly began Sunday morning. A senior poll official said the counting process began at 8 am and postal ballots will be counted for the first half an hour. Madhya Pradesh election which witnessed intense campaigning from prominent leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the principal opposition Congress, may be closely contested as the counting of votes started at 8 am today. The Congress aspires to regain power in the central state, capitalising on the perceived anti-incumbency against the BJP, which has been in control since 2003, except for 15 months from December 2018 to March 2020. Polling in the single-phase elections on November 17 saw an impressive turnout of 77.82 per cent, surpassing the 2018 voting percentage of 75.63 per cent, state Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said. In last months elections, 77.15 per cent polling was recorded through the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the remaining through postal ballots, he said. The ruling BJP, in power in the state for most of the last two decades, is facing a challenge from the Congress. Most exit polls havent indicated a clear winner. The state electorate voted for 2,533 candidates in 230 constituencies. There were 5.59 lakh eligible voters. The counting of votes for all assembly seats began at 8 am at 52 district headquarters amid tight security. Altogether 692 tables have been placed for the counting of postal ballots in all districts, while 4,369 tables have been set up to place the EVMs, Rajan said. Rajan said postal ballots will be counted between 8 am and 8.30 am, after which the counting of votes through EVMs will begin in the presence of officials and political parties authorised agents. Soon after the postal ballots are counted, its result will be declared candidate-wise by the officials concerned and the exercise will be followed after the completion of each round of counting, he said. At 26, Jhabua seat will see the highest number of counting rounds, while the lowest number of 12 rounds will be held in Sevda constituency in Datia district, he said. The government has declared the day of counting a dry day, during which all wine and liquor shops shall remain closed. A three-tier security arrangement is in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, he said. With inputs from PTI. As the BJP is poised to clean sweep the three states in the Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the election results have proved that the days of appeasement and caste politics are over and politics of performance is what India votes for. Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweets Todays election results have proved that the days of appeasement and caste politics are overNew India votes on Politics of Performance. I salute the people of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan for this immense support. Many pic.twitter.com/VMNVKPwEyb ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Taking to X, Shah also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on BJPs grand victory. Todays election results have proved that the days of appeasement and caste politics are overNew India votes on Politics of Performance. I salute the people of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan for this immense support. Many congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji on this grand victory of BJP, wrote Shah in Hindi. Shah also posted separate posts for the people of the four states Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana thanking them for their tremendous support. According to News 18, as of 5:15 pm, BJP is leading with 166 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 114 in Rajasthan, 54 in Chhattisgarh. Congress is leading with 66 seats in Telangana, while BJP is ahead in 9 seats. With inputs from agencies As BJP crosses the halfway mark and leads on 133 seats in the state as per official EC trends, Madhya Pradesh BJP president VD Sharma on Sunday said that the drive Madhya Pradesh ke mann mein Modi aur Modi ke mann mein Madhya Pradesh blessed the party with the comprehensive mandate. #WATCH | #MadhyaPradeshElections2023 | As BJP crosses the halfway mark and leads on 133 seats in the state as per official EC trends, Madhya Pradesh BJP president VD Sharma says, We had said Madhya Pradesh ke mann mein Modi aur Modi ke mann mein Madhya Pradesh people blessed pic.twitter.com/EWl9zYkijP ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Addressing the reporters on Sunday, Sharma said, We had said Madhya Pradesh ke mann mein Modi aur Modi ke mann mein Madhya Pradesh people blessed this driveI am proud that with the work of booth-level workers of the BJP, we are fulfilling the resolution of 51% voting in every booth. I am proud of BJP workers, people have blessed PM Modi. Counting of votes in elections to the 230-member state assembly held on 17 November, began at 8 am on Sunday, a poll official said. Postal ballots were counted between 8 am and 8.30 am, after which the counting of votes through EVMs began in the presence of officials and political parties authorised agents, he said. Polling in the single-phase elections in the state saw an impressive turnout of 77.82 per cent, surpassing the 2018 voting percentage of 75.63 per cent, state Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said. In last months elections, 77.15 per cent polling was recorded through the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the remaining through postal ballots, he said. The ruling BJP, in power in the state for most of the last two decades, is facing a challenge from the Congress. Most exit polls havent indicated a clear winner. The state electorate voted for 2,533 candidates in 230 constituencies. There were 5.59 lakh eligible voters. With inputs from agencies As the Telangana vote count advances, the official data from the Election Commission of India till afternoon showed Congress crossing the majority mark of 60 with over 61-seats lead while the BRS, the party in power since 10 years trailing second at 36-seat lead followed by the BJP at 10-seat lead, and the CPI with one seat lead. With KCR serving as its chief minister, BRS has ruled the Telangana State since its establishment in 2014. After the early trends showed victory for Congres, the Congress supporters in Hyderabad were observed waving banners and bursting off firecrackers outside the home of state party chief Revanth Reddy. After the first round of counting, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was more than 2,000 votes behind state Congress president A Revanth Reddy from Kamareddy. While Revanth Reddy, the chief of the State Congress, was observed leading from his Kodangal seat. According to the results of the first round of counting, other prominent contenders from Congress like Gaddam Vinod was leading from Bellampalli, and Murali Naik Bhukya was leading from Mahabubabad. BJP MP K Laxman discussed the trends, saying that people in Telangana were wanting a change. The three main issues that affected people were appeasement politics, dynasty politics, and BRS corruption. Congress is leading in a number of areas according to the first count. However, I think the BJP will be significant. While applauding the Congress for taking an early lead in Telangana, BRS MP K. Keshava Rao stated that the party is fighting a solitary battle and that the BJP and the AIMIM parties will undoubtedly assist BRS if necessary. The Congress will be watching the Telangana election results closely as it prepares for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Gaining ground in Telangana and Karnataka would strengthen its position in the South. As the counting moves forward, the fate of 2,290 candidates from 109 partiesincluding the national and regional partieswill become apparent in Telangana. In total 3.17 crore voters were eligible to cast ballots in order to choose representatives for a 119-member Assembly. Voting in Telangana took place on November 30. In a few hours counting of votes for the Telangana Assembly elections will decide the fate of candidates from the ruling BRS, BJP and Congress in a three-cornered contest in the countrys youngest state. Counting of votes for the Telangana Assembly elections will begin on Sunday to decide whether the founding father of the state Bharat Rashtra Samithis K Chandrasekhar Rao will retain power for a third consecutive term or the reigns of the state will be wrested by the BJP or the Congress. With the BRS banking on its social welfare programmes to retain power, the Congress is looking at repeating its electoral success in neighbouring Karnataka. The BJP, on the other hand, is hoping to make inroads into the state to expand its reach in South India. In the 119-seat Telangana Assembly, the three parties will need to reach the magic number of 60 to form a government. In a pre-poll seat-sharing agreement, the BJP and Jana Sena contested on 111 and 8 seats, respectively while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI. Exit polls have given Congress the edge, predicting a victory on more than 60 seats with BRS taking the second place, winning over 40 seats and the BJP trailing behind, registering a win on only 7 seats. The counting of votes for all five states that went to polls last month is set to begin at 8 am. In the 2018 elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS now Bharat Rashtra Samithi) won by capturing 88 seats. The Congress secured the second position with 19 seats, while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) managed to win only two seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured one seat, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed seven seats and independent candidates secured one seat. The Telangana cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held on December 4, a day after the votes of the assembly elections are counted. Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), his son and party working president KT Rama Rao (KTR), who is also the Minister for IT of Telangana and Telangana Congress chief A Revanth Reddy along with BJP Lok Sabha MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar are some of the candidates in the fray. The Uttar Pradesh government has directed officials to look into the educational qualifications of teachers and other staff and the status of basic facilities available in all state-funded madrassas. Expressing his displeasure against the order, Ifthikar Ahmad Javed, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board, said such inquiries have become a routine process, causing disruptions in the educational activities and functioning of these educational institutions. There is no objection to the probe, but it should be done properly once so that in future the work in madrassas can be focused, he said. The Director of the Minority Welfare Department, J Reebha, in a letter sent on December 1, directed all divisional deputy directors and all district minority welfare officers to ensure the availability of fundamental facilities and competent teachers in Madrasas to ensure quality education for the enrolled students. The letter emphasised the need to develop exploratory, interesting, and scientific perspectives in students and to integrate them into the mainstream. To ensure this, the letter said, there should be a probe into madrassa buildings, basic facilities available there and also the educational records of teaching and non-teaching staff of state-aided madrassas. The letter instructed that the report be submitted to the Registrar of the Madrasa Education Board by completing the probe by December 30. At present, approximately 25,000 recognised and unrecognised madrassas are operational in Uttar Pradesh, out of which 560 receive grants from the state government. The letter also stated that there is still a lack of fundamental facilities in the madrassas in the state, and the students studying there are not receiving quality, scientific and modern education, resulting in a lack of suitable employment opportunities for the students. For conducting the probe, a committee has been formed consisting of the District Minority Welfare Officer and the District Magistrate. In addition, in districts where there are more than 20 madrassas that receive grants from the state government, an additional committee will be formed for speedy completion of this task. When asked about it, UP Madrasa Education Board Chairman Javed said that he was aware of the letter and said any such inquiry would disrupt preparations for upcoming Board examinations. He said that no suggestion or proposal was made in the board meeting held in September regarding this probe and he was not informed before issuing the orders. He said that the government is free to probe government-aided madrassas and added that the probe of madrassas has now become a routine process that affects its functioning. He said that Board examinations are to be held in madrassas in the coming February itself and preparations are being made for the same. In such a situation, another probe will cause disruption in preparations. Last year itself, a survey of all the recognised and unrecognised madrassas of the state was conducted but no action was taken on its report. In such a situation, orders have now been given to start a new probe, he said. The state government conducted a comprehensive check of all recognised and unrecognised madrassas in the state in September last year, wherein approximately 8,000 madrassas were found to be unrecognised in the state. In 2017, a probe was also conducted when all the madrassas of the state were asked to upload the details of teachers and other things on the portal of the Madrasa Board. The educational records of teachers of all recognised madrassas are present in the records of the board, he said. There is no objection to the probe, but it should be done properly once so that in future the work in madrassas can be focused, Javed said. There should be a time for the probe. There should not be any probe in madrassas amid preparation for the exams, he added. After the results of the Assembly polls showed the BJP taking a significant lead in three of the four states, National Conference Vice President and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that we have to congratulate the BJP now because we were not expecting this and specifically praised saffron partys win for the fifth term in Madhya Pradesh. #WATCH | Udhampur, J&K: On BJPs lead in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, National Conference Vice President and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah says, We have to congratulate the BJP now because we were not expecting this. We were hearing that the Congress would easily pic.twitter.com/0ehU818AO6 ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Addressing reporters in J&Ks Udhampur on Sunday, Abdullah said, We have to congratulate the BJP now because we were not expecting this. We were hearing that the Congress would easily win Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh They said that in Rajasthan too they will lead at the end. But after the results, all the claims proved to be baseless. He said that the BJP has been in power for 20 years now and this is not ordinary. In Madhya Pradesh, it has been 20 years (of BJP). It is the 5th term now. This is not ordinary, said Abdullah. He said that the Congress leadership has called for an INDI Alliance meeting on December 6. It is good that they remembered about it again after three months, said Abdullah in an apparent dig at the bloc. According to News 18, as of 4:45 pm, BJP is leading with 166 seats in MP, 114 in Rajasthan and 54 in Chhattisgarh. Congress is leading Telangana with 68 seats. With inputs from agencies As of the writing of this column, the trends across the four states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana for the 2023 assembly elections are crystal clear. The BJP has registered a staggering victory in Madhya Pradesh defying conventional wisdom on incumbency and almost all pre-poll prognostications. The BJPs solid performance in Madhya Pradesh adding seats and vote share sets a new benchmark in Hindi heartland politics with women voters playing a decisive role. The BJPs victory in Rajasthan, while predicted by many, has defied expectations on vote shares with a nearly three percent edge. Chhattisgarh has emerged as the biggest surprise with the BJP taking the state by a substantial number of seats and a significant four percent vote share lead. The lone consolation for the opposition Congress party was Telangana despite an almost even vote share split between the Congress and the BRS-MIM combine. The X-factor in Telangana perhaps was the late surge of the BJP that saw it claim a whopping nearly fourteen percent vote share. The assembly election results carry several implications to the kind of political response the Congress led Opposition has been pursuing to the clear-headed agenda of the Narendra Modi led BJP in recent months. The Congress agenda over the past few state elections has rested on a regressive combination of scorched earth politics and unsustainable entitlement programs. The manner in which the Congress has sought to scorch the political ground becomes clear from the manner in which it has advanced divisive agendas across the country from its destabilising advocacy for a Caste Census to the fictitious narrative of a North-South divide. The suicidal manner in which it has allowed the abuse of Sanatana Dharma to gain currency by both its allies and loose cannons within its own fold is symptomatic of the political desperation of the Congress Party seeking to exploit communal fault-lines and social divisions. Faulty policies If the Congress attempts at stoking divisions were at odds with the national mood, its unsustainable entitlement programs run counter to the economic growth momentum being experienced by the country. From an attempt to return to the old pension scheme to announcing a slew of freebies with the potential to wreck local economies one can already see the costs to governance of the Congress guarantee politics in Karnataka. While its free bus travel announcements met with strong resistance with local transport providers, the emptying of coffers by entitlement programs has dealt a deadly blow to developmental projects. Perhaps the greatest blow from the assembly election results of 2023 would be to the fledgling I.N.D.I.Alliance of the opposition parties. The manner in which the claims of allies were dismissed by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh is a reminder of the historical arrogance of the Congress in managing a coalition. Interestingly there is not a single state where the I.N.D.I. Alliance has the Congress as a dominant or lead partner. In practically all of the states where the opposition alliance is a significant coalition, the Congress is at best a junior partner raising the question on what exactly it brings to the table to allies wary of its historical arrogance. Barring the deep south states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the I.N.D.I. Alliance has no significant role for the Congress with perhaps the exception of Maharashtra which has seen significant political upheaval. With its token presence in the northern states limited to Himachal, having ceded Punjab to the Aam Aadmi Party, the Congress has no bargaining chips across the Hindi heartland raising credible questions on its claims to lead this alliance. Thumbs down to the Nehru-Gandhi familys stewardship The assembly results are also strong thumbs down to the Nehru-Gandhi familys stewardship of the Congress Party with the voters soundly rejecting their campaign of personalized attacks on the Prime Minister Modi and their hypocritical insinuations against Indias leading business houses. At a time when the nation is experiencing significant economic growth and the Prime Minister has spelled out his decadal vision for a developed Bharat by 2047, the Congress lack of a vision for the youth of India and its failure to articulate a progressive narrative of development explain why it find itself so out of tune with the political mood in the heartland of India. PM Modis creative political genius The assembly election results of 2023 have made it loud and clear that while young India seeks a safety net of entitlements it desires so with tall aspirations to climb the ladder of opportunities. Prime Minister Narendra Modis creative political genius has been to cast a wide enough safety net of entitlement programs without in any way compromising on the once in a century economic growth momentum that has seen Bharat carve out a distinctive place for itself in the global order as it looks to emerge as the third largest global economy by the end of the decade. In stark contrast the Congress regressive pursuit of scorched earth politics even at the expense of the national interest has only resulted in misguided ideas such as a Caste Census that will only take the country backwards to the instability of the 1990s. It is to the credit of the wisdom of the Indian voter that progressive ideas have triumphed over regressive guarantees during this last round of assembly elections ahead of the battle for the Lok Sabha in 2024. The results are also a strong referendum for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to present to the nation his proposal for One Nation One Election in the time to come. Masdar, one of the leading renewable energy companies, has signed agreements to collaborate with Indonesias state-owned utility company, PLN, to move ahead with major development plans for Southeast Asias largest floating solar power plant and explore green hydrogen opportunities. The development at the UNs Climate Change Conference COP28 in the UAE builds on years of successful collaboration between Masdar and PLN. The partnership has already resulted in the launch of Southeast Asias largest floating solar power plant, the innovative 145 megawatt (MWac) (192MW peak) Cirata project. Located on the Cirata reservoir in West Java, Indonesia, the plant was inaugurated earlier this month and generates enough renewable energy to power 50,000 homes, while displacing 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The latest agreements were exchanged at COP28 and witnessed by HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste, Abdulla Al Dhaheri. The agreements were signed by Masdars Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of PLN Group, Darmawan Prasodjo, and President Director of PLN NP, Ruly Firmansyah. They included a framework agreement for a joint study into the tripling of Ciratas capacity to up to 500MW. The companies also agreed to explore renewable energy options around the world and the prospect of developing green hydrogen, which has huge potential for decarbonising hard-to-abate industries, including steelmaking, construction, transportation, and aviation. With abundant solar resources, the UAE and Indonesia are in prime position to become green hydrogen production hubs. Both countries have bold net-zero targets which the deepening cooperation between Masdar and PLN will help to support. Masdars Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, said: Masdar looks forward to expanding its pioneering clean energy work with PLN. We were extremely proud to inaugurate the 145MW (192MWp) floating solar power plant with our valued partners earlier this month. The Cirata project shows how innovation can be used to meet multiple needs at once. The plant powers homes, cuts emissions, has created jobs and reduced land use because it is built on water. As the world looks for urgent solutions to the climate crisis at COP28, we need more smart projects like Cirata. With its robust economy and abundant renewable resources, Southeast Asia is a key investment destination for Masdar. Through our deepening cooperation with PLN, we will continue pioneering innovation in solar, green hydrogen and other key areas in support of the regions energy transition. In September, Masdar and PLN signed an agreement to develop Phase II of the Cirata plant to triple capacity by up to 500MW. This came after a recent regulatory change from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Indonesia, which now allows up to 20 per cent of water coverage for renewable energy uses. Built on water, the Cirata plant reduces land use, a key consideration for countries such as Indonesia where land is limited but water abundant. The waters cooling effect can also improve efficiency and the panels reduce evaporation, saving water for drinking and irrigation. In February, Masdar also entered the geothermal market after making a strategic investment in Indonesias Pertamina Geothermal Energy. Indonesia is the worlds second-largest geothermal market. --OGN/ TradeArabia News Service File. People protest against executions and detentions in Iran, in front of the Iranian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York City (AFP via Getty Images) Iran is exploiting the global focus on the conflict in Gaza as a pretext to carry out an unprecedented number of executions since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict on 7 October, human rights groups have alleged. The Iranian government has executed more than 700 in 2023 alone, including 176 people since Israel launched a military offensive on Gaza after the Hamas attack, Iran Human Rights (IHR) said in a report. Raising alarm over the escalating risk faced by political prisoners and protesters in Iran, IHR said executions have spiked since the war in Gaza as 176 have been killed in just 54 days. Two other human rights organisations, Norway-based organisation Hengaw and Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) also confirmed a significant rise in executions in Iran. The IHR called on the Western countries to break their silence on the executions as it is being seen as a green light by Tehran to continue political repression. The international community and especially European countries, must break their silence on the arbitrary execution of more than three people per day by the Islamic Republic, IHR director Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam said. IHR said a record of 707 executions in 2023 alone, including of children and women, was unprecedented in the last eight years. Human rights advocates allege that the Iranian government is exploiting the global focus on the conflict in Gaza as a pretext to retaliate against dissidents, executing individuals without affording them due judicial process. A portrait of Mahsa Amini is held during a rally calling for regime change in Iran following the death of Amini, a young woman who died after being arrested in Tehran (Copyright 2022 the Associated Press. All Rights Reserved) Since the start of the war, there has been little international focus on the human rights situation in Iran, and there has been no substantial response to the significant increase in executions, he added, according to the Guardian. Among those executed in the last two months include a child, 17-year-old Hamidreza Azari, who was accused of murder after he was made to give a forced confession, IHR said. The UN called his execution deplorable. Story continues Iran also executed Milad Zohrevand, 22, who was the eighth protester to be executed linked to Women, Life, Freedom movement for participating in the anti-government protests after Mehsa Aminis death last year. The UN condemned Zohrevands execution and said that available information indicates that his trial lacked the basic requirements for due process under international human rights law. The agency said that it was troubled by the reports that his parents were also arrested following his execution. Tehran also executed Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yaghoubi, the three men who took part in the anti-government protests, after declaring them guilty of waging war against god. Human rights groups accused the police of torturing the three men to force them to give confessions. The Iranian government has not yet responded to the human rights groups reports of an increase in executions since the 7 October Hamas attack. In October this year, the UN said Iran carried out executions at an alarming rate and said 419 people have been killed between January and July this year. It marked a rise of 30 per cent in the same period in 2022. One political activist inside Iran said Tehran is using the silence of the international community to avenge our calls for freedom. We face increasing restrictions due to the dozens of morality police on the streets, and we face harassment or arrests if we even share the news of executions or killings on social media, the activist said. When and where gunpowder first appeared is not quite known, and its history is a subject of ongoing research and debate. There is evidence to suggest that substances resembling gunpowder were known and used in India by the 4th century BC, while clearer accounts emerge around the 4th century CE, it being important to note that historical records from that period are often limited or not well-preserved. Legend has it that gunpowder was developed in China around the Tang and Song dynasties (9th to 11th century CE). Again, there is an absence of facts to this end. Gunpowder appeared in European chronicles a few centuries later and again tradition has it that the knowledge for producing this explosive went from China to Europe through the Silk Route. Gunpowder is a 15:3:2 mixture of three solids, potassium nitrate (or nitre), charcoal and sulfur. Whosoever developed gunpowder must have had access and a working knowledge of their chemistry. China did not have two of the three material prerequisites for this discoverysulfur and potassium nitratewhereas India did. Notably, nitre, the major constituent, was available in the river plains of Bengal. Till recently this substance has even been referred to as Bengal nitre. As for sulfur, it should be noted that it is the only element in the Periodic Table whose name is derived from a Sanskrit word sulvere which means enemy of copper. In summary it is clear that there was adequate scientific knowledge in India to develop chemical agents for warfare. Western scholars have held that a gunpowder-like substance was developed in India in the pre-Christian era while gunpowder as a specific explosive and propellant was developed in China thousand years later. This distinction appears completely specious. What is the difference between a gunpowder-like substance and gunpowder? We are speaking here of a mixture of three simple solids all of which were freely available in ancient India 2000 years ago. What use could there have been for a gunpowder-like substance that was not gunpowder in ancient India if it was not as an explosive and pyrophore? Our ancient texts paint a vivid picture of Indias chemical prowess. The Dhanurveda contains military knowledge dating back to the Vedic period, providing insights into early warfare tactics. The term mantra, as described in the Dhanurveda, suggested that it signified scientific processes rather than being just a mere incantation. The concept of guarding scientific knowledge with supernatural connotations, has echoes in the Franciscan English monk Roger Bacon, who in the 13th century CE, described gunpowder, its constitution, and its connection with alchemy with overtones more spiritual than scientific. Kautilya mentions gunpowder in his Arthashastra (2nd century BC). The evidence for early gunpowder use in India is based on historical texts, such as the Rasaratnakara by Bhoja in 9th century CE and other ancient Indian manuscripts, which describe the use of explosive mixtures. Testimonies from eminent scholars such as Thomas Holland and R. Gustav Oppert provide further support of Indias priority in this field. Hollands research affirmed Indias knowledge of sulfur, while Oppert highlighted Indias role in the development of firearms and gunpowder. As far back as the 13th century CE, a Mongol ambassador to India was greeted with 3,000 celebratory fireworks reminiscent of Indian firework celebrations during Deepavali and Kartika Purnima. China has no definite evidence of using either fire weapons or chemical warfare weapons earlier than the 4th or 5th century CE. No authentic work of an earlier date claims or even hints at weapons for chemical warfare. Coupled with this fact it should be noted that from around the 2nd century BC up to the 10th century A.D, there was considerable travel exchange between China and India. This hints that whatever knowledge of firearms, pyrotechny, and chemical warfare the Chinese had in the post-Christian period might have been obtained from India. It is also apparent that the Arabs acquired knowledge of gunpowder by the 10th century CE or so. Western scholars seem to presume that they got this knowledge from China and three explanations are given for this, namely that they got it from merchants who travelled along the Silk Roads, by observing (unspecified) military encounters in the Eurasian landmass or through cultural exchanges. A simpler explanation as to how Arabs got the knowledge of gunpowder is that they acquired it directly from India. During the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned the 8th to the 13th century CE, there was a flourishing of intellectual and scientific activity in the Islamic world. Many Greek, Persian, and Indian texts (not Chinese texts) were translated into Arabic, and these translations often contained knowledge of various subjects, including alchemical and chemical processes. Its possible that the concept of gunpowder and its components was introduced to the Arab world through these translated texts. According to a paper written in 1798 by M Langles, it is stated that Even Arabs mention that they got gunpowder from India. Alchemists like the famous Abu Sina were commissioned by Mohammed Ghori (10th century CE) to translate Indian scientific texts and it is reported that the former complained that the Hindus were notoriously averse to sharing their knowledge with him! In any event, the widespread prevalence of the use of gunpowder in West Asia and Europe is confirmed by the exertions of Sultan Mehmet II who captured Constantinople in 1453 CE. It is well documented that this successful capture of what was thought to be an impregnable fortress at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, was made possible in large measure by the use of huge cannons made in Hungary. These weapons had a hoary history during the medieval period and were known for their quality and effectiveness in warfare. The famous example used by Mehmet was the Dardanelles Gun, cast in the 15th century, made of bronze and weighing around 16.8 tons, making it one of the largest cannons of its time. Since then gunpowder was an essential explosive used for the firing of guns and cannons in all manner of small and large arms in European warfare right up till World War I which saw the use of huge German guns, the so-called Paris Gun or Big Bertha. A final example is provided from the US when a resourceful emigre entrepreneur from France named Eleuthere Irenee du Pont started a small company in Wilmington, Delaware and sold gunpowder to both sides in the American Civil War in the mid-19th century. Notably, Wilmington was located at the border of the Unionist States and the Confederacy and the logistics of his clever operation must have been uncomplicated. The Du Pont Company went on to become a major chemical manufacturing company in the world and has given us products such as nylon, neoprene, mylar and teflon right down till the mid 20th century. The fascinating narrative of Indias ancient achievements in chemical warfare remains a compelling testament to the subcontinents rich heritage. The evidence strongly suggests that India played a pivotal role in the origins of gunpowder and its applications in early military science. In doing so, it adds another layer to the grand tapestry of Bharats remarkable contributions to the worlds knowledge and civilization. The author is in the Indian Institute of Science and has authored a book Bharat: India 2.0. Views expressed here are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. While it would be premature to finally call the Rajasthan election results just yet, those who predicted it would go down to the wire would certainly be surprised, if not shocked. Anyway, BJP victories dont come as shockers anymore. Driving right into it without much ado, one should look into the run up to the polls in Rajasthan as possible reasons, apart from the usual suspects such as anti-incumbency, that seem to be leading, at this point, the Congress towards an unassailable drubbing. Ashok Gehlot was doing rather well in the days and months leading to the assembly elections, at least, it looked like he was. But, by the time of filing this opinion, BJP is way past the halfway mark, hurtling towards a near sweep. The sitting chief minister is considered to be a realpolitik, not just an apparatchik of the Congress ruling Gandhi dynasty. He tried to size himself up against the ruling dynasty when he almost rebelled in turning down the Congress central leadership in an almost sham party president election. Gehlot was confident of his satrapy; he wanted to take chances defending his seat of power than be stuck in the high command jam. He thought he could break the jinx of the revolving door nature of Rajasthan politics. Magician as he has hitherto been dubbed, BJP was quick to point that Gehlots spell has broken. However, he is, without a doubt, a strong regional satrap of Congress. Those who saw the Rajasthan election as a tight one, were banking on this factor in their assessments. But, more than anything else, Gehlot had taken a leaf out of the BJP playbook of gaming the politics of beneficiaries based on DBT or direct benefit transfer model centered around women. He tried to make these schemes coterminous with a hint of soft Hindutva. He roped in our ubiquitous cow into Congress political discourse in Rajasthan, going against a rather heavily left/liberal-leaning central leadership of the party. The Godhan scheme guaranteed government purchase of cow dung at Rs2 per kg from cattle owners. He also promised free laptops and tablets for first year students at government colleges. Apart from a guarantee of ensuring English medium education for all. Gehlot tried to sway women voters by promising Rs10,000 every year to all female heads of families in the state under the Gruha Laxmi Guarantee Scheme. He also went on to replicate the Ujjwala scheme of the Modi governmentthe chief minister promised subsidized LPG cylinders to over one crore families in Rajasthan. His biggest and most lucrative scheme, however, that was extrapolated by poll pundits to become Gehlots magic wand was the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Health Insurance scheme. Again, a leaf out of the BJPs playbook, the chief minister thought this programme would swing the state for him. Why not? The scheme ensured Rs25 lakh medical insurance to the poor in Rajasthan. Reminds of something? Yes, PM Modis flagship PM-JAY. This list is not exhaustive, but it is indicative. Gehlot seems to have lost the plot for his Muslim appeasement. One can start with what happened in Karauli in 2022. A Nav Samvatsar procession to mark the first day of Hindu New Year was passing through a Muslim-dominated neighbourhood and was allegedly attacked. The police tried to intervene, but came at the receiving end of the violence. A cop who was injured in the stone pelting and direct action from atop Muslim houses and mosque lodged a complaint, claiming the attack on the Hindu procession was deliberate and planned and not spontaneous in response to any provocation from the procession. Karauli was April 2022. Close on heels came the Jodhpur clashes. The city was pushed on the brink. Violence broke out when an Islamic flag was hoisted on an intersection near Jalori Gate in the days leading to Eid. The Islamic flag that caused consternation was put up beside the statue of freedom fighter Balmukund Bissa. Allegedly, the saffron flag that had been put up there had deliberately been removed to make way for the Islamic flag. Jodhpur violence sparked tensions in Bhilwara. Then a 300-year-old Shiva Temple was razed by bulldozers in Sarai Mohalla area of Alwar. This sparked widespread tensions. Not just this temple, two other temples too were demolished, including the idols inside them. But, the Kanhaiya Lal murder was the most significant turning point in Gehlots fate-line. The ill-fated tailor, who had been warned several times for having supported Nupur Sharma on social media, was brutally murdered in Udaipur. He was killed with a cleaver by two Muslim youths inside his shop. The assailants tried to behead him, but could not. Later, they had posted the gruesome video of the incident on social media to the horror of the entire nation. Gehlots reaction was equally horrifying. He came out saying that the culprits of Kanhaiyal Lals murder were BJPs own. He tried to attack the NIA that took over the case. Add all these to the rise and rise in horrific crimes against Dalits in Rajasthan, especially targeting the women of the community, and you get a heady potion that will counteract any spell however strong, whipped by any magician however accomplished. It would be safe to assume that Gehlot failed to manage perception; while the secular Congress DNA kept working from behind the scenes, the chief minister failed to see his own society in the right light. His banking on the dead politics of Muslim appeasement cost him his crown. Conversely, the BJP successfully painted him blacker and blacker by the day with every incident of communal clash. The BJPs Hindutva pitch resonated with Rajasthan and its voters. Gehlot missed the nuances of his own political equation: the majority of his voters who he tried to woo with politics based on the beneficiary model of the BJP are also part of the majority Hindu community. You cant ignore the latter and expect success with the former. In Rajasthan Hindutva seems to have pipped the politics of beneficiaries. If divorced from the politics of identity, the politics of welfare schemes will come up short. And, the BJP has come to own both. The author is News Editor, Firstpost. He tweets from @SiddharthaRai2. Views expressed are personal. While only early trends have come in hitherto, the projections seem to have thrown Congress in a tizzy. As counting so far has put the Congress in a tight spot in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh as well as Chhattisgarh, president Mallikarjun Kharge Sunday dialed I.N.D.I. Alliance partners, calling for a meeting in Delhi on 6 December. The meeting will take place at Kharges residence. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) bloc had last met almost three months ago. Counting of votes for the 2023 Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh is underway on Sunday. The election results, which will be cleared during the day, is seen crucial as the polling in the states have been considered as semi-final before the impending 2024 Lok Sabha polls which is expected to be held in less than six months. As per the latest trends, BJP is making a huge gains in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while Congress is seen getting a comfortable win in Telangana and narrow lead in Chhattisgarh. With inputs from agencies As BJP inches toward victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, the partys leader Suvendu Adhikari has asserted that the saffron partys performance in the three states will have an impact in West Bengal. Speaking to reporters, Adhikari thanked the Bengali community of Chhattisgarh, claiming that their overwhelming support for the BJP played a decisive role in the assembly elections of that state. I received a call from the BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh, thanking me for the Bengal factor, he said. This is just a wave. The real tsunami is awaited. In the Lok Sabha elections, we will witness the Modi Tsunami, he added. We will see solid results in Bengal, and the elimination of this corrupt and family-led government here is certain. The BJP workers in West Bengal will celebrate this victory in the three states, he said. In 2021, the Bhartiya Janata Party lost the West Bengal elections to the ruling Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, as of 2 pm, the BJP was leading in 113 out of 199 seats in Rajasthan, 161 out of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 53 out of 90 seats in Chattisgarh. Assembly elections were held in five states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram last month which is being viewed as the semi-final to the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections which are due in less than six months. The counting of votes for Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023, which was initially set for 3 December, has been postponed to 4 December, as Sunday holds a special significance for the people of the state, a Christian-majority state. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) conceded defeat in Telangana after counting trends showed Congress inching closer to a victory in the assembly election 2023. In a post on X, KT Rama Rao said, Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving BRS two consecutive terms of government. Congratulations to Congress party on winning the mandate, he wrote. Not saddened but disappointed The Telangana minister said, Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back, he added. Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving @BRSparty two consecutive terms of Government Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back KTR (@KTRBRS) December 3, 2023 At the time of filing this report, Congress is leading on 67 out of 119 Telangana Assembly seats which is more than the majority mark. The party is also set to form the next government in the state. The BRS, that ruled the state for a decade since its formation under K Chandrashekar Rao, is set to move out of power. In Telangana, 119 assembly seats went to poll on 30 November. The voter turnout in the state was recorded at 71.34 per cent. As BJP leads in Madhya Pradesh, Union Minister and party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed confidence in the people of the state and asserted that the party will form the government with an absolute majority. We knew that as far as Madhya Pradesh is concerned, given the public welfare schemes of our double engine government peoples blessings will be with us I am confident that their blessings will be with the BJP and we will form the government with absolute majority, Scindia said. #WATCH | Bhopal | As BJP leads in #MadhyaPradeshElection2023, Union Minister & party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia says, We knew that as far as Madhya Pradesh is concerned, given the public welfare schemes of our double engine government peoples blessings will be with us I pic.twitter.com/8fBf9hoNVh ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 As of 10 am, the Bhartiya Janata Party is leading with 151 out of the total 230 seats while the Indian National Congress currently has 77 seats. Visuals from BJP office in Bhopal as trends suggest lead for BJP in MP elections 2023.#AssemblyElectionsWithPTI #MadhyaPradeshElections2023 pic.twitter.com/cgfQx4A2u8 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023 Postal ballots were counted between 8 am and 8.30 am, after which the counting of votes through EVMs began in the presence of officials and political parties authorised agents, he said. The results for the Assembly elections 2023 in four states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana are set to be announced on Sunday (3 November). As per the latest trends, BJP is ahead in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Congress, while Congress is leading in Telangana. Assembly elections were held in five states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram last month which is being viewed as the semi-final to the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections which is due in less than six months. The counting of votes for Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023, which was initially set for 3 December, has been postponed to 4 December, as Sunday holds a special significance for the people of the state, a Christian-majority state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the minds of the people in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said as BJP leads in the state. BJP is going to get a huge mandate. PM Modi is in the minds of the people in Madhya Pradesh It is the victory of PM Modis leadership, Chouhan said. He added, It is the result of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs planning Results do not come in one day, they come after continuous better work. In Madhya Pradesh, the Bhartiya Janata Party is leading in 160 out of the total 230 seats while Congress has 69 seats, as of 1 pm. The election to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly is a fight between the BJP and the Congress, whose then 15-month government, formed in the year 2018 was toppled from power in 2020 with help from Jyotiraditya Scindia who defected to BJP from the Congress. Earlier today, Union Minister and party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed confidence in the people of the state and asserted that the party will form the government with an absolute majority. We knew that as far as Madhya Pradesh is concerned, given the public welfare schemes of our double engine government peoples blessings will be with us I am confident that their blessings will be with the BJP and we will form the government with absolute majority, Scindia said. Assembly elections were held in five states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram last month which is being viewed as the semi-final to the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections which is due in less than six months. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will visit Beijing on Sunday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Belarusian state media reported. This is his second trip this year to China. Lukashenko, who according to Chinese state media was welcomed with a gun salute and military honours during his official February 28 to March 2 visit, was this time heading for a working visit, BelTA state news agency reported. Negotiations between the head of the Belarusian state and president of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping will take place in Beijing, BelTA said, citing Lukashenkos press service. The agenda includes issues of trade, economic, investment and international cooperation. After their first talks this year, Xi said that the China-Belarus friendship is unbreakable, and the two sides should constantly enhance political mutual trust and remain each others true friends and good partners. Lukashenko, the president of Belarus since 1994 who has been shunned by the West, backed Russias invasion in Ukraine in February 2022 by allowing Moscow to use its territory to launch the war. China maintains close ties to Russia and has never condemned its invasion of Ukraine, but Beijing became vocal earlier this year in calling for peace as the Ukraine conflict drags on. After their March 1 meeting, both Lukashenko and Xi called for the soonest possible peace deal for Ukraine. But the war, now in its 22nd month, has no end in sight, with neither side willing to compromise to negotiate. Britains Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) on Sunday said that it has received reports of drone activity and a possible explosion in the Red Seas Bab al-Mandab strait. UKMTO said the drone activity originated from Yemen, and called on vessels in the vicinity to exercise caution. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, after a deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israeli towns and cities, which triggered the war in the region. An Israeli-linked cargo ship was seized last month by the Houthi group, an ally of Iran which controls Yemens Red Sea coast. The group had previously fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, and vowed to target more Israeli vessels. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis on Sundays incident. Last week, a U.S. Navy warship responded to a distress call from an Israeli-managed commercial tanker in the Gulf of Aden that had been seized by armed individuals. A photo taken inside a Coles store in the 1980s has infuriated customers over a specific detail. In the widely shared image, about a dozen staffed checkouts can be seen, which shoppers have pointed out is in stark contrast to today's major supermarkets, where self-service machines dominate. "Shock. Every one of these checkouts is open," a shopper wrote online of the old Coles New World supermarket in Belmont, NSW, while another commented, "Yeah they need to bring back old-fashioned customer service again." Coles checkouts in the 1980s were a lot different to the self-service machines that are prevalent in supermarkets today. Source: State Library of Victoria/Getty Images Scores of others said the photo depicts "how it should be" and claimed it's proof that self-service checkouts are taking jobs away. "All those people being employed, adding to the economy," one shopper commented, and someone else responded, "The good days, jobs for humans not scanners and robots." Are self-service checkouts really killing jobs? Responding to questions about whether self-service checkouts are putting people out of work, a spokesperson for Coles told Yahoo News Australia the retailer has "never been more committed to supporting Australians with employment opportunities", having recruited an additional 22,000 team members over the past five years. Meanwhile, in an email to customers last week, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci also denied that a focus on technology is coming at the expense of staff. "Self-service checkouts and the perception that this results in a reduction in team members in-store is a passionate dinner table topic in our house," he stated. "The fact is, we employ more people than ever before and, with the popularity of online ordering, this year we've hired 5,500 personal shoppers so there's more jobs at Woolies not less." Story continues Love them or hate them, it looks like self-service checkouts are here to stay at Coles and other Aussie supermarkets. Source: Getty Images Coles defends self-service checkouts Expanded on the rollout of self-service checkouts, the Coles spokesperson said the majority of customers prefer them over staffed registers. "Self-service checkouts are a great option for customers because they offer convenience and efficiency when shopping in our stores to help customers check out more quickly and pack their bags the way they like," the spokesperson explained. "Because of this they are the checkout of choice for more than two in three customers, and we continue to see these numbers increase. Of course, if customers prefer to be served by a team member, someone will always be available in the service area to serve them." Some Facebook users backed Coles' decision to install self-service checkouts, with one commenting on the viral photo from the '80s, "What a waste of resources. Today's systems are much more efficient." Supermarket staff abused in alarming trend While Coles and Woolies refute claims they're cutting jobs, Australia's biggest supermarkets have been forced to address customer attacks on staff. "During the pandemic, our team members were often considered frontline heroes," Banducci said in his email to shoppers. "Sadly that goodwill has fallen away and, while the vast majority of customers do the right thing, we're seeing an unacceptable rise in team abuse." Meanwhile, Coles staff at a number of "high-risk" Aussie stores are being fitted with new body cameras in a bid to combat escalating levels of abuse. The retailer confirmed to Yahoo that the surveillance will be rolled out in 30 shops across four states including South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. "Body-worn cameras only record once activated," a Coles spokesperson said. "If a team member feels unsafe in a situation, they can turn on their body camera and will inform the customer that they are turning it on for safety." Yahoo understands the cameras can send live footage back to management and are even able to notify police directly of dangerous situations, a measure which has already been taken a number of times according to Coles. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Israeli air, sea, and land bombardment of the Gaza Strip intensified on Sunday, forcing Palestinian inhabitants to seek safety in an ever-smaller region of the south. Residents said that the souths Khan Younis and Rafah were the main targets of bombings. They reported that hospitals were having trouble keeping up with the influx of injured. Following the breakdown of a seven-day ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists on Friday to facilitate the exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian inmates, there has been resumed combat. It happened in spite of rising demands for Israel to stop harming Palestinian civilians coming from the United States, Israels closest supporter. The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics reports that as of Sunday, more than 15,400 people had died in the nearly two months of fighting that started following a cross-border attack on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 200 more. Israel claims that Hamas is a deadly threat to the Jewish state and that it is why it is taking action to destroy it. In the lengthy and bloody history of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the current war has emerged as the bloodiest chapter. Residents of Gaza expressed their anxiety on Sunday that an Israeli ground offensive was about to occur in the southern sections. According to them, tanks had blocked the route that connected Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, separating the Strip into three sections. In a statement, the Israeli military gave the Palestinians orders to leave six localities in and around Khan Younis right now. It published a map showing the locations of shelters to the west of Khan Younis and south of Rafah, near the Egyptian border. However, locals claimed that the places they had been instructed to visit were also experiencing attacks. Residents reported that early on Sunday, Israeli tanks started bombarding Rafahs eastern area. Israel did not immediately respond to that development. Following hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the Israeli ground invasion in the north of the enclave, the inhabitants stated there was barely room for more displaced persons in the south. Residents and representatives of the United Nations complained that the inconsistent availability of power and internet made it challenging to follow Israeli evacuation orders. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, announced on Saturday that his country was working with international organisations and the United States to establish safe areas for Gazas civilian population. (With agency inputs) The United States was putting further pressure on Israel to protect Palestinian residents in Gaza from Hamas terrorists as the conflicting parties failed to move towards a cease-fire on Sunday. Vice President Kamala Harris declared that too many innocent Palestinians had died in Gaza as Israeli forces blasted the territory following the breakdown of a truce, while Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin remarked that Israel had a moral responsibility to protect civilians. With its military onslaught refocused further south in the constrained Gaza Strip, Israel is under increasing pressure from Washington to exercise greater care, as seen by the statements made by senior U.S. officials on Saturday. Residents worried the air and artillery bombardment was just the start of an Israeli ground operation in the southern strip that would trap them in a dwindling region and possibly try to push them across into Egypt, as renewed violence continued into a third day. The Israeli military ordered Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to immediately leave six sites in and around Khan Younis in a statement that was posted on X on Sunday morning. They were told to relocate to what he called well-known IDP (internally displaced person) shelters west of the city, especially south towards Rafah, by the militarys Arabic-speaking spokesman Avichay Adraee, who also provided a map showing the locations. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his country was working with international organisations and the United States to establish safe areas for Gazas civilian population. However, Gaza residents and U.N. representatives claim that due of sporadic internet connectivity and a nonexistent steady supply of energy during Israels military assault, it is challenging to follow Israeli evacuation instructions in real time. The interior ministry, administered by Hamas, reported on Sunday that an Israeli raid on a home east of Rafah city in southern Gaza resulted in the deaths of seven Palestinians and multiple injuries. According to Palestinian health officials, planes killed multiple individuals, including children, overnight by destroying several buildings in Al-Karara town near Khan Younis. According to the health ministry in Gaza, since the end of the week-long truce on Friday, at least 193 Palestinians have died, bringing their total death toll from the beginning of the conflict to over 15,000. After Hamas went on a rampage in southern Israel on October 7, during which it claims 1,200 people were killed and over 200 held captive, Israel has vowed to destroy the terrorist organisation. (With agency inputs) Russia launched 12 drones and a cruise missile aimed at Ukraine overnight, with Ukraines air defence systems destroying 10 drones before they reached their targets, Ukraines air force said in a statement on Sunday. The cruise missile was not destroyed but did not reach its target, the air force said without giving out any further information on the attack. It did not say what happened to the two drones that were not destroyed. There was no immediate comment from Russia on the claims made by the Ukrainian air force. The Iranian-made Shahed drones were headed towards Ukraines northwest, the air force said. Most were downed in the Mykolaiv region in Ukraines south. There were no immediate reports of damage from falling debris or the drones that were not destroyed. Russian troops, meanwhile, eased attacks on the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka on Saturday and unofficial reports from the region suggested they had failed to capture the devastated town of Maryinka to the southwest. Russias military has focused on eastern Ukraine since abandoning an advance on Kyiv in the first days after the February 2022 invasion. Since mid-October, the military has set its sights on seizing Avdiivka and its vast coking plant. Russian reports over the weekend suggested Moscows troops had taken control of Maryinka, 40 km (25 miles) to the southwest, engulfed in fighting for well over a year. But unofficial Ukrainian reports on Saturday said its forces were holding some districts. Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told national television that Russian attacks on Avdiivka had halved over the past 24 hours, largely as a result of heavy losses. Ukrainian forces have focussed on recapturing occupied villages in the east and south in a counteroffensive launched in June, though President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged that advances have been slower than Kyiv wanted. President Mohamed Muizzu of the Indian Ocean archipelago said on Sunday that the Indian government has decided to remove its troops from the Maldives. After running on a platform of changing the Maldives India first policy and promising to remove the 75-person small Indian military presence, Muizzu won the presidency in September. The Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers, Muizzu said to reporters following their discussions. We also agreed to set up a high level committee to solve issues related to development projects. Muizzu made the comments after speaking with Indian authorities on the sidelines of the COP28 climate conference. A request for comment on Sunday was not immediately answered by Indias minister of foreign affairs. China and India have been competing for influence in the region, and it is thought that the coalition backing Muizzu has a stronger inclination towards China. The majority of Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives to oversee and control two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft that India had donated to the Maldives. India supports in disaster relief efforts, has been building a navy dockyard in the Maldives, and supplies certain military hardware to the country. Muizzu pledged after his inauguration last month to make sure there is no foreign military presence in his nation. He had approached Indias minister of earth sciences, Kiren Rijiju, who was representing the country at the presidents inauguration, with the request to withdraw Indian troops. (With agency inputs) Since the start of a ground operation in Gaza on October 27, Israeli troops have discovered 800 shafts connecting to Hamas extensive underground network of tunnels and bunkers, of which they have destroyed more than half, the military announced on Sunday. Before the eight-week-old conflict in the Gaza Strip began, the Palestinian Islamist group claimed to have hundreds of kilometres of tunnelsa network the size of the New York subway systemfor protection and use as operational bases. They are now prime targets for Israeli airstrikes employing piercing bombs, and army engineers can use exploding gel that can be poured into the passageways and mapping robots to map them. The tunnel shafts were located in civilian areas, many of which were near or inside civilian buildings and structures, such as schools, kindergartens, mosques and playgrounds, the military said in a statement on Sunday. The statement, which summarised the anti-tunnel operations to date, came after soldiers had been telling the media almost every day that they had found access shafts in civilian locations. The toll the war has taken on civilian casualties has alarmed foreign governments. On Saturday, Washington advised Israel to proceed with prudence. According to the Israeli military, 500 of the approximately 800 shafts that had been found had been destroyed by a range of operational techniques, including as detonation and by sealing off. It further said that important tunnel routes spanning many miles had been damaged. (With agency inputs) Indian officials discussed the issue of Indian platforms engaged in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activities with their counterparts from the Maldives on the sidelines of the COP 28 climate conference in the UAE. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives recently met in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), during the COP28 Summit. According to sources, the Maldives has acknowledged the utility of these platforms. India and the Maldives are reportedly discussing how to keep these platforms operational. The sources further underlined the ongoing awareness of the value of Indian platforms and mentioned allegations regarding their involvement in HADR operations in the Maldives. We have seen reports about status of Indian platforms in Maldives engaged in HADR activities. The continued usefulness of the Indian platforms as it was recognised in discussions needs to be looked at in a proper perspective. The issue was briefly discussed in Dubai, officials said. The Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of these platforms. The fact that it is an important segment of our bilateral development partnership is recognised by both sides, they added. Discussions on how to keep them operational are ongoing. The core group that both sides have agreed to set up will look at details of how to take this forward. PM Modi welcomed newly elected President Muizzu on taking office during their meeting in Dubai. The two leaders discussed the extensive bilateral relationships that exist between their two nations, including economic ties, development collaboration, and people-to-people 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 (MEA) 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 MEA added. Meanwhile, the Indian government has decided to remove its troops from the Maldives. The Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu told reporters. We also agreed to set up a high level committee to solve issues related to development projects. Muizzu made the comments after speaking with Indian authorities on the sidelines of the COP28 climate conference. China and India have been competing for influence in the Maldives, and it is thought that the coalition backing Muizzu has a stronger inclination towards China. The majority of Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives to oversee and control two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft that India had donated to the Maldives. India supports in disaster relief efforts, has been building a navy dockyard in the Maldives, and supplies certain military hardware to the country. Two helicopters and an aircraft given by India have been extensively used for disaster relief operations and humanitarian assistance in the Maldives. Muizzu pledged after his inauguration last month to make sure there is no foreign military presence in his nation. India and the Maldives have had a long and enduring friendship spanning several centuries. In 1965, India became the first country to acknowledge the Maldives as an independent nation and to forge diplomatic relations. There are no political difficulties in Indias relationship with the Maldives. Indias swift intervention in the 1988 coup attempt resulted in the growth of mutual trust and amicable, long-lasting bilateral ties with the Maldives. India was the first country to help the Maldives in the wake of the 2004 tsunami and the December 2014 water crisis in Male. The government and people of the Maldives universally acknowledge these three occurrences (1988, 2004, and 2014) as demonstrating the benefits of Indias closeness and ability to assist the Maldives in times of need compared to other nations. India has further established itself as the first responder in the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to its prompt delivery of 30,000 doses of the measles vaccine in January 2020 to stop an outbreak in the Maldives and its prompt and extensive assistance to the Maldives since the pandemic started, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. (With agency inputs) Deputy Hamas chief Saleh Al-Arouri told the pan-Arab Al Jazeera TV on Saturday that no more prisoners would be exchanged with Israel until there was a ceasefire in Gaza. Arouri said the hostages still being held captive by Hamas were Israeli soldiers and civilian men who had previously served in the Israeli army. He said they would not be freed unless there was a ceasefire and all Palestinian detainees were also released. Let the war take its course. This decision is final. We will not compromise on it, Arouri said. Israel has carried out intense air strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, with residents describing it as the heaviest bombing of the war. People in eastern areas of the city have been told by the Israeli military to evacuate further to the south. Israel believes some Hamas leaders are in the city, where many civilians are sheltering after fleeing the north. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry says at least 193 people have been killed in the latest wave of Israeli attacks. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, launched in response to the 7 October attacks in Israel which killed around 1,200 people. The Hamas-run health ministry says the number of people killed in Gaza has now exceeded 15,200 people. Israels bombardment of Gaza resumed after a temporary ceasefire ended on Friday. The IDF said it had hit more than 400 Hamas terror targets on the first day of the renewed operation. Rockets have also been regularly fired at Israel from Gaza since fighting resumed, including a barrage aimed at Tel Aviv and the surrounding area of central Israel on Saturday evening. The Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday said it is monitoring the illegal presence of more than 135 Chinese maritime military vessels at a reef in the South China Sea. In response, it said its chief has ordered patrols in the vicinity of Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the Julian Felipe Reef, and lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The PCG maintains its unwavering commitment to safeguarding maritime security, safety and the marine environment in the course of protecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, it said in a statement. The West Philippine Sea is Manilas term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its 200-nautical mile EEZ. There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese Embassy in Manila. An international tribunal invalidated Chinas claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling. China has built islands in the disputed waters in recent years, laying air strips on some of them. Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei all claim parts of the sea. The United Kingdom will carry out unarmed surveillance flights over West Asia to search for Hamas hostage locations, the British Ministry of Defence has said. The flights will help gather intelligence on potential hostage whereabouts. Five British nationals are missing and the UK government has not said how many could possibly be held by Hamas. The safety of British nationals is our utmost priority, the ministry said in a statement. In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the Ministry of Defence will conduct surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza, it added. It said that the aircraft would be unarmed and tasked solely to locate hostages taken by Hamas after the deadly attack on southern Israeli towns and cities on October 7. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue. The aircraft will include Shadow R1s, which the Royal Air Force use for intelligence gathering, ministry officials said. Information on the potential locations of hostages will be shared with Israel. More than 130 captives are believed to be in Gaza. The Pentagon said unarmed UAV drones had been deployed over Gaza in support of hostage recovery efforts, earlier this month. The US is conducting unarmed UAV flights over Gaza, as well as providing advice and assistance to support our Israeli partner as they work on their hostage recovery efforts, the Pentagon said. Fighting resumed on Friday after a week-long truce in Gaza. The IDF said it had hit more than 400 Hamas targets on the first day. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry says at least 193 people have been killed in the latest wave of Israeli attacks. The ministry says more than 15,200 people have died in the war in Gaza, triggered by Hamass attack on Israel on 7 October that killed at least 12,000 people. Following the appearance on social media of a blurry video purporting to show multiple soldiers murdering two military members who were surrendering at gunpoint as they emerged from a dugout, Kyiv officials accused Moscow of committing a war crime. One soldier can be seen in the unconfirmed footage lying on the ground after emerging with his hands raised from a foxhole on the battlefield. Another soldier staggers out and collapses as well. The footage suddenly seems to cease when the Russian soldiers start firing. The Ukrainian General Prosecutors Office said: The video shows a group of people in Russian uniforms shooting, at point-blank range, two unarmed servicemen in the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were surrendering. The video was shared on the well-known Ukrainian war blog Deepstate. According to the blog, the tape was taken close to Stepove on the Avdiivka front line in the Donetsk area. The incident happened in Pokrovsk district, a sizable portion of the Donetsk region that runs near to Avdiivka, the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting in recent weeks, according to the General Prosecutors Office. Speaking to the Ukrainska Pravda news website, Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesman for Ukraines Tavria military command, described the footage as glaring confirmation that Russia consistently breaks the rules of warfare. (With agency inputs) A woman has tragically lost her battle with a rare undiagnosed disease which left her locked in her own body, unable to move or speak for years. When Olimpia Popovici started experiencing a numbing sensation across the left side of her body, she assumed a trapped nerve had taken hold. The 43-year-old, whose condition quickly worsened, visited numerous doctors across the UK and in her home country, Romania, in search of an answer but her diagnosis remained a mystery. Olimpia Popovici suddenly fell sick, losing the ability to speak or move. Source: Jam Press Then, after one year, she had lost the ability to speak, swallow and move her limbs, but was still able to see, think and hear, with the business owner becoming locked in her own body. Now, her husband, Traian, 47, is sharing his wifes traumatic story in a bid to raise awareness and to mark his first Christmas without her by his side. 'Horrible disease' took wife away, husband says Traian told NeedToKnow.co.uk that his wife was so loved by everyone as a daughter, sister, wife and friend, and that it is still hard to believe she is shes no longer around. Olimpia left her mark on every place she went to and on every person who knew her. She was appreciated for seeing life so simply, he said. There are so many things that Id like to say, but the words are too difficult to get out. The business owner became 'locked' in her own body, her husband Traian said. Source: Jam Press Its a horrible disease that took away such a cheerful person, who always had a smile on her face and Ill remember her spirit full of life. I had to watch her slip away more and more each day, and in a way, I had already grieved losing her before she passed its not going to be the same without her. Its going to be so difficult and sad this Christmas because that was her favourite time of the year. Scans reveal brain cells were shrinking Olimpia, who moved to the UK in 2002 after graduating from nursing school, started experiencing strange symptoms in April 2020. For the next two years, she was treated for a stroke, until January 2022 when scans revealed that parts of her brain were shrinking. Story continues I remember the cause being a mystery, but we were told she had progressive cerebral atrophy, where brain cells are lost, Traian said. Her illness affected all her family, not just me, as her mum gave up her life back in Romania to be with us and support Olimpia in every aspect. I had been a self-employed builder before, but I had to stop working when her condition got worse. We had to live on our savings and theyve quickly gone. On October 21, Olimpia sadly lost her battle with the undiagnosed disease and a few weeks later, her family gathered in her hometown to say goodbye. Sadly, Olimpia lost her battle with the mystery disease late last month. Source: Jam Press Husband searches for cause of wife's death Now, Traian is hoping to raise awareness in a bid to warn others of the signs to look out for, as well as searching for an answer. She had achieved so much in life from owning a house to running a successful business and it's a shame to see it all stripped away, the 47-year-old said. My wife was a prisoner in her own body and I wouldnt wish this disease on anyone. I didnt expect to lose her so soon, and its been a very cruel time for all of us, but I hope to remember her for who she was, not how she left us. I remember her cooking, her cakes and her passion for trying new recipes. Olimpia loved long nature walks and visiting new places, as well as her two dogs, Winston and Sasha. I will continue on in her memory doing all the things she loved and one day, I hope to find out the cause behind this unimaginable loss. Jam Press Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. As Turkey's Business World magazine approaches the end of 2023, in its sixth Court Chats, it was stated that there are problems in supporting the studies in the field of 'Digital Finance' with legislation. drew attention. Business World in Turkey magazine, which celebrated its third anniversary last month, presented its readers with a full content in its December issue. In this issue; The name that appeared on the cover of the December issue of Business World in Turkey magazine, which focuses on many topics from electric cars to resilient cities, from jewelery to COP28, which has been on everyone's lips lately, is Mehmet Tevfik Nane, who has achieved many important successes in the skies. In an exclusive interview with the magazine, Nane gave clues about the topics underlying his success. Business World in Turkey magazine, which has met with business people in six separate meetings so far with Court Chats, held a meeting under the title of "Digital finance" on Wednesday, November 29; Former Undersecretary of Treasury and Foreign Trade Tevfik Altnok, Turkish Payment and Electronic Money Institutions Association (TODEB) Board Member Erdal Ozcan, Fintech Istanbul Founding Partner Prof. Dr. Selim Yazc brought together Envoyo Sales and Marketing Director Almila Demirdag, Demokrat Yatrm Menkul Degerler Deputy General Manager Ozlen Bilgin and Cryptocurrency Expert Oytun Es around the same table. Celal Toprak, Editor-in-Chief of Business World Magazine in Turkey, who moderated the meeting, stated that these meetings were a friendly assembly and used the following expressions; Today we are having the sixth Court Conversations. Our topic today is 'Digital finance'. We have brought together many sectors in this meeting series we have held so far. This concept of ours is actually a bit out of business. Because our meetings are held in the atmosphere of a friendly meeting, where everyone sincerely shares the problems they experience in their sector and their solution suggestions. We share the outputs we obtain from here in both our newspaper and magazine. We are organizing this entire organization in cooperation with Destek Patent.Referring to the relationship between digital finance and patents, Destek Patent Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kemal Yamankaradeniz, made the following evaluation about fintechs; Nowadays, financial technology is developing. It needs to be protected with a patent, especially for those who want innovation to be valued. In today's world where digitalization has reached a new level, patent protection must be accelerated. As Turkiye, we are very good at fintechs. "The fact that they can be opened to the world shows that fintechs are at an important stage in terms of both technology sales and capital inflow to the world, and the protection of fintechs with patents and the protected technologies being used as financial instruments in the world." Evaluating the companies' perspective on patents, Yamankaradeniz said; In order to obtain a patent, inventions, innovation and R&D studies must be carried out quickly. Although we, as Turkey, have sufficient numbers of industrial studies, R&D and trained manpower, unfortunately we have not yet exceeded 10 thousand in the number of patent applications. What needs to be done to increase this number is very clear; We have more than 220 thousand technical personnel working in R&D. These 220 thousand people can actually do revolutionary work because the development of the technology in question means the development and development of the country's economy. Years ago, TUBITAK supported domestic patent applications, but in recent years it has made a regulation on this issue in order to make patents more qualified. It removed the support given to patent applications made within Turkiye. With the increase in support in this regard, SME enterprises will also be able to obtain patents. "At the same time, as TUBITAK, the support given to academics, that is, universities, and the registration of patents obtained by universities in Turkey will pave the way for the growth of this field," he said. Preparing legislation is not a simple matter Former Undersecretary of Treasury and Foreign Trade Tevfik Altnok conveyed information about the legislation based on his past experiences as follows; Preparing legislation is of course important, but the management that will prepare the legislation must first be run by qualified people. 'Which of the finance-related institutions such as BRSA, SDIF and Central Bank will we regulate? Will banks do this? Will BRSA or CMB step in, or will they build a joint venture?' Questions such as these are important issues in this sense. For example, there is no institution within the Ministry of Finance that mentions treasury, it is only mentioned in its name. Preparing legislation is not a simple event, if I had to explain it in detail; Article 167 stipulates that all issues related to markets must be based on a law while regulating them. I remember the Kastelli incident that broke out in the eighties, we transformed the legislation on this incident that I knew very well. We seized the seized institutions and organizations. We were looking for the answer to the question of how we will manage. I became the head of the treasury at the insistence of Turgut Ozal Bey. We had the Istanbul Stock Exchange, but our structure regarding securities was zero. When we saw that the Stock Exchange was of no use, we asked for help from the IMF. So, we started working in 1980 and founded CMB in 1982. This is how the legislation is being prepared now. The banking sector is evolving Fintech Istanbul Founding Partner Prof. Dr. Selim Yazc; I have been a faculty member at Istanbul University for 30 years. In 2016, we established a platform called Fintech Istanbul. "We are trying to gather everything in the field of financial technology under one roof in Turkey and promote it both in Turkey and abroad," he said. Talking about the evolution of the banking sector, Yazc said, I sometimes ask my senior students, 'Does anyone want to be a banker?' I ask. This year, no hands were raised in the class of a hundred people. "I don't know whether this should scare the sector, but I can say that banking is in the process of evolving," he said. Pointing out that there are issues that put exporters in trouble in Turkey, Yazc said, Overseas is a separate issue because different issues of legislation come into play there, but in Turkey there is also the issue of checks. The digitalization of checks will seriously pave the way for trade. Even in this, there are still issues that remain untouched in the legislation. There is a method widely used in the world called Buy now, pay later. When I talked to the owner of a very large company that entered Turkey 1.5 - 2 years ago, his goal was; He said that there are 18 million people over the age of 15 who have never been to a bank and do not have a credit card in their pocket. "If you look at it today, Turkcell is aiming for this in Paycell," he said. The stock market is a stable investment tool for conscious investors "Dinamik Yatrm Menkul Degerler Deputy General Manager Ozlen Bilgin said, "Dinamik Yatrm Menkul Degerler started its investment life as Demokrat Menkul Yatrm Degerler A.S., with the change of hands of Egemen Menkul Degerler, which has been operating since 1990, in 2019, taking the name of Dynamic. At Dynamic, we are currently focusing on the digital side. We have a new application called DIHAP. This application; It will be an application where you can invest in both foreign markets and domestic markets at the same time. "We will launch it very soon," he said. Stating that this application, which can be used by everyone, mainly appeals to young people, Bilgin continued his words as follows; Anyone who is interested in foreign markets and wants to invest in domestic markets can use this application, but I can say that the application appeals more to young people. All users who want to invest both on BIST and NASDAQ will be able to make transactions from this application. The market has gone through a very turbulent period and continues to do so. For this reason, we are not at the points we want in the stock market. People's interest in the stock market continues. Istanbul Stock Exchange has reached more than 8 million investors so far. Unfortunately, these numbers are not very healthy. This figure also includes small investors brought by the public offering and investors using very high interest rates. The stock market is a very stable investment tool if used by conscious investors. A "fuming" business traveller has hit out at Qantas for changing the flight's aircraft without notifying or reimbursing passengers, leaving him with a less comfortable seat for an overnight flight. Cal, an Aussie blogger who shares tips online on how to get more bang for your buck while travelling, was flying interstate on a red-eye flight from Perth and had booked a business class seat on an Airbus 330 six months in advance. After arriving at the airport, Cal discovered the aircraft had been switched to a Boeing 737, with no mention or offer for reimbursement. The aircraft change may seem small on paper, but Cal argues the differences between the two are many, and would have a big impact on his ability to sleep on the flight. He booked a business class seat on the Qantas A330 anticipating a lie-flat bed, but the 737 business class offers what Cal says is a standard recliner seat. "Its like buying a Mercedes and getting a Volkswagen but still paying the same price," he says online. "Sure it's still the same company, but its two completely different products". Business class seats on Qantas A330 aircrafts (right) can fully recline so a person can lie down. B737 planes do not have this feature. Source: TikTok / Youtube / @pointyendsecrets Differences between the A330 versus B737 The Qantas website explains the A330 boasts a cabin width of 5.28m. In comparison, the B737 's cabin width is 3.54m. While B737 planes only have business class seats that recline slightly, and not all the way flat, on A330s, business class seats are referred to as "suites" and have "innovative seats that recline to fully-flat beds" according to Qantas and reviews online. These can then be fitted with a mattress for a comfy night's rest something Cal was hoping to get on his flight from Perth. Seat comparison between Qantas A330 (left) and Qantas B737 (right). Source: Qantas website Same price for both Qantas aircrafts Cal said he was charged the same price for flying on the B737 as he would have been charged for the A330. This seems to be standard Qantas policy. For example, flying from Perth to Sydney in March, on a business class seat on an A330 at 6am or 11.40am costs $2786. A business class seat on a B737 at 8am or 10.15am is the exact same price. Story continues When approached by Yahoo News, Qantas would not provide comment but Yahoo understands that fares are sold on a route and cabin class basis, not based on aircraft type. Do you have a story about your own recent flight? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com Qantas experiencing backlash all year This latest complaint comes after a year of Aussies being"fed-up" with the service from Qantas. In May it was revealed Qantas was the most complained about airline in the country. One Aussie woman spoke out after a booking error meant she was wrongly charged. She shared with Yahoo that she tried for weeks to get a refund from Qantas and was "fed-up" with the airline's "dirty little tricks". In the end, the mum said she was $1000 out of pocket because of problems with the airlines customer service. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A rarely-sighted oarfish believed to be a harbinger of earthquakes has been found washed up on a beach. The elongated fish usually found in the depths of the ocean and rarely seen by human eyes has made locals anxious after appearing on Los Coquitos beach in the Dominican Republic. The species are fabled for appearing just before natural disasters. It is 'unusual' to see giant oarfish at the surface, as they are known to live deep in the ocean. Source: Jam Press The beach lies near the Septentrional-Oriente strike-slip Fault Zone, responsible for the 1842 Cap-Haitien earthquake and tsunami in neighbouring Haiti, which killed approximately 5,300 people. The two-metre oarfish was first spotted by people walking by. Sadly, it later died. Its a deep-sea fish, Jose Ramon Reyes, Dominican Deputy Minister of Coastal and Marine Resources of the Ministry of Environment, told local media on Monday. Its unusual to find it at the surface. He tried to reassure the public, adding: It doesnt pose any threat, its a fish that typically inhabits the depths. Why do oarfish wash ashore? Fearless kids were seen playing with its carcass in the water after it died. The giant oarfish is thought to live at depths around 1,000 metres. It is the longest-known living species of bony fish, reaching a length of 17 metres and weighing up to 270 kg. It is plentiful in the wild and feeds on tiny plankton. Giant oarfish, which can be found worldwide in all tropical and temperate marine waters, wash ashore when in distress or dying, or after storms or strong currents, scientists say. Deep-sea fish living near the sea bottom are more sensitive to the movements of active faults than those near the surface of the sea, a report from 2013 states. In Australia there have been oarfish sightings in Perth, Adelaide, Tasmania and all along NSWs coast, as well as Brisbane, according to the Australian Museum. Jam Press Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Assembly Election Results 2023: Where to Watch the Election Results Live Features oi -Kabir Jain As the dust settles from the recently concluded assembly elections across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram, the nation eagerly awaits the official announcement of results on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Here's your comprehensive guide on how to watch the live election results unfold. When and Where to Watch Date and Time The eagerly awaited results for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram will be officially declared on Sunday, December 3, 2023. The announcement is anticipated after 8 am. Online Streaming To catch the live broadcast of the election results, the official website of the Election Commission of India, eci.gov.in, is your go-to platform. The results will be available on the website in real-time, providing viewers with up-to-the-minute updates on the unfolding political scenario. Step-by-Step Guide Visit the Official Website: Navigate to eci.gov.in, the official website of the Election Commission of India. Access the 'Elections' Section: Once on the homepage, locate and click on the 'Elections' section. Choose the Specific Election: Click on the individual links for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, or Mizoram, depending on your interest. View the Results: The election results for 2023 will be displayed on your computer screen, allowing you to access crucial details such as the winner, first candidate, second candidate, and more. The results, scheduled for declaration after 8 am on December 3, hold profound importance as they directly impact the political landscape and set the tone for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Political Landscape and Exit Poll Insights The assembly elections, held between November 7 and 30, saw single-phase voting in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram, while Chhattisgarh experienced a two-phase process. Exit poll results, declared on November 30, indicated potential leads for the BJP in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while Congress could retain power in Chhattisgarh. The results are particularly crucial for the BJP and Congress, as these five states collectively contribute 83 members to the Lok Sabha. 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 OnePlus 12 5G Rumor Roundup: Check Expected Price, Full Specifications Confirmed News oi -Carlsen Martin The OnePlus 12 5G launch is just around the corner. The OnePlus 12 5G will be the first OnePlus smartphone to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The OnePlus 12 5G was also recently confirmed to be the fastest smartphone on AnTuTu. Apart from the chipset, OnePlus has also confirmed several other key specifications of its upcoming flagship smartphone. But before we dive into the details, here are some of the smartphones debuting in December 2023. OnePlus 12 5G Launch: What to Expect? The OnePlus 12 5G launch date in China is set for December 5 at 02:30 pm local time or 12 noon IST. OnePlus is also celebrating its 10th anniversary on December 4. The OnePlus 12 event will be livestreamed on the official OnePlus Weibo account. While there is no official launch date yet, recent reports have suggested that the OnePlus 12 5G launch date in India and globally will take place on January 24, 2024. We expect the OnePlus 12 5G price in China to start from in and around the 50K-mark. OnePlus 12 5G Specifications The OnePlus 12 will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. OnePlus has already confirmed that its upcoming flagship will feature a 2K LTPO Curved OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a whopping peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The panel has already received an A+ rating by DisplayMate and has broken several records. The OnePlus 12 5G is also expected to pack a 5,000 mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging support and 50W wireless fast charging support. The company also confirmed the OnePlus 12 5G camera specifications. The phone will feature a 50 MP Sony LYTIA LYT-808 primary sensor with OIS. The main camera will be paired with a 64 MP Omnivision O64B telephoto-periscope camera with a focal length of 70mm, OIS, and 3x optical zoom and a 48 MP Sony IMX581 ultrawide lens. All three cameras are fine-tuned in collaboration with Hasselblad. Up front, the OnePlus 12 5G could feature a 32 MP selfie camera. The OnePlus 12 5G will run Android 14 out of the box with the latest version of ColorOS in China, although the Indian version will use OxygenOS. Stay tuned to Gizbot for more information about the OnePlus 12 5G launch date in India. 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 Oppo Find X7 Series Launch Date, Specifications Tipped: What We Know So Far! News -Kuldeep Singh Oppo recently introduced its new 5G smartphones, the OPPO Reno 11 series and Find X7 series in China. The devices have caught the attention of international certification authorities, hinting at their impending global launch. Meanwhile, in India, the smartphone giant has announced a permanent price drop for the OPPO Reno 10 Pro 5G. The new devices come with impressive features such as advanced camera systems and high-end chipsets. OPPO is predicted to continue its innovative strides in the smartphone industry. Oppo recently introduced the OPPO Reno 11 5G and OPPO Reno 11 Pro 5G smartphones in China. However, the Reno 11 series sits in China's premium mid-range market, unlike the Find X series, which occupies a more premium space. And now, new reporting suggests that the Oppo Find X7 series will be the next major launch for the company. The line-up is said to include the Oppo Find X7 and Find X7 Pro. Oppo Find X7 Series: What we know so far! Reports suggest that the Chinese smartphone giant is currently working on its next big launch - the OPPO Find X7 series. These new devices will succeed the OPPO Find X6 5G series. A reliable tipster from China, Digital Chat Station, has revealed that OPPO plans to launch these smartphones ahead of schedule. Digital Chat Station also provided some exclusive insights into the display specifications of these upcoming devices. The OPPO Find X7 will feature a BOE X1 display jointly developed by OnePlus and BOE, a fact confirmed by OnePlus. This display measures 6.82 inches and features an 8T LTPO panel with a resolution of 1400 x 3168 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The screen also boasts of a peak brightness of 4,500 nits and has received a DisplayMate A+ certification. Oppo Find X7 Series Cameras The upcoming Oppo devices are also said to feature impressive camera specifications. The Oppo Find X7 will feature a triple rear camera setup with a periscope telephoto sensor, supporting 3x optical zoom. Meanwhile, the Find X7 Pro is expected to sport a quad rear camera setup, with dual periscope lenses. The camera system, known as HyperTone, is developed in collaboration with Hasselblad. Oppo Find X7 Series Chipsets Oppo's upcoming smartphones are tipped to be powered by high-end chipsets. While the Find X7 is expected to house the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset, the Find X7 Pro is likely to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Oppo is slated to launch these smartphones before February 10, marking the beginning of the Chinese spring festival. Recent reports also suggests that the Oppo Reno 11 series could make its debut in India soon. Source FAQ's What are the new models of smartphones recently introduced by OPPO? OPPO has recently introduced the OPPO Reno 11 5G and OPPO Reno 11 Pro 5G smartphones in China. They are also working on the OPPO Find X7 5G and OPPO Find X7 Pro 5G models. What are the display specifications of the upcoming OPPO Find X7? The OPPO Find X7 will feature a BOE X1 display jointly developed by OnePlus and BOE. This display measures 6.82 inches and features an 8T LTPO panel with a resolution of 1400 x 3168 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The displays also boast of a peak brightness of 4500 nits and have received DisplayMate A+ certification. What are the expected camera specifications for the upcoming OPPO Find X7 and X7 Pro? The OPPO Find X7 is expected to feature a triple rear camera setup with a periscope telephoto sensor, supporting 3x optical zoom. Meanwhile, the Find X7 Pro is expected to sport a quad rear camera setup, with dual periscope lenses. The camera system, known as HyperTone, is developed in collaboration with Hasselblad. What chipsets are expected to power the upcoming OPPO Find X7 and X7 Pro? The Find X7 is expected to house the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset, while the Find X7 Pro is likely to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. When is OPPO planning to launch the Find X7 series? OPPO is slated to launch the Find X7 series before February 10. 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 I love them! Theyre a refreshing update and make a good impression on travelers entering the city. I think an update to the signs was necessary, but I havent warmed up to the design of the replacements. I think the old signs were just fine. It seems like a lot of money to spend on something that yields little return on investment. I dont feel strongly either way. Vote View Results The Winter Park Express takes skiers from Denver to Winter Park. Colorado Department of Transportation officials want to find out if operators have the vehicles to offer passenger service from Denver to Craig. Because Union Pacific lines are utilized for the Winter Park Express, CDOT is hopeful there is capacity for more passenger service. Photo courtesy of Winter Park Lodging Company Ann Schimke/Chalkbeat Teacher Corrie Haynes holds up a picture during a preschool class at Landmark Preschool in Grand Junction. The preschool is one 1,900 preschools in Colorado that receive funding from the universal preschool program. Landmark teaches using a religious-based model, which could lead to legal battles in the future. Saturday Night Snow showers early will become steadier snow overnight. Low near 30F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Reviewing our Venezuela Sanctions Relief US Department of State Press Statement Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson December 1, 2023 The United States welcomes the steps taken to implement the electoral roadmap agreement between the Unitary Platform and representatives of Nicolas Maduro, in particular the November 30 announcement defining the timeline and process for the reinstatement of all candidates. This is an important development. However, we are deeply concerned by the lack of progress on the release of wrongfully detained U.S. nationals and Venezuelan political prisoners. We continue active diplomatic engagement on these issues and will have more to say in the coming days on next steps given the state of play. The United States remains firmly committed to the Venezuelan people and supports their aspirations for a democratic future. We will continue to work with the international community to support the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address December 2, 2023 By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News Austin: In Troubling Times, World Needs U.S. Leadership As the world considers the repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the brutal Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, an increasingly assertive China, and the disturbing aspirations of nations like Iran and North Korea, it considers also what the role of the United States will beand what its role must be is leadership, said the U.S. secretary of defense. "We're living through challenging times," said Lloyd J. Austin III, who spoke today at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. "That includes the major conflicts facing our fellow democracies, Israel and Ukraine; bullying and coercion from an increasingly assertive China; and a worldwide battle between democracy and autocracy." When the world appears to be in disarray, Austin said, U.S. allies and partners look to the United States to see what must be done. And the U.S. must not waiver in providing leadership and decision-making. "These are the times when both our friends and our rivals look to America," he said. "These are the times when the American people count on their leaders to come together. And these are the times when global security relies on American unity and American strength." Since the end of World War II, Austin said, the world has adhered to a rules-based international order, developed with U.S. leadership, that has provided not just the United States, but the entire world an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity. Neither that rules-based order nor U.S. leadership must be allowed to falter, he said. "The world built by American leadership can only be maintained by American leadership," Austin said. "American leadership rallies our allies and partners to uphold our shared security. And it inspires ordinary people around the world to work together toward a brighter future." Inside the United States, Austin said, some Americans have shied away from the country's role as a global leader and prefer instead that the U.S. move toward isolationism. Austin said that's been a mistake in the past and is a mistake today, as well. "If we forfeit our position of responsibility, our rivals and our foes will be glad to fill that vacuum," he said. "In every generation, some Americans prefer isolation to engagement and they try to pull up the drawbridge. They try to kick loose the cornerstone of American leadership. And they try to undermine the security architecture that has produced decades of prosperity without great-power war." Were the U.S. to shirk its leadership role, he said, America's enemies and the enemies of its allies would only be emboldened. And that failure to lead would put the security and wellbeing of the United States and its allies at risk. "The cost of abdication has always far outweigh the cost of leadership," Austin said. "The world will only become more dangerous if tyrants and terrorists believe that they can get away with wholesale aggression and mass slaughter. America will only become less secure if dictators believe they can wipe a democracy off the map. And the United States will only pay a higher price if autocrats and zealots believe that they can force free people to live in fear." The U.S. has not shied away from its leadership role, Austin said, and will not. Instead, he said the U.S. has responded where crises have occurredsuch as Ukraine and Israeland has also continued to strengthen partnerships globally as a way to help future crises from developing. Following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Austin said he made the trip to Israel to assure partners there that the U.S. is committed to their security. "I flew to Israel to underscore our solidarity and our resolve, and to make it crystal-clear that America's commitment to Israel's security is ironclad," Austin said. Since then, he said, the U.S. has provided security assistance to Israel and helped get hostages held by Hamas returned home. "We will continue to do everything that we can to help secure the release of every man, every woman and every child seized by Hamas including American citizens," Austin said. In the Middle East, Austin said, the U.S. has also increased its own security posture. That now includes two carrier strike groups, an amphibious ready group, a Marine expeditionary unit, a guided-missile submarine, integrated air-defense and missile-defense forces, and fighter aircraft and bombers. Austin also said that U.S. leadership with Israel includes reinforcing important values, such as those embodied in the law of war. And one of those values is that civilians must be protected. It's something Austin said he had experience with during his time as an Army general operating in Iraq, and it's something he said the U.S. continues to remind Israel of as it fights against Hamas. "In this kind of a fight, the center of gravity is the civilian population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat," Austin said. "I have repeatedly made clear to Israel's leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative." The U.S. hasn't just provided security assistance to Israel, Austin said. The U.S. has also provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. This week, he said, the U.S. airlifted more than 54,000 pounds of U.N. medical supplies, clothing and food to those in Gaza. He said it won't be the last airlift of supplies. Going forward, Austin said, the U.S. remains committed also to peace in the Middle East. And that means, he said, there must be a two-state solution there. There must be a nation for the Jewish people, and there must be a nation for the Palestinians, as well. And those two nations must act as good neighbors. "We believe that Israelis and Palestinians must find a way to share the land that they both call home," Austin said. "And that means a path toward two states living side by side in mutual security ... a two-state solution remains the only viable way out of this tragic conflict that has ever been proposed." Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the U.S. also stepped up to its leadership role. Last year, for instance, Austin spearheaded the creation of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of some 50 nations that meets monthly and is committed to the security of Ukraine now and into the future. Since the February 2022 Russian invasion, the U.S., allies and partners have worked to get important weapons to the Ukrainians to allow them to defend themselves. Included there are High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS; Patriot air defense systems; Abrams tanks; and more, Austin said. U.S.-led efforts have helped Ukrainian forces weaken the Russian military, and Austin said that U.S. leadership and partner efforts must not stop until Ukraine is again free. "The outcome of this struggle will define global security for decades to come," he said. "And we don't have the option of sitting it out. President [Joe] Biden has laid down a clear objective: The United States seeks a free and sovereign Ukraine that can defend itself today and deter more Russian aggression in the future. And, so, we are working together with our allies and partners to help Ukraine build a future force that can ward off more Russian malice in the years to come." If the U.S. and partners fail to stand up to Russian aggression, Austin said, Russia will only be emboldened to do more. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine offers a grim preview of a world of tyranny and turmoil that should make us all shudder," he said. In the Pacific, Austin said China is the only rival with the intent and potentially the capacity to reshape the international order. "The PRC [People's Republic of China] hopes that the United States will stumble and become isolated abroad and divided at home," he said. "But together, we can prevent that fate. And we have made extraordinary progress, along with our allies and partners, in meeting the China challenge and forging a more secure Indo-Pacific." Across the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. is leading by strengthening partnerships there with other nations who value freedom and democracy. With the Philippines, for instance, Austin said the U.S. has embarked on an expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. That expansion will allow the U.S. access to four more Philippine military facilities. The U.S. and India last summer also unveiled a new direction defense industrial cooperation. "That strategy is already driving our work together on key defense platforms," he said. "We also rolled out a major deal to build aircraft engines in India. And when I was back in India last month, we announced our intent to co-produce armored vehicles with India our first time with any foreign partner." The U.S. has also been working closely with Japan, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, as well. Through the AUKUS partnership which includes Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. those three nations will help Australia acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, Austin said. In advance of the Reagan National Defense Forum, Austin said he met in California with British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who also serves as defense minister, for the second meeting of AUKUS defense ministers. The United States is a world leader, and its military remains the most lethal fighting force in human history, Austin said. Neither of those will change. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are the United States of America," Austin said. "It's not enough just to pursue our national interests. We must also live our national values. As President [Ronald] Reagan said, 'Our foreign policy should be to show by example the greatness of our system and the strength of American ideals.' We must ensure, as President Biden has said, that America remains 'a beacon to the world.' We will not let that beacon flicker or fade. In this uncertain hour, at this time of testing, the world looks to America again. And we must not give our friends, our rivals, or our foes any reason to doubt America's resolve." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel and the occupied territories: Suffering for civilians continues as hostilities resume ICRC - International Committee of the Red Cross Geneva (ICRC) -- Civilians have overwhelmingly borne the brunt of the hostilities in Gaza and Israel so far. Following the resumption of fighting, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) fears that the civilian population now faces increased suffering and urges the parties to the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties and harm. News release 02 December 2023 Israel and the occupied territories "A very high number of civilians have been killed and maimed, including thousands of children. Homes, hospitals, and other infrastructure critical to the survival of the civilian population have suffered colossal destruction," said Pascal Hundt, in charge of ICRC operations in Gaza. Current conditions do not allow for a meaningful humanitarian response, and I fear will spell disaster for the civilian population." The rules of international humanitarian law are clear and must be applied by all parties to the armed conflict: Civilians, including humanitarian workers and medical personnel, must be protected and respected, and everything possible must be done to avoid or minimize civilian casualties. Everything possible must be done to avoid or minimize damage to civilian homes and infrastructure such as medical facilities, water and electricity plants. Access of civilians to basic necessities and to goods essential to their survival must be ensured. Rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need must be granted. All those deprived of liberty must be treated humanely. Hostages must be released. The ICRC's humanitarian action seen over the last week has allowed some humanitarian aid into Gaza and families separated due to conflict to be reunited. We stand ready to support further humanitarian initiatives and will continue to seek access to all persons deprived of liberty. About the ICRC The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, impartial and independent organization with an exclusively humanitarian mandate that stems from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It helps people around the world affected by armed conflict and other violence, doing everything it can to protect their lives and dignity and to relieve their suffering, often alongside its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari December 2nd, 21:05 IDF Press Release Press Briefing 02.12.23 IDF Good week. This evening we announced the death of the commander of the Southern Brigade in the Gaza Division, Colonel Asaf Chamami, may his memory be a blessing. He fell on October 7 and was captured by the terrorist organization Hamas. Asaf led the fighting forces, fought with courage and bravery out of love for the State of Israel, and in his fall in defense of its civilians. 137 hostages, abducted on October 7, are still being held in Gaza. It is our duty to bring them all home. Dear families, you and your loved ones are our priority. IDF forces are now operating in the Gaza Strip and are progressing in the stages of combat. Today, the IDF and the ISA killed the terrorist Wisam Farahat. Wisam Farahat was the commander of the Sajaiya battalion of the terrorist organization Hamas. Farahat was responsible for the APC disaster in Operation Protective Edge, in which six IDF soldiers from the 13th Battalion of Golani were killed and Oron Shaul, may his memory be a blessing, was captured. Farahat planned and sent the terrorists on October 7 towards Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the brutal massacre that was carried out. We will continue to pursue each of the terrorists who participated in the October 7th massacre, and eliminate them. The operation in the Northern Gaza Strip generated military pressure and enabled the realization of the framework within which some of the hostages returned. Now, we are determined to continue to fight, dismantle Hamas, and bring all the hostages home. In the past day, we struck over 400 Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip, in which we eliminated Hamas commanders, Hamas fighters, Hamas terrorists, Hamas infrastructure, and we will continue to do so and dismantle Hamas. In the north, today, Air Force combat jets attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. During the day, we attacked targets from which rocket fire was carried out towards northern Israel. We are highly prepared in the north, and we will continue to respond to any attack or threat to the State of Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas hits two Israeli armored vehicles in northern Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The Ezzoddin Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Palestine's Hamas Resistance Movement, has hit two Israeli armored vehicles in the northern Gaza Strip. The Qassam Brigades hit the Israeli armored vehicles using anti-armor rockets dubbed Yasin 105, the group said in an announcement reported by Palestinian media on Saturday. Kissufim, a settlement near the Gaza Strip, was also targeted by short-range rockets, the announcement further said. The retaliatory attacks come as the Israeli regime is pressing ahead with its air campaign in Gaza, pummeling the besieged territory with airstrikes since a seven-day truce came to an end on Friday. Nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in less than two days since the regime resumed its air attacks. They are in addition to more than 15,500 fatalities caused in 48 days of war before the truce. Most of those killed in the Israeli attacks are women and children. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas strikes Israeli military assets with missiles and rockets IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Hamas says it has carried out a series of missile and rocket strikes against Israeli military forces and assets, as the occupying regime presses ahead with its brutal attacks on the Gaza Strip for a second day since a temporary ceasefire came to an end. In a press release on Saturday, the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said they had successfully destroyed an Israeli tank using anti-tank missiles and hit the turret of another tank with Yassin 105 rockets. Additionally, a group of Israeli soldiers inside a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza were targeted with TBG rockets. The Qassam Brigades also said they had targeted Israeli military forces and equipment at the Zikim training base with short-range Rajoom missiles. More than 15,200 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, when the Israeli regime launched a full-scale invasion of the besieged Gaza Strip. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah strikes more Israeli occupation sites on Lebanon border IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has targeted the Israeli occupation sites on border with Lebanon. The Islamic Resistance fighters continued on Saturday attacking the Israeli occupation sites on the Lebanon border. Hezbollah military media issued a statement to clarify the details of the attack on 'Khirbet Ma'er'. The full text of the statement that was published on the Al-Manar English Website is as follows: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. "Permission has been granted to those who are being fought because they were wronged, and indeed Allah is competent to give them victory." (Quran, 22:39) In support of our defiant Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and as part of backing its daring and honorable resistance: The Islamic Resistance fighters targeted on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 11:00, the artillery bunkers in the 'Khirbet Ma'er' Site with missiles, scoring direct hits. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni guns aimed at 'real enemy' Israel: Top official IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- A senior member of the Supreme Political Council of Yemen says the Arab nation's guns are aimed at the Zionist regime, which he called the "real enemy". "The Yemeni nation is a nation of Jihad. Our guns are aimed at the real enemy, which is Israel," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said, according to the Al-Mayadeen news network. He also said, "We are telling the Americans to return to where you came from." Addressing Arab countries, the Yemeni official questioned the effectiveness of their mere holding of meetings and conferences in the wake of the unrelenting assaults of the Zionist regime against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He added that Saudi Arabia must remove Palestinian resistance movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad from the terror list and replace them with the Zionist regime. The remarks come two weeks after the Yemeni navy declared that they would target any Israeli ship in their shooting range in response to the regime's crimes in the Gaza Strip. Since October 7, Israel has been incessantly bombarding residential areas in Gaza in what has been widely denounced as an act of "collective punishment" against the Palestinian people in response to a surprise retaliatory operation by Hamas against the occupying entity. 4354**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic countries should increase their efforts to stop Zionists' crimes: Iran FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The foreign ministers of Iran and Oman discussed the latest developments in Gaza during a phone call. Amirabdollahian consulted and discussed the latest developments in Gaza during a phone call with Oman's foreign minister, and said that the resumption of war crimes by the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza shows the indifference of this fake regime to international requests and world public opinion. Amirabdollahian said that it is necessary for all Islamic countries to increase their efforts to stop these crimes. "During my trip to Beirut last week, I heard from the leaders of the resistance that if the attacks of the Israeli regime resume, the response of the resistance will be regrettable and tougher than before. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza death toll mounts to 200 in new round of Israeli onslaught IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian Ministry of Health has announced that the number of martyrs from over the last 24 hours of criminal attacks by the Israeli regime's armed forces on various regions of the Gaza Strip reached 200. According to Palestinian media outlets, the Ministry of Health also declared on Saturday that the number of injured Palestinians reached 589 from Friday to the time of the official announcement. The Israeli regime's military forces resumed wide-ranging attacks on the civilians of the Gaza Strip on Friday immediately after the end of the 6-day ceasefire between the occupying regime and the Palestinian resistance movement. In response to the indiscriminate atrocities, Palestinian and Lebanese resistance fighters also targeted some gatherings of Israeli military forces. The Palestinian government's information center in Gaza earlier declared that the number of martyrs from the Israeli regime's strikes on the Gaza Strip reached over 15,000, including 6,150 children and over 4,000 women. As a result of the Israeli regime's strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7, over 6,500 people are still under the rubble and over 37,000 people have been injured in the besieged area. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel resume attacks on Gaza, Hamas and Hezbollah retaliate ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 2 December 2023 / 09:33 More than 180 people have been killed and hundreds of others wounded as Israeli forces resumed their bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian officials, after a week-long truce expired. Tehran(ISNA) - Eastern areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza came under intense bombardment as the deadline lapsed shortly after dawn on Friday, with columns of smoke rising into the sky, the Reuters news agency reported. Residents took to the road with belongings heaped in carts, searching for shelter further west. 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. Gaza health officials said Israeli air strikes had killed 184 people, wounded at least 589 others and hit more than 20 houses. The Israeli military dropped leaflets over Gaza City and southern parts of the enclave on Friday, urging civilians to flee to avoid the fighting, but rights groups have repeatedly warned there are no safe places in Gaza. 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. Arab states disappoint Earlier on Friday, the Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza urged Arab and Islamic countries today to introduce equipped mobile field hospitals to rescue the wounded in the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The government also urged the entry of hundreds of pieces of equipment and vehicles to assist the Palestinian Civil Defense in their efforts to retrieve the bodies of martyrs, which remain stuck under the rubble left behind by Israeli bombs. "We call on UNRWA to resume work in the Gaza and North governorates," the office said, adding that the aid that entered Gaza during the ceasefire period does not exceed 1% of the population's needs. Holding the Israeli occupation and the international community, especially Washington, fully responsible for the aggression, the government office stated that the sector requires the entry of a thousand trucks of aid and one million liters of fuel daily. Resistance engaged in violent confrontations with IOF on Gaza axes Martyr Omar al-Qassem Forces confirmed that its Resistance fighters targeted the invading Israeli occupation forces in al-Shalehat area west of Gaza City with mortar shells. Local sources reported fierce confrontations between Resistance fighters and Israeli occupation forces in al-Tawam area northwest of Gaza, coinciding with reports of sirens sounding in the Gaza envelope settlements. Al Mayadeen's correspondent also reported about violent confrontations in Beit Hanoun, north of the Strip, as well as in Tal al-Hawa, southwest of Gaza City. Palestinian Resistance fighters confronted advancing Israeli occupation tanks northwest of Gaza in the Sheikh Radwan area, coinciding with confrontations in al-Mughraqa and northern Gaza simultaneous with Israeli shelling targeting the northwest of the Strip. Hezbollah conducts five attacks on Israeli sites, in support of Gaza In support of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah, executed five operations against Israeli military sites in occupied northern territories. The Israeli forces violently struck the outskirts of the border towns of Kawkaba, Ainata, and Aitaroun with a number of shells of varius warheads. Field reporters speculate that the extreme reaction to the Hezbollah's operation indicates that the Resistance's strike on "Dishon" led to significant damage. The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, Hezbollah, mourned two of its fighters who were martyred while carrying out their Resistance duty on the path of Al-Quds, the party said on Friday. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gitanas Nauseda discussed security issues with the President of Egypt President of the Republic of Lithuania December 02, 2023 On Saturday, President Gitanas Nauseda met with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai. Regarding the security situation in the Middle East, the President stressed the need to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. Gitanas Nauseda said that Lithuania respects Israel's right to defend its state and citizens against the terrorist group Hamas but emphasized that such actions must adhere to humanitarian law and avoid causing civilian casualties. "The global security situation remains tense. The task of the international community is to achieve lasting peace both in the Middle East and in Europe. It is important to work together without forgetting the fundamental principles of humanity. Lithuania stands for a sustainable two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Our attention cannot be diverted from Russia's aggression against Ukraine," the President said. Gitanas Nauseda emphasized that the international community cannot allow Russia's imperialist and colonial ambitions to expand and must curb them. The President thanked the Egyptian leader for his support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula and called for continued support to Ukraine. He underscored the need to increase public resilience to disinformation and propaganda spread by Russia and used very actively in the Global South countries to spread fakes on food security. Gitanas Nauseda stressed that it is necessary to pressure Russia not to block the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as this poses a direct threat to increasing the global food crisis. Lithuania is ready to ship Ukrainian grain via Klaipeda to contribute to tackling the issue of food security at a global level. The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation. The President pointed out that positive dynamics have been observed in recent years in relations between Lithuania and Egypt and that there is a potential for expanding cooperation, especially in information technologies and energy. The Presidents of Lithuania and Egypt also discussed migration issues. Gitanas Nauseda underlined that Lithuania appreciates constructive cooperation with Egypt on illegal migration and the readmission of migrants. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel resumes strikes in Gaza as ceasefire expires People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 14:11, December 02, 2023 JERUSALEM/GAZA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- A fragile humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on Friday, with the conflicting parties accusing each other of violating the ceasefire deal. The Israeli army Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israel launched massive airstrikes, targeting over 200 sites in Gaza after the ceasefire expired at 07:00 local time Friday (0500 GMT). The Israeli attacks since Friday morning in Gaza resulted in 178 deaths and 589 injuries, the Hamas-run health ministry said late in the day. Benny Gantz, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Wartime Cabinet, said in a video statement on Friday that Israel made plans during the past week to expand its offensive in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a press conference the army struck areas booby-trapped with explosives, tunnel shafts used by militants, launch posts, and operational command centers. Hamas militants on Friday resumed launching rockets toward Israel, most of which were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system. No casualties have been reported, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service. The breakdown of the ceasefire also raises concerns for approximately 140 hostages still held captive in Gaza, after more than 100 were released during the truce. Qatari-mediated efforts, coordinated with Egypt and the United States, continued throughout Friday to halt the fire and release more hostages. An Israeli military spokesperson told reporters that despite the renewed hostilities, Israel hopes "to at least complete the stage of releasing all women and children in the deal." Fighting resumed also along the Israel-Lebanon border, causing three deaths and three injuries. Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite military group, said it attacked Israeli troops at the border to support the Palestinians in Gaza. The IDF said "Fighter jets, helicopters, and artillery struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon" in response to the fire by Hezbollah. The overall death toll in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict reached more than 15,000, while in Israel more than 1,200 have been killed, mostly during Hamas' surprise attack on Oct. 7 that triggered the conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 65 killed in Israel airstrikes on Gaza after truce expires People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:23, December 02, 2023 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: No more prisoner exchanges until complete end of Israeli war on Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 11:56 PM A senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says there will be no more prisoner exchanges with Israel as long as the regime's genocidal war against the Gaza Strip has not come to a complete end. "There are now no negotiations [on the issue of prisoners], and the official and final position of the Hamas movement and the resistance is that there will be no exchanges until the Zionist terrorist aggression [against Gaza] ends completely and finally," Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of the Hamas Political Bureau, was quoted by Palestinian media as saying in an interview with Al Jazeera news channel on Saturday. The two sides exchanged hundreds of prisoners during a seven-day truce agreement, which was mediated by Egypt and Qatar and ended on Friday. The truce marked a lull in an all-out Israeli aggression on the besieged territory, which began on October 7. The regime resumed its military onslaught after the deal expired. More than 15,200 people have so far been killed in Gaza with over 40,000 people wounded. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, 70 percent of victims of Israeli strikes on the blockaded territory are women and children. Elsewhere in his remarks, Arouri said since the beginning of the war, Hamas had set no conditions for releasing foreign captives or women and children, because the movement did not consider them as its targets. He stressed that the remaining Israeli prisoners held by Hamas are "soldiers and former soldiers and there will be no negotiations regarding their release until the end of the aggression." The Hamas official said the movement is prepared to exchange the bodies of Palestinian martyrs with those of Israeli captives, adding, however, that "we need time to exhume the bodies of the Zionist prisoners who were killed by the occupation in its raids on our people in Gaza." The Israeli regime, he added, believed that it could force the resistance to release the rest of captives by resuming the war, "but our official position is that any exchange deal will [only] be discussed after the end of the war." The Palestinian official noted, "We said from day one that the price for releasing the Zionist prisoners is the liberation of all our prisoners." Arouri stressed that the occupying regime "is delusional if it thinks it is able to impose its hegemony on us, and its first round of war failed miserably." "We are absolutely confident that the occupation will fail to take control of the Gaza Strip," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran president: World's silence, inaction embolden child-killing Zionist rulers Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 9:50 PM Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi has criticized the silence of the world's leaders in the face of the Israeli regime's horrendous crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, calling for efforts to end bombardment of the territory. Raeisi made the remarks in a Saturday phone call with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, during which the two sides discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments related to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. "We believe that the silence and inaction of the world's leaders and officials only embolden child-killing Zionist rulers [of Israel]," the Iranian president said. He added that various countries, including Japan, must make diplomatic endeavors in pursuit of four important priorities, which include "putting and end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza, sending humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, lifting the siege of the territory, and restoring the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people." The Israeli regime launched its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 following a surprise operation by the territory's resistance movements. More than 15,200 people have so far been killed in Gaza with over 40,000 people wounded. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, 70 percent of victims of Israeli strikes on the blockaded territory are women and children. Thousands more are missing and feared buried under the rubble. On Friday, the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, sounded a strong alarm about the toll being exacted on children in Gaza as a result of the war, which it called a "war on children." 'US main sponsor of Israeli war machine' Elsewhere in his remarks, Raeisi pointed to the United States' all-out backing for Israel's military onslaught, calling Washington "the main sponsor and supporter of the Israeli regime's war machine." The US, Israel's biggest and oldest ally, has provided the regime with thousands of arms consignments since the war on Gaza started. Washington, which has backed Tel Aviv's ferocious attacks as a means of "self-defense," has been also casting its veto against the UN Security Council resolutions that called on the occupying regime to cease its aggression. "With direct support from the US and by trampling on more than 400 international resolutions, the Zionist regime has dropped the equivalent of seven Hiroshima atom bombs on the people of Gaza since the beginning of the war on Gaza," Raeisi said. "At the same time, the United States brazenly calls on other countries to show self-restraint in the face of such crimes, so that, the fake Zionist regime would be able to continue its crimes and genocide with ease of mind," Iran's president said. Raeisi urged Japan and other countries to hold referendums "to objectively witness the extent of their people's support for the Palestinian nation, though the Western countries are very afraid of such a referendum." The Japanese prime minister, for his part, lauded Raeisi's positions on the ongoing developments in Gaza, while expressing concern about the continuation of humanitarian crisis in the territory. He also stressed the need for putting an end to attacks on civilians and sending humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Everything in Gaza is at breaking point: ICRC Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 6:57 PM The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says the humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip has reached a breaking point due to Israel's relentless bombardment. "Everything in Gaza is at the breaking point," ICRC Director General Robert Mardini said on Saturday as he was attending the COP28 global climate summit in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Mardini's comments came a day after Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza after a seven-day ceasefire with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas ended. He said Israel had resumed the devastating attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gaza, adding to the more than 15,200 people already killed in the onslaught. "It's a new layer of destruction coming on top of massive, unparalleled destruction of critical infrastructure, of civilian houses and neighborhoods," he told Reuters. The ICRC chief said people in Gaza were "living in constant fear of violent death" while coping with shortages of food and water caused by the attacks and the regime's blockade of Gaza. Mardini said hospitals in Gaza were working with limited resources. He said Gaza was in "shambles and rubble." Gaza's health authorities said earlier on Saturday that nearly 200 people had been killed since the resumption of Israeli attacks early Friday. Over 100 more people were feared dead after Israeli missiles targeted residential buildings in a large refugee camp in northern Gaza later on Saturday. Israel started its attacks on Gaza in early October after a surprise Hamas operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria: Fresh Israeli aggression an attempt to obscure failure in Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 5:32 PM Syria has condemned in the strongest terms Israel's overnight airstrikes on several points on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said by attacking the Syrian territory Israel has displayed a desperate attempt to cover up its abject failures in the Gaza Strip. "The Zionist entity committed a new act of aggression against Syria this morning in the hope that it can mask failure to achieve any of its declared objectives in the Palestinian enclave, resist facing realities and spark off a regional crisis," the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. It added, "Israel does not really understand that massacre of Palestinian children and deprivation of Palestinians of water, food and medicine will only cement the nation's resilience in the Gaza Strip and across the West Bank." The Syrian foreign ministry went on to describe Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territories as the main reason behind the ongoing Gaza conflict, stressing that certain Western governments are complicit in Israel's genocidal war and provide the regime's authorities with impunity. "The United States and Western governments have given Zionists the green light to continue killing and aggression against Palestinian people," the statement noted. "It is high time we stopped Israeli massacre of Palestinians and frenzied attacks on Syria and southern Lebanon, before the war being waged by Zionists and their allies in the Gaza Strip spills over and spreads to new regions," the ministry highlighted. Syria's official news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military official, said the Israeli strikes took place at around 1:34 a.m. local time on Saturday (2235 GMT Friday), and the missiles came from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights. The projectiles struck some targets in the vicinity of Damascus, and that Syrian air defenses shot most of them down, the report added. The strikes resulted in only "material losses," SANA noted. The upsurge in Israel's attacks against Syria comes following the Tel Aviv regime's bloody onslaught against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. According to the Gaza-based health ministry, over 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,500 children and 4,000 women, were killed in Israeli strikes. Many more dead are feared to be under the rubble. Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists. The Israeli regime rarely comments on its attacks on Syrian territories, which many see as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government's success in confronting and decimating terrorism. Israel has been one of the main supporters of terrorist groups that oppose the democratically-elected government of President Bashar al-Assad since the foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US sends deadly bunker buster bombs to Israel for Gaza war Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 5:30 PM The United States has sent more weapons to Israel, including deadly bunker buster bombs, to assist the regime in its war against the besieged Gaza Strip, The Wall Street Journal reports. Citing US officials, the American newspaper said Washington has provided Tel Aviv with 100 BLU-109 bombs that are capable of penetrating hardened structures before exploding. The bomb, which carries a warhead weighing more than 900 kilograms, has previously been used in some of the deadliest Israeli attacks on the populated Palestinian territory, including an airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp that killed more than 100 people last month. The New York Times reported back then that the regime dropped at least two 2,000-pound bombs the second largest type in its arsenal on the site of the densely populated refugee camp. Israel also used the bombs to strike Gaza's tunnels that are a lifeline of the underground economy for the enclave totally blockaded by land, air, and sea since the regime waged its war on the territory. Tel Aviv alleges that the Hamas resistance movement has built its headquarters in bunkers and tunnels. In mid-November, the regime's forces raided al-Shifa Hospital, following days of heavy attacks in the area surrounding one of the largest medical centers in the Gaza Strip. Israel claimed that a cross-border tunnel had been built under the building. Israeli soldiers entered the facility while tanks and bulldozers were stationed in the courtyard of the hospital, where around 7,000 people were sheltering, along with 1,500 patients and medical staff. Hamas has strongly rejected the allegations, saying that Israel "which had no military achievements in Gaza, wants to take revenge on civilians and patients." Hamas issued a statement in response to the crimes in the hospital, holding Israel and the United States fully responsible for the consequences of the attack. It said that "the United States is complicit in the occupation's crime in al-Shifa hospital." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni recruits stage parade in Sana'a before joining Hamas in Gaza war Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 4:21 PM Thousands of fighters from Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement recruited to back up Palestinian group Hamas in its struggle against Israel have staged a parade in the Yemeni capital city of Sana'a, before heading to the Gaza Strip to help their Palestinian brethren. On Saturday, the new military recruits, armed with rifles and waving Yemeni as well as Palestinian flags, marched through the al-Sabeen Square and streets nearby. They held up placards and carried banners calling for a boycott of American and Israeli products. The participants also vociferously chanted slogans like "At your service, O Al-Aqsa", "O al-Quds, God's soldiers are coming", "O al-Quds, Ansarullah is coming", "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" while expressing rage and indignation over the continued Israeli atrocities and crimes in Gaza. The new Yemeni military recruits underlined that Palestinians and their resistance fighters will not be left alone, as they will stand by their side and are fully prepared for any possible scenario. "On this great day, the Yemeni people affirm their readiness, as the Ansarullah leader (Abdul-Malik al-Houthi), may God protect him, said: 'Open the path for us, and you will find that the Yemeni people, in hundreds of thousands, are ready to move towards defending the noble al-Aqsa Mosque and joining their brothers in Palestine," Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Supreme Political Council, said. He added, "These crowds demonstrate the readiness of the Yemeni people and their awareness and concern for the central cause of the Muslim world." On November 9, Yemeni Armed Forces launched a batch of ballistic missiles at various sensitive targets lying across the southern part of the occupied territories. Yemen's al-Masirah television network, citing the forces' spokesman, reported at the time that the projectiles hit military targets in the Umm al-Rashrash area in the city of Eilat. "Saree also confirmed that the operation had successfully achieved its objectives and led to direct casualties," the report added. The official reiterated that the Yemeni forces would continue to carry out their military operations "until the Israeli aggression against our brothers in Gaza stops." Days earlier, Yemeni forces had launched a large-scale drone strike against "sensitive" targets in the occupied territories in a show of support for Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. On November 19, Yemen's Ansarullah fighters seized Galaxy Leader, a ship believed to be operated by a company that is ultimately owned by a major Israeli businessman with links to the Israeli cabinet. Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. According to the Gaza-based health ministry, over 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,500 children and 4,000 women, were killed in Israeli strikes. Many more dead are feared to be under the rubble. Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel pulls back negotiating team from Qatar, as truce talks hit 'dead end' Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 4:39 PM Israel says it has ordered its Mossad negotiating team in Qatar to return, following a deadlock in the talks on extending a truce with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. "Following the impasse in the negotiations and at the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, David Barnea, head of the Mossad, ordered his team in Doha to return to Israel," Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Saturday. The statement further accused Hamas of failing to fulfill its obligations under the truce agreement. Qatar is mediating efforts to secure a renewed pause in the ongoing war in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Mossad team spent about a week in Qatar to take part in talks aimed at achieving a temporary pause in the deadly onslaught. United Nations agencies and other international organizations have condemned the Israeli regime for resuming its intense bombings of Gaza, which have killed nearly 200 Palestinians over the past two days. Israel waged its war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched an operation against the occupied territories on that day in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. Tel Aviv also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis. The truce, which was extended twice, began on November 24. It had paused brutal Israeli strikes on Gaza that began in early October and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians. The truce saw the release of 105 Israeli captives held in Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire had allowed some humanitarian aid into Gaza but the aid supplies were far below what is needed, according to aid workers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli attack kills over 100 Palestinians in Gaza refugee camp Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 3:23 PM A brutal Israeli attack targeting a refugee camp in Gaza has killed more than 100 people as the regime continues with its relentless aggression against the besieged Palestinian territory. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said in a Saturday report that many people had also been injured in the Israeli missile strike that took place earlier in the day and targeted the Jabalia refugee camp in the north of Gaza. It said the attack had targeted a residential building belonging to a large family in Jabalia, adding that many members of the family were still missing under the rubble. The attack comes a day after the Israeli regime resumed its brutal military campaign against Gaza after a seven-day ceasefire deal with Gaza's ruling Hamas movement came to an end. Nearly 200 people were killed in the renewed round of attacks on Gaza until early Saturday, according to Gaza Health Ministry authorities. Israel's aggression against Gaza started on October 7 hours after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on the Israeli-occupied territories of Palestine near Gaza. More than 15,000 people had been killed in Gaza in the first round of Israel attacks before the truce with Hamas came into force on November 24. Israel had targeted Jabalia and other camps hosting refugees in Gaza in its first round of attacks. More than a million people have been displaced in Gaza as a result of the Israeli aggression. Rights organizations and governments have repeatedly condemned Israel's indiscriminate targeting of places of gathering for displaced Palestinians, including hospitals, schools, mosques and refugee camps in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah strikes Israeli military command center with artillery, rockets Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 2:16 PM Fighters from the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah have struck Israeli military positions close to the border between Lebanon and the 1948 occupied territories. Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Manar television channel, citing a Hezbollah statement released on Saturday, reported that the group launched projectiles at a command center belonging to the Israeli army at Biranit barracks in northern Israel, causing casualties in the targeted area. The Lebanese resistance fighters also struck positions in the Khirbat Maer Israeli post near the border. The Israeli army later stated that shells were fired at the Shomera area in northern Israel, and that it responded with artillery fire. Israeli shelling, meanwhile, targeted the outskirts of the southern Lebanese border towns of Tayr Harfa, Naqoura, Maroun al-Ras, Yaroun, Blida, Alma al-Shaab and al-Qawzah, al-Manar TV said. The artillery and rocket strikes were conducted as Israel keeps bombing the besieged Gaza Strip after a seven-day truce with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas ended. Hezbollah also announced the death of one more of its fighters, identified as Khodor Abboud, who hailed from the southern Lebanese town of Deir Ames. On Friday, Hezbollah said two of its members were among three people killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. The group in separate statements identified the members killed as Mohammad Mazraani and Wajih Msheik. A source close to the group said Mazraani was killed in his home along with his mother Nasifa. The Israeli regime has been waging sporadic attacks on southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a devastating war against the besieged Gaza Strip. Hezbollah has mounted near daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions at the border, while Israel has conducted air and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon. Senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah has 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," Fadlallah noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan says Netanyahu, 'the butcher of Gaza', must be tried in ICC Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 2:09 PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he called "the butcher of Gaza," must be tried in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing war crimes in the besieged Palestinian territory. The Turkish leader once again urged the court in The Hague to ensure accountability for Netanyahu, who has "already written his name in history as the butcher of Gaza." He said the Netanyahu regime's massacre in Gaza is etched in history as a "black stain." "This is state terrorism. We cannot stay silent against this state terrorism." The Turkish president has repeatedly called for the occupying regime to be held accountable for war crimes in the Gaza Strip since Tel Aviv waged its war on the populated Palestinian territory almost two months ago. Israel has so far killed more than 15,200 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, which said Saturday that 70 percent of those killed are women and children. "The occupation (forces) continues to expand its bombing of civilians after the end of the humanitarian pause," the ministry said, referring to a week-long ceasefire that expired on Friday. Chance for peace lost Referring to the resumption of Israel's attacks on Gaza, Erdogan said that the chance for peace in the Palestinian territory was lost for now due to "Israel's uncompromising approach." "We have always emphasized that we are in favor of a permanent ceasefire rather than a humanitarian break." The truce that started on Nov. 24 had been extended twice. It saw the release of 105 Israeli captives held in Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners. The temporary ceasefire also allowed some humanitarian aid into Gaza but the aid supplies were far below what is needed, according to aid workers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel launches intense shelling of Gaza on second day of truce breach Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 11:18 AM The Israeli regime launched an intense bombardment campaign on various areas in the Gaza Strip on Saturday as the occupying entity presses ahead with its genocidal war against Palestinians in the besieged territory for a second day in a row after the truce collapsed. Palestine's official Wafa news agency said the Israeli occupation army continued its violent bombardment of the Gaza Strip by land, sea and air since the early hours of Saturday, which resulted in "killing and injuring dozens of civilians." The news agency said the Israeli aggression mainly targeted the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis. "Israeli warplanes have intensified their bombardment of the eastern and central areas of Khan Younis since the pre-dawn hours," Wafa said, adding that the attacks leveled to the ground four homes as well as three mosques in al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis. Occupation warplanes also launched a series of violent raids on homes in Sheikh Nasr and Bani Suhaila in Khan Younis, according to the news agency. In the central Gaza Strip, the Israeli warplanes and gunboats continued to bomb several areas in Deir al-Balah. The warplanes also targeted homes in al-Tawam, Sheikh Radwan, Jabalia, and Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestine's Shehab news agency confirmed the Israeli aggression on Saturday, saying the Israeli regime's warplanes bombed "more than 50 targets in an intensive attack on the Khan Yunis area." The news agency added that the occupying entity had attacked more than "400 targets" in the Gaza Strip since the end of the truce, resulting in the death of over 200 people, the injury of at least 589 others and destruction of more than 20 homes. Israel waged its war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched an operation against the occupied territories on that day in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. Tel Aviv also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis. The truce, which was extended twice, began on November 24. It had paused brutal Israeli strikes on Gaza that began in early October and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Resistance won't allow Israel to accomplish its objectives in Gaza, says Hezbollah official Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 8:37 AM A senior Hezbollah official says the Lebanese resistance fighters will never allow the occupying Israeli regime to attain its objectives in the Gaza Strip, stressing that resumption of Israeli attacks in the enclave comes on orders of the United States. "The Gaza war has been an American onslaught ever since it broke out [on October 7]. All positions of US statesmen and developments unfolding on the ground attest to such a fact. Washington is not simply complicit in the Zionist occupiers' aggression against Palestinians, but it is rather the key decision-maker of such atrocities," Vice President of the Executive Council of Hezbollah Sheikh Ali Damoush said. He made the remarks in a sermon to worshipers at the weekly Friday Prayers in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut. He added that the occupying Israeli regime is nothing but a pawn in the hands of the US to advance its agendas in the West Asia region. Damoush stressed that "Washington's efforts to burnish its image before the world public opinion by pretending to avoid air strikes against civilians and providing aid supplies to Gaza will not fool anyone, and cannot help US officials duck responsibility in the ongoing carnage." World nations must openly and strongly express their opinions this time, and put pressure on Americans to stop this insane war, the high-ranking Hezbollah official said. "Nowadays, everyone must take on their moral and humanitarian responsibility in the face of crimes being committed against civilians in Gaza. Resistance factions in Gaza and across the region will never allow Israel to achieve its objectives. The Axis of Resistance will also never allow the United States and Israel to have the upper hand in the region," Sheikh Damoush said. The top Hezbollah official emphasized that the resilience and steadfastness of Gazans rendered Israel unable to obtain any military gains in the first round of aggression, stating that the regime failed miserably in its ground incursion into Gaza. The Zionist enemy had initially set goals for the war in Gaza, the most important of which were the destruction of Hamas resistance movement and release of captives, but it could not reach any of them, Sheikh Damoush highlighted. "The Zionist regime, which failed to achieve any of its declared goals in the first seven weeks of the Gaza war, will likewise not reap anything this time, no matter how long the onslaught would last. "The resistance front has not sustained any damage in its military structure, remains strong and capable, and continues its battles determinedly and mightily. The entire Axis of Resistance is standing by the side of Gazans, while the Israeli army is frustrated and has no confidence in achieving its goals," the top Hezbollah official said. Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements 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 Israeli aggression has so far killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pneumonia, bird flu, other outbreaks prompt concerns of new contagion in Asia Few events have affected states' security and prosperity more than a pandemic. A commentary by Zachary Abuza 2023.12.02 -- Hospitals in China are being inundated with respiratory infections, particularly affecting children. While not widespread internationally, yet, there are reports of similar outbreaks as far as Ireland. But it's not the only public health scare at the moment. COVID-19 cases are spiking again, prompting fears of a new variant emerging as China's public health authorities, never known for their candor, have not revealed much about the wave of recent infections. Meanwhile, avian influenza (H5N1) has been spreading in 2022-2023, with the latest outbreak reported in Japan. And Indian public health officials in September worked to contain an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus, which infected many but fortunately only caused two deaths. Is the world ready for another virus transmitted from animals to humans that spreads rapidly? Has the world learned sufficient lessons from the last pandemic and is China now more transparent? The answers to these questions are far from a resounding "yes." Now is the time for public health officials to start putting in place more efficient information sharing, collaborative data analysis, and response plans so nations are not caught unaware like they were in 2019 with COVID-19. Human deaths from bird flu China said the surge in respiratory infections appears to be caused by a mix of bacteria and viruses. They include seasonal influenza and the bacteria-caused mycoplasma pneumoniae that in turn causes respiratory tract infections, Chinese health authorities said. No novel coronavirus has been detected, and no deaths have been reported. As for H5N1, also called bird flu and avian influenza, several Asian and Southeast Asian countries reported outbreaks in 2023. In Indonesia, a single H5N1outbreak led to 4,400 ducks being infected in Kalimantan alone, although there were no known cases of human transmission. In Cambodia, two people died from H5N1, the first reported human transmissions since 2014. Authorities announced a large H5N1 outbreak in poultry flock in November near the Vietnamese border. Still, no human transmissions were reported, nor was there evidence of bird flu spreading to Vietnam. Chinese officials also reported outbreaks of H5N1 in July. There were six human transmissions of another bird flu variant, H5N6, in 2023 in China. The most recent human transmission, in Chongqing, China, in September, caused one death. China has reported 88 cases of human transmission of H5N6 since 2014, with a fatality rate of 52%. Nipah rears its head The most recent outbreak in Kerala, India, of Nipah, a zoonotic virus, is thought to have been transmitted to humans from fruit bats. A zoonotic virus can spread from animals to people, and Nipah has a human fatality rate of between 40% and 75%. The virus is transmitted from excrement, saliva or urine that infects fruit, which in turn enters the human food chain, either directly or indirectly, through pigs. Human-to-human transmission is caused by respiratory droplets and bodily fluids. There is no approved vaccine, though an mRNA vaccine is being tested. To date, the rate of human-to-human transmission - (the R-Value - remember that?) - has been low. In epidemiology, the R-value is the reproductive ratio of a virus - that is, the number of people one person carrying the virus can infect. But the one thing that concerns public health officials is the long incubation period of the Nipah virus, meaning that people can infect a large number of people before they know they themselves are infected. Nipah's symptoms are not unique - fever, cough, headache and body pains in the early stages, with delirium beginning in the final stages. The Nipah virus was detected in Malaysia and Singapore in September 1998. That outbreak infected 265 people, causing 105 deaths. Back then, pigs were the host, and authorities responded with a mass cull. There have been no outbreaks in either country since 1999. In India, though, the September outbreak is the sixth one since 2001. And neighboring Bangladesh, WHO says has seen 11 separate outbreaks of Nipah from 2001-2011, which have led to the deaths of 237 people of 335 infected (71%). The Philippines had an outbreak in 2014 that was transmitted through horse meat. Governments in Southeast Asia have been conducting testing. In the Philippines, schools canceled classes briefly in Cagayan d'Oro amid fears of an outbreak. Authorities in Indonesia's Bali stepped up monitoring at the airport. There were no signs of the disease in either country, but public health officials are clearly jumpy. Can economies take another hit? Were sufficient lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic learned and uniformly embraced to be able to deal with a large outbreak of one of these infections is the first concern. One lesson learned was that being transparent led to punishments, and the next time around countries may not be so forthcoming. For instance, countries were often punished with travel bans and other scrutiny for being open about the influx of new variants. They found there was a short-term political and economic incentive in holding back such information, although that's exactly what should not be done. Second, after a much-needed lull, there is always a concern about complacency and societal fatigue. Could governments impose new rounds of public health lockdowns and quarantines, even at a local level, when China itself has abandoned its draconian micro-quarantining policy? Third, the national responses were inconsistent. For example, wealthy Singapore imposed very severe lockdowns, while much poorer Indonesia was highly reluctant to impose any for fear of slowing the economy. Additionally, governments across tourism-dependent Southeast Asia would have to decide whether the advantages of keeping borders open outweigh the risks to public health. Tourism this year in the region still lags 2019 levels. As it is, economies in Southeast Asia have downgraded their growth targets for 2023, because of a slower than expected post-COVID recovery and China's sharp economic downturn. The specter of an economic slump caused by another pandemic is grim. Fourth, while there is always a concern that public health budgets have been cut after COVID-19 as governments have sought to get economies growing again, it is critically important to still invest in public health monitoring. The United States government has made important investments in Southeast Asia, including in Thailand and Vietnam, to detect emerging diseases. Fifth, there are also new governments in Thailand and Cambodia, and will be soon in Indonesia. The new administrations in the Philippines and Malaysia emerged as the pandemic was winding down and are untested in dealing with public health challenges. Myanmar, wedged between India, Bangladesh, Thailand and China, remains a public health blackhole, as spending in that sector has collapsed with the military government increasing defense spending. Swaths of the country are conflict zones. And Bangladesh, which also goes to polls soon, is in the middle of intense electoral strife. The recent infection outbreaks in the region should serve as a reminder that little has impacted states' security and prosperity more than a pandemic. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia. 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 December 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 Israel Bans Entry of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through Rafah Crossing Sputnik News 20231202 MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that Israel had banned the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing on the enclave's border with Egypt. "Today, Israeli occupation forces informed all organizations and entities operating at the Rafah border crossing that the entry of aid trucks from the Egyptian side to the Gaza Strip is prohibited, starting from today until further notice," the organization said on X on Friday. The PRCS added that the move aggravated the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip and complicated the work of humanitarian organizations. On Friday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said that Palestinian movement Hamas had violated the truce between Israel and Hamas that had been in effect since November 24. As a result, the Israeli military resumed fighting in the enclave. On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Defense Forces Says Struck Hamas Command Centers in Gaza Strip Sputnik News 20231202 MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck the infrastructure of Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, targeting operational command centers and underground facilities. "In the past hours, terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip was targeted and struck. The targets included operational command centers in which Hamas terrorists were operating, underground sites, and a military compound from which anti-tank missiles were launched at soldiers earlier today," the IDF said on Telegram on Friday. On Friday morning, the IDF said Hamas broke a pause in hostilities and opened fire on Israeli territory, and the Israeli military resumed hostilities against the Palestinian movement in the Gaza Strip. In a separate development the Palestinian enclave's Health Ministry has issued a statement that the death toll in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip after the expiration of the ceasefire has reached 178 people. "The death count as a result of Israeli aggression from the morning until now has risen to 178, and 589 were wounded, most of whom are children and women," the ministry said on Telegram. Earlier, a ministry spokesman said the death toll from Israeli strikes on the Palestinian enclave after the expiration of the ceasefire on Friday exceeded 109 people. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No: 306, 2 December 2023, Press Release Regarding the United Nations Security Council's Decision on Lifting Arms Embargo on Somalia Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs We welcome the decision taken during the United Nations Security Council session on 1st of December, lifting the arms embargo on Somalia which has been in effect since 1992. We wish this historic decision will usher a new era which will sow the seeds of peace, prosperity and strong hopes for the future of Somalia. Turkiye, as always, will continue to stand by the people of Somalia and support Somalia in this new era. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: Engagement with Sudan, Red Sea vessel attacks, SDGs disabilities promise 2 December 2023 - UN engagement with Sudan will continue in the wake of the decision to terminate its political mission in the country, the Spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. On Friday, the Security Council adopted a resolution to close the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) following a request last month from the authorities. UNITAMS was established in June 2020 to provide support to Sudan for an initial 12-month period during its transition to democratic rule following the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power for 30 years. Sudan's military Government, whose forces have been battling the RSF militia for control of the country since mid-April, has said that the UN mission was failing to meet expectations. Concern for civilians The Secretary-General has taken note of the Council resolution, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement issued on Friday evening. He added that the UN Country Team in Sudan will continue its essential work there, including providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance. "The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the escalating conflict in the Sudan and its devastating impact on civilians and will continue to engage with all Sudanese stakeholders in support of the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a peaceful and secure future," the statement continued. "He reiterates his call to the warring parties to reach an agreement on an immediate ceasefire and engage in discussions to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities. Security Council condemns attacks on vessels in the Red Sea The Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms recent attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against a commercial vessel in the Red Sea, which are occurring against the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza. The 15 members also recalled ongoing threats and previous attacks against oil terminals under the control of the Government of Yemen. They issued a statement on Friday demanding "that such attacks and action cease immediately." The Council also called for the immediate release of the MV Galaxy Leader and its crew. The cargo ship, which was hijacked on 19 November, is reportedly owned by an Israeli businessman and operated by Japan, according to international media. Members underlined the importance of the navigational rights and freedoms of all vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, in accordance with international law. They also stressed the importance of enhancing international and regional cooperation to counter threats to peace and security in the region. Persons with disabilities face discrimination despite SDG promise: Guterres Persons with disabilities must be at the decision-making table and across countries' efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - from poverty eradication, to health, education, and climate action. That's the message from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed on 3 December. The 17 SDGs were adopted by world leaders in 2015 and have a 2030 deadline. Mr. Guterres said achieving the goals requires living up to the promise to leave no one behind, especially the 1.3 billion persons with disabilities worldwide. However, they continue to face systemic discrimination and barriers that restrict their meaningful inclusion in all areas of society. "Truly sustainable development for persons with disabilities requires a laser-like focus on their needs and rights not only as beneficiaries, but as active contributors across social, economic and political life," he said. The UN chief urged everyone "to work side-by-side with persons with disabilities to design and deliver solutions based on equal rights in every country and community." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of Vice President Kamala Harris's Meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan December 02, 2023 Vice President Kamala Harris met today with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). The Vice President thanked the King for his continued leadership in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for Jordan's leadership in providing vital humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including its three airdrops of medical supplies to the field hospital that it has established in Gaza. The Vice President discussed the importance of the recent pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas which saw the release of more than 100 hostages out of Gaza and resulted in much-needed humanitarian assistance entering Gaza, before it was violated by Hamas and the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to supporting efforts to reach a new deal. The Vice President discussed U.S. ideas for post-conflict planning in Gaza, including efforts on reconstruction, security, and governance. She emphasized that these efforts can only succeed if they are pursued in the context of a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people, toward a state of their own led by a revitalized Palestinian Authority and backed by significant support from the international community and the countries of the region. The Vice President reiterated the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to a two-state solution, and noted it is the best path to durable peace and security. She emphasized the Palestinians' right to dignity and self-determination and that Israelis and Palestinians must enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, and prosperity. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of Vice President Harris's Meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates December 02, 2023 Vice President Kamala Harris met today with President Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). The Vice President congratulated Sheikh Mohammed on the success of COP28 and welcomed the creation of the UAE's $30 billion ALTERRA Fund. The leaders discussed the latest developments in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Vice President emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to secure the release of all hostages who are being held in Gaza, and to ensure there is a sustained flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The Vice President emphasized the importance of the recent deal that led to an extended pause in the fighting, noting that it, before it was violated by Hamas, successfully got more than 100 hostages out while substantially increasing vital humanitarian assistance. The Vice President discussed U.S. ideas for post-conflict planning in Gaza including efforts on reconstruction, security, and governance, and accelerated U.S.-UAE coordination on day-after planning. She emphasized that these efforts can only succeed if they are pursued in the context of a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people towards a state of their own led by a revitalized Palestinian Authority and have significant support from the international community and the countries of the region. The Vice President made clear that Hamas cannot control Gaza, which is untenable for Israel's security, the well-being of the Palestinian people, and regional security. The leaders also discussed the importance of deterring any state or non-state actors from seeking to expand the conflict. The Vice President also raised other regional issues, including her concerns about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Sudan. The Vice President reaffirmed the enduring U.S. commitment to UAE's security and the importance of the robust and growing economic relationship. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of Vice President Harris's Call with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar December 02, 2023 Vice President Kamala Harris spoke today with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar. The Vice President thanked the Amir for his efforts in securing a deal between Israel and Hamas that provided an extended pause in the fighting which resulted in the release of more than 100 hostages, including Americans, while substantially increasing the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, before the pause was violated by Hamas. The Vice President emphasized that the United States would remain committed to relentlessly pursuing the release of all the hostages in close cooperation with Qatar and other regional partners and expressed continued support for extended pauses in the fighting to get hostages out and aid in. They discussed the importance of planning for the day after the fighting ends in Gaza. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Global Times Surprisingly, on Friday night, many people in the outskirts of Beijing witnessed the aurora borealis. This is the second time the Chinese capital, located at 40 degrees north latitude, has reported the occurrence of the aurora borealis, according to media reports. On Friday night, the auroras appeared in many high-latitude areas of China, including Northeast China's Heilongjiang and North China's Inner Mongolia. According to photos taken by astronomy enthusiasts, as the night sky was illuminated by red lights. Nonetheless, what surprised people the most was that auroras were also observed in Beijing, a lower latitude area. Observers in Beijing's suburban areas Huairou and Mentougou districts reported seeing the auroras. According to China National Geographic Channel, this is the second recorded aurora sighting in Beijing's history. The last time auroras appeared in Beijing was 20 years ago in 2003, according to media reports. The occurrence of auroras is due to solar charged particle streams (solar wind) entering the Earth's magnetic field. Influenced by the geomagnetic field, these high-energy particles are directed towards the polar regions. The luminous phenomenon is caused by collisions between these particles and atoms in the upper atmosphere near the Earth's north and south poles. Due to the relatively low geomagnetic latitude in China, even when there is strong geomagnetic activity, it is difficult to observe obvious aurora phenomena, according to China Weather Network on Friday night. However, auroras often occur at altitudes of 100 kilometers or even 300 to 400 kilometers, which is high enough to cross over thousands of kilometers of horizon. Therefore, it is possible to see auroras in the far northern regions of China under suitable conditions, China Weather Network, a website operated by China Meteorological Administration said on Friday. Observing auroras in Beijing is described as "very lucky." According to reports, the observation of auroras in many northern regions of China this time was due to geomagnetic storm activity. Although auroras are commonly seen in high latitudes, the range of aurora occurrence can expand if geomagnetic storms are particularly strong. According to records, during intense geomagnetic storms, auroras can even be visible in equatorial regions. Therefore, it is possible to see auroras in Beijing, which is located at a latitude of 40 degrees, said Zhu Jin, a researcher at the Beijing Planetarium and editor-in-chief of the magazine Amateur Astronomer, as reported by Red Star News on Friday. According to Zhu, there were reports of auroras observed in Beijing's Pinggu district in 2003. On Thursday, the National Space Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Center of the China Meteorological Administration issued a geomagnetic storm warning, forecasting the possibility of geomagnetic storm activity from Thursday to Saturday. It was forecast that on Friday, a moderate to severe geomagnetic storm, or even a severe geomagnetic storm, may occur, with geomagnetic activity expected to continue until Saturday. Zhu noted that geomagnetic storms can have an impact on shortwave communication, but due to their relatively short duration, the impact on the human body is minimal and can be ignored. Readout of Vice President Harris's Meeting with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt December 02, 2023 Vice President Kamala Harris met today with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). The Vice President thanked President Sisi for his efforts in securing a deal between Israel and Hamas that provided an extended pause in the fighting and which resulted in the release of more than 100 hostages, including Americans, while substantially increasing the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, before the pause was violated by Hamas. The Vice President also thanked President Sisi for his work to help evacuate American citizens from Gaza. She emphasized that the United States would remain committed to relentlessly pursuing the release of all the hostages in close cooperation with regional partners and expressed continued support for extended pauses in the fighting to get hostages out and aid in. The Vice President reiterated that under no circumstances will the United States permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the besiegement of Gaza, or the redrawing of the borders of Gaza. The Vice President discussed U.S. ideas for post-conflict planning in Gaza including efforts on reconstruction, security, and governance. She emphasized that these efforts can only succeed if they are pursued in the context of a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people towards a state of their own led by a revitalized Palestinian Authority and have significant support from the international community and the countries of the region. The Vice President made clear that Hamas cannot control Gaza, which is untenable for Israel's security, the well-being of the Palestinian people, and regional security. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Iron Swords - Day 57 - 02 December 2023 Israel is open to negotiating a ceasefire and detainees held by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip , Reuters and the Wall Street Journal quoted an Israeli official as saying as the fighting continued. This official from Washington said that Israel is ready to give additional pauses and can negotiate while the fighting continues, according to Reuters. He added that releasing the largest possible number of detainees is a "top priority" for Israel, and said, "We have learned lessons from our operations in northern Gaza and are applying them." The Israeli official also said - according to what the agency reported - that Israel is working on a plan to reduce the damage to civilians in any operation in southern Gaza, as he claimed. Reuters quoted an American official - whom it described as a senior - that the United States is working with Israel "on a plan to reduce the harm to civilians in any operation south of Gaza." In turn, the Wall Street Journal quoted an American official as saying that Israel pledged to carry out a more targeted military operation with the aim of what was described as reducing civilian casualties and damage to buildings and other infrastructure. In this regard, Qatar - which played a pivotal role in the mediation efforts - said that negotiations are still ongoing with the Israelis and Palestinians to return to the truce, but the renewed Israeli bombing of Gaza complicates the mediation efforts. For its part, the Wall Street Journal quoted Egyptian officials as saying that the mediators from Egypt and Qatar failed to reach a breakthrough yesterday, Friday, regarding the truce in Gaza, and they said that the mediators were expected to continue the talks today, but they faltered against the backdrop of determining who the Islamic Resistance Movement would release ( Hamas ) later. The officials said - according to the newspaper - that Israel wants Hamas to release its remaining women and children, and the movement is offering instead to release the bodies of dead and elderly detainees. The truce that began on November 24 has been extended twice, and Israel said it could continue if Hamas released 10 detainees every day, but the mediators were unable to find a formula to release more detainees, including Israeli soldiers. A Palestinian official said that the collapse of the truce occurred after Israel demanded that Hamas release female soldiers detained by Hamas. Israel published a link to a map showing Gaza divided into hundreds of areas, and said it would be used in the future to determine safe areas. Despite this, Israel is bombing Rafah and other areas in the south, where hundreds of thousands of Gazans are taking refuge due to the fighting in the north. Medics and witnesses said that the bombing was intense yesterday in Khan Yunis and Rafah. For his part, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at a press conference in California, "We will continue to work with Israel, Egypt and Qatar in efforts aimed at returning to calm," blaming the Hamas movement. The Wall Street Journal quoted a US official as saying that Israel pledged to carry out a more targeted military operation with the aim of reducing civilian casualties and damage to buildings and other infrastructure. The official said that US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken , pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli war government about how long the war would last and did not receive a clear answer. The officials explained that international pressure may force Israel to stop its operations by the beginning of the year, especially if civilian casualties continue at high levels, a timetable that Israel has not accepted. Senator Mark Warner, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Reuters that Washington should put pressure on Israel, adding, "We must push Israel to realize that this is not only a military conflict, but rather a conflict for the hearts and minds of people in the world and people in the United States." Operational Update Israel renewed its assertion that the war against Hamas continues until the elimination of the Palestinian movement, which is listed on the terrorist list in the United States and other countries. Israeli government spokesman Ofir Gendelman said in a press conference from Tel Aviv: The war is not complete, and will not end until the elimination of Hamas, adding: The war will continue no matter how long it takes until all of Hamas is destroyed and the kidnappers are returned. When he received US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said, The ground operation will take several months. Blinken responded by saying: I dont think you have many months, referring to the need to end the war quickly. Blinken asked the Israelis how long they expected the military campaign in the Gaza Strip to continue, and he did not get a clear answer. Political analyst Joab Stern said, "This war has no clear end if Israel wants to achieve its declared goals." However, the Israeli analyst added in his interview with Al-Hurra website, saying, Israel cannot fight an endless war, and therefore we cannot currently predict a specific time for the end of this war. The strategic expert, retired Major General Samir Faraj, said that Israel, after more than 50 days of fighting, has not achieved anything of its goals of eliminating Hamas and freeing the hostages. Speaking to Al-Hurra website, Faraj said that the war could take a very long period for Israel to achieve its goals, but he ruled out this scenario. He added: "The war will not last beyond January, when the election campaign for US President Joe Biden begins, who does not want to lose more voters sympathetic to the Palestinians." Stern agrees, saying that the duration of this war may "not exceed two months" after the resumption of fighting, but Israel's goals will only be partially achieved, as he puts it. In this regard, Mukhaymar Abu Saada, a professor of political science in Gaza, said, There is a global consensus that Hamas is an ideology that cannot be eliminated in the presence of occupation. He added in his statements to Al-Hurra website that Israel may "succeed in directing a major military strike against Hamas, but it will not be able to eliminate the idea of ??resistance that has been going on for 75 years." He continued: "At the beginning of the war, Israel said that it needed months, without specifying the exact time, to reach its goals of destroying Hamas and removing it from power. Later, the goal became to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and release the Israeli detainees." Stern goes in the same direction, saying that Israel will achieve partial goals in its military campaign, including a severe blow to Hamas. He continued: "I believe that the return of the kidnapped people may ultimately be negotiated, given that the military methods have failed because they risk their lives, and Israel wants to return them while they are alive." Israeli forces launched an attack on Gaza that included large areas of the Strip, which Palestinian sources said was the bloodiest since the start of the war and left hundreds dead and wounded as a result of the use of giant bombs. Israeli aircraft also launched intense and violent raids today, Saturday, on Hamad Town in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces carried out a violent fire belt targeting the eastern and northern areas of the city of Khan Yunis at dawn today. An attempted stabbing attack occurred against an IDF reserve force from Battalion 7037 operating at a roadblock at the X Junction, near the city of Nablus in the area of the Shomron Brigade. The force suspected a terrorist who arrived at the roadblock and began questioning him, the terrorist pulled out a knife and began to advance towards the force. The fighters attempted contact and "responded by shooting at the terrorist, who was eliminated". There were no casualties to Israeli forces. In an operation by the Shomron Brigade in the city of Nablus, reserve fighters arrested five wanted men, located and confiscated explosives, a gun, stun grenades, cartridges and military equipment. In addition, parts of a lathe for the production of weapons were located and confiscated. During the operation, terrorists shot at the force and threw an explosive device at them, the force responded by firing. A hit has been detected. In the city of Yatta in the Yehuda Division, the fighters confiscated technological equipment used by the terrorist organization Hamas. In the village of Al Bira, reservists worked to seal a printing press that printed incendiary materials, where the fighters located and confiscated an airsoft gun. During the activity, suspects threw explosives and paint bottles and threw stones at the forces, who responded with measures to disperse demonstrations. In the past day, the IDF attacked over 400 terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip. During the night, Air Force fighter jets attacked over 50 targets in an extensive attack in the Khan Yunis area. Fighters of the 551st Brigade Combat Team eliminated Hamas terrorists and infrastructure in the Beit Lahia area by shooting tanks and by directing aircraft to attack from the air. The 215th fire brigade activated artillery fire and directed airstrikes in the north of the Gaza Strip. Among the attacks directed by the brigade, a terrorist squad that ambushed our forces and a mosque that was used by the GAP as an operational headquarters by a fighter jet. Fighters of the 261st Brigade (Bahad 1) directed aircraft for attacks and destroyed targets from the air and from the ground. Among the targets - a military depot, and terrorist infrastructures that were used for the enemy's reorganization. Fighters of the 401st Brigade Combat Team, in cooperation with the brigade fire complex, eliminated terrorist squads and directed fire against terrorist targets in the north of the Gaza Strip. During the night, the naval forces carried out a targeted operational activity in the south of the Gaza Strip, in the Khan Yunis anchorage and Deir al-Balah, in which they attacked Hamas military targets with precision weapons, as well as infrastructure and equipment used by the organization's naval force. Following the alert that was activated in the Dishon area during the night, a number of launches from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory were detected, no interceptors were launched according to policy. In response, IDF artillery attacked the area from which the shooting was carried out, and an Air Force aircraft attacked the squad that carried out the shooting. IAF fighter jets struck terrorist infrastructure used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanese territory. In addition, a number of launches toward the area near the border with Lebanon were identified. In response, the IDF is striking the sources of the launches with artillery fire. Following the sirens that sounded in northern Israel, an IDF fighter jet intercepted an IDF UAV that was identified as having a technical error. The alert, that warned of rocket and missile fire, was triggered by the interception. The interception was carried out in a controlled manner and there is no fear of a security incident. The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), announced that it bombed Tel Aviv with a missile attack in response to the Israeli massacres against civilians, and that it targeted a Zionist foot force stationed inside a building in the Tawam area in the northern Gaza Strip, killing and wounding its members. The Al-Qassam Brigades said that its fighters targeted an Israeli tank with a "Shawaz" device, causing several explosions inside it and destroying it completely. They also targeted the turret of another tank with a "Al-Yassin 105" shell. It added that it targeted a house in the Sheikh Radwan area in which there were a number of Israeli soldiers with an anti-fortification TBG shell. The Brigades confirmed that they also targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers east of Deir al-Balah with a short-range "Rajum" missile system. The "Al-Qassam Brigades" announced that it lured an Israeli foot force stationed inside a building into a controlled ambush in "Al-Tawam", northwest of Gaza, and targeted it with anti-personnel devices, anti-fortified shells, and heavy machine guns. It confirmed in a statement that "force members were killed or wounded." Al-Qassam also pointed out that it bombed Ashkelon with a missile barrage, and it also targeted enemy forces concentrations in Zakim with the 114 mm short-range Rajum missile system. The Al-Qassam statement continued: We also targeted another tank turret with an Al-Yassin 105 shell, and a house in which a number of enemy soldiers were present with an anti-fortified TBG shell in the Sheikh Radwan area. Meanwhile, the "Al-Qassam Brigades" targeted "enemy" concentrations in the "Kissufim" area with the 114 mm "Rajum" short-range missile system. In addition to targeting "enemy" concentrations east of Deir al-Balah with the 114 mm short-range "Rajum" missile system as well. For its part, the "Jerusalem Brigades", the military wing of the Palestinian "Islamic Jihad" movement, announced that it bombed "enemy concentrations" in the Kissufim forests with a barrage of mortar shells. In addition to bombing "Ashdod" and the "Eshkol" complex with missile attacks. It announced in a statement that it bombed "Sderot" with concentrated missile bursts, and bombed "Re'im" with concentrated missile bursts. The statement continued: Our Mujahideen were also able, since this morning, to destroy a Zionist tank with a Thaqib device, and to target two vehicles with Tandum shells in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, according to a statement by the Jerusalem Brigades. Lebanese Hezbollah announced that it targeted Israeli artillery positions at the Khirbet Maar site, on the southern Lebanese border, with missile weapons, and hit them directly. A statement issued by the Islamic Resistance said: In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday 12/02/2023 artillery positions at the Khirbet Maar site with missile weapons. "She was hit directly." Later, Hezbollah announced that it had targeted the Pranit military barracks and the Raheb site with appropriate weapons, injuring them directly. Hezbollah announced after midnight on Friday/Saturday that it had targeted, at 11:20 pm on Friday, with Katyusha Grad rockets the Dishon artillery positions that bombed the town of Hula, indicating that its targeting had resulted in direct hits. Al Jazeera Military expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi confirmed that the nature of the Israeli bombing of areas in the Gaza Strip and the request from residents to displace and move to safe areas foretells the next step that the occupation is planning related to expanding the war. Al-Duwairi said - in the military analysis on Al Jazeera - that the Israeli military operation during this stage will be broader and more violent than before, and the occupation army will excessively use force against the Gaza Strip. He added that the occupation forces, which separated the northern part of the Gaza Strip from the central and southern parts, are now seeking to separate the central part, stressing that the central region, including the Nuseirat, Bureij and Deir al-Balah camps, will separate it, and it has automatically been separated from the north. Khan Yunis will also be separated from Rafah, and the Israeli attack - according to Al-Duwairi - will be from the east in three main directions: a direction in the northern region, a direction in Deir al-Balah to separate Bureij and Nuseirat, and another direction that separates Khan Yunis from Rafah. The military expert revealed details regarding the movements of the Israeli army, saying that it is currently focusing on the Khan Yunis area, and the ground movements will come from the east of the Khan Yunis area in the southern Gaza Strip. Al-Duwairi expected that the occupation would avoid the Gaza City scenario in which it suffered losses, and its forces would move in the spaces between cities and towns for rapid penetration, and would avoid entering high-density civilian areas such as Khan Yunis, Deir al-Balah, Bureij Camp, and Nuseirat, and would work to surround them and prevent entry and exit while continuing to Bombing and asking to leave. On the other hand, Al-Duwairi pointed out that there was an American green light that gave Israel a specific time frame, and it may have been given weeks or less than a month, as the Americans said to their ally: Do whatever you want to reach the goal and purpose. He said it is noteworthy that the occupation continues its aggression for the second day after the end of a week-long truce, and its aircraft launched raids on various parts of the Gaza Strip, and committed a new massacre in the Jabalia camp (north), resulting in the martyrdom of more than 100 Palestinians. Major General Nasr Salem confirmed that Israel was unable to eliminate Hamas, after two months of war, and was resorting to genocide against defenseless Palestinians after its failure in the face of the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance. The expert said during a telephone interview on the Sada El Balad channel, that the Israeli army has so far failed to determine the locations of the Hamas movement. He added: "There is a strong and clear desire from the occupying state not to continue the truce, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to continue the war on the Gaza Strip in order for him to remain in power, because if a ceasefire is reached , Netanyahu will be removed from his position." He added, "Egypt and the entire world have rejected what the occupying state is calling for to displace the Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip," explaining that "the state and its institutions provide all the aid the Palestinian people need and what they need to withstand the occupation army." Major General Salem stated that the withdrawal of the Mossad team from the negotiations with Hamas that were taking place recently in Qatar is due to the occupation armys desire to return again to bombing innocent people, children, women, hospitals and schools. Salem stated that the resistance and the Palestinian people have achieved major victories recently, while Israel has not achieved any military or political success on the ground. Despite possible incompatibility with international humanitarian law, Israel continued to warn Gazans to evacuate their homes immediately and leave without delay to areas it has designated for them. Some experts and analysts have criticized this method, which they say violates international law. The writer and political analyst, Iyad Al-Qara, described the conditions of people in the Gaza Strip as very difficult in light of the Israeli warnings to evacuate, as many of them were forced to flee towards the central and southern regions of Gaza to escape the continuing Israeli bombing, which today targeted entire residential towers. He said that the occupation is demanding that people move to the Rafah area, and he estimated the number of those displaced from the northern regions at about 20% and about 30% from the eastern regions. He stressed that the displaced people had to move 3 to 4 times, because they could not stay in their homes that were being subjected to brutal Israeli bombing, pointing out that they had the idea that there was no safe place in Gaza, and even those who were displaced from the north wished they had not done so, because the army The occupation follows them everywhere. According to military expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, the method that Israel uses with the Palestinians in Gaza is not used in wars. He gave an example of the Syrians, who he said left their country of their own free will and without dictates during the revolution, and had absolute conviction that the crisis would end and they would return to their homes. While what Israel is doing is uprooting the Palestinians from the roots and not an evacuation process from one place to a safe place, according to Al-Duwairi, who stressed that there is no safe place in Gaza, indicating that the occupation that was asking the residents of the northern regions to go to the central and southern regions, here it is. Today, he is asking the people of the southern regions to go to Rafah, while he is bombing Rafah. The military expert did not rule out that the occupation would then ask the citizens to leave Rafah to Area C in the Sinai Desert, as stated in the Camp David Accords. Al-Duwairi - who was speaking during the daily analytical stand on Al Jazeera channel Gaza...what next? - concluded that the occupation is carrying out a systematic process to resettle or empty Gaza, which is a forced evacuation of the Palestinian population outside the borders of their homeland. For his part, the senior researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Dr. Liqaa Makki, indicated that Israel began what he called temporary or limited regional displacement operations after the temporary humanitarian truces, and that it divided Gaza into about 2,300 sections and published maps, and that its army announced that there would be calls to abandon These areas, according to Makki, appear to be a response to an American desire to avoid killing a larger number of Palestinian civilians. He said that the United States of America spoke about forced displacement, not displacement under the pressure of war or the pressure of humanitarian need. Makki talked about two scenarios that might be behind the Israeli warnings to the residents of Gaza. The first is that Israels goal, under international and even American pressure, is to establish buffer zones on the Gaza border with Israel that are deep, such that people are confined to narrow areas on the coastal strip. As for the second scenario, which is the most dangerous, it is preparing to move towards deporting people after opening humanitarian crossings in which they are forced to migrate in search of security and the basic necessities of life, as Makki said. The first researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies pointed out that the second scenario is not a hidden goal for the Israelis, and there is a report published in an Israeli studies center that spoke about these details accurately, under the title How are the residents of Gaza completely displaced?, in addition to a document being circulated in Congress. The American plan relates to distributing the people of Gaza among 4 Arab countries, including Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan. American aid - adds Makki - to the four Arab countries is linked to their acceptance of the Palestinians from Gaza. Makki considered that the United States abandoning its promises to prevent displacement would cost it its relations with Arab countries, and described In the southern Gaza Strip: - Residents of Khirbet Khuzaa, Abasan, Bani Suhaila and Maan - Bani Suhaila residents residing in blocks 217, 218, 219, 220, 42, 45, 50 For your safety, we call on you to evacuate your homes immediately and go to the known shelter centers in Rafah. - Al-Qarara residents residing in the following blocks: 39, 224, 2250, 2260, 2270, 2280, 2351, 132, 136, 137, 138, 139: For your safety, we call on you to evacuate your homes immediately and go to the known shelter centers in Rafah and the region. Humanity in Al-Mawasi neighborhoodthe issue of displacement as a dangerous matter that could reach the West Bank . Today, Saturday , 55 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, coinciding with bombardment launched by the IDF on areas of the Strip, killing more than 200 martyrs. Wael Abu Mohsen, media director for the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, said that 55 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had entered the Gaza Strip since Saturday morning. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that its crews received 50 aid trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing today. The Palestinian Red Crescent said - in a post on Facebook - Today (Saturday) our crews received 50 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing, loaded with humanitarian aid. The trucks contain food, water, relief aid, medical supplies and medicines. Israel informed the Palestinian Red Crescent Society on Friday evening that it had prevented aid trucks from entering the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian side, through the Rafah land crossing, starting from Friday until further notice. Rafah is the only border crossing into the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel. Bystanders Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Kesili said that Israel completely ignores international law and human rights in the Gaza Strip, and its brutality cannot be described as self-defense. Kesheli's statement, as indicated by the Foreign Ministry, comes in response to a message from Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on social media. Kecheli said: The history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has shown that the more Israel oppresses the Palestinians and deprives them of basic freedoms, the more their resistance increases, and the more the Palestinians defend their collective and individual rights. According to him, the roots of the conflict lie in the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, and in the expansionist and oppressive Israeli mentality that completely ignores (international) law and human rights. Considering what you are doing as legitimate self-defense. For its part, Doctors Without Borders said that its investigations proved the Israeli army's responsibility for the attack on its evacuation convoy in Gaza City two weeks ago. Axis of Resistance Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that the resistances response to Israels resumption of the attack on Gaza is harsher than before. This came during a call held by the Iranian Foreign Minister with his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi about the current developments in the Gaza Strip. Abdullahian said that he heard from resistance leaders during his visit to Beirut last week that its response to Israels resumption of their attack will be regrettable and harsher than before. Abdullahian told his Omani counterpart, The return of the Zionists to committing war crimes against the people of Gaza indicates their indifference to the demands of the international community and global public opinion, stressing that it is necessary for all Islamic countries to increase their efforts to stop these crimes. For his part, Al-Busaidi considered that the outbreak of war again and its expansion in the region is a cause for regret, and stressed the necessity of establishing a sustainable truce, sending humanitarian aid on a large scale, and effective action by the international community in this regard. The Independent Commission for Human Rights in the Gaza Strip said that 80% of the population of the Strip have become displaced under very difficult humanitarian conditions, while the Ministry of Health accused the Israeli occupation of forcing residents to flee by targeting hospitals. The human rights body added - in a statement - that the occupation aims to transform internal displacement in the Gaza Strip into external displacement. In the same context, the spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra from Khan Yunis, confirmed that the Israeli occupation wants to take all hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip out of service, with the aim of forcing the rest of the population to flee. He added to Al Jazeera that the occupation raids also targeted hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip. On the other hand, the Director of Civil Defense in the northern Gaza Strip, Ahmed Al-Kahlot, said that the Strip needs 50 excavators and 50 bulldozers in order to continue rescue operations and recover the bodies of the martyrs, after the occupation destroyed most of the civil defense mechanisms and equipment. Allied for Democracy The Israeli Defense Minister announced a major attack on the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant confirmed that the Israeli army will intensify its attacks on areas that it had not attacked before. Gallant said while he was in the Gaza Strip enclave: We are attacking in places we have not attacked yet, and our attack will intensify. He added: "We will adapt to the conditions in which we will fight. The battalion leaders in Khan Yunis understand what happened to their counterparts in the northern Gaza Strip." Displacing the Gazans is an old plan. Its introduction dates back to the time of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. An Israeli study revealed precise data about the plan to displace Gazans and place them in camps in the Egyptian Sinai. On the other hand, opinions differed about the size of the temptation offered to Egypt, from writing off Egypts foreign debts to thirty billion dollars in economic aid. Temptations did not seem to have changed Egypt's opinion, which prompted the Israelis to begin the second phase of the ground operation. Egyptian sources considered the focus of strikes on the south and Rafah Governorate on the Egyptian border to be repercussions originally intended for Egypt, explaining that the goal was to slowly move the population towards the Egyptian border. In light of the historical Egyptian rejection, and the Palestinian emphasis on not accepting another Palestinian Nakba, repAlalam News Network. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasorted Israel searched for alternatives, and found what it sought in the plan to establish a buffer zone on the border with Gaza. An Israeli security source revealed that the idea is being studied, indicating that it is not currently clear how deep the area is, and whether it will reach two kilometers or hundreds of metres. However, the plan, in its general form, appears to be being proposed, and is based on a three-level process, which includes destroying Hamas, disarming Gaza, and eliminating what it called extremism in the Strip, according to one of Netanyahus advisors. Two Egyptian security sources indicated that the occupation proposed during the mediation talks the idea of disarming northern Gaza , and establishing a buffer zone in the northern Gaza Strip under international supervision. Regional sources reported that the Arab countries agreed to establish a security barrier between the two sides, but there is disagreement about its location. Egyptian and regional sources said that the occupying entity informed several Arab countries of its desire to establish a buffer zone on the Palestinian side of the Gaza Strip borders, to prevent any future attacks on it, as part of proposals regarding the Strip in the post-war period. According to Reuters, three regional sources reported that Israel informed its neighbors Egypt and Jordan, in addition to the UAE, with which it normalized relations in 2020, of this idea. The sources indicated that this idea was also presented to Saudi Arabia, which does not have relations with Israel and stopped efforts to normalize it with it through American mediation after the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7. The sources did not explain how the information reached Riyadh, which does not have direct official communication channels with Israel. The sources said that Turkiye was also informed of these plans. A senior regional security official, one of the three sources who asked not to reveal their nationalities, said, Israel wants to establish this buffer zone between Gaza and Israel from the north to the south to prevent any infiltration or attack on it by (Hamas) or any other militants. A senior Israeli security source told Reuters that the idea of a buffer zone is being studied, adding, It is not clear at the present time how deep it is (the buffer zone) and whether it might reach one kilometer, two kilometers, or hundreds of meters (inside Gaza). Military expert Majid Al-Qaisi said, "Israel wants to establish this area starting from Beit Lahia with the sea to Jabalia and Beit Hanoun, all the way to Rafah in the south." Al-Qaisi added in an interview with Al-Hurra website, This buffer zone may be approximately four kilometers, two of which will be the dividing line between the smart security fence in the Gaza envelope and the borders of the built-up areas inside the Strip. Al-Qaisi points out that there are "also possibilities that Israel will intend to control large parts of the northern part of the Gaza Strip and push the Palestinians towards Khan Yunis and Rafah." In turn, the expert in Palestinian-Israeli affairs, Ashraf Abu Al-Hol, points out that the talk is not about an area in itself to establish a buffer zone, but rather it is linked to all of Gazas borders with Israel, from the east by approximately 41 kilometers and to the north by approximately 14 kilometers. Abu Al-Hol confirms to Al-Hurra website that Israel can therefore establish a buffer zone at any point of contact with Gaza. From a military and security perspective, establishing a buffer zone with the Gaza Strip will not have any positive impact on the security situation in the Israeli areas close to the Palestinian side, according to experts. Military expert Akram Kharif says, Israel does not need to establish this zone, because it is simply capable of establishing checkpoints inside the Strip in order to prevent communication between Hamas militants. He added in a call with the "Al-Hurra" website that "Israel can completely isolate Gaza, as is happening now in the north, and it is capable of applying the same method to the entire sector." Regarding his expectations regarding the location of the buffer zone in question, Kharief explains, It could be in the olive fields between Gaza City and Khan Yunis in the south, and perhaps around Rafah. Expert Majid Al-Qaisi believes that "this buffer zone will not have any military value, because there is no sufficient depth to allow Israel to prevent Palestinian attacks in the future, whether by missiles or even by land." Al-Qaisi continues, saying: We are talking about a strip that is on average 8 kilometers wide, and in some places 9 to 10 kilometers, and 42 to 45 kilometers long. This means that the area has no military depth. He points out that "the settlements on the Gaza Strip are very close and are only a few kilometers away, and therefore missiles can easily reach them, and even reach Tel Aviv." Abu Al-Houl agrees with this proposal and points out that any buffer zone established in Gaza will be of no use to Israel for the simple reason that most of the Strip is of very small width and therefore the possibilities of confrontation are possible even with the presence of the buffer zone. Abu Al-Hol adds, Some areas in Gaza are only six kilometers wide from the sea to the eastern border with Israel. If Israel wanted to create a buffer zone one or two kilometers wide, or even 200 to 300 meters wide, its forces would be within range of the Palestinians, and it would not avoid direct clashes and confrontations with them". Abu Al-Houl believes that the idea of a buffer zone is rejected by all Arab, regional and international parties, because in the end it will make the conflict ignite more and continue for a longer period and will not stop once the war stops. Abu al-Hol stresses the necessity of "looking for a political solution that includes the exchange of hostages and detainees, a ceasefire, and the search for a solution to the Palestinian issue, because it is the only solution in which confrontations can stop and wars are not renewed again." It is noteworthy that Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt and other countries, expressed their fears about Israels expulsion of the Palestinians from Gaza in a repeat of the confiscation of lands from the Palestinians when the establishment of the State of Israel was declared in 1948. The Israeli government denies any such goal, and according to a Reuters report, during recent mediation talks with Egypt and Qatar, Israel proposed the idea of disarming northern Gaza and establishing a buffer zone in the northern Gaza Strip under international supervision, according to two Egyptian security sources. Other sources told Reuters that several Arab countries oppose this. She added that the Arab countries may not oppose the establishment of a security barrier between the two sides, but there is a disagreement over its location. Regional sources likened the idea of the buffer zone in Gaza to the "security zone" that Israel established in southern Lebanon. Israel evacuated that area, which was about 15 kilometers deep, in 2000 after years of fighting and attacks launched by Lebanese Hezbollah. Signs of disagreement between the pillars of the Israeli War Council appeared during the first weeks of the war on Gaza. The dispute emerged between them amid mutual accusations regarding failure to prevent the Al-Aqsa Flood operation carried out by the Palestinian resistance on the seventh of October. Netanyahu accused the army and intelligence services of responsibility for failing to warn and prevent the events of Black Saturday. Gantz then addressed Netanyahu, saying, When Israel is at war, the leadership must be responsible, take the right steps, and support the army and security forces to achieve what is asked of them. On 12 November, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and War Council member Benny Gantz shook hands after the end of a press conference in Tel Aviv, but they ignored Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pictures showed Netanyahu collecting his papers and about to leave the stage without comment, while Israeli media commented on this shot by saying: Two against one, this is the focus of the war. The underlying dispute between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galat returned to the forefront today, Saturday, when Gallant refused to hold a joint press conference with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu said that he proposed to Gallant to hold a joint press conference, but he chose what he chose, indicating that he held a separate press conference in Tel Aviv. The Israeli Prime Minister added that he has a mandate from the Israelis to lead them, and that he does not act according to opinion polls. He was referring to the frequent opinion polls that showed a significant decline in the popularity of the Israeli Prime Minister and the ruling right-wing parties, led by Likud, in contrast to the rise of the opposition parties. Both Netanyahu and Gallant promised - in their press conferences - to continue the war on Gaza until the military power of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) is undermined. Netanyahu confirmed that the Palestinian Authority will not enter the Gaza Strip now, indicating the necessity of establishing a complete Israeli security zone for years under the pretext of preventing the emergence of more terrorism. In the context of his statements about future control in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said: The Palestinian Authority does not fight terrorism, but rather funds terrorism, explaining that it is not the party supposed to enter Gaza now. In his speech, he touched on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and said: Abu Mazen, after more than 50 days, still refuses to apologise. He added: And someone close to him, Jibril Rajoub, said that the same scenario (October 7 - Al-Aqsa Flood) must be applied in the West Bank. Before that, earlier Saturday evening, Defense Minister Gallant announced that he had seen with his own eyes the results of returning to combat from the cockpit of the plane, considering that the results are very impressive. Gallant said: "'Hamas thought they found a way to divide Israelis between those prioritizing hostage release and those pushing to prosecute the war. But we found a way out of this trap... "In the last two days, we are also operating in areas where we did not operate in the last month and this will increase. This action will reach every area that needs to be reached. We are going for the complete elimination of the Hamas organization. We have had very good achievements in the first month." French President Emmanuel Macron warned Israel that its declared goal of completely eliminating Hamas could lead to a war that would last 10 years, and announced that he was on his way to Qatar to seek to resume the truce that lasted 7 days and ended yesterday morning. Macron said in a press conference on the sidelines of the climate conference in Dubai, UAE, "What does it mean to completely eliminate Hamas? Does anyone believe that this is possible? If so, the war will last 10 years." He urged Tel Aviv to clarify its goal of eliminating Hamas, warning of an endless war. The French President also said that confronting what he called terrorism is not a matter of systematic and continuous bombing, and that the response to Hamas attacks is not the elimination of an entire region or the bombing of entire civilian infrastructure. Macron continued that Israel's permanent security cannot be guaranteed if it is established "at the expense of Palestinian lives, thus displeasing all public opinion in the region," calling for responding to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, by achieving a two-state solution. He called for redoubling efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all detainees held by Hamas, and the delivery of aid to Gaza, saying that he was heading to Qatar - today, Saturday - to help establish a new truce that would lead to a ceasefire. The French President adopted a position in support of the Israeli war on Gaza, and also called for the establishment of an international coalition against the Hamas movement. In the middle of last month, Macron was forced to clarify his statements regarding targeting civilians in Gaza, as he denied during a call with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog that he had accused Israel of intentionally harming civilians. Alalam News Network. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, commented "- Gaza revealed the truth about Macron, and the rest of the leaders of Europe and the West, led by America, and showed them as they really are, without values ??or principles, and also revealed the falsity and lies of all the slogans they were raising about human rights, freedoms, human dignity, equality and justice, so when we see Macron He speaks in this elegant way. This is not out of concern for the lives of the Palestinians, but rather out of concern for the existence of Israel, which has implicated itself and the West in Gaza, due to Bidens stupidity and Netanyahus arrogance, and the Western accompaniment of this failed duo. Macrons statements could represent a lifeline for the occupier. The Israeli leaders, who were struck in the face by the Al-Aqsa Flood, still take pride for sin, and they are trying to take revenge, madly, for their false dignity, which has been covered in mud." According to a senior administration source, Biden aides worked around the clock during the truce to help them develop a more targeted military strategy. Officials from the US emphasized that "Israel", which has blocked off northern Gaza and has not permitted inhabitants to return, could not also seal off southern Gaza and launch another murderous aerial strike on the 2 million civilians who live there. Israeli officials claimed they are taking the advice of their American counterparts, but several analysts said they saw no evidence that the fresh Israeli bombing strikes were being carried out with the delicacy required to prevent civilian fatalities at all. Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former official in the Clinton administration, expressed that the change of tone in the US comes from the increased pressure on Biden to call for a ceasefire. Riedel emphasized that Biden, who is now in a "very unpleasant place," has "belatedly realized" that the war on Gaza was harmful to US interests, particularly the death of thousands of Palestinian civilians, which "damages Americas reputation throughout the Middle East, the Islamic world and beyond." Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, expressed that not only is the US change of tone "not substantive", but if Israel were to pursue its indiscriminate bombing, then the US really hasnt had an effect. Former Israeli ambassador to Washington Itamar Rabinovich stated that Israeli leaders know that what occurred in the north cannot be repeated. However, he predicted that the occupation and the US would publicly disagree about what will happen after the war. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing American officials, that Israel had been provided with bunker-buster bombs with a BLU-109 warhead designed to penetrate concrete before detonating. The process of supplying Israel with additional weapons and ammunition, including 15,000 bombs and 57,000 artillery shells, began shortly after Hamas' attack on Israel, and the process is still ongoing. The Wall Street Journal said that America, which supplied weapons to its most important allies in the region even before the Gaza War, had not previously disclosed the number of weapons provided to Israel or the number of bunker-buster bombs. One of the largest labor unions in the United States, representing workers in the automobile, aircraft, agricultural tools, and other industries, called for a complete ceasefire in Gaza following the end of a temporary truce and the resumption of the Israeli aggression on the devastated Strip. The United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) comprises over 400,000 active workers and more than 580,000 retirees in these sectors across the US. The announcement was made by the Union's President Brandon Mancilla during a conference held at a rally outside the White House on Friday. The demonstrators, who went on a hunger strike in support of Gaza, carried banners reading: "Biden, you are starving Gaza." Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs Gazas Ministry of Health says at least 109 people had been killed since Israel renewed its attacks this morning. 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. The HAMA Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 15,207 martyrs. Gaza's health ministry had a day earlier 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. The number of injured had risen to 40,652, with varying injuries, up from 36,000 a day earlier [which was up by 3,000 from the previous report]. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza said the number of missing people had risen to more than 7,500 [ 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. 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 Hebrew newspaper Haaretz revealed that the number of soldiers who were injured since the start of the war 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. 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 Deputy Head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), Saleh Al-Arouri, announced that the movements official position requires that prisoners not be exchanged before the aggression stops, and he told Al Jazeera, There will be no exchange of prisoners until after the war stops. Al-Arouri stressed - in an interview with Al Jazeera - that there will be no exchange of prisoners until the end of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and a comprehensive and final ceasefire, stressing that our Zionist prisoners will not be liberated until all our prisoners are liberated and after the ceasefire. The Hamas leader revealed that the remaining prisoners in the Gaza Strip are soldiers and civilian men who served in the occupation army, although the occupation insists that the resistance still has women and children, pointing out that the elderly men detained served in the army and some of them are still in it. In the same context, Al-Arouri confirmed that the movement said it was ready to exchange bodies for the bodies of martyrs, but it needed time to exhume the bodies of the Israelis. We need time to exhume the bodies of the Israelis who were killed in the occupation raids in Gaza. Regarding the extent of the Palestinian resistances readiness to continue the battle with the occupation after the collapse of the truce, Al-Arouri responded, The resistance is prepared for all Israeli military scenarios, whether land, air, or other wars. He stressed that it is equipped and reinforced with a popular incubator, and it is all resistance, stressing, There is no fear or anxiety over The resistance will win." On the other hand, he said that the Israeli occupation will fail again to achieve the goals it set for itself, "liberating prisoners and what he calls the elimination of Hamas," accusing the United States of America of covering up the crimes carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted informed sources as saying that Israel informed the mediators that it wanted to return to calm in the Gaza Strip for one day, while the White House said that it had expectations of the possibility of declaring a new truce in the Strip. Israel wants a one-day truce in exchange for the release of more women and children detained in Gaza, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority. But the sources told the Broadcasting Corporation that the possibility of a return to calm tonight is slim, and that there is a chance of reaching an agreement within two or four days. With negotiations to renew the truce faltering, the head of the Mossad orders his men to return from Qatar. The Israeli Mossad announced that the negotiating team that was in Qatar had received an order to return to Israel, after negotiations with Hamas on extending the truce reached a "dead end." A rare statement issued by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on behalf of the Mossad said: Due to the impasse in the negotiations, and on instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mossad Chief David Barnea ordered the negotiating team in Doha to return home. The statement added that Hamas "did not fulfill its obligations under the agreement, which included the release of all women and children on the list submitted to Hamas." The statement concluded, "The head of the Mossad thanks the head of the CIA, the Egyptian Minister of Intelligence, and the Prime Minister of Qatar for their partnership and tremendous mediation efforts that led to the release of 84 women and children detained in Gaza, in addition to 24 foreign citizens." According to Israeli media, the return of the Mossad team from Qatar and the full resumption of fighting in Gaza is considered a message that there will be no negotiations without a full return to the agreed upon plan, that is, the release of women and children. Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. 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, Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023: Hamas still holds 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead 117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females 126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older. There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack Hamas has released 110 hostages so far 86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals. 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. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of five hostages held in Gaza, saying their families had been informed, and the body of one of them returned to Israel. In recent days, the IDF and Israel police notified the families of the hostages Eliyahu Margalit, Maya Goren, Ronen Engel and Arye Zalmanovitz about their deaths, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said. He also said troops had brought back the body of a fifth person that he identified as Ofir Tsarfati. Hagari said Gaza militants were still holding 136 hostages, among them 17 women and children. 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 claimed 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. Since the start of the war on October 7, at least 3,400 people had been detained, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society. Israel said that, since the beginning of the war, about 2,100 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the IOS Division and the Bekaa and Emekim Brigade, about 1,100 of them are affiliated with Hamas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 02 December 2023 - Day 647 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian authorities are likely attempting to quash public dissent by wives of deployed Russian soldiers, including by attempting to pay them off and discrediting them online. This follows small scale protests in Moscow in November 2023. Research by independent Russia media outlets and comments by protesting wives themselves suggest that, in recent weeks, the authorities have likely offered increased cash payments to families in return for them refraining from protest. On 27 November 2023, one prominent online group for soldiers' wives published a manifesto against 'indefinite mobilisation'. On around 31 November 2023, the group was pinned with a 'fake' warning label likely at the instigation of pro-Kremlin actors. The authorities are likely particularly sensitive to any protests related to those citizens mobilised in September 2022, who have now been at the front line for over a year The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 2, there were 69x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile strike, 15x air strikes, 18x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings as well as other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. 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. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Kozacha Lopan' (Kharkiv oblast). Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Kostobobriv, Prohres (Chernihiv oblast), Yunakivka, Hrabovs'ke, Luhivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Veterynarne, Stohnii (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the area. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: Russian forces made failed assaults in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted offensives near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks. Around 15x settlements, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, south of Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x attacks in the area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Sjeverne, Stepove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: Russian forces made failed assaults in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defense forces repelled 9x attacks. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives southeast of Vuhledar, west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Vodyane, Prechystivka, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 8x attempts to regain lost ground south of Robotyne and west and northwest of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. Around 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the cities of Kherson (Kherson oblast) and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv 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 December 2, Ukrainian missile troops hit 4x artillery systems of the Russian invaders. Ukrainian air defense forces also destroyed 1x Kh-59 air-launched cruise missile. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the period from 25 November to 2 December 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted 27 group strikes with high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on the military airfield infrastructure, arsenals, storage sites for artillery ammunition, weapons and military hardware, as well as enemy POL bases. In addition, the AFU temporary deployment sites were struck. All the assigned targets have been engaged. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and repelled 18 AFU attacks. Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 14th, 43rd, 53rd, and 67th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, and Kislovka (Kharkov region). The enemy losses amounted to more than 315 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 15 motor vehicles, and seven field artillery guns. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled 13 attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 12th Special Operations Brigade, 47th and 67th mechanised brigades. In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower of the AFU 31st National Guard Brigade, 117th and 125th territorial defence brigades close to Torskoye, Krasny Liman, Serebryanka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to up to 950 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, seven armoured fighting vehicles, and 21 motor vehicles in this direction. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery continued to improve the tactical situation at the forward lines and liberated Artyomovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, strikes were delivered at AFU manpower and hardware near Maryinka, Kurdyumovka, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Over the past week, 25 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled. The enemy losses amounted to more than 1680 Ukrainian troops, six tanks, six armoured fighting vehicles, 31 motor vehicles, and 19 field artillery guns. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled three enemy attacks. Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade, and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Novomikhailovka, Staromayorskoye, Nikolskoye, Shevchenko, Konstantinovka, and Novodonetskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to more than 880 Ukrainian troops, one tank, six armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces engaged in intensive defence, during which repelled 14 attacks of the AFU units near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region). Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 71st Jaeger Brigade, 82nd Assault Brigade, 33rd, 65th, and 118th mechanised brigades near Malaya Tokmachka and Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 315 Ukrainian troops, five tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, as well as 5 field artillery guns. In Kherson direction, the enemy units made unsuccessful attempts to land infantry groups on islands and the left bank of the Dnepr. As a result of preventive actions by the Russian forces and artillery fire assaults, the AFU have lost up to 450 Ukrainian troops, 13 field artillery guns, 23 boats, and 26 motor vehicles. Two AFU sabotage and reconnaissance groups were eliminated. In addition, units of the AFU 35th, 36th, and 37th marines brigades have been struck near Tyaginka, Tokarevka, and Sadovoye (Kherson region). In addition, 14 Ukrainian servicemen were taken prisoner in this direction during the week. Operational-Tactical and Missile Troops of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one fuel depot and the air park at the airfield near Mirgorod (Poltava region), as well as six P-18 radar stations. Air defence systems shot down eight aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force during the week, namely, five MiG-29, two Su-27, one Su-25, as well as one Mi-8 helicopter. Air defence units shot down 41 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles, three HARM anti-radiation missiles, and 188 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, 545 airplanes and 256 helicopters, 9,353 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,743 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,215 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,844 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 New deep space radar will transform UK security A new landmark radar initiative will increase UK security by being able to better detect, track and identify objects in deep space. 2 December 2023 New space capability programme to improve global security. Cawdor Barracks in Wales identified as preferred UK site, conditional on Environmental Impact Assessment and Town planning approval. All three global radar sites to be operational by the end of the decade. A new landmark radar initiative with the UK's closest partners will increase UK security by being able to better detect, track and identify objects in deep space. The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme - unveiled by the respective Defence Secretaries of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States - will provide 24/7, all-weather capabilities that will increase AUKUS nations' ability to characterise objects deep in space up to 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometres) away from earth. DARC will see a global network of three ground-based radars to be jointly operated that will assist in critical space-traffic management and contribute to the global surveillance of satellites in deep space. The unique geographic positioning of the three nations means that DARC can provide global coverage, including detecting potential threats to defence or civilian space systems. As the danger of space warfare increases, this landmark capability will benefit all three nations' land, air, and maritime forces, as well as protecting critical infrastructure and benefitting our domestic construction and space industries. UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said: As the world becomes more contested and the danger of space warfare increases, the UK and our allies must ensure we have the advanced capabilities we need to keep our nations' safe. Today's announcement of a global radar network (DARC), based across the UK, US and Australia will do just that. Empowering the UK to detect, track and identify objects in deep space. Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire Wales has been identified as the UK's preferred site for DARC. The final siting decision is conditional on the results of the ongoing comprehensive MOD-funded Environmental Impact Assessment and subsequent Town Planning application. Cawdor Barracks is currently the home to a British Army Signals Regiment which is due to relocate from 2028. Retention of the Base by the MOD for DARC is likely to boost the local Pembrokeshire economy, creating employment during the construction phase and providing up to 100 longer-term jobs. Alongside DARC's defence benefits, it also has the capability to monitor and protect the essential services that rely on satellites in space, including everyday aspects of life such as communications and navigation. This will play a crucial role in AUKUS' ability to preserve peace and deter conflict in the Indo-Pacific and the rest of the world. These new radar systems have higher sensitivity, better accuracy, increased capacity, and more agile tracking than current radars and optical systems tracking objects in deep space orbit. This will see greater global monitoring provided to inform UK defence operations, bypassing the current inclement weather and daylight limitations of some current capabilities. The first DARC radar site, which is being constructed in Australia, is expected to be operational in 2026, with all three sites operational by the end of the decade. The DARC programme follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2023. DARC will enhance our collective space domain awareness, which is a key objective of the UK's Defence Space Strategy, published last year. AUKUS is a landmark security and defence partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US to support a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening regional global security. The development of DARC is a significant step forward for delivery of enhanced security capabilities between the partner nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AUKUS Allies to Hold Series of Military Drills Beginning Next Year - Pentagon Chief Sputnik News 20231202 WASHINGTON, (Sputnik) - The US, UK, and Australia under AUKUS pillars have endorsed holding military drills beginning in 2024, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after talks with his British and Australian counterparts in California. "Today, we endorsed several new efforts under pillar two of AUKUS. Let me highlight two of these efforts. The first is a maritime autonomous experimentation and exercise. Beginning next year, our three countries will conduct a series of integrated trilateral experiments and exercises. They will enhance capability development, improve our interoperability," Austin said. on Friday. According to a joint statement, Austin, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and UK defense chief Grant Shapps discussed the AUKUS enhanced defense and security partnership. The group reviewed progress made since the March 2023 announcement of the Optimal Pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, the release added. The ongoing military build-up comes as the US beefs up its military presence in the Asia Pacific along with the UK and Australia within the framework of the tripartite AUKUS alliance. China, in turn, voiced opposition to certain countries uniting in exclusionary groups in the region. "China opposes relevant countries assembling exclusionary groupings, and practices that intensify antagonism and undermine the strategic security of other countries," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK powers up partnership with US and Australia to strengthen security A landmark security partnership entered a new phase today as the Defence Ministers of the UK, Australia and United States met in California. 2 December 2023 Ground-breaking defence partnership of Australia, UK and USA (AUKUS) accelerates and strengthens. Key next stages for military maritime programmes outlined at key Ministerial meeting at the Defense Innovation Unit Headquarters, California Increased training for sailors on nuclear-powered submarines. A landmark security partnership entered a new phase today as the Defence Ministers of the UK, Australia and United States met to advance new programmes on threat detection, quantum technology and autonomous systems. Strengthening security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, the Ministers revealed new combined future exercises will improve each nations' ability to work together, enhance capability development, and test the joint operation of uncrewed platforms, radically improving a shared ability to tackle emerging threats. Speaking at the Defense Innovation Unit Headquarters in California, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasised the opportunity to meet global security challenges through closer relationships between our Armed Forces. The Ministers highlighted that all three nations are progressing towards more seamless defence and industrial collaboration, better information and technology sharing, and greater resilience, helping develop joint capabilities to meet threats and deter aggression. UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said: Today AUKUS enters a new phase. Together with our partners in the US and Australia we have strengthened our alliance to bring our Armed forces closer than ever and ensure our nations are protected from new and advanced threats. As the world becomes more dangerous, AUKUS only becomes more important in ensuring the UK and our allies maintain a strategic advantage. That's why we've today driven forward joint programmes on threat detection, quantum technology and autonomous systems. This progress will radically improve our shared ability to tackle emerging threats and demonstrates our commitment to making our militaries more lethal, more connected and more prepared. Beyond our collaboration on the future Class of conventionally-armed nuclear powered submarines, the second pillar of AUKUS will see unprecedented collaboration in advanced capabilities and technologies, with many key progress updates shared publicly today, including: Strengthening cyber capabilities across the three AUKUS partners, including protecting critical communications and operations systems. Improving anti-submarine warfare capabilities by being able to jointly process data from each nations' sonobuoys - used to detect and identify objects in the water - and sharing it with multiple undersea systems and P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Integrating the ability to launch and recover undersea vehicles from torpedo tubes on current submarines to deliver strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. Developing quantum technologies to support global positioning and enhance stealth in undersea capabilities, including future SSN-AUKUS submarines. During the meeting, Ministers also highlighted the exceptional progress made on Pillar 1 of AUKUS which will result in Australia acquiring a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability, SSN-AUKUS, which will also be used by the UK. This includes increased training opportunities for Australian sailors in the UK and US, and more planned visits of US and UK nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. AUKUS partners reaffirmed their shared commitment to upholding the highest standard for nuclear non-proliferation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea warns any US attack on its satellites will be declaration of war Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 11:23 AM North Korea has warned the United States that any attack to disable its reconnaissance satellites will be a declaration of war, after a US space official hinted that Washington is capable of interrupting Pyongyang's satellite operations. In a report on Saturday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), citing a statement from North Korea's defense ministry spokesperson, warned Washington that in case such an attack against its strategic assets was imminent, Pyongyang would mobilize its war deterrence. "In case the US tries to violate the legitimate territory of a sovereign state by weaponizing the latest technologies illegally and unjustly, the DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will consider taking responsive action measures for self-defense to undermine or destroy the viability of the US spy satellites," the statement said. The statement came just a day after Sheryll Klinkel, a strategic communicator at the US Space Command, told a media program in reference to North Korea's spy satellite that "a variety of reversible and irreversible means" can be employed to "deny" an adversary's space and counter-space capabilities. "The US Space Force's deplorable hostility toward the DPRK's reconnaissance satellite can never be overlooked as it is just a challenge to the sovereignty of the DPRK, and more exactly, a declaration of war against it," the KCNA stressed on Saturday. On November 24, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) and observed new photos taken by the country's recently-launched military spy satellite. According to a report by the KCNA on November 25, the photos of "major target regions" included those of the South Korean capital of Seoul, cities in the South, like Mokpo, Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, and Osan that host American military bases as the satellite passed over the Korean Peninsula the previous day. The satellite also took images of some areas within North Korea and parts of Hawaii, the report further said at the time. A North Korean international relations analyst said in a commentary published by KCNA later on Saturday that if sending satellites is considered a crime, "the United States, the world's biggest satellite possessor," should then face the United Nations Security Council. "In case an unexpected clash happens in the Northeast Asian region around the Korean peninsula, the US, which has continuously put pressure on the security space of the DPRK by escalating military threat and blackmail, will be held wholly accountable for the catastrophic situation," the commentary noted. It also lashed out at Washington for holding joint military drills with Japan and South Korea, as well as for displaying the US's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Pyongyang launched a satellite last month, its third attempt this year after two failures, as South Korean officials claim that the latest launch purportedly involved Russian technical assistance. The US has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with weapons to be used in its war against Ukraine in return for receiving technical assistance required for its ballistic and space programs. Moscow and Pyongyang have strongly denied arms deals but have promised deeper cooperation, including on satellites. In October, South Korea, the US, and Japan concluded a two-day joint maritime drills in waters near South Korea's Jeju Island. Pyongyang views the military exercises as a rehearsal for invasion. Pyongyang maintains that it will not tolerate persisting US-led war games in the area, underlining that it will continue responding to the joint military maneuvers by holding its own drills as well as developing and testing all sorts of weaponry, including missiles that could reach as far as the US mainland. The North has been under harsh sanctions by the US and the United Nations Security Council for years over its deterrent nuclear and ballistic missile programs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Reconnaissance Satellite Operation Office of NATA Pyongyang General Control Center Begins Its Mission Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- The reconnaissance satellite operation office, organized at the Pyongyang General Control Centre of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA), started to discharge its mission on December 2. The reconnaissance satellite operation office of the NATA Pyongyang General Control Center will perform its mission as an independent military intelligence organization. The information acquired through the discharge of the mission shall be reported to the relevant permanent executive department of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea and, on instructions, will be offered to major units regarded as war deterrence of the state and the General Reconnaissance Bureau of the Korean People's Army. The DPRK Ministry of National Defense expressed expectation that the war deterrence of the DPRK would assume more perfect military posture. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPRK Military Commentator's Article Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- The full text of "The 'Republic of Korea' can never evade the blame for having scrapped the North-South Military Agreement", an article issued by a military commentator of the DPRK on Dec. 2, is as follows: The Korean peninsula is now under uncontrollable and alarming situation. On Nov. 22, the political and military gangsters of the "Republic of Korea" abruptly announced suspension of some provisions of the September 19 North-South Military Agreement, groundlessly pulling up the DPRK over its launch of a reconnaissance satellite, the legitimate and just right of a sovereign state. And since the afternoon of the day, they all went into the military confrontation racket, reminiscent of the eve of a war, in the area along the Military Demarcation Line. The introduction of manned and unmanned aerial reconnaissance assets, the elevation of firepower alert posture in the frontline area of the puppet army and the "general drill for defending the northwestern islands" on Paekryong Island, hotspot waters in the West Sea, etc. were conducted in a frantic manner. Military units equipped with PAC-2 and PAC-3, interceptor missiles deployed on land, and Chongung-2, ground-to-air guided missiles, were also put on combat standby. All units of the three wings of puppet armed forces have been ordered to wear combat uniform and the defense minister, the army chief of staff and other bosses of the puppet military are busy inspecting the missile strategic command and the Pusan naval operation base to review the combat posture. The puppet marine corps in Phohang of North Kyongsang Province staged a large-scale actual war drills for landing on the targeted coast under the covering of bombardment of naval vessels, air force fighters and army attack helicopters. Foreign media focus on the south Korea-U.S. combined naval drill with the U.S. nuclear carrier Carl Vinson and nuclear-powered submarine Santa Fe as a main force, which intruded into the naval bases in Pusan and Jeju Island, timed to coincide with the unusual military moves in the area along the Military Demarcation Line and all other areas of puppet south Korea. All these are being enforced in parallel with the unilateral declaration of the puppet group on the suspension of some provisions of the September 19 North-South Military Agreement. The buffer zone along the Military Demarcation Line, which had been maintained for the past five years, is completely destroyed and the unpredictable danger of war is escalating. Upon the serious situation, traitor Yoon Suk Yeol and his group are misleading the public opinion, claiming that the DPRK is responsible for it. As the puppet group of traitors is going so impudent to shift the responsibility for the scraping of the North-South Military Agreement and the deterioration of the situation with illogical far-fetched assertions and sophism, I clearly reveal the truth behind the fact. Who is chiefly responsible for "constant breach"? Traitor Yoon Suk Yeol and his group are claiming that the suspension of some provisions of the September 19 North-South Military Agreement was an inevitable measure taken by them as the DPRK had no "will to abide by the agreement" and constantly repeated the "breach" of the agreement. Who is the one that totally denied the agreement and consistently violated it, far from having the will to abide by it? First, let us look back to the "will to abide by the agreement". It is well known to the world that traitor Yoon Suk Yeol denied the existence of the agreement before he took power, terming it a "written abandonment of security" and a "political drama". Later, he unhesitatingly revealed that he has no will to implement the North-South Military Agreement by declaring the DPRK and its army as the "principal enemy" and adopting the military confrontation as a "state policy", which were proved by the farce of preparations for the scrapping of the agreement. It is necessary to recall that in January this year traitor Yoon instructed the puppet State Security Office, "Ministry of Defense" and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to step up the suspension of the September 19 North-South Military Agreement and, accordingly, the puppet military even staged a drill for mastering the procedures for suspending the agreement from March. Sin Won Sik, puppet minister of Defense who took office in October, repeatedly said on public occasions that the North-South Military Agreement was a wrong agreement and it should be scrapped without fail and that he would do his best to suspend the effect of the agreement at the earliest possible date. It is by no means fortuitous that media in the region of south Korean puppets commented that Yoon Suk Yeol and the authorities have denied the existence of the agreement, far from implementing it. Such facts clearly prove that the puppet group's scrapping of the agreement has been planned as part of its policy of confrontation with the DPRK and has been carried out in perfect order. However, the puppet group is resorting to shameless farce as if the scrapping of the agreement is attributable to the DPRK, concealing everything it had committed. The puppet group of traitors is the arch criminal who has constantly breached the agreement. The agreement stipulates for the total stop to all hostile acts against the other side, the root cause of military tension and conflict in all spaces including the ground, sea and air. Then, have the puppet military gangsters abided by it? They went quite contrary to it. Since traitor Yoon took office, military drills have been staged at all levels for mastering the mode of surprise attack on the DPRK every day on the ground, at sea and in the air of the whole region of south Korean puppets. The large-scale joint war drills targeting the DPRK, including Ulji Freedom Shield joint military exercises, Vigilant Storm combined air drills, Ssangyong joint landing drills and operation training of anti-special warfare unit, amount to more than 80 times which have been opened to public. The number of anti-DPRK war drills staged by the puppet army alone is countless. The puppet group organized and operated with its American master the "Nuclear Consultative Group", aimed at making a nuclear attack on the DPRK, in April this year, introduced the U.S. super-large strategic nuclear submarine carrying 80 nuclear warheads into the Pusan operation base in July for the first time in 42 years and landed B-52H, a U.S. strategic bomber with nuclear missiles, at the Chongju Air Force base for the first time ever, etc. It will take time to mention the constant deployment of various other nuclear attack strategic assets of the U.S. Extreme military hostile acts in the area along the Military Demarcation Line are more beyond imagination. In the period from January to October this year alone, the puppet group of traitors committed more than 3 200 loudspeaker broadcasting provocations in the forefront area, more than 1 100 warships of the puppet army invaded the territorial waters of the DPRK for 1 270-odd times and reconnaissance planes intruded into the territorial air of the DPRK side over 150 times. In particular, the over 10 hour-long shelling provocation in the frontline area of the 5th Corps of our Army in the eastern front in October last year and the shelling at the Chori Firing Range in Jindong myon, Phaju City of Kyonggi Province in the western frontline area in March this year were typical violations of Clause 2 of Article 1 of the North-South Military Agreement on the stop of shelling drill in the area along the Military Demarcation Line. Needless to say, the puppet group will persistently deny or justify these stark facts. Explicitly speaking, the DPRK has ample evidence proving the facts that the enemies wantonly violated the agreement. The Yoon Suk Yeol group of traitors has persistently violated the North-South Military Agreement in an all-round and comprehensive way on a step by step basis, obsessed with the hostile consciousness toward the DPRK and the hysteria for military confrontation. It is the height of profound confusing of right and wrong that they talk about "constant violation" of someone. For whom was it needed to scrap military agreement The Yoon Suk Yeol group of traitors cited the DPRK's legitimate and just launch of a reconnaissance satellite as a direct excuse for the suspension of some provisions in the North-South Military Agreement. It is quite natural that people are doubtful about this. This is because no article and phrase in the agreement stipulates any content that reconnaissance satellite should not be launched. This is the reason why the DPRK brands the enemy's act of pulling up the DPRK over its reconnaissance satellite launch as a deliberate provocation to scrap the agreement and a far-fetched assertion that can not justify itself even a bit. If the DPRK's satellite launch is a "violation" of the north-south military agreement, what are the satellites launched by the enemies so far? What about the launch of a reconnaissance satellite, which was finally carried out with the backing of the U.S. master on Dec. 2 after delaying it from Nov. 30? Even shameless ones can never call it "observance of agreement". The puppet group's assertion which is no more than a self-contradiction is nothing but a revelation of its sinister intention to scrap the agreement at any cost. The remarks made by an official of the puppet military on Nov. 14 offered counterevidence. He unhesitatingly blustered that if the north launches a reconnaissance satellite, it is their goal to extend the range of suspension by taking the north's "additional provocation" as an excuse with the start of the suspension of some provisions of the north-south military agreement and finally nullify the agreement. Then, why is the Yoon Suk Yeol group of traitors going so frantic to scrap the September 19 North-South Military Agreement? The group's intention is, above all, to remove obstacles to inciting the hostile feelings toward the DPRK and making military provocations against it in the area along the Military Demarcation Line. It is needed to probe into the fact that the puppet military gangsters suspended the effect of the Clause 3 of Article 1 of the agreement, which bans the flight of drones and balloons together with fixed- and rotary-wing planes in the sky above the Military Demarcation Line. The puppet group, which set up the "command for drone operation" to carry out the anti-north psychological warfare together with the tasks for monitoring, reconnaissance, attack and electronic warfare against major strategic targets of the DPRK on September 1, has since cried out for nullifying the north-south military agreement in order to resume the drone operation in the area along the Military Demarcation Line as early as possible. Clear-cut is the intention of the puppet group of traitors to persistently fly balloons in the sky above the Military Demarcation Line. It is quite obvious that the puppet military is going to conduct the anti-north psychological warfare in full swing through the direct operation of leaflet scattering machines, instead of maneuvering "civilian organizations" into anti-DPRK leaflet scattering campaign which has been done so far. The intrusion of drones and leaflet scattering toward the area of the DPRK side attempted by the enemies are a grave military hostility equivalent to the provocation of a war. Herein lies the gravity of the puppet group's recent hurried suspension of the military agreement. It is another sinister intention of the Yoon Suk Yeol group of traitors to trigger off the DPRK's military counteraction by causing a shocking incident in the area along the Military Demarcation Line and seek a way out of the serious ruling crisis. It is the inveterate bad habit of the successive conservative forces in the region of south Korean puppets to rally the conservative group through the fabrication of the "north wind" and brand the anti-government forces as the "anti-security forces" and thus maintain the ruling system whenever they are in the grip of political dilemma and ruling crisis. Traitor Yoon Suk Yeol and his group are now faced with daily-growing massive protest and actions for the "resignation of regime", due to their extreme ignorance, irregularities and corruption and unpopular misrule. The "impeachment of president" is hotly debated at the puppet parliament as Yoon's mother-in-law was put in prison for illegally acquired wealth and a special inspection system for probing into the past crimes of his wife is about to operate. Yoon is now like a fish out of water as even Kyongsang Province, the "citadel of conservatism", and conservative media are turning their backs against his regime's arrogant and self-righteous behavior. It is the unanimous public opinion inside the puppet regime that the ruling party will suffer a heavy defeat in the puppet National Assembly election to be held in April next year and traitor Yoon be ousted from the post of "president" under the present situation. Therefore, the traitor and his group are resorting to foolish military gambling in a bid to divert the public sentiment against the government. This is proved by the rumors that traitor Yoon can provoke military provocations at the "cease-fire line" to maintain his "power" and laments that he scrapped the north-south military agreement just like Lee Myung Bak and Park Geun Hye who spoiled the projects for tourism of Mt Kumgang and the Kaesong Industrial Zone in a bid to tide over the ruling crisis in the past. Provokers should surely pay high price Owing to the reckless and imprudent moves of the puppet group of traitors to nullify the north-south military agreement, the extreme military confrontation as serious as that before the adoption of the agreement has been created again on the Korean peninsula. It is needless to say what consequences will be entailed by the complete disappearance of the minimum mechanism and the final line for preventing accidental military conflict in the area along the Military Demarcation Line where huge armed forces stand in highest density and sharp confrontation in the world. The physical crash and war on the Korean peninsula have become a matter of time, not possibility. The puppet group of traitors is ridiculously claiming that the suspension of the effect of the north-south military agreement would be a "bitter counteraction" to the DPRK and that they have nothing to lose. This is nothing but a foolish deception to justify the crime of nullifying the agreement and cover up the catastrophic disaster to come. If one has an elementary military common knowledge and insight, it is easy to judge which side will pay irretrievable fatal price due to the nullification of the north-south military agreement. In fact, the agreement weighs against the military operations of the DPRK army. However, the DPRK adopted the agreement out of a single mind to minimize the danger of armed conflict in the area along the Military Demarcation Line and promote peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and has displayed its utmost patience and self-restraint. Since the puppet group of traitors challenged the DPRK's good faith and magnanimity with hideous provocation, the army of the DPRK has been able to conduct regular military activities at will, not hampered or bound by any agreement from now on. The army of the DPRK makes itself clear once again that it has not regarded the puppet army as its worthy opponent from the very beginning. If the political and military gangsters of the "Republic of Korea" dare to commit an outrageous military provocation in the eyes of the DPRK's army, it will show no tolerance and contain and punish with the immediate and powerful strength. The future situation will go quite contrary to the enemy's expectations. Inhabitants of the border area and five islands in the West Sea including Paekryong and Yonphyong islands have cried that "the authorities are now bringing a second Yonphyong Island crisis" and that they "can't live because of uneasiness". And various circles are strongly condemning the suspension of the north-south military agreement by the group of traitor Yoon Suk Yeol as self-wrong of pulling out the last security mechanism for peace and the "worst choice" increasing the war danger on the Korean peninsula. This is undeniable reality. We make it clear to the puppet group of traitors, engrossed in bravado and blind bravery while talking about additional counteraction and strong punishment obsessed with extreme anti-DPRK confrontation hysteria and intemperate blind belief in and submission to "south Korea-U.S. alliance". Any hostile act of the puppet group against the DPRK will lead to the miserable destruction of the puppet army and the total collapse of the "ROK". The prevailing situation proves once again the validity of the choice of the DPRK which has pushed forward with the bolstering of nuclear war deterrence and modernization of armed forces under the leadership of the great Party, despite all sorts of trials and hardships, and underlines the need for the DPRK to invariably advance along this road in the future, too. The provokers who completely nullified the north-south military agreement will have to surely pay a high price. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian top commander due in Baghdad today IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Baghdad, IRNA -- Iran's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri is scheduled to travel to Baghdad later today. The Iranian general will be accompanied by a number of high-ranking military and political officials in his visit to Baghdad which will take place upon an invitation by his Iraqi counterpart. During his stay in the Iraqi capital, General Bagheri will meet with a number of senior Iraqi officials, including that country's prime minister and president. The three-day visit to Baghdad will focus on cooperation on the fight against terrorism and regional developments, as well as defensive and bordering cooperation. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Visit Bahrain, a leading destination management company based in Bahrain, has inaugurated two representative offices in China's Shanghai and Guangzhou. This strategic move is aimed at attracting tourists from China, recognised as the foremost market for travel and tourism exports. China has notably become the largest source of tourism market activity, both in terms of visitor expenditure and the sheer number of annual travellers, a statement noted. The expansion initiative seeks to fortify relationships with key stakeholders in the Chinese tourism market, encompassing representatives from the tourism, hospitality, and travel sectors. The objective is to deliver promotional services and bolster awareness of Bahrain's tourist destinations. Building upon the success of establishing representative offices across numerous European countries, the company is extending its reach eastward following the recent opening of an office in India, it said. Visit Bahrain has appointed Ning-sun as the manager for its Shanghai office and Anthony Wang as the manager for its Guangzhou office. Ali Amralla, CEO of Win Bahrain, said: "With China setting unprecedented records by annually registering approximately 157 million tourists who collectively spend over $429 billion abroad, attention is increasingly shifting towards the Chinese market as a pivotal source to invigorate tourism in various countries. China not only stands as one of the largest origins of outbound tourists but also ranks among the world's primary destination countries, attracting a staggering 141.2 million tourists from across the globe in a single year. This compelling dynamic underscores the imperative to prioritise China as a forefront target in our tourism strategies." "With the launch of direct flights between Bahrain and Shanghai/Guangzhou and a surge in Chinese investment projects, the Chinese tourism market holds great significance for Bahrain. Chinese tourist numbers have doubled, especially in business, holidays, conferences, and exhibitions. Notably, Bahrain experienced the highest per-trip spending from Chinese tourists, attracting around 2.2 million visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries this year. These tourists have contributed an estimated $3.48 billion to Bahrain's travel and tourism sector," he said. Amralla emphasised that the inauguration of the new offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou marks a robust beginning for "Visit Bahrain's" expansion in China. The company aims to attract Chinese tourist groups by offering promotional deals, tailored travel packages, and organising tours and excursions to cater to their specific preferences. - TradeArabia News Service When the call came in to the Omaha Police Department headquarters on Monday, the response was immediate. An unidentified caller told the department that a student at Omaha South High School had been shot in one of the school's bathrooms, and the suspect was on a separate floor. The school resource officer stationed at the school immediately notified administrators and began searching for the victim. Within minutes, South High School was placed into lockdown as state and federal law enforcement officers descended on the school and began methodically checking every room. As the search ended with no victim or suspect located, there was only one conclusion: For the second time this year, the school had been subjected to a swatting call. Swatting is defined by the FBI as calling police with fake allegations for the purpose of sending law enforcement typically the SWAT team to a particular address. While anyone can be the target of swatting, officials across the country have seen a significant spike in fake shooting or bomb threats called in to schools. An October report from the Washington Post estimated that more than 500 schools in the U.S. have been subjected to fake reports of shootings or bomb threats in the past year. From June to November of 2022, FBI officials told the Associated Press that they had identified hoax calls to more than 350 colleges and grade schools in the U.S in those five months alone. In Nebraska, at least 10 schools have been targeted in 11 separate swatting incidents this year, according to news reports. On March 2, 10 schools across the state including Omaha South High School were the targets of fake school shooting calls placed to 911. In addition to Omaha, the calls affected schools in Columbus, Kearney, Grand Island, Lincoln and Fremont. For school districts and law enforcement, the policy is typically to treat each threat as if it is real until proven otherwise. "Until we can determine that it's a swatting call, we are going to take every single threat completely serious," said Sgt. James Shade of the Omaha Police Department's Assault Unit. "On the investigative side, we immediately begin trying to figure out where the call came from and anything else we can. But that's me in an office saying this might be a hoax, compared to officers who are on scene and can confirm." Though swatting calls are certainly a concern, Shade said, he's seen a more significant increase in school threats being posted to social media. These threats can spread like wildfire even across state lines and can lead to hysteria as parents keep their children home from school. For example: In January, one adult and three juveniles were cited or arrested for disorderly conduct and terroristic threats for a social media post in which the author claimed to be "coming for all schools in Omaha NE." Also in January, Thayer Community Schools in Hebron, Nebraska, canceled classes for multiple days after an online post threatened a school shooting. Shade said the most important thing parents, students and community members can do is immediately report any threats even those that seem non-credible or sarcastic to law enforcement. "When you see something threatening, don't just repost it," Shade said. "It's a threat that needs to be taken seriously. And the sooner we get that information, the closer we are to the original post. I'm happy that there are anonymous options for people to report, but calling 911 is still the best option." Photos: Omaha South placed on lockdown Monday afternoon Iranian delegation withdraws from UN COP28 in protest to Zionist regime's officials IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Baghdad, IRNA -- The Iranian delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UN COP28) in the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the event in protest of the participation of officials from the Zionist regime of Israel. The delegation, led by Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian, left Tehran for Dubai on Thursday. Before their departure, there had been reports suggesting that the Israeli regime's officials would not risk attending the UN meeting due to their actions in Gaza. However, before leaving the meeting, Mehrabian stated that the Israeli regime's officials were not expected to attend the UN meeting. The minister noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran had planned to use the conference as a platform to engage in discussions with officials from 150 countries worldwide to advocate for the Palestinian nation. However, the delegation decided to leave the meeting, citing the political and irrelevant presence of the Israeli regime at the UN COP 28 as being in contradiction to the conference's goals and strategies. The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, which began on November 30 in Dubai, UAE, is set to last for approximately two weeks. Concurrent with its presence at COP28, the Zionist regime has resumed its crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. 1483**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Navy unveils homegrown Chamrosh-4 VTOL drone, remotely operated vehicle Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 10:07 AM The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy has unveiled a domestically developed and manufactured vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, alongside a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that can undertake a variety of marine operations autonomously. The indigenous military achievements were put on display during an exhibition attended by Chief Commander of the Iranian Army, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, and a number of high-ranking military figures and state officials in the capital Tehran on Saturday. The VTOL drone, dubbed Chamrosh-4 and named after a bird in Persian mythology believed to live on the summit of Mount Alborz, enjoys cost-efficient technologies and can easily take off from and land vertically on the decks of all types of naval vessels, and carry out assigned missions. Moreover, the remotely operated vehicle can detect, locate and destroy both anchored and sleeping naval mines. The ROV reportedly has the ability to carry a wide range of equipment, and clear mines. It can go as deep as 200 meters (656 feet), and has operational endurance of some 24 hours. During the exhibition, various seaborne weapons, anti-ship missile systems, sophisticated surveillance, telecommunications and electronic warfare systems, as well as domestically produced advanced parts were showcased. Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient. Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations. Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities, decrying enemies for questioning the country's missile program. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian, Russian, Chinese forces to hold joint naval exercise in Persian Gulf Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 6:35 AM Naval forces from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and China are set to stage a joint naval exercise in the Persian Gulf waters, where the three powerhouses will carry out large-scale maritime maneuvers involving various divisions of their military forces. Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani told the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) television news channel on Friday evening that Iranian, Chinese and Russian forces will jointly practice exercises during the 2024 Marine Security Belt naval war game. He added that delegates from Pakistan, Brazil, Oman, India, South Africa and a number of the Caspian Sea littoral states have also been invited to participate in the drills as observers. Iranian naval forces and their Chinese and Russian counterparts have held several military drills in recent years to improve the security of international maritime trade, counter piracy and maritime terrorism, exchange information in naval rescue and relief operations, and exchange operational and tactical experiences. Irani went on to say that the main phase of the country's largest maritime zone will come on stream at the port city of Jask in southeastern Iran during the Ten-Day Dawn celebrations marking the 46th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution. The commander stated that heavy-lift vessels will be deployed in the maritime zone by the end of the current Iranian calendar year, which concludes on March 20, 2024. "Given the growth in the number of operating heavy lift vessels in the country, we are planning to establish a much larger maritime zone in Konarak" in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, the Iranian Navy commander pointed out. Rear Admiral Irani also described as "positive" the reactions of the Caspian Sea littoral states to the addition of Daylaman, the newest homegrown destroyer, to the Iranian Navy's Caspian Sea fleet on Monday. The military vessel, whose hull identification number is 78, officially came into operation at a ceremony in the northern port city of Bandar Anzali. Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, and Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani attended the ceremony. Weighing 1,500 tons, the destroyer has been designed and manufactured by the Defense Ministry under the aegis of the Navy. Daylaman is known as the most advanced version of the Jamaran-class vessels. Elsewhere in his remarks on Friday evening, Irani pointed to the volume of commercial transactions in the Caspian Sea, and the change in the attitude towards maritime economy and shipping in the inland body of water, hoping that Deylaman destroyer could help Iran's commercial sector. "If we (Iran) can build a destroyer, then there would certainly be no difficulty in the development of a [homegrown] commercial vessel," he underscored. Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great progress in developing and manufacturing a broad range of military equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in this regard. Iran has also held several military units with the aim of testing its combat preparedness in face of possible threats. Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to build up its defense capabilities, emphasizing such abilities are entirely meant for the purpose of defense and will be never subject to negotiations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Rapper's Violent Re-Arrest For Comments In Video Sparks Outrage By RFE/RL's Radio Farda December 02, 2023 The re-arrest of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has triggered a wave of outrage after reports that armed security agents beat the dissident while taking him into custody even though he is still recovering from being tortured during his previous prison time. Police detained Salehi, a prominent voice in Iran's recent social and political movements, on November 30 on a street in Babol, northern Iran. The Mizan News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran's judiciary, confirmed Salehi's re-arrest, alleging it was for "spreading lies and unverified statements on social media," a charge of disturbing public opinion. Salehi had only been out for 12 days after enduring 252 days in solitary confinement and a total of one year and 21 days in prison on charges that his supporters said were based on his music and participation in protests during the past year over the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Ye-One Rhie, a German parliamentarian and Salehi's political sponsor, criticized the "violent abduction," linking it to Salehi speaking out about his prison experience. Salehi has said he needs surgery because of injuries sustained from beatings and torture while he was incarcerated. "When I say he was arrested, I mean he was kidnapped. He was kidnapped without any without any warning, without any identification, without any reasons given why he was beaten and why he was taken so violently," she said. "To say that he used his time as a free man after he was released on bail to spread false rumors and to spread lies just because he was talking about his time in prison and his time in solitary confinement, that doesn't hold against any rule of law," the German lawmaker added. Salehi was initially arrested in November 2022 after a period in hiding. His detention then immediately sparked significant attention and demands for his release, both domestically and internationally. He was sentenced to more than six years in prison but released on November 18 after the Supreme Court, responding to an appeal, found "flaws in the original sentence." It sent the case back to a lower court for a reexamination and possible retrial. Once out, Salehi produced a video where he described being injected with a substance, likely adrenaline, to prevent unconsciousness during torture. He recounted the severe beatings he endured, leading to broken hands and feet. He also said in the video that he filed a complaint against the General Directorate of Intelligence in Isfahan, a claim disputed by the Mizan News Agency. However, Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raesian, contradicted Mizan's statement, affirming that a complaint had been filed over his treatment and was under consideration. Nazanin Boniadi, an actress and prominent opponent of the Islamic republic, condemned Salehi's violent re-arrest, calling it "devastating." Salehi has gained prominence for his lyrics that rail against corruption, widespread poverty, state executions, and the killing of protesters in Iran. His songs also point to a widening gap between ordinary Iranians and the country's leadership, accusing authorities of "suffocating" the people without regard for their well-being. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-rapper-violent- re-arrest-video-outrage/32711015.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 Thousands of Iranian Steelworkers Strike for Better Wages By VOA Persian Service December 02, 2023 Several thousand members of the Free Union of Iranian Workers went on strike Saturday against the Isfahan Steel Company, seeking higher wages and better working and living conditions. The scale and extent of the strike was significant, drawing attention even from state news agencies. The Free Union of Iranian Workers Telegram channel disclosed that the strike unfolded as part of an ongoing protest of the steel company and its failure to meet workers' demands. Workers assembled in front of the management building following a march within the factory premises. According to media reports, Isfahan steelworkers have been protesting inadequate living conditions and low wages, and they also are advocating for the proper implementation of a job classification plan, wage equity with other steel companies and "other related items." Last Sunday, Isfahan steelworkers declared a hunger strike, refusing to accept the company's food in protest. Fowad Keykhosravi, a board member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, spoke with VOA about the strike. "Based on the reports we've received, more than 3,000 workers from various departments of the Isfahan Steel Company a including rolling, casting, converter, tall furnace, agglomeration, coke production, furnaces and other sections a took part in the strike." He said that "in addition to its widespread participation, another source of strength for this protest movement is the involvement of workers from both the evening and night shifts, alongside their daytime counterparts." Discussing the demands of the Isfahan steelworkers, Keykhosravi told VOA, "Their specific demands include the revision and complete implementation of the job classification plan, which has only been partially executed since 2014. "Workers are asserting their right to wage restoration and a 30% increase before the end of 1402 [the Iranian calendar year ending on March 20], aiming to bridge a portion of the substantial wage disparity with the rising cost of living, notwithstanding the official wage hike scheduled for next year." He said, "An increase in bonuses and other wage components, along with aligning wages with those in other steel companies, including Mobarakeh Steel, are key demands put forth by these workers." Keykhosravi emphasized that "another factor contributing to the strength of the protest among Isfahan Steel Company workers is the formation of this large gathering following the extensive crackdown on workers' protests on February 26, 2023. This crackdown involved the deployment of a significant number of special guard forces within the company, the detention of numerous workers and the ongoing implementation of heightened security measures by the company's security personnel, coupled with recent security threats." The Fars News Agency, associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, called the protest a "trade union gathering" and reported that "the CEO is presently engaging with the workers. The gathering does not disrupt production, as employees in specific roles continue their work." Worker protests in different parts of Iran have notably increased in recent years, expressed through strikes, assemblies and marches. The government's attempts to quell the protests with heightened security and judicial measures have proven unsuccessful. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US attack on Jurf al-Nasr 'violation of Iraqi sovereignty': PM Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 1:57 PM Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has slammed the United States' latest attack on the Jurf al-Nasr area, reiterating his country's commitment to safeguarding its borders and sovereignty against any aggression. Sudani made the remarks in a phone call with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Saturday, emphasizing that Baghdad considers as a "violation of Iraqi sovereignty" the US attack on paramilitary forces stationed in the area last month. He also reiterated Iraq's unwavering commitment to protecting international coalition advisors currently stationed in the country, as he conveyed the Iraqi government's staunch rejection of any attacks on its territory. On November 22, US airstrikes killed eight members of the anti-terror resistance group Kata'ib Hezbollah in the Jurf al-Sakhar region. Kata'ib Hezbollah, which has been targeting US forces in Iraq over the past weeks in response to Washington's support for ongoing Israeli aggression on Palestine, said in a statement that it would attack a wider array of targets if US strikes are repeated. Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), an umbrella group of paramilitary forces that controls Kata'ib Hezbollah, also said that it would never shun its responsibility for defending Iraq's territorial integrity. Resistance groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon have been targeting US and Israeli interests in the region since Israel launched a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip in early October with direct support from the US. The groups have threatened to escalate the attacks if the Israeli carnage in Gaza is not stopped. Kata'ib Hezbollah and other Iraqi groups have launched more than 60 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Gaza war. The US has responded by carrying out two series of attacks on resistance forces in Iraq and three others on their peers in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Passenger Bus Comes Under Deadly Attack in Pakistan By Ayaz Gul December 02, 2023 Unknown gunmen in northern Pakistan shot at a bus on Saturday, killing at least eight passengers and wounding 26 others. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in the scenic Gilgit-Baltistan province. Arif Ahmad, the area deputy commissioner, said the "cowardly act" targeted a bus traveling to the garrison city of Rawalpindi on the Karakoram Highway that connects Pakistan to China. He said the driver lost control of the bus following the attack and it collided with an oncoming truck. Ahmad told a televised news conference that two Pakistani soldiers were among the slain passengers. The assailants were reportedly riding a motorcycle and sprayed the bus with bullets before fleeing the site. Rescue workers expected the death toll to increase. Gilgit-Baltistan borders China's western Xinjiang region and hosts the convergence of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges, creating a stunning landscape. Previous attacks in the province have been claimed by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Taliban, or TTP, an outlawed militant group and offshoot of Afghanistan's ruling Islamist Taliban. Pakistan says TTP has intensified attacks from Afghan sanctuaries since the Taliban returned to power in the war-torn neighboring country, killing hundreds of people, including security forces. Taliban authorities reject the allegations, saying they are not allowing any group to use Afghanistan to threaten Pakistan or other countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions following the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting, Skopje, December 1, 2023 1 December 2023 15:25 2454-01-12-2023 Good afternoon. I do not feel like making long opening remarks. If you followed the OSCE Ministerial Council meetings, you had a chance to read my speech. I will not repeat myself. I regret that we have approached the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in an atmosphere that is not conducive to anniversary celebrations. We are seeing the complete degradation of everything that has been created within the OSCE (previously within this Conference) in all three security dimensions (military-political, economic-environmental and cultural-humanitarian). I will not cite examples. We have become convinced that our Western colleagues have not learned any lessons from their disastrous policy line towards destroying the OSCE. They continue to finish it off with a zeal worthy of better use. Yesterday, 95 percent of remarks by our Western colleagues were aimed at this. Only a few "sober" voices recalled that the OSCE was created for the purpose of cooperation and ensuring mutual security. Much was done to this end. But everything has been destroyed in the military-political area. They refused to ratify the Adapted CFE Treaty and many other agreements that helped maintain a security balance, ensured real arms control and arms reductions in the European "theatre." Everything has been destroyed in the economic area as well. This second "basket" was demolished by the unprecedented sanctions that the EU and the US have imposed on the Russia Federation. There is nothing to say about human rights. When after the state coup in Ukraine in February 2014, the Kiev Nazi regime launched its so-called counterterrorist operation to suppress Donbass, the residents of which refused to accept the criminal revolt and the new authorities, no problems at all arose for many years despite the killing of children, women and civilians in general, and the full trade and economic blockade of Donbass and the suspension of water supplies to Russian Crimea. This discrediting is obvious. It is sad. While we communicate here, we see what really concerns the West. It is involved in minor squabbles - to extend (or not) the positions of those that head OSCE institutions. They neglected their direct duties, crudely violating the principles of the OSCE in which they were appointed to guide different areas of its activities. Now they are fighting to expand each other's terms in office (the commissioners on media and other affairs) for nine months or a year. This petty fussing has nothing to do with the OSCE's deepest crisis, but it's the only thing on their minds. The Macedonian Chairmanship set the right motto - "It's about people." During yesterday's working lunch, I told my colleagues that when talking about people we were referring to all citizens of the OSCE countries and even "non-citizens" that are kept in this shameful status in Latvia and Estonia. In reality, it appears that all this excitement and concern about people is limited to the four heads of the OSCE offices. At any rate, I cannot reach any other conclusion from the nervous activity of our Western colleagues. I do not care about the outcome of this get-together and the attempts to bargain for an extra day or week to continue the crude violation of all OSCE principles. I am referring to the heads of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the media managers and the people dealing with rights of national minorities. I am finishing my remarks on a not very optimistic note. Question: On the eve of the Ministerial Council meeting, a US representative at the OSCE said Russia would be in isolation in Skopje. Did you feel this? Sergey Lavrov: It was my colleague, the US Secretary of State who ran away. I didn't go anywhere. Today, Maria Zakharova showed two different photos from Macedonian newspapers. The first one was taken on the evening of November 29 of this year. They all came for dinner and had this photo taken. Now I understand why this was done - so a newspaper could publish it and write that everyone had come, but that "Sergey Lavrov was in isolation." But this get-together was on the eve of the meeting. They simply went there to have good Macedonian wine and something to eat. The opening took place in the morning. Other newspapers published a photo from the meeting, showing all the countries behind their signs, including the Russian Federation represented by my colleagues and me. But the participants in the November 29 event also did not include either the Ukrainian or Polish ministers or their colleagues from the Baltic countries. I believe, Antony Blinken and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell had also left. Why is this happening? Apparently, they think that by leaving, they are demonstrating their desire to isolate Russia, but I believe they are just cowards. They are afraid of any honest conversation with the facts in hand. Probably, the same fear explains the twists with the non-issuance of visas to our diplomats for UN events in New York and various UNESCO agency sessions in Paris. This is primitive cowardice. During the two years of the West's hysterical hybrid war against Russia, people have seen that it has no clear or sensible argument. We presented our arguments in detail yesterday and nobody objected. Question (retranslated from English): What is Russia's position on Bulgaria's claims to Macedonian identity? Sergey Lavrov: I am not well-versed in the specifics of Macedonian-Bulgarian relations. I can say that the Macedonian people have a full right to take part in all of the activities on our continent on an equal basis. Speaking in general, not just about Macedonian-Bulgarian relations but about the persisting problems in the Balkans in general, they are rooted in the West's actions on the destruction of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Montenegrins, Slovenes, Slovaks, Serbs and Macedonians lived in that country. They did not have the difficulties that we are talking about now. I remember that for years Macedonia was called the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). This was humiliating. Then, North Macedonia was invented. Everyone understands what this was all about. Macedonia does not claim anyone's land - either in Greece or anywhere else. We know this. But it is up to Macedonians to resolve this problem. Several years ago, the Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament, Talat Xhaferi, proudly posed for a photo in his office and there was an Albanian flag on his table. A problem exists, and everyone knows it. Our Western colleagues encourage some ethnic groups in the Balkans but occupy an aggressive, dictatorial position as regards others, demanding that they join the anti-Russia sanctions "before it's too late." The West was interested in breaking Yugoslavia apart. It did not need such a unifying force in the Balkans. They have always wanted to set one nation against another there, and they are still doing this with success. However, I am convinced that the people of the Balkan countries have developed a genetic code during their long and difficult but glorious history and eventually will not allow anyone to offend them. They will not let our Western colleagues set them against themselves, to incite one nation against another. Look at what is taking place in Bosnia. It was agreed that three state-forming peoples would co-exist there. Now attempts are being made to raze this to the ground. I could speak at length on this subject, but let me assure you that we have kind feelings for the Macedonian people. I've been here for just two days, but I see your citizens in the streets or at the hotel and feel the warmth they have for us. This feeling is mutual. Question: Why has the security situation in Europe morphed into what it is today? Does Russia expect the OSCE to play an important role, considering that some European countries have entrusted their security to the United States? What makes other organisations, such as the SCO or ASEAN, different from the OSCE? Sergey Lavrov: We prepared ourselves for this conversation. I knew our and foreign reporters would be interested in what is really going on. Some of your colleagues were here when I arrived yesterday morning. There was a crowd out front yelling, "When are you going to free Ukraine," and "When will you stop the war in Ukraine." One doesn't need to be a journalist to do that; all one needs to be is an active member of a propaganda campaign. True reporters want to drill deep into the issue at hand; they want to understand what's happening. My colleagues from the delegation and I were expecting such questions. I'll give you several quotes: 1. "The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe was created to preserve a venue where the East and the West could meet for there was no other place for that." 2. This organisation is "a narrow but the most reliable bridge allowing participants in the Cold War not to fall into a hot war." 3. "One cannot create the impression that the West will succumb to the desire to recreate its very powerful bloc, the point of which is domination, and which, step by step, is tightening its international borders around Russia, the borders of major alliances." 4. "To Russians, NATO expansion would mean, and not without a reason, that the military border is approaching their own border. This is indisputable. We absolutely do not want to create an impression that we are looking for a conflict or a reason for causing a rift in Europe, especially with Russia, which does not deserve it. It will be very difficult for us to prevent that country (Russia) from having a feeling that it is being surrounded. It is important to provide Russia with guarantees, to envisage, and to think about an even stronger agreement aimed at solving future issues between Russia and Western countries. Nothing could be worse than creating an impression that we are recreating blocs." Guess what year that is. It's 1994. These quotes belong to then President of France Francois Mitterrand. He issued a warning in 1994, but no one listened to him. Or rather, they tried to at first. They adopted and signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and later its adapted version. After the Warsaw Pact disappeared, they established the Forum for Security Co-operation and adopted the Open Skies Treaty, the Treaty on Personnel Strength of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, treaties on small arms and light weapons, ammo, and so on. There were many. All of that crumbled because, concurrently with this productive work, which led to specific consensus results (as it should be in the OSCE), the West was persistently leading NATO eastward, right up to our borders. I mentioned this in my remarks yesterday. In 1999 and in 2010, it was put in writing that no one should be strengthening their security at the expense of the security of others. Your presidents and prime ministers at the OSCE summits put their signatures to a statement that no organisation is entitled to claim dominance in the military-political sphere. We asked them how they were going to fulfill these obligations when they were expanding NATO at the same time. In no way. No one said anything in response. They said these were political statements and declarations which don't mean much, and legal guarantees of security can be provided only within NATO. The Permanent Council is now in session, where our representatives at the OSCE are discussing what to do with the four "characters" who are still (until the day after tomorrow) heading the organisation's secretariat bodies. Bargaining is underway about whether to extend their term for a year or for nine months. I believe three months is quite enough to post a vacancy announcement and hire knowledgeable managers who will not look like finger puppets. I don't care how this meeting will end, where the fate of these four people rather than the people of all Europe, is decided. It is sad. Question (retranslated from English): What do you think will be the geopolitical result of the efforts against Kosovo and Serbia? Sergey Lavrov: The developments around Serbia and Kosovo fit seamlessly into a trend within the OSCE: first agree on something, celebrate the result and then watch the sabotage unfold, insignificant at first but then major. I gave examples of numerous agreements which had been reached under the organisations' umbrella and were later methodically destroyed by the West. I remember the European Union, "a great mediator in many situations," wanted the UN General Assembly to address the EU so as to help build bridges between Belgrade and Pristina. In 2013, an agreement was triumphantly announced on creating the Association of Serb Municipalities of Kosovo. But nothing followed. The people appointed by Pristina to govern this Serb-populated area resolutely refused and keep refusing to implement that agreement. What are the actions of the European Union? Do you think it is demanding that they behave themselves? No. It is demanding that Serbia change its position. The EU has already cooked up a new document about the Association of Serb Municipalities of Kosovo which is radically different from what Belgrade and Pristina signed 10 years ago. This is similar to many situations with OSCE agreements and documents. At the same time, Serbs are being told that they want to join the EU and have long been on the waiting list. However, new "chapters" for talks will not open unless Belgrade joins all foreign policy decisions by the EU, including sanctions against the Russian Federation. This is the power of persuasion that Europe has. They will not grant EU membership until Serbia recognises Kosovo or at least supports its membership in international organisations. This is serious. It is almost like what's happening in the next room where they are bargaining for how many months and who will remain in office. I am very concerned about the Serbian people. When I worked in New York, I happened to go to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Srpska Krajina as a UN Security Council representative. I also visited Belgrade. I saw what had been done to the city by those who are now crying that Europe is witnessing the first war, meaning war in Ukraine. As if it wasn't a war in 1999. Back then, US and British magazines carried slogans on their covers saying Serbia's repentance would purify the Serbian people. I see that this policy continues. Not only towards Serbia but also towards Republika Srpska and those who think about their own people's interests and want to preserve their human dignity as politicians. Regretfully, their numbers are dwindling. The others are moving in the direction which was once proclaimed to be "the end of history," the liberal order, "put everyone under the same roof," "there is only one commander and all others are on standby." We do not impose anything on anyone. Every nation has to determine what they are going to do next. Obviously, the European Union has been transformed. It was established as an association of countries who wanted to increase the wellbeing of their citizens more effectively together than on their own. Look where the European Peace Facility's funding is going. Listen to what the EU's "great diplomats" are saying, what the European Commission leadership is stating as it basically usurps power. There are many instances when member-states begin to wonder on what grounds the European Commission decides for them. I am not calling for the breakup of the EU. There is no need for such calls. I am just describing the behaviour of countries that proclaim themselves to be the paragon and pinnacle of democracy. There is no democracy in sight in the EU. They have the discipline of the rod and strict regimentation there, even worse than in NATO. Actually, better than in NATO. Question: You said at the Primakov Readings on November 27 of this year that the chances to save the OSCE were not great. Now that the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting is over, do you think these chances have increased or decreased further? Sergey Lavrov: The chances have increased but not for the preservation of the OSCE. There were many different feelings yesterday during the meeting, the working lunch, and the conversations in the lobby. Today these feelings became stronger. The main feeling is indifference. The organisation has become something that makes me indifferent to its future. Maria Zakharova: As distinct from the German authorities, we respect the media representatives from all countries. Please, give the floor to the German press, Deutsche Welle. Question (retranslated from English): You made it clear today that you don't believe in a bright future for the OSCE. You are talking about the collapse of the organisation, saying it no longer plays its key role. Are you planning to pull out, given the situation? Sergey Lavrov: Quote me correctly. I said I don't care how this OSCE meeting ends. I don't know where you received your education as a journalist. You asked me if we were planning to pull out of the organisation, and I replied that you should quote me correctly. I was referring to my words that I didn't care about the outcome of the OSCE's current meeting. I know that in your country, Germany, members of the government are supposed to be clear with journalists on what they should write. We respect our journalists and leave it up to them as to how to express the results of a news conference. Question: Does your visit to Skopje mean that the West is coming to realise the need to talk to Russia? Is it possible to say that a change has taken place in this regard? Sergey Lavrov: I am glad you asked this question. I was amused to read in different media outlets, including ours, that the Poles did not invite Lavrov but that the Macedonians did. This is a substitution of concepts. When an OSCE Ministerial Council meeting is held, nobody is supposed to invite anyone anywhere. Following its year-long Chairmanship, the host country must ensure the participation of all ministers and their entourage, including journalists (which did not happen here) in this meeting. The distorted character of the OSCE's activities is reflected even in this coverage of the subject (Poland didn't invite Russia but Macedonia did). This organisation used to be called "for security and cooperation in Europe." As with other issues, they are slowly drumming into public opinion the idea that they can invite Lavrov or not invite him. They have no right not to invite someone. No invitation is necessary. The delegation from a participating country informs the host country when it arrives, by what route and flight, and expects it to perform its host functions. That's it. Question: Is there a chance to reach an agreement with Ukraine? What needs to be done to get one signed? Sergey Lavrov: We have discussed this issue many times over many years. There has not been a single major speech by President Putin where he has not been asked this question, and where he has not provided an exhaustive answer. I will say it again: an agreement was reached in late March 2022 in Istanbul after several rounds of talks. There were three rounds of talks in Belarus and a final round in Istanbul. The fact that it happened exactly that way and an agreement was reached was confirmed by David Arakhamiya who took part in these talks, and currently leads Zelensky's parliamentary party. He was a member of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul. In one of his recent interviews, he said they were ready to sign what we had agreed upon. He said that now, in retrospect, he realised the deal was largely beneficial for them. However, Boris Johnson came and said, "No, let's do some more fighting." Everyone knows this. We have discussed this many times. Now, even the Ukrainians have admitted it. So far, we have not seen any signs from Kiev or its handlers that would tell us they are ready to start a political process. Moreover, a year and a half ago, Zelensky signed a special executive order making illegal talks with the government led by Vladimir Putin. It is a punishable offence. He has no plans of rescinding it. Listen to what the leaders of NATO and the EU are saying: they have to support Ukraine because if Ukraine is defeated, it will be a defeat for all of the West. Lately, they started saying that after Ukraine, Putin will go to the Baltic States, Poland, and other neighbouring countries. This was not some marginal politician who said that, but the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin. He said Russia will not stop at Ukraine, so they have no right to lose in Ukraine. They will either win or lose. They do not hide the fact that they are the ones waging this war. Just like tango, it takes two to get a political process underway. The guys on the other side, though, are not dancing tango; they are break dancing which takes only one person. We want to hear answers to the questions that we asked our Western colleagues repeatedly. Yesterday, in my speech, I quoted the Constitution of Ukraine which is still in effect, and which both Petr Poroshenko and then Vladimir Zelensky placed their right hands on when they took the oath. It includes a description of the obligations that the state of Ukraine guarantees to "Russian and other national minorities": it promotes the consolidation and development of the Ukrainian nation, its historical consciousness, its culture and traditions, as well as cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious identity. The content and the scope of existing rights and freedoms cannot be diminished. There may be no privileges based on ethnic, linguistic, or other attributes. The right to receive instruction in the native language is guaranteed. Maybe someone out there will compare these commitments and guarantees provided by the Ukrainian state with the havoc they are wreaking now with regard to the Russian language and ethnic Russians who are citizens of Ukraine? I'm not sure why no one is paying attention to this. Not a single honest journalist, in particular, our German colleagues, have ever thought about it. Maybe they have, but they never spoke their minds or published a word about it. For example, the first thing the Kiev regime did following the February 2014 coup was announce their plans to revoke the status of the Russian language in Ukraine. This was the first thing they said in 2014 when they grabbed power in complete disregard of Germany, France, and Poland, whose ministers gave guarantees as the foundation for the settlement agreement between the opposition and the president. The opposition trampled upon the guarantees and seized power. We asked our German and French colleagues later why they didn't call the Ukrainian opposition to order. They didn't give us a straightforward answer, just hinted that democratic processes sometimes take "unusual zigzags." Something to that effect. In 2014, too, a coup was attempted in the African nation of Gambia. It failed, but the US State Department minced no words, making it clear that the United States would never come to an agreement with the authorities in any country that came to power by unconstitutional means. In 2015, there was a coup in Yemen. President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia. For many years, the entire progressive Western community demanded that he return to Yemen and retake the presidential office. They've been pushing for that for seven long years and eventually decided to create a "transitional presidential council." We asked why the president of Yemen enjoyed such support, whereas no one is demanding the return of President Yanukovich in order to start the political process. Yanukovich was also toppled, and he is also an absolutely legitimate head of a UN member state. They told us he left Kiev, that's why. He left Kiev for Kharkov (everyone knows this) to participate in a congress of his party. This still does not exonerate our Western "friends" with their double standards. Simply put, they needed this anti-Russian, neo-Nazi coup in Ukraine, while in Yemen, they needed to fight to preserve the existing regime. That's all there is to it. I already quoted Ukraine's Constitution. This is what adviser to Vladimir Zelensky's chief of staff, Mikhail Podolyak, said in May 2022: "As I see it, people in the Kharkov, Lugansk and Donetsk regions should forget the word 'Russians' for good." Ukrainian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Petr Vrublevsky said in an interview: "We are trying to kill as many Russians as possible. The more Russians we kill now the fewer will be left for our children to kill." Has any influential media outlet in the West paid attention to this? No. Vladimir Zelensky said: "Those in the Kremlin will come to a bad end. I don't know how but I wish this could happen as soon as possible. They definitely will not die in their beds." It is interesting, isn't it? I can continue quoting. Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Alexey Danilov said: "Everything will be ablaze, burning, until Moscow has been burnt to ashes." The President of Ukraine's chief of staff Andrey Yermak said: "The Russians are inhuman beings and have no right to rank among the civilised people of Western countries." In this one sentence he classified all others, except people in the West, as "uncivilised people". Did the West utter a word, based on its historical achievements, regarding its claims to be a global leader? The West did not take the trouble to respond in any way. Vladimir Zelensky was asked what he thought of people living in the east of Ukraine where they refused to recognise the [2014] coup and with whom the Minsk Agreements were signed. He asked in response if they could be called human beings. There do exist representatives of people but not all of them are human beings, rather they are subhuman, "specimen". How do you like racist language like this? No one paid attention to this. The pinnacle of Vladimir Zelensky's approach is what he said in August 2021, long before a special military operation began. Quote: "I believe, for the sake of the future of your children and grandchildren, that if you love Russia and while living all your life in Ukraine you regarded it as Russia, you should realise, for the sake of your children and grandchildren, that you need to go to Russia and find a place there to settle in." That is, get out of here! Here is a man whom members of the Western political elite call "the hope of democracy" and a man who stands up for "European values" in his fight against Russia; the values of Nazism, fascism which are now being given a new lease on life through the Ukrainian elite with active encouragement from quite a few NATO and European Union member countries. Maria Zakharova: Surprisingly, the question about Ukraine was not the first or the second to be asked but the seventh. Vladimir Zelensky is deeply afraid that he will be forgotten. We will not allow this to happen. Question: Vladimir Zelensky said Ukraine is moving to building defensive structures along the entire frontline. What do you think this signals? Has the Kiev regime admitted its defeat and given up its rapacious plans? Sergey Lavrov: I read news about that. I proceed from the premise that the commanders of our special military operation know the goals they are trying to achieve. The operation is constantly supervised by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. We do not see any reasons for our goals to be revised. If only to bring these people back to honouring their own constitution. So that the Western press finally makes some noise about it. How can it be? The "solution" which is at the heart of the Ukrainian state in practice has been repeatedly trampled on. And the entire free media is somehow silent. In fact, those in the OSCE responsible for freedom of the media, national minorities, human rights and democratic institutions are also silent. Question (retranslated from English): You spoke about security and stability in the Balkans. In September 2022, Serbia signed a foreign policy agreement with Russia. Serbia was a source of inter-ethnic clashes and grave instability, at least for the Balkan countries, including Kosovo. Recently, an armed aggression against the Serbs took place in northern Kosovo. Does Russia give instructions to Serbia? Do you instruct them as regards destabilisation in the Balkans? Sergey Lavrov: Did you say Russia signed an agreement with Serbia? Question (retranslated from English): Yes. Sergey Lavrov: On what issue? Question (retranslated from English): Regarding consultations on foreign policy, in September 2022, with Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic. Sergey Lavrov: It's a profound misperception. We signed a plan of consultations between our foreign ministries with Minister Nikola Selakovic in New York. It says, for example, that in January, heads of the departments in charge of European cooperation hold a meeting. It March, there will be a meeting of the department heads in charge of the Mediterranean, and so on. This is not policy alignment. Nobody was concealing anything. There were Russian and Serbian journalists present who filmed the signing of the plan. Meanwhile, Washington promptly made threatening noises: How dare the Serbs sign a plan of consultations with Russia who is an aggressor. And you had it stuck in your head that it was policy alignment. I am really asking you not to let your masters down if you represent an outlet you believe is respectable. Question (retranslated from English): There have been reports that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting with the National Security Council of Israel. Can you comment on the fact that such meetings take place and the unconditional US support for Israel? I think this is an example of policy alignment. Sergey Lavrov: In fact, what is happening in and around the Gaza Strip is a dire situation. The statistics released by the heads of the UN and its various departments working in the Middle East are appalling. The number of dead civilians, children has already exceeded 6,000, and more than 4,000 women. We have spoken out on this topic a number of times. We categorically condemned the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 of this year. But we also categorically oppose the idea that terrorism can be fought by any means, including gross violations of international humanitarian law. Our Israeli colleagues are well aware of that. Virtually all other countries that care about the region hold the same position. I've heard US representatives, including Antony Blinken, make their statements. This morning, I watched the Al Jazeera news which pointed out that the Americans are urging the Israeli leadership to minimise consequences for civilians. Perhaps, that is the least that they can do. We tried to take it a step further. Soon after the military operation began following the terrorist attack, we submitted to the UN Security Council a proposal to declare a humanitarian ceasefire. We were not allowed to go ahead with it. The United States was against it. Then, Brazil came up with a similar resolution. The United States vetoed it. Then the countries of the region (primarily Arab, Muslim countries) submitted a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly. Its language was not as strong as the resolutions the Americans vetoed in the Security Council. It provided for a humanitarian truce rather than a ceasefire. This resolution was adopted. Brazil then came up with another resolution at the UN Security Council. We had to abstain because it was weaker than the General Assembly's position. This was not good for the UN Security Council's standing. We hear the Israeli leadership make statements to the effect that they will not stop until they destroy Hamas. I won't delve into details about what analysts and professional military have to say about it. The laws of warfare have not been canceled. This should be kept in mind. We have invariably been invested in the security of Israel, which is in an utterly vulnerable position. This vulnerability is rooted in the fact that the UN Security Council resolution to create the Palestinian state is not being implemented. It says that the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem should live in peace and security with Israel and all other neighbours. Under the Arab Peace Initiative advanced by King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in 2002, once a Palestinian state is created, all Arab (and Muslim) countries will establish good relations with Israel. It seems like a way forward to a stable and secure situation in this long-suffering land. But so far, we have not had any success. There once was a Foreign Minister of Israel by the name of Yair Lapid. He was part of a coalition with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for some time. They won the elections and divvied up offices. Bennett was Prime Minister, and Lapid was Foreign Minister. He came to us. He and I sat down for a meeting. When the special military operation began in Ukraine, Yair Lapid made several statements: "There is no justification for the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and the killing of innocent civilians." He put it just like that, bluntly: no justification. On his Twitter page, he wrote: "Israel expresses deep concern regarding the dire humanitarian situation in Mariupol and calls for Russia to stop the fighting and allow for the evacuation of civilians to safety." He condemned the "Bucha Massacre" even though it has been clear to everyone for a long time now that it was not a massacre but a staged event. You write about Bucha. I call on the journalists who are covering international affairs. In early April 2022, two days after Russian servicemen left the town, bodies were shown strewn on the central street of this town. They showed them and said that "Russian butchers killed civilians." Sanctions were announced. This was also announced as one of the reasons why Ukrainians refused to sign a ceasefire agreement. Since then, I have been asking only one and the same question at news conferences, in my addresses to the UN Secretary-General, and during the UN Security Council meetings. Eighteen months have passed since then. No one is investigating anything. No one is telling anyone anything. Can we at least get a list of the names of the people whose bodies were shown in Bucha as "tortured and killed"? Deafening silence. I urge the journalistic community which is interested in learning the truth to conduct a "little" journalistic investigation. Demand the names of those whom British television showed in the Ukrainian town of Bucha on April 4, 2022. Back then Yair Lapid condemned the massacre in Bucha and said: "Intentionally harming a civilian population is a war crime and I strongly condemn it." But when asked about Gaza, about the thousands and thousands of civilians, a military officer (not the top-ranking military official) said it was a "tragedy of war." Remember that? US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: "The United States of America when we transfer weapons to another country, whether it's Israel or anyone else, requests, requires an assurance that those weapons will be used in accordance with the law of armed conflict, and we seek accountability to ensure that that is the case, we will continue to do that. We will also work around the clock to try to make sure that life saving humanitarian assistance gets to people in need. " Also, Jake Sullivan had to say the following, but this time not about Israel, but about Ukraine: "We have not placed limitations on Ukraine being able to strike on its territory within its internationally recognised borders. ." There are restrictions on Israel, but there are none on Ukraine. Even in this regard, Ukraine outdid everyone else. When asked whether the United States thinks the Ukrainians committed a terrorist attack by bombing the Crimean Bridge, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, had the following to say: "And we don't tell them what is or what isn't legally a legitimate target. They determine their targets for themselves." Spot the difference. Question (retranslated from English): During your speech yesterday and your opening remarks this morning, you accused the Western countries and Western diplomats of undermining the OSCE's fundamental principles. You spoke about the hypocrisy linked with the situation in Ukraine and so on. You said it takes two to hold a meaningful dialogue. There are always two sides in an armed conflict as well. As for the Russian aggression in Ukraine, who displays more hypocrisy - the Western countries, Russia or both sides? As a country, do you recognise your responsibility for the situation in the OSCE, for undermining the institutions designed to guarantee peace in Europe, and in general, for undermining peace and stability in Europe? Sergey Lavrov: You may publish your question. Your managers will welcome it. Our Western colleagues are fond of "cancel culture." Those who recently started to be included in a "civilised world" in the form of the EU and the North Atlantic alliance are actively learning from them. I have already cited examples where Ukraine cancelled everything Russian at one point. They even started to eradicate everything Russian in violation of the Constitution, and physically. Clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are being killed there. What the West doesn't like, does not exist. This "cancel culture" is also applied to the drafting of political positions. A bloody state coup took place in Ukraine in February 2014. I will emphasise again that at that time they didn't give a damn about Germany, France or Poland that guaranteed the agreement between the opposition and the government with their signatures just a day before the coup. The first act of the putschists that came to power and were supported by the US and Britain was a statement on cancelling the status of the Russian language. After that, people in Crimea expressed their categorical disagreement with these events. In the east of Ukraine (part of Donbass), people refused to live under the control of the illegal authorities. Armed militants were sent to Crimea. They tried to assault the Crimea Supreme Council building. They were removed from there. Assistance came from the Russian military at our naval base in Sevastopol. The Crimeans held a referendum. Apparently, for the West and for your editorial office, the history of this starts with this referendum. It was instantly followed by loud cries: "Russia has annexed Crimea." And the prelude to this voting (the referendum) does not seem to exist at all, as if there was no such step in this history. The same happened over the seven years (or more) since - this time did not exist, either. Meanwhile, during all these years Ukraine publicly refused to fulfil the UN Security Council resolution on the Minsk agreements. Incidentally, these agreements were also concluded by Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine. The Germans and French emphasised the whole time that they were just mediators and that the dispute was between Russia and Ukraine. However, in reality, the Minsk agreements were concluded between Donbass (the two self-proclaimed republics) and the Ukrainian authorities. Later, in 2022, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande proudly, with pleasure, admitted in public that nobody on that side had any intention of fulfilling the Minsk agreements or the related UN Security Council resolution. It was just used to gain the time to arm Ukraine. Does anyone recall this when they feign the impression that the whole story started on February 24, 2022? No. You are obviously interested in history but you have a small gap in your knowledge. Let's return to the Balkans. As in the case with the Minsk agreements when France and Germany announced that they were the mediators on behalf of the EU, the EU was also a mediator between Belgrade and Pristina on approving the decision to create a Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) of Kosovo. This was in 2013, and the Minsk agreements were signed in 2015. These events took place in about the same time period. In both cases, the EU was the mediator, and in both cases, its mediation led nowhere. It only revealed how helpless it was. Incidentally, it was about approximately the same thing. The two republics wanted to have the right to speak Russian and use it to teach their children. They wanted to have mass media in Russian, and their own local police and law enforcement bodies. They wanted to be consulted on the appointment of judges and prosecutors. These requirements were practically identical to the rights that the Serbs were supposed to receive in the Community of Serb Municipalities of Kosovo. In both cases, the EU struck the timpani, saying that it had played a decisive role. In reality, the EU only revealed its helplessness and complete incompetence. It is impossible to ignore the root causes of any situation. We have talked for years about the reasons for the crisis in Ukraine, warning that NATO's expansion was unacceptable (nobody listened to us). We said it was unacceptable to indulge the neo-Nazi regime that came to power as a result of the state coup, that it was necessary to compel it to fulfil the Minsk agreements. Nobody listened. The propaganda campaign has acquired an industrial scope. You have it imprinted on your mind that Russia "woke up one morning and decided to start." We had been talking about the toxicity of drawing Ukraine into NATO and creating direct threats to the Russian Federation on Ukraine's territory. There were plans to build an American military base on the Black Sea and a British one on the Sea of Azov. If you look at the map, you will see that it would be unacceptable under any circumstances. I have already quoted former French President Francois Mitterrand who warned about this 30 years ago. Nobody listened to him. Regarding the fact that there was no intention to implement the Minsk agreements as they would have undermined the unitary foundations of the Ukrainian state, which our Western colleagues aim to preserve. Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Corsica and expressed support for granting the island an autonomous status, reflecting it in the French Constitution. Among other things, this status entails the use of the Corsican language and the delegation of some administrative functions to the local Corsican assembly. The Minsk agreements stipulated exactly the same actions with regard to the eastern regions of Ukraine. The ideas are in the air but nobody draws any inferences. We are ready to advocate and stand up for our truth. However, engaging in discussions with those who have chosen to retreat and limit themselves to efforts to Ukrainanise the entire OSCE agenda seems futile. They made a decision - Russia must be strategically defeated on the battlefield. And that's what they are doing. Question (retranslated): What is your position on the unification of all Serbs in the Balkans? Do you support the idea of bringing together Serbs not only within Serbia but also those in neighbouring countries such as Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina? Sergey Lavrov: This matter should be left to the Serbs themselves, considering the interests of both the Serbian people and the diverse populations in the Balkans. Their history has been tumultuous, and, unfortunately, the process is not unfolding smoothly. We are closely monitoring the discussions on this issue, including in the Republika Srpska. Recently, there have been serious discussions about "swapping" territories between southern Serbia and Kosovo. If an agreement can be reached that satisfies both Serbs and their neighbours, then not only we, but all the states in our region will be happy to support it. Well, maybe not all countries. The EU generally believes that any involvement in the Balkans is paramount to an invasion of its area of responsibility. Prior to Josep Borrell, the post of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy was held by Federica Mogherini. She openly declared that when the EU takes charge of the Balkans, there is nothing for others to do here. That reflects a certain sense of ownership, given Serbia's expressed desire to join the EU, doesn't it. However, the decision ultimately rests with the people themselves. Question (retranslated): President Putin mentioned that you were on the verge of finalising a peace agreement with Ukraine in Turkey. What caused a disruption in those talks, preventing the agreement from being reached? Sergey Lavrov: Have you just got here? I have previously explained in detail what happened after Istanbul. Allow me to reiterate. A week ago, a Ukrainian negotiator involved in the Istanbul talks in late March 2022 a that ended in an agreement on the key principles of a settlement a admitted they were ready to sign the document. However, at that moment, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived and prohibited it. He said they should keep fighting for a little longer, asserting that if Vladimir Putin is seeking an agreement, they should wear him out even more. Question (retranslated): The Russian Federation designated Macedonia as an unfriendly state. Have you sensed this unfriendliness in the country? Sergey Lavrov: Regarding the list of unfriendly states. A state is associated with its government. We do not consider any countries or peoples as unfriendly. There are governments that make decisions on behalf of the state that we consider unfriendly, and it is those governments that we place on the respective list. I began with saying that I feel very comfortable in Macedonia. I first visited a long time ago. I spent most of the time in the city of Ohrid. It's a fantastic city. Russian Ambassador to Macedonia Sergey Bazdnikin told me that they have to close churches there due to a lack of parishioners. This is sad. It is a beautiful city where one feels closer to God. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin orders 170,000 more troops for total of 1.32 million Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 8:19 AM Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering the Russia military to add 170,000 more forces to its ranks, as Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine continues into its 22nd month. Putin's executive order, which took force from the date of its signing, was posted by the Kremlin and the Russian defense ministry on their respective websites on Friday. The Russian leader ordered the increase of the total number of people serving in the Russian Armed Forces to 2,209,130, including 1,320,000 servicemen, meaning that nearly 170,000 more personnel must be added to current ranks. Under Putin's previous decree in August last year, which has been in force since January this year, the total number of people serving in the Russian Armed Forces was 2,039,758 people, including 1,150,628 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 in a statement. It stressed that the order did not imply any "significant expansion of conscription," adding that the increase would happen gradually by recruiting more volunteers. The ministry also emphasized that the boost was an appropriate response to "the aggressive activities of the NATO bloc." Putin's mobilization decree is open-ended, although he said there was no need to round up more forces. Moreover, the decree allows the Russian military to call up additional reservists when needed, banning volunteer soldiers from ending their contracts. Separately on Friday, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said that more than 452,000 people were recruited to the Russian military under contract from January to December. Russia started the war in eastern parts of Ukraine in February last year in response to Western provocations -- to defend the Russian-speaking population against the Kiev Nazis' atrocities -- by stopping the US-led NATO military forces' eastward encroachment on Moscow which had started in 2014. Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has received massive amounts of arms from the United States and its allies in Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'The Only Option': To Escape War In Ukraine, More Russian Soldiers Are Deserting By Timofei Rozhanskiy December 02, 2023 As fighting raged in an around Bakhmut amid Russia's unrelenting assault earlier this year turning the eastern Ukrainian city to rubble, a Russian conscript began plotting how he would desert shortly after being deployed there. Anton (not his real name) said he was given a two-week leave in August that would prove his ticket out of the carnage. "From the first days there, I began to intensely study this. I surfed the Internet. What? How? Where?" Anton recounted recently from an undisclosed location abroad to Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Anton is just one of a growing number of Russian soldiers who have reportedly deserted their military units in Ukraine. While no hard figures are available, the independent news outlet Mediazone has reported that 2,076 criminal cases were opened in the first half of 2023 against Russian soldiers accused of abandoning their units without leave. That is said to be twice the total for 2022 and three times higher than the prewar figure for 2021. Analysts say the true figures are likely higher given the Kremlin's systematic attempts to hide information about the military. Despite the risks of prosecution, it's a gamble more Russian conscripts appear to be willing to take. The Georgian-based antiwar organization Idite Lesom -- which means "go through the forest" in Russian - helps Russian soldiers to desert. It said 18 percent of all requests they've received from those wanting to desert were registered in October alone. "There is no rotation; it is very difficult to go on leave. Deserters who went on leave or ended up in the hospital say this is their only option not to end up in the war again," Daria Berg, an activist with Idite Lesom, told Current Time. The voices of the wives of Russian soldiers have grown louder too in recent weeks, too, challenging the Kremlin's argument that mobilized troops are needed in combat indefinitely to secure what Moscow defines as victory in Ukraine. In no mood to compromise, Russian authorities "are likely attempting to quash public dissent by wives of deployed soldiers, including by attempting to pay them off and discrediting them online. This follows small protests in Moscow in November," the British Defense Ministry noted in its Intelligence Update on December 2. It pointed out that on November 27 a prominent online group for soldiers' wives published a manifesto against 'indefinite mobilization" but was quickly "pinned with a 'fake' warning label -- likely at the instigation of pro-Kremlin actors." "The authorities are likely particularly sensitive to any protests related to those citizens mobilized in September 2022, who have now been at the front line for over a year," the British Defense Ministry said. The protests by wives come amid a reported uptick in Russian military casualties as its forces attempt to seize the small eastern Donbas city of Avdiyivka amid strong Ukrainian resistance. Due to that Russian offensive, the British Defense Ministry said on November 27 that "the last six weeks have likely seen some of the highest casualty rates of the war so far." Neither Moscow nor Kyiv gives timely data on military losses, and each is at pains to amplify the other side's casualties. Russia has publicly acknowledged the deaths of just over 6,000 soldiers. The real figure is likely much higher. The first independent statistical analysis released in July found that nearly 50,000 Russian men had died in the war in Ukraine. For those soldiers deployed on the battlefield and yearning to desert, the chances are slim to none, according to Berg. "This is very difficult to do, because if you are already in the war zone in the occupied territories, there are detachments that, if they don't kill you, they'll put you in pits. These are like prisons, where [the would-be deserter] is tied naked to trees. The conditions are unbearable," Berg explained. Earlier this year, Anton, who hails from the Ivanovo region of Russia, was first deployed after three months training in Russia to Dibrova, a town in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, much of it under control by Russian-backed forces since 2014. "We replaced the local defense forces of the Luhansk region there. We stayed there for six months until the summer. We saw an intense spring there," he said. By the summer, Anton was sent to Bakhmut to replace Wagner mercenaries who had withdrawn in May as they handed over control of the area to Russia's military. Bakhmut was captured by Russian forces that month after more than 220 days of brutal house-to-house fighting. "There were a lot of people in Bakhmut. There was nowhere to house people.... There were lots of buildings, but all were destroyed. And the basements were filled with fecal matter. It was completely unsanitary," described Anton. He remained in Bakhmut until August, when he received his two-week leave. He returned home and managed to slip out of the country with the help of Idite Lesom. Anton said he was always opposed to the war, but evading conscription, he said, required money he didn't readily have. "The majority do not understand the goals of the war. Something somewhere does not add up. They [the Russian authorities] say one thing, but in fact [the reality] here is something else," he said. While gauging the public mood in authoritarian Russia is tricky at best, a recent poll showed for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 that more Russians want their government to enter peace talks with Ukraine than continue the war. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War on December 1 reported that Chronicles, an independent Russian polling organization, said its October telephone survey indicated that the number of respondents who were "consistent" supporters of the war -- those who expressed support for the war, do not support a withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine without Russia having achieved its war aims, and think Russia should prioritize military spending -- fell from 22 percent to 12 percent between February and October this year. However, there are no signs Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to back down. On December 1, Putin ordered the country's military to increase the number of troops by nearly 170,000 to a total of 1.32 million, as Moscow's military action in Ukraine continues into its 22nd month. It is the second such expansion of the army since 2018. The previous boost by 137,000 troops, ordered by Putin in August 2022, put the military's numbers at about 2 million personnel and about 1.15 million troops . "Our goal is to make sure that fewer people are fighting," said Berg. "So that Putin has fewer soldiers and officers to kill Ukrainians." For Anton, he is still not sure where he will ultimately settle in Europe, but he is certain he will not return home to Russia. Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by Current Time's Timofei Rozhanskiy Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-soldiers-deserting-escape- ukraine-war/32711180.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 In the two years since its approval, Billings city officials have committed every dollar from the seven-figure public safety mill levy. And it's been needed. Violent crime in Billings has dominated discussions of public safety in Billings well before the mill levy was passed. Homicides in the city spiked in 2020, and remained above-average for the following two years. Although Billings was on track to see a drop in deadly violence in 2023, a rash in gunfire during the past month nearly doubled the number of homicides investigated by BPD this year. In response to the recent violence, the city submitted a proposal to county authorities in which it offered $500,000 to county commissioners and the sheriff to test a temporary lockup at Yellowstone County Detention Facility. The addition would hold those suspected of misdemeanors and minor offenses. The city drew its share of the funding from the safety mill levy. The 2021 Public Safety Mill Levy was several years in the making and created dozens of new positions across several emergency agencies, such as the Billings police and fire departments. Those agencies are already seeing the results of those new positions in a decrease in response times and workloads for frontline cops and firefighters. While those agencies are benefiting from the implementation of levy funds, city leadership is still exploring other routes to improve public safety as they've dealt with several fatal shootings in the Billings during the past month. Were trying to use evidence-based (solutions) and not create any new wheels, said Billings City Administrator Chris Kukulski. Unfortunately plenty of other parts of the country have dealt with problems that are becoming newer and problematic to us, so how do we take what works and invest in it here? The public safety mill levy passed by Billings voters in 2021 was the second in two years. A 2020 levy replaced an older levy and bolstered funding for BPD in order for it to retain its staff, while the levy passed a year later pumped millions into multiple city agencies. The 2021 Public Safety Mill Levy raised a total of $7.1 million, with BPD getting $2,450,000. City officials who pitched the mill levy to Billings voters cited the rise of violent crime since 2020, and a general increase in calls to other emergency services. While BPD received the largest share out of all the agencies effected by the levy, the remaining funds were broken up between the Billings Fire Department, local courts and mental health resources. With levy funds, BFD added 10 full-time firefighters and developed mobile response teams, pared-down emergency crews equipped to take calls that dont need an entire engine when there is no fire to fight. Since two mobile response teams have launched in Billings, the fire department has seen a general decline in calls for service to full engine crews. The levy strengthened the Municipal Courts team dedicated to prosecuting domestic violence, now with three attorneys, three victim witness specialists and one support staff member. City officials also used levy dollars to invest in a local Family Justice Center, a single location for survivors of domestic violence, neglect or sexual abuse to connect with advocates, welfare or law enforcement. Unfortunately, our number one violent crime by prevalence is family violence, Kukulski said. All of the funds supplied to BPD by the levy went to staffing within the department. Of the full-time jobs created at BPD by the levy, 12 were sworn officers (two sergeants and 10 on patrol), and the remainder were support staff. As of late last month, all but one of those jobs created by the levy were filled. To determine what BPD needed from the levy and how to allocate funding, BPDs administrators drew largely from the results of a 2021 study that concluded the department was understaffed, and those who were on staff were exhausted. In an email to the Billings Gazette, BPD Det. Jeff Chartier said the implementation of the mill levy funds was conducted by the departments command staff and that no union members were involved. Chartier is also president of the Billings Police Officers Affiliate for the Montana Federation of Public Employees. Retaining young officers and staffing unfilled detective positions is still an ongoing crisis for BPD, Chartier said. When asked about the police unions opinion as to what the most valuable investments were from the public safety mill levy into BPD, Chartier said the union is still formulating their position on the matter. Assisting BPDs officers are seven community resource officers, positions developed by BPD from the ground up, BPD Lt. Matt Lennick said. CROs, Lennick said, are not sworn officers and as such cant make arrests, but they are trained to handle specific investigations. Since the start of the year, CROs have responded to roughly 4,300 calls and filed 1,657 reports. The majority of the cases CROs have handled are cold property crimes, such as a car theft in which there were no witnesses or a suspect identified. All of that previously was either handled by patrol or, because of a lack of resources, volunteers, Lennick said. The problem with that is sometimes those calls would sit for days. The utility in creating CRO positions instead of hiring more patrol officers, Lennick said, is in both the cost to the city and in best using BPDs resources. Lennick said the money used to develop the seven CROs, who work shifts that cover an entire week, would only be enough to fund three new patrol officers. Those seven CROs are currently in training to be able to respond to minor accidents in which there are no injuries; the entire state sees a spike of minor accidents during the winter months. In describing the benefit of CROs and the rest of the jobs that passage of the safety mill levy created outside of sworn officers, Lennick consistently used the word efficiency. The support positions added to the department also included a crime analyst, two clerical staff members and five evidence technicians. The crime analyst in particular, Lennick said, has put in thousands of hours since the start of the year in combing over data recovered from digital devices connected to criminal investigations. That work, which included recovering data that contained a confession to a homicide, previously fell on BPD detectives. Over the years we had just not developed like other larger departments have specialized units, Lennick said. Our (investigations) almost always fall back to the line officer: the detective or patrol officer who initially responded to the call. In a lot of aspects were still that way, so our line officers investigate a lot of cases from start to finish. The goal, to some extent, is just to speed up that whole process and be more efficient with it by adding these other positions, Lennick said. The most valuable asset from the public safety mill levy outside of the funding for BPD, Lennick said, is the addition of a second judge to Billings Municipal Court, which primarily handles misdemeanor criminal cases. That judge, Katie Heller, was elected this past November and will be sworn in next month. The addition of that judge will help ensure those charged with misdemeanors will be seen sooner and prevent police officers from having to arrests the same person several times before they get their first date in court, Lennick said. City officials will hold a public safety roundtable meeting on Monday Dec. 4. Kukulski said among the items he wants to discuss is a department-by-department reassessment of public safety agencies in Billings since the last in-depth studies were done as far back as 2019. I think that today were dealing with some issues that werent conversations we were having back then, Kukulski said. We were not talking about gang activity What does post-COVID change relative to what communities have seen for upticks in crime versus those that havent? Two IRGC officers martyred in Israeli attacks on Syria IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 2, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Two officers with Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) who served as military advisors in Syria have been martyred in Israeli airstrikes on the Arab country. The IRGC's Public Relations office released a statement on Saturday confirming that two IRGC officers, identified as Mohammad-Ali Ataiee Shourcheh and Panah Taghizadeh, were martyred during their advisory mission in support of the Islamic resistance front in Syria at by the Zionist aggressors. Their sacrifice vividly demonstrates that the redline of martyrdom remains alive, and the followers of the Master of Martyrs, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), wholeheartedly offer their lives on the path of defending Islam, Muslims and dignity, the statement added. The Israeli regime has ramped up its attacks on what it believes to be resistance positions in Syria since it launched the ongoing devastating war on the Gaza Strip in early October. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian air defenses intercept Israeli aggression on Damascus vicinity ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 2 December 2023 / 09:33 Israeli occupation forces launched early Saturday a new aggression on the Syrian capital, Damascus, while the Syrian air defenses intercepted it. Tehran (ISNA) - the Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed that "the Israeli enemy conducted an aerial aggression this morning from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, targeting some points in the vicinity of Damascus." The Ministry confirmed that Syrian air defenses intercepted the Israeli missiles and shot down most of them, noting that losses were limited to material damages only. It is noteworthy that last week, Israeli occupation aircraft launched an airstrike targeting the runways of the Damascus International Airport, located in Syria's capital, causing it to go out of service. At the time, a Syrian military source told Al Mayadeen that the Syrian air defenses intercepted an "Israeli airstrike launched from the direction of the occupied Golan targeted Damascus Airport, as well as some other posts across Damascus' countryside." The military source underscored that the Israeli aggression "put the Damascus airport out of service" and caused "material losses". The source further stressed that the Syrian air defenses had successfully intercepted most of the missiles launched toward Syria's capital. The aggression took place after Damascus International Airport resumed operations following a complete shutdown for over a month due to an earlier Israeli attack on its main runways. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel kills 2 IRGC military advisors in strike on Syria Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 1:58 PM Israel has killed two military advisors of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in an attack in Syria. In a statement on Saturday, the IRGC said two of its members, Mohammad Ali Ataee Shoorcheh and Panah Taqizadeh, were martyred by the Zionist regime while on an advisory mission. It said the two IRGC officers were martyred against the backdrop of the relentless savagery of the "fake and child-killing" Israeli regime in Gaza. Israel is committing widespread crimes in Gaza with an absolutely uncritical, flagrant support of the United States and a number of European governments, the IRGC statement read. Iran maintains an advisory mission in Syria at the request of Damascus with the aim of helping the war-torn Arab country get rid of the foreign-backed militants who have been fighting the democratically-elected Syrian government since 2011. In 2017, Iran's advisory assistance helped Syria defeat the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike near the Baghdad International Airport in January 2020, played a key role in the disgraceful defeat of Daesh. Israel waged its war on Gaza on October 7, after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupied territories in response to the regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. Tel Aviv also blocked access to water, food, and electricity in Gaza. On Saturday, the regime launched an intense bombardment campaign on various areas in the Gaza Strip. It was the second day of the regime's strikes since the truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria's air defense confronts Israeli aggression near Damascus Iran Press TV Saturday, 02 December 2023 7:11 AM The Syrian Army's air defense units have repelled an Israeli rocket attack near the capital Damascus, amid intensified strikes by the Tel Aviv regime against the Arab country since the start of the occupying entity's brutal war on the besieged Gaza Strip. The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted an unnamed military source as saying in a statement that the Israeli aggression occurred in the early hours of Saturday. "At approximately 1:35 am (1035 GMT) today, the Israeli enemy carried out an air assault from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting some points near the city of Damascus," the statement said, adding that the attack left no casualties. The military source said the Syrian Army's air defense units responded to the Israeli missiles and shot down "most of them," underlining that the aggression led to "only material losses." Last week, the Israel regime carried out airstrikes on Syria's Damascus International Airport, causing the facility to go out of service. The Syrian Army's air defense also intercepted and shot down an Israeli missile near the country's capital, with reports saying the assault caused "material losses." Israel has intensified its air aggression against Syria since the regime's bloody onslaught against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm in the occupied territories. The surprise operation was carried out in retaliation for the Tel Aviv regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. Tel Aviv also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis. More than 15,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the Israeli strikes. Three killed in Israeli shelling in Lebanon Meanwhile, Lebanon's state media reported on Friday that Israeli shelling claimed the lives of three civilians in the south of the Arab country. The reports said the Israeli aggression targeted the Lebanese border town of Houla, killing a woman and her 35-year-old son. One person was also killed in the border town of al-Jebbayn. Earlier in the day, the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah resumed its anti-Israel operations in support of the resistance in Gaza, which saw a truce that was extended several times in recent days. Since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza, Hezbollah has targeted many Israeli positions near the Lebanese border in retaliatory strikes. The popular resistance movement has warned it could expand its attacks if the Israeli regime intensifies its brutal campaign against people in the Gaza Strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Paraguay, Palau call for Taiwan's inclusion in COP ROC Central News Agency 12/02/2023 04:51 PM Dubai, Dec. 1 (CNA) Paraguayan President Santiago PeAa and his Palauan counterpart Surangel Whipps Jr. on Friday called for Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nation's annual climate change conference. Noting that climate change is a common challenge, PeAa, speaking in his national statement at the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28), called for the participation of the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name, in COP meetings. COP 28, where government leaders and envoys have gathered to explore ways to tackle the challenge of climate change, is being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. The Palauan president echoed PeAa's view, saying "Taiwan must be allowed to participate in UNFCCC processes and share [its] expertise." He was referring to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an intergovernmental treaty developed to try to address climate change under which COP is held annually. "The solution to the climate crisis requires everyone's participation," Whipps said, adding that "the 23 million people of Taiwan and the thousands of businesses" should not be excluded. According to Whipps, Taiwan has worked in tandem with Pacific islands and like-minded partners to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Taiwanese government was not invited to COP 28 due to a lack of U.N. membership and Beijing's efforts to drastically limit Taiwan's international participation. Since 1995, the country's officials have taken part in the annual conference through the government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute acting as an NGO observer. In addition to Whipps, Palau's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment Steven Victor told CNA at a separate forum that it was "unfortunate" that Taiwan had been excluded from the UNFCCC process and relevant global efforts to deal with climate change issues. "While Taiwan is not a member of the UNFCCC, it has done its part as a member of the global community and we are very much appreciative of Taiwan's commitments," Victor said. The minister noted that his country had received financial support from Taiwan in its effort to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels, in particular for the construction of sea walls. Speaking in a similar vein, Tuvaluan Finance Minister Seve Paeniu lauded Taiwan's emergency assistance to the Pacific island nation when it was hit by a severe drought late last year as well as by a severe cyclone in early 2020. (By Tien Hsi-ju and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address December 01, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Meeting With U.K. Secretary of State for Defence, the Right Honorable Grant Shapps Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with the UK's Secretary of State for Defence, The Right Honourable Grant Shapps at Moffett Field in California today to discuss the deepened defense and security cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom. In furtherance of our close partnership and the special relationship between our two countries, both officials affirmed their commitment to supporting Israel's right to self-defense, consistent with international humanitarian law and the Law of Armed Conflict. The two also discussed ongoing efforts to support Ukraine in its defense from Russia's unprovoked war of aggression. The officials met together later in the day with their counterpart from Australia, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, to discuss the Australia-United Kingdom-United States Security Partnership (AUKUS). https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3604620/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean Statement on UK military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean 2 December 2023 Since the terrorist attacks against Israel of 7 October 2023, the UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who have been kidnapped. The safety of British nationals is our utmost priority. In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the UK Ministry of Defence will conduct surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza. Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine Germany - Federal Government Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview. Friday, 1 December 2023 This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. It includes deliveries from the Federal Armed Forces, from industry and assistance measures together with partners, which have, inter alia, been financed from Federal Government funds for security capacity building. Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to 5.4 billion Euros for 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022) and additional authorisations to enter commitments in the following years amounting to 10.5 billion Euros. These funds are to be used primarily for military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, they will be used for re-filling Federal Armed Forces stocks for items delivered to Ukraine as well as for Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), from which costs incurred from providing military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states. Delivered military support to Ukraine: (Changes compared to the previous update in bold) Armoured fighting vehicles 80 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 30 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5* 60 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* 16 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) radio set equipment LEOPARD 138 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS ammunition for LEOPARD 1* 18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators) 50 MRAP vehicles DINGO 54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany) Spare parts for LEOPARD 2 and MARDER Air defence 6 air surveillance radar TRML-4D* 3 air defence system IRIS-T SLM* IRIS-T SLS missiles 49 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD * 86,122 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) PATRIOT missiles 2 IRIS-T SLS launchers* 2 PATRIOT launchers IRIS-T SLM missiles* air defence system PATRIOT with spare parts 4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER 2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA Artillery 25,750 rounds 155mm ammunition (before: 21,910) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II 20,872 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition 2 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) 155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO) 5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain) 14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (German share in joint project with the Netherlands) 20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets* counter battery radar system COBRA* 10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO artillery ammunition* Military Engineering Capabilities 250 tool kits with blasting material* 12 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* 13 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 11 mine ploughs for T-72* 18 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers 5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER 15 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* 2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3 5armoured engineer vehicles DACHS* 3 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* Protective and Special Equipment 235 border protection vehicles* (before: 233) 50 mobile antenna mast systems* (before: 49) 63 laser range finders * (before: 38) 168 drone detection systems* (before: 163) 2,667 Crypto Phones* 142 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 90,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 46 ground surveillance radars GO12* 7 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE* 2 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters* 20 unmanned surface vessels* 230 SatCom terminals* 1 PCB printer* 100 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN* 1 antenna hub station 1 Satcom surveillance system* 1,288 binoculars 5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 10 radio jammers* 57 anti-drone sensors and jammers* 40 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices* 1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* 32 reconnaissance drones* 40 laser target designators* 10 anti-drone guns* 28,000 combat helmets 1 radio frequency system 3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps 353 night vision goggles* 12 electronic anti-drone devices* 165 field glasses* 6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material 10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)* 1 high frequency unit with equipment* Logistics 85 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 80 semi-trailers* (before: 81/76) 224 trucks Zetros* (before: 216) 312 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) (before: 309) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 25 trucks MAN TGS* 40 load-handling trucks 8x8 34 load-handling trucks 15t* 6 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 21 roll of containers* 14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS* 179 Pick-ups* 12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 30 protected vehicles* Combat Readiness and Survivability 15 precision rifles HLR 338 with 60,000 rounds ammunition* 10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog Ambulances 49 ambulances* 47.1 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms 30,000 winter clothing sets 400,000 first aid kits* 27,477 backpacks 3 spare part packages for VECTOR drones 167,415 rounds ammunition 40mm* 1,202 Infusion kits Spare parts WISENT field hospital* 100 machine guns MG5* 8 dental sterilizers 11,000 group module rations 103,000 tourniquets 500 pistols SFP9* 2 hangar tents* 8 lift trucks* 295 generators 10 winter camouflage nets 168 mobile heating systems* 36,400 wool blankets 14,000 sleeping bags Mi-24 spare parts* spare parts for heavy machine gun M2 200 tents 116,000 winter jackets 80,000 winter trousers 240,000 winter hats 405,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready 67 fridges for medical material* 3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices 14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks) 50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices 100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks 100,000 hand grenades 5,300 explosive charges 100,000 m detonating cord and 100.000 detonators 350,000 detonators 100 auto-injector devices 15 palettes military clothing 1,200 hospital beds 18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights protective clothing, surgical masks 1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)* medical material (inter alia back packs, compression bandages) Diesel and gasoline* 10 tons AdBlue* 500 medical gauzes* MiG-29 spare parts* 7,944 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90 Matador* Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution (due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover) Armoured fighting vehicles 105 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (project jointly financed with Denmark) 20 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* 4 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* 50 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)* ammunition for LEOPARD 1* ammunition for MARDER* Air defence 1 air defence system PATRIOT with missiles 5 air defence system IRIS-T SLM* IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles* 22 launchers IRIS-T SLS* 2 air surveillance radars TRML-4D* 3 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD* 289,920 rounds of GEPARD ammunition Artillery 253,900 projectiles 155mm* (before: 24,100) 18 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155* 14 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) Military Engineering Capabilities 250 tool kits with blasting material* material for explosive ordnance disposal* 6 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* 7 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 13 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* 30 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* 2 heavy and medium bridge systems* Protective and Special Equipment 725 laser range finders * 11 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE* 14 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters* 30 drone detection systems* 10,000 safety glasses* 10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 283 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 121 reconnaissance drones* 50 unmanned surface vessels* 10 ground surveillance radars GO12* 2,000 portable light systems* 265 border protection vehicles* vehicle decontamination system 11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* Logistics 26 trucks Zetros* 11 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 30 tank trucks (water/fuel)* 1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers* 5 heavy duty trailer trucks 8x8 HX81 and 10 semi-trailers* 2 tractors and 4 trailers* 10 protected vehicles* Combat Readiness and Survivability 435 precision rifles HLR 338 with 9.9m rounds ammunition* 8.3 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms 18,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons* 2 dental sterilizers 264,501 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers* continuing deliveries of medical material* 100 grenade launchers GMG* 100,000 first aid kits* 1 spare parts kit for Inst Hub SVK * Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Shelling, Drone Strikes Cause Death, Damage In Ukraine's Donetsk, Kherson, And Odesa Regions By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service December 02, 2023 At least two civilians were killed in Ukraine's Donetsk and Kherson regions in shelling by Russian troops that also caused damage to infrastructure and property, regional officials said on December 2. "One person died in Horlivka [in Donetsk], and six private homes plus three high-rise buildings and an industrial facility were damaged," the region's military administration said in its report, adding that two more people were wounded. In the southern region of Kherson, one civilian was killed and another one was wounded by Russian shelling and missile strikes. "Kherson region was struck 82 times with mortars, artillery, Grad missiles, tanks, aircraft and drones," regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram, adding that Russian troops targeted residential areas and an educational facility. Russian troops also attacked the border region of Chernihiv, injuring civilians in the town of Semenivska in northern Ukraine, the regional military administration said in a statement. A man suffered shrapnel wounds and was treated at a local hospital, the military administration's press service said. His daughter, age 4, was injured and transported to a hospital where she will undergo an operation, the administration added. A 4-year-old grandson was not injured. The heads of the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Mykolayiv regions also reported that civilian settlements in their region were hit by Russian shelling, but no civilians were wounded. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-obstrily-za-dobu-zahybli/32710974.html The heads of the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Mykolayiv regions also reported civilian settlements in their region were hit by Russian shelling but no civilians were wounded. Earlier on December 2, Russian troops attacked the southern region of Odesa with 11 Iranian-made kamikaze drones, the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported. Ukrainian air defense shot down 10 drones over Odesa and a guided missile in Dnipropetrovsk region, the Command said on Telegram, adding that the drones had been launched from Cape Chauda in Russia-occupied Crimea. Oleh Kiper, the governor of Odesa region, said no one was wounded but the drone attack caused damages. "Unfortunately, an infrastructure objective was hit. A fire broke out, which was quickly extinguished by rescuers," Kiper wrote on his Telegram channel, without elaborating. Inclement weather compounded by Russian attacks on infrastructure facilities have left almost 500 settlements in western Ukraine without electricity, the country's Energy Ministry said in a statement on December 2. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces fought 84 close-quarters battles over the past 24 hours, the General Staff of Ukraine's military said on December 2. It said the fiercest clashes took place around the industrial hub of Avdiyivka in Donetsk, which Russian troops have been attempting to encircle for weeks. General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, the Ukrainian commander near Avdiyivka, which is under his group's responsibility, said Russian forces have reduced the use of aviation in the area. "The enemy has reduced the activity of aviation [and] artillery and the total number of combats. Russian forces continue to try to advance with infantry," he said, estimating losses at nearly 500 soldiers. The battlefield claims could not be independently confirmed. With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-shelling-drone-strikes- ukraine-donetsk-kherson-odesa/32711052.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's Security Service Cancels Former President's Trip To Meet With Orban By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service December 02, 2023 Ukrainian border guards prevented former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko from leaving the country on what Poroshenko said was a business trip that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said was to start with a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The SBU said on December 2 that it believes that Russia intended to use the meeting, as well as other meetings of Ukrainian politicians with foreign officials, to spread a pro-Russian narrative. Poroshenko's party, European Solidarity, pointed the finger back at the SBU, saying in a statement that it had "spread a false message" that the cancellation was related to the meeting with Orban. It also said that the "theoretical use of the conversation by Russian special services" was surprising. Poroshenko, who was president from 2014 to 2019, said he had planned a number of high-level meetings abroad but the trip had to be canceled because he was turned away at the border on December 1. The SBU said in a statement that Poroshenko was turned back due to his planned meeting with Orban, whom the SBU said "systematically expresses an anti-Ukrainian position." The SBU said it had received information indicating that Moscow planned to use the meeting "in its information and psychological operations against Ukraine." The purpose of such "provocations," it said, is to "reduce the support of foreign partners and try to split Ukrainian society." Russia is trying to "change the mood in the partner countries" and encourage politicians to "declare narratives about the need for a negotiation process" with Russia, the statement added. "According to the received counterintelligence data, it is in this context that information regarding the planned meeting of [Orban], who systematically expresses an anti-Ukrainian position, is a 'friend of Putin,' and calls for the lifting of sanctions from the Russian Federation," the SBU statement said. After receiving the information, the SBU said it appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, the government, and the parliament proposing that this information be taken into account during the process of approving foreign missions of Ukrainian delegations. Poroshenko said on the morning of December 1 that he was not allowed to leave Ukraine despite an order from the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada that clearly stated that the international business trip was from December 1-8. Poroshenko said he had planned meetings at the highest level with representatives of the U.S. Congress and the Polish parliament. European Solidarity said in a statement that Poroshenko planned visits to only to the U.S. and Poland. The party said it is surprising that the Ukrainian government would "justify the actual disruption of opposition leader Petro Poroshenko's visit to Washington with counterintelligence information from the SBU about the likelihood of a meeting between [Poroshenko and Orban]." The SBU "spread a false message that the cancellation of the travel order signed by the head of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) and the travel ban on Poroshenko on December 1 were related to the meeting with Orban," European Solidarity said. The statement said that Poroshenko's position that there is no question of negotiations with Russia remains unchanged. It also said that the actions of the SBU create "artificial additional tension" with Hungary, which as an EU member will soon vote on the start of accession talks between Ukraine and the EU in Brussels. With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-security-service- cancels-poroshenko-orban-trip/32711185.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 New York Landmark Conservancy awards Sacred Sites grants in Falls, Buffalo Two notable religious properties in Western New York are among 17 across the state that are receiving Sacred Sites grants from the New York Landmark Conservancy. The First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls has been granted $45,000 to assist in restoring the bell tower and turret on its building, the conservancy announced in a press release. The Gothic Revival-Romanesque Revival church on First Street in downtown Niagara Falls was built in 1849 from locally quarried granite and was expanded twice in the 19th century. Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo has been awarded $25,000 to help restore the exterior masonry on its synagogue on Delaware Avenue. One of the citys foremost examples of mid-20th century modern architecture, it was designed in 1964 by Max Abramowitz and includes windows and other artwork by Ben Shahn. Dale Anderson It is important that every week one can say, "I have contributed something of my own to the common defense" - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 2 December 2023 - 21:01 Dear Ukrainians, I wish you good health! First of all, I want to thank each and every one of our soldiers for this week, everyone who is in battle, on combat posts, who performs combat tasks. To all those who help, train, and treat, those who provide the Ukrainian force with everything necessary. Also, of course, to our rescuers - the entire team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. To the employees of the National Police and the National Guard who have consistently helped our people after Russian shelling and weather-related incidents. To everyone working in our Ukrainian defense industries. To everyone whose work is to assist Ukraine, take care of the interests of our state. To everyone defending Ukraine on the international stage. I thank you all for making this week bring results for our country, for achieving our goals. It is significant that Russia has recently lost its influence in two international institutions. These are the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Maritime Organization - one of the key organizations globally responsible for security. Indeed, there is no place for terrorists there, and there will no longer be Russian representatives in the executive bodies. This is entirely fair. I want to specifically acknowledge Germany - German assistance to our defense, to our actions. I am especially grateful for the precise implementation of agreements regarding air defense for Ukraine - strengthening our air shield. This is a lifesaver for thousands of Ukrainian lives - a truly strong outcome of our bilateral cooperation with Chancellor Scholz, with everyone in Germany who supports the protection of life and the rule of international law. There is also another defense package, including much-needed artillery rounds, 155mm. Thank you, Olaf! It is also important that this week sanctions were imposed by the United States against Russian entities supporting the economy of aggression. This includes those who help violate the price cap for Russian oil and those working in Iranian structures for destabilization. This is extremely useful for advancing a just peace - for each week to bring sanction-related updates, adding effectiveness to sanctions. And, of course, our personal gratitude goes to those who have shown exceptional bravery in the battles for Ukraine, for independence. Soldier Taras Davydiuk, a reconnaissance officer in the 130th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion. Thank you, Taras, for your courage and true leadership in combat! Soldier Oleksandr Koturbas, from our renowned 55th Separate Artillery Brigade. Thank you for your resilience, precision, and the destruction of occupiers! Soldier Andriy Hryhoriev and Senior Soldier Vitaliy Krasovsky, both from the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade. They have repeatedly repelled enemy assaults, conducted evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield, and eliminated enemy infantry. These guys are fighting in Bradley vehicles. Thank you for your strength! Sergeant Mykola Shuhailo, from the 704th Radiological, Chemical, Biological Defense Regiment. Thank you for your bravery during storm repulsions, thank you for your will to fight! And two more soldiers from the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade: Soldier Andriy Yatskovets and Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Hakov. Thank you, guys, for your determination in our Ukrainian assault actions! Glory to all who contributes results to Ukraine, everyone who has found their place in the nationwide cause, everyone who helps and cares for Ukraine! Gratitude to all. Respect to all. It is important that everyone remains committed to the common cause. It is important that every week one can say, "I have contributed something of my own to the common defense." It is important that the actions, the concrete actions of millions of Ukrainians every day, every week, further strengthen the Ukrainian force. Together, we can overcome everything. And please, do not forget to pay attention to air raid alerts, especially these days. Do not neglect it. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Power Restored, Averting 'Catastrophe' By VOA News December 02, 2023 Power was restored Saturday at Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after it was lost on Friday, averting again a "nuclear catastrophe," according to a statement by Ukraine's energy ministry on the Telegram messaging app. "This is the eighth blackout which occurred at the [Zaporizhzhia plant] and could have led to nuclear catastrophe," the statement said Saturday. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the outage and restoration of power. The plant was occupied by Russia in March 2022 and is no longer generating power but needs a supply of electricity to cool one of its four reactors, which is in a state of hot conservation, meaning it has not fully been shut down. The energy ministry said that after losing grid connection the plant turned on 20 backup generators to supply its electricity needs. At 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), it said, Ukrainian specialists repaired the 750-kW line that is again bringing power to the plant. Eastern front lines Fighting continues around the eastern Ukrainian towns of Avdiivka and Marinka with both Russia and Ukraine claiming advances. Ukraine's General Staff said Saturday that Russian forces had been unsuccessful in their attempts to advance on villages near Marinka but said nothing of troop movements in the town. Once a city of 10,000, Marinka a which is southwest of the Russian-held regional center of Donetsk a is a ghost town after almost a year of Russian efforts to seize it. There are no civilians left. For almost two months, Russian forces have been attacking the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Marinka. Ukraine says its forces control Avdiivka, though not a single building remains intact. Ukrainian troops regained swaths of territory last year in a sweep through the northeast, but a counteroffensive launched in the east and south in June has made only incremental gains. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called on the U.S. Congress Friday to act swiftly to provide aid to Ukraine before the end of the month, after which it will become difficult to provide Kyiv with the assistance it needs. "We need that assistance immediately so we can provide them assistance in an uninterrupted way," Kirby said during a news briefing. Kirby said the United States expects that Russia will try to destroy critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure this winter as it did last year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledges that the advance has been slow but rejects any notion that the war is slipping into a stalemate. The president met with his military command Friday to discuss ways to produce "concrete results" next year in the country's war with Russia. In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy 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." Zelenskyy 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 Zelenskyy's comments came as Russia President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the number of members of the Russian armed forces by 170,000, to a total of 1.32 million, 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 ministry said. The ministry also said it has no plans to significantly increase conscription or carry out a new wave of mobilization, and that the increase in the number of troops will happen gradually by recruiting more volunteers. 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 have been on the front line for more than a year. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Dec. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GoGold Resources (TSX:GGD; OTCQX:GLGDF), based in Mexico, focused on the Los Ricos Project, today announced that Brad LAngille, President & CEO, will present live at the Clean Energy and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on December 6th. DATE: December 6th TIME: 11: 30 AM ET LINK: https://bit.ly/3rOONJH Available for 1x1 meetings: December 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 GoGold Announces Updated Mineral Resource and PEA with NPV of US$458M at Los Ricos South GoGold Reports Additional Excellent Drilling at Main Area of Los Ricos South 491 g/t AgEq over 27.3m including 7.6m of 1,670 g/t AgEq including 0.9m of 8,115 g/t AgEq GoGold Reports Additional Strong Drilling at Main Area of Los Ricos South 404 g/t AgEq over 30.2m including 9.7m of 1,110 g/t AgEq including 0.8m of 5,468 g/t AgEq GoGold Announces NPV of US$413M for Los Ricos North Initial PEA About GoGold Resources GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: GoGold Resources Steven Low Corporate Development 416-855-0435 steve@gogoldresources.com Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com Most of us would like to know more about living healthier and managing our finances. But should government require us to bone up on those subjects?Some policymakers think so. As several states move to take advantage of new Trump administration rules allowing them to impose work requirements for determining Medicaid eligibility, Kentucky has gotten a lot of attention not only for being the first state to move to impose such requirements but also for taking the idea a step further: Residents who lose their Medicaid benefits due to the new requirements will have the chance to reclaim their health insurance more quickly if they complete courses and pass tests on health or financial literacy.While details of the new requirements are still being worked out, state officials have suggested that the courses could include instruction not only on such health-related matters as management of weight and chronic diseases but also on the basics of personal finance, such as opening a checking account and practicing household budgeting. But at least as far as financial literacy is concerned, mandating these courses won't help Medicaid beneficiaries, or anyone for that matter.That's mainly because financial education programs, while well-intentioned, don't noticeably improve the financial behaviors of their participants, according to a paper analyzing fully 168 studies of these courses. The few studies thatshow an impact demonstrate that simply choosing to take a class is associated with better future behavior -- not that the course itself made a difference. So while we don't yet know what Kentucky's health literacy program will look like, if it's structured anything like traditional financial literacy courses it is unlikely to bolster healthy behaviors.The rationale for policies like this one is supposedly to ensure that the funds government provides to citizens are used well. However, subsidies for the rich and for middle-class citizens generally don't come with these strings attached. We don't require beneficiaries of an estate-tax exemption or a mortgage-interest tax deduction to pass a financial literacy course, for example.This contradiction points to an underlying belief that lower-income Americans don't know how to manage their money as well as the rich do -- when the exact opposite is true. The very nature of poverty means that the poor are often the savviest budgeters of us all. This is borne out of necessity. If you have limited income, the daily tradeoffs you face prompt you to watch your finances more closely.People who are better off financially, on the other hand, have little need to count every penny. Indeed, some of the wealthiest among us don't even know offhand how much commonly purchased goods cost or whether they can actually afford a certain item. As the ultra-rich Lucille Bluth character put it on: "I mean, it's one banana, Michael. What could it cost, ten dollars?"Sitcom wisdom aside, going through financial literacy programs actually seems to have aimpact on low-income participants, many of whom already know how to stick to a budget and are less likely to make financial mistakes. In one pair of studies , for example, people of different incomes were asked if they would travel 20 minutes to save $50 on a $300 tablet computer and if they would travel for the same savings if the tablet costs $1,000. People with lower incomes were consistent no matter what the price was -- they knew the value of a dollar (and the value of 20 minutes). But those with higher incomes were more likely to travel to save on the cheaper tablet than for the more expensive one. This is a financial mistake: If you value 20 minutes of your time at $50 in one case, the total price should be irrelevant.There's no reason to believe that conditioning Medicaid on financial literacy training will help people manage their money or ensure that government dollars are well spent. The poor already know how to manage their money; perhaps it's time for policymakers in Washington and the states to catch up. The Bradley Cooper-Lady Gaga remake ofisn't the only thing from the 1970s making a comeback this year. After most states passed laws blocking rent control in the 1980s and '90s, there's now a push to reintroduce it from coast to coast.In the Nov. 6 election, Californians sensibly rejected a ballot measure that would have repealed a state law prohibiting cities from expanding rent control. But the issue is still very much alive in California and elsewhere. In Illinois, for instance, the state legislature is contemplating eliminating a ban on rent control and creating six boards to manage rents statewide. Meanwhile, the New York city council is considering a potentially unconstitutional commercial rent-control proposal that would limit property owners' ability to increase rents for office, industrial and retail space.This resurgence comes in the face of escalating pressure to "do something" about sharply rising rents in urban areas. Yet economists of all political persuasions are highly skeptical that rent controls can be successfully re-imagined. Indeed, it is difficult to think of another policy where conservative economist Thomas Sowell, who once observed that "the goals of rent control and its actual consequences are at opposite poles," can agree with liberal economist Paul Krugman. As Krugman, acolumnist, explained in 2000 , introductory economics teaches that artificially compressing rents results in a shortage of rentable properties. The lower fixed price increases the demand for rental housing while reducing the quantity of it offered for rent.That's because landlords confronted with the regulation are incentivized to convert properties to other, higher-return uses. Developers, meanwhile, find new rentable accommodations less profitable to build, compounding the scarcity-of-supply problem that often drives high rental prices in the first place.This is not just theory. Following a 1994 rent-control expansion in San Francisco, research found that landlords converted rental properties to owner-occupied apartments and condos better suited to higher-income families to avoid being subject to the regulation. The supply of new rentable housing fell too, increasing underlying market rents by over 5 percent. Rent control both increased the cost of non-controlled rental accommodations and accelerated gentrification.Tenants with rent-controlled apartments benefit financially, but there are tradeoffs for them as well. Landlords under rent control have strong incentives to neglect maintenance or upkeep, allowing properties to fall into disrepair until the market price for the unit reflects the rent-controlled price. And property owners can become more discerning about the types of tenants they want to rent to, making potential tenants jump through administrative hoops to capture the prize. This can also discourage tenants from moving to new jobs or more appropriately-sized housing. It's been estimated, for example, that 21 percent of rent-controlled tenants in New York City live in properties with the wrong number of rooms for their needs.Faced with this historical evidence, advocates today instead emphasize the benefits of rent control on tenant security. They advocate regulations that limit price hikes in fixed tenancy periods, but with rents free to adjust when a tenancy ends. This is said to protect tenants against so-called "economic eviction" -- huge unforeseen jumps in rent that force a tenant to move out.No doubt tenants value security. But that such contracts are not widespread in free markets suggests that landlords value the flexibility to adjust rents to market conditions and their experience with tenants. Changing the balance of risks in favor of tenants would require higher rents to compensate.All of this indicates that tenancy rent controls and security regulation will -- at best -- lead landlords to front-load rent hikes, select tenants likely to stay for short periods, or provide poor service during tenancies if underlying market rents are rising rapidly. At worst, tenancy rent controls would increase overall market rents by raising risks to landlords and reducing investment in new stock, particularly if the controls are perceived as a precursor of more-onerous regulation.The truth about housing affordability is that high rental prices communicate that the supply of rentable property in the market is scarce relative to demand. The urgent message emanating from many desirable U.S. cities is that too few rentable units have been produced over long periods. But crude rent controls will worsen this shortage. And more flexible rent regulation amounts to just suppressing this price message for a lucky few tenants in the short term, in ways likely to worsen affordability more broadly.Rent control can't overcome the structural challenges to affordability that high-cost cities face, and a rent-control revival diverts attention from pro-development reforms that matter. Policymakers who care about housing affordability should leave rent control where it belongs: in the past. AGRA commends Ghanaian farmers for their dedication and resilience Business Desk Report Business News Dec - 02 - 2023 , 09:51 As Ghana celebrates National Farmers Day, AGRA has hailed Ghanaian farmers for their dedication, resilience, and commitment to creating thriving food systems that work for all. A statement issued by AGRA commended Ghanas hardworking farmers for their unmatched efforts at helping make the country food secure. Farmers work all year round and usually with no leave days. Therefore, to have a day like this to celebrate our famers is really a worthwhile gesture by the government and the good people of Ghana. On this special occasion, we recognize the invaluable role that farmers across the 16 regions of the country play in ensuring that Ghana has food to feed its population, raw materials to power our agro-based industries, and exports for the generation of foreign exchange earnings, the statement said. At AGRA, we acknowledge the challenges farmers face in their work, including the negative impact of climate change, difficulties in accessing markets, inadequate financing, unsustainable farming systems, and low technological application, among others. Despite these challenges, Ghanaian farmers continue to demonstrate remarkable determination and resourcefulness. We join the good people of Ghana in expressing gratitude to our valued farmers, it added. The theme for this years Farmers Day celebration is Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience. The statement said farmers need the necessary tools, inputs, support, skills, and technologies that can help transform agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive, into a thriving business that protects our planet for future generations. As AGRA seeks to contribute to a food system-inspired inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa, to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and adapt to climate change, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting and empowering farmers. We will continue to support initiatives that promote good agricultural and sustainable farming practices, build the resilience of smallholder farmers, and enhance the development of inclusive markets and finance, the statement said. We recently launched our Strategy 3.0 which intends to unlock productivity and trade through a competitive agro-processing industry. Working with the government, private sector, civil society institutions, and development partners, we will keep working to catalyze Ghanas agricultural transformation through increased support for value addition. We look forward to a continuous engagement with our distinguished farmers, to make this transformation possible, the statement added. According to Dr Betty Annan, the Ghana Country Director, AGRA is supporting the National Farmers Day event with a Cabrio Standard Tractor with its trailer and accessories, and an Agritech Power Tiller plus accessories, for the Best National Female Farmer. Also the winner of the Northern Regional Best Youth Farmer will be receiving a motorbike, knapsack sprayer, PPEs, Wellington booths, and two cutlasses from AGRA. Once again, happy National Farmers Day to all farmers in Ghana. We wish you bumper harvests and good profits in the year ahead and beyond. AYEKOO GHANA AKUAFO!, the statement concluded. Accra Gye Nyame Lions Club supports Dansoman Police Division Edith Mensah Showbiz News Dec - 02 - 2023 , 15:37 The Accra Gye Nyame Lions Club on Friday, December 1, handed over a new signpost and protective vests to the Dansoman Divisional Police Command in the Greater Accra Region in a commendable display of community support. The gesture, aimed at bolstering the efforts of the police command, serves as both practical assistance and a morale boost for the officers committed to selflessly serving the community. In a brief ceremony to hand over the items, the president of the club, Reagan Ohene highlighted Boakye that this act is part of the club's broader mission to give back to the community and support worthy causes. "This gesture is our unwavering dedication to backing positive initiatives within our community. The new signpost and the official handover of protective vests to the Dansoman Divisional Police Command exemplify our commitment to enhancing the operational efficiency of the division. We believe that these contributions will not only facilitate the smooth execution of their duties but also serve as a source of motivation for our dedicated police personnel, encouraging them to further excel in their responsibilities," he stated. The Divisional Police Commander, ACP Emmanuel Akonnor, expressed appreciation to the Club for the generous contribution. He called on other benevolent organizations to follow suit and support the Dansoman Divisional Police Command, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in fostering a safer and more secure community. About Gye Nyame Lions Club Founded on March 27, 2013, and proudly sponsored by Accra Golden, Gye Nyame Lions Club has been a beacon of service and community impact. Vision Our vision is to stand as the preeminent club in Lions Club District 418, setting the standard for excellence in service and commitment. Mission At the core of our mission is the aspiration to be the helping hand of God, dedicated to uplifting humanity through meaningful service. Service Since our inception, Gye Nyame Lions Club has dynamically evolved, actively engaging in service activities to create positive change in both the global arena and our local community. Values We prioritise quality leadership, succession planning, and addressing societal needs. Our commitment extends to raising experienced youth who embody the values of service and leadership. Youth Engagement We significantly contribute to youth development by actively involving them in service initiatives. This not only impacts the community but also opens great doors to enriching experiences in their lives. The Club is planning its 10th Anniversary celebration next year and is READY to welcome new members. Contact the Membership Chair Kwame Brobbey on +233 24 462 5389 What to know about the week ahead The Laine Business Accelerator will hold its third annual Community Showcase on Tuesday to celebrate the work of the 2023 cohort. The event will begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., at Jamestown Community Colleges Cutco Theater, 305 N. Barry St., Olean. There will be an after party across the street at The Hub, 301 N. Union St. The accelerator program supports entrepreneurs in the Olean-area by providing business guidance, mentors, student consultants and a sense of community. The state Labor Department and Buffalo & Erie County Public Library will host a job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the downtown Central Library. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership will host an economic development summit for its members on Thursday at its offices. The Pasquale Homeowners Association is asking the Buffalo Planning Board on Monday for a coastal-consistency determination for its request to install a 700-gallon auxiliary diesel fuel oil tank in a first-floor storage room in the condo complex's parking garage. It would be located next to the existing generator, which ran low on fuel during the Christmas weekend blizzard last year, prompting resident concern about capacity in case of another major storm. The Planning Board will also review special-use permits for: Dana Scott, for new ownership of the 40-year-old Nietzsches bar at 248 Allen St. Deshawn Green, to open his Juicey Quartz cannabis and retail store in the former Flax's Barbershop space on the first floor of 420 Grant St. Bilal Ajabbouri, to open his Mooty's Corner Market food and convenience store at 139 Vermont St. Heidi Cerrone for her new Empire Comics comic book store and neighborhood shop at 1069 Abbott Road, in a former cleaning company location. Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNews.com. THE LATEST Lockport seeing surge of health care projects as 'latest battleground of competition' in WNY. Union submits thousands of staffing complaints at WNY hospitals to state Health Department. 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. SHS 1 students to report December 4 as indicated on placement form - GES reiterates Enoch Darfah Frimpong Education Dec - 03 - 2023 , 00:34 The Ghana Education Service (GES) has reiterated that the reporting date for first year senior high students (SHS) still remains Monday, December 4, 2023. Parents, students and the general public have therefore been reminded to take note that the reporting date for first year students is December 4, 2023 as indicated on the Placement form, a statement issued by the GES on Saturday, December 2 said. The statement was signed by the Head of Public Relations at the GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo It said it was the expectation of the GES management that schools begin registration and orientation of students from the 4th of December 2023. "Per the academic calendar, there would be Christmas break on the 21st of December 2023 and resume on the 3rd of January to continue academic work till March 5th 2024," it added. Management urges all students yet to do their Self Placement to do so as quickly as practicable. "We appreciate all stakeholders for collaborating and supporting the CSSPS process to this point. "We continue to ask for your patience to ensure the academic calendar for SHS is implemented without hitches in order to get back to the pre-covid academic calendar," it added. Last week some members of parliament urged the Ministry of Education to reconsider the decision to allow first year students of senior high schools (SHS) to report on Monday, December 4, 2023. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin, for instance had proposed that the reopening date be shifted to the first week of January to allow both parents and teachers to prepare adequately. The Speaker has subsequently invited the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, to appear before the House on Monday, December 4 to brief the House on the reopening date and other matters. The move by the speaker followed a statement by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi North and Ranking Member on the Education Committee, Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, on what he said was a rush to allow the students to go to school on Monday. The MPs, all from the minority side expressed concern on what they said were challenges some parents would have to go through between Thursday and Sunday to get their children ready to go to school on Monday. The MPs, said it was incomprehensible for schools placement to be released just two days ago and rush students to report on Monday. The MPs said they have received calls from some constituents for support and even to effect changes in their placement. Below is a copy of the GES statement reiterating that reporting is on Monday, December 4, 2023 REPORTING DATE FOR SHS 1 STUDENTS The Ghana Education Service announces to parents, students and the general public that the reporting date for first year students is 4th December, 2023 as indicated on the Placement form. It is the expectation of Management that schools begin registration and orientation of students from the 4th of December 2023. Per the academic calendar, there would be Christmas break on the 21st of December 2023 and resume on the 3rd of January to continue academic work till March 5th 2024. Management urges all students yet to do their Self Placement to do so as quickly as practicable. We appreciate all stakeholders for collaborating and supporting the CSSPS process to this point. We continue to ask for your patience to ensure the academic calendar for SHS is implemented without hitches in order to get back to the pre-covid academic calendar. CASSANDRA TWUM AMPOFO Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Commission marks World AIDS Day Juliet Akyaa Safo Dec - 02 - 2023 , 08:51 DESPITE the advances made in HIV response, impact mitigation and social protection, people rendered vulnerable by AlDS is one of the key neglected areas in resource allocation in the HIV response. That is worrying as it is critical to provide socio-economic impact mitigation assistance and social protection support to HIV affected households. The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, made this known at this years World AIDS Day National durbar held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra last Thursday. It was on the theme Let Communities lead. Event Attended by stakeholders, development partners, ministers of state and people living with HIV, the event provided a moment to create awareness about the disease, assess progress made to end AIDS and determine the gaps and bottlenecks that must be addressed to achieve national strategic objectives. It was also a time to remember friends and loved ones lost to AIDS. Resource mobilisation Dr Atuahene said the Commission had only 33 per cent of the total funds needed for the national response for the next three years, and that the remaining 67 per cent of funds must be raised domestically. To achieve this, he said the Commission was, thus, implementing a five-year resource mobilisation strategy to address the funding gap. Also, he said the commission would be collaborating with its partners, for the first time, to develop an investment case for the HIV and AIDS response to provide realistic resource allocation options that assured lowering unit cost, cost effectiveness and value for money. In addition to the investment case, we are conducting sustainability assessment and planning. which ultimately will produce a national HIV and AIDS Financial Sustainability Plan or road map, he said. Speaking on the theme, the Director-General said the Commission would continue to engage the communities, build their capacity and support them to lead the prevention and community-based differentiated services delivery activities. Infection Sharing the data on infection rate, Dr Atuahene indicated that an estimated number of 935,000 Ghanaians had been infected with HIV, and nearly 580,000 of them died of AIDS since the disease hit the country 40 years ago. Also, more than 230,000 children were estimated to have been orphaned by AIDS. Dr Atuahene noted that the country continued to make significant progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat. Since 2003, anti-retroviral treatment sites have increased from the initial three sites to the current 745 sites, which are spread across all the 16 regions of the country. HIV treatment is now integrated into the primary health care system with increasing opportunities for stable PLHIV to pick their medicines at CHPS compounds, he said. Slow progress However, he said the country was making extremely slow progress towards the 95-95-95 targets expected to be achieved by the end of 2025 United Nations target. Dr Atuahene said as of the end of 2022, 72 per cent of persons living with HIV had been diagnosed or knew their HIV status, 87 per cent of them were receiving anti-retroviral treatment and 68 per cent were virally suppressed. The Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Accra, Rolf Olson, commended the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana AIDS Commission for their work and said the US government would continue to support their work by leveraging local capacity, improving coordination, finding efficiencies and supporting country priorities. The UNAIDS Country Director, Hector Sucilla Perez, recognised the roles played by communities and said community-led organisations could work to ensure that the country met the 2025 UN targets. How NIA Exec Sec Ken Attafuah caused the arrest of his nephew involved in Ghana card misconduct Kweku Zurek Dec - 03 - 2023 , 10:10 Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), has revealed how he played a role in the arrest and conviction of his nephew, George Kwame Essien, an Assistant Technical Enrollment Officer at NIA's Walewale Office. In a Facebook post, Professor Attafuah detailed the events leading to Essien's arrest and conviction for misconduct, including bribery, registration of an ineligible foreigner, and forging documents. According to Professor Attafuah, he received allegations of Essien's misconduct and dispatched a team of investigators to Walewale to investigate. Upon Essien's arrest, he pleaded with his uncle for forgiveness and intervention, promising not to repeat his actions. However, Professor Attafuah refused to intervene, stating that Essien's actions had undermined the integrity of the National Identification System (NIS) Project and brought the NIA into disrepute. Essien was subsequently charged with abetment of crime, forgery of documents, causing unauthorized interference with electronic records, and causing unauthorized modification of information. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment on count 2 and six months each on counts 1, 3, and 4. Professor Attafuah used the incident to underscore NIA's commitment to upholding integrity, patriotism, and nationalism, stating that the Authority will not tolerate breaches of its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regardless of who is involved. He also commended NIA employees who stand up against criminality, impunity, and lawlessness, emphasizing NIA's commitment to honouring and celebrating such individuals. The conviction of Essien serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, even those with connections to high-ranking officials. Professor Attafuah's actions demonstrate NIA's resolve to maintain the integrity of the NIS and ensure that all NIA employees adhere to the highest ethical standards. Read the entire Facebook post below; Ken Attafuah's nephew jailed for misconduct in Ghana card registration process Kweku Zurek Dec - 03 - 2023 , 10:04 The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the conviction of an Assistant Technical Enrolment Officer (ATEO) for misconduct leading to the registration of an unqualified applicant. George Kwame Essien, an ATEO at the NIA's Walewale District Office in the North East Region, was found guilty of forging NIA documents and registering an individual named Amadu Seeta, who did not meet the necessary registration requirements. Seeta, who is currently at large, reportedly received an ECOWAS Identity Card through Essien's fraudulent actions. The investigation revealed that Essien forged NIA Form One and an Oath of Identity Form belonging to Braimah Seini to facilitate Seeta's registration. Essien pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment on count two (Forgery of Document) and six months each on counts 1 (Abetment of Crime), 3 (Causing an Unauthorized Interference with Electronic Records), and 4 (Causing an Unauthorized Modification of Information). The sentences will run concurrently. Essien, a nephew of the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah has been handed over to the Tamale Prisons Authority to serve his sentence. A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Amadu Seeta, who is still at large. In a statement, the NIA emphasized that violations of the law and NIA's Standard Operating Procedures will not be tolerated. The Authority remains committed to upholding the rule of law and promoting integrity, patriotism, and decency in the workplace. Managing compliance obligations to reduce risk of tax penalties Mallet Ameworlor Dec - 02 - 2023 , 11:48 Ghanas tax laws not only require the payment of taxes, but also require certain compliance obligations on the part of taxpayers. These obligations include, registering with the tax authorities regarding a particular tax, acting as a withholding agent, filing returns, making payments on time, and keeping proper records. Noncompliance with these obligations can have financial consequences, and instances of noncompliance generally are identified during tax audit. Full compliance, however, has little to no financial burden on taxpayers; hence, the saying the best tax planning measure is compliance. This article highlights how taxpayers may reduce risk and exposure through tax compliance, identify typical noncompliance areas in practice, and use certain measures to comply with the tax laws in order to prevent the imposition of penalties. Tax audit liabilities A standard comprehensive tax audit by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) usually covers four main tax types: corporate income tax, withholding tax, employee taxes (PAYE system), and VAT. Liabilities relating to withholding tax, employee taxes, and VAT normally constitute a significant proportion of total tax liability arising from most tax audits. These taxes generally are avoidable as they are third party taxes and not intended to be borne by the payor. Withholding tax Under the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896), residents are required to withhold taxes at specified rates on payments to residents and nonresidents. The applicable withholding tax rate depends on the nature of the transaction and the tax residency status of the recipient, and the amount of tax withheld in a month must be remitted and withholding tax return must be filed within 15 days after end of the month. Withholding tax liability in a tax audit normally results from one or more of the following: Failure to withhold tax: A resident that fails to withhold tax when making a payment will be required to pay the tax not withheld. This is usually a primary cause of withholding tax liability arising from tax audits. Applying the incorrect (lower) withholding tax rate: Tax audits may uncover situations where residents apply the wrong (lower) withholding tax rate when making a payment. Failure to remit withheld tax by the due date: Late remittance of withheld amounts may result in interest charges. Failure to file a withholding tax return by the due date: Failure to file withholding tax returns by the due date may result in a penalty of GHS 500, plus GHS 10 for each day the return remains outstanding. Employee taxes Employers are required to withhold taxes from payments to employees for the exercise of their employment. Tax must be withheld on all gains and profits from the employment unless specifically exempted. The employer must remit the taxes withheld to the commissioner-general of the GRA, together with the PAYE return, within 15 days after the end of the month. Liabilities arising from tax audits result from the failure to fully comply with the PAYE obligations. Below are some of the practical issues that may lead to PAYE liability: The omission of certain taxable amounts from the PAYE computation: Almost every benefit earned by employees, whether in kind or in cash, including gifts, is taxable. However, reconciling the taxable staff cost in the audited financial statements to the total amount reported on monthly PAYE returns may show differences that suggest that not all taxable payments to employees were taxed under PAYE. The unpaid taxes then become the financial responsibility of the employer when they are discovered during a tax audit. Use of incorrect tax rates: Employers may be applying incorrect tax rates to certain employee payments, such as bonus and overtime payments, payments to temporary and casual staff, and payments related to income earned by foreign nationals who are tax resident in Ghana. Late payment: Late remittance of withheld amounts may result in interest charges. Late filing: Failure to file tax returns by the due date may result in a penalty of GHS 500, plus GHS 10 for each day the return remains outstanding. VAT VAT is a consumption tax imposed on supply of goods and services made in Ghana, or imported into Ghana, other than supplies specifically exempt from VAT. Under the Value Added Tax Act, 2013 (Act 870), persons that make supplies of goods and services (other than exempt supplies) and meet the registration threshold are required to register for VAT with the GRA. Most VAT issues arising from a tax audit come from the following areas: VAT registered persons not charging VAT on taxable supplies: The reconciliation of revenue reported on the audited financial statements and revenue filed on submitted VAT returns is a common audit procedure adopted to test the accuracy and completeness of the revenue reported for VAT purposes. Any unexplained difference is treated as a deliberate understatement of revenue, which may result in an additional tax assessment on the taxpayer. Failure to remit the VAT charged and collected by the due date: Late payment of VAT may result in the imposition of late payment interest on the outstanding balance. VAT charged on an invoice must be remitted to the commissioner-general not later than the last working day of the month immediately following the month in which the supply was made. Failure to file VAT returns by the due date may result in a penalty of GHS 500, plus GHS 10 for each day the return remains outstanding. Managing tax compliance Taxpayers should make a concerted effort to fully comply with the compliance provisions under the tax laws, taking into consideration regular tax health checks and proper recordkeeping. Tax health checks Given the sanctions associated with noncompliance, taxpayers should conduct regular tax health checks at periodic intervals to uncover any errors or omissions in a timely manner and, where necessary, settle any additional tax liability to prevent interest charges. A tax health check not only helps quantify the potential tax exposure but also identifies tax risk areas that require extra attention from the taxpayer to minimize the probability of reoccurrence. Proper recordkeeping The Revenue Administration Act 2016 (Act 915) imposes an obligation on taxpayers to maintain necessary records and documentation in Ghana, and any failure to comply may result in penalties. Beyond the tax law requirements, proper recordkeeping helps to provide evidence that may be required for defending a position during a tax audit. Proper recordkeeping includes maintaining: Invoices and receipts supporting sales and purchases, including VRPOs and Form 9. All necessary documents supporting sales reversals and associated payments. Accounting records with a detailed description of the nature of all transactions. Withholding tax exemption letters received from vendors and accurately tracked payments made to such vendors; Documentation and justification for adjustments passed by the statutory auditor during an audit of the financial statements. Conclusion Any increase in taxes payable (including associated penalties and interest) increases the cost of doing business and has a negative impact on a taxpayers cashflow. Company executives must ensure that measures are implemented to ensure tax compliance. This requirement is even more important now, due to the challenges faced by taxpayers under the current economic landscape. The writer is Senior Consultant, Business Tax, Tax & Regulatory Services, Deloitte Ghana Where are the dividends of democracy? Dr John Osae-Kwapong Politics Dec - 03 - 2023 , 00:52 I often argue that Ghanaians have made peace with democracy as their preferred form of government. I argue forcefully using data from the Afrobarometer Survey. I recall during the launch of my book back in April being asked why, after drawing attention to some major challenges Ghanas democracy faces, I still argue that we have made our peace with democracy. During a democracy themed event in Tamale on November 29 a participant asked, where are the dividends of democracy? Background How did the question come about? Thanks to financial support from the West Africa Democracy Support Network (WADEMOS), I have launched a West Africa governance risk assessment project to identify and address the signs of democratic regression in the subregion. The project is designed to contribute evidence as well as recommend practical steps for strengthening democratic governance in West Africa. Recent happenings have raised concerns about the current state of and future of democracy in the sub region. The project is guided by a simple philosophy stakeholders must address the worrying signs but also strengthen the hopeful signals of democratic governance. The project begins with an initial focus on Ghana the land of my birth. More importantly the country last year achieved an important milestone thirty years of uninterrupted multiparty democracy. And while there are important hopeful signals as we strive for the next thirty years, that are also some very important worrying signs we cannot ignore. The project has three key initiatives, one of which is what we are calling The Democracy Dialogues. These dialogues will bring key stakeholders in Ghanas governance space to examine the six key challenges to the countrys democracy captured in my recently published book 5 Presidents, 8 Elections, 30 Years Later: How Ghanaians See Their Democracy with two key goals in mind a) to come up with a list of specific recommendations on how to address the challenges; and b) use the recommendations as the basis of our efforts to get stakeholders to adopt them as part of a pledge to democracy. The first democracy dialogue was hosted by the Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), at the University of Cape-Coast on November 28. The second dialogue was hosted by Care for Deprived Communities, Tamale on November 29. The third dialogue was hosted by the John A. Kufuor Foundation, Accra on November 30. It was during the democracy dialogue in Tamale that I was asked the question where are the dividends of democracy? Dividends In essence, I believe the participant was asking for two things- a) evidence that shows democracy has delivered certain tangible benefits to Ghanaians and b) it is the result of enjoying these benefits that has led to this peacemaking with democracy. Lets think of the dividends of democracy as falling into three broad categories political, social, and economic. The political dividends deal with basic freedoms that democratic governments guarantee their citizens. Social dividends deal with the policies designed to address issues such as poverty, personal safety, access to education and health care, access to water, among others. Economic dividends deal with policies designed to address issues such as unemployment, living standards, management of the economy among others. The combined effect of these three dividends is to give Ghanaians a positive lived experience which they can then attribute to the fact that they are living in a democracy. What are Ghanaians saying about these dividends? To what extent do they believe they are receiving these dividends? In Part One, I want to focus on the political dividends. And as always, I would like to use data from the Afrobarometer survey to answer this question. Ghanaians generally evaluate their political freedoms very positively and acknowledge that they are free to say what they think, choose who to vote for, and which organisation to join. In the first three rounds of the survey (1999, 2002, 2005), Ghanaians were asked to compare the present to the past regarding these freedoms. On average, across these three rounds and freedoms, seven out of ten (73%) generally agreed that the present is better than the past. Beginning Round Four (2008), the question was rephrased to ask Ghanaians how free they felt to exercise these freedoms. Overall, the disposition of Ghanaians has been very positive. As many as nine out of ten (88%) believe they are completely free to choose who to vote for. Another nine out of ten (86%) believe they are completely free to join any organisation, while seven out of ten (71%) believe they are completely free to say what they think. I believe it is safe to conclude that democracy is delivering on the political dividends. I will revisit this topic next week to discuss the other dividends. The writer is a Democracy and Development fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana). Remember your victory is not the end, but beginning of new chapter of service - Bawumia to newly elected NPP parliamentary candidates Chris Nunoo Politics Dec - 02 - 2023 , 22:16 The Vice-President and flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has congratulated all newly elected parliamentary candidates in the ophan constituencies. In his message after the elections held on Saturday (December 2, 2023), Dr Bawumia said their victory is the beginning of a new chapter of service and responsibility Read also: See list of winners in NPP parliamentary primaries in orphan constituencies He also commended the party and the national leadership and other executives in constituencies throughout the country in particular for supervising a very peaceful and transparent primaries in the orphan constituencies. Dr Bawumia said "I would like you to remember that your victory is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter of service and responsibility." He advised them to be humble in their deliberations and said to win the confidence of the Ghanaian people, "We must adopt humility and grace." The NPP flagbearer also expressed appreciation to the aspirants who could not make it for their determination and courage and said the party is indebted to them. "Our party's preparedness and determination to take a majority of these seats from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had been definitively demonstrated by today's events," he added. With the upcoming 2024 general elections in sight, he said "I am very impressed by the quality of candidates chosen to represent our party in these constituencies." He further expressed confidence that the NPP would succeed in securing these seats through its sustained unity and collective efforts. "With great determination and collective working spirit, we are going to win a majority of these orphan seats during the 2024 general election. "To keep our momentum and to accomplish victory, we need to stay united from the grassroots down to the highest levels of leadership," Dr Bawumia stressed and called on all dedicated members of the party and supporters to step up their efforts to achieve the objective of breaking the eight. That, he said, was a fundamental commitment to the goal of the NPP to break the eight in 2024. Together, he said "we are going to continue in our quest for a brighter future for Ghana with unshakable determination and unity in purpose." An opioid-related overdose death in Erie County in September has been linked to a highly potent drug used to tranquilize elephants. '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. The Erie County Health Department said last week that toxicology tests overseen by the County Medical Examiners Office confirmed the presence of carfentanil in the body of the victim. No details about the victim were released. Its the first time carfentanil, which has caused overdose deaths in other parts of the country, has been connected with a fatal overdose in Erie County. Dr. Gale Burstein, county health commissioner, said in a news release that the discovery of the toxic and highly dangerous drug signaled another phase in the opioid epidemic. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl, according to the Health Department. Veterinarians use the drug to anesthetize elephants and other large animals for surgery and other medical treatments. However, carfentanil that is diverted, stolen or manufactured overseas is being added as a cheap filler to cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other illicit drugs. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration first began warning about carfentanil in 2016. Burstein said in a statement that the drugs effects hit faster and last longer than fentanyl, which in itself is a potent and potentially deadly synthetic opioid. Now that we know that carfentanil has made its way into the local illicit drug supply, we need to reinforce the risks for people who use any illicit drugs, including drugs not marketed as opioids, such as cocaine, and emphasize the support, resources and harm reduction tactics available for people to avoid injury and death, Burstein said. 'Meeting people where they are': Volunteers hit the streets to prevent opioid overdoses Volunteers with Creative Restorations, Inc. spend several evenings each week doing direct outreach to those using opioids. They offer boxes of Narcan, testing strips, containers to safely store used needles, and clean "works" syringes and caps. There's also a pamphlet with the services the group offers and a phone number to call. The Medical Examiners Office has investigated 371 confirmed or suspected opioid-related overdose deaths so far in 2023 which is 20% more than the total for all of 2022, a previous record high. Given the high volume of overdose deaths, Burstein said it was possible toxicology tests will confirm the presence of carfentanil in other cases. Narcan can reverse the effects of carfentanil exposure, but higher doses or more doses of Narcan may be needed to get a person breathing. Cocaine contaminated with fentanyl has contributed to three out of four opioid-related overdose deaths in Erie County this year. A rescue crew uses a Lakota helicopter at Ulomnia Beach in this 2022 file photo. The Guam Fire Department rescued four distressed kayakers, including a boy, on Dec. 3, 2023. The company that owns the Gill-Baza subdivision in Yigo has filed a $2 million suit against more than 30 individuals who owned property at the subdivision and their lawyer for malicious prosecution. Its the latest chapter in a slew of lawsuits between developer Cyfred Ltd. and Gill Baza residents that first started in 2002. About 30 homeowners at the time sued Cyfred because, among other infrastructure problems, there were no sewer lines attached to the residential lots when they were sold. Now, the developer is suing back. Just how many defendants in the latest lawsuit still live in the subdivision is unclear, as Cyfred has moved to foreclose on some of the lots they owned, according to court records. This latest legal spat began over a number of properties that Gill-Baza residents had won as a result of a previous settlement in another lawsuit against Cyfred. Some 26 lots in the subdivision were acquired by residents on the condition that they each pay Cyfred $4,500 over 10 years. The company, as a condition of mortgages that were taken out, was given the option to foreclose on the lots, an opinion issued by the Supreme Court of Guam states. In 2017, attorney Wayson Wong, representing the homeowners, proposed that Cyfred take about $49,700 worth of attorneys fees that the homeowners were seeking in another, separate court case that was ongoing at the time, to offset payments owed to Cyfred for the lots. When Cyfred refused, Wong filed another lawsuit on behalf of the homeowners against Cyfred in 2018, records show. The Superior Court of Guam granted an injunction that prevented Cyfred from foreclosing on the properties while the case was being weighed, but ultimately called the lawsuit dubious as homeowners were trying to cover money they owed to Cyfred with attorneys fees they were hoping to win in a separate court case. A review by the Supreme Court of Guam in 2021 upheld that decision. Despite being informed that their claims were dubious, the defendants persisted in litigating them against Cyfred, the latest suit filed by the developer in July states. This was done knowingly, at the urging of Wong, documents allege, with the malicious intent of maximizing the costs and therefore damages to Cyfred. As a result of defendants wrongful conduct the defendants caused a cloud to exist and persist over each of the properties Cyfred had foreclosed or which Cyfred had the right to foreclose, preventing the developer from selling the properties, the latest lawsuit states. Cyfred is suing for 6% of the fair market value of the lots over the period of time that they were tied up in court, as well as punitive damages equal to $2 million to be paid jointly by Wong and the other defendants. Wong, in a response filed with the Superior Court, demanded a jury trial. The Judiciary of Guam joins the nation in mourning the passing of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O Connor, whos regarded as an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nations highest court. She was 93. OConnor, who was among the most powerful women in the country when critical issues such as affirmative action, voting rights and abortion were on the docket, died on Dec. 1. Justice O Connor was a jurist of historical statureforging a path that young girls everywhere could follow. Her commitment to revitalize civics education shaped the minds of countless children, an initiative we proudly carry forward in our school outreaches, Guam Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert J. Torres said in a statement on Saturday. The U.S. Supreme Court announced OConnors death in a statement, saying the cause was complications of advanced dementia and a respiratory illness. She died in Phoenix, Arizona. President Ronald Reagan nominated OConnor in 1981. That ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the Supreme Court. On behalf of Guams judicial branch, we offer our sincerest condolences to her family and join all who loved her in honoring her life, Torres said in a statement. May her service be celebrated and her legacy long reverberate in the halls of time. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts described OConnor as someone who blazed an historic trail as our Nations first female Justice and that 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. OConnor retired in 2006, after serving more than 24 years on the court. She wrote five books, including The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice (2002), and Out of Order: Stories from the History of the Supreme Court (2013). Her husband, John Jay OConnor III, died of complications of Alzheimers in 2009. OConnor was born in El Paso, Texas, on March 26, 1930. She received her B.A. and LL.B. from Stanford University. She served as deputy county attorney of San Mateo County, California, worked as a civilian attorney in Germany, and practiced law in Maryvale, Arizona. She served as assistant attorney general of Arizona and was appointed to the Arizona State Senate in 1969. She was subsequently reelected to two two-year terms, during which she was selected as majority leader. In 1975, she was elected judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court and served until 1979, when she was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals. After her tenure on the Supreme Court, she founded and led iCivics, the nations leading civics education platform. While its been an open secret for quite some time now, Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio on Saturday made a more public announcement of his plans to run for governor in the 2026 elections and talked about it some more on Sunday afternoon. And I promise you, Im going to give you the best team possible to win this electionin 2026. This is democracy but together were gonna show them that its best to be part of this team, Tenorio, a Democrat, told the crowd at a gathering at the residence of Pacifico Martir and family in Hagat on Saturday night. On Sunday afternoon, Tenorio shared more about his intent. Last night, I had the privilege to celebrate the holidays with many friends, family members and colleagues. I took the opportunity to confirm with them my intent to lead our island into the future and ask for their blessing. I will continue to consult them as I make future decisions such as the selection of a running mate. For now, I will be focused on my responsibilities and work as the lt. governor, Tenorio told the Pacific Daily News. Tenorio, whos been Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros lieutenant governor since January 2019, has so far not announced his running mate. At the Hagat gathering, Tenorio told the crowd he will be filing his organizational report with the Guam Election Commission on Monday so I can start raising money for this campaign. Tenorio said he will also work hard to make sure the Democrats will have a good set of candidates for mayors, vice mayors and senators in the 2024 elections. Its so humbling that we can do this together, he said. The lieutenant governor also said the holidays are the best time to heal all wounds, extend their generosity and spend time with family and friends, including those they might have disagreements with over politics and other issues. From Youth Congress to Adelup Tenorio, a Guam Youth Congress speaker in 1991 and a political science and history major at the University of Guam, was a legislative assistant to then Del. Robert Underwoods offices in Guam and Washington, D.C. from 1993 to 1998. He served as deputy chief of staff to then Gov. Carl Gutierrez, and briefly served as acting director of the Bureau of Statistics and Plans and the deputy director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research. Tenorio held a few more positions until 2011 when he was appointed director of policy planning and community relations for the Judiciary of Guam. Two years later, he became administrator of the courts. In February 2017, then Bank of Guam president Lou Leon Guerrero officially announced her bid to run for governor, with Tenorio as her running mate. After winning the primaries and the gubernatorial elections, they were sworn into office in 2019. They sought and won re-election in 2022, and started their second term in January. Leon Guerrero and Tenorio were the first Democrats to hold Adelup in 16 years, after two Republican governors Felix Camacho and Eddie Calvo served two gubernatorial terms each. Tenorios the first openly gay lieutenant governor elected in the U.S. Other potential 2026 candidates Speaker Therese Terlaje has also been eyed as a possible Democrat candidate for governor in the 2026 polls, with Sen. Chris Barnett supposedly as lieutenant governor, though both have not made public announcement of their plans. Terlaje, a longtime attorney, and Barnett, a former broadcast journalist and comedian, were the highest and second highest vote-getters in the 2022 senatorial elections, respectively. Other Democrats potentially in the running for Adelup either as governor or lieutenant governor are Sen. Joe San Agustin and former Sen. Dennis Rodriguez. The Republicans, meanwhile, have yet to rally around or announce any potential candidate for governor though among potential candidates is businessman Charlie Hermosa. At this point, Hermosa said, hes focused on growing his business, his academic teaching and his community service projects. A $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been awarded to the University of Guam to work with forestry managers and farmers to produce commodities using more environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, according to a news release from UOG. UOG and its partners on the project government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and farmers will test climate-smart commodities and work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and forestry systems. The project will also develop solutions to make local commodities more marketable and affordable for island communities. USDA defines climate-smart commodities as produce and other products, such as fruits, vegetables, livestock, and lumber, that were cultivated or raised through practices that achieve reductions on greenhouse gas and carbon emissions. Some of these practices may include reforestation, wetlands management, soil conservation, and planting of cover crops. This is an excellent opportunity to improve precision agriculture for disadvantaged, at-risk island communities to improve food and nutrition security, said Romina King, the projects principal investigator. We will be working with an interdisciplinary team of farmers, forestry and soil experts, agricultural specialists, and economists at UOG and GovGuam to find more efficient ways to produce commodities while reducing emissions. We will also aim to improve sales of these local commodities and better connect farmers with buyers. King is an associate professor of geography with the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center under UOGs College of Natural and Applied Sciences, associate director of NASA Guam Space Grant and NASA Guam EPSCoR program, and the UOG lead for the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center. King also serves as the vice chair for the Government of Guam Climate Change Resilience Commission. I applaud Dr. King and the team behind this critical project and their initiative to bring together agencies, organizations, and local farmers to work as partners on how we can best adapt to a changing environment, UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez said. The project will offer technical workshops to farmers and forestry managers to showcase climate-smart practices and their benefits for underserved producers and landowners. Grants will be provided to farmers willing to test and incorporate these practices. Market research will be conducted to determine buyers willingness to pay for climate-smart commodities. A key output of the project will be the development of accurate and affordable methods to measure carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions suitable for the conditions in the Western Pacific. We are very pleased to expand the CNAS research portfolio to include a novel project that will directly benefit farmers and other community members, said Adrian Ares, associate director for research at WPTRC and one of the projects co-principal investigators. The grant came after an excellent collaborative effort that entailed solving complex conceptual challenges and engaging highly motivated farmers. The project is one of 141 selected projects across the United States funded by the USDAs Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program totaling $3.1 billion. This funding opportunity is intended to expand U.S. markets for climate-smart commodities and provide meaningful benefits to production agriculture. Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen AFB Environmental Flight and the National Park Service. Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph A. Gramaglia has ordered the immediate closing of Club Marcella, 106 Michigan Ave., following the latest shooting there early Sunday. The commissioners order declared that a dire emergency exists ... as a result of the disruptive and violent behavior that has taken place immediately inside and outside of (the nightclub). Gramaglia cited the Sunday shooting as well as three other incidents earlier this year involving gunfire, one of them fatal. In the latest shooting, a 30-year-old Buffalo man was wounded inside a bathroom of the nightclub. A Buffalo police spokesman said the victim was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center and is listed in stable condition. Officers responded to the call around 2:30 a.m. The club was the site of a triple shooting on Feb. 12 that left one man dead and two others wounded. Sharief McBroom, 20, of Buffalo, has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder in connection with the February shooting, which also happened around 2:30 a.m. on a Sunday. In the other incidents, a security guard was shot Jan. 29 in the nightclubs parking lot and two patrons were wounded outside the club early Oct. 1 when a gunman fired multiple shots from a vehicle. Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph A. Gramaglia told The Buffalo News in February that those shootings did not appear to be related and were not targeted at Buffalos lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, which has been welcomed at Club Marcella. Fillmore Council Member Mitch Nowakowski, who represents the Cobblestone District and is the first openly gay man to serve on the Council, said Sunday he was beyond disappointed and alarmed by another shooting at the club. He said ensuring the safety and stability of the Cobblestone District is paramount and that he supports the police commissioners decision for an immediate closure. The club did not immediately respond to a voicemail seeking comment about the shooting. Anyone with information about Sundays shooting is asked to call or text the Police Departments confidential TIP-Call line at 716-847-2255. Haiti - FLASH : The DCPJ releases Guy Philippe Let's remember that Guy Philippe, the former elected Senator of Grand'Anse, former commander of the Haitian National Police (PNH) who led the rebellion in 2004 which overthrew President Jean Bertrand, was repatriated Thursday, November 30 2023 in the morning in Port-au-Prince by the United States, after serving a 7-year prison sentence https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41106-haiti-flash-former-senator-elect-guy-philippe-returns-to-the-country.html Sentenced to 9 years in prison, he pleaded guilty to avoid life in prison (following an agreement with the prosecutor) while continuing to proclaim his innocence. He was arrested upon his arrival by the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) and taken into custody for questioning. After two days of in-depth interrogation concerning the attack on the Les Cayes police station in 2016 in which his name had been mentioned and which had been the subject of an arrest warrant at the time, the DCPJ investigators satisfied (it seems) decided on Saturday, December 2nd in the morning, to give full and complete freedom to Guy Philippe who is now free to move and who hastened to return to Pestel (Dept. Grand'Anse) his city native where he was received triumphantly. It remains to be seen what Guy Philippe will do, as he aspires to political action and who would even consider being a candidate in the next Presidential election. If most people think that it is impossible based on his conviction and the Constitution, on the judicial level opinions are divided citing complex technical aspects. Thus the criminal record of a Haitian would be primarily territorial and would not take into account convictions in other countries. If it turns out that he has no convictions in Haiti his criminal record would then be clean and nothing would stand in the way of his candidacy... But for the moment these are only speculations and when the time comes one will know probably more... To be continued... Also read about the Guy Philippe affair: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41106-haiti-flash-former-senator-elect-guy-philippe-returns-to-the-country.html 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 Haiti - Religion : Christmas message from the Conference of Bishops of Haiti During this Advent season, the Catholic Bishops of Haiti, gathered in an ordinary assembly in Laborde, in the diocese of Les Cayes, delivered, as every year, their traditional Christmas message and shared with you a word of hope. Message from the Catholic Bishops of Haiti: "Us, Catholic Bishops of Haiti, gathered in ordinary Assembly in Laborde, in the diocese of Les Cayes, greet you, brothers and sisters, and express our closeness to you as pastors. In this time of Advent which culminates in the Christmas celebration, we feel the need to share with you a word of hope. This finds its origin in the very Event of the Nativity of the Son of God who comes to save humanity and who makes us cry : 'O Rising Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death' (Liturgies of the Hours, Antiphon of the Magnificat, December 21). We want to take the time to contemplate the Event: the Son of God who was born for us (cf. Isaiah 9:5-6; Luke 2:6-7). His incarnation sheds new light on everything we experience today in terms of hopes and joys, misfortunes and suffering. It enlightens us and invites us to take charge of our destiny as a Nation. In the midst of the many tragic events in our history as a people, we do not want to let ourselves be defeated or give in to despair. In this sense, we stand in solidarity with the suffering of the people and express our sympathies to all those who are affected directly or indirectly by acts of violence and insecurity during this year 2023. We are preparing to celebrate Christmas in a dual context. On the one hand, the context of the dramatic situation of the people which is getting worse every day with the infernal influence of heavily armed groups, the galloping high cost of living, the distress of young people who are leaving the country, the manifest indifference of the authorities and the intransigence of political actors who cannot find a saving compromise. On the other hand, the context of the Synod of the Church which invites us to act differently in Haiti, namely: to listen to each other, to dialogue sincerely, to walk together, to live together, to better discern according to the Holy Spirit the meaning of History and building our Nation together. Brothers and sisters of Haiti, Men and Women of good will, the Shepherds of Bethlehem were the first to contemplate the event of Christmas (cf. Luke 2, 8-20). Like these shepherds who watched and stood guard, we strongly urge you to a true spiritual and civic awakening which must lead us to a deep personal and collective conversion, to combat fatalism or defeatism as well as the forces of evil which has its imprint on all aspects of our social, political, economic and cultural life. This awakening will involve the patriotic commitment of everyone for the recovery of Haiti. All this will only be possible if we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit of God (cf. Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16.18). The mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God makes us children of the Father and a people of brothers in Jesus who is 'the eldest of many brothers' (Romans 8:29). Is it not this spirit of brotherhood that paved the way for the founding of our Nation ? This is what we will celebrate on January 1st, 2024, remembering the 220th anniversary of our independence. So it is time to work resolutely to rediscover this fraternity which is today wounded and torn by internal and fratricidal struggles for power and by the lure of gain, by the politics of division, by systems of unbridled profit and by the hateful ideological tendencies that manipulate the actions and destiny of our people. In the name of this fraternity, we advocate the culture of dialogue as a path; common collaboration as conduct; reciprocal knowledge as a method (cf. Pope Francis, Document on Human Fraternity, February 4, 2019). The joy that the Christmas and New Year holidays bring will be even greater if concrete acts of resolution of the crisis are manifested, namely: a broad and reasonable consensus between the different protagonists of the crisis, the commitment authorities to restore a climate of peace and stop the illegal trafficking of arms and ammunition, an end to violence, insecurity and impunity, concrete and unequivocal support from the international community for disarmament and the recovery of the country; these are so many premises for the renormalization of the life of the people and the reestablishment of democratic institutions. We encourage efforts at dialogue and meetings at whatever level to find a satisfactory solution to this multidimensional crisis. To the Haitian people, to the country's elites and to all political actors, we say: This is a serious time ! 'Do not harden your heart, but listen to the voice of the Lord! (cf. Psalm 94, 7-8). In the spirit of Christmas, be prepared to make sacrifices for the good of our country. Be true in the resolutions you make, because only the truth will set you free (John 8:32). This Christmas time, we invite you, daughters and sons of Haiti, to Hope which does not deceive and which is nourished in prayer and conversion. The Child-God, who is born in Bethlehem in the most extreme destitution, is there to remind us that his very incarnation marks the beginning of the end of the domination of evil and the forces of darkness in the world. With Emmanuel, God-with-us, we can begin to hope again and begin to build a world dominated by the force of Good. With the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ, let us enter into this Hope! Hope for Haiti! Let's hope and work together for Haiti! May the Child-God, the Prince of Peace, the Sun of Justice, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, arouse in us love, a source of confidence in the future! Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New Year 2024 !" Given in Laborde, in the diocese of Les Cayes, on December 1st, 2023, on the feast of Saint Charles de Foucauld. List of signatories: Mgr. Max Leroy MESIDOR: Metropolitan Archbishop of Port-au-Prince President of the CEH Mgr. Pierre Andre DUMAS: Bishop of Anse-a-Veau / Miragoane Vice-President of the CEH Mgr. Joseph Gontrand DECOSTE, SJ: Bishop of Jeremiah Secretary General of the CEH Mgr. Desinord JEAN: Bishop of Hinche Bursar of the CEH Chibly Cardinal LANGLOIS: Bishop of Cayes Advise Mgr. Yves Marie PEAN, CSC: Bishop of Gonaives Mgr. Launay SATURNE: Metropolitan Archbishop of Cap-Haitien Mgr. Marie Erick Glandas TOUSSAINT: Bishop of Jacmel Mgr. Quesnel ALPHONSE, SMM: Bishop of Fort-Liberte Mgr. Charles Peters BARTHELUS: Bishop of Port-de-Paix See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-41065-icihaiti-ceh-new-permanent-council.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping HIV : Message from the PM: "World AIDS Day (December 1) should be a day of reflection. HIV/AIDS remains a reality that affects millions of lives around the world, but together we have the power to make a difference, by educating, sharing information and breaking stereotypes, [...] My Government is all fully determined to meet Haiti's international commitments, in particular that of eliminating HIV by 2030. Despite current priorities, the budget of the Ministry of Health has been increased and I am assured that part will be dedicated to this fight [...] We must promote understanding, empathy and respect towards those living with HIV. It is by working together that we can overcome the social barriers that hinder prevention and treatment," declared Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Strengthening security in Les Cayes The Police are strengthening security measures in the city of Les Cayes as the end-of-year holidays approach, with the aim of continuing to be closer to the population. On the instructions of the Departmental Director, Divisional Commissioner Daniel Compere, the Head of UDMO-SOUTH Aristide Jean Junior and his team carried out checks. routine inspection of vehicles and pat-down of individuals, in order to thwart acts of banditry in the city... For a prosperous agricultural future This Tuesday, November 28, the Swiss Ambassador to Haiti, Ms. Rita Hammerli-Weschke, met Ronald Gabriel, the Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH). The discussion focused on strengthening the partnership for a prosperous agricultural future. They discussed several crucial points including the importance of the Agricultural Production Support Program in Haiti (PAPAH 2) within the National Framework for Agricultural Financing in Haiti (CNFA), a Swiss initiative implemented in collaboration with the BRH. Education : Training for evening center instructors The Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) and UNESCO launched a series of training courses at the end of November for managers and instructors of evening centers. This series of training aims to equip managers and instructors of these non-formal education centers to prepare lesson sheets (teaching sheets) with accelerated programs. The training will have practical content and will address the concerns of the ministry, in particular questions relating to the experimentation of the accelerated program, the improvement of the quality of teaching-learning in the evening centers. Collection of gender-specific data Friday, December 1st, the Ministry for the Status of Women closed its 2-day workshop on "The harmonization of tools and the collection of gender-specific data, the prioritization of indicators and the facilitation of a working group for the harmonization of national data collection tools, in collaboration with the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics." The French Embassy against gender violence Violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights. The French Embassy in Haiti and its European partners in Haiti will continue to condemn all forms of violence against women and girls in all places and in all circumstances. HL/ HaitiLibre On December 30, 2023, at 5:00 PM, a group of 25 pro-Palestinian protesters organized a sit-in at the Starbucks located on Esplanadi in central Helsinki. The protest aimed to draw attention to what they perceive as Starbucks' implicit support for the Israeli actions in Gaza and the company's alleged anti-worker and anti-union practices. Videos of the protest are posted on Facebook and Youtube. Background of the Protesti The protesters accused Starbucks of targeting its Workers Union for expressing support for Palestine. This allegation comes in the wake of heightened tensions in the region and increased scrutiny of corporate involvements. Starbucks, a global coffeehouse chain, has come under fire due to its largest shareholder, Howard Schultz, who has reportedly invested 1.7 billion euros into the Israeli cybersecurity startup, Wiz. Critics argue that the Israeli cybersecurity industry, known for its ties with the national security apparatus, is part of a broader issue of corporate complicity in geopolitical conflicts. Starbucks' Alleged Union-Busting Participants in the Helsinki sit-in accused Starbucks of engaging in a smear campaign against the Starbucks Workers Union, following a tweet by the union expressing solidarity with Palestinians. "It seems like Starbucks doesn't care about their workers or the Palestinians suffering under occupation, apartheid, and bombing," said Alisa, a protester at the event. She emphasized that the company's actions were seen as an affront to the rights enjoyed by workers in Finland. The Larger Content This protest in Helsinki reflects a growing global concern over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to reports, the Palestinian Health Ministry has been unable to tally the casualties in Gaza due to infrastructural damage. Human rights organizations, including Save the Children, have expressed alarm over the high number of children casualties in recent weeks. Additionally, the Campaign for the Protection of Journalists has labeled the conflict as the deadliest for journalists since 1992, with at least 53 journalists reportedly killed. Israeli Occupation and Settlements The conflict's history stretches back decades, with Israel occupying Gaza and the West Bank since 1967. The ongoing land and sea blockade of Gaza since 2005 and the exponential growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been sources of international criticism. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Israeli organization BTselem, have described Israel's actions as constitutive of an apartheid state. Response from Starbucks and Other Parties At the time of reporting, Starbucks has not issued a formal response to the Helsinki protest. The event, however, underscores a rising trend of consumer and grassroots activism targeting corporate practices perceived as complicit in global conflicts and human rights violations. This incident in Helsinki is a poignant example of how local actions can reflect and respond to global issues, highlighting the interconnectedness of corporate behavior, consumer responsibility, and international human rights. HT A recent study by Kela researchers has uncovered that recipients of social assistance in Finland are more likely to use public health services and receive health-based benefits than other population groups. This first systematic exploration into the health service usage patterns of social assistance beneficiaries reveals a significant reliance on public health services, particularly in mental health and substance abuse services, compared to private and occupational health services. The research, focusing on the adult population of Helsinki and Oulu, found that individuals receiving social assistance are more frequently using public health services, including mental health and substance abuse services. Nearly one-third of social assistance recipients in Oulu utilized these services, compared to only five percent of the control group. The difference was less pronounced in other public health services like outpatient and specialized care. Jenni Blomgren, the research manager at Kela, notes that the disparities in service usage reflect how different sectors of Finland's health service system cater to various population groups. The study suggests that socioeconomic factors, such as employment status and income levels, partly explain why social assistance recipients more commonly use public services and less frequently access private healthcare and occupational health services. The research also highlighted the increased likelihood of social assistance recipients purchasing prescription drugs covered by health insurance and receiving Kela's health-based benefits like medication reimbursements, travel compensations, sickness allowances, or rehabilitation allowances. This trend is attributed to the higher incidence of illness among social assistance recipients, which also influences the need for more comprehensive medication coverage. Furthermore, the transfer of basic social assistance responsibilities from municipalities to Kela in 2017 has strengthened the connection between social assistance and health-based benefits. With Kela managing both, it has become easier to assess eligibility for various benefits. Blomgren emphasizes the importance of enhancing cooperation between Kela and regional health services. She suggests that improving collaboration can more effectively guide clients to the health services they need timely, thereby optimizing the support provided to social assistance recipients. HT The city of Helsinki is taking a futuristic approach to package delivery this holiday season, piloting an autonomous delivery robot that promises to bring parcels directly to doorsteps in the Ruoholahti and Jatkasaari areas. This innovative project, managed by the city's innovation company, Forum Virium Helsinki, is part of a test running through the end of 2023. With the logistics sector constantly expanding, the future increasingly lies in automation and reducing emissions, especially during peak times like Christmas, There are two versions of the events that transpired July 15, 2013, inside the walls of the Wende State Correctional Facility in Alden. In the one provided by corrections officers, inmate Larry McLean made a crude sexual remark to Officer LaTonya Johnson, exposed himself to her and then assaulted her, causing injuries that she said kept her out of work for six months. Avalanche of lawsuits accuse New York prison guards of sexually abusing inmates New York State is facing an onslaught of lawsuits accusing prison officers of sexually abusing adult inmates, litigation allowed under a new one-year window for survivors to sue, regardless of when the abuse occurred. In McLeans version, he was beaten by officers who ambushed him in a prison bathroom that day. He said he was kicked, punched and struck with a baton and handcuffs. He also said his head was repeatedly slammed onto the bathroom floor, out of anger that about a month earlier in the mess hall, he had shared some milk with another prisoner, a violation of prison rules. A federal court jury heard both versions of the events during a trial in March. After testimony from McLean, Johnson and several other corrections officers, jurors decided that McLean was the person who was telling the truth. New York was subsequently ordered to pay $250,000 to McLean, a violent offender who is serving 25 years to life in the state prison system for robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. Based on the evidence, the jury found that Johnson and Officer Kevin Brown violated McLeans constitutional rights by subjecting him to the use of excessive force. And the jury also found that Johnson had not proven her claim that McLean assaulted her. Despite the jurors findings of wrongdoing by the two officers, officials of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said the state has taken no action to discipline any officer involved in the incident with McLean. And McLean after a hearing conducted by officials of the Wende prison was found by prison officials to be at fault for the incident. His attorney said McLean was required to spend two months in solitary confinement. Ive handled about five other prisoner lawsuits, so none of this surprises me in any way, Timothy Hiller said. While not commenting directly on McLeans case, the union representing state corrections officers said officers work under dangerous conditions every day. Prison officials noted that an officer at the Attica State Correctional Facility was repeatedly stabbed by inmates last week, during violence that caused the prison in Wyoming County to be locked down. There were 1,473 substantiated assaults on prison staffers last year, and numbers are increasing this year, a state corrections spokeswoman told The News. In McLeans case, the original jury award was $355,000, but that was cut to $250,000 after state attorneys appealed the original award and then reached a settlement with McLean and his attorney. Under terms of the settlement, the state was required to pay McLean by Oct. 2, and also $60,000 to Hiller, McLeans court-appointed attorney. So far, the money has not been paid, Hiller told The Buffalo News on Friday. Im working through the State Attorney Generals Office to get Mr. McLean his money. Why did a jury choose to take the word of a jailed criminal while rejecting the testimony of several state corrections officers? I believe it was because there were many inconsistencies in the officers stories, Hiller said. We raised questions about how it could be that there was not one second of video of this incident. We also asked why, if Officer Johnson was being attacked by a prisoner, she never activated her personal alarm to bring help. Hiller noted that McLean testified he was attacked in the bathroom after an officer took him out of his cell under the guise that it was time to take a shower. Officers testified that Larry was walking around the cellblock, delivering mail to other prisoners, when he attacked Johnson, but there was no record of Larry delivering mail at that time, Hiller said. Hillel Deutsch, an assistant state attorney general who represented corrections officials at the trial, tried to portray McLean as the aggressor. A trial transcript shows Deutsch told jurors that Johnson whom he described as 5-foot-2, 120 pounds, soaking wet was the victim of the much bigger McLean. Deutsch presented evidence that Johnson hurt her knee and shoulder when McLean attacked her. McLean, who suffered a broken wrist, a shoulder injury and wounds to his face and head, told a different story. He said Johnson had told him she was going to get revenge against him during a verbal argument with her that erupted after she scolded him for giving milk to another prisoner. McLean, who has been identified by the state courts as a persistent violent offender, has been in and out of prisons throughout most of his adult life, and many of his crimes were armed robberies, his attorney said. As I told the jury, I am not thrilled with the crimes Larry McLean has committed during his lifetime, Hiller said. But losing his constitutional rights to be treated as a human being was not part of his prison sentence. I think the jury also saw it that way. After the July 2013 incident with the corrections officers, court records show that McLean filed a complaint against the officers with prison officials. The officers countered by accusing McLean of attacking Johnson and said they acted to protect Johnson. At the hearing on Larry McLeans complaint, he was not allowed to have an attorney. He was allowed to submit questions to be asked by an officer to witnesses, but Larry was not allowed to question any witnesses, Hiller said. A prison official ruled in the officers favor after the hearing, and McLean was sent to solitary confinement as punishment, Hiller said. Finland is set for a stable electricity supply this winter, as confirmed by the Energy Authority's latest reports. Despite potential vulnerabilities in the energy system, the country appears well-equipped to handle peak consumption during cold winter days, thanks to increased production capacities and robust import connections. The Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant, contributing 1600 megawatts, started regular production in April 2023. Additionally, over 1300 megawatts of new wind power capacity have been added this year, with an expected increase of another 600 megawatts by year-end. However, some production capacities, such as CHP (Combined Heat and Power) electricity generation, have decreased by nearly 200 megawatts compared to last year. On a cold winter day, the peak electricity demand is estimated to be around 14,300 MW. The domestic market-based production capacity available during these peak times is approximately 12,800 megawatts. To meet the demand, Finland will require about 1,500 megawatts of imported electricity, supported by transmission connections capable of importing up to 3,400 megawatts from neighboring countries. The Energy Authority also highlighted the role of the Inkoo LNG terminal in securing natural gas supply, especially after the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia experienced a leak in October 2023. With repair works expected to last until at least April 2024, Finland will not receive pipeline gas this winter. Instead, liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be received at the floating LNG terminal in Inkoo, as well as in Hamina, Tornio, and Pori. Gas from the Inkoo and Hamina terminals will be fed into the gas network. Despite the Balticconnector being out of operation, the gas supply in Finland is anticipated to be sufficient for the winter. The Inkoo LNG terminal's regasification capacity of 140 GWh/d alone can secure gas deliveries. However, a potential disruption at the Inkoo terminal could jeopardize gas availability, which may also impact electricity production. Overall, the country's proactive measures in enhancing its electricity production and import capacities, along with alternative arrangements for natural gas supply, position Finland favorably to navigate the winter months without major energy shortages. HT Attracting roughly half a million visitors each year, Lux Helsinki will light up various city locations, including the city center, Hietaniemi Cemetery, cultural centers, and the Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island. Lux Helsinki is set to transform Finland's capital into a dazzling display of light art from 3 to 7 January 2024. The festival, under the artistic direction of Juha Rouhikoski , will offer a unique blend of public favorites and the concluding works of artistic careers, promising an immersive science from art experience. The festival will feature 21 diverse light art installations, available for exploration in any order from 5 pm to 10 pm daily. Artistic Director Juha Rouhikoski likens art to science in its ability to offer insights and discoveries. "Both art and science are explorations that can lead to unexpected and enlightening experiences," he says. A key highlight of the festival is the transformation of Helsinki Cathedral, a perennial favorite at Lux Helsinki. This year, Senate Square will host a unique 360-degree experience with installations by Janne Ahola, Katariina Souri, and Weltraumgrafik. The installations will illuminate the facades of surrounding buildings, creating an immersive 20-minute show. Additional installations will adorn Esplanade Park, Kansalaistori square, and the UPM head office, showcasing themes from insect perspectives to iconic poppy patterns in collaborations like Marimekko & Ateneum's Unikko at La Louviere. The festival will also feature the final work of veteran light artist Ekku Peltomaki at Hietaniemi Cemetery, inspired by Finnish history and themes of war and peace. Extending its reach, Lux Helsinki will feature light art at cultural centers like Kanneltalo, Vuotalo, Malmitalo, and Stoa. The Lux Helsinki 2024 program also includes official Lux galleries Glo Hotel Art Galleria, Galleria Halmetoja, and Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, all open during festival hours. A special segment, Lux Korkeasaari, will take place at Helsinki Zoo from 30 December 2023 to 7 January 2024. This event, focusing on nature and endangered species through light art, aims to raise funds for snow leopard conservation. Visitors can enjoy guided tours and a mobile game trail highlighting animals from the snow leopard's habitat and the importance of winter to nature. Lux Helsinki's main partners include UPM-Kymmene Cultural Foundation, UPM, Helsinki Zoo, Marimekko, Ateneum, and Toyota. The festival's complete program and details about installations and artists are available on the Lux Helsinki website. HT The China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), a pioneering event at the national level, commenced in Beijing, drawing global attention to the critical role of supply chains in the world economy. Chinese Premier Li Qiang graced the opening ceremony, emphasizing the need for bolstered global collaboration in industrial and supply chains. In his keynote speech, Premier Li Qiang articulated the vision behind CISCE: The expo is being held to create an international platform for all parties to strengthen communication, deepen cooperation and seek common development." He stressed the expo's role as a beacon for fostering global economic development through resilient and stable supply chains. Li outlined four strategic initiatives for international cooperation in supply chains. These include establishing safe and stable supply chains, enhancing efficiency, advocating for openness and inclusivity, and promoting mutually beneficial collaborations. Premier Li assured, China is willing to work with all parties to make the global industrial and supply chains more resilient, efficient, and dynamic." Further elaborating on China's commitment, Li stated, "China will continue to provide the world with high-quality made-in-China products and stable supply from China," underscoring the nation's role in global market stability. He also highlighted Chinas focus on promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and innovation in fields like smart manufacturing and digital economy. Reflecting on China's manufacturing prowess, which has topped global rankings for 13 consecutive years and comprises nearly 30% of the global total, Stefan Hartung, Chairman of Robert Bosch GmbH, in his video address, recognized the critical role of the Chinese market in the global industry supply chain. The CISCE also spotlighted China's advancements in clean energy and new energy vehicles. Xiong Meng, Executive Vice President of the China Federation of Industrial Economics, noted, "China's huge market demand, characterized by customization and fast delivery, is constantly pushing forward innovations in its supply chains." Reflecting this growth, BloombergNEF data reveals that China accounted for 75% of all battery cell manufacturing and 90% of anode and electrolyte production. Furthermore, Wood Mackenzie forecasts China will maintain over 80% of the global solar product manufacturing capacity from 2023 to 2026. Tomasz Szypula, President of Poland's National Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, recognizes China as a prime market for clean energy cooperation. Chris Pereira, CEO of North American Ecosystem Institute, also acknowledges new energy as China's "most internationalized and sustainable advantage," highlighting the mutual benefits of supply chain cooperation and the importance of expanding Chinese technologies to broader markets globally. The Beijing Initiative for the Connectivity of Industrial and Supply Chains, unveiled at the CISCE, advocates for the stability and smooth operation of global supply chains. This initiative urges adherence to market principles and a deeper international collaboration in these areas. Ren Hongbin, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), spoke about the ongoing scientific, technological, and industrial transformation, emphasizing, China will continue to improve the industrial system to provide strong support for the operation of global industrial and supply chains. The Global Supply Chain Promotion Report, released during the event, highlighted China's influential role in global supply chain health. Covering sectors like smart automobiles, smart cellphones, photovoltaic power, medicines, and green wheat, the report illustrates China's market diversity, innovation capacity, and open policies as key drivers for global supply chain collaboration. As the only country with all industrial categories listed in the UN industrial classification, China's manufacturing sector is robust, contributing 27.7% to its GDP in 2022. The CISCE, themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," organized by CCPIT and supported by UNCTAD, is more than an expo; it's a call to global action for cooperation and innovation in supply chains. In closing, Premier Li Qiang called upon global entrepreneurs to actively contribute to the stability of global industrial and supply chains. He promised that China would offer greater convenience and assurance for businesses investing in the country, reaffirming China's dedication to being a key player in enhancing global supply chain resilience and innovation. Top of the list The countries that are typically recognized for their leading roles in global supply chains encompass a range of economies, each excelling in different aspects of supply chain management, manufacturing, logistics, and trade. Some of the top countries in this regard include: 1. China: Known for its massive manufacturing capacity, China plays a pivotal role in global supply chains, especially in electronics, automotive, and consumer goods manufacturing. 2. United States: With advanced logistics, technology sectors, and a large consumer market, the U.S. is a key player in global supply chains, particularly in technology, agriculture, and automotive sectors. 3. Germany: Renowned for its engineering and manufacturing, especially in the automotive and machinery sectors, Germany is a critical link in European and global supply chains. 4. Japan: Japan is known for its efficiency and innovation, particularly in the automotive and electronics industries. 5. South Korea: With a strong focus on technology and electronics, South Korea is a major player in global supply chains, especially in semiconductors and consumer electronics. 6. Singapore: As a major logistics and trading hub, Singapore plays a significant role in facilitating global trade, particularly in Southeast Asia. 7. Netherlands: With its strategic location and advanced logistics infrastructure, the Netherlands is a key gateway to Europe and plays a significant role in European supply chains. 8. India: India is emerging as a significant player in global supply chains, especially in pharmaceuticals, textiles, and increasingly in technology and automotive sectors. 9. Vietnam: Vietnam has been rising as a manufacturing hub, particularly for textiles, footwear, and electronics, as companies diversify their supply chains. Each of these countries contributes uniquely to the global supply chain landscape, leveraging their specific strengths in manufacturing, technology, logistics, or trade facilitation. HT Images: CISCE Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week: This article about the presidential election in Finland gaining significance due to Russias actions in Ukraine and hybrid warfare on the eastern border, was covered in Euronews on November 21. The article provides details of the ongoing presidential election in November, which is often referred to as the dead month in Finnish. Jutta Urpilainen, Finlands EU Commissioner and a Social Democrat, has recently entered the race, opting for a late start to maximize her time away from her EU position. The article emphasizes how this delayed entry raises questions about her chances of winning, as she plans to begin campaigning earnestly only in December, leaving her party resorting to using a life-size cutout to maintain public visibility. Over the past four decades, the powers of the Finnish president have diminished, yet the office remains crucial for foreign policy outside the EU and commands the Finnish military. The president is directly elected by the people and holds executive powers. The article points out that the current election is particularly significant due to Finlands NATO consideration and the challenges posed by being Russias neighbor in a time of war. Notably, experienced candidates with diverse political backgrounds are vying for the presidency, adding intensity to the campaign. We are now at the heart of Finnish security and foreign policy issues, Pekka Haavisto, a Green politician who is a frontrunner in the elections said. The former UN Special Representative and foreign minister would become Finlands first Green, and first gay president if elected. People are asking about NATO, the future of Russia, the defence cooperation agreement with the US. And now in the last week there were many questions about the Middle East and how that influences world politics, he told Euronews. Former Prime Minister Alex Stubb, a front-runner in the Finnish presidential race, trails behind Haavisto in most polls for both the first and potential second rounds. Running the wealthiest campaign with an estimated 1.5 million, supported by the National Coalition Party, Stubb benefits from his recent absence from Finnish politics. His international experience includes working in Luxembourg and Italy after a 2015 election defeat. Despite a failed campaign for the presidency of Europe, he remains a prominent contender in the current election. Original story was published by Euronews on 21.11.2023 and can be found here. Why Finlands border crisis may be more about Russia vs NATO Finland reeling with an influx of undocumented migrants at the border with Russia was covered in an article by Firstpost on November 24. The article explores how Finland is in the midst of a crisis with Russia as the undocumented migrants at their shared border escalates tensions. The situation is characterized by accusations and counterclaims, placing the two nations at odds. The 1,340-kilometer Finland-Russia border has become a major concern, leading Finland to close most crossings due to a migrant crisis. Finland accuses Russia of orchestrating the situation by enabling undocumented migrants to cross, deviating from their usual documentation policy. Evidence suggests Russia not only permits migrants with invalid documents but also transports them actively to the Finnish border, intensifying the diplomatic dispute. Well, were very concerned about the border situation where Russia is effectively instrumentalizing people, not only letting people through to the Finnish border with invalid documents, or missing documents, which has not been the case before, but also we have evidence that Russia is effectively bringing those people to the border and organizing transport as well, said Finlands foreign minister Elina Valtonen. The article mentions that migrants are now bypassing traditional restrictions at the Finnish-Russian border by arriving on bicycles and scooters provided by Russia, circumventing established protocols. Finland alleges that Russia not only supplies these vehicles but also leaves them at border crossings and closes gates on their side. Russia denies these claims, dismissing them as baseless. The recent NATO membership of Finland adds complexity, as the border is now considered a NATO border, fueling suspicions that Russia might be using the migrant crisis as a form of retaliation, labeled as hybrid warfare. We do not accept such accusations. Border crossings are used by those who have a legal right to do so, and in this regard, our border guards fully comply with all their official instructions. And if they try to find some far-fetched reasons, then again we do not accept such accusations against us here, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Original story was published by Firstpost on 24.11.2023 and can be found here. Traffic deaths are down in Finland. WA leaders will travel there to find out how. The decline in traffic deaths in Finland was covered in an article by My Edmonds News on November 6. Washington state lawmakers and transportation officials in the U.S. are planning a trip to Finland to understand the success behind the Nordic nations significant reduction in traffic fatalities, contrasting with Washingtons record number of road deaths. The article highlights that the visit aims to explore Helsinkis successful safety measures, where no traffic-related deaths have occurred in the current year. In 2022, Finland, with 5.5 million people, recorded 189 deaths (36 fewer than in 2021), while Washington, with about 7.8 million residents, had 750 road-related deaths, the highest since 1990. Senator Marko Liias, a Democrat from Washington, will be part of a delegation visiting Helsinki in December to learn from Finlands success in reducing traffic-related deaths. Liias aims to understand Finlands effective policies, including strict measures on drunk driving and the installation of 70 automatic speed enforcement cameras in Helsinki over the past three years. Finland maintains a strict stance on drunk driving, setting the legal blood alcohol concentration limit at 0.05%. Helsinki has successfully curbed speeding by installing 70 automatic speed enforcement cameras in the past three years. In Washington, Senators Liias and Lovick proposed a bill last session to lower the maximum blood alcohol concentration for drivers to 0.05%, but it didnt receive a vote. The issue may be revisited in the 2024 session. While traffic safety cameras are present in select Washington cities, a recent legislative bill also permits the use of speed enforcement cameras in construction work zones. Original story was published by My Edmonds News on 06.11.2023 and can be found here. How forest schools boost childrens immune systems This story about the concept of Finnish forests schools was covered in an article in BBC on November 1. The article explores the benefits of outdoor learning model for children. The Hopealaakso nursery in Helsinki, Finland, has adopted an innovative approach where children, part of the Samoojat group, spend the entire day outdoors in the forest, regardless of weather conditions. The Samoojat children, aged three to five, spend seven hours outdoors in the forest, engaging in activities like free play, building bridges, picking berries, and observing wildlife. The outdoor learning model, spreading globally, aligns with numerous studies highlighting the physical and mental health benefits for children, such as reduced obesity, improved mental wellbeing, and increased cognitive development. The article states that the Finnish forest school experience enhances childrens immune systems and fosters a strong connection with nature. Despite the challenging winter climate, the children actively engage in outdoor activities, emphasizing the significance of appropriate clothing and constant movement to combat the cold. The success of this approach is evident in the childrens resilience, independence, and deep appreciation for the natural environment. The article emphasizes the importance of contact with nature in preventing immune system disorders and fostering environmental consciousness in children. Original story was published by BBC on 06.11.2023 and can be found here. HT SOME people are willing to go to great lengths in support of their passion but Professor Richard Fortey is keener than most. The palaeontologist and natural historian has been a fan of fungi for most of his life and is president of the Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire. He is just about to complete his latest book on the subject, which is due to be released late next year. But there was one mushroom that had eluded him until recently the very rare Strangler. He and wife Jackie drove 240 miles from their home in Henley to the Lake District to see it. Prof Fortey said: One of the mushrooms I have always wanted to see was the very, very rare Strangler. It is so uncommon. Jackie and I drove up the M6, which I hate doing, to the Lake District. It was a nice day and we met up with a chap who found it. He took us across several stone-walled fields to it. The Strangler is very particular. It only takes over one other type of mushroom, a powdercap, and turns it into a Strangler mushroom. There is nothing else quite like it. I had read about these things for years and it is very rare to see one. It is the only example of an organism being taken over by another, turning the first one into itself. It must tap into the top of the powdercap spawn and pinch all the nutrients. It is very special. I couldnt write a book about fungi or the Strangler without seeing one. The Strangler (Squamanita paradoxa) is a mycoparasite and takes over the Earthy Powdercap (Cystoderma amianthinum) so that a cap and upper stem grow out of its hosts lower stem. The cap is about 2cm to 3cm across, initially convex before becoming broadly convex or flat. The colour is brownish-violet but paler towards the rim and covered in shaggy scales. The stem is 4cm to 7cm long and 4mm to 8mm diameter. The lower part is orange and coarsely scaly, topped by a collar-like persistent ring. The upper part is pale brownish-lilac and finely scaly. Prof Fortey found about the location of the elusive Strangler from a professor at Aberystwyth University, who is carrying out a study of it. He said: He had enthused various people to keep an eye out for it and thats how I was contacted. The Strangler was in a private field owned by a farmer who has farmed it in the same way that his grandfather did. He moves in a great density of sheep, far more than the area could support, and once the grass is short enough, they are moved on to the next field. If you know anything about mushrooms you would be able to spot the Strangler immediately. Apparently, the Lake District is a hot bed for them. What we dont have round here any more is nutrient-poor meadowland. Most fields are fertilised but in medieval times most land would be grazed by sheep. Short grass is what the Strangler likes. I believe another has been found on Burnham Beeches, which would have been a lot easier to get to but is owned by the Corporation of London. Prof Fortey, who has been married for 45 years, said the Strangler would appear in a chapter in his new book about mushrooms which grow on mushrooms. This is likely to be his last book and will include some contributions by his wife. There is another mushroom in Henley which my wife found, he said. Its a rare Pink Gill and it grows on top of another mushroom. I wont tell you where exactly it is but it likes beech woods. As part of their research for the book, the couple have travelled widely, including to Italy and Australia. Prof Fortey said: Jackie and I went to the town of Borgotaro, where they worship the porcini. We went to their porcini festival and we had some lovely meals out many including porcini, of course. Jackie has accompanied me on mushroom trips for so long, she is a willing participant. We went to Australia to see the ugliest fungus in the world. We have done some crazy things but thats the good thing about research, it takes you to some odd places. One of Diane Benczkowskis final acts as Cheektowaga town supervisor is an attempt to downsize the municipalitys board from six members to four. Benczkowski believes fewer members would lead to better teamwork and camaraderie among Town Board members, who have been deeply divided in recent months. It would also save the town some money, she said. Erie County DA: 'No evidence of criminal conduct' by Cheektowaga Town Board member Brian Nowak An investigation by the Erie County District Attorney's Office found "no evidence of criminal conduct" by Cheektowaga Town Board member Brian Nowak, who was publicly accused last month of bribing another town elected official. On Tuesday, the board was set to consider the resolution to downsize the legislative body, but it could not be brought to a vote as the two sponsors Benczkowski and Councilmember Michael Jasinski were not present at the meeting. The members who were present Christine Adamczyk, Brian Pilarski, Gerald Kaminski, Linda Hammer and Supervisor-elect Brian Nowak did not comment on the resolution and did not volunteer to add their name to sponsor it when asked by the town clerk. Benczkowski was absent due to illness, but she and Jasinski will most likely resubmit the resolution at a subsequent meeting, she said in an email to The Buffalo News. Benczkowski will preside over two more board meetings before her term ends on Dec. 31. According to the resolution, Cheektowaga is the only town in Erie County that has more than four board members. Under New York State law, a Town Board is allowed to downsize the number of members as long as the action is in the best interests of the town. Nowak comes out ahead in recount for Cheektowaga supervisor race A recount by the Erie County Board of Elections confirmed Democrat Brian Nowak won the seat by a razor-thin margin over Republican Michael Jasinski. The final tally was 9,045 votes for Nowak and 8,992 votes for Jasinski. The council seat currently held by Nowak will become vacant as of Jan. 1 when he becomes supervisor. The resolution proposes permanently eliminating that position and then a second position on Jan. 1, 2026. If the resolution is adopted by the board, town residents would then have to vote on the matter at the next election. Cheektowagas resolution pointed to Amherst, whose board reduced its members to four in 2010. Amhersts population is about 47% larger than Cheektowagas 130,500 residents compared to 88,900, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Eliminating town board seats was a trend in Erie County in the early 2000s, when regionalism activist Kevin Gaughan encouraged it as a way to save money. Each of the five towns that downsized have since reversed course and added members back to their board. Cheektowaga previously had a four-member board until 1953, when residents voted to increase the number of members to six. At the same time, voters also decided the town should implement a ward system, where the town would be split into six parts and each of the six council members would represent their own ward. However, the ward system was never implemented, Benczkowski said. It makes sense having six council members if the ward system was implemented, but since it never was, I really see no good reason to have the largest Town Board in Erie County, Benczkowski said. If two board seats were eliminated, the town would save around $41,000 in annual salary expenses, on top of health care and retirement costs. The town also pays for phones, laptops, tablets and office space for each council member. Benczkowski has been a member of the board since 2013, two years as a council member and eight as supervisor. In her experience, with six members, communication and coordinating schedules can be difficult. Benczkowski said shes also witnessed some board members slacking off, letting a few of their colleagues do most of the work. With six members, its easier to hide in the background and sit back and let the others do all the work, she said. Erie County DA: 'No evidence of criminal conduct' by Cheektowaga Town Board member Brian Nowak An investigation by the Erie County District Attorney's Office found "no evidence of criminal conduct" by Cheektowaga Town Board member Brian Nowak, who was publicly accused last month of bribing another town elected official. Benczkowski has also seen alliances and cliques form among members, making decisions among themselves without consulting the rest of the board. She pointed to a situation that occurred in August with a resident who volunteered to serve on the towns ethics board. During the meeting, Nowak brought up a concern he had with the applicant, passing around a photo he found online of a Confederate flag flying outside her home. Four members got together and knew there might be a potential problem with the applicant, while myself and a couple other board members were left in the dark until the board meeting and we were blindsided, Benczkowski said. I feel that with a smaller board, there would be more camaraderie and members would work better together. New Delhi: With BJP all set to form the government in Chhattisgarh, death knell has been sounded on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India as Home Minister Amit Shah and internal security agencies are determined to stamp out entrenched Maoists in Bastar district in the state. Besides 1200 strong core Naxal cadres present in south Chhattisgarh, the Maoists are also present in Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and in some pockets of Odisha. PM Narendra Modi campaigning in Chhattisgarh In Maoist-affected tribal Bastar, the BJP made a strong comeback winning nine out of a total of 12 seats. As of now, the BJP is leading in nine constituencies. Congress candidates are leading in three to four constituencies. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The Congress's over-emphasis on OBC politics, ignoring tribal issues of Jal Jungle Jameen, and other issues such as reservation might have contributed to the Congresss defeat in the tribal belt, both in Bastar and Surguja region. In the Surguja region, the BJP is leading in all the 14 constituencies as of now as counting enters the crucial and final phase. Why congress lost The Congress party's defeat is attributed to internal strife, with allegations of leaders resorting to manipulation in certain constituencies. Additionally, the BJP's campaign against corruption, particularly concerning the coal scam, liquor scam, DMF fund scam, rice scam, and PSC recruitment scam, likely influenced urban voters. The BJP emphasized the Mahadev Book App illegal betting scandal, implicating senior politicians, government officials, and close associates of outgoing CM Bhupesh Baghel. During the elections, the Enforcement Directorate cited a statement from an accused implicating Baghel as one of the beneficiaries in the scam. The Congress government faced criticism for alleged flawed PSC recruitment, leading to protests by Chhattisgarh youths. Moreover, Dalit youths staged a nude demonstration at the Vidhan Sabha, demanding action against individuals securing government jobs with fake caste certificates. Women in rural areas voted against Congress for reneging on its 2018 promise of liquor prohibition. The Congress's widely publicized paddy support scheme also failed to garner support in many constituencies. Some argue that the unfulfilled promise of a liquor ban adversely affected Congress, contributing to increased crime incidents. Tribal discontent over the "prejudiced" PESA implementation and OBC dominance in the state, with Baghel's perceived one-sided favouritism toward the OBC community, may have been damaging for Congress, inadvertently benefiting the BJP. Throughout the campaign, the BJP aggressively targeted CM Bhupesh Baghel and the Congress for alleged corruption, making references to the Mahadev app scam, recruitment scams, coal transport, liquor, and the cow dung scheme. These accusations resonated with voters. Internal conflicts within Congress, such as the public power struggle between TS Singhdeo and CM Bhupesh Baghel created a crisis within the party. The BJP's strategic focus on attacking Baghel during PM Narendra Modi's rallies turned the tide in its favour. The Modi factor, combined with accusations of corruption, weakened Congress at a time when there wasn't significant anti-incumbency. Several seats were closely contested, and Congress suffered due to its inability to manage the political aspirations of smaller parties. The Hamar Raj Party and JCC chief Amit Jogi played roles in bleeding Congress votes. The Baghel government's emphasis on rural development neglected urban infrastructure, leading to a heavy electoral price in urban areas where Congress lost support. BJP state president Rajeev Bindal, congratulating the party on its victory in three states on Sunday, said the partys win is a victory of the democracy of the country, the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modis public welfare policies, patriotism and nationalism. The BJPs workers held a victory procession near the main square near deputy commissioners office in Shimla. (HT File Photo for representation) He said this is a crushing defeat of appeasement and corruption of the Congress party. The public has approved the way massive corruption and misgovernance took place in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the Congress had to face a crushing defeat. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Congress party is the mother of corruption and corruption was done by the leaders of the party in these two states. Corruption took place in the country even in the name of Mahadev, he added. He said that the BJPs good governance has achieved a massive victory in Madhya Pradesh. Later, the BJPs workers held a victory procession near the main square near deputy commissioners office in Shimla. Addressing the gathering, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur said the country has approved the development of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by rejecting the lies of INDIA alliance along with Congress. It is clear from the assembly elections of four states that the name of the Prime Minister is the only guarantee of development, a guarantee of campaign on corruption, a guarantee of poverty alleviation. . He said, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel had given false guarantees after coming to Himachal and today I am relieved that when the BJP government has been formed in Chhattisgarh, his campaign has completely failed. Bhupesh had even said that we have fulfilled all the guarantees in Himachal Pradesh, today the lie has been exposed. The recent snowfall in Himachal Pradesh has breathed new life into the states tourism industry, raising hope for the stakeholders . Tourists, allured by snow-covered landscapes, are reaching out to explore the picturesque destinations that have experienced snowfall. The snow-covered Keylong bus stand in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. (HT Photo) From Shimla to Kullu-Manali, Dalhousie to Kinnaur, the phone lines of tourist places in the state are buzzing with inquiries. The booking of hotel rooms has kicked into high gear, with travellers and tourists eagerly booking their accommodations for the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here After a snowfall at Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, Manali, and Lahaul-Spiti, tourists are now flocking to these lesser-explored regions of Himachal Pradesh. This shift has been a welcome relief for local businesses, especially after a disappointing start to the winter tourist season, marked by a lack of inquiries and bookings before the snowfall. The industry suffered huge losses due to natural disaster during monsoon. Hotel occupancy, which climbed to nearly 90% in June, plummeted to less than 20% during the festive season dealing big blow to the tourism industry. This year, a total of 28.03 lakh tourists visited Himachal Pradesh in June compared to 20.62 lakh last year. The numbers had remained low during the pandemic-hit years, with only 116 tourists visiting the state in June 2020, going up to 6 lakh in 2021. Visitors chose offbeat destinations and turning to Kashmir and Uttrakhandh. The 25,000 crore tourism constitutes seven percent of the states GDP and contributes around 14.42% of direct and indirect employment. Currently hotel booking across the state at the key tourist destinations are ranging between 40-50%. Snowfall in the higher reaches have enthralled tourists ,the rush is increasing gradually . Its a positive sign for the tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh, which suffered heavy losses during pandemic and then the natural disaster, said Gajender Thakur, president of the Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Associations (FOHHRA). The tourism stakeholders are expecting a full house, reaching 100% occupancy during the upcoming Christmas-New Year week. Thakur expressed optimism about the substantial increase in bookings, especially in popular destinations like Manali. To enhance the festive experience for tourists, hoteliers in Manali have strategically planned a series of events in the last week of the year, ensuring a warm welcome for visitors seeking the perfect blend of celebration and winter charm. Moderate snowfall in Lahaul valley and nearby high-altitude areas has led to the temporary closure of roads to Keylong and Sissu. Authorities are advising caution to those planning to visit these regions, emphasising the need for careful consideration of travel conditions. Manu Sood, the general secretary of the Travel Agents Association, said Following the recent snowfall, inquiries and advance bookings for the winter season have surged, indicating a promising trend. Sood expresses optimism about the potential for a tourism boom if snowfall graces Christmas celebrations in the state. The Rajasthan election results show that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has done well in the Marwar, Mewar, eastern Rajasthan and Hadoti regions of the state while its performance has been below par in Shekhawati and north Rajasthan. BJP supporters celebrate the partys victory in the Rajasthan Assembly elections in Jaipur on Sunday. (PTI) The BJP has traditionally been strong in the Hadoti and Mewar regions, Ajmer and Bikaner while in Marwar, Shekhawati and eastern Rajasthan its performance has been sporadic. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The BJPs vote share went up to 41.9 percent as compared to 38.77 in 2018. The Congress vote share went up marginally to 39.53 from 39.30 in 2018. Leaders from the BJP and Congress said the wrong selection of candidates and failing to get the caste equation right have been the main reasons for the party losing seats. In 2018, the Congress had swept eastern Rajasthan with the Meenas and Gurjars voting for the party. While Meenas have traditionally been Congress supporters, Gurjars went with the Congress in the hope that Congress leader Sachin Pilot would be made the chief minister. However, Gehlot was made chief minister and that upset the Gurjars. It was expected that the Gurjar vote would shift to the BJP and that was reflected in the results. The BJP, which was almost wiped out in eastern Rajasthan in 2018, winning just one seat in the Bharatpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur districts, has improved its tally to 19 seats this time. The party has managed to get Gurjar community votes but also the SC and Meena community votes which are also in large numbers in eastern Rajasthan. However, BJP spokesperson Laxmikant Bhardwaj said the BJP did not get one sided Gurjar vote like the Congress had got in 2018. Where candidates seen as being close to Sachin Pilot were contesting, the Gurjars voted for them. On other seats, they voted for the BJP. So the vote was split between Pilot candidates and the BJP, he said. In Jaipur region too, the BJP has improved its tally from six in 2018 to 12 this time. The BJP also swept Bikaner district, winning all seven seats. Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said anti-incumbency against MLAs had resulted in Congress defeat. 31 MLAs and 17 minsters lost. Fresh faces should have been brought in on many seats, he said. He conceded that the Gurjar and SC vote had gone more in favour of the BJP. However, the Congress has got a good share of the Jat vote which is reflected in its performance in Hanumangarh and Ganganagar districts and the Shekhawati belt. Also read- Rajasthan Assembly Election Results 2023: Full list of winners constituency wise But in Marwar region, the BJP has performed well mainly due to the anti-incumbency against the sitting MLAs and ministers. Bhardwaj said there was an undercurrent against the Congress MLAs and that has resulted in ministers and MLAs losing with big margins on most seats. The BJP has retained its traditional hold in the Hadoti region comprising Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar and Baran districts. The Congress has done well in Bundi, winning all four seats. But in other areas, the BJP has done well. In the Mewar belt, the BJP has once again retained its hold. The BJP won 18 seats, the Congress won seven and the Bharatiya Adivasi Party won three seats in the Mewar region. In 2018, the BJP won 1 seat, the Congress won 10 and others won three. BJP leader Mukesh Dadhich said the partys selection of candidates and social engineering were done properly which resulted in the win. Political analyst Mithilesh Jaimini said the BJP has got a majority of votes from not only the Brahmins, Rajputs and Banias but other communities as well. The Gurjar vote was split between the BJP and Sachin Pilot backed candidates. The Jats voted on the basis of the candidates, so the vote was split between the BJP and the Congress. But the BJP managed to take a good share of the Meena votes largely due to the influence of BJP leader Kirori Meena. The SC vote too has gone with the BJP in many areas, he said. He said the Congress failed to shift the Mali vote from the BJP. They had expected the Malis would largely go with the Congress but that did not happen, he said. The Trinamool Congress on Sunday said that the INDIA coalition partners are not responsible for the Congress debacle in the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and claimed that copying the social welfare models of the West Bengal government has helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win the polls in these three states. West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. (File) Neither West Bengal chief minster Mamata Banerjee nor her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee made any statement on the election results till Sunday evening even as the supporters of the BJP celebrated their victory across the state. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here While Bengal BJPs top leaders saw the verdict as an indication of the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the state, where the saffron party wrested 18 of the 42 seats in 2019, the ruling party made a counter move by painting the first graffiti for the Lok Sabha poll campaign in Kolkata on Sunday. Internal problems of the Congress led to its failure. The Congress should wake up from hibernation and shed its zamindari (landlord) mentality. INDIA coalition partners will not take responsibility of the Congresss failure. The BJP copied the social welfare schemes of chief minister Mamata Banerjee and used these in its campaign, impressing voters, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said in Kolkata after painting the first Lok Sabha graffiti that focused entirely on Banerjee and her party. Congress contested the polls in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh entirely on its own. Prominent INDIA coalition leaders, who are faces of the movement, did not find any place in the campaign. The Congress is strong in a few states, and it is natural that it will play the lead in these regions, but crucial suggestions Banerjee made for the INDIA group were not followed. The INDIA group will be acceptable to people if it projects Mamata Banerjees welfare model in 2024, Ghosh added. No Bengal Congress leader, including state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, commented on the TMCs remarks till 6pm. Claiming that the BJP will sweep the Lok Sabha polls in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, said the results will topple the TMC government much before the 2026 state elections. The TMC government will collapse after the Lok Sabha polls. We will start our campaign against this corrupt party from Monday. See what happens, Adhikari said. A speed boat cruiser caught fire off Mandwa jetty in Raigad district on Saturday, minutes after the passengers it ferried from Gateway of India alighted, police said and added that the two crew members on board suffered minor injuries. It was only after the boat ended up on the shore that the fire brigade could put out the blaze around 5.30 pm, he said. Superintendent of police Somnath Gharge said the incident occurred around 1.30 pm when the speed boat, Belvedere, was headed for anchorage. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The master of the boat, Dildar Marne, and his helper, Mozin Kurrai, both residents of Veshvi-Bankot village in Mandangad taluka in Raigad, received minor burn injuries. They have been admitted to the government hospital in Alibaug and are not in a critical condition, he said and added that the boat belongs to Marine Solutions Distribution & Services PLC. Though the top police officer said an investigation is underway to find out the cause of the blaze, port inspector Ashish Mankar from Maharashtra Maritime Board said the master of the vessel claimed that there was a problem in the generator and when they opened it, a fire erupted. The boat staff had removed the rope and hence it drifted. We immediately alerted the fire brigade, Mankar, who is in charge of Mandwa port, said. Assistant police inspector Govind Patil from Mandwa police station said when he and his team were trying to get near the burning boat, they learnt that it had a 200-litre petrol tank which could explode and engulf several other boats in the vicinity. Hence, the fire could not be doused in the sea. It was only after the boat ended up on the shore that the fire brigade could put out the blaze around 5.30 pm, he said. Details of the passengers have not been taken since they had already got off the boat before the fire broke out. The crew members statements will be recorded once they are able to speak to us. We have registered a case of accident for now, Patil said. When contacted, Anju Dutta, managing director of Marine Solutions Distribution & Services PLC, said the speed boat cruiser was owned by a client company and her firm managed its service. It is a speed boat cruiser of around 33-foot-long and can accommodate 8 to 10 people. Our local team told me that the boat was in anchorage at the jetty and the engine was switched off. We dont know what caused the fire. Our crew suffered minor burn injuries and have been taken to the hospital, she said. A suspected drug peddler has died in Assams Kamrup district after he was shot by police during a search operation on Sunday . Four others, including two civilians, sustained bullet injuries during the operation, police said. According to people familiar with the matter, the consignment of drugs came from a neighbouring state but police refused to share details as further investigation is going on. (Representative Image) Superintendent of police of Kamrup (Metro) District, Hitesh Ray said they received information about a narcotic deal and launched an operation on Sunday morning. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Three drug peddlers were arrested along with packets of suspected heroin but they suddenly attacked our officials and started running. Our team chased them and warned them but they kept running. At one point, police had to use bullets, Ray told HT on Sunday evening. The deceased person has been identified as Abdul Salam (35), a resident of Hatigaon area of Kamrup Metro. His two companions are, Hiranya Thakuria and Faizuk Haque. Hiranya is receiving treatment in a hospital in Guwahati while Faizuk has been discharged, according to the police. The SP said that during the firing at Agyathuri in Kamrup District, some bullets ricocheted off from a hard object and two civilians got injured in this. This was an accident and two pedestrians, including a lady sustained injuries. However, the injuries were not severe and they were released from the hospital after initial treatment, Ray added. According to people familiar with the matter, the consignment of drugs came from a neighbouring state but police refused to share details as further investigation is going on. Upstate New York is on the cusp of a new economic era as Micron Technologies prepares to break ground on a 1,400-acre semiconductor manufacturing plant near Syracuse. This $100 billion investment is projected to create 50,000 jobs, potentially remaking the region into a global high-tech hub. Simultaneously, the federal government has bestowed Tech Hub status upon Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, positioning upstate regions to secure funding for a semiconductor superhighway along I-90. Semiconductors, or microchips, are essential components in virtually all electronic products, and the Biden administration considers bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. a national security priority. Yet, Gov. Kathy Hochul now faces a decision that could make or break the industry. Albany recently passed a bill prohibiting employee noncompete agreements. The governor now has weeks to decide whether to sign, reject or seek modifications to the bill. Noncompete agreements are contracts preventing employees from working for a rival company or starting a competing business for a certain defined time period. They allow employers to invest in training employees without fear of immediately losing sensitive company secrets to a competitor. The issue has gained traction, particularly due to abuses by some employers, such as requiring fast-food workers to sign them. However, noncompete agreements are crucial in other industries. In knowledge-intensive fields, where businesses invest significantly in employees and entrust them with sensitive information, noncompete agreements strike a balance between protecting trade secrets and maintaining a competitive labor market. These agreements are especially vital to the semiconductor industry. The risk of leaked information is especially acute given Chinas aggressive recruitment of skilled high-tech workers from overseas. Allowing employees to share proprietary information with Americas number one global competitor simply makes zero sense. Make no mistake: If this legislation becomes law, the news will reverberate across corporate boardrooms as executives decide where to locate multibillion-dollar manufacturing plants. Ultimately, theyll choose states that safeguard innovation. Andrei Iancu and David Kappos are former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Directors. LUCKNOW Students from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), are on a mission to promote religious tourism and are exploring the possibility of creating a religious itinerary for Lucknow to enhance the citys image. In pursuit of this goal, they embarked on a religious tourism trip to various significant temples in the state capital on Sunday. Students visited temples with a quest to explore historical and spiritual perspectives. (HT Photo) As part of their destination marketing assignment, a group of students enrolled in the Destination Marketing course at IIM-L visited Chandrika Devi Temple, Aliganj Hanuman Mandir, Nageshwar Mandir at Aliganj, Hanuman Setu Mandir on the banks of the river Gomti, Mankameshwar Mandir, Ayappa Temple in Gomti Nagar, and Bhootnath Mandir. Their aim is to create a religious tourism itinerary for Lucknow city. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The students captured photographs of these temples, documented their histories, and noted important days when footfall increases. This experience was entirely new for management students, who had not undertaken such activities in the past. Last month, the IIM-L students conducted a heritage walk in various parts of the old city, continuing a tradition from previous years. Students visited each of these temples with a quest to explore historical and spiritual perspectives. They spent nearly 30 minutes at each site, identifying the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and noting down points that could enhance each destinations appeal to tourists, said Prof Devashish Dasgupta, a senior faculty member at IIM-L. The city itself, believed to have been established by Laxman, the younger brother of Lord Ram from the Ramayana period, was once called Laxmanpuri. Over time, it gained fame for historical buildings from the Nawabi era and later for a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine. Somewhere along the way, the citys religious elements got overshadowed, a student observed. The students studied the target audience (devotees), inquired from priests about daily footfall, and planned to conduct a historical analysis, preparing a need-gap analysis benchmarking against best practices across India, as explained by Prof. Dasgupta. This initiative is independent of the U.P. government tourism and cultural department and is an integral part of the Destination Marketing course at IIM-L. Apurva Gomase said, It was a wonderful experience to visit various temples with different types of architecture. The devotees at each temple were distinct, and the atmospheres varied. It was a memorable part of my journey at IIM Lucknow. Sanyam Jain added, Each temple offered a unique experience, providing me with a deeper understanding of Hindu culture and spirituality. Salil Shankar said, Visiting the Ayyappa temple was particularly memorable, as it gave a feeling of being in South India, even though physically being in the core of Lucknow. To me, this is the beauty of the course to develop a connection with various cultures by curating experiences that touch them from within. The students will also formulate a marketing strategy, incorporating digital and social media interventions. They were encouraged to consider other places in Lucknow, such as the famous Buddheshwar Temple, Ramakrishna Mutt at Nirala Nagar, the nearly 160-year-old Kali Bari Temple at Ghasiyari Mandi, and more. The students believe they can add new value to Lucknows destination branding through the visited destinations, asserting that the city is not only about Nawabs and Kebabs but also hosts numerous places of religious importance. Prof Dasgupta concluded, We will prepare a brief PR strategy and social media plan to address any gaps. Each student, in their report, will include a set of group pictures at different destinations, explaining various variables and their relationships at the end. (Photo caption: IIM-L students at Ayappa Temple in Lucknow on Sunday) The counting of votes for Mizoram was deferred by a day to Monday, the Election Commission had announced on Friday. For the 40-member legislative assembly, there are four major contenders in the fray. (Representative file image) The counting was earlier scheduled for December 3, along that in four other states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana where assembly polls were held between November 7 and 30. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The Election Commission said in an official statement on Friday, The Commission has received several representations from various quarters requesting for change in date of counting from 3 December 2023 (Sunday) to some other weekday, on the ground that 3 December 2023 being Sunday a special significance for the people of Mizoram. Also Read: Election Commission changes counting date for Mizoram assembly polls to December 4 For the 40-member legislative assembly, there are four major contenders in the fray. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM). Mizoram Assembly Election 2023 Full Coverage Major exit polls have predicted a tight contest between the three parties. The exit polls may say anything. But I am confident that MNF will get majority on its own and return to power, Vanlalzawma, vice president, (MNF), said. President of Zoram Peoples Movement, Lalduhoma didnt comment on the exit polls and expressed confidence of forming the next government on its own. We have done our bit. I havent seen the exit polls and dont want to comment on them, said Lalsawta, president of Mizoram Congress. In 2018, MNF had ousted Congress from power by winning 26 seats. A new regional party, ZPM, which was formed a year earlier, had come second, winning 8 seats, while Congress, which bagged 5 seats, was relegated to the third spot. BJP made its debut in the Christian-majority state by winning a single seat. While MNF, ZPM and Congress have put up candidates in all seats, BJP, which contested 39 seats five years ago, had fielded 23 candidates. There are a total of 174 candidates in fray including 16 womenthree from BJP, two each from Congress, MNF and ZPM and rest Independents. The outgoing assembly had no women MLAs. Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly was held on November 7. More than 80% of over 8.57 lakh voters cast their votes to decide the fate of 174 candidates. There will be 40 counting halls in all. Around 4,000 counting and other support staff would be on duty in the locations. To ensure security, 10 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) and around 2000 personnel from Mizoram police would also be engaged, chief electoral officer Madhup Vyas informed. All four exit polls, which were announced on Friday, showed that the main contest would be between MNF and ZPM. While two, India Today-Axis and Jan ki Baat-News 18, gave ZPM a clear advantage, two other ABP-Cvoter and P-Marg gave an edge to MNF. Congress is shown to be placed at third followed by BJP. The regional parties, MNF and ZPM, are involved in a tight race and clearly ahead of the two national parties, Congress and BJP. The grand old partys aims of a revival wont succeed and BJP wont be able to win more than three seats, said J Doungel, professor of political science at Mizoram University. On Friday, the EC had changed the date of counting from December 3, which falls on a Sunday, to December 4. There was a demand from parties seeking a change in the date as Sundays are spent by residents of the Christian-majority state in church visits and prayers. We thank the EC for their decision. We had been making repeated requests for the same. Sunday is meant for worship, and it would have affected the counting of votes. Now the people are happy, said Lalramliana Pachuau, general secretary of Mizoram Peoples Forum. The Manipur government on Sunday lifted the ban on mobile internet services in the violence-hit state after seven long months with the exception of border areas of some districts. Mobile internet services across Manipur have remained suspended since May 3 (Representative Photo) Mobile internet services across Manipur have remained suspended since May 3, since the ethnic clashes in the northeastern region started between two tribal communities Meitei and Kuki. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The ban was briefly lifted on September 23, only to be resumed on September 26 to prevent the use of social media for transmitting images, hate speech and hate video messages, which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation. Considering the law-and-order situation, which has reportedly improved in the past few days and inconveniences faced by the general public due to the long duration of such suspension, the state government has decided to relax the suspension, said a notice issued by T Ranjit Singh, commissioner (home). According to the notice, the suspension would be lifted across the state except for mobile towers catering services on a 2 km radius along adjoining areas between districts of Churachandpur and Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Kakching, Kangpokpi and Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Thoubal and Tengnoupal and Kakching. The areas in the above districts are either dominated by Meiteis or Kukis and have witnessed the majority of the violence, gunfights, arson and abductions in the past seven months. The violence in Manipur has so far claimed 182 lives and displaced over 50,000. The lifting of suspension came four days after the Centre and Manipur government signed a peace agreement in New Delhi with the United National Liberation Force (UNLF), the oldest militant outfit in the state. Bengaluru: The election victory in Telangana has emerged as a litmus test success for the Congress unit in Karnataka, validating its strategy of highlighting the success of the five poll promises. Karnataka leaders played a crucial role in the neighbouring states campaign, with the chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar actively putting in the extensive efforts. Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy along with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and party leaders celebrate as the party leads in State Assembly elections, in Hyderabad on Sunday. (ANI) The Karnataka Congress believed that the outcomes in Telangana could be influenced by the success of their poll strategy of highlighting the partys policies in Karnataka. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Following their assumption of power, the Congress government in Karnataka had initiated the implementation of promised welfare schemes, including subsidised electricity, 2,000 assistance to women heads of all families, free bus travel for women, and 10 kg of free rice. Taking a cue from this, the Telangana Congress also promised welfare initiatives ahead of the election, effectively countering the Bharat Rashtra Samithis (BRS) array of schemes. Also read- Madhya Pradesh election: Flagship welfare schemes help BJP register victory As part of the campaign, several leaders from Karnataka, including Dinesh Gundu Rao, Priyank Kharge, KH Muniyappa, Krishna Byre Gowda, Eshwara Khandre, MC Sudhakar, Sharan Prakash Patil, and B Nagendra, actively participated in election campaigns on the ground in Telangana. The focus of Karnataka leaders was on showcasing the successful implementation of the five poll promises in their home state. Despite the BRSs attacks alleging alleging the partys failure in implementation of the poll promises, the Congress party confidently asserted that it has fulfilled its commitments, gaining trust of the voters. A Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) official, requesting anonymity, said, Even though the BRS attacked us claiming the programs were a failure, people have understood that the Congress delivers on its promise. To counter the influence of the Congress, the BRS, before the elections, had dispatched senior leaders to Karnataka in an attempt to highlight the problems faced by farmers and other communities in the state. Also read- Twist in Telangana election results, BJP's Venkata Ramana Reddy, not Congress's Revanth Reddy defeats CM KCR BRS working president, KT Rama Rao, claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhis commitment to make Ballari district the Jeans capital of India is unfulfilled. Similarly, BRS MLC K Kavitha had used the power shortage in Karnataka, due to lack of rain, to criticise the Congress party in Telangana. However, despite these concerted efforts, the positive resonance of Congresss successful implementation of welfare programs prevailed among voters in Telangana. For us, it is a positive sign because this win gives us validation for the strategy to showcase the success of the poll promises in the Lok Sabha elections, the leader mentioned above said. Shivakumar on Sunday said that the result in Telangana is not the victory of the Congress party but the victory of the people of Telangana. Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, the deputy chief minister said that the voters of Telangana wanted a change. Leaders from various states have worked in Telangana to help the Congress MLAs win elections. The people of Telangana have given victory for the creation of the state. They have expressed their gratitude to Sonia Gandhi, he said. Also read- Assembly election results 2023: BJP secures trifecta in Hindi heartland; Telangana to get its first non-BRS govt. Top 10 While reacting to this, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karnataka President BY Vijayendra said that a wave in favour of BJP has swept the country. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he said, People want PM Modi to become the prime minister again. The BJP will get a majority in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. People want national security. They are turning a blind eye to the guarantee schemes, which will finish off the country. Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai also said that the assembly polls result of the four states was an indicator of the probable outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. At the same time, the result is a warning bell for the Karnataka Congress. The results of these four assembly elections have been termed as semi-finals as they have come ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has made the statement several times. The results of the assembly elections have given a clear message to the coming Lok Sabha polls, Bommai told reporters in Bengaluru. Actor Kriti Sanon has issued a clarification after several reports claimed that she promoted 'some trading platforms' on Karan Johar's chat show Koffee With Karan 8. Taking to Instagram Stories, Kriti called such articles 'completely fake and false'. The actor also said that she has taken legal action. (Also Read | Kriti Sanon says for every nepo-kid that enters Bollywood, producers should give chance to a more talented actor too) Kriti Sanon shared a post on Instagram. Kriti Sanon criticises fake news Kriti wrote on Instagram Stories, There have been several articles reporting false news about me promoting some trading platforms at Koffee with Karan. These articles are completely fake and false and have been published with a dishonest and mala fide intent. These articles are defamatory and are false associating me with the trading platforms. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Kriti takes legal action She also said, I have never spoken regarding any trading platform on the show. I have taken legal action against such false articles and reports and issued legal notice. I request everyone to be cautious against such false, fake and defamatory reports (folded hands emoji). She also shared screenshots of some articles on her Instagram Stories and wrote, "Fake news alert." Kriti also added a 'fake news' sticker. The actor also said that she has taken legal action. About Koffee With Karan Karan's show Koffee With Karan 8 airs on Disney+ Hotstar. Kriti is reportedly set to appear on the show with Janhvi Kapoor. So far the guests who have appeared on the show are Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Rani Mukerji and Kajol. Kriti Sanon's films Fans will see Kriti with Shahid Kapoor in a romantic film, which will be out in theatres on February 9, 2024. Kriti will also be seen in The Crew alongside Kareena Kapoor, Tabu and Diljit Dosanjh. She was last seen in Ganapath - A Hero Is Born opposite Tiger Shroff. Helmed by Vikas Bahl, Ganapath: A Hero is Born also stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. The film released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada on October 20. Kriti won National Film Award this year The same month Kriti won her first-ever National Film Award. On October 17, she was felicitated with the Best Actor Award for her role in Mimi at the 69th National Film Awards ceremony, which was held at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. Expressing happiness over her feat, Kriti had said as quoted by news agency ANI, "It is a surreal moment. I think this is every actor's dream. I thought it was a distant dream as I have not even completed 10 years in the industry, but for something like this to happen, I feel very blessed and grateful." Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram married on November 29 in Imphal. The newlyweds shared a bunch of fresh photos from their wedding party on Saturday. Randeep was in a white and golden ethnic look, while Lin wore a golden traditional Manipuri attire as they celebrated their wedding with close friends and family. Also read: Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram make first appearance as they return to Mumbai post wedding in Manipur Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram at their wedding bash in Manipur. Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram's new pics Sharing the pictures on Instagram, Randeep Hooda and Lin wrote in the caption of their joint post, "From 'I' to 'we' in a happily ever after (red heart emoji)." Apart from a couple of photos of the two posing for the camera at their wedding party in Imphal, there was also a picture of the actors looking on as Randeep's sister Anjali Hooda gave a speech. Anjali was also decked up in a traditional Manipuri look for the celebration. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Many celebs and fans flooded the comments section of the post with heart emojis. Actor Urvashi Rautela commented, "Congratulations (heart eyes, fire and red heart emojis) so love our bride (heart hands and evil amulet emojis)." A fan commented, Congratulations guys and thank you for reinstating the belief that there are still few celebrities who don't just talk about our culture and traditions, but actually follow it. Huge respect. Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram's wedding Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram married in a traditional Meitei ceremony. Soon after, they shared their official wedding album on Instagram. They had written alongside their official wedding photos, From today, we are one (heart and infinity emojis). Just married. For the wedding, Randeep wore a traditional white kurta with yellow headgear (koyet). Lin was in a potloi (also called polloi) with a heavy blouse and lots of gold jewellery. Recently, the newlyweds' wedding video had surfaced online and it gave a peek inside the couple's intimate wedding celebrations. Apart from glimpses of the wedding ceremony, the video also showed Randeep and Lin at their wedding dinner, which had an all-white theme with touches of golden and lots of flowers for decoration. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Varun Tej Konidela and Lavanya Tripathi have taken a break from work and have left for their first vacation post their wedding in November. Travel on! wrote Varun and Lavanya, sharing a picture of themselves heading on their honeymoon. Dressed in casuals with their sunglasses on, the couple was all smiles in the picture which is seemingly taken at an airport. (Also Read: Varun Tej to sport four different looks in his upcoming film Matka; film to be set between the 1950s and 80s) Varun Tej and Lavanya Tripathi head on a vacay(Instagram) Europe sojourn While the couple did not reveal the location, sources state that Varun and Lavanya are currently in Finland for their honeymoon. They flew out of Hyderabad on Saturday and will holiday there for a week or so. His cousin Ram Charan and wife Upasana also vacationed in the snowy locales of Finland in 2022. Ram had also shared throwback pictures on his social media back then, writing that he missed the mountains. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here An Italian wedding Varun and Lavanya tied the knot in November after dating for years. The couple got married in Italy in the presence of their loved ones and family. They got hitched at a picturesque villa with actor Nithiin and others in attendance. Three days post the wedding, they returned to Hyderabad to throw a star-studded reception that saw numerous Tollywood actors and celebs in attendance. They also held a reception in Dehradun for Lavanyas family and friends. Back to work Varun got back to work post wedding festivities. He wrapped up shooting for Operation Valentine, in which he plays an IAF officer. The film was supposed to hit screens on December 8 but release has been postponed to next year. Post returning from his honeymoon, he will join the shooting of Karuna Kumars Matka. Lavanya is shooting for a web-series, the title is yet to be revealed. Varun was last seen in Gandheevadhari Arjuna and Lavanya was seen in Happy Birthday. Both films received lukewarm response at the box office. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Actor and social media influencer Uorfi Javed has shared screenshots after her Instagram account was disabled by mistake. Taking to the social media platform on Sunday, Uorfi shared screenshots of messages from Instagram. (Also Read | Uorfi Javed says she got rape and death threats after recreating Rajpal Yadav's Chota Pandit look from Bhool Bhulaiyaa) Uorfi Javed has appeared in several shows.(Ashish Vaishnav) Uorfi shares screenshots of Instagram messages In the first screenshot, the message read, "We suspended your account, Uorfi." The message further said that she has 180 days to appeal or her account will be permanently disabled. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here In the next screenshot, the message read, "It looks like your account was disabled by mistake. Your account has been reactivated, and you should be able to log in. We are sorry for any inconvenience." Sharing these, Uorfi wrote, "I mean guys please decide." Uorfi shared screenshots of messages from Instagram. About Uorfi and her social media presence Uorfi is active on Instagram and regularly shares posts. Recently, she recreated Rajpal Yadav's look from the movie, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, which got much attention and she ended up getting "death threats". Uorfi received an email from an unidentified person threatening to harm her if she did not remove the video. After receiving this email, she informed the Mumbai Police and also posted it on X. She wrote, "I'm just shocked and appalled by this country mahn, I'm getting death threats in recreating a character from a movie whereas that character didn't get any backlash." Uorfi received an email from two different email IDs. The first email came to her from a person named Nikhil Goswami and the second email that came after it was from Rupesh Kumar. Uorfi's projects so far Uorfi appeared in the first season of Bigg Boss OTT. She is known for her unconventional choice of outfits. She gained fame after her stint on Bigg Boss OTT. She also acted in several television shows. She is known for portraying the role of Avni in Bade Bhaiyya Ki Dulhania. She was also seen as Aarti in Meri Durga, Bella in Bepannaah and Mira in Puncch Beat Season 2. From 2016 to 2017, Uorfi played the role of Chhaya in Star Plus's Chandra Nandini. In 2020, she joined Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai as Shivani Bhatia. She later played Tanisha Chakraborty in Kasautii Zindagii Kay. In December 2022, she participated in MTV Splitsvilla X4 as a guest contestant. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place The Congress appears set to storm to power in Telangana, snuffing out the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which has governed Indias youngest state since it was carved out in 2014. To be sure, around 11% of the vote has been counted in the state, according to election commission data. Congress workers and supporters celebrate the party's lead in Hyderabad. (PTI) Here are six factors that seem to have helped the Congress unseat K Chandrashekar Raos party. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Congress gains in negative vote against KCR The Congress took advantage of the anti-incumbency surrounding K Chandrashekar Rao and his government and seems to have bagged a bulk of the votes in rural and semi-urban areas both traditional strongholds of the BRS. Six guarantees The Congress party made six key welfare promises during the campaign: Mahalakshmi, a women-focussed welfare programme; Rythu Bharosa, aimed at farmers and agricultural workers; Indiramma, which promised cheap housing for poor people; Gruhajyothy, promising power bill subsidies; Yuva Vikasam to help children from economically backward homes with their education and Cheyutha, a health insurance and pension programme. These appear to have hit home with voters and cashed in on discontent among Dalits and Other Backward Classes. Minority votes go to Congress The Muslim vote seems to have swung the Congresss way, especially with its Minority Declaration, which focussed on minority welfare. The AIMIMs loss was, hence, the Congresss gain. Weak BJP leadership The BJP weakened its state unit after replacing its chief Bandi Sanjay with G Kishan Reddy in July. This appears to have destabilised the party and left it on much weaker ground, allowing the Congress to make hay of its position as the chief opposition party in the state. The role of corruption allegations Between July and November, the Congress flung a flurry of corruption allegations at K Chandrashekar Rao, apart from targeting the party on flawed programme implementation. These seem to have stuck and the BRS seems to have found these corruption allegations impossible to shrug off. Hard-hitting social media campaign Led by campaign strategist and social media wizard Sunil Kanugolu, the Congress stepped up its online combat as much as it did offline. The Congress blueprint on taking advantage of the anti-incumbency factor worked, with an online campaign focussed on videos, memes, GIFs, and posters. New Delhi: The Indian National Congress's debacle in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly elections has prompted the party's INDIA bloc ally Trinamool Congress to stake claim on the leadership in the battle to defeat the BJP Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi(ANI file photo) TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh wrote in a post on X that the Congress party was to be blamed for its poor show in the elections. He called the poll results the Congress's loss, not BJP's victory. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here "In the three states, it is more of a failure of the Congress than a success story of the BJP," Ghosh wrote on X. He, however, claimed that the assembly election results will have no bearing on the INDIA alliance's prospects in the 2024 general elections. "TMC is the party which can provide leadership in the battle to defeat the BJP in the country," he said in a message on his X handle. He also said that to win the elections, the parties will have to imbibe Mamata Banerjee's welfarism. The Congress was hoping to boost its standing in the INDIA alliance in which many regional satraps were appearing to stake claim for the pole position. However, after BJP's landslide victory in all the three Hindi heartland states today, it appears that the Congress will have to face intense pressure from regional allies. Meanwhile, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the party lost because it had stopped championing the rights of the minorities like it used to. "One thing that I've noticed in the last 20-25 days is that the Congress, which was considered as the champion of minorities, didn't talk about the minorities... Now minorities are not in the agenda of Congress...'' Azad, a former Congress leader said, reported ANI. The Congress appears to be winning the Telangana Assembly elections. Per the election commission data, in Chhattisgarh, the BJP was leading in 55 seats, the Congress in 33. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP was leading in 168 seats; the Congress in 61. In Rajasthan, the BJP was leading in 114 seats; the Congress in 70 seats. In Telangana, the Congress is leading in 40 seats, the BJP in 9 seats. Whatever KeyBank is doing, it needs to do better. After being accused of systemic redlining in late 2022, the bank has not improved its track record of home loans to Black and low-income borrowers. Thats according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, which has acted as a watchdog to make sure that the bank fulfilled its promises to invest in underserved communities when it took over First Niagara Bank in 2016. With Black borrowers representing only 2.6% of Keys home purchase mortgage loans in 2022, progress looks minimal. This is disheartening, and it lends credence, though hardly needed, to a recent report from New York Attorney General Letitia James that people of color are being denied the traditional American dream of homeownership at rates nearly as low as when racial discrimination in housing was legal. According to her report, in New York, 67% of white households own their homes, compared with only 34% of households of color, and in the Buffalo Niagara region, 80% of white households own their homes, compared with about 50% for households of color. There may be more than one reason for such discrepancies, but they are not surprising as banks still seem slow to increase their outreach and accessibility to Black would-be homeowners. There were high hopes in 2016 when Key announced its National Community Benefits Plan, a $16.5 billion loan and investment program that would touch every market Key serves in 15 states. Of that, $5.8 billion was earmarked for markets served by both Key and First Niagara. But in 2022, Jesse Van Tol, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Reinvestment Coalition, had this to say: KeyBank executives looked community groups in the eye and promised to become a leader on inclusive home mortgage lending, then did the exact opposite. KeyBank says it has pumped the volume on its promises to communities. In May, the $16.5 billion CBA was expanded to $40 billion. The bank also commissioned a racial equity audit by a law firm to help the bank advance its diversity, equity and inclusion priorities. But here we are in December, and encouraging results have still not emerged. In fact, the percentage of Black borrowers receiving home purchase loans has gone down significantly since 2018, when they represented 6.5% of such loans. In her report, which focused on the issue of mortgages without mentioning any specific lenders, James suggested some remedies. They included subsidies for first-generation homeowners; more funding for community development financial institutions; and locally based public banks that would focus on underserved communities. Key has adopted some similar strategies, including grants of up to $5,000 to homebuyers to buy eligible properties in majority-minority census tracts and/or to low- to moderate-income communities; and a Home Equity Loan program, which provides discounted, fixed rates for homeowners living in designated communities. In addition, as outlined by KeyBank Regional Communications Manager Matthew Pitts, the bank has invested more than $1.2 billion in the Buffalo area since 2016, including mortgages to low-moderate income borrowers, small business lending, general philanthropy and affordable housing investments. True Bethel Commons in Niagara Falls and Elim Townhomes in Buffalo's Central Park neighborhood are high profile examples of KeyBank's help for more low-income housing in the region. Key's official statement is that it strongly disagrees with the National Community Reinvestment Coalitions characterization of our lending activities, but a war of words is not the solution. There needs to be self-analysis; more hands-on work with communities; and new, innovative programs, sharply targeted toward getting Black and low-income mortgage-seekers into homes. Mainly there have to be results. The promises made in 2016 need to be fulfilled. 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. Anti-incumbency, allegations of family rule, and corruption marred K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)s chances of returning to power for a third time in a row in Telangana. A resurgent Congress stormed to power on the back of an aggressive local leadership. Congress supporters celebrate victory in Telangana. (AFP) KCR, as Rao is popularly known, lost in Kamareddy, one of the two seats he contested, reflecting the scale of ignominy for the party feted for achieving Telanganas statehood a decade ago. He once acquired an aura of invincibility before being seen to be promoting his familys domination over the party and government. His autocratic functioning, failure to replace unpopular lawmakers, inaccessibility, inability to keep up the promises, particularly on creating employment, and corruption charges in the implementation of flagship irrigation projects cost BRS dearly. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Former Osmania University journalism department head K Nageshwar said the public mood was for change. The BRS failed to gauge the extent of anger against the legislators. The people were fed up with KCRs family rule. The Telangana verdict underscored that welfarism is no guarantee for an electoral win. Despite successfully implementing several welfare schemes, the BRS has been rejected because people expected a much better political morality from a party built on the foundations of a mass movement [for a separate Telangana], Nageshwar said. Politics of BRS revolved around one man. Such personality-centered politics will have diminishing returns. Political analyst Ramakrishna Sangem said KCRs disconnect with the people and with his party leaders turned out to be his undoing. KCRs decision to renominate almost all of his lawmakers did not appear to have gone down well with the people. The chief minister was banking on his charisma and appeal and did not care for the negative image of his lawmakers. This complacency has backfired, said Sangem. The Opposition attacked KCR over the stranglehold of his family over the party and the government. KCRs son and the BRS working president K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao were ministers and his daughter K Kavitha is a member of the legislative council. Former Telangana State Public Service Commission chairman G Chakrapani blamed complacency and flawed delivery of welfare schemes for BRSs defeat. Congress Resurgence KCR failed to see Congresss resurgence. The Congress was written off as a jinxed player but emerged as a main challenger to BRS. A Revanth Reddys appointment as the state Congress chief in July 2021 is seen as a game changer for a party that looked weak and inefficient until then. A fiery speaker and an aggressive leader, Reddy galvanised a moribund Congress. A two-time legislator, Reddy represents Malkajgiri in Lok Sabha. He joined the Congress in 2017 and went on to infuse new energy and dynamism into the party riven by infighting. Reddy was increasingly visible on the ground, leading street protests against the BRS government. The Congresss return to power in neighbouring Karnataka also came as a big boost. The Congress leadership gave a free hand to Reddy in the selection of candidates and formulation of campaign strategies. The party displayed a rare show of unity and rallied behind Reddy. The Congress consistently focused on the alleged corruption and unemployment. Though providing jobs was one of the key components of the Telangana movement, the BRS has miserably failed to fulfil its promise. The youth turned against the ruling party, said Nageshwar. The Congress shed its image of being a faction-ridden party. The senior leaders of the party stood behind the young leader, who led an aggressive state-wide campaign, matching KCR. The Congress also succeeded in putting up a strong counter-strategy on welfare schemes and focussed on unemployment effectively. KCR engineering defections from the Congress after returning to power in 2018. The Congress even lost the status of the main Opposition party. Over two-thirds of the 21 Congress legislators in the 119-member assembly joined KCRs party. Journalist Mallikarjun Rao said the Congresss resurgence is reminiscent of its return to power in united Andhra Pradesh in 1989 under the leadership of M Channa Reddy. He energised a dormant Congress at that time and trounced an invincible-looking NTR [NT Rama Rao] and his TDP, [Telugu Desam Party]. How BJP lost the plot The BJP appeared to have emerged as a key challenger, particularly after its performance in the Hyderabad municipal elections in 2020 and the back-to-back victories in the assembly byelections in Dubbaka and Huzurabad. It lost steam amid allegations of a secret deal with KCR. The sudden decision to replace firebrand party chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar with a soft-spoken Union minister G Kishan Reddy fuelled allegations of a tacit understanding. The case against KCRs daughter Kavitha, who faces allegations of involvement in the alleged Delhi liquor scam, has not made much headway. The BJP fared well in Hyderabad, where the split in the anti-incumbency votes benefitted BRS. But for the BJPs noteworthy presence in the city, the defeat of the ruling party would have been much more severe, said Nageshwar. The anger against BRS seems to be more pronounced in rural Telangana. The Hyderabad voters appear to be satisfied with the development initiatives and the flow of investments. Also, the city has been free from communal tensions in the last 10 years. Muslim voters, who are largely concentrated in Hyderabad, appear to have supported the ruling party, said journalist S Nagesh Kumar. Barring Hyderabad and certain semi-urban pockets around the city, BRS faced a virtual rout across the state. National dreams dashed With a humiliating defeat, KCRs national ambitions have come crashing down. The idea behind renaming his Telangana Rashtra Samithi as BRS last year was to bolster his national ambitions. The ostensible aim was to bring together like-minded parties in the fight to dislodge the BJP-led government at the Centre and offer the people an alternative. There were serious doubts over the feasibility of such an initiative with KCR averse to including Congress, his principal political adversary, in any anti-BJP formation at the national level. His prescription is inherently flawed because any alternative political force that intends to take on the mighty BJP cannot afford to exclude Congress, said political analyst K Ramesh Babu. The results of the assembly elections in four out of five states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana filled the Sunday with thrill. The spirited poll battle in the Hindi heartland resulted in the Bharatiya Janata Party wresting power from the incumbent Congress in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, while it retained Madhya Pradesh in a landslide. Meanwhile, the Congress is set to form the first-ever non-BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) government in Telangana. BJP and Congress workers celebrate their respective victories.(ANI/PTI) The poll results are believed to set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP aims to return for a third term in the Centre and the Opposition-led INDIA bloc lines up to redirect the drift against the saffron party. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here "Today's victory is historic, it is unprecedented," PM Modi said commemorating the BJP's win in the three states. "I bow to the people for their support. It is for our politics of good governance and developed India." After the Congress crossed the halfway mark with a simple majority in Telangana, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday thanked the people of the state for their mandate. He also referred to the election results in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan where the grand old party is dragging itself behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said the party's performance in these states was "disappointing". Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge(Mallikarjun Kharge X) Committed to overcoming the temporary setbacks, Kharge said his party will prepare itself along with the INDIA bloc for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here I thank the people of Telangana for the mandate we have received from them. I also thank all those who voted for us in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Our performance in these three states has no doubt been disappointing, but with determination, we reaffirm our strong resolve to rebuild and revive ourselves in these three states, the Congress chief wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the Congress fought a spirited campaign in all these states. He further appreciated the effort put in by many party workers in the run-up to the election. 55According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Congress has comfortably crossed the halfway mark by bagging at least 60 seats. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is leading in 149 constituencies in a 230-member assembly. The saffron party is leading on 114 seats in a 200-member Rajasthan assembly. Whereas in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is leading in 55 out of 90 assembly seats. Assembly election results 2023: As the counting of votes got underway for the Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana assembly elections 2023, early trends by TV channels showed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was leading in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Meanwhile, in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, the Congress was ahead of the BJP and BRS, respectively. Chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot. The BJP, however, later fought back in Chhattisgarh, leading in 47 seats, while the Congress was leading in 41 constituencies, according to a TV news channel. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The counting of votes began at 8am amid tight security arrangements on Sunday, in the final stretch of the battle billed as the semifinal before the mega final in 2024. The Congress was leading in 58 out of the 119 seats as per initial trends available from the counting of votes polled in November 30 assembly elections. The ruling BRS was trailing behind its main challenger, the trends indicated. The outcome of the assembly elections in the four crucial States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana will reflect into the possible political variations that will be seen in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana. Pollsters have been divided on the outcome, with quite a few exit polls putting the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and giving it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that Congress has an advantage in Telangana and Chhattisgarh. The counting commenced amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan as polling on one seat in the desert state was put off due to the death of a candidate. In Mizoram, counting will be held on Monday Madhya Pradesh assembly election results 2023 The counting for 230 assembly seats in MP is being held at 52 district headquarters, officials said. As many as 2,533 candidates are in the fray, including political bigwigs like Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath, in a poll that was largely a bipolar battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. Rajasthan assembly election results 2023 Counting of votes polled in the November 25 assembly elections in Rajasthan is being done at 36 centres in the state on Sunday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Praveen Gupta said. Over 1,800 candidates are in the fray in 199 seats in Rajasthan where power has alternated between Congress and BJP every five years in the last three decades. While 30 election districts have one counting centre, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Nagaur have two centres each, Gupta said. Election in Karanpur was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. Chhattisgarh assembly election results 2023 Tight security arrangements have been made in all counting centres in the state's 33 districts, including the ones affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), officials said. "A total of 90 returning officers, 416 assistant returning officers, 4596 counting personnel and 1698 micro-observers have been appointed for carrying out the counting process smoothly," Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Baba Saheb Kangale said at a press conference. As many as 1,181 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo (both from Congress) and former CM Raman Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Telangana assembly election results 2023 As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray in the elections, including BRS supremo Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao. The BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI. The BJP and Janasena contested 111 and 8 seats respectively in a pre-poll pact/ The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city. Several segments witnessed triangular contests making them keenly watched ones. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is contesting from two segments-Gajwel and Kamareddy. (With inputs from agencies) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday won big in the Hindi heartland, wresting Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress while comprehensively beating anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress failed to retain its bastions in the three states. However, the grand old party achieved significant success in southern India, wresting Telangana from K Chandrashekar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi. The victories in the three states have given a booster to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections which are scheduled to be held next year. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram had gone to polls in what is being called as the semifinal before the 2024 battle, with the results in the north-eastern state to be declared on Monday. The BJP says 'Modi's charisma' helped it win Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Congress banked on Rahul Gandhi and state chief Revanth Reddy to win Telangana. ALSO READ: Whats BJP win in 3 states mean for 2024 Lok Sabha elections But are the assembly election results a true reflection of the exit poll predictions that multiple pollsters showed on November 30, the day Telangana voted? Here we break down the comparison between the exit polls and the actual results. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Madhya Pradesh The Bharatiya Janata Party has won 154 seats and is leading on 9 others as the counting is underway. Most of the exit polls had predicted a saffron victory in the central state. The India Today-Axis My India exit poll had predicted that the BJP would win 140 to 162 seats and the Congress 68-90. The Republic-Matrize exit poll predictions had showed an edge to the BJP with 118-130 seats, while the Congress would emerge victorious in 97-107 seats. However, the TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat exit poll projections had showed that the Congress would win between 111 and 121 seats, while the BJP could secure between 106 and 116 seats. ALSO READ: 5 factors that helped BJP trounce Cong in Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan Since 1993, Rajasthan had been traditionally changing governments every five years. And the desert state continued the tradition again as the Congress failed to encash on the development schemes brought by the Ashok Gehlot dispensation. The BJP has won 115 seats while the Congress has bagged 68 and was leading on one seat. ALSO READ: On BJP's Rajasthan election win, PM Modi broke this rule reaction The exit polls had predicted that the BJP was poised to win the state with Congress finishing a close second. Election agency Polstrat had predicted the Congress to win between 90-100 seats while the BJP was shown to win 100-110 seats. The majority mark in Rajasthan is 101. Chhattisgarh In the 2018 elections, the Congress had swept the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh and won 65 out of the 90 seats. The saffron rout had left many believe that the BJP would find it difficult to stage a comeback this election. The exit poll predictions had given Congress an edge in a close contest in the state carved out of Madhya Pradesh, which had also gone to polls. The India Today-Axis My India projections had showed Congress winning 40-50 seats against the BJP getting between 36-46 seats. TV5 News Exit Poll had suggested a comfortable Congress win with 54-66 seats. But Sunday's results shocked everyone as the BJP dislodged the Congress from power by winning 54 seats, staging a phenomenal comeback. The Congress was reduced to 35 seats. Telangana Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR)'s Bharat Rashtra Samithi released its first candidate list for the assembly elections as early as August. The 70-year-old two-time chief minister, who had spearheaded the movement for a separate Telangana state, was banking on development initiatives like the Rythu Bandhu scheme to steer home once again. The exit polls had predicted a close contest with some suggesting that KCR's reign could come to an end by the Congress, under whose reign in the Centre, the state was formed in 2014. But Sunday, some of the pollsters were proven right as the Congress, which fought the election under Revanth Reddy, managed to wrest the state from KCR. The grand old party has won 64 seats against the BRS which has been reduced to 39. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not able to hold grounds in the southern states, Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday said as the Congress marked a comfortable lead in Telangana assembly election results, adding that his party will however perform much better in the Lok Sabha election. Union minister Pralhad Joshi(PTI) According to the latest trends, the saffron party was leading in three out of four states Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the Congress currently holds power. The Union minister said the reason for the BJP making headway in the northern states is due to people endorsing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here "People have totally endorsed the leadership and program of PM Modi and especially in the northern part of India people have totally rejected the Congress party. Only in Telangana, they (Congress) can feel satisfied that's also because in southern states, except Karnataka, the presence of BJP is not there. We are not able to build the party as expected in southern states. As far as Telangana is concerned, we will perform much better in Lok Sabha elections," Joshi told news agency PTI. The results of the state assembly elections are expected to indicate voters' mood for the Lok Sabha elections which PM Modi is eyeing for a third consecutive term. The Prime Minister addressed rallies and campaigned in five poll-bound states, including Mizoram, to drum up support for his party's candidates. The early trends suggest the saffron party's sweeping victory in the Hindi heartland states. The BJP is currently leading on 163 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 53 of 90 seats in Chhattisgarh and 114 of 199 seats in Rajasthan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that he had predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the Rajasthan assembly election 2023 months before the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the supporters during celebrations after the party's victory in elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, at BJP headquarters,at BJP Headquarters in New Delhi, (Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) In my political career, I always refrained from predictions...But this time, I broke this rule. In Rajasthan...I predicted that the Congress would not return to Rajasthan...I had confidence in the people of Rajasthan..., Modi said while addressing BJP workers at the party's headquarters in New Delhi after the BJP's big victories in three heartland states, including Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Modi also hailed BJP's big win in the assembly polls as a victory for his government's agenda of self-reliant India, asserting that its hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of its hat-trick of Lok Sabha poll wins in 2024. "The results show popular support for our battle against corruption," he told a crowd of cheering supporters at the BJP headquarters here, adding that they have served a lesson to the Congress and the opposition's INDIA bloc that mere collecting some dynasts on dais may make for a good photograph but cannot win people's confidence. ALSO READ: PM says poll outcome win for Aatmanirbharta, attacks Oppn's caste census push Voters have delivered a warning to these parties involved in corruption to mend their ways or people will finish them off, he said. No one should come in between the Centre's development and people, or the masses will remove them, Modi said in a stinging attack on opposition parties. Some people are already saying our hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of hat-trick in the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, he said. Assembly elections 2023 LIVE coverage He told opposition parties to not support those working against the country's interests at a time when development is taking place at a fast pace. Addressing the big gathering of BJP members, including many Union ministers, Modi said these results will ensure the world's belief in India and infuse more confidence into global investors for the country. It shows that people are increasingly supporting our agenda for a developed India, he said. The world is watching that people are voting for a stable government which enjoys a strong majority, he said. People can distinguish between selfish politics and the politics of national interest, Modi said, asserting that they have realised that a strong BJP leads to the development of the country and every family. ALSO READ: New India votes on: Amit Shahs appeasement dig at Congress He reiterated that women, youth, the poor and farmers are the four biggest castes and their empowerment will lead to the country's empowerment. Noting that most members of Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Tribes belong to these categories, he said they have endorsed policies and roadmap presented by the BJP. Every farmer, young voter and the poor and deprived are saying that they have won, Modi said, adding that the youth looking for a better future and every citizen wanting a developed India by 2047 is feeling successful following the poll results. "I want to tell you with full honesty that your dream is my resolve," he said, noting how the country's infrastructure is undergong a transformation while its economy remains the fastest growing in the world. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh engaged in early celebration as results of the assembly elections show a series of victories in the Hindi heartland, with a possible landslide win in Madhya Pradesh. BJP workers and supporters celebrate the party's lead in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh during counting of votes for the Assembly elections.(PTI) BJP workers were seen bursting firecrackers, exchanging sweets and playing instruments in front of the party offices while senior leaders said the party's lead in these three states is a result of people's trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development guarantee. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan dedicated the party's lead towards a landslide victory to PM Modi as well as Ladli Behnas. He was seen in a jubilant mood and flashed a victory sign from his official residence along with his family. "The trust people placed in his (PM Modi) guarantee - as BJP workers we are thankful to them. BJP workers had clearly said that "Modi magic" will yield results and today's results are a symbol of that," Union minister Smriti Irani said. As per the latest figures available from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the BJP was leading in 161 of the 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress was ahead in 66 seats. In Rajasthan, BJP president CP Joshi, Union minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other party leaders celebrated at the party office in Jaipur as the party headed towards a landslide victory in the state. Meanwhile in Telangana, the Congress appeared to dominate over the ruling BRS shattering chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's dream to hit a hat-trick. The Congress crossed the majority mark in the 119-member state assembly as it is leading on 65 seats, according to ECI. Congress workers in Telangana raised CM-CM slogans in favour of state's party chief A Revanth Reddy as he arrived at the party office. Supporters also got into a celebration mood in Hyderabad and chanted bye-bye KCR. Meanwhile, a few party workers were also seen pouring milk on posters featuring Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi. The fact that Rajasthans voters like change every five years is almost a truism of Indian politics. Be it Vasundhara Raje replacing Ashok Gehlot in 2003, or Gehlot replacing Raje in 2008, or Raje replacing Gehlot in 2013, or Gehlot replacing Raje yet again in 2018, for the past 25 years, the state has not just alternated between the two parties but has swung between two leaders. And that is why, as election season approached, the BJP began as favourites. Rajasthan BJP leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje celebrating the partys victory in the assembly elections with her supporters in Jaipur on Sunday. (AP) Except that there was a twist. On one hand, the BJP did not declare Raje as the chief ministerial candidate, and, on the other, Gehlot was seen as a strong incumbent who had the potential to break the historical pattern. Was this the moment when Rajasthan would alter its voting behaviour? Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here It was not to be, for as Sundays results showed, the BJP won comfortably, despite not having projected any leader as the CM face, and Gehlot lost, despite being, even by the admission of his opponents, a strong incumbent with a high degree of political acumen. What explains this pattern of continuity? Take the Congress. There is no doubt that the deep factional divide within the partys state unit, between Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, who has remained unhappy for five years for being denied what he thought was his rightful claim to the CMs seat, eroded the Congresss prospects. This factionalism was on display through the Congresss term in office during Gehlot-Pilot spats when both were in government, during Pilots failed rebellion, and during the battles over party appointments and ticket distribution in recent months. But most critically, this had the impact of fracturing the partys social coalition on the ground, with Gujjars, Pilots social base and a substantial backward subgroup in the state, disenchanted with the Congress. It also had an impact in terms of organisational cohesion and worker morale, with factional considerations outweighing party interest. All of it sent a message to voters this was a party that couldnt keep its house in order. If the lack of party unity weakened Congress from the outset, its relatively strong welfare credentials were offset by the perceived corruption both at the state level and at the level of local legislative incumbents. Indeed, as an HT data analysis shows, the Congress lost 63 of its seats to the BJP, a massive shift by any standards. But if politics was local, it had also the imprint of the national. Voters continue to repose a high level of trust in Narendra Modi. Modis campaign on welfare and against corruption, his outreach to women, backwards and Dalits, and the BJPs projection of Gehlot government presiding over lawlessness, helped the party, as did its careful and early ticket distribution that allowed individual candidates to build profiles and support. For its part, the Congress national leadership provided little value addition to Gehlots campaign. The BJPs campaign also had a strong subtext of Hindutva, pegged on the killing of Kanhaiya Lal in the wake of his support for the then BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharmas comments on the Prophet and projection of a radical Hindutva leader as a possible state leader. It is hard to gauge how much impact the issues had in quantitative terms, but if nothing else, it gave the party and its core voter base a talking point to rally around. But beyond religion and caste, anecdotal reports from the ground suggest that a key reason for the BJPs win was the support of women voters. Women have emerged as a solid and loyal constituency for the BJP, both due to Modis image as a sensitive enabler of welfare in terms of goods and services that often make the lives of women easier think gas cylinders, toilets, rural homes, drinking water as well as the promise of order. But the big challenge was leadership. It is an open secret that the BJPs central leadership isnt particularly comfortable with Raje, and Raje isnt particularly comfortable with the central leadership. The question was whether, in the context of not being projected as the CM, she would play the spoiler or actively participate as a disciplined solider of the party. The truth lay somewhere in the middle. She campaigned and the party leadership accommodated her loyalists; yet her hope perhaps was of a slim BJP majority which would enhance her political value and leave the party leadership with little choice to back her. The BJP also threw in the mix a bunch of other leaders, from various castes, all of whom believed they had a chance at becoming the CM thus motivating these leaders and their respective social bases to work harder than they would have otherwise. Irrespective of what Modi eventually decides in terms of the CM pick, it is clear that Rajasthans vote for the BJP was a result of its national leadership and astute management of local egos, seats, and social coalitions. Rajasthans vote against Congress was a result of its factionalism at the state level and fatigue with the corruption at the local-level. The BJP showed it can be creative even when it made an election deliberately difficult for itself by not picking a leader. The Congress showed that there are clear limits to its creativity even when it had possibly the best chance to buck the states historical pattern. 2023 marks continuity. But depending on who the BJP chooses as its next leader, it may well also mark a rupture. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was leading in Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, and Congress appeared set to wrest power in the southern state of Telangana, months before the national poll is due by May. BJP supporters celebrating the party's lead in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. (PTI) BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda credited political strategy and work on the ground for the partys performance as it hopes to retain power at the Centre even as the Congress is set to contest the national polls as part of the 28-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). The four states send 82 representatives to the Lok Sabha and the election results are expected to impact seat-sharing negotiations within the INDIA bloc. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here In Chhattisgarh, the BJP was leading on 55 of 90 seats while the Congress on 32 and others two. The contest was expected to be more evenly poised in the state, where the Congress swept the polls in 2018. Five exit polls predicted a close fight with the Congress ahead. Three others forecast that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was comfortably set for a second straight term. The Congress campaigned on its paddy procurement scheme and welfare programmes. The BJP was leading on 161 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress was ahead on 66 and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) two. The BJP has ruled Madhya Pradesh, the largest of the states to go to the polls, for 18 of the last 20 years. It was in a head-to-head battle with the Congress in the state as the Congress hoped to cash in on anti-incumbency to return to power. A majority of exit polls predicted an intense contest between the BJP and the Congress. Two gave the edge to the Congress and one to the BJP. IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 surveys predicted a sweep for the BJP. The BJP fielded ministers and parliamentarians in addition to focussing on its welfare outreach. The Congress focussed on anti-incumbency and corruption allegations against Chouhan. In Rajasthan, the BJP was ahead on 112 of 199 constituencies while the Congress on 71, independents eight and BSP two, in line with the trend of voting out the incumbent every five years. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot expected to put up a tough battle on the back of welfare and cash transfer schemes. A majority of exit polls predicted that the BJP was coming back to power. But IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 predicted that Congress was marginally ahead. The Congress was leading on 63 of 119 constituencies in Telangana as it appeared set to wrest power from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which was ahead on 41 seats and BJP eight. A resurgent Congress was ahead across Telangana, barring the Hyderabad urban region. In the 2018 elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the earlier avatar of BRS, bagged 88 seats while the Congress managed to win only 19 seats. The BJP won just one seat. Every exit poll predicted that the Congress, which was in power at the Centre when Telangana was created in 2014, was set to replace the BRS in the only southern state that went to the polls in this round. BRS has ruled the state since its inception. Four exit polls said the Congress would get a simple majority of its own. Others predicted that it would likely emerge as the single-largest party. The Congress was decimated in the 2018 polls and ended up around 20 percentage points in vote share behind the BRS. It ran the 2023 campaign under its state unit chief Revanth Reddy who targeted the BRS over corruption and anti-incumbency. The 22nd edition of ILTM (Internatuional Luxury Travel Market) Cannes from December 4 to 7 will be the largest ever with over 2,100 buyers from 83 countries and 2,100 exhibitors representing 330 brands. There will be over 82,000 official, pre-scheduled appointments taking place throughout the week with many other networking and meeting opportunities, a release said. In addition, taking place at 6pm-7pm on December 4 at the Palais des Festivals, the ILTM Opening Forum will feature three inspirational presentations reflecting the luxury travel landscape today and designed to inspire each and every member of the global community attending ILTM 2023. Geopolitical risk Firstly, Tina Fordham, Geopolitical Strategist and Advisor, The New Geopolitical Risk Supercycle: 2024 Outlook, will present the highlights from her 2024 Geopolitical Outlook: Inflection Point, with an eye toward the implications for the luxury sector. Next, Aaron Lau, Founder and CEO Gusto Collective, Glocalisation and Virtualisation: a blueprint to building engagement with NexGen customers, will share will share how understanding and connecting with NexGen customers has become more crucial than ever. Thirdly, James Wallman, Founder and CEO, WXO - World Experience Organisation - Moonshot: How luxury travel will transform the world, will explain luxury travel at the cutting-edge of the next great leap forward: the rise of experientialism and the birth of the 'experience revolution'. On Thursday morning, there will be a short presentation by Meryam Schneider of Altiant Global Research into Holiday Luxury Spending and an Outlook for 2024.--TradeArabia News Service I was in college during the 1960 presidential campaign. My friends and I were all thrilled at the prospects of young Sen. Jack Kennedy of Massachusetts. He was a handsome, dashing guy, a World War II Naval combat veteran. He was a lot like us, Irish and Catholic. But thats where the similarity ended. Jack Kennedy was rich beyond anything we might know. In late September of 1960 we were in our dorms glued to the TV watching Kennedy debate Vice President Richard Nixon. Nixon was the front-runner in the campaign. We all thought Kennedy whipped him that night in Chicago. The next day, the print media saw the debate as a draw. I graduated from Villanova, had a short stint as a teacher, then got hired as a newsman at WHLD Radio in Niagara Falls. WHLD had an eclectic programming schedule: music and news during morning and afternoon drive time. After 9 a.m. came the religious shows. On Friday, Nov. 22, 1963, I finished a five-minute newscast at 12:30 p.m. and drove to my home about 15 minutes away. I had something to eat and headed to my bed for a nap. I must have dozed off because the ringing of the phone awoke me. And then my wifes voice calling from the kitchen: Peter, you have to go to the station right away. Somebody shot President Kennedy in Dallas. My boss, the station manager Eddy Joseph, was waiting at the door to the studio when I got there. He had a roll of wire copy in his hand: Go in and start reading. Well feed you the copy. I had been on the job for only five months. They were bulletins at first. The president had been shot in an open convertible as he motorcaded through Dallas. He had been taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital. I was reading many bulletins that afternoon as the story of the shooting of the president unfolded from Dallas. And then came what I had never seen before on the wire: FLASH! President John F. Kennedy is dead. I would later learn that the designation FLASH was reserved for monumental stories such as the end of a world war or the assassination of a head of state. I kept reading what came over the wire that afternoon. Then there was a nice break. The mayor of Niagara Falls, E. Dent Lackey, was in the hotel, where WHLD was located. He was interviewed for a long time by my boss. I remember we played a lot of sacred music that day, interspersed with reports from me on what was happening in Dallas and Washington and in Niagara Falls the announcements from churches, temples and other organizations that were having memorial services for President Kennedy. Later that day, Joseph announced he had made arrangements for us to join the Mutual radio network for the next few days, including the funeral of President Kennedy. As I returned from church that Sunday, my wife was shouting from our upper porch as I walked toward our house. Hurry up, youve got to see this on television. A guy named Jack Rudy had just shot Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of the president. I still have Jack Kennedys Mass card. On the front is a formal portrait of the young president with a sad hint of a smile. On the back is a prayer asking for the forgiveness of all his sins. Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president CP Joshi, speaking on early trends favouring the saffron party, said on Sunday that the party workers were working towards helping the party win and the initial numbers were only portraying that. Rajasthan BJP President CP Joshi (File/Hindustan Times) We were working towards helping the party win and that is what this win means. These numbers are initial. This lead will keep growing. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here He further added, We will win over 135 seats, the exact number will be clear in the evening. The BJP's lead in Rajasthan has surpassed the halfway mark, gaining momentum in the ongoing elections. The Congress is putting up a resilient challenge, leading in more than 80 seats. The BJP is currently in the lead in over 105 seats. The majority of exit polls had previously indicated a favourable outcome for the BJP in Rajasthan. Despite this, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot maintained confidence after the release of exit polls, asserting that his party would emerge victorious in the final tally. Talking about the red diary issue, Joshi said, In this red diary, this government's all bad deeds are mentioned. The matter related to the red diary took Rajasthan politics by storm after a sacked minister in the state government had alleged that he had a red-coloured diary which contained details of alleged financial irregularities committed by the Gehlot government. Joshi also blamed Congress for looting and deceiving the public and said this was the reason why the people of Rajasthan decided to support the BJP. This is the result of committing heinous acts, looting the public, betraying promises, deceiving the public, and employing cunning schemes in the past five years that the citizens have decided they would bid farewell to them (Congress) and bring Bharatiya Janata Party's government, he said. Joshi added, The public will bless the BJP with a complete majority. Misgovernance and injustice will lose and good governance and justice will prevail Celebrations sparked in Telangana as the Congress eyes a triumph with a simple majority in the state elections, and a sense of victory ensued surrounding Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy, a leading candidate for the chief ministerial position. Overjoyed party workers raised CM-CM slogans in favour of Reddy. They also set off firecrackers and chanted jai Congress, Revanth Anna zindabaad and bye-bye KCR slogans. Congress Telangana President A Revanth Reddy greets party workers and supporters celebrating the party's lead during counting of votes for Telangana Assembly elections(PTI) Sensing victory, Reddy posted on X (formerly Twitter) earlier, "Yesterday, today, tomorrow you are my strengthCongress forces moved to protect Telangana." Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here According to the latest EC update, Congress was leading in 65 of the 118 seats that it contested, while the BRS was ahead in 39 segments. After meeting DGP Anjani Kumar, Reddy set out for a roadshow in the state. He witnessed a massive gathering in his support, cheering for him and waving the party flag. As the party comfortably crossed the halfway mark, Congress workers expressed their joy by pouring milk on posters featuring Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi. With the victory in Telangana, the Congress would solidify its presence in the southern states after it formed the government in Karnataka earlier this year. The 119-member Telangana assembly has been ruled by K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) since 2014, the Congress' victory would shatter the incumbent's wish to strike a hattrick. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi Sunil Singh is jubilant. The Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Jharkhand was a district in-charge for the party in Chhattisgarh, where it won comfortably. He points to two schemes launched by outgoing Congress chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Ram Van Gaman Path and Godhan Nyay Yojana, the first a tourism circuit retracing Lord Rams path through the state, and the second, a cow protection plus organic farming plan. Both were tuned to appeal to Hindu sentiments, which Singh finds strange. When the original shop of Hindutva is with us, why would people go to their fake shop? Neither the Congresss election machinery, nor its own attempt at social engineering paid off and once again, on both, the BJP did better. (ANI) It wasnt just Chhattisgarh -- the Congresss Kamal Nath tried to leverage soft Hindutva for electoral gains in Madhya Pradesh, where the party was routed and it wasnt just Hindutva. Across the three Hindi heartland states where election results were declared on Sunday, the Congresss dismal performance was the result of multiple factors. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here ALSO READ- Assembly election results: How BJPs gambit paid off in Rajasthan At one level, on issues such as Hindutva and welfare, the Congress found itself being outdone by the BJP. At another, neither its election machinery, nor its own attempt at social engineering paid off and once again, on both, the BJP did better. And at still another, the Congresss inability to effect a generational change in leadership in two of the three states (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan), contrasted poorly with the BJPs hard call of not announcing chief ministerial candidates in all three heartland states, one with an incumbent chief minister from the party and two with seemingly obvious candidates in former chief ministers. It was almost as if Murphy of the famed law had written Sundays script. The only silver lining for the party was Telangana, where strong (and new) local leadership, an effective election management plan crafted by strategist Sunil Kanugolu, and anti-incumbency against the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi came together in a sweeping win. In a party where three of the top four leaders, president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, represent south India electorally, the Congresss national leadership found limited appeal in the campaign in the Hindi heartland. It is once again clear that Rahul Gandhi has little to offer as a vote catcher in north India, quipped a non-Congress leader who asked not to be named. While Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra may have helped the Congress consolidate its votes in southern India, especially in states such as Karnataka and Telangana, in north India, it failed to translate into extra votes for the Congress, observed another leader. The Congress response to this, articulated by a senior Congress leader who travelled in all three states for campaign was that national leadership had limited role to play in these elections. And there too, the party was found wanting. State-level leaders were crucial for the partys prospects and they disappointed,added this person who asked not to be named. Indeed, in both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot pretty much ran their own campaigns. In Madhya Pradesh, our biggest problem was that Kamal Nath didnt believe in collective leadership. He wanted to do things in his way. But against an organised party such as the BJP, a collective effort is required. Nath even forced the high command to shift JP Agarwal as MP in-charge, said a second senior Congress leader, who too asked not to be named. Also read-Assembly election results: As BJP wins 3 states & Cong wins Telangana, here's what exit polls had predicted Some Congressmen said Randeep Surjewala, who replaced Agarwal, should have asserted himself more against Naths pressure. Surjewala should have concentrated on Vyapam and other corruption charges against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. Our party didnt sufficiently raise issues such as the firing on farmers in Mandsour or on the rape in Ujjain, said another Congress veteran, speaking on condition of anonymity. In Madhya Pradesh, the party had pretty much lost the option to effect a generational change after the last assembly election and the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia to the BJP. In Rajasthan, again, it opted for veteran Gehlot over Sachin Pilot. And while the party claimed to have resolved the issues between the two, it merely papered over the cracks. The BJP put its house in order while we remained divided, said a third Congress leader. Even in Chhattisgarh, where there was a similar battle for leadership between Baghel and TS Singh Deo, the Congress acted far too late. We could have done better, especially among the Thakurs and Tribals but the decision to appoint TS Singh Deo as deputy CM came too late. By that time, the damage has already been done, said the first Congress leader. A senior Congress leader from Karnataka involved in elections in all three north Indian states, said the party simply mishandled caste equations in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Madhya Pradesh has the largest number of Scheduled Tribe (ST) MPs in India. Yet, our party neglected tribals, Dalits, OBCs (other backward classes) and minorities and focused on soft Hindutva. We should have specially focused on these castes as our two top leaders, MPCC chief Kamal Nath and CLP leader Govind Singh represent upper castes. But our approach didnt auger well among the voters, added this person. In Chhattisgarh, too, the party ignored social engineering. A Congress veteran who has handled Chhattisgarh affairs said, The party alienated tribals and as a result, lost in places such as Bastar (last time the Congress won all 14 seats in the region; this time, it could manage only nine). Naxalites went against us. Sahus, a key community in the states were reluctant to support the party and Thakurs didnt vote for us as Singh Deo was not given his due. More importantly, the Congresss push for an OBC caste census failed to find traction. We focused too much on OBCs even as our OBC leaders (Gehlot or Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah) are no match for Narendra Modi. In this process, we alienated other castes, especially the SC, ST and the general castes, said one of the top SC leaders in Congress. Also read- Husband vs wife, uncles vs nieces contests in 4 seats in Raj. How they fared A welfarist manifesto may have contributed to the Congress victory in Karnataka earlier this year, but it failed to deliver in this round of the assembly polls because the BJP did as much, if not more, according to analysts. The BJP offered a better package and the voters trusted the BJPs promises given the stellar record of the Modi government in delivering , said R Banu, a political analyst. Indeed, the Congresss track record may have worked against it. Sunil Singh, the BJP lawmaker, said, The commitments backfired as they didnt fulfil their earlier promises. In Chhattisgarh, the farmers didnt get money for their produce for two previous years. But Baghel refused to give them the arrears. We announced we would give the arrears too. Singh identified Matri Vandana Yojna, which promises cash incentive of 5000 directly to pregnant women and lactating mothers and 6000 if the second child is a girl child as a key welfare scheme. In Chhattisgarh, there was a rage among women to fill up forms which we provided all across Chhattisgarh. The third Congress leader pointed out that soon after Congress won Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduced a number of schemes. He singled out the states Ladli Behna scheme in which women get 1,250 every month, as one that contributed heavily to the BJPs success. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is set to return to power in Chhattisgarh, contested the latest round of polls without a chief ministerial candidate and under a collective leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the campaign with Arun Sao, 54, being among the leading contenders for Chhattisgarhs top elected post. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao at a public meeting. (PTI) Sao started his political career as a volunteer for Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJPs ideological fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He has served as the BJPs district president, state co-secretary, and ABVPs National Working Committee member. Sao rose through the ranks after serving as a booth-level worker. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here A first-time Parliament member from Bilaspur, he was named the BJP state unit head in November last year. Former chief minister Raman Singh, 71, a Rajput, is another contender for the chief ministerial post. Singh started his political career in 1984 when he was elected as a councillor in Kawardha. He served as a Madhya Pradesh assembly member in the 1990s before losing the polls in 1998. He defeated former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Motilal Vora of the Congress from Rajnandgaon in the 1999 national polls and became a minister in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees government. Singh became the chief minister even though the party did not even project him as a candidate for the top post in the 2003 Chhattisgarh polls. OP Chaudhary, a 2005 batch Indian Administrative Service officer who quit bureaucracy to enter politics in August 2018, is also among possible chief ministerial contenders. He unsuccessfully contested elections in 2018 from Kharasia. Chaudhary managed to win the Raigarh seat with a margin of 34,993 votes against Congresss Prakash Shakrajeet Nayak. An influential Other Backward Class leader, Choudhary gained popularity for his education projects during his tenure as a collector. Chhattisgarh Assembly Election Results 2023: The Election Commission of India announced the results of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections on Sunday, coinciding with the tallying process for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana. Chhattisgarh has 90 seats, and the majority mark stands at 46. In 2018, the BJP was reduced to just 15 seats, while the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and the Bahujan Samaj Party bagged five and two seats, respectively. Split into two phases, voting in Chhattisgarh occurred on November 7 and 17. Similar to Madhya Pradesh, the primary electoral contest here involves the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here As many as 1,181 candidates were in the fray for Chhattisgarh election, including chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo (both from Congress) and former CM Raman Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Similar to Madhya Pradesh, the primary electoral contest here involves the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With Bhupesh Baghel as the current chief minister, the ruling Congress aimed to secure its position in the state. Meanwhile, the BJP clinched victory by leading in 54 seats, especially considering the upcoming Lok Sabha elections next year. In the 2018 election, Congress registered a landslide victory, winning 68 of the 90 seats. The BJP was reduced to just 15 seats, while the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and the Bahujan Samaj Party bagged five and two seats, respectively. The Congress later added more seats in bypolls, taking its tally in the outgoing assembly to 71. Here is the full list of winners from BJP This list will be consistently updated. Please stay tuned. In a dramatic turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has crossed the halfway mark in Chhattisgarh, securing a lead on 50 seats as per the official trends released by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Congress was initially ahead but as the counting of votes progressed, the BJP steadily gained ground. Chhattisgarh election results 2023: BJP looks well on its course to snatch tribal-dominated state from Congress. (ANI) BJP is now leading in three of four states in key assembly elections, indicating a big boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of general elections in six months. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here As the Congress faces a rout in the Hindi heartland, the grand old party has fallen back on its friends calling for a meeting of the INDIA bloc next week. Chhattisgarh BJP president Arun Sao, buoyed by the positive trends, launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, asserting that the last five years have witnessed the destruction of the state under their governance. Sao claimed that the people of Chhattisgarh were well aware of the alleged shortcomings of the Congress-led administration and expressed confidence that the BJP is the only party capable of safeguarding the interests of the state. "In the last five years, Congress has destroyed Chhattisgarh. People of Chhattisgarh know that only the BJP can protect the state, and that's why they will give their blessings to us," said Arun Sao, reflecting the party's narrative amid the counting of votes. Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo is leading in the Ambikapur constituency, while Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel finds himself trailing in the Patan constituency, according to initial reports. The unfolding dynamics suggest a potentially intriguing electoral outcome in the state. The counting of votes for the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly commenced at 8 am on Sunday, marked by a high level of security across the counting centres in all 33 districts, including those areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The election process, conducted in two phases on November 7 and 17, witnessed a commendable voter turnout of 76.31 per cent. After the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) took a smooth lead against Congress in three states, Union Minister Smriti Irani hailed the victory of her party, crediting the win to the policies introduced by the top leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Minister Smriti Irani hailed BJP's victory in Chhattisgarh, slamming the ousted Congress government in the state.(ANI) Smriti Irani, while speaking to the media after the election results were released on Sunday, said that BJP's win in Chhattisgarh is all thanks to PM Modi and the people of the state. BJP's win has ousted Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel government in the state, just as the Mahadev app scam investigation continued to point fingers at the Congress leader. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here AS BJP took a steady lead against Congress in Chhattisgarh, Smriti Irani said, "I am extremely elated that women had a decisive role in BJP's victory particularly their consistent support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great joy for me." She further slammed the Congress government in Chhattisgarh, alleging the party's role in the Mahadev app scam, liquor scam and job scam. She also said that Congress had reduced the state to "just an ATM" for party funds. "After the liquor scam, job scam and Mahadev betting app scandal of the Congress party along with the fact that the Delhi leadership had reduced the Chhattisgarh unit as the Congress ATM is something that enraged people at large," the Union Minister said. BJP's win against Congress in Chhattisgarh BJP is set to make a comeback in Chhattisgarh after winning the elections against Congress, ousting CM Bhupesh Baghel from the post. BJP is currently leading in over 47 seats, while Congress is leading on 41 total seats. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge conceded defeat in three states - Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh - today, saying that while the performance of the party has been disappointing, the party will revive itself in the coming years. The voting in Chhattisgarh elections 2023 happened in two phases - November 7 and November 17, while the counting of the votes took place on December 3. New Delhi The Congress partys electoral rout in the Hindi heartland states in the latest round of assembly polls has backfired on its strategy of deferring seat-sharing talks for the coming Lok Sabha elections with other members of the INDIA bloc, with even its leadership of the Opposition alliance in the making likely to come under question. The INDIA bloc leaders met in Mumbai on September 1. (HT) The non-Congress constituents of the bloc are furious about the Congresss delay in seat talks, and some of them have also started questioning whether the Congress is the weakest link of the coalition -- especially given its showing in the three states of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, all direct contests with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here ALSO READ- Assembly election results: How BJPs gambit paid off in Rajasthan For three months now, theres been little progress on efforts to give the Opposition grouping against the BJP some shape and structure. The Congress didnt just stall seat-sharing talks in anticipation of a good performance in this round of assembly elections that could put it at an advantage in any negotiations, but also refused to have any meaningful seat-sharing arrangements with opposition parties in the three states. Now, with its standing dented, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the bloc on December 6, after a long gap. The last coordination meeting was called on September 13. Opposition parties are questioning the Congresss ability to take on the BJP, and suggested that it allow regional parties to call the shots in their respective states. A senior leader from the Trinamool Congress who asked not to be named said: The Congress should leave it to regional parties to take the lead against the BJP. While parties such as the Trinamool Congress, DMK, AAP, JD(U) and RJD had been repeatedly successful in thwarting the BJPs electoral advances, the Congress has failed to do so. There was also recrimination of the Congress for the delay. Also read- Husband vs wife, uncles vs nieces contests in 4 seats in Raj. How they fared Another Opposition leader, who asked not to be named, said: We were repeatedly telling the Congress to quickly finalise the candidates. The Mumbai resolution also said that ticket distribution should be done at the earliest. But the Congress delayed it. His reference is to the September 1 meeting of the bloc in Mumbai where it was decided to hold the seat sharing talks at the earliest. Opposition leaders also pointed out that while it was decided to hold the first joint meeting of the allies in Bhopal on October 2, Congresss Madhya Pradesh chief Kamal Nath scuttled it. The Congress thought they will arm twist us after the elections, quipped another Opposition leader on condition of anonymity. Bauchander Nagarajan, a political analyst said the alliance is strongest where regional parties are strong and said a partnership could work in Tamil Nadu, Bihar or West Bengal but that the Congress would have to latch on regional parties and sort out its issues in north India. He added that the party sought to mimic the BJP and also raise non-issues such as Adani. Not everyone is convinced the Congress is irrelevant in the bloc. It is the only Opposition party that has voters from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It is still the largest Opposition party in both Houses of Parliament, said a Left leader. Also read-Assembly election results: As BJP wins 3 states & Cong wins Telangana, here's what exit polls had predicted But some other Opposition leaders were categorical that the question of leadership of the group is now open. In the past two years, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and BRS leader K Chandrashekar Rao, all tried to forge third fronts minus the Congress. None succeeded. A third front has low possibility, but now its almost certain that regional satraps will flex their muscles in the INDIA group, a senior Opposition leader said. The counting for around 119 million votes polled for 639 assembly seats across Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana , and Rajasthan began on Sunday morning after polling described as a virtual semi-final for the 2024 national elections concluded on November 30. Postal ballots were being counted first and the process was being videographed under heavy security. Policemen review arrangements for counting of votes for the Telanagna Assembly election in Hyderabad. (PTI) The four states send 82 representatives to the Lok Sabha and the election results are expected to impact seat-sharing negotiations within the Oppositions Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. The polls in three of the statesRajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarhfeatured bipolar contests between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The BJP has ruled Madhya Pradesh, the largest of the states to go to the polls, for 18 of the last 20 years. It was in a head-to-head battle with the Congress in the state as the Congress hoped to cash in on anti-incumbency to return to power. A majority of exit polls predicted an intense contest between the BJP and the Congress. Two gave the edge to the Congress and one to the BJP. IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 surveys predicted a sweep for the BJP. The BJP fielded ministers and parliamentarians in addition to focussing on its welfare outreach. The Congress focussed on anti-incumbency and corruption allegations against Chouhan. Rajasthan usually votes out the incumbent every five years. Congress chief minister Ashok Gehlot expected to put up a tough battle on the back of welfare and cash transfer schemes. A majority of exit polls predicted that the BJP was coming back to power. But IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 both predicted that Congress was marginally ahead. The contest appeared more evenly poised in Chhattisgarh, where the Congress swept the polls in 2018. Five exit polls predicted a close fight with the Congress ahead. Three others forecast that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was comfortably set for a second straight term. The Congress campaigned on its paddy procurement scheme and welfare programmes. Every exit poll predicted that the Congress, which was in power at the Centre when Telangana was created in 2014, was set to replace the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the only southern state that went to the polls in this round. BRS has ruled the state since its inception. Four exit polls said the Congress would get a simple majority of its own. Others predicted that it would likely emerge as the single-largest party. The Congress was decimated in the 2018 polls and ended up around 20 percentage points in vote share behind the BRS. It ran the 2023 campaign under its state unit chief Revanth Reddy who targeted the BRS over corruption and anti-incumbency. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao focussed on his welfare outreach and schemes. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar flew to Hyderabad on Saturday apparently to keep the Congress flock together. He alleged that the BRS was attempting to make contact with their lawmakers. A complete wipeout in the tribal north; a precipitous fall in the tribal south, and a sharp dip in seats across urban centres have led to the Congress losing power in Chhattisgarh, five years after it stormed to power in the state. In results declared on Sunday, the Congress dropped to 35 seats in Chhattisgarh, down from the 68 seats it won in 2018, with the BJP storming to power with its best ever performance in the state. A view of the Chhattisgarh Congress office during the counting of votes for the State Assembly elections, in Raipur on Sunday. Also read- Assembly election results 2023: BJP secures trifecta in Hindi heartland; Telangana to get its first non-BRS govt. Top 10 Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here In the 14 seats of Surguja in north Chhattisgarh, a region where the Congress had won every single seat in 2018, the BJP turned the tables entirely, winning all the seats, including that of deputy Chief Minister TS Singhdeo. Senior Congress leaders said that a protracted leadership struggle within the Congress diminished Singhdeo, who had hoped to be chief minister, and that had caused both internal strife within the party, and a lack of clear messaging in the people. In Bastar too, where the party held all 12 seats, the Congress was reduced to 4 seats. Overall, it is clear that our deep losses in tribal seats have left us in this state, a senior leader said. Also read- Madhya Pradesh election: Flagship welfare schemes help BJP register victory But it isnt just tribal seats. In urban centres such as Raipur and Durg, the BJP has done exceedingly well, winning all 7 seats in the states capital, and winning only 2 of 6 in Durg. These include the losses of several ministers including Shiv Dahariya and Tamradhwaj Sahu, the home minister. RP Singh, senior Congress leader said, This result was not expected and we have miscalculated politically. Chhattisgarh based political commentator Harsh Dubey said, The Congress has suffered its primary losses in Surguja, Bastar and urban areas, the first two of which it swept in 2018. The Congress clearly could not read the effects of issues like party infighting and religious conversion in tribal areas, and in urban seats, allegations of corruption seem to have hurt the most. The first news conference Earl Blumenauer held in Washington was a bipartisan affair, featuring the Oregon congressman alongside a fellow Democrat from Texas and Republicans from Illinois and New York. Their topic: a plea for greater civility in Congress. It almost seems quaint now, Blumenauer said of that 1996 lets-join-hands moment. The 14-term lawmaker recently announced his decision to call it quits after 27 years on Capitol Hill, part of an exodus of more than three dozen congressional members rushing the exits rather than seeking re-election. Its the highest number of departures in more than a decade and it includes one from Buffalo: Rep. Brian Higgins, a Democrat, will leave in February, citing the deterioration of the House. He will become the new president and CEO of Sheas Performing Arts Center. Blumenauer, speaking from his Portland district, said his initial decision to run for Congress was inspired by Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker who operated the chamber with a gavel in one hand and Molotov cocktail in the other. So its not as though Blumenauer arrived in Washington to find lambs cuddling alongside lions. As an experienced, not-yet-old politician ... I thought I could make a difference, said the 75-year-old lawmaker, who spent years in state and local government before going to Washington. Since then, however, the atmosphere has grown incalculably worse, driven in large part by a warring Republican House majority that seems to plumb new depths of surliness and disorder with each passing day. Lifes too short, said Blumenauer, who plans to pursue his policy interests public transit being a particular passion in a less-toxic environment closer to home. Its not as though hes leaving behind a deeply beloved institution. A recent Gallup poll found a cringe-inducing 13% of Americans approved of the job Congress is doing and that survey was taken before former Speaker Kevin McCarthy sucker-elbowed a political foe and a Senate hearing on labor issues nearly devolved into a fist fight. Thats impressive, Rep. Ken Buck said dryly of Gallups dismal rating. The Colorado Republican is also among those opting against seeking another term, after nearly a decade as a House lawmaker and a stint in the 1980s as a staffer for then-Rep. Dick Cheney. Hes had enough, Buck said, of the name-calling and juvenile behavior. Theres a part of me that wishes that I had served during a different era of Congress, a more productive time, the congressman said as he motored through his district, which sprawls outward from the Denver suburbs. I worked very closely with a lot of Democrats and built very good friendships on a lot of important issues. But it just didnt happen enough. Buck has been notably critical of fellow Republicans parroting the lie about a stolen 2020 election, or whitewashing the attempted government overthrow on Jan. 6 proving its possible to be a staunch conservative and still live and work in the real world. There are some Trump people that got elected to Congress that are just baffling, Buck said. They just dont belong in Congress. I dont know how else to put it. Whos to blame for turning the House into a Boschian hellscape? Buck names Trump as well as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He says the San Francisco Democrat too often personalized political differences. Blumenauer, among the most liberal House members, agrees with the part about Trump. He also blames the destructive influence of cable TV and social media, which create a warped incentive structure that rewards bombast and conflict over thoughtfulness and compromise. Increasingly, weve got people who arent interested in being serious partners to govern, Blumenauer said. Its all performative. Its [saying] the most outrageous things possible, which gets them airtime on ... Fox News and MSNBC and TikTok. Higgins was of like mind. Congress has become performative, he said in announcing his departure. Everybody thats making a name for themselves is making a spectacle of themselves. The more outrageous they act, the more attention they get. Despite it all, the Oregon Democrat Blumenauer described himself as pathologically upbeat and suggested theres a way out of todays slough of congressional dysfunction. It starts with nonideological issues things like roads, bridges and bike lanes, which Blumenauer has focused much of his career on and using agreement in those areas to build trust. What needs to happen, I think, is for us to be able to take a deep breath and focus on an agenda of inclusion and reform, he said. Different rhetoric and work hard to get bipartisan partners. Buck is less upbeat. He suggests it may take something shattering and awful to bring the country together and snap its fractious politicians out of their puerile antics and self-centered scuffling. America is never as united as when we have a crisis, Buck said. After 9/11, everybody was hugging and kissing and putting the country first. So sometimes you just need a crisis, as horrible as that is to say. Hitting bottom can be the first step toward recovery. Perhaps weve reached that point with the current Congress, run by nihilists and narcissists who can barely perform the basic responsibilities of choosing a functional leader and keeping the government up and running. Its hard to see how things can get much worse, though in todays Washington anything is possible. Mark Z. Barabak is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, focusing on politics in California and the West. The Election Commission of India has suspended Anjani Kumar, director general of police Telangana for violation of the Model Code of conduct and relevant conduct rules during the Telangana assembly election 2023, news agency ANI reported citing sources. Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar meets state Congress president Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad on Sunday. (ANI photo) The Telangana DGP along with Sanjay Jain, state police nodal officer, Telangana, and Mahesh Bhagwat, nodal (expenditure), had met Anumula Revanth Reddy, a contesting candidate of the Congress in the ongoing assembly election in Hyderabad with flower bouquet at the residence of the state Congress president, ANI added. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The DGP opting to meet a contesting candidate out of the total of 2,290 and the star campaigner of one political party out of 16 political parties in the fray was a clear indication of mala fide intention of seeking favour, sources told news agency PTI. The Congress was set to oust the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) from power in Telangana, assembly poll results and trends showed. The sources at the poll panel said the DGP is the head of the force of the state police sand is expected to lead the entire police services of the state by setting an example through his personal impartial conduct. Any misconduct on the part of DGP Telangana not only sets a wrong precedent but sends incorrect signals to the field formations who are still in the process of conducting elections. Needless to add if subordinate police officers in the field formations start following the footsteps of their seniors to meet candidates abandoning their counting and security-related duties, the consequences can be disastrous of unimaginable proportions, EC sources added. Meanwhile, EC has also sought an explanation from other two officials, Sanjay Kumar Jain and Mahesh M Bhagwat, about the circumstances under which they have met with Revanth Reddy. "The next senior most eligible Police Officer of the State will be immediately given charge of Director General of Police Telangana," the EC sources said. CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a police complaint against Tamil Nadus vigilance department officials who carried out searches at the federal agencys Madurai office, accusing the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) of criminal trespass, stealing and taking copies of sensitive documents and allowing unauthorised people to conduct an illegal search of its office on December 1. ED said only four DVAC officers and two witnesses were authorised to conduct the search but 35 people entered its Madurai office (ANI FILE) The ED complaint was filed by the agencys assistant director based at its Madurai office, Brijesh Beniwal. In a 16-page complaint on Saturday, ED asked Tamil Nadu director general of police Shankar Jiwal to ensure that a first information report (FIR) was filed against the accused. HT has reviewed a copy of EDs complaint. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The complaint relates to an overnight search on December 1-2 at EDs sub-zonal office in Madurai after the arrest of enforcement officer (EO) Ankit Tiwari after he allegedly received a 20 lakh bribe from a government doctor in Dindigul district to close a case registered by the agency in 2020. The searches went on overnight and concluded on December 2. In its complaint, ED said only four DVAC officers and two witnesses were authorised to conduct the search but 35 people including some who claimed to be from the police along with media and mob forcefully entered their Madurai office. They were reluctant to provide their identity cards except for M Sathyaseelan, DVAC Madurai branchs deputy superintendent of police (DSP). They accessed the sensitive case records, information and internal documents of ED related to other cases which have no link with the alleged search case, EDs complaint said. It underscored that the agency recorded its protest in the panchnama (a legal document that records an account of proceedings and evidence) filed by the DVAC team. According to the panchnama, Beniwal refused to cooperate with DVAC and prevented officials from entering Ankit Tiwaris room, forcing DVAC to seek the local polices help with their cameraman. DVAC said they seized three incriminating documents from a steel bureau numbered 3 in Tiwaris room. It includes an Enforcement Case Information Report from 2020 against Dr Suresh Babu, chief civil surgeon of the government Dindigul Hospital who complained against Ankit Tiwari. The doctor approached DVAC on November 30, a day after Tiwari allegedly claimed to have received instructions to investigate him and demanded 3 crore to close the case, according to the FIR filed on November 30. The FIR alleged Tiwari finally agreed to a 51 lakh bribe and the doctor paid the first instalment of 20 lakh on December 1 which was recorded on camera, leading to Tiwaris arrest on the Dindigul-Madurai highway. A resurgent Congress was ahead across Telangana, barring the Hyderabad urban region, and Chhattisgarh while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appeared set to retain power in Madhya Pradesh and was leading in Rajasthan. Counting of votes for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections underway in Jabalpur. (PTI) The Congress was leading on 46 of the 119 assembly constituencies in Telangana on the back of an anti-incumbency sentiment. The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) appeared to be holding on to 11 segments, mostly in the Hyderabad region, after the first round of counting. A party needs 60 seats to form the government in Telangana. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here In the 2018 elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the earlier avatar of BRS, bagged 88 seats while the Congress managed to win only 19 seats. The BJP won just one seat. Chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao was leading in the Gajwel constituency after the completion of the first round of counting. In Rajasthan, the Opposition BJP was leading on 52 seats and the ruling Congress 34, as per the Election Commission of India website. Bharat Adivasi Party, which is contesting for the first time, was leading on four and others six. TV channels reported the BJP was ahead in 100 seats, the Congress 85, and others 12 seats until 9am. As per the TV reports, top leaders of both parties including chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his predecessor Vasundhara Raje of the BJP were leading. BJP state chief CP Joshi said this is the beginning of the defeat of injustice. To be sure, less than five per cent of the votes have been counted so far. The counting for around 119 million votes polled for 639 assembly seats across Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan earlier began on Sunday morning after polling described as a virtual semi-final for the 2024 national elections concluded on November 30. Postal ballots were being counted first and the process was being videographed under heavy security. The four states send 82 representatives to the Lok Sabha and the election results are expected to impact seat-sharing negotiations within the Oppositions Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. The polls in three of the statesRajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarhfeatured bipolar contests between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP has ruled Madhya Pradesh, the largest of the states to go to the polls, for 18 of the last 20 years. It was in a head-to-head battle with the Congress in the state as the Congress hoped to cash in on anti-incumbency to return to power. A majority of exit polls predicted an intense contest between the BJP and the Congress. Two gave the edge to the Congress and one to the BJP. IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 surveys predicted a sweep for the BJP. The BJP fielded ministers and parliamentarians in addition to focussing on its welfare outreach. The Congress focussed on anti-incumbency and corruption allegations against Chouhan. Rajasthan usually votes out the incumbent every five years. Gehlot expected to put up a tough battle on the back of welfare and cash transfer schemes. A majority of exit polls predicted that the BJP was coming back to power. But IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 both predicted that Congress was marginally ahead. The contest appeared more evenly poised in Chhattisgarh, where the Congress swept the polls in 2018. Five exit polls predicted a close fight with the Congress ahead. Three others forecast that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was comfortably set for a second straight term. The Congress campaigned on its paddy procurement scheme and welfare programmes. Every exit poll predicted that the Congress, which was in power at the Centre when Telangana was created in 2014, was set to replace the BRS in the only southern state that went to the polls in this round. BRS has ruled the state since its inception. Four exit polls said the Congress would get a simple majority of its own. Others predicted that it would likely emerge as the single-largest party. The Congress was decimated in the 2018 polls and ended up around 20 percentage points in vote share behind the BRS. It ran the 2023 campaign under its state unit chief Revanth Reddy who targeted the BRS over corruption and anti-incumbency. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was ahead in the early trends in Madhya Pradesh at 10am, two hours after counting for the states assembly elections began. Counting of votes for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections underway at a centre in Jabalpur. (PTI) During the first round of counting in 200 of the 230 seats in the Madhya Pradesh assembly, trends showed that the BJP was leading in over 100 seats, edging out the Congress, which was ahead in about 90. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here To be sure, just 4% of all votes in the state have been counted as of 10am and the trends are likely to evolve through the day. There will be between 16 and 24 rounds of counting in the state, said election commission officials. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Congress state president Kamal Nath as well as BJP leaders Narottam Mishra and Prahlad Patel were leading from their respective constituencies. Chouhan in a post on X (formerly Twitter) said Bharatiya Janata Party is going to form the government again with full majority. Nath, meanwhile, said, I have full faith in the people of Madhya Pradesh that they will keep their future safe. Madhya Pradesh is the largest of the five states that voted during the current of elections and will see a head-to-head battle between the BJP, which has ruled the state for 18 of the last 20 years, and the Congress, which hoped to cash in on anti-incumbency to dislodge chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The state voted in a single phase on November 17. A majority of exit polls predicted an intense battle between the ruling BJP and the Congress two gave the edge to the Congress, one to the BJP and two forecast a dead heat. But two other prominent surveys IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 were the outliers, predicting a sweep for the BJP and a decimation for the Congress. The BJP fielded a bevy of senior ministers and parliamentarians, in addition to talking about its welfare outreach and Chouhans image. The Congress focussed on anti-incumbency and corruption allegations against Chouhan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the assembly election results are a win for Aatmanirbharta and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses party workers at BJP headquarters in Delhi. Addressing jubilant party workers at the BJP headquarters in the national capital, he said, Today's victory in assembly elections is historic and unprecedented. It is the victory of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' and self-reliant India. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here In an apparent attack on the caste census push by the Opposition parties, Prime Minister Modi claimed that several attempts were made to divide country on caste lines. He reiterated that women, youth, poor and farmers are the only castes in the country and their empowerment would further strengthen the country. "But, I kept on saying that for me four castes are supreme and they are women power, youth, farmers, and the poor. The country will be strengthened if these four will be empowered," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party registered a decisive victory in the heartland states, routing the rival Congress party in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. It also improved its tally in the southern state of Telangana where it has had limited presence. Prime Minister Modi said the incumbent parties were thrown out of power in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana because it was against the youth and had scams in its tenure. Referring to the wins in three states, the prime minister asserted that the hattrick of victories has guaranteed BJP's hattrick of wins for the Lok Sabha elections. The voter needs a well-defined roadmap to improve his lifestyle...India's voter knows that when India moves forward then the state moves forward and the life of every family improves. So, the voter is choosing the BJP continuously, he said. (This is breaking newsplease check back for updates) Jyotiraditya Scindia, 52, whose move to the BJP in 2020 saw the party return to power after losing the 2018 elections, spoke to HT on the partys stunning performance in Madhya Pradesh and the road ahead. Edited excerpts: Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Bhopal on November 9. (PTI) Did you anticipate this magnitude of victory? Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Ive always maintained, despite all the sceptics sitting in Delhi and some in Madhya Pradesh, that the BJP is set for a majority victory in Madhya Pradesh. I have always said that we will exceed the magic number of 116. I never thought it would be a landslide victory like this, almost a two-thirds majority. I would first of all like to thank the people of Madhya Pradesh. The credit for their win foremost goes to the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made it very clear that Modi ke mann mein MP, aur MP ke mann mein Modi (MP is in Modis mind and Modi in MPs) and that came across very strongly. The trust that the people have in him to lead us at the state level and at the national level is evident. The credit also goes to our home minister, Amit Shah, and party president JP Nadda. Throughout the campaign, they worked on the strategy, worked out the minutest details and if it werent for their strategy and guidance, this win would not have been possible. At the state level, I would like to thank all my party workers. I would also like to credit Shivraj Singh Chouhan ji, his governance, his vision, and the transformation of Madhya Pradesh over the 18 years of BJP rule. (State) party president Vishwadhar Sharma led our campaign from the front. Also read- Congress faces tough INDIA bloc equation after defeat In your region of Gwalior and Chambal, you have done very well. Can you share with us some strategies that paid off? Well, the way we looked at the whole state, and more specifically for me, Gwalior and Chambal, the party worked in unison. We crafted that strategy at the micro level and then also decided our candidates. This was part of the home ministers strategy, and well in advance, in those seats where we were weak in the past, the candidates had to cover the ground very quickly. Pundits were forecasting 3-4 seats out of 34 seats for the BJP, and the last count that I saw, we were close to 19-20 seats out of 34, which is a historic win for our party. From the seven seats that we had in the last elections in 2018, we have almost tripled the number in Gwalior and Chambal. Did your rivals not work in unison? I dont want to cast any aspersions. The Congress put up a good fight, but they are the vanquished. I would not like to carry any ill feelings like them from my side to any of them. Also read: Caste to welfare, all cards fall flat for Congress in heartland Its interesting you say that because some of the attacks got pretty heated in a campaign, and there were some comments made against you as well. Personal comments have been made against me for the past three years. They abused me, they used unsavoury words against me, they cursed me, and even mocked me. They tried to taint my family members and all of these attacks, I took all of it head on. Firstly, through the previous election results, the public has silenced them. Secondly, when they didnt stop even after that, these results have done it. Every single Opposition leader, be it Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath Ji, or any other leader of the Congress, the results have silenced them forever. Especially, one woman politician (ek netri), she spoke about my height, she insulted my family. I had said that the public of Gwalior and Chambal will give an answer to them. And for those who were talking about my height, the public has shown her the height of MPs public. Previously, the people of Uttar Pradesh had shown this, and now Madhya Pradesh has too. You are talking about Priyanka Gandhi? I would leave that for you to infer. Do you finally feel vindicated about leaving the Congress? I dont want to live in the past because Congress is my past. Justice has been done by the people. They have given a befitting reply. And I think the leadership of Prime Minister Modi stands apart; where every person across length and breadth in this country holds their faith in one single person. It has come clearly across in not only this election but also in Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. Also read-Assembly election results: As BJP wins 3 states & Cong wins Telangana, here's what exit polls had predicted The womens vote seems to be a big advantage. The Ladli Behna Yojana has been a game-changer in MP and this credit goes to Chouhan ji. Is this vote against the Congresss pitch for an OBC census? Everything that the Congress stands for, the result has been an answer against it. The public is tired, agitated, disappointed and irritated of it. They do not want to be a part of that anymore. Does this take your expectations higher for 2024? We will win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by an enormous majority. And you can quote me on that. New Delhi: In early June, Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy launched the Telangana election campaign of the Congress from the most unusual of locations New York. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Revanth Reddy (PTI) Gandhi addressed a crowd of over 3,000 people in Manhattans Javits Center, with over half of those who came to listen to the Congress leaders being Telugu speakers, who constitute the biggest Indian linguistic group in the US. The idea was to get the states diaspora to send a positive message back home to their families and communities about the Congress and perhaps privately, mobilise funds. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here At a time when few thought that the party could win the state, Reddy, surrounded by supporters, sounded confident and told HT that the state was ready to witness what he said was a decadal turn. The Telugu Desam Party ruled united Andhra Pradesh for 10 years between 1994 and 2004, the Congress ruled the state from 2004 and 2014, and TRS (renamed as Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi) ruled Telangana from 2014 to 2023. No one thought when they were ruling that they could be voted out. But it happened. This time, the Congress will come back in the state, Reddy said, presciently. On Sunday, in an otherwise grim day for the party, the only good news for the Congress came yet again from South India, six months after it had won the state elections in Karnataka convincingly. The outcome was a reflection of the deep anti-incumbency against the BRS, the party that championed the formation of the state, as well as the Congresss increasingly rare ability to get the local leadership, narrative and social coalition right in a state where it had been pushed to the margins. Five features of the Telangana verdict are striking. One, it shows that the phase of sharp regional identity-based politics is over. This attachment to regional pride was natural both during the movement for a new state as well as after the formation of the state and K Chandrashekar Rao was its embodiment. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, voters recognised that Raos persistence and leadership had been a critical factor in giving the people of Telangana a distinct political identity. The fact that UPA-2 had delivered on the creation of the state meant that BRS couldnt frame the Congress as a party against the state. Belated as it was, this verdict, for the Congress, is akin to divine electoral justice after having been wiped out in the state despite having helped create it (while losing Andhra as well). For the TRS, an appeal to identity and a reminder of its role in the states creation wasnt enough once the objective was met and time had passed. Voter aspirations had changed. Two, this change in aspiration meant that voters werent willing to turn a blind eye to what was perceived to be widespread corruption within the government. BRS had seemingly found a formula for success deliver on public welfare while accumulating private resources in 2019. But as the corruption got more entrenched, as the lifestyle of local leaders became increasingly and visibly distinct from the everyday struggles of voters, and as local-level rent-seeking began to palpably hit citizens, the mood shifted. Anti-corruption, the Telangana verdict shows, remains a potent political platform. And while the BJP is successful, often, in framing the Congress as the hotbed of illicit wealth, in this case, the Congress succeeded in framing the BRS as the fountain of corruption, just as it had done against the BJP in Karnataka. Three, a key shift in Indias governance, both at the national level and in states, has been the nature of the welfare architecture. Direct cash transfers have eroded the room for patronage and arbitrary rent-seeking, except, it appears, in Telangana. Instead of providing universal benefits, the state adopted a targeted approach to different schemes. The problem was not the targeted approach; the problem was that this provided room for local politicians and bureaucrats to play the role of intermediaries, extract resources and be selective. This, in turn, created resentment among those who felt they had been cheated out of benefits, leaving a fertile constituency for the Congress to mine. Fourth, the Congresss triumph shows that there is no alternative to strong local leaders. It doesnt always work, for the party did project three strong regional leaders in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh too. But Reddy was also of a different generation -- his energy, dynamism and rootedness gave the Congress an edge. Picked by Rahul Gandhi to lead the party, despite having been in rival formations in the past, Reddy was able to create a wave that convinced voters that the Congress was a winnable alternative. He built on what was already a dormant but strong organisational presence of the party on the ground. Projecting this aura was key to ensuring that the disillusioned consolidated around the Congress, rather than either resign themselves to another BRS term or fragment towards the BJP. And finally, the verdict shows the clear gulf between the political outlook of voters in north and south India. In the south, except in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress is a real alternative (albeit with the DMK in Tamil Nadu) and its narrative resonates and its emotional connect with voters persists. In the south, Rahul Gandhi is popular, Narendra Modis appeal is limited in swinging elections, and the BJPs ability to read the local mood and craft a message leaves a lot to be desired. All of this introduces checks in Indian politics at a time of BJP hegemony, and while this is good, it also throws up a potentially concerning trend where citizens on either side of the Vindhyas define their political preferences in distinct ways. But that is a trendline (and fracture) to watch for the future. For now, the Congress can pat itself on the back for coming to power in a state where it faced the real prospect of being diminished to the third slot not so long ago. Six months after their New York show, Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy can smile in Hyderabad. In keeping with a 30-year trend that sees the incumbent being defeated in Rajasthan, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has defeated the Congress in the state. The BJP has won xx of 199 seats that went to polls (election in one constituency has been postponed) with a xx% vote share compared to xx seats and xx% vote share for the Congress. BJP workers celebrating the partys victory in three states. (HT Photo) There does seem to be merit in the argument that local anti-incumbency against MLAs played a bigger role in this years Rajasthan results than a macro anti-incumbency against the Congress. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here An HT analysis of flips at the assembly constituency (AC) level in 2018 and 2023 shows that both the BJP and the Congress have lost a large share of ACs they won in 2018. If the 13 independent MLAs who joined the Congress government in 2018 are considered part of the party, the party can be considered to have won 113 assembly constituencies (ACs) in 2018. Of these 113 ACs, the party has lost 63 to the BJP and eight to others in 2023. This means that in 2023, the Congress lost 63% of the constituencies it won in 2018. While the BJP has won the state, it was also not very popular in the seats it won in 2018. Of the 73 ACs the party won in 2018, it has lost 29 (40%) in this election (25 to the Congress and four to other parties). As the data above shows, a majority of its wins in this election (55%) have come in seats held by the Congress. Because of a very high number of independent MLAs joining the Congress after winning in 2013 most of them were rebel candidates who were not given the Congress ticket such a comparison between 2013 and 2018 results is not possible. However, a comparison of the 2018-23 flip with 2008-13 flips shows that the BJPs latest victory is very different from what it achieved in 2013. In the 2013 election, the BJP had lost just 13 of the 78 ACs (17%) it had won in 2008. Apart from this, it also won 83 of 96 ACs held by the Congress. It was this combination of avoiding local anti-incumbency against its own MLAs and exploiting state-wide, perhaps even nation-wide anti-incumbency against the Congress that gave the BJP the biggest ever victory for any party in Rajasthan in the 2013 elections. A comparison of flips between 2003 and 2008 elections is not possible because of the redrawing of AC boundaries in the 2008 delimitation. Leaders of the Opposition alliance INDIA decided to meet on December 6 at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi to chalk out a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, PTI reported citing sources. The leaders will likely discuss and finalise their plan to take on the BJP before the elections. Opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) leaders during a press conference after the bloc leaders meeting, in Mumbai. (ANI/File) Meanwhile, counting of votes for four out of five states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana for assembly elections is underway. Votes for the Mizoram assembly elections will be counted on Monday. The Congress is awaiting the results before it finalises further strategy plans. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The Opposition also alliance is likely to plan joint rallies in the run-up to the general elections that were put on hold due to the assembly elections. At least 26 parties have come together as part of the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP in the general elections and have so far held three rounds of deliberations in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai. National Conference vice president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday expressed his concern about the future of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) saying that if the situation continues to be like this in future, the opposition alliance will not be able to win the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah.(ANI) Follow Election Results LIVE Updates Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here "I cannot say anything. The situation of the INDIA Alliance in the state elections, if the same continues in the future, then we will not be able to save ourselves..." he said to the reporters. Abdullah said that the Congress' claims in the state elections proved otherwise since the party was able to win only in Telangana. He also claimed that the Congress should have given some seats to its INDIA bloc partner, Samajwadi Party to contest. "The Congress could not understand the ground situation in Madhya Pradesh. What would have they lost if they had given 5-7 seats to Akhilesh Yadav... They have lost anyway. It is possible that if Akhilesh Yadav was given a few seats, we could save ourselves a little in MP. Now the results are out..." Omar Abdullah on BJP's victory: The NC leader congratulated the BJP saying that this is not what the opposition leaders were expecting. "We have to congratulate the BJP now because we were not expecting this. We were hearing that the Congress would easily win Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. They said that in Rajasthan too they will lead at the end. But after the results, all the claims proved to be baseless." On the future of the INDIA bloc, the NC vice president said, "On December 6, the Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch. They recalled the INDIA alliance after three months. Let's see." When asked whether his party Jammu and Kashmir National Conference will be contesting the assembly elections in future with the INDIA bloc, Abdullah said, "The NC will be standing on its own." At least 26 parties have come together as part of the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections and have so far held three rounds of deliberations in Patna, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is set to form government in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. However, the grand old party has only been able to wrest power in Telangana. News / Local by Staff reporter THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has been accused of inflating the number of voters while announcing results of the disputed August elections.This came out from a study that was conducted by the Election Resources Centre (ERC) to understand how Zimbabweans vote in elections, denting the credibility of poll outcome.According to findings of the ERC study, there were 3 820 more voters from those that were in the final voters roll that was availed to political parties and candidates ahead of the elections."There were 6 623 511 registered voters on the 2023 voter roll, an increase of 927 805 voters from the 2018 harmonised election voters roll," ERC legal and advocacy officer, Takunda Tsunga said while presenting the findings of the study in Harare last week."The ERC notes inconsistencies and changes between voter figures announced by the Zec chairperson on August 25, 2023 and those availed on the voter roll given to candidates in violation of section 21 of the Electoral Act."Zec deputy chief elections officer Rodney simukai Kiwa was not picking calls when this publication tried to get his comment on the matter.Chief elections officer Uitoile silaigwana's mobile line was not reachable.Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa has refused to accept the results of the elections in which PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner.Chamisa said there was 'gigantic fraud'.Several election observers which include those from the European Union and the southern African Development Community have discredited the polls.The ERC also noted various malpractices, which included failure by Zec to display the voters' roll outside some polling stations 48 hours before polling.It also noted incidents where an individual would assist multiple voters at some polling stations in violation of the Electoral Act.It decried a decline in voter turnout from 84.8% in the 2018 election to 68.9% in the 2023 polls."The decline in voter turnout can be attributed to the loss of confidence in the ability of elections to produce results that are not contested in Zimbabwe," ERC said."An ERC study on the Nature of Youth's Participation in Electoral and Political Processes in Zimbabwe conducted in May 2023, noted that 39% of youth in Bulawayo and Harare Metropolitan provinces, had not registered to vote because they did not trust the electoral processes.""Other reasons cited for not voting were that the electorate had no confidence in the candidates to bring change, violence experienced in previous elections and the cumbersome voter registration procedures." NEW DELHI: India and the Maldives are in discussions on the continued operation of aircraft provided by New Delhi to the Indian Ocean archipelago, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said the Indian government has agreed to withdraw military personnel from his country. The Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of these aircraft, and the fact that this is an important segment of the bilateral development partnership is recognised by both sides (X/indiannavy) Two advanced light helicopters (ALH) and a Dornier aircraft provided by India in recent years have been extensively used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the Maldives, especially for ferrying people in medical emergencies from outlying islands to better medical facilities. Muizzu, who is seen as pro-China, has been demanding the withdrawal of all Indian military personnel, including those who operate the aircraft. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Soon after returning from a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the COP28 Summit, Muizzu told a media briefing that the Indian government has agreed to withdraw its troops from the Maldives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the leaders with whom Muizzu held bilateral meetings in Dubai. In the discussions we had, the Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers, Muizzu told reporters. We also agreed to set up a high-level committee to solve issues related to development projects. Muizzu expressed the hope that the withdrawal of the Indian troops will be expedited and that the entire process will be completed through diplomatic procedures, said a statement issued by Muizzus office. There was no immediate response from Indian officials. The people cited above said on condition of anonymity that discussions are underway on ways to keep the helicopters and aircraft operational. Discussions on how to keep the Indian platforms operational are ongoing. The core group that both sides have agreed to set up will look at details of how to take this forward, one of the people said. The continued usefulness of the Indian aircraft, as recognised in earlier discussions, needs to be looked at in a proper perspective, the person said. The issue was briefly discussed by the leadership of the two countries in Dubai, the person added. The Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of these aircraft, and the fact that this is an important segment of the bilateral development partnership is recognised by both sides, the people said. The contrasting views offered by the two sides reflects the gap between them on the continued operation of the aircraft. Over the past five years, more than 500 medical evacuations have been carried out by the Indian personnel, saving 523 Maldivian lives. During the same period, more than 450 multifaceted missions were also carried out to safeguard the maritime security of the Maldives. Muizzu won the presidential election in September after campaigning to move away from his predecessors India first policy. He also promised to remove some 77 Indian military personnel present in the country. Most of these personnel are involved in operating and maintaining the three aircraft. A day after taking over as president, Muizzu made a formal request for withdrawing the Indian troops to minister for earth sciences Kiren Rijiju, who represented India at the swearing-in. The statement from the presidents office quoted Muizzu as saying that he would not be hostile to any country, though he would widen the red line of independence and sovereignty of the Maldives and no country would have the opportunity to cross it. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath acknowledged the need to analyze the shortcomings after the party was routed in the assembly election despite perceived anti-incumbency against the BJP-led government in the state. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath during the Central Election Committee meeting to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, in New Delhi, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.(PTI) "We will analyze the loopholes and why we were not able to make the voters understand our point. We will hold discussions with all, be it a winning or losing candidate," Kamal Nath told a press briefing. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Congress leader Kamal Nath congratulated the BJP for the massive win and expressed hope that they would fulfill the expectations of the public. "We accept the decision of the voters of Madhya Pradesh in this contest for democracy. I congratulate BJP and hope that they will live up to the support people have given them," said Kamal Nath. Madhya Pradesh rang the victory bell loud for the BJP by giving it another term in power with the party winning or leading in 166 seats out of 230, well over the halfway mark, and the Congress trailing at 63. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji, said four-term chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BJP has been in power in the state for 18 years. While Chouhan has emerged as a favourite to remain at the helm in MP despite the presence of some challengers, the leadership race is wide open in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, two states where the BJP has snatched power from the Congress. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the party will overcome temporary setbacks and prepare fully for the 2024 national elections along with its allies in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. (PTI) Khage thanked the people of Telangana for electing the Congress with a majority. I also thank all those who voted for us in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Our performance in these three states has no doubt been disappointing, but with determination, we reaffirm our strong resolve to rebuild and revive ourselves in these three states, he said in a post on X as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wrested power from the Congress in the Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh while the Congress managed to win in the southern state of Telangana months before the national polls are due in May. The BJP hopes to retain power at the Centre even as the Congress is set to contest the national polls as part of the 28-party INDIA bloc. The four states, where the election results were announced on Sunday, send 82 representatives to the Lok Sabha. The results are expected to impact seat-sharing negotiations within the INDIA bloc. Kharge maintained the Congress undertook a spirited campaign in all four states. I acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of lakhs of our workers. We will overcome temporary setbacks and prepare ourselves fully for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections along with the INDIA parties. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP was leading on 54 of 90 seats while the Congress on 36. The contest was expected to be more evenly poised in the state, where the Congress swept the polls in 2018. Five exit polls predicted a close fight with the Congress ahead. Three others forecast that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was comfortably set for a second straight term. The BJP was leading on 166 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress was ahead on 63. The BJP has ruled Madhya Pradesh, the largest of the states to go to the polls, for 18 of the last 20 years. It was in a head-to-head battle with the Congress in the state as the Congress hoped to cash in on anti-incumbency to return to power. A majority of exit polls predicted an intense contest between the BJP and the Congress. Two gave the edge to the Congress and one to the BJP. IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 surveys predicted a sweep for the BJP. In Rajasthan, the BJP was ahead on 115 of 199 constituencies while the Congress on 69 in line with the trend of voting out the incumbent every five years. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot expected to put up a tough battle on the back of welfare and cash transfer schemes. A majority of exit polls predicted that the BJP was coming back to power. But IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 predicted that Congress was marginally ahead. The Congress was leading on 63 of 119 constituencies in Telangana as it appeared set to wrest power from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which was ahead on 40. In the 2018 elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the earlier avatar of BRS, bagged 88 seats while the Congress managed to win only 19 seats. Every exit poll predicted that the Congress, which was in power at the Centre when Telangana was created in 2014, was set to replace the BRS in the only southern state that went to the polls in this round. BRS has ruled the state since its inception. Four exit polls said the Congress would get a simple majority of its own. Others predicted that it would likely emerge as the single-largest party. At a closed-door meeting with party leaders in Indore on July 30, Union home minister Amit Shah asked a question: Achchi sarkar kaunsi hoti hai? (Which is a good government?). When the leaders did not come up with the answer he was looking for, Shah, a former party president and arguably the partys most powerful election strategist said, Meri sarkar achchi sarkar hoti hai (my partys government is the best government). Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrates the BJPs victory, with his family in Bhopal on Sunday. (PTI) That is how he set the tone for the election campaign in the state where even our own leaders assumed that years of anti-incumbency, infighting and indifference among the workers would make it difficult for the party to retain power, said a senior BJP functionary aware of the discussions at that meeting. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Also read: Congress faces tough INDIA bloc equation after defeat Having reminded the leaders of the 15 months that they were out of power for in the state after the 2018 polls, Shah proceeded to hand out a list of 15 things for the leadership and the cadre to do. These included strengthening the partys presence at the booth level, identifying workers at every booth to carry out party activities, using social media to connect with voters, reinvigorating Panna Pramukhs, reaching out to women through self-help groups and religious and cultural bodies, and launching specific outreach programmes targeted at communities, professionals and influencers. He also set targets for adding new workers and supporters and said the party had to win at least 51% of the total votes in every booth. As it turns out, the BJP won almost 49% of the votes cast. Party leaders, who were involved in the election strategy, said there were four major challenges the BJP faced. There was anti-incumbency and fatigue factor associated with the chief minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan); rebels who could spoil the show; a disconnect between the leaders and the workers and in turn between the workers and the voters; and anger among social groups such as the government employees and caste groups, said a second party functionary who asked not to be named. Although the work to strengthen the partys presence at the booth level started two years ago, it really got off the ground only four months ago when Shah deputed his trusted lieutenant and Union minister Bhupender Yadav as election in-charge in the state. Another Union minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has acquired a name as an efficient backroom strategist, was made co-incharge. Motivating the worker was a big task. Leaders at the district level and in the ritual sector complained of indifference from state leaders and a breakdown in communication. The second big challenge was to identify leaders who would pose a problem as rebels, said the second functionary. Also read: Caste to welfare, all cards fall flat for Congress in heartland Course correction The party set out to address the grievances of disgruntled leaders and dissuade them from contesting and campaigning against the party. To contain the damage by those who could not be persuaded, the party sought to directly reach out to their supporters. Shah has a terse message for the state leaders. He told them to stop bickering and handed them a task jeeto aur jitao (win and help win), said the first functionary. The functionary added that this instruction helped keep the flock together. The BJP believed that losing the vote of government employees and caste groups, particularly the Scheduled Tribes (ST) that make up for 21% of the electorate, was the reason for its electoral loss in 2018. There are 3% government employees, and the demand for the restoration of the old pension scheme was a significant issue. We assured them that a committee has been formed to look into the new pension scheme to improve it, the second functionary said. Simultaneously, it crunched the 2018 numbers to identify what it needed to do at the constituency level in terms of votes. We also needed to strengthen the base in 100 assembly constituencies and add at least 15,000 votes each in 89 constituencies where the margin of loss was about 5,000 votes. From January 20 to February 5, 2022, the party ran a booth vistarak abhiyan (booth-level expansion mission) to coincide with the birth centenary of Kushabhau Thakre, an RSS leader and a former BJP president. The party enrolled 4.1 million new workers and the booth vistarak abhiyan was launched in two phases. Training camps were held for the Panna Pramukhs where they were given insights into ideological issues and inputs about current social political issuesin the run up to the elections, 1.7 million new members were added, said Rajneesh Agrawal, state secretary. Also read-Assembly election results: As BJP wins 3 states & Cong wins Telangana, here's what exit polls had predicted The party engaged with the targeted groups through the wide network of organisations that are moored to the BJPs ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. These organisations were very effective in blunting the anger against the state leaders. They helped in the saturation of social welfare schemes, identifying lacunae in implementation of policies and iterating the ideological issues that have a pan state resonance, such as the need to protect Sanatan Dharma and Hindutva, said a third party functionary, who asked not to be named. He credited the RSS for helping stitch an election narrative among STs through the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the Janajati Suraksha Manch. Given the importance of women voters, women workers were deputed to reach out to self-help groups of women beneficiaries. This is estimated to have added 40,000 to 45,000 votes to the partys tally in as many as 90 seats where it had previously not performed well. The vistaraks made the beneficiaries take a vow to vote for the party. There are about 1.25 lakh women who are beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna Yojana; of those a significant chunk of votes came to the BJP, said the second functionary. To be sure, the party also credits women-centric schemes piloted by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the years such as the Ladli Lakshmi Yojana and the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah and Nikah Yojna for eliciting a favourable response from women voters. The presence and involvement of senior ministers helped. The party organised the booth Vijay Sankalp Abhiyan between May 4 and 14. The biggest measure that helped workers find confidence and the motivation to drive ahead with full steam was the five yatras that were planned in the state, each led by a senior minister, said the second functionary. And senior leaders who have strong pockets of support on the ground were put in charge of specific regions. For instance, national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya was given the mandate to win the Malwa- Nimar region, Union ministerJyotiraditya Scindia oversaw the election in Gwalior-Chambal region, considered a challenge for the party while another Union minister, Prahlad Patel oversaw the Mahakaushal region. Cooperation and cohesion Central leaders who assumed control of the election campaign in the state acknowledge that the team on the ground in the state set aside differences to collaborate on winning strategy. Once it was evident that the election will be led by a collective leadership, the chief minister did not put up a resistance. He collaborated and so did the leaders on the ground. The process of framing the narrative and picking candidates then became smoother, said the second functionary. Since Madhya Pradesh is known as a sangathan or organisational stronghold, and has a history of shaping stalwarts such as Thakre, former chief minister Uma Bharti, Chouhan, and Narendra Singh Tomar, the central high command ensured that older leaders were not ignored. There was a concerted effort to involve the older and experienced leaders in the campaign. They were given areas to monitor and projects to oversee. This prevented bad blood and reduced the gap between the old and the new guard, said the second functionary. Commenting on the partys unexpected win, president of the state unit, VD Sharma, credited the PMs Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and schemes such as the Ladli Behna Yojana. The PM and the CM empowered farmers, women, youth and the marginalised through Garib Kalyan Yojana. MP was transformed from a Bimaru state to a developed state overnight and the people have blessed us he said. Sharma also credited Shahs efficient political planning for empowering the cadre. He had said we should fight to win every booth. Every committee worked in the election with a team spirit, with collective leadership, and the workers met the target of winning 51% of the vote share that was set by Shah. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a thumping win in Madhya Pradesh, thanks primarily to the guarantees of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the emotional appeal to sisters (women voters) by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, experts said on Sunday. Women get 1,250 a month under the Ladli Behna scheme. (ANI) Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made at least 2,900 announcements after coming into power in 2020 after 22 MLAs of the Congress joined the BJP along with senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Also read- Congress faces tough INDIA bloc equation after defeat After coming to power, Chouhan made the first big announcement of adding 4,000 to the central amount of 6,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi as additional state funding, which was raised to 6,000 annually from this year. The 12,000 made a high impact among voters but the scheme that became a milestone for the BJP to turn the election in its favour was Ladli Behna, said a senior BJP leader. Women get 1,250 a month under the Ladli Behna scheme and the CM has promised to increase it to 3,000. He has, however, not given a timeframe for the same. The scheme, which has more than 13 million beneficiaries, was credited the most by BJP leaders on Sunday for the election victory. Chouhan thanked the blessings of Ladli Behnas, election management by Union home minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modis guarantees for the poll victory. Its a blessing and love of my sisters that BJP won the election with such a huge majority. The management of the central leadership and the guidance of Union home minister Amit Shah and the guarantees of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve the lives of people won it for us, the CM said. Along with the Ladli Behna scheme, the CM also reduced LPG prices to 450 a cylinder and announced 100 units of electricity at 100 and a special financial assistance to women of Sehariya, Baiga and Bharia. Also read: Caste to welfare, all cards fall flat for Congress in heartland Out of the 27.1 million voters, 20.67 million caste their votes on November 17. Political experts said that women and farmers cast their votes in favour of the BJP influenced by these welfare schemes. The women beneficiaries received 1,250 and farmer voters received 10,000 just a few days before voting. This direct benefit in the accounts of beneficiaries played an important role in the victory of the BJP, said Girija Shankar, adding that these schemes ended the anti-incumbency wave that was prominent in June this year. The welfare schemes were praised both by PM Modi and Amit Shah in their speeches during the campaign. Shah also warned that if Congress came to power, it would discontinue the scheme for women. Not only this scheme, the PM also warned voters of the possible discontinuation of schemes such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and PM Housing Scheme by the Congress. Also read-Assembly election results: As BJP wins 3 states & Cong wins Telangana, here's what exit polls had predicted Apart from these welfare schemes, the CM increased wages and salaries of the contractual and permanent employees, negating any impact of the Congress promise of giving them the Old Pension Scheme. This became a major factor that unsatisfied employees and those who were staging protests on roads also voted for the BJP, which resulted in an early lead through postal ballots for the party, Shankar said. In addition to populist schemes, the BJPs election management was much better than that of the Congress, experts said. From rebellion management to campaign strategy, Shah took a lead. He frequently visited Madhya Pradesh and called senior party leaders to Delhi to discuss campaign issues. The BJP announced the names of 39 candidates for seats that the Congress had won in 2018 at least three months before the elections. This helped as senior Congress leaders such as Digvijaya Singhs brother Laxman Singh and Jitu Patwari lost. The BJP won 35 of these seats. The decision of fielding four MPs and three Union ministers on tougher seats was also successful as two ministers Prahlad Patel and Narendra Singh Tomar and three MPs --- Rao Uday Pratap Singh, Rakesh Singh and Riti Pathak --- won their respective seats. Political expert Jayram Shukla said, It was a battle between beneficiaries of the BJP and aspirants of the Congress and the management style of the BJP versus the corporate management of the Congress. The Congress utterly failed and its electoral management was poor. The BJP emerged not just as a successful populist party but also as a party of effective strategists. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son Kartikeya on Sunday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the saffron party's performance in the assembly election. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son Kartikeya Chouhan. The credit for this win goes to PM Modi, the party leadership and Ladli Behens of the state, Kartikeya Chouhan told news agency ANI. When asked about the next chief minister, he said the party will take the decision. According to the latest ECI trends, the saffron party is leading on 164 seats against the Congress' lead of 63. The results in Madhya Pradesh will boost the BJP's confidence ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Madhya Pradesh assembly election results 2023 LIVE updates BJP is going to get a huge mandate. PM Modi is in the minds of the people in Madhya Pradesh... It is the victory of PM Modi's leadership. It is the result of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's planning... Results do not come for one day, they come after continuous better work, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told news agency ANI. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here ALSO READ: BJP 3, Congress 0 in Hindi heartland; heartbreaks for BRS in Telangana. Updates Chouhan, who took over the reins of the state from Babulal Gaur in 2005, led the BJP to victory in 2008 and 2013 elections. However, the BJP lost in 2018 and Congress formed the government under Kamal Nath. But the Congress government collapsed after 15 months in 2020 following rebellion by the then ruling MLAs. Chouhan returned as chief minister for the fourth term. GUWAHATI: With poll results declared on Sunday for four out of the five states that went to assembly elections last month, all eyes are now set on counting of votes in Mizoram on Monday. Polling for the Mizoram assembly elections saw a voter turnout of 80.66% on November 7. (PTI) The counting of votes in Mizoram was earlier scheduled for Sunday along with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. However, following appeals by political parties and organisations citing special significance of Sunday for the people of Mizoram, a Christian-majority state, the Election Commission on November 29 deferred the counting to Monday. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here In the northeastern state, which voted to elect its 40-member legislative assembly on November 7, four major contenders are in the fray the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also read- Madhya Pradesh election: Flagship welfare schemes help BJP register victory Most exit polls have predicted a tight contest between the two regional parties MNF and ZPM. While two exit polls, conducted by India Today-Axis and Jan ki Baat-News 18, have projected ZPM as favourites, two others ABP-Cvoter and P-Marg gave advantage to the MNF. The Congress has been projected at third position followed by the BJP by the exit polls. The exit polls may say anything. But I am confident that MNF will get majority on its own and return to power, Vanlalzawma, MNF vice-president, said. ZPM chief Lalduhoma refused to comment on the exit polls, but expressed confidence of forming the next government. We have done our bit. Now its up to providence on what the results will be. I havent seen the exit polls and dont want to comment on them, state Congress president Lalsawta said. In 2018, the MNF ousted the Congress from power by winning 26 seats. The ZPM, which was formed a year before the previous polls, came second winning eight seats, relegating the Congress, which bagged five, to the third spot. The BJP made its debut in the Christian-majority state by winning a lone seat. Also read- Mizoram exit poll results: Regional players likely to trump Congress, BJP While MNF, ZPM and Congress have fielded candidates in all 40 seats, the BJP is contesting in 23 constituencies. A total of 174 candidates, including 16 women and 17 Independents, were in the fray. The outgoing assembly had no women legislator. Polling for the Mizoram assembly elections saw a voter turnout of 80.66% on November 7. The Election Commission said it has made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes, which will be held at 13 locations across the state on Monday. There will be 40 counting halls in all. Around 4,000 counting and other support staff would be on duty, chief electoral officer (CEO) Madhup Vyas informed. To ensure security, 10 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) and around 2,000 personnel from Mizoram police would also be engaged. Elections in Mizoram have largely centered around the Congress and the MNF, with the two parties being in the power at different periods since the formation of the state in 1987. This time around, however, the ZPM has emerged as a serious contender in the state. The regional parties, MNF and ZPM, are in a tight race and clearly ahead of the two national parties, Congress and BJP. The grand old partys aims of a revival wont succeed and BJP wont be able to win more than three seats, J Doungel, professor of political science at Mizoram University, said. The Madhya Pradesh (MP) Legislative Assembly elections were held on 17 November 2023 to elect all 230 members of the Vidhan Sabha. The state saw a record voter turnout of 76.22%. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on 3 December 2023. Gwalior Lok Sabha Constituency consists of Gwalior Rural, Gwalior, Gwalior East, Gwalior South, Bhitarwar, Dabra (SC), Karera (SC) and Pohari assembly constituencies. People wait in queues to cast their votes at a polling booth for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in Bhopal on Friday. (ANI Photo)(Sanjeev Gupta) Results for Gwalior area constituencies. Find below the latest updates coming in from the area. 2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election results: Constituency 2018 Sitting MLA Party Gwalior Rural Bhuriya Shivabhai Amrabha INC Gwalior Pradhuman Singh Tomar INC Gwalior East Munnalal Goyal INC Gwalior South Dilipkumar Viraji Thakor BJP Bhitarwar Lakhan Singh Yadav INC Dabra (SC) Imarti Devi INC Karera (SC) Jasmant Jatave Chitree INC Pohari Suresh Dhakad [rathkheda] INC Keep a track of all the latest information coming in from Madhya Pradesh with Hindustan Times. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election: Full Coverage link The Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly has 230 seats and a party needs 116 seats to form the government. The political parties in the state include Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The polling was held on November 17, and the state saw a record voter turnout of 76.22%. Assembly Election Results LIVE 2023: A polling official puts ink mark on the finger of a voter prior to vote at a polling booth in Madhya Pradesh. (ANI) Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from the ruling party, BJP, contested from the Budhni assembly constituency in 2023 Elections. In the 2018 Elections, he was fielded from the same seat and defeated INCs Arun Subhashchandra by a margin of 29.00% votes. 2018 was a tight contest between INC and BJP in which Congress became the single-largest party, having won 114 seats. INC formed a government with the support of MLAs from the Samajwadi Party, BSP, and independent MLAs, with Kamal Nath as chief minister. However, in 2020, the government was toppled after 22 sitting MLAs of INC quit. Following the incident, Shivraj Singh Chouhan returned to power. Damoh Lok Sabha Constituency consists of Deori, Rehli, Banda, Malhara, Pathariya, Damoh, Jabera, and Hatta (SC) assembly constituencies. Counting is underway for Damoh area constituencies. Constituency Leading Candidate/ Winning Candidate Party Deori Brijbihari Pateriya BJP Rehli Gopal Bhargava BJP Banda Veerendra Singh Lodhi BJP Malhara Sadhvi Ram Siya Bharti INC Pathariya Lakhan Patel BJP Damoh Jayant Malaiya BJP Jabera Dharmendra Singh Lodhi BJP Hatta (SC) Uma Khatik BJP 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election Results Constituency 2018 Sitting MLA Party Deori Harsh Yadav INC Rehli Gopal Bhargava BJP Banda Tarbar Singh (BANTU BHAIYA) INC Malhara Kunwar Pradyuman Singh Lodhi INC Pathariya Rambai Govind Singh BSP Damoh Rahul Singh INC Jabera Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi BJP Hatta (SC) Purusottam Lal Tantuway BJP Keep a track of all the latest information coming in from Madhya Pradesh with Hindustan Times. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election: Full Coverage link The Madhya Pradesh (MP) Legislative Assembly elections were held on November 17, 2023, to elect 230 members of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The state saw a record voter turnout of 76.22%. In the 2018 assembly elections, the state registered a 75.05% voter turnout. Voters wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes for Telangana Assembly elections.(ANI) The Congress party formed the government with Kamal Nath becoming the chief minister in 2018 assembly polls. In March 2020, 22 Congress MLAs resigned from the assembly and defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), resulting in the collapse of the Congress government. Later, the BJP formed the government under Shivraj Singh Chouhan with a full majority in the by-election held in 2020. The BJP won 110 seats and the Congress party won 109 seats in the by-election. As many as 2,533 candidates, including the incumbent chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan are in the fray in the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. The Khandwa Lok Sabha Constituency consists of Bagli (ST), Mandhata, Khandwa (SC), Pandhana (ST), Nepanagar (ST), Burhanpur, Bhikangaon (ST), Badwaha assembly constituencies. List of winners for Madhya Pradesh assembly seats of Khandwa areas: Constituency Leading Candidate Party Bagli Murli Bhawara BJP Mandhata Narayan Patel BJP Khandwa Kanchan Mukesh Tanve BJP Pandhana Chaya More BJP Nepanagar Manju Rajendra Dadu BJP Burhanpur Archana Chitnis BJP Bhikangaon Jhuma Solanki Congress Badwaha Sachin Birla BJP 2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election results: Constituency 2018 Sitting MLA Party Bagli Kannoje Pahadsingh BJP Mandhata Narayan Patel Congress Khandwa Devendra Verma BJP Pandhana Ram Dangore BJP Nepanagar Sumitra Devi Kasdekar Congress Burhanpur Thakur Surendra Singh Naval Singh Independent Bhikangaon Jhuma Dr. Dhyansingh Solanki Congress Badwaha Sachin Birla Congress Keep a track of all the latest information coming in from Madhya Pradesh with Hindustan Times. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election: Full Coverage News / Local by Staff reporter Mount Pleasant MP, Fadzayi Mahere, has strongly criticized Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-imposed secretary general of CCC, for referring to the former Mayor of Masvingo, Shantiel Yeukai Chiwara, as "a little girl."Chiwara, a 25-year-old graduate with a BComm (Hons) in Banking and a student pursuing a Masters in Strategic Management, made history as the youngest and first female Mayor of Masvingo.In a recent interview on HStvNews, Tshabangu suggested that Chiwara did not earn her position as Masvingo Mayor based on merit but insinuated that she was involved romantically with a senior CCC official.Mahere condemned Tshabangu's comments, characterizing them as an assault on the right of a capable young woman to lead. She emphasized that such "disgusting misogyny" should be denounced by all Zimbabweans.She said:"Disgusting misogyny is on display here by Mr Tshabangu. His defamatory, sexist remarks go beyond politics."It's an attack on the right of a young, competent woman to lead and must be condemned by all progressive Zimbabweans."Mayor Chiwara @Shantiel16 is not a "little girl". She is a banker who broke an important glass ceiling by being elected the first female Mayor of Masvingo."Stop scandalizing her. Stop infantilizing her. Stop harassing her for being a young woman."The @CCCZimbabwe is a movement that has long championed Gender Parity and has consistently stated that it's a movement #ForEveryone including young professional women. #16DaysOfActivism ."Chiwara was the sole councillor recalled by Tshabangu in Masvingo in the first round of the CCC recalls in October. Trotta, known as the 'Godfather of nanosponge', met with the officials of the Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra (Kesnik) last week and held discussions with them on improving the quality of building construction among other matters. HT Image The professor also praised the "commendable" activities of Kesnik in the field of construction, a release issued by it said. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here "Nanosponge technology has great potential in the field of building construction and the activities of the Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra in the field of construction are commendable," he was quoted saying in a release. The professor also visited the AMAZE-28, Kerala's first 3D-printed building, a 380 sq ft, one-room summer house, at the Kesnik campus in Thiruvananthapuram. Trotta, who is the president of the Italian Association for Chemistry and Technology of Cyclodextrins and vice-president of the European Cyclodextrin Society, attended the 'meet the luminaries' event organised by the Nirmithi Kendra and interacted with the staff. Meanwhile, Nirmithi Kendra announced that it will soon join hands with the University of Turin to work together in various research areas including 3D printing technology. Union minister and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday expressed pleasure over the early trends giving edge to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh and affirmed that the people's blessings are with the BJP and is going to form the government with absolute majority. Union Minister and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia(ANI) Follow Election Results LIVE Updates here Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Scindia, who credited the welfare schemes of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government, said, We knew that as far as Madhya Pradesh is concerned, given the public welfare schemes of our double engine government - people's blessings will be with us... I am confident that their blessings will be with the BJP and we will form the government with absolute majority. While reacting to former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digivijay Singh's traitor remark on him, Scindia said, "Unki har ek bad-dua ka main swagat karta hoon aur Digvijaya Singh ji ko apne dil ki gehraiyon se shubhkaamna bhi data hoon" (I welcome Digvijay Singh's every wish and congratulate him from the bottom of my heart). On Saturday Singh took a jibe at Scindia said that Congress is fully prepared and confident of its victory as there is no traitor left in the party. "We are fully prepared. Now we have no Scindia left, hence there is no traitor," Singh had while talking to reporters in Bhopal. Follow Madhya Pradesh Results LIVE Updates here Further, state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also reacted to the early trends. While congratulating the BJP workers for their tireless effort, Chouhan said that he is confident of forming the government with absolute majority. 'Bharat Mata ki Jai, Janta Janardan ki Jai'. Today the results of Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections are coming and I am confident that with the blessings of the people and the able leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, Bharatiya Janata Party is going to form the government again with full majority. Hearty congratulations to all the candidates of BJP," he said in a post on X. According to the early trends released by the election commission, the BJP is leading on 145 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh while Congress is ahead on 56 seats. In the state, the votes will be counted in 16 to 24 rounds and therefore, parties believe that the trends may change as the day progresses. The BJP was riding high on its much anticipated schemes 'Ladli Behna' and 'CM Kisan Nidhi's, in which money was transferred to lakhs of voters in November. The Congress had tried to counter it with five guarantees in the state. The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for 18 of the last 20 years. Voting for 230 member state assembly took place on November 17 in a single phase while the counting for the 230 seats started at 8 am on Sunday. Rajasthans outgoing chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday called the results of the assembly elections in Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh unexpected while vowing to continue working for the people until his last breath. Rajasthans outgoing chief minister Askok Gehlot. (PTI) The defeat in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh is a topic of discussion, said Gehlot as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wrested power from the Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh while the Congress managed to win in the southern state of Telangana months before the national polls. The four states, where the election results were announced on Sunday, send 82 representatives to the Lok Sabha. Gehlot said it would be wrong to say that new faces might have delivered better results. There were talks of bringing new faces...new faces should come but this demand was not there in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and still we lost the elections. It would be wrong to say that we would have won the election [in Rajasthan] if new faces were brought. Gehlot said Congresss top leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigned and their schemes were exemplary. We were expecting to win on the back of our schemes, laws, and promises, Gehlot said. He quoted Kharge asking them to prepare for the 2024 national election. Gehlot hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for inciting people in the name of religion in the campaigning. He said he expected the people to give a befitting reply. In a post on X earlier, Gehlot said he humbly accepts the mandate. This is an unexpected result for everyone. This defeat shows that we were not completely successful in taking our plans...to the public. He wished the new government best. My advice is that despite working hard, we were not successful, but it does not mean that they should not work after forming the government. He said all the schemes the Congress introduced, including the old pension and the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme, should be taken forward. I thank all the Congress workers who worked hard in this election and express my gratitude to all the voters who believed in us. The BJP was ahead on 115 of 199 constituencies while the Congress on 69 in line with the trend of voting out the incumbent every five years. Gehlot expected to put up a tough battle on the back of welfare and cash transfer schemes. A majority of exit polls predicted that the BJP was coming back to power. But IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 predicted that Congress was marginally ahead. Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 75.45%, which is slightly higher than 2018 polls. The exit polls have predicted a close call between BJP and INC in Rajasthan in the assembly elections held across 199 of 200 assembly constituencies on November 25. Rajasthan poll results 2023: Voters show their fingers after casting their votes for the Rajasthan Assembly elections. (PTI) In the 2018 elections, INC got 100 seats - short of the majority by 1 seat - and became the single largest party. Congress formed the government with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In Bhilwara, BJP secured 5 seats and INC won 3 seats. Bhilwara area constitutes - Asind, Mandal, Sahara, Bhilwara, Shahpura, Jahazpur, Mandalgarh, and Hindoli seats. Winners list for Bhilwara area constituencies. Constituency Winning Candidate Party Asind Jhabbar Singh Sankhla BJP Mandal Udayalal Bhadana BJP Sahara Ladu Lal Pitalia BJP Bhilwara Ashok Kumar Kothari Independent Shahpura (Sc) Manish Yadav INC Jahazpur Gopichand Meena BJP Mandalgarh Gopal Lal Sharma BJP Hindoli Ashok INC 2018 Rajasthan Assembly Election Results. Constituency 2018 Sitting MLA Party Asind Jabbar Singh Sankhala BJP Mandal Ramlal Jat INC Sahara Kailash Chandra Trivedi INC Bhilwara Ashok Kumar Kothari BJP Shahpura (Sc) Kailash Chandra Meghwal BJP Jahazpur Gopi Chand Meena BJP Mandalgarh Gopal Lal Sharma BJP Hindoli Ashok INC Keep a track of all the latest information coming in from Rajasthan with Hindustan Times. Rajasthan Assembly Election: Full Coverage link Jaipur: The Bharatiya Janata Party's lead in Rajasthan has crossed the half-way mark. The Congress is giving a tough fight to the BJP with a lead in over 80 seats. The BJP is leading in over 105 seats. Most of the exit polls had given an edge to BJP in Rajasthan. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot had, however, said that his party would eventually win the polls. Jodhpur: Counting of votes for the Rajasthan Assembly elections underway, at a centre in Jodhpur, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. (PTI) The BJP is also leading in Madhya Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, the gap between the BJP and the Congress is narrow; the JP Nadda-led party is in the lead. In Telangana, the Congress has consolidated its lead against K Chandrashekar Rao's BRS. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here According to the Election Commission, the BSP and RLD were ahead in one seat each. Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Kota north, Prahlad Gunjal, said his party was going to form the government. "Rajasthan has given the mandate and the picture will become clear in sometime," he said. When asked who will be the CM, he said, "This will be decided by the party high command. We have big leaders like Vasundhara Raje and we need not bring from outside." 1862 candidates are in the fray in Rajasthan's 199 seats. Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi said Ashok Gehlot's misgovernance and injustice will lose. "The public will bless the BJP with a complete majority. Misgovernance and injustice will lose; Good governance and justice will prevail," Rajasthan BJP chief told ANI on Sunday. Congress leader Pawan Khera, however, was still hopeful. Three exit polls suggested the BJP would win the polls, two showed the Congress would lose. Rajasthan is currently ruled by the Congress. With inputs from PTI, ANI As the Rajasthan assembly election counting trends are trickling in, several stalwarts from across political parties are trailing in the state. Rajasthan Assembly Election Results 2023 LIVE Coverage Congress veteran CP Joshi is trailing from Nathdwara as per the Election Commission of India trends. He has been pitted against Vishwaraj Singh Mewar of the BJP. In Sikrai, state minister Mamata Bhupesh of the Congress is trailing by 4,882 votes against BJP's Vikram Bansiwal. In the 2018 election, she had defeated Bansiwal by over 33,000 votes. Rajasthan Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore is trailing from Taranagar by over 7,000 votes. He has been pitted against sitting MLA Narendra Budania of Congress. Rathore has served as a minister in Vasundhara Raje government in the past. As per the ECI trends, the Bharatiya Janata Party is leading on 113 seats, way ahead of the majority mark of 101. If the trends translate into result, Rajasthan will once again replace a government after five years. The Congress is currently leading on 71 seats, and is set to be voted out of power. ALSO READ: Rajasthan result 2023: What happened to Sachin Pilot's Gujjar vote bank? To ensure the development of Rajasthan, and improvement in law and order, people have voted to remove the corrupt Congress government and gave full support to BJP. Now the double-engine government will develop Rajasthan, BJP's Rajasthan co-incharge Nitin Patel told news agency ANI. Counting of votes for the Rajasthan Assembly elections underway, at a centre in Jodhpur, Sunday.(PTI) Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 75.45%, in the assembly elections held across 199 of 200 assembly constituencies on November 25. Jodhpur area constitutes - Jodhpur, Phalodi, Lohawat, Shergarh, Sardarpura, Soorsagar, Luni, Pokaran seats Women wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station during Rajasthan state assembly election in Ajmer, India, November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.(REUTERS) Winning candidates from 2023 elections in Jodhpur area constituencies Constituency Winning Candidate Party PHALODI Pabbaram Bishnoi Bharatiya Janata Party LOHAWAT Gajendra Singh Bharatiya Janata Party SHERGARH Babusingh Rathor Bharatiya Janata Party SARDARPURA Ashok Gehlot Indian National Congress JODHPUR Atul Bhansali Bharatiya Janata Party SOORSAGAR Devendra Joshi Bharatiya Janata Party LUNI Jogaram Patel Bharatiya Janata Party POKARAN Pratap Puri Bharatiya Janata Party Winning candidates from 2018 elections in Jodhpur area constituencies Constituency 2018 Sitting MLA Party PHALODI Pabba Ram BJP LOHAWAT Kisana Ram Vishnoi INC SHERGARH Meena Kanwar INC SARDARPURA Ashok Gehlot INC JODHPUR Manisha Panwar INC SOORSAGAR Suryakanta Vyas BJP LUNI Mahendra Vishnoi INC POKARAN Shale Mohammad INC Keep a track of all the latest information coming in from Rajasthan with Hindustan Times. Rajasthan Assembly Election: Full Coverage Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vasundhara Raje on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda for the stellar performance of the saffron party in Rajasthan. "On party's lead in Rajasthan, BJP leader Vasundhara Raje Scindia says, This victory is of the mantra of 'Sabka saath, sabka vishwas and sabka prayaas' given by PM Modi. It is the victory of the guarantee given by the PM. It is also the victory of the strategy given by Amit Shah and the able leadership provided by Nadda ji, the former chief minister, who is said to be in the race to helm the desert state again, said in a briefing. Rajasthan Election Results 2023 LIVE Coverage Most importantly, it's a victory for our party workers. It is a victory of the people who rejected the Congress misrule and accepted the BJP's Suraj, Raje was quoted by PTI as saying. The BJP veteran won Jhalrapatan by a margin of 53,193 votes, defeating Ramlal of the Congress. BJP leader Vasundhara Raje. (X/ANI) The first woman chief minister of Rajasthan, Raje governed the state twice from 2003 to 2008 and then from 2013 to 2018. After the saffron party lost power in 2018, she chose distance from the party and was absent from its meetings and programmes. There was a loud clamour from Rajes supporters to project her as the chief ministerial candidate but the BJP opted for collective leadership. The saffron party, however, gave tickets to over 40 of her supporters. The BJP is currently leading on 114 seats and is set to form the next government in Rajasthan, the state that has a history of changing governments after every five years. The Congress, which is ruling the state under Ashok Gehlot, is leading on only 70 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which appears set to return to power in Rajasthan in line with the states trend of voting out the incumbent every five years, contested the polls without a chief ministerial candidate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the campaign in the state with two-time chief minister Vasundhara Raje, 70, expected to be among the leading contenders for the states top elected post. Raje has been the BJPs face in Rajasthan for the last two decades. BJP supporters outside the party headquarters in Jaipur. (PTI) Raje, the first woman chief minister of Rajasthan, has also been a five-time Parliament member. A BJP national vice-president, Raje is seen as an able administrator who has had frequent run-ins with the top leadership. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Educated in Kodaikanal and Mumbai, Raje began her political career in 1984. Rajes mother, Vijaya Raje Scindia, was among the BJPs founders. She became a Lok Sabha member from Jhalwar in 1989 and later served as a minister in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees government. Raje returned to state politics in 2003 with chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat mentoring her. After the BJPs defeat in the 2018 polls, Raje chose distance from the party and was absent from its meetings and programmes. There was a clamour from Rajes supporters to project her as the chief ministerial candidate but the BJP leadership opted for collective leadership. The BJP, however, gave tickets to over 40 of her supporters. Raje addressed rallies across the state. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, 56, the BJPs Rajput face, is another contender for the top job. He shot to fame after defeating Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlots son, Vaibhav, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Jodhpur. Shekhawat is considered close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJPs ideological fountainhead, and the partys top leadership. Gehlot has accused Shekhawat of involvement in a credit cooperative scam and of trying to topple the Congress government in 2020. Raje is believed to have opposed Shekhawats appointment as the Rajasthan BJP chief when she was the chief minister. In the run-up to the 2023 polls, Shekhawat was instrumental in the defection of Rameshwar Dadhich, a close aide to Gehlot, to the BJP. Shekhawat began his political career in student politics in Jodhpur. He won his first Lok Sabha election in 2014 from Jodhpur with a margin of 410000 votes. Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, a former bureaucrat, is also seen among the contenders for the chief ministers post. Known to enjoy Modis confidence, Meghwal is a three-time parliamentarian and one of the Dalit faces in Rajasthan. Meghwal, 69, is known to keep a low profile and a good administrator. Meghwal, who comes from a family of weavers in Bikaner, resigned as an Indian Administrative Service officer before winning the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 from Bikaner. Two-time parliamentarian from Chittorgarh, CP Joshi is among the contenders as the state chief. In 2019, he won the Lok Sabha elections by the margin of 576000 votes, defeating Congresss Girija Vyas. Joshi started his political career with the Congresss student wing National Students Union of India. Joshi, 48, took over as the state unit chief amid factionalism. Baba Balaknath, the BJPs Lok Sabha member from Alwar, may emerge as a dark horse among the contenders. The head of the Nath sect in Rohtak, Balaknath is known to be close to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. He has a mass following in eastern Rajasthan, where he contested the 2023 polls from Tijara. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Sunday credited prime minister Narendra Modi as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looked set to regain power in a state that voted it out in December 2018. Mahasamund, Nov 13 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Vice President Raman Singh attends the Vijay Sankalp Maharally for the second phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, in Mahasamund on Monday. (ANI Photo) Singh, Chhattisgarhs second chief minister and who served three consecutive terms totalling 15 years, accused his successor, the incumbent CM Bhupesh Baghel, of not fulfilling promises made to people. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here People know that the Congress guarantees are fake. They know that Bhupesh Baghel did not fulfill his promises, and thats why people believe in PM Modis guarantees, said the senior leader, who could now be the next chief minister of Chhattisgarh. As per the latest Election Commission of India (ECI) trends, the saffron party is well ahead of its arch-rival, the ruling Congress, for a win in the 90-member assembly. While more conclusive trends will emerge later in the day, Chhattisgarh was one state where the grand old party was expected to do well in the recent round of assembly elections, with majority of exit polls also pointing in that direction, though the partys tally was projected to come down significantly from 2018, when it won with 68 seats. Exit polls, however, have a history of going wrong. The Congress, too, is yet to react, with no statement yet from either the chief minister or his deputy, TS Singh Deo. In the recently held election, meanwhile, the state polled on November 7 and 17, with 76.31% voters exercising their right to franchise. News / Local by Staff reporter At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Zimbabwe has signed an agreement with UK-backed Africa GreenCo meant to ease the risks that have kept energy investors away from Zimbabwe.Power utility ZESA also separately announced supply deals with a Swedish company for the building of solar infrastructure to replace its coal-fired boilers, and another contract with a Dubai company to make cables in Zimbabwe.While Zimbabwe has licenced independent power producers with projects of a potential 7,000MW, investors have stayed away due currency uncertainty and tariff risks, ZESA executive chairman Sydney Gata said at a press briefing in Dubai on Sunday.Under the System Operations and Wheeling Agreement signed between GreenCo and ZESA, GreenCo will provide up to 18 months' cash cover for energy investors. If there is default by ZESA or other involved offtakers, GreenCo will step in to cover that risk, Gata explained."What GreenCo has come to do is to assist both ZESA and Government by providing a mezzanine guarantee structure where they will issue commercial securities to assist IPPs to reach markets."Cathy Oxby, GreenCo's Chief Commercial Officer, said: "As the role of utilities evolves, it is vital to put in place arrangements which enable new market participants to utilise the existing grid infrastructure while remunerating utilities fairly for the essential services they provide and the costs they incur in operating and maintaining the network."GreenCo is funded by InfraCo, part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), a venture jointly owned by the UK, Netherlands and other countries. Africa GreenCo's model is to manage risks for investors by committing to buy power from IPPs and selling it to either private customers or trading it on markets in the regional pool, SAPP.Also on the sidelines of COP28, Sweden's Absolicon announced that it is to build a 4 million factory to make solar collectors in Zimbabwe. Sollar collectors are devices that collect solar energy to heat water, making steam to turn turbines. ZESA plans to replace its 1,400 coal-fired boilers with the new technology, says Gata."The plans for a production line in Zimbabwe show that the demand for renewable and secure energy supply is global," says Joakim Bystrom, CEO of Absolicon.ZESA also announced a US$70 million joint venture with the UAE's QLV, owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qassimi, to manufacture cables in Zimbabwe. The Revanth Reddy-led Congress delegation on Sunday met Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and staked a claim to form government in Telangana after marking a resounding victory in the assembly elections. This comes after K Chandrashekar Rao tendered his resignation from the chief ministerial position. While accepting his resignation, the Governor requested Chief Minister KCR to continue office until the formation of a new government in the state. Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy along with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar(ANI ) Telangana is all set to get its first-ever non-BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) government after the Congress comfortably crossed the halfway mark in the 119-seat state assembly. Meanwhile, the BRS has won 36 seats and is leading in 3 assembly seats. The BJP has won 8 seats. AIMIM has won 7 seats and CPI has won 1 seat. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Congress workers indulged in celebration following the party's victory and supporters raised CM-CM slogans in favour of state party chief Revanth Reddy. Following the victory in Karnataka, Congress' guarantees proved to be a game-changer in Telangana as well. Among the guarantees, Congress has promised cash transfers, pension schemes, free electricity, cylinders and land to a wide base of voters to the people of the state. Meanwhile, according to a police statement, Reddy has asked the local police to make security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony of the new CM either on Dember 4 or 9. He reportedly informed DGP Anjani Kumar, ADGP (Law and Order) and ADG CID that the Congress will meet with the Governor and discuss the government formation. However, the Election Commission on India (ECI) has suspended DGP Kumar for the violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The DGP opting to meet a contesting candidate out of the total of 2,290 and the star campaigner of one political party out of 16 political parties in the fray was found to be a clear indication of mala fide intention of seeking favour, according to sources cited by news agency PTI. The early leads on Sunday suggest that Congress is ahead of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi in Telangana and while we are still waiting for the final results, an overenthusiastic fan appears to be suffering from premature celebration. While the received wisdom is that it's not over till the fat lady sings, Wikipedia editors don't want to wait. An update on Revanth Reddys Wikipedia page read: Anumula Revanth Reddy (born 8 November 1967) is an Indian politician from Telangana who is to serve as the 2nd Chief Minister of Telangana. An overenthusiastic Wikipedia editor couldn't wait for the counting to end Wikipedia announces Revanth Reddy is new Telangana CM While well have to wait and see if the overenthusiastic Wiki editors prediction comes true, Reddy looks to be the frontrunner. He is currently leading against KCR in a prestige contest in Kamareddy. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Earlier, Revanth Reddy, whos married to veteran Congress leader Jaipal Reddys niece, had taken a jibe at KTR, son of Chief Minister KCR saying he was merit quota and that KTR was on management/NRI quota. He said: "I am on merit quota. He is on management quota/NRI quota. Everyone knows KTR as KCR's son. We have nothing to do with KTR. Our political fight is with KCR. The Malkajigiri MP is the frontrunner for the post. Speaking about any designs on the CM post, Reddy had earlier said that Congress would win 80 seats in Telangana, so there would be 80 contenders for the post. Here's what else you need to know about Telangana election results: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is currently behind in the Kamareddy constituency, trailing his main challenger and the state Congress president, A Revanth Reddy, by over 2,000 votes after the initial round of counting. A resurgent Congress has taken an early lead across the state, except in the Hyderabad urban region. Multiple exit polls predict the Congress could end KCR's reign in India's youngest state. However, India TV-CNX exit polls had predicted BRS to return to power with 70 seats. An exit poll by the India Today-Axis My India project that Congress could stage a comeback in the southern state of Telangana, possibly ruining incumbent KCR's ambitions of a third straight term in office. In the event of a hung assembly, the Congress is reportedly gearing up to keep its flock in Telangana together and prevent poaching of MLAs. In 2014, the BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS) won 63 seats, which was just three more than the absolute majority mark. Yet, within a few months, KCR poached 12 MLAs from the Telugu Desam Party, eight from the Congress, three from the YSRCP, two from the BSP, one from the CPI and an Independent. In 2018, too, the BRS lured opposition MLAs, though it had won 88 out of 119 seats. Besides 12 out of 19 Congress MLAs, it poached two TDP MLAs and two Independents. Read Telangana live updates Barely two years after being appointed as the president of the Telangana Congress, 54-year-old Revanth Reddy, the former Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA who had cut his teeth in the right-wing student union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), has led the grand old party to a stellar victory in the assembly elections in the state. Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy greets party workers in Hyderabad on Sunday. (PTI) Revanth Reddy took over as the Congress state president from old-timer Uttam Kumar Reddy in 2021. By then he had been in the Congress for over four years with the party not being able to displace K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR)s then Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Come 2021, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also begun making inroads into Telangana by winning bye-elections and getting four MLAs in the state. Their then party chief Bandi Sanjay took the saffron deep into the Telangana hinterland and the BJP was soon becoming a force to reckon with in the state. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Srikanth Bhandaru, spokesperson of the Congress said, It is at this time that all of us in the Congress convened and decided that we had to up our game. Revanth Reddy then took over the narrative and stepped into the shoes of a leader. Reddy is known to have rallied support from within the Congress to unite all the warring factions and quell rebellion among senior congressmen who had begun to drift into the BJP. By 2022, Reddy had begun touring constituencies and his campaigning had begun to see results. The BJPs faux pas of dethroning Bandi Sanjay and replacing him with a meek Kishan Reddy propelled the Congress into the pole position even before the election season kicked in. The Congress has taken over the BJPs position as the number two party, KT Rama Rao, working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and former minister, told HT earlier. The Karnataka win only emboldened the Congress that was looking for a toe hold in Southern India. Once the elections were announced, Revanth Reddy could wean away more than 35 leaders from the BRS at various levels to join the Congress, thus strengthening the party. His padayatra in February this year was a turning point. He began taking on KCR directly and attacking the family. This was something that no Congress leader earlier had dared to do, said Hari Kasula, Founder of PsyBe, a campaign strategy firm based in Hyderabad. Reddys confidence also stemmed from the Gandhis throwing their weight after him. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi saw that Reddy was being favoured by the Telangana cadre. Being from Kodangal, he speaks the way the locals do, said the Congress spokesperson. In the run-up to the election, Revanth Reddys efforts were supplemented by an active role played by the state election in charge, Manick Rao Thakre, and Sunil Kanugolu, who presented the party with the blueprint to win over the Telangana electorate. While Thakre managed to convince the former Congress leaders in the BJP to return to their home base, Kanugolus team engineered a district-wise campaign helping the local Congress leaders put forth a strong narrative to counter KCRs emotional statehood pitch. Reddys oratorial ability and availability also seem to have struck a chord among the locals to whom KCR was largely seen as a farm-house CM. Many in the Congress believe that the caste factor also worked in Reddys favour. If Reddy is indeed named chief minister, he will join the list of Reddys who have won the Telugu state (formerly the united Andhra Pradesh) for the Congress party. From Neelam Sanjiva Reddy in the 1950s to Marri Channa Reddy in the 70s to K Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy in the 90s, YS Rajasekhar Reddy and Kiran Kumar Reddy in the 2000s, Revanths name could be etched on the board at the entrance of the Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad. Hyderabad: Telangana Congress chief A Revanth Reddy has asked the local police to make security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister on either December 4 or December 9, the police said in a statement. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committe president Anumula Revanth Reddy. (File)(AP) Revanth Reddy's party is expected to win over 60 seats in Telangana, unseating BRS leader and chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Reddy reportedly asked Director General of Police (DGP) Anjani Kumar on Sunday, to make security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony. He called and discussed with DGP, Additional DGP (Law and Order) and ADG CID about preparations for the swearing-in ceremony, which could be held tomorrow or on December 9, the Telangana police said today. Reddy reportedly told them the Congress will meet with the Governor and discuss government formation. "The TPCC President mentioned that from today evening Muhurtam (auspicious time) will start. So, if possible, they may consider swearing-in functions tomorrow (Dec 4) or they may take (oath) on December 9," it said. Several chief ministers, former chief ministers and senior leaders from the national capital are expected to attend the ceremony, Reddy told the police. The event is likely to take place in Hyderabad's LB Stadium. The Telangana Police chief directed that each winning candidate would get 2 Personal Security Officers (PSOs) each. Revanth Reddy is the frontrunner for the post of the chief minister. However, the party hasn't made any official announcement yet. He will replace KCR, who has been the chief minister of the state since 2014. With inputs from PTI Rajasthan Assembly Election Result 2023: Congress heavyweight Sachin Pilot won in his Tonk assembly constituency by a margin of 29,475 votes. Pitted against the former deputy chief minister was BJP's Ajit Singh. Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Ashok Bairwa, Social Democratic Party of India's (SDPI) Abdul Latif, Indian Peoples Green Party's (IPGP) Ganesh, Aazad Samaj Party's (Kanshi Ram) Mohammad Shoeb Khan and Independent candidates Sitaram and Jagdish Prasad Sharma are also in the fray. Sachin Pilot wins Tonk while Congress faces a drubbing in Rajasthan.(ANI) In 2013, BJP candidate Ajit Singh Mehta won the Tonk seat by defeating Independent candidate Saud Saidi with a margin of 30,343 votes. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Pilot in 2018, won the seat by defeating BJP candidate Yoonus Khan with a margin of 54,179 votes. Sachin Pilot is a prominent Gujjar leader in Rajasthan who has been steadfast in voicing his displeasure against the Gehlot government. While this infighting might have led to the upset that Congress in the state, according to experts this may emerge as a reckoning moment for the party to give more responsibility to Sachin Pilot. In 2018, Sachin Pilot was the president of the party when it wrested the state from the BJP. As Congress shows a comfortable lead in at least 60 seats out of the 199-member Telangana assembly, party leader Renuka Chowdhury mulled it is a fair reward for the grand old party as they have been praying for a victory in the state for the last 10 years. Supporters of India's main opposition party, Indian National Congress, celebrate early leads for their party in Telangana state elections in Hyderabad(AP) The Congress leader further said leaders of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) are in touch with us, adding that today's politics is like that. "Sometimes they take away ours (MLAs), and sometimes theirs come here," she said. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here As per the latest trends, Congress has crossed the halfway mark at 63 seats, whereas BRS is trailing with 43. BJP managed to bag 9 seats and others including CPI on 4. "I had been saying for more than a year because we tapped into the pulse of the public. We understood that a big change is going to come and that is what is happening. Victory is ours, I am very confident. People were tired of BRS. BJP and BRS are one - everyone understood it. They also understand the dangerous role that AIMIM played. I think AIMIM, Owaisi has suffered the biggest loss in this game. People understood the truth behind the wrong step he took at the national level. It is unfortunate because I had always considered him to be an intelligent man. When Congress contests unitedly, no force in the country can stand against us," she said. The latest trends amid the counting of votes for the 119-member Telangana assembly suggest Congress leading in seats at least more than the halfway mark. The gap between the grand old party and the ruling BRS seems to be widening as the latter was leading in only 41 seats. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Revanth Reddy waves to supporters during a public meeting ahead of Telangana Assembly elections,(PTI) Among the heavyweights, as per the latest trends, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Anumula Revanth Reddy was leading in the Kamareddy seat ahead of chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as well as in the Kodangal seat. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Meanwhile, Congress workers were seen celebrating outside Reddy's residence amid the election results. Appointed as Telangana Congress chief in 2021, Reddy joined the grand old party from Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2017. Who is Revanth Reddy? As the resurgent Congress takes the early lead in Telangana, incumbent chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is currently staring at a possible defeat. His main challenger, Telangana Congress chief A Revanth Reddy surged ahead by at least 2,000 votes in the Kamareddy constituency. However, he is leading on his home turf in the Gajwel constituency. Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao(ANI) Tallest leader of the youngest Indian state KCR has been an advocate for mission Telangana, a demand for a separate state, and remained the chief minister since its formation in 2014. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The political journey of KCR The Telangana were held on Nov 30, 2023 to elect all 119 members of Telangana Legislative Assembly. The votes will be counted, and the result declared on December 3. The Zaheerabad Lok Sabha Constituency consists of JukkaI, Banswada, Yellareddy, Kamareddy, Zaheerabad, Narayankhed and Andole assembly constituencies. Telangana, Nov 30 (ANI): Women voters stand in a queue to cast their votes for the Telangana Assembly elections, on Thursday. (ANI Photo) (CEO Telangana) Results for Zaheerabad area constituencies. Find below the latest updates coming in from the area. Constituency Candidate Party JukkaI Laxmi Kantha Rao Thota INC Banswada Srinivas Reddy Parige BRS Yellareddy K. Madan Mohan Rao INC Kamareddy K Venkata Ramana Reddy BJP Zaheerabad Koninty Manik Rao BRS Narayankhed Patlolla Sanjeeva Reddy INC AndoIe C. Damodar Rajanarsimha INC 2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election results: Constituency 2018 Sitting MLA Party JukkaI Hanmanth Shinde TRS Banswada Pocharam Srinivas Reddy TRS YeIIareddy Jajala Surender INC Kamareddy Alpesh Khodaji Thakor INC Zaheerabad Koninty Manik Rao TRS Narayankhed Thakor Shambhuji Chelaji BJP AndoIe Kranthi Kiran Chanti TRS Keep a track of all the latest information coming in from Rajasthan with Hindustan Times. Telangana Assembly Election: Full Coverage link The Telangana elections were held on Nov 30, 2023 to elect all 119 members of Telangana Legislative Assembly. The votes will be counted, and the result declared on December 3. The Malkajgiri constituency consists - Medchal, Malkajgiri, Quthbullapur, Kukatpally, Uppal, Lal Bahadur Nagar and Secunderabad Cantt assembly constituencies. Telangana election result live; Congress workers celebrate after party's win in the state News / National by Staff reporter A raft of new taxes and increases announced as part of Zimbabwe's 2024 budget by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has been widely condemned.The increase in passport fees to $200 (160), up from $120, making it the most expensive in the region, seems to have provoked the most ire.Amid Zimbabwe's economic collapse, many people survive by doing cross-border trade.So for them, a passport is a vital tool of their trade.Passports are also in high demand as many Zimbabweans are desperate to leave the country and seek work elsewhere.Economists estimate unemployment in Zimbabwe is as high as 85%.Many of those not formally employed make a living by travelling, primarily to South Africa, to buy goods unavailable or too expensive in Zimbabwe, for resale.Dubai and Turkey are favoured destinations by those with more money.Mavis Chiangwa travels to South Africa regularly to buy spare parts for cars for sale in Harare.Although her passport is still valid for another five years, she feels the proposed hike is too much: "The 67% increase is too high and will make it difficult for those wanting to apply for new passports or those renewing," she told the BBC.But the increase in passport fees was just one of several hikes proposed by Mr Ncube, who needs to increase government revenue in order to reduce the amount of money the state needs to borrow.A 1% wealth tax will be levied on residential properties with a minimum value of $100,000. Private residential properties owned by those above 70 are exempt.Toll fees will increase by more than 100% on the country's two busiest highways and 100% on all other roads from 1 January.A fuel strategic reserve levy will see motorists paying an additional three and five cents per litre of diesel and petrol respectively.Critics of these increases argue they will hit those who use public transport hardest as transport operators will pass on the new costs.Mr Ncube also proposes a tax of two cents per gram of sugar in soft drinks saying: "It's necessary to discourage consumption of high-sugar content beverages."He promised that the money raised would be ring-fenced for cancer therapy and to buy diagnostic equipment.Economists are highly critical of the proposed increases and new taxes.Professor Gift Mugano has urged parliament to reject what he called the "anti-people and anti-industry" budget. Telangana went to the polls on November 30 to elect 119 members of Telangana Legislative Assembly. A total of 32.6 million eligible voters participated in this democratic process and determined the fate of 2,290 candidates. By 5 pm, the state had recorded an impressive voter turnout of 63.9 percent. BRS secured victory on six seats in the Secunderabad area. These are Musheerabad, Secunderabad, Amberpet, Khairatabad, Jubilee Hills, and Sanath Nagar. On the other hand, AIMIM won Nampally seat. Telangana election results 2023: People wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during Telangana Assembly election in Hyderabad.(PTI) Read| Congress ahead of the ruling BRS in Telangana The Secunderabad assembly constituency witnessed a 54.30% voter turnout during the 2018 Telangana Assembly elections. In that election, BRS secured 47.4% votes, while the Congress party received 28.7% of the total votes. Counting is underway for Secunderabad area constituencies. Constituency Winning MLA Party Musheerabad Muta Gopal BRS Secunderabad T Padma Rao BRS Amberpet Kaleru Venkatesh BRS Khairatabad Danam Nagender BRS Jubilee Hills Maganti Gopinath BRS Sanath Nagar Talasani Srinivas Yadav BRS NampaIIy Majid Hussain AIMIM Winning candidates from 2018 elections in Secunderabad area constituencies Constituency 2018 Sitting MLA Party Musheerabad Muta Gopal BRS Secunderabad T Padma Rao BRS Amberpet Kaleru Venkatesh BRS Khairatabad Danam Nagender BRS Jubilee Hills Maganti Gopinath BRS Sanath Nagar Talasani Srinivas Yadav BRS Nampally Jaffar Hussain AIMIM Keep a track of all the latest information coming in from Telangana with Hindustan Times. Telangana Assembly Election: Full Coverage link Note: The following article was first published as a newsletter. Hyderabad: Congress Telangana President A Revanth Reddy greets party workers and supporters celebrating the party's lead during counting of votes for Telangana Assembly elections, in Hyderabad, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. (Source: PTI)(PTI) Its always risky to call elections before the final vote is counted but by this time of the day, one can usually get a broad picture of how things are going. BJP appears to be comfortably set cigar out, armchair drawn in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, while Congress looks set to snatch Telangana. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here On a micro-level, there have been several talking points about the election results so far: Reddy Set Go One of the man-of-the-matches of the day so far has been Revanth Reddy, who is widely believed to be the next CM of Telangana, who was anointed CM by Wikipedia as well. Jokes apart, the situation in Kamareddy is particularly interesting where theres a three-way fight. While all eyes were on CM KCR's tussle with CM-in-waiting INC's Revanth Reddy, BJP's KV Ramana Reddy has emerged as a dark horse and is, at the time of writing, is ahead of both heavyweights (at the time of writing). KV Ramana Reddy is beating KCR and Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy Also Read: KTR throws in the towel The Strategist One of the unsung heroes of this election is Sunil Kanugolu, a Congress poll strategist who turned down KCR to become Rahul Gandhis new troubleshooter. Kaunugolu got a free hand in Telangana to implement his strategies, a freedom not afforded to him in Rajasthan and MP. Read: Who is Sunil Kanugulo? Mama Mia There was a time when political analysts had written off Shivraj Singh Chouhans career but today shows the CM isnt ready to call it a day. At the time of writing, BJP in Madhya Pradesh is currently leading in 165 seats and looks set to form the government in Madhya Pradesh. As HT's Shruti Tomar writes it was a combination of a Modi-centric campaign, welfare schemes like Ladli Behna and Kisan Samman Nidhi, and Congress focussing on social media and failed to convey its manifesto promises to the people. Also Read: 5 factors that helped BJP trounce Cong in Madhya Pradesh The South vs North Narrative For some time, it has appeared that the erstwhile pan-Indian grand nationalist party, Congress, has set its eyes on the South for its renaissance. They did win Karnataka and now look set to win Telangana as well, which means they are in power in two of the five states. It seems that prominent members want to drive the point home. After the election, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges son Priyank Kharge tweeted: The South. Meanwhile, Congress data chief Praveen Chakrvarthy added: The South - North boundary line is getting thicker & clearer! It will be interesting to see how Congress approaches the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Brand Modi holds strong One of the other questions that was being asked is whether Brand Modi is still going strong in Indian politics. Ahead of 2024, the answer is resounding Yes. It would appear Modi magic when not generating Instagram-breaking hash tags still holds sway on the ground. The Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh campaigns were both fought without CM candidates, and shows that Modi is still very much of a puller of votes in 2023 and will likely continue to do so in the near future. New Delhi In its infancy, Chhattisgarh, a state formed in 2000, chose to elect the Congress for three years. As it evolved, till the age of 18, the state decided to opt for the BJP to nourish it. In its stage of young adulthood, it returned to the Congress for five years. And as the state now enters its next stage of growth, arguably its most critical years for both social and economic investments in a landscape punctuated with desperate pockets of poverty, voters have come back to the force that nurtured it for the majority of its existence. BJP workers celebrate the party's victory in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on Sunday. (PTI) The fact that voters neither trusted the Congress to rule it in its earlier years for a sustained period, nor has it decided it trusts the party enough to enable its evolution now, is revealing for this is a region, when it was a part of united Madhya Pradesh, that had traditionally been a Congress bastion. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here And Bhupesh Baghel, with the massive majority the Congress won in 2018, had an opportunity to keep the state for the party. Instead, obsessed with keeping his party leadership happy and projecting himself in the Delhi media, the CM took his eyes off the ball and failed to focus on what mattered the most sustaining the wide social coalition that had brought him to power in 2018. This social coalition had two key elements. The first was tribals, concentrated in south and north. The second was the wide constellation of backward communities in the plains. Both drifted away, as the BJP win on Sunday showed. For tribals, Baghel was an OBC leader who didnt deliver in either the Bastar belt in the south or the Sarguja belt in the north, fostering a clear sense of alienation. It didnt help that the Congress leadership had promised the chief ministerial mantle to TS Singh Deo midway through the term and failed to meet the promise. A Rajput leader from the north who as party president in 2018 had played a key role in enabling the Congress win, Singh Deos credibility with tribals for his sensitivity to questions of counter-Maoist operations and issues of representation and welfare was higher than Baghels. The fact that the wider Sangh machinery in general and the BJP in particular continued to work in both tribal regions meant that the party retained a connect even when it didnt have seats. At the same time, while Baghel sought to craft an OBC-centric identity for himself and for Chhattisgarh, the heterogeneity within the backward communities manifested in the elections. Baghel is a Kurmi, but it is the Sahus who constitute the single-largest OBC bloc within the state. This constituency had been traditionally with the BJP but shifted loyalties in 2018, perhaps expecting their leader, Tamradhwaj Sahu, to be the CM. Like Singh Deo, he was in the running to be the states leader after the elections; unlike Singh Deo, the party didnt even offer him the carrot of a future chief ministership. But beyond caste, across the plains, there was another identity that was central in the 2018 elections voters saw themselves as farmers and were enthused by the Congresss promise of higher price for paddy procurement. This time around, the BJP matched the Congress on procurement price, enabling the party to recover lost ground with a crucial constituency. Put it together, and here is what you have. The Congress failed to heal its organisational divisions with three different leaders pulling in three different directions. In the process, it ended up shattering the wide OBC-tribal coalition that brought it to power. In addition, Baghels government acquired a reputation for corruption, which was leveraged by the BJP during the campaign. It also relied excessively on optics rather than careful organisational groundwork. On the other hand, the BJP decided not to go into elections with a face. This allowed the partys various factional and caste leaders to believe they had an equal chance if the party returned to power, adding a layer of motivation. It didnt get into the caste census trap, which risks alienating communities without necessarily winning over any core group in a state with a complex social mosaic. It had targeted messages for tribals in different regions and backward communities. It contrasted its record of governance with that of Baghels government, especially with regard to the everyday corruption that appears to have permeated perceptions of his regime. And, of course, it banked on Narendra Modis appeal. The Congresss ability to defend even short tenures in office is clearly weak. The BJPs record of not just defending longer tenures in office, but also recovering from defeat to make comebacks in relatively quick time, is clearly visible. Chhattisgarh, in these elections, was home to both trends. New Delhi: As 2018-2019 showed, the outcome of the state assembly elections in critical Hindi heartland states, four months before the Lok Sabha elections, is not an accurate window into the popular mood at the national level. The Congress won Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh comfortably in December 2018; the BJP won 62 of the 65 seats in the Lok Sabha from the three states in 2019. BJP swept Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assembly elections (PTI) Still, while the results were never going to be a guide for what will happen in 2024, especially if the BJP lost, the nature of the outcome, where the BJP swept the three states, does suggest the party has a huge advantage heading into the national polls. The Congress did win Telangana, and while it is a remarkable triumph, the verdict doesnt really resolve the partys political crisis, an almost existential one, north of the Vindhyas. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Instead, the verdict reveals that Narendra Modis appeal and magical connect with voters is firmly intact -- especially in the heartland. It shows that BJPs organisation remains robust and cadres remain motivated. It deprives the Congress both of power and resources that would have helped during the Lok Sabha polls. And it reinforces the fact that the BJPs narrative has resonance among voters, while the Congresss narrative, for all its creativity, doesnt carry the same appeal. Examine each of these factors separately and the contours of the 2024 battle become clearer. The Modi puzzle There is a puzzle when it comes to Modi and state elections. After 2018, Indian politics has witnessed a trend where voters havent hesitated to opt for the Congress or regional forces in state elections, even when Modi has been campaigning. Such outcomes have been, accurately, explained as the dominance of local factors over the national because the same voters tell reporters and pollsters that they will vote for the PM during Lok Sabha elections. At the same time, it is also true that Modis appeal continues to help in state elections, as it did in this round. How does one explain this seeming analytical inconsistency? The BJP may have an incentive in crediting Modi for wins and insulating him from losses -- but there is something deeper at play. When the Congress or regional forces are able to get the right mix of local issues, local leadership, local caste coalitions, and local narrative and this is combined with deep resentment against BJPs local leadership it is hard for Modi to offset all the disadvantages. But when voters arent animated by local alternatives on offer, even if they arent enamoured by BJPs local political platform, Modis presence and connect makes a difference. And it makes a difference because of the reassurance that Modi seems to provide to voters. This is based on a promise of relative integrity, for the Oppositions campaign of painting Modi as a patron of crony capitalists hasnt struck a chord beyond his opponents just as the allegations around Rafale procurement in 2019 didnt strike a chord. It is based on a promise of double engine sarkar, where voters buy into the narrative that having the BJP in power does lead to governance advantages. It is based on a record of welfare delivery, where Modis image of caring for the poor due to the governments cash transfers and ease of living schemes (gas cylinders, rural homes, free ration, electrification, drinking water) resonates. It is based on both an almost subconscious sense of Hindu identity, a belief that Modi is best placed to protect Hindu interests, and a desire to be a part of something larger than subcaste identities. And it is based on the projection of Modi having elevated Indias profile on the global stage. The PM provided this distinctive edge to the party in the three states, and because voters didnt seem to think that the local alternatives on offer were qualitatively better, they appear to have decided to cast their lot with the BJP. It also helped that there was no large overhanging issue -- in 2018, agrarian and rural distress were very real issues. But more importantly, all these factors to do with Modis image will give the BJP an even clearer edge in the Lok Sabha elections where, as 2014 and 2019 have shown, the leadership question is central to voter choices. Modis connection goes beyond the political, it is deeply emotional and a decade after it first propelled him to power, this remains BJPs abiding strength. The organisational muscle Converting this connection with voters to actual votes is hard work. The BJPs organisational robustness is no recipe for success; after all, with the same structure, it has lost a series of state elections, including, most recently in Karnataka. But the partys careful attention to the issue of organisational leadership at the state, district, constituency, block and booth levels; its ability to motivate workers at the right time; its enormous resource advantage, propelled both by central and local funding; its clinical assessment of caste dynamics at the local level; its ruthless strategy of ticket distribution (think of its decision to send top national leaders, including central ministers, to contest elections in Madhya Pradesh or remove incumbents to introduce fresh blood and offset local anti-incumbency); and its record of defending the partys performance as an incumbent and attacking the ruling partys record when in opposition is quite remarkable and does help for sure. Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda now also have a set of leaders who can be trusted with boosting the partys muscle on the ground from the low-key but politically effective and experienced Bhupendra Yadav to the technocrat turned minister Ashwini Vaishnav (both in charge of MP), from the veteran Om Mathur to one of Modis favourites health minister Mansukh Mandviya (in charge of Chhattisgarh), from Pralhad Joshi (in charge of Rajasthan) to a range of others (think Dharmendra Pradhan who was in charge of UP in 2022 or Himanta Biswa Sarma who runs party affairs in the Northeast to Sunil Bansal who helped win UP in 2017 and 2019 and is now in charge of eastern states). All of this helped in the state elections, but it will be an even bigger asset in national elections, especially when the opposition is confronted by more serious organisational deficits given the scale of national polls. The narrative advantage To be fair, in the past two years, the Congress has attempted to politically reinvent itself. It has, in a historic break for the party, backed a caste census, running the risk of alienating upper castes. Rahul Gandhi completed an ambitious Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress has presented its own welfarist counter to the BJP. It has sought to build a wider Opposition alliance. It has tried to avoid getting ensnared in the BJPs trap of being viewed as a party that believes in the politics of appeasement with its brand of soft Hindutva (think of Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghels politics). But none of it has worked. And it hasnt worked because the BJP clearly still has a narrative that resonates with voters. That narrative is based on a mix of delivery and hope. It goes something like this Modi is honest and leaders of other parties are corrupt; BJP governments deliver on infrastructure while under past non-BJP governments, roads were poor and power was marked by its absence; the BJP provides immediate relief to the poor when they are in crisis (think of relief during Covid-19) and has revolutionised welfare delivery, while the other parties are insensitive and inefficient; the BJP can take various Hindu groups together while the other parties are focused on dividing Hindus and uniting Muslims; the BJP has a vision for 2047 while the others are visionless, dragging the country back to the past by focusing on issues such as the caste census; Modi is a global leader who provides stability while the rest are fragmented with little imagination for Indias place in the world. True or false, different elements of this narrative appear to strike a chord for different constituencies. If it has worked in state elections, it is even more likely to work in national elections where the role of an overarching narrative is even more important. The power disadvantage Incumbency is an advantage. Control over the administrative apparatus helps parties expand their appeal, accumulate resources, and win over new recruits. It is also a disadvantage. Political power brings greater scrutiny, leads to contradictions within the support base depending on who gets how much patronage, leads to inevitable corruption and the baggage associated with it, and alienates voters. It is striking that the BJP is often able to turn incumbency into an advantage. In Gujarat, it has not just been in power for 25 years but also won its biggest mandate in 2022. In Uttar Pradesh, the party broke historical trends to win a second term last year. In Madhya Pradesh, after almost two decades (18 years to be precise with a one-and-a-half-year break in the middle), it has won the biggest mandate the state has given since 1985. It is also striking that the Congress is unable to turn incumbency into an asset. In both Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, after one term, voters sought a change rather than go with seemingly popular chief ministers. This has implications for 2024 in three ways. The first is Modis proven ability to turn his ten-year record into an advantage on the national stage, aided by what will be a concerted effort by the party to consolidate its support base in all the states where it has won. The second is that the BJP will not just have its national resource pool but also a resource pool from local sources in states where it has won. And the third is the fact that the Congress will lose out on the ability to accumulate resources from states where it has either lost power or failed to win, leaving it primarily with Telangana and Karnataka to contribute to party coffers in what will probably be the most expensive election India has witnessed to date. Put together, the message from Sunday is clear. A loss for the BJP wouldnt have shown what 2024 will be like, but the partys success gives ample indication of what the 2024 verdict will resemble. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari won the Rajasthan's Vidhyadhar Nagar assembly seat against Congress' Sitaram Agarwal with a margin of 71,368 votes. BJP MP Diya Kumari(PTI) Follow Election Results LIVE Updates here Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here She credited prime minister Narendra Modi for the saffron party's performance in the assembly election in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh saying that Modi's magic worked everywhere. "The credit for this win goes to PM Modi, Amit Shah ji, JP Nadda ji, state leaders and party workers. Modi ji's magic worked in Rajasthan and also MP & Chhattisgarh..." the Lok Sabha MP from Rajsamand said. The Jaipur royal family member, won from Rajasthan's Vidhyadhar Nagar assembly constituency by 71,368 , further said that the party will be poised to ensure good governance to the people of the state. "We will ensure good governance and development in the state. Law and order will be seen in the state now. The top leadership of the party will decide on who will be the CM," said Kumari. Who is Diya Kumari? Diya Kumari, the granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Jaipur, joined the BJP in 2013. She was elected to the Rajasthan assembly in the elections held in 2013 from Sawai Madhopur by defeating Kirodi Lal Meena. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, she won from Rajsamand constituency by a margin of 5.51 lakh votes and entered the parliament. In this election, her appeal for votes was made as a "daughter of Jaipur" and the "princess who walks on the streets". According to the election commission's latest trends, the saffron party was leading in three out of four states Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the Congress currently holds power. According to ECI, BJP crossed the halfway mark in Rajasthan with its candidates leading in 114 seats while the Congress was ahead in 71 seats. Meanwhile, in Chhattisgarh, the saffron camp was forging ahead in 53 of the 90 assembly seats, while the grand old party led in 34 seats. Follow Rajasthan Results LIVE Updates here In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP was leading in 161 of the 230 seats, while the Congress was ahead in 66 seats. In Telangana, the Congress is poised to oust the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS government to wrest power in another southern state after Karnataka. The results of the state assembly elections are expected to indicate voters' mood for the Lok Sabha elections which PM Modi is eyeing for a third consecutive term. The prime minister addressed rallies and campaigned in five poll-bound states to drum up support for his party's candidates. Leading in over 66 seats in the state, Congress is paving its path to a historic victory in the Telangana assembly elections 2023, ousting the government of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS). Poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu, who led Congress to victory in Telangana. This is the first time that BRS is on track to lose the elections in Telangana ever since the inception of the state in 2014. K Chandrashekar Rao will be stepping down from the CM post for the first time since 2014, with Congress leader Revanth Reddy expected to take the post. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here However, poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu is one of the major reasons behind Congress' victory in Telangana, mirroring the same thumping majority bagged by the party in the Karnataka elections, earlier this year. As per sources cited by the Indian Express, Kanugolu was given a free hand in Telangana to implement his strategies and conduct internal services. This freedom was not given to the poll strategist in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where leaders like Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath were reportedly not on board with his methods. Who is poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu? Sunil Kanugolu, a native of Karnataka, is one of the most popular election strategists in India, credited with the victory of the Congress party in Karnataka in May 2023. Kanugolu was the man behind planning INC's election campaign in Telangana, leading the party to a massive majority in the state. Two years ago, Kanugolu was invited by KCR to his farmhouse in Hyderabad for a meeting. The Telangana CM offered to take him on the election strategy team for the polls but Kanugolu ended up declining the offer, joining Congress instead. Kanugolu is known to be a direct advisor of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and was also tasked with planning a major chunk of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Before Congress, the poll strategist had worked with AIADMK, BJP and DMK. Kanugolu was brought on by Congress after Prashant Kishor rejected their offer to be the poll strategist. He was appointed as a member of the Task Force 2024, a team created by the Congress to execute the Nav Sankalp (New Resolution) declaration adopted in Udaipur. Earlier, Sunil Kanugolu was a part of Prashant Kishor's team to plan the poll strategy for BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when Narendra Modi became the prime minister of India for the first time. Kanugolu was appointed the chairman of election strategy committee of the AICC, starting out with the Karnataka elections. New Delhi: The outcome of the Madhya Pradesh elections is arguably the starkest illustration of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) ability to convert adversity into opportunity and the Congresss ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And in that sense, MP represents a microcosm of the story of national politics over the past decade. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP State Chief VD Sharma offer sweets to each other as they celebrate the partys win (Twitter Photo) Think of the context first Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The BJP has been in power in the state, except for the year-and-a-half interregnum when Kamal Nath was chief minister after 2018, for longer than Rahul Gandhi has been in politics. Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been at the helm of governance in Bhopal for longer than any other CM in any state across the Hindi heartland. The BJP suffered from internal factionalism in a state where it has powerful leaders in every distinct region. The prolonged stint in power would have, obviously, resulted in multiple constituencies being unhappy at not getting what they believe to be their share of benefits. There were allegations of corruption. And given both the dominance of agriculture in the political economy, and the substantial presence of tribals and Dalits, MP provided an opportunity to those who believe that the BJP hasnt delivered to the poor to wrest away the state. The Congress, on the face of it, had a clear leadership structure, with Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, two veteran leaders, completely in control of the campaign. It had ample resources given Naths personal ability to dispense patronage. It had three solid years to build a strong campaign against the Chouhan government, including on the plank of having stolen the 2018 mandate. It had, as the Opposition, the ability to tap into local contradictions and promise the moon in terms of welfare benefits. Yet, MP has delivered a resounding mandate in favour of the BJP. The scale of the win is staggering both in terms of the vote share and the seat tally. Voters could not have sent a clearer message they have both decisively expressed their preference for the BJP and rejected the Congress. It is both a positive vote for the incumbent and a negative vote for the opposition when the reverse is so much easier to accomplish. So what explains it? Look at the negative vote first This may well be with the benefit of hindsight but it is clear that the Congress lost an opportunity to effect a generational shift in its leadership in 2018 when it oped for Nath over Jyotiraditya Scindia as chief minister. Scindia quit the party in 2020, as did his supporters, and the Congress lost power. He has delivered the Gwalior-Chambal region thrice in a row, once for the Congress in 2018 and twice for the BJP in bypolls in 2021 and now in 2023. If the Congress party hadnt been so worried about the old guard (it is curious how Rahul Gandhi is supposed to dislike the old guard, yet fails to effect change when he has clear alternatives), it would have resulted in a generational transition in the states politics, infusing it with energy and new ideas. Instead, the party not only preferred to opt for Nath (ostensibly because he had funded the campaign and because he had Singhs support) but, in this years election, gave him almost complete control over the party campaign. But Nath, who turns 77 in a fortnight, is neither a rooted leader in Madhya Pradesh (yes, he has been an MP from Chhindwara but is known more for his connections in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata than in Bhopal and the rural hinterland) nor a particularly charismatic and appealing leader. If leadership was the partys biggest drawback, so was the narrative Kamal Nath sought to project himself as a committed Hindu but it was hard to beat the BJP at that game. Nath promised welfare but the BJP has a strong welfarist platform where it can credibly claim it has delivered to marginalised constituencies consistently. Nath projected the BJP as anti-tribal but, despite the 2018 loss in tribal seats, the BJP has consistently reached out to tribals with representation and welfare and it worked on remedying its weaknesses in tribal seats. Nath thought he could win over women voters but the combination of Narendra Modis appeal among women voters based on his image of integrity as well as welfare delivery and CM Shivraj Singh Chouhans own women-centric schemes ensured this remained a hope rather than reality. Nath banked on winning key regions instead, the BJP swept the state. Nath thought he had revamped the party organisation but it couldnt beat the BJPs organisation in a state which was among Jan Sanghs original citadels, substantially due to Scindias grandmothers Rajmatas Vijayaraje Scindias role, and where the party has grown exponentially. But it wasnt just a negative vote. Yes, the Congress may have done well in getting around 40% of the vote share but in a bipolar contest, that is no consolation. With close to 50% of voters opting for the BJP, the mandate reflects a positive sentiment. And that sentiment is based on an affirmation and support for Modis leadership. It is based on Chouhans credible welfare delivery. It is a reward for the BJPs decision to deploy its senior leaders from the state for assembly elections, a signal to voters how seriously it took the state. It is because the BJP distributed tickets early on, giving candidates ample time to campaign. It is based on a recognition that the government has offered help to the poor in times of distress, both during the pandemic and beyond. It is based on faith in the BJPs ability to keep order, in contrast to fears about the possible disorder under Congress. It is based on a remarkable coalition of both the dominant castes and subaltern constituencies seeing the BJP as a vehicle for their aspiration, based on the outreach by the partys leaders and workers on the ground. The region at the heart of India has sent a message that will resonate beyond its state borders. MP, just like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, is now a BJP fortress. Voters took a chance on the Congress in 2018, and with the party failing to deliver on the mandate, the state has returned to its natural party of governance. The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra energised the Congress' rank and file but the jury is out on the electoral impact it had on the states through which it passed with the party winning Karnataka in May and now Telangana while losing the Hindi-heartland states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. (File) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with his mother and party leader Sonia Gandhi and his sister and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, (PTI) Assembly elections 2023 LIVE coverage Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The assembly polls following the yatra has thrown up a mixed 2-2 result. Karnataka and Telangana went to the Congress but it suffered crushing defeats in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan at the hands of the BJP. The Congress also lost Chhattisgarh to its rival but the yatra had not passed through that state. Polls in Hind-heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the southern state of Telangana were held between November 7 and 30, and votes were counted on Sunday. The Congress in May had hailed the last year's Bharat Jodo Yatra for the party's success in the polls to the 224-member Karnataka assembly. The party had won 15 of the 20 assembly constituencies in the state the foot march had passed through. During its poll campaign in Telangana, the Congress had been hailing the yatra for its turnaround in Karnataka with several leaders saying that the foot march had not only energised party workers but also connected the party with the common people. Also read: PM says poll outcome win for Aatmanirbharta, attacks Oppn's caste census push Electorally, the yatra seems to have paid dividends in the south as both in Karnataka and Telangana, the Congress gained momentum with it and went on to score emphatic wins against formidable opponents, the BJP and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, respectively. However, the march does not seem to be helping the Congress in stopping the BJP's surge in the Hindi-heartland states. The yatra stayed in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for long but it has not had much of an electoral impact. Former Congress leader and political commentator Sanjay Jha said the Bharat Jodo Yatra has been a "turning point" for both the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. "It helped motivate the cadre and galvanize supporters. The results of today's elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh tells us that the undercurrent of rising Hindutva is now becoming more overt. The majoritarian dominance story has overwhelmed unemployment, farmer distress, economic growth, corruption, and governance failures," he told PTI. Unfortunately, neither the Congress nor the opposition has tried to even offer a counter-narrative to the BJP's religious card, Jha said. "The Hindi-heartland is sending a message. Karnataka and Telangana were focused more on local welfare issues which is why the Congress triumphed," he said. "The yatra was a mass movement and not just a long walk, and evidently in the south, it created a bond with its messaging of a secular, syncretic India. But I would not credit the wins in Karnataka and Telangana to the yatra alone, albeit it was an instrumental factor for sure," Jha asserted. Political commentator Rasheed Kidwai believes the yatra was "high on optics" but "low on substance". "The Bharat Jodo Yatra was high on optics low on substance...Rahul plus the Congress is unable to take on (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and the BJP on positive Hindutva and cultural nationalism. This aspect is glaring in northern states and the Hindi belt," he said. The Bharat Jodo Yatra traversed 12 states and two Union territories in nearly five months after its launch on September 7 last year, clocking more than 4,000 km. During the course of the yatra, Rahul Gandhi addressed 12 public meetings, more than 100 corner meetings, 13 press conferences. He had over 275 planned walking interactions and more than 100 sitting interactions. While the yatra had stayed for about 15 days in Telangana, it covered nearly 500 km in six districts of Rajasthan in 16 days. The yatra was in Karnataka for about 22 days and for 12 days in Madhya Pradesh. Kareena Kapoor Khan travelled to Jaipur recently to attend an event for Ralph Lauren at the Rambagh Palace. Kareena dressed from head-to-toe in a gold-coloured ensemble from the shelves of the American luxury fashion house to be a part of the fashion soiree. Pictures from the event show Kareena posing with influencers and looking like a million bucks in the stylish strapless outfit. Scroll through to check out Kareena's look and the pictures from the event. Kareena Kapoor is a golden vision in strapless gown at a Ralph Lauren event in Jaipur. (Instagram) Kareena Kapoor attends a Ralph Lauren event in Jaipur Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Kareena Kapoor attends the Ralph Lauren event at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur. (Instagram) Celebrity stylist Tanya Ghavri shared pictures of Kareena Kapoor from the Ralph Lauren event on her Instagram stories. Tanya posted two pictures of Kareena - one which shows the actor getting a photo clicked with the stylist, and another shows her striking a pose with Diipa Khosla, Mitali Sagar and others. Meanwhile, Kareena's dress for the occasion is from Ralph Lauren's Spring 2023 Ready-To-Wear collection. Scroll through to read our download on her look. Meanwhile, Kareena's tissue silk golden dress features a strapless decolletage-accentuating neckline, a front closure, a corseted bodice, pockets on the sides, vertical stitching adding a detailed touch, patch pockets on the skirt, an A-line skirt, floor-grazing hem-length, and a cinched waistline with a broad gold belt buckled on the front. Kareena Kapoor attends the Ralph Lauren event at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur. (Instagram) Kareena wore the golden dress with minimal jewels, including high heels, statement rings, and dangling earrings. Lastly, she chose winged eyeliner, smudged bold kohl-lined eyes, rouge on the cheeks, beaming highlighter, shimmering gold eye shadow, mascara on the lashes, feathered brows, and glossy pink lip shade for the glam picks. A pulled-back high ponytail gave the finishing touch to Kareena's soiree look. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kareena is working on several projects. She will be seen next in Hansal Mehta's The Buckingham Murders. She also The Crew with Tabu, Diljit Dosanjh and Kriti Sanon. It is all set to hit theatres on March 22, 2024. Oh why not, just one more post. Not that good? Well then how about the next one? That content will surely be more interesting. Children are spending more and more time in front of screens, a recent study found. (DW/Channel Partners/Zoonar/picture alliance) Anyone who's been on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or TikTok knows the feeling: Before we realize it, "a quick peek" can easily become an hour or two of doom scrolling. Social media is everywhere. We can access it through our phones, on our computers, at work, or during our free time. We use it to chat, to post, to stay up-to-date, to follow the latest gossip, to hear what others have to say. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here But social media has its dark sides. The number of people consuming excessive amounts of social media content is rising. Over 6% of Germany's youth, or about 600,000 girls and boys, are addicted to social media and gaming. That's according to a study by German health insurer DAK and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), published this spring. It found that over two million minors used social media or streaming platforms in ways it labeled, "problematic." Accordingly, the amount of time children and young adults spend in front of a screen has risen sharply compared to pre-pandemic levels, up to about two hours and 45 minutes a day on social media alone. Helpful or harmful? So are social media just another dangerous contraption? "At the very least, their role is ambivalent," said Tobias Dienlin, assistant professor for interactive communication at the University of Vienna in Austria. "There is a lot of trivial content, but some of it can also be beneficial." The expert added: "You can use social media in many different ways. You can passively consume content, or you can actively engage with social media to communicate and maintain relationships." As long as this happens in moderation, everything is fine, he said. Things only become problematic, he cautioned, when users start excessively frequenting social media sites. To date, there is no precise medical definition of social media addiction. "But just because a diagnosis doesn't exist, doesn't mean the phenomenon doesn't exist," said Dienlin. The media expert explained that excessive social media consumption became an addiction when users weren't able to get around to other important things in their lives, when they had the desire to use social media less but found themselves unable to think about anything else, and when they started neglecting real-life social relationships. Attractive algorithms Most social media platforms exploit peoples' neurological hardwiring by offering a system of short-term rewards. Likes and emojis provide positive reinforcement, and any unpleasant content can easily be swiped away. "Introducing the possibility to scroll endlessly has meant that users never finish browsing. There's always new content to see," Dienlin said. "Of course that's extremely addictive, because it means users have to actively disengage from their screens. When I finish reading a book, then I'm done. All television shows come to an end. But that's not the case online." What's more, many social media platforms run on algorithms designed to tailor the content we see to our personal preferences. This makes it even harder to control how much we consume. Those who struggle in other areas of their lives are particularly vulnerable to media addiction. "People who already have weak impulse control, or who struggle to organize their daily lives, have an even harder time with social media," Dienlin said. Escapism and echo chambers To people who are lonely, or depressed, consuming excessive amounts of social media can also be a welcome escape from reality. "In these cases, it helps us regulate our mood and exit uncomfortable situations," the expert explained. "If I'm feeling bored, or overwhelmed, or if I'm feeling ashamed and guilty, and then I reach for my phone and open social media, it's all gone. In an instant." On the other hand, excessive social media consumption can also worsen existing psychological conditions, such as depression or eating disorders. This can happen when users seek out certain harmful content, which algorithms then learn to present more frequently in accordance with the users' stated preferences. US class action again big tech In the United States, hundreds of families have now joined a class action lawsuit against four of the world's largest tech firms. They blame Facebook operator Meta, Chinese TikTok operator ByteDance, Google and YouTube operator Alphabet, and Snapchat operator Snap for not only disregarding the risk of children becoming addicted to social media, but also actively promoting it. Several school districts have also filed suit. Among other things, the plaintiffs claim companies have insufficiently enforced parental controls and age-verification systems, and made it unnecessarily difficult to delete social media accounts. It was long unclear if the lawsuit would proceed, as the defendants denied all accusations, brushing them off as unsubstantiated. But in mid-November, a US district court judge rejected the social media giants' bid to throw out the case. But how meaningful might the case be? Dienlin is unsure: "A lawsuit like this attracts a lot of attention. The way I see it, it's not irrelevant to point these things out. But, as is so often the case, there are two sides to the story. If providers want to make their services more attractive, which any profit-oriented business aims to do, then they of course automatically raise the potential risk for addiction. But users can't deny their responsibility. We have to do both: optimize technology, and also train and help users." The EU has meanwhile launched investigations into YouTube and TikTok, too, on suspicion of violations against child protection regulations. Strategies to prevent addiction Above all, the expert recommended users remain vigilant about their own social media habits, as well as those of their children. "It's good to discuss it as a family, and to practice abstinence, without immediately resorting to thinking that all social media is absolute hogwash." He also recommended restricting time spent on social media, and physically putting phones aside occasionally. It's important for users to rediscover alternatives to their smartphones, too. Dienlin suggested physical activity, pursuing a hobby, meeting friends, or volunteering. "It would be wrong to assume that social media networks are to blame for us feeling down. Oftentimes, being glued to one's phone is indicative of a wider problem. But it can cause more problems," he explained. Even just realizing this, he said, could be the first step out of social media addiction. News / National by Staff reporter THE move to have retired High Court Judge Justice Webster Chinamora remain in office to clear all reserved judgments on his desk is above the law and in line with Section 186 (7) of the Constitution, legal experts have said.This comes after the decision for Chinamora, who resigned a fortnight ago, to clear reserved judgments was slammed last week.President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed a tribunal on November 14 after several complaints from litigants, including Delta Corporation, whose cases were allegedly mishandled by Chinamora.Among the allegations against Chinamora was that he allegedly handed down a judgement in a matter he never heard.In February this year, Chinamora and former Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese were given 10 days to show cause why tribunals should not be constituted to investigate alleged acts of misconduct.In an interview, Advocate Method Ndlovu said the order to clear reserved judgments was in accordance with the law."It is settled and common cause that a judge, who has resigned can complete matters he started before his resignation. This position is set out in the Constitution," he said."Section 186 (7) states: Even though a judge has resigned or reached the age of retirement or, in the case of a judge of the Constitutional Court, reached the end of his or her term of office, he or she may continue to sit as a judge to deal with any proceedings commenced before him or her while he or she was a judge."There is nothing unusual or sinister about this," Ndlovu said.He said even before this Constitutional amendment, former Chief Justice Ray Gubbay had clarified in 1991, in the case of Mhonderwa vs BJB Kirsten (Pvt) Limited.This concerned the ability of Justice Chris Greenland, who had resigned, to complete his matters.Justice Gubbay said: "The power to conclude matters after resignation, as did Greenland, is reasonably incidental to the proper performance of judicial authority or power outlined in section 3 of the High Court Act".Ndlovu, however, could not explain how a judge, who resigned after facing corruption allegations, can still continue on the bench to clear cases.Sources close to the retired judge told the Independent that Chinamora was asked to complete writing all his reserved judgments."He resigned on November 15, and never showed up at work, until he was called by the Judge President (JP) Justice Mary Dube and asked if he could complete writing reserved judgments and finalise partly-heard matters," a source said."The JP advised him that this request had come from the Chief Justice (CJ) Luke Malaba. He obliged and that is precisely why he has been coming to the High Court."The Constitution allows it and the CJ has asked him if he could execute the task. He was available per the law to respond to the call.That would obviate the need for de novo hearings of those matters by other judges," the source added.Last week, constitutional law expert and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Lovemore Madhuku said the matter was not about Chinamora but the High Court as an institution."It could be a matter of the judge having resigned without communicating his judgments in cases he presided for. The fact that he had reserved judgments does not wash away the court processes," he said."He was acting as the High Court and not Chinamora and we must separate the two. What he cannot do now is hear any new cases but communicate his judgments in the reserved cases."Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa wrote to Mnangagwa and the Judicial Service Commission three weeks ago to rein in Chinamora.Makonese stepped down in February but Chinamora remained on the bench, handling cases. This was despite recommendations by a judges' panel, which concluded in February that Chinamora had a case to answer. The results of the five state Assembly elections will be out today, and then the preparations for the parliamentary elections due in 2024 will begin in all seriousness. During this election fever, where no stone will be left unturned to win the elections and all means, fair and foul, will be used by political adversaries to outsmart others, I am reminded of the fountainhead of our statecraft, who lived some 2,000 years ago, and deeply meditated on the intricacies of politics and the rules that should guide the winner. I am, of course, talking of Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, who lived in the fourth century BCE, some two millennia before Machiavelli, who is generally hailed in the West as the founder of realpolitik. In any case, Chanakyas achievements through the use of statecraft, which could be unsentimentally amoral, were of a much higher order. In the course of one lifetime, he groomed a king, deposed another, worked to throw out the mighty Greeks, united a fractious territory, put his nominee on the throne of Magadha, and helped consolidate a great empirethe Mauryan Empireextending from the western pass adjoining Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal and stretching till southern India, arguably the first true empire in Indias history. In addition, he wrote one of the worlds most incisive treatises on statecraft, the Arthashastra. Due to our lack of historical sensitivity, and the consequence of invasion and conquestfirst the Muslims and then the British sometime at the end of the Gupta empire in the 6th century CE, the Arthashastra was lost to posterity. It was rediscovered as late as 1905 by librarian Rudrapatna Shamasastry, in an uncatalogued group of ancient palm leaf manuscripts donated by an unknown pandit to the Oriental Research Institute, Mysore. It was only then that the world woke up to the greatness of Indias legacy in the field of political and economic theory. There are many extant versions of Chanakyas life, in the Buddhist, Jaina and Kashmiri literary corpus, as well as in the Sanskrit play, Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta, dated variously from the 4th century CE to the 8th century. There is some controversy over where he hailed from, but Taxila (now in Pakistan) appears to have been in all likelihood his place of birth. However, all the versions agree that Chanakya, on being insulted by Dhanananda, the dissolute king of the Nanda dynasty ruling Magadha, took a vow to unseat him. There is also concurrence, although versions vary in the details, of how he discovered the future king, Chandragupta, who hailed from a poor family. It is said that Chanakya saw in the boys attitude and demeanour the qualities of a king. He then adopted him and trained him for this role. Chanakya and Chandraguptas initial attempts to directly attack Nanda were a failure. Lore has it that Chanakya learnt what the best tactic should be from a conversation between a mother and her son. The child was being scolded for burning his fingers by putting them in the middle of a steaming bowl of khichdi (hot gruel made with rice). She told him that the correct way was to start eating it from the sides, and in not doing so, he was making the same mistake as Chanakya who directly attacked Pataliputra, the capital of the Nanda kingdom. Chanakya realised his mistake and made new plans, forming an alliance with Parvataka, the king of a neighbouring mountain kingdom, Himavaktuka, offering him half of Nandas kingdom. Secure in this alliance, he and Chandragupta began attacking the towns and regions outside Pataliputra, until they were in a position to attack the capital itself and defeat Nanda. Chandragupta was then crowned king and Chanakya became his chief adviser. The master politicians contribution now focused on strengthening and expanding the Mauryan empire and protecting it from enemies. That is why he articulated the four tools of sama, dama, danda, bhedareconciliation, inducement, deterrent action and subversionand the lesser-known asana, the strategic act of deliberately sitting on the fence. In the cacophony of our democratic system, there are many lessons to learn from the life and writings of this towering personality. Firstly, the ability to speak truth to power. Secondly, to have a clear understanding of human behaviour. Thirdly, the importance of decisive leadership. Fourthly, the pivotal role of strategic planning and military preparedness. Fifthly, the key role of economic prosperity, for if the treasury is empty all pretensions to power are like hot air. Sixthly, the recognition that security is directly linked to the welfare of the people and the building of a harmonious society, for a country at war with itself can never be strong enough to face an external enemy. And, lastly, the use of dandaniti or adequate punishment for those who threaten the security and sovereignty of a country. It is befitting that New Delhis diplomatic enclave is called Chanakyapuri. Director Chandraprakash Dwivedis landmark TV serial, Chanakya, made in 1991, set in motion several films and visual serials on this thinker, philosopher and strategist. Dozens of books have also been written on him. But despite all of this, I feel that his contribution was so great, and his life so eventful, that much more still needs to be done to highlight his life and achievements. Pavan K Varma is author, diplomat, and former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Just Like That is a weekly column where Varma shares nuggets from the world of history, culture, literature, and personal reminiscences with HT Premium readers. The views expressed are personal The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scored a comprehensive victory in the three Hindi Belt states Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan that went to the polls in November, even outperforming some of the most optimistic exit polls. It is no secret that the BJP has built a solid base of support in these states: The party won 62 out of the 65 Lok Sabha seats in these states in both the 2014 and 2019 national elections. But the Congress remained optimistic while heading into the 2023 state elections, as it had won all three states in 2018. The Congress had pinned its hopes on welfarism (particularly concerning women voters). This model of gender-based welfarism had yielded great benefits to Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal in 2021 and, arguably, was a factor in the Congresss victory over the BJP in Karnataka. Given this assessment, one would have expected the Congress to perform particularly well among female voters. However, data and field observations show the exact opposite phenomenon. In the Axis My India poll, one of the few exit polls to pick up the magnitude of the BJPs victory in Madhya Pradesh this time, 50% of women supported the BJP as compared to just 40% of women for the Congress, a massive gap of 10 percentage points. In contrast, 44% of men supported the BJP while 41% (of men) backed the Congress a gap of just 3 percentage points. In short, the scale of the BJP victory in MP was enhanced by the backing it received from female voters. Some of this is attributable to the popularity of the Ladli Behna scheme, a direct cash transfer to women in the 23-60 age group implemented by the incumbent chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, that reached a huge majority of MPs households. While I did not conduct election fieldwork in Madhya Pradesh, I noticed a similar phenomenon during my fieldwork in Rajasthan, namely, a significant gender gap with women being more supportive of the BJP than men. It is worth noting here that the vaunted Axis exit poll got the Rajasthan election wrong largely because it predicted that women would favour the Congress more than men (a similar misreading of female voters plagued the Axis poll in Bihar and West Bengal predictions). This only underlines the difficulty, but also the importance, of capturing the sentiments of female voters properly. The womens vote, particularly among younger women, has turned into a discernible political identity. Simply assuming that women will vote like others in the household is bound to lead one astray. Whereas the BJP was the incumbent in Madhya Pradesh, with a popular four-time chief minister in Chouhan and the successful Ladli Behna scheme, what explains a tilt among women voters in Rajasthan towards the BJP? After all, incumbent Congress chief minister Ashok Gehlot ran popular welfare schemes and also targeted female voters. First, unlike Nitish Kumar or Mamata Banerjee, the Congress has not shown a long-term commitment to female voters. A sudden shift in priorities to female voters does not have the same impact. Second, and more importantly, the BJP, and Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in particular, have assiduously built support among women. Political scientist Anirvan Chowdhury, for instance, has chronicled how the BJP has mobilised female voters through female party activists engaged in seva (service). This impact is greatest in Hindi-speaking areas and Gujarat, where outreach can be combined with Modi directly communicating to the female voters. Indeed, an advantage for the BJP among female voters was also noticed in Chhattisgarh by the Axis poll, although it significantly underestimated the popularity of the BJP. This popularity of PM Modi in the Hindi Belt, particularly among women, makes the BJP a formidable party in any state election in the region and impenetrable in national elections. In office, PM Modi has focused on welfarism, creating the labharthi (beneficiary) voter. Much of this welfarism, like gas cylinders, has focused on women, and he has developed the image as a provider. All through the Hindi Belt, he is directly associated with free ration schemes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. This is more than delivery; it is branding Modi as the only person who can deliver. In my fieldwork and surveys, I often ask about the individual who is most responsible for delivering benefits to the citizen. In South India, I disproportionately hear about the respective chief minister or government officials/bureaucrats. But in North India, voters are far more likely to name the PM as the person responsible for the delivery of benefits. Unlike states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have long ago developed their unique models of delivery of benefits, the BJP and Modi have redefined the delivery of benefits through cash transfers and branded them in the image of the PM. This, more than anything, explains why a poll plank of welfarism has been so effective against the BJP outside of the Hindi Belt and so ineffective within it. Unfortunately for the Congress, it is in the Hindi Belt that the party tends to be in direct head-to-head contests against the BJP. The new female voter upends traditional regional and caste-wise calculations. As the sun set in a village in Phulera constituency outside of Jaipur, a young woman sought us out: I see you are here to cover the elections. My family always votes for the Congress, but this time I am too young to vote. But I will have a vote in 2024, and I will vote for Modi. Neelanjan Sircar is a senior fellow at Centre for Policy Research. The views expressed are personal It is claimed the emerging electoral trends from five states that held assembly elections are going to be a decisive factor in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections; in simple terms, we are told the assembly elections ought to be seen as a mood of the nation. A section of media and political commentators highlight the impressive performance of the BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh to argue that the party under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is going to win the 2024 election with ease. This line of argument is plausible. The BJPs tremendous achievement cannot be underestimated. The party did not allow the Congress to take advantage of anti-incumbency in MP. The figure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was over-emphasised in such a way that the contest eventually acquired a national character. These factors obviously create an impression that the BJP will not have any difficulty in 2024. This interpretation of the results, however, suffers from two serious problems. First, it is unable to explain the nature of BJPs electoral professionalism. The BJP relied heavily on PM Modis image to expand the scope of the electoral discourse. Yet, the party did not ignore state-level specificities. This grassroots-based electoral strategy helped the party to attract voters. The BJP establishment is fully aware of the fact that it has to invent a completely different electoral strategy in 2024. Second, this interpretation also underplays the Congresss aggressive campaign and its remarkable performance in Telangana. The party has made an important political investment in the notion of social justice, especially after the successful Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY). This new kind of social politics is certainly going to play a role in the future. Still, these assembly elections cannot be (and should not be) analysed purely from the restricted perspective of what they mean for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There is a need to look at the wider implications of these outcomes from the vantage point of Indian democracy. There are four interesting inferences. First, the enthusiasm of voters in getting involved in the election process. Such involvement actually highlights two distinctive facets of our democratic tradition faith in elections and political maturity. The significant turnouts show that citizens have a great trust in the election process. The election is recognised as a legitimate mechanism to constitute a representative government. At the same time, the voter is fully aware of the nature of each election. CSDS-Lokniti surveys show that voting trends in an assembly election do not always correspond to national-level voting patterns. The recent assembly elections underline this political maturity. Second, these results confirm that political parties and voters have accepted a new kind of state model, which I call the charitable state. This is a state that makes a distinction between the economic sphere of citizens and their political life. Since the economic sphere is supposed to be regulated by the open market, the state offers one-time benefits to citizens on a case-to-case basis as some kind of political benevolence. The welfare packages offered by political parties in these elections are a good example of this emerging political trajectory. The success of the BJP is very much linked to this charitable-state model. PM Modi made a number of references to various welfare schemes in such a manner that an effective combination of welfare schemes and infrastructure development could be proposed as a package. Third, the question of political narrative. The developmentalism of the BJP was able to attract voters in a significant way. The party also used Hindutva-driven nationalism to produce a set of powerful and convincing arguments. Yet, one cannot ignore an equally convincing counter-narrative, which has not yet fully evolved. The Bihar caste census has been an important point of reference in these elections. A section of political observers even went on to describe it as Mandal 2.0 as if the demand for a national-level caste census would have the kind of impact that the Mandal Commission report created. This kind of sweeping generalisation is simplistic. However, it is also true that the Opposition, with the caste census demand, has forced the BJP to rethink its ideological position on internal caste divisions among marginalised communities. Obviously, the Congress could not develop this line of argument successfully in these elections. Finally, the North-South political divide has found an interesting meaning in these elections. The BJPs dominance in northern India, clearly, gives an advantage to the party. It will be easy for the BJP to evoke Hindutva-driven nationalism in these states in the coming months, especially in relation to the proposed inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The slogan double-engine government will also become more relevant and effective for the party. On the other hand, the revival of the Congress in southern India is an important phenomenon. The Telangana win is an indication that the party organisation at the state level is evolving in an unprecedented manner after the victory in Karnataka. These four indications will become more meaningful and concrete in the coming months. Hilal Ahmed is associate professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. The views expressed are personal One person died and two others were injured after a man attacked tourists in central Paris near the Eiffel Tower, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Saturday. French police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge after a security incident in Paris(REUTERS) Police quickly arrested the 26-year-old man, a French national, using a Taser stun gun, Darmanin told reporters. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The suspect had been sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for planning another attack and was on the French security services' watch list, and was also known for having psychiatric disorders, the interior minister added. The attack took place around 1900 GMT when the man attacked a tourist couple with a knife on the Quai de Grenelle, a few feet away from the Eiffel Tower, mortally wounding a German national. He was then chased by police and attacked two other people with a hammer before being arrested. The suspect had shouted out "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) and told police he was upset because "so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and in Palestine" and was also upset about the Gaza situation, Darmanin said. The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said it was in charge of the investigation. Saturday night's incident in central Paris occurred less than eight months before the French capital hosts the Olympic Games and could raise questions about security at the global sporting event. Paris plans an unprecedented opening ceremony on the Seine river that may draw as many as 600,000 spectators. THIS IS A defining moment, not only for Palestine, Israel and the broader Middle East, but for the international order and the world. The idea voiced in a recent Economist editorial that a ceasefire is the enemy of peace and would benefit Hamas is shocking and betrays an alarming lack of policy foresight and moral clarity. A comprehensive ceasefirelasting in nature, unlike the pause for hostage releases that began todaywould benefit peace. It would first benefit Palestinian civilians, who have endured unimaginable suffering in recent weeks. It would stop the spread of hostilities in the region. And it would open up a historic opportunity to treat the root cause of the conflict. Israel has allowed into Gaza only a tiny fraction of the water, food and fuel needed by its 2.3m people, prompting warnings from humanitarian organisations and the UN of starvation, thirst and infectious disease. An estimated 14,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, most of them women and children. There are tens of thousands of injuries. But there is nowhere to treat them. Israel has devastated Gazas civilian infrastructure, leaving just ten of its 36 hospitals functioning. Three out of every four Palestinians in Gaza have been forcibly displaced from their homes in the north of the territory and are crowding into UN facilities, schools and private houses in the south, where they have continued to be targeted by Israels bombardment and from where they are being pushed ever farther south. Whole neighbourhoods have been destroyed along with schools, universities, mosques, churches and UN facilities. The collective punishment of Palestinians is incomparable to any conflict in recent memory. More children were killed in three weeks in Gaza than the number of children killed in global conflict zones every year since 2019. More UN workers have been killed than in any similar period in the organisations 78-year history. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an NGO, the war in Gaza has been the deadliest for journalists covering conflictin terms of the number of deaths over a given periodsince it began tracking data in 1992. The violence is not confined to Gaza. In the West Bank more than 200 Palestinians have been killed since October 7th and extremist settlers, armed and empowered by Israels Jewish-supremacist public-security minister, are running amok, depopulating villages and terrorising local populations. Add to this the genocidal language from the highest leadership in Israel, where officials are openly discussing plans for the ethnic cleansing of the entire population of Gaza. Members of the Knesset have called for the use of nuclear weapons against Gaza, the defence minister dehumanised Palestinians as human animals, the president said there are no innocent civilians in Gaza and the prime minister invoked a biblical reference, calling for a holy war of annihilation. These are not only war crimes, but a blueprint for ethnic cleansing that is designed to make Gaza unliveable. Is a ceasefire really the enemy of peace? Over more than seven decades Israel has not been held to account for its many transgressions of international law: not for its illegal settlement-building, its indiscriminate violence, the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the targeting of journalists; not for its use of deeply repressive measures such as detention without charge or trial, or collective punishments such as home demolitions; not for its system of racial domination, or apartheid, as documented by international, Israeli and Palestinian human-rights organisations; and not for its illegal annexation of East Jerusalemnor, indeed, its refusal to allow Palestinian refugees their right of return after 75 years. Attempts by the State of Palestine to refer these crimes to the relevant international bodies, such as the International Criminal Court or the International Court of Justice, have been opposed by countries like America and Britain, further consolidating the sense that Israel is above international law and norms. The Palestine Liberation Organisation long ago took the strategic decision to pursue diplomacy to reach our aims of Palestinian statehood, freedom from occupation and the right of return of Palestinian refugees. But this strategy has so far proven a dead end. Even though the world outside Israel supports a two-state outcome, pressure on Israel to get there has been almost entirely absent over the 30 years since the Oslo accords. The Economist rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire but did point out that Palestinians deserve a state, too. It is not about deserving. This is our inalienable and an internationally sanctioned right, equal to all other peoples in the world, to live free and with self-determination on our own land. The idea that Hamas can be eradicated by military force is also misguided. Hamas is not just its military wing; it is an ideology. You can only challenge an idea by offering a different idea. The path to peace is clear. Recognise the State of Palestine on 1967 borders and end the occupation. That would leave two sovereign states to implement the new reality. The State of Palestine, with the help of the international community, would oversee the massive humanitarian and reconstruction efforts now necessary, provide protection and services to its citizens and convene national elections. This path is not easy. It does not require a lengthy process with interim agreements, but it does require a paradigm shift: an inversion of the Oslo process, establishing the end goal at the outset. It necessitates courage, statesmanship and the implementation of international law and resolutions. Soon we will be faced with a choice: we either wait for the next tragedy or we seize this moment to reach a lasting peace. Husam Zomlot is the Palestinian ambassador to Britain. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com At least 5,120 hospitals in India, the highest in any country, would be at high risk of shutdowns due to extreme weather events if the world fails to phase out fossil fuels by end of the century, a study said on Saturday on the eve of the inaugural Health Day at the ongoing COP28 summit in Dubai. People at the COP28 UN Climate Summit in Dubai on Saturday. (AP) Worldwide, one in 12 hospitals face a similar risk, the study 2023 XDI Global Hospital Infrastructure Physical Climate Risk Report by physical climate risk analysis firm XDI (Cross Dependency Analysis) said. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The report analysed the impact of six climate hazards coastal inundation, riverine flooding, surface water flooding, forest fire, extreme wind and cyclone wind on over 200,000 hospitals around the world. Of the total hospitals evaluated for the study, 16,245 were identified as at risk in a high emissions scenario, double the number of hospitals currently at risk, the study said. Of this, 71% hospitals were in the low- and middle-income countries, furthering the impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable communities. Climate change is increasingly impacting the health of people around the world. What happens when severe weather results in hospital shutdowns as well? Our analysis shows that without a rapid phase out of fossil fuels, the risks to global health will be exacerbated further, as thousands of hospitals become unable to deliver services during crises, said Dr Karl Mallon, director of science and technology, XDI (Cross Dependency Initiative). The UAE, which holds the COP28 presidency this year, has put special emphasis on health at this years conference. Ahead of the summit, which began on November 30, the World Health Organization said that negotiators must recognize their responsibility for the health of populations worldwide. South East Asia, which is currently bearing the heaviest burden of the rapidly worsening climate, despite low contributions to historical emissions, will be among the hardest hit regions, the analysis pointed out. With high emissions, almost 1 in 5 hospitals (18.4%) in South East Asia will be at high risk of total or partial shutdown by the end of the century, it said. In a high emissions scenario, 3,357 hospitals a third of all of the high-risk hospitals in the world will be in South Asia. This number could increase to 5,894 by 2100, the analysis found. India, currently the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, would be the country with most hospitals at risk of damage from extreme weather events by the end of the century in a high emissions scenario, with 5,120 hospitals at high risk. For the analysis, researchers included 53,473 hospitals in India. The impact is nothing less than catastrophic, Eloise Todd, executive director, Pandemic Action Network, said. The impact of climate change on health systems has hidden in plain sight. The human impact of 1 in 12 hospitals shutting down and up to 1 in 5 in South East Asia would be nothing less than catastrophic. The chain reaction that climate change puts into action must be stopped at the source by ending the burning of fossil fuels, Todd said. The study said that limiting warming to 1.8C with a rapid phase out of fossil fuels would halve the risk to hospital infrastructure compared to a high emissions scenario. The world is currently headed for 2.5 to 2.9C warming over the pre-industrial period, the United Nations warned in its Emissions Gap 2023 Report on November 20. The most obvious thing to dramatically reduce this risk to hospitals, and keep communities safe, is to reduce emissions, Mallon said. Indian government has agreed to withdraw its soldiers from the Maldives, the Indian Ocean archipelago's President Mohamed Muizzu said on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu(PTI) Muizzu won the presidential election in September, having campaigned to alter the Maldives's "India first" policy and promising removal of a small Indian military presence of some 75 personnel. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here "In the discussions we had, the Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers," Muizzu told reporters. "We also agreed to set up a high level committee to solve issues related to development projects." Muizzu made the remarks following engagements on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit with Indian officials. India's ministry of foreign affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. India and China have been vying for influence in the region, with the coalition that supports Muizzu considered to have a leaning more towards China. Most of the Indian military personnel were in the Maldives to operate and manage two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft given to the Maldives by India. India provides certain military equipment to the Maldives, assists in disaster response and has been helping build a naval dockyard there. At his inauguration last month, Muizzu said he would ensure that his country has no foreign military presence. He had made the request of Indian troop withdrawal to Kiren Rijiju, India's minister for earth sciences, who represented India at the president's inauguration. Israel struck Gaza targets Sunday in its war on Hamas sparked by the October 7 attacks as international concern mounted over the spiralling civilian death toll on the third day of fighting after a truce ended. Israeli tanks maneuvring just outside the Palestinian enclave, during clashes between Israel and Hamas militants (AFP) More than 15,200 people have been killed in the besieged Palestinian territory, according to Hamas, in more than eight weeks of combat and heavy bombardment. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Israeli air and artillery strikes hit Gaza's northern frontier with Israel, throwing thick clouds of smoke and dust into the sky. At least one rocket salvo fired from the territory at Israel was intercepted by air defence systems, said AFP reporters in Sderot near Gaza. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said at least 160 Palestinian deaths were reported in two incidents in northern Gaza Saturday: the bombing of a six-storey building in Jabalia refugee camp, and of an entire block in a Gaza City neighbourhood. Repeated bursts of heavy automatic weapons fire were heard over an AFPTV livecam. Gaza's Hamas government on Saturday said 240 people had been killed since the week-long truce expired early Friday. The war broke out when Hamas militants burst through Gaza's militarised border into Israel on October 7 and killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while also taking around 240 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. - 'No safe place' - After the unprecedented attacks, Israel unleashed a relentless air and ground campaign that has killed mostly women and children in Gaza, authorities there say. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, while the militant group has ruled out more hostage releases until a permanent ceasefire is agreed. "We have said it from day one: the price to pay for the release of Zionist prisoners will be the release of all our prisoners -- after a ceasefire," Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas's politburo, said on Saturday evening. Israel's army, after focusing on northern Gaza in recent weeks, has struck more targets in the territory's south and issued warnings to Palestinians trapped there to seek what it said would be safe zones, "if required". United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that "as a result of Israel's conduct of hostilities and its orders for people to leave the north and parts of the south, hundreds of thousands are being confined into ever smaller areas in southern Gaza". "I repeat, there is no safe place in Gaza," he said. Hamas and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, announced "rocket barrages" against multiple Israeli cities and towns including Tel Aviv, and Israel said two of its soldiers had died in combat, the first since the truce ended. In a summary issued on Sunday, the military said a drone strike had "eliminated" five Hamas militants. Fighter jets and helicopters had also struck "tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities" while naval forces hit Hamas vessels and weapons, it said. At least seven people were killed in an Israeli bombing early Sunday near Gaza's southern border with Egypt, the Hamas government said. - 'Too many' innocents killed - Israel's ally the United States, which provides it with billions of dollars in military aid annually, has intensified calls for the protection of Gaza's civilians. "Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed," Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters at UN climate talks in Dubai. In a new estimate, OCHA said around 1.8 million people in Gaza, roughly 75 percent of the population, had been displaced, many to overcrowded and unsanitary shelters. Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis overflowed with both the wounded and the dead. Jumana Murad said her son Mohammad, 19, was killed as he tried to help women and children out of a tent inside a school. "A piece of shrapnel hit him in the head," she told AFP before bursting into tears. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Sunday on X, formerly Twitter, that a WHO team visited Nasser hospital and found it with 1,000 patients, three times its capacity. Some were being treated on the floor, in conditions "unimaginable for the provision of health care", he said. Gazans are short of food, water and other essentials, and many homes have been destroyed but the aid reaching them is "a drop in the ocean of needs," said Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). - Surveillance - The seven-day truce, brokered by Qatar with support from Egypt and the United States, led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. On Saturday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israeli negotiators were being withdrawn from Qatar "following the impasse in the negotiations". There are still 137 hostages held in Gaza, Israel's army said. Britain's defence ministry confirmed at the weekend that it will conduct surveillance flights over Israel and Gaza "in support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity". Israeli hostages released from Gaza talked publicly on Saturday for the first time, urging their government to secure the release of the remaining captives. Pope Francis on Sunday deplored "so much suffering in Gaza", and urged those involved to reach a new ceasefire deal. - 'Total victory' - But Netanyahu said the war would continue "until we achieve all its aims" -- among them freeing the hostages -- and that soldiers had prepared during the truce "for total victory against Hamas". "There is no way to win except by continuing the ground campaign," Netanyahu said, vowing that Israel would be "observing international law". US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday drew on his experience fighting the Islamic State group in urging Israel to protect non-combatants. "The lesson is that you can only win in urban warfare by protecting civilians," he told a forum in California. Among the targets hit Saturday in Khan Yunis was a Doha-funded housing development. At almost exactly the same time Israeli negotiators pulled out of the Qatar talks, bombs pounded the modern-looking yellow apartment blocks one by one. Most Gazans are trapped, but an Egyptian border crossing, after a closure on Friday, reopened to enable 880 foreign and dual nationals to cross along with 13 injured people, the UN said. AFTER THEY married in 2015, Shimuzu Nao and Ayaka dreamed of having children. But this was not straightforward. The couple are both biologically female; Nao, as the former is known, is a transgender man. While exploring possible workarounds, including adoption, they came across a man on social media who was willing to provide them with sperm. They proceeded to meet up with him several times at an internet cafe in Tokyo. Each time, he handed them a plastic syringe containing his semen, which Ayaka injected into herself. After the seventh meeting, she became pregnant. Having children has been one of the most enriching experiences for us, says Nao, now a father of two. Assisted reproduction is popular in Japan. About 8% of babies were conceived through in vitro fertilisation in 2021, compared with 2% in America. But sperm and egg banks are unregulated in the country, and there are few of them. Laws pertaining to IVF only cover straight married couples (gay marriage is illegal in Japan). That is prompting hundreds, including single women and gay couples, every year to seek donors and surrogate mothers in other countries, including America, where such practices are legal. Others have, like the Shimizus, resorted to the less costly option of seeking sperm donors online in Japan. But this underground practice comes with certain risks, and there is a growing demand for regulation. While egg donations are almost unheard of in Japan, artificial insemination using donor sperm (AID) has long been available in a few hospitals and more widely in the shadows. In 1948 Keio University Hospital in Tokyo started performing the technique, using sperm from medical students. Some 20,000 Japanese children are estimated to have since been born through AID. They are often not informed of their origins and have no right to get information about their biological fathers. But calls to facilitate disclosure grew during the 2010s, leading to a fall in sperm donors. In recent years, Keio Hospital and other clinics that once performed AID have stopped doing so due to a shortage of sperm. The idea of discoverability got some donors worried, says Kuramoto Takeshi of JISART, a group of medical practitioners that promotes reproductive technology. What if a child suddenly came up to you and said: Daddy? Partly in response to that concern, Japan passed a law in 2020 that recognises married couples who have children through donated eggs and sperm as their offsprings legal parentsand not the donors. Even when sperm was more easily available, a shortage of AID capacity was driving demand for individual donors online. Hiro, a 30-something man in Tokyo, first donated his sperm to a lesbian friend four years ago. I was surprised to learn such a practice existed, he said. He now runs an X (formerly Twitter) account to advertise his willingness to donate to others. But such informal arrangements can be fraught. Samples are not, as in clinics, screened for infectious diseases. Sperm donors may try to pressurise their beneficiaries into having sex. It can also be hard to verify donors personal information. In 2021 a Japanese woman gave up her baby for adoption and sued her sperm donor after learning that he was not, as he had claimed, Japanese, single and a graduate of a top university, but Chinese, married and an alumnus of a middling university. Such dealings through social media should stop immediately, says Miyazaki Kaoru, director of an IVF clinic in Tokyo. Experts want regulation that would encourage donations to sperm banks and clinics. But the governments conservative approach to families is getting in the way. It provides subsidies to married heterosexual couples in an effort to boost Japans birth rate, but refuses to provide any incentive, including via assisted reproduction, to non-traditional families. Parliament is now debating a bill that could restrict access to assisted reproduction to married couples. To face down the reactionaries will require more public discussion of alternative family structures, suggests Nao. I want people to know that there are families like us. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Former President Donald Trump on Saturday attempted to turn the tables on his likely rival in November, President Joe Biden, arguing that the man whose election victory Trump tried to overturn is the destroyer of American democracy. Former US president and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump(AFP) Trump's allegations about Biden, a Democrat, echo the ones that Biden has been making for years against his predecessor. As Trump has dominated the Republican presidential primary and talked about targeting his rivals and the news media if he wins the White House again, Biden has stepped up his own warnings, contending Trump is determined to destroy American democracy. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here On Saturday, Trump made his most explicit argument to date on why voters should instead see his rival as the bigger democratic threat. Trump repeated his longstanding contention that the four criminal indictments against him show Biden is misusing the federal justice system against his rival. ALSO READ| 1 killed, 2 injured after man attacks tourists near Eiffel Tower in Paris He's been weaponizing government against his political opponents like a Third World political tyrant, Trump said to a crowd in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Biden and his radical left allies like to pose as standing up as allies of democracy, Trump continued, arguing: Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy, Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy. Ammar Moussa, a Biden campaign spokesman, responded: Donald Trump's America in 2025 is one where the government is his personal weapon to lock up his political enemies. You don't have to take our word for it Trump has admitted it himself." Trump has long promised to prosecute Biden in retaliation should he return to the White House. On Saturday, though, the former president extended his arguments about Biden's threat to democracy to lawsuits filed by two liberal organizations seeking to rule him ineligible for office under a rarely used Civil War-era constitutional provision that prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from returning to office. All of the suits to date have failed. Biden has no involvement in them, but Democratic donors who back him also help fund the liberal groups filing the claims. That's led Trump to blame them on the president, whom he contended had defaced the Constitution in trying to block him. And the former president, who has a long history of speaking warmly about authoritarian leaders and sometimes echoing their rhetoric, seemed aware of criticisms against him. Americans don't like fascists, Trump said. He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and China's criminal justice system for swiftly executing drug dealers, and boasted that North Korean President Kim Jong Un likes him. But Trump noted he was often attacked for these relationships and tried to defend them. It's good to have a good relationship with people who have nuclear weapons, he said. Throughout the speech, Trump repeated his arguments the 2020 presidential election that he lost was stolen and that U.S. elections in general are rigged. There is no evidence that the 2020 election was stolen. Dozens of lawsuits were dismissed by courts and government and independent reviews have not found enough alleged fraud to throw the outcome into question. Trump supporters would attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to try to stop the certification of Trump's loss to Biden. On Saturday, Trump continued his practice of referring to some of those arrested in connection with the riot as political prisoners. Earlier in the day, at a rally in Ankeny, Iowa, Trump returned to allegations of Democratic election fraud, one of his favorite themes on the campaign trail. He told the crowd to guard the vote" in 2024, and focused on diverse cities he has often denigrated as examples of places where fraud would happen. "You should go into Detroit and you should go into Philadelphia and you should go into some of these places, Atlanta, and you should go into some of these places and we've got to watch those votes when they come in, Trump told his supporters. News / National by Staff reporter POLICE in Bulawayo have intercepted a message circulating on social media inviting schoolchildren to a vuzu party in Parklands.Acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele yesterday told Southern Eye that the police were investigating the matter with a view to arresting the organisers."Over-excitement of pens down after the exams may result in them engaging in drug and alcohol abuse. We are determined to crack down on illegal parties and those who facilitate them by strictly enforcing the existing laws," Msebele said."Illegal parties organised by schoolchildren pose a direct threat not only to their academic progress but also to their physical and mental well-being, hence it falls upon us all to take decisive action and put an end to this growing menace."Msebele added that the illegal gatherings are characterised by drug and substance abuse and explicit sexual acts, creating a dangerous path that distracts children from their studies."Vuzu parties clampdown requires a collective effort from all of us. We cannot expect to eradicate illegal parties and the abuse of drugs and alcohol among schoolchildren without actively involving parents, teachers, community leaders, and the students themselves. Let us work together to create a safe and empowering environment for our youths,'' she said.In September, police in Bulawayo arrested 14 students from Milton High, Evelyn High and Herentals College, at a vuzu party in Pumula South.According to the police, the students were found drinking alcohol at a private house while in school uniforms. Pope Francis on Sunday said it was "painful" to see that the truce between Israel and Hamas had been broken, and voiced hope that all parties involved can reach a new ceasefire "as soon as possible". Pope Francis (via REUTERS) A seven-day pause in the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, which had allowed the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, collapsed on Friday. On Sunday, Israel stepped up its bombing campaign. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here More than 15,400 Palestinians have been killed as of Sunday, according to Palestinian officials, in the conflict that broke out after a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage. "It is painful that the truce has been broken. This means death, destruction and misery," Francis said - his words read out by an aide because of the pope's frail health - during his Sunday Angelus message and prayers. "Many hostages have been freed but many are still in Gaza. We think of them, of their families, who had seen a light, a hope of embracing their loved ones again." "In Gaza there is a lot of suffering, there is a lack of basic necessities," Francis said. "I hope that all those involved can reach a new agreement for a ceasefire as soon as possible," he added, and find "solutions other than weapons". The pope is limiting his public speaking and his appearances because he is recovering from a lung inflammation that forced him, among other things, to cancel a trip to Dubai this weekend for the COP28 U.N. climate summit. "Dear brothers and sisters, good morning. Today as well I will not be able to read everything. I am getting better, but my voice is still (not good)," Francis said at the start of the Angelus. Screens were placed in St Peter's Square so that the faithful, who normally listen to the pope speaking from a window overlooking the square, could follow his message. At the end, they greeted him with chants of "Viva il papa!" (Long live the pope). A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Saturday, the US Geological Survey reported, followed by four major aftershocks that sent residents fleeing from coastal areas amid fears of a tsunami. People gather at an evacuation center, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines December 2, 2023. (via REUTERS) The initial quake struck off the coast of the country at a depth of 32 kilometres (20 miles) at 10:37 pm local time (1437 GMT) about 21 kilometres northeast of Hinatuan municipality on Mindanao island, the USGS said. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Early on Sunday, over the span of several hours, four powerful aftershocks of magnitudes 6.4, 6.2, 6.1 and 6.0 rumbled through the region, the USGS said. The initial quake triggered tsunami warnings -- which were later downgraded -- across the Pacific region and sent residents in northeast Mindanao fleeing buildings, evacuating a hospital and seeking higher ground. "Destructive tsunami is expected with life threatening wave heights," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on X, formerly Twitter. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii also issued an alert but later posted that the danger had passed. "There is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake," it said in a message. The Philippines seismology institute said in a bulletin at 3:23 am (1923 GMT) local time that the highest waves generated by the seismic activity were .64 meters (25 inches) tall on Mawes Island, but that the tsunami warning had ended. Small swells were reported as far as Japan's eastern Pacific coast, where a tsunami warning was also briefly in effect. Palau, a western Pacific archipelago some 900 kilometres (560 miles) off Mindanao, reported no impact. Hinatuan police Sergeant Joseph Lambo said the quake was "very strong" but that there were no reports of casualties or major property damage. "Appliances fell off the shelves at the police office and two TV sets were broken. The motorcycles parked outside also tumbled down," Lambo told AFP. "Right now we don't have reports of damage or casualties but people are evacuating because of the tsunami alert." Lambo said the 45,000 residents in the municipality had been ordered to leave their homes and many were going on foot or in vehicles to higher ground. A video posted on social media and verified by AFP showed bottles of drinks and other products falling off shelves in a convenience store as staff fled outside. Another video, shot by Dennis Orong, showed people screaming as they ran along a street in Lianga, a coastal municipality of Surigao del Sur. "I was shaking in fear, mainly because of exploding electric poles," the 26-year-old hairdresser told AFP. "It was very traumatic." Previous quake killed nine Social media reports of a tsunami hitting Lingig municipality, about 35 kilometres south of Hinatuan, were "fake news", said police Master Sergeant Robert Quesada. "We're at low tide," he said. "People evacuated away from the coast soon after. We can't say how many at this point, but pretty much the entire town is along the coast." Many people, including Bethanie Valledor, were asleep when the quake struck. "I felt like the room we're staying in would be destroyed," Valledor, 24, told AFP after fleeing the resort where she had been staying, about 20 kilometres southwest of Hinatuan. "Our place is very near the sea. The resort owner asked us to evacuate immediately. Honestly, I was screaming. I panicked." In Butuan City, northwest of Hinatuan, orderlies evacuated patients on gurneys and in wheelchairs from a hospital, their drip and IV bags hanging from support stands. The quake came nearly two weeks after a 6.7 magnitude quake hit Mindanao, killing at least nine people, shaking buildings and causing part of the ceiling of a shopping mall to collapse. Quakes are a daily occurrence in the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic and volcanic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. Most are too weak to be felt by humans, but strong and destructive quakes come at random with no technology available to predict when and where they will happen. A German tourist died and two other people, including a British citizen, were hurt after an attack by a man armed with a knife and a hammer near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday, in what President Emmanuel Macron described as "a terrorist attack". This photograph taken on December 3, 2023 shows flowers where a tourist was stabbed to death on the eve, near the Eiffel Tower (background), in Paris. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)(AFP) Police quickly arrested the 26-year-old man, a French national, after subduing him with a Taser stun gun, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters on Saturday. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The suspect had in 2016 been sentenced to four years in prison for planning another attack, and had been on the French security services' watch list, the minister said, adding that he was also known for having psychiatric disorders. The man attacked a tourist couple at around 1900 GMT with a knife on the Quai de Grenelle, a few feet away from the Eiffel Tower, mortally wounding the German national. He was then chased by police and attacked two other people with a hammer, including the Briton, before being arrested. "We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris and are in contact with the local authorities, a spokesperson for the British foreign ministry said. The suspect had shouted out "Allahu akbar" (God is Greatest) and told police he was upset because "so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and in Palestine" and was also upset about the Gaza situation, Darmanin said. French anti-terrorism prosecutors are leading an investigation into the incident. European security officials have warned of a growing risk of attacks by Islamists amid the Israel-Hamas war, with the biggest threat likely from "lone wolf" assailants who are hard to track. "I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening during the terrorist attack in Paris and think with emotion of the people currently injured and in care," President Macron said on the social network platform X. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne expressed defiance in the face of such attacks, saying on X: "We will not give in to terrorism." France has been on high alert since raising its security threshold in October, when a Chechen-origin man with a knife killed a teacher in a school in northern France. The attack in central Paris comes less than eight months before the French capital is due to host the Olympic Games and could raise questions about security at the global sporting event. The city was planning an opening ceremony on the Seine river with the potential to attract as many as 600,000 spectators. Opponents to President Emmanuel Macron were quick to react. Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally party, the largest single opposition party in parliament, said on X: "The French will wonder how a man on a watchlist already convicted of having planned an attack, who was a notorious psychiatric case, in the current context, was able to walk freely and armed on a Saturday evening through the streets of Paris" Didier Fleury, a 63-year old entrepreneur who lives near the site of the attack, told Reuters: If we look at the news at the moment, you can't be completely surprised by that. Since those are random attacks, it's very complicated to prevent. We'll probably have more. The holiday season is approaching and, unfortunately, I'm afraid it won't be the last. An American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said, potentially marking a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war. In this image released by the US Department of Defense, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) is returning to homeport at Norfolk, Virginia after operating in the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on July 2, 2013. ABC News reported October 14 that Washington was sending the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group to support the USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships, which were already in the region. (Photo by Ryan D. McLearnon / US Department of Defense / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US Department of Defense/US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan D. McLearnon" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS(AFP) Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available, the Pentagon said. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea, without elaborating. The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel as it wages war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the attack began about 10 a.m. in Sanaa, Yemen, and had gone on for as much as five hours. Another U.S. official who similarly spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason said the Carney had intercepted at least one drone during the attack. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis. However, a Houthi military spokesman earlier said an important statement would be released shortly. Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce briefly halted fighting and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes and its ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming. Earlier in November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time. News / National by Staff reporter THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has abandoned its imported cremator valued at US$100 000 which was impounded by South African authorities in 2017 over duty arrears.Town clerk Christopher Dube told Southern Eye that council is now in the process of trying to recover the money paid to the contractor, to purchase a new cremator."Please be advised that there is a council resolution passed on October 5, 2022 which indicated that the City of Bulawayo abandons the cremator to avoid paying further charges but instead pursue recovery of the money that was paid to the contractor."The reasons for abandoning it were because of lapse of time as it was now cheaper to buy a new one than pursue the old one. The cremator stuck in South Africa had accumulated storage charges of over R1m as well as transportation costs from Durban to Zimbabwe,'' Dube said.The cremator was imported from Japan and held in South Africa after the contractor Masen Engineering (Pvt) Ltd failed to pay R120 000 to the South African Revenue Services (SARS) for its release.The contractor advised that it was not a wise decision to pay that amount to SARS in order to facilitate the release of the cremator, which is now obsolete. President Bidens role in high-stakes talks between Israel and Hamas is drawing attacks from his 2024 presidential challengers, pulling the fraught issue of hostage negotiations into Americas presidential race. At least four Americans are among the more than 100 people released by Hamas to date, amid intensive negotiations to free an estimated 240 people taken hostage. Fighting between Israel and Hamas resumed on Friday after a week-long pause. The Biden administration said they are working literally by the hour to try and restore what they call a tactical pause to allow more hostages to be released and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Biden has taken criticism from Republicans and Democrats over his handling of the talks and the fact that four of an estimated 12 American hostages have been among the dozens released so far. Former President Trump, the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination, has accused Biden of not prioritizing the release of Americans in the deals, which have prioritized the release of children and women. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who launched a long-shot primary challenge to the president, took his own swing at Biden over the issue last week. I would have expected American special forces to perhaps play a hand in extracting them, he said of US hostages on CNN. I think its absurd, shocking and dismaying, that six weeks later, we still have American hostages held by a terror organization in Gaza. Top Stories from The Hill Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is running as an anti-Trump Republican, has acknowledged Bidens success in securing the release of hostages, but criticized the deal as lop-sided toward Hamas. Under the terms of the initial deal, an estimated three Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israeli jails in exchange for every one Israeli hostage. Story continues Christie has also criticized the pause in fighting for allowing Hamas to regroup. U.S. and Israeli officials agree with that assessment, but say the pause is worth it to encourage the ongoing series of hostage exchanges. Neither of Bidens top challengers Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration have made a point of attacking Biden over the hostage talks. But they have both criticized U.S. funding for UNRWA, the United Nations agency focused on Palestinian refugees. DeSantis has pledged to strip funding from UNRWA funds were repealed by Trump and reinstated by Biden. But lawmakers in Congress, from both sides of the aisle, are largely uniting behind how Biden is handling the crisis. I will say I am proud of this administration for standing with Israel, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during a roundtable meeting with Israeli-American families of hostages held by Hamas. We stand united with you as Americans on this committee, we put our partisanship aside, the chairman continued. The White House has touted Bidens efforts, saying his personal involvement has been integral to making progress. The agreements have also allowed a surge of humanitarian support into Gaza, which Hamas had demanded. The approach that were taking with Israel, and quite frankly, with our partners in the region, is working, White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday. Its getting aid into people that need it. Its getting a pause in the fighting. Its getting hostages out, its getting Americans out. The first hostages released by Hamas on Oct. 20 were an American mother and daughter, and a four-year-old American-Israeli girl was released on Nov. 26 part of a four-day pause in fighting that allowed for the release of 58 hostages, including Israeli women and children, and foreign nationals from Thailand and Nepal. American-Israeli Liat Atzili was released by Hamas on Nov. 29. Hamas has released some Israelis with dual citizenship with Russia, viewed as a gesture toward Russian President Vladimir Putin after the Kremlin hosted the group in Moscow at the end of October. The Russians were not released because Hamas respects Putin, but because Putin showed respect to Hamas, said Laura Blumenfeld, a senior fellow at the The Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. Hamas has said it does not have all the hostages in its captivity. Hostages are believed to be held by other groups in Gaza, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which like Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. At least 108 hostages have been released as of Friday, when fighting between Israel and Hamas resumed with the truce expiration and failure to achieve an extension. Outside experts say the Biden administration faces an incredibly challenging time in securing the release of hostages. The bottom line is, its very difficult to negotiate with a terrorist group and its pretty easy to backseat drive, Matthew Levitt, director of the Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said of political criticism of the Biden White House. Hamas has long used hostages as leverage with Israel. Traditionally Hamas asks for dozens or hundreds of released Palestinian prisoners for one person, and I anticipate that when the civilians are eventually all released, then it comes down to the remaining Israeli soldiers, mostly men, but some women as well, that Hamas is going to significantly raise the price and start asking for very, very large numbers, he said. Thats not because of how the Israelis value lives, its because of how Hamas doesnt. Levitt also said that Hamas is likely placing a higher price on hostages with American citizenship. The Biden administration has said that as part of negotiations, Hamas provides at the last minute a list of potential hostages for release to Israel and the U.S. Its easy to be bombastic, but there arent a lot of great options here, Levitt said of the criticism lodged against the negotiations. And I think thats why the Israelis are willing to extend this temporary ceasefire in an effort to get out as many people as they can. The war has dragged on Bidens already weak approval numbers and opened fissures within the Democratic Party. Its also provided another opening for GOP candidates to question Bidens strength and competency. A YouGov poll found earlier this month that 56 percent of Republicans disapprove of how Biden has managed the conflict, while an NBC News poll released last week put that number at almost 70 percent. The NBC poll found only a third of registered voters overall approved of Bidens handling of the war, and only half of all Democrats. Handling hostage talks is an issue that has bedeviled presidents in both parties for generations and can have significant political consequences. A hostage crisis can be lose-lose for politicians when theres an exchange, because your opponents will always criticize you for the terms, said Blumenfeld. Hostage taking is the ultimate terror tool because the price you pay for their freedom can be used against you as a leader, if its anything short of a low-cost, heroic military operation. Since the war began, Republican lawmakers have focused much of their domestic ire on Bidens earlier diplomacy of exchanging $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil profits to secure the release of five Americans imprisoned for years in Iran. Some in the GOP even sought to link these funds to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. While Tehran is a military and financial backer of Hamas, Israel and the White House have not accused Iran of having direct involvement with the planning and execution of the attack. Still, Republican hard-liners oppose any negotiations with Iran. The White House had held back greenlighting the transfer of the billions to Iran in the wake of Hamass terrorist attack, but Republicans have seized on the frozen funds as a Biden policy failure. The Republican-controlled House on Thursday passed a bill that seeks to officially block Iran from accessing the $6 billion, even as the bill is unlikely to advance in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Jared Gans contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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 }} Film lovers in the UK have been left confused after an Oscar contender was released on Netflix in the US but is nowhere to be found in the UK. In recent years, Netflix has found itself firmly embedded in the awards race, with films including Roma, The Irishman, The Power of the Dog and All Quiet on the Western Front all competing for Best Picture. The streaming services biggest contders this year includes Bradley Coopers Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, which will be released later this month. But its Todd Haynes new drama May December that has caused confusion among UK Netflix subscribers. While the acclaimed film was released in the US on Friday (1 December), users in the UK have been left scratching their heads after searching for the film and realising its not currently available. It turns out the film will not be released in the UK until 8 December and, when it does arrive, it wont actually be on Netflix. This is due to the fact that, following its premiere at Cannes Film Festival in May, it was revealed that Sky Cinema would release the film in the UK. Sky acquired the film in 2021. May December, which has received huge acclaim, stars Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and Riverdale actor Charles Melton, who picked up Best Supporting Actor at the Gotham Awards earlier this week a signifier for what could go on to win at the Oscars in March. The film, written by Samy Burch, follows a married couple who buckles under pressure when an actor arrives to research their past for a forthcoming role. Since its arrival on Netflix US, the film has been hailed a masterpiece, with one viewer stating: They dont make movies like this anymore! Is May December still due out on UK Netflix this week? Im reading 1st December but cant find it in the coming soon sections on the platform at all... one user wrote, with another stating: WHEN will May December be on UK Netflix. Another person wanting to watch the film waded in: Wtf why isnt May December out in the UK yet? Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in May December (Netflix) May December will be available to stream on Sky Cinema and NOW on 8 December. 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 }} Chinas hospitals have been flooded with cases of respiratory illnesses and sick children complaining of pneumonia-like symptoms, leading to increased scrutiny from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The respiratory illness is caused by known pathogens and there is no sign of new infectious diseases, the Chinese health ministry said on Saturday, as the country braced for its first winter after lifting the Covid-19 restrictions. There has been a rise in cases linked to viruses such as influenza, rhinoviruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, the adenovirus, as well as bacteria such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, the ministry said in a statement. Mi Feng, an official with Chinas national health commission, said in a press conference that authorities will open more paediatric outpatient clinics, seek to ensure more elderly people and children receive flu vaccines while encouraging people to wear masks. The rise in pneumonia-like cases in China has become a global issue in the last two weeks. Several South Asian countries, such as India, Taiwan, Singapore, and others, have raised surveillance levels and ramped up measures. It has also prompted several Republican senators in the US to urge Joe Biden to impose travel restrictions with China. The spike in cases appeared to be driven by children contracting pathogens that two years of Covid-19 restrictions kept them away from, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the acting director of WHOs department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention. This is not an indication of a novel pathogen. This is expected. This is what most countries dealt with a year or two ago, Ms Van Kerkhove told health news outlet STAT. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections were mostly seen in children aged five to 14, said Wang Huaqing, the chief immunisation planning expert for China Centre for Disease and Protection (CDC). Since China experienced a far longer and harsher lockdown than essentially any other country on Earth, it was anticipated that those lockdown exit waves could be substantial in China, Francois Balloux of University College London, told AFP. The Chinese health ministry has asked local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics and urged people to wear masks in order to stop the illnesses from spreading. A Beijing childrens hospital earlier told state media CCTV that at least 7,000 patients were being admitted daily to the institution, far exceeding its capacity. Last week, the largest paediatric hospital in nearby Tianjin reportedly received more than 13,000 children at its outpatient and emergency departments. Liaoning province, about 690km northeast of the capital, is also grappling with high case numbers. The increasing number of cases prompted the WHO on Wednesday to issue a formal request for disease data on respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. Chinese health authorities responded by saying they found no unusual or novel diseases. The officials claimed the high number of patients had not overwhelmed the countrys hospitals contrary to the local media reports. China's National Health Commission has also warned that the spread of several pathogens could converge into a major outbreak between this winter and next spring. The global health body also said on Wednesday that any link between clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia and a rise in respiratory infections is unclear as of now. What has happened so far? Northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illnesses since mid-October, compared to the same period in the previous three years, according to the WHO. On 21 November, public disease surveillance system ProMED had issued a notification about reports of undiagnosed pneumonia. ProMED, whih is run by health experts, had earlier in 2019 raised the alarm over the virus that causes Covid-19. With the outbreak of pneumonia in China, childrens hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning and other places were overwhelmed with sick children, and schools and classes were on the verge of suspension, ProMED said while citing a report by FTV News. It is not at all clear when this outbreak started as it would be unusual for so many children to be affected so quickly. This report suggests a widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness in several areas in China as Beijing and Liaoning are almost 800 km apart. The report does not say that any adults were affected suggesting some exposure at the schools. Some parents in Shanghai on Friday said they were not overly concerned about the wave of sickness. Colds happen all over the world, said Emily Wu outside a childrens hospital. I hope that people will not be biased because of the pandemic... but look at this from a scientific perspective. What are the symptoms? According to Chinese health authorities, the outbreak could be linked to mycoplasma pneumoniae, also known as walking pneumonia, a common bacterial infection typically affecting children that has been circulating since May. Symptoms of walking pneumonia include a sore throat, fatigue and a lingering cough that can last for weeks or months. In severe cases, this can eventually deteriorate into pneumonia. A Beijing citizen, identified only as Wei, told FTV News that infected children dont cough and have no symptoms. They just have a high temperature (fever) and many develop pulmonary nodules. Health data analytics firm Airfinity noted that atypical symptoms have also been reported at a Sichuan province hospital. "The fact that only children are affected suggests this is most likely to be an existing pathogen," Jin Dong-yan, a professor at the University of Hong Kong told Bloomberg. "If it's a new pathogen it should mostly hit adults. It looks like it's something adults have got accustomed to." However, Mycoplasma has previously triggered epidemics in China every two to four years, with the latest positivity rate in Beijing being 40 per cent about 1.3 times higher than its 2019 peak. How infectious is the disease? Bruce Thompson, head of the Melbourne School of Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, told Reuters very preliminary data suggested there was nothing out of the ordinary. At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it may be a new variant of Covid, he said. One thing to note is that we can be reassured that the surveillance processes are working, which is a very good thing. The WHO suggested people in China get vaccinated, isolate if they are feeling ill, wear masks if necessary and get medical care as needed. While WHO seeks this additional information, we recommend that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, the agency said. What are scientists saying? Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist who advised the WHO on Covid, said there needs to be more information, particularly diagnostic information. We have to be careful. The challenge is to discern the outbreaks and determine the cause, said David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He pointed out that there was a likely background of seasonal respiratory infections. I am not going to push the pandemic panic button on the basis of what we know so far, but I will be very keen to see the response to WHO from China and see the WHOs assessment following that, said Brian McCloskey, a public health expert who also advised the WHO on the pandemic. What we are seeing is WHOs International Health Regulations system in action, he said, referring to the rules governing how countries work with the WHO on potential outbreaks. Virologist Tom Peacock from Imperial College London said it was unlikely the increasing infections happened under the radar as there are tools now to pretty rapidly pick up emerging influenza or coronaviruses. (I) suspect it may end up being something more mundane or a combination of things say Covid, flu, RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] but hopefully well know more soon, he said. Countries raising alerts Despite Chinas continued assurances, countries in Asia including India, Taiwan, Thailand and Nepal are on alert or ramping up surveillance in preparation for a possible rise in respiratory diseases in people. Five US Republican senators led by Marco Rubio have also asked the Biden administration to ban travel with China. 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 Mr Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate intelligence committee. A Biden administration official has said that the US was closely monitoring the uptick in respiratory illnesses in China but added that 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 US emergency departments and the outbreak of respiratory illness in China, the official added. US health officials are closely observing a pneumonia outbreak affecting children in an Ohio county, emphasising that the outbreak seems to be caused by well-known pathogens and is not linked to pneumonia clusters reported in China and parts of Europe. 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 }} Militants attacked a bus in northern Pakistan, resulting in the death of nine people, including two soldiers, the local police said on Sunday. Over 20 others sustained injuries in the incident. The attack on a bus occurred on Saturday at about 6.30pm along the Karakoram Highway in the northern Gilgit Baltistan region, police officer Azmat Shah told the Associated Press. Authorities reported that unidentified gunmen targeted a bus operated by a local private company from nearby hills. The attack led to the bus swerving into a goods truck, resulting in a head-on collision that claimed the lives of both the bus and truck drivers. The impact resulted in a fire, claiming the lives of both drivers at the scene. Two soldiers of the Pakistan Army were also killed in the incident while a police official was injured. Police said that more than 20 people were injured in the attack. Among the injured was one local Islamic cleric, identified as Mufti Sher Zaman. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, police said. An unfortunate incident occurred in which a cowardly act was done, targeting a bus, the regional police commissioner was quoted as saying by Dawn. The area was also cordoned off by the law enforcement authorities and traffic had to be redirected. No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Karakoram Highway in the northern Gilgit Baltistan region in Pakistan serves as a vital link between Pakistan and China, traversing through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This region has been a historical hotspot for terrorism, marked by the presence of the Pakistani Taliban and various other militant groups. The home minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Shams Lone, called the incident an act of terrorism. Pakistans interim prime minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, condemned the attack, saying anti-state elements would not be allowed to sabotage the peace of Gilgit Baltistan. He vowed to continue fighting against terrorists. An investigation has been launched, the chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Gulbar Khan said. Additional reporting with agencies Hong Kong: Lam Sai-hung to visit Mainland cities Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung will visit Shanghai tomorrow and proceed to Hangzhou on December 6. Together with members of the Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board, Mr Lam will attend the opening ceremony of the China Hong Kong Pavilion at Marintec China 2023 in Shanghai and visit various facilities including an automated terminal there. They will also promote Hong Kong's maritime services to the industry and explore co-operation opportunities in the city. Mr Lam will then depart for Hangzhou where he plans to inspect autonomous driving technology. During the visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou, the transport chief will meet government officials of both cities to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on December 7. During his absence, Under Secretary for Transport & Logistics Liu Chun-san will be Acting Secretary. 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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 }} At least four people were killed after a powerful explosion tore through a gym at Mindanao State University in Marawi city in the Philippines on Sunday. Another 42 people sustained injuries, according to Jenny Tamano, the spokesperson for the provincial government. The incident happened when several worshippers had gathered for a morning mass in a gymnasium at the state-run Marawi State University in Marawi city on Sunday morning. The blast caused panic among dozens of people who rushed to leave the victims bloodied and sprawled on the ground, said Taha Mandangan, security chief of the sprawling state-run campus. This is clearly an act of terrorism. Its not a simple feud between two people. A bomb will kill everybody around, Mr Mandangan told the Associated Press. Marawi State University said it was deeply saddened and appalled by the senseless and horrific violence. Violence has no place in a civilised society, and it is particularly abhorrent in an institution of higher learning like MSU, it said. We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy. The blast ripped through the predominantly Muslim city in the southern Philippines which had previously come under attack for five months from Islamic militants aligned with the Islamic State group in 2017, leaving more than 1,100 killed. Lanao del Sur governor, Mamintal Adiong Jr who arrived at the site of the explosion condemned the violent bombing incident. To the families of those whose lives were lost in this senseless act of violence and terrorism, please accept our deepest condolences and sympathies. We will make sure justice will be served, Mr Adiong said in a statement. Earlier, it was reported that three people were killed and nine were injured in the explosion. Later, Lanao del Sur provincial government spokesperson released an update regarding the casualty count, according to Rappler. President Ferdinand Marcos condemned the incident, saying it was conducted by foreign terrorists. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao State University (MSU) and Marawi communities early this Sunday morning, he said. Military and law enforcement immediately cordoned off the area, launching a preliminary inquiry and reviewing surveillance footage to identify those responsible for the attack. Security checkpoints were established throughout the city. The explosion happened when several people, including several students who were at the gym, had gathered for a Mass at around 7am, brigadier general Allan Cruz Nobleza, police director in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said. He said investigators were assessing whether a homemade bomb or a grenade was used in the attack. The explosion occurred just two days after the forces conducted a surgical strike, resulting in the death of 11 suspected members of the terrorist group Dawlah Islamiyah and their leader near Datu Hoffer town in southern Maguindanao province. Mr Nobleza stated that they are also investigating whether the blast is linked to the military offensive backed by airstrikes and artillery fires on Friday. He mentioned that the militants killed in the military operation belonged to Dawlah Islamiyah, an armed group that had aligned itself with the Islamic State group and continues to have a presence in Lanao del Sur province, where Marawi City is located The mosque-studded southern Philippines, the homeland of minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation, has remained at the centre of the decades-old separatist rebellion. In 2014, the largest armed insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a peace deal with the government, easing the tensions in the area. However, a number of smaller armed groups have rejected the peace pact and continued their offensive with bombings and attacks. 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. 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. 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 }} Omid Scobie has responded to Piers Morgan describing his new book Endgame as a spiteful, lie-filled book after the broadcaster sensationally named the allegedly racist royals identified in its Dutch version. Scobie, 42, said he has been operating within a bubble of no emotion since the release of Endgame, which became embroiled in controversy after the foreign language translation inadvertently named two senior members of the royal family in connection with a racism row that rocked the monarchy in 2021. The book was pulled from shelves in Netherlands after it was revealed that Scobies book identified two royals who allegedly inquired about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs firstborn baby, Prince Archie. Dutch journalist Rick Evers, who has read the translated book, revealed on Wednesday that the name of the first royal is very specific while the second one was a little bit vague. While the British press has chosen not to name the royals, Morgan, 58, controversially confirmed their identities during an eight-and-a-half-minute takedown of Endgame and its author. If Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can see these names, then you, the British people who actually pay for the royal family are entitled to know, too, Morgan justified his decision to announce the names. He also demanded that Scobie or the Sussexes finally come forward with the evidence for their allegations of racism against the royals, while calling the Endgame author out for allegedly lying. The man who said I have regular phone calls with Queen Camilla. Regular phone calls! Morgan said. Never had one phone call with Queen Camilla. Morgan was referring to one passage in Scobies book, where he claimed that Queen Camilla thanked the broadcaster for quietly defending the Firm in the aftermath of Harry and Meghans estrangement from the royal family. He described Scobie as Harry and Meghans client journalist during the scathing segment, accusing him of pouring fuels on the flames of the racism controversy that first broke out after Meghan told Oprah Winfrey that there were concerns and conversations about how dark Prince Archie might be and what that would look like during a bombshell interview in 2021. Scobie shrugged off Morgans comments during Thursdays episode of ITVs This Morning and told hosts Craig Doyle and Alison Hammond that he doesnt think they were particularly credible. I dont know what he says, I only go by the reporting I have, he said, referring to Morgans comments. Hes spoken a lot about his friendship with Camilla [so] I dont know what to make of that. I dont think thats particularly credible, Scobie added. Piers Morgan has named the two royal racists accidentally named by Omid Scobie in the Dutch version of his new book Endgame' (Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock & PA) Elsewhere during his appearance on This Morning, Scobie said he always knew the response to Endgame would be heated and controversial because it addresses themes such as xenophobia, misogyny, and prejudice in Britain which some people might feel uncomfortable having. What was unsettling, he continued, was the severe backlash against him and his family after the books release. A lot of it has been simply about me. [Theres been] unnecessary information, an assassination of my character, tabloid journalists harassing my father, trying to purport all sort of nonsense, Scobie said. He admitted he was obviously frustrated that the racist royals were named in the Dutch version of his book, with thousands of copies expected to be pulped and reprinted in the coming days. I have never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version, he told Doyle and Hammong. I am obviously frustrated. I wouldnt say I am upset about it because I have been operating in a bubble of no emotion. Scobie has previously denied including the names of the royal family members in the books English manuscript, adding that a translation error led to them appearing in the Dutch translation. Appearing on Dutch chat show RTL Boulevard, he said: The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch. But if there are translation errors, Im sure the publishers will have it under control. I wrote and edited the English version, he added. Theres never been no version that Ive produced that has names in it. 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 }} The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been excluded from the upcoming wedding of the Duke of Westminster, a lifelong friend of Prince Harry and Archies godfather, as the fallout from the publication of Endgame rumbles on. Hugh Grosvenor has invited the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales to his nuptials next summer with Olivia Henson, set to be the society wedding of the year. But it is understood he did not invite Harry in order to avoid a family clash at the wedding and risk anything overshadowing the day. Prince William is said to be up for the job of best man at the wedding on 7 June, with the Duke of Westminster also godfather to Prince George. A friend of William and Harrys told The Sunday Times: Its incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harrys who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises its unlikely to happen before the wedding. He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesnt want any awkwardness. On Saturday night, a spokesperson for the Duke of Westminster said: We are not in a position to comment on the guest list. Prince Harry and Meghan have not been invited to the society wedding of the year (Getty Images) The Prince and Princess of Wales have been invited to the Duke of Westminsters wedding (PA Wire) The Duke of Westminster became engaged to Ms Henson earlier this year. One of the UKs richest men, he took over his familys billion-pound fortune and estate when his father, Gerald, died in 2016 after having a heart attack while walking on his Abbeystead estate. Grosvenor Group owns about 300 acres of land in the Mayfair and Belgravia areas of London, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpools ONE shopping centre, and the duke is part of the royal inner circle. It comes as the royal racism storm exploded again this week following the release of Omid Scobie's second book Endgame. Copies were pulled from shelves in the Netherlands after the Dutch translation was found to have named King Charles and Princess Catherine as two royals alleged to have raised concerns about the skin colour of Archie ahead of his birth. Endgame claims the names were discussed in letters exchanged between the Duchess of Sussex and the King. Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is a lifelong friend of the royal family (PA Archive) 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 the remarks, fearing the backlash would be too damaging for them. Harry and Meghan are yet to break their silence on the unfolding drama but have faced calls to respond. Appearing on This Morning on Thursday, Mr Scobie brushed off the naming of the senior royals, claiming he never submitted the book with the names in. He later told BBC Twos Newsnight that a full investigation was underway to discover how the names were included in the translation amid questions that the move was a PR stunt designed to boost sales. The Dutch publisher initially dismissed the edition containing the names as a translation error. But translator Saskia Peeters, who worked on Mr 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 Mail Online. 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. 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 }} Nelson Mandelas granddaughter has called on Britains royal family to pay reparations for colonialism in Africa. Ndileka Mandela, an author and climate activist, appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg where she urged Britain to acknowledge its role in colonising parts of Africa, and referred to climate apartheid as a painful ripple of its colonial legacy. If there can be an acknowledgement of what was done to countries to colonise because we are still suffering a great deal from colonisation, in as far as our culture as Black people is concerned, she said, speaking from the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai. So there has got to be first admission of the fact that yes, we acknowledge that we displaced you as a people. Then we can talk of reparations. Pressed on whether she would want to see reparations from the royal family, she replied: Yes I would. Thats where healing begins. Mandela said she wanted acknowledgement of the royal familys role in colonialism before reparations (BBC) If you are arguing with the next person and you come to a tiff, when you sit around the table and admit your part, both parties admit their part in the disillusion of whatever it is that happened, it is then that healing begins. If that happens, the healing will definitely begin. Her remarks come two months after King Charles was praised for acknowledging the more painful aspects of Britains relationship with Kenya during a historic speech notable for its contrition over colonial injustices. Charles said at the time: ...we must also acknowledge the most painful times of our long, complex relationship. The wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret. They were abhorrent, unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans, as they waged a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty. And, for that, there can be no excuse. Mandela was then asked about the treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in a week where discussion has returned to the alleged royal racist who is said to have raised concerns over the colour of Prince Archies skin. The names of two members of the royal family King Charles and the Princess of Wales were given in the Dutch-language translation of Endgame, a new book about the royal family written by royal reporter Omid Scobie. Scobie did not write the names in the English version of the book, and has denied adding them to the version released in the Netherlands. Asked if she felt the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been victims of racism in the UK, Mandela said: I believe Harry and Meghan had to find their own voice, in a similar way Grandad had to find his own voice. They should be given, like any other person, room to voice out whatever their misgivings are. I cannot speak to whether Harry and Meghans children have been discriminated [against], because I dont have first-hand information of that. However he should be allowed to voice out whatever he wants to voice out and choose his own path. 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. 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 }} Pneumonia cases among children are on the rise in Europe as China faces an unprecedented outbreak of respiratory illnesses. Now, the Netherlands and Denmark have reported a spike in cases, while India, Taiwan and Vietnam have started taking preventative measures to prepare their healthcare systems. The Chinese Health Ministry said the rise in cases was linked to an overlap of known pathogens and not any novel viruses as the country braced for its first winter after lifting the Covid-19 restrictions. There has been a rise in cases linked to viruses such as influenza, rhinoviruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, the adenovirus, as well as bacteria such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, the ministry said in a statement. According to Chinese health authorities, the outbreak could be linked to mycoplasma pneumoniae, also known as walking pneumonia, a common bacterial infection typically affecting children that has been circulating since May. Symptoms of walking pneumonia include: Sore throat Fatigue Lingering cough that can last for weeks or months This map shows where cases have been reported across the world: View more This week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a formal request for disease data on respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children following the increasing number of cases in China. Meanwhile in the Netherlands, the number of children aged 5 to 14 years with pneumonia increased to 130 per 100,000 children in the week leading up to 26 November, the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) reported. At its peak last year, there were 58 per 100,000 children. GPs have also seen more pneumonia cases in the group of young people between 15 and 24 years old than in previous years. In week 47 this number increased further to 38 per 100,000. It is not known whether the uptick in China is connected to the rise of cases in the Netherlands. Children and their parents wait in a hospital in Beijing (AFP via Getty Images) Denmarks Statens Serum Institut (SSI) also reported an increasing number of Danes have tested positive for pneumonia as cases have risen more than three-fold in five weeks from 168 cases to 541. Senior researcher at SSI, Hanne-Dorthe Emborg, said: In the past five weeks, the number of new cases has increased significantly, and we are now seeing significantly more cases than usual, and that there is widespread infection throughout the country. Speaking about the cases in China, Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHOs department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said: We asked about comparisons prior to the pandemic. And the waves that theyre seeing now, the peak is not as high as what they saw in 2018-2019. This is not an indication of a novel pathogen. This is expected. This is what most countries dealt with a year or two ago. 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. 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 }} Tests have revealed chocolate bars that left customers ill at a Christmas market in Mansfield contained traces of hallucinogenic drugs, police have confirmed. Nottinghamshire Police launched an investigation after people fell ill after eating chocolate sold at a market stall in Mansfield last week. The chocolate was sold in gold wrappers and orange Cali-Gold boxes last Saturday. In an update, police confirmed the quantities of Psilocin and THC a substance found in cannabis - were found in a small number of the chocolate bars. A 10-year-old boy was among those taken to the hospital, but police confirmed all those who became unwell have now fully recovered. A 63-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance and has been released on bail. Chief Inspector Chris Sutcliffe, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: An investigation is in the process of being carried out after multiple people reported falling ill after consuming chocolate purchased in Mansfield last weekend. Forensic testing has been carried out of the chocolate recovered by police, with the majority showing no traces of drugs or anything out of the ordinary. Quantities of the hallucinogenic drug Psilocin and THC a substance found in cannabis were discovered in a small number of the bars, however. It is really important that anyone who still has any of this chocolate hands it into the police immediately so that it can be further analysed. A 63-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance and is currently assisting police with our ongoing inquiries after being released on bail. Tina Potter, Head of Incidents, Food Standards Agency said: We are working with local authorities, the UK Health Security Agency and Nottinghamshire Police to investigate an incident following reports of illness after eating chocolate bought from Mansfield Market in Nottinghamshire. The chocolate was both labelled as Cali-Gold and unbranded. If you have purchased chocolate matching this description, it should not be consumed but instead handed in to the police. If you have already eaten it and have developed symptoms, then you should urgently seek medical attention from your GP, or contact NHS 111 online or phone 111. 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 }} Police are concerned after a young woman was seen being carried into a car and driven away following a disturbance in Scotland. The woman, who was described as being around 20 years old, with long black hair and wearing a short white skirt, was carried into a blue or black Range Rover where another man was present in Dundee, Scotland, on Saturday. The car then left the scene, travelling along Balgowan Avenue and Claverhouse Road before last being seen at the Fintry roundabout on the A90. Inspector Grant McGaughay said: We are concerned for the welfare of this female, and its imperative we trace her to make sure she is safe and well. She has been described as around 20 years of age, with long black hair. She was wearing a short white skirt. We are carrying out door-to-door enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage to find her. View more Id urge anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and speak to officers. Were especially keen for anyone with dashcam or private CCTV to check their systems and provide any relevant footage to us. If anyone knows more about this vehicle, could help us trace it or those connected to it then please contact us as soon as possible. Witnesses are asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting the reference number 4241 of 2 December with any information. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A homeless man is believed to have frozen to death inside a car as he sheltered from temperatures as low as -10C over the weekend. The man, who has not been identified, was reportedly found dead inside a black Renault in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, on Friday 1 December. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it was called to the scene after it received reports of a mans sudden death. It is investigating the circumstances. Police officers were captured on video, which was circulated on X, gathering around the vehicle which was covered in frost and ice. A picture also showed a police officer leaning inside the vehicle as another stood beside it wearing a pair of disposable gloves. View more One resident told MailOnline: People tried to get help for the poor guy in the past. What an awful and tragic waste of a life. It comes as Britain was hit by freezing temperatures brought in by a blast of cold air from northern Scandinavia, causing some parts of the country to plummet to -10C. In London, where commuters woke up to temperatures of -4C on Friday morning, mayor Sadiq Khan activated a severe weather emergency protocol for accommodation to be opened for rough sleepers. Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are currently in place in large parts of Scotland, the Midlands, Wales and the North East, with snow and ice set to disrupt roads and railways. There is a yellow warning for rain from midnight until 6pm Monday which affects most of southern England, Wales and the West Midlands. A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson told The Independent: Police were called to Dallas York Road, Beeston, at around 10am this morning (1 December) following reports of a mans sudden death. Detective Inspector Claire Gould, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: A scene will remain in place while we investigate exactly what has happened, but this tragic incident is not currently being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course. Our thoughts are with this mans family and friends at this difficult time. 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 }} Baroness Glenys Kinnock died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday with her husband and former Labour Party leader Lord Kinnock by her side, her family said. She served as a minister in Sir Tony Blairs Labour government and also represented Wales in the European parliament as an MEP. Her family, which includes Labour MP Stephen Kinnock and daughter Rachel, said they were devastated by her death. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called her a true fighter for the party while former prime minister Sir Tony said she was resolute in standing up for what she believed was right, as both men paid tribute to her life and career. The 79-year-old had been diagnosed with Alzheimers six years ago. Baroness Kinnock has been hailed as a true fighter for the Labour Party (PA Wire) In a statement, her family said: It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Glenys Kinnock. Glenys died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning, at home in London. She was the beloved wife and life partner of Neil, the cherished mother of Steve and Rachel and an adored grandmother. Neil was with her in her final moments. They had been married for 56 years. A proud democratic socialist, she campaigned, in Britain and internationally, for justice and against poverty all her life. A former teacher, Baroness Kinnock served as an MEP for some 15 years before leaving Brussels in 2009 to take up a life peerage when then prime minister Gordon Brown appointed her minister for Europe. In their statement, the family continued: Passionate to the end about education, she was a valued and respected school teacher before she began her own political career, as a member of the European parliament, then being made a peer in the House of Lords from where she served as minister for three of the great passions of her life, Europe, Africa and the UN. She was a great friend to many people and causes and was truly loved. Glenys endured Alzheimers after being diagnosed in 2017 and, as long as she could, sustained her merriment and endless capacity for love, never complaining and with the innate courage with which she had confronted every challenge throughout her life. The family is of course devastated and would ask that their privacy be respected. Funeral details will be communicated in due course. Sir Keir said Baroness Kinnock was a passionate lifelong campaigner for social justice at home and abroad who had an impressive political career in her own right. Neil and Glenys had the most wonderful partnership, there for each other through thick and thin, with a love and commitment that was instantly obvious when you saw them together, he said. As the family have detailed, in recent years that meant looking after Glenys as Alzheimers did its worst. But what we will all remember is Glenys as a true fighter for the Labour Party and the values of the labour movement, a pioneering woman, to whom we owe an enormous debt. My sincere condolences to Neil, Stephen, Rachel and all the family at this sad time. Sir Tony said Baroness Kinnocks death would be mourned in many countries and corners of the Earth. In a statement, the former Labour PM said: Cherie and I are so sad the hear the news about Glenys. She was a huge figure in progressive politics for decades: incredibly smart, brave, determined and resolute in standing up for what she believed was right. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper posted on X, formerly Twitter: Such sad news about Glenys Kinnock she was always wonderful, warm & inspirational, a true Labour hero, always encouraging others, always a fighter for social justice, a leading voice for international development. Describing his family as being devastated by the news, journalist and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell tweeted: She has been a big part of our lives for forty years and a part of our childrens lives since they were born. There could be no more loving friend and counsel. Devastated today above all for Neil. It is impossible to think of one without the other. Their love was deep and unshakable and never more on display than during these recent years when her horrible illness increasingly took hold. Neil vowed to look after her till the end and that is exactly what he did. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing backlash after piling praise on Margaret Thatcher in a bid to win over disillusioned Tory voters. The Labour leader has been attacked by critics on the right who accused him of trying to ride on the coattails of Thatchers success. But he has also angered MPs on the left, with one saying the former PM caused poverty and deprivation not seen since the Dickensian era. Sir Keir heaped praise on Thatcher, claiming the former prime minister effected meaningful change and set loose Britains natural entrepreneurialism. Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Sir Keir said: Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them. Margaret Thatcher sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism. Tony Blair reimagined a stale, outdated Labour Party into one that could seize the optimism of the late Nineties. He followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Sir Tony, who also praised the so-called Iron Lady in the run-up to his 1997 general election landslide. But left-wing Labour MP Beth Winter said the Thatcher government, which ran from 1979 to 1990, devastated communities with the deliberate destruction of the mining industry. She added: Policies like the grossly iniquitous poll tax and the great privatisation rip-off offs were the hallmarks of Thatcherism. Most of those forced to rely on food banks today are from communities that have never recovered from the Thatcher governments assault on working-class communities. Her governments attacks on the working class and trade unions is well remembered in my [Cynon Valley] constituency. Asked what the strategy behind Sir Keirs praise for Mrs Thatcher was, one Labour MP told The Independent there were no runes to read. You would be better off reading the entrails of a chicken than trying to understand the strategy in Keirs office, its just madness, the MP said. The MP said Sir Keir would not win over Thatcherite voters and all it does is cause division in our own party. Another Labour MP Ian Byrne said Thatchers legacy was inequality, hunger, destitution and misery. And Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said Mrs Thatcher did nothing for working class communities in Liverpool and across the country. Ms Johnson added that she is not someone Labour supporters should look up to. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it, she warned. North of Tyne metro mayor Jamie Driscoll, who was blocked from standing for re-election as a Labour candidate, said Sir Keir had now abandoned the red wall. The left-wing mayor said: The northeast lost 100,000 manufacturing jobs under Margaret Thatcher, my Dads job included. This is adding insult to injury. Pro-Jeremy Corbyn campaign group Momentum said Sir Keirs praise of Thatcher was a failure of Labour values. A spokesperson said: Margaret Thatcher laid waste to working-class communities, privatised our public services, and set in train the destruction of the post-war settlement founded by Labour. Starmers praise of her isnt smart politics. Its a shift to the right, and a failure of Labour values. Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf attacked Sir Keir for the comments arguing that what Thatcher did to mining and industrial communities was not entrepreneurialism, it was vandalism. In a post on X, he said: Starmer praising Thatcher is an insult to those communities in Scotland, and across the UK, who still bear the scars of her disastrous policies. Sir Keir hit back at critics, saying the point of his article was to distinguish political leaders ... between those that had a plan and those that drifted essentially. In an interview with the BBC, he said: And thats why I referenced: Attlee, who obviously had a strong plan, New Jerusalem; Tony Blair, who captured the optimism of the 1990s having changed the Labour Party; and Thatcher, who did have a plan for entrepreneurialism, had a mission, it doesnt mean I agree with what she did but I dont think anybody could suggest that she didnt have a driving sense of purpose. Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was asked on Sky News whether he was a Thatcher fan. No, Im not but I can recognise that she was a formidable opponent, he said. Meanwhile, Tory health secretary Victoria Atkins accused Sir Keir of trying to ride on the coattails of her success. Ms Atkins said Thatcher would not appreciate Sir Keirs praise, touting a famous quote from the former PM saying: No. No. No. She told Sky News: I think the public will see this for what it is dont forget he wasnt appealing to Margaret Thatchers entrepreneurial spirit when he was courting votes from the hard left, and I suspect the great lady herself would view a man who is trying to ride on the coattails of her success with the following words: No. No. No. Tory party chair Richard Holden piled in, accusing Sir Keir of saying what he thinks people want to hear, despite having a track record of doing exactly the opposite. Sir Keirs article in the Tory-supporting paper also said Labour has undergone shock therapy since he took over the party from Mr Corbyn in 2020, adding that it has changed dramatically. And, in a sign of his growing confidence as Labour leader, Sir Keir sought to outflank Rishi Sunak by appealing to Tory voters on Brexit and migration. In a shift from his staunch opposition to Britain leaving the EU, he said the Tories have failed to realise the possibilities of Brexit. He added that he profoundly disagrees with the idea Labour should duck topics such as small boat crossings and immigration. He added: This is a government that was elected on a promise that immigration would come down and the British people would always [be] in control. For immigration to then triple is more than just yet another failure it is a betrayal of their promises. 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 }} MPs have charged taxpayers almost 300,000 for energy bills and other utilities at their second homes over the past year, a new analysis by The Independent has found. Campaigners said the record-high figure shows that Britains politicians are insulated from the cost of living crisis, with a large portion of their energy costs covered by the public purse while millions struggle to pay bills. Senior Tories Suella Braverman, James Cleverly, Alex Chalk, Victoria Prentis, Alister Jack and James Heappey are among senior figures who claim gas and electricity costs at their second homes. MPs claims for gas, electricity and water amounted to 292,000 in 2022-23, according to an analysis of data from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). It marks a significant increase on last years bill for MPs utilities, which totalled 253,000 a reflection of the spike in gas and electricity prices since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. MPs have claimed more than 1m to pay utility bills at their second homes in the past four years (Getty) Ruth London, founder of the Fuel Poverty Action campaign group, said the expenses figures showed that MPs live in a different world from most of the people they are paid to represent. The campaigner added: As more and more people find energy bills unpayable, this difference only grows greater. Claims that the pressure is easing do not help when in reality its only getting worse. Politicians with seats outside London are allowed to put utility costs at one of their homes on expenses whether it is in London or in their constituency. The Independents analysis shows that MPs have claimed more than 1m to pay utility bills at their second homes in the past four years. Ms Braverman charged the taxpayer 10,280 for gas and electricity costs since 2019-2020. Suella Braverman is among highest spenders on taxpayer-funded fuel bills (PA Wire) Records also show that home secretary Mr Cleverly has put more than 6,550 of his energy bills on expenses since 2019-2020, while justice secretary Alex Chalk has charged 3,735 for utilities at his second home. Liz Truss the former PM who blocked a windfall tax on the energy giants, saying she didnt believe in it put 3,220 worth of energy bills at her Norfolk constituency home on expenses during the period. Former health secretary Matt Hancock has been one of the highest spenders on utilities since 2019 racking up taxpayer-funded fuel and water bills of 9,380 at his constituency home. Labour frontbenchers Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, Liz Kendall, Louise Haigh, Hilary Benn, Nick Thomas-Symonds and Pat McFadden are among the senior party figures who put in similar claims. Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner has claimed more than 4,000 for utilities at her London home in the past four years (PA Wire) Ms Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, has claimed more than 4,000 for utilities at her London home in the past four years. Mr Miliband, the shadow climate secretary, has charged just over 2,600 to the taxpayer in the period. Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: While MPs are insulated from the pain of the energy bills crisis, their constituents have been paying twice what they were a couple of years ago for their electricity and gas. He called on MPs to help reform Britains broken energy system urging them to back moves to ease utility bill debt and improve the energy efficiency of rented properties. John OConnell, chief executive of campaigning group the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Although energy prices are coming down, MPs are still being insulated from persistently high costs that taxpayers are having to bear the brunt of. Mr OConnell called on parliamentary authorities to consider whether these expense rules are too generous on second homes. While water bills have remained steady, MPs gas and electricity costs have jumped over the past year. Energy bills charged to taxpayers rose from 195,000 in 2021-22 to 241,000 in the past year. The Independent has contacted the MPs mentioned in this piece for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak is set to hand Rwanda at least 15m more to sign a treaty to take asylum seekers deported from the UK, it has emerged. The money will be on top of the 140m already given to Kigali as part of a plan for the east African country to accept asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK via small boats. James Cleverly is expected to fly to Rwanda to sign a treaty with the country after the governments previous plan was ruled unlawful in the Supreme Court. The home secretary and Mr Sunak hope the upgraded treaty will be enough to address judges concerns about the governments flagship migration policy. Downing Street insiders did not rule out the prospect of Rwanda being given more money as part of a treaty deal, adding that any potential cash boost would be to cover additional costs associated with addressing the concerns raised by the Supreme Court. Mr Sunak met Rwandas PresidentPaul Kagame on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday but refused to say how much more money he would spend to get the scheme off the ground. The additional 15m, reported by The Sunday Times, will be used to pay for extra personnel to improve and expand the Rwandan asylum processing system. The PM told a press briefing at Cop that he was finalising legislation designed to push through the Rwanda proposal, which is seen as key to delivering on his pledge to stop the boats before a likely general election next year. The Prime Minister has set the target of deportation flights taking off by the spring. Sources inside No 10 said the UK Government was hopeful that the emergency legislation would be ready this week but that it could not be guaranteed. The bid to send some asylum seekers on a one-way trip to the African nation was dealt a blow when the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful last month. Mr Sunaks attempt to save the policy involves the signing of a new treaty with Kigali and the introduction of emergency legislation ruling the country safe, despite concerns raised by senior judges. Following the judgment by the Supreme Court on November 15, Downing Street originally said a new small boats law would be published within days but the wait has gone on for more than two weeks. On Wednesday, the Home Offices top official confirmed to MPs that negotiations on a Rwanda treaty were in their final stages. Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft told the Home Affairs Select Committee that officials were in the capital Kigali putting the finishing touches to the talks. Migrants have continued to brave freezing December conditions to cross the Channel. Home Office figures show that 93 migrants travelling on two boats arrived in Britain on Friday, with more believed to have landed on Saturday. Almost 28,500 asylum seekers have arrived in 2023 using the sea route, with the one year anniversary of Mr Sunaks stop the boats pledge approaching next month. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed the Rwanda policy as a gimmick and accused the Tories of a betrayal of their 2019 manifesto commitment to lower migration. Sir Keir, who is on course to become the next prime minister according to opinion polls, said he would not shy away from discussing contentious issues such as immigration. Writing in The Sunday Telegraph about his efforts over the past three years to give Labour shock therapy in order to make it electable following a disastrous showing at the polls four years ago, Sir Keir said his reforms meant ridding us of the nonsensical idea that some subjects are simply off limits for us. I profoundly disagree with the idea Labour should not be talking about immigration or small boats crossings, he added. These are matters of serious public concern and deserve to be treated as such. He added: When people see Government ministers wasting their time on gimmicks like Rwanda, they are right to conclude they are more interested in talking about small boat crossings than stopping them. Labour would use the full force of Britains intelligence and policing to smash the criminal gangs growing fat on the misery of human trafficking, destroying their evil business model. The Government should do the same. The leader of the Opposition also appeared in his article to praise the pro-privatisation former Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher, saying she sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism, in a move that is likely to irk those on the left-wing of his party. Close Fetterman hires George Santos on Cameo to troll Senator Menendez 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 }} Former Congressman George Santos is selling videos on Cameo, the site where celebrities offer short greetings for a fee. Mr Santos was expelled from the House on Friday after more than a hundred Republicans joined almost all Democrats in voting to remove him from the chamber. The 35-year-old describes himself as a former congressional Icon on the site, where he charges $200 per video. In one message, he told the buyer to live life, laugh, and let the haters hate because theyre always gonna hate. Options to request include holiday messages, birthday wishes, some gossip, a pep talk, a roast, or some advice. Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fettermans social media team sent in a request for Mr Santos to do a pep talk for Bobby from Jersey in reference to New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez who stepped down as chair of the foreign relations committee after being indicted for allegedly taking bribes and acting as a foreign agent. Mr Santos has joined only a handful of lawmakers ever ousted from their role, following a damning 56-page report from the House Ethics Committee which outlined substantial evidence that Mr Santos violated federal law. 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 }} Nine people were killed, and at least 20 were injured after a gang of armed men raided the Poderosa mining company in Pataz province of Peru, taking hostages and seizing security staff, according to the interior ministry. Attackers armed with explosives and other weapons entered the mine shaft on Saturday night and took four people hostage, the ministry said. The incident occurred in a sinkhole where the company extracts ore, according to Peru daily, El Comerico. The attackers raided the mine violently confronting internal security personnel from the company and taking four people hostage, the ministry said. Police took control of the situation after the raid with the help of special forces. Seven people have been arrested and their weapons have been seized. According to preliminary investigations, the suspects had reportedly been requesting a revised material distribution plan from the mining company. The bodies recovered from outside the mine showed signs of burns, seemingly resulting from the detonation of explosive devices. The assault comes one year following the impeachment and apprehension of the leftist former president Pedro Castillo, triggering months of violent protests that disrupted operations at mines in the Andean nation. Months of deadly protests ensued, disrupting mining operations across and creating an environment conducive to illicit activities, including killings, extortion and violent land invasions. Peru is the worlds second-largest producer of copper and an important silver and gold producer. Authorities launched a clampdown on illegal mining in 2019 in what was known as Operation Mercury. The goal of the campaign was to clean up La Pampa, home to about 25,000 people, to combat illegal gold mining. Meanwhile, the interior ministry expressed solidarity with the families of the nine deceased workers on Sunday. 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 }} When her son William returned home from school on Wednesday, Mollee Campbell knew that something was wrong. The usually healthy 14-year-old was extremely pale, had trouble breathing and appeared as though he was about to pass out. By the time he arrived at the emergency room, doctors told his mother that his lungs were full of fluid and his oxygen levels were dangerously low. They said that if he went much lower it could have caused brain damage in some way, Ms Campbell told DailyMail.com. He was extremely scared. William was exhibiting symptoms of what doctors would later diagnose as mycoplasma pneumonia, also known as white lung syndrome, a bacteria that can cause infections by damaging the lining of the respiratory system, according to the CDC. The illness has been deemed an outbreak in Warren County Heath District in Ohio due to the spiking cases in recent weeks. William is one of 145 pneumonia cases between the ages of three and 14 that have been reported since August. Ohio mother Mollee Campbell is speaking out about her sons frightening pneumonia symptoms as cases spike in the state (Mollee Campbell/Facebook) Ms Campbell said that her local hospital was overwhelmed with cases of paediatric pneumonia and that paediatricians were struggling to treat the rising number of patients. They said they were overloaded with it in the last two or three days that that was all they had been seeing and they were just trying to make sure they had all the medicine they needed for all the kids, Ms Campbell told the Mail. They did say almost the whole floor was nothing but children with pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumonia is the same strain at the centre of outbreaks in Denmark and China. However, Ohio health officials have insisted that the outbreak of pneumonia in the state is not linked to any viruses circulating in China. According to Ms Campbell, William went from showing mild signs of a cold to having his oxygen levels drop to 75per cent in the span of two days. The mother-of-two is now speaking out about her sons frightening experience in hopes that other parents act swiftly if they suspect their children are experiencing the pneumonia strain. Even when your kid just has a little cough and it doesnt seem like a normal one, just to go ahead and take them no matter what, even if it is just to check, Ms Campbell. It was a nightmare and I wish I would have taken him a little bit sooner than waiting a day, but these days you can never tell with kids. If your child doesnt feel right, just contact somebody. The average person affected by the illness is eight years old. 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. 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. Once someone becomes infected, symptoms can appear after one to four weeks and usually last longer than typical pneumonia. The district said that the illnesses are not unusual and reported that no deaths have been recorded in relation to the outbreak. Health officials warned that the cases are not suspected to be a new respiratory illness, noting that it is not uncommon for respiratory illnesses to spread among communities during the colder months. Similar cases have been seen in China on a larger scale, with one Beijing childrens hospital telling state media CCTV that at least 7,000 patients were being admitted daily. 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. Warren County Health District said that there has yet to be any evidence linking the Ohio outbreak to other surges, whether statewide, nationally or internationally. Health officials said that the uptick in cases in Warren County follows typical seasonal bacterial and viral activity trends. 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. SEC Lawyers Warned by Judge for Misleading Request in Crypto Case Disclosure: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. By using this website, you agree to our terms and conditions. We may utilise affiliate links within our content, and receive commission. A federal judge has warned attorneys from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding their false and misleading arguments in a court filing. The attorneys are accused of persuading the court to freeze the assets of a cryptocurrency firm based on misleading information, as revealed in a court order. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby of the U.S. District Court in Utah, highlights concerns about the SECs attorneys making deceptive claims regarding the crypto project Debt Boxs alleged attempts to transfer its assets and investors funds overseas. These arguments led the court to freeze the projects bank accounts. Judge Shelby emphasized that the SECs misrepresentations undermined the integrity of the cases proceedings and caused irreparable harm to Debt Box. Sanctions, as defined by Law.coms legal dictionary, are penalties imposed by a court on individuals who knowingly provide false statements or violate court procedures. In civil law, these penalties often take the form of monetary fines. Initially, the federal judge had imposed a temporary restraining order on Debt Box in August, restricting the companys access to its assets. However, the order was later dissolved after Debt Box demonstrated that it had not moved any funds outside the U.S. or closed its bank accounts, as claimed by the SEC. Debt Boxs lawyers highlighted this information in a filing. At the time of reporting, the SECs Utah office had not responded to requests for comment on the matter. SEC Alleged that Debt Box Sold Unregistered Securities The SEC initially filed a lawsuit against Debt Box in July, alleging that the company engaged in selling unregistered securities known as node licenses since 2021. Debt Box purportedly misled investors by claiming that these licenses would mine cryptocurrency and increase in value. However, according to the SECs original complaint, Debt Box was actually minting the cryptocurrency themselves using computer code. In response to the judges findings, Judge Shelby has requested the SECs attorneys to provide a response addressing the lack of context and factual basis in their arguments regarding Debt Boxs alleged attempts to move funds overseas. The regulator has been given a two-week period to respond to this inquiry, as stated in the order. This is not the first time the SEC has been under scrutiny for its regulatory approach. Back in June, Congressman Ritchie Torres asked the agency to provide clear rules for crypto instead of indiscriminately treating the majority of crypto assets as securities under its purview. Torres penned an open letter to SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, expressing his discontent with the agencys failure to issue clear guidance to the cryptocurrency industry. Under Chair Gensler, the SEC has not issued a single rule on crypto assets, nor has it given any clear guidance, said Torres. All it has done is sent mixed messages, one after the [other], not only contradicting the CFTC but often contradicting itself. 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 British man was among two people injured in a suspected terror attack on a central street in Paris that left one tourist dead. The attack, involving a knife and a hammer, happened near the Eiffel Tower just before 9pm local time on Saturday, according to French police. A 26-year-old French citizen was arrested after shouting Allahu Akbar as he stabbed and killed a German citizen and injured two others, Frances interior minister Gerald Darmanin said. The man who died, who is said to have been born in 1997, was with his wife when he was attacked and fatally stabbed on Quai de Grenelle. His wifes life was saved by the intervention of a taxi driver, Mr Darmanin added. The suspect then fled across a nearby bridge and attacked two more people, hitting one in the eye with a hammer. He was then tasered by police and arrested on suspicion of assassination, which is defined in French law as premeditated murder. A forensic team investigate the scene following a knife attack in Paris, France (EPA) On Sunday, the Foreign Office confirmed that one of the two people injured in the attack was a British man. A 60-year-old French citizen was also injured, police said. A spokesperson told The Independent: We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris and are in contact with the local authorities. Mr Darmanin said the alleged attacker was heard shouting Allahu Akbar, Arabic for God is greatest, and that the man had told police he was upset because so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and in Palestine. He added that the suspect had served four years in jail after being convicted for planning another attack in 2016, and was on the French security services watchlist. French president Emmanuel Macron said his thoughts were with the family of the German citizen, and thanked emergency services. I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening during the terrorist attack in Paris, and think with emotion of the people currently injured and in care, Mr Macron wrote on X, formerly Twitter. My most sincere thanks to the emergency forces who made it possible to quickly arrest a suspect. The national anti-terrorism prosecutors office ... will now be responsible for shedding light on this matter so that justice can be done in the name of the French people. 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 }} Hopes of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took a hammer blow on Saturday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dramatically ordered officers from his Mossad intelligence agency to leave Qatar. The Gulf nation has so far brokered a deal that saw more than 100 hostages freed as well as the implementation of a week-long truce, which ended abruptly on Friday morning with the resumption of heavy air strikes on Gaza and rocket fire into parts of Israel. A statement issued on behalf of Mossad said: "The Hamas terror organization did not fulfill its part of the agreement, which included the release of all children and women according to a list that was provided to Hamas and approved by it. Hamas countered that Israeli authorities had made a predetermined decision to resume the criminal aggression. Negotiations in Qatar to resume a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip have reached a dead end, the office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed yesterday. Despite this, former Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin told The Independent that Mr Netanyahus decision to end talks is likely to be a negotiating tactic. Air strikes and rocket fire resumed as ceasefire talks collapsed (AP) Yet by Saturday night, question marks over Israels strategy were mounting on Netanyahu, who has already come under heavy criticism for the intelligence failures leading to the attack on October 7th. AP reported Israel saying it had intercepted a volley of rockets fired from Gaza about an hour before the cease-fire was to expire early Friday. Minutes after it expired, the Israeli military announced a resumption of combat operations, and strikes soon began. Throughout Saturday, Israels military continued to press ahead with its devastating bombing campaign over Gaza, pounding the southern city of Khan Younis with unrelenting air strikes. After a week's respite, black smoke billowed over the Gazan skyline once again and destruction was widespread. The death toll in Israels renewed bombing of the Gaza Strip reached three figures in less than a day, Palestinian officials said. Local residents said it was the heaviest day of bombardment since the start of the war. The city of Khan Younis had once been a refuge for those fleeing Israels ground invasion of Northern Gaza, which began in late October. It has now become the epicenter of Israeli military operations. "There is no place to go," Emad Hajar, who fled with his wife and three children from the north a month ago to Khan Younis, told agency reporters. "They expelled us from the north, and now they are pushing us to leave the south." Many internally displaced residents have been camping in tents, schools or in the grounds of hospitals since fleeing south from Gaza City. US Vice-President Kamala Harris (Reuters) Since Friday morning, at least 193 people have been killed and 650 injured, according to figures released by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the United Nations humanitarian office in Geneva. To the East of Khan Younis, residents of multiple Palestinian border towns were ordered to leave their homes, in a move that appeared to be laying the foundation for a possible ground invasion into southern Gaza. Fliers dropped over the area emblazoned with the logo of Israels Defence Forces ordered residents to evacuate immediately to shelters in the Rafah area. The fliers ended with the ominous line: You have been warned. Those who have chosen to heed the fliers warning join the nearly 80 per cent of Gazas residents - or 1.8 million people - who have been forced to flee their homes during Israels offensive, according to estimates by the UN. On Israels northern border with Lebanon, missile skirmishes continued for a second day. Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah said one of its fighters was killed. With the death toll across the region rising once again and Israels military appearing to prepare for a southern ground invasion Netanyahu has faced renewed international pressure to limit civilian casualties and intensify efforts to reach a ceasefire. In a side-bar meeting at COP28 which has become a de-facto meeting hub for multilateral discussions around the Israel-Hamas war US Vice-President Kamala Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi: under no circumstances will the United States permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the besiegement of Gaza, or the redrawing of the borders of Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron, also at COP28, said France was "very concerned" by the resumption of violence in Gaza. Yet the largest source of pressure on Netanyahu comes from the families of the 137 hostages who remain in Gaza. Many gathered at a large demonstration in Tel Avivs Hostage Square on Saturday evening, in support of those who are yet to be freed. Speaking on stage for the first time since her two children, 12-year-old Erez and 16-year-old Sahar, were released from Hamas captivity as part of the hostage deal, Hadas Kalderon told the crowd of thousands: Release everyone else now, now! This article was amended on 5 December 2023 to include additional reporting around the resumption of military hostilities. 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 }} Google users say their files have been disappearing as one engineer urged them not to press a button that could make the problem even worse. In recent days, users of Google Drive which allows people to store their files in the cloud say that those files appear to have gone missing. Some report that months of files have disappeared, with no obvious way of getting them back. The files appear to have vanished without a trace, without any sign of why they disappeared or even if they are recoverable. The problem appears to be with a recent update to Google Drive for desktop, an app that can be installed on Mac or Windows to get access to files stored on Drive. Hundreds of people are complaining about the problem in recent days, using a Google forum that allows users to request help. The number is likely to be much higher. Google says that it is not clear what the issue is, with an employee saying that the company is investigating reports of an issue impacting a limited subset of Drive for desktop users . The statement indicated that the company would follow up with more updates, but it is yet to give any information. That representative of the Google Drive team did however urge users not to click the Disconnect account button on the Drive for Desktop app. That could cause further problems with lost files, the Google employee going by the name Saitej suggested. Some said however that they had heard that pressing that button could reset the app, and help find the lost files. As such, users voiced fears they had inadvertently contributed to the problem. Users were also told not to delete the app data folder, and advised to back up that folder onto their hard drive if they had space. 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. 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 }} An airline is under investigation after a plane landed almost 200 miles away from its intended destination, disrupting flights and leaving passengers stranded. On Sunday, a United Nigeria Airlines flight took off from Lagos heading to the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The domestic route covers around 320 miles. But the aircraft touched down at Asaba International Airport. A similar comparison would be landing in Tenby, Wales, when you wanted to arrive in London. In a strange twist, passengers on board were told they had landed in Abuja, their intended city. Initially the airline apologised, stating that the plane was diverted due to poor destination weather and that at all material time, the pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed, reports Simple Flying. However, a wrong announcement was made by the cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among passengers. Since then, doubt has been cast on this explanation, with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) looking into the incident. Festus Keyamo, Nigerias minister of aviation, said that it was clear that when the pilot was taking off from Lagos, he was headed to Asaba, not Abuja, reports One Mile at a Time. Authorities have since revealed that theyve listened to the communication between the pilots and air traffic controllers. The cockpit is repeatedly asked to confirm that they are flying to Abuja and not Asaba but the pilots insisted that the flight was headed to Asaba. Salihu Tanko Yakasai, who was on the plane and ran for the governorship of Nigerias Kano state in elections earlier this year, told BBC Igbo that the sky was clear, and the pilot announced that he had received the wrong flight plan from Lagos. Some passengers were agitated as they could see they were not in Abuja, he added. The Independent has contacted the NCAA and United Nigeria Airlines for more information. Frances interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, has spoken out following an attack near Paris Eiffel Tower, which left one person dead and another two injured. The stabbing occurred on Quai de Grenelle shortly before 21:00 local time on Saturday (2 December), and the suspect was tasered before being arrested. The victim was a German national. Mr Damnanin claims the attacker told police he was angry about so many muslims dying in Afghanistan and Palestine. What we know about the attacker is that he is French, born in France, in 1997 in Neuilly sur Seine, known to the police and justice system, he said. To my knowledge he spent four years in prison after being convicted in 2016 because he wanted to commit a violent act. Technology More than half of those surveyed feel that AI is the biggest opportunity for the future of the workforce. Image: Getty Some 83pc of Irish workers over 40 say they are considering retraining as the artificial intelligence (AI) boom accelerated by the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT heightens the threat that workers could be displaced by generative AI. Almost half of 500 office workers in Ireland polled by ServiceNow, a US tech firm that manages digital workflows, feel that AI is the biggest opportunity for the future of the workforce, with 53pc seeing its potential to boost productivity. However, 45pc said they lacked the technical abilities required to use AI systems or to work alongside them. More than two-fifths of those surveyed still dont understand how generative AI tools such as drafting emails, reviewing documents or transcribing meeting notes can support their role today. Some 37pc say they dont know where to start developing their AI skills, and more than a third feel intimidated by new technologies and often avoid learning how to work with them. Tech innovation is moving at an incredibly fast pace and as the business need increases, many of todays workers are struggling to keep up, says Cathy Mauzaize, president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region at ServiceNow. We cannot ignore this pace, and need to address new solutions for education to help workers embrace the new digital mindset. Q I bought a coat from an online fashion retailer last week after a lady I follow on Instagram posted about how amazing the quality was. I shared the post with my friend, who then bought the same coat. When our coats arrived, the quality was awful: they had no lining and the front buttons were loose. We are in the process of complaining to the business, but I feel scammed by the lady who promoted it as the best quality shed ever seen. Is this a breach of the new rules for influencers? Andrea, Co Westmeath A If the influencer was paid to promote the coat, she should have disclosed that by using #ad or #gifted if she received the coat for free. Influencers are considered traders, and under the Consumer Protection Act 2007, it is an offence for a trader to mislead a consumer. We have new guidance on how influencers should label ads, and we strongly encourage all influencers, agencies and brands to read it at ccpc.ie/business. If you feel youve been misled by an influencer, you can report the matter to us or to the ASAI. You were right to contact the business about this. When you buy online, you have a 14-day cooling-off period that starts when you receive an item. You dont have to give a business a reason for cancelling the purchase under this, as it is an EU-wide right. If more than 14 days have passed, you may still be entitled to a refund, repair, replacement or price cut if youve bought from anywhere in the EU and the item is faulty or doesnt look as advertised. A retailer wouldnt let me use a 50 voucher in Black Friday sale Q I have a 50 gift voucher for an online shop and was waiting to use it in the Black Friday sales. When I went to checkout and added in the voucher code, it said that vouchers couldnt be used against Black Friday offers. Can the business decide how it accepts a voucher? Anthony, Co Kildare A A business can attach their own terms and conditions (T&Cs) on the use of gift vouchers, which can include limitations on usage, including now allowing a voucher to be redeemed on discounted goods. Read the T&Cs of the voucher and see if theres anything about how you can or cant use it. When someone buys a gift voucher, theyre entering into a contract with the seller. If theres nothing in the T&Cs about when you can use the voucher but the shop isnt allowing you to use it to make a purchase, this could be considered a breach of contract. Contact the business and inform them that they must honour their own T&Cs. If this fails, send the retailer a formal written complaint outlining how youd like the matter resolved. For instance, do you just want to be able to use the voucher or do you want a refund? Beyond that, if the business is based in Ireland, you can always use the Small Claims Court. It costs 25 to take a case. Dont forget you do have many other rights when it comes to gift vouchers. Since 2019, gift vouchers must be valid for at least five years. A business cant limit the number of gift vouchers you can redeem in one transaction, and you also dont have to use the voucher in one go. I sent a faulty smartwatch back to the manufacturer for repair but its still not working. What are my rights? Q I bought a smartwatch before the summer of 2022, but it recently stopped working. I contacted the manufacturer and sent the smartwatch to them to be fixed. But when it came back it was still not working. I assume the warranty has expired now but I spent a lot of money on it at the time so I surely have rights? Brianna, Co Kerry A The good news is that warranty or no warranty, you have rights under consumer law. Warranties are a bonus and cannot take away your statutory rights as a consumer. You purchased the smartwatch before the introduction of the new Consumer Rights Act in November 2022, but your fundamental rights are the same: goods sold must be as described, fit for purpose and of merchantable quality. If an item develops a fault and its not due to misuse, accidental damage or wear and tear, youre entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. When you purchase an item, your contract is with that seller. Its unclear from your email whether you bought the smartwatch from the manufacturers or a separate retailer, but either way, as long as there was a fault present in the watch before you sent it away to the manufacturer, your rights still stand. Your next step should be to write to the seller and explain the issue. Include proof of purchase (if you have it) and tell them how you would like the problem to be resolved. If this doesnt fix the situation to your satisfaction, you have the option of lodging a claim against the business with the Small Claims Court, which deals with claims up to a value of 2,000. Send your questions to g.monaghan@independent.ie Irish returns are ahead of those from its UK portfolio According to Assuras results, the returns it receives in Ireland were ahead of its portfolio in the UK Assura, a UK-headquartered investor and manager of healthcare buildings, has acquired the Wicklow Primary Healthcare Centre as it continues its expansion into the Irish market. According to Assuras results for the six months ended September 30, 2023, an extension is being considered for the Wicklow clinic that would see it double in size. Irish healthcare facilities owned by Assura include the Castlebar Primary Care Centre in Co Mayo. It also has forward fund projects on site at Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, and Ballybay, Co Monaghan. The company said it could also double the size of the Castlebar facility. Jon Webb, development director at Assura, said it sees investment and development opportunities in Ireland as an attractive growth area for the business. Our scheme at Castlebar illustrates Assuras ability to deliver on the HSEs new strategy of enhanced community care centres, harnessing our proven track record and market expertise to deliver high-quality healthcare buildings that reduce pressure on hospital services. Our unique and distinctive offer in this market, including our sustainability expertise, is seeing our investment in Ireland already becoming a meaningful contributor to our portfolio and cash flow. According to Assuras results, the returns it receives in Ireland were ahead of its portfolio in the UK. Assura has a portfolio of 612 primary care properties serving 6.3 million people across the UK. Its net rental income for the period was up 1pc to 70.8m. During a call with analysts, Assura CEO Jonathan Murphy said Ireland had significant potential. In Ireland, they are prioritising investment in primary care. As a result, we are continuing to see both investment and development opportunities. We currently have three assets valued at 31m with two schemes onsite and three more in our pipeline. Murphy also said that the HSE was really excited about us bringing some of that sustainability expertise into their market, adding that its frankly not there at the moment. A Barboursville man is facing multiple firearm charges after Albemarle County police say they responded to disorder within a vehicle on Gordonsville Road. Police have arrested 45-year-old Anthony Wayne Martin and charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, intentionally discharging a firearm in a motor vehicle with the intent to injure or kill, and reckless handling of a firearm. County police said they responded to reports of a disorder within a vehicle at an unspecified address on Gordonsville Road around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. It was determined that a shot was fired from inside the vehicle during the disorder, police said in a statement issued Friday, adding that there were no injuries reported as a result of the gunshot. As a result of an investigation, though, Martin was taken into custody. He remains in custody at Central Virginia Regional Jail without bond on the aforementioned charges as well as other charges pressed by Louisa County authorities. Inside Old Billingsgate, the pressure is metamorphic. Twenty minutes before the announcement, I experience a wobble... Wednesday Its 3.15pm and I am entering the tunnel five days of bedlam and babel until the Booker Prize ceremony on Sunday. I drive from home to an airport hotel, change into a tux and charge to Dublin Convention Centre for the Irish Book Awards. Inside, RTE Six One News corner me and Other Paul, aka Paul Murray. He gives me a sharp hug. For dinner I am seated beside crime novelist Amanda Cassidy and cannot ascertain how so much darkness can lurk within such a luminous personality. When Other Paul wins Irish Novel of the Year, I am not surprised, though I wonder how I am going to get him out of the building. There is a plan, you see. We are sharing a taxi to a Dublin airport hotel as we will be taking a red-eye flight to London tomorrow to meet Queen Camilla at a Booker Prize Shortlist reception in Clarence House. In their own words, three people who knew Shane MacGowan pay fond tribute to the songwriter and cultural antihero of a generation Julien Temple, documentary director of Crock Of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan: We shot the documentary with Shane in 2019 and 2020 over nine months. I think both Johnny [Depp] and Shane saw themselves as outsiders. They had a dark wit about them. A lot of people go on about Shanes way with words, but what I couldnt help but notice was the eloquence in his eyes. You could see all these things in his eyes the waste and weariness of a guy at the gates of a hell and then at other times this guy who had the imagination of a child. There were a lot of layers and depths to the mans soul. He ran the whole gamut of emotion. I think Shane could be more depressed than anyone can really imagine. And then he could be happy as a kid without a care in the world. Julien Temple promoting 'A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan' in San Sebastian At times he was tortured about being himself, but other times he was just uplifted by it. Being trapped in a wheelchair, with a soaring imagination, but physically he wasnt able to get out of the wheelchair. He read a huge amount and his mind was incredibly active. You could tell he was very alive in his imagination. Even though he was stuck in a wheelchair, he was travelling in his mind. But there was still a darkness there. I think he was quite traumatised about being an Irish kid in England at a time when there was a lot of hostility that you could encounter. The exiled Irish experience was part of him. There was a melancholy there that he didnt have to explain. But I think he was hugely invested in being alive and surviving what would have killed a lot of people a long time ago. And that was to do with his life energy and his spirit of wanting to live life to the full. Dave Fanning, DJ and presenter Dave Fanning I interviewed Shane a bunch of times and he was difficult to interview. It took me a long time to understand OK, shut up. Let the silence happen and then he would talk. Shane never wanted to be a role model. He was himself. His approach was: I take drugs. I drink too much. Take it or leave it. Was Shane a genius? This word genius is like iconic Im getting sick and tired of it being bandied around. But he wrote some great songs that had a lot of great poetry. Take his most famous song of all. When you hear Fairytale Of New York on the radio after so many plays in December, I sometimes think Oh God, not again and then I find myself stabbing myself in the face. How dare I? One of the greatest songs ever written. The power of unfilled dreams. Eamon Dunphy, journalist and broadcaster Eamon Dunphy I used to see Shane around the town in my wild days. I loved his work. Punk had a big effect on me. It was an attitude I took into journalism. And basically the attitude was F**k you, this is it. Which was very much of its time. I admired Shanes free spirit and he never came off as a big-time Johnny. Wed meet in clubs like Joys and all sorts of places, but we werent drinking buddies he wouldnt have been able to keep up with me. Mostly we would just have fun. There was no act with him. No commotion. No scene. He was quiet. Maybe it was a touch of kindred spirits about us too. We didnt give a f**k about anyone. I think what made Shane so great is that he had the gift Frank Sinatra had: he gave words meaning. Someone else could sing the same song, the same words but it would never sound as good and thats what made him unique. Cruel abusers partner and mother of his son tells of the nightmare he put her through and urges more women to seek support The former partner of jailed garda Paul Moody has spoken publicly for the first time about the abuse and coercive control she suffered at his hands while she battled cancer. In July last year, Moody was jailed for three years and three months for the coercive control of his seriously ill partner, Nicola. She has broken her silence in a documentary, Taking Back Control, to be aired on RTE tomorrow week, December 11, detailing how she met and fell in love with Moody and how they went on to have a child together as his violent and controlling behaviour escalated. Nicola had been given the all-clear from cancer the year before she met Moody online. I went on to a dating app and I got a message off Paul. Straight away, we hit it off. We had that click, she said. A couple of times he said, I dont want to spend one day without you. I didnt obviously think he meant it, but he actually really did mean it. I think after the year Id had I craved hugs and all the intimacy. To feel that love felt great. It felt amazing. What I didnt realise at that stage is that it was wrong. The Dublin hairdresser said red flags soon became apparent. Friends and her sister appear in the programme and tell of their early concerns about Moodys hold over Nicola. At a social gathering, one of her friends said jokingly: I know youre in love with my friend, but you have to share her. He lost it, she added. He started hurling abuse at me. I was in shock. After that incident, Moody went back to Nicolas place and destroyed it. He smashed up my apartment He smashed all the units and destroyed the wooden floors. This was all stuff I had saved up for. I never had the money to replace these things, she said. Later, he sent her photos he had taken some time previously of her while she was in the bathroom and unaware. He told her he would put them on the internet. Nicola decided to end the relationship. She met him to tell him it was over. He then followed her in his car, tried to cause her to crash, and hurled abuse at her out of the window. Paul Moody I thought, Who would even believe me if I told them he did this? Then a few days later, I discovered I was pregnant. I told him to go and get the help he needs if he wants to be part of the babys life. He didnt take it too well. Mid-term, Nicola discovered a lump in her breast and knew the cancer was back. I was petrified, she said. But now I was worried about my baby inside me. Whats cancer going to do to my baby? Why would God give me a baby if he was going to give me back cancer? From then on, I needed Paul. As she rekindled the relationship, Moody at first was supportive, but warning signs began to emerge. The couple were at Portmarnock beach and had an argument. As Nicola had a difficult pregnancy, she was unable to walk without help. Moody stormed off and left her. He sat on the bonnet of the car and watched me crawl back. Some people think, how could someone be that cruel? Thats Paul. On the day she was scheduled to go into hospital to give birth, they argued in the car. Nicola was driving and Moody pulled the keys out of the ignition. She pulled over and asked him to get out of the car. He did but took her hospital bag with him. He showed up at the hospital a few hours later, without the bag. Nicola said: I was still excited. Nothing was going to ruin this moment. I was living every day to meet my precious son. Moodys behaviour in the hospital got worse and he was asked by staff to leave. The midwife heard him abusing me. He was escorted out of the building, Nicola said. The worst thing he said to me that day was, I only came here to watch you bleed to death. I dont think Ill ever get over that. One thing is for sure, I love and adore my son. So if this is what it took to get him, every single thing was worth it. When Nicola and the baby got home, Moody had cleared out the nursery. He stripped my whole apartment so I would go home to nothing, she said. My son kept me alive in those moments. But not long after, the cancer spread. Nicola appears on 'Taking Back Control' on RTE One She carried out extensive research about treatment and found a clinic in Bangkok she felt could help. She had to leave her son behind, as she did not have Moodys permission to take him overseas. She was lonely during treatment, but did it in the hope she could continue to live for her child. Moody went out to see her with their son. Paul came on to me, she said. I didnt want to have sex. So he flung a two-litre bottle of water all over my head. He ripped up my clothes and he was choking me. He was spitting at me. After an hour of being attacked, I ran out. I got a taxi to the airport. All Paul would ever say is that he loved me, but he put me through hell." Moody regularly threatened and blackmailed Nicolas family and friends. His abuse came to light when he voluntarily handed in his mobile phone to gardai after making a false allegation against one of her relatives. An officer contacted Nicola and said: We know what Paul Moody is doing to you. Would you like our help? Nicola said giving a victim impact statement has helped her heal. No one is proud to say something like this has happened to them. No-one wants to be bullied. When I got off the stand, I felt like I took back some self-respect. Her worst fear is that her son could still be raised by Moody should her health fail in the future. She has made moves to ensure this cannot happen, and guardianship has been removed from him. She has also appealed to any person who might be suffering abuse from their partner to speak up. Theres always hope, she said. I will ask anyone who is suffering in silence to take one step. You never know where it might lead you. I feel very lucky to be alive and live a beautiful life with my son for as long as I can. Taking Back Control, produced by Fine Point Films, will be broadcast on Monday, December 11 at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player. Attack on convicted killer at Brandon Ledwidges funeral motivated by grudge Derek Boyd (29) who was sentenced last year for killing his sister, Sandra Boyd, through an accidental gun discharge suffered non-life threatening injuries in a melee in which it is understood that a wheel brace was produced by his attacker Brandon Ledwidge was due in court on drugs charges Patrick O'Connell and Ken Foy Sun 3 Dec 2023 at 12:51 An attack on a convicted killer at the afters of Brandon Ledwidges funeral was motivated by a personal grudge and had nothing to do with the circumstances of the Finglas mans murder, gardai now believe. Jonathan Hill is facing calls to resign as chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) on the back of his breach of an executive pay cap that led to the suspension of 6.8m in state funding. On Friday, the Department of Sport said it had given permission for the money to be paid out after it satisfied itself that the FAI had embedded controls on executive pay arising from a Sport Ireland audit that found the FAI were in breach of term 35 of its 2020 memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government. Failte Irelands chief executive was flabbergasted by an interview given by the then chief executive of the Dublin St Patricks Day Festival who claimed the organisation was planning to expand the festival into a month-long countrywide celebration. Details of strong disagreements with the festivals expansion plans by its main state backers Dublin City Council, Failte Ireland and the Department of Tourism have emerged following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from this newspaper that forced the partial release of two governance reviews into the independent charity that organises the yearly festival. Met Eireann has revised its predictions of extremely cold weather overnight with a more positive forecast today. The national forecaster had issued a continued Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning, until 11am on Monday, for the whole country, but this has now been lifted. It came after flights had to be cancelled from Ireland to the UK on Saturday due to freezing conditions at British airports, with major incidents declared in parts of the country. Met Eireann said today will be cold with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, with some frost and icy patches. Staying mostly cloudy near the south coast with patchy rain and drizzle. A few showers will affect eastern and northern coastal counties too. Highest temperatures of just 1 to 5 degrees generally, a touch milder near southern and eastern coasts, in mostly light northeasterly breezes, freshening along south and southwest coasts later, the forecaster said. There will be some rain and drizzle in southern and southeastern coastal counties this evening and tonight, with sleet or snow possible on high ground, gradually clearing overnight. Some patches of fog or freezing fog will form again through the night. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees with light to moderate northerly winds developing, increasing fresh or occasionally strong in southern and eastern counties, Met Eireann said. Monday will be cold with frost and icy patches as well as mist and fog in places, with a gale warning in place for the southeastern counties. The Status Yellow gale warning is in place from midnight until 6pm on Monday for Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point to Dungarvan in Waterford, with northerly winds occasionally reaching gale force 8. It will be mostly dry with some wintry showers in the west and northwest, and some rain in the east. Highs of 3 to 7C in moderate to fresh winds, but los of -3 in some areas, milder in the east of the country. The week is set to start out very cold, but turning milder from the middle of the week. Tuesday will remain cold, with breezes strengthening and outbreaks of rain developing. Wednesday and Thursday will be milder but breezy, with highs of up to 11C. Heavy rain on Wednesday could lead to some spot flooding. The rest of the week will remain unsettled, Met Eireann said. The gambling sector accounts for more than 12pc of Malta's GDP. Photo: Getty Officials in Malta have claimed that Irelands new gambling law could inadvertently lead to an increase in black market betting. The government in Valletta said proposed Irish legislation could prevent certain games being played here, so this could push people towards unregulated modes of gambling. Maltas government also claimed proposals to allow Irelands new gambling regulator to restrict times when people can bet may be disproportionate without further empirical evidence, research and justification. It used a European Commission technical regulation information system (TRIS) to voice its concerns. EU member states can use the TRIS to make submissions on proposed laws and changes in other countries to prevent trade barriers occurring. Malta claimed part of the bill would enable the Irish gambling regulator to determine which games operators may provide, but claimed there was a lack of clarity on what these relevant games will be. The submission said restricting certain games threatened freedoms under EU law to provide services, and could also limit operators based in other member states intending to establish games here. Prohibition is not a proportionate and effective manner to regulate online gambling, Malta claimed. The absence of a product in the regulated market may be counter- productive in that, in the absence of a safe, legal and regulated offer, players might opt for the unsafe, illegal and unregulated offer. The tiny Mediterranean island is a hub for betting companies and has seen huge growth in the digital gambling sector. An analysis by KPMG found the sector accounts for more than 12pc of the countrys GDP, and the 300-plus gaming companies on the island employ 10,000 people. The Department of Justice said it entered a consultation process earlier this year after receiving requests from the European Commission and Malta, but this process has since ended without the Government being asked to make changes to the bill. At its core, the bill is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities, a Department of Justice spokesman said. The Maltese had also questioned the justification for the bills proposed limits on how much people can bet or win when playing certain games. They also complained about proposed gambling advertising restrictions and asked why National Lottery ads do not come under proposed laws. The National Lottery comes under the remit of separate legislation. The bill has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Lobbying registry entries show major betting firms have met or written to James Browne, the minister responsible for the legislation. Mr Browne has also met with 14 charities or not-for-profit groups to discuss the bill, and has corresponded with another 40 charities. A man and woman who were arrested after gardai seized cash in excess of 180,000 during raids in Dublin have been released without charge. Gardai attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau carried out the search at a residence in Dublin 22 on Sunday morning. The search was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation into the sale and supply of controlled drugs, gardai said. The man and woman, both aged in their 30s, have been released from custody without charge. A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing. More than 47,000 (54,800) has been raised for a young Irishman seriously injured after he was hit by a car in Australia. Beoan Jones, from Maguiresbridge in Co Fermanagh, suffered massive injuries when he was struck by the car in Sydney on November 11. The 25-year-old, who only arrived in Australia three months ago, remains in hospital and members of his family have flown to Sydney to be at his bedside. According to police, Mr Jones was walking along the Bradfield Highway, about 400m south of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, when he was hit by a car at about 8.50pm. He suffered serious spinal injuries and multiple broken bones. The driver and passenger in the car were uninjured. Since the collision, Mr Jones has undergone two major surgeries at the Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition. In the meantime, two separate fundraising appeals have been set up to support his long road to recovery. An appeal set up by members of his family has already raised, at the time of writing, 44,782 (52,235). Another appeal set up by Mr Joness friends in Sydney has raised $5,738 (3,485). Barry Carey, who helped up set up the Australia appeal, and who is also from Maguiresbridge, described him as a warrior. Writing on the fundraising page, Mr Carey said: To think that a man of 25 years of age who has just been over in Australia a very short 3 months just finding his feet and in his prime in life is faced with one of the most unfortunate circumstances any human being could face. His poor mother Rose and his sister had to fly over and be by his side and I cant even imagine how difficult it was for the rest of his immediate family and friends. Beoan has sustained a number of injuries, he has spinal injuries broken ribs vertebrae fractures pelvis fractures multiple neck fractures and has had a number of major surgeries. Ive spoken to his mother rose and she is just distraught but just so grateful he is alive and the support from doctors nurses and loving family and friends has been nothing short of amazing. To think that her amazing son was embarking on a beautiful journey in life and for that to get cut short is heartbreaking for everyone that knows and loves him. The Charlottesville Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in its search for a man suspected of stealing a firearm from a vehicle in a downtown parking garage. Around 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 10, a man was captured on surveillance cameras breaking into a vehicle in a garage near the ACAC gym in downtown Charlottesville. The male stole a firearm from the target vehicle and other identifying documents belonging to the victim, the police said in a statement issued Friday. The unidentified man has been described as White, somewhere between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10, roughly 160 to 180 pounds, with gray-black hair. Police have circulated still images taken from the surveillance footage in hopes of identifying and bringing the suspect to justice. Anyone with any information regarding the man described or the reported break-in is encouraged to contact the investigating detective at (434) 970-3985 or the Charlottesville Police Department at (434) 970-3280. Taoiseach claimed Donohoe had refuted the reports while Mr Donohoe's spokesperson said he was planning to contest next general election for Fine Gael Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe could resign from the Cabinet next year, as he has again refused to explicitly deny reports he is considering a bid to become the next International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director. Colleagues and allies of the Fine Gael minister believe he is set to leave Irish politics next September or earlier after he issued a carefully-worded response to a Bloomberg report on Friday night, which did not include an explicit denial of the story. The financial news agency said Donohoe, who chairs the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, is holding preliminary conversations about becoming head of the IMF and noted his reputation as a consensus builder, well-liked and respected by all sides. In a subsequent statement to Bloomberg and other media outlets, Mr Donohoes spokesperson said he is fully focused on his work and responsibilities in Ireland and as president of the Eurogroup, and added: He is committed to serving his full mandate in Europe and will also be a candidate in the next election in Ireland. But the Dublin Central TD declined an opportunity from the Sunday Independent yesterday morning to issue a firm and explicit denial. Speaking at the Cop28 summit in Dubai yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Mr Donohoe had refuted the Bloomberg story, while describing Donohoe as one of the most capable politicians in the country by a mile and internationally recognised. I think hed be an excellent managing director of the IMF, but thats not what hes interested in, hes interested in staying on as president of the Eurogroup and also contesting the next Dail election in the Dublin Central constituency, Mr Varadkar said. But a Fine Gael source said: Bloom-berg dont make this s**t up. He has to rule himself out categorically or the story stays alive. Mr Donohoe has been in Washington DC as part of his role as Eurogroup chair. He has worked closely with ECB president Christine Lagarde, the former head the IMF, who expressed her delight at his re-election as Eurogroup chair last year. The Sunday Independent reported last June that Donohoe was seen as a contender for the IMF job and was awaiting the outcome of the boundary review in Dublin Central, which has left his constituency largely unchanged. His departure would be a major blow for Varadkar, who counts on Donohoe as a strong ally within Fine Gael. The party would struggle to retain the seat in Dublin Central, where Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is also based. But the Public Expenditure Ministers own popularity among Fine Gael colleagues has diminished in recent years, owing largely to a view he has been overly cautious in his budgetary strategy. But the high esteem in which he is held internationally is evidenced by the fact he secured a second term as Eurogroup chair despite the fact he is not finance minister, having swapped roles with Michael McGrath a year ago. Two sources who are friendly with Donohoe said they expect he will depart for the IMF role next year. One source noted the minister may be looking for a job switch as he had been effectively been double-jobbing for six years. He served as both finance and public expenditure minister from 2017 to 2020 and has held the Eurogroup chair role alongside his domestic cabinet portfolio for the last three years. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has voiced its concerns with Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman. There may be additional financial supports put in place for international protection (IP) applicants who come to Ireland but arent housed due to a shortage of accommodation. Integration minister Roderic OGorman said all arrivals were housed as of yesterday evening despite warnings at Cabinet earlier this week that accommodation will run out. He said it is likely there will not be enough housing for asylum seekers in a number of days. It is likely that in the next number of days, we wont be in a position to accommodate everybody seeking international protection here. As has been the case in the past, well always look to accommodate families, so itll probably be male applicants without families who will be left unaccommodated, he said. We will take steps at that stage in terms of providing them with some additional resources and well also take steps to target those who are vulnerable in terms of potentially sleeping rough. These additional supports include higher payments for those without accommodation as well as closer co-operation with homelessness services. Currently, asylum seekers receive 38.80 per adult and 29.80 per child weekly, as well as medical cards. When we are in an extremely regrettable position that we arent accommodating everybody, well make those contingency measures. Minister OGorman said the 38 living expenses will need to be increased for those who we arent able to accommodate. Well also want to work more closely with homeless services, particularly An Garda Siochana in terms where people are identified as sleeping rough and being able to intervene more quickly so that situation doesnt continue. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission wrote to Integration Minister Roderic OGorman highlighting its concern at the situation, saying it puts individuals at high risk on the streets. 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, Chief Commissioner Sinead Gibney said. 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. Immigration and the far right are now big issues, new poll reveals Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll shows twice as many would support an anti-immigration party or candidate than was the case in 2021 More than a third of Sinn Fein voters would consider backing an anti-immigration party Kevin Cunningham Sun 3 Dec 2023 at 03:30 Our poll today reflects a significant change in public attitudes over the last three years of the Ireland Thinks series. If phase one was Covid-19 and phase two the cost-of-living crisis, then phase three may very well be immigration, notwithstanding the ongoing concerns around housing. RTE has confirmed it made an error when Miriam OCallaghan wrongly told viewers that the Army had been deployed to the streets of Dublin to help tackle the mayhem after the stabbing outside a school on Parnell Square. On a brief promotional advert for Prime Time before the RTE News: Nine OClock on November 23, OCallaghan said: Mayhem in the centre of the capital after schoolchildren are attacked in a stabbing incident. The Army is on the streets as buses and trams are set on fire. However, a few minutes before this was broadcast, the Defence Forces issued a public service announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: Images circulating of Defence Forces vehicles in Dublin City Centre are not from this evening, but from a separate routine operation and have no connection to this evenings events. We ask everyone to be sensitive to the spreading of disinformation, and to take care. An RTE spokesman said that Miriam OCallaghans report that the Defence Forces were on the streets was an error and it had been corrected during the Prime Time programme. On RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland the next day, Paul Reynolds, the broadcasters crime correspondent, spoke about how misinformation about the riots and the stabbing on November 23 had seeped in to the mainstream. The best example of that is this rumour that went around that the Defence Forces had been deployed, that the Army was on the streets, said Reynolds. And that was repeated in some respectable news outets, including the BBC last night. And the reporter who was on from the Irish Times last night had to correct that, and we had to correct that on the Nine OClock News last night. "It simply wasnt true. The Defence Forces had issued a statement that this wasnt true. What happened was clearly misinformation. Reynolds is understood to have been referencing comments made by a Newsnight presenter about the army being on the streets of Dublin that were later corrected on air by Kitty Holland, an Irish Times reporter. The BBC said: A presenter made a reference to military units when introducing a segment on Newsnight this was corrected on air soon afterwards. The Defence Forces said it provided clarification to a number of journalists and news agencies last Thursday. An image of Defence Forces vehicles was being used to support the false narrative the army had been deployed. We cannot confirm the exact time that those vehicles were out, but we can confirm that it was not in any way connected to the events of the evening. It said the Defence Forces conduct routine driving and training exercises both in Dublin city and beyond regularly, as Cathal Brugha Barracks is located in the city. Former Irish President Mary Robinson was accused of being alarmist and making false accusations in a shocking rant by the sultan heading Cop28 after she asked him to take the lead in ending the use of fossil fuels. The extraordinary exchange, unearthed by The Guardian newspaper and the Centre for Climate Reporting, occurred just nine days before the start of the global climate summit in Dubai. During the online discussion, an increasingly agitated Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, who is the United Arab Emirates minister for technology and also heads up the UAEs national oil company, Adnoc, repeatedly interrupted and talked over Mrs Robinson. Bizarrely, he declared there was no science behind the call to urgently phase out fossil fuels as a way of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, and said it would send humanity back to the caves. He repeatedly told Mrs Robinson to get her facts right and accused her of finger-pointing instead of seeking solutions. Mrs Robinson calmly corrected him several times when he accused her of saying and doing things she did not, and pushed him repeatedly to clarify whether or not Adnoc was planning to increase oil drilling, as has been widely reported. Dr Al-Jaber took exception to Mrs Robinsons call for urgent action from him, and her remark that she did not hear enough urgency in his voice. The sultan responded that she was playing with words because she was a politician. I am a businessman. I am focused on delivery and action, he said. Mrs Robinson said she stressed the need for urgency because the world was in crisis. Were in an absolute crisis. and its because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel, she said. That is the one decision that Cop28 can take and in many ways, because you are head of Adnoc, you could actually take it with more credibility. Dr Al-Jaber said: I accepted to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. Im not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist. There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is whats going to achieve 1.5 degrees. His claim has shocked scientists and campaigners at the summit where many countries are seeking agreement to phase out fossil fuels. As president of Cop28, Dr Al-Jaber could play a key role in shaping the agreement depending on how he mediates talks and rallies countries towards consensus. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, who gave an impassioned speech at the opening of the summit, was unequivocal in calling for a clear fossil fuel phase-out. The exchange happened during a day-long series of online events run by the She Changes Climate organisation that focuses on women and climate change. The full recording of the days events was uploaded online by the organisation. In a statement on Sunday, the Cop28 presidency said the story was just another attempt to undermine the Presidencys agenda, which has been clear and transparent and backed by tangible achievements by the COP President and his team. The COP president was unwavering in saying reaching 1.5C involves action across a number of areas and sectors. The COP President is clear that phasing down and out of fossil fuels is inevitable and that we must keep 1.5C within reach. As COP28 continues this week, the COP President is focused on working with parties to deliver a plan that will deliver maximum transition and minimal disruption for everyone in the world. He has repeatedly communicated our position on fossil fuels and invited all parties to work together and come up with solutions that can achieve alignment, common ground and consensus. Once again, we are excited with the progress we have made so far and for the delivery of an ambitious GST decision. Attempts to undermine this will not soften our resolve, the spokesperson said. Mrs Robinson will arrive at Cop next Friday for several days of engagements on behalf of The Elders group of eminent world figures, and other organisations she works with. A spokeswoman for the former President said she would not like to comment on The Guardian story but pointed out that the event was public and available online. Engineer Ibrahim Alagha, his wife and their children are back in Dublin after being trapped for weeks in Gaza Ibrahim Alagha, his wife Hamida and three young children had been enjoying an extended holiday visiting family in Gaza when their world was turned upside down. After Hamass deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, Israels military launched a devastating assault on the tiny strip of land that left the family trapped for weeks. After an anxious wait, they were finally evacuated and returned to Ireland via Egypt on November 18. While they are delighted to be back, Mr Alagha said their joy is not complete because of the many loved ones they left behind. The electronic engineer, who lives in Blanchardstown, believes his children have been doing well since their return after weeks of limited access to food, water and energy. They are very happy to be back. Gaza is an amazing country and the children were enjoying it until the war. I dont think they are suffering from post-traumatic stress. I thought they would be. But they are strong and resilient, he told the Sunday Independent. They were able to recover a lot faster than I thought they would. They are afraid when they hear a loud noise, for example. My oldest son, Sami, he has a bit of fear still about windows and doors being closed, because he heard stories of explosions in Gaza. He is getting over that and they all are sleeping with us in our bed, which is what we had to do in Gaza because conditions were so cramped. They are not back in their own beds in Ireland yet. Mr Alagha praised his friends and local community in Dublin who have helped the family since their return. For one whole week our neighbours dropped in food and also gifts and toys for the kids, he said. He was planning to attend a Dublin city centre demonstration yesterday to show his solidarity with all his friends and family left behind in Gaza. Ibrahim Alagha at his Dublin home with children Sami (8), Omar (3) and Eileen (4). Photo: Steve Humphreys Overnight on Friday, there was bombing close to where he and his family were staying at his fathers home in Khan Younis. We have started getting phone calls about it from our friends and family still there, he said. Our house is now just 700 metres from the Israeli military zone. We were so happy to get back to Ireland, but the feeling now since we have left is that we want to help them. My joy is not complete. When he was stranded at his fathers home and medical surgery, there were up to 90 people at the large property. That number has fluctuated, with some other friends and family members being evacuated to other countries where they hold citizenship. Mr Alagha said he was fearful for all of his loved ones safety as the Israeli military offensive continues and intensifies. He added that the recent brief ceasefire was welcome, as was the release of hostages. But even with the ceasefire, the same problems remain for the people in Gaza, he said. The poor conditions are getting worse. There is limited food, water and energy. I do not know what the solution will eventually be. One problem is that the Israelis do not regard us as equal citizens. Israels defence minister has described us as human animals. Mr Alagha said he welcomed the recent freeing of hostages on both sides, but added that the media treatment of the releases was very different. The Palestinians who were released were made to look like criminals by the Israelis. Some of them are just boys whose only crime was throwing stones. I am against the taking of any hostages, particularly women and children, but there shouldnt be a double standard in the treatment when they were released, he said. Mr Alagha added that the release of all child hostages, including Irish citizen Emily Hand, was to be welcomed. I do not agree with what Hamas did they killed over 1,000 people. But what about the many wars started by Israel over the years where they have killed thousands of Palestinians? It is a double standard. He returned to work within days of arriving back in Dublin, and said he was pleased to do so as he enjoys his job. All the family are trying to get back into a routine, including school and pre-school, and they are supporting his parents and parents-in-law, who are now in Ireland staying with Mr Alagha and his brother. I think the best thing for the children about being back is just the normality, he said. There are so many normal things they just took for granted, like having food and water. They could only have small sips of water at a time [in Gaza] because of the shortage. When they first had orange juice when we were evacuated to Cairo, it was as if it was the first time ever they had orange juice. It was the same with yoghurt. Mr Alagha said it was important that the world media continued to report on the situation in Gaza. His parents want to return to live in Gaza when it is safe and if their home survives, but his parents-in-law, whose home was destroyed, will probably stay here. He added: What I really missed about Ireland was the peace and the quiet and the nice people. I would love to go back to Gaza when the war is over, but even if it ended today, it would take five to 10 years to rebuild, not to mention the amount of people who will be displaced because their homes are gone. The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, thinks that insisting that daytrippers cough up 5 for the privilege of entering the city on certain dates next year is going to have them all heading to Verona or Padua instead. Is he for real? Venice, a city with which I have enjoyed a 30-year love affair, is nowadays totally overrun with daytrippers. They clamber off the buses in Piazzale Roma at the top of the Grand Canal or step out of the train station just a few hundred metres further down that famous waterway with not a suitcase in sight between the lot of them. Family breakdown and a collapse in parental authority need to be addressed to rebuild law and order in society Twelve years ago, in the early days of August, England was subjected to widespread and horrific riots that began in the Tottenham area of London and then spread to other parts of the country. They went on for five nights and by the time they were over, five people had been killed, hundreds of police were injured and tens of millions of pounds worth of damage had been done to businesses and shops in London alone. Nelofer Pazira-Fisk: John Humes brave vision is needed right now in the Middle East Derry peace activist knew a healing process is part and parcel of a lasting peace John Hume tries to talk down baton-wielding members of the RUC in Derry at a civil rights march in 1969. Photo: Getty Nelofer Pazira-Fisk Sun 3 Dec 2023 at 03:30 In a cosy corner of the library at Trinity College Dublin, John Humes legacy was recently being celebrated by a garland of glossy photos and a newly unveiled bronze bust. A small gathering of family, friends and invited guests heard stories of Humes tireless struggle for peace, which eventually brought about the Good Friday Agreement. The minister has more to fear from Fianna Fail than from Sinn Fein There is no inter- party ceasefire after the stabbing of a little girl and her carer on Dublins Parnell Square, despite the agonies being endured by the victims and their families. Elsewhere, there is no truce in the war of words between Ireland and Israel after the happy release of nine-year-old hostage Emily Hand from her Hamas terrorist kidnappers. Tucked in the back of the building anchored by Corvallis Starbucks on Madison Avenue, Nichole Ashley Moss' new beauty supply business is attracting customers whose first comments tend to be how thankful they are that the store exists. Based on the Linn-Benton County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Black-owned business directory, Soulful Strands, which opened Nov. 11, is the only one of its kind in Corvallis. It's just the beginning, Moss hopes. "I am looking to get way bigger than this," Moss said. 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. Its been a challenging launch, according to Moss. With difficulties sourcing loans for the business, Moss said the store is a result of four months of saving, contributions from her husband, bulk buying and storing all of her current stock until she found a location she could afford to rent. A community gap Soulful Strands was born out of a suggestion from her husband, according to Moss. "I went to Portland and spent $400 at Mid-K Beauty, because we have to stock up when we go out there; theres nothing like this inward, nearby," Moss said. She had just graduated from business school at the time and was looking to start an enterprise with all the knowledge she'd gained. She had an idea for an indoor spa, but the capital needed was prohibitive. After she complained about the amount she had to spend upfront at the Portland store on hair care products, her husband suggested she begin one in the area. Initially, shed planned to situate it in Albany, but after the property owner requested triple the amount in rent due to her credit history, Moss said she was forced to look elsewhere. The location in downtown Corvallis was not ideal because of the size, she said, but the space has been put to good use. Shelves full of a wide variety of hair extensions, conditioners, accessories and tools have been strategically arranged along the walls and around the store's inner and outer rooms, but still offer enough maneuvering space for patrons to peruse whats available. Right opposite the store is a braiding salon, and Moss said, so far, patrons there have come in to shop for last-minute packs of extensions to complete a hairstyle. It's a win-win. The name "Soulful Strands" is partly her sons idea and is an acknowledgement and celebration of the "soul" of Black people, she said. From Long Beach, California, Moss said she moved to Gresham nine years ago where she spent a year before moving to Corvallis with her family. "When I got here, I saw no Black people here," Moss said. In search of community, after she began encountering more Black people around town, Moss started a Facebook group. This was in 2017. Corvallis is a good landing spot. "Obviously there is a college here, and theres a lot of Black students here. We have a lot of African people and mixed-race people here," Moss said. She added the store and its products also will cater to anyone who may have a hard time finding the right products to tend to their curls at other hair salons or product shops. Sights on the future Many products in the store come from China, customized for her business. Moss said she is hoping in a few years time to feature only products sourced from Africa. And she is already thinking about expanding, both the space and the variety of what customers can access in her store: makeup and beauty products, fashion accessories, African prints, etc. "I want my whole shop to be a one-stop shop," Moss said, acknowledging that visibility makes expansion plans a gamble. Moss said funding, advertising and keeping her spirits high have been the biggest challenges since opening. "I'm planning on journaling to remember all these moments," she said. But it has also been an avenue to learn and expand her understanding and appreciation of curly, coily and kinky hair, so she can answer questions patrons have when they come in. "For many years, Black people have not liked their hair; we've been told to straighten our hair and make it more presentable," Moss said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today. "It's a vicious cycle," she said, adding that her mother permed and straightened her hair as a child, and it is now in adulthood that she is learning to love her hair as it is. "Your hair is like a plant. You got to water it, and if you dont, itll die, like a plant. Its causing me to learn a lot more working here," Moss said. Related stories: A Palestinian child sits near the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters Those fleeing for their lives will not have much time to think about who broke the ceasefire first. Within hours, dozens more civilians were dead in Gaza. Once again, rocket sirens blare across southern Israel and warplanes pound Gaza. Health officials reported that 109 people were killed and dozens wounded in airstrikes that hit at least eight homes. Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office in Geneva. As many as 80pc of Gazas 2.3 million have now been driven from their homes. Just hours before, US secretary of state Antony Blinken announced the Israeli government had agreed to form a clear plan for averting civilian deaths. This was imperative, he said. A premium had to be put on protecting civilians. Lest there be any doubt, he added: I underscored the imperative to the United States that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement on the scale we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south. But war does not follow scripts. Moral symmetry no longer applies once the fuse is lit or trigger pulled. Initially, the Biden administration offered Israel a bear-hug, wholly offering Tel Aviv unwavering support; but there has been something of a pivot, partially because of international opprobrium at the Palestinian death toll which is expected to soon pass 15,000 since the Hamas massacre of October 7. More pertinent, perhaps, may be the political heat the Democrats are taking for not putting more pressure on Israel to ease off on the shock and awe approach, which has seen strikes on schools and hospitals and widescale destruction. As the worlds remaining superpower, it is not enough for Washington to be a background voice of moderation. If it is supportive of the two-state solution which is in Israels interests as much as Palestines it must take on a proactive leadership role. Israel has made it clear it is prepared for a long war. Judging by what we have seen so far, the potential loss of life and destabilising influence on the whole region of a protracted scorched earth approach could be cataclysmic. Mohandas K Gandhi wrote in 1925: I object to violence because, when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. His words are just as true today. Talks overseen by the Qatari government to reinstate the ceasefire are continuing. The case for restoration of the truce is overwhelming. Over the past week, vital aid was able to get through. Conditions in the besieged enclave are deteriorating disastrously. The population is at risk of famine and starvation, the World Food Programme warned this week. Last week, it was decided across all Christian denominations that Christmas would be cancelled in Bethlehem this year. It would be unconscionable should this really have to happen because the war was still raging. Kevin Colreavy, author, and Aidan Mannion, Sligo Rovers Heritage Group, with 'Stories of the Showgrounds'. Billy Sinclair, Aidan Mannion, Clr. Tom MacSharry,, Chris MacManus and Martin Heraghty, Sligo Rovers at the opening of the Sligo Rovers Outdoor Museum at the Showgrounds and pictured with 'The Bit O'Red' - A History of Sligo Rovers - 1928 -2016.' Kevin Flannery and Aidan Mannion who ran The Record Room at Grattan Street, Sligo. Tributes have been paid to Sligo businessman and Sligo Rovers historian, Aidan Mannion who has passed away. Mr Mannion, of Markievicz Heights, was owner of the popular music shop, The Record Room on Grattan Street. He was a devoted fan of Sligo Rovers and was a former treasurer of the club. He was also a founding member of the Sligo Rovers Heritage Group and was editor of The Bit ORed: A History of Sligo Rovers - 1928-2016 published in 2016. Mr Mannion was also an avid supporter of his native town and county and took a deep interest in its history and promotion. Mr Mannion passed away at Sligo University Hospital on Saturday. He is survived by his wife, Dympna and chidren Ross, Patrick and Claire. He is also sadly missed by his brothers Dermot, Aengus, Ultan and Fergus, sisters Geraldine, Grainne and Deirdre and extended family. Reposing at The Foley and McGowan Funeral Home, Market Yard, Sligo on Tuesday evening from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral will arrive to St. Annes Church, Sligo on Wednesday morning at 11am for requiem mass followed by burial at Sligo Cemetery. The Mayor of Sligo, Cllr Declan Bree said Mr Mannion loved his native Sligo with a passion and his extensive knowledge of all aspects of Sligos history and heritage was exceptional. His lifelong interest in music, which he shared with everyone in that unique premises in Grattan Street - the Record Room - was remarkable. Not only had he an exhaustive stock of C.Ds and records available, he also took immense pride in producing albums on his own record label to promote local music and local musicians. His association and his voluntary work as a committee member of Sligo Rovers over the years has been acknowledged time and time again. His major research on the history of the club can only be described as phenomenal. He could quote chapter and verse about players and games without having to examine any records or notes. I deem it a privilege to have known him and to have shared quite a number of his interests. His passing is a huge loss. He will be sadly missed, not only by his wife Dympna and his children and extended family but by the entire Sligo community. He has left a unique and wonderful legacy. May he rest in peace, said the Mayor. In a tribute posted on social media, Sligo Rovers said it was deeply saddened at the passing of Mr Mannion. It said his legacy and contribution to the club will live on in his work. The Bit ORed Supporters Trust said it was people like Aidan Mannion who give their time, intelligence and hard work to keep the Sligo Rovers flag flying generation after generation. Many heartfelt tributes were paid on RIP.ie to Mr Mannion. Former club secretary Tony McGee wrote: Only people who served with him on Sligo Rovers committee in the 1980s will know of his efforts as Treasurer in keeping the club in business in one of their worst financially difficult periods. He will be sadly missed by many. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace. Another wrote: So very sorry to hear this sad news. Our deepest sympathies to Dympna and children and the extended family on the passing of a lovely man. He was a joy to visit on trips home to Sligo, with his wealth of knowledge of both music and Sligo history. Solas na bhflaitheas air. Many commented on the warm welcome received when entering The Record Room. Sad to hear that Aidan has died. I recognised his face instantly from visiting the Record Room many times over the years. He was a friendly and knowledgable man, said one sympathiser. Another commented: A gentleman who always had time for everyone. Proud Sligo man, I still have two BT Phonecards that Aidan commissioned to commemorate Sligo 750, when Eircom initially didnt show any interest. RIP. A strong light has gone out in Sligo, but his memory lives on. Aidan will be greatly missed. Keeping you all in our prayers, said another. Others wrote: A true gentleman,many a chat we had in the Record Room, Sligo Rovers the topic, a true supporter,to his family our sincere sympathy may Aidan Rest in Peace. I first met Aidan through the Sligo Field Club.I later served on the committee with him. I have many happy memories of interesting meetings and discussions on the history and heritage of Sligo Town and County which he loved so much. Nobody was more passionate about protecting and promoting what we have all around us. A gentleman and a scholar, a lover of Rovers and of all things Sligo, an historian, businessman, a font of knowledge, Aidan epitomised a proud Sligonian. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. RIP. A great historian with an encyclopedic knowledge of, and passion for, all things Sligo, especially his beloved Rovers, to whom he gave a lifetime of selfless and priceless service. The Record Room, which he joyfully operated with his loyal friend Kevin, is a Sligo institution to generations of music lovers from far and wide. Aidan will be a huge loss to Sligo but he leaves a magnificent legacy. RIP Aidan loved where he was from and this was shown to us with his knowledge of all that was good about Sligo He loved his beloved Sligo Rovers and the museum is one of the many legacys he leave behind and will live forever with us amongst other work.Rest in Eternal Peace Aidan I was very saddened to hear of Aidans death. He was truly one of the most knowledgeable people I ever met. His contribution to the history of not only Sligo Rovers but any topic was immense. I had the pleasure of knowing Aidan through doing the Archaeology Course in St. Angelas and will forever remember our chats about archaeology and all manner of topics in the Record Room. He was a lovely, gentle and learned man and will be missed by so many who had the great honour of knowing him. RIP Aidan. Children from Our Lady of Lourdes NS, Bunclody who attended the One Book One Community event held in Bunclody Vocational College. Back. Ciara Finn, Dianne Sinnott, Margaret Kinsella, Margaret McGeer, Cllr. Kathleen Codd-Nolan (chairperson board of management), Yvonne Hendley and Maureen Kehoe. Front. Elaine Hotsted, (Bunclody Library), Barbara McCombe, Catherine Finn, Marie Breen (manager of Bunclody Day Care Centre) and Mamie O'Neill at the One Book One Community event held in Bunclody Vocational College. Bunclody Vocational College students with teachers and guests at the One Book One Community event held in Bunclody Vocational College. BUNCLODY Vocational College was delighted to spearhead another reading for pleasure community initiative, known as One Book One Community. This is the second year running that the English Department in the school have run One Book One Community in Bunclody. It started off relatively small last Spring with 59 first year students, their teachers and parents, as well as 56 sixth class students from Our Lady Of Lourdes alongside their teachers, the local librarians, local families, local groups and organisations such as Bunclody and Kilmyshall Drama Group, Bunclody Tidy Towns, Bunclody Recreational Committee, Signa-care the local Nursing Home, and representatives from Wexford Mental Health all coming together over an eight week period to read the one book. The reading challenge was supported by local Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy and Councillor Cathal Byrne. The schools Board of Management also took part. Growing on the event, this year saw, the Local Day Care Centre also participating in the shared reading of a novel. Speaking again this year at the event was local librarian Elaine Hoystead who commented that such an action, widely spread across the entire community is the first of its kind in Wexford, but also the first of its kind across the nation of Ireland. The Schools Vice Principal, Sandra OToole shared her pride over the success of the 8 week reading challenge. "This was a very proud moment for our school here in Bunclody Vocational College. It is a testament to the community who so willingly bought into the idea of reading for pleasure, she said. "It was a great journey for us all. It was heart-warming to know that our students were reading alongside the locals in their town and that this action had brought everyone together. "This was very evident last Friday as we celebrated our achievement of completing the book with a Book Celebration that documented that journey. At the celebration attended by those above, the children displayed their art work and videos of their individual reading journey, she added. The reading challenge was met with praise by those who took part with many of them saying they really enjoyed it and couldnt wait to take part next year. The reading challenge has become a very enjoyable and sustainable action and Bunclody Vocational College look forward to launching the next One Book One Community title alongside the library in 2024. Bunclody Vocational College thanked everyone who has taken part to date. Those interested can also participate by following the school social media accounts for updates or pop into Bunclody Library where you can be assisted in borrowing the book or downloading the book as an audio or eBook. Some of the attendance pictured during the vigil for Palestine in Courtown on Sunday. Pic: Jim Campbell Supporters of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Southeast Branch including local people and Palestinian people living in Ireland gathered in solidarity for the Free Palestine rally at Courtown Harbour in Gorey recently. The IPSC Southeast and Connolly Youth Movement Wexford facilitated this rally in order to highlight their concern for the welfare of two million Palestinian people that are currently living in Gaza. The resistance of 75 years of colonial occupation should not be met with ruthless killing of mostly children and the vulnerable. Rather, we should be seeing masses of us out on the streets, taking action to prevent one more Palestinian death from occurring. This is an ethnic cleansing happening before our own eyes, said Jack Bergin, one of the organisers of the rally in Courtown. Jack and other supporters of the campaign feel strongly that this issue concerns everyone and that Israel must be sanctioned for their actions. We all can play a part in pressuring state actors into having our solidarity with Palestinians reflected on a global stage, said Jack. Jack outlined that Irish people should boycott Israeli produce and companies. For us, this can also mean asserting the aim to expel the Israeli ambassador and the embassy, which makes Ireland complicit by remaining in use. Crucially, we all must not forget the horrors of 12,000 lives lost in the 43rd day, and hold Israel accountable against the international criminal court. More than 5,500 children have been killed by Israel since October l7 alone which is the number of children murdered in the entire years of 2020, 2021, and 2022 were over 2,500 each year- a disgusting number that shows we must act and be urgent in our measures to uphold the humanity of these people and push for Palestinian liberation, not for every victim to be relegated to a statistic. The horrors, if that were to be your child, any child, said Jack. Gorey is home to some Palestinian people and they were present at the rally. We must take on the spirit of the Dunnes workers here, and set the benchmark for anti-apartheid solidarity once again. This is our appeal to everyone in north Wexford to boycott, divest, sanction Israel. Have their embassy expelled. Keep talking about the water and electricity blockages and terrors experienced by innocent Palestinian people, said Jack. For more information contact the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Southeast Branch. I totally understand people who need the attention of the media when they release a song or something A personal trainer who replaced Una Healy in her throuple relationship with David Haye and his girlfriend has taken a swipe at the Irish singer. Mica Jova (28) met the boxer and his model partner Sian Osborne earlier this year while holidaying in Costa Rica just weeks after Una called it quits with the couple. Tipperary native Una previously admitted that she was "embarrassed" by the relationship and said she felt tricked into joining the relationship. Now, Jova has hit out at the mum-of-two for blasting Haye and Osborne publicly, suggesting that she may have done so for attention. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: David is one of the most gorgeous souls out there and Sian is a sweetheart. They are such good people so I really don't understand why Una Healy is trying to put a bad light on those two. They were two of the most gorgeous souls I have ever met and they are very cool people. I don't regret anything in my life. I had such a good time and I feel very grateful to have met them and to have them in my life. She accused Una, who released a scathing single about the romance called Walk Away over the summer, of using Haye to push her career. I totally understand people who need the attention of the media when they release a song or something. David Haye, Sian Osborne, and Mica Jova. Photo: Instagram/@davidhaye But I don't want to push my career by making statements and using a famous person to promote it. David Haye's fans - mostly men - have come up to me at events to ask about what happened. But I didn't say anything, or admit anything, other than saying it was fun. I didn't say anything because I respect him and I respect Sian and, if they are not going to say anything, then neither am I. Jova has since stepped away from her throuple relationship with Haye and Osborne and has a new boyfriend. While she insists that she has no regrets about their fling, she admitted that her conservative family back in Austria were initially shocked when they saw photos of the trio looking cosy in Costa Rica. They did warn me there might be a reaction to the photos. But I thought, I am living in the moment and I don't care so much. I will let people believe whatever they want to believe. I am an open-hearted person and I am a believer in good hearts. I let people live the life they want to live and I want to be left alone to live my life too. I give love and I receive love and I don't judge. But yes, my family was kind of shocked when they saw the photos. I have a conservative family and some of the things written about me were kind of shocking to them. I was just laughing when I heard the word throuple. I don't think my mum saw it that or she didn't care. But my sister saw the photos and she confronted me. But once I explained what really happened, she was OK in the end. The lesson I have learned from the experience is that I have to be more careful. After reportedly meeting on the celebrity dating app Raya, Una and David became romantically involved for several months, even though David had also been dating model Sian since 2020. The boxer boasted about the relationship with both Una and Sian in a series of online posts and celebrated with both of them on Valentines Day. When the trio went on holiday to Costa Rica together, rumours started circulating that the relationship was actually between all three of them. In March, Una called time on the romance and spoke out about the throuple claims for the first time. Speaking on the My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast she said that she felt hoodwinked into joining the relationship. She told Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally that David was the one pushing the "throuple" narrative. She said: "He was very honest that I wasn't the only woman he was seeing, I was very aware he was seeing other people. I knew he was being honest and it's not like I was being cheated on. "I knew he wasn't husband material, just a bit of fun and I was enjoying it." Una gradually became aware that David was talking more and more to his ex-girlfriend Sian until he confessed that Sian was still "very involved" in his life. "He doesn't label, he's never called her [Sian] his girlfriend, he's open, polyamorous. So I did meet her and she was a really nice girl but there was nothing going on there so it wasn't a throuple. I wasn't romantic with her, I don't really know her," Una explained. She now insists she's single and is said to be "embarrassed" by all the throuple talk. Warplanes attacks south as IDF claims Hamas leaders are sheltering among civilians Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza yesterday, intensifying the renewed bombardment of the enclave for a second day as hopes faded that the collapsed truce deal could be revived. Some of the heaviest strikes were on southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have taken refuge after the Israeli military told them to go there for their safety. Three Khalistani men sentenced for attempted murder of radio host Harnek Singh. Photo Courtesy: Harnek Singh Instagram page At least three suspected Khalistan extremists have been convicted of the attempted murder of an Auckland-based popular radio host Harnek Singh, media reports said. Sukhpreet Singh, 44-year-old, was found guilty of being an accessory, and Sarvjeet Sidhu, 27-year-old, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, The Australia Today reported. One man is an Auckland resident and has been given one of the longest possible prison sentences for the crime, The Australia Today reported quoting NZ Herald. Harnek Singh, also known as Nekki, suffered over 40 stab wounds when he was ambushed by a group of religious fundamentalists on Dec 23, 2020. Harnek Singh had been followed by three cars full of men and was stabbed within an inch of his life, the news portal reported. He locked the door of his ute and began pounding on the horn, attracting the attention of neighbours as the attackers bashed in his window. The police told the court that Singh would have bled to death from his extensive stab wounds. Harnek Singh required over 350 stitches to his head and upper body and multiple surgeries due to the attack. Photo Courtesy: facebook.com/MahantBalaknathYogiIndia Tijara: Rajasthan is witnessing the rise of another saffron-clad leader Mahant Balak Nath, much like Uttar Pradesh saw the surge of Yogi Adityanath over a decade ago. Sharpening its arsenal against Congress in Rajasthan where it faced the major challenge of unseating the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress regime, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) selected Balak Nath as its candidate from the Tijara assembly constituency. Balak Nath, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Alwar, is contesting against Imran Khan of the Congress in the critical Assembly election BJPs choice stems from the fact that each seat is important to pummel the Congress in Rajasthan. As per real-time updates from the Tijara assembly seat, Balak Nath is currently in the lead against the Congress candidate Imran Khan. Media reports said the monk could also be the BJPs choice to helm the state if it wins the Rajasthan polls. According to an exit poll, the data indicated that among those surveyed, 10% expressed a preference for Balak Nath to be the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan, India Today reported. Ashok Gehlot topped the list, with 32% of respondents favouring him for the position of the next chief minister. A total of 21% of the surveyed people indicated that they were open to any leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assuming the role of the chief minister. Balak Nath has portrayed himself like Yogi Adityanath in Rajasthan, adopting similar strategies and symbolism, the imagery of bulldozers, a symbol closely associated with Yogi Adityanath's governance in Uttar Pradesh. Yogi Adityanath has also shown support for Balak Nath by accompanying him during the filing of nomination papers and actively participating in his campaign. Balak Nath, 39, has studied till class 12 and has a sum of Rs 14 lakhs in his account, as revealed by his nomination paper. He is the 8th Mahant of Mastnath Mutt in Rohtak and belongs to the same Nath sect of Yogi Adityanath. He refers to Adityanath as his "elder brother," showing the close association and mutual respect between the two leaders. Mastnath Mutt is the largest institution of the Nath sect and runs various educational institutions and hospitals as part of its extensive network. In the 2018 assembly elections, the Tijara constituency, situated in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, was won by Sandeep Kumar from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He secured a win by defeating Aimaduddin Ahmad Khan, also known as Durru Mian, from the Congress party with a margin of 4,457 votes, equivalent to 2.40%. In the November 2023 elections, the Tijara Assembly constituency recorded a substantial voter turnout of 85.70%, with 182,672 valid votes cast out of the 213,153 registered voters. One person dies and two others injured in a knife and hammer attack in Paris. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash SEO Headline: One person die in Paris attack At least one person died and two others were injured in a knife and hammer attack in Paris on Saturday (December 2, 2023). The attack occurred on Quai de Grenelle, a venue located close to the iconic Eiffel Tower. A 26-year-old French national known to security services has been arrested and anti-terrorism prosecutors have opened an investigation, reported BBC. The deceased person was identified as a German national. Frances Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin was quoted as saying by CNN that two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. One of the police officers responding to the scene used a taser to neutralize the attacker,Darmanin said. The suspects life is not at risk, he added. After his arrest, he said he could no longer bear to see Muslims dying in both Afghanistan and Palestine, Darmanin said. The minister was quoted as saying by the American news channel that the suspect was known to intelligence services for having serious psychiatric disorders." The minister said he had been told by police that the attacker had reportedly shouted Allahu Akbar during the assault. French President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as a 'terror act'. "I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening during the terrorist attack in Paris and think with emotion of the people currently injured and in care," he wrote on X. "The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office now seized will be responsible for shedding light on this matter so that justice can be done in the name of the French people," he said. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash At least eight persons died and 26 others were injured as suspected terrorists opened fire on a bus in Pakistan's Chilas region on Saturday, media reports said. As per details, Deputy Commissioner Diamer Captain (Rtd) Arif Ahmad stated that the incident occurred in Chilas district where unknown assailants opened fire on a passenger and the uncontrolled bus collided with a truck, reported ARY News. The Deputy Commissioner confirmed the death of eight people saying that the Rawalpindi-bound bus was coming from Ghizer. According to Rescue 1122, a bus en route from Rawalpindi to Skardu collided with another vehicle coming from the opposite side and plunged into a ravine., the news channel reported. A displaced family carries their belongings in Kandahar, Afghanistan.Photo Courtesy: UNOCHA/Sayed Habib Bidel At least 4,02,312 illegal foreigners, including Afghanistan nationals, have been sent back to their homeland by Pakistani officials, media reports said. Thousands of Afghans are returning to their homeland on a daily basis through Chaman and Torkham borders, thanking Pakistan for its generosity, ARY News reported quoting Radio Pakistan. According to reports, 3776 more illegal Afghan nationals returned to Afghanistan recently. The country's Caretaker Provincial Information Minister Jan Achakzai earlier reportedly reiterated the governments resolve and said that the illegal immigrants would be sent back to their own country at any cost. He said the government has set a target of deporting 10,000 immigrants every day, reported the news channel. Meanwhile, World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking $26.3 million to assist one million Afghans forced to leave Pakistan following the Governments decision to deport undocumented foreigners. The policy came into effect last month and more than 370,000 people have since made their way back to Afghanistan, where a harsh winter awaits them. WFP are on the ground at two border crossings supplying families with cash to cover their most basic food needs. Returnees face a bleak future in Afghanistan, where one-third of the people do not know where their next meal will come from and some areas in the west are also still reeling from multiple earthquakes. Communities across the country rely on WFP food assistance to survive, but funding shortfalls have forced the agency to cut emergency assistance this year. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Pakistan has reported six polio cases in 2023, media reports said, as the country continues to struggle to control the disease. A nine-month-old female child has been paralysed by poliovirus, bringing the number of cases reported this year to six, reports Dawn News. The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has notified that the virus was detected in a nine-month-old child from Orakzai district, the newspaper reported. I am deeply saddened that this virus has robbed yet another child of the opportunity to live a healthy life and to live up to its potential, Federal Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan told the newspaper. This is a stark reminder that until we eradicate this virus, this disease will continue to remain a persistent threat, not just to our children but children across the world, he added. Twenty environmental samples were collected from 12 districts which tested positive for wild poliovirus type 1. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay Dacoits, who were disguised in police uniforms, looted multiple houses in Pakistan's Karachi city on Saturday. According to the victims family statement, the robbers dressed as Sindh police officers along with plain cloth men entered the house and took away all the valuables including gold, jewellery, mobile phones, and cash, reported ARY News. After ransacking one residence, the robbers in police uniform targeted another house for the robbery and later took the CCTV footage along with the valuables, the news channel reported. The crime scene unit, police, and rangers officials reached the spot after the incident to investigate the matter. Photo Courtesy: BSF Punjab Frontier X page Border Security Forces officials on Sunday said two Glock pistols, suspected to be airdropped by a Pakistani drone, were recovered near the India-Pakistan border in Punjabs Tarn Taran district on Saturday. "After the recovery of a Pakistani drone in Village Khalra, a massive search operation was launched by BSF troops in the vicinity, resulting in the successful recovery of two pistols (Glock - Made in Austria)," BSF Punjab Frontier posted on X. "@BSF_Punjab tails and tracks all drone intrusions. It is due to these efforts that such important recoveries are made after the sincere and tireless efforts of troops on the ground," the Indian border security force said. BSF also shared images of the drone and recovered pistols on X. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region on Friday witnessed a shutter-down strike against an increase in the rate of subsidised wheat, media reports said. The rate of wheat, which was heavily subsidised for the region, has significantly increased over the past six months first from Rs7.5 to Rs20 per kilogram in June and then recently to Rs52 per kg, reported Dawn News. The protest 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan was called by Awami Action Committee (AAC). It is an alliance of political parties and traders' unions. Business activities in the region remained suspended from morning. In Skardu, a protest was held at the Yadgar Chowk. The protesters rejected the hike in wheat prices and chanted slogans against the government, reported Dawn News. Protesters said their agitation will continue if price hike was not withdrawn. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons At least four people, including two children, died and one person was critically injured in a stabbing incident in Far Rockaway region of New York City on Sunday, police said. Two police officers were injured responding to the home, where a fire also broke out, and the suspect is dead, reported CNN. Police said the deceased persons were identified as an 11-year-old girl, 12-year-old boy, 44-year-old woman and man in his 30s. They are believed to be members of the same family. Police received a 911 call shortly after 5 a.m. from a young female caller, who said her cousin was killing her family members, New York City Police Department Chief Jeffrey Maddrey was quoted as saying by CNN. The officers responded to a residential block in Queens, where they pulled into a driveway and saw a man walking out with luggage, the police chief was quoted as saying by the American news channel. The man drew a kitchen steak knife on the officers, stabbing one in the neck and chest, and striking the other in the head, the chief added. One of the officers drew his weapon and fired, killing the suspect, Maddrey said. Joseph Kenny, NYPD Chief of Detectives was quoted as saying by CNN that the suspect was identified as a 38-year-old Bronx resident. Far Rockaway region is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of the Rockaway peninsula in the New York City borough of Queens. Happy Indian Navy Day 2023: India observes its 52nd Navy Day on December 4, 2023. Every year, December 4 marks a day to pay tribute to the Indian Navy's achievements and the sacrifices made by its personnel. On December 4, Indian Navy Day is celebrated across the country. On this day in 1971, the Indian Navy successfully executed Operation Trident, an attack on Pakistani Karachi Naval Headquarters. The motto of the Indian Navy is Sham No Varunah, which means May the lord of the water (Varuna) be auspicious to us. On the occasion of Navy Day, here are some of the best Happy Navy Day wishes, messages, quotes, images, and Navy Day 2023 status which you can share on social media and salute to the Guardians Of The Seas for their selfless commitment and service towards the Navy and the nation. Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas | Shutterstock Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes 1. On the occasion of Indian Navy Day, let us thank the Indian Navy to their dedication and protection. Happy Indian Navy Day 2023! 2. On Indian Navy Day, let us salute all the heroes who brought us freedom and all the heroes who are protecting it.. Happy Indian Navy Day. 3. A country can be free if it has men guarding it with love for the nation in their hearts. Best wishes on Indian Navy Day. 4. Wishing you a very Happy Indian Navy Day. We are really fortunate to have such a strongly motivated and dedicated navy guarding our waters all the time. 5. Salaam hai humari Indian Navy ko jo humari sarhad ki Raksha uske samundar ko surakshit karke karti hai. Happy Indian Navy Day. 6. Freedom in mind and words. Pride in our hearts. Memories in our souls. Lets salute the nation on Navy Day! 7. The Indian Navy is our pride, our strength, our shield. On this Indian Navy Day, we salute their unwavering commitment to protecting our nation's maritime heritage and ensuring our future. Jai Hind! 8. On Indian Navy Day, let us thank the Indian Navy for their commitment and assurance. 9. It is the love for the nation and people of the nation that inspires the Indian Navy to be such a strong and inspiring force. Happy Indian Navy Day dear Husband. Indian Navy Day Wishes in English 1. We are a big nation, stretching from sea to land and with a navy that is so strong. Happy Navy Day! 2. Freedom in mind & words, Pride in our hearts, Memories in our souls, Let's salute the nation on Navy Day! 3. The Indian Navy is a beacon of hope, a testament to our nation's unwavering spirit. On this Indian Navy Day, we salute their bravery and dedication to ensuring our safety. 4. The Indian Navy is a family of heroes, united by their love for our nation and their unwavering commitment to serving its people. Happy Indian Navy Day to our ocean warriors! 5. The Indian Navy is a force for good, a symbol of our nation's compassion and humanity. On this Indian Navy Day, we salute their unwavering commitment to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas | Shutterstock Happy Navy Day Messages 2023 1. Let us celebrate Indian Navy Day by saluting all the women and men in the Navy for their bravery, dedication and patriotism. 2. It is the love for the nation and people of the nation that inspires the Indian Navy to be such a strong and inspiring force. Happy Indian Navy Day. 3. Indian Navy Day dependably helps us to remember all our saints who remain steadfast to protect us. Happy Indian Navy Day 2023! 4. On the occasion of Navy Day, we extend our warm wishes to our navy who is always there to protect us and our country from enemies. Happy Indian Navy Day! 5. Indian Navy Day always reminds us of all our heroes who stand strong to keep us safe. Navy Day ki Hardik Shubhkamnaye! 6. Let us celebrate Indian Navy Day by saluting all the navy men for their bravery, dedication and patriotism. Happy Indian Navy Day. 7. On the occasion of Indian Navy Day, let us thank the Indian Navy to their dedication and protection. 8. On Indian Navy Day, let us salute all the heroes who brought us freedom and all the heroes who are protecting it.. Happy Indian Navy Day. 9. Let us take inspiration from our navy men to love our country and stand for it.. Best wishes on Indian Navy Day. Navy Day WhatsApp Status 2023 1. They are pleased to serve the country, its kin, its coasts and all frontiers. Wishing all the naval personnel serving the country with pride, Happy Navy Day! 2. From the ocean to the sand, I adore this land! I salute the men in white. Happy Indian Navy Day. 3. We are safe because we have our Navy protecting us every moment. Salute to our Navy and best wishes on Indian Navy Day. 4. A country can be free if it has heroes guarding it with love for the nation in their hearts. Best wishes on Indian Navy Day. 5. The Navy is considerably more than a job; much more than administration to country. It is a lifestyle. It gets in your blood. 6. To the fearless men and women of the Indian Navy, we salute your unwavering courage and commitment to safeguarding our nation's maritime borders. Happy Indian Navy Day! 7. Our oceans are our lifeline, and the Indian Navy stands as the guardians of these vast expanses. Thank you for your unwavering vigilance and dedication to protecting our maritime heritage. Happy Indian Navy Day! Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas | Shutterstock Navy Day Greetings 2023 1. With every wave you conquer and every storm you weather, the Indian Navy inspires us with its unwavering spirit. Happy Indian Navy Day to the bravest of the brave! 2. The Indian Navy is a symbol of our nation's strength and resilience. On this special day, we salute the men and women who stand guard, ensuring our safety and security. Happy Indian Navy Day! 3. From the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky, the Indian Navy protects our nation with unwavering resolve. Happy Indian Navy Day to the sentinels of our seas! 4. The Indian Navy is a force to be reckoned with, a symbol of our nation's pride and glory. On this Indian Navy Day, we celebrate their unwavering commitment to protecting our shores. 5. May the Indian Navy Day 2023 be a reflection of the unwavering commitment of our naval forces, ensuring a secure and peaceful maritime environment for our country. 6. Sending heartfelt wishes to the Indian Navy for their selfless service, may they continue to be the guardians of our seas, upholding the ideals of duty and discipline. 7. On this special day, may the Indian Navy's capabilities expand, and its reach strengthen, fostering a sense of security and pride among all citizens. 9. Wishing the Indian Navy continued success in fostering international cooperation, maintaining peace, and contributing to humanitarian efforts across the seas. 10. May the blue waters that surround our nation always be guarded by the vigilant eyes and steadfast resolve of the Indian Navy. Happy Navy Day 2023! Happy Indian Navy Day 2023 Quotes 1. "The Navy is much more than a job; much more than service to the country. It is a way of life. It gets in your blood." - Albert F Pratt 2. "A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace." - Theodore Roosevelt 3. The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for ones country." - George S. Patton Jr. 4. The world is a navy in an empty ocean." - Dejan Stojanovic 5. Those who do not appreciate the soldiers and instead pompously talk about peace, should try to live a single day without the soldiers. - Abhijit Naskar 6. "War is not just the shower of bullets and bombs from both sides, it is also the shower of blood and bones on both sides. - Amit Kalantri 7. "A country can be free if it has heroes guarding it with love for the nation in their hearts." - Unknown 8. "The Navy is much more than a job; much more than service to country. It is a lifestyle. It gets in your blood." - Admiral James L. Holloway III 9. "The Navy is not just a job, it's a way of life." - Unknown 10. "The Navy is a force for good in the world." - Unknown 11. "The Navy is a family." - Unknown 12. "The Navy is a team." - Unknown 13. "The Navy is a way of life." - Unknown 14. "The Navy is a force to be reckoned with." - Unknown 15. "The Navy is a beacon of hope." - Unknown 16. "The Navy is our pride, our strength, our shield." - Unknown Indian Navy Day 2023: Slogans 1. "Indian Navy: Guardians of the Seas, Defenders of the Nation." "2. Indian Navy: Unwavering Vigilance, Unwavering Courage." 3. "Indian Navy: Protecting Our Shores, Securing Our Future." 4. "Indian Navy: Pride of India, Strength of the Ocean." 5. "Indian Navy: Committed to Excellence, Dedicated to Service." 6. "Indian Navy: Forging a Safe Passage, Ensuring a Secure Nation." 7. "Indian Navy: Valour in the Depths, Valor on the Surface." 8. "Indian Navy: From the Shores to the Skies, Protecting Our Nation." 9. "Indian Navy: A Force for Peace, A Beacon of Hope." 10. "Indian Navy: Saluting Our Heroes, Celebrating Our Navy Day." 11. "They are real heroes. They are the Indian Navy." 12. "Indian Navy defines patriotism for all of us."Guardians of the Waves, Defenders of Peace - Indian Navy Pride!" 13. "Mighty Ships, Fearless Hearts - Celebrating Indian Navy Day!" 14. "Sailing Strong, Sailing Proud - Indian Navy, We Shout Out Loud!" 15. "Beneath the Waves, Above the Clouds - Indian Navy, We Stand Proud!" 16. "From Sea to Shore, We're Ready for More - Happy Indian Navy Day!" 17. "Anchored in Valor, Sailing with Pride - Salute to the Indian Navy's Glorious Stride!" 18. "Bravery in Every Wave, Courage that's Brave - Indian Navy, Nation's Shield We Crave!" 19. "Ocean's Guardians, Our Nation's Pride - Indian Navy, Standing Tall Worldwide!" 20. "Harbor of Heroes, Waves of Bravery - Indian Navy, Guiding Our Destiny!" 21. "With Every Sail, We Unveil - Indian Navy, A Force Beyond the Pale!" 22. Till the time Indian Navy is guarding our waters, we are safe." 23. "Always pack your bags ready to move." 24. "Let us thank Indian Navy for promising us protection from our enemies." 26. "Indian Navy defines patriotism for all of us." 27. "They protect our water; they protect our country. Salute to Indian Navy." 28. "On Indian Navy Day, we salute our heroes." 29. Let us celebrate with great pride the occasion of Indian Navy Day. 23. Till the time Indian Navy is guarding our waters, we are safe. 24. They are the real heroes. They are Indian Navy. Happy Indian Navy Day 2023 Cards And Images with Text #1 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas #2 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas #3 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas #4 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas #5 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas #6 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas #7 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas #8 Indian Navy Day 2023: Best Wishes, Images, Messages And Navy Day Quotes To Salute Guardians Of The Seas Indian Navy Day 2023: FAQs Q: Why is Indian Navy Day important? Indian Navy Day is important because it recognizes the vital role of the Indian Navy in protecting India's maritime borders. The Navy plays a crucial role in defending the country against threats from the sea, such as piracy and terrorism. The Navy also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in times of crisis. Q: What are some of the Indian Navy's most notable achievements? The Indian Navy has a long and proud history of service to India. Some of its most notable achievements include: Operation Trident: The attack on Karachi Harbor during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a decisive victory for India and helped to secure the country's eastern border. Operation Cactus: The Indian Navy's evacuation of Indian citizens from Maldives in 1988 was a successful operation that saved the lives of over 1,700 people. Operation Rahat: The Indian Navy's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the aftermath of the tsunami in 2004 were a major success. Q: When was the Indian Navy established? The Indian Navy traces its origins to the Royal Indian Marine, established by the British East India Company in 1767. Following India's independence in 1947, the Royal Indian Navy was split into the Indian Navy and Pakistan Navy. Q: What is the organizational structure of the Indian Navy? The Indian Navy is headed by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), who is a four-star admiral. The Navy is divided into three operational commands: Western Naval Command: Responsible for the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean region. Southern Naval Command: Responsible for the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean region. Eastern Naval Command: Responsible for the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea region. Each command is further divided into naval areas and subareas. Q: How can I join the Indian Navy? The Indian Navy offers various career opportunities for both officers and sailors. Eligibility criteria, application procedures, and exam patterns vary depending on the specific entry scheme. Detailed information is available on the official Indian Navy website. Q: What is the Indian Navy's motto? The Indian Navy's motto is "Yuddhe Seva" (Service in Battle). Q: What is the Indian Navy's anthem? The Indian Navy's anthem is "Bharat Ke Veer" (The Brave of India). Q: Who is the current Chief of the Naval Staff? The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral R. Hari Kumar. Q: What are the Indian Navy's major bases? The Indian Navy has three major naval bases: INS Kochi, INS Mumbai, and INS Visakhapatnam. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Indian Navy Day Wishes and Quotes: Indian Navy Day is among the most important events observed annually on December 4th with great patriotism and grand celebrations across the country. The special day is celebrated to commemorate the launch of 'Operation Trident' against Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak War and to pay tribute to the Indian Navy's achievements and the sacrifices made by its personnel. According to various reports, during Operation Trident Indian Navy introduced the Vidyut-class missile boats, which include INS Veer, INS Nirghat, and INS Nipat, along with two anti-submarine corvettes, INS Kiltan and INS Katchall. These vessels are under the leadership of Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, who commands the 25th missile boat squadron. all three boats played a pivotal role in the attack and successfully sank four Pakistani Navy ships, including the PNS Khaibar and ravaged the Karachi harbour fuel fields. In the war over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel were killed. Indian Navy Day 2023 image | Photo: Freepik In honor of the achievements of the Indian Navy, the nation comes together to observe Indian Navy Day. It's a time when people exchange greetings, expressing joy for the Navy's accomplishments. As the celebration of Indian Navy Day 2023 is just around the corner, share Happy Navy Day wishes, messages, quotes, WhatsApp statuses, and images on Whatsapp to honour and appreciate the brave sailors of our country who work tirelessly day and night to protect us. So, here are the best collections of unique wishes, messages, quotes, images, Whatsapp statuses, and images that you can share with your loved ones. Happy Indian Navy Day Quotes, Wishes, Status, Images, And Messages To Appreciate Indian Navy Soldiers Explore heartfelt Indian Navy Day wishes, quotes, and messages to honour and appreciate the Indian Navy personnel. Celebrate the essence of Patriotism with sincere and uplifting words that convey gratitude and admiration on this meaningful occasion. Heartfelt Indian Navy Day Wishes To Share on Whatsapp On Indian Navy Day 2023, may our naval forces continue to stand as a symbol of strength, valor, and commitment to safeguarding our nation's maritime interests. Wishing the Indian Navy abundant success in all its endeavors, may the waves of triumph keep propelling our sailors towards new heights of glory. May the indomitable spirit of the Indian Navy inspire and instill pride in every citizen, as we celebrate the achievements and sacrifices made for the security of our seas. On this Navy Day, may the fleet of the Indian Navy sail with unwavering determination, ensuring the safety and sovereignty of our coastal waters. Wishing the men and women of the Indian Navy courage and resilience, as they continue to serve with honor and dedication to protect our nation from any maritime threats. May the Indian Navy Day 2023 be a reflection of the unwavering commitment of our naval forces, ensuring a secure and peaceful maritime environment for our country. Sending heartfelt wishes to the Indian Navy for their selfless service, may they continue to be the guardians of our seas, upholding the ideals of duty and discipline. On this special day, may the Indian Navy's capabilities expand, and its reach strengthen, fostering a sense of security and pride among all citizens. Wishing the Indian Navy continued success in fostering international cooperation, maintaining peace, and contributing to humanitarian efforts across the seas. May the blue waters that surround our nation always be guarded by the vigilant eyes and steadfast resolve of the Indian Navy. Happy Navy Day 2023! Inspirational Indian Navy Day Messages To Share On Whatsapp Happy Indian Navy Day 2023! Saluting the bravery, dedication, and indomitable spirit of our naval forces. Your commitment to protecting our maritime boundaries is truly commendable. On this Indian Navy Day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the men and women in white for their unwavering service to the nation. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. Thank you for keeping our seas safe. Warm wishes to the Indian Navy on Navy Day 2023. Your professionalism and valor in the face of challenges make us proud. May you continue to sail towards new horizons of success. Happy Navy Day! Today, we honor the silent guardians of our shores. Your vigilance and courage ensure the safety and security of our nation. Salute to the Indian Navy! On Indian Navy Day 2023, we express our deepest appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice of our naval personnel. Your commitment to duty is an inspiration to us all. Wishing the Indian Navy a glorious Navy Day! May the coming year bring more achievements, triumphs, and moments of pride as you protect our maritime interests with valor and honor. Happy Navy Day to the fearless warriors of the sea! Your selfless service and unwavering commitment contribute immensely to the defense and glory of our nation. Jai Hind! As we celebrate Indian Navy Day, let's remember and honor the heroes who have safeguarded our waters. May the spirit of courage and patriotism continue to guide our naval forces. Warmest wishes to the Indian Navy on Navy Day 2023. Your dedication to duty, resilience, and sacrifices are a source of inspiration for every citizen. Thank you for keeping our seas secure. On this special day, we salute the bravery and professionalism of the Indian Navy. Happy Navy Day 2023! May you continue to be the pride of our nation, upholding the highest standards of excellence. Inspirational Quotes dedicated to Indian Navy On Indian Navy Day 2023 A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace. President Theodore Roosevelt "A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace." - Theodore Roosevelt Dont give up the ship! James Lawerence "The Navy is much more than a job; much more than service to the country. It is a way of life. It gets in your blood." - Albert F Pratt Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition! Howell Maurice Forgy The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for ones country." - George S. Patton Jr. "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." - G.K. Chesterton Pain was their body's way of telling them that they'd pushed themselves to their limits -- which was exactly where they were supposed to be. - Richard Marcinko "The Navy has both a tradition and a futureand we look with pride and confidence in both directions." Admiral George Anderson The world is a navy in an empty ocean." - Dejan Stojanovic "A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." - Grace Hopper "War is not just the shower of bullets and bombs from both sides, it is also the shower of blood and bones on both sides. - Amit Kalantri "Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more." - Louis L'Amour Those who do not appreciate the soldiers and instead pompously talk about peace, should try to live a single day without the soldiers. - Abhijit Naskar "In the Navy, it's not just a job; it's an adventure." - Unknown To the men, families, and the loss of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines OIFII: You are the fabric of the red, white, and blue! You are in my heart forever. - Donnelly Wilkes "I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'" - John F. Kennedy In life, one can choose to go up, down, or standstill. I choose to move up. - Linda Jo Heffner "Ready to lead, ready to follow, never quit." - U.S. Navy SEALs "For in this modern world, the instruments of warfare are not solely for waging war. Far more importantly, they are the means for controlling peace." - Admiral Arleigh Burke "The Navy is a master plan designed by wise men, making the best use of every means to achieve their end." - Unknown "A ship is always referred to as 'she' because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder." - Chester W. Nimitz "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." - George Washington "The Navy's a very challenging, demanding place, but there's no place I would rather be." - Unknown "Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them." - Franklin D. Roosevelt "Sweat more in training, bleed less in war." - Unknown "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." - Jimmy Dean "The Navy is not just a job; it's an adventure, and it's a way of life." - Unknown "It is not the size of the ship, but the size of the heart that makes a Sailor." - Unknown Indian Navy Day Slogans Guardians of the Seas, Defenders of the Nation Indian Navy Pride! Sailing with Valor, Serving with Honor Indian Navy, Forever Stronger! On Navy Day, Salute the Bravery, Respect the Sacrifice Jai Hind! From Shore to Horizon, Indian Navy's Commitment Shines On! Navy Day Cheers, Anchors Aweigh Saluting the Navy Blue Every Day! Sea Warriors Unite, For a Nation's Safety Day and Night! With Waves of Courage, We Sail Beyond Indian Navy, Forever Bonded and Fond! In Oceans Deep and Beyond the Blue, Indian Navy Stands True! Strength in Silence, Might in Action Indian Navy, Our Shield of Protection! Navy Day Greetings, Waves of Pride Saluting the Heroes Who Brave the Tide! On Indian Navy Day 2023, saluting the guardians of our seas the Indian Navy! #NavyDay #ProudIndian Happy Navy Day! Today, let's honor the brave hearts who secure our maritime boundaries with courage and commitment. #IndianNavy #NavyDay2023 Wishing the Indian Navy a day filled with pride, success, and gratitude. Your sacrifices and valor do not go unnoticed. #NavyDay #SaluteToHeroes As we celebrate Indian Navy Day, let's express our gratitude to the silent warriors who safeguard our shores. Salute to the real-life heroes! #IndianNavyDay #JaiHind Happy Navy Day 2023! May the Indian Navy continue to sail towards new horizons of success and glory. #NavyDay #IndianNavy On this special occasion, let's salute the men and women in white who serve our nation with dedication and honor. Happy Indian Navy Day! #NavyDay2023 #ProudIndian Warm wishes to the Indian Navy on Navy Day! Your unwavering commitment to duty inspires us all. Proud to be a part of a nation protected by such valiant sailors. #IndianNavyDay #Salute Happy Navy Day to the fearless warriors of the sea! Your sacrifices ensure the safety and security of our nation. Jai Hind! #NavyDay2023 #IndianNavy Celebrating Indian Navy Day with pride and gratitude for the heroes who guard our maritime boundaries. Salute to the strength and valor of the Indian Navy! #NavyDay #ProudIndian On this Navy Day, let's express our admiration for the Indian Navy the epitome of courage, discipline, and dedication. Proud to be a part of a nation protected by such formidable forces. #IndianNavyDay #SaluteToHeroes Happy Indian Navy Day Instagram Captions Sailing into pride and honor on Indian Navy Day 2023. Salute to the guardians of our maritime frontiers. #NavyDay #IndianNavy In the sea of challenges, the Indian Navy sails with courage and commitment. Happy Navy Day 2023! #BraveryAtSea #IndianNavy Celebrating the spirit of valor and dedication on Indian Navy Day. Grateful for the selfless service of our naval forces. #NavyDay2023 #ProudIndian Anchored in pride, soaring in glory. Happy Navy Day to the real-life heroes of the Indian Navy. #IndianNavyDay #Salute Wishing the Indian Navy a day filled with triumphs and achievements. Your resilience is our nation's strength. #NavyDay #IndianNavy On this Navy Day, let's salute the men and women who navigate the challenges of the sea with courage and determination. #NavyDay2023 #ProudIndian Blue waters, white uniforms, and unwavering determination. Celebrating the strength of the Indian Navy on Navy Day 2023. #IndianNavyDay #Salute Happy Navy Day! Saluting the guardians of our oceans who ensure the safety and sovereignty of our nation. Jai Hind! #NavyDay #IndianNavy As we honor Indian Navy Day, let's express gratitude to those who serve with honor and dedication. Proud to be part of a nation protected by such valor. #ProudIndian #NavyDay2023 Braving the waves, protecting the shores. Happy Indian Navy Day to the brave hearts who stand guard with pride and purpose. #IndianNavyDay #SaluteToHeroes Happy Indian Navy Day wishes in Hindi Navy Day ki aapko hardik shubhkamnayein! Salute to the guardians of our seas. Jai Hind! Navy Day par, desh ka har dil ek saath hai. Indian Navy, aap hamesha humare dil mein honge. Happy Navy Day! Aapki himmat, aapki tyag, humare desh ka garv hai. Navy Day ki dher saari badhaiyan! Indian Navy ke veer jawano ko Navy Day par dil se salaam. Aapke balidan ko salaam hai! Navy Day aapko aur aapke parivaar ko mubarak ho. Aapki seva, desh ke liye anmol hai. Desh ki raksha mein aapki bhumika anmol hai. Navy Day par aapko naman! Navy Day par, humara abhinandan aapke saath hai. Aap hain toh hum surakshit hain. Shat shat naman! Aapki bahaduri se hi hamara desh aaj surakshit hai. Navy Day ki bahut saari shubh kamnayein! Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp #1. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #2. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #3. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #4. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #5. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #6. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #7. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #8. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #9. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik #10. Happy Indian Navy Day Poster, Images and Cards To Share on Whatsapp | Photo: Freepik FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about Indian Navy Day: Q. What is Indian Navy Day, and why is it celebrated? Indian Navy Day is celebrated on December 4th each year to commemorate the success of Operation Trident during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. It honors the achievements and contributions of the Indian Navy in safeguarding the country's maritime borders. Q. What is Operation Trident, and why is it significant? Operation Trident was a naval operation conducted by the Indian Navy on the night of December 4-5, 1971, during the Indo-Pak War. It involved a successful pre-emptive strike on the Karachi harbor, crippling the Pakistani naval capabilities. This operation is significant as it showcased the Indian Navy's strategic prowess. Q. How did the Indian Navy contribute to the 1971 Indo-Pak War? The Indian Navy played a crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Pak War by enforcing a naval blockade on Pakistan and conducting successful operations like Trident and Python. These actions contributed significantly to India's victory in the war. Q. What is the significance of Navy Day for the Indian Navy? Navy Day holds historical and national significance for the Indian Navy. It is an occasion to honor the dedication, sacrifices, and achievements of the naval personnel. The day also emphasizes the role of the navy in ensuring national security and protecting maritime interests. Q. How is Navy Day celebrated in India? Navy Day is celebrated with various events and activities, including a grand parade, naval displays, air shows, and ceremonies. The main celebration takes place in Mumbai, where the Western Naval Command is headquartered. Q. What message does Navy Day convey to the citizens? Navy Day conveys a message of unity, patriotism, and gratitude towards the men and women serving in the Indian Navy. It highlights the naval forces' role in maintaining peace, security, and readiness to face modern challenges. Q. Are there any specific achievements or operations showcased during Navy Day celebrations? Navy Day celebrations often include showcasing the technological advancements and capabilities of the Indian Navy. It may also highlight specific achievements, operations, or missions conducted by the Navy in the past year. Q. How does Navy Day contribute to national pride and awareness? Navy Day contributes to national pride by recognizing and celebrating the Indian Navy's role in safeguarding the nation. It also raises awareness about the importance of maritime security, the navy's preparedness, and the need for a strong defense force. Q. where Indian Navy Day be celebrated in 2023? This year Indian Navy Day will be celebrated in Sindhudurg Fort which was built by Maratha Ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1660. The event will be hosted by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff. The event will witness the participation of 20 warships along with 40 aircraft including MiG 29K and LCA Navy. Q. Can civilians attend Navy Day celebrations, and how can they participate? Yes, civilians can attend Navy Day celebrations, especially public events like parades and air shows. Information about specific events and participation details is usually shared through official announcements, and interested individuals can check with local authorities or naval establishments for more details. This was all about the interesting and intriguing events that will be celebrated in December! For more such informative content, keep following Indiatimes Events. The Federal Government has set aside N13,805,814,220 for the maintenance of former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Chiefs of State, Chiefs of General Staff, retired Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries, and retired Heads of Government Agencies and Parastatals in the fiscal year 2024. Information Nigeria reports that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari are among those who will benefit, as well as ex-Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Ex-military heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon, General Abdusalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, and a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.), are to gain from the windfall. In addition, N1 trillion has been set aside for public service wage adjustments for government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) including arrears of promotion and salary increases, as well as payment of severance benefits and minimum wage-related adjustments. The entitlements of past Presidents/leaders of states and Vice Presidents /Chiefs of General Staff will cost N2.3 billion, while retired Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries, and professors will cost N10.5 billion. Severance payments to retiring heads of government agencies and parastatals are estimated to cost N1 billion. READ ALSO: FGs Student Loan Orchestrated To Enrich Private University Owners, Should Be Made Grant ASUU Other fundings include N65 billion for the Presidential Amnesty Programme to reintegrate transformed ex-militants, N1 billion for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Energy, and N108 billion for unspecified special projects. The government is also proposing a sum of N40 billion to offset electricity arrears due by all MDAs to power distribution firms. Other allocations include N65bn for the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the reintegration of transformed ex-militants; N1 billion for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Energy; and N108 billion for unnamed special projects. The government is also proposing the sum of N40 billion to offset electricity debts owed power distribution companies by all MDAs. The item listed as Settlement of MDAs electricity debts, was contained in the sectoral allocation details released by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Solomon Adeola, According to Adeola, the details of the budget have been released to allay the fears of lawmakers and Nigerians. He noted that the details had been circulated to allow lawmakers to study and see the allocations to various sectors. James Lalu, the executive secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), says 35.1 million Nigerians are currently living with disabilities. He made this known during a one-day programme for the issuance of permanent certificates to persons with disabilities in the southeast, held in Owerri on Friday. The NCPWD boss, represented by the commissions acting director, compliance and enforcement, Ikem Uchegbulam, said that the figure is based on a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). He explained that the programme was aimed at sensitising persons with disabilities about the benefits of certification, in line with Section 28 of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Act. READ MORE: Well Sue Tinubu Over Non-Inclusion In Cabinet Persons With Disabilities He added that while temporary disability certificates could be issued by medical doctors in the event that a person happens to be unable to make use of a body part for some time, permanent disability certificates are issued by the NCPWD. According to him, only persons with valid disability certificates can obtain and claim remedies under the Act, thus the need for all Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to obtain certificates. Mr Lalu also said that in addition to acting as means of identification, the Act has made the certificate legal requirement for obtaining remedy from the law court, hence the need for possession of the certificate. A recent WHO report estimates that about 35.1 million persons have disabilities in Nigeria, so the commission is doing its best to ensure that they have access to all their rights as enshrined in the constitution. The Imo commissioner for women affairs and vulnerable groups, Nkechi Ugwu, thanked the commission for its efforts toward alleviating the plight of PWDs. Mr Ugwu, who was represented by the ministrys director of administration and finance, Ozioma Nwigwe, said the Imo government would continue to champion the cause of persons living with disabilities in the state. The event was attended by clusters of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, including the visually impaired, deaf and the dump. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has described the student loan set up by the Federal Government as one designed to enrich a few individuals who own private universities in the country. Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUUs National President of ASUU, who was represented by his Deputy, Christopher Piwuna, stated this while speaking to journalists in Bauchi on the sidelines of the award of scholarship to undergraduate students in Bauchi Zone of the union held at the ATBU, Yelwa Campus, on Saturday. According to him the government was sincere in its intentions. While maintaining that the proposed student loan should be made a grant, he said, Right from the start, we believe that the Nigerian state is capable of funding education in Nigeria. All these issues that have led to the introduction of the loan, the issues of charges in our universities, are as a result of poor funding. So, this particular effort by the government is supposed to meet that funding gap in the universities. READ ALSO: Two Years And No Justice Relative Of Late Sylvester Oromoni Speaks We believe that with discipline, the Nigerian state can fund education adequately. From recent happenings in the country, where, for instance, one member of the National Assembly can take just a part of his allowances would include a N160 million, is a clear sign that if the Nigerian state is serious, it can fund education. The leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, I think, tried to demonstrate that, when his administration agreed to release N200 billion in 2013 as part of the NEEDS Assessment and till this day, 10 years after the release of that money, we still see what that money is doing in this system. Just imagine if the government takes this funding seriously. So, we are against the student loan as a form of funding education, we think the loan will go back into the cofers of private individuals who are in government today who own private universities. If the government is serious, they should make grants to institutions and students. The Head of Service Office in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, has been gutted by fire on Saturday, which affected Block C in the complex. Confirming the incident in a statement made available by the the Director of Communications, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Muhammed Ahmed, explained that the fire was a result of an explosion from the electrical utility room situated at the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Goals Development. He said: At about 2.30 pm. today, there was a fire incident at the Block C of the Federal Secretariat, Phase II, Abuja. READ MORE: Five Rooms Destroyed As Fire Guts Ikeja Duplex (Video) The fire was triggered by an explosion from the Electrical Utility Room on the Third Floor of Block C being used as a Solar and Inverter Room by the present occupant, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals. The incident, which was brought under control by the prompt response of personnel from the Federal, as well as the FCT Fire Services at about 5 p.m., affected the Utility Rooms on the second to the eighth floors of the building. The Permanent Secretaries, Common Services Office-OHCSF, Mrs. Lydia Jafiya, and Special Duties Office, Faruk Yabo, and Directors from the affected MDAs were on the ground, while the operation lasted. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has knocked the Member representing Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Yusuf Galambi, for making a careless and unpatriotic comment about the 2024 budget presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recall that President Tinubu had on Wednesday, presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N27.5 trillion, representing the 2024 budget estimates, to the joint session of the National Assembly. Galambi of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had accused Tinubu of presenting empty boxes, suggesting that, the President was not ready for budget defence but only came out to deceive the populace. However, while answering questions from newsmen at the National Assembly on Saturday, the spokesperson ascribed such comments from his colleague to post-election petition tribunals fatigue and lack of diligent attention during plenary. He said: The House of Representatives has passed that stage long ago. READ ALSO: There Was No Breakdown, Presentation Was Deceitful NNPP lawmaker Alleges Tinubu Submitted Budget With No Document The 10th National Assembly of the House of Representatives doesnt entertain frivolities from the executive or members of the public. Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, hinted that, the Committee on Appropriation has long ago distributed the details of the budget proposal to the respective Committees. He added that the relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would be invited as from Monday, to give justification for the estimates (budget defence), as soon as possible. Agbese also assured that, Mr. Speaker in his usual style, will monitor the activities of all the Committees during the period of scrutiny and Nigerians can be rest assured of the best from the Peoples House. Describing the House of Representatives under Speaker Tajudeen Abass as one of the most responsible Parliaments in the world, Agbese said, the statement by Rep. Galambi was not only careless, but un-parliamentary and unfortunate. In fact, I blame lack of concentration, absenteeism and post-election petition trauma for such a careless comment by the Honourable Member from Jigawa State. And to say the least, such an isolated comment shouldnt have been reported by a patriotic press anywhere in the world, Agbese added. The Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday, issued warning to Nigerians against signing guarantors forms for people they dont know. Adejobi, while responding to a comment via his X handle, about some DPOs who refused to stand as guarantors for youths that applied to join the police academy, argued that it is not compulsory for anyone to stand as guarantor or referee to someone they do not know or trust. Adejobi said: Its not compulsory for anyone to sign for you as a referee or guarantor. You must look for someone who knows you and can vouch for you to be your guarantor. READ MORE: Policemen Collecting N100 On Roadsll Soon Meet Their Waterloo Adejobi I pity many who sign as guarantors for those they know nothing about. Its dangerous and could be used against them in the future. You dont stand as a guarantor for someone you dont know. So, if the DPOs and others are not ready to sign for you, its not an offence. You need to look for those who know you. Thanks. In a shocking incident, a 20-year-old nursing student in Chennai was killed by her boyfriend, who then uploaded the photo of her body as his WhatsApp status. The victim, Fousiya, was a resident of Kollam in Kerala and student at Balaji Medical College at Chrompet in Chennai, India. Foudsiya was found dead in a hotel room on Friday. Police have also arrested Aashiq, the victims boyfriend, in connection with the murder. Aashiq and Fousiya, according to the Police, hail from the same area in Kerala and were in a relationship for five years. Police also learned that Aashiq was previously arrested and jailed under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act, after he married Fousiya, who became pregnant while she was a minor. Fousiya reportedly gave birth to a child, which was then given up for adoption to an orphanage in Mysore. READ ALSO: Three Oyo Monarchs Die In Auto Crash, Three Other Passengers Hospitalised After he was released from jail, Aashiq renewed his relationship with Fousiya, who had moved to Chennai to study. The duo would stay together in hotels whenever Aashiq came to Chennai to meet her. Earlier this week, Aashiq travelled to Chennai to meet Fousiya, of which they stayed in a hotel for 2-3 days. According to the police, on Friday, Fousiya fought with Aashiq after seeing his photos and chats with another girl on his phone. The argument escalated, and Aashiq strangled Fousiya to death with a T-shirt before fleeing the hotel. The crime came to light after Aashiq uploaded a photo of Fousiyas body as his WhatsApp status, with a caption that implied that it was the punishment from his court for breaking the five-year-long relationship. The victims friends, who saw the WhatsApp status, immediately informed the police and Aashiq, who had fled the hotel, was arrested within hours. Hoodlums, suspected to be armed robbers have again attacked students of the Gateway Polytechnic, Sapaade, Ogun State. During the operation, one was killed, while nine others including a landlord sustained injuries in Ode Remo in the early hours of Saturday. The attack targeted students staying at the off-campus hostels of Sapaade, in Ode, Ipara, and Isara. Information Nigeria reports that the incident comes four days after the Ogun State Police Command claimed to have arrested three armed robbers involved in the last robbery operation and raping of students by the hoodlums. According to a Daily Trust source, the gun-wielding hoodlums invaded the students hostel around 3 am and unleashed terror on them, adding that the attack which took place in the Larufi area of Ode. It was gathered that the robbers used heavy stones to break some windows to force their way into the hostels. I heard a gunshot around 3 am and when I woke up this morning, I was told they shot nine students and one landlord. They were taken to the hospital, but one died. They stole a car to escape, one of the students said. A senior lecturer at the Polytechnic who confirmed the attack said, six were shot of which one died. According to the story I heard, the guy that was shot (dead) is not our student, he graduated last session hopefully expecting to come back for his HND next session, the lecturer said. Describing the incessant attacks on students as unfortunate, he noted that the government had deviated from the agreement between the State and citizens. READ ALSO: Fire Guts Head Of Service Office In Abuja It is quite unfortunate that the government has deviated from the agreement between the State and citizens. Protection of lives and property are nothing to write home about in this country where our environment is not left out, the lecturer added. Meanwhile, the student union of the polytechnic has passed a vote of no confidence in Governor Dapo Abiodun over the security challenges in the students communities. A statement signed by Olatunji Idowu Alexander, President of the Students Union read: Sequel to the incessant robbery attack on the student of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade, the Students Union and students leaders of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade are exhausted with what we described as unattainable promises, miscalculated and undue priorities on insecurity by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun and the security apparatus within the axis of Ipara, Ode, and Isara. As the student union body, we expect that the institution which is just a few minutes drive to the governors personal residence should be dear to the heart of the governor in providing adequate security for the environment. The students have lost confidence in the deliverables of the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun as it concerns students safety, they strongly condemn the absolute negligence and drastically too slow pace of responsibilities towards these concerns. The poor security systems, that has resulted in cases of rape, theft, killing of students, robbery, assault and destruction of properties on campus and around. The learning conditions for students on the campus have become unbearable. The institutions Head of Public Relations, Adedayo Folorunsho, declined comment on the attack. She, however, said the security agencies should be allowed to do their job. Following the students protest last Tuesday, the management shut the institution for three days to restore normalcy. Three traditional leaders from Oyo States Oriire Local Government Area have been officially declared dead, following an auto crash that occurred in the state on Friday. Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online that the affected monarchs lost their lives in a road accident involving Benz E230 with number plate OLODOGBO and a commercial Scania Truck with registration number 301 XF at Aje Iye in the local government area. Further investigation revealed that two of the affected monarchs passed away immediately, and the third, who had been rushed to the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, died a few hours later. One of the eyewitnesses, Olawoyin Adekunle, said, Six passengers were involved in the crash, but the three survivors are undergoing treatment at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. The affected passengers were going for a social function at the nearby community when the accident occurred. The affected monarchs are Olodogbo of Odogbo, Onibowula of Bowula and Alayetoro of Ayetoro in Oriire Local Government. READ MORE: Ethiopian Airlines Bans Ghana-Must-Go Bags When contacted, the state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Joshua Adekanye, confirmed the incident and said, It was a head on collision involving a private and commercial vehicles on Ogbomoso-Oyo expressway. The survivors are undergoing treatment at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital while the corpses of the victims have been deposited at the morgue of the same hospital. The Labour Party presidential candidate in the last general elections, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerian youths to work against the corruption and criminality in various levels of government. The former Anambra State governor, led this out in a statement released via his X account, on Saturday, as he encouraged young Nigerians not to be intimidated by the challenges and poor governance in the country. The statement read, Yesterday, I had a very useful day in Enugu with a cross-section of Nigerian youths. The event was a very interesting interactive session with young entrepreneurs, youth advocates, and change agents in an event aimed at discussing how to Accelerate Actions to Achieve the SDGs in Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Civic Engagement, a topic of critical importance to the nation, especially the youths, whose future must be secured. I related to the enterprising youths how the number one goal of the MDGs was to fight extreme poverty but unfortunately, within the period of trying to implement the MDGs, more Nigerians became poorer, while other nations who mainstreamed their MDGs into their development agenda, and followed it, like China and India pulled 439 million and 271 million people out of poverty respectively in the same period. READ MORE: Peter Obis Obidients Are Uncouth, Mob Bayo Onanuga In the area of education, countries like China and India improved tremendously in HDI while the opposite was the case in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria, which has not only failed to meet up with the MDG goals but has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world now. This, therefore, shows how almost impossible it is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of eradicating poverty and ensuring, at least, basic education for every child by 2030. I encouraged the youths to take on entrepreneurship, no matter the difficulties they face in the country, as it is only through entrepreneurship that we will be able to build a strong small business sector that will catalyze the economy, foster productivity, and help in moving the country from consumption to production. I reminded them that Nigeria belongs to them and they must not cower in the face of difficult challenges and bad governance that pervade the nation today but must raise their voices and demand for good governance. We all must persevere and work together to dismantle the criminality and corruption that has festered through different levels of government in our nation. Churchgoers leave Sunday morning service in Kioa, Fiji. Photo: Andrew Quilty / The Guardian By Pauline Rouquette 11 November 2023 (France24) Canberra announced on Friday that it is offering climate refuge to Tuvaluans, unveiling the terms of a pact that would enable citizens of the 26-square kilometre archipelago the fourth smallest state in the world to move to Australia to live, study and work. Located near the Equator, the island nation of Tuvalu is comprised of nine reef islands and atolls that rise an average of only two metres above sea level. Due to rising sea levels driven by climate change, the low-lying land is forecast to be submerged by Pacific waters by the end of the century. The new pact between Australia and Tuvalu, signed by prime ministers Anthony Albanese and Kausea Natano, has been described as groundbreaking by University of New South Wales professor and refugee law expert Jane McAdam. Its the first agreement to specifically deal with climate-related mobility, McAdam said. Natano hailed the agreement as a beacon of hope for his nation. According to the pact, which will have to be ratified by both countries before coming into effect, Tuvaluan refugees will have access to education and healthcare, as well as financial and family support in Australia. To avoid a damaging brain drain, the number of Tuvaluans able to move to Australia will initially be capped at 280 per year. 15 November 2022: What happens to a country without land? As rising sea levels threaten to submerge our home, we have made a radical plan for the survival of our nation. Watch Tuvaluan Minister Simon Kofes address at COP27 and visit https://www.tuvalu.tv to find out how you can help. Video: Simon Kofe Climate migrants Australias offer to host its South Pacific neighbours marks a new step towards the recognition of climate change refugees. In previous years, Tuvaluans and people from other Pacific islands seeking asylum in nearby countries such as New Zealand have seen their requests rejected, as climate change is not recognised as a basis for obtaining refugee status by the 1951 Refugee Convention. Even the term climate refugee has no legal definition and is not endorsed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The International Organization for Migration (IOM) meanwhile defines the movement of a person or groups of persons who, predominantly for reasons of sudden or progressive change in the environment due to climate change, are obliged to leave their habitual place of residence, or choose to do so, either temporarily or permanently, within a State or across an international border, as climate migration. This could be applied to the entire Tuvaluan population which is currently threatened by the consequences of climate change. As the archipelagos shorelines continue to recede, its inhabitants could eventually all be driven from their homes and become some of the worlds first climate migrants. Children leave school for lunch break on Kioa, Fiji. Photo: Andrew Quilty / The Guardian Foretold threat Many have already warned against the climate challenges that Tuvaluans currently face. Fanny Heros, a project officer and scientific journalist in French climate action association Alofa Tuvalu, warned back in 2008 that the inhabitants of Tuvalu will become the worlds first climate refugees. In 2009, then Tuvaluan prime minister Apisai Ielemia said his archipelago was threatened by rising sea levels due in part to global warming caused by human activity, at the Copenhagen Summit. Tuvalu sounded the alarm once again in November 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow. Climate change and sea level rise are deadly and existential threats to Tuvalu and low-lying island atoll countries, Tuvalus Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Kofe said in a video statement, standing knee-deep in water. We are sinking, but so is everyone else, he said. No matter if we feel the impacts today like in Tuvalu, or in a hundred years, we will all still feel the dire effects of this global crisis one day, Kofe said. [more] Australia offers refuge to Tuvaluans as rising sea levels threaten Pacific archipelago Leopold Brown is a school nurse at the Davis Family School in Camden. He is the only Black male nurse in the district. Read more After working at a nursing home for several years, Leopold Brown decided to become a nurse at the Davis Family School in Camden. Despite his initial concerns about possibly unruly or disrespectful students, Brown quickly realized the job was his calling and has stayed at the elementary school ever since. Nine years in, he remains the only Black male nurse in the South Jersey district and believes he is a role model to his students. It was a drastic change, admitted Brown, 36, a U.S. Army veteran of the Iraq War, of his switch to a school environment. I ended up loving it. And until last year, Brahin Tabb, a librarian at Penn Wynne Elementary in Lower Merion, was the only Black male teacher in that entire school. In the country, hes one of roughly 600 Black men who are librarians out of 110,000. Advertisement We just need more diversity in the ranks of teachers, Tabb said. You get tired of being the only one. Black men like Brown and Tabb are underrepresented in schools across the country, whether in classrooms, offices, or libraries, where they are desperately needed to help improve academic outcomes for Black students. During the 2020-21 school year, Black men accounted for 1.3% of public school teachers, according to the National Teacher and Principal Survey. Black children made up about 15% of public school students that year. All children need diverse educators, and Black children need them particularly, said Monika Williams Shealey, dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University. Its about the practice that each of those educators bring. A Johns Hopkins University study in 2017 found that low-income Black students who have at least one Black teacher in elementary school are significantly more likely to graduate from high school and consider attending college. Having at least one Black teacher also reduced suspensions and disciplinarian problems and the chances of the student being identified as needing special education services. Its great for Black males and Black children, said Sharif El-Mekki, founder/CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development in Philadelphia. It actually impacts all children. El-Mekki, a former teacher turned activist, convened more than 1,300 Black educators last month for his organizations Black Men Convening gathering in Philadelphia. The group, formed in 2019, wants to increase the pipeline of Black educators. During the gathering, educators attended workshop and training sessions intended to inspire and energize them, and addressed the need for more Black educators. They talked about mental and social-emotional health and wellness. El-Mekki said he hopes to prevent the burnout among all races that has contributed to a national teacher shortage. Tabb, who grew up in North Philadelphia, said the fellowship at the conference was encouraging for educators in predominantly white districts that may feel isolated. He said it is not uncommon to attend meetings where Im the only one in the room. The national One Million Teachers of Color campaign has launched an ambitious goal to add 1 million teachers of color and 30,000 school leaders of color to the countrys education workforce over the next decade. Some colleges have implemented the Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) initiative to produce more teachers from diverse backgrounds. Too many districts are focused on recruiting and not retaining them, El-Mekki said. We have a lot of work to do. In an effort to address the shortage, the Camden Education Fund sponsored 25 Black male educators from the citys traditional public, charter, and Renaissance schools to attend the Black Men Convening conference. The nonprofit also held a networking reception for the Camden educators and provides support and resources to help keep them in the profession, said Giana Campbell, the funds executive director. Imagine going to school all your life and never seeing anyone who looks like you? Campbell said. To have a teacher workforce that represents the diversity is essential. Mike Warren, a social studies teacher at Camdens Eastside High School, said he takes his role seriously. His 13-year-old son who attends a school in the Trenton area has never had a Black teacher. I dont consider it a burden, said Warren, an educator for 32 years. I still feel its an honor to call myself a Black educator. Brown, the nurse, said he sees his role as more than tending to scrapes and stomachaches some of his students see him as a father figure. Unlike Black men in the classroom, he is often not viewed as a disciplinarian and students open up to him, he said. Born in Jamaica, Brown enjoys sharing his personal story of overcoming adversity to encourage his students. He came to the United States when he was a teenager and enlisted in the Army when he was 17 and became a military police officer. The biggest thing is the love. Its not just about being Black, said Brown, a father of two. The kids can see that and they know if you care. I love the kids. David Tabby shows one of his late father's favorite items, a desert camo Model M35 Stahlhelm combat helmet that German soldiers wore in North Africa with the Afrika Corps. The family is Jewish, and not direct descendants of Holocaust survivors. Read more After Gilbert Tabby died, his son David Tabby began sorting through the collections he left behind. He wanted to honor his fathers memory. But as he rifled through brimming boxes in the family basement, he discovered with a growing sense of unease that, more than anything else, his father had collected Nazi memorabilia. Not just a few small objects, but hundreds of Nazi artifacts: helmets and medals and uniforms and banners and visor caps. There was a child-size toy Nazi helmet, a Hitler Youth exercise shirt, and a banjo made from a desecrated Torah scroll, stamped with a swastika. Gilbert Tabbys collection, reported on previously by the Jewish Exponent, also includes objects from World War II concentration camps and Jewish ghettos. The Tabby family is Jewish, and not direct descendants of Holocaust survivors. Advertisement I dont know how to say it any other way except that all the Nazi stuff kind of bothers me. I can say now that its necessary to tell the story. said David, 64, his voice trailing off. But I dont know how you distinguish between glorifying it and just cataloging it. Gilbert was intensely private about his collecting, and didnt display or discuss the contents, his family said. Very occasionally he would refer to something, such as when, in the final months of his life and confined to his bed, he wanted David to bring him some of his favorite objects, and specifically requested the childs Nazi helmet. Gilbert, a family physician, died from pancreatic cancer in 2019. David had grown distant from his father as an adult. Now he wondered whether he had ever really known him at all. Why did his father have a Nazi flag so large it literally could not be displayed inside? Why had he never mentioned it? Why had David never asked? At the same time, David was spiraling. A neurologist, he is currently on probation after a yearlong license suspension, for sexual conduct with a patient and creating inaccurate medical notes related to the patient, according to the Pennsylvania Board of Osteopathic Medicine. The patient is suing him. In October, in a separate case, he settled with the federal government for $480,000 over allegations that he accepted kickbacks from a home-infusion pharmacy. Facing mounting legal troubles, he became obsessively focused on what his father left behind. At first, he thought he might simply ignore the Nazi part. He cleared a room in his mothers basement in a northwest suburb of Philadelphia and set up a display of American military flags and rifles a more palatable collection. I thought, no. No. This is wrong. Who am I to rewrite history? His history? Im not going to do that, he said. So Tabby began again. He hauled tons of junk and broken furniture to the trash. He scrubbed the basement, painted the concrete floors, rewired the lighting, repaired a crumbling wall, and mounted dozens of shelves. He became determined to build a museum: not a false one, showcasing only acceptable items belonging to his father, but a real one, encompassing everything. He fit most of Gilberts Nazi material in a single room in the basement, which he labeled the Nazi war machine. Additional Nazi items, including swastika-stamped dishware and a handkerchief embroidered with the initials A.H., sit in a separate glass case. He also displayed concentration camp uniforms and hundreds of letters from prisoners, which David hired experts to translate into English. There are other basement walls devoted to European Jewish ghettoes, lined with framed yellow star patches; to Italian fascists; to the Polish resistance; and to Nazi-defiled Torah scrolls. He has shown a few friends and members of his and his mothers synagogues the collection. Other than that, he doesnt have a plan for it. The family says they do not intend to sell. I miss my dad. And its a tribute to him, David said. Thats the only thing that makes sense to me. On a recent tour, Tabby offered up his own theories for the collections existence. Maybe for his father it served as some kind of necessary proof of human atrocity. Maybe it let him feel what it was like to be Jewish in Poland in 1939 (both of Gilberts parents already lived in the United States by then, according to his self-published memoir). Maybe it was his own version of never again. Lots of collectors of grisly historical artifacts make similar arguments most recently, Harlan Crow, the Texas megadonor to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, whose home collection contains paintings by Adolf Hitler and other Nazi artifacts. But the historical value of such objects is often quite limited, said Menachem Kaiser, the author of Plunder: A Memoir of Family Property and Nazi Treasure, who has reported on the booming market for Nazi memorabilia. For most peoples collections, museums arent that interested, because its sort of more of the same. People dont need another Nazi flag. They dont need another helmet, Kaiser said. What do we do with, basically, war garbage? Some of it gets traded on the free market; one expert told Kaiser that annual Nazi artifact sales are as high as $100 million. (There are also scores of fakes in circulation.) The vast majority of those participating are not Nazi sympathizers, Kaiser said; they collect for reasons that can be, for an outsider, pretty hard to relate to. Davids mother, Lorna Tabby, 88, isnt interested in parsing the why. She met the man who would become her husband in 1950, when the two were teenagers, at the North Philly synagogue Adath Jeshurun. They were married for 65 years. Lorna still lives in the home they shared, and often spends time in the basement, with the swastika flags and the Nazi dishware. It makes her feel closer to her husband. He was always a collector, ever since he was a child, she said, whether he was focused on Roman coins or Coca-Cola bottles or Nazi collaborator helmets. It didnt much matter thats just what he was like. Once, at a store in Atlantic City, she asked why he couldnt collect something she would like, pointing to a nearby porcelain bird for sale. So he began collecting birds made by the artist Edward Marshall Boehm, for her. Davids sister, Caryn, 61, who lives in Center City, said she couldnt explain the contents, either, but is grateful her brother has taken on her fathers legacy. I knew why he collected, Lorna told David recently, as he adjusted the frame on a Nazi anti-Jewish poster from 1941 at the dining room table. Because he wanted a piece of history. The conversation had the well-worn feeling of one in which everyone has already said their piece, perhaps many times. Yeah, but Mom, you could say that about anything. Any kind of history. Theres a lot of history, David said. Why did he want this piece of history? Former labor leader John Dougherty enters the federal courthouse in Center City on Monday for proceedings in his federal union embezzlement trial. Read more With closing arguments set for Monday in the federal embezzlement trial of former labor leader John Dougherty, the door may be closed on new testimony in the case. But there was one provocative batch of evidence the jury didnt hear. In the months following his 2019 indictment, Dougherty was repeatedly caught on tape threatening to beat up, sue, or run over potential witnesses against him and in one case urged members of his union to put a suspected turncoat in their ranks under the water, prosecutors said in court filings last week. He warned union members on several occasions that hed eventually find out whod cut deals with the FBI and that the consequences for betraying him would be severe, they said. Advertisement Ive got every interview, Dougherty said during one recorded July 2020 meeting with union officials, according to prosecutors. I can tell you every word that everyone here said. READ MORE: Closing arguments in John Doughertys union embezzlement trial set for next week as prosecution and defense rest Government lawyers contended that those threats secretly recorded in 2019 and 2020 by an FBI informant inside the ex-union chiefs inner circle are indicative of Doughertys guilt and his use of mob-like intimidation tactics to bully those close to him into silence. But prosecutors never played them in court before resting their case against the former labor leader Thursday. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl did not publicly respond to their motion to admit the recordings as evidence nor did Doughertys lawyers. Still, the tapes on which the labor leader fumes about his fate, rages at those he suspects of snitching, and likens himself to a mob boss character in a Netflix crime drama have remained a frequent point of conflict as Dougherty has sought to prove his innocence against three sets of federal charges. Defense lawyers have previously denied those recorded statements were an attempt to intimidate anyone and have accused the government of using them to unfairly taint Dougherty in jurors eyes. Theyve also argued that the FBI violated his constitutional rights by secretly listening in on his conversations as he prepared to fight the charges against him in court a claim Schmehl rejected earlier this year. Dougherty had already been convicted in a 2021 bribery trial alongside then-Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon, when the existence of the recordings was first revealed. His current trial on charges he and others embezzled more than $600,000 from their union, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is likely to wrap up this month before Dougherty is due to face a third trial on extortion charges next spring. Meanwhile, the identity of the informant who made the recordings remains a closely held secret. READ MORE: John Dougherty trial: Day-by-day recap The FBI has said only that the person first approached agents in the summer of 2020 more than a year after Dougherty was first indicted. By that time, the mole had already recorded a November 2019 meeting between the labor leader and roughly 30 union officers, business agents, consultants, and employees. Despite Doughertys public pronouncements at the time that his membership was standing strong together in the face of what he described as antiunion persecution from prosecutors, agents said the informants recording showed that behind closed doors the union chief had made clear that he suspected some of his union members of turning against him. Im coming after everything you have and everything you ... own, he warned the room, according to their description of the tape. He continued: Im going to make sure everybody, everywhere everybody at your kids school knows that youre a punk and a rat and a creep. Death might be a better option, he told the room, than waiting to incur his wrath. Go right to the bridge, he added. Jump right off the bridge. Make it easy. Doughertys paranoia had only grown by the following year, prosecutors said, when he and his lawyers had begun reviewing the governments evidence in the case against him. Before a July 14, 2020, swearing-in ceremony for newly elected Local 98 officers attended by at least four people who would later go on to testify for the government in Doughertys current trial he warned a group of union business agents that he now had access to every FBI interview. Heres the problem, he added, according to prosecutors description of that meeting. I have to sue you. Because I cant bring you up on [internal union] charges and I cant beat you up. Midway through that speech, however, he appeared to change his mind. You can say, Oh, well, he cant beat me up anyway. Yeah, I can, Dougherty continued. At this level when youre playing with my family and my life I can. And theres nobody here [that] will get back up a second time. The first time you get up, the second time I run you over. As time wore on, Dougherty appeared to grow more introspective about the threat posed by potential moles within his ranks. On a union conference call two weeks later, prosecutors said, he likened himself to the mob boss central character in Bad Blood a Canadian crime drama that he said hed been watching on Netflix. Every show, they say one thing, he said according to the governments description of a recording of that call. Everybody is brought down by someone on the inside. Quoting another line from the show, Dougherty added: The one who is given the most will hurt the family the deepest. But within weeks, prosecutors said, Dougherty was once again spoiling for a fight. He appeared to believe he was onto at least one mole and boasted during an Aug. 6, 2020, meeting of his prowess in a scrap. You know how many f fights I had early on? he told a crowd of roughly 30 union members, according to government filings. Thirty f fights. He identified one union member by name whom he suspected of being a turncoat and urged others in attendance to do something about it. One of you guys gotta choke that person, Dougherty said, Put him under the f water. READ MORE: Whos who in former labor leader John Doughertys second trial Despite that bellicosity, Doughertys lawyers have previously noted that prosecutors have not charged him with witness intimidation or other associated crimes. Yet in the governments filing last week seeking to admit the recordings as evidence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Grenell maintained that the tapes undercut the labor leaders defense throughout his embezzlement trial that he would never act contrary to the interests of his unions members. These are not the words and deeds of a person convinced of his innocence, Grenell wrote. They should not be hidden from the jury. He could find out as early as this week what the jury made of the case without them. Meet Ilse Korona, 102, who survived Kristallnacht and the Nazi occupation of Austria before fleeing to England and then Philadelphia, where shes lived for the last 76 years. Centenarian status: Im an antique a European antique. A haunting goodbye: My parents were 59 years old when I left. My mother said Dont worry about us. What can they do to us? Were old people. When the doorbell rang at 2 a.m., Ilse Korona already knew who was outside of her familys Vienna apartment. Hours earlier, Korona, then 18, told her parents she would answer the door if the Nazis came back that night. Advertisement As she pulled the door open, a Nazi soldier stood before her with a gun pointed at her face. He said Let me in. I said Youre welcome to, but youre a little late, she recalled. He saw the mess and turned around and left. But he never left Koronas mind. For years I woke up at 2 oclock in the morning and heard the bell ring, she said. For years. And for decades, Korona has kept her story of that night known as Kristallnacht and her memories of the Holocaust to herself. Not even her husband, who died in 1985, or her only child, who died in 2017, knew what she endured. Now 102, Korona, whos lived in Philadelphia for 76 years and in the same Rittenhouse Square apartment for 36, is starting to tell her story. Last year, she participated in a video interview for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museums Oral History Archive and last month, she shared her memories with The Inquirer. Koronas daughter-in-law, Wendi Krimsky, with whom she lives, said it was questions from Koronas grandson and the recent birth of her first great-grandchild that moved Korona to speak about her experiences. We want this little girl to know about her great-grandmother, Krimsky said. And I want people to know that theres still people alive that actually did go through all of this. Korona is among an estimated 40,000 Holocaust survivors still alive in the United States, and one of an estimated 2,000 in Pennsylvania, according to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (also known as the Claims Conference), which negotiates for compensation on behalf of Holocaust survivors. Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference, said many Holocaust survivors who initially couldnt bear to talk about what they experienced do so later in life as they start to understand the importance of their stories. Think of how painful it must be for her to do this. Shes pushing herself to do something she didnt talk about for decades and decades, not even with her husband, he said. That, in and of itself, is a lesson in bravery and heroism we should all learn from. Kristallnacht Korona grew up as the youngest of three daughters to a couple who owned a mens hat store in Vienna. Life was good until March 1938, when German troops invaded Austria and flooded the streets of their town. I remember when the Nazis marched in, I looked out the window and everything was red, white, and black with the flags and everybody screaming, Korona said. I can still see the picture. It was unbelievable. So many people were marching. It was so well-organized. Korona remembers seeing Adolf Hitler in the parade of troops that marched through Vienna. He was standing on his car, with the hand like this, and I didnt know what to do with myself, she said. I was hiding in a doorway. They were awful times. On Nov. 9 and 10, 1938, the Nazis conducted a wave of violent anti-Jewish attacks known as Kristallnacht, or The Night of Broken Glass during which they destroyed Jewish homes, synagogues, and businesses, and took tens of thousands of Jewish men to concentration camps. Korona remembers walking downstairs from her familys apartment on Nov. 10, 1938, and being confronted by a group of Nazis. They asked the concierge Who is she? Is she Jewish? She said Yes, and they said OK, lets start with her, Korona recalled. Inside Koronas familys apartment, the Nazis forced everyone to kneel before them as they destroyed their home and took all of their belongings. They cleaned out everything they could, everything, and they broke all the mirrors because they thought they would find money in the back of the mirrors, she said. You cannot imagine what they did. It was awful. When they left, Koronas mother wanted to clean up, but Korona cautioned against it. I said No, mama, we cant do that because they might come again, she said. And at 2 a.m., that soldier who put the gun in Koronas face did come, but left when he saw there was nothing more to take. For six months after Kristallnacht, Korona remained in Vienna with her parents, oldest sister, and brother-in-law (her middle sister had fled to England months before). I could not walk in the street because if you didnt wear the swastika pin, they knew you were Jewish, Korona said. Once, when she did go out, she was forced to wash dishes for the Hitler Youth of the Nazi Party. Another time I had to scrub the pavement in the street and the people were standing around and calling us names, saying Cmon you dirty Jew! Work faster! she recalled. It was awful. But through it all, Korona tried to learn what she could, from crocheting to cooking, to make sure she was prepared to work wherever she ended up if she could ever get out. Koronas English tutor even helped her write letters to strangers she found in U.S. phone books who shared Koronas last name, in the hopes one of them might help get her escape. Two people responded, but Korona couldnt get to the consulate and so, she remained in Vienna. Nobody survived One day, a friend told Korona about two Quaker women in England who were helping Jewish teenagers flee Austria. Korona wrote them and they sent her a special permit to travel to England. In April 1939, Korona, then just 19, left with only the clothes on her back and her permit from the Quakers. I went to line up at the Gestapo for a day and a night. The Nazis stood there and one had the whip in his hand, shouting Next! Next! Korona said. He gave me a piece of paper and that was my passport. One of the Quaker women told Korona shed wear a red scarf to pick her up so shed recognize her. At the station a lady approached me with a red scarf and she had a dictionary under one arm and a bar of chocolate in the other hand, Korona said. They were just wonderful. She stayed with the women for about a week, until her sister, Margit, who was already in England, came to get her. For three years, Korona worked as a maid at the estate of Sir John Wardlaw-Milne, a member of British Parliament, before taking a job at a factory outside of London, where she made dinghy boat transmitters. Koronas eldest sister and brother-in-law eventually fled Austria to Italy, then to Philadelphia, where he had relatives. In 1946, they brought Korona, then 26, and her middle sister, too. Once all three sisters were in the U.S., they hired a lawyer to find out what happened to their parents, who couldnt leave Austria. We knew that they did not survive, Korona said. Nobody survived. Nobody. The lawyer determined they were taken to a concentration camp in Poland, where they were murdered on April 19, 1942. Korona knew the name of the camp once, but long ago blocked it out. A pact In Philadelphia, Korona lived in Strawberry Mansion and worked as a hat maker before joining her sister and brother-in-laws custom jewelry business. In November 1949, Korona met her husband, Leo, a Holocaust survivor from Poland, at a shiva (shes pretty sure it was a set-up by friends). Two months later, they wed and made a pact not to talk about what they saw during the Holocaust. When we got married, we promised not to live in the past but to live in the present, Korona said. She would later learn from one of her husbands friends that Leo, who was a furrier by trade, was in several concentration camps and only survived because he was able to line the Nazis uniforms with fur so they didnt get cold. Hed also been married with two children, Korona said. His son, who was maybe 4 years old, he was shot in front of my husband, and the little girl was with the mother and went to the you-know-where, Korona said, referring to the gas chambers. Despite never talking to each other about their experiences, Leo Korona did share his story with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museums Oral Archive in 1981, four years before his death. Leo and Ilse Korona had one child of their own, Gary, and both men joined the family jewelry business, which eventually became known as Korona Kreations and grew into a wholesale operation on Chestnut Street. Korona worked until she was 81, and then volunteered at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, crocheting hats and blankets for babies and cancer patients. She was also a talented oil painter and a voracious reader. Recent cataract surgery has kept her away from her books, but she hopes to get back to reading soon. Despite divorcing from Koronas son in 2008, Krimsky remained close with her mother-in-law, and in 2013, she moved in to help take care of her. Without Wendi I wouldnt sit here. She is just wonderful, Korona said. She will get a halo from me. Krimsky also receives help from Bayada, a not-for-profit home health-care provider. Koronas primary Bayada aide, Angela Barnhill, of Southwest Philly, said she loves spending time with her. She is very tiny but shes a force to be reckoned with, Barnhill said. You can just feel that spirit. And its that spirit Korona is channeling now to tell the stories shes kept secret for so long, for one important reason. So that it shouldnt happen again, she said. It should never, never happen again. Know someone in the Philadelphia area whose story deserves to be told or someone whose story youd like to know? Send suggestions for We the People profiles to Stephanie Farr at sfarr@inquirer.com or call her at 215-854-4225. Send tips via Twitter to @FarFarrAway. i-circle_black Want more We the People? In a world of ice cream trucks, Latifah Lackey runs a candy truck. Saxophonist Rob Green created an immersive Hogwarts Express art car. Check out more We the People here. Big Freedia's Christmas in Central City Tour comes to Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia on Dec. 6. Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Grab your umbrella. Sunday is expected to be soggy and cloudy with a high near 54. Philly has been remarkably snowless. Its been 90 years since a five-year period was this snow-deprived. But that may change now that were in the meteorological winter. One look at the upcoming events on Phillys concert calendar says it all: This year, holiday music is back big. We walk you through the highlights. Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) Advertisement If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. There will be music for every ear to enjoy this holiday season. Theres a vibe to match a variety of moods or tastes, often within a single concert, and sometimes free. On top of annual traditions and marquee vocalists in the lineup, the Kimmel Center alone has dozens of holiday concerts between now and the new year. So Inquirer pop critic Dan DeLuca and classical arts writer Peter Dobrin joined forces to point you to the biggest and best. Some of their picks: Big Freedias Christmas in Central City on Dec. 6 at the Brooklyn Bowl Mariah Carey on Dec. 13 at Wells Fargo Center The Glorious Sound of Christmas on Dec. 14-16 at Verizon Hall John Waters on Dec. 15 at Union Transfer There are many more that you cant miss. Get the complete list. Now Im passing the mic to features reporter Zoe Greenberg. After Gilbert Tabby died, David Tabby began sorting through the collections he left behind. He wanted to honor his fathers memory. But he quickly discovered that more than anything else, his father had collected Nazi memorabilia. Not just a few small objects, but hundreds of Nazi artifacts, alongside other World War II and Holocaust items. The Tabby family is Jewish, and not direct descendants of Holocaust survivors. David had grown distant from his father as an adult. Now he wondered whether he had ever really known him at all. Why did his father have a Nazi flag so large it literally could not be displayed inside? Why had he never mentioned it? Why had David never asked? I was drawn to this story because its fundamentally about a son grappling with who his father was in life, and struggling to understand him after he died. Zoe Greenberg Keep reading to learn about Davids efforts to keep his father in remembrance, and why hes not selling the items. What you should know today Pop quiz Which team color or design will the Phillies retire in 2024? A) pinstripes B) gray C) powder blue D) red Think you know? Check your answer here. Unscramble the anagram Hint: In the heart of Fishtown BOB ROLL WONKY Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Nancy Gale who correctly guessed Fridays answer: The Rolling Stones. Photo of the day For todays Sunday track, were listening to: No need to understand / Cause Im just happy to begin again. Spotify Wrapped dropped last week. My top artists of the year were Bad Bunny, Caroline Polachek, Freddie Gibbs, KAI and Emotional Oranges. Whats in yours (and did you stream Phillys #1 artist)? Thats it for now. Taylor will bring you the latest news bright and early on Monday. Thanks for reading, and take care. Amid the richly deserved kudos for Jim Gardner, who retired last month after 46 years as the anchor of 6abcs Action News, one significant archival clip was missing: footage of his 1991 trip to his Jewish grandmothers homeland of Lithuania, which the station telecast to highlight the Baltic republics secession from the soon-to-be-dissolved Soviet Union. You might expect this emotional chronicle from three decades ago to have resurfaced in celebrating Gardner. But his reports from Vilnius were not publicly released. Thats because, unbeknownst to Gardner at the time, Jonas Stelmokas, the retired Lansdowne architect who excitedly showed him around Lithuanias largest city, was a Nazi war criminal. As I reported in The Inquirer in June 1992 seven months after the station aired the story of its anchors visit the U.S. Justice Department alleged that Stelmokas, then 75, had been a platoon commander in a volunteer unit that helped the Germans murder Lithuanian Jews in 1941 and 1942 and enforced their confinement in a Nazi-created ghetto in Kaunas (formerly known as Kovno), where approximately 32,000 Jews were killed. Citing documents procured by the Simon Wiesenthal Center from newly accessible Lithuanian archives, I reported that Stelmokas was second-in-command of his battalion when it helped the Germans kill 1,522 Jews in two days at three villages outside Kaunas in September 1941. Stelmokas appears in a four-minute report that aired on Nov. 1, 1991, which WPVI shared with The Inquirer for this story. Gardners excellent TV reports from Lithuania were part of a series surrounding the fall of the Soviet Union, mostly reported from Russia. The station had sent him from Moscow to meet Stelmokas in Vilnius because he had appeared on 6abc previously as a longtime leader in the Lithuanian American community in Philadelphia. We contacted him and made those arrangements, recalled Steve Thode, 66, who produced the series. He struck me as a passionate lover of Lithuania. He was a known, respected leader in that community. He had a certain energy. He was pleasant, a neat dresser, cared about his appearance. Advertisement But appearances arent everything, and documents showed that the dapper architect also had been an architect of death. In a complaint filed in federal court in Philadelphia in 1992, the Justice Department said that Stelmokas in his mid-20s had advocated, assisted, participated or acquiesced in the murder and other persecution of Jews and other unarmed civilians in Lithuania. Alleging that hed concealed information and misrepresented his background when he applied for a U.S. visa in 1949 and when he applied for citizenship in 1954, the feds moved to revoke his citizenship. Stelmokas denied the allegations, saying they were fabricated by the Soviet KGB. But in 1995, he was stripped of his citizenship when U.S. District Judge Jan E. DuBois ruled he had lied about his wartime activities to enter the country. The judge concluded that Stelmokas had been on duty in Kaunas on Oct. 29, 1941, when his battalion participated in the murder of 9,200 Jews half of them children in a single day. A federal appeals court upheld DuBois decision, and in April 1998, a U.S. immigration judge ordered Stelmokas deported to Lithuania. He remained in the U.S., dying of a stroke in a Broomall nursing home that November at age 82, and is buried in Drexel Hill. Friday is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. With only a few survivors left, distorters have become emboldened to influence young Americans whose knowledge about the Nazi genocide was already woefully scant. A nationwide survey of millennials and Gen Z released in 2020 found that 63% of those surveyed did not know that six million Jews were murdered, and 48% could not name one of the more than 40,000 Nazi camps and ghettos. Thats why dredging up this sordid story is important as a reminder that even the most astute among us can be fooled, and that some perpetrators of Nazi genocide lived in freedom in the United States with no remorse or sanction. Stelmokas thrived professionally in Philadelphia and lived comfortably in the suburbs because he had lied about his past. Recalling this now is not intended to embarrass Gardner. In fact, the anchor and his station also reported the governments case against Stelmokas. Gardner himself has a visceral understanding of the value of vigilance. In an interview this month, he told me he felt hed been hoodwinked by Stelmokas. I almost felt shame, said Gardner, 74. We certainly made him seem like what everybody else saw him as, a Lithuanian American patriot. This was his return home, it was almost heroic, certainly emotional. And to find out seven months hence the allegations that he was responsible for the deaths of Jews during the Holocaust was horrifying to me. I felt that I had been played as a sucker. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we must acknowledge that remembrance includes an obligation to learn the truth and to expose the lies, no matter how uncomfortable. We owe it to the victims. David Lee Preston, a retired Inquirer editor, is a son of Holocaust survivors. Follow his work at www.DavidLeePreston.com Voters elected Cherelle Parker as mayor last month in an apparent response to her detailed vision for addressing public safety issues in the city. And with a month still to go before the new mayors inauguration, Parkers plans, an unexpected financial windfall, and changing crime trends have already started reshaping police work in Philadelphia. The mayor-elect has named a well-regarded police commissioner in Kevin Bethel. Financial assistance from the state has allowed officers to use new digital technology to collect evidence and pursue other forensic advances. Detectives are solving more murders at the same time that the annual number of homicides in the city is on pace to decline by nearly 20% when compared with 2022. While Parkers focus on reducing crime has clearly been embraced by voting Philadelphians, the mayor-elect would be wise to keep her eye on another persistent challenge for our city: sluggish economic growth. During the Kenney administration, the economy grew, but just barely. New jobs were concentrated at the lower end of the wage scale. It was mostly a continuation of the same trends that have plagued the city since the 1970s, a time when much of the regions large employers, middle-class residents, and best-paying jobs left the city in response to Mayor Frank Rizzos large tax increases. This phenomenon has been devastating. Not only does a suburban exodus mean less revenue for city coffers, it also calcifies poverty in Philadelphias neighborhoods. Job sprawl has long been known to have particularly negative effects on low-wage workers and people of color, removing the ladder of opportunity and extending commute times. Philadelphia unlike many other large cities has not truly recovered from the loss of a quarter million jobs between 1970 and 2000. Now the city faces another potential emptying out with the post-pandemic trend toward hybrid and remote work. While Center Citys foot traffic has recovered somewhat, the uptick in activity downtown has been driven by new residents and visitors, not workers returning to the office. Per the Center City District, just over 100,000 commuters a day arrive in Center City, an area built to handle several times that number. A failure to arrest and reverse this trend would hurt the city. Advertisement For one, the lack of commuters has crushed SEPTA, leaving the agency struggling to recover its pre-COVID-19 ridership levels and pay competitive wages. One of the best ways to help the transit agency could be to drive more economic activity to Center City, as a way to increase ridership in its busiest hubs. (While the agency stands to benefit from the Sixers arena proposal, it wouldnt open until the end of the decade, toward the tail end of a potential second term for Parker.) Without quickly recovering ridership or securing additional public subsidies, SEPTA will be forced to pare down its schedule and postpone desperately needed maintenance projects. Those steps would likely lead to further erosion of ridership and more cuts. Transit advocates call this outcome the transit death spiral. For a city with Philadelphias narrow streets, scarce residential parking, and a large portion of residents who dont own cars, that would be a disaster. Another facet of the commuter crisis concerns the growing vacancy rates in city office buildings. Brandywine Realty Trust has canceled an 800,000-square-foot office tower along the Schuylkill, with president and CEO Jerry Sweeney pointing to the economic tea leaves as the rationale for his decision. Because most of the citys remaining office buildings are poorly suited for residential conversion, theres the potential that many of these structures will become sources of blight. Some building owners may seek a reprieve on their real estate valuations, presenting a revenue challenge for the city, the School District, and the business improvement zones that rely on them. There are parts of the mayor-elects agenda that could help alleviate this crisis. Parker supports shifting the burden from business and wage taxes to commercial property taxes, a move that requires significant buy-in from Harrisburg. Shell need to wring every drop of value from her connections there if she wants to make that happen. Shes also talked at length about the need for all of the citys commercial corridors to provide the cleanliness and safety residents and visitors deserve. Her Taking Care of Business initiative represents an important first step toward achieving that goal. One Parker idea that is unlikely to move the needle is cutting the citys parking tax. While parking costs are high in Center City, reducing rates by a dollar or two is unlikely to alter behaviors. Especially when parking in suburban areas is typically free and unlimited. Parker has long discussed her strategies to solve the citys public safety crisis, but Philadelphia also needs her help and vision to tackle its stagnant economy. Gov. Josh Shapiro addresses the annual Pennsylvania Society dinner at the Hilton Midtown in New York City on Dec. 2, 2023. Read more NEW YORK From a glamorous ballroom in Manhattan, Gov. Josh Shapiro boasted about his administrations successes in his first 11 months in office and emphasized that Pennsylvanias annual weekend of bipartisanship doesnt have to end back home. Continuing a long tradition of governors speaking to the sold-out Pennsylvania Society crowd that his predecessor Gov. Tom Wolf avoided, Shapiro said the weekend represented a pause in polarization, recalling some of his administrations highs and excluding its lows. It doesnt just last a weekend, and it can happen in Pennsylvania, not just in New York City, Shapiro said. We have proven that we can work together and deliver great results for the people of Pennsylvania. Shapiro described his first 11 months in office as proof that his administrations motto, Get Stuff Done, is possible. (He refrained from using a more colorful word for stuff while speaking to the crowd of ball gowns and bow ties.) He listed his proudest accomplishments so far, such as reopening a collapsed section of I-95 in Philadelphia in just 12 days, and implementing a money-back guarantee for state applications, among others. Advertisement However, Shapiro has struggled so far to reach bipartisan agreement on some of the states most contentious issues, like school choice and energy policy. Still, Shapiro urged his colleagues in the split legislature to come together and find bipartisan solutions, in an otherwise polarized world. Wealth on display The 125th Pennsylvania Society dinner was commemorated by a video of former governors and past society members to recall the progress the society has made over the last 125 years. Former Gov. Ed Rendell said in the video that he tried to bring the annual weekend back to Pennsylvania when he was in office, but realized that leaving the state had its advantage. Wed all lose something, Rendell said, adding that the lack of a home-field advantage for any Pennsylvania leader makes everyone be more frank, be more honest and more forthcoming. Attendees ranged from university presidents, corporate CEOs, state and federal lawmakers, and wealthy Pennsylvanians trying to find their place in the mix. A single dinner ticket cost $600, or $350 if the person was under 35. Attendees had lobster with a side of filet for their entree. The Art Deco theme, featuring potted faux palm trees, was chosen to commemorate the past and future of the societys annual dinner, the societys executive director said. Nonprofit Impact Services in Kensington will receive a donation from the society, as the beneficiary of the nights event, which also supports several college scholarship programs for Pennsylvania students. Philadelphia philanthropists Jeannette Lerman-Neubauer and Joseph Neubauer were award recipients, acknowledged for their many years trying to solve Pennsylvanias most complex problems. The City of The Big Shoulders is an apt name for Chicago, birthplace of the skyscraper and cradle of modern architecture. It is unabashedly founded on hard work and money and the wealth that flows through it supports a thriving theatre and arts scene and several major universities. It has a chippy, scrappy civic pride - The Bear is the latest (and greatest so far) in a long line of movies and television shows that lovingly portray Chicago in all its gritty, glorious modernity. It is like no other city in America. The Chicago Gold Coast skyline Explore Cruise the River If you like to get an overview of a city by taking an open-top bus tour, youll find Chicagos First Lady Architecture River Tours an even better way to navigate the Windy City. The affable and knowledgeable guides are volunteers from Chicago Architecture Centre (and they dont accept tips but encourage donations to the centre, which is a heartening dedication to the cause). On this tour, youll learn that the fire that decimated the city in 1871 was a key turning point in its history. This tour gives a genuine insight into the character of Chicago. The first skyscrapers came as a result of the rebuilding the skyline you see, with its Mid-century Modern landmarks, is the silhouette of a phoenix arisen from the ashes. Two bronze lion statues stand guard and welcome visitors to the the Art Institute of Chicago, the second largest art museum in the United States. Make like Ferris Bueller Buellers Day Off wasnt complete without a visit to The Art Institute of Chicago, and your trip wont be either. There is something ineffably beautiful about the dreamy sequence in John Hughess teen caper when everything slows down as the kids drink in the work on display at this world-class gallery. You could easily spend 48 hours just in this building, with its magnificent collections. If youre interested in art, spare some time for The Museum of Contemporary Art on Washington Square too. Discover the Latino Quarter In the 1990s, the local Puerto Rican community resisted being ousted by gentrification and instead literally planted their flag (a public art installation which is two giant flags a mile apart) in the area which has been little Puerto Rico for decades. This mile near Humboldt Park has developed into a vibrant Latin Quarter, with a walk of fame for Puerto Rican heroes and heroines, a cultural centre and many murals depicting the life, history and dreams of this community. The locals express an affinity with Ireland, seeing parallels in the two countries struggle for independence. Best enjoyed with the charismatic local guide Eduardo Arrocho. Book through paseoboricuatours.com City Winery is a venue located on the Riverwalk of downtown Chicago featuring music, comedy, and wine events. Eat & Drink Wine bar fun In the months when its open, The Riverwalk is the heart of the city. Enjoy a cocktail at The City Winery (there are several locations so make sure youre at the Riverwalk) looking up at the iconic Wrigley Building and watching Chicago at work and play. The Bear Mark 2 The Dearborn in the theatre district serves elevated classics (steak, salad, fish, protein bowls) with the best ingredients. Irish-owned and run by two sisters from Galway, Amy and Clodagh Lawless, the delicious comfort food is prepared by a chef who left Michelin-starred dining to have the autonomy to make himself, his team and his diners happy (sound familiar, viewers of The Bear?) Great Gastropub Not a sister restaurant but run by the Lawless brother, The Gage is right opposite the Art Institute on Michigan Avenue so if youre ready to rest and be replenished in the middle of your day, this is equally good for lunch as for supper. It describes itself as gastropub but the service is more white tablecloth than rustic - the seafood tower is a speciality but its equally good for a classic steak. The Magnificent Mile, famous for its shopping Shop Magnificent Mile If shopping is your thing, The Magnificent Mile is for you. Its an upscale street where the buildings alone are things of beauty. 900 North Michigan is a playground for the classy consumer but all along here youll find palaces of consumerism to widen your eyes. Masters of improv TJ and Dave, Chicago Insider tips Comedy & improv Second City comedy troupe has given the world some of its most beloved comedians and honed the art of improv. Those in the know agree that the apotheosis of the art is the show TJ and Dave. These two actors, masters of improv and lifelong friends go on stage and engage with the audience to create something new each time, improvised from scratch every single night. Its an experience that captures the magical intimacy and immediacy of live theatre. TJ and Dave tour the world but Chicago is their hometown so try to catch a show while youre there. Its guaranteed to be once-in-a-lifetime. SkyDeck at Willis Tower Chicago Dont just look up The SkyDeck of The Willis Tower (the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere) offers 360 views across the city from above but you dont need to scale the heights to explore the citys architectural legacy. Take in the Robie House, one of Frank Lloyd Wrights early works before crossing the road to the beautiful Rockefeller Chapel. Designed to be non-denominational and hosting many free activities it feels surprisingly modern and welcoming for a building that is nearly a hundred years old. In this same Hyde Park area is The Museum of Science and Industry - this unpromisingly named building contains the most fun and engaging exhibits - unmissable if you have a kid, or ever were a kid. The IO Godfrey Rooftop Lounge, Chicago Stay The Godfrey Hotel A boutique hotel in a terrific location, The Godfrey is walking distance from many main attractions. Chicago has just been voted Best Big City in The US by Conde Nast Traveller for the seventh year in a row and a large part of its appeal is its walkability. The Godfrey has spacious rooms with classic design thats restful on the eye and its close to The Magnificent Mile and The Loop and an easy stroll to the river and many of the attractions. The IO Godfrey Rooftop Lounge on the hotels fourth floor attracts a glamorous crowd year-round, thanks to its retractable roof. Book for drinks or meals and dress to be seen. An aerial view of downtown Chicago Need to know Aer Lingus flies direct twice daily from Dublin to Chicago year-round. Both flights are at civilised times, which makes it an agreeable hop for a quick getaway. aerlingus.com Chicago is not famous for its clement weather. Check with choosechicago for the best times of year to visit but Spring and Autumn are smart bets. We enjoyed a heatwave in late September and of course the St Patricks Day celebrations are world-famous. The best way to get around Chicago is via the L train which is cheap and easy to use. The CityPass is invaluable as a way of prioritising attractions, saving money on tickets and priority access. Mary Kate OFlanagan was a guest of Choose Chicago and Aer Lingus Survey results showing number of working-age people in the U.S. who said they had serious difficulty with three different tasks, 2009-2023. Three-month rolling average. Includes people ages 18 to 64. Data: Current Population Survey via IPUMS. Graphic: The New York Times By Francesca Paris 13 November 2023 (The New York Times) There are more Americans who say they have serious cognitive problems with remembering, concentrating or making decisions than at any time in the last 15 years, data from the Census Bureau shows. The increase started with the pandemic: The number of working-age adults reporting serious difficulty thinking has climbed by an estimated one million people. About as many adults ages 18 to 64 now report severe cognitive issues as report trouble walking or taking the stairs, for the first time since the bureau started asking the questions each month in the 2000s. And younger adults are driving the trend. The sharp increase captures the effects of long Covid for a small but significant portion of younger adults, researchers say, most likely in addition to other effects of the pandemic, including psychological distress. But they also say its not yet possible to fully dissect all the reasons behind the increase. Richard Deitz, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, analyzed the data and attributed much of the increase to long Covid. These numbers dont do this they dont just start suddenly increasing sharply like this, he said. Survey results showing number of working-age people in the U.S. who are employed or unemployed, 2009-2023. Three-month rolling average. Includes people ages 18 to 64. Data: Current Population Survey via IPUMS. Graphic: The New York Times In its monthly Current Population Survey, the census asks a sample of Americans whether they have serious problems with their memory and concentration. It defines them as disabled if they answer yes to that question or one of five others about limitations on their daily activities. The questions are unrelated to disability applications, so respondents dont have a financial incentive to answer one way or another. At the start of 2020, the survey estimated there were fewer than 15 million Americans ages 18 to 64 with any kind of disability. That rose to about 16.5 million by September 2023. Nearly two-thirds of that increase was made up of people who had newly reported limitations on their thinking. There were also increases in census estimates of the number of adults with a vision disability or serious difficulty doing basic errands. For older working-age Americans, the pandemic ended a yearslong decline in reported rates of disability. [] Its not just fog, its a brain injury, basically, said Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, chair of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. There are neurovascular changes. Theres inflammation. There are changes on M.R.I.s. [] Heather Carr, 31, sold agricultural machine parts in Syracuse, N.Y., but two coronavirus infections left her largely bed-bound and barely able to string together a basic train of thought. She had trouble staying awake while driving, and eventually had to give up her job. I cry when I try to think, now, she said. My brain short-circuits. [more] Cant Think, Cant Remember: More Americans Say Theyre in a Cognitive Fog Members of the public are welcome to come and share in their great memories of Shane McGowan whose funeral is set to take place in St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary next Friday. Local Independent Councillor Seamus Morris told RTEs This Week that the 65 year old had lived his life to the full. "It will be a big funeral in Nenagh. It is an open funeral. It is open to everyone and we have a very big church in Nenagh. People will be very welcome. We are hoping that everyone can come and share in the memories of Shane McGowan who was an absolute legend. Cllr Morris said that the requiem mass will be a celebration of the life of the frontman of The Pogues. "There will be great stories told, there will be great friends of his that have met him over the years and celebrated life with him over years they will all be very welcome to Nenagh. Nenagh will be welcoming to them all." Cllr Morris said fond remembrances of Shane were being shared in Philly Ryans pub in the town. He was a frequent visitor (to the pub). He was also chairman of the local Brian Hogan Celtic Supporters club so that is how involved he got. He spent many a day in Phillys pub and also in other pubs around the area as well. Hes a very well known north Tipperary man and we are very proud of him. Earlier plans had included the cortege travelling from Nenagh to Dublin on Friday morning for a procession through the capital. However, the funeral arrangements will now be confined to Tipperary. Mr McGowan of Carney Commons, Nenagh and Ballsbridge in Dublin died peacefully last Thursday with his wife Victoria and family by his side. He passed away at his home in Dublin having spent several months in St Vincents Hospital. Shane was predeceased by his mother Therese. He is survived by his beloved wife Victoria, his sister Siobhan and his father, Maurice, family and a large circle of friends. His family have asked for privacy at this very sad time. The family home will be private. Shane McGowan performing at the Rose of Tralee in 2009. One of his close friends is Gerry OBoyle who is best known for operating London venues Filthy McNastys Whiskey Cafe and the Boogaloo pub. Mr OBoyle told the Brendan OConnor Showthat he met Shane in around 1989-1990. He said that the public image of Shane was at odds with the reality of him being a quiet, shy and deeply spiritual man. There was a quieter side to him. He was an inherently rural person. Although he was portrayed as a London punk which he was in his mind and in his heart, he was a very rural person. Mr Boyle said that he had been inundated with messages from former staff since the passing of Shane. The first text I got was from somebody who worked for me 25 years ago. He (Shane) wore his stardom and his intellect lightly. He never made anyone feel inferior. Any time there was an invitation to a film premiere or something you would often find bar staff with him. He made sure they were looked after. He added that he last saw Shane about ten days ago. His spirit was still strong. He was smiling and peaceful. I am helping (with the funeral arrangements.) There is a good few of us on it. It is an honour. A young man arguing about a driver refusing to allow him on to a bus in Cork city centre almost four months ago continued the argument in court, saying if I was blood sober the same driver wouldnt let me on the bus. Sergeant Gearoid Davis said the drunken incident involving Craig OSullivan of 24 Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Cork, occurred at around 8pm on July 4, 2023. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself or others and engaging in threatening behaviour. Gardai were dealing with a male who had been assaulted. They were approached by the accused who was verbally abusive to gardai and irate that he was refused onto a bus. He left the area, returned to the bus and was verbally abusive to the bus driver and members of the public. He was highly intoxicated and unable to stand unaided. Craig OSullivan was arrested for his own safety and that of members of the public, Sgt Davis said. Craig OSullivan was convicted 16 times of the offence of being drunk and a danger and eight times for engaging in threatening behaviour. Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said it was worth noting in the present case that it was the defendant who called the gardai because of a refusal by a bus driver to let him board the 208 bus. I can give you a very long history. There has been an issue between him and the bus driver. He doesnt have an issue with any other bus driver, the solicitor said. Judge Mary Dorgan said that in this case the accused was intoxicated and he pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and this would be a reason for a bus driver to refuse someone entry onto a bus. It was at that point in the case that Mr OSullivan expressed his belief that the particular driver would refuse him even if he was sober. Judge Dorgan imposed a two-month suspended sentence at Cork District Court, adding: When he sees that driver he will have to get the next bus, or walk. What we want is everything to settle down. Plans to develop New York loft-style apartments in a landmark vacant building on Corks main street have been shot down, prompting calls for more flexibility in the planning system. City planners refused a grant of planning to Majorfield Ltd for three studio apartments in the striking Saint Patricks Buildings, right on the corner of St Patrick's St and Grand Parade. They said the floor space was too small and did not meet the minimum required standards for a studio apartment. It is beyond the remit of the planning authority to recommend a grant of permission in this instance as the units appear deficient on practically all aspects of the design standards. It is considered that to apply flexibility across the board would set an undesirable precedent, would fail to provide an acceptable living environment for future residents," they said. However, veteran Green Party councillor Dan Boyle said this case highlights the need for planners to show more flexibility, given the stated national and city policies to encourage and promote city-centre living, especially in the context of a housing crisis. Green Party councillor Dan Boyle said there must be latitude from planners. Picture: Denis Minihane These were one-bedroom apartments the type for which we see most demand, he said. If we are to live up to what we are saying in various national and local policies, then there has to be a degree of latitude on the part of the planning system. We are going to come across this kind of planning application more and more, and we need to encourage as many such applications as we can. But there has to be a degree of latitude from planners. Perhaps there is a need for an amending in the new planning bill to allow that flexibility. Majorfield Ltd had applied for planning for alterations to the existing mixed-use building to include a change of use of part of the ground floor and the entire first, second, and third floors from office space to residential, to deliver three apartments. Engineers and architects Brian OKennedy & Associates, which secured planning for apartments above the former AIB building on Saint Patricks St; for 14 apartments over the shop on Bridge St; and for seven apartments under construction in the Finns Corner building, engaged in pre-planning consultation with Cork City Hall before preparing a detailed application. In a report on the file, they said they understood that the minimum recommended area for studio apartments is 37m sq but the available floor space in this building was 30.75m sq on the first floor, 33.3m sq on the second floor, and 31m sq on the third floor. However, they said it represents an out of the ordinary opportunity to provide unique living spaces" in the city and argued that the option of a single three-storey apartment would be a poor use of the spaces available. Majorfield declined to comment. The firm has 28 days from the decision in which to appeal to An Bord Pleanala. One of Waterfords best-known businessmen has lodged a planning application for a seven-storey hotel complex close to Dungarvan town centre. Michael J Ryan plans to demolish a 1970s office block, known as Bridge House at the junction of Davitts Quay and Richard A Walsh Street. The disused building, overlooking the expansive local harbour, was formerly the Glanbia laboratory and office complex and has been vacant since the mid-1990s. Mr Ryan purchased it from the Flynn Group about 15 years ago. The application includes the provision of 42 conventional hotel bedrooms and a similar number of aparthotel rooms for longer stays, with kitchens included in the accommodation on floors one to six, with balconies and terrace areas. The sixth floor will also include a penthouse suite. The ground floor will accommodate two function halls, a lobby/reception, a publicly accessible cafe and bar, with indoor and outdoor seating areas. Solar PV cells will adorn the roof. The application also seeks to provide a 48-space car park, including three disability bays and 26 bicycle racks. A gated public lane-way will connect two adjoining streets. Mr Ryan is the proprietor of the Al Eile stud farm at Kilgobnet, some six kilometres north of Dungarvan. The farm made international headlines in 2013 when selling a yearling colt for 2.85m. The business also raced the colts broodmare, Finsceal Beo, to win both the Irish and English 1,000 Guineas in 2007. In recent years the multi-millionaire businessman has sought to invest heavily in Dungarvan. He bought and restored the 19th-century former bank building adjacent to Bridge House in 2017 and converted it into a bar and restaurant. Last January, he received planning for a 40-bed hotel and restaurant, with a car park, on two sites divided by a roadway, within 50 metres from Bridge House. That development has yet to start. In July 2021, Waterford Council and subsequently An Bord Pleanala refused Mr Ryan an initial planning application for a nine-story, 65-room boutique hotel on the Bridge House site. It would have been by far the tallest building in the town. Both authorities deemed it visually inappropriate and excessively domineering. Dungarvan is enjoying a burgeoning reputation as a tourist town, enhanced by a highly successful greenway, surrounded by splendid scenery and willing to gamble on such innovative enterprises as year-round outdoor dining. However, the town is also seen as lacking in tourist accommodation, with just two hotels, totalling around 200 beds. The councils decision on the new application is due on January 24, 2024. Israels military ordered more areas in and around Gazas second-largest city of Khan Younis to be evacuated on Sunday, as it shifted its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it says many Hamas leaders are hiding. Heavy bombardments were reported overnight and into Sunday in the area of Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israels blistering air and ground campaign. Many of the territorys 2.3 million people are crammed into the south after Israeli forces ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the two-month-old war. With the resumption of fighting, hopes receded that another temporary truce could be negotiated. A week-long ceasefire, which expired on Friday, had facilitated the release of dozens of Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. An Israeli army flare is seen over the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Saturday night: We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation. On Sunday, the Israeli military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, asking residents of at least five more areas and neighbourhoods to leave for their safety. Residents said the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering residents to move south to Rafah or to a coastal area in the south-west. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. UN monitors said in a report issued before the latest evacuation orders that the areas residents were told to leave make up about one-quarter of the territory of Gaza. The report said these areas were home to nearly 800,000 people before the war. Ahead of a resumption of fighting, the United States, Israels closest ally, had warned Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement. The Israeli military said on Sunday that its fighter jets and helicopters struck terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities overnight, while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) In northern Gaza on Sunday, rescue teams with little equipment scrambled to dig through the rubble of buildings in the Jabaliya refugee camp and other neighbourhoods in Gaza City in the search for potential survivors and bodies. They strike everywhere, said Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in Jabaliya, an urban refugee camp. There is the non-stop sound of explosions around us. Mohamed Abu Abed, who lives in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, said there have been relentless air strikes and artillery shelling. Death is everywhere. One can die in a flash, he said. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said on Saturday that the overall death toll in the strip since the October 7 start of the war had passed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on November 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It added that more than 40,000 people have been wounded since the war began. US Vice President Kamala Harris said too many innocent Palestinians have been killed (Rafiq Maqbool/AP) US appeals to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. Much of Gazas population is packed into the territorys southern half. The territory itself, bordering Israel and Egypt to the south, is sealed, leaving residents with only the option of moving around within Gaza to avoid the bombings. US Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Saturday during the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai: Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Mr Netanyahu, said Israel is making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering creating a security buffer zone that would not allow Gazans direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighbourhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel said at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. Rockets are fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City and a six-storey building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city, said the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gazas Civil Defence, said rescuers lack bulldozers and other equipment to reach those buried under the rubble, confirming the Red Crescent estimate of about 300 people missing. He said the block had housed more than 1,000 people. Retrieving the martyrs is extremely difficult, he said in video comments from the site of the attack. Meanwhile, Ms Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in a meeting that under no circumstances will the US permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders, according to a US summary. The war was sparked by an attack on southern Israel on October 7 by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Around 240 people were taken captive. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages, who the Israeli military says are still being held after 105 were freed during the recent truce. Israel freed 240 Palestinians during the truce. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. An Ogiek home in Kenyas Mau Forest that has been set on fire to illegally evict hunter-gatherers from their ancestral lands to profit from carbon offsetting schemes. Photo: OPDP / BBC By Claire Marshall 9 November 2023 (BBC News) Kenyas government is illegally evicting hunter-gatherers from their ancestral lands to profit from carbon offsetting schemes, human rights lawyers say. Hundreds of members of the Ogiek community are being evicted from the Mau Forest, say their representatives. Ogiek leader Daniel Kobei said armed forest rangers were pulling down the houses with axes and hammers. Kenyas government says such operations are to protect the environment. Dr Justin Kenrick from the Forest Peoples Programme said that carbon credits and offsetting were key to what was happening. A photo from an Ogiek Peoples Development Program witness shows Kenya Forest Service Rangers destroying a house to illegally evict hunter-gatherers from their ancestral lands to profit from carbon offsetting schemes. Photo: OPDP / BBC The developing global carbon credit market allows a polluter to emit carbon dioxide or other climate-heating gas and pay a forest owner to capture those emissions through the carbon-absorption power of their trees. Dr Kenrick argues that by evicting the Ogiek, Kenyas government is trying to cement its full territorial and financial control over an increasingly lucrative asset. Those in control of Africas forests stand to earn a lot of money, he said. The Mau is Kenyas biggest forest and in our view its clear that the interest shown by offsetting companies is prompting the Kenyan Government to assert its control. The Ogiek are on the front line of a false climate solution that is used to justify ongoing evictions and emissions. Lucy Claridge, director of the International Lawyers Project, agreed: We have strong suspicions that this is related to carbon credits. Ms Claridge, who has advised the Ogiek since 2010, pointed to recent negotiations between the Kenyan government and a young Dubai-based offsetting firm Blue Carbon, along with the governments announcement of increased funding to conserve forests. While not accusing the company of any wrongdoing, Ms Claridge said: Conservation of these lands should be undertaken by the communities who ancestrally own them and who know how to do so. Many scientists say that the natural world fares better under land held or managed by indigenous communities. In October, Blue Carbon publicly hailed the signing of a momentous agreement with Kenyas State Department of Environment and Climate Change for the origination of carbon credits for millions of hectares of project area. However, when the BBC approached the Dubai-based company for a statement regarding the states evictions in the Mau Forest area of Sasimwani, the company said it did not have any ongoing projects in Kenya. Blue Carbon referred to Article 6 of the Paris climate agreement, saying a process was not eligible if indigenous communities or vulnerable groups would be displaced. Elisabeth Ngoliso told representatives of the Ogiek Peoples Development Programme (OPDP) that she woke to find rangers pulling down homes. Photo: OPDP / BBC Elisabeth Nguliso told representatives of the Ogiek Peoples Development Programme (OPDP) that she woke to find rangers pulling down homes. We tried to ask for time to remove our property from the houses. They refused we do not know where to go. We ask the Kenyan government to remember us, to give us back our lands, this will also help them conserve the other areas. If you tell me to leave, I do not know where I will go. In a statement, Kenyas Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry said it was fully aware of the operation to reclaim parts of the Mau Forest from encroachment and illegal logging activities. It urged the multi-agency security teams to carry out the operation humanely. 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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 Reddit Email 50 Shares By Jessica Wolfendale, Case Western Reserve University | Some commentators have criticized Israel for causing what is claimed to be disproportionate harm to civilians in its military response to Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Others have defended Israels actions, claiming that such force and the risk to civilians involved is necessary to eliminate Hamas, which some Israelis believe poses an existential threat to Israel. As of Nov. 25, according to health officials in the Gaza Strip, more than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children. But one of the arguments given by defenders of Israels actions is that, tragic though these deaths are, the harm inflicted on civilians is proportionate because it is outweighed by the importance of destroying Hamas. But what does proportionate mean in the context of civilian deaths? And how should we assess Israels claims of proportionality against critics who argue that Israels actions have caused disproportionate harm to civilians? As a scholar of war crimes and military ethics, I argue that to assess these claims requires careful thought about what it really means to value civilian lives. If all civilian lives are morally equal, as international law holds, then the lives of civilians on both sides of a conflict should be treated with the same degree of respect. Why targeting civilians is wrong International humanitarian law, or IHL, prohibits direct attacks on noncombatants a category that includes civilians as well as wounded and surrendered soldiers. IHL also prohibits direct attacks on civilian objects such as schools, religious centers and hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. However, because it is impossible to avoid all harm to civilians in a war zone, IHL permits attacks on military targets that are likely to cause harm to civilians if two conditions are met: First, the foreseeable harm to civilians must be proportionate to the military advantage sought by the attack. And second, the choice of tactics and weapons what is referred to in IHL as the means and methods must also aim to minimize risk to civilians, even if it means putting more soldiers in harms way. The prohibitions on directly targeting civilians and exposing civilians to disproportionate risk of harm exist because, under IHL, civilians have protected status as long as they take no active part in the hostilities. This means that, as stated in the Geneva Conventions the set of international treaties governing the conduct of armed conflict all civilians must be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, color, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. Directly targeting civilians or exposing them to disproportionate harm is therefore wrong for the same reasons that it is wrong to kill or harm innocent people in peacetime. People who pose no threat to others deserve respect and protection from violence regardless of their nationality or group identity. To violate that respect in war is not only a war crime but a moral crime, which is why Hamas massacre of at least 1,200 Israeli citizens and the taking of 240 hostages is rightly condemned as an atrocity. How should the lives of innocent people be weighed against important military objectives? Proportionality and moral assessment The condemnation of Hamas crimes is based on the same moral principle as the laws that protect noncombatants in war: All innocent people deserve protection. However, scholars and legal experts disagree about how the legal framework laid out in the Geneva Conventions should be applied in war zones. For example, in 1987 the International Committee of the Red Cross argued that the definition of military advantage the advantage against which potential civilian harm must be weighed should only include ground gained and annihilating or weakening the enemy armed forces. But the 2016 U.S. Department of Defense Law of War Manual claimed that military advantage should also include other goals such as diverting enemy forces resources and attention. There is also disagreement about what counts as civilian harm. For example, scholar Emanuela-Chiara Gillard argues that civilian harm should include psychological and physical harms; legal expert Dr. Beth Van Schaack argues that long-term harms should also be considered. In short, there are no easy answers to questions about how to weigh harms against civilians against the value of military objectives. But while answers are difficult, there is a different way to frame this question: What does it mean not just legally, but morally to treat all civilian lives as equal, as the law requires? As scholar Matthew Talbert and I argue, the first step in answering this question is to ask what a military force would accept if it were their civilians who were at risk of harm from military action. That is the standard we should apply when assessing potential military actions that threaten harm to enemy civilians. We call this standard the principle of the moral equality of noncombatants. For example, Israel argued that its attack on Shifa hospital was justified because, it claimed, Hamas was hiding a command base and weapons under the hospital. The hospital, which was running low on fuel, food and water, housed patients, including premature babies, and civilians seeking refuge from the conflict. According to footage shown in news reports, the attack left the hospital seriously damaged, filled with debris and lacking essential supplies for the remaining patients, who include the elderly and infirm. Israel has released footage supporting its claim that there was a Hamas command center under the hospital. Does that mean Israels attack on the hospital meets the requirements of proportionality? In other words, was the harm to civilians caused by the attack including the ongoing harm resulting from the loss of a major hospital proportionate to the military value of destroying a Hamas command base? In applying the principle Talbert and I proposed in our paper, the question would be phrased as follows: If Hamas was hiding a control base under an Israeli hospital and it was Israeli civilians at risk, would Israel think that attacking the hospital would be justified? If the answer is no, then the attack against Shifa hospital is also not justified. This is because if the risk to Israeli lives outweighs the benefits of capturing a Hamas command base, then the risk to Palestinian lives should be given the same weight and lead to the same conclusion. Under IHL, all civilians are legally entitled to the same protection, regardless of their nationality. Taking civilian lives seriously Unfortunately, the debate about proportionality in the conflict between Israel and Palestine is only the latest of many debates about proportionality and civilian deaths in war zones. Gaza Guernica 7, by Juan Cole, Digital (Dream/ IbisPaint), 2023. For example, since 2001, the United States drone program has killed at least 22,000 civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere. A New York Times report on these deaths found multiple instances of flawed intelligence, cover-ups and cases of mistaken identity. Despite this record, civilians deaths still occur. Using the principle of the moral equality of noncombatants to assess this track record would reveal whether the U.S. military is taking sufficient care to avoid harm to civilians. If the U.S. military would not accept these deaths and the policies and practices that contribute to them if U.S. civilians were at risk, then these deaths are unjustified. This would mean that the drone program must change in order to treat civilians in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere with the respect to which they are legally and morally entitled. This example illustrates that to meet the standards of IHL and the moral principles that underlie those standards, military forces must apply the principle of the moral equality of noncombatants. There is no legal or moral justification, I argue, for treating some civilians lives as less important than others. This is a demanding principle. Applying it would be difficult military and political leaders would have to accept that there might be military objectives that are not important enough to justify risk to civilian lives. And it would require acknowledging that some military objectives might be so important that even harm to their civilians might be justified. But one of the functions of IHL is to limit the suffering and damage caused by armed conflict. This principle reflects the moral and legal status of civilians in IHL and could lead to greater respect for and protection of all civilians during conflict. Jessica Wolfendale, Professor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A post-wildfire debris flow in the burn scar of the Walker Creek Fire caused significant damage in central Washington in the summer of 2022. Photo: Washington State Department of Natural Resources By Kylie Mohr 1 November 2023 (High Country News) Two Septembers ago, the residents of Grotto, Washington, woke to the Bolt Creek Fire ripping through the mountains above their homes. This doesnt happen here, Patricia Vasquez remembers saying at the time, shocked. While areas east of the states Cascade mountains frequently burn in the summer, Grotto is on the mountains western side, in a wetter climate, where fires had been infrequent but are now increasingly common. Vasquez evacuated with her husband, Lorenzo, Ava, their dog, and the fresh Alaska halibut theyd just caught while on vacation. Elizabeth Walther, their neighbor, evacuated with a puppy, but her husband, Richard, a ski patroller, stayed behind to hose down the house. No one was hurt, and no houses burned. But now, wildfire survivors in Washington face a new threat: debris flows. Wildfires can lessen the soils ability to absorb water, so when thunderstorms, rapid snowmelt, atmospheric rivers or rain falling on snow occur in a burned area, that can create a roaring earthen river. Debris flows can move quickly 30 mph or more sliding from the uplands to the valley floor in a matter of minutes. Debris flows are more powerful and dangerous than mudslides and slower-moving landslides: They can sweep away boulders, trees and cars and destroy everything in their path, including roads and homes and the people who live in them. Last year, in Washingtons Okanogan County, two residents were rescued from their home after a debris flow. Another flow destroyed a cabin and sent a foot of water and mud into more than 30 structures. And in 2018, 23 people were killed when heavy rains triggered a debris flow in the burn scar of Southern Californias Thomas Fire. United States Geological Survey (USGS) modeling indicates that, for perhaps the next five to seven years, theres a high probability of debris flows in the mountains above Grotto and other communities along the South Fork of the Skykomish River Corridor. The USGS models were originally created using data from drier areas in Southern California, where debris flows have been happening for years after fires, and may be less accurate in Washingtons wet climate particularly on the rainier side of the Cascade Range. And until recently, theres been little research on how post-fire debris flows behave in Washington. The Walker Creek Fire, which burned in the fall of 2021, created ideal conditions for a post-wildfire debris flow. The following summer, a slurry of mud, rocks and large woody debris damaged cars, roads and properties in central Washington. Photo: Washington State Department of Natural Resources One May afternoon, eight months after the fire, a team of researchers made their way up a soot-blackened hillside a few miles from Grotto. Ashy dirt crunched underfoot as they scrambled over and around trees that had been toppled by the fire. They were looking for the right tree to mount a game camera on in order to document future debris flows. They also wanted to check on the rain gauges theyd installed last fall, not long after the fire, when rainy weather and still-smoldering stumps had made setting up the equipment extra-tricky. The Washington Geological Surveys Wildfire-Associated Landslide Emergency Response Team is tracking recently burned sites in the state to understand when landslides occur and how much precipitation it takes to trigger them. The missing piece is the exact time, geologist Kate Mickelson said. The weather patterns, geography and vegetation of the Pacific Northwest are different from Californias, and these variations can influence when the earth slides. In the Northwest, for example, debris flows can occur several years after a fire, while in California, they usually happen in the first two rainy seasons that follow. (Researchers think that might be because tree roots take longer to decay in the Pacific Northwest.) Generally, National Weather Service debris-flow warnings are triggered if a quarter-inch of rain falls in 15 minutes, or if one inch falls in an hour. Sometimes theyre issued for at least the first two years post-fire, either countywide or just for the area near a burn scar. The warning systems thresholds can be tweaked to reflect the region. But in rainy parts of western Washington, heavy rain is not unusual, and scientists fear that issuing alerts all the time could numb people to the danger, making them less likely to evacuate. [] Sitting barefoot in their front yard in May, amid lilac bushes and daisies, Grotto residents expressed their concerns. We have to cross our fingers, Lorenzo Vasquez said. Were screwed for mudslides, Richard Walther, his neighbor, agreed. Theyre worried that debris flows could reroute the creek between their homes and the mountainside, causing flooding or road damage. The Washington Geological Survey scientists hope their work will help residents prepare in the future. We would like to be able to tell people, This is your peak risk, Mickelson said. We just dont know that yet. [more] When burn scars become roaring earthen rivers By Edgar Meza | ( Clean Energy Wire ) German industry is increasingly investing in climate protection measures, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported just before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which kicked off on 30 November. Climate protection investments in the manufacturing sector have increased by 74.3 percent over a decade. In 2021, manufacturers spent some 4.15 billion euros on systems to avoid emissions or use resources more sparingly, up from 2.38 billion in 2011. Legal regulations and government funding have contributed to the increase in investments, Destatis notes. Nearly 50 percent of climate protection investments in 2021 2.04 billion euros [$2.22 bn.] went to renewable energy sources, including wind turbines and photovoltaic systems. Image by Melanie from Pixabay Companies invested a further 1.63 billion euros ($1.77 bn) (39.2%) in increasing energy efficiency and energy saving, such as thermal insulation of buildings or systems with combined heat and power. The manufacturing and service sectors generated sales of 53 billion euros with climate protection products in 2021 an 11.9 percent increase compared to the previous year. The solar sector saw the biggest sales increase in 2021 with a 24 percent boost (920 million euros) for a total of 4.8 billion euros. From 2011 to 2021, sales of climate protection products such a solar PV arrays and insulation rose 16 percent. Nearly 55 percent of sales, or 28.6 billion euros, came from measures to increase energy efficiency in 2021. Thermal insulation of buildings contributed substantially, generating almost 10.2 billion euros [$11.1 bn.] in sales, while the manufacture and installation of wind turbines resulted in revenue of 11.8 billion euros [$12.8 bn.]. Meanwhile, the number of employees in green jobs, increased by 44 percent between 2011 and 2021. German development bank KfW recently reported that climate protection investments by domestic companies in 2022 rose by 18 percent in real terms to 72 billion euros [$78.4 bn.]. Published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0) . Reddit Email 90 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) They dont often get a lot of attention in the US media, but the 2.1 million Israeli citizens of Palestinian heritage, 21% of the population, have also been victims of Hamass October 7 atrocities and of the subsequent political fallout. They are furious and outraged at Hamas, whose terror gangs harmed members of their community, as well. They also feel, however, an increased surveillance and restrictions by the Israeli state. Most of what I call Palestinian-Israelis (on the model of Italian-Americans) are relatively secular-minded people. The community produces a disproportionate number of medical and other professionals. Some estimates suggest that 47% of Israeli physicians are of Palestinian heritage, 48% of pharmacists, and 17% of nurses. There is also a Muslim fundamentalist current, exemplified in the Israeli parliament by the United Arab List, led by former dentist Mansour Abbas. Although many of its members can trace their intellectual heritage to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, they have no formal ties with it and are autonomous. (Hamas also started out, in 1987, as an offshoot of the Brotherhood, but it has veered toward an idiosyncratic form of radicalism.) The United Arab List is the only Palestinian-Israeli party that has been allowed to serve in an Israeli government. The Israeli channel i24 reported that Mansour Abbas said, I and the rest of the party members condemned the horrific massacre in the south from the first moment. There is not and will never be a place among our ranks for any party that denies or downplays the seriousness of deeds that contradict our values and our Islamic religion. The United List strongly opposes targeting innocent people regardless of their identity, Arabs or Jews alike. When one member of his party questioned allegations that Hamas guerrillas had slaughtered children and raped women, Abbas ripped the bark off her in public and asked her to resign. The member, Iman Khatib Yasin, apologized profusely. In mid-November Abbas gave a BBC interview laying out his position, denouncing October 7 as a crime against civilians and as a horrible mistake. He called for an about-face: Even though it is impossible to bring back the civilians who were killed, then at least return the civilians who were kidnapped, especially children, women and the elderly. He said he recognized that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had been going on for decades and that the issue had been ignored under the Netanyahu-led governments of Israel, but said that the long duration of the struggle was no justification for murdering innocents. The leader of the United Arab List, the BBC reported, called on Palestinian factions to reevaluate their performance and the path they had chosen. He said that what happened on October 7th constituted a major blow that harmed the justice of the Palestinian cause and even put the entire Palestinian people into great danger, the price of which the children of Gaza are now paying. Abbas argued that the Palestinians inside Israel, who speak both Hebrew and Arabic, are best positioned to proffer wisdom on possible future solutions to the conflict. Abbas has consistently called for a ceasefire and political negotiations. On Thursday, Mansour Abbas sat down for an interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer, in which he called on Palestinians to give up the model of armed struggle, which he said has brought catastrophe to Gaza. He called on the fighters in Gaza to throw down their arms and to seek peaceful and political means of joining with the PLO to achieve a Palestinian state side by side with Israel. (Although the PLO recognized Israel in the 1993 Oslo Accords, Hamas has never done so.) He reiterated that the butchery of October 7 contradicted basic Islamic values. (Muslim jurists do not allow the killing of innocent noncombatants in warfare.) He said violence by Palestinian armed groups had failed, and that the Palestinian people had been sacrificed as a result. Abbass position provoked heated exchanges and controversy on Arab social media. As Israel began bombing again on Friday, Abbas posted to his Facebook page, Sadly, the truce is over and the war has returned and civilians of children and women will pay a heavy price. In the past days and weeks we have had dialogues with several local, regional and international political and media parties aimed at conveying an essential message, to urge and invite the different parties to launch a real political vision and initiative, addressing the demand for a ceasefire, an end to the conflict and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It is wrong to continue conversations and whispers about future solutions in closed rooms. Instead, it is necessary to put forward political initiatives that address the complex situation and give practical and realistic solutions to the war situation and the demand for peace. The Israeli leadership must propose a political path alternative to war, even if it insists on its same declared goals. This is a moral demand and also in the interest of Israel at the level of international public opinion. It is also the duty of the Palestinian leadership and the duty of the faction leaders to set out their vision clear and move from the reaction stage to the initiated political action, which carries out its moral and national responsibilities. The Palestinian people have paid and are paying a very high price in the lives of their children and women, further away from their ambition of independence and peace with Israel. Abbas, however, seems to be pretty representative in this regard of the Palestinian-Israelis. Asked in a recent poll if they feel part of Israel, 70% of Palestinian-Israelis answered with a resounding yes! This percentage was an over 20-point increase from last May, when only 48% felt that way. If offered citizenship in another country, 60% of Palestinian-Israelis replied that they would reject it to continue to live in Israel. The number of Israelis who want to leave has fallen to about 20%, down from 30% in some earlier polls. That there is only a 10% to 20% spread on this issue between Palestinian-Israelis and Jewish Israelis is pretty surprising. If the extremist Netanyahu government had united the Palestinians across borders by its attacks on the al-Aqsa mosque complex during the past two Ramadans, Hamas has driven a massive wedge between them. Or maybe it is more accurate to say that Hamas by its adoption of brutal ISIL-type tactics has driven a wedge between its militants and ordinary Palestinians everywhere, including in Gaza, where people are desperate for a new leadership. They are hobbled from working toward one by Israels campaign of ethnic cleansing, displacement, and indiscriminate bombardment, all of which strengthen Hamas. Up until this writing, the 2020 workplace comedy series "Kkondae Intern" continues to deliver a relatable and hilarious story to the viewers. It perfectly captures the daily struggles of office workers, and how they get through the day of stress and fatigue amidst the competitive scene of South Korea. Here's where to see Park Hae Jin, Han Ji Eun and Park Ki Woong this 2023. Keep on reading. Park Hae Jin Earlier this 2023, Park Hae Jin returned to the limelight as a police detective of a regional investigation unit in the crime drama "The Killing Vote." He worked alongside veteran star Park Sung Woong and Lim Ji Yeon of "The Glory" as the main leads. It depicts how vicious criminals are subjected to death through a text survey among the nation. "The Killing Vote" received favorable reviews among viewers around the world, proving its success despite some bumps and schedule conflicts. Watch "The Killing Vote" on Amazon Prime Video with English subtitles now! Han Ji Eun Han Ji Eun made a cameo appearance in Hwang Minhyun and Kim So Hyun's romance series "My Lovely Liar" earlier this year. She was cast in "Study Group," where she reunites with Hwang Minhyun, which follows a delinquent's huge efforts to ace his college entrance exam by forming a study group with his peers in his school. READ MORE: 'Juvenile Justice' Cast Update 2023: Kim Hye Soo, Kim Mu Yeol, More Return To Silver Screen It's currently in the works, and it's slated to be released in 2025. Meanwhile, her space exploration series "Ask the Stars" with Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin is set to greet the viewers in early 2024 on tvN. Moreover, the actress is also preparing for her upcoming films "Mora-dong" and "Only God Knows Everything." There are no details about the films yet so stay tuned for more updates. Park Ki Woong In April 2023, Park Ki Woong began a new milestone and signed with SidusHQ, the agency home to big Hallyu names including Lee Byung Hun, Kim Hye Yoon and more. He also returned to the acting scene with "Pandora: Beneath the Paradise" with Lee Ji Ah and Lee Sang Yoon. It's available in Disney+ for worldwide streaming. At the moment, he stars in the rom-com series "My Man Is Cupid" with Jang Dong Yoon and Nana, which tells the romance between a cursed woman and a charismatic man who is a real-life cupid. The series airs every Friday at 11:00 p.m. KST on Amazon Prime Video. In addition, Park Ki Woong also hosts his long-running web program "Park Ki Woong's Culture Live." ALSO READ: 'Alchemy of Souls' Cast Update 2023: Lee Jae Wook & Go Yoon Jung Return With Exciting Works KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. This fall, Bae In Hyuk returned to the spotlight with the rom-com series "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" with Lee Se Young. In the show, he resorted to a fake marriage to avoid his family's constant questions about his love life, raising curiosity about his personal life behind the cameras. Is he single or dating anyone? Here's what we know. Keep on reading to know more! Bae In Hyuk Rises As K-drama Heartthrob From his breakthrough in "My Roommate Is A Gumiho" to his exquisite portrayal of a villain in "Why Her?," Bae In Hyuk once again steals the spotlight as a handsome conglomerate this fall. He returned to prime time with "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" opposite Lee Se Young, which tells the romance between a Joseon woman who meets a man from 2023 that resembles her dead husband. Bae In Hyuk transitioned from being a rookie star to the up-and-coming star that he is now, captivating the viewers with his irresistible charms and acting prowess. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lee Se Young, Bae In Hyuk Share Kiss In New Drama: 'We took off our...' In addition to that, his popular films "Love Buzz," "XX" and "Men Are Men" are also worthy to check out. Bae In Hyuk Reveals Ideal Type In Women In an interview with Elle Korea, the "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" star bared his heart out and shared the set of ideals that he looks for in a woman. In addition to that, many fans also grew curious about his dating life, following his stardom. According to the actor, he values modesty and kindness in a partner. He would want to date someone who's nice to a waiter during date nights, and someone who has a sweet side that he can only see. YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: 3 Bold Fashion Looks To Cop From 'Smugglers' Star Go Min Si As for appearances, he prefers women with long hair and has an average height. As of this year, Bae In Hyuk is single and is focused on his skyrocketing career. Catch Bae In Hyuk in "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" every Friday and Saturday on MBC TV at 9:50 p.m. KST. It's also available worldwide on Viu so check it out. Have you seen Bae In Hyuk's "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract"? Share your thoughts on the drama in the comments below! READ MORE: 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Episode 1-2: Lee Se Young Says Yes To Bae In Hyuk KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Workers of Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in District 7, HCMC after work, November 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The labor cut wave in HCMC has shown signs of slowing down as the number of people registering for unemployment benefits decreased by nearly one-quarter compared to mid-year, an official said. "Labor cuts have begun to cool down in the last months of the year," Le Van Thinh, director of the citys Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said at a meeting on Friday. November, more than 13,300 people registered to receive unemployment benefits, down nearly 25% compared to June at over 17,700 people. The number of jobless people filing for unemployment benefits in September and October were more than 12,000 and 14,200 respectively. Some manufacturing businesses have received orders to serve year-end festivals, so the labor market shows positive signs, said Thinh, adding some companies also have new recruitment needs including seasonal jobs at the end of the year. Businesses in HCMC need to recruit 20,000-25,000 workers for the busy year-end season. So far this year, the whole city had more than 156,300 people registering to receive unemployment benefits, an increase of almost 10% over the same period. HCMC's Party chief Nguyen Van Nen said at the meeting the citys GRDP this year is forecast to grow 5.8%, lower than the 7.5% set target. 2 Shares Share As the year draws to a close, it is important that we maximize our opportunities to reduce our taxes. Lets explore three essential moves that doctors should consider before the tax year concludes to reduce their tax liabilities. 1. Contribute to tax-advantaged retirement accounts. One of the most effective ways for doctors to reduce their taxable income is by contributing to tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Not only does this help build a secure financial future, but it also offers immediate tax benefits. Considerations for doctors: 401(k) contributions. Doctors should maximize contributions to their employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. For the tax year 2023, the contribution limit is $20,500, with an additional catch-up contribution of $6,500 for those aged 50 and older. Doctors should maximize contributions to their employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. For the tax year 2023, the contribution limit is $20,500, with an additional catch-up contribution of $6,500 for those aged 50 and older. SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) for self-employed doctors. Self-employed doctors can explore contributing to a simplified employee pension (SEP) IRA or a solo 401(k). These plans allow for significant contributions, potentially lowering taxable income. Self-employed doctors can explore contributing to a simplified employee pension (SEP) IRA or a solo 401(k). These plans allow for significant contributions, potentially lowering taxable income. Traditional IRA contributions. Contributing to a traditional IRA is another avenue for tax savings, especially for doctors who may not have access to an employer-sponsored plan or want to supplement their existing retirement savings. 2. Harvest tax losses and optimize capital gains. Capitalizing on investment gains and losses can be a strategic move to manage tax implications. This involves selling investments strategically to offset gains with losses, thereby reducing the overall tax burden. Considerations for doctors: Tax-loss harvesting. Doctors should review their investment portfolio for underperforming assets. Selling these assets at a loss can offset capital gains, reducing the taxable income. Its important to adhere to tax rules regarding the wash-sale, which prohibits buying the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale. Doctors should review their investment portfolio for underperforming assets. Selling these assets at a loss can offset capital gains, reducing the taxable income. Its important to adhere to tax rules regarding the wash-sale, which prohibits buying the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale. Long-term vs. short-term capital gains. Understanding the tax implications of long-term and short-term capital gains is crucial. Long-term gains from assets held for over a year are taxed at a lower rate. Doctors should consider the timing of selling assets to qualify for preferential tax rates. 3. Utilize available tax credits and deductions. Doctors should explore available tax credits and deductions to optimize their tax position. These can significantly reduce taxable income, leading to lower tax liabilities. Considerations for Doctors: Health savings account (HSA) contributions. For doctors with high-deductible health plans, contributing to an HSA offers a double benefit. Not only are contributions tax-deductible, but withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. For doctors with high-deductible health plans, contributing to an HSA offers a double benefit. Not only are contributions tax-deductible, but withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. Education credits. Doctors pursuing additional education or covering education expenses for dependents may be eligible for education credits like the Lifetime Learning Credit or the American Opportunity Credit. Doctors pursuing additional education or covering education expenses for dependents may be eligible for education credits like the Lifetime Learning Credit or the American Opportunity Credit. Qualified business income (QBI) deduction for self-employed doctors. The QBI deduction allows eligible self-employed doctors to deduct up to 20 percent of their qualified business income, subject to certain limitations and conditions. Conclusion Work closely with tax professionals or financial advisors specializing in health care to tailor these strategies to their unique circumstances. By taking a proactive approach to year-end tax planning, doctors not only optimize their current financial situation but also lay the groundwork for a more tax-efficient future. The key lies in informed decision-making and strategic execution to navigate the complexities of the tax code. Amarish Dave is a board-certified neurologist with over 20 years of experience in both neurology and active stock investing. In addition to his medical career, he holds a background in business from the University of Michigan and has successfully passed the SIE exam administered by FINRA. Dr. Dave is founder, FiscalhealthMD.com, a website dedicated to educating doctors at all stages of their careers, ranging from residents to retirement, about financial planning. 10 Shares Share My sons favorite thing to do is fish. I bought him a brand-new Mickey the Mouse fishing pole and a tackle box for his birthday. His favorite spot was on a small inland lake in a state park. On the bank of the lake, we would fish underneath a large cottonwood tree decorated with bobbers and lures that had become snagged in the branches. The tree was tall and old and had fissured thick bark. We would sit, shaded and cool from the humid late summer air, and catch fish. They were small panfish, the size of your finger, and he could catch them on worms. My son would lip the tiny fish and throw them back in. And we would catch many, and we would only leave when the skin on his thumb started to wrinkle and flake from the lipping. While we fished, I noticed an old green pick-up truck with rusted-out paneling parked next to my car. The parking lot was deserted, and the truck sat there with the engine idling. As my son reeled in the last fish, I looked over my shoulder and saw a silhouette of a man in the drivers seat and a flash of bright white light from his face. I glanced down at my son and the surroundings, and as the sun set and the parking lot started darkening, I realized we were alone with this man. We began to walk back to our car, and when I got closer, I realized the flash was from the reflection of the mans binoculars, and the mysterious man had been watching us the entire time. The man opened his door and started to walk quickly towards us. I grabbed my sons Mickey Mouse push-button fishing pole and prepared myself to bludgeon the man over the head with it. If that didnt work, I would strangle him with the fishing line. Working in the ER, you become suspicious of everyone and, eventually, become acutely aware of the potential badness in any situation. I was convinced this man was up to no good. Luckily, I did not have to do either. The man was a fishing marshal. He asked for my fishing license. I told him I didnt have one and didnt need one as my son was fishing, and in Ohio, children under 16 can fish with no license. But I watched you reel a fish in for him Ill need to take his fishing equipment, he quipped. The fishing marshal was a young man who did not look me in the eyes. He had a proud but boyish face. What I said and what followed, I cannot say here. But there was much yelling and screaming from us both. There is no greater embarrassment than losing your temper in front of your child. I remember yelling so loud that my yells echoed across the parking lot, and I briefly thought it was someone elses voice. The strangeness of hearing my screams drowns out softly to the cacophony of cicadas, and the sadness in my sons eyes as he looked at me with terror finally made me stop arguing. It ended with the marshal confiscating my childs Mickey Mouse fishing pole and tackle box I had recently bought him for his birthday. I was given a fine. We drove home, and my son cried the entire way. He asked me tearfully what a license was, why we needed one to fish, and why his birthday presents were taken away. I tried to explain it to him. In a simple and child-like context. But I couldnt. It made no sense what I was saying. I needed a license to marry your mom no, no, that wont work, I need a license to practice medicine and a license to drive, those will make sense I thought. I finally settled on the idea that people needed licenses to do dangerous things, so others dont get hurt. But that did not work; he did not think fishing was dangerous, and he cried himself to sleep. A year later, I developed a groundhog problem in my backyard and resorted to shooting them with a pellet gun. One day, as I was preparing to shoot the largest of the bunch, my son approached me and asked if he could take a shot. He promised me he would not tell Mom. I let him, and to my surprise, he actually hit the furry beast. It limped back to its hole but started to sway and collapsed. He killed it. I was not prepared for this. We stood on the back porch looking at the dead carcass, and I prepared myself for the life and death discussion. But what he asked me was much worse: Do we need a license for that? he asked, his eyes never leaving the pellet gun. For what? For the gun? No, I said. That doesnt make a lot of sense he said sadly. To my surprise, he had remembered, quite clearly, our conversation about licenses from last summer. I said nothing, and we went upstairs, and I got him ready for bed, helped him brush his teeth, and change into his pajamas. I sat on the edge of his bed and told him his favorite bedtime story about a man who farts laughing gas. But he did not laugh and was quiet and still the entire time. I kissed him good night, and he asked me another question as I left. A question I never truly answered and regret to this day: Is that the reason we have to do the shooter-man drills at school? Huh? I heard what he asked but was caught off guard. The bad shooter-men who shoot kids at schools dont have licenses, do they? he said, not as a question but as a sad, introspective realization. We will talk about this tomorrow. Go to sleep. But I never followed up and cannot bring myself to discuss it with him. He knows the world he is living in now. What the rules are, even as a child. I dont know if that is good or bad. Nothing surprises me anymore with gunsthe cult-like following of some gun owners baptized in gunpowder and steel. Following a gospel they themselves seem not to understand, at the expense of the safety of others. There is nothing wrong with owning a gun, but there is something wrong with letting people who have no business getting a gun, who cannot even prove mental and social stability, buy a gun. There need to be more rules and more licenses for gun ownership. As I write this, there has been yet another mass shooting, this time in Maine, by a man who had no business owning a gun, just like all the other mass shootings. If its harder to go fishing with my son than it is to buy an assault rifle, something is truly wrong with this country. Mitch Bruss is an emergency physician. By AFP The East African Community (EAC) regional force began its withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday morningafter Kinshasa deemed it ineffective and refused to renew its mandate. The regional bloc first deployed troops in the violence-plagued region in November last year after the resurgence of the M23 rebel group. DRC authorities at the time invited the EAC to deploy its forces to free the areas taken by the rebels. But the future of the deployment was thrown into doubt after DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi accused the force of cohabiting with the rebels rather than forcing them to lay down arms. Following a summit on 25 November, the EAC announced that the DRC would not renew the mandate of the regional force beyond 8 December 2023. A first group of around 100 Kenyan soldiers from the regional force which also includes Ugandan, Burundian and South Sudanese soldiers left from Goma airport bound for Nairobi, according to a spokesman for the force on the ground who did not provide more detail on further withdrawals. Read more Sierra Leonean vessel King Rich is stranded in the southern parts of Cu Lao Cham Island in Quang Nam's Hoi An City, December 1, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Hong An unmanned Sierra Leonean vessel carrying liquid, weighing almost 14,000 tons, was found stranded at Cu Lao Cham Island off central Quang Nam Province on Friday. The Cu Lao Cham border guard station in Hoi An City said the vessel is named King Rich, spanning 132 m in length and 21 m in width. It was designed to carry liquid, and there was no one onboard at the time it was found. When it got swept to shore, impacts with rocks damaged it and may have caused it to sink. As there are rough seas at Cu Lao Cham, authorities could not gain access to the vessel to determine what it was carrying exactly, as well as how much fuel it had left. Border guards have informed the Quang Nam Maritime Administration about the matter and there could be measures against the possibility of the ship sinking and its fuel leaking out. For now, border guards and local militia members of Tan Hiep Commune are watching over the ship. Young people in Kilkenny are being asked to put themselves forward to solve environmental issues in their local community Registration for ECO-UNESCOs Young Environmentalist Awards are now open. The competition welcomes entries from young people aged 10-18-years across Ireland, in primary and secondary schools, youth groups, community groups and Youthreach Centres. The Awards recognise young people who are raising awareness and implementing solutions to environmental issues in their community in the form of a new or already established project. Now in its 25th year, over 60,000 young people have participated in the initiative since it began. As part of the competition process, participants will be invited to submit action projects across 13 categories, including: climate change, biodiversity, water, energy, transport, marine-life, and waste. Each project entered is required to show that young people have taken action that protects the environment in some way while also raising awareness in the community. Registrations for the Young Environmentalist Awards 2024 are open until Wednesday, December 20. Groups are required to submit their information to express their interest in being involved. Details of the action project are not required at this stage of the competition. Further information can be accessed here. Laois company Fingleton White Ltd, a leading provider of energy engineering services, has further expanded with the acquisition of Kilkenny company WEW Engineering Ltd. Based in Portlaoise, Fingleton White began back in 1981 and has consistantly grown to become now a major stakeholder in the development of power generation, oil and natural gas infrastructure. The capital value of completed projects exceeds half a billion euros. They signed the aquisition deal to buy the Kilkenny company in October. The company purchase will combine the expertise of WEW Engineering in water, wastewater and energy industries with the capabilities of Fingleton White Group. WEW provides certified services to the Municipal and Industrial sectors in particular Pharma/Biopharma, Food and Beverage, Brewing and Distilling, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Waste to Energy Industries. The current WEW Directors will continue to lead the organisation and all WEW staff will remain on board to support and enhance the growth of both personnel and organisations. Together, the companies aim to increase their impact, accelerate growth, and continue delivering exceptional products and services. The Managing Director of Fingleton White is Mick Lennon. We welcome everyone from WEW into the Fingleton White family. This acquisition will help accelerate one of our key strategic objectives of diversification into the water sector. We are 100% committed to support the continued growth of WEW Engineering in the Irish Industrial Sector and the UK Municipal and Industrial Sectors, he said. Chief Executive Officer of WEW is Henk van der Puil. This sale supports WEWs long-term objectives, and it provides even more security for our staff. I look forward to even more success under the Fingleton White Group banner. The acquisition took place on October 24 in Dublin. In the photo are: (back row) Katie Oaks, Griana Kelly, (legal representatives of Lavelle & Partners for WEW), Tony Mahon (Director WEW), Lee Horrocks (Non-Executive Chair WEW), Kieran Regan (legal representative for Fingleton White), Dave Ludgate (Associate Director WEW), Jack Browne (Associate Director WEW). Front row: Mick Lennon Managing Director of Fingleton White, Seamus Crickley Director WEW, Henk van der Puil CEO of WEW and Ann Fingleton BDD Fingleton White. 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. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the G77 summit on climate change on Dec. 2, 2023. Photo by Nhat Bac Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, attending the G77 summit on climate change in Dubai as part of COP28 on Saturday, proposed three key climate cooperation orientations for the Group of 77. First, it is necessary to promote a global and all people-based approach and uphold multilateralism with the motto of common but differentiated responsibilities, justice, and reasonableness with socio-economic development demand of developing countries taken into account. Second, science, technology, and innovation should be turned into the key cooperation area of G77 on the basis of establishing an inclusive cooperation mechanism and capitalizing on the strengths of both developed countries (capital, technology) and developing ones (markets, resources). Third, preferential climate finance should be promote in a way that makes it more accessible, does not increase the debt burden, and not at the expense of resources for realizing other development goals. The PM highlighted Vietnams green transition resolve as seen in its strong commitments announce at COP26, participation in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and implementation of plans, projects, and strategies on green growth, sustainable development, and energy transition. The Vietnamese leader expressed readiness to coordinate and share experience with other G77 members. In his remarks, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez underlined the importance of enhancing international solidarity and cooperation in response to major global challenges. He called on G77 countries to stay united, share voice, and ensure the rights and legitimate interests of developing countries that are being directly and severely affected by climate change. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the role of developing countries in promoting a multilateral process for climate targets and calling for climate justice. He urged developed nations to quickly increase assistance for the countries of the Global South and, especially, deliver on their climate finance commitments. The summit welcomed and highly valued the turning-point significance of the adoption of the Loss and Damage Fund. It affirmed the need to bring into play the role of G77, step up actions, and boost effective solutions to climate change. The event was chaired by President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez of Cuba, which holds the 2023 chairmanship of G77 a group of developing countries. It saw the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and leaders and representatives of 134 member states of G77 and international organizations. Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBDO Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, November 7th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 5th will be given a dividend of 0.0035 per share by the bank on Friday, January 12th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 4th. This is a boost from Banco Bradescos previous monthly dividend of $0.00342. Banco Bradesco Trading Up 1.7 % BBDO opened at $2.94 on Friday. Banco Bradesco has a one year low of $2.12 and a one year high of $3.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.34 billion, a PE ratio of 14.00 and a beta of 1.13. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.97. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBDO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The bank reported $0.08 EPS for the quarter. Banco Bradesco had a return on equity of 9.06% and a net margin of 6.38%. The firm had revenue of $10.65 billion for the quarter. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Bradesco About Banco Bradesco Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BBDO. UBS Group AG increased its stake in Banco Bradesco by 6,829.1% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 27,647 shares of the banks stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 27,248 shares during the period. Citadel Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in Banco Bradesco by 28.4% during the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 122,936 shares of the banks stock worth $370,000 after buying an additional 27,164 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Banco Bradesco by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 154,532 shares of the banks stock worth $365,000 after buying an additional 9,051 shares during the period. Finally, Ethic Inc. lifted its holdings in Banco Bradesco by 25.1% during the 1st quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 154,750 shares of the banks stock worth $365,000 after buying an additional 31,066 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 0.01% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; auto, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; real estate and vehicle auctions; cash management, and foreign trade and exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fuji Media Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:FJTNF Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 301,200 shares, a decrease of 34.7% from the October 31st total of 461,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1,506.0 days. Fuji Media Stock Performance OTCMKTS FJTNF traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $10.62. 2 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 331. The businesss 50 day moving average is $10.41 and its 200-day moving average is $10.52. Fuji Media has a 12-month low of $7.59 and a 12-month high of $11.50. Get Fuji Media alerts: Fuji Media Company Profile (Get Free Report) Recommended Stories Fuji Media Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the broadcasting activities in Japan. It operates through Media & Content, Urban Development, Hotels & Resorts, and Other segments. The Media & Content segment provides terrestrial television broadcasting, including satellite broadcasting, radio broadcasting, streaming platforms, content production, games, music, advertising, publishing, and direct marketing activities. Receive News & Ratings for Fuji Media Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fuji Media and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Australia Bank Limited (ASX:NABPJ Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Friday, December 1st, MarketIndexAU reports. Investors of record on Sunday, December 17th will be paid a dividend of 1.261 per share on Sunday, December 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 4th. National Australia Bank Stock Performance National Australia Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) National Australia Bank Limited provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company operates through Business and Private Banking; Personal Banking; Corporate and Institutional Banking; New Zealand Banking; and Corporate Functions and Other segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for National Australia Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Australia Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PIAIF Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,891,800 shares, a decline of 16.3% from the October 31st total of 3,457,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 9,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 295.1 days. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Price Performance Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China stock opened at $4.60 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $5.23 and a 200-day moving average of $6.00. Ping An Insurance has a 1 year low of $4.60 and a 1 year high of $8.19. Get Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China alerts: About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China (Get Free Report) Featured Stories Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and technology businesses in the People's Republic of China. Its Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers. Receive News & Ratings for Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korea and Japan are expected to resume high-level economic talks later this month after nearly eight years of suspension due to tensions over wartime sexual slavery and other rows, diplomatic sources said Sunday. The resumption of the Korea-Japan High-Level Economic Consultation is the latest in a series of measures the two countries have taken amid warming relations in the wake of the resolution of the wartime forced labor issue earlier this year. During a summit in Lithuania's Vilnius in July, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to resume the economic talks and have since reaffirmed the commitment in two follow-up summits in August and last month. Diplomatic sources said the two sides have agreed to hold a new meeting in Seoul later this month. First launched in 1999, the forum had since been held alternately in Korea and Japan before being suspended following the 14th session in Tokyo in January 2016 due to tensions over the issue of wartime sexual slavery. On Friday, the two countries also clinched a $10 billion currency swap deal eight years after the former deal ended. (Yonhap) Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 26F. SSW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. A Vietjet aircraft prepares to land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Vietjet Air has inaugurated a new route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Chinas Shanghai, facilitating convenient and easy travel for both residents and tourists. The route operates with seven round trips per week, with a flight time of just over 4 hours per leg. With these new routes, flyers can easily travel to Shanghai, Chinas most populous city. The connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai will open up more opportunities for the development of high-end products, services, trade connections, and investment attraction. Ho Chi Minh City, home to nearly 9 million people, is a prominent economic, cultural, and tourist centre of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It is also a transport hub, offering seamless connectivity to a plethora of destinations within Vietnam and internationally. Vietjet has operated services between Vietnam and China since 2014 with the very first routes facilitating travel for Chinese visitors to popular tourist destinations in Vietnam, including Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc. Vietnam was also one of the five largest sources of foreign tourists to China, which recorded over 7.9 million Vietnamese travellers in 2019 as calculated by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism. During the first 11 months of 2023, more than 11.2 million international tourists came to Vietnam, including over 1.5 million Chinese arrivals, statistics show. It was a story Dorothy Atwood DeBolt enjoyed telling, one that any harried parent of young children might find somewhat familiar. The phone rang one day as the busy mother raced around her home, getting ready for an out-of-town trip and wrapping up housework before her kids got home. She answered and a child said: Mom, this is Jennifer. Can I go to the playground after school? DeBolt replied: Sure, honey, but be home by 5, and hung up. Seconds later, she said aloud: Oh my God, we dont have a kid named Jennifer. Advertisement Dorothy DeBolt, who laughed along with her family whenever she misplaced the names of the many children she did have, may not have had a daughter named Jennifer. Nor did she figure out which neighbor child might have made that errant call. Yet DeBolt, who died Feb. 24, and her husband did, remarkably, raise 20 children six biological and 14 adopted. Many of those they adopted had physical or emotional disabilities and most though not all were from other countries. DeBolt, whose family became the subject of two films, including an Oscar-winning documentary, died of cardiac arrest at her El Cajon home. She was 89 and had been in poor health for several years, her husband, Bob DeBolt, said Monday. The couple, who founded an Oakland-based nonprofit adoption agency for special needs children, taught their own to be self-reliant and to live independently. They made no special accommodations in their two-story home in Piedmont, near Oakland, mostly because they were cash-strapped, they said, but each child, with encouragement from the others, learned to navigate through it. The family included adopted children who were paraplegics and others afflicted by polio, spina bifida, paralysis and blindness. One was born without legs and arms. One saw his parents killed in a bombing, and some were wounded in war. One, a girl who was blind, battered and abandoned when she was adopted by the DeBolts at 4, had been named The Child Who Never Smiles by orphanage workers in Korea. The girl, named Wendy, soon did, after a corneal transplant that restored the sight in one eye. She went darting around the house, cupping the chins of her brothers and sisters and laughing out loud for the sheer joy of seeing for the first time, Dorothy DeBolt said in a 1988 Times interview. Thats the kind of ringside seat to miracles weve had. Advertisement The family was featured in the 1977 documentary Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get 19 Kids?, which won an Academy Award and was narrated and produced by actor Henry Winkler. The DeBolts later adopted their 20th child, Reynaldo, a Mexican street kid with a paralyzed leg who was part of a sequel. Dorothy DeBolt and her first husband, Ted Atwood, had five children in the 1950s when they adopted two Amerasian boys who were products of the Korean War. After Atwood died in 1963, Dorothy took in two more both disabled youngsters from Vietnam. In the late 1960s, she was a widow with nine kids when a friend set her up on a blind date with Bob DeBolt, a civil engineer who was recently divorced and had one child. Neither was expecting much when Bob arrived at her Spanish-style home. The door opened, he later recalled, and here was this mass of little people, along with his stylish, mini-skirted date. They were married in 1970. I fell in love on the first date, Dorothy told The Times in 1988. I always think I can give some hope to ladies out there who have kids and think theyll never get married again. The blended family grew, with each new child learning to contribute to the household and support the others. Bob DeBolt said Monday that his wife was moved to adopt partly by her faith Thank you, God was posted about the house although she was not overly religious. Mostly, he said, she was motivated by the fact that because these kids were disabled didnt mean they werent adoptable. These werent throwaway kids, he said. Her goal was to allow every child to have a permanent home. Born Dec. 29, 1923, in San Francisco, Dorothy was the elder of two children of Esther and Michael Nortier. Her mother, from Sweden, and her father, from the Netherlands, owned several Bay Area restaurants. She attended UC Berkeley, then became a professional pianist, joining a San Francisco combo that played boogie woogie and other popular music. She stopped playing professionally after starting a family but taught all her children to play and enjoy music. The adoption agency she and her husband founded, Adopt A Special Kid, or AASK, was the first in the country to focus on special needs children, the family said. It has placed 3,500 children in California and thousands more through its affiliates around the country. Two children, J.R. and Twe, died as adults. Along with her husband, Dorothy DeBolts survivors include her children, Mike, Mimi, Stephanie, Noel, Kim, Marty, Melanie, Doni, Ly, Dat, Trang, Phong, Tich, Anh, Reynaldo, Sunee, Karen and Wendy, 27 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and her brother, Art Nortier. rebecca.trounson@latimes.com George Santos has been expelled from the US House of Representatives due to misusing campaign funds to pay for his lavish lifestyle. However, the embattled New York Republican did not rise to infamy due to alleged corruption but his continuous lies about himself. The Republican from New York has also been caught up in numerous scandals, from scamming a veteran whose dog was dying of cancer to being a drag queen in Brazil despite him being a GOP politician to claiming to be Jewish to get Jewish votes. George Santos' 5 Most Outrageous Lies George Santos' lies have become so infamous that they inspired memes, Late Night talk show jokes, Saturday Night Live skits, and many more jokes. We picked five of those most infamous and outrageous lies, and they are: George Santos Is Jewish George Santos currently serves a district with a high Jewish population. So how can a man of Brazilian origin win them over? Claim that you are Jewish and that your grandparents fled the holocaust and somehow ended up in Brazil, a country with a large Jewish population of its own. However, soon after he won the 2022 election, it was found out that he, like many Brazilians, is Roman Catholic, and so are his grandparents, who were not born in Europe but in Brazil. George Santos Worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Santos tried touting that he would make a good representative for his district not just because he was "Jewish" but also because he had experience with financial matters when he worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, according to the Huffington Post. However, his lies were soon exposed when the two companies stated that he never worked for them. READ MORE: George Santos Says He Will Not Resign Despite Fellow Republicans Pushing For Resignation George Santos Was Not a Drag Queen in Brazil When a drag queen from Brazil outed George Santos as also being a drag queen during his time in Brazil, the congressman vehemently denied it. However, when reporters hounded him about the drag queen issue, Santos caved and continued denying it while at the same time sort of admitting that he was indeed one. "No, I was not a drag queen in Brazil, guys. I was young, and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life," he told reporters. George Santos' Mother Died on 9/11 Among Santos' many other unbelievable claims was that his mother died during the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York, claiming that his mother, Fatima Devolder, "was in her office in the South Tower on September 11." However, according to New York Magazine, his mother was actually in Brazil when 9/11 happened and had not yet returned to the US at that time since 1999. George Santos Was a Successful Volleyball Athlete During his campaign, George Santos also claimed that he was a star volleyball player while at Baruch College and that he attended the school thanks to a volleyball scholarship. However, as the New York Times reported, the school denied this, with former members of its volleyball team also admitting that they did not know him. Baruch College also noted that he was not listed as part of its class of 2010, as he claimed. READ MORE: George Santos Denies Being a Drag Queen in Brazil This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: CNN reporter confronts George Santos about his lies - CNN A viral video of a South Korean mother-in-law dancing to a Vietnamese song at a local wedding has garnered nearly 4 million views and thousands of comments on social media. The video of the grooms mother, named Soyoung, was recorded during the wedding of Ha Tinh Province native bride Ton Thao to her South Korean husband named Yeseung on Nov. 18. "I was surprised to see my parents and parents-in-law hitting the perfect rhythm just minutes after they started learning the dance from the kids," said Thao, 26, adding that she was happy and grateful for how her mother-in-law openly expressed her joy at the event. (From L) Thaos mother, Thao, Yeseung, and Soyoung at Thao and Yeseungs engagement ceremony in Ha Tinh on Nov. 18, 2023. Photo courtesy of Thao Soyoung, 59, said she traveled to Thaos Ha Tinh hometown on Nov. 17 accompanied by her older brother as her husband was sick and had to stay home. Her first time attending a traditional Vietnamese wedding, the new mother-in-law was astonished that it lasted for two whole days. She said weddings in her country only lasted a few hours. "I have never seen such a heart-warming wedding ceremony, with neighbors coming to the family to help set up the venue, prepare meals, and clean up," she said. Thao and Yeseung, 32, first met each other three years ago when they were both working in the central-coastal city of Da Nang. When Covid-19 hit, Yeseung had to return to his country. But after a period of separation, Thao came to Seoul to pursue her masters degree. Both families were originally against the long-distance nature of the couples relationship. They were then convinced by the authenticity of their childrens love, and Soyoung asked Thao to call her and her husband "mother" and "father" the first time they met. Soyoung wore a traditional Vietnamese ao dai instead of a South Korean hanbok to the wedding. She said she had "totally" fallen for Vietnamese culture even long before the wedding, as Thaos stories about her home country had inspired the South Korean womans curiosity. Thao (L) and Soyoung attend a wedding ceremony in South Korea together. Photo courtesy of Thao Even long before becoming viral for her dance moves, the South Korean mother-in-law had been widely known in Vietnam, as Thao shares a lot about her daily life on her social media account and many of her some 700,000 followers have said they admired the warm relationship she has with Soyoung. For example, Thao said that Soyoung takes her side whenever the young couple argue, and the South Korean womans biggest desire is to see her son and daughter-in-law live a happy married life. "Many believe it is natural for parents to favor their own son, but thats not the case with my mother-in-law," Thao said. "She always reminds Yeseung to help me with any problem I have, which makes me feel really fortunate." The newlyweds are set to have another wedding ceremony in South Korea in March next year. Regarding their further future plans, the Vietnamese bride said she and her husband have decided to come back to Vietnam and launch a business of their own after she completes her masters degree. A Laois public representative is 'browned off' by delays in getting a bridge fixed in the Slieve Bloom Mountains Permission has to be obtained from Irelands planning body to fix a river bridge over the River Barrow in the Slieve Bloom Mountains because of the potential natural impact the work might have. Laois County Council will have to go to An Board Pleanala with an extensive plan to fix the structure at Rearyvalley which a councillor has said has been deteriorating for years and now needs urgent repairs. Cllr Seamus McDonald, Fianna Fall, raised the issue with Laois County Council officials in county hall recently when he sought an update on progress on the bridge. Edmond Kenny, Engineer District, replied in writing. Repairs to the bridge structure and the construction of a fish pass are proposed. Due to the extent of the works proposed and the sensitivities of the river an application to An Bord Pleanala is required. Ecologists have been engaged to prepare a Natura Impact Statement to assess the likely impacts the proposed project will have on the River Barrow Special Area of Conservation. The Natura Impact Statement will be complete in December 2023 with an application to An Bord Pleanala in the Spring of 2024, said the Engineer. Cllr McDonald was frustrated as he said he had been raising the issue with the council for a decade. Im browned off. One of these days the bridge will be in the river. There is structural damage and it is getting more dangerous weeklyThe bridge needs to be fixed for once and for all, he said. Cllr McDonald said residents and a farmer rely on the bridge. He said the council should be able to fix the bridge without having to get national permission. An Board Pleanala shouldnt be involved at all, he said. Cllr Paddy Bracken backed his party colleague. He hoped the council could process the application to An Bord Pleanala as fast as possible. The issue was highlighted at a recent meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District. An Board Pleanala says local authorities are required to make an application to it for any proposed development in their functional area, or on the foreshore, where an appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive is required. The Habitats Directive aims to protect over a 1,000 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish invertebrates, plants, and 230 characteristic habitat types. Sinn Fein wants a General Election at Christmas rather than provide credible solutions with other parties, Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan has said. Dep Flanagan, a former Justice Minister, outlined what he believed what is at risk this week after Sinn Fein put down a Dail motion against Justice Minister Helen McEntee over the Dublin riots. Make no mistake about it, Sinn Fein and Mary Lou McDonald would short-change all if they ever had to make serious and hard decisions about ensuring our cities and communities are safe," he said in a statement He appealed to the public to look at their actions over the last week and a half. Rather than work with Government and other authorities to ensure Dublin and all other areas are safe and equipped with high visibility policing, they want to take out the Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Rather than respect a schools wishes for privacy as they attempt to return to normality, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald goes and records social media videos for publicity stunts. At the same time, Sinn Fein tweets and produce images in the Dail of vulnerable people and are led by the hard right. Rather than work with Dublin businesses and listen to their concerns, as Fine Gael Ministers have done constantly, they try to cause a General Election this month. Rather than work with all and provide unity following the violent events of November 23rd, Sinn Fein want to tear down the institutions that people are looking for leadership from," he said. He claimed that SF would not succeed. But this has always been Sinn Feins default position. Attack the State and attempt to tear it down. Sinn Fein and Mary Lou McDonald wont succeed. Fine Gael wants to build stronger, safer communities across the country. Sinn Fein, in their own language, want to take out the Justice Minister. Lets have that justice debate this week and all will see in stark detail where Sinn Fein have stood with this country and An Garda Siochana when it comes to ensuring justice prevails in this country, Deputy Flanagan said. Dep Flanagan, who is not standing at the next General Election, issued the statement in the days before Sinn Fein is tabling a motion of no confidence in the Minister of Justice Helen McEntee over the handling of the Dublin riots. A former Portlaoise school student is among a select few to be recognised at a University awards in Dublin. Tamanna Dilruba, who is studying Psychology, attended Scoil Chriost Ri in Portlaoise where she completed her Leaving Cert. She was one of a relatively small number of undergradte students recognised by Dublin City University (DCU) for their academic achievement in the 2023 Leaving Certificate and A-level exams. She and more than 120 other students were recognised for achieving more than 600 points in their final Irish secondary school exam, or two A grades and one B in the A-levels. Recipients hail from 23 counties on the island of Ireland and represent the universitys five faculties: the DCU Business School, the Institute of Education, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science & Health and the Faculty of Engineering and Computing. DCU President Prof Daire Keogh said of Tamanna Dilruba and the other students: This group of scholars, from right across the island of Ireland, represents the extraordinary talent of our young people. They are a credit to their former schools and should be very proud of their achievements. We look forward to the future success of these talented students and we commit to supporting their personal and academic development throughout their time at the University, he said. The Laois student's former Principal Helen O'Donnell, joined her former pupil at the DCU Scholars Awards in The Helix, Glasnevin Campus on Wednesday 29 November. 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. Mosquito control operation in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 12, 2023. FATIMA TUJ JOHORA / REUTERS Dozens of feverish patients on drips were lying on beds, lined up one after the other, in a vast room. Families at the bedside of their suffering loved ones massaged their arms and legs in an attempt to relieve aches and pains. "I've been ill for more than 10 days," Mehdi Hassan said with difficulty on Monday, November 27, before going back to bed, overcome like the others by the dengue virus. The tuk-tuk driver, from a village some 100 kilometers from Dhaka, was admitted two days ago to Mugda Medical College and Hospital, a public facility in the Bangladeshi capital. There is no cure for dengue fever, and only the most serious cases require hospitalization. Transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, this virus causes high fevers, headaches, nausea and vomiting, as well as intense muscle and joint pain, and can even lead to death. Never before has Bangladesh seen such an explosion of cases. Between January 1 and December 1, 2023, more than 310,000 people were infected with the virus and 1,628 died, according to official figures. This is the deadliest year since the country's first dengue epidemic in 2000. The current death toll is already more than five times higher than last year, when the country recorded 281 virus-related deaths. 'Many of them didn't survive' "This year, we're once again facing a real dengue epidemic, even if the government hasn't officially declared it as such," said Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury, who heads the Center for Governance Studies, a think-tank based in Bangladesh. "We also know that for every case officially recorded, 20 others are not, so we estimate that figures are actually 20 times higher," continued the entomologist. "At the peak of the crisis, we were treating thousands of patients and it was difficult for us to ensure adequate follow-up many among them didn't survive," confirmed Madhuri Roy. Roy was specially transferred from another facility at the start of the monsoon season to take care of dengue cases at Mugda, where the aging infrastructure seems to lack everything, including nursing staff. During July and August, the influx of dengue patients was such that the 10th and 11th floors were requisitioned for them. Hospitals were on the verge of an explosion. "Beds were full and patients were being set up on the floor right up to the balconies and in front of the elevator entrances," recalled the doctor. The virus usually rages from July to September, before subsiding when the monsoon season ends. But at the end of November, an entire floor of this public hospital had been reserved for patients who had contracted the virus. As of December 1, there were still 3,358 active cases in the country, including 888 in Dhaka and 2,470 outside the capital. This year, dengue has spread throughout the country's 64 districts, even into villages, which may partly explain the particularly high number of deaths. "It is unusual that the number of cases is still so high at the end of the year, and there has also been a significant increase in the virus in rural areas, whereas previously it was confined to Dhaka and major urban centers," noted Chowdhury. You have 40% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. LIMERICK is expected to receive a total of 34 fully-electric buses procured by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to operate among the Bus Eireann city services. The double-deck battery buses will begin to arrive on-site at the Roxboro depot in December to facilitate testing and driver training. Works are ongoing to install the infrastructure required to charge the buses at the depot facility and it is expected that the necessary charging equipment and power upgrade will be in place as planned, a spokesperson for Bus Eireann told the Limerick Leader. The new bus fleet will help ensure a more sustainable public transport network in Limerick. The announcement follows the signing of a 3m contract between Bus Eireann and Hitachi for the electrification of the Limerick depot, to support the fleet of electric buses. Hitachi was contracted back in May of this year to deliver a new on-site MV electricity substation, install 24 charge points, and the commissioning of the charging infrastructure at the depot. These plans were put in place to make Limerick the first regional city in Ireland to introduce fully electric vehicles, combined with the current fleet of hybrid vehicles in operation. It is expected that the TFI Limerick city fleet will be either zero or low tailpipe emissions from early 2024. At the time of the Hitachi announcement, Stephen Kent, chief executive officer of Bus Eireann said: We are very pleased to partner with Hitachi in the delivery of this project. The electrification of the depot at Roxboro will really change public transport in Limerick for the better, in terms of environmental impact and also a greatly enhanced customer experience with quieter, smoother journeys. Combined with the NTAs BusConnects and investment in a new bus station at Colbert, Limerick will be in the forefront of bus public transport developments this year, he added. Singapore teen jailed for 16 years for killing schoolmate with an axe A view of the Singapore skyline next to the Supreme Court in Singapore July 1, 2019. Picture taken July 1, 2019. Photo by Reuters A Singapore judge sentenced a teenager to 16 years in jail on Friday for killing a schoolmate with an axe in a crime that shocked the city-state in 2021. The killing at a state secondary school was a rare incident in a country that is known for its tough approach to law and order, which includes corporal and capital punishment, and has one of the world's lowest crime rates. The accused, who was a 16-year-old student at the time and cannot be identified, used an axe to kill another 13-year-old student from River Valley High School. He pleaded guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and was sentenced to 16 years' in jail, according to a court judgment. The perpetrator was suffering from depression at the time, High Court judge Hoo Sheau Peng said, which accounted for the culpable homicide charge rather than one of murder. He carried out the "meticulously planned" killing as part of a plan to commit "suicide by cop", intending to kill more than one person so police would have no choice but to shoot him dead, Hoo said. "This was a gratuitously violent killing, terrifying and incomprehensible in its randomness... it has caused a high degree of public disquiet," she said. The victim's parents said in reply to a letter of apology from the killer's parents that they had forgiven him. Anyone convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder can be punished with life imprisonment and caning, or a jail term of up to twenty years with a fine or caning. Singapore has tough laws for even minor offences, such as vandalism, which can be punished by caning. It has a homicide rate of just 0.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to UN data, among the world's lowest. IN A MAJOR win for community initiatives in Limerick, a groundbreaking 1 million fund to bolster the countys Men's Sheds has been announced. The initiative, revealed at the National Conference of the Irish Mens Sheds Association (IMSA) known as Shedfest, in Virginia, Cavan, will see grants of up to 3,000 allocated to 25 of Limericks Mens Sheds. These grants are specifically earmarked to cover running costs such as heating, electricity, utility bills, and insurance expenses. Sheds to receive funding in Limerick include: Doon & District, Mulcair, Galbally, Bruff, Dooradoyle, Glin, St Patricks, Adare, Southill, Garryowen, Herbertstown & District, Croom, Our Lady of Lourdes, Ballyneety, Caherdavin, St Marys Parish, Abbeyfeale, Families Limerick, Limerick City Build, Knocklong, Limerick Mental Health Asso Mens Shed Headway Limerick, IWA, Kilmallock, and Newcastle West. Minister Heather Humphreys emphasised the crucial role played by these groups in fostering community ties, combating isolation, and offering a welcoming space for men of all ages to socialise, share skills, and complete projects. As we enter the winter months, the supports that our Mens Sheds provide are more important than ever, Minister Humphreys stated. She expressed her delight at introducing this new initiative, building on last years fund of 800,000, and reiterated the governments enduring commitment to Mens Sheds. Enda Egan, CEO of the Irish Mens Sheds Association, welcomed the announcement, acknowledging the challenges faced by the Mens Shed movement during the Covid-19 pandemic. He expressed gratitude for Minister Humphreys ongoing support, stressing the fundings importance in ensuring the sustainability of Mens Sheds, especially as many struggle to reopen and remain operational post-Covid. There is no doubt Shed members, and their communities will benefit greatly from this funding, he explained. I know that the support from Minister Humphreys is much appreciated by all shed members, he said. THE PHRASE a life well lived could have been written for Sr Claire Morrissey who passed away at the wonderful age of 100. Sr Claire was born in Thomondgate on June 18, 1923. Sr Colette Hourigan, of Sexton Street, said the Presentation Sisters, Limerick and Our Lady Queen of Peace parish have said farewell to a very special lady. Sr Claire was a lady of many gifts and talents - her love for music, her special singing voice, love for the Irish language, her love of and gift for art and her many personal gifts. Claire was non-judgemental, compassionate, and moved with the times. Sr Claire applied all these fights to her many ministries, community, family, and friends throughout her long and dedicated life as a Presentation Sister, said Sr Colette. Normally, obituaries are written about a person but Sr Colette has kindly shared words written by Sr Claire. From an early age I felt drawn to do something different with my life - I suppose drawn to religious life and to work with people in need. I decided to try Presentation and I entered there on October 3, 1941, wrote Sr Claire. After being professed as a Presentation Sister, she trained as a primary teacher in Dublin. In 1948, I began my real teaching career in Sexton Street Primary School which I loved. Then as the city was quickly expanding, I was one of the pioneer teachers at our new school, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Janesboro. My teaching life stretched from Sexton Street to Our Lady Queen of Peace back to Sexton Street and then to Holy Family School, Southill, until my school retirement in 1987, wrote St Claire, who described her almost 40 years in the classroom as very happy and rewarding. She then studied applied theology at Berkeley, California and spent 10 years at Ardfert Retreat Centre. In 1998, Sr Claire returned to Presentation Convent, Roxboro Road, and continued to minister voluntarily in the parish, school and community which she loved. Larry Summers, recently appointed as a board member at the artificial intelligence startup OpenAI , expressed the significance of the company's work as "extraordinarily important." He emphasized the importance of OpenAI operating as a "corporation with a conscience." According to a report from Bloomberg, Larry Summers stated on Bloomberg Television's Wall Street Week with David Westin that OpenAI has to be prepared to cooperate with key government officials on regulatory issues, on national security issues, on development of technology issues. The statements provide insight into the focus of Summers, a former US treasury secretary, in his role at the Silicon Valley startup. He officially became a member of OpenAI's board this week, following a turbulent leadership dispute that captured the attention of Silicon Valley. On November 17, the board dismissed CEO Sam Altman, only to later reach an agreement for his reinstatement. Subsequently, a majority of the board responsible for Altman's dismissal has resigned, making way for a new set of directors, including Summers and former Salesforce Inc. co-CEO Bret Taylor. When questioned about his strategy for ensuring the safe governance of the company, Summers responded, "I've been on the job two days," highlighting that his on-boarding packet for the position is expected to arrive this weekend. Summers sits on a couple of tech boards already: Block Inc., Jack Dorseys payments firm, and the software company Skillsoft Corp. He was named an adviser to powerhouse venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz in 2011, but has not been publicly involved with its recent investments. Moreover, Summers led the Treasury Department in the Clinton administration and worked as an economic adviser in the Obama administration, serving as president of Harvard University in between. He is now a paid contributor to Bloomberg Television. The few comments he has made about AI have centered on the labor impact. In 2018, Summers disputed the claims from then Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin that AI would not replace American jobs for 50 to 100 years. The robots are coming," Summers wrote in the Washington Post. That year, he also warned of economic catastrophe if the US loses its lead" in biotech and AI to China. (With inputs from Bloomberg) 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 Piramal Group, which owns a non-bank financier, is weighing acquisitions to enter the banking space and may look at public sector banks (PSBs) that the government puts on the block, group chairman Ajay Piramal said. Well look at opportunities as and when they come. Well see," Piramal said in an interview. Possible targets could be IDBI Bank Ltd and a couple of other state-run banks. Well, IDBI has been going on for years. Nothing has happened. So, obviously, theres no interest now. They want to change the terms. So, well see. I cant say anything categorical today. Lets see what the opportunities are," he added. Piramal did not participate in IDBI Banks divestment process, which was put on hold in November and is likely to restart only in the second half of next year. The government, which owns 45.48% of the bank, and Life Insurance Corp. of India, which holds 49.24%, together plan to sell 60.7% of the lender. Apart from IDBI Bank, the government had announced plans to privatize two state-run banks, along with a general insurance company, in the 2021-22 Union budget. Media reports had suggested that the two banks were Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank, but the government did not move any proposal on them. Reportedly, the government is redrawing its plan and any movement on privatization will only happen after the general election in 2024. Aside from acquisitions, Piramal added that the group is keeping itself ready for a banking licence as and when an opportunity arises. The banking licence is worthwhile. At the right time, we will approach it. Today, we are just preparing ourselves to be more and more in line with what the regulators want," he said. The Piramal Group houses Piramal Enterprises Ltd (PEL), among Indias biggest non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) with assets under management (AUM) of 64,000 crore as of 31 March. PEL has a housing finance subsidiary, Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Ltd, which bought struggling lender Dewan Housing Finance Corp. Ltd (DHFL) in 2021 through the insolvency route for 34,250 crore. Piramal pointed to the DHFL acquisition to highlight his M&A (merger and acquisition) strategy. We have done acquisitions whenever we find that there is value, and it fits in strategically. So, look at DHFL. That has been the largest acquisition in the financial services space. It was the first one which RBI (Reserve Bank of India) put in, and I am happy to say that it has gone well from all sides, whether its the RBI, whether its the other banks or the creditors, or whether it is us and the customers," he added. PEL earlier also had a pharma subsidiary, which was hived off and listed separately on the bourses as Piramal Pharma Ltd. Analysts said corporates are trying to segregate financial and non-financial verticals to unlock value. This is something the Bajaj Group had done long ago when it separated the auto and finance businesses; this is also what Reliance Industries Ltd recently did with Jio Financial Services Ltd. As for bank licences, the RBI has been against giving licences to large corporates since it sees a risk in them raising money from depositors and investing in their own businesses. An internal committee of the banking regulator had in November 2020 proposed that corporates can be allowed to open banks. However, the RBI has not acted on that proposal yet. While the RBI is not in favour of (giving) banking licences to corporates, it has allowed the Hindujas to run IndusInd Bank," said Asutosh Mishra, head of research, institutional equities, Ashika Stock Broking. I believe corporates can have wish lists, but it is up to the RBI to finally decide." On economic trends, Piramal said he is optimistic on the return of private investments in another six months. Capex (capital expenditure) is now coming up, from what I understand, from at least whatever boards that I am on, and when I meet others also, everybody has plans and you will see that happening. So, Im optimistic about it. It is starting now. I think the plans are being made. So, whatever time it takesmaybe, six months," he said. According to the companys website, Piramal serves on Harvard Business Schools board of deans advisors, is co-chair of the UK-India CEO Forum, and non-executive director of Tata Sons Ltd. He also serves as president and chairman of Anant National University and is chairman of Pratham Education Foundation. On the economic recovery in Indias hinterland post the covid pandemic, Piramal said the company has registered an increase in affordable housing loans (up to 15 lakh). People are saying there is still not as much recovery, but we are finding that theres good growth. So, theres a bit of a dichotomy. Theyre saying there is a slowdown in affordable housing loans. But, in our own case, were finding that it is improving I would say we started with a small base, but the growth numbers are very robust," he added. The Indian Institutes of Technology participating in their ongoing placements programme have asked recruiters to confirm there will not be any delays in the onboarding of the selected students. Some students from the placements team at IIT-Kanpur, in fact, told Mint that they have informed companies participating in the campus recruitment that if they deferred onboarding beyond a certain period they would be blacklisted. These students declined to be identified. The premier engineering colleges are concerned about a repeat of potential delays in joining dates for the selected students, as had happened to previous graduating batch given slowdowns in certain sectors. Across other engineering schools as well, many students who had been selected at campus hirings last year were onboarded only later this year. As such, the IITs are bracing for a sobering placement season this year. For thousands of to-be engineers in the class of 2024, the number of hirings is expected to taper, although salaries may not drop by much. IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi have informed the companies with an explicit request not to defer joining dates as was done in 2023," said a partner at a consulting company that has recruited 8 -11 students from the IITs in the ongoing campus placements. While the placements season will last a few months, students will graduate from the campuses by July-August. We had to onboard students hired from the batch of 2023 in October-November. The students were concerned but we honoured all our offers," said a recruiter from a multinational firm, adding that the company has informed the IITs that it cannot confirm on the joining dates. Mostly, it had been companies with large exposure to the US economy that had delayed joining dates for the previous graduating class, said students from placement cells across IITs, requesting anonymity. Consulting firms had delayed joining dates by a couple of months owing to the impact of a sluggish economy on their hiring plans. Among finance and consulting majors, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co, and Arthur D. Little had offered jobs to IIT graduates with salaries ranging from Rs17 lakh to Rs35 lakh. The placements exercise at the IITs for the current graduating class began on 1 December. On the initial day, trading firms offered jobs with salaries ranging from Rs80 lakh to Rs2 crore, according to placement executives across IITs at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati and Kanpur. On Friday, IIT-Bombay said about 80% of its regular recruiters participated in the placements, as compared with last year. IIT Roorkee said Day 1 of its placements that it had received three international and 358 domestic offers, while IIT-Guwahati received 164 offers from 59 firms by Friday evening across core engineering, software, and business analyst roles. IIT-Kharagpur said on Saturday that more than 60 companies had offered various roles to its students, mainly in software, analytics, financebanking, consulting and core engineering. Assembly Election Results 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victories in three key Hindi-speaking states, unseating the opposition in two. The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh and took control from the Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh . However, even though the BJP secured a comprehensive victory in Assembly Election Results 2023, the vote margin between the BJP and Congress is narrow. Check full data here: Madhya Pradesh: BJP is on its way to cement its vucra record in Madhya Pradesh again after having ruled the state for 18 of the past 20 years is an apparent indication of the party's organisational hold in the state. However, the vote margin between the BJP and Congress shows that the popularity of the grand old party cannot be completely ruled out. As per the Election Commission website, the vote share for the BJP stands at 48.73%, while for Congress it is 40.45% View Full Image Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2023 result. Courtesy: EC Website Rajasthan: Rajasthan seems to have followed the over-three-decade-old trend of rotating governments and the Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot appears to be on its way out. But, the vote share for the grand old party remains significant. As per the Election Commission website, the vote share for the BJP is 41.78%, and Congress is at 39.52% View Full Image Rajasthan Assembly Election Results 2023 partywisee vote share. Courtesy: EC website In fact, Congress almost retained the vote share that they secured in 2018. Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh Election Results 2023 final update: Congress partys Madhya Pradesh chief Kamal Nath emerged as the winning candidate from Chhindwara constituent assembly seat in MP Assembly Election as per data on the ECI website. He won by 36,594 votes against his rival BJP candidate Vivek Bunty Sahu from Chhindwara seat. Nath got total 132,302 votes, while Sahu got 95,708 votes. The process of vote counting for election results to the Chhindwara Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh began at 8 am on December 3. Counting of postal ballots began at 8 am on December 3 which was followed by counting of votes recorded in EVMs at 8.30 am. Chhindwara is among the 230 Madhya Pradesh assembly constituencies that went poll in a single phase on November 17. The results for all the Madhya Pradesh assembly seats were declared today. Also read: Chhindwara, MP Election Results 2023 Live: Former CM Kamal Nath faces stiff fight against BJP candidate Vivek Bunty Sahu Chhindwara is one of the key assembly constituencies watched out for in this year's Madhya Pradesh Election. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and state Congress state chief Kamal Nath contested the polls from this seat. He fought against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Vivek Banti Sahu in the 2023 polls. Also read: Indore-1, MP Election Results 2023 Live: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya faces off against Congress' Sanjay Shukla Kamal Nath's son, Nakul Kamal Nath, is a Lok Sabha MP from Chhindwara, which his father previously represented. Kamal Nath had won the Chhindwara assembly seat in 2019 bypolls, defeating BJP's Vivek Banti Sahu. The seat had fallen vacant after Congress leader Deepak Saxena resigned as an MLA in 2019. Also read: Madhya Pradesh election 2023: Congress fields Hanuman character from Ramayan against CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan The Chhindwara region is considered a stronghold of former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. He is currently an MLA from the Chhindwara Assembly seat. He has been MP from Chhindwara parliamentary seat nine times since 1980. The Chhindwara Assembly Constituency is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. According to an Aajtak report, as many as 2,62,745 voters are there in this area. Of this, 1,33,088 are men and 1,29,671 are women voters. Most of the voters in this area are from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community, the report added. The Madhya Pradesh Election 2023 were held on November 17, 2023. The state surpassed the polling percentage of the 2018 assembly polls, when it saw 74.97 per cent polling this year. Madhya Pradesh has 5,60,57521 electors, of which 2,87,82261 are male and 2,71,99586 are female voters. Meanwhile, only one voter from Shahpur village in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara assembly constituency had cast vote in the state elections as the rest of the locals boycotted polling to protest the denial of ticket by the Congress to a local leader from another seat. 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! Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi founder K Chandrasekhar Rao won the Gajwel constituency in Telangana, the Election Commission of India announced. According to the Election Commission's website, KCR won the Gajwel seat by a margin of 45,031 votes against his nearest rival Eatala Rajender of BJP after 23rd round of counting in the state. Eatala Rajender registered 66,653 and Thoomkunta Narsa Reddy of Congress got 32568 votes. The BRS leader secured a total of 1,11,684 votes at the end of counting. He was seeking a third term as MLA from the Gajwel assembly seat in the southern state. KCR was leading by 45,031 votes after the 23rd round of counting KCR was leading by 42,100 votes after the 22nd round of counting KCR was leading by 42,352 votes after the 22nd round of counting KCR was leading by 32,560 votes after the eighteenth round of counting. KCR was leading by 30,825 votes. after the seventeenth round of counting. KCR was leading by 28,767 votes after the sixteenth round of counting. KCR was leading by 23,853 votes after the fourteenth round of counting. KCR was leading by 21,591 votes after the thirteenth round of counting. KCR was leading by 20,224 votes after the twelfth round of counting. KCR was leading by 16,917 votes after the tenth round of counting. KCR was leading by 14,550 votes after the ninth round of counting. KCR was leading by 11,714 votes after the eighth round of counting. KCR was leading by 9,766 votes after the seventh round of counting KCR was leading by 8,852 votes after the sixth round of counting. KCR was leading by 7,028 votes after the fifth round of counting. KCR was leading by 5777 votes after 4th round of counting. KCR, who is also contesting from the Kamareddy constituency, was expected to face a stiff challenge this time from Congress' Thumkunta Narsa Reddy and former loyalist turned rival from the BJP Etela Rajender. Also Read: Gajwel, Telangana Election Results 2023 LIVE Gajwel was a panchayat seat till 2012, when it was upgraded to a nagara panchayat by three-gram panchayats and five other hamlets, reported PTI. The high-profile constituency has 2.75 lakh eligible voters and has seen the highest number of nominations in Telangana at 154 with many independent candidates filing nominations to highlight anger or resentment or unhappiness over issues like unemployment, farmers' suicides, welfare schemes and the state government's land records management system - Dharani portal, reported The South First. Chief Minister KCR had first contested from the Gajwel seat in 2014 and secured a comfortable victory with 19,391 votes. In the 2018 assembly polls, the BRS chief won by an even bigger margin of 58,000 votes as his party (then TRS) swept the state with ease, with Congress coming a distant second. Addressing a public meeting in Gajwel on the last day of campaigning on Tuesday, KCR said (as quoted by The Indian Express), Siddipet was my bastion during the Telangana movement but Gajwel became my bastion after it elected me as MLA and sent me as the first CM of the state. I crossed a lot of hurdles with the hope to see a better future for Telangana. I thank the people of Gajwel for giving me the opportunity to serve them and hope to continue receiving their blessings," Meanwhile, State BJP chief and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has claimed that CM KCR will lose in both the assembly constituencies. He said, It is certain that KCR will lose in Gajwel and Kamareddy also. With the sole objective of defeating the BJP candidate in Kamareddy, (AICC former chief) Rahul Gandhi fielded (TPCC chief) Revanth Reddy. In order to save KCR from the defeat, and divide anti-BRS votes in Kamareddy, Congress conspired," 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! Siddipet Telangana Election Result 2023: T Harish Rao of BRS won Siddipet constituency in Telangana for the third straight time with 1,05,514 votes and by a margin of 82,308 votes, defeating Congress' Pujala Hari Krishna who secured 20,206 votes and BJP's Dudi Srikanth Reddy who secured 23,201 votes. Siddipet is among the 5 divisions within the Siddipet district and is a component of the Medak Lok Sabha constituency. The results in the Siddipet constituency mean a continued winning streak of incumbent and state finance minister T Harish Rao. Track the Telangana Assembly Election Results latest updates here Rao, born on June 3, 1972, has been holding positions in the Telangana government since September 2019, overseeing the Medical-Health and Finance Departments. Between 2014 and 2018, Rao served as the Minister for Irrigation, Marketing & Legislative Affairs in Telangana. Following his victory in the 2018 assembly election, Rao became the youngest six-time member of any legislative assembly in India. On 8 September 2019, he was appointed as the Minister of Finance during a cabinet expansion. Track our Siddipet Constituency highlights here Furthermore, in November 2021, he was also appointed as Minister for Health, Medical, and Family Welfare. Meanwhile, the Congress emerged as the winner crossing the halfway mark, winning 64 seats in the state. BRS won 39 seats, followed by the BJP that won 8 and AIMIM that won 7. CPI won 1 seat. As Congress looks to form government in the state, Telangana party chief Revanth Reddy, addressing a press conference, said that the national party's responsibility has increased. "On December 3 2023, 4 crore Telangana people have given a verdict. Now democracy has been strengthened," Reddy said. Commenting on the poll results, prime minister Narendra Modi said, "Our bond with Telangana is unbreakable, we will keep working for people, says PM Modi on assembly poll result." The poll results come as a major disappointment for BRS as CM KCR was eyeing a third term in the state. >>Check all the latest election result updates related to Telangana, MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh. 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! Telangana CM KCR's dream of hitting a hat trick was shattered as Congress has crossed the majority mark in Telangana and is set to dethrone the K Chandrashekar Rao-led BRS government. KCR is now at number three behind Revanth Reddy and the BJP candidate in the Kamareddy Assembly seat, however, he is leading from the Gajwel seat. BRS working president K T Rama Rao has conceded defeat, and thanked the people of Telangana for two consecutive terms of Government Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving @BRSparty two consecutive terms of Government. Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back," he posted on X. Also Read | Telangana Election Results 2023 LIVE: 'This one aint gonna age well', says KTR as Congress looks set for win Rama Rao congratulated the Congress party which is clearly heading to form the government in Telangana. "Congratulations to the Congress party on winning the mandate. Wishing you Good Luck," the BRS leader further said. Meanwhile, celebrations were seen outside the Congress office in Hyderabad over the party crossing the halfway mark comfortably. The party cadre chanted "Bye bye KCR". The Telangana election results were important for the Congress as the country will vote in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A win in Karnataka and Telangana would further cement Congress' presence in the South. After a sweeping victory in Karnataka, Congress' guarantees in Telangana have proved to be a game changer for the party in India's youngest state. Congress has promised to provide free bus travel for women in Telangana while also providing 2500 to women every month under Mahalaxmi Yojana. An LPG cylinder at 500 is also among the promises under this scheme.The party has promised to provide 200 units of free electricity to every household and a pension of 4,000 per month to the elderly. 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 former attorney for President Donald Trump has agreed to meet with Nevada officials investigating the six Republicans who falsely pledged the states 2020 electoral votes to Trump, the latest escalation in the states investigation into the so-called fake electors. Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney central to Trumps plan to submit fraudulent slates of electors in Nevada and other swing states in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, is cooperating with Nevada investigators who are investigating the false elector scheme, according to a Thursday report in The Washington Post. However, a source with knowledge of the situation indicated that The Posts reporting of the timing of Chesebros travel to Nevada was inaccurate. A 2022 Brookings report identified several existing state laws that may apply to the filing of fraudulent slates of electors, including a prohibition on falsifying records and prohibiting individuals from performing the duties of public officials without authorization. Under Nevada law, any charge for filing false documents must come within three years of the offense meaning that any charges brought under that law would likely need to be filed by Dec. 14, the three-year anniversary of the fake electors meeting in Carson City. Though in other states false electors labeled themselves as provisional electors, Nevadas alleged false electors claimed to be presidential electors, going so far as to sign fake electoral certificates outside the states Capitol building on the same day as real electors cast their votes inside the building. A spokesperson for the Nevada attorney generals office declined to comment on The Posts reporting and would not respond to questions related to Chesebro or any other investigations related to the fake electoral votes in Nevada. Robert Langford, a Nevada lawyer representing Chesebro, didnt comment on the reporting but said Chesebro will travel anywhere in the United States to tell the truth about what happened leading up to the events of Jan. 6, 2021. The news arrives two weeks after sources confirmed Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat, is investigating the so-called false electors. Ford previously indicated that Nevada law would not allow for criminal charges, and Gov. Joe Lombardo (a Republican) earlier this year vetoed a bill passed by the states Democratic-controlled Legislature that would have made it a felony offense to submit false slates of electors. Last week, Chesebro filed a request to travel to Nevada, Arizona and Washington, D.C., which are outside of his travel area outlined in a plea deal he reached with Georgia investigators. Langford confirmed with The Nevada Independent on Thursday that the court had approved that request. Last month, Chesebro pleaded guilty to illegally conspiring to overturn Trumps election loss in Georgia, striking a deal with state prosecutors that he would provide evidence against other co-defendants in exchange for avoiding jail time. The guilty plea was in relation to one felony count of conspiracy to file false documents. The federal indictment that accused Trump of illegally trying to subvert the results of the 2020 election identified Chesebro as one of six unindicted co-conspirators. The indictment accused Chesebro of authoring memos to Trump allies in seven states that laid out the plans for the fake elector scheme. Chesebros correspondence with top Nevada officials who participated as fake electors including GOP Chair Michael McDonald, national committeeman Jim DeGraffenreid and Clark County GOP Chair Jesse Law were revealed in transcripts released last December by the U.S. House Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. According to the transcripts, Chesebro passed along Trump campaign adviser and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis request for the fake slate to meet in Carson City on Dec. 14, 2020 the day when actual state electors meet in state capitals to certify election results. In an email exchange over Dec. 11 and 12, Chesebro forwarded documents and memos to Nevada GOP officials with instructions on how to convene the ceremony, what to do and what language to put out in press releases. Though attorneys from the campaign never said they were asking the Nevada GOP to do something illegal, they acknowledged in memos that were shared with the fake electors that Nevada law requires the secretary of state to oversee the electors casting their votes. They also noted it is unlawful to decree faithless electors, or cast electoral votes for anyone other than the winner of the popular vote in Nevada. Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot won the Tonk constituency in Rajasthan, the Election Commission of India announced. According to the Election Commission's website, Pilot won the Tonk seat by a margin of 29,237 votes against Ajit Singh Mehta of BJP after 20th round of counting in the state. The Congress leader secured a total of 1,04,448 votes. Rajasthan held assembly elections on November 25 with former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot facing off against BJP leader Ajit Singh Mehta. The Congress hopes to secure a second term at the helm of affairs in Rajasthan as votes are counted on December 3. Pilot had beaten BJP's Yoonus Khan by a margin of 54,179 votes to secure the seat in 2018. Union minister & BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat offered prayers at Jaipur's Govind Dev Ji temple on counting day (December 3). The BJP should stop worrying about me. My party and the people will worry about meI am very positive about the result. Currently, our issue is the development of the state," Pilot told news agency ANI on the final day of campaign in the state. Also Read | Tonk, Rajasthan Assembly Election Result 2023 LIVE Updates: Counting to begin at 8 am The Congress campaign, he added later, was very positive" and likely to persuade voters. Pilot also said that Rajasthan would buck the trend of changing governments every five years and vote the present government back to power. The western state has been voting the incumbent governments out of power in every Assembly election since 1998. Who are the key candidates from the Tonk constituency? The Tonk Assembly constituency is likely to see a tussle between sitting MLA Sachin Pilot and BJP candidate Ajit Singh Mehta. Reports indicate this could be a tough fight especially when compared to the landslide victory the Congress had garnered in 2018. A recent Moneycontrol report suggests that Pilot has lost favour with many voters in the area. Many alleged that their MLA had been rather inaccessible as the party remained locked in an internal tussle for much of their five-year tenure. Our community mostly votes for the Congress, and without looking at the candidates religion. Even when the BJP nominated Yunus Khan, we didnt support him. We used to think Congress leaders were accessible, but Pilot changed our perception," the publication quoted one resident as saying. According to a few exit polls, the BJP is likely to oust the Congress this year keeping up with the trend of alternating government in the state. However, the poll of polls revealed that there might be a hung assembly in the state, wherein no party cross the majority mark. The poll of polls showed a neck-and-neck fight between the BJP and the Congress. While the BJP could win 91-92 seats, the Congress may bag 93-94 seats in the state. (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! Indore-1, MP Election Results 2023 final updates : Kailash Vijayvargiya from BJP emerged as the winner from Indore-1 constituent assembly seat as per data on ECI website. He won by 57,939 votes against his Congress rival Sanjay Shukla from Indore-1 seat. Vijayvargiya got total 158,123 votes, while Shukla got 100,184 votes. The counting of votes to Madhya Pradesh assembly elections began at 8 am on December 3. Postal ballots were counted in the first half hour and later Electronic Voting Machine vote count began, informed poll official to PTI. Indore-1 assembly constituency is an important part of Madhya Pradesh state which is best known for its industries and has a literacy rate of 75 percent. According to an Aajtak report, this constituency boasts a population of over 5 lakh residents while there are in total 3,45,988 voters. Among all the voters 1,77,887 are women and 1,68,101 are men. Apart from this, the number of Muslim voters is 52,518. Also read: Indore-1, MP Election Results 2023 Live: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya faces off against Congress' Sanjay Shukla On November 17, elections for 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh were held in a single phase. Indore-1 constituency witnessed 72.28 per cent voter turn out, out of which, 73.69 per cent were males and 70.82 per cent were females Around 900 officers were involved in the vote counting process. Among these, 516 government servants counted the EVM votes and 180 government servants counted the postal ballots. Rest of the officials provided assistance in vote counting process. ALSO READ: Madhya Pradesh election 2023: Congress fields Hanuman character from Ramayan against CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Earlier, Congress held a stronghold over this seat but stronghold of Congress but 15 years back BJP won control over this area but Congress made a comeback in 2018 elections. In this assembly constituency, voters cast their vote in the name of parties. Currently, Sanjay Shukla of Congress Party is the MLA of this assembly. His is 52 years old and has studied till class twelfth. Shukla's declared assets are worth 142 crore while he holds 25 years of experience in politics. Also read: Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh Election Results 2023 Live: MP Congress chief Kamal Nath fights against BJP's Vivek Banti Key candidates that contested the Indore-1 seat in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections 2023 include Suneel Kumar Ahirwar who contested as BSP candidate. Anurag Yadav, also known as Deepu Bhaiya, who contested on AAP ticket and Yasir Pathan was the candidate for AIMIM. Sanjay Shukla stood as Congress party candidate while Kailash Vijayvargiya was BJP candidate contesting for Indore-1 seat. Also read: Chhindwara, MP Election Results 2023 Live: Former CM Kamal Nath faces stiff fight against BJP candidate Vivek Bunty Sahu The main contenders BJP and Congress on November 26 organised separate training sessions for their candidates and counting agents. Congress held a training session in Bhopal while the BJP connected its candidates virtually for training reported PTI. The candidates were informed about the postal ballots, EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) counting and the related procedure during these training sessions. 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! JOHANNESBURGWealthy nations are sending tens of billions of dollars to poorer ones for clean energy, the linchpin of a global strategy to cut greenhouse-gas emissions in the developing world. But two of the most ambitious efforts yetin South Africa and Indonesiaare now at risk of unraveling, sowing doubts about the rich worlds ability to push developing countries away from coal and other fossil fuels. South Africa and Indonesia, among the worlds most coal-hungry economies, are backtracking on commitments they made to burn less of the fuel under agreements known as Just Energy Transition Partnerships, or JETPs, which offered them $28.5 billion from the U.S. and other wealthy nations. Officials are working to prevent the agreements from falling apart as governments convene in Dubai for COP28, the annual United Nations climate summit. Resistance from pro-coal politicians in both countries and fears about the economic and technical viability of replacing the fuel quickly are jeopardizing the agreements. South African and Indonesian officials say the money from wealthy countries isnt what they hoped: Most of it will come in loans, not grants, saddling the countries with more debt. Climate funding should be more constructive, not in the form of debts that will only increase the burden on undeveloped or developing countries," Indonesias President Joko Widodo said last month. South Africas state-controlled power company has delayed its plans to retire coal-fired power plants. Indonesia says it likely wont meet a cap for power-sector emissions negotiated under its program because of thousands of megawatts of coal-fired power plants that werent accounted for previously. Their backtracking shows the immense challenge of replacing coal in countries that rely on the fuel not only to generate electricity but also to provide jobs for tens of thousands of miners and facilitate economic development. Coal supports local economies and industries, and politicians have deep ties to mining companies and unions. Developing countries also say they are wary of ditching a reliable fuel source with new technologies that arent widely used yet, even in the developed world. Wealthy nations aimed to assuage those concerns with billions of dollars in grants and low-interest loans to build clean-energy projects and find new jobs for miners. Such finance is crucial to advancing climate negotiations under the U.N. JETP was advertised as this groundbreaking new way to help the Global South decarbonize, but more than 1.5 years later, it is looking increasingly shaky," said Richard Halsey, policy adviser on the South African energy team at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, a think tank. Since last years climate conference, Vietnamanother coal-reliant economyand Senegal have also signed JETPs, valued at $15.5 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively. Sometimes the national debate shows there are people in the country who are not progressive," said Mathilde Bord-Laurans, head of the climate division at the French Development Agency, which is helping fund the JETP programs. You feel this tension, which is indeed very, very high in South Africa, but also in Indonesia and in Vietnam." The coalition of wealthy nations that are funding the JETPs say they remain committed to the programs of South Africa and Indonesia. Officials are searching for ways to keep South Africas emissions in line with its JETP despite the delays to coal-plant retirements. They will conduct a study with Indonesia in the coming months to find replacements for coal in the countrys fast-growing smelting industry. The U.S. is offering more grant financing in response to the countries concerns, said a senior U.S. Treasury official. President Biden and other leaders unveiled South Africas program, the first JETP, in 2021 at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow. The U.S., France, U.K., Germany and the European Union promised $8.5 billion in loans, investments and grants in the next five years to help South Africa move away from coal faster. Nearly a year later, Indonesia was promised $20 billion under its own JETP. South Africas program soon became a lightning rod for criticism from several of the countrys politicians for burdening the country with more debt and containing too few outright grants. The powerful mining and energy minister, Gwede Mantashe, who is also chairman of the ruling African National Congress party, has repeatedly attacked the concepts underpinning the JETP, saying developed nations have weaponized climate change against the developing world. A staunch coal supporter and former coal miner, he has dragged his feet for years to draw up a clean-energy plan, according to analysts and economists. President Cyril Ramaphosa said in May that the country was still committed to transitioning away from coal, calling the JETP a boon" to South Africa, but stressed that the pace would be in line with the needs of the domestic economy and society. Mantashe and Ramaphosas offices didnt return requests for comment I wont sugarcoat that its easy," said a senior U.S. Treasury official. But I still think we have sufficient reformers and political will to get there." Adding to the political resistance is the disintegration of South Africas electrical grid. Rolling power outages can last for up to 11 hours a day, caused largely by constant breakdowns and lengthy maintenance shutdowns of the countrys aging fleet of coal-fired power stations. South Africas near-bankrupt state utility Eskom had been planning to shut down more than 6,000 megawatts of coal generation capacity, representing about 14% of installed coal capacity, by the end of 2028. But in its outlook report released in October, the utility assumes that no coal power plant will be shut down" during the next five years. A previous coal plant retirement last October was botched, South Africas Presidential Climate Commission said in a study. The plan, funded with $500 million from the World Bank, was meant to show the viability of retiring coal plants early. But it only began creating new jobs for the workers five months before the closure of the plant. It happened too quickly and ignored the just part of the just transition, " said one person involved in the negotiations. Coal is integral to South Africa, which gets more than 80% of its electricity and nearly one-fifth of its liquid fuel from coal. It is also a top-10 coal producer globally; coal mining accounts for more than 90,000 jobs in a country with an unemployment rate of over 30%. Delaying the retirement of coal plants, however, means South Africa risks breaking its climate promises, which include reducing carbon emissions by between 5% and 21% by 2030, from 2020 levels. If this happens, then we cannot fund this," said a negotiator from one of the wealthy countries. Indonesias program was upended this year when the government said that the JETP didnt account for a host of coal plants built for metal smelters and other factories in remote areas that arent connected to the grid. Indonesian authorities are planning for companies to build many more of them despite the countrys JETP commitments, part of a national strategy to become a major smelter of nickel and cobalt, needed to make electric-vehicle batteries. When the agreement was first announced, U.S. officials were assuming that Indonesia would have 9,000 megawatts worth of off-grid power plants installed by 2030. Since then, Indonesian officials have disclosed that there are already around 14,000 megawatts of them around the country. Indonesian companies plan to build an additional 20,000 megawatts. Indonesias Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources didnt respond to a request for comment. This was eye-opening not just for us but also many in the Indonesian government," said a U.S. State Department official. Write to Alexandra Wexler at alexandra.wexler@wsj.com, Sha Hua at sha.hua@wsj.com and Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com DUBAIWorld leaders gathered for climate talks in this oil-rich corner of the globe amid sharp divisions over how quickly governments need to wean their economies off fossil fuels to prevent the planet from blowing past the Paris accords temperature targets. Vice President Kamala Harris was expected to join Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, French President Emmanuel Macron and a host of leaders from across the Gulf region Friday at the start of a two-day summit to kick off the United Nations annual climate talks, known as COP28. Over the next two weeks, negotiators from more than 190 countries are expected to prepare the first-ever global stocktake," assessing how much progress the world has made in implementing the Paris accord. That landmark climate agreement, signed in 2015, calls for governments to limit warming to well below" 2 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels and attempt to hold it to 1.5 degrees. A technical analysis for the stocktake published in September was downbeat, saying governments were far from meeting those goals. The threat of an overheating planet is driving demands from the U.S. and other governments for sharp reductions in fossil-fuel burning. Western officials are calling for a global halt to the construction of coal-burning power plants as they push for the final stocktake to include a call for a phaseout" of fossil fuels. Big developing countries such as China, India and Saudi Arabia are expected to resist, saying that poorer nations will need coal, oil and natural gas for decades to power economic growth and provide energy security. Developing countries also say the U.S., Europe and other wealthy countries havent cut their emissions as promised over the past 20 years. They say developed countries bear responsibility for the brunt of emissions that have been pumped into the atmosphere since the dawn of the industrial age. Developing countries say wealthy nations need to make good on their Paris accord pledge to help poorer economies transition to cleaner sources of energy and adapt to the effects of climate change. At previous talks, wealthy countries agreed to channel $100 billion a year to developing nations by 2020, a goal that was missed for several years. Now governments are debating a new finance goal. The International Monetary Fund says developing countries need $2 trillion a year starting in 2030 to respond to climate change, with much of that coming from wealthy nations. Developing countries notched an early victory Thursday when the U.S. and other wealthy countries agreed to key details on establishing a U.N. fund to pay for climate-related damage in poor countries. That settled long-running divisions over where the fund will be located, which countries should benefit and who should finance it. The United Arab Emirates, the host of the summit, said it would contribute $100 million to the fund. Germany also pledged $100 million. The U.K. pledged 20 million pounds, equivalent to around $25 million, and the U.S. committed $17.5 million, the U.A.E. said Thursday. Write to Stacy Meichtry at Stacy.Meichtry@wsj.com and Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com When Saudi Arabias autocratic crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman (known as mbs), last year launched Ceer, the kingdoms first electric-vehicle (ev) brand, his ambition was clear. His country was not just building a new automotive company, he gushed, it was igniting a new industry". Saudi Arabia is powering up its efforts to become a force in manufacturing EVs. If this project is a success, it could mark a significant step towards diversifying its economy away from oil. But big potholes remain. Saudi officials have long talked of becoming a manufacturing hub for both petrol-powered and electric cars as part of the kingdoms wider industrial strategy and its plans to tackle climate change. It says it wants to make 500,000 evs a year by 2030, roughly equivalent to annual demand for cars in Saudi Arabia today. Now the Saudis are pushing money towards these ambitions. Of $32bn targeted by the ministry of industry and mineral resources for nine projects in mining, $6bn will be invested in a steel-plate mill and a plant for battery metals for EVs. They have made it faster and easier for companies to get licences and permits, which are often a hassle elsewhere in the world. Saudi Arabia is making some progress. Hyundai, a big South Korean carmaker, has agreed to build a factory to assemble its vehicles in the country. Tesla, the worlds largest full ev producer, is said to be in talks about setting up a manufacturing facility in the kingdom, though the companys boss, Elon Musk, has denied the rumours. The Saudis have signed a $5.6bn deal with Human Horizons, a Chinese firm that makes luxury evs, to collaborate on development, manufacturing and sales. Ceer, a joint venture between the Saudi sovereign-wealth fund and Foxconn, one of the worlds biggest electronics manufacturers, is working with bmw, a German carmaker, to produce electric cars in Saudi Arabia. And Lucid, a loss-making American new entrant majority-owned by the fund, opened a factory near Jeddah on September 27th. Its annual production will be 5,000 cars; the firm claims production capacity will eventually rise to 155,000. Saudi may have to find other ways to boost its appeal. Carmakers everywhere face rising costs, tariffs and geopolitical worries. To attract ev manufacturing at scale, the kingdom may have to offer cheap renewable energy. It will also have to draw in suppliers to the big manufacturers. Hyundai Kefico, a component maker, recently signed a deal with Ceer. Saudi Arabia has rivals in trying to develop an ev industry. Hungary has used its labour-cost advantage to attract battery-cell makers. Indonesia reckons that its nickel reserves mean it can do something similar, though its success is far from assured. Closer to the kingdom, Turkey and Morocco already have well-established auto industries that make internal-combustion-engine cars, so investors may be drawn to those countries instead. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias blistering temperatures and limited supplies of water mean that building and running factories there will be complicated. It does not yet have much of an industrial base. The kingdom has plenty of cash and a determined ruler but money gets you only so far. China owes its success to the fact that it moved earlyand strategicallyon evs before the rest of the worlds carmakers (Tesla excepted). That has given it an advantage that Saudi Arabia cannot hope to replicate. And the kingdoms domestic car market is small. The automotive industry is hard to enter even if the advent of electric cars has lowered the barriers. The claims being made are extraordinary. Ceer alone, the company suggests, could generate $8bn of gross value-added by 2034 (equivalent to 0.7% of gdp in 2022). It is easy to be sceptical of Saudis ev aspirations, especially since other hyperbolic targets are being set in the kingdom across many industries. Nonetheless its ev efforts are a serious attempt on the part of the worlds biggest oil exporter to diversify its economy and create new industries in anticipation of the bigger changes coming down the road. For more coverage of climate change, sign up for the Climate Issue, our fortnightly subscriber-only newsletter, or visit our climate-change hub. The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form governments in three statesMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarhout of the five that went to polls recently. The Indian National Congress won in Telangana while Mizorams results are due tomorrow. Check the latest numbers here. While too much should not be extrapolated from state assembly elections as they typically revolve on local issues, the current ones are different. One, they came very close to the 2024 General Election scheduled for May next year where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be defending his two-term Government at the hustings. A loss for BJP would have put it under significant pressure. Stock markets would have begun worrying. Two, these elections were a test of the Congresss resurgence. The partys victory in Karnataka Assembly election had generated a lot of hope that it will be the beginning of its comeback. Its leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo yatra, many thought, has put the party on a winning run. Immediately after Congresss Karnataka victory, opposition parties came together to form the I.N.D.I.A alliance in a bid to unseat BJP at the Centre. The future of this alliance depended a lot on the outcome of these elections. Here we present for you the five key takeaways from the just concluded State assembly elections. Hindi heartland firmly with BJP Of the 519 assembly seats in play in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the BJP has won or is leading in over 330 seats. In Madhya Pradesh, the party has overcome anti-incumbency despite being in power for four terms. The Congress, on the other hand, could not retain power after just a single term in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Such a show just four months before the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections means the BJP is on a very strong footing as it fights for a third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress resurgence stopped in its tracks The Congresss victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections in May led to the formation of I.N.D.I.A an opposition alliance involving over two dozen political parties. Their aim is to dislodge the BJP government at the Centre in the 2024 elections. However, this comprehensive loss to BJP in the Hindi heartland might well have ended the short-lived Congress resurgence. Impact on the I.N.D.I.A alliance Congress loss, especially where it was head-to-head with BJP, will considerably weaken its position in the I.N.D.I.A alliance. Many regional parties such as Trinamool Congress, AAP, JD(U) and others are the greatest beneficiaries of this loss. They will now demand a greater say and seats in the alliance. Such a move will considerably weaken the alliance efforts to project a cohesive opposition that can, when elected, offer a stable Government. BJP will find it easy to play the instability card and win votes. This Congress defeat in the Hindi heartland will at best weaken the alliance and at worst, break it. The North-South divide Congress only consolation is its victory in Telangana where it has comfortably defeated a two-term Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. It benefited from the anti-incumbency that BRS faced after being in power for 10 years since the formation of Telangana state. BJP, for its part, has gained vote share. This victory clearly showed that Congress still has clout South of the Vindhyas. It won Karnataka in May and now Telangana. Can Congress strength in the South be good enough to take on BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? The South has just 130 seats of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats nationally. Thus, a strong performance in the South may not be enough. The Congress needs to do well in the Hindi heartland and other parts of the country. BJP, on the other hand, needs a `South Strategy if it has to do very well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It is a non-entity in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It has done well to stitch an alliance with JD(S) in Karnataka after its loss in May. The electoral arithmetic favours the BJP-JD(S) alliance in the Lok Sabha polls. BJP needs similar measures in other Southern states. What do these election results mean for the stock markets? The election outcome will surely please the stock markets with experts predicting a strong opening tomorrow. Stock markets clearly want stability and BJPs performance in the recent State Assembly elections, especially in the Hindi heartland its core vote baseshould give a boost to the markets. A strong BJP would mean a stable government while an I.N.D.I.A alliance, with a weak Congress, can at best offer a rickety coalition. A stable government and policy continuity would be key positives and lead to further upsides in the market. Moreover, the results would also assuage concerns that losses for BJP would set off a spiral of competitive populism in the country with adverse long-term fiscal consequences, as this Mint Snapview points out. A decisive BJP win will reinforce the consensus view that the party is on the front foot for the 2024 general elections. This will likely add a further leg of the rally to the markets as policy continuity will be viewed as a positive growth shock in the medium term," said Emkay Global Securities. On Friday, the Nifty hit a record 20,291.55 during the day thanks to stellar GDP growth of 7.6% in the second quarter and positive cues from state exit polls. It closed at an all-time high of 20,267.90, up 0.67%. In a 13 November note, Morgan Stanley said that a decisive BJP victory in the Lok Sabha elections in May next year could see BSE Sensex rising by 10%. A BJP defeat and emergence of a coalition Government will trigger a 40% fall in Sensex. The author of the piece is N Madhavan GLOBAL SECURITIES More Information 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! Choosing your next mutual fund investment can be a challenging task, particularly when faced with a selection of over 1400 schemes. How do you go about making this decision? What criteria do you consider when determining which fund to invest in, the amount of money to allocate, the method of investment, and the duration for which you intend to keep your money invested in the fund? Examining past performance is merely one aspect to contemplate when making mutual fund investments. Investing involves more than just concentrating on returns. Various factors come into play, such as the fund houses sustained performance, its investment strategy, its approach to investing, and the rate of portfolio turnover aligned with economic cycles. A thorough evaluation should take into account a wider array of factors, including: Sustained performance: The steadiness in performance serves as a crucial indicator of a mutual funds resilience and its capability to navigate diverse market conditions. A fund that consistently produces positive returns, even in the face of market downturns, showcases a strong investment strategy and a proficient management team. Assessing a funds reliability involves examining its performance in various market conditions and over different time frames. A fund that has consistently exceeded its benchmark or peer group performance over an extended period, spanning both bullish and bearish market phases, is more likely to maintain a trend of producing favourable returns in the future. Investment strategy: Understanding a funds investment strategy is essential for aligning your investment goals with the funds objectives. This includes gaining insights into the funds risk profile and potential returns through an understanding of asset allocation. For those unfamiliar, asset allocation pertains to how the fund distributes its investments across various asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and cash. Recognizing the sector focus helps you harmonize your investment objectives with the funds industry exposure, as it signifies the particular industries or sectors in which the fund emphasizes its investments. Additionally, understanding the risk management approach aids in evaluating the fund houses capacity to navigate market downturns. This delineates the AMCs tactics for mitigating risks and safeguarding investor capital. Investment mindset: The overarching philosophy and investment approach of a fund management company play a crucial role in shaping its sustained performance over the long term. A fund management firm that follows a disciplined investment philosophy, places significant importance on thorough research and effective risk management and prioritizes investor education is well-equipped to make informed decisions and adeptly navigate market cycles. A transparent and steadfast investment philosophy serves as a guiding framework for the fund management companys investment choices. A strong philosophy should be in harmony with prevailing market conditions and address the preferences of investors. Portfolio turnover ratio: Many investors unwittingly ignore a funds portfolio turnover ratio not realizing how this feature is a crucial element of fund management that can significantly influence its performance and, by extension, investor returns. Excessive portfolio turnover, marked by frequent buying and selling of securities, can have several drawbacks, although it also indicates the fund managements readiness to reevaluate its portfolio allocation in response to market conditions and abrupt shifts in customer preferences. Fund management charges: The expense ratio, denoting the yearly fees imposed on shareholders as a percentage of the funds average net assets, plays a pivotal role in influencing the funds overall returns. Generally, lower expense ratios lead to higher net returns for investors. Expense ratios encompass the operational costs of the fund, including management fees, marketing expenses, and distribution costs. These expenditures are subtracted from the funds assets prior to computing the net asset value (NAV), representing the funds price per share. A greater expense ratio implies that a greater share of the funds returns is eaten up by fees, reducing the amount available to investors. On the flip side, a lower expense ratio allows investors to retain a larger portion of the funds returns. The influence of expense ratios on returns becomes more evident over extended holding periods. A reduced expense ratio has the potential to result in higher net returns, particularly for long-term investors. It is advisable for investors to meticulously assess a funds expense ratio when comparing various investment options. Size of the fund: The performance and liquidity of a mutual fund can be impacted by its size. Generally, larger funds provide increased diversification and stability by having the ability to invest in a broader range of securities, which reduces vulnerability to individual stock movements. However, as a funds assets grow, it may become more challenging for the fund manager to pinpoint and capitalize on high-performing opportunities. Furthermore, larger funds may encounter difficulties in executing trades without causing notable price fluctuations in the securities they are buying or selling. Tax implications: It is essential to grasp the tax implications of investing in a specific mutual fund to optimize your overall investment strategy. The consequences of taxes can have a significant impact on your net returns, making it crucial to incorporate them into your decision-making process. Investors must conduct a thorough evaluation of various factors to make informed decisions that align with their financial goals when selecting the appropriate mutual funds. This diligent approach enhances their prospects for long-term financial success. Being well-informed empowers investors to navigate the complexities of the financial market and optimize their potential returns. 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: It was the intervening night of 3 and 4 October. Most residents of Chungthang were deep in sleep when a surge of water in the Teesta river triggered flash floods that laid waste to the settlement in north Sikkimhome to around 4,000 people. When officials took count of the devastation, as many as 42 people had been killed in the Teesta basin, and 77 missing and presumed dead. Thousands had been displaced. Those who escaped did so with just the clothes they were wearing; they had no time to salvage anything else. The hydropower dam over the Teesta was destroyed and the associated 1,200MW Teesta-III hydropower project submerged by the swirling waters in the disaster that rekindled an old debate: how safe are Indias dams? Experts blamed what they call a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, or GLOF, in the South Lhonak lake, for the disaster. Glacial lakes sit atop or below a melting glacier and as they grow larger, they become more perilous. They are blocked by ice or sediment of rock and debris, and if the boundary breaks, waters surge down the mountains, flooding downstream areas. This phenomenon is known as GLOF. Its not as if the authorities had been caught totally unawares. As far back as 2015, glaciologist Anil Kulkarni had warned the Sikkim government about the formation of a lake in the South Lhonak glacier, which had been melting rapidly, and suggested that an early warning system be put in place to avert a disaster. Kulkarni, a scientist at the Divecha Centre for Climate Change in Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science, was co-author of a paper that highlighted high risk posed to many settlements along Chungthang valley because of the construction of a hydropower dam over the Teesta river. The state government officials were part of this investigation and attempts were made to take some action to prevent a disaster. An early warning system was also installed," Kulkarni said. Obviously, this early warning system did not work on the night of 3-4 October. A statement by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said excess rainfall, besides the GLOF, triggered the disaster. Sikkim has 10% or 750 of the countrys glacial lakes and 25 have been assessed to be at risk of GLOF. The NDMA statement spoke of making assessments at two such lakes in September this year to develop an early warning system. Debate on dams Lets delve deeper into the issue of dam safety. Much of the 1980s and 1990s had been consumed by protests over the Russian (Soviet)-aided Tehri dam in Himalayas where some experts warned that an earthquake with the force of 10,000 Hiroshima-size atom bombs was waiting to strike, and the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat. The Sardar Sarovar dam, a part of the Narmada Valley project, became a centre of controversy because it meant displacing 100,000 tribespeople and peasants, sharecroppers and landless labourers from their ancestral lands. India is the third most dammed country in the world, with 6,138 large dams in all. Any dam higher than 15 metres from its deepest foundation level is classified as a large dam. If it has very large storage, even a 10-metre high dam is called large. But despite so many large dams, India has a rather poor record of dam safety. The country has a staggeringly large number of ageing dams and never has it decommissioned one so far. An overwhelming 80% of Indias large dams are over 25 years old and 234 are over 100 years old, according to the latest data shared in a presentation by the ministry of jal shakti. How are the 234 century-old dams kept safe? Are they safe in the first place? Some are over 500 years old! Cumbhum in Andhra Pradesh was built in 1500, making it the oldest in the country at about 523 years. The two dams in Rajasthan, Swaroop Sagar and Udai Sagar, were also built in the 16th century (1560 and 1585, respectively). The dam in Dhamapur (Maharashtra) is 423 years old; dams on Magarpur and Pachwara Lake (Uttar Pradesh) are of 1694 vintage. There had been 42 dam failures in India till September this year, according to a presentation by S.K. Sibal, chairman of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). The failure of the Machchu dam in Gujarat in 1979 was the worst, in which 2,000 people perished. According to the South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), an informal network of organizations and individuals working on issues related to the water sector, the Bharudpura dam on Karam river, a tributary of the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, faced a disaster after the dam was filled with water for the first time in August 2022erosion of the dam wall was reported. And there have been multiple dam failures and dam- induced floods in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Hirakud-induced floods in Mahanadi basin have affected several villages in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. There have also been several instances of unscientific operation of dams. Not just older dams, most failures have actually involved newly built dams, chiefly in the first 10 years," according to NDSAs Sibal. The Chungthang dam was commissioned only in 2017. So, it wasnt age that was responsible for its collapse. Climate checks View Full Image Himalayan glaciers have been receding and strict monitoring of lakes in states like Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim is necessary, glaciologists say. (AFP) The question is what can India do about the problem? Anil Kulkarni said that not just South Lhonak, Himalayan glaciers in general have been receding and strict monitoring of lakes in states like Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim was necessary. Should hydropower projects be located in the fragile Himalayan region at all? I have been recommending climate assessments in addition to environment impact assessments for such projects. I have said construction of hydropower stations in the Himalayan region should be avoided but if unavoidable, then GLOF assessment should be done beforehand and mitigation measures should be built into the project," Kulkarni said. Most often, this advice has been ignored because it entails costs, he added. Mohammed Farooq Azam, glaciology expert and associate professor at Indian Institute of Technology- Indore, said that for GLOF hazards, the government should maintain an updated inventory of all lakes." Azam warned that existing lakes are growing larger and also new lakes are developing as glaciers are receding, leaving depressions which are filled with meltwater, leading to formation of new lakes or lake growth. The inventory of glacier lakes should be updated every five years so that we can estimate the water volumes in these lakes." Now, perhaps a little wiser after the north Sikkim disaster, the government may lend an ear to the glaciologists renewed entreaties for detailed climate impact studies and declaring a mountain regulation zone, on the lines of a coastal regulation zone, where large infrastructure projects would be regulated. Kulkarni says the ministry of earth sciences was in the process of forming a committee to conduct a study of the climate impact of large infrastructure projects in the Himalayan region. Disaster-proof design View Full Image A view of the region around Chungthang, after the hydropower plant collapsed in October. India has no mechanism in place to assess the viable lifespan and performance of dams. (PTI) Should India build more dams, whether for generating hydro power or for other needs? Azam says India is producing around 25,000MW energy from the dams on the Himalayan rivers alone, which is around 65% of the total hydropower potential of these rivers. It will not be easy to find an alternative to damming the Himalayan rivers for securing Indias energy needs. Dams are also needed for irrigation and other water security purposes. So alongside evaluating the climate impact of building new dams in ecologically sensitive areas like the Himalayan region, a critical component of dam safety has to be in-built special operating procedures in dam design that take care of eventualities like flash floods. Disasters and ageing dams notwithstanding, India has no mechanism in place to assess the viable lifespan and performance of dams. In response to a query from members of parliament during a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on water resources, the Jal Shakti ministry said in March this year: Dams in India are normally designed for approximately 100 years of useful age. The functional life of the dams decreases with progressive reservoir sedimentation concurrently reducing project benefits. There is no mechanism to assess the viable lifespan and performance of dams." The ministry also said no information/recommendation from the dam owners has been submitted for decommissioning of any of their dams. In fact, Sibal of CWC laid the entire onus of ensuring safety of Indias dams on the state governments, public sector undertakings and private agencies. A Jal Shakti ministry spokesperson referred to DRIP II and DRIP III schemes, which have been devised to enhance dam safety oversight. DRIP is an acronym for Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved DRIP II and DRIP III in October 2020. DRIP aims to fully rehabilitate 736 dams in 19 states by 2031. Rehabilitation includes treatment for reduction of seepage through masonry, improvement in dam drainage; treatment for cracking in the dam, improvement in the ability to withstand higher floods, etc. Another senior ministry official said that dam safety was close to the Prime Ministers heart" and that after decades of inaction, the Narendra Modi government had brought in a comprehensive Dam Safety Act. The Dam Safety Act of 2021 became effective from 30 December that year. According to an official statement, the Act provides a comprehensive framework for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all the large dams. The Act also provides for an empowered institutional framework for dam safety, both at the level of Centre and States and will help in standardizing dam safety practices across the country. The official declined to provide any further details of the steps taken to make Indias large dams safe. The parliamentary standing committee has noted that some of the dams were over 300 years old and despite the Jal Shakti ministry acknowledging that the lifespan of a dam is 100 years, none of the older dams had been decommissioned till date. The panel gave a three-month deadline to the ministry to apprise it of steps taken to nudge state governments to decommission dams that have outlived their lifespans and may pose severe threat to life and infrastructure. Hot button issue View Full Image A view of the controversial Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala. Dams create a new economy around them making it very difficult for India to shift ecosystems around dams to new sites. (iStockphoto) In any case, decommissioning of dams remains a controversial issue in India, points out Ranjan Panda, a water activist and convenor at Combat Climate Change Network, India. For one, Indias water policy is dominated by civil engineers who feel their work can pass the test of time. Policymaking does not involve stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, unlike in the US or Europe," he said. Then, there are powerful socio-economic concerns that prevent dam decommissioning. Dams create a new economy around them. Colonies develop around dams, making it very difficult for a country like India to shift ecosystems around dams to new sites. Mullaperiyar (Kerala) and Hirakud (Odisha) dams are examples," Panda said. In any case, decommissioning of dams is a time-consuming and laborious process. First, the government needs to conduct socio-economic and ecological impact studies and then earmark rehabilitation areas for the displaced people. Next comes a strategy for building an alternative water resource to offer livelihoods to the displaced population. And nature has its own way of evening out things. The government has never decommissioned a dam in India but nature has. The GLOF event at the Chungthang dam over the Teesta has effectively meant that this dam has been decommissioned," said Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of SANDRP. In 1984, during the intervening night of 2 and 3 December in Varanasi, a modest barat from Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya arrived at the guest house of Banaras Locomotive Works. Kashi then was esteemed for its scholarly environment, where university professors and vice-chancellors were more revered than leaders, officials, or influential figures. The procession included vice chancellors from three universities, registrars, numerous professors, cultural figures, and journalistsa gathering unparalleled in its composition. Interestingly, the groom, travelling in a car behind the procession, was largely unnoticed. His decision to not ride the customary horse or wield a sword diverted attention from him. Contrary to norm in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where weddings often span the entire night, the dwarchar and phere ceremonies were swiftly completed in a mere one-and-a-half hours at the brides place. At the dinner table, a friend of the groom whispered in his ear, Today because of you I had to cancel my trip to Bhopal. Now I will go tomorrow." But for him, that tomorrow never came. During the wedding festivities, even as guests were finishing dinner with paan, some 800 kilometres away, in Bhopal, a catastrophe was waiting to unfold. At the pesticide manufacturing plant of Union Carbide Corporation, a tank holding 45 tonnes of methyl isocyanate sprang a leak. Most people in the neighbourhood had retired for the night. But as the gas spread, they woke up with a burning sensation in the eyes. Things soon got worse as the gas impaired functioning of their lungs. Now breathless and frantic, people began running out of their dwellings on to streets. More than 3,500 people died in the immediate aftermath of the leak and about 20,000 more perished in the weeks that followed. The official death toll stands at 3,787, though. People exposed to the gas suffered irreversible lung damage and in many cases also suffered permanent damage to eyesight, kidney or the liver. For a city with a population of about 900,000, the loss of so many lives meant that every other household was touched by the tragedy. Arjun Singh was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh then and Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister. Rajiv was a newbie, entrusted with power in the wake of the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi on 31 October that same year. Arjun Singh was expected to act strictly. Four days after the tragedy, Warren Anderson, then CEO of Union Carbide, came to Bhopal. Upon his arrival, he was briefly arrested and then permitted to leave the country on a special plane. Why did this transpire? Whose orders dictated this action? The incident deeply unsettled the conscience of every patriotic individual. However, politics operates not on sensitivities but on capricious decisions. Subsequently, Rajiv Gandhi secured an unprecedented victory in the Lok Sabha election, winning 414 seats. The Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections occurred the next year, and under the leadership of Arjun Singh, the Congress once again succeeded in forming the government. This sequence of events indicates a clear messagethe Bhopal gas tragedy failed to gain traction as a regional issue, let alone a national one. The government inquiry committee reported, much later, that negligence in maintenance at the Union Carbide factory due to a shortage of personnel had rendered the six-tier system that had been in place at the factory ineffective in stopping the gas leak. Meanwhile, the victims sought justice, supported by activist journalists and individuals passionate about fairness. Following an extensive legal battle, by December 2021, a sum of 3,066.63 crore had been allocated as compensation for 574,393 affected individuals. Future generations, though, may say: A 37-year-long battle resulted in just this?" Over time, the Bhopal gas tragedy faded from news and public discourse. But a forthcoming series to be released on OTT streams has refocused attention on this calamity. India has greatly advanced since 2 December 1984, but incidents such as Bhopal underscore that we must still prioritize every countrymans life as the nations utmost responsibility. Now if you are wondering what the barat mentioned at the beginning of this piece has to do with the gas tragedy, let me explain: I was the groom described. Each wedding anniversary brings my wife and me the sad memory of Bhopal. My friend, who missed his trip to Bhopal that night, continues to reside in Varanasi. He is still unable to reminisce that night without a shudder. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. Bhopal Gas Tragedy anniversary: To observe the 39th anniversary of world's worst industrial disaster, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid tribute to the victims of the accident on Sunday. While paying tribute, MP CM refused to comment on the ongoing election results trend. During the early trend, his party has reached a majority mark in the state as per the Election Commission of India. "This is not the time to speak on these things (election results)," CM Chouhan said, as the party is set to retain the government in the state. While recalling the horrifying scene that followed after the leakage of methyl isocyanate (MIC) in Bhopal, MP CM said, When we remember the accident on the night of 2-3 December, we get nightmares." The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is considered as the world's worst industrial disaster in history. The gas leak in the Union Carbide factory claimed the lives of several thousand people on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984. The tragedy unfolded in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, after the highly dangerous and toxic gas, methyl isocyanate (MIC), escaped from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) and resulted in the death of 5,295 human beings, injuries to almost 5,68,292 persons besides loss of livestock. Companies like GAIL, ONGC, IOC continue to do work with Union Carbide,' says activist Remembering the horrifying incident, people conducted a candle march in Bhopal on Saturday. The women attending the march carried placards seeking compensation, health care, and justice. The candle march started from Sidhi Colony and ended at the memorial for victims close to the factory in Bhopal. Rachna Dhingra of Bhopal Group for Information and Action demanded strict action against corporations who continued to do business with Union Carbide after the tragedy. "Gas Authority India Limited (GAIL), ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, Gujarat Alkalies Chlorides Limited, and others continued to do business with Union Carbide while it was absconding," alleges Dhingra. "We want Dow Chemical, which has taken over Union Carbide, to be made part of the case. The waste lying inside the factory should be removed as it is seeping and contaminating underground water. The densely populated colonies near the factory are using contaminated underground water," Balkrishna Namdev of Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangarsh Morcha told PTI. Decades after the accident when a large chunk of compensation has been already released for the victims by the state government, survivors of the tragedy continue to protest for the prosecution of the main culprit of the accident. 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! Busy with cruise passengers In November, the southern city welcomed thousands of cruise passengers to visit and have experiences on the Saigon River and Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal. Ms. Nguyen Thi Vuong, Executive Manager of Nhieu Loc Boat Company Limited, said: Tourism products on the canal are competitive with many other destinations, attracting not only domestic tourists but international tourists. Currently, international visitors account for more than 50% of visitors on this tourist route. According to Ms. Vuong, the 60-minute tour itinerary gives visitors time to enjoy Don ca tai tu music performances and learn about 9 bridges spanning the canal such as Hoang Hoa Tham, Tran Khanh Du, Kieu and Cong Ly. A special highlight of this tour is that visitors will experience releasing fish to improve the water source, contributing to enhancing the rich ecosystem of the canal. Under the bridges, multi-colored lights have been installed, becoming a new and interesting check-in point for tourists. The cruise ship group visiting the Ho Chi Minh City Museum. (Photo: sggp.org.vn) Nearly one month, Saigontourist Travel also welcomed thousands of cruise passengers from Celebrity Cruises to visit famous destinations in Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City. While staying in the city, tourists visited the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Ben Thanh Market and Thong Nhat Hall. At the same time, they had opportunities to enjoy traditional cultural and artistic performances and learn about folk games. According to Saigontourist, the group of multinational cruise passengers (British, German, the US and more) has a high spending level, are interested in learning about indigenous cultural and historical tourism experiences. The City Department of Tourism estimates that in 2023, international visitors to the city will reach about 5 million, an increase of 44.3% over the same period last year. Domestic tourist arrivals are forecast to reach about 35 million visitors. Total revenue from tourists is estimated to be about 160 trillion VND. In the first 10 months of 2023 alone, the hub welcomed over 4 million international visitors, with a total tourism revenue of about 140 trillion VND. Bustling tours, new routes According to travel agencies such as Saigontourist, Vietravel and TST Tourist, year-end and Tet tours are quite bustling. Among these, short tours and routes in the inner city, connecting Ho Chi Minh City to other provinces, are being welcomed. Mr. Nguyen Minh Man, Director of Communications and Marketing of TST Tourist, said that this year, tourists from the middle income segment and above did not wait to hunt for cheap tours but proactively looked for opportunities to reserve seats for quality tours. Photo for illustration. (Source: vneconomy.vn) Typically, Thu Duc Spring Trip tour (1 day) developed by TST Tourist has drawn considerable interest from customers. Mr. Man informed that visitors will be given a set of Ao Dai photos at the Ao Dai Museum and visit Thu Duc apricot village, a place that specializes in providing decorative flowers for Nguyen Hue Flower Street every Tet holiday. In addition, business in the city also design private tours according to customer orders. In early December, the City Department of Tourism officially launched the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week with the theme Green on every journey. This is the next activity of the tourism industry in coordination with relevant departments and units along with the People's Committee of Thu Duc City and districts. The goal is to stimulate domestic and international tourism demand, creating opportunities for tourism businesses to introduce tourism products, services and promotions for 2024. Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the City Department of Tourism, said that Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week 2023, scheduled from December 4 to 10, will become a series of communication activities for the year-end festival season. As scheduled, each week, the city will announce at least one new tourism product. Currently, the city has about 60 tourism products, including many typical products of districts and Thu Duc City./. Indian parliamentary leaders meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 4. at 10 am in the LoP chamber in Parliament. Leaders of political parties in Parliament met on Saturday to discuss the agenda for the Winter session of Parliament, which begins on Monday, December 4. In addition to Rajnath Singh, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, and Pramod Tiwari, as well as Trinamool leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, NCP leader Fouzia Khan, and RSP leader N K Premachandran, the meeting has been convened by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi. Before the start of the Winter Session of Parliament, 2023, the Government met with the Floor Leaders of all Political Parties under the leadership of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. According to Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the Winter Session of Parliament will begin on Monday, 4th December, 2023, and may end on Friday, 22nd December, 2023, depending on the demands of government business. During the Session, there will be 15 sittings spread over 19 days. Additionally, 19 legislative items and 2 financial items are tentatively scheduled for consideration during this session. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs further stated that the Government is always ready to discuss on the floor of the House, any issue as permitted under Rules of Procedure by respective Presiding Officers. He also requested all party leaders for active cooperation and support for the smooth functioning of the two Houses of Parliament. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice; Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal. List of bills likely to be taken up during the 14th session of 17th Lok Sabha and 262nd session of Rajya Sabha would be:- I LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS:- The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023, as passed by Lok Sabha. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, as passed by Rajya Sabha. The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, as passed by Rajya Sabha. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 The Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 The Post Office Bill, 2023 The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 The Boilers Bill, 2023 The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill 2023 The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 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 delegation of Telangana Congress leaders Sunday met Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan to claim the formation of the government with 65 members in the newly elected House in the state, news agency PTI reported. A meeting of newly-elected Congress MLAs would be held Tuesday morning, the report said. Also Read | Assembly Election Results 2023: Key takeaways After meeting the Telangana Governor, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, one of the AICC observers, said, We have met the Governor to claim the formation of the Govt with 65 members in this newly elected House and we have called a meeting of the newly elected MLAs tomorrow at 9:30 am. We have a procedure in the Congress party, we will follow that." "Tomorrow, we are meeting. We have a procedure in the Congress party. We will come out with the procedure and we will come back to you," Shivakumar said. The Congress leader refused to disclose what Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan stated. Also Read| BJP secures victory in Hindi Heartland, but don't dismiss Congress yet Meanwhile, Telangana Congress leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has said MLAs and the party high command will decide who will be the chief minister of the state, adding that the high command will take the opinions of MLAs in the CLP meeting and MLAs will support whatever the decision will be. The Congress today won 64 Assembly seats to form government in Telangana. The nearly 10-year-old rule of the BRS, which managed to secure only 39 seats, came to an end today. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao tendered resignation from his post, which was accepted by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. Also Read | Telangana Assembly Elections 2023 Results: Check full list of winners and losers The BJP, which had won just one seat in the 2018 assembly polls, managed to add seven more this time. Its vote share expanded from 7% to 13.88% in the 2023 Assembly elections. K Venkata Ramana Reddy of BJP emerged as a giant killer by defeating Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao and Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy. Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM retained its seven seats held by it in the outgoing Telangana Assembly. AIMIM candidates won seven out of the nine seats it contested in the state assembly election. 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 incoming assembly election results are a relief for the economy. Concerns that losses for the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) would set off a spiral of competitive populism in the country have eased considerably with the party looking set to bag at least three of the five states that went to polls. The three states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh belong to whats called the Hindi cow belt region and are crucial to the partys national strategy. The results for them and Telangana, are likely to be declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) by Sunday evening. Mizoram, which also went to polls in this election cycle, will have its results tomorrow. Some of the announcements during the election campaigns, run ahead of the polls in these states, had set alarm bells ringing among economy watchers for their potentially adverse long-term fiscal consequences and overall drift away from reforms and sound economics. The populist tone was set by the two parties, the BJP and the Congress, as they tried to outbid the other in Chhattisgarh for votes with promises to buy paddy from farmers at higher prices than the other: The BJP promised to buy paddy from farmers at 3,100 per quintal in its manifesto. The Congress announced that it would buy paddy from farmers at 3,200 per quintal. It also promised a farm loan waiver, free electricity up to 200 units, a 50% discount on power bills for up to 400 units, and a 50% loan subsidy for self-employment. In Rajasthan, the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government announced top-up on the subsidy on cooking gas cylinders over and above the subsidised price of 500 each. Gehlot launched a scheme for the free distribution of pulses, sugar, salt and oil to more than a crore people in the state through ration shops. His government also started giving free smartphones and three years of free internet to women. The state provides free electricity up to 200 units for every household and up to 2,000 units for farmers. The Congress repeated its promise to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme, the perils of which were earlier pointed out by Mint Snapview. In Madhya Pradesh, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government sweetened its Ladli Behna Yojana in August, increasing cash payments to women in low-income families from 1,000 to 1,250 a month. The minimum eligibility age was also reduced from 63 to 60 years. He promised to increase the monthly payment to 3,000 eventually. His government reduced the price of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to 450 each. The Congress promised a farm loan waiver initiated earlier by the short-lived Kamal Nath government, free electricity to farmers and subsidies for farm inputs in the state. The big-bang announcement, however, came from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the extension of the union governments free food grains scheme for the next five years at an election rally. The scheme that covers over 800 million eligible Indians across the country will cost taxpayers over 2 trillion a year. The competition among political parties to woo voters could have spiralled in case of setbacks in the three states, which would have made it tempting for the BJP to try to influence the electoral sentiment across the country in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections next year by announcing even more populist schemes at the Centre, with the ensuing increase in committed expenditure delaying fiscal consolidation, and heightening macroeconomic risks. Good performance by the Congress in the three states as had happened in 2018 could have triggered a repeat of something similar to what had happened in the 2019 interim budget. The BJP had not fared well in the state polls in 2018, losing all three Hindi-belt states. The impact was seen in the interim budget that followed. Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, presenting the interim budget on 1 February 2019, the stand-in finance minister filling in for ailing Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goyal, had announced a new cash payments scheme for farmers: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme. It promised Rs-6000 a year to farmers with up to 2 hectares land and was made applicable with retrospective effect from 1 December, 2018. The dates on which the 2019 elections to the lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, would take place were about to be announced. The model code of conduct, under which the new scheme could not have been announced, was about to kick in. Just before it did, the prime minister launched the PM-Kisan from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh on 24 February, 2019. He transferred the first instalment of 2,000 each (out of Rs. 6,000 per annum) into the bank accounts of 1.01 crore farm families. The target was to cover about 12.6 crore beneficiary farm families by the end of March 2019. After winning the parliamentary elections in May 2019, the scheme was extended to non-small and marginal landholders also. In 2022-23, 10.71 crore eligible landholders received 6,000 each in their bank accounts. The total amount disbursed from the Union budget was 58,201.85 crore -- without the phasing out of the de-merit subsidies on fertilisers given by the Centre or those in power by states, which remain unreformed. The Modi government has said that it will contain the fiscal deficit at 5.9% of gross domestic product in 2023-24 and aim to reduce it to less than 4.5% by 2025-26. It is now expected that it will avoid the temptation of populism in the interim budget it is scheduled to present in February 2024, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The humanities and social sciences are failing. Their popularity in the US has been waning in recent years, as many students enter science, technology, engineering and math fields to seek skills directly applicable to their careers, but the last few months have exposed a deeper weakness: The humanities and social sciences are no longer training students to be critical thinkers. This failure creates serious challenges for our culture and democracy, leaving students less capable of managing a changing economy. In the last decade, humanities enrolment has fallen 17%, as surveys show that more Americans now question the value of a college education. In 2015, 57% had a lot of confidence in the US higher education system, and now only 36% do. There is less desire among taxpayers to finance the humanities. West Virginia University is making drastic cuts to some of its humanities departments. North Carolina will no longer fund distinguished professorships at public universities in non-STEM fields. It is not surprising that many students are flocking to STEM classes. The primary reason, if you ask students, is that they want to major in subjects that can get them good jobs. Reading great books, learning history and debating philosophy do not appear relevant to this goal. Perhaps students feel this way because the arts are not doing what traditionally made them valuable: teaching people how to think critically. Critical thinking has never been more important. A changing economy offers no guarantees. Just a few years ago, learning to code seemed to offer stability. Now AI can write code. But the ability to think analytically, reason well and communicate clearly with a wide range of people will remain invaluable. This is not the first time the economy has been rapidly transformed. Modern liberalism can be credited for the rise in wealth and living standards that came from the last major transition, from agriculture to industry. It is no coincidence, economic historian Deirdre McCloskey argues, that 18th century Europe was the centre of liberal thought and the birthplace of industrialization. What made this place and time exceptional, she argues, was a pervasive belief in the individual and the ability of anyone to become their best self. These ideas may have come from academia, but they radiated through society. They helped bring about universal education and an atmosphere where ideas could be freely debated. This culture has economic value, too. It enables discovery of new things and building on the last thing. Europes liberal outlook and the intellectual openness promoted by its universities helped create the conditions for exponential growth in wealth and living standards. Dogma drags down curiosity, innovation and growth. Lately, as Clive Crook noted, many in the humanities have rejected notions of openness and free inquiry crucial to the university. Instead of teaching liberal principles, they emphasize a hierarchy of oppression and define people based on immutable characteristics. Such a reductive and ahistorical view of the world increases scepticism of the humanities. The events of 7 October and its aftermath further exposed the intellectual inadequacy of the oppressor/victim approach. Reasonable people can disagree on many aspects of this long and complex conflict. Yet, in the humanities, too many professors have enabled a cartoonish version of history. Some of the most egregious open letters about the Israel-Hamas war, for example, have come from professors in humanities and social sciences. The more balanced letters tend to be signed by professors in STEM, business and economics. US universities have always been different than their overseas counterparts: Rather than study just one subject, such as law or philosophy, many US students receive a four-year undergraduate liberal arts education, including philosophy, history and literature, in addition to sciences. Still, it is not too much of a stretch to say that, in the 20th century, Americas universities played a similar role to Europes in the 18th century. But here in the 21stas the economy undergoes a transformation as radical as that of 200 years agoUS universities seem to have lost their way. Educating people in the spirit of liberal principles is more important than ever. If you have a simplistic or reductive view of the world, AI will outthink you. But if you can reason, manage ambiguity and adapt to novel situations and new information, you can use AI to help you navigate a changing economy. Thats not the only reason US universities should re-establish the spirit of openness and free inquiry. But its a compelling one. bloomberg KUPYANSK, UkraineFor 48 hours in muddy trenches near this northeastern city, the Ukrainian troops had fought off waves of Russian infantry emerging from the tall grass, while artillery hammered everything around them. They were exhausted, and officers had finally ordered them to return to base with the six Russians they had taken captive. At 3 a.m., two Ukrainian soldiers and their commander set off with the prisoners, walking through a shattered tree line toward the evacuation point. Suddenly, several silhouettes appeared a few yards to the columns left. Then the area exploded in gunshots. In the darkness, they had missed a turn and walked right up to a Russian trench. The prisoners were killed in the melee. The two Ukrainian soldiers dragged themselves back to safety. No one knew what happened to their commander, Ruslan Finchuk. He just disappeared," said an officer in Finchuks battalion who goes by the call sign Yurist and watched a live feed of the firefight from a drone with night vision. On the flat, bloodstained fields of the Ukrainian front, troops battle confusion as well as the enemy. As the war approaches a third year, the zero line" has remained largely static on the map, a bright red stripe that armored assaults have hardly been able to move. But up close, it becomes a gyre of splintered trees, blast craters and rotting bodies, where trenches and small bits of territory frequently change hands and neither side is sure exactly where the enemy is. Deafened by explosions, often concussed and drunk with fatigue, even experienced soldiers can grow disoriented. They wrap colored tape around their helmets to differentiate ours" from theirs." Still, because many Ukrainians speak Russian with each other in the trenches, sometimes only an accent distinguishes a friendly voice from an enemy. On paper, every group has its own position," said one soldier who was part of the Kupyansk operation. In reality, its chaos." Finchuk had arrived in the trenches east of Kupyansk late on Monday, Oct. 16, with several dozen others. Their task was to help hold off Russian attempts to recapture the city, occupied at the start of the war then retaken by Ukraine last fall. A 42-year-old veteran, Finchuk re-enlisted last year, leaving his wife and stepson behind in Kyiv as well as a job running a security company. He joined Artan, a new unit in Ukraines military intelligence agency, where he was quickly promoted to senior sergeant, and took the call sign Khokhola derogatory name Russians call Ukrainiansas a way to thumb his nose at Moscow. Even as injuries piled up, Finchuk remained burly and fit. After he was shot in the leg during training, nurses repeatedly told him to stop jogging laps around the hospital with his stitches still in. He refused, eager to rebuild his strength and get back to the fight. He could stay in the headquarters, but he always prefers to be with his men," said a 27-year-old soldier, known as Nevsky, who served under Finchuk. Unfortunately, people like this often die first." Kupyansk was Finchuks first operation as a temporary company commander. At dawn on Tuesday, the Russian shelling began. Waves of tank and infantry assaults continued until dark. On the first day, the Russians seized one of the Ukrainian trenches, turning the line into a patchwork of friendly positions and enemies. That night, an unknown man walked right up to Nevskys trench, apparently lost. Im one of ours," the man said in a strong Russian accent, according to a 43-year-old Ukrainian soldier who was there. We took him," the soldier said. A second Russian did the same a few hours later. Then a third. By Wednesday, two of Finchuks men had been killed. More than a dozen others were injured or concussed and had been evacuated. Nevsky and a few others were pinned down in their trench, with Russians occupying positions on either side. The Artan commanders put together a small rescue team. Youre not going with them," Yurist recalled telling Finchuk, whod hardly slept for two days and was mixing up radio frequencies. Thats not a request. Thats an order." Finchuk went anyway. The team overran the Russians in the trench, taking several prisoners and clearing a path out. Finchuk set off at the head of the column toward the evacuation point, with Nevsky near the back. As they passed a burned-out tank in the tree line, Nevsky thought, Isnt this the turn?" Then, 10 yards to his left, he heard someone shout in Russian, Stop. Who are you?" Nevsky answered, Were escorting prisoners with Khokhol." The name tipped them off, Nevsky said. The Russian responded, Oh, youre with Khokhol!" Then the shooting started. For the next few minutes, Nevsky said, it was hard to tell what was happening. He saw Finchuk on one knee, firing his rifle, and heard him shouting to pull back. A Russian machine gun peppered the prisoners, who lay on the ground moaning. Nevsky fired back at first, but as grenades landed around him, he retreated to the trench where they had started. The other Ukrainian made it back as well. Finchuk wasnt answering his radio. He was missing. The search began before sunrise on Thursday. Drones scoured the tree line and surrounding fields, flying so low that two of them were shot down. There was no sign of Finchuk amid the carnage. Just along that one tree line, there were probably 100 bodies," Yurist said. Yurist was close with Finchuk. They had started in Artan together as privates in the summer of 2022, fought side-by-side in the bloody battle for Bakhmut and worked out together during off days in Kyiv. But as Thursday wore on, he began to lose hope that his friend could have made it out of the firefight with Russian machine guns. No one could survive that intensity of fire," he thought. All signs suggested he was dead." That night, when there was still no sign of Finchuk, he reached out to a Russian commander on the other side of the line, offering three Russian prisoners plus 10 bodies in exchange for Finchuks body and two others. He sent a photo of Finchuk, to make sure they recognized him, and proposed a time and a place to meet for the exchange. The Russian commander refused. He wasnt interested in his own living men," Yurist said. Russias defense ministry didnt respond to a request for comment about the proposed exchange. Artans commanders decided it was time to tell Finchuks family. Liia Kraft, Finchuks wife, hadnt heard from him since Monday night, before he headed into the trenches. For the first two days, she had texted with Finchuks friends from Artan, whod told her that he was fine. On Thursday, they hardly answered her and said nothing about Finchuk. At 10:25 a.m. on Friday, she was doing her best to fend off panic when two of Finchuks closest friends from the military rang her doorbell. Finchuk was missing and presumed dead, they told her. He was last seen in enemy territory, with a machine gun firing toward him. Kraft and Finchuk had started dating when they were teenagers. She had been devastated when they broke up, but she eventually moved to Kyiv, got married and had a son. Finchuk had a daughter. In 2018, as both their marriages were dissolving, she got a call from Finchuk. Over the next year, they began to talk again, at first occasionally, thenwhile he was working security on a ship in the Indian Ocean12 hours a day on the phone. He moved into her house within days of getting back to Ukraine. She went to work for his security company. He called her Sunshine," stopped taking trips overseas and acted as a father to her son, Timofey, helping him with math homework and joining him at karate lessons. After she got the news, Kraft went to pick Timofey up from school. Ruslan is gone," she told him. Theyre still looking for his body." Timofey, 14, cursed in front of her for the first time. No! It cant be true!" he said. The frs, I hate them." After they got home, she found him curled up on the couch, using one of Finchuks green military sweatshirts as a pillow. That night, Kraft texted Finchuks phone. You prepared me for all scenarios," she wrote. You didnt leave instructions for how I could live without you." As she texted, Finchuk was lying in a field near where his men had lost sight of him, trying to summon the strength to keep crawling. During the firefight early Thursday morning, he ran from the tree line into the adjoining field, hoping to draw fire away from his men. A grenade landed nearby, knocking him unconscious. He woke around 7 a.m. on Thursday, with blood caked to his face, unable to hear from his right ear. He saw two options: He could surrender, or he could try to find his way back to a Ukrainian position. He didnt want to hand himself over to the Russians. Taking stock of his equipment, he saw his radio was gonedropped at some point during the fight. He stripped off his body armor and helmet and kept only his rifle, two magazines and a small cloth with an embroidery of Jesus on it. He had found it earlier this year in Bakhmut after an artillery strike destroyed the building he was in but somehow left himand the clothunharmed. The problem was, Finchuk wasnt sure which way to go. He knew the Russians controlled the tree line he had fled the night before, but not where the Ukrainian positions were. On all sides of the field, he saw the same decimated tree lines, with branches ripped down by artillery fire. He spotted a surveillance drone not far off. Hoping it was Ukrainian, he began waving to it. The drone acknowledged him by tilting back and forth. Finchuk tried to ask which direction he should go, pointing one way then the other. The drone began to fly toward the Russians. He made an obscene gesture toward it, then began to crawl the other direction, trying to keep his head below the foot-high grass. As he moved, he heard the Russian assault continuing around himvehicles zipping through the field, infantrymen shouting, artillery crashing down. He took cover in a ditch, blanketing himself with leaves, and waited until nightfall. Then he began to move again. He would crawl just 20 yards at a time, then stop, hoping the slow pace would make drones less likely to catch sight of him. Bullets sometimes whizzed past. One thudded into the dirt just a few feet in front of him. He moved past mines, through blast craters, and around dozens of bodies with rats nibbling at them. Once, as he lay still, a mouse began to bite his hand, mistaking him for another corpse. By Saturday morning, after two days without food or water, Finchuk was delirious, covered in mud and completely disoriented. As he lay on his back, listening to the artillery fire, he began talking to his wife. Liia, help me get my bearings," he said. Where should I go?" He heard two outgoing shots. Looking up, he recognized the weapon: It was a guided antitank missile. The Russians frequently used them. The Ukrainians didnt have any in the area. He reasoned that the missiles must have targeted a Ukrainian position, and began to crawl in that direction. By midday, he had reached a cemetery at the edge of a destroyed village. Down the block, he heard voices but couldnt tell if they were Ukrainian or Russian. In either case, he needed water. He found the basement where the voices were coming from and stood outside, cleaning the mud from his rifle, so it wouldnt jam. As he moved toward the top of the stairs, gun raised, he heard someone curse in Ukrainian. He put the rifle down, raised his hands, and shouted, Im one of ours." News of Finchuks return whipped through Artan. Nevsky was sitting at the base when a photo of Finchuk with Artans deputy commander suddenly landed in the units group chat. Nevsky leapt up from the bed and ran into the hall, hollering with joy. So many friends had been killed since the war began, he said, that he had built up an emotional armor to make the losses bearable. For a moment, the armor dropped. Ive gone through all this s," he said. That moment was a reminder that Im still alive. Im still a person." Kraft was at home when she got a screenshot from the group chat. A moment later, the doorbell rang again: It was one of the same men whod shown up the day before. He thrust a phone at her. Are you alive?" she said. Finchuk, speaking slowly and slurring his words, answered, Sunshine, Im sorry I took so long crawling to you." Write to Ian Lovett at ian.lovett@wsj.com The Mallikarjun Kharge-led Congress has called for a meeting of the Opposition INDIA bloc meeting in national capital Delhi on 6 December. According to news agency ANI, Kharge dialed his alliance partners for a meet in Delhi on 6 December. Will this be the meet to discuss seat sharing between the INDIA bloc members? On 25 October, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had said that INDIA bloc seat sharing is likely to be declared after the 5-state elections. Mallikarjun Kharge, while speaking on INDIA Alliance seat-sharing, said, "We will see this. Let the 5-state elections take place first..." The move comes on the day India is witnessing the result of four crucial Assembly elections- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. ALSO READ: Assembly Election Results 2023 LIVE Updates After wresting Karnataka from the BJP in May, the Congress is eyeing Madhya Pradesh and Telangana and is hoping to retain power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. An impressive performance in these polls will boost the party's standing in the opposition INDIA bloc which has been formed to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The INDIA bloc had convened a meeting in September to discuss formulas for seat sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. As per the report, the seat-sharing formula will be based on the performance of parties in past elections and the strength of the largest party that is a member of the grouping in every state. However, the bloc has not made any announcement related to seat-sharing so far. Earlier in November, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar had blamed the Mallikarjun Kharge-led Congress for the Opposition INDIA bloc loosing steam ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The Bihar Chief Minister said that the Congress was busy with the five-state elections" and therefore the INDIA bloc had been put on the backburner for now. Nitish Kumar had organised the first INDIA bloc meet in Patna. The INDIA bloc is comprised of 28 parties, including JD (U), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) among others. Further reports had also emerged of an increasing strife between INDIA bloc's Congress and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi party. The tussle between the Congress and Samajwadi party remained a reflection of the widening internal rivalry among member parties of the INDIA block. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah had in October said that the situation within the opposition INDIA bloc was not good. 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tightened its grip over Indias heartland with emphatic victories across three major states on Sunday, boosting the ruling partys prospects of prevailing in next summers general election. The results also ring alarm bells for the Opposition, specifically the Congress party, which was outgunned and now faces uncomfortable seat-sharing talks with potential allies in the INDIA bloc. The BJP staved off anti-incumbency to score a king-size victory in Madhya Pradesh, kept alive Rajasthans tradition of voting out the incumbent with a clear majority, and shocked the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh by wresting back the tribal-dominated province with an impressive showing. Some people are already saying our hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of a hat-trick in the Lok Sabha polls in 2024," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told BJP workers in the evening in Delhi. The only salve for the bruised Congress came south of the Vindhyas where the party defeated the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana with a disciplined campaign that exploited the latters vulnerabilities, the first time in several decades that the party has triumphed against a regional force. Still, the partys near-wipeout from the Hindi heartland that holds around 230 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabhathe only state it rules on its own in north India is Himachal Pradesh, home to four parliamentary seatsspells trouble for its 2024 campaign. Conversely, the saffron wave that marooned opponents will delight the BJP, which will attempt next year to become the first party in 40 years to secure a third consecutive term at the Centre. The results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan indicate that the people of India are firmly with politics of good governance and development, which the BJP stands for. I thank the people of these states for their unwavering support and assure them that we will keep working tirelessly for their well-being," Modi posted on X. The Congresss dismal performance across the three states, on the other hand, will stoke a churn in the 28-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) that is likely to meet next on 6 December. Seat-sharing talks in the grouping were stalled in the run-up to the polls, drawing the public ire of other opposition parties. When they return to the negotiating table, the Congress will have significantly weakened bargaining power. The party will also worry about the erosion of support among tribespeople, once among its staunchest supporters. I thank the people of Telangana for the mandate we have received from them. I also thank all those who voted for us in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Our performance in these three states have no doubt been disappointing, but with determination, we reaffirm our strong resolve to rebuild and revive ourselves in these three states," said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on X. The extraordinary results place the BJP in a comfortable position as India enters the Lok Sabha election season. Though state and national polls are not always congruousthe Congress won all three states in 2018, only to secure just three of the 65 Lok Sabha seats just six months laterthe scale of the victory left little about which party held the edge in the thickly populated Hindi belt. In Madhya Pradesh, a state the BJP has ruled for 18 of the last 20 years, the party scored the biggest victory in history in terms of vote share, winning 164 of the 230 assembly seats with 48.5% of the vote to leave the Congress far behind with just 65 seats and 40.41% vote share. The BJPs gambit of pushing collective leadership to fight the elections instead of projecting a chief ministerial face, its focus on effective disbursal of welfare schemes such as Ladli Behna, and relentless attacks on the Opposition by Modi appeared to have demolished the Congress challenge. There is a pro-incumbency wave in Madhya Pradesh. I thank the people and promise everyone that we will fulfil our guarantees," said chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The states northern neighbour Rajasthan stuck to its 25-year-old political tradition of voting out the incumbent as chief minister Ashok Gehlots attempts at stitching together a winning formula came unstuck in the face of corruption allegations, competitive welfare promises and Modis popularity. The BJP won 115 of the states 200 seats, a comfortable majority, while the Congress won 69. People have rejected the misgovernance of Congress and have elected the good governance of BJP," said former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Another big surprise in this round of elections came from the smaller state of Chhattisgarh, where the incumbent Congress was decisively trounced by the BJP, which overcame local factionalism, the lack of a pan-state face and a cogent narrative to craft a populist message and clobber the ruling party. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghels attempts at striking a pitch combining regional identity and backward caste mobilization appeared to have alienated big chunks of the tribal vote that overwhelmingly backed the BJP. The BJP won 54 of the states 90 seats, and the Congress just 35, a repudiation of a party that won a landslide just five years ago. The people have shown faith in Modis guarantees and not Baghels promises, which is evident in the trends," said former chief minister Raman Singh. Some succour came for the Congress from Telangana, where the party overcame its historic susceptibility against strong regional forces to wrench the state from the BRS that attempted to counter anti-incumbency with welfare largesse and underlining chief minister K. Chandrashekar Raos emotional connection with the movement that led to the creation of Indias youngest state. But the Congress, taking a leaf out of its successful campaign in neighbouring Karnataka earlier this year, crafted a robust campaign led by state unit chief A. Revanth Reddy, who hammered the BRS on corruption allegations and played on voter fatigue after 10 years of Raos rule. In the end, the Congress won 64 of the 119 seats, with the BRS at 39. Voters in all four states delivered clear verdicts, though the vote share figures in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh indicated a fiercer fight than what the final seat tallies projected. The resultsthe best possible outcome in this round for the BJPwill cast a long shadow on the Oppositions ability to put up a credible fight against the party in elections next year, raise uncomfortable questions about the Congresss dismal head-to-head record against the BJP in the Hindi belt, and effectively relegate it to southern India. The BJP will welcome the electorates ringing endorsement of its strategy to fight state polls under Modi, and focus on welfare outreach and ground presence. Clearly, the party was able to manage anti-incumbency a lot better than it was expected to (such as in Madhya Pradesh) and cash in on anti-incumbency (in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh). This round of assembly elections was seen as a virtual semifinal to the 2024 elections, given that it was the last major electoral exercise before next year. In that case, the BJP goes into 2024 as the firm favourite. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the congress. (Photo: CPV) Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; State President Vo Van Thuong; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue; and former National Assembly Chairmen Nguyen Van An and Nguyen Sinh Hung; along with many senior Party, State and Government officials joined representatives of big corporations and economic groups, and international delegates at the event. Party and State leaders attended the Congress (Photo: CPV) State President Vo Van Thuong shakes hands with international guests attending the Congress (Source: CPV) In his opening remarks, VGCL Standing Vice President Tran Thanh Hai noted that the congress is an important political event and a great festival of the working class and trade union organisations, which is expected to decide major matters relating to workers and public servants, as well as trade union operations. Congress Presidium (Source: CPV) Over the past five years, the Party and State issued many guidelines, policies and laws, especially the Politburos Resolution No. 02 dated June 12, 2021 on renovating the organisation and operation of the country's trade union organisation in the new situation, thus facilitating such activities, he said. VGCL Standing Vice President Tran Thanh Ha at the congress (Source: CPV) VGCL Standing Vice President highlighted reforms by all-level trade unions and he said they and the working class have proven their position, role and responsibility in the cause of national industrialisation and modernisation, and international integration. The congress will review achievements, look into shortcomings, draw lessons learned from the 2018 - 2023 term, and set out goals, tasks and solutions for the next five years. The congress drew the participation of 1,100 delegates representing more than 11 million trade union members nationwide. (Photo: CPV) The 13th Congress of VGCL is an important political event for the working class and employees, opening a new stage of development of the VGCL. Participants at the congress (Photo: CPV) Trade union congresses at all levels and the 13th Congress of VGCL are the first congresses held in one year. Trade unions at all levels have made many creative efforts in carrying out tasks, overcoming many difficulties. 110,081 grassroots trade unions organized congresses, 7,486 grassroots unions organized conferences, creating a premise for the immediate superior grassroots unions to conduct congresses. Trade union congresses at all levels and the 13th Congress of Vietnam Trade Unions, are the first congresses to concretize the VGCL Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045 according to Resolution 02 dated June 12, 2021 of the Politburo on "Innovating the organization and operations of VGCL in the new situation". According to VNA, VGCL President Nguyen Dinh Khang presented a report looking back on the performance by all-level trade unions, especially the VGCL, over the past five years, highlighting that they actively engaged in the process of building policies and laws to better protect the rights and interests of labourers, including pushing for raising the regional minimum wage, which has increased by 25.34% compared to the beginning of the term. VGCL President Nguyen Dinh Khang speaks at the congress. (Photo: CPV) In addition, they have played the advisory role in organising annual dialogues between the Prime Minister and workers, labourers forums chaired by the NA Chairperson, and meetings between NA deputies and workers. Over the past five years, more than 4.4 million people have been admitted to trade unions and over 24,000 trade unions at the grassroots level have been established, Khang said, adding that multiple solutions have been taken to improve the operational quality of trade union organisations. Art performance before the congress (Photo: CPV) Addressing the congress, Party General Secretary Trong praised the efforts and achievements of workers movements and trade union organisations nationwide, emphasising that the trade union organisation of Vietnam has significantly contributed to strengthening the Vietnamese working class. The leader asked the VGCL to be fully aware of its missions as a political-social organisation operating in a socialist-oriented market economy under the leadership of the Party and the management of the State. Therefore, it should continue coordinating with the State, agencies and organisations in the political system and employers to better ensure the legitimate rights and interests of labourers. He also stressed the need to further revamp the communication work and personnel training in order to build a strong, modern working class, saying that trade union organisations should help each trade union member and labourer gain deeper awareness of the Party, the regime, the class, the trade union organisation, and citizen responsibilities, thus making greater efforts in studying and working, and actively participating in emulation movements. At the same time, trade unions at all levels must well perform their role as the representative of working people, taking care of and protecting their legal and legitimate rights and interests. Pointing to the complex domestic and global economic situation, which has affected job stability and income of labourers, the Party chief urged the VGCL to pay more attention to building long-term welfare programmes in support of trade union members and labourers, especially those in difficult circumstances. With the emergence of new employment forms and relations, all-level trade unions must adapt their organisational models, as well as the goals and methods of operation to the needs and aspirations of labourers, he said. The leader reminded trade unions of their role in the building of the Party and political system, supervisions, social criticism, and the fight against corruption and other negative phenomena. To meet requirements in the new situation, it is a must to further reform trade union activities and enhance the quality of trade union officials, he said, urging more attention from Party agencies, Party organisations, authorities and organisations to the work. Trong expressed his belief that the trade union organisation, the working class and labourers of Vietnam will make new strides in the 2023-2028 tenure, significantly contributing to the cause of reform, and national industrialisation and modernisation./. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and the UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al-Awar (Photo: VNA) Receiving the UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al-Awar in Dubai on December 1 as part of the working trip to the UAE, PM Chinh spoke highly of the working session between Vietnamese Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al-Awar, and the signing of an MoU on labour cooperation between the two sides. Chinh said the MoU helps complete a legal framework for both countries to step up collaboration in the field, and better ensure the legitimate rights of Vietnamese workers in the UAE. He suggested the UAE side join hands with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) to evaluate the UAEs labour demand, and build a labour cooperation plan based on Vietnams labour structure, sectors that the UAE is in need of workers, requirements on labour quality, and periods of implementation. The PM asked the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to assist Vietnam in training workers in not only skills and professional ethnics but also the culture, practice and regulations of the UAE. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al-Awar, for his part, said the UAE has high demand for migrant workers, and affirmed that Vietnamese labourers have made significant contributions to the countrys labour market. Agreeing with PM Chinhs recommendations, he said he will work together with the MoLISA to outline specific plans to bring more Vietnamese workers to the UAE, and suggested helping vocational centres in Vietnam with human resources training, especially in foreign language, regulations and culture. On December 2, PM Chinh hosted receptions for several leaders of economic groups specialising in energy, infrastructure and technology. PM Chinh receives Equinor CEO Anders Opeda. (Photo: VNA) Meeting with leaders of Equinor energy company headquartered in Norway, PM Chinh welcomed the firms intention to cooperate with Vietnamese partners to develop renewable energy in the country. He asked Equinor to work closely with Vietnamese partners to study the development of renewable energy in Vietnam, focusing on the energy sources and transmission. The Government leader affirmed that Vietnam always protects legitimate rights and interests of, and creates favourable conditions for foreign investors, including Equinor, to do business in the country in the spirit of harmonised benefits, shared risks. Equinor leaders said the company wants to branch out offshore wind power in Vietnam, and hopes that the Southeast Asian country will complete legal institutions to facilitate its investment. Chinh also met with the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, who is also a member of the management board of the Abu Dhabi Ports Group, and several other executives of the group. At the meeting, the business executives said Abu Dhabi Ports Group is a subsidiary of the conglomerate IHC, which has invested in Vietnam through TTEK Company in the fields of customs technologies, and digital payment solutions. The IHC wants to expand investment in the country in seaports, logistics, digital transformation, smart urban areas and non-tariff zones, they said. PM Chinh said infrastructure development is among the three breakthroughs that Vietnam is carrying out to boost its socio-economy, so the country welcomes the IHCs investments, especially those in seaports and logistics infrastructure. He took the occasion to thank the group for supporting Vietnam in the implementation of several digital transformation projects, saying Vietnam looks forward to the groups investment in science-technology, research and development activities, innovation, among others./. Longford County Council roads department are to take action to address problems with road markings at one of the busiest junctions in Longford. Councillor Gerry Hagan called on Longford MD to reinstate the road markings at Kiernans Forge, Ballinalee Rd, Cllr Hagan said: The continuous white line and stop signs at the crossroads are in a very dangerous state at the moment. They are non-existent, because they are totally worn away. You can't see any lines at the junction. It is one of the busiest junctions in our county, a lot of lorries come from Cavan on the road. There are accidents waiting to happen on a minute-by-minute basis. Backing the motion Cllr Peggy Nolan and Cllr John Brown said the absence of marking was a potential road hazard at the busy intersection. In replying to the motion Senior Engineer Eamon Bennett said a new stop sign was already installed and the road signs were recently re-installed at the site, and an application has been made for a low cost saving scheme at the junction. Mr Bennett said the continuous white line would also be reinstated as soon as a contractor was appointed: Obviously we need a dry week before that work is commenced. Cllr Hagan also raised the issue of flooding at the junction at Cullyfad crossroads beside church, describing it as very dangerous particularly when there has been frost. Mr Bennett said the matter was being addressed by the council: Our staff will conclude the junction at Cullyfad Church in the drainage programme if we have funding available at the end of the year. We will do our best to prioritise it. Longford Womens Link have had a significant input into a report on adult education in Ireland. Longford Womens Link, the social enterprise enabling women in Longford to achieve their full social and economic potential, showcased the impact of their project at the annual Adult Education Summit where AONTAS launched the 2023 Learners Voices Across Ireland Report. Capturing the experiences of over 3,000 Further Education and Training learners throughout the 2022/23 academic year, the Learners Voices Across Ireland Report collates examples of best practice and areas for improvement across the Education and Training Board network. Further Education and Training (FET) learners from Longford and across Ireland participated in focus groups and surveys to inform the research report which highlights overwhelmingly positive experiences of FET. However, the report also reveals regional disparities in learning experiences due to inequalities in public transport, facilities, and inclusion and mental health supports. Longford Womens Link (LDL) provide support for adult learners to overcome these barriers to education and lifelong learning. Providing services such as childcare, education and training, community employment and counselling services, LDL enables women to access programmes which have real benefits for their families and wider community. Speaking at the event, CEO of AONTAS Dearbhail Lawless said: There are two principal narratives emerging from this years report that education has a hugely transformative impact on learners lives, particularly those returning to education later in life and that issues around local infrastructure and facilities are creating inequalities and barriers for learners across the country to access, or take full advantage of, those transformative experiences. For many people in Longford and across Ireland, particularly those from under-resourced communities and groups that face the greatest challenges in accessing quality education, crossing the threshold of a college or training centre is a huge step, and for many even getting to the front door is proving to be the biggest barrier. Groups like Longford Womens Link provide an invaluable service, enabling them to access education and training opportunities that otherwise would be out of their reach. The 2023 Learners Voices Across Ireland Report is available at www.aontas.com By Long Island Published: December 03 2023 Xavier Sosa was arrested for robbing and assaulting an 18-year-old in his Island Park home, resulting in the victim's hospitalization. The Fourth Squad reports the arrest of an Island Park man for a Robbery that occurred in Island Park on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 10;20 am. According to detectives, an 18-year-old male victim was inside a Brighton Road residence waiting for his female friend at which time the defendant Xavier Sosa, 23 of Brighton Road ordered the victim to leave his residence. After the victim gathered his belongings and then exited the defendant Sosa hit the victims head with his hand causing the victim to fall to the ground. He then repeatedly punched the victim in the head using a closed fist. After falling, the victim attempted to pick up his belongings but was forced out of the house by the defendant and not allowed to retrieve his property. The victim suffered swelling to his face and head and was transported in a Nassau County Police Ambulance to a local nearby hospital for treatment. Note: This article was updated to include CENTCOMs statement on the attacks, and the attack on the Sophie II. The Iranian-backed Houthis fired missiles and drones at three commercial vessels and a U.S. warship in the Red Sea. The Houthis claimed credit for targeting the commercial vessels Unity Explorer and Number Nine, while the Pentagon confirmed that it downed missiles and drones that were fired from Yemen. Todays attack is the latest by the Houthis against international shipping, which the terror group claims is designed to support Hamas as Israel targets it in Gaza. Two of the drones were flying toward the USS Carney before they were shot down, a U.S. defense official told FDDs Long War Journal. U.S. Central Command later confirmed that the U.S. Carney shot down three drones that were headed for the warship. The USS Carney responded to a distress call from Unity Explorer, which was the target of an anti-ship ballistic missile, and then an unspecified missile, according to CENTCOM. The Unity Explorer incurred minor damage fro t he second missile attack. The Number Nine was struck by a missile fired from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen but reported damage and no casualties, CENTCOM reported. The Sophie II was also struck by a missile but it is unclear if there were casualties or damage to the ship. Additionally, an unnamed U.S. official told The Associated Press that the attack had gone on for as much as five hours. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed credit for the attack on the Unity Explorer and Number Nine. The first ship was targeted with a naval missile and the second ship with a naval drone, Saree claimed. The operation occurred after the two ships rejected warning messages from Yemeni naval forces. The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red and Arab Seas until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops, said Saree. Todays attack by the Houthis occurred just one day after an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle harassed the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group as it was operating in the Persian Gulf. Aircraft from Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Air Wing intercepts an Iranian UAV operating in an unsafe and unprofessional manner during aircraft carrier flight operations in the Arabian Gulf [Persian Gulf]. The U.S. Navy will continue to fly and sail where international law allows, CENTCOM reported. The Houthis possess ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, and have used all three weapons systems against commercial vessels and U.S. warships since Hamas launched its deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The Houthis, as part of Irans Axis of Resistance, as well as Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, have been targeting U.S. forces to drive America from the region. The Houthis have a decade-long history of harassing and attacking commercial vessels operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al Mandeb Strait, and the Red Sea, and have stepped up attacks on shipping and the U.S. military over the past two weeks. The attacks include the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader, a drone attack on the CMA CGM Symi, an anti-ship ballistic missile attack on the USS Mason, a potential drone attack on the USS Carney, and the destruction of a U.S. MQ-9 UAV. The U.S. military has yet to respond to repeated attacks on U.S. warships and commercial vessels. The Biden administration fears an escalation of the conflict with the Houthis as well as Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. The militias in Iraq and Syria have launched more than 70 attacks on U.S. forces, while the U.S. has launched only five counter-strikes. Also known as Ansar Allah, the Houthis have seized control of significant areas in northern Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa, since it launched its rebellion in 2014. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps increasingly co-opted the Houthi movement since its formation in the 1990s. The IRGC has provided the Houthis with weapons, training, and financial support. Iran uses its network of militias and terrorist groups in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to put pressure on Israel as well as the United States. The Houthis are estimated to have 100,000 fighters under arms. The official motto of the Houthis is: God is great, death to the U.S., death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Paschal Donohoe, who is the chief of the pan-eurozone group of finance ministers Paschal Donohoe, who is the chief of the pan-eurozone group of finance ministers Photo credit: Anouk Antony Paschal Donohoe, who is the chief of the pan-eurozone group of finance ministers Photo credit: Anouk Antony Irelands Paschal Donohoe, whose leadership of euro-area finance ministers has elevated his global profile, is considering a bid to lead the International Monetary Fund, according to people familiar with the matter. Donohoe, 49, is currently Irelands minister for public expenditure and served as finance minister from 2017 to 2022. He has led the Eurogroup the body of finance chiefs that steered the bloc through its sovereign debt crisis and the pandemic since mid-2020, having been elected late last year for a second 2 -year term. The current term of IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva ends in September 2024, but the selection can take shape months in advance. Her support from the US, the funds biggest voting member, wavered following accusations in 2021 that she improperly influenced a World Bank ranking of Chinas business climate. While no candidate has put forward their name yet for the IMF role, the people said Donohoe is holding preliminary conversations over the matter. They requested anonymity to discuss the private talks. A spokeswoman for Donohoe said he is fully focused on his current work and responsibilities in Ireland and in the Eurogroup and committed to serving his full mandate. He will also be a candidate in the next election in Ireland. Georgieva has not yet publicly stated whether she intends to seek a second term. An IMF spokesperson said Georgievas attention is on helping the membership of the IMF face the pressing economic challenges that the world is grappling with. 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. G-7 Meetings In his capacity as the representative of the euro-zone economy, Donohoe has also regularly attended the Group of Seven meetings of finance ministers and central bankers from the worlds 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 program just over a decade ago, alongside other euro-zone peers during the regions sovereign debt crisis. Its 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 IMFs eight decades, five of 12 managing directors have been from France; none has been from Ireland. While the Washington-based funds 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. Donohoe has a plausible path to US support. He has a close relationship with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, largely forged during Yellens efforts to cajole support from countries including Ireland for a global tax accord. His backing was seen as key in Yellens push to clinch a deal. Yellen Dinner The two of them have met regularly over the past few years most recently for dinner in Washington earlier this week. 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 didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Through his role as Eurogroup president, Donohoe has built a good rapport with several European finance ministers wholl have to endorse him for the job, as well as European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who previously held the top IMF post. Donohoes 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 Donohoe could face an uphill battle. 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 funds managing director to be under 65 years old at the time of appointment so 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 thats set to take place next summer over posts atop the European Commission, European Council and potentially NATO. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh witnesses the exchange of cooperation documents at the business forum. (Photo: VNA) The Vietnam Business Forum, themed Mobilising Resources for the Green Transition, was jointly held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE and the Global Wind Energy Council. It saw the attendance of representatives from the COP28 Organising Committee and nearly 200 leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), international organisations, businesses operating in the fields of energy, manufacturing, finance and banking, and investment funds. PM Chinh briefed the participants on Vietnams situation, stressing the country will not trade social progress, equality and welfare, as well as environment for economic growth. He highlighted that the country is focusing on developing digital economy, green transition, circular economy, knowledge-based economy, and sharing economy, with science, technology and innovation taken as new driving force, and green transition an objective and strategic choice. Vietnam will focus efforts on building socio-economic development plans in accordance with its distinct potential, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages, while providing legal support for businesses, removing their obstacles, and protecting their legal and legitimate rights and interests, he pledged. He used the occasion to call on partners to continue their support for Vietnams green development in the spirit of "harmonious benefits, shared risks." At the forum, leaders of international organisations and businesses commended the investment environment in Vietnam, especially the country's green development strategy, and shared the view that Vietnam boasts great potential for renewable energy development, especially wind energy. The delegates engaged in in-depth discussions on accelerating green transition in Vietnam by optimising its wind power energy potential, and proposed policies and solutions in this regard, including measures to encourage the financial sector to participate in the green transition process and necessary conditions to mobilise large-scale financial funding. Many cooperation agreements were inked at the forum, covering aviation, carbon credit transactions and carbon emission reduction, and trade collaboration./. If youre getting a PC this holiday season, giving one, or need to give one an entirely fresh start, then this package is for you. Give any PC a boost with the All-in-One Microsoft Bundle, which gives you lifetime access to Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro. Through December 3, score Cyber Week pricing on this Microsoft powerhouse bundle, only $49.97 (reg. $408)! 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Prices subject to change. 404 Something's wrong here Sorry. We can't find the page you're looking for. RETURN HOME A Kosher restaurant in the Boston area has been named one of the best new restaurants in the country in 2023 by Esquire. Lehrhaus in Somerville was included in Esquires list of The Best New Restaurants in America, 2023, which was published Tuesday, Nov. 28. The Jewish tavern and house of learning opened in March of this year, according to an article from Boston Magazine, with the mission of bringing Jewish cuisine to Greater Boston. Ive been to thousands of restaurants in the past couple of years, but I hadnt truly felt at home until I walked into Lehrhaus, Esquire staff said. Maybe it was the Lactaid dispenser. Maybe it was the mural of Leonard Cohen above the hand dryer in the mens room. Or the conversation at the bar. Lehrhaus Jewish diasporic cuisine was admired just as much as its aesthetic, Esquire continued. Menu highlights include deviled eggs aged in coffee and topped with pickled mustard seeds, herring tartine served with pickled peppers and fish-and-chips served with Old Bay seasoning french fries. Its important for us to not just think of Judaism and Jewish culture as Eastern European, chef Noah Clickstein told Boston Magazine in April. Were really trying to nail what Jewish food isan intersection of time, constraint, and tradition. Lehrhaus, which is open to people from all religious backgrounds, takes a limited number of reservations during off-peak hours Monday-Thursday, their website said. The restaurant can only take reservations of up to 8 people. All other tables and times are walk-in only. Reservations can be made online. Lehrahus is located at 425 Washington St. in Somerville. The tavern is open Sundays from 4:30-9 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 4:30-10 p.m. The Burger Bar is open from 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Lehrhaus is closed on Fridays. As a little boy growing up in Holyoke, Harry L. Chandler dreamed of being a sailor. He remembers insisting his mother get him a child-sized sailor suit each time they went out to buy him new clothes. He remembers how upset he was when, during the years of the Great Depression, any new clothing simply wasnt in the familys budget. When he turned 18 in the spring of 1939, Chandler finally got my real sailor suit, enlisting in the Navy as the winds of war swirled around the world. I was practically done (with high school) when I just left, the now 102-year-old Chandler recalled last week. His father was upset with him; his mother was not. I remember her telling my father, He wanted this all his life. Id rather he be in the Navy than be drafted into the Army. Little did the family know his service in the Navy would land him on the frontlines of Americas entry into World War II. And, as it turns out, his father need not have worried about the high-school diploma. Early on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Chandler, dressed in his Navy dress whites, had just helped raise the American flag outside his barracks when some 300 Japanese aircraft bore down on Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor. The memories still come to him: the sounds of the swarms of Japanese fighter aircraft; the sight of fire breaking out on Ford Island near where eight of the Navys mighty battleships were in port; and then the realization of what was taking place. He and his fellow hospital corpsmen were hustled aboard trucks that would take them to the harbor, where they confronted the carnage and wreckage wreaked on an unsuspecting American fleet. Over the course of the intervening years, Chandler has sparingly shared the gruesome realities he faced as he went about pulling victims from the oil-filled waters and working to save lives. Once, in an interview, he said, People who saw the firm, Tora, Tora, Tora, ask me if it was like that. I say, No. You dont smell the burning flesh. You dont smell the burning oil. You just cant imagine. The enemy attackers would deal a heavy toll, killing close to 2,500 Americans and injuring 1,200 more. Twelve ships, including three battleships, were sunk or beached; nine others were damaged. Close to 350 of the about 400 aircraft based at Pearl Harbor were either destroyed or damaged. The battleship Arizona, now the site of the National Park Service Memorial, accounted for the loss of 1,177 lives alone. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt would term it, the date which will live in infamy propelled the U.S. to enter World War II. This Dec. 7 will see Chandler return to Pearl Harbor for only the second time since the fateful day and the first time to participate in the national Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremonies. He will take an honored role early Thursday morning during the pass-and-review event at the Arizona memorial. Chandler has been invited to return the salute from the memorial on behalf of the fallen and veterans like him to the 21st century sailors as they man the rails aboard their ship while it passes in the harbor. There is no documentation of how many veterans who survived Pearl Harbor are still alive in 2023, according to Taylor Smith, education program specialist at Pacific Historic Parks, which plans the commemoration events. Invitations this year were extended to 85, and Chandler is among six who RSVPed they will attend. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated there were about 119,000, or about 1%, of the 16.1 million Americans who served in World War II still alive as of September. Statistics estimate that the veterans, the youngest of whom are now in their 90s, are dying at the rate of about 131 each day, according to the National World War II Museum. In this photo from June 25, 2008, members of Post 1 of the Pearl Harbor Attack Veterans gather for their last meeting at the Yankee Pedlar in Holyoke on Wednesday. From left seated are Joseph A. Mieleszko, of Hatfield, Robert A. Greenleaf, of Westfield. Standing left to right are Augie Woicekoski, of Northampton, Harry L. Chandler, of South Hadley, Charles J. Lockhart, of East Longmeadow, and Chester B. Stoklosa, of Pittsfield. On the 81st anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor of Dec. 7, 1941, Chandler, now 102, is the only member still living. Chandler is well aware of those numbers. He is the last man standing among the members of Pearl Harbor Attack Veterans Post 1 that disbanded in 2008; the five other veterans with him at the farewell luncheon at Holyokes Yankee Pedlar are all now gone. Even as this weeks departure approached, Chandler made clear he knows the reality of his situation and the fragility of life for a centenarian. It might be the last time I can go. There are only a few of us left. Who knows, he said. At 102, I am lucky to be the way I am. Though legally blind, Chandler leads an active life at an assisted-living facility in Tequesta, Florida, not far from family members, including his granddaughter, Kelli Fahey, and her husband, Ron Mahaffee, who will accompany him on the journey to Hawaii. Calling on the skills he garnered as a hospital corpsman (post-war he served in the Navy Reserve into the 1980s), Chandler says he tries every day to visit with and raise the spirits of fellow residents where he lives. He holds true, Chandler says, to the wisdom imparted to him by his mother all those many years ago: My mother was a beautiful woman. She would always say to me, Harry, always love, never hate. I ve tried to follow that throughout my life. I dont hate; I dislike. Thats the difference. Its a seemingly appropriate message for him to carry to Hawaii this week, notes Mahaffee, who spent months planning the trip. They used a May trip with Honor Flight to the war memorials in Washington, D.C., as a test run for both Chandlers physical endurance to travel and ability to cope with the ebb and flow of emotions. In this photo from May, World War II veteran Harry Chandler salutes at the National World War II monument in Washington, D.C., during a visit with Southeast Florida Honor Flight. Chandler Family Photo The theme for this years Pearl Harbor remembrance observance is Legacy of Hope, and one of the events in which Chandler will participate in the week ahead is the Blackened Canteen ceremony that is focused on reconciliation and peace between Japan and the U.S. The goal of the Legacy of Hope theme, according Smith, is to not only honor the veterans and remember what happened on Dec. 7, 1941, but to also connect with a new generation. Some of the events, she noted, will involve Junior ROTC students and will provide opportunities for them to interact with the veterans. Chandler is well-suited to address the theme, according to Mahaffee. To be around him is like being with a sensei. ... I guess Im on a personal mission to share him with the world. Chandler will travel with a resume that now includes high-school graduate. In a matter of hours last week, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia led an effort to prepare an honorary diploma that was delivered to Chandler. Indeed, his father need not have been concerned that he left Holyoke High School without graduating. Cynthia G. Simison is executive editor emerita of The Republican. She may be reached by email to csimison@repub.com. A 79-year-old Acton man is facing charges after he was arrested for trying to meet up with a 14-year-old boy for sex, Police Chief James Cogan said in a statement Sunday. At around 4:22 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, police went to 68 Windsor Ave. after getting a tip of a man who tried to meet up with a 14-year-old for sex, Cogan said. Officers found the man, later identified as Douglas Cooper, when they arrived and brought him in for questioning. It was later discovered that Cooper had sexually explicit conversations with an adult posing as a 14-year-old boy through an app, according to Cogan. Cooper then agreed to meet up with the boy at the South Acton Commuter Lot for sex. Cooper was arrested at around 9 p.m. Saturday and charged with enticement for sex of a child under 16, Cogan said. Cooper, who did not post his $7,540 bail, was brought to the Billerica House of Corrections. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 3. The report, compiled by the Franco-German ARTE channel reflects the chimeras of Karabakh Armenians that Armenia, once strengthened, will "return Karabakh" and "kill all the Turks", said in the statement of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Trend reports. "This once again proves that Armenians left Karabagh precisely because of ethnic hatred towards Azerbaijan and unwillingness to live under the flag of Azerbaijan," said in the statement. The statements recently voiced in the Armenian society on the inadmissibility of the return of Azerbaijanis and many thousands of actions held in recent years by the Armenian opposition in the capital Yerevan under the slogan "Armenia without Turks" show that the Armenian society has not only failed to get rid of Azerbaijanophobic sentiments, but, on the contrary, this tendency has intensified. The lack of reaction of some states and organizations trying to impose themselves as 'international community' to such racist actions raises questions. Why don't France, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Freedom House, Amnesty International condemn these cases? "If the Armenian authorities really want to achieve sustainable peace with Azerbaijan, they must seriously combat the dangerous Azerbaijanophobia rampant in Armenian society," the statement emphasized. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Boston police arrested two women Friday morning after an incident in Dorchester during which one of the women allegedly pepper sprayed an officer in the face. Dorchester residents Priscilla Malave, 40, and Skyla Malave, 18, were charged with assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest in connection with the incident, Boston police said in a press release. Skyla Malave was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Read more: Rita Hester was killed in 1998 Boston police are still looking for answers A little before 11:20 a.m. Friday, an officer working a paid detail spotted two women fighting the middle of the roadway in the area of Washington Street and Talbot Avenue, police said. The officer was able to separate the two, but then another fight broke out between another group of people. One of the people involved in the fight, who was later identified as Skyla Malave, turned to the officer and pepper sprayed her in the face, police said. Skyla then allegedly tried to flee in a vehicle, but other responding officers were able to stop the vehicle and put her in handcuffs. Read more: Lynn man identified as victim in Allston fatal shooting A woman in the vehicle, who was later identified as Priscilla Malave, tried to interfere with the arrest, police said. She then allegedly assaulted multiple officers and a struggle ensued, but officers were eventually able to arrest her. Both suspects are expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court. Police did not specify the suspects relationship to one another. DEERFIELD Two Connecticut men were ordered held on $10,000 bail after they were arrested on a variety of charges following a high-speed chase on Interstate 91 on Thursday. Massachusetts State Police troopers from the Shelburne barracks attempted to stop the Acura sedan they were traveling in, after police determined it had been reported stolen in the Bronx, New York, several weeks ago. A driver is expected to face a drunk driving charge after they crashed their vehicle into a utility pole in Bridgewater Friday night, Police Chief Christopher D. Delmonte and Acting Fire Chief John Schlatz said. First responders found an an older model Toyota Camry sedan on its roof near the intersection of Spruce and Pine streets shortly before 10 p.m. on Dec. 1, authorities said in a joint statement. The driver, a 30-year-old man, was in the grass near the overturned vehicle. He was brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. A utility pole that was next to the sedan was snapped in half and partially on the ground, causing live wires to drape over the road. National Grid was called in to help clear the downed wires. Investigators determined the driver, whose name was not released, changed lanes while speeding before crashing into the poll. This then caused their car to roll onto its roof, according to authorities. The driver will be summoned to court at a later date to face charges including marked lanes violation, speeding, operating under the influence (Liquor) and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. The incident remains under investigation by Bridgewater Police Officers, with help from the Plymouth County Sheriffs Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), authorities concluded. A woman is facing several charges in connection with a pedestrian-involved crash in Hanover on Friday, according to the Hanover Police Department. The crash happened at 104 King St. before 7:40 p.m. on Dec. 1, Hanover police said on Facebook. When they arrived, officers found a 35-year-old man with serious injuries. Read More: Driver to face OUI charge after crashing into utility pole in Bridgewater Police provided aid to the victim before he was brought to an area trauma center for treatment. The man was later transferred to a Boston hospital, police added. Authorities later arrested a 55-year-old woman in connection with the crash. She was charged with the following: OUI liquor (First offense) OUI liquor causing serious bodily injury Leaving the scene of a crash with personal injury Leaving the scene of a crash with property damage Failure to stay in marked lanes Negligent operation of a motor vehicle The crash remains under investigation. A fiery car crash in New Hampshire resulted in the explosion of hundreds of rounds of ammunition Saturday afternoon, according to New Hampshire State Police. A little before 3 p.m., police received a report that a vehicle that had crashed after driving erratically on I-93 north in Bow, state police said in a press release. The vehicle hit the center median before ricocheting back across all lanes of traffic and hitting another vehicle. The vehicle then continued into the woods where it struck several trees and caught fire, police said. The three people in the vehicle were able to escape, and one was taken to a hospital with significant but non-life-threatening injuries. No one in the vehicle that was hit was injured. Officers shutdown all northbound lanes due to the fire, but as it got bigger, several hundred rounds of ammunition that were in the vehicle began to explode, police said. This forced officers to shutdown all southbound lanes until fire crews arrived at the scene and got the fire under control. The names of the people in the vehicle are being withheld while police investigate the incident, police said. One of those people was arrested on several warrants, and they may face additional charges. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Trooper Joshua Farmer at Joshua.A.Farmer@dos.nh.gov or by calling (603) 227-0038. UPDATE: Man stabbed with knife outside Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus dies at hospital A man was rushed to the hospital after he was stabbed in the parking lot of Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus Saturday night, The Boston Globe reported. The stabbing happened just after 9 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the restaurant, located at 948 Broadway, according to Boston25. When they arrived, police found a man with stab wounds. He was brought to the hospital for treatment, the outlet said. There was no word on his condition. Read More: Saugus police to charge 4 people for Kowloon brawl involving glass bottle This stabbing comes just two weeks after a Thanksgiving-Eve brawl at the popular Chinese restaurant. 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. 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. Read More: Driver to face OUI charge after crashing into utility pole in Bridgewater A report about the brawl will be sent to the Saugus Board of Selectmen, according to the police release. MassLive has reached out to Saugus police and the Essex County District Attorneys Office for confirmation on the Saturday night stabbing. UPDATE: Patrick Kenney Jr. IDd as man stabbed to death outside Kowloon in Saugus A man who was stabbed with a knife outside of Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus Saturday has died, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said Sunday. The man was found with a knife wound in the parking lot of the restaurant, located at 948 Broadway, after 9 p.m. on Dec. 2, officials said. He pronounced dead a short time later at Mass General Hospital. The incident is under investigation by the Essex County District Attorneys Office State Police Detective Unit and detectives from the Saugus Police Department, officials added. Read More: Saugus police to charge 4 people for Kowloon brawl involving glass bottle This stabbing comes just two weeks after a Thanksgiving-Eve brawl at the popular Chinese restaurant. 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. 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. Read More: Driver to face OUI charge after crashing into utility pole in Bridgewater A report about the brawl will be sent to the Saugus Board of Selectmen, according to the police release. The Essex County District Attorneys Office is expected to release more information Sunday afternoon. Two people were killed in multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 395 in Central Massachusetts Saturday night, according to Massachusetts State Police. The double-fatal crash happened near Exit 3 on Interstate 395 in Webster around 10:17 p.m. on Dec. 2, Massachusetts State Police Spokesperson Dave Procopio told MassLive Sunday. Read More: Driver to face OUI charge after crashing into utility pole in Bridgewater The crash resulted in the deaths of a 31-year-old man and 35-year-old woman, Procopio said. Their names were not released. More information about the crash is expected to be released later in the day Sunday, Procopio added. The mother of one the three Palestinian college students who were shot in Vermont over Thanksgiving weekend said her son is now paralyzed as a result of the shooting, according to CNN. Hisham Awartani was walking with two friends to a Thanksgiving dinner at his relatives house in Burlington when the three 20-year-olds were shot and seriously injured, authorities said previously. The shooting took place on Nov. 25 a little before 6:30 p.m. near the University of Vermont campus. Read more: 3 men of Palestinian descent attending holiday gathering shot in Vermont Officials arrested 48-year-old Jason Eaton on Nov. 26 and charged him with three counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting, authorities said previously. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment last week. Awartanis condition Awartanis mother, Elizabeth Price, told CNN over the weekend that her son is now paralyzed from the chest down due to a bullet being lodged in his spine. The Brown University student is scheduled to be released from the hospital next week, after which he will receive months of rehabilitative care, she reportedly said. Price told CNN her son can feel his legs but cant move them, and that he now has difficulty regulating his body temperature. He is also suffering from a broken clavicle and fractured thumb, she reportedly said. Read more: Police arrest suspect in shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent near University of Vermont Awartanis family has created a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his medical care. We believe that Hisham will meet this challenge with the same determination Ive witnessed this week, Price said in a statement to CNN. The fund will help cover costs associated with his rehabilitation, air travel of his family and expenses related to the adaptive needs of his new reality. The condition of the other two victims Police said the other two victims, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmed, were shot in the upper torso and lower extremities and admitted to the ICU, CNN reported. Abdalhamid attends Haverford College in Pennsylvania, and Ali Ahmad attends Trinity College in Connecticut. Abdalhamids parents said in a Nov. 28 statement that he had been released from the hospital. We are extremely relieved that Kinnan has been released from the hospital. Right now, he is still in pain and recovering. Our priority is his well-being, they wrote in the statement. Kinnan told us that he was afraid to leave the hospital. Our child may be physically well enough to be out of the hospital, but he is still shaken from this horrific attack. We know that this tragedy will shape the rest of our lives. Read more: Jason Eaton pleads not guilty in connection with shooting of 3 Palestinian VT students It is unclear what condition Ali Ahmed is currently in. More on the shooting Price told CNN her son said he suddenly found himself on the ground when the shooting began and soon heard one of his friends screaming in pain. One of the three victims thought his friends had been killed and ran to get help, she said. The shooter then hovered over them, and Awartani thought he would continue to shoot them and kill them, Price told CNN. Instead, she said, the shooter fled, allowing her son to call 911. Both local and federal authorities have yet to determine whether there is enough evidence to charge Eaton with a hate crime, which the victims families have urged them to do. Officials said previously that the three men were chatting in both Arabic and English, and that two of the men were wearing keffiyehs a black and white scarf emblematic of Palestinian identity and resistance when they were shot with a handgun near Eatons apartment. A man who died after he was stabbed outside Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus Saturday was identified as Patrick Kenney Jr., 42, of Milton, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said Sunday. Kenney Jr. was found with a knife wound in the parking lot of Kowloon, located at 948 Broadway, after 9 p.m. on Dec. 2. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Mass General Hospital, authorities said. Read More: Man stabbed with knife outside Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus dies at hospital Authorities believe the stabbing was accidental, and that no one else was involved. The incident is under investigation by the Essex County District Attorneys Office State Police Detective Unit and detectives from the Saugus Police Department. This stabbing comes just two weeks after a Thanksgiving-Eve brawl at the popular Chinese restaurant. 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. Read More: Saugus police to charge 4 people for Kowloon brawl involving 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. 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, according to the police release. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 3. Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov visited the UAE at the invitation of Chief Executive Officer of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Adnan Amin, The Ministry of Energy told Trend. The Minister and the delegation he leads will take part in a round table on the topic Ministers of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which will be held as part of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on December 4-5 in Dubai, UAE. The minister will also take part in an event dedicated to investment opportunities in the field of green energy in Azerbaijan, which will be organized at the country's pavilion. Bilateral meetings are planned to be held as part of the visit. Police in Washington D.C. are investigating a Quincy mans death after discovering his body as a result of a witness seeing someone leave his body in an alleyway. According to a Washington Metropolitan Police Department report, officers found 41-year-old Alan Chi Chen unconscious and not breathing from unknown circumstances after a witness saw someone dropping a body out of a vehicle through a camera and contacted police. Chen was found on the ground wearing blue jeans and black shoes, the report said. Read more: Boston police: 2 arrested after woman pepper sprays officer in the face A police spokesperson said Sunday that the Chief Medical Examiners Office will determine Chens cause and manner of death, and that there are no updates in the case. Fox 5, a D.C. news station, reported Thursday that Chens body was discovered in an alleyway along W Street early Thursday morning. Investigators believe the driver of a white Porsche left the body there around 11:18 p.m. Wednesday, the news station reported. The news station spoke to Chens aunt, who told them he worked in sales and would often stay in D.C. for months at a time as part of his job. No further information about Chens death has been released. BOSTON Two days before Christmas in 2016, Dr. James Baker celebrated the holiday with his 23-year-old son, Max. That day, Baker, a physician, and Max, who was in recovery from heroin addiction, spoke about the need to increase treatment. Max then went to his moms house, but Baker didnt realize she was out of town. On the 28th, he was found dead, alone in the bathroom upstairs, Baker said, speaking to legislators at a recent public hearing in Boston. Max had gotten into recovery, but a month before he died, he was injured in a serious car crash and turned to medication for his pain, leading to his relapse, his obituary says. Read more: Inside a safe injection site that could be a model for Massachusetts. Baker, president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine, wonders what would have happened if his youngest son had the option to go to a supervised injection site, a place where people can use illegal drugs while being monitored in case of overdose. If he knew he was going to relapse when he pawned my camera on the morning of the 27th, would he have gone to one and stayed alive? Baker asked. Baker was one of several parents who spoke about losing their child to an overdose and urged the legislature to authorize supervised injection sites. A bill before the legislature would create a pilot program for overdose prevention sites. Advocates say these places are life-saving and a key tool to fight the worsening opioid overdose epidemic. These are all preventable deaths. Every single one of these, said Gabriel Quaglia, who is in recovery and started a harm reduction advocacy group, the Folding Chair Project, in Holyoke. But not everyone is on board. The federal government challenged the opening of a proposed site in Pennsylvania. Two supervised drug consumption sites in New York City the only two in the country have faced threats but are operating two years after opening. State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, only recently accepted their value. Five years ago I would have laughed at you, said Velis, Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, which held an October hearing on the bill. Thats not the case anymore. He visited a site in Harlem, and is making plans to see another soon in Canada. Bills intent The proposed state legislation would create a 10-year pilot program for what it calls overdose prevention centers. People could use pre-obtained drugs while professionals monitor them in case of an overdose. Facilities would be required to provide clean injection supplies, naloxone (the overdose reversal medication) and have access to treatment services. The state Department of Public Health would license sites and submit regular reports on them. Local boards of health would need to opt into the pilot program before an organization applies to the state for a license. Thats a key point, Velis said. In short, if a community does not want it, they will not have to have it, he said. Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield, is one of 15 senators who signed on to the bill. Ive lost family members to the opioid crisis, he told The Republican and MassLive. These are centers that could be a way to help people wean off and save the individuals life. The idea of the state authorizing supervised consumption sites is not new. Lawmakers considered similar bills in their 2019-2020 session and their 2021-2022 session. Before that, a 2018 law created a state Harm Reduction Commission. One of its tasks was to advise on how to address the opioid crisis, including the possibility of supervised injection sites. Among other findings, the groups 2019 report recommended the state test a program of at least one supervised consumption site with approval from the municipality where it was located. It also noted the federal governments stance against the sites and said the state would need to investigate legal protections for the organizations and employees running a site. Since then, the opioid epidemic has worsened, despite work to expand naloxone access and medication for opioid use disorder, Dr. Peter Friedmann told legislators. He is chief research officer at Baystate Health and editor in chief of the Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment. Last year, 2,357 people died of opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts, the most on record, according to state data. Hampden County saw an unprecedented number of deaths, 227, last year. The vast majority of the accidental deaths from overdoses that Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan sees are people who were alone, without someone to call 911 or give them naloxone. They were found in rooms, tents, alleys, and second-floor bedrooms of their families homes, he told lawmakers. Friedmann thinks the sites should be available. Over the years Ive had many patients who were unstable, or using, he told The Republican and MassLive, and it would have been great if I had a place where I could send them say, You know what, I understand youre still struggling. If youre going to use, why dont we do it in a way that will keep you alive? The state legalized cannabis for recreational use despite federal laws against it, he pointed out. Thats not even something thats life-saving, he said. Were in the midst of an unremitting epidemic of opioid overdose deaths. This is a more compelling reason ... to assert states rights. Dr. Peter Friedmann, Baystate Healths chief research officer, is among the participants in the Sept. 6 morning forum, Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Small and Rural Communities in Western Massachusetts, at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. (Don Treeger file photo/The Republican) He added, Its not going to solve the entire problem. But you know, its something that is known to work. The Massachusetts Medical Society endorsed pilot sites in 2019, and a recent poll indicated public support, Friedmann said. A survey of state voters in September found 70% of 600 respondents supported legislation to allow cities and towns to open overdose prevention sites. Beacon Research conducted the poll and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts sponsored it. Not a panacea Officials agree that action needs to be taken on the opioid overdose epidemic, but not everyone sees supervised injection sites as part of the answer. While Sullivan, the Northwestern district attorney, supports the legislation, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni does not. His office has worked on programs, like the Hampden County Addiction Task Force, that treat substance use disorder as a disease, he said in a statement to The Republican and MassLive. But the overdose prevention site legislation is tantamount to the states sanctioning and facilitation of illicit opiate use, such as fentanyl, which continues to kill thousands of people in the Commonwealth every year, Gulluni wrote. State Sen. Nick Collins, D-Boston, wants to see more people with substance use disorder civilly committed into treatment through state law Section 35. It allows police, court officials, doctors and someones relatives to file a petition for involuntary commitment if they believe a person is likely to cause serious harm through their substance use. Creating new laws that dont get to the roots of the problem at the end of the day, its perpetuated hospice, Collins said at the October hearing. We have the ability to intervene and I hope we do that first before we go down this path. If sites opened tomorrow, it wouldnt end the crisis, said state Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Cape and Islands, the legislator who filed the Senate bill this session. This tool is not a panacea, he told legislators, but he thinks it will help. The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery will vote on its recommendation for the bills, likely in January, Velis said. Legal questions As of now, two sanctioned sites operate in the U.S., both in New York City. The state of New York never authorized the sites through legislation, but city leaders and its health department have supported them. Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, has said they are operating in violation of state and federal law, specifically a statute that prohibits spaces from being maintained as a place to use controlled substances. That is unacceptable, he told The New York Times in August. My office is prepared to exercise all options including enforcement if this situation does not change in short order. In 2018, then-U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling said Massachusetts sites would violate federal law. Rachael Rollins, who served as U.S. Attorney after Lelling, expressed support for the sites while she was Suffolk County district attorney. Rhode Island legalized a pilot program for the sites, and an organization is planning to open a site in 2024. Philadelphia nonprofit SafeHouse has wanted to open a site for years, but a legal battle followed. After the U.S. Attorneys office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania sued, a judge ruled in the nonprofits favor. Then in early 2021, an appellate court ruled that a supervised injection site would not be legal, and the Supreme Court said it wouldnt review the case. The nonprofit seeking to open the site has filed a civil lawsuit and is still trying to open. Amid that ongoing legal battle, Massachusetts legislators have expressed frustration about a lack of clarity from the federal government. A necessary tool Cara Moser, who lost her daughter five years ago to an opioid overdose, attends a rally supporting a supervised consumption site in Philadelphia with her family in 2019. (Photo courtesy of Holden Blanco/HKB Photo)Courtesy of Cara Moser Five years ago, Eliza Harper died of an opioid overdose on her 26th birthday in South Deerfield. She was 10 months into her recovery and found alone, said her mother, Cara Moser. One of the first things I remember saying, when I got home, was why dont we have safe consumption sites? Moser remembers asking her daughter how she would go about using drugs, if she relapsed. Im not going to this time, she said her daughter told her. Theres no reason why this beautiful human couldnt be here today if we only cared enough about people who are drug users, she said. Cara Moser and her son, Jackson Harper, at the Massachusetts Statehouse in 2019. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Shotland)Jeff Shotland Moser got involved supporting SafeHouse in Philadelphia, rallying outside a courthouse during legal hearings. She has also testified at the Massachusetts Statehouse. I get really mad when I start thinking about it how we can just let people die? she asked. Liz Whynott is not sure she would be alive today if she had been born a decade or two later. Thats because when she was younger, she struggled with heroin. Today, the drug supply has become much more toxic with the rise of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be 50 times stronger than heroin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the more than 2,000 deaths in Massachusetts last year where a toxicology screening was available, fentanyl was present in 93% of cases, according to the DPH. Were losing so many people today and that has to stop, she said. Whynott is director of harm reduction services at Tapestry Health, a Springfield nonprofit where she has worked since 2008. The group operates all over Western Massachusetts by distributing Narcan, providing education and offering syringe services, for instance. The debate over overdose prevention sites reminds Whynott of past discussions about naloxone, which just became available over the counter this year, and about opening needle exchange programs. People had the same kind of fear and misperception about naloxone. Fear that it would cause people to use, fear it would cause risky behavior, she said. Naloxone has again proven to be an incredible lifesaving (and) necessary tool. Tapestry is one of more than 30 groups in the Massachusetts for Overdose Prevention Centers coalition, a group supporting the legislation. If the legislation passed, Whynott thinks that Tapestry would move to open a site. Its just another step that would help keep people alive. Early this year, Velis toured OnPoints East Harlem site, where he went into the overdose prevention room and saw staff giving someone oxygen. It was just a mind-blowing thing to observe, he said. The two sites report reversing more than 1,200 overdoses in two years. His office has not gotten any testimony or outreach from groups opposing the legislation. Cyrs office said it had also not received opposition. Before saying how hell vote on the bills recommendation in the new year, Velis said he plans to visit Canada, where there are more than 40 supervised consumption sites. Velis said hes identified the most compelling argument in favor of these sites: You cant treat someone who is dead. Since Mayor Joshua Garcia started cracking down on crime in Holyoke, police officers have been pulling over cars and stopping pedestrians throughout poorer neighborhoods, arresting drug users, homeless people and adolescents. And while city leaders talk about arresting people who are poisoning our community, police officers more often arrest the people being poisoned. Over one week before Thanksgiving, for example, Holyoke police logs show that of nine people arrested on drug-related charges, only one person was arrested for distribution. The rest were arrested for possession. According to police logs, police spent almost all of their time stopping cars in historically poorer neighborhoods. Between Nov. 13 and 20, police pulled over 44 drivers. Only six of those stops happened outside of downtown. Police are not only zeroing in on people driving in poorer areas, they are stopping people walking in the same communities. Over the above week, police detained 30 people walking through downtown, arresting seven individuals. The other 23 were sent on their way after police confronted them. Mayors plan The Holyoke City Council recently put the brakes on the mayors Ezekiels Plan, which, in part, was asking for $1 million for the hiring of 13 police officers and the blanketing of the city with surveillance cameras. The plan was named after a newborn who was shot and killed by a stray bullet while still in his mothers womb. The councils finance committee will reconsider funding the plan, also called Operation Safe Streets, at a meeting Monday, before possibly recommending it back to the full council. Meanwhile, the mayors current crackdown on crime is resulting in the arrests of adolescents, arrests which, according to studies, keep communities impoverished. Of the 30 people arrested during the seven days, 11 were adolescents (24 years old or younger), with two being juveniles (under 18 in Massachusetts). Some people will say these policing efforts lead to drug arrests. They will argue that at least we are getting drugs off the street. We need to clean up our communities, they say. It is true that of the 30 people arrested, nine people were arrested for drug-related crimes. Yet eight of those arrests were for simple possession. Only one 24-year-old was arrested for distribution. Word from the street To better understand the impact of these possession charges, I spoke with a man who worked for many years as a Holyoke outreach worker with homeless people and people who use drugs. He said many of these smaller arrests for drug possession cause irreparable damage. People have trouble for the rest of their lives getting an apartment, he said as an example. The outreach worker, who did not want to give his name because of the work he now does, including training police officers, knows one Holyoker who was out of prison for nine years, but his application was turned down more than 30 times for an apartment because of a history of drug arrests. They are resolved that they are not going to be able to rent an apartment, he said, adding that many of these people land up back on the streets. This is especially disempowering and dangerous for women who are arrested on possession charges and are unable to find an apartment of their own. Often these women have to stay in abusive relationships just because they need a place to live, he said. According to studies on law enforcement efforts in poorer, often darker-skinned communities, this type of heavy policing has the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of helping these communities, increased policing exacerbates poverty. A study by scholars at Villanova University concluded that mass incarceration has increased the U.S. poverty rate by an estimated 20 percent. Another study found that a familys probability of being poor is 40 percent greater if the father is incarcerated, stated a study by the CATO Institute called Poverty and Criminal Justice Reform. The report also found that rates of parental incarceration are two to seven times higher for African American and Hispanic children than white children. Children themselves Many of the Holyoke people being arrested were recently children themselves. As mentioned, a high number of the people arrested over the week examined were adolescents. These arrests can trigger life-long damage, which circulates back into the communities in which they were arrested. Cumulative incarceration duration during adolescence and early adulthood is independently associated with worse physical and mental health later in adulthood, according to the report by the CATO Institute. While some will argue that people need to be punished, we also need to ask what the consequence of such punishment is. What is the result of arresting so many of our young people? Incarceration does not reduce delinquent behavior. State-level data on recidivism consistently show that youth who are released from correctional confinement experience high rates of rearrest, new adjudications (in juvenile court) or convictions (in adult court), and re-incarceration, according to a report by the Sentencing Project called Why Youth Incarceration Fails: An Updated Review of the Evidence. So, where do these arrests leave us? It leaves us exactly where we started, with more Holyoke residents caught up in the criminal justice system. It leaves us with more disempowered citizens. It leaves our communities impoverished. Holyoke has one of the highest rates in the state of its citizens being imprisoned. At the Holyoke City Councils Public Safety Committee meeting last week, the Hampden County Sheriffs Office provided statistics on the number of Holyoke people in jail: 101. In 2022, 367 Holyokers returned to the city after serving a sentence. On average, men stayed in prison for 8 months, while women stayed for 4.5 months. According to the sheriffs office, 13.4% are re-incarcerated within one year and 16.6% are reincarcerated within two years. These numbers keep Holyoke in a state of poverty. Criminal sanctions can negatively affect individual health, debt, transportation, housing, and food security. Further, criminal sanctions create financial and emotional stresses that destabilize marriages and have adverse consequences for children, according to the CATO report. Unless we address the root cause of such criminal behavior, we will just continue sending our residents to jail and giving more money to police departments and prisons. We will change nothing. Povertys trap The impact of these arrests is generational, leading to another group of people being trapped in poverty. Incarceration impedes young peoples success in education and employment. Several studies show that incarceration makes it less likely that young people will graduate high school, according to the study by the Sentencing Project. Holyoke Public Schools has one of the highest high school dropout rates in the state. In 2022, more than 50 students dropped out. The year before that, 120 students dropped out. This crisis in our public schools still needs to be effectively addressed. A recent survey put out by a group of parents found that many Holyoke teachers are considering quitting because of the high amount of unaddressed problems in our public schools. If we want to stop crime, we need to listen to our teachers and invest in our children before we arrest them. Studies have shown that improved schooling leads to fewer arrests. Students who attended better-funded schools were 15% less likely to be arrested through age 30, found one report called Public School Funding, School Quality, and Adult Crime, authored by E. Jason Baron, Joshua Hyman, and Brittany Vasquez. The authors used data from the Michigan Department of Education, the Center for Educational Performance, the National Student Clearinghouse, and the Michigan State Police while tracking two groups of students from kindergarten to adulthood. A likely reason for the observed reduction in adult arrests is that students in better-funded schools had better academic and behavioral outcomes and higher educational attainment, the study found. Here is where Holyoke needs to focus its time and money. Here is where real change will happen. Here is how we will help our city. On the other hand, the more we focus on using the police as a tool to solve problems of crime and poverty, the more we will remain stuck in a cycle of crime and poverty. The facts tell us what to do. We need to listen to them. Patrick OConnor, a regular contributor to The Republican and MassLive, lives in Holyoke and is a public school teacher. A State House News Service article within the Nov. 10 edition of The Westfield News says that the ACLU, the Committee for Public Counsel, and the American Bar Association are recommending state legislation that would cease the suspending of drivers licenses for nonpayment of fines owed to the RMV (Resources Wasted Pursuing Unpaid RMV Fines, Lawyers Say). Hold on a minute. Currently, persons who have not paid RMV fines end up having their licenses suspended. Thereafter, if they are caught driving, prosecution of their cases then ties up the District Court system, where significant public resources are spent on public defenders, assistant DAs, court clerical staff time, etc. The article says a CPCS attorney told lawmakers that the vast majority of the license suspensions stemmed from unpaid fines (owed) to the RMV, not a more serious safety issue. Presumably, he might be referring to more serious safety violations such as drunk driving, which I assume he believes should continue to be punished with a license suspension. However, Im not sure I agree with his conclusion about ostensibly less serious violations. Isnt it likely that a great many of those unpaid fines are for traffic violations such as speeding or running red lights, which, though routine, still represent serious safety issues? The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) will mobilize financing for climate action at this years UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, and amplify Africas calls for robust commitments by wealthy countries to meet the continents urgent needs in addressing climate change. The Bank Group, led by its President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, will launch and cement several climate action initiatives during the global event taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12. The delegation, including vice presidents, senior management and sector experts, will aim to increase the Banks visibility within the global climate change community, and mobilize additional resources for climate funds and facilities. During the two-week conference, the Bank will advance partnerships and resource mobilization for its Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation (ACRIFA) as a vital tool to raise the billions needed to foster climate adaptation, resilience, and sustainable development within Africas agricultural sector. The Bank will also join its partners in launching the Global Battery Energy Storage System Consortium, a joint initiative with the Rockefeller Foundation, in which the Bank plays a leading role through its 10 GW Desert-to-Power solar energy initiative. The Consortium aims to secure 5 GW of commitments by the end of 2024 and mobilize more than $4 billion to significantly reduce the cost of renewable energy technologies. During COP28, the African Development Bank will also cement funding commitments for its $10-billion Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA). In addition, the Bank will leverage COP28 to advance the Bridgetown initiative (https://apo-opa.co/47UJho9), a climate and development plan, by hosting a high-level session to advocate for channelling IMF special drawing rights to multilateral development banks and announce pledges. The COP annual meetings are the single global platform for nations to negotiate an internationally agreed way forward to tackle climate change. The gathering also brings together major stakeholders engaged in climate change: governments, the private sector, youth and civil society. This years conference has the theme Unite, Act, Deliver. Africa, which accounts for less than 4% of global carbon emissions, is seeking more climate finance from wealthy, high-polluting countries, including through a new loss and damage fund due to be set up at COP28 and carbon taxes on sectors like fossil fuels, maritime transport and aviation. In its latest African Economic Outlook report, the Bank estimates that the continent requires as much as $2.8 trillion through 2030 to implement its climate commitments set out in countries national targets under the 2015 Paris Agreement. However, Africas climate finance inflows remain very low, at 3% of global climate finance, and tend to focus on small-scale, fragmented and uncoordinated operations, primarily in middle-income countries. Ahead of the global meeting, Dr Adesina called for bold and transformative action to prioritize Africa. The global climate financial architecture must be changed to prioritize the needs of Africa. At the national level, we must accelerate actions on climate adaptation, he said in his opening speech at the recent Africa Climate Summit. That is why the African Development Bank has committed to providing $25 billion towards climate finance by 2025. We have also launched the African Adaptation Acceleration Program, together with the Global Center on Adaptation, the largest climate adaptation program in the world. He added: Africa is blessed with the largest sources of renewable energy in the world, renewables from solar, hydro, wind and geothermal. But we cannot power Africa with potential. We must fully unlock Africas renewable energy potential. That is why the African Development Bank is implementing the $20-billion Desert-to-Power initiative, to harness the power of solar and deliver electricity for 250 million people. COP28 will feature the first Global Stocktake that will provide a comprehensive assessment of progress since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, under which countries committed to setting targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to contribute towards the Agreements goal of limiting global warming. The stocktake aims to align efforts on climate action, including measures to bridge the gaps in progress. The summit will also see the launch of the Africa and Middle East Scaling-up Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation for Economic Development initiative. The program seeks to mobilize at least $10 billion to address the climate and food security nexus of the two regions. The Bank will contribute to this initiative via its flagship Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program. African experts are optimistic that the continent could become more resilient against climate change and food insecurity. With significant solar, hydro, and geothermal energy resources, it has the potential to meet its renewable energy needs and share them with other regions. Pioneering interventions Since 2011, the Bank has deployed climate finance amounting to $23 billion, of which 80% comes from the Banks financing instruments. Co-financiers and external climate finance providers such as the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and the Climate Investment Funds provide the 20%. The Bank is working with the Global Center on Adaptation to mobilize $25 billion to scale up climate-resilient actions under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration programme (https://apo-opa.co/3RomXy0). So far, $4 billion has been raised for 43 projects in 36 countries in agriculture, resilient infrastructure, sustainable water and sanitation, youth and jobs, and innovative adaptation finance. During COP27 in November last year, the Bank and its global partners launched the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA) (https://apo-opa.co/46CdsiM) to boost the bankability of green infrastructure projects and generate up to $10 billion in investment opportunities for the private sector. The Bank has also rolled out several multi-pronged initiatives using technology to boost food production and nutrition across Africa. These include the SAPZs and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) (https://apo-opa.co/49UavNr). At COP28, the African Development Bank will help reshape the global narrative on key issues such as energy transition, nature-based solutions, adaptation finance, reform of multilateral development banks, carbon markets and restitution for loss and damage. African Export-Import Bank announced that the third Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) held in Cairo from 9 to 15 November witnessed the conclusion of business deals and transactions valued at US$43.8 billion. In final tallies released in Cairo, the organisers of the continental event said that the amount represented the value of 426 deals concluded in 21 sectors covering 52 countries. At a press conference to announce the results, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President (Intra-African Trade Bank) at Afreximbank, also announced that 130 countries participated in the trade fair, which attracted 1,939 exhibitors and 28,282 participants who attended physically and through the IATF virtual platform. One of the notable transactions included the Export Agriculture for Food Security Framework executed by several African countries (as Origin Countries) and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, Arise IIP (as Anchor Investor) to which Afreximbank committed US$2 billion to boost production, processing, and intra-African trade in agricultural products and to provide African farmers and agribusinesses with opportunities to access larger markets across the continent. Mrs. Awani also said that the IATF had successfully established itself as the premier trade and investment event in Africa, with the unique capacity to increase intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. Building on the successes of IATF2018 and IATF2021, I am proud to say that the buzz and energy generated by IATF2023 will be felt across Africa and beyond for many years to come. Together, we have explored new possibilities and opened new doors for a brighter future for our continent she added. IATF2023 kicked off on 9 November and included an official opening ceremony, a Presidential Summit which was addressed by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, a Trade and Investment Forum, the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an African Auto Forum, AU Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, a Sub-Sovereigns Conference, a Diaspora Summit, an African Industrialization Week and an African Tourism Sustainability and Investment Forum. A series of side events were also held as part of the trade fair. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 3. On December 3, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) held an event on the topic SOCAR Decarbonization Strategy and Future Prospects within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28), organized in Dubai, Trend reports citing SOCAR. Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev spoke at the event as an honorary guest and spoke in detail about the work and ongoing programs in the direction of environmental protection and restoration of the ecological balance in Azerbaijan. SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf, welcoming the event participants, spoke about SOCARs environmental activities and goals related to reducing emissions in the medium and long term. The President of SOCAR said that the company's main goals are to reduce flaring in the production process to zero, reduce emissions intensity and achieve the goals of "Zero Methane" and "Net Zero" by 2050. Rovshan Najaf emphasized that these steps have been taken towards transforming SOCAR into an exemplary energy company in terms of environmental protection, as well as corporate social responsibility. A detailed presentation was made of SOCAR's work on environmental protection, implemented projects, planned goals and future steps to achieve them, the use of green energy in oil and gas operations, strategic goals in the field of decarbonization and energy transition during the event. On the same day, an event was held to implement the concept of Carbon Neutrality in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions. The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev and the President of SOCAR Rovshan Najaf made opening speeches at the event. The speeches provided information on large-scale restoration and reconstruction projects being implemented in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions. It was noted that the main goals are to achieve carbon neutrality through the use of green energy, green agriculture and environmentally friendly technologies in these areas. Then, a presentation was made on the potential of "green energy" of the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, projects being implemented in this direction and future goals. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 3. Azerbaijan will switch to the new payment card data security standard PCI DSS 4.0 next year, Deputy Director General of Compliance Control Evgeny Babitsky told Trend. "As an international company, we work with Visa, MasterCard, and SWIFT, which develop global standards for the entire world market. Recently, a new version of the PCI DSS 4.0 standard has been released. This is a completely reworked standard that will be adopted by the global community as mandatory from April 2024. We were directly involved in its development. The transition to the new version of the standard is already in progress, and from April 2024 it will be mandatory for all payment and financial organizations in the Azerbaijani market. We are helping our customers to prepare in advance for this transition in terms of compliance with the new requirements of the standard," he said. Babitsky noted that Azerbaijan's information security sector is fairly developed. "There are unique trends and patterns in cybersecurity in Azerbaijan. Regular specialized events allow experts to share experience and discuss the latest tendencies. It is important that the country's experts do not copy the experience of other countries without analyzing its relevancy to the local market. Taking into account the peculiarities of each market, including the distribution of cybersecurity budgets, they actively follow the development of the sector," Babitsky said. Speaking about the security of banks in an underdeveloped market, Babitsky noted that most security incidents in the financial sector are related to human factor. "In markets that are just starting to develop, there is a lack of maturity and people often do not know how to respond to cybersecurity incidents. Unlike Azerbaijan, where standards of cybersecurity are higher, in new markets, customers are not trained to interact with scammers, which leads to gullibility and handing over sensitive data to them. This creates challenges for financial organizations that have to deal with negative consequences and customer charges. Tracking down scam ads online, especially those disguised as a specific bank, is a complex task that requires specialized and expensive systems," Babitsky explained. He emphasized that scams are not the only cybersecurity challenges that the banks face. "We investigate hundreds of cybersecurity cases every year, but with limited budgets, banks have to improve their cybersecurity by making tracking of fraud links a low priority. Many organizations turn to such systems later in their information security development due to limited resources. Not everyone can afford it, and not everyone has reached the level of development to effectively track fraud links, which can lead to end users getting scammed," he concluded. Compliance Control is one of the first information security consulting companies in Russia. It started its activity in 2012 as a specialized auditor in the field of payment data security and requirements of VISA and Mastercard. The Compliance Control company has Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) status, which allows it to conduct certification audits for compliance with PCI DSS requirements. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian officials on Sunday launched an investigation into allegations that Russian forces killed surrendering Ukrainian soldiers a war crime if confirmed after grainy footage on social media appeared to show two uniformed men being shot at close range after emerging from a dugout. The video shows the servicemen, one of them with his hands up, walking out at gunpoint and lying down on the ground before a group of Russian troops appears to open fire. It was not immediately possible to verify the videos authenticity or the circumstances in which it was filmed, and it was unclear when the incident took place. The Ukrainian General Prosecutors office on Sunday launched a criminal investigation, hours after the Ukrainian militarys press office said in an online statement that the footage is genuine. The video shows a group in Russian uniforms shooting, at point-blank range, two unarmed servicemen in the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were surrendering, the prosecutors office said in a Telegram update on Sunday. There was no immediate comment from the Russian government or military on the video, and calls to the defense ministry went unanswered on Sunday. Kyiv, its Western allies and international human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Moscow of breaching international humanitarian law since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin denies these allegations. The video first appeared Saturday on DeepState, a popular Ukrainian Telegram channel covering the war. The post claimed the footage came from the front lines near Avdiivka, a Ukrainian holdout in the countrys part-occupied east where there has been fierce fighting in recent weeks. The General Prosecutors Office on Sunday said that the alleged killing took place in the Pokrovsk district, which includes Avdiivka and surrounding areas. Its clear from the video that the Ukrainian servicemen are taking the necessary steps that show they are surrendering, Ukraines human rights chief, Dmytro Lubinets, said hours after the footage emerged on Saturday. In a statement posted to Telegram, Lubinets described the incident as yet another glaring example of Russias violations of international humanitarian law. Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military grouping that is fighting near Avdiivka, was cited by Ukrainian media as saying the video was glaring confirmation of Moscows disrespect for the laws of war. In March, footage of a man exclaiming Glory to Ukraine before being gunned down in a wooded area sparked national outcry in Ukraine, as senior officials alleged that he was an unarmed prisoner of war killed by Russian soldiers. Last summer, Kyiv and Moscow also traded blame for a shelling attack on a prison in occupied eastern Ukraine that killed dozens of Ukrainian POWs. Both sides claimed the assault on the facility in Olenivka was aimed at covering up atrocities, with Ukrainian officials charging captive soldiers had been tortured and executed there. The U.N.'s human rights chief in July rejected Moscows claim that a rocket strike had caused the blast. Also on Sunday, Ukraines energy ministry reported that close to 1,000 towns and villages suffered power outages that day, with hundreds of settlements in the west battered by wintry weather and others affected by ongoing fighting. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, late on Saturday assessed that military operations have slowed down all along the frontline in Ukraine due to poor weather, with mud bogging down tracked vehicles and making it hard for lighter equipment and infantry to advance. Even so, Shtupun, of Ukraine's Tavria military command that oversees the stretch of frontline near Avdiivka, said in a separate statement Sunday that Russian infantry attacks had intensified in the area over the past day. In a Telegram post, he insisted Ukrainian troops were holding firm in Avdiivka and another nearby town. In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russian shelling Sunday killed a woman and wounded three others after a high-rise apartment block was hit, the head of the city's military administration reported. In a Telegram post, Roman Mrochko published a blurred photo of what he said was the body of the deceased civilian, apparently lying on a dirt road or in a yard outside. The photo's authenticity could not be independently verified. Earlier in the day, a 78-year-old civilian died in a village in the northeast Kherson region after Russian shells slammed into his garage, according to a Telegram update by the regional Ukrainian military administration. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts 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 ROYAL OAK, MI -- A drivers failure to stop at a red light led to a responding officer being injured and an hour-long stand-off Saturday afternoon, according to the Michigan State Police. At about 12:05 p.m. Dec. 2, an MSP trooper was on patrol when she spotted a driver running a red light near the area of 8 Mile Road and Wyoming Avenue in Royal Oak. The trooper attempted to stop the driver, who refused to stop and continued driving away at a slow speed, police said. The trooper called for back-up when it appeared the suspect was trying to turn down a side street before pulling over, police said. The suspect eventually pulled into their driveway in the 20000 block of Strathmoor Street. The female suspect began to resist arrest when approached by the trooper, police said. The officer was able to get the suspect on the ground, but fractured her own left leg in the process. The suspect then ran into the house. Additional troopers arrived and a perimeter was set up as the suspect barricaded herself in the home. The injured trooper was taken to a local hospital, police said. After an hour of negotiations with the suspects husband, she came out and was taken into custody, police said. The suspect was lodged at the Oakland County Jail pending prosecutor review of the case. Twice today suspects being stopped for traffic decided to fight and injure troopers that were out protecting their community. said Lt Mike Shaw. I am proud of the way they were able to get these suspects off the street without any members of the public being hurt. Shaw mentioned another incident the department responded to at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning near 7 Mile Road and M-39 in Detroit. A patrolling trooper observed a truck driving recklessly at a high rate of and conducted a traffic stop, police said. As the trooper was trying to put the suspect in handcuffs, the man began to resist and fight with the trooper. During the struggle the suspect punched the trooper in the face, causing a laceration to the left side of his lip. The trooper took the suspect to the ground and used a taser to subdue him, at which point he was placed in handcuffs, police said. The suspect -- a 33-year-old Detroit man -- was not injured during the incident and was lodged at the the Detroit Detention Center pending charges, police said. The trooper was taken to a local hospital where he received stitches in his lip. In a pivotal move towards economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana's Minister of Finance, yesterday announced a substantial financial commitment from the government at the grant signing between the Ghana Enterprises Agency and the beneficiaries at the UPSA. The disbursement of the grant support to over 30,000 beneficiaries was implemented through the Ghana Enterprises Agencys (GEA) YouStart program under the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP) and the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP), giving grant support totalling GH100 million to startups and Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in 2023. In the 2024 Budget, an impressive GH200 million has been allocated to support programs aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, particularly among the youtha demographic constituting a significant 75 percent of the population. This financial commitment signifies the government's unwavering dedication to creating a conducive environment for businesses to flourish. By allocating substantial resources to support entrepreneurial initiatives, the government underlines its commitment to nurturing innovation and transforming the ideas of the youth into tangible and sustainable results. One noteworthy aspect of this initiative is the government's proactive approach in seeking additional support. Mr. Ofori-Atta disclosed that the government is soliciting $200 million from the World Bank, further emphasizing the collaborative efforts to ensure the continuous support and sustainability of these crucial programs. The strategic allocation of funds reflects a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by the youth in translating their ideas into successful ventures. By providing financial backing, the government aims to remove barriers that often hinder young entrepreneurs from realizing their full potential. This initiative is not merely about financial support; it symbolizes a broader commitment to creating an ecosystem where entrepreneurship can thrive. The government's focus on youth entrepreneurship aligns with the broader goal of fostering economic growth and reducing poverty by unlocking the potential of the country's young and dynamic population. As we celebrate this significant step towards a more prosperous future, it is essential to acknowledge the competence and foresight of Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta. His leadership in steering Ghana's financial policies towards impactful and sustainable initiatives showcases a commitment to addressing societal challenges at their roots. In conclusion, the allocation of GH200 million and the efforts to secure additional funding from the World Bank exemplify Ghana's dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and alleviating poverty, particularly among the youth. This collaborative approach between the government and international institutions is a beacon of hope for a future where innovation and economic growth go hand in hand, ultimately shaping a more prosperous Ghana for generations to come. Prince A. A. Sadat (NPP National Youth Wing Administrator) In a resounding commitment to fostering economic growth and youth empowerment, Vice President Alhaji Bawumia has unveiled a transformative vision for Ghana. The recent Grant Signing Ceremony organized by the Ghana Enterprises Agency showcased the tangible results of the government's strategic initiatives, particularly through the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP) and the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP). The highlight of this monumental effort is the disbursement of GH100 million in grant support to startups and Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in 2023. Over 30,000 beneficiaries have reaped the benefits of this financial aid, administered through the Ghana Enterprises Agency's (GEA) YouStart programme. This initiative, funded by the World Bank through collaborative efforts from the Ministries of Finance and Trade and Industry, serves as a crucial measure to cushion enterprises affected by the dual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. Vice President Bawumia proudly announced that, despite global economic challenges, the Akufo-Addo-led government had successfully created 2.1 million jobs within seven years. The YouStart programme, spearheaded by Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta, stands as a testament to the administration's dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and job creation. The Vice President expressed gratitude to the Ghana Enterprises Agency, led by dynamic CEO Kosi Yankey-Ayeh (Mrs.), for their unwavering commitment to fostering the growth and development of startups and MSMEs. He also acknowledged Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Kobina Tahir Hammond, for ensuring oversight responsibility of these invaluable programs. In emphasizing the collaborative nature of these achievements, Dr. Bawumia extended thanks to key development partners, including the World Bank, for their technical reviews and funding contributions. He celebrated the success of the YouStart intervention, noting that it has already provided Business Management Training to over 30,000 young individuals and MSMEs. Furthermore, the Vice President highlighted ongoing efforts by the government to create an entrepreneurial economy, turning ideas into tangible results. The allocation of GH200 million in the 2024 Budget, with a solicitation of $200 million from the World Bank, showcases the administration's dedication to comprehensive and holistic enterprise development. As we reflect on these strides, it is evident that Vice President Bawumia's vision transcends financial support alone. His commitment to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, coupled with a focus on digitalisation and youth empowerment, paints a promising picture for the future of Ghana. The initiatives undertaken under his leadership underscore the belief that a prosperous nation is built on the empowerment of its youth and the transformative potential of digital innovation. Prince A. A. Sadat (NPP National Youth Wing Administrator) Renowned Financial Analyst Sydney Casely-Hayford has died. The announcement of his passing was made on Friday, December 1, 2023. Casely-Hayford, also a member of the pressure group Occupy Ghana, was widely recognized for his outspoken and candid perspectives on social and economic matters in Ghana. Reports indicate that he died after a long battle with Kidney disease. Profile of Sydney Casely-Hayford As the Managing Partner of TMI Consulting Ltd, Casely-Hayford steered the firm towards providing astute financial analysis and consulting services to a diverse clientele, encompassing governments, corporations, and investors. His understanding of the intricate dynamics of the African financial sector has propelled him to the forefront of the industry. Casely-Hayfords intellectual prowess extended beyond his consulting practice. He was a regular contributor to Ghanaian and international media outlets, where he dissected complex financial and economic. He was also more widely known for being a leading voice within the pressure group, OccupyGhana. Citi Newsroom This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about Liberia's presidential elections. There's The Listener's Corner, Erwan Rome's Music from Erwan, and of course, the new quiz question, so click on the Play button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll hear the winner's names announced and the week's quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you've grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, On This Day, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music so be sure and listen every week. Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your music requests, so get them in! Send your music requests to [email protected] Tell us why you like the piece of music, too it makes it more interesting for us all! Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts! In addition to the breaking news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts that will leave you hungry for more. There's Paris Perspective, Spotlight on France, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have an award-winning bilingual series an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. And there is the excellent International Report, too. As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our team of journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with! To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you'll see Podcasts at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone. To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is Headline News) until you see Podcasts, and choose your show. Teachers, take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is [email protected] If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English that's how I worked on my French, reading books which were meant for young readers and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald's free books, click here. Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni ([email protected]) from our Listener Relations department in all your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me ([email protected]) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. NB: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload! And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognised RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire!!!!! If you do not answer the questions, I click Decline. There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click Decline, which I don't like to do! This week's quiz: On 28 October, I asked you a question about the first round of polls in Liberia's presidential elections. The incumbent, George Weah, won 43.8 percent of the vote; his challenger, Joseph Boakai, pulled in 43.4 percent. To win the presidency in Liberia, a candidate must win more than 50 percent of the votes. You were to consult RFI English journalist Melissa Chemam's article Liberia's election set for run-off in tightest race since end of civil war in which she wrote about candidate Joseph Boakai's alliance with an influential figure in the key county of Nimba, and send me the name of that "influential figure". The answer is: The former warlord and senator Prince Johnson. Johnson had supported Weah in the last election but flipped to Boakai this time around. The second round of the polls was held on 14 November. Joseph Boakai, with 50.64 percent of the vote, is the new president of Liberia. He will be sworn into office on 22 January 2024. In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Alan Holder from Britain's Isle of Wight: What frightens you the most? What steps have you taken (if any) to conquer this fear? Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us! The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Omoefe Onoriobe from Houston, Texas in the USA. Omoefe is also the winner of this week's bonus question. Congratulations Omoefe! Also on the list of lucky winners this week is Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Radio Listeners Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, and Ras Franz Manko Ngogo, the president of the Kemogemba RFI Club in Tarime, Mare, Tanzania. Rounding out the list of winners this week are RFI Listeners Club member Karuna Kanta Pal from West Bengal, India, and RFI English listener Ripa bin Mokles from Bogura, Bangladesh. Congratulations winners! Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: The Harpsichord Sonata in A Major by Domenico Scarlatti, performed by Igor Kipnis; The Flight of the Bumblebee by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; The Cakewalk from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and Un Douceur violente by Jacques de Gallot, performed by lutenist Anthony Bailes. This week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, listen to Jessica Phelan's report on the Spotlight on France podcast No 103, or refer to her article Albert Londres, unflinching reporter who inspired France's top journalism prize to help you with the answer. You have until 25 December to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 30 December podcast. When you enter, be sure you send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number. Send your answers to: [email protected] or Susan Owensby RFI The Sound Kitchen 80, rue Camille Desmoulins 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux France or By text You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country's international access code, or + , then 33 6 31 12 96 82. Don't forget to include your mailing address in your text and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number. To find out how you can win a special Sound Kitchen prize, click here. To find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or form your own official RFI Club, click here. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Minority said it cannot in good conscience support the principles of the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government. A statement issued by Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minority Leader, copied to the Ghana News Agency said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Majority Caucus on Wednesday, November 29, runaway from the Governments 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy; sensing defeat over its failure to rally its numbers for Parliamentary Business. It said the Speaker of Parliament had earlier stated that his voice vote had been challenged under order 113 (2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament. It noted that the Speaker put the question for a voice vote twice and stated that in his opinion the ayes have it. The statement said this opinion was subsequently challenged by Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Deputy Minority Leader, citing order 113 (2) of the Standing Orders. It said Order 113(2) calls for a head count of all Members of Parliament present and voting. It said the Speaker then ruled on the motion that the application was in order and that head count should commence. The statement said it was at this point that Majority Members, sensing defeat, started packing fled the Chamber and abandoned their own budget, leaving only the NDC Minority Caucus to carry on with Parliamentary Business. Adding that but the Speaker suspended the House and immediately upon its resumption, he adjourned proceedings until Thursday, 30th November. The statement said as it stands now, the 2024 budget had not been approved. It said throughout the budget debate, the NDC Minority Group insisted that it could not support the Governments new taxes because the poverty level in the country is just too high, and this would put an extra burden on already suffocating businesses. We, the NDC Minority, cannot in good conscience support the principles of this budget at this time, it said. GNA BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 3. International Finance Corporation (IFC) supports the development of women's entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, Ekaterina Benjamin, International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Country Officer for Kazakhstan, told Trend. "At IFC, we are convinced that womens entrepreneurship and economic empowerment are critical to inclusive economic growth. Where women are empowered, they can contribute their full potential - leading to a more diverse and dynamic workforce," she said. According to Benjamin, nations that demonstrate greater gender parity enjoy increased per capita national income and experience accelerated economic expansion. "According to statistics from the Fund for Sustainable Development and Support of Women's Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, women constitute 51.8 percent of the population and play a significant role in generating about 40 percent of the country's total Gross Domestic Product. Additionally, they manage approximately 42 percent of small and medium enterprises, and female entrepreneurs contribute to 30 percent of employment within this sector," IFC's Country Officer said. As she noted, this was one of the reasons IFCs funding to microfinance organizations such as KMF, Arnur Credit, and Shinhan Finance included a gender component. "For instance, at least half of the funds provided to KMF are earmarked for women-owned small enterprises, while at least 25 percent of our investment in Shinhan Finance will be earmarked for women-owned small businesses," Ekaterina Benjamin said. The Member of Parliament for the Obuasi East constituency Hon Dr. Patrick Boakye Yiadom has said the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs program which was launched recently by the President His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo has the potential of ending hunger. Speaking at the 39th National Farmers' Day celebration held at Mampamhwe in the Obuasi East District, the MP said the Phase Two of the Programme which seeks to improve service delivery to maximise impact, and substitutes direct input subsidy with smart agricultural financial support in the form of comprehensive input credit, with provision for in-kind payment, will help to achieve UN's Sustainable Development Goals of ending hunger by 2030. The phase II of the PFJ seeks to consolidate the gains made in the first phase of the program which was launched in 2017. Phase II of PFJ include an input credit system that provides farmers with access to inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and other support services for improving productivity and yield as well as storage infrastructure and logistic hub to improve storage and distribution of produce to reduce post-harvest losses. Additionally, it also includes off-taker arrangements/commodity trading to improve farmer access to markets which guarantees fair prices for crops; and a digitised platform for management, monitoring and coordination to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the programme. He admonished Ghanaians especially the youth to take advantage of the various interventions rolled out by government in the Agric sector to venture into farming." Government has a deliberate plan to create jobs and improve the economy leveraging the Agric sector, we must all get involved and move the nation forward." Speaking on the the theme "Delivering Smart solutions for sustainable food security and resilience", the Chief Executive for the Obuasi East District Hon Faustina Amissah said it was to sustain the successes chalked over the years in the Agric sector. She commended farmers in the district for braving the storm and producing more to feed the people. " I know your work comes with a lot of challenges, but I am happy to say, regardless you still work hard to put food on our tables," she stressed. Hon. Amissah encouraged women and the youth to develop interest in Agriculture stressing that government has put measures in place to make it attractive and lucrative. In all 15 farmers were awarded in the Obuasi East District. There were awards for the Best women farmer and the Best youth farmer. 60 year old farmer from Nyamesomede Kwadwo Kyei was crowned the 2023 District Best Farmer. The retired miner took home 40-inch LED TV, Motorised Tricycles (Aboboyaa), 2 Wellington Boots, 2 pieces of GTP wax print, 5 boxes of Key soap, 2 Knapsack sprayers, 10 machetes, and 1box of Sunphosate Glyphosate Weedicide and 1 brush cutter, all sponsored by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine. Peter Builiama, the Chief Executive officer of Big Piero company Limited, a tailing construction firm donated Motor tricycle to the Best woman farmer in the district. He said the donation was to motivate more women to develop interest in farming. 02.12.2023 LISTEN "It's a great honor your Majesty that you receive me on short notice before I leave Ghana for the USA. I am so grateful," humbled Joshua Odhiambo himself before a white man on the throne of Ghana, a man he had been following for years with great admiration, a mentor to him. "But for you, simply Karl," smiled King Carl I and sat side by side with him at the dinner table for a light lunch. "After all, you are now a man, a handsome man who goes out as our Ambassador to lecture the people in Silicon Valley or what has been left of it, and in Washington Americans about our system the improved new way of governance. They will be shocked I am sure after generations of dominion and forcing their values onto us treating us like babies not as the future rulers of the world. They thought always that they could outsmart us using the help of our corrupt elite to make us want what they wanted from us. It was to our great advantage that most Americans are ignorant of the rest of the world and history. Like Lemmings, they followed their elites and abandoned independent thinking rather than using the settler's old mentality to kill native Indians, take their land, and kill their livelihood the majestic buffalos later in mass shootings. Their arrogance reached its peak when the CIA by their presidents was mandated to kill foreign leaders like Thomas Sankara and most likely Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, violated their own human rights laws in the case of Guantanamo, torcher in the Iraq war, Agent Orange over Vietnam, and much more. It is never wise for any nation to lift itself up to the throne of a global police force especially when its own moral base is weak and values like protecting lives contradict themselves. To turn a blind eye to such values is like standing at the edge of history to fall off one day eventually. The souls of the slaves America took from us to make them suffer to death hear our trumpets of final victory. Now it is on us to lecture the world on good governance and new...the better human values. The circle has been completed. Humanity started here in Africa and eventually through the means of religion fell into the hands of the white man. Now the circle is closed again as now dominion and supremacy over humanity is back in black hands." Joshua Odhiambo swallowed his piece of chicken meat heavily cooked to its second death very spicy and hot. He knew the King himself had prepared the meal, not any servant, and said:" One of the most wicked things the white man brought to us and especially the Americans forced onto us was their system, their values they saw in democracy. They tried to take advantage of our country by fooling us with a system that was never part of our culture only because it was popular in their society...never African thinking." "And they knew that they needed a new political elite to their advantage and needs to keep us Africans under their feet and control," added the King with a smile of wisdom on his face. "And to continue to steal from us...our natural resources, our vanilla, cocoa, herbs and spices, bananas and pineapples," was Joshua Odhiambo glad to have made it, his plate was empty and sparkling clean. He wiped off the last traces of food from his mouth and smiled holding a cup of hot chocolate in his right hand. In an anticipated victory, the immediate past Deputy Registrar of the Ghana Pharmacy Council, Dr. Albert Wiredu Arkoh has emerged winner of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) parliamentary primary in the Amenfi Central constituency in the western region. Held today, Saturday, December 2, at Akyekyere3, Dr. Arkoh garnered 547 votes against his closest contenders 247. Dr.Arkoh's victory comes as no surprise given his undisputed track record and dedication to the party both at the national and local levels. Speaking to the party members after his victory, Dr. Arkoh first and foremost showed his appreciation to the Almighty God for making his victory possible. He further appreciated all the stakeholders especially his contender for his sense of discipline right from the beginning to the end. The parliamentary candidate acknowledged that the battle ahead is not going to be on a silver plate and therefore called for a united front devoid of bitterness and grievance. Ladies and gentlemen, the impending battle is not going to be just a walkover and for us to overcome our opponent in 2024, there is nothing to tread on than to form a united front devoid of bitterness and grievance, he stated. Dr.Arkoh further reiterated the need for all party faithful to preach the good news to all constituents. "As Jesus told his disciples to go into the world and preach the good news in Mark 16:15, so I humbly charge you also. This will go a long way to ensure that we make his history together and break the 8 as well, he told the party members. The new patriotic party NPP, today, Saturday, December 2 held the first part of electing parliamentary candidates to represent the party come 2024. This was organized for the one hundred and eleven orphan constituencies across the country. Orphan constituencies are those without sitting NPP members of parliament. Meanwhile, the parliamentary primary for sitting MPs is scheduled to place on January 20, 2024. The people of Amenfi Central constituency in Western region are hoping for change as two new candidates face off in the 2024 parliamentary elections. Dubbed westerns poorest constituency per the 2015 Ghana Statistical Services Ghana Poverty Mapping, voters in the constituency seek a representative who can bring much-needed development. For over two decades, the NDC has controlled the seat in parliament. But their incumbent MP Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah was shockingly defeated in party primaries earlier this year, opening the door for change. On the other side, the NPPs two-time candidate Patrick Hockson Ampongtengthe current District Chief Executive, who came close in 2016 but tasted a 6,000-margin defeat in 2020, has stepped aside, replaced by a fresh face. Dr. Joana Gyan Cudjoe of the NDC will face off against Dr. Albert Wiredu Arkoh of the NPP. Both candidates have strong credentials that could appeal to voters tired of broken promises and unfulfilled potential. As a businesswoman and wife of musician Andrew Keche, Dr. Cudjoe seems to understand the struggles residents endure. But some question if she has the political savvy and experience needed for this job. Standing against her is Dr. Arkoh, an immediate past Pharmacy Council Deputy Registrar official with expertise in accessing state resources. The challenges there are immense. Over half the population lives below the poverty line according to data, due to crumbling roads, lack of electricity and poor internet access. Healthcare, education and job opportunities are also severely lacking across this rural constituency. With their old representatives now gone, the people of Amenfi Central see an opportunity for a fresh start next year. They hope the new candidates competing for their vote can succeed where others have failed, and finally bring the development needed to lift up the regions poorest district. But only time will tell if their gamble on change delivers the "new hope" so desperately needed. Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Saturday said this week's deadly violence involving members of the National Guard was an "attempted coup" as the army ordered them back to barracks. The unrest between members of the National Guard and special forces of the presidential guard on Thursday night in the capital Bissau left at least two people dead. Embalo, who was in Dubai attending the COP28 climate conference, arrived in Bissau on Saturday and said an "attempted coup d'etat" had prevented him from returning. "I must tell you this act will have serious consequences," he added. Embalo said the coup attempt was prepared before celebrations on November 16 commemorating the anniversary of the armed forces. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, the small West African nation has seen a series of coups and coup attempts. Guinea-Bissau. By (AFP) Embalo, who was elected to a five-year term in December 2019, survived a failed overthrow in February 2022. A military official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the situation, said six soldiers were injured in the fighting and evacuated to neighbouring Senegal. Calm had returned by noon on Friday to the small nation with a history of instability, following the announcement that the army had captured Colonel Victor Tchongo, commander of the National Guard. On Saturday the security presence in Bissau was reduced, but soldiers were still visible around certain strategic buildings such as the presidential palace, the judicial police headquarters and some ministries. Some National Guard officers and soldiers fled into the interior of the country, the army said in a statement Saturday, without specifying numbers. "The General Staff of the armed forces hereby informs them that they must return to their place of assignment," the statement continued. ECOWAS expresses 'full solidarity' Regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it "strongly condemns the violence and all attempts to disrupt the constitutional order and rule of law in Guinea-Bissau". "ECOWAS further calls for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the incident in accordance with the law," the Abuja-based organisation added in its statement on Saturday. The regional bloc also expressed "its full solidarity with the people and constitutional authorities of Guinea-Bissau". A spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, had called Friday for calm and urged the security forces and the army "to continue refraining from interference in national politics". Embalo was elected to a five-year term in December 2019. By POOL (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP) Members of the National Guard Thursday evening stormed a police station to extract Finance Minister Souleiman Seidi and Treasury Secretary Antonio Monteiro, according to army and intelligence officers. The two government members were being questioned about the withdrawal of $10 million from state accounts. They had been detained under orders of state prosecutors, who are named by the president. Embalo said someone sent Tchongo to remove Seidi from detention and announced that an investigatory commission would be formed on Monday. The National Guard is under the control of the interior ministry, which, like most ministries in the country, is dominated by the PAIGC party whose coalition won the June 2023 elections. The two government members were detained again after the army removed them from National Guard control. Government spokesman Francisco Muniro Conte said Saturday: "We have always opted for the application of the law. A president who is elected must complete his term of office." "We cannot obstruct people who are facing justice, if the law is really respected," he added. 03.12.2023 LISTEN Nii Lantey Bannerman, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for the Odododiodioo Constituency, says the decision by the incumbent Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo not to contest the 2024 General Election is an opportunity for the NPP to clinch the Odododiodioo seat. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, the incumbent National Democratic Congress MP for Odododiodioo, has announced his decision not to contest the seat in 2024 after representing the people in Parliament since 2013. Speaking to journalists at the NPPs voting centre at Odododiodioo on Saturday, Nii Lantey Bannerman said he was confident of victory by the close of polls. He said that given his performance in the 2020 General Election, he was hopeful of unseating the incumbent MP if he had decided to contest the elections in 2024. His (Nii Lantey Vanderpuye) absence is an opportunity for NPP. But he knows what is coming at him. I lost the last election by a margin of 6,500. If you consider the people who did not turn up in the commercial areas, which were my stronghold, and amounted to about 18,700 you could tell that I lost the election because of the holiday, he said. Nii Bannerman said having represented the NPP in the 2016 and 2020 parliamentary elections, he had gathered enough experience to win the Odododiodioo seat in 2024. But he faces stiff opposition from Abdul Mannaf Sowah, whose message has been that the NPP needed a new face to represent the Party in Odododiodioo in 2024. Voting commenced at about 0805 hours and is expected to close at 1400 hours. The exercise has been relatively peaceful thus far, with the police actively ensuring law and order at the Centre. The Odododiodioo seat has been dominated by the National Democratic Congress since 1992. The NPP won the Odododiodioo Constituency seat in 2000 but has since failed to reclaim the seat after losing it in 2004. GNA Soweto's Vilakazi Street is packed each day with tourists and hawkers outside the home of Nelson Mandela that has been meticulously kept even as the democracy pioneer's legacy has become rundown in the decade since his death. Ntsiki Madela, who lives nearby and sells jewellery and hats on a table near the matchbox house museum at number 8115, is among many South Africans who feel let down. While thankful that Mandela's 16-year presence in the township now draws tourists, the 47-year-old said: "I haven't seen any change from Mandela's democracy and I don't even see the need to vote." With a legislative election due in months -- the 30th anniversary of South Africa's first democratic vote -- authorities are struggling to get people like Madela to register. Voter numbers have fallen with every election since the first in 1994. And the people who do vote are increasingly turning against Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) that has ruled since then. Polls suggest the scandal-tainted ANC's vote share could fall below 50 percent for the first time as Africa's biggest economy slumbers and corruption taints its image. Inequality rules Unemployment is among the world's highest at 32 percent of adults and wages for those in work are low. Despite the end of apartheid, South Africa has the world's lowest equality ranking, according to the World Bank. Nelson Mandela trained as a boxer in Soweto in the 1950s. Now his democratic legacy is taking a battering. By Wikus DE WET (AFP/File) The government and state firms are carrying more than $300 billion of debt and the figure worsens every day. Street crime and murders have also grown over the past decade and some days Madela and her neighbours go without electricity for almost 12 hours a day. "We only have enough income to feed our kids, there is constant load-shedding and the cost of living is unbearable," said Madela, referring to the chronic power cuts. Mandela is seen around the world as a moral compass for the way he wore down white minority rule and his vision of a multi-racial South Africa. Critics say the ANC leaders who took over quickly dropped Mandela's torch. Mandela's legacy has been "undermined" by his own party officials who are "corrupt" and have "deviated" from his "moral consciousness", independent political analyst Prince Mashele told AFP. Nic Borain, a political analyst working in financial markets, said there was a "kind of mythology" around the Mandela years that meant anyone following would struggle. Power crisis The government and the ANC have as big a fight on their hands to tackle apathy as they do debt. Former president Jacob Zuma, who was forced out of office over corruption allegations, only avoided prison because of his poor health and a remission approved this year by his successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa. In June the graft watchdog cleared Ramaphosa of allegations that he breached ethics by not reporting the theft of more than $500,000 in cash hidden in a sofa at his farm. Down the road from Mandela's house, 27-year-old teacher Sive Jizana sat with friends at a popular pub. Mandela's legacy was "dying", she said. She noted the lack of running water and proper roads outside main cities. "And now we don't have electricity," she said. Zandile Cubeni, a 24-year-old unemployed sociology graduate, said she would not join the voters' list. "A lot of my peers are jobless, we aren't getting any tangible benefits," Cubeni said, adding that Mandela's legacy "has been made out to seem like something without any flaws, that's not true." Some say Mandela's name was over-hyped. "We don't really see what Mandela and all the others did for us... we are still poor," a 43-year-old cashier, Thobile Cele, told AFP. "We simply don't even have a democracy anymore as long as... ANC is in power," said Leigh-Ann Mathys, a member of parliament for the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party. Ten years after his death former South African president Nelson Mandela still inspires global tributes, including this mural at a prison in Spain. By MIGUEL RIOPA (AFP) She said courts had been "captured" to operate in the ANC's favour and there are doubts about institutions like the electoral commission during the 2024 vote. Some Mandela loyalists are trying to make the public look beyond the apartheid battler's name to map out a future direction. But Mandela's family is publicly keeping the faith. His grandson, Mandla Mandela, an ANC lawmaker, said the party had achieved many successes and some "spectacular failures" but overall South Africa's democracy was still "healthy". "The key evil of colonialism was that it robbed our people of their land, and this remains the litmus test for how we measure transformation," the 49-year-old said. Tensions are running high as the Democratic Republic of Congo prepares to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on 20 December. Concerns over transparency and recurrent violence have observers worried about the vote and its aftermath. The campaign in the central African nation of about 100 million people officially kicked off on 19 November, just a month before the polls. Opposition parties and civil society groups have been saying for months that the country simply isn't ready, but the president in power, Felix Tshisekedi, wants the election to go ahead. Now the European Union has said that its team of election observers cannot observe the polls because of security concerns. Forty EU observers were supposed to travel to DRC but they are "currently unable to deploy in the country for security reasons", a spokesperson for the mission said this week, which "makes the necessary long-term observation impossible". As a result the EU decided on Wednesday to cancel its plan to send election observers to provinces across the DRC. It is still considering sending monitors to observe the vote from the capital, the EU's diplomatic service said in a statement. 'Perilous conditions' Insecurity is one of the main challenges for both the campaign and the polls. The think tank International Crisis Group said the new electoral cycle was beginning in "perilous conditions". In a report published on 30 October, it cited ongoing fighting in the east of the country and accusations by the opposition that the National Independent Electoral Commission (Ceni), is biased in favour of Tshisekedi's ruling party. "To mitigate these risks, the government should make sure all parties can campaign free of intimidation and unwarranted restrictions. It should ensure the Ceni, which itself must pay its staff and fight against the extortion of voters," the group wrote. "Outside actors, notably African and Western powers, should encourage politicians to compromise, call out abuses, continue to support domestic poll observers and prepare for mediation in case it is needed." But a month before the polls, these criteria don't seem to be met. Fears of repression The DRC saw its first peaceful transition of power since independence following general elections in December 2018, despite widespread reports of vote rigging. The vote saw Tshisekedi named president even though one of his opponents, Martin Fayulu, claimed and continues to claim victory. Tshisekedi has since taken steps to consolidate his authority and to diminish the influence of his predecessor, Joseph Kabila. "Tshisekedi has inherited a system of violent kleptocracy and risks repeating his predecessors' errors," the International Crisis Group warned. "There are already signs he may be taking a more repressive turn." Tresor Kibangula, a Congolese political analyst at the DRC think tank Ebuteli, told RFI that the country has been a dangerous path since the last election. "Some demonstrations have been recently forbidden, politicians have been arrested, so of course some political actors are afraid," Kibangula said. Campaign-trail violence An opposition party official was killed in eastern DRC on Tuesday during clashes between rival political groups. The clashes erupted when presidential challenger Moise Katumbi's motorcade was making its way through Kindu, the regional capital of the eastern Maniema province. Witnesses said Katumbi supporters clashed with backers of the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the party of the president. The unrest killed Dido Kasingi, a lawyer and father of six who was the president of the youth chapter of Katumbi's party, Together for the Republic, a party spokesperson told reporters in Kinshasa. The spokesperson, Herve Diakiese, accused the governor of Maniema of instigating the unrest. "The assailants set on the motorcade from inside the residence of governor Idrissa Mangala," he said, saying it amounted to "an obvious premeditated attack". Back in July, former minister Cherubin Okende, a member of the opposition in parliament, was found dead in his car, his murder raising fears for the possibility of democratic elections in December. Eastern conflict The DRC is in the grip of a decades-long conflict with armed rebel groups in its resource-rich east, where UN peacekeepers and East African Community troops are deployed. President Tshisekedi has ordered both international and regional forces to leave the country in December, saying they had failed to end the fighting. Meanwhile the conflict in the east and other areas has left more than a million citizens without voter registration cards, according to the International Crisis Group. Rich in minerals and forestry and the second largest country in Africa after Algeria, DRC remains impoverished because of illegal mining, corruption, bad governance, lack of infrastructure and investment, and recurrent conflicts. 03.12.2023 LISTEN King Carl I, laughed in victory his eyes shining bright as a diamond reflecting itself in gold: "When the support in the developed world starting from the youth to have democracy crumbled we in Africa were already in place ready to lead the race for a better governmental system for a new approach of humanity. This was the greatest victory for us Africans in generations. I can not express myself with the right words the feeling I felt that moment you people here in Ghana and later all across our blessed continent...when we decided for good to free us from the chains tight around our necks to keep us in mental slavery." "Yes, our honest and true independence came the day we got back our identity as Africans. For too long did we allow the white man to divide us and force his values on us," said Joshua Odhiambo categorically. His eyes landed on two bags packed for the King to travel to Japan the next morning. "Oh, you see I am on my way out to lecture them about our way of life also. You can see, that the entire world wants to learn from us. But...as you know I will not use a state-owned private yet. Even my predecessors refused such an idea. A poor country as Ghana was and a white King in a state private plane? I mean that did not match at all. The black Presidents our country had before used it to impress the white masters abroad and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. The first King after our true independence not only sold the state private jets and flew in economy class on commercial flights only but also got rid of all SUVs with the decision only three cars are in a convoy of the King." "And I am relieved to know that wasting time and taxpayers' money to launch hospitals, streets, schools, and power stations is part of the medieval dark age of our shameful history." "By the way I have heard your father picked up three nice red apples. Is it true?" was King Carl I curious to know. His voice was unfamiliar low the kind of a voice to be heard in a dark forest among trees and deer. Joshua Odhiambo smiled with a great surprise: "You know about it? I mean three ordinary red apples seem to make world history. Unbelievable...unimaginable!" "Oh, Joshua...gossip spreads faster than the truth. People want to hear what pleases their minds not what opens their eyes. Fake news like to eat on this human weakness." "Out from nowhere, a thought crosses my mind. In history was there ever any democratically elected leader who received from his people the title 'The Great' or only Royals? I wonder!" Joshua Odhiambo answered after a few minutes of silence letting his mind scan the bits and pieces of history he had put into it: " To my best knowledge, never!" "Isn't this interesting and significant?" "Most certainly, Karl...my King!" Joshua Odhiambo smiled receiving a piece of dark chocolate cake. "Most black African leaders democratically elected had no clue nor understanding of the African history, the highlights on our beautiful continent." "My King...with all due respect...but...I don't get your point!" was Joshua Odhiambo irritated and confused. The darkness outside got darker by the hour. "Did they know anything about the African David and Goliath?" asked King Carl I with a big smile of wisdom around his lips. "I guess...no, they knew about David and Goliath in their deep pockets...that is for sure," laughed Joshua Odhiambo and lifted up his glass of Champagne. "Let us celebrate that these dark days of African history are no more haunting our people. Truly...they have suffered for too long and did not deserve it." King Carl I, put down his glass and explained: "Ancient Egypt at the river Nile was a powerful country impressively advanced. The ruler the Pharaoh was a King and God at the same time, all powers invested in one person. This was the African Goliath. Next to it in the south, the black Nubians, a tiny country compared to the mighty Egypt, is the African David. When iron was discovered in Nubia and it was in great demand the Nubians generated wealth and power based on the iron. With cleverness and a bit of military force were they able to conquer Egypt and end a long history of which after colonialism and the Arab Spring nothing significant was left. They can thank Allah that they got back an elected King and adopted our Ghanaian system a modern adaptation of the ancient Greek concept of ruling a nation long before they invented the Polis, democracy." "Huh...my King...please grant me time to digest your wisdom and the meaning of your spoken words," begged Joshua Odhiambo to take his leave. The East African Community regional force began its withdrawal from the strife-torn east of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday after Kinshasa deemed it ineffective and refused to renew its mandate. The seven-nation EAC first deployed troops in the violence-plagued region in November 2022, at the invitation of the DRC authorities, to free areas taken by the resurgent M23 rebel group. But the future of the deployment was thrown into doubt after President Felix Tshisekedi and local residents accused the force of cohabiting with the rebels rather than forcing them to lay down arms. On Sunday morning, two contingents of around 100 Kenyan soldiers flew out of the airport in Goma, capital of the eastern region of North Kivu. There were no Congolese officials present on the tarmac when the planes left at around 05:00 am (0300 GMT) and 10:30 am respectively, and as of midday there was no statement from the authorities. Late last month, the EAC said the DRC, which is a member of the bloc, had decided not to renew the force's mandate beyond December 8. A spokesman for the EAC force present on Sunday said the two military contingents were flying to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, but gave no details as to the next stages in the withdrawal of the force, which also comprises soldiers from Burundi, South Sudan and Uganda. "We are happy to see the EAC leave," a taxi-scooter driver in Goma, Emmanuel Agaye, told AFP. "We know they came to help us fight. But they didn't fight." Accusations of collusion "The EAC has no place here," added Goma resident Innocent Niyibizi. "Imagine our surprise when the M23 rebels overtook the EAC positions and seized new areas," he said. Rebels from M23 (the Movement of 23 March) re-emerged in North Kivu in late 2021, seizing large swathes of the province with backing, sources say, from neighbouring Rwanda, another EAC member. The two 100-strong Kenyan contingents left Goma by plane for Nairobi. By Alexis HUGUET (AFP) Kenya soldiers began arriving in Goma a year later, at the invitation of the DRC authorities. All but the Burundian contingents of the East African force (EAC-RF) were later accused by Kinshasha and local of colluding with the rebels. Fighting continues between M23 and the DRC army, supported by militia who call themselves "patriots". M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa reacted to the Kenyan troop withdrawal on X, formerly Twitter, saying his armed group "does not intend to let the Kinshasa regime's military coalition invade the areas it (M23) ceded to the EAC-RF". Numerous armed groups and other militias have been active for three decades in the east of the DRC, a legacy of the regional wars that erupted during the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to the EAC force, a United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, has been present in the country since 1999. December elections But MONUSCO has also been accused of ineffectiveness and Kinshasa has demanded it start next month to make an "orderly" but "accelerated" departure. The UN force comprises around 14,000 peacekeepers, deployed almost exclusively in the east of the country. DR Congo has accused the EAC contingents of not forcing M23 rebels to lay down their arms. By Alexis HUGUET (AFP) The DRC, a vast country of around 100 million inhabitants, is scheduled to hold a general election on December 20. President Tshisekedi, in power since 2019, is standing for a second five-year term. But due to the fighting with M23, the elections will not take place in two areas of North Kivu. Tshisekedi is hoping to replace the EAC soldiers with security forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), of which the DRC is also a member. However, the creation of a SADC force, which has been mooted since May, has so far failed to materialise. Since late 2022, around 1,000 European former soldiers -- presented by Kinshasa as "instructors" and now working for two private companies -- have also been operating in North Kivu. According to the DRC authorities, the national army is building up strength so it can defend the country by itself from "aggression" by neighbouring states, particularly Rwanda. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 3. The death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached more than 15.5 thousand people, the press service of the Gaza Ministry of Health says, Trend reports. The death toll is reported to have risen to 15,523, with more than 41,316 injured. 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. China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CGMBF Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 9,068,700 shares, a drop of 15.1% from the October 31st total of 10,678,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 12,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 719.7 days. China Minsheng Banking Price Performance CGMBF remained flat at $0.34 during trading on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $0.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $0.37. China Minsheng Banking has a 52 week low of $0.32 and a 52 week high of $0.43. Get China Minsheng Banking alerts: About China Minsheng Banking (Get Free Report) Read More China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. provides various financial products and services to individuals, small and micro-enterprises, corporate customers, government agencies, and financial institutions in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Others segments. Receive News & Ratings for China Minsheng Banking Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Minsheng Banking and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust (NYSE:BCAT Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 103,200 shares, an increase of 32.5% from the October 31st total of 77,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 309,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days. Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust In other news, major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 15,011 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 26th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $13.75 per share, with a total value of $206,401.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 11,107,704 shares in the company, valued at $152,730,930. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 1,452,016 shares of company stock valued at $21,134,119. Get BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Walleye Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust by 315.1% in the third quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 53,884 shares of the companys stock worth $781,000 after buying an additional 40,904 shares during the period. Comerica Bank purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust in the third quarter worth about $153,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust by 6.0% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 49,358 shares of the companys stock worth $715,000 after buying an additional 2,791 shares during the period. Saba Capital Management L.P. boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust by 17.2% in the third quarter. Saba Capital Management L.P. now owns 10,259,217 shares of the companys stock worth $148,656,000 after buying an additional 1,507,756 shares during the period. Finally, Alpine Global Management LLC boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust by 26.3% in the third quarter. Alpine Global Management LLC now owns 74,854 shares of the companys stock worth $1,085,000 after buying an additional 15,604 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 31.63% of the companys stock. BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust Price Performance BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust Increases Dividend Shares of NYSE BCAT traded up $0.19 on Friday, hitting $14.98. The company had a trading volume of 428,850 shares, compared to its average volume of 278,285. BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust has a 12-month low of $13.67 and a 12-month high of $15.61. The business has a 50 day moving average of $14.37 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.81. The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th were given a $0.1275 dividend. This is an increase from BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $1.53 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.21%. BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) See Also Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BRT Apartments Corp. (NYSE:BRT Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 122,700 shares, a growth of 34.1% from the October 31st total of 91,500 shares. Currently, 1.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 37,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.3 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On BRT Apartments A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in BRT Apartments by 5.6% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 986,852 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $19,540,000 after purchasing an additional 52,417 shares in the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its stake in BRT Apartments by 40.0% in the second quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 257,500 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,098,000 after purchasing an additional 73,564 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in BRT Apartments by 6.6% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 246,761 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,886,000 after purchasing an additional 15,328 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in BRT Apartments by 0.3% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 230,808 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,628,000 after purchasing an additional 704 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners raised its stake in BRT Apartments by 49.1% in the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 175,394 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,459,000 after purchasing an additional 57,749 shares in the last quarter. 28.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BRT Apartments alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of BRT Apartments from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 6th. BRT Apartments Price Performance Shares of BRT stock traded up $0.67 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $18.87. The stock had a trading volume of 41,383 shares, compared to its average volume of 34,579. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $17.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94. BRT Apartments has a 12 month low of $16.01 and a 12 month high of $22.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $350.98 million, a PE ratio of 269.57 and a beta of 1.12. BRT Apartments Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 3rd were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 2nd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.30%. BRT Apartmentss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 1,428.57%. BRT Apartments Company Profile (Get Free Report) BRT is a real estate investment trust that owns, operates and, to a lesser extent, holds interests in joint ventures that own multi-family properties. As of September 30, 2023, BRT owns or has interests in 28 multi-family properties with 7,707 units in 11 states. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BRT Apartments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BRT Apartments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C 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 33,070,000 shares, an increase of 32.1% from the October 31st total of 25,040,000 shares. Currently, 1.7% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 17,370,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days. Insider Activity at Citigroup In other news, insider Andrew John Morton sold 28,096 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.66, for a total value of $1,142,383.36. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 410,060 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,673,039.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Get Citigroup alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in C. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in Citigroup by 86,191.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 545,751,112 shares of the companys stock worth $25,126,381,000 after purchasing an additional 545,118,661 shares during the last quarter. Snider Financial Group raised its holdings in Citigroup by 96,645.9% during the 1st quarter. Snider Financial Group now owns 84,494,926 shares of the companys stock worth $4,512,000 after purchasing an additional 84,407,589 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth approximately $631,922,000. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Citigroup by 161.9% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 18,451,528 shares of the companys stock worth $865,192,000 after buying an additional 11,407,293 shares during the period. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Citigroup by 87,332.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,511,342 shares of the companys stock worth $339,738,000 after buying an additional 7,502,751 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 69.26% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently issued reports on C. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $51.00 to $47.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $41.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday. TheStreet cut shares of Citigroup from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Citigroup in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $61.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $51.66. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on C Citigroup Stock Performance Shares of C traded up $1.13 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $47.23. The company had a trading volume of 20,053,403 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,935,538. The business has a fifty day moving average of $41.91 and a 200-day moving average of $43.92. Citigroup has a 12 month low of $38.17 and a 12 month high of $53.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45. The firm has a market cap of $90.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.48, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 1.58. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.23 by $0.29. Citigroup had a net margin of 9.22% and a return on equity of 6.76%. The company had revenue of $20.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.27 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.50 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Citigroup will post 5.86 EPS for the current fiscal year. Citigroup Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, November 6th were issued a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 3rd. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.49%. Citigroups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 33.60%. Citigroup Company Profile (Get Free Report) Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial services holding company, provides various financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions in North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through three segments: Institutional Clients Group (ICG), Personal Banking and Wealth Management (PBWM), and Legacy Franchises. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Limited (ASX:DBI Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Friday, December 1st, MarketIndexAU reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 19th will be paid a dividend of 0.054 per share on Tuesday, December 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 4th. This is an increase from Dalrymple Bay Infrastructures previous interim dividend of $0.05. Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 185.13, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.95. Get Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure alerts: Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Company Profile (Get Free Report) Read More Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Limited owns the lease of and right to operate the Dalrymple Bay terminal, a coal export metallurgical coal facility in Bowen Basin in Queensland. It provides terminal infrastructure and services for producers and consumers of Australian coal exports. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Brisbane, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dassault Aviation societe anonyme (OTCMKTS:DUAVF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a drop of 10.0% from the October 31st total of 1,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.5 days. Dassault Aviation societe anonyme Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:DUAVF traded down $3.70 on Friday, hitting $197.65. 13 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 196. Dassault Aviation societe anonyme has a 52 week low of $154.71 and a 52 week high of $211.34. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $199.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $193.79. Get Dassault Aviation societe anonyme alerts: Dassault Aviation societe anonyme Company Profile (Get Free Report) Read More Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme designs and builds military aircraft, business jets, and space systems in France, the Americas, and internationally. It offers Rafale, a multirole fighter aircraft; nEUROn, an unmanned combat air vehicle; and Falcon aircraft for maritime surveillance, intelligence, and medical evacuation missions. Receive News & Ratings for Dassault Aviation societe anonyme Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dassault Aviation societe anonyme and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Davide Campari-Milano (OTCMKTS:DVDCF Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 9,699,900 shares, an increase of 34.4% from the October 31st total of 7,215,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 141,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 68.5 days. Davide Campari-Milano Stock Performance OTCMKTS DVDCF traded down $0.20 on Friday, reaching $11.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 960 shares, compared to its average volume of 154,134. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $11.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.61. Davide Campari-Milano has a 52 week low of $9.90 and a 52 week high of $14.45. Get Davide Campari-Milano alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on shares of Davide Campari-Milano to 13.80 ($15.16) in a report on Friday, September 8th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Davide Campari-Milano from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. Davide Campari-Milano Company Profile (Get Free Report) Davide Campari-Milano N.V., together with its subsidiaries, markets and distributes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It offers a range of spirits categories, including aperitif, vodka, liqueurs, bitters, whisky, tequila, rum, gin, and cognac, as well as champagne and non-alcoholic aperitif under various brands, such as Aperol, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey, Grand Marnier, Appleton Estate, Wray & Nephew Overproof, and other brands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Davide Campari-Milano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Davide Campari-Milano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited (OTCMKTS:DPZUF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 168,200 shares, a growth of 9.8% from the October 31st total of 153,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1,682.0 days. Dominos Pizza Enterprises Stock Performance OTCMKTS DPZUF remained flat at $32.50 during mid-day trading on Friday. Dominos Pizza Enterprises has a 12 month low of $32.50 and a 12 month high of $35.21. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $33.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.34. Get Domino's Pizza Enterprises alerts: Dominos Pizza Enterprises Company Profile (Get Free Report) See Also Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited operates retail food outlets. The company holds franchise rights for the Domino's brand in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Cambodia, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. It operates various stores. Receive News & Ratings for Domino's Pizza Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Domino's Pizza Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Frontline plc (NYSE:FRO Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,580,000 shares, a growth of 33.5% from the October 31st total of 4,930,000 shares. Approximately 4.6% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,900,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.3 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades FRO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and issued a $22.00 price objective on shares of Frontline in a report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Frontline from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $17.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Friday, August 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Frontline from $18.20 to $21.10 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Frontline from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 24th. Get Frontline alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Frontline Frontline Price Performance NYSE FRO traded up $0.23 during trading on Friday, reaching $20.11. 3,412,300 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,543,392. Frontline has a 1-year low of $10.55 and a 1-year high of $22.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.92 and a current ratio of 1.92. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $20.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.62. The company has a market cap of $4.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.75 and a beta of 0.21. Frontline (NYSE:FRO Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 30th. The shipping company reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.10). Frontline had a net margin of 40.09% and a return on equity of 30.97%. The company had revenue of $232.03 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $297.94 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.37 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Frontline will post 2.73 EPS for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Frontline Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in FRO. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Frontline by 20.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 461,429 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $4,061,000 after acquiring an additional 78,255 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in Frontline by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 212,836 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,873,000 after acquiring an additional 20,417 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Frontline by 7.0% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,457,223 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $39,225,000 after acquiring an additional 293,141 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC bought a new stake in Frontline during the 1st quarter worth about $112,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Frontline by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 274,217 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $2,414,000 after acquiring an additional 15,618 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 25.66% of the companys stock. About Frontline (Get Free Report) Frontline plc, a shipping company, engages in the seaborne transportation of crude oil and oil products worldwide. It owns and operates oil and product tankers. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated a fleet of 70 vessels. It is also involved in the charter, purchase, and sale of vessels. The company was founded in 1985 and is based in Limassol, Cyprus. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Frontline Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Frontline and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Genesco (NYSE:GCO Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Friday. The company reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.84 by ($0.27), MarketWatch Earnings reports. The company had revenue of $579.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $588.60 million. Genesco had a return on equity of 5.11% and a net margin of 0.38%. Genescos quarterly revenue was down 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.65 EPS. Genesco updated its FY24 guidance to $1.50-2.00 EPS. Genesco Stock Performance Shares of GCO stock traded down $6.01 on Friday, reaching $31.36. 661,118 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 132,349. The company has a 50-day moving average of $29.74 and a 200-day moving average of $27.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 0.35. Genesco has a one year low of $17.31 and a one year high of $51.04. Get Genesco alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Genesco Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Genesco by 56.5% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 7,807 shares of the companys stock valued at $497,000 after acquiring an additional 2,818 shares in the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Genesco by 134.2% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,673 shares of the companys stock valued at $870,000 after buying an additional 7,836 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its stake in shares of Genesco by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 11,837 shares of the companys stock worth $753,000 after purchasing an additional 1,103 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Genesco by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 946,549 shares of the companys stock worth $60,213,000 after purchasing an additional 15,179 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its stake in shares of Genesco by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 32,221 shares of the companys stock worth $2,050,000 after purchasing an additional 1,731 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.20% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on Genesco in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Check Out Our Latest Report on GCO About Genesco (Get Free Report) Genesco Inc operates as a retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel, and accessories in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. The company operates through four segments: Journeys Group, Schuh Group, Johnston & Murphy Group, and Licensed Brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Genesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Genesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 3. Turkiye has resumed the evacuation of its citizens from the Gaza Strip, said by the official representative of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oncu Keceli, Trend reports. According to him, a total of 142 people, including Turkish citizens and their family members, were transferred from the Gaza Strip to Egypt on December 2. They are scheduled to be transferred from Cairo to Istanbul this evening. 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, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel InFinT Acquisition Co. (NYSE:IFIN Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 800 shares, an increase of 33.3% from the October 31st total of 600 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 42,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. InFinT Acquisition Stock Performance Shares of IFIN stock remained flat at $11.22 on Friday. InFinT Acquisition has a twelve month low of $10.32 and a twelve month high of $11.22. The company has a 50 day moving average of $11.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.96. Get InFinT Acquisition alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On InFinT Acquisition Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its position in InFinT Acquisition by 1,542.4% during the 1st quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 869,201 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,214,000 after buying an additional 816,279 shares during the period. Starboard Value LP boosted its position in InFinT Acquisition by 13.3% during the 1st quarter. Starboard Value LP now owns 500,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,000,000 after buying an additional 58,826 shares during the period. Berkley W R Corp lifted its position in shares of InFinT Acquisition by 21.2% in the 2nd quarter. Berkley W R Corp now owns 473,345 shares of the companys stock worth $5,103,000 after purchasing an additional 82,921 shares during the period. Westchester Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of InFinT Acquisition by 46.1% in the 3rd quarter. Westchester Capital Management LLC now owns 409,561 shares of the companys stock worth $4,517,000 after purchasing an additional 129,287 shares during the period. Finally, Spartan Fund Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of InFinT Acquisition in the 3rd quarter worth about $1,753,000. Institutional investors own 55.83% of the companys stock. About InFinT Acquisition InFinT Acquisition Corporation does not have significant operations. The company focuses on share exchange, and share reconstruction and amalgamation with similar business combination with one or more businesses. It intends to focus on businesses in financial technology sections in North America, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Israel. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for InFinT Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for InFinT Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFS Intermediate High Income Fund (NYSE:CIF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 10,500 shares, a drop of 35.2% from the October 31st total of 16,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 44,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. increased its holdings in shares of MFS Intermediate High Income Fund by 30.1% in the 2nd quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 33,119 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 7,667 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of MFS Intermediate High Income Fund by 16.1% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 109,157 shares of the companys stock valued at $186,000 after acquiring an additional 15,099 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MFS Intermediate High Income Fund by 43.0% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 63,391 shares of the companys stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 19,076 shares during the period. Susquehanna International Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of MFS Intermediate High Income Fund by 101.7% in the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 50,435 shares of the companys stock valued at $86,000 after acquiring an additional 25,427 shares during the period. Finally, Creative Planning purchased a new position in shares of MFS Intermediate High Income Fund in the 2nd quarter valued at $43,000. 8.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get MFS Intermediate High Income Fund alerts: MFS Intermediate High Income Fund Trading Up 1.2 % CIF traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $1.66. 146,724 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 41,859. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1.62. MFS Intermediate High Income Fund has a 1 year low of $1.47 and a 1 year high of $1.89. MFS Intermediate High Income Fund Cuts Dividend About MFS Intermediate High Income Fund The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th were issued a dividend of $0.0137 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.87%. (Get Free Report) MFS Intermediate High Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in high income debt instruments. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Barclays U.S. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MFS Intermediate High Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFS Intermediate High Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Murphy Oil Co. (NYSE:MUR Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,390,000 shares, a decrease of 19.3% from the October 31st total of 6,680,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,480,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.6 days. Currently, 3.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Insider Transactions at Murphy Oil In other news, Director Elisabeth W. Keller sold 1,116 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.49, for a total value of $50,766.84. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,151 shares of the companys stock, valued at $325,298.99. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 5.92% of the companys stock. Get Murphy Oil alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Murphy Oil A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MUR. Belpointe Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Murphy Oil by 68.2% during the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 900 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Murphy Oil by 70.5% during the second quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 885 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 366 shares in the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its position in shares of Murphy Oil by 7,940.0% during the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 804 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 794 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Murphy Oil during the third quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Murphy Oil during the third quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Institutional investors own 79.30% of the companys stock. Murphy Oil Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of NYSE MUR traded up $0.49 on Friday, reaching $43.26. 1,467,057 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,473,185. Murphy Oil has a 12 month low of $32.80 and a 12 month high of $48.47. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $44.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $42.26. The company has a market cap of $6.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.15 and a beta of 2.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Murphy Oil (NYSE:MUR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The oil and gas producer reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.21. Murphy Oil had a net margin of 20.74% and a return on equity of 13.89%. The business had revenue of $959.65 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $899.35 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Murphy Oil will post 4.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Murphy Oil Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 13th were paid a dividend of $0.275 per share. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.54%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 10th. Murphy Oils dividend payout ratio is 23.26%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently commented on MUR. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Murphy Oil from $39.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Murphy Oil from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, October 2nd. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Murphy Oil from $50.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Murphy Oil from $47.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Murphy Oil from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, September 18th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Murphy Oil presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.55. Check Out Our Latest Report on MUR Murphy Oil Company Profile (Get Free Report) Murphy Oil Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and natural gas exploration and production company in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. The company was formerly known as Murphy Corporation and changed its name to Murphy Oil Corporation in 1964. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Murphy Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Murphy Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 56,400 shares, a decrease of 39.1% from the October 31st total of 92,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,100,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. Approximately 0.9% of the companys stock are short sold. Hedge Funds Weigh In On NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NBY. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 139.9% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 44,923 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 26,200 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC increased its stake in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 260.4% during the 1st quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 163,451 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 118,099 shares during the period. Finally, Armistice Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter worth about $289,000. 1.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals in a report on Thursday, September 7th. They set a sell rating for the company. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Trading Up 2.1 % NBY traded up $0.01 on Friday, hitting $0.31. 171,895 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 497,855. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $0.78. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a twelve month low of $0.28 and a twelve month high of $2.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.03 and a beta of 2.82. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.37) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 79.70% and a negative return on equity of 146.20%. The company had revenue of $3.27 million for the quarter. On average, equities analysts expect that NovaBay Pharmaceuticals will post -2.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Company Profile (Get Free Report) NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and sells eyecare, skincare, and wound care products in the United States and internationally. It offers Avenova Spray, a solution for removing foreign materials, including microorganisms and debris from skin around the eye, such as the eyelid; and wound care products, which are used for cleansing and irrigation as part of surgical procedures, as well as treating certain wounds, burns, ulcers, and other injuries under the NeutroPhase and PhaseOne brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seaboard Co. (NYSEAMERICAN:SEB Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,700 shares, a decrease of 19.0% from the October 31st total of 2,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.9 days. Approximately 0.5% of the companys stock are sold short. Seaboard Trading Up 0.7 % Shares of NYSEAMERICAN SEB traded up $23.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $3,538.00. The company had a trading volume of 1,200 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,645. The company has a current ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $3,816.59. The stock has a market cap of $3.43 billion, a PE ratio of 10.68 and a beta of 0.47. Seaboard has a 52-week low of $3,402.38 and a 52-week high of $4,090.63. Get Seaboard alerts: Seaboard (NYSEAMERICAN:SEB Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 30th. The company reported $108.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Seaboard had a net margin of 3.87% and a return on equity of 7.60%. The company had revenue of $2.39 billion for the quarter. Seaboard Announces Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 9th were given a dividend of $2.25 per share. This represents a $9.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 8th. Seaboards payout ratio is currently 2.71%. Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Seaboard from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on SEB Institutional Trading of Seaboard Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its stake in shares of Seaboard by 28.6% in the 2nd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 315 shares of the companys stock worth $1,122,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its stake in shares of Seaboard by 100.0% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 8 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 4 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Seaboard by 37.5% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 11 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 3 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Seaboard by 1.5% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 38,772 shares of the companys stock valued at $138,055,000 after purchasing an additional 575 shares during the period. Finally, Huntington National Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Seaboard in the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.41% of the companys stock. Seaboard Company Profile (Get Free Report) Seaboard Corporation operates as an agricultural and transportation company worldwide. It operates through six segments: Pork, Commodity Trading and Milling (CT&M), Marine, Sugar and Alcohol, Power, and Turkey. The Pork segment produces and sells pork products to further processors, foodservice operators, grocery stores, and distributors; hogs; and biodiesel. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Seaboard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Seaboard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NYSE:ALEX Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 633,800 shares, a growth of 33.1% from the October 31st total of 476,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 297,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days. Currently, 0.9% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alexander & Baldwin Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Alexander & Baldwin by 13.7% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 16,326 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $273,000 after buying an additional 1,968 shares during the period. Graham Capital Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Alexander & Baldwin during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $201,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas grew its position in shares of Alexander & Baldwin by 35.0% during the 3rd quarter. Employees Retirement System of Texas now owns 81,000 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,355,000 after buying an additional 21,000 shares during the period. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al grew its position in shares of Alexander & Baldwin by 281.2% during the 3rd quarter. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al now owns 131,192 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,195,000 after buying an additional 96,772 shares during the period. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its holdings in Alexander & Baldwin by 24.6% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 36,566 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $612,000 after purchasing an additional 7,225 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.93% of the companys stock. Get Alexander & Baldwin alerts: Alexander & Baldwin Price Performance ALEX traded up $0.47 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $17.22. The company had a trading volume of 300,255 shares, compared to its average volume of 242,650. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.27. The company has a market capitalization of $1.25 billion, a PE ratio of -31.89 and a beta of 1.28. Alexander & Baldwin has a twelve month low of $15.56 and a twelve month high of $20.49. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $16.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.66. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have weighed in on ALEX shares. JMP Securities started coverage on shares of Alexander & Baldwin in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a market perform rating for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Alexander & Baldwin in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. View Our Latest Research Report on Alexander & Baldwin About Alexander & Baldwin (Get Free Report) Alexander & Baldwin, Inc (NYSE: ALEX) (A&B) is the only publicly-traded real estate investment trust to focus exclusively on Hawai'i commercial real estate and is the state's largest owner of grocery-anchored, neighborhood shopping centers. A&B owns, operates and manages approximately 3.9 million square feet of commercial space in Hawai'i, including 22 retail centers, 13 industrial assets and four office properties, as well as 142.0 acres of ground leases. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alexander & Baldwin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alexander & Baldwin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS 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 7,200 shares, a growth of 35.8% from the October 31st total of 5,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 14,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. John Hancock Income Securities Trust Trading Up 1.8 % John Hancock Income Securities Trust stock traded up $0.19 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $10.69. 13,077 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 20,101. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.55. John Hancock Income Securities Trust has a fifty-two week low of $9.76 and a fifty-two week high of $11.70. Get John Hancock Income Securities Trust alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On John Hancock Income Securities Trust Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Riverbridge Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust during the second quarter worth $196,000. Sit Investment Associates Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 8.7% during the second quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. now owns 2,171,129 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $23,383,000 after buying an additional 173,242 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 45.8% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,013,962 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $10,920,000 after buying an additional 318,310 shares in the last quarter. 1607 Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 0.7% during the third quarter. 1607 Capital Partners LLC now owns 921,558 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $9,455,000 after buying an additional 6,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 4.3% during the third quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 29,022 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $298,000 after buying an additional 1,190 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.33% of the companys stock. About John Hancock Income Securities Trust John Hancock Income Securities Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of United States. It invests primarily in corporate and government bonds with average maturity of 7.57 years. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Income Securities Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Income Securities Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KB Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:KB Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 296,200 shares, a drop of 39.4% from the October 31st total of 489,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 180,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.6 days. Currently, 0.1% of the companys shares are sold short. KB Financial Group Stock Down 0.4 % KB traded down $0.15 on Friday, hitting $40.13. The company had a trading volume of 195,293 shares, compared to its average volume of 207,723. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $40.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a current ratio of 1.69 and a quick ratio of 1.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.46, a P/E/G ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 0.90. KB Financial Group has a 52-week low of $35.20 and a 52-week high of $48.28. Get KB Financial Group alerts: KB Financial Group (NYSE:KB Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 14th. The bank reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter. KB Financial Group had a return on equity of 8.29% and a net margin of 13.98%. As a group, equities analysts expect that KB Financial Group will post 9.64 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of KB Financial Group Analyst Ratings Changes A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of KB Financial Group by 9.5% during the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 391,861 shares of the banks stock valued at $16,109,000 after purchasing an additional 33,884 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in KB Financial Group by 3,226.0% during the third quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 6,785 shares of the banks stock valued at $279,000 after buying an additional 6,581 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning boosted its holdings in KB Financial Group by 16.4% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 43,068 shares of the banks stock worth $1,771,000 after acquiring an additional 6,060 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its stake in shares of KB Financial Group by 4.4% in the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,166,599 shares of the banks stock worth $47,959,000 after acquiring an additional 49,146 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ramirez Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of KB Financial Group during the third quarter valued at $9,278,000. 6.30% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of KB Financial Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 20th. Read Our Latest Report on KB Financial Group KB Financial Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) KB Financial Group Inc provides a range of banking and related financial services to consumers and corporations in South Korea and internationally. The company operates through seven segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Other Banking, Credit Card, Securities, Life Insurance, and Non-Life Insurance. See Also Receive News & Ratings for KB Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KB Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Astra International Tbk (OTCMKTS:PTAIY Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 700 shares, a decrease of 22.2% from the October 31st total of 900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 58,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. PT Astra International Tbk Stock Performance OTCMKTS:PTAIY traded up $0.46 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $7.34. 22,182 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,229. The stocks 50-day moving average is $7.42 and its 200-day moving average is $8.29. PT Astra International Tbk has a twelve month low of $6.62 and a twelve month high of $9.37. Get PT Astra International Tbk alerts: PT Astra International Tbk Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Monday, October 16th were issued a $0.0883 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 13th. PT Astra International Tbks dividend payout ratio is currently 30.21%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of PT Astra International Tbk from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a report on Friday, September 15th. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PT Astra International Tbk About PT Astra International Tbk (Get Free Report) PT Astra International Tbk, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the automotive, financial services, heavy equipment, mining, construction, energy, agri, infrastructure and logistics, information technology, and property businesses in Indonesia. It offers cars, trucks, and motorcycles of various brands; manufactures and sells automotive components to the original equipment for manufacturers and replacement markets, as well as provides consultation services to its customers; financing for cars, motorcycles, and heavy equipment; life, vehicle, and health insurance, as well as other insurance for commercial business; and various banking products and services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for PT Astra International Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Astra International Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shaftesbury Capital PLC (OTCMKTS:CCPPF Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,600 shares, a growth of 6.7% from the October 31st total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Shaftesbury Capital Price Performance OTCMKTS:CCPPF remained flat at $1.43 on Friday. Shaftesbury Capital has a 1 year low of $1.31 and a 1 year high of $1.58. The firms fifty day moving average is $1.44 and its 200-day moving average is $1.47. Get Shaftesbury Capital alerts: About Shaftesbury Capital (Get Free Report) Read More Shaftesbury Capital PLC ("Shaftesbury Capital") is the leading central London mixed-use REIT and is a constituent of the FTSE-250 Index. Our property portfolio, valued at 4.9 billion at June 2023, extends to 2.9 million square feet of lettable space across the most vibrant areas of London's West End. Receive News & Ratings for Shaftesbury Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shaftesbury Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. August 9, 2006 is a day that will for ever and ever be engraved in the mind of Ismael Bouattou. It is the unforgettable day in which he boarded a small boat to migrate irregularly to the Canary Islands, alongside 16 other young, desperate Moroccans, including his older brother. Ismail was only 15 when he decided to leave Ait Cherrou, a small village in the Tighassaline commune near Khenifra, to embark on this risky journey. 17 years later he tells Yabiladi that he initially left the countryside for the city of Dakhla with one objective in mind, emigrating. In southern city, he worked in fishing for two months, to be able to pay smugglers for the passage. I was not thinking of death prior to the trip. I was certain I would be able to reach the other side of the ocean. But as soon as we embarked on the boat and sailed through the high seas, I was terrified. The journey lasted three days and I was full of despair. I was scared, hungry, cold, thirsty and the winds were violent. Ismail Bouattou The young man, who dropped out of primary school to help his farmer father, said that, as soon as their boat reached the Las Palmas shore, they ran in all directions. I lost sight of my brother, and I was arrested with another migrant. We were subjected to examinations revealing our true age, which confirmed to the authorities that we were indeed minors, he recalls. Finding refuge in cooking Ismail and his companion were both transferred to an accommodation center on the island of El Hierro, in the Canary Islands. I was enrolled in a public school. At first, I had a hard time learning the language. But after four months, I started speaking Spanish, he recalls. After years of studying, the young man obtained a cooking diploma. When I arrived, I was unable to contact my parents for two months, but they learned from other people in Morocco that we had been able to cross the sea. They were somewhat reassured by the news,eventhough theydid not really have details about our situation. At least, they were sure that we were not dead. Ismael Bouattou The 31-year-old cook managed to get a five-year experience in the catering industry on the island of El Hierro. He then moved to the island of Fuerteventura, where he worked in the same sector for twelve years. Three years ago, experienced and a master of the field, he decided to launch his own project, mainly dedicated to Moroccan cuisine. His menu offers iconic Moroccan dishes, such as couscous, tagine and other local specialties he learned from his mother. The young restaurateur started the project with a small capital, but also with the great certainty that his investment was enough for a steady growth. His project was welcomed among his community. I named the restaurant 'Una Mano' (One Hand), because I believe that when we stand together, we help each other to form the fingers of one hand and then we can achieve what we want, he explained. Giving back to parents Years after he left for the Canary Islands, Ismael Bouattou returned to Morocco for the first time. I went through harsh times during which I doubted my decision of leaving my country. But each time, I overcame the obstacles I faced. And the proof is where I am today, and the growth of my project, the entrepreneur added. Ismael also tried to invest in Morocco, but he encountered many obstacles which made him reconsider his decision. Furthermore, the young restaurateur is committed to giving back a little of what his parents gave him, after they worked hard to guarantee him a decent life. They worked other peoples lands, looked after the sheep in exchange for a house that gave them shelter from the scorching summer sun and the freezing winter cold, he remembers. Today, he manages to provide for all his parents' needs, including food and shelter. On the island of Fuerteventura, the Una Mano restaurant has gained fame. Its owner is working to make it a space through which stereotypes about immigrants in general and Moroccans in particular are erased, by showing pride in his origins. Singapore Exchange Limited (OTCMKTS:SPXCY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,900 shares, a drop of 36.7% from the October 31st total of 3,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days. Singapore Exchange Stock Up 2.0 % Singapore Exchange stock traded up $2.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $108.29. 283 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,692. Singapore Exchange has a one year low of $93.96 and a one year high of $110.00. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $106.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $106.29. Get Singapore Exchange alerts: Singapore Exchange Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 24th. Investors of record on Monday, November 6th were issued a $0.881 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 3rd. This is an increase from Singapore Exchanges previous dividend of $0.88. Singapore Exchanges dividend payout ratio is presently 89.27%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Bank of America cut shares of Singapore Exchange from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Singapore Exchange Singapore Exchange Company Profile (Get Free Report) Singapore Exchange Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated securities and derivatives exchange, and related clearing houses in Singapore. It operates through Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities; Equities; and Data, Connectivity, and Indices segments. The Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities segment offers fixed income issuer, trading and clearing, and collateral management services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Singapore Exchange Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Singapore Exchange and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) (OTCMKTS:SVCBF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,612,700 shares, a growth of 29.2% from the October 31st total of 3,570,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 46,127.0 days. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) Stock Performance Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) stock remained flat at $15.40 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $13.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $13.35. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA has a fifty-two week low of $12.14 and a fifty-two week high of $15.40. Get Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. About Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) (Get Free Report) Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ), a forest products company, develops, manufactures, and sells forest, wood, pulp, and containerboard products in Sweden, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers various sawn wood products; wood solutions for industrial buildings comprise construction timber, outer panels, dimensionally planed timber, laths, base rafters, planks, and shaped timber products; wood solutions for merchants include joists, batten, and untreated and painted outer panel, as well as pressure-impregnated wood products; and marine and land transportation services, including forwarding services using RoRo vessels, container express, and road and rail. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 285,600 shares, a decline of 19.9% from the October 31st total of 356,600 shares. Currently, 3.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 103,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.8 days. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Boston Beer news, insider Carolyn L. Oboyle sold 102 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.96, for a total transaction of $34,063.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 2,936 shares in the company, valued at approximately $980,506.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 23.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Get Boston Beer alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new position in Boston Beer during the second quarter worth $702,000. Virtu Financial LLC lifted its stake in Boston Beer by 27.6% during the second quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 1,591 shares of the companys stock worth $491,000 after purchasing an additional 344 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in Boston Beer by 2.8% during the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 30,877 shares of the companys stock worth $9,524,000 after purchasing an additional 832 shares in the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund lifted its stake in Boston Beer by 23.4% during the second quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 5,183 shares of the companys stock worth $1,599,000 after purchasing an additional 982 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC raised its stake in shares of Boston Beer by 30.5% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 9,578 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,954,000 after acquiring an additional 2,240 shares in the last quarter. 64.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Boston Beer Trading Up 0.4 % Boston Beer stock traded up $1.33 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $356.09. The companys stock had a trading volume of 98,724 shares, compared to its average volume of 87,893. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.34 billion, a PE ratio of 52.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.10. Boston Beer has a 1 year low of $296.27 and a 1 year high of $420.49. The stocks fifty day moving average is $353.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $344.87. Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $4.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.25 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $601.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $592.88 million. Boston Beer had a return on equity of 8.77% and a net margin of 3.83%. On average, equities analysts expect that Boston Beer will post 8.41 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have commented on SAM shares. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Boston Beer in a research note on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $375.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group dropped their price target on Boston Beer from $408.00 to $390.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Citigroup upped their price target on Boston Beer from $350.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Boston Beer in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Boston Beer from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $341.38. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Boston Beer Boston Beer Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Boston Beer Company, Inc engages in the production and sale of alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, Coney Island, and Havana Lager brand names. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Boston Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (NYSE:AIO Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 11,200 shares, a decrease of 35.6% from the October 31st total of 17,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 98,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Walleye Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at $173,000. Comerica Bank purchased a new stake in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 267,681 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,420,000 after buying an additional 5,778 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund by 138.6% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 242,250 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,999,000 after buying an additional 140,717 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund by 13.9% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 502,275 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,293,000 after buying an additional 61,325 shares during the period. Get Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund alerts: Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund Price Performance Shares of AIO stock traded up $0.28 on Friday, hitting $17.51. 221,854 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 104,237. Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund has a one year low of $15.09 and a one year high of $19.08. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $16.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.39. Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund Dividend Announcement About Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 28th. Investors of record on Monday, February 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.28%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 9th. (Get Free Report) The Fund seeks to generate a stable income stream and growth of capital by focusing on one of the most significant long-term secular growth opportunities in markets today. A multi-asset approach based on fundamental research is employed, dynamically allocating to attractive segments of a companys debt and equity in order to offer an attractive risk/reward profile. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Check Free Credit Score on Moneycontrol: Easily track your loans, get insights, and enjoy a 100 cashback on your first check! The Moroccan director, screenwriter, and producer, Asmae El Moudir has won the Grand Prize Etoile d'Or of the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival for her film The Mother of All Lies. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 20th edition of the Festival, Asmae El Moudir expressed her heartfelt thanks and immense gratitude to King Mohammed VI. This winner of the Atlas Workshops, an industry talent-development program initiated in 2018 by the Marrakech International Film Festival, took the opportunity to share her story with the audience. She emphasized her journey from one workshop to another to meet directors and screenwriters participating in this platform, ensuring that she did not miss anything and fully benefited from their knowledge and experiences. She also thanked the Festival's organizing committee, including Melita Toscan du Plantier, advisor to the President of the Marrakech Film Festival Foundation, Remi Bonhomme, the Festival's artistic director, and Ali Hajji, the Festival's general coordinator. The Mother of All Lies tells the story of the young filmmaker Asmae, who visits her parents in Casablanca to help them move. While at home, Asmae begins sorting through the old belongings of her childhood. Suddenly, she comes across a photo that becomes the starting point of an investigation where Asmae questions all the little lies her family told her. Asmae explores the memory of her neighborhood and her country as she delves into the past. This 96-minute Arabic-language film became the first Moroccan film to win the Etoile d'Or in the history of the International Film Festival of Marrakech. Released in 2023, it also won the Best Director award in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. In addition to the Grand Prize, Morocco is also represented in this edition's awards through the film Hounds by Kamal Lazraq, which tied with Bye Bye Tiberiade by Lina Soualem (Palestine) for the Jury Prize. Born in Sale in 1990, Asmae El Moudir has directed documentaries for several Moroccan and foreign television channels. After several short films, she directed La Carte postale in 2020, selected at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the International Film Festival of Marrakech. Manish Anand is Delhi-based journalist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Pallavi Singhal is a Correspondent at Moneycontrol.com covering commerce and agriculture. With a total experience of five years, she has reported on varied subjects covering crime, courts, civic affairs, health & politics. Human interest and feature stories have always piqued her interest. Living a long, active and healthy life is the dream of most of us. This research shows that we can do a lot to make it a reality. ADVERTISIMENT According to the Guardian, scientists have compiled a list of eight habits that can extend life by 20 years or more. Ideally, these habits should be introduced before reaching middle age, but they will be beneficial no matter what age you start implementing them. This was stated by Xuan-Mai T. Nguyen, a healthcare professional who works for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "The sooner, the better, but even if you make a small change in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, it will still be beneficial," she said. The expert explained that a healthy lifestyle will be beneficial to both an individual and public health. Here is a list of these habits: proper nutrition quitting smoking quality sleep sufficient physical activity stress management avoidance of binge drinking no dependence on opioids having positive social connections with other people ADVERTISIMENT The study Nguyen described was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Boston. Its authors analyzed data from questionnaires and medical records collected between 2011 and 2019. The records covered more than 700,000 US veterans aged 40 to 99. All of them were participants in the Million Veterans Program. Of these, 33,375 died during the study period. Nguyen and her colleagues studied the information about these people to determine what habits are associated with increased life expectancy. It turned out that a clear pattern was observed for eight habits. Even the introduction of one of them had a positive impact, and the combination of several was even more beneficial. "Men and women who adopted the eight therapeutic lifestyle factors could increase their life expectancy by 23.7 or 22.6 years, respectively, at age 40 compared to those who did not adopt any lifestyle factors," the authors wrote in their study. ADVERTISIMENT According to their analysis, low physical activity, opioid drug use, and smoking reduced life expectancy the most. Participants with these lifestyle factors had a 30-45% higher risk of death during the study than the rest of the subjects. Stress, excessive alcohol consumption, poor sleep hygiene, and poor nutrition increased this risk by about 20%. The authors noted that their work was observational in nature. Therefore, they cannot claim that the correlations they found indicate a direct causal relationship with lifestyle. Prof. Naveed Sattar, an expert in cardiovascular and metabolic disease at the University of Glasgow who was not involved in the study, also warned that the study did not include a trial, and therefore many factors could make the conclusions less accurate. Nevertheless, Sattar praised his colleagues' work. "These findings add to the notion that our lifestyle matters as much, if not more, than the medications we receive to prevent or treat numerous chronic diseases," he said. He added that helping people adopt healthy habits can reduce the cost of treating chronic diseases and help them live more enjoyable and productive lives. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you about a simple exercise that can help prolong life. It does not require any additional equipment. Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL on Telegram, Viber, and Threads to keep up with the latest news Sohil Sehran is a journalist with 10 years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media. He covers politics and national affairs at Moneycontrol. He tweets @SohilSehran Rajan Mahan is a journalist who headed NDTV and Star News in Rajasthan. He was also a Professor of Journalism at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. No matter how much time filmmakers spend on selecting actors, shooting and editing a movie or TV series, there are always bloopers. Some scenes in iconic Hollywood movies have raised many questions among viewers. ADVERTISIMENT Sometimes you need to watch the movie carefully frame by frame to notice the problem, and sometimes the bloopers are so blatant that it's hard not to notice them. OBOZREVATEL has collected 5 unfortunate moments that puzzled movie fans (to see the photos, scroll to the bottom of the page). The Sniper Real kids are usually chosen for scenes with small children to make the picture look organic. In some movies, you can see "computer-generated" newborns who were edited. However, producers decided to shoot a doll whose arms were clearly moved by the actor in the movie Sniper. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows It has been repeatedly emphasized that Harry Potter's eyes are very similar to those of his mother Lily. However, this was forgotten in Deathly Hallows. An actress with brown eyes was chosen to play little Lily. ADVERTISIMENT Dallas Buyers Club According to the plot, the movie takes place in the 80s and the surroundings had to be chosen accordingly. However, in one of the scenes, a poster with a Lamborghini Aventador, which was produced by Lamborghini from 2011 to 2021, is visible on the wall. Pretty Woman It's no secret that scenes are often not filmed on the first try. Sometimes so much time passes between takes that both actors and directors forget details. This happened in the movie Pretty Woman, where Julia Roberts was eating a croissant on camera, which turned into a pancake in a second. ADVERTISIMENT Game of Thrones In the fourth episode of the final season of Game of Thrones, one of the episodes featured a glass from the famous Starbucks fast food chain. Needless to say, there are no coffee shops in the series universe. Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about five other movie bloopers that directors should be ashamed of. Read more about embarrassments on film sets here. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! Kayezad E Adajania heads the personal finance bureau at Moneycontrol. He has been covering mutual funds and personal finance for the past two decades, having worked in Mint and Outlook Money magazine. Kayezad was the founding member of Mints personal finance team when it was set up in 2009. The Uhrynow-Dohobyczow checkpoint will be opened for empty trucks. This will be done tomorrow, December 4, at 01:00. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on December 3. "From 01:00 on December 4, 2023, empty heavy vehicles with a total permissible weight of more than 7.5 tons (except for empty untreated tanks) will be allowed to pass from Ukraine to Poland," the statement said. As noted, the opening of Uhrynow is the first item on the list of measures being implemented to unblock the border, reduce queues and increase the capacity of the Ukrainian-Polish border. Earlier today, Andriy Demchuk, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, said that the border traffic for buses, cars and humanitarian aid is not currently blocked. According to him, queues are observed at times when a large number of vehicles arrive at the border at the same time. Denys Marchuk, deputy head of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, noted that the blocking of the Ukrainian border by Polish carriers disrupts contracts for 2024 and can also lead to problems with fuel and lubricants. In general, downtime at the border leads to large losses for the Ukrainian economy. ADVERTISIMENT "Besides, there is a general rise in global oil prices, which leads to higher prices. And we import a lot of oil, mostly from Poland. If there is further downtime, it will lead to higher prices in the country, and thus will entail the entire chain of higher prices for logistics and, accordingly, food," said the deputy head of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council. As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to the State Customs Service, in November, the exports of Ukrainian products reached 9.2 million tons. Freight transport accounted for 783 thousand tons. The largest volume of exports passed through the Polish border - 282 thousand tons. And this volume is 40% less than before Polish carriers went on strike. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Danish Khan is a London-based independent journalist and author of 'Escaped: True Stories of Indian fugitives in London'. He is researching Indian capitalism at University of Oxford. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has responded to the blackout at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in the temporarily occupied city of Enerhodar. They emphasized that this situation is another reminder of the fragile nuclear safety and security situation at the plant, which can be affected by events far from the plant itself. ADVERTISIMENT The corresponding statement was made by IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi. This is stated in the Agency's press release. "The latest outage of external power supply at ZNPP is another reminder of the fragile nuclear safety and security situation at the plant, which can be affected by events far from the site itself," Grossi said. He noted that the IAEA "will continue to do everything possible to prevent a nuclear accident". The head of the Agency also called on all parties "not to take any action that could jeopardize the power plant." As you know, on Friday, ZNPP lost connection with both external power lines. This is the eighth time that Europe's largest nuclear power plant has been completely de-energized during a military conflict, raising concerns about nuclear safety and security. Due to the complete disconnection from the power grid, ZNPP switched to powering its own needs from diesel generators. All 20 diesel generators were switched on automatically, and later eight remained in operation. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian experts worked to restore ZNPP's connection to the Ukrainian power grid until the morning of December 2. As of 7 a.m., the 750 kV power line was restored. As a reminder, on November 24, EU member states, joined by a number of non-member states, issued a joint statement that the European Union will never recognize Russia's illegal attempts to seize ZNPP. They also called on Russia to immediately withdraw all its troops from the strategic facility. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Guam Police Department released a flyer Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, to the public as part of an investigation in which officers seek to question Jude Ryan Quenga. Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on a house in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Dec. 1, 2023. (Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa via Zuma Press/TNS) Governor of Nuevo Leon state Samuel Garcia poses for a picture with students as he arrives at an event of school equipment delivery at the Prepa Tec high school, in Monterrey, Mexico April 25, 2023. The Russian occupation army continues to concentrate a huge amount of manpower and equipment in the Avdiivka direction. In turn, Ukrainian troops are holding the line and preventing the enemy from seizing new positions. ADVERTISIMENT The enemy has almost wiped Avdiivka off the map, and it has no military value. Instead, the Ukrainian defense in this section of the frontline is diverting significant occupation forces. This was stated in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA by the First Deputy Chairman of the Union of Officers of Ukraine, Captain 1st rank Yevhen Lupakov. According to him, historically, Russia has traditionally launched offensives on certain dates or with a certain idea in mind. A year ago, Putin's invaders had a fixed idea to capture Bakhmut, but it did not bring the enemy any benefit in military terms. "The next idea is to capture Avdiivka. There are only stones left there, but they are throwing a huge number of personnel there. Therefore, the problem of the occupier is that there is not enough trained 'meat' for all directions. Can the Southern Defense Forces take advantage of this? Definitely," the officer said. ADVERTISIMENT He emphasized that as for Bakhmut, the Ukrainian military was also offered to withdraw to prepared positions, but the Armed Forces had certain ambitions. In this regard, Lupakov urged not to interfere with the military as they know what is appropriate and what is not better. "In any case, every day, meter by meter, we are winning back our land. Yes, we used to win back hundreds of kilometers, but now we are talking about tens and hundreds of meters. In any case, all the military assistance provided by our allies is beneficial and accelerates our progress. Avdiivka as such no longer has any military value, but it does distract significant occupation forces in that direction. Yes, there are a lot of them, but this number is not infinite," Lupakov said. ADVERTISIMENT Avdiivka remains a hotspot of combat operations and is a priority for the enemy in the eastern sector. However, the occupiers cannot accumulate the necessary amount of equipment in this area, which would allow them to encircle our troops. Earlier, a new video from Avdiivka, Donetsk region, was posted online. The invaders are ruthlessly destroying the city, and civilians are forced to survive in apocalyptic conditions. Despite the fierce fighting for Avdiivka, about 1,300 civilians remain in the town. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Participants arrive at the venue of the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on Nov. 29, 2023. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) An armed woman set fire to a home in Los Angeles on Friday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. (Dreamstime/TNS) The Russian occupiers have banned St. Nicholas Day in the Luhansk region, claiming that it is a "Ukrainian" holiday. The invaders decided to send greetings to children from the Tatarstan "Boogeyman" (Kish Babay). ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Artem Lysohor. He briefly described the events that characterize the current situation in the occupied territories of the region. According to him, the celebration of St. Nicholas Day was banned in all educational institutions in the temporarily occupied city of Starobilsk. "They say that this is a purely Ukrainian holiday, so no gifts should be prepared for children. Instead, the children will be greeted by Kish Babay from Tatarstan, who was granted the so-called patronage over some of the occupied communities in the Luhansk region," the official explained. He added that one such "boogeyman" had already performed at the so-called national economy exhibition on December 2, where many children from the temporarily occupied areas of the Luhansk region had been forcibly brought. ADVERTISIMENT The Russians claim that Kish Babay from Tatarstan is somewhat similar to Santa Claus, but he is allegedly a "modern wizard" who has much "better" clothes and a larger retinue. Regarding the fighting, Artem Lysohor emphasized that Ukraine's defenders continue to repel the Russian invasion near Stelmakhivka in the Svatove district. The enemy does not abandon its intentions to seize Serebryany foresty, where it was stopped by Ukrainian soldiers four times yesterday. "The occupants' cannon and rocket artillery are working at full capacity in any weather. The shelling of settlements and fortifications is now as dense as possible," the head of the RMA emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, brainwashing of children has become one of the priorities of the Russian "authorities" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The invaders are trying to act ahead of possible resistance from teenagers, especially in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! In a significant setback for the Nelson Chamisa-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the Supreme Court has struck off the roll their appeal against the recall of its legislators. The recalls were initiated by self-proclaimed CCC interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu, who claimed that the MPs had ceased to be party members. Justices Susan Mavhangira, Lavender Makoni, and Joseph Musakwa unanimously ruled that the appeal was fatally defective. The lawyer representing Tshabangu, advocate Lewis Uriri, objected to the appeal, arguing that the CCC had failed to notify all parties involved in the High Court judgment after it was consolidated. The court agreed with Uriris contention, emphasizing that all the parties from the previous court should have been cited. The court is of the view that the appeal is fatally defective. The notices of appeal failed to comply with rule 37(2) of the Supreme Court rules. Consequently, there are no valid appeals before this court. The preliminary issues raised have been upheld, Justice Musakwa stated. The appeal was ultimately dismissed, and costs were awarded against the CCC. This ruling deals a significant blow to Chamisas party, as it hampers their attempt to challenge the recalls and retain their legislators. The initial ruling in favour of Tshabangu by High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi had paved the way for the sitting of the nomination court on November 7 and the proclamation of the by-elections date. Justice Mutevedzi had determined that the CCC members application failed to prove that Tshabangu was an imposter. The outcome of this ruling has far-reaching implications for the CCC as it seeks to navigate the complex terrain of Zimbabwean politics. With the recall of its legislators standing and its appeal dismissed, the party faces an uphill battle in maintaining its influence and pursuing its political agenda. The CCC, under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa, has been a prominent force in Zimbabwean politics, advocating for change and challenging the ruling ZANU-PF party. However, this recent setback underscores the challenges and legal hurdles the opposition party must overcome in its quest for political power. As the CCC regroups and evaluates its options, political observers will closely monitor how it responds to this blow from the Supreme Court. The outcome of their subsequent actions and their ability to rally support and adapt to the changing political landscape could shape the future trajectory of the party and the broader political landscape in Zimbabwe. Breaking News via Email Zimbabwe Exemption Permits extended for Zimbabweans in South Africa Zimbabwean nationals living in South Africa can now breathe a sigh of relief as authorities have announced the extension of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) for an additional two years, effectively until November 2025. This decision, which comes as a welcome respite for many Zimbabweans, was confirmed by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi during a recent media briefing. Under the extension, approximately 178,000 Zimbabwean nationals will be granted exemption permits in accordance with section 32b of the Immigration Act of 2002. Minister Motsoaledi outlined the terms and conditions for the new permits, stating that holders will be entitled to work, seek employment, and conduct business in South Africa during the period of exemption. The extension of the ZEPs follows a previous decision by Pretoria to halt the renewal of permits that had expired in December of the previous year. At that time, permit holders were given a one-year grace period to transition to alternative visa arrangements or face potential deportation. Initially introduced in 2009 by then Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the ZEP was designed as a temporary solution to address the escalating refugee crisis emanating from Zimbabwe. With an estimated 180,000 ZEP holders currently residing in South Africa, the extension provides a measure of stability and security for many Zimbabweans who have sought refuge or opportunities in the neighbouring country. Zimbabwe has experienced a significant outflow of both skilled and unskilled citizens over the past two years, prompting South Africa to implement various measures, including heightened border security, to manage the influx of migrants. The extension of the ZEPs reflects a recognition of the ongoing challenges faced by Zimbabweans and the need for continued support and accommodation. This development will not only provide a sense of relief for Zimbabweans living in South Africa but also contribute to fostering better integration and stability within the migrant community. The extended permits offer Zimbabwean nationals the opportunity to work and contribute to the South African economy, while also ensuring that they can continue to pursue their livelihoods and aspirations during these uncertain times. As the two-year extension takes effect, Zimbabweans in South Africa can now focus on building their lives and making valuable contributions to their host country. The decision to prolong the ZEPs demonstrates a commitment to compassion and understanding, acknowledging the aspirations and challenges faced by individuals seeking a better future beyond their homelands borders. Breaking News via Email Tragic accident claims three lives and injures four on Bulawayo-Maphisa road A devastating accident on the Bulawayo-Maphisa Road has left three people dead and four others injured. The incident occurred on 27 November 2023, around 12:30 pm, when a Mazda 5 vehicle veered off the road, hit a tree, and ultimately landed on its roof. According to a statement released by the police, the tragic accident took place at the 105km peg along the Bulawayo-Maphisa Road. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed at this time. Emergency services were swiftly dispatched to the scene, and the bodies of the deceased were transported to Maphisa District Hospital for post-mortem. Meanwhile, the injured individuals were admitted to the same hospital to receive medical care. In their official statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the fatal incident, expressing their condolences to the families affected. The police report stated, The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 105 kilometre peg along Bulawayo-Maphisa Road on 27/11/23 at around 1230 hours in which three people were killed whilst four others were injured when a Mazda 5 vehicle veered off the road before hitting a tree and landing on its roof. Bodies of the victims were taken to Maphisa District Hospital for post mortem whilst the injured are admitted at the same hospital. Road accidents continue to be a significant concern in Zimbabwe, with many lives lost and families shattered due to these tragic incidents. It serves as a reminder for all road users to exercise caution, adhere to traffic regulations, and prioritize safety at all times. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident, and we hope for a speedy recovery for those injured. Breaking News via Email At least 200 undercover fed operatives set up Trump trap on January 6, House Rep. reveals In statements he recently made, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana spoke about there being "at least 200" undercover federal agents embedded within the crowd at President Donald Trump's Jan. 6, 2021 event at the United States Capitol, which resulted in the infamous so-called "insurrection." Some of these operatives were "dressed as Trump supporters," Higgins explained, noting that these infiltrators were also inside the Capitol building before the rest of the crowd even entered the building. "The FBI was not just participating in the January 6th acts from within. I suspect they had over 200 agents embedded in the crowd, including agents or, as they would call it, human assets inside the Capitol dressed as Trump supporters before the doors were opened," Higgins told Newsmax presenter Chris Salcedo. These same federal agents successfully infiltrated online chat groups, forums, and social media platforms where demonstrations were occurring against Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) regulations as well as against the fraudulent 2020 election results. "And when you track the text threads and the communications within those groups and find the origins of suggestions of potential violence or an active occupation of the Capitol on January 6th, you'll find that those messages were led by members of the groups that ended up to be the FBI agents that had infiltrated the group," Higgins said. "So the FBI's involvement was deep, not just one J6, but on the days and weeks and months prior," the congressman added. (Related: MISTRIAL INCOMING: Video footage depicts gross misconduct by Judge Engoron's law clerk in Trump trial.) Dozens of additional spooks hid in crowds outside Capitol on January 6 Back in early November, Higgins pressed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray about whether or not undercover officers were present at the scene on Jan. 6. The FBI continues to refuse to say how many of its agents were there in the crowd, but former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund has stated that he believes there were anywhere from 30 to 40 FBI operatives or Department of Homeland Security personnel that were present, in his estimation. Higgins specifically pressed Wray about two separate buses at the scene that had no identification, calling them "ghost buses," this being a phrase used by police enforcement. "These [ghost] buses are nefarious in nature and were filled with FBI informants dressed as Trump supporters, deployed onto our Capitol on Jan. 6," Higgins told the room. At no point did Wray contradict Higgins' assertions. However, he did claim that no FBI agents were involved in "the violence at the Capitol" on Jan. 6. Court documents suggest that at least 20 undercover agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were embedded around the Capitol that day. This revelation is included in the footnote of a motion to dismiss the federal case against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for being at the Capitol on that day. Also provided were tens of thousands of private communications within the Oath Keepers organization, including encrypted messages that discussed preparations for Jan. 6. There were also multiple 302s, witness statements, un-Mirandized statements, and more from multiple Oath Keeper-related witnesses and defendants. While the motion to dismiss contains no additional information about the "20 FBI and ATF assets" mentioned, this figure does confirm that there were more federal agencies than previously thought that were embedded at the Capitol on Jan. 6. A Reuters report from August 2021 refutes the idea that there was any "centrally coordinated" plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election at the Capitol on Jan. 6. "Trump would not have sent in unarmed extremists to disrupt the Electoral College in order to retain power," one report about the matter states. "This is not only illogical; it is absurd on its face." More related news coverage can be found at Trump.news. Sources for this article include: NewsAddicts.com NaturalNews.com Bill Gates teamed up with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein to create global drug and vaccine investment fund Before his alleged death, pedophile child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was buddies with Bill Gates , who, along with the financial support of banking giant JPMorgan Chase, created a global drug and vaccine investment fund to spread theirperversion to the four corners of the earth. The Epstein-Gates partnership has been in the news a lot lately after a federal judge on November 9 approved a $365 million settlement with Epstein's victims and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many of Epstein's crimes would not have been possible were it not for Gates and JPMorgan, we now know. After founding Microsoft and toying around there for a while, Gates, as many well know, dove headlong into the world of pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). His eugenicist leanings were a perfect fit for these industries, which are part and parcel of the child trafficking racket. Gates and JPMorgan named their partnership, created around 2011, the Global Health Investment Fund (GHIF). The fund was created with the help of JPMorgan executive James E. "Jes" Staley, who contributed to the Epstein-Gates profiteering scheme involving vaccines and other health technologies. "Epstein wanted a piece of the action, and Staley brought Epstein into the Gates partnership," reports explain about the arrangement. "At the time, Staley managed the Epstein relationship for the bank, and Epstein was a valuable client who brought JPMorgan a lot of business. Epstein was an adviser to billionaires like Victoria's Secret mogul Leslie Wexner and Wall Street legend Leon Black and the 'family offices' which manage their fortunes. Wexner and Black deny any involvement in Epstein's criminal activities." (Related: One of the top priorities of Bill Gates is to force-vaccinate the world through any means possible, including aerosol vaccines that are breathed in rather than injected.) Pfizer, Merck and GSK all joined Epstein-Gates-JPMorgan GHIF partnership Once the partnership was forged, other powerful investors wanted a piece of the pie. These include The Pfizer Foundation, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and various other entities funded by the governments of Canada, Sweden, and Germany. There were also private contributions from "qualified individuals and family offices." The stated purpose of GHIF was to provide individual and institutional investors the opportunity to finance late-stage global health technologies, meaning emerging health technologies that are just about complete, in order to "have the potential" to save millions of lives in low-income countries. To help offset any potential losses should the plan go awry, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, made a commitment to intervene and provide fresh cash injections as needed to keep the operation afloat. In the early days of GHIF, Epstein began pitching other business ideas to Gates and the other foundation staff. The two met "many times," we now know, with Gates flying numerous times on Epstein's Gulfstream private plane from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Palm Beach, Fla., according to a March 2013 flight manifest. "It turned out that Gates and Epstein had mutual interests in the areas of global health and funding scientific breakthroughs," reports explain. "Both men also had a deep interest in genetic tinkering projects. Epstein reportedly wanted to 'seed the human race' with his own DNA by impregnating scores of women. Ironically (or perhaps hypocritically), Epstein was concerned about overpopulation." Gates is similarly obsessed with the idea of overpopulation, stating again and again throughout his "philanthropic" career that he believes mass vaccinating the third world will help to reduce the global population by a substantial amount. "The world today has 6.8 billion people," Gates stated at a TED talk a few years back. "That's headed up to about nine billion. Now, if we do a really great job on new vaccines, health care, reproductive health services, we could lower that by, perhaps, 10 or 15 percent." Globalists like Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein are a threat to health freedom. Learn more at Globalism.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com A powerful storm that raged in the Black and Azov Seas on November 27 destroyed the coastline and flooded settlements in the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as in the Black Sea and Azov regions. At the same time, it destroyed the embankment that connected the occupied part of Kherson region with the largest island in the Black Sea, Dzharylhach. ADVERTISIMENT The embankment was destroyed in three places at once. The Center for Investigative Journalism drew attention to this by analyzing satellite images from the European Space Agency (ESA). The images taken by the Sentinel-2 satellite on November 30 show that the sea has washed away the spit connecting the island to the mainland of Ukraine in three places. As a result, the occupiers have now lost the ability to reach the island, at least temporarily. Dzharylhach Island is located in the Karkinist Bay of the Black Sea. Administratively, it is part of the Skadovsk district of Kherson region. The 56-square-kilometer island itself is part of the Dzharylgach National Nature Park, which also includes the water area adjacent to the island. ADVERTISIMENT However, the Russian occupiers do not care about the protective status of Dzharylhach. In May 2023, it became known that the invaders had destroyed a natural gap near the village of Lazurne, Skadovsk district. Having made an embankment, they connected Dzharylhach to the mainland and arranged a military training ground in the reserve. There, the occupiers trained mobilized Russians, including artillery units. The same fate awaited dozens of other reserves in the south and east of Ukraine. In the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions, journalists discovered dozens of occupant training camps. They cover a total area of about 50,000 hectares. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, it became known that the occupiers restored the line of defense against marine drones in Crimea. Earlier, it was destroyed by a storm, which the occupiers dubbed the "storm of the century". Also during the storm, huge waves washed away Russian trenches on the Crimean coast . In addition, it was reported that China could help Russia build an underwater tunnel to Crimea , The Washington Post reported, citing letters intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence services between Russians and representatives of Chinese companies interested in the project. Rhode Island Black Lives Matter leader ENDORSES TRUMP, accuses Dems of being RACISTS A former prominent Black Lives Matter activist in Rhode Island has publicly announced his support for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Mark Fisher, a former Democrat turned independent voter who co-founded Rhode Island's Black Lives Matter branch, endorsed Trump during an interview on "Fox & Friends," in a segment wherein he discussed why Democrats and President Joe Biden are losing the support of Black voters. (Related: INSANITY: Democrat-run city in Missouri rewards BLM protesters, violent leftist rioters with up to $150,000 each.) "It's the duplicity of the Democrats, the hypocrisy," said Fisher to host Lawrence Jones. "We're not stupid. The brothers are not stupid. We understand when someone's for us and when someone is not, and it's obvious that the Democratic Party is not for us." At a different interview earlier in November, Fisher argued that Democrats "don't value" African Americans, and that their policies "actually strike at the heart of the Black family." "We've been used and abused for so long by that party. They don't value our vote," he said. "Their policies are basically racist policies. I believe it's a racist party. Donald Trump is just the opposite. He's going to tell you how it is. He's going to give it to you straight." "Trump has done more for the Black community than any president I can think of in my lifetime," he added. Many Black Americans "misinformed" about Trump Speaking of Trump on "Fox & Friends," Fisher argued that a lot of Black Americans who are still registered Democrats or regularly vote for Democrats are "misinformed" about the former president and his policies. "They don't really understand because they don't educate themselves on Donald Trump as a person and his history," said Fisher, who went on to say that he personally "loves the man." "How could you not like a real man?" he said. "How could you not relate to someone like that?' Fisher argued that if Black Americans do the work of educating themselves regarding Trump and his policy proposals for uplifting all Americans, he believes more and more will come to his side and vote for the former president. Speaking of Biden, Fisher described him as a "deep disappointment," adding that he feels Biden's tenure as president is itself the reason why so many Black Americans feel disaffected and are abandoning the Democrats. "I think that it will happen on its own, and it'll be organic," he said. "I feel like the tide is starting to turn I feel like a lot of Black people are starting to pivot off of that Democratic plantation. For so long, we've been slaves to that party. Actually, we've been mental slaves afraid to get off of that plantation." BLM disavows Mark Fisher Fisher's endorsement of Trump has been met with outrage. Black Lives Matter Rhode Island co-founder Gary Dantzler claimed he is "disgusted" by Fisher's remarks, which he described as a major setback for everything the movement supposedly stands for. "You have good, you have bad and you have evil," said Dantzler. "Mark Fisher says he represents Black Lives Matter, but he does not represent Black Lives Matter." The Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee also condemned Fisher's endorsement, with spokesperson Harrison Tuttle claiming that Fisher "has never been affiliated" with the organization. Meanwhile, Joe Powers, chairman of the Republican Party of Rhode Island, described Fisher's endorsement as a "major win" for Republicans in New England. "It's good to hear that we have compatriots who are looking to the Republicans as an answer," said Powers. "It's refreshing to hear that you have people who would not normally go that way, actually comes to the realization that it's the smart move it makes sense to be a Republican in Rhode Island." Watch this Fox News interview of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island co-founder Mark Fisher expressing his support for Trump's 2024 presidential run. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: RFK Jr. to support reparations for Black American community by means of targeted government-funded programs, not cash giveaways. Prominent Atlanta "Stop Cop City" BLM leader arrested in violent hit-and-run involving stolen vehicle, multiple injured. 94% of nearly 325,000 new S&P 100 jobs following BLM protests went to NON-WHITES, study finds. Portland business owner who supported Antifa and BLM riots shuts down taproom due to significant financial losses. Sources include: WesternJournal.com FoxNews.com WPRI.com Brighteon.com Auto dealers urge Biden to step on the brakes for ELECTRIC CAR mandates, citing decline in demand Almost 4,000 automotive dealers called on the Biden administration to "tap the brakes" on its electric vehicle (EV) mandate , citing a drop in demand for electric cars. The group of 3,882 dealers under the aegis of EV Voice of the Customer wrote an open letter to President Joe Biden, which was published online. It asked the chief executive to "slow down proposed regulations mandating battery EV production and distribution." According to the letter, the Biden administration "has proposed regulations that would essentially mandate a dramatic shift to battery EVs." This would increase "year after year until 2032 when two out of every three vehicles sold in America" would have to run on electricity. "Currently, there are many excellent battery EVs available for consumers to purchase. The reality, however, is that EV demand today is not keeping up with the large influx of [electric cars] arriving at our dealerships, prompted by the current regulations. [Battery EVs] are stacking up on our lots." The group pointed out that while "there was a lot of hope and hype" about EVs in 2022, that enthusiasm has largely fizzled out. "The supply of unsold battery EVs is surging, as they are not selling nearly as fast as they are arriving at our dealerships even with deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives and generous government incentives," it continued. (Related: Automakers slashing EV prices after government subsidies fail to prop up the industry.) "While the goals of the regulations are admirable, they require consumer acceptance to become a reality. With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that this attempted EV mandate is unrealistic based on current and forecast consumer demand. Already, EVs are stacking up on our lots which is our best indicator of customer demand in the marketplace." Customers are simply not ready to make the change In 2021, Biden signed an executive order mandating that 50 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. should run on electric power by 2030. "There's no turning back. The question is [whether] we will lead or fall behind in the race for the future," he said at the time. "The push to get automakers to offer fewer and fewer gas-burning vehicles comes as the Biden administration has struggled to secure the massive federal investments in EV infrastructure that experts say is needed to make it viable for Americans on a wide scale," NBC News reported. "Biden called for $174 billion in federal spending to build a network for a half-million electric vehicle charging stations across the country, in a nod to one of the biggest impediments to EV adoption: Fear of running out of battery. But the bipartisan infrastructure deal he reached with Congress included just $7.5 billion for that priority." Nevertheless, EV Voice of the Customer pointed out that "the majority of customers are simply not ready to make the change." "They are concerned about BEVs being unaffordable. Many do not have garages for home charging or easy access to public charging stations. Customers are also concerned about the loss of driving range in cold or hot weather. Some have long daily commutes and dont have extra time to charge the battery. Truck buyers are especially put off by the dramatic loss of range when towing. Todays current technology is not adequate to support the needs of the majority of our consumers." The group ultimately exhorted Biden to "tap the brakes" on his administration's "unrealistic" EV mandate. "Allow time for the battery technology to advance; allow time to make battery EVs more affordable; allow time to develop domestic sources for the minerals to make batteries; [and] allow time for the charging infrastructure to be built and prove reliable. And most of all, allow time for the American consumer to get comfortable with the technology and make the choice to buy an EV." Visit GreenTyranny.news for more stories about the Biden administration's EV mandate. Watch Laura Ingraham of Fox News expound on the failures of Biden's EV mandate below. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Rise of EVs is driving more demand for electricity as grid power generation declines. EV owners complain about "logistical nightmare" caused by lack of charging stations. In appeal to auto workers, Trump warns that Biden's EV mandates will lead to fewer well-paying jobs. EV NIGHTMARE: Man spends 15 hours to travel 178 miles, proving EVs are unsuitable for long-distance travel. GOING DARK: New York City lacks energy infrastructure needed to power Uber and Lyft EVs or reach 2030 zero-emissions mandate. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com EVVoiceOfTheCustomer.com NBCNews.com Brighteon.com Full-scale medical martial law coming to America in 2024 It has been nearly three years since Operation Warp Speed delivered Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" to the world, and more people than perhaps ever before are sicker than they have ever been. As the situation worsens, the government is readying to unleash full-scale medical martial law on America, likely at some point next year. Sources are reporting that upwards of 50 percent of people who got jabbed for COVID were sickened by the shots or are still sick with no end in sight. Eight out of 10 jab recipients, especially including those who got at least one "booster" shot in addition to the primary series, are suffering complications that could end up disabling them. According to Dr. Peter McCullough, every single person who got even just one COVID jab is now experiencing some kind of problem or series of problems related to the heart whether they realize it or not. Those who do realize it often discovered it by surprise when they suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest or inflammatory reaction like myocarditis. As time goes on and the bodies of the fully vaccinated degrade even further, there will likely come a point when a critical mass of sick people creates enough of a public health scare that the infamous "quarantine camps" are opened and filled with the "sick." New York is said to have its quarantine camps ready and waiting for the political green light to start loading up the boxcars, so to speak, and delivering prisoners to their bunks. Other states are reportedly doing the same, often quietly. (Related: President Biden has been dropping hints that a second round of medical martial law is coming soon to the United States.) DeSantis' "no vax" bill for Florida a Trojan Horse: it's actually a forced vax bill Believe it or not, Florida under Gov. Ron DeSantis is another state where residents face the same forced quarantine situation that New Yorkers do under Gov. Kathy Hochul. DeSantis is a Republican and Hochul is a Democrat, demonstrating once again that tyranny is a bipartisan effort in America. Hochul's forced quarantine measures are at least clearly outlined as such, DeSantis' is hiding behind a so-called "no vax" bill that, upon closer investigation, is actually a forced vax bill in disguise. As stated directly in DeSantis "no vax" bill, the government of Florida can now issue an order for an individual: "... to be examined, tested, vaccinated, treated, isolated, or quarantined for communicable diseases that have significant morbidity or mortality and present a severe danger to public health. Individuals who are unable or unwilling to be examined, tested, vaccinated, or treated for reasons of health, religion, or conscience may be subjected to isolation or quarantine." The DeSantis "no vax" bill goes on to state that if an individual in Florida is deemed to be a "danger to the public health," he or she can be apprehended by the State Health Officer and forced into isolation or quarantine, just like the New York bill. Many conservatives have been fooled by the contradictory rhetoric of DeSantis over the years, but the guy is a tyrant who is arguably worse than Hochul and other Democrat governors. At least New York does not have an "antisemitism" bill in place that squelches the First Amendment, this being another plank in DeSantis' Florida tyranny regime. "If there is no practical method to isolate or quarantine the individual, the State Health Officer may use any means necessary to vaccinate or treat the individual," the DeSantis "no vax" bill further states about how Floridians can now be force-vaccinated if the state deems that there is no way to isolate or quarantine them. More related news coverage about the controlled demolition of America can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: AllNewsPipeline.com NaturalNews.com Ireland proposes radical anti-hate speech law that would make memes and common phrases illegal, such as Irish Lives Matter The conservative government of Ireland is proposing anti-hate speech laws in the wake of widespread anti-immigration protests in the capital of Dublin that could criminalize the possession of certain memes and the uttering of the phrase " Irish Lives Matter ." On Nov. 23, an Algerian immigrant who had obtained Irish citizenship over two decades ago stabbed three children and a schoolteacher outside of their school in Dublin. The suspect's identity spread and resulted in protests and rioting all over Dublin that ended up destroying 11 police vehicles, damaging 13 shops and looting dozens of stores. Protesters clashed with police, and at least 34 people were arrested. In response to the protests, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose father Ashok is an Indian immigrant, said that his conservative coalition government would modernize the country's hate speech laws. (Related: Ireland going full woke, plans to criminalize possession of materials deemed "hateful" by authorities.) "I think it's now very obvious to anyone who might have doubted us, that our incitement to hatred legislation is just not up to date," said Varadkar. "It's not up to date for the social media age, and we need that legislation through." "And we need it through in a matter of weeks because it's not just the platforms that have a responsibility here and they do it's also the individuals who post messages and images online that stir up hatred and violence," he added. "We need to be able to use laws to go after them immediately." Bill expands power of Irish government to prosecute people who supposedly spread "hate speech" The proposed legislation, titled the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offenses) Bill 2022, was first introduced in November 2022 and was delayed due to public outcry. Now, it is being reintroduced and is currently making its way through the Irish Parliament. If enacted, the bill would prohibit the incitement to violence or "hatred against a person or group of persons" based on "certain characteristics," including race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation and disabilities. The bill allows judges to issue search warrants for alleged violators' property if law enforcement can present sufficient evidence of their involvement in instances of hate speech. This includes the authority to search and seize the belongings of alleged perpetrators and their families, including electronic devices. The scope of the bill provides the Irish government with the power to declare people in violation of the law if they prepare or possess "material that is likely to incite violence or hatred against a person or a group of persons on account of their protected characteristics with a view to the material being communicated to the public or a section of the public, whether by himself or herself or another person." Critics of the proposal warn that individuals could be charged because they posted so-called "reckless" comments on social media or even if they share memes on the basis that these comments or memes allegedly incite violence or hatred. Furthermore, the Irish government could even use this bill to claim that certain statements or phrases are illegal because they can lead to violence or further hatred. The bill is also a response to messages that have circulated in Ireland in the wake of the stabbing and protests that read "Irish Lives Matter," an adaptation of the phrase "All lives matter," which itself is a reaction to the rise of the statement "Black Lives Matter" and the movement it spawned in the United States. The government is now investigating the use of the phrase "Irish Lives Matter," with police deeming the phrase a "hate crime." Learn more about attempts by governments around the world to regulate speech at SpeechPolice.news. Watch this video from John Williams discussing the protests that have engulfed Dublin, warning that the United States could be next. This video is from the ThisIsJohnWilliams channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: "We are restricting freedom for the common good:" Irish Green Party calls for limiting free speech. Ireland wanted public input on proposed censorship bill until the majority said they actually prefer free speech. Irish lawmakers to pass "Hate Speech" law that fines and jails people for possessing "hateful content" on their personal devices. Ireland under attack: Hordes of violent migrants brawl in their taxpayer luxury hotel, mass stabbings and arrests. Erin go Britain? Ireland considers enacting a bill criminalizing the possession of hateful material. Sources include: Revolver.news TheMessenger.com Newsweek.com SAN.com Brighteon.com Replenishing the population: Putin wants Russian women to have MORE CHILDREN to replace war casualties Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that his country's women have more children to boost the population. He made this remark during a video call at the World Russian People's Council on Nov. 28. The Russian leader argued that women having more children were necessary to prevent "catastrophic demographic problems" that could impact Russia's economy down the line. "Many of our people 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," said Putin. "Having many children, [and] a large family, should become a norm, a way of life for all the people of Russia. A family is not just the foundation for the state and society. It is a spiritual phenomenon, the source of morality." Putin's comments followed the Russian population dropping by 550,000 during the first year of the Russia-Ukraine war. According to the Daily Express, "some have blamed Russia's population woes on the war in Ukraine, leaving [some] reluctant to start families." Russian parents produce an average of just 1.42 children between them, prompting Putin to encourage the country's women to have more. He backs up his words with action; while the Russian leader reportedly has six children with three partners, only two daughters are acknowledged publicly. "Russia's stagnating birth rates have been a factor since before the collapse of the USSR in the early 1990s," the Express noted. "Life expectancy in the country has barely climbed since 1991, reaching just 71.34 years in 2020. While Putin encourages Russian women to have kids, Ukrainian women work According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), "some of the objective reasons for Russia's demographic problems reflect historical dynamics. The number of women of childbearing age is falling, and the average age at which women are having children is rising steadily in modernized, urban [and] well-educated populations." The Washington, D.C.-based CEIP also noted that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has become a potential factor deterring Russians from having children. It added: "This has predictably changed family planning. Some people are deciding not to have children or to postpone starting a family or having another child until more psychologically and financially stable times." Moreover, the think tank pointed out that "the militarization of life in Russia" serves as an impediment to those wanting to start a family. This would only be favorable for "those who consider it their duty to supply the motherland with cannon fodder for future wars," it added. Putin's call for Russians to replenish the population contrasts with that of Ukraine. Because of the martial law order announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the majority of Ukrainian men were drafted and sent to the meat grinder. This left Ukrainian women no choice but to work. "With male workers drafted and sent to the front lines, hundreds of women have been put to work in Ukrainian coal mines," Russia Today reported, citing a piece from Reuters. According to the original article, 3,000 of the roughly 20,000 male mine workers employed by Ukrainian energy company DTEK were drafted. To make up for the shortfall, it hired around 400 women. "Our boys were taken to the front, and now we need to support them," said a 22-year-old female miner. "There is no one else to work in the mine now." (Related: Reuters: Ukrainian women now work in mines because so many men were sent to the battlefront.) The country had legislation from the Soviet era prohibiting women from dangerous jobs like mining. However, Zelensky repealed this law shortly after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022. Head over to RussiaReport.news for more stories about Russia. Watch this video about Russian forces discovering Ukrainian women among military casualties. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DEMOGRAPHIC CRISIS: Declining population due to low birth rates is the biggest threat to Europe, warns Hungarian president. Taiwan witnesses catastrophic 23% drop in birth rate in May of 2022, as global depopulation schemes take effect. Ukrainian blogger calls for GENOCIDE of Russians: Wipe them off the face of the Earth. Sources include: Express.co.uk RT.com Brighteon.com Russias highest court designates international LGBT movement an extremist organization The Russian Supreme Court has ruled that the "international LGBT movement" is an extremist organization that is no longer allowed to exist in Russia. In a closed hearing attended only by representatives of Russia's Justice Ministry, the Russian Supreme Court heard a motion originally filed on Nov. 19 challenging the allowance of the international LGBT movement in Russia. Journalists who were allowed to view the proceedings in exclusion reported that the ministry described the international LGBT movement as causing "social and religious discord" throughout the world. Previously, Russia has banned various groups of people, ideologies, and ideas that are deemed to be without any strictly defined structure or membership. In 2018, as one example, President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning so-called "Columbine communities" that supposedly promote school shootings. After Russia began its special military operation Ukraine in February 2022, it proceeded to crack down on LGBT activities within its borders, which hinged on the spread of transgenderism and child mutilation in the United States and other Western countries. (Related: While America embraces LGBT drag queens and pedophilia, Russia to BAN sex change surgery.) On Dec. 5, 2022, the Russian government passed legislation banning all public expression of LGBT identity in Russia, meaning LGBTs must keep their perversions to themselves. That same law also bans all "propaganda" related to "nontraditional sexual relations" in the media. Russia bans transgenders, "gender-affirming care" This past summer, Russia took aim at the transgender movement directly by banning all "gender-affirming care" throughout Russia. This was an extension of the Putin-led crusade against LGBT perversion, which has been rhetorically linked to the conflict in Ukraine. At a ceremony held on Sept. 30, 2022, Putin made remarks against LGBT perversion as part of a formal announcement about the annexation of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts. "Do we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed in our schools from the primary grades?" Putin remarked during the address. This latest move to ban the international LGBT movement in Russia means that Putin is attempting to finalize the total eradication of LGBT perversion in Russia. "I think this will mean that anyone whom the state considers an LGBT activist could receive a long prison sentence for 'participating in an extremist organization,'" commented Sergei Troshin, a municipal deputy in St. Petersburg who "came out" as homosexual last year. "There is panic in Russia's LGBT community. People are emigrating urgently. The actual word we're using is evacuation. We're having to evacuate from our own country." Three years ago, Russia's constitution was amended to explicitly define marriage as a union between one man and one woman with no recognition of same-sex unions. In 2013, Russia passed a law prohibiting "propaganda [amongst minors] of non-traditional sexual relations." As of now, all mention of anything LGBT is now prohibited in Russian media. In early November, a Russian television channel altered an LGBT "rainbow" that appeared in a South Korean pop music video to avoid being accused of violating Russia's "gay propaganda" law. When asked how Russia will enforce the ban on the international LGBT movement, Vitaly Milonov, a conservative member of Russia's parliament, stated that Russia's government "can ban any activities from LGBT international organizations here in Russia." "That's nice. We don't need them," he added. The move comes ahead of Putin's expected announcement that he will seek reelection in the upcoming March 2024 presidential election in Russia. For the past 24 years, Putin has controlled Russia and one of his primary platform positions has been that he is a defender of "Russian traditional values" that are under attack by movements like LGBT that seek to deconstruct those values and replace them with perversion. More related news can be found at GayMafia.news. Sources for this article include: DefiantAmerica.com NYDailyNews.com NaturalNews.com Texas sues Pfizer for conspiring to censor the vaccines critics Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer faces another new lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who says the company unlawfully misrepresented its so-called Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccine" while "attempting to censor public discussions of the product." In a press release, Paxton's office alleges that Pfizer violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by engaging in "false, deceptive, and misleading acts and practices by making unsupported claims regarding the company's COVID-19 vaccine." According to Paxton, Pfizer's claim that its mRNA injection which skeptics say is actually a "modRNA" injection under another name is 95 percent effective at eradicating COVID is "highly misleading." "Pfizers widespread representation that its vaccine possessed 95% efficacy against infection was highly misleading from day one," the lawsuit states. "That number was only ever legitimate in a solitary, highly technical, and artificial way it represented a calculation of the so-called 'relative risk reduction for vaccinated individuals in Pfizer's then-unfinished pivotal clinical trial." The suit goes on to discuss publications from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that misleadingly indicate "relative risk reduction" statistics that "unduly influence consumer choice." (Related: CDC warns latest COVID-19 "variant" BA.2.86 infects the FULLY VACCINATED, admitting the vaccines don't work.) Pfizer COVID jabs caused "negative efficacy" in many areas Pfizer's clinical trial data covers a span of just two months and involved just 162 participants out of 17,000 who actually got jabbed with the company's COVID injection. This is hardly a large enough pool to properly and accurately gauge the jab's effectiveness. "Based on those numbers, vaccination status had a negligible impact on whether a trial participant contracted COVID-19," the lawsuit states. "The risk of acquiring COVID-19 was so small in the first instance during this short window that Pfizer's vaccine only fractionally improved a person's risk of infection." The lawsuit further states that, in some places in late 2021, Pfizer's vaccine actually had "negative efficacy." What this means is that a greater number of fully jabbed people still tested positive for COVID compared to unvaccinated people, while other places noted fresh spikes in COVID rates despite more people getting jabbed. "How did Pfizer respond when it became apparent that its vaccine was failing and the viability of its cash cow under threat? By intimidating those spreading the truth, and by conspiring to censor the vaccines critics," the lawsuit says. "Pfizer labeled as 'criminals' those who spread facts about the vaccine. It accused them of spreading 'misinformation.' And it coerced social media platforms to silence prominent truth-tellers. Indeed, Pfizer even went so far as to request that social media platforms silence a former FDA director because his comments could 'driv[e] news coverage' critical of the vaccine." In a separate statement, Paxton explained that he is filing the lawsuit on behalf of all Texans, including the millions who were coerced by tyrannical vaccine mandates to "take a defective product sold by lies." "The facts are clear," he added. "Pfizer did not tell the truth about their COVID-19 vaccines. Whereas the Biden Administration weaponized the pandemic to force illegal public health decrees on the public and enrich pharmaceutical companies, I will use every tool I have to protect our citizens who were misled and harmed by Pfizer's actions." Paxton's lawsuit was filed after a lengthy investigation into not only Pfizer but also the other leading COVID jab manufacturers that pushed deadly experimental drug products on the public. If you are interested in reading over the petition for yourself, you can do so at the Texas Attorney General's website. The latest news coverage about COVID jab injuries and deaths can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: ThePostMillennial.com TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov [PDF] USAFacts.org NaturalNews.com Donbas, like the rest of Ukraine, has become more Ukrainian today. This shows that our country is fully capable of reintegrating the territories that have long been under Russian occupation. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the article "Fight and Live" by the German publication Der Spiegel. Journalists who visited the Donetsk region admitted that there are still people who hate the Ukrainian military, but there are also those who feed them for free. As an example, the media cited Sloviansk, which was home to pro-Russian insurgent centers nine years ago. The majority of the city's population supported Russia back then. Today, however, the mood has changed. "Like the rest of the country, Sloviansk has become more Ukrainian. The same people live here," the article says. The authors of the publication concluded that Ukraine will be able to reintegrate Donbas and Crimea, which have been under occupation since 2014. Another realization that the German correspondents gained after traveling halfway across Ukraine (from Kyiv to the village of New York in the Donetsk region) is the rise of the Ukrainian language. It is now the language of identity. ADVERTISIMENT "This was facilitated by state coercion, social pressure, and thousands and thousands of personal decisions," the publication noted. The authors noted that Ukrainian can now be heard on the streets of Kyiv as often as Russian, but the most noticeable is the Ukrainization of the usually Russian-speaking Kharkiv. In the city of one and a half million people, many people have switched to the native language to show the enemy that Ukrainians are a united nation. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - President Zelenskyy expressed the opinion that Crimea, which was seized by Russia in 2014, would probably be easier to de-occupy than Donbas. It is not only about liberating the territories but also about the mental return of people to Ukraine. - A poll conducted by the Rating group showed that about 45% of Ukrainians have a very negative attitude towards citizens of the aggressor country of Russia, and 27% have a rather negative attitude. On the other hand, Russians who oppose the war are mostly viewed positively in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Parvez Sultan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Following its rout in three states -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh -- the Congress on Sunday was at the receiving end from members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc who criticised the grand old party for ignoring them during the assembly elections. Terming the rout of the Congress in the Hindi heartland a lesson to secular democratic parties, the Left parties on Sunday called for a redoubling of efforts to unite the opposition. The general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) D Raja said that unity is the only way to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress must be accommodative. The general secretary of the CPI-Marxist (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury said that the election results underline the need for secular forces to redouble their efforts in defence of peoples livelihoods and the secular democratic character of the Indian republic. Election results of 4 states are a lesson to secular-democratic parties. Only through unity & alternative vision for can the RSS-BJP be defeated and our Republic saved. All secular-democratic parties, including INC (Indian National Congress), must engage in introspection to have mutual accommodation, Raja posted on X. Yechury also said that people of India will have to rise together to safeguard the secular democratic foundation and character of the country. It is clear that secular democratic forces of the country will have to redouble their efforts in order to safeguard the interest of people and improve peoples livelihood and at the same time to safeguard the secular democratic character of the Indian republic. This redoubling of efforts will have to be made by secular democratic parties and forces, he said. Taking on the Congress further, national council member of the CPI and Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Biswam said the outcome of the assembly elections would have been different if the grand old party had honoured the spirit and politics of the coalition. Election results are eye opener to all. The spirit and politics of INDIA should be understood by everyone, committed to secularism and democracy. Had congress understood this, the results would have been different. CPI proudly states with humility that we fought for the cause of INDIA, he wrote on social media platform --X. Expressing concern over the Congress' behaviour during the elections, the vice president of the National Conference and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that if the situation of the alliance remains the same, coalition members wouldnt be able to survive. If the situation of the INDIA bloc remains the same in future like it has been in the state elections, perhaps, we will not be able to save ourselves. The Congress could not understand the ground situation in Madhya Pradesh. What would have they lost if they had given 5-7 seats to Akhilesh Yadav... They have lost anyway. Had Akhilesh been given a few seats, we could have saved ourselves a bit in MP, Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. Opposition parties are expected to analyse the electoral developments in the three states during the next INDIA bloc meeting scheduled on December 6. Training its guns on the Congress, the spokesperson of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Kunal Ghosh said that the results are more of a failure of the Congress than a success story of the BJP. TMC is the party which can provide leadership in the battle to defeat the BJP in the country, he wrote on X. He further stated that these polls would not have an impact on the general election to be held next year. No reaction from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was available till late Sunday evening. FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Following its rout in three states -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh -- the Congress on Sunday was at the receiving end from members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc who criticised the grand old party for ignoring them during the assembly elections. Terming the rout of the Congress in the Hindi heartland a lesson to secular democratic parties, the Left parties on Sunday called for a redoubling of efforts to unite the opposition. The general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) D Raja said that unity is the only way to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress must be accommodative. The general secretary of the CPI-Marxist (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury said that the election results underline the need for secular forces to redouble their efforts in defence of peoples livelihoods and the secular democratic character of the Indian republic.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Election results of 4 states are a lesson to secular-democratic parties. Only through unity & alternative vision for can the RSS-BJP be defeated and our Republic saved. All secular-democratic parties, including INC (Indian National Congress), must engage in introspection to have mutual accommodation, Raja posted on X. Yechury also said that people of India will have to rise together to safeguard the secular democratic foundation and character of the country. It is clear that secular democratic forces of the country will have to redouble their efforts in order to safeguard the interest of people and improve peoples livelihood and at the same time to safeguard the secular democratic character of the Indian republic. This redoubling of efforts will have to be made by secular democratic parties and forces, he said. Taking on the Congress further, national council member of the CPI and Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Biswam said the outcome of the assembly elections would have been different if the grand old party had honoured the spirit and politics of the coalition. Election results are eye opener to all. The spirit and politics of INDIA should be understood by everyone, committed to secularism and democracy. Had congress understood this, the results would have been different. CPI proudly states with humility that we fought for the cause of INDIA, he wrote on social media platform --X. Expressing concern over the Congress' behaviour during the elections, the vice president of the National Conference and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that if the situation of the alliance remains the same, coalition members wouldnt be able to survive. If the situation of the INDIA bloc remains the same in future like it has been in the state elections, perhaps, we will not be able to save ourselves. The Congress could not understand the ground situation in Madhya Pradesh. What would have they lost if they had given 5-7 seats to Akhilesh Yadav... They have lost anyway. Had Akhilesh been given a few seats, we could have saved ourselves a bit in MP, Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. Opposition parties are expected to analyse the electoral developments in the three states during the next INDIA bloc meeting scheduled on December 6. Training its guns on the Congress, the spokesperson of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Kunal Ghosh said that the results are more of a failure of the Congress than a success story of the BJP. TMC is the party which can provide leadership in the battle to defeat the BJP in the country, he wrote on X. He further stated that these polls would not have an impact on the general election to be held next year. No reaction from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was available till late Sunday evening. FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: With the BJP heading towards victory in three out of the four states that went to polls recently, the party will now be in power in 12 states on its own, while the Congress, the second largest national party, will come down to three after losing Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The Aam Aadmi Party, with its government in Delhi and Punjab, is third among national parties. The BJP, which rules the centre, is in power in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and is all set to get Madhya Pradesh back and snatch Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress after today's vote count. Besides, BJP is also part of the ruling coalition in four states - Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim. The Congress will now be in power in three states on its own - Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana, where it's on its way to victory, defeating its closest rival, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Elections LIVE | Congress celebrates Telangana victory; BJP set to win Chhattisgarh, MP, Rajasthan The Congress is also part of the ruling coalition in Bihar and Jharkhand and is an ally of the DMK which rules Tamil Nadu, however, it is not a part of the state government. The results also consolidated AAP's position as a major Opposition party, making it the second biggest Opposition party with government in two states, as Congress' share declined. "After today's results, Aam Aadmi Party emerges as the largest opposition party in north India with two state governments - Punjab and Delhi," AAP leader Jasmine Shah said in a post on X. India, at present, has six national parties - BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), CPI(M), National People's Party (NPP), and AAP. The next round of assembly polls will be held in 2024, when Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh will go to polls. Assembly polls are also pending for Jammu and Kashmir. As several sitting MPs contested assembly polls in this round, those seats in Lok Sabha are expected to get vacant. However, since the General Election is to be held next year, no bypolls will be held even if MPs vacate seats on being elected as MLA. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: With the BJP heading towards victory in three out of the four states that went to polls recently, the party will now be in power in 12 states on its own, while the Congress, the second largest national party, will come down to three after losing Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The Aam Aadmi Party, with its government in Delhi and Punjab, is third among national parties. The BJP, which rules the centre, is in power in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and is all set to get Madhya Pradesh back and snatch Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress after today's vote count.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Besides, BJP is also part of the ruling coalition in four states - Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim. The Congress will now be in power in three states on its own - Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana, where it's on its way to victory, defeating its closest rival, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Elections LIVE | Congress celebrates Telangana victory; BJP set to win Chhattisgarh, MP, Rajasthan The Congress is also part of the ruling coalition in Bihar and Jharkhand and is an ally of the DMK which rules Tamil Nadu, however, it is not a part of the state government. The results also consolidated AAP's position as a major Opposition party, making it the second biggest Opposition party with government in two states, as Congress' share declined. "After today's results, Aam Aadmi Party emerges as the largest opposition party in north India with two state governments - Punjab and Delhi," AAP leader Jasmine Shah said in a post on X. India, at present, has six national parties - BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), CPI(M), National People's Party (NPP), and AAP. The next round of assembly polls will be held in 2024, when Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh will go to polls. Assembly polls are also pending for Jammu and Kashmir. As several sitting MPs contested assembly polls in this round, those seats in Lok Sabha are expected to get vacant. However, since the General Election is to be held next year, no bypolls will be held even if MPs vacate seats on being elected as MLA. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service JAIPUR: Rajasthan, known for its revolving door politics, has seen the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making a triumphant return to power after five years. Despite the Congress managing a lead in the Shekhawati region, the BJP has secured a significant foothold in all divisions, leaving the Congress trailing behind. As per the latest data from the Election Commission, the BJP is leading in 115 seats, with the Congress leading in 70 seats. Other candidates are ahead in 14 seats. The BJP has won 113 seats, Congress 69 and others have secured 14 seats. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, acknowledging the defeat, has submitted his resignation to the Governor. Gehlot said it was an unexpected result. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi said on social media that while he accepts the results, the ideological fight will continue. The welfare schemes and guarantees promised by the Gehlot government were unable to deter the electorate from supporting the BJP. The BJP's strong resurgence aligns with the historical trend of government changes in the state. The party's dominance is evident across all seven divisions of Rajasthan, with only the Shekhawati region showing a marginal lead for the Congress. In eastern Rajasthan too, where the Gujjar vote and the Sachin Pilot factor were anticipated to play a pivotal role, the Congress has defied odds. Despite the BJP's overall victory, notable leaders such as the Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore and Jat stalwart Satish Poonia faced defeat in their respective constituencies, despite being considered chief ministerial aspirants. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje secured an impressive victory from the Jhalrapatan seat. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, former Union Minister and BJP candidate, triumphed in the Jhotwara assembly seat. Diya Kumari, Rajsamand MP and a member of Jaipur's royal family, secured a decisive victory from Vidyadhar Nagar seat with a substantial margin of over 50,000 votes. In the Congress camp, both Ashok Gehlot and senior leader Sachin Pilot emerged victorious. Gehlot's stronghold in Jodhpur's Sardarpura assembly seat proved resilient, with a victory margin of 26,396 votes. PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra has emerged victorious from Laxmangarh seat. However, assembly Speaker and senior Congress leader Dr. CP Joshi faced defeat on the Nathdwara seat. Seventeen out of 25 Congress ministers, including prominent figures like Parsadi Lal Meena, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Udailal Anjana, and Pramod Jain Bhaya, suffered losses. Notably, Shanti Dhariwal, closest to Gehlot and a key figure in the 2022 rebellion against the Congress High Command, secured a victory. The party's ticket distribution strategy is under scrutiny, as anti-incumbency was not directed at the Gehlot government but appeared strong against the MLAs, many of whom were given tickets despite internal party surveys indicating a need for significant changes. The newly formed Bharat Adivasi Party, participating in elections for the first time, has made an impactful debut by winning three seats. However, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, led by Hanuman Beniwal, faced disappointment as none of its candidates emerged victorious. The Bahujan Samaj Party, designated as a national party, secured only two wins. Both the Aam Aadmi Party and the CPI(M) failed to make a mark, not winning a single seat. Additionally, the AIMIM led by Owaisi and the Communist Party failed to secure any victories. Jaipur Division - A Dominant BJP Show The Jaipur division, encompassing 5 districts and a total of 50 seats, has proven to be a stronghold for the BJP. With a commanding lead, the BJP has secured victory in 29 seats, leaving the Congress with 21 seats in its wake. Jodhpur Division - Ashok Gehlot's Bastion Under Strain Known as the bastion of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Jodhpur division comprising 6 districts and 33 seats is witnessing a notable tussle. The BJP has emerged triumphant in 21 seats, posing a significant challenge to the ruling Congress, which has secured victory in 10 seats. Udaipur Division - Tribal Dominance for BJP In the tribal-dominated Udaipur Division, spanning 6 districts and 28 seats, the BJP has taken the lead by securing victory in 16 seats. The Congress, with 10 seats, faces tough competition in this critical part of southern Rajasthan. Ajmer Division - A Three-way Contest The Ajmer division, consisting of 4 districts and 29 seats, has unfolded as a three-way contest. The BJP has claimed victory in 16 seats, the Congress in 10, while other parties have secured 3 seats, adding a layer of complexity to the electoral dynamics. Bikaner Division - A Close Race The Bikaner division, covering 4 districts and 24 seats, witnesses a closely fought battle between the BJP and Congress. The BJP has secured victory in 10 seats, while the Congress is close behind with 11 seats. Other parties have clinched 3 seats, further intensifying the competition. Bharatpur Division - Congress Holds Ground In the Bharatpur division, consisting of 4 districts and 19 seats, the Congress has maintained its foothold by securing victory in 11 seats. The BJP, in contrast, has claimed victory in 5 seats, while other parties have secured 3 seats. Kota Division - Stronghold of Former CM and Speaker Kota division, with 4 districts and 17 seats, is marked by the presence of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The BJP has taken the lead by winning 11 seats, while the Congress has secured victory in 6 seats. FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp JAIPUR: Rajasthan, known for its revolving door politics, has seen the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making a triumphant return to power after five years. Despite the Congress managing a lead in the Shekhawati region, the BJP has secured a significant foothold in all divisions, leaving the Congress trailing behind. As per the latest data from the Election Commission, the BJP is leading in 115 seats, with the Congress leading in 70 seats. Other candidates are ahead in 14 seats. The BJP has won 113 seats, Congress 69 and others have secured 14 seats. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, acknowledging the defeat, has submitted his resignation to the Governor. Gehlot said it was an unexpected result. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi said on social media that while he accepts the results, the ideological fight will continue.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The welfare schemes and guarantees promised by the Gehlot government were unable to deter the electorate from supporting the BJP. The BJP's strong resurgence aligns with the historical trend of government changes in the state. The party's dominance is evident across all seven divisions of Rajasthan, with only the Shekhawati region showing a marginal lead for the Congress. In eastern Rajasthan too, where the Gujjar vote and the Sachin Pilot factor were anticipated to play a pivotal role, the Congress has defied odds. Despite the BJP's overall victory, notable leaders such as the Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore and Jat stalwart Satish Poonia faced defeat in their respective constituencies, despite being considered chief ministerial aspirants. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje secured an impressive victory from the Jhalrapatan seat. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, former Union Minister and BJP candidate, triumphed in the Jhotwara assembly seat. Diya Kumari, Rajsamand MP and a member of Jaipur's royal family, secured a decisive victory from Vidyadhar Nagar seat with a substantial margin of over 50,000 votes. In the Congress camp, both Ashok Gehlot and senior leader Sachin Pilot emerged victorious. Gehlot's stronghold in Jodhpur's Sardarpura assembly seat proved resilient, with a victory margin of 26,396 votes. PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra has emerged victorious from Laxmangarh seat. However, assembly Speaker and senior Congress leader Dr. CP Joshi faced defeat on the Nathdwara seat. Seventeen out of 25 Congress ministers, including prominent figures like Parsadi Lal Meena, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Udailal Anjana, and Pramod Jain Bhaya, suffered losses. Notably, Shanti Dhariwal, closest to Gehlot and a key figure in the 2022 rebellion against the Congress High Command, secured a victory. The party's ticket distribution strategy is under scrutiny, as anti-incumbency was not directed at the Gehlot government but appeared strong against the MLAs, many of whom were given tickets despite internal party surveys indicating a need for significant changes. The newly formed Bharat Adivasi Party, participating in elections for the first time, has made an impactful debut by winning three seats. However, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, led by Hanuman Beniwal, faced disappointment as none of its candidates emerged victorious. The Bahujan Samaj Party, designated as a national party, secured only two wins. Both the Aam Aadmi Party and the CPI(M) failed to make a mark, not winning a single seat. Additionally, the AIMIM led by Owaisi and the Communist Party failed to secure any victories. Jaipur Division - A Dominant BJP Show The Jaipur division, encompassing 5 districts and a total of 50 seats, has proven to be a stronghold for the BJP. With a commanding lead, the BJP has secured victory in 29 seats, leaving the Congress with 21 seats in its wake. Jodhpur Division - Ashok Gehlot's Bastion Under Strain Known as the bastion of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Jodhpur division comprising 6 districts and 33 seats is witnessing a notable tussle. The BJP has emerged triumphant in 21 seats, posing a significant challenge to the ruling Congress, which has secured victory in 10 seats. Udaipur Division - Tribal Dominance for BJP In the tribal-dominated Udaipur Division, spanning 6 districts and 28 seats, the BJP has taken the lead by securing victory in 16 seats. The Congress, with 10 seats, faces tough competition in this critical part of southern Rajasthan. Ajmer Division - A Three-way Contest The Ajmer division, consisting of 4 districts and 29 seats, has unfolded as a three-way contest. The BJP has claimed victory in 16 seats, the Congress in 10, while other parties have secured 3 seats, adding a layer of complexity to the electoral dynamics. Bikaner Division - A Close Race The Bikaner division, covering 4 districts and 24 seats, witnesses a closely fought battle between the BJP and Congress. The BJP has secured victory in 10 seats, while the Congress is close behind with 11 seats. Other parties have clinched 3 seats, further intensifying the competition. Bharatpur Division - Congress Holds Ground In the Bharatpur division, consisting of 4 districts and 19 seats, the Congress has maintained its foothold by securing victory in 11 seats. The BJP, in contrast, has claimed victory in 5 seats, while other parties have secured 3 seats. Kota Division - Stronghold of Former CM and Speaker Kota division, with 4 districts and 17 seats, is marked by the presence of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The BJP has taken the lead by winning 11 seats, while the Congress has secured victory in 6 seats. FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI HYDERABAD: Extending its winning run in the south, the Congress on Sunday won 64 Assembly seats to form government in the BRS-dominated Telangana, with the southern solace coming in the midst of a saffron sweep of the Hindi heartland where BJP wrested two states from the grand old party and retained. Congress had made a strong comeback in neighbouring Karnataka in May, defeating the BJP in the polls then. The near 10 year-old rule of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) came to an end on Sunday, even as Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao tendered resignation from his post, which was accepted by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. BRS has been ruling the state since 2014, when Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh. The party, which has 101 members in the outgoing Assembly, emerged victorious in 38 and was leading in 1 seat, as per latest EC figures. Congress won 64 of the 118 seats it contested from. It gave one seat to CPI where the communist party emerged victorious. AIMIM won 6 seats and was leading in one. A Congress delegation later mer Telangana Governor to stake claim on forming government. The Telangana Assembly has a total strength of 119. The BRS has 101 members in the outgoing House, while Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has 7, Congress 5, BJP 3. The All India Forward Bloc has one legislator. There is one independent while there is one vacancy. Anumula Revanth Reddy, who led the Congress' charge, finds himself on the brink of a potential chief ministership. ALSO READ | Revanth Reddy: The man who always believed he would be CM The 56 year-old leader met top police officials of the state and discussed the security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony, likely on December 4 or 9. He welcomed the people's mandate in favour of the national party while BRS expressed disappointment over its failure to ensure a hattrick. "It is a people's mandate. We need not (do) a postmortem. Everything goes well, then only you will get that magic number. The simple point is that they (people) wanted to change. They wanted to defeat KCR (CM Rao). They have defeated KCR. That's all," Reddy told reporters. Reddy said the people have decided the role of the opposition, and Congress expects the BRS's cooperation in order to fulfil the people's aspirations. "To revive democratic values, we are expecting that the BRS will come forward," he said. It is the Congress' responsibility to fulfil Telangana people's aspirations after forming the government in the state, he added. ALSO READ | KCR, the vanquished Telangana icon who missed a historic hat trick BRS working president and KCR's son K T Rama Rao said the assembly poll results were "disappointing" though he was not "saddened". "Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving @BRSparty two consecutive terms of Government. Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back," he said. "Congratulations to Congress party on winning the mandate. Wishing you Good Luck," the BRS leader, who won from Sircilla, further said. Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving @BRSparty two consecutive terms of Government Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back KTR (@KTRBRS) December 3, 2023 Factors such as anti-incumbency, voter fatigue, and dissatisfaction among the youth contributed mainly to the poor showing of the BRS. Despite the towering image of KCR, along with the party's extensive grassroots network and welfare programmes, the perceived inaccessibility of its leaders contributed to the growing anti-incumbency sentiments. Six cabinet members were among the prominent BRS figures that lost. Additionally, the opposition projection of what they called the BRS family rule in the state further exacerbated this sentiment. The Congress had mounted a spirited election campaign with a view to unseat BRS, even as the BJP also launched a no holds-barred attack against the ruling dispensation. READ HERE | From losing deposit to winning a state, how Telangana Congress turned around its fortunes The BJP may not have seen the desired results, but may take solace from the fact that it has bettered on its seats tally and the voteshare. While it won just 1 seat in the 2018 assembly polls, the BJP added 7 more this time, and saw its voteshare expand from 7 per cent then to 13.88 per cent this time. The party also won two by-polls earlier, giving it three members in the outgoing assembly. BJP's K Venkata Ramana Reddy emerged as a giant killer by defeating Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao and Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy. While the BJP was seen as a principal challenger to the BRS earlier, the perception changed after Congress gained momentum following the Karnataka elections in May this year. Jubilant mood prevailed at the residence of Revanth Reddy and the party's state headquarters here. Celebrations broke out at Gandhi Bhavan, the party office, where overjoyed workers were seen setting off crackers and raising "Jai Congress" and "Revanth Anna Zindabad" slogans. Security was also stepped up at Revanth Reddy's residence with additional police personnel being deployed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp HYDERABAD: Extending its winning run in the south, the Congress on Sunday won 64 Assembly seats to form government in the BRS-dominated Telangana, with the southern solace coming in the midst of a saffron sweep of the Hindi heartland where BJP wrested two states from the grand old party and retained. Congress had made a strong comeback in neighbouring Karnataka in May, defeating the BJP in the polls then. The near 10 year-old rule of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) came to an end on Sunday, even as Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao tendered resignation from his post, which was accepted by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); BRS has been ruling the state since 2014, when Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh. The party, which has 101 members in the outgoing Assembly, emerged victorious in 38 and was leading in 1 seat, as per latest EC figures. Congress won 64 of the 118 seats it contested from. It gave one seat to CPI where the communist party emerged victorious. AIMIM won 6 seats and was leading in one. A Congress delegation later mer Telangana Governor to stake claim on forming government. The Telangana Assembly has a total strength of 119. The BRS has 101 members in the outgoing House, while Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has 7, Congress 5, BJP 3. The All India Forward Bloc has one legislator. There is one independent while there is one vacancy. Anumula Revanth Reddy, who led the Congress' charge, finds himself on the brink of a potential chief ministership. ALSO READ | Revanth Reddy: The man who always believed he would be CM The 56 year-old leader met top police officials of the state and discussed the security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony, likely on December 4 or 9. He welcomed the people's mandate in favour of the national party while BRS expressed disappointment over its failure to ensure a hattrick. "It is a people's mandate. We need not (do) a postmortem. Everything goes well, then only you will get that magic number. The simple point is that they (people) wanted to change. They wanted to defeat KCR (CM Rao). They have defeated KCR. That's all," Reddy told reporters. Reddy said the people have decided the role of the opposition, and Congress expects the BRS's cooperation in order to fulfil the people's aspirations. "To revive democratic values, we are expecting that the BRS will come forward," he said. It is the Congress' responsibility to fulfil Telangana people's aspirations after forming the government in the state, he added. ALSO READ | KCR, the vanquished Telangana icon who missed a historic hat trick BRS working president and KCR's son K T Rama Rao said the assembly poll results were "disappointing" though he was not "saddened". "Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving @BRSparty two consecutive terms of Government. Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back," he said. "Congratulations to Congress party on winning the mandate. Wishing you Good Luck," the BRS leader, who won from Sircilla, further said. Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving @BRSparty two consecutive terms of Government Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back KTR (@KTRBRS) December 3, 2023 Factors such as anti-incumbency, voter fatigue, and dissatisfaction among the youth contributed mainly to the poor showing of the BRS. Despite the towering image of KCR, along with the party's extensive grassroots network and welfare programmes, the perceived inaccessibility of its leaders contributed to the growing anti-incumbency sentiments. Six cabinet members were among the prominent BRS figures that lost. Additionally, the opposition projection of what they called the BRS family rule in the state further exacerbated this sentiment. The Congress had mounted a spirited election campaign with a view to unseat BRS, even as the BJP also launched a no holds-barred attack against the ruling dispensation. READ HERE | From losing deposit to winning a state, how Telangana Congress turned around its fortunes The BJP may not have seen the desired results, but may take solace from the fact that it has bettered on its seats tally and the voteshare. While it won just 1 seat in the 2018 assembly polls, the BJP added 7 more this time, and saw its voteshare expand from 7 per cent then to 13.88 per cent this time. The party also won two by-polls earlier, giving it three members in the outgoing assembly. BJP's K Venkata Ramana Reddy emerged as a giant killer by defeating Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao and Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy. While the BJP was seen as a principal challenger to the BRS earlier, the perception changed after Congress gained momentum following the Karnataka elections in May this year. Jubilant mood prevailed at the residence of Revanth Reddy and the party's state headquarters here. Celebrations broke out at Gandhi Bhavan, the party office, where overjoyed workers were seen setting off crackers and raising "Jai Congress" and "Revanth Anna Zindabad" slogans. Security was also stepped up at Revanth Reddy's residence with additional police personnel being deployed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Online Desk With coastal areas of northern Tamil Nadu bracing for cyclone 'Michaung', the state government has set up 121 Multi-Purpose Security Centers, said Chief Minister MK Stalin. The CM has also instructed district collectors to ensure that people from the rain-affected areas are lodged in the 6,927 camps that have been set up across the state. Multi-Purpose Security Centers are control rooms which affected people can contact and from where rescue efforts can be coordinated. "121 Multi-Purpose Security Centers have been set up. The District Collectors have been instructed to accommodate the general public who may have come from the affected areas in 6,927 camps," said Stalin. "14 teams of 350 personnel of Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force and 9 teams of 255 personnel of National Disaster Response Force are ready for rescue and relief work in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu and Chennai districts," he added. Cyclonic storm Michaung, centred approximately 250 km southeast of Chennai as of 11:30 am on Sunday, is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, said S Balakrishnan, deputy director general of meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre. "The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Michaung' at 5.30 am on Sunday. It is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon." "It would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of 5th December as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph," he added. According to the forecast, significant rainfall is anticipated in various districts of Tamil Nadu. #COMK Nowcast 9:30 PM, 3rd Dec.'23 #ChennaiRains #CycloneMichaung Brace yourselves #Chennai as the first serious spell of #Rains push in. Coastal areas may see heavy rains any minute which will gradually move across the city. 1st spell to last for an hour followed by a short pic.twitter.com/sKsPdxKAc6 Chennai Rains (COMK) (@ChennaiRains) December 3, 2023 On Sunday, Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur districts experienced heavy to very heavy rain, with extremely heavy rain at one or two locations. Ranipet also witnessed heavy to very heavy rain, while Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts experienced heavy rain. In response to the impending weather conditions, the state government has declared Monday a public holiday in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts. The cyclone brewing over the Bay of Bengal is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh with winds that could pack speeds of up to 100 kmph on Tuesday forenoon. State Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday directed Collectors of respective districts to take all possible measures to safeguard the lives and property of people as Michaung is likely to cross the coast in southern Andhra Pradesh. Jagan held a review meeting on the cyclone threat at his camp office and gave directions to officials about the relief and rescue measures to be taken. "All facilities including drinking water, food and necessary medicines should be provided in the relief camps," he said in a press release. Furthermore, the CM has directed officials to restore damaged powerlines and transportation facilities in affected areas, including ensuring proper sanitation at the relief camps. The weather office further said there are risks to thatched huts, possibilities of damage to vulnerable structures, breaking of tree branches, and uprooting of small and medium-sized trees. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 21 teams in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry and eight additional teams have been kept in reserve. The Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Puducherry and Special Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management, Andhra Pradesh have notified the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) of the preparatory steps to be taken. Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircraft have been kept on standby. Reviewing preparedness measures of the central agencies and the governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Puducherry, the cabinet secretary stressed that all preventive and precautionary measures should be taken. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he was in constant touch with the governments of states on the eastern coast to coordinate relief and rescue efforts. He also urged BJP workers in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to join the relief and rescue efforts and support the local administration. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) advised fishermen not to venture into the sea during this time. (With inputs from PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp With coastal areas of northern Tamil Nadu bracing for cyclone 'Michaung', the state government has set up 121 Multi-Purpose Security Centers, said Chief Minister MK Stalin. The CM has also instructed district collectors to ensure that people from the rain-affected areas are lodged in the 6,927 camps that have been set up across the state. Multi-Purpose Security Centers are control rooms which affected people can contact and from where rescue efforts can be coordinated.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "121 Multi-Purpose Security Centers have been set up. The District Collectors have been instructed to accommodate the general public who may have come from the affected areas in 6,927 camps," said Stalin. "14 teams of 350 personnel of Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force and 9 teams of 255 personnel of National Disaster Response Force are ready for rescue and relief work in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu and Chennai districts," he added. Cyclonic storm Michaung, centred approximately 250 km southeast of Chennai as of 11:30 am on Sunday, is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, said S Balakrishnan, deputy director general of meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre. "The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Michaung' at 5.30 am on Sunday. It is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon." "It would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of 5th December as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph," he added. According to the forecast, significant rainfall is anticipated in various districts of Tamil Nadu. #COMK Nowcast 9:30 PM, 3rd Dec.'23 #ChennaiRains #CycloneMichaung Brace yourselves #Chennai as the first serious spell of #Rains push in. Coastal areas may see heavy rains any minute which will gradually move across the city. 1st spell to last for an hour followed by a short pic.twitter.com/sKsPdxKAc6 Chennai Rains (COMK) (@ChennaiRains) December 3, 2023 On Sunday, Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur districts experienced heavy to very heavy rain, with extremely heavy rain at one or two locations. Ranipet also witnessed heavy to very heavy rain, while Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts experienced heavy rain. In response to the impending weather conditions, the state government has declared Monday a public holiday in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts. The cyclone brewing over the Bay of Bengal is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh with winds that could pack speeds of up to 100 kmph on Tuesday forenoon. State Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday directed Collectors of respective districts to take all possible measures to safeguard the lives and property of people as Michaung is likely to cross the coast in southern Andhra Pradesh. Jagan held a review meeting on the cyclone threat at his camp office and gave directions to officials about the relief and rescue measures to be taken. "All facilities including drinking water, food and necessary medicines should be provided in the relief camps," he said in a press release. Furthermore, the CM has directed officials to restore damaged powerlines and transportation facilities in affected areas, including ensuring proper sanitation at the relief camps. Dear #Chennaiites Please check for the relief centres in Zones 6 to 10. (1/2)#CycloneMichaung#ChennaiRains #ChennaiCorporation #HeretoServe pic.twitter.com/MIozaTRnuy Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) December 3, 2023 The weather office further said there are risks to thatched huts, possibilities of damage to vulnerable structures, breaking of tree branches, and uprooting of small and medium-sized trees. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 21 teams in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry and eight additional teams have been kept in reserve. The Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Puducherry and Special Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management, Andhra Pradesh have notified the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) of the preparatory steps to be taken. Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircraft have been kept on standby. Reviewing preparedness measures of the central agencies and the governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Puducherry, the cabinet secretary stressed that all preventive and precautionary measures should be taken. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he was in constant touch with the governments of states on the eastern coast to coordinate relief and rescue efforts. He also urged BJP workers in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to join the relief and rescue efforts and support the local administration. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) advised fishermen not to venture into the sea during this time. (With inputs from PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service DUBAI: India has reportedly refused to sign the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at COP28 due to language on coal, indicated a top bureaucrat from the Union Environment Ministry on Sunday. A total of 116 countries have signed the pledge, agreeing to triple worldwide installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 gigawatts and to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements to more than 4 percent by 2030. However, the pledge document, which was made public on Sunday, unequivocally called for the 'phase down of unabated coal power', which is a clear red line for India. The document says, citing recent reports of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "In order to meet the Paris Agreement goal, renewables deployment must be accompanied in this decade by a rapid increase of energy efficiency improvements and the phase down of unabated coal power, in particular ending the continued investment in unabated new coal-fired power plants, which is incompatible with efforts to limit warming to 1.5C." While Leena Nandan, secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who was there for a side event at COP28, refused to give a direct comment to TNIE on why India stayed away from the pledge, she indicated that the language on coal was a red line. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit earlier this week to COP28, India's foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra categorically said India would not say goodbye to coal in the foreseeable future, although it was ramping up renewable energy supplies to ensure a quick transition to green energy. 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 our country, he said. Madhura Joshi, senior associate, India Energy Transition Lead, E3G, said it's disheartening that India has not signed on to the global pledge. "These were landmark decisions that were championed by the Indian G20 presidency and agreed to by G20 leaders in September 2023. Reaching net-zero commitments made by countries means that fossil fuels, including coal, need to be phased down and out. The good news is that India already has ambitious targets on renewable - 450GW by 2030, and a thriving energy efficiency programme spanning sectors. The hope is that India will champion tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 at COP28 in the main text. India is a global renewables leader and its support will provide a boost for the global renewables sector," she said. According to the latest World Energy Outlook by the International Energy Agency, India will witness the largest energy demand surge in the world in the next three decades. According to the coal ministry, the demand surged from 778 million tonnes in 2021-22 to 893 million tonnes in 2022-23, a 14% growth. India has reportedly set a target of 1.31 billion tonnes of coal production for 2024-25 and aims to increase it to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030. Meanwhile, sources said Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi, who was scheduled to come and participate in an event at COP28 on Sunday, had cancelled his visit at the last minute. ALSO READ | Can COP28 deliver justice and adequate finance to poor countries? Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp DUBAI: India has reportedly refused to sign the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at COP28 due to language on coal, indicated a top bureaucrat from the Union Environment Ministry on Sunday. A total of 116 countries have signed the pledge, agreeing to triple worldwide installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 gigawatts and to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements to more than 4 percent by 2030. However, the pledge document, which was made public on Sunday, unequivocally called for the 'phase down of unabated coal power', which is a clear red line for India. The document says, citing recent reports of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "In order to meet the Paris Agreement goal, renewables deployment must be accompanied in this decade by a rapid increase of energy efficiency improvements and the phase down of unabated coal power, in particular ending the continued investment in unabated new coal-fired power plants, which is incompatible with efforts to limit warming to 1.5C."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While Leena Nandan, secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who was there for a side event at COP28, refused to give a direct comment to TNIE on why India stayed away from the pledge, she indicated that the language on coal was a red line. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit earlier this week to COP28, India's foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra categorically said India would not say goodbye to coal in the foreseeable future, although it was ramping up renewable energy supplies to ensure a quick transition to green energy. 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 our country, he said. Madhura Joshi, senior associate, India Energy Transition Lead, E3G, said it's disheartening that India has not signed on to the global pledge. "These were landmark decisions that were championed by the Indian G20 presidency and agreed to by G20 leaders in September 2023. Reaching net-zero commitments made by countries means that fossil fuels, including coal, need to be phased down and out. The good news is that India already has ambitious targets on renewable - 450GW by 2030, and a thriving energy efficiency programme spanning sectors. The hope is that India will champion tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 at COP28 in the main text. India is a global renewables leader and its support will provide a boost for the global renewables sector," she said. According to the latest World Energy Outlook by the International Energy Agency, India will witness the largest energy demand surge in the world in the next three decades. According to the coal ministry, the demand surged from 778 million tonnes in 2021-22 to 893 million tonnes in 2022-23, a 14% growth. India has reportedly set a target of 1.31 billion tonnes of coal production for 2024-25 and aims to increase it to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030. Meanwhile, sources said Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi, who was scheduled to come and participate in an event at COP28 on Sunday, had cancelled his visit at the last minute. ALSO READ | Can COP28 deliver justice and adequate finance to poor countries? Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI BHOPAL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 14 rallies in Madhya Pradesh during campaigning for polls and reached out to young voters by reminding them of the failures of previous Congress governments on various fronts as he doubled down on the development of all sections. Modi's appeal seemingly clicked with voters, including women, in the central state where the ruling BJP has won 33 seats and leading in 131 out of 230 constituencies where results are being declared on Sunday. The prime minister also led a roadshow after elections were announced last month in MP. As BJP devised a strategy to defeat anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh which has been under its belt since 2003, barring 18 months from December 2018 to March 2020, Modi reached out to various sections of voters, including women, youngsters, tribals, besides the traditional supporters of the saffron party. FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE The BJP's campaign theme "MP ke mann mein Modi, Modi ke mann mein MP" received wide acceptance during the campaigning. On the penultimate day of electioneering, Modi addressed three election rallies and led a road show. He was joined by Union Home Minister and strategist Amit Shah. Hitting out at Congress, Shah raised the Ram temple issue at the hustings. He said the people of Madhya Pradesh will celebrate Diwali again on December 3 when votes for the assembly elections will be counted, and on January 22 when the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated. In September, Shah took upon himself the tasks of poll management and forming strategies for the November 17 elections. Shah toured Madhya Pradesh extensively. In a bid to quell dissent over the distribution of poll tickets, he camped in the state for three days. He also made rebels beat a retreat and reached out to BJP cadres and other leaders. ALSO READ | Rude shock for Congress as BJP cruises towards massive win in MP As the top brass of BJP was leading from the front, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh, popular among voters as "mama", propagated the flagship Ladli Behna Yojana, which has become a hit among women. Under the scheme, women get Rs 1,250 per month. The number of beneficiary women is a staggering 1.31 crore out of 2.72 crore women voters in the state. Chouhan is the longest-serving chief minister of Madhya Pradesh who has been at the helm since 2003, except from December 2018 to March 2020 when Congress was in power. Notably, the BJP didn't project any leader from the state as its CM face, apparently to beat anti-incumbency, and sought votes for "lotus", the poll symbol of the party. This was the first time since 2003 that the BJP didn't project the chief ministerial face. As part of a strategy, BJP leaders, including JP Nadda, Shah, and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, launched five Jan Ashirwad Yatras instead of Chouhan. Smarting under its defeat in the 2018 MP assembly polls by a slender margin against Congress, the BJP didn't take any chances this time. The BJP appointed Union minister Bhupendra Yadav as the state election-in-charge and his cabinet colleague Ashwini Vaishnaw as the co-incharge for the assembly elections in July. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar was named as the convenor of BJP's election management committee for Madhya Pradesh polls. While Congress had promised financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to women under Nari Samman Nidhi if voted to power, Chouhan rolled out the Ladli Behna scheme by providing Rs 1,000 per month to women. He also promised to hike the assistance to Rs 3,000 in tranches and implemented a Rs 250 monthly hike. On November 17, Madhya Pradesh recorded an impressive 77.82 per cent voter turnout with around 76.02 per cent of women voters casting their ballots. Several Union ministers and leaders from other states, including Yogi Adityanath, campaigned for BJP in MP. For Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were the star campaigners. State Congress president Kamal Nath addressed one to two election meetings daily during the campaign. In contrast, Chouhan (64) addressed eight to ten rallies on average every day to drum up support for the BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHOPAL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 14 rallies in Madhya Pradesh during campaigning for polls and reached out to young voters by reminding them of the failures of previous Congress governments on various fronts as he doubled down on the development of all sections. Modi's appeal seemingly clicked with voters, including women, in the central state where the ruling BJP has won 33 seats and leading in 131 out of 230 constituencies where results are being declared on Sunday. The prime minister also led a roadshow after elections were announced last month in MP. As BJP devised a strategy to defeat anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh which has been under its belt since 2003, barring 18 months from December 2018 to March 2020, Modi reached out to various sections of voters, including women, youngsters, tribals, besides the traditional supporters of the saffron party.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE The BJP's campaign theme "MP ke mann mein Modi, Modi ke mann mein MP" received wide acceptance during the campaigning. On the penultimate day of electioneering, Modi addressed three election rallies and led a road show. He was joined by Union Home Minister and strategist Amit Shah. Hitting out at Congress, Shah raised the Ram temple issue at the hustings. He said the people of Madhya Pradesh will celebrate Diwali again on December 3 when votes for the assembly elections will be counted, and on January 22 when the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated. In September, Shah took upon himself the tasks of poll management and forming strategies for the November 17 elections. Shah toured Madhya Pradesh extensively. In a bid to quell dissent over the distribution of poll tickets, he camped in the state for three days. He also made rebels beat a retreat and reached out to BJP cadres and other leaders. ALSO READ | Rude shock for Congress as BJP cruises towards massive win in MP As the top brass of BJP was leading from the front, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh, popular among voters as "mama", propagated the flagship Ladli Behna Yojana, which has become a hit among women. Under the scheme, women get Rs 1,250 per month. The number of beneficiary women is a staggering 1.31 crore out of 2.72 crore women voters in the state. Chouhan is the longest-serving chief minister of Madhya Pradesh who has been at the helm since 2003, except from December 2018 to March 2020 when Congress was in power. Notably, the BJP didn't project any leader from the state as its CM face, apparently to beat anti-incumbency, and sought votes for "lotus", the poll symbol of the party. This was the first time since 2003 that the BJP didn't project the chief ministerial face. As part of a strategy, BJP leaders, including JP Nadda, Shah, and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, launched five Jan Ashirwad Yatras instead of Chouhan. Smarting under its defeat in the 2018 MP assembly polls by a slender margin against Congress, the BJP didn't take any chances this time. The BJP appointed Union minister Bhupendra Yadav as the state election-in-charge and his cabinet colleague Ashwini Vaishnaw as the co-incharge for the assembly elections in July. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar was named as the convenor of BJP's election management committee for Madhya Pradesh polls. While Congress had promised financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to women under Nari Samman Nidhi if voted to power, Chouhan rolled out the Ladli Behna scheme by providing Rs 1,000 per month to women. He also promised to hike the assistance to Rs 3,000 in tranches and implemented a Rs 250 monthly hike. On November 17, Madhya Pradesh recorded an impressive 77.82 per cent voter turnout with around 76.02 per cent of women voters casting their ballots. Several Union ministers and leaders from other states, including Yogi Adityanath, campaigned for BJP in MP. For Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were the star campaigners. State Congress president Kamal Nath addressed one to two election meetings daily during the campaign. In contrast, Chouhan (64) addressed eight to ten rallies on average every day to drum up support for the BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI BHOPAL: The longest-serving BJP chief minister and popularly known as mama (maternal uncle) and 'paon-paon wale bhaiya' (foot soldier), Shivraj Singh Chouhan has emerged as the hero of his party's stunning victory in the state assembly elections. The 64-year-old politician sought to turn the tables in BJP's favour in Madhya Pradesh by launching a game-changer scheme like 'Ladli Behna' to beat anti-incumbency, though his party had refrained from projecting him as the CM face in last month's assembly elections. In March 2020, when the Congress government collapsed after a coup by the current civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and MLAs loyal to him, Chouhan, despite his party losing polls by a whisker in 2018, retained the confidence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whose central leadership chose him the chief minister for a fourth term. HIGHLIGHTS | BJP extends Hindi heartland dominance; Congress triumphs in Telangana The BJP contested the November 17 assembly polls mainly using the aura of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but Chouhan, who took over as the CM at the age of 46 in 2005, remains a formidable contender for the top post among a crowded pool of aspirants after the saffron party retained power in the state. Having a carefully cultivated image of a family man coupled with simplicity, Chouhan was at the forefront of campaigning, presenting himself as one among the people and promising further development besides coming out with populist welfare schemes, especially for women. Assiduously working on his 'son of the soil' image, the soft-spoken leader easily identified himself with the socio-economic concerns of farmers, villagers, women and youngsters. Chouhan in March launched the Ladli Behna scheme, which provides eligible women Rs 1,250 monthly financial assistance, and later promised to gradually hike the amount to Rs 3,000. Speaking about the scheme, seen as a game-changer, during the campaigning, Chouhan, in his rustic style, remarked "It has raised the stature of women in the household and now even mothers-in-law offers rotis spread with ghee (ghee-chupdi rotis) to their daughters-in-law. The scheme has made women self-reliant." "The scheme has paid rich dividends to the party. In 2018, the turnout of women voters was 74. 22 per cent, which in 2023 rose to 76.25, a rise of little over 2 per cent. It is believed females have voted in large numbers in favour of the BJP," claimed state BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal. He informed that the women voters' turnout increased in 182 assembly seats, out of the total 230, this year. Chouhan, who won the November 17 assembly elections this year by a margin of over one lakh votes from Budhni in Sehore district, has largely maintained a low-profile and remained focused on MP's development. The BJP garnered 109 seats in the 230-member assembly in 2018, while its tally was 163 in the 2013 polls. In the results declared Sunday, the BJP is poised to get 164 seats. ALSO READ | Inside BJP's impressive show in Madhya Pradesh are 14 rallies addressed by Modi touting development The saffron party's best-ever score was in 2003, the first assembly polls to be held after Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh when it won 173 seats under the leadership of firebrand BJP leader Uma Bharti. During his nearly 18-year-long tenure as CM, barring 15 months of Congress rule (December 2018-March 2020), Chouhan transformed himself from being a shy, simple and vulnerable politician to an astute leader with a wide mass appeal. This time, the ruling party fielded seven Lok Sabha members, including Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Prahlad Patel, and general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. The move sent out signals that the BJP has kept options open for the top post and Chouhan may not be the automatic choice if the party retains the state. Despite not getting an open endorsement from the central leadership for the CM post, the BJP leader put his heart and soul into campaigning where he often got emotional during his speeches. Speaking at an event in early October on his home turf Budhni, Chouhan turned emotional and told the women in the gathering they would never get a "brother" like him and would miss him when he was not around. This led to speculation of him being sidelined in the party. In the last phase of canvassing, Chouhan addressed as many as 13 poll meetings in a day, while the count was a minimum of 10 on other days after the election schedule was announced. In contrast, his main rival and former chief minister Kamal Nath of the Congress addressed 2 to 4 rallies in a day. Though the opposition Congress linked Chouhan to the multi-crore Vyapam scam, he emerged unscathed. The CBI gave a clean chit to Chouhan. The Vyapam scandal was an entrance examination, admission and recruitment scam that was unearthed in 2013. It involved politicians, senior and junior officials and businessmen systematically employing imposters to write papers, manipulate exam hall seating arrangements and supply forged answer sheets by allegedly bribing officials. Born on March 5, 1959, to Prem Singh Chouhan and Sundar Bai in a farming family in village Jait in Sehore district, Shivraj Singh Chouhan became associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13. His leadership skills first came to the fore when he was elected president of the Model Higher Secondary School Students' Union in 1975. Chouhan participated in the movement against Emergency and was imprisoned in 1976-77 and also on many other occasions for political agitations and public causes. A volunteer of the RSS since 1977, Chouhan is a gold medallist in the Masters of Philosophy from the Barkatullah University in Bhopal. Chouhan replaced BJP leader Babulal Gaur as chief minister on November 29, 2005, and remained in the saddle till the party's defeat at the hustings in 2018. He bounced back in March 2020 as the chief minister for a fourth term after the dramatic collapse of the Kamal Nath government. He also served as general secretary of the BJP and president of the party's MP unit. Chouhan first entered the state assembly in 1990 after winning from the Budhni seat. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from the Vidisha constituency the following year. He was re-elected to the Lower House of Parliament from the seat in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. He won his fifth Lok Sabha election with an impressive margin of over 2,60,000 votes. The rapidly rising BJP star briefly suffered a setback in 2003 when he lost to incumbent chief minister Digvijaya Singh of the Congress from the Raghogarh assembly seat. In the elections held that year, the BJP stormed to power and Uma Bharti became chief minister. Soon, Bharti resigned and Gaur became the CM in 2004, only to be replaced by Chouhan the next year. Chouhan pioneered welfare schemes in Madhya Pradesh, which was once tagged among the 'BIMARU' (laggard) states. His populist programmes like 'Ladli Laxmi Yojna', 'Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojna', 'Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojna', bicycle scheme for school children, among others, were emulated by some other states. Under his leadership, the state became self-dependent in power and companies had been supplying uninterrupted electricity for 24 hours to non-farm consumers and 10-hour dedicated supply for agriculture-related activities. Chouhan's leadership also saw Indore getting the "cleanest city" award under the Centre's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' for a record seven times in a row. In his fourth term, Chouhan projected himself as an environment-friendly chief minister and often started his day by planting a sapling in Bhopal and other parts of the state. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHOPAL: The longest-serving BJP chief minister and popularly known as mama (maternal uncle) and 'paon-paon wale bhaiya' (foot soldier), Shivraj Singh Chouhan has emerged as the hero of his party's stunning victory in the state assembly elections. The 64-year-old politician sought to turn the tables in BJP's favour in Madhya Pradesh by launching a game-changer scheme like 'Ladli Behna' to beat anti-incumbency, though his party had refrained from projecting him as the CM face in last month's assembly elections. In March 2020, when the Congress government collapsed after a coup by the current civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and MLAs loyal to him, Chouhan, despite his party losing polls by a whisker in 2018, retained the confidence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whose central leadership chose him the chief minister for a fourth term.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); HIGHLIGHTS | BJP extends Hindi heartland dominance; Congress triumphs in Telangana The BJP contested the November 17 assembly polls mainly using the aura of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but Chouhan, who took over as the CM at the age of 46 in 2005, remains a formidable contender for the top post among a crowded pool of aspirants after the saffron party retained power in the state. Having a carefully cultivated image of a family man coupled with simplicity, Chouhan was at the forefront of campaigning, presenting himself as one among the people and promising further development besides coming out with populist welfare schemes, especially for women. Assiduously working on his 'son of the soil' image, the soft-spoken leader easily identified himself with the socio-economic concerns of farmers, villagers, women and youngsters. Chouhan in March launched the Ladli Behna scheme, which provides eligible women Rs 1,250 monthly financial assistance, and later promised to gradually hike the amount to Rs 3,000. Speaking about the scheme, seen as a game-changer, during the campaigning, Chouhan, in his rustic style, remarked "It has raised the stature of women in the household and now even mothers-in-law offers rotis spread with ghee (ghee-chupdi rotis) to their daughters-in-law. The scheme has made women self-reliant." "The scheme has paid rich dividends to the party. In 2018, the turnout of women voters was 74. 22 per cent, which in 2023 rose to 76.25, a rise of little over 2 per cent. It is believed females have voted in large numbers in favour of the BJP," claimed state BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal. He informed that the women voters' turnout increased in 182 assembly seats, out of the total 230, this year. Chouhan, who won the November 17 assembly elections this year by a margin of over one lakh votes from Budhni in Sehore district, has largely maintained a low-profile and remained focused on MP's development. The BJP garnered 109 seats in the 230-member assembly in 2018, while its tally was 163 in the 2013 polls. In the results declared Sunday, the BJP is poised to get 164 seats. ALSO READ | Inside BJP's impressive show in Madhya Pradesh are 14 rallies addressed by Modi touting development The saffron party's best-ever score was in 2003, the first assembly polls to be held after Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh when it won 173 seats under the leadership of firebrand BJP leader Uma Bharti. During his nearly 18-year-long tenure as CM, barring 15 months of Congress rule (December 2018-March 2020), Chouhan transformed himself from being a shy, simple and vulnerable politician to an astute leader with a wide mass appeal. This time, the ruling party fielded seven Lok Sabha members, including Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Prahlad Patel, and general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. The move sent out signals that the BJP has kept options open for the top post and Chouhan may not be the automatic choice if the party retains the state. Despite not getting an open endorsement from the central leadership for the CM post, the BJP leader put his heart and soul into campaigning where he often got emotional during his speeches. Speaking at an event in early October on his home turf Budhni, Chouhan turned emotional and told the women in the gathering they would never get a "brother" like him and would miss him when he was not around. This led to speculation of him being sidelined in the party. In the last phase of canvassing, Chouhan addressed as many as 13 poll meetings in a day, while the count was a minimum of 10 on other days after the election schedule was announced. In contrast, his main rival and former chief minister Kamal Nath of the Congress addressed 2 to 4 rallies in a day. Though the opposition Congress linked Chouhan to the multi-crore Vyapam scam, he emerged unscathed. The CBI gave a clean chit to Chouhan. The Vyapam scandal was an entrance examination, admission and recruitment scam that was unearthed in 2013. It involved politicians, senior and junior officials and businessmen systematically employing imposters to write papers, manipulate exam hall seating arrangements and supply forged answer sheets by allegedly bribing officials. Born on March 5, 1959, to Prem Singh Chouhan and Sundar Bai in a farming family in village Jait in Sehore district, Shivraj Singh Chouhan became associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13. His leadership skills first came to the fore when he was elected president of the Model Higher Secondary School Students' Union in 1975. Chouhan participated in the movement against Emergency and was imprisoned in 1976-77 and also on many other occasions for political agitations and public causes. A volunteer of the RSS since 1977, Chouhan is a gold medallist in the Masters of Philosophy from the Barkatullah University in Bhopal. Chouhan replaced BJP leader Babulal Gaur as chief minister on November 29, 2005, and remained in the saddle till the party's defeat at the hustings in 2018. He bounced back in March 2020 as the chief minister for a fourth term after the dramatic collapse of the Kamal Nath government. He also served as general secretary of the BJP and president of the party's MP unit. Chouhan first entered the state assembly in 1990 after winning from the Budhni seat. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from the Vidisha constituency the following year. He was re-elected to the Lower House of Parliament from the seat in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. He won his fifth Lok Sabha election with an impressive margin of over 2,60,000 votes. The rapidly rising BJP star briefly suffered a setback in 2003 when he lost to incumbent chief minister Digvijaya Singh of the Congress from the Raghogarh assembly seat. In the elections held that year, the BJP stormed to power and Uma Bharti became chief minister. Soon, Bharti resigned and Gaur became the CM in 2004, only to be replaced by Chouhan the next year. Chouhan pioneered welfare schemes in Madhya Pradesh, which was once tagged among the 'BIMARU' (laggard) states. His populist programmes like 'Ladli Laxmi Yojna', 'Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojna', 'Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojna', bicycle scheme for school children, among others, were emulated by some other states. Under his leadership, the state became self-dependent in power and companies had been supplying uninterrupted electricity for 24 hours to non-farm consumers and 10-hour dedicated supply for agriculture-related activities. Chouhan's leadership also saw Indore getting the "cleanest city" award under the Centre's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' for a record seven times in a row. In his fourth term, Chouhan projected himself as an environment-friendly chief minister and often started his day by planting a sapling in Bhopal and other parts of the state. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: Poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu has yet again proven to be the man with the Midas touch, plotting the Congress' amazing turnaround in Telangana months after being the architect of the grand old party's return to power in Karnataka. Starting with Prashant Kishor's I-PAC, Kanugolu was largely credited for shaping the Congress' win in Karnataka and was later accorded Cabinet rank in the Siddaramaiah government. This time, Kanugolu along with PCC chief A Revanth Reddy formed a formidable pair to chalk out the Congress' strategy to pull down the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS government that was eying a third term in the southern state. The Congress was headed for victory in Telangana while it was staring at crushing defeats in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. READ HERE |From losing deposit to winning a state, how Telangana Congress turned around its fortunes Kanugolu had also made forays in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh following a directive from the party's central leadership but regional satraps Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath reportedly were not on the same page as the poll strategist. Ahead of the Rajasthan elections, Kanugolu had made an assessment about the winnability of probable candidates but Gehlot reportedly did not agree to his suggestions and brought in Naresh Arora's Designboxed to construct the Congress government's narrative in the run-up to the assembly polls. Sources say that the success of Kanugolu in Karnataka and Telangana was the result of the free hand given to him and allowing his team to work freely. ALSO READ | Kanugolu, who hails from Karnataka and is in his early 40s, has been considered largely as the brain behind the Congress' narrative in Karnataka with the 'PayCM' campaign against the BJP. In the run-up to the polls in Telangana, he highlighted the alleged corruption of the K Chandrashekhar Rao dispensation as part of Congress' campaign that seemed to have struck a chord with the people. The campaigns run by the Congress in Karnataka and Telangana have been very similar as both highlighted the alleged graft of the ruling dispensation and projected welfare guarantees that seemed to have struck an instant connection with the public. Interestingly, Kanugolu has also been involved in several BJP poll campaigns in the past. In 2018, he worked with the BJP in Karnataka and the party managed to become the single largest party with 104 seats. He had also worked on Narendra Modi's campaign in 2014, as well as the party's political campaigns in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Kanugolu, a former consultant with McKinsey, was also associated with DMK chief MK Stalin and oversaw the party's 'Namakku Naame' (we are for ourselves) campaign during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2021, he also worked with AIADMK against the DMK and led the party to win 75 seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Kanugolu had joined the Congress last year and worked closely with the Karnataka campaign. He is also credited with strategising Rahul Gandhi's cross-country 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir last year. Having delivered Karnataka and Telangana to the Congress, Kanugolu is likely to be given more responsibilities by the party in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu has yet again proven to be the man with the Midas touch, plotting the Congress' amazing turnaround in Telangana months after being the architect of the grand old party's return to power in Karnataka. Starting with Prashant Kishor's I-PAC, Kanugolu was largely credited for shaping the Congress' win in Karnataka and was later accorded Cabinet rank in the Siddaramaiah government. This time, Kanugolu along with PCC chief A Revanth Reddy formed a formidable pair to chalk out the Congress' strategy to pull down the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS government that was eying a third term in the southern state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Congress was headed for victory in Telangana while it was staring at crushing defeats in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. READ HERE |From losing deposit to winning a state, how Telangana Congress turned around its fortunes Kanugolu had also made forays in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh following a directive from the party's central leadership but regional satraps Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath reportedly were not on the same page as the poll strategist. Ahead of the Rajasthan elections, Kanugolu had made an assessment about the winnability of probable candidates but Gehlot reportedly did not agree to his suggestions and brought in Naresh Arora's Designboxed to construct the Congress government's narrative in the run-up to the assembly polls. Sources say that the success of Kanugolu in Karnataka and Telangana was the result of the free hand given to him and allowing his team to work freely. ALSO READ | Kanugolu, who hails from Karnataka and is in his early 40s, has been considered largely as the brain behind the Congress' narrative in Karnataka with the 'PayCM' campaign against the BJP. In the run-up to the polls in Telangana, he highlighted the alleged corruption of the K Chandrashekhar Rao dispensation as part of Congress' campaign that seemed to have struck a chord with the people. The campaigns run by the Congress in Karnataka and Telangana have been very similar as both highlighted the alleged graft of the ruling dispensation and projected welfare guarantees that seemed to have struck an instant connection with the public. Interestingly, Kanugolu has also been involved in several BJP poll campaigns in the past. In 2018, he worked with the BJP in Karnataka and the party managed to become the single largest party with 104 seats. He had also worked on Narendra Modi's campaign in 2014, as well as the party's political campaigns in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Kanugolu, a former consultant with McKinsey, was also associated with DMK chief MK Stalin and oversaw the party's 'Namakku Naame' (we are for ourselves) campaign during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2021, he also worked with AIADMK against the DMK and led the party to win 75 seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Kanugolu had joined the Congress last year and worked closely with the Karnataka campaign. He is also credited with strategising Rahul Gandhi's cross-country 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir last year. Having delivered Karnataka and Telangana to the Congress, Kanugolu is likely to be given more responsibilities by the party in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The spotlight will be on the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) when the votes in the Mizoram elections are counted on Monday. Counting, originally scheduled for December 3, was deferred by the Election Commission following appeals made by various organisations, churches and political parties in the Christian-majority state which said Sunday is a day of veneration for the Mizo Christians. The single-phase polls, held on November 7, had recorded a voter turnout of 80.43 per cent. MNF, ZPM and Congress were the three key players. They contested all 40 seats while BJP contested 23 seats. The results will decide the fate of 174 candidates, including 16 women. Amid the perception that the polls will throw up a fractured mandate, most exit polls gave an edge to MNF. Chief Minister Zoramthanga said MNF did all that it could and now everything is in Gods hands. Ahead of the polls, he had stated: We are confident of forming the next government on our own. MNF had wrested power from Congress in 2018 by winning 26 seats. Lalduhoma, who is ZPMs chief ministerial candidate, was confident the party would be able to form the next government on its own. I am confident that ZPM will get a majority and form a stable government, Lalduhoma, who is a former IPS officer, told this newspaper. Congress said it would accept the peoples verdict. We will accept whatever number of seats we win, state Congress president Lalsawta said. He also said that any decision in the event of a hung House would be taken jointly by the partys state and central leadership. A triangular contest among MNF, ZPM and Congress were expected when the state went to elections. The polls were held in the backdrop of the ethnic violence in Manipur and the political unrest in neighbouring Myanmar. Over 45,000 displaced Kukis from Manipur and Chins from Myanmar were given food and shelter by the MNF government. Mizos, Kukis and Chins are ethnic cousins and they belong to the Zo community. Anti-incumbency, underdevelopment, failure to fulfil most promises of the 2018 elections and ZPMs rise in urban Mizoram were MNFs major challenges but the Manipur crisis, which is an emotive issue for the Zo tribals, emerged as the ruling partys lifeline. Zoramthanga walked along with protestors in solidarity with Manipurs affected Kukis and reignited the Zo reunification dream. In its election manifesto, MNF pledged that the Zo tribals would be united. MNF played the Zo card again when the state government refused to collect the biometric and biographic data of Zo refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh. The contest in Mizoram had been invariably between MNF and Congress until ZPMs emergence in the last election. It had bagged eight seats, the second highest after MNFs 26. ZPM has grown significantly in urban Mizoram as evidenced by its victory in all 11 seats in the Lunglei civic body elections in March. Congress is now a shadow of its past self in the absence of charismatic leaders like former Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla. BJPs focus was on seven seats in the four districts of Lawngtlai, Siaha, Lunglei and Mamit where minority Lai, Mara, Chakma and Bru communities have sizeable populations. In 2018, BJP won the Tuichawng seat which falls under the Buddhist Chakma belt in Lawngtlai district. The partys overall vote share was 8.09% with 33 candidates forfeiting security deposits. Mizoram is the only unconquered frontier for BJP in the Northeast. Total seats 40 Candidates 174, including 16 women Voters 8,57,063. Male voters 4,18,037, female voters 4,39,026 Key candidates MNF Chief Minister Zoramthanga (Aizawl East-1), Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia (Tuichang) ZPM Lalduhoma (Serchhip), VL Zaithanzama (Aizawl West-III) Congress state chief Lalsawta (Aizawl West-III), Lal Thanzara (Aizawl North-III) BJP state chief Vanlalhmuaka (Dampa), Lalrinliana Sailo (Mamit) 2018 results MNF 26, ZPM 8 (won as independents, ZPM did not get recognition from EC before polls), Congress 5, BJP 1 Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp GUWAHATI: The spotlight will be on the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) when the votes in the Mizoram elections are counted on Monday. Counting, originally scheduled for December 3, was deferred by the Election Commission following appeals made by various organisations, churches and political parties in the Christian-majority state which said Sunday is a day of veneration for the Mizo Christians. The single-phase polls, held on November 7, had recorded a voter turnout of 80.43 per cent. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); MNF, ZPM and Congress were the three key players. They contested all 40 seats while BJP contested 23 seats. The results will decide the fate of 174 candidates, including 16 women. Amid the perception that the polls will throw up a fractured mandate, most exit polls gave an edge to MNF. Chief Minister Zoramthanga said MNF did all that it could and now everything is in Gods hands. Ahead of the polls, he had stated: We are confident of forming the next government on our own. MNF had wrested power from Congress in 2018 by winning 26 seats. Lalduhoma, who is ZPMs chief ministerial candidate, was confident the party would be able to form the next government on its own. I am confident that ZPM will get a majority and form a stable government, Lalduhoma, who is a former IPS officer, told this newspaper. Congress said it would accept the peoples verdict. We will accept whatever number of seats we win, state Congress president Lalsawta said. He also said that any decision in the event of a hung House would be taken jointly by the partys state and central leadership. A triangular contest among MNF, ZPM and Congress were expected when the state went to elections. The polls were held in the backdrop of the ethnic violence in Manipur and the political unrest in neighbouring Myanmar. Over 45,000 displaced Kukis from Manipur and Chins from Myanmar were given food and shelter by the MNF government. Mizos, Kukis and Chins are ethnic cousins and they belong to the Zo community. Anti-incumbency, underdevelopment, failure to fulfil most promises of the 2018 elections and ZPMs rise in urban Mizoram were MNFs major challenges but the Manipur crisis, which is an emotive issue for the Zo tribals, emerged as the ruling partys lifeline. Zoramthanga walked along with protestors in solidarity with Manipurs affected Kukis and reignited the Zo reunification dream. In its election manifesto, MNF pledged that the Zo tribals would be united. MNF played the Zo card again when the state government refused to collect the biometric and biographic data of Zo refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh. The contest in Mizoram had been invariably between MNF and Congress until ZPMs emergence in the last election. It had bagged eight seats, the second highest after MNFs 26. ZPM has grown significantly in urban Mizoram as evidenced by its victory in all 11 seats in the Lunglei civic body elections in March. Congress is now a shadow of its past self in the absence of charismatic leaders like former Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla. BJPs focus was on seven seats in the four districts of Lawngtlai, Siaha, Lunglei and Mamit where minority Lai, Mara, Chakma and Bru communities have sizeable populations. In 2018, BJP won the Tuichawng seat which falls under the Buddhist Chakma belt in Lawngtlai district. The partys overall vote share was 8.09% with 33 candidates forfeiting security deposits. Mizoram is the only unconquered frontier for BJP in the Northeast. Total seats 40 Candidates 174, including 16 women Voters 8,57,063. Male voters 4,18,037, female voters 4,39,026Key candidates MNF Chief Minister Zoramthanga (Aizawl East-1), Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia (Tuichang) ZPM Lalduhoma (Serchhip), VL Zaithanzama (Aizawl West-III) Congress state chief Lalsawta (Aizawl West-III), Lal Thanzara (Aizawl North-III) BJP state chief Vanlalhmuaka (Dampa), Lalrinliana Sailo (Mamit)2018 results MNF 26, ZPM 8 (won as independents, ZPM did not get recognition from EC before polls), Congress 5, BJP 1 Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The Russian occupation army is trying to advance in many parts of the frontline. The enemy is using its usual terror tactics, shelling numerous civilian objects in our country. ADVERTISIMENT On December 2, 88 combat engagements took place at the frontline. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the morning of December 3. During the day, Russian terrorists launched three missile and 22 air strikes, as well as fired at Ukrainian military positions and populated areas from multiple launch rocket systems 53 times. The towns of Kozacha Lopan and Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region and Avdiivka, Peremoha, and Shcherbynivka in the Donetsk region came under air attack. More than 100 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery fire. There are civilian casualties as a result of Russian war crimes. Private homes and other civilian infrastructure have been either destroyed or damaged. ADVERTISIMENT The situation in the area of responsibility of the North operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Volyn and Polissia directions remains without significant changes. The enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas in the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, conducting active sabotage activities to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas and increasing the density of minefields along the state border in the Belgorod region. Russian troops conducted assault operations on the outskirts of Synkivka, northeast of Petropavlivka, and Ivanivka in the Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk region in the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Kupiansk direction. Defense forces repelled 7 enemy attacks. The enemy conducted unsuccessful attacks in the area of Serebryanske forestry in the Luhansk region in the Lyman direction. Ukrainian troops repelled 4 enemy attacks in this sector. ADVERTISIMENT Russian troops stormed the outskirts of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka, and Klishchiiivka in the Bakhmut direction, where Ukrainian troops repelled 21 enemy attacks. Defense forces continued assault operations south of Bakhmut, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy and consolidating the lines of defense. Russian troops are trying to surround Avdiivka with the support of aviation in the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Avdiivka direction, but Ukrainian defenders are holding their positions and inflicting huge losses on the enemy. The enemy's offensive to the east of Novobakhmutivske, Stepove, Severne, south of Tonenke and Pervomaiske were also unsuccessful. The Defense Forces repelled 25 enemy attacks there. ADVERTISIMENT The enemy conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the area of Marinka and Novomykhailivka in the Marinka direction. Ukrainian defense forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in this sector. Russian troops attempted to storm near Vuhledar and west of Staromaiorske in the Shakhtarsk direction. Ukrainian troops repelled three enemy attacks in the area. The occupants tried to regain positions south of Robotyne and northwest of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia direction 12 times. At the same time, Ukrainian troops continued their offensive in the Melitopol sector, inflicting significant losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian defenders are holding positions on the left bank of the Kherson region in the area of responsibility of the Odesa operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Kherson direction. Counter-battery fighting continues. During the day, Ukrainian missile forces attacked two areas of concentration of enemy troops, weapons and military equipment. They also destroyed one command post, three ammunition depots, and four enemy artillery systems. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on the night of December 3, the air defense forces destroyed 10 out of 12 Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones in the sky. During the attack, the occupiers also used a missile, but it did not reach its target. Earlier, it was reported that bad weather conditions continued to slow down the pace of fighting in Ukraine along the entire front line. However, the weather situation does not prevent both sides from using aircraft or artillery fire from time to time. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! By Express News Service PARADIP/BHUBANESWAR: A day after 22 kg cocaine was seized from a Denmark-bound ship at Paradip Ports international cargo terminal, the Customs authorities on Saturday interrogated the crew of vessel MV Debi suspecting their role in the smuggling. The ship which was registered in Panama had 21 crew members, including the captain, onboard. All of them are from Vietnam. Sources in the Customs Department said the captain of the ship was beyond suspicion. He was the one who flagged the matter and intimated the terminal chief about the suspicious packets. Of the 21 crew members, 15 are permanent staff. Except for the captain, no other member was able to communicate in English which posed a challenge. MV Debi had reportedly begun from Egypt and its last port of call was Gresik in Indonesia. Gresik is a small port and Customs officials suspect that is where the cocaine packets may have found its way into the ship which had no CCTV cameras. MV Debi was directly headed to Denmark without any stoppage from Paradip. There was no plan for its anchorage at any place which prompts us to believe the narcotics drug was destined for Denmark, sources said. On the day, a team headed by Customs Commissioner Madhab Chandra Mishra interrogated the crew while it was assisted by a squad of the Narcotics Control Bureau from Bhubaneswar. A sniffer dog named Reshmi which is trained in narcotics search was also deployed in the vessel. In the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, 22 kg cocaine valued at about `220 crore was found in 22 packets which were affixed to a crane with magnets in MV Debi. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PARADIP/BHUBANESWAR: A day after 22 kg cocaine was seized from a Denmark-bound ship at Paradip Ports international cargo terminal, the Customs authorities on Saturday interrogated the crew of vessel MV Debi suspecting their role in the smuggling. The ship which was registered in Panama had 21 crew members, including the captain, onboard. All of them are from Vietnam. Sources in the Customs Department said the captain of the ship was beyond suspicion. He was the one who flagged the matter and intimated the terminal chief about the suspicious packets. Of the 21 crew members, 15 are permanent staff. Except for the captain, no other member was able to communicate in English which posed a challenge. MV Debi had reportedly begun from Egypt and its last port of call was Gresik in Indonesia. Gresik is a small port and Customs officials suspect that is where the cocaine packets may have found its way into the ship which had no CCTV cameras.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); MV Debi was directly headed to Denmark without any stoppage from Paradip. There was no plan for its anchorage at any place which prompts us to believe the narcotics drug was destined for Denmark, sources said. On the day, a team headed by Customs Commissioner Madhab Chandra Mishra interrogated the crew while it was assisted by a squad of the Narcotics Control Bureau from Bhubaneswar. A sniffer dog named Reshmi which is trained in narcotics search was also deployed in the vessel. In the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, 22 kg cocaine valued at about `220 crore was found in 22 packets which were affixed to a crane with magnets in MV Debi. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service MADURAI: Driven by the need to access healthcare for their five-year-old child with a heart condition, a Sri Lankan Tamil family invested all its savings in making the journey to Tamil Nadu. M Amuthan (32), his wife A Keerthana (29) and their three children arrived at Dhanushkodi on Saturday seeking refuge along with M Gnanajothi (47) and her 12-year-old son. Marine police rescued both families, hailing from the Mannar region, from the fifth sandbar off Dhanushkodi and sent them to Mandapam camp after an inquiry. Each family had paid one lakh Sri Lankan rupees to be brought to India. They set off from Mannar on Friday night and were dropped off at the sandbar by midnight. Amuthan said he was a daily wage labourer in Sri Lanka. With what I earn, I can only feed my family. My daughter suffers from a heart condition. The treatment would cost over 15 lakh Sri Lankan rupees, he told reporters. Sri Lanka provides free healthcare for its citizens but the health system has been weakened by the economic crisis assailing the country. Amuthan said the child requires an operation. I had to earn at least 5000 Sri Lankan rupees a day just to feed the family and for the past month I have not been able to get any work, he said.We came to TN hoping to access free medical care for our daughter, he added. TN commissioner for rehabilitation Jacintha Lazarus said she would look into the issue. So far, 288 Lankan Tamils have arrived in India since March 2022 due to the economic crisis. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MADURAI: Driven by the need to access healthcare for their five-year-old child with a heart condition, a Sri Lankan Tamil family invested all its savings in making the journey to Tamil Nadu. M Amuthan (32), his wife A Keerthana (29) and their three children arrived at Dhanushkodi on Saturday seeking refuge along with M Gnanajothi (47) and her 12-year-old son. Marine police rescued both families, hailing from the Mannar region, from the fifth sandbar off Dhanushkodi and sent them to Mandapam camp after an inquiry. Each family had paid one lakh Sri Lankan rupees to be brought to India. They set off from Mannar on Friday night and were dropped off at the sandbar by midnight. Amuthan said he was a daily wage labourer in Sri Lanka. With what I earn, I can only feed my family. My daughter suffers from a heart condition. The treatment would cost over 15 lakh Sri Lankan rupees, he told reporters. Sri Lanka provides free healthcare for its citizens but the health system has been weakened by the economic crisis assailing the country.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Amuthan said the child requires an operation. I had to earn at least 5000 Sri Lankan rupees a day just to feed the family and for the past month I have not been able to get any work, he said.We came to TN hoping to access free medical care for our daughter, he added. TN commissioner for rehabilitation Jacintha Lazarus said she would look into the issue. So far, 288 Lankan Tamils have arrived in India since March 2022 due to the economic crisis. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service CHENNAI: The deep depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm Michaung (pronounced Migjaum) According to the Regional Meteorological Department, the Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 5 kmph during the past six hours, intensified into a cyclonic storm and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of Sunday, over the same region, about 310 km southeast of Chennai. It is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach Westcentral Bay Of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamilnadu coasts by Monday forenoon. Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of 5th December (Tuesday) as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph. READ MORE | Heavy rain, wind to hit north TN From 8:30 am on Saturday to 5:30 am on Sunday, Chennais Meenambakkam observatory recorded 7.1 cm of rainfall while Nungambakkam recorded 5.8 cm of rainfall. The city so far has not reported major waterlogging in the core areas and the corporation officials have cleared subways for traffic. Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru inspected areas near the Adyar River mouth including Parangusapuram Street in Kodambakkam. READ MORE | Andhra reviews steps taken to tackle cyclone Michaung, state on alert Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CHENNAI: The deep depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm Michaung (pronounced Migjaum) According to the Regional Meteorological Department, the Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 5 kmph during the past six hours, intensified into a cyclonic storm and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of Sunday, over the same region, about 310 km southeast of Chennai. It is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach Westcentral Bay Of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamilnadu coasts by Monday forenoon.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of 5th December (Tuesday) as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph. READ MORE | Heavy rain, wind to hit north TN From 8:30 am on Saturday to 5:30 am on Sunday, Chennais Meenambakkam observatory recorded 7.1 cm of rainfall while Nungambakkam recorded 5.8 cm of rainfall. The city so far has not reported major waterlogging in the core areas and the corporation officials have cleared subways for traffic. Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru inspected areas near the Adyar River mouth including Parangusapuram Street in Kodambakkam. READ MORE | Andhra reviews steps taken to tackle cyclone Michaung, state on alert Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Ireddy Srinivas Reddy By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Congress is on track to get a clear majority in Telangana. Just a year earlier, the grand old party lost its deposit in the Munugode bypoll. How did the Congress manage such a massive turnaround? TPCC chief Revanth Reddy and other party leaders, political strategist Sunil Kanugolu and his war-room, and the partys active social media team played a key role in the turnaround, with ample support from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The combative Revanth Reddy, earlier with the TDP, was appointed as the Telangana Congress chief in June 2021. The first electoral test that the party faced under his leadership was the Huzurabad bypoll in October 2021. While the BJPs Eatala Rajender polled over a lakh votes, around 24,000 more than ahead of the candidate of the ruling BRS (then TRS), the Congress finished a distant third with a meagre 3,000 votes and lost its deposit. Revanth, of course, was under pressure after such a demoralising loss, but didnt lose heart. He started the Dalit Girijana Dandora, Yuva Sangarshana Sabha and similar campaigns, and also went on padayatras to boost the morale of the party cadre. The TPCC chief faced trouble from within the party too. A few seniors did not initially back Revanth, an outsider, in his endeavours. Nevertheless, he received support from the party high command, which initiated steps to control dissidence. The Congress leadership gave full freedom to Revanth, who promised to bring the party to power in Telangana. ALSO READ | Revanth Reddy: The man who always believed he would be CM Revanth succeeded in infusing fresh blood into a moribund Congress. While the BJP too tried to woo leaders including Thummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Revanth ultimately persuaded them to join the grand old party ahead of the polls. The TPCC chief also managed the Ghar Wapsi of leaders such as Vivek Venkataswamy, Komatiredddy Rajagopal Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao who had left the grand old party in search of seemingly greener pastures. Support from high command The party leadership did not just back Revanth from Delhi. Top leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge campaigned aggressively in the state ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls and gave ample support to Revanth, who campaigned all across the state and addressed 55 meetings despite contesting against the CM in Kamareddy and also trying to wrest back Kodangal. Revanth faced serious allegations from disgruntled leaders who did not receive tickets. They even accused him of collecting money. But the party leaders including Rahul backed Revanth and maintained that winnability was the sole criteria and went by the survey results of strategist Kanugolu and his team. The party even gave tickets to turncoats and new entrants provided they stood a good chance of winning. With elections nearing, the usually faction-ridden party for once put on a united front with Revanth, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other leaders focusing on the partys victory. Senior leaders including several observers monitored the operations from the party HQ, Gandhi Bhavan, and addressed almost five to six press meets every day attacking the ruling BRS over alleged corruption in the Kaleshwaram irrigation project and Dharani portal, and failure in implementing welfare schemes such as Dalit Bandhu and 2BHK. The party successfully targeted unemployed youth with its campaign against the TSPSC paper leak and released a job calendar in its manifesto, promising to fill up 2 lakh vacancies in a year. #MaarpuKaavali, #ByeByeKCR & Cong war-room It was not just Revanth and other Congress leaders. Political strategist Sunil Kanugolu and his war-room too played a key role in the Congress victory. Naveen Pettem, a Telangana Congress social media coordinator, told TNIE that the partys online team has strong roots with coordinators in almost every village. Before the first week of October, the party was not that active on social media compared to the ruling BRS. Then, the social media team created material with the help of Kanugolus war-room, including Twitter posts and ad content. To push its narrative, the party built a Twitter team of around 200 members that was active 24/7. The team also started aggressively countering the BRS. FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE Ads with catchy slogans such "Car Povaali.. Hastam Raavali" and "Maarpu Kavaali... Congress Ravaali" resonated with tired voters who were looking for a change after 10 years of the BRS. The Congress even brought in a CM lookalike for its ByeByeKCR campaign, incurring BRS wrath. When some of its advertisements were nixed by the EC after complaints by the ruling party, the Congress proudly posted them on social media with the caption banned ads. The social media team added strength to the campaign by Revanth, who always insisted the party would win 75 seats and that a Congress government would take oath on December 9, the birthday of Sonia Gandhi, in LB Stadium. The Telangana Congress social media team, which has 33 state secretaries and 66 district coordinators, also appointed 238 Assembly coordinators and 635 mandal coordinators in addition to the village teams. The team also popularised the partys six guarantees and its numerous freebies. The social media heads conducted training every Saturday to members of the teams at different levels, Pettem noted. The hard work of the team did not go unnoticed. The AICC social media chairman appreciated the Telangana social media outreach and called it the best online team of the party in India, Pettem added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp HYDERABAD: The Congress is on track to get a clear majority in Telangana. Just a year earlier, the grand old party lost its deposit in the Munugode bypoll. How did the Congress manage such a massive turnaround? TPCC chief Revanth Reddy and other party leaders, political strategist Sunil Kanugolu and his war-room, and the partys active social media team played a key role in the turnaround, with ample support from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The combative Revanth Reddy, earlier with the TDP, was appointed as the Telangana Congress chief in June 2021. The first electoral test that the party faced under his leadership was the Huzurabad bypoll in October 2021. While the BJPs Eatala Rajender polled over a lakh votes, around 24,000 more than ahead of the candidate of the ruling BRS (then TRS), the Congress finished a distant third with a meagre 3,000 votes and lost its deposit.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Revanth, of course, was under pressure after such a demoralising loss, but didnt lose heart. He started the Dalit Girijana Dandora, Yuva Sangarshana Sabha and similar campaigns, and also went on padayatras to boost the morale of the party cadre. The TPCC chief faced trouble from within the party too. A few seniors did not initially back Revanth, an outsider, in his endeavours. Nevertheless, he received support from the party high command, which initiated steps to control dissidence. The Congress leadership gave full freedom to Revanth, who promised to bring the party to power in Telangana. ALSO READ | Revanth Reddy: The man who always believed he would be CM Revanth succeeded in infusing fresh blood into a moribund Congress. While the BJP too tried to woo leaders including Thummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Revanth ultimately persuaded them to join the grand old party ahead of the polls. The TPCC chief also managed the Ghar Wapsi of leaders such as Vivek Venkataswamy, Komatiredddy Rajagopal Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao who had left the grand old party in search of seemingly greener pastures. Support from high command The party leadership did not just back Revanth from Delhi. Top leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge campaigned aggressively in the state ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls and gave ample support to Revanth, who campaigned all across the state and addressed 55 meetings despite contesting against the CM in Kamareddy and also trying to wrest back Kodangal. Revanth faced serious allegations from disgruntled leaders who did not receive tickets. They even accused him of collecting money. But the party leaders including Rahul backed Revanth and maintained that winnability was the sole criteria and went by the survey results of strategist Kanugolu and his team. The party even gave tickets to turncoats and new entrants provided they stood a good chance of winning. With elections nearing, the usually faction-ridden party for once put on a united front with Revanth, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other leaders focusing on the partys victory. Senior leaders including several observers monitored the operations from the party HQ, Gandhi Bhavan, and addressed almost five to six press meets every day attacking the ruling BRS over alleged corruption in the Kaleshwaram irrigation project and Dharani portal, and failure in implementing welfare schemes such as Dalit Bandhu and 2BHK. The party successfully targeted unemployed youth with its campaign against the TSPSC paper leak and released a job calendar in its manifesto, promising to fill up 2 lakh vacancies in a year. #MaarpuKaavali, #ByeByeKCR & Cong war-room It was not just Revanth and other Congress leaders. Political strategist Sunil Kanugolu and his war-room too played a key role in the Congress victory. Naveen Pettem, a Telangana Congress social media coordinator, told TNIE that the partys online team has strong roots with coordinators in almost every village. Before the first week of October, the party was not that active on social media compared to the ruling BRS. Then, the social media team created material with the help of Kanugolus war-room, including Twitter posts and ad content. To push its narrative, the party built a Twitter team of around 200 members that was active 24/7. The team also started aggressively countering the BRS. FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS HERE Ads with catchy slogans such "Car Povaali.. Hastam Raavali" and "Maarpu Kavaali... Congress Ravaali" resonated with tired voters who were looking for a change after 10 years of the BRS. The Congress even brought in a CM lookalike for its ByeByeKCR campaign, incurring BRS wrath. When some of its advertisements were nixed by the EC after complaints by the ruling party, the Congress proudly posted them on social media with the caption banned ads. The social media team added strength to the campaign by Revanth, who always insisted the party would win 75 seats and that a Congress government would take oath on December 9, the birthday of Sonia Gandhi, in LB Stadium. The Telangana Congress social media team, which has 33 state secretaries and 66 district coordinators, also appointed 238 Assembly coordinators and 635 mandal coordinators in addition to the village teams. The team also popularised the partys six guarantees and its numerous freebies. The social media heads conducted training every Saturday to members of the teams at different levels, Pettem noted. The hard work of the team did not go unnoticed. The AICC social media chairman appreciated the Telangana social media outreach and called it the best online team of the party in India, Pettem added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Harpreet Bajwa By CHANDIGARH: At least 74 students of Government Meritorious School at Ghabdan in Sangrur district of Punjab (home district of CM Bhagwant Mann) were rushed to a hospital as they complained of stomach ache and vomiting after having a meal in the hostel mess following suspected food poisoning. Sources said that 18 students were admitted to the Sangrur Civil Hospital on Friday evening and 56 this morning. Of these, 14 have been discharged and the remaining 60 are still admitted to the PGIMER satellite centre in Sangrur and the civil hospital. All the students are reported to be stable. A few students said that they had earlier complained about the food quality to the school authorities but no action was taken. Meanwhile, the angry parents slammed the school authorities. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains said that the food contractor has been arrested and his contract cancelled. An inquiry has been ordered in the matter. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CHANDIGARH: At least 74 students of Government Meritorious School at Ghabdan in Sangrur district of Punjab (home district of CM Bhagwant Mann) were rushed to a hospital as they complained of stomach ache and vomiting after having a meal in the hostel mess following suspected food poisoning. Sources said that 18 students were admitted to the Sangrur Civil Hospital on Friday evening and 56 this morning. Of these, 14 have been discharged and the remaining 60 are still admitted to the PGIMER satellite centre in Sangrur and the civil hospital. All the students are reported to be stable. A few students said that they had earlier complained about the food quality to the school authorities but no action was taken.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Meanwhile, the angry parents slammed the school authorities. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains said that the food contractor has been arrested and his contract cancelled. An inquiry has been ordered in the matter. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Dilip Singh Kshatriya By AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday recalled the 2010 incident when he was arrested by the probe agency in Sohrabuddin Sheikh's alleged fake encounter case and said, Congress sent me to jail in a CBI case. For me, it was naturally a difficult period. Shah attended a programme organised to commemorate late Gujarat minister Divyakant Nanavati in Junagadh, on a two-day visit to Gujarat. Recalling his days from 2010, he said, Congress sent me to jail in a CBI case. It was naturally a difficult period. I was a minister of jail five minutes before I was put into one. God would never have given such a great fortune to bring any man down to earth, Shah said, recalling the incident when he was arrested by the probe agency. Shah lauded Nanavati for his contribution to Junagadh as a councillor and president of the local civic body in the 1950s, and also as an elected member of the legislative assembly from Junagadh twice first in 1962 and then in 1972. Late Nanavati was a Congress MLA, who went on to become cabinet minister of law, municipalities, town planning, and urban development in the Chimanbhai Patel-led government. Shah also mentioned his son and senior high court lawyer, advocate Nirupam Nanavaty, who also served as Shahs lawyer, when he was jailed. He said that the high court lawyer Nanavaty, despite his association with the Congress, stood by his side and helped him win the case. Shah made an announcement while attending the Matikala Mohotsav organized by Khadi India. We are attempting to type up clay axes with railways; if this is successful, a large number of clay axes will be required in railways, and they will reach from your (clay work artisans) electrical chalk axes. In a relief for agarbatti artisans, he said Khadi Gram Udyog Board will purchase all the agarbattis. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday recalled the 2010 incident when he was arrested by the probe agency in Sohrabuddin Sheikh's alleged fake encounter case and said, Congress sent me to jail in a CBI case. For me, it was naturally a difficult period. Shah attended a programme organised to commemorate late Gujarat minister Divyakant Nanavati in Junagadh, on a two-day visit to Gujarat. Recalling his days from 2010, he said, Congress sent me to jail in a CBI case. It was naturally a difficult period. I was a minister of jail five minutes before I was put into one. God would never have given such a great fortune to bring any man down to earth, Shah said, recalling the incident when he was arrested by the probe agency.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shah lauded Nanavati for his contribution to Junagadh as a councillor and president of the local civic body in the 1950s, and also as an elected member of the legislative assembly from Junagadh twice first in 1962 and then in 1972. Late Nanavati was a Congress MLA, who went on to become cabinet minister of law, municipalities, town planning, and urban development in the Chimanbhai Patel-led government. Shah also mentioned his son and senior high court lawyer, advocate Nirupam Nanavaty, who also served as Shahs lawyer, when he was jailed. He said that the high court lawyer Nanavaty, despite his association with the Congress, stood by his side and helped him win the case. Shah made an announcement while attending the Matikala Mohotsav organized by Khadi India. We are attempting to type up clay axes with railways; if this is successful, a large number of clay axes will be required in railways, and they will reach from your (clay work artisans) electrical chalk axes. In a relief for agarbatti artisans, he said Khadi Gram Udyog Board will purchase all the agarbattis. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Sudhir Suryawanshi By MUMBAI: Responding to Praful Patels comment of writing an explosive book on Sharad Pawars talks with BJP, the NCP chief on Saturday said his former aide should write a chapter on how his property was attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Patel, once a close aide of Pawar, has joined deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. Patel has said that Sharad Pawar was behind the talks with the BJP but he at the eleventh hour backtracked. Patel said he has enough explosive material and soon a book will come out where there will be a lot of revelations about Sharad Pawar. Pawar senior said he is more than happy to read the book by Patel But I also wish he would write one chapter about why he and other people left the NCP and what was the real reason behind it. Besides, he should also write one more chapter about why his residential property was attached by the ED. This will surely help to add the knowledge to him, Pawar said. Pawar senior said Patel lost the Lok Sabha election in 2004 despite the party making him the Union minister. So, how much should the party give him? He said it is true that there was talk in his party to join hands with the BJP and there was an offer as well, but one section of the NCP did not want so they decided to follow the pulse of the people. We believe in Shahu-Phule-Ambedkars secular and progressive ideology and want to stick with it only. People voted for us because of this ideology so it is not right to cheat the people and join the hand with the different force for power. We will again nurture the young leadership in the party and they will represent the party in the state assembly and Parliament, Pawar added. Pawar said this is not the first time people left him. I have been in politics for the last 60 years and seen a lot of ups and downs and therefore I am not concerned and worried about the personal criticism by the people who left us. We hope they live happily. We are prepared to fight our battle. As long as I have the support of the people and youth, I am not concerned about political opponents, Pawar said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MUMBAI: Responding to Praful Patels comment of writing an explosive book on Sharad Pawars talks with BJP, the NCP chief on Saturday said his former aide should write a chapter on how his property was attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Patel, once a close aide of Pawar, has joined deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. Patel has said that Sharad Pawar was behind the talks with the BJP but he at the eleventh hour backtracked. Patel said he has enough explosive material and soon a book will come out where there will be a lot of revelations about Sharad Pawar. Pawar senior said he is more than happy to read the book by Patel But I also wish he would write one chapter about why he and other people left the NCP and what was the real reason behind it. Besides, he should also write one more chapter about why his residential property was attached by the ED. This will surely help to add the knowledge to him, Pawar said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Pawar senior said Patel lost the Lok Sabha election in 2004 despite the party making him the Union minister. So, how much should the party give him? He said it is true that there was talk in his party to join hands with the BJP and there was an offer as well, but one section of the NCP did not want so they decided to follow the pulse of the people. We believe in Shahu-Phule-Ambedkars secular and progressive ideology and want to stick with it only. People voted for us because of this ideology so it is not right to cheat the people and join the hand with the different force for power. We will again nurture the young leadership in the party and they will represent the party in the state assembly and Parliament, Pawar added. Pawar said this is not the first time people left him. I have been in politics for the last 60 years and seen a lot of ups and downs and therefore I am not concerned and worried about the personal criticism by the people who left us. We hope they live happily. We are prepared to fight our battle. As long as I have the support of the people and youth, I am not concerned about political opponents, Pawar said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Russian occupiers recently shot unarmed Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region when they tried to surrender. After that, the Defense Forces seized the positions where the execution took place. ADVERTISIMENT All the Russians who were involved in the murder were killed. The head of the Avdiivka Regional Military Administration, Vitalii Barabash, told this on the air of the FREEDOM TV channel. "They (the Ukrainian soldiers killed by the occupiers - Ed.) surrendered because they were out of ammunition. As far as I know, a little later our guys stormed these positions and everyone who was there was eliminated," Barabash said. As a reminder, on December 2, a video of the shooting of unarmed Ukrainian defenders by Russian soldiers was posted online. According to preliminary data, it happened near one of the observation posts near the village of Stepove, Pokrovsk district. ADVERTISIMENT The occupiers shot them almost at close range. According to the Geneva Convention, such a massacre of prisoners of war is a war crime. On December 3, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported that it had launched a pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings over violation of the laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, also responded to the war crime. He initiated an appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross, whose mandate is to record crimes against prisoners of war. ADVERTISIMENT Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the joint press center of the Tavdria Defense Forces, added that all evidence of the execution by Russians will be handed over to the relevant international institutions that investigate war crimes. Jackie Shroff says Neena Gupta's sincerity rubs off on him Mumbai, Dec 2 A ctor Jackie Shroff, who will be soon seen in the upcoming movie, Mast Mein Rehne Ka, has shared that both he and his co-star Neena Gupta come from very different schools of acting and that her sincerity rubs off on him. Mast Mein Rehne Ka is a streaming film, written and directed by Vijay Maurya. Jackie and Neena were last seen in a short film, Khujli, eight years ago, which showcased a middle-aged couple's secret desires and hidden fantasies. In an era where the spotlight is on emerging actors, these two veterans have managed to captivate the audience with their on-screen chemistry and camaraderie. Speaking about working with Neena, Jackie said: We come from two different schools of learning. She is from National school of Drama. She is a respected and celebrated artist while I've learnt my craft on the sets. So definitely opposites attract, I learn from her and I dont know if there's anything she can learn from me, but, her sincerity rubs off on me. But when we come together on-screen we have a fabulous understanding of each other. I feel our chemistry is beautifully blended, and the audience feels it too. Mast Mein Rehne Ka, is produced under the banner of Made in Maurya, and is based on the universal themes of second chances in love and life, forgiveness, and redemption. The narrative is a touching odyssey, illustrating the profound realisation that life is a treasure. Neena said that she and Jackie are coming back after many years. After Khujli, the fifteen minute film which everybody loved, at least who ever could see it. We had a lot of fun doing that and we had more fun doing Mast Mein Rehne Ka. With Jackie, we are so easy with each other. We know how to improvise, we laugh and eat together. Honestly, working on this film with him was so much fun, and I look forward to engaging in more enjoyable projects with such a kind and wonderful person. It truly adds to the entire experience. Mast Mein Rehne Ka also stars Monika Panwar, Abhishek Chauhan, Rakhi Sawant, and Faisal Malik in pivotal roles. The film will drop on Prime Video on December 8. Jackie Shroff says Neena Gupta's sincerity rubs off on him Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New York, Dec 2 S tronger quadriceps muscles, relative to the hamstrings, may lower the risk of total knee replacement, according to a study led by an Indian-origin researcher. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) said the findings could inform strength-training programmes for people with advanced arthritis in the knee. Advanced knee osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and disability worldwide. While stronger muscle groups are generally understood to be associated with a lower rate of total knee replacement, their relative importance is not well established. Of particular interest is the relationship between the extensors and the hamstrings, the two most important muscle groups in the knee. The extensors, the muscles on the front of the thigh commonly referred to as the quadriceps, are the strongest muscle group in the body and have essential influence on gait, other activities and biomechanics. The muscles around the back of the thigh known as the hamstrings are responsible for extension of the hip and flexion of the knee, making them equally essential for physical activity. The two muscle groups act as counter forces, and the balance between them enables a wide range of activities while protecting the knee joint, said study lead author Upasana Upadhyay Bharadwaj, from the UCSF. An imbalance, in addition to other factors, leads to a change in the biomechanics resulting in the progression of osteoarthritis. The team evaluated thigh muscle volume in 134 participants and compared 67 patients who underwent total knee replacement of a single knee with 67 control participants who had not undergone knee replacement. The cases and controls were matched for variables including age and gender. The researchers obtained a 3T MRI of the thigh at the time of surgery. They also evaluated MRI findings from two years and four years before the surgery. They used a previously trained deep-learning model to segment and compute volumes of the muscles of the thigh -- measures that are tedious to compute manually. Comparing patients who had total knee replacement with the control group, a higher ratio of quadriceps to hamstring volume was significantly associated with lower odds of total knee replacement. Higher volumes of hamstrings and gracilis, a long, thin muscle on the inside of the thigh, were also linked with lower odds of total knee replacement. Our study shows that in addition to strong muscles individually, larger extensor muscle groups -- relative to hamstring muscle groups -- are significantly associated with lower odds of total knee replacement surgery in two to four years, Dr. Bharadwaj said. The study findings have implications for both the interpretation of imaging exams and clinical management. The results suggest that training programmes that strengthen the quadriceps in relation to the hamstrings may be beneficial. Although the study focused on people with arthritis, even the general public can benefit from our results to preventively incorporate appropriate strengthening exercises, Dr. Bharadwaj said. The findings were presented at the recent annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Study shows stronger thigh muscles can prevent knee replacement surgery Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! London, Dec 2 R esearchers have identified objective evidence of how the neck muscles are involved in primary headaches, such as tension-type headaches and migraines, according to a study. People with tension-type headaches often feel a tightening in the head and mild to moderate dull pain on both sides of the head. While these headaches are typically associated with stress and muscle tension, their exact origin is not fully understood. Migraines are characterised by a severe throbbing pain. Migraines generally occur on one side of the head, or the pain is worse on one side. Migraines may also cause nausea, weakness and light sensitivity. Up to 148 million people worldwide suffer from chronic migraine. Neck pain is commonly associated with primary headaches. However, no objective biomarkers exist for myofascial involvement. Myofascial pain is associated with inflammation or irritation of muscle or of the connective tissue, known as fascia, that surrounds the muscle. "Our imaging approach provides first objective evidence for the very frequent involvement of the neck muscles in primary headaches, such as neck pain in migraine or tension-type headache, using the ability to quantify subtle inflammation within muscles," said Nico Sollmann, resident in the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at University Hospital Ulm, Germany. For the study, the team aimed to investigate the involvement of the trapezius muscles in primary headache disorders by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore associations between muscle T2 values and headache and neck pain frequency. The prospective study included 50 participants, mostly women, ranging in age from 20 to 31 years old. Of the study group, 16 had tension-type headache, and 12 had tension-type headache plus migraine episodes. The groups were matched with 22 healthy controls. The tension-type headache plus migraine group demonstrated the highest muscle T2 values. Muscle T2 was significantly associated with the number of headache days and the presence of neck pain. The increased muscle T2 values could be interpreted as a surrogate of inflammation arising from the nervous system and increased sensitivity of nerve fibres within myofascial tissues. "The quantified inflammatory changes of neck muscles significantly correlate with the number of days lived with headache and the presence of subjectively perceived neck pain," Sollmann said. "Those changes allow us to differentiate between healthy individuals and patients suffering from primary headaches." Muscle T2 mapping could be used to stratify patients with primary headaches and to track potential treatment effects for monitoring. "Our findings support the role of neck muscles in the pathophysiology of primary headaches," Sollmann said. "Therefore, treatments that target the neck muscles could lead to a simultaneous relief of neck pain, as well as headache." Sollmann pointed out that non-invasive treatment options that directly target the site of pain in the neck muscles could be highly effective and safer than systemic drugs. The study was presented today at the recent annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Study links common headaches to neck inflammation Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Dec 2 A leopard was sighted near South Delhi's Sainik Farms on Saturday, prompting the Delhi Forest Department's wildlife team to launch a search operation. According to officials, two meat-laden traps have been strategically placed in the area. "The leopard is still in the proximity of the location where the traps have been put, near the Neb Sarai police station. It was last spotted today near N Block, Sainik Farms, said an official. The objective is to either capture the leopard in the traps or monitor its movement away from the area. If successfully trapped, the plan is to relocate the animal to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, which is adjacent to the area, ensuring the safety of both the residents and the leopard. As the search operation unfolds, residents and authorities remain on alert, with the Delhi Forest Department emphasising the need for caution and cooperation to ensure the safe resolution of this unexpected wildlife encounter. Leopard spotted near south Delhi's Sainik Farms, search operation underway Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Dec 2 C hief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Saturday said that for all citizens to feel free in a democracy, the State must side with the weaker population which may be a numerical or a social minority. CJI Chandrachud said that democracy requires a constant dialogue between differing opinions and civil society organisations to fulfil the aspirations of the people. "The beauty of a democracy is the sense of moral status with which all citizens can participate in a country and the consensus in its decision making. In a democracy the majority will have its way but the minority must have its say," he said. CJI Chandrachud added that the democracy is premised on the recognition that there is no natural source of authority that can exercise power over individuals and people are presumptively free and equal. "Merely because a body is elected does not ensure that it acts in the best interest of those who it governs. Democracy is messy, and imperfect but inherent in it are the postulates of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity," he said speaking at the Justice Keshav Chandra Dhulia Memorial Essay Competition at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. CJI Chandrachud said that "participative democracy simply entails a democracy that operates on and promotes deliberation", adding that if a democracy cannot safeguard discourse around the needs of all its people, it falls short of its promise. "While the Constitution grants rights to citizens and places a corresponding duty on the State to enforce such rights, the real test of the Constitution is seldom in courts but in society," he stated. State must side with the weaker population: CJI DY Chandrachud Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! US blames Hamas for breaching ceasefire; Kamala Harris seeks to discuss war with Arab leader at COP28 Washington, Dec 2 T he US has squarely blamed Hamas for breaching the extended ceasefire even as Vice President Kamala Harris sought to discuss the situation in Gaza on how to end the war with influence of Arab leaders and heads of other nations at the climate summit in Dubai. Israeli military forces reportedly resumed bombarding the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, after Hamas put an end to the weeklong pause in fighting, media reports said. Israel alleged it resumed fighting after Hamas "violated" the ceasefire by firing rockets towards Israel. Hamas officials blamed the Israelis, saying they turned down offers to release elderly hostages as well as claiming bodies of three hostages allegedly killed in Israeli air strikes. The week-long truce saw over 100 hostages, all women and children including two Americans, were freed from Hamas captivity. Seven Americans, including one woman, remain unaccounted for. Over 240 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel were released in return. The White House said on Friday that Hamas failed to deliver a list of hostages the militant group would release. Israel and Hamas presented conflicting narratives about why the truce ended. "It's because of Hamas that this pause ended," said John Kirby, the National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communications. "They were just simply unable, and failed to produce a list of hostages that could help enable the pause to extend," USA Today quoted Kirby as saying. President Joe Biden along with the National Security Council remains engaged in hostage negotiations and efforts to end the war. The US was pushing through with yet another major effort to bring about a pause and get more hostages released. Qatar, another international mediator along with Egypt, said it was working to renew a truce and expressed "deep regret" over the renewed combat. Harris, now in Dubai for the climate summit, seeks to discuss war with Arab leaders and heads of other nations attending the two week long summit. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it's 'extremely concerned' about continued fighting. The WHO said Friday it is concerned about the health care system collapsing in Gaza since the resumption of Israelis aerial bombardment. "The health system has been crippled by the ongoing hostilities. Gaza can't afford to lose any more hospitals or hospital beds," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted to X. US blames Hamas for breaching ceasefire; Kamala Harris seeks to discuss war with Arab leader at COP28 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Braverman, Patel accused of denying trafficking victims' right to remain in UK London, Dec 3 B ritish Indian former Home Secretaries of the UK have been accused of operating a secret policy to deny 1,600 victims of trafficking their right to live in the country, according to a media report. The alleged action by the Home Office came despite a November 2021 high court ruling, which mandated that confirmed trafficking victims awaiting asylum decisions should be granted discretionary leave, the Guardian reported. At a hearing this week, Priti Patel and Suella Braverman were accused of unlawfully failing to issue these decisions, that left the victims unable to access the right to work, study or claim mainstream benefits. The report mentioned a 22-year-old trafficking victim, represented by the charity Asylum Aid, who escaped drug traffickers in Albania when he was 16. The traffickers forced him to sell drugs and were threatened to harm him, his family for refusing to comply. But as a result of the secret policy, he was denied leave to remain for almost 18 months, his lawyers claimed. In response the counsel for the Home Secretary argued that they had simply been waiting for the outcome of appeals to the court of appeal and supreme court against the landmark November 2021 ruling before acting. This case is about delay. It is not a case about secret or unpublished policies, Cathryn McGahey, representing the home secretary, told the court. According to The Guardian, internal Home Office documents relating to the case showed officials recommended that the decision of granting leave to remain should be put on hold. A July 2022 email from a Home Office official stated: All discretionary leave decisions affected by (the November 2021 ruling) currently remain on hold." Our consolidated view is that is not an option we can recommend to ministers. We continue to see judicial reviews lodged on grounds linked to the delay in implementing the judgment, an official from Bravermans office said after being questioned about whether doing nothing was an option. Counsel for the 22-year-old victim told the court this week that it is "unlawful to operate an unpublished policy which is inconsistent with a public policy. Braverman, Patel accused of denying trafficking victims' right to remain in UK Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Britney Spears called off birthday party to take her dog to vet Los Angeles, Dec 3 S inger Britney Spears, who has turned 42, had to call off her birthday celebration because her dog needed medical attention. Spears, who turned 42 on Saturday, had been spending the night before at her manager Cade Hudson's home in Los Angeles when the party had to be called off early, according to TMZ. In pictures obtained by the outlet, she had to "rush" her canine companion to the vet before dashing to a nearby gas station, reports aceshowbiz.com. Spears later returned to the veterinary clinic but, according to the outlet, it remains unclear whether she left with her dog in tow. It is also not clear which of Earlier this year, it was claimed that the 'Gimme More' hitmaker, who has become estranged from the rest of her immediate family since a conservatorship governed by them was terminated in November 2021, was worried that her ex-husband Sam Asghari would try to take their dogs upon their divorce. TMZ reported that the pair decided their Doberman, Porsha, who he bought for Spears in October 2021 as a protection dog, will be his and she will keep their Australian Shepherd, Sawyer, a Yorkie named Hannah and two other small dogs. The 'Toxic' hitmaker then acquired a Maltese pooch - whom she has named Snow - following the breakdown of her marriage. Captioning a clip of her new canine companion, Britney wrote on Instagram: "Introducing Snow the new edition to the family it's her world and we just live in it !!!" She said in the video: "Let me show them how tiny you are. Say 'hi' Snow!" Britney Spears called off birthday party to take her dog to vet Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Los Angeles, Dec 3 H ollywood actor Adam Driver, who played Kylo Ren in the final 'Star Wars' trilogy and though it has been eight years since his villainous role murdered his father essayed by Harrison Ford in 2015's 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', fans still want to talk about it. "Somebody reminds me about that every day. Not every day, but yeah. It used to be more, but now it's probably once a month someone will let me know that I killed Han Solo," Driver said during an appearance on "Who's Talking to Chris Wallace" when the host mentioned the movie's shocking ending. Driver reflected on filming the scene, and admitted it wasn't necessarily "tough" but it was "very emotional actually" and he praised his "generous" co-star for guiding him through the moment, reports aceshowbiz.com. He said: "Harrison was so generous and contemplative, and to me, that was a great moment on set, even though it was his death." The actor previously said he "felt sick to (his) stomach" when he went to the "Force Awakens" and sat waiting for the audience to see the dramatic finale. Adam Driver faces constant reminder that he killed Han Solo in 'Star Wars' Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Russia is preparing a wave of disinformation about the disruption of prisoner exchanges. Moscow's goal is to destabilize the situation within Ukrainian society and sow distrust in the state. ADVERTISIMENT The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War warned about this on December 3. "In the near future, the propaganda channels of the aggressor country will launch another wave of disinformation about the reasons for the suspension of prisoner of war exchanges. The goal of the Russian special services is to destabilize the situation within Ukrainian society and sow distrust in the state bodies that organize prisoner exchanges," the statement said. The Coordination Headquarters added that since the summer of 2023, despite all Kyiv's efforts, Russia's authorized representatives have been systematically complicating the exchange process. "In order to justify its inaction, the Russian side is preparing accusations against Ukraine," the agency said. In particular, the Coordination Headquarters is being accused of overstating the requirements for the exchange formula and of intending to return all units without exception, including those that Moscow is particularly fond of in its propaganda. ADVERTISIMENT The headquarters emphasized that the aggressor continues to violate all norms of international humanitarian law, using the issue of prisoners of war for ISIL against Ukrainians, especially against the vulnerable category - the families of prisoners and missing persons. "Nothing has changed on our side in the negotiation process since we managed to bring home more than 300 of our defenders every month. The opposing side's attempts to justify itself rather than continue the humanitarian mission of exchanging prisoners indicate that they are not concerned about the fate of a large number of Russian prisoners of war who were captured on foreign soil, especially during the recent "meat assaults," as well as their families," the Coordination Headquarters said. They also added that every prisoner or missing person, civilian and non-combatant taken hostage is important to Ukraine. And all Russian prisoners are held in accordance with international humanitarian law and have unimpeded access to the International Committee of the Red Cross missions, which the Russian side has not yet provided. ADVERTISIMENT While Ukraine has a Coordination Center as the only authorized body, Russia has not yet been able to establish effective and unified work and communication. "Ukraine and the Coordination Center are working every day to return all our defenders and search for missing persons. Negotiations with the opposite side are ongoing. We are ready to hand over Russian prisoners of war to their families only after returning our defenders home," the headquarters said. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Armed Forces of Ukraine urged Ukrainians not to share the data of prisoners and missing persons, as this could aggravate their situation. There are fraudsters or representatives of the Russian special services who can manipulate or blackmail online. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! London, Dec 3 Downton Abbey star Lesley Nicol, who played the bustling cook Mrs Patmore in the show, said: "I just burst into tears," when she learned of the plight of Asia's black bears who are held in cruel conditions and farmed for their bile Nicol saw a video of the abuse of bears 6,000 miles away in Vietnam and China she knew instantly she had to do something about it, reports mirror.co.uk. It led to the star becoming a key ingredient in a campaign to save them and, in typical Mrs Patmore fashion, she rounded up fellow cast members to help out too. Now their efforts have helped save 130 Asiatic black bears caught and farmed for their bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. And the power behind their success has been driven by the massive fanbase Downton Abbey has in Asia. The scene was set back in 2012 when Nicol and late husband David Heald - Darbs were relaxing at home one day and she saw a video tweeted by actor pal Peter Egan. It showed one of these bears being released from its cage, swimming around in a pool, and I just burst into tears, said Nicol. That bear hooked my heart. I told Darbs we just had to do something. she contacted Jill Robinson, the founder of Animals Asia which leads a campaign to end the farming trade for bear bile. Downton had a Chinese audience of 160 million, so Jill was delighted to have me on board, the actress, 70, said. I promised to rope in other actors from the series and they all jumped on board too, making videos. Saving these bears became everything to Darbs and me. They are snatched from the wild, trapped in tiny cages, unable to stand on all fours. They exist in unimaginable pain, their bodies abused and broken. And they are kept in a constant state of hunger and thirst, as its said to make their bile more effective for traditional remedies. 'Downton Abbey' star Lesley Nicol saves 130 abused bears after video moved her to tears Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Results unexpected, will delve into reasons for the defeat of Congress: Ashok Gehlot New Delhi, Dec 3 R ajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday accepted defeat in the Assembly polls in the state saying that the results were unexpected and the party will delve into the reasons that led to the debacle. Gehlot, who arrived in the national Capital, told the media, "I have been saying that the people are supreme. The Assembly election results were unexpected." He added that the Congress was hoping for the mandate of the people to be in its favour. "But, we accept the result with all humility. And we congratulate the new government and hope that they will work for the people," he said. When asked if the party was unable to take the state government's schemes to the people, Gehlot said, "I think the schemes of the Rajasthan Government were good and these were discussed all across the country and even the guarantees were good. But in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, too, the results have not gone our way. And these were unexpected." "We will delve into the reasons that led to the defeat of the party in these three states," he added. Results unexpected, will delve into reasons for the defeat of Congress: Ashok Gehlot Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that partner countries should be ready to support Ukraine even if the news is disappointing. He believes that it is important to demonstrate to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that he will not be able to "wait out" the West in this war of attrition. ADVERTISIMENT He also once again emphasized the need to increase support for Ukraine and increase the production of ammunition. Stoltenberg said this in an exclusive interview with the German TV channel Das Erste. He believes that if Putin wins, Ukraine will face a tragedy, but it will also pose a danger to Western countries. "So it is in our own interest that Ukraine survives," Stoltenberg said. In addition, the NATO Secretary General noted that partner countries should be prepared for bad news. The course of the war is a dynamic process. He noted that successes may be followed by a number of failures, but this should not be a reason to refuse to support Ukraine. "We must support Ukraine in good times and bad. The current war is a war of attrition, it is a battle for efficiency, a battle for logistics," explained Stoltenberg. ADVERTISIMENT He noted that although the front line has more or less remained stable over the past few months, Ukraine has managed to strike deep into the enemy's rear with cruise missiles. This included the destruction of Russian planes and helicopters, as well as the displacement of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to the eastern part of the sea. "This means that we can now keep open the sea trade routes that transport Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea. These are all significant victories, even though they did not succeed in moving the front line," Stoltenberg said. As a reminder, Germany is dissatisfied with the work of the European Peace Fund (EU fund), from which states receive compensation for military assistance to Ukraine. Germany wants to reduce its contribution to this structure, for example, so that the EFP takes into account the billions of dollars that Berlin has donated to Kyiv on a bilateral basis. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. The Russian occupiers lied about the alleged complete capture of Maryinka in Donetsk region. Fierce fighting is still taking place both there and in the area of Novomykhailivka. ADVERTISIMENT In the Mariinka sector alone, Ukrainian troops repelled 11 enemy attacks over the last day. Oleksandr Stupun, spokesman for the joint press center of the Tauride Defense Forces, spoke about the situation during a telethon. According to him, in the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops, the invaders are increasing infantry activity. "In the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, in particular in the Avdiivka sector, the occupants' infantry activity increased again compared to the previous day. A total of 55 combat engagements took place. The enemy lost 440 manpower, most of them in the vicinity of Avdiivka and Maryinka," said Stupun. ADVERTISIMENT In the Mariinka sector alone, Ukrainian troops repelled 11 enemy attacks over the past day. Stupun also denied the occupiers' statements about the alleged complete capture of Maryinka. "The enemy has always lied and fantasized. In this case, he is also lying. There are ongoing battles there. Both in the area of Maryinka and in the area of Novomykhailivka," he said. At the same time, Stupun noted that the activity of enemy aircraft has slightly decreased. The enemy conducted five air strikes over the last day. On the night of December 3, the invaders dropped guided aerial bombs in Donetsk region. Earlier, ISW analysts assessed the situation around Maryinka. They noted that on December 2, the occupiers advanced west of Donetsk in the Maryinka direction. Against this background, some Russian bloggers began to claim that Russian troops had managed to "capture" Maryinka. ADVERTISIMENT However, the Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in the area, preventing them from gaining a foothold in the city. Subsequently, some Russian propagandists began to refute the claims of the alleged capture of Maryinka. Mothers who took parental leave part-time or for shorter periods were more likely to engage in income-generating activities or pursue education. A new study uncovers surprising patterns in parental leave usage among newly arrived migrant women in Sweden, specifically focusing on their integration into the labor market. The findings, published in the Journal of European Social Policy, provide new insights into how parental leave is used and how it affects labor market participation among newly arrived mothers who arrived in Sweden with young children. The analysis reveals a polarization in the use of parental leave, with a significant number of mothers refraining from it while some took quite long leaves. Surprisingly, native-born mothers who returned with their children born abroad showed high usage of parental leave together with some groups of mothers with origin in Syria, Somalia and Thailand. However, the authors were surprised that parental leave usage plays a limited role in future labor-market activity of newly arrived mothers. Our study challenges the traditional view of parental leave among immigrant mothers. We found that part-time parental leave, contrary to what one might expect, actually fosters better integration into the labor market and educational pursuits, rather than hindering it." Eleonora Mussino, researcher at the Stockholm University Demography Unit at the Department of Sociology, and main author of the study The finding underscores the potential of flexible parental leave policies in aiding the integration process. The authors interpret this to mean that short breaks from the labor market participation don't necessarily hinder subsequent employment. In fact, part-time parental leave could offer immigrant mothers other ways of integration, such as through essential support and contacts, particularly if they spend this time on training or language acquisition. "This research not only challenges existing perceptions but also opens new avenues for policy development, ensuring that Sweden's family policies align with the diverse needs of its changing population", says Eleonora Mussino. The study utilized comprehensive data from Swedish population and social insurance registers and focuses on 82,800 women who immigrated to Sweden between 1995 and 2014 with at least one child under the age of 8. Sweden, up until 2016, extended a generous parental leave offer to immigrants arriving with preschool-aged children. In 2017, age-based restrictions on parental leave for immigrant children were introduced. "Unfortunately, our data did not capture the recent restrictions of parental leave days for foreign-born children. However, given the results in our analysis, we can expect minimal, or no, impact on labor-market integration due to this policy change", says Eleonora Mussino. "The insights from our research are pivotal for shaping future policies. They suggest that a generous parental leave policy does not necessarily delay labor market integration for immigrant mothers. Instead, it can provide a support system during their initial transition period in a new country", adds Ann-Zofie Duvander, Professor of Demography at the Department of Sociology, and co-author of the study. FACTS: How the study was done The study utilized comprehensive data from Swedish population and social insurance registers and focuses on 82,800 women who immigrated to Sweden between 1995 and 2014 with at least one child under the age of 8. The studied population includes Swedish-born woman as well migrant-born. Country of birth is categorized by the ten largest groups in the population (including native-born return immigrants), with all others aggregated in the category 'miscellaneous'. The researchers followed the women for two years after their year of arrival to analyse whether their use of parental leave correlates with subsequent labor-market attachment. Labor-market attachment is measured based on the main economic activity (wages and entrepreneurial activities) and public transfers received in a certain year (unemployment benefit and student loan). The variable is categorized into 1) student or unemployed, 2) work with low income, 3) work with medium/high income, and 4) inactive, with no income from work or work-related benefits such as unemployment or student benefits, and women who 5) have another child, or 6) emigrate. The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), is pleased to announce a $16 million expansion of the Hevolution-AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research, a grant program to enable early-career investigators with labs in the US and Canada to research healthspan-expanding therapeutics and treatments. Hevolution Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides grants and early-stage investments to incentivize research and entrepreneurship in healthspan science, has awarded the AFAR $16 million to expand the program. AFAR and the Hevolution Foundation launched the New Investigator Awards in 2022 as a pilot initiative to support research projects in the basic biology of aging or geroscience-;a research paradigm based on addressing the biology of aging and age-related diseases to promote healthy aging. In its first cycle, the program generated strong interest in the global aging research community and funded 18 research projects, spanning topics such as cellular senescence, compounds such as metformin and rapamycin, and translational topics such as data-guided drug discovery. Given the enthusiastic reception from the scientific community and the high quality of the investigators and their research, Hevolution is expanding this program with an additional commitment of $16 million to continue their partnership with AFAR. The funding will provide support in 2023 and 2024 for up to 36 investigators in Canada and the United States with three-year awards of $375,000 each. "The Hevolution-AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience are vital to support the next generation of geroscience and aging biology researchers. Nurturing this young talent is crucial for the future advancement of novel gerotherapeutics to extend healthspan in line with our mission to provide grants and early-stage investments to incentivize independent research in the emerging field of healthspan science," states Felipe Sierra, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Hevolution Foundation. The New Investigator Awards are selected through AFAR's vigorous review process led by a committee of accomplished scientists representing a wide range of expertise in biomedical research on aging. The New Investigator Awards selection committee is chaired by Gordon Lithgow, PhD, Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, who notes: "The New Investigator Awards meet a need in the field to better support early career investigators while addressing the unique impact of the biology of aging on the biology of age-related diseases." Hevolution Foundation is providing much needed resources in order to build the human capital necessary to drive and advance the field. The unique approaches of the selected awardees will influence the future of healthspan research that is working to help us all live healthier, longer." Stephanie Lederman, EdM, Executive Director of AFAR For more information on the Hevolution-AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience and all AFAR grant programs, please visit http://www.afar.org/funding-opportunities. Explore more perspectives from many of the inaugural New Investigators in AFAR's Grantee Spotlight Interviews here. AFAR anticipates announcing the 2023 New Investigators in early 2024. 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. Study methods, findings 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 percent 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 percent of respondents who lived in a highly socially vulnerable county reported a mobility disability, compared to 6.1 percent 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. 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." Dr. Kristi L. Allgood, assistant professor of epidemiology, Texas A&M School of Public Health Parents should speak to their babies using sing-song speech, like nursery rhymes, as soon as possible, say researchers. That's because babies learn languages from rhythmic information, not phonetic information, in their first months. Phonetic information the smallest sound elements of speech, typically represented by the alphabet is considered by many linguists to be the foundation of language. Infants are thought to learn these small sound elements and add them together to make words. But a new study suggests that phonetic information is learnt too late and slowly for this to be the case. Instead, rhythmic speech helps babies learn language by emphasizing the boundaries of individual words and is effective even in the first months of life. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Trinity College Dublin investigated babies' ability to process phonetic information during their first year. Their study, published today in the journal Nature Communications, found that phonetic information wasn't successfully encoded until seven months old, and was still sparse at 11 months old when babies began to say their first words. 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." Professor Usha Goswami, Cambridge neuroscientist The researchers recorded patterns of electrical brain activity in 50 infants at four, seven and eleven months old as they watched a video of a primary school teacher singing 18 nursery rhymes to an infant. Low frequency bands of brainwaves were fed through a special algorithm, which produced a 'read out' of the phonological information that was being encoded. The researchers found that phonetic encoding in babies emerged gradually over the first year of life, beginning with labial sounds (e.g. d for "daddy") and nasal sounds (e.g. m for "mummy"), with the 'read out' progressively looking more like that of adults First author, Professor Giovanni Di Liberto, a cognitive and computer scientist at Trinity College Dublin and a researcher at the ADAPT Centre, said: "This is the first evidence we have of how brain activity relates to phonetic information changes over time in response to continuous speech." Previously, studies have relied on comparing the responses to nonsense syllables, like "bif" and "bof" instead. The current study forms part of the BabyRhythm project led by Goswami, which is investigating how language is learnt and how this is related to dyslexia and developmental language disorder. Goswami believes that it is rhythmic information the stress or emphasis on different syllables of words and the rise and fall of tone that is the key to language learning. A sister study, also part of the BabyRhythm project, has shown that rhythmic speech information was processed by babies at two months old and individual differences predicted later language outcomes. The experiment was also conducted with adults who showed an identical 'read out' of rhythm and syllables to babies. "We believe that speech rhythm information is the hidden glue underpinning the development of a well-functioning language system," said Goswami. "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." "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," she added. Goswami explained that rhythm is a universal aspect of every language all over the world. "In all language that babies are exposed to there is a strong beat structure with a strong syllable twice a second. We're biologically programmed to emphasise this when speaking to babies." Goswami says that there is a long history in trying to explain dyslexia and developmental language disorder in terms of phonetic problems but that the evidence doesn't add up. She believes that individual differences in children's language originate with rhythm. The research was funded by the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and by Science Foundation Ireland. Education Minister Atishi on Saturday conducted an surprise inspection at the MCD School in Delhis Munirka village, revealing alarming discrepancies in teacher attendance and the deplorable facilities at the school. During inspection, out of 19 teachers, only 10 were present, leaving students to attend classes without proper instruction. Upon checking the attendance register, the Education Minister found that out of 19 teachers, nine were absent. As a result, the children were compelled to sit empty-handed in the classroom. Several teachers had been absent for a long time, and the attendance of students in the school was also quite low, said a government official. The Education Minister directed officials to take immediate action on teacher absenteeism. Quality education and a conducive learning environment for all children in Delhi are top priorities for Arvind Kejriwal and zero tolerance for negligence, said Atishi, during the inspection. Just because students coming to MCD schools come from poor families, it doesnt mean they should be compelled to study in deteriorated conditions, Atishi said. She also gave an ultimatum to the school in-charge, demanding the resolution of all issues within a week, with a strict warning of further action in case of laxity. A follow-up inspection will take place after a week, and if problems persist, the principal will have to face stern actions, said Atishi. The BJP had a not-so-united house in Rajasthan this time as it went to the elections. It was no match in front of Ashok Gehlots gala freebie announcement including the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme offering free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh and free mobiles. The BJP also was no match to Congress when it came to plastering the state with massive advertisements asking people to vote. Yet, the Congress lost in Rajasthan. 16 Exam Paper Leaks No Joke The biggest electoral issue that created massive angst, particularly, between 20 and 30 years old in the state was as many as 16 exam paper leaks, which are now being probed as scams by central agencies. Rajasthan is often joked as the paper leak capital of India by the state people. On average, Rajasthan has seen over three paper leaks every year since 2019, affecting close to 40 lakh students. The issue became so indefensible that Congress leader and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot himself went ahead and attacked the Gehlot government in an election year for not doing enough to catch the real culprits. Just before the polls, the Enforcement Directorate officers raided the premises of state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra in Jaipur and Sikar as part of a money laundering probe into the alleged exam paper leak case. Interestingly, Dotasra was the former education minister, and was alleged by the BJP to be the central person to this scam. During an interview with News18, BJPs Kirodi Lal Meena, the whistle-blower in a series of scams, alleged, Among the big fish, there are three ministers and six MLAs. I can name those three ministers right away Subhash Garg and Govind Dotasra. Another minister Sukhram Vishnoi wasnt directly involved, but his staff were. It is an open secret in Rajasthan that it costs between Rs 5 and 15 lakh to avail the leaked papers well in time. Crime Against Women Not only the state has record number of crimes against women but some specific incidents were surfaced on social media and left a scar on the minds of many Rajasthani women a significant section of the electorate. In 2019, a woman was allegedly raped by five men in front of her husband in Alwar district. In August this year, a 17-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by eight men in the same district, making it the fourth such case to be reported in the district in 24 hours. The incidence of registered crime against women in Rajasthan increased from 18,344 in 2010 to 41,623 in 2019, registering a growth of 126.90%. Rajasthan stood second in crimes against women in 2021, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). In July, Union minister Anurag Thakur lashed out at Rajasthans poor performance on crime against women and said, I want to ask Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi if they know of the woman who was gang-raped in Alwar in front of her husband and her video was made viral; the police didnt bring it out in the open due to elections. Beyond the politics, the sheer number of women standing in voting lines this time in Rajasthan may have caused the Congress problems. Female voter turnout in Rajasthan has surged from 41.1% in 1962 to 74.7% in 2023. Many of them were upset with Ashok Gehlots handling of law and order situation when it comes to crime against women. Minority Appeasement The BJP has repeatedly hammered the Gehlot government before and during the election in Rajasthan on minority appeasement which News18 witnessed making an impression among voters during its ground reportage. The centre of the charge has been the Udaipur beheading incident when one of the assailants, identified as Muhammad Riyaz Attari attacked Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor, with a sharp weapon while the other, Muhammad Ghaus, recorded the crime on his mobile phone, last year. Kanhaiya Lals crime was extending support to suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her controversial comment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while campaigning in Udaipur in October raised the matter, What happened in Udaipur was not even imagined by anyone People come on the pretext of getting clothes stitched and cut the throat of tailor without any fear or dread. Congress saw a vote bank even in this case. I want to ask Congress what did the party do during the Udaipur tailor killing, they played vote bank politics Home Minister Amit Shah labelled similar charges in many rallies. While Udaipurs beheading occupied peoples memory strongly, there have been other incidents as well that bolstered BJPs charge. This October, protests were held in Jaipur by Hindu organisations accusing the Ashok Gehlot government of appeasement politics. Traders from Jaipurs old town joined the protest, alleging increased terrorist activities and threats to Hindu shopkeepers. This October, 65-year-old priest Ramjilal Sharma was allegedly thrashed by a man in an inebriated condition in Kalakho village in Dausa who succumbed to injuries at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur. Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore had blamed it on appeasement policy. Overall, the BJPs allegations were complemented by repeated incidents and the Congress started to attract the tag before the elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won three of four key state elections in Sundays vote count, putting it in a pole position to win a stunning third term at the Centre in next years Lok Sabha polls. Regaining control of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress and retaining Madhya Pradesh for a record fifth term means that the BJP is looking virtually unassailable in the Hindi heartland of northern and central India. The results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan indicate that the people of India are firmly with politics of good governance and development, which the @BJP4India stands for, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on social media site X. The results will also deny the Congress an upper hand while bargaining for seats with allies in the opposition INDIA bloc that aims to oust the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2024 general elections. Vote counting in a fifth state, Mizoram, is set for Monday where BJPs regional ally, the Mizo National Front, is in power. Defying expectations of a close contest in Madhya Pradesh and a possible Congress win, the BJP scored a massive victory in the state, netting 163 seats and leaving its primary rival with just 66. The Madhya Pradesh results will hugely disappoint Congress, which had thrown its weight behind former chief minister Kamal Nath and given him a free hand, hoping for a victory. The Congresss attempts to tide over the faction fight in Rajasthan proved insufficient as the power tussle between the Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot camps appears to have dented the partys chances. The results are in line with exit poll predictions of a BJP victory and perpetuate the states trend of not re-electing the incumbent party. Chhattisgarh sprung a surprise as while all exit polls had predicted a Congress victory in the tribal-dominated state, the BJP in the end comfortably emerged victorious with 54 seats. The Congress was left with 35 seats. The party, which claimed a turnaround for the state under chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, suffered setbacks in tribal regions and was also hurt by allegations of corruption. The Congress will seek some consolation in Telangana, where it ended the nearly 10-year-old rule of the K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. The polls served as a chance for the Congress to come to power in another southern state after it wrested control of Karnataka from the BJP in May. As the ballot counting progresses in the four states, initial trends indicate the BJP leading in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, as well as Chhattisgarh, while the Congress is ahead in Telangana. Scores of party workers have started celebrating in their states respectively. As early election trends hinted at a favorable outcome for the BJP in Rajasthan, jubilant celebrations erupted at the party headquarters on Sunday. Women workers at the office enthusiastically chanted slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing confidence in a resounding victory for the BJP and the formation of the government. #WATCH | #RajasthanElection2023 | The beating of drums and dancing by BJP workers continue outside the party office in Jaipur as official EC trends show the party leading on 98 of the 199 seats so far. pic.twitter.com/WYYaU8cATQ ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 #WATCH | Rajasthan BJP cadre celebrate party's lead in state elections, in Jaipur pic.twitter.com/WzqB4lVrZe ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 BJP women workers are all smile as they celebrate the early trends indicating a win for BJP in three states, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan. #WATCH | Gujarat: BJP workers celebrate at the party office in Gandhinagar as the party leads in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan elections. pic.twitter.com/Z1UubojYSL ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Congress workers took the celebrations a notch higher with pouring milk on a poster featuring Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party MP Rahul Gandhi and state party chief Revanth Reddy as the party is leading in the state. As per the official EC trends, the party is leading on 57 of the total 119 seats in the state so far. #WATCH | #TelanganaElection2023 | Congress workers pour milk on a poster featuring Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party MP Rahul Gandhi and state party chief Revanth Reddy as the party continues its lead in the state. As per the official EC trends, the pic.twitter.com/IWi4QEz4EQ ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Joyful festivities unfolded outside the residence of Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad, mirroring the partys lead in the official election trends. #WATCH | Celebrations outside Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy's residence in Hyderabad as the party leads in official trends pic.twitter.com/7r2pet6Kle ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 At the BJP office in Jaipur, party workers danced and celebrated as the party maintained its lead in the state. According to official Election Commission trends, the BJP is at 115, while the Congress stands at 67. #WATCH | #RajasthanElections2023 | BJP workers dance and celebrate at the party office in Jaipur as the party continues its lead in the state.As per official EC trends, BJP 115 and Congress 67 here. pic.twitter.com/sRyvMRIk6k ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 The final results are still awaited as counting is still on. The Russian occupation army has significantly increased the number of attacks with guided aerial bombs. The enemy is most actively using these weapons in the south of our country. ADVERTISIMENT Previously, the number of bombs was only a few, but now the invaders have changed their tactics and are dropping about 100 bombs a day. This was stated by Yuriy Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, during the telethon. As a reminder, the terrorist country Russia is concerned about the prospect of Ukraine receiving Western F-16 fighters. In this regard, it has begun to use the A-50 MAINSTAY D airborne early warning and control aircraft. Earlier it was reported that Ukrainian pilots continue training on F-16 fighters in Denmark. Some of them are already undergoing training in the air on these aircraft with instructors. In addition, Ukrainian pilots, as well as other specialists working with F-16s, are trained in the United States and the United Kingdom. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that without airspace control, it is very difficult for Ukrainian soldiers to conduct counteroffensive operations at the front. As soon as our army has modern F-16 fighters, Russia will lose its air superiority. ADVERTISIMENT Diwali came for a second time in the Chhattisgarh BJP headquarters and premises of BJP supporters on Sunday. Amidst sounds of firecrackers, dhols, and slogans of Jai Shri Ram, Bharatiya Janata Party workers reminded that union home minister Amit Shah had declared three Diwalis for Chhattisgarh if the BJP came to power. The announcement was made from the campaign stage of Jagdalpur. On Sunday, the Jagdalpur and Bastar divisions played a huge role in the prophecy coming true. Out of the 12 seats in the Bastar division, the Congress could hold on to only four. Even state congress chief Deepak Baij was shown the red flag by the voters of Chitrakote. In 2018, the Congress had swept Bastar, winning 11 out of the 12 seats, and later bagged Dantewada too in bypolls. On Sunday, it lost Jagdalpur, Chitrakote, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Kanker, and Antagarh. Kawasi Lakma won Konta (Sukma) by 1,981 votes, making him a six-time MLA from the seat. Chavindra Karma, son of Mahendra Karma, who was killed in the 2013 Darbha Ghati Naxal attack, also lost to the BJP. Bijapur, which is the second most Naxal-affected district after Sukma, also saw a Congress win. Anti-Naxal operations, development exercise The BJP credited the development that has been brought about in Bastar after the anti-Naxal operations for the big victory in these areas. In both Bastar and Sarguja, we have carried out massive development. The people have recognised that and voted for us, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Dr Raman Singh told News18. In the past two years, 65 new security camps have been set up in the Bastar division. These camps have ensured road building, mobile towers, and general infrastructure in erstwhile Maoist-dominated areas. The BJP had claimed that the Congress was not participating enough in the security measures followed by the development approach of the Centre. Union home minister Amit Shah had accused the Congress of encouraging Maoists and claimed that incidents of Naxal violence decreased by 52% in the nine-year rule of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. In nine years of the Modi-led government, incidents of violence declined by 52%, deaths (in Naxal violence) came down by 70%, civilian deaths decreased by 68%, while the Naxal-affected districts declined by 62%, Shah said at a rally in Jagdalpur in October. Centres Bastar push In February, at a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Left-Wing Extremism, Amit Shah revealed that since 2019, security forces have made significant strides by establishing 175 new camps in LWE-affected areas. On the development front, the union government has implemented several initiatives such as road construction for better mobility, mobile tower installation for communication, enhancing the network of banks and post offices, and improving healthcare and educational facilities. The BJP has registered its biggest-ever victory in Chhattisgarh as it won in 54 out of 90 seats in the 2023 state Assembly Elections. In the assembly elections held for the first time in Chhattisgarh in 2003, BJP won 50 seats with a 39.26 per cent vote share. In subsequent polls in 2008 and 2018, then Chief Minister Raman Singh led the party to bag 50 seats and 49 seats, respectively. Congress, on the other hand, could only manage to win in 35 seats which has come as a shocker for many. Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel of Congress defeated his nephew and BJP MP Vijay Baghel by 19,000 votes in his home turf Patan. Not just women but every section of society voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh, said Shivraj Singh Chouhan in an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18 on Sunday after a stunning electoral victory. The unprecedented love and affection we received from the people made me confident that the BJP would retain power in the state with a huge majority. The people have unfathomable faith in and admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The work done by the double-engine government and the turnaround brought in the state by our administration in the last 20 years won the publics trust. Schemes like Ladli Behna received the peoples blessings," he said. The Congress tried to hype up the issue of anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh when in reality there were pro-incumbency sentiments, said Chouhan. Issues like caste survey dont work in India because everyone is the progeny of Bharatmata", he maintained. The Congress tried to use a ploy to divide the people to gain votes but the public foiled such attempts," said Chouhan. However, when asked whether he was not in favour of a caste survey in MP, the BJP leader said he would adhere to the party line. Chouhan also expressed confidence that the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi would win all 29 Lok Sabha seats of MP in the 2024 general elections and form the government at the Centre with a huge majority. Asked whether he was set to retain the chief ministers chair after leading the party to a remarkable electoral triumph in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan was tactful in his response. The Bharatiya Janata Party will decide this," he said. Im just a humble worker of the party. And in the BJP, its not the worker but the party that decides what needs to happen and when." Claiming that it is wrong to suggest there is a saffron wave with the BJP winning in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the CPI(M) on Sunday asserted that it would be a different ball game in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP tightened its grip in the Hindi heartland with assembly victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while the Congress was set to oust the BRS from Telangana. CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said that the grand old party has secured a significant percentage of votes in all the four states, including Telangana where it is poised for a victory. He refused to accept that the Congress has got itself confined to the southern part of India. It is wrong to say there is a saffron wave because the BJP is winning in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. They are winning now, but whether this will continue is to be seen, he told reporters here. Chakraborty asserted that the Lok Sabha elections will be a different ball game. Batting for the Congress party, which was suffering a poll debacle in the three states, he said that it would not be right to suggest that Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra did not have a positive impact on the people. The CPI(M) leader said that after the Gandhi family scions yatra across the country, elections were also held in Karnataka, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress fared well. Congress had snatched Karnataka from the BJP and also won in Himachal Pradesh, he said. Stating that there is space for both the ruling and opposition camps in politics, Chakraborty said losing the elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh does not mean that the Congress has been annihilated there. In Bengal, those who had written the epitaph of the Left after the TMC came to power, are now acknowledging their presence in strength in the state, he said. Kya kasoor tha mera jo meri sarkar girayi? (What was my fault? Why did they bring down my government?)," Kamal Nath said at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh last month that News18 had attended. ALSO READ | MP Election Results LIVE Updates HERE At 77, Nath was appealing to the people to make him the Chief Minister again, evoking the sympathy card, saying his government of 15 months was brought down by undemocratic means by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The voters have, however, refused to give Nath his last hurrah in form of the Chief Ministers chair, with the Congress crashing to a huge defeat in Madhya Pradesh. Till earlier this year, Nath was confident of a win, citing the guarantees he was offering to the people. He had taken a leaf out of the Congress win in Karnataka to offer Rs 1,500 per month to women and an LPG cylinder at Rs 500 if he came to power. In not the best of health, this was seen as Naths last shot at the CMs chair. He had earlier dismissed all rumours about him being in the race for the Congress President last year, saying his mission was only to focus on Madhya Pradesh polls. Nath was already nursing wounds from the back-stabbing" by his former counterpart Jyotiraditya Scindia, who walked over to the BJP in 2020 and brought down the Kamal Nath government. This time, those close to Nath said people would take revenge on Scindia. However, this card also did not work as the BJP has performed impressively in the Gwalior-Chambal region, which is Scindias stronghold. Nath did try taking potshots at Shivraj Singh Chouhan, like telling News18 why Chouhan had woken up to ladli behanas only after 18 years and a few months before elections. But women seemed to have trusted Chouhan more. In the last week of the campaign, Nath had shifted to his stronghold of Chhindwara and undertook campaign from there across the state. But Nath at most did two-three rallies daily, compared to Chouhan who held 10-12 rallies daily, covering 165 constituencies in the last two weeks of the campaign. Nath brought in Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to campaign extensively in the state and Rahul Gandhi also made a late entry, however, all failed in face of the popular Ladli Behana scheme of Chouhan. Kamal Nath had been the Chhindwara MP since 1980 and became an MLA in 2019 from the assembly seat of Chhindwara to become CM. But his dream to be a CM of Madhya Pradesh for a full term will in all probability remain a dream. For the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which failed to open its account in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, or even get over 1% vote share, the results were sobering, even if on expected lines. ALSO READ | AAP-Roaching Plan B: Opinion Polls, Swing Mood in Favour of Delhi CM Kejriwal in Case of Arrest & for 2024 Speaking about its poll performance, in a statement, the party said: Aam Aadmi Party is in the formative stage in these states and we were contesting to ensure that our message reaches everyone. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its deposits on 31 seats in the recently concluded Karnataka elections. PM Modi himself campaigned in Andhra Pradesh, but BJP lost on all 173/173 seats and scored less than NOTA. Did this affect the BJP vote share in Gujarat? The party did not contest in Telangana. For the AAP, which observed its 12th anniversary on November 26, contesting three elections simultaneously in relatively large states, with its top leaders behind bars on allegations of corruption, these elections could not have been tougher. The party carried out a comparatively low-key campaign compared to Gujarat last year. Newly minted as a national party, and with AAPs biggest leaders party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann campaigning in all three states, the results could be a dampener for its expansion plans. Earlier this year, the party made a determined foray into Gujarat and ended up with a respectable five seats and 14% vote share. Kejriwal traveled to Gujarat almost every week in the run-up to the polls, and along with Mann, held road shows, rallies, town halls in a high-voltage campaign. CHANGE IN STRATEGY For the AAP, it was a battle for survival vs battle to expand its footprint and the former consumed maximum energy. However, when it came to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, the party adopted a different strategy, not even contesting on all seats in all these states. There were road shows and a few public meetings by Kejriwal and Mann, but no town halls or even big-ticket interviews. The AAPs best hope of winning a constituency was Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, which also came to a naught, with its Rani Agarwal losing. In fact, Kejriwal campaigned in Singrauli along with Mann after shooting off a letter challenging the summons of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear before it the same day. For the AAP, the circumstances could not have been more adverse. After the arrests of its three senior leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Satyendar Jain the barely eleven-year-old party found itself batting allegations of corruption and firefighting to consolidate its position in Delhi and Punjab. With three top leaders and, communication strategist Vijay Nair, behind bars, the AAP fought the battle in the absence of its key lieutenants. It was left to the AAPs organization in charge and MP Sandeep Pathak to carry the responsibility of these elections. Unlike Punjab, Gujarat or Goa, not even AAPs second rung of leaders campaigned in these states. AAP leader Jasmine Shah said, For a small party like AAP, it was a tough battle. Simultaneously, fighting three state elections is always going to be daunting task. We will take lessons and accordingly plan for the future. NO UNDERSTANDING WITH ALLIES The other missed opportunity, of course, was the refusal of the Congress, which fancied its chances especially in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, to get into any understanding with any of its own allies. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are fairly large states for the AAP to make meaningful inroads. Even in Chhattisgarh, Pathaks home state, the AAP failed to open an account. The less than expected performance of the Congress, which lost all the three heartland states, gave the AAP reason to steal some solace. Shah tweeted: After todays results, @AamAadmi Party emerges as the largest opposition party in North India with two state governments Delhi and Punjab. Incidentally, the Congress is in power in just one state of Himachal Pradesh. Speaking to News 18, Shah said, Very clearly, the AAP is emerging as a dominant force in North of India. It is not just having a two-state government, but having very sound margins in these. The Congress is limited to one state. What I am stating is arithmetic. We are the largest opposition force in North India, it means that AAP also has an important role to play as far as India alliance is concerned. Shah was referring to the AAPs 92 MLAs of 117 MLAs in Punjab and 62 out of 70 MLAs in Delhi and argued with the strength of the governments a party has in North India, not in terms of vote share where the Congress is clearly ahead. AAPs rationale is in terms of opposition parties governing in North India, it is the largest. Kejriwal is one of the leaders within the INDIA bloc who had pressed for early seat-sharing talks so that campaigns can get off the ground. However, that never happened with the Congress preferring to wait for the results of the assembly polls before talking 2024 alliance talks forward. The AAP is still serious about the alliance. As Shah said, When we joined the alliance, it was very clearly for the idea that if BJP has to be stopped in 2024, it can only happen through a strong opposition alliance like the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). We have always supported the idea of INDIA alliance and will continue to support it. Given the dominance of the BJP in the Hindi heartland, the political parties within the INDIA may stick to each other out of sheer compulsion. Shah said, There was a feeling among alliance partners that they were not given equal respect. This is not healthy considering the future of the alliance. Hopefully, we will see greater coordination and communication among all alliance partners in the next four months that we have to go before the Lok Sabha elections. For the AAP, it would be looking at Delhi, Punjab, Goa, Gujarat and Chandigarh. On the alliance front, the party also clearly stated its stand, saying: We also extend our congratulations to the Congress on a spectacular win in Telangana. This is, however, not reflective of the mood of the nation for Lok Sabha as the Congress won MP, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan in 2018, but the BJP won the 2019 Lok Sabha. India alliance talks will now be held on December 6 in Delhi, in which, we will decide the future course of action. All eyes are now on seat-sharing talks within the INDIA bloc will take place. With a mere four months left for 2024 general elections, time is running out. For the AAP and the Congress, there is political opportunity in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Goa and Gujarat. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. A few months ago, nobody would have really given a chance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh, but the Sundays results tell a different story. In this hour of crisis, the saffron party turned to its best strategist or modern-day Chanakya Union Home Minister Amit Shah. ALSO READ | Saffron Scoop | Behind the Scenes, How Amit Shah Worked the Phone to Douse BJPs Rebel Fire in Rajasthan Between BJP chief JP Nadda and Shah, four election-bound states were divided for better management. While the BJP national president was in-charge of Rajasthan and Telangana, Shah kept his focus on Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. As far as the two states in central India were concerned, it was a big challenge for the saffron party a cadre-driven organization to keep their party workers motivated amid fatigue. IN MP Madhya Pradesh is the saffron partys oldest bastion, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan being one of the oldest chief ministers in the country. From the time he became the party president, Shah focused largely on booth management and exactly it in Madhya Pradesh too. Man-to-man marking was done for all leaders and the cadre was mobilised. BJP leader Bhupender Yadav has worked with Shah for a long time and is well-aware of his style of working. Moreover, Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw had worked together as a team in Bengal. So this association, which Shah came up with for Madhya Pradesh, was not new. The two central ministers interacted with party workers at the ground level and got the momentum going. Shah, being the meticulous party leader that he is, took note of every feedback and acted on it. IN CHHATTISGARH Chhattisgarh has a deep Gujarat connection. Mansukh Mandaviya, the MoS from Gujarat, and Om Mathur have been in charge of Gujarat for long, coupled with Shahs strategy and Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal. A major task here was activating the party workers on ground who were completely demoralised after the loss in 2018. So, when the party announced its tickets for Chhattisgarh in advance, the two election in-charges oversaw the campaign and advised all leaders to keep low profile and be simple in their approach. Those aware of the development told News18 that initially the BJP candidates practically went on foot from door-to-door seeking support minus any fanfare or large election machinery. Also, the BJP was pretty aware that Bhupesh Baghel was a phenomenon in the state. It was decided by the party that the focus will be on the governance of Chhattisgarh, not Baghel. Attacking Baghel would have been counter-productive. The strategy worked perfectly," a source told News18. Every detail was studied in great depth by Shah, who not only travelled to these two central states for election, but also widely campaigned in Rajasthan and Telangana. Party leaders, MLAs, MPs and office-bearers were deployed seat-by-seat in these two states, depending on the caste combination. From former minister in the Yogi government Sidharth Nath Singh in Chhattisgarh to tribal leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, the party had all bases covered. The organisation meetings ran into hours, sometimes even past midnight. The focus was on local issues and the BJP leadership keep telling the workers that they had their back. ALSO READ | Amit Shah Calls Baghel Prepaid CM, Attacks Him Over Mahadev App Row, Love Jihad Anyone who has studied the political trajectory of Shah knows that he eats sleeps, drinks and breathes politics. These results arent really surprising. From 2014 to 2020, this Chanakya has seen the biggest jump in the BJPs political fortunes. As a top leader, the dependency on him is no less, even if he continues to be a minister in the Modi government. When in crisis, the party always says Amit Shah hai na." This is how a top Union Minister describes Shahs journey from Gujarat to the national capital. Anti-incumbency, non-delivery of promises, overplaying the Telangana sentiment, corruption charges and overconfidence define how the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) lost Telangana for the first time since the inception of the state in 2014. Since its formation, BRS, formerly known as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), has fought elections while capitalising on the Telangana sentiment. However, this time, voters raised questions about the fate of the three key promises: Nidhulu, Neelu, Niyamakalu funds, water, and jobs. The voters repeatedly raised these questions during political campaigns. In this election, KCR made an attempt to leverage the Telangana sentiment once again. During his interactions with constituents in Kamareddy, Rao advised voters to safeguard the self-respect of Telangana in the face of threats. Directing his attack on Karnatakas chief minister and deputy chief ministers regular visits to the state, KCR cautioned people against leaders from neighbouring states who were trying to influence them. However, the Congress, which had strategically unveiled its Karnataka model, promising six welfare guarantees, successfully neutralised the advantage gained by the BRS, which had nothing new to offer in its manifesto. The BRS confronted accusations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and attempting to acquire land through unlawful means by countering with the Congresss failure of governance despite being in power for several years in the Centre. But that was not what resonated in the minds of the voters. KCR, KTR and Harish Rao, all of them spoke of job opportunities, development, expanding the IT sector, but when you go on the ground, you will find at least one unemployed youth in every home. So, what kind of promises are they talking about? asked a voter from Gajwel who did not want to be named. Where are the one lakh jobs that they promised? asks Sudharshan, a young voter from Warangal who returned to his native after he could not get a government job as promised by the KCR government. The youth unemployment rate in Telangana, which is 15.1% compared to the national average of 10%, stood out as a major issue during the elections. There is a significant effort by the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS government to provide jobs and ample employment opportunities to the youth. Two lakh government jobs, 6 lakh IT jobs have been delivered, another 24 lakh jobs in the private sector like IT and manufacturing have also been given. Another 20 lakh jobs in Telangana alone in our next term is our target. We have given the assurance that there will be stable career growth for the youth in Telangana when we come back to power for the third term, replied Dasoju Sravan Kumar, the BRS spokesperson, when asked about the unemployment, yet people were not convinced. Congress has strategically targeted two critical issues the Dharani App hitting the BRS where it hurts. The Dharani App was launched as an integrated land record management system, which revolutionised how land transactions could be done. The app turned faulty as it erroneously categorised vast acres of land as ineligible for transfer or sale, causing severe distress to thousands of farmers. Another issue that became a pain point for the BRS was the promise of 2 BHK homes. Ayesha, a resident of Nampally, Hyderabad asked why the promised housing was being given to those who were close to the BRS leaders. We are waiting for our name to be picked. Its merely a promise. My neighbour who has been voting for the BRS, they took an affidavit that they will continue to support the party and then they were allotted a 2 BHK home under the scheme. So, are they doing this under duress? she questioned. Another young homemaker in remote Mulugu, Radhika also questioned the eligibility for the scheme. We neither have a house nor anything to our name. KCR said he will give us a house, but that has just remained a promise. In my village, everybody applied; I did not get it. I did not get a loan which I am entitled to as per the governments promise. My husband remains unemployed; thats our situation, she said. Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) aspirants, who have been seeking placement in vacancies despite years of waiting, have been given an assurance that the examinations would be conducted and jobs given the moment the BRS comes to power. The BRS also claimed that they would expedite the process of conducting pending recruitment exams, reform TSPSC, release the job calendar, increase Group-II posts, but the youth this time did not want to take that at face value. In October, when the piers at Medigadda (Lakshmi) barrage, one of the three main barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) sank, the BRS was left embarrassed. The opposition spared no time to target the quality of construction and call it BRS personal ATM, as the project that was touted as the largest lift irrigation scheme in the world was rife with irregularities. The BRS governments key programmes, including Dalit Bandhu, Rythu Bandhu and Dignity Housing Scheme, are also entangled in allegations of corruption or favouritism that led to demonstrations, further underscoring public dissatisfaction with the governments mishandling of these initiatives. This Rajasthan election result shows one clear trend Mewar and Eastern Rajasthan returned to the saffron fold. While the Mewar region is heavily influenced by Rajputs, the Eastern zone is mostly dominated by tribals. The Kirodi Lal Meena factor did not help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) get Meena votes in 2018, when Rajputs were a divided house mostly still angry with the BJP over Padmavaat movie. However, if late evening trends are anything to go by, the BJP managed to change that in 2023. ALSO READ | Rajasthan Election Results 2023 LIVE Updates HERE RAJPUTS HAPPY, MEWAR BACK The 2018 disenchantment of Rajputs was gone in 2023, as News18 reported during its election coverage of the region, and it reflected on the election tally. One of the key reasons was fielding Vishwaraj Sing Mewar, a descendant of Maharana Pratap from Nathdwara. Someone from that lineage joined active politics after 30 long years. During an interview with News18, he said, As far as my lineage is concerned, I would say by Gods grace and the conduct of my ancestors, we share a bond and a rapport with the people here and it is likewise from their side. The message of wooing the community seems to have percolated down to the last Rajput in the region. Additionally, the BJP fielded several Rajputs namely Gajendra Singh Shehawat, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Narpat Singh Rajvi (who is also the son-in-law of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat), and many more sending out a message that they have walked an extra mile. With places like Udaipur Urban, Udaipur Rural, Nathdwara, and Rajsamand seeing BJP candidates surging ahead, Mewar has returned to the saffron fold. In 2018, the BJP lost 14 MLAs in the Mewar region. Historically, it is said that whoever wins Mewar wins the sea of power in Jaipur. However, last time, the region threw a divided verdict, where the Congress added 11 MLAs in terms of its 2013 performance. "This is a win of PM Modi's guarantees, Amit Shah's strategies and JP Nadda's leadership," says senior BJP leader and former CM Vasundhara Raje as BJP sweeps #Rajasthan Track #LIVE updates: https://t.co/ShK34LEMwu#AssemblyElections2023 #AssemblyElectionResults pic.twitter.com/MwRbJjZNoF News18 (@CNNnews18) December 3, 2023 TRIBALS WITH MODI, EAST WITH BJP Just before the 2018 Rajasthan election, BJPs poster boy Harish Meena defected to the Congress. The BJP was legitimately worried about whether it could retain its influence over the community, especially in eastern Rajasthan. Kirori Lal Meena is a firebrand leader of the Meena community, who left the BJP during the 2003 election, dealing a blow to the saffron party and came back as Rajya Sabha MP, but it hardly impacted in the 2018 poll. However, this time around, he led agitations and became a whistleblower in several alleged scams that ensued central agency raids seem to have worked for the BJP this time. Also bringing him back from the cold storage of the upper house, the BJP fielded him from Sawai Madhopur this time, sending out a clear message to the Meenas. Reaching out to the tribals this October, PM Modi lauded their role in the nations freedom struggles, while speaking in Banswara. Every step of our freedom struggle, pages of history are filled with tribal valour, he said. It seems to have paid off as BJP candidates are leading with handsome margins in Sawai Madhopur (where BJPs tallest Meena leader is contesting), Kota South, Jhalrapatan (where Vasundhara Raje Scindia has won), Chhabra, and Dag among other assembly constituencies. While there are aberrations like Bharatpur or Kota North, the BJP seems to have been successful in planting its saffron flag in the Eastern region of the state. Even as the Congress is nursing its wounds after facing defeat in the assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, the opposition INDIA front has been hit by a crisis. A meeting of the alliance has been planned around December 6 to discuss seat-sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. But the permutations have changed now with the smaller outfits unwilling to cede space to the grand old party. Already voices calling out the Congress have become louder. Kunal Ghosh of the Trinamool Congress asked the Congress to learn from Mamata Banerjee. Its not a win of the BJP or a defeat of the INDIA front; its a defeat of the Congress. The Rashtriya Janata Dal too has said that the Congress needs to get its act together and that the assembly poll results should not be seen as a reflection on the INDIA front. The Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party are also seething. Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh polls, Congresss CM hopeful Kamal Nath had dismissed the SP as irrelevant and refused to leave tickets for it. Its these parties that will now make things tough for the Congress. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had even said, Let them come to UP. They need us there and we will teach them a lesson. The Congress has only one MP in Uttar Pradesh now: Sonia Gandhi from Raebareli. But if it hopes to win Amethi, then it needs a friendly SP, which seems unlikely now. The Congress has always claimed that its the only party capable of putting up a one-on-one fight against the BJP. This assertion now stands discredited. The INDIA front is now unwilling to give the Congress the stature of a big brother anymore. So when the seat-sharing talks begin, the Congress may be forced to be meek. The other problem is bigger. If the Congress had won these elections, it would have created a buzz around the alliance and made it look like a relevant and possibly formidable alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party. But now its the BJP which seems emboldened. Over the next few days, the BJP will dismiss the INDIA bloc as a factor. In fact, Jyotiraditya Scindia told News 18 that not only does it (the poll results) silence all those who have been attacking us but also that the INDIA front is no factor. The results and drubbing of the Congress will invigorate the regional parties. And once again, the Congress will have to play along. The future doesnt look too bright for the alliance. The aggressor country Russia is likely to try to sow political instability and division in Moldova again. In this way, it hopes to divert the international community's attention from the war in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT This was pointed out by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They recalled how Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened Moldova on November 30 with "repeating the fate of Ukraine," claiming that the West intends to use the country in a "hybrid war" against the Kremlin. "Lavrov's threat may have emboldened some pro-Russian agents to try to sow political instability and division in Moldova," the report says. For example, the pro-Russian head of Moldova's Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul, said on December 1 that the state energy company Moldovagaz had blocked the region from receiving gas from a Turkish supplier, which the pro-Russian regional government had agreed to negotiate outside of state contracts. According to her, the company sells gas at a higher price per cubic meter than its Turkish partner. She accused the Chisinau government of "ignoring Gagauzia's calls to provide its residents with cheap gas for the winter." However, the head of Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, said that the company has no physical or legal ability to block gas supplies at the Gagauz border and has not received the necessary documentation to switch natural gas suppliers to the region. ADVERTISIMENT It is known that Moldovan President Maia Sandu rejected Gutul's request for a place in the Cabinet of Ministers on November 13 as she is a member of the banned Sor political party. Russia used this political force to promote pro-Russian interests and political instability in the country until the Constitutional Court banned it in June 2023. The head of the party, Ilan Shor, used it to incite protests in September 2020-June 2023, which was ultimately aimed at overthrowing the current government of Moldova. In addition, on November 27, the leader of the Moldovan Party of Regions, Alexander Kalinin, was stripped of his citizenship because of his broad support for Russia's war against Ukraine, and on December 1, he announced attempts to recruit Moldovan volunteers to fight alongside Russian troops. ADVERTISIMENT Therefore, the ISW suggested that the Kremlin, having conducted a campaign to destabilize Moldova in early 2023, may now try to resume these efforts to divert the international community's attention from the war in Ukraine. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Moldovan President Maia Sandu thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine for fighting the "Russian invasion." She noted that if Ukraine had not resisted Russia after the start of the full-scale invasion, Moldova "would have become the next on the list of occupation targets" of the Kremlin. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looked set to register a thumping win in Madhya Pradesh as counting was underway for Assembly Elections 2023. As trends came in, the BJP was seen leading on 161 seats out of the 230 that went to polls. All eyes are now on who will take the Chief Ministers seat in the state. When asked about whether he could be the new MP CM, BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia told News18, Credit for BJPs victory goes to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda. I am just a BJP worker. Follow LIVE updates on Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election Results 2023 here. He also said thanked the people of Madhya Pradesh for the BJPs massive win in the state. I thank each and every person of Madhya Pradesh, Scindia added. Scindia, who was a former Congress leader, hit out at the party saying, Congress kad ki bat karti thi, logon ne Congress ko jawab de diya hai. Meanwhile, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also credited PM Modi for the partys victory in the state. Its the prime minister who won the elections, yes behenon ne saath diya,Chouhan said. Its the result of Amit Shahs strategies and PM Modis policies. PMs blessings were always there on MP, he added. He also thanked party workers for the landslide win in the state. Chouhan, fondly called mamaji, has served as the CM of Madhya Pradesh for 16 years and is being seen as the frontrunner for retaining his post. When asked about chances of him returning as MP CM, Chouhan told News18, Whether I become CM or not is not important. We are all party workers. Voting for Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023 took place on November 17. The exit polls had predicted a clear victory for the BJP in the state. From voters to party workers and cadre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked them all, while celebrating the success of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in three of the four states, the results for which were announced on Sunday, at the party heaquarters in New Delhi. People are saying the BJPs hat-trick of victories in three states is an indication of a hat-trick in 2024 People have voted for the ideology of vikas (development), imaandari (loyalty) and sushasan (good governance)Voters have rejected those who protect the corrupt and have voted against those who level insults against regulatory bodies, said PM Modi, , while commenting on the victory in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. The dream of every Indian acts as determination for me, he said. A look at the top quotes: Read more defeat shows that we were not completely successful in taking our plans, laws and innovations to the public, Gehlot posted on X (formerly Twitter). BJPs most formidable face in the desert state, Vasundhara Raje Scindia, has won from Jhalrapatan a seat she has held since 2003. Among the other BJP candidates who won are Diya Kumari from Vidhyadhnagar, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore from Jhotwara, Samaram from Pindwara Abu, Govind Prasad from Manohar Thana, Jaswant Singh Yadav from Behror, Mahendra Pal Meena from Jamwa Ramgarh, Anita Bhadel from Ajmer South, and Madan Dilawar from Ramganj Mandi. Apart from Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, who won from Sardarpura and Tonk respectively, the Congress candidates who secured victory include Shanti Dhariwal from Kota North, Tikaram Jully from Alwar Rural, and Anita Jatav from Hindaun. BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has said that the BJPs Parliamentary Board will make a decision on the CM face in the state. We contested this election under collective leadership in Rajasthan. Now, the partys Parliamentary Board will make a decision and whoever is given the responsibility, together we will try to bring in time that will make for the last five years of Rajasthan, Rathore said. Meanwhile, Raje while speaking to reporters after her win, said: This victory is of the mantra of Sabka saath, sabka vishwas and sabka prayaas given by PM Modi. It is the victory of the guarantee given by the PM. It is also the victory of the strategy given by Amit Shah and the able leadership provided by Nadda ji. Most importantly, its a victory for our party workers. With the poll trends giving an edge to the BJP in Rajasthan, the party took a jibe at chief minister Ashok Gehlot, saying people have come out of the spell of the magician. As per latest trends, BJP is leading in 108 out of 199 seats while the Congress is leading in 75. Celebrations broke out for the BJP in Jaipur as the party looked set to sweep the desert state. The Congress, which initially tried to catch up, seems to have lost the plot though Gehlot has won from his constituency of Sardarpura, while former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot has won in Tonk. The comfortable majority for the BJP in Rajasthan means that the party leadership may turn to a new face as its chief ministerial choice, even though two-term former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is a natural contender due to her stature and sizeable support base. Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Ram Meghwal, state party president C P Joshi, Diya Kumari, who was among the more prominent faces during the campaign, and Mahant Balaknath are being talked about as probables. BJP sources said someone like Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who has been a three-term MLA and enjoys the confidence of the party leadership, will also be a natural contender. Rajasthan assembly Speaker CP Joshi has lost against his BJP rival Vishvaraj Singh Mewar in Rajsamand districts Nathdwara seat. Former BJP state president Satish Poonia is trailing in the Amber assembly seat by 2,986 votes, according to the Election Commission trends. Poonia is pitted against Congress Prashant Sharma, who is leading with 21,673 votes in four of 20 rounds. BJPs Kirodi Lal Meena is leading in the Sawai Madhopur seat with a margin of 3,506 votes against his Congress rival Danish Abrar. Meena, Rajya Sabha MP, is leading with 12,275 votes in three of 19 rounds, according to the Election Commission. The state recorded a 75.45 per cent voter turnout on November 25, higher than the 74.71 per cent in 2018. There were a total of 1,862 candidates in the fray. The BJP based its campaign in the state on the development ushered by its government at the Centre and by targeting Gehlot on issues such as exam paper leaks and appeasement politics. Though the Congress has not announced its chief ministerial candidate, it is believed that Gehlot is the frontrunner for the post. The BJP too has fought the elections without naming a CM candidate, but Gehlots predecessor Vasundhara Raje is one of the probables from the party. Leading the campaign for the Congress were its president Mallikarjun Kharge and leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Gehlot. The BJPs campaign was spearheaded by top leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its president JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and chief ministers Yogi Adityanath and Himanta Biswa Sarma. Preparing for every eventuality, both Congress as well as the BJP have started reaching out to Independent candidates, including rebels, and even smaller outfits in case there is a split verdict. There are more than 40 rebels from the BJP and the Congress who contested the elections after they were denied tickets. Some of them are expected to win, sources said. In the exit polls predictions on November 30, India Today-Axis My India forecast a tight race, predicting 86-106 seats for the Congress, 80-100 seats for the BJP and others 9-18. Dainik Bhaskar gave 98-105 seats to the BJP and 85-95 to the Congress and Jan Ki Baat 100-122 to the BJP and 62-85 to the Congress. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat predicted 100-110 for the BJP and 90-100 for the Congress, Times Now ETG 108-128 for the BJP and 56-72 for the Congress and Todays Chankaya gave a simple majority to the Congress. India TV-CNX put the Congress tally at 94 to 104 and the BJPs at 80-90, Republic TV-Matrize gave 115-130 seats to the BJP and 65-75 to the Congress, and P-MARQ 105-125 to the BJP and 69-91 to the Congress. Jist-TIF-NAI predicted that in Rajasthan there would be continuation of the states revolving door tradition. Read more The Congress staked claim to form the first non-BRS government in Telangana, as it crossed the magic mark of 60 seats on Sunday. All eyes are now on state unit chief A Revanth Reddy, who was accompanied by Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar as he met the governor late in the evening. Having registered a virtually unassailable lead early on, the Grand Old Party won 64 seats while the BRS emerged victorious in 39. The BJP won eight seats, including the hotly contested Kamareddy constituency; the AIMIM managed to retain all its seven seats while CPI won the single seat it contested from. After meeting the governor, Shivakumar said: We have met the governor to claim the formation of the government with 65 members in this newly elected House and we have called a meeting of the newly elected MLAs tomorrow at 9.30 am. We have a procedure in the Congress party, we will follow that The southern solace comes amid a saffron sweep of the Hindi heartland where the BJP wrested two states from its rival and retained one. Telangana becomes the second southern state in the Congress kitty in 2023, after it emerged triumphant in Karnataka in May. In his address from the BJP headquarters in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the voters of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have shown their trust in the saffron party. He also took a veiled dig at the Congress win in Telangana saying: Bharat Mata Ki (sound should reach Telangana). Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao submitted his resignation to the governor following his partys poor performance. Revanth Reddy, who led the Congress charge, finds himself on the brink of a shot at the top job. Both the heavyweights, however, were defeated by BJPs KV Ramana Reddy in the Kamareddy constituency. The BRS supremo managed to save face with a win from Gajwel. I took both of them as normal candidates. People have supported me a lot and this is the reason I won from here I have become the MLA from Kamareddy. I want to say that I am not just the MLA of 65,000 voters, but I am the MLA of 4 lakh people said KV Ramana Reddy after his win. Revanth, meanwhile, met top police officials of the state and discussed the security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony, likely on December 4 or 9. Earlier, the Election Commission sent a notice of suspension for Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar, who allegedly violated the model code by meeting the state Congress chief amid the counting of votes. Senior IPS officer Ravi Gupta has taken charge in his place. The BRS expressed disappointment over its failure to ensure a hattrick. It had formed the first government of the newly carved out Telangana in 2014 and emerged victorious in 2018 as well. Party working president and KCRs son KT Rama Rao, who won from Sircilla, said the assembly poll results were disappointing though he was not saddened. Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving BRS two consecutive terms of government. Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back, he said. (With PTI inputs) Madhya Pradeshs Budhni continues to shower its love on Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the leader won with the highest-ever victory margin and as well as the vote count. He secured over 1.64 lakh votes and won by a margin of 1.04 lakh votes. This will be Chouhans fifth victory from Budhni who has held the seat since 2006. His closest rival was television actor Vikram Matsal who was contesting from the Congress. Matsal secured 59,977 votes. Highest-ever Victory Margin In the 2006 bye-elections, Chouhan won the seats by more than 36,500 votes. In 2008, his victory margin improved to 41,525 votes. In 2013, he won the seat with his highest-ever margin of 84,805 votes. In the last election, the leader won Budhni with a margin of 58,999 votes. A margin of 1,04,974 votes is not just highest for the chief minister but also is the highest across assemblies in the state in the current election. Highest Number of Votes The highest number of votes bagged by the leader stood at 1.28 lakh that he secured in 2013. In the last election, he bagged 1.23 lakh votes. With 1,64,951 votes already in his account, the 64-year-old leader has shown his dominance not just on the seat but also in the state. Famous as Mama, he has served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh since 2005 with a small break between 2018 and 2020. He has already got the tag of the longest-serving Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of 13 in 1972. He took charge of the state as the CM in 2005 as he was also the BJP president. In December 2008, Chouhan was sworn in for his second term and in 2013 he started his third term. In 2018, when Congress bagged the assembly poll, Chouhan continued his hold over his seat. And in 2020, he got the chance to be the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for the fourth time. As of 5 pm, BJP has won 21 seats in Madhya Pradesh, and is leading in another 145. Congress is also leading in 56 seats and has won seven. A Chinese national woman was arrested at Rupaideha, Uttar Pradesh, after she was caught crossing the Indo-Nepal border illegally, officials said. The woman, who was allegedly trying to illegally cross the border to enter Nepal disguised as a Buddhist monk, was arrested by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel on Saturday, they added. According to a senior official of the SSB, the woman had a Nepalese visa on her Chinese passport, valid from November 19, 2023, to February 16, 2024, in Nepal that confirmed her arrival at the Tribhuvan Airport in Nepal. Investigations are underway to ascertain the purpose of her entry into and exit from India. Details of her travel in India are also being probed, the official said. The SSB has lodged a case under Section 4(A) of the Foreigners Act against the Chinese woman at the Rupaideha police station and the accused is being interrogated, the official added. Earlier in July last year, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) had arrested three Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in illegal money transactions. The arrests had brought the total number of Chinese nationals detained in the case to five. All three accused were apprehended in Noida. The STFs investigation revealed that the suspects were engaged in a complex money laundering scheme that involved transferring large sums of money through illegal channels. Later in October, Noida police have arrested two Chinese nationals for allegedly duping hundreds of Indians through an online video-liking scam. The fraudsters would send video links to their victims, promising to pay them Rs 40 for each like. However, after the victims liked the videos, the fraudsters would demand more money to activate their accounts and receive their payments. The scam came to light after several victims filed complaints with the police. Upon investigation, the police apprehended the two Chinese nationals involved in the scheme. Further investigation is underway to identify and arrest any other accomplices. Over 118 countries agreed to triple installed global renewable energy (RE) capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030 at the UN Climate Summit. However, India did not sign the global pledge even though it has signalled its support for clean energy at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi. It is a missed opportunity for India despite taking leadership position on tripling of renewable energy at G20. The reason for not signing the pledge is to do with some language on coal phase out, which it wasnt comfortable with. India with its growing development and energy demand needs, is not ready to commit to coal phase-down as of now, says Vibhuti Garg, Director, South Asia at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. But with or without signing the pledge, Indias 2030 energy targets imply tripling of renewable energy. So, all the effort now is for India to access technology and capital commitment from the Global North to Global South. The signatories led by the US, the UAE and the EU have also committed to doubling the annual global average rate of energy efficiency improvements from 2% to more than 4% every year until 2030. Both the goals were adopted in the New Delhi Declaration in September where India and China, which did not back the pledge on Saturday, had also agreed to make efforts towards tripling RE capacity. However, it is learnt that the COP28 pledge also included the language on the phase-down of unabated coal power as well as an end to new coal-fired power plants which does not align with developing countries dependent on coal to provide energy access to the billion-plus population. In the run-up to COP28, power minister RK Singh had reiterated that the goal is aspirational and dependent on each countrys national circumstances. Different member countries have different national circumstances. So, every country is carrying out energy transition accordingly, said Singh during the Sixth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). IS COAL THE QUESTION? There is an oblique sense that the tripling of RE must necessarily go together with phasing out of coal. India has defended its stance on coal especially as it has come to this COP where other large emitters like the US are still holding on to their gas expansion plans and EU despite the good looks on climate finance is still keeping room for gas, says Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends. With its 1.3 billion population, India relies heavily on coal to meet 55% of its energy needs. It had earlier also proposed to expand the language on phase down of coal to include oil and gas. The government has maintained that 80% of total historical carbon dioxide emissions was contributed by the developed countries and they must lead in cutting down emissions from gas and oil first. In 2022, coal accounted for about 19.5% of the US electricity generation. NEED FOR CRITICAL MINERALS, FINANCE As part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), India has already committed to achieving 50% of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. The countrys total non-fossil fuel capacity stands at 186 GW, and about 99 GW is under construction. Renewables are key to addressing the climate crisis, however, it also demands availability of critical minerals and other elements which must be affordable, accessible and available, says Manjeev Puri, Former Permanent India Representative to the UN. Experts also point out that India has so far been managing its renewable energy growth story on its own but with the tripling of RE capacity, it will require additional funding support. If the world wants the developing countries to transition, they would need more funding support through blended finance mechanisms from MDBs, green bonds, more transfers from equity investors and insurance and pension funds, says Vibhuti Garg, Director, South Asia with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. According to Ulka Kelkar, Executive Director, Climate, WRI India, Indias 2030 climate targets are of such magnitude that the country will need to build as much renewable capacity as currently exists on the entire continent of South America. The COP28 Presidency led by the oil and gas-rich UAE exhorted all parties to sign the global pledge as soon as possible to deliver the clean energy push for climate action. Earlier in the day, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber also published a summary of the series of High-Level Dialogues he co-chaired with Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). The summary outlined the need to phasedown demand and supply of fossil fuel this decade to keep 1.5C within reach. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of the impending arrival of Cyclonic Storm Michaung. The storm is expected to cross the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam on December 5, bringing with it maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 100 kmph. The storm is also likely to cause heavy rains in most parts of southern Odisha and the coastal region of the state. Michaung, named by Myanmar, meaning strength or resilience, intensified from a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday. As of 5.30 am on Sunday, the storm was centered approximately 300 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 310 km southeast of Chennai, 440 km southeast of Nellore, 550 km south-southeast of Bapatla, and 550 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam. ALSO READ: Unseasonal Rains in Parts of Gujarat, Waterlogging in Bharuch City The IMD predicts that Michaung will continue its northwestward movement, intensifying further and reaching the west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 morning. From there, the storm is expected to move almost northward, parallel to and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast, making landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam on December 5 morning. Odisha is anticipated to experience light to moderate rainfall at most places, with isolated heavy rainfall over south coastal and adjoining south interior Odisha from December 4 to 6. Isolated very heavy rainfall is also possible over the same region on December 5. The IMD has issued warnings and advisories for Odisha Orange AlertHeavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) is likely at one or two places in the five districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam on December 5. Yellow AlertHeavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) is also likely at one or two places in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Puri on December 5. Fishermen WarnedFishermen are advised not to venture into the sea until further notice due to rough to very rough sea conditions. Squally winds with speeds reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph are expected along and off the Odisha coast (Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur) from December 4 evening. These winds are likely to intensify to 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph from December 5 evening for the subsequent 12 hours, gradually decreasing thereafter. Strong surface wind speeds reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph are also likely over Malkangiri, Koraput, and Rayagada districts on December 5. The Odisha government has put all coastal and southern district collectors on alert and canceled the leave of field workers under the Agriculture department. The East Coast Railways (ECoR) has canceled the running of 54 trains in its jurisdiction due to the expected rain and wind. Tamil Nadu Gear Up For Cyclone The Tamil Nadu government is prepared to handle the potential impact of Tropical Storm Michaung, which is expected to intensify and reach the north Tamil Nadu coast on December 4 before making landfall in southern Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Heavy rainfall is anticipated on Monday and Tuesday. The government has deployed disaster response force personnel and established relief centers to accommodate residents of vulnerable areas. Relief Efforts 121 multipurpose centers and 4,967 relief camps with all basic amenities are ready in northern and other coastal regions of the state, as well as the Cauvery delta areas. In Chennai alone, 162 relief centers are operational. 714 water pumps are available for use in low-lying areas. 14 teams from the TN Disaster Response Force, comprising 350 personnel, and nine teams from the National Disaster Response Force, consisting of 225 personnel, have been stationed in coastal regions for relief and rescue operations. State and district-level emergency operation centers are functioning 24/7 with additional staff. Emergency Contact Information For assistance, one can contact the following control rooms: State: 1070 District: 1077 WhatsApp: 94458 69848 Additional Preparations Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramachandran, and Electricity Minister Thangam Thennarasu inspected the states preparedness. 1,500 electricity workers are on standby, and a stock of over 3,00,000 electricity poles is available. Requisite vehicles and machinery, such as cranes, are ready. Public Holiday and Other Measures Monday has been declared a public holiday in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts. Essential services such as milk supply and healthcare facilities will continue to operate. A total of 118 trains have been cancelled. The general public and fishermen have been alerted about the storm. Over 1,000 boats have docked at fishing harbors, including Krishnampattinam. Tropical Storm Michaungs Current Location As of Sunday evening, Tropical Storm Michaung was located about 250 km east of Puducherry, 230 km east-southeast of Chennai, and 350 km southeast of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh). The Gauhati High Court has asked the Assam government by Himanta Biswa Sarma to review the orders of all the foreign tribunals in the state. The order comes in the backdrop of a plea where petitioner, Forhad Ali, a resident of Assams Bongaigaon, was declared foreigner by a tribunal after observing that his fathers name was written different in various documents. A high court bench comprising justices Achintya Malla Bujor Barua and Mitali Thakuria said: 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 decision was passed against Ali by a Foreigners Tribunal at least four years ago. The petitioner approached the Gauhati High Court, challenging the tribunals judgment declaring him a foreigner. Recently, the High Court observed that there can be minor discrepancies in the name of a person, and this cannot be the only basis to declare a person a foreigner. The court further noted in Alis case that there must be enough evidence that the two names actually resemble different people. Earlier, the Assam government submitted an affidavit before the High Court stating that at least 85 per cent of cases where people are declared foreigners were later found to be Indian citizens. The High Court bench also voiced concern that individuals may have been labeled as foreigners in several instances without providing justification or doing a thorough analysis of the documentation in existence. The court also said that it was possible for foreigners to have been mistakenly identified as Indians by the tribunals. The Home Department was mandated by the high court to furnish tribunal verdicts based on a randomised sample. The records reveal that many of the decisions were made without providing justification or reviewing the records, even if some of them were good, reasoned orders. The court also directed the government to take appropriate measures where it was noticed that orders were passed without citing reasons or analysing materials. The result thereof shall 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 that may affect the entire state, the order further read. Meanwhile, two judges bench of the Gauhati High Court has sent the case of Ali back to the Foreigners Tribunal, directing it to re-examine all records, including voter lists, before final verdict. (with IANS inputs) Thiruvananthapuram: Noted economist Professor M Kunjaman was found dead at his residence here on Sunday, police said. He was 74. Police said he was found dead at his residence at Sreekaryam near here, and they were informed by the residents association. Kunjaman, also a Dalit rights activist, was a professor of economics at Kerala University for over two decades. In his condolence message, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kunjaman was a genius who overcame adverse social circumstances with his sheer determination. Noted for his original understandings and opinions, he had his own vision for Keralas development. His autobiography, Ethiru is a reflection of the realities of life, Vijayan said, adding that Kunjaman was a teacher with many disciples and a noted writer. The chief minister said Kunjamans death was a great loss for Kerala. The US Air Force intends to create a new aircraft fleet for nuclear war. We are talking about the so-called "Doomsday Aircraft" capable of protecting the crew and passengers from an atomic bomb explosion. ADVERTISIMENT After Boeing was excluded from the competition, the private firm Sierra Nevada Corp. is now a likely contender for a contract with the US Air Force, Reuters reports. The US Air Force, which plans to sign a contract for the construction of a new "Doomsday Aircraft" in 2024, declined to comment on whether other firms have submitted proposals. At the same time, it is known that the E-4B Nightwatch is currently the "Doomsday Aircraft" in the United States. However, it has been in use since the 1970s and its service life expires in 2030. According to budget documents, the U.S. Air Force plans to spend $889 million in fiscal year 2024 on the development of the Doomsday Plane. Another $8.3 billion will be allocated for the program until 2028. ADVERTISIMENT Today, the E-4B Nightwatch is used to transport the US Secretary of Defense. The aircraft is designed as a mobile command post capable of withstanding nuclear explosions and electromagnetic attacks, allowing senior U.S. officials to issue orders to the military in the event of an emergency. Currently, the United States has four E-4B aircraft in service, but only one of them is constantly on alert. E-4B aircraft can stay in flight for a whole week if they are refueled from the air. All equipment on board is protected from the damaging effects of a nuclear explosion. Each machine can lift a hundred people into the air. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on November 18, the French Armed Forces tested the M51.3 intercontinental strategic missile. The launch was carried out without the use of a nuclear warhead. The French Ministry of Defense said it was ready to protect the country's vital interests under any circumstances. Earlier, it was reported that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a law to revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The Kremlin said that the withdrawal of the treaty's ratification "levels the playing field in the area of nuclear testing for Russia and the United States." Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Rahuls work has beautifully encapsulated the essence of numerous notable personalities, making him a prominent name in the world of portrait photography. He has worked with many well-known A-list celebrities, including Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Virat Kohli, Hrithik Roshan, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Shubhman Gill, Tara Sutaria, Ranbir Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Aditya Roy Kapur, Athiya Shetty, Janhvi Kapoor and Ananya Pandey, to mention a few, as he photographed their red carpet looks, events and awards shows, magazine covers and brand endorsements. In this exclusive chat with News18.com, Rahul Jhangiani offers insights into his life-changing path from science student to well-known photographer. He explores the sources of inspiration that drove his change, his remarkable encounters with A-list stars, and his forays into the worlds of design, cuisine, and fitness in this interview. Excerpts from the interview: Can you tell us about your journey from being a science student to becoming a renowned celebrity photographer and now an entrepreneur? What inspired this transition? Assisting Mr. Subi Samuel, who was actually my neighbour at the time, was the moment I realised that photography was not just a hobby but my true passion. The rush I felt when capturing the perfect shot, the thrill of watching a vision come to life through the lens, and the excitement of being part of such a vibrant and dynamic industry fueled my desire to pursue photography professionally. Your portfolio boasts an impressive list of A-list celebrities youve worked with. Could you share a memorable experience or project that stands out to you from your work with these personalities? Diljit Dosanjh gave me the incredible opportunity to shoot the album cover for his upcoming international release. It was an unexpected and last-minute arrangement. The entire process of shooting Diljits album cover was an adventure in and of itself. Despite the spontaneous nature of the shoot, we were able to secure a rundown sound equipment storage facility in Mumbai, allowing us to create a unique and visually enticing backdrop. Diljits willingness to experiment and push creative boundaries always brings out the best in me as a photographer. As a celebrity and fashion photographer, how do you stay inspired and keep your work fresh? As creators, it becomes our responsibility to ensure we satisfy this inherent craving for something different, something unexpected. For me personally, travelling has emerged as my biggest source of inspiration. Setting foot in new surroundings, unfamiliar cultures, and witnessing diverse perspectives have all significantly contributed to my creative process. Youve co-founded TC1, a tech-driven fitness corporation specialising in EMS training. How did you venture into the fitness industry, and what innovations does TC1 bring to the fitness market? My friend Ishaan Verma who is a fitness enthusiast, was in talks with me for a while about a collaboration. It was his latest brainchild, TC1, that particularly impressed me. TC1 harnesses the power of modern technology by incorporating EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) into ones workout routine, enabling individuals like you and me to achieve the best results in minimal time. This revolutionary approach to fitness seeks to simplify workouts while maximising efficiency, allowing anyone to get in top shape conveniently. Youre also an investor in Metaman, the first Indian mens jewellery brand, and its affordable version, Drip Project. What motivated you to invest in this particular industry? Mens jewellery has long been an underrepresented segment in the Indian market, often overlooked or overshadowed by womens accessories. However, with changing times and evolving fashion trends, there is a growing demand for unique and stylish jewellery pieces tailored specifically for men. Having initially embarked on my journey in the fashion industry with a particular affinity for mens fashion, it was exhilarating to come across a platform like Metaman. Apart from this, you also own a restaurant called Los Cavos, which has become the celebrities favourite hangout place. Please tell us a little bit about it and what makes it stand out. Los Cavos is a Latin American restaurant in the heart of Mumbai, Bandra. The idea here was to feel completely cut off from the city and from your surroundings, and feel like you are in Latin America with the bohemian type of interiors. To make this even more ecstatic and bring authentic experiences for the people of Mumbai, we brought in chef Rafael Estremadoyro Garcia. The restaurant offers curative cocktails and Peruvian cuisine like Bachiche Ceviche, tuna tiradito, Ca-Vos-Nara, karaage chicken, veggie chaufa rice, churros and more. A camera is a photographers best friend. What is your vision and thinking when it comes to shooting something that isnt related to renowned personalities and fashion? I strongly believe that it doesnt matter whether you are shooting a renowned personality or a model. The most crucial aspect is to extract the best out of whatever subject you are working on. Every subject carries its own unique beauty and capturing it in the right way is what truly matters View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rahul Jhangiani (@rahuljhangiani) How is it for a photographer behind the lens? Especially with long-hour shoots to get just the right pictures. Time does not always play a significant role when it comes to capturing the perfect shot. Sometimes, it may take just a couple of minutes to achieve the desired result, whereas in other instances, it could take several hours. The factors that determine the duration include your comfort level with your subject and how quickly you can seize the perfect moment. So, do not worry about time constraints but rather concentrate on building a rapport with your subject and capturing those fleeting moments. There are hardships and challenges in every field; could you tell us about a few challenges you faced in the transition period? It is a normal process to face hurdles and make mistakes along the way. However, the key is to learn from these challenges and use them as opportunities for growth. Each mistake should serve as a stepping stone towards improving your skills and making your work stand out. Do not be discouraged by initial setbacks; instead, embrace them and strive to enhance your abilities. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 2023: Every year on December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed to spotlight the rights and well-being of individuals with special needs. It seeks to shed light on the disparities, both political and socio-economic, faced by people with disabilities. Collaboratively acknowledged by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, the day underscores the significance of securing the rights of specially-abled individuals so that they can participate freely and efficiently in society with others. International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023: Theme As per the official website of the United Nations, the theme of this years International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities. International Day of Persons with Disabilities: History and Significance In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Persons with Disabilities through Resolution 47/3. This day holds paramount importance as it highlights the daily challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, ranging from unequal opportunities to discrimination and a lack of empathy. Globally, panel discussions and cultural events are organised to advocate for their rights and amplify their perspectives. WHO organises an annual IDPD event at its office in Geneva to educate the public, increase awareness, push for political will and resources, and celebrate their accomplishments in the sector. The goals fall under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023: Quotes Ranbir Kapoor has left everyone completely impressed with his recent release Animal. The film has been getting an overwhelming response from critics and audiences alike. The film has crossed the Rs 100 crore mark in only two days since its release. Netizens are not only talking about the gripping storyline of the film but also the interesting characters played by the stellar star cast, including Triptii Dimri. The actress has now expressed that she would love to collaborate with Ranbir Kapoor again. Pinkvilla quoted her as saying in an interview, It was amazing working with Ranbir Kapoor. The fact that hes such a warm and welcoming human, apart from being a great actor, speaks a lot about him. She further added, It feels fantastic to see the amount of love audiences are showering on our chemistry. I hope we collaborate again in the future. In the film, Triptii plays the character of Zoya. Soon after the film was released, an image of her scene with Ranbir Kapoor went viral on social media. In the viral image, both actors could be seen lying on a bed, with Ranbir resting his head on Triptis stomach in what appeared to be a post-coital scene. Triptii was shown covering her breasts with her hands. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Central Board of Film Certification gave the film an Adults Only (A) certificate and asked director Sandeep Reddy Vanga to make five changes. One of the changes they had asked the team to make was to reduce the length of the intimate scenes. In the certificate leaked online, one of the pointers read, Modified the intimate visuals of Vijay and Zoya by deleting the close-up shots at TCR 02:28:37. Animal is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and revolves around a father and sons toxic relationship. While Anil Kapoor plays the emotionally unavailable father, Ranbir plays the role of the traumatised, angry son. The film also features Rashmika Mandanna and Bobby Deol in key roles. Shah Rukh Khan said that the new Dunki song, Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se, made him miss his parents. The song was released last week as Dunki Drop 3. The song showed the struggles of Shah Rukhs character to cross boundaries and land in the destination of their dreams. The song had many social media users, especially NRIs emotional. Shah Rukh on Saturday revealed even he was emotional and missed his parents after he heard the song for the first time. The superstar made the confession during an Ask SRK session. Sir this song made me remember my home did u feel the same when u heard it first? a fan asked. Shah Rukh gave a candid reply. Yes it really makes me think about my parentsmy Delhi days.friends made and lost in time. Very emotional #Dunki, he said. Yes it really makes me think about my parentsmy Delhi days.friends made and lost in time. Very emotional #Dunki https://t.co/v13BWIn1CE Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 2, 2023 In another tweet, Shah Rukh added that he misses his parents. The actor, who was raised in Delhi, was asked if he has any childhood memories from the city. Sir aapko dilli ki yaad aati hai kya? Apne bachpan ke baare mein bataiye na? a fan said. SRK replied, Main toh Abhi bhi Bachaa hoon. Had a lovely childhood and I do miss my parents a lot. Shah Rukh was born in 1965 to Mir Taj Mohammed Khan, an Indian independence activist from Peshawar, and Lateef Fatima Khan. His father died in 1981 following a battle with cancer. On the other hand, his mother died in 1991 from complications of diabetes. Shah Rukh also has a sister, Shehnaz Lalarukh Khan. Shah Rukh has often spoken about his family over the years. Meanwhile, Dunki is slated to release on Christmas. The film is set to clash with Prabhas Salaar. Veer Pahariya and Harnaaz Sandhu sparked dating rumours earlier this year when they made a joint appearance at the grand launch of the Jio World Plaza in Mumbai. The duos shared presence at the event has ignited speculation about their relationship, setting the internet abuzz. Now, the Miss Universe has fueled speculations again after dropping some comments on his Instagram post. Redditors noticed that Harnaaz often drops hearts and appreciative comments under Veers photos. A compilation of the same has gone viral on the micro-blogging site. Under one of Veers photos, Harnaaz wrote, There is only one king in the jungle. She dropped heart emojis under other photos of the actor. The post on Reddit went viral in no time and netizens took to the comments section to express their hot take. One person wrote, I guess they are dating cuz him and Janhvi Kapoor comment on Harnaazs post as well! Another person wrote, Oh Yess I noticed I think they are dating. Another added, Maybe they are doing a project together. Earlier, Veer was said to be dating Sara Ali Khan. Karan Johar had hinted at their relationship in an episode of Koffee with Karan 7. Veer is the brother of Shikhar Pahariya, who is currently said to be dating Janhvi Kapoor. The brothers are former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shindes maternal grandsons. Meanwhile, on the work front, Veer Pahariya is gearing up to make his acting debut in Bollywood in Akshay Kumars Sky Force. Sky Force is said to revolve around Indias first air strike on Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. As October 2 marks the former Prime Ministers birth anniversary, Akshay Kumar unveiled the first announcement regarding the film on the date this year. We were all prepared for the humbling of the BJP. The Congress, influential pundits and even the Exit polls had predicted an insipid BJP performance in this round of assembly elections. But it didnt pan out like it was predicted, has it? The BJP surprised and how. The saffron party has bagged 3 out of the 4 large states and poured cold water all over what was to be Congresss coming out party before 2024. The triumph is even more remarkable when one considers that in Madhya Pradesh (where it has been in power for 19 years) and Chhattisgarh the BJP has scored its best-ever tally. In Rajasthan, the Congress has been left to rue what could have been as the decidedly disorganized BJP pulled up its socks, literally at the last moment. Even in Telangana where it is relegated to the third place the BJP has more than doubled its vote share and pocketed 10 seats. By pulling off a grand victory against massive odds Prime Minister Modi has shattered 5 myths. Myth 1: Brand Modi is imploding After the Himachal and Karnataka elections the consensus among the Opposition was that Modi was no longer capable of rescuing the BJP. That his connection with voters had weakened despite BJPs felicity at image management". Perhaps keen to nip this perception in the bud, the Prime Minister made the surprise decision to visibly turn the election into a referendum upon himself. This was an act of pure bravado. Even supporters of the BJP would agree that in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan the BJP was looking decidedly jaded and by putting himself virtually on the ticket Modi was taking a huge risk. In Madhya Pradesh, the situation was even more dire as the BJP was facing anti-incumbency and had clawed to power through the back door in 2019 after initially losing the election. The BJP was so unsure of its satraps that it didnt even project a chief ministerial face in any of these states. But in the end Modi ki Guarantee" (BJPs campaign slogan) was enough for the voters. With the result endorsing the durability of PMs brand appeal only the very brave will bet against the BJP sweeping 2024. Myth 2: Rural poor are yearning for change Economists of a certain stripe and the BJPs political opponents never stop selectively citing data to establish that Modis NDA has let down the poor. Long obituaries have been written on how rural discontent is going to spell the end for the BJP in 2024. But the facts show that the BJP has won handsomely in rural seats in this round of elections. In Madhya Pradesh, out of a total of 194 rural seats the BJP won 137. In Rajasthan, out of 174 rural seats the BJP won 97. Clearly, the conversion rate proves that there is no significant rural anger against the BJP. Presumably the NDAs targeted welfare schemes are having a palliative impact. Myth 3: Enhanced Quota lifeline urgently needed for vulnerable castes The Opposition was counting heavily on winning votes by promising a caste census. The Opposition hoped that the promise of a caste survey would help it hand out sops, euphemistically dubbed haq" (right) linked to the real abaadi" (population) of the Backward Classes. Rahul Gandhi and his alliance cohorts believe that the quotas are needed because the BJPs sabka saath promise is a hollow one. The Gandhi scion alleged that the BJPs inherently upper caste bias leaves out the most vulnerable minorities. But this allegation has also not found takers. EBCs, SCs and STs who are perhaps most economically and socially vulnerable and would have stood to gain the most from enhanced quotas, have voted for the BJP in the Hindi belt. In Madhya Pradesh the BJP won 51 of 67 OBC seats and 27 of 47 tribal seats. In Chhattisgarh the BJP won 5 of 10 SC seats and 19 of 29 tribal seats. In Rajasthan, the BJP has done even better by wresting 58 of 107 OBC seats and 12 of 25 tribal seats. The support for the BJP among these sections is proof that voters are aspirational and prefer empowerment over largesse. More than that, voters recognise that social stability is linked to economic well-being. Hopefully, after voters have snubbed attempts to fan the fires of destabilizing competitive identity-based caste politics the Opposition will now abandon the idea. Myth 4: BJP pays lip-service to Women voters The BJPs wins have established that the over whelming turnout of women voters in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan was an expression of their belief in Modis Guarantees". In MP, for instance, 18.3 lakh women voters cast their ballots, 2% more than last time. In Rajasthan, they have also pipped the men to the ballot. The BJP was the first to spot the trend and has for years cultivated women labharthees (beneficiaries) to take it from strength to strength. Almost every welfare scheme unveiled by the BJP at the central or state level has a female component. Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh made it a point to address women as laadli behenas" (adored sisters), a play on several laadli behena welfare schemes. Responding to the Opposition for pulling him up for not enthusiastically championing the caste census, the Prime Minister cleverly proclaimed that, for him, the foremost caste in India is that of women. Gender, of course, is a primary identity and cuts across all castes. Women voters have reciprocated the PMs sentiment shattering another Opposition spun myth. Myth 5: North-South electoral divide is deepening under BJP It is true that the BJP has not yet been able to win the South like it has swept the North. But to cite this to suggest that the South is alienated from the NDA is to advance an invidious thesis. As things stand, the BJP has 29 Lok Sabha seats in the South compared to the Congress partys 30. Results from Telangana show that the BJPs acceptability is growing incrementally. Almost 14% per cent of the vote has been cornered by the BJP. This is double the share it secured in 2018. The enhanced vote share has translated into a gain of 9 seats for the BJP in the state. In other southern states, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, there has been a rapid spurt in its membership. History has shown that ideologically based parties take more time to translate support into electoral gain. Just as laddoos arrived at 24, Akbar Road from the Bengali Market, the counting trends began to flash on the TV screens. Within an hour and a half, laddoos were hurriedly packed and returned. The Congress hopes of netting three states were dashed, clouding and eclipsing the partys one of the best and most spectacular performances in Telangana. The Congress confidence in retaining Chhattisgarh, winning Madhya Pradesh and even staying in power in Rajasthan was so overwhelming that ordering laddoos was considered the most befitting thing. In fact, a search was on, for a suitable word to dub Mallikarjun Kharge, the 88th president of the AICC, as the most auspicious leader for the grand old party. Kharge had a book released on him a few days ago, where some speakers had projected him as a future prime minister. Bravado apart, the Congress has reasons to blame itself for the severe poll debacle in the Hindi heartland. The partys religious outreach programme failed miserably in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Voters were neither interested nor attracted towards Kamal Nath projecting himself as a devout Hanuman bhakt or a Sanatan Dharmi. They displayed a similar attitude towards Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghels thrust for the Ram Gaman Path, cow dung purchase schemes, etc. Organisationally, the Congress central leadership allowed a free hand to Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel without having any checks or accountability. The partys in-house election management mechanism was nowhere in sight. Rahul Gandhis plank of the caste-based census and reservations was not debated or discussed within the party, yet Rahul went on talking about it in every election meeting. It is interesting that the state leadership of the Congress in the three states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh did not make the caste quota a key electoral issue. This was perhaps due to the fact that the party lacked effective OBC leaders and good orators to make it a talking point. The plank had an adverse impact on the upper caste. Similarly, Priyanka Gandhis move to attack Jyotiraditya Scindia galvanised his supporters and cadre who were reportedly unhappy with the BJPs ticket distribution. Scindia himself worked tirelessly to make BJP nominees win in order to blunt the impact of Priyankas jibe. In Rajasthan, the biggest culprit seems to be Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot himself. He is the singular reason why the Congress lost in Rajasthan and performed so miserably. Gehlot, the magician, would go down in history as the only leader in the country and across parties under whose leadership, the Congress party has never won but lost elections thrice i.e. in 2003, 2013 and 2023. He has a history of performing badly, and in fact, the Congress was reduced to 21 seats in 2013, the worst-ever defeat of the party in Rajasthan. He is also an exception as he became a chief minister when elections were fought under different leaders, like Paras Ram Madrena in 1998, CP Joshi in 2008, and Sachin Pilot in 2018, thanks to manipulation and machinations of the old guard. Gehlots survival instincts were legendary. On September 25, 2022, he defied the Congress leadership by refusing to hold a CLP meeting in Jaipur where Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken were AICC observers. Gehlot remained unscathed for some inexplicit reasons till the last day in office. This was more glaring, considering in Jaipur, he remained unpopular among his own council of ministers and leaned heavily on a small band of coterie. In fact, trust remained in short supply between September 25, 2022, and December 3, 2023, between him and the AICC headquarters, 24 Akbar Road. There were many complaints about some of his close aides as a section of the bureaucracy, ministers and party MLAs had alleged ill-treatment from Gehlots coterie. The role of a poll strategist was also often brought into question. There were question marks over the design of Gehlots election campaign with allegations that tag lines such as Congress phir se sounded much like Rajasthan 2018 BJP tagline BJP phir se. A similar tagline kaho dil se, BJP phir se was used in the 2012 Himachal Pradesh campaign by the BJP. On the day when the manifesto was launched with the Congress promising to provide a gas cylinder for Rs 400, the ad issued by the agency mentioned it for Rs 500 in a prominent Hindi daily published from Jaipur. The December 3, 2023, Assembly election results would haunt Congress for a long time. The defeat in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh has obscured the partys grand success in Hyderabad. The Congress in Telangana has managed to stage a comeback, handing over power to a regional force. This sort of comeback has been eluding the party in Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Odisha and a number of other states. The writer is a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. A well-known political analyst, he has written several books, including 24 Akbar Road and Sonia: A Biography. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. The Assembly poll results in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have thrust the Congress party and the broader Opposition alliance into a precarious position. Though the Congress has secured a victory in Telangana, the electoral drubbing in the Hindi heartland has put a big question mark on the prospect of the grand old party and the INDIA alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While the Congress secured a victory in Telangana, providing a silver lining, the overall implications for the larger political landscape are disconcerting. The dismal showing by the Congress party jeopardises its standing within the Opposition alliance. The party had anticipated playing a pivotal role in the alliances dynamics, but these election results suggest a shift in the political winds. Other parties, such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Samajwadi Party (SP), are now less likely to accord the Congress the prominent position it had envisioned. This electoral setback poses numerous challenges for the Congress and the Opposition alliance at large. Questions about their continued existence, future trajectory, and overall credibility loom large in the wake of this disappointing performance. The Congress must now navigate a complex landscape to regain political relevance and re-establish its role within the broader Opposition framework. The electoral outcomes have provided a fascinating window into the intricate web of complexities and hurdles that await the Opposition alliance and the Congress party in their arduous endeavour to dethrone the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the cacophony of Indian politics, where alliances are forged and shattered in the blink of an eye, the INDIA alliance stands as a beacon of hope for those opposing the ruling party. Fragile Edifice of the INDIA Alliance In traversing the intricate terrain of the Opposition alliance, the primary challenge lies in the formidable task of upholding unity among its diverse constituents. The INDIA alliance, a convergence of regional parties championing distinct agendas and aspirations, confronts the imperative of identifying common ground to present a strong and cohesive front against the ruling party. The lacklustre performance of the Congress in the Assembly elections further complicates matters, introducing potential challenges to seat-sharing agreements within the alliance. The effectiveness of the alliance in formulating and executing a coherent strategy critically depends on maintaining this unity. Without it, the alliance risks veering towards a cacophony of conflicting interests, significantly diminishing its ability to mount a robust challenge against the ruling party. Within the alliance are regional powerhouses, each holding sway over its own political domain and dedicated voter base. This diversity contributes both strength and volatility to the coalition. Preserving the delicate equilibrium required to bind these disparate parties demands a careful tightrope walk, calling for leaders with adeptness and diplomatic finesse. The emergence of even the slightest fissures in this unity poses a dual threat: not only does it imperil the alliances electoral prospects, but it also presents the ruling party with a golden opportunity to capitalise on internal discord within the Opposition ranks. The Congress Problem In the aftermath of the state elections, the Congress finds itself grappling with a myriad of challenges that underscore its deficiencies in narrative, credibility, and leadership. The abysmal performance serves as a stark reminder that the party is at a crossroads, facing an uphill battle for relevance and acceptance. The critical question now looms over the Opposition alliance, with rival political parties hesitating to extend leverage to the Congress in terms of seat-sharing. The lacklustre display has prompted scepticism among these parties regarding Congresss ability to lead and contribute meaningfully to the Opposition front. AAP and the TMC, among others, are unlikely to acquiesce to the idea of Congress taking centre stage, particularly in states like Delhi, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. The disastrous outcome underscores a narrative and leadership crisis within the Congress, eroding its standing as a credible alternative in the eyes of the electorate. The prevailing sentiment is that the people of the country no longer perceive Congress as a viable option. It is imperative to recognise that several Opposition parties, such as the AAP, TMC, RJD, and DMK have demonstrated a more robust ability to contest against the BJP in their respective states. The recent performance of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, while not resulting in victory, raises no questions about Akhilesh Yadavs leadership and the partys spirited fight against the BJP. This stark contrast in performance raises concerns about Congress diminishing capability to even retain its own stronghold states. The alarming political situation surrounding the party has wider implications, casting a shadow on the cohesion and future of the Opposition alliance. As the dust settles on the state election outcomes, the very foundation of the INDIA alliance is called into question. The onus is now on the Congress to introspect, regroup, and present a compelling narrative to regain the trust and confidence of both its alliance partners and the electorate. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, and the party must navigate it with strategic foresight to remain a formidable force in Indian politics. Possible Leadership Crisis Within Crisis The recent underwhelming performance of the Congress in the Assembly elections may prove to be the tipping point that triggers a profound leadership crisis within the grand old party. Already contending with internal dissensions, this setback has the potential to exacerbate existing challenges and plunge the Congress into a period of internal turmoil. The implications of such a crisis extend far beyond the confines of Congress itself. The Opposition alliance, already treading on shaky ground, is now at risk of further destabilisation. A fractured Congress leadership could erode the alliances ability to present a cohesive and united front against the ruling party, rendering it vulnerable in the face of political adversaries. Despite its storied history, the Congress is not impervious to the evolving political landscape. The erosion of its support base in key states not only weakens the partys electoral standing but also jeopardises the very bedrock upon which the Opposition alliance is built. The ramifications of Congress electoral decline extend beyond its own fortunes, reverberating across the larger political spectrum. A leadership crisis within the Congress would not merely redirect the partys focus inward; it could also cast a looming shadow of uncertainty over its commitment to the broader Opposition cause. The cohesion of the Opposition alliance relies heavily on a strong and stable Congress, making any internal discord a cause for collective concern. As the Congress grapples with the aftermath of the electoral setback, the Opposition alliance faces the formidable challenge of finding a unifying leader from within its ranks. In the absence of a central figure, the potential for competing ambitions among various leaders may introduce an element of chaos, making it even more challenging for the alliance to present a united front. In these uncertain times, the Congress must navigate the treacherous waters of internal discord with a keen awareness of its broader impact. The Opposition alliance, in turn, must brace itself for the challenges ahead and strategise to overcome the fallout from the Congress electoral woes. The political landscape is evolving, and how the Congress addresses its leadership crisis will undoubtedly shape the course of Opposition politics in the foreseeable future. Confusion in Strategy: The Achilles Heel of Opposition As the Opposition alliance grapples with the intricacies of unity and the Congress contends with its electoral challenges, a more insidious enemy lurks within: the lack of a coherent and consensus-driven strategy. The Oppositions current strategy, which is characterised by ambiguity and uncertainty, poses a threat to the alliances effectiveness. The absence of a unified strategy has left Opposition members and voters alike perplexed. The failure to present a clear and compelling narrative on key issues has eroded the alliances credibility. Whether on economic policies, social justice, or foreign relations, the Oppositions lack of consensus has created a void, allowing the ruling party to dictate the narrative. The current strategy, or lack thereof, only deepens the existing doubts among voters about the Oppositions ability to govern cohesively. As the Opposition political parties grapple with these internal fissures, a pressing question looms large: whether they will prioritise formulating a seat-sharing strategy or contend with the lingering hesitancy, confusion, and a perceived high-handed attitude from the Congress. The intricate dance of political negotiations continues, with the Opposition still navigating the tumultuous terrain of internal consensus. Strategic Missteps and Lost Momentum Within the Oppositions own fold, there is a chorus of criticism directed at the current strategic approach. The conspicuous lack of coherence and coordination among the alliance partners has sown seeds of confusion and doubt, dealing a severe blow to the overall effectiveness of their campaign endeavours. This strategic disarray, compounded by a palpable loss of momentum, paints a picture of an Opposition that finds itself adrift, its initial fervour fading into the background. The defeat of the Congress in three major states also raises questions about the credibility of the party and the Opposition alliance. The uphill climb to regain momentum and craft a compelling narrative poses a formidable challenge for the Opposition. In contrast, the BJP, leveraging its formidable resources and adept messaging, consistently outshines its rivals in the ongoing battle for public opinion. To break free from this cycle of ineffectiveness, the Opposition must go beyond mere criticism and proactively articulate a clear and coherent vision for the future of India. Such a vision should resonate deeply with the aspirations of the electorate, offering a stark contrast to the ruling partys narrative. The clock is ticking, and the Oppositions ability to rekindle enthusiasm and present a compelling alternative will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of the upcoming political landscape. Difficult Future In the intricate tapestry of Indian politics, the challenges confronting the INDIA alliance and the Congress party transcend the immediate electoral arena. The imperative to maintain unity, the Congress central role within the alliance, the looming threat of electoral setbacks triggering a leadership crisis, the absence of a cohesive strategy, and the waning momentum collectively form a daunting obstacle. The path forward necessitates a profound re-evaluation of political strategies and a proactive approach to address internal fractures. The Congress, positioned as the linchpin of the alliance, must deftly navigate its internal dynamics to emerge not as a source of discord but as a unifying force. The INDIA alliance, with its latent potential, stands at a pivotal juncture in history. The decisions taken in the ensuing months will not merely shape the fate of the Opposition in the next elections but will wield a profound influence on the trajectory of Indian politics for years to come. The challenges are monumental and commensurate with the high stakes at play. This juncture poses a litmus test for leadership, strategy, and resiliencea defining moment that will ascertain whether the Opposition can metamorphose from a fragmented coalition into a cohesive force capable of steering the nation in a new direction. In the labyrinth of political dynamics, the Opposition stands at a crucial crossroads, teetering on the edge of historical pitfalls. The peril lies in affording the Congress and the Gandhi family an unequivocal influence, as this path threatens to echo the regrettable narrative of previous governance failures. The aftermath of the recent state election unequivocally signals that the Congress is haemorrhaging credibility at an alarming pace, rendering it an arduous task to mend the inflicted wounds before the impending 2024 general elections. It is imperative for the Opposition to glean valuable lessons from the annals of history to avert a replication of past mistakes and forge a more promising trajectory forward. The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. He tweets at @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. In June 2013, a mid-day cloudburst centred on Uttarakhand caused devastating floods and landslides, becoming the countrys worst natural disaster ever. More than 4,500 villages were washed away and, while the official death toll was put at 6,054 people, it is said over 20,000 people were killed in the catastrophe it could have been averted if the then Manmohan Singh-led Congress government had taken the necessary precautions in time. Even after the devastation and destruction, people of Uttarakhand were left to fend for themselves with Sonia Gandhis kitchen cabinet turning a Nelsons eye to the annihilation of Uttarakhand and its beautiful people. A man-made disaster was portrayed as a natural disaster and worse still, administrative inefficiency of the erstwhile Congress duo of Sonia-Singh was not even held accountable. But that is hardly surprising. The Congress has a horrifying history of turning a blind eye to crises of any form or magnitude. More recently, between August and October, due to torrential rains and landslides, 74 people were killed in Himachal Pradesh and 40 people died in Karnataka, both Congress-ruled states. Could the death toll have been averted? Yes. Despite repeated warnings from weather bureaus, the Congress regimes in these two states chose to ignore the weather department and put citizens at peril. It is, therefore, nothing short of rabid hypocrisy when the Congress chooses to question the BJP on its track record in terms of crisis management. While in 2013, Uttarakhand, under an incompetent Congress was thrown into utter chaos, under the double-engine BJP government in 2023, it has shown to the world how adversity and a potential disaster can be surmounted by super-efficient leadership that thinks and acts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves unconditional plaudits for not only overseeing a very tricky operation by virtue of being the head of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), but more importantly, bringing this rescue operation to fruition without a single life lost. All 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand since November 12 were successfully rescued 17 days later. The collapse occurred in the under-construction tunnel due to debris falling in a 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side. Excellent coordination between government bodies and Centre Immediate mobilisation of resources by the BJP government in Uttarakhand and the Modi government at the Centre ensued, to rescue the 41 trapped labourers. Initially opting for a 900 mm pipe through the debris, safety concerns led to the exploration of multiple rescue options simultaneously. The area of entrapment, measuring 8.5 metres in height and 2 km in length, was the built-up portion of the tunnel, offering safety to the labourers with available electricity and water supply. Five agencies ONGC, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCL) were assigned specific responsibilities, working collaboratively with occasional task adjustments for operational efficiency. The NHIDCL is a fully owned company of the government while RVNL is an extended arm of the ministry of railways. The THDCL is under the ownership of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited ((NTPC), ministry of power. Similarly, SJVNL is also a public sector undertaking. The limited point is simply this the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation was a resounding success due to the excellent coordination between various government bodies and the role of the Centre, therefore, has been integral to the success of this exceptional rescue operation, which has received international applause. Despite minor technical glitches, the challenging Himalayan terrain and unforeseen emergencies over the course of 16 to 17 days, this rescue operation has to be one of the biggest, most difficult, most challenging and yet the most successful of its kind. It requires the ability to take calculated risks, dedication to the cause and unwavering commitment and compassion to do what Prime Minister Modis team did. Extraordinary crisis management under highly extenuating circumstances has been the hallmark of the prime ministers office (PMO) and the Modi government. Various government agencies worked tirelessly on assigned specific tasks to ensure the safe evacuation of the workers. National and international experts were called in to advise. The PMO maintained constant communication to boost the morale of those trapped. Freshly cooked food and fresh fruits, dry fruits, salts and medicines were being sent inside at regular intervals. Modified communication system with wire connectivity developed by SDRF was used for communication regularly. Multiple methods adopted to rescue workers The auger drilling started at midnight on November 22 but was halted due to a metallic object (lattice girder rib) being encountered in front of the pipe, which could not be inserted further. Cutting of metallic objects (lattice girder rib) using gas cutters was completed in the interim. Once obstructions were observed, auger drilling was halted. Thereafter, manual cutting of auger in small pieces by gas cutting and taking it out from inside the pipe (800 mm) was adopted. Besides vertical drilling at the Silkyara end, horizontal drilling from the Barkot side was also done. The THDCL initiated the construction of a rescue tunnel from the Barkot end, with four blasts complete in the process. Perpendicular-horizontal drilling by RVNL was also undertaken. Equipment for micro tunneling required for horizontal drilling was brought from Nashik and Delhi to Uttarakhand. Access road of 1,150 metres was completed by BRO in record time and handed over to RVNL. Machine for drilling was towed to location by BRO. Electric connection was provided to RVNL. Vertical drilling toward Barkot end was done by ONGC. Air drilling rig machine from Indore was brought to site. Drift tunnel by manual semi-mechanised method by joint teams of THDCL/army/Coal India and NHIDCL were pressed into action. Road cutting and supportive work by BRO was undertaken. The BRO completed construction of approach roads for vertical drilling by SJVNL and RVNL. An approach road was also built for ONGC, with geological surveys conducted. The BRO is a statutory body under the defence ministry. PM Modis relentless commitment to shramiks Digressing from the Silkyara tunnel rescue for a bit and speaking of workers, the PMs relentless commitment to shramiks (workers) has been repeatedly showcased. One such instance was Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY), launched in September 2023, which will equip craftspeople with the technology to augment their skills for the modern market. The first phase of the Rs 5,400-crore state-of-the-art India International Convention and Expo Centre, named Yashobhoomi at Dwarka in New Delhi, was also launched in September to further boost this initiative of harnessing skills of traditional craftsmen and women, so as to generate productive employment. Today, I dedicate Yashobhoomi to every labourer, every Vishwakarma of the nation, Modi had said. We are living at a time when there is such a government in the country that provides recognition and help to marginalised people, he added. The Vishwakarma scheme aims at enhancing the accessibility and quality of products and services offered by traditional artisans and craftspeople. The scheme offers collateral-free enterprise development loans of Rs 1 lakh (first tranche to be repaid in 18 months) and Rs 2 lakh (second tranche to be repaid in 30 months). A concessional rate of interest of 5 percent will be charged from the beneficiary, with interest subvention cap of 8 percent to be paid by the ministry of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The credit guarantee fee will be borne by the Modi government. Speaking of Yashobhoomi, Modi said the conference tourism sector, estimated at Rs 25 lakh crore, presents a massive opportunity for India. With a total project area of over 8.9 lakh sq m and built up area of more than 1.8 lakh sq m, Yashobhoomi will find its place among the worlds largest MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) facilities, he said. Yashobhoomi has the complete ecosystem for organising conferences and exhibitions and will provide job opportunities to several lakh people. Through the Yashobhoomi convention centre alone, lakhs of youth are expected to secure employment opportunities, the PM had said. Yashobhoomi is also being connected to the Delhi Airport Metro Express line, with the inauguration of a new metro station Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25. Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Warped priorities of Rajiv Gandhi-led government Moving away from Yashobhoomi, let us go back in time to 1984. In 1984, the horrifying Bhopal gas tragedy left millions dead and homeless as well as thousands disabled, maimed and diseased for life. The prime minister then was none other than Rajiv Gandhi, father of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi. Instead of bringing to book the guilty, Rajiv Gandhi gave safe passage to Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson and that, too, within barely four days of the tragedy. This clearly shows how warped Rajiv Gandhis priorities were. He, in fact, secured the release of Adil Shahryar from the erstwhile Ronald Reagan dispensation, in lieu of handing over Anderson to the US. Adil is the son of Mohammad Yunus, an Indian civil servant and former ambassador to Turkey, Indonesia, Iraq and Spain. Yunus, let it be known, was a close friend of not only Rajiv Gandhi but also an associate of his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru and his mother Indira Gandhi. Adil was found guilty on five occasions, including arson, felony and fraud, by a Florida district court and had been sentenced to 35 years in prison. To cut a long story short, to secure the safe release of Adil Shahryar, Rajiv Gandhi ignored the pain, suffering and destruction faced by millions of Indians in the Bhopal gas tragedy and ensured Andersons escape. To say he had blood on his hands would not be incorrect. PM Modi, eternal karmayogi and unrelenting paropkaari Coming back to crisis management, there is none like Modi. From Operation Raahat and Operation Maitri in 2015, where thousands of Indians stranded in Yemen and Nepal were safely rescued, to Operation Devishakti in 2021 where Indians were rescued from Afghanistan and Operation Ganga in 2022, where thousands of Indian students were rescued from Ukraine Modis commitment by always putting India and Indians first, is extraordinary. In 2023, yet again, be it Operation Kaveri to rescue Indians from Sudan or Operation Dost to rescue Indians from Syria and Turkey, or for that matter Operation Ajay to rescue Indians from Israel, the Modi governments humanitarian efforts and decision to never give up on any Indian in any part of the world, is an ode to what committed leadership is made of. And needless to add, Modi is that leader, a paropkaari, whose work speaks for itself. In the final analysis, disaster management is not everyones cup of tea. Crisis makes us make decisions based on results and not what is right, said Janna Cachola. But, it was never a tough choice for Modi when the lives of 41 workers were at stake. He was clear from the beginning that nothing else mattered only that every single life was precious. There was never any if or but playing on his mind. When faced with an unprecedented crisis, he made decisions both right and also driven by the right results. Eventually, the Silkyara success story stands as a symbol of human resilience, endurance and faith; but most of all, it is about what outstanding leadership can achieve. That leader in this case is Modi, the eternal karmayogi and the unrelenting paropkaari. (Sanju Verma is an economist, national spokesperson of the BJP and bestselling author of The Modi Gambit) In his slim but stately work, Military History of India, Acharya Jadunath Sarkar has commandeered a lasting maxim as far as the military geography of Bharatavarsha is concerned, Geography has laid down some inexorable laws for the time and manner of conducting military operations in our country. Because the maxim is so straightforward and commonsensical, its centrality in deciding the fortunes of Bharatavarsha at critical junctures in our history has been overlooked for the most part. Geography is also war because terrain dictates both strategy and tactics. Intertwined with terrain is climate. Combined, they author and alter history, and nowhere is this more pronounced than in India. And so, we humbly echo the profound question the Acharya asked himself more than sixty years ago: What is the practical use of the study of the history of military geography to a soldier of today? Is it an unprofitable act of pedantry? And he answers: No; for if it were so, an intensely practical nation like the English would not have found chairs of military history nor made the military historian a necessary member of a Staff College. The Navy is the senior service in Great Britain, and the importance of military history in its proper functioning is clearly set forth in discussing the life of Sir Herbert Richmond, an experienced admiral and erudite scholar, who may well be called the Mahan of England. History [is] not an end in itself, but as a means of learning something about strategy Seeing clearly the need to evolve a doctrine of war if the Navys effort was not to be wasted when the test came, Richmond was an enthusiastic advocate of the creation of a Naval Staff. (This was done by Mr. Churchill in 1912 and Richmond was appointed to it as Assistant Director of Operations next year. The World War came on 4th August, 1914). Indeed, Jadunath Sarkar had accurately grasped the pulse of the matter. Sometime in the mid-19th century, Lord Canning proudly boasted that India would firmly remain under Englands stranglehold as long as our Naval superiority in both Europe and the Indian Seas remained intact. In fact, there is a crying to study the manner in which the centuries-old Indian naval prowess was criminally squandered away by the Mughals to the great delight of European powers. The indomitable naval Kshatra warrior-power built up, buttressed, and sustained by the Gupta and the Chola Empires had sunk into the decadence unleashed by Muslim rule. Thus, even as early as Jahangirs rule, substantial maritime territories in and around the Bengal region were usurped by the Dutch, Portuguese and the British. But to summarise a long story, the patriot and nationalist in Jadunath Sarkar offers a precise but humble explanation for the aforementioned study: This is a civilians sufficient apologia for venturing into this field. There is a practical necessity why the wars of India in the past ages should be studied by the soldiers and sailors who are to defend the free India today. It must be remembered that Sarkar wrote this treatise about fifteen years after India attained political independence and was dangerously perched on the edge of a skirmish with China. The Military Geography of Bharatavarsha To the inherited Hindu civilisational consciousness, the sacred geography of Bharatavarsha is broadly divided into two parts: Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha. This geography was and to a large extent, is still unified by a shared spiritual culture and life-ideals where political boundaries were secondary at best. In general, Uttarapatha signifies the entire region north of the Vindhya Range, which included the whole of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Dakshinapatha was the whole region lying south of the Vindhyas. The topographical layout of Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha are distinguished more by dissimilarity than resemblance. Uttarapatha Three features in the geography of Uttarapatha stand out in a pronounced fashion. The first is the non-contiguous, federated network of awesome snow-clad mountain ranges crowned by the familiar natural fortress of the Himalayan Range, the guardian of northern India since the dawn of its civilisation. The Sulaiman Range closes the Himalayan bracket on the northwestern frontier sloping down to the mouth of the Sindhu River, which empties out into the Arabian Sea. Running roughly parallel to this range and situated well within mainland India is the dwarfish Aravali Range that overlooks Delhi at its northern end. A free fall from the Aravali Range lands the fortunate soul atop one of the peaks of the imposing Vindhyan Range, the scarped blanket that covers Central India from west to east and divides the Indian peninsula. Vindhya. The natural separator of Bharatavarsha into Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha. Its southwestern tip, separated by the fertile and gorgeous Narmada Valley, is where the Satpura Range begins and ascends and expands eastwards into an enchanting lushness, until it is rudely cut off at the Baghelkhand Plateau. The second feature is the collection of hostile playgrounds of nature strewn with deserts, plateaus and interminable stretches of hard, bare rocks and scorching treeless terrains, all of which fall under the suzerainty of these mountain ranges. The Marusthali or the Thar Desert directly parallel to the Aravali Range, and the barren Rann of Kutch to its southwest have sustained their fame of being inhospitable. The Madhya Bharat Pathar (Plateau) situated at the western opposite of the Vindhya Range is a rugged terrain dotted by boulders and scarps and threatening ravines. The third and the most important feature in the geography of Uttarapatha is where the cradle of the Sanatana Civilisation birthed itself, to borrow a philosophical maxim from Vedanta. Our culture and civilisation began as the refined fruits of eons of spiritual contemplation carried on in the quiet and undisturbed caves and crevices of the Himalayan Range. From a contemporary perspective, this is the vast and magnificent geographical umbrella that shelters and nurtures a 3300-kilometre expanse from Calcutta in the East to Karachi in the West. The journey which begins at Calcutta first slopes upwards, reaches Patna, moves west, touches Varanasi and then Prayaga, and travels further northwest passing through Agra and then hits Delhi and from there, climbs upwards to the northwest and culminates at Lahore. From Lahore, it slopes downwards to reach Multan before ending its journey in Karachi. Jadunath Sarkar describes this entire terrain in his patented majesty: From Calcutta to Lahore the distance is 1,300 miles and yet the difference in height above sea-level between these two cities is only a thousand feet, or in other words the ground rises only nine inches in one mile of road This would not be surprising in the Bengal Delta, but a thousand miles upcountry from Calcutta, the ground formation is the same in the Delhi district. The river Jamuna enters the district at a height of some 710 feet (at the north end) and leaves it at about 630 feet above sea level, with a course within the Delhi limits of rather over 90 miles and the average fall of between ten and eleven inches to the mile. This is the Great Indian Fertile Plain, home to the maximum number of sites venerated by the Hindu civilisational memory. It includes the hallowed Aryavarta, it was home to the largely forgotten but glorious Sindhu-Sauvira Desha, it is the Ganga-Kshetra (generally but incorrectly known as the Indo-Gangetic Plain) and is the pocket of the celebrated Pancha-Nada Kshetra (undivided Punjab). To an appreciable extent, the entire region retains its preeminence as one of the most ancient civilisational locales of human history. Indeed, the near-precise recognition of the boundaries of Aryavarta is an eternal testimony to the prestige and farsighted genius of our ancient seers and rishis who recognised this geography and bequeathed its knowledge to hundreds of generations in an era characterised by an absence of modern technology. To be continued The author is the founder and chief editor, The Dharma Dispatch. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. The US military plans to deploy intermediate-range ground-based missiles in the Indo-Pacific region in 2024. This is the first time such an initiative has been repeated since the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty expired in 2019. ADVERTISIMENT The pact, signed with the Soviet Union in 1987, prohibited countries from developing and possessing land-based missiles with a range of 500 km to 5,500 km. This was reported by Nikkei Asia. "U.S. Pacific Army spokesman Rob Phillips outlined the plan to Nikkei. The options under consideration include ground-based versions of the Standard-6 (SM-6) missile and the Tomahawk cruise missile. The missiles are expected to have a range of 500 to 2,700 kilometers," he said. Phillips did not provide details on where and when the US missiles could be deployed. The U.S. Army will deploy the intermediate-range missile units primarily to the U.S. territory of Guam, with the expectation of forward deployment among Asian allies in case of unforeseen circumstances. "They will be permanently deployed on US territories in the region, primarily in Guam. Allies may be open to rotational deployments during crises, but this largely depends on future political dynamics," the statement said. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that by the end of 2023, Ukraine would not receive GLSDB high-precision long-range missiles from the United States. Washington has postponed the transfer of these weapons until early 2024. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! After witnessing a positive response in four states early results in vote counts during assembly elections 2023, it has been reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive partys headquarters in Delhi today to meet members, officials, and the public. Reports say the PM is likely to reach the BJPs headquarters somewhere between 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm. However, the exact time is not confirmed yet. PM Narendra Modi in BJP Office Today? Ahead of the PMs arrival, all the arrangements have been made. Even celebration meals have been cooked in advance. As per the reports shared by our sources, if assembly election results go in BJPs favor, the PM will join the celebration with members and address a mass gathering today. BJPs Performance in Assembly Election Results 2023 The reports of the PMs visit to BJPs headquarters come at a time when the party is leading in trends from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Apart from this, the Narendra-Modi-led saffron party also got the double-digital for the first time in Telangana. However, the result seems like going in favor of the Indian National Congress as a party leading from the state. Meanwhile, the vote counting of four states is still going amid tight security arrangements at all points. However, the Mizoram vote count day, which was scheduled to take place along with three states has been pushed a day further. As per the details shared by the Election Commission, the vote count will take place in Mizoram on December 4, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that the outcome of the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections would have been different had the Congress shared some seats with constituents of the INDIA bloc. He also said the grand old party should revisit its outlook towards allies recalling that it was Kamal Nath who had opposed sharing of seats with Samajwadi Party during elections. Raut, however, added that the election results would not cause any rift among the members of the INDIA alliance. It is my clear opinion that the Madhya Pradesh elections should have been contested as INDIA alliance, he added. Had some seats been shared with the alliance parties, such as Akhileshs party, (Samajwadi Party), the Congress would have fared far better. His (Akhileshs) party has good support in some areas, including some 10-12 seats known as the strongholds of the party. It was Kamal Nath who opposed sharing of seats with him (Akhilesh), he told reporters. Raut said the poll outcome has a lesson to learn that the INDIA alliance should contest future polls together. Teamwork was needed. State parties cannot be ignored any longer. One cannot do politics by ignoring local parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson added. He demanded that the Congress rethink its strategy and outlook towards the allies. The next meeting of the INDIA bloc is scheduled on December 6 in New Delhi. Uddhav Thackeray will attend it, Raut said. The Rajya Sabha member sarcastically said that besides PM Modi and BJP, he also wants to congratulate Central probe agencies that conducted raids on opposition parties in the states where elections were held. Raut rejected the charge that Rahul Gandhis panauti remark might have hurt the outcome of the elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. If that was the case, why did the remark did not backfire in Telangana? After Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh has the strong Hindutva activists for a long time. It has a good connection with Nagpur, he said. He said Shivraj Singh Chauhans public image also played a vital role in the poll outcome. Indian reel-way me aap ka swagat hai, where the railways platforms and metros witness not only the arrival of trains but also a spectacle of cringe dances and more. Well, the days of fretting over safety concerns are long gone. Instead, a new worry has taken centre stage the rise of an un-entertaining trend that has the internet expressing anxiety about the direction the younger generation is heading. Calls for authorities to intervene (literally) and put an end to this have become increasingly vocal. In the midst of this, another video has gone viral, adding fuel to the fire of irritation within the online community. The footage captures Instagram blogger Seema Kanojiya enthusiastically dancing to the beats of the famous Koi Mil Gya song from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on a Mumbai railway platform. Commuters, waiting with their bags for the local train, watch as Kanojiya immerses herself in a dance routine that includes grooving, rolling on the floor, and various other moves all in the name of dance. Also Read: Couple Dancing On Crowded Railway Platform Gets A Thumbs Down Online Will this #Nautanki ever end in #IndianRailways premises. It seems some Spirit has possessed all of them, wrote Mumbai Matters on the micro-blogging site X. Heres the Video: Will this #Nautanki ever end in #IndianRailways premises..It seems some Spirit has possessed all of them pic.twitter.com/Lkakv70NQm Matters (@mumbaimatterz) December 2, 2023 Amid the uproar, the commentary is both comical and critical. THE GREAT INDIAN REEL-WAY, exclaimed one while another remarked, Monjolika 144p. Those who couldnt bear to witness this spectacle expressed their concerns, with one writing, This has gone above and beyond. !!! This needs to be checked before anything absurd or wrong happens. @AshwiniVaishnaw sir pls charge Rs 2 Lakh/Reel from such people. This will either give additional revenue to railways or will prevent others to get embarassed, suggested another. Also Read: Viral Video Shows Womans Belly Dance on Moving Train And Internet Just Wants it to Stop A third person expressed a desire for someone to raise an objection, sharing a personal experience: I wish someone would have raised an objection. Personal experience: whenever I witness something wrong happening and if I raise my voice against the same, only then people join with me Meanwhile, for Kanojiya, it seems like an everyday affair, as her Instagram feed is filled with cringe-worthy dances that make their way onto the internet. A potential explosion has struck a key shipping route off the coast of Yemen, the British maritime agency said Sunday. The British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a brief warning to shippers that the incident happened in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. Bab el-Mandeb The UKMTO said drone activity also had been reported in the area. The Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. That area has seen a series of attacks in recent weeks attributed to Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have also launched missiles and drones toward Israel over its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the incident. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7. An Israeli-linked cargo ship was seized last month by the Houthi group, an outfit which controls Yemens Red Sea coast. The group had previously fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, and promised to target more Israeli vessels. (With agency inputs) A senior aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will seek a security envelope with special zones and arrangements that will prevent Hamas from being positioned on its border after the war in Gaza is over. Israel has informed several Arab states that it wants to carve out a buffer zone on the Palestinian side of Gazas border to prevent future attacks as part of proposals for the coastal enclave after the war ends, according to Reuters. Israel will have to have a security envelope. We can never again allow terrorists to cross the border and butcher our people the way they did on October 7, senior adviser Mark Regev told reporters in response to a question if Israel was seeking such a buffer zone. Israel has suggested in the past it was considering a buffer zone inside Gaza, but the sources who spoke with Reuters said it was now presenting them to Arab states as part of its future security plans for Gaza. If you ask me about a buffer zone, let me be clear; you wont have a situation in the future where you can have Hamas terrorists on the border, directly on the border, positioned just to cross over and kill our people again, Regev said. That is not Israel taking territory from Gaza, said Regev. On the contrary, that is creating security zones where you have a special situation on the ground which limits the ability of people to enter Israel to kill our people. Its common sense. Israel related its plans to its neighbours Egypt and Jordan, along with the UAE, which normalised ties with Israel in 2020, the agency said citing three regional sources. They also said Saudi Arabia, which does not have ties with Israel and which halted a US-mediated normalisation process after the Gaza war erupted on October 7, had been informed. The conflict broke out when Hamas militants crossed into southern Israel and killed 1,200 people, in a rampage against kibbutzim and other communities. More than 200 hostages were taken back into Gaza. Israel, vowing to wipe out Hamas once and for all, responded with a bombing campaign and ground offensive which has destroyed large areas of Gaza and killed, according to the enclaves health ministry, more than 15,000 people. (With agency inputs) French prosecutors have opened a probe into a suspected terrorist plot after a man known to authorities for radical Islamism with mental health troubles stabbed a tourist to death and wounded two other people in central Paris late Saturday night before being arrested. President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending his condolences to the family of the man killed in the terrorist attack. The national anti-terrorism prosecutors office now seized will be responsible for shedding light on this matter so that justice can be done in the name of the French people, he wrote on X. Jadresse toutes mes condoleances a la famille et aux proches du ressortissant allemand decede ce soir lors de lattaque terroriste survenue a Paris et pense avec emotion aux personnes actuellement blessees et prises en charge.Mes plus sinceres remerciements aux forces de Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 3, 2023 Eiffel Tower Attack The attack close to the Eiffel Tower around 9:00 pm (local time) during a busy weekend came with the country on its highest alert, as tensions rise against the background of the war between Israel and Hamas. Prosecutors specialising in terrorist incidents told AFP they had opened a probe into the attacker, named as Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, a French national born in 1997 to Iranian parents who was arrested soon after the knife and hammer attack. They suspect him of murder against the 23-year-old dead man, identified as a German-Filipino citizen by a judicial source. He will further be probed for attempted murder against the two wounded people, a 66-year-old British citizen and a 60-year-old French national, in connection with a terrorist plot. Rajabpour-Miyandoab, known to authorities and in treatment for mental illness, shouted Allahu Akbar Arabic for God is greatest at the moment of the attack, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said at the scene by Bir Hakeim bridge over the River Seine. He could not stand Muslims being killed The suspect, who lived with his parents in the Essonne region south of Paris, told police he could not stand Muslims being killed in Afghanistan and Palestine and accused France of being an accomplice to what Israel is doing in the Gaza Strip, Darmanin added. Saturdays attack drew responses from the highest level of the French state. We will not give in to terrorism, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the attack. Police and security sources confirmed that the attacker had posted a video claiming responsibility to social media at the moment of the attack, speaking about current events, the government, the murder of innocent Muslims. Investigators will look closely at his medical history, a security source told AFP, calling the attacker very unstable and easily influenced. Was he medically monitored as he should have been, as indeed he had been for some time? a police source said. Darmanin said the man had already been sentenced in 2016 to four years in prison for planning another attack in Paris business district La Defense, which he failed to carry out. A taxi driver who witnessed the scene intervened, Darmanin added, saving the wife of the slain tourist. The attacker then crossed the bridge, lashing out at others and injuring one with a hammer. Pursuing police used a taser to neutralise the man, who was then arrested. Macron, writing on X, thanked security forces for their quick arrest of the suspected attacker and said justice should be served in the name of the French people. Help, help Joseph S., 37 years old, a supermarket manager who asked not to give his last name, witnessed the scene as he sat in a bar. He heard screams and people shouting help, help as they ran. A man wielding a hammer attacked a man who had fallen down, and within five to 10 minutes the police arrived, he told AFP. The country has suffered several attacks by Islamist extremists, including the November 2015 suicide and gun attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 people were killed. There had been a relative lull in recent years, even as officials have warned that the threat remains. But tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamass attack on Israel on October 7 and Israels bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Security in Paris is also under particular scrutiny as it gears up to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. In October, teacher Dominique Bernard was killed in the northern French town of Arras by a young radicalised Islamist from Russias Caucasus region. (With AFP inputs) Israel is under mounting pressure from the United States to exercise restraint and minimise harm to Palestinian civilians as it continues its offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza. This comes as the Israeli military has intensified its attacks on Gaza following the breakdown of a temporary ceasefire. The Gaza health ministry reported at least 193 Palestinians killed since the end of the weeklong truce, adding to the more than 15,000 Palestinian casualties since the beginning of the conflict. The Israeli military also dropped leaflets ordering the evacuation of areas that make up about one-quarter of the Gaza Strip. We will continue the war We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that too many innocent Palestinians have been killed, stressing the need to respect international and humanitarian law. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described it as a moral responsibility for Israel to protect civilians. Harris acknowledged Israels right to defend itself but highlighted the scale of civilian casualties. Austin reinforced the moral responsibility of Israel to protect civilians and urged the expansion of Gazas access to aid. Mark Regev, a senior advisor to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering creating a security buffer zone. Here are the top five updates: Growing US Pressure : Israel is facing increasing calls from top US officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, urging restraint and emphasizing the moral responsibility to protect Palestinian civilians amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. : Israel is facing increasing calls from top US officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, urging restraint and emphasizing the moral responsibility to protect Palestinian civilians amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Collapsed Truce : Despite diplomatic efforts, there are no signs of progress in reviving the collapsed truce between Israel and Hamas. The conflict has entered its third day (following a 6-day truce), with both sides showing no inclination towards de-escalation. : Despite diplomatic efforts, there are no signs of progress in reviving the collapsed truce between Israel and Hamas. The conflict has entered its third day (following a 6-day truce), with both sides showing no inclination towards de-escalation. Humanitarian Concerns : The Gaza health ministry reports at least 193 Palestinians killed since the end of the weeklong truce, raising the total casualties to over 15,000 since the conflict began. Concerns are growing about the well-being of civilians, and international actors are calling for Israel to exercise caution in its military offensive. : The Gaza health ministry reports at least 193 Palestinians killed since the end of the weeklong truce, raising the total casualties to over 15,000 since the conflict began. Concerns are growing about the well-being of civilians, and international actors are calling for Israel to exercise caution in its military offensive. Southern Gaza Under Attack : Israeli forces are intensifying attacks on the southern part of Gaza, including Khan Younis and Rafah. This has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people who had sought refuge in these areas, heightening fears of a potential ground operation by Israel. : Israeli forces are intensifying attacks on the southern part of Gaza, including Khan Younis and Rafah. This has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people who had sought refuge in these areas, heightening fears of a potential ground operation by Israel. International Diplomacy: Amid the escalating conflict, there are diplomatic efforts to address the situation. French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to visit Qatar to work on a new truce, indicating the global communitys active involvement in seeking a resolution to the crisis. (With agency inputs) Israels military on Sunday ordered more areas in and around Gazas second-largest city of Khan Younis to evacuate, as it shifted its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it says many Hamas leaders are hiding. Heavy bombardments were reported overnight and into Sunday in the area of Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israels blistering air and ground campaign. Many of the territorys 2.3 million people are crammed in the south after Israeli forces ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the 2-month-old war. With the resumption of fighting, hopes receded that another temporary truce could be negotiated. A weeklong cease-fire, which expired Friday, had facilitated the release of dozens of Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. On Sunday, the Israeli military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, asking residents of at least five more areas and neighborhoods to leave for their safety. Residents said the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering residents to move south to Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. U.N. monitors said in a report issued before the latest evacuation orders that the areas residents were told to leave make up about one-quarter of the territory of Gaza. The report said that these areas were home to nearly 800,000 people before the war. Ahead of a resumption of fighting, the United States, Israels closest ally, had warned Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement. The Israeli military said Sunday that its fighter jets and helicopters struck terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnel shafts, command centers and weapons storage facilities overnight, while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. In northern Gaza, rescue teams with little equipment scrambled Sunday to dig through the rubble of buildings in the Jabaliya refugee camp and other neighborhoods in Gaza City in search for potential survivors and dead bodies. They strike everywhere, said Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in Jabaliya, an urban refugee camp. There is the non-stop sound of explosions around us. Mohamed Abu Abed, who lives in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, also said there were relentless airstrikes and artillery shelling in his neighborhood and surrounding areas. The situation here is imaginable, he said. Death is everywhere. One can die in a flash. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Saturday that the overall death toll in the strip since the Oct. 7 start of the war had surpassed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on Nov. 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people had been wounded since the war began. U.S. appeals to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. Much of Gazas population is packed into the territorys southern half. The territory itself, bordering Israel and Egypt to the south, is sealed, leaving residents with the only option of moving around within Gaza to avoid the bombings. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters Saturday during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering creating a security buffer zone that would not allow Gazans direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighborhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City and a six-story building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gazas Civil Defense, said rescuers lack bulldozers and other equipment to reach those buried under the rubble, confirming the Red Crescent estimate of about 300 people missing. He said the block had housed over 1,000 people. Retrieving the martyrs is extremely difficult, he said in video comments from the site of the attack. Meanwhile, Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in a meeting that under no circumstances would the U.S. permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders, according to a U.S. summary. The war was sparked by an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. Around 240 people were taken captive. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages, who the Israeli military says are still being held after 105 were freed during the recent truce. Israel freed 240 Palestinians during the truce. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. Philippine forces were on high alert on Sunday after a bomb killed four people and wounded over 50 during a Catholic Mass in a university gymnasium in the south of the country, an attack the authorities called Islamist terrorism. The blast in Marawi followed the killing of 11 combatants in a military operation on Friday in Maguindanao del Sur some 200 km away. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao State University (MSU) and Marawi communities early this Sunday morning. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) December 3, 2023 Urging calm, Marcos posted on the social media platform X that he had instructed the national police and armed forces to ensure the protection and safety of civilians and the security of affected and vulnerable communities. Rest assured we will bring the perpetrators of this ruthless act to justice. Army Major General Gabriel Viray III called the attack at the Mindanao State University a terror act, speaking to reporters as explosive disposal experts were deployed. Right now we are on heightened alert and our troops remain vigilant as we are determining the motive and identifying the perpetrators to really ascertain who was behind it, Viray said. Military officials surveyed the gymnasium, which appeared intact except for burn marks in the centre where the explosion occurred, according to images shared by the government of Lanao del Sur on its Facebook account. White plastic chairs were strewn about. Videos posted by DZBB radio on X showed rescuers carrying injured people out of the gym on plastic chairs. Terroristic attacks on educational institutions must also be condemned because these are places that promote the culture of peace, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr said in a statement. The Philippine military killed 11 militants on Saturday, including members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines group, in an operation that recovered 10 high-powered firearms and three explosive devices. We are looking at the bomb signature to determine if the group was indeed behind it, Viray said. The Coast Guard said in a statement it had directed its districts to intensify pre-departure inspection at ports. Mindanao State University is deeply saddened and appalled by the act of violence that occurred during a religious gathering, it said in a statement on Facebook. We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless and horrific act. The university said it was said it was suspending classes until further notice. We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy. We will not be deterred by this act of violence, and will continue to work towards building a more peaceful and just MSU community, it added. (With agency inputs) The Philippines said Sunday more than 135 Chinese vessels were swarming a reef off its coast, describing the boats growing presence as alarming. The Chinese boats were dispersed and scattered within the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe Reef, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) west of Palawan Island, the coast guard said. Whitsun Reef is more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the nearest major Chinese landmass of Hainan island. The Philippines said it counted 111 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMM) on November 13. When the coast guard deployed two patrol boats to the area on Saturday the number had increased to more than 135, the coast guard said. No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG (Philippines Coast Guard) to the CMM vessels which is now estimated to have grown to more than 135 vessels dispersed and scattered within Julian Felipe Reef, the Manilas coast guard said, describing it as an alarming development. 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 staked claims to various islands and reefs in the sea, which is believed to have rich petroleum reserves deep beneath its waters. The US Congress must vote for additional funding by the end of this year. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for the United States to continue supporting Ukraine in the war against the Russian aggressor. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator of the US National Security Council, according to the White House website. He emphasized that in order to continue providing Kyiv with air defense systems, Congress should take funding measures. Kirby emphasized that the United States "can and should do more" to protect Ukraine and ensure the security of its energy infrastructure in the winter. He emphasized that the figures presented to Congress are reasonable and that this funding is important and necessary. "We again call on Congress to pass this supplemental as soon as possible... We think we have time until about the end of the year before it becomes very, very difficult to continue to support Ukraine. And the end of the year is very soon," Kirby emphasized. As a reminder, retired US General Ben Hodges expressed the opinion that the US should make Ukraine's victory in the war against Russia its policy. Washington should no longer have any excuses for not supplying weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. ADVERTISIMENT The military officer drew attention to the indecision in the statements of high-ranking US officials, saying that neither US President Joe Biden nor Congress has ever stated that they want Ukraine to win the war against Russia. The United States just keeps saying it will stay with Ukraine "as long as necessary." As reported by OBOZ.UA: - On December 1, Kirby said that Washington wanted to give Ukraine more weapons to continue the counteroffensive. However, this requires Congress to approve the US President's request for additional funding. - At a briefing on November 30, Kirby also emphasized that Washington should make even greater efforts to provide Ukraine with what it needs before winter. First of all, the US Congress should approve President Joe Biden's request for additional funding. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appealed to voters on Sunday to think of what had happened to Chinese-controlled Hong Kong when they cast their ballots next month, saying peace must be backed up with a commitment to boost defences. Taiwan prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 13 as China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own territory, ramps up military pressure to assert its claims, including two major war games around the island in the past year and a half. China and Taiwans main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), have cast the election as a choice between war and peace. China detests Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its presidential candidate, Vice President Lai Ching-te, calling them dangerous separatists. Addressing supporters at a campaign rally for Lai in the capital Taipei, Tsai said the opposition was using alarmist talk of war and peace. I want to ask you all here, does anyone want war? Nobody does, she said. Look at Hong Kong and think of Taiwan. We dont want Hong Kong-style peace. We want dignified peace. Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide autonomy under a one country, two systems framework, which China has also offered to Taiwan with little support on the island. Beijing in 2020 imposed a tough national security law on Hong Kong, which it said was vital to restore stability after the city, a global financial hub, was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019. Tsai, barred by term limits from seeking re-election, has made bolstering Taiwans defences a cornerstone of her tenure, a stance that Lai, leading in the polls, has pledged to continue. They say only Taiwans people can decide their future and have repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed. To ensure peace we need to strengthen our ability to defend ourselves. Our house will have locks on it, but not to provoke our neighbours, Tsai told the rally. Only with determination can we defend dignity, and only with strength can we ensure peace. KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih said on Saturday a vote for the DPP was equivalent to sending everyone out to the battlefield because supporting Taiwan independence would touch off a war. The KMT traditionally favours close ties with China but strongly denies being pro-Beijing. It has pledged to reopen talks with China if it wins election. A volcano in western Indonesia erupted on Sunday, emitting a plume of ash three kilometers into the sky. Ash from Mount Marapi, located on the island of Sumatra was observed 3,000 metres above its peak, according to Hendra Gunawan, head of Indonesias Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties after the eruption at 2:54 pm local time. The column of ash was observed in grey colour with thick intensity leaning toward the east, Gunawan said in a statement. The eruption is still ongoing. Indonesias Merapi volcano spews clouds of ash up to 2,000 metres #BernamaNewshttps://t.co/loARIR4MnsPVMBG pic.twitter.com/GXLXMCuwt4 BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) December 2, 2023 The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity. In May, its most active volcano, Mount Merapi in Java, spewed lava more than two kilometres from its crater. The Southeast Asian country has nearly 130 active volcanoes. Third-highest alert level The volcano, with a peak of 2,891 metres, is on the third-highest alert level of Indonesias four-step system and authorities imposed an exclusion zone around Marapis crater. Communities around the Marapi volcano and tourists are not allowed to hike the Marapi volcano within a three-kilometre radius from its crater/peak, Gunawan said. Ahmad Rifandi, an official at the Mount Marapi monitoring station, told AFP that ash rain was observed after the eruption. For the ash rain, it has reached to Bukittinggi city, he said, referring to the third-largest city in West Sumatra that has a population of more than 100,000. It is hoped for people who have activities around Marapi mountain to wear hats, glasses and masks. Mount Marapi, which means Mountain of Fire, is the most active volcano on Sumatra island. (With AFP inputs) SHAMBOLIC record-keeping at the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property could compromise Zimbabwes listing as a low-risk country for money laundering and financing of terrorism by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a development that could see the country being penalised by the global financial crimes watchdog. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has since raised concern over the shambolic state of record-keeping at the department, which it says creates loopholes that could be used for money laundering. Zimbabwe is set to undergo a routine assessment by the FATF in 2026 to stress-test the countrys anti-money laundering systems. FATF is an intergovernmental organisation established to set global standards to prevent and detect money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as promote effective implementation of these criteria worldwide. Last year, Zimbabwe was removed from the FATFs grey list after three years. There were concerns the countrys financial system did not have enough safeguards to stop the flow of dirty money. The listing placed a huge premium on financial transactions involving Zimbabwe and other countries, which then received extra scrutiny by banks. Some international banks consider these extra measures costly and end up completely cutting off the affected country. Speaking at the launch of Zimbabwes third Money Laundering National Risk Assessment in Harare last week, FIU director-general Mr Oliver Chiperesa said the situation at the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property could affect the countrys status. FATF rules require countries to have effective mechanisms to ensure accurate and up-to-date information on beneficial ownership of companies and trusts is collected, maintained and readily available and accessible to competent authorities to investigate money laundering and terrorism financing cases. While we have in place the necessary laws to ensure this happens, sadly, those tasked with running our companies registry have over the years let us down, and it is about time something drastic is done to ensure efficiency and effectiveness at our companies registry offices, said Mr Chiperesa. Without a functional registry of beneficial ownership information, it will be difficult for Zimbabwe to convince international assessors that we are serious in terms of combating money laundering. Zimbabwe, he said, is due to be assessed in early 2026. Even if we eventually manage to put in place a functional beneficial ownership registry a few weeks before the assessment starts, that will be too late, warned Mr Chiperesa. The assessors look at data over a period of time, up to five years, to judge how well a country is effectively implementing anti-money laundering requirements. He said banks have historically been the preferred money laundering vehicle because they provide the most direct and simple means of getting dirty money into the financial system. Enhanced regulatory oversight of banks in recent years, he said, had made it increasingly difficult for criminals to use financial institutions as conduits for money laundering. Thus, criminals have had to innovate and find other ways of concealing proceeds of crime from close scrutiny, and they have found other intermediaries through which to launder proceeds of crime. Real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, precious stone and precious metal dealers, car dealers and the use/abuse of shelf companies all remain areas of concern used by criminals to launder dirty funds. The FATF assesses countries periodically to measure the extent to which their anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism regimes comply with its rules. In terms of FAFT technical compliance, Zimbabwe is now classified as compliant in 36 of the 40 FATF recommendations. A 40/40 compliance rate is the target. Sunday Mail GRADE Seven results will be uploaded on the e-map system today with headmasters expected to start selecting learners for Form 1 places, Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Mr Moses Mhike has said. Traditionally, boarding schools administered their own entrance tests to select Form 1 learners, a move which received a backlash from parents over its costs as they criss-crossed the country in search of places each year. Government has since directed that only Grade Seven results should be used where a test is required for selecting pupils into Form 1. Speaking during the release of Grade Seven results at the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) head offices in Harare on Friday, Mr Mhike said the online platform e-map is fully functional and will be used for selection of learners. On the places availability for Form Ones, we had a circular we issued out which is very clear that all boarding schools are going to be getting the placement through e-map. The results have already been announced and Zimsec has assured us that on Monday they will be available on our e-map so that heads can then start doing the selections. We hope the parents have also played their part in terms of selecting the schools, he said. Mr Mhike said the ministry also issued a statement regarding a potential shortage of boarding places as there are around 25 000 available yet almost 400 000 pupils sat for Grade Seven examinations. So, it means as a ministry we have got a long way to go in terms of infrastructure development especially in our boarding schools. Generally, the majority of parents are now preferring their kids to be in boarding schools, but currently as a nation it is something that we need to be able to look at and also avail those choices to our parents, he said. Mr Mhike took the opportunity to stress that the Grade Seven results were the only tests for high school entrance and private tests were illegal. The correct position for the entrance test is that they are not legal, they are actually illegal, he said. As for next years fees, Mr Mhike said any increase should be authorised by the Government after approval by a majority of parents. Every increase of fees must be approved by the ministry; the approving committee goes through every request put by all schools. We look at affordability from parents mainly focusing on civil servants pay cheques and we act without compromising the education system in terms of its quality, he said. Zimsec Grade Seven results released last Friday have a 45,5 pass rate, significantly up from 40,7 last year, with girls on average doing better than boys with a 49,56 percent pass rate compared to 41,21. The examination board attributed the increased pass rate to the resumption of normal classes after the Covid-19 era, along with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Educations continuing improvements, ensuring more pupils received better teaching. Herald Arliya Martin accepted her high school diploma with relief and gratitude. It was her ticket to better-paying work, she felt, after getting kicked out of high school and toiling for eight years at factory jobs in Springfield, Louisiana, to support her children. "This is a new path for me," she said. But Martin didn't take any classes or pass any tests to receive her degree. She got it in July from a school where students can get a high school diploma for $465. Unlike public schools, formal homeschooling programs, or traditional private schools, nearly 9,000 private schools in Louisiana don't need state approval to grant degrees. Nearly every one was created to serve a single homeschooling family, but some have buildings, classrooms, teachers, and dozens of students. While unapproved schools account for a small percentage of the state's students, those in Louisiana's off-the-grid school system are a rapidly growing example of the nation's continuing fallout from COVID-19: families disengaging from traditional education. US public school enrollment fell by more than 1.2 million students in the first two years of the pandemic. Many switched to private school or told their state they were homeschooling. Thousands of others could not be accounted for at all, according to an analysis by the AP and its partners. The students in Louisiana's off-the-grid school system aren't missing, but there's no way to tell what kind of education they're getting. Over 21,000 students are enrolled in the state's unapproved schools, nearly double the number from before the pandemic, according to data obtained through a public records request. Little information is available about these schools, which the state calls "nonpublic schools not seeking state approval." The state Department of Education warns parents on its website that it cannot confirm whether these organizations even meet the legal definition of a school. "We didn't want to give parents or anyone a false sense that we knew anything about these schools," says one former state official, "that we could attest to their safety, that we could attest to their actual educational program, anything." To supporters of the system, avoiding state oversight is entirely the point. Advocates say Louisiana's unapproved schools are a natural extension of the doctrine of parental rights. Read the full story, which includes a visit to the school where Martin got her diploma, the Springfield Preparatory School. (Read more education stories.) The most seriously injured of the three young Palestinian men who were shot in Vermont last month is expected to leave the hospital soon, but Hisham Awartani is paralyzed from the chest down, reports CNN . Awartani was shot along with friends Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, who are expected to make full recoveries from their injuries. All three men are 20. Awartani's mother, Elizabeth Price, said doctors told her Awartani has an "incomplete spinal injury," meaning he can feel his legs but cannot move them. The family has set up a GoFundMe page for his medical expenses, which had raised $114,000 toward its $250,000 goal as of Sunday morning. "We, his family, believe that Hisham will change the world," the fundraising page reads. "He'll change the world through his spirit, his mind and his compassion for those much more vulnerable than himself, especially the thousands of dead in Gaza and many more struggling to survive the devastating humanitarian crisis unfolding there." Awartani lives in the West Bank but was attending Brown University in Rhode Island. Suspected shooter Jason Eaton remains in custody as police investigate whether he might additionally be charged with hate crimes. Eaton is white. The three victims were chatting in Arabic and American, and two were wearing Palestinian scarves when shot, per CNN. (The alleged gunman is no stranger to police.) The "Gatsby-esque journey of a man from nowhere who exploited the system, waged war on truth and swindled one of the wealthiest districts in the country to achieve his American Dream" sounds worthy of a movie. Or so figures HBO, which is developing a film based on the political rise of Rep. George Santos, who was kicked out of Congress on Friday. It will be based on The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos, a book by Mark Chiusano that was published just Tuesday, Deadline reports. 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. Participants at the United Nations' COP28 climate talks Sunday found themselves greeted by the rarest sights in the United Arab Emirates: public protests. Activists allowed into the UAE can protest under strict guidelines in this autocratic nation inside the summit, and they're demonstrating on such issues as the Israel-Hamas war and environmental issues, the AP reports. Meanwhile, human rights researchers from organizations long banned by the country also have been let in, providing them some the opportunity for the first time in about a decade to offer criticismthough many acknowledge it may mean they're never allowed back in the country. "One of our major issues with COP28 is the fact that the UAE government is using this to burnish its image internationally and the fact that limited protests are allowed ... is a good thing," said Joey Shea, now on her first trip to the Emirates as a researcher focused on the country at Human Rights Watch. "But at the end of the day, it helps to create this very false image that the UAE does have respect for rights when in fact it does not." The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms led by Abu Dhabi's ruler, bans political parties and labor unions. All power rests in each emirate's hereditary ruler. Broad laws tightly restrict speech and nearly all major local media are either state-owned or state-affiliated outlets. Laws also criminalize the few protests that take place by foreign laborers. The Emirates' overall population of more than 9.2 million is only 10% Emirati. The rest are expatriates, many of them low-paid laborers seeking to send money back home to their families. Many avoid saying anything, seeing their livelihoods at risk for speaking up as their visas and residencies remain tied to their employers. The UAE's diplomatic ties to Israel, reached in 2020, also make protesting on behalf of Palestinians more fraught. However, the UN and the UAE agreed before COP28 that free expression would be allowed. Activists described a process of having to seek approvals with organizers for their demonstrations. UN rules at the summit have caused demonstrators to avoid waving national flags or specifically call out countries. story continues below But Sunday afternoon, over 100 people gathered as part of a solidarity protests on behalf of Palestinians, only a short distance from Israel's pavilion at Dubai's Expo City, per the AP. About as many onlookers and journalists watched as they chanted, read names of the dead, and held their fists up to the sky. Israeli security personnel watched from a distance. Still, unlike at some other COP summits, there haven't been marches of tens of thousands of people. James Lynch of Amnesty International said, "It's a nervy and sort of tense event in many ways." That includes being watched by "thousands of security cameras, CCTV everywhere in public spaces, inside of buildings," Shea said. "You were effectively tracked from the moment that you stepped down in this country." (Read more UN climate summit stories.) Alaska Air announced Sunday that it has reached a deal to buy Hawaiian Airlines for $18 a share, making the deal worth about $1.9 billion. Both companies' boards already have agreed on the terms of the sale, CBS News reports, which is on track to close within 18 months. Alaska's CEO Ben Minicucci will run the operation, which will be based in Seattle, the companies said. Minicucci said in a statement that the combination will provide more travel options for West Coast and Hawaii travelers. The airlines will keep their separate names, per Axios, but share a loyalty program. Honolulu will be a hub for both, and the airlines said they intend to keep the union workforce in Hawaii. To take effect, the deal, which includes $900 million in Hawaiian Airlines debt, will require regulatory approvals as well as an OK by shareholders of Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines. Minicucci said negotiations have gone on for months, per CNN. Both CEOs said the decision to keep the two brands reflects respect for the airlines' legacies. Alaska Airlines' statement pointed out that Alaska and Hawaii are "uniquely reliant upon air travel"many cities the airlines serves are not connected by roads. (Read more airline industry stories.) The new Government's policy would reverse efforts to cut cigarettes' nicotine levels, cut the number of cigarette retailers and scrap the world-first smokefree generation. The Government said repealing the legislation would help generate tax revenue to help fund its tax cuts. It also said the smokefree laws would concentrate tobacco sales to few retail outlets, making them a target for crime and will create a black market for the products. The news made headlines worldwide, with health professionals calling for the Government to rethink its decision and over the weekend Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was under scrutiny again after having to correct a false claim about the policy. The new Government spent its first week claiming under the policy only one store would have been able to sell tobacco in Northland - making it a magnet for criminals. But the real number of stores is at least 18. Appearing on AM on Monday, Seymour said while Luxon got the number wrong, he got the substantial point of the effect of the policy right that there would be an enormous restriction on the number of stores allowed to sell tobacco. Also appearing on the show, Swarbrick, who has campaigned for cannabis to be legalised and harsher regulations on alcohol, said the Government should be consistent in its approach to drug harm. "You can't have it both ways when it comes to drug harm, right. Because you have three parties that have massively inconsistent approaches to drug harm whether we're talking about alcohol, whether we're talking about tobacco, whether we're talking about cannabis," Swarbrick told co-host Melissa Chan-Green. "So, if we want to take a consistent line on this then let's do precisely that Let's say that instead of having criminal prohibition on one side or complete legal free market on the other, let's have sensible regulation for these substances so that we can take an evidence-based approach to genuinely reduce harm." However, when asked if that meant she was fine with the Government repealing smokefree laws, Swarbrick disagreed. She said New Zealand should not have any penalties for social sharing or for younger people "potentially involved or wrapped up in the black market". "The point remains that if we are going to take a harm-based evidence approach to tobacco, then we should take the same one to alcohol... and we should take the same approach to cannabis." Watch the video above for more. 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. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip as well as climate action with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai on Friday. President El-Sisi outlined Egypt's efforts to maintain calm, emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians, according to a statement from the presidency. There was a joint commitment to pursuing a suitable political resolution to the Palestinian issue that is just and comprehensive. The two leaders underscored the importance of collective efforts to navigate the challenges and complexities of the current scenario. From his side, the UK prime minister commended Egypt's unwavering efforts, particularly in coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Acknowledging the gravity of the current situation, both sides expressed concern about the unanticipated repercussions of an escalated conflict on regional stability. El-Sisi and Sunak also discussed reinforcing bilateral cooperation and political coordination between Egypt and the UK. Aside from his meeting with UK PM Sunak, President El-Sisi briefly met with Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen Rashad al-Alimi, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and President of European Council Charles Michel. He also met with President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. On Saturday, El-Sisi met with US Vice President Kamala Harris, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, and Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan. Search Keywords: Short link: TDT | Agencies The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Lawmakers in Bahrain are poised to inject new vigour and direction into the kingdoms rapidly advancing Telehealth market with a proposal to establish a legal framework ensuring accountability. Experts say the move, critical to shaping a new paradigm in medical services, is expected to unleash the full potential of the Telehealth market in the Kingdom. Telemedicine is legally allowed in Bahrain, as per the National Health Regulatory Authority. This transformative approach today aims at bringing accountability and establishing a framework for practicing the profession safely, thereby extending the reach of citizens and residents beyond traditional clinics. It allows medical professionals to interact with patients virtually, transcending geographical barriers. Driving the change will be Bahrain's expanding digital infrastructure and widespread access to smartphones. Its worth noting that the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telehealth services worldwide. Once approved, it will be mandatory to obtain a licence to offer telemedicine services in the Kingdom. It also projects the NHRA as the sole authority responsible for deciding cases where telemedicine is not allowed. Telehealth, a term encompassing telemedicine and telecare, refers to the application of digital communication and information technologies to provide remote healthcare services and consultations. Bahrain is not alien to this concept, but the talks today aim at giving this industry, projected to exhibit a growth rate of 25.30% during 20232028 in GCC, a more organised setup in the Kingdom. MPs say the move aims at providing healthcare services to citizens and residents conveniently, as well as enhancing disease prevention measures. Todays discussions will focus on a report by the Shura Council Services Committee during the Councils ninth session of the second legislative term. Shura Council members Dr Jameela Mohammed Redha Al Salman, Dr Jihad Abdullah Al Fadhel, Dr Ibtesam Mohammed Saleh Al Dallal, Ali Abdullah Al Aradi, and Hala Ramzi Fayez tabled the proposal. The committees recommendation is to pass the proposal into law. Upon approval, the law will bring into existence a legislative framework and legal system for telemedicine in Bahrain, governed through licenced healthcare institutions. The NHRA will be responsible for establishing rules, regulations, and procedures for practicing telemedicine services. This will include the criteria for granting, renewing, and revoking licences, as well as the necessary conditions for licence applicants. It will be the authority responsible for dealing with violations of licencing conditions or related laws for medical consultations, diagnosis, prescription, monitoring patients, disease symptoms, treatment side effects, medical tests, and discussion of results. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi held separate meetings on Saturday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, and Tanzanian President Samia Hassan, on the sidelines of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. During their meetings, all four leaders confirmed their commitment to strengthening their respective bilateral relations, including strategic cooperation, according to Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy. El-Sisi and Meloni emphasized interest in coordinating and consulting on political, security, military, developmental, and economic issues to promote security and stability across the Middle East, the Mediterranean Basin, and the African continent. Speaking about the Israeli war on Gaza, the Italian PM thanked Egypt for its pivotal role in advancing peace efforts in the region, as demonstrated by its hosting of the Cairo Summit for Peace in October. El-Sisi also reviewed Egypts efforts to protect civilians in Gaza by reaching a ceasefire and providing safe and urgent access for humanitarian relief aid. The president reiterated the vital need for the international community to assume its responsibilities to end the escalation, paving the way for diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of the Palestinian cause and restore the peace process. Norwegian prime minister The meeting between El-Sisi and Stre touched on ways Egypt can benefit from Norwegian expertise in clean energy, in addition to ways to enhance tripartite cooperation between Egypt and Norway in Africa. Both leaders reviewed the latest regional developments, notably in the Gaza Strip, following the Cairo Peace Summit and the extraordinary Arab Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The two sides stressed that the only way out of the current crisis is to find a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian cause based on the two-state solution. They also emphasized the importance of pushing a ceasefire in light of the serious humanitarian consequences of continuing military operations. El-Sisi also stressed that Egypt continues to coordinate regional and international efforts to reach a truce and deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. Tanzanian president The presidents of Egypt and Tanzania explored ways to strengthen bilateral relations, especially through Egyptian investments in Tanzania and technical cooperation and capacity building to train Tanzanian personnel. The meeting also highlighted Egypts assistance in building Tanzanias Julius Nyerere hydroelectric dam. El-Sisi assured his counterpart that he was following up on the project to ensure the highest levels of performance. Both presidents exchanged views on Africas most prominent emerging issues and ways to enhance joint African action. They also talked about maximizing cooperation between the Nile Basin countries based on the historical heritage and common ties that unite them. El-Sisi arrived in Dubai Thursday to participate in the presidential segment of COP28, which is being hosted by the UAE from 30 November to 12 December. In his speech on Friday, El-Sisi called for global cooperation to achieve climate action goals, noting the gravity of current political and international challenges, coinciding with the pressing consequences of climate change. The Egyptian president has also used the opportunity to meet with a number of world leaders, with the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza at the top of the agenda. On Friday, he met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who commended Egypts role in coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. On Saturday, he met with US Vice President Kamala Harris, who told El-Sisi that under no circumstance, the United States will permit the forced relocation of Palestinians. Search Keywords: Short link: Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has rubbished the claim by the Ohanaeze President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu that Igbos developed Lagos State from swamp to a mega city. Fani-Kayode described Iwuanyanwus comment as a specious lie and a disingenuous nonsense. Iwuanyanwu had said Igbos are the pioneers and heroes of modern Lagos State. He said Igbo forebearers made parts of the state habitable from a swampy area. Reacting, the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain insisted that Lagos State was never a slum before the Igbos came. Posting on X, Fani-Kayode wrote: This is nothing but a specious and self-serving LIE. It can best be described as disingenuous nonsense! FACTS: Yorubas are NOT political rascals. Lagos is NOT no mans land. Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for better support for fellow citizens living with disabilities as Nigeria joins the world to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In a statement on Sunday via his X account, Obi said, I join in demanding a better nation for them as fellow compatriots, living with disabilities not by their making. Living with a disability should not be a death sentence or society stigmatisation, but should be a platform that calls up the humanity in us as their brothers and sisters. Obi decried that in our clime where good governance is hard to come by leading to needless hardship, those living with disabilities in our midst feel the pinch more as life becomes more difficult for them. Referencing WHO statistics indicating over 35 million Nigerians live with disabilities, Obi affirmed, Such a significant number of people must be cared for by the government so that they can live their lives in full, and contribute positively to the development of the nation. He called on the government to ensure that they have access to healthcare and education, which are not only critical for national development, but will ensure that they thrive and fully explore their potentials. The former Anambra governor also rallied citizens to break all barriers of discrimination against those living with disabilities. We are all differently gifted. Obi reminded that legislation mandates that public agencies reserve at least 5 per cent of jobs for such persons. This will ensure that they are adequately represented in both governance and the public sector, he explained. He declared, Every Nigerian has the potential to contribute to nation-building and we will leave nobody behind in our journey to New Nigeria. The Bauchi zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has reiterated its desire to reject students loans. It opted for grants to enable students fund their education. This was disclosed on Saturday by Associate Professor Lazarus Maigoro, the Bauchi zonal coordinator of ASUU. Maigoro stated that the Bauchi zone of ASUU was working on getting the statistics of students who may likely drop out of school at the end of the current session. According to him, this was with the hope of making the government review its decision on the issue of the loans and replace it with grants. He said, The question is: Who will pay the loan? What is the fate of those who cannot access it? The psychological trauma the students will be subjected to due to the loan while still in their studies will affect their performances negatively. The thought that they would graduate with a loan of N4million and above without the capacity to pay back is another psychological torture on them. Earlier in his welcome remarks, the ATBU branch chairperson, Comrade Ibrahim Inuwa, pledged that ASUU would continue to act as a socially responsible union by fighting for the collective interest of quality tertiary education. Mr David Greene, Charge dAffaires at the US Embassy in Nigeria, has assured visa applicants that the mission is committed to resolving all visa-related issues. Greene made the pledge during an interview with newsmen in Abuja. He said visa troubles would be a thing of the past, and the mission is doing everything in its power to address such challenges. When it comes to visas specifically, well of course it is a simple fact, the demand for visa appointments outnumbers the supply. So, those appointments are available and we are doing everything we can to address that gap. What folks do not know is that this year we have interviewed more than 150,000 Nigerians. We have made great progress though. In March we instituted a five-year term for visas to the U.S., he added. He urged people who want to visit the United States to apply early and to make sure their visa requests were related to specific events. The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced a financial package of $148 million to support the Commercial International Bank of Egypt (CIB) in its endeavors to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and facilitate trade. The package comprises a $10 million line of credit with a tenor of 10 years and a $90 million subordinated loan with the same tenor, according to the AfDB statement. Additionally, the package encompasses a $32 million trade finance line of credit with a tenor of 3.5 years, along with a $16 million trade finance line of credit sourced from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF) for the same duration. Given the challenging economic environment in Egypt marked by a shortage of foreign currency, this financial support is aimed at helping CIB meet the foreign currency requirements of its clients across diverse sectors, the statement added. The primary objective of this substantial funding is to equip CIB with long-term resources to lend to businesses, bolster the bank's capital position, and meet the trade finance needs of its clients. The primary beneficiaries are anticipated to be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporations operating in key sectors of the Egyptian economy. The AfDB expects this financial support to have a positive impact by mobilizing substantial resources for crucial economic sectors in Egypt, thereby enhancing productive capacity and stimulating growth. Ultimately, the goal is to augment economic output, improve competitiveness, generate fiscal and export revenues, and create employment opportunities, with particular attention given to empowering women, as per the statement. In recent months, S&P Global and Fitch Solutions downgraded the credit rating of the CIB, as well as major state-owned Egyptian banks, from B to B-. To cushion against economic risks, the CIB secured a $150 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in November. Similarly, in July, the CIB received $250 million in long-term loans from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support its capital and fund green projects. Established in 1975, CIB is Egypt's largest private sector bank, offering a comprehensive range of financial products and services to enterprises of all sizes, institutions, households, and high-net-worth individuals. The bank's total assets reached EGP 635.83 billion (around $20.6 billion) in 2022, up from EGP 498.23 billion in 2021. Last week, the AfDB approved a $131 million loan to Egypt to bolster the government's efforts in stimulating the private sector and diversifying its green development amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Egypt has set its sights on securing $300 million from the AfDB through FY2023/24, aligning with the country's objective of obtaining $3 billion in financing by the end of 2023, as it seeks to bridge an estimated $17 billion gap over the next four years. Search Keywords: Short link: Trenton first responders are being lauded for their efforts during a Saturday afternoon fire that left two firefighters injured. The two-alarm blaze at Trent Center West broke out at about 1:30 p.m. on the buildings first floor and ultimately sent eight people to the hospital, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said Sunday. Gusciora said it was no easy feat to evacuate the senior apartment complex on Greenwood Avenue, home to some 150 people. There was an urgency in getting the seniors out of the building, making sure that they were warm ... Gusciora said. It was relatively mild, but they had to stay outside the building for a couple of hours until the building was cleared to go back in after the fire department helped clear any water issues. Although the fire began in one apartment on the first floor and spread to a second unit, firefighters were able to contain the blaze, according to the mayor. By about 6 p.m. Saturday, it was deemed safe for residents to return to the building. Gusciora called the response by firefighters, as well as first responders with the Trenton Police Department and local EMS, extraordinary. They were able to clear a building with about 150 people and treated anyone for smoke inhalation, so it was a tremendous effort, he said. Local authorities, including the fire department, did not immediately respond Sunday to requests for comment. Calls to Trent Center West were not returned. In addition to Signal 22 Canteen Unit, a volunteer unit, the New Jersey Red Cross was also on the scene Saturday afternoon to help anyone displaced. Red Cross spokeswoman Diane Concannon said Sunday that at least three units at Trent Center West suffered damage as a result of the fire. However, she said, the nonprofit was not able to initially connect with those tenants on the scene as people from two units were taken to the hospital and another had already left with family. Concannon said the Red Cross would provide assistance to the impacted families once they have connected with them. We pray for everyones recovery and thanks for our firefighters and EMS for coming to the rescue, Gusciora wrote in a post following the fire. An investigation into the cause of the incident remains ongoing, the mayor said. 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. Chris Christie cant admit it, but hes too smart to think he has any chance to win the Republican nomination. His time passed in 2012, back when the adults ran the show. He might not even qualify for the next debate. So why is he running? Why is he camping out in New Hampshire, where the snow is already piling up deep, and spending endless hours begging for money? And why is he giving the Jersey salute to the growing chorus of GOP critics who want him to drop out? Top New Jersey state lawmakers appear ready to abandon the large-scale liquor license reform Gov. Phil Murphy has championed all year long as thousands of brewers and restaurant owners across the state are left wondering what comes next or if theyll even be able to stay in business. When Murphy in January unveiled his plan to overhaul New Jerseys antiquated liquor license laws, pushback in the state Legislature, controlled by his fellow Democrats, was immediate. Thomas Michot said he had a secret weapon in his pocket, one that he planned to use in his decades-long search for a bird that many believe The services sector was the top recipient of foreign direct investments (FDI) in Egypt during the fiscal year (FY) 2022/2023, recording $5.94 billion, or 59.16 percent of that years total FDI, according to the External Position report released by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Among the services sector, the financial segment ranked first with $2.13 billion, followed by communication and information technology with $836 million. The Egyptian government is paying substantial attention to the services sector, especially outsourcing, whose export revenue the government hopes to double, reaching up to $9 billion by 2026. After the services sector, manufacturing came in second as a destination for FDI, with $3.34 billion. Real estate came third with $552.3 million. Egypts net inflows of FDI registered $10 billion in FY2022/2023, up from $8.9 billion a year earlier. Search Keywords: Short link: Torridge and North Devon district councils have begun working with XL Bully dog owners ahead of new restrictions for the breed, which the government will be introducing from December 31 this year. The government has added the XL Bully to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 following a number of high profile attacks and fatalities involving the breed around the UK. From December 31, it will be against the law to sell, give away, breed, or abandon an XL Bully. Current owners may continue to own their dogs but will need to follow new rules, requiring them to have their dog on a lead and muzzled, while out and about in public. Early next year from February 1, it will also be illegal to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless owners have a certificate of exemption. The certificate will need to be applied for by the end of January and requires dogs to be neutered and micro chipped, have public liability insurance cover in place and carries a fee of 92.40 for the issue of the certificate. Worried owners have already been in contact with both councils and officers are keen to emphasise that well managed dogs should not pose a threat to the public. However, owners will be required to follow the new laws, which are similar to those already applied to other banned breeds. Following the new rules will allow existing owners to retain ownership of their dogs and give their pets a happy and healthy life, while meeting the legal requirements being imposed. Perhaps the biggest challenge for owners will be muzzle training and officers have been keen to stress that the training needs to be positive throughout the whole process. Owners are being encouraged to start the training as early as possible to reduce any stress the dog might experience in the transition to the new arrangements. With this in mind, its important the pace of the training and familiarisation is not too rushed and is delivered in a manner that is kind to the animals. As well as help and assistance from council officers, owners are being directed to resources being made available by charities and other organisations, including free webinars to help guide and reassure owners in how to muzzle train successfully. Torridge District Councillor Philip Hackett - lead member for public health and community safety said: Were keen to help owners to manage the transition to the new rules and colleagues at both councils are ready to support people to supplement the information available online and through other partner organisations. We hope this will allow the many well behaved dogs of this breed to continue to live healthy lives and that owners will discover that with a little planning it is not all that difficult to successfully meet the legal requirements. North Devon Council leader Ian Roome added: The deadline for the introduction of the new laws and restrictions is fast approaching and as well as getting ready to register your dog leaving ample time for training with muzzles is also going to be important. As with all larger dogs they will need exercising to keep them healthy and happy, so getting them used to the new equipment in a controlled and relaxed manner will be important in the lead up to December 31. Examples of owners of other banned breeds successfully managing rule changes will hopefully offer some encouragement. More information regarding the new laws can be found on the following websites: General information about the ban Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) How to obtain an exemption certificate Keeping an XL Bully dog How to identify an XL Bully breed dog Official definition of an XL Bully dog - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Devon & Cornwall Police is launching its seasonal campaign, called Safer Christmas. Police want to remind people of the simple safety measures they can take to ensure they dont become a victim of crime. Joe Champness, the crime prevention lead for the force said: This is one of the busiest times of year for shoppers and retailers and there are simple prevention measures people can take to make it harder for thieves. We are urging retailers to think carefully about where they place their most valuable stock; to keep it away from doors and window displays and to place it where staff can best keep an eye on it. We are urging shoppers to be vigilant to people who may want to steal their wallets and other valuables from their bags, so keep them closed at all times, especially in crowds. The force is also giving out helpful advice to shoppers when parking their vehicles, as people will often leave purchased gifts on display, making their vehicle an easy target for opportune thieves. We are reminding drivers that when parking their vehicle to choose a well-lit spot, ensure their vehicle is locked and never leave any valuables or gifts on display. Officers will be out and about in the run up to Christmas, and where possible, will attend late night shopping events and Christmas markets. Officers are working closely with Community Safety partners to identify prolific shoplifters and theft hotspots. Anyone who is caught shoplifting, breaking into vehicles, or handling stolen goods can expect to be dealt with by local officers They may face a lifetime ban, prosecution, as well as get themselves a criminal record, added Champness. By working together, we can help reduce the cost and blight of theft in our communities. We want to send a clear message that Devon and Cornwall is open for business, but closed for crime. For more information and to view the campaign posters visit: www.devon-cornwall.police.uk Egypt is ramping up restructuring efforts with the sale of ChillOut fuel stations to the private sector as part of the country's IPO programme, Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, said on Sunday. ChillOut's offering is expected to take place following the completion of a deal to sell state-owned petrochemical companies and Wataniya fuel stations, El-Said revealed during an interview with Asharq Business on the sidelines of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai. Wataniya, one of two chains of fueling stations owned by the Egyptian Army's National Service Projects Organization (NSPO), has been divided by the government, with a new entity taking 174 of Wataniya's 300 fuel plants. The other chain, ChillOut, is owned separately by the NSPO through its subsidiary, the National Company for Roads. El-Said acknowledged that the sale of Wataniya will be delayed a few weeks beyond its scheduled date at the end of December. This is not the first postponement, with the most recent delay being announced by El-Said last October. The IPO programme in general, launched in February, has seen many delays. Wataniya Petroleum is one of 35 key state-owned companies in which the government plans to offer stakes to strategic investors by the end of June 2024, as outlined in the State Ownership Policy Document. This privatisation programme is a crucial commitment of Egypt under its $3 billion loan programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While the country was slated to receive two more tranches from the loan in March and September of this year, these were delayed due to delays in the IPO programme's implementation. The Egyptian government aims to generate $5 billion through the sale of power plants and state-owned companies between October 2023 and the end of June 2024. Search Keywords: Short link: OPEC+ members met this week and agreed to an additional 1 million barrels a day in production cuts for 2024. This goes along with an extension of Saudi Arabias voluntary production cut of the same amount into 2024 as well. The meeting of OPEC+ nations was originally scheduled for Sunday but was pushed back to Thursday as reports indicated some member nations may not have been in complete agreement with the proposed cuts. Attached heads prevailed, and production cuts were agreed upon with an announcement Thursday morning that initially saw crude oil futures spike $2 plus, putting in a high of $79.60 for the day in Jan crude oil futures. The rally did not hold for long, as January crude oil futures finished down $1.90 on the day at $75.96, leaving one to wonder if heads will roll as OPECs unified front may have a crack in it. Musk's mixed week Elon Musk was on CNBC this week, and his first appearance garnered a lot of attention as he did not mince words, crudely telling big corporate advertisers what they could do to themselves if they thought he could be blackmailed with pulled advertising and lost sponsorship dollars as a response to a perceived antisemitic remark he made on X, the Musk-owned social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Musk had recently returned from a trip to Israel, where he spent time with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that some claimed was an apology tour, but Musk claimed had already been planned. In any case, Musk had a revealing, frank interview during which he was clearly not begging advertisers for forgiveness. The very next day Elon Musk presided over a press conference to reveal details about Teslas new Cyber Truck, with commercial production finally hitting the market. The press conference was broadcast live on CNBC. Tesla stock is up 116% for the year at roughly $234 per share as of Friday morning. X was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange after Musk acquired it and went private with the company, but it was estimated to be worth $19 billion in October, according to Bloomberg. Musk originally paid $44 billion for his acquisition of Twitter in October of 2022. Have a comment or question? Please reach out to derrick.hermesch@pinion.global.com. CROWN POINT A woman who was injured in a drunk driving crash in which her sister was killed told a court Friday that she remembers seeing her sister's limp body after their vehicle was struck and screaming for her to wake up. "I knew her spirit was no longer there," Marialena Garza said. "I felt my heart hurting, the memories running through my mind." Marvin Brantley, 53, of Gary, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious bodily injury to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and one count of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Gysenia Garza, 29, and injuries sustained by Marialena Garza and another man. Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota sentenced him to five years in prison with three of the years executed and two of the years to be completed in a work release program. Court records show Brantley admitted to police at the scene that he drove through the "yellow light" and struck a silver Chrysler Sebring on Nov. 26, 2019 at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Chase Street in Gary. The intersection is a four-way stop, with stop signs in all directions. Marialena Garza said she now cares for her sisters' four children along with her own son. The children sat in the audience of the court silently crying while she spoke. "I forgive you and the bad decisions you made," she said, "but I will not forget." Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie said Brantley has an extensive criminal history, including a murder conviction. He said Brantley was given opportunities to rehabilitate himself through problem-solving programs through the court, but had not been successful. He said he does not believe any possible mitigating factors should warrants any leniency in the sentence. Defense attorney J. Michael Woods said the incident was not an act of malice and Brantley did not intend for it to happen. He also said the victim was not wearing her seatbelt, but clarified that this does not absolve Brantley from blame. Brantley told the court he was sorry for what happened and said has worked over the last four years to turn his life around. He said he does not drink alcohol anymore and has been sober from cocaine for ten years. He attributed much of his criminal history to his substance abuse issues. Bokota said while she recognizes that Brantley is remorseful, she believes many of his choices "show disdain for the law" and believed the aggravators outweigh the mitigators. Brantley requested a public defender be appointed in the event he chooses to appeal the conviction. The 27-year-old Gary woman told the dispatcher she was battered by a man in the home, and he had broken her nose. She said she was afraid of the man, and was calling from the kitchen while he was in the bedroom, police said. The woman asked that the police not be notified as it would make things worse. Dispatchers notified Gary police and emergency medical services. Upon officers arrival, an "angry" man behind a closed door told them to go away. Officers asked to speak with the woman who called, but were told no such person lived there, police said. They then heard a woman's voice say she did not call the police and only wanted medics. Police informed the man they wouldn't leave until the woman was seen by paramedics. After going back and forth with the suspect, the woman exited from the rear of the home and was seen by medics and patrol officers, police said. While being treated, the victim informed officers she came home three months ago with a group of girls and the homeowner wouldn't allow her to leave. "The victim said that a male in the home held her against her will, beat her and forced her to have sex with different men," police said in a news release on Thursday. Gary Police Department Family Crimes Division Detective Olivia Vasquez secured an arrest warrant for Mayers and a search warrant of the home. Vasquez presented evidence in this case to the Lake County Prosecutor's Office for review on Friday. Formal charges were accepted and filed on Anthony Mayers. He was charged with seven felony counts which include: rape, aggravated battery, criminal confinement, promotion of human sexual trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon and domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury. Anyone with information about this can contact 219-881-1210. "If you or someone you know have been the victim of human trafficking, there is help available," police said. To contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 888-373-7888. Michigan officials approved a $500 million plan Friday to encase in a protective tunnel a portion of an oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes, leaving just one more regulatory hurdle for the contentious project. The state's three-person Public Service Commission approved the project in the Straits of Mackinac on a 2-0 vote. Commissioner Alessandra Carreon abstained, noting she just joined the commission four months ago. The commission's chairperson, Dan Scripps, said that an oil spill in the straits, which link Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, would be catastrophic. The tunnel is the best way to mitigate the risk as the state transitions to renewable energy sources, he said. The plan still needs approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is still compiling an environmental impact statement. A final decision may not come until 2026. Enbridge Energy has been operating the Line 5 pipeline since 1953. The pipeline moves up to 23 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ohio. A 4-mile portion of the pipeline crosses the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac. After an Enbridge pipeline leaked about 21,000 gallons of crude oil into a Kalamazoo River tributary in southern Michigan in 2010, the state formed a task force to review petroleum pipelines across the state, including Line 5. Enbridge officials revealed in 2017 that engineers had known about gaps in Line 5's protective coating in the straits since 2014. That section of pipeline was also damaged by a boat anchor in 2018, raising concerns about a spill. Later that year, then-Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's administration reached an agreement with Enbridge calling for the company to build a tunnel 60 to 375 feet beneath the lakebed to house a new section of Line 5 and shut down the existing segment at a cost of $500 million. Current Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has said she opposes the continued operation of Line 5 under the straits even with the new tunnel agreeing with Indigenous tribes, environmentalists and tourist businesses that it is at risk of causing a devastating spill. She ordered Enbridge in November 2020 to close the 68-year-old line, revoking a 1953 state easement allowing its placement in the straits. Enbridge, based in Calgary, Alberta, contends the line is safe and ignored the governor's shutdown deadline. Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a state lawsuit in 2019 to void Enbridge's easement in the Straits. A federal appellate court is reviewing whether the lawsuit belongs in state or federal court. The state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy in 2021 approved construction of the tunnel. Liesl Clark, who was the director of the Michigan agency at the time and a Whitmer appointee, said the company's application satisfied state legal requirements. A federal judge in Madison, Wisconsin, this summer gave Enbridge three years to shut down part of Line 5 that runs across the reservation of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The tribe sued Enbridge in 2019 to force the company to remove about 12 miles of pipeline crossing its reservation, saying the pipeline is prone to spills and land agreements allowing it to operate on reservation land expired in 2013. The company has proposed a 41-mile reroute of the pipeline to end its dispute with the tribe. It has appealed the shutdown order to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; the case is still pending. The Egyptian government is currently reviewing partnership offers worth EGP 8 billion ($258 million) from investors in the real estate sector, Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Public Business Sector, said on Sunday. These partnership offers, which include proposals from Saudi investors, are expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2024, Esmat revealed during an interview with Asharq Business. Under the proposed partnerships, companies affiliated with the public business ministry will provide land for the projects, while investors will be responsible for carrying out the development work, he added. Egypt intends to enhance the returns from its unused lands and real estate assets, the minister emphasized. One of the major partnerships in the pipeline involves the Heliopolis Company for Housing and Development, a prominent government housing company. However, Esmat clarified that there are no plans to sell any shares in the company and that their focus is solely on evaluating partnership offers. Currently, the Holding Company for Construction and Development owns approximately 72.25 percent of the shares of the Heliopolis Company, which has a capital of around EGP 334 million and a market value of about EGP 15 billion. In the fiscal year 2022/2023, the real estate sector was the third-highest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Egypt, with a total of $552.3 million recorded. Notably, the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) is finalizing the system for a real estate exchange to be launched within four months, the bourse's Chairman Ahmed El-Sheikh said in October. Egypt's real estate sector is one of the largest in the region. The number of residential and mixed-use real estate projects in Egypt currently stands at 534, with a combined value of $329.57 billion, according to Property Finder. Egypt is seeking to sell real estate units in US dollars to foreigners and expatriates in collaboration with the private sector, as a means of bolstering its dwindling US dollar reserves. Egypt has seen a surge in commitments from Saudi, Emirati, and Qatari businessmen, who have pledged to inject more investments into the country's economy. Search Keywords: Short link: The pleasures of visiting a cocktail bar extend well beyond the libations. Its just as much about the company, the atmosphere, all the accouterments. At home, a thoughtfully designed bar can create a similar feeling and serve as a special place for after-work drinks and celebrations with family and friends. A home bar is just really festive, collective and inviting, said Andrew Suvalsky, an interior designer based in New York. When you set up a bar, it shows that you care about entertaining and helping people have an experience. And because a home bar is often tucked away in an inconspicuous spot, it offers a chance to take design risks, said Leslie Martin, a founder of M & M Interior Design, a firm with studios in Chicago and San Diego: Its sort of a powder-room situation, where you have this opportunity to make it a bit of a jewel box. Theyre often behind closed doors, so you might as well go big. For Yoo, the menu represents who I am as a native New Yorker, he says. His mixings and musings are far from the so-called fusion cuisine of the 1980s, when ingredients from non-Western cultures started popping up at high-end restaurants across America. Back then, those elements were treated as exotica. To Yoo, theyre simply part of a city pantry, shared by neighbors with roots across the world. Sometimes those neighbors find an unexpected connection, like a love of condensed milk: milk boiled down until its thick enough to cling to the spoon, with sugar added to make it last longer. The American publisher, land surveyor and inventor Gail Borden Jr. patented a process for making and canning it in 1856, inspired by preservation techniques he observed at a Shaker community in upstate New York. It proved essential for Union soldiers during the Civil War, because it could be kept for months without refrigeration. Its popularity has persisted in warm climates, where, as the food historian Rachel Laudan has written, a can on the shelf is still more reliable than the fresh milk hawked door to door on the back of a donkey or in a pickup truck. At Golden Diner, the marquee dessert is tres leches, a Latin American cake soaked in three kinds of milk, as the Spanish name attests: whole milk, condensed milk and its unsweetened cousin, evaporated milk. Yoo first tasted the cake in elementary school in Queens, on a day students were asked to bring in a dish from their heritage. (Tres lechess exact origins are unknown, though Mexico and Nicaragua are the main contenders. Nestle started producing condensed milk in Latin America in the 1920s, and the method of soaking cake in liquid goes back to the tipsy trifles of 18th-century England and even earlier, to the ancient Greeks, who offered honey-bathed cakes to their gods.) As Yoo worked on a recipe, he thought of Thai iced tea, or cha yen, a tiger-orange swirl of black tea and condensed milk over ice. Fatty, delicious, not too sweet, he says. Could the two treats be combined? He tried different brands of Thai tea and decided that a minimalist version, with just tea, vanilla and food coloring, would be best. Its introduced at the end, whisked into the warm mixture of three milks, which takes on that signature hue. The faint bitterness of the tea checks the sweetness of the cake, so its just enough. Yoo pokes holes all over, then pours the Thai tea-milk mixture slowly, pausing for it to be fully absorbed before pouring more, until everything is orange. Then the waiting begins. Yoo goes so far as to leave the cake in the refrigerator for two nights, flipping it in between. So gravity can do its work, he says. The cake is finished with whipped cream, coconut flakes toasted near gold and lime zest with its bright sting. Most important is to keep it cold, in the refrigerator until the last moment. A chill on the tongue, then it melts. Is it cake? Is it ice cream? Why not both? A few years later, his father was off again, this time selling his wares in New Orleans and leaving his 16-year-old son to fend for himself. Boris later traveled to Japan to be ordained as a Buddhist priest and returned to practice his adopted religion in Manhattan. Mr. Erwitt credited shyness he had arrived in New York speaking no English with making him a photographer. He began seriously taking pictures in Los Angeles with an antique glass-plate camera when he was 16, then upgraded to a Rolleiflex. My dentist was my first customer, then peoples houses and children, then the senior prom, he wrote. Photos of movie stars also sold well. After graduating from Hollywood High School, he studied photography at Los Angeles City College, took a job in a commercial dark room and hustled for work. In 1949, he headed back to New York, where he met Capa and Steichen, studied film at the New School for Social Research and enjoyed a nascent professional career before the Army drafted him during the Korean War. While serving in 1951 with an Army Signal Corps unit in France, he took a picture of soldiers killing time in the barracks. By his account, the photo changed his life. Submitting it to a Life magazine contest, he won a prize, and the photograph was published as Bed and Boredom. With the $2,500 check (an astronomical amount at the time), Mr. Erwitt bought a car and nicknamed it Thank you, Henry, after the Time-Life publisher, Henry Luce. The unheroic and the offbeat had already become signature motifs for Mr. Erwitt. He made his first dog-related pictures in 1946, for a fashion story about womens shoes for The New York Times Magazine. Former President Donald J. Trump, who has been charged by federal prosecutors with conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with a plot to overturn the 2020 election, repeatedly claimed to supporters in Iowa on Saturday that it was President Biden who posed a severe threat to American democracy. While Mr. Trump shattered democratic norms throughout his presidency and has faced voter concerns that he would do so again in a second term, the former president in his speech repeatedly accused Mr. Biden of corrupting politics and waging a repressive all-out war on America. Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy, he said. Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy. Mr. Trump has made similar attacks on Mr. Biden a staple of his speeches in Iowa and elsewhere. He frequently accuses the president broadly of corruption and of weaponizing the Justice Department to influence the 2024 election. At least four people were killed and dozens of others injured on Sunday in an explosion at a Roman Catholic Mass inside a university gymnasium in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, officials said. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack in its Telegram channel. The blast, thought to be caused by a grenade or a homemade bomb, ripped through a gymnasium at Mindanao State University. The university, in Lanao del Sur Province, was at the center of fighting in 2017 that displaced more than 100,000 people, after local and foreign Islamic State militants laid siege to Marawi. At least 1,200 militants, government forces and civilians were killed during those battles, which lasted for five months. Parts of Marawi, in the region with the countrys biggest Muslim population, remain off limits to civilians because there are still unexploded ordnance from the conflict. The Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi, to which all of the casualties were rushed, said that four people had died on the spot and that seven others were seriously injured. About 40 others were released after being treated for their wounds, said the hospital, which had said earlier that 11 had died in the blast. A German tourist was killed and several other people were injured in central Paris late Saturday after a man attacked them with a knife and a hammer, the French authorities said. The case stirred fears of renewed Islamist terrorist attacks in a nation already on edge. A suspect was arrested nearby shortly after the assault. The authorities said he had serious psychiatric disorders and had told the police that he was upset over the deaths of Muslims in the world, including in Gaza. Frances national antiterrorism prosecutors office said it had opened an investigation. Gerald Darmanin, Frances interior minister, said that a man had first attacked two German tourists shortly after 9 p.m. on the Quai de Grenelle, not far from the Eiffel Tower, killing one of them, a Filipino-born German man, with a knife. The other person, a woman, was not injured, Mr. Darmanin said. This person was clearly ready to kill other people, Mr. Darmanin told reporters in Paris. France was struck by large-scale Islamist terrorist attacks in 2015 and 2016, and then by a string of smaller but deadly shootings and stabbings in subsequent years. The country is still on its highest terrorism threat alert after the killing in October of a teacher in northern France. Yelena Trupanob, 50, a Russian Israeli hostage who was released from captivity in Gaza three days ago, had a message for the thousands of demonstrators who gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to continue to pressure the Israeli government to make freeing the remaining hostages a top priority. I came to say thank you, Ms. Trupanob said. Because without all of you, I wouldnt be here. In her first public appearance since being released, Ms. Trupanob was joined onstage in front of the central military headquarters in Tel Aviv by her mother, Irena Tati, 73. She was also one of the 105 hostages including Israelis, Thais and other foreign citizens who have been released and returned to Israel. Most were freed as part of a seven-day cease-fire that ended Friday morning local time. With roughly 240 hostages taken in the surprise Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, more than 100 hostages remain in captivity, according to Israeli officials. Ms. Trupanob, her son, Sasha, 28, and Ms. Tati were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. Mr. Trupanob is still being held in Gaza. Her husband, Vitaly Trupanob, was murdered in the attack. Now, we have to continue, to return my Sasha, and everyone, Ms. Trupanob said at the demonstration. After repeating the message in Russian, her voice cracked with emotion as she chanted Right now! with the crowd. Tears flowed more freely and chants to bring them home now were louder than in the previous weeks of rallies in Tel Aviv, as protesters celebrated the return of some hostages and lamented the many still in captivity. Michal Lebenthal, who is the same age as Ms. Trupanob, said she was moved by her speech because as a mother she wants her son to come back, and I feel the same. Before the temporary cease-fire, thousands of people rallied outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office in Jerusalem to call on the government to do more to free hostages held in Gaza, the culmination of a five-day march from Tel Aviv that began with just 100 friends and family of the captives. But with the military operations resuming in Gaza, families of the hostages say they feel as if they are back to square one. Amit Shem Tov, 24, whose younger brother Omer, 21, is still being held in Gaza, said, The end of the cease-fire is the worst thing that could have happened because it seriously delays the release of my brother. Seeing Ms. Trupanob at the rally filled Mr. Shem Tov with hope, and a bit of jealousy. I wish next Saturday well be here with him, Mr. Shem Tov said, but until his brother returns, he added that he would continue to put as much pressure as possible on the government to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Its official. Oxford University Press, the worlds second-oldest academic press and the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, has rizz. Or at least, like the rest of us over a certain age, its trying to get some. Rizz Gen Z (or is it Gen Alpha?) slang for style, charm or attractiveness, or the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner has been named as Oxfords 2023 Word of the Year, beating out contenders like situationship, prompt, de-influencing and (yes) Swiftie. Rizz, a shortened form of charisma, emerged out of internet and gaming culture, according to Oxford, and was popularized in 2022 by the YouTube and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who posted rizz tips videos online. It went viral in June, after the actor Tom Holland, in an interview with Buzzfeed, said: I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz. That spawned a crush of memes, as overall usage surged by a factor of about 15 over the previous year, according to Oxfords data. Casper Grathwohl, the president of Oxford Languages, the dictionary division, said that this years choice reflects the way social media has increased the pace of language change exponentially. Plus, he said, the word simply has rizz. Christmas wont arrive for three more weeks but Saturday Night Live got an early present: When Congress voted on Friday to expel Representative George Santos, it was a bow-tied comedy gift that S.N.L. wasted no time unwrapping in this weekends broadcast. The show led off with Sarah Sherman as the CNN host Wolf Blitzer, who promised an upcoming live conversation with Elon Musk (so go ahead and sell your Tesla stock now, she said). She then threw to the steps of the U.S. Capitol for a news conference with Santos played, perhaps for the final time, by Bowen Yang. Its not like youve got the same dynamics at play, said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst for Atmosphere Research. No one is going to look at this merger and say, Oh, were about to lose a budget airline. While Alaska bounced back from the pandemic relatively quickly, Hawaiian has struggled to return to profitability. At first, it suffered from strict state Covid restrictions on incoming visitors, which discouraged travelers. After those restrictions were lifted, demand began to recover, but Americans soon shifted focus to international travel. More recently, the airline has been challenged by delays in deliveries of new airplanes and the wildfires in Maui, which led to a drop in traffic this summer. The sale will also diversify the fleet of planes owned by Alaska, which operates only two types of aircraft, the Boeing 737 and the Embraer 175. After acquiring Virgin America, Alaska inherited some Airbus planes, but phased those out over several years. Hawaiian operates both Airbus and Boeing planes, and it will probably be years before Alaska decides how and whether to rebalance that fleet, Mr. Minicucci said. Theyve got the right airplanes to fly the markets that theyre in today, he said. Unions representing thousands of workers at both Alaska and Hawaiian, including pilots, flight attendants, office workers, airport workers and other employees, refrained from supporting or opposing the deal, saying that they would work closely with the airlines to make sure that workers benefited from the sale. Our first priority is to determine whether this merger will improve conditions for flight attendants just like the benefits the companies have described for shareholders and consumers, the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents 9,000 Alaska and Hawaiian workers, in addition to thousands more at several other carriers, said in a statement. Our support of the merger will depend on this. The airlines said they expected to put the deal to a vote of Hawaiian investors sometime in the first three months of next year. If approved, they said, the transaction is expected to take 12 to 18 months to close. Alaska will retain its Seattle headquarters and will continue to be led by Mr. Minicucci, who became chief executive in March 2021. The Egyptian Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) and the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy signed agreements with Norwegian energy company Scatec, and a group of international financial institutions including the African Development Bank (AfDB) and British International Investment (BII) to launch three green energy projects in Egypt. One project in the SCZONE will produce green methanol to fuel ships, while another in Damietta will produce green ammonia, according to a statement by the Ministry of International Cooperation on Sunday. The third project is a partnership with Scatec, AfDB, and BII to build a one-gigawatt solar energy plant using the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which - per the statement - will be the first of its kind in Egypt and the biggest in the region. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. During COP28, Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Shaker signed a letter of intent to join the BESS alliance, which is one of the initiatives launched by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). The BESS alliance's 10 members - including Egypt - aim to store five gigawatts of renewable energy by 2024, as a part of a larger plan to produce 400 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. Furthermore, on Sunday Al-Mashat signed a letter of intent for Egypt to join the Blue Mediterranean Partnership agreement, which offers financing opportunities for blue economy projects. The partnership is a joint platform for countries and international financial institutions, within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Working Group for the Blue Economy. The initiative, which was announced during COP27 in Egypt last year, established a partnership for Mediterranean countries for the development of a sustainable blue economy in the region. At the same conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt launched the Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) program, mobilizing investments worth $14.7 billion to implement nine projects in mitigation and adaptation to climate change in the water, food, and energy sectors. Over the past year, the country has signed many MoUs with various international entities to attract foreign investment in green hydrogen. and to become a global hub for hydrogen production. Search Keywords: Short link: Gao Zhibin and his daughter left Beijing on Feb. 24 for a better life, a safer one. Over the next 35 days, by airplane, train, boat, bus and foot, they traveled through nine countries. By the time they touched American soil in late March, Mr. Gao had lost 30 pounds. The most harrowing part of their journey was trekking through the brutal jungle in Panama known as the Darien Gap. On the first day, said Mr. Gao, 39, he had sunstroke. The second day, his feet swelled. Dehydrated and weakened, he threw away his tent, a moisture-resistant sleeping pad and his change of clothes. Then his 13-year-old daughter got sick. She lay on the ground, vomiting, with her face pale, her forehead feverish, her hands on her stomach. Mr. Gao said he thought she might have drunk dirty water. Dragging themselves through the muddy, treacherous rainforests of the Darien Gap, they took a break every 10 minutes. They didnt get to their destination, a camp site in Panama, until 9 p.m. Mr. Gao said he felt he had no choice but to leave China. I think we will only be safe by coming to the U.S., he said, adding that he believed that Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, could lead the country to famine and possibly war. Its a rare opportunity to protect me and my family, he said. Artificial intelligence has been a breakout star in the opening days of COP28, the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Entrepreneurs and researchers have dazzled attendees with predictions that the fast-improving technology could accelerate the worlds efforts to combat climate change and adapt to rising temperatures. But they have also voiced worries about A.I.s potential to devour energy, and harm humans and the planet. Exactly one year after the blockbuster debut of ChatGPT, the chatbot that introduced A.I. to hundreds of millions of people, the climate summit opened last week with a burst of events and announcements centered on A.I. technology. Many were stocked with representatives from Microsoft, Google and other power players in the emerging A.I. industry. The hope for A.I. breakthroughs in the fight against rising global temperatures flows from the technologys ability to process vast quantities of information. That allows it to produce insights and efficiencies that far exceed what computers and data scientists have been able to do, with a wide range of applications for climate. In her workshop on Suomenlinna, an island fortress begun in 1748 to protect Helsinki, now the Finnish capital, from Russian invasions, Sini Majuri carries out her craft, the centuries-old art of glassmaking. But behind the arched doors of her studio, which was once an armored chamber, the 40-year-old artist uses glass as a medium to explore often-complex subjects such as human nature, violence and femininity. She pairs modern technology with traditional glassblowing techniques, including graal a method in which a design or illustration is encased in multiple layers of colored and transparent glass. Image Party of 10 Dear Diary: My husband and I got married at City Hall in Manhattan on a morning in 2009. A few people had to go to work after the ceremony. The rest of us, feeling hungry, went to a Belgian restaurant on West Broadway that has since closed. The place wasnt really set up for a party of 10, but the staff made do and pushed together a bunch of tables to accommodate us. There was only one small table that we didnt end up using. A man who appeared to be in his 30s was sitting at it working on a laptop. We placed our orders and started to take photos of one another. The man working at his laptop asked if we would like a picture of the whole group. There is a land mine embedded in the United States Code, one that Donald Trump, if re-elected president, could use to destroy our republic. But its not too late for Congress to defuse the mine now and protect America. Im talking about the Insurrection Act, a federal law that permits the president to deploy military troops in American communities to effectively act as a domestic police force under his direct command. In theory, there is a need for a well-drafted law that permits the use of federal troops in extreme circumstances to maintain order and protect the rule of law. The Insurrection Act, which dates back to 1792 but has since been amended, is not, however, well drafted. And its flaws would give Trump enormous latitude to wield the staggering power of the state against his domestic political enemies. These flaws are especially relevant because Trump and his allies are keenly aware of the acts provisions and have long expressed interest in its use. Trump has publicly regretted not using more military force to suppress riots in the wake of George Floyds killing in 2020, there were suggestions that he utilize the act as part of his plot to steal the 2020 election, and now there are reports that Trump might invoke the act on the first day of his next term, to suppress demonstrations, to control the border or both. Moreover, these reports have to be read in the context of Trumps latest public pronouncements. He has declared many of his domestic political opponents to be vermin. His campaign has promised that his critics sad, miserable existence will be crushed. And he has specifically told his followers, I am your vengeance. I was sitting in my apartment in Beirut on the evening of Oct. 13 when I read that journalists had been struck by a missile attack in southern Lebanon. My close friend, Issam Abdallah, was working in the area as a cameraman for Reuters to cover the border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah after the war in Gaza began just days earlier. I called him immediately. It was a ritual we had developed over the years: Whether we were on the front lines in Ukraine or Syria, each of us knew to expect a call from the other anytime a disaster struck. Issam didnt answer. I couldnt remember the last time he let one of my calls go to voice mail. Within minutes, cellphone footage of the attack appeared online. In one video, a journalist for Agence France-Presse lies in a pool of blood, screaming that she cant feel her legs. I listened over and over, desperately trying to find Issams voice in the chaos. Then my doorbell rang. Two of my friends broke the news that Issam had been killed. They shared more footage of the grisly aftermath of the attack. A wave of nausea washed over me as I watched rescue workers wrap Issam and his severed leg in a white sheet, his body charred, barely recognizable. Isobel Bushell, 19, knew Fortnites Big Bang event was going to be popular. The live event, hosted Saturday by Epic Games, promised to introduce new experiences for the beloved battle video game and to feature a musical performance by the rapper Eminem. Ms. Bushell, an office administrator who lives in East Sussex, England, logged on 30 minutes early, as advised by Epic Games, to make sure shed wouldnt have any issues watching the show. It didnt matter. I got hit straight away with a one-hour queue, Ms. Bushell said. So already I was going to miss the initial launch of the event. On X, Fortnites official account announced it would offer more showings for people, like Ms. Bushell, who were unable to watch the event live. She decided to wait in line, but by the time she got to the front, Ms. Bushell was forced to restart the game and got bumped to the back of the line for another wait of two hours. Its really frustrating how Epic Games just, you know they knew the capacity that they would need and how popular the game has become, how anticipated this event would be, Ms. Bushell said. While artificial intelligence has taken the limelight over the past year, technology that can appear to operate like human brains has been top of mind for researchers, investors and tech executives in Silicon Valley and beyond for more than a decade. Here are some of the people involved in the origins of the modern A.I. movement who have influenced the technologys development. Image Credit... Jim Wilson/The New York Times Sam Altman Mr. Altman is the chief executive of OpenAI, the San Francisco A.I. lab that made the chatbot ChatGPT that went viral over the past year and ushered in recognition of the power of generative artificial intelligence. Mr. Altman helped start OpenAI after meeting with Elon Musk about the technology in 2015. At the time, Mr. Altman ran Y Combinator, the Silicon Valley start-up incubator. Back-to-back storms fueled by atmospheric rivers were expected to move over the northwestern United States this week, bringing heavy rains and snow and raising concerns about flooding, forecasters said. After a brief break between atmospheric rivers on Sunday evening, another was expected on Monday, with the heaviest rainfall likely to occur in western Washington State. The forecast came as snow had already blanketed mountain areas of Washington State with as much 40 inches since Thursday, according to the National Weather Service office in Seattle. Through Monday evening, three to seven inches of rain could drench areas of western Washington and Oregon, forecasters said. Some academics have raised concerns that Gov. Ron DeSantiss policies have become increasingly untenable for them. Credit... Erich Martin for The New York Times At almost exactly the same time Israeli negotiators pulled out of deadlocked truce talks in Qatar on Saturday, Israeli jets sent a Doha-funded housing development in the Gaza Strip up in smoke. Hamad City is named for the former emir of the Gulf petro-state, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who laid the foundation stone on a visit 11 years ago. Inaugurated in 2016, it was still among the newest projects in the Gaza Strip. The first flats -- more than 1,000 of them -- were provided to Palestinians whose homes were destroyed in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip two years earlier. On Saturday it happened again, a day after a seven-day truce brokered by Egypt and Qatar expired on Friday. First their phones pinged around noon with an "immediate" evacuation order SMS sent by the Israeli army. Around an hour later, five Israeli air strikes rained down on the neighbourhood in the space of just two minutes. Bombs slammed into the pale apartment blocks one by one, reducing them largely to rubble and sending a huge pall of black smoke into the sky, as people fled and cries of 'help!' and 'ambulance!' rang out. "At least we got through it," 26-year-old Nader Abu Warda told AFP, amazed he was still alive. No phones The Israeli military has divided the Gaza Strip into 2,300 "blocs" and is now sending SMS messages to residents telling them to leave before they launch the strikes which they say will "eliminate Hamas". The Gaza health ministry says Israel's invasion has killed more than 15,000 people, most of them women and children, since it was launched eight weeks ago. The United Nations humanitarian agency, OCHA, has highlighted that the warning messages do not indicate where the recipients should go. Ibrahim al-Jamal, a civil servant in his 40s, said he does not have any "internet, any electricity or even a radio to receive information" and that he has "never seen this map" setting out the different blocs. "Many people in Gaza have never heard of it and it wouldn't matter anyway as the bombings are taking place everywhere," he said. Humanitarian bodies say the most vulnerable in Gaza are the estimated 1.7 million displaced people. Many of them do not have access to phones and have to rely on warning leaflets dropped by planes, not visible from inside an apartment. 'Go where?' According to the Gaza Strip's Civil Defence emergency and rescue organisation, in recent weeks "hundreds of displaced families" had been taking refuge in 3,000 apartments at Hamad City. Mohammed Foura, 21, already displaced once from Gaza City, told AFP that half an hour before the strike he had been warned by other residents to flee. They shouted "get out, get out", he said, as families piled their belongings into cars or carried them away in enormous bundles. Nader Abu Warda fled Jabalia, near Gaza City, at the start of the war and no longer knows which way to go or what to do. He, his wife and three children had been staying in a friend's apartment in the complex. "They told us 'Gaza City is a war zone', now it's Khan Younis," he said. "Yesterday, they were saying 'evacuate the east of Khan Younis'. Today, they say 'evacuate the west'," he added, visibly exasperated. "Where are we going now, into the sea? Where are we going to put our children to bed?" *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida said on Sunday that, if elected president, he would pursue legislation that would supersede the Affordable Care Act, echoing former President Donald J. Trumps comments, which Democrats seized upon last week. What I think theyre going to need to do is have a plan that will supersede Obamacare, that will lower prices for people so that they can afford health care, while also making sure that people with pre-existing conditions are protected, Mr. DeSantis said on NBCs Meet the Press. He went on to say that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act was a broken promise from Mr. Trumps 2016 campaign. Were going to look at the big institutions that are causing prices to be high big pharma, big insurance and big government but its going to need to be where you have a reform package thats going to be put in place, he said. Obamacare promised lower premiums. It didnt deliver that, he added. We know we need to go in a different direction, but its going to be done by having a plan thats going to be able to supersede it. Mr. Trump called for the same thing last week, writing on his social media platform that he was seriously looking at alternatives to the Affordable Care Act. After President Bidens campaign denounced the statement, Mr. Trump wrote: I dont want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE. Obamacare Sucks!!! Mississippi is not an isolated case. Buoyed by their success at overturning coronavirus mandates, medical and religious freedom groups are taking aim at a new target: childhood school vaccine mandates, long considered the foundation of the nations defense against infectious disease. Until the Mississippi ruling, the state was one of only six that refused to excuse students from vaccination for religious or philosophical reasons. Similar legal challenges have been filed in the five remaining states: California, Connecticut, Maine, New York and West Virginia. The ultimate goal, according to advocates behind the lawsuits, is to undo vaccine mandates entirely, by getting the issue before a Supreme Court that is increasingly sympathetic to religious freedom arguments. No major religions, including Roman Catholicism, which strongly opposes abortion, have objected to vaccination. But the plaintiffs in these cases say their religious objections stem in part from the use of fetal tissue in vaccine development. A few childhood vaccines, including those that protect against chickenpox and rubella, were developed with cells obtained from aborted fetuses in the early 1960s. Those cells continue to grow in laboratories today. The legal push comes as childhood vaccine exemptions have reached a new high in the United States, according to a report released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three percent of children who entered kindergarten last year received an exemption, the C.D.C. said, up from 1.6 percent in the 2011-12 school year. Idaho had the highest rate of exemptions, at 12.1 percent, while West Virginia had the lowest, at less than one-tenth of 1 percent. Mississippis rate was nearly as low, at two-tenths of 1 percent. At the time, Mississippi allowed exemptions for medical reasons, as all states do, but it did not yet allow parents to opt out on religious grounds. Darlene Williams died in 2020, more than a dozen years after the $8 million sale of a fossilized skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex named Sue that was found on her familys ranch in South Dakota in 1990. Now, her children are fighting over who should inherit her money, pointing to conflicting wills that Ms. Williams left, including one she signed shortly before her death. It is the latest legal dispute spawned by Sue, a crown jewel of paleontology regarded as the most complete T. rex fossil ever found. The bones have been at the center of court cases almost from the moment fossil hunters found the 67 million-year-old remnants. Before her death in 2020, Ms. Williams had written two wills. In a 2017 will, she appointed one of her daughters, Sandra Williams Luther, as the personal representative of her estate. In another will, written in 2020, she designated that same daughter to be her sole heir and the sole executor of her estate. Venezuelas president, Nicolas Maduro, finds himself in a political bind. He is under pressure from the United States to hold free and fair elections after years of authoritarian rule or face a reinstatement of crippling economic sanctions. But analysts say he is unlikely to give up power and would most likely lose in a credible election. Now, Mr. Maduro has reignited a border dispute with a much smaller neighboring country in a move that seems driven, at least in part, by a desire to divert attention from his political troubles at home by stoking nationalist fervor. Mr. Maduro claims that the vast, oil-rich Essequibo region of Guyana, a country of about 800,000, is part of Venezuela, a nation of roughly 28 million people. On Sunday, more than 95 percent of voters supported that claim in a referendum organized by the government, Venezuelas electoral authority said. Mr. Maduros argument is based on what many Venezuelans consider an illegitimate agreement dating to the 19th century that gave the Essequibo region to Guyana. Although most countries have accepted that Essequibo belongs to Guyana, the issue remains a point of contention for many Venezuelans, and experts had expected the referendum to be approved. But there were indications Sunday that voter turnout had been low. The ruling party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tightened its grip over Indias populous northern belt, results of state elections showed Sunday, expanding its dominance of a key region ahead of general elections in which Mr. Modi is seeking a third term. The results of voting for the governments of four states, with a cumulative population of more than 240 million people, were another blow to the dwindling fortunes of the main opposition party, the Indian National Congress. The party, which ruled for a majority of Indias history as a republic, has struggled to claw its way back after Mr. Modi rose to national power in 2014. The Congress party was hoping to use the state elections to build momentum for national elections next spring, but instead lost all three states in which it was pitted against Mr. Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P. The B.J.P. managed to re-elect its government in Madhya Pradesh, with a bigger margin, and topple Congress in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. The only victory for Congress came against a smaller regional party in Telangana, in Indias south, where Mr. Modis Hindu nationalist politics has faced resistance. The results of elections in a smaller fifth state, Mizoram, are expected on Monday, but the race there is between two smaller regional parties. Modis party makes gains in state elections Elections in northern Indian states were seen as a big test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P. Results showed that the party expanded its dominance in a key populous area. The outcome was another blow to the main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, which lost in three states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan where it was pitted against Modis B.J.P. Congress only won against a smaller regional party in Telangana, where Modis Hindu nationalist politics has faced resistance. Modi is now in an even stronger position ahead of general elections in the spring. Next month, Modi will further galvanize his base with the inauguration of a new Hindu temple that is being built on the site of a destroyed mosque in Uttar Pradesh. Manipur: After months of ethnic violence and government efforts to shift the focus away from the northeastern state morgues there are still full of unclaimed bodies. Families say they are too afraid to go claim their loved ones. Since fleeing Ukraine with her daughter, Iryna Khomich has made a home of a tiny space in a village of prefabricated units in southwestern Germany. A full tour of its single room takes only a few moments: an iron bunk bed and a wardrobe, shoes scattered near the door, clothes drying on radiators. On one recent afternoon, her cat, Dimka, walked in and out, while her daughter, Sofiia, 8, read a German textbook at a desk. But like other displaced Ukrainians who fled west to wait out the war against Russia, Ms. Khomich, 37, lives each day wrestling with an agonizing choice: Should she return home to Ukraine, where the fighting drags on interminably, or put down roots in Germany, effectively turning a temporary separation into something more lasting? It is a cruel dilemma faced by countless Ukrainian refugees scattered across Europe as the war nears the end of its second year, one that pits a longing for family and a sense of shared duty to rebuild their shattered country against the realization that the death and destruction are unlikely to end anytime soon. And they are debating it in places like Freiburg, a city nestled on the edge of the Black Forest close to the French border that has offered open arms, an extensive social safety net and the attractive promise of a life without war. The U.S. government is making an intense effort to persuade Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations so they can once again pause hostilities and exchange more prisoners for hostages, a White House spokesman said on Sunday. We are still working it really hard, hour by hour, to see if we can get the sides back to the table and see if we can get something moving, John F. Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator at the White House National Security Council, said on NBCs Meet the Press. We would like that to happen today. But honestly, I just dont know. In appearances on several Sunday talk shows, Mr. Kirby emphasized that Hamas was to blame for the breakdown in talks, saying that it had not lived up to the terms of its original agreement to begin handing over captives held in Gaza. He said Hamas had failed to produce a list of women and children who could be released in addition to the 105 hostages who were freed during the original pause in fighting. Among those still held are eight or nine Americans. Osama Hamdan, a representative for Hamas in Lebanon, said on Sunday that negotiations over the hostages would not resume until the Israeli assault stopped. Israel has since resumed its attacks on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. He said Israeli authorities had been open to U.S. advice about how to make their assault more precise. We believe that they have been receptive to our messages here in terms of trying to minimize civilian casualties, he said on ABCs This Week. He noted that Israel had published a map directing civilians to what it said were safe zones. Theres not a whole lot of modern militaries that would do that, I mean, that is, to telegraph their punches in that way, he said. So they are making an effort. President Biden and his administration have sought to straddle a careful line nearly two months after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack in which Hamas killed an estimated 1,200 people in Israel and took about 240 more hostage. While supporting Israels right to defend itself, the administration has also sought to restrain Israel from what it believes would be going too far in its response. That led to criticism from both the left and the right on Sunday, as some Republicans complained that Mr. Bidens team was trying to hold Israel back, while some liberal Democrats complained that it was not doing that enough. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, singled out Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. In a speech on Saturday, Mr. Austin warned that Israel should protect civilians in Gaza and prevent violence against Palestinians by Jewish settlers in the West Bank, because otherwise you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat. Speaking on CNNs State of the Union, Mr. Graham castigated Mr. Austin, a retired four-star general who fought in Iraq. Hes so naive; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy, Mr. Graham said. If we were attacked like this, which we were on 9/11, if somebody called for us within two months to have a cease-fire against Al Qaeda, wed have laughed them out of town, wed have run them out of town, Mr. Graham added. Secretary Austin is telling Israel things that are impossible to achieve. Mr. Graham said his solution to the hostage impasse would be to threaten Iran, the sponsor of Hamas. I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go, he said. If you dont, youre going to start paying a heavier price. On the other side of the ideological spectrum, Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington, said on the same program that the Biden administration had a responsibility to stop Israel from killing so many civilians. The United States cannot be backers of this kind of indiscriminate bombing that is my firm belief, she said. We should have conditions on military aid in the same way that we do for every other country. While the White House blamed Hamas for the breakdown in hostage talks, Ms. Jayapal faulted Israel. Qatar has said that Hamas is still at the table, she said, referring to the Persian Gulf emirate that has served as the intermediary for the talks. Israel should still be at the table. In fact, some of the Israeli hostages are saying that Israel should still be at the table, because this is complex negotiation and it doesnt happen unless both sides are willing to come to some kind of an agreement. Hwaida Saad contributed reporting. The six mothers had gathered in a Jerusalem home on a recent Friday to prepare challah, the braided bread that Jews eat on the Sabbath. After they recited a blessing that is part of the ritual, each woman added a prayer of her own. I just want everybody to come back alive and in one piece, mentally and physically, said one, her voice breaking. May they return in peace, said another, wiping away tears. With this challah, I want to bless my three sons who are in the army and all the soldiers, said Ruthie Tick, who had convened the mothers so they could comfort one another. Collectively, they had 10 sons serving in the Israeli Army, either in Gaza fighting Hamas in response to the groups incursion and deadly rampage on Oct. 7, or in the north, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia has been launching missiles at Israel from Lebanon. No sooner had the women finished praying than a WhatsApp message appeared on Rebecca Havivs cellphone. Im gonna be without a phone soon, wrote her son, Adam, a 29-year-old combat soldier on reserve duty. Love you so much, ma, and will be in touch. A U.S. Navy destroyer shot down three drones during a sustained attack in the Red Sea on Sunday, the Pentagon said, in what could signal another escalation in the tit-for-tat attacks between the American military and Iranian-backed militants. A Pentagon official said the U.S.S. Carney shot down the drones as several commercial ships nearby came under fire as part of an attack that began at 9:15 a.m. and lasted for several hours on Sunday. The destroyer intercepted three drones during the attack, United States Central Command said in a statement, including one that was headed in the direction of the Carney. The Pentagon said there were no injuries onboard the destroyer and that the ship was not damaged. In the statement, Central Command said the attacks originated from areas in Yemen that are controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. Since the Oct. 7 incursion into Israel led by Hamas, the Houthis based in Yemen have launched a series of attacks including with drones and missiles on Israeli and American targets in the Red Sea. A Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said in a statement on Sunday that the militia had targeted two Israeli ships in the area of the Bab al-Mandeb strait off southern Yemen, but did not mention the American naval vessel. The group fired a missile at one ship and targeted a second with a drone, he said, adding that the Houthis would continue to prevent Israeli ships from sailing in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea until Israels military stops its aggression in Gaza. In October, the Carney shot down three cruise missiles and several drones launched from Yemen that the Pentagon said might have been headed toward Israel. One of the drones on Sunday was headed toward Carney, although its specific target is not clear, Central Command said in the statement, adding, we cannot assess at this time whether the Carney was a target of the drones. After Hamas attacked Israel, the Biden administration rushed two aircraft carriers and additional troops to the eastern Mediterranean near Israel to deter Iran and its proxies in the region from expanding the war. Sundays attack underscored the risks that the fight in Gaza could spiral into a wider conflict. For more than a month, Iranian-backed militias have conducted drone and rocket attacks against the 2,500 American troops based in Iraq and the 900 troops in Syria. In its statement, Central Command said we have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran. The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners. Shuaib Almosawa contributed reporting. Israel struck Gaza targets Sunday in its war on the strip, as international concern deepened over mounting civilian deaths on the third day of war after a truce ended. More than 15,500 people have been killed in the besieged Palestinian territory in more than eight weeks of combat and heavy bombardment. Israeli air and artillery strikes hit Gaza's northern frontier with Israel, throwing thick clouds of smoke and dust into the sky. 23:00 At least 26 civilians lost their lives this evening in Israeli airstrikes that specifically targeted two residences in the city of Rafah, located in the southern region of the Gaza Strip. According to reports from WAFA correspondents, a tragic toll unfolded as a result of the bombardment. At least 26 people were killed, with dozens more sustaining injuries. Additionally, there are reports of several people still missing. The targeted strikes focused on the residences of the Al-Hams family within the Yabna refugee camp and the al-Bawab family in the al-Janina neighbourhood. 22:30 The Israeli occupation army radio said on Sunday that Israeli forces have launched a ground operation on northern Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel on Sunday ordered the evacuation of residents in and around Khan Younis, the second largest city in Gaza, along with residents of at least five more nearby areas. Residents said the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to Rafah or a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. Later on Sunday, Israeli military forces started ground operations and Israeli tanks shelled sites north of Khan Younis, as reported by Al-Hadath TV channel. Israeli Chief of Staff Gen. Herzi Halevi confirms the military is beginning to operate in southern Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that about 1.8 million people, roughly 75 percent of Gazas population, are internally displaced, up from a previous figure of 1.7 million. The main hospital in Khan Younis received on Sunday at least three dead and dozens wounded from an Israeli strike against a residential building in the eastern part of the city, according to an Associated Press journalist at the hospital. 21:30 Palestinian residents of a town in the West Bank accused Israeli settlers of a violent raid that killed a man, a death confirmed by the local ambulance service. Local residents say the incursions have become increasingly more violent since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, while Israeli occupation troops were standing by and letting violence unfold without intervening. The comments came a day after residents said settlers raided two Palestinian communities in the north of the occupied West Bank, burning cars and clashing with residents who came out to confront them. "They besieged the houses, burned the cars, pushed the car down a hill and burned it, and the soldier stood there and did not say a thing," said Mustafa Mohammad, a resident of Qarawat Bani Hassan, where a 38-year-old man was shot dead. 21:00 The Pentagon said it was aware of reports regarding attacks on an American warship and commercial vessels in the Red Sea on Sunday, as Yemen's Houthi group claimed drone and missile attacks on two Israeli vessels in the area. "We're aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available," the Pentagon said. ABC News, citing a US official, said the USS Carney had been involved in multiple engagements involving Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. "In at least two circumstances, the Carney successfully shot down (drones) headed in its direction," the official told ABC. British maritime security company Ambrey said earlier that a bulk carrier and a container ship had been hit by at least two drones while sailing in the Red Sea. Ambrey said the container ship had reportedly suffered damage from a drone attack about 63 miles northwest of the northern Yemeni port of Hodeidah. 20:45 The Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, was able to explode an Israeli minefield in Khan Younis and kill an Israeli force of 8 soldiers. The Al-Qassam Brigades released a statement late on Sunday stating, "Al-Qassam mujahideen were able to detonate a minefield, killing a Zionist ground force of eight soldiers. Those who survived were finished off at close range northeast of the city of Khan Younis. Earlier, Al-Qassam noted on its official Telegram channel that its members were able to detonate the opening of one of its tunnels on a group of Israeli soldiers east of Beit Lahia. It wrote, Al-Qassam mujahideen were able to blow up a tunnel opening on a group of enemy soldiers east of Beit Lahia, after booby-trapping it with explosive devices and luring the enemy to the mouth of the tunnel. Hours before, Al-Qassam also announced that its fighters had clashed with Israeli soldiers, eliminating several, and had destroyed three Israeli vehicles east of Deir al-Balah with bombs and Al-Yassin 105 shells. The Palestinian resistance announced that it was engaged with Israeli occupation forces on several fronts and that it had directed missile strikes at Tel Aviv, Ashdod, and Israeli-controlled portions of the Gaza Strip. "Our fighters successfully bombed a gathering of occupation soldiers east of Khan Younis with mortar shells, east of Deir al-Balah with heavy-calibre mortar shells and, east of the Magin settlement with a missile salvo," the statement published on their Telegram channel read. Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv was closed after Hamas launched multiple missiles towards the Israeli city, an Al-Arabiya correspondent reported late on Saturday. Al-Qassam also noted that three explosive devices were triggered by a force of 60 Israeli soldiers at their muster point east of the Juhr al-Dik area in central Gaza. 20:00 More than 100 protesters gathered on Sunday on the sidelines of the COP28 UN climate summit to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Holding banners calling for a "ceasefire" and "climate decolonisation", activists in the Dubai Expo City chanted "Free, Free Palestine". "We are seeking an end to the siege, end to the occupation," Palestinian-American Tariq Luthun told Reuters after taking part in an earlier, smaller demonstration calling for a ceasefire. 19:00 Eleven Palestinian civilians were killed Sunday evening after Israeli occupation aircraft bombed a house in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. WAFA correspondents reported that at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured, in addition to a number of missing persons, after Israeli warplanes bombed a house belonging to Al-Hams family inside the Yabna camp in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. 18:00 Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday said they had attacked two ships off the Yemeni coast, adding the "Israeli" vessels were targeted over the war in Gaza. In a statement posted on social media, the Houthis said they carried out an "operation against two Israeli ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait," a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, targeting the first with a "missile and the second ship with a drone". 17:00 The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said 15,523 people had died in the Strip since the start of the Israeli war. Seventy percent of the Palestinians killed in the war were women and children, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, adding that 41,316 people had been wounded. "During the past hours, only 316 dead and 664 wounded were removed from the rubble and taken to hospitals, but many others are still under the rubble," Qudra said. 16:00 A UK-owned ship passing through the Red Sea has reportedly been hit by rocket fire, a UK-based maritime security group said Sunday, with another agency reporting possible drone activity in the area. The unnamed Bahamas-flagged vessel was "struck by a rocket" while sailing south around 35 nautical miles off Yemen's western coast, maritime security firm Ambrey said, citing reports. "The affected vessel was issuing distress calls relating to piracy/missile attack," the UK-based company added. It noted reports that "an international naval asset in the vicinity of the incident" was likely proceeding to the ship's location. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, run by Britain's Royal Navy, said it had received "a report of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) activity including a potential explosion... originating from the direction of Yemen". It advised vessels in the area to "exercise caution". The reported incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding waters after Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo vessel, the Galaxy Leader, last month. Within days two ballistic missiles were also launched from an area controlled by Houthi rebels in Yemen, landing around 10 nautical miles from a US destroyer, the USS Mason, according to the Pentagon. The Houthis have fired a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October 7. The spike in maritime incidents prompted G7 foreign ministers at a meeting earlier this week to urge the rebels to cease threats to international shipping and to release the Galaxy Leader. 14:46 Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan said that his office will further intensify its efforts to advance its investigations in the occupied Palestinian territories after he visited the occupied West Bank and Israel for the first time since his appointment. The Hague-based court has been investigating crimes in the Palestinian territories committed by both sides since 2021 but has yet to announce any charges. Israel is not a member state of the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction. Khan said in a written statement issued after his visit that he is ready to engage with local prosecutors in line with the principle of complementarity the ICC is a court of last resort set up to prosecute war crimes when local courts cannot or will not take action. Palestinian human rights groups refused to meet him on Saturday, accusing him of favouring Israel. "As Palestinian human rights organizations, we decided not to meet him," said Ammar Al-Dwaik, director general of the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR). "I think the way this visit has been handled shows that Mr Khan is not handling his work in an independent and professional manner," he said. 14:00 On Sunday afternoon, demonstrators held a Pro-Palestinian protest against Israel near the Israeli pavilion in Dubai at the COP28 Summit. They waved watermelon flags a pro-Palestinian symbol and other placards and read the names of children and elderly killed by Israel in Gaza, with some demonstrators weeping as they named the dead. Watch live: Pro-Palestinian activists protest against Israel during Dubai Cop28 https://t.co/gjV5HgwzI3 The Independent (@Independent) December 3, 2023 Israel's war on Gaza has pushed its way to centre stage at UN climate talks in Dubai, with leaders and activists calling for a ceasefire. 13:58 Pope Francis said he was saddened the truce in the Gaza Strip had been broken and urged those involved to reach a new ceasefire deal as soon as possible. "There is so much suffering in Gaza," the pontiff said in Italian from his private residence, in remarks broadcast on giant screens in Saint Peter's Square. He said the end of the ceasefire meant "death, destruction, misery," stressing that the besieged Palestinian territory lacked even essential supplies. He said the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories was "serious." "Many hostages have been freed but so many others are still in Gaza," he said. 13:00 The Israeli occupation army threatened to attack the Shujaiya neighbourhood in eastern Gaza with huge firepower." This is a final notice. You are all targets, the Israeli army spokesman said on X, attaching pictures of Hamas commanders he claimed were in charge of the Shujaiya battalion. On Saturday, the Israeli army bombed more than 50 residential buildings and homes in the Shujaiya neighbourhood, in addition to other areas in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 700 during the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza Information Office. 12:45 An Israeli security official said that an attempted attack by a Yemeni drone was thwarted in the Red Sea, according to Israeli Ynet. Earlier, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations Agency (UKMTO) said that it had received reports of drone activity and a possible explosion in the Red Sea's Bab Al-Mandab strait. UKMTO said the drone activity originated from Yemen and called on vessels in the vicinity to exercise caution. 12:35 The UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) said that about 1.8 million people roughly 75 percent of Gazas population are internally displaced, up from a previous figure of 1.7 million. However, obtaining an accurate count is challenging, it said. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that "as a result of Israel's conduct of hostilities and its orders for people to leave the north and parts of the south, hundreds of thousands are being confined into ever smaller areas in southern Gaza." "I repeat, there is no safe place in Gaza," he said. 11:50 At least 700 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes within 24 hours, Gaza Media Office announced. The Israeli military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, asking residents of at least five more areas and neighborhoods to leave for their safety. Residents said the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to Rafah or a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. The main hospital in Khan Younis received at least three dead and dozens wounded Sunday morning from an Israeli strike that hit a residential building in the eastern part of the city, according to an Associated Press journalist at the hospital. Separately, the bodies of 31 people who were killed in Israeli bombardment across the central areas of the strip were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gazas central city of Deir Al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, an administrative employee at that hospital. 10:30 The Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission in Palestine documented 1,692 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank during November. The head of the Palestinian Commission, Moayed Shaaban, said that the Israeli army carried out 1,472 attacks, while settlers carried out 220 attacks. The commission also registered the forced displacement of 35 families from four Bedouin communities, the uprooting and burning of 3,232 trees, and the demolition of 80 homes and agricultural facilities. Moreover, Shaaban revealed that the occupation authorities have recently proposed 19 structural plans to expand settlements to build 2,364 outposts in Palestinian territory. 10:15 Across the globe, demonstrations in Istanbul, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Paris showed solidarity with the Palestinians. Check our photo gallery here. 9:45 Israeli forces stormed the house of Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri in the Al-Sawana neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem, Al Jazeera reported. 9:30 The World Health Organization (WHO) said that reports of ongoing heavy bombardment in Gaza are "petrifying," stating that patients were receiving care on the floor in Nassar Hospital, screaming in pain. Yesterday our team visited Nassar Medical Hospital in the south. It was packed with 1,000 patients 3 times over its capacity, WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X. He added that countless people were seeking shelter in the hospital, filling every corner of the facility. "These conditions are beyond inadequate - unimaginable for the provision of health care. I cannot find words strong enough to express our concern over what were witnessing," Ghebreyesus said "Ceasefire. NOW," he added. The reports of ongoing hostilities and heavy bombardment in #Gaza are petrifying. Yesterday our team visited Nassar Medical Hospital in the south. It was packed with 1,000 patients 3 times over its capacity. Countless people were seeking shelter, filling every corner of the Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 3, 2023 9:05 A 21-year-old Palestinian youth identified as Adnan Issam Zaid was shot dead by Israeli forces in the early hours of Sunday, during an incursion into the city of Qalqilya, in the north of the occupied West Bank, WAFA news agency reported. Israeli forces opened indiscriminate fire while conducting search and arrest raids that targeted several homes in the city, WAFA added, citing local sources. Concurrently, confrontations erupted between local youths and Israeli forces, the latter positioning themselves on rooftops overlooking the city's main streets and neighborhoods. 9:01 Colombian President Gustavo Petro took to X to condemn Israeli airstrikes on Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza as reminiscent of "Nazi practices," highlighting Western countries' reluctance to acknowledge it "They say this is not Nazis. Even if the Western conscience does not like these facts, the extermination of 5,300 Palestinians boys and girls is Nazis, I repeat NAZIS," he wrote. Dicen que esto no es de Nazis. Asi no le guste a la conciencia occidental estos hechos, el exterminio de 5.300 ninos y ninas panestinos es de Nazis, repito de NAZIS. https://t.co/BYlnSdiF0T Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) December 2, 2023 9:00 At least 16 Palestinians were killed and several others were injured in the early hours of Sunday morning as Israeli airstrikes, the heaviest of the war, targeted residential blocks in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, and the Al-Bureij refugee camp, in the center of the territory. The first attack struck a residential building in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, killing seven Palestinians, including women and children, with additional injuries reported. Shortly after, another airstrike hit a house in the Al-Jenena neighborhood, east of Rafah, killing at least nine Palestinians, with more casualties anticipated as rescue operations continue. In eastern Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, Israeli artillery struck several homes, causing further casualties and injuries. Additionally, Israeli warplanes targeted a house in the Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, resulting in more casualties and injuries. On Saturday, Israel pounded crowded southern Gaza and ordered more neighbourhoods to evacuate. Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City and a six-story building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 were buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Palestinian death toll in Gaza stood at more than 15,200 on Saturday, according to an announcement by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Here's a quick round up of yesterday's events. Search Keywords: Short link: A Sinn Fein motion of no-confidence in Justice Minister Helen McEntee is a political stunt, a Government minister has said. Minister of State for public health and wellbeing Hildegarde Naughton said the Government was focused on assisting the Garda so that violent scenes which erupted in Dublin recently are never repeated. Tens of millions of euro worth of damage was caused to public infrastructure after disorder in the Irish capital that saw buses, trams and Garda cars on OConnell Street set on fire and shops on looted. The rioting followed a knife attack near a school in which three children and a care assistant were injured. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said a lack of Garda members and government inaction had resulted in people feeling less safe in the city, as well as in other parts of the country. She announced the motion of no-confidence in Ms McEntee, to be debated in the Dail on Tuesday, claiming there needed to be accountability for the catastrophic failure to keep people safe. Fine Gael minister Ms Naughton told RTE there was absolute confidence in the Government in Ms McEntee. She said that Sinn Fein had a murky relationship with law and order. She added: Fine Gael has no problem debating issues of law and order with Sinn Fein. What Minister McEntee is focused on and what government is focused on is addressing those issues and making sure that the gardai are supported, these are the guardians of our state and we need to make sure they are ready for events like this in the future. That is our focus, not political stunts. Ms Naughton added: What Sinn Fein are doing is politicising a very serious event that happened in our capital city last Thursday week. What we all should be doing is supporting An Garda Siochana, not turning this into a political stunt. What we need to be doing as a political body is ensuring we are concerted here in relation to addressing further legislation that may be needed, not wasting Dail time in relation to motions that are really not helpful. Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny defended the posting online by Mrs McDonald of a photo depicting a person sitting on steps that she claimed was near the scene of the knife attack. He said: The people in that area have for years had situations where they have had huge under-investment in policing, in social services, in community services and it has resulted in an area which is lawless, they never see a gard. After the vicious attack and the huge spotlight that was on it for a week, less than a week later it is back to this abnormal situation. The point that Mary Lou McDonald was making was we have to change, there has to be a step change in how this is looked after. Labour Party TD Aodhan ORiordan said he could not have confidence in how the Government had handled the situation. He said:On the day after the events I was heartbroken, we were all heartbroken. We didnt immediately reach for politics, other members of the opposition did, talking about the Garda Commissioner needs to resign, the minister needs to resign. We have been focusing on issues of Garda resources, numbers, but also on tackling the far right. I am not impressed by Fine Gaels rhetoric in the last couple of days, which is predictable I am also not impressed by the Sinn Fein antics during the week in terms of that photograph of the vulnerable person. However, we cant have confidence in how the Government have handled the situation, we almost had industrial from the gardai in October, we had barristers having a day of strike action and any gard that you speak to speaks of the lack of morale. Which Is The Best City For Women In India In 2023? The Answer Is... Tamil Nadu: Chennai To Coimbatore Bus Falls Into Ditch In Chengalpattu District; 1 Dead, 20 Injured Chennai oi-Gaurav Sharma A bus carrying more than 45 people fell into a ditch in Chengalpattu district in Tamil Nadu. According to the reports, the bus was destined from Chennai to Coimbatore which overturned claiming the life of one passenger and leaving 20 injured. After being informed by the locals, the Chengalpattu Taluk police acted swiftly to reach the spot and rescue the stuck commuters. Police also recovered the deceased's body and sent it to a government hospital for autopsy. The accident happened due to the heavy rainfall causing low visibility, as per the report registered by the Chengalpattu Taluk Police after the accident. The police identified the deceased as Manikandan, a resident of Kanyakumari. The reports suggest that the driver, Arun Kumar (30), lost control of the bus when it was passing by Pazhaveli village on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway. #WATCH | Tamil Nadu | One dead while 20 others were injured after a bus fell into a ditch near Chengalpattu: Chengalpattu Police pic.twitter.com/gBXhXKGATh ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2023 The twenty people with injuries received medical attention before being admitted to a nearby hospital in Chengalpattu district. Alert: Travel On Chennai Metro On Dec 3 For Just Rs 5 Per Ticket: Condition Apply A few days ago, in another accident, five passengers died and around 60 were injured when a state government bus had collided head-on with an omnibus at the Chennai-Bengaluru national highway. To help the injured, Police, 10 ambulances had rushed to the spot at that time, according to the police report. "The accident occurred at about 4 am. The SETC bus hit the median and collided with the omnibus leading to the mishap," a police official said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 12:47 [IST] Six Freebies That Worked Wonders For Congress In Telangana Hyderabad oi-Madhuri Adnal The Congress party's strategic decision to promise six freebies proved to be a game-changer in the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections. The 2023 Telangana Assembly elections witnessed a remarkable turnaround for the Indian National Congress (Congress) party, as its promise of six freebies resonated deeply with the electorate, propelling the party to a commanding position. This strategic move by the Congress not only garnered widespread support but also underscored the party's commitment to addressing the economic concerns of the people of Telangana. This strategic move by the Congress not only garnered widespread support but also underscored the party's commitment to addressing the economic concerns of the people of Telangana. The Congress's Six Ingredients For Success In Telangana At the heart of the Congress party's campaign were six transformative promises, dubbed as the "six guarantees": Mahalakshmi: This initiative aimed to empower women by providing them with a monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,500. Rythu Bharosa: Recognizing the resilience of farmers, the Congress pledged an annual support of Rs. 15,000 to farmers and tenant farmers, along with Rs. 12,000 for agricultural laborers and a Rs. 500 bonus for paddy crops. Gruha Jyothi: To ensure access to essential utilities, the Congress committed to providing 200 units of free electricity to all households. Election Results 2023: BJP Leads In Hindi Heartland, Congress In Telangana Indiramma Indlu: Addressing the housing needs of the underprivileged, the Congress promised to provide house sites and Rs. 5 lakh to those without their own homes, while also honoring Telangana movement fighters with 250 square yards plots. Yuva Vikasam: Recognising the importance of education, the Congress pledged to provide Vidya Bharosa Cards worth Rs. 5 lakh to students and establish a Telangana International School in every district. Cheyutha: Demonstrating its commitment to social welfare, the Congress promised a monthly pension of Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 10 lakh as part of Rajiv Arogyasri insurance. The Congress party's promise of six freebies struck a chord with the people of Telangana, particularly women, farmers, and youth. These promises resonated with the electorate's aspirations for financial security, access to essential utilities, quality education, and social welfare. Who Is Revanth Reddy? Once ABVP Worker And Now Congress' Telangana CM Candidate Hyderabad oi-Prakash KL Anumula Revanth Reddy, whose political journey has evolved from vibrant student activism with the ABVP to a brief period of legal troubles amid accusations of bribery, is now in the race of Chief Minister post. The 56-year-old Congress leader is widely recognized among fellow politicians, party members, and the public for his resilient and never-say-die attitude. As a staunch critic of BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, Reddy, the Telangana Congress chief, frequently becomes the focal point of vehement political attacks from both the BRS and the AIMIM. The leaders of BRS criticize him for party-switching, particularly in the context of the 2015 'cash for vote' case, leading to his arrest, and for allegedly serving as the "agent of" TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu. Meanwhile, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi takes aim at him due to his ABVP background. Reddy, who had a brief stint in BRS (then TRS), achieved his first political victory in 2006 by winning a Zilla Parishad election. Initially elected as an independent, he served as a Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) member. In 2007, Reddy secured a seat in the legislative council of undivided Andhra Pradesh as an independent. Subsequently, he joined the TDP and emerged as a trusted confidante of the party chief and former chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu. A graduate in arts, Reddy transitioned to the Legislative Assembly on a TDP ticket in 2009 and later in 2014, after Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh. In 2015, Revanth Reddy confronted a major political hurdle when he was purportedly captured on camera attempting to bribe a nominated MLA for TDP's favor in a legislative council election. Subsequently, he was incarcerated in Hyderabad but later released on bail. Following his defeat in the 2018 Assembly poll to the BRS candidate, Revanth Reddy experienced a period of political obscurity. In 2017-18, he severed ties with the TDP and aligned with the Congress, formalizing his switch in the presence of party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. In the 2019 elections, Reddy secured a Lok Sabha seat from Malkajgiri, characterized as a 'mini-India' due to its diverse constituency. Despite being a junior member, Reddy assumed the role of PCC president in 2021, sparking discontent among senior members of the state Congress unit. Tasked with rejuvenating the party amid challenging circumstances, he successfully united party leaders. At the time, the ruling BRS enjoyed significant power and prestige, having secured a resounding victory in the 2018 Assembly polls, with 12 Congress MLAs subsequently joining the ruling party in 2019. Despite facing setbacks, the Congress encountered significant challenges as the BJP secured notable victories in the bypolls for two Assembly constituencies and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) election in 2020 and 2021, coinciding with Bandi Sanjay Kumar's leadership of the BJP in Telangana. Unfazed by the hurdles, Reddy persisted in leading the party, and the fortunes of the Congress in Telangana began to shift after the Karnataka elections in May of this year. However, he has played a major role in ensuring that the Congress ends the 10-year rule of the BRS government as his party is leading in 66 seats while the BRS is leading in 37 seats. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren hopes to win 13 of the 14 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha elections Request You To Avoid Such Banal Statements: Sadhuguru To Nitish Over Hindi Remark Row At INDIA Bloc Meet As BJP Set To Win 3 States, Cong Calls For Next INDIA Alliance Meeting India oi-Prakash KL The Congress has called for the next INDIA alliance meeting on December 6, according to news agency ANI. The Party's National President Mallikarjun Kharge has dialled the alliance partners for a meeting in Delhi as the results for the assembly elections in four states are out. INDIA alliance is a coalition of opposition parties that seek to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls In the early trends, the BJP is leading in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Whereas the Congress is heading for a big victory in Telangana. The BJP crossed the halfway mark in Rajasthan with its candidates leading in nearly 100 seats while the Congress was ahead in 77, according to Election Commission trends available on Sunday for the assembly polls in Rajasthan. Telangana Election Results 2023: Will BJP Support BRS Along With AIMIM To Stop Congress From Forming Govt? In MP, the ruling BJP appeared poised to retain power, with the saffron party leading in 115 seats, way ahead of Congress which was leading in 44 seats as counting of votes in assembly elections got underway on Sunday. In Telangana, the Congress was ahead in 65 seats and the ruling BRS was leading in 42 seats in elections. Whereas in Chhattisgarh the BJP was ahead in 55 seats and the ruling Congress was leading in 33 seats in elections. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 11:32 [IST] Brutal Attack In Delhi's Adarsh Nagar, Watch Viral CCTV Camera Clip India oi-Gaurav Sharma A CCTV camera video clip showcasing a brutal attack and attempt to murder in Delhi is doing round the internet. According to the reports, three men in Delhi's Adarsh Nagar nearly killed a man after beating and attacking him with stones, tiles, and a knife. The incident took place in broad daylight, and nobody intervened to save the man, instead chose to be spectators. In the viral CCTV clip, the man can seen being chased by a man, who pushes him from behind, and he falls in front of a house. Another person enters the scene and the two accused start kicking and beating up the person who is on the ground. After kicking the victim multiple times, one of the attackers tried to stab the person with a knife but was restrained. A shocking video has emerged in which some boys are seen brutally beating a youth in #AdarshNagar area of #Delhi. Also, the boys were seen chasing and attacking the youth with knives and stones. In the CCTV footage, it was visible that many people were witnessing the incident but pic.twitter.com/qsassKhlBP Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) December 2, 2023 A third person also joined the attack and hit the victim with stones and titles in front of a large crowd, mostly school children in the national capital. Watch CCTV Video: Leopard On Streets Of Delhi The CCTV footage further shows that a lady comes out from the house, where the victim man was lying down, to stop the attackers and save the man. All three attackers then leave the spot, but the locals choose to be spectators instead of catching them. According to the reports, the attackers belonged to the Jahangirpuri area and had an old dispute with the victim, who has been hospitalized for now. After the incident, Adarsh Nagar Residents' Welfare Association (RWA) president said the Police were informed about the incident and SHO has promised to nab the accused at the earliest after filing the complaint. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 10:00 [IST] Brijmohan Agrawal registers highest victory margin in Chhattisgarh assembly elections Senior BJP leader and former minister Brijmohan Agrawal registered the highest victory margin of 67,719 votes in the Chhattisgarh assembly after he defeated his nearest rival from Congress in Raipur City South constituency. India -Krishna Kripa In a landslide victory, senior BJP leader and former minister Brijmohan Agrawal has emerged as the winner in the Raipur City South constituency of the Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Defeating his closest rival from Congress, Mahant Ramsundar Das, by a substantial margin of 67,719 votes, Agrawal has made history as the eighth-term MLA in the state, remaining unbeaten since 1990. The Unbeaten Champion of Raipur City South Agrawal's triumph can largely be attributed to his dedicated efforts in nurturing his constituency. By maintaining close contact with his voters and consistently offering assistance when needed, he has built a strong rapport that has propelled him to victory time and again. Political analysts have noted that the Congress party currently lacks a leader in the capital who possesses the same stature and influence as Agrawal. OP Choudhary Kharsia and Vijay Sharma: Other Notable Victories While Agrawal's win stands out with the highest victory margin, OP Choudhary Kharsia from the BJP has also made a significant mark by securing a margin of 64,443 votes. Additionally, BJP's Vijay Sharma has garnered the highest number of votes statewide, with a total of 1,44,257 votes. Sharma's victory came at the expense of senior Congress leader and minister Mohammad Akbar, whom he defeated by a margin of 39,592 votes in the Kawardha seat. A Close Call in Kanker and a Narrow Loss for Singh Deo In contrast, the Kanker seat witnessed a nail-biting finish, with BJP's Asharam Netam emerging victorious by a narrow margin of just 16 votes against Congress candidate Shankar Dhruwa. Netam secured 67,980 votes, while Dhruwa trailed closely with 67,964 votes. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo suffered a narrow defeat in the Ambikapur seat by a mere 94 votes against BJP's Rajesh Agrawal. Singh Deo garnered 90,686 votes, falling short against Agrawal's 90,780 votes. BJP's Resounding Victory in Chhattisgarh The BJP has emerged as the clear victor in the Chhattisgarh polls, securing a commanding majority of 54 seats in the 90-member assembly. The ruling Congress has been reduced to 35 seats, while the Gondwana Gantantra Party managed to secure one seat. This resounding victory solidifies the BJP's position in the state and marks a significant shift in the political landscape. The Chhattisgarh assembly elections have witnessed historic victories and narrow escapes, with the BJP emerging as the dominant force. Brijmohan Agrawal's record-breaking margin of victory in Raipur City South stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to his constituency. As the state embarks on a new chapter, the BJP's decisive win will undoubtedly shape the future of Chhattisgarh. Decoding BJP's Success In Madhya Pradesh: What Are The 5 Key Factors That Secured Their Victory? India oi-Madhuri Adnal The BJP's resounding victory in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections has prompted a thorough examination of the factors that contributed to their decisive win. Political analysts have identified five key strategies that propelled the BJP to a commanding majority in the state: 1. Ladli Behna Scheme: A Winning Formula for Women Voters The BJP's launch of the Ladli Behna scheme, a financial assistance program for women, proved to be a masterstroke. The scheme, launched on March 5, 2023, provides Rs 1,250 per month to eligible women from poor families. This, coupled with commitments to support prices for farmers' crops and enhance youth employment opportunities, solidified the BJP's position as a party that cares for the welfare of its citizens. 2. Modi factor helped BJP campaign tide Recognising the prevailing anti-incumbency sentiment against its 18-year-long rule, the BJP devised a plan to counter this sentiment effectively. Instead of announcing its next chief ministerial candidate, the party shifted the focus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and governance. This strategy successfully deflected negative attention from the state government and emphasized the BJP's association with a popular and decisive national leader. 3. PESA Act: Govt implements act to preserve tribal population from exploitation The BJP's efforts to engage with tribal voters proved to be a significant factor in their victory. Initiating outreach programs nearly two years prior to the elections, the party introduced schemes like the PESA Act and actively participated in community engagement activities. This dedication to addressing the concerns of tribal communities paid dividends, garnering their support and contributing to the BJP's overall success. 4. Amit Shah's Strategic Leadership Union Home Minister Amit Shah's strategic leadership played a pivotal role in shaping the BJP's campaign. Deploying trusted aides like Bhupendra Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnav as Election In-charge and Election Co-in-charge, respectively, Shah ensured a well-coordinated and effective campaign strategy. His ability to reconcile discontented party members and mobilize resources from across the state proved instrumental in securing the BJP's victory. 5. A Tactical Move to Mobilize Voters The BJP's ability to capitalize on controversial issues, such as DMK leader Udayanidhi's remarks about Sanatan Dharma, demonstrated their astute understanding of the electorate's sentiments. By portraying the Congress's objections to Ram Mandir hoardings as anti-Hindu, the BJP effectively mobilized a significant portion of the Hindu voter base, further solidifying their position. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 16:16 [IST] Revanth Reddy To Take Oath As Telangana CM Today At 8.30 pm: Sources ZPM Wins Mizoram: Know All About The State's New CM Face Lalduhoma Shivraj Singh Chouhan Vs Jyotiraditya Scindia Vs Prahlad Patel: Who Will Be The Next Madhya Pradesh CM? ZPM Leader Lalduhoma To Take Oath As Mizoram CM On Friday Election Results 2023: ECI Website Resumes After Brief Glitch India oi-Madhuri Adnal As the counting commenced for the 2023 Assembly Elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, numerous users encountered issues accessing the Election Commission of India (ECI) website. Many reported on social media that the website either failed to load or had crashed. Moreover, users expressed frustration that the site didn't display any trends even by 9 am. Amidst these complaints, sources indicated that the Election Commission was investigating potential issues with their official website, following numerous social media posts highlighting delays in early trend numbers. Is the ECI website working? I think it crashed Soumarya Dutta (@dutta_soumarya) December 3, 2023 Sir ECI ki website pe kuch nai aa raha hai...waha kaise check kare VIVEK JAYSWAL (@vivekjayswal2) December 3, 2023 However, the website is functioning properly. MP Assembly Poll Results: BJP Leads In 43, Congress In 42 seats Counting commenced at 8 am on Sunday, December 3, for Assembly Elections in four states. However, the counting for Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 is scheduled for Monday. Despite early trends reported by various news channels, users faced a lack of trend data on the eci website https://results.eci.gov.in/. Exit polls had foreseen a balanced 2-2 scenario between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across the four states, mirroring the trends observed. As per initial trends, the BJP held a lead in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while the Congress took the lead in Chhattisgarh and Telangana. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 9:31 [IST] Election Results 2023: PM Modi To Address BJP Workers At Party HQ At 6:30 pm India oi-Madhuri Adnal With the 2024 elections seemingly tilting in favor of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address party workers at the party headquarters today at 6:30 pm, following celebratory festivities that commence at 5 pm. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the frontrunner in the assembly elections of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, according to early trends released by the Election Commission. Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, the BJP has surged ahead, leading in 96 seats compared to the Congress's 67. As the counting process continues, the BJP's dominance has become increasingly evident. The party's performance surpasses the predictions of several exit polls, solidifying its position in the state. With the BJP crossing the 100-mark, the focus now shifts to the potential leadership scenarios, including the future role of Vasundhara Raje and the possibility of new faces emerging within the party. Mizoram Assembly Elections Result 2023: Counting Postponed To December 4 Madhya Pradesh: In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has taken a commanding lead, securing 85 seats while the Congress trails with 36 seats. This decisive advantage reinforces the BJP's stronghold in the state, which has been its bastion for the past two decades, barring a brief period of Congress rule in 2018. Interestingly, the BJP has yet to officially announce its candidate for the chief ministerial position, despite incumbent Shivraj Singh Chouhan's experience and four-term tenure as Chief Minister. Chhattisgarh: In Chhattisgarh, the BJP has emerged as the frontrunner, leading in 18 seats compared to the ruling Congress's 16 seats. These trends stem from the counting of postal ballots. The two-phase elections, held on November 7 and 17, witnessed a voter turnout of 76.31%. The electoral battlefield features a diverse range of candidates, including prominent figures like Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo, and former CM Raman Singh. Meeting Friends Is Always A Delight: PM Modi Shares Giorgia Meloni's Selfie Post From COP28 Summit Telangana: In contrast to the BJP's dominance in the other three states, Telangana presents a different picture. The Congress holds a lead in 65 seats, while the ruling BRS maintains control in 37 seats. The AIMIM, led by Owasi, holds a marginal edge in 3 seats, while the BJP has secured 12 seats. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 10:27 [IST] Rajasthan Election Results 2023: BJP Vs Congress - Here Is How Tally Looks Like After 12.45 pm Hat-trick In States Guarantee Of Hat-Trick In 2024: PM Modi After BJP Bagged 3 Out Of 4 States Rajasthan Assembly Polls: Here Are The Ministers Who Lost The Elections Exit Poll Results Vs Actual Results In Rajasthan: Check Whose Prediction Was Accurate India oi-Prakash KL The BJP looks like wresting Rajasthan from the Congress with counting trends in the afternoon showing the party leading on 111 seats, way past the Congress which was ahead in 73 constituencies. If the initial trends released by the Election Commission hold, the party is comfortably past the halfway mark of 100. Polling was held for 199 of the 200 seats in the state assembly on November 25. The trends also showed the Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and Bharat Adivasi Party leading on two seats each. Independents were ahead in nine constituencies at this stage. In the current Assembly, the ruling Congress has 107 MLAs, BJP 70 and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) three. Rajasthan Election Results 2023: BJP Vs Congress - Here Is How Tally Looks Like After 12.45 pm However, many pollsters had predicted the BJP's victory and the most accurate predictions came from Times Now - ETG (108-128), P-MARQ (105-125), Jan Ki Baat (100-122), TV 9 Bharatvarsh - Polstrat (100-110). Check out the numbers predicted by the leading pollsters for Rajasthan: Check out the numbers predicted by the leading pollsters for Rajasthan: Source BJP Congress+ BSP Others ABP News-CVoter 94-114 71-91 0-5 9-19 Dainik Bhaskar 98-105 85-95 0 10-15 India Today-Axis My India 80-100 86-106 01-02 8-16 India TV- CNX 80-90 94-104 0 14-18 Jan Ki Baat 100-122 62-85 0 14-15 News 24 - Today's Chanakya 77-101 89-113 0 2-16 P-MARQ 105-125 69-91 0 5-15 Republic TV - Matrize 115-130 65-75 0 12-19 Times Now - ETG 108-128 56-72 0 13-21 TV 9 Bharatvarsh - Polstrat 100-110 90-100 0 05-15 Hat-trick In States Guarantee Of Hat-Trick In 2024: PM Modi After BJP Bagged 3 Out Of 4 States India pti-PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed BJP's big win in the assembly polls as a victory for his government's agenda of self-reliant India, asserting that its hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of its hat-trick of Lok Sabha poll wins in 2024. "The results show popular support for our battle against corruption," he told a crowd of cheering supporters at the BJP headquarters here, adding that they have served a lesson to the Congress and the opposition's INDIA bloc that mere collecting some dynasts on dais may make for a good photograph but cannot win people's confidence. Voters have delivered a warning to these parties involved in corruption to mend their ways or people will finish them off, he said. No one should come in between the Centre's development and people, or the masses will remove them, Modi said in a stinging attack on opposition parties. Some people are already saying our hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of hat-trick in the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, he said. He told opposition parties to not support those working against the country's interests at a time when development is taking place at a fast pace. Addressing a big gathering of BJP members, including many Union ministers, Modi said these results will ensure the world's belief in India and infuse more confidence into global investors for the country. It shows that people are increasingly supporting our agenda for a developed India, he said. The world is watching that people are voting for a stable government which enjoys a strong majority, he said. People can distinguish between selfish politics and the politics of national interest, Modi said, asserting that they have realised that a strong BJP leads to the development of the country and every family. He reiterated that women, youth, the poor and farmers are the four biggest castes and their empowerment will lead to the country's empowerment. Noting that most members of Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Tribes belong to these categories, he said they have endorsed policies and roadmap presented by the BJP. Every farmer, young voter and the poor and deprived are saying that they have won, Modi said, adding that the youth looking for a better future and every citizen wanting a developed India by 2047 is feeling successful following the poll results. "I want to tell you with full honesty that your dream is my resolve," he said, noting how the country's infrastructure is undergong a transformation while its economy remains the fastest growing in the world. Telangana Assembly Elections 2023 Dates To Be Announced This Weekend? OneIndia Exclusive Amit Shah: BJP doesnt take action against anyone over corruption allegations during elections Not Cong, KCR Should Say What He Has Done For Telangana: Rahul Gandhi KCR Steps Down As Telangana CM, Submits Resignation After Poll Debacle India pti-PTI Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday accepted the resignation of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and urged him to continue in office till the formation of the new government. Rao's resignation letter was received, and the Governor accepted it, a press communique from Raj Bhavan said. The Governor requested Rao to continue in office till the formation of the new government, it said. Rao's son and BRS working president K T Rama Rao earlier said the chief minister had sent his resignation to the Governor following BRS' defeat in the assembly election. Muslim community leaders from several swing states pledged to withdraw support for U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday at a conference in suburban Detroit, citing his refusal to call for a ceasefire of the Israeli war on Gaza. Democrats in Michigan have warned the White House that Bidens handling of the Israeli war on Gaza could cost him enough support within the Arab American community to sway the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Leaders from Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania gathered behind a lectern that read Abandon Biden, ceasefire now in Dearborn, Michigan, the city with the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States. The Palestinian Health Ministry on Saturday updated the death toll of the Palestinians killed by Israel to 15,200 with two-thirds of them women and children. Bidens unwillingness to call for a ceasefire has damaged his relationship with the American Muslim community beyond repair, according to Minneapolis-based Jaylani Hussein, who helped organize the conference. "Families and children are being wiped out with our tax dollars," Hussein said. What we are witnessing today is the tragedy upon tragedy. Hussein told The Associated Press: The anger in our community is beyond belief. One of the things that made us even more angry is the fact that most of us actually voted for President Biden. I even had one incident where a religious leader asked me, 'How do I get my 2020 ballot so I can destroy it?" he said. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates previously said the Biden administration has pushed for humanitarian pauses in the fight to get humanitarian aid into Gaza, adding that fighting against the poison of antisemitism and standing up for Israels sovereign right to defend itself have always been core values for President Biden. Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were critical components of the "blue wall" of states that Biden returned to the Democratic column, helping him win the White House in 2020. About 3.45 million Americans identify as Muslim, or 1.1% of the country's population, and the demographic tends to lean Democratic, according to Pew Research Center. But leaders said Saturday that the community's support for Biden has vanished as more Palestinian men, women and children are killed in Gaza. We are not powerless as American Muslims. We are powerful. We dont only have the money, but we have the actual votes. And we will use that vote to save this nation from itself, Hussein said at the conference. The Muslim community leaders' condemnation of Biden does not indicate support for former President Donald Trump, the clear front-runner in the Republican primary, Hussein clarified. We don't have two options. We have many options. And we're going to exercise that," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Caught on camera: Man gropes burqa-clad woman walking on street in Pakistan My husband a BJP leader says Shrikant Tyagis wife while blaming MP for mess Caught on Camera: Dutch YouTuber Allegedly Harassed By Local Trader in Bengaluru's Chickpet Market 'Missed The Mark': KTR Trolls Himself As Humour, Digs Galore Online India oi-PTI Kamareddy constituency BJP candidate Katipally Venkata Ramana Reddy has become the giant killer of the Telangana Legislative Assembly election, as he defeated outgoing Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and PCC president A Revanth Reddy -- who could become the new CM -- on Sunday. Venkata Ramana Reddy defeated KCR, his nearest rival, by a margin of 6,741 votes. The Kamareddy constituency attracted attention ever since KCR announced his decision to contest from there and the contest hotted up as Congress fielded Revanth Reddy to take him on. Both KCR and Revanth Reddy had contested from other seats as well, in addition to Kamareddy, and won. Despite his high-profile opponents, Venkata Ramana Reddy kept up the fight. KCR himself addressed a rally at Kamareddy and his son and BRS working president K T Rama Rao had also campaigned for his father. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed a public meeting at Kamareddy in support of Revanth Reddy's candidature where the Congress had also released a 'BC Declaration' for the assembly polls. However, Venkata Ramana Reddy's candidature got a boost with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally at Kamareddy. Venkata Ramana Reddy had served as Zilla Parishad Chairman of undivided Nizamabad district in the past. Kamareddy was part of the undivided Nizamabad district but is now a separate district after the BRS government carried out a reorganisation. He was earlier with the Congress but joined the BJP a few years ago. Political analysts attribute Venkata Ramana Reddy's success to his philanthropic work for temples and others and his fight against the master plan for Kamareddy town announced by the BRS government. Venkata Ramana Reddy had spearheaded the fight against the master plan. The plan was, however, shelved following protests from farmers. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 21:26 [IST] As TDP promises setting up of Islamic Banking, a look at why it is so controversial NPCI Latest Changes For December 2023: Update UPI IDs, Bank Lockers Now India oi-Gaurav Sharma The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has made several changes in rules about banking, finance, tech, and other sectors. If ignored then these changes may impact people's day-to-day lives and financial plans largely. According to the notification shared by NPCI, a new set of rules has been shared related to bank locker agreements, UPI IDs, Aadhaar Card updation, Jeevan Pramaan Patra or life certificates. To make all the changes, the corporation has given a month and people should do the important updates required before the deadline in December. Know more about all the important changes done by NPCI in the details below: Bank Locker Agreements Change Rule As per the NPCI modified rules, the deadline to renew the contract for the bank locker is December 31. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had announced the deadline for customers to sign a new contract with banks at the start of the year after modifying the rules. The bank regulatory authority had observed that a large number of customers had not signed the revised agreement. Changes With The UPI ID Rule The banks will deactivate unified payments interface (UPI) IDs and associated UPI numbers which are not been in use for the last year following National Payments Corporation of India's latest orders by December 31. Use UPI To Withdraw Cash From ATM, Details Inside Deadline To Update Aadhaar Card Aadhaar card holders can make changes to details for free till December 14 through myAaadhar portal. Earlier the deadline to make changes for free was September 14, which was later extended to December 14 by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Jeevan Pramaan Patra or Life Certificate Rule Change Although the last date to submit Jeevan Pramaan Patra or life certificate for pensioners has passed, but the beneficiary can still submit their certificates if they have missed the deadline. The Central Pension Processing Centres (CPPC) will only release your funds after receiving and processing the Jeevan Pramaan Patra or life certificate. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 12:00 [IST] Hat-trick In States Guarantee Of Hat-Trick In 2024: PM Modi After BJP Bagged 3 Out Of 4 States Rajasthan Assembly Polls: Here Are The Ministers Who Lost The Elections Rajasthan Poll: As Counting Begins, Cong, BJP Reach Out To Independents, Smaller Parties India oi-Prakash KL The ruling Congress and the BJP have set their eyes on the independent candidates, including rebels, and smaller parties as the counting of votes begins on Sunday for the assembly polls. About 40 rebels from both parties have contested as independent candidates after being denied tickets. They are expected to have given a tough fight. As the exit polls have indicated that it will be a close finish, these leaders are expected to play a key role. Some of the BJP rebels are Ravindra Singh Bhati (Sheo), Chandrabhan Singh Aakya (Chittorgarh), Yoonus Khan (Deedwana), Kailash Meghwal (Shahpura), Asha Meena (Sawai Madhopur), Ashu Singh Surpura (Jhotwara), Rohitashv Sharma (Bansur) while Virendra Beniwal (Lunkaransar), Gopal Baheti (Pushkar), Ramchandra Saradhana (Virat Nagar) are among other Congress rebels. Mizoram Assembly Elections Result 2023: Counting Postponed To December 4 Both parties are trying hard to keep the independent and rebel candidates to bring them into their fold in case of a split verdict. It has to be noted that both Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje have met the governor after the exit polls were out. On the other hand, most pollsters predicted an edge for the BJP, three exit polls in their upper limit forecast a Congress win in the desert state. "The party leaders are in touch with the independents and rebels," PTI quoted a Congress source as saying while expressing confidence that the party will form the government. Similarly, according to sources within the BJP, party leaders are reaching out to individuals who contested elections as independents after breaking away from the party. Apart from approaching these rebels, the parties are also exploring the possibility of forming post-poll alliances with smaller parties, if necessary. Among the parties participating in the state elections are the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), and CPI (M). While the BJP has not forged any pre-poll alliances, the Congress has reserved one seat (Bharatpur) for its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Assembly Elections Results 2023: Counting Of Votes Begins In Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Telangana In the 2018 polls, the grand old party had bagged 99 out of 199 seats while is ally RLD won one seat. Later, it emerged victorious in one seat (Ramgarh) following the demise of the BSP candidate. It has to be noted that all six BSP MLAs defected to the Congress in 2019. Meanwhile, the counting has started across the state. The early trends indicate that the ruling party is leading in 34 seats while the BJP is ahead in 45 seats. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 8:33 [IST] Who Will Be The Next CM Of Madhya Pradesh? Jyotiraditya Scindia Or Shivraj Singh Chouhan Decoding BJP's Success In Madhya Pradesh: What Are The 5 Key Factors That Secured Their Victory? Hat-trick In States Guarantee Of Hat-Trick In 2024: PM Modi After BJP Bagged 3 Out Of 4 States Shivraj Singh Chouhan Vs Jyotiraditya Scindia Vs Prahlad Patel: Who Will Be The Next Madhya Pradesh CM? Satna Election Results: Who Won This Seat In Madhya Pradesh Assembly Polls? India oi-Madhuri Adnal In the ongoing counting process in Madhya Pradesh's Satna Assembly constituency, current counting trends appear to favor Dabbu Siddharth Sukhlal Kushwaha of the INC (Indian National Congress). As per the latest count, Dabbu Siddharth Sukhlal Kushwaha has garnered a total of 51,710 votes, positioning himself as the current leader over Ganesh Singh of the BJP, who has accumulated 41,748 votes. While Ganesh Singh initially held a lead, the increasing momentum in favor of Dabbu Siddharth Sukhlal Kushwaha underscores the evolving nature of the electoral landscape. The Satna Assembly constituency has historically witnessed intense political competition, and this election seems to be continuing that trend. With the tables turning between the BJP and INC candidates, the constituency braces itself for a closely contested electoral outcome. During the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, Dabbu Siddharth Sukhlal Kushwaha from the INC secured victory in this constituency, triumphing over Shankarlal Tiwari of the BJP by a margin of 12,558 votes, constituting 7.78% of the total votes cast for the seat. The INC held a vote share of 37.24% in this election. Madhya Pradesh MLA List 2023: Full List Of Winners From Congress, BJP In the 2013 elections, Shankarlal Tiwari of the BJP emerged as the winner in this constituency, surpassing Rajaram Tripathi of the INC by a margin of 15,332 votes, which accounted for 11.35% of the total votes polled. The BJP secured a vote share of 41.59% in this particular seat. Back in the 2008 elections, Shankar Lal Tiwari, representing the BJP, clinched victory in this constituency, defeating Sayeed Ahmad of the INC by a margin of 10,800 votes, making up 10.74% of the total votes cast. The INC held a vote share of 38.45% in this seat during that election. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 17:51 [IST] Telangana Election Results 2023: Will BJP Support BRS Along With AIMIM To Stop Congress From Forming Govt? India oi-Madhuri Adnal The exit polls for the Telangana Assembly elections 2023 have predicted a hung assembly, with no party winning a clear majority. This has led to speculation about whether the BJP will support the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (BRS) along with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to stop the Congress from forming a government. As per official Election Commission of India data as counting of votes progressed in Telangana, Congress was leading on 51 while BRS was leading on 29 the BJP led in 6 seats and the CPI had 1 seat as per Election Commission trends. It must be noted that the simple majority mark to form government in the southern state is 60 seats. However, the BJP has not yet made any official announcement about its stance, but there are some indications that it may be willing to support the BRS. The BJP and the BRS have had a cordial relationship in the past, and they have even collaborated on some projects. Additionally, the BJP is not ideologically opposed to the BRS, and both parties are considered to be Hindu nationalist parties. Six Freebies That Worked Wonders For Congress In Telangana However, there are also some reasons why the BJP may be hesitant to support the BRS. First, the BJP is aware that the AIMIM is a controversial party, and supporting it could alienate some of its own voters. Second, the BJP may be concerned that supporting the BRS would be seen as a sign of weakness. The BJP is the largest party in India, and it does not want to be seen as having to rely on the support of smaller parties. If the BJP does decide to support the BRS, it will be a significant development. It would mark the first time that the BJP has formed an alliance with a regional party in Telangana. It would also be a major setback for the Congress, which has been hoping to make a comeback in Telangana. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 11:24 [IST] Telangana Have Decided That There Must Be Change, Says Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar India oi-Madhuri Adnal Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Sunday highlighted the resounding call for change voiced by the people of Telangana. He emphasized the necessity of progress and development, indicating a popular demand for transformation. Referring to Revanth Reddy as the PCC president and the team leader, Shivakumar conveyed that the party would collectively decide on the face of the CM. Speaking to ANI, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "The people of Telangana have decided that there must be change, there must be change for progress, and development. He (Revanth Reddy) is the PCC president. He is the team leader. Our party will take the decision (on the CM's face). The election was fought on collective leadership. I do not want to comment on KCR or KTR, the people of Telangana have given them an answer..." #WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "The people of Telangana have decided that there must be change, there must be change for progress, and development. He (Revanth Reddy) is the PCC president. He is the team leader. Our party will take the pic.twitter.com/PGQn7W9YUk ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Despite the majority of exit polls favoring the Congress in Telangana and some surveys indicating a potential hung Assembly, Shivakumar addressed the issue of MLA poaching on Sunday. He affirmed that not a single MLA or candidate would defect, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining unity within the party. Telangana Election Results: Who Are In The CM Race From Congress? Check Probable Names The Congress party waged a vigorous election campaign with the goal of ousting the incumbent TRS party, which had been in power for nearly a decade. The BJP also launched a fierce attack on the ruling BRS government. The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS has been in power since 2014, when Telangana was granted statehood, and it won the 2018 elections as well. The BRS is hoping to win a third consecutive term in office. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 12:53 [IST] Tripura CM Manik Saha links BJPs victory in 3 states to PM Modis guarantees Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha claimed that the BJPs victory in three states of the Hindi heartland was possible as people reposed their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modis guarantees. India -Krishna Kripa Agartala, Dec 3: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday attributed the BJP's victory in three states of the Hindi heartland to the faith people have in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantees. BJP's Assembly Victories Reflect Prospects in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Claiming that the assembly victories of the BJP reflect the party's prospect in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Saha said, "Modi-ji will become the prime minister for the third time in a row. Modi-ji means guarantee, be it electoral battle or welfare of the poor or women empowerment. The party's landslide win in three states- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, which appeared challenging ones, has been possible because of Modi-jis guarantees," Saha told reporters here. Modi Ki Guarantee: A Constant Refrain in PM's Election Speeches Modi ki guarantee has been the constant refrain in the prime minister's election speeches. Tripura BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee said the mandate of assembly elections in the three states indicates that Modi ji will retain power in Delhi for a third consecutive term. BJP on a Winning Spree Since Modi Became Prime Minister "Since Modi ji became prime minister, the party has been on a winning spree. The BJP has registered a massive victory in three out of four states because of pro-people policies," he told reporters at the party's headquarters here. Chief Minister Leads Rally to Celebrate BJP's Victory Earlier in the day, the chief minister led a rally marking the party's victory in three states. The BJP's landslide victory in the recent assembly elections in three Hindi heartland states has given a boost to the party's prospects in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal charisma and his guarantees to the people have been cited as key factors in the party's success. With the BJP now in power in 17 states, the party is well-positioned to retain power at the Centre in 2024. Revanth Reddy To Take Oath As Telangana CM, Swearing-In Ceremony On Dec 7 At 10:28 am What Went Wrong For BRS In Telangana Polls? The Findings Of Lokniti-CSDS Survey Is Here Who Is Sunil Kanugolu? The Poll Strategist Behind Congress' Win In Telangana India oi-PTI Poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu has yet again proven to be the man with the Midas touch, plotting the Congress' amazing turnaround in Telangana months after being the architect of the grand old party's return to power in Karnataka. Starting with Prashant Kishor's I-PAC, Kanugolu was largely credited for shaping the Congress' win in Karnataka and was later accorded Cabinet rank in the Siddaramaiah government. This time, Kanugolu along with PCC chief A Revanth Reddy formed a formidable pair to chalk out the Congress' strategy to pull down the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS government that was eying a third term in the southern state. The Congress was headed for victory in Telangana while it was staring at crushing defeats in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Kanugolu had also made forays in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh following a directive from the party's central leadership but regional satraps Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath reportedly were not on the same page as the poll strategist. Ahead of the Rajasthan elections, Kanugolu had made an assessment about the winnability of probable candidates but Gehlot reportedly did not agree to his suggestions and brought in Naresh Arora's Designboxed to construct the Congress government's narrative in the run-up to the assembly polls. Sources say that the success of Kanugolu in Karnataka and Telangana was the result of the free hand given to him and allowing his team to work freely. Kanugolu, who hails from Karnataka and is in his early 40s, has been considered largely as the brain behind the Congress' narrative in Karnataka with the 'PayCM' campaign against the BJP. In the run-up to the polls in Telangana, he highlighted the alleged corruption of the K Chandrashekhar Rao dispensation as part of Congress' campaign that seemed to have struck a chord with the people. Telangana MLA List 2023: Full List Of Winners From Congress, BRS, BJP And AIMIM The campaigns run by the Congress in Karnataka and Telangana have been very similar as both highlighted the alleged graft of the ruling dispensation and projected welfare guarantees that seemed to have struck an instant connection with the public. Interestingly, Kanugolu has also been involved in several BJP poll campaigns in the past. In 2018, he worked with the BJP in Karnataka and the party managed to become the single largest party with 104 seats. He had also worked on Narendra Modi's campaign in 2014, as well as the party's political campaigns in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Kanugolu, a former consultant with McKinsey, was also associated with DMK chief MK Stalin and oversaw the party's 'Namakku Naame' (we are for ourselves) campaign during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2021, he also worked with AIADMK against the DMK and led the party to win 75 seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Kanugolu had joined the Congress last year and worked closely with the Karnataka campaign. He is also credited with strategising Rahul Gandhi's cross-country 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir last year. Having delivered Karnataka and Telangana to the Congress, Kanugolu is likely to be given more responsibilities by the party in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 17:15 [IST] Israel's occupation military on Sunday ordered more areas in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis to evacuate, as it shifted its brutal attacks to the southern half of the besieged Palestinian territory. Heavy bombardments were reported overnight and into Sunday in the area of Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israel's blistering air and ground incrusion. Many of the territorys 2.3 million people are crammed in the south after Israel forced civilians to leave the north in the early days of the 2-month-old war. On Sunday, the Israeli army widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, asking residents of at least five more areas and neighbourhoods to leave for their safety. Residents said the Israeli occupation army dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to Rafah or a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read. The main hospital in Khan Younis received at least three dead and dozens wounded Sunday morning from an Israeli strike that hit a residential building in the eastern part of the city, according to an Associated Press journalist at the hospital. Separately, the bodies of 31 people who were killed in Israeli bombardment across the central areas of the strip were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gazas central city of Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, an administrative employee at that hospital. Bodies in white body bags were seen on the ground outside the hospital in Deri al-Balah as dozens of people held funeral prayers Sunday morning. The bodies were then taken on a truck for burial. One woman wept, cradling the body of a child on her lap as she sat on a chair. Another adult carried the body of a baby as he got into a truck. The Israeli army has published online a map dividing the Gaza Strip into hundreds of small areas, compelling residents to evacuate forcibly, including about 25% of the sector. One of the designated evacuation areas includes several towns in eastern Khan Yunis (Al-Qarara, Khuza'a, Abasan, and Bani Suhaila). Orders were issued for their residents to move south to Rafah. These areas represent nearly 13 square kilometers or only 19 percent of the Gaza Strip's area (69 square kilometers) and were home to approximately 350,000 people before the war. The Israeli army also warned residents of the eastern parts of Gaza City (Shejaiya, Al-Zeitoun, the Old City) and Jabalia, both in the northern sector, to evacuate. The specified areas cover about 6 percent of the Gaza Strip and are home to approximately 415,000 people. The United States, Israels closest ally, has warned Tel Aviv to avoid significant new mass displacement. U.S. appeals to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. Much of Gazas population is packed into the territorys southern half. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters Saturday during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. Meanwhile, Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in a meeting that under no circumstances would the U.S. permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders, according to a U.S. summary. However, Israel's army also threatened to attack the Al-Shujaiya neighbourhood in eastern Gaza with huge firepower." This is a final notice. You are all targets, The Israeli army spokesman said on X, attaching a picture of Hamas commanders of what he named as the Shujaiya battalion. On Saturday, the Israeli army bombed more than 50 residential buildings and homes in the Shujaiya neighbourhood, in addition to other areas in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 700 during the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza Information Office. In northern Gaza, rescue teams with little equipment scrambled Sunday to dig through the rubble of buildings in the Jabaliya refugee camp and other neighbourhoods in Gaza City in search of potential survivors and dead bodies. They strike everywhere, said Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in Jabaliya, an urban refugee camp. There is the non-stop sound of explosions around us. Mohamed Abu Abed, who lives in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in Gaza City, also said there were relentless airstrikes and shelling in his neighbourhood and surrounding areas. The situation here is imaginable, he said. Death is everywhere. One can die in a flash. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Saturday that the overall death toll of the Israeli killings in the strip since the Oct. 7 start of the war had surpassed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on Nov. 20. 70% of the dead were women and children. More than 40,000 people had been wounded since the war began. Bombardments on Saturday destroyed a block of about 50 residential buildings in the Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City and a six-story building in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the northern edge of the city said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 60 people were killed in the Shijaiyah strikes and more than 300 were buried under the rubble, the monitors said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defense, said rescuers lack bulldozers and other equipment to reach those buried under the rubble, confirming the Red Crescent estimate of about 300 people missing. He said the block had housed over 1,000 people. Retrieving the martyrs is extremely difficult, he said in video comments from the site of the attack. Search Keywords: Short link: Who Will Be The Next CM Of Madhya Pradesh? Jyotiraditya Scindia Or Shivraj Singh Chouhan India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election Results 2023 are expected to be declared soon, and the return of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power seems almost certain. BJP workers across the state are already celebrating in anticipation of the official announcement. Along with the election results, political activities have also been intensifying. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently met with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, sparking speculations about the next Chief Minister of the state. The BJP has not yet announced its candidate for the post of Chief Minister, and it is expected that the decision will be made only after the official results are declared. The BJP faced some challenges in the lead up to the elections, but its campaign strategy, which included deploying senior leaders like Kailas Vijayvargiya and Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, as well as multiple meetings with Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seems to have paid off. Will BJP Retain Madhya Pradesh? Here's What Exit Polls Say Scindia-Chouhan Meeting The recent meeting between Scindia and Chouhan has further fueled speculations about the next Chief Minister. In the 2018 elections, the BJP and the Congress were neck and neck, with the Congress falling just short of a simple majority. The Congress government that was formed with the support of non-partisans and others later collapsed due to Jyotiraditya Scindia's rebellion and subsequent alliance with the BJP. After the BJP government was formed, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was reinstated as Chief Minister. This time, the BJP has not announced its CM candidate before the elections. Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia are among the frontrunners, but the final decision remains to be seen. The suspense surrounding the CM candidature is adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the election results. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 14:07 [IST] Relief For 303 Indians Stranded In France: Plane Grounded Over 'Human Trafficking' Cleared To Fly To Mumbai Is The New France PM, Attal, The Youngest In The World? France: 1 Dead, 1 Wounded In Paris Stabbing International dwnews-DW News French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said late on Saturday that a German tourist had been killed and another person injured in central Paris. "The police have just courageously arrested an assailant attacking passers-by in Paris, around the Quai de Grenelle," Darmanin wrote. "One decased person and one injured person treated by the Paris Fire Brigade. Please avoid the area." Les policiers viennent davoir courageusement interpelle un assaillant sen prenant a des passants a Paris, autour du quai de Grenelle. Une personne decedee et un blesse pris en charge par les Pompiers de Paris. Merci deviter le secteur. Gerald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) December 2, 2023 The Quai de Grenelle, on the banks of the River Seine, is not far from the Eiffel Tower in the center of France's capital. French President Emmanuel Macron extended his condolences to the family of a German killed in what he called a "terror attack." "My condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the German citizen who died this evening in the terrorist attack in Paris, and my thoughts are with the people who are currently injured and being cared for," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. What do we know about the attack and attacker? Darmanin spoke to reporters at the scene later Saturday night. He said that the attacker first attacked a "couple" who were German tourists with a knife near Quai de Grenelle, killing one and injuring the other. The assailant then crossed the Bir-Hakeim bridge over the Seine, with police arriving on the scene as he reached the other side. Darmanin said the suspect then tried to attack two more people with a hammer while pursued by police, injuring one and leaving the other shocked. "After his arrest, he said that he could no longer bear Muslims dying in Afghanistan as well as in the Palestinian Territories," Darmanin said of the attacker. The minister said the man had a prior four-year conviction from 2016, when French authorities foiled attack plans. Darmanin said the country's terrorism prosecution authority was already evaluating the case but had not yet launched a formal terrorism investigation. France raised terrorism alert level in October French news agency AFP cited unnamed police sources as saying the assailant was French-born and a French citizen, and also a known supporter of radical Islam with mental health issues. Unconfirmed reports suggested the attacker had shouted the Arabic for "God is great" during the attack. Several European countries, including France and Germany, have issued warnings of a heightened threat of Islamist attacks in recent weeks amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. France also raised its terror threat alert level in October, soon after Hamas' October 7 attacks in Israel, when a teacher was attacked and killed in class. A few days later, the Louvre art museum and the palace of Versailles were evacuated amid a bomb threat. Source: DW Venezuelans Vote in Referendum on Disputed Territory Venezuelans are voting in a referendum on Sunday called by the government of President Nicolas Maduro to claim sovereignty over a large swath of neighboring Guyana. International -Sathish Raman Venezuelans went to the polls on Sunday to vote in a referendum called by President Nicolas Maduro's government to claim sovereignty over a large swath of neighboring Guyana. The territory in question, known as Essequibo, is rich in oil and minerals, and Venezuela argues that it was stolen when the border was drawn more than a century ago. Guyana: Referendum is a Step Toward Annexation Guyana considers the referendum a step toward annexation, and the vote has its residents on edge. The referendum asks Venezuelans whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory, granting citizenship to current and future area residents, and rejecting the jurisdiction of the United Nations top court in settling the disagreement between the two South American countries. Maduro: Resolving an Imperial Dispossession Maduro cast his vote at a military complex in Caracas, the capital, and said, "We are solving through constitutional, peaceful, and democratic means an imperial dispossession of 150 years." However, he and other government officials have not explained the exact steps they will take to enforce the referendum's results. Low Turnout in Caracas Less than two hours before polls were originally scheduled to close, turnout appeared to be low at voting centers in Caracas. Long lines typical of electoral events did not form outside the centers. However, the country's top electoral authority, Elvis Amoroso, announced that polls would remain open for two additional hours. He claimed, without giving numbers, that there was "massive participation" in the referendum. International Court of Justice Ruling On Friday, the International Court of Justice ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyana's control over Essequibo. However, the judges did not specifically ban officials from carrying out Sunday's five-question referendum. Guyana had asked the court to order Venezuela to halt parts of the vote. Essequibo: A Contentious Territory Essequibo, which accounts for two-thirds of Guyana's territory, is a 61,600-square-mile (159,500-square-kilometer) region that also borders Brazil. The territory is rich in minerals and provides access to an area of the Atlantic where ExxonMobil discovered oil in commercial quantities in 2015. Referendum Promoted as Patriotism Venezuela's government promoted the referendum for weeks, framing participation as an act of patriotism and often conflating it with a show of support for Maduro. The government has long disputed the border decided by international arbitrators in 1899 when Guyana was still a British colony. Legal and Political Implications The practical and legal implications of the referendum remain unclear. In comments explaining Friday's verdict, international court president Joan E. Donoghue said statements from Venezuela's government suggest it "is taking steps with a view toward acquiring control over and administering the territory in dispute." Voters' Decision Voters in Sunday's referendum had to answer whether they "agree to reject by all means, in accordance with the law," the 1899 boundary and whether they support the 1966 agreement "as the only valid legal instrument" to reach a solution. Government Control Over the Referendum The referendum was proposed by the country's National Assembly, approved by the National Electoral Council, and cleared by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, all controlled by Maduro loyalists. Maduro has thrown the full weight of his government into the effort, turning the referendum into the dominant topic across all state-owned media. The referendum on the disputed Essequibo territory has raised concerns about Venezuela's intentions and the potential for further tensions in the region. While the practical and legal implications of the vote remain to be seen, it is clear that the issue of Essequibo will continue to be a source of contention between Venezuela and Guyana. A majority of 240 Palestinian prisoners and detainees released by Israel in exchange for 105 hostages had not been convicted of a crime. This was a tough year for the region and one can only describe it as the annus horribilis or the terrible year. It was a year when.. Eurasia Review 26 Dec 2023 An American warship was attacked in the Red Sea this weekend as the fighting between Israel and Hamas picked back up again -- and the U.S. government says Yemen did it. The USS Carney -- a Naval destroyer of ours that patrols the region -- was France's interior minister said police had "courageously arrested" an assailant who was attacking passers-by in central Paris. Gerald Darmanin later said a German tourist had been killed. Israel says attempts to agree an extension to the truce with Hamas and more hostage releases have reached a "dead end." Also: Israel's military launched dozens of airstrikes on targets in Khan Younis. DW has more. Israel's military said air raid sirens sounded in several locations in the early hours of the morning. Meanwhile, Israeli allies including the US and France urged restraint as hostilities resumed. DW has more. Ukraine's president says assistance from Germany is a "lifesaver" for thousands of Ukrainians. Meanwhile, Kyiv has accused Russia of committing a war crime by killing surrendering soldiers. Follow DW for the latest. The UK's military will conduct surveillance flights over Gaza to help locate captives held by Hamas, Britain's defence ministry confirmed at the weekend. The UK has said at least 12 British nationals were killed on October 7 and that a further five are still missing. However, it has not been confirmed how many are being held. London did not reveal when its military surveillance flights over the territory would start but stressed they would be unarmed and focused only on captive recovery. "In support of the ongoing captive rescue activity, the UK Ministry of Defence will conduct surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza," it said in a statement. "Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate captives," the ministry added. "Only information relating to captive rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for captive rescue." UK government minister Victoria Atkins told the BBC on Sunday that the aircraft to be utilised were "unarmed and unmanned drones". Alongside the United States, the UK in October deployed various military assets to the eastern Mediterranean to deter "any malign interference in the conflict". That included maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft as well as a Royal Navy task group moving to the region, the defence ministry said at the time. Search Keywords: Short link: Newsy 31 Dec 2023 ViewRevelers counted down to midnight on New Year's Eve across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, where fireworks and festive.. Eurasia Review 23 Dec 2023 By Luke Coffey This has been a historic month for the EU. After months of deliberation, the Council of the EU last week.. The Washington Principles on the return of Nazi-confiscated art were set 25 years ago. But there is still no binding restitution law. Rumble 10 Jan 2024 Apparently, Hezbollah is facing off Israeli forces head on as it bombs Israeli positions. At the same time, Al-Qassam carried out.. Israel's military says its ground forces are operating against Hamas in all of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the ICC chief prosecutor wants to investigate possible crimes by Hamas and Israeli forces. Follow DW for more. GOP Rep. Chris Smith is calling on the Biden administration to provide answers about a Catholic priest the international community says is wrongly imprisoned in Nicaragua. US 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. Speaking in Dubai, Harris said Israel had a right to defend itself, but international and humanitarian law... Eurasia Review 22 Dec 2023 2023 started on a cautionary note as the cash crunch from the preceding year festered into the new year and now the year is ending.. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Alaska Airlines said Sunday it agreed to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal, including debt, putting it on track for a potential clash with a Biden administration that has shown wariness about higher fares in the industry. The combined company would maintain both airlines brands, an unusual move in an industry where waves of acquisitions have led to four big brands dominating the U.S. market. On Sunday, the companies said Alaska will pay $18 in cash for each share of Hawaiian, whose stock closed Friday at $4.86 after losing just over half its value in the year so far. Officials from both companies called the deal a chance to combine two carriers with few overlapping routes, which they said would create a stronger company to compete with the nations Big Four: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. It would also create a clear leader in the lucrative, $8 billion Hawaiian market, Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci said in a conference call with investors. We combine two companies with shared values that have competed and survived longer than most through many industry cycles, enhancing our differentiated business model and creating a stronger competitor to network carriers, he said. The deal includes $900 million in Hawaiian debt, bringing the acquisitions total value to $1.9 billion. The combined airline would be based in Seattle, with Alaskas Minicucci at its head. The companies forecast the acquisition will add to profits within two years of the deal closing, which is forecast to happen between 12 and 18 months from now. The combined airline would participate in the oneworld Alliance, which includes American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. Alaska and Hawaiian are both smaller than the nations dominant carriers. They said the deal would meld two complementary networks, increasing connectivity to 138 destinations for passengers traveling through the continental United States and across the Pacific, including nonstop service to 29 international destinations in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. Alaska, which acquired Virgin America in 2016, is the largest airline at Portland International Airport, accounting for nearly a third of the passengers that passed through the airport last year. Hawaiian accounted for just under 2%. The companies said they would keep Honolulu as a key hub and that theyre committed to maintaining and growing union-represented workforce in Hawaii. Minicucci told reporters at a news conference Sunday that its too soon to tell how many non-union positions would be eliminated once the combination is completed. I cant tell you what that number is, but Im hopeful that the number is not large, he said of the potential layoffs. The companies also said the combination would triple the destinations that can be reached within one stop in North America for travelers from Hawaii. For example, customers can not currently fly to Washington, D.C., on Hawaiian, but they would be able to through the combined company. Aloha, everyone, Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram said on a call with investors. He said Alaska approached his company about a deal and that the Hawaiian brand will remain an important part of our home state. The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies, but it still needs an OK from the shareholders of Hawaiian Holdings. It will also need the blessing of U.S. regulators, which have resisted more airline consolidation out of fear it could lead to higher fares. The Biden administration is already trying to block JetBlues proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Sprit Airlines, which would subsume the nations biggest budget carrier. The Justice Department also won a lawsuit that killed a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines. The average domestic airline fare out of Seattle, where Alaska is headquartered and has its largest hub, during the spring was $409.93. That was up from $293.08 two years earlier, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The average domestic airline fare out of Honolulu during the spring was $367.94, up from $329.93 two years earlier. But given how little Alaska and Hawaiians routes overlap, their proposal may not create much angst in Washington, said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group. Just as importantly, he said, neither Alaska nor Hawaiian is an ultra-low fare airline like Spirit. That means combining them would not eliminate the kind of downward pressure on fares that a Spirit buyout might. The airlines will need to work with their unions as they try to streamline operations, and corporate officials said they have spoken with collective bargaining leaders already. The Air Line Pilots Association said Sunday they were evaluating the proposal and awaiting more details. Both airlines have historically paid more attention to their employees than competitors, among other similarities in their corporate cultures, Harteveldt said. Its another reason he said he thinks a merger between the two could work. -- The Associated Press A hospital system in Georgia. Two medical groups in San Diego. Another in Louisville, Kentucky, and nearly one-third of Nebraska hospitals. Across the country, health care providers are refusing to accept some Medicare Advantage plans even as the coverage offered by commercial insurers increasingly displaces the traditional government program for seniors and people with disabilities. As of this year, commercial insurers have enticed just over half of all Medicare beneficiaries or nearly 31 million people to sign up for their plans instead of traditional Medicare. The plans typically include drug coverage as well as extras like vision and dental benefits, many at low or even zero additional monthly premiums compared with traditional Medicare. Oregon resources to help people enroll in Medicare The Oregonian/OregonLives coverage of Medicare Advantage But even as enrollment soars, so too has friction between insurers and the doctors and hospitals they pay to care for beneficiaries. Increasingly, according to experts who watch insurance markets, hospital and medical groups are bristling at payment rates Medicare Advantage plans impose and at what they say are onerous requirements for preapproval to deliver care and too many after-the-fact denials of claims. The insurers say theyre just trying to control costs and avoid inappropriate care. The disputes are drawing more attention now, during the annual open enrollment period for Medicare, which runs until Dec. 7. Stuck in the middle are patients. People whose preferred doctors or hospitals refuse their coverage may have to switch Medicare Advantage plans or revert to the traditional program, although it can be difficult or even impossible when switching back to obtain what is called a Medigap policy, which covers some of the traditional plans cost-sharing requirements. For example, more than 30,000 San Diego-area residents are looking for new doctors after two large medical groups affiliated with Scripps Health said they would no longer contract with Medicare Advantage insurers. The insurance companies running the Medicare Advantage plans are pushing physicians and hospitals to the edge, said Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, which represents the for-profit hospital sector. The insurance industrys lobbying arm, AHIP, said in a February letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that prior approvals and other similar reviews protect patients by reducing inappropriate care by catching unsafe or low-value care, or care not consistent with the latest clinical evidence. AHIP spokesperson David Allen said in an email that Medicare Advantage plans are growing in enrollment because people like them, citing surveys conducted by an AHIP-backed coalition. The vast majority, he wrote, said they were satisfied with their plans and the access to care they provide. The disputes so far dont appear to center on any particular insurer, region, or medical provider, although both UnitedHealthcare and Humana Inc. the two largest Medicare Advantage insurers are among those that have had contracts canceled. Baptist Health in Louisville, Kentucky, said in a statement that all nine of its hospitals, along with its clinics and physician groups, would cut ties with Advantage plans offered by UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare Health Plans Inc. beginning in January unless they reach an agreement. Many Medicare Advantage plans routinely deny or delay approval or payment for medical care recommended by a patients physician, Baptist Health said in its statement. The systems medical group, with nearly 1,500 physicians and other providers, left Humanas network in September. In a similar move, Brunswick, Georgia-based Southeast Georgia Health System, which includes two hospitals, two nursing homes, and a physician network, warned this fall that it would end its contract with Centene Corp.s Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in December, citing what it said was years of inappropriate payment of claims and unreasonable denials. In some cases, health systems threats to abandon Advantage plans as well as insurers threats not to include providers in their networks are negotiating tactics, intended as leverage to win concessions on payment rates or other issues. And some have been resolved. Ohios Adena Regional Medical Center, for example, said in September it would drop Medicare Advantage plans offered by Elevance Health, formerly known as Anthem Inc., but reinstated them following additional negotiations. Still, some hospital and policy experts say the conflicts may be the beginning of a trend. This seems different, said David Lipschutz, associate director and senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, who said hospitals and doctors are becoming much more vocal about their frustration with some cost-control efforts by Medicare Advantage insurers. There have been serious problems with payment suspensions and reviews that annoy the providers. I would not be surprised if we start to see more of this pushback as the Medicare market becomes more concentrated among a handful of insurers, said Don Berwick, president emeritus and senior fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and a former CMS administrator. While availability varies from county to county, Medicare beneficiaries can choose on average among 43 plans, according to KFF. UnitedHealthcare and Humana account for about half of the nationwide enrollment in Advantage plans. Studies show that Medicare Advantage costs taxpayers more per beneficiary than the traditional program. But the plans enjoy the backing of many lawmakers, especially Republicans, because of their popularity. The Health and Human Services Departments inspector general reported last year that some Advantage plans have denied coverage for care that should have been provided under Medicares rules. The report examined prior authorization requests a requirement to seek insurers OK before certain treatments, procedures, or hospital stays and claims denials, where insurers refuse to pay for all or part of care thats already been performed. Lawmakers have recently demanded additional information from Advantage insurers about the factors they use to make such determinations. CMS proposed a rule this month to cap commissions for brokers who sell Medicare Advantage plans and require more detail on how the plans prior approval programs affect certain low-income enrollees and people with disabilities. Lipschutz said the HHS inspector generals study may have encouraged hospitals and doctors to be more outspoken. The inspector generals office found that 13% of the denied requests for treatment it reviewed and 18% of denied claims were for care that should have been covered. Responding in part to that report, the Biden administration issued a rule set to take effect in January that requires Medicare Advantage plans to provide the same medically necessary care as the traditional program. Every Advantage insurer must also annually review its own policies to make sure they match those in the traditional program. The American Hospital Association, while lauding the administrations action, questioned whether it would be enough. In a letter sent last month to CMS, the hospital lobbying group said its members have heard from some [insurers] that they either do not plan to make any changes to their protocols or have made changes to their denial letter terminology or procedures in a way that appears to circumvent the intent of the new rules. The letter urged rigorous oversight by CMS. Allen, the AHIP spokesperson, did not respond to a request to comment on the AHA letter. An Oregon band is preserving the swing jazz tunes that brought a semblance of normality to the thousands of families trapped behind barbed wire at the Minidoka prison camp in Idaho during World War II. The Minidoka Swing Band will take the stage at the Oregon Historical Society museum in downtown Portland on Dec. 7, which marks Pearl Harbor Day. The event will offer a glimpse into what Japanese Americans endured after President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942, which led to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese residents across the country during World War II. Our purpose is to keep the music alive and share the story through music, said Laura Baxter, the bands manager. Founder Roberta Tsuboi started the swing band as a program for high school students in 2007, Baxter said. It was an opportunity for them to exercise their musical talents while also engaging with the history of the prison camp, she said, where more than 13,000 Japanese American men, women and children were incarcerated because the U.S. government considered them security risks due to their ancestry. An example of a swing band playing in the Heart Mountain prison camp in Wyoming on New Year's Eve 1944. Similar jazz ensembles played in other Japanese American prison camps during World War II.Courtesy of the Oregon Historical Society The student band went on a pilgrimage to the Minidoka Historical Site in 2008, which was meant to mark the end of the program. At the groups closing concert, people expressed interest in having them perform at other venues, Baxter said. They couldnt find enough students to fill the jazz ensemble, so it was opened up to parents and other musicians. Us parents started getting involved my husband plays trumpet and we kind of started recruiting parents and adults who wanted to play, said Baxter, whose son was part of the original band. Tsuboi died from cancer in 2009, but the swing artists have kept her vision alive. Were honestly surprised were still here after all these years, but the band members believe in the mission, Baxter said. The band is made up of 17 musicians and two vocalists, many of whom have ties to or were incarcerated at Minidoka, Baxter said. The nonprofit plays shows around the Portland metro area, ranging from free concerts to private events such as weddings. They have also played shows in Japan, Baxter said. At Thursdays Historical Society concert, trumpets, saxophones and piano will be accompanied by narration from Nola Sugai Bogle, who was incarcerated with her family in Minidoka when she was 6 years old. Bogles son and daughter are vocalists in the band, Baxter said. Throughout the 10-song show, Bogle will relate each piece to a different aspect of Japanese American imprisonment during World War II. One of the songs we sing is called Blue Skies, and Nola will tell her story about how people felt coming out of the internment camps and seeing those blue skies, Baxter said. The band will perform for free at 1200 S.W. Park Avenue from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe When Portland Public Schools reopened its classrooms last Monday after a nearly month-long teachers strike, the joy among students, families, educators and administrators was genuine. No matter where people lined up, the strike took a profound toll on trust and relationships both between the district and teachers and in the community at large. The relief, however, didnt last long. Almost immediately, many teachers and families decried the plan the district and union agreed upon for making up some of the lost 11 days of school converting the first week of winter break into instructional days. They sparred in social media posts with others who defended the plan as the only way to help students meaningfully reclaim some of the lost time as critical deadlines loom. The tenor only worsened after Portland Association of Teachers President Angela Bonilla advised teachers that they could call in a substitute and take personal days, sick days or unpaid leave during that week, as The Oregonian/OregonLives Julia Silverman reported. Just dont put up any pictures when you are supposedly sick, please and thank you, she said. While she walked back her statement after it was shared publicly, the comment roiled many families frustrated that even after the strike has ended, students continue to lose. This community needs a reset. We need emotions to subside and healing to begin. The challenges ahead are far more complicated and pose much higher stakes than giving up the first week of winter break. But we can only find that path forward by reorienting our compass to focus on students rather than remaining stuck on adults. The strike may be over, but the damage isnt done. First, we must recognize that shutting down schools harmed students. With virtually no school during November, the strike took away valuable instructional time mid-semester, canceled student activities and continued this pandemic-era attitude that attending school is optional. Students were already struggling with learning loss and behavioral health declines while chronic absenteeism rates surged following the pandemic. The sense of normalcy that finally returned to schools this year was upended by a contract dispute that could and should have been settled without a strike. Our obligation to students should set the agenda for winter break and beyond. Certainly, a number of teachers and families understandably may have to miss some make-up days due to previous commitments they cannot break. But the overall sense of aggrievement as well as hints that some teachers may sit out the days are bewildering and contradict the professionalism and commitment that educators have routinely shown. We trust that as the stress of the strike fades, the rhetoric and anger will also diminish, and teachers will deliver their best. The community must unify behind preserving instructional time for students and protecting the classroom. PPS faces tough questions on how it will afford the contract it just signed with teachers. As the school district repeatedly made clear, the state did not provide anything close to the funding needed to cover the unions demands for transformational investments. Even the pared-down demands in the contract which still provide for substantial cost-of-living increases of 6.25%, 4.5% and 3% over three years will force cuts. The district should look first at administrative or contractual cuts that dont directly hit the classroom. But figuring out how to save instructional days and maintain academic and mental health supports for students will take shared sacrifice. Oregonians must mobilize for state funding that addresses the educational needs of todays students. As we wrote in October, the Legislature has long relied on an outdated funding distribution formula; fails to adequately consider districts real costs; heaps unfunded mandates onto districts; and limits how much local communities can raise to supplement their revenue. Even with new funding from the 2019 Student Success Act, students needs continue to outmatch resources, particularly considering pandemic-related academic and behavioral health declines. This affects not just PPS, but districts around the state. Salem-Keizer School District, which, unlike PPS, lacks a local option levy or significant reserves, recently announced it is freezing administrative pay and expects to issue layoffs as it continues teacher contract negotiations. Theres hope on this front if factions unite and capitalize on this opportunity. Gov. Tina Kotek announced last week that her administration will work with lawmakers on reviewing and revising the education funding formula. She also plans to convene a task force to develop a statewide action plan for supporting students behavioral health. And she has directed the state education department to make budget information for districts more easily accessible and understandable a nod to the lack of trust that the teachers union had in PPS numbers. The public should press for other legislative initiatives such as a re-evaluation of the Quality Education Model which sets out the necessary investments for supporting K-12 students. Legislators who contributed to the divisiveness of the strike should promote community-wide healing. The 16 Portland-area legislators who waded into the strike to scold the school district and brag about the funding they authorized for schools owe the public an apology. The legislators all recipients of teachers union donations helped promote the fiction that the school district could afford a substantial amount more than PPS was already offering. Their statements reveal either a lack of understanding of the assumptions baked into the states calculations including estimates that teachers would receive raises of only 2.53% and 2.56% this year and next or a willingness to make hypocritical statements on behalf of a donor. Its unclear whether legislators involvement prolonged the strike. But without a doubt, they muddied the publics understanding of the districts finances, put their thumbs on the scale of a highly-contentious labor dispute and miscast funding limitations as PPS fault rather than their own. While Kotek took several actions to move the conflict toward resolution, she, too, should recognize how she fell short in advocating for students. The governor injected clarity into the conflict by sending the states chief financial officer to review the districts revenue forecast. But even after the CFO validated the districts numbers, the governor, who is a big recipient of teacher union donations, appeared hesitant to correct the misinformation circulated by the Portland Association of Teachers. Kotek issued a convoluted statement uncharacteristic for this governor who has rarely minced words that invited confusion and allowed false assertions of the districts finances to persist. Finally, recognize our common values and agree to heal. This past month has been a painful display of how mistrust, misinformation and vilifying others can carve up a community. The vandalism at school board members homes and sharing of their home addresses were especially demoralizing tactics that will make recruiting others for these public service volunteer roles only tougher. But no one emerged unscathed in this citywide dispute that enveloped 43,000 students, their families, teachers and the districts many other employees and administrators. Whether and how we choose to repair the deep rifts left by the strike will reveal much about the communitys commitment to protecting public education. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: St. Lukes has won significant battles recently in its fight against far-right activist Ammon Bundy. The Idaho health system, which won a defamation case against Bundy and one of his associates this year, has taken ownership of his Emmett property and house after a judge voided a sale Bundy made to another associate and also succeeded in getting Bundys websites removed from the internet. Ever since an Ada County jury ordered that Bundy, Diego Rodriguez and their entities had to pay $52.5 million in damages for defaming St. Lukes and some of its employees, the health system has been pushing hard to collect money. It has also been trying to get Bundy and Rodriguez to remove false, defamatory online statements about St. Lukes and its staff as part of a judicial order. This week, St. Lukes made gains on both fronts. When Bundy refused to begin making damage payments, St. Lukes was able to go after his assets instead. St. Lukes asked 3rd District Judge Brent Whiting to undo the sale of Bundys home, alleging that he sold it illegally last year to put an asset beyond a creditors reach, which is considered a fraudulent conveyance under the law. Aaron Welling, a close associate of Bundys, purchased the property and all the furniture and appliances in it through his corporation White Barn Enterprises for $250,000 last December, according to court records. Land Advisors Organization, a Boise real estate agency, stated in court filings that the house and property were worth at least $1 million. Bundy and his family continued to rent the Emmett house and live there until last month, according to court documents. Now, its not clear where Bundy is. Bundys wife, Lisa Bundy, made statements on social media last month suggesting that her family was moving, and those following her wished her goodbye. Mr. Bundy and Mr. Rodriguez continue to defy orders, hide assets, and now they both are in hiding, St. Lukes attorney Erik Stidham told The Idaho Statesman in a message. St. Lukes and the individual plaintiffs will continue to pursue their rights to collect the jury verdict and enforce the Courts injunction. Mr. Bundys fleeing and hiding will not deter collection and enforcement of the injunction. Bundy could have tried to fight the fraudulent conveyance claims in court, but failed to appear for hearings and filed case documents incorrectly twice. The judge found him in default, meaning he essentially forfeited his case, and the sale was ruled fraudulent. Welling, who has been cooperative with the court, agreed to hand the Emmett property over to St. Lukes, according to documentation filed Friday afternoon. The transfer was described as part of a settlement agreement, according to the document. The property is now officially in St. Lukes hands. Stidham told the Statesman that it was clear Mr. Bundy had left because the house was stripped bare when St. Lukes conducted a home assessment in Emmett in November. Bundy violated a judges order by removing the homes furnishings and other contents that were part of the sale, according to Stidham, who said St. Lukes intends to move for contempt charges and sanctions. When it came to the defamatory statements online, St. Lukes not only succeeded in getting those removed, but was able to get entire websites run by the defendants to be stricken from the internet. Web hosting services removed sites run by the Bundy-founded Peoples Rights Network, Freedom Man Press (run by Rodriguez) and Bundys campaign web site. He ran for governor as an independent last year. A new Peoples Rights Network website was available under a different domain name Friday afternoon. Stidham said his legal team was working to get it removed as well. YouTube also removed dozens of videos containing misinformation from the defendants. Stidham confirmed to the Statesman that St. Lukes attorneys had requested these actions be taken. After review of your legal complaint, the content in question has been blocked from view on the country domain, the YouTube Team wrote St. Lukes legal team in an email shared with the Statesman. Bundy and Rodriguez began making defamatory statements about St. Lukes, its CEO and some medical professionals after leading protests at hospitals in Meridian and Boise in March 2022 over a child welfare case involving Rodriguezs 10-month-old grandchild. The defendants were found to have posted multiple lies about why the baby was taken into custody. They posted videos and blogs saying the hospital was working with the Idaho government to take children away from Christian families to be sexually abused and given to gay couples, according to court documents. Sally Krutzig, The Idaho Statesman (TNS) 2023 The Idaho Statesman. Visit idahostatesman.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The nonprofit organization behind a Portland Presbyterian church gave final approval to give land back to the Indigenous-run Future Generations Collaborative to build Barbies Village a tiny home village and early childhood center for unhoused Indigenous families. Its a beautiful day for land to be returned to tribal communities, said Anna Allen, Shoshone-Bannock, tribal affairs adviser for Multnomah County. Future Generations Collaborative, an Indigenous-led organization that strives to generate healthy and healing Indigenous communities, has served the needs of urban Native people in the Portland area since 2012. Organizers say its been a dream in the works for over two years now to build between six and 10 tiny homes along with a resource center that will provide wrap-around services for Indigenous families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. That dream is finally becoming a reality. The Presbytery of the Cascades voted 135 to 24 to gift the land and building of the former Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst to Future Generations Collaborative for $1. The gift is contingent on four conditions, including requiring Future Generations to provide its incorporation documents and specifying that any future sale of the property go only to Indigenous-led organizations. This is a huge win for us, for our community, and really, for all of Indian Country, said Jillene Joseph, Aaniiih citizen, engagement lead for Future Generations Collaborative and executive director of Native Wellness Institute. The Rev. Aric Clark said the move is an important part of healing the relationship between the church and Indigenous peoples. If we do land acknowledgments, but are afraid to do land back, then that is a form of taking the Lords name in vain, Clark said. Its essentially saying holy words, without having any meaning or intent to actually back them up with the right action. So if we are serious about trying to understand our history, and our complicity, but also trying to just build good relationships for the future, its not just about the past, its also about the present and the future. Barbies Legacy The project is named after Barbie Shields, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and dedicated natural helper a role central to the mission of Future Generations Collaborative who worked with the organization for five years to address public health disparities in the Indigenous community, particularly among those experiencing houselessness on their homelands. This was something Shields and her family understood first hand. Kenneth Shields, Barbies husband, said the couple experienced homelessness early in their marriage, when they had young children. Because of that experience, Shields, Anishinaabe and Sioux, said it was Barbies vision to create a safe place for Indigenous families with small children to begin their journey to collectively repair and heal from homelessness and the lasting impacts of colonization. That was always one of Barbies concerns wanting to help our people that were living on the streets, said Jillene Joseph, executive director for the Native Wellness Institute and a partner with the Future Generations Collaborative. She always felt how ironic it was for Native people to be homeless on their own homelands. But she didnt live to see her vision come to life. In 2018, Barbie Shields died after suffering a brain aneurysm. She left behind her husband, her four children and her community. Her death just had a profound impact on the other elders and natural helpers on all of us, Joseph said. We wanted to do something to keep her legacy alive and to honor the work that she was doing. With the help of Barbies husband, Future Generations Collaborative brainstormed the idea of Barbies Village. The years-long process to get to this point where construction for the tiny home village might finally begin involved a lot of red tape, along with important relationship building. Allies In 2021, the Presbytery Leadership Commission created the Barbies Village Task Force to work with Future Generations Collaborative, Leaven Land and Housing Coalition and the Westminster Presbyterian Church. They shared a goal: working together to address and fulfill a need in the community. This is one of the first times that I have ever experienced allies totally stepping up for me, and its been amazing, Joseph said. The Barbies Village Task Force, led by the Rev. Chris Dela Cruz, made a motion to gift the former Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst, in exchange for $1. Dela Cruz said members of the task force felt strongly that returning the land to Indigenous stewardship was an opportunity for the church to begin the path to repatriation and reconciliation. By giving the land that was formerly the site of Laurelhurst Presbyterian Church to Future Generations Collaborative for the creation of Barbies Village we are making our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people concrete, proving that ours is not a dead faith without works, Dela Cruz said before the Presbytery of the Cascades during a virtual meeting on Friday. We are also taking part in one of the most inspiring models of community care for one of the most urgent crises of our time, Rev. Dela Cruz added. The project also garnered support from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, whose members have ancestral ties to the land known today as Portland. We congratulate the Future Generations Collaborative on the hard work to make this land back gift happen and we fully endorse the gift and the good work that will follow, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy wrote in a letter of support. Further, we raise our hands to the church and praise their efforts to uplift the Native community; this is a win for all of us to celebrate. Funding Barbies Village is set to open amid a backdrop of unprecedented funding available to address homelessness and housing instability from Multnomah County, where Portland is. The county closed the June fiscal year with $42 million in unspent dollars generated by a voter-approved supportive housing services measure. That same month, the regional government Metro announced it had collected an additional $50 million in unexpected money from the measure, by hitting up taxpayers in arrears. The annual tax could bring in a total of $2.4 billion by 2031. In early September, as part of an administrative corrective action plan to address the unspent money, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved $17.6 million in one-time funding for new shelter sites, rental assistance and more. And last month, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced an emergency measure to get that money into the hands of the nonprofits the county contracts with to address homelessness. As part of that package, she allocated $300,000 to assist with start-up costs at Barbies Village. Im using executive authority to drive action and change on the ground so were making sure our investments reach the people who need them the most right now, Multnomah Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said. Its a start, but $300,000 is far below what organizers say they will need to complete the project. Organizers are hoping to build tiny homes that meet the needs of Indigenous parents and children. That means homes with indoor plumbing and heating as well as outdoor child playscapes to create a safe and permanent place to assist and foster a deeper connection to land, each other, and the great community and culture. The project will need a lot more money to make this a reality. Jillene Joseph said it will take about $5 million to fully fund Barbies Village. She said organizers submitted information to the county showing that need. But the county responded with $300,000. We never technically said We need $5 million, Joseph said. We said, Please fund us. And heres the budget the architects gave us. Indigenous people were the group most disproportionately represented in the countys 2022 count of unhoused people the most recent count for which data on racial disparities is available. In the November 2022 point in time count, 12.9 percent of those counted identified as Indigenous, American Indian or Alaska Natives, even though Indigenous people make up 2.5 percent of the countys population. That reality, along with the countys full coffers, has left some questioning why the county didnt provide more funding to Barbies Village a project that directly serves those most disproportionately represented among unhoused people in the Portland area. Multnomah County allocated $300,000, which is low for what we need, said Chenoa Landry, Education Lead at Future Generations Collaborative. We are trying to fund self-sustaining tiny homes, with plumbing and electricity. Anna Allen, tribal affairs adviser for the county, said the county sees the projects value. I think the county does definitely value and recognize that Native people are overrepresented in our houseless community and we know culturally responsive housing strategies are critical, bringing our Native community members to safety in a way that they define for themselves, Allen said. Joseph says she hopes the county will contribute more in the future. The county is actively engaging in the decolonizing work that we have been helping to lead them through, Joseph said. That gives me hope that this $300,000 is just an initial investment to help us get things off the ground for Barbies Village. The next budget cycle represents another opportunity for Future Generations Collaborative to apply for additional money, according to Stacy Borke, Multnomah County senior policy adviser on housing and homelessness. This was not a one and done opportunity for Future Generations Collaborative or any community seeking support in addressing the crisis on our street, Borke said. During the meeting last month, the vote was not unanimous. Some members of the churchs board of trustees wanted to attach an agreement about what to do in case Barbies Village fails. Joseph said ideas like that complicate efforts to obtain funding. Money is there for this kind of stuff, Joseph said. We might not be the experts at getting that money, but we want to find it. Nor do we have all these critical eyes judging us and watching everything waiting for us to fail. Its this delicate balance we have to do. While there might still be hurdles to overcome, Joseph said the vote is a win for all involved. This is land back, she said. This is literal land that goes into the hands of Native people. Correction: This article and headline have been updated to correct the name of the organization that voted to give the former Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst to Future Generations Collaborative. The Presbytery of the Cascades the nonprofit organization that represents the collective of congregations in the Northwest voted to gift the land. Additionally, the gift was contingent on four conditions, including requiring Future Generations to provide its incorporation documents and specifying that any future sale of the property go only to Indigenous led organizations. Underscore News regrets the errors. Dubai, UAE (PANA) - Rwanda Climate Finance Partnership is powering innovative climate action thanks to additional contributions from the Government of Rwanda, it was disclosed on Sunday at the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Director-General of the Libyan National Centre for Disease Control, Haider El-Saieh, has praised the role played by the Centre in supplying medicines and facilitating administrative procedures for people infected with HIV/AIDS Photo: (Photo : by Ty Fiero on Unsplash) In a tragic development following last month's devastating landslide in southeast Alaska, authorities have recovered the body of 65-year-old Otto Florschutz, marking him as the fifth confirmed fatality of the November 20 disaster. The Alaska Department of Public Safety announced the recovery on Friday, bringing a somber closure to one part of this tragic event. Amidst the grief, the community continues to hold onto hope for 12-year-old Derek Heller, who remains missing. The search efforts, involving search and rescue volunteers and a scent detection K9 team, are ongoing. New leads or evidence pointing to particular search areas serve as the basis for their "reactive searching" strategy. Alaskan Community's Role in Recovery Efforts The recovery of Florschutz's body was a poignant reminder of the community's resilience and unity. The efforts involved Wrangell Search and Rescue K9, volunteers, and an excavator, demonstrating the community's commitment to aiding in the aftermath of the disaster. Florschutz, a well-known commercial fisherman in the area, had also served on Wrangell's Port Commission. Despite not winning the election to fill U.S. Rep. Don Young's congressional seat last year, his foray into politics demonstrated his commitment to public service and community involvement. The landslide's impact on the Heller family has been particularly devastating. Timothy Heller, 44; Beth Heller, 36; and their children Mara, 16; and Kara, 11, were among the confirmed victims. The ongoing search for their son, Derek, adds a layer of anxiety and sorrow to an already heartbroken community. Christina Florschutz's survival story is both miraculous and heartbreaking. Her account of the landslide's impact, as told to the Wrangell Sentinel and KSTV radio, paints a vivid picture of the disaster's suddenness and ferocity. Her recovery in the hospital is a testament to her resilience, even as she mourns the loss of her husband. Read Also: Miracle Baby Survives Syria Earthquake; Born Under Rubble, Rescued to Safety Landslide Aftermath and Community Response The landslide, which cut off about 54 homes from the rest of Wrangell, has posed significant challenges for the community. The decision of 35 to 45 residents to remain in the area despite the risks underscores the strong attachment people have to their homes and community. Interim Borough Manager Mason Villarma's updates provide insight into the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and support of those affected. The tragedy has brought the community of Wrangell closer together in their collective mourning and search efforts. The loss of neighbors and the uncertainty surrounding young Derek Heller's fate weigh heavily on everyone's hearts. The community's response, which is characterized by unity and resiliency, demonstrates their strength in the face of adversity. As the community begins to process the tragedy and look towards recovery, there is a renewed focus on the power of natural disasters and the importance of emergency preparedness. The landslide serves as a stark reminder of nature's unpredictability and the need for robust response mechanisms. In the coming days, as search efforts continue for Derek Heller, the community of Wrangell will undoubtedly rally together, offering support and comfort to those affected. This tragic event, while bringing immense sorrow, also highlights the indomitable spirit of the community as they navigate through these challenging times. Related Article: Rescuers Retrieve Lifeless Body of a Moroccan Boy Trapped in 100 ft Well The United States is standing with Israel on its duty and responsibility to defeat Hamas, President Joe Bidens administration publicly insists. However, while outwardly expressing its support for Israel and blaming the radical Palestinian militia for the collapse of the pause in the hostage exchange, behind the scenes Washington is pressuring its ally to change tactics in its war in Gaza. The second phase of the offensive, in the south of the Strip, Washington insists, must involve greater protection for a civilian population that is even more concentrated in a smaller area. The return to hostilities, and especially Israels conduct, provides a stern test for the United States. Bidens administration insists that the strategy of embracing Israel, pursued since the outbreak of the crisis, is the correct one and allows it to exert pressure on the behavior of the Israeli government. It points to the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip or the seven-day ceasefire that Netanyahu had initially dismissed outright, among other factors. In this position, the U.S. is not alone. In the European Union, which maintains that Israel has the right to defend itself while respecting international law, there are member states, such as Spain, Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg, which have been much more critical of the violations committed by Benjamin Netanyahus government. And others, like the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany but with some nuance and Hungary, which support Israel almost unwaveringly and have led the opposition within the EU to a joint call for a sustained humanitarian ceasefire. However, the resumption of bombing since Friday, and Israels withdrawal of its negotiators in Qatar, calls into question the extent to which Washington can exert control over its ally. Nathan Sachs, director of the Center for the Middle East at the Brookings Institution, says via video call: The pressure is very much focused on having a plan for what [Israel] wants to do. He adds: Israel has partially completed its aims in the north of Gaza; now the question is the south, where there is a large number of people: not only its residents, but also refugees from the north, so what is going to happen now? The south is now home to 80% of the Strips 2.3 million inhabitants, after bombing in the north forced most of the residents there to escape. During the seven-day ceasefire, and even before, U.S. officials had insisted that they would only back an Israeli military offensive in the southern Strip if it was combined with measures to protect civilians, prevent further mass displacements of the population and not target basic infrastructure, especially hospitals. The Biden administration does not seem prepared for the second phase of the fighting to match the levels of death and destruction left by the first stage in the north. According to figures from the Ministry of Health in the Strip, which the U.N. believes is credible, more than 15,000 Palestinians, many of them children, have been killed by Israeli bombing. This is a message that Biden himself previously conveyed directly to Netanyahu in their most recent conversation last weekend, and which Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his lightning tour of the Middle East this week, reiterated to the Israeli war cabinet on Thursday. We addressed the details of the Israeli planning and I stressed that it is imperative for the United States that large-scale loss of civilian life and [forced] displacement on the level we saw in northern Gaza may not be repeated in the south, the Secretary of State stressed after the meeting. Among other things, Washington has called on Israel to reduce the area of fighting and to inform Palestinian civilians where they can seek shelter from the bombardment in the southern area. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby pointed out this week that U.S. military advisers have briefed Israeli commanders on the experiences of U.S. soldiers in urban combat in places like Fallujah and Mosul during the Iraq War, to ensure that the allied countrys forces do not make the same mistakes. Israel has one of the most modern armies in the world. It is capable of neutralizing the threat posed by Hamas while minimizing the damage to innocent men, women and children, Blinken said at a press conference in Tel Aviv after his meeting with the Israeli war cabinet. Furthermore, the U.S. is also trying to plan possible ways out of the conflict with Israel and with the Arab states. This is a prospect that it had hoped might be boosted by the ceasefire, but which now seems more complicated than ever. Washington advocates a two-state solution, negotiated between Israel and a revitalized Palestinian Authority; a move that differs from the desire of the right-wing Netanyahu government. Israel refuses to discuss at length what will happen after the conflict, says Itamar Rabinovich, former Israeli negotiator with Syria and former ambassador to Washington, now an analyst at Brookings, also speaking by video call. However, the only viable solution is for the Palestinian Authority to return to Gaza, from where it was expelled by Hamas in 2007. This is an anathema to the Israeli Right. Steven Cook, of the Council on Foreign Relations, told reporters, the outcome, if there is one, is likely to be an occupation of the Gaza Strip for a certain period of time. The Israelis have made it clear that they want to establish a security regime there. Palestinians walk in the street after Israeli shelling of the Hamad town residential compound in Khan Younis, Gaza, December 2. AHMED ZAKOT (REUTERS) On the ground, NGOs and the civilian population denounce that the bombings have recommenced more strongly than before. The death toll since the ceasefire breakdown is already in the hundreds. At the same time, the U.S. continues to supply armaments to its ally. According to The Wall Street Journal, these shipments have included 15,000 bombs and 57,000 artillery rounds in the last two months, including a hundred large bunker busters each weighing one ton. A return to the tactics employed in the first phase of the war would place the U.S. in a sticky situation. In addition to criticism from abroad, particularly from Arab countries, about its ties to Israel, the Biden administration must contend with calls from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and some labor unions for a permanent ceasefire. The Muslim and Arab American community which is small but pivotal in key swing states such as Virginia and Michigan and which in 2020 overwhelmingly supported Biden is threatening to abstain in next years presidential election. This could have serious consequences for the Democrats. There are divisions even within the Biden administration as evidenced in meetings and open letters of protest over whether it is wise to give an apparent blank check to the Netanyahu government. Even U.S. public opinion seems to be shifting away from the unconditional support for Israel it expressed after the Hamas attacks of October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israeli citizens. A Gallup poll shows that 50% including 71% of Republican voters support the Israel Defense Forces offensive, while 45% oppose it. Six in ten Democrats profess opposition to the military campaign. In the European countries that support Israel, this position also remains, even though the breaking of the truce has weakened this support. Meanwhile, the tone towards Netanyahu among some of his allies, such as France, has toughened. Citizen demonstrations have also intensified in response to the appalling images coming from the Gaza Strip. Israels closest supporters within the EU claim that the bloc and several member states with strong relations with Israel have urged Netanyahu to hold back on attacks on Gaza. In response to concerns, Israel said that it is focusing its attacks as much as possible. However, as the weeks go by and the Strip is once again in a critical situation, the Gaza bloodshed has once again highlighted a division in the EU that is unlikely to disappear, at a time when Brussels is starting to talk about what happens after the conflict. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Photo: (Photo : Photo by James Kovin on Unsplash) A terrifying incident occurred in Chowchilla, California, in July 1976 when three armed men kidnapped 26 children and their bus driver, Ed Ray. This event not only shocked the nation but also became a pivotal case in understanding the long-term effects of childhood trauma. The Abduction and Escape On a sunny afternoon, the school bus carrying the children, aged between 5 and 14, was hijacked and abandoned in a ditch. The kidnappers, wearing pantyhose masks, took the hostages to an abandoned rock quarry over a hundred miles away. There, they were forced into a buried trailer, creating a makeshift underground prison. The kidnappers' plan was to ransom the children for $5 million. However, after 16 hours, Ray and two older boys managed to pry open the roof of the trailer, leading to the escape of all 26 children. Upon their rescue, medical experts found them physically unharmed but psychologically shaken. The Chowchilla kidnapping quickly became an international news sensation. At the time, the field of child trauma psychiatry was in its infancy, and the common belief was that children were highly resilient and could easily "get over" traumatic events. The diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was not yet recognized, even for war veterans. Read Also: Dad Arrested For Kidnapping His Twins - What Is The Story Behind The Act? Dr. Lenore Terr's Groundbreaking Research Dr. Lenore Terr, a child psychiatrist, was drawn to the case as a unique opportunity to study the impact of trauma on children. Contrary to the belief that only one of the 26 children would be emotionally affected, Terr found that all the children were experiencing significant psychological issues months after the incident. Parents reported their children suffering from nightmares, screaming in their sleep, and exhibiting signs of severe anxiety and fear. Long-Term Effects of the Kidnapping Terr's research revealed that the trauma of the kidnapping had left a lasting imprint on the children. They exhibited a range of post-traumatic symptoms, including nightmares, fears of common objects, and anxiety about being kidnapped again. Some children even displayed aggressive behavior as a coping mechanism. Changing Perceptions of Childhood Trauma Terr's work with the Chowchilla victims became seminal in the field of childhood psychiatry. It challenged the prevailing notion that children were immune to the long-term effects of trauma. Her research showed that, like adults, children could suffer lasting consequences from traumatic experiences, impacting their mental health well into adulthood. The Legacy of the Chowchilla Kidnapping Decades later, the Chowchilla kidnapping continues to inform our understanding of childhood trauma. The incident highlighted the need for immediate and long-term mental health support for children who experience traumatic events. Today, PTSD is a recognized clinical diagnosis for children, and evidence-based treatments are available to help young trauma survivors. The Chowchilla kidnapping remains a stark reminder of the profound impact traumatic events can have on children. The bravery and resilience of the survivors, along with Dr. Terr's groundbreaking research, have significantly contributed to the field of child trauma psychiatry. This case continues to teach us about the complexities of childhood trauma and the importance of providing appropriate mental health support to young survivors of such catastrophic events. Related Article: Pennsylvania Boy Escapes Potential Kidnapping by Asking Cashier to Pretend She Was His Mom Photo: (Photo : Mario Tama/ Getty Images) In the face of a seasonal surge in respiratory illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a stern warning about an imminent winter COVID-19 surge. Despite the presence of other respiratory viruses in circulation, COVID remains the primary catalyst for hospitalizations and fatalities. CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, during a recent briefing for reporters, underscored the severity, citing approximately 15,000 hospitalizations and 1,000 deaths weekly attributed to the virus. CDC Warning Talks About the Looming Winter COVID Surge With the CDC no longer tracking national case numbers, the agency emphasizes the significance of wastewater sampling to gauge the activity of winter COVID surge. The CDC's wastewater dashboard discloses a national rise in viral activity, with the Midwest experiencing a particularly alarming spike. Experts, including epidemiology professor Tara Smith from Kent State University, point to colder weather as a probable contributor to the surge. The CDC's winter warning coincides with falling temperatures and the increased travel associated with the holiday season, fueling concerns of an escalation in COVID infections. As of November 25, COVID variants are on the rise. The predominant strain in the United States remains HV.1, constituting about 32% of new cases, according to the CDC. Nevertheless, there are signs that other variants are gaining momentum. The BA.2.86 variant, initially detected over the summer, saw a threefold increase in prevalence for the week ending November 25, reaching 9% of new cases. Although the World Health Organization has reclassified it as a variant of interest, experts downplay immediate concerns about its severity. Nonetheless, the CDC stresses the necessity for vigilance as variant activity rises amid the winter COVID surge. Low Vaccination Rate Raises Concerns Amid variant concerns and the looming winter surge, the low rate of COVID-19 vaccinations becomes a substantial worry. Current data from the CDC indicates that only 16% of adults in the U.S. have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Experts, including Ali Mokdad, Chief Strategy Officer for Population Health at the University of Washington, express concerns about the inadequate vaccination coverage. While acknowledging that emerging variants, including Omicron, aren't immediate causes for alarm, they underscore the importance of widespread vaccination to mitigate the severe consequences of COVID. Read Also: US Life Expectancy Inches Upward in 2022 Amid COVID-19 Deaths: Tackling Malnutrition, Disparities Remain Crucial Vaccine Efficacy Amid COVID Variant Threats Addressing concerns about the efficacy of vaccines against new variants, epidemiology professor Tara Smith seeks to reassure the public. While acknowledging the potential for new variants that may challenge existing immunity, Smith emphasizes that current vaccines, including the updated version targeting the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant, enhance the antibody response against circulating variants. A recent study from researchers at Columbia University supports this claim, indicating improved antibody responses against HV.1 and JN.1. Despite the uncertainties, experts stress the critical role of vaccination in protecting against the most severe outcomes of COVID. As the winter season approaches, the CDC's warning of a Winter COVID surge, coupled with the rise of variants and a low vaccination rate, signals a critical juncture in the ongoing battle against the pandemic. Vigilance, vaccination, and a collective effort are crucial in mitigating the impact of the Winter COVID surge and emerging variants. Related Article: Missing 17-Year-Old Indiana Teen's Body Found in Neighbor's Yard: Murder Charges Underway Francis Yeboah, a 54-year-old driver, has appeared before Accra Circuit Court for allegedly misappropriating GH191,000 belonging to a retired health professional. Charged with stealing, Yeboah pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mr Kwabena Kodua Obiri has admitted Yeboah to bail in the sum of GH200,000 with two sureties. The court adjourned the matter to December 7, 2023, and ordered the prosecution to file disclosures and the same on the accused person and his lawyer. Earlier, Yeboahs lawyer prayed for the court to admit Yeboah to bail because he was married with kids, and would not abscond. According to the defence counsel, the family was trying to settle the matter. Chief Inspector Olivia Ofori-Attah, who held brief did not oppose bail, but urged the court to admit the accused person to bail with conditions that would compel Yeboah to attend court till the end of the trial. The prosecution said the complainant Betty Yeboah, was a resident of Kotobabi, Spintex. The prosecutor said about 19 years ago, Yeboah went to the complainant and pleaded with her to accommodate him and his family, who had been ejected from their residence because he was unable to pay for an apartment. It said the complainant gave out her two-bedroom self-contained apartment to the accused and his family for free. The prosecutor said the complainant travelled to the United Kingdom and left her uncompleted three-bedroom in the hand of the accused person. The prosecution said the complainant sent the accused person, GH47,000 and 9,000, all totaling GH144,000 to continue building her three-bedroom room house. The prosecutor said the accused person, after collecting the money, failed to continue with the building. It said the complainant called the accused persons wife and informed her that she would be returning to Ghana this year. The prosecution said the accused on hearing that the complainant would be returning to Ghana, left the house and went into hiding. A report was made to the Police at Batsonaa Divisional CID and the accused person was arrested. The prosecutor said the accused person admitted the offense in his caution statement in the presence of an independent witness. Source: GNA 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 Ghana Education Outcomes Project (GEOP) which is under the Ghana Education Service, has transitioned a total number of 17, 340 pupils into mainstream schools across the five regions of the North in six districts and 300 communities after taking the children through a six-month accelerated learning programme in March this year. About 7,336 out of the 17,340 pupils were transitioned in the Savelugu municipality of the Northern region. The 17,340 pupils were also supported with free school uniforms. The GEOP is aimed at supporting out-of-school children at the age of eight to 16 years, to reintegrate them into Ghanas formal Education system and improve learning outcomes in primary schools and is also the first of its kind in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa. The programme is being implemented by Plan Ghana International, School for Life and Ghana Transformed Partnership Consortium. Speaking at the launch of the project to formally transition the school children into the formal Ghana Education Service system at Savelugu in the Northern Region, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Education Mrs. Maamle Andrews pleaded with all stakeholders including traditional leaders to continue to join hands to strengthen the partnership with the ministry of education and other stakeholders to ensure that the children take their studies seriously and stay in school to be able to complete the full course of their school. She was optimistic that their role as traditional leaders in the communities would ensure massive progress in the lives of the children and bring an end to the out-of-school children syndrome. Mrs Maamle indicated that the project will bring significant improvement in the livelihoods of the children. The National Coordinator of the Ghana Education Outcomes Project (GEOP), Hajia Fatima Nana High expressed excitement about the progress of the project and encouraged the children to stay in school to have a full benefit of the programme. The Northern Regional Education Director of the Ghana Education Service, Hajia Kusumi Nantogmah on her part said the GEOP project has so far equipped children with literacy skills and that it is paving way for a brighter future. She noted that the programme has also played a pivotal role in boosting the confidence of learning, particularly among the girls. 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 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. Source: Reuters 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 President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on the international community, both public and private, to partner with Ghana to implement its Country Package under the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP), dubbed Resilient Ghana: Advancing Climate Action for Prosperity. He said the urgency to implement forest solutions to tackle climate change, required that the world comes together, to mobilise support for nature-positive action. The President made the call at a high level event at the ongoing twenty-eighth Conference of Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where he announced Ghanas Country Package. It will be recalled that at COP26 in Glasgow, world leaders adopted the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. At COP27 in Sharm El Shiekh, Egypt, Ghana joined the United Kingdom to launch the FCLP as a vehicle to deliver on the ambitious target of the Glasgow Leaders Declaration. The Country Packages is an initiative of the FCLP to design, develop and implement an integrated system-wide wholistic suit of interventions to address Forest Landscape Restoration, according to each countrys Nationally Determined Contributions. Since the launch of the FCLP, Ghana has been working on this Country Package, which was socialised broadly on the sidelines of New York Climate Week in September, 2023, in a workshop which had in attendance a number of partners, including the World Bank, the Tony Blair Institute, Bezos Earth Fund, the Governments of the USA, UK, Norway, Singapore. The Package is hinged on three (3) main pillars, namely, advancing nature-based industrialisation and sustainable rural development; building an inclusive green economy with future-fit green jobs and nature-based alternative livelihoods; and scaling climate ambition. It is estimated that the Country Package will transform forest landscape economy with a ripple effect on the macro-economy by generating some Twelve Billion US Dollars (US$12,000,000,000.00) by 2030, through scaling compliance and voluntary carbon markets, promoting sustainable oil palm and cocoa farming models, restoring degraded forest lands and promoting eco-tourism. Announcing the details of the Country Package, President Akufo-Addo said Resilient Ghana is a vision to strengthen Ghanas economy, protect and restore her abundant forests, meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost cocoa production, position the country as a global leader in sustainable timber, andscale up tourism potential, while creating jobs and livelihoods for people. He said the worlds forests have over the years, been undervalued and under-protected, and the launch of the FCLP signified the urgency of accelerating action to halt and reverse forest loss. According to the President, through the Country Package, Ghana will showcase how to transform the forest sector and strengthen the economy in tandem. This will be achieved, through strategies, such as building a strong foundation to access international carbon markets, strengthening agricultural and mining practices, promoting aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme, and reinforcing the enabling conditions for a just transition. The Country Package will be implemented with partners from both Government and the private sector, including the Governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), United States of America (USA), Singapore and Canada. Already, UAE has committed to support the Package with Thirty Million US Dollars (US$30,000,000.00). The UAE High Level Champion on COP28, H.E. Razan Al-Mubarak, commended Ghana on her leadership on forests, climate and nature, adding that the UAE is pleased to deepen our bilateral cooperation with Ghana by joining the Country Package for Forests, Nature and Climate and supporting development of sustainable agriculture forest restoration, ecosystem services and sustainable livelihoods for local communities. The United States Special Presidential Envoy on Climate, Secretary John Kerry, in a goodwill message said The United States is pleased to join partners in Resilient Ghana in supporting Ghana's ambitious efforts to halt deforestation and restore 2 million ha of degraded lands. On her part, the Minister for Sustainability and Environment of Singapore, H.E. Ms. Grace Fu, said Singapore will continue to work with Ghana to operationalise and implement this initiative. World leaders are meeting in Dubai, UAE, to discuss measures to halt climate change and its devastating consequences on lives and livelihoods. The Conference, which begun on Thursday, November 30, is expected to run until Tuesday, December 12, 2023, with several countries making new commitments towards halting climate change. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Pope threw his weight behind calls for an end to fossil fuels in a message delivered here at COP28. In a wide-ranging statement, Pope Francis called for an end to coal, oil and gas as well as lifestyle changes to save the planet. He also asked for debt forgiveness for poorer countries hit by climate change. As the pontiff was unable to attend the Dubai summit in person because of illness, his speech was read by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin. With a long-standing interest in climate issues, Pope Francis was set to make history by becoming the first Pope to address the Conference of the Parties, or COP as it is known. However, the 86-year-old leader of the Catholic Church was forced to cancel his trip as he is still recovering from flu and inflammation of his lungs. In his place, Cardinal Pietro Parolin delivered a strong statement on the impacts that climate change was having on the world and what global leaders needed to do to tackle the issue. At its heart was the message that climate change signals the need for major political change. COP28 must be a turning point, the pontiff said. The ecological transition to save the world could be done by embracing renewable energy, "the elimination of fossil fuels, and education in lifestyles that are less dependant". There has been growing political momentum at this gathering for a definitive statement on the future use of coal, oil and gas, the main sources of the warming gases that are harming our planet. The president of COP28, Sultan Al-Jaber, has said the phase-out of these fuels is "inevitable", although the oil company he runs has embarked on a major expansion of production. The Pope's statement criticised efforts to shift the blame for the ecological and climate crises to the poor and high birth rates. He also singled out the biggest carbon-emitting countries who "were responsible for a deeply troubling ecological debt". It would only be fair, he said, that these countries wipe out the financial debts of poor nations because of their excessive use of fossil fuels. "The Pope's message is very well timed as we move into discussions on a global stocktake at COP28," said Neil Thorns from Catholic international development charity, Cafod. "These discussions must be a time for leaders to heed his call: not for a partial change, but a new way of making progress together, and for choosing a culture of life over a culture of death." 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 National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the conviction of an Assistant Technical Enrolment Officer (ATEO) for misconduct leading to the registration of an unqualified applicant. George Kwame Essien, an ATEO at the NIA's Walewale District Office in the North East Region, was found guilty of forging NIA documents and registering an individual named Amadu Seeta, who did not meet the necessary registration requirements. Seeta, who is currently at large, reportedly received an ECOWAS Identity Card through Essien's fraudulent actions. The investigation revealed that Essien forged NIA Form One and an Oath of Identity Form belonging to Braimah Seini to facilitate Seeta's registration. Essien pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment on count two (Forgery of Document) and six months each on counts 1 (Abetment of Crime), 3 (Causing an Unauthorized Interference with Electronic Records), and 4 (Causing an Unauthorized Modification of Information). The sentences will run concurrently. Essien, a nephew of the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah has been handed over to the Tamale Prisons Authority to serve his sentence. A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Amadu Seeta, who is still at large. In a statement, the NIA emphasized that violations of the law and NIA's Standard Operating Procedures will not be tolerated. The Authority remains committed to upholding the rule of law and promoting integrity, patriotism, and decency in the workplace. 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 Mrs Adelaide Siaw Agyepong, the accomplished Chief Executive Officer of the American International School (AIS), has secured the distinguished title of the 2023 Ultimate Woman of the Year in Education Management and International Relations at the Women's Choice Africa Awards. Her remarkable achievement is a testament to her significant contributions to advancing quality education within Ghana. Mrs. Agyepong expressed gratitude for the award, attributing it to God for the blessings in her life and emphasizing the importance of aspiring for excellence. "I want to encourage young female entrepreneurs to forge ahead, not to relent, and to have faith in whatever they are engaged in. The multiple award-winning CEO, delivered this inspiring message to the next generation after she received the remarkable award in Accra. The event organizers recognized and celebrated the substantial impact of women in the country's development. The Women's Choice Awards Africa, presented by Global Ovations, serves as a platform to inspire future female leaders committed to positive change and excellence globally. This year's theme, "Digitalization the New Phase of Women Empowerment; the Unstoppable Woman, Breaking the Bias to Advance Inclusive Leadership and Elevation," aligns with the organization's ongoing dedication to empowering women. "Our commitment is to continue the cause of empowering women in every possible way. We view women's empowerment not merely as a celebration but as a movementan everyday operation aimed at liberating women and girls in Ghana, in Africa, from the mental chains of inferiority and limitation," affirmed the organizers. 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 OLA Girls Senior High School (SHS) Ho has been adjudged the winner of the 2023 Edition of the National Cyber Security Challenge in Accra as part of the closing ceremony of the two-day Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B). OLA Girls took home a cash prize of GH7,000, a Trophy and certificate of participation. Wesley Girls SHS and Prempeh College tied for the second place with prize money of GH2000 each and certificates, while Navrongo Senior High School, which came third got GH1000 and certificates. The Challenge is a government initiative spearheaded by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to promote cyber safety and awareness among senior high school students, by providing them with hands-on experiences in identifying, preventing, and mitigating cyber threats. The objective of the competition is to enhance awareness on Cyber Security Best Practices for students, address the growing concern of students online vulnerability, and equip them with the skills to interact with digital technology confidently, safely, and responsibly. In this years edition, the country has been divided into four zones namely, the Northern, Middle, Eastern and Southern zones with 50 SHSs, representing 16 regions of the country. The contestants were taken through the Child Online Protection provisions in the Cybersecurity Act, (Act 1038), 2020, digital footprint, social engineering, and open-source intelligence, among others as part of preparations for the competition which commences in June. Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitalization urged delegates as they departed from the conference to carry forward the momentum generated here. The ideas shared, the collaborations formed, and the lessons learned should serve as catalysts for positive change in our respective spheres. The Minister said the Accra Call signed on day one of the conference was a call to action for governments and organisations around the world. It is to affirm their willingness to voluntarily promote, pursue, and coordinate efforts on 16 specific actions to elevate cyber resilience across international and national development agendas. She said the frameworks initiatives aimed to promote cyber capacity building, which promoted larger development goals and effectively fulfil the needs of developing countries. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the Accra Call for Cyber Resilient Development would serve as a beacon to intensify efforts to mainstream cyber resilience across national and international development agendas, encourage cyber skills building that contributed to broader development goals, and deepen partnerships. The government is not relenting in its efforts to fight cybercrime to ensure a secure and resilient digital ecosystem by effectively regulating cybersecurity and promoting its development in the country, she added. She urged the conference participants to maintain the connections established to continue the dialogue, and to implement the strategies and insights gained over the past two days. She said the journey towards a more secure cyberspace was ongoing, and our collaboration is key to navigating the ever-evolving landscape. As we further digest the conferences main themes, we must keep in mind that cybersecurity is both a technical and societal concern, she said. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the discussions and decisions made at this conference would reverberate beyond these walls, impacting the future of cybersecurity not only in Africa but globally. Source: GNA 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 historic ruling, Panamas Supreme Court this week declared that legislation granting a Canadian copper mine a 20-year concession was unconstitutional, a decision celebrated by thousands of Panamanians activists who had argued the project would damage a forested coastal area and threaten water supplies. The mine, which will now close, has been an important economic engine for the country. But it also triggered massive protests that paralyzed the Central American nation for over a month, mobilizing a broad swath of Panamanian society, including Indigenous communities, who said the mine was destroying key ecosystems they depend on. In the unanimous decision Tuesday, the high court highlighted those environmental and human rights concerns, and ruled the contract violated 25 articles of Panamas constitution. Those include the right to live in a pollution-free environment, the obligation of the state to protect the health of minors and its commitment to promote the economic and political engagement of Indigenous and rural communities. What is the fallout of the courts ruling? The ruling would lead to the closure of Minera Panama, the local subsidiary of Canadas First Quantum Minerals and the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, according to jurists and environmental activists. The court said the government should no longer recognize the existence of the mines concession and Panamas President Laurentino Cortizo said the transition process for an orderly and safe closure of the mine will begin. Analysts say it appears highly unlikely that Panamas government and the mining company will pursue a new agreement based on the resounding rejection by Panamanians. There are sectors in the country that would like a new contract, but the population itself does not want more open-pit mining, the message was clear, said Rolando Gordon, dean of the economics faculty at the state-run University of Panama. What remains now is to reach an agreement to close the mine. Could Panama be the subject of arbitration? Analysts say the mining company is free to pursue international arbitration to seek compensation for the closure based on commercial treaties signed between Panama and Canada. Before the ruling, the company said it had the right to take steps to protect its investment. With the ruling, the Panamanian government and the mining company are headed for arbitration at the World Banks international center for arbitration of investment disputes, in Washington, said Rodrigo Noriega, a Panamanian jurist. Marta Cornejo, one of the plaintiffs, said we are not afraid of any arbitration claim and that they are capable of proving that the corrupt tried to sell our nation and that a transnational company went ahead, knowing that it violated all constitutional norms. In a statement after the verdict, the mining company said it had operated consistently with transparency and strict adherence to Panamanian legislation. It emphasized that the contract was the result of a long and transparent negotiation process, with the objective of promoting mutual economic benefits, guaranteeing the protection of the environment. What will happen with the thousands of jobs created by the mine? Cortizo, who had defended the contract arguing it would keep 9,387 direct jobs, more than what the mine reports, said that the closing of the mine must take place in a responsible and participative manner due to the impact it would have. The company has said the mine generates 40,000 jobs, including 7,000 direct jobs, and that it contributes the equivalent of 5% of Panamas GDP. The court verdict and the eventual closure of the mine prompted more protests, this time by mine workers. We will not allow our jobs, which are the livelihood of our families, to be put at risk, the Union of Panamanian Mining Workers said in a statement. What are the economic consequences of the eventual mine closure? Panama two weeks ago received a first payment of $567 million from First Quantum, as stipulated in their contract. Due to the legal dispute, the amount went directly to a restricted account. The contract also stipulated that Panama would receive at least $375 million annually from the mining company, an amount that critics considered meager. Minera Panama published a scathing statement on Wednesday saying the Supreme Court decision will likely have a negative economic impact and warned that lack of maintenance of drainage systems in the mines could have catastrophic consequences. The move, the company said, puts at risk all of Panamas other business contracts. What seems to be clear is that the closure will negatively impact the countrys public coffers, said Gordon of University of Panama. The government had hoped that with that contract it would plug some holes in the nations budget, which it will not be able to do now, Gordon said. The situation of public finances is still reeling from five weeks of semi-paralysis in the country due to the protests. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The National Headquarters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was yesterday afternoon literally turned upside down following an attack on the place by a horde of angry-looking party supporters. The attack left in its trail broken glasses and damaged property. Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicates that the party supporters were on a mission to vent their anger over the disqualification of a certain candidate for the Odododiodio Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. Michael Nii Yarboi had his hopes of contesting the constituency as a candidate dashed when he was disqualified by the partys vetting committee. The move did not go down well with the candidate and his supporters, whose response was what unfolded the part of Adabraka in Accra where the plush headquarters of the party is located. For those who witnessed pictures and videos of the party supporters who brandished an yassortment of weapons when they went to the residence of the flagbearer of the party, John Dramani Mahama to undertake a cleanup exercise, the resemblance between the two scenes was striking. The destructive supporters of Michael Nii Yarboi, the disqualified aspiring parliamentary candidate in the Odododiodio Constituency, were in no mood to calm down until their mission was accomplished. As they continued the rampage, residents and workers in the nearby houses and offices feasted their eyes with the unfolding drama. Motorists however endured the inconveniences of being patient, so their vehicles did not suffer damages from the resultant rampage. The garbage heaped on the facade of the headquarters was akin to the shit-bombing days of NDC politics when human faecal matter was dumped on the premises of some newspaper houses. Some of the supporters hurled bricks at the glassy parts of the headquarters for maximum damage. It would appear that the Functional Executive Committees (FEC) statement yesterday disqualifying Michael Nii Yarboi from contesting in the partys upcoming parliamentary primary in the Odododiodio Constituency triggered the mayhem. The decision to disqualify Michael Nii Yarboi was premised on a report submitted by the Special Committee assigned to investigate the violence that occurred at Odododiodio Constituency during the vetting of parliamentary aspirants held on October 13, 2023. Some of the rampaging supporters said they want an MP called Don, but who has been knocked out of the race. The person, they claimed, has been engaged in philanthropic work in the community as evidenced in his sponsorship of students in various levels of education. The police intervened to restore normalcy but not before the destruction caused by the incensed party supporters. The opposition party is credited with a chain of undisciplined conduct in recent times, some of which had journalists caught in the crossfire. 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 The political landscape in the Ashanti Region witnessed a dramatic shift with over 300,000 energetic youth and women groups joining Alan's Movement for Change in a walk dubbed Afrafranto. The mind-blowing revolution, which saw in excess of 300,000 participants across youth and women's Gruop joining the MFC train, confirmed the political class of Hon. Alan Kyerematen, the founder and leader of Movement for Change (MFC). The Yellow Army political Revolution, engineered by Hon. Alan Kyerematen, marked a significant departure from established norms in political support and is rapidly gaining momentum ahead of the 2024 General Elections in Ghana. The massive Afafranto Unity Walk, saw the participation of celebrated national icons like Sister Afia, Twene Jonas, and Oliver Khan 'the ship dealer', lending their influence and voice to the movement. Their involvement has not only bolstered the visibility of the movement but also signaled a shift in support towards Alan Kyerematen's cause. Having served diligently in Ghana's Trade and Industry Ministry for over a decade under two different regimes, Kyerematen's decision to break away from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to form the Movement for Change was a bold and pivotal moment in the country's political landscape. The Yellow Revolution has gained widespread attention and support, notably through events such as the highly acclaimed Afafranto Walk and other community based engagements. The symbolism of the color yellow has become synonymous with this movement. It represents a fresh approach to politics in the Ashanti Region, a departure from the conventional party lines that have historically defined the region's political allegiance. The widespread support gained by the Yellow Revolution confirmed the growing disillusionment among the Ashanti populace with conventional politics. Alan Kyerematen's track record and commitment to effecting change resonated strongly with many Ghanaians seeking a departure from entrenched political tactics. As the 2024 General Elections draw nearer, the Yellow Revolution continues to gather momentum with each passing day. 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 Two men have been arrested and charged after the pair was accused of stealing a car with a 1-year-old child in the backseat in New Castle County, Delaware, which set in motion an Amber Alert, according to news reports. It all took place Wednesday night, where 42-year-old Randy Purnell, of New Castle, and 35-year-old Aaron Douglas, of Laurel, have been charged with kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle and other crimes. Authorities initially received reports of a stolen Nissan Altima from a 7-Eleven located at 60 S Gerald Dr. around 5:30 p.m. in Newark. The car had been left running when a man dressed in a gray hoodie, black jacket, and camo pants got out of a dark-colored Nissan Kicks, got into the drivers seat of the running Altima and drove away with the baby in the backseat. Hours later, around 7:30 p.m., a man parked outside a Fine Wine % Good Spirits located on the 2700 block of North American Street in Philadelphia and asked a witness if he could hold this for me. The man then got back into the vehicle and drove away, leaving the baby on the step outside the liquor store. Officers were notified and took the child to Saint Christophers Hospital to be evaluated. She was later released and reunited with her mother, NBC10 reported. The search for the stolen sedan and a black SUV used during the car theft continued into Thursday and during the investigation, it was determined that the SUV used in the theft was a Nissan Kicks, NBC10 reported. It was occupied by Douglas and Purnell, 6ABC reported. Investigators later located the stolen Nissan Altima in Kensington. They were charged with one felony count of kidnapping in the second degree, one felony count of theft of a motor vehicle, one felony count of conspiracy in the first degree, and one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said to NBC10. The suspects were taken into custody on unrelated arrest warrants and are currently held in Pennsylvania. Each man was held on $250,000 bail pending extradition back to Delaware, according to both reports. By Jocelyn Gecker, The Associated Press Trouble with playground bullies started for Maria Ishoos daughter in elementary school. Girls ganged up, calling her fat and ugly. Boys tripped and pushed her. The California mother watched her typically bubbly second-grader retreat into her bedroom and spend afternoons curled up in bed. For Valerie Aguirres daughter in Hawaii, a spate of middle school friend drama escalated into violence and online bullying that left the 12-year-old feeling disconnected and lonely. Both children received help through telehealth therapy, a service that schools around the country are offering in response to soaring mental health struggles among American youth. Now at least 16 of the 20 largest U.S. public school districts are offering online therapy sessions to reach millions of students, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. In those districts alone, schools have signed provider contracts worth more than $70 million. The growth reflects a booming new business born from Americas youth mental health crisis, which has proven so lucrative that venture capitalists are funding a new crop of school teletherapy companies. Some experts raise concerns about the quality of care offered by fast-growing tech companies. As schools cope with shortages of in-person practitioners, however, educators say teletherapy works for many kids, and its meeting a massive need. For rural schools and lower-income students in particular, it has made therapy easier to access. Schools let students connect with online counselors during the school day or after hours from home. This is how we can prevent people from falling through the cracks, said Ishoo, a mother of two in Lancaster, California. Miami Arts Studio students, wearing green shirts for World Mental Health Day, gather around a table where members of the school's mental health club pass out information and give away stress balls and awareness-raising pins, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at the public 6th-12th grade magnet school in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)AP Ishoo recalls standing at her second-graders bedroom door last year and wishing she could get through to her. Whats wrong? the mother would ask. The response made her heart heavy: Its NOTHING, Mom. Last spring, her school district launched a teletherapy program and she signed up her daughter. During a month of weekly sessions, the girl logged in from her bedroom and opened up to a therapist who gave her coping tools and breathing techniques to reduce anxiety. The therapist told her daughter: You are in charge of your own emotions. Dont give anyone else that control. She learned that its OK to ask for help, and sometimes everyone needs some extra help, Ishoo said. The 13,000-student school system, like so many others, has counselors and psychologists on staff, but not enough to meet the need, said Trish Wilson, the Lancaster districts coordinator of counselors. Therapists in the area have full caseloads, making it impossible to refer students for immediate care, she said. But students can schedule a virtual session within days. Our preference is to provide our students in-person therapy. Obviously, thats not always possible, said Wilson, whose district has referred more than 325 students to over 800 sessions since launching the online therapy program. Students and their parents said in interviews they turned to teletherapy after struggling with feelings of sadness, loneliness, academic stress and anxiety. For many, the transition back to in-person school after distance learning was traumatic. Friendships had fractured, social skills deteriorated and tempers flared more easily. Schools are footing the bill, many of them using federal pandemic relief money as experts have warned of alarming rates of youth depression, anxiety and suicide. Many school districts are signing contracts with private companies. Others are working with local health care providers, nonprofits or state programs. Members of the Miami Arts Studio mental health club, including from left, Salet Aquino, Dominique Rodriguez, and club president Anaeli Souto, man a table as they raise awareness on World Mental Health Day, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at Miami Arts Studio, a public 6th-12th grade magnet school, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)AP Mental health experts welcome the extra support but caution about potential pitfalls. For one, its getting harder to hire school counselors and psychologists, and competition with telehealth providers isnt helping. We have 44 counselor vacancies, and telehealth definitely impacts our ability to fill them, said Doreen Hogans, supervisor of school counseling in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Hogans estimates 20% of school counselors who left have taken teletherapy jobs, which offer more flexible hours. The rapid growth of the companies raises questions about the qualifications of the therapists, their experience with children and privacy protocols, said Kevin Dahill-Fuchel, executive director of Counseling in Schools, a nonprofit that helps schools bolster traditional, in-person mental health services. As we give these young people access to telehealth, I want to hear how all these other bases are covered, he said. One of the biggest providers, San Francisco-based Hazel Health, started with telemedicine health services in schools in 2016 and expanded to mental health in May 2021, CEO Josh Golomb said. It now employs more than 300 clinicians providing teletherapy in over 150 school districts in 15 states. The rapid expansions mean millions of dollars in revenue for Hazel. This year, the company signed a $24 million contract with Los Angeles County to offer teletherapy services to 1.3 million students for two years. Other clients include Hawaii, which is paying Hazel nearly $4 million over three years to work with its public schools, and Clark County schools in the Las Vegas area, which have allocated $3.25 million for Hazel-provided teletherapy. The districts of Miami-Dade, Prince Georges and Houston schools also have partnered with Hazel. Despite the giant contracts, Golomb said Hazel is focused on ensuring child welfare outweighs the bottom line. We have the ethos of a nonprofit company but were using a private-sector mechanism to reach as many kids as we can, Golomb said. Hazel raised $51.5 million in venture capital funding in 2022 that fueled its expansion. Do we have any concerns about any compromise in quality? The resounding answer is no. Other providers are getting into the space. In November, New York City launched a free telehealth therapy service for teens to help eliminate barriers to access, said Ashwin Vasan, the citys health commissioner. New York is paying the startup TalkSpace $26 million over three years for a service allowing teens aged 13 to 17 to download an app and connect with licensed therapists by phone, video or text. Unlike other cities, New York is offering the service to all teens, whether enrolled in private, public or home schools, or not in school at all. A pair of Miami Arts Studio students hug as others walk between classes, on World Mental Health Day, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at the public 6th-12th grade magnet school, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)AP I truly hope this normalizes and democratizes access to mental health care for our young people, Vasan said. Many of Hawaiis referrals come from schools in rural or remote areas. Student clients have increased sharply in Maui since the deadly August wildfires, said Fern Yoshida, who oversees teletherapy for the state education department. So far this fall, students have logged 2,047 teletherapy visits, a three-fold increase from the same period last year. One of them was Valerie Aguirres daughter, whose fallout with two friends turned physical last year in sixth grade, when one of the girls slapped her daughter in the face. Aguirre suggested her daughter try teletherapy. After two months of online therapy, she felt better, Aguirre said, with a realization that everyone makes mistakes and friendships can be mended. In California, Ishoo says her daughter, now in third grade, is relaying wisdom to her sister, who started kindergarten this year. She walks her little sister to class and tells her everything will be OK. Shes a different person. Shes older and wiser. She reassures her sister, Ishoo said. I heard her say, If kids are being mean to you, just ignore them. Associated Press data reporter Sharon Lurye contributed. The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. By Ford Turner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette HARRISBURG The taxpayer-supported pool of money that covered most of the $295,000 sexual harassment settlement involving a former top Shapiro administration official has paid out almost $19 million for 138 claims of various types generated in recent years, state records show. One multi-million dollar settlement went to the estate of Kevin Siehl, who spent 25 years in state prison and was released by court order after a judge found the murder case against him was mishandled. Another settlement went to the family of 81-year-old Edward Horowitz, one of dozens of military veterans who died at a state-run veterans home where COVID-19 precautions were botched. But it was a prolonged lack of public knowledge about sexual harassment allegations that led to a settlement this year that has produced calls for greater transparency around taxpayer-supported payouts. Mike Vereb, the former Secretary of Legislative Affairs for Gov. Josh Shapiro, resigned without a publicly stated reason on Sept. 27. Not until the following day did the public learn through media reports that Mr. Vereb had been accused by a female employee of sexual harassment. He has not commented publicly on the allegations. The taxpayer-funded $295,000 settlement in the case included an agreement that prevented parties from talking about it. That led some lawmakers to push for public posting of some details on settlements. In response to Post-Gazette Right-to-Know requests, the state Department of General Services supplied data on the low-profile self-insurance fund that paid most of the Vereb-related settlement. The records included 138 claims that were wrapped up and got final payments from the fund between Jan. 1 and Nov. 13. The total paid out on those claims was $18.9 million, with 20 of them for $140,000 or more indicating that even the Vereb-related base settlement of $196,000, excluding $99,000 in attorneys fees, was large in comparison to many others. It was not paid until after Nov. 13, according to a state Treasury spokesperson. All but $45,000 of that settlement came from the fund, called the Employee Liability Self-Insurance Program, or ELSIP. This sort of information is exactly why we need the bipartisan legislation, Sen. Kristen Phillips-Hill, R-York, said after being told of the DGS data. This is why the status quo is unacceptable. Phillips-Hill plans to introduce a bill that would require all state agencies and the General Assembly to self-report the total number of monetary settlements with non-disclosure agreements tied to sexual harassment or sex discrimination accusations. The reports would be posted in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Rep. Donna Scheuren, R-Montgomery, said the data released to the Post-Gazette underscored the need for a bill she has proposed. It would allow posting of some settlement information on PennWATCH, a state government transparency portal. All the settlements paid out of that fund would lend themselves to be posted, she said, excluding personal information. It shouldnt be hidden The nature of the allegations behind the settlements drawn from ELSIP range far beyond sexual harassment. The fund is used to pay settlements or judgements and related expenses against the state and its employees for claims tied to negligence, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, assault, false arrest, defamation, and more. Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, said the fund performs a necessary function, but it shouldnt be hidden. Mr. Williams said he would support posting some settlement information on PennWATCH or in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Sexual harassment allegations when first made should be vetted, and at that stage privacy is warranted, he said. Further along in the process and especially after a settlement is reached transparency is necessary, Mr. Williams said. Publicly available information, he said, should include how much was paid out, over what period of time, and what categories of incidents led to the payments. Having that knowledge would allow lawmakers to improve the system, he said. Similarly, Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny, said the existence of the fund is warranted, but that the real issue is are they paying out for things regularly that instead should be fixed? Greater transparency, she said, would help ensure that issue is addressed. The fund doesnt get talked about much. Former state Sen. Andrew Dinniman, a lawmaker for about 15 years, said he could not recall ever hearing it discussed. But Mr. Dinniman, a Chester County Democrat, said the amounts of money flowing through the fund are not the main cause for concern. The issue really comes down to the whole matter of non-disclosure, he said. How does anybody know what is going on if the non-disclosure agreements are there? So-called NDAs could allow a teacher accused of sexual harassment in one district to get a job in another, Mr. Dinniman said. Their widespread use is a challenge in schools and local governments as well as in state government, he said. He called it a single issue that has many tentacles. Among the claims for which DGS provided data, 52 involved individual state prisons, while 28 involved the Department of Corrections as an agency. A large majority of the total payments involved claims made against state police or individual troops. Those added up to more than $13 million. The fund was restocked by premiums totaling about $5.7 million a year. For 2023-24, premiums are being charged to 84 different state agencies or entities. The Department of Corrections has the largest premium at about $1.5 million, followed by state police at about $977,000 and the Department of Human Services at $502,000. The fund also is replenished when the roughly $9 million annual appropriation to the Bureau of Finance and Risk Management is divided between three self-insurance funds it administers, according to a DGS spokesperson. A state management directive says the head of the individual agency and a DGS attorney must approve payment of claims greater than $10,000. The directive sets a coverage limit of $250,000 per incident, but under extraordinary circumstances that cap may be exceeded. State-related tragedies Kevin Siehl was 60 years old and had spent 25 years in prison when he was released from the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon on Oct. 12, 2016. They took Mr. Siehl away from his family for 25 years, said attorney Jonathan Feinberg, who represented Mr. Siehl in a 2018 federal civil rights lawsuit filed against defendants who included a state police trooper and a state police forensics specialist. Mr. Siehl maintained his innocence throughout his entire period of incarceration. A painter by trade, Mr. Siehl was arrested following the 1991 murder of his estranged wife, who was found stabbed to death in a bathtub in her apartment in Johnstown. Mr. Siehl was convicted in 1992. A federal judge ordered Mr. Siehls immediate release in 2016 after a finding that the case had been mishandled and a decision by the state attorney generals office to abandon the case. Among other things, Mr. Feinberg said, Mr. Siehl was convicted using fabricated evidence and other genuine evidence favorable to Mr. Siehl was withheld. He died in March 2022. About eight months later, the lawsuit was settled for more than $8 million. Of that amount, more than $4.6 million came from ELSIP. The money was paid out to his estate, Mr. Feinberg said. I am glad the funds were available to resolve the case. Edward Horowitz had been in the Army, worked as a police officer, and later was a saloon owner before he moved into the state-run Southeastern Veterans Center in Chester County. He had three children and was a grandfather. When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, the veterans center made national news for its mishandling of the crisis. A special investigation done for the office of then-Gov. Tom Wolf found that during April and May, 40 residents who tested or were presumed positive for COVID-19 died. Southeastern Veterans Center mishandled its response to COVID-19 in many significant ways, which contributed tragically to the heartrending events that occurred there, the report on the investigation said. Mr. Horowitz died on May 10, 2020. His son, 56-year-old Ian Horowitz, said in a recent interview that his father watched his roommate get very sick with COVID, then got sick himself. It was horrible. We were very, very close, Ian Horowitz said. He was full of life. The DGS documents show Edward Horowitzs estate received an ELSIP-funded settlement. Both the Horowitz and Siehl settlements came after the filing of federal lawsuits. Phillips-Hills proposal is specific to settlements with non-disclosure agreements that stem from allegations of sexual harassment or sex discrimination. Increased transparency around the settlements, she said, will deter the behavior. This is a way to change what is happening, she said. You cant use these tools to quietly settle these claims against one of your top officials. By Brendan Rascius, McClatchy Washington Bureau (TNS) Moments after Rep. George Santos was expelled from Congress, Sen. John Fetterman said another lawmaker should be next. Santos, a New York Republican charged with fraud, was expelled in a bipartisan vote on Dec. 1, making him only the 21st member of Congress ever to be ousted through expulsion. During an interview on The View shortly after the House of Representatives vote, Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said he was not surprised by Santos removal. But to me, I think the more important picture is that we have a colleague in the Senate that actually (did) much more sinister and serious kinds of things, Fetterman said, naming Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat. He needs to go, Fetterman said. If you are going to expel Santos, how can you allow somebody like Menendez to remain in the Senate? Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife were charged with bribery in September. He is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars, including a Mercedes Benz and gold bars, in exchange for agreeing to help the Egyptian government, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The allegations leveled against me are just that: allegations, Menendez said in response to the charges in September, according to CNBC. I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I will still be the New Jerseys senior senator. Its now the second time he has been charged with bribery. In 2015, he was indicted for allegedly accepting gifts from an ophthalmologist in exchange for leveraging his office to benefit the doctors financial interests. During that trial in 2017, the jury was unable to reach a verdict, resulting in a mistrial, according to the New York Times. Fetterman has called for Menendez to be ousted multiple times in recent months. The latest polling in New Jersey has your approval at 8%, Fetterman said of his colleague in a Nov. 2 post on X. Youre officially less popular than cold sores. In response to Fettermans persistent calls for his removal, Menendez said, He seems to be consumed by it, according to Igor Bobic in a Huffington Post report. I think theres more important things to the people of Pennsylvania. Representatives for Menendez and Fetterman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. Joe Manchin wont run for re-election in 2024. Who else is leaving the Senate? Why is there a generational divide on Israel in the US? Experts explain Almost every House member voted for resolution backing Israel except two. Why? 2023 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A bloodstain by a bridge over the Seine river was the only remaining sign on Sunday of a fatal knife attack 12 hours earlier on a German tourist, allegedly carried out by a young man under watch for suspected Islamic radicalization after serving prison time for preparing a violent attack. The random attack near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night has drawn special concern for the French capital less than a year before it hosts the Olympic Games, with the opening ceremony due to take place along the river in an unprecedented scenic start in the heart of Paris. In a sign of that concern, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called a meeting for Sunday evening with key ministers and officials charged with security for a total review of measures in place and the handling of the most dangerous individuals, her office said. After killing the tourist, the attacker crossed the bridge to the citys Right Bank and wounded two people with a hammer, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Saturday night. The suspect, who apparently cried Allahu Akbar (God is great), was then arrested. Video circulating on the internet showed police officers, weapons drawn, cornering a man dressed in black, his face covered and what appeared to be a knife in his right hand. They twice tasered the suspect before arresting him, Darmanin said. Questioned by police, the suspect expressed anguish about Muslims dying, notably in Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, and claimed that France was an accomplice, Darmanin said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on X, formerly Twitter, that the news from Paris was shocking. My thoughts are with the friends and family of the young German man, she wrote. Almost his entire life was before him... Hate and terror have no place in Europe. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, in a post on X, expressed condolences for the victims family and friends and hope that Europe stands together against terrorism. A heartfelt thought to the family members and loved ones of the victim, she wrote. May Europe stay united against every form of terrorism. The French interior minister said the suspect was born in 1997 in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, outside Paris. He had been convicted and jailed for four years, until 2020, for planning violence, was under psychiatric treatment, tracked for suspected Islamic radicalization and was on a special list for feared radicals. The French media widely reported that the man, who lived with his parents in the Essonne region, outside Paris, was of Iranian origin. The case was turned over to the anti-terrorism prosecutors office. This person was ready to kill others, Darmanin told reporters, who along with other government members and President Emmanuel Macron praised police officers for their response. Well-known emergency doctor Patrick Pelloux, who was among the first at the scene, told BFM-TV there was blood everywhere. Pelloux said he was told by the victims entourage that the suspect stopped them to ask for a cigarette, then plunged his knife into the victim. He aimed at the head, then the back. He knew where to strike, Pelloux said. The daily Le Parisien, in an in-depth report published Sunday, said the suspect had a history of contacts via social networks with two men notorious for the gruesome killing of a priest during Mass in 2016 in Saint-Etienne du Rouvray and the man who killed a police couple at their home in Yvelines, west of Paris, a month earlier. France has been under a heightened terror alert since the fatal stabbing in October of a teacher in the northern city of Arras by a former student originally from the Ingushetia region in Russias Caucasus Mountains and suspected of Islamic radicalization. That came three years after another teacher was killed outside Paris, beheaded by a radicalized Chechen, later killed by police. The attack brought into sharp focus authorities concern for potential terrorist violence during the 2024 Games. Just days earlier, the Paris police chief had unveiled detailed plans for the Olympic Games security in Paris, with zones where traffic will be restricted and people will be searched. The police chief, Laurent Nunez, said one of their concerns is that vehicles could be used as battering rams to plow through Olympic crowds. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition After four starting flights, a total of 566 entries, and 28 levels of play just 21 players will be making their return to the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino for Day 4 of the 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series $3,300 Main Event. Maximilian Wieser from Austria is currently leading the field with a stack of 4,895,000 chips, which is equivalent to 49 big blinds. Following him closely is Hadi Khordbin from Iran, who narrowly missed the top position with 4,745,000 chips. Dmitry Gromov from Russia rounds out the top three with a stack of 4,365,000 chips, which is equivalent to 44 big blinds. These three players, along with 18 others, will return at 1:00 p.m. local time to compete for the top prize of $295,500 and the title of Gangster Series Main Event Champion. Hadi Khordbin A quick look at Wiesers Hendon Mob shows he has just six cashes for a total of $66,916. If he were able to parlay this chip lead into a top-five finish, he would eclipse his entire live earnings with just this one Merit Poker Main Event score. Top Ten Chip Counts Place Name Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Maximilian Wieser Austria 4,895,000 49 2 Hadi Khordbin Iran 4,745,000 47 3 Dmitry Gromov Russia 4,365,000 44 4 Fabian Quoss Germany 3,940,000 39 5 Dmitry Yurasov Russia 3,915,000 39 6 Ihar Soika Belarus 3,660,000 37 7 Nikolay Fal Russia 3,330,000 33 8 Iraklis Manikaros Greece 3,095,000 31 9 Baurzhan Akimov Kazakhstan 3,000,000 30 10 Frederic Popot France 2,655,000 27 There are still some other crushers outside of the top-three that will look to make their mark on the field as the day moves along. Oleg Netaliev (2,650,000) has already had a great Gangster Series and will look to avenge his second-place finish in the Merit Retro Series Main Event from earlier this year with a dub. Two-time bracelet winner Dmitry Yurasov (3,915,000) is sitting healthy after a few short stacks and close calls from throughout Day 3. Lastly, Day 1b chip leader Shuang Luo (2,300,000) will look to put her 23 big blinds to work as the last woman standing in the field. Oleg Netaliev The fourth day of the event is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. local time. The players who bagged chips on the third day will return to level 29, with the blinds set at 50,000/100,000/100,000. Players will battle it out all the way down to the eventual champion with cards-up coverage all day long. PokerNews will be covering the event on a one-hour delay so as not to spoil the stream. Dont miss any of this incredible event! Stay tuned to PokerNews for updates on the Merit Poker Gangster Series and other top worldwide events! The 2023 Unibet Open Bucharest 1,100 Main Event came to an end on Sunday, December 3, at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel. Nine players out of 360 entrants were back on Day 3 for the final table. And after a bit more than seven hours of "stressful play" on a "tough table", Dwayne Sluis has been crowned as the champion. The Dutch player defeated Ivan Alin Constantin in heads up play to win the Unibet Open trophy and 65,830. Even though "he wanted to win to prepare for his next events in Las Vegas in the best possible way", Robert Burlacu finished in third place (31,400), ahead of Dragos Anton (4th, 25,420) and the chip leader at the beginning of the final table Eduard Norel (5th, 20,030). 2023 Unibet Open Bucharest Main Event Results Rank Player Country Prize 1 Dwayne Sluis Netherlands 65,830 2 Ivan Alin Constantin Romania 41,890 3 Robert Burlacu Romania 31,400 4 Dragos Anton Romania 25,420 5 Eduard Norel Romania 20,030 6 Bart van Dijk Netherlands 15,300 7 Max Broens Netherlands 11,230 8 Bjorn Samuelsson Sweden 8,260 9 Sorin Flutur Romania 6,770 Winner's Reaction "I can't really describe my feelings," Dwayne Sluis said moments after his victory. "It's special because poker wasn't going that well for me during the last two years. So, to win the tournament, it's absolutely amazing." Sluis, who is a PLO professional player for the past ten years, came to Bucharest because he won a package online to play the Main Event. And he didn't come alone, as he had his family with him. "For me, it was a trip with my wife and my daughter. The deal was: 'If I make money playing poker, it's good. But if I don't, we'll see Bucharest and have a good time here.' And I ended up playing, and playing, and playing, and winning the tournament." The Unibet Open Bucharest started well for him as he ended Day 1b with three starting stacks. "I had a few spots where I was bluffing all in on the river. They didn't call, so I got lucky there, I guess," he explained. Then his next goal was to reach the money. But even though his stack didn't grow much at the beginning of Day 2, he managed to do so. "Once in the money, things started going, and I built a very nice stack for the final table, above average (1,425,000)." On the final table, everything ended like in a fairytale. However, the first level was more like a nightmare. "I lost almost everything at the beginning with kings against queens with a queen of hearts on the river," he remembered. "Then I lost another all-in against a short stack with jacks against kings. After that, I was like 'whatever, it's probably done.' But I managed to build up again and to win the tournament against (Constantin), who won with queens against my kings. So it makes it a little bit more special!" With his victory, Sluis won 65,830. A "good boost" for his next big project. "With my family we are going to travel the world and go to America in march to play poker in Texas, Miami, Las Vegas, also during events in Europe. We are probably going to do that during a year. We are pretty much selling everything, including our house", he explained. A big trip around the world where he'll try to be as successful as in Bucharest. Dwayne Sluis Final Table Action The beginning of the final table was quite slow, even though Ivan Alin Constantin, Bjorn Samuelsson, and Bart Van Dijk all doubled up one after the other in the first levels. However, it took one and a half hours to see the first elimination, with Sorin Flutur running into Dwayne Sluis' kings, finishing in 9th place for 6,770. Things didn't go much faster after the first break of the day, until Samuelsson found himself in a tough spot. Facing an all-in from Constantin, Samuelsson couldn't fold his two pairs, so he called but lost the hand to Constantin's better two pairs with queens. With a smaller stack, Samuelsson was eliminated in 8th place for 8,260. Moments later, he was joined at the cashier by Max Broens, who couldn't find an ace on the board with ace-three against Burlacu's jacks. Finishing 7th, Broens went back home with 11,230. After these three eliminations, Van Dijk was left with the shortest stack of the six remaining players. Even though he doubled up once, he was eliminated shortly after a new break (6th, 15,300). However, the former chip leader Eduard Norel didn't go much further, as he was sent to the rail 10 minutes later (5th Place, 20,030). Norel called on the river with the second pair, but Sluis hit two pairs on the river, becoming the new chip leader. Dwayne Sluis After Robert Burlacu doubled through him, Sluis continued increasing his lead, hitting a runner-runner flush to eliminate Dragos Anton in fourth place for 25,420. A few minutes later, Burlacu also lost his last chips, his ace-queen getting cracked by ace-eight (3rd, 31,400). He let Sluis and Constantin fight for the title, with the Dutch player slightly in the lead. Both stacks quickly became even. However, soon after, Sluis with the best pair was called on the river to have four times Constantin's stack after this hand. A first all-in and call situation even occurred, but Constantin doubled up. All the chips went into the middle again a few hands later. And this time, Sluis hit a pair with king-queen against ace-king to win this hand and the 2023 Unibet Open Bucharest. This concludes PokerNews coverage of Unibet Open Bucharest, but be sure to check out our live reporting hub for more live coverage around the poker world. Keen-eyed observers near Second Baptist Church's original campus may notice a new feature this weekend, with a 10-foot southern magnolia being freshly in place. The tree was planted Dec. 1 as one of several magnolias of similar height in the Greenville Street parkway, near Hampton Avenue, in observance of Arbor Day, sometimes known as "the tree planter's holiday." Mayor Teddy Milner attended, as did Stuart Bedenbaugh, the city manager; and Lex Kirkland, assistant city manager. Putting the specimen into place were Aaron Campbell, the municipal government's horticulturist and grounds supervisor; and Felix Vargas, a crew leader with municipal parks and grounds. Arbor Day is observed on a national level on the last Friday in April, and in South Carolina on the first Friday in December. Dates vary around the country, in accordance with preferred times for planting trees. The holiday reportedly dates back to 1872, when J. Sterling Morton, a resident of Nebraska City, Nebraska, proposed the idea to the state's board of agriculture. Immediate results reportedly included more than a million trees being planted on the first Arbor Day. Campbell, referring to this year's featured tree, said, "The planting idea for today was kind of to highlight and show the trees that we are planting in the parkways. For any tree that is considered grand and significant, we replant with at least three other trees within the vicinity, but we far exceed the number of trees planted to what is removed. Just this past month, we planted approximately 80 trees in the parkways, in the month of November." That type of activity, he said, has helped Aiken have Tree City USA status for more than 38 years. The award honors communities for successful efforts "to maintain and grow their tree cover" and "also gives them an avenue to celebrate their work, showing residents, visitors, and the entire country that theyre committed to the mission of environmental change," as noted by the Arbor Day Foundation. WAGENER A.L. Corbett Middle School's parking lot was loaded Dec. 2, as the school held an unveiling of a historical marker celebrating the school's status, ready for reading a few yards from Sand Dam Road. Dozens of alumni gathered in J.O. Brown Memorial Auditorium to share memories and express thanks for (and to) some of the people who helped establish the school. Black students from first through 12th grades in Wagener attended Corbett in its early years, as the United States wrestled with questions of segregation versus integration. Longtime Wagener educator Richard Sumpter, who moved to Wagener in July 1954 and went to work at the new school that September, gave the event a thumbs-up review. "I thought it was real good. I taught all those kids," he recalled. Sumpter, now a few weeks short of his 95th birthday, noted that the school played a tremendous role. "Corbett meant a lot for the community, because they didn't have a school there before I came here. They only had through seventh grade, and then they'd go to Schofield, in Aiken, for high school. "A lot of kids dropped out of school because they didn't have transportation to go to school," he added. Black students largely depended on "two old buses to transfer the kids at Schofield, in Aiken," Sumpter said. "The kids sometimes didn't get to school. The buses would break down, and before they could get it fixed, it would be time to come home." Speakers at the event included Steven Brinkley, a grandson of the man who donated the land for the school and became its namesake. Brinkley's remarks included appreciation for the legacy of J.O. Brown, one of the school's principals and the auditorium's namesake. Brinkley, a 1984 graduate of Wagener-Salley High School, described Brown as "a highly respected leader in his school, his profession, his faith community and the town where he served" and someone who "always challenged students to be their best." 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 Six North Augusta locations were decorated from top to bottom for the North Augusta Tour of Homes on Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2. The Beta Sigma Phi event raises money for collegiate scholarships for North Augusta High School students. Five houses and the North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center will be on display for two days with guided tours. "This is the 35th year," said Linda Skinner with the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. "Through the years, we have given over $200,000 in scholarships. That's really been the purpose, but also we wanted something fun for the community." Mary Anne Bigger, executive director of the North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center, said the event is a great opportunity for people to come in after hours. We serve as a rest stop, we have light refreshments and people can use the restroom here in the municipal building and come and relax in between their visits to the buildings, she said. We just always appreciate the people in the community that allow us to have their home on tour, Skinner said. Bigger enjoys seeing groups of people enjoying the annual Tour of Homes festivities. Almost every year we see different groups of ladies that come in, and you can tell they are together because they all might have a matching headband on or they all are wearing plaid, so it's fun to see the different groups every year, she said. KYODO NEWS - Dec 3, 2023 - 20:25 | All, Japan Japan is considering postponing a project that aims to retrieve the world's first Martian moon surface samples from 2024 to 2026 due to issues with its new flagship H3 rocket, which is set to facilitate the probe's launch, sources close to the matter said Sunday. The delay would inevitably crush plans for the probe from Martian Moons Exploration project, or MMX, to arrive in the Martian system during the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka and livestream detailed images to the expo venue, an envisioned highlight of the event. The development comes following the failed inaugural launch in March of Japan's next-generation H3 rocket, under development by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., which also resulted in the loss of a key satellite it carried as its payload. The second H3 rocket, equipped with measures to prevent a recurrence, is set to be launched by March 2024, but its payload has been modified as a precaution. Plans to carry the MMX probe and satellites on the third H3 rocket or later will depend on whether the launch of the second rocket succeeds. The probe can only be launched to orbit around Mars around September 2024 due to variations in the distance of the red planet from Earth. The next suitable window will be around 2026, but rescheduling may prove difficult due to other satellite launches that are of higher priority. The probe is currently scheduled to be launched in September 2024 and arrive in the Martian system around August 2025. It will then land on one of Mars' two moons, Phobos, to collect a surface sample and return to Earth around 2029. Phobos is believed to have accumulated rocks that originated from Mars, with the sample expected to help shed light on the evolution process of the Martian system. While the United States, Europe, and China also have plans to retrieve samples from the Martian system, difficulties faced by all means that Japan still has a high chance of being the first in the world to achieve the feat regardless of the two-year delay. The Japanese government had also considered using a reliable rocket from U.S. firm SpaceX instead of the H3 to launch its MMX probe, but even this option would not have made the 2024 deadline. Related coverage: Japan space agency server likely hit by unauthorized access attack Japan astronauts Onishi, Yui to leave for ISS around 2025 H2A rocket with Japan's lunar lander successfully lifts off New Italian and Thai dining spots, along with two new bagel shops, soon will be cooking across the Lowcountry. Also, a new retailer is on the way to the peninsula, a longtime Summerville shop changes hands, and a new cafe and market officially opens Jan. 11 in Mount Pleasant. Read moreNew restaurants coming to Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Moncks Corner With my December electric bill in hand, I now know that my household used less power in 2023 than in any of the 19 years we've lived in South Carolina. Our electricity consumption, 10,040 kilowatts for the year, is down more than 21 percent from 2019, the first full year we lived in our current home. But in dollar terms, my bills are not much lower. Anyone who has made efforts and spent money to improve their home's efficiency and reduce power costs could probably sympathize. We use less and less power, but the bills stubbornly refuse to reflect that. Why? The answer is pretty simple, and that's rising electricity rates. The outcome, though, could leave people feeling like their efforts weren't rewarded financially, and that's not the case. I was thinking about this as we head into December, the month that usually brings my highest electric bill of the year because southern systems are less efficient at heating than cooling. I'm one of those people who keeps a spreadsheet of my monthly electric bills, showing the cost and the power consumption. That's because I like to see the difference that upgrading my HVAC system and water heater, or adding insulation, made to my consumption and my bills. So, I can tell you that in 2019 my roughly 1,200-square-foot condo consumed 13,375 kilowatts, for which our yearly cost was $1,666. The previous year, and the next one, were similar. Then we needed to replace our more than 20-year-old water heater and HVAC system. The resulting improvement in efficiency is why we used 21.6 percent less power in 2023, and our bills for the year were $1,574. So, we eliminated more than one-fifth of our power consumption, but our bills in 2023 were just 5.5 percent lower than in 2019. That's not much of a payoff, saving $92. The real results are a bit harder to see, but what we really saved this year was about $360. That's real money, and more than enough to pay for those system improvements over time. COLUMBIA As foreign-owned automakers continue moving south seeking fresh labor markets, so too is the United Auto Workers union, hoping to organize in Republican-controlled, right-to-work states where previous organizing campaigns have gone to die. That includes South Carolina, the state with the lowest percentage of union-represented workers, where the UAW plans to organize the BMW plant outside Spartanburg and the Volvo plant near Charleston. It has also signaled that the coming Scout Motors plant in Blythewood could be in its future organizing plans. The latest campaign comes after the union won big wage increases with Ford, Stellantis and General Motors. It is also a part of the UAWs effort to organize battery and electric vehicle plants amid industry shifts away from combustion engines, which the organization has said threatens well-paying, high-quality jobs in the auto sector. But unionization efforts could face significant opposition from state leaders, where Republicans like former Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, Gov. Henry McMaster and others have taken hard lines against unions in their political messaging. Gov. McMaster will vigorously defend each and every South Carolinians right to work and prosper and to do so free from interference or control by the big labor unions, said the governor's spokesman, Brandon Charochak, in response to the latest UAW campaign on Nov. 30. Moving south Automakers began looking to the South which historically had a small auto manufacturing presence in the 1980s after Nissan made plans for an assembly plant in Tennessee. German companies like BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen followed suit. Building in the South is attractive for multiple reasons, explained James Rubenstein, a professor emeritus at Miami University (Ohio) who specializes in the automotive industry. The growing region has fresh labor markets, areas without existing auto plants or other large workforce competitors, a must for the factories that often employ thousands of people. This is the time of year that many of us consider our charitable-donation budget. But as we decide how much to give, perhaps we also ought to calculate why we give. In his list called Eight Degrees of Charity, 13th-century rabbi Moses Maimonides offers wise counsel for weighing our motives. Ive mentioned his list a few times in this column, but like Dickens' Christmas Carol, the list inspires me each time I revisit it. The unabridged catalogue can be found on my website, but since it has many nuances, allow me this paraphrased summary. Maimonides describes his list as a ladder, so lets begin at the bottom rung, the lowest form of charity. 8. Sometimes we give only because we are uncomfortable with our wealth. This sentiment is aptly described by Tibetan Buddhist Trungpa Rinpoche as Idiot compassion. You can see it in the actions of retirees like me who did this during the pandemic. As our savings bulged with stimulus checks and investment returns, we started giving to the local food bank. No judgment here. I think Maimonides would say that most charity is good charity. Still, its hard to sort our good motives from our lesser ones. Thats why the rabbi encouraged us to work our way up the ladder. 7. Let us give cheerfully, but not too much. We do this by dropping a few bucks in the Salvation Army kettle or the church offering. We smile generously, but we know its woefully inadequate. 6. Just ask me and Ill donate. Generous, yes. But why must we be asked first? In Honduras, as in many Latin countries, people of all income levels will carry charity money to give to those who ask. The San Francisco company GoFundMe began with the premise of giving to those who ask. The tragic drama in many requests inspires us to give. In 2021, they generated $22.6 million in revenue. 5. Lets give without being asked. Meeting Street Scholarship Fund is offering students the opportunity to earn up to $40,000 in scholarships for in-state colleges and universities, according to an announcement its executives made Nov. 30. The money will help cover eligible students tuition, fees, housing and food for those attending college in fall 2024. The move is part of the funds broader mission to increase opportunities for students in rural areas of South Carolina. There is no place more than Allendale where students really need the support to have a lot of the states best colleges opened up to them, said Josh Bell, executive director of the fund. Allendale is near the Georgia border, close to an hours drive to Columbia or Savannah. Half of the residents have jobs and typically must commute out of town to work. The school district was taken over by the state twice for poor academic performance, among other issues. The first takeover occurred in the 1990s, and the second in 2017 under former state Superintendent Molly Spearman. The district is still under state control. A Post and Courier analysis found students academics have improved under the takeover, but the district is still struggling. Only 37.6 percent of elementary and middle school students met state standards during the 2022-23 school year, according to South Carolina Department of Education data. Eighteen percent of the districts students scored a C in algebra the same year. The expansion to Allendale is part of the scholarship funds Mission 46 initiative, a push to offer college scholarships to students with financial need in all of South Carolinas 46 counties. The fund currently provides scholarships in 11 other counties, mostly in rural areas such as Jasper and Williamsburg. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! Ellen Weaver, South Carolinas current education superintendent, said in a statement the scholarship will help Allendale students reach their full potential. I am deeply grateful that the Scholarship leaders and donors chose Allendale to benefit from this profound gift, she said. I am confident that their demonstrated belief in the students of Allendale will pay dividends for generations to come. GREENVILLE A woman arrested in February after authorities said she took an abortion pill and delivered a 6-month-old stillborn baby had her charges dropped by prosecutors more than two years later. The 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office decided not to prosecute the single charge against the Greenville woman of performing an abortion because of insufficient evidence or another "legal issue," according to court documents filed Oct. 17. The prosecutor's office wouldn't clarify to The Post and Courier what kind of legal issue prompted the dismissal. Sign up for updates! Get the latest Greenville news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! The Greenville Police Department, which arrested the 33-year-old woman, said that once the case is handed over to the solicitor's office, it's at their discretion whether or not to prosecute. The law that the Greenville woman was arrested under was self-administering an abortion, a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison and a $1,000 fine. After the state passed a six-week abortion ban in May, the law increased the crime to a felony, with a two-year minimum prison sentence, up to five years, and a $5,000 fine. One person in 2022 and two people to date in 2023 were charged under the law, the State Law Enforcement Division told The Post and Courier. However, SLED could not confirm whether their cases were dropped or if they went to trial. South Carolina's abortion law remains ever-changing, as new lawsuits challenging the state's abortion ban are filed and decisions from the state's Supreme Court are released. Advocates on both sides of the abortion issue told The Post and Courier in March that they were working to remove provisions from the law that arrest women for having an abortion. NORTH CHARLESTON Trident Technical College is starting the process to find its next president. Longtime President Mary Thornley announced her retirement in September. An initial step in the process is creating a presidential profile that describes the type of leader the college is seeking. Input from the community is critical, said Luke Robins, search consultant with the Association of Community College Trustees, the search firm assisting Trident with the process. On Dec. 5, the college is hosting three public forums for students, faculty and community members. The conversations will allow the public to discuss desirable characteristics and qualities of the college's next president and the opportunities and challenges facing the college. Attendees will be able to ask questions about the process. "It's important when you do a search especially like this one where we've had an amazing president for so many wonderful years for us to make sure that we're hearing what our stakeholders see as the needs," said Anita Zucker, chair of the Trident Technical College Area Commission and search committee chair. The hour-long sessions will be held Dec. 5 at 9 and 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Building 920 at the College Center, 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston. No RSVP is needed to attend. For those unable to attend the in-person forums, a brief online survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Trident-technical-college-presidential-search. Responses are due by 7 p.m. Dec. 5. Parenting these days is hard. Kids have phones and tablets in their hands at an early age, a fact that leaves parents like me worrying about whether our children are getting too much screen time and what they're stumbling onto online. Of course, technology comes with plenty of benefits, but Read moreCommentary: Parents want to protect kids online, but SC device filter bill won't help KYODO NEWS - Dec 3, 2023 - 21:51 | All, World, Japan Pieces of wreckage from an Osprey military aircraft that crashed in waters off southwestern Japan were handed over to U.S. military Sunday, Japanese authorities said, as an around-the-clock search continued for seven missing crew members. The wreckage was collected by a ship from the 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Kagoshima Prefecture, and by fishermen from the town of Yakushima, after the tilt-rotor aircraft went down on Wednesday during a training exercise near the island town. The surrendering of the wreckage in accordance with the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement means it will be practically impossible for Japan to investigate the cause of the accident. The only body recovered from the aircraft has been identified as Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, a 24-year-old direct support operator assigned to the 43rd Intelligence Squadron, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said. The command said the search and rescue operation conducted in conjunction with Japan's defense forces and coast guard, as well as civilian volunteers, is ongoing and remains a top priority. It said the U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, its air wing, and other assets such as unmanned vehicles and divers have been involved. "Our focus is to enable the ongoing, extensive 24/7 search and rescue operation while we care for the family and loved ones impacted by this mishap," Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Air Force Special Operations commander, said in a statement. The cause of the accident is being investigated. Ospreys have a history of mishaps, including fatal crashes. The crash of the U.S. Air Force CV-22 resulted in the first-ever fatality in Japan in an accident involving an Osprey, rekindling concerns over the safety of the aircraft. Japan has grounded its own Osprey fleet for the time being. It has also requested the United States, its security ally, not conduct Osprey flights except for search and rescue operations. But the request has been rejected by U.S. Forces Japan who continue to fly all their Osprey variants including some MV-22s from Okinawa that are assisting in the search for the missing crew. Related coverage: U.S. forces dispatch 2 Ospreys after fatal crash of another in Japan U.S. keeps flying Osprey in Japan despite calls to suspend operations U.S. military Osprey aircraft crashes off Japan island, 1 dead Of all the members of Congress in all the districts across all the nation, as Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) might say, only Sen. Rand Paul was willing to throw down with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Sen. Paul, a medical doctor, has chronicled the conflict in Deception: The Great Covid Cover-up, and the signs were apparent from the start. CDC director Robert Redfield, a virologist of long experience, found evidence that Covid virus originated in a lab. Fauci, who is not a virologist, cut Redfield out of discussions on the origins of the Covid virus, which Fauci claimed arose naturally in the wild. When other scientists found evidence of a lab origin, Fauci bullied them into changing their position. His control of their funding gave him leverage. As Paul notes, COVID-19 seemed to show up in Wuhan instantly pre-adapted to transmit easily in humans. Deceptionshows how this can be achieved, and how gain-of-function research can make viruses more lethal and transmissible. Dr. Fauci funded that research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), and lied about it to Congress. Paul told him it was a crime and readers get the full exchanges, plus a lot more. Fauci and his men had a conflict of interest, and were fully aware that the billion-dollar business of science could be damaged if the public becomes aware that the pandemic may have originated in a lab. At time of his writing not one Democrat committee chairman has consigned the release request for COVID records from the Biden administration. In the pandemic, we had entered a frightening new era of medicine, where the training and expertise of ones physician are secondary to the rigid rules and edicts of government bureaucrats. The Senator thus exposes dynamics of white coat supremacy, and its central figure. Despite his extraordinary accumulation of power over nearly four decades, Paul observes, the Senate never once voted to confirm Anthony Fauci. If he ever practiced medicine, it was only for a short time. Anthony Fauci earned a medical degree in 1966 but in 1968 took a cushy yellow beret job with the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Faucis bio showed no advanced degrees in biochemistry or molecular biology but by 1984 he was heading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Nobel laureate Kary Mullis, inventor of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, is on record that Fauci doesnt understand electron microscopy and he doesnt understand medicine. He should not be in a position like hes in. In other words, Fauci should never had the job in the first place, which he confirmed with his handling of AIDS. See Inventing the AIDS Virus, by Peter Duesberg, whose career Fauci ruined, effectively shutting down professor Duesbergs promising cancer research at UC Berkeley. See also The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS by Michael Fumento and The Real AIDS Epidemic by biologist Rebecca V. Culshaw. The author calls the rush to approve mRNA vaccines for Covid, essentially a massive clinical trial conducted in real time on the entire population. Dr. Fauci also turns up in The Search for an AIDS Vaccine: Ethical Issues in the Development and Testing of a Preventative HIV Vaccine, published in 1995. Author Christine Grady, a nurse with the National Institutes of Health, does not reveal that she had been married to Dr. Fauci for ten years. The NIH concealed that relationship when they named Grady chief of the Department of Bioethics of the NIH Clinical Center in 2012. That set up the mother of all conflicts of interest, justifying Faucis drug trials with black foster children in New York. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. covers those trials in The Real Anthony Fauci, ignored by the establishment media but well worth reading. See also China and Viruses: The Case of Dr. Xiangguo Qiu, by Israeli molecular biologist Dr. Dany Shoham, released in January, 2020. Dr. Qiu headed the special pathogens program at Canadas National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) and from there shipped a cargo of deadly pathogens to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which she visited five times in 2017-18 alone. Like evidence of the lab origin, this study was ignored by the establishment media, which hurled charges of conspiracy theory at anything less than worshipful of Dr. Fauci. Though allegedly retired, Fauci may still be running the show through his successor Jeanne Marrazzo, pretty much same as the old boss. This Lysenko figure, who claimed I represent science, caused vast damage but has never been held to account. Every member of Congress should read Pauls book and get on with that task. White coat supremacy is no basis for a system of government. Bill Bennett is a great American who, after a lifetime of public service, continues to be active in a variety of ways, including hosting a top-notch podcast. On Thursday I was Bills guest. We talked mostly about the Israel-Gaza war and the sickness of Americans campuses, but also touched on the 2024 presidential race and one or two other topics. You can listen here or on Apple, Spotify and the other usual sources: I dont remember whether it was part of the show or when we were talking offline, but Bill is also publishing an American history curriculum that is based on his book America: The Last Best Hope. In my opinion, the battle to reclaim our countrys history is perhaps the most important of all of the conflicts that we are now engaged in. That Bill is in the thick of it at age 80 is beyond admirable. I had my say on My Cousin Dean (i.e., Rep. Dean Phillips) just before he announced his campaign to challenge President Biden for the Democratic nomination for president. I intend to leave it at that unless events transform the shape of the nomination contest and the Democrat powers-that-be are doing their best to make sure that doesnt happen. Jonathan Turley observes Deans treatment to democracy, Democrat style, in his Hill column Democrats try to strip candidates from the ballot, in the name of democracy. Though this is not unprecedented, for some reason or other it hasnt received the coverage it deserves: Henry Ford once promised customers any color so long as it is black. Democrats are adopting the same approach to the election: You can have any candidate on the ballot, as long as its Joe Biden. This week, the Executive Committee of the Florida Democratic Democracy told voters that they would not be allowed to vote against Biden. Even though he has opponents in the primary, the party leadership has ordered that only Biden will appear on the primary ballot. And if you want to register your discontent with Biden with a write-in vote, forget about it. Under Florida law, if the party approves only one name, there will be no primary ballots at all. The party just called the election for Biden before a single vote has been cast. Professor Turley quotes Dean speaking in the spirit of the optative (or wishful) mood of ancient Greek verbs: Americans would expect the absence of democracy in Tehran, not Tallahassee. Our mission as Democrats is to defeat authoritarians, not become them. The Democrats of course principally seek to treat Trump to democracy, Democrat style. That is the wish found in the optative mood of their actions. Professor Turleys mockery of the Democrats adds some sugar to this lemon, but a lemon it remains, and I am grateful to him for turning his attention to it. Were from the government. Were here to help! Education Secretary Miguel Cardona thinks President Reagan said that, but the actual quote is: The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: Im from the government, and Im here to help. Commentators rightly lampooned Cardona but overlooked a couple of back stories. According to his official bio, Cardona earned a bachelors degree from Central Connecticut State University, and a masters degree and PhD from the University of Connecticut. The bio fails to explain that the degrees are in education, not exactly a discipline on a par with physics, economics or history. Despite his ignorance, Cardona may not be the worst education secretary. Obama pick Arne Duncan studied sociology at Harvard. That recalls the scene from Dirty Harry where Callahan (Clint Eastwood) learns that new partner Chico Gonzales (Reni Santoni) studied sociology at San Jose State. Sociology? Callahan says. Oh, youll go far. For his part, Duncan went much farther than previous education secretaries. Like Bill Clinton, Obama sent his children to the prestigious Sidwell Friends School, unaffordable for the majority of students in Washington DC. Their best alternative is the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships Program, a school choice program run by Congress. The program is popular with African American parents but opposed by teacher unions and federal education bureaucrats. Duncan decided to step it up. Mr. Duncan decideddisappointingly to our mindto rescind scholarships awarded to 216 families for this upcoming school year, the Washington Post editorialized. Nine out of 10 students who were shut out of the scholarship program were assigned to attend failing public schools. Arne Duncan, white as Frosty the Snowman, ejected black students from the schools their parents wanted them to attend. Thats a lot worse than botching a quote from Ronald Reagan, and theres more going on here. Miguel Cardona heads a federal Department of Education (DoE) that dates only from 1978. The new department was Jimmy Carters payoff to teacher unions for endorsing him in his run for president. Top-heavy with bosses bagging six-figure salaries, DoE did nothing to improve student achievement. Should that be doubted, check out the 1983 A Nation at Risk report, 40 years before the current jihad of junkthought. Education is the purview of the states, so strictly speaking ED should not exist. Its from the government but it doesnt help. At first opportunity, Congress should give ED an existential problem. PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-03 18:16:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 506 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GUANGZHOU, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / December 3, 2023 / The 5th World Media Summit (WMS) held an opening ceremony Sunday morning in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.Xinhua News Agency President Ma Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations.The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming.Focusing on the summit's theme of "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," attendees took part in extensive discussions to contribute media power to the construction of a brighter future.Confidence is a key word for global media leaders. Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony that confidence is more valuable than gold when facing difficulties."History development, civilization prosperity and human progress require the media to shoulder the responsibilities of fostering unity and boosting confidence," Fu said.He called on the attendees to use media to convey positive energy, amplify voices that promote the development of human society, and encourage countries to join hands in addressing the challenges facing humanity.Misinformation was a hotly debated issue at the summit. Fu said that in the era of the internet, people obtain information from unprecedentedly convenient and diverse channels, but they also face the assault of various types of false information."Truthfulness is the lifeblood of news," Fu said, underlining the importance of adhering to objectivity and truth to enhance the credibility of the media."The media should consider facts as the source of news, reflect the objective truth, oppose false news, and ensure that reporting is accurate, fair, authoritative and trustworthy," Fu said.Media leaders attending the summit acknowledged the challenges posed by new technologies, and discussed the importance of seizing the opportunities of sci-tech transformations by better harnessing game-changing innovations such as AI.Calling on his peers to strengthen research into and the application of technologies such as 5G, AI, and cloud computing, Fu said that media should "embed new technology into the entire process of news communication, improve production efficiency, enrich product forms, and release more news reports that are popular and enjoyable to their audiences." Fu noted that the WMS serves as an important platform for media communication and cooperation between countries, and said efforts should be made to improve this multilateral mechanism and utilize it to its fullest extent, tap into the potential for cooperation, innovate collaboration models, and expand cooperation channels.Xinhua will enhance communication and consultation processes with media organizations from various countries, and work with these organizations to construct and utilize the summit mechanism effectively, Fu said.Contact InformationGrace Shi PR graceshi@ xinhuanetus.com 6465712146 Related ImagesXinhua News Agency President MaXinhua News Agency President Fu Hua Makes Keynote Speech at SummitSOURCE: Xinhua News Agency Sierra Leonean President Julius Bio said on Saturday that his governments response to an attempted coup last week would be dictated by respect for the law. The attempted coup will be treated by my government as a simple matter of public order and not as a political, tribal or religious issue, Mr Bio said in a televised speech. No matter the provocation, our response to the events of November 26 will be measured and determined along only one parameter the rule of law, nothing more, nothing Less. PREMIUM TIMES reported that armed attackers, in the early hours of 26 November, stormed a military armoury, two barracks, two prisons and two police stations, confronting security forces. The fighting left 21 people dead, including 14 soldiers, a policeman, a prison guard, a security guard, a woman and three assailants, according to Information Minister Chernor Bah. The incident was a failed attempted coup. The intention was to illegally subvert and overthrow a democratically elected government, Mr Bah said. Thirteen soldiers and one civilian suspected of involvement in the coup are in detention. Police have since released photos and names of 32 men and two women wanted as fugitives, including serving and retired soldiers and police officers, promising a handsome reward to anyone providing information leading to their capture. All guilty parties, whatever their status, will be held to account within the limits of the law, said President Bio, who was re-elected in June for a second term. Last months events were clearly and unambiguously an attempted coup detat, and the attack was premeditated and coordinated to overthrow the democratically elected government by violent and illegal means, to overthrow the constitutional order and reverse our decades of investment in peace and democracy, he added. The West African region has been marked by a series of coups since 2020 in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Guinea. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias large delegation to the ongoing climate change conference in Dubai has continued to elicit condemnation by citizens who had been asked by President Bola Tinubu to endure the rise in the price of goods and services caused by government policies. Many Nigerians, on Saturday and Sunday, took to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter) to vent their outrage after the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) published a provisional list of accredited delegates at the ongoing 28th meeting of the UN Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai. According to the published list, Nigeria and China have 1,411 delegates each with badges accredited to attend this years summit in Dubai. A review of the published list ranked Nigeria joint-third behind the UAE and Brazil among all the countries present at COP28. Out of the total 1,411 Nigerian delegates, 821 have the Overflow badges, while 590 were approved to carry the Party badge. Party badges are worn by negotiators and delegations of Countries (Parties) and the European Union that have ratified the convention and are fully part of the negotiation procedures. The Overflow badges are for other delegates such as civil society activists, media and business persons. A review of Nigerias Party delegates shows that it contains the names of current and former ministers, special advisers, heads of MDAs, presidential aides such as luggage officers and chefs, among others. Ideally, delegates with the Party badge should be negotiators representing their countries in the different negotiation rooms and who report back to the UNFCCC country focal point person. In Nigerias case, however, many of the Party delegates are believed to have no understanding of COP negotiation procedures or the complex climate negotiation processes.2 All those with Nigerias party badge are supposed to be following the negotiation text as its going on and report back. But unfortunately, most of them dont have knowledge about how this works, a top official of Nigerias environment ministry who does not want his name in print as he was not authorised to talk to journalists, told PREMIUM TIMES in Dubai. The official said the environment ministry is still trying to train participants carrying the Party badges on how the process works. Party badges of Other countries While Nigeria ranked joint-third in the total number of delegates accredited for the conference, checks by PREMIUM TIMES show that Nigeria and Russia ranked joint-fourth among countries with the highest Party badges delegation at COP. Nigerias 590 Party delegates is lower than that of Brazil (1,337), India (725) and UAE (620). Morocco accredited 581 delegates with Party badges to clinch the fourth spot while Pakistan, with a similar population as Nigeria, has just 80 Party delegates. Individuals at COP with a Party badge have a wide range of access to meeting rooms at the COP venue, while participants with Overflow badges are often restricted. This may explain why Nigerian presidential aides with no climate change/environmental background or climate negotiation experience were given the Party badge. Who sponsored Nigerias delegation? While it may seem that all the delegates with the Party badge are government sponsored, it may not be so, experts have said. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES in Dubai, Nnimmo Bassey, director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), who has over a decade experience in COP negotiations, said Party badges are issued to the main negotiators and delegates, while Party overflow badges are issued to the extra crowd. It is not easy to say whether they are all funded by the government. He added that it is not likely that the federal government would fund Party Overflow delegates. But it is conceivable state governments or government agencies could do that. He described Nigerias large delegation at COP as a very fluid situation. He questioned why many Nigerian agencies at COP had a large delegation when they could have had meetings in Nigeria to agree on a common agenda. The plurality of attendance is an indication of lack of cohesion in both the overall governance structure and on the particular agendas brought to the COP, he noted. Mr Bassey said there is a big risk of having agencies come to the COP to shop for minuscule individual project support which may weaken the hand of the core national negotiators. It should also be kept in mind that Nigerias position would normally generally align with that of the African negotiating block and this demands careful engagement to build the global positions and avoid disparate and narrow needs of individual agencies, he said. The Nigerian government has, so far, refused to disclose the exact number of government-funded delegates at the conference as well as the cost implication. A presidential aide who defended the large number of delegates in a Sunday morning statement also refused the disclose those details. However, some experts at COP say it is unlikely that the Nigerian government would have funded all 590 Party delegates. Countries fund their delegates, but its also common in global South countries to source funds from donor partners to fund such trips as well, Francisco Parra, director of Climate Tracker Latin America, told PREMIUM TIMES. Overflow Delegates A review of Nigerias Overflow badge list indicates that most of them are members of relevant NGOs and civil society groups working within the climate space. Also, not all the delegates accredited to attend the conference eventually do so. At the end of the conference, the registered number of attendees is expected to be published by the UNFCCC. Nigerians react About half of Nigerias 200 million plus population live below poverty level; a fact that has been made worse by President Bola Tinubus policies such as removal of subsidy on petrol and the floating of the naira exchange rate. Mr Tinubu has repeatedly acknowledged that his policies have made the economic situation worse for many Nigerians but he has appealed for understanding from citizens arguing that such policies are crucial for long-term growth of the economy. With many Nigerians grappling with the economic downturn, many could not understand why the government would choose to have such large delegation at COP28. Buharis daughter as a director. Im seriously interested in the total figure of the delegate, I believe taking all Nigerians to this event would have been the best since they are all crzy, an X user @cute_pecky wrote. https://twitter.com/cute_pecky/status/1730963352015273998?s=46&t=qdIs0doUbXdwKCqygAIH1A In another tweet, she said: Tax payers money yet wasted. Nigerians will move on as usual. Another X user in a tweet said: Really annoying! What would have to happen for Nigerians to rise up for once? Really annoying! What would have to happen for Nigerians to rise up for once? Dr. Leonix (@Leoluke01) December 3, 2023 Similarly, another user said: Total madness. Working as a Traffic Marshal at the COP28. The way I saw Nigerians trooping in was astonishing. Total madness. Working as a Traffic Marshal at the COP28. The way I saw Nigerians trooping in was astonishing. Yoel Oyebanjo (@peculiaryoel) December 2, 2023 Some Officials Present PREMIUM TIMES correspondents at COP28 none of whom is government-sponsored spotted some Nigerian ministers around the COP premises. Some of those spotted are Nigerias Aviation minister, Festus Keyamo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun and the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, are also in Dubai for the conference. Similarly, prominent business persons like Aliko Dangote, BUA Chairman AbdulSamad Rabiu and Mele Kyari, the managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited among others, have been seen at COP28. Presidency speaks Reacting to the criticism, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, in an article shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday morning, explained that Nigerias 1,411 delegates are not all government-funded and include civil society actors, business persons and others who have different roles to play at the conference. In the article titled Nigeria at COP28: Separating the facts from fiction, Mr Ajayi said the Nigerian delegation includes business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists. In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the Federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists are present in Dubai. Also participating are agencies of government such as the NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, NDDC. Mr Ajayi did not, however, state the number of delegates that are government-funded and the amount it costs the government. COP28 The Conference of the Parties, dubbed COP, is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). States (countries) that are parties to the convention send representatives to COP, where they review the implementation of the convention and any other legal instruments adopted at COP meetings, and they make decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements. According to the UNFCCC, over 70,000 delegates globally are expected to converge on the Dubai Expo City in the United Arab Emirates for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) this year. Last years COP held in Egypt only registered about 36,000 participants. This year, the summit, billed to run between 30 November and 12 December, is aimed at advancing the implementation of the Paris Agreement and ramping up action towards keeping global temperature well below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Following a year of unprecedented heat, flooding and drought, this years summit is expected to bring to the front burner some key contentious issues for parties working and seeking to find a common ground to reversing climate crises in their countries and the world. The host country the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the largest registered delegation pegged at 4,409 participants. Brazil is second with 3,081 delegates. At the ongoing COP, Nigerias delegates have hinted that the countrys priority is to secure more finances from investors to achieve its Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and other relevant climate actions in the country. The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also said Nigeria has a comparative advantage in attracting and harnessing potential investments into the country based on funds being pledged at the ongoing summit. Nigeria expects to spend $1.9 trillion between 2022 and 2060 to meet the targets of the ETP across five sectors. At several meetings at the summit, PREMIUM TIMES observed that core Nigerian Party delegates are pushing to attract investment into the country. This story was published with the support of Climate Trackers COP28 Climate Justice Reporting Fellowship Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Imtiaz Sooliman, a South African altruist, has emerged as the 2023 Daily Trust African of the Year. Mr 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, Amadou Ba, in acting capacity, announced the emergence of the medical doctor as the winner today, Friday, 1 December 2023, following a virtual meeting of the Board held on 20 November 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 Shekarau, described Mr 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 Mr 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 11 September 2023 in Shahhat City. The Gift of Givers has since the outbreak of the 7 October 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 Mr 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 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. About the Daily Trust African of the Year Award The African of the Year Award project was instituted in 2008 by Daily Trust, one of Nigerias leading independent newspapers, in line with its commitment to African unity and sustainable development, to recognize and reward annually, an exemplary African who has made extraordinary contributions to human development in any part of the continent, and in any sphere of human endeavour. Africans who have distinguished themselves in their various walks of life or do charity projects that are of positive impact to the continents people have since then been recognised for the award. READ ALSO: Daily Trust invites nominations for African of the Year 2023 Award Congolese medical doctor, Denis Mukwege, was the first African of the Year award winner in 2008. Exactly 10 years after the Daily Trust recognition, Mr Mukwege won the Noble Peace Prize in 2018, for his wonderful work of treating women who had been abused and raped in his war-torn country. The award winner is selected by the six-member pan-African committee chaired by His Excellency, Mr Mogae. Other members of the Advisory Board/Prize Committee are Mona Attia (North Africa), Gwen Lister (Southern Africa), Amadou Ba (West Africa), Rigobert Minani (Central Africa), and Kabiru Yusuf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Media Trust Group, who represents the award promoters on the Selection Board. The award comes with a cash prize, and the presentation of the 2023 award will be done during the Daily Trust Dialogue in January 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Rwanda is to be given at least 15 million ($19 million) extra to sign a treaty with the UK to take migrants who arrive in Britain via small boats, it has been reported. British newspaper Sunday Times said the money would be on top of the 140 million already given to Kigali as part of arrangements for the East African country to accept asylum seekers arriving in the UK after undertaking the perilous journey across the English Channel. Downing Street insiders did not rule out the prospect of Rwanda being given more money as part of a treaty deal, telling PA news agency that any potential cash boost would be to cover additional costs associated with addressing the concerns raised by the Supreme Court when it ruled the plan was unlawful. Arrangements are understood to be in place for Home Secretary James Cleverly to fly out to Rwanda to ratify a new treaty. The cabinet minister could travel out as soon as Monday, with emergency legislation also potentially to be tabled this week, according to The Sunday Times. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Rwandas President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday. He declined afterwards to say how much more money he would spend to get the scheme off the ground. It has been reported that the additional 15 million will be used to pay for extra personnel to improve and expand the Rwandan asylum processing system. The Conservative Party leader told a press briefing while at Cop that he was finalising legislation designed to push through the Rwanda proposal, which is seen as key to delivering on his pledge to stop the boats before a likely general election next year. The prime minister has set the target of deportation flights taking off by the spring. Sources inside Number 10 said the UK government was hopeful that the emergency legislation would be ready this week but that it could not be guaranteed. The bid to send some asylum seekers on a one-way trip to the African nation was dealt a blow when the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful last month. Mr Sunaks attempt to save the policy involves the signing of a new treaty with Kigali and the introduction of emergency legislation allowing parliament to deem the country safe, despite concerns raised by senior judges. Following the judgment by the Supreme Court on 15 November, Downing Street originally said a new small boats law would be published within days but the wait has gone on for more than two weeks. On Wednesday, the Home Offices top official confirmed to MPs that negotiations on a Rwanda treaty were in their final stages. Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft told the Home Affairs Select Committee that officials were in the capital Kigali putting the finishing touches to the talks. Migrants have continued to brave freezing December conditions to cross the Channel. Home Office figures show that 93 migrants travelling on two boats arrived in Britain on Friday, with more believed to have landed on Saturday. Almost 28,500 asylum seekers have arrived in 2023 using the sea route, with the first anniversary of Mr Sunaks stop the boats pledge approaching next month. Labour leader Keir Starmer has dismissed the Rwanda policy as a gimmick and accused the Tories of a betrayal of their 2019 manifesto commitment to lower migration. Mr Starmer, who is on course to become the next prime minister according to opinion polls, said he would not shy away from discussing contentious issues such as immigration. READ ALSO: Writing in The Sunday Telegraph about his efforts over the past three years to give Labour shock therapy to make it electable following a disastrous showing at the polls four years ago, Mr Starmer said his reforms meant ridding us of the nonsensical idea that some subjects are simply off limits for us. I profoundly disagree with the idea Labour should not be talking about immigration or small boats crossings, he added. These are matters of serious public concern and deserve to be treated as such. He added: When people see Government ministers wasting their time on gimmicks like Rwanda, they are right to conclude they are more interested in talking about small boat crossings than stopping them. Labour would use the full force of Britains intelligence and policing to smash the criminal gangs growing fat on the misery of human trafficking, destroying their evil business model. The Government should do the same. The leader of the opposition also appeared in his article to praise the pro-privatisation former Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher, saying she sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism, in a move that is likely to irk those on the left-wing of his party. (PA Media/dpa/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives Committee on Health has announced the likely upgrade of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo to a teaching hospital. The Chairman of the Committee, Amos Magaji, made the announcement during an inspection tour of facilities at the hospital on Sunday. The committee met with the management of the hospital, led by the Chief Medical Director, Liasu Adeagbo, staff and labour unions. The team also inspected some facilities in the hospital, including the Accident and Emergency section, Research centre, Isolation ward, Molecular laboratory, Radiology department and the General Outpatient building under construction. We will look at how Federal Medical Centre, Owo can be upgraded to a teaching hospital and ensure that it is done through due process which cannot be done in one day. We will look at the law and we will also look at the policies, Mr Magaji said. He commended the management of the hospital for keeping it clean and making good use of the little resources they have to provide qualitative health services to the people. He also said that the issues of employment and replacement of workers in the health sector must be taken as an emergency. When we get to Abuja, we will see how we can tackle all the issues that were tabled by the relevant agencies of government and find a way of dealing with human resources. There is no sector of the economy that has this japa syndrome like the health sector, Mr Magaji noted. On his part, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Mr Akeredolu Adeagbo, said the visit would assist the committee to provide solutions to the challenges facing the hospital. He added that the visit would also provide adequate information to the committee on how funds released to the institution had been utilised. The committee has been able to see what we have done with the money released to the hospital and the working environment. It will help us not to talk much when we go for budget defence, he said. The CMD pointed out that the hospital is battling with the funding of patients who cannot afford to pay their bills after treatment. Some of the challenges we have here are common while some are peculiar. When you talk about the funding of the hospital now, it is critical. Medications are very expensive now that many people cannot pay and the government has said that nobody should die because they dont have money, he stated. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print KYODO NEWS - Dec 3, 2023 - 12:04 | World, All North Korea began operating a satellite control office on Saturday, the official Korean Central News Agency said, after last month successfully launching a spy satellite into orbit. The announcement indicates North Korea may officially have put its Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satellite into service in the wake of the Nov. 21 launch. The office was set up at the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration, KCNA said Sunday. The country's defense ministry "expressed expectation that the war deterrence of the DPRK would assume more perfect military posture," the news agency said. DPRK is the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's formal name. The information acquired through the satellite will be reported to the relevant executive department of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and instructions will be given to major units and the General Reconnaissance Bureau of the Korean People's Army, it said. The move comes after North Korea said last month that the reconnaissance satellite will officially begin its mission on Dec. 1, following a seven to 10-day fine-tuning process. A South Korean military source has said several months of operational tests are required before a spy satellite is functional. Related coverage: South Korea places 1st spy satellite in orbit after North's launch U.N. Security Council split over North Korea spy satellite launch North Korea's Kim inspects satellite photos of "major target regions" The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced the promotion of 32,361 personnel of the agencies under the supervision of the ministry. Mr Tunji-Ojo announced this on his X account on Saturday following a meeting of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) in Abuja on Friday. The minister said the Board approved the promotion of 4,498 personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service, 4,598 personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service, 1,680 of the Federal Fire Service and 21,385 workers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Arising from the 5th Meeting of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) which I chaired; the board approved the promotion of 4498 personnel from the Nigerian Correctional Service, 4598 from the Nigeria Immigration Service, 1680 from Federal Fire Service, and 21385 from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, totalling 32,361 personnel across board, he stated. Mr Tunji-Ojo explained that no administration had achieved this feat in recent years, saying it is evidence of an unalloyed commitment to the welfare of the officers. This feat, which remains unprecedented in the history of paramilitary service in Nigeria, is evidence of the commitment of the #RenewedHope government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) in prioritising the welfare of our officers, he explained. Earlier on Friday, Ahmed Audi, who represented the director-general of NCDC, told journalists after the meeting of the CDCFIB that the promotion was unprecedented. Today, December 1, 2023, arising from the meeting in the Board of Immigration, the Board of Civil Defense, Immigration, Corrections and Fire Service Board, where the Minister of Interior presided, we approved the following numbers of promotion of personnel for all the services in the ministry. The details are as follows: for Nigerian Correction Service, A total number of 4,498 personnel have been promoted to the next rank out of 7,000 that sat for the examination. That is a departure from last year. Theres an improvement in the number of vacancies that were obtained from the service. READ ALSO: NSCDC arrests 42 suspected criminals in Borno For Nigeria Immigration Service, we have 4,598 personnel promoted this quarter across various ranks. That is out of 6,544. That is also a departure and improvement from last year. The next one is the Federal Fire Service, where we have 1,680 out of 1,698. There is also an improvement from that of last year. And this is across various ranks. The last one is the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence, which is unprecedented. This is the first time were having this sizable number promoted in the service. Out of about 25,921 persons who sat for the exam, the Board has been able to promote 21,385. I think this is very unprecedented, he explained. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In a groundbreaking bilateral meeting on Thursday, 30 November, President Joseph Biden and President Joao Lourenco of Angola redefined the geopolitical landscape, focusing on Angolas pivotal role in fostering peace, security, and economic growth in the region. President Biden hosted a bilateral meeting with President Lourenco in the Oval Office. The meeting signifies a strategic shift in the US-Angola partnership. On the significance of the meeting, the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement released late on Wednesday afternoon stated, The leaders will mark 30 years of diplomatic relations and discuss next steps to deepen our bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, climate and energy, and to advance President Bidens Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) project in the Lobito Corridor, which will connect Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to global markets through Angolas Lobito port. This sentiment was echoed across the Biden government. The United States and Angola are marking 30 years of diplomatic relations, and are expanding cooperation on trade, investment, regional security, climate, and energy. This year, the United States and Angola launched a new era of economic cooperation to build inclusive economic growth across both of our nations, including Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI)-led projects, such as the planned U.S. investment to enable the Lobito Corridor. The U.S. Government is financing, and a U.S. company is developing more than $2 billion of new solar projects in Angola. Secretary of Defense Austin recently visited Luandathe first-ever visit to Angola by a U.S. Secretary of Defense and a recognition of Angolas positive contributions to building peace and security in the region and President Biden will welcome Angolan President Joao Lourenco to the White House this week, said a US Department of State spokesperson. The Lobito Corridor we think answers a real need for the continent, as well as an opportunity for US investment and US access, said a senior Biden administration official. The presidents flagship Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) takes centre stage with over a billion dollars committed this year. From rural bridge support to revolutionizing digital connectivity, introducing mobile banking, and initiating a historic rail investment, the projects underline the USs commitment to Angolas economic and food security goals. Thursdays bilateral meeting is about forging a better future, envisioned by the two presidents. The White House said this meeting builds on the tenets of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, specifically how the United States and African countries and people can continue working together to address regional and global challenges. The 30-year diplomatic relationship milestone was celebrated, emphasizing the deepening ties between the US and Angola, aligning with the presidents dedication to Africa outlined at the US-Africa Leaders Summit. By Wednesday evening, members of the Angolan delegation had arrived in Washington, DC, including Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio. There were five Angolan officials in President Lourencos delegation. Earlier in the year in May the US Secretary of State met with his counterpart, Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio. They met at the Department of State. Their opening remarks are available in the below video of the bilateral meeting. In their meeting, the two leaders discussed democracy, energy security, and space cooperation. The launch of the USAngola Energy Security Dialogue in 2024 and Angolas signing of the Artemis Accords demonstrate a shared commitment to sustainable energy, climate goals, and a common vision for space exploration. The leaders discussed global challenges, affirming their collaboration on crises in conflicts around the world, including in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. On peace and security, Secretary Austins visit, a few months ago, marked the inception of a high-level defence dialogue, set to commence in early 2024. Future engagements will encompass maritime security, space, and cyber defence, illustrating the evolving nature of the USAngola partnership. On how Angola has contributed to increasing regional stability within SADC and in the Great Lakes, given the DRC-Rwandan security relationship seemingly at a stalemate, a State Department spokesperson said, The United States appreciates and strongly supports Angolas and President Lourencos personal engagement to identify and advance diplomatic solutions to violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the broader Great Lakes region. The United States will continue to partner with Angola to promote greater regional stability. The United States appreciates and strongly supports Angolas and President Lourencos personal engagement to identify and advance diplomatic solutions to violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the broader Great Lakes region. The United States will continue to partner with Angola to promote greater regional stability. The US has significantly amplified military assistance to Angola, focusing on areas like International Military Education and Training, language capacity building, and peacekeeping. Trade and investment initiatives, including the refurbishment of the Lobito Atlantic Railway and the Lobito Corridor Memorandum of Understanding, underscore the USs commitment to economic activity in the region. The financial backing of solar projects and infrastructure, the Boeing-TAAG deal, and technical assistance to reduce debt vulnerabilities highlight the multifaceted nature of US engagement. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for scientific collaboration in critical minerals production further solidifies the long-term strategic partnership. The Angolan government has prioritized diversifying its economy, with a focus on renewable energy, agriculture, and mining, including critical minerals supported by transformational infrastructure such as the Lobito Corridor that will enable growth. The United States is working with the private sector and development finance agencies to identify ways to support sustainable economic growth that will benefit the Angolan people and bring additional opportunities for U.S. firms, said a State Department spokesperson who went on to elaborate that Angola is making a major commitment to developing renewable energy and is developing some of the largest solar generation projects in Africa. The solar projects approved by EX-IMs board will allow Angola to generate more than 500 megawatts of renewable power and provide access to clean energy resources across Angola. The project will support the exports of U.S. solar technology and equipment as well as 1,600 jobs. The Angolan government plans to follow this with additional solar mini-grid developments that will bring electricity to rural populations. These projects advance President Bidens flagship Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), which aims to advance digital and energy infrastructure worldwide. When asked about plans to visit Angola, President Biden replied, I have been there, and I will be back. As the meeting concluded, it left an indelible mark on the US-Angola relationship, setting the stage for an era of unprecedented collaboration, economic growth, and a redefined regional security order. Pearl Matibe is a Washington, DC-based White House Correspondent, and media commentator with expertise in US foreign policy and international security. You may follow her on Twitter: @PearlMatibe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias 1,411 delegates at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai are not all government-funded and include civil society actors, business persons and others who have different roles to play at the conference, a presidential aide has said. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, disclosed this in an article shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday morning. In the article titled Nigeria at COP28: Separating the facts from fiction, Mr Ajayi said the Nigerian delegation includes business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists. In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the Federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists are present in Dubai. Also participating are agencies of government such as the NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, NDDC. Many youth organisations from Nigeria especially from the Northern and Niger-Delta regions whose lives and livelihoods are most impacted by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities are also represented. The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, leads a pan-Ijaw delegation of more than 15 people who registered as parties from Nigeria. Among delegates from Nigeria are also over 20 journalists from various media houses, he wrote. The presidential aide did not, however, state the exact number of delegates being funded by the government amidst speculations that about 600 are government-funded. Many Nigerians have criticised the high number of Nigerian delegates, the third highest at COP28, amidst the economic suffering of millions of citizens due to government policies. Read the full unedited article by Mr Ajayi below. Nigeria at COP28: Separating the facts from fiction By Temitope Ajayi The number of delegates from Nigeria attending the ongoing Climate Summit in Dubai otherwise called COP28 has generated a lot of controversies and strong social media conversations in the last 24 hours. It is important to set the record straight and provide some clarity. To begin with, the Summit is tagged COP which means Convention of Parties. The ongoing Summit in Dubai with over 97,000 delegates from more than 100 countries around the world is the 28th in the series since the issue of climate change and action took preeminent stage in global affairs. COP27 took place at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt last year. When the world comes together to take actions on achieving a common goal and proffer collective solutions to a nagging global concern, there are parties involved from government, private sector, civil society, media and multilateral institutions. The people coming together to advance their different agenda and interests from governments, businesses and civil societies are the parties to the convention who represent various shades of opinions and pushing for various mitigating actions. In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the Federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists are present in Dubai. Also participating are agencies of government such as the NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, NDDC. Many youth organisations from Nigeria especially from the Northern and Niger-Delta regions whose lives and livelihoods are most impacted by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities are also represented. The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, leads a pan-Ijaw delegation of more than 15 people who registered as parties from Nigeria. Among delegates from Nigeria are also over 20 journalists from various media houses. Their participation is very important. It is not for jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media. READ ALSO: It is important to state here that delegates from all countries whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin. This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must be said also that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not mean everyone that registered is physically present. As the biggest country in Africa, biggest economy and one with a bigger stake on climate action as a country with huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa. Among the delegates from Nigeria are UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA group, and other billionaires whose businesses are promoting sustainability and climate actions through their philanthropies. These businessmen and women and their staff who came with them to promote their own business interests are part of the 1,411 delegates from Nigeria. Their trip to Dubai is not funded by the Federal Government. United Nations Climate summit, by its very nature, commands attendance of big names from across the world statesmen and women, politicians, lawmakers, corporate titans, journalists and activists, etc who promote big global agenda. So, people attend the summit for many reasons. And because climate issue is the biggest global issue of the moment, it is not surprising that over 97,000 people including Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, King Charles of United Kingdom, Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mark Rutte, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, US Special Envoy on Climate Change and former Secretary of State, John Kerry, President Bola Tinubu, United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, World Bank President, Ajay Banga, International Monetary Fund President, Kristalina Georgieva, World Trade Organisation Director General, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Africa Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, former US Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Al Gore and almost 100 Heads of States and Governments converged on Dubai for COP28. It is the first of its kind in the history of the summit because of the importance of climate change to global well-being. After the opening and national statements by Heads of States which began from November 30 when the summit opened and up until Saturday December 2, 2023, the real work of COP28 which are the technical sessions and negotiations, financing, etc will begin from Monday, December 4 till December 12 where agreements will be reached on many proposals for consideration and ratification by the parties. Those with sufficient understanding and knowledge on climate matters know that issues around the subject have layers and multiplicity of factors that require experts from various fields. There are lined-up technical sessions on financing climate actions at sub-national levels, regions and local governments. State Governors from Nigeria such as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Umo Eno of Akwa-Ibom have been really busy with their officials at COP28, making presentations, speaking at panel sessions and pitching some of their sustainability projects to development partners and investors. Multifaceted stakeholders from different countries including Nigeria are on ground in Dubai because they dont want decisions that will affect them to be taken without pushing their own agenda. It is the reason delegates from China and Brazil are over 3000 respectively. China is one of the world biggest polluters and Brazil is at the centre of global climate debate with her Amazon rainforest. These two countries know important decisions that will affect them will be taken and they have to move everything to be fully on ground and ensure they are fully represented by their best brains at every level of discussion and negotiation. Like former President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders who demanded fair deal and climate justice for Africa at previous UN Climate summits, President Tinubu is leading the charge at COP28 on behalf of Nigeria and the rest of the continent, demanding from the West that any climate decision and action must be fair and just to Africa and Nigeria in particular, especially the debate around energy transition. President Tinubu has been unequivocal in his position that Africa that is battling problems of poverty, security and struggling to provide education and healthcare to her people can not be told to abandon its major source of income which is mostly from extractive industries without the West providing the funding and investment in alternative and clean energy sources. President Tinubu and other officials on the Federal government delegation are in Dubai for serious business not jamboree. Our President has been very busy representing our country well. Since Thursday morning when he arrived Dubai, President Tinubu has spent not less than 18hours daily in attending very important sessions, pushing our national agenda whilst holding bilateral and business meetings on the sidelines. -Ajayi is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former senator, Ifeanyi Ararume, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to rescind his appointment of a new board and management team for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Mr Ararume anchored his demand on a court judgement he obtained in April this year. He was appointed as the board chairman of the NNPCL in September 2021 and then abruptly removed shortly before the inauguration of the board of the company in January 2022 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. Angered by his abrupt removal, Mr Ararume sued Mr Buhari and the NNPCL at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 12 September 2022, challenging his removal about eight months earlier. Deciding the suit in April, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, overturned Mr Araraumes removal as NNPCL chair and awarded N5 billion damages in his favour. The judge said Mr Araraumes removal was unconstitutional and as such, ordered that he be restored as the Non-Executive Chairman of the national oil company with full benefits. The judge also set aside every decision taken by the board that was appointed after Mr Ararumes removal. However, the government appealed against the Federal High Court judgement at the Court of Appeal in Abuja where the appeal is still pending. Last week, Mr Tinubu announced the appointment of Pius Akinyelure as Non-Executive Board Chairman of NNPCL, while Mele Kyari was reappointed as Group Chief Executive Officer of the government oil company. Push to reclaim NNPCL chair Mr Ararume, a former senator from Imo State, south-east Nigeria, faulted Mr Tinubus appointment of the oil companys new leadership. In a statement dated 30 November, Mr Ararumes lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), cautioned the public against having any dealings with the Akinyelure-led new board. Mr Onoja said the 27 November appointment of the NNPCL management team was in utter violation of the judgment and order of the Federal High Court, Abuja dated 18 April 2023. He said the court restrained the president from removing Mr Araraumes name from the Corporate Affairs Commission as a Non-Executive Director of NNPC Ltd. This judgment remains valid and subsisting until this moment without being set aside. We state that the purported appointment amounts to a flagrant disobedience of court order and brazen disregard of the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. We are appalled and shocked that the President could brazenly disobey the court judgment by purporting to appoint a New Board and Management Team for NNPC Ltd instead of giving implementation to the said judgment of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo on the 18 April 2023. Mr Onoja expressed shock that Mr Tinubu has taken the laws into his hands to overrule the courts and usurp the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal before whom the President has filed an appeal which is pending. He went on: With the said judgment still valid and subsisting, it is clear as crystal even to the common man that the appointment of the new Board and Management of the NNPC Ltd by the President on the 27 November 2023, is illegal, wrongful, null and void and of no legal consequence. By this Notice, the general public is therefore warned to beware of those illegal appointments in their own interest. The public is urged to avoid having any dealings whatsoever with the new Board and Management of the NNPC Ltd as anyone who goes ahead to do any business or transactions with them will be doing so at his or her own peril. We hereby call on Mr President, who is a huge beneficiary of judicial pronouncements and rule of law, to reverse his decision and allow the flow of the rule of law. Mr President should have known that respect for rule of law is equally a strong factor in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FOI), which he has been travelling all over the world to promote. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate to reject the planned N15 billion for the construction of the vice presidents residence new building contained in the FCT 2023 supplementary budget. The call was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. In the letter, dated 2 December and signed by SERAPs deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged Mr Akpabio to use his leadership position to promptly reject the plan by the Minister of the FCT, Nysom Wike to spend N15 billion for the construction of a befitting residence for the vice president. Mr Wike, while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, announced the plan to build a new house for the VP at the cost of N15 billion. The 2023 supplementary budget contains N5 billion as the initial allocation to commence the project. Aside from the VPs house, Mr Wike also plans to spend N2.8 billion on media and publicity for the FCT. The House already approved the budget as presented by the executive while the Senate is yet to concur. SERAP condemned the proposed wasteful and unnecessary spending that may be contained in the FCT 2023 supplementary budget. Noting that the country cannot afford wasteful spending at a time the country is facing a debt crisis. The Senate has the constitutional duties to ensure that Mr Wikes proposed spending is entirely consistent and compatible with constitutional provisions including his oath of office. All public officials remain subject to the rule of law, SERAP stated. The organisation asked the Senate to act in the best interest of Nigeria by removing the planned building of the new residence and the N2.8 billion publicity budget. The National Assembly cannot continue to fail to fulfil its oversight function. The Senate must assert and demonstrate its independence by checking and rejecting all wasteful and unnecessary spending by the executive. It would be a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for the Senate to approve the plan to spend N15 billion on a befitting residence for the vice president at a time when the Federal Government is set to spend 30% (that is, N8.25 trillion) of the countrys 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion on debt service costs, SERAP said. SERAP described the planned spending as a The call was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.travesty adding that it is a fundamental breach of the lawmakers fiduciary duties. It is a travesty and a fundamental breach of the lawmakers fiduciary duties for the National Assembly to allow the executive to use the national budget as a tool to satisfy the comfort and lifestyle of public officials. Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry. Cutting the N15 billion on a befitting residence from the FTCA budget would be entirely consistent with your constitutional oath of office, and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution, as it would promote efficient, honest, and legal spending of public money. SERAP also urged the senate president to ask the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the initial allocation for the project. The construction was reportedly abandoned but the whereabouts of the N7 billion remain unknown. The Senate has the constitutional competence and legitimacy to compel compliance with the Nigerian Constitution and the countrys international obligations, SERAP stated. SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to compel the National Assembly including the Senate to discharge its constitutional oversight roles in the public interest. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, said he has no relationship with Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels). Atiku said this in a post on his X handle in reaction to claims that he is a beneficiary of the decision to extend the boat service contract between Intels and the federal government. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian government granted an extension to the boat service contract it entered with Intels Nigeria Limited as part of efforts to stop revenue leakage and improve the inflow of foreign exchange into government coffers. The government through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) officially granted an extension to the contract following presidential directives and court consent judgment. The NPA had in September 2020 announced the termination of the boat operation contract, directing all service boat owners and operators to do transactions directly in each port complex of the NPA. But a Federal High Court in Lagos granted an interim injunction, preventing the termination of Intels role as a managing agent in various Pilotage Districts. The injunction was issued in response to a suit filed by Intels and Deep Offshore Service Nigeria Limited, seeking to continue their duties pending the resolution of arbitration proceedings. When news of the extension broke at the weekend, there were insinuations, especially on social media, that Atiku is a beneficiary and shareholder of the company. But the former vice president dismissed the claims on Sunday. In January 2021, I made public the sale of my shares in Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) to Orlean Investment Group, the parent company of Intels, Atiku wrote. The phased sale of those shares that commenced in 2018 peaked in December 2020. Intels also made public my exit from the oil and gas logistics company, meaning that a different entity now owns those shares I sold. My divestment from the company that I co-founded has not been reversed. Consequently, I cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be a beneficiary of the reinstatement of the boat pilotage monitoring business that was taken away from Intels by the Federal Government. Therefore, the insinuation that I am a beneficiary of the decision to rescind the cancellation of the contract between Intels and the Federal Government is untrue and should be seen for what it is: mischief, he wrote. Background In 2020, a PREMIUM TIMES report revealed that when Atiku became Nigerias vice president in 1999, he created a blind trust to hold his assets in Intels. It was the blind trust created in 1999 that a company known as Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited (GTCN) was incorporated to manage in 2003, with Gabrielle Volpi, Akintola Kekere-Ekun, a banker, and Uyiekpen Osagie, a lawyer, as its directors and trustees. GTCN held Atikus 16 per cent stake in Intels Nigeria Limited. In June 2017, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported how the Nigerian government moved against Intels. Earlier in April of that year, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the recommendations of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, breaking Intels near-monopoly in the handling of oil and gas cargoes in the country. Atiku later sold his interests in the company through a series of transactions in 2020. An official said at the time that the former Nigerian Vice President exited the company with his family in a series of deals that began in December 2018. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has explained why President Bola Tinubu skipped his speaking slot at the World Climate Action Summit, part of the ongoing United Nations climate change conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Nigeria is tired of official and fancy statements and is now more action-oriented, Mr Tuggar said, justifying why Mr Tinubu did not speak when he was scheduled to deliver a speech on Friday. Nigeria is 100 percent for action, he told PREMIUM TIMES on the sidelines of the 28th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP28) on climate change in Dubai. Nigerias President Tinubu was billed to speak at the World Climate Action Summit on Friday alongside other heads of state, but did not. This raised questions about the countrys position at the conference. When asked why the president did not deliver his speech as scheduled, Mr Tuggar said, The speeches, to be honest as good as they may be, are mostly a repeat of pledges or promises and Nigeria is saying enough is enough, its time for action. He said the government wanted a change of attitude towards the conference, away from colourful speeches which are repeated every year with very little progress made. The president was in the hall, he waited, he was going to give the speech, he listened and he decided, perhaps, that was not the time to give the speech. There were other engagements that he needed to be involved in that would be more productive, Mr Tuggar told this newspaper, adding that it is not about just giving fancy speeches but actions. Speaking on Nigerias engagement in the ongoing conference, Mr Tuggar said Nigeria is taking the lead in the behind-the-scenes negotiations. He said this is to ensure that developed countries, who are responsible for most of the emissions causing global warming, compensate developing countries in terms of loss and damage. He also noted that the ongoing climate change conversations tally with the Nigerias 4D foreign approach, including migration, and development, amongst others. On the loss and damage fund which was operationalised on the first day of the conference and applauded by many, said Nigeria was suited to benefit from the fund. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, narrated how an unnamed retired civil servant died after bribing an official of the state government in an attempt to get his entitlement paid. Mr Yusuf claimed the pensioner, who was in dire need of money for his daughters wedding expenses, was asked by the officials to forfeit one-third of his gratuity if he wanted it to be promptly paid. The pensioner got his daughters wedding prolonged unnecessarily because of his financial inability. He sought his retirement benefits in the previous administration but they demanded that he must pay one-third of his gratuity. He struggled and provided the amount but still, he was denied his right. That is how he got a heart attack and died. Today we paid his heirs his entitlements, the governor said. The governor said this on Saturday while flagging off the payment of N6bn gratuity and death benefits of over 5,000 pensioners in the state. My Yusuf blamed the immediate past administration for being insensitive to the plight of retirees in the state. He said his administration inherited a huge pension liability. He said many pensioners died without being paid their gratuities. How travail of pensioners began in Kano In 2015, the pensioners union petitioned former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) demanding the repatriation of N2 billion pension money allegedly deposited by Mr Kwankwaso in a failed bank. The pensioners, in a petition dated 20 May 2015 and signed by one of their counsel, Bulama Bukarti, said the state pensioners trustees deposited N2 billion in Euro Bank Plc, Kano branch, on the instruction of Mr Kwankwaso. They said soon after the deposit was made, the bank went into liquidation and the former governor refused to follow up on claims. They asked the EFCC to invite Mr Kwankwaso to explain why he refused to follow up on the case of the N2 billion pension fund at the NDIC. The petitioners noted that Mr Kwankwaso was not a trustee of their funds and thus lacked the authority to deal with the funds as he liked. Also in the petition, they queried the continued withholding of their money, about N10 billion, by the commissioner for finance and the accountant-general under Mr Kwankwaso. They said when they began to ask questions, the former governor told them he had purchased three warehouses for them at the Free Trade Zone in Kano. He also said his housing project, Amana City, had been transferred to the pension trust fund instead of the retained N10 billion. The petitioners, however, noted that Mr Kwankwasos actions were illegal and bordered on fraud. For this and many more we ask the EFCC to do a thorough job to unravel the fraud done in all issues relating to us, the pensioners said in their 2015 petition to the EFCC. According to the petitioners, Mr Kwankwaso had directed that pension remittances be used for building houses for pensioners. A tripartite deal was reached between Kano State Pension Trust Funds as the investors and Kano State Investment and Property Limited and Kano State Housing Corporation Limited as developers on a 60:40 sharing ratio. However, after contracts for the construction of 1,579 houses were awarded for the development of the properties, the petitioners alleged Mr Kwankwaso manipulated the process and terminated the term of the agreement. They claimed he then allocated the properties to his aides and cronies. The alleged misappropriation happened in May 2015, the month Mr Kwankwaso left office as Kano State governor. Success at last In 2023, the EFCC after years of interrogating Mr Kwankwaso secured the final forfeiture of 324 properties misappropriated under his administration. The properties were said to have been misappropriated by the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees during Mr Kwankwasos administration in 2015. Inyang Ekwo, a judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave the order of final forfeiture while ruling on a motion by the EFCC, seeking a final forfeiture of the properties which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities of Kano State Pension Fund Trustees. The properties comprise 168 homes situated at Sheikh Jaafar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo City, Kano; 122 houses at Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana City), Kano and 38 houses at Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu City, Kano. The 168 houses at Sheikh Jaafar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo City are made up of 55 Units of 2-bedroom semi-detached houses; 51 Units of 3-bedroom houses; 7 Units of 3-bedroom converted; 17 Units of 3-bedroom Carport; 3 Units of 4-bedroom Duplex; 9 Units of 5-bedroom Duplex and 22 Units of 3-bedroom Green-roof, the anti-graft agency said. The 122 houses at Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, Kano include 14 Units of 2-bedroom semi-detached houses; 62 Units of 2-bedroom semi-detached houses; 4 Units of 3-bedroom converted; 13 Units of 3-bedroom converted ; 3 Units of 3-bedroom detached houses; 11 Units of 3-bedroom detached houses, 3 Units of the 3-bedroom carport, 5 Units of 3-bedroom carport 2 Units of the 3-bedroom Green roof; 3 Units of the 4-bedroom carport and 2 Units of 4-bedroom Pergola. The 38 houses at Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu City, Kano include 19 Units of 3-bedroom bungalows; 5 Units of 3 Green roofs; 6 Units of 4-bedroom Duplex, 2 Units of 4-bedroom BQ, I Units of 4-bedroom Duplex and 5 Units of 5-bedroom duplex, the EFCC said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In my view, it will be quite disruptive to dismantle our existing democratic order, as the former president is suggesting. The system is already deepening, if slowly. We should preserve the gains weve made, but also continue to improve the system so it can deliver better outcomes. We should seriously consider ideas like a return to the parliamentary system, or at least to regional federalism; or introducing proportional representation; having a less costly unicameral legislature at the federal level as in the states Former President Olusegun Obasanjo calls for political import substitution in Africa, to replace unworkable Western-style liberal democracy with Afro Democracy. He is wrong. It seems almost surreal that one should have to defend liberal democracy as a system of government in Nigeria, given how fiercely we fought to phase out military rule. But here we are. In the aftermath of the contentious 25 February presidential election, there appears to be a post-election stress disorder (PESD), which simply wont abate. There was a zestful outing against Western liberal democracy the other day in Abeokuta. The ever-engaged Olusegun Obasanjo, the former military ruler who gave Nigeria presidential democracy in 1979 and who returned 20 years later to lead us as a democratically-elected president, has now decided that democracy is not a functioning or fitting form of government for Africa. Earlier last week, on 20 November, the long retired but hard-wired and still-inspired general gathered a small crowd at the stately Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to make this momentous declaration. The gathering was given the grand title of a High-level Consultation on Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa. Delivering the keynote address, Obasanjo suggested that African countries discard the liberal democratic system forced on them by Western imperialist powers. He said Africans had no part in conceptualising the liberal democratic form; nor were their peculiar needs or interests taken into account in the Wests democratic conception. He decried the fact that liberal democracy has become, in Africa, not majority rule but rule by the minority, with a fraction of a fraction of the population lording it over the vast majority, entirely in its own parochial interest. He argued that liberal democracy is not working for Africa, and that as it is also coming under stress even in the West, where it had autochthonous origin, Africans had better look inwards to design a homegrown system that would suit their peculiar environment and serve their needs. He named such a homegrown system Afro Democracy. Although Obasanjos suggestion seems, on the face of it, innocuous, it is not quite clear what he hoped to achieve with the two-day conference at his presidential digs. Were those assembled supposed to come up, in the two days of conference, with a blueprint for his Afro Democracy? It might not be altogether uncharitable to question Obasanjos motive in flying this kite in a febrile post-election environment. Some may wonder if its a dog whistle, an attempt to foment trouble or at least put the present administration on edge. Certainly if that is his goal, there will be plenty in the opposition and maddened majority who might cheer this on. But even if there isnt any sinister motive, even if its a well-intended patriotic endeavour, you have to wonder why a senior statesman would stoke anti-democratic sentiments in an explosive post-election atmosphere. Why could he not have waited for more sobre reflection, when the rawness of election contestation has receded and tempers have cooled? What was the rush? the worst aspect of Obasanjos recent intervention is that he did not really point to the specific tenets of liberal democracy, which he finds unfitting for Africa. What exactly in liberal democratic theory or praxis does he object to? In theory, liberal democracy, more than most other forms of government, tends to guarantee the protection of human rights, civil liberties, civil and political rights; it promotes the rule of law; aspires to the principles of popular sovereignty, majority rule Besides the issue of motive and timing, there may be a question as to whether Obasanjo has the moral authority to critique our practice of democracy, having himself introduced a lot of the anti-democratic practices that engendered the pathologies we see today. His brazen assaults on the constitution during his tenure are well-known whether in seeking tenure elongation or foisting his choice of candidates, at national, state and even local government levels, often using anti-democratic tactics; in his vindictiveness against political opponents; in the lack of accountability and mismanagement of state resources; in imposing an imperial presidency, a carryover from his autocratic antecedents as military ruler, etc. And this is to say nothing of how Obasanjo and the military cabal midwived the 1970s constitution-making and transition processes, regimenting these to constrain populist tendencies, and for all that ending up with a deeply flawed Second Republic that was aborted barely four years after its inception. Even so, the worst aspect of Obasanjos recent intervention is that he did not really point to the specific tenets of liberal democracy, which he finds unfitting for Africa. What exactly in liberal democratic theory or praxis does he object to? In theory, liberal democracy, more than most other forms of government, tends to guarantee the protection of human rights, civil liberties, civil and political rights; it promotes the rule of law; aspires to the principles of popular sovereignty, majority rule, separation of powers and a system of checks and balances between branches of government; it promotes an independent judiciary; it upholds a multi-party system with at least two viable political parties, periodic elections, universal suffrage and civic engagement; it allows for an independent press and seeks to engage public opinion, etc. Which of these tenets and features of Western liberal democracy is Obasanjo objecting to with regard to Africa? It is true, of course, that whatever liberal democracy is supposed to be in principle, its specific manifestation in our environment has been far from impressive. I will come to that in a minute. But that is not a reason to say it is strange or unsuitable for our environment. Without subscribing to the teleological arguments of neoliberal ideologues like Francis Fukuyama, one could argue that some (or even much) of the underlying philosophical tenets of liberal democracy are universal. Some of them were embedded in our traditional systems of government long before the Westerners arrived. The Igbos, for instance, practiced a rustic form of direct democracy, not unlike the classical Athenian model. In other pre-colonial societies which were larger, stratified and more complex than the segmentary Igbo villages, they had more elaborate forms of political organisation, with varying levels of role differentiation, separation of powers, checks and balances, and so on. What was objectionable in our traditional systems has found a superior expression in the theory of liberal democracy. Arguing in favour of liberal democratic theory is not, of course, to defend it in all its comparative praxis. There is, in fact, in every type of democracy, even those considered full or consolidated, much to be criticised: voter ignorance and malleability, which can lead to poor electoral choices; political corruption; inefficient decision-making; political polarisation, gridlock and dysfunction; excessive cost of political access; persistent inequality; and the potential for democracies to produce demagogues and wannabe tyrants. Our nascent democracy in Nigeria, under both the parliamentary and presidential systems, has manifested many of these adverse traits, often in the extreme form. It is for this reason that we have continued to receive negative ratings in the major indices of democracy. For instance in the 2022 Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index, in an ordinal scale ranging from authoritarian regimes to hybrid regimes to flawed democracies and then full democracies, we were categorised as a hybrid regime. It might be tempting to want to give up altogether on liberal democracy on account of such dismal record, as it appears Obasanjo is doing. But this would be to ignore the gains we have made. Lets focus on a few. Consider that we have now, in this Fourth Republic, had 24 years of uninterrupted civilian rule. With that, we are just five years away from equaling the cumulative intervals of military rule from January 1966 to May 1999. In these 24 years, weve had five presidential administrations It might be tempting to want to give up altogether on liberal democracy on account of such dismal record, as it appears Obasanjo is doing. But this would be to ignore the gains we have made. Lets focus on a few. Consider that we have now, in this Fourth Republic, had 24 years of uninterrupted civilian rule. With that, we are just five years away from equaling the cumulative intervals of military rule from January 1966 to May 1999. In these 24 years, weve had five presidential administrations, and were on our third peaceful transfer of power, one of them to an opposition by a defeated incumbent. In these transitions, no incumbent has tried to hang on to power, except for the initial sortie by Obasanjo, which was stoutly rebuffed. This is certainly evidence of a deepening democratic culture, even if we cant say were now firmly beyond the risk of re-autocratisation. Of course the democratic arena remains cluttered and chaotic. There is far too much evidence of electoral fraud and irregularities, suggesting a high level of political desperation and a system that induces such behaviour. Our election management remains deeply irrational and unprofessional, magnifying the volume of electoral litigation. The judicial rulings are, for the most part, deeply dissatisfying, but not merely because of judicial capture and corrupt inducement, as the retinue of captious commentators including, sadly, some members of the bar would have us believe. While there certainly have been some baffling bench decisions, most have been correct, purely as a matter of technical jurisprudence, even if they ended up disappointing broader demosprudential expectations. What no one is acknowledging is that the sheer volume of election litigations might be forcing an overburdened bench to fall back on the strict construction of the law. This is something you might expect our legal analysts to explain to the public, but, alas, they are too often seduced by the frenzy of lay criticism. It has to be a good sign, though, that in spite of the massive volume of cases and the howls of protest over the outcomes, we do not see the losers typically seeking extrajudicial redress. On the whole, then, whilst we cant yet claim a confident stride towards democratic consolidation, we can say that we have come too far to have to overturn the system. In my view, it will be quite disruptive to dismantle our existing democratic order, as the former president is suggesting. The system is already deepening, if slowly. We should preserve the gains weve made, but also continue to improve the system so it can deliver better outcomes. We should seriously consider ideas like a return to the parliamentary system, or at least to regional federalism; or introducing proportional representation; having a less costly unicameral legislature at the federal level as in the states; changing to a single six-year presidential term; mandating electronic voting and electronic transmission of results, instead of merely prescribing these as options; and reforming the election litigation process. These are some options we should consider to strengthen our democracy, and not simply throw out the baby with the bath water. Especially for something as vague as Olusegun Obasanjos Afro Democracy. Chudi Okoye is a US-based research and data analytics professional. He is publisher of the online magazine, Awka Times. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print SAO PAULO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Six assailants were killed and eight arrested Saturday after a failed robbery at a vehicle dealership in Mato Grosso state, midwestern Brazil, authorities said. The incident occurred in Varzea Grande, a municipality neighboring the state capital. The assailants, who were armed, assaulted security guards at a dealership in a bid to steal 40 new cars. Several police patrols arrived at the scene and a shootout ensued. Two suspects died on site while four died at a medical emergency facility. Eight others were arrested, local media reported, citing police. In just 9 months since it was launched, the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) led by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates has developed a series of groundbreaking initiatives, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Progress made was presented at COP28 during an inaugural ministerial meeting, the first time senior law enforcement officials played such an active part at a COP. has developed a series of groundbreaking initiatives, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Progress made was presented at during an inaugural ministerial meeting, the first time senior law enforcement officials played such an active part at a COP. I2LEC launched the most recent outcomes of a Global Heat Map showcasing environmental crimes as the world's third most lucrative criminal business after drugs and counterfeit goods, ahead of even human trafficking, highlighting the crucial role of law enforcement in the global fight against climate change. DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) and the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior (UAE MOI) hosted a ministerial roundtable, "Empowering Law Enforcement to Protect Biodiversity, Promote Peace, and Ensure Climate Recovery and Resilience." This high-level meeting showcased groundbreaking initiatives and unveiled critical research findings aimed at integrating law enforcement into the global fight against climate change. Ministers from diverse regions, spanning the Middle East, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, actively engaged in the event, featuring prominent figures such as H.H. Lieutenant General Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates; H.E. Benjamin D. Abalos Jr, Ocean Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Philippines; H.E. Sonia Guajajara, Minister for Indigenous People, Brazil; and H.E. Eve Bazaiba, Minister of Environment from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This assembly effectively bridged the Global North and the Global South. The event also drew the participation of key figures from international bodies, including senior officials from the UNODC, INTERPOL, and the United Nations Rule of Law and Security Institutions. The discussion highlighted the scale of the challenge and the importance of giving law enforcement agencies the means to effectively address crimes that affect the environment, through engaging in international cooperation, sharing best practice, raising awareness, and incorporating cutting edge technology. Ministers also agreed to the Abu Dhabi Call to Action, as part of the I2LEC initiative, confirming the need to strengthen international cooperation, capacity building and training, as well as the integration of technology and innovation. The Abu Dhabi Call to Action has already seen the support of multiple stakeholders across the globe and has received an overwhelming number of endorsements from regional organizations and over 65 countries around the world. Presenting the outcomes of the I2LEC Global Heat Map, H.H. Lieutenant General Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates said: "There is no turning back from the impacts of climate change and as the years go by, the role of law enforcement in safeguarding our natural ecosystem will only grow stronger. We remain committed to supporting law enforcement agencies across the globe, bridging the gap between the Global South and the Global North. The UAE wants to accelerate global cooperation in our shared fight against this global challenge. That's why we will continue to raise the voice of law enforcement at COP29 and the years ahead." Ms. Ghada Waly, Director General of the UN Office at Vienna and Executive Director of UNODC acknowledged the need to deliver a global law enforcement response to prevent and combat crimes against the environment, adding: "Today, as the key strategic partner, I am pleased to announce that I2LEC, thanks to the massive efforts deployed by the UAE, is successfully on track to reaching its main objective of providing a platform that brings together the global law enforcement community with other stakeholders from academia, and civil society for knowledge exchange and experience-sharing to prevent and combat crimes that adversely affect the environment and amplify climate change." Speaking on the two joint operations coordinated by INTERPOL under the I2LEC, H.E. Maj Gen. Ahmed Naser, INTERPOL President highlighted the crucial role of law enforcement fighting environmental crimes including illegal logging and illegal mining, adding: "Recognizing law enforcement as a reliable force and ally in the battle against climate change is crucial. As we unite to protect biodiversity, promote peace, and ensure climate recovery and resilience, the collective impact of law enforcement has been showcased as a catalyst for positive change. This event is a true milestone that we will build on." About I2LEC: I2LEC was launched in February 2023 on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, where Lieutenant General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE, and H.E. Ghada Waly, the Executive Director of the UNODC, reached a high-level agreement to launch a global initiative, aimed at awareness-raising, capacity-building and research with respect to crimes that affect the environment and climate change. I2LEC weaves into the UAE's wider commitment to advance global cooperation on environmental causes. The UAE was the first country in the region to ratify the historic Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 during the COP21. 2023 is the "Year of Sustainability" in the UAE, to foster a global collaboration in seeking innovative solutions to climate-related challenges and hosting COP28. I2LEC will also benefit from the long-standing strategic partnership between the UAE and UNODC on supporting the global efforts against organized crime as well as from UNODC's vast expertise built through the Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment. SOURCE International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- It's officially the holiday season, and Ferrero is pleased to debut new seasonal offerings and bring back a few fan favorites to help make your holiday moments that much sweeter. Whether you're throwing a holiday party, gifting the host or hostess, or shopping for someone special, there are a slew of tasty treats to choose from. Featuring exciting new products and returning fan favorites, ranging from chocolates to candy, cookies, mints, and spreads, Ferrero's seasonal products are sure to delight, no matter the occasion. "The holiday season is about making memories and our robust lineup of festive, limited-edition products can be the catalyst in helping loved ones do just that," said Jim Klein, Chief Customer Officer, Ferrero North America. "Whether families want to celebrate every day in December with the Kinder Holiday Mix Countdown Calendar or bake something delicious with Nutella, there are so many opportunities to create magical holiday moments with Ferrero." Details on select items within Ferrero North America's 2023 holiday lineup can be found below. All products are available at retailers nationwide in store and online for a limited time. While supplies last. New holiday offerings: Ferrero Collection Grand Assortment : An assortment of decadent chocolates that features two new additional flavors; Cappuccino, a creamy, luscious filling combining the distinctive flavor of coffee and the delicate taste of milk, all encased within a crunchy shell. Manderly, a crunchy specialty with a velvety hazelnut creamy filling, a sweet prelude to the unmistakable taste of almond at its heart. The assortment also features our traditional Ferrero Rocher, and Raffaello (a California white almond and coconut from the Pacific Islands). Available in 12 and 24 counts. : An assortment of decadent chocolates that features two new additional flavors; Cappuccino, a creamy, luscious filling combining the distinctive flavor of coffee and the delicate taste of milk, all encased within a crunchy shell. Manderly, a crunchy specialty with a velvety hazelnut creamy filling, a sweet prelude to the unmistakable taste of almond at its heart. The assortment also features our traditional Ferrero Rocher, and Raffaello (a white almond and coconut from the Pacific Islands). Available in 12 and 24 counts. Kinder Holiday Mix Countdown Calendar: The perfect way to countdown to Christmas! Each of the 24 windows contains a delicious Kinder treat including: Hollow Figures, chocolate Mini Eggs, Kinder Chocolate, Happy Hippo and Schoko Bons. The perfect way to countdown to Christmas! Each of the 24 windows contains a delicious Kinder treat including: Hollow Figures, chocolate Mini Eggs, Kinder Chocolate, Happy Hippo and Schoko Bons. Kinder Chocolate Mini Friends Creamy Milk Chocolate: Classic Kinder taste with delicious, smooth milk chocolate with a creamy, milky filling. Individually wrapped in seasonal Santa packaging perfect to enjoy with loved ones! Classic Kinder taste with delicious, smooth milk chocolate with a creamy, milky filling. Individually wrapped in seasonal Santa packaging perfect to enjoy with loved ones! Kinder Chocolate Mini Friends Crispy Cookie: Classic Kinder taste with delicious, smooth milk chocolate with a creamy, milky filling and crispy cookie bits. Individually wrapped in adorable penguin packaging - great to share with family and friends! Classic Kinder taste with delicious, smooth milk chocolate with a creamy, milky filling and crispy cookie bits. Individually wrapped in adorable penguin packaging - great to share with family and friends! Nutella Glass Holiday Jars : Available in the U.S. for the first time in a glass format with four unique holiday designs, this is the perfect gift to collect for yourself or gift to baking enthusiasts to elevate holiday recipes and add extra cheer to kitchen counters. : Available in the U.S. for the first time in a glass format with four unique holiday designs, this is the perfect gift to collect for yourself or gift to baking enthusiasts to elevate holiday recipes and add extra cheer to kitchen counters. Keebler Fudge Stripes Elf Gingerbread Cookies : In partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, this is a festive take on the beloved Fudge Stripes, featuring the sweet taste of gingerbread, complemented by delicious white fudge, to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the iconic movie, Elf . Each pack features four unique designs based on fan-favorite scenes from the film. 1 : In partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, this is a festive take on the beloved Fudge Stripes, featuring the sweet taste of gingerbread, complemented by delicious white fudge, to celebrate the 20 anniversary of the iconic movie, . Each pack features four unique designs based on fan-favorite scenes from the film. Tic Tac Naughty Mints : Sour Cherry Lumps of Coal to help you tell your friends that they have made the naughty list. This new flavor is the perfect gift or stocking stuffer! For those on the nice list, they can enjoy the returning Tic Tac Nice flavor, candy cane. Tic Tac Naughty or Nice packs sold separately. : Sour Cherry Lumps of Coal to help you tell your friends that they have made the naughty list. This new flavor is the perfect gift or stocking stuffer! For those on the nice list, they can enjoy the returning Tic Tac Nice flavor, candy cane. Tic Tac Naughty or Nice packs sold separately. Holiday Assorted Chocolate Minis (85 count): There's something for everyone in this chocolate minis bag with festive packaging featuring an assortment of individually wrapped fan favorites such as Butterfinger, CRUNCH and Baby Ruth. Put them in candy bowls around the house and/or office and share with friends, family, and co-workers to get into the holiday spirit! Seasonal fan favorites: Ferrero Rocher Gift Box: Add a touch of luxury to the holiday season. Available in counts of 12, 16 and 24, these premium chocolates in iconic gold wrappers are sure to elevate holiday tablescapes. Add a touch of luxury to the holiday season. Available in counts of 12, 16 and 24, these premium chocolates in iconic gold wrappers are sure to elevate holiday tablescapes. Kinder Joy Holiday Eggs: Open a world of surprise this holiday season with Kinder Joy! Half of the egg contains two creamy layers topped with crispy wafer bites filled with cocoa cream. The other half contains an exciting surprise toy. Great stocking stuffers! Open a world of surprise this holiday season with Kinder Joy! Half of the egg contains two creamy layers topped with crispy wafer bites filled with cocoa cream. The other half contains an exciting surprise toy. Great stocking stuffers! Kinder Bueno Mini Share Pack: Contains crispy, creamy individually wrapped milk chocolate pieces that are perfect for sharing with family and friends this holiday season! Contains crispy, creamy individually wrapped milk chocolate pieces that are perfect for sharing with family and friends this holiday season! Royal Dansk Winter Cookie Collection: A limited-time assortment of unique holiday shapes and flavors including hot chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar, along with the signature vanilla ring butter cookies. Displayed in a beautiful, seasonal tin, this makes a great gift and holiday snack! A limited-time assortment of unique holiday shapes and flavors including hot chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar, along with the signature vanilla ring butter cookies. Displayed in a beautiful, seasonal tin, this makes a great gift and holiday snack! Mother's Reindeer Games Cookies: These limited-edition frosted reindeer shaped cookies are the perfect holiday snack for the whole family and are great to decorate and create exciting desserts with! Inside each bag are irresistible shortbread cookies, coated in green and white frosting, and dotted with festive red, green, and white sprinkles. These limited-edition frosted reindeer shaped cookies are the perfect holiday snack for the whole family and are great to decorate and create exciting desserts with! Inside each bag are irresistible shortbread cookies, coated in green and white frosting, and dotted with festive red, green, and white sprinkles. Fannie May Peppermint S'mores Chocolatiers Mix: A sophisticated snack mix for the holidays featuring crunchy grahams and fluffy pink peppermint marshmallows coated in decadent dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candy. No artificial flavors or preservatives. About Ferrero Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks including Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac, and Ferrero Rocher. More than 38,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate life's special moments. The Ferrero Group's family culture, now in its generation, is based on dedication to quality and excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate. Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,100 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger, CRUNCH, Keebler, Famous Amos, Mother's Cookies, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com. 1 ELF and all related characters and elements & New Line Productions, Inc. WB SHIELD: & WBEI. (s23) CONTACT: Rebecca Block, [email protected] SOURCE Ferrero North America Masdar and EDF sign landmark agreement with government of the Kyrgyz Republic to explore development of up to 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of hydro and renewable energy projects Deal represents Masdar's first entry into the hydropower space Agreement strengthens existing ties between UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar, the UAE's clean energy powerhouse, and EDF have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic to explore the development of hydropower and renewable projects with a combined capacity of up to 3.6 gigawatts (GW). Masdar and EDF Sign Major Agreement with Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to Develop up to 3.6GW of Hydropower and Renewable Project Masdar and EDF Sign Major Agreement with Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to Develop up to 3.6GW of Hydropower and Renewable Project The agreement was signed during COP28 in Dubai by Kyrgyz Minister of Energy, H.E. Taalaibek Ibraev, Masdar Director, Development and Investment (EMEA), Ahmed Al Awadi and EDF Assets Development Director for Europe and Central Asia, Emmanuelle Chevennement. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Sadyr Japarov, UAE Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Sharif Al Olama, and EDF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Luc Remont. Despite an extensive clean energy portfolio encompassing solar, floating solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, floating wind, geothermal, battery energy storage systems and green hydrogen, today's memorandum of understanding (MoU) represents Masdar's first entry into the hydropower space. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President and Masdar Chairman, said: "At COP28 it will be incumbent on the world to utilize all clean energy sources at its disposal to keep the ambition of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C within reach. Hydropower is one of the oldest clean energy sources and has many positive attributes that can help a number of countries around the world achieve their climate goals and meet their net-zero targets." H.E. Taalaibek Ibraev, Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic said: "This agreement serves to further strengthen the existing ties between the Kyrgyz Republic, the UAE and France. Hydropower is a very important energy source for the Kyrgyz Republic and this agreement will help our nation to strengthen its existing clean energy supply and to develop projects utilizing other renewable energy sources." Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said: "This agreement represents a new chapter for Masdar in our clean energy journey. With over 17 years of pioneering renewable energy technologies and successfully delivering utility-scale clean energy projects, we are glad to have the opportunity to bring the energy, passion and focus to hydropower that we have utilized for so many other renewable energy sources as we seek, in partnership with EDF, to build a successful collaboration with the Kyrgyz Republic, deepening the strong relationship between the UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic." The Kyrgyz Republic has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 44 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The country already generates around 90 percent of its electricity from clean energy resources, almost exclusively from hydropower plants. Central Asia is a significant emerging market for Masdar which has several agreements to develop solar and wind projects in the region. As the UAE's clean energy powerhouse and one of the world's fastest growing renewable companies, Masdar is at the vanguard of advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar is active in more than 40 countries and has more than 20GW of renewable energy capacity including operational, under construction or advanced development projects in its worldwide portfolio. Masdar has invested, or committed to invest, in worldwide projects with a combined value of more than US$30 billion with ambitious growth plans to reach 100GW of renewable energy capacity and 1 million tonnes of annual green hydrogen production by 2030. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291273/Masdar_EDF_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291280/Masdar_and_EDF_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4435248/Masdar_Logo.jpg Ambition to add up to 500 megawatts (MW) to existing 145MW (192MWp) Cirata floating solar PV plant Masdar, the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, also signs green hydrogen agreements with Indonesia's PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP) at COP28 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, has signed agreements to collaborate with Indonesia's state-owned utility company, PLN, to move ahead with major development plans for Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power plant and explore green hydrogen opportunities. Masdar and PLN Advance Plans to Develop World's Largest Floating Solar Plant in Indonesia The development at the UN's Climate Change Conference COP28 in the UAE builds on years of successful collaboration between Masdar and PLN. The partnership has already resulted in the launch of Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power plant, the innovative 145 megawatt (MWac) (192MW peak) Cirata project. Located on the Cirata reservoir in West Java, Indonesia, the plant was inaugurated earlier this month and generates enough renewable energy to power 50,000 homes, while displacing 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The latest agreements were exchanged at COP28 and witnessed by HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste, HE Abdulla Al Dhaheri. The agreements were signed by Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of PLN Group, Darmawan Prasodjo, and President Director of PLN NP, Ruly Firmansyah. They included a framework agreement for a joint study into the tripling of Cirata's capacity to up to 500MW. The companies also agreed to explore renewable energy options around the world and the prospect of developing green hydrogen, which has huge potential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries, including steelmaking, construction, transportation, and aviation. With abundant solar resources, the UAE and Indonesia are in prime position to become green hydrogen production hubs. Both countries have bold net-zero targets which the deepening cooperation between Masdar and PLN will help to support. Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, said: "Masdar looks forward to expanding its pioneering clean energy work with PLN. We were extremely proud to inaugurate the 145MW (192MWp) floating solar power plant with our valued partners earlier this month. The Cirata project shows how innovation can be used to meet multiple needs at once. The plant powers homes, cuts emissions, has created jobs and reduced land use because it is built on water. As the world looks for urgent solutions to the climate crisis at COP28, we need more smart projects like Cirata. With its robust economy and abundant renewable resources, Southeast Asia is a key investment destination for Masdar. Through our deepening cooperation with PLN, we will continue pioneering innovation in solar, green hydrogen and other key areas in support of the region's energy transition." In September, Masdar and PLN signed an agreement to develop Phase II of the Cirata plant to triple capacity by up to 500MW. This came after a recent regulatory change from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Indonesia, which now allows up to 20% of water coverage for renewable energy uses. Built on water, the Cirata plant reduces land use, a key consideration for countries such as Indonesia where land is limited but water abundant. The water's cooling effect can also improve efficiency and the panels reduce evaporation, saving water for drinking and irrigation. In February, Masdar also entered the geothermal market after making a strategic investment in Indonesia's Pertamina Geothermal Energy. Indonesia is the world's second-largest geothermal market. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. SOURCE Masdar Masdar, the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, signs agreement with Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water at COP28 to develop solar plant in southern Angola Project will create up to 600 jobs and deliver clean energy to 90,000 homes in region with significant electricity supply challenges Agreement signed at COP28 demonstrates Masdar's commitment to just energy transition in Africa and around the world DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, has announced plans to develop a major 150 megawatt (MW) solar PV project in Angola to deliver renewable energy to 90,000 homes while creating hundreds of jobs, spurring economic growth, and cutting carbon emissions. HE Joao Baptista Borges, Angolas Minister of Energy and Water and Masdars Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi HE Joao Baptista Borges, Angolas Minister of Energy and Water and Masdars Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi Masdar to Develop 150MWac Solar Plant in Angola to Power 90,000 Homes and Boost Just Energy Transition As global leaders engaged in climate negotiations at the UN's climate change conference COP28 in Dubai, Masdar - the UAE's clean energy powerhouse - signed a concession agreement with Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water to build and operate the ground-mounted solar power project in the Quipungo region, Hulia province, southern Angola. The area enjoys strong solar irradiation levels but struggles with a lack of access to reliable electricity. Energy insecurity remains one of the most significant constraints on Africa's development. In Angola, less than half of the population has access to electricity, that proportion falls even further in rural areas. This project will significantly support Angola's goal of increasing its national electrification rate to around 60 percent by 2025. The agreement was signed by HE Joao Baptista Borges, Angola's Minister of Energy and Water and Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi. HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President, said: "Africa has what it takes to become the world's renewable energy powerhouse. At COP28 and beyond, we will continue to work with Africa for Africa. The UAE stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Africa as we strive to secure a just energy transition at this COP of action and COP for all. We are delighted to be moving forward with plans to build this solar power plant in Angola that will bring vital clean energy and jobs to communities. We look forward to developing this strong partnership with Angola as we work together to maximize the country's huge clean energy potential." Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: "Developing renewable energy capacity is the key to unlocking Africa's enormous economic potential, and Masdar is excited to be playing a major part in this effort. Masdar is the largest renewables energy company in Africa, through our platform Infinity Power. To accelerate a just energy transition, Masdar recently joined forces with Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investment platform. Our mission is to fast-track and scale projects so we can deliver 10GW of clean energy in Africa by 2030. Masdar is an anchor partner of the UAE-led Africa Green Investment Initiative and has committed to mobilize US$10 billion in clean energy finance, of which US$2 billion will be generated from equity with an additional US$8 billion from project finance. This transformative project in Angola is a proud milestone on that pivotal journey." Provinces like Huila, where this solar project will be built, are highly constrained by their dependence on emissions-intensive, unreliable fuel. Once completed, the solar facility will displace over 224,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year, the equivalent of removing 50,000 cars from the roads. The solar plant will support homes and businesses to leapfrog from patchy, traditional-fuel powered electricity to accessing continuous clean energy. The project will boost the local economy too. Up to 600 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase. Afterward, the supply of reliable, clean energy is expected to help grow sectors including agriculture. The solar project in Quipungo forms part of a wider commitment made by Masdar in January, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023, to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects across Angola, Uganda and Zambia. The Agreements were signed under the umbrella of Etihad 7 a global development fund launched by the UAE to provide 100 million people across the African continent with clean electricity by 2035. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291186/Masdar_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291185/Masdar_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291187/Masdar_3.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4435248/Masdar_Logo.jpg SOURCE Masdar Teamsters at DHL's Largest Hub Ready to Strike if DHL Fails to Deliver on Contract WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DHL Teamsters at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The vote allows the DHL Teamsters Negotiating Committee to call a work stoppage at any time should DHL fail to remedy its behavior and come to terms on a fair contract covering 1,100 ramp and tug workers. The members of Teamsters Local 100 load and unload airplanes at DHL's largest and busiest logistics hub in North America. "DHL Teamsters deserve a strong contract now. Our hardworking members know the value of their labor and they are ready to withhold it if DHL doesn't get serious about remedying its bad behavior and bargaining a fair contract," said Bill Hamilton, Director of the Teamsters Express Division. "This company needs to stop wasting time and come to an agreement that respects these skilled and dedicated Teamsters. If not, DHL will be leaving workers with no choice but to strike." DHL ramp and tug workers joined the Teamsters in April. The Teamsters Negotiating Committee has been bargaining with DHL since July, seeking a first contract that includes improved pay and working conditions. Negotiators for the global shipping giant have continued to push insulting demands that disrespect workers and fail to address the unfair labor practices that include retaliating against pro-union workers. Local 100 has filed unfair labor practice charges (ULPs), which the National Labor Relations Board is prosecuting. The company has told the Teamsters it will not schedule negotiations with the union this year after December 7. "Our members are fed up with the company's stall tactics. The members have voted and are prepared to walk. DHL will not get away with denying working people good wages and safe conditions on the job," said Bill Davis, President of Local 100. "If DHL continues to drag their feet, they will inflict a work stoppage on themselves." The General Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters recently authorized an increase in strike benefits for DHL-CVG workers should strike action become necessary. The Teamsters Union represents more than 6,000 members at DHL across the U.S. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters 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 GUANGZHOU, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 5th World Media Summit (WMS) held an opening ceremony Sunday morning in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. Rhode Islanders perceive steep challenges in cost of living and access to housing, health care, food Brown University , a statewide survey conducted by leaders at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Brown University School of Public Health, shows that Rhode Islanders perceive steep challenges finding affordable housing, meeting the rising cost of living, and accessing health care and nutritious food. Rhode Island Life Index , a statewide survey conducted by leaders at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Brown University School of Public Health, shows that Rhode Islanders perceive steep challenges finding affordable housing, meeting the rising cost of living, and accessing health care and nutritious food. The results capture how residents perceive their well-being in 2023 a year the data portray as fraught with concerns about economic challenges as well as the five-year period spanning the turbulent years before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings bring to light perceptions that deteriorated during the pandemic and have since stabilized, but which continue to persist at troubling levels. Survey leaders presented the results on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the School of Public Health to key stakeholders, community partners, policymakers and members of the public health community. The index is unique because it goes beyond statistics to show how community members assess their own health and well-being, said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the School of Public Health. While calling the results sobering, he said they also reveal important perspectives. There are real challenges facing the people of Rhode Island, and this survey provides a roadmap to reducing inequities and improving the health and quality of life for the people in the Ocean State, especially for those struggling the most, Jha said. The R.I. Life Index is providing critical information on the real-life experiences of Rhode Islanders information we can all use to build healthier, more equitable communities for all. David Williams, a professor at Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health who specializes in the study of social influences on health, was invited to discuss the significance of the findings. While commending the survey design and delivery, Williams agreed with Jha that the results show a lack of progress. "It's not a surprise but it reminds us of the level of need that exists in Rhode Island and the work to be done to give everyone a fighting chance," Williams said. Findings reveal the state of residents well-being The R.I. Life Index asked Rhode Islanders for their perceptions on issues including the availability of affordable housing; programs and services for children and older adults; and access to health care, food, employment and transportation. On a scale of 0 to 100, higher scores indicated more positive perceptions. Carrie Bridges Feliz, vice president of community health and equity at Lifespan, moderated a discussion with R.I. Life Index principal investigator and Brown professor Melissa Clark, and David Williams, professor at Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In 2023, similar to previous years, 2,317 random digital dial phone and web surveys were completed by adults randomly selected from across the state, in Spanish or English, with an intentional oversample of Black and Latinx residents. For the third year in a row, to ensure that Rhode Islanders who do not speak English at home are also represented, 582 surveys were conducted by community-based organizations in 16 languages. Compared to 2022, the overall well-being score for the 2023 random digit dial survey dropped one point from 59 to 58, the lowest in five years. The overall score for the community-based organizations survey increased one point to 55. In 2023, as housing prices hit record highs, the random digit dial survey score for affordable housing was 32, which meant that more than two-thirds of respondents perceived housing costs as out of reach. This was the second-lowest score in this years survey, and down from 44 in 2020. As inflation persisted throughout the year, the score for cost of living was among the lowest in 2023. The score of 23, down from 31 in 2020, meant that more than three-quarters of random digit dial respondents perceived cost of living as a challenge. The survey revealed that perceptions about health care access have worsened since the pandemic, dropping to a score of 64 in 2023 from 73 in 2019. The 2023 random digit dial score for access to nutritious food fell to 66 from a 2019 score of 73, representing the largest decline in a topic area since the index began. The R.I. Life Index was launched in 2019 in recognition that health transcends what happens within the health care system and that factors such as employment, education and housing collectively known as social determinants of health contribute to health inequities. The index is updated every year by surveying a representative sample of Rhode Islanders to measure their perceptions of these health-related factors. Principal survey methodologist Melissa Clark, a professor of health services, policy and practice, and director of the Survey Research Center at the School of Public Health, led a team of researchers from Brown and the Siena College Research Institute to design and oversee the 2023 survey. The R.I. Life Index is funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The R.I. Life Index reflects the reality of the people of Rhode Island, and unfortunately the data show that experience is getting harder for some, particularly for underserved communities, said Martha L. Wofford, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The index provides shared understanding so that we can have a shared agenda on how to address the gaps. This year, surveys were completed in person or by phone by six organizations: Capeverdean American Community Development, Center for Southeast Asians, Dorcas International, Genesis Center, Higher Ground International and Progreso Latino. Coalition member organizations include BCBSRI; Community Provider Network of Rhode Island; United Way of Rhode Island; Latino Policy Institute; Rhode Island Department of Health; Rhode Island Community Food Bank; Brown University School of Public Health; HousingWorks R.I.; Rhode Island Kids Count; AARP Rhode Island; Economic Progress Institute; Rhode Island Foundation; Lifespan Community Health Institute; and Medical Legal Partnership Boston. Los Angeles, Dec 2 : Actress Susan Sarandon has issued an apology for controversial comments she made at a pro-Palestine rally in New York last month. At the November 17 rally, the actress had said, "There are a lot of people that are afraid, that are afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence," reports 'Variety'. Hollywood agency UTA subsequently dropped Sarandon as a client over the remarks. As per 'Variety', in a post on Instagram late Friday, Sarandon wrote that "It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so". "Recently, I attended a rally alongside a diverse group of activists seeking to highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for a ceasefire," Sarandon wrote. "I had not planned to speak but was invited to take the stage and say a few words." She continued, "Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish-Americans, as the targets of rising anti-Semitic hate, 'are getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.' This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true. As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe, to the 'Tree of Life' shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence which continues to this day. I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment." Sarandon concluded, "I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree." Kanpur : , Dec 3 (IANS) Two people have been arrested and two minors were being questioned after a video surfaced on social media, showing people hunting migratory birds and taking them away. More than 10 species of birds have flown to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and are flocking the suburbs, particularly in the vicinity of the Ganga River bed. The avian influx after a two -year gap has been healthy this year. Beat in-charge of Sarsaul forest range, K.K. Kushwaha said an FIR had been lodged against four people, two of them minors. The case was lodged by the Maharajpur police under Sections 9 and 21 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. "All the four were identified through the video and others are also being identified," said Kushwaha, adding that the video which surfaced on Friday showed large-scale hunting of migratory birds, particularly Siberian cranes. "Our investigation revealed that the video was shot in Domanpur Purvameer in Sarsaul near the river. The men seen taking away the dead birds after killing them were Rampal and Vinod, residents of Dibiyapur village," he said, adding that the information was shared with the police and arrests were made. The two minors were being questioned and would be sent to the juvenile home. Kolkata, Dec 3 : The ragging menace in Kolkata's iconic Jadavpur University (JU), that led a first year undergraduate student to end his life in August, has still not opened the eyes of the university authorities to the happenings in the hostel, especially the main residence. Last week, a complaint was filed by a first-year post-graduation student residing in the same hostel where the tragedy took place in August, in which the student stated that he was being subjected to mental torture by the senior inmates of the hostel. In his complaint, the student informed the JU authorities of his decision to leave the hostel and also quit the university since continuing his studies while staying outside the campus as a paying guest was not possible for him. There are quite a few similarities between the kind of mental torture and humiliation that the post-graduation student who quit JU and the undergraduate fresher who ended his life in August, were going through. The deceased fresher, who was studying Bengali literature, was being harassed by his seniors because of his shy nature and hesitation in interacting freely with girl students. He was often labeled as gay because of it and reportedly a few hours before he committed suicide he was frantically telling his hostel mates, "Believe me, I am not gay." The nature of complaint of mental harassment in the latest case is more complicated. First, despite being a newcomer to the hostel, he was made the convener of the hostel mess committee and forced to do the grocery shopping as per the instructions of the senior members of the committee. Then he was abused by the seniors in the worst possible language either about the quality of the food or the size of fish that he had purchased. In the end, unable to put up with the daily harassment and abuse he quit JU. Insiders, especially representatives of JU Teachers' Association (JUTA) have claimed that the fresh complaint proves that ragging of newcomers by seniors continues unabated in the students' hostel. JU insiders said that had the university authorities been serious about strictly enforcing the anti-harassment measures suggested by the national anti-ragging committee constituted under the chairmanship of former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director RK Raghavan, then things would have been different. One of the main suggestions of the committee was separate accommodations for the freshers and senior students. Many reputed colleges, universities and educational institutes around the country were able to bring hostel ragging down to zero through this strategy. However, questions arise on how a first-year undergraduate student and a first-year post-graduation student can be treated at par by a university? JU insiders, who are keen for the university authorities to tackle the menace of ragging effectively, offer their own suggestions. "Just as a first-year undergraduate student getting admission to JU from any school or college with higher-secondary academic facilities is a fresher in the true sense, similarly the concept of fresher should be applicable for those students getting admission in the first year of their post-graduation course from any other university. "In reality, a first-year post-graduation student is also a newcomer to the university and its hostel just like a first-year undergraduate student. So the hostel accommodation for such post-graduation freshers should also be isolated," pointed out an aggrieved JU insider. The second issue that plagues JU is the absence of a permanent Vice-Chancellor for the last six months, which is resulting in several academic and administrative decisions being delayed. Even though the West Bengal Governor, CV Ananda Bose, appointed an interim Vice-Chancellors after the fresher's death, that was not a solution in the true sense since the authority of an interim VC is limited and he is not even getting the permission of the state education department to convene working committee meetings. Meanwhile, as the debate over who is to be considered a fresher and who is not, rages on, the woes of the newcomers at JU show no sign of abating. One can only hope that the ragging and harassment of newcomers does not claim another life and the JU authorities wake up before that. IANS src/rad Imphal, Dec 3 : Zeliangrong village in Naga dominated Tamenglong district hit the headlines about a decade back when the mountainous district's young and dynamic Deputy Commissioner (DC) Armstrong Pame built a 100-km much needed road with the help of the people sans funds from the government. As development takes place at a snail's pace there, Tamenglong finds a place in the list of the most backward districts of the country as reports of people carrying sick people through the jungles on foot to hospitals, lack of government infrastructure among others keep coming in from the district. The arrested development prompted civil society and local bodies to raise their voice for uplifting the district along with others. After Pame, many deputy commissioners posted in Tamenglong too expended their maximum efforts to develop the district in all spheres. Amid the people's yearning for progress, Dr L Angshim Dangshawa came to Tamenglong district as its new DC a few months ago. Soon after joining, he came up with new ideas to develop the district and executed one of them for education and public hygiene which fetched good results. On September 15, under his initiative, five mini "Street Libraries" were set up at different garbage dumping sites after cleaning the trash at Tamenglong town, about 145 km from Imphal. The roadside libraries are a small bookshelf measuring a little over two feet in breadth and about three feet in length in different colours, and they stand without a lock at five locations - TBC Junction, Old Market, Rani Gaidinliu Market, Medical Gate and Bethel Church Road Junction. Inspiring quotes are written on the shelves with one of them reading "The reader does not steal and the thief does not read." According to Dangshawa, the small project has been taken up to encourage young children to learn, maintain discipline and sincerity as well as inspire the general public to keep the town neat and clean. The 31-year-old DC, along with his subordinate staff and the public cleaned the area and set up the mini libraries. It was part of the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign under the theme, "Garbage Free India" which ended on October 2. Though many schemes remained either dysfunctional or were scrapped after a good beginning, the road side mini library initiative truly worked as a team of journalists, who visited the district a few days back, found them functional with young students thronging them. No garbage was found in the street library areas. "Many people have donated books for the street libraries. So far, the libraries are functional with young children coming and taking books. In some cases, they have returned the books and, in some cases they have not returned them. Some students have also put new books by themselves," the DC said. "Let's wait and see for some more time. I named the library 'Garbage or Knowledge ?'. This is just a message asking the people whether you choose garbage or you choose the library," added Dangshawa. Dangshawa, who was a sub-divisional magistrate at Paomata in Senapati district before his Tamenglong posting, added that he has also taken some initiatives in the health and education sectors in the district which have also yielded good results. A Class VIII student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Jaikanglung, who was looking at the books at one of the libraries said "This is my first visit to this library. I have chosen a book to read and after reading I'll return it." His friends who had been visiting the library frequently said they were very happy to have such a library here. Earlier the area was full of garbage and now it is clean, they said. President of the Rongmei Naga Students' Organisation Manipur Daichui Gangmei, while appreciating the deputy commissioner's library initiative said "we want to say a big thank you to the DC for his initiatives taken in the district." Stating that the initiative has given an impetus to the habit of reading books among the people, particularly the students, Daichui urged all philanthropists of the district to donate more books to the street libraries. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) ABP-CVoter Survey: It is advantage Congress in Madhya Pradesh. Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, Dec 3 : The Congress party in Telangana has kept buses ready at a star hotel in Hyderabad to shift its MLAs, if necessary, to protect them from possible poaching by the rivals. Buses of a private travel operator were seen at Taj Krishna hotel, where Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other AICC observers were camping. The observers were monitoring the counting trend and giving necessary instructions to the state party leaders. Karnataka Minister K.H. Muniyappa told media persons that no Congress MLA will defect as all are loyal to the party. Shivakumar along with some Cabinet colleagues arrived in Hyderabad by a special aircraft from Bengaluru late on Friday. The AICC has appointed Shivakumar, Deepa Das Munshi, Dr Ajoy Kumar, K.J. George and K. Muraleedharan as observers to coordinate the meeting of Congress Legislature Party in Telangana. Meanwhile, AICC in-charge for Telangana, Manikrao Thakare exuded confidence that the Congress will bag more than 70 seats in 119-member Assembly. KEP, Cambodia, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded 4.4 million international tourist arrivals in the first 10 months of 2023, a sharp increase of around 180 percent from 1.57 million over the same period last year, Tourism Minister Sok Soken said here on Sunday. "Based on this figure, Cambodia is expected to receive approximately 5.4 million foreign visitors in 2023," he said in a speech during the closing ceremony of the 10th annual Sea Festival held in the southern province of Kep. Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate. The Southeast Asian country is renowned for the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in the northwestern Siem Reap province. Ministry of Tourism's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Top Sopheak said the kingdom is a safe tourist destination, calling for more international tourists to visit the country. He is confident that the Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which launched its commercial operations on Nov. 16, will attract more international travelers to Cambodia. "This new international airport is crucial to helping boost the country's tourism, economy, trade, and investment," he told Xinhua. "We hope it will attract new international airlines, so they will bring more tourists and investors to Cambodia, particularly to Siem Reap province." UK to conduct surveillance flights over M-E to find Hamas hostage locations. Image Source: IANS News London, Dec 3 : The UK will conduct unarmed surveillance flights over the Middle East to find Hamas hostage locations, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The news comes as five British nationals are missing amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the BBC reported. The UK government, however, has not said that if the missing persons were being held by the Hamas militant group. In a statement, the MoD said: "In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the Ministry of Defence will conduct surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza." It added that the aircraft will be unarmed and will be tasked solely to locate hostages. "Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue," the Ministry said, adding that "the safety of British nationals is our utmost priority". The aircraft will include Shadow R1s, which the Royal Air Force use for intelligence gathering, the BBC quoted Ministry officials as saying. Information on the potential locations of hostages will be shared with Israel, the officials added. Fighting resumed in Gaza on December 1 after a temporary truce between Israel and Gaza ended, with the two warring sides blaming each other for the collapse. The Israel military said it had hit more than 400 Hamas targets on the first day. Between December 1 and 3, at least 193 Palestinians have been killed and 652 injured, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza. Under the truce, a total of 104 hostages -- 80 Israelis, 24 foreign nationals -- and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released between November 24 to 30. It is estimated that about 133 people remain captive in Gaza, including Israelis and foreign nationals, according to Israeli sources. The war which erupted on October 7 has so far killed more than 15,000 people in Gaza, including 6,150 children and over 4,000 women. In Israel, there were more than 1,200 casualties, including foreign nationals. --IANS ksk/ Braverman, Patel accused of denying trafficking victims' right to remain in UK. Image Source: IANS News London, Dec 3 : British Indian former Home Secretaries of the UK have been accused of operating a secret policy to deny 1,600 victims of trafficking their right to live in the country, according to a media report. The alleged action by the Home Office came despite a November 2021 high court ruling, which mandated that confirmed trafficking victims awaiting asylum decisions should be granted discretionary leave, the Guardian reported. At a hearing this week, Priti Patel and Suella Braverman were accused of unlawfully failing to issue these decisions, that left the victims unable to access the right to work, study or claim mainstream benefits. The report mentioned a 22-year-old trafficking victim, represented by the charity Asylum Aid, who escaped drug traffickers in Albania when he was 16. The traffickers forced him to sell drugs and were threatened to harm him, his family for refusing to comply. But as a result of the secret policy, he was denied leave to remain for almost 18 months, his lawyers claimed. In response the counsel for the Home Secretary argued that they had simply been waiting for the outcome of appeals to the court of appeal and supreme court against the landmark November 2021 ruling before acting. "This case is about delay. It is not a case about secret or unpublished policies," Cathryn McGahey, representing the home secretary, told the court. According to The Guardian, internal Home Office documents relating to the case showed officials recommended that the decision of granting leave to remain should be put "on hold". A July 2022 email from a Home Office official stated: "All discretionary leave decisions affected by (the November 2021 ruling) currently remain on hold." "Our consolidated view is that is not an option we can recommend to ministers. We continue to see judicial reviews lodged on grounds linked to the delay in implementing the judgment," an official from Braverman's office said after being questioned about whether "doing nothing" was an option. Counsel for the 22-year-old victim told the court this week that it is "unlawful to operate an unpublished policy which is inconsistent with a public policy." Two held for posing as jail officials and duping families of 3 inmates of Gurugram prison. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Dec 3 : A man, who allegedly attempted to dupe people by opening a fake social media account of West Bengal Director General of Police Manoj Malviya, was traced to Rajasthan and arrested by Kolata's Bidhannagar City Police, sources informed on Sunday. The imposter He has been identified as Rashim Khan, a resident of Alwar district of West Bengal. Sources said that the DGP's fake social media profile was first noticed by the cops of Bidhannagar City Police. On checking the profile in detail, there were doubts about its authenticity. So the office of the DGP was contacted and they confirmed the profile as fake. "Accordingly, we tracked the offender to be operating that profile from Rajasthan. A team of our men went to Rajasthan, arrested him and brought him back to Kolkata on transit remand," a source in Bidhannagar City Police said. In face of interrogation, he admitted to have opened the fake profile of the state police DGP with the intention of duping people and earning money. He also admitted that although he had sent personal messages to some people for money through this fake profile, barring some in Kerala and Karnataka, hardly anybody responded positively to those messages. The accused person is a graduate in mathematics. The investigating officials doubt that he is not alone in this game and probably he is just a part of the major racket duping people in a similar manner. Rawalpindi, Dec 3 : At least 10 people were killed and 25 others injured when a passenger bus came under gunfire by unidentified assailants on the Karakoram Highway in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region, the media reported on Sunday. Addressing a news conference, Diamer Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Arif Ahmad said the accident occurred at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday evening in the Hudur area of Chilas when the bus came under fire and went on to collide with an oncoming truck, The Express Tribune reported. He added that the passenger bus had set off from Gahkuch in Ghizer and described the attack as a "cowardly" act. The official said most of the passengers killed in the attack hailed from across the country, including Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Roundu, Skardu, Mansehra, Swabi and one or two people from Sindh. The Diamer DC added that two soldiers were among the people killed in the attack. He added that a member of the Special Protection Unit was injured as well. Diamer Superintendent of Police Sardar Shehryar said the first responders on the scene were Karakoram Highway (KKH) police personnel, The Express Tribune reported. He added that they shifted the bodies and injured people to a hospital. The SP said the other vehicles present at the scene were taken away from there in the form of a convoy. He continued that the place where the attack took place had been cordoned off to collect evidence. The injured people, who include women and children, have been admitted to Regional Headquarters Hospital Chilas. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack and the motive for the shooting was not clear, The Express Tribune reported. Expressing his condemnation, the region's Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan termed the attack on the passenger bus as a cowardly act of terrorism. He announced the formation of a special investigation team to thoroughly probe into the incident. Bhopal, Dec 3 : Massive lead in the first three rounds of counting has given a big cheering moment for the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh. The celebration began at the BJP headquarters here, even as several rounds of counting were yet to be done. Senior BJP leaders, including state unit head V.D. Sharma and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, who was the co-incharge for MP, reached the BJP headquarters here. The incumbent Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other top BJP leaders expressed confidence that the party will retain power in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking to the press CM Chouhan said, "MP ke man me Modi and Modi ke man me MP, proved true." Notably, the BJP contested the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a slogan -- "MP ke man me Modi- Modi ke man me MP". Seeing the trends, people were heading to the BJP headquarters. Initially the BJP headquarters wore a deserted look, but as the trends came in the atmosphere changed to jubilation with drum-beating, dancing and sloganeering. On the other side, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath along with Rajya Sabha MPs Digvijaya Singh and Vivek Tankha were sitting in the war room and monitoring the situation. With the BJP expanding the leads, the Congress workers were getting jittery. Guwahati, Dec 3 : Forhad Ali, a resident of Assam's Bongaigaon, was declared foreigner by a tribunal after noting that his father's name was written Habi Rahman and Habibur Rahman in different documents. The order was passed against Ali by a Foreigners' Tribunal (FT) at least four years ago. He then approached the Gauhati High Court, challenging the FT's judgment. Recently, the High Court observed that there can be minor discrepancies in the name of a person, and this cannot be the only basis to declare a person a foreigner. As per the court, there must be enough evidence that the two names actually resemble different people. Moreover, the state government has submitted an affidavit before the High Court stating that in at least 85 per cent of cases where people are declared foreigners illegally staying in India were later found to be Indian citizens. Noting the affidavit, the High Court has directed the state government in a recent order to review the orders passed by various Foreigners' Tribunals (FT) in the state. A Foreigners' Tribunal (FT) is a quasi-judicial body, and a member of the FT has a designation similar to that of a judge. The tribunal hears the cases of suspected illegal immigrants and passes orders about their citizenship. The Assam Home Department said before the court that in about 85 per cent of cases that are referred to Foreigners' Tribunals (FT), the petitioners were declared citizens later. The High Court bench voiced concern that individuals may have been labeled as foreigners in several instances without providing justification or doing a thorough analysis of the documentation in existence. The court also said that it was possible for foreigners to have been mistakenly identified as Indians by the tribunals. The Home Department was mandated by the HC to furnish tribunal verdicts based on a randomised sample. The records reveal that many of the decisions were made without providing justification or reviewing the records, even if some of them were "good, reasoned orders." The order passed by a High Court bench comprising justices Achintya Malla Bujor Barua and Mitali Thakuria said: "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 court also directed the government to take "appropriate measures" where it was noticed that orders were passed without citing reasons or analysing materials. "The result thereof shall 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 that may affect the entire state," the order further read. Meanwhile, two judges' bench of the Gauhati High Court sent the case of Forhad Ali back to the Foreigners' Tribunal (FT), directing it to re-examine all records, including voter lists, before making a final decision. Lucknow, Dec 3 : Almost six months after he stoked the controversy over 'Adipurush' with his statements, lyricist-writer Manoj Muntashir has apologised for the dialogues he wrote for the film. Speaking at an event on Saturday evening on 'Sabme Base So Ram Kahaye' at Bhartendu Natya Academy, Muntashir said: "Woh sarfiri andhi thi, sambhalna pada; main aakhiri chiraag tha, jalna pada (It was a maddening storm, I had to adjust; I was the last lamp, I had to light up)." The debate moved from Ram to the dialogues of Prabhas and Kriti Sanon-starrer Adipurush that had caught him in the eye of a storm. Facing tough questions on what had made him write the controversial dialogues, Muntashir took the opportunity to ask for public forgiveness and not judge his abilities and 25 years of work based on one instance. "There is no better place than Lucknow, the capital of the state where Ram was born and also the land that is the ink and blood of my writings, to seek an apology for that mistake. With all humility, I accept that even though our intentions were pious, we got carried away and did not realise that it would not be taken kindly by the people," Muntashir said. He claimed that as a writer, his hands were bound by the screenplay that left him little room for course correction. He went on to defend the director and producers of the movie and said: "Within two days of the release, we made sure that we corrected our mistakes. We rewrote the dialogues and replaced the objectionable ones. Overnight, 10,000 prints were altered." The discussion gradually moved toward the root of the problemthe shrinking space for quality lyrics and writing in movies, and songs losing depth and gravitas with which they once captivated the imagination of the audiences. Muntashir accepted that songwriting has become insipid. He, however, said that a few writers are still committed to upholding the legacy of Anand Bakshi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Kaifi Azmi. "That is the reason I took over a decade to get the space for writing my first movie song. I could not betray the legacy of Lucknow which has been a fertile soil that has raised ace artists, writers, and literary personalities. I wanted to write something that makes my land feel proud," he said. Tel Aviv, Dec 3 : The Hostages and Missing Families Forum told the Israeli government that time was running out and that all the hostages in Hamas captivity should be brought back home. Under the humanitarian truce in Gaza which collapsed on December 1 after seven days, a total of 104 hostages -- 80 Israelis, 24 foreign nationals -- and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released between November 24 to 30. Daniel Aloni, who was released from captivity after 49 days together with her daughter Emilia, said: "On October 7 we were brutally kidnapped from our home. My daughters saw things that children their age should never have to see. "Like a horror film. You feel like pinching yourself to wake up from this film. I'm talking and I'm shaking. It was disturbing, it was scary. There is no daily schedule, nothing. You sleep, you cry. Every additional day that passed was endless, an eternity. "My brother-in-law, his brother, his partner, and her brother are still in captivity. People there may die because they might simply decide to kill them. Release them now, immediately, there is no time. I beg you in heaven's name and in the name of the other hostages." When the released captives arrived at the Hostages Plaza this week, they declared, in front of tens of thousands of people: "Every day you live there could be your last. You can't imagine the hell. You must not leave them there. Not one more minute." Another freed hostage, Yelena Trupanob, whose husband Vitaly was murdered on October 7 while her son Sasha remains in Hamas captivity, said: "I am excited to stand here before you, I came to say thank you because without you I would not be here. We need to continue and bring back my Sasha and everyone else home now!" Hadas Kalderon, whose two children Erez and Sahar were released, said: "Erez and Sahar are waiting for me at home, my superheroes, they survived and came back. The testimonies are shocking and horrifying, no boy or girl, man or woman should have to go through that. We must not forget that their father Ofer is still there. Do not forget about the men too. "After meeting the returnees, now more than ever I understand the urgency. We cannot discuss the future or state security as long as the safety of all the hostages has not been ensured." During a rally of the returnees, videos were screened of the hostages who returned from Hamas captivity and are now recovering in Israeli hospitals and their homes. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, who was released a month ago, said: "I was in the tunnels for 17 days, I barely slept. I lacked food. In the last four days, I fell ill and the terrorists were afraid I would cause an epidemic there in the tunnels. "Every day is critical, also because of the living conditions there which are very difficult, and the oxygen in the tunnels is running out. The fear of their revenge, through the hostages, is great. There are still elderly hostages there, 85 years old and younger, who will not withstand the mental and physical pressure. "The moral obligation of this government is to bring them back home immediately, without hesitation." Yaffa Adar (85), who was released after 49 days in captivity and whose grandson Tamir is still being held, added: "I am speaking as the grandmother of Tamir Arad. I was in that inferno for 49 days. I ask and beg all decision makers - take out the children, take everyone out. It's not easy, not for them, not for the families, and not for anyone. "I want to see them now, not when I'm in the coffin. Please, now is the time. " Raz Ben-Ami, released from captivity after 54 days and whose husband Ohad still remains a hostage, said: "Everyone deserves to be brought back here and now. They don't need this terrible suffering. They must be taken out of there because if we don't get them out now, they won't get out alive." Held for 50 days, Ditza Heiman said: "There was little food in captivity and as time went on, the food kept decreasing. As time goes by, the damage increases, and the body's ability to survive decreases. It is life-threatening and mentally threatening. They must be taken out immediately and everything possible must be done to make it happen. " Major General Noam Tibon, who rescued his son and granddaughters from terrorists when they attacked Kibbutz Nahal Oz, said: "The release of all hostages is the supreme mission of the war, before any other mission! And at the top of our priorities, and until we return all the hostages we will not win the war. "We will not rest or be silent or calm down until we return all the hostages. In recent weeks I have met with IDF soldiers and wonderful commanders in Gaza, they are all motivated to bring everyone back to the country, and they are willing to do anything to make it happen." Inbar Goldstein, the aunt of Agam, Gal, and Tal Goldstein-Almog who were released from Hamas captivity, said: "We were fortunate to get our family members back safe and sound. I'm here today because we always promised that even when our loved ones return we will not abandon the struggle. We are one family. "Everyone needs to come back. We have a responsibility towards them, I, you, the cabinet, and the state of Israel. We must not leave them there for another second, please bring them back now. " Shai Gross, one of the Entebbe hostages in 1976, added: " We will not be satisfied with the return of the hostages who have already returned home, until the last of them returns. Today it's here but tomorrow it can be anywhere in Europe. "In Entebbe, I was the youngest of them, we were 4,000 km from Israel but today, they are here meters away from us. I returned from there as a different child but I succeeded in establishing a family to the glory of the state of Israel! So will it be with our hostages! Be strong, the unity of the nation is here to stay! The people of Israel will win." Dunedin, Dec 3 : Fast-bowler Fatima Sana's superb 3-18 and a batting effort led by Shawaal Zulfiqar's 41 helped Pakistan win the T20I series opener over New Zealand by seven wickets. The result also means Pakistan have got their first-ever women's T20I win over New Zealand. Electing to bat first, New Zealand were restricted to 127/6, courtesy of a fine bowling display by the touristsa with Fatima being the standout. Fatima, who missed the Bangladesh tour due to injury, capitalised on the overcast conditions to bowl a superb spell of 3-18, with her scalps being Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Kate Anderson and Suzie Bates. Captain Nida Dar, Diana Baig and Aliya Riaz took a wicket each at regular intervals to dent New Zealandas job of rebuilding the innings. Maddy Green was the top run-getter, scoring 43 not out off 28 balls, hitting five fours and taking New Zealand past 120. Chasing 128, Pakistanas opening pair of Shawaal and Muneeba Ali had a decent 40-run opening partnership, before the latter fell for 23 off 24 balls to Sophie Devine. Nida promoted herself up in the order and stitched a stand of 51 runs for the second wicket with young Shawaal. Shawaal, 18, playing her sixth T20I and first in New Zealand, made her highest score in the format of 41 off 42 balls, smashing seven boundaries, before being dismissed at the end of the 13th over. Nida too was dismissed after a quick-fire 23 off 14 balls, as Pakistan lost the set batters in quick succession. It was upto the experienced duo of Bismah Maroof and Aliya to guide Pakistan home with 10 balls to spare. Aliya returned unbeaten on 25 off 12 balls, hitting two fours and a six, including the winning runs on the second ball of the 19th over to finish off the chase in style. On the other hand, Bismah was unbeaten on 13 off 18 balls, hitting a four. Pakistan will now take on New Zealand in the second T20I on Tuesday at the same venue, while the third and final T20I of the series will be played in Queenstown on December 9. Brief Scores: New Zealand 127/6 in 20 overs (Maddy Green 43 not out, Suzie Bates 28; Fatima Sana 3-18) lost to Pakistan 132/3 in 18.2 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 41, Aliya Riaz 25 not out; Sophie Devine 2-23, Eden Carson 1-27) by seven wickets Dubai, Dec 3 : His Holiness Pope Francis and the the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb have signed a declaration of support for urgent climate action, giving video addresses to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) at the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion with messages of urgency and hope for robust climate action. "Today, the world needs alliances that are not against someone, but for the benefit of everyone. It is urgent that religions, without falling into the trap of syncretism, set a good example by working together; not for their own interests or those of a particular group, but for the interests of our world," said the Pope. "Among these, the most important right now are peace and climate. Let us, as religious representatives, set an example to show that change is possible, to demonstrate respectful and sustainable lifestyles, and let us fervently ask the leaders of nations to preserve our common home. " This is particularly requested by the little ones and the poor, whose prayers reach the throne of the Most High. For their future and the future of all, let us safeguard creation and protect our common home; let us live in peace and promote peace," added the pontiff, who was unable to attend the Dubai summit in person because of illness. The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni learning in Cairo, in his message said: "... meant to cooperate with the UN and the UAE towards making the voice of religious leaders heard in face of challenges, especially climate change. "This is a precious opportunity to enhance the efforts of protecting our common environment from imminent destruction, which is looming larger year after year. "This threat is embodied in natural disasters, including an unprecedented rise in temperature, sweeping floods, devastating wildfires, and severe drought, and extinction of numerous living species, and the spread of epidemics and diseases. "Islam has a specific position on the environment and its elements, starting with the earth, through all the living species on land, to all sea and air species. This position is succinctly embodied in the Divine Command directed to every human being, believer and non-believer, to reform the earth and all that is on it, and in the prohibition and warning against causing corruption to it or to any of its elements. "The Noble Quran abounds with verses that urge respect for the environment and its elements, drawing on two perspectives: First is that the environment and natural elements constitute the clearest evidence that guides the mind to knowing Allah Almighty and believing in Him, which is indeed the best blessing ever for humanity. "The second perspective is that all kinds of beings share the believing man his servitude to Allah Almighty. Hence, in the Islamic logic, humans are responsible for the environment, just as they are responsible for themselves and for their fellow human beings. In Islam too, special legislations address this specific issue. "Allah Almighty has warned humans that if they make mischief on earth, they will suffer diseases, calamities and disasters in intensity proportionate to the inflicted corruption." Held under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion was attended by UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan; Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was representing Pope Francis; and other global political figures and religious leaders. The first-of-its-kind pavilion, co-hosted by COP28, the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, the Holy See, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Muslim Council of Elders, and a coalition of faith partners, brings together religious leaders, officials, scientists and more to discuss the role of faith communities and religious institutions in addressing the climate crisis. Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 3, 2023. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) GUANGZHOU, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 5th World Media Summit (WMS) held an opening ceremony Sunday morning in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. Hu Heping, executive deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in his remarks that the 5th WMS is a grand event for the global media circle, and called on media outlets to stay unbiased, promote mutual learning between civilizations, and deepen pragmatic cooperation to contribute their wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for humanity and building a better world. Fu Hua, executive chairman of the WMS and president of Xinhua News Agency, called on media outlets in his speech to build consensus and boost confidence in development, uphold objectivity and truth to enhance media's credibility, and deepen exchanges and collaboration to contribute to building an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. UN Undersecretary-General Melissa Fleming and other guests also delivered speeches to the ceremony. They agreed that as humanity is facing a lot of global challenges, only by deepening communication and strengthening cooperation can we boost confidence and build a shared future. A document titled "Joint Statement for the 5th World Media Summit" was released at the opening ceremony and plenary session. During the summit, attendees will hold discussions on human development and security, new technological opportunities and challenges, media and market in the new era and other topics of common concern. They will also visit a number of places in the provinces of Guangdong and Yunnan and hold exchanges. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. Delegates talk during the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 3, 2023. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) Journalists work during the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 3, 2023. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Delegates talk during the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 3, 2023. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) A delegate receives an interview during the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 3, 2023. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Liu Mengqi) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) Fu Hua, executive chairman of the World Media Summit (WMS) and president of Xinhua News Agency, addresses the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 3, 2023. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Delegates talk during the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 3, 2023. Themed "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," the 5th WMS has gathered over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and diplomatic missions to China, and UN agencies and international organizations. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial governments of Guangdong and Yunnan, runs from Dec. 2 to 8 in the cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Bengaluru, Dec 3 : In a medical feat, doctors here in a first-ever reported case repaired the uterine hole of a woman during pregnancy. The patient, a 22-year-old woman hailing from a remote town in Andhra Pradesh, was admitted to Rainbow Childrenas Hospital, Marathahalli in Bengaluru, with severe abdominal pain and signs of shock during her sixth month of pregnancy. Her pulse was high and blood pressure was very low. Her scans revealed alarming findings. There was lots of blood collection in the mother's abdomen, and there was little bleeding in the uterus also. However, the baby's heartbeat was fine and was not affected. Further, the diagnosis revealed uterine perforation and ovarian torsion (internal bleeding and damage to her uterine wall). In a bid to save the baby and the mother, the team of doctors led by Meghana Reddy, at Rainbow went for laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen. The team discovered a sharp perforation in the patients upper uterus, posing a unique challenge. The doctors, however, could not identify the reason behind the condition. It was the woman's first pregnancy and she had no prior surgeries. "It is the first-ever case. We have not found a reason for the perforation as it looked like a sharp stab kind of perforation wound and the patient had no previous surgeries in the uterus or no trauma," Reddy, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Laparoscopic Surgery, BirthRight, told IANS. Typically, in cases of uterine perforation, pregnancies are terminated. However, the medical team opted for a multidisciplinary approach, deciding on laparoscopy and fetoscopic as well as laparoscopic suturing to repair the perforation and allow the pregnancy to progress. "We did not want to lose the baby or the mother, so we decided on a multidisciplinary approach," Reddy said. The intricacies of the laparoscopic procedure, compounded by the challenge of navigating limited abdominal space, underscored the expertise and resourcefulness of the medical team. Through meticulous measures and timely action, they successfully controlled the bleeding and stabilised the patient's condition, offering hope for her and her baby. The woman went into labour at 37 weeks, and delivered the baby via normal birth. Both the mother and the baby are currently doing fine, the doctor told IANS. Reddy said the case has been reported to various journals, including the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Lucknow, Dec 3 : It was 'Holi' and 'Diwali' -- all rolled into one at the BJP state headquarters in Lucknow -- as party workers broke into early celebrations as the trends showed a clear victory for BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Party workers danced furiously to the beats of dhol while another set of workers went around hanging lights at the party office. "Modi hain to mumkin hai' was the chant across the party office and laddoos were distributed at the residences of ministers and legislators. A pall of gloom descended at the Congress office where workers were seen trashing the state leaders. "This is what happens when state leaders ignore grassroot workers. Gehlot and Kamal Nath should be asked to explain the results," said a former party MLA. A WhatsApp group run by disgruntled leaders in the Congress blamed the defeat on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's 'coterie' that had played a key role in ticket distribution. Even as TV channels played out the BJP's victory in state polls, a statement by Acharya Pramod Krishnam was enough to instigate the Congress workers. The Acharya said, "The defeat is the curse of Sanatan," while reacting to the party's defeat. Congress workers retaliated by saying, "These are the kind of leaders who have been damaging the party with their uncalled-for statements." The Samajwadi Party office also wore a deserted look but some party workers at 'bati-chokha' stall outside could be heard blaming the debacle on the party's strategy. "The SP-Congress war in Madhya Pradesh did a lot of damage. Our leaders should do some rethinking, otherwise we will suffer more losses in the coming months," said one while another added, "INDIA bloc has cracked up and the BJP will enjoy a free run in 2024." There was no official reaction from either SP or the Congress and their spokespersons had switched off their mobile phones. Hyderabad, Dec 3 : Anumula Revanth Reddy is the man of the moment as under his leadership the Congress party has seen a dramatic turnaround in its fortunes in Telangana. Despite humiliating defeats in by-elections and serious challenge to his leadership from within the party, he led the Congress from the front. With the full support of the high command and an effective strategy, Revanth Reddy gave the grand old party the much-needed victory in its stronghold. The Congress party had appeared down and out in Telangana till a few months ago. However, the victory in neighbouring Karnataka infused a new life in the party. The Congress was successful in capitalising on the anti-incumbency factor to deny the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) a hat-trick. Revanth Reddy was the only leader who campaigned not just in his home constituency Kodangal and Kamareddy, where he challenged Chief Minister KC Rao, but addressed election rallies across the state. Revanth Reddy addressed 55 public meetings in various constituencies to boost the party's prospects. The TPCC chief reached out to disgruntled leaders in the BRS and the BJP and invited them to join the Congress party. He also succeeded in persuading the central leadership to give them tickets despite facing some opposition from within the party. Though Revanth Reddy is considered an outsider by a section of senior Congress leaders, even his critics within the party admit that his hard work played a key role in the party's win. A bitter critic of KCR and his family, Revanth Reddy's aggressive brand of politics reminded many of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who was one of the most popular leaders of the Congress party in undivided Andhra Pradesh. The Congress party, which could not come to power in 2014 and 2018 despite claiming credit for carving out Telangana state, was looking for a leader who could revive the party's fortunes in its traditional stronghold. Political analysts say Revanth Reddy overcame all hurdles to live up to the expectations of the central leadership. When Revanth Reddy was picked up by the Congress leadership to lead the party in Telangana in 2021, many senior contenders for the post in the grand old party were shocked as he had defected from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) just before 2018 Assembly polls. His appointment had almost triggered a rebellion within the party and a senior leader had even alleged that a central leader of the party took bribes from Revanth Reddy to appoint him to the post. However, the Congress high command remained firm. Known for his aggressive approach and mass appeal, he was seen as someone who could reverse the fortunes of the grand old party in its former stronghold. Though a section of Congress leaders in Telangana still don't see eye-to-eye with Revanth Reddy, they had no option but to accept the high command's choice. Revanth had lost the Assembly elections in 2018 from his home turf Kodangal on a Congress ticket, but got elected to the Lok Sabha from Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency in 2019. Despite the controversies surrounding him, the 53-year-old firebrand is seen by many as the only leader who could take on KCR and family. "There is no doubt that the credit for the party's victory goes to Revanth Reddy. Under his leadership the party gained momentum and aggressively took on KCR," said political analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy. With good oratory skills, Revanth Reddy is vocal in attacking the BRS government over alleged scams and its failure on various fronts. He also enjoys a good following among the youth. It was not surprising that during the campaign, BRS leaders and the leaders of their friendly party AIMIM attacked Revanth Reddy and branded him a RSS man. While Revanth Reddy admitted that he was with the ABVP during his student days, he denied any association with the RSS. Interestingly, Revanth Reddy was a member of all three major political players in the state. Hailing from Kodangal in Mahabubnagar district, he began his political career with the TRS (now BRS) in 2003. He quit the party two years later after he was not given a chance to contest. Contesting as an independent, he became a Zilla Parishad Territorial Committee (ZPTC) member in 2006. He got elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council in 2008 as an independent candidate. The same year he joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). In 2009 he got elected to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly from Kodangal. He became close to TDP President and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Emerging as one of the key faces of the TDP, he was impressive with his articulation both in the Assembly and outside. "He used to enthusiastically participate in the debates and always come prepared with facts and figures," said an analyst. Revanth Reddy was re-elected from Kodangal in 2014. However, the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh had weakened the TDP in Telangana. In 2015, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught him while he was trying to bribe nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to make him vote for the TDP candidate in Legislative Council elections. ACB had laid the trap on Stephenson's complaint and when Revanth Reddy along with three others came to the MLA's house with Rs.50 lakh in cash, they were arrested by ACB sleuths. The episode was recorded on camera. Revanth Reddy was in jail for more than six months before he was granted bail. Since then, he has been maintaining a low profile. In October 2017, he resigned as MLA and also quit the TDP. He vowed to fight for 'liberation of Telangana from KCR's autocratic rule' and later joined the Congress party. He built a strong network within the Congress and soon became close to the top leadership. He was rewarded with the post of the working president of the TPCC. During the campaign for the 2018 elections, he triggered a row by projecting himself as the chief ministerial candidate. Despite the defeat in the Assembly elections, the party fielded him in the Lok Sabha polls held a few months later and following his victory he cemented his position in the party. IT hiring in India expected to be cautious yet strategic in Q2 FY24: Report. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Dec 3 : Exploring the landscape of employment laws across Indian states reveals a nuanced tapestry that shapes hiring practices for private companies. While a foundational similarity exists, divergences also emerge, influencing employer-employee dynamics. From variations in notice periods to regional distinctions in dismissal grounds, these legal nuances impact decisions on workforce management and organisational strategies. Edited excerpts from an interview with Advocate Minu Dwivedi on how employment laws vary across different states, and how this impacts hiring practices for private companies. The scheme of local labour laws is generally the same in most states. However, there are some variations which affect hiring practices followed by private companies. Certain states like Maharashtra have done away with statutory notice period in commercial establishments thereby giving greater autonomy to employers to contractually negotiate the same with their employees. On the other hand, in Uttar Pradesh, the grounds on which commercial establishments can dismiss an employee from service are statutorily prescribed which would restrict an employer's ability to separate with his employees. "In certain states, manufacturing companies that have 100 or more workmen need to obtain prior permission of the labour authorities to retrench even one workman whereas certain states like Rajasthan have increased this threshold to 300 workmen i.e., manufacturing companies in Rajasthan need to obtain prior permission of the labour authorities to retrench a workman only if their total workman headcount is 300 or more," Dwivedi, Partner and Attorney, JSA Advocates and Solicitors, said. He added that such considerations would impact the decision on total workmen headcount. Certain states like Telangana require employers of commercial establishments to submit appointment and termination orders of employees to the jurisdictional inspectors. Although these provisions are not strictly implemented or enforced, they can be perceived as undesirable. IANS: In the absence of state-imposed restrictions, what factors do private companies typically prioritise when making hiring decisions? Dwivedi: Private companies who are not subject to any state-imposed restrictions on hiring would prioritise hiring the best possible local talent at the most optimal cost who is a good culture fit for them. Further, they would focus on investing in and operating from those geographical locations which are a hub for their kind of business, have less operating cost, do not have active trade unionism, are not adversely impacted by geo-political activities or environment conditions. IANS: Can the cancellation of the Haryana Employment Act lead to a more competitive job market in India, and how might this affect job seekers? Dwivedi: Cancellation of the Haryana Employment Act will lead to a more competitive job market in India as the job seekers will not only need to upskill and prove their merit to land a job but will need to consistently maintain their performance to continue in employment and cater to the ever-evolving business needs. In the absence of state-imposed constraints, private companies prioritise local talent acquisition, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with organisational culture. Yet, as seen in the potential repercussions of the Haryana Employment Act's cancellation, the evolving regulatory environment continually reshapes the job market's competitiveness. Job seekers navigating this landscape must not only showcase their skills but also adapt to dynamic industry needs, heralding a future where resilience and constant upskilling become paramount for sustained success. Los Angeles, Dec 3 : Rapper The Weeknd earned praise for directing $2.5 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund to aid the World Food Programme's humanitarian response in Gaza. "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," said WFP's Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer. "Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can." "We thank Abel for this valuable contribution towards the people of Palestine," added Corinne. "We hope others will follow Abel's example and support our efforts," reports aceshowbiz.com. Many social media users happily reacted to the news, with one writing, "I'm so proud of you helping all the families you're humble you're an angel." Another added: "One way or another he steals my (heart) The things he does outside of his music commendable his heart consists of only love for other's." A third joined in: "This is really gesture from Abel, he is amazing Abel is the best. I loved him for this." A different individual chimed in: "Thats why I love you @theweeknd." The Weeknd's act arrived nearly a month after his ex Selena Gomez's make-up brand, pledged to help Palestinians following weeks of heavy bombardment from Israeli forces. Kolkata, Dec 3 : In wake of the Congress' dismal performance in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, a party leader in West Bengal on Sunday indirectly held the high command responsible because of their earlier efforts to join hands with "corrupt forces". Although Congress leader and Calcutta High Court counsel Kaustav Bagchi did not name any particular party as "corrupt forces", his clear indication was regarding Congress leaders sharing the dais at INDIA bloc meetings with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. "It is often said that while one achieves heaven when in good company, he gets doomed when in bad company. The results are reflections of the public sentiments against sharing the same dais with all thieves and dacoits. A Congress-free India will not be far away if the party does not try to stand on its own feet instead of just depending on others like a parasite. If such a day comes then the responsibility will be more on us than on BJP," Bagchi said in a social media post which he made just an hour after the trends of the assembly polls were clear. On Saturday only, Bagchi launched a scathing attack against the state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the latter's move to send a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking a review of the functioning of Parliament's Ethics Committee on the issue of proceedings of against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for query scam. "Today we are describing Mahua Moitra as a nun. Tomorrow we might do the same for Abhishek Banerjee and Mamata Banerjee. Congress workers should start practising to address thieves as monks from today only. Let us start the process with Purnima Kandu, the widow of slain Congress leader Tapan Kandu," Bagchi said in a social media post. New Delhi, Dec 3 : Despite running an aggressive campaign, the Congress lost in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and with this, the party has also lost its presence in the core Hindi heartland ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and exists only in Himachal Pradesh now. The massive setback has also dented the Congress in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc for bargaining more seats for the Lok Sabha elections. A party leader, who is yet to recover from the shock of the loss in the three states, and wishing not to be named, said that the results are a "very big setback" to us. He said that the party was hopeful of forming its government in Chhattisgarh, where it found no problem in the last five years and there was no anti-incumbency visible or report that came to the party leadership. Commenting on the results in Madhya Pradesh, the party leader said that Rahul Gandhi had earlier this year said that we will get 150 seats in the state on the basis of the reports from the state. "However, things did not go in our way and we were reduced to much fewer seats in this election, which is quite surprising," he said. The party leader pointed out that the main reason for failure of tasting success in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan was because party's strategist Sunil Kanugolu and his team were not given free hand by the leaders like Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot. "Whereas, he had complete independence in Telangana to give proper report to the party and also suggest ways for campaigns and the state leadership agreed to them and gave them all the help they required," the party leader said. Even the state leadership acted on the internal surveys conducted by Kanugolu's team, which was not the case in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where the senior leaders did not come on board with him that led to such a massive defeat despite the mood being in favour of Congress, he said. The party leader also highlighted that differences appeared between Kanugoluas team in Rajasthan after he gave the internal survey of the party suggesting that there are many sitting MLAs and Ministers who will not be able to win in the desert state. However, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot denied the anti-incumbency against his MLAs and Ministers on the basis of the surveys conducted by his strategy team DesignBoxed, the party leader said. "This is where the difference lies," he said, adding that the survey prepared by Kanugolu's team was an honest one which highlighted the problems, which was ignored. The party leader said that now with complete sweep in the Hindi heartland, the road ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha election will not be easy. He agreed that the INDIA bloc seat sharing talks, which were paused in view of the Assembly polls, will have its bearing on the same as it will not be in position for doing hard bargain from other parties citing no or very small presence in Hindi heartland or North Indian states. The Congress was hopeful of returning to power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and was also hopeful to wrest power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. "But the results have gone completely different from what was expected. It is a tough time for us, but we will find some ways to come over and take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he added. Congress had last year lost in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. In Bihar, Congress is a part of the Grand Alliance of the RJD and JD(U) and in Jharkhand, the Congress is part of the coalition government with JMM. Srinagar, Dec 3 : J&K Police said on Sunday that it has solved a murder case in which a woman killed her husband with the support of her paramour in Sopore area. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Shabir Nawab told a media conference that the family had filed a missing report in police station Bomai about Riyaz Ahmad Mir. "Police found his body near his house under mysterious circumstances. The body was sent for medico-legal formalities to the hospital and an FIR was registered in Bomai police station. "Investigation revealed that the wife of the person had an extra marital relationship with a local person. The wife and her paramour confessed to having planned and executed the murder. Both have been arrested. "The deceased, 48-year-old Riyaz Ahmad Mir, was a resident of Zaloora in Sopore and father of four children -- three daughters and a son," the SSP said. New Delhi: Member of NDMA Lt. Gen. (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain during a press conference. Image Source: IANS News Gandhinagar, Dec 3 : Member of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain on Sunday spoke on the evolving nature of the conflict while laying emphasis on the adage that "the absence of violence is not peace". Hasnain said this while speaking on 'Managing Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh's comprehensive security in the current threat scenario', offering a profound analysis of the region's security dynamics. He highlighted the evolving nature of conflict, particularly in relation to Pakistan. "The future will have hybrid war, it will combine various parts of the spectrum of conflict -- conventional, irregular, cyber, economic, piracy, transnational crime, fake news, psychological, and fake currency," Hasnain said, emphasising the multifaceted challenges ahead. Speaking on China, Hasnain expressed his observations on China's cautious stance post the Russia-Ukraine war and its perception of India's strategic position. "China is watchful after Russia's Ukraine war. China is also concerned about Indian strategic confidence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- a stalemate will be perceived as an Indian victory. China and India fail to trust each other, and China uses this trust deficit as a weapon. In the future, diversion from Taiwan is unlikely, but the threat of being will be protected," he stated. Reflecting on India's potential in the global arena, Hasnain remarked: "In a competitive world, with a young population and dynamic human capital, India has all the potential to grow beyond the threshold of a middle power. This is what worries China and Pakistan." His lecture concluded with a reminder: "Never forget the adage: the absence of violence is not peace." His career spanning four decades in various conflict zones, from Sri Lanka to the Siachen Glacier, the northeast to Jammu & Kashmir, and UN operations from Mozambique to Rwanda, has given Hasnain a perspective on security matters. His experiences in these turbulent environments and hotspots have shaped his understanding of the complexities of regional security. Meanwhile, former IAF officer Air Marshal (retd) Anil Chopra focused on the geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific region in his talk titled 'The great game in Indo-Pacific'. He delved into the strategic implications and shifting power dynamics in this increasingly significant area. The Air Force Association of Gujarat on Sunday hosted the Late Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC Annual Memorial Lectures in Gandhinagar, featuring insights from two senior officers on pivotal security topics. Jaipur, Dec 3 : Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, Union Minister and Jodhpur MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are among the frontrunners for the coveted Chief Minister's post in Rajasthan, confirmed BJP sources. However, they added that the "BJP, as such, is habitual of springing surprises and someone else can also emerge as a strong contender for the top job." Sources confirmed that Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been called to Delhi and he will be going to the national Capital soon. "There might be some meetings and crucial decisions may be taken there," sources said. It needs to be mentioned here that Gajendra Singh Shekhawat became the blue-eyed boy of the BJP after he defeated Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav in the Lok Sabha election in 2019. He was given the crucial Jal Shakti Ministry and all top leaders spoke about this ministry's work during campaigning, so he is expected to become the CM. The other frontrunner for the coveted post is Diya Kumari, the Rajsamand MP who belongs to the erstwhile Jaipur royal family. Kumari was earlier an MLA from Sawai Madhopur. She is a clean and charismatic face who is also the preferred choice of the RSS, said sources. Two-time CM and Jhalrapatan MLA Vasundhara Raje is yet another choice for the top job. Raje has around 45 BJP candidates for whom she got tickets apart from managing a few independents. Hence, the chances of her leading the show are high. Sources said that there is speculation that Raje could be made the CM and two deputies could be appointed under her. Some leaders said that this was a distinct possibility in the present case where the BJP has passed the 100 seat mark. However, some others were of the view that had the BJP bagged under 100 seats, this equation could have worked, but now with a clear majority, the CM will be announced from Delhi. Alwar MP and Tijara candidate Baba Balaknath is also the frontrunner as he represents a strong Hindutva face. The 39-year-old is also called the 'Yogi of Rajasthan.' He left home at the age of 6 and became a revered ascetic. The popular leader plays a significant role in Rajasthan politics. Balak Nath, who wears saffron clothes, is considered one of the firebrand leaders of the BJP. While these are the leading names, there are some other names that are also doing the rounds. This includes veteran leaders Om Mathur and Narayan Pancharia. The BJP has a penchant for surprising one and all with its choice for the top job, so only time will tell who will be picked by the party to head Rajasthan. BISSAU, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Saturday said this week's deadly violence in the capital was an "attempted coup" with "serious consequences for all those involved." Embalo spoke to the press at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport Saturday evening after his return from Dubai, where he attended the COP28 climate conference. Clashes between elements of the National Guard and special forces of the Presidential Guard broke out during the night from Thursday to Friday. 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 Victor Tchongo, released individuals who were being questioned at the judicial police building. Tchongo and some of his people were arrested Friday morning by the military police, according to military sources. Tchongo "was at the request of someone to remove the Minister of Finance from the prisons of the judicial police", said Embalo, adding he would create next Monday "a commission of inquiry to investigate the situation of the attempted coup." On Feb. 1, 2022, members of the Guinea-Bissau army launched a failed coup against Embalo. Dubai, Dec 3 : India would proactively lead the way in achieving all its climate targets, said Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Leena Nandan, on Sunday. Speaking at a side event on "India's journey towards sustainable cooling" at the India Pavilion, on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, she said nothing is a better display of this resolve than India's current status in terms of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). "When India had announced NDCs in 2015, we envisaged 33-35 per cent emission intensity reduction by 2030, but we have pushed its efforts in a big way. While India has continued to grow, it has also progressively decoupled emissions from economic growth and this has resulted in achievement of 33 per cent reduction in emission intensity of GDP in 2019 itself." The Secretary credited this success to a parallel push India has given to renewable energy for its requirements. "India, however, does not sit back on its laurels. We have gone on to scale up our climate ambitions. The NDCs updated last year reflect our concern that we indeed as a global fraternity need to do much more to tackle climate change." she added. "India has not been part of the problem but is facing the consequences of climate change, and yet India has stepped up to play a leading part in the solution. This is effectively demonstrated in India's approach of balance between economy and ecology, development and environment." "The India Cooling Action Plan has become a model for many countries. Going forward, we need to bolster our efforts and be at the forefront of change, and research on coolants that would be most appropriate to Indian climatic conditions." This research, she added, should be matched with the dialogue with industry to cause quick off-take and scaling up of this technology. Underlining that India will set the narrative on how to grow responsibly and sustainably, the Secretary underscored that the government of India is committed to implementing path-breaking solutions. She invited the industry and other stakeholders to make India a leader in aspects of cooling. The event at the pavilion showcased India's success in achieving targets under the Montreal Protocol and its roadmap towards creating a sustainable cooling and thermal comfort ecosystem, which has become a necessity for environmental sustainability. Rajasree Ray, Economic Adviser with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, underscored the importance of an integrated approach for achieving sustainable cooling and thermal comfort in India. During the side event, a publication on "India's journey towards sustainable cooling", was released which provides an insight into various initiatives taken by the country, including synergies with international environmental commitments. There is significant use of cooling in different sectors of the economy such as residential and commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport and industries. The cooling demand in these and other sectors will grow in the future due to the expected economic growth of the country. Recognising that integrated actions have a higher impact than the actions taken in isolation, an integrated long-term vision towards cooling has been developed, resulting in the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), a multi-stakeholder, integrated and consultative process to synergise actions for addressing the cooling demand and cooling requirements across sectors and ways and means to provide access to sustainable cooling. During the Montreal Protocol implementation, India is one among the few countries globally and a pioneer in some cases, in the use of technologies, which are non-Ozone Depleting Substances and low Global Warming Potential. Tel Aviv, Dec 3 : The IDF has announced the death of two of its soldiers while fighting with Hamas militants. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement on Sunday said that the soldiers were identified as Aschalwu Sama and Or Brandes. The statement said Sama was wounded on November 14 and succumbed to his injuries on Saturday evening. Shoham was killed on Saturday during fight with Hamas militants on Saturday. With this, IDF has announced the death of 72 soldiers since its ground invasion began on October 27. It is to be noted that IDF lost a total of 398 soldiers since the Hamas mayhem on October 7. Jaipur, Dec 3 : The Rajasthan Assembly election results have come as a shocker to both the Congress and BJP stalwarts. While many Ministers of the Ashok Gehlot government as well as senior leaders like the Assembly Speaker lost the polls, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Deputy Leader of Opposition have also lost the election. While Speaker CP Joshi lost to Vishwaraj Singh Mewar by over 7,504 votes in Nathdwara, the LoP, Rajendra Rathore, a six-time MLA, lost to the Congressa Narendra Budania by over 10,000 votes. Rathore in fact has changed his seat from Churu to Tara Nagar. Deputy LoP and former state president Satish Poonia lost to the Congressa Prashant Sharma by 9,092 votes. Once again, the trend of changing governments every five years has continued in Rajasthan as the BJP has gained majority in this Assembly election. According to the Election Commission, the BJP won 115 seats and the Congress won 69 seats, while other candidates won 15 seats. Accepting defeat, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has submitted his resignation to the Governor. Meanwhile, the Bharat Adivasi Party, contesting elections for the first time, has won three seats. Except for Hanuman Beniwal, no candidate from his Rashtriya Loktantrik Party has won. Only two MLAs from the Bahujan Samaj Party, which has the status of a national party, have won, while the Aam Aadmi Party and Marxist Communist Party could not bag a single seat in the state. There have been many shocking results in this election, 17 out of 25 Congress Ministers including Parsadi Lal Meena, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Mamta Bhupesh have lost these elections. This time the people have again changed the government, but this is the first time that the Speaker of the Assembly as well as the LoP and Deputy LoP have lost. After the BJP's victory in Rajasthan, senior party leaders are holding meetings to form the Government. In Delhi, BJP President JP Nadda has called a meeting regarding Rajasthan in the evening. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been called to Delhi. Jaipur, Dec 3 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda has called a meeting in Delhi to take a decision on the next chief minister of Rajasthan -- the state where the saffron party wrested power back from the Congress. A source said that senior BJP leaders have already held several meetings to discuss the matter. Nadda has sought feedback from Rajasthan unit president CP Joshi, and election in-charge Pralhad Joshi. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been called to Delhi. Sources said that Baba Balaknath has also been called to the national capital. BJP will formally stake claim to form the government after getting the nod from the central party leadership. A meeting would also be held in Jaipur to discuss the next chief minister and government formations. Currently, leaders considered as CM faces have distanced themselves from any kind of show of power. Senior BJP leaders are now waiting for the high command's stand for a decision on the Rajasthan chief ministerial name. There will be an announcement regarding the new chief minister at the BJP legislature party meeting. There has been a tradition in the BJP to announce the name of the Chief Minister in the legislature party meeting itself. According to sources associated with BJP, the decision on the new CM is likely to be taken soon. The new chief minister may be sworn in on December 7. For this, a public function will be organised in Jaipur. Senior leaders including PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new CM, sources said. The BJP contested the Rajasthan Assembly elections without declaring the CM face. This time, names of many leaders are being discussed for the new CM. Apart from Vasundhara Raje, the names of Rajasthan unit BJP president CP Joshi, Union Ministers Arjun Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, senior leader Om Prakash Mathur are doing the rounds. Bhopal, Dec 3 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday registered a massive victory in Madhya Pradesh Assembly election, including for two of the three Union Ministers it had fielded. While Union Minsters Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Singh Patel won, their ministerial colleague Faggan Singh Kulaste was not so lucky. Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, who contested the election from Dhimani Assembly seat of his home district Morena, secured his victory by more than 24,000 votes against BSP candidate Balveer Singh Dandotiya, securing a total of 79,137 votes against Dandotiyaas 54,676 votes. Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Patel registered victory from Narsinghpur Assembly, defeating Congress candidate Lakhan Singh Patel by a margin of 110,226 votes. BJP national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who was also in the election fray, won from Indore -1 seat, defeating sitting Congress MLA Sanjya Shukla by 58,202 votes. However, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kulaste, who contested from Niwas Assembly seat of Mandla district, lost to Congress candidate Chain Singh Warkade by 9,723 votes. Warkade secured 99,644 votes while Kulaste got 89,921 votes. Kulaste has represented the Mandla constituency in the state Assembly multiple times. As per Election Commission figures, the BJP had won 137 seats in the 230-member house, at 8.30 p.m., and were leading in 30 others. Meanwhile, the Congress had won 44 and were leading in 20 others. --IANS pd/vd 193 people killed in IDF attack in last few hours: Gaza Health Ministry. Image Source: IANS News Tel Aviv, Dec 3 : Gaza Health Ministry Spokesperson Ashraf Al Quadra on Sunday said that the IDF has killed 193 people and injuring 652 in last few hours in Gaza. He said that the total death toll so far has reached 15,207 while 40,652 have been injured since October 7. He said that the Israel army has also bombed the Shubra area in Gaza. Quadra said that 70 per cent victims are children and women. "There are assaults and violations in the health sector as well," he said. He said that the Israeli violations against the health system resulted in the death of 280 medical staff members while injuring hundreds of them. He said that the Israeli forces have arrested 31 medical staff members and they have deliberately targeted 130 health institutions and destroyed 20 hospitals and 46 health centers. The Gaza Health Ministry, in a statement said, that the hospitals have lost their therapeutic and absorptive capabilities while the medical staff treat the wounded with very simple capabilities, and the wounded are lying on the ground. It said that the IDF was deliberately targeting the ambulances leading to the destruction of 55 ambulances. "The IDF is deliberately stifling the health system. They want to keep the medical facilities under dire need by cutting medical supplies and fuel," the statement said. The statement said that all hospitals were crowded with wounded, which exceeded their medical capabilities and absorptive capabilities, and lacked surgical tools. It said that the number of those who left Gaza for treatment via Rafah crossing has reached 389 (including 358 wounded and 31 oncology patients). "8,00,000 people have lost their homes in Gaza. They are homeless, without food, drinking water, medicine, and are without any protection," the statement said. The Gaza Health Ministry has called upon the UN to pressure Israel for an international resolution and agreements relating to the protection of medical institutions, health service providers and legal frameworks to protect civilians. "We call on the UN and WHO to work hard to put pressure on the Israeli occupation to immediately release medical staff members. We also call upon all the UN entities to find effective and urgent mechanisms to prevent the humanitarian and health catastrophe of more than 1.3 million displaced people," the statement said. Bhopal: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath meets Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the latter's residence in Bhopal, on March 24, 2020. . Image Source: IANS News Bhopal, Dec 3 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday secured a landslide victory from Budhni Assembly constituency in Sehore district. Chouhan defeated Congress candidate and TV actor Vikram (Sharma) Mastal by 1.04 lakh votes. Chouhan garnered 1,64,951 votes (70.7 per cent vote share) while Mastal trailed far behind with a mere 59,977 votes creating a victory margin of 1,04,974 votes. Beside Budhni, the BJP has also won other three seats Sehore, Astha, and Pichhore in the home district of Chouhan. BJP candidates Sudesh Rai won Sehore seat by 37,851 votes, Gopal Singh won Astha seat by 7,903 votes, and Karan Singh Verma won Ichhawar seat by 16,346 votes. On the BJP's clean sweep in Madhya Pradesh along with neighboring Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, Chouhan said gave credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for the results. However, Chouhan also mentioned that he never felt the atmosphere of anti-incumbency against his government during the election campaign. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The work done by the double-engine government, and MP government's Ladli scheme, has helped uplift people and improve their lives. All of us have worked hard together," he added. Madhya Pradesh Congress P:resident Kamal Nath, who led the party's campaign, secured victory from his bastion Chhindwara by 36,594 votes, defeating BJP's Vivek Bunty Sahu. The veteran Congress leader congratulated the BJP on its victory. "We accept the decision of Madhya Pradesh voters in this contest of democracy. We, being the opposition party, will stick to our duty. I congratulate the BJP and hope that they will live up to the people's support they got," he said at a press conference. Tel Aviv ,dec3 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that efforts to free the remaining hostages in Gaza are being made by firepower. In an interaction with his Likud party members, he said that Israel is now "speaking to the enemy with fire" to get the remaining hostages free. He also called upon the Likud party ministers and members of Knesset (Parliament) not to enter into personal arguments during the war time and not to involve in criticising the security forces. Netanyahu also told the party members and leaders that the war cabinet is acting "quickly but not recklessly". He said that the Israeli army is continuing its attack on both northern and southern Gaza strip. It is to be noted that the seven day truce between Hamas and Israel had fallen apart on Friday and the fight has resumed with IDF shelling several areas of Gaza. The IDF has in a statement on Sunday said that it was moving into south Gaza as "this is where top leadership of Hamas including Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar are reportedly hiding". New Delhi, Dec 3 : Following BJP's resounding victories in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on that "today's hat-trick guarantees a hat-trick at the Centre in 2024", as he hailed the verdict as an endorsement for his agenda of self-reliant India and good governance. Addressing jubilant party supporters in the presence of the top BJP leadership at the party headquarters here, the Prime Minister said, "The results show popular support for our battle against corruption." Taking a swipe at the Congress-led INDIA bloc, Modi said, "Few dynasts on a stage can get a good picture, but can't earn the confidence of the people. Todayas results are challenge for those who oppose development." The Prime Minister also said that he has a piece of advice for the Congress and its allies -- they should not practice politics which is against national interests, nor work to divide and weaken the country. "Negative forces working against India will now work hard to come together and look for opportunity, but people should be wary of them. No one should come between the Centre's development agenda and the people, else the masses will remove them," Modi said in a stinging attack against the opposition parties. He also said that people can distinguish between selfish politics and the politics of national interest. The Prime Minister added that Sunday's mandate has proved that people have zero tolerance for corruption, appeasement and 'parivaarvad'. "Today the country knows that only the BJP is capable of ending these three evils. The move against corruption that the BJP government at the Centre has started is getting massive public support. This is a clear warning to those parties and leaders who are not ashamed of standing by the corrupts," he said. Targeting the opposition parties, Modi said that those who shield the corrupt and try to cover up their misdeeds, are the same people who defame the probe agencies which are targeting the corrupt. Such people should understand that the poll results are an indication of public support for the fight against corruption. He also said that today, the resolve of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' has won, the idea of preference for the deprived has won, the idea of development of states for the development of the nation has won." The Prime Minister extended his appreciation to the voters, calling the victories as historical and unprecedented. "The idea of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' has won today," Modi declared, while acknowledging the immense love and faith for the BJP shown by the people. "For me, four castes are important - Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, Kisan and Gareeb Parivaar," he said, highlighting the pivotal role women, youth, farmers and the marginalised families play in the nation's progress. Expressing gratitude to Nari Shakti, Modi acknowledged their crucial role in ensuring BJP's success in the recent elections. He also spoke passionately about the joy of collective victory felt by the poor, deprived, farmers, tribal communities and first-time voters. Promising to fulfil all the campaign promises, Modi said, "All the promises made by us will be 100 per cent fulfilled, and this is Modi's guarantee." The Prime Minister also underscored the confidence he had in preventing the Congress from coming to power in Rajasthan, crediting the trust he placed on the people of the state. Before Modi's address, BJP President J.P. Nadda lauded the Prime Minister's leadership and commitment, saying, "The results reflect that there is only 'Modi guarantee'. 'Modi hai toh mumkin hai'." Patna, Dec 3 : Bihar Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary on Sunday claimed that "negative propaganda" is being spread about the state by a section of people. He appealed to the people to avoid getting disappointed as Bihar is moving swiftly on the development path. Addressing a gathering on the last day of NRI Summit, Choudhary said: "Donat get disappointed by negative propaganda about the state. Certain vested interests keep trying to spread baseless propaganda and rumours. No propaganda can stop Bihar from attaining new heights. Propaganda can't decide Biharas fate, only progress can. There are some shortcomings but the Bihar government stands united with its people to improve the scenario. "Bihar is moving swiftly on the path of development. The state has made significant achievements on various fronts ranging from agriculture and healthcare to education and employment. It may not be seen from far away but it is very much evident on the ground." Earlier, Choudhary presented the 'Shreshth Bihar-Navanirmaan Yugal' award to Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Chairman Atul Prasad and SIDBI General Manager Anubha Prasad for making significant contributions in enhancing peopleas life in Bihar. Atul Prasad was recently in the limelight for successfully organising the drive to recruit about 1.20 lakh teachers in a single phase, while Anubha Prasad has made significant impact by founding Karekeba Ventures (Kare-ke-ba), the pioneering incubation-cum-impact investment platform for startups and innovation-businesses working for under-served geographies of India. "Atul Prasad joins me in thanking everyone for considering us worthy of the award. This has inspired us to change even more lives with our humble efforts and contribute to the development and transformation of Bihar," said Anubha Prasad. During the three-day NRI summit in Patna, social scientists, industry leaders, experts and professionals from across the world participated in brainstorming sessions to identify strategies that will enable Bihar to grow in a more equitable and inclusive manner. A volunteer works at the venue of the 5th World Media Summit in Nansha Bay Marina Convention Center in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua/Li Ming) Guests arrive at the venue of the 5th World Media Summit in Nansha Bay Marina Convention Center in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Staff members provide service for guests at the venue of the 5th World Media Summit in Nansha Bay Marina Convention Center in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A guest flips through publications at the venue of the 5th World Media Summit in Nansha Bay Marina Convention Center in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) This photo taken on Dec. 2, 2023 shows the exterior view of the venue of the 5th World Media Summit in Nansha Bay Marina Convention Center in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A guest flips through publications at the venue of the 5th World Media Summit in Nansha Bay Marina Convention Center in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) New Delhi, Dec 4 : By retaining Madhya Pradesh and winning in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the BJP is now in power in 12 states across the country, while the Congress reduced to power in only three states. The BJP retained Madhya Pradesh with a brute majority of 165 seats in the 230-member Assembly. The saffron party also won in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan with a massive mandate. On the other hand, the Congress, with its victory in Telangana, is now in power in three states across the country besides Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. The grand old party was hoping for a second term in Chhattisgarh as well as Rajasthan, but its dreams shattered after it failed to get the mandate. Besides the three states, where the elections results were announced on Sunday, BJP is in the power on its own in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The saffron party is also part of the ruling coalition in four states -- Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim. The states ruled by the BJP-led NDA will now account for almost half of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, while only two states, accounting for less than 50 Lok Sabha seats, are now governed by parties not aligned with either the NDA or the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) of opposition parties. The Congress is also part of the ruling coalitions in Bihar with Grand Alliance partners -- RJD and the JD-U and Jharkhand with the JMM. It is also an ally of the DMK, which is in power in Tamil Nadu. However, the Congress is not part of the Tamil Nadu government. Meanwhile, the AAP, with its governments in Delhi and Punjab, is the third biggest national party. Washington, Dec 4 : US Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley's rapid ascension in the echelons of the GOP and donors endorsements in the primaries, just days before the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire meet, could be humiliating to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who had the early bird advantage in the race for the 2024 Presidential poll candidacy. Haley received a huge boost last week after her poll numbers jumped over DeSantis when the influential and deep-pocketed Koch political network endorsed her. This apparently left in cold the once-hailed DeSantis as the Republican Party's next big thing, US media critics observed. Haley gets Koch cash while DeSantis gets another kick in the ..., critics wrote in op-eds. While Haley was counting all the new campaign cash she would get from Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP), linked to billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, DeSantis was desperately vying for attention by debating a Democrat who's not running for president, namely California Governor Gavin Newsom on whether the Californian liberal model or the stringent DeSantis model was good for America's future. The public opinion was only marginally in favour of DeSantis. The once-heralded presidential candidate, trailing Haley in New Hampshire and South Carolina (where she was also the former governor) and tying up with her in Iowa, spent Thursday night on Fox News debating Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom. It didn't work very much in favour of DeSantis, critics pointed out saying viewers again saw Awkward Ron, a guy who struggles with smiling and other basic human facial expressions. He parroted his usual culture-war lines while Newsom who again is not running for president and really doesn't matter battered him with facts and lured him into exchanges like his pandemic response. Donald Trump continues to brutally mock DeSantis, who has lost his support in the GOP. Prior to the weird and unnecessary debate, critics said, leading GOP presidential primary candidate Trump's spokesperson released a predictably crass statement that wound up being prescient: "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", USA TODAY said in a special feature Sunday. At the debate, 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, a USA TODAY critic wrote. "While the DeSantis campaign's death rattle is satisfying to those of us who have found him, his often-cruel policies and his bullying demeanour repulsive, there is an orange-hued elephant in the room that minimizes Haley's admirable progress," the critic wrote. Trump remains miles ahead of both her and DeSantis in every poll, state or national. The former president again won't bother to attend Wednesday's debate at Alabama, and while the Koch endorsement of Haley clearly irked him, it's going to take more than money for anyone to overtake Trump and his 90-plus state and federal indictments, unprecedented for a former president in American history and yet popular with voters. His near-certain conviction in the New York civil fraud trial in March 2024 could change the scene for Trump as 15 per cent of his supporters are said to be thinking of dumping him if he's proved a tax evader. If it comes down to Haley vs. Trump, the critic said she will need some big-time help. DeSantis tried to out-bully Trump, and that's a fool's errand, the critic said pointing out that the only thing about Haley's rise to "most-favoured No. 2" that matters is that she's delivering another kick to the shins of DeSantis and what is arguably one of the worst presidential campaigns ever witnessed. Gaza, Dec 4 : The Hamas-run Health Ministry said that Israel has launched new airstrikes on various areas in the war-torn Gaza Strip, resulting in dozens killed and wounded. Rescue workers and medics said that Israeli airstrikes on Sunday targeted a "populated residential building belonging to the Abu Aita family in the Jabalia Camp in the northern Strip. Thirty-seven people were killed and were transferred to the hospital over the past few hours", Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, at least three people were killed and 20 others wounded in an Israeli bombardment targeting a house owned by the Abu Jiyab family in the Abu Eskandar area, north of Gaza City, according to medics. Moreover, the Palestinian civil defense service said that several people were killed and wounded in homes destroyed by Israeli warplanes on Yafa Street, east of Gaza City. Earlier in the day, the civil defense service spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported that 84 dead were transported to Al-Muamalat Hospital in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes in the recent hours. The government's Media Office Director Ismael Al-Thawabteh told reporters on Sunday that more than 700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the last 24 hours. Bareilly, Dec 4 : After a father-son duo died after being bitten by a rabies-infected cat in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, a 50-year-old woman who was wounded in a jackal attack nearly 20 days ago, succumbed during treatment in Bareilly. Victim Choti Begum, 50, a resident of Barkhan village under the limits of Nawabganj police station, was attacked by a jackal, along with two other women, while gathering fodder for cattle in a nearby forest. All three women then were admitted at the community health centre from where they were discharged after treatment. However, on Friday, Choti's condition deteriorated because of a rabies infection and she was again rushed to the hospital for treatment, where she died during treatment. Afsari Begum, 40, one of the survivors, said: "The aggressive jackal bit Choti on her face, and she was injured while trying to help. Villagers had to intervene and kill the jackal to protect us. The doctor had given us injections but now Choti has died because of infection and I am scared about myself. There are many jackals in the area but the forest department is not taking any action." Forest Ranger K.K. Mishra said: "We will send a team to the village to investigate the incident. In case if a jackal was killed by the villagers, then we may have to register an FIR in this case under the Wildlife Protection Act." MANILA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred inside a gym of Mindanao State University in Marawi city, Lanao del Sur province, the southern Philippines, killing at least three and injuring seven, local media reported Sunday morning. Property details: INVESTMENT PROPERTYCIBOLA COUNTY, NEW MEXICOI own a nice 5.26 acre lot in the Tierra Verde private community in Cibola County, New Mexico. This area is called the Land of Fire and Ice because of its volcanic landscape and ice caves. The property is in an excellent location with close access to Highway 53, about 30 miles southwest of Grants, New Mexico. Its west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, off Interstate 40. Local pick up for this sale is not necessary despite it saying so in the shippin... 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Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Property details: INVESTMENT PROPERTYELOY, PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONAI own a nice 1/4 acre lot in Eloy, Arizona with close access to Interstate 10 and Interstate 8. This land is in an excellent location about half way between Phoenix and Tucson. TERMS I am selling the lot for $4,950 (monthly payments accepted). There is no minimum which must be met on the bid. The bid amount is added to the total sale price above. You can either make arrangements for full payment upon securing the winning bid or arrange for $100 month... Price: $ 5 Seller State of Residence: Illinois Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 85131 Zoning: Residential City: Eloy State/Province: Arizona Location: 851**, Eloy, Arizona You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Arizona DAMASCUS, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. base in the Kharab al-Jir town in Syria's northeastern province of al-Hasakah came under attack by pro-Iran fighters on Sunday as part of the revenge campaign for the Israeli attack in Gaza, a war monitor reported. Rocket shells fired by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Iran-backed Iraq-based militia, hit the base with no information about casualties, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Meanwhile, the pro-government Sham FM radio cited a statement by the militia, confirming that a "big wave of rocket shells hit their targets directly" in the Kharab al-Jir base. The Britain-based observatory has said that it had documented 47 attacks on U.S. bases in Syria since October 19. 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 U.S. forces have set up bases in several areas in northeastern Syria, especially near 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. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) may allow non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) greater exposure to domestic equities if their investments are sent through foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) registered at the GIFT City International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Photograph:Courtesy, giftgujarat.in The proposal will be taken during Sebis board meeting on Saturday along with other key agenda items such as easing of voluntary delisting mechanism and introduction of a regulatory framework for real estate fractional ownership platforms, said people in the know. At present, the combined holdings of NRIs and OCIs in a global fund have to be less than 50 per cent, while that of a single NRI or OCI is capped at 25 per cent. Sources said the market regulator may allow the aggregate contribution of NRI/OCIs to go beyond 50 per cent of the FPI corpus as long as the global fund is domiciled at IFSCs based out of India. The investment cap on NRIs/OCIs is to curb the possibility of Indian promoters using the FPI route to circumvent domestic regulations such as minimum public shareholding or takeover code regulations. However, allowing greater participation via the IFSC route minimises this concern as the KYC and due diligence framework will be regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), a domestic regulator. Sebi had floated a discussion paper on this matter in August. It is felt that compared to other international regulators, IFSC shall have a better information sharing mechanism with Sebi and shall be in a better position to oversee structures having predominant NRI/ OCI ownership, with more effective monitoring of the quality of capital flows, in line with the principles prescribed under PMLA/PMLR and Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), Sebi had said in the discussion paper. Queries sent to Sebi did not elicit any response. Market experts believe a more liberalised regime for NRI/OCIs could lead to twin benefits. It will boost the fund ecosystem at the IFSC as well as attract genuine flows from overseas Indians. Currently, there are only 21 FPIs registered with the IFSCA. Sources said that Sebi might incorporate some suggestions submitted by the platforms in relation to sponsor holdings and net worth. As these platforms do not fall under the ambit of the market regulator at present and no adequate protection, it was seen as a risk to investors along with certain possibilities of violation of other norms like that in the Companies Act. The market watchdog will also be taking up delisting regulations in the board meetingto consider the alternatives to the reverse book-building mechanism. Sebi would be reviewing the counter-offer mechanism, floor price, and the reference date for determining the floor price under the delisting regulations. At present, promoters planning to delist have to provide an opportunity for the public shareholders to exit. This is done at a price discovered through the reverse book building (RBB). Under the RBB mechanism, promoters have to acquire at least 90 per cent of total shareholding for the delisting bid to be successful. This threshold may be brought down to 75 per cent. Ifsca mulls new framework for wealthy investors The International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA), the regulator for GIFT City IFSC, is mulling the concept of accredited investors wealthy individuals who can avail certain dispensations. The minimum investment threshold in certain products such as venture capital schemes, restricted schemes, and portfolio management services do not apply to such investors. As per the consultation paper floated by the regulator, the framework proposes income criteria of at least $200,000 annual gross income in the preceding financial year and similar level during the ongoing financial year as an eligibility condition for individuals. Individuals, sole proprietorships or one person companies can be identified as accredited investors also on the basis of net assets. The net assets must be at least $1 million and at least $500,000 worth of net assets comprising financial assets. The value of primary residence is not to be included while considering net assets. The framework further specifies joint investment criteria, norms for HUFs, partnership firms, trusts and corporate bodies. Central banks, sovereign funds, pension funds, provident funds will be deemed to be accredited investors, said the paper. The IFSCA has sought comments by December 7. The Congress on Sunday suffered a near wipeout in the Hindi heartland as it lost 3-1 to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the assembly polls, signalling the need to redraw its strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Image only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo The party was trounced in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and is now left with only Himachal Pradesh in the north. It is ruling in only three states on its own and is in power in Bihar and Jharkhand as a junior partner in alliance with regional parties. However, its victory in Telangana gave a boost to its consolidation in southern India where it is in power on its own in Karnataka. Congress' loss in the key states has also weakened the grand old party's position in the INDIA bloc where equations are set to change, as other opposition parties would challenge its position as the fulcrum of the alliance. While Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had lashed out at the Congress over refusal to share seats in Madhya Pradesh, more rumblings within the opposition bloc have begun after the results on Sunday with Janata Dal-United's KC Tyagi saying that this is not a defeat of the INDIA bloc but of the Congress, as it ignored other partners. Kerala chief minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Pinarayi Vijayan said the Congress thought it had already won and it couldn't be defeated and this led to its downfall. Referring to the SP-Congress 'ugly faceoff', Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said this could have been avoided and asked the Congress to show more generosity. "You are a big party and taking on a bigger responsibility in the INDIA bloc, then you have to show some generosity," she said adding that the Congress needs to introspect where it is lacking in direct contests with the BJP. The Samajwadi Party said it was a defeat of the Congress leaders' 'ego'. SP spokesperson Manoj Singh Yadav 'Kaka' said that the party was demanding five seats, but "they insulted our leaders". "If they cannot give five seats to the backward classes then how will they get votes," said Kaka. Internal rifts and factionalism within its state units added to the Congress' woes in these assembly polls, which were considered as semifinals to the 2024 general elections. The big announcement of freebies, the Caste Survey and the Old Pension Scheme, which worked in some other states, also did not work in its favour in these elections. Notwithstanding this, pollsters feel that factors that contributed to the party's loss include the anti-Sanatan row, allegations of appeasement, besides the inability to counter anti-incumbency in states ruled by it. The Panauti remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a negative personalised attack on him also seemed to have backfired on the party in these elections. The party's so-called soft-Hindutva card also did not yield any significant results. The BJP's organisational strength, its Hindutva card and the Prime Minister's development pitch and talk of national pride in campaigning seemed to have worked well for the BJP, which pulled a stupendous victory despite projections by pollsters to the contrary. The BJP leaders asserted that the electorate has preferred 'Modi ki guarantee' against the 'Congress guarantees' in these elections. BJP's women card in all these states, especially in Madhya Pradesh where it had launched the 'Ladli Behna' scheme that gives monthly financial doles to women for economically weaker strata, seems to have worked well in the ruling party's favour. Factionalism within its units in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan proved detrimental to the Congress. While Bhupesh Baghel and TS Singh Deo had a running feud for five years in Chhattisgarh, differences between Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh in Madhya Pradesh and an open war of words between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are among the factors that went against the Congress party. Admitting that the Congress' cards did not work with the voters this time, a senior leader said there is a need for the party to go back to the drawing board and chalk out its strategy soon as merely four months are left for the grand finale in Lok Sabha elections. The results of the assembly elections have come as a bitter lesson for the Congress party and the larger opposition bloc, which will now have to rediscover its election narrative to take on a resurgent BJP under Prime Minister Modi. "Our performance in these three states has no doubt been disappointing, but with determination, we reaffirm our strong resolve to rebuild and revive ourselves in these three states..." "We will overcome temporary setbacks and prepare ourselves fully for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections along with the INDIA parties," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said. Leaders of Indian bloc parties would meet on December 6 at Kharge's residence to chalk out its further strategy on how to take on the BJP. While the Congress office in Delhi wore a deserted look this afternoon, party leaders expressed confidence that it will able to bounce back in the coming months and turn the tide in its favour. "Exactly 20 years ago, the Indian National Congress had lost the state elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while winning only Delhi. But within a few months, the party bounced back and went on to emerge as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha polls and formed the government at the Centre. "It is with hope, confidence and a firm sense of resolve and resilience that the Indian National Congress prepares for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said. The assembly poll results have come as a dampener for the Congress and given a booster dose to the BJP ahead of next year's finals, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance would have to take some quick decisions to win back people's confidence and take lead in the perception war. "These election results underline the need for the secular forces to redouble their efforts in defence of people's livelihood and the secular democratic character of the Indian republic," CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 14 rallies in Madhya Pradesh during campaigning for polls and reached out to young voters by reminding them of the failures of previous Congress governments on various fronts as he doubled down on development of all sections. IMAGE: A portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi being offered sweets as BJP supporters celebrate the party's lead in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assembly elections, in Kolkata on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo Modi's appeal seemingly clicked with voters, including women, in the central state where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has won 33 seats and leading in 131 out of 230 constituencies where results are being declared on Sunday. The prime minister also led a roadshow after elections were announced last month in MP. As BJP devised a strategy to defeat anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh which has been under its belt since 2003, barring 18 months from December 2018 to March 2020, Modi reached out to various sections of voters, including women, youngsters, tribals, besides the traditional supporters of the saffron party. The BJP's campaign theme 'MP ke mann mein Modi, Modi ke mann mein MP' received wide acceptance during the campaigning. On the penultimate day of electioneering, Modi addressed three election rallies and led a road show. Modi was joined by Union Home Minister and strategist Amit Shah. Hitting out at Congress, Shah raised the Ram temple issue at the hustings. He said the people of Madhya Pradesh will celebrate Diwali again on December 3 when votes for the assembly elections will be counted, and on January 22 when the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated. In September, Shah took upon himself the tasks of poll management and forming strategies for the November 17 elections. Shah toured Madhya Pradesh extensively. In a bid to quell dissent over the distribution of poll tickets, he camped in the state for three days. He also made rebels beat a retreat and reached out to BJP cadres and other leaders. As the top brass of BJP was leading from the front, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh, popular among voters as 'mama', propagated the flagship Ladli Behna Yojana, which has become a hit among women. Under the scheme, women get Rs 1,250 per month. The number of beneficiary women is a staggering 1.31 crore out of 2.72 crore women voters in the state. Chouhan is the longest-serving chief minister of Madhya Pradesh who has been at the helm since 2003, except from December 2018 to March 2020 when Congress was in power. Notably, the BJP didn't project any leader from the state as its CM face, apparently to beat anti-incumbency, and sought votes for 'lotus', the poll symbol of the party. This was the first time since 2003 that the BJP didn't project the chief ministerial face. As part of a strategy, BJP leaders, including JP Nadda, Shah, and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, launched five Jan Ashirwad Yatras instead of Chouhan. Smarting under its defeat in the 2018 MP assembly polls by a slender margin against Congress, the BJP didn't take any chances this time. The BJP appointed Union minister Bhupendra Yadav as the state electionincharge and his cabinet colleague Ashwini Vaishnaw as the co-incharge for the assembly elections in July. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar was named as the convenor of BJP's election management committee for Madhya Pradesh polls. While Congress had promised financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to women under Nari Samman Nidhi if voted to power, Chouhan rolled out the Ladli Behna scheme by providing Rs 1,000 per month to women. He promised to hike the assistance to Rs 3,000 in tranches and implemented a Rs 250 monthly hike. On November 17, Madhya Pradesh recorded an impressive 77.82 per cent voter turnout with around 76.02 per cent of women voters casting their ballots. Several Union ministers and leaders from other states, including Yogi Adityanath, campaigned for BJP in MP. For Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were the star campaigners. State Congress president Kamal Nath addressed one to two election meetings daily during the campaign. In contrast, Chouhan (64) addressed eight to ten rallies on average every day to drum up support for the BJP. DUBAI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Delegates focused on the topic of health on the fourth day of the UN climate change conference (COP28) held here in Dubai, pledging support for the world's most vulnerable people. COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi said on Sunday that "climate change impacts everybody, but we are not all being affected equally. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, extreme weather events affect three times as many people annually compared to other countries." "Despite this, people living in extremely fragile states receive a fraction -- up to 80 times less -- of climate finance compared to those in non-fragile states. The COP28 presidency is committed to driving action and consensus to change this," he added. In keeping with this, Sunday was dedicated to health, as part of efforts by the COP28 presidency to focus global audiences on protecting communities from the threats of climate change. The day also featured the first-ever Climate and Health Ministerial Conference, bringing together ministers of health and senior health delegates from over 100 countries. COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is being held in the United Arab Emirates from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. The main topics of the event are the transition to renewable energies and the delivery of climate funds. To preserve nature and protect people's livelihoods are also on the agenda of global delegates. India and the Maldives are in discussions for keeping the Indian military platforms in the island nation and a core group that both sides agreed to set up will look at the details relating to it, official sources said on Sunday.India and the Maldives are in discussions for keeping the Indian military platforms in the island nation and a core group that both sides agreed to set up will look at the details relating to it, official sources said on Sunday. IMAGE: Troops of the Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Force take part in the joint military exercise 'Ekuverin', in Chaubatia, June 25, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Earlier in the day, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu reportedly told journalists that New Delhi has agreed to withdraw its military personnel from his country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muizzu held talks on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai on Friday and it is understood that the issue had figured in the meeting. "The issue was briefly discussed in Dubai," said a source. Following the meeting between Modi and Muizzu, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said that the two leaders also discussed ways to further deepen bilateral partnership, adding: "In this regard, they agreed to set up a core group." The sources said the Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of the Indian military platforms. "The fact that it is an important segment of our bilateral development partnership is recognised by both sides," the source said. "Discussions on how to keep them operational are ongoing. The core group that both sides have agreed to set up will look at details of how to take this forward," the source said. The sources said the continued usefulness of the Indian platforms as it was recognised in discussions needs to be looked at in a proper perspective. India and the Maldives are in discussions for keeping the Indian military platforms in the island nation and a core group that both sides agreed to set up will look at the details relating to it, official sources said on Sunday.The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties, including in areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male. Muizzu, who is widely seen as a pro-China leader, was sworn in as the new Maldivian President on November 17. A day after taking charge of the top office, he called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. Muizzu has maintained that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot submitted his resignation to Governor Kalraj Mishra Sunday evening after his Congress party was defeated in the assembly polls. IMAGE: Outgoing Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot submits his resignation to Governor Kalraj Mishra, at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI on X Gehlot reached the Raj Bhavan here and handed over the resignation letter to the Governor. The BJP crossed the halfway mark in Rajasthan where assembly elections took place. Earlier on Sunday, Gehlot said the poll results were 'unexpected for everyone' but rejected suggestions that bringing forward 'new faces' would have helped the party retain power. He lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging they incited people in the name of religion during the election campaign. The Congress leader said that he had expected that the people of the state would take 'revenge' on the BJP leaders but it did not happen. In a post on X, Gehlot said, 'We humbly accept the mandate given by the people of Rajasthan. This is an unexpected result for everyone. This defeat shows that we were not completely successful in taking our plans, laws and innovations to the public.' Later, talking to reporters, Gehlot said that they would go into the reasons behind the adverse election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Replying to a question on whether a change of face in the elections might have brought a positive result, Gehlot said that it would be wrong to say that bringing new faces might have made the party win the elections. "There was talk of bringing new faces, and new faces should come, but this demand was not there in MP and Chhattisgarh and still we lost the election. It would be wrong to say that we would have won the election if new faces were brought." Gehlot and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who was batting for handing over the reins to the next generation leaders, were engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a revolt against the Gehlot Government after which he was removed from the posts of the party's state unit president and deputy chief minister. Last year, an attempt by the high command to effect a leadership change in Rajasthan had failed after Gehlot loyalists dug their heels in and did not allow a legislature party meeting to take place. Asked if the defeat might affect the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Gehlot replied, "All these things affect. In the elections, Kharge ji, Rahul Gandhi ji and Priyanka Gandhi...everyone did campaigning massively. Our schemes were exemplary. "We were expecting to win on the basis of our schemes, laws and promises. But, the government could not be formed." Gehlot said that he would continue to work for the people whether he remains in any position or not. He said that he would continue to work for the people of the state till his last breath. He said party president Mallikarjun Kharge has asked everyone to now prepare for the Parliament election. "I wish the new government all the best. My advice to them is that despite working hard, we were not successful, it does not mean that they should not work after forming the government," he said. He said all the schemes introduced by the Congress government in the past five years, including the old pension scheme and the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme, should be taken forward by the next government. Factors such as anti-incumbency, voter fatigue, and dissatisfaction among the youth contributed mainly to the poor showing of Bharat Rashtra Samiti in the Telangana Legislative assembly election on Sunday. IMAGE: Telangana Bhavan carries a deserted look as the Congress wins the Telangana assembly elections, in Hyderabad on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo Despite the towering image of BRS supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, along with the party's extensive grassroots network and welfare programmes, the perceived inaccessibility of its leaders contributed to the growing anti-incumbency sentiments. Additionally, the opposition projection of what they called the BRS family rule in the state further exacerbated this sentiment. The party's decision to renominate most of the 119 MLAs did not yield the desired results either. The BRS has dominated Telangana politics since the state's formation in 2014 and had a significant presence even in undivided Andhra Pradesh since 2001. While the BRS government introduced various welfare schemes, its alleged failure to fulfill key election promises, including providing housing for the poor, ensuring significant job creation, doling out unemployment relief, as well as the delayed implementation of farmers' loan waivers and the leak of recruitment test question papers worked against them. The BJP was initially considered the main opposition to BRS, but the scenario changed after the Congress gained momentum following the Karnataka elections in May. Allegations of an implicit understanding between the BRS and the Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly regarding the Delhi excise policy case involving Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter Kavitha, weakened the BJP, leading anti-establishment votes to consolidate in favour of the Congress. Unlike previous elections where sentiments for separate statehood played a crucial role, emotional issues did not significantly sway this election. In 2018, the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party formed an alliance, with the BRS accusing TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu of being anti-Telangana. However, the TDP chose not to contest the recent Telangana assembly election due to ongoing legal issues and Naidu's imprisonment in Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Telangana Party (YSRTP) led by Y S Sharmila, daughter of former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, withdrew from the contest, declaring support for the Congress. The Congress ran an assertive campaign centered on the theme of change, encapsulated in the slogan 'marpu kavali -- Congress ravali' (there should be change -- Congress should come), which effectively resonated with the electorate. With the assembly poll results in three states being a disappointment for the Congress, some rumblings have begun among the constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) ahead of their meeting on December 6, with many leaders alleging that the grand old party ignored others, but was unable to win elections on its own. Photograph: PTI Photo While some opposition leaders, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Janata Dal-United's K C Tyagi, have asserted that the Congress's poll defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will have no impact on the alliance, some other leaders from the bloc have pointed out that the grand old party had distanced itself from the coalition partners. Asked about the Congress's electoral performance, Pawar said, "I do not think it will have any impact on the INDIA bloc. We will be meeting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi (on December 6). We will speak to those who are aware of the ground reality. We will be able to comment on it only after the meeting." Tyagi took a jibe at the Congress and said, "The poll results show the defeat of the Congress and the victory of the BJP. The Congress ignored other INDIA parties, but was unable to win on its own." Kerala Chief Minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Pinarayi Vijayan said while facing a formidable opponent like the Bharatiya Janata Party in the three Hindi heartland states, it was necessary to ensure a united front. "Instead of that, the Congress thought it had already won, that it was a big power and no one could defeat it. This very thought led to its downfall," the Left leader said. Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said it was 'more of a failure of the Congress than a success story of the BJP'. He also said the TMC can provide leadership in the battle to defeat the BJP in the country. A senior leader from a major opposition party, who did not wish to be named, said it appeared that the Congress was waiting for the poll results for greater bargaining powers in the INDIA bloc. "There have been no meetings of the INDIA bloc in a long time. The Congress did not want to meet. Perhaps they were waiting for the results to have greater bargaining power," he said. "These results on the contrary are bad for the Congress," he added. The only meeting so far of the Coordination Committee of the INDIA was held in New Delhi on September 13, where the leaders agreed upon holding joint meetings in different parts of the country, the first being in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. However, the Bhopal meeting was not held after Congress leaders in the state shot down the idea. As the results pushed the Congress further back, leaving it in power in only three states on its own -- Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana -- an Aam Aadmi Party leader pointed out that it is now the largest opposition party in north India. 'After today's results, Aam Aadmi Party emerges as the largest opposition party in north India with 2 state governments -- Punjab and Delhi,' Jasmine Shah said in a post on X. Some also pointed out that the Samajwadi Party (SP) not being accommodated in Madhya Pradesh and Kamal Nath's public comments against SP chief Akhilesh Yadav could be one of the reasons that led to the Congress's poor poll performance in the state. Talks between the SP and Congress on seat sharing for the Madhya Pradesh polls had failed. "The insulting words used for Akhileshji by Kamal Nathji is the reason behind the Congress's loss. The Congress lost because of those indignified remarks," SP spokesperson Manoj Yadav Kaka said. Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut said the outcome of the Madhya Pradesh polls would have been different had the Congress shared some seats with other constituents of the INDIA bloc. He said the grand old party should revisit its outlook towards allies, recalling that it was Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath who had opposed sharing seats with the SP. Raut, however, asserted that Sunday's election results would not cause any rift among the INDIA constituents. Rashtriya Janata Dal national spokesman Manoj Jha asserted that there was a need for the Congress to realise that 'collectivism' was essential to take on the BJP's 'self-centred' politics. "Leaders like our national president Lalu Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have acknowledged that among all partners in the INDIA coalition, the Congress has the largest footprint. But, now, the ball is in the Congress' court. It ought to realise that Narendra Modi's conceit cannot be fought with conceit," Jha said. He was responding to queries from journalists about the perception that the Congress' brusque treatment of allies like Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav may have not gone down well in a state like Madhya Pradesh, which it failed to wrest from BJP. The Congress president during his year at the helm of the party has repaired the citadel for far more challenging years ahead, and played a crucial role in shaping the Opposition alliance. IMAGE: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addresses the Congress Vijayabheri Yatra in Sangareddy, Telangana, October 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Last month, Congress leader Sachin Pilot addressed a press conference at the Congress headquarters in the national capital, criticising the Enforcement Directorate summons to Vaibhav Gehlot, the son of his political rival in his home state, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Party insiders pointed out that such an event of Pilot publicly expressing solidarity with Gehlot and his family would have been unimaginable a year back, giving the credit for the transformation to Mallikarjun Kharge's presidency, the hallmark of which has been to broker peace among the party's warring factions and by being accessible and building a consensus. Kharge took the oath as Congress president on October 26, 2022, the first non-Gandhi to do so in a quarter century, with the party's social-media team marking his first anniversary in office by acknowledging his contribution in leading the party to assembly wins against the Bharatiya Janata Party in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, expressing hope that the party's 'victory chariot' would continue to roll in the current elections. While that, especially a presidential 2024 Lok Sabha battle against the Prime Minister Narendra D Modi-led BJP is likely to be an arduous task, concede Kharge's team members, they assert that the Congress president during his year at the helm of the party has repaired the citadel for far more challenging years ahead, and played a crucial role in shaping the Opposition alliance. On February 18, 2023, at Kharge's behest, Congress leader Salman Khurshid shared the stage with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) conference in Patna. The meet proved to be the ice breaker that paved the way for the first Opposition unity parleys among its topmost leaders four months later in Patna, on June 23, that Kumar hosted. Since then, Kharge and his team have been far more accessible to Opposition leaders than what had been feasible during the Congress presidencies of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. However, they also ensured the presence of the Gandhis in the unity meeting at Bengaluru to show that the two leaders were on board and backed the unity efforts. IMAGE: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in conversation with party President Mallikarjun Kharge at the book launch on Mallikarjun Kharge-Political Engagement with Compassion, Justice and Inclusive Development in New Delhi, November 29, 2023. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo Within the party, Kharge has focused on strengthening the Congress's organisation, allowing the Gandhis to concentrate on campaigning. He has held meetings with 25 state units and reconstituted the Congress Working Committee, ensuring substantial representation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, youths, and leaders of the Other Backward Classes. He has taken the party's key events outside Delhi. The party held its foundation-day ceremony in Mumbai, the first time the party hosted it outside Delhi after the Rajiv Gandhi years. According to his team, on average, Kharge, who is 81, holds a dozen meetings in a day with workers and leaders from states. Party sources credit him with quelling infighting in the Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh party units. "The president has tried to infuse the spirit of the original Congress in his messaging, where he stresses the party's contribution to the shaping of post-Independence India, and also asks to honour its heroes beyond the Nehru-Gandhis, such as Lal Bahadur Shastri, Subhas Chandra Bose, P V Narasimha Rao and others," a team member said. According to party sources, Kharge does not want to be portrayed as only a Dalit leader. However, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, some in the party want him, as the pre-eminent leader of the Opposition INDIA bloc, to contest from western Uttar Pradesh so that the Congress gets back its Dalit support base in the state. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com The Bharatiya Janata Party swept Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on Sunday inflicting a resounding defeat on the Congress to tighten its stranglehold in the Hindi heartland, in a big boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and setting the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. IMAGE: BJP supporters celebrate the party's victory in the Rajasthan assembly elections, in Ajmer on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo In some consolation for the Congress in the face of the saffron wave after it lost Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the party ousted the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) in Telangana to make it 3-1 for the BJP in the latest round of assembly elections billed as a semi-final before next year's poll showdown. Counting of votes in Mizoram will be taken up on Monday. As the BJP leadership savoured the triple victory just months after losing its lone southern citadel Karnataka to the Congress, Prime Minister Modi said some people are already saying that the party's hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of hat-trick in the Lok Sabha polls. "The results show popular support for our battle against corruption," Modi told a crowd of cheering supporters at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, adding that they have served a lesson to the Congress and the opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) that merely collecting some dynasts on a dais may make for a good photograph but cannot win people's confidence. Voters have delivered a warning to these parties involved in corruption to mend their ways or people will finish them off, he said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to attend the BJP's victory programme in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo 'We bow to the Janta Janardan. The results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan indicate that the people of India are firmly with politics of good governance and development, which the @BJP4India stands,' Modi earlier said in a post on X, after a ringing endorsement of the BJP's strategy centred on the prime minister's appeal and governance plank. Ruling Madhya Pradesh for 18 years, a well entrenched BJP managed to stave off anti-incumbency in a shot in the arm for four-time chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and dashing the hopes of a resurgent Congress helmed by veteran and former CM Kamal Nath. Winning 163 seats, the BJP got two-thirds majority in a House of 230. Congress bagged 66 seats. Suspense also mounted as to who will be the BJP's chief minister in any of the three Hindi heartland states. Clouds of gulal, shouts of Jai Shri Ram, joyful jigs and crackers were the sights and sounds of celebration in BJP offices with party workers and leaders unanimous in attributing the win to Modi's 'guarantees'. "The election results show people accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee of delivering on guarantees," BJP leader and Union minister Pralhad Joshi said. Modi turned on the heat on the Congress over its poll guarantees by projecting himself as a leader who has delivered on the promises made by him to help the common man meet his aspirations. "Modi Yaani Har Guarantee Poori Hone Ki Guarantee (Modi means the guarantee to fulfill every guarantee)," he had said in an article last week. Free food grain, income assistance for farmers, housing for all, 100 per cent electrification of villages, and tap water to every home, were listed by the BJP as some of Modi's guarantees in Chhattisgarh. After the Congress' loss in three key states, rumblings have surfaced in the opposition bloc INDIA ahead of their meeting on December 6, with many leaders claiming that the grand old party ignored others, but was unable to win elections on its own. The loss for the Congress, which made a loud pitch for caste census and adopted a soft Hindutva approach, also appeared to weaken its position in the INDIA bloc where party equations could change, as other opposition parties may no longer consider it as the fulcrum of the opposition alliance. "The poll results show the defeat of the Congress and the victory of the BJP. The Congress ignored other INDIA parties, but was unable to win on its own," said Janata Dal-United leader K C Tyagi. IMAGE: BJP workers celebrate in Ranchi. Photograph: ANI Photo With BJP dislodging the Congress hit by factionalism in Rajasthan, the desert state stuck to a nearly 30-year-old 'rivaj' (tradition) of not voting an incumbent party back to power. The BJP got a majority bagging 115 seats after voting was held for 199 constituencies. The Congress notched 69 seats. The Chhattisgarh outcome was a surprise for many Congress leaders who were hoping for another stint in power in the state by fending off the BJP challenge. The day began with both parties neck and neck but, as counting continued, the BJP consolidated its lead and won 54 seats. The Congress won 35 seats in the 90-member House. The K Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS hoped for a hat-trick in Telangana but was dethroned by the Congress. Anumula Revanth Reddy, a Lok Sabha MP who led the Congress' charge, could be the second chief minister of the state. The Congress won 64 seats in the 119-member House. The BRS bagged 39 seats. The BJP put up a good showing and increased its tally in the southern state with the victory of its candidate K Venkata Ramana Reddy in Kamareddy against both the outgoing chief minister KCR and Revanth Reddy, who is the TPCC chief, being the highlight. IMAGE: BJP supporters distribute sweets as they celebrate the party's lead in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assembly elections, in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo KCR and Revanth Reddy, however, won from Gajwel and Kodangal constituencies respectively. BJP won 8 seats, up from one seat, and doubled its vote share from the 2018 polls to nearly 14 per cent. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the assembly results have proved that the days of appeasement and caste politics are over and that 'new India' votes on politics of performance. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the party will overcome temporary setbacks and prepare fully for the Lok Sabha polls along with its partners in the INDIA alliance. Congress' performance in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan assembly polls disappointing, he said. Basking in his hour of glory, Chief Minister Chouhan said the state government implemented schemes like the Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna and a lot of work was done for the welfare of farmers, poor people and youth. "Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji." IMAGE: Telangana Congress workers celebrate their party's victory in the state assembly election at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad. Photograph: ANI Photo Taking a swipe at Gehlot, born into a family of magicians, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the magic has ended and people in Rajasthan have voted for the honour of women and for the welfare of the poor. The BJP amplified its pitch around the prime minister during the assembly polls as its manifestoes featured his guarantees, with Modi crisscrossing the poll-bound states, except for Mizoram, to seek popular support to deliver on his welfare and development promises. Modi addressed 14 rallies each in Rajasthan and MP and five in Chhattisgarh after the polls were announced. He held two massive roadshows in Rajasthan and one in MP and his entries in many of rally venues were marked by a drive through cheering supporters. The extent of the party's win in Chhattisgarh and MP has taken even some of its leaders by surprise, as most exit polls gave the Congress an edge in the former and were mixed in their forecast for the latter. A campaign devised by its central leadership with Home Minister Shah focussing more on MP and Chhattisgarh worked like a magic, party leaders said. Together, the five states have 84 Lok Sabha seats -- MP with 29, Chhattisgarh 11, Rajasthan 25, Telangana 17 and Mizoram two. With the Bharatiya Janata Party heading towards a victory in three of the four states that went to polls recently, it will now be in power in 12 states on its own, while the number of states ruled by the Congress will come down to three after the party's electoral defeats in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the gathering as he arrives for the BJP's victory programme as the party wins Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, in New Delhi, December 3, 2023. BJP national president JP Nadda (right) is also seen in the picture. Photograph: ANI Photo The states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance will now account for almost half of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, while only two states, accounting for less than 50 Lok Sabha seats, are now governed by parties not aligned with either the NDA or the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance of the opposition parties. The Aam Aadmi Party, with its governments in Delhi and Punjab, is the third-biggest national party now.. The BJP, which rules the Centre, is in power in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, and all set to retain Madhya Pradesh and snatch Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress. Besides, the saffron party is also part of the ruling coalition in four states -- Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim. The Congress will now be in power in only three states on its own -- Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana. The grand old party is also part of the ruling coalitions in Bihar and Jharkhand and an ally of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which is in power in Tamil Nadu. However, the Congress is not part of the Tamil Nadu government. Sunday's poll results also consolidated the AAP's position as a major political party, making it the second-biggest opposition party with governments in two states. "After today's results, Aam Aadmi Party emerges as the largest opposition party in north India with 2 state governments -- Punjab and Delhi," party leader Jasmine Shah said on X. There are six national parties currently -- BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India-Marxist, National People's Party and AAP. The next round of Assembly polls will be held in 2024. Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will go to polls next year while the Assembly election is also pending in Jammu and Kashmir. As several MPs contested the Assembly polls in this round, those seats in the Lok Sabha are expected to get vacant. However, since the general election will be held next year, no bypoll will be announced even if the MPs vacate their seats after being elected as MLAs. The assembly poll results on Sunday have delivered a ringing endorsement of the Bharatiya Janata Party's strategy centred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal and governance plank, quashing the Congress' hopes of a revival in the Hindi heartland and boosting the impression that the ruling party is favourite to retain power for a third straight term in 2024. IMAGE: BJP workers celebrate as the party leads in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly elections, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, December 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The BJP had taken the gambit of not projecting any chief ministerial face and built its campaign around grander narratives involving the Modi government's works despite misgivings in some quarters, as the five state polls came months after the Karnataka elections where a similar strategy came unstuck. A big win in Karnataka had fuelled the Congress' hopes that it had finally found a counter-punch powered by local leadership and welfare guarantees to put the BJP on the defensive but Sunday's verdict makes it clear that the 'Modi magic' remains strong and can turn the tide in the states where it enjoys strong organisational presence. If anything, the BJP amplified its pitch around the prime minister during these polls as its manifestoes featured his guarantees, with Modi crisscrossing the poll-bound states, except for Mizoram, to seek popular support to deliver on his welfare and development promises. He addressed 14 rallies each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and five in Chhattisgarh after the polls were announced. He held two massive roadshows in Rajasthan and one in Madhya Pradesh and his entries in many of rally venues were marked by a drive through cheering supporters. The extent of the party's win in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh has taken even some of its leaders by surprise, as most exit polls gave the Congress an edge in the former and were mixed in their forecast for the latter. A campaign devised by its central leadership with Home Minister Amit Shah focussing more on Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh worked like a magic, party leaders said. It tapped into anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel-led government and countered the perceived indifference in some segments of voters with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led dispensation, with intensive ground work and having many regional satraps and MPs, including Union ministers, contest the polls. However, Chouhan has succeeded in making a point against detractors by spearheading his campaign around his government's schemes, especially ladli bahna scheme, and making an emotional connection with voters. He has fashioned himself as people's avuncular 'mama' and, by most accounts, the strategy worked, more so as his image of an affable and everyday man contrasted nicely for him against Congress' chief ministerial face Kamal Nath, termed by critics as someone who is arrogant and not a team man. It will draw particular satisfaction from the Congress' decimation in the three Hindi-speaking states as the opposition party, especially its leader Rahul Gandhi, had made a big issue around the demand of caste census to reach out to Other Backward Classes voters. The BJP also joined the Congress in amping up the welfare pitch and it will be interesting to see if the party will continue to go down the path it has taken to counter opposition parties after initially questioning such populist tactics. With the win, the BJP is now in power in most of north and west India, two regions that have powered its back-to-back Lok Sabha majority in 2014 and 2019. The party had swept the three Hindi-speaking states in 2019 even after losing them in the assembly polls in 2018 and, therefore, the win now indicates that its ideological and governance planks have only taken deeper roots since then. The only jarring note for the BJP in these elections has come from Telangana, where the Congress scored a stunning win by successfully riding an anti-incumbency wave against the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, relegating the saffron party to the third position. The party has drawn heart from its highest-ever assembly vote share tally. It has won six and was leading in two seats in the 119-member assembly. Already out of power from Karnataka, the only southern state it has ever run a government, the BJP brass will have to mull over its strategy in a region of five states where it has not been able to replicate the success seen in the rest of the country. The state government on Sunday said all arrangements have been made to handle the situation as cyclonic storm 'Michaung' is likely to intensify and reach north Tamil Nadu coast on December 4 before its landfall on Tuesday in southern Andhra Pradesh. IMAGE: People take a picture with a backdrop of the rising tidal waves as they hit the coast under the influence of the 'severe' Cyclone Michaung, at the marina beach in Chennai, December 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The railways have cancelled a total of 118 trains. However, essential services such as milk supply and healthcare facilities would be operational. Chief Minister MK Stalin reviewed the preparatory measures at the state emergency operation centre here and said that 685 persons in total from vulnerable areas in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengelpet districts have been housed in 11 relief camps. Answering a question, he told reporters that, if needed, the Central government's support would be sought. He assured the people that all steps had been taken to tackle the situation. As heavy rainfall is expected on Monday and Tuesday, the government said it has deployed disaster response force personnel in adequate numbers, and relief centres are also ready to house people in vulnerable areas. The government, in an official release, said as many as 121 multipurpose centres and 4,967 relief camps with all basic amenities are ready in northern and other coastal regions of the state, besides the Cauvery delta areas. In Chennai alone, 162 relief centres are ready and, in one such facility, 348 people have been housed. Also, 714 water pumps are ready for use in low-lying areas. The TN Disaster Response Force's 14 teams, comprising 350 personnel and National Disaster Response Force's nine teams of 225 personnel have been stationed in coastal regions of Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kancheepuram, Chengalpet and Chennai for relief and rescue operations. The state and district-level emergency operation centres are functional round the clock with additional staff. For help, the control rooms may be contacted at 1070 (state), 1077 (district) and 94458 69848 (WhatsApp). Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management KKSSR Ramachandran and Electricity Minister Thangam Thennarasu held inspections on the state's preparedness to handle the situation. Thennarasu said the government is prepared with adequate workers as well as equipment. While 1,500 workers are on standby, a stock of more than 3,00,000 electricity poles is in inventory, apart from requisite vehicles and machinery such as cranes. The general public and fishermen have been alerted about the cyclonic storm and over a 1,000 boats have docked at fishing harbours including Krishnampattinam. The India Meteorological Department said the cyclonic Storm "Michaung" (pronounced Migjaum) over southwest Bay of Bengal lay about 250 km east of Puducherry, 230 km east-southeast of Chennai, and 350 km southeast of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh). It is likely to intensify further and reach west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon. Thereafter, it is likely to move nearly northwards and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during forenoon of December 5 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph. As regards north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places, heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall on December 3 and 4 apart from isolated heavy rainfall on December 5. Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph prevails over southwest Bay of Bengal. It is likely to gradually increase in speed, becoming 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph from December 3 evening for a subsequent 12 hours. It will gradually decrease thereafter. The government said that the Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner and district collectors have been advised to house people living in vulnerable areas in cyclone shelters. People living in low lying areas have been asked to reach the cyclone shelters in advance. The public has been cautioned against going near waterbodies and taking selfies or parking vehicles under trees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the Bharatiya Janata Partys big win in the assembly polls as a victory for his government's agenda of self-reliant India, asserting that its hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of its hat-trick of Lok Sabha poll wins in 2024. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi bows to party workers to thank them for the win in three state assembly elections, at the BJP headquaters, New Delhi, December 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo "The results show popular support for our battle against corruption," he told a crowd of cheering supporters at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, adding that they have served a lesson to the Congress and the opposition's INDIA bloc that mere collecting some dynasts on dais may make for a good photograph but cannot win people's confidence. Voters have delivered a warning to these parties involved in corruption to mend their ways or people will finish them off, he said. No one should come in between the Centre's development and people, or the masses will remove them, Modi said in a stinging attack on opposition parties. Some people are already saying our hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of hat-trick in the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, he said. He told opposition parties to not support those working against the country's interests at a time when development is taking place at a fast pace. Addressing a big gathering of BJP members, including many Union ministers, Modi said these results will ensure the world's belief in India and infuse more confidence into global investors for the country. It shows that people are increasingly supporting our agenda for a developed India, he said. The world is watching that people are voting for a stable government which enjoys a strong majority, he said. People can distinguish between selfish politics and the politics of national interest, Modi said, asserting that they have realised that a strong BJP leads to the development of the country and every family. He reiterated that women, youth, the poor and farmers are the four biggest castes and their empowerment will lead to the country's empowerment. Noting that most members of Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Tribes belong to these categories, he said they have endorsed policies and roadmap presented by the BJP. Every farmer, young voter and the poor and deprived are saying that they have won, Modi said, adding that the youth looking for a better future and every citizen wanting a developed India by 2047 is feeling successful following the poll results. "I want to tell you with full honesty that your dream is my resolve," he said, noting how the country's infrastructure is undergoing a transformation while its economy remains the fastest growing in the world. MANILA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred inside a gym of Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines on Sunday morning, killing at least three and injuring nine, police said. The blast occurred past 7 a.m. local time when students and teachers gathered for a Catholic mass inside the gym, according to local police. Major General Gabriel Viray, the commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, said the deaths include three females and a male. However, local media GMA Network put the death toll at 11, citing a local hospital source. Police said the blast may have been caused by an improvised explosive device. Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos denounced the fatal bombing, which he blamed on "foreign terrorists." Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told a press conference Sunday afternoon that "there are strong indications of a foreign element" in the attack. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner said the military "is continuously gathering intelligence operations so that we will be able to run after the perpetrators." The Mindanao State University condemned "this senseless and horrific act," saying it was "deeply saddened by and appalled by the act of violence." The university has decided to suspend classes until further notice and deployed additional security personnel to safeguard the campus in the capital and the largest city of Lanao del Sur on Mindanao island. In 2017, local terrorists pledging support to the Islamic State, including a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group, the Maute Group, among others, occupied and held the lakeside city for five months, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, hundreds of thousands of residents displaced, and many parts of the city destroyed. You are the owner of this article. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 41F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 29F. Winds light and variable. PAWLET Late Friday afternoon, the Town of Pawlet filed a post-inspection update to be reviewed by the presiding judge in the ongoing legal battle between the town and Daniel Banyai. The document claims the results of Mondays property inspection of Banyais West Pawlet property contradicts affidavits Banyai filed which asserted the property was now compliant. The town also claimed that Banyai attempted to disguise structures to give the appearance of compliance rather than dismantle and remove them permanently as ordered by the Court in June. Daniel Banyai's property undergoes long-awaited inspection from Pawlet town officials Merrill Bent, the lead attorney for the Town of Pawlet, filed the summary paperwork along with several photographs showing structures, berms, facades, shipping containers, and grain silos both before the court order and what they looked like during Mondays inspection. Per the town's documentation, some of the small, storage-like structures in the previous photos resemble similar structures now painted black and, in some cases, are now in different locations on the 30-acre property. One particular structure, a small barn, is painted black and surrounded by farm and construction equipment in photos taken Monday. According to the town, the barn was behind the farm equipment in an effort to obscure photographs. Several shipping containers also now painted black were, according to the paperwork, moved to different locations on the property. Two structures Banyai had dismantled, a school building and a shooting range facade, the town claims were still possibly on the property under tarps, inaccessible to the inspectors behind fenced-in areas. According to town claims, two former shooting ranges, now clear of structures and facades, still maintained the earthen berms that initially surrounded them. The report also mentions a chicken coop, which was removed, and livestock run-in, which they claim was moved to a different location and repainted. Banyai claims Pawlet property now in full compliance with court order -asks for dismissal of all penalties- including arrest warrant The Town does not find credible that defendant has dismantled or removed these structures and then erected near-identical structures on the property, the paperwork goes on to say. The Town asserts that it is more likely that the defendant has attempted to disguise the structures rather than remove them. The Town paperwork concludes by deferring final judgment to the court on whether Banyais property is compliant with the evidence it included. They also asked Environmental Court Judge Thomas Durkin to rule on the pending motions without delay. Those motions include a pending and updated arrest warrant for Banyai, guidance for law enforcement regarding Banyais arrest, a deadline for Banyai to surrender, and the continuation of fees and fines if found non-compliant. Pawlet files motion to renew Banyai arrest warrant with specific arrest responsibility attached to Rutland Sheriff and VSP When asked for comment immediately after the Town paperwork was filed, Robert Kaplan, Banyais attorney, stated in an email, Mr. Banyai disagrees with the Towns assessment of his compliance with previous orders the Environmental Court issued and expects the Court to determine that he has achieved compliance. Vietnam has a lot going for it, but its growth and attractiveness as a destination for foreign investment are not preordained. Vendors sell fish at Vi Thanh market in Hau Giang province, Vietnam in 2023. Vietnam realized 8.5% growth in 2022 and had commitments of $22.4 billion of foreign direct investment pledged for 2023. Vietnam has been riding very high the past few years with its superlative initial handling of the Covid-19 pandemic that kept its factories open and as the single biggest beneficiary of corporate supply chain diversification out of China. Vietnam realized 8.5% growth in 2022 and had commitments of $22.4 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI). Pledged FDI by September 2023 already reached $20 billion. A stream of high-level foreign visitors - including U.S. President Joe Biden - have come to court the leadership in Hanoi. Apple moved a supply line to Vietnam, Lego is building a solar-generated plant, and other chip manufacturers have made announcements about establishing production in Vietnam. Tan Vu container port in Hai Phong in 2023. Vietnams exports fell for five consecutive months in 2023, the longest slump in 14 years. (Nhac Nguyen/AFP) Yet, growth for the first six months of 2023 was only 3.72%, half the target. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced that the target for 2023 remains 6.5% but the Asian Development Bank, IMF and Singapores UOB have all sharply lowered their predictions closer to 5%. While Vietnam has benefitted from supply chain diversification, thats also made it over-dependent on exports; Exports reached 93% of GDP in 2021. Exports fell for five consecutive months in 2023, the longest slump in 14 years. Exports to the United States in the first nine months of 2023, were down 24% compared to the previous year, which had a large impact on their overall trade balance. Vietnam runs enormous trade deficits with China, as its manufactured goods are dependent on imported components. Recent announcements by two important foreign investors, Intel and rsted, should also be red flags for the leadership. Jumping the gun Intel opened their chip assembly and packaging plant in 2010 and in 2021, increased their investment to $1.5 billion. In early 2023, there were unconfirmed reports that the firm was planning a $1 billion expansion. Vietnamese leaders were clearly expecting that and more. In February, the Vietnamese government jumped the gun in announcing a $3.3 billion investment from Intel. The firms CEO told Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in a May 2023 meeting in Hanoi that the firm still had plans to invest in the country. Despite the fanfare around Bidens September 2023 trip to Vietnam, the passage of the CHIPS Act, and Chinhs whirlwind tour of Silicon Valley in September, Intel announced that they would not be expanding in Vietnam in the foreseeable future. Both sides tried to do damage control. Intel reiterated that they had never made any official announcement of a new investment. But clearly something was amiss. U.S. President Joe Biden raises a toast as he participates in a State Luncheon with Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2023. A stream of high-level foreign visitors, including President Biden have come to court the leadership in Hanoi. (Evan Vucci/AP) In June 2023, the Danish renewable energy giant rsted announced that it was leaving Vietnams wind market, stating that Our business ethics have met hurdles. Vietnam, according to the World Bank, has the fastest growing electricity market in Southeast Asia. And it also has the fastest rate of renewable energy growth in the region. With its long coastline, Vietnam is thought to be the largest market for wind power in Southeast Asia, an estimated 600GW. rsted signed an agreement with T&T, a sprawling conglomerate, in 2021, with an ambitious target of investing in 21GW of offshore wind by 2030. In August 2022, the joint venture announced two offshore wind farms off Ninh Tuan province. In May 2023 it had signed a contract with a division of the state-owned oil company to build foundations for its turbines. Unaddressed systemic issues So the country that is trying to attract more semiconductor production and more investment in its renewable sector has seen leading global players equivocate or walk away. Whats going on? While it's incorrect to say that Vietnam is no longer a darling of foreign investors, the country has no shortage of challenges and issues that will ensure that it doesn't reach its full potential and perhaps be caught in the middle income trap. There are five interrelated things worth noting. First, Vietnams electricity supply remains erratic. Last summers heat waves resulted in daily brownouts at many industrial estates in the Hanoi-Haiphong corridor. The government called on firms to reduce their energy consumption. If you want to be the plus one as companies seek to diversify supply chains, then you have to get basic infrastructure right. Intel Corps assembly and test facility at Saigon High Tech Park, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam in 2010. Despite President Bidens Sept. 2023 trip to Vietnam and passage of the CHIPS Act, Intel announced that they would not be expanding in Vietnam in the foreseeable future. (Le Quang Nhat/AP) While there was great relief that Vietnam finally produced its long awaited power development plan (PDP-8), in May 2023, it took years to negotiate and was highly contentious; the prime minister didnt even sign off on it. PDP-8 remains short on details and it watered down Vietnams commitment to reducing its dependence on coal fired power plants. The government is not even close to getting their implementation plan completed, and the grid remains antiquated and underdeveloped. Although Vietnam joined the $15.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) program in 2023 to wean itself off of coal, and has committed itself to carbon neutrality by 2050, its been slow to provide the donor community with concrete plans. It hasn't helped that it has arrested six climate activists on trumped up charges who were presenting plans to help the government reach their carbon neutral goals. Corruption worries The regulatory framework remains both unclear, contradictory, and oftentimes undeveloped. rsted indicated concern that the power purchase mechanism is still not in place, and unlikely to be agreed upon anytime soon. Second, there are real human capital concerns. With Samsung, Amkor, Synopsis, and others rushing into Vietnams young semiconductor industry, there are already shortages of trained engineers and designers. Vietnam has an estimated 5,000 chip engineers, and it will take years to get more trained. Third, corruption remains endemic. The most recent scandal, an $12.5 billion embezzlement scheme at Saigon Commercial Bank, highlighted the lax oversight and corruption within the banking sector. rsteds announcement made indirect mention of corruption. Men use a net to catch fish in the foreground of wind turbines along the southern coastal province of Bac Lieu in 2014. Danish renewable energy giant rsted announced that it was leaving Vietnams wind market in June 2023, stating that Our business ethics have met hurdles. (Duy Khoi/AFP) Fourth, Vietnam is less politically stable than what meets the eye. The three politicians most trusted by the international business community were purged in December 2022 to February 2023 in the Blazing Furnace anti-corruption campaign of Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. None was directly tied to corruption, and the moves against them were seen as being politically motivated. Throughout 2023, there were rumors that the Prime Minister himself was in fear of losing his job. There have now been two CPV Central Committee Plenums that have been unable to come to a consensus on who to fill the two vacancies on the Politburo. And infighting ahead of the 14th Party Congress, expected to be held in January 2026, is already underway. Finally, policy making remains slow and cumbersome and no one is expecting a bold response to the slowing economy ahead of the Party Congress. Vietnam still has a lot going for it, but its growth and attractiveness as a destination for foreign investment are not preordained. In a very competitive global landscape, Vietnamese policy makers have to be responsive. The recent signals by two global industry leaders suggest a lack of confidence in Vietnam's leadership to provide sound corruption-free economic stewardship. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia. 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 Kyiv police said on December 3 that following an investigation they were unable to confirm allegations that detained Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Dubinskiy was physically injured while in custody. The headquarters of the National Police in Kyiv earlier this week reported it had been informed by Dubinskiy's legal team in a message that the lawmaker, who is in detention in Kyiv as he awaits trial for alleged treason, was physically injured over the course of two days. On December 2, Dubinskiy's lawyers claimed on his Telegram channel that an ambulance had been sent to facility and determined that he had suffered "multiple hematomas, as well as a suspected rib fracture." After sending a team to investigate, the National Police in Kyiv said in its December 3 statement that it was unable to verify the claims. "According to the results of an inspection and forensic examination" carried out at the facility, the National Police in Kyiv said, the information it had received "was not confirmed." Dubinskiy, a former deputy for the ruling Servant of the People party who is under U.S. sanctions for interference in U.S. elections, was ordered by a Kyiv court last month to serve 60 days in pretrial detention on suspicion of treason. Dubinskiy was expelled from the party in 2021 after he was put on a U.S. sanctions list for election interference, which he has denied. He has continued in parliament as an independent lawmaker. The SBU said on November 13 that an investigation had determined that an unidentified current member of the Servant of the People party it said was suspected of treason went by the call sign "Buratino" and "was part of a criminal organization formed by the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces." The SBU alleged that criminal organization had $10 million in financing and that its aim was "to disrupt the sociopolitical situation in Ukraine and discredit the state in the international arena." The investigation, according to the SUB, also documented instances in which the unidentified lawmaker spread false information about Ukraine's military and political leadership, including the "alleged interference in 2019 of Ukrainian high-ranking officials in U.S. presidential elections." Ukrainian media have reported that the lawmaker under investigation was Dubinskiy. Ukrainian prosecutors have reportedly indicted Dubinskiy, along with another Ukrainian politician and a former prosecutor, for allegedly colluding in 2019 with Russian intelligence in an alleged effort to tie the family of then-U.S. presidential candidate and 2020 U.S. election winner President Joe Biden to corruption in Ukraine. Also reportedly indicted are Kosyantyn Kulyk, a former Ukrainian deputy prosecutor general who is also under U.S. sanctions for election interference, and former lawmaker Andriy Derkach. The three have also been accused of promoting conspiracy theories that Kyiv, and not Russia, had meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election won by Donald Trump. COLOMBO, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe unveiled a tropical belt initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of global warming and securing sustainable development for nations within the tropical belt, the President's Media Division (PMD) said on Sunday. In his address at COP28 in Dubai on Saturday, the president highlighted the urgency of the initiative, emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in climate funding and a multilateral approach to achieve meaningful results, according to the PMD. He proposed an approach that involves both tropical and non-tropical countries, as well as collaboration between the government and the private sector. The tropical belt initiative focuses on harnessing commercial investments in vital natural resources within the tropical belt, such as forests, swamps, and mangroves, according to the PMD. Wickremesinghe highlighted the initiative's potential to attract private sector involvement, contributing to the ambitious goal of securing trillions of dollars annually. The president also unveiled plans for the International Climate Change University, a joint project between Sri Lanka and Maldives. BISHKEK -- To some, the new flag proposal resembled the spine-covered burs of the horse chestnut fruit while others saw the head of the mace weapon used by medieval combatants to bludgeon their foes in battle. But for all the mocking memes and genuine indignation, Kyrgyzstan's flag appears set for a makeover, after President Sadyr Japarov backed a parliamentary initiative to change its design and lawmakers passed the first reading of a concurrent draft law this week. The question then is why? Or perhaps more pertinently, why now? According to parliament speaker Nurlan Shakiev, a co-initiator of the bill to change the flag that reached parliament in late September, the answer lies in aesthetics. Namely, the wavy solar rays that emanate from the flag's "tunduk" centerpiece -- the object at the apex of a Kyrgyz yurt, or nomadic tent -- look too similar to the petals of a sunflower. Japarov's office backed this finding almost immediately, with the president suggesting in October that the sunflower likeness had long been a topic of discussion in Kyrgyz society -- and not in a good way. "There have even been cases when foreigners who came to visit us said that large amounts of sunflowers must be grown in our country," Japarov insisted in comments to the state news agency Kabar. That could be problematic because the Kyrgyz word for sunflower, "kunkarama," is used as a metaphor for something or someone that is dependent, and "bends to the sun" -- a fact that Japarov alluded to in the Kabar interview. "To be honest, since gaining independence we have been heavily dependent on the outside world. So maybe it's time to reconsider the appearance of our flag," he maintained. But the president hasn't merely supported the proposal. After Shakiev and another lawmaker put forth a new version of the flag that caused anger and comparisons with all kinds of thorny plants, Japarov and his team hit the drawing board and came up with an alternative to the alternative. And it is a flag closer to the president's vision -- still with straight rays, but slightly less bur-like -- that is likely to be the final version, with lawmakers passing a first reading of the draft law with 66 votes to eight on November 29. A poll by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service with more than 40,000 votes and counting, meanwhile, showed around 80 percent of respondents want to keep the existing flag. Nothing Better To Do, Or Grand Distraction? Successive popular revolutions in Kyrgyzstan brought a glut of nation-building initiatives as new administrations look to make their mark on a post-Soviet independence that has little to show for it in the way of economic success. A common complaint is that such proposals like the one to change the flag show that officials and parliamentarians "have nothing better to do" despite a multitude of pressing problems in Kyrgyzstan. After the country's second revolution in 2010, a new government and an emboldened parliament brimmed with ideas to set the country back on its proper spiritual and political path. Some initiatives -- like the call to tear down a statue of a winged, female figure holding aloft a tunduk, because holding a tunduk is a patriarchal preserve, lawmakers and other public figures argued -- were successful. Others, like the initiative to change the background color of Kyrgyzstan's flag from the current "bloody" red to blue -- or rename the capital Bishkek after the country's mythical hero, Manas -- never made the cut. Yet there is another more conspiratorial, but still popular view, which is that these inevitably emotive debates are actively triggered in order to distract from other -- more underhand -- moves being made by the government. In this vein, journalist and legal expert Semetei Amanbekov warned on Facebook on October 25 that "the flag and other nonsense initiatives" are a useful way of deflecting attention from a very controversial law on "foreign representatives," akin to a Russian-style law on foreign agents that has drawn widespread international criticism. That was the same day the foreign representatives bill passed a first reading and -- naturally -- the same day Japarov gave his detailed comments on the flag-changing initiative to Kabar. "The first step has been taken toward the complete destruction of independent media and progressive NGOs [on] the road to the country's isolation," Amanbekov said at the time. Nevertheless, the journalist is now part of the wave of social media users who have posted profile photos of themselves with the current flag in opposition to the move to change to a new banner. 'Not Seeing, Not Listening' More than three years after being catapulted from a prison cell to the presidency during post-election unrest, former opposition figure Japarov has proven one of the most transformational of the country's six presidents and -- thus far -- one of the most popular. Constitutional changes passed in 2021 cut the stronger parliament that was established in 2010 back down to size, and significantly expanded the powers of Japarov's presidential office. Also thrown out was the stipulation that prevented presidents from running for reelection -- a trailblazing change in a region where presidents stay in office until they die. This month, a new body that is not popularly elected but which chimes with Kyrgyz history and traditions -- the People's Kurultai -- is expected to enter the political fray. Critics view the new body as a probable echo chamber for the president and his allies and yet another way of keeping the diminished legislature in check. It is difficult to argue that a majority of Kyrgyz -- many of whom found the post-2010 parliaments bloated and useless -- are in any major way troubled by these moves. National polling done in May under the aegis of the U.S.-based International Republican Institute indicated that 78 percent of respondents approved of the overall direction the country was taking. That is down from 85 percent in the spring of 2022 but still significantly higher than the results of polls going back as far as 2007. And yet analysts still argue that this administration is falling into the same traps as its predecessors by ramping up crackdowns on civil society, jailing well-known politicians, and targeting independent journalists in a period when economic pressure appears to be growing. In recent months, authorities have attracted outrage for arresting a 70-year-old woman and a single mother for expressing political views on social media, while a 20-year old blogger is awaiting a potential jail sentence of up to seven years after he reposted a video of a politician criticizing Japarov. In light of these and other developments, and regardless of its motivations, the flag-change bid looks potentially risky, especially given the fact that public opinion on the initiative is -- at best -- divided. Kyrgyz parliamentary speaker Shakiev pledged that "everything will be taken into consideration" before any definitive move is made on the flag. In October, he cited conversations with the flag's original creators and claimed they were also unhappy about how the central emblem had changed over the years. But one of those authors, Bekbosun Zhaichybekov, claims Shakiev misinterpreted him. While he had indeed previously called on officials to ensure "control" over the design in its reproductions, he was categorically against swapping the wavy solar rays for the straight ones, he told Kaktus Media. Of the parliamentarians to raise objections to the move, visually impaired Dastan Bekeshev, a persistent critic of the government, admitted that he had never even seen the national flag but, like many citizens, doubted that it was hindering the country's development. His colleague, Tazabek Ikramov, quizzed Shakiev about how much the flag change would cost the state budget. Shakiev said that other than flags flying in the country's cities and at Kyrgyzstan's foreign embassies, the changes would be implemented gradually. There would be no additional burden on the state budget, he claimed, thanks to the costs being met by unnamed "sponsors." Mirlan Samyikojo, another lawmaker against changing the flag, argued that the decision was one of "state importance" and therefore required a popular referendum. But he said on the day of the bill's first reading his views were overridden in the most literal sense when another lawmaker voted in favor of the new flag on his behalf. "This bill is being passed by deception," Samyikojo said. "Of the people, 90 percent are against changing the flag. We are not seeing them. We are not listening to them." Police in Pakistan have arrested at least 17 suspects in relation to a bus shooting that left 10 people dead and 25 others wounded, authorities said on December 4. Security forces raided several areas in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region -- where the attack took place on December 2 -- and made the arrests, the local police chief said. The bus was carrying passengers from Gilgit to the city of Rawalpindi when it was shot at, causing the driver to lose control and crash into a truck, which in turn caught fire. While no group has claimed responsibility for the late-evening attack, the injury to the cleric led Interior Minister Shamsul Lone to suggest on December 3 that the aim was "to breed religious hatred." Lone said the militants fired on the two vehicles from nearby hills as they traveled on the Karokoram Highway to the Punjab Province city of Rawalpindi. The highway, which connects Pakistan to China and also passes through the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. Security forces were accompanying the passenger bus due to recent tensions between local Sunnis and Shi'a, Lone said. Interim Prime Minister Anwar ul-Haq Kakar said in a statement that "anti-state elements would not be allowed to sabotage the peace of Gilgit-Baltistan," and vowed to continue fighting "against terrorists." Authorities in Gigit-Baltistan said that a special investigative team has been formed to look into the attack. Muhammad Khorasani, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and active in the region, denied any link with the shooting. Local and central government officials have requested that religious scholars work to lessen Sunni-Shi'a tensions that have risen since summer after scholars on both sides accused each other of insulting their respective branches of Islam. In September, a joint committee of Shi'ite and Sunni leaders was formed with the aim of preventing conflicts. Following the December 2 attack, the committee condemned the violence and called on people to remain calm. Gilgit-Baltistan lies along China's One Ring One Road initiative and is the sight of a dam project being built with the help of Beijing. Interior Minister Lone said there was a possibility the attack was carried out in an effort to scare investors. With reporting by AP BUCHAREST -- The fall of communism in Romania decades ago lifted the lid on the country's infamous network of orphanages, shocking the world with images of dirty and underfed children, most dressed in rags, crammed in filthy wards, some of them chained to beds. A special Romanian committee established to investigate the crimes of the era of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, who ruled from 1965 to 1989, has determined that more than 15,000 minors -- orphans, children with physical or mental disabilities, or those unwanted by their parents -- died in orphanages and other residential facilities. According to the committee, formally known as the Institute For The Investigation Of Crimes Of Communism And The Memory Of The Romanian Exile (IICCMER), many of the deaths were brought on by neglect, including starvation, even though they were not known to have had serious illnesses when they were admitted. Examining documents linked to the investigations, RFE/RL's Romanian Service has uncovered fresh details about how some children ended up state care homes or orphanages. In many cases, it appears that children were singled out to help finance the residential facility, with state authorities requesting that parents pay for their children's "treatment," according to historian Cosmin Popa. In October 2022, the IICCMER concluded that more than 15,000 minors died at the 26 facilities across communist-era Romania for disabled and mentally ill children between 1967 and 1990, when the institutions were shut down. According to the IICCMER report, among the reasons for the thousands of deaths were starvation, improper living conditions, abuse, and a lack of medical care. "Because there was a veritable cult of cutting back on unproductive spending, and these children, by being labeled as irredeemable, meant that they required long-term assistance throughout their lives, and consequently they could never be a useful member of socialist society," Popa said. The IICCMER said the highest number of deaths was recorded at the notorious Cighid facility, located in Ghiorac close to the border with Hungary, where it determined that 138 children had died between October 1987 and April 1990. During that time, only 183 children had been admitted, the institute noted. More than 300,000 children were placed in Romania's network of orphanages, children's hospitals, and other facilities for youth between 1954-1989. They became known as "Ceausescu's children" after the Stalinist leader who ruled one of Eastern Europe's most repressive regimes until it came crashing down in 1989 along with most of the Eastern-bloc countries in the region. During his more than two decades in power, Ceausescu instituted one of the world's most radical and repressive policies to stimulate birth rates, including outlawing abortion for women under 40 with fewer than four children. While the measures triggered a baby boom, many of the children, who were often born to impoverished parents, ended up in state-run orphanages and other facilities. After the fall of communism, the horrific conditions in these institutions were exposed and images of skeletal children living in squalor were broadcast around the world. Despite work by the IICCMER to uncover the true number of victims who suffered the ultimate fate at these institutions, no one has been held accountable, although the ICCMER has filed multiple complaints with Romanian prosecutors against individuals. Despite that, no one linked to these institutions has ever been tried, let alone found guilty, for the deaths. RFE/RL's Romanian Service examined documents relating to the Cighid children's home, which operated for just 30 months between 1987 and 1989. The residential home was set up because the facilities in the region treating sick children were already full. Documents show that, of the 138 children who died there, 84 were 3 years old -- the minimum age when they could legally be taken from their families. The most common reported cause of death was bronchopneumonia, a type of pneumonia that affects the bronchi in the lungs. "Think of a family from the elite of communist Romania, where one child is bright, studies well, and the other is a little less gifted. Many of them -- because you will also find children from perfectly normal families in the records of these institutions -- [have become] artiststeachersgenerals. They [were also in] such institutions," Popa said. An examination of the documents by RFE/RL's Romanian Service found that it was common for such institutions to demand payment from the families of children placed there. "Of course, this sounds ridiculous, but then there were thousands of schools, thousands of orphanages, that were left without funding and that would have simply had to sell the labor of institutionalized people," explained Popa. Rarely, if ever, was the welfare, let alone the health, of the child weighed when the authorities decided who was sent to one of the notorious facilities, Popa noted. Children from poorer families, many with relatively mild physical or mental health issues, were sent there, Pope said. Even the children of relatively well-off Romanians were often not spared. Overall, the historian noted, Romania's communist authorities were largely guided by a desire to "exterminate distinct social categories." Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by RFE/RL Romanian Service's Oana Despa Lebanon's Information Minister Ziad Makary speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Beirut, Lebanon, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Minister of Information Ziad Makary demonstrated intent to bolster ties with China through media collaboration in a recent interview with Xinhua ahead of the World Media Summit. Makary highlighted the vital role of media in fostering international understanding and cooperation. With growing engagement between Lebanon and China in various aspects of social life, the media is viewed as an essential tool to deepen understanding and foster cultural exchanges between the two countries, he added. Makary said he was eagerly anticipating the World Media Summit, viewing it as an excellent opportunity to showcase Lebanon's media landscape. Makary expressed optimism about leveraging technology and innovation to strengthen media ties, providing a more advanced and developed media landscape. He also highlighted the vast potential for further cooperation, especially in areas like culture, trade and education. SGPC News Latest Advocate Dhami Leads Efforts to Rally Sikh Community Against Death Sentence SGPC News Latest: In a resolute move, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has declared a protest march from Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib to Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi on December 20. The march, spearheaded by Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, comes in response to the Interim Committee's meeting discussing the unchanged death sentence of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, urging clemency and his release. Addressing journalists after the committee meeting, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami emphasized the urgency of securing Bhai Rajoana's release. Despite efforts, the death sentence was not commuted to life imprisonment, prompting the SGPC to mobilize a large gathering outside Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib for a protest march to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Advertisement Advocate Dhami urged Bhai Rajoana not to resort to a hunger strike, advocating for peaceful means to express dissent. The SGPC's Acting Committee, following a special meeting recommendation, reinforced the appeal to avoid extreme measures. National Participation in Protest March Scheduled for December 20 at 12 pm, the protest march invites the participation of all Sikh organizations, religious entities, Sikh Student Federations, Nirmale Sant, Sewa Panthi, Kar Sewa, Nihang Singh organizations, and Sikh sangats from across provinces. The aim is to convey collective Sikh sentiments to the President for the release of Bhai Rajoana and other incarcerated individuals. Advertisement Advocate Dhami disclosed that during the protest march, 26 lakh forms filled by Sangats advocating for the release of Bandi Singhs would be presented to the President. This symbolic gesture is intended to amplify the collective voice and sentiments of the Sikh community, urging Presidential intervention for justice. Commitment to Lead the Protest March Asserting their commitment, Advocate Dhami stated that the SGPC would lead the entire protest march from Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Political parties have also been extended invitations to join the cause and support the plea for clemency. Advertisement (For More News Apart from SGPC News Latest, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Shanghai Futures Exchange in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) SHANGHAI/YANCHENG, Jiangsu, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to speed up building Shanghai into a modern, socialist and international metropolis by focusing on the construction of international centers of economy, finance, trade, shipping and sci-tech innovation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Shanghai that ran from Tuesday to Saturday. Xi urged Shanghai to accelerate building itself into a modern, socialist and international metropolis with global influence, and play a leading and exemplary role in advancing Chinese modernization. He inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange on Tuesday afternoon as soon as he got off a train. Xi urged the exchange to speed up the construction of a world-class exchange, and make greater contributions to exploring the futures regulatory system and business model with Chinese characteristics and building an international financial center. When visiting Zhangjiang Science City in the Pudong New Area, Xi said promoting Chinese modernization can not be separated from the strategic support of science and technology, education and talent, and that Shanghai should take a lead in this respect. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Shanghai Futures Exchange in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Shanghai Futures Exchange in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Shanghai Futures Exchange in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) LIMA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and 15 were injured on Saturday after armed assailants attacked the Poderosa mine in north Peru's La Libertad Department, the Interior Ministry has confirmed. SINGAPORE Another notable milestone was achieved by Scania in becoming a leader in sustainable transport systems by deploying 509 solar panels at Scania Singapores Senoko sales and service centre. This also includes deploying a Battery-Electric Van for roadside assistance and charging stations for heavy commercial vehicles. The deployment of new solar panels at Scania Singapores Senoko sales and service centre will power the whole building with greener energy. Customer vehicles sent for repair and maintenance and other services at Senoko workshop will be serviced using renewable electricity sources, showcasing our commitment to extending eco-friendly practices throughout our service offerings. Scania also deployed a Battery-Electric Van for our roadside assistance operations. With a battery size of 75kWh providing a range of up to 330 kilometres on a single charge, the van is capable to operate for the whole day, providing sustained support for Scania's customers throughout Singapore. In addition to these initiatives, Scania has deployed three Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) charging stations, powered by green electricity sources from the solar panels, that are compatible with all Scania Battery-Electric Vehicles in Singapore. The charging stations can support up to 180kW charging rate to futureproof demand for current and future BEVs. With the deployment of these charging stations, Scania will be able to provide maintenance for customers battery-electric trucks from Scania at our workshop, to reduce greenhouse gases and minimise our environmental impact. Scanias initiatives align with Singapore Green Plan 2030, demonstrating a commitment to collective action for sustainability and environmental progress in the face of climate change. These initiatives also align with our Science-Based Targets (SBT) for a cleaner and more sustainable future." said Oscar Wyckman, Country Manager of Scania Singapore. COLOMBO, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka produces around 938 metric tons of plastic waste every day, but only 4 percent is recycled, the Department of Communication of the Parliament said on Saturday, citing a parliament committee. The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development has revealed that only 32 percent of plastic waste was collected, according to a press release. The committee said that industrialists have been allowed to import secondary plastic without any oversight. It has also been revealed that Sri Lanka annually imports 400,000 metric tons of plastic raw materials and 20,000 metric tons of waste plastic, the communication department said, and the committee instructed environmental officials to increase the incentives given for plastic collection. Plastic waste is a serious problem in Sri Lanka, and the government recently banned single-use plastics in the country. CANBERRA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced additional funding to support victims of modern-day slavery, according to a government release on Sunday. Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth, Assistant Minister Justine Elliot, and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Sunday committed 14.3 million Australian dollars (9.5 million U.S. dollars) for programs to support people in forced marriages. Of the funding, 12.1 million AUD (8.06 million USD) will go towards the new Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program, which will provide access to support including counseling and emergency accommodation for people who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, forced marriage. The remaining 2.2 million AUD (1.4 million USD) will fund the existing Speak Now project, which aims to prevent forced marriage through education and awareness raising. According to the federal government, there are currently about 1,900 victims of modern slavery in Australia. "Modern slavery, including forced marriage, is an abhorrent abuse of power, and the Government is doing everything we can to eliminate it from our society," Rishworth said in a joint statement with Elliot and Dreyfus. "The Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program builds on the Government's existing Support for Trafficked People Program to ensure assistance is available to all victims of human trafficking, forced marriage, slavery, and forced labour." Dreyfus, who along with Elliot will host state and territory ministers for the 15th National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery later in December, on Thursday introduced legislation to parliament to establish a Federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner. Under the proposed legislation, the appointed commissioner would work across the government and private industry to ensure compliance with the Modern Slavery Act. The government allocated 8 million AUD (5.3 million USD) in May's federal budget for 2023-24 to fund the new commissioner role for its first four years. Delegates attending the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) visit Guangzhou Foreign Language School in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua) Delegates attending the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) visit the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua) Delegates attending the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) visit GAC Technology Museum in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 2, 2023. The fifth summit hosted by Xinhua News Agency has started from Dec. 2, in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. Over 450 attendees from 101 countries and regions -- representatives from nearly 200 mainstream media outlets, think tanks and government agencies, as well as international organizations -- have participated in the event this year in the hope of reaching practical cooperation. (Xinhua) The owner of betting giant William Hill was the target of a 700 million swoop by gambling tech provider Playtech, The Sunday Times can disclose. FTSE 250 company Playtech made a written indicative approach to acquire William Hill owner 888 Holdings at a price of 156p a share in July, only for it to be rejected as undervaluing the company, according to City sources. - The Sunday Times The president of Cop28, Sultan Al Jaber, has claimed there is no science indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1.5C, the Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting can reveal. Al Jaber also said a phase-out of fossil fuels would not allow sustainable development unless you want to take the world back into caves. The comments were incredibly concerning and verging on climate denial, scientists said, and they were at odds with the position of the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres. - The Guardian The decision by PricewaterhouseCoopers to resign as Wilko's auditor without giving any warning about the company's precarious finances was like a 'doctor turning away a cancer patient', according to a leading accountancy expert. The High Street chain and 12,500 jobs might have been saved if PwC had raised the alarm before it quit in 2019, Atul Shah, a professor of accounting and finance at City University, told The Mail on Sunday. [...] In the accounts for the year to February 2019, PwC did not challenge the directors' conclusion that the business had the resources to continue for the foreseeable future. - The Mail on Sunday Most of the green aviation fuel needed for guilt-free flying will have to be shipped in from America unless the UK government puts taxpayer money into domestic production, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways chiefs have warned. Ministers have mandated that 10 per cent of UK flights must be powered by sustainable aviation fuel by 2030. Virgin Atlantic last week completed the first commercial transatlantic flight powered by 100 per cent SAF. - The Sunday Times One of Switzerland's oldest private banks is to invest up to 200 million in British firms in a vote of confidence in the UK. Geneva-based Pictet is understood to be looking at companies in education and IT, as well as sectors such as facilities management dealing with the maintenance of offices and other buildings. - The Mail on Sunday MPs charged taxpayers almost 300,000 for energy bills and other utilities at their second homes over the past year, a new analysis by The Independent has found. Campaigners said the record-high figure shows that Britains politicians are insulated from the cost of living crisis, since so much of their energy costs are covered by the public purse, while millions struggle to pay. - The Independent STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The New York State Department of Civil Service (DCS) has released its December application schedule for New Yorks entry-level civil service exams. The open-competitive exams are an opportunity to start a career with New York state. These tests are open to anyone who meets the qualifications listed on the examination announcement. The application period opened for the following exams: consumer services representative 1; consumer services representative 1 (Spanish language); disability analyst 3; disability analyst 3 (Spanish language); tax technician trainee 1; utility consumer assistance specialist trainee; utility consumer program specialist trainee. Interested applicants can apply online by Dec. 27. The applications for collection & civil prosecution specialist, radio dispatcher and senior radio dispatcher remain open with a deadline of Dec. 13. Visit www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc to apply for exams. Some careers offer an additional annual downstate adjustment if they work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland or Westchester counties. According to the state, an application must be submitted online or postmarked by the last date to apply. An application will not be accepted after the application filing deadline has passed. There are no application fees for the exams this month. To be considered for an appointment, you must pass the written test. If approved for a written test, you will receive an admission notice, which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration. All positions offer benefits, including paid leave, health benefits and retirement plans. In addition, telecommuting options may be available to employees who meet certain criteria. The salaries for each position vary. To learn more about working for the State of New York, visit the Department of Civil Service website and follow the department on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. When Tina and Jerry Marcopoulos opened their first Sola Salon Studios franchise in 2018, they wanted to create a space where beauty professionals could thrive. The nationally recognized concept -- which allows stylists to lease move-in-ready salon suites and keep 100% of their profit -- was an obvious fit for Staten Island, Marcopoulos noted, calling the business model a wonderful opportunity for women in the beauty industry to become independent and take control of their lives. Cynthia from Wigs by Cico cuts the ribbon in front of her salon space at the New Dorp location of Sola Salon Studios. (Courtesy Sola Salon Studios)(Courtesy Sola Salon Studios) Based on her franchises success, Marcopoulos was right: Dozens of beauty professionals thrived at her Port Richmond location in Forest Avenue Shoppers Town, launching individual boutique salons without having to worry about overhead costs and other financial risks and burdens. Thats why Marcopoulos opened another Staten Island location in 2021 at the South Shore Commons in Charleston and built eight shops in New Jersey. A third outpost opened in the new Eltingville Plaza on Putnam Street and Amboy Road in March, and now a fourth Staten Island location has opened its doors at The Boulevard shopping center in New Dorp. As excited as we are that weve grown and have been able to bring this amazing concept to different parts of Staten Island, we fully understand that behind each studio door is a person -- sometimes two people, Marcopoulos said to several of Solas newest tenants at a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was hosted as the site a few weeks ago. We appreciate that everyone comes to us with their own history, and we are honored that youve chosen us to be the next chapter in your story. We will be with you, to support you, and to be your cheerleaders through each and every step of your Sola journey. Connie from La Ver-Da Esthetics, which is located inside of Sola Salon Studios in New Dorp, shows off her new workspace. (Courtesy Sola Salon Studios)(Courtesy Sola Salon Studios) Close to 20 beauty entrepreneurs occupy the New Dorp space, offering everything from cuts and color to manicures and permanent makeup. Stylists choose their own hours and control pricing, services, products, decor, music and more. If youre a single mom who can only work a certain amount of hours, this is a great option for you, Marcopoulos previously told the Advance/SILive. If youre a young woman who wants to build a clientele, this is a great way to do that. We provide a turnkey solution, a studio that is completely ready. All you need to do is bring your scissors and blow dryer. Caroline from Her Way To Slay poses in her one-chair studio, located inside Sola Salon Studios in The Boulevard shopping center. (Courtesy Sola Salon Studios)(Courtesy Sola Salon Studios) Sola Salons operates more than 650 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Brazil. More than 20,000 professionals work under the brands umbrella. Marcopoulos called it a no-risk way of building your own business venture. Its so gratifying, because this opportunity invariably changes lives, she said. Editors Note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders making waves, being seen, supporting our community and just making our borough a special place to live. Have a story for Inside Out? Email Carol Ann Benanti at benanti@siadvance.com. Stephen J. Babsky has penned "The Invisible Enemy." (Courtesy/the author)Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Just a few years back, at the time of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic when the world was shuttered in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Stephen J. Babsky was already retired as an executive from the New York City Transit Authority for more than two years. So the Graniteville resident decided that was the time to write about the events that unraveled and the pandemic that would have a profound effect on the world in a multitude of ways. After extensive research and careful consideration, Babsky penned The Invisible Enemy, a book that follows pretty closely with the actual events that took place during that horrific time frame. But since his work is a fictional account, he did take liberties in suggesting some of the events as he deemed appropriate. Babsky describes the book as a story about Chinas quest for power and world domination using a weaponized virus (COVID-19) to achieve its goals. And he describes himself as another Staten Island author who wrote a fictional conspiracy novel during the COVID-19 lockdown when the world seemed to stand still and lives were shattered the world over. He writes: The origin of COVID has become so politicized and polarized that we may never find out to everyones satisfaction the true story of the virus origin, especially without the cooperation of the Chinese government. In his overview Babsky comments: In the dynamic urban center of China, beneath the shadow of towering research facilities, two American agents are entrusted with a covert mission with global implications. Dr. Jimmy Ji Wong and Dr. Hui Chang, undercover operatives in cutting-edge virology, stumble upon a secret that would create a worldwide upheaval.Privy to only a few, a deadly virus is silently evolving. A LITTLE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn to parents who survived World War II in Europe, Babsys emigrated to the United States during the late 40s from Ukraine. His dad was imprisoned in a Dachau concentration camp and was freed by the American Army in 1945. His mom was taken by force by the Nazis who came to her village and abducted her and her younger sister and transported them by rail car to Germany to work as slave laborers in the German factories. My mother would never see her sister or her family in Ukraine again, he stated. And Babskys dad, who was a concentration camp survivor, didnt need a sponsor to come to America. He got here first then he sponsored his mom to come to America, he added. Babsky said it was difficult for his parents to get acclimated to their new homeland, since neither of them spoke English. He would attend public schools and didnt speak or understand English himself since both my parents spoke Ukrainian at home. But as a young child, he picked up the English language quickly. He attended Ukrainian evening school in the basement of Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church which still stands to this day and has active parishioners both young and old. He was accepted as a SP student to Junior High School 126 and then spent the eighth grade at the new building directly across from the McCarren Park swimming pool, where he would spend some time during the hot summer days with friends. After taking an entrance exam and being accepted, he became student at Brooklyn Tech High School. He attended City Colleges School of Engineering, but dropped out during his freshman year when his dad passed away. Babskys mom wasnt able to work any longer and since there wasnt an income, he had to look for job to support the family. At the same time the draft board sent him a notice that his student classification was changed to a 1A classification, meaning that he was draft material. The Vietnam War was still raging and he was reclassified as 1A - fit for duty the draft board had a lottery that selected a number. If you got a low number (below 150) you were usually called to serve. My number was 37. I took a battery of aptitude tests at Whitehall (Manhattan), then more tests at Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn). I knew I would be called to serve very soon. I wasnt a draft dodger as many in college were, he added. One day, an Army jeep pulled up to my house, he noted. My mother became hysterical and started to cry. She thought that they came to take me away. I tried to calm her down. Two army Sergeants, who drove up in the jeep, told Babsky that he needed to go to the draft board ASAP and petition for a hardship deferment. So, I went the next day and sat in front of six strangers who asked me a ton of questions, and after they were satisfied, they told me they would let me know the results. Well about a week later, I got a letter from the draft board. This was the make-or-break letter. If you were called to service, a (train) token would be in the letter. I felt around the letter to see if I could feel the token. I didnt feel anything, so I opened the letter and to my surprise, I was granted a hardship deferment as the sole male survivor of the family. Babsky took a job with New York Telephone, spent 25 years there, and left on an early buyout package as a middle manager. He completed credits for his engineering degree in the evening and completed an MBA program at St. Johns University. I have lived on the Island since 1978, he notes. It was much quieter then. But I still love my New York. I have traveled all over Europe and the United States including Alaska and Hawaii and I can honestly say There is no place like home on Staten Island. The Invisible Enemy is available on Amazon in three different formats; Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover and its also available at Barnes & Noble. UP LATE WITH JOHNNY POTENZA Johnny Potenza, the well-known host on Community Media of Staten Island Television formerly CTV will tape the next episode of his show, Up Late with Johnny Potenza on Thursday, Dec. 7. Johnny Potenza will tape the latest episode of "Up Late With Johnny Potenza," Thursday, Dec. 7. (Courtesy/Johnny Potenza)Staten Island Advance Celebs will include crooner/musical arranger and business entrepreneur, Al Lambert, actress/writer, Renee Wood, Alexa Nicole Moley, Miss Staten Island 2024 and Gabriella Marinelli, Miss Richmond County 2024. Potenza developed the former Late Night with Johnny P and now the current Up Late with Johnny Potenza and continues to tape new shows once a month. To be part of the free studio audience log into johnnyptv.com or send an e-mail to uplatejp+audience@gmail.com You must be on the list to get in to see the show. HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE Since its the time of year to spread holiday cheer, Ivan Santiago is heading up a Holiday Toy Drive for children of all ages. Ivan Santiago, owner of Vicious Fitness, will host a Christmas Toy Drive until Dec. 20. (Courtesy/Ivan Santiago)Staten Island Advance Santiago, who owns Vicious Fitness, a personal fitness studio in Stapleton thats opened for more than a year, asks that heartfelt Staten Islanders drop off unwrapped toy at his business located at 681 Bay St. from the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Whats more, Santiago is willing to pick up toys from any location. He adds every donation gets you a raffle for a free training session session at Vicious Fitness and a T-shirt. Toys will be donated to a nearby womens and childrens center, as well as to underprivileged children in the community of Stapleton. Toys are being accepted through Wednesday, Dec. 20. For further information phone Santiago at 646-404-2736. CELEBRATIONS - DEC. 3 TO DEC. 9 DEC. 3 Happy birthday Sunday to Liana and Christopher Calabro who are now 12, Patty Driscoll, Kacey Semler, Joe Hicks II, Jonathan Rodriguez, Claire Bisignano Chesnoff, Laura Lorentzen, Terry Naeder and Lorraine Coppola. Sunday is birthday time for Allen Cappelli, Staten Island attorney and MTA board member and Transit and Anti-Toll advocate. DEC. 4 Birthday greetings Monday go to Michele Valente, Katie Fleming, Jeanine Koesel, Christian Trischitta, Deborah Bocchiaro, Michael Forlenza, Lisa Marie Madalone and Jordan Anthony J. Ferrer who turns 16. DEC. 5 Tuesday is birthday time for Matthew Albert Neuman, John DiMaggio, Dolly Marrocco, and Elaine Verna. DEC. 6 The happiest of birthdays Wednesday to Michael Pittelli Jr., Steven Leahy, Parker Hayes Lorentzen, who turns 13, Gerard Loesch, William J. Slaven Sr., Grade Decker and Lindsay SanFilippo. Happy wedding anniversary Wednesday to Terri and Mike Boyle. DEC. 7 Thursday is birthday time for Jim Canfield, Jenna Cauldwell, Harvey Urbach, Rich Dimaio, Cory Torjesen, Tracey Currenti and Hayley Augustyne. DEC. 8 Happy birthday Friday to Kristen Long, Artie Fernandez, Sal Troia, Sylvia Lara, Barbara Pizzo, Dana Walker, Kathleen Marie Bozzo who turns 18, Keri-Lynn Flagello, Andy LaChance, Aiden Kelly, Cathy Mione, Mike Fiducia and Martha Falcone. The best of birthdays Friday to Christopher Castore whos now 47 years-old. DEC. 9 Saturday is birthday time for George Fries, Michael McWeeney and Artie Waldhelm. Trevor Xu, President and General Director of MESNAC European Research and Technical Centre (MERTC), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Trencin, Slovakia, Nov. 27, 2023. (Photo by Peter Varinsky/Xinhua) TRENCIN, Slovakia, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- In the bustling workshop of the MESNAC European Research and Technical Centre (MERTC) in central Slovakia's Trencin region, workers are diligently assembling hydraulic curing presses for a Spanish client. Meanwhile, software engineers conduct final checks on their latest designs. In a meeting room, Chinese and Slovak technical teams engage in discussions aimed at enhancing their innovations. Established in 2009 as the first overseas subsidiary of MESNAC, one of the world's largest suppliers of machinery for the tire and rubber industry headquartered in Qingdao, China, MERTC is making strides in its collaboration with local talent. MERTC, with a team of six Chinese and around 40 local Slovaks, has recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming a member of the Tyre Curing Press Work Group of the European Committee for Standardization. This membership not only highlights the fruitful partnership between the Chinese and Slovak teams but also positions MERTC as a contributor to the standard-setting process. President and General Director of MERTC, Trevor Xu, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: "Instead of just following rules, we are now a part of the rule makers." This membership empowers MERTC to incorporate future rule changes early in the time-consuming design process, ensuring compliance with European and global standards for their tire machinery. Reflecting on the establishment of MERTC, Xu explained that MESNAC's Chairman, Guan Bingzheng, aimed to infuse "European DNA" into the research and development of their tire building machines and curing presses while exploring the European market. Slovakia's unique position in the automotive industry, producing 185 cars per 1,000 inhabitants annually, surpassing even industry giants like Germany, made it an attractive location. Xu emphasized that beyond the favorable industry environment, the high technology knowledge and cooperation of the local workforce were pivotal factors. Operating directly in Europe provides numerous advantages, allowing MERTC to closely follow local market criteria, meet demands, and ensure easily accessible machinery parts for clients. The company has also collaborated with external partners for after-sales service across various parts of Europe. MERTC Deputy Director Stefan Kukucka, a Slovakian, highlighted the effectiveness of cross-cultural cooperation. "We are all human beings with 80 percent of the same features. The rest are cultural differences, but we must cooperate, understand each other, and I think it works," he said. Through training and collaboration, the Slovak and Chinese teams have learned from each other, contributing to continuous improvements in their machinery and final products. Kukucka remains optimistic about the European market, citing the regular upgrading of machinery by their customers. Chinese and Slovak teams of the MESNAC European Research and Technical Centre (MERTC) discuss their new designs in Trencin, Slovakia, Nov. 27, 2023. (Photo by Peter Varinsky/Xinhua) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The collaboration between GRACE Foundation of New York a renowned organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Staten Island Media Group was recently showcased in a heartwarming video featured on the Times Square jumbotron in Manhattan. On Nov. 28, the GRACE video aired in Times Square, featuring testimonials from participants whose lives have been positively impacted by the GRACE Foundation. Their stories, filled with challenges and triumphs, were highlighted, underscoring the importance of community support for individuals with Autism. This was a remarkable opportunity for us to share our story with a wider audience, said Cathy Del Priore, Executive Director of the GRACE Foundation, in expressing her excitement about the video airing in the famed jumbotron. This event is not just a celebration but a call to action for the community to continue supporting the invaluable work of the GRACE Foundation. Our partnership with the Staten Island Media Group, specifically with Dan Ryan, has been instrumental in bringing this project to life. We are deeply grateful for their support in raising awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Established in 2000, the GRACE Foundation of New York provides programs and services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. Through education, socialization, and vocational training, the Foundation seeks to enhance the capabilities and enrich the lives of those it serves. On Nov. 28, 2023, the GRACE Foundation video aired in Times Square, featuring testimonials from participants, underscoring the importance of community support for individuals with Autism.(Courtesy The GRACE Foundation of New York)(Courtesy The GRACE Foundation of New York) The Staten Island Media Group oversees marketing and advertising services for the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. NOV. 28 WAS GIVING TUESDAY Grace, one of the GRACE participants said, Being part of this Giving Tuesday day and Times Square experience is amazing. We got to see all of our faces on the big Times Square screen and get noticed by so many people walking by. The day of the event, Nov. 28, was Giving Tuesday, often described as a global day of giving or a global generosity movement, is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. On Giving Tuesday 2021, nonprofits in the U.S. alone raised $2.7 billion. Working with the GRACE Foundation has been an eye-opening experience, said Dan Ryan, of the Staten Island Media Group, affectionately known as Dan on the Street. Seeing the impact of their work has inspired our team to creatively showcase their mission. We are proud to be part of this event and hope it brings much-deserved attention to the GRACE Foundation. In alignment with the spirit of Giving Tuesday, the GRACE Foundation of New York sought to intensify its efforts to raise awareness for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Giving Tuesday represents more than just a day of generosity, added DelPriore. It symbolizes a commitment to understanding and supporting the unique needs of individuals with autism. This day of giving serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusive communities and the need for continued support and resources for those affected by autism. By participating in Giving Tuesday, the GRACE Foundation aims to inspire a wave of generosity and heightened awareness, fostering a more compassionate and understanding society for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. This initiative is part of the Foundations broader mission to create a world where individuals with autism can thrive and be celebrated for their unique talents and abilities. On Nov. 28, 2023, the GRACE Foundation video aired in Times Square, featuring testimonials from participants, underscoring the importance of community support for individuals with Autism.(Courtesy The GRACE Foundation of New York)(Courtesy The GRACE Foundation of New York) PARTY AT GARVEYS IRISH PUB Following the Times Square feature, the celebration continued at Garveys Irish Pub, where attendees had the opportunity to meet JP Delaney, one of the pubs owners and a staunch supporter of the GRACE Foundation. That day, Delaney donated proceeds from his signature drink, The GRACE Bliss, and the sales of GRACEs I Can candles. Were proud to support the GRACE Foundation, Delaney said. The response from our customers has been overwhelming, with over 20 candles sold weekly. Its a testament to the communitys commitment to making a difference. Jenna, a GRACE participant, said: I had a lot of fun. It was great. We ate so much good food at Garveys. The owner was nice. We have our I Can candles at Garveys too. I told my mom to go eat there...and her friends and get the mozzarella sticks, said Jenna, a GRACE participant. Another GRACE participant, Nico, said: Wow, an awesome day. We got to talk about our giving Tuesday message to people walking by. It was unbelievable. People are so nice. They stopped and talked to us about The Grace Foundation and what we do at GRACE. On Nov. 28, 2023, the GRACE Foundation video aired in Times Square, featuring testimonials from participants, underscoring the importance of community support for individuals with Autism.(Courtesy The GRACE Foundation of New York)(Courtesy The GRACE Foundation of New York) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Mayor Eric Adams announced on Friday that New York City has been awarded more than $10 million in U.S. Federal Transit Administration funding. The funding will support ferry operations serving Governors Island and Staten Island. Adams noted that it is New York Citys harbor is a key artery for our city. The $10 million federal investment we have delivered for our ferry systems today will strengthen this smart, enjoyable way to enjoy the ride from point A to point B, said Adams. With another major win for the Staten Island Ferry, our administration is helping Staten Islanders get to work in the morning and home to their families in the evening. At the same time, we are putting innovative technology to work reinforcing Governors Island as a nation-leading center of climate innovation and welcoming this first-of-its-kind public, electric vessel to provide cleaner air in New York Harbor. We are grateful to the Federal Transit Administration and to our federal, state, and city partners who joined us in advocating for this investment in New York City. The funding will help facilitate the installation of shoreside rapid charging infrastructure on the brand new hybrid-electric ferries that go back and forth between Manhattan and Governors Island. In addition, at least $3 million of the fund will go to the rehabilitation of the NYC Department of Transportations off-site storage facility of the Staten Island Ferry, otherwise known as Building 45. Ydanis Rodriguez, the Commissioner of the NYC DOT noted that the Staten Island Ferry is the busiest passenger-only ferry service in the world -- providing safe, reliable, and affordable transit to nearly 24 million passengers each year. This historic investment from the Federal Transit Administration will enable DOT to rehabilitate the storage facility that houses spare ferry parts and dock building materials, known as Building 45. This building will be better equipped to support efficient ferry operations through new fencing, improved lot access and drainage, upgraded utilities and lighting, and renewable energy elements, said Rodriguez. Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis said: Staten Island is finally receiving its fair share of federal infrastructure funding, and I will continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight for more funding to bring our communitys infrastructure into the 21st century. The rehabilitations towards both the Governors Island Ferry and Staten Island Ferry are anticipated to be completed by 2025. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If you recently purchased Hilltop Meadow Farm brand 60-Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese, throw it away, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is warning. The cheese, with best by dates of Sept. 21, 2023 or earlier, has been contaminated with listeria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. The report states that after testing the cheese, the presence of the harmful bacteria has led to the recall. While there have not been any reported illnesses, the PDA advises consumers to be on the lookout. 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 Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese was not sold in any Staten Island locations, but was sold in New Jersey and Pennsylvania locations frequently visited by Staten Islanders: What a perfect grift. Im surprised it took lawmakers this long to figure it out. Now we know what drivers will be expected to pay for the privilege of entering Manhattan below 60th Street under the new congestion pricing taxation program. An MTA panel has recommended that drivers be charged a $15 each time they enter that so-called Central Business District. Fifteen dollars just to go from one patch of street to the next. Oh, well get a $5 discount if we take one of the Hudson River or East River tunnels into Manhattan. But thats still $10 out of my pocket. Just for crossing an artificially determined border into Manhattan. What a con. You get no service or product for this fee, mind you, nothing tangible. As bad as electricity, food, water and heating costs can be, at least youre getting something for your money. And at least when you fork over money to see a movie or a concert, youre getting some kind of experience, even if you cant take that experience home with you. Not with congestion pricing. Its truly money for nothing. And for all the discounts, drivers who take the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and enter Manhattan via the (still-free) Brooklyn Bridge would not get a discount. Which could force more drivers into the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel in order to get the discount, which will increase congestion in the tunnel and in Lower Manhattan. Carl Weisbrod, chairman of the MTA panel that came up with the $15 fee, said that his group was trying to satisfy the many, not the few, with the few being the 150,000 people who drive into the city every day as opposed to the millions who take mass transit. In other words, screw motorists from Staten Island and elsewhere who drive into the city, many of whom, particularly from Staten Island, have little choice but to do so because of poor mass transit options. Someone should tell Weisbrod that Staten Island isnt connected to the city subway system. And I cant help think that theres still another shoe or two to drop here. Mayor Eric Adams last week called for a number of exemptions to the congestion fee, including for city-owned cars, according to the New York Post. What a disgrace. Its uber-green, Dem city officials who are constantly demonizing cars and harping on motorists to get out of our vehicles and use mass transit in order to ease emissions and save the planet. This is the whole point of the congestion pricing tax in the first place. They should do the same and take mass transit instead of looking for exemptions for their city-owned cars. Arent the free parking placards enough for them? And just you wait until civil servants, from cops to firefighters to public school teachers, start clamoring for their exemptions. But the more exemptions you grant, were told, the more that the congestion fee for the rest of us could increase in order to make up the difference. So our congestion pricing tax money could conceivably go to finance others who continue to drive and are exempt from the fee. Over my dead body. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Choosing a major is a difficult decision for many college students but some majors are associated with lower earning annual salaries than others. Using PayScales 2021-22 College Salary Report, data journalism website Stacker found college majors that earn the least money. The report surveyed 3.5 million college graduates and over 82,000 bachelors degrees that were ranked by mid-career median salary to find what a person earns after working in the field for more than a decade. Here are the top 25 college majors that have the lowest salaries, according to Stackers analysis. 25. Youth ministry Early-career pay: $37,400 Mid-career pay: $54,200 Job description, according to Stacker: Youth ministers work with children and teens to coordinate related activities at a church or religious organization. Churches typically operate as nonprofits, and therefore the salaries of their workers, including youth ministers, cannot respond to the wider market and offer higher salaries. 24. Elementary education Early-career pay: $40,000 Mid-career pay: $53,800 Job description, according to Stacker: Majoring in elementary education means teaching and instructing young students. Majors in the program must choose a specific subject to study, such as math, history, science, or English. Some who major in the subject consider careers as guidance counselors, juvenile correction officers, long-term substitute teachers, online instructors, preschool teachers, or adjunct professors. 23. Voice and opera Early-career pay: $34,500 Mid-career pay: $53,300 Job description, according to Stacker: Voice and opera students preparing to perform professionally after graduation must learn theatrical techniques and stage repertory through courses such as diction, foreign languages, music theory, and humanities. While receiving private instruction during the undergraduate curriculum, students also perform in choral ensembles. Students who choose not to sing opera after studying the major can easily transition into other careers, including teaching art, drama, music, or becoming a musical director or composer. 21. Christian education (tie) Early-career pay: $38,700 Mid-career pay: $53,200 Job description, according to Stacker: A degree in Christian education prepares students to work in ministry and service in practicing and spreading the Christian worldview. Graduates often go on to work in churches, religious organizations, or other educational settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 58% of those who major in philosophy or religious disciplines go on to earn their masters degrees. 21. Conflict resolution (tie) Early-career pay: $44,400 Mid-career pay: $53,200 Job description, according to Stacker: Whether on an international scale or between two individuals, where there is conflict, there is a need for conflict resolution. Conflict resolution specialists and mediators often require advanced degrees and many years of experience to be established in the field. 19. Baking and pastry arts (tie) Early-career pay: $37,500 Mid-career pay: $53,000 Job description, according to Stacker: These days, it seems everyone is a food blogger. This means that more people than ever are likely to be trying their hands at baking and pastry-making at home, reducing the need for specialized bakers. 19. Human services management (tie) Early-career pay: $45,600 Mid-career pay: $53,000 Job description, according to Stacker: Human services management jobs are a specific role for those interested in helping or managing others in social work or related fields. Although the average salary is not extremely high, these positions pay more than nonsupervisory roles in the same field. Some of these roles require additional licensing. 18. Hospitality and culinary arts Early-career pay: $38,800 Mid-career pay: $52,900 Job description, according to Stacker: Some career choices for holders of a hospitality and culinary arts degree include restaurant manager, food service director, chef, caterer, and food safety specialist, among others. But the hospitality industry, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is notoriously understaffed, underpaid, and undervalued. 17. Human services Early-career pay: $38,700 Mid-career pay: $52,500 Job description, according to Stacker: Although careers in human services vary widely, their common denominator is that they help people who are likely unable to help themselves. As such, these jobs, which include family court advocates and crisis support workers, serve a population with limited resources that may be unable to compensate them highly. 16. Counseling Early-career pay: $39,900 Mid-career pay: $51,700 Job description, according to Stacker: Counselors are in high demand, but many of the people who need their help arent able to pay well, and dealing with insurance companies for reimbursement is challenging at best. 15. Recreational therapy Early-career pay: $38,400 Mid-career pay: $51,600 Job description, according to Stacker: Recreational therapists help many Americans, especially older adults, deal with disabilities, injuries, and illnessestypically via arts and crafts, aquatics, games, and other activities. Although the pay is not high, these professions are projected to increase in demand as an aging generation of Americans looks to the future. 14. Child development Early-career pay: $37,400 Mid-career pay: $51,400 Job description, according to Stacker: Childcare workers have an average hourly wage of just $13.71. Some advocacy groups and politicians have advocated paying these workers more to meet growing demands for a $15 minimum child care wage. 13. Educational psychology Early-career pay: $36,900 Mid-career pay: $51,200 Job description, according to Stacker: Educational psychologists study how people learn, which can inform various teaching methods, classroom strategies, and ideally, improve academic outcomes. But as many schools struggle with shrinking budgets, professionals in this field are either unaffordable or underpaid and are often expected to work beyond a reasonable capacity. 12. Middle school education Early-career pay: $41,200 Mid-career pay: $50,800 Job description, according to Stacker: After majoring in middle school education, graduates teach students in grades five through nine. Preparing to teach that specific age group entails taking undergraduate courses in various subjects, including English, science, mathematics, and social studies. 11. Mental health counseling Early-career pay: $36,100 Mid-career pay: $50,000 Job description, according to Stacker: Becoming a licensed mental health counselor requires time, study, and practiceyears of it. Professionals can focus on working with specific populations, like children, military veterans, or people with addiction. And there is no shortage of need for these services. More than 156 million people in the U.S. live in areas with documented mental health care professional shortages. 10. Early childhood and elementary education Early-career pay: $38,000 Mid-career pay: $48,400 Job description, according to Stacker: Students who major in early childhood and elementary education prepare to teach in both preschool and after-school programs, as well as kindergarten through sixth grade. Graduates must usually become certified to instruct students in whatever state they choose for work. With further schooling, some graduates of the major go on to become administrators, such as principals, superintendents, directors of curriculum, and college deans. 9. Equine studies Early-career pay: $35,700 Mid-career pay: $47,100 Job description, according to Stacker: An equine studies major prepares you for just about any career pertaining to horse training, breeding, or showing. While the equine world is often equated with wealth, workers in this field are among the lowest paid on this list. For those working with horses competing in major races and events, the purse earnings divided among winning team members can be very lucrative. 8. Addiction studies Early-career pay: $38,000 Mid-career pay: $47,000 Job description, according to Stacker: Addiction studies majors can typically expect to work as addiction counselors or drug or alcohol treatment specialists. There is a large pay range for those who work in the field, with salaries dependent largely on the level of education attained, geographic location, and the type of setting in which treatment is performed. 7. Child and family studies Early-career pay: $36,400 Mid-career pay: $46,500 Job description, according to Stacker: Childcare is one of the lowest-paying professions in the United States. One reason may be that many teenagers and other younger adults will work as babysitters and tutors to make side money, which makes it more difficult for professionals to demand higher wages. 6. Rehabilitation counseling Early-career pay: $39,200 Mid-career pay: $46,400 Job description, according to Stacker: Rehabilitation counselors typically work to serve people living with disabilities. These services can range from mental health to physical health to practical life-skills training and can be performed everywhere, from detention centers to unemployment offices. Recipients typically do not pay for such services, and as such, the salaries of rehabilitation counselors are limited by the budgets of the government or nonprofit agencies that employ them. 5. Outdoor education Early-career pay: $37,400 Mid-career pay: $46,300 Job description, according to Stacker: Outdoor education professionals help people enjoy the great outdoors. However perfect they may be for the outdoors enthusiast, some of these jobs are run by the government, which means they are capped within a certain pay bracket. 4. Early childhood education Early-career pay: $36,100 Mid-career pay: $45,400 Job description, according to Stacker: A childs cognitive, emotional, and language development occurs in the first five years of life, making early childhood education critical in an adolescents academic career. However, it is one of the lowest-paying majors on the list, indicating that those who enter the field are likely more concerned about the community than salary. 3. Mental health Early-career pay: $36,900 Mid-career pay: $45,000 Job description, according to Stacker: Mental health is a field that encompasses many different settings. Some mental health specialists may work in assisted living facilities, helping residents with dementia, while others may work with working professionals stressed and depressed about their jobs. Those working in private practice theoretically have no salary caps, while those working in institutions may be more constrained by salary caps. 2. Medical assisting Early-career pay: $36,000 Mid-career pay: $44,800 Job description, according to Stacker: Medical assisting wages may be low partly because its a job that requires fewer qualifications than other health care jobs and because of high turnover. 1. Metalsmithing Early-career pay: $40,000 Mid-career pay: $40,300 Coulthart is this years winner of the Australian Skeptics Bent Spoon, awarded to what the doubters dub the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of pseudoscientific or paranormal piffle. But the former 60 Minutes and Four Corners man picked up a piece of silverware on the weekend that we suspect wont be going anywhere near the pool room. Nobody can say that Ross Coulthart hasnt had a stellar career in journalism; the dude has five Walkley Awards, including a Gold Walkley, a Logie, a Prime Ministers Award for Australian History and a bunch of other prizes on the mantelpiece. Its the aliens, of course. Coulthart has been writing, broadcasting and podcasting claims these past few years that governments across the world have been secretly storing wreckage of downed extraterrestrial spacecraft and the bodies of their pilots. Look, its a better way to make a living than spin-doctoring for war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith, which was how Rossco was earning a crust before he got into the aliens caper, but the Skeptics are not impressed. Australian Skeptics chief executive Tim Mendham told us that Coultharts claims he also reckons the Vatican is in on the cover-up are based on hearsay with no evidence, no bodies, no space junk. Coultharts award-winning career as an investigative journalist is obviously no defence against belief in unsubstantiated claims, Mendham said. Coultharts win puts him into exalted company with past winners of the Bent Spoon including former celebrity chef-turned-wellness-weirdo Pete Evans, the ABC, SBS, former MP Craig Kelly, the Australian Vaccination Network and, it says here, a psychic dentist. When the outback epic Australia had a disappointing release in American cinemas 15 years ago, director Baz Luhrmann simmered over how it had been pitched to audiences there. I really had conflict with the way the film was marketed and sold, the celebrated Australian director says from New York City. They hid in the US all of the cattle stuff and just sold it as Australias Pearl Harbour. It was all about the war. I realised I had 2.1 million feet of footage: Baz Luhrmann. Credit: Brendon Thorne It took watching streaming services when COVID-19 shut down the production of Elvis on the Gold Coast for Luhrmann to see a way of giving his most polarising film a new life using footage that did not make the final cut, along with a new soundtrack, to turn Australia into a six-chapter miniseries called Faraway Downs that is streaming on Disney+. I realised I had 2.1 million feet of footage, he says. In the back of my mind, I probably thought that one day I might make an epic two-film version. In international news, Venezuela is making a political grab for most of the neighbouring country of Guyana after a referendum on Sunday, in which the government claims 10.5 million ballots were passed. Kaieteur Falls in Guyana is the highest single-drop waterfall in the world. Credit: Overflightstock Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo The vote declared support for Venezuela to set up a state called Essequibo in an area that represents about two-thirds of Guyana, the only English-speaking country in mainland South America. It also rejected the jurisdiction of the United Nations top court in settling the disagreement between the South American countries. Australias 1999 cricket captain Steve Waugh looks with Glenn McGrath from a rocky outcrop at Kaieteur Falls in Guyana. Credit: Reuters The area in the west of Guyana is bigger than Greece and rich in minerals. It borders both Venezuela and Brazil, and Venezuela claims the land was stolen when the borders were drawn more than a century ago. The region also borders the Atlantic Ocean, in an area where energy giant ExxonMobil discovered oil in commercial quantities in 2015. The land is covered in dense rainforest that is much more intact than the neighbouring forest across the border with Brazil, and is mostly inhabited by indigenous tribes. It includes Guyanas biggest tourist attraction, Kaieteur Falls, the highest single-drop waterfall in the world, which is accessible by light plane. The waterfall featured in David Attenboroughs Life on Earth series in the 1990s. Members of the Australian cricket team visited Kaieteur Falls on their West Indies tour in 1999, and King Charles III, then prince of Wales, visited in 2000. (Full disclosure: Ive been there too). Despite the claims of a large turnout, Associated Press reports that few voters could be seen at Venezuelan voting centres throughout the voting period. David Attenborough at Kaietuer Falls in publicity shot for Life on Earth in 1995. The International Court of Justice had ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyanas control over Essequibo, but the judges did not specifically ban officials from carrying out the referendum. Guyana had asked the court to order Venezuela to halt parts of the vote. The practical and legal consequences of the referendum remain unclear at this stage, but Brazil has boosted its military presence in the border region in response. Read the full story. With AP Alleged Alameddine crime figure Masood Zakaria will face an Australian court two years after police allege he escaped the country on a fishing boat and entered Turkey. The 28-year-old has been a top priority for NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police, who have been fighting for his deportation to Australia to face conspiracy to murder charges. Masood Zakaria will face a conspiracy to murder charge in NSW. AFP officers told Turkish police that Zakaria had allegedly entered the country on a false passport and was using his time in Turkey to associate with organised crime figures with links to Australia. In January this year, Zakaria was arrested in Bodrum on the countrys south-west coast and remained in immigration detention until this week. People take cover while the air raid siren sounds in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 2, 2023. 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. On Saturday, Israel attacked more than 400 locations in the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel's border with the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv and other central cities were attacked by rockets from the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) People take cover while the air raid siren sounds in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 2, 2023. 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. On Saturday, Israel attacked more than 400 locations in the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel's border with the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv and other central cities were attacked by rockets from the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) People take cover while the air raid siren sounds in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 2, 2023. 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. On Saturday, Israel attacked more than 400 locations in the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel's border with the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv and other central cities were attacked by rockets from the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) People take cover while the air raid siren sounds in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 2, 2023. 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. On Saturday, Israel attacked more than 400 locations in the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel's border with the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv and other central cities were attacked by rockets from the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) People take cover while the air raid siren sounds in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 2, 2023. 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. On Saturday, Israel attacked more than 400 locations in the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel's border with the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv and other central cities were attacked by rockets from the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) People take cover while the air raid siren sounds in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 2, 2023. 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. On Saturday, Israel attacked more than 400 locations in the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel's border with the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv and other central cities were attacked by rockets from the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Thousands of Palestinian supporters gathered in Hyde Park to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, before chanting free, free Palestine through Sydneys CBD. The rally, which remained peaceful throughout, was the first held since heavy fighting resumed in Gaza on December 1 after the ending of a seven-day pause in military operations, which began on November 24 and was extended twice. Pro-Palestinian protesters take to Sydney streets in the first rally since fighting resumed in Gaza. Credit: Dean Sewell The pause 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 shattered coastal strip. Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza, in response to the October 7 rampage by the militant group, in which Israel said killed 1200 people and took 240 hostages. Israel retaliated with intense bombardment and a ground invasion. A Ballarat community group has called on police to take swift action and gave some neo-Nazis a history lesson after the group held an unannounced demonstration through Sturt Street on Sunday afternoon. Videos on social media showed the National Socialist Network chanting Australia is for the white man and Hail victory while walking in black clothes, balaclavas and sunglasses to protect their identities. A nazi group made an unannounced walk through Ballarat on Sunday. Credit: Twitter The group reportedly posed for pictures at the Eureka Monument as Sunday was the anniversary of the Eureka Stockade while another photo on X, formerly Twitter, showed the group posing for a photo in front of what appears to be Ballarat Police Station. Police said they chose to keep the peace and provide a safe passage for the march and are reviewing footage to see if the group breached Victorias anti-Nazi symbol laws. An ageing Bourke Street skyscraper has had an expensive renovation instead of being knocked down in what experts say is a shining example of how buildings can be retrofitted. Property giant ISPT has spent more than $160 million gutting and refurbishing NABs former headquarters at 500 Bourke Street, and months selling off and recycling the old office furniture, rather than sending it to landfill. Rohan Fenton, manager of 500 Bourke Street, which has been retrofitted. Credit: Eddie Jim Experts said this should be happening more often in Melbourne, with only around seven CBD commercial buildings retrofitted every year. The City of Melbourne estimates that to reach its carbon emissions targets, that needs to increase to about 80 buildings per year. Multimillionaire businessman Sean Buckley has claimed in new court documents that an audio recording of him allegedly assaulting ex-girlfriend Jennifer Cole was a sex tape, which he argues imposed a legal obligation on her to keep the recording confidential. Buckley and his car servicing company, Ultra Tune Australia, launched Supreme Court action in February 2021 to block Cole and former employee Anthony Swords from releasing the recording. Ultra Tune founder Sean Buckley and ex-girlfriend Jennifer Cole. But Buckley and his new lawyers now claim the couple were engaged in sexual activity when Cole covertly recorded their conversation in a suite at Crown Metropol Hotel in Southbank in January 2020, according to a revised statement of claim. In the new pleading, the plaintiffs [Buckley and Ultra Tune] say that the entire contents of the recording were subject to an obligation of confidence because the recording was made in a private room during a sexual encounter between consenting parties in a non-exclusive sexual and co-parenting relationship, according to a published order by Supreme Court Justice Melissa Daly on November 29. When Rosie Battys 11-year-old son was killed by his father, it seemed a watershed moment, raising national awareness of domestic violence. But nearly a decade later, she does not think much has changed. Advocate Rosie Batty during a press conference to mark 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Less than 24 hours after the tragedy, her eloquent voice made Australians sit up and listen in that summer of 2014. The next year, the nation recognised her courage in shining a light on domestic violence victims and the Victorian mother was named Australian of the Year. She resolved to use her 12 months in the publics eye to bring the problem of family violence into the spotlight. She wanted all Australians to know: one in three women experiences violence at the hands of someone they know. On average, one woman is killed every week by an intimate partner. One in four children has been exposed to domestic violence. She had no intention of being patient. Now, as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign, Batty looks back on nearly a decade of activism, disheartened and exhausted. When I first lost Luke, I didnt realise how difficult and how long change would take, she told the Herald. When I sit in front of the news and I see theres another fatality I dont think anythings changing. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reported to have been excluded from the wedding of the Duke of Westminster next year. Hugh Grosvenor, 32, has invited the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales to his wedding with Olivia Henson, 30, at Chester Cathedral on June 7 which will be the society wedding of the year. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex earlier this year. Credit: AP The duke, who is a lifelong friend of Prince Harry and is the godfather to the Sussexes son, Prince Archie, is reported by The Sunday Times to have taken the decision to avoid a family clash. A friend of Prince William and Prince Harrys said: Its incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of the very few close friends of William and Harrys who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. MANILA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred inside a gym of Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province, in the southern Philippines, killing at least three and injuring seven, local media reported Sunday morning. The blast occurred past 7 a.m. local time when students and teachers gathered for a Catholic mass inside the gym, according to local police. Police were investigating the type of explosive device used in the blast. Marawi City is the capital and the largest city of Lanao del Sur on Mindanao island. Hebah Abbas, chairwoman of the sustainability committee at the Kuwait Water Association, reacts during an interview with Xinhua at her office in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Ke) KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has been a responsible and proactive player in global climate governance, Hebah Abbas, chairwoman of the sustainability committee at the Kuwait Water Association, told Xinhua in an interview on Sunday. Hebah said that China has sent a clear message of its commitment to mitigating climate change during the ongoing 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) and highlighted a strategic approach for global collaboration in this regard. "China's role is pivotal," she said, especially following its Methane Emissions Control Action Plan published in November, which is "crucial for methane regulation and signals renewed international cooperation." Hebah was invited as a panelist to attend the 2023 Pearl Bay International Climate Investment and Financing Conference last month in Guangzhou, the capital of southern China's Guangdong Province. She said during the conference, a visit to the Maozhou River Exhibition Hall was particularly enlightening, where she witnessed China's innovative and practical implementation of the Ecology-Oriented Development (EOD) model, offering a comprehensive, lifecycle-integrated approach to water management. In addition, tours to Huawei and GAC Motors highlighted China's leading role in the field of a green and digital transition, she added. "A standout moment of my visit was the engaging and insightful discussion I had with a group of enthusiastic students, symbolizing the readiness of China's future generation to spearhead a sustainable future," she added. Hebah noted that there is a great potential for collaboration between China and Kuwait in terms of climate change. Kuwait has taken a proactive stance at COP28, which is in alignment with the "Kuwait Vision 2035" that emphasizes environmental sustainability, Hebah said. The nation's strategic programs are to reduce carbon emissions across various sectors, including oil, transportation, industry, and agriculture, according to Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al Sabah, Kuwaiti emir's representative to COP28. Therefore, Kuwait and China can work jointly on various fields to combat climate change, including renewable energy projects, green technology, and sustainable infrastructure, Hebah stressed. "Sharing knowledge and research could be key areas where both countries can greatly contribute to global climate change mitigation," she said. MANILA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred inside a gym of Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines on Sunday morning, killing at least three and injuring nine, police said. The blast occurred past 7 a.m. local time when students and teachers gathered for a Catholic mass inside the gym, according to local police. Police were investigating the type of explosive device used in the blast. The Mindanao State University condemned "this senseless and horrific act," saying it was "deeply saddened by and appalled by the act of violence." The university said it has decided to suspend classes until further notice and has deployed additional security personnel to safeguard the campus. Marawi City is the capital and the largest city of Lanao del Sur province on Mindanao island. In 2017, local terrorists pledging support to the Islamic State, including a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group, the Maute Group, among others, occupied and held the lakeside city for five months, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, hundreds of thousands of residents displaced, and many parts of the city destroyed. John Lee (C), chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Yidan Prize Foundation Secretary-General Edward Ma (1st L), Yidan Prize for Education Development winner Shai Reshef (2nd L), Yidan Prize for Education Research winner Michelene Chi (2nd R), and Yidan Prize founder Chen Yidan, pose for a group photo at the awards ceremony in Hong Kong, south China, Dec. 3, 2023. (Information Services Department of the Government of the HKSAR/Handout via Xinhua) HONG KONG, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two educators Michelene Chi and Shai Reshef were awarded the Yidan Prize on Sunday in Hong Kong for their contributions to global education. Chi, a professor from Arizona State University of the United States, was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Research. She is an expert in cognitive and learning sciences, well known for creating a widely applicable and accessible framework for active learning -- the Interactive, Constructive, Active and Passive (ICAP) framework, which provides a robust structure for promoting critical and creative thinking at all levels of education, empowering educators to create more effective educational experiences for students. Reshef, founder and president of the University of the People, won the Yidan Prize for Education Development. Through his pioneering university, which is a tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university, he is making higher education accessible to all, regardless of the students' backgrounds. John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said at the awards ceremony that the HKSAR government is committed to developing Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education, and is determined to attract more outstanding talents to pursue studies and conduct research in Hong Kong. Lee said that the HKSAR government will increase the quota of non-Hong Kong students studying in government-funded post-secondary institutions in Hong Kong, and offer more scholarships for outstanding students from participating countries of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Founded in 2016 by Chen Yidan, co-founder of the Chinese internet giant Tencent, the Yidan Prize is intended to help create a better world through education. It consists of two awards, one for education research and another for education development. Each winner will receive a gold medal and 30 million HK dollars (around 3.8 million U.S. dollars). Chen at the awards ceremony congratulated the laureates and encouraged people to strive for a world where the best ideas for improving education are put into place on a large scale, helping young people learn, collaborate, and apply what they learn into solving problems in the real world. The Hollywood actor was pictured holding an umbrella to protect him and his human rights lawyer wife from the rain, which poured down at the event held at the Curzon Mayfair in central London on Sunday evening. The leader of the Opposition also appeared in his article to praise the pro-privatisation former Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher, saying she sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism, in a move that is likely to irk those on the left-wing of his party. As a country that has long benefited from the industrialisation which has contributed to the current climate crisis, it is only right that Scotland contributes its fair share to support countries that have been disproportionately impacted by its consequences, and ensure we can meet the aims of the UNs sustainable development goals together. A lot of the well-to-do people here were very much against it, and even some of the Jewish community because they feared the influence it would have on them if these indigent poor people because we had no support at all were allowed in. Writing on X on Saturday, Mr Macron said: I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening during the terrorist attack in Paris and think with emotion of the people currently injured and in care. Originally released in 1987, the bands gritty festive track has never reached the top spot in the UK charts, peaking at number two and beaten to the Christmas number one spot in the year of its release by the Pet Shop Boys Always On My Mind. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks on two ships they described as being linked to Israel but did not acknowledge targeting a US Navy vessel. Hopes for another temporary truce in Gaza were fading. The cease-fire facilitated the release of dozens of the roughly 240 Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The TTP is a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and Nato troops were in the final stages of their withdrawal from the country. It has waged an insurgency in Pakistan over the past 15 years. DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's standard gauge railway (SGR) linking the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam to the eastern region of Morogoro will begin trial operations in January 2024, a senior official has said recently. The trial runs will be for passenger trains only and will commence after approval from the Land Transport Regulatory Authority, Minister of Transport Makame Mbarawa said. Mbarawa made the remarks on Friday during a news conference in Dar es Salaam at the conclusion of a one-day meeting of transport ministers from the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency, which brought together ministers from Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. Masanja Kadogosa, the director-general of the Tanzania Railway Corporation, said that construction of the 300-kilometer SGR had reached 97 percent completion by June this year, and the first trial run by project engineers proved successful. Tanzania is constructing a total of 2,102 km of SGR, linking it to neighboring Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, thus making the East African country a regional business and transportation hub. The video, in Arabic, was published on Rajabpour-Miyandoa's account on X, formerly Twitter, where his recent posts included references to the Israel-Hamas war, the prosecutor said. Mr Ricard said Rajabpour-Miyandoab was born in 1997 in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, outside Paris, in a family with no religious affiliation. He converted to Islam at the age of 18 and quickly adhered to Islamic extremist ideology, he said. 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"We preserve traditions, we protect the farmer's household! Romanians can sell their farm-raised pigs, both during Christmas and throughout the year, with a free notice from the veterinarian confirming that the animal is not sick. I explained, again, at a fair of Romanian products, at a meeting with journalists, that no one will be able to forbid Romanians to raise, slaughter and sell pigs from the household! We keep the tradition and every Romanian celebrates Romanian Christmas!", the minister of Agriculture posted on his Facebook page, on Sunday. Earlier, Florin Barbu said that the pig should not be banned and will never be banned in Romania, and the idea of giving vouchers for the purchase of meat is foolish, because it encourages the consumption of pork from abroad. "The pig should not be forbidden, it is a tradition. And I will go to my parents and my father for the holidays, who, even though he is a retired teacher, raises three pigs for us - one for me, one for my brother and one for them. So, this thing will never be banned in Romania, and whoever says that we will give vouchers is a big fool. Through those vouchers we encourage the consumption of pork from abroad," said Barbu on Saturday at a traditional products fair organized in the capital. The people of Bucharest are expected, between December 1 and 3, 2023, at the "Poftim, din Romania!" fair, organized in Tudor Arghezi Park in the capital by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR), in partnership with the City Hall of Sector 4 and the Caprirom Sud Agricultural Cooperative Muntenia. At the event, there are over 30 producers with traditional Romanian products, such as: cheeses, meat products, fresh fruits and vegetables, pastries and preserves, but the attractions of the event will be the hot dishes, cooked on the spot according to ancient recipes : sarmale, ham with beans, pastrami, bulz and delicious desserts. Also, the people of Bucharest will have the opportunity to purchase handmade products by folk craftsmen, as well as lavender cosmetics. People mourn for victims killed in airstrikes in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) GAZA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Hamas-run Health Ministry said that Israel launched new airstrikes on various areas in the war-torn Gaza Strip on Sunday, resulting in dozens killed and wounded. Rescue workers and medics told Xinhua that Israeli airstrikes targeted a populated residential building belonging to the Abu Aita family in the Jabalia Camp in the northern Strip. Thirty-seven people were killed and were transferred to the hospital over the past few hours. Meanwhile, at least three people were killed and 20 others wounded in an Israeli bombardment targeting a house owned by the Abu Jiyab family in the Abu Eskandar area, north of Gaza City, according to medics. Moreover, the Palestinian civil defense service said that several people were killed and wounded in homes destroyed by Israeli warplanes on Yafa Street, east of Gaza City. Earlier in the day, the civil defense service spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported that 84 dead were transported to Al-Muamalat Hospital in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes in the recent hours. The government's Media Office Director Ismael Al-Thawabteh told reporters on Sunday that more than 700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the last 24 hours. Homeless people are pictured at a hospital in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) People mourn for victims killed in airstrikes in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) A wounded child is pictured at a hospital in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) People mourn for victims killed in airstrikes in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) People mourn for victims killed in airstrikes in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) People mourn for victims killed in airstrikes in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, Dec. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) President Klaus Iohannis emphasized, on Sunday, during a meeting with representatives of the European Youth Forum, the importance of involving young people in the efficient management of climate change and of acquiring the right skills to actively participate in the green transition According to a press release from the Presidential Administration sent to AGERPRES on Sunday, the meeting took place during the participation of the head of state in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28), in Dubai. The discussions took place in the context of Romania joining the Declaration on the Common Agenda for Education and Climate Change at COP28, as a founding partner. Klaus Iohannis showed that education is an important tool to change mindsets and facilitate solving the current challenges facing society, among which those related to climate change and the environment occupy an important place. During the meeting, the head of state also highlighted the steps our country is currently taking to increase access to education on climate change and the environment at the national and international level. The "Green Week" program was discussed, included in the structure of the school year in Romania, starting this year. Also, president Klaus Iohannis mentioned the national measures to adapt to climate change, including those related to preparing young people and children to respond to emergency situations, the incidence of which will increase in the context of climate change. In turn, the young people presented the motivation to participate in COP28 and the desire to collaborate more closely with the authorities in managing climate change. At the same time, they brought up topics that they consider a priority for the young generation, in the context of climate change: the inclusion of young people's points of view in decision-making, education and the development of skills to be able to participate successfully in the emerging green economy. The Declaration on the Common Agenda for Education and Climate Change at COP28 foresees the continuation of global efforts to build intelligent educational systems from the point of view of climate change through four pillars of action: increasing the degree of sustainability of schools, integrating climate education into the school curriculum, adequate training of teachers and revigorating the communities through education. The declaration also provides for specific measures related to mitigating and adapting to climate change in an educational context, as well as investments in education. The European Youth Forum is the largest youth representation platform at the European level, with over 100 member youth organizations, being supported in its activity by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The main areas of interest of the European Youth Forum are: education, finding a quality job for young people, protecting the Planet and including young people in democratic consultation processes. Approximately 200,000 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with approximately 55,000 means of transport went through the control formalities at the border points throughout the country, on Saturday. The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informed that inbound there were 120,883 people, of which 8,596 were Ukrainian citizens. Thus, starting from 10.02.2022 (pre-conflict period), until 02.12.2023, midnight, at the national level, 6,771,218 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania. Regarding specific activities, in the last 24 hours, in the areas of competence - the crossing points and the "green border" - the border police found: 47 illegal acts (22 crimes and 25 misdemeanors) committed by Romanian citizens, as well as foreigners, and the amount of contravention fines applied amounts to over 11,600 RON. Also, assets worth more than 558,280 RON were confiscated. IGPF specifies that 16 foreign citizens who did not meet the legal conditions were not allowed to enter the country and 12 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons.A AGERPRES special corespondent, Oana Ghita, reports: Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu began his official visit to the United States of America at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, where he commemorated the victims of the genocide of the Second World War, on Sunday. He ended the tour of the museum in the Hall of Remembrance, a quiet space, where he lit a candle, together with members of his official delegation. Marcel Ciolacu then signed the Museum's honor book. The Romanian delegation was accompanied by the US ambassador to Romania, Kathleen Kavalec, and the Romanian ambassador to the United States of America, Andrei Muraru. The guide of the delegation in the memorial museum was the director of the institution, Sara Bloomfield. She told the prime minister that Romania is considered a leader in remembering the history of the Holocaust. "Thank you very much," she said. At the same time, he spoke about the symbolism of the Museum, about the "fracture in Western civilization" in the Second World War and about "how it was possible for some people to do something like this to other people, something that started in a country like Germany , with a highly educated, highly developed population, with a democratic constitution, rule of law, which slipped into genocide". Thus, according to Bloomfield, the Museum speaks "about the role of the USA in the world and about all the people who care about the future of freedom and human dignity". On Sunday evening, the Head of the Executive will meet with representatives of the Romanian community from the Washington - Virginia - Maryland area. On Monday, he participates in the official wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Heroes' Cemetery in Washington. The ceremony includes 19 cannon volleys and honoring the flag. Afterwards, the Romanian Prime Minister will meet, at the Pentagon, with the American Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, and the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken. At the end of the day, he will also meet with Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of Energy. Marcel Ciolacu is on an official visit to Washington D.C. and in New York until Wednesday, together with a government delegation that includes the Minister of Defense, Angel Tilvar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, and the Minister of Economy, Radu Oprea. According to a Government press release, he will have meetings with several high-ranking American officials. Thus, at the US State Department, the prime minister will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Also, the Chief Executive will have meetings with the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin and the Secretary of Energy of the United States of America, Jennifer Granholm. An important point of the visit is the meetings, in New York, with Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations and with Dennis Frances, the chairman of the UN General Assembly. The program of the visit will include meetings with representatives of the leadership of the Armed Forces Committee in the House of Representatives, Mike Rogers and Adam Smith, with the co-chairmen of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US Senate, senators Ben Cardin and James Risch, and with the co-chairmen of the Friendship Group with Romania from the House of Representatives, Mike Turner and Elissa Slotkin. AWARDS Prairie Farms Dairy, Edwardsville, Illinois, closed its 85th anniversary with 20 ribbons, including two top awards and sweeps in four categories, in the annual National Milk Producers Federation Cheese and Yogurt Contest. The Building Service Contractors Association International honored 4M Building Solutions with the 2023 Safety Award. 4M St. Louis Regional Vice President Amanda Adams won the Contracting Profits Emerging Leader Award. The national, 2023 American Graphic Design Awards recognized Grizzell & Co. for outstanding work in advertising and graphic communications. HELPING OUT Memory Care Home Solutions marked its 20th Anniversary and National Family Caregivers Month at its annual gala and auction, and raised over $250,000 to assist families managing dementia at home. Bank of America named Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and the International Institute of St. Louis as winners of the 2023 Neighborhood Builders awards. Each will receive $200,000 in flexible funding and leadership training to advance economic mobility in St. Louis. Spectrum awarded $90,000 in grants and donations to 10 St. Louis-area nonprofits through Spectrum Community Center Assist, Spectrum Digital Education and Spectrum Employee Community Grants. GRANTS The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, awarded Washington University School of Medicine a five-year grant totaling $4.5 million to better deliver services to medically vulnerable and underserved communities in the St. Louis metropolitan region and rural Missouri. Saint Louis Universitys School of Education received a $5.96 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a two-year pilot program to address teacher shortages in underserved communities. Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today ST. LOUIS A gentle rain fell as the man clad in a camouflage jacket walked his dog. Behind him was a picturesque scene that could have come from the Jim Carrey movie The Truman Show: homes of nearly identical style with wide sidewalks, flower beds and American flags flying from the porches. But this wasnt a Hollywood snapshot of suburbia. It was on North Grand Boulevard, in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. And the homes werent standard size. They are tiny homes, no larger than 320 square feet. Welcome to the Veterans Community Project, the newest entry in the battle against homelessness in St. Louis. Last month, just before winter weather started in earnest, the first six units were opened. They couldnt have come at a better time. Homelessness among veterans is on the rise in the St. Louis region and across the nation. There were more than 1,000 known veterans who were homeless last year in Missouri and Illinois, with nearly 250 in the St. Louis region, according to the Veterans Administrations Hope Recovery Center. The Veterans Community Project in St. Louis is the second such village in Missouri, with the first opening in Kansas City, where the nonprofit was formed. Similar villages are being built in Colorado, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Arizona. In St. Louis, plans call for 50 tiny homes and a community center where veterans can meet with case managers and learn about services to escape the cycle of homelessness that brought them here in the first place. Its overwhelming to figure out what services are out there, says Rebecca Tallman, the executive director of the village. Our goal is to be a hub, to connect people with the correct services they need. The village reflects the challenges for people who find themselves on the streets, or in their cars, or couch-surfing with friends and family. Sometimes its an eviction or a mental health crisis that spurs the need for shelter. For veterans, its often a difficult transition from military life to civilian life. Many also struggle with trauma from serving in combat. You go from being a part of a family to not being one, says Tallman, a 20-year Air Force veteran. All of a sudden, one day, you are no longer needed. When it comes to homelessness, the folks who need emergency shelter often draw the most attention, particularly in the winter. But the Veterans Community Project is helping address another key part of the system: transitional housing. In the village, veterans can live for several months or more than a year as they work to secure medical care, mental health services, help for addiction or the resources to move into permanent housing. Nearly half of the beds for unhoused people in the St. Louis region are in transitional housing, as compared to shelters. But theres a need for more in all parts of the system, from shelters to permanent housing, as well as more services to help keep people off the streets. Like many nonprofits in this space, the Veterans Community Project is raising private money. Its about halfway to its capital campaign goal of $12.8 million for the St. Louis village. On the day I visited, volunteers were busy in the outreach center organizing food and other donations, such as clothing and bedding. Some of those items are available to veterans who walk in from the street, even if they dont end up living at the village. This is the type of hard work performed nearly every day to battle homelessness in the city and county. Dozens of churches, nonprofits and government agencies work to keep our neighbors off the street, or to feed and clothe them when they have nowhere else to go. Veterans are twice as likely as other population groups to end up homeless, Tallman says. Some will end up at the Veterans Community Project, by themselves, or with dogs, or with an entire family. They will take the steps to end up back in a home. Each one of them has a different story, Tallman says, a different path that gets them to that place. ST. LOUIS A detainee in the St. Louis City Justice Center died Sunday morning in what authorities are calling an apparent suicide. The man, 34-year-old Javon White, was found unconscious in his cell by a correctional officer just before 6:10 a.m. after an apparent suicide attempt, according to Monte Chambers, a spokesperson for the citys Department of Public Safety. He died later at a hospital. Charles Coyle, the city's public safety director, said Monday that White had "reached out to mental health" in September but there was nothing that would put him on suicide watch. White had been jailed there for 31 months as he awaited trial in a murder case. He was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault in April 2021. He was accused of fatally shooting Chuwn Curtis, 24, in the Walnut Park East neighborhood of St. Louis. Two women were also shot but survived. White's mother Vanessa Matthews and wife Pamela White told the Post-Dispatch on Monday morning that they want an outside investigation into how White died. Matthews confirmed that her son was not on suicide watch, and they are skeptical that he would have killed himself. "As much as he loved his family, I don't see him doing that," Matthews said. "His whole hopes and dreams were coming home to his family." White was a father of four. Pamela White said she last spoke with her husband Friday. "He had his ups and downs," she said. "He wanted to come home." The City Justice Center, where suspects are held before trial, has long faced criticism. The jail saw several inmate uprisings in 2021 over what inmates called inhumane conditions. The facility has seen several deaths in recent years, including three within two months earlier this summer. Last week, city officials announced a new health care provider for the facility. Florida-based Physician Correctional USA began a one-year contract on Friday, taking over from bankrupt prison health care giant Corizon and a related company, YesCare. Also last week, after more than a year of being turned away, the citys jail oversight board made its first official visit to the downtown jail, where they had their first in-person meeting with Corrections Commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah. Coyle, the public safety director, said Monday that police and the medical examiner's office are investigating White's death. Were looking into this, he said. We have a lot of unanswered questions. Coyle noted that about a quarter of the deaths at the downtown jail since 2000 have been suicides. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones expressed condolences to the mans family and said any death in the jail is concerning. We are unsure as to whether or not it could have been prevented, she said. Jones also reiterated her confidence in Clemons-Abdullah's leadership. Jones and Coyle spoke with reporters Monday after the opening session of a week-long series of regional meetings aimed at reducing homicides and other violent crime. 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 thats unlikely to happen in the near future. The document is a draft agreement to uphold 168-year-old treaties with four tribes in the Pacific Northwest that preserved their right to harvest fish in the river, among other things. The Columbia River Basin was once the greatest salmon-producing river system in the world, with at least 16 stocks of salmon and steelhead, according to the document. But today, four are extinct and seven are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Conservationists say dams built in the basin are primarily to blame. Conservation groups and tribes sued the federal government in an effort to save the struggling fisheries, and both sides notified the court earlier this fall they were close to reaching an agreement that could put the the lawsuit on hold. They have until mid-December to submit an agreement. Amanda Goodin, a lawyer for the environmental group Earthjustice, which is representing a coalition of environmental, fishing, and renewable energy groups in the litigation, said their goal throughout the mediation has been to prevent the extinction of salmon, restore the ecosystem and replace the energy provided by the dams. We hope to be able to say on Dec. 15 weve achieved that goal, but if we cant reach that goal or discussions fall apart, we will be prepared to resume litigation on Dec. 15, she said in a statement. Due to confidentiality rules, she said they would not discuss the specifics of the draft agreement. In civil cases, mediation talks are generally confidential, but Washington state Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican, included a link to the draft agreement in a press release Wednesday. Newhouse has opposed breaching the dams, saying they are essential for agriculture, flood control and transportation as well as electricity. It is imperative that our constituents, whose livelihoods depend on the Columbia River System, have a comprehensive understanding of this documents contents so they can anticipate and prepare for the wide-ranging impacts that will inevitably be felt across the region should the commitments detailed in this document be realized, Newhouse and three other Republican representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, Cliff Bentz of Oregon, and Russ Fulcher of Idaho wrote to President Joe Biden. The draft agreement says the government will help plan and pay for tribes in the Pacific Northwest to develop enough clean energy resources to serve as replacement power for the lower Snake River dams, whether or not Congress authorizes dam removal. The draft also includes billions of dollars in funding for analyzing the regions energy needs, improving transportation infrastructure, making the power grid more resilient and restoring salmon, steelhead and other native fish runs in the Columbia River basin. Oregon and Washington would be partners in the effort along with the four tribes and the federal government. There has been growing recognition across the U.S. that the harms some dams cause to fish outweigh their usefulness. Dams on the Elwha River in Washington state and the Klamath River along the Oregon-California border have been or are being removed. The Yakama Nation and the Nez Perce Tribe declined to comment on the document, while the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation was not immediately available for comment and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs did not respond to a request for comment. Alyssa Roberts, spokesperson for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the negotiations are ongoing. 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 regions ports and farmers and could raise electricity prices. 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. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Israel pounded targets in crowded southern Gaza on Saturday and ordered more neighborhoods designated for attack to evacuate, driving up the death toll even as the United States and others urged it to do more to protect civilians a day after a truce collapsed. The prospect of further cease-fires in Gaza appeared bleak, as Israel recalled its negotiators and Hamas deputy leader said any further swap of Gaza-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel would only happen as part of ending the war. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address Saturday night. At least 200 Palestinians were killed since the fighting resumed Friday morning following the weeklong truce with the territorys ruling militant group Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Several multistory residential buildings were hit Saturday, engulfing neighborhoods in huge clouds of smoke. Separately, the ministry said the overall death toll in Gaza since the Oct. 7 start of the war surpassed 15,200. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it said 70% of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people were wounded since the war began. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in diplomatic talks with Arab leaders Saturday, focused on shaping the outlook for a post-conflict Gaza while calling on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians from the devastating bombardment. She made a hastily planned trip to the United Arab Emirates as the top U.S. representative at the U.N. COP28 climate conference in Dubai but the war was a main objective of her visit. She met with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan and spoke by phone with Qatars emir. She said in a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi that under no circumstances would the U.S. permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or redrawing of its borders, according to a U.S. summary. 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. Appeals from the U.S., Israels closest ally, to protect civilians came after an offensive in the first weeks of the war devastated large areas of northern Gaza. About 2 million people, almost Gazas entire population, are now crammed into the territorys south. Israels military said it hit more than 400 Hamas targets across Gaza over the prior day, including over 50 in Khan Younis city and surrounding areas in the south. Palestinian Red Crescent spokesman Mahmoud Basal told broadcaster Al-Jazeera that there were more than 300 martyrs in Gaza Citys Shujaia neighborhood and homes were flattened. Israels military said it killed Hamas Shujaia battalion commander but gave no details on the operation. Residents could not be reached. In northern Gaza, an airstrike flattened a building hosting families in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on Gaza Citys outskirts. It left dozens dead or wounded, said residents Hamza Obeid and Amal Radwan. The Israeli military confirmed it was operating in Jabaliya and said it destroyed Hamas tunnels in the surrounding area. A powerful strike hit multistory buildings in Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development on the outskirts of Khan Younis. Smoke engulfed the complex. There was no immediate word on casualties. Also in the south, at least nine people, including three children, were killed in a strike on a house in Deir al-Balah, according to the hospital where bodies were taken. Meanwhile, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza said they fired a barrage of rockets on southern Israel. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesperson, said Hamas launched more than 250 since the cease-fire ended. There were no immediate reports injuries. The Israeli military published an online map carving up Gaza into hundreds of numbered parcels and asked residents to familiarize themselves with the number of their location ahead of evacuation warnings. On Saturday, the military listed more than two dozen parcel numbers around Gaza City and east of Khan Younis. It dropped leaflets with evacuation orders over towns east of Khan Younis. The maps and leaflets generated panic and confusion, especially in the crowded south where people are unable to go to northern Gaza or neighboring Egypt. There is no place to go, said Emad Hajar, who fled to Khan Younis a month ago. They expelled us from the north, and now they are pushing us to leave the south. Mark Regev, a senior advisor to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military used leafleting, phone calls and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gaza residents to move from specific areas. He added that Israel is considering a future security buffer zone that would not allow people direct access to the border fence on foot. Israel claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Saturday it received the first convoy of aid trucks through the Rafah crossing with Egypt since fighting resumed. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 100 trucks entered including three carrying nearly 40,000 gallons of fuel. Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in a raid Oct. 7 in southern Israel. About 240 people were taken captive. The Israeli military said 137 hostages are still held after 105 were freed in the truce. A 70-year-old woman held by Hamas was declared dead Saturday, according to her kibbutz, bringing the number of known dead hostages to eight. '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' INDEPENDENCE, Mo. Some municipal officials in Missouri and Kansas want to permanently ground lanterns that float through the night sky, saying they are dangerous balls of fire that could spark blazes when they land. The lanterns have become popular for holidays and family celebrations. Most are made of thin paper wrapped around a wire or bamboo frame. When an attached candle or other heat source warms the air inside, they rise and float away. Opponents say the lanterns aren't controlled, float wherever the wind carries them and have open flames that could be dangerous if they land on combustible material. Telam President Bernarda Llorente speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 7, 2023. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua) BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The fifth World Media Summit is a fundamental platform for building cooperation and mutual trust among world media in a global context that needs certainty, said Bernarda Llorente, president of Telam, Argentina's official news agency. "Expectations about the summit are enormous, because it comes at a time of global media changes," Llorente told Xinhua in a recent interview before heading for China's Guangzhou to attend the summit hosted by Xinhua on Dec. 2-8. "It is important (for everyone) to know where to go and to listen to the experiences of different countries about what they are doing, and above all, how they are planning for the future," the president said. "I believe that the future of the media has a lot to do with cooperation between countries, interpersonal and intercompany relations, and especially with being able to think together, listen to experiences and, in times of such uncertainty, be able to define together some certainties," she added. "Communication is much more than just listening to each other, it's also about establishing bonds of trust," Llorente said. "I think the summit basically serves that purpose. So I hope it will be a success." Highlighting the importance of South-South communication, she said "communication between underdeveloped countries or medium-sized countries is fundamental to starting building other types of relations, much less asymmetrical, and above all, to be able to contribute to other types of information and knowledge of our citizens." Llorente praised the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by China and Chinese modernization, saying that the world can learn from the development paradigm "that has translated into the welfare of millions of Chinese citizens." "We are at a pivotal moment in humanity," she said, adding that to address the challenges, "the only way is through common will." Speaking of the first cooperation agreement between Telam and Xinhua 38 years ago, Llorente said she highly prizes the long-standing relations between the two agencies. She expected "renewed efforts" in the future to "continue deepening our mutual knowledge, have a common language and be able to speak to audiences that are increasingly wider, but also more segmented." She called for building "closeness and understanding" between the people of China and Argentina. "More formal information is not enough for us," the president said. "I believe that we have to work a lot on the knowledge of daily life, the idiosyncrasies, the feelings of each people, their expectations and hopes." "We have to make a more personalized and human communication to make a greater flow of information on major issues," Llorente said. Editors work at a newsroom of Telam in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 7, 2023. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua) Missouri state Rep. Chris Dinkins apparently needs a primer on the concept of federalism not to mention humanitarianism. The Lesterville Republicans proposal to bar entry of Palestinian war refugees to Missouri is a disgraceful affront to both. But its also consistent with a troubling trend in her party, both here and nationally, that seeks to slam Americas doors to those who most need them opened. Its difficult to imagine a more cruel, short-sighted, fundamentally un-American stance. As the Post-Dispatchs Kurt Erickson reported last week, Dinkins is asking her fellow Republican lawmakers to sign onto a letter demanding that Republican Gov. Mike Parson proactively prohibit the resettlement of any Palestinian refugees from Gaza in Missouri. There are no such resettlement plans in the works, but what self-respecting demagogue would let a little detail like that stand in the way of a good, scary story for the base? I lack faith in the Biden Admin to properly vet refugees from Gaza to ensure we are not bringing a terrorist threat to American soil, Dinkins explained in a tweet announcing the proposal. Parson, to his enormous credit, quickly and publicly pushed back on Dinkins proposal by pointing out not only the constitutional problems with it, but its fundamental unfairness in labeling all Palestinians as Hamas terrorists. [T]here is a huge difference between Palestinian people and Hamas. Weve just got to be careful of who we are targeting to say we dont want here and who we do, said Parson, adding: I dont think you want to take everybody thats from Palestine to make them as bad people. Unless, of course, youre a state representative running for a state Senate seat in Missouris conservative southeast region, as Dinkins is, and you need to get as far to the right as you possibly can. The legal problem with Dinkins demand is undebatable: The U.S. Constitutions supremacy clause specifies that federal law supersedes state law when the two are in conflict. And the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that immigration policy is entirely a matter for federal law. In short, states dont get to decide which refugees are admitted to the U.S., or where they are settled once they get here, any more than they get to declare war or sign treaties with foreign governments. The federal government sets immigration policy, period. And a state legislators predictable lack of faith in a president of the opposing party has nothing to do with anything. Dinkins presumably knows this. But it was apparently difficult for her to resist this two-fer opportunity to preen for the base by declaring the Biden administration unqualified to handle immigration, while at the same time making unsubtle appeals to cultural intolerance. Lest anyone thinks the argument here is strictly about a rational fear of terrorists infiltrating the ranks of Palestinian refugees, consider some of the culturally charged language in Dinkins letter. She expresses concern about welcoming individuals from regions whose belief systems are rooted in anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments. She warns of the dangerous and divisive ideologies that many individuals from the Gaza Strip would bring with them. Most disturbingly, she suggests that barring war refugees from settling here would uphold the values that define us as Americans. In fact, this dog-whistling appeal to fear and religious bigotry is exactly the opposite of those values. And it isnt legitimized by an unsupported, purely partisan assertion that the current presidential administration cant be trusted to properly vet refugees. This page has consistently argued that, while Israel isnt blameless in its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza both before and during this war, its a mistake for American progressives to equate Israels legitimate defense of its right to exist with Hamas terrorism. They are emphatically not the same thing. That said, weve yet to hear even the most militant pro-Palestinian progressives suggest that Israelis should be barred from immigrating to the U.S. It is apparently only the political right that would instinctively slam the doors in defiance of Americas actual values. That includes a putrid proposal from U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to not only bar all Palestinians from entering the U.S., but to expel those already here for no cause other than their place of origin. A resolution condemning Zinkes bill is spearheaded by two pro-Israel Jewish congressmen, Reps. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, and Dan Goldman, D-N.Y. Their resolution says Zinkes bill dangerously conflates Palestinians with Hamas and is un-American, bigoted, and is designed to inflame tensions which could result in violence. Rep. Dinkins proposal, too, unfairly conflates all Palestinians with Hamas terrorists. And it ignores the fact that Palestinian refugees men, women and many, many children are themselves victims of those same terrorists. Hamas has been brutal in its governance of Gazas Palestinian civilians and has used them as human shields in the current conflict with Israel. All that, and now a self-serving Missouri politician rooting around for right-wing votes preemptively labels those civilians (children included) as terrorists and calls for every single one of them to be barred from settling in Missouri. Anyone who thinks that level of unmitigated cruelty qualifies as an American value really needs to go back to social studies. Post-Dispatch metro columnist Tony Messenger last week noted the disturbing historical analogy to all this, but it bears repeating here: In the run-up to World War II, more than 900 German Jewish refugees on a transatlantic ship called the St. Louis were denied entry to the U.S. and turned back to Europe. More than 250 of them later died in the Holocaust. History has not been kind to the American politicians whose callousness enabled that tragedy. And it wont be kind to Dinkins, Zinke and their ilk. Individual NATO nations try to announce their 2024 aid in advance so that Ukraine can know what they are receiving and fit that aid into their war plans. For example, the Netherlands, one of the smaller NATO members, announced it was spending $2.2 billion on Ukraine aid in 2024. The German GDP is over four trillion dollars while that of the Netherlands is about one trillion dollars. Germany is sending $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. Considering its smaller size, the Netherlands has been a major supplier of aid to Ukraine. The 2024 Dutch aid for Ukraine includes a wide array of weapons and services. There will be more air defense systems, UAVs and munitions for various weapons Ukraine already has. Services include training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots and aircraft maintainers. In 2024 a larger portion of the aid will go to economic reconstruction. Unable to do much damage to Ukrainian armed forces, Russia is concentrating many of its missile attacks on economic targets. These have to be repaired or rebuilt, especially the targets that provide electricity, heat or clean water and sanitation services. Winter is coming and the Russians want Ukrainian civilians to suffer. The Dutch can relate to this. During World War 2 the Netherlands was occupied by German troops and towards the end of the war the Germans greatly reduced the food available for Dutch civilians. In the Netherlands, that period of privation is remembered, and they dont want to see it happen to the Ukrainians. For centuries Ukraine has suffered periods of brutal occupation by invaders. The most frequent brutal occupier has been Russia, which has played the homicidal villain several times in the last century. The most infamous Russian occupation incident was in the use of famine during 1932 and 1933 to suppress Ukrainian opposition to Russian rule, especially new Russian dogma of communism, which prohibited private farms and expected all farmers to work for state-owned collective farms. This was resisted by many farmers throughout Russia, but the opposition was most stubborn in Ukraine, where about 20 percent of the Soviet Union population lived. Ukrainian farmers were the most productive in Russia and produced most of the exportable wheat. Ukrainian resistance produced a horrific response, the seizure of nearly all the wheat crops in the areas of most resistance. This lasted two years and killed nearly four million Ukrainian, about an eighth of the population in what Ukrainians called the Holodomor. This translates as the great famine. Russia denied the Holodomor ever happened and many Western nations, and their mass media, went along with that. One exception was Britain, where one British reporter risked his life by going to Ukraine and obtaining proof of the Holodomor. The Russian government kept denying the famine ever happened until 1983, when a more open communist government admitted that many communist crimes were true. This made an impression on Russians because they realized more of the victims of prison camps (Gulags) and communist terror in general were Russians. As a result, during the 0ccupations of Crimea and parts of Donbas in 2014 the Russians tried to win the support of locals. That lowered the civilian death toll but did not turn most of the occupied population into loyal citizens of Russia. By 2020 most Ukrainians in the occupied territories wanted out. The most desperate moved to Russia, many others wanted to get to Ukraine and others sought to go anywhere but Ukraine and Russia. The Holodomor and many other past incidents of Russian brutality led to Russian troops being ordered to not attack civilians during the 2022 invasion. That failed to cause civilians to be any more receptive to the Russian presence and, within a month troops were told they could loot and not tolerate any resistance from civilians. Russia denied that civilians were being killed or that widespread looting was taking place. Cell phone cameras carried by most Ukrainians made that disinformation difficult to sustain. Nor were the heavy casualties inflicted on the Russian forces who believed they would easily defeat the Ukrainians and occupy the capital, Kyiv, within two weeks. After a month of this Russian troops around Kyiv were ordered to withdraw to Russia and try to conceal evidence of mass murder before they left. This produced some mass graves, but many bodies were left in plain view and many surviving civilians had video evidence of who did what. Russia again denied it, insisting these civilians were killed by Ukrainian forces to make the Russians look bad. Once more the video evidence, especially from Ukrainians who witnessed it and could identify some of the perpetrators, made the atrocities difficult to deny. Mindful of that, Russian occupation forces in parts of Ukraine that were seized early on and are still under Russian control, were ordered to try really hard to win over the locals without resorting to mass murder. The main occupation zone is north of Crimea and centered around the city of Kherson, which is the capital of Kherson province. Kherson City was captured during the first week of the invasion and Russia has held onto most of the province ever since. The city is a major port because it is located near the mouth of the Dnieper River and the Black Sea. The Dnieper is a major navigable river for Ukraine and has long been used to handle the movement of cargo, especially wheat being exported. Ukraine has been trying to recapture Kherson City and province ever since finally did so the end of 2022, aided by a growing partisan movement inside Kherson province and passive resistance to Russian occupation by most Ukrainians in the province. Some Ukrainians agreed to work for the Russian occupation, and they were soon the targets of attacks by Ukrainian partisans. Some of the turncoats were killed but more worrisome to the Russians were indications that other Ukrainian officials quietly agreed to work for the partisans. The Russians now believe that many of their Ukrainian administrators were working with the resistance from the beginning. At the same time the Russian occupation forces still had orders to try and win over the Ukrainians or at least discourage them from joining an armed insurrection. To help with that the Russians sought to Russify the province as quickly as possible. That meant replacing the Ukrainian cell phone service with a Russian one. Ukrainian TV and radio transmissions are blocked. Russian ID documents became mandatory and use of any currency, but the Russian ruble was forbidden. Russia controlled utilities (especially water and electricity) and every effort was made to link Kherson to the Russian economy. The initial reason for pacifying the population was to make life safe for Russian troops in Kherson. That was never fully achieved, and now Russian troops have to worry about roadside bombs or anti-vehicle mines as well as sniper fire and assassination via pistol or a bomb planted in a vehicle. The goal of this was to hold elections that could be depicted as honest and show a majority of Kherson residents supporting annexation by Russia. The Ukrainians are not cooperating and doing so in clever ways that Russian Information War specialists can recognize and struggle to counter. The Ukrainian resistance is both armed and dangerous but also mindful of the importance of outperforming the Russian Information War campaign. The latest American aid package for Ukraine includes a lot of Cold War era PARM anti-vehicle mines that never go used. These mines were developed by the Germans to halt or disrupt a Soviet invasion that never came. The Germans believe the Ukrainians have uses for these mines, especially the Ukrainian partisans. This has proved to be true, and the Ukrainian want more of these mines after having received nearly 15,000. Germany has to resume production of these mines to meet the Ukrainian demand. Ukrainians depict the Russian occupiers as worse than the German Nazis of World War II infamy. This is particularly embarrassing for the Russians because the official Russian government justification for the invasion is to liberate Ukrainians from neo-Nazi Ukrainians led by president Zelensky, who is Jewish. This tragicomedy was understood by many in Russia early on and led to a largely unarmed, but often violent, resistance movement inside Russia and Belarus. Russia denies the extent of the resistance in Kherson, calling armed partisans local bandits and gangsters. Video proof gets out of Kherson and Russian troops stationed in Kherson complain to friends and family back home. This intensifies resistance to the war inside Russia, where the government is waging its own Information War to generate support for the war or at least discredit the critics. It was the growing inability to suppress accurate news that played a role in causing the Soviet Union to dissolve in 1991. The former KGB officers who brought back so many aspects of Soviet rule during the last two decades are having a hard time dealing with media and image control. Its the 1980s all over again but worse. This is a reminder that the Information War is not a state monopoly and often a multi-sided conflict. PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: On the occasion of the COP28 Methane summit in Dubai, TotalEnergies (Paris: TTE) (LSE: TTE) (NYSE: TTE) announced a donation of $25 million over 2024-2030 to the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) trust fund, an initiative of the World Bank. GFMR: Unlocking financing mechanisms and technical solutions toward methane emission abatement The GFMRs mission is to boost global efforts to end routine gas flaring and reduce methane emissions to the greatest extent possible along the entire oil and gas value chain by providing technical assistance, enabling policy and regulatory reform, strengthening institutions, and mobilizing finance to support action by governments and Oil & Gas operators. The GFMR will strategically target, fund, and sustain engagements with countries representing the greatest emissions reduction potential. This $25 million donation from TotalEnergies to the GFMR comes in addition to the Companys efforts to continuously reduce its methane emissions and work with its partners to implement best practices on its non-operated assets. Methane is key in the fight against climate change this decade. At COP27, I called on all Oil & Gas companies, national and international, to join the OGMP 2.0 and work toward zero methane emissions. At COP28, 50 companies representing 40% of global oil production have embarked in the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter pledge: the momentum is there and TotalEnergies is proud to be a signatory of this charter. Building on the legacy of our successful support of the World Banks Zero Routine flaring initiative, I am glad that TotalEnergies is renewing and increasing its support with its contribution to this new ambitious GFMR trust fund. TotalEnergies was the first International Company to answer positively to the World Bank call for funding as we are confident that this program will allow concrete actions with real and significant effects on methane emissions reduction, said Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies. Slashing down methane emissions is a quick win in the battle against climate change Methane emissions come from multiple sources: agricultural activities, fossil fuel production and use, decomposing waste, etc. For the Oil & Gas sector, slashing methane emissions from hydrocarbon production is a priority in its efforts to mitigate global warming. After halving its methane emissions from its operated sites between 2010 and 2020, TotalEnergies set ambitious targets to step up its efforts and reduce methane emissions by a further 50% by 2025 with the ambition to reach this target a year early, in 2024 - and by 80% in 2030, compared to 2020. TotalEnergies is also committed to promoting the United Nations Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0) framework with other national and international oil companies. The Company has now held the OGMP Gold standard status for the three years in a row. TotalEnergies, early supporter of the World Banks initiative to eliminate routine flaring TotalEnergies believes that it is the industrys responsibility to reduce methane emissions to near zero by 2030. The Company was a founding member of the World Banks Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) partnership and endorsed the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative that was launched in 2015. This initiative has been fruitful, having been endorsed by over 100 governments, oil & gas companies and development institutions. Building on the legacy of this successful initiative, the World Bank is stepping up and setting up the new Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) trust fund, broadening its focus to include methane venting and leakage in addition to flare gas. TotalEnergies has responded positively to the call for contributions of this new fund. Taking quick and decisive action on methane emissions could avoid as much as 0.1 degrees C of warming by mid-century equivalent to zeroing out the emissions of every car and truck in the world. With GFMR we will support countries with the least capacity and resources to address methane emissions, while also leveraging billions of dollars of private sector finance, said Demetrios Papathanasiou, Global Director of the World Bank's Energy and Extractives Global Practice. *** 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/20231203729904/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 His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, UAE, joins with African leaders and global donors in commitment to end the epidemic of NTDs Reaching the Last Mile, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and partners announce an ambitious expansion of the Reaching the Last Mile Fund to US$500m to eliminate two NTDs from the continent of Africa Climate change is affecting the reach and prevalence of NTDs, which affect an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide, jeopardizing progress and putting vulnerable populations at risk To access the wider press packet and full list of commitments, click here DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global donors at the 2023 Reaching the Last Mile Forum today pledged a collective US$777.2 million to help control, eliminate, and eradicate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), in a landmark push to accelerate progress towards achieving the goals outlined in the World Health Organizations 2030 roadmap on NTDs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231203773888/en/ Uniting efforts with NTD-endemic countries, donors answered the urgent call to step up the fight against NTDs in the face of climate change, and to work together to improve the lives of the 1.6 billion people worldwide affected by these devastating yet preventable diseases. The pledging event was hosted by Reaching the Last Mile (RLM), the global health initiative driven by the philanthropy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The forum took place on the first ever Health Day during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, UAE, was joined by world leaders including H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania; and H.E. Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone, in a demonstration of endemic country leadership against NTDs. Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Office of Development Affairs at the UAEs Presidential Court, which oversees Reaching the Last Mile, were also in attendance, alongside ministers and global health leaders. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated: The UAE is proud to host this pivotal conference and expresses gratitude to all those who have seized the opportunity to renew their commitment to end neglected tropical diseases. Todays demonstration of global solidarity reflects a shared determination to deliver a better and more dignified future for all. Incredible progress over the last two decades has proved that a world free of NTDs is an achievable goal. We warmly thank governments, donors, and partners for standing with us as we strive to achieve it. Reaching the Last Mile joined with the Gates Foundation and global partners to announce a milestone expansion of the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF) from $100m to $500m. The expansion will increase the reach of the fund from seven countries to 39 across Africa and Yemen, with the audacious goal of eliminating two NTDs, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness), from the continent of Africa. The funding builds on the pioneering success of the RLMF, which launched in 2017 as a 10-year, multi-donor fund, to establish a model for eliminating the two diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed Al Nahyan said: Today we reaffirm our pledge to eliminate these diseases of poverty, and save and improve lives worldwide. Climate change is already affecting the patterns of infectious diseases and risking the tremendous gains countries have made to date. With endemic countries leading the way, the Reaching the Last Mile Fund represents a historic opportunity to free communities across Africa from the threat of two NTDs, and in partnership unlock the potential for a healthier world. Climate change is inextricably linked to poverty and diseases affecting millions, said Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That is why funding for lifesaving healthcare is critical and why were joining global partners to build on the tremendous progress of the Reaching the Last Mile Fund to date, and accelerate the elimination of LF and river blindness across Africa and beyond. Reaching the Last Miles new $100m commitment, matching the Gates Foundations $100m commitment, represents a five-fold increase over the contributions made, respectively, to the fund at its launch. Further contributions from country and donor partners including Sierra Leone, the Carter Center, Sightsavers, the Childrens Investment Foundation Fund (CIFF), The Helmsley Charitable Trust, the END Fund, and Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company will see RLMF significantly broaden its scope, with the aim of ensuring over 350 million people no longer require treatment for these diseases by 2030. H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, said: There is clarity of vision as well as growing demand and energy in Africa to see the continent free of NTDs. Political commitment has been sustained and energised through the Kigali Declaration, and through the Continental Framework and Common Africa Position on NTDs, which Sierra Leone is proud to have endorsed. That is why Sierra Leone is proud to pledge towards an Africa free of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. Neglected tropical diseases cause suffering to millions, and we simply cannot afford to neglect them any longer. H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, said: "I am immensely proud to have been at the centre of the launch of this ambitious vision of an Africa free of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. Tanzania commits to increase domestic contribution for combating NTDs but also counts on continued support from development partners in this endeavor. "While gaps in global funding for NTDs remain, this initiative signifies a crucial step forward in enhancing the health and quality of life not just for Tanzanians, but for all who live on the African continent. Together, we can end these terrible diseases, forging a path to a healthier and brighter future for us all." Over five years the RLMF has provided over 100 million treatments, trained 1.3 million health workers, and established nine laboratories to support NTD surveillance and testing. The fund also played a critical role in interrupting the transmission of river blindness in Niger, an achievement once thought to be scientifically impossible in Africa, and has supported Senegal in nearing this milestone. The wider pledging moment saw new, multimillion-dollar commitments made by organizations including the Anesvad Foundation, CIFF, USAID, Global Health EDCTP3, UBS Optimus Foundation, NALA Foundation, Evidence Action, Helen Keller Intl, and the Fred Hollows Foundation, in addition to the governments of Germany and Belgium. These pledges will help close the funding gap needed to expedite progress towards the WHO roadmap targets which call for at least 100 countries to have eliminated at least one NTD by 2030, and to reduce by 90% the number of people requiring treatment for NTDs. To date, 50 countries have eliminated at least one NTD and 600 million people no longer require treatment. Cases of some diseases that have plagued communities for centuries, such as Guinea worm disease and sleeping sickness, are at an all-time low. However, climate change is affecting the reach and prevalence of infectious diseases like NTDs, threatening to erase elimination gains and stall future progress. The commitments will help finance essential programs and treatments, support new research and innovations, and strengthen frontline health systems and workforces, among other investments. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, said: "In light of the pledges made today at the 2023 Reaching the Last Mile Forum, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the global community, especially the pivotal leadership role of the United Arab Emirates, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This commitment is a significant stride towards eradicating, eliminating, and controlling NTDs, aligning seamlessly with the 2021- 2030 NTD road map. The collaborative efforts of countries and global donors exemplify an unwavering dedication to improving the lives of the 1.6 billion people affected by these diseases. This partnership, especially in the face of challenges posed by climate change, represents a beacon of hope and a testament to what can be achieved through united global action" The 2023 Reaching the Last Mile Forum convened more than 450 government ministers, global health and development experts, philanthropists, and civil society leaders to galvanize concrete commitments towards mitigating the effects of the climate crisis on human health. About Reaching the Last Mile Reaching the Last Mile (RLM) is a portfolio of global health programs, investments, and initiatives working towards disease elimination that is driven by the philanthropy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Through its partnerships and programs, RLM provides treatment and preventative care in communities that lack access to quality health services, with a focus on last-mile disease elimination. RLMs mission represents His Highnesss dedication to ending preventable diseases that affect the worlds most vulnerable communities, and to helping millions of children and adults live healthy, dignified lives. https://www.reachingthelastmile.com 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231203773888/en/ Reaching the Last Mile media contacts: Simone Elviss, GCI Health [email protected] +971 (0) 50 614 9383 Hilary Keno, GCI Health [email protected] +1 847 338 0949 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation media contact: [email protected] Source: Reaching the Last Mile GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a new campaign to address rapidly escalating climate driven humanitarian crises. It calls on global governments and international donors to support local emergency responders and disaster hit communities - helping them to Stand Tall with smarter and faster humanitarian funding. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231202510555/en/ Stand Tall in the face of disaster with IFRC-DREF Insurance. (Photo: Business Wire) The IFRCs Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) is the quickest, most efficient and most transparent way of getting funding directly to local National Societies both before and immediately after a crisis hits. Yet it faces growing pressure to anticipate and respond to multiple, simultaneous and complex crises around the world as a result of climate change. Today, 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. Humanitarian funding needs are growing as more people are adversely impacted by climate-related disasters each year. The signs are hard to ignore: IFRC-DREF funding allocation increased by 75% to meet escalating demands in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 - predominately in response to floods and earthquakes. Shoulder to shoulder - to Stand Tall The Stand Tall campaign calls on global governments and private donors to stand shoulder to shoulder with local emergency responders and the communities they support. Stand Tall aims to grow the humanitarian funds available to on-the-ground relief organisations from the CHF 64 million (US$73 million) available today to CHF 100 million (US$114 million) by 2025. Coinciding with COP28, IFRCs Stand Tall campaign uses a series of visuals to champion the incredible network of donors, volunteers, and impacted communities that make up IFRC-DREF. Nena Stoiljkovic, Under-Secretary General at IFRC, said: In the battle against climate change, we have reached a critical juncture funding needs outstrip supply as communities face more and more devastating impact. Our funding partners for IFRC-DREF enable us to deliver local response with global support. We take a moment to celebrate the incredible work and accomplishments of our inspiring network of funding partners and volunteers in impacted communities. We are proud of their determination and collaboration as we strive to prevent and lessen the burden of climate disasters on vulnerable communities. We encourage our partners to keep supporting IFRC-DREFs action. Together, we will Stand Tall in the face of climate disasters. Smarter and faster funding - to those who need it, when they need it Unlike other humanitarian funding mechanisms, 82% of IFRC-DREF funds go directly to National Societies supporting local action compared with a global average of just 1.2%. Localised, community-led action is key to ensuring communities are equipped to prepare for, and overcome, devastating crises. IFRC-DREF is evolving as it works to increase the impact of every donation to the fund. In September 2023, for example, IFRC announced the launch of IFRC-DREF Insurance - a truly innovative way to ensure that funding is always there for those who need it, when they need it. It acts as a back-stop to IFRC-DREF, bringing an additional CHF 20 million (c US $23 million) on stream, triggered during periods of high demand. In helping to reach the CHF 100 million target by 2025, global governments and private donors can Stand Tall with emergency responders and their communities - saving lives and livelihoods in the face of climate driven disasters. To learn more about IFRC-DREF and how donors can support its 2025 ambition, visit ifrc.org. About the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) IFRC is the worlds largest humanitarian network, comprising 191 National Societies and bringing together more than 16 million volunteers working to save lives, build community resilience, strengthen localisation and promote dignity around the world. About the IFRCs Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) Established in 1979, the IFRC-DREF is the quickest, most efficient, and most transparent mechanism for donors to channel global short-term emergency funding directly for local community-based action. While the average of international humanitarian funds directly channelled to local actors every year lies around 1.2% globally, 82% of IFRC-DREFs allocation is directly transferred to the National Societies. Since its inception, more than 220 million people in crisis worldwide have benefited from IFRC-DREF support. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231202510555/en/ For more information: To request an interview, contact: [email protected] Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies WEIPA, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has approved a new 12.4MW solar farm and 8.8MVa/2.1MWh of battery storage to provide renewable energy for the Amrun bauxite operations near Weipa in Queensland. The 12.4MW solar farm and battery storage are part of Rio Tintos global decarbonisation strategy and ongoing efforts to reduce emissions at its Pacific bauxite, alumina and aluminium operations. They are expected to reduce Amruns diesel electricity consumption by 37 percent and annual CO2-equivalent emissions by 14,000 tonnes, and will add to the existing 5.6MW of solar and 4MWh of battery power built for Rio Tintos Weipa operations and the local electricity network since 2015. Aggreko has been contracted to build, own, and operate the solar farm to supply renewable electricity to the mine operations, in addition to its current contract to supply electricity generated from an existing diesel power station. Rio Tinto Weipa Operations General Manager Shona Markham said The construction of the Amrun solar farm and battery storage system, which is located on Wik and Wik-Waya Traditional lands, is an important milestone for Weipa Operations and will contribute to Rio Tintos commitment to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions. The Amrun solar farm will be one of three Weipa Operations solar stations, which will together provide 18MW of solar generation capacity to our mines and the Weipa town. This project helps us make inroads towards our ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our operations. Managing Director of Aggreko Asia Pacific George Whyte said Aggreko is excited to be supporting Rio Tinto on working towards meeting their decarbonisation goals and our own with this project. "This partnership aligns with our mission to accelerate the energy transition and as a world leader in the supply of clean energy infrastructure, we are confident that we will successfully deliver reliable and efficient energy for Rio Tintos Amrun operations. Early works have begun on the new solar farm, which is expected to be operational by early 2025. Once completed, the Amrun solar farm will provide about 21 gigawatt hours of renewable power annually. Combined with the existing Weipa renewable power generation network, the solar farms will reduce Weipa Operations diesel consumption by an estimated 10 million litres per year and lower its annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 28,000 tonnes - the equivalent of taking more than 6,000 internal combustion engine passenger cars off the road. More information on Rio Tintos climate targets can be found here. Note to editors Rio Tintos Weipa Operations in Far North Queensland includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals. Rio Tinto also provides the municipal services for the town of Weipa. Amrun, Weipas newest mine, was completed in 2018 and will extend the Weipa bauxite operations by decades, significantly building on our 60-year history on Western Cape York, and providing jobs and supporting business growth in the region. The mine is located on traditional land and Rio Tinto operates within the terms of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement Rio Tinto has had with local Traditional Owners for more than 20 years. Rio Tinto works closely with the Traditional Owners to implement our agreements, ensuring that the benefits generated from mining support future generations and that important cultural heritage sites are identified and preserved. More information on solar farms at Weipa can be found here. riotinto.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231203964459/en/ Please direct all enquiries to [email protected] Media Relations, United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Jesse Riseborough M +61 436 653 412 Alyesha Anderson M +61 434 868 118 Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322 Media Relations, Americas Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973 Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Menno Sanderse M +44 7825 195 178 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Source: Rio Tinto NEW YORK, Dec. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, reminds investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fisker Inc. (Fisker or the Company) (NYSE: FSR) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Fisker securities between August 4, 2023 and November 20, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). Investors have until January 26, 2024 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Click here to participate in the action. On November 8, 2023, before the market opened, Fisker announced that the completion of the Companys financial statements would be delayed due to the appointment of a new chief accounting officer (CAO) and the departure of the Companys former CAO. The Company had previously announced former CAO, John Finnucan (Finnucan) provided notice of intent to resign on September 19, 2023, effective October 27, 2023. Fiskers new CAO, Florus Beuting (Beuting), was hired effective as of November 6, 2023. The Company advised it expects to file its Form 10-Q by November 14, 2023. On this news, the Companys share price fell $0.38, or 8.7%, to close at $3.99 per share on November 8, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume. Then, on November 13, 2023, after the market closed, Fisker announced its third quarter 2023 financial results, reporting a loss of $91.0 million and $0.27 loss per share. The Company also reported $78.02 million in selling, general and administrative operating costs and expenses, as well as $9.42 million for research and development, totaling $87.44 million for total operating costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The Company also cut its production forecast for the year and disclosed that, though 4,725 Oceans were built in the third quarter, only 1,097 were delivered to customers. The Company also announced it would be unable to timely file the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The Company disclosed, in preparing its results, it had determined it has material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. On that same day, the Company held an earnings call wherein Defendants disclosed that the delay in reporting was due to having a highly complex quarter including very complex accounting along with convertible notes and accounting for derivative and things like raw material inventory accounting and finished goods inventory accounting[.] The Company also disclosed that delivery and the service infrastructure was limiting deliveries and, as a result, the Company was in the process of dramatically overhauling our service and delivery infrastructure. On this news, the Companys share price fell $0.77, or 18.7%, to close at $3.34 per share on November 14, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume. On November 20, 2023, after the market closed, the Company disclosed that Beuting (the CAO hired November 6, 2023) had provided notice of his intent to resign from the Company on November 14, 2023, effective immediately. On this news, the Companys share price fell $0.35, or 15%, to close at $2.00 per share on November 21, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume Finally, on November 22, 2023, the Company filed its Form 10-Q quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2023, which disclosed that the Company had identified approximately $20 million of expenses which were incorrectly recorded primarily as selling, general and administrative expenses in our preliminary earnings results, but were later determined to be associated with production set-up activities and that other inventory adjustments were recorded resulting in a $4.0 million increase in net loss subsequent to the preliminary earnings results. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Fisker had a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting; (2) that Fisker had incorrectly accounted for certain costs; (3) that as a result the Company was likely to delay filing its quarterly report; (4) that Fiskers infrastructure was limiting its ability to deliver its production; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Fisker shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore by email at [email protected], telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact Information: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Brandon Walker, Esq. Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend in person or online at VirtualInvestorConferences.com HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Dec. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GoGold Resources (TSX:GGD; OTCQX:GLGDF), based in Mexico, focused on the Los Ricos Project, today announced that Brad LAngille, President & CEO, will present live at the Clean Energy and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on December 6th. DATE: December 6th TIME: 11: 30 AM ET LINK: https://bit.ly/3rOONJH Available for 1x1 meetings: December 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 GoGold Announces Updated Mineral Resource and PEA with NPV of US$458M at Los Ricos South GoGold Reports Additional Excellent Drilling at Main Area of Los Ricos South 491 g/t AgEq over 27.3m including 7.6m of 1,670 g/t AgEq including 0.9m of 8,115 g/t AgEq GoGold Reports Additional Strong Drilling at Main Area of Los Ricos South 404 g/t AgEq over 30.2m including 9.7m of 1,110 g/t AgEq including 0.8m of 5,468 g/t AgEq GoGold Announces NPV of US$413M for Los Ricos North Initial PEA About GoGold Resources GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: GoGold Resources Steven Low Corporate Development 416-855-0435 [email protected] Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 [email protected] MILILANI, Hawaii , Dec. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Joining community leaders and resident revelers in the 36th Annual Mililani Holiday Parade this morning, 19-year-old Alexander Ozawa announced his campaign to represent House District 38 in the Hawaii State House. "I was born and raised in Mililani , and am excited at the prospect of joining the next generation of community and civic leaders to strengthen and empower the people of Central Oahu , the center of Honolulu county and one of the largest residential neighborhoods in the entire state," Ozawa said. Hawaii State House District 38 encompasses all of Mililani Mauka and the northwest quadrant of Mililani Town , following Meheula Parkway and Lanikuhana Avenue to Hokuahiahi and Mahapili streets. As a 2022 graduate of Mililani High School, Ozawa is acutely aware of both the opportunities and significant challenges facing his young peers. "Coming out of the pandemic, when many Hawaii residents were homebound, it made sense that many of my friends and classmates headed out of state for college or new careers," he said. "But I want our next generation to be able to choose to stay and help make Hawaii a better place, and that means a diversified economy, workforce development, and accessible, affordable education." Like his two older siblings, Ozawa attended Kipapa Elementary School and Mililani Middle School. While at Mililani High, he was an editor for the award-winning Trojan Times student newspaper, and volunteered with the Interact (Rotary) and Leo (Lions) clubs. He now works as a full-time budget analyst for the Ways and Means Committee at the Hawaii State Capitol, chaired by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz . "Working at the Capitol has given me an invaluable perspective on all functions and levels of State government," he said. "It's basically been a full-time intensive class on what makes the government tick, how it operates, and for whom." "Now, I want to use what I've learned to be a voice for my hometown, and for my generation," he adds. Ozawa is also currently serving his second term on the Mililani Neighborhood Board, where he chairs the community outreach and communications committee. In addition to prioritizing public education and growing non-traditional workforce development programs, Ozawa intends to make public safety a key pillar of his campaign. " Mililani has a stellar reputation as a very safe, family-friendly neighborhood, so I was proud of the work of the Mililani Neighborhood Board in engaging with the Honolulu Police Department on a number of critical issues this year," Ozawa said. "From crime to speeding to illegal fireworks, we will remain committed partners in ensuring Mililani remains the sanctuary we all know it to be." While many of the critical resources are part of the city, Ozawa intends to make the state a full partner in efforts to ensure that Mililani and all of Hawaii remain among the nation's safest communities. Drawing from his Capitol experience, through which he was able to study thousands of line items in the state budget, Ozawa also plans to be a productive part of the House majority in advancing critical initiatives for everyone in Hawaii. These include transportation, workforce and affordable housing, and growing the state's innovation ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurs. "I am genuinely excited and optimistic about Hawaii's future," Ozawa said. "We in Hawaii have been blessed with many of the critical ingredients to build a sustainable, healthy, and prosperous home for future generations." View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alexander-ozawa-19-announces-run-for-mililanis-state-house-district-38-302003865.html DUBAI, UAE , Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at COP28 , the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the U.S. Department of State, the Bezos Earth Fund, and The Rockefeller Foundation presented the core framework of the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA), an innovative carbon finance platform aimed at catalyzing private capital to support ambitious just energy transition strategies in developing and emerging economies. As part of the announcement, the Governments of Chile , the Dominican Republic , Nigeria , and the Philippines expressed interest in participating in the ETA. Amazon, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Mastercard, McDonald's, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, Salesforce, Schneider Electric, Standard Chartered Bank, Trane Technologies, and Walmart have expressed interest in continuing to engage with the ETA partners as the initiative moves towards its formal launch. According to the International Energy Agency, clean energy investment in developing and emerging economies excluding China must increase seven-fold to $1.9 trillion a year by the early 2030s to keep a 1.5C limit on warming within reach. During today's announcement at the U.S. Center at COP28 , the three ETA partners announced several major achievements since their partnership's creation at COP27 one year ago and their aim to formally establish the ETA as an independent initiative by Earth Day 2024. The ETA will bring together governments and private sector stakeholders employing high-integrity carbon crediting to deliver faster, deeper greenhouse gas reductions and improve the lives of vulnerable people by accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to clean power in developing and emerging economies. Based on preliminary estimates, the ETA could mobilize anywhere from $72 billion to $207 billion in transition finance by 2035. After a year of extensive consultations with government, business, and civil society stakeholders, the partners released the core ETA framework, which will serve as a foundation for the creation of the ETA Coalition. The framework describes the Coalition and its objectives and provides an overview of key elements of the ETA: its approach to carbon crediting, including the development of an independent sectoral-scale crediting standard for emissions reductions from electricity generation; criteria for participating companies and information on how they would use ETA carbon credits to help meet their voluntary climate commitments; just transition provisions to address worker and community needs; plans to dedicate a portion of the finance generated to address adaptation and resilience in vulnerable countries; and options for innovative financial structures to mobilize investment into energy transition strategies. The partners were joined by countries and leading companies declaring their interest in engaging with the ETA partners in the continued development of the groundbreaking initiative. The governments of Chile , the Dominican Republic , and Nigeria announced they would be joining the ETA as pilot countries. Ten leading companies signed a letter of interest welcoming the ETA as an opportunity to support large-scale power sector transformation while accelerating progress towards their ambitious climate goals: Amazon, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Mastercard, McDonald's, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, Salesforce, Schneider Electric, and Standard Chartered Bank. "I am absolutely convinced we can meet our climate goals the question is, will we do it in time to avoid the worst consequences of the crisis," said John Kerry , U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. "We all know the challenges we face, and that no government can solve this alone. We must all come together with the innovative solutions to catalyze the financing at the scale and speed required to transition off of dirty power and accelerate the clean energy future." "We know how to solve the climate crisis. Now we need innovative ways to finance it," said Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. "The Energy Transition Accelerator brings a market-based solution to the table, in turn unlocking billions of dollars for clean energy. Countries and companies joining us will be guided by high-integrity methodologies and just transition safeguards that center environmental and social impact." "If we invest in the climate response correctly, it can become a vehicle for human progress. The Energy Transition Accelerator's framework begins to answer the essential question of how we can help emerging and developing economies achieve their climate goals while simultaneously creating economic opportunities for vulnerable people in developing economies," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah , President, The Rockefeller Foundation. In parallel, Winrock International released draft elements of the sectoral-scale carbon crediting standard it is developing for use by the ETA as part of the broader ETA Framework. In September, the ETA announced a strategic collaboration with the World Bank's Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE) partnership, the aims of which is to catalyze climate action by mobilizing finance for effective energy transitions, enabling developing countries to be directly rewarded for verified emissions reductions from a pool of payments committed by public and private sector contributors. "At the global level, the Bank, through initiatives like Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions, is partnering with the Energy Transition Accelerator, to remove the most critical impediments for carbon market expansion, including setting standards, and supporting countries access more affordable finance by helping them set up the necessary infrastructure to connect to a global market," said Ajay Banga , President, World Bank Group, who joined the ETA partners on stage from COP28 . The sectoral-scale crediting approach being pioneered by the ETA will incentivize participating countries to intensify their near-term activities contributing to power sector decarbonization, including to deploy and utilize clean power and retire fossil fuel assets, to enhance storage capacity, transmission, and distribution, and for any needed policy shifts. The ETA partners received extensive input from a High-Level Consultative Group of more than 30 experts and intergovernmental, private sector and civil society leaders from all regions of the world. They have been supported in the design effort by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). "The math is clear: we are falling short of the finance we need to drive a global just transition," said Fred Krupp , President, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). "To fill this gap, we need innovative financingincluding through leveraging carbon marketsthat can mobilize the resources that developing countries need to secure a cleaner energy future. The energy transition isn't just about climate action, it must also be focused on improving health, expanding affordable energy access, and creating economic opportunity along the way. EDF is proud to have developed the Just Transition Framework for the Energy Transition Accelerator, guiding it toward a holistic approach with justice and equity at its core." "We cannot tackle the climate crisis without urgently phasing out unabated fossil-fired electricity generation and replacing it with zero-carbon energy around the world. And as developing countries continue to face the worst impacts of the climate crisis, the rapid transition to clean energy is vital to strengthening their resilience and boosting economic growth," said Nat Keohane , President, C2ES. "The Energy Transition Accelerator can make a vital contribution to this transition by mobilizing a new source of climate finance, serving to bring together companies and others seeking to buy high-quality carbon credits with developing countries that are poised to invest. The ETA's innovative sectoral-scale crediting approach, and its emphasis on ensuring a just transition in participating countries, will help developing economies move to clean energy at the scale and speed needed, while providing companies with an additional high-integrity means of reducing emissions as part of their corporate climate strategies. C2ES looks forward to continuing to work with the partners and stakeholders involved in the ETA to continue to refine the ETA framework and bring it to fruition." The Department of State, the Bezos Earth Fund, and The Rockefeller Foundation are collaborating for the purpose of developing the Energy Transition Accelerator as an independent initiative. About the Bezos Earth Fund: The Bezos Earth Fund is transforming the fight against climate change with the largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature protection. We're investing $10 billion in this decisive decade to protect nature and drive systems-level change, creating a just transition to a low-carbon economy. By providing funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate innovation, break down barriers to success and create a more equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a world where people prosper in harmony with nature. About The Rockefeller Foundation: The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/countries-companies-signal-support-for-energy-transition-accelerator-302003885.html SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation MOGADISHU, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday morning killed 60 al-Shabab militants and wounded several others in a joint operation near Halgan town in central Somalia, the government said. The operation targeted al-Shabab militants and their commanders who were re-grouping to attack areas in central Somalia, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said in a statement issued in the capital Mogadishu. "The SNA and international partners also destroyed several terrorist bases and weapons in the areas. The army is still pursuing the terrorists who escaped from the scene," the ministry said. The al-Shabab group has not commented on the latest military operation. The Somali government forces backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia drove al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the terrorist group is still capable of conducting attacks, targeting government installations, hotels, restaurants and public places. Masdar and EDF sign landmark agreement with government of the Kyrgyz Republic to explore development of up to 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of hydro and renewable energy projects Deal represents Masdar's first entry into the hydropower space Agreement strengthens existing ties between UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic DUBAI, United Arab Emirates , Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar, the UAE's clean energy powerhouse, and EDF have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic to explore the development of hydropower and renewable projects with a combined capacity of up to 3.6 gigawatts (GW). The agreement was signed during COP28 in Dubai by Kyrgyz Minister of Energy, H.E. Taalaibek Ibraev, Masdar Director, Development and Investment (EMEA), Ahmed Al Awadi and EDF Assets Development Director for Europe and Central Asia , Emmanuelle Chevennement. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic , H.E. Sadyr Japarov, UAE Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Sharif Al Olama , and EDF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Luc Remont . Despite an extensive clean energy portfolio encompassing solar, floating solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, floating wind, geothermal, battery energy storage systems and green hydrogen, today's memorandum of understanding (MoU) represents Masdar's first entry into the hydropower space. Dr Sultan Al Jaber , UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President and Masdar Chairman, said: "At COP28 it will be incumbent on the world to utilize all clean energy sources at its disposal to keep the ambition of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C within reach. Hydropower is one of the oldest clean energy sources and has many positive attributes that can help a number of countries around the world achieve their climate goals and meet their net-zero targets." H.E. Taalaibek Ibraev, Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic said: "This agreement serves to further strengthen the existing ties between the Kyrgyz Republic , the UAE and France . Hydropower is a very important energy source for the Kyrgyz Republic and this agreement will help our nation to strengthen its existing clean energy supply and to develop projects utilizing other renewable energy sources." Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said: "This agreement represents a new chapter for Masdar in our clean energy journey. With over 17 years of pioneering renewable energy technologies and successfully delivering utility-scale clean energy projects, we are glad to have the opportunity to bring the energy, passion and focus to hydropower that we have utilized for so many other renewable energy sources as we seek, in partnership with EDF, to build a successful collaboration with the Kyrgyz Republic , deepening the strong relationship between the UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic ." The Kyrgyz Republic has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 44 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The country already generates around 90 percent of its electricity from clean energy resources, almost exclusively from hydropower plants. Central Asia is a significant emerging market for Masdar which has several agreements to develop solar and wind projects in the region. As the UAE's clean energy powerhouse and one of the world's fastest growing renewable companies, Masdar is at the vanguard of advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar is active in more than 40 countries and has more than 20GW of renewable energy capacity including operational, under construction or advanced development projects in its worldwide portfolio. Masdar has invested, or committed to invest, in worldwide projects with a combined value of more than US$30 billion with ambitious growth plans to reach 100GW of renewable energy capacity and 1 million tonnes of annual green hydrogen production by 2030. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291267/Riyadh_International_Philosophy_Conference.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291280/Masdar_and_EDF_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4435248/Masdar_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/masdar-and-edf-sign-major-agreement-with-government-of-the-kyrgyz-republic-to-develop-up-to-3-6gw-of-hydropower-and-renewable-projects-302003934.html SOURCE Masdar Ambition to add up to 500 megawatts (MW) to existing 145MW (192MWp) Cirata floating solar PV plant Masdar, the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, also signs green hydrogen agreements with Indonesia's PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP) at COP28 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates , Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, has signed agreements to collaborate with Indonesia's state-owned utility company, PLN, to move ahead with major development plans for Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power plant and explore green hydrogen opportunities. The development at the UN's Climate Change Conference COP28 in the UAE builds on years of successful collaboration between Masdar and PLN. The partnership has already resulted in the launch of Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power plant, the innovative 145 megawatt (MWac) (192MW peak) Cirata project. Located on the Cirata reservoir in West Java, Indonesia , the plant was inaugurated earlier this month and generates enough renewable energy to power 50,000 homes, while displacing 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The latest agreements were exchanged at COP28 and witnessed by HE Suhail Al Mazrouei , UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia , ASEAN and Timor Leste, HE Abdulla Al Dhaheri. The agreements were signed by Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi , Chief Executive Officer of PLN Group, Darmawan Prasodjo, and President Director of PLN NP, Ruly Firmansyah. They included a framework agreement for a joint study into the tripling of Cirata's capacity to up to 500MW. The companies also agreed to explore renewable energy options around the world and the prospect of developing green hydrogen, which has huge potential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries, including steelmaking, construction, transportation, and aviation. With abundant solar resources, the UAE and Indonesia are in prime position to become green hydrogen production hubs. Both countries have bold net-zero targets which the deepening cooperation between Masdar and PLN will help to support. Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi , said: "Masdar looks forward to expanding its pioneering clean energy work with PLN. We were extremely proud to inaugurate the 145MW (192MWp) floating solar power plant with our valued partners earlier this month. The Cirata project shows how innovation can be used to meet multiple needs at once. The plant powers homes, cuts emissions, has created jobs and reduced land use because it is built on water. As the world looks for urgent solutions to the climate crisis at COP28 , we need more smart projects like Cirata. With its robust economy and abundant renewable resources, Southeast Asia is a key investment destination for Masdar. Through our deepening cooperation with PLN, we will continue pioneering innovation in solar, green hydrogen and other key areas in support of the region's energy transition." In September, Masdar and PLN signed an agreement to develop Phase II of the Cirata plant to triple capacity by up to 500MW. This came after a recent regulatory change from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Indonesia , which now allows up to 20% of water coverage for renewable energy uses. Built on water, the Cirata plant reduces land use, a key consideration for countries such as Indonesia where land is limited but water abundant. The water's cooling effect can also improve efficiency and the panels reduce evaporation, saving water for drinking and irrigation. In February, Masdar also entered the geothermal market after making a strategic investment in Indonesia's Pertamina Geothermal Energy. Indonesia is the world's second-largest geothermal market. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/masdar-and-pln-advance-plans-to-develop-worlds-largest-floating-solar-plant-in-indonesia-302003889.html SOURCE Masdar Masdar, the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, signs agreement with Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water at COP28 to develop solar plant in southern Angola Project will create up to 600 jobs and deliver clean energy to 90,000 homes in region with significant electricity supply challenges Agreement signed at COP28 demonstrates Masdar's commitment to just energy transition in Africa and around the world DUBAI, United Arab Emirates , Dec. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, has announced plans to develop a major 150 megawatt (MW) solar PV project in Angola to deliver renewable energy to 90,000 homes while creating hundreds of jobs, spurring economic growth, and cutting carbon emissions. As global leaders engaged in climate negotiations at the UN's climate change conference COP28 in Dubai , Masdar - the UAE's clean energy powerhouse - signed a concession agreement with Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water to build and operate the ground-mounted solar power project in the Quipungo region, Hulia province, southern Angola . The area enjoys strong solar irradiation levels but struggles with a lack of access to reliable electricity. Energy insecurity remains one of the most significant constraints on Africa's development. In Angola , less than half of the population has access to electricity, that proportion falls even further in rural areas. This project will significantly support Angola's goal of increasing its national electrification rate to around 60 percent by 2025. The agreement was signed by HE Joao Baptista Borges , Angola's Minister of Energy and Water and Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi . HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber , UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President, said: " Africa has what it takes to become the world's renewable energy powerhouse. At COP28 and beyond, we will continue to work with Africa for Africa . The UAE stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Africa as we strive to secure a just energy transition at this COP of action and COP for all. We are delighted to be moving forward with plans to build this solar power plant in Angola that will bring vital clean energy and jobs to communities. We look forward to developing this strong partnership with Angola as we work together to maximize the country's huge clean energy potential." Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi , Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: "Developing renewable energy capacity is the key to unlocking Africa's enormous economic potential, and Masdar is excited to be playing a major part in this effort. Masdar is the largest renewables energy company in Africa , through our platform Infinity Power. To accelerate a just energy transition, Masdar recently joined forces with Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investment platform. Our mission is to fast-track and scale projects so we can deliver 10GW of clean energy in Africa by 2030. Masdar is an anchor partner of the UAE -led Africa Green Investment Initiative and has committed to mobilize US$10 billion in clean energy finance, of which US$2 billion will be generated from equity with an additional US$8 billion from project finance. This transformative project in Angola is a proud milestone on that pivotal journey." Provinces like Huila, where this solar project will be built, are highly constrained by their dependence on emissions-intensive, unreliable fuel. Once completed, the solar facility will displace over 224,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year, the equivalent of removing 50,000 cars from the roads. The solar plant will support homes and businesses to leapfrog from patchy, traditional-fuel powered electricity to accessing continuous clean energy. The project will boost the local economy too. Up to 600 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase. Afterward, the supply of reliable, clean energy is expected to help grow sectors including agriculture. The solar project in Quipungo forms part of a wider commitment made by Masdar in January, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023, to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects across Angola , Uganda and Zambia . The Agreements were signed under the umbrella of Etihad 7 a global development fund launched by the UAE to provide 100 million people across the African continent with clean electricity by 2035. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the fastest growing companies in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291186/Masdar_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291185/Masdar_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2291187/Masdar_3.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4435248/Masdar_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/masdar-to-develop-150mwac-solar-plant-in-angola-to-power-90-000-homes-and-boost-just-energy-transition-302003856.html SOURCE Masdar HAIKOU, China , Dec. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From November 27 to December 1 , a group made up of more than 60 reporters, overseas communication officers, and social media personalities got their chance to witness the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) up close, as they visited key industrial parks and marveled at the beautiful countryside in south China's Hainan Province . One of the FTP's key industrial parks, the Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone in Lingshui is home to 10 domestic and 12 Sino-foreign collaborative universities. Li'an is built on the "large sharing + small colleges" model, where all students share public facilities while each university has exclusive teaching buildings tailored to its unique academic culture and disciplines. "This is a very open model. Not only does it mean making the best use of space, but also breaking down the barriers between schools, allowing the best educational concepts from China and other countries to be integrated here," explained British social media personality Toby Symonds . In the Medical Products Exhibition Hall at Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone , Pakistani Mujahid Muheet was blown away by each marvel he laid his eyes on. Muheet currently co-manages a medical device company in Pakistan . He learned that the Lecheng Pilot Zone is China's only "medical special zone" and enjoys preferential policies in pilot medical treatment and international medical exchanges. In the zone, he saw potential business opportunities for his firm, gladly exclaiming he "would be bringing his business here." "Internet celebrity" Sajjad Alqazzaz, an international student from Iraq , showed a keen interest in Hainan's rural revitalization work. In Bohou Village in Sanya, Sajjad was deeply moved by the village's swift turnaround from poverty to prosperity. This once-destitute village began renting land to enterprises just over a decade ago. They improved the soil, planted roses, and developed the village into a rose-adorned scenic spot popular with tourists. The village has also taken abandoned homes and turned them into guesthouses, and now boasts a thriving B&B industry. This year marks the fifth year since the Hainan FTP came into being. As a crucial gateway of China's continued opening up in the new era, Hainan is a key locale for the practice of Chinese modernization. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/media-tour-witnesses-chinese-modernization-in-hainan-ftp-302003867.html SOURCE Hainan International Media Center (HIMC) PARIS , Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditional approaches to international cooperation are insufficient to reach Paris Agreement objectives and innovative solutions must start happening, according to a new report published by the Deep Decarbonization Pathways (DDP) Initiative. Global South countries have ambitious given their capacities, but they need to accelerate their transitions to net-zero while achieving development objectives. A critical innovation would be to put countries' needs at the center of international cooperation processes. Country representation must be ensured from the start and at all stages of the design of cooperative solutions. "We can only achieve the Paris Agreement goal if all countries can do more. For Global South countries, taking more ambitious climate actions while pursuing development depends whether innovations in international cooperation allow to prioritize countries' needs," said Henri Waisman , director of the DDP Initiative. The report proposes concrete innovations in international cooperation in three sectors. The steel sector can transform in a way that contributes to global deep decarbonization, supports local employment and industrialization in developing countries, and maintains competitiveness for current producers. This can happen under a revised approach to current distribution of incentives, international value chains and trade in primary steel production. Changes to national freight transport - producing goods more sustainably and closer to consumers, developing better railways and multi-modal infrastructures, and making rail services more competitive than road services - contribute to development and deep decarbonization. Directing international finance for industries and transport infrastructure, and changing commercial and trade agreements are needed to make these changes happen. The agriculture and land use sector must take into account objectives around mitigation, adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, food security and rural livelihoods. This holistic approach requires improving the governance of the land use system, promoting lessons sharing on policies and implementation, and implementing new finance mechanisms and trade arrangements to encourage the restoration of degraded forests or pastures, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and more diversified land uses such as agroforestry. "We need innovative international cooperation to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. COP28 must send a clear political signal and catalyze technical and organizational changes, in all sectors and all countries. It is a question of trust and confidence between North and South, and a matter of efficiency for the fight against climate disaster," said Sebastien Treyer , Executive Director of IDDRI. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2290413/DDP_Logo.jpg Media contact: Renee Karunungan [email protected] https://ddpinitiative.org/ddp-annual-report-2023/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-ddp-report-calls-for-innovative-international-cooperation-to-reach-paris-agreement-goals-as-cop28-starts-this-week-302003114.html SOURCE IDDRI - Deep Decarbonization Pathways Initiative LANCASTER, Pa. and MASON CITY, Iowa , Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New Energy Blue, the clean-tech creator of biomass refineries that turn crop residues such as corn stalks into some of the world's lowest-carbon fuels and chemicals, announces the formation of New Energy Farmers LLC, which will be headquartered in Mason City, Iowa . New Energy Farmers is a biomass aggregation company jointly owned by Iowa farmers and New Energy Blue. Its purpose is to supply clean, sustainable feedstock to the New Energy Freedom Biomass Refinery , also in Mason City , and support the build-out of other New Energy Blue biomass refineries throughout Iowa and the American Midwest . New Energy Blue has just completed the engineering of New Energy Freedom, scheduled to break ground early 2024 and begin operation late 2025. Because top-quality biomass is critical to efficient refinery operation and delivery of climate-healing products, over the past decade the New Energy Aggregation System was developed to assure a continuous supply of clean, dry stover in tight, compact bales. During the Iowa corn harvest this past fall, the New Energy Aggregation System was again rigorously tested by chopping, baling, and stacking excess stalks across extensive acreage. New Energy Blue conducted the field trials using the latest methods and machinery from New Holland , Case, John Deere, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Mil-Stak. From the fall harvests of 2024 and 2025, New Energy Farmers will provide a total of 275,000 dry tons of feedstock to the Freedom refineryenough to produce a year's worth of next-generation ethanol (made from the corn plant's sugars) and clean lignin (taken from the stiff structure of the plant). Stalks from about 50 farmers with 110,000 acres are sufficient due to the exceptional productivity of North Iowa corn growers, who typically have three tons of excess stalks that need to be removed. Using the latest aggregation advances, bale weights increase from about 900 pounds to as much as 1500 pounds, cutting transportation and storage costs. "We're tenaciously focused on every impact to our supply chain, from soil to product," says Thomas Corle , CEO of New Energy Blue. "For our first five U.S. refineries, we expect corn stalks to be the raw material for biobased fuels and chemicalsreplacing oil and gas refining in the future. We're going into business with the American farmer, making a substantial investment." New Energy Farmers will become majority-owned and managed by the corn growers who have already committed to supplying their excess corn stover as a feedstock to the Freedom biomass refinery. Members receive a cash payment for every dry ton bale of corn stalks, own a stake in the business based on acreage, receive new farm equipment for harvesting and aggregation, and share in the annual profits of their own company. Lead farmers on the management board will oversee the process of procuring and collecting the stover from within a 20-30 mile radius of Mason City , managing off-site storage, and delivering the bales to the refinery. Given that sustainable biomass sourcing and traceability are important to customers like Dow, "we're pursuing ISCC Plus certification of our facilities," Corle says. Manav Lahoti , Global Sustainability Director at Dow, says "we strongly support a bio-circular and low-carbon ecosystem for converting excess corn stover into feedstock for our bio-based plastics. ISCC Plus certification enables Dow to verify the presence of renewable materials in our products to help customers meet commitments to improve sustainability in their own supply chains." Dow and New Energy Blue have signed a first-of-its-kind agreement for cellulosic ethanol from New Energy Freedom and subsequent biomass refineries to convert into bio-ethylene at the New Energy Chemicals ethanol-to-ethylene facility planned for the U.S. Gulf Coast . Every five years the U.S. Department Of Energy produces a "Billion Ton Report" calculating the potential supply of available biomass in the United States available for fuel and chemical projects. "But the great potential remains largely untapped," says Joe Ahrens , Biomass Strategist and Logistics Officer for New Energy Blue. "The reason is simple. Nobody up until now has developed a system that can aggregate this feedstock sustainably and cost efficiently with minimal impact to the grain harvest." Ongoing research and field testing by New Energy Blue, says Ahrens, is expected to boost farmer yields and crop value while shrinking carbon impact on the environment. "So we'll continue to promote carbon-retaining practices such as no-till seeding and planting cover crops to discourage wind and water erosion." Though the 2023 Billion Ton Report portrays the enormous opportunity for converting biomass into greener energy, "we're developing the roadmap," says Ahrens. "Everything we learned in the fields this fall, and will learn in our 2024 and 2025 harvests, will improve our New Energy Aggregation System and strengthen New Energy Farmers. Both will play major roles in our future expansion across the American Midwest ." More information at https://newenergyblue.com/#waste-nothing CONTACT Roger Moore 717-224-0245 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-energy-blue-launches-farmer-owned-business-to-supply-clean-sustainable-feedstock-for-its-biomass-refineries-302003767.html SOURCE New Energy Blue DUBAI, UAE , Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the UN Climate Change Conference ( COP28 ), Ministers and Indigenous leaders from the most important tropical forests in the world spoke at the launch of Equitable Earth - a new voluntary carbon market standard designed to drive climate finance directly to Indigenous peoples and traditional communities. The governments of Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reiterated commitments to end deforestation, highlighting the crucial role of community-led forest carbon projects in achieving this goal. H.E. Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Brazil said: "We must end deforestation in the Amazon to help solve the climate crisis. And we must do so with justice and human rights for the forest people for whom forests are home. Therefore, I welcome project initiatives led by communities and respecting Free Prior and Informed Consent, as they will help achieve our climate goals, preserve the forest and the life within it, and bring equity to our people." The IPCC is clear that ending deforestation is critical to addressing the climate crisis. And according to the UN , where the rights of Indigenous peoples are recognized, rates of deforestation tend to be lower and carbon stocks tend to be higher. Despite this, less than one percent of climate finance currently reaches Indigenous peoples and local communities to help secure land tenure rights and manage tropical forests. Community-led forest carbon projects can change this, by driving private sector finance directly to the Indigenous peoples and traditional communities that live there. For example, the Mai Ndombe project in DRC is funded by companies voluntarily purchasing carbon credits. The project works with over 50,000 community members to help meet their own development ambitions, while protecting 299,640 hectares of forest which has avoided 38,843,976 tons of CO2e emissions to date. "The world asks us Amazonia, Congo Basin , Mekong Basin to preserve our forests. But to do this means adaptation of our lives, our agriculture, of everything. And this adaptation needs funds" said H.E. Eve Bazaiba, Environment Minister, DRC speaking of the Mai Ndombe project at the event today, "So, we say Ok, and we entered into the carbon markets." "We have now built more than 16 high-level schools, we have hospitals, they support us with resilient agriculture. And now we are going to have more social infrastructure like roads, bridges, solar energy, airports, and ports and so on. This is all to help us adapt to the new situation of the climate crisis," said Minister Bazaiba. The Amazon and the Congo Basin are the two largest rainforests in the world. Combined, the territories of the two nations who spoke today include over 600 million hectares of tropical forest an area roughly two thirds the total size of the U.S. Media contact: Will Richard [email protected] Pictures available on request About Equitable Earth Equitable Earth is a coalition of leaders committed to delivering a compelling new voluntary carbon market standard and platform to end deforestation and biodiversity loss in equitable partnership with Indigenous peoples and local communities, and Global South countries. For further information, visit www.eq-earth.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rainforest-nations-back-community-led-projects-funded-through-the-voluntary-carbon-market-as-key-to-delivering-global-commitment-to-end-deforestation-302003958.html SOURCE Equitable Earth Coalition MOJAVE, Calif. , Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratolaunch, LLC announces the completion of a captive carry flight with the first powered Talon-A hypersonic vehicle, TA-1. The flight was the twelfth for the company's launch platform Roc and the first in which the aircraft carried a Talon vehicle with live propellant as part of a buildup approach for Talon-A's first powered flight. The flight lasted a total of three hours and 22 minutes and represented a significant step forward in the company's near-term goal of completing a powered flight with the Talon-A vehicle, TA-1. A primary objective was to evaluate Talon-A's propulsion system and the Talon environments while carrying live propellant. A second objective was to verify Roc and TA-1's telemetry systems, which provides the situational awareness to ensure all systems are ready for powered flight during the release sequence. "Talon-A's propulsion system supports a liquid-propellant rocket engine that provides the thrust needed for Talon-A to reach hypersonic speeds. While we have conducted several successful ground tests fueling and igniting the system, we needed to evaluate how the system performs in the flight environment prior to release," said Dr. Zachary Krevor, Chief Executive Officer for Stratolaunch. "Initial results from today's flight show that the system has performed as predicted, and we will determine our next steps pending the full data review of the test." Concurrent to TA-1 testing, Stratolaunch is progressing on the manufacturing of the TA-2 and TA-3 vehicles, the first fully reusable vehicles in that Talon-A product line. In addition to meeting this key test milestone, the company also recently announced two flight contracts with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and the Navy's Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB) program as a subcontractor to Leidos/Dynetics. "It's an exciting time for our team and customers as we grow closer to bringing our test service online. We're moving faster into the future of high-speed flight, and I'm proud of our team's tenacity to reach this point," said Dr. Zachary Krevor, Chief Executive Officer for Stratolaunch. About Stratolaunch Stratolaunch's mission is to advance high-speed technology through innovative design, manufacturing, and operation of world-class aerospace vehicles. For the latest news and information, visit www.stratolaunch.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stratolaunch-successfully-completes-captive-carry-flight-with-ta-1-test-vehicle-302003967.html SOURCE Stratolaunch DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - At least 20 people have been killed by floods after heavy rain in the Manyara region of northern Tanzania, the ministry of health said on Sunday. Severe flooding caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon has killed hundreds of people in Kenya and Somalia in recent weeks. The rains have also left a trail of destruction, ruining infrastructure like roads and submerging towns in East Africa, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. "We are very shocked by this event," President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in a video message posted online by the Tanzanian ministry of health. She directed security agencies, the ministry of health and other relevant bodies to put in all efforts into ongoing search and rescue efforts to prevent more deaths. The more than 20 people were killed in Katesh village in the Hanang district of Manyara, the president said. The heavy rain on Saturday night caused landslides in some areas of Mount Hanang, domestic media outlets reported, adding that the waters also swept away livestock. Climate change is causing more intense and more frequent extreme weather events, scientists say. In response, African leaders are pushing for new global taxes and changes to international financial institutions to help fund climate change action. (Reporting by Nuzulack Dausen; Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Alison Williams) Lanao Del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. stands among law enforcement officers as they investigate the scene of an explosion that occurred during a Catholic Mass in a gymnasium at Mindanao State University in Marawi, Philippines, December 3, 2023. Lanao By Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) - Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing at a Catholic Mass in the Philippines on Sunday that killed at least four people and injured 50 others. The attack was carried out in a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city in the south of the country besieged by Islamist militants for five months in 2017. The Islamic State group, which wields influence in the country's south, said on Telegram its members had detonated the bomb. Earlier on Sunday, before Islamic State's claim, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned "the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists". Police and the military strengthened security in the country's south and around the capital Manila. In Rome, Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims during his Sunday address, and, in a separate written message, appealed to "Christ the prince of peace (to) grant to all the strength to turn from violence and overcome every evil with good". Law enforcement operations to bring to justice the perpetrators of the "terrorist activity" will "continue unabated", Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told a press conference. There were "strong indications of a foreign element" in the bombing, Teodoro said, refusing to elaborate so as not to compromise ongoing investigation. Fragments of a 60-mm mortar were recovered at the scene, senior police official Emmanuel Peralta told the press conference. HIGH ALERT The blast in Marawi, capital of Lanao del Sur province, followed a series of military operations against local pro-Islamic State groups in the southern Philippines, the military chief said. One on Sunday in Lanao del Sur led to the killing of a leader of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute group. "It is possible that what happened this morning was a retaliatory attack," Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner told the press conference. The Islamic State-linked Maute seized Marawi on May 2017, seeking to make it a Southeast Asian "wilayat" or governorate - for Islamic State. In the ensuing five-month battle, Islamist fighters and Philippine forces killed more than a thousand people, including civilians. Images shared by the Lanao del Sur government on Facebook showed military officials surveying the gym at the Mindanao State University where the blast occurred, which appeared intact except for burn marks in the centre. Videos posted by DZBB radio on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, showed rescuers carrying injured people out of the gym on plastic chairs. Police offices in Mindanao and the capital region were placed on high alert and police checkpoints tightened "to prevent possible follow-up incidents", police official Peralta said. The coast guard directed its districts to intensify pre-departure inspections at ports. Mindanao State University said in a Facebook post it was "deeply saddened and appalled by the act of violence that occurred during a religious gathering". "We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless and horrific act." The university said it was suspending classes until further notice. (This story has been corrected to say 60-mm mortar, not 16-mm mortar, in paragraph 8) (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema; Editing by William Mallard and Sharon Singleton) DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Flash floods caused by heavy rains ravaged Hanang district in northern Tanzania on Sunday, leaving a toll of at least 20 fatalities, 70 injuries and scores of individuals unaccounted for, local officials said. Janeth Mayanja, the Hanang district commissioner, said that the floods had caused catastrophic consequences as they swept away trees and stones from the hills. "By 1:20 p.m., the death toll has reached 20, with more than 70 injures reported, and scores of others are still missing," Mayanja told a news conference in Hanang district. "Most of the houses located on the slopes of the hills have been damaged," she said. Security agencies are still searching for the missing people. Mayanja said road transport between Babati district in Manyara region and Singida region has been temporarily halted, and engineers are trying to restore the damaged road stretch. Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rallies with supporters at a "commit to caucus" event at a Whiskey bar in Ankeny, Iowa, U.S. December 2, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria By Nathan Layne CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Reuters) -Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, told his supporters on Saturday to "go into" Philadelphia and two other Democratic-run cities to "guard the vote" in 2024, repeating his unfounded claims of widespread election fraud in 2020 as justification for the call to action. Speaking at two events in Iowa, Trump also sought to counter growing concern among Democrats and some Republicans that his potential return to the White House posed a threat to democracy. Even as he faces criminal charges over his efforts to reverse his 2020 loss, Trump attempted to flip the script and paint the winner, President Joe Biden, as a dangerous autocrat, calling him a communist, fascist and a tyrant. A spokesperson for Biden's re-election campaign said Trump's comments portraying Biden as a threat to democracy were an attempt to divert the public's attention from his own problems. Looking ahead to next year's general election, Trump said it was important to scrutinize the vote in the battleground states likely to determine the outcome. He singled out the biggest cities in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia - all Democratic strongholds at the center of the blizzard of false voter fraud claims made by Trump and his allies three years ago. "So the most important part of what's coming up is to guard the vote. And you should go into Detroit and you should go into Philadelphia and you should go into some of these places, Atlanta," Trump said in Ankeny, a suburb of Des Moines. Trump's comments foreshadow what is likely to be a contentious election in November 2024. Despite the failure of dozens of lawsuits filed by Trump and his allies challenging the 2020 outcome, Trump continues to claim, without evidence, that he lost to President Joe Biden due to fraud. Trump did not specify who he was asking to "go into" the battleground-state cities. A campaign aide, when asked to clarify, said he was referring to poll-watchers and volunteers whose objective would be to ensure a secure election. That would mesh with plans outlined by the Republican National Committee, which is aiming to recruit and train tens of thousands of poll workers and watchers in states that are hotly contested because their voting preferences could swing either to Republicans or Democrats. 'VOLATILE PERIOD' FOR DEMOCRACY The comments by Trump, president from 2017 to 2021, come amid growing scrutiny over his recent rhetoric on the campaign trail, which has included referring to his political enemies as "vermin," a word some historians said echoed the language of Nazi Germany. Timothy Naftali, a senior research scholar at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, said Trump's comments calling for scrutiny of elections in large Democratic-controlled cities were concerning because he made them while seeking to undermine trust in U.S. elections. "We are in a very volatile period in our democracy," Naftali said. "If he is seeking to increase trust in our system, he should be more explicit. But what he said today was in the context of his mistrust of our system." In recent weeks Biden's re-election campaign has more aggressively gone after Trump, highlighting his mounting legal troubles and likely policies it argues would hurt the economy and damage the foundations of democracy. Trump, for instance, has vowed to use his power to imprison his political enemies. "Donald Trumps America in 2025 is one where the government is his personal weapon to lock up his political enemies, campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said in response to Trump's Iowa remarks. "After spending a week defending his plan to rip health care away from millions of Americans, this is his latest desperate attempt at distraction the American people see right through it and it wont work. Trump is facing four criminal trials, including two accusing him of seeking to subvert the 2020 election, helped by a mob of his supporters who ransacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. At an event in Cedar Rapids, Trump's campaign passed out signs reading 'BIDEN ATTACKS DEMOCRACY'. During his speech Trump repeated his unsubstantiated claim that Biden was using the Justice Department to go after him, among other alleged transgressions making Biden the threat to democracy. "Joe Biden wants to make this race a question of which candidate will defend our democracy and protect our freedoms," Trump said. "This campaign is a righteous crusade to liberate our republic from Biden and the criminals." Also on Saturday, Trump doubled down on comments made a few days earlier indicating he wanted to make significant changes to the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, calling the healthcare insurance program used by millions of Americans "a disaster." He did not provide specifics. (Reporting by Nathan Layne in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Gram Slattery in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and William Mallard) FILE PHOTO: Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's Labour Party, speaks during the Prime Minister's Questions, at the House of Commons in London, Britain November 29, 2023. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, has praised former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a deeply unpopular figure among many Labour supporters, as he seeks to woo Conservative voters before an election expected next year. Starmer, whose left-wing party is ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives by some 20 points in opinion polls, is seeking to cement that advantage by broadening Labour's appeal to attract voters who have spurned the party in national elections over the past 13 years. Thatcher, dubbed the "Iron Lady" by the UK press at the time, was Britain's Conservative leader from 1979 to 1990. She was an extremely divisive figure, hailed by some but loathed by many on the left for crushing trade unions and privatizing swathes of British industry. She died in 2013. "Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them," Starmer wrote in an article for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. "Margaret Thatcher sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism," he wrote, while also paying tribute to former Labour premiers Tony Blair and Clement Attlee. While his message was designed to appeal to traditional Conservatives, it was also an attempt to distance himself from the politics of former Labour leader, veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn, who in 2019 led the party to its worst defeat since the 1930s. After hailing Thatcher, Starmer wrote that Labour had "changed dramatically in the last three years". "I think the public will see this for what it is," Health minister Victoria Atkins told Sky News. "Don't forget he wasn't appealing to Margaret Thatcher's entrepreneurial spirit when he was courting votes from the hard left," she said. "And I suspect the great lady herself would view a man who is trying to ride on the coattails of her success with the following words: 'No, no, no'." (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Bernadette Baum) A soldier stands at an observation post at Makua Valley in Waianae, Hawaii on April, 15, 2021, as units were conducting Artillery Air Assault call for fire, and other key training tasks to hone their craft. (Jessica Scott/U.S. Army) The military hasnt fired a shot in the valley since 2004 as a result of a lawsuit brought against it by Earthjustice on behalf of local activist group Malama Makua. Since then the Army has worked to remove unexploded bombs around 22 ancient Hawaiian cultural sites, as well as hosted cultural access days led by Malama Makua members twice a month. In October, U.S. Army Pacific leadership signed a memorandum stating there are no plans to resume that training, and on Thursday in a joint statement submitted to Hawaiis federal district court, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said the military would no longer need to conduct live-fire training at (Makua Military Reservation ), now or in the future, and, therefore, no new (unexploded ordnance ) will be added to MMR. On Friday, Malama Makua held a news conference in the parking lot of the training area celebrating the agreement as rain drizzled. Amid the backdrop of the vast green valley, Malama Makua board member Karen Young, widow of the late Malama Makua co-founder Fred Dodge, said she was cautiously ecstatic happy, but also worried that the promises made in court wouldnt be kept. The valley holds particular significance for Hawaiian cultural practitioners. In Hawaiian, makua means parent, and the valley is considered the place where human life was first created, according to oral tradition. By the 20th century it was the site of several farms and ranches owned by members of a diverse community of Hawaiian, Japanese and Portuguese families. The military began using parts of Makua for live-fire training in the 1920s when the islands were governed as a U.S. territory. But after the Japanese navys surprise attack on Dec. 7, 1941, the U.S. military imposed martial law in Hawaii and took control of all of Makua for training, which meant kicking out the farmers and ranchers in the valley. Military officials assured them it would be temporary and that they would be able to return when the war was over. But in 1945, World War II ended and the Cold War began. The military asked Hawaiis territorial government for the transfer of 6, 608 acres at Makua for training. In 1964, five years after statehood, the Army paid just $1 for a 65-year lease from the state to continue training on Makua and the other leased lands. Growing up here in Makaha, this place has always been very special for our community, whether its at the beach or when youre driving past and you get to see this beautiful valley behind you, said state Rep. Cedric Gates. But you can never go inside the valley to enjoy or to practice their culture prior to Malama Makua, and all the access that was provided after fighting many years, and even take decades to get where we are today. Gates said the signing of the document really emphasizes the militarys understanding that there never should have been live firing here to begin with. ... We need to build on that, to really return this aina back to its rightful owners, which is the people of our community, especially our Native Hawaiian community. In a joint statement released by Gates and fellow Leeward Oahu lawmakers Rep. Darius Kila and Sen. Maile Shimabukuro, they stated that they are grateful to the Army for stepping up, and we ask for their continued cooperation and full support in clearing all unexploded ordnance before the aina is rightfully returned to our Native Hawaiian community. Today marks the beginning of a full return of Makua back to its people. Each military branch used Makua at various points before the last shot was fired in 2004. Ships pounded it with guns from the sea, aircraft dropped napalm and soldiers and Marines fired countless bullets. Malama Makua member Vince Dodge, Fred Dodges son, was involved in a cleanup effort in 2003. We came across napalm casing, white phosphorus. They also use the valley and its very important for the disposal of munitions that get close to their best use date, Vince Dodge said. (The explosives ) start getting unstable and nobody wants them around, right ? So they dumped hundreds of tons of munitions offshore in Waianae, some like right offshore, some deep, and they destroyed hundreds of tons of munitions in the valley, as well as chemical waste from Tripler and the university. It was a dumping ground. Thats the way it was back then. Dodge said that if the Army leaves Makua, we dont want them to run the cleanup because they dont do that well. The whole military system of contracting is rife with corruption, and its about making money and its not about doing the job well. The job of cleanup of this valley is going to take dec ades, right ? It took 80 years to get here today. Its going to take decades. We need our community to direct that, but we need the Army to put up the money for thatthats their obligation. The Army long insisted that there were no ancient sites in the valley. But wildfires started by live-fire training burned foliage and revealed several ancient sites across the valley. Sparky Rodrigues, a co-founder of Malama Makua, said, All the historic sites were black, and all the endangered species was wiped out, completely wiped out, from the fire. As a result of litigation, the Army has spent millions on archaeological resources, as well as on efforts to reseed the area with local native plants and monitoring endangered species. Dodge said the latest pledge is a a step in the cleanup and return of this value, which the Army promised to do when they occupied it. But though the military officials committed not to resume live fire, and said they intended to step up removing bombs currently there, they are not talking about leaving the valley. The valley is still used for various flight and drone training and other exercises. The U.S. Army will continue to execute valuable, non-live-fire training opportunities critical to our mission and soldier readiness at MMR, U.S. Army Pacific spokesperson Col. Rob Phillips said in a statement. The U.S. Army will continue to provide regular community access to MMR for cultural activities per the 2001 settlement agreement. The Army comes with a sense of humility and fortitude that this official announcement will facilitate greater good to the aina and the community here. But members of Malama Makua said they want to see military training to stop altogether and see the land returned. During the conference, several called for peace and drew connections between the Armys seizing of land from Makua residents during World War II and the displacement and killings of Palestinians trapped in Gaza today. We all know whats happening in Palestine and how outrageous that is, said Dodge. Were going to push all weekend from the outside ; we have good people in the military that are pushing from the inside. ... We got to change this thing. Theres been violence and war for a long time, and it just begets more violence and war. Thats been completely proven. They also expressed concern that while Austin and Wormuthwho were appointed by President Joe Bidenmade the pledge, theres no guarantee that future leaders will honor it, noting the broken promise to the farmers who called the valley home. So yes, were happy, its a good step, said Dodge. But we also know that it can change at any moment. Rodrigues said that he believes the 2021 Red Hill Water Crisis has, in part, prompted commanders to take a more cooperative stance as the military presence in the islands has come under more intense scrutiny. The Pentagon considers the Pacific its top-priority theater of operations, and Oahu is the nerve center for those operations and the Pentagon wants to maintain its footprint in Hawaii. Im always angry and upset, and its not new. Im not the only one, said Malama Makua board member Lynette Cruz. You talk to many other people in the Hawaiian community who had been looking at the impact of military presence on this aina. ... Everyone is pissed unless youve got a good job with the military presence. Unless you have some kind of a benefit from the military being present, the rest of us are looking at the fact that what happened to our land. But Young struck a more optimistic tone, saying she believes our relationship with the military has evolved. We see their humanity and I think they see ours, and I would like us to go forward. The times are changing, the world is changing and I think we need to also change in regard to that and maybe theres hope we can work together somehow. Rodrigues said that he will look to the native kahuli snailsometimes called the singing snail as an indicator of whether Malama Makuas efforts have paid off. The kahuli snail sings when the forest is pono, he said. I have never heard the kahuli snail singing yet, but thats one of the outcomes that well use as a benchmark to the success of the return and cleanup and restoration. (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Operation Christmas Drop bundle art drawn at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, pays tribute to the crew of a CV-22B Osprey that crashed recently in southwestern Japan. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam An image of a CV-22 Osprey with angel wings decorates a bundle of presents that airmen from Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo will parachute to villagers on a remote Pacific island during this months Operation Christmas Drop. The drawing, along with a picture of a Dust Devil the symbol of Yokotas 21st Special Operations Squadron and an Osprey callsign GUNDAM 22 pay tribute to eight airmen lost when their Yokota-based tiltrotor aircraft fell into the sea off southwestern Japan on Wednesday. Searchers have, so far, recovered the body of Staff Sgt. Jacob Jake Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Mass., but seven others remain DUSTWUN duty status-whereabouts unknown. They were on my mind, Chief Master Sgt. Chris Reyes, a member of Yokotas 374th Airlift Wing, said shortly after drawing the tribute in a hangar on Andersen Saturday. Yokotas commander, Col. Andrew Roddan, traveled to Guam on Wednesday to participate in the airdrops but returned to Japan when the Osprey went missing, Christmas Drop mission commander Maj. Zach Badger Overbey said in the hangar Saturday. The crew and families are 100% in our hearts and minds right now, he said. We are trying to think about them and remember them. We are sending our condolences here while we execute this critical mission. Airmen planned to decorate another bundle in tribute to Senior Airman Jeremy Jutba, who died of heart failure during the Christmas Drop mission in 2015, Overbey said. Air Force Staff Sgt. Diyco Lawrence decorates an Operation Christmas Drop bundle at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) The grief accompanying the loss of the Yokota airmen contrasted with the festive atmosphere in the hangar, where troops, families and members of the Guam community decorated and filled 210 bundles that will be dropped to 58 islands dotted across 1.8 million square miles of ocean between Monday and Friday. Operation Christmas Drop the Defense Departments longest-running humanitarian aid mission airdrops essential supplies to far-flung isolated islands in the Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau. Locals performed a hula dance while music blared through the hangar and people lined up to receive toys and supplies to place inside the bundles. South Korean airmen put colorful stickers on their boxes alongside Japanese counterparts who dressed as sushi chefs while they painted theirs. A Japanese airman decorates an Operation Christmas Drop bundle at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) South Korean airmen decorate an Operation Christmas Drop bundle at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) Volunteers who help decorate and fill the bundles get as much out of Christmas Drop as the villagers who receive them, said Senior Airman Ken Bocago, who was among dozens of members of Andersens 44th Aerial Port Squadron working in the hangar. You are happy to help someone, he said. Seeing the smiles on peoples faces is really something. U.S. Navy Sailors with Company 1-2, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, inflate salvage roller bags to position a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon for extraction from waters off Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 2, 2023. (Hunter Jones/U.S. Marine Corps) HONOLULU (Tribune News Service) Thirteen days after a Navy P-8A Poseidon slid off the runway in rainy weather while trying to land at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the Navy, Marines and civilian contractors spent Saturday floating the plane and pulling it backward onto the base runway. The recovery operation began at 6:30 a.m. and progressed slowly and methodically. By sundown, most of the 130-foot-long P-8A was on the runway while the front portion continued to float on roller bags that lifted the 60-ton warplane from two points of contact with the coral reef. The Navy had planned to spend no more than 16 hours bringing the Poseidon ashore to ensure the operation would occur during daylight and because the work was expected to be exhaustive. Navy officials estimate that it will cost $1.5 million to salvage the plane. The conditions have been ideal and the operation is progressing exactly as planned, Rear Adm. Kevin P. Lenox, the salvage operations on-scene commander, said in a statement at midafternoon Saturday. (Saturday) morning we floated the aircraft and moved it toward land. As of early afternoon we have begun the stage where we pull the aircraft out of the water and onto the runway. Throughout the process, divers in the water have maintained close observation of the aircraft to ensure no further contact with coral or the sea bottom. Private industry diving and salvage experts working alongside U.S. Navy sailors and Marines coordinate the placement of inflatable salvage roller bags as they position the U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon for extraction from waters just off the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 2, 2023. (Tania Guerrero/U.S. Marine Corps) Private industry diving and salvage experts working alongside U.S. Navy sailors and Marines use a hydraulic cable puller to tow a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon, with the assistance of inflatable salvage roller bags, from waters just off the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 2, 2023. ( Julian Elliott-Drouin/U.S. Marine Corps) After skidding off the runway while trying to land from the makai side of the base Nov. 20, the plane ended up 100 feet off the end of the runway in waters no deeper than 30 feet, with the front landing gear coming to rest in a pocket of coral and the left engine sitting on other parts of the reef. But last weeks storm caused the front landing gear to rotate about 30 degrees inside the coral pocket, leading to fears that the shift damaged more sections of reef. After the P-8A is back on land, divers with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be able to document any damage. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda grew up in Kaneohe, where she lives with her husband and two school-age boys. She told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Saturday that the military cannot do enough testing to measure water quality and document any harm to Kaneohe Bays marine life, including how a sea turtle in the area ended up discovered dead on Friday. We have to recognize that there was a plane in our bay, Tokuda said. This is not a normal condition. As a result were going to have to look at potential impacts on the bay for marine life, for water quality. As for what killed the sea turtle, she said we cannot rule out anything. The real work begins after we get the Poseidon out of the water, Tokuda said. As Ive said, you cant test enough, you cant evaluate this enough. Water quality for the bay is absolutely critical. Assessing damage and repairing damage to the coral, thats going to be the big work ahead. Kaneohe Bay serves as a source of marine food for numerous families and has a rich cultural history. The base also was a military target during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, that launched America into World War II. Private industry diving and salvage experts working alongside U.S. Navy sailors use inflatable salvage roller bags to position the U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon for extraction from waters just off the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 2, 2023. (Tania Guerrero/U.S. Marine Corps) Donald Sakamoto was born and raised in Kaneohe, serves as treasurer of the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board and worked on the Marine Corps base for 21 years as a civilian product specialist in electronics at the Marine Corps exchange until 2009. I appreciate the marine life and I appreciate what the service men and women do to protect us, so I see it from different perspectives, Sakamoto told the Star-Advertiser on Saturday. Accidents do happen. There was a lot of rain (when the crew and plane skidded off the runway). But they need to do whatever they can to repair the reef and protect the natural habitat. Fellow Kaneohe Neighborhood Board member Neil Fleitell emphasized that it was an accident. Weve got to cut them a break. This is our U.S. military, all of our military. At the same time, Fleitell said, I want to protect all of the bay, the reef, everything. I can see the bay from the front of my house. ... Im a scuba diver. I love the bay and we need to protect the bay. Immediately after the P-8A and its nine-member crew missed the landing, elected officials and environmentalists began demanding transparency from the Navy and Marines in detailing any environmental damage to Kaneohe Bay particularly following years of fuel leaks at the Navys Red Hill storage facility that contaminated Oahus drinking supply and were only recently disclosed. But it took more than a week for the Navy and Marines to hold their first news conference on the accident. Wayne Tanaka, executive director of the Sierra Club, grew up fishing around and on Kaneohe Bay and wants DLNR to conduct a thorough assessment of the planes impact on the water, marine life and coral reef followed by appropriate monetary compensation thats costly enough so the military works to prevent a repeat of the accident. The Navy needs to do the right thing and provide adequate compensation to remediate the harm, Tanaka said. We need to count our blessings because it could have been a lot worsefire, toxins in the water. But there need to be consequences. It shouldnt be on Hawaii residents to bear all of the burden of the Navys mistakes that may have damaged our ecosystem. I just hope the Navy does the right thing, which is what they said they wanted to. Civilian contractors SMIT Salvage and Center Lift on Saturday deployed inflatable roller bags beneath the plane to lift it off the reef and then roll it backward onto the runway using heavy machinery. The P-8A crew of three pilots and six crew members assigned to the Whidbey Island, Wash.-based Patrol Squadron 4 Skinny Dragon was arriving at Marine Corps Base Hawaii around 2 p.m. Nov. 20 for maritime homeland defense operations. No one was injured when the plane failed to land and ended up in the water. The planes presence in the bay caused fixed-wing takeoffs and landings to shut down out of concern their exhaust blasts could cause the P-8A to shift in the water and cause further environmental damage. A replacement crew and plane later landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to fill in for the crew that skidded into Kaneohe Bay. The Navy planned to conduct an off-the-record safety investigation designed to prevent similar mishaps, followed by an official accident investigation that could have disciplinary and legal implications. None of the information uncovered in the safety investigation can be used in the formal investigation into the cause of the mishap, Lenox previously said. (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. BEIJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Assets under the management of China's public offering funds totaled 27.38 trillion yuan (about 3.85 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of October, data from the Asset Management Association of China showed. By the end of October, a total of 11,268 public offering funds were being operated by 144 fund management companies, the association said. The scale of closed-end funds neared 3.73 trillion yuan, while that of open-end funds was at about 23.7 trillion yuan, the data showed. Of the 144 fund management companies, 48 are foreign-funded and 96 are domestic firms, the association said. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, attend the World Holocaust Forum on January 23, 2020. The special treatment for the abducted Russians is a new manifestation of the growing alignment between the Kremlin and Hamas. President Vladimir Putin seeks to present himself in the relationship as a leader and champion of a new multipolar world order, and the Palestinian militant group gets a veneer of legitimacy at a time when many countries have branded it as a terrorist organization. (Wikimedia Commons) RIGA, Latvia When a Hamas delegation visited Moscow in late October, Russian diplomats handed the group a list of eight Russian-Israeli citizens being held hostage in Gaza - captives Russia wanted the Palestinian militant group to set free. Hamas immediately signaled that the list would get special attention, state-run media reported. We are very attentive to this list and will process it carefully because we look at Russia as our closest friend, a senior member of Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzook, told RIA Novosti news agency. As soon as we find them, well release them. Since then, Hamas has been making good on its pledge. Three of the Israeli Russian hostages were released. That number included Roni Krivoi, 25, a sound engineer who was working at the music festival attacked by Hamas. Last Sunday, he became the first adult male with an Israeli passport set free, even as most of the exchanges involved women and children. Moscow stressed that the release of Krivoi and the subsequent freeing of two more Israeli Russian dual nationals - Elena Trufanova, 53, and her mother, Irina Tatti, 73 - were secured independently of mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt that achieved a pause in fighting and other releases. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, posting on Telegram last Sunday, credited the release of a Russian passport holder - evidently Krivoi, although she did not name the hostage - to direct agreements between Russian representatives and Hamas, which she noted Moscow intends to continue. We are grateful to the leadership of the Hamas movement for their positive response to our urgent appeals, Zakharova said Thursday. We will continue to strive for the speedy release of the remaining Russians held in the Gaza Strip. The special treatment for the abducted Russians is a new manifestation of the growing alignment between the Kremlin and Hamas. President Vladimir Putin seeks to present himself in the relationship as a leader and champion of a new multipolar world order, and the Palestinian militant group gets a veneer of legitimacy at a time when many countries have branded it as a terrorist organization. Since Oct. 7, when Hamas carried out an attack inside Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting more than 200 others, Putin has carefully calibrated his position, apparently keeping in mind Russias growing reliance on Iran, a main sponsor of Hamas, as a supplier of drones and missiles for Moscows war in Ukraine. Russia initially expressed concern over the attack but did not condemn Hamas. And rather than stressing condolences to Israel, Moscow pointed fingers at the United States and the West, blaming Washington for decades of failure to resolve the long-simmering conflict in the Middle East and suggesting that Russia could be a mediator. While Hamas quickly became a pariah in much of the world after the Oct. 7 attack, Russia rolled out a red carpet for the Hamas delegation. The fact that Moscow invited them in late October is a very big deal as its a way for Hamas to show that they are not some alleged terrorists and that they are being invited for official talks, Ruslan Suleymanov, an independent Russian expert on the Middle East, said in an interview. So these releases are a gesture from Hamas to highlight Putins special role, but only the U.S., Egypt and Qatar take part in the real talks about hostages and the cease-fire. Hamas has also benefited from political and diplomatic support provided by Russia in its role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, where its representatives blocked U.S.-led resolutions against Hamas. But while potentially expedient in the short term, Russias pivot toward Hamas also carries risks. Already, it has driven a wedge between Russia and Israel, putting in jeopardy the Kremlins prided ability to juggle relationships with all parties in the region - no matter how bitterly they hate each other, analysts said. It is also unclear that Hamas even knows the whereabouts of the remaining hostages on Russias list. And while Moscow has built ties to Hamass Qatar-based political wing, to whose representatives the Russians handed their list, Russia has no leverage with the military arm of the group operating on the ground in Gaza and which ultimately will decide who is freed now that the pause in fighting brokered by the United States has ended. In any case, Krivoi, the abducted sound engineer, was a lucky beneficiary of Russias diplomatic outreach. He was released, the first hostage adult male with an Israeli passport to be set free, and sent to a hospital in Tel Aviv. A few days later, Trufanova and Tatti, a doctor from southern Russia who moved to Israel five years ago to reunite with her daughter, were released. The pair were kidnapped from Trufanovas home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her husband, Vitaly Trufanov, was killed during the Oct. 7 attack, and her son, Alexander, is still in captivity. Hamas has also played up Russias role. The prisoners were released during the truce period but separately from the rest of the hostages, as they are not part of this deal, said Hamas official Basem Naim. This action is in appreciation of the Russian position supporting the rights of the Palestinian people in general and the resistance. It also aims to strengthen this bilateral relationship for future collaboration. Naim said others on Russias list could be missing on the other side - meaning Israel. But, he added, in case there is another truce, we would keep searching, and releasing them is possible. Putin not only refrained from condemning Hamas after the attack but also did not immediately call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who for years was considered one of his closest friends among world leaders. Some Russia watchers regarded Putins stance as revenge for Netanyahus lack of demonstrative support for Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and also as a sign of a grudge against Israel for giving refuge to thousands of Russians who have fled Putins government in the past two years. Suleymanov said Russia was also using the war in Gaza to portray itself as allied with countries in the Global South against the West. Putin is partially rejoicing that right now the U.S. security system and its relationship in the Middle East are facing their toughest test in years, he said. Because its the U.S. that was promoting Israels alignment with the Arab world but is now forced to juggle its own ties to it while taking a very clearly pro-Israeli stance. Russia, in conditions of Western isolation, is trying to demonstrate itself as an anti-Western force, Suleymanov added. But this is a test for Russia, too, as it cant afford to lose Israel. Although Russia had long portrayed itself as capable of working with anyone in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine has realigned Putins foreign policy - forcing the Kremlin to move closer to Iran. That alliance had deeply alarmed Israel even before the attack by Hamas. Abbas Galyamov, a political consultant and former Putin speechwriter, said the Russian president had lost a carefully balanced position. For years, he walked a tightrope between Israel and his Middle Eastern partners in the face of Syrias Bashar al-Assad, Iran and the Palestinians, but after Oct. 7, they fell on the side opposite of Israel, Galyamov said. I view it as him losing the ability to conduct independent foreign policy in the region and turning more into an Iranian proxy. The ayatollahs perhaps said, We supported you on your key issue, Ukraine, so its time to stop fussing and support us on our fundamentally important issue, he added. Galyamov said Putins siding with Hamas could undermine his goal in Ukraine: to sustain the fight until Western support for Ukraine begins to erode - something that could happen faster if Donald Trump returns to the White House. In that regard, part of Republicans who are isolationist are his allies, even if they dont sympathize with him personally but believe that two post-Soviet states fighting are not their business, Galyamov said. But supporting Israel is the peak of their policy. And by aligning with Hamas, Putin is knocking the wind out of their sails, as theyll see he sides with evil wherever he appears. Ebel reported from London. Hazem Balousha in Amman, Jordan, contributed to this report. Relatives of a Palestinian killed in a strike in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza mourn at the Nasser Medical Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post.) AMMAN, Jordan - Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza on Saturday, intensifying the renewed bombardment of the enclave for a second day as hopes faded that a collapsed truce deal could be revived. Some of the strikes were in southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had taken refuge after the Israeli military had told them to go for their safety. Israel has said that it believes Hamas commanders have also sought refuge there. Strikes were also carried out in the Jabalya refugee camp in the north and the Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City, where initial reports suggested there had been many casualties. Despite Israels shift to the south, its forces are still encountering Hamas militants in northern Gaza, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesman, said at a news conference Saturday. The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that at least 193 people have been killed and 652 injured since the collapse of a week-long humanitarian pause heralded the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hamas on Friday. The Israel Defense Forces reported hitting 400 targets since Friday, suggesting that this second phase of the war will be at least as intense as the first. At least 50 strikes were carried out in and around the southern town of Khan Younis, the IDF said, signaling an expansion of the campaign to the south. The seven-day pause brought a respite from seven weeks of fighting, enabling the release by Hamas of 134 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for around 400 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel under a deal negotiated mainly by Qatar. The negotiations involving Qatari, Israeli and U.S. officials had continued in the Qatari capital, Doha, even after the fighting resumed and Israeli military officials had indicated a readiness to implement another pause if mediators could persuade Hamas to release more hostages. But later Saturday, Israel announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had recalled the Israeli negotiators, saying the talks on further hostage releases had reached an impasse. A statement from Netanyahus office blamed Hamas for the failure, saying the militant group had failed to implement an agreement to release all the women and children it kidnapped. Israeli officials meanwhile indicated that this second phase of the war would continue until Israel had achieved its goal of eradicating Hamas. The war will be ongoing for whatever time it takes to completely destroy Hamas and get back the hostages, Israeli government spokesman Ofir Gendelman told reporters Saturday. Lerner said the IDF used the pause in fighting to resupply and study its strategy for a long war that is not bound by time. The renewed violence has brought fresh misery to Gazas 2 million residents, swamping the territorys crippled hospitals with scores of new injuries as the United Nations warns that medical supplies are running out. On Saturday, the Gaza Health Ministry issued its first updated casualty figures in three weeks, saying that a total of 15,207 people have been killed and over 40,652 injured since the outbreak of hostilities on Oct. 7. The initial Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war killed around 1,200 people in Israel. A spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza said that a series of Israeli strikes east of Gaza City on Saturday killed at least 60 people and leveled dozens of apartment buildings, adding that hundreds of other residents were feared dead under the rubble. The spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, said bodies could not be extracted immediately because we dont have equipment. The strikes, in the Shujaiya neighborhood, left what he said were 10 big holes and flattened houses. Footage of the aftermath broadcast on Al Jazeera showed mounds of crushed concrete and rebar over a large area, as people searched for survivors. Residents interviewed on the broadcast said there has been about 50 buildings in the destroyed area, including multistory buildings. In the south, the increasing strikes instilled new panic among civilians who had escaped from the north in the belief they would be safer there. Israel dropped leaflets advising residents to move from some specific neighborhoods to others, but people who have already been displaced multiple times said they were confused and believed nowhere was safe. Every time they say, Move to a safe place, and when we move we find its not safe, said Najwa Khalil, 36, a mother of two. She said she relocated with her family on Saturday for the fourth time since the war began, initially from the north to the south, and most recently from the Qahara neighborhood east of Khan Younis to the western edge of the city after receiving a recorded warning from the Israelis to move. Khalil said she and her family were now cowering in a single room listening to intense bombardments nearby. I dont know, literally, where to go. It is terrifying and unbearable, she said. The delivery of humanitarian supplies resumed on Saturday after being suspended on Friday but at a far lower level than was the case during the pause, with 50 aid trucks entering Gaza across the border with Egypt, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. U.N. officials have also warned that Gazans are at risk of dying of hunger and disease as the medical system deteriorates and food runs short, raising fears that the expanding violence combined with a humanitarian crisis will force an exodus of Gaza residents to neighboring Egypt, something Egypt has said it will not allow. Vice President Kamala Harris told Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi at a meeting in Dubai on Saturday that the United States would not permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, or the West Bank where violence has also been intensifying. She added that the United States will also not accept the besiegement of Gaza or the redrawing of the borders of Gaza, calling for a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people towards a state of their own, according to a White House statement. Sly reported from London and Fahim from Beirut. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) shoots down a combination of Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea, Oct. 19, 2023. Carney and multiple commercial ships came under attack Sunday, Dec. 3, in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said, potentially marking a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war. (Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Three commercial ships came under attack Sunday four times by drones and missiles in the Red Sea, and a U.S. warship there responded to the distress calls as part of an hourslong assault claimed by Yemens Houthi rebels, officials said. The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict. The attacks began at approximately 9:15 a.m. when the USS Carney detected an anti-ship ballistic missile attack fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer, U.S. Central Command said in a news release. Three hours later, at around noon, Carney shot down a drone that was headed for it, also launched from Yemen, though it was not clear if Carney was the target, CENTCOM said. Soon after, Unity Explorer reported being struck by a missile also fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen, sustaining minor damage. While responding, the Carney shot down another drone aimed at Unity Explorer, with no damage or injuries to either ship or crew, CENTCOM said. About three hours later, the Panamanian-flagged, Bermuda and U.K. owned and operated bulk container ship M/V Number 9 was struck by another missile while operating in international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The carrier reported no damage or casualties, CENTCOM said. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier M/V Sophie II was struck by another missile. Carney responded to the distress call and reported no significant damage, but shot down another drone headed in its direction while enroute to render support, CENTCOM said. These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security, CENTCOM said in the release. They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world. We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran. The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners. The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer thats already shot down multiple rockets the Houthis have fired toward Israel so far in the war. It wasnt damaged in the attack and no injuries were reported on board, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss early details of a military operation. Assessments were still being made on the Unity Explorer, the Associated Press reported. The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea, without elaborating. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks on two vessels, saying the Unity Explorer was hit by a missile and the Number 9 by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved in the attack. The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops, Saree said. The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement. Saree also identified the first vessel as the Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British firm that includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers. The second was a Panamanian-flagged container ship called Number 9, which is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Managers for the two vessels could not be immediately reached for comment. Israeli media identified Ungar as being the son of Israeli shipping billionaire Abraham Rami Ungar. The Houthis have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel amid the war. Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce briefly halted fighting and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes and its ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming. Earlier in November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time. Elsewhere, Iraqi militants with the Iran-backed umbrella group the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said they struck the Kharab al-Jir U.S. military base in Syria with rockets. A U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said rockets hit Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria but there were no reports of casualties or damage. Later Sunday, officials with Iranian-backed militias in Iraq said five militia members were killed in an airstrike blamed on the U.S. near Kirkuk. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation not yet made public said the U.S. had carried out a self-defense strike near Kirkuk targeting a drone staging site. Associated Press writers Tara Copp in Dallas, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Dana Beltaji contributed. Congressman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, attends a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 28, 2023. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes) House Republicans are launching an investigation into the General Services Administrations selection last month of Greenbelt, Md., as the FBIs new headquarters site, eyeing whether the process was politicized in what has been a years-long saga that only continues to escalate. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and James Comer, R-Ky. - who lead the House Judiciary and Oversight committees respectively - notified federal officials of their probe in joint letters sent Friday, marking the second consecutive inquiry focusing on the FBIs new headquarters in as many days. The GSAs inspector general said Thursday that the office would embark on its own evaluation after FBI Director Christopher A. Wray objected to the process and Virginia lawmakers lobbed allegations of impropriety; concerns that GSA officials and Maryland leaders have said are meritless. At issue is a former senior GSAs officials decision to select the Greenbelt site over the unanimous recommendation of a three-member panel that opted for Springfield, Va., a move that Virginia lawmakers have described as an 11th-hour intervention tainted by politics and an alleged conflict of interest. The GSA has said Greenbelts public transportation access, taxpayer savings and greatest potential to advance racial equity and sustainability tilted the decision in its favor. Jordan and Comer wrote in their letters that the GSAs assurances that the process was sound ring hollow. The Committees have a duty to investigate potential conflicts of interest and misallocation of American taxpayer dollars, Jordan said in a statement to The Washington Post. These letters demand transparency and crucial information related to the scandal around GSAs decision to deviate from the panel-recommended location of Springfield, Virginia, in favor of Greenbelt, Maryland, for the FBIs new headquarters. In a statement, a GSA spokesperson reiterated that the GSA welcomes a review, stands by the agencys final decision and would cooperate with the inquiry. The FBI declined to comment. As soon as GSA unveiled its decision, Virginia lawmakers erupted with ire and Maryland lawmakers popped champagne. The congressional lawmakers and the two states governors had been competing both for an economic boon that could come with the new FBI headquarters but also for the bragging rights to host the nations premier law enforcement agency. The GSA, through a three-member panel consisting of two officials from the GSA and one from the FBI, was choosing among three sites: one in Springfield, Va.; and two in Prince Georges County, in Greenbelt or Landover. Officials had for months wrangled over the criteria used to score the sites, with team Maryland pushing to give more weight to equity as Virginians bristled, claiming they were trying to tip the scales. (Prince Georges is a majority-Black county; Virginia put forth arguments touting the diversity of the Springfield area.) But while the panel selected Springfield, the GSA official authorized to make the final call instead opted for the Greenbelt site, touting its public transportation access and its various short-term and long-term benefits for the federal government in a memo explaining her decision, among other things. Much of both the House Republicans probe and the GSAs internal evaluation, led by its office of inspections, is likely to focus on that former official, Nina Albert, and how she arrived at her decision. Albert, who now leads economic development for D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, has said she simply reached a different conclusion from the panel. That is not uncommon within the GSA and even happened once in the FBI site selection process, when an official included Springfield as a finalist even though a panel ruled it out. Congressman James Comer, R-Ky., attends a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 28, 2023. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes) But in an Oct. 12 letter to the GSA, Wray, who did not single Albert out by name, raised concerns that her role posed a potential conflict of interest - concerns that Jordan and Comer highlighted in their letters Friday. Before joining GSA in July 2021, Albert had handled real estate for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, they noted, which owns the parcel of land that would be the FBIs new home in Greenbelt. In brief remarks to The Post, Albert pushed back on those allegations as misinformation and disputed that her role posed a conflict of interest, noting that the GSA had already made a determination that it did not. I think its a distraction, frankly, from the decision and the opportunity for the FBI to get the campus that theyve long waited for, she said. Asked if she faced political pressure at any point, Albert declined to comment further. Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore on Friday defended the selection and process in a statement criticizing the probe. This investigation by the House Oversight Committee amounts to nothing more than another attempt at a cheap partisan attack on a fair and thorough process, Moore said. For the sake of Americas national security and the hardworking men and women of the FBI, we must focus our efforts on constructing a state-of-the-art headquarters in Greenbelt that meets the FBIs national security mission as soon as possible. This investigation only distracts us from advancing that vital work. House Republicans have their own grievances against the FBI separate from Virginia Democrats - one of whom, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D), sits on the Oversight committee - that could influence the inquiry. Jordan, for example, has made clear he does not want the FBI to be located anywhere in the Washington region and would prefer to see it go to a site in Huntsville, Ala., which is also home to FBI facilities. Taking it out of the Washington region could insulate the agency from improper political influences, Jordan and Comer wrote in their letters to Albert, Wray and GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who sits on the Judiciary committee, unsuccessfully tried to amend an appropriations bill to entirely block funding for a new FBI headquarters. On the matter of an investigation, Connolly and Comer found a rare point of agreement, with Comer noting in an unrelated hearing last month that the decision implicates hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and Connolly telling Comer he would gladly join him in supporting an inquiry. Cracks are likely to emerge with Maryland Democrats on the committee, however - including Rep. Jamie B. Raskin, the committees top Democrat, and Rep. Kweisi Mfume. Raskin and Mfume joined a statement on Thursday with the Maryland congressional delegation and a host of top Maryland and Prince Georges officials expressing confidence that the FBI headquarters project would forge ahead in Greenbelt and that the GSAs process was sound. Any objective evaluation will find that the GSA arrived at this decision after a thorough and transparent process, the statement said. As part of the probe, the committees have asked Albert to appear for a transcribed interview, and have asked the GSA and FBI for numerous documents relating to the site selection process and Alberts role, including any correspondence about whether it posed a conflict - documents they want by Dec. 15. They have also asked the three members of the panel to appear for interviews. Erin Cox contributed to this report The Pearl Harbor National Memorial. (National Park Service) (Tribune News Service) As a little boy growing up in Holyoke, Mass., Harry L. Chandler dreamed of being a sailor. He remembers insisting his mother get him a child-sized sailor suit each time they went out to buy him new clothes. He remembers how upset he was when, during the years of the Great Depression, any new clothing simply wasnt in the familys budget. When he turned 18 in the spring of 1939, Chandler finally got my real sailor suit, enlisting in the Navy as the winds of war swirled around the world. I was practically done (with high school) when I just left, the now 102-year-old Chandler recalled last week. His father was upset with him; his mother was not. I remember her telling my father, He wanted this all his life. Id rather he be in the Navy than be drafted into the Army. Little did the family know his service in the Navy would land him on the front lines of Americas entry into World War II. And, as it turns out, his father need not have worried about the high-school diploma. Early on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Chandler, dressed in his Navy dress whites, had just helped raise the American flag outside his barracks when some 300 Japanese aircraft bore down on Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor. The memories still come to him: the sounds of the swarms of Japanese fighter aircraft; the sight of fire breaking out on Ford Island near where eight of the Navys mighty battleships were in port; and then the realization of what was taking place. He and his fellow hospital corpsmen were hustled aboard trucks that would take them to the harbor, where they confronted the carnage and wreckage wreaked on an unsuspecting American fleet. Over the course of the intervening years, Chandler has sparingly shared the gruesome realities he faced as he went about pulling victims from the oil-filled waters and working to save lives. Once, in an interview, he said, People who saw the firm, Tora, Tora, Tora, ask me if it was like that. I say, No. You dont smell the burning flesh. You dont smell the burning oil. You just cant imagine. The enemy attackers would deal a heavy toll, killing close to 2,500 Americans and injuring 1,200 more. Twelve ships, including three battleships, were sunk or beached; nine others were damaged. Close to 350 of the about 400 aircraft based at Pearl Harbor were either destroyed or damaged. The battleship Arizona, now the site of the National Park Service Memorial, accounted for the loss of 1,177 lives alone. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt would term it, the date which will live in infamy propelled the U.S. to enter World War II. This Dec. 7 will see Chandler return to Pearl Harbor for only the second time since the fateful day and the first time to participate in the national Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremonies. He will take an honored role early Thursday morning during the pass-and-review event at the Arizona memorial. Chandler has been invited to return the salute from the memorial on behalf of the fallen and veterans like him to the 21st century sailors aboard the USS Daniel Inouye as they man the rails aboard their ship while it passes in the harbor. There is no documentation of how many veterans who survived Pearl Harbor are still alive in 2023, according to Taylor Smith, education program specialist at Pacific Historic Parks, which plans the commemoration events. Invitations this year were extended to 85, and Chandler is among six who RSVPed they will attend. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated there were about 119,000, or about 1%, of the 16.1 million Americans who served in World War II still alive as of September. Statistics estimate that the veterans, the youngest of whom are now in their 90s, are dying at the rate of about 131 each day, according to the National World War II Museum. Chandler is well aware of those numbers. He is the last man standing among the members of Pearl Harbor Attack Veterans Post 1 that disbanded in 2008; the five other veterans with him at the farewell luncheon at Holyokes Yankee Pedlar are all now gone. Even as this weeks departure approached, Chandler made clear he knows the reality of his situation and the fragility of life for a centenarian. It might be the last time I can go. There are only a few of us left. Who knows, he said. At 102, I am lucky to be the way I am. Though legally blind, Chandler leads an active life at an assisted-living facility in Tequesta, Florida, not far from family members, including his granddaughter, Kelli Fahey, and her husband, Ron Mahaffee, who will accompany him on the journey to Hawaii. Calling on the skills he garnered as a hospital corpsman (post-war he served in the Navy Reserve into the 1980s), Chandler says he tries every day to visit with and raise the spirits of fellow residents where he lives. He holds true, Chandler says, to the wisdom imparted to him by his mother all those many years ago: My mother was a beautiful woman. She would always say to me, Harry, always love, never hate. I ve tried to follow that throughout my life. I dont hate; I dislike. Thats the difference. Its a seemingly appropriate message for him to carry to Hawaii this week, notes Mahaffee, who spent months planning the trip. They used a May trip with Honor Flight to the war memorials in Washington, D.C., as a test run for both Chandlers physical endurance to travel and ability to cope with the ebb and flow of emotions. The theme for this years Pearl Harbor remembrance observance is Legacy of Hope, and one of the events in which Chandler will participate in the week ahead is the Blackened Canteen ceremony that is focused on reconciliation and peace between Japan and the U.S. The goal of the Legacy of Hope theme, according Smith, is to not only honor the veterans and remember what happened on Dec. 7, 1941, but to also connect with a new generation. Some of the events, she noted, will involve Junior ROTC students and will provide opportunities for them to interact with the veterans. Chandler is well-suited to address the theme, according to Mahaffee. To be around him is like being with a sensei. ... I guess Im on a personal mission to share him with the world. Chandler will travel with a resume that now includes high-school graduate. In a matter of hours last week, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia led an effort to prepare an honorary diploma that was delivered to Chandler. Indeed, his father need not have been concerned that he left Holyoke High School without graduating. Cynthia G. Simison is executive editor emerita of The Republican. She may be reached by email to csimison@repub.com. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Hong Kong: Reps of Belt-Road firms to visit GBA Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau will lead a delegation of enterprises from Belt & Road countries operating in Hong Kong to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area tomorrow for a two-day visit. The visit is the first business networking event organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for enterprises of the Belt & Road countries running in Hong Kong. The purpose is to promote Hong Kong as a service hub in assisting enterprises to tap the Mainland market. Delegation members include 20 representatives from the enterprises, Commissioner for Belt & Road Nicholas Ho as well as representatives from the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Guangdong, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Invest Hong Kong. Under the themes of green development and innovation and technology, the delegates will tour a number of renowned enterprises and organisations in Shenzhen and Guangzhou to learn about the latest development of the high-quality industries there. They will also exchange views with senior government officials of both cities. During Mr Yaus absence, Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be Acting Secretary. This story has been published on: 2023-12-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Capt. John Stege and his men smash thousands of dollars worth of gambling apparatus after raiding a Cicero gambling house run by Al Capone at 4738 West 22nd Street, circa April 1926. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) With dice rolling across the craps table at Medinah Temple, it may be worthwhile to recall that unsanctioned gambling long flourished in Chicago, giving rise to Patrick Healys admonition when legal casinos in Chicago were discussed in 1983. You might as well bring back Al Capone, said the head of Chicagos Crime Commission. Advertisement Capone died in 1947. But the Tribunes archives are replete with accounts of the illicit gambling and casinos over the decades when Capone and Chicago were synonymous the world over. [ Al Capones final days, death in Florida and burial in Chicago and why we remember it ] Capone came to Chicago in 1919 at the invitation of Johnny Torrio. They had shared a mobsters apprenticeship on New Yorks mean streets. Advertisement A young Al Capone, right, is in Criminal Court for beer running under the alias Al Brown in an undated photo. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) Torrio had moved here to be an assistant to Big Jim Colosimo, whose eponymous restaurant was a favorite of high society and the demimonde. Its origins were a humble joint on South Wabash Avenue where blue-collar workers gambled away their paychecks. In 1913, Big Jim remade it into a glamorous nightclub decorated in rose and gold and with an elevating stage where showgirls pranced. You saw thieves and gamblers and crooked coppers and lords and dukes of the badlands, a Tribune reporter noted. But you could see, too, millionaires and merchants and bankers and novelists and teachers of kindergarten. Torrio wasnt there on May 11, 1920, when Colosimo was assassinated, prompting the assumption that he had ordered the hit. To counter that, Torrio organized a massive funeral for Colosimo that became the template for gangster funerals. The feds shut down Colosimos in 1926, somewhat belatedly realizing it was violating Prohibitions ban on booze. Having survived an assassination attempt the previous year, Torrio went back to New York. Capone inherited his criminal enterprises and established a dynasty of casinos. Prohibition workers lock the doors of Colosimo's Restaurant at 2126 Wabash Ave. after a U.S. court ordered it closed for liquor violations during Prohibition in 1926. (Chicago Herald and Examiner) One was the Hawthorne Smoke Shop at 4837 W. 22nd St. in Cicero, and subsequently at other locations in that suburb. As its moniker suggests, it appeared to be a cigar store. But as an FBI agents deposition notes, the profits didnt come from stogies and breath mints: The business consisted of taking bets on horse races, roulette wheel, craps and poker. There were approximately 40 to 50 people employed in the business. There was a branch operation in the nearby Hawthorne Race Track, and no doubt about who the owner was. The 22nd Street casino was raided on May 16, 1925, by sheriffs deputes accompanied by the president of a Cicero citizens organization, a local man of the cloth. Capone showed up in his pajamas and threatened the commanding deputy: This is the last raid you will ever pull. He took the citizens leader aside. Reverend, cant we get together? Capone asked. I give to churches. I give to charity. Advertisement An exterior photo shows the Hawthorne Hotel in Cicero, the headquarters of Al Capone's gang, just after it was sprayed by machine gun fire from a passing car on Sept. 20, 1926. (Chicago Tribune archive ) Besides muscle and money, Capone used his talent for public relations to deflect attacks on his brazen disregard for the law. I give the public what the public wants, he once told a reporter. One thing Chicagoans consistently crave is satisfaction of their fascination with gambling, notes Joseph Epstein, a retired Northwestern University professor and student of local mores. It was an ideal compounded of a good deal of movie going, of watching adults in card rooms of town and country clubs, and in part of Chicago itself, Epstein wrote in a 1972 Tribune essay. Chicago, after all, had a reputation of being a tough town, a mans town, and of course a hoods town, too. Kids in other towns grew up that way, too, Im sure, but without the tradition of machismo that Chicago provided. So its not surprising that entrepreneurial hoods saw the potential windfall from running gambling operations. Dividing the loot often led to violence. Dean OBanion, a florist, doubled as a bootlegger and was granted part ownership of the 22nd Street casino, also known as The Ship, by Torrios gang. In 1924, OBanion was murdered in his floral shop on State Street, kitty corner from Holy Name Cathedral. Presumably the hit man was hired by a disgruntled partner or rival for the betting, rather than the boutonniere, business. Officers show off the gambling paraphernalia found during a raid of The Ship, circa 1927. (Chicago Herald and Examiner ) Capone was involuntarily retired as a casino impresario by the federal government in the early 1930s. Convicted of income tax evasion, he was locked up in Alcatraz Penitentiary. His henchmen and their successors took up the slack. Advertisement Jake Greasy Thumb Guzik, a trusted adviser to Capone and subsequent mob leaders, ran the Dome, at 7466 W. Irving Park Road. It was hardly a penny-ante joint, as the states attorney police discovered when raiding the casino in 1943. They seized, by the Tribunes count, 7 roulette wheels, 6 dice tables, 6 poker tables, blackjack tables, chuck-a-luck cages, and other casino paraphernalia. The manager, Bill Bennett, was listed as a distributor of graft payments on the Guzik ledger sheets examined by several grand juries two years ago. In the citys Black neighborhoods, an illegal predecessor to the Illinois Lottery known as policy flourished. To win, bettors had to pick a series of numbers that changed daily. In 1949 female clerks, who were eventually arrested, sell numbers for the policy game to customers just before a police raid at 610 E. 50th St. in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) In 1949, police raided a casino at 610 E. 50th St. that a Tribune headline proclaimed a Swank Policy Racket Depot. A sign at that address advised patrons to carefully check the sequence theyd written on their tickets before leaving the counter. Girls Are Not Responsible For Mistakes Hereafter, the sign noted. Those clerks and myriad others in similar casinos were part of a policy empire run by Theodore Roe, the son of a Louisiana sharecropper who came to Chicago to work for a tailor and wound up taking over the local numbers operation. [ When policy kings ruled gambling on Chicago's south side ] Time magazine noted that the Capone mob was attracted by the $1.12 million Roe and a partner made in 1946. After being kidnapped, the partner paid a $100,000 ransom and retired to Mexico. Roe declined to give up what became a solo operation and in 1951 killed a mobster named Leonard Fat Lennie Caifano during a kidnapping attempt. Roes luck ran out the next year, when he was killed by a shotgun blast outside his South Michigan Avenue home. Advertisement Clifford Davis, seated from left, Edward Jones and Theodore Roe were found not guilty in the policy racket on Feb. 5, 1952. The three policy chiefs were accused of a gambling conspiracy and were freed on directed verdict. Their attorneys are behind them. (Fred C. Eckhardt / Chicago Tribune) The acting boss of the Outfit at around that time was Tony Accardo, also known as Joe Batters. En route to succeeding Capone as the mobs capo di tutti capi, Accardo went into the wholesale end of the betting industry. He took control of the wire services that casinos depended upon for setting the odds on a customers wager. Encouraged by his wife, Accardo stepped back from day-to-day mob leadership in the 1950s. He became its consigliere, the elder-statesman adviser. His successor, Sam Giancana, loved the limelight and those who performed in front of it. He dated Phyllis McGuire, a member of the famed singing-sisters Las Vegas act. Vintage Chicago Tribune Weekly The Vintage Tribune newsletter is a deep dive into the Chicago Tribune's archives featuring photos and stories about the people, places and events that shape the city's past, present and future. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Giancana had a piece of the Villa Venice, an over-the-top but under water nightclub on Milwaukee Avenue between Northbrook and Wheeling. In a failed attempt to bail it out, he booked the Rat Pack Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. for a show in 1962. Crowds wait for their cars outside Villa Venice after the Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. show on Nov. 26, 1962. (Carl Hugare/Chicago Tribune) The price of admission virtually assured patrons of a seat next to at least a minor-league Mafioso. And as an added attraction, a mob-run casino operated out of a Quonset hut nearby. High rollers were whisked between the supper club and the dice and roulette tables in a shuttle supervised by Sam Slick Rosa, identified by the Tribune as the syndicates chief of limousine service, and his assistant, Joseph Joe Yak Yacullo. The Villa Venice burned to the ground in 1967. [ Read how at Villa Venice, a Chicago mob boss had Sinatra singing ] Consider, then, the honor roll of mobbed-up casinos and their rogues gallery of owners: Colosimos, the Hawthorne Smoke Shop, Johnny Torrio, Theodore Roe and Dean OBanion, the gangster-florist. Advertisement What are the odds theyre going to be eclipsed in Chicagoans collective memory by the faceless operators of a legit casino? Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. People conduct rescue work after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 3, 2023. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." "We fought strongly and thoroughly in the northern Gaza Strip, and we are also doing it now in the southern Gaza Strip," Halevi, the chief of the General Staff of Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said during a tour at Israel's Gaza Division outside the besieged enclave, according to a statement released by the military. He said that the Israeli ground troops, in combination with air and sea forces, have almost completely "dismantled" two Hamas brigades, killing brigade commanders, company commanders, and "many" operatives. Halevi said that on Saturday morning, a day after a fragile seven-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had collapsed, the forces "started the same process in the southern Gaza Strip." He vowed that the offensive in the southern Gaza Strip "will be with no less strength than that, it will be with no fewer results than that, and Hamas commanders will meet the IDF everywhere in a very, very strong way." Halevi added that the offensive in the northern Gaza Strip would continue with full force. The expansion of Israel's ground operation has heightened concerns over the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "People have lost everything, and they need everything," the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), wrote on the social media platform X. "Gaza's population will soon begin dying from diseases as well as Israeli bombardment," the agency warned. Meanwhile, rocket fire from Gaza continued on Sunday, targeting mainly southern Israeli communities. Rockets and anti-tank missiles were launched at northern Israel from Lebanon, lightly injuring at least four people in the community of Beit Hilel in the Galilee, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service. In the Golan Heights, originally Syrian territory that was annexed by Israel, two projectiles were identified crossing from Syria in two separate incidents, the Israeli army said in a statement, adding that troops fired towards the area from which the projectiles were launched. Despite the continuation of rocket fire, Israel's Homefront Command announced that all restrictions on schools and workplaces have been lifted, allowing the resumption of all activities, except in the southern communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip, where schools have been closed since the beginning of the war and remained so. More than 15,000 people were killed in Gaza since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with 75 percent of them being children, women, and the elderly, and 41,316 others were injured, according to the Gaza-based Media Office. Israeli authorities said about 1,200 people were killed on the Israeli side. People conduct rescue work after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 3, 2023. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People conduct rescue work after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 3, 2023. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People conduct rescue work after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 3, 2023. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Dec. 3, 2023 shows Israeli troops conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Xinhua) This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Dec. 3, 2023 shows Israeli troops conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Xinhua) This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Dec. 3, 2023 shows Israeli troops conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Xinhua) This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Dec. 3, 2023 shows Israeli troops conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Xinhua) This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Dec. 3, 2023 shows Israeli troops conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Xinhua) People check the damage after Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Dec. 3, 2023. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People check the damage after Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Dec. 3, 2023. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows damage on a school wall after Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows damage on a school wall after Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the military has expanded the ground operation against Hamas to the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously considered as a "safe zone." (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A veterans memorial cemetery in Boulder City, Nev., at first accepted then rejected a familys bid to have father, mother buried there. (Nevada Department of Veterans Services) (Tribune News Service) Sisters Lynne Mowers and Kathy Mitchell flew across the country in October to attend a funeral for their parents at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City. Weeks earlier, officials had approved the burial of U.S. Army and Reserve veteran Charles Paul Conner and his wife Agnes on Oct. 18. The sisters had ordered a Faith & Prayer praying hands emblem, the inscription Wind Beneath My Wings and birth and death dates for their parents internment marker. But a day before the scheduled burial, Mowers, who had traveled to Las Vegas from New York, received a call from Alexander Keeling, an administrator with the Nevada Department of Veterans Service, who said her parents could not be buried at the veterans cemetery after all. They didnt bother to call us until less than 24 hours before we were supposed to have the funeral, Mowers said. By this point Id already flown all the way across the country with my sister, to the one sister (Marcia) that we have that lives in Nevada. My dads sister and her family, they were all coming to the funeral. Everything was set. Yep. They sent us the information. So, what do you want on a headstone when I double checked? Theyre like, yes, mom can be on there. Her date can be on there, too. Mowers, her sisters and other relatives were devastated by the rejection and no one in my family can believe the way the we have been treated and feel completely disrespected by the military and the cemetery staff, she said. Conner, who died on Aug. 19 at 84, served as a private and completed six months of active duty training, including as a military policeman, at Fort Gordon, Ga., from 1957 to 1958 when he was released to the U.S. Army Reserve to complete his remaining service obligation of six years and two months, according to a copy of his form DD-214 military record. Agnes Conner, 77, died Sept. 11, and Mowers said she asked and received permission from the cemetery to bury her remains along with those of her husband, as is a common practice for American veteran burials. Keeling, who originally handled their bid to bury the cremains at the cemetery, could not be reached for comment. Under the rules of burial eligibility for military veterans at a U.S. Veterans Administration national cemetery, Conner did not serve long enough to warrant internment at the Boulder City graveyard, according Terri Hendry, communications director of the state Department of Veterans Services. In an email sent to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Hendry was contrite, saying we want the family of Mr. and Mrs. Conner to know how deeply sorry we are for the distress caused to the family during their time of bereavement. Unfortunately, when the initial arrangements were made for the internments for Mr. and Mrs. Conner at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, the process failed to discover Mr. Conners ineligibility for burial at the veterans cemetery, she wrote. Before the scheduled burial, a second review of Conners record revealed he was not qualified, Hendry stated. Regarding eligibility, a veteran in the Reserve is eligible if they die on active duty, active-duty training, inactive duty for training or retiring with 20 or more years of service as a Reservist, she wrote. While Mr. Conner honorably served in the Reserve back in 1957-58, he just recently passed and therefore did not meet eligibility requirements, she stated. For Mowers, after what she and her relatives have been through, that explanation is of no comfort. I think its a crock of crap, she said. I dont care how long youre a Reservist. You signed up, you served, you were paid by the government, you were at that point. Had you been called in? You would have dropped your entire life and gone to do whatever they needed no matter what, whether you were a Reservist for one year, 15 years or 27.5 years, doesnt matter. Thats what bothers us. So, meanwhile, Mowers and family have made the arrangements to bury her parents at a date to be set in the spring, at St. Marys, a Roman Catholic cemetery in Canton, NY. Mowers stated in an email that she had not heard lately from a representative of the cemetery nor from Hendry. I was thinking Id reach out to her (Hendry) but decided it would just make my blood pressure higher than it needs to be, so Im not going to reach out to her, she wrote. Contact Jeff Burbank at jburbank@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0382. 2023 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Chelsie McDonagh from Tuam, Co Galway, died five months after a traumatic delivery The inquest took place at Galway Courthouse The inquest into the death of a baby girl at University Hospital Galway heard the infant was born head first onto the ground. Chelsie McDonagh from Tuam, Co Galway, died five months after a traumatic delivery, during which suffered a significant head injury. At her inquest in Galway Courthouse on Friday, coroner Ciaran MacLoughlin heard baby Chelsie was born with a previously undiagnosed condition: intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The condition was not picked up on ultrasound in utero and contributed to the infant suffering a major brain injury prior to her traumatic birth. At the outset of proceedings, counsel for the hospital, Luan O Braonain, told Dr MacLoughlin that Chelsie McDonaghs parents, Valerie and Michael, had received an apology from UHG. He said the hospital deeply regret the trauma suffered by Chelsie and her parents at the time of her delivery on March 2, 2020. The inquest heard that at 35 weeks pregnant, Valerie McDonagh presented at UHG complaining of reduced foetal movement. On ultrasound, the baby was found to be growing normally with an estimated weight of 2708gm which placed her on the 56th centile, marginally above the average range. However at the time of her birth, four weeks later, Chelsie weighed just 2590g and was on the 7th centile. In a statement to the inquest, a consultant obstetrician said it is well known in obstetrics that it is not possible to predict all cases of foetal growth restriction and there was no mechanism pre-delivery by which it could have predicted baby Chelsie would have been on the 7th centile. The inquest heard Valerie McDonagh was 39 weeks pregnant when she went into spontaneous labour at home. She and her husband arrived at UHG at 1.05am on a Monday morning. Midwife Sadhlog Ni Chuailain told Dr MacLoughlin she brought the couple straight to a delivery suite on the labour ward. She noted Valerie was contracting regularly. Ms Ni Chualain saw in Valerie McDonaghs notes that she had previously had a caesarean section and two vaginal births, including two epidurals. At 1.12am, Ms Ni Chualain carried out a CTG (cardiotocography): a technique used to monitor the foetal heartbeat and uterine contractions during pregnancy and labour. After five minutes, the CTG showed baby Chelsie had a continuous heartbeat of 160bpm with no variability, indicating the infant was in distress. Ms Ni Chualain told the inquest she decided to examine Valerie McDonagh and break her waters a plan she communicated to her clinical nurse manager (CNM2), Jane Tyrell. On breaking the waters, a large volume of meconium-stained liquor pooled on the examination table and floor. Ms McDonagh followed instructions and stood on the ground beside the bed as the midwife changed the sheets and assisted her in changing her nightdress. At this point, Ms McDonagh told the midwife she felt pressure but did not report an urge to push. Delivery was still not imminent in my opinion, judging by Valeries demeanour, Ms Ni Chualain said. As Ms Ni Chualain went to get a nightdress for Ms McDonagh, she said, I was looking through her bag finding only small pink clothes for Chelsie. Valerie said she felt something coming. Valerie had never felt the second stage of labour without an epidural, so I reassured her about this sensation of pressure. Moments later, Ms Ni Chualain went to put on gloves to check Ms McDonagh. There was no time to put on my gloves, the midwife said. She added: Baby Chelsie was born on the floor at 1.33. The inquest heard baby Chelsie was born in very poor condition: very small with poor tone. Peter Bennett, Chelsie McDonaghs maternal grandfather, said he was representing his daughter at the inquest and asked Ms Ni Chualain a series of questions. He asked if lessons had been learned since his daughter's traumatic delivery experience, to which the midwife assured him they had. He asked would it not be advisable for a woman in labour to be placed standing on a yoga mat rather than a solid floor. You placed her out on the floor with no protection, Mr Bennett said. He added, We are not playing the blame game here, we know what happened. Ms Ni Chualain repeated that she did not believe Ms McDonagh was about to give birth. Had she done so, she would have left her on the bed. Ms Ni Chualain added that she wanted Ms McDonagh to be comfortable in fresh sheets and clothing. Following her birth, baby Chelsie was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit and a CT examination later showed a contusion, likely caused by hitting her head on delivery. It also showed widespread cerebral oedema on her brain which was likely caused before her birth. She was transferred to the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin for brain cooling treatment and was discharged on May 6, 2020. However, baby Chelsie required 24/7 care and her parents were advised her condition was severely limiting. On August 13, 2020, she was readmitted to UHG over concerns about her breathing. Baby Chelsies condition deteriorated and she died later that day. Through her father, Valerie McDonagh said the tragic events had a devastating impact on her life and her family has been robbed of so much. The inquest heard the McDonaghs mourn for Chelsie every day of their lives. Pointing to several pictures of Chelsie placed on the front bench in court, Mr Bennett asked the coroner to look at how sad the family looked in all of the photos. They should be so happy, he said. Coroner Ciaran MacLoughlin offered his deepest condolences to the McDonagh family. He said the loss of Chelsie was very tragic and sad, and wished the family well in the future. I wish you all peace, he said. Dr MacLoughlin recorded Chelsies death as due to respiratory arrest as a result of acute trachea-bronchitis, with a background of multicystic encephalopathy. But after we had the disagreement Paul got up and walked away and left me on the beach, I couldnt walk. Nicola had been diagnosed two years before she met garda Paul Moody Evil Paul Moody sent more than 600 text messages to Nicola in one day Hairdresser Nicola thought she had landed the man of her dreams when she paired up with Garda Paul Moody as a match on Tinder. Dubliner Nicola had yearned to get married, settle down and have a child. Moody ticked all the right boxes a decent job, relatively good looking and initially amicable. But Nicolas life soon turned to one of torment at the hands of one of Irelands worst coercive controllers. During an outburst at the start of their relationship, Moody freaked out when he was told by one of Nicolas friends that he obviously couldnt have her all to himself and that he would have to share her with them. Despite being drunk, Moody drove Nicolas car back to her apartment and let himself in. He smashed up the whole apartment. He got glass and smashed all the units, put all my medicine on the walls, Nicola reveals. He destroyed everything; all the years of saving up to buy stuff for the apartment and stuff like that. Wooden floors he destroyed, scratched them with glass. I never had the money to replace these things. But there was worse to come. That was bad enough, but then he had sent photos, saying he was going to put them all over the internet, photographs that I was unaware that Paul had taken in my bathroom, she adds. I had no window. Obviously being a hairdresser you like your hair to be perfect, and I left the door open so the steam wouldnt ruin my hair. Evil Paul Moody sent more than 600 text messages to Nicola in one day But from my bedroom as I was drying myself and stuff like that, he was obviously taking photographs of me unaware, not very nice photographs. I remember me and my sister just didnt know what to do. Control freak Moodys evil deeds will be unveiled for all to see when his brave victim speaks publicly for the first time on TV about her life of hell with the monster. Courageous Nicola had to endure years of abuse at the hands of the fiend. While battling stage four cancer she recalls one awful incident while she was pregnant with their son, which was a perfect example of his horrendous wickedness. I think I was eight months pregnant, explains Nicola, who does not want to share her surname until a documentary on her life with Moody titled Taking Back Control is screened on RTE One tomorrow week. Me and Paul came to have a break from the house, I was sick a lot. We found a little spot on the beach, away from everybody and we were just lying there. We got into a discussion that we both didnt agree on. Nicola had told Moody she wasnt feeling well at the time because she was on medication. Paul would know that a lot of the time it would affect my legs and my ability to walk. Id always have to be in a safe place, so I wouldnt fall, especially with the baby inside me, she continues. But after we had the disagreement Paul got up and walked away and left me on the beach, I couldnt walk. I waited and waited on the beach thinking he might come back but he didnt. I could see him in the distance sitting on the bonnet of my car watching me crawl. And Paul would do these things. I think youd be in shock to think how could somebody be so cruel but thats Paul. Friends of Nicolas reveal how he tried to use his job as an officer at Irishtown Garda Station to try to sneakily glean information about Nicola when he started dating her. Pal Niamh Paget already knew Moody, as they had a mutual friend and would meet up at Christmas parties and summer barbeques. She got texts on Messenger from him asking whether Niamh was bogey and lied that a colleague of his was investigating her for Revenue fraud. I got such a shock and thought this is the last thing she needs, recalls Niamh. I didnt honestly think it was a joke or for one second he was lying. I said Paul, theres no way Nicola would have anything to do with fraud, she was actually diagnosed with cancer two years ago and shes in recovery. Nicola had been diagnosed two years before she met garda Paul Moody Little did I know, that less than 24 hours before he had met Nicola on Tinder. He screenshot the messages from me and sent them on to Nicola and said to Nicola your friend has just ratted you out, that youve had cancer. That was just a taster of what was to come as Moody tried to manipulate not only Nicola but also try to turn her close group of friends against her. Nicola and her pals also remember his menacing text messages on one day alone he bombarded her with more than 600 texts. Honestly, youre better off getting cancer again, or killing the child, cause sweetheart!! What youve started Im gonna f**kin finish, he ranted. And the baby, just remember if you make it nine months and die, I take her, Moodys text messages said. Nicola was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, having initially found a lump on one of her breasts. Doctors told her it had spread to several other parts of her body. A Go Fund Me campaign was set up for her, with Christy Dignam playing a charity concert to raise funds to send her to Thailand, where she was given successful treatment. Five months into the pregnancy and I found a lump. I actually couldnt believe it. So now I was petrified, I knew when I felt the lump its back, but now I thought Now Im worried about my baby inside me, whats cancer going to do to my baby, weeps Nicola. She only rekindled her relationship with Moody after she discovered she was pregnant with their child, and as her dream was always to have a family unit she put up with his behaviour for the sake of their unborn son. On the way to the hospital to give birth Moody tried to take the key from the ignition while Nicola was driving, and then when she threw him out of the car, he deliberately took the baby bag she had prepared for the upcoming arrival of their child. She also had to get him removed from the labour ward after he unleashed another torrent of vile abuse. When their son arrived, Nicola told him she did not want him having any part in their lives, and he then tried to destroy her life by trying to get dirt on one of her family members. When Moody handed over his phone to a garda colleague who was investigating alleged evidence against an individual, officers discovered a horrific treasure trove of coercive control Moody had waged against Nicola and her pals. They approached Nicola to ask if she would give evidence, and she decided she would finally take him down after years of hell. In July last year, Moody was jailed for three years and three months for his coercive control crimes. When you meet somebody and theres red flags, you choose to ignore them because you see the good in the person, reflects Nicola. Them red flags are everything and more as to why youre going to have to leave this person. An argument is OK. We all argue about who is going to have to empty the dishwasher, whos going to have to put the bins out. But theres a difference of somebodys tone and how they even speak to you, with such disrespect. If somebody even looks angry at you when theyre speaking to you, as if they want to hurt you, its not healthy. Jordan Lee was sentenced to two years in prison last April for his role in the violent robbery A violent robber, who was on bail when he repeatedly stamped on the heads of two teenagers beaten unconscious after they refused to buy drugs in Dublin city centre, has had his jail sentence more than doubled by the Court of Appeal. The three-judge court found that the original two-year jail sentence was "unduly lenient to a significant extent" after viewing "extremely disturbing" CCTV footage of the attack on Friday. Jordan Lee was sentenced to two years in prison last April for his role in the violent robbery during which the teenagers were beaten unconscious after they refused to buy drugs in Dublin city centre last year. A co-accused man is currently before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on similar charges. Lee (25), of Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of robbery at Wellington Quay on September 29, 2022. Two assault causing harm charges and a public order charge were taken into account by Judge Orla Crowe. The victims were 18 and 19 at the time and were walking on Wellington Quay when two men approached them and offered to sell them drugs. The teens declined the offer of drugs and walked away but became aware that they were being followed and walked faster but Lee and another man caught up with them, the trial court heard. Lee struck one of the teenagers on the side of the head and knocked him to the ground before stamping on his head a number of times. His co-accused struck the other teen, who also fell to the ground before Lee then repeatedly "stamped" on his head. Both assailants went through their victims' pockets and then fled the scene. Members of the public alerted gardai to the incident who went to a nearby area known for drug dealing and arrested Lee and his co-accused, recovering a bank card and an iPhone belonging to one of the teens. It is a fortunate state of affairs that these men did not suffer more serious, long-term consequences, said Judge Crowe. The State appealed the two-year sentences on the grounds that they were unduly lenient. At the Court of Appeal on Friday, CCTV of the incident was played to the three-judge court showing Lee kicking and stamping on the heads of both teens on the pavement in full view of passers by. John P Gallagher BL, for the DPP, submitted to the court that the pre-mitigation headline sentence of three years was too low, considering the "ferocity" of the violence involved. "It involved prone victims who were unconscious, which was particularly aggravating. It involved punches, kicks and stamps to the head," said Mr Gallagher. Mr Gallagher said the trial judge ordered the two assault sentences to run concurrently to each other but consecutively to a separate 11-month jail-term Lee was serving at the time of his sentencing. Mr Gallagher said the trial judge erred in placing the offending in the lower sentencing band for robbery which carries a maximum imprisonment of five years. Counsel submitted that the offending should be placed in the middle band, which carries a penalty of between five and ten years' imprisonment. Counsel said the assaults were "very real and very impactful". Kieran Kelly BL, for Lee, said his client had been living in homeless accommodation and addicted to drugs at the time of the assaults. Mr Kelly said his client could not remember committing the offences and was as "shocked as anyone" when the assaults were played to him by gardai. Mr Kelly said his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage in the case and had apologised in court for his behaviour and to the two men. Counsel said that while Lee was on bail at the time of the attacks, he had no previous convictions at that time and that no weapons were used. Mr Justice George Birmingham said Lee now has 20 previous offences with six of those for the sale or supply of drugs and one for a separate assault. Mr Kelly said that "both men seemed to recover very well". Counsel said the trial judge reserved her judgement overnight to seek out documents and was "not rushed" when considering her sentencing of Lee. Mr Kelly said the trial judge acted within her discretion in sentencing Lee to two years and that the question for the Court of Appeal was whether or not the jail term "was lenient or unduly lenient". In delivering judgement, Mr Justice Birmingham said the trial judge seemed to attribute the level of "savagery" of the assault to the presence of intoxicants in Lee. Mr Justice Birmingham noted that Lee had a history of substance abuse involving controlled drugs, was a father of two and was living in homeless accommodation at the time of the assaults. Mr Justice Birmingham said the CCTV footage played to the court made for "extremely disturbing viewing". The judge said there was "no question that the offending did not fall below the mid-range" and that the court viewed the headline sentence of three years as an "error". "Three years did not reflect the gravity of the offending at issue," said Mr Justice Birmingham. "It was unduly lenient to a significant extent," he said. Mr Justice Birmingham said the Court of Appeal was required to re-sentence Lee and fixed a pre-mitigation headline sentence of seven years. The judge said the mitigating factors in the case were Lee's guilty plea, his lack of previous convictions at the time of the offences and his difficult background. However, Mr Justice Birmingham said the aggravating factors in the case were the level of violence present and the fact that Lee was on bail at the time. Mr Justice Birmingham fixed five years as a post-mitigation headline sentence and then suspended the final six months to encourage rehabilitation. The judge then backdated the four-and-a-half year custodial sentence to run from the expiry of the separate sentence on June 6 last. Earlier this month Marc Young was handed a six month jail sentence but he appealed A loyalist bandsman man who strangled his on-off girlfriend with both hands after she refused to perform a sex act narrowly escaped going to jail. Earlier this month Marc Young was handed a six month jail sentence but he appealed. Varying that sentence to a 12 month sentence which was suspended for three years, Dep District Judge Martina Connolly told the 42-year-old he should be utterly ashamed of yourself! The message has to go out that this is behaviour that will not be tolerated and no matter how unblemished a life someone had lead, these offences are so serious that its almost inevitable a custodial sentence will be warranted, declared the judge at Coleraine County Appeal Court. She told Young that despite his clear record and early guilty plea, the appalling attack on his partners crosses the custody threshold by a mile. Marc Young In one of the first cases to be completed under new legislation Young, from Greenland parade in Larne, entered a guilty plea two a charge of non-fatal strangulation in that on 15 July this year, he intentionally strangled another and that you intended to affect her ability to breathe or the flow of blood to her brain or that you were reckless as to whether this act would affect her ability to breathe or the flow of blood to her brain. A prosecuting lawyer told the Coleraine court how how police were called to the victims address an address in Larne after concerned neighbours heard shouting and banging from inside and when officers arrived, the victim was visibly distressed, perspiring and crying. With her account recorded ion body worn cameras, the victim told police recounted how she had been in bed with her on-off partner Young when he asked her to do certain sexual things in the future. She refused and that lead to an argument when Young became aggressive and shouted at her. She pulled the duvet off himhe shouted at her and then pushed her across the room, pinning her to the bed with both hands, said the lawyer, adding that as Young was on top of her choking her, he told her I wish you would stop breathing. According to the victim, Young was choking her for just under a minute during which time she had been struggling and trying to fight him off. When police arrived at the scene Young admitted that the had grabbed and pushed her and when he was sentenced at Ballymena Magistrates Court, DJ Broderick said the facts were quite harrowing and in his view merited a six month jail sentence. In court on Thursday, Youngs defence counsel conceded that its an appalling offencewhich should be treated with the utmost seriousness. He highlighted however that Young admitted the offence right at the outset, he had a clear record and worked full time to provide for his two children. The lawyer also argued that Young had shown remorse and has genuine insight into the case and the psycho-sexual element to the case, issues which could be addressed through supervision and counselling with probation. DJ Connolly said while she was not convinced probation was merited as Young doesnt have a clean bill of health in the pre-sentence report, she was just about convinced satisfied that she could set aside the six month jail sentence and give you one opportunity to keep your liberty. She told Young in no uncertain terms that he ought to be utterly ashamed of his actions in attacking his partner in the safety of own home, an attack by a man whom she trusted. As well as imposing the 12 month sentence which she suspended for three years, DJ Connolly also ordered Young to pay his victim 1,000 in compensation. You will never make amends for what you did to this woman, declared the judge, warning Young that any further offending would see him serve the year in jail as well as any other sentence. Derek Boyd (29) who was sentenced last year for killing his sister, Sandra Boyd, through an accidental gun discharge suffered non-life threatening injuries in a melee in which it is understood that a wheel brace was produced by his attacker. Gardai at Barry Drive in Finglas after the shooting An attack on a convicted killer at the afters of Brandon Ledwidges funeral was motivated by a personal grudge and had nothing to do with the circumstances of the Finglas mans murder, gardai now believe. Derek Boyd (29) who was sentenced last year for killing his sister, Sandra Boyd, through an accidental gun discharge suffered non-life threatening injuries in a melee in which it is understood that a wheel brace was produced by his attacker. He suffered slash injuries, while another man suffered more serious head injuries. No arrests have been made in the case, which is being investigated by officers from Mountjoy Garda Station. Derek Boyd shot his sister Sandra dead with an illegally held firearm However, the Sunday World now understands that detectives investigating the brutal assault believe Boyd knew his attacker, who held a grudge against him over his sister Sandras death. Boyd was jailed for two years in December 2022 for killing Sandra, a mother of five, through an accidental discharge of an illegally-held semi-automatic pistol in March of the same year. The court heard he had sourced the weapon and live rounds of ammunition because he was concerned for his own and his familys safety as a result of a threats made to him. Boyd had been in custody since he shot his sister on March 19 last year at his home in Collins Place, Finglas, and because of standard remission he was released from jail earlier this year. Sandra Boyd was shot dead Boyd has served his time, a source told this newspaper. But that doesnt mean everyone has forgiven him for what happened to Sandra even though it was an accidental shooting. The main line of inquiry is that he was attacked by someone who still feels very much aggrieved about Sandras death. No arrests have been made in the case. Separately, we revealed on sundayworld.com earlier this week how the chief suspect for the murder of gangland victim Brandon Ledwidge voluntarily presented himself to gardai for questioning, but was advised by officers he will have to wait before he is formally interviewed. Brandon Ledwidge was due in court on drugs charges Ledwidge (23) was shot dead when he answered the door of his home in Finglas 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. Shortly before he was shot dead, Ledwidge had assaulted a relative of the suspect, according to sources. Ledwidge, who was facing serious drugs charges before the courts, is believed to have fallen foul of his gangland 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. Brandon Ledwidges coffin is taken to St Canices church 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 at the property at the time. The man, a convicted robber in his 30s, presented himself at a garda station but was told that officers were still collecting forensic evidence, CCTV and other items, so he would have to wait to be interviewed. At his funeral at St Canices church in Finglas on Wednesday, Ledwidge was remembered as a party animal who was never without a joint in his mouth. There were chaotic scenes outside the church as the funeral cortege arrived as dozens of youths on bikes performed burnouts and wheelies in a display of support for the deceased youth. Inside the church, a eulogy by his sister, Kaci, was read aloud by his cousin Kameron (22), a defender for Shelbourne FC. It read: We are all absolutely heartbroken. A lot of memories were made, and a lot more memories should have been made. You were the life and soul of every party, always with a smile on your face no matter what. Sparking a few laughs, Kacis eulogy added that her brother always had a big fat joint in your mouth and a hammer in your pocket. We will miss everything about you. Brandon loved a good trip to Amsterdam and Tenerife. You would find him asleep anywhere he went no matter where he was. We will miss seeing your face and hearing your voice around the house. She joked he always said: Ma, whats for dinner, Im starving or that dinner was scrap. The eulogy continued: My da is going to miss partying with you all night long. We will miss coming down at all hours in the morning to Brandon in me mas kitchen with a bottle of fast gas and a balloon in your mouth with a bottle of vodka and your bopping head. Gardai at Barry Drive in Finglas after the shooting The eulogy continued: You took a big chunk of our hearts with you. You were a party animal. You loved a good party and the drink. You were stone-mad and made of steel. As King of the Road by the Rattling Kind was played, the deceased, in a silver casket, was removed and placed in a horse-drawn carriage. He was later buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. Nobody has been arrested in connection with the murder which happened on Barry Drive around 7pm on November 18. Three days after his killing, Ledwidge had been due to appear in court on charges relating to drug dealing. He was facing three separate charges for possession of heroin and cocaine with the intent of sale or supply. Moffat (45), whose hate crime conviction in the UK stems from an incident in which he threatened to blow up an Islamic bookshop and said all Muslims should be killed, insisted his arrest had nothing to do with the disorder in the city. Moffatt said he had been in a pub until 1.45am A man arrested in the hours after the Dublin riots who was previously convicted under hate crime legislation in the UK has insisted he only went into the city to get a bag of chips. David Moffat, a former local election candidate for Labour in his native Mayo, was arrested on OConnell Bridge at 2.30am on Friday morning last week. He was later charged before the courts with having engaged in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. But, Moffat (45), whose hate crime conviction in the UK stems from an incident in which he threatened to blow up an Islamic bookshop and said all Muslims should be killed, insisted to the Sunday World his arrest had nothing to do with the disorder in the city. I had nothing to do with the Dublin riots, he told our reporter when we approached him for comment outside his Ranelagh home this week. Im only after coming back from my solicitors office. There has been a major mess-up here. I was drinking in a pub in Ranelagh until 1.45am at a late bar here. Then I went into town for a bag of chips and I was arrested then. I didnt get arrested until 2.30 in the morning over a bag of chips and maybe calling a garda a scumbag. David Moffat speaks to our reporter Patrick I dont even know what I said. I was drunk. I had a few drinks in me. But it had nothing to do with rioting. The riots were well over by then. At 10pm the city was safe, according to the Garda Commissioner! I was arrested four hours later, so Im wondering how my name got into the national papers as having had something to do with these riots. I was only arrested for breach of the peace. The charge sheet that I got said it was for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour nothing to do with rioting or anything like that. But 100pc, categorically, and absolutely, I had nothing to do with the riots. Moffat also complained bitterly about his treatment after his arrest, alleging he had been manhandled while in custody and has yet to get any of his possessions, including his shoes, wallet, bank card, phone and cash, back. He said he is an asthmatic and the treatment resulted in him falling to the ground and soiling himself. He said he was subsequently charged in the District Court in his absence as he was left in a cell beneath the courts. I want this part to get into the media, he said. Its now seven days later and none of my possessions have been returned to me. Im going around without a jacket. Ive no shoes, no wallet, no bank card, no social welfare card, no nothing. My asthma inhaler that I kept in the jacket of my pocket, everything that I owned, I havent gotten any of it back. And I was in every national newspaper last week that I was involved in the riots I was so far removed from it that its not even funny. Dublin in flames Asked about his conviction under hate crime legislation in the UK, Moffat responded: The thing is, England is a separate thing that was just me losing my head. Moffats conviction in the UK dates back to July 2017 when Willesden Magistrates Court in London heard he had stormed around to the Cricklewood Islamic Bookshop moments after hearing of the deaths of 22 music lovers at the Ariana Grande concert during the Manchester terror attacks. Prosecutor Bhavin Patel said witnesses heard an Irish accent and saw a man wearing a high-visibility jacket outside the shop shouting. He said: Mr Moffatt stood at the entrance of the shop and said, you Muslims are going to die and your shop is going to get blown up. Moffatt represented himself in court, but he paid a solicitor to cross examine witnesses for him. But he maintained he made no reference to bombing the shop, and said: I was angry about the terrorist attack in Manchester and Westminster. I walked into the shop and said: You have killed innocent people, you have blood on your hands, go back to your own country and walked out and went to work. Moffatt admitted using racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress words or writing on this basis at Hendon Magistrates Court. But he insisted he did not say all Muslims should be killed or bombed. Rabin Govindarajah, for Moffatt, said either the witnesses misheard what was said or were mistaken. Magistrate Penelope Allen rejected Moffatts versions of events and said they had found beyond all reasonable doubt Moffatt had used those words. Moffat was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work and pay costs of 705. Asked by the Sunday World this week whether he had any ties to the Far Right in this country, Moffat replied: Absolutely not. Im a man who ran for election in the local County Council in 2009 for Labour. So no, I have absolutely no connection, absolutely zero. I have nothing to do with the Far Right. Moffatt said he had been in a pub until 1.45am Asked whether he had any issues with Muslim people, he responded: No, zero. Asked why he acted as he did in Cricklewood, he responded: Read the court case, read it. Its all there. I did the hundred hours of community service. I paid the fine, its all there. Just Google it its all there. I was angry over the concert. It was in the morning I was on the way to work. But it was a rush of blood. There was a lot of tension in London at the time. The London Bridge attack was after happening and then there was the Manchester bombings there was a lot of tension. But its all there online. West Dublin gang suffers major blow as gardai seize 8M of heroin from aircraft The leader of The Family has been hit with a major setback The huge haul of heroin seized in the raid The leader of The Family has been hit with a major setback The leader of a drugs gang suspected of importing 8million worth of heroin seized at Weston Airport on Friday is already facing up to 14 years in prison for unrelated money-laundering offences. Sources say Fridays massive seizure, the result of a joint Revenue and Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) operation, has been linked to a west Dublin drugs gang known as The Family. Officers moved on a light aircraft in which 58kgs of heroin was stored in holdall bags as preparations were being made for the plane to be flown to a separate airfield in Kildare. A source said: The preference would have been to follow the drugs once they were collected at the airfield, see where they were brought and put the delivery location under surveillance. The huge haul of heroin seized in the raid An operation like that would have resulted in a larger number of arrests. However, once it became clear the aircraft was being prepared for another flight, a decision was made to move in and secure the drugs. Two men in their 40s and 60s were arrested during the seizure, with one arrested on the plane and the other nearby. Both are Hungarian nationals and one is believed to be the pilot. A subsequent search of the aircraft resulted in the discovery of 58kgs of vacuum-packed heroin stored inside holdalls. The plane has now been seized and gardai are tracing its flight path. It is believed the aircraft had been flown in from mainland Europe earlier this week. According to sources, the Cessna plane had remained on the tarmac for more than 24 hours after its arrival and was preparing for take-off when gardai swooped. The seizure is the largest haul of heroin to have been uncovered in Ireland this year and, sources say, represents a huge blow to The Family mob who, following the dismantling of the Kinahan cartels network in Ireland, have become the primary target in the Republic for the DOCB. The leader of The Family has been hit with a major setback Sources say the mob has risen to dominance over the past number of years by taking advantage of the Garda crackdown on the Kinahan cartel and increasing their own drug dealing and other criminal activities. Two brothers are classified as the leaders of the gang, whose stronghold is in the Clondalkin and Ballyfermot areas. One of the brothers previously served a lengthy jail term after being caught in possession of a multi-million shipment of heroin in the Noughties. The second served a lengthy jail sentence in Spain after he was caught with almost 4million of cocaine in a Spanish hotel. The mob has been one of An Garda Siochanas main targets for years because of its massive heroin and cocaine-dealing network. Earlier this year, gardai seized guns and cocaine worth at least 1.5million in an operation in which the Family were also identified as the target. During that operation, 25kg of cocaine and four firearms were seized in Dublin and Kilkenny. The Family have been active players in the countrys drug scene for around two decades. The gang has international contacts, particularly in Turkey and the UK, where they source their heroin for the Irish market. It has been subject to numerous raids and seizures by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), which has searched car dealerships linked to them. The Family have also been linked to a number of gun attacks as well as serious assaults connected to the drugs trade. The gang are making so much money from the drugs trade, that they are now laundering tens of millions of euro in Ireland and overseas each year, gardai believe. Following the seizure, Assistant Garda Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime Justin Kelly described it as hugely significant. 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, he said. Worldwide, law enforcement agencies are seeing an increasing use of general aviation (non-commercial flights) to smuggle drugs. Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly 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 Portugal. I commend the dedication and professionalism of all the personnel involved in this complex operation. Fridays seizure is the second major drug haul here in recent months in which gardai have acknowledged the assistance of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre. MAOC-N is operated by personnel from France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal which provides a forum for inter-agency co-operation in tackling illicit drug trafficking by sea and air. Two weeks ago, the Executive Director of MAOC visited Ireland to discuss this countrys strategic importance in fighting maritime drug trafficking in the Atlantic, and the recent successful drug seizure by the Irish authorities of over two tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Cork, on board the MV Matthew. In a statement concerning Friday nights seizure, Gardai confirmed: Gardai continue to detain two men aged in their 40s and 60s arrested in connection with the seizure of 8 million of heroin (analysis pending) in the course of a joint operation involving GNDOCB and Revenue Customs. Both individuals are currently detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, at a Garda station in County Kildare and can be held for up to seven days. TEHRAN, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Sunday called on the Iraqi government to fully disarm the "terrorist groups" along the common border, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported. In a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani in Baghdad on Sunday, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri expressed gratitude to the Iraqi government for following up on the security agreement signed in March between the two neighbors, which requires the disarmament of "separatist terrorist groups" based in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region and their relocation from areas close to the common border. Baqeri stressed that the Iraqi government was expected to seriously complete the process of disarming these "counter-revolutionary" groups. The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, said that the two countries should resolve the issue through interaction, in addition to improving bilateral cooperation in different fields. During Baqeri's meeting with Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari on Sunday in Baghdad, the Iranian commander reaffirmed the demand for the total disarmament of "terrorists" along the shared border. While praising the Iraqi government for its efforts to relocate these groups from the border areas, Baqeri emphasized that there was still evidence and concerns about the existence of "certain terrorists" along the common border. The Iranian commander noted that one way to ensure total border security was to carry out joint activities along the 1500-kilometer common border by the two countries' border guards. The Iraqi minister, for his part, praised the Iranian armed forces for their helpful cooperation with the Iraqi government and armed forces in maintaining border security, emphasizing that border control was one of his ministry's priorities. Heading a delegation, Baqeri left Tehran for Baghdad on Saturday night. On Sunday, he also met Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed al-Abbasi and Chief of the General Staff of the Iraqi Armed Forces Abdel Emir Rashid Yarallah. Under the joint security agreement, the Iraqi government had pledged to disarm anti-Iran "separatist terrorist groups" operating in Iraq's Kurdistan Region and relocate them to an alternate camp by Sept. 19. The national forecaster had issued a continued Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning, until 11am on Monday, for the whole country, but this has now been lifted. Met Eireann has revised its predictions of extremely cold weather overnight with a more positive forecast today. The national forecaster had issued a continued Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning, until 11am on Monday, for the whole country, but this has now been lifted. It came after flights had to be cancelled from Ireland to the UK on Saturday due to freezing conditions at British airports, with major incidents declared in parts of the country. Met Eireann said today will be cold with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, with some frost and icy patches. Staying mostly cloudy near the south coast with patchy rain and drizzle. A few showers will affect eastern and northern coastal counties too. Highest temperatures of just 1 to 5 degrees generally, a touch milder near southern and eastern coasts, in mostly light northeasterly breezes, freshening along south and southwest coasts later, the forecaster said. There will be some rain and drizzle in southern and southeastern coastal counties this evening and tonight, with sleet or snow possible on high ground, gradually clearing overnight. Patchy rain in parts of Leinster and Munster will also clear through the morning to leave a generally dry day with just isolated showers, mainly along northern and eastern coasts. Make sure your cars fully prepared before setting off (Alamy/PA) However, rain and drizzle may return at times to southern coasts. The best of bright or sunny spells will develop through the afternoon. Highest temperatures will peak at just one to five degrees. A cold night is expected tonight but it will be predominately dry with just isolated wintry showers, most likely along eastern and northern fringes, and some light rain or drizzle possible for the southeast. Some patches of fog or freezing fog will form again through the night, with lowest temperatures of -3 to 0 degrees on the way and light to moderate northerly winds developing, which are expected to be fresher for southern and eastern counties. Monday will be cold with frost and icy patches as well as mist and fog in places, with a gale warning in place for the southeastern counties. There will be plenty of dry weather with just well-scattered showers, some of which may turn wintry, along with some light rain or drizzle for eastern counties. Highest temperatures of two to six or seven degrees are expected. A Status Yellow marine gale warning from Belfast Lough to Howth Head to Hook Head and on the Irish Sea will come into effect from 3pm on Monday, lasting until 6am on Tuesday. Northerly winds will reach gale force 8 at times, the warning states. Monday night will be very cold and mostly dry with sharp to severe frosts developing and with just a chance of isolated showers near northern coasts. Lowest temperatures will generally be -3 to +1 degrees, although it will be slightly milder though for eastern areas with patchy light rain or drizzle possible. Northerly breezes will ease light variable, allowing some fog or freezing fog to develop. Tuesday will be cold and frosty or icy to start with some fog and plenty of winter sunshine. It will be dry for most with just light outbreaks of rain and drizzle along eastern counties. Cloud will slowly build from the southwest through the day with outbreaks of rain or drizzle developing in the far southwest towards morning. Highest temperatures will be just one to five degrees. Tuesday night will be dry for most at first with lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees and coldest in the north. It will turn milder from the southwest overnight as south-easterly winds strengthen and as outbreaks of rain extend north-eastwards with some initial falls of sleet possible. Temperatures will begin to pick up following the end of the arctic airflow, with Met Eireann removing the weather advisory from 11.30pm on Tuesday night, following days of sub-zero temperatures. Wednesday will be wet and breezy but a milder day with fresh to strong and gusty south-easterly winds. Outbreaks of rain, heavy in places, may lead to some spot flooding. Highest afternoon temperatures of four to nine degrees are expected, with things coolest in the north. Overnight, it will generally be mild, wet and breezy. Thursday will also see the weather continue to be much milder however it will be wet and breezy with heavy outbreaks of rain followed by blustery showers and highest temperatures of seven to 11 degrees. Current indications suggest that the rest of the week will continue unsettled with further spells of wet and breezy or windy weather, Met Eireann said. Mattys granddaughter Olivia shared a link to his death notice on RIP.ie as she thanked everyone who helped bring my grandad home. A man who was found dead two weeks after going missing in Tipperary will be laid to rest this week. Matthew Matty Shanahan (69) was last seen at his home in Carrick-on-Suir on November 15. An extensive search to locate him was stood down on November 30 following the discovery of a body in the area. Gardai thanked the public and the media for their assistance with the search while the Missing Persons Helpline Ireland expressed their condolences to his family. Predeceased by his parents Michael and Mary, son Wesley, brother Tommy and sister Margaret, Matthew will be sadly missed by his wife Eileen, daughter Lisa, granddaughter Olivia, siblings, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends in Ireland and England. He will be reposing at Walsh's Funeral Home, New Street on Monday evening from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. A requiem mass will take place at St Nicholas Church, Carrick-on-Suir on Tuesday at 10.30am, followed by burial afterwards in St Mary's Cemetery. Tributes are pouring in for the Tipperary man online, who is being remembered as a gentleman by his loved ones. Read more Shane MacGowan funeral to be held in Tipperary after procession through Dublin City One person wrote: Very sorry to hear of the passing of Mattie. He was a lovely fellow and many the chat we had together. My deepest condolences to his wife and daughter and all the family, he will be badly missed by all. Another said: My sincere condolences to all the Shanahan family. Matty was a lovely person a true gentleman who loved his town. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. May the light of heaven shine on him and may he rest in peace. Another added: My condolences to Mattys wife children and family at this sad time. Matty was a gentleman of a man. May he rest in peace Mattys granddaughter Olivia shared a link to his death notice on RIP.ie as she thanked everyone who helped bring my grandad home. Rea saw the ghosts of his bloody past return to haunt him Winky Rea, left, in paramilitary uniform in Long Kesh in the 1970s along with his father-in-law Gusty Spence Terror chief Winston Winkie Rea told the Sunday World he had been betrayed by the release of his murder confessions to the PSNI. As head of the Red Hand Commando he had the blood of many people on his hands, including members of his own organisation and innocent Catholic civilians shot simply because of their religion. Rea, who passed away on Friday morning 24 hours after he buried his wife Liz, became an important player in the peace process which led to the loyalist ceasefires in 1994 and was a member of the Progressive Unionist Party talks delegation in the build-up to the Good Friday Agreement four years later. His transition to man of peace failed to paper over his life as a killer and a man who decided who should live or die. If he hoped the GFA would consign his previous life to history he would be sorely disappointed as the ghosts of his past returned to haunt him when the PSNI succeeded in securing access to his interviews with Boston College as part of their oral history project. Rea contacted the Sunday World in June 2016. The previous September we had first reported that he had confessed his role in the murder of two innocent Catholics John Devine in 1989 and taxi driver John OHara two years later and since then he had been fighting a losing legal battle on both sides of the Atlantic to prevent detectives getting access to his taped interviews. We met in a seaside pub close to his home in the Co Down village of Groomsport where he had moved from the Shankill with his wife Liz daughter of UVF godfather Gusty Spence after the loyalist feud of 2000. Winky Rea, left, in paramilitary uniform in Long Kesh in the 1970s along with his father-in-law Gusty Spence Gusty had also settled there and was a regular sight walking his dog along the beach. Rea told us how he had become convinced that the peace process was the only way to go and that he had been heavily influenced by his father-in-law and PUP chief, the late David Ervine. Our conversation was repeatedly punctuated as the wheezing Rea went outside for a cigarette, a portent of the chronic ill-health he suffered in later years. Right to the end, the wheelchair-bound terror chief went through 60-70 a day. Someone is settling scores, he said. I was played when it came to the ceasefires and the peace talks. We were creating a new Northern Ireland, what happened here in the past should never be repeated. I take my share of responsibility for that but what purpose does it serve to rake up all that misery? Around 40 people, mainly loyalist paramilitaries but some republicans, took part in the Boston Tapes project. David Ervine, UDA chief Jackie McDonald and Reas RHC comrade William Plum Smith were among those who took part. IRA operatives Brendan The Dark Hughes and Dolours Price also participated. All who took part did so on the understanding the contents of their interviews would remain sealed until their deaths. Rea confirmed to us he had given a wide-ranging series of interviews admitting his part in a raft of paramilitary crimes and implicating a number of people in a host of terrorist incidents, including murders. Winston Rea in later years He stopped short of admitting his part in the Devine and OHara murders which had initially been attributed to the UDA and the Protestant Action Force, a flag of convenience for the UVF, although he conceded he had spoken about them in his interviews. Nothing I said will bring them back, so whats the point in raking it up now, what is it going to achieve putting me in court? Rea was more concerned about his self-perception as a peacemaker, thats how he wanted to be remembered rather than the head of a sectarian killing machine. In 2015 the Sunday World revealed it was Reas loose tongue that found him facing a host of terrorism charges. He had confided to a number of people that he had revealed details of a series of murders to the Boston project. Sources claimed he told them about his part in the Devine and OHara killings; he also admitted he had implicated a number of former comrades in other crimes. His boasts were his undoing; his admissions that he had betrayed fellow loyalists turned a lot of people against him and it indirectly prompted the PSNI to seek access to the tapes which they succeeded in doing. Rea was charged with the murders and a host of other terrorist crimes including membership of the Red Hand Commando. The trial got under way in 2016 but was repeatedly adjourned for a number of reasons, not least his deteriorating health. Well-placed sources told the Sunday World his Boston confession included details of the murder of RHC hitman Frankie Curry and the killing of terror chief Billy Elliott. Ironically it was Curry who carried out the hit on Elliott on Reas orders over his involvement in the bandhall murder of Margaret Wright in April 1994. Elliott was shot twice in the head at close range as he left the home of an associate in the Bloomfield estate in Bangor. He had been living under threat because of the Wright killing but it has emerged Rea had other reasons to have him taken out. Extortion Elliott had accused Rea of siphoning off money from extortion and protection rackets to line his own pockets. His involvement in the bandhall killing was a convenient excuse but Rea needed him out of the picture after he threatened to lift the lid on his secret cash deal. Multiple killer Curry was shot in the head as he made his way along Malvern Way on the Shankill Road in March 1999. The killing was carried out with the blessing of UVF chief Gusty Spence Currys uncle but it was sanctioned by Rea because of Currys involvement in the murder of UVF drug dealer William Wasy Paul in Bangor the same year. Police secured access to Reas taped confession after a lengthy legal battle. Winston Rea at his home in 1984 Detectives sought access to the tapes on the grounds they contained significant information about serious crimes. The ex-RHC boss argued such a move would be a breach of his privacy and took his cases to the European Court of Human Rights. It was the final stop in a desperate campaign to keep the contents secret which took the case to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in London. His last appearance was in 2021 when a frail Rea arrived at court in a wheelchair. Even then when he emerged from the Laganside court complex he was reaching for the obligatory cigarette. His lawyers continue to argue the Boston evidence is inadmissible but the trial was set to go ahead and it is understood legal teams were searching for suitable dates. A decision now has to be made about the destiny of the case. Had he been convicted he would only have faced a two and a half year tariff under the terms of the GFA and with the Legacy Act in place it would possibly have been the last conflict-era trial to be held in Northern Ireland. Weather Eye with John Maunder This week over 70,000 people will attend COP 28, the 27th gathering of the Conference of the Parties dealing with climate change. By contrast, 38 years ago a small group of 100 scientists met in the small town of Villach in Austria to begin talks on climate change which in effect was, in the minds of many people, the original forerunner of the COP meetings. Thirty-eight years on, what has changed? Of the many climate science meetings I have been to, the most significant, at least in terms of climate change, was the UN sponsored International Conference held in Villach, Austria. One hundred experts from 30 countries attended the meeting (in contrast to the many thousand plus who now attend such meetings), and I was privileged to be the only New Zealander invited. We were all there as experts and not representing our respective organisations in various fields of science, endeavouring to do the best we could in looking at the complexities of climate change and climate science.This conference predated by three years the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The first session of the IPCC was held in Geneva in November 1988. In contrast the first session of COP-1 was not held until 1995 in Berlin. Among the principal findings of the 1985 Villach Conference was that while other factors, such as aerosol concentration, changes in solar energy input, and changes in vegetation, may also influence climate, greenhouse gases are likely to be the most important cause of climate change over the next century. At that time, even though I was partly responsible for the writing of the above paragraph, I along with some of my colleagues, had some serious misgivings about this phrase, and in particular, the almost overall emphasis on greenhouse gases compared with the natural causes of climate change, and in particular the role of the oceans, the sun, and the volcanoes. These natural causes of climate change are discussed in my 2023 book Climate Change .. A Realistic Perspective: " the fall of the weather dice and the butterfly effect. . Published by Amazon.. Additionally, my 1986 book The Uncertainty Business: Risks and Opportunities in Weather and Climate focused on the opportunities provided to humanity in regards to all aspects of the climate whether it be cold or hot, wet or dry, or something in-between. However, despite some of my misgivings re the findings of the Villach conference, within a year human-induced global warming caught the imagination of much of the world. Indeed today, not an hour goes without some mention within the media of global warming, climate change, emission trading schemes etc., all terms which until the 1980s were the preserve of academic textbooks. In 2004, Australian, Bill Kininmonth, wrote a book called Climate Change A Natural Hazard, which shows clearly the divergence of views on the causes of climate change. The author demonstrated that the model of the climate system represented by the IPCC is inadequate as a foundation for future planning. In a recent paper Kininmonth has updated the views he expressed in his earlier book. There are two competing views on how the Earths climate changes. The first, as espoused by the IPCC, holds that Earths temperature is primarily a function of the properties and atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, and how these gases interact with atmospheric radiation. The second, is that Earths temperature is regulated by the sun, the atmospheric transport of energy from the tropics to polar regions, and how the rate of transport varies with ocean circulations, particularly the millennial period thermohaline circulation. My experience suggests that there are two main views on the subject of "global warming" and "climate change". First, those who are mainly involved in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and many or most government and university scientists, plus others, such as Al Gore, many politicians, and most journalists, and probably the public at large, who consider that human activities, including domesticated animals, are the prime cause of the recent and current changes in the climate, and who are actively seeking a consensus to decarbonise society by promoting Net Zero. Second, those a minority of university scientists, many retired meteorologists and climatologists, a minority of politicians and journalists, and probably a minority of the public who consider that Nature is the main cause of changes in the climate, and that Nature cannot and should not be ignored. The understanding of the public in this regard stems from the fact that most mainstream media are left of centre and generally follow the party line. This will be well demonstrated at COP-28. Thirty eight years ago, it would have been inconceivable that any government in the world would have a Minister of Climate Change; indeed back then, as weather forecasters and climatologists we just got on with our job of making the best possible weather forecast and providing the best climate advice to all those who requested information, without guidance or interference from the government of the day. How things have changed. I will watch COP-28 with considerable interest, with the hope that the 70,000 people attending the meeting will not ignore the importance of the role of nature in the climate change scene. ****************************************** It will be a night to remember for two lucky Lotto players from Auckland after each winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division in Saturdays live Lotto draw. The winning tickets were both sold on MyLotto. Powerball was not struck on Saturday evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $6 million. Meanwhile, a lucky Strike player from Hastings will also be celebrating after winning $200,000 with Strike Four. The winning Strike ticket was sold at Unichem Stortford Lodge Pharmacy in Hastings. 12 Lotto players win Second Division 12 lucky Lotto players will be writing their ultimate Christmas wishlist after each winning $20,598 with Lotto Second Division in tonights live Lotto draw. One lucky player also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $35,974. The winning Powerball Second Division tickets were sold at Pak N Save Silverdale in Auckland. The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores: Store Location Four Square Red Beach Red Beach New World Stonefields Auckland Manurewa Post Shop Auckland Pak N Save Silverdale (+PB) Auckland Cherrywood Lotto & Book Shop Tauranga New World Westend Rotorua Paper Plus Stratford Stratford MyLotto Horowhenua Pak n Save Lower Hutt Lower Hutt MyLotto Wellington Countdown Hornby Christchurch MyLotto Southland Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App. Lotto NZ exists to return 100 per cent of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board. This photo taken on Dec. 1, 2023 shows the mid-sized Ring Main Unit (RMU) supplied by Sifang at Panari Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.(Xinhua/Han Xu) NAIROBI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Early in the morning, Kenya's largest referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, nestled on the northern edge of the capital, Nairobi, bustles with individuals seeking advanced medical care. This extensive health facility boasts a well-guarded sub-station equipped with automated gadgets manufactured in China to ensure stable electricity supply. Peter Onyango, head of the hospital's electrical section, highlighted the significance of Sifang's Ring Main Unit (RMU) sourced from Beijing Sifang Automation Company. He said that the installation of Sifang's RMU has effectively eliminated power supply disruptions, notably enhancing the quality of care for patients with critical medical conditions. Previously reliant on outdated and unreliable oil-operated equipment to manage electricity supply, the hospital faced potential risks to patients in intensive care wards during power outages. "With Sifang's equipment, we can now remotely detect faults and promptly restore power, mitigating risks to patients in critical care wards," Onyango said. The installation of RMUs has brought relief from power supply interruptions not only to Kenyatta National Hospital but also to numerous public and private facilities in Nairobi and neighboring districts. Thw access to automated equipment has been made possible through the implementation of a World Bank-funded Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) by Kenya Power, the state-owned power utility. Francis Maina, the project manager overseeing ADMS at Kenya Power, said that through a competitive bidding process, the Chinese company secured the tender to install RMUs, ensuring stabilized electricity supply at the country's primary referral hospital. The partnership with Beijing Sifang has significantly contributed to the utility's digitization efforts, enhancing grid reliability while cutting down on fuel and maintenance costs for clients, Maina added. Notably, at the upscale Panari Hotel, a mid-sized RMU supplied by Sifang has successfully maintained uninterrupted power distribution since its installation in 2022, effectively managing faults along transmission lines. Outside the hotel, the company's load break switch, positioned atop a concrete pole, regulates electrical current flow in an area primarily occupied by high-end office blocks. Suleiman Yusuf, the project supervisor at Beijing Sifang, stressed the stability achieved in power supply at client premises, attributing it to the company's flagship equipment, including RMUs, load break switches and autoreclosures. Moreover, it established a laboratory at the Institute of Energy Studies and Research affiliated with Kenya Power in December 2020, aiming to impart knowledge to local technicians on the application of smart power distribution equipment. Patrick Karimi, the institute's deputy director in charge of training and research, praised the significant reduction in workload for the operations and maintenance team at the power utility, as well as the quick response to outages ensured by Sifang's smart gadgets. Kenya has grappled with frequent outages attributed to various factors such as an aging transmission network, staffing challenges at the state-owned power utility, extreme weather events, vandalism and wildlife interference with transmission lines. Recent reports in local media indicated five nationwide and prolonged blackouts within the past three years. A nationwide power outage lasting over 20 hours in August sparked public outcry due to substantial economic losses. Yan Xiangning (L), Kenya Project Manager of Beijing Sifang Automation Company, communicates with an employee at the Advanced Distribution Management System Laboratory under Institute of Energy Studies and Research affiliated with Kenya Power, in Nairobi, Kenya, Dec. 1, 2023.(Xinhua/Han Xu) Yan Xiangning (L), Kenya Project Manager of Beijing Sifang Automation Company, communicates with an employee at the Advanced Distribution Management System Laboratory under Institute of Energy Studies and Research affiliated with Kenya Power, in Nairobi, Kenya, Dec. 1, 2023.(Xinhua/Han Xu) This photo taken on Dec. 1, 2023 shows Sifang's Ring Main Unit (RMU) at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.(Xinhua/Han Xu) Yan Xiangning (R), Kenya Project Manager of Beijing Sifang Automation Company, communicates with an employee at the Advanced Distribution Management System Laboratory under Institute of Energy Studies and Research affiliated with Kenya Power, in Nairobi, Kenya, Dec. 1, 2023.(Xinhua/Han Xu) 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. Syracuse, N.Y. A 14-year-old boy was taken to a Syracuse hospital after being shot in the chest and arm in Utica on Saturday, police said. The teen was shot at 12:40 a.m. on the 1000 block of Knox St, said Lt. Michael Curley, a spokesperson for the Utica police. When police arrived they found the teen and several other parties on the 1000 block of Wagner St, Curley said. The tractors are back at work clearing land and building access roads for a $10 billion transmission line that the Biden administration describes as an important part of the nations transition to renewable energy. But Native American leaders have vowed to keep pushing the federal government to heed their concerns about the project cutting through a culturally significant valley in southern Arizona. Billed by California-based developer Pattern Energy as an infrastructure undertaking bigger than the Hoover Dam, the SunZia transmission line will stretch about 550 miles (885 kilometers). It will funnel electricity from massive wind farms in central New Mexico to more populated areas as far away as California. Executives and federal officials gathered in New Mexico in September to break ground on the project, touting negotiations that spanned years and resulted in the necessary approvals from the Bureau of Land Management. In Arizona, federal land managers briefly halted work this month along a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of the line through the San Pedro Valley after the Tohono Oodham Nation, other tribes and archaeologists raised concerns that the BLM had not formally consulted them before work began. The Bureau of Land Management lifted the temporary suspension and work resumed Wednesday. The agency scheduled a Dec. 11 meeting with tribal leaders. Federal land managers in a letter sent Monday to the developer said the timing of the information provided by the tribes relative to the many years that have gone into planning and permitting did not support pausing work. The agency noted that the right of way through the valley was issued in 2015. The SunZia transmission line project is an important part of transitioning our nation to a clean energy economy by creating jobs, lowering energy costs and boosting local economies, and the BLM is committed to implementing it with as little impact as possible, agency spokesman Brian Hires said in a statement. The BLM said it had met with tribal representatives during the pause and that it would work with tribes to evaluate whether the valley could be classified as a traditional cultural property while mitigating effects from the transmission line on cultural and archaeological sites. The agency said it has not received information on any additional cultural sites beyond those previously identified. Tohono Oodham Chairman Verlon M. Jose said he was disappointed but not surprised that the federal government opted to move ahead before meeting its obligation to consult with the tribes. Its more than a slap in the face. Its a punch to the gut, he said during an interview Wednesday. They reversed course and allowed construction to continue before the meeting could actually take place. You know, it is difficult to describe this decision as anything other than acting in bad faith. Jose said bulldozers have been clearing roads and pads for the massive towers that will support the high-voltage lines so damage already has been done to land that contains what he described as a high concentration of sacred sites. He said tribal members are frustrated. This means a lot to us, he said of the rolling hills and mountains that make up the region. There has not been true, meaningful consultation on this all these years. And if we had worked together to address these issues, Im sure we could have mitigated the concerns here. He added that the Tohono Oodham people have cultural and traditional responsibilities that call for them to care for the land and for people. As part of that, he said the tribe supports efforts to address climate change but insisted that development needs to be done in such a way that cultural and historic sites are given appropriate consideration under federal laws and regulations. Like Jose, other tribal leaders have complained that the federal government often treats the consultation process as a check-the-box practice despite promises by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland that tribes would have a seat at the table. From Nevada and New Mexico to Alaska, permitting decisions over mining projects and oil and development for example have highlighted what some tribal leaders say are shortcomings in the process. Developers of the SunZia project argue that they have worked with tribes over the years and surveys were done to identify cultural resources in the San Pedro Valley. Natalie McCue, Pattern Energys assistant vice president for environmental and permitting activities, said the company will continue to support the consultation process between the federal government and tribes and will adopt mitigation measures that might result from the talks. More than a decade in the making, SunZias line would be capable of transporting more than 3,500 megawatts of new wind power to 3 million people in the West. Its expected to begin commercial service in 2026. In New Mexico, the route was modified after the U.S. Defense Department raised concerns about the effects of the high-voltage lines on radar systems and military training operations. Environmentalists also were worried about impacts on wildlife habitat and migratory bird flight patterns in the Rio Grande Valley. There are similar ecological concerns in the San Pedro Valley. The transmission line is at the heart of a legal challenge pending before the Arizona Court of Appeals over whether state regulatory officials there properly considered the benefits and consequences of the project. __ By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press Syracuse, N.Y. As a former DJ, Millet Ben Haim looked forward to attending the Nova music festival near Reim in Israel on Oct. 7. She - like several thousand others - gathered to dance, party and enjoy the music that weekend. A little after dawn that Saturday, she heard rockets. The rave stopped. But soon the shooting started. Were running in every direction, she said. And every direction we try to go, we have more people running towards us being shot. We found ourselves going back and forward, trying to avoid the terrorist and the bullets. Hiding with others, Ben Haim said she accepted she might die and texted her family one last time. I wrote that I love them and that I am happy with the life I have, she said. I knew they were going to go through this, kind of, losing me, so I wanted them to have something. Ben Haim, 27, survived, but more than 360 people died at the festival in the surprise attack by Hamas attackers. Festivalgoers have described how the gunmen blocked roads and ambushed escaping cars. In all, an estimated 1,400 people died in the attacks in southern Isarael and about 246 people were taken hostage. In response, Israel has attacked the Gaza Strip, killing at least 13,300 people. On Saturday night, Ben Haim spoke to more than 70 people who crowded into Temple Concord in Syracuse to hear the story of how she and others survived the attack. She also spoke to Syracuse University students on Thursday night. Ben Haim, who has spoken to newspapers, news sites and television networks, is touring the United States to share her story of how she spent 12 hours trying to escape with friends, dodging bullets and hiding before they were rescued by a stranger. The music festival, near Kibbutz Reim, was held just three miles from a fence that divides Israel from the Gaza Strip. It was one of the first targets for Hamas attackers. After seeing the rockets and the shooting on festival grounds, Ben Haim said her friends wanted to stay with security. But she said it was clear to her they needed to leave. She tried to keep her friends together throughout the attack. The group tried to flee by car but were met with shooting in all directions. You dont just hear shooting, you hear the whistle of the bullets, Ben Haim said. We know theyre aiming at us right now. The group decided to split up and look for refuge. Along with a few others, Ben Haim said they hid in a grassy valley with bushes and covered themselves with leaves. They lay there for hours, prayed together and tried to contact their families on phones whose batteries were dying. With no assurance of rescue, thats when she texted her family one last time that she loved them. While hiding, Ben Haim posted videos to Instagram and asked for help. She was connected to Rami Davidian, a farmer in the area who helped rescue many people that day. She and the others she was hiding with were rescued by him later that day, Ben Haim said. Covered bodies of Hamas militants can be seen at the site of a music festival after Israeli forces managed to secure areas around Re'im. (Ilia Yefimovich/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Ilia Yefimovich/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images As Ben Haim told her story in Syracuse, sniffles and whispers could be heard throughout the temple. As Ben Haim took questions toward the end, she was asked why she shares her experience with the world. She said she wanted to remind the world of what happened that day. She did this by joining the Faces of Oct. 7 project, a group of speakers and survivors of the attack. Temple Concord ended the night by singing the Hatikvah, Israels national anthem. The song title means The Hope. The photos of people killed and taken captive by Hamas militants during their violent rampage through the Nova music festival in southern Israel are displayed at the site of the event, as Israeli DJs spun music, to commemorate the October 7, massacre, near Kibbutz Re'im, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)AP Syracuse.coms Timia Cobb can be reached at tdcobb@syr.edu. Dubai, United Arab Emirates Commercial ships came under attack Sunday by drones and missiles in the Red Sea and a U.S. warship there opened fire in self-defense as part of an hourslong assault claimed by Yemens Houthi rebels, officials said. The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict. Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available, the Defense Department told The Associated Press. The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer thats already shot down multiple rockets the Houthis have fired toward Israel so far in the war. It wasnt damaged in the attack and no injuries were reported on board, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss early details of a military operation. The Carney responded after hearing from the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer that it was under attack by missile fire, the official said. The Carney shot down two drones during the attack, one in self-defense and another after checking on the Unity Explorer, the official said. Assessments were still being made on the Unity Explorer. The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea, without elaborating. The Defense Department did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved in the attack. The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops, Saree said. The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement. Saree also identified the first vessel as the Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British firm that includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers. The second was a Panamanian-flagged container ship called Number 9, which is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Managers for the two vessels could not be immediately reached for comment. Israeli media identified Ungar as being the son of Israeli shipping billionaire Abraham Rami Ungar. The Houthis have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel amid the war. Another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the attack began about 10 a.m. in Sanaa, Yemen, and had gone on for as much as five hours. Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce briefly halted fighting and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes and its ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming. Earlier in November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time. MOGADISHU, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the El Nino-induced heavy rains and flash flooding have killed at least 110 people and affected more than 2.4 million others in Somalia, the UN humanitarian agency said on Sunday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the devastating floods which have exacerbated Somalia's hunger crisis have displaced more than one million people in at least 36 districts. "At least 37 boats have been deployed to deliver supplies or evacuate tens of thousands of people who are trapped by flood water in 10 locations in Hirshabelle and Jubaland states," the OCHA said in its latest Update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The raging flash floods which began in October have also disrupted infrastructure, trade, education and food supply services across the country. The floods followed the worst drought in the country in four decades which has decimated livestock and crops, pushing the country to the brink of famine. According to the OCHA, concern continues to grow over the likely spread of water-borne diseases with suspected cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera being reported in Hirshabelle and Galmudug states. "An outbreak would pose a significant threat to communities with limited healthcare facilities," it warned. The agency said humanitarians, authorities and local communities have assisted at least 820,000 people, about 30 percent of those affected. It said light rain is forecast over the coastal areas of Middle Shabelle and Lower Juba, and Banadir until Dec. 5, and dry conditions over the rest of the country and Ethiopian highlands. It however said water levels remain high along the Shabelle river basin, with flooding reported in several areas. "Twenty villages to the east of Jowhar town in Hirshabelle State are reportedly inundated. Mahaday town, which has been deluged for a month, has seen its sanitation facilities and some houses collapse," the OCHA said. According to humanitarian agencies, the floods are the latest in a series of extreme weather events in recent years to hit Somalia, where communities find themselves at the sharp end of the global climate crisis. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. North Korea announced the successful launch of its first military spy satellite last month, reportedly revealing images of iconic US landmarks such as the White House and the Pentagon in a move that shocked the international community. The revelation has triggered a cascade of reactions, with the United States, Australia, Japan, and South Korea swiftly imposing fresh sanctions on the reclusive state. According to the North Korean state news agency KCNA, the newly established satellite operations office at the Pyongyang General Control Centre of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) commenced its mission on Sunday, Dec. 3 (via NBC News). This office reportedly transmits acquired information to the reconnaissance bureau at the army and other key units. North Korea's Satellite Launch Heightens Tensions North Korea's Maligyong-1 satellite launch on Nov. 21 intensified regional tensions, leading to a resumption of military activities along the Korean border. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Kim Myung-soo visited frontline units near the border to assess readiness posture amid heightened tensions, marking a breakdown in the military confidence-building agreement between the two Koreas. While the North Korean government has yet to release any imagery from the satellite, the move prompted strong reactions globally. The United States, South Korea, and other nations immediately condemned the action, citing multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban any satellite launches by North Korea, viewing them as covert tests of long-range missile technology. Read Also: Former NSA Employee Pleads Guilty to Leaking Classified Information to Russia: Details Revealed These recent developments have reignited animosities between the two Koreas, with both sides taking steps to breach a previous military agreement meant to ease frontline military tensions. Spy satellites have become a focal point in the high-tech arms race, aligning with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's public vow to introduce advanced weapons systems. North Korea's satellite launch triggered a chain of events that worsened the situation. In response to what it called "rubbish" comments by an unnamed US Space Command official, North Korea's Defense Ministry issued an emphatic warning on Saturday, threatening unspecified steps to eliminate or undermine the capabilities of US spy satellites. The North Korean ministry regarded such statements as a declaration of war (via AP News). What's Next? In contrast, South Korea launched its first military spy satellite into space just days after North Korea's announcement. Launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, this marks the first of five spy satellites South Korea plans to send into space by 2025 (via Reuters). The Defense Ministry hailed the launch as successful, emphasizing the satellite's role in bolstering the country's independent space-based surveillance system. The ongoing dispute underscores the strategic importance of space-based technologies and highlights the persistent challenges in maintaining regional stability on the Korean Peninsula. As North Korea continues to assert its right to launch spy satellites in the face of international sanctions, the world watches with bated breath. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Pentagon Plans Comprehensive Zero-Trust Cybersecurity Measures Amid Growing Threats 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A magnitude of 7.5 earthquake recently struck Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines, sparking widespread evacuations and triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific region. The seismic event, originating off the coast of Mindanao, left a tragic toll in its wake, claiming the life of a pregnant woman and injuring several others while leaving families displaced and communities on edge. Strong Earthquake Hits South Philippines The earthquake, occurring at 10:37 pm local time on Saturday, rattled the region with a force that was felt across Mindanao and even prompted evacuations in parts of Japan. A series of significant aftershocks followed the initial quake, compounding the fear and uncertainty among residents and officials alike. The US Geological Survey initially measured the quake at 7.6, while the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre recorded it at 7.5 (via Aljazeera). Tsunami warnings were swiftly issued, heightening the urgency for coastal communities to seek higher ground. In Japan's Okinawa prefecture, evacuation orders impacted thousands as authorities braced for potential tsunami waves. However, the US Tsunami Warning System eventually lifted the alert, alleviating fears. Read Also: NASA, IBM Forge Next-Gen AI Weather Model, Advanced Climate Forecast Technology Magnitude 7 Quake Claims 1 Pregnant Woman While the seismic activity did not result in significant structural damage, its human toll remains heartbreaking. A pregnant woman lost her life when a 15-foot concrete wall collapsed on her and her family as they attempted to flee their home in Tagum City. Her husband and daughter suffered injuries in the tragic incident (via BBC). The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) cautioned of potential aftershocks despite not expecting substantial damage from the quake itself. Raymark Gentallan, the local police chief in the coastal city of Hinatuan near the earthquake's epicenter, reported power outages but noted that disaster response teams had not yet identified casualties or significant damage. In the aftermath, affected communities exhibited resilience, with villagers initially seeking refuge in evacuation centers. However, as inspections took place and assessments of the affected areas were conducted, many returned to their homes. The Philippines, situated along the Ring of Fire, a volatile belt of seismic activity, frequently experiences earthquakes. This recent tremor comes on the heels of a 6.7 magnitude quake that struck Mindanao two weeks ago, claiming lives and causing structural damage. As recovery efforts and assessments continue, the immediate threat of a tsunami has subsided, providing a moment of relief for the affected regions. In Other News Last month, North Korea announced the successful launch of its first military spy satellite, which reportedly revealed images of iconic US landmarks such as the White House and the Pentagon, shocking the international community. North Korea's Maligyong-1 satellite launch on Nov. 21 intensified regional tensions, leading to a resumption of military activities along the Korean border. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Scientists Rush to Establish Consensus on Global Warming Thresholds Ahead of COP28 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United Kingdom faced a blast of cold weather that included overnight frosts, freezing fog patches, and snowfall in various regions. Scotland experienced severe snowfall and temperatures that dropped to a bone-chilling -12C. The adverse conditions resulted in serious consequences, including reports of drivers in Cumbria being stranded in a 19-hour traffic jam without access to food or water. Additionally, approximately 2,500 locals are without power. From 5 p.m. on Sunday to noon on Monday, the Met Office is issuing a yellow weather warning for ice across the East Midlands, West Midlands, north of England, and parts of north and central Wales. The forecast anticipates further snowfall, worsening the hazardous conditions. Cold Temperatures to Persist These chilly temperatures are expected to persist until Tuesday and Wednesday, with intermittent periods of sunshine, per The Standard. Looking ahead to Thursday, an approaching low-pressure system from the South West could meet colder air, leading to anticipated showers across southern England and Wales. Simultaneously, the UK Health Security Agency has raised an amber health alert for cold weather, effective until December 5, as per the BBC. This alert covers five central and northern regions in England, while a yellow warning applies to four other regions. The agency underscores the prolonged impact of the cold weather on the health service, posing a potential risk to the entire population. Read Also: Triple Threat: CDC Warns of Rising COVID-19, Flu, and RSV Cases Across the US Protect You Pipes As the nation grapples with this winter onslaught, millions of Brits navigating the ongoing cost-of-living crisis are making efforts to minimize heating bills. However, a cautionary note has been issued regarding a common mistake that could result in households incurring significant expenses during the festive period. The dropping temperatures significantly elevate the risk of water pipes freezing and bursting, as six percent of Brits have already experienced property damage due to this issue, according to Aviva. Hazel Johnson, director of home and motor claims at Aviva, emphasizes the seriousness of frozen and burst pipes, noting that even one burst pipe can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage. Johnson advises that preparing pipes ahead of cold snaps is vital for protecting property, as reported by LAD Bible. To prevent pipes from bursting, homeowners are advised to take several precautions. Firstly, keeping the heating on for a few hours a day and maintaining a temperature of around 13C can help prevent freezing. Investing in insulation, available for as low as 99p for one-meter-long rolls from local DIY stores, provides added protection in the loft or garage. Addressing existing leaks can prevent costly replacements, with immediate repair recommended for dripping taps to avert potential expenses of around 130 ($165). When going on holiday, turning off the water supply is advised to prevent potential issues, and if pipes have already frozen, turning off the stop tap (stopcock) is essential. In the face of the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions, a proactive approach to safeguarding homes becomes imperative to avoid potentially costly damages. Related Article: EU Lawmakers Grapple With AI Regulation Dilemma as Deadline Looms: Report 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. KIGALI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- UNLEASH, a global innovation platform, has convened 1,000 youth from around the world for a week-long innovation lab held in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, with the aim of collaboratively addressing global challenges and contributing to sustainable solutions for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The innovation event, running from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, brought together young people from 136 countries, including 100 refugees based in Rwanda. At the opening of the event, Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente emphasized the pivotal role of innovation in driving Rwanda's growth. He highlighted its significance in addressing socio-economic challenges and fostering job creation for accelerated development. The kickoff event set the stage for a week of intensive collaboration, culminating in the Solutions Festival and Hanga Pitchfest 2023, Rwanda's largest in-person technology event, where top finalists will pitch their prototypes. Rwandan Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, said it is the honor of Rwanda in hosting UNLEASH's first innovation lab in Africa, stressing the importance of diversity, innovation and human-centered design in creating impactful global solutions. UNLEASH Chairperson Flemming Besenbacher said that hosting the innovation lab in Rwanda provides a platform for youth worldwide to jointly create solutions for a sustainable future. In collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNLEASH included 100 refugees based in Rwanda in the program, enhancing diversity and global representation. UNLEASH has engaged 7,000 young talents from 172 countries through previous innovation labs held in various locations worldwide. This marks its inaugural event in Africa, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation on a global scale. TUNIS, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia received on Sunday the first group of 20 wounded Palestinians from the Gaza Strip for treatment, the country's private radio station Mosaique FM reported. The wounded Palestinians, along with 21 family members, boarded a Tunisian military plane and arrived at the international airport of Tunis Sunday evening, Ridha Dhaoui, the president of Tunisian National Council of the Order of Physicians, told Mosaique FM. According to Dhaoui, the wounded Palestinians, aged 1-21, will be admitted to both public and private hospitals in Tunis to receive the medical treatment. Dhaoui added that most of the injured Palestinians had broken bones and serious burns. Dhaoui announced that another plane carrying 150 wounded Palestinians was expected to arrive in Tunis on Dec. 5. The move is part of Tunisia's efforts to treat the large number of wounded Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. More than 15,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict on Oct. 7, and 41,316 others were injured, according to the Gaza-based Media Office. People look at a mummy on display at the newly-restored Imhotep Museum at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 3, 2023. The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. Imhotep was considered the architect of the Step Pyramid of Djoser built in the 27th century B.C., making it the earliest colossal stone building in Egyptian history. The museum is "one of the most beautiful archaeological site museums," Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa said at the reopening ceremony. Its collection ranges from statues, vessels, and stelae, to monument-building and burial tools, most of which were excavated in Saqqara. The necropolis has been enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site together with the pyramid complexes of Giza and Dahshur. Located in an area of about 1,500 square meters, the museum was opened in 2006 until it was closed for renovation work in March 2022 by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. A woman takes photos of a statue on display at the newly-restored Imhotep Museum at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 3, 2023. The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Statues are on display at the newly-restored Imhotep Museum at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 3, 2023. The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A statue is on display at the newly-restored Imhotep Museum at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 3, 2023. The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Exhibits are on display at the newly-restored Imhotep Museum at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 3, 2023. The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A face mask for a mummy is on display at the newly-restored Imhotep Museum at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 3, 2023. The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A woman takes photos of exhibits at the newly-restored Imhotep Museum at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 3, 2023. The newly-restored Imhotep Museum was reopened Sunday at Saqqara necropolis, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Named after Imhotep, an architect and a minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt's third dynasty, the museum houses 286 artifacts in six halls, in addition to about 70 artifacts on temporary display. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The leader of the caucus representing his partys left flank is warning Joe Biden: the threat of pushing away key constituencies by mishandling the war in Gaza is real. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, appeared on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday and warned that Mr Biden risked pushing away not only Muslim voters at home a key part of his voter coalition but also tarnishing the USs relationships with majority-Muslim countries abroad, particularly in the Middle East. And she added that Democrats needed to be out working right now to shore up the vulnerabilities being exposed in that coaltion before it was too late. Look, I am a supporter of President Biden, and I will continue to be, said the congresswoman, even though she contended that the presidents team had alienated huge communities with an unwavering support for Israels military campaign. More than 14,000, mostly civilians, are believed dead in Gaza as the bloody siege of the tightly-packed territory continued this week following the end of a truce. We have to be realistic about that, and we have to do work right now to address that, she said. The congresswomans warnings are borne out by polling. Surveys indicate that a growing segment of Mr Bidens party, in particular younger voters, women and nonwhite voters, disapproves of the administrations handling of the crisis. On social media, the activist left has rallied behind calls for the president to pressure Israel and Hamas into reaching a permanent ceasefire in the hopes of averting an even higher death toll. Staggering images of human suffering and carnage continues to pour out of Gaza as the military operation continues day-by-day, adding further fuel to the calls for an end to the conflict. The danger for the president heading into an election year is obvious: Mr Biden will need to rebuild his 2020 coalition if he is to win reelection against a Republican opponent most likely Donald Trump, the 90-plus-times-indicted former president and current GOP frontrunner. Already, his support has waned due to growing concerns about his age and ability to both physically and mentally perform the duties of president, a concern most widely held among the same younger voters now breaking with him en masse over the war. Polling this far out from an election is no certain thing; the incumbent has several months to buffer his own defences while attacking Mr Trump or whoever ends up being the Republican nominee. Still, there are clear reasons for him to be concerned, especially given that he is now trailing the former president in a majority of the crucial battleground states he will need to win the Electoral College. Michigan, one of those swing states, in particular is home to a sizable community of Muslim voters which broke heavily for Mr Biden in his 2020 victory over Mr Trump. Mr Biden remains adamant that he will run again in 2024, and the White House has insisted that it is putting pressure on Israels government to avoid civilian casualties as the IDF seeks to destroy Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for a deadly October rampage across southern Israel. I want to be careful that I dont speak to Israeli military operations and get ahead of what theyre doing. That would be inappropriate for me to do, White House national security council spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday, speeking with NBCs Meet the Press. What I can tell you is that in our conversations with them, they have said that they agree with our idea here that the approach they take matters, that the reduction of civilian casualties and, quite frankly, minimizing damage to civilian infrastructure is important to them. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A senior White House official on Sunday sought to distance the Biden administration from potential political fallout stemming from the damning revelation that Israeli intelligence agencies discovered plans by Hamas to carry out an attack like the one that the group successfully launches on 7 October but dismissed them as implausible. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told NBCs Meet the Press that US intelligence agencies had determined that they had not received or otherwise had knowledge of the documents detailing the attack which The New York Times reports Israels government had in its possession for a year. The intelligence community has indicated that they did not have access to this document. That theres no indications at this time that they had any access to this document beforehand, Mr Kirby said. Should they have? NBCs Kristin Welker asked. Given how closely US and Israeli intelligence officials coordinate and are supposed to coordinate intelligence? Intelligence is a mosaic and sometimes you know you can fashion things together and get a pretty good picture. Other times, you know that theres pieces of the puzzle that are missing, he responded. As I said, our own intelligence community said that theyve looked at this. They have no indications at this time that they had any advance warning of this document or any knowledge of it. While adding that the Israeli government need[s] to investigate how it was caught so off-guard by the Hamas incursion on 7 October, he agreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus assertion that such an assessment can wait until after the war. The Israeli militarys efforts against Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip have translated into a staggering bombing campaign and ground invasion which is thought to have killed more than 14,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Thousands of those victims are children. At home, the Biden administrations full-throated support for Israel has been a target of both praise and criticism for the president. Conservatives and older Democrats have commended Mr Biden for standing beside a close American ally in the Middle East, while the presidents critics among younger generations have maintained that Mr Biden is appeasing a rightwing Israeli government and should instead call for a permanent ceasefire to stop the number of civilian deaths from climbing even higher. Polls indicate that the president is losing enthusiasm and goodwill among key demographics in his voting coalition, with his handling of the war being a key reason. White House officials have sought to stem that bleeding of support (to little avail) with repeated assurances that the Israeli government is listening to outreach urging its military to avoid unnecessary civilian deaths. In May 1962, Gerry and the Pacemakers were signed by Brian Epstein, who signed The Beatles in January that year, and who secured them a deal with Columbia Records. A keyboardist and saxophonist, Maguire joined the band in 1961, replacing the groups original pianist Arthur MacMahon. Along with The Beatles, the Pacemakers were regulars at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and the bands travelled to Hamburg together, sharing a flat. On one memorable night in 1961, they combined forces as the Beatmakers for a gig at Litherland Town Hall. Les Maguire, who died aged 81, was the last surviving member of Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Merseybeat group formed by Gerry Marsden in 1959 that rivalled The Beatles during the early 1960s. After The Beatles had had a moderate success with Love Me Do, their producer, George Martin wanted them to record How Do You Do It?, a Tin Pan Alley song by Mitch Murray. The Beatles recorded it, but disliked its chirpiness and persuaded Martin to release their own composition, Please Please Me instead. Epstein then gave How Do You Do It? to the Pacemakers and the song made it to No.1 in April 1963, several weeks before The Beatles first official chart-topper From Me to You (though Please Please Me had already reached No.1 in other UK charts). The Pacemakers next two singles, I Like It, and Youll Never Walk Alone also made it to No.1, making them the first act to top the UK singles chart with their first three releases a record they held for two decades. Meanwhile, Youll Never Walk Alone, a tear-jerking ballad written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for the musical Carousel, was taken up by supporters of Liverpool FC and went on to become arguably the best-known anthem in football. Gerry and the Pacemakers followed in The Beatles wake as part of the British invasion of the United States. The Fab Four first played to screaming fans at the Washington Coliseum on February 11, 1964; Gerry and the Pacemakers arrived that October and performed at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles on a bill including the Beach Boys, Bo Diddley, James Brown and a new band from London called The Rolling Stones. Signature government projects including the North East Link and a commitment to build 10 new hospitals have been identified by their own departments as being in danger of billions of dollars in budget blowouts. The first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop has also been flagged as at moderate risk of going beyond budget as it sits $24 billion short of the total funding needed to complete the project. Construction on the North East Link is underway. Credit: Jason South In its latest report, the Victorian Auditor-Generals Office asked agencies to provide their own self-assessments of major projects, marking them in a traffic light system. Anything marked green was viewed to be likely to run on time, on budget and within its initial scope. A rebooted plan to build a local hospital near Eltham is facing fierce opposition for the second time, with residents of the green wedge area warning the Allan government not to touch their cherished open spaces. The promised community hospital, which was blocked from being built on council land in Greensborough two years ago, is now the subject of a petition rejecting its construction in nearby Diamond Creek. The proposed site for the community hospital. Credit: Luis Ascui A loss of kangaroo habitat, extra traffic congestion and even a feared drop in property values have been listed as reasons not to build a new hospital in the low-density outer suburb. The small hospital intended to ease pressure on the much larger Austin Hospital in Heidelberg will impact local traffic significantly increasing noise and creating parking issues in the area property values could potentially drop for those homes within the vicinity, the petition, titled No hospital in Ryans Rd Diamond Creek, warns. It has been signed by more than 1000 people. TOKYO, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Bear attacks across Japan have already amounted to a record high since record keeping began in fiscal 2006, marking the worst year for bear attacks in the country. The environment ministry said that there were 193 bear attacks nationwide in the eight months since April, which marks the start of Japan's fiscal year, that left 212 casualties, including six people dead. The overall tally so far already exceeded the previous record of 158 logged in fiscal 2020, the ministry said. Seventy percent of the attacks occurred in northeastern Japan, including 70 in Akita and 45 in Iwate. Thirty people were attacked by the animal in November, the second highest for the month. Bears usually go into hibernation from late November to December, but ministry officials warned more attacks are possible. The carbon price imposed on big polluters must nearly double to make the Albanese governments hydrogen dream a reality, experts say, opening a new debate over the cost of transforming Australia from a fossil fuel powerhouse into a green energy superpower. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen is attending the United Nations annual climate summit COP28, in Dubai, to spruik Australias climate credentials and gain support for the Albanese governments election promise to host the meeting in three years time. The Grattan Institute says Australia must raise the price big polluters pay for their emissions if hydrogen is to replace fossil fuels. Credit: Bloomberg Australia is the third-largest fossil fuel exporter in the world, and Bowen said on Sunday that the governments landmark $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program was backing large-scale projects to turn the nation into a globally significant supplier of green energy. The Grattan Institutes Hydrogen: hype, hope, or hard work? report said the governments current carbon price, which is imposed by its safeguard mechanism policy, is too low to encourage big polluters to switch from relatively cheap fossil fuels to more expensive hydrogen. The NSW government will force developers to include affordable and social housing in all high-density apartment developments built around priority public transport precincts in a bid to ease the housing crisis for low-income earners and essential workers. As revealed by this publication in late October, several high-density housing precincts built around public transport hubs will be the centrepiece of the governments flagship reforms, following through on the governments commitment to lean on urban infill to bear the brunt of the states supply targets under the National Housing Accord. Planning Minister Paul Scully is facing early resistance from councils asked to identify areas to be rezoned for higher density. Credit: NCA NewsWire, Sam Mooy Government sources and stakeholders engaged in conversations with Planning Minister Paul Scully, who all spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the government-led rezoning of the precincts would mandate inclusionary zoning in these developments around public transport hubs. Unlike the governments development bonus reform announced in June but still undergoing consultation after stakeholders took issue with the first draft developers wont be given height or floor-space incentives in exchange for incorporating affordable housing. The curious case of Coburg North TAFE raises questions about whether we are making optimal use of well-located government land, and whether good planning or good politics are deciding its future. Until the 1990s, Coburg was the heart of Melbournes industrial north, home to textile factories, and businesses and colleges, like Kangan, that serviced the once-booming local motor industry. The seismic economic restructure of the late 1980s and early 1990s left Coburg North with a surfeit of industrial buildings and a diminishing role for the TAFE. While alternative long-term uses were found for some of the factories and warehouses, that was not the case with the college site. For a decade, locals pressed for the government to retain the property and open it up for housing, artisan manufacturing, much-needed green space, and as a thoroughfare to trains and trams, shops and services. All that campaigning seemed to have come to nothing when the government this year commissioned real estate agents to sell the site on the open market, based on its existing industrial zoning. But three factors appear to have contributed to this months rethink of the sale, just days before the scheduled auction. First was the 2022 state election campaign, during which local lad and Labor diehard Anthony Cianflone replaced frontbencher Lizzie Blandthorn she transferred to the upper house as the ALP candidate, and now MP, for the seat of Pascoe Vale. Pascoe Vale MP Anthony Cianflone with Coburg North residents and business owners Maggie Cowling, Jacqui Maitland and Tom Danby at the disused Kangan TAFE site. Credit: Joe Armao Second was that although Labor held Pascoe Vale by a whopping 22.3 per cent at the 2018 election, its margin was slashed to just 2 per cent last year, with the advancing Greens now viewing the seat as very winnable at the 2026 poll. Third was that housing has emerged as a hot political issue, especially in the tussle between Labor and the Greens for young voters in inner and middle-ring seats such as Pascoe Vale. No doubt alert to both the concerns of his constituents and their ability to make him a one-term MP, Cianflone has actively worked to keep and transform the TAFE site. He has met with locals opposed to its sale and has lobbied within government, highlighting how the site is a great location for housing and, possibly, a training facility to support a continued local role for manufacturing. When the for sale sign went up, Cianflone stepped up his efforts. Loading Building on conversations Ive had with local residents, Ive advocated strongly for this site to be considered for future job, skills and housing opportunities for central Coburg, Cianflone tells The Age. Ill continue to put forward the views of the local community as part of ongoing central Coburg revitalisation prospects and efforts. Exactly who Cianflone convinced in government, and how, about the folly of the sale is unclear. Local artist Maggie Cowling lives with her furniture-making partner in a community that includes artisans and makers including woodworkers, puppet and film makers, painters, sculptors, and gin distillers. She is thankful for the accessibility and energetic support of her new local MP, while observing: Were also in a once very safe state seat that is now more marginal. So I dont think were being taken for granted as much as we used to be. The former Kangan TAFE site in Coburg North. The government has multiple policies and guidelines it is supposed to use to assess whether sites are surplus and, if so, what to do with them. The Victorian Government Land Use Policy is one such document. It states that government land use should focus on delivering social, environmental and economic benefits that meet the needs of the Victorian community, while offering value for the Victorian community. A test that is supposed to apply to larger surplus sites includes consideration of access to transport and services, social inclusion and equity, and housing diversity, supply and affordability. Loading The government did not respond when asked whether such filters were applied in the case of the Coburg North site, nor would it explain why it had decided to sell, then not sell, the property. Instead, a spokesperson would only say: Were developing options on how a future development of the Charles Street site can provide the best value to the community. As part of its much-spruiked Housing Statement released in September, the government ambitiously promised 800,000 homes over the next 10 years across Victoria. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her predecessor, Daniel Andrews. Credit: Gus McCubbing The plan includes a promise to make use of well-located government land for housing, noting that 45 sites across the state will accommodate 9000 additional homes. But the government has refused to release the locations, claiming the information is commercial in confidence. Nor would the government explain whether the 45 sites are among the public list of 150 sites currently being prepared for sale. A spokesperson said: We know housing is one of the biggest challenges Victorians face, and through the bold reforms we announced in the Housing Statement, were creating the conditions needed to build 800,000 new homes in Victoria over the next decade particularly in established suburbs like Coburg close to transport, jobs and services. Khan Younis: Israels ground offensive expanded to every part of the Gaza Strip, its military said Sunday, as it ordered more evacuations and vowed to hit south Gaza with no less strength than the fight that has reduced large parts of north Gaza to a moonscape. Heavy bombardment followed the evacuation orders, and Palestinians in the sealed-off territory bordering Israel and Egypt said they were running out of places to go. Many of its 2.3 million people are crammed into the south after Israel ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the war, which was sparked by the October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. Palestinians flee from east to west of Khan Younis during Israeli bombardments. Credit: AP The United Nations estimates that 1.8 million Gazans have been displaced. Juliette Toma, the director of communications at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said nearly 958,000 of them were in 99 UN facilities in the south. Cheyenne, WY (82003) Today Partly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 15F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 6F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. PARIS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- An attack left one person dead and another injured on Saturday evening in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on X, formerly Twitter. According to French media reports, a couple was attacked at around 9:45 p.m. local time near the Eiffel Tower. The man is dead and the woman was treated as a relative emergency. The assailant has been arrested, Darmanin said. ED OFFICIAL in Tamil Naduarrested in bribery case CHENNAI : OFFICIALS of Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption searched the office of Enforcement Directorate(ED) in Madurai after arresting an officer of the central agency for allegedly extorting Rs 20 lakh from a State Government employee, sources said on Saturday. In an unprecedented action,the DVACofficials arrested Ankit Tiwari on charges of demanding and accepting bribes from a Government doctor, who is an accused in a disproportionate assets case. Thesleuths seized Rs 20 lakh cash from his car, which he had allegedly received as a bribe. The ED official was then taken to the V&A Cofficein Dindigul for interrogation. They later conducted searches at the EDsMaduraiofficeandhisresidencelate on Friday and reportedly seized several documents and later sent the officer to a 14-day judicial custody. This is the first time inTamilNaduthat an officer of ED has been arrested. Following a complaint received from Dr Suresh Babu of Dindigul, the V&AC had registered a case againstthe ED officialonThursday. Asperthecomplainant, he worked as Deputy Superintendent in the Government Hospital in Dindigul. A case of accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income was booked against him in 2018. He alleged that Tiwari had contacted him a few months ago and demanded a bribe of Rs 3 crore to relieve him of the charges. As the doctor refused to pay the huge money, Tiwari negotiated with him to part with Rs 51 lakh. The complainant said on November 1 he had handed over Rs 20 lakh in cash to Tiwari. Education does not end after getting a degree: President Murmu WORDS OF WISDOM President of India Droupadi Murmu graces RTMNUS 111TH CONVOCATION FOR STUDENTS Be inquisitive, continue learning Face challenges with self-confidence Stay connected with loved ones Have faith in own abilities FOR VARSITIES Encourage research, innovations Promote inter-disciplinary studies and international collaboration Avoid misuse of Artificial Intelligence Staff Reporter : GETTING a formal degree is not the end of education. Students should remain inquisitive and keep learning. Today, when rapid changes are taking place in the field of technology, continued learning assumes importance, advised President of India Droupadi Murmu while addressing the 111th convocation of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium, on Saturday. Ramesh Bais, Governor and Chancellor of Maharashtra State universities, presided over the convocation. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Transport and Highways; Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister; Chandrakant Patil, Higher and Technical Education Minister; Dr Subhash Chaudhari, ViceChancellor shared the dais. The President told students that they are the asset of the nation and society. She said, The future of India rests on the shoulders of students. Adverse circumstances may come in their life but they should not be afraid of them. Students should face the critical situations with their knowledge and self-confidence, to stay connected with their loved ones and have faith in their abilities. Research and innovation play an important role in the development of any country. I am happy to note that RTMNU is encouraging research, innovation and technology development.The faculty members of this university have earned more than 60 patents on their various research projects. The university has an Incubation Center to encourage start-ups culture among the students. Students and faculty should do research and innovation keeping local problems in their mind, urged Murmu. Stating that today the whole world has become a global village, President cautioned, No institution can remain cut off from the world. Nagpur University must promote interdisciplinary studies and international collaboration. Only by sharing research and innovation with each other, we can face the challenges standing before the world. Any resource can be used or misused. The same fact applies with technology too. If we use it properly, it will be beneficial for the society and country. Its misuse causes damage to mankind. For example, the use of Artificial Intelligence is making our lives easier. But its use for Deepfake is a threat to society.The moral education directs us on right path, felt President Murmu. Students should keep in mind that they have to compete with the world.With India growing constantly, the world is looking at our skilled manpower. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is achieving excellence in all fields. We in Maharashtra also are trying to introduce several things that would contribute in nations growth, said Governor Ramesh Bais. Pointing out that India is poised to become an economic superpower by 2030 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Devendra Fadnavis said, Our responsibility also has increased. We, too, have to grow, update and upgrade ourselves with the rise of India. The universities need to play an important role as far as creating quality skilled human resources. We as Government too are trying to fulfill the dream given by our Prime Minister to us. Maharashtra stood number one in start-up ecosystem. Gadkari urged students and faculty to do need-based research. He said that in coming years the technology should be used to remove the poverty. Dr Subhash Chaudhari delivered the welcome address. Earlier, two students received their respective medals at the hands of President. They include Dr R HTupkari who was conferred with DSc from the Faculty of Science and Technology and Rajshree Ramteke who received Dr T V Gedam gold medal for fulfilling the criterion set by university to get PhD. Dr Varsha Deshpande and Dr Amruta Indurkar conducted the proceedings. ETHICS, ECONOMY, ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTare pillars of good edn system: Nitin Gadkari Staff Reporter : CONVERSION of knowledge in making a good human being is need of the hour. The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been prepared based on this concept, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport. Gadkari was addressing as the chief guest at the concluding programme of the 8th International Principals Educational Conference 2023 (IPEC 2023) conducted by The South Public School at Chitnavis Centre in Civil Lines, on Saturday. Knowledge is nothing without integrated approach and the Government of India has included this approach in its NEP 2020 which was missing earlier, said Gadkari. The objective of education is based on four Es: Ethics, Economy, Ecology, and Environment. These four pillars are important for a good education system, said Gadkari. Today everyone is running behind bookish knowledge. However, the spirit of education is the culture that we have. To get good marks in examination, students are studying hard day and night, but they get disconnected with their family now a days, said the Union Minister. Teachers must understand the spirit of education first, and then they should teach it to their students. Every student is a wealth for the society, just teachers should know the art of converting waste into wealth, said Gadkari. To become a leader of the world first we have to be a super power in knowledge and it will be possible when we include Indian values in our education, said the Minister. In the beginning, Vijay Phanshikar, Advisor-in-Chief of IPEC 2023 and Editor of The Hitavada, gave the introductory remarks and welcomed Gadkari. Phanshikar talked about the objective behind the conference and the success story of the event. Deaven Dasture, Director, The South Public School; Dr Prannay Sharma, Director, FIITJEE; K S Sibi Sekhar, Director, SIP Abacus Academy India Pvt Ltd; and Ravishankara Rath were present as guests. Scrutiny panel members Dr Satish Sule, Girish Deodhar, Dr Rajiv Mohta, Shashikant Chaudhary and Dr Kanchan Naidu also shared the dais. The concluding event commenced with lighting of the lamp and a welcome song by school students. Dr Mrunalini Dasture, Convenor, IPEC 2023 felicitated the chief guest with a bouquet and a shawl. She also talked about the highlights of this three-day conference. Gadkari released the souvenir of research papers namedSetu -- The Divine Bridge during the event. Reena Dargan, Educational Consultant and Nandini Pimplapure, exFounding Principal, R S Mundle High School have been felicitated withLife Time Nachiketa Award during the event. Both awardees were honoured for their contribution in the field of education. Deepti Sharma of Jewar School, Noida; Bhakti Bobade of Centre Point School, Dabha; and Rupali Dey of Modern School, Koradi Road have been felicitated with Super Nachiketa Award at the hands of Gadkari. Similarly, the Nachiketa Awards were also conferred to 18 principals and teachers including Bindu Joseph, Unnati Datar, Rohan Kapai, Anupama Bhat Deshmukh, Rajshree Diwan, Smita Mishra, Archana Malani, Vidya Shankar, Kanchan Ukey, Jayati Chakraborty, Indira Nainar, Dr Jyotimani Rocque, Prashant Holkar, Nutan Jamil, Shilpa Nandanpawar, Prachi Banerjee, Sangeeta Singh, and Dhanshree Punekar. Mangesh Chinewar, Vice Principal, The South Public School proposed a vote of thanks. Great Bombay Circus showcaseslegacy of innovation and spectacle Business Reporter : AFTER three decades, the legendary Great Bombay Circus has made a triumphant return to Nagpur, promising audiences an unparalleled experience of wonder and excitement. The celebration took place on November 11, 2023, at Athavadi Bazaar, unveiling a series of captivating performances that showcase the rich history and tradition of this iconic spectacle. Founded in 1920 by the visionary Baburao Kadam in Hyderabad, Sindh Province, the Great Bombay Circus has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, captivating millionswith its thrilling acts. In Raj, Cgarh, MP, Tgana today NEW DELHI : COUNTING of votes will be held on Sunday in Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana in what is seen as a semi-final contest ahead of the general elections in less than six months. The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three States, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana. Pollsters have been divided on the outcome, with quite a few exit polls putting the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and giving it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that Congress has an advantage in Telangana and Chhattisgarh. Starting with postal ballots, counting will commence at 8 am amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan as polling on one seat in the desert State was put off due to the death of a candidate. A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, election officials said. After wresting Karnataka from the BJP in May, the Congress is eyeing Madhya Pradesh and Telangana and is hoping to retain power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. An impressive performance in these polls will boost its standing in INDIA alliance. The BJP is seeking to replicate the winning streak of Gujarat, where it has been ruling since 1998, in Madhya Pradesh with four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hoping to form Government again. The party is also keen to win back Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as it seeks to regain its hold in the Hindi heartland states ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. With several pollsters predictingaclosefight,therewere reports claiming that parties have decided to herd their winning candidates swiftly to prevent any poaching. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DKShivakumar, however, dismissed reports thathehasbeenaskedtobring winningCongresscandidates from the states to resorts and hotels in Karnataka. Lewis Hamilton says he knew even before the start of the 2023 F1 season that he would be facing a long year with Mercedes, and as it turned out the Britons fears were on the mark. Despite their team's struggles and under-performance in 2022, the first year of F1s new ground-effect regulations, Mercedes architects were convinced that pressing on in 2023 with their singular zero sidepod philosophy would pay dividends sooner rather than later. However, their confidence wasnt shared by Hamilton, a dissenting voice within the team who insisted that the Brackley squad ditch the ill-fated concept. Any hopes the Briton may have had about being wrong about the cars potential vicissitudes were shattered as soon as he shook down W14 at Silverstone on the day of its unveiling in February. "I remember it feeling exactly the same," he said, quoted by the BBC in an extensive end-of-season interview with the media. "And that definitely was not a great feeling. I really had high hopes." Actually, Hamiltons doubts had crept in even before the cars Silverstone roll-out. "In February, when we do a download of where the car is going, I was a little more apprehensive, because the previous year it was like: 'The car is amazing, it's unique, no-one's going to have anything like it.' And then we get to the first test "So, I was a little bit more cautious when I was listening, and I was like: 'We will see.' And then the car had all these problems. I just knew it was going to be a long year." In Bahrain, at F1s opening race of 2023, it didnt take long for the seven-time world champion to confirm his concerns about the teams direction. After Fridays opening practice, he bluntly told his crews that they were on the wrong track. "I'm sure there were frustrations, because I had asked for certain changes, and they weren't done," Hamilton remembered. "No-one knew exactly what the problem was. No-one knew how to fix it." This compelled him to dig in and huddle up with his engineers, and have big, big talks with his team to gain a better understanding of the issues at hand. "Having the experience of the previous year, I just applied myself, in terms of digging down, sitting with the guys. We were having much better meetings, he explained. "I was able to stay a lot more positive during the year and be like: 'It's going to be a long season, but let's not give up. Let's keep pushing towards getting the maximum out of the car, whatever that may be.' "I think for this year they thought: 'The fundamentals are good and we just have to go here.' And it was not the case. That's why I was frustrated in February, because they hadn't made the changes I'd asked for. "But we didn't have a North Star necessarily at the beginning of the year, knowing exactly where we need to work towards. It's been kind of a zig-zag line trying to frickin' get to where we need to be. "Every now and again, something positive happens. You're like: 'OK, that's it.' And then it shifts, so the goalpost is always moving, which is typical." Mercedes eventually came to grips with its cars troubles, but given their fundamental nature, changing and trailing new aero elements was not possible due to F1s cost cap constraints. The German outfit will therefore head into 2024 with an entirely new car, but with no previous even partial validation of its aerodynamic concept. "I do believe we have a North Star now," Hamilton said. "Which I don't think we've had for two years. But still getting there is not a straight line. "And there were just certain things, decisions that have been made, that just left you blocked at the end of a road, and you can't do anything because of the cost cap and all these different things. "If you look at the Red Bull - and they have done an amazing job - from Bahrain last year, they had a bouncing issue and they fixed it that week. And then you can imagine, if you're trying to build a wall, they are one brick after the other, just development, development, development. "Maybe they added something and it didn't add performance. But they were still building. Whereas for us, we had to knock down the wall, if you like, in terms of aero. "We had a lot of aero on that first car last year. We had to basically knock a ton of downforce off it and then slowly try to add. But every time we tried to add, it was worse. So we just didn't improve for a long, long, long time. "I think we understand the car so much better. They have developed great tools in the background. So, naturally, I'm hopeful. But I'm not going to hold my breath." Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter Israel shifts offensive tocrowded southern Gaza TEL AVIV : AS VIDEOS of Palestinians celebrating with the freed terrorists have gone viral, despite Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvirs instructions to police to employ an iron fist to prevent such glorification, Israel on Saturday pounded targets in the crowded southern half of the Gaza Strip and ordered more neighbourhoods designated for attack to evacuate, driving up the death toll even as the United States and others urged it to do more to protect Gaza civilians. The Almagor Terror Victims Association previously released a study that found that 80 per cent of Palestinian terrorists released in political deals resumed their violent activities. At least 200 Palestinians have been killed since fighting resumed on Friday morning following a weeklong truce withtheterritorys rulingmilitantgroupHamas,according totheHealthMinistryinGaza. We are the sword of Mohammed Deif, declared Roda Abu Agamiya, referring to Hamas shadowy terror chief in the Gaza Strip. Abu A gamiya is one of more than 200 Palestinian terrorists Israel has released over the last week as part of the ceasefiredealwithHamasand who have been feted upon their return to Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem. The police are already investigating her for incitement. In one video, terroristsare paraded around on supporters shoulders as a crowd waves PLO flags. Anotherexampleis thejoyous welcome in Bethlehem for Fatima Shaheen, who stabbed 36-year-old Gush Etzion resident and father of three,No am Anisfeld,onApril 17, 2023. Im not afraid. This isntaboutme.Releasing murderers and those convicted of attempted murder is a terrible thing, morally and for public safety, Anisfeld, who suffered knife wounds to his abdomen,told the Tazpit Press Service. Perhaps we had to releasethemtosave innocent hostages, but this must reinforce our commitment to destroy the terror organisations completely, he added. Meanwhile, Health Ministry in Gaza announced that the overall death toll in GazasincetheOctober7 start of the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 15,200, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300. The ministry hadstoppedissuingdaily updates of the overall toll on November 11, following war-related disruptions of connectivity and hospital operations. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in Robert Half Inc. (NYSE:RHI Free Report) by 38.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 138,423 shares of the business services providers stock after buying an additional 38,491 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.13% of Robert Half worth $10,412,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of RHI. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its stake in Robert Half by 107,547.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 56,186,845 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $4,226,375,000 after buying an additional 56,134,650 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Robert Half by 116,277.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,941,582 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $586,327,000 after buying an additional 7,934,758 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors acquired a new position in Robert Half in the 1st quarter valued at $636,060,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Robert Half by 173.4% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,491,723 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $200,758,000 after buying an additional 1,580,365 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in Robert Half by 2,249.5% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,597,852 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $117,969,000 after buying an additional 1,529,845 shares during the last quarter. 91.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Robert Half alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently issued reports on RHI shares. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Robert Half in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. They issued a sell rating and a $60.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Robert Half from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Sunday, October 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $68.63. Robert Half Stock Performance NYSE:RHI opened at $83.37 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $76.52 and a 200-day moving average of $74.96. The company has a market capitalization of $8.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.90, a PEG ratio of 16.87 and a beta of 1.26. Robert Half Inc. has a 52 week low of $64.65 and a 52 week high of $89.78. Robert Half (NYSE:RHI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The business services provider reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $1.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.54 billion. Robert Half had a net margin of 7.09% and a return on equity of 29.60%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.53 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Robert Half Inc. will post 3.86 EPS for the current year. Robert Half Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 22nd. Robert Halfs payout ratio is 43.54%. Robert Half Profile (Free Report) Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Robert Half Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Robert Half and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can reduced its stake in Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report) by 15.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 36,384 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 6,762 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can owned approximately 0.05% of Black Hills worth $2,193,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in BKH. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp bought a new position in Black Hills in the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 60.6% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 652 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 246 shares in the last quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC bought a new position in shares of Black Hills in the second quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Black Hills during the second quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Finally, Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Black Hills by 39.3% during the 2nd quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 889 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 251 shares during the period. 86.64% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Black Hills alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have commented on BKH shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Black Hills from $68.00 to $61.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. TheStreet lowered Black Hills from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. Bank of America reduced their target price on Black Hills from $60.00 to $49.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Mizuho raised Black Hills from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $53.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Black Hills in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Black Hills presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.83. Black Hills Price Performance BKH opened at $53.46 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.85, a PEG ratio of 6.09 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. Black Hills Co. has a 12-month low of $46.43 and a 12-month high of $73.98. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $50.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $55.80. Black Hills (NYSE:BKH Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $407.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $579.85 million. Black Hills had a return on equity of 8.01% and a net margin of 10.08%. Black Hillss revenue for the quarter was down 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.54 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Black Hills Co. will post 3.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Black Hills Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $0.625 per share. This represents a $2.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 16th. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 64.77%. Black Hills Company Profile (Free Report) Black Hills Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 220,000 electric utility customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and owns and operates 1,482 megawatts of generation capacity and 9,024 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guggenheim Capital LLC lowered its stake in WestRock (NYSE:WRK Free Report) by 23.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 58,200 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 17,708 shares during the quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLCs holdings in WestRock were worth $1,692,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in WestRock by 5.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,611,685 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $162,721,000 after purchasing an additional 279,006 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in WestRock by 3.2% in the second quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 95,553 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,778,000 after purchasing an additional 2,927 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in WestRock by 50.6% in the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 6,926 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $201,000 after purchasing an additional 2,328 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its holdings in WestRock by 4.6% in the second quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 9,645 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $280,000 after purchasing an additional 426 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in WestRock by 13.9% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,879,929 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $83,720,000 after purchasing an additional 351,035 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.51% of the companys stock. Get WestRock alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes WRK has been the topic of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of WestRock from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. Argus upgraded shares of WestRock from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of WestRock from $44.00 to $40.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 14th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of WestRock in a research note on Saturday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $37.57. WestRock Price Performance Shares of WRK stock opened at $41.73 on Friday. WestRock has a one year low of $26.84 and a one year high of $42.46. The companys fifty day moving average price is $36.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.42. WestRock (NYSE:WRK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $5 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.11 billion. WestRock had a negative net margin of 8.12% and a positive return on equity of 7.52%. The companys revenue was down 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.43 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that WestRock will post 2.35 EPS for the current year. WestRock Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 13th were given a dividend of $0.3025 per share. This represents a $1.21 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.90%. This is an increase from WestRocks previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 10th. WestRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -18.76%. WestRock Company Profile (Free Report) WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates in four segments, Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WestRock (NYSE:WRK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for WestRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WestRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company cut its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS Free Report) by 2.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 46,216 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,096 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned approximately 0.07% of Essex Property Trust worth $10,828,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 635 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $219,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC raised its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 4.8% in the second quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 1,067 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 25.3% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 243 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $83,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in Essex Property Trust by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 1,957 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $409,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Finally, RB Capital Management LLC grew its position in Essex Property Trust by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 3,003 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $628,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.93% of the companys stock. Get Essex Property Trust alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes ESS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Essex Property Trust from $247.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Essex Property Trust from $226.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Citigroup lowered shares of Essex Property Trust from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $280.00 to $260.00 in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $221.00 to $219.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Essex Property Trust from $247.00 to $244.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Essex Property Trust presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $238.44. Essex Property Trust Trading Up 3.4 % NYSE ESS opened at $220.66 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.63, a quick ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a 12 month low of $195.03 and a 12 month high of $248.80. The company has a market capitalization of $14.16 billion, a PE ratio of 27.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.79. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $213.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $225.36. Essex Property 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 paid a $2.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.19%. Essex Property Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 113.37%. Essex Property Trust Company Profile (Free Report) Essex Property Trust, Inc, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 252 apartment communities comprising approximately 62,000 apartment homes with an additional property in active development. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ESS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Essex Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Essex Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney in Souda Bay, Greece. The American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said, potentially marking a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war. Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available, the Pentagon said. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Bill Dodge/AP) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen on Sunday and a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. The attacks marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict. Advertisement In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world. It said the three commercial ships and their crews are connected to 14 countries. According to Central Command, the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detected a ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The missile hit near the ship. Shortly afterward, the Carney shot down a drone headed its way, although its not clear if the destroyer was the target. The drone was also launched from Yemen. Advertisement About 30 minutes later, the Unity Explorer was hit by a missile, and while responding to the distress call the Carney shot down another incoming drone. Central Command said the Unity Explorer reported minor damage from the missile. Two other commercial ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II, were both struck by missiles. The Number 9 reported some damage but no casualties, and the Sophie II reported no significant damage. While sailing to assist the Sophie II, the Carney shot down another drone heading in its direction. The drones did no damage. We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran, Central Command said, adding that the U.S. will consider all appropriate responses. The Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has already shot down multiple rockets the Houthis have fired toward Israel so far in the war. It hasnt been damaged in any of the incidents and no injuries have been reported on board. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed Sundays attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved in the attack. The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops, Saree said. The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement. Saree also identified the first vessel as the Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British firm that includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers. The Number 9 is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Managers for the two vessels could not be immediately reached for comment. Advertisement Israeli media identified Ungar as being the son of Israeli shipping billionaire Abraham Rami Ungar. The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel. The U.S. has stopped short of saying its Navy ships were targeted, but has said Houthi drones have headed toward the ships and have been shot down in self defense. Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce briefly halted fighting and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and a ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming. In November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time. Associated Press writers Tara Copp in Dallas, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Dana Beltaji contributed. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in ALS implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price A total of 11 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership Recent purchases by insiders If you want to know who really controls ALS Limited (ASX:ALQ), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 54% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of ALS, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for ALS What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About ALS? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in ALS. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of ALS, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. ALS is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Australian Laboratory Services PTY Ltd. is the largest shareholder with 20% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 5.0% and 3.6% of the stock. Story continues After doing some more digging, we found that the top 11 have the combined ownership of 51% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of ALS The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in ALS Limited. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own AU$112m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see this level of investment by insiders. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership With a 22% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over ALS. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 20%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for ALS you should know about. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Your Royal Highnesses, The Yoruba Referendum Committee welcomes your direct intervention in the efforts to Restructure Nigeria. The Communique at the end of your Annual General Meeting held on Monday, November 27, 2023, provides a good basis for an engagement with the aim of arriving at a practical road map that will usher in a Restructured Nigeria of our dreams. Your Communique demanded, among others, the following from the Federal Government: (A) to have specific constitutional roles for all traditional rulers in the country as a fourth tier of the government, (B) immediately expedite action granting Local Government Autonomy to Local Government authorities (C) create a special intervention fund for security which would be administered by the traditional rulers as a way to improve on the spate of insecurity in the country.(D) to critically look into the suggestions proffered during the last Constitutional Review Conference and (E) the Local Government Authorities and Traditional rulers as well as the States to have better control of resources within their domain. The Yoruba Referendum Committee humbly responds to your Communique as follows: i. The Federal Government cannot be asked to have specific Constitutional roles for all traditional rulers in the country as a fourth tier of government because there is no such tier in any Federation. A Federation is a system of coordinate jurisdiction between the Center (National) and the Federating Unit(sub-national). Therefore, asking the Federal Government to make traditional rulers a fourth tier of government already neutralizes the concept of Federalism. ii. Traditional rulership is culture specific, especially in a Multinational and Multi-cultural country like Nigeria. As Yoruba Obas, you represent a specific culture within the Nigerian context, therefore, your role in governance of Yorubaland ordinarily should have no input from the center as the Yoruba and their Obas have, over the centuries, during pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial periods, established proven relevance and authority of the Oba, in their varied good, bad, and ugly components. Hence, for the Yoruba, our political space is also a cultural space with time-honored values. This historical and contemporary reality cannot be surrendered to the Federal Government. Besides, were the Federal Government to accede to this request means already the quest for Restructuring is already defeated because it presupposes that the existing STRUCTURE is a given; that is, the question to be answered is no longer the STRUCTURE of the Federation but merely the reconfiguration of its mode of governance. iii. Similarly, Local Government Autonomy is anti-Federal in the sense that the Autonomy will depend on funding from the center. The entire quest for Local Government autonomy is anchored on its separation from the State Government with the excuse that the Local Government is nearer to the people and such autonomy will advance development without being hampered by the excesses of the State Government. iv. We know, from our experience in the Western Region, that development, local or Regional, was not a function of the distance from the people, but the result of definitive policies geared towards development, with relevant agencies by both the local and Regional Governments. Hence, the Obas played pivotal roles in the development and application of the free primary education policies, local councilors played their roles in agricultural extension services, etc. These were neutralized by the various military interventions through which Local Government Administration became centralized via the Dasuki Reform recommendations and which has now led us to where we are, today. v. The problem created by the continuous centralization of Local Governments cannot therefore be resolved by vesting the same central Government the authority to have direct funding, and therefore control, of Local Governance. Flowing with this will be the annexation and subordination of local security by the Center because it will control the utilization of the said funding. Our contention is that if the center will disburse special intervention funds for security, it also reserves the power to interfere and intervene in the execution of any security policy that will be put in place. The institution of the Oba will become an appendage of the political forces controlling the center at any point in time thereby removing them further away from their primary cultural constituency, comprising the people they govern as Oba. This is further reinforced by your demand on the government to critically review the solutions proffered during the last Constitutional Review Conference. vi. The Conference avoided taking any decision(s) on the most fundamental issue before it, to wit: the nature of the Federation as well as control of the resources which was shunted to another time. Incidentally, one of your demands centered on resource control by local governments, traditional rulers and states. vii. Based on the above, the thrust of the message we want to pass to you is that reviewing the conference is not necessary as it negates everything related to Federalism. What is needed is another approach towards achieving a Truly Federal Nigeria. viii. We begin by acknowledging the major roles played by Yoruba Obas in the founding and activities of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, founded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in London, England, in 1945 and formally launched in Ile-Ife in 1947. One major reason stated at the Egbes formation was the propagation of the ideal of a modern Yoruba State and Federal State of Nigeria through the agency of reliable persons who share our ideals. ix. Towards this end, the Egbe, through its memo to the Regional Committee on the amendment to the Richards Constitution established by the then Governor MacPherson, advocated the grouping of Nigeria into various Autonomous States or Regions purely on ethnical basis and that Regional Autonomy should be the prerequisite for a Central government and that if there was any area in which the colonial government wanted to experiment in giving Nigerians complete control over internal affairs, that area should be in the Regional Administration. x. Chief Obafemi Awolowo drew extensively on the global models of shared governance between National and sub-national governments in arriving at this Federalist option. Yet, the Conference relegated this global imperative to the background in its conceptualization by denying Nationalities the freedom to choose who to speak for them at such an important meeting. This method of selecting or appointing delegates alienated most delegates from the Nationalities whose direct voice was needed on such crucial aspect of Restructuring the polity in Nigeria. None of the delegates represented any of the Peoples of Nigeria, hence were not bound to defend any imperative of the Nationality from which they were selected. Hence, the Conference could not align itself with the hopes and aspirations of the People which was supposedly the raison detre for organizing such Conferences in the first instance. It merely provided the ammunition to further unitarize Nigeria, thereby entrenching the countrys foundational crisis, which was against what the Yoruba had always advocated as being the basis for Federalism. xi. The Conference did so by assuming the singularity of the geo-political space called Nigeria and all its solutions to its problems were relegated to maintaining that singularity while turning issues of Federalism into an administrative convenience even when it is obvious that the problem is exactly in that singularity. That is why the Conference promoted the ridiculous position that states are Federating Units. States, as we have them in Nigeria, are administrative entities, which were not even created by the residents but by military fiat. A country can have any form of administrative unit, which was why Aguiyi Ironsi replaced the Regions with groups of provinces which are now more or less the states. xii. Every Union or Federation in the world is based on a Union of Peoples which may be administered either as states (as in the US) or Regions as in Germany. For a Federation or Union to exist, therefore, the Peoples inhabiting a geographical space must make that decision. That the Conference refused to see this point underscored the confusion in its understanding of the concept of Federalism in a post-colonial State like Nigeria. xiii. When the case is made that the current states are now a reality which we cannot run away from, the short answer to that is, Yes, we can run away from it, in the sense that the political and economic circumstances that make for their creation is the root cause of Nigerias problems today, such that their retention or changing can only be by the Peoples affected themselves and not by fiat from the Center. Thus, the Yoruba may decide to make every Yoruba town or city an administrative centerthat will be our choice based on our economic and political imperatives. While the Conference floated the idea of merging of States that may wish to, it did not prescribe the methodology for doing so and it could not have. xiv. The above, and more, are the reasons the Yoruba Referendum Committee is proposing, for your consideration, the pursuit of a Legal, Valid and Legitimate mechanism that will aggregate Yoruba demands as the way forward. The mechanism is what we have called the Yoruba Referendum which will address the lack of political integration preventing the establishment of a Yoruba Regional entity and identity that will drive Yoruba economic, cultural, and social imperatives. xv. Towards this end, the Bill for a Referendum has been submitted to the Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti State Houses of Assembly, to be passed into Law and conduct the Referendum. It is our candid hope that you will throw your weight behind this endeavor. Thank you, sirs, Editorial Board, Yoruba Referendum Committee . The French Minister for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht, has disclosed the commitment to support the Nigerian government and private sector in the area of energy. While speaking at the French-Nigerian Economic Summit in Lagos, Becht, noted that the French businesses already have a strong presence in Nigeria, with RTE- the national power transporter in France providing advice for the conception of the Northern Corridor, a major infrastructure project to which the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) is contributing 200m in financing. According to him, France is among the very top investors to Nigeria, with over $10 billion in investment stocks. Together, the hundred or so French companies that have permanent presence in Nigeria, in a wide range of sectors, employ over 10,000 people in the country, mostly Nigerians. These French companies are not just selling French products: they are actually investing in Nigerias economy and creating jobs, factories, farms and vocational training centres. The Chairman of the France-Nigeria Business Council, Dr Hebert Wigwe, also explained the need for a network to help businesses in Nigeria grow. He noted that the establishment of Access Bank in Paris is a milestone expected to support French businesses coming to Nigeria and vice versa. The President, French-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Usman Mohammed, also expressed commitment for the partnership with the France-Nigeria Business Council, noting that the goal is to promote businesses between France and Nigeria. Phuket Immigration chief resigns PHUKET: Phuket Immigration Chief Col Thanet Sukchai has officially tendered his notice and been transferred immediately, it has been confirmed. immigrationpoliceRussianIndian By The Phuket News Sunday 3 December 2023 12:09 PM Photo: PR Phuket Col Thanet submitted his letter of resignation to the Commander of Immigration Division 6 on Wednesday (Nov 29). In his letter, Col Thanet stated, I wish to resign from government service. To maintain a moral system for the organisation And I hope that in the coming era, people who work hard, sacrifice, and have good results will be considered fairly. Therefore, I am hereby requesting your consideration. Instead of accepting Col Thanets request, the following day he was transferred to the same position at the Immigration office in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Col Thanet had been in the position of head of Phuket Immigration for just over three years and had a mixed time during his tensure. He and his team received praise for introducing such measures as the Phuket Crime Free initiative, otherwise known as the white accommodation project which focused on crime- and drug-free accommodation deliverables to ensure the safety of foreign nationals and local residents. Similarly, Phuket Immigration launched a tip-off hotline and an online form for people to report bad foreigners in their area in September. The launch of the new channels for reporting came after rising concerns of criminality among new arrivals of Russian nationals to the island. Col Thanet was part of a press conference on Sept 9 to deny reports that surfaced in foreign media stating that the island had effectively been overtaken by Russians, including members of the Russian mafia. More recently was the incident on Oct 27 when two Phuket Immigration officers intending to execute an arrest warrant for an Indian man overstaying in the country were assualted at a luxury villa in Laem Singh, Cherng Talay by foreign private security personnel. The situation required the Phuket Provincial Police Special Operations and Tactics (SWAT) Unit to intervene and bring an end to the hours-long siege. Subsequently, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Immigration Bureau, Pol Lt Gen Itthiphon Itthisanronnachai, ordered that the foreigner at the centre of the incident, identified as an ethnic Indian from Vanuatu by the name of Nikhil Arora who was staying in Thailand under a Thailand Privilege Visa, be banned from re-entering Thailand for life. There were reported suggestions that Col Thanet received criticism following the incident from subordinates within the Immigration office which may have led to his decision to resign. Three killed in bomb attack on Catholic mass in Philippines MARAWI: At least three people were killed and dozens wounded in a bomb attack on a Catholic mass in the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines today (Dec 3), with President Ferdinand Marcos blaming foreign terrorists. violencedeathreligionmilitarypolice By AFP Sunday 3 December 2023 12:33 PM Military personnel stand guard at the entrance of a gymnasium while police investigators look for evidence after a bomb attack at Mindanao State University in Marawi, Lanao del sur province earlier today (Dec 3). Photo: AFP The blast happened during a regular service at Mindanao State Universitys gymnasium in Marawi, the countrys largest Muslim city, regional police Chief Allan Nobleza said. Were investigating if its an IED or grenade throwing, Nobleza said, referring to an improvised explosive device. Mindanao State University issued a statement condemning the act of violence, as it suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus. We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy, the university said. Nobleza said three people had been killed and Lanao del Sur provincial Governor Mamintal Adiong told reporters more than 40 wounded were being treated in hospital. Photos posted on the Lanao del Sur governments Facebook page showed several overturned plastic chairs and debris around a black patch on the floor of the gymnasium. University student Chris Jurado, 21, told AFP from his hospital bed that the explosion happened during the first Bible reading of the morning mass at 7am local time. It was really sudden and everyone ran, Jurado said. When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didnt know what happened because everything happened so fast. Rowena Mae Fernandez, 19, said she did not know what the explosion was at first - then others started running. My companion and I also ran, even though we fell on the ground at one point. That was the only thing I remembered until I got out of the gym and I fell again, she said from hospital. My friends were crying because they saw my injury. Marcos condemned the attack by foreign terrorists, describing it as senseless and heinous. Marawi city Mayor Majul Gandamra urged members of the Muslim and Christian communities to remain unified. Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity, Gandamra said in a statement condemning the attack. Cowardly acts Nobleza said police were investigating whether the bombing was a revenge attack for a Philippine military airstrike on Friday that killed 11 Islamist militants from the Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines organisation in Mindanao. The military said yesterday the group had been planning to mount attacks in Maguindanao del Sur province. Another line of inquiry was whether remnants of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf militant groups, who had held Marawi under siege in 2017, were involved, Nobleza said. The Philippine military wrested back the ruined city after a five-month battle that claimed more than a thousand lives, after hundreds of pro-Islamic-State foreign and local fighters had seized it in May 2017. Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur are part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The countrys Muslim minority were given self-rule under former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of efforts to head off the lure of violent extremism. Bangsamoro Government Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said he condemned the atrocious and cowardly acts and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the region. Manila signed a peace pact with the nations largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion. But smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. Communist rebels also operate in the region. Photo: Jim Allen - FreightWaves Chart of the Week: Outbound Tender Market Share Atlanta, Ontario SONAR: OTMS.ATL, OTMS.ONT Atlantas percent of total U.S. freight market volume has fallen more than 11% over the past year, according to FreightWaves tender volume data. On the other side of the country, the Ontario, California, market has recovered over 14% of its share of the outbound trucking market. Supply chain shifts and a relatively inexpensive transportation market are driving forces. Freight takes the path of least and generally cheapest resistance. During the pandemic years of 2020-21, the West Coast port and rail infrastructure was overwhelmed, causing prices to skyrocket and service to deteriorate around the nations largest port complexes of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Imports from Asia represent a large percentage of freight volume in the U.S. and most of that entered through the Southern California ports as it is the fastest and cheapest route until the pandemic. Importers were forced to find alternative pathways to bring their freight into the U.S. and diverted shipments into Eastern ports with more frequency. Ports like Savannah, Georgia, a feeder for Atlanta market freight demand, exploded. Many thought much of this volume would stick, but that has somewhat faded. Savannah currently represents approximately 7.44% of domestic maritime import shipments, down from its peak value of 7.9% in 2022 and up slightly from 2019s 7.3%. With drought impacting the Panama Canals larger Neopanamax locks this fall and the conflict in the Middle East creating problems for ships around the Suez Canal, importers are seeing more reason to resume shipping into the nations largest port complex in Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Inbound Ocean TEUs Volume Index (IOTI), which measures bookings of twenty-foot equivalent units by departure date from the port of lading, for Savannah is down 20% annually this past week. The IOTI for the Port of Los Angeles is up 73%, a trend that has been relatively consistent since this past spring. Story continues Other than geopolitical and environmental disruptions both increasing themes over the past several years for supply chains cost is an undeniable factor. Maritime container rates spiked from China to the North American West and East coasts in 2021-22, but not proportionately at times. When the spread is smaller, it makes shipping into the Eastern ports more favorable. The cost of surface transportation is also a huge factor. In December 2021, the average dry van truckload spot rate from Los Angeles to Philadelphia was $9,600. The cost of shipping from Savannah to Philadelphia was $2,650 a difference of nearly $7,000. At the same time, the cost of moving a forty-foot equivalent unit from China to Los Angeles was ~$14,600 versus ~$16,500 from China to Savannah a difference of $2,100. If service is similar, and at this time it was more than likely better, shippers could save nearly $5,400 per shipment moving their goods into the East Coast. The current spot rate from Los Angeles to Philadelphia is $5,300, and Savannah to Philadelphia is $1,450. The spot rate for containers from China to LA is around $1,600 and to Savannah is $2,300. This would make the savings around $3,150. The savings is still there to an extent, but the service scenario has reversed. The total value proposition of shipping into the East has dramatically fallen and subsequently so has the surface freight volume originating in the Atlanta market. Freight demand moving back to the West Coast could make it easier for the market to destabilize as carrier networks are typically more strained when they have to cover longer distances. This shift back to another pre-COVID shipping pattern may reemerge as another supply chain pain point when capacity finds more of an equilibrium with demand. About the Chart of the Week The FreightWaves Chart of the Week is a chart selection from SONAR that provides an interesting data point to describe the state of the freight markets. A chart is chosen from thousands of potential charts on SONAR to help participants visualize the freight market in real time. Each week a Market Expert will post a chart, along with commentary, live on the front page. After that, the Chart of the Week will be archived on FreightWaves.com for future reference. SONAR aggregates data from hundreds of sources, presenting the data in charts and maps and providing commentary on what freight market experts want to know about the industry in real time. The FreightWaves data science and product teams are releasing new datasets each week and enhancing the client experience. To request a SONAR demo, click here. The post Atlanta becomes casualty of imports returning to West Coast appeared first on FreightWaves. The ripple effect: Myanmar military coup of 2021 and its impact on Manipur and Mizoram | Laithangbam Kumarsanu Singh Myanmars geopolitical importance stems from its strategic location, rich natural resources, and its role as a crossroad between South and Southeast Asia. The military coup in 2021 significantly impacted the countrys political landscape, drawing Indias attention to the concern of border security in Manipur and Mizoram. The country gained independence from the British in 1948. From that point on, a civil war erupted between the Myanmar military and the communist party of Burma. 1962 General Ne Win's coup led to a one-party military dictatorship. The year 1988 witnessed a pro-democracy uprising led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The military responded harshly, resulting in significant loss of life. The State Law and Order Restoration Council emerged from within the military ranks to take control. They ruled with an iron fist, suppressing dissent, imprisoning political opponents, and restricting civil liberties.The act of military dictatorship led to the emergence of many ethnic armed organisations to fight against tyranny, like the Karen National Union, United Wa State Army, Kachin Independence Army, Shan State Army, Arakan Army, Mon National Liberation Army, etc. It is estimated that there are now at least 21 Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs), along with many militia groups. Much of the heavy fighting between EAO and Government forces has occurred in the country's eastern and northern border areas, such as Karen (also known as Kayin), Kachin, and Shan States. The Nation transitioned to democracy in 2008 under a new Constitution drafted by the military. The Constitution still granted wide powers to the military, and it maintained its influence by controlling significant parts of the economy. And Nationwide Parliamentary elections were held in 2015. The progress of democratisation was abruptly halted when the Tatmadaw seized power in the February 2021 coup, only three months after Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) achieved a landslide victory in the Parliamentary elections of November 2020. The military cited widespread election fraud in the November 2020 general elections as the official reason for the coup. The Constitution of 2008 reserved a quarter of Parliamentary seats for the military and granted them key Ministries, giving them significant influence over the civilian Government. The military justified its intervention based on perceived threats to the Constitutional order. Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's de facto leader, along with other senior members of the NLD, were detained, and the internet and social media were shut down. The coup triggered widespread protests across Myanmar, with people from various segments of society expressing their opposition to the military takeover. The Civil Disobedience Movement emerged, with civil servants, healthcare workers, and professionals boycotting their duties. The scale and persistence of the protests reflected deep-seated dissatisfaction with military rule. In April 2021, ousted NLD Members of Parliament, protest leaders, and activists from several minority groups established a parallel Government known as the National Unity Government (NUG). In September 2021, the NUG declared war on the military junta and formed an armed division known as the People's Defence Force. However, it is an umbrella organisation of the various militias. The military's actions triggered international condemnation, leading to Myanmar's increased isolation on the global stage. The United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea imposed sanctions on the military junta, targeting key figures and entities associated with the coup. Economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure aimed to influence the military's behaviour and restore civilian Government. The political instability and international sanctions have taken a toll on Myanmar's economy. Economic activities, including trade and investment, have been disrupted. The decline in financial stability had repercussions for the general population, contributing to challenges related to poverty and unemployment. The immediate effect of the political turmoil and violence in Myanmar following the February 2021 military coup has led to a significant influx of refugees seeking safety and shelter, particularly in Mizoram and Manipur. The impact of the military operations was most severe in Chin State, Sagaing, and Kachin, which were home to armed groups resisting the military junta, resulting in significant displacement from these areas. The first wave of refugees started in March 2021. The refugees primarily consist of Parliamentarians, civil servants, anti-coup protestors, teachers, army personnel, and activists. Mizoram was the first State to welcome refugees predominantly from the Chin-Kuki ethnic community of Chin and Sagaing States. As per the report from UNHCR, an estimated 54,100 people have arrived since the coup in February 2021. As of May 1, 2023, over 40,000 refugees from Myanmar were living in Mizoram, and 8250 were living in Manipur State. For Mizoram the State Government has registered over 30,000 individuals collecting biometrics and accommodating them in around 160 temporary camps. In Manipur, the State Government initially failed to capture biometrics data, enabling individuals to cross freely through the porous Indo-Myanmar border. This has led to the emergence of small new villages in Kuki inhabited area of Tengnoupal, Churachand-pur and Chandel, with some residents engaging in poppy cultivation to earn easy money for survival. Many of the refugees have close ties with the Kuki tribe of Manipur, creating a sense of marginalisation among the Meitei community. Meitei community already feels outnumbered by the significant influx of refugees, perceiving them as a threat to socio-political situation of Manipur. In response, the State Government has initiated measures to identify refugees and send them back to dedicated and fenced shelter homes or camps. These efforts against illegal encroachers from Myanmar are interpreted by the Kuki as actions against their own community because they identify the Chin refugees from Myanmar as members of their own tribe. Tensions have risen between the State Government and Kuki community, leading to one of the causes of the ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki on May 3, 2023. This adds to the complexity and volatility of the situation of refugees from Myanmar in Manipur. According to the UNHCR, since October 27, about 333,500 people have been displaced in Myanmar due to the intensifying conflict between the country's Military Army, Tatmadaw, and the Armed Ethnic Group known as the Three Brotherhood Alliances in the Shan State of Myanmar. The Three Brotherhood Alliance, comprises of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army, launched Operation 1027 in the northern Shan State bordering China. The alliance, with the support of other small groups, has reportedly overrun more than 135 military positions, seized large caches of weapons and ammunition, and taken control of trade routes with China, including Kunlong town near Chin-shwehaw, the site for a proposed rail link with China. (To be contd) More teeth to ST for Meiteis demand Make it a poll issue | Now is perhaps the time for the ST for Meiteis champions, particularly the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM), the World Meetei Council (WMC) Meitei/Meetei Tribe Union (MTU), the Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL) and others who back the demand to try and see how to make this a crucial issue in the coming Lok Sabha elections. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), the Kuki Inpi, Manipur (KIM) and obviously the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur continue to sell the false story that the May 3 rally was staged against this demand, but all concerned knows that this was nothing but the first lie on which foundation the May 3 rally was staged and which led to the eruption of one the ugliest ethnic clashes Manipur has seen to date. A false premise it is and the world knows it, and this could be all the more reason to raise the ST for Meiteis demand a notch or two or three higher. Long before ATSUM staged the now infamous Tribal Solidarity March of May 3, 2023, the demand that the Meiteis be included in the ST list of the Constitution of India has been there with the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs asking the State Government to send the socio-economic report of the Meiteis for inclusion in the ST list. For ten long years the State Government slept over the matter and there is no reason anymore for Imphal to continue with its afternoon siesta over the matter. Acting on the communication from the Union Tribal Ministry and on the application moved by the Meitei/Meetei Tribe Union, the High Court of Manipur merely asked the State Government to send the needed report, as sought by the Centre. That ATSUM preferred to interpret this in a way which suits their narrative and for which the May 3 rally was staged and how the current clash erupted from that day is there for one and all to see, but the more important point at the moment is how to make the ST for Meiteis demand one of the more important issues in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Time is still with the more vocal ST advocates and this is now the right time for the different organisations working towards this to chalk out a common frame and see how they can go about making the issue ring a loud, clear bell. Remember the immense positive response the STDCM received when it individually called upon the different sitting MLAs and sought their support. Now is perhaps the time to take that campaign a notch or two higher and see how to make it one of the more prominent issues in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Reach out to the major political parties, particularly the big two-Congress and BJP-and see how things progress from there. Time for the voters to look beyond the election freebies and see which party and candidate talk about issues which concern the future and fate of the Meitei people. And obviously the demand that the Meiteis be included in the ST list of the Constitution of India is an important, in fact the most important issue. Time is with the ST for Meiteis votaries, but this should not mean putting things off till the last minute. Start reaching out to the different political parties now. See which party is in line with the demand and which party is not. On this line, the STDCM, the MTU, WMC, KKL etc may also canvass for candidates and political parties, on the basis of where they stand on the ST for Meiteis demand. The task at hand may appear mammoth, but one here is talking about the future of a group of people, who are indigenous to the land. This is not the first time that The Sangai Express has put across this suggestion and idea and a look back to the run up to the Assembly elections of 2022 should testify this. That the ST for Meiteis demand did not figure as a poll issue is there for everyone to see but this should not be repeated this time. Not when the issue was used and abused to ignite one of the worst ethnic clashes in Manipur and under which thousands have been displaced, hundreds killed and many missing. The time to give a further push to the ST demand is now and voting time is the period when the power is actually in the hands of the people. Time to wield this power in a positive way and act accordingly. This is not for any freebies or personal gain, but about the future of the Meiteis as an indigenous people of the land. Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of Trinamul Congress, has left for Hyderabad on Saturday for his eye treatment in a hospital there, sources in the ruling party said. The chief minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a party rally on 23 November at Netaji Indoor Stadium had expressed deep concern with eye problems of Mr Banerjee. He has developed a blood clot in his eyes, Miss Banerjee had said in the rally. During the end of July, he had flown to the US through Dubai for his eye treatment. He had suffered severe eye injuries during a road accident on Durgapur Expressway in Hooghly in 2016. An eye surgery was performed on him in the US in 2022. Advertisement Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress MP and opposition leader in the Parliament, on Saturday expressed desire to project Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay as chief minister to fight elections in the state. While speaking to reporters at his party office at Berhampur in Murshidabad the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president, said, Justice Gangopadhyay has got the faith, confidence and trust of the people of Bengal. We want an election to be held in Bengal making him a chief ministerial face because people trust him. We want to see him as chief minister and I will stand in the queue first to vote for him if he contests the election. A new era could be started if such personalities are brought to the political field to take charge to run the administration. This is my personal view, the state Congress chief said. Interestingly, Justice Gangopadhyay was in Berhampore town to attend a programme on cancer care this afternoon when Mr Chowdhury was making such statements proposing the former as a face of chief minister. Justice Gangopadhyay did not comment when reporters requested for his reaction. While reacting to Mr Chowdhurys statement, a Trinamul Congress MP said, It exposes bankruptcy in his (Adhir) thoughts. BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that he (Adhir) should not mix judiciary with politics. CPI-M Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty said, Anyone can be chief minister except Mamata Banerjee, her party is looting people of this state. Advertisement Fresh details have emerged in Sam Altmans ousting from OpenAI, with a new report claiming that the companys old board deliberately excluded Microsoft after initially voting to expel Altman as CEO. The New Yorker reported that Microsoft executives, including Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, were blindsided by the decision to oust Altman. Several people in Microsoft found the OpenAI boards decision mind-bogglingly stupid and felt it could destroy the ChatGPT developer. Advertisement When Nadella recovered from his shock over Altmans firing, he called an OpenAI board member, Adam DAngelo, and pressed him for details, the report mentioned. DAngelo told him Altman hadnt been consistently candid in his communications with the board. Nadella hung up in frustration. Microsoft owned nearly half of OpenAIs for-profit arm surely he should have been consulted on such a decision, the report mentioned. On the video call with Nadella, Microsoft executives began outlining possible responses to Altmans ouster. Plan A was to attempt to stabilise the situation by supporting Murati, and then working with her to see if the startups board might reverse its decision, or at least explain its rash move, the report mentioned. Plan B was to use Microsofts considerable leverage to help get Altman reappointed as CEO, and to reconfigure OpenAIs governance by replacing board members. Plan C was to hire Altman and his most talented co-workers, essentially rebuilding OpenAI within Microsoft. Nadella did hire Altman for a short period to help the company pursue its advanced AI dreams with a new vertical. However, Altman finally returned to OpenAI as CEO after an intense drama, with Microsoft getting a non-voting observer seat on the companys board. OpenAIs new board consists of chair Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam DAngelo, the only remaining holdout from the previous board. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI, with a 49 per cent stake in the for-profit entity. An auction of Yellow's terminals may be garnering better-than-expected interest. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) An auction for Yellow Corp.s terminals hasnt ended yet, a Delaware court filing revealed late Friday. The auction for the bankrupt companys less-than-truckload terminals began Tuesday morning, with an expectation that winning bids would be revealed Friday. The court document said it may now be Tuesday (Dec. 5) before the new owners of the service centers are made public. Yellow operated roughly 300 terminals before it ceased operations at the end of July. Some of its property leases have already been terminated. However, parties interested in its more than 170 owned terminals were required to have their bids in by Nov. 9. Less-than-truckload carrier Estes $1.525 billion stalking horse bid was named as the winning bid for the facilities in late September. That offer set the price floor for the current auction process. What remains to be seen is the status of a going concern bid led by Jack Cooper Transports Executive Chair Sarah Amico. The offer was reported to include $1.1 billion in new debt to pay off secured lenders and the hedge funds providing bankruptcy financing as well as $1.5 billion in preferred equity to satisfy claims from unsecured creditors. The linchpin for Amicos offer, however, would require the U.S. Treasury to extend the maturity of a $700 million Covid-relief loan by two years from September 2024. The plan received the support of nearly a dozen senators as well as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represented roughly 22,000 of Yellows 30,000 employees. However, Treasury has been reported to be weighing its options of potentially rescuing some of those jobs against its fiduciary obligation to taxpayers, which would be made whole under the current Chapter 11 liquidation plan. The balance on Treasurys financing package with Yellow stands at more than $737 million, according to recent court filings. Yellows roughly 12,000 tractors and 35,000 trailers were previously approved by the court for sale through auction houses. Story continues More FreightWaves articles by Todd Maiden The post Auction for Yellows terminals remains ongoing appeared first on FreightWaves. The loans Elon Musk took out to buy Twitter (now called X) was about $13 billion and the social media company has to pay about $1.2 billion in interest payments every year. As big advertisers quit the platform and X cannot pay the interest on its loans or pay employees, then it could actually go bankrupt, the BBC reported on Sunday. But that would be an extreme scenario that Musk would surely want to avoid, the report mentioned. However, for a company he bought for $44 billion, bankruptcy might sound unthinkable but it is possible. Disney and Apple are no longer advertising on X and Musk told companies last week to Go f*** yourself. Advertisement Retail giant Walmart has confirmed that it is not advertising on X. We arent advertising on X as weve found other platforms to better reach our customers, a Walmart spokesperson was quoted as saying in reports. The departure of Walmart adds to the growing list of firms leaving X after Musk endorsed an antisemitic post last month (for which, he apologised last week). Apple, Disney, IBM, Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery are among the companies no longer buying ads on X. Last year, around 90 per cent of Xs revenue came from advertising. Not any more. Musk has warned that the loss of big advertisers would spell the end of X. If the company fails, it will fail because of an advertiser boycott. And that will be what bankrupts the company. he said. What this advertising boycott is going to do is kill the company. And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company, and we will document it in great detail, Musk had told the audience at The New York Times DealBook Summit. In 2022, Twitters advertising revenue was around $4 billion. Insider Intelligence estimates that this year, it will drop to $1.9 billion. After Musks outburst against big advertisers, X is reportedly aiming to tap small and medium businesses (SMBs) to offset the advertising loss from big companies. A new report by The Financial Times has claimed X will now turn to SMBs to shore up revenue after Musk angered big brands by supporting antisemitic content. Small and medium businesses are a very significant engine that we have definitely underplayed for a long time, a company spokesperson was quoted as saying. It was always part of the plan, now we will go even further with it, the company added. Foiling an extortion bid, the Delhi Police have arrested four people on Sunday for allegedly demanding protection money from a doctor at gunpoint in North-East Delhis Bhajanpura area. A police official said one of the accused detained in this connection is a juvenile. The matter came to light on the intervening night of Friday-Saturday when, according to the police, Dr. Naeem Ahmed informed the cops about four people, who came to his clinic on Friday posing as patients, pointed a country-made pistol at him and demanded Rs 5 lakh as protection money. Advertisement A case under relevant sections of law was registered in this connection. a police team deputed on the case procured a CCTV footage of the clinic within a few hours of the matter being reported. Two of the accused, identified as Haider Ali alias Sameer and a juvenile, were apprehended, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North-East District Joy Tirkey said. Following the arrest, three more people were arrested for allegedly hatching the conspiracy in a follow-up on the case by the investigating team. This led to the arrest of two more accused who were on the run, the police official further informed. So far, four people have been arrested by the police in the case, who are in the age bracket of 18-23 years, while apprehending the juvenile, according to police. One of them was apprehended earlier as a juvenile in a murder-and-robbery case while another had been involved in a theft, for he was out on bail, the police added. It is said one of them, known as Mohammed Zaim, was behind the conspiracy hatch for extortion. Four of them are from the Bhajanpura area while one was from Maujpur, in Delhi. Meanwhile, the police said efforts were underway to nab the remaining accused, who have been identified as Bada Sahil and Chhota Sahil. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will soon be leasing out office space in its newly-constructed state-of-the-art complex in East Delhis Karkardooma, an official release said on Sunday. Located in the Karkardooma institutional area, the building complex comprises three blocks constructed over a plot size of 22,918 sq metre. The entire project is equipped with modern amenities and safety features like air-conditioning, power backup, firefighting systems and CCTV surveillance apart from 190 KLD sewerage treatment plant. Advertisement There is provision of ample parking space in the basement. The civic body has proposed to lease the new office spaces to interested Central and state government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) for a period of 30 years. The minimum rent of the office complex has been approved by the corporation at Rs 115 per sq ft with enhancement at 7 per cent annually on a compounding basis that is 21 per cent at the end of every three years, the civic body informed. So far, some of the Central government departments have showed interest in the complex, the MCD said. Assembly election results 2023: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to sweep all the three Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh as the saffron partys lead crossed the majority mark in late afternoon trends. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP was leading in 161 seats and won one, while the Congress party was ahead in just 66 seats, according to the official Election Commission data. The BSP and the Bharat Adivasi Party were leading on one seat each. In Rajasthan, the BJP won 8 seats and was ahead in 106 constituencies, while the Congress won one and led on 69 more seats. Independents and regional parties were leading in 12 constituencies, the EC data showed. Advertisement Several Congress bigwigs, including incumbent assembly speaker CP Joshi in Nathdwara, Dr Rajkumar Sharma in Nawalgarh, and minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, were trailing in their respective constituencies. Jyoti Mirdha and Rajendra Rathore were among the prominent faces of the BJP who were trailing in Nagaur and Taranagar constituencies, respectively. The biggest surprise came in Chhattisgarh as the BJP took a decisive lead against the Congress. As per the EC data, the BJP was ahead in 54 seats, while the Congress was leading in 33 seats. The GGP, BSP, and CPI were leading on one seat each. Several incumbent ministers were trailing in Chhattisgarh as BJP shocked pollsters, who predicted a Congress victory in the tribal state. The only consolation for the Congress party was the south Indian state of Telangana, where it managed to end K Chandrashekhar Raos decade-long reign. As per the latest data, Congress won 2 and was leading in 62 more, while KCRs Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was ahead in 39 constituencies. BRS has won one seat in Telangana. The BJP performed well beyond expectations in Telangana as well and was likely to win eight seats. The saffron party had won just one seat in 2018 elections. Telangana Chief Minister KCR was trailing in Kamareddy by more than 3,000 votes against state Congress president Revanth Reddy. He, however, was leading in Gajwal. KCR is contesting from two constituencies. The Narendra Modi mantra has done magic for the BJP yet again in the State Assembly polls, giving a boost to the saffron partys prospects as it gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Every analyst agrees Modi has dwarfed the BJP and looms over the saffron party like a colossus. With the BJP choosing not to project a chief ministerial candidate in any of the four key states which went to the polls, the prime minister was the face of his party as he vigorously campaigned, yet again proving that he is the biggest vote-catcher for the saffron party and his popularity has not diminished one bit even after over nine years in office. Advertisement The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh and dislodged the Congress from office in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, clearly suggesting the voter in Hindi heartland continues to be in awe of the prime minister and the BJPs slogan of Modi hai to mumkin hai. Together, the three states account for 65 seats in the Lok Sabha (Madhya Pradesh-29, Rajasthan-25 and Chhattisgarh-11). The Congress was quite confident of retaining power in both Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh but the results have been a big disappointment for the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The grand old party had some solace as it ousted the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in Telangana. However, the victory in Telangana may not be enough for the party to stake its claim to be the natural choice for leading the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties which has vowed to take on the Modi juggernaut in the Parliamentary polls just five months away. Its also quite obvious now that the BJPs below par performance in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka in May this year was due to strong anti-incumbency sentiments in these two states and had nothing to do with the personal popularity of Modi, the partys lone mascot. As BJP workers danced on the streets at different places in the country after the results of the Assembly elections were announced, one could only hear the cries of Modi, Modi with virtually no one shouting slogans in favour of the state leadership. The most pleasant surprise for the BJP was in Madhya Pradesh where the saffron party succeeded in retaining power despite heavy odds. The Congress gave a tremendous fight to the BJP in the run-up to the polls but the end result was a big disappointment for the grand old party. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan was quick to say that the relentless camapaigning by the prime minister, the poll strategy devised by Home Minister Amit Shah and the pro-poor and pro-women schemes of the Central and state governments resulted in a massive mandate for the saffron party. He made a special mention of the Ladli Laxmi Yojana of his government which captured the imagination of women voters. In Rajasthan, the Congress has paid a heavy price for the continuous feud between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot which affected the functioning of the state administrative machinery. Thus, Rajasthan stuck to its tradition of changing government every five years. Of all the four states that went to polls, Chhattisgarh was almost certain to return the Congress to power. Every poll pundit had predicted that Bhupesh Baghel will navigate the grand old party to victory once again but that was not to be. Prime Minister Modi continuously targeted Baghel on the alleged Mahadev betting app scam during his election campaign. In Telangana, however, the saffron party, it seems, still has to cover a long political distance to become a major force. A resurgent Congress effectively countered the BRS and emerged triumphant, thus preventing KCR from performing a hat-trick and consolidating his family stranglehold over the state. In Chhattisgarh, a seismic political shift is underway with the BJP defying both exit polls and speculations. Outside the BJP office in Raipur, spirited chants of Jai Shri Ram and fervent calls of Modi Modi resonated capturing the growing enthusiasm among the BJP supporters as the party gained the momentum. Presently, the BJP commands a lead with 52 seats, leaving the Congress trailing at 36. However, a compelling narrative unfolded in 15 constituencies, where the gap between BJP and Congress is of a mere 1,000 votes or less. Prominent figures like Deputy CM TS Singhdev, Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant, and seven ministers find themselves trailing in the current tally. After five rounds of meticulous counting, the BJP asserts dominance in Rajim and Navagadh, while Congress holds the lead in Bhilai, with the margin teetering on the edge of 1000 votes. Ambikapur maintains a slender 366-vote gap, Konta at 74, Mungeli at 928, and Dharamjyagarh at 406. Notably, in Kurud, BJPs Ajay Chandrakar is maintaining a lead by 208 votes. Advertisement The early momentum in the morning that was in favour of the Congress has taken a dramatic shift to the BJP. Post the initial round, a fierce contest between BJP and Congress emerged, only to witness the gradual trailing of several ministers. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership for the BJPs big win in three states elections. A visibly excited Yogi Adityanath said that the BJPs success in three of the four states for which counting was held on Sunday was a proof of peoples trust on Modis promises. The chief minister congratulated the hardworking BJP members and the voters for the victory. Advertisement Talking about Rajasthan, he praised the BJP workers and the people for their support, calling it a historic win which shows the trust of Rajasthan citizens in PM Modi and commitment to development. He wished the people of Rajasthan continued progress. Moving to Madhya Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath highlighted the significance of the victory as it shows the peoples strong belief in PM Modis leadership. He congratulated dedicated BJP workers and citizens for supporting good governance, security, and development. He also congratulated the BJP workers for their success in Chhattisgarh while praising the people of Chhattisgarh for choosing a government dedicated to service, good governance, development, and social justice. Describing BJPs performance in Telangana as good, he praised the hardworking workers and the energetic people of Telangana for supporting the ideas of service, good governance, and nationalism. After the Congress partys defeat in three key state assembly polls Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, former party president and senior leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday conceded defeat and vowed to continue the battle of ideology. The Congress leader thanked the people of Telangana the only state where the party registered victory and promised to make Prajalu (common peoples) Telangana. We humbly accept the mandate of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan the battle of ideology will continue. I am very thankful to the people of Telangana we will definitely fulfill the promise of making Prajalu Telangana. Heartfelt thanks to all the workers for their hard work and support, the Congress leader wrote on X. The BJP registered a landslide victory in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while Congress managed to unseat KCR in Telangana. According to the Election Commission data, the BJP won 77 seats in Madhya Pradesh and was leading in 87 constituencies. Advertisement In Rajasthan, the saffron party won 99 seats and was ahead in 16 more constituencies where counting of votes was still underway. The Congress was ahead in 70 seats. In Chhattisgarh too, the BJP was on course to a decisive mandate by winning 15 seats and leading on 40 others where counting was underway. The Congress only managed 9 wins and was leading in 26 mores. The results of Chhattisgarh came as a big jolt for the Congress party as it was hoping for a clear majority and most exit polls had also predicted the return of the Bhupesh Baghel government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed the BJPs landslide victory in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh assembly elections as historic, adding that some people were even saying that todays hattrick has guaranteed the hattrick of 2024. He also asserted that the mandate was a big lesson for Congress and its allies. The Prime Minister also called upon every youth of the country to be an ambassador of the Viksit Bharat. For Viksit Bharat development, no citizens must be left behind, the Prime Minister said while addressing BJP workers at the partys headquarters after massive victories in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Attacking Opposition parties, who are in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, Modi said these election results are also a big lesson for Congress and its ghamandiya (arrogant) alliance. Advertisement These election results are also a big lesson for Congress and its ghamandiya gathbandhan. The lesson is that the countrys trust cannot be won just by a few family members coming together on the stage. The spirit of national service that should be there to win the hearts of the people of the country is not there in the ghamandiya gathbandhan, he said. Modi further said that the mandate has also proved that there is zero tolerance against corruption, appeasement, and dynastic politics. The country thinks that if anyone is effective in eliminating these three evils, it is BJP only. The campaign against corruption launched by the BJPs central government in the country is getting huge public support. The people of the country today gave a clear message to those who do not feel the slightest shame in standing with the corrupt. Those people who are working day and night to defame the investigating agencies which have come down hard on corruption should understand that this election result is also public support for the fight against corruption, Modi said. In this election, there were efforts to divide the country based on castes. I kept saying that for me, four castes are important Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, Kisaan aur Gareeb Parivaar, he added. The Prime Minister hailed the victory as historic! The feeling of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas has won. The voice of Viksit Bharat has won. The resolution of Atmanirbhar Bharat has won, he said. Today, its the voice of the poor, the farmers, and the marginalized that says, Ive won! This victory is personal for them. This victory belongs to each and every person who wants to see Viksit Bharat in 2024, the Prime Minister said. BJP chief JP Nadda also addressed the BJP workers and said the BJP has achieved a grand victory under the leadership ofthe Prime Minister in the assembly elections. Whenever BJP contests any election, be it a state election or a national election, PM Narendra Modi has always taken the leadership and accepted the challenge. He has always led the campaign from the front, Nadda said. Earlier, Modi reached the BJP headquarters in Delhi after the partys dominant victory in the Assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. As Modi arrived at the BJP headquarters, party supporters showered flower petals on him. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also present on the occasion. BJP party workers had gathered for a mega celebration to mark the favourable election results. The ruling BJP won 163 seats out of 230 in Madhya Pradesh State Assembly polls, as per the results available by 10.25 pm tonight. According to the data of the Election Commission (EC), the opposition Congress won 66 seats and others got one seat by the same time. In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress had won 114 seats, BJP 109 seats and seven seats had gone to others. Advertisement This year, the sole seat won by others is by the Bharat Adivasi Party, which has won Sailana seat. The BJP has gained 54 seats in the latest poll as compared to 2018. The Congress has lost 48 seats as compared to 2018. Others have lost six seats as compared to the previous polls. Cart.com was founded in Houston in 2020 by Omar Tariq and Jim Jacobsen, who launched the company as an e-commerce-as-a-service platform. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: The logistics boom drives an e-commerce firms relocation in Texas; MercuryGate acquires customs software provider International Trade Systems; New Mexico announces two logistics hubs in Santa Teresa; and a Texas city receives approval for a Foreign Trade Zone program. Logistics boom drives e-commerce firms relocation from Austin to Houston Cart.com is moving its corporate headquarters back to Houston after three years in Austin, Texas, citing the Bayou Citys infrastructure, talent pool and mix of customers as reasons for returning. The company is a provider of online commerce and logistics solutions for merchants to sell and fulfill orders around the globe. Cart.com currently has about 6,000 brands on its platform. The initial move to Austin in December 2021 was driven by a need at that time to hire tech talent (specifically software engineers) amid the COVID-19 direct-to-consumer commerce boom, a company spokesman said in an email to FreightWaves. Austin has delivered on that promise and we were able to find the high-quality tech talent we needed for where we were as a company. But were a different, more mature company than we were when we moved to Austin. Were now looking for talent (including engineers) with experience across a more diverse set of industries, particularly in logistics and supply chain. Cart.com was founded in Houston in 2020 by Omar Tariq and Jim Jacobsen, who launched the company as an e-commerce-as-a-service platform. Cart.com offers integrated suites of software, services and infrastructure to run backend solutions, as well as marketing and fulfillment operations. In June, Cart.com reached a valuation of $1.2 billion after a $60 million Series C round of funding. Since 2020, the company has secured more than $400 million in capital. Cart.com has more than 6,000 brands on its platform, supports over $8 billion in gross merchandise value and operates 14 fulfillment centers nationwide. (Photo: Cart.com) During Cart.coms two years in Austin, it grew both its revenue and its fulfillment network footprint by 900% while expanding its customer base to support some of the countrys biggest retailers, enterprise merchants and government organizations, the company said. Story continues As we continue to scale, we are now looking to augment other areas of the company, including human resources, finance, accounting, and legal, the spokesman said. We feel the move to Houston will unlock a deeper talent pool in these areas based on its position as a hub for major business. With a population of 2.3 million, Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the U.S. The Houston metropolitan area is home to 7.3 million people and could grow to more than 8 million by 2028, according to a recent study by real estate consultant Site Selection Group. The relocation to Houston will also facilitate improved connectivity among the companys seven corporate offices, including locations in Poland and Mexico, and 14 distribution centers across the U.S. The Houston Airport System operates two major airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. Houstons infrastructure makes it easier for our team members (now 1,500+) to travel and for the company to bring larger groups of people together on-site at one headquarters, the spokesman said. Cart.com will benefit from the regions logistics and supply chain capabilities, officials said. Weve continued to move upmarket in terms of customer size and now serve a broad mix of business-to-business, business-to-consumer and direct-to-consumer customers, the company spokesman said. The logistics part of our business is growing particularly quickly, largely because we are more digitally sophisticated than our competitors. As part of this shift, Houstons interconnectivity and position as a key global port is increasingly valuable to us. Houston is also one of the busiest port cities in the country. The 52-mile Houston Ship Channel comprises more than 200 private and eight public terminals, collectively known as Port Houston. The port is currently the fifth-ranked U.S. container port by total twenty-foot equivalent units. In September, imports and exports totaled $18.4 billion at Port Houston, according to WorldCity. Cart.com officials said the outlook for the e-commerce market this holiday season and going forward into 2024 remains strong. The total value of merchandise sold from Black Friday and Cyber Monday was 24% higher year over year across the companys fulfillment network. Cart.coms retailers beat their demand forecasts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday by 28% on average, its top five retailers beat their projections by over 330% and doubled year-over-year demand, according to data provided by the company. During Black Friday-Cyber Monday, clients across our network, on average, met or beat their forecasts, the spokesman said. Based on this, our sense is that this holiday season will continue to be strong and may beat expectations. MercuryGate acquires customs software provider International Trade Systems MercuryGate International Inc., one of the largest dedicated transportation management solutions providers in the world, announced the acquisition of International Trade Systems (ITS), a SaaS provider of cross-border customs clearance capabilities. With the addition of ITS, MercuryGate aims to deliver integrated solutions across the global trade management space by supporting all modes, geographies and buyer types, according to a news release. With the addition of ITS we address one of industrys most pressing needs and extend the value, intelligence and power of our purpose-built TMS platform for all modes, geographies and buyer types, MercuryGate President and CEO Joe Juliano said in a statement. We are excited to further expand MercuryGate offerings for freight forwarders and deliver enhanced capabilities to this customer segment. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Portland, Oregon-based ITS was founded in 1989 and provides customs and compliance capabilities for the international trade community. More than 200 customers and 5,000 users, including customs brokers, importers and freight forwarders, leverage ITS software. Cary, North Carolina-based MercuryGate was founded in 2000 and has about 300 employees. New Mexico announces 2 logistics hubs locating in Santa Teresa The New Mexico Economic Development Department recently announced Coast Aluminum Inc. and Monti Inc. will build manufacturing and logistics facilities in Santa Teresa. Hayward, California-based Coast Aluminum is building a $10 million 73,500-square-foot distribution center in the Santa Teresa Binational Industrial Park. The company, which has 20 locations throughout the U.S. and Mexico, distributes aluminum materials and stainless steel, copper, brass and architectural metal products. The Coast Aluminum facility is scheduled to open by the first quarter of 2024. Cincinnati-based Monti Inc. also announced plans to invest $14 million at an 80,000-square-foot site in Santa Teresa. Once complete, the facility will serve as a regional hub for Montis manufacturing and distribution of electrical components. Officials did not provide a timeline for the facilitys opening. Coast Aluminum and Monti join other recent expansions in the Santa Teresa area, including Franklin Mountain Packaging, Louisiana Pepper Exchange and Hota Industrial. Texas city receives approval for Foreign Trade Zone program The Department of Commerce recently approved a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program in Socorro, Texas. The approval of Socorros FTZ application gives the municipality the authority to permit businesses to set up foreign trade sites within city limits. Foreign trade zones are special areas in the U.S. that benefit companies by reducing import duties and other costs with the aim of increasing domestic manufacturing and promoting economic growth. Socorro is about 15 miles from El Paso, Texas. The city becomes the 35th FTZ in Texas and the third in El Paso County. Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney. More articles by Noi Mahoney Canadian freight forwarder Farrow acquired by Kuehne+Nagel Renewed migrant surge forces closure of Texas border bridge Canada Cartage moving into US through GTI Group acquisition The post Borderlands: Logistics boom drives $1.2B e-commerce firms relocation in Texas appeared first on FreightWaves. Modi Magic continued as the BJP was heading towards a big win in Hindi heartland Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while the Congress was maintaining a lead in Telangana as the counting for the Assembly elections in four states progressed on Sunday afternoon. As the saffron party was set to win three states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive at the BJP headquarters here on Sunday evening for celebrations and is expected to address the party workers, leaders, and the public, sources said. Celebrations erupted at the BJP headquarters here after the saffron party took big leads in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. The party workers outside the BJP office were seen raising Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai slogans, as coloured smoke filled the air. Meanwhile, celebrations erupted in Madhya Pradesh as the BJP gained the upper hand and crossed the majority mark comfortably and is set to retain power in the State with a landslide victory. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was seen in a jubilant mood at his residence and flashed a victory sign at CM House along with his family in Bhopal. The counting of votes for the 119-member Telangana Assembly, 199 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly and 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly began at 8 am on Sunday amid tight security arrangements. According to the official trends of the Election Commission of India (ECI) at 2:45 pm, the saffron party was inching towards a two-thirds majority in Madhya Pradesh while it has crossed the halfway mark in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In Rajasthan, the BJP was leading on 106 seats and Congress on 69. The BSP was leading on two seats and Bharat Adivasi Party candidates were also ahead on two seats. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP was ahead in 159 while the Congress 68. In Telangana, the Congress was leading in 62 seats while the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was leading on 39 and the BJP 8 seats. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP was leading in 54 seats while the Congress was leading in 33 seats. In his reaction over the latest trends, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: The entire country believes in PM Modis guarantee and wants to join and support PM Modis resolve to make the country developed and todays results clearly show this. Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath are just history now. They should be forgotten now, and the country must move on the path of development, he added. Exuding confidence over BJPs win in Rajasthan, Vaishnaw stated: We will definitely win in Rajasthan as well. The public has given a clear verdict on the corruption and law and order problems in Rajasthan. As the BJP crosses the halfway mark in Chhattisgarh as per the Election Commissions latest trends, BJP co-in-charge in Chhattisgarh Nitin Nabin took a swipe at the ruling Congress party referring it to be corrupt. Responding to the latest trends, Nabin said: The BJP will form the government with a clear majority in Chhattisgarh. The Congress government did the work of looting the people of the state, and the people have replied to this today. The people of Chhattisgarh have realised that the Congress government is corrupt and they have cheated the people, he added. Earlier, while talking to a news agency on the latest trends, former Chief Minister and senior party leader Raman Singh said that there is clear support for the BJP. There is a clear support for the BJP in trends. The anger of people has been reflected in voting. BJP will form the government in all three states with an absolute majority, Singh said. With the Congress trailing by big margin in three states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Lokesh Sharma, OSD to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, seems to have summed up the mood in the desert state. Spring doesnt come if old leaves do not fall, Sharma tweeted in Hindi. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has hit out at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and BRS leader K T Rama Rao and said that the people of Telangana have given them an answer as the grand old party has comfortably reached the majority mark as per the latest trends of the Election Commission of India. He also thanked the people of Telangana for giving a majority mark to the Congress party as per the latest trends of ECI. I thank the voters of Telangana for showing confidence in us. The people of Telangana have decided that there must be change, there must be change for progress and development, Shivakumar said. Polling for Chhattisgarh took place in two phases on November 7 and 17, while Madhya Pradesh voted on November 17, Rajasthan on November 25 and Telangana on November 30. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is upbeat about the trends of the assembly elections. Party members are jubilant and is in a celebratory mode after the trend showed the partys victory in three of the four states during the day. Rajasthan, Telangana, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram were five constituencies for assembly. The election process in the five states came to an end on November 30. The counting is taking place for four states while for Mizoram it will be held on Monday. Speaking to The Statesman, National Spokesperson of BJP Nalin Kohli said, Its a resounding vote of faith of the voters in the Modi leadership and model of governance of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas & Sabka Prayas. Its also a rejection of the Congress partys agenda of negativity and personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Advertisement For the past few days, the news debates on popular television channels have been dominated by the trends of the exit polls. The results, however, were mismatched as Congress was expected to hold Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh both states. Telangana is the only state where Congress is leading. Explaining the reasons for the win, veteran journalist Rajeev Khanna said, Bharatiya Janata Party won because the party went into elections in a very organized structural way. Congress lost because of the complency factor. Also, Kamal Nath tried to tow the soft Hindutva line which did not work in the favour of Congress. The BJP could very well manage the anti-incumbency factor because they were highly organized in terms of structure and functionality. Also, the Modi factor is working in a big way. BJP is treating this election as Semi-finals. Top party members who are not willing to be quoted claimed that the trend is loud and clear. The entire country believes in the leadership of one person and that is Prime Minister Modi. People could see how the country is transforming under the leadership of PM Modi. This verdict shows that the party is sailing smoothly and the semi-finals are a testimony to that. Lets all wait for the finals. Meanwhile, Child and Development Minister Smriti Irani, reacting to the win of the assembly elections, told the media that Modi Magic worked. The results are an indicator that people believed in Prime Minister Narendra Modis magic. And express our gratitude towards people for expressing their faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. India is going for the parliamentary elections next year. Counting of votes polled in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana will start today with the BJP and the Congress eagerly waiting for the outcome of the electoral exercise in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Counting will be taken up simultaneously in all four states amidst tight security arrangements. Counting, meanwhile, has been rescheduled for Monday in Mizoram given various representations received by the Election Commission (EC) saying Sunday holds a special significance for the people of the northeastern state. On the eve of counting, both the BJP and the Congress exuded confidence that the peoples verdict had gone in their favour while the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was optimistic that it would retain power in Telangana in the face of a stiff challenge from the Congress. Voting for 199 of the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly was held in a single phase on 25 November and for the 230 constituencies in Madhya Pradesh on 17 November. Voting for 119 seats in Telangana took place on 30 November and in Mizoram on 7 November. Voting for the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly was held in two phases on 7 and 17 November. While not projecting anyone as its chief ministerial candidate in any state, the saffron party used Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its face in the Assembly elections, highlighting the achievements of his government at the Centre. Advertisement The grand old party harped on what it called the failures of the Modi government at the Centre. On the eve of counting, Union Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who hails from Rajasthan, said, The BJP is winning the elections with an overwhelming majority in Rajasthan. There is no doubt in this. Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said, I have full faith that in Rajasthan, Congress government will be formed. I had spent time there. I believe tomorrow, we will get the blessings of the people of Rajasthan. Overall, I feel through the polls in five states, INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) has got a lot of strength. After tomorrows result, INDIA will get momentum, he added. INDIA is an umbrella of the Opposition which was formed in July this year to take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 general elections. In Madhya Pradesh, which witnessed a direct contest between the ruling BJP and Congress, leaders from both parties were confident of their victory. Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra said, Wait till tomorrow, Congress will raise questions on EVM. When the Congress faces defeat, they raise questions. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, We will win over 130 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Talking about Chhattisgarh, former chief minister Raman Singh said, There is a downfall in the popularity of the Congress. We are winning about 50 to 52 seats and will form a government in Chhattisgarh. Jubilant over the BJPs victory in the Assembly elections in three states, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that the country has rejected the lies of the Congress party and instead approved the development of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Talking to media persons after celebrating his partys victory, Thakur said: It is clear from the victory of BJP in Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan polls that Modis name is a guarantee of development, alleviation of poverty and campaign against corruption. The Prime Minister has developed, empowered, strengthened the country and made India self-reliant, he added. Advertisement He thanked PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda, all the central leadership and the people of the country. These elections are a reflection of peoples mandate for a decisive battle against corruption and the people of the country are going to give an opportunity to BJP with a huge majority to serve the country yet again in the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024, he claimed. Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel had come to campaign in Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections held in 2022 and had given false Congress guarantees in the state. He even lied, while campaigning in Chattisgarh that Congress had fulfilled the guarantees in Himachal Pradesh. Today he stands exposed, said Thakur taking a jibe. Bhagel had given a guarantee in Himachal Pradesh to purchase cow dung from farmers, whereas on the contrary he got trapped in the cow dung scam in his own state. The Congress lost Chattisgarh because of corruption of Bhupesh Bhagel government, charged Thakur. The Congress doled out guarantees in all the four states and informed that all ten guarantees had been fulfilled in Himachal Pradesh. During our campaign we told the public the truth about the false guarantees given by the Congress in Himachal Pradesh and presented the real picture that the people of the state have started questioning the Congress leaders about fulfilment of the promises as it has been an year since they had been voted to power, said Thakur. Delhi BJP unit president Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday said the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have rejected the negative campaign of the Congress in the Assembly polls. Reacting to the results of the Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Delhi BJP chief said: The people of the heartland states have totally rejected the negative campaign of the Congress party. Attacking the Opposition, Sachdeva said: The entire Opposition had campaigned against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have expressed their faith in Modi. Advertisement People, especially the women and youth have expressed faith in the Prime Minister, he added. Sachdeva said that even the people of Telangana have opened the gates of the state for BJP with a substantial vote percentage as well as increased number of seats. The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh and dislodged the ruling Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while the grand old party ousted K Chandrashekar-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi in Telangana in the Assembly elections the results of which were declared on Sunday. Acknowledging the Congress defeat in Rajasthan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accepted the public mandate with humility while expressing surprise over the results describing them as unexpected for everyone. We accept the mandate given by the people of Rajasthan with all humility. This is an unexpected result for everyone. This defeat shows that we were not completely successful in taking our plans, laws and innovations to the public, Gehlot said in his Tweet-X here. He further said, I wish the new government all the best. We were not successful despite working hard. That does not mean we should not work after losing power. All our schemes, including the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Chiranjeevi and the pace of development that we have given to Rajasthan in these five years should be taken forward, he added. Advertisement He expressed his gratitude to all the Congress workers who worked hard for the party during the elections and thanked all the voters who reposed faith in the Congress. The Bharatiya Janata Party secured an overwhelming majority in the Rajasthan assembly elections, winning 115 constituencies out of 199 where polling was held on November 25. The Congress led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was reduced to just 69 seats and 17 of its 25 ministers lost the respective constituencies. Similarly, Gehlots advisors, including Sanyam Lodha (Sirohi), and Babulal Nagar (Dudu) also failed to win their respective constituencies. The saffron party had fought the assembly polls on Prime Minister Narendra Modis face and secured 41.69 per cent votes, whereas the Congress got 39.53 percent vote share. BAP, a new political front of the Tribal group, won in three constituencies of Dhariawad, Aspur, and Chorasi. Mayawatis BSP won two constituencies Sadulpur and Bari. RLD, having an alliance with the Congress, retained its seat in Bharatpur. Hanuman Beniwals RLTP failed to leave any mark as Beniwal was the partys sole winning candidate from the Khinwsar seat. The RLTP had three MLAs in the 15th Legislative Assembly. Eight Independents including a BJP rebel from Vasundhara Rajes camp Yunus Khan also made entry into the new assembly. Rajendra Singh Gudha, the sacked Congress minister who brought up the Red Diary issue, also lost his Udaipurwati seat. Gudha had contested the election on a Shiv Sena ticket and came third. Congress candidate Bhagwana Ram Saini won the seat with a narrow margin of 413 votes against BJPs Shubhkaran Choudhary. Besides, several top leaders of the BJP also lost their respective seats. Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore and his deputy Satish Punia lost in the Taranagar and Amber constituencies. BJP MP Narendra Khichad also lost to Congress partys Rita Choudhary in Mandawa. Following is the final party-wise tally: BJP 115 Congress 69 BAP 3 BSP 2 RLD 1 RLTP 1 Independents 8 Altogether, 75.45 percent of the 5.26 crore electorate exercised their right of franchise at 51,507 polling booth stations to form the 16th Legislative Assembly in the state. Election on one seat of Karanpur was postponed after the Congress candidate Gurmeet Kunnars death early this month. The polling turnout was about 0.74 percent more than the voting reported in the 2018 assembly polls. In the last assembly poll 2018, out of 200 Legislative Assembly, the Congress had won and formed the government with 100 (with one alliance partner) MLAs, whereas BJP had 71, RLP 3, BSP 6 (who later joined the Congress in 2019), Independent 13, CPI-M and BTP 2 each. Congress has a vote percentage of 39.30 and BJP secured 38.77 percent. The government formation by the Congress took place at a difference of 0.53 percent against the BJP. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday evening tendered his resignation to Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhawan, after accepting his partys defeat in the Assembly polls in the state. The Governor accepted his resignation with immediate effect and urged him to continue working till the formation of the new government in the state. Earlier, acknowledging the Congress defeat in Rajasthan, Gehlot accepted the public mandate with humility while expressing surprise over the results describing them as unexpected for everyone. Advertisement We accept the mandate given by the people of Rajasthan with all humility. This is an unexpected result for everyone. This defeat shows that we were not completely successful in taking our plans, laws and innovations to the public, Gehlot said in his Tweet-X here. He further said, I wish the new government all the best. We were not successful despite working hard. That does not mean we should not work after losing power. All our schemes, including the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Chiranjeevi and the pace of development that we have given to Rajasthan in these five years should be taken forward, he added. He expressed his gratitude to all the Congress workers who worked hard for the party during the elections and thanked all the voters who reposed faith in the Congress. BJP leaders of Uttar Pradesh led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paved the way for landslide victory of the party in three Assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The popularity of Chief Minister Adityanath also played a big role in the BJPs election victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the highest demand in all three states was for Chief Minister Yogis rally and road shows. Advertisement Yogi held 57 rallies and road shows in support of 92 candidates in just 15 days in the month of November. Wherever Yogi went, the BJP candidates won on most of the seats, party sources here on Sunday said. In Rajasthan, Yogi started the election campaign from the nomination meeting of party candidate Balaknath from Tijara seat of Alwar district. In view of the image of Bulldozer Baba, even the entrance gates of his meetings were built using bulldozers. In Telangana too, a huge crowd gathered during CM Yogis road show. CM Yogi started an election campaign from November and held eight rallies in two days in Telangana to seek votes and support for 15 candidates. In Chhattisgarh, seven rallies were held for 9 candidates in two days. In Madhya Pradesh, 16 rallies were held in four days to seek votes for 29 candidates. In Rajasthan, he held 26 rallies in seven days and appealed to make 39 candidates victorious. Other senior BJP leaders of UP have shown their strength in the partys landslide victory in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assembly elections. The command of election management in both the states were in the hands of the state BJP leaders. Former state president Laxmikant Bajpayee, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak and state Minister Swatantra Dev Singh were also deployed for MP election work. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya campaigned in about 15 districts in Rajasthan and MP. The election results in most of the districts have been in favor of the party. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak had command of seven seats in Bhopal district. The party has won five out of seven seats. Pathak also campaigned on about 30 seats in Sagar, Datia, Harda, Tikamgarh, Sidhi, Singrauli and Betul. Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh was responsible for seven seats in Kurmi-dominated Satna district. Also organized a rally for PM Modi. The BJP won six out of seven seats in the district. BJP MLC Mahendra Singh was appointed in-charge of Ajmer division of Rajasthan. In 2018, the BJP had won 12 out of 29 seats in Ajmer division but this time the BJP has won 22 seats. Former Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma was appointed in-charge of four seats of Harda and Itarsi in MP. BJP has won all four seats. BJP state vice president Pankaj Singh had the responsibility of Vidisha district of MP. Earlier BJP had lost elections on two seats in Vidisha. This time the party has captured all five seats. Former state president and national vice president of the party, Laxmikant Bajpai was responsible for 22 seats of Rewa division. The BJP has won 18 seats in Rewa. Minister of State for Transport with independent charge Dayashankar Singh was in-charge in Balaghat of MP. The party has won four out of six seats there. After that he was given the responsibility of Alwar, Rajasthan. The party has also won the elections in Alwar. The command of BJPs election management in Madhya Pradesh was in the hands of JPS Rathore, Minister of State, Independent Charge, Cooperation, State Government Rathore also had the responsibility of 25 assembly seats of Bhopal division. The BJP has won the election in 22 out of 25 seats. As Modis charisma worked across States, the Congress dream of being an alternative to the BJP at the national level received a big blow in Sundays results of Assembly polls in four major States. The BJP wrested Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress, and retained Madhya Pradesh even after 18 years of rule, moving towards a two-third majority in the 230-member State Assembly. As results moved towards finality, the BJP and the Congress won 115 and 69 seats in Rajasthan and 166 and 63 seats in Madhya Pradesh, respectively. Advertisement The Chhattisgarh score was 54 BJP and 36 Congress in the 90-member Assembly. In Rajasthan, 199 of the 200 seats went to the polls as one candidate died. The BJPs victories in the three States were decisive. The Congress had the consolation of dislodging K Chandrasekhar Raos Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which was in power for two terms in Telangana and suffered from anti-incumbency and over-confidence. The Congress won 63 seats and the BRS 40, while the BJP got nine and the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM six, in the 119-member State Assembly. The BJPs victory in the three other States showed the party had a big connect in the politically significant States, and the party would remain a dominant force in the next Lok Sabha elections, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJPs campaigns in all four States received a big support from the Prime Minister who addressed several public meetings and brought a wider perspective before the people. He explained in simple terms the issues at stake, and how people must know what they are voting for. Modi always said people had seen Modi, and the work of his Government while stressing at length why the pace of development must not suffer. He made the option of voting for the BJP an attractive one by reminding people how the double-engine government of the BJP in a State and the Centre, could ensure a hundred per cent saturation of public welfare schemes. Doubts were raised about the BJPs performance in Madhya Pradesh as the State had seen Shivraj Singh Chouhan as Chief Minister for four terms. But the results showed there was no fatigue with the Chief Minister, who had rolled out several popular schemes for different sections of people while getting crucial support from the Prime Ministers campaigns. Rajasthan never voted for the same party for 30 years, and the Congress had to fight the anti-incumbency factor. While Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was confident of Congress victory because of the States popular schemes, particularly cheap cooking cylinders, and big publicity campaigns, the Prime Ministers public rallies proved fatal for his rule. Modi never failed to mention the Congress government had brought the State to such a low standing as never before. Describing the State as the crime State of the country, with the highest number of crimes against women, Modi showed there was little hope from the Congress whose leaders at the top level fought for dominance, and had little regard for public sentiments or needs. The Congress in Chhattisgarh appeared to give a tough fight to the BJP but soon crumbled, as the leads narrowed. Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel too was confident of the States popular schemes. Here too, the Prime Minister made particular appeals to the huge tribal population of the country and told them their poor lot was due to traditional Congress governments in the State. Of the 90 Assembly seats in the State, 39 are Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes seats. Taking advantage of the tribal factor, Modi reminded people how the BJP had honoured long-forgotten tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda, and worked out special schemes for the tribals welfare. The strategy was difficult for the Congress to beat. The Congress has recorded a major victory for itself by dislodging a strong regional party in Telangana. The BRS suffered from strong anti-incumbency, allegations of corruption, and family rule. The BRS advocated Muslims welfare but the Congress benefited from its old secular image. The BRS was quick to accept defeat, just after 2 pm. The State result would comfort the BJP as well as it cut to size the BRS which opposed the BJP too. The Congress Party shrunk in the country mainly because of the emergence of strong regional parties, which took birth because of the Congresss neglect of regional issues and leaders. The results showed the Congress could be a force where it did not face the challenge of the BJP. This is likely to give the Congress a stronger voice in the Opposition group INDIA, which is largely built up of regional parties. Early trends showed the BRS fighting the Congress in Telangana, the BJP leading in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress was ahead of the BJP in Chhattisgarh. By 9 am, the Congress appeared winning Telangana, the BJP was comfortable in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress was still the major contender in Chhattisgarh. The picture changed in a few hours, the most surprising result coming from Madhya Pradesh. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 29th of January to CA$0.90. This makes the dividend yield 6.4%, which is above the industry average. View our latest analysis for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's Dividend Forecasted To Be Well Covered By Earnings A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has established itself as a dividend paying company with over 10 years history of distributing earnings to shareholders. Past distributions do not necessarily guarantee future ones, but Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's payout ratio of 67% is a good sign as this means that earnings decently cover dividends. Looking forward, EPS is forecast to rise by 49.2% over the next 3 years. The future payout ratio could be 59% over that time period, according to analyst estimates, which is a good look for the future of the dividend. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Has A Solid Track Record The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2013, the dividend has gone from CA$1.88 total annually to CA$3.60. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 6.7% per annum over that time. Companies like this can be very valuable over the long term, if the decent rate of growth can be maintained. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. However, things aren't all that rosy. Over the past five years, it looks as though Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's EPS has declined at around 2.8% a year. A modest decline in earnings isn't great, and it makes it quite unlikely that the dividend will grow in the future unless that trend can be reversed. Earnings are forecast to grow over the next 12 months and if that happens we could still be a little bit cautious until it becomes a pattern. Story continues Our Thoughts On Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's Dividend In summary, it's great to see that the company can raise the dividend and keep it in a sustainable range. With shrinking earnings, the company may see some issues maintaining the dividend even though they look pretty sustainable for now. Taking all of this into consideration, the dividend looks viable moving forward, but investors should be mindful that the company has pushed the boundaries of sustainability in the past and may do so again. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Violence erupted in the Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh after the defeat of the Congress candidate in the state assembly elections. The police lobbed tear gas shells to control the situation. Congress candidate Hukum Singh Karada lost the elections in Shajapur, following which his supporters resorted to violence. They alleged foul play and started stone pelting. On seeing the situation taking a violent turn, the Police resorted to light use of force and lathi-charged to disperse the mob. #WATCH | A clash broke out between BJP and Congress workers in Madhya Pradeshs Shajapur; police used lathi charge to disperse them. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/lXBEtzumme ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023 Advertisement The BJP is set for a landslide victory in the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. According to the trends, the BJP was leading on 167 seats, while the Congress was ahead in just 62 seats. Indias endeavour to bolster its military might unfolds as a complex and nuanced narrative. The recent strides made by the Narendra Modi government in remaking Indias military apparatus reflect not only a response to the rising spectre of Chinese power but also an intricate weeding out of ghosts of the past. The Tejas fighter jet saga, emblematic of Indias struggle with indigenous defence production, paints a picture of ambition entangled in a web of challenges. While the jet is hailed as a symbol of self-reliance, its two-decade delay and lukewarm reception from Indian pilots underscore the pitfalls of such aspirations. This, however, is not a tale of unmitigated failure. Amidst the Tejas debacle, there are underappreciated pockets of progress that merit attention. One pivotal shift is the recalibration of focus prompted by the violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan valley in 2020. The swift redeployment of troops and resources to the northern border signals a pragmatic response to the evolving threat landscape. The decision to prioritise the China-facing units over those dual-tasked with China and Pakistan reflects a strategic realignment, acknowledging the gravity of the challenge from the northern neighbour. Equally significant is the overhaul of Indias military command structure, a move not witnessed since the countrys independence in 1947. The creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) position and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) underscores an attempt to foster synergy among the Army, Navy, and Air Force. While General Bipin Rawats untimely demise impacted the momentum, the reforms are hailed as game-changing, giving the military a more assertive role in national security decision-making. In the realm of technology, Indias Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO) prowess in missile development stands out amidst its broader struggles. The private sector, once alienated, is finding a newfound embrace within the military ecosystem. Smaller private firms, often start-ups, are contributing to cutting-edge innovations. The shift towards quicker procurement through single-vendor contracts for emergent technologies, post-Galwan, signals a departure from bureaucratic rigidity. Yet, as India surges forward, it grapples with age-old dilemmas and introduces novel controversies. The Agnipath scheme, designed to recruit shortterm military personnel, is mired in a debate between its proponents and sceptics. While supporters tout its potential to reduce pension costs and rejuvenate the armed forces, sceptics fear it might serve as a guise for social engineering, aligned with the ruling partys agenda. Advertisement The overarching concern, however, looms in the gaping disparity with China. Despite a budget increase, India finds itself trailing in critical areas. The Indian Air Forces shortfall in squadrons, the Navys distant pursuit of a 175- ship fleet, and the Army grappling with obsolete equipment all point to a significant lag. The palpable technological gap, especially in the air domain, underscores the monumental challenge India faces in bridging the chasm with its formidable neighbour. In essence, Indias journey towards military modernisation is a story of simultaneous triumphs and tribulations, where each step forward is accompanied by a sobering reality check. Once again, some opposition chief ministers have filed petitions against their Governors in the Supreme Court for allegedly exceeding their roles. States including Punjab, West Bengal, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Telangana, have expressed their concerns to the courts alleging their Governors act as agents of the Centre. According to them, their questionable decisions include: Imposing Presidents Rule. Advertisement Choosing the party to form the government. Refusing to sign bills passed by the Legislature. Delaying Assembly sessions even after the state cabinet has recommended a date. Not having a smooth relationship with the Opposition chief ministers. The Supreme Court recently ruled that governors cannot hold bills indefinitely. They should not act against the recommendations of the elected cabinet. The petition from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Kerala triggered this clarification. The court criticised the Kerala Governor, Arif Mohammad Khan, for delaying eight bills passed by the state legislature for two years. The Chief Justice of India chastised the Governor of Punjab for obstructing the law-making process by holding onto bills without valid reasons. The Apex court has emphasized its commitment to establishing legal principles if such impasses continue to occur in the state. On an earlier occasion, the court ruled in Ram Jawaya Kapur vs the State of Punjab that the Governor must follow the advice of the Council of Ministers and cannot veto a bill without their consent. This brings us to whether we need governors at all. There are some political parties, such as the DMK and the Communists, which strongly advocate for the abolition of the post. They argue that over the years, it has become a retirement position for politicians. Governors have become mere agents of the Centre. It is worth mentioning that there was a disagreement in the Constituent Assembly between those who saw Article 356 as granting excessive powers to the Centre and the President, and those who felt otherwise. The latter ultimately emerged victorious, but it became clear that the former group had been right as time passed. Advocates for the governors position argue that they are necessary during transitional periods. They act as a bridge to ensure the validity of laws. However, defining their discretionary powers and clarifying the grey areas is essential. The court noted that few states have cordial relationships between constitutional heads, leading to smooth administration. As the father of the Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar pointed out, the governor under the Constitution has no functions which he can discharge by himself and that he has only certain duties to perform. In Tamil Nadu, the late chief minister, J Jayalalithaa, had public spats with Governor Chenna Reddy. Another Governor, Tamilisai Soundarajan, and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao are at odds in Telangana. They even held separate Republic Day events. This kind of bitterness negatively impacts the states functioning. The landmark judgement in S R Bommai v Union of India clarified the Governors discretionary power. The court held that the floor test in the Assembly was necessary to provide the majority. The use of Article 356 to dismiss the government was also contentious. Presidents rule was imposed 88 times under the Congress and 51 times under Indira Gandhi alone. Morarji Desai got the Congress governments dismissed after the Emergency. Almost all successive governments have used or misused the powers, affecting regional satraps. But the Governor toppling one government and installing another is not new either. The first time was in 1959 when the Nehru Government at the Centre dismissed the Namboodiripad government in Kerala. The PM was under pressure from Indira Gandhi. Since then, there have been other instances. In 1967, West Bengal Governor Dharma Vira dismissed the Ajoy Mukherjee government and installed a Congress-supported P C Ghosh government. Ram Lal dismissing N.T.Rama Raos government in the united Andhra Pradesh was another classic case. In 1989, P Venkatasubbaiahs dismissal of S. R Bommais government triggered a legal battle. In April 1994, Governor Bhanu Pratap Singh dismissed Goa Chief Minister DSouza without consulting the Centre. He installed the controversial former chief minister, Ravi Naik, in his place. The Sarkaria Commission has recommended that the Centre should embark on consultations before appointing Governors. The Commission has recommended that Governorships be given to eminent individuals with impeccable credentials instead of retired politicians. Raj Bhavan should not be used for political conspiracies. The Punchhi Commission, established in 2007, emphasized the importance of transparent selection processes. To resolve the disharmony, the Commission recommended the involvement of the opposition, ruling party, and judiciary. The selection process must be clear and accessible to everyone. It is imperative to foster a constructive working relationship to resolve the disharmony between the Centre and the states. Instead of engaging in public arguments, Chief Ministers and Governors should create a more conducive environment for the federal structure to operate seamlessly. Establishing a positive and productive relationship is crucial for the efficient functioning of the state Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will continue its war until all of its goals are achieved. He called it impossible to achieve these goals without continuing the ground incursion. While addressing a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Netanyahu said, We will continue the war until we achieve all of its goals and it is impossible to achieve these goals without continuing the ground incursion. The ground incursion was essential in order to bring about the results up to now, and it is necessary to bring about future results. Netanyahu emphasised that Israel is in the midst of a difficult and bitter war. He asserted that Israel would be victorious in the war. He said that Israel is taking continuous action against Hezbollah, according to Israel Prime Ministers Office. Advertisement He said, Citizens of Israel, we are in the midst of a difficult and bitter war but there is no war more just. It is a war for our home. All of us are united behind the justice of our cause and all of us give full backing to our soldiers. A difficult war is yet before us, but in the end, we will be victorious. Together we will fight and with G-ds help, together we will win. Speaking about Israels action against Hezbollah, Netanyahu said, In the north as well, we are taking continuous action against Hezbollahs efforts to act against us. We are thwarting terrorist cells, pushing the enemy away from our border and destroying war material. He said that Israel is committed to restoring security in the north and south. He further said, If Hezbollah makes a mistake and enters into a broad war, it will be destroying Lebanon with its own hands. He spoke about the negotiations that took place for the release of hostages. Netanyahu said the negotiating team, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agencys (ISA) efforts in the release of hostages and added that he was in regular contact with the White House and called the efforts productive Netanyahu said, We conducted tough negotiations under fire, from evening to morning and from morning to evening. I spoke frequently with President Biden and we pressed the intermediaries in order to improve the outline. And indeed, we succeeded in considerably improving it. We applied pressure around the world the Mossad, the negotiating team, the ISA and the IDF. I was in continuous and daily contact with the White House. The efforts were productive; we doubled the number of those who were released but the mission has yet to be completed, he added. He said that Israel will continue to complete its mission of bringing back its hostages. He said, In order to complete the sacred mission of returning all of our hostages, in order to eliminate Hamas, and in order to ensure that Gaza does not go back to constituting a threat to Israel, and that there will be no element there that educates its children for terrorism finances terrorism and calls for the destruction of Israel we are continuing to fight with full force. Our soldiers prepared for this during the pause for absolute victory over Hamas. Netanyahu said that he ordered the IDF to resume fighting with increasing force on November 30. He said that Israel has destroyed over 400 Hamas terrorist targets in the past 24 hours. He said that Israeli forces conducted extensive aerial attacks in Khan Yunis and eliminated terrorists and infrastructure in Beit Lahiya. Earlier, rocket warning alerts were activated in various areas throughout southern Israel, including Ashkelon, Sderot and other towns near the border with the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Periods of light snow. High 24F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Light snow this evening will give way to some clearing late. Low 13F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%. Boston Market on Park Avenue. 14 Boston Markets days on Park Avenue could be numbered, records and interviews show, as its landlord has secured eviction paperwork for nonpayment of rent. Ultimately I think were going to foreclose on the property, Rich Carr, a landlord of the 14 Park Ave. eatery, told the Telegram & Gazette. Court records show Carr and his team at WCC Realty, which owns the building, have secured eviction paperwork and a judgment for more than $165,000 against the restaurant chain for unpaid rent dating to 2018. Boston Market has closed more than 200 locations since 2017, including about 50 this year. Red Sold For Sale Real Estate Sign in Front of House. 16.9% People looking to buy a home in Massachusetts faced much of the same in October: the thinnest inventory in more than a decade, record high prices and expensive borrowing costs. 3,515 single-family homes were sold in Massachusetts in October, down 16.9% from October 2022's 4,228 sales and the fewest number of single-family home sales for any October since 2011, The Warren Group said in its first look at monthly real estate data since Gov. Maura Healey filed her $4.1 billion housing bond bill Oct. 18. The median sale price for a single-family home jumped 10.6% year-over-year to $575,140. The patio view of Tree House Brewing in Charlton. [T&G File Photo/Christine Peterson] 2% A legal battle is brewing at the states most popular brewery, as one of the owners of Tree House Brewing Co. has sued two of its founders in Superior Court, alleging lucrative real estate deals left undisclosed, forged documents and excessive salaries. According to a civil lawsuit filed Nov. 15, Eric Granger, who owns about 2% of the shares in Tree House, alleges a pattern of behavior from Tree Houses majority owners, Nathan Lanier and Damien Goudreau, that has caused him and the brewery financial damage. Lanier and Goudreau founded Tree House in 2011, along with Dean Rohan and Jonathan Weisbach. The former Chucks Steak House on Route 20 in Auburn. 10 The town is eyeing the Chucks Steak House and Margarita Grill property off Route 20 to build a new headquarters for the Fire Department. Steve Londregan, co-owner of Chucks, said he and his business partner Tom Flynn are strongly considering a $4 million offer by the town for the three-acre property where they have done business for more than 45 years. Addressed at 10 Prospect St., the property is sandwiched between Routes 12 and 20.In 2000, Londregan and Flynn purchased the whole property. The duo plan to relocate somewhere in Auburn. Story continues Cambridge Street near Camp Street is closed for construction Tuesday. 127 Work has resumed on Cambridge Street to rehabilitate the street's sewer interceptor, and some businesses on the street are dreading it. "This is probably going to kill all of our business for our Worcester store. Especially right before the holidays," a Facebook post from Jennifer Lee's Bakery, 127 Cambridge St., read. The rehabilitation project is located on Cambridge Street between Douglas Street and Dorrance Street. Crews will work seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The city expects rehabilitation work to take three weeks to complete and for one lane of traffic to be open during work hours. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. by the Numbers When it snowed in Shimla, Delhi used to catch a cold. That was in the olden days. These days, when a farmer in Ferozepur lights a fire, Delhi breathes hard. In the olden days, we gauged the day in fahrenheit and centigrade. These days we gauge the day in suspended particulate matter. In the olden days, we in Delhi decided whether to sweat or to shiver after reading the weather column in the morning paper. These days, we decide to breathe easy or breathe fire at our neighbours, after checking the air quality index in newspapers and television news. In the olden days, we talked about the weather to start polite conversations. These days, we talk about the smog to breathe fire at the farmers in Faridkot and factories in Faridabad. Imaging: Bhaskaran Delhi had always put the blame for its discomforts at others doorstepsthe snow in Shimla for the cold, the weirs in Haryana for the Yamuna floods, the fires in Faridkot for the foul air in autumn. So it was this autumn, too. The whole of Delhiright from the judicial courts and green tribunals to pollution control boards and NGO busybodieswas cursing the farm fires in Punjab for fouling up the November air over Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal, who used to join the chorus till last year, was restrained this autumn; his party is ruling Punjab now. Indeed, they all conceded that Delhis crore and more cars were also to blame, but the worst curses were reserved for the farmers who had triggered the November air crisis. Isnt the stinking shoe on the other foot? Isnt Delhi fouling up the air over Haryana, Punjab and UP, and not the other way round? With all the smoke that a million and more farmers are emitting from their stubble-burnt farms, there is much cleaner air over most of Punjab and Haryana. Drive up the Grand Trunk Road from Amritsar towards Delhi, and you will notice the air gets fouler as you get closer to Delhi. Dont take my word; ask anyone in those two states, or anyone in their pollution control boards. Their views hardly get printed or their voices hardly get heard. Who taught the farmers bad habits? They had been harvesting with hand, which left shorter stubble that rotted easily. But machine-cutting, taught to them by Delhi's green revolutionaries, leaves taller stubble, which doesn't rot before the next crop. There are machines to pluck them out, but they cost more money than what the crops can fetch. Delhis own scientific studies are now calling the bluff. A real-time source apportionment study, run by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Delhi, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), show that between November 9 and 25, auto smoke contributed 30 per cent to particle pollution, secondary aerosols another 30.88 per cent and biomass burning 27 per cent. Earlier in September, when farmers werent burning stubble, our cars, scooters and buses contributed to 35.66 per cent. Simply put, throughout the year, we gleefully drive our cars and scooters and foul up the air. The farmers do it on any one day in a year; yet we wield the big stick on them. If Delhi has a right to breathe free, Delhizens ought to do their bit to keep the air clean. We run more cars and scooters on our grand avenues than all the cars and scooters of Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata put together. We emit more particulate matter than at least two of those metros put together. We have India's largest metro network, but more of us drive to work than do New Yorkers. We dont car-pool or pillion-pool; our buses run with vacant seats; but our roads get clogged with cars. When the air gets foul in autumn, we blame the neighbours. prasannan@theweek.in Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot submitted his resignation to Governor Kalraj Mishra on Sunday evening after the Congress partys defeat in the Assembly elections. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reached Raj Bhavan on Sunday and submitted his resignation from the post of Chief Minister to Governor Kalraj Mishra," said a statement from the governor's office. Mishra accepted the resignation with immediate effect and urged Gehlot to continue working until the formation of the new government in the state, it said. As per the latest trends, the opposition BJP has already crossed the halfmay mark, winning 106 out of the 199 seats in the state. The Congress won 60 and is ahead in another nine seats. Rajasthan went to the polls on 199 of 200 assembly seats on November 25. In the Karanpur constituency, elections were postponed due to the passing away of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. Earlier, giving his first reaction to the partys setback in the elections, Gehlot said the results were "unexpected for everyone". "We humbly accept the mandate given by the people of Rajasthan. This is an unexpected result for everyone. This defeat shows that we were not completely successful in taking our plans, laws and innovations to the public, he wrote on X. Later, talking to reporters in Jaipur, the Congress veteran rejected suggestions that bringing forward "new faces" would have helped the party retain power. "There was talk of bringing new faces, and new faces should come, but this demand was not there in MP and Chhattisgarh and still we lost the election. It would be wrong to say that we would have won the election if new faces were brought," he said. The infighting is believed to have cost the Congress dearly in Rajasthan. Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot had been at loggerheads for a large part of the last five years. The central leadership intervened and managed to get the two leaders to put their differences on the backburner in the run-up to the elections. But it is felt that the perception of the Congress being a divided house had already percolated down to the people and the party high command's intervention came a little too late in the day, reported Soni Mishra. Gehlot said he would continue to work for the people whether he remains in any position or not and that he would continue to work for the people of the state till his last breath. "I wish the new government all the best. My advice to them is that despite working hard, we were not successful, it does not mean that they should not work after forming the government," said the outgoing chief minister. An hour after the counting of votes began on Sunday for the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana Assembly elections, early trends show that the BJP is set to retain Madhya Pradesh while Congress races ahead in Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Rajasthan, where exit polls favoured the saffron party, is witnessing a tight battle between the ruling Congress and BJP, with the latter having an edge. Counting commenced at 8 am amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan as polling on one seat in the desert state was put off due to the death of a candidate. In Mizoram, counting will be held on Monday. In Madhya Pradesh, 30 minutes into the counting, mostly postal votes, the saffron party has had a clear lead. However, state Congress president Kamal Nath reacted to the trend, stating the party was still confident. "I have not seen any trends, I don't need to look at any trends till 11 am. I am very confident, I trust the voters of Madhya Pradesh," he told ANI. Rajasthan, where the Congress government hoped to retain power, is witnessing a pro-BJP wave with the saffron party widening its majority. Meanwhile, the Congress is putting up a splendid show in Telangana where it looks certain to end BRS's winning streak. The party already has a clear lead as its candidates managed to shake the ruling party, including its chief K Chandrasekhar Rao in his constituencies, Kamareddy and Gajwel. However, BRS leaders remained optimistic with MLC K Kavitha stating that the party was "very confident that we will win again with the blessings of the people of Telangana." In Chattisgarh, the Congress is almost certain to retain power with early trends seeing a steady lead for the party. The ruling Congress was leading in 45 seats and the BJP in 32 seats as per trends available from counting of postal ballots in elections to the Chhattisgarh assembly. After a crushing defeat in Karanatka, the victory in three Hindi heartland states has come as a big morale booster for the BJP. The saffron party enters the 2024 poll fray with a spring in its feet and a winning template in its kitty where Modi guarantees and women voters will be the key attributes. The results have come as a rude shock to the Congress which was hoping to win the Hindi belt to keep the challenge of opposition alive in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The INDIA alliance would need better coordination and control over the messaging to counter an aggressive BJP in 2024. Todays hat-trick has given us the guarantee of 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his victory speech at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. Modi has once again proved that he remains a formidable political force and the BJP an agile performer which can tweak its strategy after a setback to overcome the challenges. The BJP claims that it has blunted the Congress and the opposition groupings main weapon caste census as the electorate in the three main impact states voted in favour of the party. The issue of caste census had put the BJP on the defensive after it got traction in Bihar, the only Hindi heartland state which is not in BJPs kitty. However, now with the December 3 mandate, the saffron party is expected to bat on the front foot in the 2024 elections. Modi and BJP in its messaging before the people had said there were only four castes in the country which needed a boostwomen, youth, farmers, and the poor. There were attempts to divide the country into castes, but I have said there are only four castes. OBCs also come from this section. In these elections they have stamped our roadmap and schemes, Modi said. During the election, the party also went for a massive outreach to the tribal community and announced a national scheme during the polls. It was in addition to the work the party had done among the community by celebrating their icons. One of the takeaway from these elections is that even the anti-incumbency can be beaten with well oiled machinery of foot soldiers who when motivated can change the tide on the ground. This was what the Congress lackedthe cadre on the ground. The BJP has been training its army of booth workers, cadre, and voting page in-charges in the past one year even when the Congress was hoping that the sentiment was for change. Taking a cue from the Karnataka polls, the BJP went for Modi as its main mascot. However, it contested the elections under a collective leadership. The strategy has delivered on the ground as it created many CM aspirants who then got energised and performed well in their respective areas of influence. Though only one may get a chance to become the chief minister, in the process, the party has been able to create a new line of leaders who would be ready to take on the mantle when the need arises. The big challenge before the party now would be picking up the chief ministers. In Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhans performance and turnaround in the ground situation has again strengthened his claims to the top post. The fact that he comes from OBC community also works in his favour. Similarly in Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje is still the front runner along with a host of leaders like central minister Gajendra Shekhawat, Baba Balaknath and Diya Kumari. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP would need a leader to cement the gains made in the assembly elections. Former CM Raman Singh had held the post for 15 years. There are others in line. For Congress, Telangana has been the only face saver. But there, too, the BJP has displayed a better performance, improving its tally from one seat to eight. The saffron group is hopeful that it would do even better during the Lok Sabha polls. These results could also be an indicator that when it comes to a direct contest between BJP and Congress, the saffron party has an edge. The BJP got 48 per cent vote sharesix per cent more than Congressin Madhya Pradesh as CM Chouhan aggressively wooed the women voters. In Rajasthan, the Congresss vote share was just two per cent less than BJPs 41 per cent as Gehlot, too, wooed the voters with sops, though they came during the last few months of his tenure. In Chhattisgarh, BJP got 46 per cent vote sharesix per cent more than that of Congress. In Telangana, BJP got 14 per cent votes and stood third. To bridge the divide, Congress would need help of allies. The BJP tightened its stranglehold in the Hindi heartland with assembly victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while the Congress was set to oust BRS from Telangana on Sunday, the three-one poll score setting the stage and the mood for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As votes were counted for elections to the four assemblies, the leads and wins threw up a BJP-dominated electoral picture with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's imprint writ large. While the saffron party retained Madhya Pradesh with a projected decisive win, it wrested Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress. The Congress lost those two states but won Telangana from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the upset in the southern state giving the grand old party at least something to celebrate and the K. Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS outfit, hoping for a hat-trick, food for thought and introspection. Interestingly, it is not clear who will be the BJP's chief minister in any of the three heartland states. Clouds of gulal, shouts of 'Jai Shri Ram', joyful jigs and crackers were the sights and sounds of celebration in BJP offices with party workers and leaders unanimous in attributing the win to Modi's guarantees. The BJP's Chhattisgarh manifesto, for instance, titled Modi's Guarantees, promised annual financial assistance to married women and landless agricultural labourers, paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal and cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500 to poor families "The election results show people accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee of delivering on guarantees," Union minister Pralhad Joshi said. Joshi, who was BJP's election-in-charge for Rajasthan, also took a dig at the Congress and the promises it made in the run up to the elections. "People have blessed BJP in three states, endorsed Prime Minister Modi's leadership and rejected Congress' false promises," Joshi said. For the Congress, looking for political revival, and the BRS, it was time to take stock ahead of the general elections just six months away. Congress' performance in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan assembly polls disappointing, said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, adding that it will overcome temporary setbacks and prepare fully for Lok Sabha polls along with its partners in the INDIA alliance. The elections, which set the momentum for the 2024 polls and threw up clear, unambiguous mandates in all four states, saw the BJP and the Congress go head to head in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. And Telangana was a direct contest between the Congress and the BRS. Madhya Pradesh rang the victory bell loud for the BJP by giving it another term in power with the party winning or leading in 166 seats out of 230, well over the halfway mark, and the Congress trailing at 63. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji, said four-term Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BJP has been in power in the state for 18 years. Basking in his hour of glory, he said the state government implemented schemes like the Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna and a lot of work was done for the welfare of farmers, poor people and youth. Veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath, who had projected himself as the next chief minister, was leading in his own seat Chhindwara but failed to steer his party to victory. If the BJP looked set to retain power in the central Indian state with a decisive win, it readied to take over from the Congress in neighbouring Rajasthan that has traditionally voted alternately for the two parties. While the saffron party was winning or was ahead in 115 seats, comfortably over the winning number, the Congress was at 69. Voting was held in 199 seats as polling in one was put off due to the death of a candidate. The Congress, riven by factionalism, was helmed by Ashok Gehlot in the state with his deputy Sachin Pilot the challenger. The BJP's man would be appointed soon, said Joshi. On when the name of the new chief minister of Rajasthan will be decided, Joshi said it will happen "very soon and smoothly". Taking a swipe at Gehlot, born into a family of magicians, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the magic has ended and people have voted for the honour of women and for the welfare of the poor. The way we are moving towards a huge majority in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, it is clear that the people trust Modi's guarantee and has rejected the Congress' gimmicks (nautanki). Modi magic is the real magic and every other magician has failed, added BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla. While the trends were clear in the two states, Chhattisgarh was a surprise for many Congress leaders who were hoping for another stint in power in the state. But it looked increasingly difficult. The day began with both parties neck and neck but, as counting continued, the BJP consolidated its lead and won or was ahead in 57 seats and the Congress in 33 in the 90-member house. Senior BJP leader Raman Singh told reporters in Raipur that the people had rejected Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Echoing his party colleagues, he said the people had demonstrated their faith in Modi's work and guarantees and not in Baghel's promises. The proverbial silver lining in the dark cloud for the Congress was Telangana where it was poised to snatch power from the BRS. The Congress had won or was leading in 63 seats, leaving the BRS at 40 seats in the 119-member house. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao congratulated the Congress and said in a post on X, "Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving @BRSparty two consecutive terms of Government. Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back." While BRS leaders went into a huddle over reasons for the looming defeat, the day belonged to party Congress chief Revanth Reddy who could well be the next chief minister. Counting began at 8 am amid tight security and huge anticipation in the four states. Votes in the fifth state that went to the polls, Mizoram, will be counted on Monday. Together, the five states have 84 Lok Sabha seatsMadhya Pradesh with 29, Chhattisgarh 11, Rajasthan 25, Telangana 17 and Mizoram two. The fight between the two national parties is neck-to-neck in Chhattisgarh, and the Bharatiya Janata Party is enjoying an edge of five seats as counting progresses in the state. As per the Election Commission, in the elections held for the 90-seat Assembly, at 11am, BJP leads in 43 seats and Congress in 37. The Hamar Raj party and the Communist Party of India lead in one seat each. Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is contesting from Patan, leads against BJP candidate Vijay Baghel by a margin of 187 votes. State BJP chief Arun Sao is leading in Lormi seat by a margin of 582 votes against Congress' Thaneshwar Sahu after two rounds of counting, as per the EC. According to election officials, the counting of votes started at 8am on Sunday and security personnel are maintaining a strict vigil in counting centres in the state's 33 districts, including those affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The poll outcome in the Hindi heartland states has come as a big dampener for the Congress, especially in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, with the principal opposition party failing in direct contests against the Bharatiya Janata Party both as an incumbent and as a challenger. The failure of the Congress in the northern states has ended up over-shadowing the party's impressive win in the southern state of Telangana, where it has come out of nowhere to register a comprehensive victory over the incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi. It was important for the Congress to do well in these elections, especially since it would have a bearing on its campaign for the Lok Sabha polls and also its standing in the opposition INDIA alliance. For the Congress, it was important to register victories against the BJP in direct contests since the perception has been that the principal opposition party has failed when it has to take on the saffron party in one-to-one contests. There are over a hundred seats in the Hindi heartland states where the Congress would be in a direct fight against the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress' claims over pole position in the INDIA alliance depended on how it fared in the state elections, especially in the states where it was engaged in bipolar contests against the BJP. The Congress has failed to unseat the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, where the party has been ruling for 18 years now and where there was said to be palpable dissatisfaction against the state government. It has also failed to hold on to Rajasthan, which has had a trend of voting out the incumbent, and Chhattisgarh, where the party is at odds to explain how it lost to the BJP despite the widely held perception that it was poised to repeat its government. And since the BJP's campaign in these states had Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its face, the electioneering was centrally managed and the party tried to place the focus on its core agenda rather than local issues, the Congress has greater cause for concern since it would be up against these very factors in the Lok Sabha polls. According to a Congress leader, the main takeaway for the party is that it will have to go back to the drawing board to find an answer to the BJP's Hindutva-plus-development narrative. Its focus on bread-and-butter issues of price rise and unemployment and its reliance on populist promises, which worked in Karnataka but which have failed in these elections against the BJP while having worked in Telangana, provide the Congress with a reason to rethink its messaging. Interestingly, the Congress has called for a meeting of the INDIA alliance to be held on December 6, which would be right on the back of the electoral debacle in the Hindi heartland. The meeting would also be held at the end of an election season in which the Congress, unwilling to share poll space with alliance partners, had switched the INDIA alliance to sleep mode. Also, the poll outcome leaves the Congress with the task of dealing with the issue of state leadership in the Hindi heartland states where it had in these elections backed the senior leaders who were at the helm. Demands for a generational change are expected to grow louder, especially in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while in Chhattisgarh, the incumbent Bhupesh Baghel, whose importance in the Congress' scheme of things was growing beyond his state, could find his stature being lowered. The board of Deutsche Telekom AG (ETR:DTE) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of 0.77 on the 15th of April, an increased payment from last year's comparable dividend. The payment will take the dividend yield to 3.5%, which is in line with the average for the industry. See our latest analysis for Deutsche Telekom Deutsche Telekom's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Based on the last payment, Deutsche Telekom was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that a large portion of its earnings are being retained to grow the business. Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 87.5% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 35% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range. Dividend Volatility Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2013, the annual payment back then was 0.70, compared to the most recent full-year payment of 0.77. Dividend payments have grown at less than 1% a year over this period. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited. We Could See Deutsche Telekom's Dividend Growing With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. Deutsche Telekom has impressed us by growing EPS at 7.8% per year over the past five years. The company is paying a reasonable amount of earnings to shareholders, and is growing earnings at a decent rate so we think it could be a decent dividend stock. In Summary In summary, it's great to see that the company can raise the dividend and keep it in a sustainable range. The dividend has been at reasonable levels historically, but that hasn't translated into a consistent payment. The dividend looks okay, but there have been some issues in the past, so we would be a little bit cautious. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. As an example, we've identified 2 warning signs for Deutsche Telekom that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. As counting begins in four states for the assembly polls held last month, both the Congress and BJP are confident of putting up a show of strength in what is viewed as a semi-final contest ahead of the general elections in less than six months. Starting with postal ballots, counting commenced at 8 am on Sunday amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan. Polling on one seat in the desert state was put off due to the death of a candidate. In Mizoram, counting will be held on Monday. The fight is prominently between the Congress and the BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh while the Congress takes on K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana. Congress leaders on Saturday expressed hope that it would win all four states. "I am certain that we (Congress) will form a government in four states, including Rajasthan, and in Mizoram, a combined government will be established," Congress leader Promod Tiwari said on the eve of counting of votes. The results will also have a crucial impact on the opposition bloc INDIA, considering the seat-sharing talks are set to begin soon. The grand old party is set to have deliberately delayed the seat-sharing talks as it wants more bargaining power in seat-sharing. The Congress is expected to make gains in these elections, with exit polls predicting the party to be ahead in Chhattisgarh and Telangana and a tight race in Madhya Pradesh. The exit polls predict Congress to come to power in Chhattisgarh and Telangana. If Congress can retain Rajasthan too, it will be a major morale booster for the party. As for the BJP, the party has high hopes of retaining Madhya Pradesh and wresting Rajasthan from Congress. It is very vocal about returning to power in Chhattisgarh too. "The face of the Congress has been exposed. Only the results are to come tomorrow. The good governance that the public wanted will be found under the BJP government," Union minister Anurag Thakur said in Jaipur, adding that the people want the "double-engine" government of the BJP. Tight security A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, election officials said. In Rajasthan, the counting will be done at 36 centres in the state on Sunday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Praveen Gupta said. As many as 979 tables have been arranged for the counting of ballot papers across the state. Strong rooms will be opened in the presence of observers, candidates and their representatives. The big lead for the BJP in the three Hindi heartland states has come as a boost for the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chosen as the mascot for the partys campaign in these states to override the any fatigue factor with the regional leadership, has delivered impressive results. The BJP had worked the narrative with promise of Modi guarantees LPG cylinders at Rs 450, sops for women, doubling of allowance to farmers from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000, hike in MSP, big scheme for tribals, free ration for 81 crore people across the country for next five years. The clear cut lead by Sunday noon suggests the electorate has reposed faith in Modis word and partys outreach. The other issues that the party had focused on were the construction of Ram Temple and the message that a votes in these elections will be a vote for Modi in 2024. This has set template for the 2024 elections. The key differentiating factor that other parties tend to overlook and works in the BJPs favour is its organisational strength even when there is anti-incumbency on the ground. The BJP was consistent in holding its cadre meetings, booth-level meetings, enrolling new voters, engaging with the beneficiaries of its central government schemes for over a year even before the campaigning had started. This brings the party in touch with its foot soldiers who in turn engage individually with the voters to establish contact. These elections have also come as a boost for the image of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who despite the fatigue against BJPs 20-year rule nurtured the women voters through the Ladli Laxmi and Ladli Behna scheme. Even when the vocal male voters were talking about change a few months before the elections, the silent women voters stood behind Mama'. The results make him a frontrunner for the CM's post even when there are other contenders. In Rajasthan, the BJPs massive lead over the incumbent Congress was in tune with states revolving door policy of picking up a new government in each election. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot governments performance was marred by series of paper leaks, allegations of corruption and poor law and order situation. There were initial jitters when BJP did not project Vasundhra Raje as CM candidate but as the BJP brought in other CM hopefuls, it helped the party in their respective pockets of influence. Here also, the party promised Modi guarantees with partys master strategician and Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying a vote for BJP in these elections will be a vote for Modi in 2024 and people will celebrate three Diwalis the other being, the result day and the building of the Ram temple. The results are shocking for the Congress not just in Madhya Pradesh but also in Chattisgarh. The BJP's aggressive targeting of CM Bhupesh Baghel by levelling corruption charges against him and wooing tribals seems to have paid. The BJP played a strategic game in Telangana where ruling BRS has been ousted from power to elect the Congress. When it comes to elections, the BJP does well when it has Congress as key opponent. So in 2024, with the Congress in power in Telangana, the BJP is expected to chalk out new strategy for the Lok Sabha polls. The same is expected to happen in Congress-ruled Karnataka. The BJPs good show in the Hindi heartland has given it a boost needed for the 2024 polls. On the other hand, it will be an uphill task for Congress and the INDIA bloc in the months ahead. The biggest surprise in Sundays assembly poll results came from Chhattisgarh where almost everyone was predicting a repeat government of Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress. However, it seems there was a silent but strong anti-incumbency wave against the powerful government. This, together with magic of prime minister Narendra Modi working unabated in Hindi heartland, ensured the undoing of the Congress in the tribal-dominated state. Practically all opinion and exit polls had predicted a comfortable win for Congress. A few months ago, the BJP state leadership and the cadre were considered in total tatters and poorly equipped to take upon the Congress led by an aggressive Baghel. Also, the various welfare schemes of the Congress government aimed at farmers, rural people and women and its push to Hindutva projects seemed like a plus for the ruling party. Even the initial counting trends on Sunday indicated so. However, the tables turned after a few rounds with the BJP leads crossing the majority mark of 46 in the 90-member assembly and adding several more. At 3 pm, the BJP leads/wins tally stood at 54 against 33 of Congress, sending shockwaves in the Congress camp in the state and stumping the political watchers in the country. Seven ministers including deputy chief minister T.S. Singh Deo and home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu and state Congress president and member of parliament Deepak Baij were trailing. Speaker and Congress campaign committee chief Charandas Mahant, who was also trailing initially, however, gained a comfortable lead later. Even chief minister Bhupesh Baghel remained locked in a neck and neck race against BJPs MP Vijay Baghel for a few initial rounds but acquired a comfortable lead of over 10,000 votes at the time of filing of this report. Most interesting trend was the trailing of two powerful ministers, Ravindra Choubey and Mohammad Akbar from Saja and Kawardha constituencies respectively. The BJP fielded Ishwar Sahufather of a youth killed in communal riotsagainst Choubey while Vijay Sharma who was made an accused in a communal flare upwas pitted against Akbar in Kawardha. Sharma was leading by over 20,000 votes at the time of filing of this report, while Sahu was leading by 3,889 votes. Also, BJP was doing very well in the Bastar division where it lost all the 12 seats last time. Bastar also saw communal tension between Christian converted and other tribal people leading to violence in the run-up to the polls. Home minister Amit Shah had time and again raised the issue of communal flare ups in the state and alleged that the Congress government was engaged in appeasement of the minority section. Also, BJP promise of the Rs 1000 per month Mahtari Vandan scheme on the lines of Ladli Behna scheme for women in Madhya Pradesh, seemed to have worked in favour of the party. Ex-chief minister Raman Singh, who recorded a massive victory in Rajnandgaon constituency, said that despite tall claims by Congress leaders, his prediction of Congress getting below 38 seats and BJP crossing 50 seats mark came true. He said that guarantees by PM Modi became a big factor and a double-engine government was about to be formed in the state. He also said that the Mahtari Vandan scheme impacted the women voters. There was no comment from any of the Congress leaders yet. Senior political analyst Rashid Kidwai, while talking to THE WEEK, attributed the surprise results in Chhattisgarh to an undercurrent in Hindi heartland in favour of Modi-led BJP that rode over the welfare measures of both Baghel government in Chhattisgarh and Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan. However, a local political watcher, on condition of anonymity, told THE WEEK that there was strong anti-government sentiment in the state, but everyone, especially the voters, remained silent because of pressure from a 'powerful' government. He said that even the Congress workers were upset over the centralization of power by CM Baghel and the system being entirely run by officers of lower ranks. Dependence on these officers led to Baghel losing connection with the people on ground level and often those asking uncomfortable questions at the interaction programmes with the CM were harshly hushed down. Senior political commentator Diwakar Muktibodh said that though apparently things looked in favour of Congress till the last, probably the failure of the party to implement the ambitious schemes fairly on the ground alienated the voters, apart from the BJP core agenda working in its favour in the state. After almost sealing the victory in Telangana, Congress seems to be all prepared to form the government. Reportedly, Telangana police on Sunday said it has been asked by the state Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy to make security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony on December 4 or 9. Reddy had asked state Director General of Police (DGP) Anjani Kumar to make security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony. Congress is enjoying a comfortable lead to touch the simple majority mark of 60 seats. Reddy called and discussed with DGP, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) and ADG CID about the preparation for the swearing-in ceremony, which is likely to be held either on Monday or on December 9, a release from Telangana Police said. The event will be held at LB stadium. Reddy also said that his party would soon meet the Governor and discuss government formation. "The TPCC President mentioned that from today evening Muhurtam (auspicious time) will start. So, if possible, they may consider swearing-in function tomorrow (Dec 4) or they may take (oath) on December 9," it said. Several chief ministers, former chief ministers and senior Congress leaders are expected to arrive from Delhi for the ceremony. The Telangana Police chief directed that each winning candidate would get 2+2 Personal Security Officers (PSOs), while senior functionaries will get a higher category of security apparatus. The Security Wing has been asked to prepare the threat perception report for all elected candidates, the DGP said. Anjani Kumar held a meeting with the Hyderabad Police Commissioner and other senior police officials and discussed effective security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony. Recently, Election Commission of India had ordered the suspension of Kumar for violating the election code of conduct. Earlier in the morning Kumar had met Reddy and congragulated him while the counting was ongoing in the state. The BJP has wrested Rajasthan back from the Congress with an absolute majority. While the BJP leads in 112 seats around Sunday noon, the Congress, on the other hand, has been relegated to 71 seats in the 119-member Assembly. While the final results are expected to be out soon, the focus has now shifted to the potential chief minister faces in the state. And, one name actively doing rounds is that of Mahant Balaknath, the MP from Alwar. Currently contesting from the Tijara seat in the Assembly election, Mahant Balaknath is leading against Congress candidate Imran Khan. An MP from Alwar, Balaknath is the eighth mahant from Mastnath Mutt of Rohtak which runs multiple educational institutions and hospitals. Though born and raised in a farmer family, Balaknath had an early initiation into sannyasa and left his home for the Ashram at the age of six. Though a saint, Balaknath had often been targetted by Congress which claimed he purchased 32 acres of land worth Rs 52 crore at Cultus Lake in Canada, a charge which he called "baseless and frivolous." Balaknath is widely addressed as the 'Yogi of Rajasthan'. Belonging to the same Nath sect as Yogi Adityanath, Balaknath calls the UP chief minister his "big brother" and claims that the comparison is because they both maintain "transparency in lives" and are "committed to people and development". Balaknath, who is 39 years old, was spotted visiting the BJP national general secretary BL Santhosh on Saturday. However, he refused to comment on being the top contender for the post. "As far as the chief minister post is concerned, our Prime Minister is the face of BJP and we will continue to work under his leadership. The decision on who will be the chief minister will be taken by the party. I am happy as an MP and want to serve the society," he told reporters when quizzed about the meeting. The speculations that Balaknath could be the face of the party in the state gained strength when Home Minister Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath came to campaign for him. But, Balaknath denies there is anything special about him. "They campaigned for me just like they campaigned for other candidates of the party," he told reporters. Defying many ground analyses, opinion and exit polls, the ruling BJP surged towards a massive victory in Madhya Pradesh, looking set to touch the 165 seats mark that it achieved in 2013. And, going by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans own statement it seems the women voters have hugely supported the saffron party for its pro-women schemes especially the Ladli Behna scheme under which 1.31 crores women are receiving monthly cash assistance of Rs 1250 per month. "Laadli Behna has changed lives and gave rise to immense love and trust in the hearts of the women," Chouhan said speaking to media persons at around 11.00 am even as counting trends showed BJP leading at around 160 seats. He added that he was sure that the BJP would form a government with an impressive majority in the state. The chief minister, who could be easily termed as one of the biggest architects of the impending win of the BJP for the fifth time in past 20 years, also said that along with Ladli Behna, schemes like Ladli Laxmi (for girl children), Kanya Vivah (marriage scheme), 50 pc reservation in local bodies polls, effective implementation of PM Matri Vandana scheme (maternity assistance), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, concession in registry fee for property purchase for women and 35 per cent reservation for women in recruitment in the state, made a huge difference to the women. He also gave credit to the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and his pro-poor schemes repeating the slogan MP ke man mei Modi; Modi ke man mei MP (Modi in MPs heart; MP in Modis heart). There had been speculations that the Ladli Behna scheme would prove to be a game changer for the BJP, but since the opposition Congress had also promised monthly cash assistance of Rs 1500 and other sops for women and other sections of society, poll analysts felt that the contest will be neck-to-neck between the two parties, especially given the huge anti-incumbency of 20 years. However, the impressive turnout of women voters during the polling on November 17 did indicated the impact of the pro-women schemes of the ruling party. The state reported a record 77.15 pc turnout, with 76.02 pc women voters exercising their franchise. The total number of women voters was 2.71 crores and the fact that 1.31 crores out of them were beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme seems to have made a huge difference. The BJP was doing well in most of the regions in Madhya Pradesh, especially the Malwa-Nimad, Central MP, Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions that make up 148 out of the 230 seats. BJP state president Vishnu Dutt meanwhile hailed the BJP workers for the tremendous work in moving towards fulfilling the target of 51 per cent vote share in the state. Under the guidance of (home minister) Amit Shah, party workers have tried to fulfil the 51 pc vote per cent target given by him and that is why we are moving towards a historic win. This is a blessing of people to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for his pro-poor welfare schemes. Even our minority brothers and sisters whom the Congress considers a vote bank, have shown faith in us due to the welfare schemes like free ration, PM Housing scheme and others. As for Congress, he said that (Rajya Sabha member) Digvijaya Singh was 'Mr Bantadhar' who first destroyed the state and has now destroyed the Congress. "Also, (ex-CM) Kamal Nath resorted to treachery and guile and turned in 'Corruption-Nath' and people of Madhya Pradesh have shown him his place." Kamal Nath said earlier in the day that he had full confidence that people will keep the future of Madhya Pradesh safe. Chouhan watched the counting proceedings at BJP headquarters in Bhopal along with union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Jyotiraditya Scindia. Both Tomar and Scindia as considered CM contenders in Madhya Pradesh, though Scindia has often said he was not in the race. The party was doing well in the Gwalior region of Scindias influence, though Congress was leading in many seats of the Chambal region also considered the union ministers domain. Tomar was leading from his own seat in Dimni in Morena district. Israel has again intensified its attacks on Gaza that has led to hundreds of people in southern Gaza to flee. Fresh strikes, reportedly, on Jabaliya Refugee camp has left "tens of people killed and more buried under the rubble". According to local media reports: A residential square containing at least 300 people, half of whom are children, was just completely flattened to the ground. Reports said that the number of causalities were rapidly increasing due to the densely populated areas. The number is rapidly increasing because these are very densely populated areas. It is difficult for rescuers to reach these people. They are also being targeted," said reports. "The scale of destruction is beyond description," it added. Several IDF soldiers were lightly injured in the attacks as well. Meanwhile, Israel claims to have destroyed 500 Hamas tunnel shafts in Gaza "Israels military claims to have found about 800 shafts leading to Hamas tunnels and bunkers since the IDF began its Gaza ground operation on 27 October. It said it had destroyed more than half of them," it said. The tunnel shafts were located in civilian areas, many of which were near or inside civilian buildings and structures, such as schools, kindergartens, mosques and playgrounds. Amid intensifying attacks, Qatar demanded an "immediate, comprehensive and impartial international investigation," into what its prime minister called Israeli crimes in Gaza. Bombardments from war planes and artillery concentrated on Khan Younis and Rafah, another city of Gaza's south. The violence took place despite the United States' call to avoid further harm to Palestinian civilians. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 15,523 people have been killed. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, speaking to ABC News, said the military pressure was to force Hamas to make a deal on further exchanges of prisoners and hostages. According to the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA), about 1.8 million people- roughly 75 percent fo Gaza's population are internally displaced. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel was coordinating with the U.S. and international organisations to define "safe areas" for Gaza civilians. While the situation of the hospitals in Gaza remains deplorable. The United Nations and aid groups say dozens of medics have been killed since the war began and basic supplies, including fuel to run generators, are running short in hospitals and clinics. A 26-year-old man was detained by the French Police after he fatally stabbed a German citizen before injuring two others in Paris on Saturday night. The accused, who tried to flee from the crime scene, was reportedly pursued and stopped by the cops using a stun gun. As France's anti-terror unit is interrogating the accused, here is what we know so far about the horrific incident: The stabbing spree was reported near the Eiffel Tower in the French capital on Saturday night. The accused targeted a young German couple at the tourist hotspot of Bir Hakeim Bridge around 9:00 PM. After fatally stabbing a 23-year-old German-Filipino citizen, the attacker was forced to retreat after being intercepted by a brave cab driver, The Guardian said in a report. The attacker crossed the Bir Hakeim bridge to reach the other side of the River Seine in order to loose the cab driver who tried to pursue him. Here, he launched a second wave of attack. A 66-year-old British national and a 60-year-old Frenchman suffered injuries here, The Guardian reported. One among the two was attacked using a hammer, the report added. The Police arrived and arrested the attacker before he could hurt more people, the report added. He was brought down using a stun gun by the first responders. According to news agency AFP, the accused was identified as Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab of South Paris's Essonne area. The 26-year-old is reportedly a known radical Islamist. Armand was earlier imprisoned for planning a public attack and was reportedly undergoing psychiatric treatment. The attacker shouted Allahu Akbar to the taxi driver as well as to the police officers before getting arrested, The Guardian report said. A US warship and multiple commercial ships in the Red Sea came under attack on Sunday, the Pentagon said. The attacked warship of the US Navy was identified as USS Carney -- an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available, the Pentagon said. The attacks potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, the Associated Press reported. The warship reportedly intercepted at least one drone during the attack. The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel as it wages war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters reportedly told AP that the attack began about 10 AM in Sanaa, Yemen, and had gone on for as much as five hours. Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce briefly halted fighting and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes and its ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming. Earlier in November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another US warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at US Navy ships at the time. SOMEONE SUGGESTED THAT we just look at the map and Pieter Elbers makes a motion resembling a dart being thrown, and laughs. Thats not really how we select a new route to fly to, he says, the grin firmly in place. About 65 per cent of the world population lives within the range of our aircraft (from India) today; so we have a lot of opportunity to find new routes and destinations. Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, Asias biggest airline and eighth largest in the world, is in his element after another round of laughing all the way to the bankfour quarters of profits in a row even as many fellow airlines are floundering or staring at bankruptcy. And the going international strategy, which he set in motion a year ago, is now in top gear. It is this choice of destinations that has the aviation world agog, and the subject of the question to Elbers. After starting the predictable India-Gulf routes a few years ago, the airline dialled up the expansion push by many notches this year with flights to, wait for it, Baku (Azerbaijan), Tbilisi (Georgia), Nairobi (Kenya), Jakarta (Indonesia) and more. We establish some market info first, looking into general parameters like GDP and foreign investments. Then we looked at whether Indians want to go to these places, how much of a detour is necessary to get there today and what options they have now, says Elbers in an interaction with THE WEEK. Third, he adds, is the entrepreneurial approach of taking a risk with a new route, as much as using the weight of IndiGos dominance in the domestic market as an advantage. A Delhi to Baku flight is actually an India to Baku flight, because we connect so many domestic destinations to Delhi, he says. Im encouraged by what I see in some of these new markets. The appetite of the Indian consumer to explore internationally is just about to start. Weve only seen the tip of the iceberg. We might have as well seen just the tip of the iceberg as far as IndiGos insatiable thirst for market dominance is concerned. Founded in 2006 by travel entrepreneur Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, who was president & CEO of US Airways, the airline quickly captured the nations imagination with its lean, mean business model, and leapfrogged established players like Jet Airways and Air India to become Indias biggest in barely six years. Swiftly adding new destinations in India and the neighbourhood (Gulf and Southeast Asia), the airline had even freaked out the Directorate of Civil Aviation, which warned that such rapid expansion could impact safety. As Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Go First went belly up over the years, IndiGo steadily increased its market share, which currently stands at a staggering 62.6 per cent, a dominance rarely seen in open aviation markets. But Bhatia (Gangwal is on his way out, diluting his stake as per an armistice reached between the warring co-founders recently) and Elbers are not content. Our internationalisation strategy is coming to fruition, says Elbers. Traditionally, IndiGo was focused on the Gulf region. We are now stretching our wings. While Medina (Saudi Arabia) and Bali (Indonesia) are the next two international destinations to be added, taking up the total number to 14, they are only a small part of a larger strategy. IndiGo already has a code-sharing partnership with Turkish Airlines, which has seen not only Indian passengers being herded to the Istanbul hub for flights to destinations across Europe, but also the biggest international flight from Indiathe wide-bodied Boeing 777s that can carry 531 passengers. This larger-than-life approach is what gives a different dimension to IndiGos plans. It is not just satisfied with being a domestic market leader or even the biggest international operator from India; its aim is to carve for itself a niche as a global operator by turning India into a global hub, similar to what Emirates has done for Dubai, or Singapore Airlines for the city-state. About 65 per cent of the world population lives within the range of our aircraft (from India) today; so we have a lot of opportunity to find new routes and destinations, says Elbers, pointing out how Indias geographical range is helping it to develop its network. For instance, while its current aircraft can fly from Mumbai to Nairobi, it will need bigger planes to do the same destination from Delhi. The vastness of the country allows the airline to operate different destinations from different cities. And the situation will further improve when the aircraft on order, like the Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range), come in. IndiGos intent to take the battle to the global carriers is clear. It is offering India as a new hub opportunity for international travellers between east and west, and herding in the increasing number of Indians who are travelling abroad by offering them direct routes, instead of transits through Doha or Dubai. I dont see why foreign carriers can fly to so many places in India and we remain limited to Delhi and Mumbai, says Elbers. We can do it ourselves. If Singapore Airlines can fly to more than 10 destinations in India, why should we limit ourselves in India to only fly from one destination to Singapore? It is Indias time. It is also our time. That is the strategy we set for ourselves one year ago. But with all that breakneck expansion spree, IndiGo does foresee trouble ahead, particularly with technical glitches and supply chain issues nagging it since the pandemic. The latest, a powder metal problem with its Pratt & Whitney engines. Along with the earlier issues with the A320neo engines, the number of planes to be grounded is estimated to cross 70 by the new year. We have adopted a whole range of mitigating measuresleases extended, inducted new ATRs, and have recently arranged for another 11 damp lease aircraft, says Elbers. But cost control will remain an issue, as leased aircraft will come with older engines, which means less fuel efficiency, which in turn will squeeze profit margins in a business where margins are even otherwise razor thin. So far a tightly run ship, IndiGo will be in unfamiliar waters with the global expansion owing to the changes to the format it has operated in so far. The departure of Gangwal, a staunch advocate of the low-cost model that had included using only one type of aircraft for cost optimisation in maintenance and pilot training, might have an effect. Some international routes of IndiGo are rumoured to be loss-making, and the airline is yet to make a decision on having business class service, which rakes in a lot more money, on its newer routes. The planes will have to be reconfigured accordingly if the decision is positive though the buzz has picked up pace over the past few days. Then, there is, of course, the Tatas. Air India is on a five-year transformation exercise, while the nimble Vistara continues to wow passengers with its service excellence so much that the Tatas are said to be going slow in its merger with Air India. The real threat for IndiGo, however, would be from Air India Express, which Bombay House plans to position as an aggressive low-cost carrier for domestic and nearby international routes. Considering that the Tatas have deep pockets and deeper patience, IndiGo would need to keep its domestic flanks protected during its eager push into becoming a global carrier. Elbers though is cool as cucumber, and he has set his eyes on doubling the size of IndiGo by the end of the decade. Bigger, better and globalthat is what IndiGo is doing, he says. Representing the size and potential of India itself. Aiming high IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on the carriers plans Business class on IndiGo We are awaiting our Airbus A321 XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft order. We are awaiting Airbus to share the final capability. We havent decided yet whether to introduce business class (on international flights). We will keep that flexible. Exact configuration (all economy or a mix of economy class and business class) will have some impact on the range (depending on) whether you have 230 passengers or 190. And we have the flexibility to decide on the exact number of XLRs. India as a transit hub Our new international destinations are not only connections in itself, but has even (created) connectivitywe now see people flying from Tbilisi to Delhi and then connecting to Phuket. New traffic flows help us realise the vision of India becoming an aviation hub and not only a big market. Partnerships New code-share with BA; same with Qatar Airways, Qantas from earlier. Code-share with Turkish means five cities in the US and 30 destinations in Europe. In India, everyone knows IndiGo; outside India, there is still work to be done. These code-shares will help in that. Geographical position of India is extremely helpful. Not only are we operating domestic in the largest population on earth and the soon-to-be third largest economy in the world, we are also located with a big market to the north, and a relevant market to the east and west. You can go east, west and north from India itself and we develop our partnerships with exactly this in mind. So BA brings in passengers from the UK, Qantas from Australia and with that we are building our global presence. Increasing delays I would love to have 1,900 flights a day all leaving on time. Check our OAG (a provider of digital flight information) data, we are thinking as a very on time performance airline domestically. Udan Some of the Udan routes are building up to be structural routes. Udan is a temporary scheme. Against that backdrop, it is good for IndiGo to participate in it. Routes are opening and we are participating in it. We have the ambition to fly those routes even when Udan is no longer there. The typical Indian traveller India hosts today a huge variety of travellers. So we have people who fly Delhi-Mumbai every week, people who fly all over the country because their factories are all over. But we also have first time travellerspeople who used to travel on trains but are now coming onboard. The Udan scheme is helping in that. The Indian consumer is a huge variety. On an average plane of IndiGo, if you ask who is flying for the first time, you see a lot of hands going up. Udan has played a significant part in that. Flying to Russia and China I dont want to speculate. We will monitor the Indian governments position on this (flying to Russia) before deciding. Today, its not in our planning, but we are not ruling out anything going forward. Regarding China, we have opened our flights to Hong Kong, and, of course, we monitor the situation there closely. Looking ahead We will continue our network expansion. We have 85 destinations within India, and we will continue adding new routes. Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. So when we looked at Dream Finders Homes (NYSE:DFH) and its trend of ROCE, we really liked what we saw. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Dream Finders Homes: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.19 = US$409m (US$2.4b - US$260m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023). Therefore, Dream Finders Homes has an ROCE of 19%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 13% generated by the Consumer Durables industry. See our latest analysis for Dream Finders Homes roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Dream Finders Homes compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. What Does the ROCE Trend For Dream Finders Homes Tell Us? The trends we've noticed at Dream Finders Homes are quite reassuring. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last four years to 19%. The amount of capital employed has increased too, by 436%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Dream Finders Homes thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital. The Key Takeaway In summary, it's great to see that Dream Finders Homes can compound returns by consistently reinvesting capital at increasing rates of return, because these are some of the key ingredients of those highly sought after multi-baggers. And a remarkable 167% total return over the last year tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist. Story continues One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Dream Finders Homes that you might find interesting. While Dream Finders Homes may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Dr M. Srinivas, who joined AIIMS New Delhi in 1994, took over as the director of the institute in September 2022. He has more than three decades of experience in academics, administration and research. Srinivas, who hails from Karnatakas Yadgir district, was serving on deputation as dean at the Employees State Insurance Corporation Medical College in Hyderabad when he took up the directors post at AIIMS. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Srinivas spoke about opportunities before the new AIIMS hospitals, the role of AI in patient care and the importance of making health care equitable. Edited excerpts: Q New AIIMS are coming up across the country. What should their priorities be in their journey to become like AIIMS New Delhi? A Each and every AIIMS operational today is doing a great service to the nation. Many of them have made advanced health care accessible to the masses like never before. Great institutes like AIIMS are destined to be leaders and are the perfect breeding grounds for pathbreaking innovations. New AIIMS shall have their own growth pangs and challenges. These shall evolve with the changing times, and it will be very important for them to embrace change without the burden of the past limiting their growth. While the new ones can learn a lot from the journey of AIIMS New Delhi, it is not necessary that they become an exact replica. All of them need to focus on becoming AIIMS+ to establish new global paradigms and to establish Bharat as a Vishwaguru in health care. They should develop their services in a manner wherein accountability and transparency are at the heart of their growth journey. Adopting good governance practices from day one is important to imbibe these values in the institutional DNA. Further, the focus on Atmanirbhartapatient-centric care, applied academics, digital health, innovation and entrepreneurshipmust be evident in letter and spirit. Q How do you envisage the impact of AI on the care you provide? A AI, like any new technology, shall prove its worth as it matures. It has the potential to make health care safer and error-free by assisting doctors in diagnosis and treatment. AI can also help increase the efficiency of diagnostic services by automating reporting in those cases wherein the scope of error is much lower than a possible human error. It has the potential to help doctors, nursing professionals, allied health care workers and field workers in remote areas. However, the most visible impact of AI is expected to be in promoting wellness and early diagnosis by deeper integration with personal wearable devices and predictive analytics. Q You must have had your list of things to do when you took over as director. What worked and what needed tweaking? A AIIMS New Delhi is an institute with a vast legacy, which also means that it comes with its own baggage. Our faculty, residents and staff are among the best in the country and, hence, perform the best when empowered. One of the major factors bearing on hospital performance is good governance in patient care, teaching and research. In line with this, my single focus has been on enabling good governance practices and transparency. We have been an early adopter of the ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account)-linked Scan and Share facility, which has, in the past one year, helped over 10 lakh patients avoid queues and has also brought in transparency in their waiting times for OPD consultations. We have rolled out eICU and eCasualty to enable centralised and remote monitoring (for example, from nursing stations and doctors mobile phones) of patient care parameters and to enable auditing the quality of the care being provided. Embracing transparency, AIIMS New Delhi has deployed a dashboard to share real time bed status, admission and waiting status, OT utilisation, statistics of radiodiagnostics, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and laboratories. We have thrown open our gates to evaluation by external agencies by embracing NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Health Care Providers) and NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation for various facilities. We have also embraced facial recognition-based biometric attendance and access control systems. Our Centre for Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship has started to contribute significantly to Atmanirbhar Bharat. Q Do you think health care has become more inequitable in terms of access and quality? A I strongly believe that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has made quality health care more accessible. The statistics speak for themselves: Of the approximately 50 crore beneficiaries of this scheme, almost six crore poor patients have successfully availed hospitalisation services with zero out-of-pocket expenditure. Moreover, with an impressive number of both public (15,000+) and private (12,000+) facilities empanelled under its umbrella, AB-PMJAY has enabled patients to seek services at the nearest health facility. Q Our disease burden is changing from communicable to non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases. What unique challenges do that pose? A The shift in disease burden is an opportune time for greater focus on promoting wellness, as most of these diseases are preventable. The expanded range of services made available under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres defines the biggest strategic shift in screening, prevention, control and management of non-communicable diseases. Simultaneously, tertiary care facilities like AIIMS, too, need to gear up to new challenges by augmenting their curative services in these areas and research on prevention/mitigation of these diseases. The Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research (CIMR) is a pioneering initiative by AIIMS New Delhi in the quest to converge contemporary medicine with Indias traditional medical practices. Research studies at CIMR have proven the power of yoga in the prevention and mitigation of many lifestyle diseases. Q What is it about AIIMS that people must know? A Because of the hard work of our faculty, residents and staff, AIIMS New Delhi is a name that resonates with trust. This is also one of the main reasons of overcrowding as a lot of patients come here even for minor illnesses like cough and cold, which could be easily treated at primary/secondary level facilities. I strongly feel that patients should respect AIIMS New Delhi as a tertiary care facility and should come to us only for complex diseases. Further, I would like to highlight our state-of-the-art research labs and facilities where hundreds of faculty and scientists work behind the scenes to publish pathbreaking research. When she started her practice about two decades ago, Dr Darshana Sanghvi, a radiologist from Mumbais Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, had almost 12 to 14 assistants, each of whom would do everything manually. Today, her work and the way she does it have completely changed. I did not even have digital information then,she gasps. Mostly, the image stats that came from the MRI would be captured on films, which would then be put up on the physical film box, and not on a computer. So if there are a hundred images, which would be the case on any given day, someone would have to manually do everythingright from print the films, collect and segregate them, put them on the view box. Then I would see them and dictate the report to a typist. The report would be printed and dispatched. There were at least 12-14 people to do all of this. But now, it has come down to just four of them as everything is done by artificial intelligence (AI). We are still behind the west in terms of adopting electronic records. We need large Graphics Processing Unit clusters but the investment required for that is [not coming]. We also need higher funding in innovation in India. Dr Swapnil Rane, associate professor, Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai As per a World Economic Forum report published in October 2022, AI expenditure in India is expected to reach $11.78 billion by 2025. AI also helps in the training of new surgeons by comparing the steps by expert surgeons and providing real-time feedback to a novice surgeon. Dr Saurabh Patil, consultant urologist and robotic surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai Now all they have to do is simply tell the machine orally that they need to do an MRI, say, of the knee for trauma. From thereon everything is automated, says Sanghvi. The images are acquired by deep learning algorithms, which, in turn, send them to the servers for post processing of the data, which was done by us in the past and was extremely time-consuming. This is a step prior to interpretation. And it is in the next stepinterpretationthat AI truly scores. What AI essentially does is it interprets and analyses information and sends all the big data in an easy and quick-to-understand format, like in colour codes. For instance, a patient with tuberculosis of the lungs had 50 small lesions in the lungs before treatment. It would be a labour-intensive task for the radiologists to figure out whether the lesions had reduced with treatment. In comes AI, helping radiologists to interpret the data quickly and understand if the treatment is working. Moreover, unlike earlier, when there were errors between each doctors post processing techniques, now there are none. Sanghvi also recalls how earlier, in case of emergencies, she had to travel at night to the hospital to dictate the report to the typist. But now, with all the data being stored on the cloud, we can do everything at home,she says. All doctors now have their own voice recognition passwords. I verbally dictate the report to the AI from home, and it captures everything and relays it back to the treating doctor in the hospital.Sanghvi says more than any other branch of medicine, radiology is the foremost branch being impacted by AI. The reason is that the information is already in a digital form, so it helps usright from image acquisition, post processing to image interpretation and making the report,she says. Amey Mansabdar In the ever-evolving landscape of health care, AI shows immense promise. AI refers to computer systems that mimic human cognitive functions such as learning and problem-solving, which can be performed with or without human supervision. From diagnostics to surgical precision, it is catalysing a transformation across the entire spectrum of medical care. Machine learning (ML) is a subfield of AI that enables machines to learn and make predictions by recognising patterns to support rational human decision-making and it is increasingly being applied to medicine. Deep learning, meanwhile, is a method in AI that teaches computers to process data in a way that is inspired by the human brain. Deep learning models can recognise complex patterns in pictures, text, sounds, and other data to produce accurate insights and predictions. The reason why radiology is the foremost branch impacted by AI, says Dr Darshana Sanghvi (right, with fellow radiologist Dr Mihir Munshi) , from Mumbais Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, is that the information is already in a digital form. So it helps usright from image acquisition, post processing to image interpretation and making the report, she says. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one area where AI is being used as a screening tool. According to Dr Gopal Pillai, professor and head of department of ophthalmology at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, approximately one third of people with diabetes will have DR in India, and about 10-12 per cent of those will have vision-threatening DR, indicating that the development of DR has seriously affected the patients vision and failure to treat it in a timely manner will result in irreversible vision loss. One thing that was hampering early detection of DR was that it is asymptomatic, until, that is, the person completely loses his vision. One might be driving, reading, watching TV and doing their activities without even knowing that a time bomb is ticking inside the eye. And because the patient would often come in late, there was no way of early diagnosis,says Pillai, who is leading a government-sponsored clinical trial network. Five thousand of the 7,000 patients in a multi-centric registry across India have DR. Usually 50 per cent of those [5,000] people come to the hospital with loss of vision because there is only a very small window during which we can do something to prevent permanent blindness,says Pillai. This is where AI comes into play, and the first is screening. Normally, a patient would be required to visit an ophthalmologist, who will dilate the pupils and examine the eye to conclude the presence of DR. But now, we can eliminate the pupil dilation and simply take a photograph of the eye and AI can detect whether there is DR or not,says Pillai. This would reduce screening time by an extremely huge margin. Currently, we have 25,000 ophthalmologists in India. Of these, about 15,000 ophthalmologists will be able to screen the retina for DR. And that is grossly inadequate, because a huge percentage of people are diabetic. Diagnosis is another area where AI is playing a key role. Based on morphological markers of the patient, it tells us exactly what kind of a retinopathy the patient suffers from. It also provides us with the grading of DR,says Pillai. For instance, proliferative DR would be classified as a vision-threatening one and require urgent treatment as against a mild DR. Also, deep learning or machine learning can pick up a lot of things that ordinary eyes cannot pick up, especially when there is large data.As of now, Pillai and his team are trying to explore the possibilities of predicting heart attacks and strokes using the retina. A significant aspect of AI is picking up systemic diseases from the retina, that is predicting the occurrence of a disease even 10 years or 20 years down the line before it has actually occurred, says Dr Gopal Pillai (right), professor and head of department, ophthalmology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi Recently, a research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology mentions how AI-enabled imaging of the retinas network of veins and arteries can accurately predict cardiovascular disease and death, without the need for blood tests or blood pressure measurement. The research team developed a fully automated AI-enabled algorithmQUantitative Analysis of Retinal vessels Topology and siZe, or QUARTZto develop models to assess the potential of retinal vasculature imaging plus known risk factors to predict vascular health and death. AI-enabled vasculometry risk prediction is fully automated, low cost, non-invasive and has the potential for reaching a higher proportion of the population in the community because of high streetavailability and because blood sampling or [blood pressure measurement] are not needed,said the report. Another significant aspect of AI, says Pillai, is picking up systemic diseases from the retina, that is predicting the occurrence of a disease even 10 years or 20 years down the line before it has actually occurred. Likewise, in surgical domains, including the intricate field of spine surgery, a notable advancement is the introduction of robotic assistants, designed to work alongside surgeons in spine surgery, says Dr S. Vidyadhara, chairman and head, spine surgery, and consultant, robotic spine surgery, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road. When combined with augmented reality, the CT/MRI images can be superimposed real time during the surgery, providing surgeons with an in-depth 3D view of the surgical site and thus enhancing their ability to make informed decisions. This is being used in complex cancer surgeries, where the tumour is hidden inside the organ. With the help of AI, a surgeon can get the clear picture and feedback about the clear margins of the cancerous tumour to be removed,says Dr Saurabh Patil, consultant urologist and robotic surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai. AI also helps in the training of new surgeons by comparing the steps by expert surgeons and providing real-time feedback to a novice surgeon. Shutterstock AI Ultimately, the patient benefits are huge when it comes to AI. Dr Aditya Khemka, orthopaedic surgeon at Mumbais Bhatia Hospital talks about an 80-year-old patient with a fractured dislocation of the ankle who visited the hospital on a Sunday morning. The patient was advised surgery by the doctor on call, but the octogenarian dismissed the advice and returned home. He [the patient] called me in the evening and sent across the X-rays; it was a disastrous picture,recalls Khemka. The fracture was pressing an artery, thereby entirely stopping blood flow to his foot at the time. We then got him admitted and operated on him. He went home two days later. I wish there was AI for diagnosis and planning the treatment to make it easy for the patient to understand and be convinced and not waste time contemplating about surgery. That way the surgery, which he got late at night, would have been over by 2pm, thereby cutting down on chances of further injury. Also, AI can be used more efficiently in surgical decision-making and eliminating risk factors and human-driven errors.AI-enabled robotics has revolutionised surgery, including knee replacements in orthopaedics, says Khemka. So, which AI software do hospitals in India use? None of these software have been officially adopted by any of the hospitals,says Khemka. These are available as beta uses for individuals. Once we have a system adopted by hospitals, all doctors can then come to centralised, clinical decision making. Dr Swapnil Rane | Amey Mansabdar In its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence #AIForAll report published in June 2018, the NITI Aayog highlighted how AI in health care can help the country address issues of logistics, accessibility and availability of health care and shortage of health care professionals. With most of the private facilities concentrated in and around tier 1 and tier 2 cities, patients have to travel substantial distances for basic and advanced health care services,the report reads. The problem is further accentuated by lack of consistent quality in health care across India. Most of the services provided are individual-driven rather than institution-driven, and less than 2 per cent of hospitals in India are accredited.This is why health care in the country is primed for intervention by AI-driven solutions, adds the report, as evidenced by the increasing activity from large corporates and startups alike in developing AI-focused health care solutions. Shutterstock One such company is Siemens Healthineers, which boasts more than 800 AI-related patents. Siemens Healthineers uses AI in Automatic Landmarking and Parsing of Human Anatomy (ALPHA), organs-at-risk (OAR) contouring in radiation therapy and multi-modality imaging decision support,says Dileep Mangsuli, executive director and head, Siemens Healthineers Development Centre. Moreover, the Sherlock supercomputer at our innovation centre in Princeton, New Jersey, carries more than 1,200 AI experiments every day. This data is also widely used in the Indian market. Shutterstock AI The OAR contouring that Mangsuli mentions is based on deep learning. Organs at risk are healthy tissues or organs that are close to the target area that needs intervention and irradiating them could potentially affect the treatment plan. The advanced contouring solutions offer reliable and consistent results for treatment planning. More than 95 per cent of the contouring results are clinically usable or require minor edits. The ALPHA is a system designed to recognise anatomical patterns and consists of an algorithm for detecting anatomical landmarks. Another AI-driven augmented workflow solution by Healthineers is AI-Rad Companion, which effectively lessens the load of repetitive tasks while potentially enhancing the accuracy of medical image interpretation. These solutions streamline the daily workflow, by automating repetitive tasks and high case volumes. We have 18 cancer speciality hospitals in India where we utilise a range of AI tools for the early detection of cancer,says Mangsuli. These tools play a crucial role in patient care by assisting in cancer diagnosis and assessing other critical aspects, such as the patients risk of cardiac issues or stroke. In cancer care, CHAVI (Comprehensive Archive of Imaging) is key in a country like India that sees more than a million new cases every year. CHAVI is Indias first fully annotated, relational, de-identified cancer image bank, developed jointly by the Tata Medical Center, Kolkata, and IIT Kharagpur. Oncology is a discipline that is heavily dependant on imaging, not only for diagnosis but also for therapy and followup. Quantitative analysis of these images may provide additional insights about disease biology that may add to information available from clinical and pathological data. Image banks provide a way for researchers to get access to a large number of images that can be used for such analytical research. Currently, this project is for head and neck cancers, but will eventually be made open source, available to experts from other institutions. Earlier, experts from India would have to access datasets from abroad to get a deeper understanding of the disease and the trends therein. This was true for genomics, pathology and radiology. With cancer, the challenge was that their focus on the type of cancer and the equipment they use to collect that data did not work well for India. Also, there would not be enough open-access datasets available for, say, oral or head and neck cancers that occur from chewing excessive tobacco, as is more common in India. So we felt that there was a need to create a dataset in India which is suited to our kind of population and issues,says Dr Swapnil Rane, associate professor, Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai. The kind of algorithms that they are developing will use AI on images, particularly for pathology and radiology. In radiology, a lot of data is already digitised but that needs to be archived. But even large hospitals do not have a data centre to store them. And, pathology is yet to go fully digital. So the AI algorithms that are being developed will basically look at image data and integrate other clinical data and treatment and followup data. So there are two ways now that we can use AIone is to try and replicate the human expert. So if the pathologist says this is grade 3 or 4 cancer, you take that as gold standard and tell AI to replicate that result and if it is 90 per cent accurate, then easy cases can be completely given to AI with some oversight from the pathologist,says Amit Sethi, professor, department of electrical engineering, IIT Bombay. But the team wants to go beyond that, he says. We have a wealth of historical data at Tata Medical Center of several lakhs of patients. What we are doing now is to train AI to predict what will happen in three or five or 10 years,he explains. So if we apply it to patients today it will give us prognostic informationit will tell us whether treatment is likely to be successful or not. That will give us an insight to apply new treatment protocols, if need be. AI also helps in initiating treatment at the earliest after the patient is first diagnosed. Suppose a patient comes in with a diagnosis of lung cancer, we start with a CT scan, biopsy, genomic testing, and then the treatment is decided. [All of this] takes about four to five weeks before the actual treatment begins,says Rane. But with AI, we can really [bring it down] to three to four days. Rane and Sethi are also working to ensure that AI specifically understands the Indian markers. For instance, Rane says how carbon pigment is mostly present in tumours of the lung in an Indian patient, owing to pollution and smoking, but not so much in tumour samples of a patient from the west. But given that data is at the core of AI, India is at a loss because of our dismal data collection and storage capacity. Electronic medical records are present in only 15 per cent of large cancer hospitals in India,says Rane. Many have no electronic record and do not have the infrastructure to digitise radiology and pathology. So then how do we apply AI in these hospitals [when there is] lack of data? We are still behind the west in terms of adopting electronic records. We need large Graphics Processing Unit clusters but the investment required for that is [not coming]. We also need higher funding in innovation in India. As per a World Economic Forum report published in October 2022, AI expenditure in India is expected to reach $11.78 billion by 2025. The AI in health care market is projected to grow from $14.6 billion in 2023 to $102.7 billion by 2028. The report further states that NITI Aayog has been testing AI application in primary care for early detection of diabetes complications, and is currently validating the use of AI as a screening tool in eye care by comparing its diagnostic accuracy with that of retina specialists. As per the report, in cardiovascular health care, Microsofts AI Network for Healthcare and Apollo Hospitals are developing a machine learning model to better predict heart attack risk. Using clinical and lab data from more than 4 lakh patients, the AI solution can identify new risk factors and provide a heart risk score to patients without a detailed health checkup, enabling early disease detection. Apollo Hospitals has also taken initiatives such as AI-based disease progression and risk score models for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, kidney failure and liver fibrosis. AI-machine learning and deep learning are being used to identify clinically significant abnormalities and active pulmonary tuberculosis from images such as chest X-rays. Apollo EARS (Empirical Antibiotic Recommendation System) leverages AI to give doctors recommendations at the point of care, which, in turn, helps in tackling antibiotic resistance in the long run. Its Clinical Intelligence Engine, built by doctors for doctors, is an intuitive clinical assistant. Its ProHealth programme, powered by a predictive algorithm, assesses a persons current state of health, forecasts possible health risks and customises each health check. According to Dr K. Hariprasad, president, hospitals division, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, AI in health care is a multifaceted issue. There are many challenges and limitations in building clinical AI solutions that can have real impact on health care. The requirements and preferences of end users, including physicians, patients and policymakers are not always met by AI solutions,he says. Low adoption rates and ineffective solutions may arise from this. There is frequently a lack of integration between AI solutions and the current workflows, standards, and health care systems. This may limit the impact of AI solutions and create implementation barriers. Despite these issues, there is no denying that AI can work wonders in health care, especially in India. But that does not mean it will replace the human touch. AI can be viewed, at best, as a companion doctor, offering an additional opinion based on data-driven insights. It is a tool that every medical professional should embrace and receive training in,says Dr. S. Vidyadhara of Manipal hospital. Rather than replacing human expertise, AI serves as a collaborative partner that unlocks possibilities beyond our imagination. Imagine administering drugs with nanogram precision or nanobots targeting tumours! The future of health care is one where technology and human expertise join forces to achieve remarkable feats. Jaipur, Dec 3 (PTI) In a bid to foster a larger network of dedicated government leaders devoted to enhancing service delivery, the Piramal Group has announced the launch of Piramal School of Leadership (PSL) Jaipur, under the aegis of Piramal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the group. The foundation stone of Piramal School of Leadership in Jaipur was laid by Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Group, Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson, Piramal Group, and Aditya Natraj, CEO of Piramal Foundation, on December 2. The Piramal School of Leadership, spread over 32 acres, is being designed to train approximately 50,000 leaders annually, with the potential to increase to 1,50,000 at full capacity. The Piramal School of Leadership encompasses five schools: School of Education and Systems Change, School of Climate and Sustainability, School of Health, School of Justice, and School of Inclusion. The five specialized schools in the campus will impart learning across crucial development sectors, aligning closely with government initiatives. The School of Education and Systems Change has been a pioneer in the transformation of educational systems by emphasizing the concept that personal change drives systemic change. The School of Health will be dedicated to revolutionizing public health systems by actively assisting governments in implementing the National Health Mission through initiatives that enhance public health and medical training. The School of Climate and Sustainability will specialize in imparting learning on enhancing water security and promoting sustainable practices. The School of Justice will endeavour to improve the legal system through digitalisation and grassroots initiatives. The School of Inclusion concentrates on mainstreaming inclusivity, especially for persons with disabilities, by equipping institutions to provide integrated education and livelihood training. PSL, founded on the principle of personal transformation leading to system transformation, targets India's 30 million public officials, especially middle managers to help them improve the service delivery of various programmes and initiatives of the government. "This School manifests our belief in the transformative power of leadership rooted in Sewa Bhaav," Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Group, told reporters here. "Here, we will cultivate leaders who are not just skilled, but are deeply committed to the ethos of selfless service. We aim to empower these leaders to drive positive change, fostering an equitable, progressive, and resilient society. Together, we embark on this journey to shape a stronger, more prosperous India," Piramal said. The school will also target youth leadership development through its Gandhi Fellowship programme, and women leadership development via the Karuna Fellowship initiative. Additionally, it will serve social sector partners for capacity building and social entrepreneurs, guiding them to impact millions of lives. Corporate sector professionals will also have opportunities to engage and contribute to public life through programmes at PSL. "India has nearly 30 million public officials, but a dearth of institutions which focus on mid-level government leadership. Our aim is to build a landmark institution that will inspire the spirit of innovation and agility needed to realise the vision of a developed India, where every leader contributes to the nation's journey towards excellence and equity," Aditya Natraj, CEO, Piramal Foundation, said. Piramal School of Leadership is one of Piramal Foundation's four big bets along with 'Anamaya', the Tribal Health Collaborative dedicated to reducing preventable deaths among tribal populations and aligned with Sustainable Development Goals; 'Aspirational Bharat Collaborative', in partnership with NITI Aayog, for uplifting India's most backward districts; 'Digital Bharat Collaborative', which focuses on the digital transformation of public services. Piramal Foundation aims to improve the lives of marginalised communities, by leveraging the power of youth and strengthening government systems. With operations supported by 5000+ employees, and spread across 27 states and 2 Union Territories, over the last 16 years it has touched the lives of more than 11.3 crore Indians. Manila (Philippines), Dec 3 (AP) A powerful explosion believed caused by a bomb ripped through a Catholic Mass and killed at least three people and wounded several others Sunday in a predominantly Muslim city in the southern Philippines, officials said. The morning Mass was underway in a gymnasium at the state-run Marawi State University in Marawi city when the explosion happened, causing panic among dozens of worshippers and leaving the victims bloodied and sprawled on the ground, said Taha Mandangan, the security chief of the sprawling state-run campus. At least two of the wounded were fighting for their lives, Mandangan said. "This is clearly an act of terrorism. It's not a simple feud between two people. A bomb will kill everybody around, Mandangan told The Associated Press by telephone. Army troops and police immediately cordoned off the area and were conducting an initial investigation and checking security cameras for any indication of who may have been responsible for the attack. Security checkpoints were set up around city. There was no clear indication yet who was responsible for the explosion but police said they were not ruling out the involvement of Muslim militants, who still have a presence in the region despite years of military and police offensives. The mosque-studded city came under attack from Islamic militants aligned with the Islamic State group in 2017, leaving more than 1,100 killed, mostly militants, before the five-month siege was quelled by Filipino forces backed by airstrikes and surveillance planes deployed by the United States and Australia. The southern Philippines is the homeland of minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation and the scene of decades-old separatist rebellion. The largest armed insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed a 2014 peace deal with the government considerably easing decades of fighting. But a number of smaller armed groups rejected the peace pact and press on with bombings and other attacks while evading government offensives. (AP) TIR NSA Khan Younis (Gaza Strip), Dec 3 (AP) Israel's military ordered more areas in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis to evacuate on Sunday, followed by heavy bombardment, as it shifted its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it asserts that leaders of the Hamas militant group are hiding. Palestinians in Gaza said they were running out of places to go. The Gaza Strip, bordering Israel and Egypt, is sealed. Many of the territory's 2.3 million people are crammed in the south after Israel ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the war sparked by the Oct 7 attack by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. Before the latest evacuation orders, United Nations monitors said the areas told to evacuate made up about one-quarter of the territory. Heavy bombardment was reported overnight into Sunday around Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israel's shattering air and ground offensive. Juliette Toma, director of communications at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said nearly 958,000 displaced people were in 99 United Nations facilities in the southern Gaza Strip. UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged an end to the war, saying civilian suffering was too much to bear. Hopes for another temporary truce were fading. A weeklong cease-fire that expired Friday had facilitated the release of dozens of the around 240 Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. But Israel has called its negotiators home. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and it's impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday evening. One goal is to remove Hamas from power in Gaza. It was not clear how many people had been killed since the end of the cease-fire. On Sunday, Israel's military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, telling residents of at least five more areas and neighbourhoods to leave. Residents said the military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to the border city of Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, leaflets read. But Halima Abdel-Rahman, a widow and mother of four, said she won't heed such orders anymore. She fled her home in October to an area outside Khan Younis, where she stays with relatives. The occupation tells you to go to this area, then they bomb it, she said by phone. "The reality is that no place is safe in Gaza. They kill people in the north. They kill people in the south. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has told Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement and do more to protect civilians. US Vice President Kamala Harris also told Egypt's president that under no circumstances would the US permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders. On the ground in Gaza, there was frustration and mourning. Outside a Gaza City hospital, a dust-covered boy named Saaed Khalid Shehta dropped to his knees beside the bloodied body of his little brother Mohammad, one of several bodies laid out after people said their street was hit by airstrikes. He kissed him. You bury me with him! the boy cried. A health worker at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital said more than 15 children were killed. Israel's military said its fighter jets and helicopters struck terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities overnight, while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. The bodies of 31 people killed in Israeli bombardment across central Gaza were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, a hospital administrative employee. Associated Press video showed bodies in bags outside the hospital as dozens of people held funeral prayers. One woman wept, cradling a child's body on her lap. Another carried the body of a baby. The main hospital in Khan Younis received at least three dead and dozens wounded Sunday from an Israeli strike that hit a residential building in the eastern part of the city, according to an AP journalist there. In northern Gaza, rescue teams with little equipment dug through the rubble of buildings in the Jabaliya urban refugee camp and other Gaza City neighbourhoods. They strike everywhere, said Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in Jabaliya. There is the nonstop sound of explosions around us. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Sunday the overall death toll in the strip since Oct 7 had surpassed 15,500, a sharp jump from the previous count of more than 13,300 on Nov 20. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70% of the dead were women and children. It said more than 40,000 people had been wounded. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, the US vice president said Saturday. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighbourhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for 137 hostages, who the Israeli military says are still being held after 105 were freed during the recent truce. Israel freed 240 Palestinians during the truce. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. Israel's government is under pressure to negotiate additional releases. The families of hostages have called for an urgent meeting with the Security Cabinet, saying time was running out to save those still held by Hamas. Fears of a wider conflict continued. Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group said it struck Israeli positions near the tense Lebanon-Israel border as clashes between the Iran-backed group and Israeli military resumed. Eleven people eight soldiers and three civilians were injured from Hezbollah fire in the area of Beit Hillel, army radio reported. (AP) SCY SCY Padang (Indonesia), Dec 3 (AP) Indonesia's Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province erupted on Sunday, spewing white-and-gray ash plumes more than 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) into the air and sending hot ash clouds several miles away. There were no immediate report of casualties, said Ahmad Rifandi, an official with Indonesia's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre at the Marapi monitoring post. The two routes for climbers were closed after the eruption and villagers living on the slopes of the mountain were advised to stay 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the crater's mouth because of potential lava. About 70 climbers started their way up the nearly 2,900-metre (9,480-foot) mountain on Saturday and became stranded. So far, 28 have been successfully evacuated with the rest still awaiting rescue, said Dian Indriati, the acting head of North Sumatra's conservation agency. A video on social media shows the climbers were evacuated to a shelter, their faces and hair smeared with volcanic dust and rain. National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said several villages were blanketed with falling ash, blocking out the sun in many areas. Authorities distributed masks and urged residents to wear eyeglasses to protect them from volcanic ash, he said. About 1,400 people live on Marapi's slopes in Rubai and Gobah Cumantiang, the nearest villages about 5 to 6 kilometers (3.1 to 3.7 miles) from the peak. Marapi's alert level was maintained at the third-highest of four levels, Abdul Muhari said, and confirmed that authorities had been closely monitoring the volcano after sensors picked up increasing activity in recent weeks. Marapi has been active since January when it also erupted without causing casualties. It is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. (AP) PY PY Khan Younis (Gaza Strip), Dec 3 (AP) Israel on Sunday ordered more evacuations in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis, followed by heavy bombardment, as the military's offensive shifted to the southern half of the territory where Israeli officials assert that leaders of the Hamas militant group are hiding. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip said they were running out of places to go in the sealed-off territory that borders Israel and Egypt. Many of its 2.3 million people are crammed in the south after Israel ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the war, which was sparked by the October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. The United Nations estimates that 1.8 million Gazans have been displaced. Heavy bombardment was reported overnight into Sunday around Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israel's shattering air and ground offensive. Juliette Toma, director of communications at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said nearly 958,000 displaced people were in 99 United Nations facilities in the southern Gaza Strip. UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged an end to the war, saying civilian suffering was too much to bear. Hopes for another temporary truce were fading. A weeklong cease-fire that expired Friday facilitated the release of dozens of the around 240 Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. But Israel has called its negotiators home. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and it's impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday evening. One goal is to remove Hamas from power in Gaza. A spokesman for the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza asserted that hundreds of people had been killed or wounded since the cease-fire ended. The majority of victims are still under the rubble, Ashraf al-Qidra said. On Sunday, Israel's military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, telling residents of at least five more areas to leave. Residents said the military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to the border city of Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, leaflets read. But Halima Abdel-Rahman, a widow and mother of four, said she won't heed such orders anymore. She fled her home in October to an area outside Khan Younis, where she stays with relatives. The occupation tells you to go to this area, then they bomb it, she said by phone. "The reality is that no place is safe in Gaza. They kill people in the north. They kill people in the south. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has urged Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement and do more to protect civilians. US Vice President Kamala Harris also told Egypt's president that under no circumstances would the US permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders. On the ground in Gaza, there was frustration and mourning. Outside a Gaza City hospital, a dust-covered boy named Saaed Khalid Shehta dropped to his knees beside the bloodied body of his little brother Mohammad, one of several bodies laid out after people said their street was hit by airstrikes. He kissed him. You bury me with him! the boy cried. A health worker at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital said more than 15 children were killed. Israel's military said its fighter jets and helicopters struck targets in the Gaza Strip including tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities," while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. Military officials acknowledged extensive aerial attacks in the Khan Younis area". The bodies of 31 people killed in Israeli bombardment of central Gaza were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, a hospital administrative employee. Associated Press video showed bodies in bags as people held funeral prayers. One woman wept, cradling a child's body on her lap. Another carried the body of a baby. Outside a morgue in Khan Younis, resident Samy al-Najeila carried the body of a child. He said his sons had been preparing to evacuate their home, but the occupation didn't give us any time. The three-floor building was destroyed completely, the whole block was totally destroyed. He said six of the bodies were his relatives. Five people are still under the rubble, he said. God help us. The Health Ministry said on Sunday the overall death toll in Gaza since October 7 had surpassed 15,500. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70 per cent of the dead were women and children. It said more than 41,000 people had been wounded. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, the US vice president said on Saturday. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians, and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighbourhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for the 137 hostages who the Israeli military believes are still being held by Hamas. During the recent truce, 105 hostages were freed, and Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. The families of hostages have called for an urgent meeting with Israel's Security Cabinet, saying time is running out to save those still held by Hamas. Fears of a wider conflict continued. Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group said it struck Israeli positions near the tense Lebanon-Israel border. Eleven people eight soldiers and three civilians were wounded by Hezbollah fire in the area of Beit Hillel, army radio reported. The military said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon. It also said its fighter jets struck other Hezbollah targets. Elsewhere, Iraqi militants with the Iran-backed umbrella group the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said they struck the Kharab al-Jir US military base in Syria with rockets. A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said rockets hit Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria but there were no reports of casualties or damage. (AP) PY PY Khan Younis (Gaza Strip), Dec 3 (AP) Israel on Sunday ordered more evacuations in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis, followed by heavy bombardment, as the military's offensive shifted to the southern half of the territory where Israeli officials assert that leaders of the Hamas militant group are hiding. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip said they were running out of places to go in the sealed-off territory that borders Israel and Egypt. Many of its 2.3 million people are crammed into the south after Israel ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the war, which was sparked by the October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. The United Nations estimates that 1.8 million Gazans have been displaced. Heavy bombardment was reported overnight into Sunday around Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, as well as parts of the north that had been the focus of Israel's shattering air and ground offensive. Juliette Toma, director of communications at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said nearly 958,000 displaced people were in 99 United Nations facilities in the southern Gaza Strip. UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged an end to the war, saying civilian suffering was too much to bear. Fears of a wider conflict intensified. A US warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack on Sunday in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said. It did not identify where it believed the fire came from, but Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said an important statement was coming. Hopes for another temporary truce in Gaza were fading. A weeklong cease-fire that expired on Friday facilitated the release of dozens of the around 240 Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. But Israel has called its negotiators home. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and it's impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday evening. One goal is to remove Hamas from power in Gaza. A spokesman for the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza asserted that hundreds of people had been killed or wounded since the cease-fire ended. The majority of victims are still under the rubble, Ashraf al-Qidra said. On Sunday, Israel's military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis, telling residents of at least five more areas to leave. Residents said the military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to the border city of Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, leaflets read. But Halima Abdel-Rahman, a widow and mother of four, said she won't heed such orders anymore. She fled her home in October to an area outside Khan Younis, where she stays with relatives. The occupation tells you to go to this area, then they bomb it, she said by phone. "The reality is that no place is safe in Gaza. They kill people in the north. They kill people in the south. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has urged Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement and do more to protect civilians. US Vice President Kamala Harris also told Egypt's president that under no circumstances would the US permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders. On the ground in Gaza, there was frustration and mourning. Outside a Gaza City hospital, a dust-covered boy named Saaed Khalid Shehta dropped to his knees beside the bloodied body of his little brother Mohammad, one of several bodies laid out after people said their street was hit by airstrikes. He kissed him. You bury me with him! the boy cried. A health worker at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital said more than 15 children were killed. Israel's military said its fighter jets and helicopters struck targets in the Gaza Strip including tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities," while a drone killed five Hamas fighters. Military officials acknowledged extensive aerial attacks in the Khan Younis area". The bodies of 31 people killed in Israeli bombardment of central Gaza were taken to the Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, a hospital administrative employee. One woman wept, cradling a child's body on her lap. Another carried the body of a baby. Later, hospital workers reported 11 more dead after another airstrike. The bloodied survivors included a child carried in on a mattress. Outside a morgue in Khan Younis, resident Samy al-Najeila carried the body of a child. He said his sons had been preparing to evacuate their home, but the occupation didn't give us any time. The three-floor building was destroyed completely, the whole block was totally destroyed. He said six of the bodies were his relatives. Five people are still under the rubble, he said. God help us. The Health Ministry said Sunday the overall death toll in Gaza since October 7 had surpassed 15,500. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70 per cent of the dead were women and children. It said more than 41,000 people had been wounded. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating, the US vice president said on Saturday. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel was making maximum effort to protect civilians, and the military has used leaflets, phone calls, and radio and TV broadcasts to urge Gazans to move from specific areas. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighbourhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed in the offensive in northern Gaza. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns for the 137 hostages who the Israeli military believes are still being held by Hamas. During the recent truce, 105 hostages were freed, and Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners. Most of those released by both sides were women and children. The families of hostages have called for an urgent meeting with Israel's Security Cabinet, saying time is running out to save those still held by Hamas. Elsewhere in the region, Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group said it struck Israeli positions near the tense Lebanon-Israel border. Eleven people eight soldiers and three civilians were wounded by Hezbollah fire in the area of Beit Hillel, army radio reported. The military said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon. It also said its fighter jets struck other Hezbollah targets. And Iraqi militants with the Iran-backed umbrella group the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said they struck the Kharab al-Jir US military base in Syria with rockets. A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said rockets hit Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria but there were no reports of casualties or damage. (AP) PY PY Lusaka (Zambia), Dec 2 (AP) Seven miners were confirmed dead and more than 20 others were missing and presumed dead after heavy rains caused landslides that buried them inside tunnels they had been digging illegally at a copper mine in Zambia, police and local authorities said on Saturday. No bodies had yet been retrieved after the landslides late on Thursday night, police said. Many of the victims were believed to have drowned. The miners were digging for copper ore at the Seseli open-pit mine in the copper-belt city of Chingola, around 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of the capital, Lusaka, according to police. The landslides happened some time between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday, police said. Police gave names or partial names of seven confirmed victims and said all of the miners in the tunnels are suspected to have died. Neither police nor government officials could say exactly how many miners were trapped in the tunnels, but Chingola District Commissioner Raphael Chumupi told The Associated Press that there were at least 36. "We are saddened to hear about the tragic accident at a makeshift mine site in Chingola that has claimed many lives," Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said in a post on his official Facebook page. Our prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who died in the accident. We express gratitude to the rescuers and volunteers working tirelessly to reach those still trapped. The victims were buried at multiple sites, police said. Police, a mine rescue team and emergency services were at the mine. The bodies are not yet retrieved, as efforts are being made to retrieve them, police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said. Chumupi said the miners were engaged in illegal mining without the knowledge of the mine owners. He said they were buried in three separate tunnels. Illegal artisanal mining is common in Chingola, where the open pits are surrounded by huge waste dumps made up of rock and earth that has been dug out of the mines. Zambia, a southern African nation of 20 million people, is among the 10 biggest copper producers in the world. (AP) PY PY Bhopal, Dec 3 (PTI) The counting of votes in elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly began Sunday morning, a poll official said. The counting process began at 8 am and postal ballots will be counted for the first half an hour, the official said. Polling in the single-phase elections on November 17 saw an impressive turnout of 77.82 per cent, surpassing the 2018 voting percentage of 75.63 per cent, state Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said. In last months elections, 77.15 per cent polling was recorded through the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the remaining through postal ballots, he said. The ruling BJP, in power in the state for most of the last two decades, is facing a challenge from the Congress. Most exit polls havent indicated a clear winner. The state electorate voted for 2,533 candidates in 230 constituencies. There were 5.59 lakh eligible voters. The counting of votes for all assembly seats began at 8 am at 52 district headquarters amid tight security. Altogether 692 tables have been placed for the counting of postal ballots in all districts, while 4,369 tables have been set up to place the EVMs, Rajan said. Rajan said postal ballots will be counted between 8 am and 8.30 am, after which the counting of votes through EVMs will begin in the presence of officials and political parties' authorised agents. Soon after the postal ballots are counted, its result will be declared candidate-wise by the officials concerned and the exercise will be followed after the completion of each round of counting, he said. At 26, Jhabua seat will see the highest number of counting rounds, while the lowest number of 12 rounds will be held in Sevda constituency in Datia district, he said. The government has declared the day of counting a dry day, during which all wine and liquor shops shall remain closed. A three-tier security arrangement is in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, he said. Altogether 51,259 voters above 80 years of age and 12,093 physically challenged voters polled from home this time, while 3.04 lakh personnel engaged in polling work exercised their franchise through postal ballots. Political bigwigs in the fray were Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his predecessor Kamal Nath, in a largely a bipolar battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. Of the 230 seats, 47 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 35 for Scheduled Castes. Besides CM Chouhan (from Budhni seat) and state Congress president Nath (Chhindwara), Sundays counting of votes will also decide the fate of three BJP Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste, who also contested. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya and three Lok Sabha MPs of the BJP, Rakesh Singh, Ganesh Singh and Riti Pathak, were also in the fray. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) also fielded their candidates. The number of votes garnered by these candidates will also be a crucial factor in deciding the winner from a constituency. The electioneering saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda, Union minister Rajnath Singh and CM Chouhan addressing rallies to drum up support for the saffron party's nominees. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Digvijaya Singh and Nath were among the key leaders of the opposition party who held campaign rallies for their nominees. BOSTON The workforce shortage that has left employers across sectors scrambling to keep operations running in recent years isn't likely to let up "any time, in the rest of anybody's lifetime," one of the nation's leading economists said Thursday. "We're going to have a persistent worker shortage for the foreseeable future," Curtis Dubay, chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said at a Greater Boston Business Chamber event at WBUR City Space. Some employers have been waiting for more workers to become available, he said, but it's time to start shifting to a new strategy of accepting the wide gap between the number of jobs that businesses want to fill and the workers available to fill them. The labor supply shortage is largely caused by the mass retirement of Baby Boomers, Dubay said. "Succeeding generations after the Baby Boomer generation just weren't big enough." There are currently about 3.5 million more job openings than workers available in the country. No quick solution to Massachusetts labor shortage Acknowledging that there is no quick solution to the workforce supply issue will be important for Boston businesses as they navigate the labor market, Jim Rooney, CEO of the Greater Boston Business Chamber, said. "Identifying the labor issues and the worker shortage problem was not unexpected, I think what was eye-opening was what Curtis said about it being a longer-term problem," Rooney said. "In our minds, it's a period of time to get through, but given the trends that are driving it and how powerful they are, it's going to be much longer term." About 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65, and are eligible for retirement, every day, according to the U.S. Census. By 2030, every member of this large generation will be over retirement age. With fewer people to fill the roles that the older generation is stepping down from, Dubay said the U.S. will need to rely more on immigrants, as increasing birth rates is "not something you can fix with public policy." Story continues Immigration reform needed to cure labor shortage Rooney called Boston a "city driven by immigrants" and agreed with Dubay's calls for federal immigration reform. "Our immigration policies are way behind, we're not embracing particularly in this region what has sustained the economy of Boston, really for 400 years," Rooney said. "About a third of the workforce in our hospitals are foreign-born. I'm not talking about cafeteria workers, cleaners. I'm talking about medical professionals, performing surgery in the operating room and treating patients." While employers have lamented difficulties running businesses without adequate staff, Dubay said Tuesday that workers have benefited. Economy continues to grow despite recession fears The economy has continued to grow over the past few years, despite economists' frequent predictions that a recession is around the corner. "Consumers keep spending. That's what's driving growth they continue to spend. They shouldn't be able to keep spending at such a rate. But the point is, they can keep spending because if they want a job, or if they want to spend and need a job, they can have one," Dubay said. Wages are growing as employers try to retain workers, which also encourages more spending. With more opportunities and security for workers, Dubay said that even as projections show a slowing economy in 2024, "I don't think it really matters that much" if there is a recession. The U.S. experienced a recession in the first half of 2022 when there were two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth, he said. The economist argued that "no one remembers" the dip. "The reason no one remembers that is because during that period, jobs expanded, spending increased, income grew and manufacturing output increased," Dubay said. "The point is, did it really matter? If all those things that would affect people's daily lives, if they're growing and increasing, then did we have a recession if no one feels any pain? Does it really matter if it's a recession or not?" Dubay called this a "tree falls in the woods recession," saying that even if the economy slows in 2024 there likely won't be mass layoffs as workers are too valuable to employers in the current landscape. One of the panelists at Thursday's event, Yasmine King of semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices, said her company's number-one challenge is the workforce shortage. Massachusetts housing costs and living expenses key to retaining, attracting workforce The semiconductor industry is growing at an exponential rate in the U.S. "We're estimating that by 2030 the industry will need another 115,000 jobs in the U.S., and with our current graduation rates of advanced degrees and technical training programs, we won't be able to fill half. So that's a significant problem, and that's just semiconductors," King said. Higher education institutions have been experiencing, and continue to prepare for, decreased enrollment. "That's going to be a particular challenge for all higher ed, but with Boston being so concentrated, it will be a particular challenge here," Dubay said. With a shrinking workforce that may not re-inflate any time soon, Rooney said on Thursday that Boston and Massachusetts need to shift their strategy to attract the best talent to move to the area and retain those who already live here. "It's a national issue that is going to have some duration, which means that we're in competition for talent with other regions all over the country, and they're competing with us," Rooney said. "This is a national competition for talent we need to understand what levers we have to pull to make it attractive to young people to stay here. I think we know what the answer is, where we need to lean into it's housing prices and costs." The Cape Cod Times mobile app gets you to the heart of the matter fast. Whether breaking news, sports, entertainment or weather get succinct, personalized coverage along with award-winning videos, captivating photography, and interactive user features. Download the app. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Massachusetts labor shortage is here to stay for foreseeable future Raipur, Dec 3 (PTI) Counting of votes in elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly got underway Sunday morning, with security personnel maintaining a strict vigil in counting centres in the state's 33 districts, including those affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), a poll official said. The elections were held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Voter turnout stood at 76.31 per cent, which was slightly lower than the 76.88 per cent recorded in the 2018 polls. "Counting of votes for all the 90 seats started at 8 am in 33 district headquarters. A three-layer security mechanism is in place at each counting centre," Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Kangale said. "The counting of postal ballots began at 8 am. Half an hour after the postal ballots are counted, the process of counting votes from the EVMs will begin, she said. A total of 90 returning officers, 416 assistant returning officers, 4596 counting personnel and 1698 micro-observers have been appointed for carrying out the counting process smoothly, the official said. In every counting hall, there are 14 tables arranged in rows of seven, except for Pandaria, Kawardha, Sarangarh, Bilaigarh, Kasdol and Bharatpur-Sonhat Assembly seats where 21 tables have been arranged, she said. While Masturi and Jashpur constituencies will see 24 rounds of counting, Manendragarh and Bhilai Nagar constituencies will have 12 rounds of counting, the official said. A total of 1,181 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo (both from Congress) and former CM Raman Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Patan seat, represented by Baghel, witnessed a triangular contest with BJP fielding the chief minister's distant nephew and Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel. Amit Jogi, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) state president and son of former CM late Ajit Jogi, is also in the fray from Patan. In Ambikapur constituency, the BJP fielded a fresh face, Rajesh Agrawal, against Deputy CM Singh Deo. Agrawal had joined the BJP after quitting the Congress ahead of Assembly polls in 2018. Nine ministers, including Tamrdhwaj Sahu (Durg Rural constituency), Ravindra Choubey (Saja) and Kawasi Lakhma (Konta), state Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant (Sakti) and state unit chief and MP Deepak Baij (Chitrakot), were among the other prominent Congress candidates. From the BJP, apart from Raman Singh, the other prominent candidates are state unit chief and MP Arun Sao (Lormi constituency), opposition leader Narayan Chandel (Janjgir-Champa), Union minister Renuka Singh (Bharatpur-Sonhat), MP Gomti Sai (Pathalgaon), former ministers Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur South), Ajay Chandrakar (Kurud) and Punnulal Mohile (Mungeli). Two former IAS officers OP Chaudhary (Raigarh) and Neelkanth Tekam (Keshkal) also contested on BJP tickets. The Aam Aadmi Party fielded 53 candidates, including its Chhattisgarh unit president Komal Hupendi, who contested from Bhanupratappur seat. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Gondwana Ganatantra Party (GPP) formed an alliance to fight the polls. While the main fight is between the ruling Congress and BJP, a three-way contest played out in several seats of the Bilaspur division where former CM Ajit Jogi's party and the BSP have pockets of influence. In the 2018 polls, the Congress swept the polls winning 68 seats, leaving the BJP, which had ruled since 2003, a distant second with 15 seats. Exit polls have predicted a close contest between the Congress and the BJP, with the ruling party having a slight edge. Of the 90 assembly seats in the state, 51 are in the general category, 10 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 29 for Scheduled Tribes. Raipur, Dec 3 (PTI) The BJP on Sunday was on course to wrest power from Congress in Chhattisgarh, winning 34 seats and leading in 20 of the 90 assembly seats, while the grand old party tottered, bagging 20 seats and was ahead in 15 seats, as per the latest information available with the Election Commission. The promises made by the BJP, which it promoted as Modi ki Guarantee 2023, seemed to have worked in its favour in the tribal-dominated state, where it is poised to win a thumping majority. In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress had registered a landslide victory largely because of a strong anti-incumbency against the then BJP dispensation and the grand old partys promise of freebies and welfare measures. The BJP this time made populist promises in its manifesto, titled Modi ki Guarantee 2023 for Chhattisgarh. They included procurement of 21 quintals of paddy per acre at Rs 3,100 per quintal, and annual financial assistance of Rs 12,000 to married women under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana. Expressing gratitude to the "janta janardhan" for choosing the BJP in Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the results "indicate that the people of India are firmly with politics of good governance and development". Union minister Amit Shah said, "Tribal, poor, farmer sisters and brothers of Chhattisgarh have expressed faith in PM Modi and blessed BJP with a huge majority." Ahead of the state assembly elections, held in two phases on November 7 and 17, the Congress party was a divided house in Chhattisgarh but it tried to gloss over the differences by elevating state minister T S Singh Deo, the main challenger to CM Bhupesh Baghel, as the Deputy Chief Minister in June this year. The BJP, on the other hand, went into the elections without a clear candidate for the CMs post. In the 2018 elections, Congress had ended BJPs 15-year run to come to power, and Bhupesh Baghel became the CM. In the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly, the Congress has 71 members, BJP 13, JCC (J) 3 and BSP 2 while one seat is lying vacant. Counting of votes in elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly started at 8 am on Sunday, with security personnel maintaining a strict vigil in counting centres in the state's 33 districts, including those affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), a poll official said. Patna, Dec 3 (PTI) RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha on Sunday asserted that there was a need for the Congress to realise that "collectivism" was essential to take on the BJP's "self-centred" politics. The Rajya Sabha MP, whose party has for long been a staunch Congress ally, made the remark in the backdrop of the assembly elections in a number of states. "Leaders like our national president Lalu Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have acknowledged that among all partners in the INDIA coalition, the Congress has the largest footprint. But, now, the ball is in the Congress' court. It ought to realise that Narendra Modi's conceit cannot be fought with conceit," Jha said. He was responding to queries from journalists about the perception that the Congress' brusque treatment of allies like Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav may have not gone down well in a state like Madhya Pradesh, which it failed to wrest from BJP. Jha added, "I am sure Congress will realise that self-centred politics of BJP can be beaten only through collectivism. In the days to come, much better coordination within INDIA may be there for all to see". He also said, tongue in cheek, "before the polls, the BJP used to warily assert that state elections were different from national ones. I hope they will stick to their word and brace for Lok Sabha polls in which voters will hold Modi to account for soaring unemployment". "As for the BJP in Bihar, they may bask in reflected glory and burst firecrackers. But they should remember Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh were the party's bastion since the days when it used to find it difficult to win five seats here", Jha added. Patna, Dec 3 (PTI) The opposition BJP in Bihar erupted in celebrations on Sunday as trends showed that the party was heading for huge wins in the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Party workers raised chants of "Jai Shri Ram" and waved saffron flags as senior leaders started reaching the BJP office here to celebrate the victory. Leader of the opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha told reporters, "The assembly elections have shown that Modi magic is as potent as ever. Those indulging in politics of appeasement and casteism have got a resounding slap." Senior leader Nitin Nabin, who is the party's co-in-charge for Chhattisgarh, said he had been confident of the BJP's return to power in that state, which has been under Congress rule for the last five years. "I spent close to three months in Chhattisgarh. The common refrain of the man on the street was 'ab na sahibo badal kar rahibo' (will not tolerate anymore, will vote for a change)," he said. The atmosphere at Congress headquarters, situated a few kilometers away, was subdued though the party is set to pull off a significant victory in Telangana. State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, "We need to analyse the results. It was clear that anti-incumbency was strong in Madhya Pradesh where the BJP has been in power for a long, and people were satisfied with our governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh." Replying to a query from journalists, he said, "It would be wrong to say that the Congress has not been accommodative enough towards regional parties. We are a junior partner in the government in Bihar, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of JD(U), with Lalu Prasad's RJD as the largest ally and the Left parties extending their support." Jaipur, Dec 3 (PTI) The Counting of votes polled in the November 25 assembly elections in Rajasthan got underway at 8 am on Sunday amid tight security arrangements. Early trends are expected to be available in some time. "The counting of votes has begun," said Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta. Postal ballots are being counted first which will be followed by the counting of votes polled through Electronic Voting Machines. A total of 36 counting centres have been set up 199 of the state's 200 assembly constituencies which went to poll. Election to the Sriganganagar's Karanpur seat was postponed due to the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. As many as 1,862 candidates are in the fray for 199 seats. While 30 election districts have one counting centre, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Nagaur have two centres each. "All District Election Officers, Police Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been instructed to strictly follow the security protocol at the counting centre," CEO Gupta said. He said that three-tier security arrangements have been ensured at the counting venue and only those with authorised passes would be able to enter. "Separate counting halls have been made for each assembly seat at the counting centre, where as per the instructions of the Commission, tables have been arranged for counting of postal ballots and EVMs," he said. Incumbent Congress and its rival Congress conducted intense poll campaign and are both hopeful of forming a government. While most of pollsters predicted an edge for the BJP, three exit polls in their upper limit forecast a Congress win in the desert state. New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc will meet at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi on December 6 to chalk out a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sources said on Sunday. During the meeting, which will be held in the evening, the leaders are likely to discuss and finalise their plan to take on the BJP ahead of the polls, they said. The Congress was awaiting the results of assembly elections in five states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram -- before finalising further strategy plans. Counting of votes for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana elections began at 8 am on Sunday. Votes for the Mizoram assembly elections will be counted on Monday. At least 26 parties have come together as part of the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP in the general elections and have so far held three rounds of deliberations in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The sources said the opposition leaders would now plan joint rallies that were put on hold due to the assembly elections. Talks on seat-sharing between regional outfits would also gain momentum now, they said. New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra energised the Congress' rank and file but the jury is out on the electoral impact it had on the states through which it passed with the party winning Karnataka in May and now Telangana while losing the Hindi-heartland states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The assembly polls following the yatra has thrown up a mixed 2-2 result. Karnataka and Telangana went to the Congress but it suffered crushing defeats in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan at the hands of the BJP. The Congress also lost Chhattisgarh to its rival but the yatra had not passed through that state. Polls in Hind-heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the southern state of Telangana were held between November 7 and 30, and votes were counted on Sunday. The Congress in May had hailed the last year's Bharat Jodo Yatra for the party's success in the polls to the 224-member Karnataka assembly. The party had won 15 of the 20 assembly constituencies in the state the foot march had passed through. During its poll campaign in Telangana, the Congress had been hailing the yatra for its turnaround in Karnataka with several leaders saying that the foot march had not only energised party workers but also connected the party with the common people. Electorally, the yatra seems to have paid dividends in the south as both in Karnataka and Telangana, the Congress gained momentum with it and went on to score emphatic wins against formidable opponents, the BJP and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, respectively. However, the march does not seem to be helping the Congress in stopping the BJP's surge in the Hindi-heartland states. The yatra stayed in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for long but it has not had much of an electoral impact. Former Congress leader and political commentator Sanjay Jha said the Bharat Jodo Yatra has been a "turning point" for both the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. "It helped motivate the cadre and galvanize supporters. The results of today's elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh tells us that the undercurrent of rising Hindutva is now becoming more overt. The majoritarian dominance story has overwhelmed unemployment, farmer distress, economic growth, corruption, and governance failures," he told PTI. Unfortunately, neither the Congress nor the opposition has tried to even offer a counter-narrative to the BJP's religious card, Jha said. "The Hindi-heartland is sending a message. Karnataka and Telangana were focused more on local welfare issues which is why the Congress triumphed," he said. "The yatra was a mass movement and not just a long walk, and evidently in the south, it created a bond with its messaging of a secular, syncretic India. But I would not credit the wins in Karnataka and Telangana to the yatra alone, albeit it was an instrumental factor for sure," Jha asserted. Political commentator Rasheed Kidwai believes the yatra was "high on optics" but "low on substance". "The Bharat Jodo Yatra was high on optics low on substance...Rahul plus the Congress is unable to take on (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and the BJP on positive Hindutva and cultural nationalism. This aspect is glaring in northern states and the Hindi belt," he said. The Bharat Jodo Yatra traversed 12 states and two Union territories in nearly five months after its launch on September 7 last year, clocking more than 4,000 km. During the course of the yatra, Rahul Gandhi addressed 12 public meetings, more than 100 corner meetings, 13 press conferences. He had over 275 planned walking interactions and more than 100 sitting interactions. While the yatra had stayed for about 15 days in Telangana, it covered nearly 500 km in six districts of Rajasthan in 16 days. The yatra was in Karnataka for about 22 days and for 12 days in Madhya Pradesh. New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) With the BJP heading towards victory in three out of the four states that went to polls recently, the party will now be in power in 12 states on its own, while the Congress, the second largest national party, will come down to three after losing Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The Aam Aadmi Party, with its government in Delhi and Punjab, is third among national parties. The BJP, which rules the centre, is in power in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and is all set to get Madhya Pradesh back and snatch Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress after today's vote count. Besides, BJP is also part of the ruling coalition in four states - Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim. The Congress will now be in power in three states on its own - Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana, where it's on its way to victory, defeating its closest rival, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The Congress is also part of the ruling coalition in Bihar and Jharkhand and is an ally of the DMK which rules Tamil Nadu, however, it is not a part of the state government. The results also consolidated AAP's position as a major Opposition party, making it the second biggest Opposition party with government in two states, as Congress' share declined. "After today's results, Aam Aadmi Party emerges as the largest opposition party in north India with two state governments - Punjab and Delhi," AAP leader Jasmine Shah said in a post on X. India, at present, has six national parties - BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), CPI(M), National People's Party (NPP), and AAP. The next round of assembly polls will be held in 2024, when Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh will go to polls. Assembly polls are also pending for Jammu and Kashmir. As several sitting MPs contested assembly polls in this round, those seats in Lok Sabha are expected to get vacant. However, since the General Election is to be held next year, no bypolls will be held even if MPs vacate seats on being elected as MLA. New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) Several joint teams of the police and forest departments have been formed to catch the leopard that was recently spotted in Delhi's Sainik Farm area, officials said on Sunday. The residents of the area have been advised to remain indoors and call the police immediately if they come to know of any movement of the animal, a senior officer said. Meanwhile, the police along with the forest department are trying to catch the wild animal, the officer added. After the leopard was spotted in the Sainik Farm area on December 2, two trap cages were set up to capture the big cat. According to Subodh Kumar, a beat officer from the forest department (Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary), two teams have been deployed to cage the animal. Officials had said that they got a call about the leopard being spotted at night. With the help of the police, they conducted a search at 9.30 am and spotted the animal near a farmhouse. On December 2 evening, the staff of Neb Sarai police station made announcements requesting people to stay inside their homes. Ranchi, Dec 3 (PTI) Anganwadi workers would stage a protest in Ranchi on December 4 against Chief Minister Hemant Soren for allegedly not fulfilling promises, an official of the Anganwadi association said on Sunday. State officer of BJP Kisan Morcha-cum- vice president of Anganwadi Sevika Sahayaika Sangh (ASSS) Jai Prakash Pandey said Anganwadi workers from different panchayats and blocks have been asked to gather at Ranchi's Morabadi ground on December 4 for the protest against the chief minister. "Hemant Soren government has not yet been able to fulfil all the promises. In October itself, the Government of India has allocated a budget of Rs 5,742.37 lakh to the state government for 2023-2024, yet the state government is not providing timely salary, honorarium, nutritional amount and house rent to the workers," he said. Pandey alleged that the facility of mobile and the mobile recharge amount are not being implemented. The pressure has been increased on Anganwadi workers to work online as soon as possible, he said. "PF, gratuity and pension facilities are not being implemented as per the agreement made by the ASSS with the government," he alleged. At the Fortune Global Forum Nov. 2729 in Abu Dhabi, I had a chance to talk with Jenny Johnson, the president and CEO of Franklin Templeton, which has grown from a small brokerage founded in 1947 to a global giant that now manages over $1.3 trillion. Among the top financial firms, Franklin Templeton has been at the forefront of exploring blockchain technology. In 2021, it launched the first U.S.-registered mutual fund to use a public blockchain to process and record transactions, as well as crypto-focused separately managed accounts, or SMAs. And in September, the firm filed an application for a Bitcoin ETF. In our conversation, Johnson discusses a variety of topics, including the role blockchain will play in her firms long-term success and how it will help democratize markets. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Franklin Templeton has been actively exploring blockchain technology, recently filing an application for its Franklin Bitcoin ETF. Could you elaborate a bit on how blockchain fits into your long-term strategy? I think its important that we differentiate Bitcoin and blockchain. I think that theres a demand for Bitcoin. It has its own use case, and thats why youre seeing these ETFs. What gets me more excited, as I think about the future, you look at blockchain technology, and its going to enable access to things like private markets. Its going to enable the democratization of private markets. Well, why does it do that? This is because the technology takes out the frictional costs associated with processing transactions. And if you can reduce the friction in transactions, then you can more easily securitize or fractionalize ownership of things that would have been operationally too difficult to consider. Instead, youre able to create and transfer ownership of these hard-to-process assets much easier. Its going to unlock nontraditional, non-correlated types of asset classes that are going to be interesting for our clients. We also think that its going to make more efficient the types of products that you have today. ETFs trade all day, but only price twice a day. So, imagine that you build a pooled vehicle on the blockchain. When you transact, you can have the smart contract tell you exactly what the underlying value of those securities is. Its just a much more efficient way to be able to operate. Story continues And when you have atomic settlement or you have immediate settlement, it removes the potential for fraud, it takes out latency in the system. Its going to be all about efficiency. At Franklin Templeton, we developed a tokenized money-market fund. We built a shareholder recordkeeping system on that. We are a node validator, we actually advise on different portfolios. We have passive portfolios and active portfolios. While these are all in their early stages, they demonstrate that were big believers in this space. When do you think the first Bitcoin spot ETF will be approved? I dont know. Thats in the hands of the regulators, as theyre trying to figure out the best approach. Their job is to protect the consumers, and I think theyll do it in time, as appropriate. Have you seen significant interest from clients for a Bitcoin spot ETF? Do you expect an influx of funds after it is approved? I think theres obviously a demand for Bitcoin, and I believe a spot ETF is a better way to access Bitcoin. As long as they trade, the bid-ask is narrow, it should be a better way to do it. Its a much more convenient way for anybody interested in investing in Bitcoin. But I think Bitcoin has some challenges. Its hard to anchor to any kind of investment thesis. It tends to be a risk-on/risk-off type of asset. You just want to make sure clients are responsible in how they allocate Bitcoin. How did you first discover blockchain and crypto? I ran the technology division years ago at Franklin Templeton. So Im always staying focused on new technological trends. This was one that I thought initially would take longer to mature, but Ive been impressed to see the various platforms and how quickly theyve matured, and the innovation thats happened in various companies that are being created on these layer-1s. But it was just because I spent about a third of my time on disruptive technologies, and it was one, just like AI, that I paid attention to. Do you personally invest in cryptocurrency? I do have some investments. Its small for my overall portfolio, but I definitely have investments there. Can you share some of your picks? Well, I havent had more picks. Theyre all standard: Ethereum, a little Bitcoin, SushiSwap, Uniswap. I have a couple of different things like that. Looking ahead, do you plan to launch other blockchain- or crypto-related products? Some other wealth managers have, for example, crypto indexes or retirement plans or futures ETFs. ETFs dont tend to be big in the retirement channel, but they may. Retirement plans have fiduciaries that make the decision about what investments are on there. So that would be the choice of the fiduciary. Our job is to make the products available. Youve had big success with your U.S. money-market fund, which is tokenized and has inflows of over $ 270 million. Do you plan to tokenize any other funds? As I mentioned earlier, I think that technology is a really great opportunity. And as it matures, therell be more investment opportunities. I always say, at Franklin Templeton, our expertise is in making active, risk-adjusted investment decisions, and we deliver them in whatever vehicle our clients would like us to deliver them. Blockchain creates one type of vehicle with tokenization, and so, yes, we do see it as a channel to ultimately be able to deliver our expertise. Franklin Templeton ventured into the world of NFTs by issuing some to attendees of your first Innovation Forum last year. What use cases do you see for NFTs, and how do you feel about them personally? Look, I think as in anything, theres mature investments that make a lot of sense. And then theres a lot that dont make any sense. I tend to make investments in things that I think are anchored in having financial returns, because I think that you have better chances of success there. There are some things that are like art in an NFT, where if two people love it, they will find a market price for it. And so, theres going to be opportunities in that space. Not all will be successful, not all will be good, but there will be some that are successful. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Jammu, Dec 3 (PTI) Under a police welfare initiative, Jammu and Kashmir DGP R R Swain on Sunday visited the family of Constable Bodh Raj, who was killed in a car bomb attack by terrorists in Srinagar's Residency Road area in 2000. He met the family during his one-day visit to Samba district. The director general of police (DGP) interacted with members of the family and assured them that the Jammu and Kashmir Police as an institution was always at their beck and call, a spokesman said. The meeting came a day after the DGP chaired a meeting to review welfare measures for families of police personnel who laid down their lives in the fight against terrorism. Swain also interacted with district police officials and reviewed area domination plans and placement of checkpoints in the border district. During the interaction, it was observed that patterns of terrorist infiltration through tunnels and nallahs need to be analysed from time to time, the spokesman said. He said area domination patrols and intelligence is co-related and stressed for giving thrust on both as per the circumstances and situations. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High near 45F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 34F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered a blunt message to Western leaders Friday and declared at an international security conference that his government was not prepared to review its goals in Ukraine. We arent seeing any signals from Kyiv or its masters about their readiness to seek any kind of political settlement, Lavrov told reporters while attending an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe conference in North Macedonia. 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 Lavrov could attend the two-day meeting of the OSCEs Ministerial Council, prompting the top diplomats of Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to skip the event in protest. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a brief stop in North Macedonias capital, Skopje, before Lavrov arrived. Participants at the meeting accused Moscow of undermining the OSCE with its war in Ukraine. The Vienna, Austria-based organization, originally created to ease Cold War tensions, includes 57 member 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, Ambassador Katrina Kaktina, Latvias representative to the organization, said Friday. 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 charged. Lavrov held several bilateral meetings while in Skopje, including talks with the foreign ministers of meeting host North Macedonia, Armenia and Hungary, which has maintained close ties with Moscow despite European Union sanctions on Russia. He later accused diplomats from other Western countries of showing cowardice by refusing to meet with him. They probably want to emphasize their intention to isolate Russia but I think they just chickened out, Lavrov said during a Friday news conference that lasted over an hour. Theyre afraid of any honest conversation, he said. Its cowardice, simple cowardice. At the close of the OSCE meeting, North Macedonia said it had overcome Russian objections that had threatened to stall the organizations activities. Participants voted to pass the OSCEs rotating presidency from North Macedonia to Malta, sidestepping objections from Moscow which had blocked an earlier bid by Estonia. Malta will assume the presidency on Jan. 1. Let me break the news that the OSCE is saved. We have saved the organization and its functionality, North Macedonias foreign minister, Bujar Osmani, said. OSCE Secretary-General Helga Schmid also had her term extended for nine months, along with two other senior executives at the organization. A third executive was newly appointed, also for a nine-month term. ___ Gatopoulos reported from Athens. Florent Bajrami in Skopje contributed. (AP) South Korea launched its first military spy satellite into space Friday, a little over a week after North Korea claimed to put its own spy satellite into orbit for the first time as tensions rise between the rivals. Launched from Californias Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket, it was the first of five spy satellites South Korea plans to send into space by 2025 under a contract with SpaceX. The event had been scheduled for earlier in the week but was pushed back because of weather conditions. South Korea had no military reconnaissance satellites of its own in space and has partially resorted to the United States spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea. South Koreas Defense Ministry described the launch as successful, saying the satellite had a communication with an overseas ground station. A ministry statement said the launch allowed the South Korean military to acquire an independent space-based surveillance system. It said the satellite would also help bolster the militarys preemptive missile strike capability, a key part of its so-called three-axis system that includes missile defense and massive retaliatory capabilities. After two launch failures earlier this year, North Korea said it successfully placed its Malligyong-1 spy satellite into orbit last week. North Korea has since said its satellite had transmitted imagery with space views of key sites in the U.S. and South Korea, including the White House and the Pentagon. But it hasnt yet released any of those satellite photos. U.S. and South Korean officials confirmed the North Korean satellite entered orbit, but many outside experts question whether it can send militarily useful high-resolution imagery. The North Korean satellite launch sparked immediate, strong condemnations from the U.S., South Korea and others. Multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions ban any satellite launches by North Korea, viewing them as covers for testing its long-range missile technology. North Korea responded angrily, saying it has sovereign rights to launch spy satellites to cope with what it calls increasing U.S. hostilities. It said it would also launch additional ones. On Saturday, North Koreas Defense Ministry threatened to take unspecified steps to eliminate or undermine the capabilities of U.S. spy satellites in protest of what it called the rubbish comments by an unspecified U.S. Space Command official that hinted at an attack on the North Korean satellite. The North Korean ministry said it would consider such an action a declaration of war. The Norths statement followed remarks by Sheryll Klinkel, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Space Forces that were carried in Radio Free Asia, a U.S. government-funded news service, earlier in the week. Asked whether the United States has the ability to block the operation of North Koreas spy satellite, the RFA report quoted Klinkel as saying that Joint Force space operations could deny an adversarys space and counterspace capabilities and services using a variety of reversible and irreversible means, reducing the effectiveness and lethality of adversary forces across all domains. North Koreas satellite launch has inflamed animosities between the two Koreas, with the rivals taking steps to breach a previous military agreement meant to ease front-line military tensions. Spy satellites are among the high-tech weapons systems that Kim Jong Un has publicly vowed to introduce. Since 2022, North Korea has conducted about 100 ballistic missile tests part of efforts to modernize its arsenal of weapons targeting South Korea and the United States. South Korea and the United States have expanded their military exercises. South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers last week that Russias technological assistance likely enabled North Korea to place its spy satellite into orbit. South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have accused North Korea of seeking high-tech Russian technologies needed to enhance its military programs in return for supplying conventional arms to support Russias war in Ukraine. Both Russia and North Korea have denied the allegation. (AP) A man shouting Allahu Akbar went on a violent spree in Paris on Saturday night, stabbing a German tourist to death and injuring two others with an axe before being taken into custody. Prior to the attack, the terrorist released a video pledging his allegiance to ISIS. Police subdued the man, a 25-year-old French citizen who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for planning another terror attack and was on the French security service watchlist. After his arrest, he justified his attack by accusing France of being an accomplice to hurting Muslims in the Gaza Strip and Afghanistan. The attacker, who was not identified by name, left prison after four years in 2020 and was under surveillance and undergoing psychiatric treatment. He was born in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, a Paris suburb, and was most recently living with his parents in the Essonne region, south of Paris. The terror attack occurred in the 15th district of the French capital with the assailant using a knife to kill the German tourist, who was not identified. He then crossed the Seine river to the Right Bank and used a hammer to attack the injured. Details about the victims were not immediately known. The attacker was stopped by police who twice fired a taser at him in the stomach, with a minister praising the officers for their quick response and reiterating that there would doubtless have been other dead. France has been under a heightened terror alert since the fatal stabbing in October of a teacher in the northern city of Arras by a former student originally from the Ingushetia region in Russias Caucasus Mountains and suspected of Islamic radicalization. That fatal attack came three years after another teacher was killed outside Paris, beheaded by a radicalized Chechen later killed by police. The Saturday attack raised the fear level in the French capital, still marked by the 2015 attacks of cafes and a music hall by Islamist radicals that killed 130 people. We will cede nothing in the face of terrorism. Never, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on X, formerly Twitter, sending her condolences to the victims and their families. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A Los Angeles man already in custody in connection with another shooting investigation has been identified as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men, police said Saturday. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was identified as the suspect in the three killings after authorities determined a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving when he was arrested earlier was linked to the shootings. Powell was arrested this week by Los Angeles sheriffs deputies for investigation of the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man late Tuesday after he returned to his home in the community of San Dimas about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles. The announcement came a day after Los Angeles authorities said they were searching for a suspect in the shootings of three homeless men and urged homeless individuals to not sleep alone for their own safety. The shootings took place at the end of November during early morning hours while the victims were sleeping or preparing to turn in for the night. Jose Bolanos, 37, was found dead with a gunshot wound around 3 a.m. on Nov. 26 in an alley in South Los Angeles, police said. The following day, Mark Diggs, 62, was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart around 5 a.m. near downtown, according to officials. The third homeless shooting occurred Wednesday about 2:30 a.m. in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was found. Police did not immediately identify him pending notification of family. Los Angeles County is the nations most populous, with about 10 million people, and was home to more than one in five of the nations homeless people, according to a 2022 federal tally. As of January, the last official count, more than 75,000 people were homeless across the county on any given night. After the San Dimas shooting, detectives identified Powells vehicle through surveillance footage and tracked it to the city of Beverly Hills, where police stopped him Wednesday and found the firearm inside, authorities said. I am grateful that this suspect in this case is in custody and no longer a threat to this community, Moore told reporters. It was not immediately possible to identify an attorney for Powell, who is due to appear in court Monday. Online jail records show he was arrested Thursday and is being held on $2 million bail. Moore asked the public to come forward with any additional information. He said authorities did not believe there was any connection between Powell and the victims. He said authorities worked quickly across agencies to identify the suspect, aided by surveillance technology. Had they not had access to those tools, this individual, I am convinced, would still be moving about the city and the region, and killing individuals, Moore said. The announcement came after five homeless people were shot in Las Vegas on Friday, one of them fatally. Police there were searching for a lone suspect, authorities said. (AP) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday denounced those who advocate an American retreat from responsibility and said sustained U.S. leadership is needed to help keep the world as safe, free and prosperous as possible. He also urged Congress to end the partisan gridlock that has stalled the federal budget and war spending. The United States must reject calls to turn away from global interests and become more isolationist, he told an audience of lawmakers, corporate and defense leaders and government officials attending a security conference. Those who try to pull up the drawbridge, he said, undermine the security that has led to decades of prosperity. In his remarks at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Californias Simi Valley, Austin delivered a lengthy defense of U.S. support to Israel in its war against Hamas and to Ukraine in its struggle to battle Russias invasion. He said the world will only become more dangerous if tyrants and terrorists believe that they can get away with wholesale aggression and mass slaughter. Austin met privately with top lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. His message of rejecting isolationism appeared directed at conservative lawmakers who are increasingly opposed to spending on overseas wars and back former President Donald Trumps America First ideology. Youll hear some people try to brand an American retreat from responsibility as bold new leadership, Austin said. Make no mistake: It is not bold. It is not new. And it is not leadership. Congress has failed to approve any new money for the wars in Ukraine and Israel and has managed to pass only a short-term budget bill, known as a continuing resolution, that runs out early next year. The Senate has been deadlocked for months over one lawmakers move to block hundreds of military nominations, including critical senior commanders for key regions around the world. Our competitors dont have to operate under continuing resolutions. And doing so erodes both our security and our ability to compete, Austin said. He opened his speech with a plea to the lawmakers in the crowd to pass both the budget and the supplemental funding for the wars. Administration officials have warned that money for Ukraine is running out and may only last through the end of this year. The Pentagon has about $5 billion worth of equipment it can send from its own stockpiles and has been eating away at that almost weekly. Money to replace military weapons and equipment taken from Pentagon stocks to send to Ukraine is rapidly dwindling, and totals about $1 billion. Austin, who was in Ukraines capital less than two weeks ago, has repeatedly pressed the important of helping Ukraine battle Russias invasion, as part of a broader campaign to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from threatening other countries in Europe. Austin also noted that as much as $50 billion of that supplemental budget request for the wars would through American defense companies, helping to create or support tens of thousands of jobs in 30 states. While he did not mention it in his address, Austin has often criticized Congress for its failure to confirm more than 400 military officers nominated for promotions or other jobs. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has blocked the nominations and objected when other senators have tried to get some through. On just two occasions has the Senate managed to votes to confirm a total of six high ranking leaders. Almost 400 military nominations are in limbo, and the number is growing. Frustrated Republicans have tried unsuccessfully for almost nine months to quietly persuade Tuberville to drop the holds, and negotiations are continuing. Senior military officials have warned repeatedly that the situation threatens readiness and national security. In other comments, Austin underscored the administrations repeated insistence that Israel do more to protect civilians as it restarts its air assault against Hamas after a seven-day cease-fire to secure the release of prisoners. Israeli fighter jets began hitting targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after the weeklong truce expired on Friday, and Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, signaling it was preparing to widen its offensive. About 100 hostages were freed as part of the truce, but about 140 remain held by Hamas and others in Gaza. While any country has a duty to respond to an attack like the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas on Israel, Austin said the lesson is that you can only win in urban warfare by protecting civilians. Austin said that if civilians are driven into the arms of the enemy by violence, it becomes a strategic defeat. (AP) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman A few years ago, one of the top Poskim in the Satmar world has issued a controversial ruling. Rav Chaim Yoseph Dovid Weiss, the Satmar Dayan in Antwerp and author of the Responsa series Vayaan Dovid, has ruled that donating a kidney is now a full-fledged halachic obligation. This author believes that while it is very laudatory to donate kidneys, the Dayan is overstating the case and it is not an obligation. OVERVIEW The issue of kidney transplants has undergone a transformation in the halachic literature since the inception of kidney transplants. The first kidney transplant took place on June 17th, 1950. Ruth Tucker, the 44 year old recipient lived an extra five years. The next transplant took place in 1952 in Paris and then in 1954 in Boston. Initially, the Tzitz Eliezer (Vol. VIII #15) and Dayan Weiss (Minchas Yitzchok Vol. VI #103) both forbade kidney transplant on account of the perception of danger to both the donor and the recipient. So did, Rav Ovadiah Yoseph originally, although he later changed (Dinei Yisroel p.25). The problem, of course, was with the recipients immune system. It would immediately and or chronically reject the transplanted kidney. Although medications could suppress the immune system, there was great risk of both infection and cancers such as skin cancer and lymphoma. Eventually, however, as the safety of the procedure developed and became clear, the overwhelming number of Poskim permitted kidney transplants. The consensus of opinion until recently was that, while it is certainly meritorious to donate there is no full-fledged obligation to do so. TWO NEW DEVELOPMENTS Of late, two new development in kidney transplants have developed. The first was a protocol developed by Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles that reduced the need for blood type compatibility and tissue compatibility. It was approved by the FDA in 2004. The second development can be called transplant chains where one person in Oregon can donate a kidney to another person in Oklahoma, which triggers a third person to donate to the first persons spouse back in Oregon. This new system was made possible through the confluence of kidney matching computer algorithms, cooperation between transplant centers, and advances in kidney shipping techniques. The couple whose refuah shleimah this article is dedicated toward are both part of such a transplant chain. Understandably, these two new developments will cause live kidney donations to skyrocket. GENERAL OBLIGATION OF RESCUE All this brings us back to the general obligation of rescue. The Pasuk in Vayikra (19:16) states, lo saamod al dam rayacha do not stand idly by your brothers blood. Rav Yoseph Karo, in his Bais Yoseph commentary (CM 426) on the Tur quotes the Talmud Yerushalmi (Trumos 8:4) that requires us to endanger our lives to save others. Shockingly, as the SMA points out, Rav Karo does not cite this view in his actual Shulchan Aruch. The SMA explains that Rav Karo changed his mind and did not cite the Yerushalmi because the three major Rishonic codifiers (Rif, Rambam, and Rosh) do not cite the Yerushalmi. Rav Eliezer Yehudah Waldenburg (Tzitz Eliezer Vol. IX #45) explains that the Bavli seems to have rejected the Yerushalmi (See also Pischei Teshuvah 426:2). Many Achronim (see for example Maharam Shick YD #155) seem to learn that the Gemorah in Bava Metziah (62a) regarding the debate between Ben Petura and Rabbi Akiva about two people in the desert where one has enough water only for one of the them to survive shows that the Bavli argues with the Yerushalmi. Rabbi Akiva states that vchai bahem teaches us that ones own life has precedence over the others. The Maharam Shick explains that Ben Peturas opinion is that of the rejected Yerushalmi. The Mishnah Brurah (329:19), the font of normative halachic practice, rules that, although meritorious, one is not required to risk ones own life to save that of another. THE RADBAZ The idea is generally predicated upon the responsa of the Radbaz (# 627) regarding a tragic case. A finance minister in a foreign country fled to Egypt because he was falsely accused of financial impropriety by others. The king was about to close in on him, when he fled. The king issued a proclamation that he will only cut off the finance ministers hand if he turns himself in, but he will kill the ministers brother if he does not show up. The Radbaz ruled that, although meritorious, the minister was not obligated to return. Most Achronim and Poskim of the past generation accepted the ruling of the Radbaz (See Shach YD 157:3; Pischei Teshuvah 157:3, Igros Moshe YD Vol. II 174; Tzitz Eliezer Vol. IX #45). THE NEWER POSKIM Of late, however, a few Poskim have issued rulings that it is, in fact, an obligation to donate a kidney. It is not that they disagree with the Radbaz, but it is that they believe that the situation is no longer congruous to that of the Radbaz. These Poskim raise a number of questions concerning the contemporary kidney transplant. 1] In light of the advances in Living Donor Kidney Transplantation (LDKT) is a person obligated to enter into a possible danger in order to save the life of a friend? Is a kidney donation considered dangerous at all? 2] Is one obligated to endure pain and suffering in order to save another? 3] Is there an obligation to speed up the kidney donation process? 4] What if it is unclear whether the operation will succeed? 5] Upon whom is it the greatest Mitzvah to donate? 6] Is there an obligation to donate when the organ is available from another or if there will be a possibility of an organ available at additional expense? 7] Can one harvest a kidney from a child who is unable to consent to the procedure? Rav Chaim Yoseph Dovid Weiss, the Satmar Dayan in Antwerp and author of the Responsa series Vayaan Dovid writes (Vol. IV p. 196) that there is no danger involved in the operation and that it is a full-fledged halachic obligation. The same ruling was issued in a British based Torah journal entitled Kol HaTorah (#59 p. 175) in an article by Rabbi Eliezer Sternbuch of New York. As far as the issue of whether there is an obligation to perform it as soon as possible, Rabbi Weiss cites the Shulchan Aruch (YD 252:3) that when time is of the essence there is certainly such an obligation. Regarding the issue of who should do it, Rabbi Weiss quotes the Shulchan Aruch (YD 251) regarding Hilchos Tzedaka that the obligation lies first and foremost among family members. He also cites the Gemorah in Bava Metziah (71a) that the obligation to perform chessed to another is incumbent upon the family members first. When it is possible to receive the kidney in another manner albeit through expenses and the sick person has the resources to do so, Rav Weiss writes that there is no obligation incumbent upon the family member. It is crucial to note that this author had once researched the availability of kidneys and came upon a remarkable discovery. It seems that there are different ratings of kidneys- an A level kidney could last twenty years or more, while a B level kidney, generally from an older person or from someone who had compromised health can last five or ten years. In the state of Nevada there are B level kidneys readily available for transplant and there is generally very little waiting involved. The cost of transplantation there is often initially refused by insurance companies. THE ORIGINAL POSKIM ARE STILL CORRECT This author would like to respectfully suggest that, at the current state of affairs in medicine, the position of the Poskim who rule that it is meritorious but not obligatory is still the correct halachic conclusion. There are two issues when discussing the concept of danger or non-danger to the kidney donor. There is the issue of the danger or non-danger involved in the operation itself and that of the repercussions or non-repercussions to the donor afterward. Lets discuss the first issue. There are certainly many medical centers in the United States that certainly have 100.00 percent success rates, where there are zero deaths associated donating a kidney. However, although the fatality rate has been decreased to almost zero in other hospitals is it so clear that this is considered no danger? The British based organization Giveakidney.org reports that in England the fatality rate is 1 in 3000. In the United States it has been estimated to be 1 in 5000 (Matas AJ, Bartlett ST, Leichtman AB, et al. Morbidity and mortality after living donor kidney donation, 19992001: a survey of the United States transplant centres. Am J Transplant 2003;3:830834). THE SDEI CHEMED What percentage of risk is considered negligible in halacha? The term Karov lvadai close to certain is one that is employed by the author of the Sdei Chemed. The Sdei Chemed (Samech Klal 11 vSham and Klal 92 letter 6) seems to indicate that the criterion for Karov lvadai is 1 in 10,000. here the danger is 1 in 5000, and according to another study 1 in 3300. As far as the second issue is concerned, in an article entitled Is Living Kidney Donation Really Safe printed in the May 2007 edition of Transplant Proceedings (39(4):822-3), authors Azar SA, Nakhjavani MR, Tarzamni MK, Faragi A, Bahloli A, Badroghli N, reported that serious complications occurred 5.8% of the time. In 6.9% of the cases they studied, the patients serum creatinine was >or=1.4 mg/dL. Microalbuminuria was found in 10.4%; hematuria in 13.9%; pyuria in 8.1%; and renal stone in 6.9%. Varicocele was found in 24.1% of male patients (23.3% of patients who had left nephrectomised). Persistent pain was reported by 44.1%. Antidepressants were prescribed to 9.3% of donors because of severe depression. Other studies, however, showed less problems (Lam N, Huang A, Feldman LS, et al. Acute dialysis risk in living kidney donors. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2012;27:32913295.). Another aspect of the second issue is the shockingly high rate of obesity and diabetes in this country. Some thirty to 40 percent of diabetics develop kidney problems. Indeed, even if a diabetic has low blood pressure many doctors recommend that he or she should still take high blood pressure meds to protect future kidney function. Although these issues are certainly minimal, it would seem to this author that if these numbers are accurate, they would change the status of this type of obligation from obligatory to voluntary at least according to one reading of the Sdei Chemed. It is theoretically possible that LDKT will have advanced so far that this halacha may change, but at this point these complications still exist. IMPORTANT SIDE ISSUE I am not sure if what I am about to write is still accurate, but the state of Nevada used to have lower quality kidneys available that were not on the national kidney list. If someone does not qualify, they should look into this possibility. OTHER HALACHIC ISSUES There are also a few parenthetic issues as well. One of the Ten Commandments is Lo sachmod not to Covet. This is defined as being desirous of a friends item and repeatedly requesting of him to sell it to you. The first time one asks there is no prohibition. As an example, one may ask a neighbor one time to sell you his 67 Mustang. Asking a second time is a violation of this prohibition. Is there a prohibition of Lo Sachmod in asking someone else who has a second, extra kidney two times to donate? Generally speaking there is a Torah requirement to spend all of ones money in order to avoid violating a negative commandment in the Torah. Does this idea mean that the prohibition of Lo Sachmod still exists regarding a kidney? Dayan Yaakov Yisroel Fisher ztl in his Even Yisroel (Vol. VIII #105) rules that since the issue of Pikuach Nefesh applies here, the prohibition may be violated. The person may be more successful, however, in seeking other options, such as the Nevada one mentioned earlier. May the Holy One grant the sick a refuah shleimah and continue blessing the work of those who both donate kidneys and save life in the field of medicine. May the donors be granted continued health, long life and nachas from all they do. The author can be reached at [email protected] Firefighters and officers work the scene of a fire at the Swift Mansion, a historic house in the Bronzeville neighborhood on Dec. 3, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) No one was injured in a Sunday afternoon fire at the Swift Mansion, a historic house in the Bronzeville neighborhood, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Firefighters responded earlier in the day to 4500 S. Michigan Ave. after a fire broke out on the mansions third floor, Fire Department officials said. They said the fire was extinguished around noon. Advertisement At about 2:45 p.m. the fire started again in the roof, officials said. It was extinguished about an hour and a half later, and no injuries were reported The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said. Advertisement The castlelike mansion with hand-carved oak walls was built in the 1890s for a daughter of Gustavus Swift, founder of the famed meat company. Later, it was a funeral parlor, office quarters for the Chicago Urban League and home to the Inner City Youth & Adult Foundation. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com In 1971, Carolyn Davidsons good friend Phil was starting a business. He asked her to design a logo, something simple that could be cut out and stitched easily since he was creating some apparel pieces. Carolyn was a graphic design student and he was offering her above-minimum-wage hourly pay for the design. She did some research into Greek mythology as well as simplified design and came up with a logo she thought might meet his needs. Phil didnt really like it that much, to be honest, but it would be simple to embroider on his sporting goods. Carolyn submitted a bill for 17.5 hours of work for the design, and Phil invoiced her for the $35 he owed her at $2 per hour. And thus, the Nike swoosh was born. The marketing agency Rob Janoff worked for in 1977 had acquired a new client, an upstart tech company. He was tasked with creating a logo for that company, and the only guidance he received from the guy in charge over there was, Dont make it cute. He went to the grocery store for some props and sat down with his sketchbook and drew, repeating the same basic shape over and over and over again until he found the simple lines of what he was seeing. He presented a few options to the company two weeks after getting the assignment and, strangely, the option with awkward rainbow colors was the one the dont make it cute CEO chose. His marketing agency was paid $1,500 for the logo assignment and was contracted to use the logo in some future sales brochures. It might be within eyesight or under the fingers of many of you right now. The bite-out-of-the-Apple logo that Rob created has graced some of the most successful computers, phones, tablets and music players ever sold. John Pasches art school career in London had been going fine, three years in, when the school came to him because a group had contacted them about creating a logo. Twice John had brought drafts to the groups frontman and twice he had turned down those efforts. In that second pitch, John came away with a piece of religious art that the groups lead really liked and the encouragement from him, You can really do better, John. He honed in on some of the standout details in that art, and with his two-dimensional style, he rendered an almost obscene cartoonish logo that the group loved. He received 50 in 1970 for his two weeks worth of work on the logo. Story continues The rest of the world loved the Rolling Stones new logo as well, and 52 years later those lips and tongue have appeared on every album the band has released and is synonymous with an era of classic rock and roll. There is no tried-and-true way to work with a newly minted entrepreneur. Just like a pair of Nike shoes, new entrepreneurs can come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Simple, clear and bold ideas should inform a new entrepreneurs choices, in just the way Apple has built its brand identity. And while new entrepreneurs dont get it right on the first or second times, great things usually happen when they listen to their potential customers and keep working toward a stated goal. The other piece that these three stories have in common, besides being wildly underpriced for the value they have provided in the long run, are the stories themselves. New businesses reach out to their friends, students and small firms with the resources at their disposal (even Apples $1,500 in 1977 is worth less than $8,000 today) for something as important as their logo, which will define them publicly. Taken as stories, these anecdotes illuminate how business formation happens in the real world, in real time. They show just how important small early decisions are to the lifespan of any group. There is a quote that goes (paraphrasing), When people think of traveling back in time, they are fearful of taking even the smallest actions for all of the drastic changes it could affect in the future. And yet people here and now do not believe that their small actions today could do the same. New entrepreneurs usually make tiny and small decisions at a breakneck pace during the beginning of their business journey. Those decisions have ripple effects, and the resources and partners that are accumulated during that time become forever joined with the business. Sometimes that looks like creating a bite-out-of-the-Apple logo, and sometimes thats us sharing a new website with our social media network. Be a part of the stories of your friends entrepreneurial journeys, and remember to do so when you see those iconic swooshes, fruits and lips in your daily life. It should be easy theyre everywhere. Jay Sparks is the director of Columbia Colleges Steven and Barbara Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship, housed in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business. He previously worked as the entrepreneurship coordinator for the Columbia-based Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI). This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: CC Biz Buzz: Iconic logos illustrate real-world business formation by Rabbi Yair Hoffman The 20th of Kisslev is the 43rd Yartzeit of one of the most remarkable Roshei Yeshiva in America. Rav Yitzchok Hutner ztl (1904-1980) was a talmid of the Alter of Slabodka, who emphasized Gadlus HaAdam in dealing with all people. Rav Hutner became the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chaim Berlin and helped mold and shape thousands of talmidim and talmidim of talmidim. Later in life, Rav Hutner established Yeshiva Pachad Yitzchok in Yerushalayim. On one of his trips to Eretz Yisroel, Rav Hutners plane was seized by terrorists. He and his daughter Rebbitzen David were on the flight. The terrorists were Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorists, and the hijacking was part of the Dawsons Field. What follows are 10 of his thoughts and sayings. Struggle is not the opposite of growth, it is part of growth. It is a grave error that when we discuss the greatness of gedolim, we deal only with the end product. We discuss their complete perfection, omitting all mention of the inner battles which they overcame yet raged within them. The impression one gets is that they were created in full perfection. [PY Igros Vksavim #128] Shlomo HaMelech said, (Mishlei 24:16), The tzaddik will fall seven times and will rise. The simple person thinks he meant, Even though a tzaddik falls seven times, he will still rise. A smart person, however, knows that he meant, Because a tzaddik fell seven times, that is why he ultimately rose. [ibid] Loving Hashem, and loving people are one and the same. One cannot have love of Hashem without loving people. And one cannot truly love people without also loving Hashem. There is a very special type of Ahavah that is unique that we must have for all geirim. When calling in a high school bochur from a very chashuva mishpacha who started becoming involved in girls, Rav Hutner did not call him out directly on it. Instead, he questioned the young man on the Mesechta he was learning, Bava Metziah. He then on last years Mesechta, Bava Kamma. He then said, I see that you are holding very well, knayna horah on seder Nezikin! Why, then, pray tell, are you being oisek in seder Nashim? The bochur got the message right away and immersed himself in learning, stopping other extra-curricular activities. [Heard by YH from the bochur]. Once in a discussion with Reb Pinchas Pele, Reb Pinchas said, for Eretz Yisroel the hanhaggah should be like this, but for the golus, here in Brooklyn, the hanhaggah should be like that.. Rav Hutner responded, No Reb Pinchas, when there is yet a structure on the makom beis habechirah there is no greater reminder of the galus than that. The hanhagah should be the same as here in Brooklyn. I would prefer to produce a hundred baal Habatim than a hundred rabbonim as rabbanim without people to follow them and implement their vision, will be lost, but good baal habatim will always make sure to have a good rav. For some Talmidim he told them not to attend college even if their parents wished them to do so. For other Talmidim he told them bedavkah to attend college. When questioned what was the criterion that he used to determine who he told what he responded, I look at them in the future and ask if they will ever possibly have charata that they did not attend college. If they possibly will have charatah then they can chalilah become sonei hadas and I tell them that they should go. [Heard from a close talmid] After setting up a bochur on a shidduch, the bachur did not wish to date a second time, and was hemming and hawing as to the reason. Rav Hutner was very intuitive and figured it out saying, I see.. She did not have enough sheker and she also was lacking in Hevel.. [Heard from a talmid]. The author 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) The IDF on Friday informed the families of six hostages who were abducted to Gaza on October 7th that their loved ones had died in captivity. Guy Iluz, 26, Hyd was pronounced dead based on the testimony of freed captive Maya Regev, who was released last week with a badly broken leg due to a bullet wound. She told Iluzs family that he was hospitalized next to her in a hospital in Gaza, and after eight days, died of his wounds. Iluz was shot by Hamas terrorists as he was abducted from the music festival near Reim, where he was working as a soundman. The IDF also confirmed the deaths of four hostages who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th: Ronen Engel, Hyd, 54, is survived by a wife and two daughters who were released from captivity last week as well as a son who was not abducted. Maya Goren, zl, was a mother of four. Her husband, Avner Goren, Hyd was murdered on October 7th. Eliyahu Margalit, Hyd, 75. His daughter was released from captivity last week. Aryeh Zalmanovich, Hyd, 85, was a father of two and grandfather of five. The IDF also confirmed the death of Ofra Keidar, Hyd, 70, in Gaza. She was abducted from Kibbutz Beeri on October 7th and her husband was murdered. They are survived by three children and grandchildren. It was also announced over the weekend that IDF soldiers in Gaza recovered the body of Ofir Tzarfati, Hyd, whose family was informed on Thursday that he was murdered by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The IDF eliminated Hamass Shejaiya Battalion Commander, Wessam Farhat, on Shabbos. Farhat was responsible for the murder of numerous Israelis. Most recently, he participated in the planning of the October 7th massacre. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, he was responsible for a dual attack on IDF soldiers in Shujaiya, resulting in the deaths of six soldiers. In 2011, Farhat helped plan a terror attack on a bus in Nachal Oz, in which an Israeli child was killed. In 2002, Farhat was one of the masterminds of the terror attack in Atzmona, in which five Israelis were killed In 1995, while he was on his way to carry out a suicide attack in Israel, Farhat was captured by security forces and imprisoned in an Israeli prison for ten years. Following his return to Gaza, he worked in rocket production for the Hamas terrorist organization. The IDF has struck hundreds of terror targets in the Gaza Strip since the resumption of the ground operation in Gaza on Friday morning. On Friday night, over 50 targets were struck in the Khan Yunis area. The IDF also eliminated terrorists and destroyed Hamas infrastructure in the Beit Lahia area and also carried airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip. One of the targets that was hit was a mosque being used by the Islamic Jihad terror group as an operational command center. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The IDF announced the deaths of two additional soldiers killed while fighting in Gaza, with one being the first casualty since the end of the ceasefire. They were named as: Sergeant Aschalwu Sama, 20, a soldier in the Nachal Brigade, who succumbed to his wounds last night after being wounded in battle on Nov. 14th in northern Gaza. Major General (Res.) Or Brandes, 25, a soldier in the 82nd Battalion, 7th Brigade (Golan Assault Formation), killed overnight during battle in the center of the Gaza Strip. Brandess death marks the first time an IDF soldier was killed while operating in the center of Gaza. 398 IDF troops have now been killed since and including October 7th. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Muslim community leaders from several swing states pledged to withdraw support for U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday at a conference in suburban Detroit, citing his refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Democrats in Michigan have warned the White House that Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas war could cost him enough support within the Arab American community to sway the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Leaders from Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania gathered behind a lectern that read Abandon Biden, ceasefire now in Dearborn, Michigan, the city with the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States. Bidens unwillingness to call for a ceasefire has damaged his relationship with the American Muslim community beyond repair, according to Minneapolis-based Jaylani Hussein, who helped organize the conference. Hussein told The Associated Press: The anger in our community is beyond belief. One of the things that made us even more angry is the fact that most of us actually voted for President Biden. I even had one incident where a religious leader asked me, How do I get my 2020 ballot so I can destroy it? he said. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates previously said the Biden administration has pushed for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to get humanitarian aid into Gaza, adding that fighting against the poison of antisemitism and standing up for Israels sovereign right to defend itself have always been core values for President Biden. Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were critical components of the blue wall of states that Biden returned to the Democratic column, helping him win the White House in 2020. About 3.45 million Americans identify as Muslim, or 1.1% of the countrys population, and the demographic tends to lean Democratic, according to Pew Research Center. But leaders said Saturday that the communitys support for Biden has vanished. We are not powerless as American Muslims. We are powerful. We dont only have the money, but we have the actual votes. And we will use that vote to save this nation from itself, Hussein said at the conference. The Muslim community leaders condemnation of Biden does not indicate support for former President Donald Trump, the clear front-runner in the Republican primary, Hussein clarified. We dont have two options. We have many options. And were going to exercise that, he said. (AP) Eleven IDF soldiers were lightly injured on Sunday afternoon from shrapnel from an anti-tank guided missile launched at Israel by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. The missile landed in the Beit Hillel moshav in the Galil, causing an IDF vehicle to burst into flames and injuring the soldiers. Hezbollah also launched a number of rockets at Israel, setting off sirens in two communities. A number of rockets were intercepted in the Har Dov area. Some rockets fell within Lebanon. IDF forces carried out airstrikes against the sources of the fire. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Shares in 888 Holdings soared 17.5 per cent on Monday after the William Hill owner was revealed to have rejected a takeover by a gambling software firm this summer. The betting giant received a 700million written offer from Playtech in July. But the offer a price of 156p per share was deemed too low for the company, according to The Sunday Times. Too low: Betting giant 888 received a 700million written offer from Playtech in July Prior to the takeover announcement, 888 Holdings shares had fallen 30 per cent over the past year, closing at 70.6p last week. They are now around 17 per cent lower. The firm's bosses, Labour peer Lord Mendelsohn and gambling industry veteran Per Widerstrom, suffered a blow when 888 was kicked out of the FTSE 250. 888 owns a slew of online bingo and casino firms under its flagship brand. It forked out almost 2billion for bookmaker William Hill in 2022. It has been hit by new gambling regulations in recent months. Revenue slipped to 405m for the three months to the end of September from 449.4m in the same period a year earlier. At its UK and Ireland business it fell 10 per cent to 157.2m. The board of IJM Corporation Berhad (KLSE:IJM) has announced that it will pay a dividend of MYR0.02 per share on the 29th of December. The dividend yield will be 4.3% based on this payment which is still above the industry average. See our latest analysis for IJM Corporation Berhad IJM Corporation Berhad's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Before this announcement, IJM Corporation Berhad was paying out 72% of earnings, but a comparatively small 38% of free cash flows. Since the dividend is just paying out cash to shareholders, we care more about the cash payout ratio from which we can see plenty is being left over for reinvestment in the business. The next year is set to see EPS grow by 64.9%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 56% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward. Dividend Volatility While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2013, the annual payment back then was MYR0.065, compared to the most recent full-year payment of MYR0.08. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 2.1% over that duration. Modest growth in the dividend is good to see, but we think this is offset by historical cuts to the payments. It is hard to live on a dividend income if the company's earnings are not consistent. IJM Corporation Berhad Could Grow Its Dividend With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. We are encouraged to see that IJM Corporation Berhad has grown earnings per share at 9.1% per year over the past five years. Recently, the company has been able to grow earnings at a decent rate, but with the payout ratio on the higher end we don't think the dividend has many prospects for growth. Story continues IJM Corporation Berhad Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock Overall, we think that this is a great income investment, and we think that maintaining the dividend this year may have been a conservative choice. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for IJM Corporation Berhad that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Musk and Page had a fight about the threats of AI at Musk's birthday party. JOEL SAGET/AFP and Kimberly White/Getty Images Larry Page and Elon Musk argued about AI at Musk's 44th birthday party in 2015. Page reportedly said humans would eventually merge with machines. Musk said that machines would destroy humanity. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Google cofounder Larry Page disagree so severely about the dangers of AI it apparently ended their friendship. At Musk's 44th birthday celebration in 2015, Page accused Musk of being a "specieist" who preferred humans over future digital life forms, according to The New York Times . Musk's then-wife, British actress Talulah Riley , had arranged the three-day affair at a resort in Napa Valley. The accusation was one of the final punches Page threw in the argument he and Musk had been having that night about the threat intelligent machines posed to humanity, The New York Times reported. The two tech execs had been friends for more than a decade by the time of the party and started off the night exchanging jokes. But the conversation eventually turned to AI and got heated. As several other party attendees listened, Page outlined his version of a "digital utopia" in which humans would eventually merge with intelligent machines, giving rise to a competition between various forms of intelligence, according to The Times account. Musk's take was that society would be doomed because machines would wipe out humanity. Musk's biographer, Walter Isaacson, also wrote about the fight but dated it to 2013 in his recent biography of Musk. Isaacson wrote that Musk said to Page at the time, "Well, yes, I am pro-human, I fucking like humanity, dude." Musk's birthday bash was not the only instance when the two clashed over AI. Page was CEO of Google when it acquired the AI lab DeepMind for more than $500 million in 2014. In the lead-up to the deal, though, Musk had approached DeepMind's founder Demis Hassabis to convince him not to take the offer, according to Isaacson. "The future of AI should not be controlled by Larry," Musk told Hassabis, according to Isaacson's book. Story continues Musk later helped to launch OpenAI as a nonprofit research lab dedicated to ensuring AI systems would benefit humanity. He eventually left OpenAI's board in 2018 after a failed attempt to take over and has since launched his own AI startup called xAI to "understand the true nature of the universe." OpenAI's board has had its own disagreements about the dangers artificial intelligence poses to humanity. Those tensions were one of the reasons OpenAI cofounder Sam Altman was briefly ousted from the company. Read the original article on Business Insider Key Insights Using the Dividend Discount Model, Anpario fair value estimate is UK2.30 Anpario's UK2.60 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Anpario's peers are currently trading at a discount of 21% on average In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Anpario plc (LON:ANP) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Anpario The Calculation We have to calculate the value of Anpario slightly differently to other stocks because it is a food company. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.5%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.2%. Compared to the current share price of UK2.6, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = UK0.1 / (6.2% 1.5%) Story continues = UK2.3 dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Anpario as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Anpario Strength Currently debt free. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Food market. Current share price is above our estimate of fair value. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the British market. Threat Dividends are not covered by earnings. Next Steps: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Anpario, there are three pertinent elements you should assess: Risks: As an example, we've found 4 warning signs for Anpario (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does ANP's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the AIM every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. [December 02, 2023] IFRC-DREF calls on global donors to help the world 'Stand Tall' in the face of accelerating humanitarian need - supporting smarter and faster disaster relief Tweet The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a new campaign to address rapidly escalating climate driven humanitarian crises. It calls on global governments and international donors to support local emergency responders and disaster hit communities - helping them to Stand Tall with smarter and faster humanitarian funding. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231202510555/en/ Stand Tall in the face of disaster with IFRC-DREF Insurance. (Photo: Business Wire) The IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) is the quickest, most efficient and most transparent way of getting funding directly to local National Societies - both before and immediately after a crisis hits. Yet it faces growing pressure to anticipate and respond to multiple, simultaneous and complex crises around the world as a result of climate change. Today, 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. Humanitarian funding needs are growing as more people are adversely impacted by climate-related disasters each year. The signs are hard to ignore: IFRC-DREF funding allocation increased by 75% to meet escalating demands in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 - predominately in response to floods and earthquakes. Shoulder to shoulder - to Stand Tall The Stand Tall campaign calls on global governments and private donors to stand shoulder to shoulder with local emergency responders and the communities they support. Stand Tall aims to grow the humanitarian funds available to on-the-ground relief organisations from the CHF 64 million (US$73 million) available today to CHF 100 million (US$114 million) by 2025. Coinciding with COP28, IFRC's Stand Tall campaign uses a series of visuals to champion the incredible network of donors, volunteers, and impacted communities that make up IFRC-DREF. Nena Stoiljkovic, Under-Secretary General at IFRC, said: "In the battle against climate change, we have reached a critical juncture - funding needs outstrip supply as communities face more and more devastating impact. Our funding partners for IFRC-DREF enable us to deliver local response with global support. "We take a moment to celebrate the incredible work and accomplishments of our inspiring network of funding partners and volunteers in impacted communities. We are proud of their determination and collaboration as we strive to prevent and lessen the burden of climate disasters on vulnerable communities. We encourage our partners to keep supporting IFRC-DREF's action. Together, we will Stand Tall in the face of climate disasters." Smarter and faster funding - to those who need it, when they need it Unlike other humanitarian funding mechanisms, 82% of IFRC-DREF funds go directly to National Societies supporting local action - compared with a global average of just 1.2%. Localised, community-led action is key to ensuring communities are equipped to prepare for, and overcome, devastating crises. IFRC-DREF is evolving as it works to increase the impact of every donation to the fund. In September 2023, for example, IFRC announced the launch of IFRC-DREF Insurance - a truly innovative way to ensure that funding is always there for those who need it, when they need it. It acts as a back-stop to IFRC-DREF, bringing an additional CHF 20 million (c US $23 million) on stream, triggered during periods of high demand. In helping to reach the CHF 100 million target by 2025, global governments and private donors can Stand Tall with emergency responders and their communities - saving lives and livelihoods in the face of climate driven disasters. To learn more about IFRC-DREF and how donors can support its 2025 ambition, visit ifrc.org. About the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network, comprising 191 National Societies and bringing together more than 16 million volunteers working to save lives, build community resilience, strengthen localisation and promote dignity around the world. About the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) Established in 1979, the IFRC-DREF is the quickest, most efficient, and most transparent mechanism for donors to channel global short-term emergency funding directly for local community-based action. While the average of international humanitarian funds directly channelled to local actors every year lies around 1.2% globally, 82% of IFRC-DREF's allocation is directly transferred to the National Societies. Since its inception, more than 220 million people in crisis worldwide have benefited from IFRC-DREF support. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231202510555/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 03, 2023] Countries, Companies Signal Support for Energy Transition Accelerator Tweet DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the U.S. Department of State, the Bezos Earth Fund, and The Rockefeller Foundation presented the core framework of the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA), an innovative carbon finance platform aimed at catalyzing private capital to support ambitious just energy transition strategies in developing and emerging economies. As part of the announcement, the Governments of Chile, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, and the Philippines expressed interest in participating in the ETA. Amazon, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Mastercard, McDonald's, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, Salesforce, Schneider Electric, Standard Chartered Bank, Trane Technologies, and Walmart have expressed interest in continuing to engage with the ETA partners as the initiative moves towards its formal launch. According to the International Energy Agency, clean energy investment in developing and emerging economies excluding China must increase seven-fold to $1.9 trillion a year by the early 2030s to keep a 1.5C limit on warming within reach. During today's announcement at the U.S. Center at COP28, the three ETA partners announced several major achievements since their partnership's creation at COP27 one year ago and their aim to formally establish the ETA as an independent initiative by Earth Day 2024. The ETA will bring together governments and private sector stakeholders employing high-integrity carbon crediting to deliver faster, deeper greenhouse gas reductions and improve the lives of vulnerable people by accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to clean power in developing and emerging economies. Based on preliminary estimates, the ETA could mobilize anywhere from $72 billion to $207 billion in transition finance by 2035. After a year of extensive consultations with government, business, and civil society stakeholders, the partners released the core ETA framework, which will serve as a foundation for the creation of the ETA Coalition. The framework describes the Coalition and its objectives and provides an overview of key elements of the ETA: its approach to carbon crediting, including the development of an independent sectoral-scale crediting standard for emissions reductions from electricity generation; criteria for participating companies and information on how they would use ETA carbon credits to help meet their voluntary climate commitments; just transition provisions to address worker and community needs; plans to dedicate a portion of the finance generated to address adaptation and resilience in vulnerable countries; and options for innovative financial structures to mobilize investment into energy transition strategies. The partners were joined by countries and leading companies declaring their interest in engaging with the ETA partners in the continued development of the groundbreaking initiative. The governments of Chile, the Dominican Republic, and Nigeria announced they would be joining the ETA as pilot countries. Ten leading companies signed a letter of interest welcoming the ETA as an opportunity to support large-scale power sector transformation while accelerating progress towards their ambitious climate goals: Amazon, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Mastercard, McDonald's, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, Salesforce, Schneider Electric, and Standard Chartered Bank. "I am asolutely convinced we can meet our climate goals the question is, will we do it in time to avoid the worst consequences of the crisis," said John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. "We all know the challenges we face, and that no government can solve this alone. We must all come together with the innovative solutions to catalyze the financing at the scale and speed required to transition off of dirty power and accelerate the clean energy future." "We know how to solve the climate crisis. Now we need innovative ways to finance it," said Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. "The Energy Transition Accelerator brings a market-based solution to the table, in turn unlocking billions of dollars for clean energy. Countries and companies joining us will be guided by high-integrity methodologies and just transition safeguards that center environmental and social impact." "If we invest in the climate response correctly, it can become a vehicle for human progress. The Energy Transition Accelerator's framework begins to answer the essential question of how we can help emerging and developing economies achieve their climate goals while simultaneously creating economic opportunities for vulnerable people in developing economies," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President, The Rockefeller Foundation. In parallel, Winrock International released draft elements of the sectoral-scale carbon crediting standard it is developing for use by the ETA as part of the broader ETA Framework. In September, the ETA announced a strategic collaboration with the World Bank's Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE) partnership, the aims of which is to catalyze climate action by mobilizing finance for effective energy transitions, enabling developing countries to be directly rewarded for verified emissions reductions from a pool of payments committed by public and private sector contributors. "At the global level, the Bank, through initiatives like Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions, is partnering with the Energy Transition Accelerator, to remove the most critical impediments for carbon market expansion, including setting standards, and supporting countries access more affordable finance by helping them set up the necessary infrastructure to connect to a global market," said Ajay Banga, President, World Bank Group, who joined the ETA partners on stage from COP28. The sectoral-scale crediting approach being pioneered by the ETA will incentivize participating countries to intensify their near-term activities contributing to power sector decarbonization, including to deploy and utilize clean power and retire fossil fuel assets, to enhance storage capacity, transmission, and distribution, and for any needed policy shifts. The ETA partners received extensive input from a High-Level Consultative Group of more than 30 experts and intergovernmental, private sector and civil society leaders from all regions of the world. They have been supported in the design effort by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). "The math is clear: we are falling short of the finance we need to drive a global just transition," said Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). "To fill this gap, we need innovative financingincluding through leveraging carbon marketsthat can mobilize the resources that developing countries need to secure a cleaner energy future. The energy transition isn't just about climate action, it must also be focused on improving health, expanding affordable energy access, and creating economic opportunity along the way. EDF is proud to have developed the Just Transition Framework for the Energy Transition Accelerator, guiding it toward a holistic approach with justice and equity at its core." "We cannot tackle the climate crisis without urgently phasing out unabated fossil-fired electricity generation and replacing it with zero-carbon energy around the world. And as developing countries continue to face the worst impacts of the climate crisis, the rapid transition to clean energy is vital to strengthening their resilience and boosting economic growth," said Nat Keohane, President, C2ES. "The Energy Transition Accelerator can make a vital contribution to this transition by mobilizing a new source of climate finance, serving to bring together companies and others seeking to buy high-quality carbon credits with developing countries that are poised to invest. The ETA's innovative sectoral-scale crediting approach, and its emphasis on ensuring a just transition in participating countries, will help developing economies move to clean energy at the scale and speed needed, while providing companies with an additional high-integrity means of reducing emissions as part of their corporate climate strategies. C2ES looks forward to continuing to work with the partners and stakeholders involved in the ETA to continue to refine the ETA framework and bring it to fruition." The Department of State, the Bezos Earth Fund, and The Rockefeller Foundation are collaborating for the purpose of developing the Energy Transition Accelerator as an independent initiative. About the Bezos Earth Fund: The Bezos Earth Fund is transforming the fight against climate change with the largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature protection. We're investing $10 billion in this decisive decade to protect nature and drive systems-level change, creating a just transition to a low-carbon economy. By providing funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate innovation, break down barriers to success and create a more equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a world where people prosper in harmony with nature. About The Rockefeller Foundation: The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/countries-companies-signal-support-for-energy-transition-accelerator-302003885.html SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 03, 2023] Xinhua News Agency President Fu Hua Delivers Key-note Speech at 5th World Media Summit (WMS) GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 3, 2023 /CNW/ -- The 5th World Media Summit (WMS) held an opening ceremony Sunday morning in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony that confidence is more valuable than gold when facing difficulties. Focusing on the summit's theme of "Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development," attendees took part in extensive discussions to contribute media power to the constructon of a brighter future. Confidence is a key word for global media leaders, noted Fu Hua, adding that history development, civilization prosperity and human progress require the media to shoulder the responsibilities of fostering unity and boosting confidence. Fu noted that the WMS serves as an important platform for media communication and cooperation between countries, and said efforts should be made to improve this multilateral mechanism and utilize it to its fullest extent, tap into the potential for cooperation, innovate collaboration models, and expand cooperation channels. Xinhua will enhance communication and consultation processes with media organizations from various countries, and work with these organizations to construct and utilize the summit mechanism effectively, Fu said. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xinhua-news-agency-president-fu-hua-delivers-key-note-speech-at-5th-world-media-summit-wms-302003939.html SOURCE Xinhua News Agency Here's an introductory preview of an introductory conversation AND a glimpse at the guiding philosophy of this iconic local institution . . . Check-it: Good vibes dont come out of thin air. Community-wide good vibes take some work and are a product of factors like good planning, collaboration, and shared spaces. Tommi Laitio, an expert in library and public park design and governance, discusses his research on the natural state of friction between religious, social, and cultural practices and how shared public institutions like libraries can facilitate a confluence of friendship and joy, or conviviality. The Kansas City Public Library launches a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of its founding with a special presentation by the Finnish-born scholar, urbanist, and innovative civic leader. The former executive director of culture and leisure for the Finnish capital of Helsinki, Laitio examines the concept of transforming communities through the design of libraries, parks, and other public spaces for greater conviviality. Parks and libraries, he says, can be inspiring and safe learning grounds for living in a diverse world and thus an essential component of democratic society, especially in times like today when polarized political conversations can cause us to feel divided. They "allow us to share resources without forcing us to shared action. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Right now EmRata and her thirst for knowledge even amongst criticism inspires our latest peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Cowtown Supreme Tribute Sandra Day O'Connor's legacy remembered by law students, legal figures in Kansas City Despite not being from Kansas City nor working here, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's impact on women here - and everywhere. Kangaroos To Rescue 'To take care of my communities;' UMKC School of Medicine students want to reverse physician shortage According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), 50% of Kansas and 80% of Missouri are in a primary care physician shortage. Local Need Rising Christmas Bureau asks for help amid high demand throughout KC-area The Johnson County Christmas Bureau, known for providing help during the holidays, is asking for help due to high demand from the public. Northeast Conversation Cont'd 317: Community Partnership Between the Museum, Belger Arts, and Monarch Glass Explore the intersection of community, art, and a vibrant new collaborative project With Michael Bushnell in this week's Northeast Newscast. [...] Drudging Up Longstanding KCMO Probs . . . Sewer line backup on vacant lot causes questions for Kansas City homeowner As if Brian Dotson's sewer backup wasn't bad enough this weekend, he had trouble figuring out who's ultimately responsible to pay for repairs. Heavy Rebuke Targets Hottie EmRata's latest photoshoot is a slap in the face for plus-size people In a new editorial shared over the weekend, the model poses in a pair of jeans that could fit her two times over. Writer Gina Tonic unpacks the problems underpinning the insidious image Another Faction Against Prez Swing-state Muslim leaders launch campaign to 'abandon' Biden in 2024 The bubbling anger among Arab and Muslim Americans over the president's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict could threaten his chances of reelection. More Deets On MAGA Ruling Judge rejects Trump immunity claim in federal 2020 election case Donald Trump does not have immunity from criminal charges for actions he took as president, a U.S. judge ruled on Friday, rejecting his bid to toss out the case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith accusing him of unlawfully trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. White House Worries Expand Speaker Johnson says he believes he has the votes for a Biden impeachment inquiry | CNN Politics House Speaker Mike Johnson said Saturday he believes Republicans have the votes to launch a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. GOP Shifts . . . With the expulsion of Santos and ouster of McCarthy, the House is making unexpected history The House is making history this year - it's just coming in ways that Republicans could hardly have envisioned when the party took control. Revenge Attack Explained The inmate accused of stabbing Derek Chauvin 22 times bizarrely said he attacked him on Black Friday as a symbolic connection to BLM Suspect John Turscak told FBI agents he attacked Derek Chauvin on Black Friday as he believed it had a symbolic connection to the Black Lives Matter movement. Veep Offers Assurance Harris says the US will 'under no circumstances' permit the forced relocation of Palestinians | CNN Politics Vice President Kamala Harris said Washington will not allow for the forced relocations of Palestinians or any redrawing of the current border of the Gaza Strip in a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Bombing Begins Again Israel intensifies its assault on southern Gaza, causing renewed concern about civilian deaths Israel pounded targets in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, intensifying a renewed offensive that followed a weeklong truce with Hamas and giving rise to renewed concerns about civilian casualties. At least 178 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting resumed Friday morning, even as the United States urged ally Israel to do everything possible to protect civilians. NextGen Can't Decide?!? DeSantis, Newsom get mixed reviews from young voters after Great Red vs. Blue State Debate Two Fordham University students who are registered voters in California spoke out on "The Story" about their takeaways from the DeSantis-Newsom debate. Brands Abandon X Walmart joins the growing list of major companies to suspend advertising on Elon Musk's X "We aren't advertising on X as we've found other platforms to better reach our customers," a Walmart spokeswoman told Bloomberg News. Run For Border Orgy Exposed This Taco Bell Holiday Party Sounds Like Hell A former employee is suing Taco Bell after she claims a holiday party held at the restaurant ended with employees having sex in public. Holiday Switcheroo Offered Kansas City Reindeer Farm steps up to honor Snowglobe Express Train tickets Christmas comes early for people who were out hundreds of dollars after learning the Snowglobe Express Train would not run in Baldwin City, Kansas. Holiday Eat Out Advice Again Where To Eat Now: 10 Great Restaurants Form a Bold New Era Of Kansas City Food. Where to eat now. Check out this list, from house made biscuits to rare imported cheeses, these establishments deliver. Jazz District Glows 'This is off the chain', 18th and Vine holds 5th Christmas Tree lighting ceremony Tucker Lott, founder of the Soul of Santa "Do Good" Foundation, brought this event to the historic jazz district five years ago. Artsy Interlude This Kansas City artist's giant paintings may 'make you a little uncomfortable.' That's the point Artist Fernando Achucarro paints late into the night in his home studio on Independence Avenue. The dark and moody images he conjures often rely on the glow of streetlights, candles and dimly-lit lamps. Many were inspired by the loss and trauma of life. Katie Calls Latest Weather . . . Cold and fog could create slippery conditions on the roads Saturday will have high temperatures around 40 degrees; the cold ground temperature combined with the moisture of the heavy fog in some areas could create slick roadways. Tiesto - Lay Low is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. While countless people enjoy snow when it finally falls during winter, there are times that it can pose problems and delays. Such is the case in Munich on Saturday, which saw snow affect transportation in the city. Heavy snowfall turned out to the be a problem for the airport in Munich as around 760 flights were cancelled Saturday, December 2, because of it. According to CNN, it has been reported by Bavarian public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk that "the 44 centimeters of snow in Munich was the most snowfall ever recorded in December in the Bavarian state capital since records began in 1933." Train, Bus Operations Suspended Due to Heavy Snowfall Flights are not the only ones affected by the heavy snowfall that Munich is experiencing. Certain train services have been suspended due to heavy snowfall. This is also the case with bus and tram services in the city. Long-distance services of Deutsche Bahn have been completely suspended. The central train station, on the other hand, only suspended arrivals. Deutsche Bahn anticipates that impacts on train services can be experienced until Monday. Those who plan on taking these modes of transportation in the coming days are advise to check for suspensions first before leaving their homes. Related Article: Lake-Effect Snow Brings Heavy Snowfall and Travel Warnings Near Great Lakes, New York Residents Told to Stay at Home The CNN report notes that residents in some places in Bavaria have been told not to leave their homes in order to avoid risks of accidents. Residents in Munich have also been told by authorities to avoid using their cars. As heavy snowfall in the region continues, the public is advised to heed these reminders and warnings for their own safety. Read Also: Five Things You Should Know Before Booking a Trip to Munich jetcityimage / Getty Images Many women who leave the workforce to raise children ultimately feel a desire to contribute financially to their families. Michelle Perez, a former supervisor at one of the nations largest health insurance providers, left her job when her son was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old. After 10 years as a stay-at-home mom, she found a way to not only contribute to her familys income, but to give back to the autism community through Turo, a car sharing platform. Side Gig: Earn Up To $200/Hour With This Easy-To-Start Job, No College Degree Required See: 26 Ways To Make $1,000 Fast In a Week or Less When my son was first diagnosed with autism, it only took a few weeks before we felt completely burnt out juggling our new life as parents while navigating two full-time jobs and adding several in-home therapy visits, Perez told GOBankingRates in an exclusive email interview. We sat down and made a terrifying but overall smart move in order to help our son reach his full potential in life . I was a stay-at-home mom for the next 10 years until Turo changed my life. Sponsored: Open a new checking account and earn early paycheck access; up to 2 days early with Discover Cashback Debit with Early Pay Earning To Give Back Perez explained that, in July 2022, she found herself with some extra time in her day while her son was at school. I started to look around for a job that would allow me to earn money, while still having time to look after my son who has autism, she said. After hearing about Turo from a friend, I decided to seize the opportunity and listed my own 2020 Toyota 4Runner on the platform. A year later, she said, she is bringing in an extra $55,000 a year for her family through her company Ausome Rides LTD. My husband has always been the sole earner in my family for years, but Ive always wanted to contribute in my own way, Perez said. My son is considered non-verbal and although hes had speech therapy since he was a toddler, today he speaks in two- to three-word phrases. He uses an iPad with an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) app to communicate with us when he cannot find the words. Story continues Her sons needs inspired part of her mission with Turo. She donates a portion of each booking to provide talking devices to families who may not have the means for their kids, she said. Now that Turo has helped me create this new source of income, I am able to give back to the community that I know all too well, she said. I work directly with my sons offices to help find families to whom I can donate. What Is Turo? Turo is a car-sharing marketplace where guests can book cars from hosts, in the same way a traveler might rent a vacation home through Airbnb. Fully scalable, the Turo platform is designed to allow hosts to earn extra revenue from their underutilized personal vehicles, or to build an accessible, flexible car sharing business with a fleet of any size. How One Stay-at-Home-Mom Built a Fleet and a Thriving Business How did Perez launch a new business and, in less than two years, earn enough to cover her familys mortgage, while still donating a portion of her earnings to help other families with autistic kids? With an intuitive, user-friendly platform, Turo allows entrepreneurs like Perez to promote their vehicles, earn top ratings and reviews, and garner a following of loyal customers. As one reviewer on Perezs page wrote: Michelle was very helpful throughout the trip and had all the answers for my first timer questions. I highly recommend renting from her. The 4Runner was great very capable and smooth vehicle . I think I may be in line to get one of these myself, but until then if I need another vehicle like this I know where Im going! Based on our assessment of the website, it looks like, in just a few clicks, virtually anyone in the U.S. with a late-model car can become a host. From there, the business can grow as large as youd like or remain a side gig to earn extra cash when youre not using your personal vehicle. The website noted that there may be income limitations, defined by current legislation, in California, Oregon and Washington. Create a Profile That Shares Your Mission and Vision The first step, after deciding you want to share your car through Turo, is to create a profile ideally one that shares your mission and vision. Perezs profile emphasizes her passion for the outdoors and her mission to help Autistic kids. Perez, a Denver resident, said on her Turo profile that her family loves to hike and explore Colorado on the weekends. [W]e know how important it is to have a safe vehicle while out exploring. Rest assured, each one of my vehicles are very well maintained, clean and are ready for your trip! her profile reads. Build a Fleet After having success renting her 2020 Toyota 4Runner, Perez financed additional vehicles to expand her fleet. Her car choices currently include Toyota 4Runners and Toyota RAV4s, all with 5-star ratings across hundreds of trips, combined. I am now working on building my fleet through my business entity Ausome Rides LTD which highlights both my awesome cars available to book on Turo and my mission to help non-verbal Autistic kids find their voice, she told GOBankingRates. Understand the Investment and the Potential Rewards Perez was open and honest about the investment required to be a successful Turo host and its less than most people might imagine. The main resource is probably my time since I personally detail, clean, and maintain each one of my vehicles to make sure each trip is an Ausome Adventure, as I like to call it, she said. Other costs of being a Turo host, of course, include any car loan payments, personal auto insurance and maintenance costs. Perez listed car washes, oil changes, tire rotations and cleaning supplies as a few of her monthly business expenses. I also have an unlimited fleet membership with CobbleStone Car Wash that has over 32 locations in Colorado, for guests on longer-duration trips who might want to clean their cars in between, she said. Choose a Turo Host Protection Plan Your personal auto insurance is unlikely to cover accidents that occur while youre renting your vehicle, according to the Turo website. Turo offers host protection plans at different tiers to cover these types of incidents, along with wear-and-tear reimbursement on eligible vehicles (on some plans), replacement vehicle reimbursements if a car needs repair (on some plans), and other benefits. The more benefits you opt to be covered by Turo, the smaller your percentage of pay will be ranging from 60% of earnings for top-tier protection with the full suite of extra benefits, up to 90% earnings with a higher deductible and fewer benefits. Turo retains at least 10% to cover operational costs, marketing and advertising, and the financial responsibility Turo incurs for any potential vehicle damage, according to the website. Rely on Turo as You Grow Perez said that the Turo platform provides the information and resources she needs as a busy mom and business owner. Turo played a key role in helping me scale my business, giving me more than I could have ever imagined in my first year of being a host on the platform, Perez said. One of the best parts about Turo is the unparalleled support it provides to the host community. They truly see us as partners and offer a number of helpful tools and resources to make sure we are set up for long-term success. She mentioned Host Tools as one of the resources. The host resource page helps hosts get started, including tips on taking photos to help their cars stand out and how to configure the settings on listings so hosts can work on their own schedule and receive the results they want. Turo recently announced the capability to create hosting teams on the platform, enabling hosts to partner with friends, family members or employees to scale their business more easily. Hosts can create teams within their Turo accounts and allow co-hosts to manage trip functions such as vehicle check-in and check-out, messaging guests and uploading fleet photos, according to a press release recently issued by Turo. How Much Can a Turo Host Earn? The Turo website shows that the average Turo host with one car earns an average of $10,516 per year, before tax-deductible expenses such as maintenance, cleaning, insurance and deductibles. The owner of a three-car fleet earns an average of $31,547, while the owner of five cars earns an average income of $52,579. Build a fleet of nine cars and your income could approach six figures. These numbers were reported on the Turo website and reflect earnings from January 2018 to March 2020. These income estimates are in line with Perezs income claims, too. I was able to grow my business to earn almost $55,000 this year, thanks to the busy holiday season coming up, she said. Is Being a Turo Host Worth It? For Turo hosts, as with many entrepreneurs, the attraction to a business like this is the scalability and flexibility. Being a host on Turo has allowed me to consistently contribute to my household financially while sticking to my hectic schedule at home, Perez said. Of course, being a Turo host requires a functional, desirable vehicle, but it doesnt have to be a high-end luxury car. It also requires a willingness to work. After I drop off my son at school, the rest of my mornings are dedicated to my Turo fleet, Perez said. I only have time in the mornings to manage my fleet, but thats really all I need. The best part about being a Turo host is the flexibility, which allows me to work on my own schedule. Perez noted that even on a busy day she spends just two or three hours in the morning managing her fleet. And her business ramped up quicker than some people might imagine. In the first month of listing my car, I earned enough on Turo to cover our groceries for the month, she said. This was earth-shattering for me after over a decade of being out of the workforce. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Stay-at-Home Mom Who Turned My Car Into a $55K a Year Income Heres How I Did It Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Motorola Solutions' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 19 shareholders own 51% of the company Insiders have been selling lately If you want to know who really controls Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 86% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Motorola Solutions. Check out our latest analysis for Motorola Solutions What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Motorola Solutions? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. We can see that Motorola Solutions does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Motorola Solutions' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Motorola Solutions. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 12% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 8.5% of common stock, and Capital Research and Management Company holds about 7.4% of the company stock. Story continues A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 19 shareholders have a combined ownership of 51% implying that no single shareholder has a majority. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Motorola Solutions The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our information suggests that Motorola Solutions, Inc. insiders own under 1% of the company. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own US$172m worth of shares. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 14% stake in Motorola Solutions. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Motorola Solutions better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Motorola Solutions . If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday denounced those who advocate "an American retreat from responsibility" and said sustained U.S. leadership is needed to help keep the world as safe, free and prosperous as possible. He also urged Congress to end the partisan gridlock that has stalled the federal budget and war spending. The United States must reject calls to turn away from global interests and become more isolationist, he told an audience of lawmakers, corporate and defense leaders and government officials attending a security conference. Those who "try to pull up the drawbridge," he said, undermine the security that has led to decades of prosperity. In his remarks at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California's Simi Valley, Austin delivered a lengthy defense of U.S. support to Israel in its war against Hamas and to Ukraine in its struggle to battle Russia's invasion. "The world will only become more dangerous if tyrants and terrorists believe that they can get away with wholesale aggression and mass slaughter," he said. 'It is not bold' Austin met privately with top lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. His message of rejecting isolationism appeared directed at conservative lawmakers who are increasingly opposed to spending on overseas wars and back former President Donald Trump's "America First" ideology. "You'll hear some people try to brand an American retreat from responsibility as bold new leadership," Austin said. "Make no mistake: It is not bold. It is not new. And it is not leadership." Congress has failed to approve any new money for the wars in Ukraine and Israel and has managed to pass only a short-term budget bill, known as a continuing resolution, that runs out early next year. The Senate has been deadlocked for months over one lawmaker's move to block hundreds of military nominations, including critical senior commanders for key regions around the world. "Our competitors don't have to operate under continuing resolutions. And doing so erodes both our security and our ability to compete," Austin said. He opened his speech with a plea to the lawmakers in the crowd to pass both the budget and the supplemental funding for the wars. War spending would create jobs Administration officials have warned that money for Ukraine is running out and may only last through the end of this year. The Pentagon has about $5 billion worth of equipment it can send from its own stockpiles and has been eating away at almost weekly. Money to replace military weapons and equipment taken from Pentagon stocks to send to Ukraine is rapidly dwindling, and totals about $1 billion. Austin, who was in Ukraine's capital less than two weeks ago, has repeatedly pressed the importance of helping Ukraine battle Russia's invasion, as part of a broader campaign to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from threatening other countries in Europe. Austin also noted that as much as $50 billion of that supplemental budget request for the wars would flow through American defense companies, helping to create or support tens of thousands of jobs in more than 30 states. While he did not mention it in his address, Austin has often criticized Congress for its failure to confirm more than 400 military officers nominated for promotions or other jobs. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from the state of Alabama, has blocked the nominations and objected when other senators have tried to get some through. On just two occasions, the Senate has managed to vote to confirm a total of six high-ranking leaders. Almost 400 military nominations are in limbo, and the number is growing. Frustrated Republicans have tried unsuccessfully for almost nine months to persuade Tuberville to drop the holds, and negotiations are continuing. Senior military officials have warned repeatedly that the situation threatens readiness and national security. An iconic chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller, inspired countless Native American children as a powerful but humble leader who expanded early education and rural health care. Her reach is now broadening with a quintessential American honor: a Barbie doll in the late Mankiller's likeness as part of toymaker Mattel's "Inspiring Women" series. A public ceremony honoring Mankiller's legacy is set for Tuesday in Tahlequah in northeast Oklahoma, where the Cherokee Nation is headquartered. Mankiller was the nation's first female principal chief, leading the tribe for a decade until 1995. She focused on improving social conditions through consensus and on restoring pride in Native heritage. She met with three U.S. presidents and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. She also met snide remarks about her surname a military title with humor, often delivering a straight-faced response: "Mankiller is actually a well-earned nickname." She died in 2010. The tribe's current leader, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., applauded Mattel for commemorating Mankiller. "When Native girls see it, they can achieve it, and Wilma Mankiller has shown countless young women to be fearless and speak up for Indigenous and human rights," Hoskin said in a statement. "Wilma Mankiller is a champion for the Cherokee Nation, for Indian Country, and even my own daughter." Mankiller, whose likeness is on a U.S. quarter issued in 2021, is the second Native American woman honored with a Barbie doll. Famed aviator Bessie Coleman, who was of Black and Cherokee ancestry, was depicted earlier this year. Other dolls in the series include Maya Angelou, Ida B. Wells, Jane Goodall and Madam C.J. Walker. The rollout of the Mankiller Barbie doll, wearing a ribbon skirt, black shoes and carrying a woven basket, has been met with conflicting reactions. Many say the doll is a fitting tribute for a remarkable leader who faced conflict head-on and helped the tribe triple its enrollment, double its employment and build new health centers and children's programs. Still, some Cherokee women are critical, saying Mattel overlooked problematic details on the doll and the packaging. "Mixed emotions shared by me and many other Cherokee women who have now purchased the product revolve around whether a Wilma Barbie captures her legacy, her physical features and the importance of centering Cherokee women in decision making," Stacy Leeds, the law school dean at Arizona State University and a former Cherokee Nation Supreme Court justice, told The Associated Press in an email. Regina Thompson, a Cherokee basket weaver who grew up near Tahlequah, doesn't think the doll looks like Mankiller. Mattel should have considered traditional pucker toe moccasins, instead of black shoes, and included symbols on the basket that Cherokees use to tell a story, she said. "Wilma's name is the only thing Cherokee on that box," Thompson said. "Nothing about that doll is Wilma, nothing." The Cherokee language symbols on the packaging also are wrong, she noted. Two symbols look similar, and the one used translates to "chicken," rather than "Cherokee." Mattel spokesperson Devin Tucker said the company is aware of the problem with the syllabary and is "discussing options." The company worked with Mankiller's estate, which is led by her husband, Charlie Soap, and her friend Kristina Kiehl, on the creation of the doll. Soap and Kiehl did not respond to messages left by the AP. Mattel did not consult with the Cherokee Nation on the doll. "Regrettably, the Mattel company did not work directly with the tribal government's design and communications team to secure the official seal or verify it," the tribe said in a statement. "The printing mistake itself does not diminish what it means for the Cherokee people to see this tribute to Wilma and who she was and what she stood for." Several Cherokees also criticized Mattel for not consulting with Mankiller's only surviving child, Felicia Olaya, who said she was unaware of the doll until about a week before its public launch. "I have no issues with the doll. I have no issues with honoring my mom in different ways," said Olaya, who acknowledged she and Soap, her stepfather, are estranged. "The issue is that no one informed me, no one told me. I didn't know it was coming." Olaya also wonders how her mother would feel about being honored with a Barbie doll. "I heard her once on the phone saying, 'I'm not Princess Diana, nor am I Barbie,'" Olaya recalled. "I think she probably would have been a little conflicted on that, because my mom was very humble. She wasn't the type of person who had her honorary degrees or awards plastered all over the wall. They were in tubs in her pole barn." "I'm not sure how she would feel about this," Olaya said. Still, Olaya said she hopes to buy some of the dolls for her grandchildren and is always grateful for people to learn about her mother's legacy. "I have a warm feeling about the thought of my granddaughters playing with a Wilma Mankiller Barbie," she said. The military leaders of Burkina Faso and Niger said Saturday they would quit the G5 anti-jihadi force in Africa's Sahel region, the latest blow to the fight against insurgents in one of the world's most troubled zones. The G5, created in 2014, has secured meager results, with Mali also quitting the original five-nation force last year in the wake of a military coup. Leaders of the five countries agreed to deploy a joint anti-terror task force backed by France in 2017, but the military rulers of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have all accused Paris of having an outsize role after years of French deployments on their territories. Burkina and Niger "have decided in full sovereignty to quit all instances of the G5 Sahel, including the joint force" as of November 29, the two countries said in a statement. "The organization is failing to achieve its objectives. Worse, the legitimate ambitions of our countries, of making the G5 Sahel a zone of security and development, are hindered by institutional red tape from a previous era, which convinces us that our process of independence and dignity is not compatible with G5 participation in its current form," they said. In a veiled reference to France, they added that "the G5 Sahel cannot serve foreign interests to the detriments of our people, and even less the dictates of any power in the name of a partnership that treats them like children, denying the sovereignty of our peoples." Military leaders headed by Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in Burkina Faso in September 2022, vowing to improve security after years of attacks by groups affiliated to al-Qaida and Islamic State group. Relations with France quickly broke down, with Traore's government ordering French forces that had been helping the under-equipped Burkinabe army to leave the country in February. More than 17,000 people have died in attacks since 2015 in Burkina Faso, according to a count by an NGO monitor called the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), and 2 million people have been uprooted by the violence. On Saturday, Burkina Faso suspended "all distribution methods" of Le Monde daily after the French newspaper published an article on a deadly jihadi attack in the north. The Burkinabe authorities in recent months have suspended the French TV outlets LCI and France24 as well as Radio France Internationale and the magazine Jeune Afrique. France has also begun withdrawing its 1,500 troops from Niger following demands by the military rulers who ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July. Niger's foreign minister Bakary Yaou Sangare on Saturday said the new U.S. ambassador, Kathleen FitzGibbon, who arrived in August, would soon present her letter of assignment to authorities to take up her post. Washington, which withdrew non-essential staff from its embassy in August, indicated at the time that FitzGibbon would not present her credentials to Niger's new authorities, as the United States did not recognize them. The West African nation is battling two jihadi insurgencies, a spillover in its southeast from a long-running conflict in neighboring Nigeria and an offensive in the west by militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso. Along with Mali, which saw a military coup in 2020, Burkina has backed Niger's military, with the three nations on Friday supporting the creation of an Alliance of Sahel States, setting up closer economic ties and mutual defense assistance. The military regimes have also formed close ties against international pressure for a swift return to civilian rule, and to combat the long-running jihadi insurgencies raging in the three countries. Only Chad and Mauritania now remain in the G5, whose military deployment is largely financed by the European Union. The French deployment in the region goes back over a decade to 2013, when then-president Francois Hollande sent troops into Mali to help fight a jihadi insurgency. But any military successes have contrasted with political failure, as democracy regressed rather than developed in a region also plagued by a flood of disinformation that Paris blames on Russia. France also began pulling its troops from Mali last year, ending what became known as the Barkhane mission. On the ground, few joint G5 operations have actually been carried out and the security situation has continued to deteriorate. In late November, at least 40 civilians were killed by a major jihadi attack against a military base at Djibo in northern Burkina Faso, according to the United Nations. New England's long-shuttered shrimp business, which fell victim to warming waters, will remain in a fishing moratorium indefinitely, fishery regulators ruled Friday. The shrimping business was based mostly in Maine and produced small, pink shrimp that were a winter delicacy in New England and across the country. The industry has been in a moratorium since 2013 in large part because environmental conditions off New England are unfavorable for the cold water-loving shrimp. That moratorium will remain in effect with no firm end date, a board of the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted Friday. The board stopped short of calling the move a permanent moratorium because it included a provision to continue monitoring the shrimp population and consider reopening the fishery if the crustaceans approach a healthy level. 'I think we're all done' But it was clear board members saw little chance of a future for a fishery that once provided a beloved seafood item that appeared on restaurant menus and in seafood markets every year around Christmas. "I think we're all done here with this stock. I see the water temperatures. I don't think we're coming back," said Mike Armstrong, an environmental analyst and member of the panel. The warming of the Gulf of Maine, a body of water where the shrimp live that is critical to U.S. commercial fishing for species such as scallops and lobsters, is an ongoing subject of scientific study. In addition to the shrimp, other New England species, such as Atlantic cod, have also declined in the face of warming waters and overfishing. Previous extensions of the shrimp fishing moratorium have been for one year or three years at a time. However, the shrimp stock isn't showing signs of improvement, said Chelsea Tuohy, a fishery management plan coordinator for the commission. "Recently, under no fishing mortality, the population continues to decline," Tuohy said. "The Gulf of Maine is warming quicker than other areas of the ocean, and the shrimp tend not to do well in warming waters." The commercial fishery for the New England shrimp, which are also called Maine shrimp or pink shrimp, was established in the 1950s and peaked at nearly 30 million pounds (13.6 million kilograms) per year in the late 1960s, Atlantic States commission documents state. Maine fishermen caught more than 10 million pounds of the shrimp per year as recently as 2011. Fishermen in Massachusetts and New Hampshire also once sought them. New approaches? Shrimp are among the most popular seafood items in the world, and New England shrimp were once a small part of the worldwide shrimp industry, which includes wild-caught and farmed shrimp species from many parts of the globe. Canadian fishermen have long harvested the same species of shrimp as New England fishermen, and their exports of the shrimp are still sometimes found in U.S. seafood markets. Some U.S. fishermen have advocated trying to save New England's shrimp fishery with new management approaches. Glen Libby, a former shrimp trawler, said regulators need to gather more data before taking drastic measures to close a historic fishery. The shrimp panel also voted to investigate the possibility of an industry-based research program about the fishery. "A lot of people, mostly in the industry, don't think that we have a complete picture of what's going on," Libby said. "Let's not open it up, let's just have a limited season. There's a hunger for more data, that's for sure." To his followers, he was "Grieg," their guide through tantra yoga toward enlightenment and a higher state of consciousness. For European police, Gregorian Bivolaru represents a far more sinister figure: a master manipulator accused of sexual abuse and exploitation. The arrest this week in the Paris region of the 71-year-old Romanian yoga guru and 40 others marked the culmination of a six-year manhunt involving Interpol. The raid, led by 175 officers of a French police unit that combats sect-related crime, also freed 26 people, who were described by authorities as sect victims who had been housed in dirty and cramped conditions. Bivolaru went before a judge on Friday and could be handed preliminary charges, along with 14 other suspects. French police have for months been investigating a range of suspected crimes, including rape, human trafficking, illegal confinement and preying on followers as part of a sect. It wasn't possible to reach Bivolaru, who remains in custody, and it wasn't immediately clear if he had legal representation. Allegations include grooming, entrapment Accounts from alleged victims detailed in the French media portray Bivolaru as a guru who coerced women into sexual relationships under the guise of spiritual elevation spanning decades and continents. A German woman recounted her alleged entrapment aged 21 when she was in the Indian city of Rishikesh in 2019 in search of spiritual enlightenment. She described to Liberation newspaper a grooming process that allegedly included being photographed and filmed naked before her abduction and coerced sexual encounters in a Parisian house. The group also fostered deep mistrust among its followers against the external world, especially the medical community, urging them to reject COVID-19 vaccinations and other medical procedures, according to her account. Another victim, a French woman, told France Info about a five-year ordeal where tantra yoga was fused with astrology and parapsychology to allegedly manipulate members into non-consensual sex under the pretext of spiritual practices. Bivolaru's group, initially known as MISA ("Mouvement pour l'Integration Spirituelle vers l'Absolu") and later as the Atman yoga federation, allegedly engaged in non-consensual sexual activities under the facade of tantra yoga teachings, according to a French judicial official who spoke on condition of anonymity because she wasn't authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation. Despite expulsion from international yoga federations and legal scrutiny for prostitution, sexual slavery and human trafficking, the group's "ashrams" were centers for indoctrination and sexual exploitation disguised as spiritual enlightenment, according to the official. One of these supposed ashram's appeared to be exclusively dedicated to satisfying his desires, with women transported there from other places, the official added. MISA said in a statement on its website in Romanian that Bivolaru had been targeted by media campaigns since the 1990s to "discredit and slander" him, calling any charges against him in France "absurd accusations." The Atman federation meanwhile described the situation to The Associated Press in an email as a "witch hunt," disclaiming responsibility for the private lives of students and teachers at its member schools. They also highlighted that some member schools had successfully won cases at the European Court of Human Rights, demonstrating human rights violations against them. However, a 2018 ruling by the court, as seen by the AP, seems more to underscore how Bivolaru's multinational activities have served to hamper efforts to actually apprehend him. He had obtained political refugee status in Sweden, thereby delaying legal proceedings in Romania. Media reports systematic exploitation The scope of the alleged abuses spanned across Europe, entrapping young women in a web of sexual and psychological control. Finnish media reported systematic sexual exploitation at Bivolaru's Helsinki yoga school, and in 2017, Finland's National Bureau of Investigation issued an international arrest warrant for him for alleged aggravated human trafficking. In Sweden, despite being granted asylum in 2005, his alleged activities continued unchecked. Investigations by TV2 and the BT newspaper in Denmark in 2013 further exposed alleged exploitation within yoga centers run by Bivolaru and an associate, where young women were sexually exploited and filmed without their knowledge in purported tantra and sex rituals. A former member of the Natha Yoga Center in Denmark, in an account to the BT newspaper, described women being treated like slaves, overburdened with chores, and sworn to silence. The woman revealed that the alleged exploitation and sexual abuse extended to the distribution of films, including one sold at gas stations across Denmark and another shot on a ship in the Black Sea. In France, similar yoga retreats held in and around Paris and in southern France's Alpes-Maritimes region sought to make followers take part in sexual activities, the French judicial official said. Attendees testified that women were forced to pay for the stays by doing video sex-chats and that men were made to perform manual labor, she added. Obtained asylum in Sweden Bivolaru's transition from respected yoga guru to international fugitive is a narrative laced with legal twists. After fleeing Romania in 2004 amid charges of sexual misconduct with minors, he obtained asylum in Sweden, evading extradition. Romanian authorities later accused him of leading a criminal network within MISA, exploiting followers through extortion and sexual abuse, and using his spiritual influence to control and isolate them. He was sentenced in absentia in Romania in 2013 for sexual relations with a minor, but wasn't imprisoned until his extradition from France in 2016, leading to a brief imprisonment followed by release on probation. In a twist of irony, the Romanian state was later mandated to compensate Bivolaru with 50,000 euros for delays in his trial. Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Saturday said this week's deadly violence involving members of the National Guard was an "attempted coup" as the army ordered them back to barracks. The unrest between members of the National Guard and special forces of the presidential guard on Thursday night in the capital, Bissau, left at least two people dead. Embalo, who was in Dubai attending the COP28 climate conference, arrived in Bissau on Saturday and said an "attempted coup d'etat" had prevented him from returning. "I must tell you this act will have serious consequences," he added. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, the small West African nation has seen a series of coups and coup attempts. Embalo, who was elected to a five-year term in December 2019, survived a failed overthrow in February 2022. A military official, speaking anonymously because of the sensitive nature of the situation, said six soldiers were injured in the fighting and evacuated to neighboring Senegal. Calm had returned by noon on Friday to the small nation, following the announcement that the army had captured Colonel Victor Tchongo, commander of the National Guard. On Saturday, the security presence in Bissau was reduced, but soldiers were still visible around certain strategic buildings such as the presidential palace, the judicial police headquarters and some ministries. Some National Guard officers and soldiers fled into the interior of the country, the army said in a statement Saturday, without specifying numbers. "The General Staff of the armed forces hereby informs them that they must return to their place of assignment," the statement continued. Regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States said it "strongly condemns the violence and all attempts to disrupt the constitutional order and rule of law in Guinea-Bissau." "ECOWAS further calls for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the incident in accordance with the law," the Abuja-based organization added in its statement on Saturday. The regional bloc also expressed "its full solidarity with the people and constitutional authorities of Guinea-Bissau." A spokesman for United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, called for calm Friday and urged the security forces and the army "to continue refraining from interference in national politics." Members of the National Guard on Thursday evening stormed a police station to extract Finance Minister Souleiman Seidi and Treasury Secretary Antonio Monteiro, according to army and intelligence officers. The two government members were being questioned about the withdrawal of $10 million from state accounts. They had been detained under orders of state prosecutors, who are named by the president. Embalo said someone sent Tchongo to remove Seidi from detention and announced that an investigatory commission would be formed on Monday. The National Guard is under the control of the interior ministry, which, like most ministries in the country, is dominated by the PAIGC party whose coalition won the June 2023 elections. The two government members were detained again after the army removed them from National Guard control. "We have always opted for the application of the law. A president who is elected must complete his term of office," government spokesman Francisco Muniro Conte said Saturday. "We cannot obstruct people who are facing justice, if the law is really respected." REUTERS/Issei Kato The Saint Petersburg stock exchange broke into chaos this week after a filing said the exchange was bankrupt. The filing was submitted by fraudsters, the exchange said in a statement. The turmoil briefly sent some shares plunging to their lowest-ever price. One of Russia's main stock exchanges descended into chaos this week after a false bankruptcy report sent investors fleeing and pushed shares briefly to record lows. Court filings dated November 24 show that the Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange, Russia's second largest stock trading platform, filed for bankruptcy last week, Reuters reported. News of bankruptcy filings caused investors to flee the exchange, with Moscow-listed shares on the SPB Exchange plunging 30% on Monday to their lowest-ever level. But the filing was a fake submitted by fraudsters, the exchange said on Monday. The Moscow Arbitration Court has also rejected the filings, the state-owned Russian news agency RIA reported. "SPB Exchange has not filed documents for bankruptcy," SPB's media team told Reuters this week. "SPB Exchange has a stable financial position and there are no signs of bankruptcy." Shares on the SPB Exchange recovered slightly after the announcement, ending Monday just 9.5% lower. The tumult finishes off a rocky month for the SPB exchange, which was hit by US sanctions late in November. New restrictions have the exchange unable to settle around two-thirds of clients' trades held in foreign currency. Trading on the exchange was briefly halted before it rolled out a plan to distribute a third of funds back to clients, but only in rubles. Foreign investors in Russia are stuck in a state of limbo. The nation has halted flows of foreign assets, meaning those who invested in Russian stocks prior to the invasion of Ukraine haven't been able to cash out. The move is intended to prop up Russia's stock market, two Yale researchers previously told Business Insider, adding that Russia's stock market performance this year has been a facade created by restrictions imposed by Moscow. Read the original article on Business Insider As the sun rises in the Bondeni-Jua Kali neighborhood on the outskirts of Kenyas capital Nairobi, dozens of women and men step out of their corrugated iron homes with yellow jerricans, skip over pools of sewage and make their way to a nearby water vending station. There is no piped water or sewage system in the area and drought has made clean water supplies scarcer and expensive for locals. Twice a week, trucks with 5,000 to 10,000 liters (1,300 to 2,600 gallons) of water will fill up vending stations across Athi River where residents can buy 20 liters (five gallons) for 20 Kenyan Shillings ($0.16). A household of four needs about 20 liters a day, and weekly incomes are about $13, according to data from Kenyas finance ministry. But for those whose homes are kitted out with water filters distributed by a local nonprofit, the nearby river polluted, prone to drought and usually unsafe for drinking is becoming a cheaper and sometimes more reliable source of clean water. And while advocates say underlying issues like climate change-fueled drought and poor water management need to be urgently addressed, solutions like filters make a short-term difference because deliveries are often not enough for the neighborhoods needs. Many rely on unsafe alternatives if they miss out on the trucked-in stocks. Sometimes, we get to the water vending stations and find that the queue is long and then the water finishes and you have to wait, said 46-year-old resident Joyce Ngui. Most of the time you dont have money to buy even the salty water sold around. So we have no choice but to use the swamp water," she said. When The Associated Press met Ngui, she was heading to a swamp to draw water to clean her familys clothes and for cooking. Part of the slimy swamp is clogged with overgrown water lilies. Ngui doesnt have a water filter, so she cant turn the swamp water into something suitable for drinking. Ngui would like a filter, so that we can be able to filtrate the dirty water and be able to drink it, she said. Otherwise, it just has germs and diseases. Bucket Ministry, a Christian nonprofit organization, has been providing communities around Nairobi and other parts of Kenya with the easy-to-use water filters. It provided over 600 filters, made by the water filtering company Sawyer, to households in the four neighborhoods in Athi River since August and plans to up that number to 6,000. The devices are the size of a small water bottle and are fitted with a hose pipe onto a bucket. They can filter water from the river and nearby swamps into potable water that can be used by residents. It filters every germ or pathogen that causes water-borne diseases," said Derrick Mesulamu, the country director for the group. It is designed in such a way that it has micro holes that dont allow those particles that cause water-borne diseases to pass through. Josephine Mutile, a resident with a water filter, is already seeing the benefits. I have been sick often and visiting the hospital where I am tested and told that I have typhoid, or an amoeba infection or diarrhea. Boiling water (to kill viruses and bacteria) is expensive because cooking gas is expensive, Mutile said. Now I have this filter, it will help me a lot. Data from the Machakos County health ministry, of which Athi River is part, says that four out of 10 cases at public health clinics in the area are related to water-borne disease. At least 10 people died following a cholera outbreak in Mavoko area in the region between October last year and March. Machakos' local government has been desilting and cleaning up the river, but most of the pollution, including plastic bags and bottles, happens upstream, where residents in poorer areas of Nairobi dump waste into the Nairobi River that then flows into the Athi River. Because of water scarcity, residents in Machakos have turned to rivers, shallow wells or other sources which are contaminated with pollutants including human and animal waste, said Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti. She told The AP that the county government is cracking down on industries that have been disposing of chemical waste and other pollutants into the Athi River. Authorities have put in place regulations to monitor and limit industrial pollution, but the effectiveness all depends on compliance and strict enforcement, which we will do," she said. Historically, Athi River is a water-scarce region, grasslands turned brown from the scorching sun and huge tracts of land were left untilled as residents couldn't farm the drylands. Consecutive seasons of failed rains and drought, driven by human-caused climate change and consecutive naturally occurring La Nina weather phenomena, have worsened shortages. Climate change has had a very long term and short-term devastating impact on water resources in Kenya, and especially the drylands, said Namenya Naburi, an environmentalist and climate change expert from the Africa Nazarene University. Weve seen most of resources, especially surface water, has been declining due to the effects of climate change. The loss of reliable water sources have become a recurrent threat to our communities, said Wavinya. Experts say that while water filters are worthwhile, for a project like this to work it will need to be scaled up to reach millions of people in a similar situation to Athi River dwellers. These measures are just stop gap, a small dribble," said Tobias Omufwoko from the WASH Alliance Kenya. The main solution is for the government and all stakeholders to play their part in making sure that first and foremost that we conserve our sources of water. Theres no shortcut, he said. China's surge in respiratory illness is caused by known pathogens and there is no sign of new infectious diseases, a health official said Saturday as the country faces its first full winter since lifting its strict COVID-19 restrictions. The spike in illness in the country where COVID emerged in late 2019 attracted the spotlight when the World Health Organization sought information last week, citing a report of clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children. Chinese authorities will open more pediatric outpatient clinics, seek to ensure more elderly people and children receive flu vaccines and encourage people to wear masks and wash their hands, Mi Feng, an official with China's National Health Commission, told a press conference. Doctors in China and experts abroad have not expressed alarm about China's outbreaks, given that many other countries saw similar increases in respiratory diseases after easing pandemic measures, which China did at the end of last year. On Friday, five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. 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." 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. 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." Rubios letter was also signed by Senators J.D. Vance, Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville and Mike Braun. French police arrested a man who targeted passersby in Paris on Saturday night, killing a German tourist with a knife and injuring two others, France's interior minister said. Police subdued the man, a 25-year-old French citizen who had spent four years in prison for planning a violent offense. After his arrest, he expressed anguish about Muslims dying, notably in Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, and claimed that France was an accomplice, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office confirmed it has opened an investigation. The attacker went after a German couple with a knife, killing the man and then used a hammer to injure two others. The attacker, who was not identified by name, left prison after four years in 2020 and was under surveillance and undergoing psychiatric treatment, the minister said, painting a brief portrait of the assailant, who was born in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, a Paris suburb. He was most recently living with his parents in the Essonne region, south of Paris. The fatal attack occurred in the 15th district of the French capital with the assailant using a knife to kill the German tourist, who was not identified. He then crossed the Seine to the Right Bank and used a hammer to attack the injured. Details about the victims were not immediately known. The attacker was stopped by police, the minister said, praising the officers for their quick response. France has been under a heightened terror alert since the fatal stabbing in October of a teacher in the northern city of Arras by a former student originally from the Ingushetia region in Russia's Caucasus Mountains and suspected of Islamic radicalization. That fatal attack came three years after another teacher was killed outside Paris, beheaded by a radicalized Chechen later killed by police. The Saturday attack raised the fear level in the French capital, still marked by the 2015 attacks of cafes and a music hall by Islamist radicals that killed 130 people. "We will cede nothing in the face of terrorism. Never," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on X, formerly Twitter, sending her condolences to the victims and their families. Philadelphia City Council passed legislation to ban ski masks in some public spaces, a measure supporters say will increase public safety amid high violent crime, but opponents argue it will unfairly target people without proof of any wrongdoing. The legislation passed on Thursday with a 13-2 vote, and now goes to Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney. A spokesperson said he would review the legislation and "looks forward to our ongoing work with City Council on the urgent matter of ensuring public safety." The measure would ban ski masks, or balaclavas, in public spaces like schools, recreation centers, parks, city-owned buildings and on public transportation. It defines the garment as a close-fitting covering over the whole head, with holes only for the eyes, nose, or mouth. A $250 fine would be imposed against anyone who violates the law. It has exceptions for religious garb and protests. The legislation comes as the nation's sixth-largest city has been beleaguered by violent crime, tallying a record number of homicides in 2021, most of them gun-related. That number fell from 562 to 516 in 2022 but was still higher than pre-pandemic levels, and advocates have said they are on track to decrease further this year. Big cities across the nation experienced spikes in crime as social supports were upended during the pandemic, though crime has started to decrease to pre-pandemic levels. Philadelphia's move goes in the opposite direction to New York City, which relaxed a law that prohibited masks, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, New York City repealed a more than century-old law that prohibited face coverings in public. It was meant to permit mask-wearing during the coronavirus outbreak. Supporters of the repeal said the former law also exposed men of color to police harassment and was used against protesters during demonstrations. Concerns about theft, even as crime decreases in the city, pushed Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, to suggest storeowners should refuse to admit anyone wearing a mask unless it was lowered to be picked up by store cameras. Philadelphia's ban cites an increase in those casually wearing ski masks in 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic alongside a rise in individuals sought by Philadelphia police. The ski masks conceal people's identities, making it harder for the police to identify them, supporters say. Messages were left for the bill's sponsor, Councilman Anthony Phillips. But it drew sharp opposition from some progressive members of Council and the ACLU of Pennsylvania, which said there was no evidence to support that ski masks cause or encourage crime. "Giving police the authority to stop civilians without suspicion of unlawful activity is unconstitutional," Solomon Furious Worlds, an attorney for the ACLU, said in a statement. The ban is part of a larger puzzle the Democrats are grappling with: balancing accountability after protests against police brutality, while trying to address community concerns about safety. Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker won election with a tough-on-crime approach, vowing to put hundreds of officers on the street, embedded within communities. She's drawn criticism for her stance that officers should use "reasonable suspicion" to stop people which opponents feel comes uncomfortably close to the controversial stop-and-frisk tactic. She recently tapped longtime police official Kevin Bethel as her police commissioner, saying he had the experience to restore order while holding police accountable. Extra police patrolled one of South Africa's most violent townships Sunday after a "mob" tied-up and burned to death seven men accused of a crime wave, police and residents said. South Africa is afflicted by a steadily increasing murder rate, but community leaders say Diepsloot, a town of more than 350,000 people north of Johannesburg with high rates of killings and rape, has been abandoned by authorities. Police said they had started a murder investigation after the charred bodies of the seven young men were found. An alert over two "burned bodies" was raised late Friday night, police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said in a statement to AFP. Another five bodies were discovered in the early hours of Saturday in a nearby district of Diepsloot, he added. "Preliminary investigation suggests that in both incidents, the victims were assaulted and burned by the mob," Masondo said. The bodies of the five men, all aged about 20, were found on a pile of bricks on wasteland in the town. "They were all chased, caught and tied before being killed, yes it was a 'necklace'," said one resident, referring to the use of tyres or rope put over the upper body of victims before they are set alight. "There are more police today and we hope they will stay because we need them," the resident added, speaking on condition of anonymity because of tensions in the township. "There have been a lot of robberies and people are angry." Masondo said no motive for the killings had been confirmed but commented that police "strongly condemn acts of vigilantism and the community taking the law into their own hands, as that constitutes a serious criminal offense." Protests were held over charges made against three community leaders who led demonstrations in the town in June. That followed a series of murders and robberies including the bombing of a petrol station. South Africa, with a population of about 60 million, averaged 68 murders a day in the second quarter of 2023, an increase of nearly 20% on the same period in 2019. Israel issued new evacuation orders to displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Sunday as fighting intensified after the collapse of the cease-fire with Hamas militants Friday. In Arabic-language accounts on the Facebook and X social media platforms, Israel told the Palestinians that obeying evacuation instructions is the safest way to preserve your safety, your lives and the lives of your families. Many of the Palestinians had already been ordered by Israel to evacuate northern Gaza earlier in the nearly two-month war with Hamas. The Israeli military marked a map in southern Gaza with nearly 2,400 blocks, and told the Palestinians to pay attention to Israeli announcements about whether their block was being evacuated. Some families thought they could stay where they were, but later said they received recorded calls ordering them to leave. I cannot overstate the fear, panic & confusion that these Israeli maps are causing civilians in Gaza, including my own staff, Melanie Ward, head of the humanitarian organization Medical Aid for Palestinians, wrote on social media, adding, People cannot run from place to place to try to escape Israels bombs. The new evacuation orders came as Israel faces growing calls from the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden to do more to prevent the deaths of Palestinian civilians. Khan Younis has come under an unrelenting attack from the Israeli military, where it believes more Hamas militants are hiding. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that the campaign would last until all hostages seized by Hamas during the militant groups October 7 attack on Israel are returned and Hamas is eliminated. A tough war is ahead of us, he said. But U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Saturday at the COP 28 climate conference in Dubai, Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and video coming from Gaza are devastating. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said while U.S. support for Israels security is non-negotiable, he has personally warned Israel that if it did not take steps to protect civilians, it risked their radicalization. In this kind of a fight, the center of gravity is the civilian population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat, Austin said at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. At the forum of political and military leaders and others, he pressed Israel to dramatically expand Gaza's access to humanitarian aid and renewed U.S. calls for a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told NBCs Meet the Press show there are no official negotiations going on right now to resume release of Hamas-held hostages in exchange for Palestinians jailed by Israel. Kirby blamed Hamas. He said Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries, failed to come up with yet another list of women and children that could be released and we know they're holding additional women and children not combatants, not female [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers but innocent civilians, women and children that they have that they couldn't put on a list and turn that in. So, unfortunately, the negotiations have stopped, Kirby said. That said, what hasn't stopped is [U.S.] involvement, trying to get [negotiations] back on track... We are still working it really hard hour by hour to see if we can get the sides back to the table and see if we can get something moving, Kirby said. We would like that to happen today. But honestly, I just don't know. Kirby said the U.S. believes there are still [eight] Americans that are being held hostage. But its difficult for us to know where they all are or what their condition is. Civilian casualties At least 200 Palestinians have been killed since the collapse of the Israel-Hamas truce Friday morning, raising the death toll in Gaza since the October Hamas attack to more than 15,200 people with more than 40,000 wounded, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The ministry says 70% of them are women and children. About 2 million Palestinians, almost the entire population of Gaza, are now crammed into the territory's southern half. They are running out of space where they can flee and seek shelter. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that nearly 80% of Gazas population has been internally displaced. The Israeli military said Saturday it hit more than 400 Hamas targets across Gaza over the previous day, using airstrikes and shelling from tanks and navy gunships. It included more than 50 strikes on Khan Younis and surrounding areas in the southern half of Gaza. In northern Gaza, an airstrike destroyed a residential building hosting displaced families in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya on the outskirts of Gaza City. The strike on the multistory building left dozens dead or wounded, said residents Hamza Obeid and Amal Radwan. Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel in October. Israel said 1,200 people were killed and some 240 captives taken. We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Netanyahu also said Saturday. Hamas has fired more than 250 rockets on southern Israel since the cease-fire ended, said Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesperson. In southern Israel, sirens were heard in communities near the Gaza Strip but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Israel has accused Hamas of embedding itself in and underneath hospitals and other civilian areas and encouraging civilians to ignore Israeli warnings to evacuate ahead of airstrikes, using them in effect as human shields, an accusation Hamas has denied. The Reuters news agency said it could not confirm the battlefield accounts. After the breakdown of the truce, Netanyahus office announced it has instructed its negotiating team in Doha, Qatar to return to Israel. Ukrainian officials launched an investigation Sunday into allegations that Russian forces killed surrendering Ukrainian soldiers after grainy footage on social media appeared to show two uniformed men being shot at close range after emerging from a dugout. The video shows a group in Russian uniforms shooting at point-blank range, two unarmed servicemen in the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were surrendering, the prosecutors office said in a Telegram update Sunday. The video first appeared Saturday on DeepState, a popular Ukrainian Telegram channel covering the war. It shows the surrendering soldiers, one of them with his hands up, walking out at gunpoint and lying down on the ground before a group of Russian troops appears to open fire. There has been no response from Russia. It was not immediately possible to verify the videos authenticity or the circumstances in which it was filmed, and it was not clear when the incident took place. If the incident is confirmed, it would be a war crime, according to the Ukrainian General Prosecutors office. Kyiv, its Western allies, and international human rights organizations, have repeatedly accused Moscow of breaching international humanitarian law since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin denies these allegations. In a statement posted to Telegram, Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets described the incident as yet another glaring example of Russias violations of international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, Russia's commissioner for human rights, Tatiana Moskalkova, and Lubinets plan on making several mutual visits to prisoners of war, Russia's RIA news agency reported Sunday. "Russian military personnel will be visited on the Ukrainian side. Ukrainian military personnel will be visited on the Russian side. There will be several of these visits; we have a schedule," RIA cited Moskalkova as saying. In a post on the social platform X, previously known as Twitter, Lubinets said, 119 Ukrainian defenders who are currently held in captivity in Russia received a visit. This was made possible through mutual arrangements between the Offices of the Commissioners of Ukraine and of the Russian Federation. Battlefield reports Russian forces say they hit Ukraines air defense headquarters and alert center in the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine, the Russian defense ministry said Sunday. The ministry said that it inflicted combined strikes using operational-tactical and army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery. Earlier Sunday, Ukraine said its air defense systems destroyed 10 out of 12 Russian drones before reaching their targets in Ukraine. In its daily dispatch, Russia said it launched 12 drones and a cruise missile at Ukraine overnight and that it hit fuel depots in the areas of Myrhorod, Poltava region and the city of Khmelnytskyi, an ammunition arsenal in the Mykolaiv region. It also said it hit manpower and equipment in 107 various districts. The Reuters news agency was not immediately able to corroborate the battlefield reports. An elderly man was killed during Russian shelling of Ukraines southern region of Kherson Sunday, regional officials said. "The occupants attacked the (Sadove) village. One of the hits was to a private garage, where a 78-year-old man was at the time. He died on the spot from the explosive injury," the Kherson military administration said on the Telegram messaging app. Reuters could not independently confirm the report. Since Russian troops have retreated from Kherson and the western bank of the Dnipro River late last year, they regularly shell those areas from their positions on the eastern bank of the river. Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told national television that Russian attacks on Avdiivka had halved over the past 24 hours, largely because of Russian heavy losses. "The coking plant is controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces," Shtupun said. "Enemy forces are trying to make their way inside but are suffering losses in infantry and equipment." Fighting was still intense, he said, in an area outside the town center known as the "industrial zone." Russia's popular war blog Rybar said the zone had fallen under Russian control. Reuters could not verify accounts from either side. Vitaliy Barabash, head of the town's military administration, told Channel 24 television that Avdiivka was "starting to look like Maryinka, a settlement that basically no longer exists. It has been razed to its foundations," he said. Once a city of 10,000, Mariinka, southwest of the Russian-held regional center of Donetsk, is now a ghost town, after almost a year of Russian efforts to seize it. No civilians are left there Earlier Saturday, power was restored at Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after it was lost Friday, according to a statement by Ukraines Energy Ministry on Telegram. "This is the eighth blackout which occurred at the [Zaporizhzhia plant] and could have led to nuclear catastrophe," the statement said. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the outage and restoration of power. The plant was occupied by Russia in March of last year and is no longer generating power but needs a supply of electricity to cool one of its four reactors, which is in a state of hot conservation, meaning it has not fully been shut down. The ministry said that after losing grid connection, the plant turned on 20 backup generators to supply its electricity needs. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Ukraine's ex-President Petro Poroshenko said he had been stopped from leaving the country 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 must 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 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy'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 defense capabilities." Zelenskyy's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Poroshenko, who leads the European Solidarity opposition party, is a prominent critic of Zelenskyy's administration. The two men fought a bitter, often deeply personal, battle in the 2019 presidential election when Zelenskyy defeated the incumbent Poroshenko in a landslide. Zelenskyy 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. Michael Genaldi's road to homelessness began early this year when a car slammed into the rear of his motorcycle, crushed three of his ribs, and left him in a coma for over a month. The 58-year-old lost his job as a machine operator, then his home, and he was living in his truck when he was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer. Too young to get Social Security, Genaldi now lives temporarily in a shelter for people 55 and older in Phoenix while he navigates the process of qualifying for disability payments. As its population ages, the United States is ill-prepared to adequately house and care for the growing number of older people, concludes a new report being released Thursday by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. Without enough government help, "many older adults will have to forgo needed care or rely on family and friends for assistance," warned Jennifer Molinsky, project director of the center's Housing an Aging Society Program. Many, like Genaldi, will become homeless. Molinsky said more governmental assistance could better help the upsurge of older Americans who are baby boomers born after World War II. The report says that in 2021, federal housing assistance like Section 8 or Section 202 which provides housing with supportive services such as cleaning, cooking and transportation for older people was only sufficient for a little more than a third of the 5.9 million renters ages 62 and over who were eligible. Creative ideas are especially needed now to house people with fixed or dwindling incomes and with insufficient savings, the report says. Think house or apartment sharing to cut back on costs rather than living alone, in accessory dwelling units or ADUs known as casitas, granny flats and in-law units. There are also cohousing communities where individual homes sometimes even tiny homes are arranged around a building with a communal space such as a dining room. Over the next decade, the U.S. population over the age of 75 will increase by 45%, growing from 17 million to nearly 25 million. And many of those people are expected to struggle financially. The report notes that in 2021, nearly 11.2 million older adults were "cost burdened," which means they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Some of the highest cost-burden rates for renters 65 and older were in Sunbelt areas traditionally popular for retirement: Las Vegas; San Diego; Raleigh, North Carolina; Miami and Daytona Beach, Florida. Like renters, many older homeowners also struggle to keep a roof over their head. The report says that mortgage debt among older adults is rising, with the median mortgage debt for homeowners 65 to 79 shooting up over 400% from $21,000 in 1989 to $110,000 in 2022 as people increasingly need to access cash for basic needs and care. Many older adults also find it challenging to obtain the additional services they need as they age, with the costs of long-term care averaging over $100 a day. The report says the households of older people of color are far more likely to be cost burdened than older white households, especially Black and Latino households. Older people who live alone are also more likely to be cost burdened than married or partnered couples: 47% versus 21% of couples. In Phoenix, Angelita Saldana, 56, became homeless after her marriage fell apart. The granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, Saldana initially lived in her truck with her pet dog Gaspar, but they now live at the 60-bed shelter where Genaldi stays with his pet dog Chico. Saldana said her $941 monthly disability check isn't enough to pay for even a studio apartment in the area, where average rents start at around $1,200. A caseworker is trying to help her find something she can afford. In the meantime, she has a motel room to herself with a private bathroom. "Here, I can sleep good," she said, unlike the months she spent at the state's largest shelter in downtown Phoenix, which has 10 times as many beds. Lisa Glow, the CEO for Central Arizona Shelter Services, which operates both facilities, said older people do much better in a shelter designed with their needs in mind including more space, limited stairs and wider doorways for wheelchairs. Glow spoke of an 82-year-old man with dementia who struggled to sleep on a bunk bed at the downtown shelter before he was transferred. Staff members tracked down his family and got him transferred to a skilled nursing facility for more personalized care. "The downtown shelter is not a good place for an aging adult with chronic conditions," said Glow. "We see a lot of people there in their 70s and 80s." "I've been shocked to see so many seniors on the street," she added. "People with wheelchairs. People with walkers." Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com. For Some DACA Recipients, Leaving US Only Way to Escape Legal Limbo In 2020, Tawheeda Wahabzada had had enough. It was time to leave the country shed grown up in. "The idea of leaving has always been at the back of my mind. It was a constant reminder that this is temporary, and I felt I wasnt able to live a meaningful life because of my status," she said. Wahabzada is one of a growing number of young immigrants brought to the United States as children who do not want to live in legal limbo anymore. She, like millions of other immigrants who entered the country without permission or overstayed their visas, has no path to citizenship. VOAs Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story. Mexican Journalist Granted US Asylum After 15-Year Journey Emilio Gutierrez Soto came to the National Press Club on Wednesday with a message of gratitude. Press freedom advocates came with a call to action. The 60-year-old journalist fled with his son to the U.S.-Mexico border in 2008 seeking asylum after receiving death threats because of his reporting on Mexican military corruption. After 15 years, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled in favor of Gutierrez Soto. He still needs to go in front of an immigration judge in March 2024 to receive his asylum papers, but his immigration lawyer said his case has been resolved. VOAs Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story. US Closing Remote Arizona Border Crossing, Citing Overwhelming Migrant Arrivals So many migrants are crossing from Mexico into the United States around remote Lukeville, Arizona, that U.S. officials say they will close the port of entry there so that the operations officials who watch over vehicle and pedestrian traffic going both ways can help Border Patrol agents arrest and process the new arrivals. Customs and Border Protection announced Friday that the temporary closure of the crossing will start Monday as officials grapple with changing migration routes that have overwhelmed Border Patrol agents stationed there. Arizona's U.S. senators and governor called planned closure "unacceptable." Reported by The Associated Press. Northern US Cities Scramble to House Migrants for Winter Chicago is scrambling to house hundreds of asylum-seekers who are still sheltering on sidewalks, at police stations and at the city's busiest airport as the cold weather sets in and with winter just around the corner. The country's third-largest city announced a partnership with religious leaders this week to house 400 of the migrants in churches. But with nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing and chillier conditions still ahead, more than 1,000 were still living at police stations or at O'Hare International Airport as of Friday, according to the city dashboard. The Associated Press reports. Immigration around the world Former Somali Refugee Wins Prestigious UN Award A former child refugee from Somalia has won the prestigious UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. Abdullahi Mire, 36, was recognized for bringing 100,000 books to his compatriots languishing in sprawling camps in Kenya. Reported by VOA's Mohamed Olad Hassan. Finland Closes Russian Border Over Migrant Influx, Estonia Could Follow Finland closed its entire 1,340-kilometer border with Russia this week, accusing Moscow of sending asylum-seekers across the frontier in a hybrid attack in retaliation for its decision to join NATO. Russia denies the accusation. VOAs Henry Ridgwell has more. Greek Police Arrest 6 Alleged Migrant Traffickers, Hunting 7 More Greek police have arrested six people who they say are members of a large human trafficking gang that violently extorted money from migrants to assist them in crossing into neighboring Albania and travel to European Union countries to the north. Reported by The Associated Press. Afghans Face Abuses in Pakistan, US Announces Hotline Pakistani police are facing accusations of unlawfully detaining, beating, extorting and sexually harassing Afghan refugees as part of a coercive campaign aimed at compelling them to return to their home country. By VOAs Akmal Dawi. About Half of Nicaragua's Population Wants to Emigrate, Study Says Lawyer Isabel Lazo's jobs are being systematically canceled by Nicaragua's increasingly repressive government. Lazo worked at a university before the government of President Daniel Ortega closed it. She now is employed at a nongovernmental organization that she fears will soon be shuttered too. The Associated Press reports. Pakistani Top Court Seeks Government Response on Afghan Expulsion Policy 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. Reported by Sarah Zaman. Rohingya Refugees Fleeing Bangladesh by Boat This Year Top 2022 Number The number of Rohingya taking risky boat trips across the Andaman Sea to flee mounting hunger and hopelessness in the refugee camps of Bangladesh this year has topped last years numbers and could keep rising, rights groups and aid agencies told VOA. By Zsombor Peter. News Brief The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, continues to remove single adults and family units to Central America and Venezuela. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during an interview with Reuters in Belgrade BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday he expects automaker Stellantis to produce an electric Fiat Panda city car in the central town Kragujevac. Vucic who spoke after meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni did not give any specific date for the production launch. Vucic said that the production of electric Panda would boost trade between Italy and Serbia above the current 4.6 billion euros a year. The current generation of the Fiat Panda is built near Naples in Italy, and the new model is expected around mid-2024. Stellantis, created in 2021 through the merger of France's PSA and Fiat Chrysler, and the Serbian government in 2022 signed a 190 million euro deal to produce electric vehicles in the Kragujevac plant which previously produced the Fiat 500L model. (Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Additional reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Alison Williams) Vote counting began Sunday in four Indian states in a test of strength for India's opposition pitted against the ruling party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of next year's crucial national vote. Results are expected later in the day. Elections in the four states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana took place last month. Polling in India is generally done in phases owing to the large population. Vote counting in a fifth state, Mizoram, is expected Monday. The election results of the five states are expected to give an indication of voter mood ahead of the 2024 national elections in which Modi is eyeing a third consecutive term. The Indian National Congress, India's main opposition party, holds power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, rules Madhya Pradesh, and its regional ally, Mizo National Front, is in power in Mizoram. Telangana is ruled by the strong Telangana Rashtra Samithi, known for opposing BJP in the state. A live feed on the election commission's website shows BJP leading in three states, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, while the Congress is making headway in Telangana, in early ballot counting. Modi and his party remain popular on a national level after nearly a decade in power and surveys suggest he is expected to win a third term. But a new alliance of 28 opposition parties, called INDIA, is expected to challenge Modi's party nationally. The acronym, which stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, comprises India's previously fractured opposition parties and is led by the Congress party. Modi flew across the five states and campaigned to support his party's candidates. The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also traveled across the states to woo voters. The charged-up voting campaigns witnessed both leaders promising voters subsidies, loan waivers and employment guarantees. Modi will seek reelection next year at a time when India's global diplomatic reach is rising. But in recent polls, Congress has dented his party's image of invincibility by toppling local BJP governments in state elections in southern Karnataka and northern Himachal Pradesh. The elections come at a time when India is facing multiple challenges; rising unemployment, attacks by Hindu nationalists against the country's minorities, particularly Muslims, and a shrinking space for dissent and free media. The U.S. has charged an Indian national in what prosecutors allege was a failed plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist at the behest of an unnamed Indian government official. The charges announced Wednesday against an Indian national arrested in June in Europe come two months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible accusations that India may have been linked to the killing of a Sikh activist near Vancouver, straining relations between the two countries. The U.S. case is particularly sensitive given the high priority that President Joe Biden placed on improving ties with India and courting it to be a major partner in the push to counter China's increasing assertiveness. India, which has banned the Sikh independence or Khalistan movement, denied having a role in the Canada killing and said it was examining information shared by the U.S. and taking those accusations seriously. Here are some details about the issue: What is the Khalistan movement? India's Sikh independence movement eventually became a bloody armed insurgency that shook India in the 1970s and 1980s. It was centered in the northern Punjab state, where Sikhs are the majority, though they make up about 1.7% of India's overall population. The insurgency lasted more than a decade and was suppressed by an Indian government crackdown in which thousands of people were killed, including prominent Sikh leaders. Hundreds of Sikh youths were also killed during police operations, many in detention or during staged gunfights, according to rights groups. In 1984, Indian forces stormed the Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine, in Amritsar to flush out separatists who had taken refuge there. The operation killed around 400 people, according to official figures, but Sikh groups say thousands were killed. The dead included Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, whom the Indian government accused of leading the armed insurgency. On Oct. 31, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who ordered the raid on the temple, was assassinated by two of her bodyguards, who were Sikh. Her death triggered a series of anti-Sikh riots, in which Hindu mobs went from house to house across northern India, particularly in New Delhi, pulling Sikhs from their homes, hacking many to death and burning others alive. Is the movement still active? There is no active insurgency in Punjab today, but the Khalistan movement still has some supporters in the state, as well as in the sizable Sikh diaspora beyond India. The Indian government has warned repeatedly over the years that Sikh separatists were trying to make a comeback. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has also intensified the pursuit of Sikh separatists and arrested dozens of leaders from various outfits that are linked to the movement. When farmers camped out on the edges of New Delhi to protest controversial agriculture laws in 2020, Modi's government initially tried to discredit Sikh participants by calling them "Khalistanis." Under pressure, the government later withdrew the laws. Earlier this year, Indian police arrested a separatist leader who had revived calls for Khalistan and stirred fears of violence in Punjab. Amritpal Singh, a 30-year-old preacher, had captured national attention through his fiery speeches. He said he drew inspiration from Bhindranwale. How strong is the movement outside of India? India has been asking countries like Canada, Australia and the U.K. to take legal action against Sikh activists, and Modi has personally raised the issue with the nations' prime ministers. India has particularly raised these concerns with Canada, where Sikhs make up nearly 2% of the country's population. Earlier this year, Sikh protesters pulled down the Indian flag at the country's high commission in London and smashed the building's window in a show of anger against the move to arrest Amritpal Singh. Protesters also smashed windows at the Indian consulate In San Francisco and skirmished with embassy workers. India's foreign ministry denounced the incidents and summoned the U.K.'s deputy high commissioner in New Delhi to protest what it called the breach of security at the embassy in London. The Indian government also accused Khalistan supporters in Canada of vandalizing Hindu temples with "anti-India" graffiti and of attacking the offices of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa during a protest in March. Last year, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, a Sikh militant leader and head of the Khalistan Commando Force, was shot dead in Pakistan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday thanked everyone who has helped Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion, including soldiers, workers of the Emergency Service of Ukraine, the National Police, the National Guard and more. "It is important that everyone remains committed to the common cause," Zelenskyy said in his daily address. "It is important that every week one can say, "I have contributed something of my own to the common defense." Earlier Saturday, power was restored at Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after it was lost on Friday, averting again a "nuclear catastrophe," according to a statement by Ukraines Energy Ministry on Telegram. "This is the eighth blackout which occurred at the [Zaporizhzhia plant] and could have led to nuclear catastrophe," the statement said. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the outage and restoration of power. The plant was occupied by Russia in March of last year and is no longer generating power but needs a supply of electricity to cool one of its four reactors, which is in a state of hot conservation, meaning it has not fully been shut down. The ministry said that after losing grid connection the plant turned on 20 backup generators to supply its electricity needs. At 7 a.m. local time, it said, Ukrainian specialists repaired the 750-kilowatt line that is again bringing power to the plant. Eastern front lines Fighting continues around the eastern Ukrainian towns of Avdiivka and Marinka, with both Russia and Ukraine claiming advances. Ukraines General Staff said Saturday that Russian forces had been unsuccessful in their attempts to advance on villages near Marinka but said nothing of troop movements in the town. Once a city of 10,000 Marinka, southwest of the Russian-held regional center of Donetsk, is now a ghost town, after almost a year of Russian efforts to seize it. There are no civilians left there. For almost two months, Russian forces have been attacking the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, 40 kilometers north of Marinka. Ukraine says its forces control Avdiivka, though not a single building remains intact. Ukrainian troops regained swaths of territory last year in a sweep through the northeast, but a counteroffensive launched in the east and south in June has made only incremental gains. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called on the U.S. Congress on Friday to act swiftly to provide aid to Ukraine before the end of the month, after which it will become difficult to provide Kyiv with assistance it needs. "We need that assistance immediately so we can provide them assistance in an uninterrupted way," Kirby told a news briefing. Kirby said the United States expects that Russia will try to destroy critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure this winter as it did last year. Zelenskyy acknowledges that the advance has been slow but rejects any notion that the war is slipping into a stalemate. He met with his military command Friday to discuss ways to produce "concrete results" in the war next year. In his nightly video address, he spoke about improvements in mobilization methods. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Africa's top producer wants local battery-grade lithium plants Infrastructure deficiencies undermine refinery ambitions By Nelson Banya and Nyasha Chingono HARARE, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe has given lithium miners up to March 2024 to submit plans for the local production of battery-grade lithium in a bid to benefit from growing demand for the clean energy mineral, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday. Africa's top lithium producer last year banned the export of lithium ore and has imposed a 5% export tax on concentrates. Lithium, used in electric vehicle batteries and to store renewable energy, has become foreign-currency starved Zimbabwe's third biggest mineral export after platinum group metals (PGM) and gold, earning $209 million in the first nine months of 2023. Presenting the 2024 national budget, Ncube said the government does not regard the current production of concentrates by miners in the country as beneficiation, a process in which raw minerals are improved to add value. "Any lithium value addition process that does not result in the production of lithium carbonate is not regarded as beneficiation. Lithium producing companies should submit their beneficiation plans no later than 31 March 2024," Ncube said. He added that no new licences would be granted to prospective lithium miners without approved beneficiation plans. Zimbabwe's hard-rock lithium reserves, some of the world's biggest, have attracted over $1 billion of investment from Chinese miners including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt 603799.SS, Sinomine Resource Group 002738.SZ, Chengxin Lithium Group 002240.SZ, Yahua Group 002497.SZ and Canmax Technologies 300390.SZ. Sinomine, which recently commissioned a $300 million spodumene concentrator at its Bikita mine in southern Zimbabwe, said on Thursday it had started feasibility studies on producing battery-grade lithium in the country. Its peer Huayou, which bought Arcadia mine just outside Harare in 2022 and built a concentrator which started production earlier this year, has said it would explore local production of lithium sulphate "only when the construction and economic conditions are right". Huayou has previously said Zimbabwe lacks reliable renewable energy, natural gas, sulphuric acid and other key inputs needed to produce battery-grade lithium. Zimbabwe has also struggled for years to get PGM miners to refine the metals locally. The PGM miners, who ship concentrates to South African refineries, say Zimbabwe does not generate enough electricity or minerals to support the huge capital outlay for building refineries. (Reporting by Nelson Banya; Editing by Richard Chang) Two Zimbabweans Talent Moyo of Kezi and Tsholotsho native Felix Nkomo were on Friday night stoned and set on fire by locals looking for marauding thieves in Number 13, Diepsloot, while they were on their way to attend an overnight prayer at Imsebenzi Yamapostoli Church. According to Mehluli Ncube of Imsebenzi Yabapostoli Church, some vigilante groups suspected that the two were the ones causing havoc in the local community where there have been several cases of theft. Ncube said, We saw the two before they were killed. They were supposed to attend an evening church service with us. One of them forgot his church garb and when they had collected it and were on their way to church Moyo and Nkomo were detained by a few people who suspected that they were criminals. They managed to tell the group what they were doing but another agitated vigilante group came to see what was happening and without asking any questions started stoning and burning them with tyres. Moyo and Nkomo died while begging the vigilante group to let them go. There was blood all over the place they were killed and one could see some burnt tryes. Its so sad that they were killed in the same manner the late Elvis Nyathi was slain by a vigilante group in Diesploot in April 2022. He said Zimbabweans are now living in fear in Diespsloot as they think that they are being targeted by some groups that want all foreigners to leave South Africa. Police spokersperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told reporters in Johannesburg that killers of the two Zimbabweans will face charges of murder. No arrests have been made. Five suspected thieves were detained, stoned and set on fire on the same day in Diepsloot. They are all believed to be South Africans. Meanwhile, Ncube said they are appealing for help in raising at least R20,000 for ferrying bodies of the slain men to Zimbabwe. Israel struck Gaza targets Sunday in its war on Hamas sparked by the October 7 attacks as international concern mounted over the spiralling civilian death toll on the third day after the end of a week-long truce. More than 15,200 people have been killed in the besieged Palestinian territory, according to Hamas, in more than eight weeks of fighting that resumed after the ceasefire ended early Friday. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said at least 160 Palestinian deaths were reported in two incidents in northern Gaza Saturday: the bombing of a six-storey building in Jabaliya refugee camp, and of an entire block in a Gaza City neighbourhood. Repeated bursts of heavy automatic weapons fire were heard Sunday over an AFPTV livecam which showed dark smoke rising over northern Gaza. Gaza's Hamas government on Saturday said 240 people had been killed since the truce expired. "I cannot find words strong enough to express our concern over what we're witnessing," the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Sunday on X, formerly Twitter, demanding a "Ceasefire. NOW." Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, while the militant group has ruled out more hostage releases until a permanent ceasefire is agreed. "We have said it from day one: the price to pay for the release of Zionist prisoners will be the release of all our prisoners - after a ceasefire," Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas's politburo, said on Saturday evening. Israel's army, after focusing on northern Gaza in recent weeks, has struck more targets in the territory's south and issued warnings to Palestinians trapped there to seek what it said would be safe zones. Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced "rocket barrages" against multiple Israeli cities and towns including Tel Aviv, and Israel said two of its soldiers had died in combat, the first since the truce ended. In a summary of activity issued on Sunday, the military said a drone strike had "eliminated" five Hamas militants. Fighter jets and helicopters had also struck "tunnel shafts, command centres and weapons storage facilities" while naval forces hit Hamas vessels and weapons, it said. At least seven people were killed in an Israeli bombing early Sunday near Gaza's southern border with Egypt, the Hamas government said. - 'Too many' innocents killed - Israel's ally the United States, which provides it with billions of dollars in military aid annually, has intensified calls for the protection of Gaza's civilians. "Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed," Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters at UN climate talks in Dubai. In a new estimate, OCHA said around 1.8 million people in Gaza, roughly 75 percent of the population, had been displaced, many to overcrowded and unsanitary shelters. Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis overflowed with both the wounded and the dead. Jumana Murad said her son Mohammad, 19, was killed as he tried to help women and children out of a tent inside a school. "A piece of shrapnel hit him in the head," she told AFP before bursting into tears. Tedros said a WHO team visited Nasser hospital and found it with 1,000 patients, three times its capacity. Some were being treated on the floor, "screaming in pain," he said. Gazans are short of food, water and other essentials, and many homes have been destroyed. - Call for hostages return - The war broke out when Hamas militants burst through Gaza's militarised border into Israel on October 7 and killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while also taking around 240 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and unleashed an air and ground campaign that has killed more than 15,200 people, mostly women and children, Gaza's Hamas authorities say. The truce, brokered by Qatar with support from Egypt and the United States, led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. On Saturday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israeli negotiators were being withdrawn from Qatar "following the impasse in the negotiations". The Israeli army said 137 hostages were still being held in Gaza. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Saturday that more military action was needed to "create the conditions that push (Hamas) to pay a heavy price, and that is in the release of hostages". Israeli hostages released from Gaza talked publicly on Saturday for the first time, urging their government to secure the release of the remaining captives. "The moral obligation of this government is to bring them home immediately, without hesitation," said Yocheved Lifschitz, 85, who was freed by Hamas before the truce deal. French President Emmanuel Macron appealed for "stepped-up efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire" to free all hostages, allow in more aid and to assure Israel of its security. He said Israel's war aim of destroying Hamas needed to be defined more precisely. "What is the total destruction of Hamas, and does anyone think it's possible? If it is, the war will last 10 years," Macron said. - 'Total victory' - But Netanyahu said the war would continue "until we achieve all its aims" and soldiers had prepared during the truce "for total victory against Hamas". "There is no way to win except by continuing the ground campaign," Netanyahu said, vowing that Israel would be "observing international law". US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday drew on his experience fighting the Islamic State group in urging Israel to protect non-combatants. "The lesson is that you can only win in urban warfare by protecting civilians," he told a forum in California. Among the targets hit Saturday in Khan Yunis was a Doha-funded housing development. At almost exactly the same time Israeli negotiators pulled out of the Qatar talks, bombs pounded the modern-looking yellow apartment blocks one by one. Most Gazans are trapped but an Egyptian border crossing, after a closure on Friday, reopened to enable 880 foreign and dual nationals to cross along with 13 injured people, the UN said. Aid trucks with food, medical supplies and other essentials also entered, the UN said. Violence has also escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where the number of Palestinians killed by either soldiers or Israeli settlers during the war exceeds the entire toll of around 235 last year in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. burs-it/fz Saturday Night Live broke out the Hallelujah piano for George Santoss swan song. But rather than have Bowen Yang sing the Leonard Cohen classic like Kate McKinnons Hillary Clinton (and subsequently Alec Baldwins Donald Trump), his George Santos instead sang a spin on Elton Johns Candle in the Wind. A fitting choice being that he considers himself both a modern-day Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe. But the proud gay thief first took to his press conference to address the fact that hes no longer Congressman Santos; now hes just regular old Professor, Major, General, Reverend, Astronaut Santos. After calling on reporters by asking for credentials like name, routing number, mothers maiden name, and childhood pet, Santos took to the keys to perform a tribute to himself, singing, And it seems to me I lived my life like a scandal in the wind. Related Recipes What do you want to cook today? Southwest may have a new deal with its pilots just in time for the holidays. Tomas Del Coro / Wikimedia Commons Southwest Airlines and its pilots union were nearing a new labor deal ahead of the holiday season, a person familiar with the negotiations said on Friday. Shares of the carrier were up 3.4% in afternoon trade. The agreement could take a couple of weeks to sort out some of the outstanding issues, the person said without providing any details on the terms of the deal. Southwest in an emailed statement to Reuters said, Both negotiating teams are working hard to close out the few remaining items. The company remains committed to reaching a deal that rewards its pilots and places them competitively in the industry, it added. North American pilots and flight attendants have been pushing for better pay and working conditions during their talks over new job contracts with the company management. The carrier in October had reached a tentative agreement with the Transport Workers Union Local 556, representing nearly 19,000 flight attendants. Earlier this year, major carriers American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines successfully reached agreements with their respective pilot unions. CNBC first reported that Southwest was nearing a new contract with the union. (Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Arun Koyyur) Copyright (2023) Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions This article was from Reuters and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com. Each time Bours operated on Hogan, her pain afterwards intensified, but her surgeon could not prescribe medication. None of these podiatric surgeons has completed a medical degree, so not one of them is a medical doctor, yet they can lawfully call themselves doctor and perform complex and invasive surgery. By this point, she had been operated on three times by Paul Bours, who once counted himself among a small but controversial group of practitioners known as podiatric surgeons. Suzanne Hogan has different sized feet and her toe cannot touch the ground after her operation. Credit: Brook Mitchell The answer came out the same every time, her right foot was three sizes smaller than her left. Her big toe, meanwhile, hovered one centimetre above the ground. I measured and remeasured the foot continuously, she says. I was in disbelief. It was Christmas day in 2014 when Suzanne Hogan removed her surgical boots for the first time. She could not believe what she saw her feet were two different sizes. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Podiatric surgeons are the only group of individuals who operate on the Australian public who do not have their training accredited, inspected and audited by the Australian Medical Council [an independent training organisation for medical professionals], the Australian Orthopaedic Association said in a recent submission to the regulator. Their complaints were backed by 22 orthopaedic surgeons, who say they often treat patients to correct issues following podiatric surgeon procedures. They make allegations of poor and unnecessary surgeries and inappropriate treatment of complications. Over interviews with 29 patients, they described being shocked or completely floored to learn these practitioners can lawfully call themselves doctors or surgeons despite not having medical degrees. This troubling pattern was repeated many times in a joint investigation by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes , where patients around the country have been left deformed, out-of-pocket and feeling misled about the qualifications of the person they allowed to operate on them. Suzanne Hogan ended up with two different sized feet after three operations with Paul Bours. Credit: Suzanne Hogan Nor did Hogan know, Bours was found guilty of professional misconduct in October 2014 and was banned from operating for one year. But the suspension did not take effect immediately, allowing him to perform the third procedure that left her with permanent disability. Its turned my life upside down, she says. He comes out in a white coat, hes called doctor, a surgeon, I thought he was fair dinkum, she says. Leeks acknowledges that all surgeries have complications, but she describes cases by podiatric surgeons she has seen as outrageous and experimental, which she believes indicates a lack of adequate surgical training. Over my years, Ive seen three amputations after podiatric surgeons have operated, she said. This is a big problem, says lawyer Ian Murray, who has represented a number of patients of podiatric surgeons. Im glad someone is exposing this. One says she was left to walk on a broken and blackened foot for two years, another described an operation which left her with a dangling toe and crippling pain. Many developed depression when they were left unable to walk, work, drive or live independently. Some patients will not speak publicly on advice from their lawyers as they pursue medical negligence claims following severe complications such as deformed feet, chronic pain, and dying limbs. He was critical of the tribunal finding against him, saying there were factual errors and it was totally biased. While he accepts his surgery left Hogan with two different-sized feet, he said she presented to him with pain and deformity, all risks were explained and unforeseen issues emerged during surgery, which is common for all surgeons. Hogans surgeon, Bours, regards criticisms of the industry and his work as a hatchet job driven by orthopaedic surgeons who want to protect their turf. Paul Bours has apologised for a patients unhappiness about her outcome but says he acted within the rules. AHPRA conducts investigations into alleged misconduct for the Podiatry Board of Australia (PBA), which in turn makes disciplinary decisions. PBA chair Cylie Williams said reform was needed, and everything from tighter rules around titles such as doctor and surgeon to auditing training standards would be examined. After receiving questions from this masthead about problems with podiatric surgeons, regulator Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) launched an independent review of the industry, noting that it had a much higher rate of complaints about these practitioners compared to podiatrists, including serious concerns about patient safety. Ive had complications. But its not because the wrong operation has been performed for the patient, or the screw is not in the bone. Former AHPRA investigator turned lawyer David Gardner says the revelations point to systemic failures with the way healthcare is regulated in Australia, from accrediting training courses to investigating complaints and suspending rogue practitioners, not only in podiatry but across all professions. Foot surgery is really complex. Youre dealing with degenerative pathology. Its never going to be 100 per cent, Bours said. I felt my training was of a high standard on foot and ankle. But there was very little trauma surgery, he said. Who made them king? I met my statute requirements for practice. I was not obliged to disclose anything. This story isnt about patient outcomes Its about money and control. Im so sorry for the outcome. I wish it was better. But with the skill set that I had and the presenting change pathology, I didnt do anything illegal. I was Commonwealth-accredited, had all the bona fides to perform surgery. Its not like these are beauticians with a knife, Bours said. Most podiatric surgeons in Australia are either members of, or have completed training at, the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons unlike the vast majority of surgeons in other fields who must have AMC-accredited training. The college was established in the 1970s to create an alternate pathway for podiatrists to expand their services beyond physiotherapy and orthotics to surgery. Early entrants joined the college with a diploma in podiatry, and after completing the colleges three-year course, began performing an extensive range of surgical procedures on the foot and ankle. The college has a dual role, providing training but also lobbying for greater rights of its members. Over the decades, it has launched campaigns with state and federal governments to expand the rights of the profession by promoting greater competition as one way to reduce costs and strain on the public health system. By far the biggest win for the college came in 2010, when AHPRA agreed to recognise the profession and accredit its training courses meaning graduates could legally call themselves surgeons in every state. On its website, the college claims this affirms surgery performed by its members is safe, clinically effective and cost-effective. No individual or organisation should imply or suggest that the training and or skills of podiatric surgeons in Australia is in question, the colleges website states. However, this investigation has found many of its members have been subject to conditions on their practice after complaints about clinical care were upheld including senior members of the college. Many podiatric surgeons have also been the target of medical negligence lawsuits which frequently result in out-of-court settlements with no admissions of wrongdoing, and are not publicly available. Perth-based Andrew Knox had conditions placed on his ability to practice earlier this year, but those have since been removed from his profile. There is no requirement for past conditions to be published once they have been completed, and he now has a clear public record. Through lawyers, Knox said he was unable to comment due to patient confidentiality. Knox has two lawsuits currently against him in WA where judgments have not yet been made. In one case, a patient has alleged Knox did not have the appropriate training and performed a surgery which left the patient with insomnia caused by pain, psychological distress, and a reduced capacity to walk and stand, according to court documents. This masthead does not suggest the allegations made against Knox are true, as the cases are yet to be determined. Two college fellows with past leadership roles former treasurer Bours and former president Robert Hermann have each been called before tribunals at various stages of their careers. Bours was found guilty of professional misconduct for one patient, and unsatisfactory conduct for three others. Hermann was initially subject to conditions on his practice in 2006, after the Podiatrists Board of Queensland found he posed a serious potential risk to the wellbeing of vulnerable persons in the wake of complaints from eight patients. Proceedings against Hermann were dismissed when in 2010 he agreed to comprehensive undertakings, including mentoring by a third party. Hermann made no admissions of unprofessional conduct but agreed to comply with mentoring within three years. Hermann did not respond to requests for comment. The Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons declined requests for interviews and did not answer detailed questions but issued a statement, defending the years of specialist training completed by its members. All surgical colleagues and cohorts must, from time to time, deal with circumstances in which patients are unsatisfied with outcomes, the college said. This is part and parcel of the profession. What is the relationship between AHPRA and the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons? AHPRA was created in 2010 and was the beginning of a national scheme to regulate healthcare. One of its key duties is approving education courses for health practitioners. For podiatric surgeons, AHPRA accredited training provided by the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons (ACPS) which allows graduates to use the term surgeon. AHPRA then set up the Podiatry Accreditation Committee to assess standards and monitor training. Former ACPS president Mark Gilheany was appointed as deputy chair of the committee, which the AOA claims creates a conflict of interest by allowing the college to assess its own courses. A spokesperson for AHPRA says the law does not require medical negligence lawsuits to be reported to the regulator or published on the national register of practitioners. They say Australian health ministers considered changing the law on this recently, but decided against it. Concerns ignored While the colleges training standards will be a focus in the Podiatry Board review, there has been internal division within the college about the quality of its courses for years. US-trained podiatric surgeon Walter Coffey was a founding member of the college. He contributed to its policy and training documents, but quickly became disillusioned with the leaderships approach to medical training. Over the next decade, he claims to have seen invasive surgeries by podiatric surgeons in Australia that turned patients into what he describes as surgical assault victims. He provided expert evidence against podiatric surgeons on more than one occasion, and believes this, combined with his advocacy for higher standards, meant he was expelled from the college. The tipping point for Coffey came when members of the college began participating in trips to Vietnams Da Nang Hospital in the late 1990s and early 2000s to perform surgeries on patients with complex problems, such as limb deformities from bomb blasts or children with club foot, without what he considered to be adequate training. Sue Gibson, a podiatrist who attended one of the Vietnam trips in 2002, says she observed podiatric surgeons performing operations that they would not be allowed to perform in Australia, on young children. Gibson became so concerned by what she saw that she and another podiatrist, Miriam Clarkson, wrote to the organisation responsible for funding the trip to outline their concerns. We never got a response from them And I wasnt invited on another trip. Walter Coffey met Kevin Rudd to discuss dangers of podiatric surgeons. Coffey has spent the past decade trying to draw attention to what he sees as the dangers of podiatric surgeons by reaching out to regulators, departments and politicians, including a meeting with former prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2012. All have been ignored, he says. The Australian public has been hoodwinked, he says. Does someone need to die before action is taken? It wasnt only Coffey who challenged colleges training internally. Podiatric surgeon Alan Bryant was a fierce advocate for the college, joining in 1986 and seeking to partner with the University of Western Australia to improve the quality of training. However, in 2010, he resigned, citing a refusal to allow university graduates to become fellows. In a letter sent to the college, obtained by this investigation, Bryant said his decision to resign had not been reached lightly. The ACPS has for many years embellished and exaggerated its practical training program to make it seem more credible than it is in reality, Bryant wrote. Bryant described the training program at the time as professional deception and untenable where trainees experience scant surgical exposure that often amounted to only two days per month. Bryant was critical of the leadership teams perspective that the ACPS was the podiatric equivalent to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons the gold standard for surgical training. I cannot, in good conscience, remain a member of an organisation that places self-preservation beyond the best interests of the profession, he wrote. Bryant did not respond to requests for comment. There are around 40 podiatric surgeons registered in Australia, who perform a range of procedures, from removing ingrown toenails to more complex procedures like foot reconstructions. One podiatric surgeon, who declined to be named, says orthopaedic surgeons have a tendency to over-operate, where podiatric surgeons can blend conservative treatments with surgical options. If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail, the podiatric surgeon says. AOA Foot and Ankle Society president David Lunz disagrees saying the industrys objections are motivated by patient safety and a concern over the vast difference in training. Orthopaedic surgeon David Lunz is calling for greater regulation of podiatric surgeons. Credit: Steven Siewert If you concentrate on it being a turf war, then you completely ignore the difference in training and education, Lunz says. A turf war assumes that the two parties involved are equally trained and equally competent. Lunz routinely performs revision procedures on patients who have been operated on by podiatric surgeons, describing cases of irreparable joint damage or amputated toes. He said these outcomes indicate a lack of surgical training, or general medical knowledge. Youre not just operating on a foot or toe, Lunz says. Youre operating on a person. That person has got medical conditions, theyve got cardiac conditions, theyve got vascular conditions. You need to know about everything. Following revelations of widespread misconduct in the cosmetic industry, the federal government introduced new laws to ensure all surgeons are medically trained, and complete courses accredited by the Australian Medical Council. However, these laws excluded podiatric surgeons. Theres been this public outcry, How can these people be called cosmetic surgeons? Lunz said. Well, its exactly the same situation The training between a podiatric surgeon and orthopaedic surgeon are vastly different. Loading Concerns about podiatric surgeons have been repeatedly raised in public forums and private submissions. In one parliamentary hearing this year, AMA WA president Mark Duncan-Smith warned of unintended consequences of the carve-out for podiatric surgeons. He said this would create a potential loophole where they can still use the title of surgeon, even though they are not technically part of the surgical class. Podiatrists do not just shape bunions; they actually do joint replacements in feet and surgery of this type. By leaving it the way it is, it means that potentially the public and this bill is about the safety of the public would consider podiatric surgeons to be part of the surgical class. In the same hearing, Australian Ethical Health Alliance chief executive Adrian Cosenza said there had been warnings about podiatric surgeons for more than a decade, adding he believed the education, skills and training were substandard to orthopaedic surgeons. This is a community health problem that is long overdue to be addressed before more patients are further harmed, he said. AHPRA podiatry boards Cylie Williams defended the training completed by podiatric surgeons and denied knowledge of problems with the industry prior to the triggering of the current review. We cant fix things we dont know about, she says. Williams said the review will consider everything from lifting registration standards to introducing rules for who can use the term doctor and surgeon, despite claiming really strong guidance already exists. Who can call themselves doctor and surgeon? Doctor is not a protected title in Australia, meaning a range of health practitioners (podiatrists, dentists, chiropractors) can use doctor as a courtesy title without completing a medical degree. People who complete post-doctorate degrees in any field can also use doctor. It is an offence for a health practitioner to mislead patients into thinking they are medical doctors. Surgeon is a protected title in Australia, with recent changes requiring all surgeons to complete a medical degree and training approved by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). Podiatric surgeons are exempt from this requirement. I want to apologise Only three of the patients interviewed for this investigation made complaints to AHPRA or NSW regulator, the Health Care Complaints Commission, (HCCC), after procedures with podiatric surgeons went wrong. Even some who had sued did not make complaints. Some felt the regulator couldnt help them, or felt ashamed for not realising podiatric surgeons were not medical doctors. One who did complain to AHPRA is 67-year-old Norah Manson. She was dissatisfied with the response. Manson had an operation performed by podiatric surgeon Knox in 2020, but was left hospitalised after a severe infection. Documents and correspondence seen by this masthead show it took five months for the regulator to decide to launch an investigation, six months to impose interim conditions on his practice, and more than a year before they obtained independent expert opinions. In October 2022, 17 months after Mansons initial complaint, AHPRA wrote the investigation was continuing, but the interim conditions had been removed. I acknowledge that this investigation has taken longer to complete than we had expected I want to apologise for that, AHPRA wrote. Without trying to make excuses, as an organisation, we have been undergoing significant change to our structure and our ways of working. Manson says she was never informed about the final outcome of her complaint. His AHPRA profile is clear. Gardner says conditions such as mentoring allow the regulator to look to be taking action without actually stopping the practitioner. Its become the default, he says. They dont want to rock the boat. While AHPRA is responsible for investigating patient complaints, disciplinary action is ultimately decided by one of the 15 national boards for each profession. For podiatric surgeons, this action is determined by the Podiatry Board of Australia made up of nine people, mostly podiatrists, and no medical doctors. Gardner queried how these practitioners are qualified to evaluate complex surgeries, a position shared by Lunz. They are well suited to regulate podiatrists, but theyre not surgically trained, Lunz said. So they are not trained to assess surgery. There are no set rules around podiatric surgeons scope of practice, meaning the decision on whether to perform complex procedures, such as ankle fusions and foot reconstructions, come down to the individual practitioners risk appetite. In one since-deleted video, Sydney podiatric surgeon Ozan Amir was filmed draining fluid from a knee without gloves treatment the AOA described in a regulatory complaint as extremely concerning due to the infection risk and practitioners lack of training in this body part. In a statement, the HCCC agreed the video raised issues of concern and the matter was referred to the Medical Council of NSW. Amir has conditions on his AHPRA profile and did not respond to questions. One former board member, who could not be named because they were bound by confidentiality agreements, said they observed a number of podiatric surgeons who were gung-ho but the board was powerless to stop them. If you say, I can fix this, do that, and it doesnt work, people cant walk AHPRA needs to be more careful about who they allow into the college, the former board member said. They were too anxious to get people through and let people in who should not have been there. Transparency This year, AHPRA reviewed what information should be published on its register of practitioners, including whether historic conditions or medical negligence lawsuits should be published. Former ACPS president Rob Hermann made a submission to this review, obtained by this masthead through freedom of information laws, in which he advocated against additional information being published. The registers main purpose is to provide a definitive list of registered health practitioners, Herman states. Hermann agreed to comprehensive undertakings in 2010 after complaints were made by eight of his patients on the basis he made no admissions of unsatisfactory conduct. In his submission, he says a surgeons history is accessible on request and advocated for the right balance between public interest and safety and the rights of an individual practitioner. Hogan believes the system entirely failed her from allowing Bours to operate on her while under investigation, to failing to enforce consistent training standards for all surgeons. She has spent years seeking answers from AHPRA, and other bodies, and says the complex web of regulators and professional bodies makes finding critical information all but impossible. I dont know where else to turn, she says. Its too late for me, but hopefully speaking out can stop other people from going through what Ive gone through. Watch 60 Minutes tonight for more. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Pro-Palestinian trade unionists have set up picket lines at the Port of Fremantle in Western Australia in an attempt to block the free movement of ships owned by ZIM, an Israeli shipping company. Organisers from the group Friends of Palestine WA vowed to disrupt the activities of a ZIM ship due to use the port on Saturday afternoon. The group established blocks of two roads leading into the Port, but also complied with police orders to let trucks through to avoid committing a criminal offence. Grace Brooks from Trade Unionists For Palestine said the company was being targeted because it had been used in the past to ship weapons. Israel released a total of 240 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for 105 hostages freed by Hamas during a weeklong pause in hostilities, an arrangement that diplomats had tried to extend before it collapsed into fighting Friday morning. An analysis of data on the Palestinians released showed that a majority of them had not been convicted of a crime. There were 107 teenagers under 18, including three girls. Another 66 teenagers were 18 years old. The oldest person released was a 64-year-old woman. A Palestinian man is carried on the shoulders after being released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Credit: AP The negotiations for the seven rounds of exchange one for each day of the pause had centred 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 the Gaza Strip. 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. A memorial sits in an alley where Reyna Cristina Ical Seb was found fatally shot in the Little Village neighborhood the prior week in Chicago, Feb. 27, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Chicago is poised to see a double-digit percentage drop in homicides in 2023, welcome news for a freshman mayor and a police superintendent who took the reins of the department just a couple of months ago. But the small measure of success may not be exactly as it seems, a Tribune analysis of police data has found. While citywide figures show improvement, a closer look shows that neighborhoods that have for decades shouldered the brunt of disenfranchisement have paid for at least some of the gains. Advertisement A review of Chicago Police Department data on the district level shows that killings have actually increased or remained flat in many of the neighborhoods that have historically struggled the most with violence. That may be because the downturn in fatal and nonfatal shootings has coincided with a huge spike in armed robberies and carjackings across the city, and police have shuffled resources around to deal with it sometimes at the expense of the most troubled areas. Advertisement On the Southwest Side, the Chicago Lawn District has seen one of the largest year-over-year increases in fatal violence. CPD says 31 slayings have occurred in the district so far in 2023, a 29% increase over last year. Jason Huff, one of the three Chicago Lawn police district councilors, said the districts uptick in killings stems from officers being temporarily reassigned to cover other parts of the city. The districts size is a challenge, too, Huff said, and the areas aldermen have asked residents if theyd prefer the Chicago Lawn District to be split in two. The main, consistent storyline that you hear across the city is the same thing that you will hear in the 8th District, Huff said. Its a staffing issue. Sometimes some of their officers are being reallocated to other, more important events, maybe downtown, for things that are going on downtown, if theres an uproar there. Overall, (with) the size of the district, its just hard to respond to call after call after call and not be able to do any proactive policing because of the size and volume of calls that theyre getting, Huff added. It is difficult to find a direct correlation between police staffing levels and homicides across the entire city, but there are examples. Data from the citys Office of Inspector General shows the Englewood (7th) and Austin (15th) districts two that saw their killing totals rise this year have dozens fewer officers assigned than they did in December 2022. Meanwhile, dozens of officers were added to districts on the North and Northwest sides where homicides fell this year. But correlation does not always mean causation, as several districts with lower or nearly flat 2023 homicide totals also have seen a slight bump in the number of officers on patrol, according to OIG data. The Harrison District (11th) has long been the citys most violent. Roughly bounded by Roosevelt Road, Division Street, Western Avenue and Cicero Avenue, the district covers the epicenter of the citys narcotics trade. Advertisement In 2022, the Harrison District saw 72 killings through late November, and so far this year, the district has recorded 73 homicides, according to police data. This time last year 353 officers were assigned there, and 361 are currently deployed. The Englewood District, where new police Superintendent Larry Snelling was born and raised and where he worked as a patrol officer, has seen an 8% increase in killings this year, with 55 as of Nov. 26. The Grand Crossing District (3rd) in South Shore has notched an 18% increase. The Austin District on the citys West Side saw 32 killings through late November 2022 the same total for the district so far in 2023. Ofelia Herrera, center, and her daughter Marcelina, center right, lift candles during a Nov. 2 vigil calling attention to the unsolved killing of Herrera's son, Salvador Herrera, in the 700 block of South Loomis Street in Chicago. Salvador Herrera was fatally shot on Oct. 15 on his way home from work when he intervened during a vehicle break-in. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Asked about the review of data, police officials pointed to their successes. Steep declines in killings have occurred in the CPD districts that cover Bronzeville, Kenwood, Pullman, Roseland, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Lawndale, Little Village and Morgan Park, police records show. Protecting the safety of all Chicagoans is the Chicago Police Departments most important mission, a CPD spokesperson said in an emailed statement to the Tribune. This year, we have seen a significant decrease in shooting victims, shooting incidents and homicides. So far this year, there have been approximately 537 fewer shooting victims, 340 fewer shooting incidents and 75 fewer homicides compared to last year. Though progress has been made, we know there is still more work to be done to bolster safety in every neighborhood, the statement continued. As we head into 2024, we will continue to tailor our public safety strategies to each individual neighborhood to ensure our residents are receiving the resources they need to feel safe and be safe. Advertisement The department has rarely discussed deployment shifts or changes. And the number of officers assigned to each of the CPDs 22 patrol districts varies. As of this month, the Harrison and Englewood districts have the most, according to the citys Office of Inspector General. One change that has been discussed is an end to tiered deployment, a controversial tactic aimed at combating violence and frequently used under former Superintendent David Brown, which often resulted in officers losing their scheduled days off. As a close-to-32-year veteran on this job right now, I know the importance of having your time off when youre working a job like this, because officers deal with vicarious trauma on a daily basis, Snelling said during the Chicago Police Boards November meeting at CPD headquarters. As a result of that we made sure that we got rid of tiered deployment, so our officers will get their days off. A perception issue? Theres little question that crime has been hounding Mayor Brandon Johnson during the first months of his tenure and increasing pressure on Snelling, his newly chosen police boss. With armed crews sometimes committing waves of robberies in short periods in neighborhoods not used to seeing such crimes, the police have promised to meet the challenge. Advertisement And even in areas where homicides have dropped substantially, the perception of safety still has yet to follow. The Wentworth District (2nd), which covers Hyde Park, Kenwood, Bronzeville and Washington Park, has seen homicides go down by more than a third in 2023. District Councilor Julia Kline doesnt think that decrease has registered with her constituents and neighbors. I have not heard anybody talking about change and certainly not a positive change, Kline said. Everybody seems to have a perception that the crime is bad and getting worse. A mourner places prayer candles at a memorial for Aurelio Guzman Jr., 16, near the site where he was fatally shot on Oct. 31, during a vigil in his memory in the 9900 block of South Avenue G in Chicago on Nov. 11, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) And it has gotten worse in some categories: Police Department data shows that motor vehicle thefts, for example, are up by more than half. But Kline said she hears some conversations about violence in the city that blow the problem out of proportion. Some people think, Oh my God, if you step out of your car anywhere inside of Chicago city limits, youre gonna get murdered, she said. Thats crazy. She said shed like to see a resource that visualizes the number of people who walk through a given neighborhood or intersection and do not experience crime. Advertisement I think that if people could see how many millions of people go up and down the streets every day completely free from crime, it would help to decrease their feelings of being unsafe, she said. I would love to be able to open up an app and see a green dot that represents every single person that has passed through a given intersection in the last hour, five minutes, whatever time period, to whom no crime has happened, she said. It remains to be seen how Mayor Johnson will react, but so far he appears to be moving away from adding sheer police manpower. Johnsons first proposed budget eliminates more than 800 vacant street cop positions. It does create almost 400 new civilian positions, which his administration said will free up more officers to patrol the streets. Meanwhile, Snelling said at Novembers Police Board meeting that the department has hired more than 660 officers this year. But, Snelling told the Tribune in October, about 400 officer positions remain vacant. A definite decrease Chicago Police Department statistics show that, so far in 2023, homicide detectives have opened 569 murder investigations, a 12% decrease from the prior year. According to the Cook County medical examiners office, the city recorded 599 homicides as of Nov. 27. In that same time frame last year, there were 692 homicides across the city. Advertisement The drop in killings has been felt across Chicago, from the Jefferson Park District (16th) on the Northwest Side to the Morgan Park District (22nd) on the Far South Side. Nonfatal shooting incidents are down 13% this year, too. In the Morgan Park District, homicides are down by more than 50%. Police district Councilor Lee Bielecki attributed that drop to a culmination of efforts by the District Advisory Council, a good relationship between area residents and law enforcement and the efforts of police officers themselves. As for whether the drop in homicides was registering among his constituents, Bielecki said 80 people attended the district councils most recent meeting to hear more about a pair of Beverly car thefts that were captured on video earlier this month. Lee Bielecki stands at the Chicago Police Officers' Memorial Foundation store inside the Chicago Public Safety Headquarters on Dec. 1, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune) He said that while crime has gone down since his days working as a Chicago police officer, the crime that does occur is more visible and easily shared thanks to social media and cable TV. Regardless, he said, everybody wants to feel safe in their community I dont care if its in the 22nd District or in Englewood. Permanent answers elusive Snelling, like all other superintendents in recent memory, has often called for a collaborative approach to reduce the citys entrenched gun violence. Advertisement After he assumed leadership of the Police Department two months ago, Snelling told the Tribune, Weve allowed others to dictate how we should respond to violent crimes and acts of violence, which has led us and not us as a police department but as a society to forget about the victims and put the victims on the back burner. The Southwest Organizing Project was founded in 1996 and is among the organizations that make up Communities Partnering 4 Peace. As its name implies, SWOP operates in several neighborhoods on the South and Southwest sides, and in half of the police beats that make up the Chicago Lawn District. Along with violence prevention, SWOP works to connect program participants with job training, education and immigration resources. The organization aims to foster partnerships among different religious institutions, schools and other community stakeholders, too. After instances of gun violence, SWOP outreach workers will visit the area where the shooting occurred. During those canvasses were looking to run into community members, stakeholders, perpetrators of violence and also victims of the perpetrators of violence and try to get them to come into the office (to learn) about the mentoring services that we have to try to help get them from Point A to Point B and to Point C, Calvin Brown, SWOPs system program director, told the Tribune. Calvin Smith, the system program director of the Southwest Organizing Project, on Dec. 1, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) You can tell them all day, Hey, put your guns down. But what we do is we ask them, What can I help you with? Do you need a job? Do you need your ID? Do you need a birth certificate? What do you need? Do you need a resume? Brown added. And once we get them focused on that, they dont have time to focus on what they were doing out in the streets. Advertisement Call for coordinated efforts 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 > In the Grand Central District (25th), homicides are up by half. District Councilor Angelica Green said the causes of the increase werent clear to her. But she said neighbors needed to work more with each other to reverse the trend not just by calling law enforcement to share information, but by gathering with neighbors and keeping their streets and blocks clean. She wants to see more block clubs activated. When you form block clubs, you form a community, she said. When you form a community, people see that they cant come on this block and they cant sell drugs, they cant just linger. Green said shed like to see district officers gather feedback from residents about what their neighborhoods need. She observed that depending on what part of the district people live in, their concerns range from noise ordinances to increased gang activity. Given the wide range of needs in the district, Green said she wanted to see police ask, What is it that you need on this block that you think that can help? Do you think you need to have more officers? Do you need to have (fewer) officers? She observed that district coordination officers were particularly well positioned to do this work from within the Police Department, but called for collaboration among residents, law enforcement and civic leaders. Advertisement Unless we do it together, its not going to happen, she said. When were divided, crime will always outweigh us. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Strix Group implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 12 shareholders own 50% of the company Insiders have bought recently If you want to know who really controls Strix Group Plc (LON:KETL), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 56% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Strix Group. Check out our latest analysis for Strix Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Strix Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Strix Group does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Strix Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Strix Group is not owned by hedge funds. Octopus Investments Limited is currently the largest shareholder, with 11% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 5.1% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 4.7% by the third-largest shareholder. In addition, we found that Mark Victor Bartlett, the CEO has 1.2% of the shares allocated to their name. Story continues A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 12 shareholders have a combined ownership of 50% implying that no single shareholder has a majority. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Strix Group The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. We can see that insiders own shares in Strix Group Plc. It has a market capitalization of just UK156m, and insiders have UK3.7m worth of shares, in their own names. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but we usually like to see higher insider holdings. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 31% stake in Strix Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Equity Ownership With an ownership of 11%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Sometimes we see private equity stick around for the long term, but generally speaking they have a shorter investment horizon and -- as the name suggests -- don't invest in public companies much. After some time they may look to sell and redeploy capital elsewhere. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Be aware that Strix Group is showing 5 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those makes us a bit uncomfortable... If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Khan Younis: Israel has pounded targets in crowded southern Gaza and ordered more neighbourhoods to evacuate ahead of attacks, driving up the death toll even as the United States and others urged it to do more to protect civilians a day after a truce collapsed. The prospect of further ceasefires in Gaza appeared bleak, as Israel recalled its negotiators and Hamas deputy leader said any further swap of Gaza-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel would only happen as part of ending the war. Palestinians flee from east to west of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, during the ongoing Israeli bombardment. Credit: AP We will continue the war until we achieve all its goals, and its impossible to achieve those goals without the ground operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. At least 200 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting resumed on Friday after the weeklong truce with the territorys ruling militant group Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Several multi-story residential buildings were hit overnight, engulfing neighbourhoods in huge clouds of smoke. Hi, folks, welcome to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch's newsletter that highlights some of the more noteworthy moments in tech over the past few days. The holiday season is nigh upon us, but the tech industry waits for no one -- on the horizon are IBM, AMD and Intel conferences, plus the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The news cycle won't die down anytime soon, and rest assured we'll continue doing our best to keep you informed. But I'm getting ahead of myself. A fair amount happened this week, including Amazon's re:Invent conference, a ransomware catastrophe at Fidelity, Sam Altman officially returning to OpenAI, Neuralink raising money, and SpaceX acquiring a parachute company. Also, Tesla officially launched the Cybertruck, Black Friday numbers came in, Evernote imposed caps on its free plan, and Teenage Engineering unveiled its latest gadget. We cover all that -- and more -- in this edition of WiR. First, a reminder to sign up here to receive WiR in your inbox every Saturday if you havent already done so. Now, on with the news. Most read Amazon reinvents -- again: Amazon's annual re:Invent conference, which focuses on the tech giant's AWS business, was somewhat subdued this year. But AWS CEO Adam Selipsky talked a big game, taking cheap shots at rivals, from Google and Microsoft to OpenAI. Among the more notable unveilings was a $195 thin client that looks (suspiciously) similar to a Fire TV Cube, a business-oriented AI chatbot called Q and three new serverless offerings. Christine has a roundup of the rest of the announcements. Massive breach at Fidelity: Last Tuesday, Fidelity National Financial, or FNF, a real estate services company that bills itself as the "leading provider of title insurance and escrow services" and "North Americas largest title insurance company," announced that it had experienced a cyberattack. Lorenzo writes that, since then, homeowners with mortgages and prospective buyers purchasing properties with FNF or one of its many subsidiaries have been left confused and concerned, not knowing exactly what's happening -- or what to do. Story continues Altman returns to OpenAI: Sam Altman is officially back as OpenAIs CEO after a tumultuous week and change. And OpenAI officially has a new board of directors -- plus a non-voting board observer, courtesy of Microsoft -- replacing most of the board that attempted to oust Altman in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Neuralink raises cash: Neuralink, the Elon Muskfounded company developing implantable chips that can read brain waves, has raised an additional $43 million in venture capital, according to a filing with the SEC. Founded in 2016, Neuralink has devised a sewing machinelike device capable of implanting ultra-thin threads that connect to electrodes inside the brain. But Neuralink is under increasing scrutiny for what critics allege are a toxic workplace culture -- and unethical research practices. SpaceX buys parachutes: SpaceX is known for its vertical integration, but one component its been outsourcing is parachutes -- until earlier this month, when the company quietly bought parachute vendor Pioneer Aerospace for $2.2 million after its parent company went bankrupt. Aria reports that it's the second known acquisition for SpaceX, which acquired small satellite startup Swarm in 2021 for a $524 million mostly stock deal. The Cybertruck launches -- for real: Tesla moved forward on Thursday with the long-awaited launch of its Cybertruck electric pickup during an afternoon presser. Harri notes that the boxy vehicle is Teslas first new model since 2020, when it started delivering the Model Y. Black Friday boom: A rush of deep discounts and the growth of flexible payment options were the drivers behind $9.8 billion in online sales in the U.S. on Black Friday -- a record figure for the day. According to Adobe Analytics, sales were up by 7.5% on last years numbers -- a figure that Ingrid writes should provide some surprise holiday cheer to retailers, which have been seeing overall sluggish growth. Evernote hobbles its free plan: Days after Evernote started testing a free plan with access to only one notebook and 50 notes with limited users, the company has now made this its new default free plan. The note-taking app said that this change will be applicable for all new and existing free users starting December 4. Teenage Engineering releases a groovebox: Teenage Engineerings new $300 groovebox has no business being this cute, Harri writes -- and I can't disagree. Called the EP-133 K.O.II, it's a combination drum machine, synthesizer and sampler -- an appropriately supersized upgrade to Teenage Engineers pint-sized PO-33 K.O. ChatGPT turns one: OpenAIs viral AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT turned one this week. Initially a basic free-to-use, web-based and chat-focused interface on top of one of OpenAIs existing models, GPT-3.5, ChatGPT would go on to become the companys most popular product . . . ever -- and the fastest-growing consumer app in history. I wrote something to mark the occasion. Audio In need of a podcast to fill the time? You're in luck. TechCrunch has a full roster to keep you occupied. This week on a throwback episode of Equity, Alex chats with Anu Hariharan, who previously led YC Continuity, about what makes a "great" founder and how those founders are successfully guiding their companies toward cash-flow positivity. Hariharan recently partnered with two of her former colleagues and former Brex executive Lucas Fox to launch a new fund, Avra, which aims to raise about $350 million and operate a program that some are referring to as a "YC for growth." Over on Found, the crew was joined by Neil Batlivala from Pair Team, which is building the infrastructure that'll help the most vulnerable populations get the clinical and social care they need through the coming Medicaid expansion. Dom and Becca talked to Neil about how his previous health tech experience led him to start a company solely focused on connecting care facilities like food pantries and shelters to clinical training and care through Medicaid funding. And on Chain Reaction, Jacquelyn interviewed Optimisms CEO and co-founder Jing Wang and chief growth officer Ryan Wyatt. Optimism is an Ethereum-focused layer-2 blockchain that focuses on scaling and speed, while also lowering costs for users. TechCrunch+ TC+ subscribers get access to in-depth commentary, analysis and surveys which you know if youre already a subscriber. If youre not, consider signing up. Here are a few highlights from this week: The 2024 IPO cohort comes into focus: Many other unicorns are likely going to be watching how the upcoming Shein and Reddit IPOs perform, since theyll pretty much prove how high private-market valuations translate to the public markets, Alex writes. Fastest green cards if you're from India or China: Sophie Alcorn, the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley, writes about how founders from India or China can get green cards as quickly as possible when facing deadlines from investors or partners -- including through VC networks and resources. Tepid cybersecurity funding: If you looked at venture capital investment trends in the cybersecurity market, you might think that the sector was struggling, Alex writes. What's the reason? There's not one, but several. MANILA, Philippines (AP) A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. The quake struck at 10:37 p.m. at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially said that based on the magnitude and location, it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia. But the center later dropped its tsunami warning. In Japan, authorities issued evacuation orders in various parts of Okinawa Prefecture, including for the entire coastal area, affecting thousands of people. Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told The Associated Press his agency advised residents along the coast of southern Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland. Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal waters off the two provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront, the quake agency said in its tsunami warning. Boats already at sea should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised, it said. Based on the quake's magnitude, Bacolcol said a 1-meter (3.2-foot) tsunami may hit but the wave could be higher in enclosed coves, bays and straits. Villagers were fleeing their homes to safety around midnight in Hinatuan town and outlying areas in Surigao del Sur province, according to authorities and the governments disaster-response agency, which said that it could not immediately provide specific details. Pictures posted on Hinatuan governments Facebook account show residents fleeing to higher ground on foot or aboard cars, trucks, motorcycles and tricycle taxis at night. More than three hours after the quake hit, Bacolcol said there was no report of a tsunami hitting the coast from his agencys field offices but added authorities would continue monitoring. The Philippines, one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. They brought their hammers and their hearts to help someone in need. Joe Pologruto is a Marine Corps veteran who is now a double amputee. He says for the last year and a half, it hasn't been easy to get out of his Saylorsburg home. So Valor, an organization that helps Veterans came to give Pologruto an early Christmas present. Their motto is "A hand up on the home front." "Here is the mission for the day: We're going to build a 10-foot by 8-foot deck," Valor volunteer Chris Swenda told the gathering. After a few hours of cleaning up, measuring, marking and cutting one board after another, the nail gun came out. Volunteer Bob Cruice nailed many of the planks in place. He says he builds decks for a living and was honored to participate in the build. Pologruto soon had a brand new deck with ADA stairs. "The riser is shorter and the tread a little longer so it will allow somebody with prosthetic legs to be able to get up those stairs a little easier," said Glen Lippencott, Valor Director of Small Group Operations. When Pologruto used those stairs for the first time, it was to thank his new friends. "I'm overwhelmed," said Pologruto. "I feel like somebody cares about me." And that is exactly what volunteers wanted to accomplish. "This is what makes my heart sing, to do this kind of project," said Swenda. Brandon Frick says he volunteers for Valor projects like this because his father served in Vietnam. "I do this because of what he did for his country, so I give back," said Frick. Building decks for veterans is just a small part of what Valor does. "We help to transition veterans from war to peace, or help if they're struggling and they're underserved," said Lippincott. Valor operates The Major Paul Syverson Veterans Sanctuary also known as "Pauls House" to help homeless veterans and has motorcycle rides to help fund its operation. But organizers say most of its ability to help vets comes from community donations. For more information on how you can get involved in helping a veteran in need or to donate visit valorclinic.org. MILAN Officials secured the area around one of two 12th century towers that have become symbolic of the northern city of Bologna, fearing its leaning could lead to collapse. The city on Friday announced $4.7 million in works to shore up the Garisenda tower, one of the so-called Two Towers in central Bologna that provided inspiration over the centuries to painters and poets, as well as a lookout spot during conflicts. Work will proceed in January and February. Italy's civil protection agency maintained a yellow alert on the site, denoting caution but not imminent danger. The Garisenda, the shorter of two towers built between 1109 and 1119, currently stands 157 feet to the Asinelli's 320 feet. Mayor Matteo Lepore noted in a debate earlier this month that the Garisenda tower has leaned since it was built "and has been a concern ever since." It sustained additional damage in the medieval era when ironwork and bakery ovens were built inside. "We inherited a situation that over the centuries has caused this illness,'' he said. The mayor asked the government to petition to make the towers UNESCO world heritage sites. Work to reinforce both towers has been ongoing since the 1990s. Preliminary work on the Garisenda tower will include creating a containment area to prevent any damage to nearby structures or harm to passersby from a "possible collapse,'' the city said in a statement. Video cameras will maintain surveillance of the site. It was one year ago that the West put into force a novel idea designed to weaken Vladimir Putins war machine without upending the world economy: a price cap on Russian oil. The strategy uses Western shipping, finance, and insurance companies as levers to limit the price of seaborne Russian oil at $60 per barrel for any transaction using these Western services. The aim is to keep Russia's export volume steady while simultaneously depriving Putin of the oil revenue critical for his war effort in Ukraine. The unorthodox approach had some early successes and noticeably cut into Russian government revenue in the early months of 2023, but it hasn't stopped a second winter of war in Ukraine. And there is ample evidence that attempts by Putin to evade the cap through the development of his own "shadow fleet" and a pressure campaign on independent shippers have been increasingly successful. Even Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen acknowledged "some reduction in the effectiveness of the price cap" in September. Her department recently unveiled new enforcement actions in October, November, and just this past week to try and regain the cap's footing. Here is a closer look at how the cap came to be, the debate about its effectiveness, and where it could go from here in the words of the Biden officials who circled the globe to put the policy in place and the energy experts who closely tracked its implementation. Early 2022: A policy forged amid chaos When Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the danger was immediately apparent. Crude oil prices spiked after the fighting began, prompting fears of both a global recession and an almost unlimited funding source for Putin's war. Ben Harris, former assistant Treasury secretary for economic policy: It was definitely a nerve-racking moment when we saw the price spike after the invasion. Robin Brooks, chief economist at the Institute of International Finance: It's fair to say that the world was taken by surprise. There was a scramble on how to respond. Story continues Craig Kennedy, associate at Harvards Davis Center: Blocking Russian seaborne exports completely would have meant removing six million barrels a day of crude and refined products from the global marketplace, which would've been a massive shock. Inside President Bidens Treasury Department next door to the White House the call was open for ideas. Wally Adeyemo, deputy secretary of the Treasury: [Before the invasion even began] I remember being in a meeting where the president's instructions to the secretary were, I want you to go out and design a set of sanctions that meet two tests. One, if Russia does invade, it would maximize the pain for Russia while taking steps to minimize the impact on our allies and partners. That was what we started from. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo during a news conference in Brussels, Belgium on March 29, 2022, during the early stages of the war in Ukraine as the price cap policy was still being developed. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Harris: We started to realize, we may actually have leverage here. Over the next few months, the private sector helped design this through a sort of Socratic method. Eric Van Nostrand, acting assistant Treasury secretary for economic policy: [We spoke] with industry participants, executives from trading houses, shippers, trade financiers, and importantly some of the buyers of Russian oil to understand what we needed to learn. Catherine Wolfram, former deputy assistant Treasury secretary for climate and energy economics: Eventually, administration leaders tasked me to write a memo on price cap and tariff approaches...I think this early to mid-April memo was the first time we were articulating them specifically with respect to oil. Elizabeth Rosenberg, assistant Treasury secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes: The fact that it was unprecedented really lent just about everyone to be highly skeptical. Summer 2022: Convincing the skeptics The price cap soon began to win out within the administration over other approaches like a tariff on Russian oil. But as details of the plan began to circulate, it drew consternation among some energy observers. David Wessel, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution: It was widely derided, and I think it was derided because it sounded like something that was cooked up in some graduate school seminar room. Bill Browder, British financier and head of the Global Magnitsky Justice campaign: My reaction was the idea of a price cap is some crazy negotiation with ourselves, which effectively doesn't achieve the objective, which is to cut off the supply of money. Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to address troops in central Moscow in June. (SERGEI GUNEYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) (SERGEI GUNEYEV via Getty Images) Kennedy: There was a lot of skepticism about whether it could simply work at all. Part of it was a certain dismissiveness on the part of oil traders who seemed to think that no one else can understand the markets the way they do. Biden officials also faced a more serious challenge in selling the idea to the world. Europe was a key stumbling block as the European Union began to coalesce behind a plan that aimed to block Russian access to the Western oil services completely. A hastily organized trip was planned for early June to change Europes mind. Harris: It was a brutal trip four countries in three days and our concern at the time was that the proposed sanctions package would force Russia to shut in, which would roil global energy prices and potentially cause a global recession. Wolfram: We went to the UK and then Brussels and then Paris and then Berlin. Rosenberg: That trip was crucial for rolling up our sleeves, everyone, and discussing the model, the economic assumptions, what we thought the impact would be. Harris: There was ample skepticism to start. We left that trip not knowing how the rest of the EU would react. Later 2022: Finding a middle ground But over the remainder of that summer which included negotiations at a G7 summit in Germany and repeated trips across the Atlantic the price cap idea began to win out. President Joe Biden sits down with other world leaders at a G7 Summit at Elmau Castle in southern Germany on June 28, 2022. (JOHN MACDOUGALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JOHN MACDOUGALL via Getty Images) It was formally announced by G7 finance ministers on Sept. 2, but another challenge awaited: deciding what the cap level should be. Outsiders and governments around the world began to weigh in. Brooks: When the discussions around the cap first started, the level being discussed that I heard was around $40 or $50 a barrel, so it was actually pretty aggressive. Ben Cahill, senior energy security fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies: There were definitely hawkish voices in the European Union calling for a lower price cap, and the Treasury Department wanted a higher price cap and Treasury won out in my reading. The cap was eventually set at $60 a barrel. Rosenberg: We felt good about where it landed. Van Nostrand: $60 is a level that meaningfully reduces Russian revenue. A significantly lower cap would give Putin an incentive to shut the oil inside Russia and not sell it denying it to the emerging economies that need it most. Early 2023: Putins evasion The cap came into force on Dec. 5, 2022, backed by a coalition that included the G7 nations, the European Union, and Australia. In the early months, even as Russia increased its oil production, the Kremlins energy revenues declined 44%, according to Treasury department estimates. Detractors acknowledged the initial success of the cap while concerns soon rose about evasion as Putin continued to apply pressure on shippers to flout the cap and develop his own "shadow fleet" of oil tankers not subject to the West's restrictions. Wessel: Whether it worked perfectly or not, it worked a whole lot better than the critics suggested. Kennedy: What you've done is you've created a situation where the bargaining power has shifted strongly in favor of Indian buyers who have used it to extract eye-watering discounts from Russian exporters. A Ukrainian flag is seen in front of a sign reading "Stop Putin's oil" during a vigil for Ukraine near the European Union (EU) headquarters in Brussels in March 2022. (VALERIA MONGELLI/AFP via Getty Images) (VALERIA MONGELLI via Getty Images) Adeyemo: The reason this works as a strategy is because it allies with everybody's incentives except the Russians. Kennedy: Sanctions remain vulnerable to subversion, especially fraud and the steadily expanding shadow fleet. Policymakers are now well aware of these vulnerabilities. Brooks: Tanker sales by Greek and Cypriot shipowners have continued and substantially further undercut the functioning of the G7 cap. All these tanker sales are well known in Brussels, and its really up to the EU to prohibit them. Cahill: We never expected perfect compliance, but the fact is, Russia's losing revenue, and so any lost revenue is good. The more you introduce these kinds of measures, the more incentive you give countries to find a way around them. Fall 2024: The debate about what to do now By the fall, while an estimate found that the cap was still having a bite and perhaps costing Putin about $36 per barrel, rising global oil prices put acute pressure on the cap and Yellen publicly acknowledged concerns about the evasion efforts. Inside the Biden administration, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo met with senior officials at Lloyd's of London, a leading global insurance market, as the administration launched a "phase 2" aimed at both increasing Putin's tanker costs while also adding new scrutiny of western shipping and insurance companies. Van Nostrand: Its completely unsurprising that Russia has invested in an infrastructure to sell oil without coalition services; in all sanctions regimes, the adversary has an incentive to move outside our jurisdiction, and we modeled for that up front. The point is that new infrastructure has cost Russia significantly: They sunk money into tankers that otherwise would have gone to tanks. Wolfram: I get a little bit frustrated when people say, "Oh, there are these violations, therefore it's not working," because I feel like we have laws against shoplifting. People still shoplift. That doesn't mean that you should get rid of those laws. You just want to figure out how to increase their enforcement. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to Kyiv in February 2023. Months later, Yellen acknowledged limits in the price cap designed to choke off funds for the war in Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via Reuters) (No Xcode Please Review / reuters) Was this cap effective enough? Can it be applied elsewhere during future conflicts? Would harsher measures have brought the Ukraine war to an end, at the cost of more economic pain globally? The debate on these questions is far from over. Browder: From my perspective, this oil price cap is somebody trying to be too clever by half, and it looks to me like one of these things where the Western governments want to do something and to be seen to be doing something, but at the same time, no one really has the stomach to impose a real oil embargo on Russia. Brooks: If we had done an embargo and Russia had gone into a big financial crisis, I'm not sure the war would still be going on. It would be painful, but it might be short. Whereas what we have now is kind of a forever war. Cahill: If you're a price cap architect, what you care about is how much money the Russian Treasury is getting and judged on that metric, it is working. Harris: Moving forward, the key is to continue to subject a sizable share of Russian oil exports to the coalitions restrictions on price. This doesnt mean that every barrel needs to be sold under the price cap we just need enough volume under coalition control to provide leverage. Wessel: Treasury has the right to celebrate that, but what's not clear is that it had any effect whatsoever on Russia's conduct of the war. So that seems like a rather unfortunate detail. Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance NEW YORK The Republican National Committees rules for next year's nominating contest and convention have been released without addressing a question the GOP could well face next summer: Can the party's delegates vote for a different candidate if the presumptive nominee is convicted of a felony? Former President Donald Trump is under four criminal indictments that will proceed through the GOP primary season, an overlap of legal and political calendars with no precedent in American politics. Fifteen states and American Samoa hold their GOP primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday, which is also the day after his first trial is scheduled to begin in Washington on charges that he unlawfully sought to overturn the 2020 election. Trump is dominating the Republican field and may secure much of the support he needs by Super Tuesday, by which time almost half of delegates who select the nominee at the GOP convention will have been awarded. Even if he were to be convicted in Washington or another trial, top party leaders and many voters have indicated they would stand by Trump anyway. And Trump and his allies are pushing to dismiss and delay the trials and have worked with state parties to craft rules favorable to him. The RNC rules dont include any provisions specific to the unprecedented scenario unfolding. Bound delegates must vote for a particular presidential candidate at the convention based on the results of the primary or caucus in their state. As in past years, every state party must bind its delegates to vote for their assigned candidates during at least the first round of voting at the national convention, with limited exceptions for a small number of delegates. A candidate wins the nomination if they clinch a majority, which is 1,215 delegates. At next years convention, which starts July 15 in Milwaukee, there will be opportunities to tweak the rules when they are adopted or to suspend them, which can require two-thirds of delegates to approve on a vote. Its a parliamentary body, said Benjamin Ginsberg, a Republican election lawyer. It can always work its will if it wants to one way or another. Such last-minute maneuvers are difficult to organize and there are few current signs that delegates might look for another option even with Trumps criminal cases looming. Theyre all going to be chosen at contests in which people are voting for Trump and I think theyre unlikely, if he wins the primary, to change up because of a court case, Ginsberg said. The Trump campaign issued a preemptive warning anyway. Any attempt by any swamp rat, by any Washington, D.C., swamp rat, to mess with the rules will be summarily crushed by those of us that know how to run conventions, said Trump adviser Chris LaCivita, who was a senior consultant in charge of rules and floor operations for the RNC in 2016, a year when some Trump opponents considered challenging him at the convention. One contingency section of longstanding party rules would allow the RNC to free a state from the rules prior to the convention if compliance is impossible and the Republican National Committee determines that granting such waiver is in the best interests of the Republican Party. Such a waiver would require action by the Republican National Committee's executive committee, which is made up of 29 members, including RNC chair Ronna McDaniel. The RNC declined to comment on the possibility of the rules being suspended in the case of the nominee being in jail but instead pointed to recent interviews in which McDaniel was asked if Trump should be the nominee if hes convicted of a crime, and she said the party would support the nominee that the voters choose. I know this is newsworthy, but, as party chair, Im going to support who the voters choose. And, yes, if they choose Donald Trump the voters are looking at this, and they think there is a two-tiered system of justice. They dont believe a lot of the things that are coming out in this, McDaniel said in a Nov. 12 interview on CNNs State of the Union. Theyre making these decisions. And youre seeing that reflected in the polls. Republicans award delegates to candidates based on their performance in state presidential caucuses and primary elections, which kick off in January and run through June. Delegates can be unbound by state parties if their assigned candidate drops out, something Trump seems unlikely to do as he has made his criminal cases the central focus of his campaign and declared the charges to be politically motivated. Unlike in 2016, when the complex delegate process tripped up Trump's then-novice team, he has a more experienced campaign team for his third White House bid, including LaCivita, and his political aides have been working for years to craft rules in the delegate battles that are favorable for a frontrunner, as he is poised to be. And unlike in 2016, when a large faction within the party resisted Trump's candidacy, the Republican Party has transformed under Trump. He has more loyalists throughout the state and national parties, making it even more unlikely there will be a repeat of the late-stage, failed effort at the 2016 convention when some activists loyal to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tried to make last-minute changes to free delegates. PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (KLSE:PETDAG) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 3 days. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. Therefore, if you purchase PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad's shares on or after the 7th of December, you won't be eligible to receive the dividend, when it is paid on the 22nd of December. The company's upcoming dividend is RM0.20 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of RM0.62 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad has a trailing yield of 2.8% on the current stock price of MYR22.3. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing. See our latest analysis for PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. It paid out 87% of its earnings as dividends last year, which is not unreasonable, but limits reinvestment in the business and leaves the dividend vulnerable to a business downturn. We'd be worried about the risk of a drop in earnings. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. Fortunately, it paid out only 36% of its free cash flow in the past year. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Story continues Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? When earnings decline, dividend companies become much harder to analyse and own safely. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. That's why it's not ideal to see PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad's earnings per share have been shrinking at 3.5% a year over the previous five years. Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad's dividend payments per share have declined at 5.1% per year on average over the past 10 years, which is uninspiring. It's never nice to see earnings and dividends falling, but at least management has cut the dividend rather than potentially risk the company's health in an attempt to maintain it. The Bottom Line Has PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? The payout ratios are within a reasonable range, implying the dividend may be sustainable. Declining earnings are a serious concern, however, and could pose a threat to the dividend in future. All things considered, we are not particularly enthused about PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad from a dividend perspective. However if you're still interested in PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad as a potential investment, you should definitely consider some of the risks involved with PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad you should know about. Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Toronto-Dominion Bank ( TSE:TD ) has announced that it will be increasing its periodic dividend on the 31st of January to CA$1.02, which will be 6.3% higher than last year's comparable payment amount of CA$0.96. This takes the annual payment to 4.7% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry. Check out our latest analysis for Toronto-Dominion Bank Toronto-Dominion Bank's Payment Expected To Have Solid Earnings Coverage We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a long history of paying out dividends, with its current track record at a minimum of 10 years. Taking data from its last earnings report, calculating for the company's payout ratio shows 68%, which means that Toronto-Dominion Bank would be able to pay its last dividend without pressure on the balance sheet. Over the next 3 years, EPS is forecast to expand by 38.1%. Analysts forecast the future payout ratio could be 50% over the same time horizon, which is a number we think the company can maintain. Dividend Volatility While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has been fairly volatile over the last 10 years. Since 2013, the dividend has gone from CA$1.54 total annually to CA$3.84. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 9.6% over that duration. It's good to see the dividend growing at a decent rate. Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. Although it's important to note that Toronto-Dominion Bank's earnings per share has basically not grown from where it was five years ago, which could erode the purchasing power of the dividend over time. Our Thoughts On Toronto-Dominion Bank's Dividend Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Toronto-Dominion Bank will make a great income stock. While Toronto-Dominion Bank is earning enough to cover the dividend, we are generally unimpressed with its future prospects. We don't think Toronto-Dominion Bank is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Toronto-Dominion Bank that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. 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. BEIJING, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 Understanding China Conference (Guangzhou) held in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Today, confronted with a weak global recovery and escalating geopolitical conflicts, humanity has once again come to a crossroads in history. It is all the more important that countries work together to meet various global challenges, promote common development, and improve the well-being of humanity, Xi said. "To understand China, the key lies in understanding Chinese modernization. China is advancing the noble cause of building a great country and national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi said. "China's future is closely linked with the future of the entire humanity." He said China is pursuing high-quality development through high-standard opening up and China will continue to foster a market-oriented, world-class business environment underpinned by a sound legal framework, and steadily expand institutional opening up with regard to rules, regulations, management and standards. China is committed to broadening the convergence of interests with other countries, and will continue to provide the world with new growth momentum and opportunities through its own development, Xi said. "China looks forward to working hand in hand with the rest of the world to realize global modernization that features peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and prosperity for all," Xi said. He expressed the hope that participants to the conference will make their contributions to the exchanges and cooperation between China and the world, to common development and prosperity, and to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The conference was co-hosted by the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Guangdong provincial government. The conference opened in Guangzhou on Saturday under the theme of "China's New Endeavors amid Unprecedented Global Changes Expanding the Convergence of Interests and Building A Community of Shared Future." (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Shanghai Futures Exchange in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. [Xinhua/Wang Ye] 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." (Source: Xinhua) FILE PHOTO: A sign is seen outside a Tianjin Faw Toyota Motor Co. Ltd showroom, a joint venture between China's Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co Ltd and Japan's automaker Toyota Motor Corp, in central Beijing FILE PHOTO: A sign is seen outside a Tianjin Faw Toyota Motor Co. Ltd showroom, a joint venture between China's Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co Ltd and Japan's automaker Toyota Motor Corp, in central Beijing SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) -Toyota Motor has halted production on some ageing lines at a joint venture in China while operations continue as normal, the Japanese automaker said on Saturday after a media report that it was partially suspending production due to weak sales. The production halt at the Tianjin venture with China's FAW was a planned move, and Toyota is adjusting production based on "changes in the composition of vehicle models", a spokesperson said by email. "The reason for stopping the production line was to optimize the production system in consideration of aging and changes in the composition of vehicle models such as body types." Japan's Jiji news service said on Friday the world's largest automaker by sales was suspending some production as part of a major production adjustment in response to weak sales of gasoline-engine cars. A FAW representative did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters reported last month that Toyota had told dealers it would extend a plan to reduce output at the FAW venture. Slowing sales pose a growing challenge to Toyota in China which accounted for nearly a fifth of Toyota's worldwide sales of about 8.5 million vehicles over the first 10 months of the year, including sales of its luxury Lexus brand. (Reporting by David Kirton in Shenzhen and Brenda Goh in Shanghai) 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. && Northwest Texas Healthcare System announces new Chief Operating Officer Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS), a 495-bed facility with more than 2,000 employees serving the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle and neighboring states, is excited to announce the appointment of Oliver Ostorga as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ostorga, a successful leader in the healthcare industry since 2013, will lead the operational performance of the dynamic and complex healthcare system which includes key service lines as cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, general surgery, and ancillary services for patient care, according to a company news release. Northwest Texas Healthcare System has named Oliver Ostorga as its new Chief Operating Officer. Ostorga received his MHA and MBA from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Tonya Tyler has been named manager for Corporate Economic Development in the companys Texas-New Mexico service area for Xcel Energy. Xcel Energy names Tonya Tyler to development role; new position to support area communities with economic growth opportunities Tonya Tyler, a longtime Xcel Energy employee in Amarillo, has been named manager for Corporate Economic Development in the companys Texas-New Mexico service area, a new position that will enhance the companys support for regional economic development efforts. According to a company news release, Tyler started with Xcel Energys predecessor company, Southwestern Public Service Company, in 1995 as a drive-up cashier with the companys customer service group. In ensuing years, she gained extensive experience in all aspects of serving customers with later positions in Billing, Customer Service, Personal Accounts and Residential and Commercial Credit. For the last 16 years, Tyler has worked as an account representative in the Texas-New Mexico Business Customer Relations group, managing relationships with some of the companys largest customers. Tonya has spent her career building relationships in our communities and assisting our customers with every need, said Brad Baldridge, Xcel Energy director of Customer and Community Relations. This commitment to service, her attention to detail and her genuine enthusiasm for meeting customer needs and improving our communities make her an ideal fit for this newly created position. Story continues Tyler has been actively involved in community development and volunteerism in the Amarillo and Canyon area, and among her many board and committee assignments has served as president of Center City of Amarillo and as a director for the Canyon Chamber of Commerce. In her account management role she managed about 170 commercial and industrial customers in Texas and New Mexico with a total annual revenue of $68 million. In her new position, Tyler will support the efforts of area economic development organizations and promote area communities for business growth and retention through programs such as Xcel Energys Certified Sites initiative, an online database of business and industrial sites across the companys Texas and New Mexico service area. She is based at the 790 Buchanan regional headquarters building in Amarillo. At the Pantex Plant, sustainable purchasing saved close to $100,000 while reducing waste and increasing energy efficiency. Pantex, Y-12 honored for sustainable purchasing: Sites reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and money Consolidated Nuclear Security recently received 2023 Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Purchaser Awards for excellence in its procurement of sustainable Information Technology products at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas and the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The sites were recognized by the Global Electronics Council for purchasing EPEAT electronics such as computers, printers, phones, televisions, copiers, scanners, and servers, a company news release said. Pantex and Y-12 were among more than 60 organizations from around the world celebrated for their leadership in sustainable purchasing. The organizations included cities, states, U.S. federal agencies, healthcare systems, universities, K-12 school systems, and private companies. The organizations recognized required EPEAT in their procurement policies and contracts and reported EPEAT purchasing volumes through their award application. Pantex was recognized for purchases in four categories while Y-12 was recognized for EPEAT purchases in three categories. Together, the sites purchased more than 7,000 EPEAT-certified products with a reduction of greenhouse gas equivalent to more than 1 million kilograms of carbon dioxide the equivalent of taking more than 200 average U.S. passenger cars off the road for a year. Those sustainable purchases are good for the bottom line as well, representing a sustainability cost savings in excess of $185,000 for both sites. Receiving this award means that Consolidated Nuclear Security is committed to sustainability, including the purchasing and life cycle of electronic equipment at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, said Brad Russell, CNS Sustainable Acquisition program manager. Texas Beef Council welcomes FY24 Board of Directors AUSTIN The Texas Beef Council (TBC) has announced its Board of Directors for fiscal year 2024, which officially began October 1. The 20 directors are nominated by producer organizations or industry segments from across the state and kicked off the year with the first meeting of the Texas Beef Council and the Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas on Nov. 15. Texas producers have a strong group of volunteer leaders representing their interests on the TBC Board, said Fred Schuetze, TBCs 2024 chairman. Im proud to work alongside them as we continue keeping beef top of mind for consumers across the state. The executive committee, each listed with their hometown and affiliation, includes the following: Fred Schuetze - Chairman, Granbury, Purebred; Pat Shields - Vice Chairman, Bryan, At-Large; Pat McDowell - Immediate Past Chairman, Shamrock, Texas Farm Bureau; Brian Malaer - Harwood, Independent Cattlemen's Association; and Marsha Shoemaker, Bellevue, Texas CattleWomen. The 2024 Board of Directors include Amy Kirkland, Vega, Texas Cattle Feeders Association; Brandi Richards, Hereford, Texas Cattle Feeders Association; Shannon Treichel, Canyon, At-Large; and Richard Winter, Canyon, Texas Cattle Feeders Association. Because TBC is a producer-led organization, leadership and insight from our Board is imperative for executing impactful Beef Checkoff programs, said Molly McAdams, TBCs executive vice president. I look forward to serving the industry alongside this group as we expand our programs and outreach in 2024. For more information about the Texas Beef Council and the Beef Checkoff, or to sign up for the Cattle Talk newsletter, visit TexasBeefCheckoff.com. U.S. News & World Report names Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center a Best Nursing Home for 2024 Clovis, NM Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center announced this week that it has been recognized as a Best Nursing Home for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. Since 2009, U.S. News annual Best Nursing Homes ratings have assisted consumers in need of either short-term rehabilitation or long-term care for themselves or a family member, a company news release states. Clovis Healthcare earned U.S. News Best Nursing Home status by achieving a rating of High Performing, the highest possible rating for Long-Term Care. U.S. News gives the designation of Best Nursing Home only to those that satisfy U.S. News assessment of consistent performance in quality measures. Achieving a title of Best Nursing Home for 2024 is a significant accomplishment and reflects the dedication, hard work, and commitment of the Clovis Healthcare team in providing excellent care and services, states Melissa Powell, Chief Operating Officer. I am so proud of the positive impact Clovis Healthcare has had on the lives of their patients, residents, families, and the community they serve. For the 2024 edition, U.S. News rated more than 15,000 nursing homes on patient and resident outcomes, such as infection rates; staffing levels; potentially inappropriate reliance on antipsychotic drugs; health inspection results and other indicators of quality. For more information, visit Best Nursing Homes, #BestNursingHomes on Facebook and X (formally Twitter). For more about Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, visit www.genesishcc.com/clovis . This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news in brief for Dec. 3, 2023 Reporting teams from the World Socialist Web Site spoke with people protesting Israels war on Gaza at demonstrations this weekend in Leeds, Bristol and London. These were among dozens of protests in Britain mobilising thousands. Leeds Around 500 people protested in Leeds. A section of the rally in Leeds, December 2, 2023 Said told WSWS reporters he attended the rally as This seems like the only place where you can reject the idea that what is going on in Gaza is ok. The basis for conversation has been shut down. This is the last remaining avenue to publicly express that what is going on is wrong. They are killing people out in the open, trying to force them out of their homes. Said In the media, the reaction is complete indifference or that it is necessary, its acceptable, its collateral, there was an attack on October 7 so Israel can do what it wants. Its an excuse and opportunity for ethnic cleansing, especially by a lot of the hardliners. I think the hard right in Israel are the ones driving this. I think there has been a closing of the ranks of the Western-aligned powers, they have said we allow this. The West in general and specifically the US are seeking to maintain influence everywhere globally. Maintaining a strong Israel helps specifically the US but generally the West maintain military supremacy in every arena. The sending of aircraft carriers is to try to prevent any non-American-aligned power from asserting itself military in the area to challenge the US. Asked about the way forward, Said replied, In the long-term marching round the streets is not enough, short term we just need a ceasefire. I know they have just finished a pause. Its an insulting term for them to use because its saying, we still want to go back to killing you. They dont want to call it a ceasefire because there would be more pressure to continue it. Marching in the streets is one of the few options open to us collectively. Longer-term they [the imperialist powers] are not going to abide by their own rules. Its open brutality, open murder. They are saying we have the better weapons, we have the more effective militaries and thats the whole argument. You just need to accept what you are being told or we will kill you. Adam said, Israel knew something about Hamas wanting to attack Israel. Israel has the most secure military in the world because it is funded by America, so how could they not have known? Adam Israel funded Hamas to separate them from the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organisation], to divide the PLO, the Palestinian resistance movement in the 1970s and 80s. Israel also funded terrorists to go into Afghanistan to fight the Soviets. It has used Hamas to further expand into Palestine and to hurt the Palestinian people and displace them. There are plans to make Palestine a tourist place and get the Palestinian people out and put them in the Sinai near the border with Egypt. How can you justify that? The media are only showing what is happening through the lens of Israeli propaganda, but many people online are now exposing the lies. Asked why he thought of NATO and the western powers supporting the genocide in Gaza, Adam responded, Israel supports the interests of the western powers in the Middle East. Israel acts to divide the Middle East and the Maghreb countries in northern Africa. [Libyan leader] Muammar Gaddafi tried to unify the Middle East, he nationalised gold and oil. He was assassinated by the US. Hilary Clinton in Obamas presidency planned it. Now that America is failing, they are going to do everything they can to divide the Middle East and any power that could threaten them such as China or Russia. Speaking on the campaign to equate opposition to Zionism with antisemitism, Adam responded, There is a separation between antisemitism and anti-Zionism; to try and put them together is disgusting. Anti-Zionism is opposing a state while anti-Semitism is opposing a religion. On what should happen next Adam said, We should continue boycotting McDonalds, Coca Cola and Pepsi, Starbucks as well, places are shutting down. We should boycott the Labour Party; they are supporting this. There are alternatives, at one council in London, Hackney I think, independents won and won by a landslide. Bristol In Bristol, the demonstration marched past the BBCs headquarters in the city, with protesters chanting against the broadcasters biased coverage backing Israels lies about its genocide. Medical researcher Sana spoke of her concern that the weaponization of disease, which is part of the Israeli war strategy, poses a wider threat to society. She said, The diseases that we have been able to eradicate from the developed world and are on the verge of eradicating from the developing world will come back. Sana In Gaza, where the sanitation health infrastructure is broken down, all infectious diseases are coming back. Its a hub for infectious diseases. If you think that, living in the developed world, you will be safe from it, that youre far from it; youre really going to be very close. Its going to come to you very soon. So, we all have to act really soon against this war. London Over a thousand people attended a rally in East London. Ashkar said of the Conservative and Labour parties, theres no difference between the two as far as Palestine is concerned, theyre the same thing. So the people who actually care about human rights in that part of the world dont have a political voice today in the UK. Ashkar Genocide was their plan all along. They wanted to ethnically cleanse those people and they are using the excuse of October 7 to do it. Zainab said, Im here to stand with the Palestinian people in the face of great oppression, injustice, genocide, slaughter. Zainab (left) and her mother Who gave the government the right to vote against a ceasefire. What business have you got saying no to a humanitarian movement? The government, she said, dont represent us. They dont represent the people that live here. They dont represent the people who want a ceasefire. Zainab continued, Were at the end of a four-day ceasefire that actually wasnt a ceasefire. That was nonsense. Ive studied international law and I cant even comprehend how this is being allowed to continue like this. And why the United Nations and all these other bodies, that can step in, why is nothing being done? Why are there no consequences? There is international law, but Israel has always been allowed to break it. Retirees, brace yourself for higher Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums in 2024. A new law, the Inflation Reduction Act, caps seniors prescription drug costs covered under Medicare, starting in 2025, to $2,000, and beginning next year allows no more than a 6% annual jump in Part D premiums. But tell that to shocked seniors eyeing their Medicare Part D plan premiums starting next month, according to an analysis by HealthView Services, a provider of healthcare cost data. The cost of the average premiums will rise between 42% and 57% in 2024 compared to 2023 in five states with the largest populations of individuals over 65 who are on Medicare: California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The report's breakdown is based on three of the largest Medicare providers in those states. There are also significant increases in 2024 premiums not only in the five states detailed in the report, Ron Mastrogiovanni, CEO of HealthView Services, told Yahoo Finance. "And," he added, Theres the potential for further increases in 2025 as costs are passed along to retirees the Inflation Reduction Acts provisions are designed to reduce drug out-of-pocket costs, but do not address premiums. HealthView isn't alone in its assessment. Overall, average monthly premiums for Part D will be substantially higher in 2024, according to an analysis by KFF, a nonprofit provider of health policy research. The national average monthly Part D premium, not as lofty as the HealthView Services calculation, is projected to increase 21% in 2024 to $48, up 21% from $40 in 2023, according to KFF. Higher-income folks will pay even more. If you earn more than $103,000 as an individual or more than $206,000 if youre a joint filer, youll pay an extra amount ranging from $12.90 to $81.00 per month in 2024, up from $12.20 to $76.40 for your Part D coverage aside from your premium. Most people have that extra charge taken from their Social Security check. Story continues (Getty Creative) (Morsa Images via Getty Images) How Medicare costs break down People with traditional Medicare generally pay a monthly premium for physician coverage, Part B, and for prescription drug coverage, Part D. Those premiums vary by plan. Some people pay a monthly premium for inpatient hospital coverage, Part A. Part D pays for outpatient prescription drugs, but not over-the-counter medication, and it covers some self-injected medicines, such as insulin for diabetes, now capped at $35 for each months supply. Under the new prescription drug law, annual increases in the base premium, as its called for Part D prescription drug plans, are capped at 6% from the prior year, starting in 2024. Its maddening in a way because, while the new law does cap annual growth in the Part D base beneficiary premium at 6% annually, insurers ultimately have plenty of leeway to tweak premiums, co-pays, and deductibles that consumers actually pay. Heres the link to learn the complicated details. The change in the law means Part D plan providers will pick up additional costs, which we believe are driving higher Part D premiums, Mastrogiovanni said. The numbers are 'striking' Rising Medicare Part D premiums come as retirees receive a much smaller Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2024 3.2% compared to the 8.7% increase in benefits they received in 2023. The increase will add more than $50 to the average monthly benefit of $1,848 starting in January, according to the SSA. Read more: How to find out your 2024 Social Security COLA increase Higher costs for Medicare overall may eat up most of that bump. The 2024 standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees, for instance, will be $174.70 for 2024, an increase of $9.80 from $164.90 in 2023. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $240 in 2024, an increase of $14 from the annual deductible of $226 in 2023. Its not only premiums that will go up next year, said Philip Moeller, a Medicare and Social Security expert and principal author of the Get Whats Yours series of books about Social Security, Medicare, and healthcare. No Medicare drug plan may have a deductible more than $545 in 2024, up from $505 this year, plus co-pays and what consumers pay for drugs inside their plans will also increase, he added. With Medicare open enrollment available through Dec. 7, you can shop for plans in your ZIP code to compare plan premiums, cost-sharing amount, and the prescription drugs they cover. Its possible that a plan with a higher premium could offer more comprehensive coverage of your medications and result in lower total costs than a plan with lower premiums. You can receive free one-on-one counseling via the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). My Part D plan premium was scheduled to rise from $12.70 to $18.80 (an increase of 48%) which, of course, aggravated me, Mary Johnson, a policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League, told Yahoo Finance. One apparent solution for many Americans grappling with the rising costs is to enroll in a Medicare Advantage program. The numbers are striking, but its important to keep in mind that these premium increases are not related to Medicare Advantage plans, said Moeller. A big lure of Medicare Advantage plans is that they usually provide some coverage for benefits not included in traditional Medicare, such as Medicare drug coverage (Part D) eyeglasses, dental coverage, and fitness classes. (Getty Creative) (Ariel Skelley via Getty Images) Because Medicare Advantage plans have the ability to use the rebates that they get as part of the Medicare Advantage payment system, these plans typically have very low premiums, if not no premium, Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the program on Medicare policy at KFF, told Yahoo Finance. We've already seen more enrollees shifting into Medicare Advantage and these premium trends could shift that more in that direction in the future, she added. In 2023, 30.8 million people are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, accounting for more than half, or 51%, of the eligible Medicare population, up from 19% in 2007, according to KFFs analysis, and it's projected to grow to 60% over the next decade, according to Cubanski. Johnsons take on this years premium increases: Its safe to say that companies will pay more of the costs of medications when the Part D cap of $2,000 out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs goes into effect in 2025, she said. Insurers will take whatever measures they can to remain profitable. Kerry Hannon is a Senior Reporter and Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a workplace futurist, a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on Twitter @kerryhannon. Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance UPDATED with new details: The inmate who attacked Derek Chauvin, the onetime Minneapolis police officer convicted in 2021 of murdering George Floyd, stabbed the former cop 22 times according to multiple reports. Chauvin is serving a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison. The details were released in charging documents obtained by AP and other outlets. They identify the alleged assailant as John Turscak. More from Deadline Turscak, who allegedly used an improvised knife, told FBI investigators that he attacked Chauvin on Black Friday for what he saw as symbolic connection to the Black Lives Matter movement and the Black Hand, a symbol associated with the Mexican Mafia. Turscak now faces charges of attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. PREVIOUSLY on November 24: Derek Chauvin, the onetime Minneapolis police officer convicted in 2021 of murdering George Floyd, has been stabbed in prison and is seriously injured, according to multiple reports. Chauvin was reportedly stabbed by another inmate. The Federal Bureau of Prisons would not identify the victim, but it did confirm to the AP that an inmate was stabbed at 12:30 p.m. at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, which is the medium-security prison where Chauvin is housed. EMTs on site initiated lifesaving measures, according to the New York Times, before transferring the victim to the hospital. The 2020 murder of George Floyd by 19-year MPD veteran Chauvin occurred as three other officers looked on and Floyd exclaimed he couldnt breathe. Despite that, Chauvin pressed his knee on the mans neck for almost 10 minutes. The incident and video of it sparked a wave of protests across the country. Chauvin was later convicted and sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison. On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected Chauvins appeal of his conviction. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Former Orlando Museum of Art director Aaron De Groft is giving his point of view on the Basquiat scandal that ended his tenure at the Loch Haven Park institution and in doing so, provides a glimpse at the direction his lawsuit against his former employer could go. De Groft, who was fired in June 2022 days after the FBI raided the Heroes & Monsters exhibit of art attributed to the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, spoke with the Orlando Sentinel on multiple topics, including his firing and dealings with the museums board, days after countersuing OMA in response to the institutions fraud suit against him and the owners of the seized paintings. Among his statements in conversation with the Sentinel: He expressed regret for being rude to a Basquiat expert in the now-infamous Stay in your lane email. Hinted that his official emails could have been tampered with. Said he will present evidence that the brouhaha over a pivotal FedEx shipping label is unfounded. And introduced a new element to the continuing saga of the museums doomed Heroes & Monsters exhibit: Another set of possible Basquiat forgeries, discovered in Norway and sold by the man who told the FBI he had made fake art that ended up at the Orlando museum. Throughout the interview, De Groft was in turn angry over what happened and wistful for what might have been. Just think if theyd supported me, and the paintings were real which we are proving they are, he said, before adding: Whats done is done, but see, whats coming is coming. Ex-director Aaron De Groft countersues Orlando Museum of Art As museum director, De Groft had championed the Heroes & Monsters exhibition, which lies at the core of OMAs lawsuit against him, claiming he failed in his fiduciary duty to the museum. It later emerged that the paintings were part of an FBI investigation, and the museum had been served a subpoena before the artwork was even hung though board of trustees members were unaware of it. In April, it was revealed that California auctioneer Michael Barzman had told the FBI he helped create Heroes & Monsters artwork years after Basquiats 1988 death. He pleaded guilty to making false statements to investigators but avoided jail time at his August sentencing. The twists and turns in discovering OMAs Basquiats were fakes Later that month, Orlando Museum of Art sued De Groft and the owners of the paintings it had displayed. While documents indicate the museum has been negotiating with some defendants, and a court order has given them more time to respond to OMAs suit, De Groft said he was not one of them. No representative of Orlando Museum of Art or their attorneys has reached out to me, he said. Had De Groft not filed a response, he would have faced a summary judgment against him as spelled out in an email he received from the museums law firm. We are unable to grant any further extensions, wrote Ginny Childs of Akerman, which has been handling the Basquiat matter for the museum. If we do not receive a timely response, we will move for a default judgment. I was not going to let that happen, De Groft told the Sentinel. They filed a lawsuit with absolutely no proof other than speculation. They have defamed me and smeared me. In a statement sent to the Orlando Sentinel from the museums public-relations firm, OMA reiterated its claims against its ex-director. De Groft was in breach of his fiduciary duty to the museum because of his actions authenticating and appraising of the works no museum director is allowed to do this which he did in secret with the painting owners for months, the statement said. Orlando Museum of Art sues ex-director, others over Basquiat art De Groft dismissed the lawsuit as a face-saving measure for the museum, which has been under public scrutiny over its handling of the exhibition, calling the suit clearly a public-relations document. He said the ongoing legal battle was hurting him financially, indicated in court records by a Nov. 28 notice from the Orange County Clerk of Courts that he still owes the $395 filing fee for his countersuit. I definitely didnt get jobs I was more than qualified for because of this frivolous lawsuit, De Groft said. Future potential De Groft joined Orlando Museum of Art in 2021 as the institution began preparations to celebrate its centennial in 2024. At the time, he spoke of the museums impressive past and its tremendous future potential. I was hired to reinvigorate this mediocre place before its 100th anniversary, is how he puts it now. He did make well-received changes in the role, things he said that have been forgotten now. He pointed to across-the-board raises given to employees shortly after his arrival. He also instituted paid maternity leave, which benefited two employees. People who worked at the museum at the time confirmed the benefits, noting the new maternity-leave policy was instituted while staff members were starting to question the Basquiat art. The staffs skepticism about the paintings, backed by emails, forms part of the museums suit against De Groft. Orlando Museum of Art gets major makeover for big-name exhibits A fundraiser in which museum guests watched the annual Met Gala in New York was successful, and he led a redo of the gift shop and a major refresh of the galleries with new paint and lighting. We were cooking with gas, he said. One aspect of his reinvigoration was to bring big-name exhibits to the museum, such as Heroes & Monsters. Basquiat was one of the most acclaimed contemporary artists of his time, and his works have sold for more than $110 million. De Groft said he followed proper protocol before exhibiting the works, including seeking professional opinions on their authenticity and presenting the works to the museums trustees. I showed the board every image of the Basquiats, he said. There was no disagreement at all. He was taken aback when he became aware of the FBI subpoena: I said, What the hell is this all about? But he insisted that an FBI agent told him the museum was not a target and there was no reason to cancel the exhibit. The FBI said youre not under investigation, and neither is the museum, he recalls being told. Orlando Museum of Art: Well cooperate with FBI in Basquiat probe That matches what a museum spokeswoman said after news of the subpoena became public. The museum complied with a request for information, the spokeswoman told the Sentinel in May 2022. The museum has never been led to believe it was or is the subject of any investigation We see our involvement purely as a fact witness. But in its statement to the Sentinel last week, the museum pointed to the FBI as raising warning flags, whether the museum was the target of its investigation or not. The FBI took the works off the walls of the museum with no notice because they believe they are fraudulent, read the statement, provided by Tucker/Hall, a Tampa-based crisis-management firm. This is the foremost investigative law enforcement agency in the world [you] dont have to take OMAs word about this fraud. A court filing by the Department of Justice, related to the sentencing of Barzman, makes the governments position clear. It states that, The fraudulent paintings have been the subject of numerous overlapping schemes over the past decade. The governments investigation into those schemes is ongoing. Email questions De Groft cant prove that the FBI told him the exhibit could go on, but he says thats because he lost access to his work emails when he was fired. The museums lawsuit cites numerous emails sent from De Grofts account to the owners of the Heroes & Monsters artwork and others, but De Groft raised questions about their authenticity. He said there are some I dont recall writing and Im not the only person who had access to my email account. Basquiat expert in OMA scandal: Authentication claims are false In one email cited in the museums lawsuit, De Groft apparently dreams of a luxurious future should the paintings be sold, writing to a correspondent, Then I will retire with mazeratis and Ferraris. But De Groft pointed out pie-in-the-sky talk with friends isnt proof of wrongdoing: Even if I was just mouthing off, thats not illegal, he told the Sentinel. He did say, however, that he regrets an angry email sent to Jordana Moore Saggese, a Basquiat expert hired by the collections owners to examine the works. She later said her report was used incorrectly in the Heroes & Monsters catalog and marketing. You want us to put out there you got $60 grand to write this? De Groft wrote her, according to an email cited in the FBIs investigation. OK then. Shut up. You took the money. Stop being holier than thou Do your academic thing and stay in your limited lane. De Groft told the Sentinel the email which played a part in his firing was part of a larger dispute with her but also said, Theres no excuse. I was rude to her; I apologize, he said. I should never be rude to anyone. Saggese later issued a statement saying she in no way authenticated any of the paintings and would not comment further on the situation. The museum last week told the Sentinel the boorish language in the Dr. Saggese emails is not the point the point is that he appears to have threatened her with blackmail if she spoke out about the exhibition, specifically that she did not provide clear confirmation of their authenticity. Label in the spotlight Another key aspect of the case has been a Federal Express shipping label on one of the paintings, which was created on discarded cardboard. It has been said that the now-common abbreviation of FedEx and the corresponding logo were not in use during Basquiats lifetime. But De Groft told the Sentinel there were documents, including company annual reports and patent-office filings, that would show otherwise. We have documents and advertisements that show the word FedEx was being used, he said. And he cast doubt on Barzmans story of creating the art displayed at the museum, referencing a legal document filed at the time of the California mans sentencing by Pierce ODonnell, a California attorney and one of the works owners. That filing contains emails and photos from an art dealer in Oslo, Norway, whose client bought alleged Basquiat artwork from Barzman art that De Groft said was definitely faked. These are amateurish paintings that are absolutely forged, De Groft said. ODonnells statement reads: They are so pathetically amateurish and do not even remotely resemble authentic Basquiats. As two renowned Basquiat experts have declared, the persons who painted these self-evident forgeries could not (and did not) paint our 25 paintings. ODonnell and other owners of the paintings had filed their victim impact statements before Barzman was sentenced, arguing Barzman was lying about faking all of the paintings that ended up in the Heroes & Monsters exhibit by pointing to numerous discrepancies in his various FBI interviews. Barzmans admission that he forged the six paintings owned by the Basquiat Venice Collection Group, of which ODonnell is co-manager, had damaged ODonnells reputation, the filing stated, and the value of our paintings once appraised at $25 million before Barzmans treachery was totally trashed. A judge, however, ruled that the owners were not direct victims of the crime to which Barzman pleaded guilty making false statements and rejected their claims. Still, De Groft also believes Barzman lied about forging the Heroes & Monsters works and admitted to it solely to get a better deal from the FBI a strategy he said worked as Barzman was not charged with forgery or fraud, and his sentence did not include jail time. Isnt that telling after youve admitted that you forged these paintings, De Groft asked rhetorically. According to court records, the government requested a lenient sentence for Barzman, which the judge approved. Defendant [Barzman] undeniably has had a difficult life, physically and emotionally, stated a pre-sentencing court filing. Defendants struggles with substance abuse and financial difficulties likely contributed to some of the unfortunate decisions he made regarding the fraudulent paintings. To be clear: were it not for defendants physical problems and mental health issues, the government would be seeking a prison sentence here. Fears of firing Although OMAs trustees were unaware of the FBI activity, board chair Cynthia Brumback De Grofts boss did know. When she did not tell the trustees about the FBI subpoena, could he have laid the whole matter to rest by telling them himself? I would have been fired, for going over his bosss head, De Groft said. Brumback, who resigned from the board of trustees in December 2022, didnt respond to an offer to comment for this article. Ex-Orlando Museum of Art chair Cynthia Brumback leaves board of trustees But the museum said any fear of firing is overexaggerated. What evidence is there to show De Groft had a fear of being fired? the museum statement queried. No one board member including the chair could have fired De Groft by themselves. Ultimately, however, he was unceremoniously terminated. De Groft had gone on vacation shortly before the FBI raided the museum, he said, which confirmed what an OMA spokesperson said at the time. But after hearing about the raid, he tried to get back on my OMA email, and it didnt work, he said. De Groft was then fired over the phone, he said, while my wife and I were at lunch at Lake Baldwin, looking out at a beautiful lake. They did not return all my possessions. I was not let back into the building. It was pretty draconian. Why hasnt De Groft, in the past year-plus found an employment lawyer to take his case if hes the victim of wrongful termination? the museum statement rhetorically countered. But De Groft said he was confident he would prevail in court. I have been subjected to a major injustice, he said. There will be a Come to Jesus moment, one way or another. Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/arts, and go to orlandosentinel.com/theater for theater news and reviews. Michael B. Jordan crashed his Ferrari in Hollywood late Saturday night, according to multiplereports. The Creed actor, 36, allegedly struck a parked Kia with his blue luxury vehicle just before midnight on a crowded section of Sunset Boulevard, a Los Angeles Police Department official told Page Six. TMZ reports that the Ferrari is registered to Jordan and was being driven by the actor when the incident occurred, but those reports could not be immediately confirmed by the LAPD. The photos from the crash scene obtained by TMZ show the Marvel stars Ferrari was heavily damaged after the right side panel was apparently ripped off in the accident. The Kia also sustained damaged on its rear drivers side. It is unknown if the driver of the Kia was in the vehicle at the time of the crash. LAPD told Page Six that after the accident both parties involved exchanged information and Jordan was asked to fill out a police report. (Photo by Michael TRAN / Getty Images) LAPD told Page Six that after the accident both parties involved exchanged information and Jordan was asked to fill out a police report. (Photo by Michael TRAN / Getty Images) No injuries were reported in the wreck. Officials told Page Six that there was no evidence of a DUI and no charges were filed. LAPD did not perform a field sobriety test at the time of the accident. An officer at the scene reportedly asked the actor What happened?, but Jordan opted to not provide a reason, TMZ says. Reps for Jordan did not immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Related... The groundwork was laid for Nicole Newnhams Oscar-contending documentary The Disappearance of Shere Hite back when the director was just a girl. I was 12 years old when I discovered The Hite Report in my mothers nightstand drawer, the filmmaker has written, sneaking it to read for myself, to learn about the world of female sexuality, a world that remained cloaked in shame and mystery for me as for so many others. More from Deadline For a time, The Hite Report: A National Study of Female Sexuality could be found in nightstand drawers or displayed less surreptitiously on bookstore shelves and in library stacks across the country, its author a fixture on talk shows and top of mind in the zeitgeist. Interest in her work was by no means limited to the U.S.: Hites study was translated into more than a dozen languages. The Disappearance of Shere Hite Newnham got a sense of interest in Hite abroad when she took her film recently to the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam. It screened in the Best of Fests section, reserved for documentaries IDFA considers the best of the year. I really didnt know how a European audience would respond, Newnham told us in Amsterdam, especially given that so much of the story in our film is about the American cultural reaction to Shere Hites findings. But it was fascinating. Director Nicole Newnham Newnham added, Many women my age and younger came up to me and said they had read The Hite Report as young women, and actually men too I think that there has not been the sense of forgetting and maybe even that kind of puritanical shame that sometimes Americans have around discussions of sexuality, which I think plays a role in the disappearance of Shere Hite, why she disappeared. Here [in Europe], I dont think people carry that shame. They carry the remembrance of what she did to open up societys discussion of sexuality and female pleasure in particular. Sex researcher Shere Hite The film rewinds to the late 1960s when Hite did graduate work at Columbia University in New York. In the early 70s she embarked on an ambitious survey of women and their experiences with sex, distributing tens of thousands of questionnaires around the U.S. to women ranging in age from 14 to 78, from differing socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. The Hite Report, published in 1976, contained analysis of responses from 3,000 women to those qualitative survey questions. It became a massive bestseller. Perhaps most stunning for readers was the revelation of how women typically achieved climax through clitoral stimulation and not insertion of a penis into the vagina. That upended the conclusions of earlier sex researchers Alfred Kinsey, William Masters and Virginia Johnson, and raised an implicit question of how much a womans experience of pleasure depended upon the male sex organ. Shere Hite Hite was clear, Newnham says, that the research did not mean women didnt need a man in the picture, but just that that particular act of penetration was not going to result in orgasm for the majority of women. Her data was very strong, and also it went against the prevailing wisdom of the time. It was really like a bomb in our culture, provoking relief from a lot of women who suddenly felt like they werent alone, a lot of further exploration, then, of various things that did produce orgasm in women. If the book provoked relief in women, the reaction of many American men could be described as more ambivalent. It engendered a lot of fear and the beginning of the backlash amongst men who started to worry about the shift in their position as a result of all of this. To put it another way, some men perceived a loss of their primacy in womens sexual fulfillment. Shere Hite As the film explores, Hite faced attacks from some academics over her research methods. Proponents of traditional values were no more inclined to embrace her findings. In television appearances Hite was constantly put on the defensive; one suspects the critiques masked a deeper unease with sex and sexuality as a topic of conversation. And its hardly a stretch to conclude old fashioned misogyny played a decisive role in the urge to cancel Hite and what she had to say. Hite violated taboos by speaking openly and frankly about sex in a public context. And she made the daring assertion that accepted sex practices were culturally embedded. She said a great thing in one of the interviews she did in the mid-90s, Newnham observed. She said, The reason Ive been attacked so much is because I connect sex to politics. And she said, If I was just saying, oh, isnt it cozy how women orgasm? nobody wouldve really cared, but the fact that I said this is a symptom of a political situation made [me] worthy of attack. The Disappearance of Shere Hite Hite spent the last decades of her life in Europe, away from the calumny she faced in America. She eventually became a German citizen and later relocated to London, where she died in 2020 at the age of 77. Hite had gone from being a name on everyones lips to a figure lost or erased from history. Newnhams film has rescued Hite from cultural oblivion and reminded people of the researchers relevance to contemporary debates about womens bodily autonomy. In other words, Hite hasnt lost her political edge. Even though its a historical film at this point about the 70s and the 80s, we worked really hard to craft it so that it would be in conversation in a really urgent way with the cultural moment that were in, Newnham said. Its really thrilling to have her not just remembered, but actually to have her presence be still meaningful and still making an impact and making a change. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A desert country in Northwest Africa, Mauritania is an underrated travel destination. The country gets overlooked for many reasons. Despite persistent strides from local activists, slavery is still practiced throughout the country. The practice was officially abolished in 1981. According to CNN, approximately 10 to 20 percent of the countrys population remains illegally enslaved. Due to its muddled stance on human rights, Mauritania has fallen to the backdrop of African travel. However, the country has an ancient history with a few cultural experiences worth exploring. Here are five cultural experiences to have while visiting the desert land of Mauritania in Africa. Explore The Abandoned Village Of Tichit Photo credit: Cristiano Pinto Over a millennium ago, the village of Tichit was a major player in the salt trade. Today, the abandoned village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a relic of Africas past. Historically, Tichit was established during the 7th century by a Muslim dynasty. The village formerly included a ton of mosques, ancient libraries, and madrasas. Tichit was a thriving center of excellence, trade, knowledge, and technology. Travelers can visit the ancient city to see what once was amongst the sand dunes. Learn About Moorish Culture At The Musee National Opened in 1972 by the Chinese, the National Museum of Nouakchott has a plethora of historic collections. The artifacts showcase both Moorish and Mauritanian life. There are two exhibits to explore in the museum including one with prehistoric archeological gems and Moorish ethnographic displays. There are also many historic manuscripts housed at the museum that date back thousands of years. See The Richat Structure Photo credit: L USGS Also known as the Eye of The Sahara, the Richat Structure is an incredible geological formation in the Sahara desert. It can be seen from space and is one of the most famous places in the world. Travelers can find the Richat Structure near Ouadane, Mauritania. The circular sand structure covers approximately 30 miles and is a true world wonder. Due to the remote location of the structure, travelers should set out to visit the destination through a guided tour. Visit The Desert Oasis Of Terjit Although it may be unbelievable, a forest oasis sits in the middle of the Sahara in Mauritania. Terjit is an abundance of palm groves desert spanning a few hundred meters. Locals call it the paradise in hell and its a sight almost too good to be true due to the terrain. However, Terjit has existed for thousands of years. In addition to the lush green trees, there are ponds, a winding stream and a village at the foot of the grove to explore. Check Out A Few UNESCO World Heritage Sites Photo credit: Juli Kosolapova For a greater blast from the past, travelers can explore other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mauritania. The country is home to some of the oldest cities in the world including the ancient trading city of Chinguetti and the ruins of Ouadane. These cities were major forces in the 11th and 12th centuries and provide a glimpse into Mauritanias past. In 2014, American model Chanel Iman made her debut with SI Swimsuit. She traveled to Madagascar with photographer Derek Kettela for her first of three consecutive features in the annual magazine. While the rookie was new to the SI Swimsuit set, she certainly wasnt new to the modeling industry in general. When she was only 16 years old, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in the industry. Ive been modeling ever since and traveling all over the world, she explained of her career. Even with her years of modeling experience, hearing that she had landed a feature in the 2014 issue was a dream come true, she said. Being here in Madagascar is just a fairytale. She considered the location a paradise, and we completely agree. It certainly made for the most idyllic backdrop for her beautiful snaps. And perhaps the most stunning was coincidentally Imans favorite photo from the whole trip: one of her standing on top of the wooden beams of an old sailboat. I think theyre incredible, she said of the handful of photographs. The incredible rookie feature earned her two more with the publication: a 2015 trip to Utah and a 2016 adventure in Zanzibar. And, while they all made for a surreal series of images, today were taking a look back at the one that started it all. Below are some of the stunning photos from her debut in Madagascar. Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! Supermodel Ashley Graham sure knows how to stun in a quirky Get Ready With Me video. The 2016 SI Swimsuit Issue cover star stunned in her latest video and showed off her curves as she began the clip in a strapless bra and high-waisted underwear set. The Nebraska native nailed her transition as she covered her camera for a split second and lifted her hand to reveal her outfit: a figure-hugging see-through mesh leopard gown from Nina Ricci by Harris Reed. Was in Lisbon and made this #portugal, the 36-year-old captioned the video she shared with her 1.8 million followers. Graham filmed the TikTok while in Portugal for the GQ Moty Awards 2023, where she was honored as the International Female Model of the Year. Makeup artist Sara Fonseca opted for a gorgeous full glam look, including a bold eyeliner wing, glittery gold eyeshadow, a bronzed glass skin base, rosy cheeks, feathered brows and a bright mauve lip. The mom of three, who shares her sons Isaac, Roman and Malachi with husband Justin Ervin, accessorized with funky gold hoop earrings and a stack of gold rings. She danced around to London Bridge by Fergie, which was attached to the clip as audio, and played with the gowns floor-length black ribbon straps. Being in this industry for the last 23 years has been an honor. Its reassuring to know that, even after these two decades, my story, images, and experiences continue to make a global impact. While obstacles persist in the industry, they no longer carry the same weight as they did when I entered this space. Its essential for us to recognize and celebrate the progress weve made, Graham captioned a heartfelt Instagram post featuring photos of her look and a clip of her acceptance speech. I dont claim to have achieved this alone; it required the support of editors, designers, agents, creative directors, stylists, photographers, and casting directors who believed in the unconventional and unexpected, not only in me but also in many others who have paved the way. As my agent, @meansss, once told me, Agents will always be there to open the door, but its up to you to be invited back. This award is not taken lightly. Thank you, @gqportugal, for this incredible honor of International Female Model of the Year. Graham was styled by her go-to fashion guru Emily Evans, who wrote HUGE LOVE & CONGRATULATIONS to @ashleygraham so deserved for such an inspiring, kind & hard working ICON, on her own post of the fabulous outfit. Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! While some people might associate Louisiana cuisine with a hearty muffuletta, crawfish etouffee, or that potent Hurricane cocktail, lesser-known boudin balls are a classic Cajun snack that can satisfy big cravings. Made from boudin "sausage," a particular combination of seasoned ground pork and cooked rice, boudin balls bring together the flavors and traditions of Louisiana's Creole and Cajun cultures. Although they might appear simple on the surface, the flavors are quite complex, and making boudin balls from scratch can be an exacting, time-consuming process. Basic boudin ball recipes call for boudin sausage to be removed from its casings and shaped into small balls, which are coated in flour, beaten eggs, and seasoned breadcrumbs, and then fried in oil. The fried bites are typically served with a dipping sauce, such as a traditional remoulade recipe, or a spicy Cajun mustard. They are usually enjoyed as an appetizer, breakfast, or snack. If you make a batch of boudin balls at home, know that the key to this scrumptious, Cajun-spiced sausage ball is proper frying. From avoiding a dry center to absorbing too much oil, the potential pitfalls are many. A watchful eye and smart cooking techniques can help ensure the final result has everyone saying "Ca c'est bon!" Read more: French Cooking Tricks You Need In Your Life Boudin, An Iconic Sausage A roll of boudin sausage in casing - Fanfo/Shutterstock Boudin balls get their flavor from their namesake sausage, boudin. This particular style of sausage is accredited to French descendants from the Acadian regions along the northern Atlantic seaboard and has evolved into being considered a staple of Cajun cuisine. The "sausage of the South" is usually made from a combination of slow-cooked cuts of pork including the liver and the heart, mixed with cooked rice and other seasonings. The pork and rice mixture is stuffed in sausage casings and cooked again. Boudin sausage can be enjoyed whole or it can be removed from its casing, like when making boudin balls. It can be grilled, steamed, fried, or cooked in an oven. Although pork is the traditional meat used in the iconic sausage, variations have become more prevalent over the years. From stuffing boudin with poultry options like chicken, turkey, or duck, to using game such as rabbit or venison, chefs and home cooks continue to evolve the classic Louisiana dish. Some even use local favorites like crawfish and alligator to bring a taste of the bayou to boudin. Whether grabbed as a quick snack while stopping for gas or savored at an elegant, white-tablecloth restaurant, boudin, and those boudin balls, are a Louisiana icon that draws people in from far and wide. Journey Down The Boudin Trail Signage for the Best Stop Supermarket - Malachi Jacobs/Shutterstock Some people make a pilgrimage to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, jazz, and storied restaurants; while others head to Baton Rouge for the legendary LSU tailgate. Then there are those who journey down the "Cajun Boudin Trail" for lessons in history and local deliciousness. From food tours that follow a curated path to individual quests to find the ultimate boudin ball, people touring the boudin trail visit locations across Louisiana to savor their time-honored recipes. Although several stops along the trail can debate their claims as the "Boudin Capital of the World," there are a few locations that really are worth the trip. Best Stop in Scott, La., is a favorite locale along the so-called boudin trail. The supermarket claims on its website that it sells thousands of pounds of boudin sausage a day to fans of its porky bite. Another popular stop in Scott is Billy's Boudin, which offers boudin balls stuffed with cheese, and twists on balls like boudin pistolettes and boudin rollups. Alexander's Speciality Meats in Lafayette, and Billeaud's Meat and Grocery in Broussard are also often included in roundups of best places to visit for boudin. Whether your boudin journey is short or long, the traditional Louisiana cuisine is a reason to take the flavor trip. Boudin balls might not be the most talked about traditional Louisiana cuisine, but they are a taste that keeps the conversation, and the good times, rolling. Read the original article on Daily Meal. Jamie Dimon, CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, made an interesting statement recently. He said that we are living in a very dangerous time. The billionaire pointed to the war in Ukraine and the flare-up of violence in Israel as well as the fluctuation of oil prices and supply as reasons to be concerned. When asked what we could do about a world situation that could turn into a crisis at any moment, Dimons first response was that the United States should not only maintain a strong military but strengthen it. Dimons points are well taken. We do live in dangerous times. But that has been the case since the end of World War II. With the emergence of Russia, China and the United States as superpowers, a battle for world supremacy has existed for almost three-quarters of a century. But are we in a more dangerous world situation now than even when the Cold War existed? Yes, there is trouble in Ukraine and Israel, but there has seldom been a time in world history when there wasnt a conflict going on somewhere. It is the nature of humans to wage war. Still, there is a joker in todays deck that hasnt been there for a while. Today we have no world organization that can function as an international mediator and help settle disputes. The United Nations? President George W. Bush emasculated the United Nations in 2003 when he attacked Iraq to destroy those mythical weapons of mass destruction. United Nations inspectors had searched and could find no evidence of any such weapons, but Bush, in effect, called them liars and went in anyway. That put an end to the effectiveness of the United Nations once and for all and established the United States as the dominant force in the world. That fact is evident with the two world crises that now exist. Has anyone heard of the United Nations working to stem the violence in Ukraine or Israel? No. It is the United States and NATO (which essentially is the United States) that has been supplying weapons to Ukraine, and the United States that was largely responsible for the sanctions imposed on Russia. It was the United States that brokered the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, and American warships, not United Nations peacekeepers, that have prevented the situation from escalating. The U.N.s current ineffectiveness is reminiscent of what happened with the League of Nations, which was organized after World War I. Although never as powerful as the U.N., the League of Nations did quell disputes in the 1920s, but it was slapped in the face in the early 1930s when Japan invaded China and the world and the League stood by and did nothing. Understanding that the League of Nations had failed with Japan and had no claws, Hitler became emboldened and quietly strengthened Germanys military, which led to World War II. In a world that grows increasingly smaller, it is imperative that there is some international body that can help settle disputes that might lead to war. The U.N. did that for half a century, but Bush and the Iraq War put an end to its effectiveness. These days the United Nations is largely relegated to providing food for poor African countries. Since the Iraq War debacle, which further destabilized an already unstable Middle East, the United States has effectively controlled the world. From our standpoint, thats good, but if you are a citizen of Russia, China or the Middle East, such power only builds resentment. If you look back at world history, you find that every such country that attempted to control the world ended up with a target on its back. Against any one rival country, it was dominant, but eventually other countries banded together and overcame the powerful foe. Many feel that Russia and China, who both resent Americas influence in world affairs, may one day band together in an attempt to destroy us, likely with the aid of several Middle Eastern countries. Perhaps Jamie Dimon understands history and worries what will happen if we push too far. Maybe this is why he believes we live in dangerous times. But will building a stronger military help or just make the world more wary of us? With no effective United Nations, Americans feel free to build a world in our own image. Unfortunately, only God can do that. We can lead, but we cannot dominate, which builds resentment. Greater leadership comes with greater responsibility. We need to remember that. While we just revealed that LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne is set to appear in next years 60th anniversary issue as a rookie, were still not quite over this years feature. The model was captured by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico for the 23 issue, and recently wrapped up her latest brand photoshoot with the same photographer in Porto and the North, Portugal. The breathtaking images will appear in the magazine next May, but you can find a sneak peak of five beautiful ones here in the meantime. It seems like were not the only ones still thinking about the New Jersey natives SI Swimsuit feature, as Watts just shared some stunning and super fun Polaroid pics on Instagram that were taken during her edgy Wednesday Addams-inspired photoshoot in Puerto Rico. The 21-year-old posed on her stomach in the sand and propped herself up with her forearms as she looked off in the distance with her blonde locks slicked back in the cover snap. She donned a strapless black one-piece from E TIJEN featuring a major asymmetrical midriff cut-out and gold hardware detailing. In the next slide, Dunne, who is dating Pittsburgh Pirates player and No. 1 MLB draft pick Paul Skenes, was captured from behind for a rather cheeky pic as she played with palm tree branches and rocked a RIELLI two-piece. The TikTok influencer, who is an ambassador for clothing brands Vuori and American Eagle, wore a RIELLI black textured romper featuring a plunging neckline in the following photo. In the last pic, the NCAA star, who is the highest-paid female college athlete in the country, rocked a super unique charcoal gray set from Entire Studios, featuring cool padded details on the shoulder straps and waist. The Polaroids @livvydunne x @si_swimsuit @mj_day @bryanzaragoza_ @anthonycristianosalon @sevaneveritt @margotzamet @cindiblairproductions #polaroid #benwatts #scrapbooking, Watts captioned the series of Instagram photos on Nov. 29. View Dunnes full 2023 gallery here. Read more about Dunnes rookie photoshoot in Portugal here. Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! Jada Bahls-Kargalskiy reached out to Embrace Iowa for help with her medical bills. Mother of two Jada Bahls-Kargalskiy of Decorah discovered she was unexpectedly expecting in June 2022, shortly before her husband was temporarily laid off from work. The emotional roller coaster of surprise, excitement and financial insecurity was further shaken when she suffered a miscarriage a few months later. The longtime nurse with the federal low-income Head Start program encouraged eligible clients to apply for funds distributed by the Des Moines Registers Embrace Iowa charitable program, she said. But now she was on the opposite side of the table. It kind of came full circle. With my work in Head Start, and people assistance, I would refer them, support them, and help with the application. And then I found myself in need of it too, she said. For more than 30 years the Registers Embrace Iowa campaign has supported families and individuals in need. Supported by the generous contributions of newspaper readers, 16 agencies across the state allocate funds valued up to $750 to help cover a diverse range of financial hardships including medical invoices, car repairs, rent and purchasing necessary appliances. More: Embrace Iowa helped disabled man pay his car repair bill to travel to medical appointments In addition to the difficulty of paying off the unexpected emergency room costs, Jada Bahls-Kargalskiy also found the monthly reminder of her familys loss created an additional emotional burden. Continually getting a bill each month reminding us of what could have been was really hard, she said. Embrace Iowa provided closure, and helped the healing process, because that bill was paid and not coming every month. Embrace Iowa applicants are required to show a gross annual income of 200% or less than the federal poverty guidelines, and once they are approved, the financial grants are paid directly to the creditors. Viewing the program as both a facilitator and recipient, Bahls-Kargalskiy praised the non-judgmental approach of agency staff. They're there because they want to help people, and you don't have to feel singled out because they work with these programs all the time. You're not the only person in there that day that needs help, she said. Her paperwork was administered by the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corp. that oversees seven counties in the region. It was not an intimidating application by any means. Its really easy. Just write a small synopsis of the amount you are asking for and the reason why, she said. It wasn't the super long, extensive application that sometimes health and human services applications can be. None of Embrace Iowas awards are distributed to the applicants. Theres no room for misuse, or fraud, Bahls-Kargalskiy explained. I did not see the money. I provided an invoice to Community Action and then they sent the check straight to the hospital. Bahls-Kargalskiy also lauded the flexibility of Embrace Iowas ability to distribute its awards. There are certain funds like SNAP that just helps for food. Fuel assistance just helps with heating. Embrace Iowa can help so many people with what they actually need help with, like brakes for your car, twin beds for the kids, a mattress, a stove. It's just such a wonderful program because it targets the direct needs of people. And she added, Its more of a hand up, than a hand out. How you can help Embrace Iowa The annual program is available to individuals across all 99 Iowa counties. Contributions will be accepted until Jan 31. 2024, and each pledge made before the end of the year qualifies as a charitable deduction. The fundraising goal for this year has been raised to $400,000. Online donations can be made at iowacommunityaction.org/about/donate, or checks can be sent to Embrace Iowa, P.O. Box 10611, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0611. Richard Lane is a freelance writer for the Des Moines Register. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Embrace Iowa helps Decorah woman pay medial bills after miscarriage Sixty years ago this month, the Union Flag came down in Kenya for the last time. A 250,000-strong crowd in Nairobis Uhuru stadium would, after two minutes, roar their approval as Kenyas new black, green, red and white flag took its place. On its way up the pole, however, the Kenyan flag was momentarily stuck. As Nicholas Rankin relates, the then-Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip representing Elizabeth II leaned across to [new prime minister Jomo] Kenyatta, smiling. Do you want to change your mind? There cant be many British Kenyans still around from those days, but Rankin is one of them. He was a teenager when Kenya won its freedom, and his family returned to England soon afterwards; yet part of him always remained mentally in east Africa. After a career working for the World Service, he sat down to write a memoir of his time there, trying to make sense of a childhood dominated by the civil war associated with the words Mau Mau. Kenya has spawned more British colonial memoirs than any other part of Africa, but the majority are dull and clumsily written. Trapped in History stands head and shoulders above the pack. Anybody with an interest in Kenya will want to read it; students of the Empire should as well. The book is only tangentially about Rankin and his family: its mostly a quiet history of the British presence in Kenya, followed by a gripping account of the Mau Mau years, when Kikuyu guerrilla fighters rose up against the colonial administration, and a state of emergency was declared that lasted from 1952 until 1960. For the Mau Mau formally known as the Kenya Land and Freedom Army land was among the main issues. The taxes on the big European-owned farms in the highlands paid for schools and hospitals; the Mau Mau wanted to see those farms broken up into untaxable smallholdings, so that everyone could have a patch of ground to call their own. There would be no meeting of minds. Terrible things were done by both sides, before the Mau Mau eventually admitted defeat. They claimed later that they had hastened Kenyas independence, but the colony was the last of Britains three east African territories to be set free. The guerrillas were bitterly resisted not only by the British, but also by thousands of peaceful Africans who wanted nothing to do with violence. Under the new governments of Kenyatta and his successor, Daniel arap Moi, the Mau Mau movement was outlawed for the next 40 years. Jomo Kenyatta, pictured in 1973, was independent Kenya's first leader - Getty That is the background against which Rankin tells his story. Like many British people in Kenya, he remains in two minds about what happened. On the one hand, thousands of perfectly decent Britons lived sensible lives and never did any African any harm. On the other, a handful behaved badly and won undeserved notoriety for their peers. During the carnage of the 1950s, the Rankins were onlookers rather than participants; Rankin himself grew up supporting the British against the atrocities committed by the Mau Mau. Yet in later life, he began to think again. Should he feel colonial guilt about what had happened, as many now profess to do? And if so, how much? The bones of Rankins story will be familiar to old hands, but Trapped in History is none the worse for that. He occasionally goes into too much detail about his colonial childhood, but he is one of the last people alive able to leave any such record. One of this books great strengths is his ability to re-examine well-known events and come up with fresh insights, and hes particularly adept at fleshing out the characters, making real human beings of those involved. He provides an entertaining picture, for instance, of a delegation of African Kenyans in culture-shock as they visited Britain for the first time and came across the London traffic and Underground escalators. Their shock was often shared by white colonial children making the same journey. Kenyans black and white all wondered why on earth the English would choose to live like that. A footnote. Among the Mau Mau fighters who emerged from their forest hideouts to join Kenyas independence celebrations 60 years ago was a group of chancers who had played no part in the struggle. They had, Rankin relates, slipped into the forest for a few weeks, in order to reappear as heroes in due course and claim any compensation or land that was going. Petty criminals imprisoned by the British for theft or burglary also reinvented themselves as Mau Mau veterans. Today, the numbers of claimants appear to be growing, as pressure is put on the British government to continue offering financial compensation. The situation should be handled with care, if those with real grievances are not to be dispossessed. Trapped in History: Kenya, Mau Mau and Me is published by Faber at 25. To order your copy for 19.99, 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. Hamza Yassin has forged a career out of breaking all the broadcasting rules. He used to be convinced that he did not fit the mould of the TV naturalists who gripped him in childhood, namely David Attenborough and Australian Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. My two greatest idols, bar my dad, are two white men, old-aged and middle-aged, he says. If it were not his race or his youth, he had decided it would be his size a hefty physique built as a rugby player that would rule him out of prime-time. Then there is the old showbusiness adage: never work with children or animals. Yassin first found fame in 2020 introducing one to the other on CBeebies show Lets Go for a Walk and is about to return to the channel with a second series of Eco Quest. But you can see why young viewers so adore Ranger Hamza. Kids know a kindred spirit when they see one. They are so wholesome, he tells me. Theyre the purest form of humans you can get. Seeing them go absolutely crazy about a woodlouse or a seal. And it doesnt have to be massive, it could be the diddliest thing, a leaf, sparking that little Ooh! he breaks off, diverted by the wildlife from his window, which has an uninterrupted view of the windswept Ardnamurchan peninsula in the Scottish Highlands. The white-tailed eagles just moved off! Hes flying round the bay! enthuses the 33-year-old, his eyes darting across the room. Yassin is on a video call from his cottage on the most westerly point on the British mainland. Yassin was crowned Strictly champion in 2022 - Guy Levy He is sitting on the floor, leaning against the base of his brown leather sofa and toasting himself in front of his fire (he always has a two-year supply of wood and helps chop up timber for the 150 residents of his village of Kilchoan). A flock of ceramic birds has landed on the shelves behind him and a drawing of a gorilla hangs above his shoulder. When we are not interrupted by the glory of nature, it is by the arrival of one of his neighbours. Come in! Erm, its the village, everyone comes in. Hello! Im on Zoom, Ill be free in about 10 minutes. Yassins unaffected charisma has seen him graduate to BBC Ones Countryfile, Channel 4 series Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness and last years Strictly Come Dancing, salsaing his way to become the 20th champion alongside first-time professional Jowita Przysta. Its a world away from his birthplace of Khartoum, Sudan, where he grew up in his grandmothers multigenerational home on the banks of the Nile. His gynaecologist parents, Ilham and Ahmed, were invited to work in Newcastle by the Royal College of Medicine and, aged eight, Yassin arrived in Newcastle with a handful of words please, thank you, pizza and chips a curiosity about where exactly Christmas was located and a puzzlement about who had allowed it to get so cold. Ranger Hamza's Eco Quest I didnt understand who left the fridge door open. In Sudan, my grandma would never allow it. It would cost money and it would start to overfreeze. The newcomer stood shivering thinking: Ooh, someone is in trouble. But, overall, he was excited, safe in the knowledge we had a new adventure. Plus, when I first landed in the country, I realised that the cold was for me. I was always overheating in Africa and getting daily nosebleeds. I could finally regulate my own body temperature. At Wellingborough, the Northamptonshire public school, he was diagnosed with what he now sees as his greatest gift to the world dyslexia. I have a photographic memory the next time I meet you, I will remember what you were wearing, the state of the room. You can take me from Scotland down to somewhere in London, and I will find my own way back without a satnav. In the middle of the night, I can guide myself just using the stars. The King of the Dyslexics! (according to his Instagram profile) insists: For me its never a burden, its a gift. Hamza Yassin: the countryside is 'where I feel most at home' - Stuart Nicol A study by the University of Birmingham found that only 2 per cent of black Britons live in the countryside. But Yassin says it is where I feel most at home. And he hails efforts to break down the barriers that remain. Theres the black hiking group, theres the Muslim hiking group, theres the LGBT hiking group. Mother Nature is not racist or sexist or ageist. Shes just Mother Nature. And if you enjoy being out in her, then go for it. If anything, it is urban areas that unnerve him. Ive never felt the tough side of racism. If I did, it would probably be in the towns, to be perfectly honest. Someone is following you round the shop thinking that youre going to do something. Yassin still works as a cameraman sometimes not seeing another soul for six weeks at a time for Tom Hardy-narrated Sky Nature series Predators and Attenboroughs Wild Isles. His hero passed on a message that Yassins sequence of eagles hunting barnacle geese was one of the strongest in any of the episodes. But they are still yet to meet. Ive been in the same room as him twice. Hes narrated my footage, which is incredible, and hes even said my name on a documentary. Yassin proceeds to do a mean impression of the great mans whispered tones. I was like, well, I can die a happy man now! He knows who I am. He has also spent time with another national treasure, Dame Judi Dench, helping her fulfil a lifetime ambition to see golden eagles in the wild for an episode of Countryfile that went out in September. Isnt she fantastic? he gushes. Forget the eagles. I love eagles so me saying that is a big thing. The pair are currently pitching another documentary together. Yassin is single, and said recently that he had a love for someone that was unrequited. He has five nieces and nephews, and just acquired his sixth and seventh godchildren. To be asked, if the worst comes to the worst, can you look after my kids? For me, that is one of the biggest honours in life. But, yeah, Im of the age where I think I want to settle down now. But broody doesnt mean necessarily that kids are coming. I think I need to be truly happy with how life is going before kids can come along. Yassin returned to the Strictly dance floor to open the series and will be back to hand over the glitterball trophy. He has a good idea who his successor will be. But I cant say. All he will disclose is: The best one is going to win, I guarantee you. He has kept up the dancing, with a little boogie every now and then, and the whole experience has boosted his self-confidence and made him more determined in life. However, he says twice: I hope I havent changed. He certainly is not being drawn back to the bright lights of Saturday-night showbiz, instead content with Midge, his six-year-old border collie, his deer and pine marten neighbours, plus the few human ones, who alert him to any fauna worth filming. A lot of people put trail cams out and wait for the wildlife and then they go and pick them up a week later. Ive got 150 sets of eyes looking, for me, in the village. I get text messages saying, Theres an otter in the bay now! Go, go, go! Ive been here for 15 years and its the best decision Ive ever made. Series two of Ranger Hamzas Eco Quest continues this Monday on CBeebies at 4.10pm and on BBC iPlayer 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. Kate Bock is the definition of an SI Swimsuit stalwart. The Canadian model, who made her debut with the brand in Easter Island, Chile, in 2013, returned to the fold for a total of 10 consecutive issues. The 35-year-old model has traveled to tons of exotic locations over her decade with the magazine, including Switzerland, Malta, Mexico, Nevis, Costa Rica and Belize. The mom of one, who welcomed her baby girl with husband Kevin Love in June, landed on the cover of the 2020 issue, after being photographed alongside fellow models Olivia Culpo and Jasmine Sanders in Bali. I remember going into my meeting with MJ [Day, editor in chief] and I remember being surprised that I never had to take my clothes off [or] get into a bathing suit. I never had to show my body, which was always something that was like [normal]. When you go to a casting you had to shoot in a bra and underwear. Thats what we had to do all the timeundress in front of these [strangers] and you were like, O.K., yeah, sure, no problem, Bock recalled recently about the open casting call she attended with the magazine more than a decade ago. [Day and I] just talked. I just talked with her. I laughed with her. I liked her. I thought she was fun. I left being like, Huh, I think I got that, I feel like I nailed it. We just hung out for an hour I felt like it was a good time. Getting that was one of the most exciting things that has happened to me. Below are six of our favorite photos from her SI Swimsuit feature with photographer David Burton in Easter Island, Chile, which earned her Rookie of the Year honors. David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! Name: Ocean pout (Zoarces americanus) Where it lives: Western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Labrador in Canada to North Carolina, in waters from near the shore to depths of almost 1,300 feet (400 meters). What it eats: Crustaceans such as crabs and amphipods, echinoderms such as brittle stars, sand dollars and sea urchins, as well as polychaete worms and sea squirts. It's currently not fully known whether they primarily suction feed from the seafloor or ambush their prey. Why it's awesome: "Ocean pout" might sound like a new TikTok cosmetic trend a successor to mermaidcore perhaps but the ocean pout is actually far closer to being one of Ursula's eels. With blotchy skin ranging from rusty brown to grayish green and an elongated body that's up to 4 feet (1.2 m) long, it is perfectly suited to its bottom-dwelling lifestyle. Trawling the seafloor in search of invertebrate prey, it makes short work of its victims using a set of peg-like teeth. The species lays its eggs in crevices or even in human trash in one case, a discarded rubber boot. The female guards the eggs for up to three months, after which the larval fish must fend for themselves. The young are prey to a wide array of species, from squid to skates. Adults may be eaten by sharks, cod and sea bass. Because it inhabits deep, cold waters, the species has evolved a protein in its blood that serves as antifreeze, protecting its body from damage by ice crystals even in the most frigid waters. This protein has proven surprisingly useful to humans despite the ocean pout being protected from commercial fishing. Geneticists have attached the promoter for the gene coding for the antifreeze protein to a growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to create genetically modified Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that grow more quickly than their non-GM counterparts. RELATED STORIES World's oldest aquarium fish 'Methuselah' could be decades older than we originally thought, DNA clock reveals Pacific lamprey: The jawless fish that survived 4 mass extinctions and sucks prey dry of blood and body fluids Haunting 'mermaid' mummy from Japan is a gruesome monkey-fish hybrid with 'dragon claws,' new scans reveal The gene for the antifreeze protein promotes the salmons' growth hormone gene, resulting in salmon that mature at twice as fast and require less food. Activists have objected to the sale of genetically modified animal products, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the fish for sale in 2015. The first genetically modified salmon were sold in 2021. That same antifreeze gene was also engineered into yeast , and the resulting protein is used to prevent ice crystallizing in low-fat ice cream. It has been approved for consumption in many countries, including the United States. High-powered infrared laser weapons could be on the horizon after scientists figured out how to make lasers nine times more powerful. Militaries have already deployed laser-powered weapons, as popularized by films like "Star Wars,", but they're much weaker than those seen on screen and can only disable small airborne targets. The light In these current weapons, which is invisible to the naked eye, comes from single-mode optical fiber which transmits a single wavelength of light, or mode, through the fiber core and generates a focused beam. But it's difficult to increase the power because the light is confined to a tiny area. Multimode optical fiber which transmits multiple light modes is much wider and can boost the power of infrared light emitted between three to nine times but this technology generates beams that are messy and unfocused, due to scattering. That means their power dissipates rapidly over long distances. In a new paper published Nov. 19 in the journal Nature Communications , scientists found a solution that limits how much light scatters from multimode fibers. In theory, it means militaries could design lasers that are both high-powered enough to cause significant damage and focused enough to form a smooth, narrow beam. The new research was funded by the U.S. Air Force. Related: The world's biggest laser: Function, fusion power and solving a supernova "A bad quality laser beam will diverge very rapidly as it propagates and therefore cannot deliver a concentrated amount of energy to the target. We have a way to control the property of light in such fibre so that it emerges as a focused point that can be turned into a narrow high-quality beam,", lead authors Stephen Warren-Smith and Linh Nguyen , researchers at the University of South Australia's Future Industries Institute, told Live Science in a jointly written email. The defense sector has been developing military-grade lasers for years and is vying to deploy them in the real world. Lockheed Martin, for instance, announced plans this year for a 500 kilowatt-class laser for use in directed-energy weapons systems to defend against threats. The team behind the new study hasn't developed a prototype for such a weapon. But any lasers created using their blueprints may be powerful enough to confuse enemy navigation systems or deal significant thermal damage to vehicles or machines. Current technology can zap small targets in the air at close range. But the new technology could be used on a much broader range of targets. "The laser beam is focused on a distant target for perhaps a few seconds, which causes the target to melt or burn. This is most effective for small targets such as drones and mortars, but potentially larger targets if specific critical systems are damaged, such as onboard sensors or electronics," the researchers wrote in their email. RELATED STORIES Powerful laser blast used to control lightning for the first time Sasers: Sound-based Lasers Invented Lasers reveal massive, 650-square-mile Maya site hidden beneath Guatemalan rainforest This doesn't mean the technology could be used to produce a Death Star any time soon, however. Rather, it's more likely the technology would be used to disable autonomous drones. It's very costly to expend ammunition to take drones down, but laser weapons offer an almost unlimited "magazine," with electricity as the only input energy source, the researchers said. Beyond use in weaponry, the researchers think such powerful lasers could be used in remote sensing. High-powered lasers could, for example, determine wind speeds at a much further distance than conventional methods. High-powered lasers are also pivotal to research into gravitational wave detection, the researchers said, and they hope their discovery plays a role in future research endeavors. Most of us are probably aware of the global food waste problem, but a shocking photo shared by one Reddit user shows just how bad its gotten. The original poster, who worked in a grocery store, posted a picture of what looks like hundreds of loaves of bread headed for the trash bin. The post quickly gained traction online, garnering over 53,000 upvotes and 2,000 comments. Photo Credit: u/EnAyJay / Reddit As expected, many commenters were appalled and disgusted by the amount of food the grocery store threw out instead of donating to charities. One Reddit user commented, Are these really spoiled? Theres gotta be a way to repurpose them safely and sell them again. That should be incentive enough for a company. Another user said, I know enough people that would still buy it for 50% or more off. Luckily, the grocery store the original poster worked at seemed to take that advice. In a later comment, the Redditor said they started putting discounted bread in the front of the store so it wouldnt go to waste. That alone helped them sell nearly $300 of bread per day that wouldve been discarded. While this offers a great solution to food waste, many stores have policies that prevent them from selling nearly or recently expired items. To avoid liability in case someone gets sick, or out of a concern around devaluing their products somehow, they would rather toss anything questionable instead of donating or selling it at a discount. However, some grocery chains do donate food as long as its still safe to eat. With massive donation totals like when the power goes out without backup generators, its possible to contract with an organization like Food Rescue US and avoid any liability using waivers. For instance, a Kroger in North Little Rock, Arkansas, donated 76,833 pounds of food to local food banks after its power went out during a storm. A Trader Joes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, also gave away over $2,800 worth of groceries to customers in the store when its refrigerators stopped working. Its unclear what supermarket the original poster worked at and the policies it has on donating food, but still, its difficult to accept all that bread going in the dumpster when so many face food insecurity. A heartbreaking comment by one Redditor read, Omg that makes me sick to my stomach! I always run out of money before the month is over for food for my kids and I..We would be so happy to have any of that bread. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a remarkable blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Romanesque architecture. Within this noteworthy intermingling of historical periods, the culinary landscape holds an equally impressive stature. With richly spiced goulash and salty, crispy fried cheese (smazeny syr), Czech cuisine is comfort food that emphasizes hearty dishes. One such dish that will be extremely hard to avoid once you step into this marvelous country is the trdelnik. Trdelnik, also written as trdelnik or referred to as chimney cake, is a type of cone-shaped dessert that can be found throughout the Czech Republic. It's made from sweet dough twisted around a spit and cooked on an open fire. Part of its draw is its preparation, as the sugar on the dough's exterior caramelizes with the fire's heat. The sweet smell of warm sugar begins to waft as these treats bake in the open air. Once the dough is cooked, the trdelnik is often dusted with sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon. It's utterly mouthwatering. Although it inspired a delicious snack at Buc-Ees, Czech cuisine may be fairly new to your radar. Either way, it offers an exceptionally unique range of dishes to explore, and there is no better place to start your journey than with a trdelnik. Read more: Cake Hacks Every Baker Will Wish They Knew Sooner Preparation And Fillings Red trdelnik filled with chocolate ice cream - Souvik Sarkar Photography/Shutterstock The trdelnik is made with a yeasty dough that's sweetened with sugar. Once the dough is mixed and risen, it is cut into strips and twirled around a wooden pole called a trdlo. This pole is then placed over open coals, which grill the dough and melt the sugar. This style of grill-baking creates a cylindrical dough that's firm, crunchy, and a wonderful shade of golden brown. The trdelnik's shape makes it the perfect vessel for fillings. The fillings for trdelnik usually complement the crispy dough with a soft, fresh, or creamy contrast. They may be filled with various flavors of soft serve, whipped cream, fresh fruits, or nuts. Adding a Nutella drizzle is even in the cards for those who like it seriously decadent. If you like the mixture of sweet and salty, there are also variations that include savory items like hot dogs. There is undoubtedly a trdelnik to suit any mood or set of taste buds. Finding Trdelnik Outside Of The Czech Republic Slovakian town of Skalica - TTstudio/Shutterstock While trdelnik is extremely popular in the Czech Republic, it's believed to have been invented in Romania and was then brought to a town in Slovakia in the 18th century. This town, called Skalica, borders the Czech Republic, which would explain the dessert's ubiquity in the country. However, it didn't stop there; the popularity of trdelnik spread across central Europe, reaching Hungary and Austria too. This demonstrates why it can be found easily throughout this region. It is also available throughout the United States, with several establishments offering trdelnik or a variation. The House of Chimney Cakes has shops in Texas, California, and Michigan, but if this is a little out of the way, you can always order online from Kurtos Chimney Cakes or pick up from one of its Florida locations. There are also various food trucks serving up trdelnik, so keep an eye out when you're in a prime food truck area. Read the original article on Daily Meal. 55th Wing security forces fired shots at a fleeing vehicle Thursday night that tried to enter Offutt Air Force Base without authorization, according to a statement on the bases official social media accounts. The vehicle tried to enter the base about 10 p.m. through the StratCom Gate, off of Capehart Road near the south end of base, the statement said. Guards from the 55th Security Forces Squadron activated an automatic barricade to block entrance to the base. The vehicle turned around and left the gate area, and security forces fired their weapons at it, the posts said. The base was placed under lockdown for about 30 minutes "out of an abundance of caution," the release stated. Military and civilian workers at Offutt were alerted about the situation via email and telephone alerts. However, some workers who posted on Offutt's Facebook page said they received notices of the lockdown but not the all-clear, or vice versa. The statement did not give a description of the vehicle or say whether local law enforcement pursued it after it left the base. It did say Offutt officials are working with the Sarpy County Sheriff's office and the Bellevue Police Department as part of its investigation into the incident. Sarpy County Sheriff's Capt. Brian Richards said the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations is handling the investigation and will assist if asked. Trespassing and gate-running at Offutt is rare but not unheard-of. Offutt was placed under lockdown twice earlier this year, both times during on-base emergency exercises. In the first incident, on Feb. 10, the base was locked down for two hours following a trespassing report that turned out to be a hoax. In the second, on April 19, a 25-minute lockdown followed a report of loud noises on the base. In 2012, Zachari Johnson, 21, of Lincoln, was shot and killed by a non-military police officer as he tried to drive a stolen car through Offutt's Kinney Gate. The shooting followed a 40-minute police chase that started in Gretna. Photos: Offutt Air Force Base air shows through the years 2018 2018 2018 2018 2010 2010 2010 2010 2004 2001 2001 1999 A remarkable reconstruction shows a 300 million-year-old millipede the length of a small car crawling around a forest floor looking for love. The footage was created for Netflix's "Life on Our Planet" a series that brings extinct creatures back to virtual life in video footage. The clip shows Arthropleura, which at 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) long and 1.6 feet (0.5 m) wide was the biggest millipede to ever live. It likely weighed about 110 pounds (50 kilograms). Scientists first discovered Arthropleura fossils 170 years ago. They lived in what is now the U.K., continental Europe and North America during the Carboniferous Period (359 million to 299 million years ago). In 2018, a chance discovery of an enormous, near-complete specimen provided a new, detailed look at the creature's anatomy which the team behind "Life on Our Planet" used to help them reconstruct this ancient creature. "Arthropleura is one of the most factually accurate creatures in the series and one of the most accurate versions of this creature ever brought to life," series producer and director Sophie Lanfear told Live Science in an email. Tom Fletcher , a Honorary Research Fellow of Palaeobiology at the University of Leicester in the U.K., and paleontologist Dave Marshall, a PhD student studying the evolution of chelicerates at the University of Bristol, U.K., acted as scientific advisors on the clip, while the team kept pet millipedes "tiny versions of arthropleura," Lanfear said to help them develop the animation and overall look of supersized insect. Related: 'Once again, innovation and proliferation ended with catastrophe': The environmental disaster of plants taking over the world At the time Arthropleura lived, oxygen levels on Earth were far higher than they are today. Forests had sprouted up, sucking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Giant arthropods dominated the planet, along with other huge insects like Meganeura a bird-size dragonfly and giant cockroaches up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) long. The high oxygen levels likely played a role in the giant millipedes' enormous size, although exactly how it helped them grow is unclear. In the clip, a male of the genus walks around the forest in search of a mate. "Genitals in millipedes are modified legs You can see the male's genitals in the very first shot of arthropleura as he goes through frame," Lanfear said. The clip also highlights the creature's blindness. "We know this by looking once more at its modern day descendants," series producer Dan Tapster told Live Science in an email. "Most millipedes of today have a type of 'lateral compound eyes' which only provides them with basic vision so limited that most are only able to gauge relative levels of light and dark rather than any form of vision as we would know it. Arthropleura boasts those same type of eyes so it's reasonable to infer that he too was virtually blind." RELATED STORIES Flesh-eating 'killer' lampreys that lived 160 million years ago unearthed in China Low water levels in Lake Powell reveal 'extremely rare' fossils from extinct Jurassic mammal relative 'They seemed primed to take over': How the Great Dying doomed the 'beast tooth' and set the stage for the dawn of the dinosaurs Tapster said Arthropleura was one of the most straightforward reconstructions of the whole series, because paleontologists have found such well-preserved fossils of the animal, its carapace, or hard shell, which it shed occasionally, and its footprints."Put all of those together and the evidence for what it looked like and how it moved is very persuasive," Tapster said. With these details, Arthropleura was built up "one pixel at a time.". The last piece of the reconstruction was the color of the enormous millipede. Modern proxies can be very colorful, but they likely evolved this trait to scare off predators. As Arthropleura had no known predators, the team toned its colors down, and the reconstruction was complete. "Life on Our Planet" is available to stream on Netflix now. The Economist Intelligence Units Worldwide Cost of Living report for 2023 has been released, and three American cities are amongst the most expensive to live in on Earth. The report compares more than 400 prices across 200 products and services in 173 cities across the world and found that while supply chain disruptions and energy price hikes have eased, overall prices rose by an average of 7.4 percent. According to EIU, two cities are tied for the most expensive places to live: Singapore and Zurich, Switzerland. 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off southern Philippines; tsunami warnings issued This is the ninth time in 11 years that Singapore has been ranked as the most expensive city in the world to live in, EIU data showed. Three U.S. cities were included in this years list, including New York City, which tied with Singapore as the most expensive city in the world last year. In 2023, the Big Apple is tied for third place with another major Swiss city, Geneva. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is sixth on 2023s list for most expensive cities; the City of Angels has several neighborhoods that require almost a six-figure salary to live comfortably, and new data shows that the median home price in L.A. County has surpassed $900,000. New York City, USA Manhattan cityscape from the Lagoon in Central Park. (Getty Images) Downtown Los Angeles (Getty Images) The Painted Ladies of San Francisco Alamo Square Victorian houses in San Francisco. (Getty Images) L.A. is more expensive than other major cities including Paris, Copenhagen, Tel Aviv and the worlds tenth most expensive city to live in: San Francisco. Research shows that San Fran has some of the highest rents in the country, and a study revealed that Bay Area residents who make $100,000 per year can be considered low income. Fire at historic Tustin hangar finally extinguished The ten most expensive cities according to the Economist Intelligence Unit can be viewed below: Singapore, Singapore (tied for 1st) Zurich, Switzerland (tied for 1st) Geneva, Switzerland (tied for 3rd) New York City, U.S. (tied for 3rd) Hong Kong, Hong Kong Los Angeles, U.S. Paris, France Copenhagen, Denmark (tied for 8th) Tel Aviv, Israel (tied for 8th) San Francisco, U.S. Click here to see the EIUs full Worldwide Cost of Living Report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Newly obtained officer-worn body camera video shows the circumstances behind the arrest of a young man who speaks little English and appeared not to understand what was happening when he resisted and was repeatedly jolted with a taser. The 52-year-old arresting officer, St. Johns County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Michael Kunovich, collapsed and died of heart attack following the struggle, court records show. Vergilio Aguilar Mendez, the 18-year-old who later confirmed he feared being deported back to Guatemala, is charged with aggravated manslaughter of an officer and resisting an officer with violence. He is being detained without bail, which his attorney is seeking to have set after filing a motion on Nov. 21. The confrontation happened on May 19 about 9 p.m. when Kunovich saw the young man in the Super 8 motel parking lot on Florida 16 next to a closed Howard Johnson hotel in St. Augustine, according to the arrest report. The veteran lawman determined it was suspicious and began to question him, though it wasn't a call for service. When he attempts to pat him down, Aguilar Mendez resists and a struggle ensues. Other deputies arrive and a taser is used in an attempt to control him. While fighting on the ground with the deputies, Aguilar Mendez grabs the taser to try to take it away or stop them. They get him handcuffed, but he still retrieves a folding pocket knife from his shorts pockets, according to the report. Shortly after they disarm him, Kunovich collapses from medical distress. The physical struggle lasted about 6 minutes, the Sheriff's Office said. At least three deputies were involved in securing the teen, whose attorney notes is 5-foot-4 and 115 pounds. Sheriff Robert Hardwick said during a news conference the sergeant did everything by the book and that Aguilar Mendez was trespassing. "All the suspect had to do was comply," Hardwick said. The Times-Union was denied this portion of the bodycam footage from the Sheriffs Office but obtained it through court records filed by the defense. What does Sgt. Kunovichs bodycam video show? Kunovich pulls up to Aguilar Mendez in his patrol vehicle as hes slowly walking away while holding his phone and wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Kunovich gets out and yells Stop and calls in a signal 13 for a suspicious person as Aguilar Mendez stays put looking at his phone (records say he was talking with his mother). Aguilar Mendez sighs and takes one step before Kunovich orders him to stop again. Im sorry, Im sorry, the teen says. Kunovich begins to question him, Why when I was driving around, and the teen in very broken English tries to say something while pointing to the Super 8 hotel. But the sergeant cuts him off ordering him to Stop, stop. The teen says eating, eating. OK, but why did you get up and walk away, Kunovich says in an accusatory tone. When you saw me and you got up and walked away, why, why? Aguilar Mendez sounds and looks confused and points in both directions, mumbling something about going far and drinking, motioning like hes taking a drink. Kunovich asks where is he staying, and Aguilar Mendez points to the hotel. Here? Kunovich questions. And the teen says yes. Then why arent you eating inside, the sergeant asks. The teen again says hes sorry, and Kunovich asks if hes got any ID. He points to the room. Kunovich asks for his name and he responds he doesnt speak English. The sergeant then asks if he has any weapons, and he says no. Kunovich asks him to turn around and grabs his right arm. The teen doesnt look like he knows what to do and says No, no. Dont walk away from me, the sergeant says. Sorry, sorry, Aguilar Mendez says again. Dont pull away from me, Kunovich says angrily. He begins to try to search his pockets, but Aguilar Mendez resists, and then the struggle ensues as other deputies arrive and assist in taking him down. The teen repeats Im sorry several times. One of the deputies screams, Do you want to be tased! He continues to resist and cry for family and they use the taser on him multiple times. He grabs at the taser. They engage him again with another electric jolt. They appear to have him stopped with one of the deputies on top of him. They tell him to get down and engage him again with the stun gun as he screams over and again. He says he doesnt speak English when given a command. But hes able to get back up and reach for what sounds like a deputy says is a weapon, and they take him down again and get him handcuffed and make him let go of a knife. He begs for what sounds like familia multiple times for family. The video doesnt show Kunovich collapse afterward. What is Vergilio Aguilar Mendezs background? In her motion for a new bond hearing, Assistant Public Defender Rosemarie Peoples specifies 32 points, including the following: Virgilio (she notes the arrest report misspelled his name, and this is correct) is from Guatemala, where he learned some Spanish, but he speaks the language of his home and his people Mam. He is from a very rural area with a small indigenous population where they have spoken Mam for centuries. The language is limited, with many concepts, and words are adopted from Spanish. For the client, many of these adopted Spanish words need a great deal of explanation because they are new concepts to him. At the age of 17 years young, Virgilio arrived in the United States with hopes to work and send money home to his mother and father, for money to buy corn for his younger brothers and sisters to eat. Upon arrival at the southern border, Virgilio was held in federal detention for minors until his release to members of his fathers family. He was given a date to return to court for a hearing. After a few weeks with his uncle, he traveled to live and work with an aunt in Central Florida; then he met with some Mexican migrant workers with a promise of work in St. Augustine. He left his family and traveled to St. Augustine to work at local farms. The migrant workers spoke Spanish, they did not speak Virgilios mother tongue of Mam. For a few weeks, each morning Virgilio would travel to local St. Augustine farms where he picked vegetables, the money received he would save and send to his family in Guatemala. In the cool of the evening, on May 19, 2023, Virgilio Aguilar Mendez left his hotel room at the Super 8 hotel, to peacefully eat a meal outside while on the phone with his mother. Virgilio had a room key to the hotel room that he shared with the three migrant workers. As he stood in a well-lit area, on the phone with his mother, Officer Kunovich approached him in a marked unit and wearing a St. Johns County sheriffs uniform. Illegally in the U.S.: Farmworker tied to suspect in St. Johns County deputy's death charged with hauling undocumented crew Virigilo explained he cannot speak English and began to walk away. Despite having committed no crime, Officer Kunovich placed his hands on Virgilio and tackled him to the ground. Virgilio attempted to distance himself from the physical hold of Officer Kunovich. Soon thereafter, several officers arrived and continued to wrestle with Virgilio. Without question Virgilio did not understand the purpose or reason for the officers to pile on him, to physically strike him multiple times, and the repeated use of a taser. Unable to understand the brutality of the officers, Virgilio began to cry out for his family. Virgilio was handcuffed and searched, with the officers recovering cash for his family, a cellphone, a lighter, a common pocketknife, and his hotel room card/key. There were no illicit substances found on Virgilio; nor were there any illegal items in his hotel room. Several minutes elapsed after the arrest when Officer Kunovich suddenly collapsed. It was later determined that Officer Kunovich died of a heart attack. Prior to his arrest on May 19, 2023, Virgilio had lived in the United States for less than one year. He has several family members in Florida. In Guatemala, Virgilio was able to participate in two years of education where he completed the sixth grade. Virgilio Aguilar Mendez has no prior criminal convictions and no prior arrests as a juvenile or adult. Counsel is unaware of any instance in which the defendant has failed to appear for a court proceeding. Mr. Virgilio Aguilar Mendez does not have a drivers license, and he relies on family and friends to travel or move around. If imposed, he is willing to submit to any restrictions on his movement that the court would deem necessary to assure his appearance in court. If a bond is permitted and posted, Virgilio Aguilar Mendez will be taken into federal custody to resolve a pending immigration hold. Here, the proof of guilt is not evident, the presumption of guilt is not great against a defendant who was declared indigent, the court may consider pretrial release on reasonable conditions. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 22. Was Vergilio Aguilar Mendez racially profiled and harassed? All of the above could lead some people to believe the 18-year-old was targeted because of his Hispanic ethnicity. So the Times-Union posed this question to the Sheriffs Office: In light of the bodycam video being released in the Vergilio Aguilar Mendez case, does the sheriff have any comment about the perception that he was racially profiled and unnecessarily harassed? A spokesman responded, We cant comment at this time. The Times-Union asked the same question for a response from the State Attorneys Office, but adding that there could also be the perception that Aguilar Mendez was overcharged. A spokesman also responded, We dont have any comment." This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Video shows teen's arrest that led to St. Johns County officer's death Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says the United States is ramping up advanced war capabilities among the three AUKUS nations, including a range of experimental military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region beginning next year. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced increased collaboration with AUKUS partners Britain and Australia to fortify their presence in the Indo-Pacific region amid tensions between China and its smaller neighbors. Austin unveiled the new cooperation during remarks at a press briefing following a high-stakes sit-down with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps Friday at the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. "In March, our three democracies boldly launched the optimal pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally armed nuclear powered submarines," he said. "And today, we highlighted the important progress that we've made to see that plan through. I'm very proud of the sailors from our three countries who are seamlessly training together across our trilateral partnership." The alliance, known as AUKUS, released a joint statement following the meeting, with Austin touting the partnership's ongoing defense efforts in the Far East, including artificial intelligence, electronic warfare capabilities and quantum technology to deter further hostilities by China. Austin said the White House is seeking to help Australia construct its own nuclear-powered submarine by the early 2040s. "Again and again, AUKUS proves that we are stronger together and every day we move closer to our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," Austin said. As part of the latest agreements, Australia plans to purchase a minimum of three U.S. nuclear-powered submarines through the end of the next decade. Another aspect of the plan revolves around advanced war capabilities among the three nations, including a range of experimental military exercises next year that will test the limits of robotics and other autonomous weapons in waters that have been hotly contested by Beijing in the past year. U.S. defense officials called the upcoming exercises "a bold new effort into testing, developing and delivering advanced maritime autonomous systems to our warfighters," according to The Hill. Marles, the Australian defense minister, said construction was already underway on ports and other infrastructure to accommodate the new U.S. submarines when they are activated for duty. "When we look back at the significance of today's meeting, we will see this as the critical meeting, which was a watershed in the progress of pillar two," said Marles. The Pentagon revealed previously that the United States has set a goal to install thousands of autonomous weapons systems in the region over the next two years, without citing specifics about the type of weapons. The U.S. military said it would continue testing new ways to track Chinese submarines with artificial intelligence just two weeks after Australian naval divers involved with the AUKUS effort were injured during a harrowing encounter with a Chinese Naval vessel. The incident raised the urgency of the trilateral mission in the region, the leaders said Friday. Under the latest plan, the surveillance technology will eventually be used during Pacific patrols to analyze data collected from underwater sonobuoys and share the readout with the alliance. As part of the agreement, the United States was set to give Australia $3 billion for training and equipment. The newest deal also includes a provision for the deployment of 70 additional U.S. contractors and military support personnel to be posted to Australia for three years. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The New Mexico Department of Public Safety and Indian Affairs Department are inviting families and loved ones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) to the second annual Missing in New Mexico Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, December 3 in Albuquerque. The day-long free public event, which will be held at the Embassy Suites located at 1000 Woodward Place, was established through legislation signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last year. The event brings together law enforcement, forensic, medical and social service partners to provide resources for families, friends and loved ones of MMIP. Searching for a missing loved one is a horrific ordeal for families, friends and relatives. No one should have to live with those unanswered questions, said Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason R. Bowie. This collaborative event assembles resources, expands dialogue, updates missing person cases, and allows families to develop strategies and partnerships to find their missing family member. Missing in New Mexico Day is a crucial catalyst in our ongoing efforts to secure resources and justice for families facing the heart-wrenching uncertainty surrounding their missing or murdered loved ones, stated New Mexico Indian Affairs Department Secretary Designate James Mountain. This in-person event not only facilitates filing and updating of missing persons reports, but also enables submitting DNA records and provides an invaluable opportunity for families to engage directly with investigators. It underscores our commitment to fostering collaboration and support, recognizing the profound impact these issues have on our communities. The event will provide an opportunity for: Federal, state, local and tribal governments to meet in one location and assist families in filing missing persons reports, updating missing persons reports, submit DNA records and meet with investigators. Individuals with missing relatives to access support services and share their stories with media outlets. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety, local law enforcement agencies, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the State Medical Investigator, the Indian Affairs Department and other state agencies to gather in one place to provide support and services for individuals and families with missing relatives. The FBI maintains a list of missing indigenous individuals in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation here. For more information, visit https://www.iad.state.nm.us/missinginnewmexicoday or contact the DPS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at dps.missingperson@dps.nm.gov or call 1-800-457-3463. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. WASHINGTON Divided government is common and often messy. But the current U.S. House of Representatives has had arguably the most tumultuous year in modern times. The Republican-led chamber began the year requiring 15 ballots to elect a speaker, the most since 1860. Nine months later, it became the first House in U.S. history to overthrow the speaker midsession, causing an unprecedented 21-day period of limbo that felled three nominees before the party settled on a little-known congressman. And on Friday, the House entered its final month of 2023 by taking the extraordinary step of expelling one of its own members, now-former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., for just the third time since the Civil War, after he fabricated much of his biography and as he faces a 23-count federal indictment for a smorgasbord of alleged crimes. (He has pleaded not guilty). It was the latest in a series of unfortunate distinctions for the 116th Congress, which has elevated rancor and chaos to levels unseen in generations. One reason for that is the GOPs narrow majority, which was cut from four votes to three on Friday. Santos responded to the historic vote by bolting through the Capitol doors and taunting his colleagues, saying they just set a new, dangerous precedent that could bite them, before driving off. Many of his colleagues were unimpressed. Former Rep. George Santos walks through a Capitol hallway (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) Nobody takes any joy in this. This is obviously a somewhat historic moment unprecedented. And that is the election of George Santos, in a nutshell, said Rep. Mike Lawler, one of the New York Republicans who led the effort to oust Santos. I fundamentally believe hes unfit to serve public office, whether its dogcatcher in his local community or here in the halls of Congress. Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y., a fellow Long Islander and one of 105 Republicans who voted for expulsion, said Santos deserved it for lying his way into Congress and defrauding his constituents. Unfortunately, they voted for someone who they didnt even know who it was. It may as well have been a Disney character, because it wasnt a real person, DEsposito said. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said Santos was merely taking his cues from the leader of the Republican Party, the former president and 2024 primary front-runner Donald Trump. Where did George Santos get the idea that you could lie, cheat, steal, corrupt your office and still succeed in the Republican Party? Where does that come from? It comes from the top, because its Donald Trump who has set that standard of corruption for the GOP, Raskin said on the Capitol steps after the vote. And the whirlwind could persist into next week as the House GOP considers a vote to approve an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., unilaterally launched the inquiry before he was evicted from the speakers office, but a vote would give it more heft. Raskin said an impeachment inquiry into Biden has no merit and argued that Republicans are only pursuing it because they have no governing agenda for the country. Their party, again today with George Santos, is in disgrace, he said. They didnt even have a speaker for three or four weeks. Theyre in complete chaos, and they are in a cannibalistic mood, and now they decide they want to impeach Joe Biden. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson walks passed a camera crew while speaking on the phone (J. Scott Applewhite / AP) Along the way, Congress has passed few major pieces of legislation this year. Amid disagreements between the House and the Democratic-led Senate, the legislative branch has struggled at times to keep the government functioning, narrowly avoiding a self-inflicted debt default and twice averting government shutdowns. The House GOP has passed various party-line bills, on matters ranging from education to immigration, which are going nowhere in the Senate. And the upper chamber, where the Democratic caucus holds a 51-49 majority and needs 60 votes to pass most bills, has had a lethargic year legislatively but a productive one when it comes to confirming Bidens judicial nominees. House Speaker Mike Johnson, notably, voted to reject expulsion. As the House left for the weekend Friday afternoon, Johnson, R-La., sent his email list of supporters a questionnaire asking, How do you think were doing? The year has gone by in a flash, and much has changed, including my role as your new Speaker, he wrote. But one thing remains the same weve been busy working for YOU every single day since we were sworn into the majority. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com 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. Residents in Larchmont Village are disturbed over a troubling increase in violent crimes plaguing the community. A meeting was held Saturday to address the issues with the Los Angeles Police Department in attendance. Residents said they dont feel safe anymore and are demanding a solution. We have for months, actually more than a year, been reporting various break-ins and forced entries as a community, an attendee said. Officers from LAPDs Olympic Division were onsite answering questions and addressing citizen concerns following a series of break-ins, robberies and other violent incidents over the past few months. Larchmont Village residents met with Los Angeles Police Department officials to address a troubling increase in violent crimes across the community on Dec. 2, 2023. (KTLA) Larchmont Village residents met with Los Angeles Police Department officials to address a troubling increase in violent crimes across the community on Dec. 2, 2023. (KTLA) A homeowner in Central L.A. repels a would-be robber on Nov. 4, 2023. LAPDs Olympic Division patrolling the streets. (KTLA) Larchmont Village residents met with Los Angeles Police Department officials to address a troubling increase in violent crimes across the community on Dec. 2, 2023. (KTLA) LAPDs Olympic Division patrolling the streets. (OnScene.TV) LAPDs Olympic Division patrolling the streets. (KTLA) Thats the challenge with that, said LAPD Captain Aaron Ponce. They want to see results. Its been a challenge all across the United States with policing. The Olympic Division covers neighborhoods such as Koreatown, Arlington Heights, Larchmont Village and parts of Hollywood. I dont feel safe, honestly, said Elizabeth Hagopian, a Larchmont Village resident. Many community members said theyre worried a staffing shortage at the LAPD is contributing to the rise in crime. Every other day, there is a burglary in our area, Hagopian said. She said police have told her they cant do anything about it because theyre understaffed. Southern California family targeted in dinnertime burglary Unless we do something about it soon, its only going to continue to grow, said Cole Smith, a local resident. LAPD said theyre struggling to keep officers on staff while also running into issues hiring new officers. We have been challenged, quite frankly, across the United States in recruiting and in the number of qualified individuals coming on board who want to do this profession, Ponce explained. For the first time in decades, LAPD has less than 9,000 officers patrolling a city of roughly 3.8 million people. The shortage has forced the department to cut back on some services such as responding to non-violent crimes. Ventura County woman killed man during weed-induced psychosis Jules Kohn, a Larchmont Village resident said crime is expected when one lives in a large city. Youre going to get that in any big, dense city, Kohn said. But you can also see when theres an uphill trend and when there should probably be something done about it. Some residents however set the crime in L.A. is not as bad as it seems. It doesnt strike me as a big issue facing the city, said Jack Cairl, a Larchmont Village local. Violent crime is down, property damage is up. Do we need more police? Its a huge part of our budget. And when the police say we need more officers, thats not helpful either because the budget just keeps expanding. Ponce said the LAPD is actively recruiting more officers. He insists police will always make public safety a priority, but said citizens also need to do their part. We need our communities as resources, Ponce said. Ours are limited and dwindled somewhat. We need our communities to help us be our eyes and ears to keep our community safe. Some residents also complained about slow police response times while others believed non-violent crimes should be prosecuted more severely. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Living in the worlds most exciting cities often comes with a steep price tag. Thanks to a new report, you can get a feel for exactly how these metros stack up against each other. Using data from the Worldwide Cost of Living Index, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the most expensive cities to live in 2023, and the results may surprise you. The survey was conducted between August 14 and September 11 and compared over 400 prices for more than 200 products and services across 173 cities. More from Robb Report New York City, which previously took the top spot, is no longer No 1. This year, its tied for third place with Geneva. Two other U.S. cities landed in the top 10Los Angeles was No. 6 and San Francisco was No. 10. The Big Apple was bumped down a few notches this year by Zurich and Singapore, which tied as the most expensive cities in the world. According to the report, the Swiss citys rise from sixth place in 2022 was a result of elevated prices on groceries, household items, and recreational activities, while this year marks the ninth time in 11 years that Singapore has kept its position at the top of the EIU leaderboard. The survey specifically referenced the city-states high costs of clothing and transportation. Singapore and Zurich, Switzerland have tied for the most expensive city to live in 2023. A slight weakening of the US dollar against some currencies is responsible for some of the movements in this years survey, notes the report. Rankings can also be driven by other factors, such as consumer demand as well as competition and the availability of goods, whether imported or locally produced. Hong Kong, in fifth place, was the only other Asian city in the top 10. Paris ranks No. 7, and Israels Tel Aviv is tied for eighth place with Copenhagen. However, the data was collected before the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Overall, global prices rose by 7.4 percent in 2023. For context, the cost of living in 2022 rose by 8.1 percent. The survey attributed the decline to the easing of supply chain pressures, which were a direct result of the pandemic and partly due to China lifting its COVID restrictions. Additionally, the report noted that the energy price spike following Russias invasion of Ukraine has also returned to pre-war levels. The Worlds 10 Most Expensive Cities To Live 1. Singapore (tie) 1. Zurich, Switzerland (tie) 3. New York City (tie) 3. Geneva, Switzerland (tie) 5. Hong Kong 6. Los Angeles 7. Paris 8. Copenhagen, Denmark (tie) 8. Tel Alviv (tie) 10. San Francisco Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A man is dead after a shooting Saturday night at a hotel in Oakbrook Terrace, police said. Oakbrook Terrace police said in a news release that they responded to reports of shots fired at about 8:30 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Suites hotel at 10 Drury Lane. Advertisement At the hotel, police found a man with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he died, according to the news release. DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen identified the victim as 33-year-old Calvin Truitt. Jorgensen said Truitts home address is unknown. Advertisement The Oakbrook Terrace police said they were aided by police from several surrounding suburbs. Police conducted an extensive search of the hotel and found a person of interest who was taken into custody, according to the release. No criminal charges have been filed, police said. Police said their investigation found the shooting was an isolated incident and that there was no ongoing threat to the community, according to the news release. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com C.M. Davis stands along the Tuscarawas River near Canal Fulton while W.R. Miner searches the water for their friend Ercell Elizabeth Russell, 36, of Barberton, on Jan. 16, 1949. She disappeared Dec. 10, 1948, and her abandoned car was found two days later off Route 21. Seventy-five years ago, a Barberton woman vanished. Ercell Elizabeth Russell, 36, described as petite, red-haired and very pretty, drove away on a snowy day and never was seen again. Authorities said Russell was in good spirits when she left her 17th Street Northwest home Dec. 10, 1948. She stopped briefly at her sister Lillians home on 19th Street to tell her she was going to visit their parents in Wayne Countys Canaan Township. Russell never arrived. Investigators suspected the worst after finding her 1937 green sedan abandoned two days later at a roadside park on Route 21 less than a mile south of Canal Fulton. They discovered her purse in the Tuscarawas River about 200 feet downstream from the vehicle. The contents appeared to be intact. More than $10 in cash the equivalent of $126 today was still inside. Searchers combed the woods and dragged the river and the Ohio & Erie Canal, but they could not find a body. Detectives examined Russells personal life for clues to her disappearance. Born in 1912 in Canaan, she was the daughter of Harley and Golda Russell and grew up with three siblings on a farm near Creston. The family belonged to Canaan Methodist Church and participated in Grange activities. Russell was 19 when she married Joseph Angelo in West Virginia in 1931. They mourned the loss of two babies, born prematurely in 1932 and 1933, and buried them at Canaan Cemetery. After the couple divorced in 1938, Russell reclaimed her maiden name. Ercell Russell Russell worked at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron during World War II and later found a job at a department store in Wooster. The pretty divorcee, as newspaper reporters described her, had a boyfriend with an unusual occupation. She dated a Wayne County mortician for about seven years before they broke up in 1947. In the months before her disappearance, they had attempted to reconcile, but the relationship remained shaky. Officials said Russell had suffered a partial nervous breakdown. However, Russells landlady, Iva Dawson, said her boarder had left gay and happy on the day that she vanished. She wore a yellowish-brown sweater and blue slacks, and although it was cold, she didnt put on a coat. She drove off into oblivion. Later that day, Russells estranged boyfriend, a 45-year-old undertaker, called her sister to ask if Ercell was there. No, Lillian replied, her sister had visited earlier, but she had gone to Canaan. The man asked her to relay the message that he was going to Michigan on a short visit. Authorities later wondered if the call was made to set up an alibi. After the abandoned car was found, Wayne County Sheriff Glenn Rike told reporters he believed that Russell had met with violence. Sheriff Glenn Rike Investigators contacted the mortician, who suggested that Russell had staged her disappearance just to worry me and theorized that she had hitchhiked to Daytona Beach, Florida, where they had once vacationed. Why would a girl with her own car want to hitchhike? Rike wondered. Wouldnt Russell have packed a suitcase if she planned a trip? And why did she leave $535 untouched in her Barberton bank account? Weeks passed. Russells family hired Rex Hess, an Akron private detective, to investigate the case, and offered a $100 reward for information about the missing womans whereabouts. Authorities returned to the rest area on Route 21. In a restroom, they found a small bottle that Russells landlady later identified as a vial of medicine that she had given to her tenant for her nervous condition. This definitely establishes in my opinion that Mrs. Russell spent some time at the park, apparently waiting for someone, Hess announced. Asked if she believed her boarder had met with foul play, Dawson told a reporter: You can think, but you cant say anything. Searchers again dragged the river and canal, but found nothing. Detectives quizzed the mortician some more. He said his car was in the garage when Russell disappeared. Apparently that Michigan trip never happened. We have established that a car owned by this man was in a Wooster garage being repaired on Dec. 11, but we have not established that he himself was there, Sheriff Rike told reporters. The car was left in a garage there, all right, but the garageman said the man had not returned at closing time and he left the car outside, Hess said. But did that matter? The undertaker had access to another vehicle: a hearse. Chief Martin Seryak Barberton Detective Martin Seryak, later the citys police chief, began to get an uneasy feeling. If someone wanted to transport a body undetected, a hearse would be ideal for that purpose. And where would be a perfect location to hide a body, a place that no one would ever check? Oh, no. Seryak suspected that the mortician had killed his estranged girlfriend and buried her in the grave of a U.S. serviceman. In the late 1940s, the remains of U.S. troops killed in World War II were being exhumed from European cemeteries and reinterred in American hometowns. The Barberton detective quietly sought an order to dig up recent graves, but the Wayne County coroner firmly rejected the request. Not without evidence and investigators had none. Authorities never charged the mortician or publicly identified him. Missing Barberton resident Ercell Elizabeth Russells purse was found in the Tuscarawas River south of Canal Fulton in 1948. Summit County Probate Judge Vincent Zurz officially ruled Russell dead in June 1956 per her familys request. Retiring as police chief in 1973, Seryak looked back at the 1948 case as one of the most memorable of his career. The woman was declared legally dead seven years later, and her body has never been found, he said. Its reasonable to assume that she was murdered and buried somewhere in the vicinity. He regretted that he couldnt solve the mystery. The name of Ercell E. Russell (1912-1948) is etched on the headstone of her parents, Harley and Golda Russell, in Canaan Cemetery. Its a cenotaph, a monument to someone buried elsewhere. Her final resting place remains a secret. A Wayne County undertaker may have taken it to the grave. Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com Unresolved: Looking back at unsolved murders from the Akron area This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Local history: Did a mortician get away with murder? In the wake of the much-publicized financial crises faced by Birmingham-Southern College, small private colleges and universities across Mississippi have been working hard to remain resilient in the face of their own institutional challenges. Birmingham-Southern, a private liberal arts college in Alabama that has been in operation since its foundation in 1856, has fallen into financial trouble over the past decade. This financial strain has taken a toll on the colleges endowment funds and enrollment numbers. Speculation of its closing has been rampant, and it has been a political challenge at the state and city level. Pleas for loans and donations have come to just keep the doors open for another semester. BSC's President Daniel Coleman said the college was able to maintain its operations for another academic year with the support of a $5 million loan approved this week from the city's council, with additional donations from private donors and other entities. While donations and larger endowments can provide a cushion for challenging times for any institution, Barbara Mistick, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), said institutions must cultivate their own strategies to overcome tough times. The NAICU represents 700 private nonprofit colleges in the United States and focuses its work on federal public policies. Barbara K. Mistick, president of National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Every institution has to find the right business model meant for their institution. And its really important that the programs an institution is offering reflects the communitys needs, Mistick said. People who can figure out the right mixture of programs and create unique niches are able to sustain their institutions. Higher education institutions are key anchors of their community, and its worth fighting to help them be successful. Mistick said one of the biggest challenges in todays educational climate is affordability. From a public policy perspective, its about finding ways to provide enough assistance for students who want to go to college but cant afford to. And its about institutions that want to change the trajectory of students' lives but dont have enough resources to do that, Mistick said. I think every institution is worth trying to save. This looming topic at BSC prompted a closer examination of the financial health and sustainability of liberal arts colleges and small private universities in Mississippi. Mississippi has seven traditional private four-year universities, with William Carey University in Hattiesburg falling into more of a mid-size range with around 5,500 students and having a medical school. The other six small private colleges Belhaven University, Millsaps College, Tougaloo College, Mississippi College, Rust College and Blue Mountain Christian University are more similar to Birmingham-Southern. Each are working to ensure their stability and success, despite their individual challenges. Here is a look at each: Belhaven University Belhaven University has about a $6.6 million endowment, but that doesn't tell the school's whole story, according to its president. Belhaven University, a private evangelical Christian university in Jackson was founded in 1883 through the merger of Mississippi Synodical College and McComb Female Institute. In 1894, the college opened under the name Belhaven College for Young Ladies at its current location in Jackson on Peachtree Street in the Belhaven neighborhood with Dr. Lewis Fitzhugh as the president. In 2010, Belhaven College changed its name to Belhaven University in order to better represent the institutions expanded breadth of programs and reach. Still, in 2023, President Roger Parrott said the college continues to expand their programs by offering traditional and online courses that cater to the needs of students. Parrott said in the last two years, the university has added an option for students to double major, which can offer a student a wider variety of job opportunities. Weve been on the forefront to serve students who want flexibility in their degrees and degrees that fit the economic market, Parrott said. I really feel great about where we are for the future. Belhaven receives education awards: Belhaven University receives College of Distinction honor for 12th year in a row The universitys end of year endowment balance was roughly $6.6 million in 2021, nearly a $1 million decrease from 2020. Parrott said he would like to see this number a bit higher but doesnt believe that endowment alone can solve the problems that private colleges face. Not having a high endowment means we have to provide education that our students want and are willing to pay for, Parrott said. But you have to have revenue sources that are repeatable year after year, and you have to have diversified income streams. We love our donors, but Belhaven does not build our budget to live off donors annual giving. We raise money for capital projects, special projects and new initiatives. We raise about a million dollars a year for scholarships, on a $60 million operating budget while carrying a $15 million capital debt. Parrott said the university is figuring out ways to maintain its income flexibility, something he believes a lot of institutions struggle with managing. Dr. Roger Parrott, president of Belhaven University We are very cost conscious, Parrott said. I think the challenge private schools have is its easy to price out. You just keep raising the tuition over and over until you price tuition off where people cant afford it. With a staff of about 400 full-time employees and 500 adjunct faculty members, Parrott said Belhaven remains committed to providing high level education and supporting to its students and maybe even BSCs students if necessary. Until the college says it's closed and wants help, Im not going to recruit BSCs students, Parrott said. If they want our help, then we will be very accessible to them. We are very clear on our mission to serve, not to be served and the mission is everything, Parrot said. According to U.S. News data, Belhaven University had an undergraduate enrollment of 1,501 in the fall of 2022. Millsaps College Millsaps College is the state's top-ranked private university, according the U.S. News annual ratings. Among the private liberal arts schools in the state, a standout is Millsaps College located in Jackson. The institution was founded in 1890 by Major Reuben Webster Millsaps after returning home from the Civil War. Since then, Millsaps has become one of the states most notable private liberal arts colleges. According to the U.S. News and World Report's 2024 rankings, the college leads the state as the top liberal arts college. Interim President Keith Dunn said achievements such as the U.S. News report and others are success stories. He said Millsaps is still committed to maintaining the academic rigor and demonstrating that Millsaps is the place where excellence meets opportunity. Part of Millsaps commitment is focused on securing financial support. In 2021, the last published data, Millsaps end-of-year endowment balance was roughly $98.5 million. Dunn said he was proud of the endowment number the college has reached. Dr. Keith Dunn, Provost and Dean of Millsaps College, was selected as the interim president June 1. The endowment in 2010 was $79 million and the endowment today is more than $110 million, Dunn said. Thats nearly a 40% increase in the last 13 years. It shows that we have been really good stewards and financially responsible. Its also really important for us that the improvements to the Millsaps experience be funded through endowment growth and fundraising efforts, instead of passing on increased costs to our students and families. Four years ago, under the leadership of former president Rob Pearigen, the topic of whether Millsaps was doing enough to stay afloat was a matter of discussion. This came after student enrollment declined, forcing cuts in programs. In 2019 Millsaps downsizes: What's happening at Millsaps College? Declining enrollment forces cuts, frustrating alumni and students At the time, the college removed three majors (music, religion and education) as well as downsizing others, frustrating alumni and students. The college also saw enrollment numbers down from a high of 1,200 students in the 1900s to 850 in 2019. According to the National Center for Education Statistics in Fall 2022, the yield (enrollment rate) of Millsaps is 13%, while the acceptance rate sits higher at 68%. When a school can get its admitted students to enroll, tuition revenue increases and can make the college more selective. When asked if the institution would like to see the yield increase, Dunn provided a simple answer: yes. We are always seeking to recruit the best and most diverse student body possible, and we certainly want the yield rate to increase to around a 20% rate. Millsaps College students work in and mill around The Bowl on Millsaps' Jackson campus on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. Millsaps has been rated as the top liberal arts college in the state, coming in at 124 in the U.S. News and World Report 2024 National Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. While Millsaps has experienced its own share of declining enrollment numbers similar to Birmingham Southern, Dunn said recruiting students at BSC is not a focus but more so a possibility. He said he was glad that BSC found the means to continue standing. Millsaps enrolled around 160 freshmen this fall. According to U.S. News data, Millsaps has 637 undergraduate students as of 2022. Dunn said as Millsaps moves forward, he believes the future is bright and exciting. We couldnt feel better about our future. Our new plan Lighting the Path will focus on academic excellence, an area we are making really good progress in, Dunn said. We are also in search of a new president, so were really excited about that process. New leadership will bring new ideas and energy to campus and to our work. Tougaloo College Tougaloo College is a private institution in Tougaloo, Miss., seen on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Tougaloo College, previously named as Tougaloo University, is a private historically Black college that sits on 500 acres of land on the northern edge of Jackson. Originally established in 1869 by New York based Christian missionaries, the building acted not as a university but as a catalyst for the education of freed slaves and their offspring. Since then, the school has seen expansion in its facilities and operational funds over the years. According to the college's history page, the college "has continued to strive to create an environment of academic excellence and a campus of engaged learners." But even with the college aiming for success, there have been challenges along the way, according to Tougaloo College Interim President Donzell Lee. Changes in presidency: Tougaloo president steps down. 'It is time for another leader.' Tougaloo has consistently worked to contain costs while protecting our most important assets our students, faculty, staff, and esteemed legacy of academic and social excellence, Lee said. However, our best efforts are insufficient. Lee said a current challenge at the institution is ensuring the financial barriers do not hinder a students access to education. He said the college has held tuition spikes to a minimum by redirecting funds to alleviate financial burden on students. But with 80% of the schools demographic coming from low-income families, students often require help from the college through scholarships to bridge their unmet financial needs. However, even with a low estimated cost of tuition and fees at $29,634 compared to other private institutions in the state, students are often left with a financial gap of $5,000 and $10,000, causing them to rely heavily on loans to finance their education. Lee said the institution takes pride in attracting some of the "best and brightest students" to its undergraduate program with the assistance of federal grants and work-study. Yet, with Congress potentially cutting federal work-study programs and supplemental educational opportunity grants (SEOGs), institutions will have to find a way to replace the funding. According to U.S. News data, Tougaloo had an undergraduate enrollment of 657 in the fall of 2022. Named in Top 20 HBCU for 2021: Tougaloo College, Jackson State University among top 20 HBCUs nationwide in U.S. News rankings Colleges will either rely on philanthropic support, or students will seek out loan programs. And if an institution doesnt replace the necessary income, they will operate at a loss, which isnt sustainable. Tougaloo is concerned with ongoing discussions about Congress imposing devastating cutbacks on Title IV funding and eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, Lee said. "(This) would undermine education and adversely impact the nations economy. Institutions like Tougaloo College are known for helping students of color access affordable and quality higher education. Our educational mission will never change. We manage our resources to maintain the integrity of our academic programs and provide transformative learning experiences. Mississippi College Mississippi College is located in Clinton, in western Hinds County. Mississippi College is a private Baptist university in Clinton. Founded in 1826, the college is the oldest institution of higher learning in Mississippi and was the first co-educational institution in the United States to grant a degree to a woman. President of Mississippi College Blake Thompson declined an interview but provided a statement via email stating that as the institution looks ahead for the college, they are thankful for where Mississippi College currently stands. Our university has built a strong endowment for its size, and this fall, we welcomed the largest incoming class ever, Thompson said. We're excited about the journey ahead, staying dedicated to academic excellence and our mission rooted in the cause of Christ." Blake Thompson, president at Mississippi College in Clinton. Here are the endowment numbers from 2017 to 2021, the last year publicly available through 990 forms required by non-profits to file: 2021: $93,536,425 2020: $99,527,049 2019: $81,138,471 2018: $80,010,351 2017: $79,027,867 According to the National Center for Education Statistics in Fall 2022, the acceptance rate of Mississippi College is 40% and the yield (enrollment rate) is 39%. The average graduation rate is 62% and 31% of students have transferred out from the school. According to U.S. News data, Mississippi College had an undergraduate enrollment of 2,396 in the fall of 2022. Rust College Rust College Founded in 1866, Rust College is the second-oldest private college in the state. The historically Black college is located in Holly Springs. Interim President Dr. Robert M. Dixon declined an interview but did provide a statement via email stating Rust College is not experiencing the financial challenges in relation to Birmingham Southern College. Rust College remains a solvent and vibrant member of the higher education community in Mississippi, Dixon wrote. According to the National Center for Education Statistics in Fall 2022, the acceptance rate of Rust College was 79%, while the yield (enrollment rate) was nearly 10%. The average graduation rate was 25% and 5% of students have transferred out from the school. No data was reported for the college's endowment at the end of the year for 2020 to 2022. According to U.S. News data, Rust College had an undergraduate enrollment of 768 in the fall of 2022. Blue Mountain Christian University The Lowrey Administration Building on Blue Mountain Christian University campus. Blue Mountain Christian University, formerly known as Blue Mountain College, is a private four-year Baptist college in Blue Mountain. The university was originally founded as a women's college in 1873, until the college's board of trustees voted unanimously for the college to be coeducational in 2005. In a statement provided via email by President Barbara McMillian, she said that addressing the challenges that currently face institutions of higher learning requires being especially responsive to the needs of our constituents. Barbara McMillian, president at Blue Mountain Christian University. "For example, at Blue Mountain Christian University we have responded to the critical nursing shortage by launching a BSN and an RN-BSN program just this year," McMillian said. "We will continue to be mindful of ways in which to serve our community while remaining faithful to our mission." Here are the endowment numbers from 2017 to 2021 from the university's 990 forms: 2021: $18,062,246 2020: $20,605,815 2019: $19,185,526 2018: $19,900,336 2017: $17,453,484 The acceptance rate at Blue Mountain was 96%, while the yield (enrollment rate) was 51%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics in Fall 2022. The NCES data also showed the average graduation rate was 39% and nearly 45% of students transferred out from the school. According to U.S. News data, Blue Mountain had an undergraduate enrollment of 892 in the fall of 2022. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Private liberal arts colleges in MS discuss financial health FILE - This undated file photo shows a wolverine in Montana's Glacier National Park. Scientists say climate change could harm populations of the elusive animals that live in alpine areas with deep snow. After nearly two decades of legal wrangling, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a final ruling declaring the North American wolverine to be a threatened species. The wolverines new status as a threatened species makes their killing or harassment illegal. The new protections also require U.S. Fish and Wildlife to prepare a wolverine recovery plan, identify critical habitats for protection and look at the possibility of the reintroduction in certain areas. Montana is central to the wolverines recovery process, as one of three states in which the animals primary habitat is identified. Wolverines once ranged across the entire northernmost tier of the United States from Maine to Washington and southward down the spines of the major Western Mountain ranges as far as California and New Mexico, the USFWS final report reads. Today, wolverine populations exist in the lower-48 states only in the Northern Rocky Mountain regions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Biologists estimate that, in total, the lower-48 wolverine population consists of no more than 300 individuals. Designation of the wolverine as a threatened species was opposed by members of Montanas Republican Congressional delegation, including Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale. Rosendales objection to the inclusion of the wolverine is largely based upon a USFWS evaluation completed in in 2013. Basing this determination on climate modeling and projections that have been consistently inaccurate over decades does not meet the standard of likely or even probable at this stage, the 2013 report states. I urgently request a delay in the decision-making process to allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of the current state of the wolverine population. We cannot afford to restrict the activities and recreation of citizens of Montana based on projections and models that may not materialize and do not meet the requirements listed in federal law. Rosendales response was supported by both Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke. Distribution of wolverines across the northern tier of the United States Wolverines were first petitioned to be listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1995. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the wolverine as a threatened species in 2013. In 2020, after reevaluating the wolverines status, the Service determined listing the wolverine was not warranted. In 2022, the District Court of Montana vacated that decision, meaning the wolverine was again considered a species proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Wolverines are adapted to live in high-latitude ecosystems characterized by deep snow and cold temperatures, the current USFWS report states. Wolverines once ranged across the entire northernmost tier of the United States from Maine to Washington and southward down the spines of the major Western Mountain ranges as far as California and New Mexico. Today, wolverine populations exist in the lower-48 states only in the Northern Rocky Mountain regions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Biologists estimate that, in total, the lower-48 wolverine population consists of no more than 300 individuals. The new protections require U.S. Fish and Wildlife to prepare a wolverine recovery plan, identify critical habitats for protection and look at the possibility of the reintroduction in certain areas. Current and increasing impacts of climate change and associated habitat degradation and fragmentation are imperiling the North American wolverine, said Pacific Regional Director Hugh Morrison. Based on the best available science, this listing determination will help to stem the long-term impact and enhance the viability of wolverines in the contiguous United States. Conservation advocacy groups have pushed for a federal wolverine listing for decades, and the species classification has been the subject of repeated litigation. States including Montana have opposed classifying the wolverine under the Endangered Species Act in the past, though the scarce creature's whereabouts in designated wilderness and other highly protected lands suggests a listing would have a limited effect on federal land management. Research found the wolverine population in a 5,400-square-mile swath of the southern Canadian Rockies declined roughly 40% from 2011 to 2020. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana habitat key in plans to protect wolverine Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Texas are major beneficiaries of US aid to Ukraine, report says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Joe Biden meet at the White House in September 2023. The Washington Post / Getty The Biden Administration has circulated a map showing the states that have benefited from Ukraine aid. In total, US states have received $27 billion of investments and spending on manufacturing supplies. President Biden hopes to convince Congress to continue sending aid to Ukraine to help combat Russia's invasion. Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Texas are three of the US states to have benefited the most from aid sent to Ukraine, according to a map that the Biden Administration has been sending around Capitol Hill. The map is part of an effort to convince Republicans and the American public to support President Biden's proposal to spend billions of dollars on the wars in Ukraine and Israel, as well as the Indo-Pacific region and border enforcement. In October, the president asked Congress to approve $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel, and $9.15 billion for humanitarian aid in the two countries and the Gaza Strip. President Joe Biden delivered a rare Oval Office speech October 19, 2023 urging Americans to back military aid for Israel and Ukraine. JONATHAN ERNST / Getty To help make his case, Biden has highlighted the benefit of aid for US manufacturing and jobs. In total, US states have received $27 billion worth of investments and spending on "munitions and tactical vehicle procurements" to support the resistance against Russia, according to the documents seen by Reuters. Pennsylvania tops the list, having received $2.364 billion to manufacture arms and ammunition. Arizona has brought in $2.196 and Texas $1.45 billion. Three out of eight Republican members of Congress from Pennsylvania, three out of six from Arizona, and 18 out of 25 from Texas have been voting against sending aid to Ukraine, Reuters reported. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has recently become a surprise advocate for increasing aid to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported. Despite previously voting against sending more aid to combat Russian President Vladimir Putin's invading forces, Johnson has used his position as speaker to publicly label Ukraine aid a key priority. "We can't allow Vladimir Putin to march through Europe and we understand the necessity of assisting there," Johnson said, per The Journal. But Biden is also looking to win over the American public by highlighting the domestic benefits of sending aid, particularly as both Pennsylvania and Arizona are key battleground states for the presidential election. "We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment," Biden said last month. "Equipment that defends America and is made in America. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries, made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas," he added. "Just as in World War II, today patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom." On Sunday, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced a security assistance package of up to $125 million for "Ukraine's immediate battlefield needs," as well as $300 million "to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses over the long term." "The Administration continues to call on Congress to meet its commitment to the people of Ukraine by passing additional funding to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russia's brutal war of choice," the DoD said in a press release announcing the package. Read the original article on Business Insider In his later life, my father-in-law routinely woke up for the day at 3 a.m. He'd become such an early bird that he morphed into a night owl, a man resigned to a post-retirement inability to clock in more than four or five hours of rest. I can recall taking his routines as a grim prophecy. And when a few years later I found myself struggling with brutal bouts of insomnia, I wondered if, along with laugh lines and macular degeneration, sleeplessness was an inevitable part of growing older for me, too. There is a persistent folk wisdom that older people simply don't need as much sleep an idea likely borne out of the idea that as our lifestyles ostensibly become less active, our requirements for the reparative benefits of rest diminish. As recently as 2008, a report in Current Biology found that in one experiment, older subjects got 1.5 hours less sleep on average than their younger counterparts. "The most parsimonious explanation for our results," researcher Elizabeth Klerman of Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School said at the time, "is that older people need less sleep." But what we need and what we actually get are two entirely different entities and we are in the midst of a sleep shortage that's affecting Americans across all generational lines. The CDC notes that "A third of US adults report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep." It's a crisis that can wreak havoc on our physical and mental health, with sleep deprivation contributing to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, depression and stroke. And even accounting for fluctuations among different age populations, most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. The key is just staying in a healthy range. Dr. Ryan Sultan, a board-certified psychiatrist, therapist, researcher and professor at Columbia University, says that "As we age, the amount of sleep needed tends to decrease. Older adults may be well-rested and alert after 6 to 7 hours." My late father-in-law may not have had much steam in him after dinnertime, but his days were as active and engaged as his solitary predawn hours. Sultan says it's just about paying attention to overall health patterns and any changes that feel off. "In my clinical experience," he says, "I have observed that older adults often face unique challenges, such as medical conditions or medications affecting sleep. Addressing these factors with a healthcare professional is crucial for developing a tailored approach to sleep improvement." As Sultan puts it, "The concept of normal sleep does change as we age, and recognizing these shifts is essential for maintaining optimal health." The real culprit to watch out for as we age isn't the amount of sleep, but quality of it. Older people have unique vulnerabilities around getting a deep, steady rest. A 2017 analysis in the journal Sleep Medicine Clinics explained how so-called "sleep architecture" can change with age, including "advanced sleep timing, shortened nocturnal sleep duration, increased frequency of daytime naps, increased number of nocturnal awakenings and time spent awake during the night, decreased slow wave sleep, and other changes." Auckland sleep psychologist Dan Ford, clinical director of the Better Sleep Clinic, puts it simply, "Generally speaking, sleep ability declines as we age as the mechanisms that control sleep become less robust over time." But nothing is set in stone. He adds, "Healthy older adults do not necessarily show these changes in their sleep parameters." Why do those gorgeous, lengthy sleeps of our younger years become so elusive as we age? There are a whole litany of reasons. There's menopause, with its discomforts and night sweats. Bathroom issues can likewise keep a person of any gender up and down all night long. Changes in the urinary tract, along with other factors like bladder obstruction, make nocturia (frequent nighttime urination) far more common in adults over the age of 60. There are other physical factors as well the National Council on Aging estimates that "56% of people age 65 and older have a high risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea." Our circadian rhythms also change as we age, edging us to what can make us feel like we're living in a different time zone from our family and friends. And then there are the mental health issues. Grief, loneliness, financial loss and other stressors can wreck a good night's rest, and the symptoms of depression and anxiety often go undiagnosed. A 2018 study on insomnia in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that "As many as 50% of older adults complain about difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep." Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. So if you're noticing that your nights now typically involve periods of wakefulness, is playing a little catch up when possible during the day a good idea? "Napping can be a helpful strategy for older adults," says Dr. Ryan Sultan, "but the timing and duration matter. Short naps of around 20 to 30 minutes can boost alertness without interfering with nighttime sleep. However, extended or late-afternoon naps might disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall asleep at night." Mileage can vary even there, though I have a friend in his late 50s who regularly konks out before making dinner. He calls it a "nappetizer." For those who have a hard time resisting longer naps, Rod Mitchell, a Calgary psychologist with expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, recommends offsetting grogginess with a "coffee nap." He says, "Combine a small, controlled intake of caffeine (such as a half cup of coffee) followed by a short, 20-minute nap. This method can enhance the restorative effect of napping, with the caffeine kicking in just as you wake up, potentially offering a more refreshing experience." However many candles may be on your own next birthday cake, we all need to prioritize adequate rest. We know that building healthy routines like regular bedtimes, avoiding too much caffeine and late-night doomscrolling or binge-watching and getting adequate physical activity are the best bet for a better night even if it's all easier said than done. Our culture typically regards aging as a failure and sleep as for the weak. But the plain fact is that our bodies change over time. That doesn't mean that once you hit your AARP era, you suddenly can function just fine on 5 hours of sack time. Instead, if you want to feel younger, you just might actually need to sleep more. 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. 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. Doi jucatori cu experienta la echipa de futsal CSM Targu Mures Echipa de futsal a Clubului Sportiv Municipal Targu Mures s-a intarit cu doi jucatori cu experienta, Ion Al-Ioani si Tamas Tifan. Ion-Al Ioani, in varsta de 40 ani, a evoluat de-a lungul timpului la aproape toate echipele de futsal de la noi din tara, inclusiv la City`US [citeste mai departe] Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify the expected effect of a planned property tax cap in Colorado Springs next year, and to correct a statement about how much homeowners can expect to pay in city property taxes in 2024. Colorado Springs officials expect a planned temporary cap on the city's property tax rate will mitigate some financial effects from increased property taxes next year. The Colorado Springs City Council last week voted to cap the city's 2024 property tax rate, a credit city Chief Financial Officer Charae McDaniel expects will total about $6.2 million next year. Colorado Springs' 2023 property tax rate for taxes payable in 2024, called a mill levy, will be 3.579 mills composed of an operating mill levy of 4.279 mills and a temporary tax credit of 0.70 mills. This tax rate is down from the current 3.929 mills. [Click HERE to calculate estimated property taxes] [Click HERE to go to El Paso County assessor's site] The credit applies to all types of properties: residential, commercial and government. The council is scheduled to formally establish the new rate with a second vote at the board's regular meeting Dec. 12. Council's action this week came days before Gov. Jared Polis asked local governments to reduce their property tax rates to offer more relief to homeowners. Colorado legislators recently adopted in a special session new laws that reduce the assessment ratio and increase the amount homeowners can claim for exemption when calculating tax liability. The state reduction covers only residential properties. The legislation subtracts $55,000 per home from state property tax valuation and reduces the residential assessment rate to 6.7%, down from 6.765%. For a $500,000 home, state officials expect the savings will be on average $505 in 2023 property tax bills. Colorado Springs homeowners living in a $400,000 home can expect to pay $83 in city property taxes next year, McDaniel said Friday. For a $500,000 home, that amount is expected to be $107. Years before Polis called on Colorado municipalities this week to consider reducing their property tax rates, Colorado Springs had already reduced its mill levy to help mitigate the effect of increasing property taxes. 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. Property tax assessments had been increasing over the last few years "at a pretty significant rate," McDaniel said. City officials first put in place a temporary property tax cap in 2022, and then extended that cap in 2023 and will again in 2024. Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR, restricts the amount of overall property tax revenues local governments can collect each year, using a formula based on population growth. Colorado Springs officials saw the city would be collecting property tax revenues over the TABOR limit and had to decide between reducing the property tax rate or collecting the revenues and either refunding them or asking voters to let the city retain them, McDaniel said. When putting together the city's 2022 budget, "the decision was made: Let's go ahead and provide the credit on the property tax bill for all residents so it provides at least some relief from those values that are increasing at a pretty good rate there," she said. The city sized the property tax credit so it was estimated to collect only what the city could retain under TABOR, McDaniel said. Any revenues estimated to be over the cap were provided back to taxpayers through the credit. Residential property owners can calculate their residential assessed value by taking the actual value of their home, subtracting $55,000, and multiplying that number by .067. To calculate property taxes, multiply the assessed value by the overall mill levy rate, which should first be divided by 1,000. Overall mill levy rates include those from all taxing authorities including cities, counties, school districts and special districts, which set tax rates and levy the tax on a property. Colorado Springs property owners can find their property's market value and all of the respective taxing entities on the El Paso County assessor's website at property.spatialest.com/co/elpaso. Once the property is located on the website, scroll down the page to the "Tax Entity and Levy Information" section, which provides all the taxing entities and their levies for that specific property. The city expects to collect $27.7 million in property tax revenues in 2024, McDaniel said. Property taxes fund public schools, county and municipal governments, libraries and special districts. All property tax revenues stay within the county. Caldura excesiva din casa i-a ucis pe doi soti. Temperatura din locuinta depasise 49 de grade Celsius Doi soti au avut parte de un sfarsit tragic, dupa ce temperatura din camera in care stateau a crescut exagerat de mult. Acestia au pornit un calorifer, iar de aici a inceput calvarul. [citeste mai departe] YORK For 23 years pilots from around the region have flown to York Municipal Airport once a month for an omelette and pancake breakfast. On Saturday, York had its final fly-in breakfast. The York Experimental Aircraft Association chapter has held the breakfast on the first Saturday of every month since 2000. Prop plane pilots from Norfolk, Lincoln, Council Bluffs, Iowa and countless other places flew out for the event, which started at 8 a.m. Others flew helicopters to get there and some people drove. Rodney Matlock, vice president of EAA Chapter 1055, told the News-Times that when the chapter met last week, they asked each other how much longer they were prepared to host the breakfast. There are only seven active members of the chapter. At 70, Matlock is the youngest. They agreed at the chapter meeting last month that it was probably time to end the breakfast. A breakfast group may call to mind a small gathering, but the number of people eating the monthly breakfast usually ranges between 50 and 120, Matlock said. There were 111 on Saturday. The smell of eggs and smoke from the griddle filled the room. The line stretched the width of the hangar at one point. In 23 years, they only ran out of breakfast once, Matlock said. That time everyone got to eat the breakfast except the cooks, who ate at Chances R Restaurant in York. The chapter doesnt charge for the breakfast they just ask for a donation. (Saturdays was completely free.) People have been so generous over the years that the chapter has been able to fund aviation school scholarships for area kids, like Emily Farley. Farley is now a commercial pilot for a small, Lincoln-based aviation company. She had her first experiencing riding in a plane with Matlock. The fly-in breakfast is an opportunity for community and camaraderie, Farley told the News-Times. You see friends you might only see once a month. Plus, Farley explained, it gives everyone an opportunity to get out and have some fun. An even younger generation had some representation on Saturday. Cody Forbush flew all the way from 15 miles east of Council Bluffs with his son, Wesley, 10, and Wesleys friend, Julius, 10. Forbush was kind enough to take the News-Times on a quick trip around York after breakfast. Council Bluffs is not by any means the furthest someone has flown from. A pilot from Rifle, a town on the western side of Colorado, once stopped by the York airport to refuel on the first Saturday of the month, Matlock said. He left with fuel and a big breakfast. Rodney Matlock, along with his son, Jesse, and his wife Pat, cooked Saturdays breakfast: pancakes, sausages, and a roadkill omelette, which has everything you might want peppers, onions, cheese, and ham. The chapter is planning to give away the cooking equipment, which includes a refrigerator and a griddle, to a nearby EAA chapter in the hopes that the tradition may live on. Yorks fly-in breakfast is one of two in Nebraska the other happens on the third Saturday of the month in Crete. Matlock isnt planning to stop cooking, a friend, Chris Jasa, told the News-Times. Matlock and Jasa will be serving breakfast at Faith Lutheran Church at 7 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month. They just ask that you let them know if you are going so they can make sure to have enough food. VideoGlobal media professionals gather in Guangzhou, discuss media responsibility 2023-12-03 10:48 The 5th World Media Summit convenes from December 1 to 8, 2023 in China's Guangzhou city of Guangdong Province, and Kunming city of Yunnan Province. The World Media Summit is an essential high-end platform for media exchange and coordination. Over 350 delegates, including heads of more than 200 mainstream media outlets and think tanks, government officials and representatives of international organizations participate in the event. Source :Yangcheng Evening News | | Video| 2023 Understanding China Conference highly praised by international guests 2023-12-03 23:49 From 3rd to 5th December, the 2023 Understanding China Conference was held in Guangzhou. The year's conference welcomes the largest number of participants ever, with experts from various fields exchanging and discussing issues such as whole-process people's democracy, economic development, relations among great powers, cultural exchanges, green and low-carbon, new scientific and technological revolution, and adolescent education. 63 international guests from over 30 countries and regions attended the conference, including five former political leaders at the level of deputy prime minister and above, five former dignitaries at the ministerial level, as well as elites from politics, academics, business and international organizations. Participants generally agreed that the Understanding China Conference has played an important role in reducing the "Understanding Deficit" that exists worldwide and helping the world to Understand China. Source :Yangcheng Evening News | | New Delhi: The BJP's landslide victory in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections is a major setback for two veteran Congress leaders and former Chief Ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh. Both these leaders had actively led the campaign Kamal Nath from the front, while Digvijaya Singh led the cadre from behind the curtain. The Congress had lost Madhya Pradesh to the BJP in 2003, after two terms of Digvijaya Singh, and had managed to come back into power after a gap of 15 years in 2018. Despite being two-three seats short of a majority, it had managed to form a government, headed by Kamal Nath. (Also Read: Rajasthan CM Gehlot To Hand Over Resignation To Governor Sunday Evening: Sources) However, the defection of Jyotiraditya Scindia and his loyalist MLAs led to the Congress government's fall and the BJP came back into power again in March 2020. (Also Read: 'Kaun Banega Mukhya Mantri?' Names Of Raje, Diya, Shekhawat & Baba Balaknath Trending) After this setback in 2020, these two senior Congress politicians had energised the shattered party cadre again by winning the mayoral election last year, and they were confident to win the assembly election too, but their hopes were dashed, spelling a virtual end to their long political career. By the next Assembly election, both these Congress veterans will be above 80 years old. This massive defeat will also lower the confidence of the Congress workers on the ground, who fought hard against the BJP's multi-layer cadres in Madhya Pradesh. For the last couple of years, the Congress state unit has witnessed tremendous changes, especially on the grassroots level and this was the reason, it had high expectations of winning this election. It was also the first time Kamal Nath witnessed such a massive defeat in his long political career. During the poll campaign, he was often heard saying: I have contested several elections in 40 years of my political career and I have won all of them." In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP won 28 out of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, but Kamal Nath managed to win Chhindwara for his son Nakul Nath despite the strong wave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. New Delhi: Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, five states underwent assembly polls, and the vote counting for four occurred on December 3, where the BJP secured a massive victory in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. In today's DNA, Zee News Anchor Pranay Upadhyaya analyzed the relevance of the "Modi Brand" in elections and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political gambit. The BJP dominated the Assembly Elections 2023 with a massive triumph in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. Senior leaders and key candidates of the saffron party conducted numerous rallies and public meetings. However, PM Modi also campaigned rigorously to ensure the party's success. The phrase "Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai" was coined by the BJP, and today, after the party's significant win in three states, Party President JP Nadda reiterated the statement at the party headquarters in front of hundreds of party workers, supporters, and the PM himself. Before PM Modi's government in 2014, the NDA governed 7 states, while Congress held 14. However, as of December 2023, the NDA rules in 18 states, while Congress is in power in 5 states, of which only 3 have a majority. Considered crucial semifinals leading up to the pivotal 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the results of these assembly elections hold immense significance, shaping the trajectory of Indian politics. PM Modi has expressed confidence in the BJP's landslide victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. Indore Assembly Elections Results Live: BJP seemed to be on its way to a massive victory in Madhya Pradesh elections with chief minister Shivraj Chauhan looking forward to a fourth term as the states leader. The partys headquarters in Bhopal were filled with joy and celebration as the vote counting for the Assembly polls continued on Sunday. The votes for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections 2030 are being counted. BJP is getting a huge lead in the initial trends. BJP has secured a lead on more than 150 seats out of 230 assembly seats, while Congress has secured a lead on more than 70 seats. The Nehru Stadium in Indore has been filled with officials and staff since morning for the vote counting. BJP is leading on all 9 assembly seats in Indore. BJPs Kailash Vijayvargiya, Ramesh Mendola, Golu Shukla, Malini Gaur, Mahendra Hardia, Manoj Patel, Tulsi Silawat, Madhu Varma, Usha Thakur are all ahead. BJP workers have begun taking out rallies. BJP workers can be seen shouting slogans in different groups all over. Firecrackers have begun exploding outside the BJP office. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly witnessed a fierce contest between the BJP and the Congress, which had lost its 15-month old government, formed in 2018, in 2020 with the help of Jyotiraditya Scindia who switched sides from the Congress to the BJP. As the ECI results showed a clear lead for the BJP, Chouhan thanked the double engine BJP government for the partys success in the state. Counting of votes for the Mizoram assembly election has concluded today. Kolasib is one of the 40 constituencies of Mizoram. Key candidates from the seat include R. Lalthangliana of the BJP, S Lalrinawma of the Congress, K. Lalrinliana of the MNF and Lalfamkima of the ZPM. K. Lalrinliana is the sitting MLA from the seat. From the Tuirial seat, BJP has fielded F. Vanhmingthanga, Dr. Henry Zodinliana Pachuau as Congress candidates, K. Laldawngliana is MNF candidate and Laltlanmawia as ZPM candidate. K. Laldawngliana is the sitting MLA from the seat. From the Serlui assembly constituency, ZPM has fielded Jimmy Laltlanmawia while Robinson Malsawmtluanga Hmar is the BJP candidate, Lalhmachhuana is the Congress candidate and Lalrinsanga Ralte is the MNF candidate. Lalrinsanga Ralte is the sitting MLA from the seat. Winning Candidate Name Here: Kolasib: LALFAMKIMA of Zoram Peoples Movement -WON Tuirial: K. LALDAWNGLIANA of Mizo National Front WON Serlui: LALRINSANGA RALTE of Mizo National Front WON According to the exit polls, it seems like there might be a situation of a tied assembly or a likelihood of the Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) gaining a majority in the state. Different polls have varied predictions: Axis-My India forecasts a substantial lead for the ZPM with an estimated 28-35 seats, 3-7 seats for the Mizo National Front (MNF), and 2-4 seats for Congress. Meanwhile, C-Voter suggests 15-21 seats for the MNF, 12-18 for the ZPM, 2-8 for Congress, and 0-5 for other parties. Jan Ki Baat's poll indicates 10-14 seats for the MNF, 15-25 for the ZPM, 5-9 for Congress, and 0-2 for the BJP. In a summary of these polls, the ZPM appears to hold a clear majority with 22 seats, while the MNF secures 12 seats. Authorities on Saturday said 44-year-old Jason Campbell of Ogden, Utah, is a suspect in a shooting that killed Cortez police Sgt. Michael Moran. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said no one has been arrested in connection with Wednesday's shooting. Investigators interviewed and released a person who was inside Campbell's vehicle during the shooting, and they are piecing together a timeline of the incident, according to the bureau. This article will be updated once more information is received. Mizoram Election Results Updates: In the Mizoram assembl elections, Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) has secured a massive majority by winning 27 out of the 40 seats. The ZPM leader Lalduhoma is all set to become the Chief Minister. On the other hand, in a setback for the Mizo National Front, outgoing Chief Minister Zoramthanga lost from Aizwal East 1 seat while his party got reduced to just 10 seats. The BJP has won two seats while the Congress could get one. The counting of votes for the Mizoram assembly election has concluded. The counting was earlier scheduled for December 3 but was shifted to December 4 after the Election Commission of India got representation from various quarters of the society for the same. Political parties and civil society had urged the ECI to change the counting date saying Sunday is an auspicious day for the Christians as they attend mass prayers. Mizoram is a Christian-majority state. Axis-My India exit poll gave a clear majority to the Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM). It gave 28-35 seats to the ZPM, 3-7 to the MNF and 2-4 to Congress. The exit poll gave 0-2 seats to the BJP. The C-Voter exit poll gave 15-21 seats to the MNF, 12-18 to the ZPM, 2-8 to Congress and 0-5 seats to others. The Jan Ki Baat exit poll gave 10-14 seats to the MNF, 15-25 seats to the ZPM, 5-9 seats to the Congress and 0-2 seats to the BJP. In the polls of the poll, the ZPM got a clear majority with 22 seats while the MNF got 12 seats. There are 40 seats in the Mizoram assembly election and the majority mark is 21. New Delhi: Celebrations erupted in Madhya Pradesh as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gained the upper hand and crossed the majority mark comfortably and is set to retain power in the State with a landslide victory. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was seen in a jubilant mood at his residence and flashed a victory sign at CM House along with his family, in Bhopal on Sunday. (Also Read: Rajasthan's People Rejected Congress, Accepted BJP's 'suraaj': Vasundhara Raje) The Bharata Janata Party (BJP) was ahead in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while the Congress was leading in Telangana, according to the Election Commission as votes were counted on Sunday, December 3, 2023, for Assembly polls. (Also Read: Rajasthan CM Gehlot To Hand Over Resignation To Governor Sunday Evening: Sources) BJP workers celebrated with firecrackers, dhol, sweets and garlands as the party crossed the majority mark in Madhya Pradesh elections. Sweets were exchanged between the senior party leaders. Chouhan along with his family greeted party workers and supporters in Bhopal and later exchanged with state BJP president VD Sharma and union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw was also present. As per the latest figures available from the Election Commission, the BJP was leading in 161 of the 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress was ahead in 66 seats. The election to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly was a fight between the BJP and the Congress, whose then 15-month government, formed in the year 2018 was toppled from power in 2020 with help from Jyotiraditya Scindia who defected to BJP from the Congress. The BJP though had fielded three central ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel, and Faggan Singh Kulaste to tackle the perceived anti-incumbency against Chouhan. Chouhan relied heavily on schemes for women like the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' under which Rs 1250 is transferred monthly to eligible women from poor families in the state. While, Congress described it as an election sop, implemented months before the assembly polls, the BJP leaders have said that it is in line with the party's work for empowering women. New Delhi: When assembly elections were announced, Madhya Pradesh was considered the weakest link for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) among four other states going to polls. However, the party is now headed for a landslide victory with more than 150 seats in its kitty. Incumbent BJP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has played a key role in the party's victory as Modi Magic failed to bear fruits for the party in recently held assembly elections. He is a popular figure among the OBC community, and he has been able to connect with Dalits and tribals as well. Chouhan's popularity was evident in the results. The BJP won a majority of seats in the OBC-dominated regions of the state. It also made inroads into Congress strongholds in the Mahakaushal, Chambal, and Bastar regions. Rahul Gandhi's Failure Rahul Gandhi's India Jodo Yatra was seen as a major test for the Congress. The party promised to conduct a caste census in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan if it won. However, this promise did not resonate with voters. Buoyed by the caste census conducted in Bihar by Nitish Kumar-Tejashwi Yadav led alliance government, Rahuld Gandhi expanded the scope by promising proportional representation to the community if voted to power in MP. He did not realise that Shivraj himself has been considered the champion of the OBC community since days when the BJP was called 'Baniyon ki Party'. The Congress also tried to make an issue out of an incident in which a BJP leader urinated on a poor tribal Dashmat Rawat. But Chouhan's handling of the situation, in which he washed his feet and hugged her, helped to defuse the controversy. Rahuls Guarantees Rejected Ever since the Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan governments decided to bring back the Old Pension Scheme, Narendra Modi has been attacking freebies politics. There was a time when it seemed that only because of the Old Pension Scheme, the BJP could suffer losses across the country. But the Modi government continued to warn of the danger of a shortage in the treasury due to this scheme. The guarantee that Kamal Nath made in MP on the advice of Rahul Gandhi-Priyanka Gandhi also included the Old Pension Scheme. In addition, it promised to waive power tariff up to 100 units, a cylinder at Rs 500, Rs 1,500 per month for Nari Samman Yojna, and Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 to school children. To end the popularity of Mama, as Shivraj is popularly known among half the population, the Congress also announced to give Rs 2 lakh under the Meri Beti Rani scheme. However voters have rejected it reposing faith on the leader who has been delivering for them. Shivraj The CM A curious incident happened on September 24 in Bhopal. When Amit Shah was irritated by a journalist's question about whether the BJP would field Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the CM candidate. He replied that Shivraj is the CM right now, we will see what happens later. Exactly ten days later, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was in Dindori. Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi had already made a jibe about Shivraj, saying that the PM does not even take his name from the stage these days. Then Shivraj took the command in his own hands. In the Dindori meeting, he roared at the crowd, asking if he was running a bad government. He then asked the crowd if they wanted him to be the CM. When the crowd said yes, Shivraj asked for a promise of votes. Shivraj also became emotional several times during the meetings. In Budhni, among the women, he said that if he was not around, they would miss a brother like him. However, in Khandwa, he also said that he does not have any greed for the post. So In nutshell, when the high command hesitated to declare Shivraj as the CM candidate, he himself did so. In such a scenario It would be very difficult to ignore the old powerhouse in Shivraj when elected MLAs of BJP would sit to election the leader of the legislature party. BJP seems all set to win Rajasthan and win big, dislodging the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. So who will be the chief minister of the state if BJP wins? Here are some probables and the factors that work for or against them. Vasundhara Raje: A two-time chief minister of Rajasthan, Raje has shared an uneasy relationship with the top brass in Delhi. While she is BJP's most popular face, several sources say that the High Command will not wish to make her a CM for the third time, especially if the party gets a thumping majority, given her contentious relationship with the central leadership. In 2003, Vasundhara Raje became the first woman to serve as the chief minister of Rajasthan. If the contest in Rajasthan is a close contest - which seems unlikely now - the top brass might have to depend on Raje and her supporters. Mahant Balaknath: Will it be the rise of another Yogi following Adityanath in national politics? A BJP Lok Sabha MP from Alwar, he is contesting against Imran Khan of the Congress for the crucial Tijara Assembly seat. The man is already portraying himself as the Adityanath of Rajasthan. Balak Nath is the eighth mahant from Mastnath Mutt of Rohtak. Some leaders have pointed out that his bachelor's status can prove to be an advantage as he can dedicate his entire time to governance. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Union Jal Shakti Minister reportedly enjoys the trust of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He began his political journey with the ABVP and became the students union president of Jodhpurs Jai Narain Vyas University in 1992. One negative factor that can work against Shekhawat is his name being linked with the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam. Satish Poonia: Reports say Punia is also one of the contenders for the post of Chief Minister if BJP wins. Punia has emerged as a major Jat face in state politics. He has served as BJP's state president for three years and a half before the post was handed over to CP Joshi. Diya Kumari: The Bharatiya Janata Party's sitting MP and party's candidate from Jaipur's Vidyadhar Nagar seat, Diya Kumari is also touted by some sections as a chief ministerial probable. A woman leader from a regal background, there have been talks that Diya Kumari is groomed as a counter to Vasundhara Raje by BJP's central leadership. Arjun Ram Meghwal: The Union minister who is a former bureaucrat also appears to be a contender for the chief ministers post. The 69-year-old is one of the Dalit faces in Rajasthan and is known to be PM Modi's good books. Meghwa was an IAS officer and won the Lok Sabha elections from Bikaner in 2009. Some other names doing the rounds include BJP Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Rajendra Singh Rathore, former Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi. As the BJP heads towards victory in the Rajasthan Assembly polls, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot handed over his resignation letter to Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Sunday. "Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reached Raj Bhavan on Sunday and submitted his resignation from the post of Chief Minister to Governor Kalraj Mishra," according to a press statement from the Rajasthan governor's office. Meanwhile, Governor Mishra accepted the resignation with immediate effect and urged Gehlot to continue working until the formation of the new government in the state, the release stated. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday called it an 'unexpected result' and said that he humbly accepts the mandate given by the public in the state. Also read: BJP Sweeps Madhya Pradesh, Celebrations Across State - IN PICS In a post on X, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, "We humbly accept the mandate given by the people of Rajasthan. This is an unexpected result for everyone. This defeat shows that we were not completely successful in taking our plans, laws and innovations to the public." He said that the schemes started by him should continue in the new BJP government. "I wish the new government all the best. My advice to them is that despite working hard, we were not successful, but it does not mean that they should stop working after coming to the government. All the schemes including OPS, Chiranjeevi and the pace of development that we have given to Rajasthan in these five years should be taken forward," he said. Ashok Gehlot also thanked the Congress workers and said, "Those party workers who worked hard in this election, I express my gratitude to them and all the voters who believed in us." According to recent trends, Gehlot is leading from the Sardarpura constituency with a margin of 26,396 votes against BJP candidate Mahendra Rathore. Meanwhile, the BJP is leading on 115 seats in a 200-member Assembly. Congress is ahead on 69 seats. Rajasthan went to the polls on 199 of 200 assembly seats on November 25. The majority mark in the state is 100. In the Karanpur constituency, elections were adjourned due to the passing away of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will hand over his resignation to Governor Kalraj Mishra Sunday evening, sources said after the assembly poll results showed the BJP was set to return to power in the state. Sources said Gehlot is slated to meet the governor at 5.30 pm. According to available counting trends in the afternoon, the BJP has won eight seats and is leading on 106, while the Congress has won one seat and is leading on 69 seats. (Also Read: Assembly Election Results 2023: BJP, Congress In Close Fight In Chhattisgarh) Polling in 199 out of 200 assembly seats in the state was held on November 25. (Also Read: MP Polls: CM Chouhan, Cong's Nath Ahead, Union Minister Kulaste Trails) New Delhi: The results of the assembly elections 2023 in four key states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana - are being announced today as the votes are being counted. The early trends by TV channels show that the Congress and the BJP are in a tight race in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress is challenging the BJP in Chhattisgarh and the BRS in Telangana. The vote counting began at 8am on Sunday under strict security, marking the end of the intense battle that is considered as a rehearsal before the grand finale in 2024. The outcome of the assembly elections in these four important states will have a huge impact on the possible political dynamics that will emerge in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The Congress, which is the ruling party in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is the governing party in Madhya Pradesh, are facing a direct competition in these three states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a third consecutive victory in Telangana. The pollsters have given varied predictions, with some exit polls giving an advantage to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and others favouring the Congress in Telangana and Chhattisgarh. The vote counting is going on for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan. The voting for one seat in Rajasthan was delayed due to the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Kooner. The voter turnout was recorded at 75.45 per cent, slightly higher than the 74.71 per cent in 2018. Here are the latest updates on the Rajasthan Assembly Election Results 2023: Early Trends Of Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023 Results: According to early trends, the Congress and the BJP are neck-and-neck in Rajasthan. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is leading from Sardarpura constituency, and his former deputy Sachin Pilot is also leading from Tonk. BJP leader and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is leading from Jhalrapatanm seat and her colleague Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is leading from Jhotwara constituency. The counting of postal ballots has been completed, and the EVM counting has started. Before the EVM counting, District election Officer Neelabh Saxena inspected the media room. Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta instructed district election officers that as per the provisions of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the District Magistrate, after the counting of votes, events such as victory processions, joyous firing, use of DJ vehicles, and vehicle rallies, among others, would be banned. Sardarpura is one of the most high-profile constituencies as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been winning this Congress bastion since 1998. The BJP has fielded Mahendra Singh Rathore in an attempt to challenge the Chief Minister. As per early trends, Gehlot is leading from the constituency. Tonk is another significant constituency where former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot is competing against BJPs Ajit Singh Mehta. Pilot is leading in early trends from the constituency. Pilots previous victory in 2018 by a large margin makes this seat particularly interesting to watch for. Telangana Congress Chief Revanth Reddy seems to have changed the course of Congress in the state. The 56-year-old politician joined the party only six years ago and has swiftly risen to become the state units working president, MP and, is currently, Telangana Congress president. Reddy's style of leading has earned praise as well as criticism. For one, he does not shy away from criticising members of his own party. He is also seen singing praises of his mentor, N Chandrababu Naidu, and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of which he was once a member and also a two-time TDP MLA. Revanth Reddy is married to veteran Congress leader Jaipal Reddys niece, Geetha. The couple has a daughter. According to reports, due to different political affiliations at that time, the families were against the match but later the problems were resolved. Reddy was born on November 8, 1969, at Kondareddy Palli of Mahboobnagar district. He is a graduate of arts and has studied Bachelor of Arts from A. V. College, Osmania University. He was a member of the right-wing ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) while he was a student. After completing his studies, Revanth started a printing press. Reddy has been a sharp critic of the current chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his party. He became the Telangana Congress chief in July 2021 and as his visibility increased, he was seen taking part in street protests on a number of issues against the ruling BRS government. Recently, he attacked KCR's son KTR saying, "I am on merit quota. He is on management quota/NRI quota. Everyone knows KTR as KCR's son. We have nothing to do with KTR. Our political fight is with KCR." In the Legislative Assembly elections held in 2014 before the formation of Telangana, Revanth once again became the TDP candidate from Kodangal seat and once again defeated Gurunath Reddy, who was the TRS candidate this time. Their victory margin also doubled in this election. After this performance, TDP made Revanth the leader of the House. On August 25, 2017, TDP reportedly dismissed Revanth from this post after it was revealed that he was going to join Congress. Finally, on October 31, 2017, Revanth joined the Congress. New Delhi: In a stunning upset, the Congress party has emerged as the clear winner in the Telangana assembly elections, ending the 10-year reign of the Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by K Chandrashekar Rao. The Congress, which had formed a pre-poll alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), has secured a comfortable majority in the 119-member house, according to the latest trends. The BRS, which had swept the 2018 polls with 88 seats, has suffered a massive erosion of its vote share and seat tally, losing ground to the Congress and its allies in most regions of the state. The BJP, which had hoped to make inroads in the state, has also performed poorly, retaining only a handful of seats. What led to this dramatic turnaround in the state's political landscape? Here are some of the key factors that contributed to the Congress' thumping victory and the fall of the KCR empire in Telangana. Anti-Incumbency And Discontent Among Masses The BRS government, which had come to power on the promise of delivering a "golden Telangana", had faced growing criticism for its alleged failure to fulfil the aspirations of the people, especially the farmers, the youth, the Dalits and the backward classes. The Congress tapped into this discontent and highlighted the issues of unemployment, agrarian distress, corruption, nepotism, and lack of development in the state. The Congress also accused KCR of running a "family rule" and neglecting the welfare of the common people. Welfare Schemes And Populist Promises The Congress, in its manifesto, offered a slew of welfare schemes and populist promises to woo the voters. Some of the major ones were: - Mahalakshmi, a women-focussed welfare programme that promised Rs 10,000 per month to every household headed by a woman. - Rythu Bharosa, a scheme for farmers and agricultural workers that promised a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 7,000 per quintal for cotton, along with free electricity, water, seeds and fertilizers. - Indiramma, a scheme for providing cheap housing for the poor, with a target of building 25 lakh houses in five years. - Gruhajyothy, a scheme for subsidizing power bills for domestic consumers, with a cap of Rs 100 per month for up to 100 units of consumption. - Yuva Vikasam, a scheme for helping children from economically backward homes with their education, with a provision of free laptops, tablets, books and uniforms, along with scholarships and fee reimbursement. - Cheyutha, a scheme for providing health insurance and pension to the elderly, the disabled and the widows, with a monthly amount of Rs 2,000. Minority Consolidation The Congress also managed to consolidate the minority vote, especially the Muslim vote, which constitutes about 12% of the state's population. The Congress had issued a "Minority Declaration" before the polls, which outlined its vision for the welfare and empowerment of the minorities. The declaration promised reservation for Muslims in education and employment, protection of their religious and cultural rights, and establishment of a separate ministry for minority affairs. The Congress also tried to polarize the electorate along communal lines, by portraying the BRS as a "stooge" of the BJP and the RSS, and accusing it of compromising the interests of the minorities. The Congress also attacked the BRS for its alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a Hyderabad-based party that is often accused of being communal and divisive. The Congress claimed that the BRS-AIMIM nexus was a threat to the secular fabric of the state and the country. Weak And Divided Opposition The Congress also benefited from the weakness and division of the opposition parties, especially the BJP and the AIMIM. The BJP, which had replaced its state president Bandi Sanjay with G Kishan Reddy in July, had failed to revive its fortunes in the state, despite the high-profile campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central leaders. The BJP had also faced internal dissent and defections, with several of its leaders joining the Congress or the BRS. The AIMIM, which had enjoyed a monopoly over the Muslim vote in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas, had also faced a tough challenge from the Congress and its allies, who had made inroads into its bastions. The AIMIM had also lost some of its credibility and popularity, due to its perceived proximity to the BRS and the BJP, and its alleged involvement in corruption and criminal cases. Effective Campaign Strategy And Leadership The Congress also ran an effective and aggressive campaign, led by its state president N Uttam Kumar Reddy and other senior leaders like K Jana Reddy, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Revanth Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. The Congress also roped in prominent faces from other parties, such as N Chandrababu Naidu from the TDP, Pawan Kalyan from the Jana Sena, and M Kodandaram from the TJS, to boost its appeal and outreach. The Congress also hired a professional campaign strategist, Sunil Kanugolu, who had earlier worked with the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. Kanugolu devised a comprehensive campaign plan, which included a mix of conventional and unconventional methods, such as rallies, roadshows, door-to-door visits, social media, videos, memes, GIFs, and posters. The Congress also used innovative slogans and hashtags, such as #ByeByeKCR, #CongressKiAayegiBaar, and #TelanganaWithCongress, to create a buzz and a wave in its favour. The Charisma And Popularity Of Rahul Gandhi The Congress also banked on the charisma and popularity of its national president Rahul Gandhi, who had emerged as a formidable challenger to Narendra Modi after the Gujarat and Karnataka elections. Rahul Gandhi had addressed several rallies and meetings in Telangana, where he had attacked KCR and Modi for their "anti-people" policies and "corrupt" practices. He had also projected the Congress as the only party that could provide a "people's government" in the state and a "secular and progressive" alternative at the centre. Rahul Gandhi had also displayed his sense of humour and wit, by cracking jokes and taking digs at KCR and Modi. He had also connected with the youth and the women, by interacting with them and listening to their grievances and aspirations. He had also showcased his softer and human side, by hugging and kissing children, posing for selfies, and dancing with the tribal people. He had also invoked his family legacy, by reminding the people of the sacrifices and contributions of his grandmother Indira Gandhi and his father Rajiv Gandhi for the development and welfare of Telangana. Of 93 applicants for the job of chancellor of the University of Colorado campus in Colorado Springs, two finalists toured the school last week and fielded probing questions from faculty, students and staff during three separate, hourlong onsite sessions. The two finalists are Susan Elrod, who is in her fifth year as chancellor of Indiana University in South Bend, Ind., and Mahyar Amouzegar, distinguished professor of logistics who recently stepped down as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at The University of New Orleans in Louisiana. Elrod and Amouzegar cited their credentials and experience as making them good fits to lead the UCCS campus. UCCS Interim Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet had applied but was not named as a finalist. She has a contract as interim through June 2024, said UCCS spokesman Chris Valentine. Recruitment for the position began in September, with an 18-member search committee working with Greenwood Asher & Associates. The Miramar Beach, Fla.-based executive firm helped narrow applicants and is assembling feedback anonymously submitted by participants of last weeks campus meetings. CU system President Todd Saliman will decide who will fill the position. We anticipate an announcement prior to Dec. 15, said Jeff Howard, vice president for communication in the Office of the President. Though the search committee was charged with providing three to five candidates to Saliman for consideration, and slots for the campus interviews had been reserved for three candidates, just two finalists were selected. While we held time and space for up to three candidates, following an extensive interview and vetting process, and conversations among the search committee and the president, two candidates were selected as finalists and advanced for campus visits, Howard said in an email. According to the job profile, The chancellor is responsible for the leadership and direction of the campus and its strategic relationship with the broader Colorado Springs community. Among the qualifications, the chancellor should be aware of trends in higher education to provide dynamic leadership in the development, promotion of implementation of a vision for the campus that is consistent with its mission and the ongoing development of its central relationship with the community. The salary range is advertised at $395,000 to $435,000 annually plus housing and car allowances. Former Chancellor Venkat Reddy announced in mid-May that after six years he would vacate the position as of July 1. Hes an adviser for special projects to President Saliman this academic year and is scheduled to return to his previous job as tenured faculty next fall. UCCS, one of four locations in the CU system, has seen declining enrollment since 2018, this semester falling to 10,687 students, the lowest in a decade. That has resulted in budget reductions from revenue loss from tuition. Also noted as concerns at this years State of the University address in October, retention was 67.7% at the start of this semester, and expenses have exceeded income at two of four new academic and public-facing buildings since the university built them in recent years. While visiting UCCS, the finalists responded to questions ranging from why they want the job and their leadership style to their response to the charged political climate on college campuses today and how they would fix declining enrollment, weak retention and financial challenges. Elrod, a scientist, earned a doctoral degree in genetics from the University of California Davis and has patents for four inventions. In 2006-2007, she served as an American Council on Education fellow at Colorado College, where she said she learned about higher education in the Pikes Peak region. She previously worked in Washington, D.C., as the executive director of an Association of American Colleges & Universities project that advanced science, technology, engineering and math in higher education. Elrod also has been principal investigator on several projects, including a National Science Foundation study about building leadership capacity and a Sloan Foundation project that resulted in a Change Leadership Toolkit and associated curriculum thats being piloted this semester. Amouzegar, who holds a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from the University of California Los Angeles, previously worked as dean of engineering at California Polytechnic University in Pomona and at the RAND Corp. in Santa Monica, a nonprofit think tank. He has also served as senior national security policy analyst there since 1998, working on research for the U.S. Air Force. Hes also an endowed professor at the New Orleans campus. Both candidates have spent years in different administrator positions at various universities and have taught and do research in their fields. Both also said they encourage open dialogue on tough issues, such as the Israeli-Hamas war. These are part of freedom of expression and academic freedom, Elrod said. One of the hallmarks of a public institution is to be the place where debate can occur, sides can come together to express their views in an environment where we can foster dialogue. 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. We need to allow for those expressions and also make sure everyone understands their role, their rights. Academic freedom doesnt mean you can say whatever you want; there are parameters around this. An immigrant from Iran, Amouzegar said demonstrations and teach-ins on college campuses regarding the fighting in Israel and the Gaza Strip represent a transformation of American colleges and universities, and he believes that people have a right to say the things they need to say. Part of our job is to educate politicians, the mayors office, the community, the industry, about what the issues are, Amouzegar said. We need to have those difficult conversations about whats happening in the world. Our jobs should always be learning from each other and teaching each other. Amouzegar describes himself as pretty relaxed and open, and a people person who likes to assess a situation by talking with others, determining whats working, and whats not, figuring out whats needed, and working to fulfill that. Service matters we are here to serve and response time matters. That means you will get an answer, he said. He does not see mistakes or failure as a time for reprimand or punishment but rather learning opportunities. Amouzegar said he would continue a practice hes held for years of hosting small, weekly lunches to gauge the temperature of faculty, staff and students, which guide him in decision-making. He said he intends to use a team approach to figuring out whats the best way to address everything from crafting the budget to creating new academic programs. Elrod considers herself a leader scholar, modeled after the concept of teacher scholar. Im a problem solver, she said, who likes to use evidence-based solutions. Im not afraid to get into difficult topics and solve difficult problems. She said she uses transparency and engagement across decision-making when tackling problems, such as a campus budget. I see lots of alignment between not only my passions and who I am but also my experiences, and the challenges facing UCCS, Elrod said. Theres the opportunity to hit the ground running. She was one of three administrators to receive a resolution of no confidence from faculty leaders in 2015, while she was interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at her undergraduate alma mater, California State University Chico. That was two positions ago, Elrod said when a professor brought up the vote. She said it an unusual situation that she unknowingly walked into, essentially one of broken-down relationships. Since her responses were being recorded at the UCCS meeting, Elrod said she would not go into details about the matter. The real argument was between faculty and existing administration long before I arrived and had to do with longstanding challenges at the institution, she said. The resolution stated that the executive leadership has failed to effectively manage the development and implementation of policies and personnel processes that concern the faculty and staff. Elrod said shes since worked to build and nurture relationships and operate under a shared governance model, which the administrators at Cal State Chico were accused of not doing. The heart of shared governance is about relationships, understanding and listening, she said. A two-way communication needs to be built before theres a crisis. When asked about diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Amouzegar said he thinks colleges often get the diversity part right but stumble over equity and inclusion, the latter of which he would rather rename belonging. When I was growing up there was a sense of not belonging sometimes to my face, he said. Changing the culture and environment is an ongoing process that starts with the top echelon, who should take the same training as is required of everyone on campus, Amouzegar said. We put the president, provost, deans first, to signal that we just dont sit up there in our little offices telling people you should do this, but we actually impose it on ourselves, he said. If offered the job, Elrod said it would be her second university presidency and my last stop. She said shes looking for an opportunity to pour my experiences and passions into and to have an even bigger impact that I have now. Amouzegar said he recently stepped down as provost in New Orleans because he had accomplished the list of goals he set six years ago for the campus and wanted time to assess his successes and shortfalls. He said he wants to be the next chancellor of UCCS because his qualifications align with the seat, including his industry experience with the military, since 20% of UCCS students are either retired or active-duty, and hes helped other campuses overcome difficult challenges and flourish. Johanna Rangel and her mother, Juana Arreguin, prepare food at their familys shop, Neveria El Sabor de Mexico, in Pilsen on Oct. 12, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) When recently arrived migrants, mostly from Venezuela, began to show up at Juana Arreguins ice cream shop in Pilsen over the summer some begging for money, others asking for a job all she could do was feed them. Sometimes, she said, she would give them a few dollars or point them to someone who could maybe hire them. I wish I could help them, I know how it is to start from zero, said Arreguin, 52. Advertisement With the help of her husband, she managed to open the shop after nearly 30 years in the U.S. The couple, both of whom entered the country illegally from Mexico, said they used all their savings from working without job permits in the Chicago area their entire adult lives to open the shop. They prayed the risk they were taking would be worth it. Advertisement It hasnt been easy, Arreguin said, but shes grateful for the ice cream shop with a dozen colorful tables and even more flavors and Mexican snacks. Lately, however, shes felt a little disillusioned, perhaps frustrated. Some of those new migrants who shes been helping feed and guide in the city shes called home for decades can now apply for job permits after President Joe Biden expedited work permits for migrants from mostly Venezuela, as well as Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti. Though Arreguin celebrates the increased opportunities for newly arrived Venezuelans in Chicago, she feels abandoned. She couldnt hold back the tears as she implored government officials to expand the program to other immigrant groups, like herself. Please dont forget about us. We need job permits too, she said while sitting in one of the benches of the ice cream shop. Shes joining the voices of thousands of other immigrants who live in Chicago without legal authorization and are demanding the Biden administration give them the opportunity to work legally as well. Bipartisan advocates leading the Work Permits for All campaign say Biden could change the lives of workers like Arreguin through the existing federal parole program that he used to provide work authorization for the newly arrived migrants. Thousands of workers without permanent legal status mostly from Mexico traveled to Washington, D.C., last month along with community organizers, political leaders and even employers to push for the executive order. Though Arreguin couldnt go, she said she shared her story with the Tribune to empower other immigrants to speak up and bolster the movement that could materialize work permits for the estimated 7.8 million workers in the U.S. without legal permission. The work authorization, advocates say, would allow those immigrants to step out from the shadows and improve their lives exponentially. They would receive workplace protections and legally set wages that they may be too afraid to demand under the current circumstances. Advertisement And they could visit their home countries without sacrificing the lives they have built in the United States. Many living in the country illegally go the rest of their lives without seeing family because they would be barred from reentering the U.S. if they left. For a long time, Arreguin who missed her fathers funeral in 2004 kept these hardships to herself. She was afraid to talk about her immigration status and lived in fear that she could be deported at any moment. It made her feel invisible. Not anymore. If I dont speak up and show people what were capable of doing even without government support, who will? she said. They (politicians) need to realize that were no different from the new migrants who are also coming here for a better life. The only difference is that we have been here for decades and they have not acknowledged us even though we pay millions in taxes. Working without authorization, reporting taxes In Illinois, there are more than 300,000 workers without permanent legal status, mostly Mexican and many now in mixed-status families, who have been working and paying taxes without a job permit, according to the most recent Pew Research data. Most use an individual taxpayer identification number provided by the federal government to report income instead of a Social Security number to file their taxes. Hundreds rally in Chicagos Pilsen neighborhood on Oct. 12, 2023, to demand work permits for all immigrants. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Some people find work by using fake documents. Advertisement Others use somebody elses Social Security number or work under the table to get paid in cash. The only legal way for those who dont have a job permit to work is to become contractors, like Arreguin. Regardless of how they pay into the system, most file their taxes using the ITIN number even if theyre not eligible for government entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicaid. Arreguin was able to get her business license with the ITIN number shes been using to pay her taxes since she arrived in the country in the early 90s. She named the shop Neveria El Sabor de Mexico. Last year, she paid more than $13,000 in taxes. Undocumented workers in Illinois pay an estimated $900 million in federal taxes and $700 million in state and local taxes, according to the latest report from the American Immigration Council. And in the past year, some have decided to make their presence known in more than just dollars and cents. At a recent rally in Pilsen, several of those workers took to the stage to share their stories and, for some, their heartache in hopes that officials recognize their economic contribution and put them back on the agenda. Many cried, holding signs with the number of years that they have been working in the country without a job permit: 17, 20, 29, 30, 33. Advertisement We are being forgotten, Consuelo Martinez, a mother of two, said in Spanish when she took the stage as she held a sign with the number 27. Martinez isnt afraid anymore either. She is stepping out of the shadows on behalf of herself and the estimated 180,000 workers in Chicago without permanent legal status. Biden, listen to us, we want to work without fear, like our Venezuelan brothers and sisters, she said. It is only fair DACA recipient Erendira Rendon, left, weeps with emotion and is comforted by Julieta Bolivar following a rally for work permits on Oct. 12, 2023, in Chicagos Pilsen neighborhood. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) The song Mojado' by Ricardo Arjona played in the background of the Pilsen rally. An ode to the millions of people who have crossed the southern border into the United States through the Rio Grande, its title means Wetback in English. When Erendira Rendon heard the song, she couldnt hold back tears. She cried as she hugged some of the women who stood by her side telling their stories. They reminded her of her Mexican parents who made their journey north in 1987. Advertisement As a young girl, Rendon was inspired to pursue advocacy work because of her own immigration status, living in the country without authorization, and the desire to help her family. In 2012, she got a job permit and protection from deportation through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama-era policy for which she pushed hard. Now as the vice president of Immigrant Justice at Resurrection Project, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrant rights, Rendon has been at the forefront of addressing the needs of the migrants since the first group arrived on a bus sent from Texas by Gov. Greg Abbott in late August 2022. Rendon and her team are now organizing legal clinics across the city to help new migrants apply for expedited work permits. The group is also helping Venezuelan migrants apply for the extension of temporary protected status, a program that allows people whose home countries are considered unsafe the right to live and work in the United States. Though she has been making a difference in the lives of asylum-seekers, Rendon suddenly felt futile when the Biden administration announced it was granting work permits to recently arrived migrants. It is something she has wanted for her community all her life, she said. We deserve a job permit. It is only fair, Rendon said. Advertisement But longtime unauthorized immigrants have little hope of ever fixing their status. Many of the Mexican immigrants who entered the country came with the understanding that they were crossing illegally and went into hiding, said Rendon. Some are still afraid to ask for community resources or apply for government resources for their U.S.-born children because they fear deportation, she added. Despite crossing without authorization, most immigrants reunited with family or friends and had a support network already in place. Venezuelans do not. Most new migrants are part of the first wave into the country, many of them seeking asylum. Without a safety net in place, the state of Illinois and city of Chicago have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the past year to provide shelter, food, permanent housing, health care and now legal aid to process work permits for the new migrants. Resentment and frustration That government help has raised feelings of resentment and frustration among some who arrived in the country decades ago from Mexico and other countries. Many say they also ran away from violence and poverty, but did not receive and will never receive that kind of public aid. Advertisement It has been voiced in community meetings hosted by the city regarding the opening of new shelters and, more notably, in the number of protests against the erection of winterized tents to house the migrants from the cold in Brighton Park, a predominantly Latino immigrant neighborhood with a growing Asian population. Its a resentment stoked by the governments own tangled policies. It begins with a federal humanitarian program that allows migrants from certain countries to seek asylum but does not grant them automatic work authorization. Its further compounded by a system that regards some migration as forced and others as voluntary regardless of the similar hardships endured in their native countries. In each and every turn, longtime undocumented immigrants in the United States have seen other populations move forward and have been told to take the back seat and to wait, said Angela Garcia, a sociologist and assistant professor at the University of Chicago whose work focuses on unauthorized immigrants from Mexico in Chicago. There is little hope that anything will change soon. Efforts to legalize the 11 million people living in the country without authorization have stalled for decades, with the last relief coming in 1986 through the Immigration Reform and Control Act, also called the Reagan Amnesty. Advertisement Rendon predicts that the lack of action from political leaders will have an impact in the upcoming presidential elections. And even affect local politics. U.S.-born children of the longtime unauthorized workers who are eligible to vote are most likely keeping tabs on how their parents and elders are being treated by the leaders, Rendon said. A recent poll commissioned by the American Business Immigration Coalition showed that voters in seven key states support the expansion of work permits for immigrants living here illegally. The poll, by Lake Research Partners, found even deeper support among certain groups of voters. Eight in 10 Mexican American voters in these states and over eight in 10 Democrats support the policy. U.S. citizens in mixed-status families are essentially unanimously in support, with nearly nine in 10 strongly supportive. Arreguins daughter, Johanna Rangel, 23, said she is planning to vote in the upcoming elections. For my parents, she smiled as she looked at her mother. Everyone eager to work Arreguin knows that some people are angered by the amount and type of assistance that new migrants are getting. But she is not one of them. Advertisement She remembers the day she crossed the southern border with her husband and the eldest of their three children, who was only 1 year old. Fleeing a world with high crime, organized crime and no access to education, the young family found refuge at her brothers home in the United States and lived with him until they could rent their own place. Juana Arreguin helps a customer at her familys shop, Neveria El Sabor de Mexico, in Pilsen. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Arreguin easily sees herself in some of the Venezuelan mothers shes encountered, including a young migrant mother who recently came in with her child and asked for a job at the shop. I know that it is difficult for them, especially for the parents. I cant imagine living in a shelter, eating cold food or that your children are hungry, she said. It makes me sad but we can barely keep the business running on our own, said Arreguin. Her two young grandchildren, Rangels children, often play in the store while their mother works. One of the tables has their smiling faces painted on it. The shop is their second home, she said. Despite the significant efforts to push for the expansion of the policy, Arreguin doesnt expect the Biden administration to step in for them anytime soon. Advertisement Migrants in Chicago Weekly By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Either way, she says, making noise is worth the try. One day, God willing, well be recognized for all the work weve done, Arreguin said. Her faith in God is rooted in the hope that she will get to see her mother, 85, who still lives in Michoacan, Mexico, one last time. She still thinks about her late father every day. As autumn leaves fell on the ground, a customer entered and Arreguin stood up from the bench to walk behind the counter. Buenas tardes, she said. Como le puedo servir? Good afternoon. How can I help you? Advertisement larodriguez@chicagotribune A new wildlife overpass to be constructed on Interstate 25 just north of El Paso County will connect 39,000 acres of big game habitat, say Colorado lawmakers. The project will go ahead thanks to $22 million in federal funding for the Colorado Department of Transportation, a release on the project said. To span a section of I-25 in Douglas County a few miles of the El Paso County line, the overpass will allow wildlife to pass between large tracts of Great Plains and Rocky Mountains habitat. The project designers hope to mitigate wildlife-vehicle collisions with big game like elk and mule deer, according to the release. The Greenland Overpass joins 19 projects across the country funded by the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, part of bipartisan infrastructure legislation. By giving wildlife multiple passage points across I-25 the project is one of the largest such wildlife connectivity projects in North America, the release said. Wildlife crossings reduce car accidents, protect our big game, and cut time sitting in traffic, said Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper in support of the project. The new overpass is not the first of its kind on the I-25 corridor between Colorado Springs and Denver. In 2021, CDOT and the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife completed several wildlife corridor underpasses between Monument and Castle Rock as part of the I-25 Gap infrastructure project. The underpasses were some of the largest constructed on the continent, according to the state release. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. Jacqueline B. Helfgott, Ph.D., is professor of criminal justice and director of the Crime & Justice Research Center at the Seattle University Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology & Forensics. She is principal investigator for the Denver Public Safety Survey and the Seattle Public Safety Survey. Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy are news columnists who write about Colorado and national politics. One of the first signs of trouble with Kenny and Ardith Lindquist's home in Rockrimmon was the porch the contractor couldn't believe how much cement it took to stabilize it. "He came three times with a cement truck," Kenny Lindquist recalled. While the porch still has signs of damage, the two now have much bigger worries because they believe their house is sinking backward into an abandoned coal mine that has collapsed. As a state-hired drilling crew took soil samples, the couple described years of damage, how a gray water pipe came apart and filled the basement with sewage and basement floors that have sunk several inches and in one place sound hollow. Along the front of their home, several inches of concrete is newly visible below the stucco that went on 10 years ago, which is evidence of the house shifting back, among other problems. Their next-door neighbor on Saddlemountain Road, Austin Rivenburg, has seen similar problems as the back of his house sinks, as well, causing numerous cracks in the foundation, walls and ceiling all new damage since he bought the house in 2018. Over a year ago, the homeowners asked the State Mine Subsidence Protection Program, a $4.9 million invested fund, to cover repairs because they believe the mine has collapsed and is causing the damage. "If they didn't think there was a problem with these mines, they wouldn't have started a program," Kenny Lindquist said. Colorado Springs is a hot spot for such requests, with residents filing 44 claims to the program between 2017 and 2022, with 22 of those in Rockrimmon, based on maps provided by the state. The state map shows that the areas at high and moderate risk for subsidence in Rockrimmon are roughly along south Rockrimmon Boulevard, southeast of its intersection with Vindicator Drive. Other areas of the subdivision are at low and very low risk of subsidence as depicted in the map below. Only two claims have been filed from another area of the state in the past five years, said Rachael Nickless, the program administrator. Over that period, the state determined three homeowners had problems caused by mines and they received payments totaling $270,058.30. No homeowners have appealed the program's decision not to fund damage repairs, the state said. For the Lindquists and Rivenburg, the process has been slow for determining whether the Pikeview Coal Mine located between 200 and 250 feet below their homes is causing all the damage. "It seems like they want to wait until you have this huge gigantic pit below your house and you are halfway down it before they will take action," said Ardith Lindquist. Investigative drilling Rivenburg asked for action in September 2022 when he emailed the state to inform officials he had heard a crack in the ceiling and the damage was worsening. "I would like to take the steps required to stabilize our home before the damage becomes severe and possibly dangerous to my family," he wrote. In November 2022, he pointed out to the state they misrepresented the findings of a technical report in a cover letter. The cover letter stated that mine subsidence was not the cause of the damage, while the underlying technical report said more data was required to make a determination. In a follow-up email, the state corrected the error in the cover letter at Rivenburg's request and stated investigative drilling could start within two months. State-hired contractors have done investigative drilling at the homes twice, most recently in September. Nickless said the timeline of the investigation has been affected by supply-chain issues, particularly the availability of drills. "The timeline really has not gone as we would have hoped," she told The Gazette. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. But neither household has yet received a final determination about the cause of their problems. Nickless said they should receive reports by the end of the year. To determine if problems are caused by mines or expansive soils, the contractors take soil samples that are then sent to a lab for analysis. Drilling that finds highly fractured bedrock with unusual fractured patterns and voids can be indicative of a mine collapse, the state said in a written statement. Expansive soils, such as clay, swell with water and contract with drought. The high number of claims from Colorado Springs is indicative of problems with both expansive soils in the area and the number of homes in the 1970s and 1980s with slab-on-grade foundations that are susceptible to damage from those soil types and mines, Nickless said. "There definitely are big problems in Colorado Springs, as far as geologic hazards are concerned, and swelling soils are a large part of that. They essentially wreak havoc when they're so close to the surface as they are in the Rockrimmon area." 'Houses don't heal' Homes often settle with time. If a house settles uniformly by 2 inches, you may not even notice. But if one area sinks more than others, a process known as differential settlement, it is similar to tooth decay and will get worse with time, explained Chadwick Miller, owner of Foundation Professionals of Colorado. "Houses dont heal from this," he said. Differential settlement can be amplified higher in the house, Miller said. What could be a slight difference in foundation can pull the roof shingles apart, he said. It is rare for houses to fail to the point where they fall or break in half, but it happens. In Rockrimmon, Miller has stabilized homes sinking into mines using steel piers. The weight of the house is transferred onto the piers and used to push them into the ground until they hit a section of underlying rock or soil that can hold them. In one case, Millet's team discovered a mine about 20 feet under a home because it was swallowing up sections of pier. The sections were nested together using gravity and force to hold them together, but as they reached the void of the mine, they fell off. Miller's team ended up welding sections of the pier together to keep it together as it descended through the emptiness. Putting down piers to stabilize a house can cost $30,000-$40,000, Miller said. Less dramatic bowing in foundation walls can be stabilized with carbon-fiber straps, which can cost $5,000-$6,000, he said. Severe problems requiring a new foundation and possibly a basement replacement can cost $100,000-$300,000. In Rockrimmon, he has seen more foundation problems caused from mines than clay swelling or contracting with moisture. Some homes in the area also can have problems because builders did not include foundation footers, he said. The builders at the time thought leaving off footers would prevent homes from being damaged if the clay swelled and pushed a portion of a house up, known as heaving. The theory was that without the footer, the outer foundation would slice through the swelling soil. It didn't work, because the homes in Rockrimmon were actually experiencing settlement, he said. Colorado's protection plan If the state's investigation determines a mine is causing a house to sink, the homeowners enrolled in the protection program can receive up to $100,000 for repairs or an amount that would equal the fair-market value of the property before damage from a collapsed mine, according to a state rule. The program is only open to those with homes built before 1989. While the protection program is similar to insurance, it is not insurance and not regulated by the Division of Insurance, agency spokesman Vincent Plymell said. Standard homeowner policies also do not cover mine subsidence, and no laws require insurance companies to cover it, he said. Some states with extensive coal mining, such as West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, have required private companies to provide subsidence insurance. In some problematic areas, insurance for subsidence is mandatory. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, Indiana saw 50 subsidence claims and insurance provided $2.9 million for repairs. The Colorado Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety said the state set up a trust fund because it was "considered preferable to any other legislatively enacted direct state involvement in the insurance business." However, Rivenburg pointed to a 1991 report from what is now the Government Accountability Office that said the federal government's intent for the $3 million grants to states was to set up insurance programs. Colorado's original grant has grown into a $4.9 million invested fund to cover subsidence. "This program has been flawed since inception," Rivenburg said. If you go The Broadmoor's gingerbread display is open to the viewing public until after Dec. 20, when the hotel limits viewing to overnight guests and visitors with dining reservations. The display can be found up the escalator from the hotel's main entrance. This Jan. 30, 2020, file photo, shows members of the Mexican gray wolf recovery team preparing to load a wolf into a helicopter in Reserve, N.M., so it can be released after being processed during an annual survey. The past few years have seen considerable focus placed on people held pretrial in county jails and the potential impact of abolishing cash bail in Illinois. This heated and rhetoric-filled debate has often pitted policymakers and criminal justice practitioners in the Chicago area against those in the rest of Illinois. However, under the radar has been the substantial shift in criminal justice practice playing out across Illinois when it comes to the use of state prison for those convicted of crimes. Over the last decade, the number and proportion of people sentenced to prison in Illinois has fallen dramatically, and of those sentenced to prison, a growing percentage were convicted of more serious crimes. Advertisement The number of people sentenced to prison in Illinois fell almost 50% from 2010 to 2023, dropping from 26,110 to 13,571. In addition to this drop in the number of people sentenced to prison, the percentage of those convicted of a felony and sentenced to prison also fell in 2010, roughly 42% of people convicted of a felony were sentenced to prison, and this year, just 33% were sentenced to prison. In addition, a larger share of those being sentenced to prison are now being sentenced for more serious felony offenses more than 60% of all prison sentences imposed this year were for serious felonies or crimes of violence. And lest anyone raise the prospect that this is being driven exclusively, or even primarily, by the states attorneys office or the judiciary in Cook County, this lower use of prison is evident across most of Illinois 102 counties. It is at the county level that elected prosecutors and judges make sentencing recommendations and decisions. And while Illinois is a diverse state, with its counties ranging from large urban areas to suburban and rural counties, most counties are using prison less. Advertisement Roughly 70% to 75% of Illinois counties saw the number and likelihood of prison sentences decrease from 2010 to 2023, and most counties saw an increase in the proportion of prison sentences being for more serious crimes. This is a compelling example of how broadly adopted community-level practices have led to less reliance on prison across Illinois without any substantive change to Illinois law and with no discernible impact on overall crime. So, whats behind this widespread and substantial decrease in the use of prison across Illinois diverse counties? That is where things get more complex, although suffice it to say that there have not been any changes to state law in the past 15 years that explain much of this decrease. One obvious factor is that there are fewer criminal cases entering the courts due to the general drop in crime and arrests across Illinois since the early 2000s. But other explanations include a combination of a greater use of community-based options, concerns over the cost of incarceration and changes in attitudes regarding what sentences are appropriate. [ David Olson and Don Stemen: Gun violence dominates the news, but is crime out of control in Chicago? ] The past 20 years have seen an increased capacity and acceptance in many jurisdictions to provide treatment alternatives through specialized treatment courts, jail-based programs, enhanced probation services or police-led deflection efforts that divert people into treatment rather than further into the justice system, particularly for those with substance use issues. Some of these shifts resulted from increased funding to support alternatives to incarceration. An increased use of probation supervision in the community is likely due to probation departments across Illinois adopting evidence-based practices, which has improved the effectiveness of non-prison sentences in addressing needs and reducing recidivism. Statewide blue ribbon committees over the past two decades raised the issue and visibility of ineffective or inefficient prison utilization. There has been an increased recognition of the high cost of prison to individuals, their families, communities and taxpayers when imposed on individuals that dont pose a risk to public safety. While the recommendations of these commissions resulted in some modest changes to Illinois law and practice, more importantly they signaled a need by leaders in the state of both political parties to reevaluate how prison is used as a response to crime. 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 > Despite most counties using prison less, and for more serious crimes, this was not the case in all counties. Almost all counties that saw increased prison admissions, or saw a larger share of people sentenced to prison for nonviolent crimes, tended to be rural jurisdictions. This may be related to an issue raised during the debate over the end of cash bail, namely the lack of community-based programs to address substance abuse and other behavioral health needs in Illinois rural communities. Indeed, many practitioners, particularly in rural communities, indicated that pretrial detention in jails is often used as a stopgap measure in response to the adverse effects of substance abuse. Thus, it is possible that the use of prison in these communities reflects a similar lack of options for providing effective community-based services to those convicted of crimes. Of those sentenced to prison from Illinois rural counties, 70% were sentenced to prison for nonviolent crimes and 70% of those individuals were identified at prison intake as in need of substance abuse treatment. The heated debate over the end of cash bail illustrates the existing fissures and politicization of criminal justice policy in Illinois. However, the quiet and consistent changes in criminal justice practices being carried out at local levels of government in the state over the past decade are encouraging. In most Illinois counties, practitioners states attorneys and judges have recognized the need to use prison more sparingly. Doing so is consistent with research that shows the provision of services in the community to individuals who do not pose a risk to public safety not only reduces recidivism but also reduces the adverse effects on individuals, families, communities and taxpayers. Ensuring sufficient resources are available throughout Illinois so all counties can adopt these practices needs to be a priority. Advertisement David Olson, Ph.D., and Don Stemen, Ph.D., are professors and co-directors of Loyola University Chicagos Center for Criminal Justice. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Re: The television documentary went beyond the save-the-wildlife pieties [ #permalink 2 Kudos 1 Bookmarks The television documentary went beyond the save-the-wildlife pieties of some of those remote from East Africa and showed that in a country pressed for food, the elephant is a pest, and an intelligent pest at that. There appears to be no way to protect East African farms from the voracious foraging of night-raiding elephant herds. Clearly this example illustrates that______ The TV documentary showed that in a country pressed for food, the elephant is a pest. There appears to be no way to protect East African farms from these elephants. So, East Africa is must be facing food shortage and elephants are making the situation worse. Which one of the following most logically completes the paragraph? (A) the preservation of wildlife may endanger human welfare - Yes. This must be true given the information in the stimuli. A is the answer. (B) it is time to remove elephants from the list of endangered species - Passage is not saying removal of elephants from endangered species list. (C) television documentaries are incapable of doing more than reiterating accepted pieties - Not really. TV documentaries maybe a powerful tool to inspire change in the society. (D) farmers and agricultural agents should work closely with wildlife conservationists before taking measures to control elephants - this is exaggerated option. (E) it is unfair that people in any country should have to endure food shortages - Fairness of something is not discussed at all. While Semones, 30, didn't take home the top honor, she is the only finalist from all individual categories to be selected from North Carolina. Individual categories include Executive Leadership, Community Impact and Rising Stars. Piedmont Advantage Credit Union nominated Semones for her role in launching in 2022 its first comprehensive youth program, which includes age-appropriate, industry-recognized financial education activities, products and services. As primary minor accountholders, Piedmont Advantage youth members have access to their money with built-in rewards, safeguards and benefits. "Prior to the roll out of the program in August 2022, Jobana unveiled the program to the board of directors, which garnered an applause and their immediate support. She conducted all of the internal training for all staff members so that everyone was informed and excited about this new venture," said Piedmont Advantage's President & CEO Dion Williams. Semones also designed the organization's youth financial learning series, MoneyY-ZER, "empowering youth with the financial know-how to be WISER upon becoming financially independent." Children and teens in grades K-12 learn how and why to save, budget, manage and invest money. They also learn to avoid frauds, scams and predatory lending practices. As a certified credit union financial counselor, Semones conducts all of the financial activities, including in Spanish upon request. "We couldn't be prouder of Jobana," Williams said. KANNAPOLIS The Kannapolis Christmas Parade will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in downtown Kannapolis, traveling down Laureate Way and West Avenue. With over 130 entries and nine bands featuring Christmas lights and decor, this well-known nighttime parade will once again be a holiday tradition you do not want to miss. The parade route offers the crowds many comfortable areas to watch the parade comfortably, with the beautiful backdrop of the North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis City Hall & Police Headquarters and West Avenue. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season. The parade will begin at the intersection of Main Street and Laureate Way at the parking deck of the North Carolina Research Campus, travel down Laureate Way past Kannapolis City Hall & Police Headquarters, turning on West Avenue at the Gem Theatre and traveling down West Avenue ending at the intersection of Vance Street and West Avenue. Thousands of colorful lights decorate the parade entries which make it one of few holiday events held at night in North Carolina. Over 130 entries and nine marching bands will participate this year in this treasured city event and the grand finale will be the famous North Pole toymaker, Santa Claus. The parade is sponsored by the City of Kannapolis. Cash awards will be presented in the categories of bands, churches, civic organizations, and schools. Street closure information Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 No on-street parking will be allowed on West Avenue, Laureate Way, and Main Street. For the safety of all parade participants and spectators, any vehicles not removed by 6 a.m. will be towed. 3 p.m., Dec. 9, Main Street will close to all traffic. Main Street is the staging area for the bands and other parade entries. 5:30 p.m., Dec. 9 Laureate Way and West Avenue will close to all traffic. Traffic will not be able to enter/leave the VIDA parking deck. All streets will reopen immediately following the parade. Parade route and parking information may be found at www.kannapolisnc.gov/ChristmasParade. MATTOON Broadway and Western avenues twinkled with tens of thousands of lights Friday evening during the lighted parade at the annual Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Christmas. A total of 10,475 of these lights belonged to the Mattoon school district transportation department's entry, a school bus decorated to look like Olaf the snowman from Disney's "Frozen." "Actually, I think we have a few thousand more lights than what we had last year," said Mattoon Transportation Director Chris Parr, adding, "We try to do a different theme every year if we can." Parr said bus drivers and other staff started working on Olaf right after taking part in the Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Trunk or Treat on Oct. 27. He said the pace of their decorating increased during the last couple of weeks as they put in volunteer hours every day after driving their routes. "It's going to be pretty cool this year," Parr said, adding that they shaped the illuminated snowman with the help of countless adhesive strips and hooks. "They have put a lot of time and efforts into it, and a lot of thought." The lighted parade has been an annual tradition with this celebration since 2016. Mattoon resident Gail Nelson, whose husband Mark retired as the district's transportation director, said she always looks forward to seeing how this department lights up its school buses. Nelson has an annual tradition of her own: performing during the celebration with the Tuesday Ukulele club at deBuhr's Seed & Feed along Western Avenue, which offers a good vantage point for watching the parade. This musical group has performed for at least four years now at deBuhr's. "It's perfect. It's informal. People come and go. We have fun, too," Nelson said after performing Friday evening alongside Mary Hudson, Donna Rogowitz and Janie Youhas. The club practices at 6 p.m. every other Tuesday at the Mattoon Public Library, but plan to take off January through March. Friday night, the library hosted Santa and Mrs. Claus as they visited with children there before the couple rode on the parade's concluding entry a trailer pulled by HF Trucking's thundering Peterbilt truck known as "The Magician." The procession of 35 entries was led by a vehicle carrying this event's first-ever grand marshals: Barb McKenzie and Janice Moritz, who co-founded Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Christmas in 2008. The Christmas celebration has grown over the years and added new activities, with costumed characters playing major roles in the festivities. A trailer full of characters such as the Elf on the Shelf and Shrek rolled through downtown Friday night pulled by a bedazzled train engine. Young adult siblings Michael and Jade Smith, who normally volunteer as costumed characters, watched this year's parade alongside their mother, Mary Smith, who usually helps direct the characters. "It was nice being on this side of things, getting to enjoy things from this angle," Mary Smith said of being a spectator for a change. Smith said she was especially fond of all the pageant princesses in the parade, including the Miss Coles County court standing inside life-size Barbie boxes on a float. Jade Smith said she has enjoyed dressing up as various characters at the Christmas celebration, with Elmo being particularly popular with young children there. She said she likes being able to make children happy, adding that she felt such joy watching the parade Friday night. "Pretty much everyone in the parade put a smile on my face," Jade said. Photos: 2023 Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Christmas lighted parade CHEORWON, South Korea Not far from the big green mountains that stand along the worlds most heavily armed border, dozens of South Korean and U.S. combat engineers build a pontoon bridge to ferry tanks and armored vehicles across a lake, 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. 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. North Koreas repeated threats to launch nuclear weapons at its enemies and its tests of missiles designed for pinpoint strikes on U.S. cities have made South Koreans lose faith in Americas vow to defend their country. The fear is that a U.S. president would hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend South Korea while knowing North Korea could retaliate with a nuclear strike killing millions of Americans. Frequent polls show a strong majority of South Koreans between 70% and 80% 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. I think one day they can abandon us and go their own way if that better serves their national interests, Kim Bang-rak, a 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. How South Korea deals with the nuclear question could have major implications for Asias future, potentially jeopardizing the U.S.-South Korean alliance and threatening a delicate nuclear balance that has kept an uneasy peace in a dangerous region. U.S. officials are adamant any attack on Seoul by North Koreas 1.2 million-member military would be met with an overwhelming response. Asked about the South Korean publics support for creating its own nuclear force, Gen. Mark Milley, at the time the top U.S. military officer and now retired, said: The United States would prefer nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. We think theyre inherently dangerous, obviously. And we have extended our nuclear umbrella to both Japan and South Korea. That's not been enough to quell worry in South Korea. In January, conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol broke a longstanding taboo when he said that his nation could acquire our own nukes if the situation gets worse. At an April summit in Washington, Yoon and President Joe Biden agreed on 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. Part of the worry in Seoul can be traced to the presidency of Donald Trump and to his possible reelection 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 U.S. military exercises with South Korea, calling them very provocative and tremendously expensive. No one can tell 100% for sure whether a U.S. 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 who opposes indigenous nukes, said in an interview at his Seoul office. There's also fear in Seoul about North Koreas extraordinary weapons advancements. One of the poorest countries on Earth, North Korea may now have an arsenal of 60 nuclear weapons and has declared it is deploying tactical missiles along the Korean border, implying its intent to arm them with lower-yield nuclear weapons. 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. We absolutely need nuclear weapons. Basically, peace can be maintained only when we have equal power to (our enemys), Kim Joung-hyun, an 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. 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 neighbor China. The Washington Declaration, meanwhile, has reassured many in Seoul, according to Richard Lawless, a former senior U.S. State Department and Central Intelligence Agency official dealing with nuclear proliferation in Asia. 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. 25 facts about nuclear weapons 25 facts about nuclear weapons Countries armed with nuclear weapons Trying to stop nuclear proliferation Refusing to agree to the accord Large arsenals of the late 1960s China's "modest" nuclear weapons stockpile Lost bombs and other missing nuclear devices To launch or not in 12 minutes Assassinating Iran's top nuclear scientists Blackout at Iran's nuclear fuel enrichment facility U.S., Iran negotiate nuclear deal Iran steps up uranium enrichment A weapon as large as a minivan Largest weapon in U.S. stockpile Billions for nuclear deterrent $600 billion to modernize nuclear arsenal U.N. tries to ban nuclear weapons Withdrawing forward-deployed weapons in the Pacific Estimates on North Korea's nuclear capabilities North Korea tests nuclear bombs Trump, Kim Jong-un meet in historic summit Second North Korea, U.S. summit held in Hanoi Trump crosses into DMZ separating two Koreas Russia-Ukraine War raises concerns about Russia's use of nuclear arsenal Northwest Health Porter recently earned an international quality award for its cardiac imaging heart flow program, according to a release. Pictured are technologists McKenzie Hudspeth, Juliana Papka and Cassie Pisowicz. - Original Credit: Photo courtesy of Northwest Health (Photo courtesy of Northwest Health/HANDOUT) Porter County groups awarded nearly $100K The Porter County Community Foundation recently awarded $99,393 to 15 local nonprofit organizations as part of its bi-annual grants cycle for 2023, according to a release. Grant recipients include: Art Barn School of Art, $10,000; Call-A-Ride, $6,000; The Caring Place, $10,000; Compass International Family Center, $10,000; Dress for School, $10,000; Duneland Family YMCA, $5,000; Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana, $9,893; Hilltop Neighborhood House, $10,000; Humane Indiana, $5,000; Independent Cat Society, $5,000; Moraine House, $4,500; Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, $5,000; Opportunity Enterprises, $5,000; Playact Theatre, $3,000; and Three20 Recovery, $1,000. Advertisement Through the support of community members, the PCCF annually distributes approximately $350,000 to local nonprofits from the unrestricted Community Fund, the release said. More information about the Community Fund and the grant process can be found online at pccf.gives or by calling 219-465-0294. Doughnut chain toy drive partners with Salvation Army Evansville-based Parlor Doughnuts is helping out The Salvation Army this holiday season by hosting a toy drive in each of its Indiana stores, including Munster and Valparaiso, a release said. Running through Dec. 15, collected toys will benefit local Christmas assistance programs, the release said. Advertisement Participating Parlor Doughnuts locations in Northwest Indiana include Munster, at: 8130 Calumet Ave., No. 102, and Valparaiso, at 255 Morthland Drive. The Salvation Army Indiana Division is thrilled to have Parlor Doughnuts as our new statewide partner for toy drives this year, said Major Marc Johnson, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army. For more information about Parlor Donuts, visit ParlorDoughnuts.com. Coronary imaging award announced for Northwest Health Porter Northwest Health Porter recently earned an international quality award for its cardiac imaging heart flow program, according to a release. The award signifies that Northwest Health was in the top 15% of medical centers providing patients with a way for identifying and understanding their heart health by using coronary CT heart flow analysis, the release said. The system is used in conjunction with coronary CT technology to help diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD), the release said. For more information about Northwest Health, visit NWHealthIN.com. Nurse practitioner joins Franciscan Physician Network Family nurse practitioner Jessica Van Noort is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. Van Noort earned her master of science degree in nursing at Chamberlain University and her bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of St. Francis, the release said. In addition to family medicine, her clinical interests include acute care, disease management and preventive care. Advertisement Van Noort is accepting new patients at Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. in Cedar Lake. Call 219-374-5970. PNW doctoral program gets green light Purdue University Northwests Doctor of Psychology program was recently given final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the institutions accreditor, according to the PNW website. The addition of the doctoral program brings ONEs total offered applied doctoral programs to three, the website said. PNW additionally offers doctorates in Nursing Practice and Technology. The HLC has also approved a change in PNWs student body category and updated its status as a doctoral level institution, the website said. The first cohort is expected to begin classes in fall 2024. According to the website, visit pnw.edu/psyd or pnw.edu/psychology for more information. Addicted to Trump? Why do many evangelicals support Donald Trump? The answer is as old as the Old Testament story of Esau selling his birthright for a quick fix and as new as a drug addict looking for a similarly quick fix. To get immediate political results they were willing to sell their birthright to Trump. Other Republicans could have delivered the same results without all the baggage. What was cost? Supporting one who: Bragged about groping women, claiming they liked it. Made a payment to a porn star to keep her quiet about his affairs with her. Had numerous affairs through three marriages. Was found liable by a jury and fined for sexual abuse. Encouraged protesters to go to the Capitol building in an attempt to block election certification and watched the massive violence on television for four hours before finally asking them to go home (five died, including one police officer). Asked the Proud Boys, a racist group, to stand by and then called them into action, encouraging them to Fight like hell on Jan. 6. And continues to lie about the 2020 election results, though some of his inner circle have testified that he knows better. For Republicans there are many qualified candidates who do not carry such moral sewage. Why would evangelicals continue to sell their birthright even now? Perhaps they are so used to feeding at the pig trough that, like a drug addict, they do not know how to get free. I consider myself an evangelical. I will not sell my birthright. Gary Benesh North Wilkesboro Unaffiliated voters The filing period for all 2024 elections in North Carolina is underway with primary Election Day on March 5, 2024. What does this mean for the unaffiliated voter, who represents 33% of registered voters statewide (and in Forsyth County)? Why are so many registered voters in North Carolina unaffiliated? Is it because we dont blindly support the dogma of either major political party? Are we willing to look at individual candidates based upon their own merits before we consider their party membership? The unaffiliated voter in this state determines the outcome of all local, state and national elections here. All candidates must come to us in order to win. The unaffiliated have shown that we can vote on Election Day for candidates from different parties. Unfortunately, we are forced to select either the Democratic or Republican party ballot during primary voting if we want to exercise our constitutional rights. Usually this means selecting a party ballot in the primary because there is only one particular race that carries more importance to us, individually, than any other race. Proposal: Since the Republicans and Democrats must come to us to win, lets demand open, nonpartisan voting for all elections, both primaries and general. (Yes, we get to select from all candidates in general elections, but it is not the same.) Tell all candidates for local, state and national office that they must publicly endorse and support open, nonpartisan elections across the board Or they get no support from the unaffiliated. David Botchin Winston-Salem Green in 2 ways In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrenhius predicted that CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels would cause global warming. To my knowledge Arrenhius was neither woke nor did he own stock in Tesla; he was just a scientist. Since Arrenhius made his prediction, lots of CO2 from burning fossil fuels has been dumped in the atmosphere and temperatures have been rising. On Nov. 30, the U.N. weather agency said that 2023 will almost certainly be the hottest year on record, which will make the past 10 years the hottest on record. Some politicians and fossil fuel companies keep telling us that reducing fossil fuel emissions will hurt the economy. Unlike Arrenhius, who had no vested interest in hurting or helping the fossil fuel industry, those politicians and fossil fuel companies have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and might be lying. In reality, not reducing the emissions that are warming the planet and altering the climate will hurt the economy. Were seeing it now with increased property insurance rates, up 22% in North Carolina in the past year, and from increased health costs caused by pollution and climate-related stress. The reinsurer Swiss Re estimates that by 2050 climate change will cause the U.S. Gross Domestic Product to drop by about 7%. Contrary to doomsaying politicians and fossil fuel companies, transitioning to clean energy will be good for the economy by creating new jobs and reducing the risk caused by climate change. Bill Blancato Winston-Salem Graduation day is nearing at Union Bank Place, where Bia Espinosa's pop-up cake and balloon shop will soon end its four-month run in the downtown bank's refurbished lobby. "I've learned so much," said Espinosa, whose gelatin-based cakes a delicacy in her Mexican homeland are a staple at Susas Sweets & Balloons, which began operating out of Union Bank Place, 1248 O St., in August. "Before, I just worked selling my cakes and getting money. "I learned I was not ready to do the administrative part of running a real business." She might not have been ready to run her business in August, but she's taken great strides since then, thanks to a newly formed multicultural banking branch of Union Bank's small-business division. "We're so proud of Bia," said Stephanie Dinger, Union Bank's vice president of small business. "We're so proud she was the first to be in this space. "... I think it's going to continue to take a little time for people to really understand what we're doing. I think it's so unique." Dinger and her staff are currently working to determine the next pop-up business that will occupy the space in Union Bank Place. They have had several inquiries, she said. Using a space for pop-up businesses, while new to Union Bank & Trust, has been going on for years in Lincoln. Gateway Mall has cleared space for pop-up shops over the years, while the Historic Haymarket district's Creamery Building, 701 P St., had some pop-up ventures prior to the pandemic when the space was available. What makes Union Bank's pop-up venture unique is the mentoring that takes place, Dinger said. "We really work on financial literacy," she said. In the case of Espinosa, someone who migrated from Mexico, literacy be it financial or with the English language becomes an even greater challenge. "We're really working through financial literacy, and that is intimidating to do in a language you're not as familiar with," Dinger said. That's where Raul Sarmiento, who migrated with his family from Colombia in 2016 as part of a student exchange program, comes into this success story. "I was the one that had a little bit of English, so it allowed me to see everything we needed," he said. "We needed a place to live. I was the one translating and I learned how to do a lease. I learned how to bank, open a bank account because we needed that to get the lease." He went to school and that's when the opportunity in banking presented itself. His experiences in coming to America gave him empathy for those migrating to Nebraska. "It's really hard for someone that comes from another country," he said. "So I really became passionate about sharing the experience I gained." His work has brought dozens of members of the immigrant community in Lincoln and Grand Island to UBT. When the number grew to nearly 50, he pitched the multicultural banking division to the bank's leaders. "We want to get good at helping Spanish-speaking businesses and consumers, personal consumers," Dinger said. "What we're doing is really not any different, regardless of whether it's Spanish or English. "It's just opportunities where they're more comfortable speaking their own language." In August, Espinosa leaned on an interpreter when she opened her shop. Four months later, she was far more comfortable speaking in English. That made it far easier for her to interact with customers while gleaning valuable information from the bankers, led by Sarmiento, who mentored her each day. "She found a whole new group of American customers that she has worked with to grow that piece of her business," Sarmiento said. "I think that will follow her wherever she goes." Her biggest lesson and she came to it on her own is she's probably not yet able to shoulder the financial burden of opening a stand-alone brick-and-mortar business. "I'm worried because I don't feel ready yet to pay for everything that comes with running a business," she said. Not to worry. She'll move Susas Sweets & Balloons into the ECHO Collective, 2124 Y St., which works with refugee and immigrant women to overcome the barriers that come with starting a business. "For her, that's a good next step," Dinger said. "But we're really going to miss her here." How to support small businesses this holiday season How to support small businesses this holiday season Buy gift cards Shop in-store Attend a holiday market or bazaar Post on social media (We are occasionally rerunning Jim McKee columns from the past. This one was published March 3, 2013) Simon Benadom, one of Lincolns first settlers and the areas first fur buyer, reported that the first school in Lancaster County was 1 miles north of the town of Roca. The first school building was a log cabin on a sand hill and simply known as Sandhill School. The first, and possibly the only, teacher was Miss Phoebe L. Elliott. The exact location is difficult to pinpoint, because the area is dotted with small quarries and sandy soil. One writer suggests it was near Saltillo, therefore was not far from todays 27th Street and Saltillo Road and John Cadmans historic road ranch on the Oregon Trail Cutoff. Interestingly, another record shows that in 1865 before Sandhill could open, a district school started in John Cadmans dugout near Yankee Hill and was thus the first in the county. There Robert F. Thurston taught about 15 scholars. Phoebe Elliott is a bit difficult to track for a number of subsequent years, but by the mid-1880s, she is shown owning a house at 321 S. 14th St. in Lincoln, while her brother, Simon, lived at 307 S. 14th St. Simon owned a crockery and Queensware business named China Hall at 1212 O St. Simons wife, Franc, is arguably far more famous than either her husband or Phoebe, because she is credited with being the co-founder of P.E.O. From 1887 to 1890, Phoebe served on the Lincoln School Board, and during her second year, the new school on the northeast corner of 26th and O streets began being referred to as Elliott School, though no expressed reason for the name was noted. The depression of 1893 caused Simon Elliotts crockery business to close, and his family temporarily moved in with Phoebe. In 1889, Phoebe is listed as Corresponding Secretary of the Home for the Friendless at 11th and South streets, though she still considered herself primarily a teacher. On June 19, 1890, Phoebe turned up as one of three judges at Cotner Universitys first declamatory contest, but she is not listed as a faculty member and seemingly has no real connection with the Bethany, Neb., school. From 1892 to 1894 Phoebe was again on the Lincoln School Board, then in 1922 the new Elliott Elementary School at 25th and N streets opened two blocks southwest of the original Elliott School, creating a few months confusion when there were two Elliott Schools. By 1910, Phoebe had disappeared from Lincoln and her house was owned by Charles Bryan, brother of William Jennings Bryan, Lincoln mayor, Nebraska governor and candidate for the U.S. vice presidency. When the village of Lancaster was platted in 1864 the Lancaster Colony [also] laid out [school] District 1 and constructed the two-story Methodist Seminary of soft red sandstone just north of the present corner of Ninth and P streets. Although it has been said that H.W. Merrill taught at the seminary, as it reportedly never really opened, it is recorded that his wife did establish a graded tuition school in the uncompleted building. The Merrills also lived in the structure even though it was noted that the classroom in which she taught had rugs over the unglazed windows, the floor was of dirt, and she had to bring her baby to classes. This was then in late 1866 and was the first school in the village of Lancaster, which would a year later become Lincoln. One source said a month after the classes in the seminary building on the block bounded by Q and R and 11th and 12th streets, a short distance north of the southwest corner, was the stone schoolhouse. This was the first schoolhouse in Lincoln, which opened in November 1867. Some say the first teacher was George Peck, others credit Professor James, so this title is up for grabs. In late 1869, the tiny frame Methodist church on the southwest corner of 10th and Q streets was purchased for a schoolhouse, and Lincolns multibuilding growth began. In 1873 the old stone schoolhouse became Lincolns jail and, after serving a number of uses, was razed to become the approximate location of the Johnny Carson Theatre in the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Thus, as often happens when one attempts to nail down a first, there are numbers of contenders, depending on how you define your exact terms. Top Journal Star photos for December 2023 A 48-year-old Aurora man is dead and his 29-year-old stepson is in jail after a stabbing in Aurora that left two others injured, according to police. Police found Ross Nickolaus with significant injuries after they responded to a home on Fairview Drive in Aurora at about 1:20 a.m. Saturday on a report of a stabbing, Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson Cody Thomas said. Nickolaus was transported to the hospital, where he died, Thomas said. Two other victims were also found with stab wounds. Officers found a woman with significant injuries in a neighboring house's driveway. She was transported to Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha where she is being treated for serious injuries, Thomas said. The third victim, a teenage male, was found inside the same residence as Nickolaus with minor injuries consistent with stab wounds. He has since been released from the hospital, Thomas said. Police arrested Nickolaus' stepson, 29-year-old Caleb Arnett, also of Aurora, on suspicion of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault. He was found at the scene and taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries he sustained prior to officers' arrival, according to police. It's unclear what led up to the stabbings and if the three victims and Arnett lived together at the home on Fairview Drive. The Nebraska State Patrol will lead the investigation at the request of the Aurora Police Department. The investigation is ongoing. Top Journal Star photos for December 2023 The facility where future doctors, nurses and other health care providers will be educated before spreading out across rural Nebraska will be named for the University of Nebraska administrator who helped bring it to fruition. On Friday, the NU Board of Regents approved the naming of the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, a $95 million facility set to open at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2026. The recommendation to name the building after the longtime UNK chancellor originated with the William and Ruth Scott Foundation, the lead donor on the public-private partnership. This is one of the kindest, most impactful things anybody has ever done for me, said Kristensen, a former state senator and speaker of the Legislature who has led UNK since 2002. When it opens to students, the 110,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art classrooms, learning labs and simulation centers will mark the next chapter in a partnership between UNK and the University of Nebraska Medical Center that began more than a decade ago. Kristensen, as a longtime resident of Kearney at the heart of that partnership, said he's witnessed talented young people leave small and mid-sized communities across the state to pursue medical education and never come back. People who gain their training and their education generally stay in the area where they get their last degree thats human nature, he said. So, I think the realization started to bubble up that even if we prepare those undergraduates, once we send them off they werent coming back. In 2010, Kristensen was instrumental in the creation of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program that gave students from rural Nebraska a pathway to a career in health care and helped connect them with those positions in areas of need across Nebraska. The partnership grew again a few years later when the Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative focused on locating a UNMC facility for nursing and allied health professions at the university's campus in Kearney. Kristensen was part of the effort that helped secure $15 million in state appropriations to build a new facility for those programs, and led efforts to raise the remaining $4 million in private donations to finish construction and furnishing. After it opened, the Health Science Education Complex quickly reached its capacity as more students sought UNK out as an option for programs ranging from nursing and occupational therapy to osteopathy and podiatry. Between 2018 and 2023, applications for UNKs health science programs increased by 17% from 783 to 921, and roughly 1 out of every 5 students who apply to UNK are interested in a health career, according to a campus spokesman. And this fall, nearly one-fourth of UNKs incoming freshmen class have declared a health science-related major, according to the university. Kristensen said the growth in both interest and enrollment in the health sciences program, along with the greater demand for those professionals in rural areas across Nebraska, led to more ambitious thinking about how UNK and UNMC could fill those gaps. The result was a proposed $85 million facility the price tag later grew to $95 million funded in part through $60 million in state-appropriated American Rescue Plan Act funds. It also benefited from $5 million in funding from the city of Kearney, $1.5 million from Central Community College, and $28.5 million from private sources interested in helping to build a sustainable workforce capable of meeting the health care needs of rural Nebraska. We didnt have to come up with some slick marketing campaign, Kristensen said. It was the right project at the right time. Along with members of the Legislature and university leaders like President Ted Carter and UNMC Chancellor Jeff Gold, the new facility aimed at training health care professionals who desire to work in a rural setting piqued the interest of Omaha philanthropists William and Ruth Scott, who became lead donors through their foundation. John Scott, the vice president for the William and Ruth Scott Foundation, said that as the organization looked at extending its charitable giving outside of Omaha, the goals of the Rural Health Education Building lined up with the causes it felt are worth supporting. We wanted to bring some focus to the kinds of things we would look at, and public health is certainly at the top of that list," Scott said. "Here's a collaborative project at the university that's going to train and prepare a lot of kids from Nebraska to work in the health field. "We think a large majority of those are going to end up in rural communities," he added. "How super impactful is that going to be?" When the NU Foundation notified the Scotts that their donation had earned them the rights to decide whose name was going to be on the building, Scott said one person immediately rose to the top of the list. Kristensen's impact at UNK, on Kearney, and in the Legislature going back decades made him the easy choice, Scott said. "I can't think of a person who has had more of a positive impact on both the Kearney campus and the Kearney community than Doug," Scott said. "Frankly, that's exactly the kind of person we want to recognize." On Friday, during the Board of Regents meeting where the naming was approved, administrators and regents echoed the support expressed by the Scotts. "His undying efforts have truly been amazing, and this will be a remarkable project, not just for Kearney or the University of Nebraska at Kearney, but frankly across the world," Gold said. "I think this complex will literally change the future of the state and will save countless lives in the future," said Omaha Regent Elizabeth O'Connor. "We couldn't have done this without Chancellor Kristensen." Student Regent Katie Schultis, who represents UNMC, and Student Regent Temo Molina of UNK said they supported naming the "truly life changing" project after the chancellor. Kristensen said he has been overwhelmed by the show of support for the new project, from senators across the political spectrum to Nebraskans living in rural and urban areas, which he credited for helping the project be realized. "My fear is they put your name on the building and people will think it was you," he said. "I'm here to tell you it was a lot of people who came together and worked very hard." In the years ahead, the chancellor said he envisions the Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex will give students an immersive experience in a rural setting while also providing them access to the same kind of education they would get at UNMC's main campus in Omaha. Kristensen said the project will also spur further growth in his hometown of Kearney, keeping it a strong economic driver in central Nebraska. "It's going to become a reality, and I'm so appreciative of everybody that helped," he said. "We got it right." Photos: UNK takes on Wayne State in Memorial Stadium RACINE Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Toni L. Young to the Racine County Circuit Court Branch 3. The appointment fills the vacancy created by Judge Maureen M. Martinezs resignation, effective Nov. 17, 2023. Young will complete the term, which ends on July 31, 2024, according to the governors office. Young is a Racine native and is the local attorney manager for the Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office in Janesville, according to the announcement. She began her legal career in 2006 as a contract analyst for Manpower in Milwaukee. Young said she looks forward to working with the Racine County Circuit Court judges, court staff and county citizens. To say that I am honored that Gov. Evers has selected me for the Racine County Circuit Court judicial appointment does little to describe the sentiment of gratitude that I feel, Young said. In the announcement, Evers said Young will be an excellent judge for the people of Racine County. Toni Young is a well-respected attorney with broad experience who is committed to seeking justice for everyone who enters her courtroom, he said. RACINE The Racine Unified School District Board during a special meeting Monday will consider approving a construction manager for referendum-funded work at Mitchell K-8 School. During its Nov. 20 meeting, the RUSD Board approved a motion to consider the item during a special meeting so board members could have more time to review the information. The proposal is for Scherrer Construction Co. to be the Mitchell construction manager at a cost of $1.646 million. In February, the RUSD board allocated up to $40 million to expand and renovate Mitchell, 2701 Drexel Ave., which is scheduled to be completed by August 2025. Work session The Mitchell construction manager is the only action item on the School Boards special meeting agenda. The board has a work session immediately following the special meeting. No action will be taken by the board during the work session, but the agenda items likely will be voted on during its Dec. 18 business meeting. At the work session Monday, the board will receive information about a proposed contract with Hunzinger Construction at a cost of $1.42 million to be the construction manager for work at S.C. Johnson Elementary School. In February, the board allocated up to $24 million to renovate S.C. Johnson Elementary, 2420 Kentucky St. That work is scheduled to be done by August 2025. The School Board will receive information about a proposed contract with VJS Construction at a cost of just under $1.4 million to be the construction manager for work at Olympia Brown school. Last December, the board approved up to $17 million to expand Olympia Brown Elementary into a K-8 school by August 2025. Early bid packages The School Board will hear information about a proposed early bid package for construction work at Horlick High School. The early bid package for Horlick is intended to allow the district to stay on its planned budget and timeline by ordering materials that take a long time to arrive like air handlers, electrical gear and an electrical distribution panel, according to a board fact sheet. During its Nov. 20 meeting, the School Board similarly approved an early bid package for construction of the new Red Apple school for materials like steel, HVAC and electrical items that take six to 12 months to arrive after being ordered. The board also will hear information Monday about a proposed early bid package for construction work at Schulte school. The early bid package for Schulte is intended to allow the district to stay on its planned budget and timeline by ordering materials like electrical switchboards, high ampacity panelboards and an electrical transocket, according to a board fact sheet. On Nov. 20, the board approved a new lump sum cost for architectural services to build a new Schulte K-8 School. The cost went from $2.34 million to $3.18 million. Architectural costs are still projected to be within the overall project budget at Schulte. Last December, the School Board approved up to $76 million to build the 153,000-square-foot Schulte K-8 School. The new school is scheduled to open in August 2025. It will be at the same site as the current Schulte Elementary, 8515 Westminster Drive, Sturtevant. The special meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the Mygatts Room at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Building 1, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Eight photos of RUSD Board members, state lawmakers learning about early literacy Learning sounds Teacher Marianne Cooper leads students in a reading exercise Monday, Oct. 23 at Wadewitz Elementary, 2700 Yout St. According to a 2012 study, Sounding it out Teacher Melani Raditz instructs students during a reading lesson Monday, Oct. 23 at Wadewitz Elementary, 2700 Yout St. Racine Unified aims to Fisher, Pfeffer and Katzer Racine Unified board member Nikki Fisher, from left, talks to Jenny Pfeffer and Don Katzer Monday, Oct. 23 at Wadewitz Elementary, 2700 Yout S Greta Neubauer Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, the Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader, smiles while observing a lesson Monday, Oct. 23 at Wadewitz Elementary, 2700 Pfeffer and students Jenny Pfeffer, Wadewitz early literacy coach, sits with students during a lesson Monday, Oct.23 at Wadewitz Elementary, 2700 Yout St. Pfeffer Soren Gajewski Racine Unified Superintendent Soren Gajewski talks Monday, Oct. 23 at Wadewitz Elementary, 2700 Yout St. Gajewski said early literacy is RUSD Barbian and O'Connell Racine Unified School Board President Jane Barbian, left, talks with RUSD board member Brian O'Connell on Monday, Oct. 23 at Wadewitz Elementa McGuire, board members Tip McGuire, from left, Theresa Villar, Jane Barbian and Brian O'Connell observed reading lessons Monday, Oct. 23 at Wadewitz Elementary, 2700 Wadewitz early literacy UNION GROVE Going into high school, Shannon Roberts was interested in being an educator but wasnt sure what subject she wanted to teach. A few years later, her plan is clearer because of the classes she has taken at Union Grove High School. Roberts wants to be an agriculture instructor. The ag classes really opened up my mind to different opportunities and really expanded my knowledge, she said. Roberts, a senior at UGHS, is one of 315 students taking classes this school year through the agriculture program. The courses are taught at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources building next to the high school. The building features two 1,500-square-foot classrooms, a 1,600-square-foot small animal lab and an attached 2,400-square-foot greenhouse. Funding for the building was part of a $7.85 million referendum passed in 2017. Classes began at the new building in 2018, more than 50 years after the prior UGHS agriculture program ended. The school FFA chapter also restarted around the same time after being dormant for more than a half-century. Students and educators appreciate being part of the revitalized program. Its almost like a fresh start, said Carrie Jacobs, UGHS agriculture teacher. Were one of the lucky schools that has been able to bring it back. Variety of classes The two pathways in the agriculture program are animal science and plant science. Classes include introduction to agriculture science, animal science, companion animals, horticulture, agriculture business and agriculture leadership. Most courses are hands-on and involve labs. The school district also owns land just north of the agricultural sciences building where students can work with chickens and pigs. They help pregnant sows give birth, notch pigs ears and castrate male pigs. The companion animal class is one of the most popular. It involves taking care of small animals like rabbits, chinchillas and a bearded dragon. Animals are therapeutic, Jacobs said. Plants are as well, so anything that (students) are not in a normal desk or chair, sitting, seems to be popular. UGHS senior Ashley Gunderson agreed. You come out to the ag building and its like a break from real school, Gunderson said. Its so interactive. You can always go grab an animal or play with the animals while youre learning. Its just different. The horticulture class involves growing plants and flowers from start to finish, which are then sold at an annual community event in the spring. Gunderson enjoyed seeing the results of her horticultural labor. I think that was the coolest thing, being like, Oh, I grew that flower. That ones being sold today, Gunderson said. Lessons depend on the day. A few weeks ago, students worked with a miniature horse. On Wednesday, students were dissecting eggs. They washed, dried and weighed them before the dissection. Its never the same, Roberts said. You can always expect to have fun or do something new. Perfect storm When the agriculture program started in fall 2018, Jacobs hoped there would be student engagement, but she didnt anticipate such demand. I dont think anyone saw the boom that we would have so fast, Jacobs said. Jacobs was the only ag teacher for the first year, but because of high levels of student interest, Katie Hagemann, UGHS agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, was hired in 2019. This school year, there are 315 students taking 538 agriculture classes, meaning some students are in more than one ag course. The school has around 1,000 students, so about one in three are taking an agriculture class. The two teachers schedules are full. Jacobs said another part-time instructor would help, but there is limited space in the building. Agriculture classes are open to all students, and teachers said that at most 10% of their students live on farms. No matter who you are, no matter what background you come from, you walk into the ag building and you find a passion that you never knew you had, Gunderson said. Gunderson, who lives on a grain farm, said the agriculture classes have solidified her interest in a farming career. She is taking an independent study course next semester to earn her fertilizer handling license. Roberts, who lives on a hobby farm, is doing an independent study class next semester on livestock evaluation. Importance of agriculture The agriculture program may also play a role in increasing enrollment at UGHS, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Roberts and Gunderson said the program was a big reason why they open enrolled at the school. The two students said the classes have helped them learn more about the importance of agriculture. Agriculture is in pretty much everything, Roberts said. Its in our food, our clothes, everything so I think its really important for other people to realize that its not just a farmer in a field. Its people everywhere across the world doing things connected to agriculture which are so important to everybody. Teachers appreciate that the classes can open students eyes to potential jobs that do not require four years of college. Some students are interested in veterinarian careers, for example, and the companion animals course can help with that. I think thats also one of the reasons why our ag program has been so successful, Jacobs said. There is a push: You dont have to go to college, but what are you going to do? Lets have a game plan, lets get some skills. Teachers also aim for students to be educated consumers and know more about what happens to food between farms and grocery stores. Hagemann recently had students do research related to Thanksgiving, such as how far turkey might travel to reach their plates. Theyre going to have to make decisions on what to buy, how to buy it, when to buy it, Hagemann said. Hopefully some of the things that we talk about or they learn in class, they can apply. Summer 2024 will involve an international trip. A few dozen UGHS agriculture and culinary students will travel to Italy to learn about the farm to table process. Two years ago, students took a similar trip to Ireland. Community involvement Gunderson and Roberts, who are both FFA officers, enjoy recruiting students for the organization, which is open to kids as young as fifth grade. We do have a lot of young, interested members, and I think its important to keep that going and not lose the spark thats here that everybody seems to love, Roberts said. In recent years, they said FFA membership has more than doubled to about 70 students, a rewarding trend to see. Agriculture is the backbone of the county, and I feel like were the ones that are going to keep it alive, Gunderson said. High schoolers also often work with the community through the plant sale and spending time with area farmers or at the local grain cooperative. Teachers want to work with the people who passed the 2017 referendum so community members have a better sense of what agriculture students are learning. Jacobs appreciates the communitys overwhelming support. Promoting citizenship, giving back to the community that supports you has been something that I encourage, Jacobs said. Any chance we can give back, we like to. Roberts appreciates gaining a better sense of the areas agriculture community. Its funny that the world is agriculture, because it really is a culture and a community of people that come together, Roberts said. Everybody truly does care about each other and works together. After decades without agriculture classes, UGHS students and teachers enjoy being part of the program and look forward to its evolution. Itll be very interesting to see how the program grows and continues, Jacobs said. Thirty, 40 years down the road, what is it going to look like? Its exciting to see. Eleven photos of the Union Grove HS agriculture program Weighing an egg A student weighs an egg as part of an egg dissection at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. The egg dissection occurred in the Agricu Katie Hagemann Teacher Katie Hagemann works with a student Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Teachers aim for students to be educated Carrie Jacobs Agriculture teacher Carrie Jacobs talks to students at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. When the agriculture program started in fa Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources building The Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources building at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave., was funded as part of a $7.85 millio Shannon Roberts Shannon Roberts is a Union Grove High School senior and FFA officer. Roberts wants to be an agriculture instructor in part because of the ag c Katie writing on egg carton Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, helps students during an egg dissection Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Col Bearded dragon A bearded dragon is among the animals in Union Grove High School's companion animal class, which involves taking care of small animals like ra Katie Hagemann and student Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, center, works with a student during an egg dissection at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Ashley Gunderson Ashley Gunderson is a Union Grove High School senior and FFA officer. Gunderson, who lives on a grain farm, said the school's agriculture clas Katie Hagemann with eggs Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, prepares for an egg dissection Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Union Grove High School Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Union Grove HS agriculture program Rachel Carson exposed the dangers of pesticides, wrote the environmental science book Silent Spring and helped advance the environmental movement of the 1960s. Gretchen Gerrish, Carol Warden and Emily Stanley conduct research out of the UW-Madison Trout Lake Limnology Station in Vilas County, while Aleta Baun is an indigenous Mollo activist from Indonesia who helped organize opposition and ultimately stopped mining companies from destroying mountains from which 13 rivers flow. Now these women and many others from around the world who have devoted their lives to protecting and advocating for water are on the third floor of Overture Center for a two-month run in the James Watrous Gallery. They wont be there in person, in a photograph or even a painting. Instead, they are depicted in the intricate and detailed weavings from the high-tech Jacquard loom of Mary Burns, who works out of her home studio along the Manitowish River just south of Mercer in far northern Wisconsin. Visitors will be forgiven if they mistake Burns Women and Water exhibit for paintings. Thats how much detail is revealed in her work. Burns uses her medium to tell the stories of remarkable women who have stepped forward, sometimes at great risk, to protect drinking water, lakes, rivers, marshes and aquifers. At this moment, water issues are so important and are on everybodys radar, Burns said last week by phone from Mercer. These are women who really have worked to protect and advocate for water. Whether its activists, scientists or farmers in Mozambique, they are working to help the planet. Theres nothing more important than our water issues, and I think thats resonating with people. Burns first displayed some of the weavings in spring 2022 at the five-day, International Freshwater Ecology Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before they were shown for two months at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau. But the exhibits longest show was a five-month run this year at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center near Ashland, where more than 50,000 people took in Burns work. The exhibit at Watrous Gallery opened Nov. 24 along with Of Words and Trees, an exhibit by Milwaukee artist Madeline Grace Martin, whose use of shapes, pinecones and paper pay tribute to her father, a writer, social worker and boxer who planted trees. Both exhibits at the gallery, which can be accessed via elevator in the Overture Center Rotunda, will run through Feb. 4. Admission is free. The gallery The 1,400-square-foot gallery, named after a longtime art and history professor at UW-Madison, opened in 2004 and is operated by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. The organizations work includes examining science and culture in Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, exploring pathways to a sustainable future through its Climate and Energy Initiative, offering courses and public talks, and supporting the states poet laureate. The Watrous Gallery is reserved for Wisconsin artists, and the competition to show ones work is stiff. A call for artists is made every three to four years with a jury of five people selecting a wide range of art that represents the full spectrum of what Wisconsin art is all about, said Jody Clowes, the gallerys director since 2010. In the most recent round, only 10% of the 245 artists who applied were accepted, which has the gallery scheduled out almost through 2028. Its really exciting they all want to show here, but its also been really hard to have to send out so many rejection letters, Clowes said. The artist Burns work stood out because it wasnt about the artist, Clowes said. Burns has 39 weaved portraits, some portraying multiple women, but the gallery only had space for 27 of the framed pieces, most of which are 43 inches wide and 31 inches tall. Shes really honoring all of these individuals, Clowes said. She just dove into the research and was so impressed by the stories she found and she wanted to dedicate her work to that. If this story sounds familiar, youre not mistaken. The last stop was to meet with Bates, who had just completed Wisconsins Wild Lakes, a 241-page book about the last remaining undeveloped lakes in the state. But when I walked through the front door, I was immediately struck by the weavings that filled a wall. The $25,000 loom was on one end of the studio, and it took only a few minutes to decide that this was a pretty special story, too. The project Burns, 69, came up with the idea while doing another project that used her loom to create woven images that honored and profiled ancestral women from Wisconsins 12 Native American tribes. As she began to get to know the women, Burns became aware of their reverence for water and how women in their culture are the keepers of the water, she said. Its giving voice to these women, Burns said during a tour of her studio last summer. And theyre just a small fraction of the women who are doing just amazing work. Burns, who began weaving in her days as a student at Wausau Newman High School, worked with the UW-Madison Trout Lake Limnology Station, which wrote the grant to get funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board. She began the weaving of Women and Water in 2017. Other women featured in the exhibit include Tinker Schuman, an elder of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Vilas County who has led spiritual water walks around some of the reservations 260 lakes; Aunofo Havea Funaki, a sea captain and ocean steward in the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga; and Nafisa Barot, who has championed water issues in her home country of India. All of the women in Burns weavings are now chronicled in a book that was published in June. The text was written by Bates. The exhibit fits the mission of the Academy of Sciences, which has long been advocating for healthy waters. Seeing these woman portrayed in the exhibit and then reading their stories is so moving that people, Im hoping, are inspired to take action, Burns said. Its been such a long journey and to have it to go to a place like the Watrous is really great. The Jacquard loom weavings of Mary Burns Heres how members of Wisconsins congressional delegation voted on major issues last week. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress. House EXPELLING GEORGE SANTOS: The House on Dec. 1 voted 311-114 to adopt a resolution (HR 878) removing Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress, making him the sixth member ever to be expelled from the chamber. The vote followed a House Ethics Committee report alleging misconduct by the first-term congressman including the use of donors credit cards without permission and lying about his campaign finances to the Federal Election Commission. He is under federal indictment on charges including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public money and making false statements to Congress, Santos had survived two previous House expulsion votes this year. There was no debate on the resolution. A yes vote was to expel Santos. Voting yes: Bryan Steil, R-1; Mark Pocan, D-2; Gwen Moore, D-4; and Glenn Grothman, R-6 Voting no: Derrick Van Orden, R-3; Scott Fitzgerald, R-5; Thomas Tiffany, R-7; and Mike Gallagher, R-8 KILLING U.S. AGREEMENT WITH IRAN OVER HOSTAGES, OIL ASSETS: Voting 307-119, the House on Nov. 30 passed a bill (HR 5961) that would effectively nullify an agreement last August between the United States and Iran that resulted in Iran freeing five U.S. hostages and, in return, gaining the release of five Iranians held in the United States and access to $6 billion of its oil revenues frozen in a South Korean bank. The $6 billion was then converted to euros and moved to Qatars central bank. The administration put another freeze on the $6 billion after the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas, a terrorist organization backed by Iran. This bill would impose U.S. sanctions on any foreign or international financial institution, including the Qatari central bank and European commercial banks, that facilitates the release of any share of the funds when they are unfrozen, thus rewriting terms of the August agreement without Irans consent. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival. Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany and Gallagher Voting no: Pocan and Moore PROHIBITING ASYLUM HOUSING ON FEDERAL LAND: Voting 224-203, the House on Nov. 30 passed a bill (HR 5283) that would prohibit federal agencies including the National Park Service from using federal lands to temporarily house unauthorized aliens who have applied for asylum in the United States. Under federal and international law, undocumented immigrants arriving in a foreign country can petition for asylum out of legitimate fear they would be persecuted if forced to return home. Applicants are legally entitled to remain in the United States while their petitions are adjudicated by immigration judges. Because of backlogs in immigration courts, hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers reside in the United States in any given year. Individuals thought to pose a danger to U.S. security cannot apply for asylum. One part of this bill would negate a National Park Service lease under which New York City is housing up to 2,000 asylum seekers at Floyd Bennett Field, a largely defunct airfield in Brooklyn. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival. Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany and Gallagher Voting no: Pocan and Moore KILLING CONSUMER LENDING RULE: Voting 221-202, the House on Dec. 1 nullified a proposed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would prevent lenders including banks from denying credit requests because of the applicants race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or in most cases age. The rule would require creditors to share with the bureau, on an anonymous basis, much of the demographic information they collect from applicants. In other provisions, the rule would require lenders to retain records of credit applications, notify applicants of all actions taken on their requests, report credit histories in the names of both spouses and provide applicants with copies of appraisal reports. This vote officially killed the rule because the Senate already had adopted the resolution of disapproval (SJ Res 32). A yes vote was to kill the proposed rule. Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany and Gallagher Voting no: Pocan and Moore Senate BLOCKING BIDEN NOMINEE AT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Voting 44 for and 51 against, the Senate on Nov. 27 failed to reach the 60 votes necessary to advance the nomination of Jose Javier Rodriguez as assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. Rodriguez, 45, represented south Florida constituencies while serving one term in Floridas Senate and two-terms in its House of Representatives. There was no debate on his nomination. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voted no to give himself standing to bring the nomination back to the floor at a later date. A yes vote was to advance the nomination. Voting yes: Tammy Baldwin, D Voting no: Ron Johnson, R Key votes ahead The Senate will take up President Bidens request for emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine during the week of Dec. 4. The House schedule was to be announced. VoteFacts.com News Reports is a nonpartisan, fact-based news service whose mission is to help civically engaged individuals and organizations track major actions in the U.S. House and Senate. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress. A sub-forum on artist exchanges and mutual learning was held as a sideline activity of the Liangzhu Forum in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, from Friday to Saturday. [Photo/VCG] A sub-forum on artist exchanges and mutual learning was held as a sideline activity of the Liangzhu Forum in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, from Friday to Saturday. Approximately 150 artists from over 80 countries attended the two-day sub-forum, which consisted of two parts: speeches and dialogues. During the event, Ecuadorian artist Gonzalo Hernan Illescas Coronel said that using art as a medium to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations requires the establishment of a continuous exchange of cultures and ideas. Moreau epouse Kouassi Mathilde, an artist from Cote d'Ivoire who uses Chinese calligraphy in her work, also shared her own views on the topic during the sub-forum. Culture and art know no national boundaries and belong to people all over the world, and language will never become a barrier to our communication, she said. With the theme of cultural exchanges and mutual learning in the eyes of Chinese and foreign artists, the event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Zhejiang provincial government and the China International Culture Association. Secret, phantom, alias, pseudonym, undisclosed. When those words are applied to an email account of an elected official, theyre sure to raise political hackles and that was the situation last week with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. The what have you got to hide crowd quickly picked up on the report by conservative media outlet Wisconsin Right Now that Evers conducted state business using an alias email account, warrenspahn@wisconsin.gov. Not only that, the media outlet reported there had been 17,000 emails sent to and from that account. Some of the emails from the Spahn account included communications about COVID-19 responses while others were simple well wishes to state agency staff that were sometimes signed by Evers. Evers Communication Director Britt Cudaback jumped to the governors defense saying dignitaries in the state of Wisconsin have alias email addresses, including the governor, first lady and lieutenant governor and thats been the case for at least the past decade, including under former Gov. Scott Walker. That was under the email pseudonym kevin.scott@wisconsin.gov. So, the other guy was doing it first. Cudaback framed the issue as a digital security measure to prevent phishing, spam and other emails that could disrupt state information technology infrastructure and thats why the email was not divulged when the governors office responded to requests under Wisconsins Open Records law. Were not necessarily buying the digital security excuse that seems like a stretch. Perhaps the most cogent comments on this fracas came from Wisconsin Transparency Project President Tom Kamenick who said the phantom email address doesnt seem illegal or inherently problematic. It seems the more practical reason they do this is your public-facing email address is just everywhere and gets massive amounts of spam and newsletters and everything under the sun, Kamenick said. And if you have a lesser-known email address, its easier to see important messages from the few people that youve share it with. That, at least, makes some sense. Still, as Kamenick noted, the use of aliases and a generally unknown email raises the issue of whether government officials will report those records when the public asks for them. Evers office complied with the records request and thats how the Spahn site came to light. But it raises the question of whether all public officials would do that. All in all, it creates some bad optics for Gov. Evers. Having an A-list email address known to some government officials and perhaps some political supporters guarantees their emails will get to the front of the line in getting the governors attention. If youre not on the A-list, youll just have to stand in the official public email line. Thats a bad look. Evers should drop the alias email address. 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 Honeywell's booth in the clean energy exhibition area of the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, Dec. 1, 2023 [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn] Honeywell, a U.S. industrial conglomerate, showcased its energy transition technologies and solutions at the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), aiming to strengthen cooperation with industry partners. This effort supports China's goals to achieve peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. At the CISCE, Honeywell displayed its sustainability and digitalization solutions in energy transition, air travel, smart buildings, and intelligent manufacturing. The company, known for its expertise in sustainability, directed about 60% of its 2022 new product research and development investments toward outcomes aligned with environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. Honeywell also specializes in advanced automation solutions that help its customers improve efficiency in energy use and operational management. "China's decarbonization goals bring industry challenges in terms of emission reduction, but also provide opportunities for technological innovation and applications for enterprises in the supply chain to strengthen sustainable development practices," said William Yu, president of Honeywell China. As a long-standing proponent and facilitator of sustainability, Honeywell expects to use the CISCE as a platform to enhance cooperation and work with additional industry partners in China. The goal is to develop a supply chain ecosystem that is resilient, agile, and sustainable, according to Yu. During the five-day event, Honeywell displayed its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) solutions compatible with a wide range of renewable feedstocks. The company also showcased sensors designed for electric vehicle applications to monitor current, speed, and thermal runaway, as well as its Solstice 1234yf automotive refrigerant. This refrigerant, based on next-generation Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology, has an ultra-low global warming potential (GWP less than 1). Additionally, Honeywell's booth highlighted the company's refinery solutions, which employ advanced process technologies to assist refineries in transitioning into integrated petrochemical enterprises. The display also included smart factory solutions that enhance the safety, efficiency and reliability of industrial operations by connecting processes, assets and people. You are here: Business Assets under the management of China's public offering funds totaled 27.38 trillion yuan (about 3.85 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of October, data from the Asset Management Association of China showed. By the end of October, a total of 11,268 public offering funds were being operated by 144 fund management companies, the association said. The scale of closed-end funds neared 3.73 trillion yuan, while that of open-end funds was at about 23.7 trillion yuan, the data showed. Of the 144 fund management companies, 48 are foreign-funded and 96 are domestic firms, the association said. And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. In many places, the holiday season in December can be a magical time. During this month, many cultures celebrate with festivals of lights. From Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Sydney, Australia; from Lyon, France to many cities in Japan -- lights are used to lift the spirits and to celebrate. So, today we will talk about a few expressions that use the word light. The first is to be a beacon of light . A beacon of light gives hope and happiness to others. If you have ever been called a beacon of light, take it as a big compliment. A person who is a beacon of light makes things better for everyone around them. A beacon of light can be a person who helps guide others to safety, much like a lighthouse does for ships and boats. These people can even cast light on the darkness in our lives. When we cast light on something, we make it better. The expression can also mean that we explain something more fully or expose some unknown parts of an issue or problem. Some people like to say, Let me cast a little light on the subject, before they explain something. After someone casts light on a complex or difficult issue, you might begin to see the light . If you see the light, you understand something. Often, you have realized a difficult truth. For example, years ago my friend refused to believe that her boyfriend had a drinking problem. But when he was arrested for drunk driving, she began to see the light. She got him help and now he has been alcohol-free for many years. So, he saw the light, too. This expression is very different from seeing the light of day --although they sound similar. When something sees the light of day, it is made available to others. For example, some people write stories and poems. But these works never see the light of day. They stay hidden in a desk drawer or notebook. To see the light of day can also mean to be born or to come into existence. Lets say you worked on a big project for many months or even years. You will probably feel very excited when it finally sees the light of day. Now, lets talk about bad light. Bad lighting can make even the most beautiful person look bad in a picture or video. So, it is not surprising that seeing something in a bad light means to form a bad opinion of something or someone. Sometimes our habits and attitudes can be seen in a bad light. For example, a scientist was seen in a bad light by her coworkers. They said she was not a team player. Now, lets hear these some of these expressions used in a discussion between two friends. A: Wow, you look awful. Are you sick? B: No. I havent slept in a week. A: Why? Whats wrong? B: My roommate started playing the bag pipes. They are SO loud. And she plays late at night! A: The bag pipes?! Oh, thats too bad. Well, have you told her to stop? B: No. Shes a really nice person. So, I dont want her to see me in a bad light . I mean, we all do annoying things, right? A: Yes. But, we all dont play the bag pipes late at night. Look, you need to do something. You need your sleep! You could hide her bag pipes. Hide them somewhere so they will never see the light of day again! B: You are so mean! But you are also right. Im beginning to see the light . Ill say something later. But for now (yawn) can I crash on your couch. Im beat! And thats the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time Im Anna Matteo. Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. ___________________________________________________ Words in This Story beacon n. a very bright light such as a light on a lighthouse compliment n. a comment on how good something is or an expression of praise expose v. to show something that was unknown or covered up earlier habit n. a regular behavior attitude n. a way of feeling or thinking that affects a persons behavior crash v. (informal idiom) to go to sleep after being very tired beat adj. (informal) very tired We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? Our comment policy is here. Iris Logan was having a hard time growing grass at her home in St. Paul, Minnesota. So, she covered the space with stones, statues, and other art. More than 30 years later, it is something of a local landmark. But to a city inspector, it is a problem. Logan, who is 70, has been told to clean up the different objects, like wood and large rocks, noted after a recent inspection, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, a local newspaper reported. The City Council will look at the issue on December 6. Logan said the citys actions forced her to create the art in the first place. She said city workers who were fixing the road dug so deep around one of her trees that its roots were open to the air. So, she brought in dirt, planted flowers, and added stones and just kept adding. Logan said that if she likes a rock, she will try to bring it home. Im a rock lover, the former farmer from Mississippi added. Logan recently received written notice that a city official will suggest to the City Council that she be given until December 22 to clean things up. She wrote six pages of note by hand to appeal the order. The stones do not enter the street or block city vehicles, Logan wrote to answer one of the inspectors concerns. I just want to make a stand for the next person, Logan said. Casey Rodriguez is a spokeswoman for the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections. She said about 16 other properties on the same street also received letters advising them to remove objects blocking the street to agree with city laws. She said in an email to the Pioneer Press that large roads, called boulevards, should be clear of objects that can block access to power and water lines. She added that it also keeps the tree roots clear and provides a place for snow in the winter. Justin Lewandowski is a community organizer who lives near Logan. He said that 150 people signed their support on a petition in just a few hours. He is hopeful that the city will soon clear up their rules. The quick support from our neighbors has been a clear signal of how much this art means to our community, Lewandowski said. He said it is not just about how it looks; it is about their identity and how they work with each other and with city policy. Im Gregory Stachel. The Associated Press reported this story. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. __________________________________________________ Words in This Story landmark n. an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize notice n. information that tells you or warns you about something that is going to happen access n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone petition n. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something People visit the smart vehicle section of the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Li He) The just-concluded China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), the world's first national exhibition on supply chains, yielded fruitful results, with many participating firms saying they are looking forward to extended supply chain cooperation. A total of more than 200 cooperation agreements and tentative agreements were signed during the five-day event, with a total value of more than 150 billion yuan (about 21.1 billion U.S. dollars), said Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the host of the CISCE, on Saturday. Zhang said that with fruitful outcomes achieved during the expo, nearly 50 multinational companies, including medical technology firm GE Healthcare, enterprise application software provider SAP and AI company iFLYTEK, have already signed up for the CISCE next year. They have said they are looking forward to unlocking more cooperation opportunities with business partners. The event drew more than 1,100 representatives of government departments, business communities and international organizations to participate in relevant forums and exchange views on global industrial and supply chains. More than 510 domestic and foreign firms ranging from the world's top 500 enterprises to innovation-driven "little giant" firms exhibited their latest products and technologies focusing on smart cars, green agriculture, clean energy, digital technology, and the health and lifestyle sector. They said they believe that the CISCE provides a stage for countries around the world to beef up cooperation in the sector by sharing resources and complementing one another on industrial and supply chains, working to promote the recovery and growth of the world economy. HIGH HOPES FOR CHINA MARKET Foreign exhibitors, including those from the United States such as Tesla and Apple, said they see that China plays a key role in global supply chains, and expressed their hope to strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies and take root in the country for their long-term development toward a smarter and greener future. Our company's vision to produce the best product in the world is inseparable from a globalized supply chain, and 'Made in China' is a crucial part of it, Isabel Ge Mahe, Apple's vice president and managing director of the Greater China Region, told Xinhua in an interview. Of the top 200 suppliers that account for 98 percent of Apple's global procurement, manufacturing and assembly businesses, 151 have production activities in China, she added. The consumer technology giant brought its Chinese suppliers to the first CISCE, displaying the intelligent and green manufacturing technologies used on Apple's Chinese production lines. Pointing to a robotic arm engraving the Chinese zodiac sign of the rabbit onto the surface of an egg, Iris Cui, Apple's vice-president of operations and purchasing management for Asia, said, "The Chinese suppliers majoring in intelligent manufacturing are leading the world." Cui said Apple will continue to invest in opportunities and innovation in China by strengthening investment in the intelligent manufacturing sector while improving the localization rate. CLOSER BONDS ON GREEN SHIFT The latest technologies focusing on clean energy and green transformation propelling China's decarbonization drive also drew attention from influential companies in developed countries and potential partners in less developed regions. ExxonMobil and its Chinese partners have already been collaborating to advance LNG as a source of reliable and lower-carbon energy, said Jean-Marc Taton, chairman of ExxonMobil China. As the company plans to double its LNG supply by 2030, he said he looks forward to working with Chinese firms for future opportunities in meeting the growing demand for lower-carbon energy. China is probably one of the best markets for clean energy, so there are many projects that we'd like to cooperate on with Chinese businesses, Tomasz Szypula, president of the Poland Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, told Xinhua. SMALL BUT MIGHTY PLAYERS "I heard during this conference that a lot of main agreements were reached between the biggest companies from the United States and China, but we must think about smaller companies, and the cooperation between smaller companies," Szypula said, noting that the CCPIT and the expo it provided showed effective ways to promote cooperation between companies from different countries. According to a survey conducted by the CCPIT, nearly 90 percent of exhibitors think the expo efficiently promoted cooperation among their business partners on the same supply chains. As one of the representatives of companies from Thailand, Sasivimol Jitbanterngpan, president of Thai-Chinese 168 Inter Technology Co., Ltd., said the health and lifestyle products displayed during the expo attracted many potential consumers attending the exhibition. Impressed by the strong consumption capabilities of Chinese people during overseas visits or domestic trips, she said that she is prepared to bring more quality enterprises from Thailand to participate in next year's CISCE in China. Here's how members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation voted on major issues last week. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress. House EXPELLING GEORGE SANTOS: The House on Dec. 1 voted 311-114 to adopt a resolution (HR 878) removing Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress, making him the sixth member ever to be expelled from the chamber. The vote followed a House Ethics Committee report alleging misconduct by the first-term congressman including the use of donors' credit cards without permission and lying about his campaign finances to the Federal Election Commission. He is under federal indictment on charges including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public money and making false statements to Congress, Santos had survived two previous House expulsion votes this year. There was no debate on the resolution. A yes vote was to expel Santos. Voting yes: Bryan Steil, R-1; Mark Pocan, D-2; Gwen Moore, D-4; and Glenn Grothman, R-6 Voting no: Derrick Van Orden, R-3; Scott Fitzgerald, R-5; Thomas Tiffany, R-7; and Mike Gallagher, R-8 KILLING U.S. AGREEMENT WITH IRAN OVER HOSTAGES, OIL ASSETS: Voting 307-119, the House on Nov. 30 passed a bill (HR 5961) that would effectively nullify an agreement last August between the United States and Iran that resulted in Iran freeing five U.S. hostages and, in return, gaining the release of five Iranians held in the United States and access to $6 billion of its oil revenues frozen in a South Korean bank. The $6 billion was then converted to euros and moved to Qatar's central bank. The administration put another freeze on the $6 billion after the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas, a terrorist organization backed by Iran. This bill would impose U.S. sanctions on any foreign or international financial institution, including the Qatari central bank and European commercial banks, that facilitates the release of any share of the funds when they are unfrozen, thus rewriting terms of the August agreement without Iran's consent. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival. Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany and Gallagher Voting no: Pocan and Moore PROHIBITING ASYLUM HOUSING ON FEDERAL LAND: Voting 224-203, the House on Nov. 30 passed a bill (HR 5283) that would prohibit federal agencies including the National Park Service from using federal lands to temporarily house unauthorized aliens who have applied for asylum in the United States. Under federal and international law, undocumented immigrants arriving in a foreign country can petition for asylum out of legitimate fear they would be persecuted if forced to return home. Applicants are legally entitled to remain in the United States while their petitions are adjudicated by immigration judges. Because of backlogs in immigration courts, hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers reside in the United States in any given year. Individuals thought to pose a danger to U.S. security cannot apply for asylum. One part of this bill would negate a National Park Service lease under which New York City is housing up to 2,000 asylum seekers at Floyd Bennett Field, a largely defunct airfield in Brooklyn. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival. Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany and Gallagher Voting no: Pocan and Moore KILLING CONSUMER LENDING RULE: Voting 221-202, the House on Dec. 1 nullified a proposed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would prevent lenders including banks from denying credit requests because of the applicant's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or in most cases age. The rule would require creditors to share with the bureau, on an anonymous basis, much of the demographic information they collect from applicants. In other provisions, the rule would require lenders to retain records of credit applications, notify applicants of all actions taken on their requests, report credit histories in the names of both spouses and provide applicants with copies of appraisal reports. This vote officially killed the rule because the Senate already had adopted the resolution of disapproval (SJ Res 32). A yes vote was to kill the proposed rule. Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany and Gallagher Voting no: Pocan and Moore Senate BLOCKING BIDEN NOMINEE AT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Voting 44 for and 51 against, the Senate on Nov. 27 failed to reach the 60 votes necessary to advance the nomination of Jose Javier Rodriguez as assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. Rodriguez, 45, represented south Florida constituencies while serving one term in Florida's Senate and two-terms in its House of Representatives. There was no debate on his nomination. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voted "no" to give himself standing to bring the nomination back to the floor at a later date. A yes vote was to advance the nomination. Voting yes: Tammy Baldwin, D Voting no: Ron Johnson, R Key votes ahead The Senate will take up President Biden's request for emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine during the week of Dec. 4. The House schedule was to be announced. VoteFacts.com News Reports is a nonpartisan, fact-based news service whose mission is to help civically engaged individuals and organizations track major actions in the U.S. House and Senate. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress. An Ashland County Sheriff Department sergeant who fatally shot a suspect in August will not face criminal charges, the Bayfield County district attorney said Saturday. Officers from multiple agencies were dispatched to a trailer in the town of Morse at 6 p.m. Aug. 15 after a woman reported that a man who had assaulted her with a knife was holding his girlfriend hostage and threatening to kill her, according to a case report released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The Department of Criminal Investigation led the investigation into the shooting. When police arrived, the man, Jay Claremboux, 44, refused to come out of the trailer or release the woman. Officers told him to send out the female and come out with his hands up. They eventually reached him by phone. Audio from a body camera worn by Ashland County Deputy Alex Petroski captured the conversation. Jay, we got a bad situation man. We cant be doing this, Petroski said. If you dont leave here, its going to be a bad situation, Claremboux replied. You can either leave here ... or you can watch some dead bodies come out. Officers can be heard on the body camera audio reporting they feared for the womans life as more time passed. We havent heard from the female in a while. We think the time clock is getting short here, one officer said. On entering the trailer, officers found Claremboux holding two knives, the report says. After Claremboux refused to disarm himself, Sgt. Jason Janecek shot him once in the torso. Despite lifesaving measures by police and EMTs, Claremboux was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ashland County coroner. The caller and the hostage sustained superficial injuries. No officers were harmed. The woman Claremboux held hostage, whose name is redacted in the DOJ report, had been dating Claremboux on and off for 20 years, police said. She told police the incident had stemmed from a domestic dispute beginning earlier in the day, in which Claremboux had gotten angry at her during a car ride. The woman said that after the police arrived, Claremboux had threatened to cut off her fingers and sliced her arm. Police noted that her left wrist was bandaged. Police also spoke with the woman who originally called 911, who told them that Claremboux had been stiff with bulging eyes and in an evil trance that day, threatening murder and suicide. Police are investigating a double homicide that claimed the lives of the business owner and an employee Friday night at a Twin Falls window tinting shop. At 8:19 p.m. Friday, a report of shots fired at The Tint Shop V, 2487 Kimberly Road, came in and when police officers arrived they found the bodies of Jesse Ortiz, 36, and Jaime Bravo, 26, according to a news release from the Twin Falls Police Department. Ortiz is listed in online sources as being the owner of the business. Bravo was an employee, the Times-News confirmed with a former customer of the business. Twin Falls Police Department has released photos and video of two suspects, in some of the photos holding handguns, and is asking for the publics help in identifying them; one is wearing a coat with a hood and the other is wearing a ski mask in the photos. One of the suspects may go by the nickname El Guero, the news release said. Both suspects are considered armed and dangerous, and the community is advised to not approach them. Detectives are actively working to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and piece together the events leading up to the incident, police said. The public is urged to call the Twin Falls Police Department at 208-735-4357 or Detective Morgan Waite at 208-735-7227. The police department said it will provide updates to the public to the extent that it does not compromise the investigation. The Twin Falls Police Department is working closely with the Twin Falls County Prosecutors Office and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies. While we cannot provide specific details about the ongoing investigation at this time, we want to assure the community that we are dedicating all available resources to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice, said Matthew Hicks, acting chief of police. The incident is the second homicide in Twin Falls in two weeks. On Nov. 16, Freddy Rodriguez was shot to death when he confronted a man trying to steal his vehicle in front of his home, according to police. MiQuavis Taylor and Kaden Thomson, both 18, were arrested and charged with murder in that case. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso The military leaders of Burkina Faso and Niger said Saturday they would quit the G5 anti-jihadist force in Africas Sahel region, the latest blow to the fight against insurgents in one of the worlds most troubled zones. The G5, created in 2014, has secured only meagre results, with Mali also quitting the original five-nation force last year in the wake of a military coup. Leaders of the five countries agreed to deploy a joint anti-terror task force backed by France in 2017, but the military rulers of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have all accused Paris of having an outsize role after years of French deployments on their territories. Burkina and Niger have decided in full sovereignty to quit all instances of the G5 Sahel, including the joint force as of November 29, the two countries said in a statement. The organisation is failing to achieve its objectives. Worse, the legitimate ambitions of our countries, of making the G5 Sahel a zone of security and development, are hindered by institutional red tape from a previous era, which convinces us that our process of independence and dignity is not compatible with G5 participation in its current form, they said. In a veiled reference to France, they added that the G5 Sahel cannot serve foreign interests to the detriments of our people, and even less the dictates of any power in the name of a partnership that treats them like children, denying the sovereignty of our peoples. Le Monde suspended Military leaders headed by Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in Burkina Faso in September 2022, vowing to improve security after years of jihadist attacks by groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Relations with France quickly broke down, with Traores government ordering French forces that had been helping the under-equipped Burkinabe army to quit the country in February. More than 17,000 people have died in attacks since 2015 in Burkina Faso, according to a count by an NGO monitor called the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), and two million people have been uprooted by the violence. On Saturday, Burkina Faso suspended all distribution methods of Le Monde daily after the French newspaper published an article on a deadly jihadist attack in the north. The Burkinabe authorities in recent months have suspended the French TV outlets LCI and France24 as well as Radio France Internationale and the magazine Jeune Afrique. Limited success France has also begun withdrawing its 1,500 troops from Niger following demands by the military rulers who ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July. Nigers foreign minister Bakary Yaou Sangare on Saturday said the new US ambassador, Kathleen FitzGibbon, who arrived in August, would soon present her letter of assignment to authorities to take up her post. Washington, which withdrew non-essential staff from its embassy in August, indicated at the time that FitzGibbon would not present her credentials to Nigers new authorities, as the United States did not recognise them. The West African nation is battling two jihadist insurgencies a spillover in its southeast from a long-running conflict in neighbouring Nigeria, and an offensive in the west by militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso. Along with Mali, which saw a military coup in 2020, Burkina has backed Nigers military, with the three nations on Friday supporting the creation of an Alliance of Sahel States, setting up closer economic ties and mutual defence assistance. The military regimes have also formed close ties against international pressure for a swift return to civilian rule, and to combat the long-running jihadist insurgencies raging in the three countries. Only Chad and Mauritania now remain in the G5, whose military deployment is largely financed by the European Union. The French deployment in the region goes back over a decade to 2013, when then president Francois Hollande sent troops into Mali to help fight a jihadist insurgency. But the military successes have contrasted with political failure, as democracy regressed rather than developed in a region also plagued by a flood of disinformation that Paris blames on Russia. France also began pulling its troops from Mali last year, ending what became known as the Barkhane mission. On the ground, few joint G5 operations have actually been carried out and the security situation has continued to deteriorate. In late November, at least 40 civilians were killed by a major jihadist attack against a military base at Djibo in northern Burkina Faso, according to the United Nations. AFP Eight Filipinos and one Palestinian relative were able to exit Gaza and cross the border into Gaza on Sunday morning (PH time), according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos said they embassy has facilitated the safe exit from Gaza of the eight Filipinos and one Palestinian. The Philippine Embassy in Amman guided and facilitated the safe exit of the eight Filipinos and one Palestinian from Gaza. They were fetched by the Philippine Embassy in Cairo at the Egyptian side of the border where they were issued transit visas to Egypt, Santos said in a message sent to GMA Integrated News. But a family of eight Filipinos who already had approved exit clearances changed their minds and decided to stay in Gaza with their Palestinian father. Their mother was already in the Philippines, Santos said. Another Filipino with approved exit clearance reached the Rafah border crossing, but decided to remain in Gaza when her Palestinian father was not permitted to exit the Palestinian side of the border, he added. Santos said only 18 Filipinos remained in Gaza as of Sunday morning. Of the 137 Filipinos who were in Gaza at the start of the war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, 119 or 86.86 percent were evacuated by the Philippine Embassy in Amman after the border was reopened and foreigners and dual citizens were allowed to leave, he added. The war between Israel and Hamas militia based in Gaza, started on October 7 when the Palestinian Islamist group launched deadly attacks on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Israel retaliated with air strikes and later launched a ground offensive in Gaza. The expansionist aggression of China has created an alliance of nations committed to rightly assert the rules-based international order Active cooperation to sustain the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in light of increasing encounters in the West Philippine Sea between Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine vessels, is the direction that like-minded states are committing not just with pronouncements but with holistic action. The Indo-Pacific region is standing at a critical juncture, grappling with numerous challenges, especially in the maritime sphere. Coercive actions such as the construction of islands as military outposts, constant intrusions of maritime vessels, and increasingly hostile maneuvers towards Philippine vessels by the Chinese Coast Guard and militia are threatening the stability, and security of the region. Securing our maritime waters, particularly the West Philippine Sea, is a top priority for the current administration. The deliberate collision caused by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel against Philippine vessels carrying out regular resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is yet another blatant act to bully us out of our territory. The Presidents alliance building efforts havebeen reciprocated with strong commitments from the United States, Japan, Australia, and Germany to counter the challenges in the Indo-Pacific and to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific. In the last weeks security round table organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute in partnership with the Embassies of Australia and South Korea, renewed commitments were highlighted to maintain a secure and cooperative maritime environment in the region. South Koreas Ambassador here, Lee Sang Hwa, underscored the significance of a stable maritime framework for both the Philippines and South Korea. He expressed his thoughts with a sense of urgency and importance. He stated, Cementing a rules-based order in this region is the key to propelling both Korea and the Philippines forward. He elaborated on the ambitions of both nations, with the Philippines aiming to become an upper middle-income country soon and Korea aspiring to join the G7+ group. He stressed that securing a stable and thriving maritime architecture has become crucial for both countries. He continued, Our shared destiny is intrinsically linked to our ability to harness the potential benefits of the seas and to overcome its challenges. He painted a picture of the shifting geostrategic center of gravity to the Indo-Pacific. He asserted his belief a free and open Indo-Pacific is the key to a thriving, connected, and stable regional environment. Through his words, Ambassador Lee conveyed the intertwined fates of the Philippines and South Korea, and the pivotal role of a stable maritime framework as a shared journey towards progress. Stratbase ADRi President, Prof. Dindo Manhit expressed optimism and lauded the partnership between the Philippines and South Korea as a strategic necessity that is crucial for preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific, where adherence to international laws and the pursuit of stability are of utmost importance. As South Korea actively expands its role in maintaining a rules-based order in regional waters, we are confident that the Philippines will extend its full support in the pursuit of maritime security and a free and open Indo-Pacific Prof. Manhit stressed the Indo Pacifics immense potential for maritime cooperation, and the shared responsibility to hold aggressive states accountable for their actions, with international law as our guiding principle. During the recently held, first Joint Service Staff Talks between the Philippines, United States, Japan, Australia held in Tokyo, the shared vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order was reaffirmed. This followed another high-level meeting of the Philippines, the US, and Australia on maritime cooperation punctuated by joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea. The expansionist aggression of China has created an alliance of nations committed to rightly assert the rules-based international order that has fostered decades of peace and prosperity that actually, created the opportunities that greatly contributed to Chinas rise as an economic power. Instead of asserting its state powers to impose its nine-dash claim which has already been ruled to have no legal basis by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Beijing should consider the potential of an alternative path that pivots towards becoming a responsible state that can play a strategic role in fostering an Indo-Pacific region of peace and co-prosperity. Earlier this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported the current strength of the Maoist New Peoples Army had gone down to 2,000 regular fighters from its peak of 25,000 in the 1980s. Of late, the AFP spokesman said the figure had gone down even further to just 1,500 fighters spread out in a few guerrilla zones. Hence, the government had reached strategic victory over the NPA, but not total victory which would come when the NPA itself would wither on the vine because of more casualties in the battlefield and widespread demoralization. With the vastly reduced NPA armed strength and presumably its mass base due to battlefield losses and surrenders, the government could have opted to go for the jugular, so to speak, and run after the remaining active rebels with hammer and tongs. But it appears the Marcos Jr. administration has decided not to further unleash the dogs of war against the rebels, but to convince them instead to sit down across the negotiating table to discuss ways to achieve lasting peace. The recent agreement in Oslo for the resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front is a welcome development as it offers the prospect of an end to 55 years of the armed insurgency that has cost no less than an estimated 40,000 losses on both sides and resources that could have been spent for economic development and anti-poverty programs. The peace process leading to a comprehensive agreement could take time and hit many snags along the way due to differences in position on key issues. One possible obstacle to successful political negotiations would be the lack of a bilateral ceasefire while the talks are ongoing. If the fighting in the countryside continues while the negotiators argue across the table in a foreign venue, that could certainly raise accusations of bad faith and lack of sincerity by either side. The Communist Party of the Philippines has demanded that for the peace talks to resume, the government should release from jail all NDF consultants and 800 political prisoners, dismantle the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and repeal the designation of the CPP-NPA-NDF as terrorist organizations. Will the government side accede to these immediate demands? And how would the CPP-NPA-NDF react if the government asks them to stop the so-called revolutionary taxation in areas where the rebels operate, which the government claims is extortion? We really dont know at this point. At any rate, we hope the agreement to resume peace negotiations will proceed in the coming weeks with both sides acting in good faith and sincerity in attaining peace by putting in place confidence-building measures that would bring the talks to a successful conclusion as soon as possible. King Mohammed VI will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates as of Monday. The official visit takes place at the invitation of the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Ben Zayed Al-Nahyan. The announcement came in a press release published this Sunday by the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery. China's National Health Commission on Saturday announced that no new infectious diseases caused by new viruses or bacteria have been identified this ongoing winter, and that the acute respiratory diseases currently being reported in the country have all been caused by known pathogens. Citing monitoring results, commission spokesperson Mi Feng made the remarks in Beijing during a press conference that was also attended by other health officials. Chinese health authorities are actively monitoring and assessing winter respiratory diseases, with efforts underway to optimize medical resource allocation, improve medical treatment processes, and enhance the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treatment, Mi said. Service supply increases China is expanding its supply of medical services to meet the needs of the people -- particularly pediatric outpatient services at all medical institution levels, including TCM hospitals and maternal and child health institutions, the official said. This expansion will involve extending outpatient service hours to lunchtimes, evenings and weekends, based on patient numbers, as well as increasing hospital bed capacities and streamlining registration, examination and payment processes to improve public access to medical care. Mi also emphasized a guarantee of medical supplies. The utilization of TCM and the integration of Chinese and Western approaches to medicine are being advocated to enhance the prevention and treatment of common winter respiratory diseases, he said. Measures are also being taken to ensure the supply of influenza vaccines and other vaccines, with a focus on early vaccination for key groups such as the elderly and children to reduce the risk of illness, according to the official. Current drugs effective Influenza viruses are prone to mutation, which poses a challenge to the prevention and control of influenza. Addressing the issue of virus mutation at the press conference, Wang Dayan, head of the Chinese National Influenza Center under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the situation is being closely monitored. "The results have shown that the antiviral drugs in use are effective against the influenza viruses," Wang said, noting that Chinese National Influenza Center, in collaboration with various laboratories worldwide, has been monitoring the sensitivity of influenza viruses to antiviral drugs. On the compatibility of prevalent viruses and vaccines, Wang said that China's dominant influenza virus subtypes this winter are influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B, unchanged from last year, and they are also consistent with the dominant strains circulating in most regions around the world. She emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated, especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and those working in public places. "Vaccination can effectively reduce the risk of infection, illness and severe complications." For the first time in more than a decade, snowmobilers and mountain bikers are on the cusp of regaining legal access to more than 40,000 acres of mountainous terrain known as the Great Burn. The change was announced Nov. 28 in the form of a draft record of decision for a new forest plan for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, which sits in Idaho along the border with Montana west of Missoula. The roughly 252,000-acre Great Burn region sits in both states but is mostly in Idaho, in the Nez Perce-Clearwater. Much of the area is roadless and recommended wilderness. Motorized and mechanized travel were long allowed in the area, but that access ended in 2012 with a travel management plan that prohibited such use. Snowmobile advocacy groups and county officials in some Idaho and Montana counties have pushed since then to reopen some or all of the area to motorized recreation. Meanwhile, conservation and wilderness-advocacy groups, and leaders from Missoula County, have pushed the Forest Service to maintain the prohibition. If finalized, the new forest plan would replace two outdated plans from 1987, when the Nez Perce and Clearwater were separate national forests. The new plan and draft record of decision are subject to a 60-day objection period that began Nov. 28. That is followed by a 90-day period for the Forest Service to resolve objections, which can be extended if needed. After that process is concluded, a final record of decision officially implementing the new plan could be issued at any time but it may not necessarily happen immediately at the end of the resolution period. The changes in motorized access outlined in the plan are not official until a final record of decision has been issued. Specifically, the new plan makes the Hoodoo Recommended Wilderness Area 108,276 acres, out of a broader surrounding roadless area of 151,874 acres. That reopens the remaining 43,598 acres to snowmobiles in winter and mountain bikes in summer. The reopened areas include three that snowmobile advocates like Missoula-based Backcountry Sled Patriots sought to regain: Blacklead Mountain, Fish Lake and Hoodoo Pass. For snowmobilers, the shift is a hard-fought victory, if still a compromise, to restore part of their historical access that was curtailed barely a decade ago. The area is a bastion of remote, dispersed and less-traveled riding, they say, where riders among serene peaks rarely encounter other groups. Their machines, they argue, don't leave tracks or other evidence once snow melts in spring and they take their noise impact with them when they leave. Stan Spencer, who founded Backcountry Sled Patriots in the wake of the 2012 travel management plan, hailed the new plan in a social media post Nov. 29, calling the reopening of Blacklead and Hoodoo "good news." But, he cautioned, "Our work is not done yet. The wilderness folks are going to do everything in their playbook to try reverse the (final environmental impact statement) and draft ROD. "To be clear, the areas designated for snowmobile access will not officially reopen until the ROD is finalized," he added. "There could also be litigation from the wilderness folks. So while not a done deal yet, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel." For wilderness advocates, the move is a chipping away of an already vulnerable would-be crown jewel sandwiched inside the largest chain of wilderness areas in the United States. The Great Burn harbors genetically diverse and once-thriving populations of mountain goats and wolverines. They argue snowmobiles pose an existential threat to those and other species that have retreated into the remote terrain as a last wild redoubt. Wild Montana, a wilderness advocacy group, called the change "a blow against the Great Burns exceptional wildness and wildlife, imperiling the last few remaining goats of the Blacklead mountain goat herd and threatening the highest quality maternal wolverine denning habitat in the entire forest." "The plans explicit: It sacrifices some of the regions wildest country and wildlife to cater to a tiny sliver of extreme snowmobilers," the group's public lands director, Maddy Munson, wrote in a statement. "The Forest Service has sat back while illegal motorized use has encroached on the Great Burn for years, and now its decided to reward illegal use by rewriting the forest plan to make it OK." Great Burn Conservation Alliance Executive Director Hayley Newman noted in a statement that the Great Burn is critical habitat for mountain goats and wolverines, and provides a corridor for grizzly bears to reach the Bitterroot ecosystem from their current range farther north. She noted that the Forest Service has recommended the area be designated wilderness for nearly 50 years, and called the new plan "a giant step backward for the regions largest roadless area and the wildlife that depends on it." The area almost became designated wilderness in 1988 when Congress passed a bill championed by Sen. John Melcher, a Democrat from Montana. But President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, killed the bill a few days before the 1988 election in which Conrad Burns unseated Melcher. Conservation groups have long feared the area still without a congressional designation could be partially reopened to winter motorized use. A draft forest plan released in late 2019 would have opened winter motorized access in an area around Blacklead Mountain south of Rhodes Peak on the south end of the Great Burn and in an area around Fish Lake, in the middle of the Great Burn. In fall 2022, conservation groups said they feared that the final plan would open those areas, as well as the north end of the Great Burn, near Hoodoo Pass southwest of Superior. They were correct. Meanwhile, Spencer, the Idaho State Snowmobile Association and counties like Montana's Mineral County pushed to reopen those three areas plus a fourth area around Surveyor Creek south of Schley Mountain. The area is around Kid Lake and the upper Kid Lake Creek and Middle Fork Kelley Creek drainages in Idaho, across the state line from the Surveyor Creek area in Montana. The new plan would not open the Surveyor area, which remains inside the Hoodoo RWA. Spencer said last year that he backed off a push to reopen the Crooked Fork area, on the Great Burn's southeast corner, as well. The new plan also includes the 82,285-acre Mallard-Larkins RWA around Black Mountain, roughly between Elk City, Idaho, and St. Regis, Montana. That makes for a total of 190,560 acres of recommended wilderness north of U.S. Highway 2 roughly in line with the previous RWA acreage of about 198,000. Correction: The original version of this story misstated the location of the so-called Surveyor area identified by Backcountry Sled Patriots as a desired riding area. It is in Idaho, south across the state line from Montana's Schley Mountain and Surveyor Creek. It is around Kid Lake and the upper Kid Lake Creek and Middle Fork Kelley Creek drainages in Idaho, near the Surveyor Creek area in Montana. The story also misstated the objection period on the draft record of decision to implement the new forest plan. The draft record of decision kicked off a 60-day objection period beginning Nov. 28. That is followed by a 90-day period for the Forest Service to resolve objections (which can be extended if needed). After that process is concluded, a final record of decision officially implementing the new plan can be issued at any time but it may not necessarily happen immediately at the end of the resolution period. The changes in motorized access outlined in the plan are not final until a final record of decision has been issued. The story has been corrected. Globally renowned musician Ricky Kej, who is also a strong advocate of environmental consciousness and sustainability, released his new animated song video 'LiFE' during a concert in the Capital. It is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mission LiFE campaign, which motivates people to adopt sustainable lifestyle. Mission LiFE was launched by PM Modi at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 to encourage individuals to become "Pro-Planet people". Talking about his recent composition, he told ANI, "It's a joy always to collaborate with UNICEF. This particular song is inspired by the Prime Minister's LiFE mission. Mission LiFE is something that's really important for all of us simply because we always talk about changing the world, but we very rarely talk about changing ourselves. It's simply because, you know, we always feel that we are insignificant. If I stop using plastics, then what difference will it make? That's what we feel? Or if I use public transportation, what difference will it make. So, I believe that all of us are significant. And if you bring about these small, incremental, tiny changes within our own lives, that's all that matters, and we have to be the change that we want to see in this world." He further talked about taking music to the global platform and how Indian music was getting recognition internationally and creating an impact. "It was always used to be considered that Western forms of music was mainstream music, and all of our forms of music, like Indian forms of music, or African forms of music, but particularly Indian forms of music were exotic music, that was not in the mainstream. But now that narrative is changing. Now, that paradigm is changing, where even Indian forms of music are going into the mainstream. For my music, which is primarily Indian, I've won three Grammys now, which is America's biggest award. So that itself shows that Indian music is reaching a point where it is going into the mainstream, rather than just being called some exotic music or some ethnic music and it has become really important," Kej added. The 70-piece orchestra of the New York Youth Symphony, together with national and international performers including Shankar Mahadevan, Salim-Sulaiman, American Grammy Award Winner Lonnie Park, Indo-Canadian star Abby V, and others, are featured in Ricky Kej's composition 'LiFE'. It also packs an animated video that highlights children as agents of change in individual climate action. "When we talk about bringing about change, which I want to do through my music, there is no two ways but you have to start with the children. There is no other way to do this you have to start with the children, you have to start with the new generation. And I believe that's what we're trying to do through the song because the song itself when you watch the video, it features three animated characters and all three are children, and how they are bringing the change that they want to see in the world, how they are being the agents of change and inspiring everyone around them to bring about change," he added. UNICEF and Ricky Kej unveiled the 'LiFE' song, which coincided with the COP28 -- the international climate summit being held in Dubai. The summit kicked off on November 30 and will conclude on December 12. (ANI) American comedian Ellen DeGeneres and Australian-American former actor Portia de Rossi decided to answer fans' questions in a video released on Instagram on Friday to commemorate their 19th dating anniversary. https://www.instagram.com/p/C0U2S3zyOft/?hl=en "19 years ago today Portia and I started dating, and what better way to celebrate than by answering some of your advice questions? Happy anniversary, Portia," DeGeneres wrote in the caption. The women were asked to give their top dating advice. DeGeneres allowed de Rossi to go first. "Oh, what would you say, love? We have a healthy relationship," she prompted her. The actor advised never lying about anything. "Ever. Don't ever lie," agreed DeGeneres. "Ever," continued de Rossi. "Like, gee, does this sweater look good on me? Not really. You know, maybe go for something else right?" De Rossi said, "I was about to talk to you about the cream," referring to DeGeneres' look. DeGeneres admitted to being blatantly honest with de Rossi and others, to which her wife responded, "She will say what she feels. And I always know where I stand." According to the former Ellen presenter, it is also critical to frequently compliment your mate. "You shouldn't take someone for granted. I tell [de Rossi] she's pretty all the time. I mean, she's not but..." she explained. According to the former Ellen host, it is also important to constantly compliment your partner. "Three of them, yes," she said. Another fan wondered whether the women prefer smooth or crunchy peanut butter. DeGeneres stated that she did not have a preference. "I'm bi when it comes to peanut butter," she quipped as the video ended. In August, DeGeneres and de Rossi, who married in 2008, celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. At the time, the talk show veteran paid a touching Instagram tribute to her longtime love. "To my wife of 15 years," she wrote. "I fall more in love with you every day. My life is blessed because you're in it. Happy anniversary." DeGeneres was stunned earlier this year with a vow renewal ceremony overseen by close friend Kris Jenner. On January 31, their friends and family gathered for what they believed was a birthday party for de Rossi, but instead, the Ally McBeal star strolled in wearing her wedding gown. "You don't have to say anything at all but when I was thinking about what would make my birthday special, apart from being with family and friends, it was reminding you that you're the most important thing in the world to me," she told DeGeneres in speech at the event. (ANI) The bodies of the deceased, a man and a woman, were discovered while the fire services personnel were dousing the level-2 blaze that had erupted in the building around 9.32 pm on Saturday, officials informed. "Two charred bodies, one from the bedroom and another from the bathroom, were noticed and recovered from the third floor of the building," an official told ANI. A total of five lines have been pressed into the operation, the official said, adding that two lines from the staircase, one from the north-side adjacent building, one from the south-side adjacent building and one high-pressure line from the Angus ladder. Earlier, three people were rescued from the same building in the Girgaon Chowpatty area of Mumbai. The Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation (BMC) released a statement on the incident earlier, saying, "A level-2 fire broke on Saturday at the Gomati Bhavan Building on Ranganekar Road in Girgaon Chowpatty." Shortly after information of the blaze was received, 10 fire tenders reached the spot and launched a dousing operation. The fire on the third and fourth floors of the building was contained, BMC officials informed. The reason for the fire is still in the process of being ascertained, an official said. Fire services personnel said an ambulance was put on standby at the site and a dousing operation was ongoing. (ANI) The votes for the legislative assemblies of four states -- Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana -- will be counted amid tight security arrangements on Sunday, in the final stretch of the battle billed as the semifinal before the mega final in 2024. The votes will be counted for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan. However, the counting of votes in Mizoram, which also went to polls along with four other states last month, has been pushed back to December 4, Monday, the Election Commission (EC) informed earlier. The counting of votes at designated centres will begin at 8 am on Sunday. The polling in five states, straddling the north, east and southern parts of the country, is tipped to set the course of the political headwinds going into the Lok Sabha elections next year. "All arrangements for the counting of votes in Chhattisgarh have been completed and officials in adequate numbers have been posted for the purpose in all the 90 assembly constituencies," the state's chief electoral officer, Reena Baba Saheb Kangale, told reporters on Saturday. "The counting of votes will start from 8 am in all 90 assembly constituencies. For the counting process, we have assigned 90 returning officers, 416 assistant returning officers, 4596 counting personnel and 1698 micro-observers," Kangale added. While the exit polls were almost unanimous in giving an edge to the Congress in Telangana, a few predicted a close contest in Rajasthan, giving the Congress a slender lead. The polls, held months before the Lok Sabha polls, are crucial for BJP and Congress for various reasons. (ANI) "The Congress party is scared and nervous. Whenever Congress is about to lose or lose, it blames the EVMs and sometimes it blames the Constitution. Congress party is going to lose the elections. The people of Chhattisgarh have rejected them," he said. MP Arun Sao is seeking mandate from the Lormi assembly constituency against Congress' Thaneshwar Sahu. The halfway mark for the 90-member assembly of Chhattisgarh is 46. The counting of votes at designated centres began at 8 am. The polling in the state was held in two phases. The first phase was held in 20 constituencies on November 7 with 223 candidates in the contest while the polling in the remaining constituencies with 958 candidates were held in the second phase on November 17. A total of 1,181 candidates contested seeking a mandate to the 90-member assembly. In Chhattisgarh, exit polls gave Congress a clear edge, showing that the ruling party in the state is poised to return to power with the BJP also expected to put up a good contest unlike in the 2018 polls. In 2018, the Congress won 68 seats in Chhattisgarh and the BJP won 15 seats. Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) won five seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party won two seats. (ANI) Amid tight security arrangements, the counting of votes for Chhattisgarh assembly elections that were held in two phases, began on Sunday at 8 am. Ahead of the counting of votes for the legislative assemblies of four states--Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and BJP leader, Raman Singh said on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in the state with a clear majority. The results of assembly polls in four states is being considered as the semifinal before the Lok Sabha polls which is scheduled for 2024. The halfway mark for the 90-member assembly of Chhattisgarh is 46. Speaking to ANI, the senior BJP leader said, "The BJP will form a government with a clear majority in the state. We will have 42-55 seats in the state." The fate of 1181 candidates will be revealed as the counting proceeds. As per the Election Commission of India, 90 returning officers, 416 assistant returning officers, 4596 enumerators, and 1699 micro-observers have been appointed for the counting process. The ECI has also appointed 90 counting observers for the 90 assembly constituencies. Three-tier security arrangements have been implemented at the counting centres, with entry at each level permitted only after thorough identity verification. The district police force has been deployed at the first and outer levels of the counting centres. The state armed forces have been deployed at the second level. Before entry, every person will be thoroughly searched based on their identity card to ensure no one carries a mobile phone or other prohibited items. Central Police Force (CAPF) personnel are stationed at the door of the counting hall in the third level. At this level, too, everyone will be searched to prevent the entry of mobile phones or other prohibited items. The polling in the state was held in two phases. The first phase was held in 20 constituencies on November 7 with 223 candidates in the contest while the polling in the remaining constituencies with 958 candidates were held in the second phase on November 17. A total of 1,181 candidates contested seeking a mandate to the 90-member assembly. The voter turnout for both phases combined was 76.31 per cent, slightly lower than the 2018 polls. In the first phase, 78 per cent of voter turnout was recorded and in the second phase, it was 75.88 per cent. The four main contenders in the Chhattisgarh Elections 2023 are the BJP, Congress, Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Other regional outfits like the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), Hamar Raj Party (HRP) and the Left parties are also in the contest. In Chhattisgarh, three exit polls predicted a clear victory for Congress, others said that the party was in the winning range. The Congress fought the election with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at the helm. According to ABP C-Voter predictions, Congress is poised to win 41-53 seats in the state which has a 90-member assembly. The exit poll said BJP is poised to get 36-48 seats and others 0-4 seats. The India Today-Axis My India poll predicted Congress getting 40-50 seats, BJP 36-46 seats and others getting 1-5 seats. The Republic TV exit poll gave Congress 44-52 seats, BJP 34-42 seats and 0-2 polls for others. India TV-CNX poll predicted 46- 56 seats for Congress, 30-40 seats for BJP and 3-5 for others. The numbers for Congress and BJP in the Jan Ki Baat exit poll were 42-53 and 34-45 respectively and it predicted 0-3 seats for others. Hours after the exit poll projections gave Congress an edge over the BJP in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said his party was on course to secure a 'huge majority'. He added that while most pollsters are predicting the Congress tally at 57, the number will swell to 75 by the time the results are declared. Speaking to reporters after 5-7 exit poll projections put Congress in the lead, Baghel said the numbers quoted in these polls will stabilise in the next couple of days. "Regardless of the exit-poll projections, we are confident of forming the government in Chhattisgarh with a handsome majority," Baghel told reporters. However, dismissing the exit poll projections, which put Congress in the lead in Chhattisgarh, state party chief and BJP leader Arun Sao said that the small sample size of exit polls does not reflect the exact situation adding that BJP is set to form government in the state. Speaking to ANI, Chhattisgarh BJP President Arun Sao said, "These exit polls have a limited size. The sample size of the BJP is huge. Party workers have given us the data. I have been roaming in Chhattisgarh for the past 1.5 years. I have gone to each Vidhan Sabha and had conversations with people. On that basis, I can say that the BJP will come to power." (ANI) A large number of crowds from the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka flocked to the ancient temple to offer their prayers. Due to the lack of proper parking facilities near the temple, there was an increase in the number of vehicles in Thiru Mada Veedhi street and many other areas of Tiruvannamalai City. Despite the cold raindrops, devotees from across southern India flocked to the temple to have Darshan of Swami in the Arunachaleswarar temple. Earlier, in November, the 'Karthigai Deepam Festival', one of Tamil Nadu's most important festivals attracted devotees from across the country. The Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple at Thiruvannamalai hosts a 10-day festival called Maha Deepam where Lord Shiva is worshipped under the name Arunachaleswarar. Lord Shiva is believed to be present at Thiruvannamalai in the form of a mountain, signifying the element of fire in the cosmos. A procession was also carried out at Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple here ahead of 'Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam'. On each day of these 10 days of the Maha Deepam festival, the deity is carried on different processions. (ANI) A controversy erupted over the change of logo of the National Medical Commission (NMC) after the Indian Medical Association, Kerala strongly condemned the new logo which depicted a Hindu deity and replaced 'India' with 'Bharat'. The National Medical Commission drew ire from the Indian Medical Association Kerala for the redesigning of the NMC logo. Condemning the new logo, IMA Kerala stated that "the present logo is a blatant violation to the secular nature of the country and the purity of medical science, which stands above any religion or any ideas of polarization. This is science and science should be left as it is". IMA Kerala President, Dr Sulphi Noohu took to his social media handle to condemn the new logo of the NMC. "The policy of the Indian Medical Association is to treat all caste and religious groups equally. The national leadership of the Indian Medical Association will speak out strongly against changing the logo", he said in a post on Facebook. The Indian Medical Association's Kerala branch also wrote a letter to the chairman of the National Medical Commission saying that the logo was "not acceptable to the modern medical fraternity" and demanded immediate action on the same. "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 voice against this unacceptable move", the letter stated. Amid a huge uproar, NMC spokesperson Dr Yogendra Malik came out in defence of the new logo and said that the same logo has been there for the past year. "The logo earlier has a Greek God of medicine and healthcare in it and the logo that you see in the present has an image of Lord Dhanvantri, which was already there, it has just been coloured. This has been our logo for the past one year", Dr Yogendra Malik said. (ANI) Reacting to the trends of the Election Commission of India, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said that it is too early to say who is winning, the picture will be clear by 1 pm. As counting progressed, as per the ECI, the BJP is leading in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while Chhattisgarh is witnessing a close fight between the BJP and the ruling Congress party. Meanwhile, in Telangana, the grand old party has comfortably reached the majority mark as per the latest trends of the Election Commission of India. "According to the initial trends, BJP is leading in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and Congress is forming the government in Telangana. There is a close contest in Chhattisgarh. Therefore, I feel it is too early to say who is winning. The picture will be clear by 1 pm. We hope that Congress will win the elections," Bihar Deputy CM said. The BJP was leading in 157 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, Congress on 71 seats and Bahujan Samaj Party in one, at 11:48 am, as per the ECI early trend results. The election to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly was a fight between the BJP and the Congress, whose then 15-month government, formed in the year 2018 was toppled from power in 2020 with help from Jyotiraditya Scindia who defected to the BJP from the Congress. Counting of votes in elections to the 230-member state assembly held on November 17, began at 8 am today. Postal ballots were counted between 8 am and 8.30 am, after which the counting of votes through EVMs began in the presence of officials and political parties' authorised agents. Meanwhile, the beating of drums and dancing by BJP workers continued outside the party office in Jaipur, Rajasthan as official EC trends show the party is leading in 113 seats, Congress in 70 seats, and others are in single digits. There are 199 seats in the Rajasthan assembly, and the halfway mark is 100. The Congress has been in power in Rajasthan for the last term. Moreover, the Bharat Adivasi Party - BHRTADVSIP is leading by two seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party - BSP by three seats and the Independent by seven seats. Rajasthan went to the polls on 199 of 200 assembly seats on November 25. In the Karanpur constituency, elections were adjourned due to the passing of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. Chhattisgarh is witnessing a close fight between BJP and the ruling Congress party, as the BJP is leading in 43 seats, while Congres is leading in 39 seats in the state. The halfway mark for the 90-member assembly of Chhattisgarh is 46. The polling in the state was held in two phases. The first phase was held in 20 constituencies on November 7 with 223 candidates in the contest while the polling in the remaining constituencies with 958 candidates were held in the second phase on November 17. In Telangana, the grand old party has comfortably reached the majority mark as per the latest trends of the Election Commission of India. The Congress is leading on 61 seats while the BRS on 36 and the BJP leading on 10, as per ECI. Telangana went to vote on November 30. The Telangana election results will be important for the Congress as it heads into the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A win in Karnataka and Telangana would further concrete its presence in the South. (ANI) This photo shows the scene of a conference on China's manned space program on Dec. 2, 2023 (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) "Can near-sighted people become astronauts?" "What if astronauts get sick in space?" "Do astronauts feel hot or cold when they are engaged in extravehicular activities?" These were among a number of questions raised by enthusiastic young people in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Saturday when they had the chance to meet face in face with the country's astronauts. The astronauts are members of a delegation of China's manned space program who are on a six-day visit to Hong Kong and Macao from Tuesday to Sunday at the invitation of the Hong Kong SAR government and the Macao SAR government. They left Hong Kong and arrived in Macao on Friday. Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency who led the delegation, told Macao students at a public lecture that an astronaut must have sound physical and mental conditions, professional knowledge and always be able to control emotions, encouraging Macao students to study hard and do more physical exercises in order to pursue space dreams. Shenzhou-13 astronaut Wang Yaping, who is well known among the audience because she had given lessons in space to students on earth for twice in 10 years, said she was so pleased to know that some students who attended her lesson a decade ago had become engaged in the space missions now. "If there is another chance, I really hope to be able to give yet another lesson in space to share its beauties and wonders," she said. Shenzhou-15 astronaut Zhang Lu shared details of arduous training for long hours with his own body and the spacesuit weighing over 200 kg and conducting extravehicular activities as long as 10 hours without eating, calling for students who have passions for space to join the cause. Shenzhou-12 astronaut Liu Boming said he was able to maintain a sound physical condition while on duty because he was well-prepared. "Remote monitoring and control from the ground were also important," he added. The astronauts also introduced China's space program development strategies, the construction of China's space station and the manned lunar missions, as well as details of life in space. Hung Ling Ming, a PhD student at the University of Macao, said he was thrilled to learn from the astronauts the spirit of science and the manned space program. "If possible, I hope to make contributions to our country's space cause," he said. Sung Gaai Hin, a senior high school student at the Lingnan Middle School who has enjoyed watching rocket launches since childhood, said both he and his classmates have been very proud whenever China makes achievements in its space program. Pong Sam, a student of the City University of Macao, said he was deeply impressed by the tough training that astronauts have to go through. When asked if he would consider joining the space cause, his answer was "Certainly!" Expressing glee over the assembly poll results of the three states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won with a landslide victory, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Sunday that the people of the country have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It is evident that PM Modi, who kicked off the development work in the country nine years ago, is benefiting everyone. People now have social security and they are now living with pride. People have faith in PM Modi," Sonowal told reporters here in the national capital. "We are grateful to PM Modi. Also, I would like to express my gratitude towards party president JP Naddaji and Union Home Minister Amit Shahji," he added. According to the latest trends from the Election Commission of India, the BJP in the Hindi heartland, Madhya Pradesh, has crossed the majority mark, securing 166 seats out of 200 (116 needed for a majority). In Rajasthan, out of 199 seats where the majority mark stands at 101, the BJP has secured 114, with the incumbent Congress securing 70 seats, and in the tribal heartland of Chhattisgarh, the BJP has won 45 seats out of 90, wrapping up the grand old party at 34. While the Congress will be happy over its expected victory in Telangana, the loss in Hindi heartland states is a cause for worry for the party months before the Lok Sabha polls. Of the large swathe of the Hindi heartland, Congress is in power only in Himachal Pradesh and is part of the government in Bihar. Meanwhile, counting in Mizoram, which went to the polls last month, will take place on Monday. (ANI) Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam blamed people with a Left mindset within the Congress party for the party trailing behind in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Acharya Krishnam said, "Opposing Sanatan (Dharma) has sunk the party. This country has never accepted caste-based politics. This is the curse of opposing Sanatan (Dharma). This is not the defeat of Congress. This is the defeat of the Left. People with Left mindset have penetrated the Congress. The party that used to follow in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi is now known for opposing Sanatan Dharma. If Congress does not remove such people, then it will soon become like AIMIM." He said that those who want to take Congress on the path of Karl Marx should be expelled from the party. "The country has never accepted caste-based politics. Caste-based politics and opposing Sanatan Dharma are the reasons for our defeat," he added. Celebrations erupted in Madhya Pradesh as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gained the upper hand and crossed the majority mark comfortably and is set to retain power in the State with a landslide victory. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was seen in a jubilant mood at his residence and flashed a victory sign at CM House along with his family, in Bhopal on Sunday. The Bharata Janata Party (BJP) was ahead in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while the Congress was leading in Telangana, according to the Election Commission as votes were being counted on December 3 for Assembly polls. (ANI) After the Congress party performed poorly in state assembly elections in the Hindi heartland, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said the Congress should work on its shortcomings and analyze why it loses most of the time when there is a "direct fight" against the BJP. "Congress needs to work on its shortcomings and see why it loses when there is a direct fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is for the Congress party to see," Chaturvedi told ANI. Speaking on Congress' defeat in Chhattisgarh, Chaturvedi said, "It seems that they could not get their message to the people. You had your government in Chhattisgarh. You did not manage to convey to the people whatever work you had done." On the Congress' loss in Madhya Pradesh, the Shiv Sena leader said, "The BJP had taken down the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh. Even three years after that, if the momentum could not pick up after the 2018 elections, what were your shortcomings?" Chaturvedi said that the Congress should have avoided the face-off against the Samajwadi Party, an INDIA bloc partner of the Congress, and should have shown "generosity". "You could have avoided the ugly face-off against the Samajwadi Party. You are the larger party. If you are taking on big responsibilities in the INDIA alliance, you need to show generosity. That was missing," she said ahead of the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting on December 6...If we have formed an alliance together and you are leading it then you should be generous," she said. Chaturvedi suggested that the Congress should rectify its "mistakes" and focus its energies "unitedly" ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "You can rectify your mistakes and unitedly focus your energies and project an alternate vision of India in the upcoming polls," she said. "Discussions should be on how will India progress, on what path it should walk, what should be our priorities, what should be our agenda, how will put forth our ideas to the people, how many seats will be allocated to whom and what should be the basis of that. If these are decided now, then a smooth movement will be created for 2024," Chaturvedi said while speaking about the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting. On the INDIA bloc working together with the Congress and taking on the BJP, the Shiv Sena leader said, "Everyone is mature and everyone is on the same table on putting the authoritarian government out of power." "All agencies are under the central government's control and are being used as an election toolkit. Money power is being misused. So it is proper for us to be together to decide whether our future generation will be running on the models practised in China and North Korea or in a democratic model," Chaturvedi said. Speaking on the "North Versus South" controversy that triggered a social media storm on Sunday as the Congress won the Telangana elections, Chaturvedi said, "There cannot be any politics on 'this' versus 'that'...In Maharashtra, politics over Marathas versus the OBC has started. This 'versus' politics is that of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The INDIA bloc needs to win North, South, East and West and form the government." The BJP is on its way to creating a record in Madhya Pradesh and its expected coming to power again after having ruled the state for 18 of the past 20 years is an apparent indication of the party's organizational hold in the state as well as popularity of its schemes and leadership. Rajasthan seems to have followed the over three-decade-old trend of rotating governments and the Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot appears to be on its way out. BJP has bounced back strongly in Chhattisgarh where the ruling Congress was supposed to have done well. A strong, sustained and aggressive campaign and its matching Congress in poll promises seem to work for the BJP. The counting of votes in the four states, which went to the polls last month, started at 8 am on Sunday. (ANI) India will set the narrative on how to grow responsibly and sustainably, said the secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Leena Nandan. Speaking at a side event on 'India's journey towards sustainable cooling' at the India Pavilion, on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai, she said that nothing is a better display of this resolve than India's current status in terms of Nationally Determined Contributions for climate mitigation. Elaborating, she said, "When India had announced NDCs in 2015 we envisaged 33-35 per cent emission intensity reduction by 2030, but we have pushed its efforts in a big way. While India has continued to grow, it has also progressively decoupled emissions from economic growth and this has resulted in the achievement of a 33 per cent reduction in emission intensity of GDP in 2019 itself." The Secretary credited this success to a parallel push India has given to renewable energy for its requirements. "We have gone on to scale up our climate ambitions. The NDCs updated last year reflect our concern that we indeed as a global fraternity need to do much more to tackle climate change," she added. "Going forward, we need to bolster our efforts and be at the forefront of change, and research on coolants that would be most appropriate to Indian climatic conditions." This research, she added, should be matched with the dialogue with industry to cause quick off-take and scaling up of this technology. The India Pavilion at COP28 showcased India's success in achieving targets and its roadmap towards creating sustainable cooling for overall environmental sustainability. India, at COP26 in 2021, committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070. (ANI) German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann on Saturday visited the German Christmas Market organised by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and the German Embassy at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The German Ambassador said: "This is a fun market. This is my second time... It is beautiful and spacious. Full of people and nice things. It is a wonderful opportunity to spend one's Saturday afternoon... I bought embroidered napkins from Bengal, Kashmiri Christmas decorations and I also bought some tea... It is a great opportunity to buy Christmas presents..." Ackermann recently said India, and Germany have had wonderful cooperation so far and a great future awaits the two countries. "I see a great future. We have a wonderful cooperation so far. I see great room for intensified cooperation when it comes to business and more investments...I see more activities in the field of green and sustainable development, we have a partnership together...I see a great chance in migration...We have concluded a migration mobility partnership with the Indian government," the German Ambassador said while speaking on India-Germany ties. Ackermann was in Delhi's Nehru Park for the G20 tree plantation ceremony. He further said that the current geopolitical circumstances are very difficult. "Under these circumstances, the Indian presidency did a miracle in coming up with this declaration, covering all important aspects in a very satisfactory way...I have to congratulate the Indian presidency for this declaration which is a meaningful declaration that sets the tone for the future G20 presidencies." (ANI) It reported that the process for repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals is ongoing in Pakistan. "Thousands of Afghans are returning to their homeland on a daily basis through Chaman and Torkham borders, thanking Pakistan for its generosity," Radio Pakistan reported. Further, according to ARY News, the caretaker Pakistan government has built transit camps in various districts for the temporary accommodation of undocumented foreigners and their safe repatriation from the country. A further 3,776 more 'illegal' Afghan nationals returned to their country on Friday. Earlier, caretaker Provincial Information Minister Jan Achakzai reiterated the government's resolve, saying that the illegal immigrants will be repatriated to their own country at any cost, ARY News reported. He said the government has set a target of deporting 10,000 immigrants every day. So far 135,000 illegal immigrants have returned to Afghanistan and this process is gradually progressing towards success. ARY News quoted the minister as saying further that the Afghans were involved in 16 bomb attacks and sabotage incidents in the past year. The interim government has decided to send back 10,000 'illegal' immigrants every day, he said. (ANI) Amid the resumption of war between Israel and Hamas, US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday expressed concern over the mounting civilian toll, saying that "too many innocent Palestinians have been killed", CNN reported. Speaking at a news conference during the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Harris said she spoke in depth about what expectations the US will have with regard to post-conflict planning. "As Israel defends itself, it matters how. The United States is unequivocal: International humanitarian law must be respected. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering, and the images and videos coming from Gaza, are devastating. It is truly heartbreaking," Harris said. "As Israel pursues its military objectives in Gaza, we believe Israel must do more to protect innocent civilians," she added. CNN reported that Harris and US President Joe Biden are already having discussions with their national security team and partners in the region about what a future path forward could look like for Gaza and the West Bank, Harris told reporters. There are five principles currently guiding their approach -- no forcible displacement of the Palestinian people, no reoccupation of Gaza, no siege or blockade, no reduction in territory, and no use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism, she said. "I've had a number of in-depth conversations with Arab leaders here in Dubai. Specifically, I proposed three areas of focus," Harris said, pointing first to the reconstruction of critical infrastructure in Gaza, then strengthening the Palestinian Authority's security services, and lastly, revitalizing the PA's governance structure, CNN reported. "When this conflict ends, Hamas cannot control Gaza, and Israel must be secure. Palestinians need a hopeful political horizon, economic opportunity and freedom and the region more broadly, must be integrated and prosperous. And we must, we must work toward that vision," the US Vice President added. (ANI) The state police in Paris said it arrested an attacker for stabbing one person to death and injuring another on Saturday. The French Minister of Interior and Overseas Territories, Gerald Darmanin, shared some information on the sequence of events leading to the arrest and urged people not to visit the Quai de Grenelle, the scene of the attack. "The police have just courageously arrested an assailant attacking passers-by in Paris, around the Quai de Grenelle. One deceased person and one injured person treated by the Paris Fire Brigade. Please avoid the area," the minister posted from his official handle on X. Further details are awaited. (ANI) According to the report, the incident occurred in Ashraf Colony Mehmoodabad after eight to ten suspects posing as police personnel in plain clothes entered the Karachi man's house. ARY News reported, quoting the victim, said the suspects then took him to his office and searched for money. When they couldn't find the money, they made a PKR 8 lakh transfer from the victim's bank account and then dumped him at FTPL bridge. Further, the victim accused the police of dragging their feet in the matter adding that an FIR was registered 10 days after the incident. Earlier, Karachi police arrested two accused criminals from Surjani Town, who reportedly robbed people in the guise of police officials in the metropolis, ARY News reported. According to a statement from Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mehroz Ali, the arrested individuals allegedly belonged to a six-member gang that robbed people in the guise of police officers late at night. ARY News reported that during the investigation, the arrested individuals, identified as Arbaz and Junaid, confessed to being involved in robbing several houses in the metropolis. (ANI) The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi, accusing them of being involved in corruption, costing the national exchequer over Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 1 billion, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. The NAB has accused Parvez Elahi, Moonis Elahi and others of illegally approving 116 development schemes and receiving kickbacks, Geo News reported. In its reference, the anti-graft watchdog accused Elahi and his son of receiving bribes by giving contracts to their "favourite contractors." In its reference, the anti-graft watchdog also stated that Elahi embezzled more than PKR 744.5 million in bribes and kickbacks. According to the reference, the accountant kept depositing the kickbacks in the bank accounts of Moonis and his family, according to Geo News report. Moonis Elahi deposited Euro 1.61 million in his foreign bank account and other family members deposited over PKR 304 million in their accounts. In its reference, the anti-graft watchdog mentioned that the suspects were found guilty in the probe and stated that the accountability bureau should carry out a trial and punish them accordingly. Moonis Elahi has rejected the corruption allegations and said that the Euro 1 million along with other funds that have been kept in various accounts are "declared", Geo News reported. In a statement posted on X, Elahi stated, "Today NAB has issued a press release stating that my father and I are involved in corruption and they have filed a reference against us claiming an amount of Rs744 million." "This involves 1 million euros in my account. The 1 million euros are mine along with all funds in our accounts [...] they have been declared in FBR with the source of funds and money trail," he added. Elahi said that NAB had cleared him and his father of all charges when they applied "9C" in the court. He stated, "NAB itself told the court that it had looked into our assets [going back] 20 years," Geo News reported. Initially, Parvez Elahi was arrested on June 1 in a PKR 70 million graft case in connection with the embezzlement of development funds allocated for the Gujrat district. Since then, Elahi has been released several times and arrested immediately in different cases. Meanwhile, the Pakistan caretaker government has started a process to bring back Moonis Elahi to Pakistan. He has been reportedly living in Spain since December 2022 to avoid "political victimisation" in Pakistan. To bring Moonis Elahi back to Pakistan, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) approached the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) for the issuance of a red notice to arrest the PTI leader in a money laundering case. (ANI) Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (PPP) urged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif to contest elections based "on an ideology" and not with "the help of administration." Addressing a press conference in Quetta on Saturday, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, "Mian Sahib, respect the vote, don't disrespect the vote." He made the statement when asked a question about PML-N supremo. He said some people have a "misconception that political winds are in their favour." He added that Raiwind is "attempting unsuccessfully to change the direction of the winds in its favour". Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, "We [PPP] are trying to be the ladlas of the public. We believe people change the direction of winds. Everyone has to accept people's mandate when they make a decision." He said that PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were engaging in "politics of hate" and called for talks with Chaman protesters. He said PTI and PML-N were out for the politics of revenge. PPP chairman stressed that election campaigns that were carried out in 2018 will not be in upcoming polls. In the press conference, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, "If God forbid either PML-N or PTI comes to power after the February 8 general elections, they will destroy the country and people through their politics of revenge." He called for bringing an ending to the politics of hatred and revenge. He said, "We should move towards reconciliation, and decisions should be made with consensus." He noted, "Now, it is impossible to do the same as in the 2018 elections when Pakistan was told this is [Imran] Khan. He is your saviour. You have to support him [because] all the rest [parties] are rubbish." Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called on Afghanistan to "behave like a state, instead of a group" and interact with the world to improve its affairs. He said, "Afghanistan must demonstrate that the enemy of Pakistan is undoubtedly the enemy of Afghanistan." Asked about the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees, the PPP chairman called it a complex matter and emphasised that Pakistan's caretaker government "should have consulted all relevant stakeholders" on the matter. He also spoke about the situation in Chaman where residents have opposed the new visa policy on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He stated that the government should speak to protesters and find a solution to the problem and said that the issue cannot be resolved by giving them media coverage. (ANI) During his visit to Beijing, Lukashenko is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The agenda of talks includes issues related to trade, economic, investment and international cooperation. During his visit, he will also attend social and humanitarian events. Earlier this February, Lukashenko had been in China on a state visit. According to BelTA report, The Belarusian President held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping who stressed that the "friendship" between China and Belarus is "unbreakable," according to a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia. He noted that China and Belarus should constantly enhance political mutual trust and remain each other's true friends and good partners. Previously, in September 2022, Lukashenko and Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, BelTA reported. The two leaders adopted a joint declaration to advance relations to "an all-weather and comprehensive strategic partnership." (ANI) In a tragic turn of events, the estranged husband of Shakeira Yvonne Rucker, a 37-year-old mother of four, has been charged with her murder after her body was found in a storage unit in Orange County, Florida, CNN reported, citing the police. Rucker was reported missing by her family, who informed the Winter Springs Police Department that they last saw her on November 11. The family mentioned that Rucker had left her home for "an unknown destination," possibly with her estranged husband, Cory Hill, at the time. Last month, Florida law enforcement officials escalated the case to a homicide investigation after discovering Rucker's body in a storage unit registered to Hill. Prosecutors formally filed charges against Hill for the murder of Shakeira Rucker, who had been reported missing just days earlier, according to CNN. "The Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit has formally filed charges against Cory Hill for the murder of Shakeira Rucker," stated prosecutors in a release on Friday. They added, "Hill remains in jail under a no bond status stemming from his November arrest of Attempted Second Degree Murder and other charges against his ex-girlfriend and her family." Hill, 51, had been booked into the Orange County Jail on November 13 for an unrelated shooting incident. He faced four counts of attempted murder after allegedly shooting at a former girlfriend and her family on November 12, according to Orange County Sheriff John Mina. In the latest development, Hill now faces an additional charge of Second Degree Murder (With a Firearm) in connection with Rucker's death. Prosecutors revealed that her body was discovered in a self-storage facility at 2400 Wiggins Road in Apopka after a complaint about an unusual smell emanating from a unit registered to Cory Hill. Upon opening the unit, deputies found Rucker dead from apparent gunshot wounds, confirmed Sheriff Mina. Rucker's family has initiated a GoFundMe page for her four children, ranging in ages from 7 to 18. Prosecutors declared their intention to pursue a first-degree murder indictment in Rucker's homicide. "Due to procedural rules, the State is limited to filing a Second-Degree Murder charge by Information prior to presenting the case to the Orange County Grand Jury," the statement said, CNN reported. (ANI) Diamer police on Saturday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the suspects. In the attack, at least nine people, including two soldiers, lost their lives and 21 passengers suffered injuries after an unknown gunmen targeted a bus from nearby hills, which caused the vehicle to collide with a goods truck, as reported by Dawn. Gilgit-Baltistan's interior minister said that the bus driver stepped on the accelerators as the gunmen started firing, which led to its head-on collision with a goods truck. Moreover, he had equated the gun attack with terrorism, according to Dawn. However, no outfit has taken responsibility for the incident yet. According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Diamer commissioner, a case had been registered against these unknown miscreants by Diamer's SHO, Azmat Shah. Public Relations Officer Raja Ashfaq Tahir said, "Six suspects have been taken into custody at two police stations so far." Following the incident, the officials stated that all entry and exit polls in GB had been closed and security in the region was on high alert. Moreover, the police have also launched search operations across Diamer and traffic on the Karakoram Highway will remain suspended today, Tahir said. Due to the closure of the Karakoram Highway, hundreds of passengers travelling to Gilgit Baltistan were stranded in Bisham, Kohistan and other areas, reported Dawn. Meanwhile, protests were held in Chilas and Hunza against the incident, where they demanded immediate action be taken against the suspects and their arrests. (ANI) Hisham Awartani, a Palestinian student shot in Burlington, Vermont, is now paralysed, said his mother, Elizabeth Price, in an interview with CNN. Awartani, one of three Palestinian students who were shot, may face a life without mobility after a bullet lodged in his spine. Elizabeth Price shared with CNN that they initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid her son financially "as he prepares to move into this next phase of his life--recovery." "It's been a gut wrenching and difficult six days, but it's also been a remarkable and awe-inspiring time--first to watch Hisham and his two childhood friends meet this experience with resilience, strength and even deep concern for others (for each other, for their parents many miles away and for thousands of their people suffering under a brutal military bombardment) and, second, to see and feel the incredible support from all over the world, including messages of love and support from many of you," Price said. Hisham Awartani, a 20-year-old junior at Brown University, is grappling with the reality of a "very long road" to recovery, as stated by Price. Awartani and his friends, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, were shot during a walk in Burlington over the Thanksgiving holiday. Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad reported that Awartani sustained a life-altering spinal injury, while the other two men were shot in the upper torso and lower extremities, requiring ICU hospitalisation. The suspect in the attack, 48-year-old Jason J Eaton, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and pleaded not guilty. Authorities are probing whether the incident was motivated by hate. Awartani is set to be released from the hospital next week for rehabilitation care. Tahseen Ali Ahmad, the other injured student, has been released, with his mother securing an emergency visa to join him from Ramallah in the West Bank to the United States, CNN reported. (ANI) US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, expressed delight on his visit to the Bloom Bazaar in Nagaland. He stressed that local business owners are the backbone of local, national and global economies. Sharing on his social media X, Eric Garcetti emphasised that the Bloom Bazaar is an innovative initiative of the state, designed to stimulate economic growth, promote local businesses, support women entrepreneurs, and create a conductive environment to attract investment to Nagaland. "One of the highlights of my visit to Nagaland was the Bloom Bazaar, an innovative initiative of the state designed to stimulate economic growth, promote local businesses, support women entrepreneurs, and create a conductive environment to attract investment to Nagaland. Local business owners are the backbone to local, national, and global economies," he stated on X. https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia/status/1731300529341714637 Bloom Bazaar, an exciting and dynamic new initiative of the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), was launched at The Heritage, Kohima, on September 29, 2023. Garcetti has been in Nagaland for the past four days and has recently taken to social media to share his experience after embarking on an early morning hike in Nagaland. The diplomat expressed his admiration for the region's stunning landscapes, particularly highlighting the breathtaking view from the peak he successfully conquered. Sharing his sentiments on X, Garcetti said, "Feeling refreshed after my early morning hike in Nagaland. Made it to the peak! What an incredible view, and what an amazing place. Already looking forward to my next trip to the Land of Festivals." Nagaland, often referred to as the "Land of Festivals," is a state in northeastern India known for its rich cultural tapestry, diverse ethnic communities, and vibrant celebrations throughout the year. Earlier, Garcetti witnessed the Hornbill Festival and the rich diversity of the state. "The Hornbill Festival is mesmerising. I've loved meeting so many people and learning about the different Naga communities they represent. I'm proud and honored that the United States is joining Germany as the partner nation for this year's festival," Ambassador Garcetti posted on X earlier. (ANI) Hisham Awartani, one of the three Palestinian college students who were shot while walking in Vermont over Thanksgiving weekend, is paralyzed from the chest down after a bullet became lodged in his spine, his mother said. Awartanis family has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the 20-year-old junior at Brown University, who is scheduled to be released from the hospital next week and then go on to receive rehabilitation care, said his mother, Elizabeth Price, in a statement to CNN. We believe that Hisham will meet this challenge with the same determination Ive witnessed this week, she said. The fund will help cover costs associated with his rehabilitation, air travel of his family and expenses related to the adaptive needs of his new reality. Awartani and his two longtime friends from the Israeli-occupied West Bank Kinnan Abdalhamid of Haverford College and Tahseen Ali Ahmad of Trinity College were out for a walk on Saturday in Burlington, chatting as they often did in English and Arabic, when they were shot, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. Two of the men were also wearing traditional Palestinian scarves known as keffiyehs at the time of the attack, he said. In addition to Awartanis life-altering spinal injury, the two other men were shot in the upper torso and lower extremities and hospitalized in the ICU, according to police. Both of the victims have since been released from the hospital. Abdalhamids parents said in a statement Tuesday evening they are extremely relieved he was released from the hospital but know that this tragedy will shape the rest of our lives. Kinnan told us that he was afraid to leave the hospital, they said. Our child may be physically well enough to be out of the hospital, but he is still shaken from this horrific attack. The suspect in the attack, 48-year-old Jason J. Eaton, was arrested Sunday and charged with three counts of attempted murder, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Authorities say they havent determined a motive in the attack but have said they are investigating whether the incident was motivated by hate. Its been a gut-wrenching and difficult six days, but its also been a remarkable and awe-inspiring time - first to watch Hisham and his two childhood friends meet this experience with resilience, strength and even deep concern for others, Price said Saturday. and second to see and feel the incredible support from all over the world, including messages of love and support from many of you. If the full amount raised by the GoFundMe isnt needed, the money will go toward a fund to support other Palestinians who are more vulnerable and much less fortunate than him, Price said. We ask that you stand in solidarity with all those who ache knowing the natural conclusion of dehumanization of any people is hateful violence, her statement reads. Students were visiting for the holiday The students were visiting Burlington for the Thanksgiving holiday and were staying with Awartanis uncle, Rich Price, he told CNN. They had attended a birthday party for the uncles 8-year-old twin sons just hours before they were attacked, he said. Awartani told his mother he suddenly found himself on the ground when the shooting began and recalled one of his friends screaming with pain from a chest wound, said Elizabeth Price. The third victim, who thought his friends had been killed, tried to escape to get help, she said. The shooter hovered over them for a short time and Awartani thought he would continue to shoot them and kill them, the mother said. Once the shooter fled, Awartani was able to call 911. Elizabeth Price told CNN on Tuesday her son had an incomplete spinal injury, meaning he can feel his legs but cant move them. Awartanis clavicle is also broken and he has a fractured thumb, she said. And because of the spinal injury, he has difficulty regulating his body temperature. He is expected to have between one and four weeks in spinal trauma care, followed by months in physical therapy, the mother said on Tuesday. Awartanis uncle said the three students grew up in Ramallah before coming to the US for college. Awartani, Abdalhamid and Ahmad have been friends since grade school, Price told CNN on Monday from Ramallah. Before coming to the United States for college, they went to school together at the Ramallah Friends School, a Quaker-run, private, non-profit school in the Israeli-occupied city, said the head of the school, Rania Maayeh. All three young men wounded in Vermont were born shortly before the end of the Second Intifada, a violent popular uprising of Palestinians over Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza that claimed thousands of lives. They grew up under military occupation and who would imagine that they would come to a place like this to celebrate Thanksgiving and this is when their lives would be at risk, said Rich Price. Abdalhamid told CNNs Anderson Cooper on Friday he was shot in the back while running away moments after the other two students were shot. He said the incident is part of a bigger issue regarding the hatred toward Palestinians. He referenced 6-year-old Wadea Al Fayoume who was stabbed 26 times by his familys landlord in Plainfield Township, Illinois in October, the Will County Sheriffs Office said. Abdalhamid said what happened to him and his friends has changed them, as well as other Palestinian families. We have a very, very strong sense of community. And, it kind of just ripples throughout, he said. And thats why every Palestinian right now is in anguish for whats happening in Gaza, especially that the ceasefire has ended. Families urge police to treat case as hate crime A search of the suspects apartment, which is next to the scene of the shooting, uncovered a pistol and ammunition that were connected to bullet casings found at the scene, according to Murad, the police chief. But while investigators say they have found enough evidence to connect Eaton to the attack, they are still searching for a motive. A trove of electronic devices seized from the Eatons apartment may offer some insight, and police plan to work with the FBI to analyze the devices, Murad said on CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront Monday night. During their search, authorities found five cell phones, an iPad and a backpack full of hard drives, according to an affidavit. The victims families and several civil rights groups have called on investigators to treat the case as a hate crime, as the attack comes amid a reported rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias incidents in the United States since the war between Israel and Hamas ignited last month. This absolutely was a hateful act, Murad told CNN Monday. But whether or not we can cross the legal threshold in order to determine that it is a hate crime is a different matter. Federal prosecutors in Vermont are also investigating whether the shooting may have been a hate crime, officials said. After Eatons arraignment on Monday, his attorney, Margaret Jansch, said it was premature to speculate about a possible hate crime motivation. Eaton showed no emotion when police told him what charges he faced, Murad said. The victims families called for full justice and accountability in a joint statement Monday. We believe a full investigation is likely to show our sons were targeted and violently attacked simply for being Palestinian, the families statement said. Our children, Palestinian children, like everyone else, deserve to feel safe. Statement from victim read aloud during vigil In a text from Awartani, read aloud by a Brown University professor Monday night during a vigil for the three students, the young man said: Who knew that all I had to do to become famous was to get shot? Beshara Doumani, a professor of Palestinian Studies, jested that those who knew Awartani would have expected that opening line. On a more serious note, its important to recognize that this is part of the larger story, said Doumani, reading from Awartanis statement. This hideous crime did not happen in a vacuum. I, meaning Hisham speaking, said about a month ago that Palestinians cannot afford to hold vigils every time this happens, the statement continued. As much as I appreciate and love every single one of you here today, I am but one casualty in this much-wider conflict. Awartani went on to allege in his statement, had he been shot in the West Bank, the medical services which saved my life here would likely have been withheld by the Israeli army. The soldier who wouldve shot me would go home and never be convicted. The lines were met with boos and shouts of shame in agreement, from students in attendance. CNNs Artemis Moshtaghian, Elizabeth Wolfe, Melissa Alonso, Ray Sanchez, Kaitlan Collins, Laura Coates, Rob Frehse, Polo Sandoval, Celina Tebor and Khalil Abdallah contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Careflight flew one person to a local hospital after a single-vehicle crash in Clark County Sunday afternoon, an Ohio State Highway Patrol dispatcher confirmed. >> 1 taken into custody after man with gun prompts call for backup in Dayton The Springfield Post of OSHP and fire crews were dispatched just before 4 p.m., to the 1000 block of Old Columbus Road in South Vienna, east of Springfield. Live wires and heavy damage to the vehicle caused the single occupant to be trapped, the dispatcher said. Ohio Edison was called to the scene after the wires came down onto the car. Emergency scanner traffic indicates that fire crews were able to free the person trapped after the power was turned off. The severity of their injuries is unknown, the dispatcher said. The Springfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating this crash. News Center 7 is working to learn what caused this crash. Four teenagers were injured when a 14-year-old driver lost control of an SUV, causing it to slide off a cliff in North Dakota, according to officials. The Ford Escape was traveling at a high rate of speed just north of Mandan at 8:22 p.m. on Dec. 1, according to a news release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Officials said the driver went over railroad tracks and lost control of the SUV. The vehicle then went through a barbed wire fence and slid about 50 feet down a cliff, toward the Missouri River, highway patrol said. The SUV overturned on the way down, before coming to a rest on the shoreline, officials said. Four teenagers were inside the vehicle, a 15-year-old, two 16-year-olds and the 14-year-old driver. None were wearing a seat belt, officials said. One 16-year-old had to be extricated from the vehicle and was taken to a hospital, the release said. The other teens were able to walk up the stairway, and two were taken to a hospital. The other teen was released to a parent. Mandan is about 6 miles northwest of Bismarck. Hurt kids show up at Texas home, leading cops to site of fatal ATV crash, officials say Climber slides 30 feet down mountainside and hits head in Colorado, rescuers say Paraglider leaps off top of mountain and crashes into icy slope, Wyoming rescuers say Flash 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, visits the China's pavilion in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 2, 2023. Ding addressed the Group of 77 (G77) and China Leaders' Summit, which is held during the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Tao) China is ready to work closely with other developing countries to build a green and low-carbon future, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said in Dubai on Saturday. Ding, also 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 Group of 77 (G77) and China Leaders' Summit, which is held during the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In recent years, China has actively yet prudently promoted the targets for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, said Ding, adding that while fulfilling its international obligations, China has made efforts to help other developing countries cope with climate change. Noting that there is still a long way to go to improve global climate governance, Ding called on the G77 and China to further speak with one voice and uphold common interests. The vice premier called on parties concerned to jointly promote sustainable development, strengthen the synergy of green transformation development strategies, boost mutual assistance, and explore a new path of coordination between development and protection. Ding urged parties concerned to jointly safeguard multilateralism and firmly uphold the goals and principles set out in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Ding also called for jointly promoting equity and justice, working together to make substantive progress in implementing climate funding and forming a framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation, and giving full play to the role of the newly established Loss and Damage Fund. Carrie Westlake Whitney earned the moniker Mother of the Kansas City Public Library by nurturing the fledgling institution for 30 years through a period of incredible growth. But her baby was 8 years old when Whitney was appointed librarian (the equivalent of director now) in 1881. What was then the Public School Library of Kansas City had been operating since 1873, with its initial collection consisting of eight volumes of the New American Encyclopedia purchased for $8 and housed on an oak bookcase in the school superintendents office. From such humble beginnings, the Kansas City Public Library has grown to 10 branches and more than 800,000 books and other items such as audio books, newspapers, magazines, DVDs and CDs. The library will celebrate that growth with a yearlong series of events kicking off Dec. 5, when all branches will have giveaways and activities. The highlight will be a program at the Plaza Branchh featuring Tommi Laitio, an expert in library and public park design and governance, and poet Glenn North reading a work written for the occasion. As the library commemorates its first 150 years, here are a few lesser-known tales from its hallowed halls. Carrie Westlake Whitney, known as the Mother of the Kansas City Public Library, was librarian (the equivalent of director now) from 1881 to 1911. Early days After the Kansas City Board of Education created the library, Westlake guided it as it moved first to a building at Eighth and Oak streets in 1889 and then to a larger building at Ninth and Locust in 1897. The librarys holdings grew from fewer than 1,000 volumes to nearly 100,000 during Westlakes tenure, and she was responsible for turning it into a free library (subscriptions had been $2 annually or $10 lifetime). A story in The Star in 1978 quoted her as saying that all men are afraid of books who did not handle them in infancy. Accordingly, she added a separate childrens area that was believed to be one of the nations first of its kind in a public library. Westlake also wrote the three-volume Kansas City, Missouri: The History and Its People 1898-1908, which was published in 1908. Her days with the library ended in 1911, however, when the Board of Education dismissed her because of factional infighting. The library remained under the school districts control until 1988, when two-thirds of district voters supported its independence. The Community Bookshelf runs along the south wall of the Central Librarys parking garage on 10th Street between Wyandotte Street and Baltimore Avenue. Completed in 2004 when the library moved into the former First National Bank building, it showcases 22 titles suggested by Kansas City readers. Readers of all ilks The library has always been a place where people can lose themselves in books, newspapers and magazines, as The Star has detailed over the years: Aug. 30, 1889: A 15-year-old boy, who remained anonymous, was the most active subscriber the Kansas City Public Library ever had, having read 95 books in three months the previous winter. The Star reported: Excepting Mark Twains two books, (James Fennimore) Coopers four and (Alexander) Dumas one, the stories chosen are of the mildly exciting juvenile type, in which heroes are rigidly moral and exemplary young lads, whose lives are lessons but who have a spice of boyish humanity about them. Sept. 4, 1898: Louis B. Woodard, born in Maryland in 1809, became known to library folks as Uncle as he spent up to nine hours daily reading, sometimes sneaking in food so he wouldnt have to leave the building. I go to the library every mornin to read about the war, suh, he told a reporter. I like to read about the war. In 1898, that would have been the Spanish-American War. Woodard had been a child during the War of 1812 and was a soldier in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. I fought in two wars and here I am, old, nigh onto 90, waiting for taps to sound for me at the close of the fourth American war Ive lived through, he said. I read all there is, all that relates to war. And then when I come home for an evening and fall asleep after supper, it is to dream of battle scenes and campfires of the soldiers life I led years ago. And in my dreams, I am young and vigorous and happy. And I awake refreshed and invigorated, ready and anxious to get down to my favorite corner at the library. May 12, 1929: Minnie Neal, head of the librarys circulation department, recommended Basil Kings The Conquest of Fear to a firefighter who was not a regular reader but thought a book on philosophy would help him deal with suicidal thoughts resulting from a domestic incident. The man found the book helpful, then moved on to other genres. Although he must be 40 years old, he began at that age to develop a taste for reading a taste which now is firmly established, Neal said. It has become almost a passion. April 17, 1938: John Hitchcock never finished grade school, but when he died at age 65, librarian Irene Gentry described him as one of the best-read men in Kansas City. Hitchcock had read day and night, working at the library for 20 years as a night watchman and night engineer and browsing the bookshelves by day. He had special interests in history, economics and genealogy. Jackie Brown has worked at the library in various capacities for more than three decades. Shes now a facilities services specialist. Decades of service When Jackie Brown began working for the library about 35 years ago, she had a job that no longer exists. Stationed at a desk in the librarys headquarters in the Board of Education building downtown, she was surrounded by telephone directories from around the world. People would call asking for telephone numbers, and she would look them up and provide them. One regular customer sticks in her mind, a man from Perth, Australia, who hadnt been back Down Under for years. He didnt merely call requesting numbers. Hed like to come and look at the directories, Brown said. He would just like to see if people he knew were still in that area. Brown is now a facilities services specialist at the library, making purchases and paying bills, after having also worked in marketing, circulation and IT. She made another likely lasting memory while helping at the librarys recent Heartland Book Festival. A young lady was standing off to the side, and I looked over at her and said, Crystal? And she said, Oh, Miss Jackie, I didnt think you would remember me, Brown said. Crystal Everett had been a child when Brown assisted her and her brother when their mother brought them to the library. Now Everett is a published author. Its just such a great joy that I was putting books in her hands as a child, and now shes doing the same to others, Brown said. For Tom Pratt, seated at left, helping with book sales at author events is one of many volunteer duties. Library guy Tom Platt provides a direct link to the librarys beginnings 150 years ago. He is the great-great-grandson of James M. Greenwood, who as superintendent of Kansas Citys schools from 1874 through 1913 was the librarys first director. Platt, 75, has become one of the librarys most valued volunteers since retiring. I had some friends that retired and six months after they retired from something, some of them were 6 feet down in the ground, Platt said. I decided I wanted to do something to volunteer and do stuff to help promote the library. In addition to having served as president and treasurer of the Friends of the Kansas City Public Library, he has worked at most public events the library has put on in recent years. Many people would see me on the street and call me The Library Guy, Platt said, because I was at maybe 80 to 90% of the programs that the library would have each month. His volunteering earned Platt the Lieutenant Governors Senior Service Award in 2017. In his nominating letter to then-Lt. Gov. Mike Parson, then-library director R. Crosby Kemper III estimated Platt worked 300 volunteer hours annually. Thomas M. Platt lives and breathes for the library, Kemper wrote. Author George R.R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame made a lasting impression when he visited the librarys Missouri Valley Room in 2016. Visiting dignitaries In 2006, not long after moving into the former First National Bank building at 10th and Baltimore, the library launched its signature programming series, bringing in big-name authors and other speakers. Among those drawing the largest crowds were Sandra Day OConnor, the first female Supreme Court justice, and the Queer Eye guys, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness. There also have been visits by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, legendary CBS anchorman Dan Rather and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David McCullough, to say nothing of William Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson, Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, Charlie Parker, Amelia Earhart and other greats (portrayed by actors) during the popular Meet the Past series. But for Eli Paul, former manager of the librarys Missouri Valley Special Collections, an unexpected encounter with George R.R. Martin left the biggest impression. Paul, author of this years Skywalks: Robert Gordons Untold Story of Hallmarks Kansas City Disaster and other books, wrote an item for The Star recalling Martins visit: It was Aug. 17, 2016, and Martin was in town to be feted at a sci-fi convention. He and Game of Thrones, his great literary creation, were at their absolute peak popularity, both in print and on TV as a wildly successful HBO series. What was he doing in our Missouri Valley Room? A German documentary team was in town and had snagged Martin for an off-site interview at the Central Library. What better place than the well-appointed Missouri Valley Room with its elegant, wooden shelves teeming with books as a proper backdrop? He sat in one of our comfortable chairs, and we the excited but mute staff took time off and stood off-camera taking in the amazing scene. Two memories stand out. Known as a real curmudgeon, Martin remarked to the staff his annoyance about the paucity of Robert Heinlein books available at the Central Library. A Kansas Citian and a mentor to Martin, Heinlein penned more than 30 novels; we only offered a handful. Ouch. Then there was a question from Martins German interviewer. The interviewer asked what we all wanted to know from the notoriously slow writer, but no polite person dared to pose. And when will your next novel be finished? I think there was a collective gasp from the onlookers. I dont recall Martins answer. I only remember the cold, hard stare he gave his inquisitor. If Martin had been a dragon, the man would have been burnt toast. Celebrating 150 Cultivating Good Community Vibes: How Libraries and Parks Bring Us Together with Tommi Laitio and poet Glenn North: 7 p.m. Dec. 5, Kansas City Public Library-Plaza Branch; reception at 6 p.m. with food by Dutzels Catering, music by The Phantastics; also a beer crafted by the Vine Street Brewing Co. and a specialty cocktail donated by J. Rieger & Co. kclibrary.org. Other 150 highlights: Eve Ewing, author and sociologist, March 8; Ari Shapiro, host of NPRs All Things Considered, June 13; Margaret Atwood, novelist, Sept. 24. Europe's new heavy-lift rocket has a firm launch date at last. The European Space Agency (ESA) Ariane 6 rocket from Arianespace will bring its debut mission to space no earlier than June 15, 2024, officials with the testing team announced Thursday (Nov. 30). On board will be a set of small satellites , including two from NASA , representatives added at the livestreamed briefing . After four years of delays for Ariane 6, progress is accelerating: a scale model of the heavy-lift rocket also finished a critical hotfire on the pad last week in Kourou, French Guiana which ESA director Josef Aschbacher said was a big milestone. "Assuming everything goes nominal without any major hiccup, we expect that Ariane 6 will have its inaugural flight between the 15th of June and the 31st of July next year," Aschbacher said of the Nov. 23 hot-fire test. He cautioned later in the briefing, however, that "it is rocket science that is at stake, and therefore it is to be expected that there may be one or the other delay that can occur." Related: Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket aces crucial 7-minute engine burn Ariane 5 launched European spacecraft for more than 25 years, sending more than 100 missions aloft between 1996 and 2003. Prominent missions included the James Webb Space Telescope , the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer ( JUICE ) and the Rosetta comet spacecraft, not to mention a dozen or so Galileo navigation satellites that give Europe its own GPS access. Europe has emphasized that it requires independent launching access to space , but lately it has been reliant like much of the industry on SpaceX , which launched the Euclid dark matter-hunting mission July 1 (for example) after Ariane 6's debut launch continued to slip. Ariane 6 was conceived in the early 2010s to meet a new generation of launching needs lowering costs and launching more satellites to different orbits at once, for example after the aging Ariane 5 design retired this July. But numerous technical obstacles and the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way of Ariane 6's planned gate-opening mission in 2020. "We were literally in crisis," Aschbacher said of the gap, and said the problem was compounded by poor communication about milestones and delays. Today, however, regular and detailed reports are now available to ESA member states, the public and journalists after Ariane 6 task force meetings. "We have learned our lessons," Aschbacher said, acknowledging the help of Arianespace, Ariane Group and the French national space agency (CNES) in addressing issues as they arose. "We have been sitting together, and we have taken very clear action to overcome the crisis, as we call it. It literally was a crisis. We had to get out. And let me say that we have done this together. This is not ESA alone." Related: When will Ariane 6 fly? Europe's new heavy-lift rocket battles delays as Ariane 5 era ends An Ariane 6 test model on the launch pad in Kourou, French Guidana during a hot-fire test on Nov. 23, 2023, which lasted more than seven minutes. Lessons learned include bringing more options for European launching. Aschbacher pointed to a new ESA member state agreement announced at the European Space Summit in Seville, Spain on Nov. 6 that will continue to improve access against SpaceX. He framed it as a "paradigm shift" that will bring more opportunities for European companies, once more details are available. The agreement includes short-term financing by ESA members for both Ariane 6 and the new lighter-launch Vega-C that has flown twice so far, both times in 2022. ESA also committed to bringing more launches to private companies to diversify options and drive down cost ahead of bringing in reusable rockets in the 2030s or so. Philippe Baptiste, president of CNES, praised the deal, saying it will prepare Europe "for a future in which we will have more competition, but also [with] more freedom for the industry and more responsibility for the same industry. This is a step forward." Related: Europe won't have reusable rockets for another decade: report Ariane 6 fully stacked and ready for testing. For now, however, the spotlight is on Ariane 6 to perform well on its first flight. Happily, the hot fire test on Nov. 23 "worked perfectly well", with the data gathered from the effort showing "the results are what we are expecting," Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup, said in the same briefing. The test cut off 44 seconds shorter than its expected 470-second (nearly eight-minute) milestone, however. Officials said it was because a sensor that measures how much fuel is left in the tanks was using a "conservative" setting for the testing conditions, and that the glitch should not affect the flight. The team is now getting ready for two more big Ariane 6 tests in the first part of December. A hot fire of the upper stage will happen at the German Aerospace Center's Lampoldshausen site on Dec. 7, to see how the stage will perform if a launch is running in "degraded conditions." A week later, on Dec. 15, a test of fuel loading will take place in Kourou for slightly off-nominal conditions as well, including a short ignition of the core stage engine. In fact, all forthcoming key tests of Ariane 6 will evaluate the launcher of "non-nominal situations", Aschbacher added. Knowing that, and also having solid data from the hotfire test, gave ESA and the task force even more confidence in announcing the mid-June launch date. Arianespace, meanwhile, is building out its launch manifest for future flights with potential customers. But not all is guaranteed; if something unexpected arises, the delay may stretch even further as "there is still a lot of work to be done," CNES' Baptiste said in French (translation provided by Space.com), outlining measures such as the tests and the assembly at Ariane Group's factories that must be done before the big day. Arianespace's Sion added in French that even more confidence will come when Ariane 6 passes its launch system qualification review next year, to establish that the rocket is safe for launch. Related Stories: Farewell, Ariane 5! Europe's workhorse rocket launches 2 satellites on final mission (video) Watch Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket fire its engines in new timelapse video When will Ariane 6 fly? Europe's new heavy-lift rocket battles delays as Ariane 5 era ends "It is fundamental for the reliability of the rocket. We know that was the hallmark of Ariane 5, and this reliability is necessary for Ariane 6 and what we owe to our customers," Sion said. "We will not make shortcuts. A qualification review can find problems that have been forgotten. It is better to find them there, than during the first launch. "It would be presumptuous for us to say," Sion continued, pointing to the Ariane 6 launch campaign in general, "that we have put all problems behind us. (But) we have enough behind us to consider that we can announce a date. That's the big change today." But if all goes to plan, added Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel in the same briefing, the first commercial flight will be by the end of 2024 with "as many flights as possible in 2025." Eventually, he added, Ariane 6 may be launching as many as 9 to 10 missions a year. If 211 Brevard were a person, they'd be old enough to join AARP, qualified for more than a few senior discounts and just a few years away from Medicare eligibility. On Friday, that big 6-0 was celebrated as 211 Brevard officials invited guests to travel back through the years and recall the nonprofit's evolution. Large screens bore news headlines from what happened in each decade since the 1960s and charted how the vital service has changed over the years but always, remained focused on helping anyone in personal, financial or community crisis. The celebration, at Space Coast Health Foundations Center for Collaboration in Rockledge, also included a tip of the hat to 211's milestone partners over those decades: Circles of Care; United Way of Brevard; Florida Department of Health in Brevard; Brevard County Emergency Management; Brevard County Housing & Human Services; Parrish Healthcare; and Central Florida Cares Health System. In its infancy in 1963, the organization was a grassroots volunteer group providing support for individuals and families affected by mental illness. The nonprofit started one of Floridas first teen and suicide hotlines, and grew from there. In 2001, 211 Brevard became the first in Florida and the seventh in the nation to implement the 2-1-1 dialing code. "I think the thing that is striking to me, the through line over the years, is that mental health and crisis support," 211 Brevard Executive Director Libby Donoghue told FLORIDA TODAY. "We were started as a chartered local chapter of the Mental Health Association. And over time, we added other kinds of services. So you don't have to be in a mental health crisis to call us. We can help you with other kinds of crises. Not being able to pay your rent is definitely a crisis. Or just needing information about how to find services or whatever. But we continue to do that crisis intervention." More: Year-round gratitude: It changes lives, one meal, one step, one kindness at a time Antony Pulido, client health navigator for Parrish Health Network, said Parrish was "honored to serve" as the title sponsor for the event. "There are too many of our community members who are not so fortunate," he said. "There's a lot of them who struggle with food and housing insecurity, substance abuse, domestic violence, countless hardships ... we're grateful to have such compassionate partners." John Scott, director of Brevard County Emergency Management, backed by members of his team, speaks during a Friday celebration marking 211 Brevard's 60th anniversary and saluting community partners. Emegency Management was one of 211's "Milestone Partners" honored. John Scott, director of Brevard County Emergency Management, and members of his team know the importance of having 211 to turn to, and the power of partnering. "I want to take a quick second to highlight the great work we do with 211 and what they do for us," Scott told the crowd. "Hurricanes are obviously our big thing, the thing we're most known for. For (Hurricane) Irma, they answered over 12,000 calls for us in a five-day period, just to give you an idea of the volume that comes." But it's "so much more than hurricanes with them," Scott said. "Every day we're referring services to 211. Every day they're talking to us about needs in the community so we can help coordinate with many of you to meet those. So on a day-to-day basis, we wouldn't be able to function without you guys. I hope you know how important you are to us, and to our overall community health and success." One very obvious way 211 has changed is more recent with the advent of 988, the national dialing code for suicide prevention. In 2022, 211 Brevard became one of the 200-plus centers involved in the nationwide 988 launch. They'd been part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network of crisis centers since it was started in 2005 with a 10-digit national hotline. As of July 16, 2022, nationwide, people in mental health crisis can reach out for help via an easy-to-remember, three-digit dialing code, 998, that takes the place of the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number. And with the introduction of 988, the number of calls spiked. In the last fiscal year (2021-2022) of answering the 10-digit number, 211 Brevard averaged 191 calls per month, or 2,293 total. In the first fiscal year of answering the three-digit 988 number, the average increased 61% to 308 per month, or 3,699 total. Those numbers just keep climbing. In the first four months of the current fiscal year 2023-24, the monthly average over 2021-22 has increased 216% to 603 per month. That's in addition to the almost 600 crisis calls answered monthly on the 211 dialing code. That's because, in Brevard, "there is no wrong number to call for help, 211 or 988, to get our highly trained and compassionate staff," Donaghue told FLORIDA TODAY. "I think the growth in the 988 calls is really as simple as there's an easy number to use to call when you need help. We saw that when we implemented 211. And certainly there's been a lot of national attention on it. So I think it starts with people who may be struggling, knowing there's an easy number to call and that don't have to look it up. It's out there." Kelly Haskins of Merritt Island attended the anniversary celebration with her mother, Carol Landman, with both women wearing purple T-shirts bearing the words "You Matter: Do It For Hunter." An "I" is behind the bright-yellow M in "Matter." Kelly Haskins of Merritt Island, left, and her mother, Carol Landman, wear "Do It For Hunter" T-shirts. The nonprofit is focused on suicide awareness and prevention and partners with 211 Brevard in promoting knowledge of the 988 hotline emergency number. Merritt Island High and Eastern Florida State grad Hunter Haskins was 18 when he died in September 2021. A University of Central Florida student, Hunter failed an online math test when the power and internet in his apartment went out, and, his mother said, had a panic attack before taking his life. Now, his mother heads the five-month-old nonprofit "Do It For Hunter," devoted to suicide awareness and prevention. The group obtained permission from Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Rendell to get a suicide prevention sticker designed by a Brevard graduate, Kyle Beil, and paid for by donors, on every BPS laptop. Every student in Brevard has a laptop, Haskins said. And in a moment of need, she hopes they'll get the message on the sticker bearing the 988 number and the words "You Matter." She thinks seeing such a message could have saved Hunter's life. He might have reached out, she said. "A kid who may be in an emotional crisis won't have to worry about looking up the number, think 'Who do I call, where do I get help,?'" she said. "The number will be right there. I want it to be as well known as 911." Being surrounded Friday by people devoted to helping those in crisis meant a lot to her. "I think what I enjoyed seeing today was seeing the history of 211 Brevard, and everything they've been doing for the past 60 years," Haskins said. "They've come so far and we've got so much farther to go. For us to be able to count on them, and partner with them now, for the 988 line, that's what we're all about." Britt Kennerly is education/breaking news editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Kennerly at 321-917-4744 or bkennerly@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Celebration toasts 211 Brevard and 60 years of helping those in crisis (KRON) Its December, and we are getting closer to Christmas. Despite recent warm weather experienced by Bay Area residents, there is still a lot of holiday spirit going around. Visit California released a report of a list of California towns with the most holiday spirit. Three Bay Area cities cracked the 15-city list (see below). Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek launches holiday events, The North Face Store opens Windsor Located 65 miles north of San Francisco, the Sonoma County town is home to the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove. Local businesses, organizations and families contribute to the 200 individually lighted and decorated Christmas trees in Windsor Town Green. Petaluma Also in Sonoma County, Petaluma is home to the Lighted Boat Parade where the community can enjoy viewing boats decked out in Christmas decorations and lights. The free event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. It will be held at the Petaluma Turning Basin at 12 C St. Livermore Livermore is where you can enjoy the Lights of Livermore Holiday Tour. The tour, which begins with a wine tasting, takes you on a trolley to see bright lights and Christmas decorations around town. The tour runs from Dec. 8 to Dec. 23, and each ticket costs $72.99 per person. All guests must be 21 and over. Livermore is also home to San Francisco Premium Outlets where residents across the Bay Area will shop during the holiday season. SF residents warned about Vanilla gift card scam amid holiday shopping season Last year, a study was released of the 12 coziest small towns in California. The list consists of places across the state with colder temperatures for visitors perhaps hoping to experience a winter wonderland. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A 55-year-old woman is facing serious charges for allegedly hitting a pedestrian in Hanover with her car Friday night. Members of the Hanover Police and Fire Departments responded to King Street around 7:37 p.m. Friday night for a reported crash involving a pedestrian. First responders located a 35-year-old man suffering from serious injuries. He was transported to a local trauma center. The woman driving the vehicle, whose name was not released, is now facing charges of operating under the influence of liquor - 1st offense, operating under the influence of liquor and causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash with personal injury, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, failure to stay in marked lanes and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. The 35-year-old victim was eventually transported from the trauma center and transferred to a Boston area hospital. 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 Six people were injured in three separate shootings, and there was also a fourth shooting incident in Dallas within the past day, according to the Dallas Police Department. Out of four different shootings, police only announced one arrest. At about 10:45 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call in the 200 block of Stoneport Drive. The preliminary investigation determined an unknown suspect in a vehicle shot two teen victims and left the location. The victims were transported to a local hospital, and their injures are believed to be non-life threatening, according to police. An apartment was also hit during the gunfire, police say The identities of the victims were not released. Police did not announce an arrest. At about 4:15 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting call in the 2500 block of Webb Chapel Extension. The preliminary investigation determined three victims were shot by an unknown suspect. Two victims were transported to a local hospital and the third was treated at the scene. Their injuries are believed to be non-life threatening, police say. The identities of the victims were not released and police did not announce an arrest. At about 5:05 p.m. Friday,officers responded to a call for service in the 1800 block of North Hall Street. The preliminary investigation determined the suspect, 18-year-old Johnny Bates, was involved in an argument with unknown suspects and shot at them. An unknown suspect returned fire and left the location, according to police. Bates was arrested and charged with Discharge Firearm in Certain Municipalities and Criminal Mischief. No injuries were reported. A vehicle was damaged during the gunfire. At about 8:45 p.m. Friday, officers responded to a shooting call at South Boulevard and Holmes Street. The preliminary investigation determined an unknown suspect shot the victim in the arm and left the location. A victim was transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment, according to police. The identity of the victim was not released and police did not announce an arrest. All shootings remain ongoing investigations. Flash The Hamas-run government said on Saturday that Israel has attacked the war-torn Gaza Strip with approximately 100,000 bombs and rockets since October 7. The government's Media Office Director Ismael Al-Thawabteh said during a press conference that some of the bombs weigh 2,000 pounds "with the deliberate and brutal intention of targeting civilians." Al-Thawabteh added the Palestinian death toll due to Israel's assaults has risen to 15,207 as of Saturday afternoon, and the number of missing people has risen to over 7,500, either trapped under the rubble or with unknown fates, while the count of injuries has reached 40,650. Al-Thawabteh condemned the restrictive policies preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, calling for the daily entry of a thousand trucks carrying genuine aid and supplies and 1 million liters of fuel to salvage whatever can be saved from the deadly conflict. Moreover, he urged the entry of hundreds of pieces of equipment and machinery for relief, emergency response teams, and civil defense to retrieve hundreds of corpses still buried under rubble. "These are necessary to clear the debris resulting from the bombing and destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes, schools, hospitals, streets, and critical facilities," stressed Al-Thawabteh. A 37-year-old Pasco man was at a Burbank garage when he was gunned him down 13 years ago. A witness later told police they saw Luis Reyna Carillo, then 18, flee the shop with another man and drive away. Jose Ramon Hernandez-Solis was shot twice and died. More than a decade later Carillo has been brought back to Walla Walla County to face one count of first-degree murder, according to a release from the Walla Walla County Sheriffs Office. Carillo, and his wife, Mariana Mendoza Camacho, 31, were arrested in California. An arrest warrant was issued for him in 2010 based on the witness account. But the Walla Walla Sheriffs Office said new DNA evidence also was found in 2022 that tied allegedly ties Carillo to the shooting. That helped lead to his recent arrest. The night of the shooting, Hernandez-Solis and the two murder suspects Carillo and Victor Castro Aguilar had been at the same early-morning party in Burbank. Hernandez-Solis and a friend left after reportedly seeing Carillo with a gun, according to a sheriffs office report at the time. They went to a shop that Hernandez-Solis rented and he went inside, while his friend fell asleep in Hernandez-Solis truck outside. The friend woke up to the sounds of gunshots. He told officials he saw Carillo and possibly Aguilar run from the shop and drive off in Carillos Jeep Grand Cherokee, said investigators. Carillos now wife, Mendoza Camacho, then 17, also was in the Jeep, according to reporting at the time. Victor Castro Aguilar also was charged and brought to court in 2014. After prosecutors couldnt find a key witness, they dropped the charges. But the case could be refiled. The activity of the Russian infantry in the operational zone of the Tavriia operational-strategic group has increased again. Source: Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the group, on Telegram Details: Tarnavskyi reported that 55 combat clashes occurred during the last 24 hours of 2-3 December compared with 32 combat clashes the day before. About 10 Russians have surrendered. The activity of Russian aircraft is low five airstrikes occurred within 24 hours. Tarnavskyi noted that the Russians are holding the defence on the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts. Meanwhile the Defence Forces continue conducting the offensive operation on the Melitopol front. Support UP or become our patron! Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has said that the reopening of Boryspil airport would only be possible when the Ukrainian sky is completely free of Russian missiles and drones. Source: Podoliak on the air of a joint national 24/7 newscast, commenting on the statement of Andrii Yermak, Chief of the Ukrainian President's Office, about the possible opening of Boryspil Quote: "It was said that the airport would start working symbolically as soon as the security situation is resolved. Here we come to the key point: what is a settled security situation? We understand that Russia is using a key tool to attack the civilian population cruise missiles, and drones that fly all over the country every night... This security situation still needs to be fully resolved. But talking about in principle, if we think about the future, then we can say that airports should work in Ukraine. But let us emphasise that this is not a matter of tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. This is a question of when the sky will be completely closed from the influence of Russian missile and drone capabilities." Background: On 1 December, the presidential press service reported that Andrii Yermak voiced confidence that Boryspil airport will soon be able to depart and accept planes again. "This return to the elements of peace is possible because Ukraine has become stronger. Now, we can ensure the security of this facility. Thanks to our Defence Forces and our friends your countries. And I am confident that the symbolic boarding passes you received at the entrance will soon become valid", he said, addressing representatives of foreign countries. Support UP or become our patron! Wes Streeting (right) is meeting with Australian health experts to help his party create health policies which learn from best international practice - Georgia Brown Every major hospital would analyse scans using AI under Labour plans to double NHS diagnostic capacity and cut heart deaths by one quarter, the shadow health secretary pledged on Sunday. Wes Streeting has spent a week exploring the Australian healthcare system under plans to create health policies which learn from the best international practice. In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Streeting said stroke services in this country were in an appalling state, by comparison. He said the NHS needed to urgently embrace technology in order to improve patient care and boost productivity, saying it was necessary to be brutally honest about the poor state of the health service now in order to secure its future. Global league tables show Australias heart and stroke services are decades ahead of those in the UK, with death rates for both conditions around half of those in Britain for those admitted to hospital. Much of this is down to the use of diagnostics to make speedy assessment of conditions where time is critical to limit oxygen loss that causes brain damage. Australia is second only to Japan for capacity of MRI, CT and PET scanners with 88 per million population. Meanwhile, the UK languishes at the bottom of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) league tables with just 19 per million people. Critically, Australia also uses its equipment differently. Across the state of Victoria, AI is used to analyse stroke scans in every hospital, small or large ensuring the patients in need of clot-busting treatment are quickly identified and fast-tracked. Following a visit to the services command centre in Melbourne, Mr Streeting pledged to introduce the same technology across the NHS as part of efforts to speed up diagnosis and treatment of killer diseases. UK is lagging decades behind He told The Telegraph it was inspiring yet maddening to see health services overseas making routine use of technology which could dramatically improve performance, while the UK lagged decades behind. When you look at where we are in England, not even 50 per cent of stroke patients seen within four hours, when we know time is brain, he said. Following a visit to the state of Victoria's health services command centre in Melbourne, Mr Streeting vowed to replicate the use of AI to analyse stroke scans in every hospital, small or large - Georgia Brown He said the model being used across the Australian state proved that AI and machine learning could result in a speedier and faster response. Under such systems, AI can provide a first analysis of scans, which is then checked by a radiologist. Traditional methods involve two radiologists, with one used to give a second opinion. At the Labour party conference in October, Mr Streeting promised a doubling in capacity of MRI and CT scanning equipment within the first term of a Labour government. On Sunday, Mr Streeting made a further commitment, saying every hospital in England will be obliged to ensure that their new kit is compatible with AI, so that scans can routinely be analysed using the technology. All of those scanners will be AI-enabled so that we give staff access to the cutting-edge equipment they need to give patients the very best care they deserve, he said. Mr Streeting said swift action was required to allow the UK to catch up with medical advances that can save lives and prevent disability. The stroke service in Australias state of Victoria began piloting the use of rudimentary AI to analyse stroke scans in 2003. The shadow health secretary says meetings with experts in Australia had brought home the failure of Britains national health service to make use of the advantages of having one single system - Georgia Brown I think we are decades behind and for 13 years now this government has been asleep at the wheel, the politician said. Mr Streeting said Labours pledge to cut deaths from heart disease and stroke by one quarter in their first term, if they win the election, relied on the NHS maximising efficiency and making the best use of its workforce. He said meetings with health officials in Australia had brought home the failure of Britains national health service to make use of the advantages of having one single system, which should allow quicker adoption of new technology and medical advantages. So many people in Australia have said how we have real advantages because we have a national model, where they have federal systems to navigate and yet we just dont make proper use of it, whether that is in efficiencies in procurement, or adoption of new tech, he said. I think the NHS can once again be the envy of the world. But weve got to be brutally honest about where we are today and about the scale of the challenge ahead. And my optimism about the future is tempered by the realism that it is going to take a decade to deliver the reform and improvements to health and social care that I want to see, he said. During his week in Australia, Mr Streeting had a number of meetings with Labor politicians past and present including Mark Butler, the current health secretary, and Paul Keating, the former prime minister. Labor won the election in May of last year, having failed to secure victory in 2019, when many in the party had thought it a foregone conclusion. Only promise what you can deliver Mr Streeting said his party had a lot to learn from the Australian experience. I think the lesson from Australia is clear for the UK Labour Party; which is to only promise what you can deliver. Keep your focus on the priorities of the country and under-promise, over-deliver, he said. In particular, he said Labour should resist the siren voices pushing the party into high spending, which taxpayers could ill afford. I think that its particularly crucial at a time when money and trust in politics is in short supply and thats why were not going to be blown off course by the siren voices tempting us to crash into the rocks with promises that are too expensive, promises that we cant keep, or priorities that dont reflect the priorities of the country, he said. He said a Labour government should not increase the proportion of state spending devoted to health which already takes 44 per cent of Government funds, saying this is money that could go back into taxpayers pockets. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: A key part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which is backed by over 2.4 billion in funding, focusses on the use of technology to reform how the NHS works and builds on the progress made by the NHS already to embrace innovations in technology. In 90 per cent of stroke units across England, cutting-edge AI tools are supporting clinicians to treat patients that present with stroke more quickly, halving the time to get treatment and tripling the chances of patients living independently following a stroke. The AI in Health and Care Award has made 123 million available to accelerate the most promising technologies for health and social care, benefitting over 300,000 patients. By harnessing the latest technology, we can save staff time, reduce repetitive administration tasks and help speed up potentially lifesaving treatment and will save the NHS nearly a million working days a year. 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. Explosions were heard in western Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi Oblast overnight on Dec. 3, according to several Telegram monitoring channels. Air defense was active in the oblast, Serhii Tiurin, first deputy head of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration, said on his official Facebook page. He urged residents to find shelter citing ongoing drone attack. No information on damages to civilian infrastructure or casualties were reported. "We thank Ukraine's Armed Forces for defending the skies over Khmelnytskyi Oblast," he wrote. The Air Force issued warnings of drone activity and air strikes in Ukraine's southern and some western oblasts in the early hours of Dec. 3. Drone activity was recorded over or in the direction of Odesa, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Vinnytsia, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. At around 6 a.m. local time the Air Force issued a missile warning for Kyiv Oblast. Read also: Russia launches drone attack from south Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian troops downed 10 out of 12 Shahed-136/131 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported on Dec. 3. The drones were launched from around Russia's port city of Primorsko-Akhtarsk in southern Krasnodar Krai. At least one Kh-59 cruise missile was launched from Belgorod region, according to the Ukrainian military. The drones entered Ukraine's airspace through Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. The majority of the drones were shot down by southern defense forces over Mykolaiv Oblast, and the rest were intercepted in the Starokostiantyniv district of western Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Air defense was active in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Serhii Tiurin, first deputy head of the regional military administration, said on his official Facebook page. No information on damages to civilian infrastructure or casualties were reported. The Air Force added that the Kh-59 missile didn't reach its target. Read also: US Defense Secretary Austin: We will not let Hamas or Putin win Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia launched a group of Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones against Ukraine on the evening of Dec. 3, leading to a risk of drone strikes in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, Ukraine's Air Force reported. According to the Air Force's update at around 8:42 p.m. local time, the drones were moving from Kherson Oblast in the direction of Mykolaiv Oblast. As of 9:26 p.m., Russian drones were moving in the direction of Kirovohrad Oblast, the Air Force reported. No updates have yet been provided about the work of air defense in the three regions. The air raid siren is still in effect for all three regions as of 10 p.m. local time. Shahed drones have been repeatedly used by Russia since last fall, sometimes along with missiles, to target populated areas throughout Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russias war enters new phase, says Zelensky Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Airbus secured a single order for its worst-selling A330-800neo widebody airliner this year. The plane is a shrunk version of the A330-900neo and has secured 12 orders since its debut in 2014. Airlines have opted for aircraft with better per-seat costs, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. While Airbus has had no trouble selling its next-generation A330-900neo, the widebody jetliner's little brother is struggling to keep up. In April, a single order for the A330-800neo was quietly added to Airbus' order book from an undisclosed customer. The company confirmed the purchase to Business Insider but said it was "the privilege of the customer to disclose the order." This brings the total orders for the A330-800neo to just 12 from five customers, according to Airbus: two from Uganda Airways, four each from Kuwait Airways and Garuda Indonesia, and one each from Air Greenland and the mysterious new buyer. The A330-800neo is a smaller version of the A330-900neo, which has secured hundreds of global orders since the family's 2014 launch. The A330-800, however, is a rarity in the airline industry despite being in development for just as long. The pair were launched as a replacement to the company's already successful fleet of A330-200 and A330-300 widebody planes, as well as a solution to Boeing's ever-popular 787 Dreamliner. Both the A330-800 and A330-900 are exclusively powered by the more fuel-efficient Rolls Royce Trent 7000 engines, which Airbus says reduces fuel emissions by "25% compared to its previous-generation aircraft." A Uganda Airlines Airbus A330-800neo. Thomas Pallini/Insider But this burn is not enough to offset the low capacity and per-seat cost of the A330-800 compared with its larger counterpart. The problem is that the shrunk A330-800 was designed with range as its selling point it can fly about 1,000 miles further than the A330-900's nearly 8,300-mile range. But because the A330-800 has fewer seats, the operating costs end up higher than what airlines are willing to pay. "All shrinks are a bit heavier on a per-seat basis because they're carrying around the same structures and systems and engines as the bigger planes but with fewer seats," Richard Aboulafia, a managing director at the consultancy firm AeroDynamic, told Business Insider in December 2021. This is especially important when the A330-900 already offers enough range to meet airlines' needs, making it a better option cost-wise. Plus, the extra capacity could be used for money-making business- and first-class seats. Air Greenland's Airbus A330-800neo. Airbus In 2014, Leeham News and Analysis reported that Airbus argued the A330-800's $260 million price tag made up for the added operating costs. But the order books such as United Airlines' deal for up to 200 Boeing 787s in December 2022 prove there are several other aircraft options that better compete with the middle-of-the-market A330-800neo. And most airlines are looking at more economical options. For example, Hawaiian Airlines dropped its order for the A330-800 in 2018 in favor of the Boeing 787-9, which is set to enter its fleet in 2024. Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram told Business Insider in 2018 that the dwindling demand for the jet was a red flag. He said the airline had to consider that "if something affects the economics [of the business] and we need to make a change," it could be stuck with a jet that nobody else wanted. Planespotters data shows just seven of Airbus' poor-selling jetliners have been put into service so far, with Garuda Indonesia still yet to receive one. Airbus' test A330-800 is parked, and the last of its type to be delivered was to Air Greenland in December 2022. The few carriers that fly the A330-800 have sung its praises A Kuwait Airways Airbus A330-800neo. Airbus In an interview with Aviation Source News in December 2022, Air Greenland CEO Jacob Nitter Srensen said the airline initially chose the A330-800 over the 787 because its performance, efficiency, and economics fit into its Greenland-centered business model. "We love the [A330-800], and so do passengers, and the efficiency improvements are even better than those promised by Airbus," he said in a recent November interview with Aviation Week. After its first A330-800 delivery, Uganda Airlines said the aircraft's "operational efficiencies, range, and payload characteristics" made it an ideal aircraft for the airline's network. Still, its faults have not gone completely unnoticed. In a March interview with Aviation Week, Kuwait Airways CEO Maen Razouqi said the A330-800 which at the time was launched nonstop to New York-JFK would offer "better margins" than the Boeing 777 it was flying on the route. He further explained that Kuwait Airways did not plan to convert its existing A330-800 orders to the A330-900 so long as Airbus did not delay deliveries, but admitted the larger variant would "offer a better economic footprint." The Boeing 777 has since re-taken over Kuwait's route to New York-JFK from the A330-800, and later plans to launch the jet to Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, on December 15 have been scrapped, according to Cirium data. Read the original article on Business Insider (BCN) The Alameda County District Attorneys Office on Saturday reversed course after excluding some journalists from a media briefing this week. The action was roundly criticized by First Amendment advocates as being unconstitutional and inappropriate. The Berkeley Scanner founder Emilie Raguso was not allowed to enter a news conference held Wednesday by District Attorney Pamela Prices office, which cited a requirement for media members to have an official press credential issued by a bonified [sic] national news network, local news affiliate, or a long-standing independent news journal. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo files paperwork to run for Congress Raguso, an experienced local journalist, did present official credentials but was nevertheless turned away. The District Attorneys Office claimed that the criteria were part of policies that were long-standing and predate the election of District Attorney Pamela Price. On Saturday, the District Attorneys Office released a statement changing its reasoning for not allowing Raguso in, saying a media list had been modified and reduced to a limited number of news outlets during a transition of Prices communications staff over the summer. Bay City News was among the outlets removed from the list as well. Miss Raguso, among others, including the Bay City News Service, was not included in the updated media list, an oversight now being corrected, the District Attorneys Office said in its statement. After Prices offices initial decision this week not to admit Raguso to the briefing, groups including the First Amendment Coalition, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists sent letters to the District Attorneys Office, saying its policy violates the First Amendment because it unconstitutionally discriminates against segments of the press and interferes with editorial discretion. SF residents warned about Vanilla gift card scam amid holiday shopping season Following the uproar over the decision to exclude Raguso, Bay City News inquired why it was not receiving emails about upcoming news conferences despite its Datebook calendar being used for decades by most media outlets in the Bay Area to help plan coverage of such events. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office said Friday they had an incorrect and non-existent Bay City News email address on their list for such events, though the statement Saturday then clarified that Bay City News had been removed from the list. Raguso said in a statement Saturday, Im glad this issue was corrected because the DAs prior position was clearly indefensible. The Berkeley Scanner will continue reporting on this issue and pushing to ensure that other members of the media have fair and equal access to our elected district attorney. Price, who is facing an effort to recall her from office by critics who say she is too soft on crime in her decisions on prosecuting cases, in her offices statement Saturday cited her long and distinguished career that includes defending the First Amendment along with a proven track record of being committed to transparency. The statement ended, Now, DA Price is taking the lead on an effort to work with renowned First Amendment and media ethics experts in developing clear and transparent media credentials guidelines that balance the need for public safety alongside accommodating todays journalists. This critical work is long overdue at the Alameda County District Attorneys office. Will San Francisco streets remain clean even after APEC? The letter earlier this week from First Amendment Coalition legal director David Loy ended, Whatever your offices intent may have been, its actions suggest that reporters will be punished for critical coverage. The First Amendment does not tolerate such interference with a free press, intentional or otherwise. Note: Bay City News publisher Katherine Ann Rowlands is president of the First Amendment Coalition board of directors. Copyright 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Flash Kenyan President William Ruto on Saturday convened African leaders at the ongoing COP28 talks to accelerate Africa's green industrialization. At an event attended by leaders of Angola, Burundi, Djibouti, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia as well as COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative was launched. The initiative aims to accelerate and scale green industries and businesses across Africa, promote climate mitigation and adaptation, and stimulate economic green growth on the continent. In his remarks, Ruto said that "the initiative marks a concrete step toward the realization of the Nairobi Declaration, activating private sector-led scaling-up of green industrial clusters." African leaders embraced the initiative as the pathway for their nations' development. They also discussed plans to activate end-to-end socioeconomic transformation through the rapid growth of green industrial clusters, the strong role of regional and global export markets for value-added green products and technologies, crucial for global clean energy value chain. Attendees at the event also stressed that Africa's green industrialization was critical for the achievement of the world's collective climate ambitions. Leaders or senior representatives from over 100 countries are gathering here on Friday and Saturday for the World Climate Action Summit, which is being held during the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28. An American warship and numerous commercial vessels came under fire in the Red Sea on Sunday, prompting the warship to open fire in self-defense. The Associated Press (AP) first reported news of the assault Sunday, saying that the attack was claimed by Yemens Houthi rebels. This marks another incident of escalation in the Middle East connected to the Israel-Hamas war, which is approaching two months of fighting. Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available, a Defense Department official said in a statement to The Hill. According to the U.S. Central Command, the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, opened fire in self-defense Sunday in the attack that lasted hours. The Carney responded after a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier said it was under missile fire. The Carney shot down two drones during the attack, CENTCOM said in a post online. CENTCOM said at this time it cannot determine if the Carney was a target for the drone. There was no damage to the Carney or injuries to personnel. The Unity Explorer reported minor damage from the missile strike, CENTCOM said in a post. These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security, CENTCOM said. They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world. CENTCOM said it has reason to believe the attacks were fully enabled by Iran. The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners, the post said. The AP said that Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks but did not mention a U.S. warship being involved in the attack. The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops, Saree said, according to the AP. The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement. This is not the first time U.S. warships have shot down drones in the Red Sea in recent months since Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The USS Carney shot down an Iranian-made drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen last week, which came after the U.S. military warned Iran over an unsafe and unprofessional drone maneuver near the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group the previous day. It also comes after the USS Thomas Hudner, also a Navy destroyer, shot down multiple one-way attack drones in the Red Sea. The U.S. military has increased the number of Navy ships stationed in the Middle East since Oct. 7 as tensions have risen in the Middle East. Updated at 6:40 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Earlier this year, the internet was buzzing after new artificial intelligence threatened its users, raising concerns of a potential A.I. apocalypse. Yet there may be another pressing issue to address following the release of a peer-reviewed analysis focused on the growing energy needs of A.I. Whats happening? According to Delger Erdenesanaa of the New York Times, the study found the demand for A.I. and the specialized computer chips it needs to operate could lead to a jump in energy use, with the tech needing the electricity equivalent of a small country by 2027. The numbers that I write down they are not small, Alex de Vries, the data scientist responsible for the analysis, told the Times. The A.I. market primarily relies on hardware from technology company Nvidia, but de Vries added that the servers are power-hungry beasts. With competing companies reportedly looking to quickly ramp up their A.I. technology, some experts are advocating for energy use to be considered in the design. Why is this concerning? According to Bloomberg Intelligence, the A.I. market is expected to take an incredible leap forward, with a compound annual growth rate of 42% in the next 10 years. While innovation has the potential to drive economic growth and provide solutions, it can also create hazards. If companies prioritize speed above all else including by utilizing fossil fuels such as gas to power their data centers, per the Times the use of A.I. could add to the amount of harmful carbon pollution globally. Raised levels of carbon dioxide have been linked to warmer temperatures worldwide, with the changing temps contributing to habitat disruptions and an increase in extreme weather events such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. What is being done about pollution due to A.I.? While it is difficult to get exact totals on A.I. energy use because of a lack of transparency, one state recently passed two laws that could provide environmental accountability for more than 10,000 companies and set a new standard, per the Times. On Oct. 7, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would require private companies with revenue over $1 billion to report the amount of carbon they produce in operations by 2026 and in their supply chains by 2027. Companies that generate revenue of at least $500 million, meanwhile, would need to make public their climate-related financial risks by 2026. There are few companies that are going to be able to say, were not going to do business in California, Eric Orts, a Guardsmark professor at the Wharton School, told the Times. My guess is that this will become, one way or another, a federal standard. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) Oregons students do not all fit into one box. Of the states 550,000 public school students, 333 unique languages are spoken. While many students continue to struggle post-pandemic, the number of high school freshmen on track to graduate is close to 84% only a percentage point behind pre-pandemic numbers. On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Oregon Department of Education released its annual Oregon Statewide Report Card that measures student achievement and academic progress compared to previous school years. Academic excellence for students in Oregon remains the top priority for our agency. I took this role to make a difference, and we need to see what the data are telling us and be responsive to that, ODE Director Charlene Williams said in a news release. Portland Botanical Garden provides updates on search for two campuses The release of the Statewide Report Card follows Oregon Gov. Tina Koteks Tuesday press conference when she responded to the end of the Portland Teacher Association strike and return to school for Portland students after 12 days. We are hearing about the challenges that are left over from the pandemic and how it has impacted our young people, said Kotek. Heres what the report shows: Read more at PortlandTribune.com The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Guy Lalonde, left, and appointed Commissioner Samuel Simmons, right, face each other in a Dec. 5 runoff for the Lakeland City Commission. LAKELAND Lakeland's appointed Commissioner Sam Simmons will face Guy LaLonde at the polls Tuesday to see who wins the people's vote for the next Northwest District commissioner. Simmons, 66, an entrepreneur and owner of a housing and financial consulting firm, was appointed to the commission in October 2022. Simmons took the remainder of former Commissioner Philip Walker's term after Walker resigned in an unsuccessful bid for Florida House District 50. Guy LaLonde, 56, a owner of Lakeland Moonwalk and Under One Tent Events, was one of the other seven candidates who applied for Walker's seat. LaLonde and Simmons seek to win enough ballots in the Dec. 5 runoff to be elected to a four-year term on the commission. On Election Day, LaLonde took nearly 48%, or 4,467 votes, followed by Simmons with nearly 31%, or 2,875 votes. Challenger Lolita Berrien was eliminated from the ballot, receiving less than 22% of the votes. But she took 1,947 votes enough to bridge the gap between the two runoff candidates. Berrien has given a last-minute endorsement to Simmons in Tuesday's run-off election. "As an interim commissioner Simmons has begun to work and a full term will allow the interim commissioner to continue to work cohesively with the entire commission board," she wrote in a text message. LaLonde and Simmons have continued on the campaign trail in preparation for Tuesday. Neither candidate has changed his campaign approach based on the Election Day results. "I've been out making appearances at different venues," Simmons said. "Honestly, just trying to get out the message." Public Safety comes first Through the campaign, the issue of public safety in the Northwest District has been a key issue with public discussion about the need for Fire Station 8. The City Commission has been working on plans since 2019, but has struggled to secure land and a site for the station. Residents have asked city officials to consider building a temporary station. Lakeland Fire Chief Doug Riley and City Manager Shawn Sherrouse have said that establishing a temporary station could be costly and take funding dedicated for the station's design and construction. "It's a double-edged sword," LaLonde said. "I support a temporary station because we need the service now, even if it may cost the city $400,000 to $500,000." LaLonde said he was sign waving in the Northwest District when he witnessed a car crash, estimating there was a 15-minute response time for emergency services to arrive at the scene. "When you put the temporary station there, how much is one life worth?" he said. Simmons said he supports the creation of temporary station given the city's current estimate of three years before a permanent Fire Station 8 is built and operational. "It's too long to wait as the city continues to grow, particularly to the north and northwest," he said. Juneteenth: A holiday or not? Recently, community leaders approached Lakeland commissioners about recognizing Juneteenth as a city holiday in 2024. As the Northwest District is one of the city's more racially and ethnically diverse, The Ledger asked both candidates whether they would support the proposition. "I think the city should recognize Juneteenth as a city holiday, as it's been an important date in the history of our culture, a very important date in the history of our nation," Simmons said. Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, honors the day nearly a quarter of a million enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed they were free and slavery was over in the United States. There are at least five Polk County municipalities that recognized Juneteenth in 2023: Bartow, Dundee, Haines City, Lake Alfred and Winter Haven. Lakeland issued a proclamation acknowledging the holiday, but did not observe it as a paid day off for employees. "Lakeland is the biggest city in the county, and I think we should take the lead," Simmons said. LaLonde said he was unsure if he supported the city adding it as a paid holiday, concerned about the financial budgetary impact. He also expressed concern whether the city would swap it in exchange for a different holiday. Differing future visions of Munn Park Lakeland's city manager has been spearheading a project to revitalize Munn Park, offering several ideas and visions of what the downtown gathering place could look like in the future. Lakeland's next Northwest District commissioner will have a voice in determining what Munn Park will look like. LaLonde and Simmons were asked what their vision was during the appointee process and were asked to provide an update on their thoughts. "I would like more of a flow so that we can enjoy the park," LaLonde said. "I like the idea of having a covered area or shade to do concerts and stuff like that." LaLonde said he's reviewed Sherrouse's proposal that would set aside one corner for a dog park, another for a possible parkour course. He said he doesn't believe carving out separate specialized sections is the best way to move forward. "I don't really like anything with additional costs or liability for the city," he said. LaLonde said he would like to see some of the removed benches and tables come back for public use, while simultaneously acknowledging there are a number of individuals who are homeless that stay at the park daily. Simmons was less specific about how he envisions the park's future, but would like to see some activities added. "I think Munn Park should be available for use by all its citizens," he said. "There have been various scenarios and activities suggested within Munn Park. I think we choose the best one that will accommodate the most people." What separates them: in their own words LaLonde said his motivation in running for office is to give back and serve Lakeland residents, the community that he and his family live in. While LaLonde said there may be more qualified candidates than him, he promises no one will work harder. "My work ethic is completely different from [Simmons]. I won't be outworked by anyone," LaLonde said. "I want to be involved in the communities. Not just sitting on boards or in agenda studies, but we need to be involved in our communities, we need to be out there doing the work." Abortion-rights amendment Advocates in Polk County make final push to get initiative on ballot Simmons said he's been working within his community for more than 20 years to improve the quality of life for Lakeland residents. He cited his early career as an accountant for the City of Lakeland and development of affordable housing as part of his business portfolio. "My life is actually centered around public service," Simmons said. Who's financially backing the candidates LaLonde holds a massive campaign warchest of over $41,000 against Simmons, who has raised a fraction of that, receiving less than $7,000 in donations, as of the latest Nov. 27 reports. LaLonde's donors include Lakeland Professional Firefighters, Lakeland Police Department's Fraternal Order of Police, and the Realtors PAC at $500 each. Significant contributions have been received from Lakeland developer Gregory Fancelli, both individual and through his various business entities, of at least $3,000. His donors include several in real estate and development, including Bob Miller LLC at $1,000, Millshire Investments LLC at $1,000, Broadway Real Estate, at $750 and Wesley Barnett at $250. The Ledger asked LaLonde if he was concerned about the appearance that his campaign is significantly funded by realtors, developers and investment firms, who might seek to leverage influence for future projects. "I'll get my support from whoever is going to give it. I'm not beholden to them," LaLonde said. "At the end of the day, we represent our citizens and constituents, that's who we are beholden to." Simmons' campaign contributions are in smaller amounts. Several come from notable community figures, including Larry Mitchell, founder of New Life Outreach Ministry, at $300; Lorenzo Robinson, president of Paul A. Diggs Neighborhood Association at $250; Kay Fields, CEO and president of Girls Inc. and a Polk County School Board member, at $200, and Kay Klymko, who ran unsuccessfully for the At-Large seat, at $500. Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Sam Simmons faces Guy LaLonde in Lakeland's Northwest District runoff For the new TV series "Archie," out this week on the streaming service BritBox, actor Jason Isaacs is portraying one of the best-known stars of the silver screen, Cary Grant. But it turns out, there was plenty that audiences did not know about this debonair actor. "I'm not Cary Grant," said Isaacs. "But he wasn't Cary Grant, either, that's the point." He was in more than 70 films, yet his biggest role may have been playing Cary Grant, a name and a persona he created. Hollywood's leading man was, in fact, an Englishman born into poverty, named Archibald Leach. "He invented Cary Grant," said Isaacs. "Cary Grant was a character to save him from himself, to build a career, and to try and exercise his demons." "Sunday Morning" was on set last year in Spain as they were shooting "Archie." The show's creator and writer, Jeff Pope, said, "In his early career, Cary Grant was the master of screwball comedies and a light romantic leading man. And then, Alfred Hitchcock spotted something in him and cast him in very dark thrillers. This story explains what it is that Alfred Hitchcock saw. It's a thriller, a real-life thriller." "You don't think of the life of Cary Grant as being a thriller?" asked Doane. "No, no, you don't," said Pope. "You do think of him, you know, as this incredibly suave [man], who's my mom's favorite movie star!" Actor Jason Isaacs, who stars as Archibald Leach, the man who became Cary Grant, in the new BritBox series, Isaacs said it was serious work delving into Grant's character off-screen: "He was an incredibly private man. In fact, one of the hardest things was trying to work out what he spoke like. You can't find a recorded interview with him anywhere." Archibald Leach was born in Bristol, England. His father was said to be abusive and an alcoholic, and committed his wife to an asylum, telling the young Archie she was dead. Leach made his own way to the U.S. and show business. "When he was a young actor in New York trying to make it, he was told, 'You'll never make it with that accent,'" said Isaacs. "And he ended up with this thing that he's trying to sound American. His speech patterns on screen are almost always exactly the same. They weren't in life, of course. You know, you spill a hot coffee on someone's lap, they don't go, Oh, that is a rather hot coffee! He wasn't that thing. He worked really hard at being that thing in public, and what we're showing was who he was when he shut the front door." Actress Dyan Cannon was Cary Grant's fourth wife, and mother of his only child, Jennifer. Both are producers of the series. Cary Grant in 1966 with wife Dyan Cannon and their three-month-old daughter Jennifer, just before boarding the SS Oriana bound for England to visit Grant's mother. / Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images Doane asked Cannon, "Did Cary Grant play Cary Grant at home with you? Did he ever let that facade down?" "Oh sure, yes, he did, of course," she replied. "Real people have emotions. He had a very tough boyhood. He was abandoned, felt left alone, unloved, unneeded, unwanted, deprived. Shall I go on? All those things. And of course, who we came to know as Cary was this magnificent, gorgeous, leading man a personality that never stopped. He was so graceful! And what a gorgeous body. And he never exercised which really used to really tick me off! And he looked great with no clothes on, I will tell you." Doane said, "One of the scenes they were shooting when we were with them in Malaga was the scene where your character where you are confronting Cary Grant with the rumors of him being gay. You write about it in your book." "I think early on in Palm Springs I said to him, 'You know, I hear these rumors. Are they true?'" Cannon said. "And I never saw any indication of it. And as far as I know, Cary was faithful to me when we were married. That wasn't the problem. Fear was." "What do you mean by that?" "Fear that he would be abandoned. Fear that he would not be loved." Grant was a star by the time he learned his mother was actually alive in England. But the world only really ever knew him as Cary Grant. He would retire from acting, becoming by all accounts the doting father he never had. He died in 1986 at age 82. "I enjoyed playing him in his eighties a lot," said Isaacs. "He's a very different man. When he stepped away from the limelight he thought was sustaining him, I think he found out how little good it was doing him. It reminds me how complicated we all are, to delve deeply into anyone's life like this. Even the people who seem to have everything we want." To watch a trailer for "Archie" click on the video player below: See also: Cary Grant: Debonair dad ("Sunday Morning")Gallery: Cary Grant: Peerless ("Sunday Morning") For more info: "Archie" debuts on BritBox December 7 Story produced by Mikaela Bufano. Editor: Emanuele Secci. Rock legends KISS to hold final concert Saturday Retirement wave builds in Washington Trump, DeSantis hold dueling Iowa campaign events Flash Photo taken on Aug. 21, 2020 shows a logo of the video-sharing social networking company TikTok's Los Angeles Office in Culver City, Los Angeles County, the United States. (Xinhua) A U.S. federal judge's order blocking Montana's TikTok ban from going into effect has been applauded Friday by civil rights and tech groups in the country. The judge issued a preliminary injunction against the ban on Thursday, saying that a statewide ban on the popular social media app likely violates free speech. The ruling has been welcomed by industry experts and civil rights groups that have strongly opposed the law passed by Montana legislators in April. The law is the first in the United States to ban an app entirely across a state. Following the ruling, TikTok said on X, formerly Twitter, "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." "This law is plainly unconstitutional, and we are glad to see the court recognize this in the preliminary injunction and ensure the internet remains open and free for Americans," said Carl Szabo, vice president and general counsel of the tech industry group NetChoice, in a statement on Friday. "The government may not block our ability to access constitutionally protected speech -- whether it is in a newspaper, on a website or via an app," Szabo said. "In passing this law, Montana's government ignored the Constitution, harmed its businesses and creators, chilled innovation and disconnected Montanans. The court's decision to block this law is correct," he continued. NetChoice, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) all filed amicus briefs in support of TikTok. The ACLU and EFF praised Thursday's ruling as "a significant victory for the people of Montana and their First Amendment protections, preserving their access to TikTok as a vital platform for communication, information, and self-expression." The ACLU led a coalition of rights groups that sent a joint letter to Montana legislators, claiming that the ban is unjustified on national security grounds. "With this ban, Governor Gianforte and the Montana legislature tried to trample 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," said Alex Rate, legal director at the ACLU of Montana, in the release. "We will never trade our First Amendment rights for cheap political points." The ACLU said TikTok plays an "important and significant" role for communities of color, including Indigenous communities, in Montana, who use the platform to "foster solidarity online and to highlight issues vital to them." The ruling will ensure that the app can continue to play such a role and "reaffirm the unique ways" in which Montanans rely on TikTok to communicate and interact with other people in the country and the world, it said. "Many Montanans use TikTok to communicate with local and global audiences. We are pleased that a federal judge has blocked the state from violating their rights by banning this speech platform," said EFF's Civil Liberties Director David Greene. Experts said the ruling also has important implications for other "draconian efforts" to ban TikTok at the state and federal levels in the country. An atmospheric river that has streamed into the Pacific Northwest over the last few days has soaked the region with rounds of rainfall and blanketed mountain ranges with feet of snowfall in some cases. Forecasters warn that additional wet weather will spread across the region into midweek. The latest round of rain that began on Sunday will continue through Wednesday. AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate that locations across Washington, Oregon, Northwest California, northern Idaho and western Montana will pick up anywhere from an additional 1-2 inches of rain to 4-8 inches along the coast. The AccuWeather Local StormMax for rainfall is 18 inches. There have been numerous reports from the start of the weekend of flooded roadways, travel disruptions, rock and mudslides from Northwest California to western Washington. Residents are warned that additional rain to target the Northwest through Wednesday could further worsen conditions for locations already impacted by the deluge of rainfall over the previous days. The highest population centers of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, could potentially total a month's worth of rain in the first six days of December as the prolonged stretch of rain continues. "As of Tuesday morning, 2.99 inches has fallen in Seattle since the start of the month, while Portland has recorded 2.48 inches. Both cities are expected to receive an additional 2-4 inches of rain through Wednesday. The historical average rainfall for the month of December is 5.72 inches in Seattle and 5.77 inches in Portland," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Elizabeth Danco. Over 1.36 inches of rain were recorded on Monday alone in Seattle, with an additional 0.06 inches being recorded in Portland. Flood warnings, watches and advisories were put in place for numerous counties across western Washington and Oregon through Wednesday night due to the steady stream of rainfall that will continue to spread inland. "The combination of liquifying snow at rather high elevations, combined with torrential rain will have small streams and rivers that flow out of the Cascades, Olympics and Coast Ranges in Washington and northern Oregon surging rapidly into Wednesday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said, adding, "Due to the rapid rise of these streams, dangerous and life-threatening conditions may evolve." This image shows the water level forecast from National Weather Service hydrologists along the Skagit River, near Concrete, Washington. Some of the rivers in western Washington that will experience rapid rises into Tuesday night include the Skagit, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Grays and Nisqually. These areas are not strangers to ample amounts of rainfall over a short period of time, especially during the winter months from November to January. However, locations across western Oregon and Washington are currently enduring levels of moderate to severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Cities such as Seattle have endured a relatively dry summer, setting the stage for the drought to set in. Observations from Seattle showed that they collected approximately 2.51 inches of rain from May through the end of August this year when the normal precipitation during this timeframe is nearly double that at 4.67 inches. Forecasters say that although the generous rainfall totals expected over the upcoming days may be impactful in terms of travel disruptions, road closures and major flooding, the persistent rainfall could gradually help to improve the drought conditions. In the wake of rounds of snow that have turned the Northwest mountains into a winter wonderland and impacted travel across passes such as Willamette, Santiam, White and Snoqualmie late last week into the weekend, snow levels have risen significantly as warmer conditions set in since Sunday. "Rising temperatures through Wednesday can lead to snow melting, especially in the Cascades where over a foot of snow has fallen. The snowmelt, in addition to the heavy rain Monday and Tuesday, can lead to flooding concerns and dangerous travel, especially in the mountains and foothills," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Haley Taylor. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Danco also added that along with the flooding risk, heavy rain falling in the mountains amid rising temperatures could cause the snowpack on steep mountain slopes to become more unstable, increasing the risk of avalanches. The Northwest Avalanche Center issued avalanche warnings on Saturday and Sunday, stating that areas along the slopes of the Washington Cascades, Mount Hood, Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass would face a level four-high avalanche danger. Forecasters say that although the steadiest rain will taper off late Wednesday, there will likely be a break in the lingering damp conditions by Thursday night. "Looking ahead to later this week, a storm moving into the Northwest can bring colder air back into the region on Thursday, allowing for temperatures to drop closer to the historical average. However, the stormy pattern should shut off," stated Taylor. Mainly dry conditions are expected to continue on Friday, but another round of rain and mountain snow can sneak back into the Pacific Northwest by late Friday into Saturday. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. It is 20 years since neurologist Prof Chris Bladin began testing the use of AI to analyse brain scans of patients who had suffered a suspected stroke. With strokes every minute counts. Treating an attack on the brain quickly and administering clot-busting drugs to the patients who can be saved by it can prevent the most devastating and life-changing disabilities. Time is brain is the mantra repeated by stroke experts. The time the brain is deprived of oxygen determines the extent of the brain damage: the longer it is, the greater the chance that the harm will be permanent. Prof Bladin, a pioneer of stroke telemedicine, as well as in the use of AI to support it, is director of the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine Service, in Melbourne, Australia. The centre based in an ambulance service - runs across 34 hospitals across the states of Victoria and Tasmania, serving almost 7 million people in an area about the size of the UK. When a patient suffers a suspected stroke, they usually end up in A&E, where junior doctors try to make an assessment. But many conditions including migraines and epilepsy can be mistaken for a stroke. As the clock ticks, clinicians need to identify the 60 per cent of suspected cases which are a stroke and among those, identify the cases in need of thrombolysis; the treatment to disperse clots and return blood supply to the brain. Under the system, junior doctors who suspect their patient has suffered a stroke use video technology (a machine called Teledoc) to reach senior neurologists in minutes. After pressing a large green button, a consultant pops up on screen at the end of a patients bed, enabling a remote assessment. The same senior doctor is also able to access the brain scans, which have already been analysed by AI. In some cases, the damage shown on scans may not be matched by the patients behaviour: in that situation, stroke teams work with still more urgency, knowing it is only a matter of time before the impact is felt. Astonishingly, Prof Bladin began testing the use of AI to analyse scans 20 years ago using what he calls a rudimentary system of colour by numbers. Global league tables show Australias heart and stroke services are decades ahead of those in the UK. Australia has four times the scanning capacity second only to Japan for MRI, CTI and PET scans, while Britain languishes at the bottom of the charts. Thanks to speedy diagnosis and treatment, death rates for heart attack and stroke for those admitted to hospital are half those of the UK. Labour is pledging to borrow from the model in use across the Australian state of Victoria with Wes Streeting expressing frustration that Britain is decades behind other countries in the deployment of such advances. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting on his visit to Australia Having already promised to double Britains scanning capacity within one term of Labour winning a general election, Mr Streeting says new kit must be AI enabled, so that all scans can be analysed using machine learning. During a week in Australia, the shadow health secretary has seen first-hand medical systems and advances that he wants Britain to adopt. On Saturday, he used an interview with The Telegraph to announce plans for a new network of GP hubs, open evenings and weekends, bringing together GPs, dentists, minor injury treatment and a range of other services to lift pressures on A&E units. This idea is closely modelled on Australias urgent care clinics, which are now being rolled out across the country following Labors health manifesto pledge for 50 centres. With the NHS under unprecedented strain, as waiting lists rise, despite record funding, Mr Streeting says he is keen to ensure the service learns from approaches that have proven successful elsewhere, rather than expecting extra funding. On Sunday, he was due to fly to Singapore for discussions about its approach to healthcare. Most notably, its Government in 2019 struck a deal with Fitbit, giving citizens free wearable devices, as part of efforts to nudge people into healthier lifestyles. This tour is just the start, says the Labour frontbencher, who was last week named the politician to watch at the Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year awards. Mr Streeting, often tipped to be a future party leader, has previously admitted he would die happy if he one day got the top job. For now, he insists he would consider it a job done well if health secretary were to be as far as he gets as long as he succeeds in taking the NHS from its worst crisis in its history, to putting in place a serious 10-year plan for health and social care that people look back on as the turning point. At this, he focuses his ire on the Tories. They havent got the first clue how to reform the NHS. They have had plenty of chances, theyve had plenty of health secretaries - five in the two years that Ive been shadow health secretary. Their time is up, and the longer the Conservatives are in power, the longer patients will wait, he said, accusing the Government of a succession of clown shows. Complacency, in assuming the next election is in the bag for Labour, is the biggest danger facing the party, he suggests. As for when he expects that election to be? Turkeys dont vote for Christmas, he remarked, dryly. Id be very surprised if Rishi calls a general election early in the next year, but I think it is objectively in our countrys best interests to do so, going on to suggest the current Government has no mandate for recent announcements, such as the abolition of A-levels. The tragedy is that for all of the changing of the guard in around the Cabinet table, its still the same dysfunctional Conservative Party underneath, he continues. I think their conduct has been appalling. Their record of delivery has been poor. And their incompetence has been staggering. And I think thats why actually so many decent lifelong Conservative Telegraph readers are now looking to Labour and I hope that they can see in Keir Starmers Labour Party, a changed Labour Party that is able to offer our country the credible change that it is crying out for. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. A man has been arrested in connection with the murders of three homeless men, and authorities believe he is also linked to another homicide in San Dimas. At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore identified the suspect as Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, of Los Angeles. Powell is alleged to be the gunman behind the murders of three homeless men across Los Angeles from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29. Homeowner shoots, kills suspect during home invasion It was confirmed on Saturday that he is also the prime suspect in the follow-home murder of Nicholas Simbolon of San Dimas on Tuesday night. According to Chief Moore, Powell was responsible for four murders in four days. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, of Los Angeles, was arrested in connection with the murders of three homeless men and believed to be linked to another homicide in San Dimas. (Los Angeles Police Department) The LAPD on Dec. 1, 2023, released these images of the suspected killer of three homeless men and the suspects vehicle. Los Angeles police have released a map that shows the locations where three homeless men were killed in late November 2023. Investigators believe the killings may be linked. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, of Los Angeles, was arrested in connection with the murders of three homeless men and believed to be linked to another homicide in San Dimas. (Los Angeles Police Department) L.A. County Sheriffs detectives on the scene of a fatal shooting in a San Dimas neighborhood on Nov. 29, 2023. (KTLA) L.A. County Sheriffs detectives on the scene of a fatal shooting in a San Dimas neighborhood on Nov. 29, 2023. (KTLA) Friends and family of the 42-year-old victim outside the San Dimas residence on Nov. 29, 2023. (KTLA) Authorities identified Powells vehicle in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Moore said, and upon conducting a traffic stop, Beverly Hills Police Department officers recovered the weapon used in the crimes and subsequently arrested him. Over the course of the investigation of our murders, we were able to identify the vehicle we believe is connected to our three homicides as being the same vehicle that Mr. Powell used in the murder of Mr. Simbolon, Moore said at Saturdays press conference. [We learned] that it was being held in custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department as evidence of their murder. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, detectives identified a vehicle that may have been involved in Sambolons murder and entered its license plate number into an automatic license plate reader system, leading the Beverly Hills officers to conduct the traffic stop. We know theres controversy out there about the usage of this system, but let me tell our community something, Luna said. If we did not enter that plate into the system, this individual that we believe is responsible for at least four murders may have [still] been out there and reoffended. Ventura County woman killed man during weed-induced psychosis Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass commended law enforcement officials for their swift work and cooperation while also acknowledging the role that government agencies had in making sure unhoused Angelenos remained safe. Twenty-four hours ago, we announced there was a killer on the loose, now he is in custody, Bass said on Saturday. Right after the conclusion of yesterdays press conference, my office was able to convene more than four hundred people representing city departments, housing service providers, regional agencies and elected officials at the city and county level to ensure that they would [get the word out] about the threat facing our unhoused community. Powell was arrested on murder charges and robbery charges in connection with the follow-home murder in San Dimas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. FILE - Police tape lines the front of the Walmart Supercenter off Whiskey Road in Aiken on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. A second shooting occurred here on Nov. 26. Arrests have been made in both incidents. An arrest has been made in one of the two shootings that happened at Aiken's Walmart Supercenter off Whiskey Road. Brandon Perry Buckmon, 22, of Barnwell, South Carolina was issued multiple arrest warrants related to the Nov. 26 shooting, according to Aiken Department of Public Safety Lt. Jason Griffin. According to copies of the warrants provided by Griffin, Buckmon, along with other co-defendants, was involved in an armed robbery during which the victim was shot in his shoulder while sitting in his vehicle. The victim required medical treatment at a local hospital. Restaurant inspections: 'Hire a professional pest control operator,' inspector tells downtown Augusta restaurant Buckmon was arrested on Nov. 29 in Williston, South Carolina, about 22 miles southeast of Aiken, for unrelated charges. As of Friday, he was being held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center, but would be transported to Aiken. The charges for the Walmart incident include armed robbery, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, unlawfully carrying a pistol, discharging a firearm into a vehicle, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. FILE - Police tape lines the front of the Walmart Supercenter off Whiskey Road in Aiken on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. A second shooting occurred here on Nov. 26. Arrests have been made in both incidents. This is the second shooting at this Walmart within six months. In June, a teenage girl was shot multiple times inside. Stephen Christopher Foreman, 32, of Aiken, is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in relation to the shooting. The most recent shooting remains under investigation and more arrests are expected. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Aiken Department of Public Safety at (803) 642-7620 or submit an anonymous tip at CrimeTip City of Aiken. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Aiken Walmart shooting Nov. 26, Barnwell man arrested Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, who has died of complications of Alzheimers disease aged 79, was the wife of Neil Kinnock, the Labour leader who became a European Commissioner, and a formidable member of the European Parliament, a Foreign Office minister under Gordon Brown and a high-profile campaigner for the developing world. Elegant, radical and gregarious, Glenys Kinnock was the ideal consort for an ambitious but impulsive politician trying to revive a party that had alienated most of the electorate. Widely reckoned the brains behind her husband, she provided the driving force for his career and a secure family life, and he responded with lasting adoration. Although they took almost every decision affecting him together she even drove him to hospital for his vasectomy both strenuously denied that she was Labours real leader. On the campaign trail and at party conferences she took a step back, but once elected an MEP in 1994 she showed her strengths, especially in campaigning to end poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. During Neil Kinnocks nine-year leadership which revived Labours fortunes but could not oust the Conservative government, Tory critics scorned his wife as an eminence rouge. She might have remained a conscientious remedial teacher living her political life through her husband had he not peaked so early; he was barely 50 when he gave up the leadership. Almost uniquely for a political wife, Glenys Kinnock pursued an agenda of her own without embarrassing her husband. There were suspicions that she held him back from ditching Labours commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament, but when Neil Kinnock let his CND membership lapse in 1991, so did she. Glenys Kinnock at a CND march in 1983 - Hulton Archive/ Getty Images Nuclear disarmament had been her lifes passion. She joined CND at 16, before the Labour Party, and in the movements last flowering in the 1980s took a leading part in mass rallies and joined the peace women at Greenham Common. Her unilateralism tailed off into a moderate if persistent feminism. Glenys Kinnock was a passionate opponent of apartheid. She refused a gold wedding ring lest the metal originate from South Africa. And when she paid the first of many visits to Africa with her husband in 1985, she made a point of visiting a school in Tanzania run by the then-outlawed African National Congress; The Daily Telegraphs correspondent was excluded. That same visit triggered her passionate concern for the developing world, when she met women who had walked for days to a hospital in Addis Ababa after childbirth had gone wrong. She went on to form the development lobbying group One World Action and play leading roles in War on Want from which she resigned in protest at alleged financial mismanagement and Unicef. She became a popular speaker at United Nations conferences on womens and development issues. Her campaigning against apartheid was rewarded in the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africas president in 1994, with the Kinnocks on hand as EU observers. She supported Nicaraguas Left-wing Sandinistas with equal enthusiasm, only to see them eclipsed at the polls. Politically correct she may have been, but she moved with the times; Welsh Labour old-timers reproached her for shopping at Sainsburys instead of the Co-Op. Glenys Kinnock shouldered with deep sadness but some style the defeats Labour suffered with her husband at the helm. That of 1987 was no surprise despite her sparkling performance on the campaign trail and in Hugh Hudsons Kinnock video which briefly fuelled Labour euphoria; she held back from hiring a furniture van for the move to Downing Street. John Majors victory in 1992 was a shock, although she had never quite assumed Labour would win. She said the moment her husband conceded was hard. I didnt care about myself or anything else. I just felt for him. But after a gloomy barbecue for his staff at their Ealing home, she helped him pick up the pieces. Before long, Europe beckoned them both. Glenys Kinnock got there first, elected to the European Parliament for Wales South-East in 1994 by 124,247 votes, a record for a British election. Her husbands subsequent appointment as a Commissioner meant their rebasing from London to Brussels, though always maintaining their ties with Wales and their interest in domestic politics. From 1999 she was one of the MEPs for Wales as a whole. Co-opted to the parliaments Development Committee, she urged a near 50-fold increase in EU development aid, and denounced human rights abuses in China, Nigeria, Rwanda and Burma, which she visited in mufti. She became vice-president of the African, Caribbean and Pacific/EU joint assembly. Days after she left the Parliament in 2009, Gordon Brown appointed her Minister for Europe, with a life peerage. She held the portfolio for just four months, devoting much time to the unsuccessful campaign for Tony Blair to become the EUs first president. That October she took ministerial responsibility for Africa. Reunited with her favourite causes, she was particularly concerned at the Sudans disintegration into a renewed civil war. On Labours defeat in May 2010, she moved to the back benches. Neil and Glenys Kinnock in the cockpit of a BAE 146 during a visit to British Aerospace in Hatfield in 1987 - PA/PA Wire Although she was the most loyal of wives, Glenys Kinnock considered her husband too much of a daredevil. His habit of persuading RAF pilots to take him into a power dive, or hanging out of aircraft dropping supplies to famine victims, led her to christen him Biggles. When he deserted her for the cockpit during one long-haul flight, she observed: Neil wants to be a pilot when he grows up. Yet she was not above taking risks herself. Her narrowest scrape came in 2000 when she and the Conservative MEP John Corrie were among international mediators shot at in the Solomon Islands. Escaping, their aircraft attracted a hail of bullets. She remarked: I heard a noise, but I didnt know it was gunfire; to Corrie it was very hairy indeed. One frightening experience she shared with her husband: in 1988 when, arriving unannounced from Mozambique at a Zimbabwean air base, their entire party was locked in a tin hut by over-zealous security guards. Neil Kinnock gave the heavily-armed man in charge a dressing-down; a fawning apology from Robert Mugabe followed. Glenys Elizabeth Parry was born at Roade, Northamptonshire, on July 7 1944. Her father, Cyril Parry, was a railway signalman and Labour activist who moved the family back to his native Holyhead when she was three. A Welsh speaker, she attended Holyhead High School before going to Cardiff University, where she met Neil Kinnock. Her first words to him were: Are you the man from the Socialist Society? Their relationship had an unpromising start she helped him home drunk from their first date but they ran the society together for three years and she helped to engineer his election as Students Union president. Contemporaries named them the power and the glory. Glenys Kinnock at a demonstration in 1987 - Mike Lawn/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images She went on to teach in secondary, primary and special schools, first in South Wales and later in Brent, continuing part-time throughout her husbands rise in the Labour Party. She also became an accomplished writer and broadcaster in support of her favourite causes. When her husbands successful No campaign against Welsh devolution in the late 1970s led extreme Nationalists to kick their front door in, she insisted they move with their young children to London. They settled in Kingston, then moved to Ealing to avoid the 11-plus, which they strongly opposed. Glenys Kinnock founded One World Action (originally The Bernt Carlsson Trust) in 1989, after Carlsson, the UNs Commissioner for Namibia, was killed in the Lockerbie disaster. She was also a leading light in Saferworld, Drop the Debt, Parliamentarians for Global Action, the Burma Campaign UK, the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture, the National Deaf Childrens Society, the International Aids Vaccine Initiative, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Crusaid, the Elizabeth Hardie Ferguson Trust, VSO, Britain in Europe and the British Humanist Association. She was president of Coleg Harlech, and vice-president of the University College of Wales, Cardiff from 1988 to 1995. Her husband received his life peerage in 2005; she retired from the Lords in 2021. Married in 1967, the Kinnocks had a son Stephen Kinnock MP, married to the former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and a daughter, Rachel. Glenys Kinnock, born July 7 1944, died December 3 2023 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. December has officially started and weve put together a guide of fun, local events. Here is a monthly roundup of Bellingham events, holiday festivals, trivia nights and live music this month: Holiday markets The Pacific Arts Market with over 40 local artisans is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the first three weekends of December. The market is in the Bellis Fair mall at the previous DSW Shoes store, at 1 Bellis Fair Parkway. The Childrens Holiday Market will feature local young entrepreneurs and artists selling their creations from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m on Dec. 9 at the Bloedel Donovan Community Building at 2214 Electric Ave. The Shop Small Holiday Makers Market, featuring 50 local vendors will run from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16 and from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 17. The free event will be at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal at 355 Harris Ave. Bellingham events The Bellingham Farmers Market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 and 16 at 1100 Railroad Ave. Christmas in Our Hearts, a fundraiser concert by Bellingham Chamber Chorale will be hosted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Lairmont Manor. Concert tickets cost $100 and include wine and hors doeuvres before the show at 1:15 p.m., and can be purchased online in advance. Lairmont Manor is at 405 Fieldston Rd. The Nutcracker classic ballet show will be put on by Opus Performing Arts at the Mount Baker Theatre for four days only. The shows will be at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 17. Tickets are available online in advance an cost $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Mount Baker Theatre is at 104 N Commercial St. A free, open roller skate night will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 22 with a winter onesie theme. Participants must bring their own skate and equipment to the drop-in event. Open skate will be at the Depot Market Square at 1100 Railroad Ave. Fairhavens Winterfest celebration runs from Nov. 25 through Dec. 16 and includes Santa visits, carriage rides, live readings, a lighted bike parade and more festivities. A calendar of the festivals events can be found online. Trivia nights in Bellingham These local restaurants and bars regularly hold trivia nights: Kulshan Brewing Roosevelt Taproom at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dec. 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 1538 Kentucky St. Stemma Brewing Co. at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 17 and 24 at 2039 Moore St. Corner Taphouse at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Dec. 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 1125 Finnegan Way Stones Throw Brewery at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 1009 Larrabee Ave. Culture Cafe at 7 p.m. on Mondays, Dec. 4, 11, 18 and 35 at 210 E Chestnut St. Zeeks Pizza at 7 p.m. on Mondays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at 2416 Meridian St. Live music in Bellingham The Aslan Brewing Co. depot welcomes local artists throughout the month of December. For the music line up, check the schedule online. Aslan Brewing Co. is at 1322 N. State St. Kulshan Brewing Companys various breweries are hosting live music throughout the month of December. For the music line up and locations, check the schedule online. The Blue Room, a live music and event venue regularly hosts live performers, including jazz nights, local artists, and improv nights. Tickets are available online in advance. The Blue Room is at 202 E. Holly St. Boundary Bay Brewery regularly welcomes artists throughout December. For the music line up, check the schedule online. Boundary Bay Brewery is at 1107 Railroad Ave. The Shakedown, a live music venue and bar regularly hosts live music and performers. Tickets are available online in advance. The Shakedown is at 1212 N State St. Would you like to add an event? Email asmith@bellinghamherald.com. Sign Up: Discover Whatcom This curated weekly newsletter is a roundup of whats new and exciting to help you live joyfully in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Thursday. Bessie Rodriguez, the Dallas woman whose 12-year-old son was shot by a Dallas police officer in 1973, passed away Wednesday night, family members confirmed to Star-Telegram media partner, WFAA-TV. She was 80 years old. Rodriguez was battling an illness, according to the report by WFAA. The death of her son, Santos, lead to an uproar in Dallas Chicano community. David Rodriguez, 13, left, and his brother Santos Rodriguez, 12, stand by a relatives car in 1973 just one month before Santos was killed. On July 24, 1973, Santos and his 13-year-old brother, David Rodriguez, were arrested at their home by Dallas police officers Darrell Lee Cain and Roy R. Arnold for an alleged petty theft at a gas station. The boys were accused of burglarizing and stealing $8 from a soda machine at the gas station. The two officers handcuffed Santos and David and were taken to the gas station where they had been accused of stealing. While in the police car, Cain aimed his .357 Magnum revolver at Santos head and warned him to tell the truth about the burglary. Playing Russian roulette, Cain pulled the trigger once and then warned Santos again. Pulling the trigger a second time, Cain shot Santos in the back of the head just after the boy told the officer, I am telling the truth. The officers defense was that he thought he had emptied all the bullets from the gun. After his gun was examined, with all the chambers being loaded except for one, Cain testified he immediately reloaded the gun after the shooting. Protests broke out in Dallas, with members of the Chicano community demanding justice and police reform from the Dallas police chief at the time, Frank Dyson, and the Dallas city council. Darrell Lee Cain, the Dallas police officer who shot and killed Santos Rodriguez, and his attorney Phil Burleson walk on Dallas Street with a police escort on July 24, 1973. On Nov. 16, 1973, a jury found Cain guilty of murder with malice, sentencing him to five years in prison. Cain served two-and-a-half years in Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville. According to the director of the Texas Department of Corrections, Cain behaved as a model prisoner, which earned him an early release. In 1978, LULAC, Texas Latino legislators, and other civil rights organizations appealed to President Jimmy Carter for his assistance to file federal charges against Cain. Carter gave assurances that the Department of Justice would review the case. Attorney General Griffin Bell declined to pursue additional charges, however, citing the length of time since the crime. Bessie Rodriguez wrote to Carter asking if his daughter had been murdered, would the killer have received a light sentence. She also wrote that if Santos had killed a police officer, his sentence would not have been as light as that given to Cain. It wasnt until July 2021, in a ceremony marking the 48 years since Santos death, that Bessie received an apology from the Dallas Police Department. He meant everything to me. He was my son. What they did to him was an injustice, Bessie said to WFAA in a 2020 interview. My boys didnt have a chance. From the Dispatch Weekly on The Dispatch Hello. This past week saw some rare good news out of the war in Gaza, as more than 100 hostages were released by Hamasincluding 85-year-old Yafa Adar, the oldest hostage; 9-year-old Emily Hand, whose father initially expressed relief that she was believed to have been killed on October 7 rather than being taken by Hamas; and several groups of mothers and their children. But it seems like every day we get more evidence of the horrific depravity that was visited upon Israelis by Hamas terroristsdepravity that goes so far beyond violating the laws of war that it is hard to put into words. The accounts are hard enough to read about that I cant bring myself to share them, but they are numerous and available. (You can Google.) And yet, with few exceptions, the same people who laudably and vocally condemn sexual violence everywhere from Hollywood to college campuses to other war-torn nationsfrom individual progressive women all the way up to international organizations like the United Nationshave been pretty quiet. Of all the depressing responses to the war weve seen in the Westthe pro-Hamas rallies, the virulent antisemitismthis is probably the most depressing to me. On the one hand, its reasonable to wait for evidence of specific claimsparticularly in the fog of war. We saw what happened when media outlets rushed to judgment on the al-Ahli hospital explosions. Journalists should be skeptical of everything they hear from official sources in times of warespecially so for institutions like the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry. But in the case of October 7, there was photographic evidence in the first days following the attack, including in videos taken by first responders of female victims. There is haunting eye-witness testimony from survivors of the attack on the Nova music festival. And some of the terrorists even recorded video of their attacks. U.N. Women, the U.N. organization that bills itself as delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold womens human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential, did not publicly condemn Hamas for the violence it perpetrated against women on October 7 until Friday. It had issued a similar statement on Tuesday but quickly deleted it, and that same day, an official from U.N. Women refused to answer a direct question on the matter, saying only that U.N. Women always supports impartial, independent investigations into any serious allegations of gender based or sexual violence. Yes, the United Nations has a terrible record on Israel in general, particularly the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. But the silence of important groups like thesefor nearly two monthscreated a void that has fostered denialism everywhere. At an Oakland City Council meeting (that Nick wrote about in Boiling Frogs), at least two citizens who commented on the councils proposal to call for a ceasefire denied that rapes occurred. Our polarization has generated no shortage of hypocrisy in recent years. GOP lawmakers spend like drunken sailors when a Republican is in the White House, but threaten to shut down the government with a Democrat in office in service of budgetary cuts that do little to address our actual debt problems. Democrats campaigned in 2022 on the existential threat of Donald Trump and his minions, and then backed those minions financially in primary elections so theyd have easier general election campaigns. (I could go on for hours.) But the Israeli women and girls who were tortured and killed that day were not candidates or policies or ideologies. They were innocent victims. You can believe that Palestinians deserve their own territoryand that the Israeli government has acted unjustly over the yearswithout tolerating or downplaying atrocities against civilians. The fact that so many cannot see thator at least cannot admit to themselves that it happenedmight be the most depressing sign of how stark our polarization has become. Thank you for reading, and for sticking with me on an uncomfortable subject. Not a member? Join now! More than 100 Israeli hostages were returned during the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that ended late last week. The Biden administration has credited Qatarwhich has ties to the U.S. but also to Hamas and other recognized terror groupswith helping facilitate the releases. Charlotte reports on the uncomfortable reliance on the Persian Gulf emirate by the U.S. and Israel, noting that, although the emirates constitution calls for fostering such negotiations, sources tell her that Qatars not serving as a mediator merely out of a sense of responsibility. According to Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Qatars efforts to pause the fighting are ensuring the survival of Hamas slowly but surely. While the hostage mediation made Qatar an asset to the U.S. and other Western nations, Schanzer says, Qatar wants the war to end on Hamas terms, not Israels terms. They are essentially the advocates against the defeat of violent Islamist movements. Did you see the video of the Oakland City Council meeting that went viral this week? The council was considering a measure calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and during public commenting, various citizens spoke in defense of Hamas, with some claiming Israel killed its own people on October 7 and that Israeli women werent raped. The incoherence and terrorist sympathizing is bad enough on its own, but in Boiling Frogs, Nick notes that the sentiments have significance for the 2024 presidential election. Young people skew Democratic, and, although Joe Biden has backed Israel in this war against Hamas, polling shows the youth have come to overwhelmingly support the Palestinians over Israel. Biden endured a pro-Palestinian protest outside his home recently that resulted in graffiti dubbing him Genocide Joe being left on the White House gate, Nick writes. The term has begun to creep into some young voters criticism of him, even occasionally trending on social media. Which seems suboptimal for a guy wholl be dead in the water electorally in less than a year if he doesnt have those voters turning out for him en masse. What with the aforementioned war and tensions percolating in a few places around the world, a Federal Trade Commission investigation into the planned purchase of Subway by a private equity firm that owns Jimmy Johns, McAlisters Deli, and Schlotzkys is hardly the most serious matter. But we all need a laugh, and Jonah treats Elizabeths Warrens hyperbolic warnings of a coming sandwich shop monopoly with the lack of respect it deserves. He saves his serious gripes with progressive antitrust policy for a sidebar, giving him room to mock the idea that consumers will be harmed by the deal. The genie of sandwich-making know-how is out of the bottle now, he writes. Its an open-source technology that has really shattered the barrier to entry for sandwich-making: Buy some bread and some stuff to put between two slices of it. Boom! Youve achieved sandwichness. And, if you widen your conception of breadbuns, pita, brioche, tortillas, even some lettucesthe possibilities really are endless. I mean, Americans eat an estimated 300 million sandwiches per day (thats collectively, not individually). No federal sandwich czar, or earl, can dictate to America its sandwichy desires or habits and neither could some private sector sandwich baron. Not a member? Join now! And heres the best of the rest: Some people are just clamoring to change the Constitution these days, but its not like its easy to amend. Jay Cost argues that we have plenty of tools to fix things like the Electoral College without going through the daunting amendment process. Speaking of the Constitution, Kevins latest Wanderland () dives into whether our system of checks and balances calls for the three branches of government to be co-equal or for onethe legislativeto stand above the rest: We do need to understand the Constitution invests a very mighty share of national governing power in Congress compared to the other two branchesand why it does that. In Stirewalt on Politics , Chris previews the final Republican primary debate scheduled for Wednesday by looking at the disarray in Ron DeSantis campaign: A reasonable question for DeSantis to be asking himself now is about his own exit strategy. While youve been getting ready for the holidays and going about your lives, Donald Trump has been saying some truly unhinged thingsand many of them offer a hint of how he would use a second term in office to exact revenge on his enemies and critics. The Dispatch Politics team catches you up on anything you might have missed. One of the recurring themes in Capitolism () is that globalization is good. This week, Scott Lincicome traces the evolution of the pineapple from a symbol of wealth and opulence to something you can pick upyear-roundat your local supermarket for a couple bucks. The pods! The pods! On The Dispatch Podcast, Jamie interviews former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie about what a President Christies foreign policy might look like. The Atlantics Tim Alberta has a new book out, about the politicization of the evangelical movement, and he joins Jonah on The Remnant to discuss it. On Advisory Opinions, come for the nerdy Supreme Court analysis and stay for the sweet love story about two listeners. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) She can only describe it as a breakdown. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic when the east Austin mom explained she could no longer keep the balls all in the air. They all fell down. A book displayed at The Village Place in northeast Austin. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost) The 36-year-old was teaching not only students but her daughter at the time. She said her husband helped but nothing could prevent what happened next. I suddenly had no desire to eat or live. I was just really tired and overwhelmed. Not having a lot of support made things even harder. No one to ask for a break, childcare, she wrote to KXAN investigators anonymously. I knew it wasnt baby blues because the constant feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and extreme tiredness never went away. There was even some difficulty bonding with my baby and thoughts she would really be better off without me. READ: Austin-based Black Mamas Village debuts new community hub She said she had dealt with depression before her pregnancy and was being treated but stopped medication because she feared it could harm the baby. The mother explained she knew something had to change and messaged the non-profit Black Mamas Village which provides a space for mothers looking for connection and support. Nakeenya Wilson was at church when she looked down at her phone and noticed the urgent message. I will never forget that morning, Wilson said. She basically said, Im done. Like, I dont want to do this anymore. This is too much. And I want to end my life.' The mom was immediately connected with a mental health professional as a team of volunteers from Black Mamas Village made sure her husband and daughter were taken care of during that time. Texas five-year plan We have built such a safe and supportive community that she did not feel like she would be judged, explained Wilson. She believed that we would help her. The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee found that mental health disorders are one of the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in Texas. Nakeenya Wilson is the founder of Black Mamas Village and Co-owner of the Village Place. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost) READ: Texas data on pregnancy-related deaths released after delay The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) recently updated its five-year plan to combat postpartum depression and other maternal mental health conditions by 2025. The strategic plan was first published in September 2020. HHSC has been working with mental and behavioral health experts and womens health providers on a number of goals including improving access to screening by expanding telehealth options, developing curriculum at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio focused on prescribing practices for maternal mental health targeting psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other professionals working with pregnant or postpartum women and increasing awareness among providers treating women at risk. Additional measures include establishing a referral network of community-based mental health providers and support services, raising public awareness and reducing the stigma related to maternal mental health conditions along with leveraging sources of funding to support existing community-based screening, referral and treatment. New community hub Wilson, who started Black Mamas Village on Facebook after suffering from postpartum depression, explained theres a need for community support, specifically when it comes to Black mothers. In October, the once virtual village opened its doors to a physical location nestled on just over an acre along Interstate 35 in northeast Austin. The Village Place is located at 8401 North IH 35 in Austin and includes childcare, co-working spaces, library and a nap room for moms. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost) The Village Place is located at 8401 North IH 35 in Austin and includes childcare, co-working spaces, library and a nap room for moms. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost) The Village Place is located at 8401 North IH 35 in Austin and includes childcare, co-working spaces, library and a nap room for moms. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost) The Village Place is located at 8401 North IH 35 in Austin and includes childcare, co-working spaces, library and a nap room for moms. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost) The Village Place is not just a space to connect but it will provide many other services including multipurpose rooms, co-working spaces and drop-in childcare. The community hub will soon also house a doula, midwife, therapist and psychiatrist to help with any mental health conditions including postpartum depression and anxiety. READ: Mothers Erased We are in a city that has had quite a bit of sprawl. And when you look at the increasing cost of living and the gentrification that has happened in the core of the city, you have families who are being pushed to the outskirts. And for young mothers or mothers in particular, it can be extremely isolating. And then you add on the layer of the identity of being a Black Austinite and it can just be really challenging, said Wilson who is a co-owner of The Village Place. They can come here and find their their tribe, their people, their children can play with other children who look like them. They can co-work. Were in the process of finalizing drop-in childcare. Wilson added that its a safe space to be able to be supported mentally, physically and emotionally. Shes working on getting grants to provide mental health services at low or no cost which she believes will impact access to care. It is a holistic environment where you can go, and you know there will be childcare there so your child is just right around the corner in the next room, said Shayla Wilson, a licensed clinical social worker who will soon be a provider at the location. You can also see somebody to get the help that you need, all in the same place. Statewide trends A first-of-its-kind interactive map by The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and George Washington University has been tracking maternal mental health risk and providers by county. Texas is among the top six states in whats considered a dark zone meaning moms are at a greater risk for suffering from maternal mental health disorders and theres a greater need for providers. READ: More Texas Black mothers die while giving birth, so an HBCU looked for solutions In Texas, in particular, we are seeing that the majority of counties dont meet the threshold of having enough maternal mental health providers. Were also seeing in Texas, that the risk factor is quite deep in numerous different counties, Caitlin Murphy said. Murphy, who is a research scientist at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, co-authored the report. Were seeing that 32 of Texass 254 counties do fall into that dark zone with the least number of maternal mental health providers and the highest risk. And I think a statistic that we pulled that was very compelling is that right now it looks like approximately 43% of all mothers giving birth in Texas do fall into one of those dark zones. READ: Report: Almost 47% of Texas counties are maternity care deserts The map also shows that risk factors contributing to maternal mental health disorders disproportionately impact rural areas and communities of color. The women behind Black Mamas Village believe its why theres a need for community hubs like theirs. They explained that their mission is to not only support and empower Black moms but all women during different phases of life. Local resources I am quite certain that their support is why my almost 10-year-old has a happy and healthy mom, said the mother who wanted to remain anonymous. Without their help, I would not be here, I would not have been able to navigate such depression and care, and Im so glad I am still around. Also having another mom that could relate to having depression, especially a mom of color made me feel so seen less ashamed. She wanted to share her story so that mothers know theyre not alone. You may think you dont have a village, but you do, she said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in eight women will experience depression after a pregnancy. Maternal health experts explained that postpartum depression can be diagnosed and treated well over a year after birth and its important to understand its not just the baby blues which lasts only a few weeks after birth. Common symptoms include irritability, feeling isolated or anxious and noticing a change in mood. Other organizations are also working to reduce the stigma and raise awareness about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum. Postpartum Support International (PSI) has a chapter in Texas which can provide local volunteers who can help find specially trained therapists or psychiatric prescribers. For help, contact the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 833-852-6262 or PSI Helpline. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. On 3 December, 56 combat clashes occurred in the combat zone in Ukraine; most Russian attacks were repelled on the Bakhmut (16) and Avdiivka (14) fronts. Source: report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Details: Russia continues waging the war of conquest against Ukraine. Despite significant losses, the Russians do not give up the plans to completely occupy Ukraine. They continue ignoring the laws and customs of war, using the tactic of terror, launching attacks on both military and civilian facilities. The operational situation in Ukraine's east and south remains complicated. Within the last 24 hours, 56 combat clashes occurred. The Russians launched one missile attack and 31 airstrikes, launched 24 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of the Ukrainian forces and settlements. Civilians were killed and injured as a result of Russian terrorist attacks. Private houses and other civilian infrastructure were damaged and destroyed. On the Volyn and Polissia fronts there have been no significant changes to the operative situation and no signs of formation of offensive groupings. Separate units of the Armed Forces of Belarus are completing missions in the areas close to the border with Ukraine. On the Siversk and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the Russians preserve their military presence in border areas, conduct sabotage and reconnaissance activity, launch attacks on the settlements from the territory of Russia, increase the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Nearly 20 settlements were under artillery and mortar attacks by the Russians, including Volodymyrivka, Hasychivka in Chernihiv Oblast; Kozache in Sumy Oblast, and Hraniv, Budarky, and Chuhunivka in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Kupiansk front, the Russians conducted assault actions near the settlements of Synkivka in Kharkiv Oblast where the Defence Forces of Ukraine repelled seven attacks. About 10 settlements were under artillery and mortar attacks by the Russians mainly Fyholivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Tabaivka, Krokhmalne and Berestove in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Lyman front, the Russians who enjoyed the aircraft support were conducting unsuccessful assault actions near the settlement of Serebrianka Forestry in Luhansk Oblast where the Defence Forces repelled three attacks. The Russians launched an airstrike near the settlement of Spirne in Donetsk Oblast. About 10 settlements were attacked from artillery and mortars, such as Makiivka, Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Yampolivka, Torske and Dibrova in Donetsk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, the Russians, who enjoyed the aircraft support, conducted assault actions near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast, where the Defence Forces repelled about 16 attacks. Over 20 settlements were attacked from artillery and mortars by the Russians, including Minkivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Ozarianivka in Donetsk Oblast. On the Avdiivka front, the Russians conducted unsuccessful assault actions to the east of the settlement of Novokalynove, to the east of the settlement of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sievierne and Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast, where the defence forces repelled 14 attacks. About 15 settlements were attacked from artillery and mortars, including Novokalynove, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Tonenke, Netailove and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast. On the Marinka front, the Russians supported by aircraft were conducting unsuccessful assault actions near the settlements of Marinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast where the Defence Forces repelled five attacks. Such settlements as Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Heorhiivka, Pobieda, Paraskoviivka and Katerynivka were under artillery and mortar attacks by the Russians. On the Shakhtarsk front, the Russians were conducting assault actions near the settlement of Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast but to no avail. About 10 settlements were attacked from artillery and mortars, mainly Vodiane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, and Urozhaine in Donetsk Oblast. On the Zaporizhzhia front, the Russians were trying to retake the positions they had lost to the south of the settlement of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast three times. They also conducted assault actions near the settlement of Novopokrovka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast but to no avail. They launched an airstrike near the settlement of Novodarivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. About 25 settlements were attacked from artillery and mortars by the Russians, including Charivne, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, Kamianske, Plavni in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. On the Kherson front, the Russians launched an airstrike near the settlement of Krynky in Kherson Oblast. Such settlements as Dudchany, Beryslav, Ivanivka, Sadove, Romashkove in Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson, as well as Ochakiv in Mykolaiv Oblast were attacked from artillery and mortars. The Defence Forces of Ukraine continue holding the positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast and launching attacks on the Russians. During the day, the aircraft of the Defence Forces launched eight attacks on the areas of concentration of manpower, armament and military equipment, two on anti-aircraft systems and two on ammunition storages of the Russians. Ukrainian missile units struck a heavy multiple-launch rocket system and a Pantsir anti-air defence system. 10 out of 12 Shahed UAVs were destroyed in the nighttime by Ukraine's air defence network. Support UP or become our patron! Former National Security Advisor John Bolton urged Congress to act quickly to support Ukraine amid its war with Russia, a conflict that he said may be forgotten by Americans as eyes shift to the war in Gaza. Ultimately, if we dont help the Ukrainians out, ultimately Russia will win, Bolton said in an interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AMs Cats Roundtable on Sunday. I think we need to do a better job. I think people in the House and the Senate should press Biden harder to develop a winning strategy with Ukraine, not just preventing Ukraine from losing, but figure out how Ukraine can win, he continued. While the Biden administration has stood by Ukraine with military support, some Republicans have turned against further spending, pointing to costs. Thats split the GOP and made Congressional approval of Ukraine support more difficult. Similarly, demands from Republicans to pair Ukraine spending with border enforcement spending has made some Democrats hesitant. The Ukrainian military has bogged down into an effective stalemate with Russia as winter begins and fighting slows. Its late summer counteroffensive saw little success, another factor that lowered enthusiasm for international support. I think the Ukrainians are worried about the possible loss of some American support, Bolton continued. I hope were going to find a way to give them the additional military support they need. Bolton said a rising worry is one of diplomatic victory for Russia, an agreement to keep the land in eastern Ukraine it has illegally annexed. I think weve got to be very concerned about a Russian diplomatic offensive that tries to win over at the bargaining table with the Russian troops cant win on the battlefield, he said. That could come at any time, so we need to be ready for that. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Looking into his soulful eyes, its hard to believe that anyone could have given up Cotton, a cheerful white Lab/Akbash/Pyrenees mix. Or Greer, a lively and sleek yellow Lab beauty, still growing at 18 months. Or white-muzzled Jack, who, even at age 7, springs to high alert at the sound of a squeaky toy. Yet all were given up by former owners and ended up under the care of Central California Labrador Retriever Rescue, an all-volunteer organization founded in 1998. The group has no central facility or shelter. Instead, it places dogs it rescues in foster homes where they stay and receive training and veterinary help until they are adopted. This is a group that relies on donations, and this year it is seeking $7,500 from readers of the Sacramento Bees Book of Dreams project to further its mission of finding new homes for abandoned dogs. We need community support to be able to help these dogs, especially those who are sick and injured, said the organizations president, Irena Bolstad. Cover the vet bills Last year CCLRR spent nearly $55,000 to rescue and rehome 175 dogs, Bolstad said. More than $45,000 of that money was spent on vet care. The group currently has 75 volunteers who provide dog training or transportation to veterinarians when the foster owners cant, and although many of the fosters spend their money on the care and feeding of their charges, some are only able to provide their time and love. CCLRR provides foster owners with peer-to-peer support as they prepare the dogs for adoption, aiding them as they help the dogs through whatever behavioral problems they may have developed during past abuse or just from being in a shelter that wasnt fully staffed. Many need medical care. Some rescues have never been to a vet, others have broken bones, tendon tears or sores that were never treated. Some have parvo or other canine diseases. And the fees for vet services are rising, said the groups treasurer, Erika Sechrist. The cost of shots, drugs, microchip and spay/neuter for each dog averages $500, Bolstad said. Adoption fees only cover about half of these costs. Greer, a one-year old yellow lab mix, is socialized with other dogs at a gathering in Granite Bay on Nov. 22. Hes among the rescued labs being fostered and cared for by one of the 75 volunteers with the Central California Lab Retriever Rescue. Jose Luis Villegas/Special to The Bee Meet Bitsy, the tester dog Cathy Chance, rescue representative for the group, recently coordinated a meeting of several of the CCLRRs canine clients and their foster home buddies, along with several foster fails dog lovers who stepped up to foster an abandoned dog and ended up adopting it. The meeting place was a home with a large backyard in Granite Bay. Sally Hanger, a part of CCLRR almost from the beginning and now pushing 80, brought Bitsy, a 13-year-old Lab that she found six years ago at another rescue organization, Labs to Love. Shes my tester dog shes pretty mellow, Hanger said of Bitsy, who helps out in dog-to-dog introductions. I look at the (new) dogs posture, note if the hair on its back bristles, any growling, she said. Then she brings in Bitsy to see how the newcomer gets along with others. Its really hard at shelters to evaluate a dogs personality, especially when you have a hundred dogs barking all at once. Hanger had high praise for the group. Its a cliche, but it does take a village, she said. Some (volunteers) provide transport, others provide guidance, others bring in another dog into their lives. Rescued dogs Jack, left, Greer, and Cotton hang out with volunteers of the Central California Labrador Retriever Rescue on Nov. 22 in Granite Bay. The all-volunteer group is asking Book of Dreams for donations to care for and rehome their abandoned canines. Each dog receives needed vet care and is socialized in a foster home. Potential adopters are screened and pets are placed in new homes. Jose Luis Villegas/Special to The Bee Pandemic problems Chance, Hanger and Sechrist all say the dogs have been coming into the program with more problems sincethe pandemic. Some of the dogs previous owners delayed medical care for them during the pandemic and some pets ended up at shelters that were understaffed. And because the demand for dogs increased while people were working from home, the number of backyard breeders (who may not have screened for genetic deformities) also increased. Those problems drain a lot of our resources and increase the time needed for fostering before the dogs can be adopted, Hanger said. We need more foster homes, said Chance. Some of our most experienced people are aging out, others are wanting to travel more and dont want to be tied down so much. Some can only take one dog at a time. CCLRR rescues Labs and Lab-mixes from shelters in the more rural areas of the Central Valley, since most of those communities dont have the resources to get dogs into homes. The group sometimes is contacted directly by owners who have had some catastrophic changes in their lives loss of a job, divorce, death of a spouse, a new apartment that wont accept pets and are having trouble finding a new home for their dogs. CCLRR accepts adoption requests to homes in a broad area, from north to Redding and south to Fresno, and from Monterey County to the Reno/Tahoe area. Since were an all-volunteer organization, 100% of donations go toward care and placement of these dogs, Bolstad said. Our dream is to ensure that all adoptable animals will have a second chance for a loving home. Central California Lab Retriever Rescues volunteers stand with rescued labs/mixes for adoption at a gathering in Granite Bay on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Jose Luis Villegas/Special to The Bee Book of Dreams The request: Central California Labrador Retriever Rescue asks for help with vet bills for the dogs it rescues from animal shelters. The cost: $7,500. Donate now To claim a tax deduction for 2023, donations must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2023. All contributions are tax-deductible and none of the money received will be spent on administrative costs. Partial contributions are welcome on any item. In cases where more money is received than requested for a given need, the excess will be applied to meeting unfulfilled needs in this Book of Dreams. Funds donated in excess of needs listed in this book will fulfill wishes received but not published and will be donated to social service agencies benefiting children at risk. The Sacramento Bee has verified the accuracy of the facts in each of these cases and we believe them to be bona fide cases of need. However, The Bee makes no claim, implied or otherwise, concerning their validity beyond the statement of these facts. Boston firefighters fought an intense fire that began in an Allston triple-decker Saturday night. Fire crews were greeted by a heavy fire in a first-floor apartment with heavy smoke rising from the second floor of the building on Fordham Road. The fire was extinguished by 8:45 p.m. and the crews had begun a secondary search, the Boston Fire Department posted on social media. Companies are conducting an extensive secondary search due to a fire at 38 Fordham Road . A heavy smoke condition turned into a 2nd alarm with fire inside & a heavy fire load in 1st floor apartment. pic.twitter.com/imGiNnjQtN Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) December 3, 2023 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 Boston Police Patrolmens Association and the city have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract, Boston 25 learned Sunday. In a joint statement, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and BPPA President Larry Calderone announced the new deal. We are glad to have reached a tentative agreement at the negotiating table for a five-year collective bargaining contract between the Boston Police Patrolmens Association and the City of Boston. This tentative agreement reflects our shared focus on ensuring safety across every neighborhood through community policing and providing necessary resources for the health and well-being of officers and their families. We are especially grateful to all the Boston Police officers who serve our city day and night with professionalism and dedication. The mayors office tells Boston 25 that Union membership must now ratify the deal. More specific details regarding the new agreement were not immediately made available. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The infant son of Jeremy Albert Best, 48, who is believed to have been abducted by Best on Thursday after Bests wife was found dead at her Idaho home, has been found deceased, according to the Bonneville County Sheriffs Office. At around 9:15 a.m. Saturday morning, Bonneville County Dispatch received a call from individuals hunting on Kepps Crossing Rd. near Dan Creek Rd., east of Idaho Falls. The two hunters reportedly stated they found a man in a sleeping bag on the side of the road who was naked and making odd statements, according to the sheriffs office. RELATED: Idaho man on the run with baby was walking around store naked hours before wife was found dead Deputies responded to the scene and identified the man as Best, who was wanted by the Teton County Sheriffs Office for homicide. Best was detained until medical personnel could arrive to treat him for any injuries. Near the area where Best was found, deputies found Bests vehicle a black Chevy SUV down an embankment off the highway. At the scene, deputies reportedly found Bests infant son, Zeke, deceased. Multiple agencies, including Idaho State Police and the FBI, are currently investigating this case. After medical clearance, Best was booked into the Bonneville County Jail where he will remain incarcerated until arraignment before the court. Our thoughts are with the family of the victims involved in this case. Further information about this case will be available at an appropriate time in the future as the investigation is still ongoing, the Bonneville County Sheriffs Office said in a release. At around noon on Thursday, Best reportedly found himself in trouble with law enforcement in Swan Valley, Idaho. Authorities said Best was walking through the Swan Valley General Store nude. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ABC4 Daily News While Best was taken to the hospital for medical and mental health concerns following the matter, Best was discharged that afternoon. That same night, the Teton County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call around 11:40 p.m. from a home near 4600 Skyline Loop in Victor, Idaho. The dispatcher heard a disturbance on the line, and deputies went to the house, where they found Bests wife, Kali Jean Randall, 38, dead. An Amber Alert was issued Friday morning for the child. No further information is available at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. There is a certain kind of commentator liberal, centrist and oh so certain who specialises in explaining why things cannot change. From the economy to immigration, higher education to human rights laws, rather than justify why they believe in the status quo, their arguments are about why things cannot be different. Confronted by crises and change, they mistake their own passivity for wisdom. Unfortunately, this attitude is not limited to the comment pages and social media. Inside Parliament and Whitehall, we hear the same kind of thinking all the time. There are Treasury officials who insist the slow growth of the British economy is inevitable: the unavoidable late stages of development for a mature economy. There are ministers who say they understand the need to stop illegal migration, but the human rights conferred upon people coming here illegally are immutable. What these arguments have in common is a loss of confidence among those who make them. A loss of confidence in the policies that got us here, the philosophy and ideology that underpin them, and the institutions that are supposed to deliver them. Outside an environmentalist fringe, few believe that life without economic growth is something to cherish. Instead of genuinely interrogating why growth has been sluggish honestly exploring the consequences of monetary policy, the costs of re-regulating entire business sectors, spiralling industrial energy prices, and the lack of public and private investment it is easier to explain away, spuriously, why it is we struggle. Never mind that America, a third richer than Britain, is still growing faster some prefer to suggest that there may be some kind of upper limit to prosperity. There are other examples. Dare to suggest there is a problem with the education and training we provide to people from the age of eighteen, and outrage ensues. Of course few have the courage to defend the lack of options other than university for school leavers. And not many choose to dwell on the poor quality courses, limited career advantages and staggering debt much of which ends up with the taxpayer offered by many universities. Suggest a different model and you will be told you are advocating the destruction of vital institutions, important employers in struggling towns, and the life chances of millions. There is supposedly no other way. And nowhere is this truer than with immigration. Last year, net migration stood at 745,000, bringing a pace of change that is unprecedented, unnecessary, undesirable, and opposed by the public. Yet commentators argue that identifying specifically who should be barred is no easy task and keeping immigration numbers down comes at a cost. But this is nonsense. Of the 1.4 million visas issued last year to migrants excluding visitors, only 66,000 were for skilled workers. More than 82,000 were for spouses and children coming on family visas. More than 403,000 were for dependants of students and workers. Few are open that they support immigration at such a scale. Instead, they dance dishonestly around the issue. Some play games with public opinion, pretending that the majorities who tell pollsters that immigration is too high do not necessarily mean they want it reduced. Others argue that immigration restrictions would kill almost any public service or business sector: the NHS, social care, universities, the hospitality industry to name a few. Alternatives to immigration, such as higher wages, better training, workforce planning and investment in labour-saving tech, are always eschewed. Then there are human rights laws. Instead of being honest about their tolerance for illegal migration, with the Channel crossings and failure to remove foreign criminals and rejected asylum seekers, critics mock the Home Office (breaking the taboo of criticising officials, of course) and say we simply need to make the system work. But this ignores the series of overlapping Catch-22 conditions created by human rights case law. We cannot detain a failed asylum seeker unless deportation is imminent, for example, but getting to that stage is near impossible when the individual can choose at any moment to disappear. As the Government brings forward its new law this week to get around the Supreme Court ruling against its Rwanda policy, this behaviour among commentators, politicians and officials will grow only more pronounced. Ministers must do what it takes to get the scheme off the ground, and illegal immigrants out of the country. Critics may talk up alternatives usually safe and legal routes which unless they were unlimited in number, as US policy has shown, would do nothing to stop illegal immigration but rather than be open about the logic of their position, most will devote their energy to talking about what supposedly cannot be done rather than what can. For this is all they are left with. For years the liberals and centrists of all parties had things their own way. Public opinion, social scientists have made clear, lies slightly to the left on fiscal questions and to the right on culture and identity. The liberals and centrists always stood for the very opposite, but got away with it because of the way our party system offers binary choices. Brexit, however, and the leftward drift of the Labour Party, changed all that. The liberals and centrists love to talk up identity politics for minority groups, but hate the increased salience and relevance of majority culture and identity. But just as important, the rest of their worldview their commitment to globalisation and their economic model is falling apart. Confronted by a stagnating economy, declining social trust, religious extremism and terrorism, a dangerously diverging world, the conclusive proof that international free trade is a delusion and the rules-based world order a pretence, and a dystopian future dominated by a narrow and new tech elite, those who built the world as it was before refuse to accept its demise. To accept it would be to admit the failure not only of their policies but their whole philosophy. All that is left, then, is to deny that anything else is possible. But we need to shake off the complacency, confront the declinism, and remove the ideological blinkers. A different future is there for us if we want it. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Pentagon: US warship and multiple commercial ships come under attack in Red Sea An American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack on Sunday in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said, potentially marking a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war. Were aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available, the Pentagon said. The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Earlier on Sunday, British maritime security agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicated that it had received a report concerning the activity of a drone, "including a potential explosion", "near Bab el Mandeb coming from the direction of Yemen". The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel as it wages war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the attack began about 10 a.m. local time in Sanaa, Yemen - and had been going on for as much as five hours. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis. However, a Houthi military spokesman earlier said an important statement would be released shortly. Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict - even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Earlier in November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another US warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at US Navy ships, including the USS Mason, at the time. An aerial view of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where ships have been targeted - CHP A US warship came under attack in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said on Sunday, in an escalation of a series of maritime attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas war. Several other commercial vessels came under fire off the coast of Yemen, including a UK-owned ship hit by rocket fire. A US military statement said guided-missile destroyer USS Carney shot down three drones in the attacks after responding to calls for assistance. The US Central Command said the vessels attacked were Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British company, as well as Number Nine and Sophie II. While the Pentagon did not say where it believed the attack was launched from, Yemens Houthi rebels have been striking vessels that they believe to have Israeli links in the Red Sea since the war in Gaza began. According to reports by the Associated Press, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for the attack on the Unity Explorer and one of the other attacks. US Central Command said the attacks represented a direct threat to maritime security and commerce. It said: We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran. A senior Houthi leader, Abdulmalek Al Ajri, told The Telegraph that they had not targeted the American warship, but that it had intercepted the missiles that were targeting Israeli ships. Last month, the Pentagon also reported that ballistic missiles had landed around 10 nautical miles away from a US destroyer. Targeting Israeli ships The Houthi military spokesperson, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, on Sunday evening released a statement saying that they had targeted two Israeli ships, but made no mention of the US warship. The Iran-backed rebel group said that they will continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red and Arab Seas until the Israel aggression against our brothers in the Gaza Strip stops. The statement said that they targeted the Unity Explorer and Number Nine ships in the Bab el Mandab Strait. The first was targeted with a naval missile and the second with a drone, it said. According to data available online, the ships are flagged in the Bahamas and Panama. The Houthis said that the ships were targeted after they ignored warnings from its navy to leave the waters. As well as increasingly targeting and threatening global shipping routes, the Houthis have been launching missiles and drones directly at Israel. Irans proxy forces across the Middle East have been waging their own small-scale conflicts against Israel and its allies in a bid to distract its forces and add pressure for the war on Gaza to stop. Drone intercepted A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity while discussing intelligence matters, told the Associated Press that the attack on Sunday began at about 10am in Sanaa, Yemen, and went on for as long as five hours. Another US official who also spoke on condition of anonymity said that the Carney had intercepted at least one drone during the attack. The British-owned ship said to have been hit by rocket fire on Sunday was flagged in the Bahamas and believed to be owned by Dan David Ungar, a British citizen listed as an Israeli resident in the companies directory. UK-based maritime security firm Ambrey said the targeted vessel, thought to be Unity Explorer, was en route from the United States to Singapore and had transited the Suez Canal five days ago. The bulker was reportedly struck by a rocket and the crew retreated to the citadel, it said. The Houthis are still holding the Galaxy Leader vessel, which its fighters hijacked and seized on November 19. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. SAN DIEGO Search warrants were served, arrests were made and over $1 million of mislabeled cannabis products were seized following an investigation into an illegal cannabis business in San Diego County, District Attorney Summer Stephan announced Friday. Four people are facing charges and are accused of illegally selling and distributing products containing marijuana in San Diego County. Jose Delahoz, 55, and Valeria Rada, 42, have been charged with child endangerment, maintaining a place for marijuana to be sold, tax evasion, and possession of marijuana for sale. They were arraigned Friday in San Diego Superior Court, and face up to eight years in prison. Diego Delahoz, 30, and Edgar Delahoz, 29, have been charged with maintaining a place for marijuana to be sold, tax evasion and possession of marijuana for sale. They both face up to four years and four months in prison. After Ohios legalization vote, heres where marijuana is and isnt legal On Wednesday, law enforcement served search warrants at multiple locations and seized over $1.1 million of mislabeled product containing cannabis at various locations, including in a home with young children, DA Stephan announced. The investigation focused on Canably, a store in Middletown which the DA reports is not permitted to sell marijuana. According to the DA, the store had been presenting itself as a THC store and distributor, with products including thousands of edibles like gummies, peanut butter, beef jerky and 300 pounds of loose marijuana. Illegal marijuana businesses that sell unregulated products are an underground economy that undercuts legal dispensaries who are following the law and undercuts the laws that protect children and teens from the potentially toxic effects of high THC cannabis, said DA Stephan. They also put consumers at risk because their products can pose a public health risk. Coordinating with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold individuals and these businesses accountable. The investigation is also accusing Canably of selling and distributing cannabis products within 1,000 feet of a school and residences. If marijuana is rescheduled, will it be legalized nationwide? Law enforcement seized over $2,000 in cash from Canably and found the store had a minimum of $4,000 in credit card sales in less than one day. The owners of Canably also had their homes searched, which resulted in the seizure of 320 pounds of loose cannabis, $5,658 in cash, more than $10,000 in concentrates and more than $5,000 of edibles. The product was found in an attached garage converted into a workspace for the Canably business that was also being used as a play area for the familys three young children, according to the DA. Federal health officials recommend reclassifying marijuana Several other businesses that had a connection to Canably were also searched. Searches took place at smoke shops in Rancho San Diego and Chula Vista, which reportedly purchased cannabis products from Canably. Elevated Smoke in Pacific Beach was also searched, where cannabis, a ghost gun, marijuana edibles and concentrates were seized. According to the DA, the smoke shop had been selling edibles purchased from Canably and was operating within 1,000 feet of Pacific Beach Middle School. Your gun or your ganja: Its illegal for marijuana users to own a gun Were being told by health professionals at Rady Childrens Hospital that theyre seeing an 800 percent increase in marijuana-related overdoses in children in recent years which is unacceptable, said DA Stephan. Edibles in particular pose a danger to young people who are being marketed to or find products like pot gummies and arent aware of the overdose danger. It is unconscionable that parents would store such a large amount of marijuana in an area accessible to their children. The San Diego Police Department led the investigation, along with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, Chula Vista Police Department, District Attorneys Office, and California Department of Taxation Administration. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. On Capitol View this week, several 2024 ballot issues were both submitted to and rejected by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. Host Roby Brock sat down with Kristin Netterstrom Higgins with the UA Cooperative Extension Service to break down the 2024 ballot issues. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin rejects two ballot initiatives on paper and absentee ballots Brock also sat down with Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston who talked about a range of topics, including a possible record-setting number of ballot initiatives to Christmas at the Arkansas State Capitol Building. Capitol View airs on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A car crashed into a building near Bridgeport Village, striking a gas meter, authorities said. According to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, a car crashed into the building on Lower Boones Ferry Road. Since it hit a gas meter, TVF&R said their hazardous materials team is responding to assist with the situation. Authorities said that no one was injured in the crash and NW Natural secured the gas line. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. What started out as a crash investigation in Marion County soon became a homicide investigation after deputies discovered the man behind the wheel had been shot. Deputies responded to the Marion Oaks Community Center in Ocala around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday after they received a call about an accident. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS When deputies arrived, they found the driver of a white Dodge pick up truck had crash into the trees. When deputies got closer, they realized that the man behind the wheel was shot. Read: Family and friends celebrate Shakeira Ruckers life, speak out against domestic violence Emergency responders brought him to the hospital, where he died about three hours later. The sheriffs office hasnt released any suspect information at this time. Read: Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler wont step aside, despite call from DeSantis to step down The Community Center was hosting its annual holiday extravaganza today. That event was scheduled to end at about 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Read: Lawsuit filed against Gov. DeSantis over suspension of former State Attorney Monique Worrell No word on if there were any other witnesses here, nor if the victim was someone who attended the event. If you have any information you are asked to call Marion County Sheriffs Officer at 352-732-9111. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WORCESTER - Camden Francis, entrepreneur, spoke at the "Rekindling Our Spirit: Evening of Impact" hosted by the YMCA of Central Massachusetts at Mechanics Hall Friday. Morgan Tuck, former UConn and WNBA star, was the keynote speaker at the Y's annual fundraiser. Other speakers were Perpetual Hayfron, a graduate of the YMCA's Minority Achievers Program, and Jason DesJardin, a cancer survivor and participant in the YMCA's LIVESTRONG program. Francis, 19, shared his experiences during the pandemic which led to him and his younger brother, Colton Francis, establishing Beyond the Crisis, a nonprofit that has helped distribute thousands of nonperishable meals to food-insecure families in Massachusetts. More than 300 people attended the event Friday night. David Connell, president and CEO, shared that over the past three years, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts has lived its cause like no other time in its 159-year history. "Delivering our best in the most challenging times rekindled our spirit and strengthened the Y and those we serve," he said. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. Y hosts fundraiser at Mechanics Hall in Worcester The school lunchroom at River Oaks Elementary School on Saturday still had the heavy scent of the prior week's meals. And, it still had students. From the stage, nervous eyes avoided parents' smiles and legs twitched like horsetails. One set of hands took to prayer. Then, one by one, each student got up from their seat to spell. Smiles. Gasps. Judges bells. Spelling bees are quintessential parts of the American school year. But the 24 students at this weekends spelling bee were the only ones in Central Texas to participate in a Spanish language version of the tradition. The Pflugerville school district hosted the event to see which of its third through fifth grade students will represent it at next years National Spanish Spelling Bee in El Paso. The students came from the 11 district schools with dual-language programs. The district has held the event in Spanish since 2011, according to Jennifer Harrell, the districts dual language coordinator. According to David Briseno, the founder and coordinator of the National Spanish Spelling Bee, Pflugerville has the only competition in Central Texas. Thus, its winner does not have to participate in a regional competition. Jennifer Harrell, the Pflugerville school districts dual-language coordinator, hands Luis Orlando Ruiz Medina flowers after he won the Pflugerville district's Spanish Language Spelling bee on Saturday. The event highlighted part of the districts current reality. Almost one in two of its students identifies as Latino and a quarter of its students live in households where Spanish is spoken, according to data the district provided the American-Statesman. I enjoy participating because I can practice Spanish and thats my first language. Its part of my culture in Cuba, said Luis Orlando Ruiz Medina, a fifth grader at Copperfield Elementary and this years winner, who, like all those interviewed for this story, spoke in Spanish. Ruiz Medina immigrated with his family from Cienfuegos, Cuba, to the United States six years ago. He won on Saturday after he correctly spelled the word piraguismo, the Spanish word for canoeing. He said he thought his success came from how much he liked to read in his spare time. For the past two months, he and other students from his school also practiced in 20-minute, end-of-the-day sessions with school staffer Doris Espinoza. Along with rote memorization and games, Espinoza said the practice allowed students to learn standardized parts of the competition, like what names to use for the letters. Alisson Hernandez listens to the word she will have to spell at the Spanish spelling bee. Alisson finished second in the competition. Spanish is spoken widely in more than 22 countries of the world. The forks in the language caused by national geographic boundaries, and time, among other things, means that even letters are said differently. One example: Ask a grandmother how to say the letters B, V and W. Then ask a teacher instructing under the current rules of the Real Academia de Espanol, the institution that officially standardizes the Spanish language. You, and the student, might get more than six answers. Alongside standardized letter names, students also had to correctly use accents and umlauts to skirt bitter disqualifications. They also had to make it past the shock of the stage. Half of the competitors were out by the second round. Luis Orlando Ruiz Medina gets a hug after winning Saturday's competition, which is the only Spanish language spelling bee in Central Texas. Riojas Elementary third-grader Samantha Espina made it to the second round of the competition. As the shortest competitor, she had to have the microphone angled as low as possible each time she spoke. It still hovered over her head. "I like it because with spelling I can get over my shyness, she said before listing off words she had learned during her study of the competition. Her father, Pedro Espina, said he believed the competition was a valuable opportunity for his daughter to expand her vocabulary in a language whose diverse speakers have created so much of it. I want my daughter to be learning these things from a young age, he said. The Espinas are immigrants from Venezuela. Alejandro Mojica, the multilingual instruction director, said the district hopes the spelling bee can accomplish an academic value and instill in the students an appreciation for their Spanish. We want to send the message that Spanish is a language with the same value as English, he said. We want the students to be fully bilingual and we want them this to be a source of their pride, their maintaining the tradition. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas student won the Spanish language spelling bee with this word Those who have been faithful readers of my weekly jottings know Ive recently spent nearly three months wandering about Spain. Among the many delights Ive encountered were several excellent museums exhibiting Spanish civilization centuries before the Romans started to take over the place around 200 BCE. (Side note: BCE and CE have supplanted BC and AD lest the latter terms somehow offend non-Christians. Non-Christians apparently are easily offended. Those who worry about such things will have to think up another set of abbreviations, since BCE easily stands for Before the Christian Era and CE the Christian Era.) The museum exhibits make clear the assorted Spanish tribes were busy bartering and exchanging goods from time immemorial. Thousands of years before Karl Marx invented the term, proto-capitalism was alive and well on the Iberian peninsula. Charles Milliken With the passage of time, and the arrival of the Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Carthaginians, capitalism became more prevalent as trading networks developed around the Mediterranean basin. Then the Romans showed up, practicing what is now termed settler colonialism, and their more sophisticated capitalist structures resulted in the creation of great wealth, the many remains of which are visible to this day. Unfortunately, the first great problem of capitalism reared its ugly head: the wealth was distributed unevenly. The clever, the lucky, the ambitious, the unscrupulous got rich. Those not so imbued became better off, but compared to the big winners, looked like losers. That problem is as current as the next election, what with DEI and similar political concerns. Fast forward centuries, and more problems are added to the woes of capitalism. Marx talked about the exploitation of labor. More recently we talk about the incipient exhaustion of our precious natural resources. Carbon dioxide is being pumped into our atmosphere at ever-increasing rates in pursuit of profits, and it is only a matter of time until the earth and everyone in it is destroyed. (China pumps out more carbon dioxide than the capitalist West, but thats a topic for another day.) There is a litany of other woes. Factory closings ruin the economy of town after town as better returns are sought elsewhere. Capitalists, in furtherance of greed, use non-sustainable processes. Capitalists take advantage of women and minorities by under-paying them. And on and on. Bad as all this is, it misses the key underlying problem with capitalism. From its very inception, the problem with capitalism was its practitioners seeking to make a buck by doing or making something someone else was willing to pay for. No proto-capitalist gave any thought to whether or not the customer ought to want what he wanted, or the long-term consequences of making better spear points. Thousands of years go by, and the core problem remains. It isnt the capitalist who is the unwitting (or maybe witting) villain in the piece. It is the customer. Unless the customer wants what you are producing, you will cease producing it. The best contemporary example of this is the illegal drug trade. Millions of people want opioids, cocaine, and assorted narcotics. Our government, fighting the war on drugs, goes after the suppliers, and not the customers. Suppliers go to jail. Customers need treatment and understanding for their addictions. Unwittingly, by making the supply chain illegal, the government also makes it a perfectly untrammeled capitalist system. Your friendly neighborhood drug dealer pays no taxes. There are no wage and hour laws. You can pay women and minorities any wage you darn well please. Retirement packages are not an expense and no drug dealer needs to concern himself with FDA regulations. If the customer buys a product laced with fentanyl, too bad. Whether it's the war on drugs, or the war on gasoline, the problem is the same: the customer. If our progressive elites are to accomplish their utopian purposes, they have to control human nature. We have to be changed into ants in a hill, termites in a mound, or bees in a hive. Good luck with that. Charles Milliken is a professor emeritus after 22 years of teaching economics and related subjects at Siena Heights University. He can be reached at milliken.charles@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Charles Milliken: The true problem with capitalism Volunteers from the Charlotte community and Rise Against Hunger packaged meals for people fighting hunger worldwide on Saturday. The goal was to package about 50,000 meals. The event ran from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The meals included the following: Rice Soy Dehydrated vegetables Vitamins ALSO READ: Local non-profit helps families struggling with food insecurity Rise Against Hunger, a humanitarian organization, was responsible for distributing the meals packaged at the event. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Since it started, it has helped package over 600 million meals. (WATCH BELOW: Food banks struggle to address South Carolinas staggering food insecurity) Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) claims that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was a collaborator in former President Trumps efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election. If you look at what Donald Trump is trying to do, he cant do it by himself. He has to have collaborators, Cheney said in an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning. And the story of Mike Johnson is a story of a collaborator. Cheney has previously argued that Johnson is dangerous and knew that his actions surrounding the 2020 election were wrong. Johnson led an amicus brief supporting a Texas lawsuit that sought to overturn results in several states after the election. He voted to object to the election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Johnson won the Speakership on Oct. 25 following weeks of Republican chaos in the House. The former Wyoming representative said Johnson knew what he was doing in supporting Trumps attempts to overthrow the last election and knows now that what hes doing and saying is wrong. Hes willing to do it in an effort to please Donald Trump, and thats what makes it dangerous, Cheney said in the interview set to air Sunday. CBS reporter John Dickerson asked Cheney to confirm her assertion. The Speaker of the House is a collaborator to overthrow the last election? he asked. Absolutely, she responded. 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 insurrection. Notably, Cheney was the vice chair of the House select committee that investigated the attack on the Capitol. Cheney made a public exit from Congress last year after attacking her own party for supporting Trump. She lost her primary in August 2022. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Chicago is poised to see a double-digit percentage drop in homicides in 2023, welcome news for a freshman mayor and a police superintendent who took the reins of the department just a couple of months ago. But the small measure of success may not be exactly as it seems, a Tribune analysis of police data has found. While citywide figures show improvement, a closer look shows that neighborhoods that have for decades shouldered the brunt of disenfranchisement have paid for at least some of the gains. A review of Chicago Police Department data on the district level shows that killings have actually increased or remained flat in many of the neighborhoods that have historically struggled the most with violence. That may be because the downturn in fatal and nonfatal shootings has coincided with a huge spike in armed robberies and carjackings across the city, and police have shuffled resources around to deal with it sometimes at the expense of the most troubled areas. On the Southwest Side, the Chicago Lawn District has seen one of the largest year-over-year increases in fatal violence. CPD says 31 slayings have occurred in the district so far in 2023, a 29% increase over last year. Jason Huff, one of the three Chicago Lawn police district councilors, said the districts uptick in killings stems from officers being temporarily reassigned to cover other parts of the city. The districts size is a challenge, too, Huff said, and the areas aldermen have asked residents if theyd prefer the Chicago Lawn District to be split in two. The main, consistent storyline that you hear across the city is the same thing that you will hear in the 8th District, Huff said. Its a staffing issue. Sometimes some of their officers are being reallocated to other, more important events, maybe downtown, for things that are going on downtown, if theres an uproar there. Overall, (with) the size of the district, its just hard to respond to call after call after call and not be able to do any proactive policing because of the size and volume of calls that theyre getting, Huff added. It is difficult to find a direct correlation between police staffing levels and homicides across the entire city, but there are examples. Data from the citys Office of Inspector General shows the Englewood (7th) and Austin (15th) districts two that saw their killing totals rise this year have dozens fewer officers assigned than they did in December 2022. Meanwhile, dozens of officers were added to districts on the North and Northwest sides where homicides fell this year. But correlation does not always mean causation, as several districts with lower or nearly flat 2023 homicide totals also have seen a slight bump in the number of officers on patrol, according to OIG data. The Harrison District (11th) has long been the citys most violent. Roughly bounded by Roosevelt Road, Division Street, Western Avenue and Cicero Avenue, the district covers the epicenter of the citys narcotics trade. In 2022, the Harrison District saw 72 killings through late November, and so far this year, the district has recorded 73 homicides, according to police data. This time last year 353 officers were assigned there, and 361 are currently deployed. The Englewood District, where new police Superintendent Larry Snelling was born and raised and where he worked as a patrol officer, has seen an 8% increase in killings this year, with 55 as of Nov. 26. The Grand Crossing District (3rd) in South Shore has notched an 18% increase. The Austin District on the citys West Side saw 32 killings through late November 2022 the same total for the district so far in 2023. Asked about the review of data, police officials pointed to their successes. Steep declines in killings have occurred in the CPD districts that cover Bronzeville, Kenwood, Pullman, Roseland, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Lawndale, Little Village and Morgan Park, police records show. Protecting the safety of all Chicagoans is the Chicago Police Departments most important mission, a CPD spokesperson said in an emailed statement to the Tribune. This year, we have seen a significant decrease in shooting victims, shooting incidents and homicides. So far this year, there have been approximately 537 fewer shooting victims, 340 fewer shooting incidents and 75 fewer homicides compared to last year. Though progress has been made, we know there is still more work to be done to bolster safety in every neighborhood, the statement continued. As we head into 2024, we will continue to tailor our public safety strategies to each individual neighborhood to ensure our residents are receiving the resources they need to feel safe and be safe. The department has rarely discussed deployment shifts or changes. And the number of officers assigned to each of the CPDs 22 patrol districts varies. As of this month, the Harrison and Englewood districts have the most, according to the citys Office of Inspector General. One change that has been discussed is an end to tiered deployment, a controversial tactic aimed at combating violence and frequently used under former Superintendent David Brown, which often resulted in officers losing their scheduled days off. As a close-to-32-year veteran on this job right now, I know the importance of having your time off when youre working a job like this, because officers deal with vicarious trauma on a daily basis, Snelling said during the Chicago Police Boards November meeting at CPD headquarters. As a result of that we made sure that we got rid of tiered deployment, so our officers will get their days off. A perception issue? Theres little question that crime has been hounding Mayor Brandon Johnson during the first months of his tenure and increasing pressure on Snelling, his newly chosen police boss. With armed crews sometimes committing waves of robberies in short periods in neighborhoods not used to seeing such crimes, the police have promised to meet the challenge. And even in areas where homicides have dropped substantially, the perception of safety still has yet to follow. The Wentworth District (2nd), which covers Hyde Park, Kenwood, Bronzeville and Washington Park, has seen homicides go down by more than a third in 2023. District Councilor Julia Kline doesnt think that decrease has registered with her constituents and neighbors. I have not heard anybody talking about change and certainly not a positive change, Kline said. Everybody seems to have a perception that the crime is bad and getting worse. And it has gotten worse in some categories: Police Department data shows that motor vehicle thefts, for example, are up by more than half. But Kline said she hears some conversations about violence in the city that blow the problem out of proportion. Some people think, Oh my God, if you step out of your car anywhere inside of Chicago city limits, youre gonna get murdered, she said. Thats crazy. She said shed like to see a resource that visualizes the number of people who walk through a given neighborhood or intersection and do not experience crime. I think that if people could see how many millions of people go up and down the streets every day completely free from crime, it would help to decrease their feelings of being unsafe, she said. I would love to be able to open up an app and see a green dot that represents every single person that has passed through a given intersection in the last hour, five minutes, whatever time period, to whom no crime has happened, she said. It remains to be seen how Mayor Johnson will react, but so far he appears to be moving away from adding sheer police manpower. Johnsons first proposed budget eliminates more than 800 vacant street cop positions. It does create almost 400 new civilian positions, which his administration said will free up more officers to patrol the streets. Meanwhile, Snelling said at Novembers Police Board meeting that the department has hired more than 660 officers this year. But, Snelling told the Tribune in October, about 400 officer positions remain vacant. A definite decrease Chicago Police Department statistics show that, so far in 2023, homicide detectives have opened 569 murder investigations, a 12% decrease from the prior year. According to the Cook County medical examiners office, the city recorded 599 homicides as of Nov. 27. In that same time frame last year, there were 692 homicides across the city. The drop in killings has been felt across Chicago, from the Jefferson Park District (16th) on the Northwest Side to the Morgan Park District (22nd) on the Far South Side. Nonfatal shooting incidents are down 13% this year, too. In the Morgan Park District, homicides are down by more than 50%. Police district Councilor Lee Bielecki attributed that drop to a culmination of efforts by the District Advisory Council, a good relationship between area residents and law enforcement and the efforts of police officers themselves. As for whether the drop in homicides was registering among his constituents, Bielecki said 80 people attended the district councils most recent meeting to hear more about a pair of Beverly car thefts that were captured on video earlier this month. He said that while crime has gone down since his days working as a Chicago police officer, the crime that does occur is more visible and easily shared thanks to social media and cable TV. Regardless, he said, everybody wants to feel safe in their community I dont care if its in the 22nd District or in Englewood. Permanent answers elusive Snelling, like all other superintendents in recent memory, has often called for a collaborative approach to reduce the citys entrenched gun violence. After he assumed leadership of the Police Department two months ago, Snelling told the Tribune, Weve allowed others to dictate how we should respond to violent crimes and acts of violence, which has led us and not us as a police department but as a society to forget about the victims and put the victims on the back burner. The Southwest Organizing Project was founded in 1996 and is among the organizations that make up Communities Partnering 4 Peace. As its name implies, SWOP operates in several neighborhoods on the South and Southwest sides, and in half of the police beats that make up the Chicago Lawn District. Along with violence prevention, SWOP works to connect program participants with job training, education and immigration resources. The organization aims to foster partnerships among different religious institutions, schools and other community stakeholders, too. After instances of gun violence, SWOP outreach workers will visit the area where the shooting occurred. During those canvasses were looking to run into community members, stakeholders, perpetrators of violence and also victims of the perpetrators of violence and try to get them to come into the office (to learn) about the mentoring services that we have to try to help get them from Point A to Point B and to Point C, Calvin Brown, SWOPs system program director, told the Tribune. You can tell them all day, Hey, put your guns down. But what we do is we ask them, What can I help you with? Do you need a job? Do you need your ID? Do you need a birth certificate? What do you need? Do you need a resume? Brown added. And once we get them focused on that, they dont have time to focus on what they were doing out in the streets. Call for coordinated efforts In the Grand Central District (25th), homicides are up by half. District Councilor Angelica Green said the causes of the increase werent clear to her. But she said neighbors needed to work more with each other to reverse the trend not just by calling law enforcement to share information, but by gathering with neighbors and keeping their streets and blocks clean. She wants to see more block clubs activated. When you form block clubs, you form a community, she said. When you form a community, people see that they cant come on this block and they cant sell drugs, they cant just linger. Green said shed like to see district officers gather feedback from residents about what their neighborhoods need. She observed that depending on what part of the district people live in, their concerns range from noise ordinances to increased gang activity. Given the wide range of needs in the district, Green said she wanted to see police ask, What is it that you need on this block that you think that can help? Do you think you need to have more officers? Do you need to have (fewer) officers? She observed that district coordination officers were particularly well positioned to do this work from within the Police Department, but called for collaboration among residents, law enforcement and civic leaders. Unless we do it together, its not going to happen, she said. When were divided, crime will always outweigh us. Women and children being taken to an internment camp in Syria in February 2019 - Sam Tarling for The Telegraph The children of Isis brides from Britain are being discreetly sent back to the UK and put up for adoption. At least 10 youths are believed to have been repatriated to this country from detention camps for families in Syria following the fall of IS. Among them, it has been reported, are two siblings, both aged under eight, who are currently being fostered in the southeast of England. The children, who are awaiting adoption, lost their mother, who was British, after she was killed during fighting in Baghuz in eastern Syria in 2019. Their father, who is not British, was captured and jailed in prison for foreign fighters following the collapse of the so-called caliphate, the Sunday Times reports. The children were initially transferred with other relatives to al-Hol detention camp for Isis suspects in northeast Syria. However, they were later moved to a Kurdish-run orphanage. Campaigners believe that one set of grandparents of the two siblings and who live overseas would be keen to look after them. Their offer, however, is understood to have been declined by local authorities in the UK caring for the children. Under existing guidelines, any prospective adoptive parent would have to be told about the siblings early years. A file image of residents of the al-Hol camp in Syria - Sam Tarling for The Telegraph Save the Children and Reprieve, a human rights charity, estimate that about 60 women and children with links to Britain are stranded in the Kurdish-run detention camps in Syria. The charities approximate that at least 38 children with links to Britain remain in the camps. There are also believed to be 21 women from the UK currently living in the camps, including Shamima Begum, now 24. In February 2019, Begum, from Bethnal Green, was discovered alive at the Al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria. The following day, Sajid Javid, the then home secretary, revoked her British citizenship. Earlier this year, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled that the decision was lawful on grounds of national security. Other Western countries have now agreed to repatriate citizens, with France reportedly returning more than 160 children and over 50 women. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Richard Barrett, former director of counter terrorism at MI6, said the refusal by the British Government to allow the women and children to return to the UK could be dangerous in the long term. He added: It is hard to argue that these women and children pose less of a threat, either now or in the future, while they remain poorly supervised, exposed to the influence of their former Islamic State comrades and at risk of further exploitation than they would if under the watchful eye of our highly competent security authorities in the UK, and of their own communities. 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 gasoline seller serves a customer at a newly installed mini-petrol station in Cotonou, Benin, Dec. 1, 2023. The first batch of mini-petrol stations the Beninese government bought to replace illegal streetside petrol stalls at risk of fires, have been put into operation in Cotonou, Benin's economic capital. In several districts of Cotonou, these mini-petrol stations are now serving petrol to road users, particularly motorists and certain vehicles. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua) COTONOU, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of mini-petrol stations the Beninese government bought to replace illegal streetside petrol stalls at risk of fires, have been put into operation in Cotonou, Benin's economic capital. In several districts of Cotonou, these mini-petrol stations are now serving petrol to road users, particularly motorists and certain vehicles. "The mini-petrol stations make it possible to store and distribute petrol more safely, instead of using petrol stalls, which are a source of fires," said Fortune Agbo, manager of a mini-petrol station in Fifadji, a populous district of Cotonou. On Sept. 23, a fire at an illegal petrol warehouse in Seme Krake, a town on the border with Nigeria in Benin's southeastern department of Oueme, killed at least 35 people and seriously injured dozens. Since the tragedy, the issue of the smuggled petrol industry has become a more pressing and burning problem for the country. The deployment of these mini-petrol stations is part of the measures taken by the Beninese government to reorganize the informal sector of petroleum product sales throughout the country. At a recent press conference in Cotonou, Benin government spokesman Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji said that the government had ordered more than 5,000 mini-petrol stations to prevent illegal trade in urban areas, especially in the country's major cities. For the time being, 2,000 mini-petrol stations have already been in use, out of at least the 5,000 ordered. "These mini-petrol stations will make it possible to cover at least the five major towns in the south of the country. When the rest of the order arrives, it will be extended to every town in the country," said the spokesman. The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal collision that occurred early Saturday after a Saturn sedan veered off Highway 99 and crashed into a tree in Modesto. The crash was reported around 2:30 a.m. on northbound SR-99, north of Woodland Avenue, according to a news release from the CHP. The 42-year-old driver of the Saturn, a man from Sacramento, was pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation indicates the man was headed north on the highway in the slow lane when he veered to the right and onto the shoulder, the release said. The Saturn went down an embankment before hitting the tree. No other vehicles were involved. It is unknown whether drugs or alcohol were factors, according to the CHP. The man was not wearing a seat belt. The CHP would like to remind all motorists (that) seat belts, when worn properly, have the ability to save your life when involved in a traffic collision, the agency said in the release. 2024 GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie dismissed predictions about the outcome of the next presidential race, pointing to the criminal charges former President Trump faces and to the unreliability of polling. In a Sunday interview on CBS Newss Face the Nation, Christie denied a suggestion about dropping out of the GOP primary to consolidate the field to defeat Trump, saying the race is more consolidated at this point than it had been in most other GOP primaries that didnt have an incumbent. Anchor Margaret Brennan countered his suggestion, noting this race is different since Trump, the front-runner in the race, has many of the advantages of an incumbent. The other thing that makes it different, Margaret, is hes got 91 counts of an indictment against him, Christie shot back. The day before Super Tuesday, hes going to start a criminal trial, where his former chief of staff and one of the founders of the Freedom Caucus is going to testify that he committed crimes on his watch and was directed to commit crimes by Donald Trump. Theres a lot of things different about this, he added. And thats why anybody [trying] to predict this is just shooting in the dark. Trump has been indicted in four criminal cases, with a total of 91 criminal charges brought against him. It remains unclear to what extent his scheduled trials will interfere with his campaign prospects. Christie made a similar suggestion about polling, noting respondents are not always honest when answering pollsters. First off, I dont think you know exactly whats going to happen at all until people vote. Look, if we listened to all the polling, Margaret, Hillary Clinton would be in her second term. So I dont believe that polling is nearly as reliable as it used to be, and I dont believe that people tell the truth to pollsters, he said. And so at the end of the day, everybodys trying to make these decisions now are just wrong. In my view, we cant worry about that kind of stuff. What we need to worry about is the direction this country is going in, and most people dont agree with it. And if you dont agree with the direction of the country, why would you vote for either Trump or [President Biden], who have put us in this direction? he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 2024 GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie on Sunday criticized his primary opponents for not clearly stating their positions on federal abortion policy, saying voters deserve a straight answer from the candidates. Im concerned, quite frankly, Margaret, that, you know, candidates in this race have been all over the block on this. And its not right. People deserve to have a straight answer from you. And thats my straight answer, Christie told CBS Newss Margaret Brennan in an interview on Face the Nation. Christie, who recently said publicly that he would not sign a six-week federal abortion ban, reaffirmed that position in the interview and said he thinks there should not be a national policy on abortion and that the decision instead should rest in the hands of the people. He praised the recent ballot initiatives that saw voters decide to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitutions, pointing to those measures as evidence of the democratic system working. For 50 years, Republicans have argued that the Supreme Court took this decision away from the people. I think this belongs in the hands of the people of each individual state, he said. We see a great democratic small D event going on right now across the country, in places like Michigan and Kansas and Ohio, where people are voting. Lets let the American people vote in their individual states and decide what they want this policy to be, he continued. Christie, the former New Jersey governor, specifically called out two of his Republican opponents for their public statements on abortion: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Haley has tried to position herself as a compassionate voice on the issue of abortion, saying shes proudly pro-life but doesnt judge those who choose to get an abortion. She has also emphasized that the 60-vote threshold in a 51-49, closely divided Senate would prevent any federal abortion ban from ever reaching the presidents desk. Haley has said, however, that she would sign any ban that crossed her desk as president and recently said that would include a six-week abortion ban. Ive been consistent on this, Christie said. I believe the conservative, smart approach is to let the states make these decisions. And thats what I think they should do. And thats why I said, I wouldnt sign a six-week national abortion ban as Governor DeSantis [has], and now, just recently, in Iowa, Governor Haley has said she would sign a six-week ban. I dont think you can say one thing in one place and something else in another. You need to be consistent. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A recent photograph in the Telegraph showed a German couple, Susanne and Thomas Jeromin, perched on a sofa in their living room amid a forest of Christmas trees. According to the German Institute of Records, the Jeromins 555 trees are the most ever to appear in one house. Yet little about the couples appearance suggested jollity, Their teeth were bared in a grimace resembling a smile, but their arms were firmly crossed and they looked vaguely fed up. Perhaps they were reflecting on their electricity bill. Or possibly they had realised that by glutting their home with decorations when Advent has scarcely begun, they had left themselves with nothing to look forward to. The inexorable creep of Christmas (and every other annual festival) means the red-letter days that once punctuated the year have coalesced into a homogeneous blur of quasi-permanent celebration. The plastic pumpkins of Halloween were still in the shops when the launch of John Lewiss Christmas ad in early November found them joined by an infestation of faux-fur Venus fly-traps. In January, when those unlovable objects languish on the discount shelves, a flurry of performative love tokens will appear ahead of Valentines Day, followed by the chicks and bunnies of Easter until the whole lot are swept away to make place for next years novelties. The effect of this relentless cycle of commercial festivity is a tainting of the very nature of celebration. Nothing is ever magical enough to fill the bottomless void of expectation. It is telling that among this years strangely mean-spirited supermarket adverts, the one that has touched hearts is a home-made advert for Charlies Bar in Enniskillen. Devoid of special effects, with props confined to a scruffy hound and a pint of stout, the ad depicts an elderly mans journey from loneliness to warmth and companionship. The emotional power of the advert lies in its story of transition. It is not about the glare of the festive lights, but the darkness that precedes them though it may be a while before that message reaches the Jeromin household: next year they plan to decorate 600 trees. Pedants revolt The Bayeux Tapestry may be one of the earliest graphic narratives, but blockbuster films of the Battle of Hastings have been rather thin on the ground. Until now, when two are coming a feature film, The Conquest, and King and Conqueror, a BBC drama series starring James Norton. According to Solomon J LeFlore, the writer/producer of The Conquest, We wont deviate from the history much. But the film is bound to be greeted by the chorus of historical pedants who moaned about Ridley Scotts recent film, Napoleon. Still, with so much historical colour on offer, perhaps the film-makers wont need to embroider. The apocryphal-sounding story that the Norman forces were led out by a minstrel called Taillefer, who sang the Chanson de Roland at the bemused Anglo-Saxons, first appeared in the earliest account of the battle, the Carmen Widonis. Who knows perhaps even the French, so voluble in their complaints about Scotts Napoleon, may cheer up at the spectacle of their man Taillefer doing his poetry slam. 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. STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) The City of Stillwater provided new details on Saturday as the investigation regarding the dead longhorn illegally dumped on the lawn of FarmHouse fraternity at Oklahoma State University continues. According to the city, Stillwater Police are working in collaboration with Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Agricuture Investigative Services Unit, Noble County Sheriffs Office and the OSU Animal Science Department. The OSU Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory stated the animal was suffering from a natural disease process in their initial necropsy findings. Dead longhorn found on front lawn of OSU fraternity Final necropsy results have yet to be released, but are expected to reveal additional details about time of death, cause of death, and any evidence of animal cruelty. The City of Stillwater did not specify an anticipated release date. Preliminary reports in the investigation indicate that members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity have imperative information in connection to the longhorn. Authorities are continuing their efforts to collect information from members of Alpha Gamma Rho. Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) is very concerned by the incident involving animal remains found outside a fraternity house at Oklahoma State University on December 1, 2023. This conduct is inconsistent with our fraternitys values. Alpha Gamma Rho does not condone this behavior. Along with our own investigation, we are cooperating with the Stillwater Police Department and Oklahoma State University in their investigations. said the fraternity. The city is asking anyone with information related to the investigation to contact Stillwater Police at (405) 533-8477. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Strictly host Claudia Winkleman issued judge Craig Revel Horwood with a stern warning ahead of the first perfect score of the 2023 series. On Saturday (2 December), Horwood finally lifted his 10 paddle to award Layton Williams the best possible score for his and partner Nikita Kuzmins pasodoble to Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Hours after Nigel Harman dramatically quit the show, the pair bounced back from being in the bottom two last week to stun the audience with their dance. After, in his comments, Horwood uttered his catchphrase fabulous in response to the dance. Until this stage, Horwood has been hesitant to give out scores of 10 so much so that, ahead of the judgess scores being announced, the shows co-host Claudia Winkleman felt the need to step in to deliver a message to Horwood. Good Luck, she told Williams and Kuzmin, adding: And I think from all of us, were saying Craig, sort it out. Following this, Horwood gave Williams a 10, with his three fellow judges following suit, leading to a rapturous response from the studio audience as well as Williams and Kuzmin. Co-host Tess Daly then told Horwood: On behalf of a nation, Craig, thank you for finally getting your 10 back out. We love you for that. Musical theatre star Williams, who appeared in Everyones Talking About Jamie, has repeatedly received complaints from viewers about his professional level of dance experience. However, he recently responded to the complaints about his prior dancing experience in an interview for The Guardian, saying that rehearsals are not as easy for him as it might seem. Ive taken it on the chin; I get what everyones saying, he said of the criticism. But if you could be a fly on the wall in this rehearsal room, its not easy for me. Strictly host Claudia Winkleman felt the need to step in ahead of Craig Revel Horwoods score for Layton Williams (BBC) Elsewhere in the latest episode of Strictly, Nigel Harman explained why he had to quit the show hours before it was due to be broadcast. It was announced by the BBC that the Casualty actor, 50, had been forced to withdraw from the dancing competition due to an injury sustained in rehearsals. At the beginning of the show, Daly and Winkleman addressed Harmans departure and revealed what his exit means for this weeks results. Find the status of this weeks leaderboard here. Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC one at 7.20pm on Sunday (3 December). Russian forces have reduced the number of airstrikes against Ukraine but intensified infantry activity on the southeastern front line, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of the Tavria Group, reported on Dec. 3. He said 55 skirmishes between Ukrainian and Russian were forces recorded on the southeastern front lines over the past day. Russia has lost 440 troops and nine pieces of military hardware, while around 10 Russian soldiers surrendered in the area over the past day. He didnt specify whether Russian troops were killed or wounded in action, or both. Meanwhile, the commander said that Russian combat aircraft activity is low in the area. The Ukrainian military recorded five airstrikes in the area over the past day, with several KAB-guided bombs striking undisclosed locations in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian forces are holding defense lines in the Avdiivka and Mariinka axes while conducting an offensive toward Melitopol. Tarnavskyi reported repelling 25 Russian attacks in the Avdiivka axis, 11 more near Mariinka, three Russian assaults near Vuhledar and Shakhtarsk directions, and 12 attacks near Robotyne and Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia direction. The attacks on Avdiivka, the gateway to occupied Donetsk, a major city in the Donbas, have been very costly for Moscow. According to the Ukrainian military, Russian forces have lost around 10,000 soldiers, more than 100 tanks, over 250 other armored vehicles, and seven Su-25 aircraft in the month of fighting near the front-line town. Russia has been trying to capture the small town just north of occupied Donetsk since 2014. Read also: Ukraines fight to heal millions of children scarred by Russias war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LIMA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and 15 were injured on Saturday after armed assailants attacked the Poderosa mine in north Peru's La Libertad Department, the Interior Ministry has confirmed. The incident occurred at about 1:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT). A group of armed criminals raided the facilities of the mine, violently attacking security guards and taking four hostages, the ministry said in a statement, adding that nine people were killed and 15 others injured. Simi Valley, Calif. The Commerce Department needs a bigger budget to better help the U.S. outpace China on technology. That was the message today from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo at the Reagan Defense Forum, a symposium of government and industry officials in California. She used her speech at the event to give a pitch for more funding from Congress particularly for the Bureau of Industry and Security, which handles export controls. It needs to be funded so we can do what we need to do to protect America, she said. Raimondo is the first head of her department to attend the event, and her arrival was itself an emblem of the ways in which Commerce and the Defense Department are increasingly overlapping. Under the last two administrations, America has intensified its economic and security competition with China. To do so, its needed separate departments such as Defense and Commerce to work as a team. For example, the Pentagon has built security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, while the Commerce Department has issues export controls on semiconductors meant to hamstring Chinese tech firms. Out of Americas security-related agencies, the Pentagon has by far the largest budget and is hence relied on to address a host of the nations security issues. That can be a problem when other departments are asked to play a larger role in the space. The Bureau of Industry and Security has the same budget that it did 10 years ago $200 million despite the huge climb in export controls aimed at China, Raimondo said. We have twice as many license requests today than we did a decade ago but the same number of people doing the work, Raimondo said in an interview with Defense News. The upshot is a capacity problem, she argued one that the Pentagon is often relied on to solve. Commerce brings in staff members and subject matter experts from the Defense Department to consult with them on relevant national security topics, such as artificial intelligence and chips. Sometimes, due to staffing shortages in Commerce, these visits occur out of need, not only preference, said two former defense officials, speaking on background to talk freely, in interviews with Defense News. Raimondo didnt specify the total budget shes seeking for the Bureau of Industry and Security. The House Foreign Affairs Committee is finishing a review of the office and will soon release a report, according to reporting from Politico. Meanwhile, as the U.S. tries to deter a possible invasion of Taiwan later this decade, secure export controls have become a top priority for economic and military competition. The most high end compute semiconductors, we have in America, they dont have, and those are the chips that run and train AI models that the PLA would want to operate into their military, Raimondo told Defense News. If we can deny them the chips they cant run the models, then they cant use that to advance their military capability. Denying those chips is a difficult task, Raimondo acknowledged. More than any other adversary, she said, China can evade export controls, forcing her department into a game of whack a mole to stop vulnerabilities when the spring up. I may be the first commerce secretary here, she said in her speech. Ill certainly not be the last. Dear Governor DeSantis, I wont keep you long. Debra Hodroff I know you are a very busy man with banning women from having autonomy over their own bodies, banning masks, shaming children who wore masks, banning free speech, banning our constitutional right to know what our elected officials are doing with our money, or even where they are, banning words, banning people (drag queens) who have a lifestyle different from you from having children around them, banning books, changing the death penalty so the state can kill people more easily, changing the gun laws so that anyone may carry a gun (no permit, no background checks, no training) banned colleges from using state or federal funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, tried to ban Disney because they respectfully disagreed with you. And now I read that changes might be coming to our bay, a preserve. We dont know what it is, and may not hear until the day it is decided. My governor is one of the many reasons my husband and I joined the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Located almost in the heart of Naples, you can ride in an electric boat, quiet, hardly a wave, and bask in the beauty of the Gordon River, with the gentle breeze caressing your face, while you listen to the very informed boat captain while you watch for exotic birds, alligators. The Conservancy has the most progressive and lifesaving von Arx Wildlife Hospital. They help over 4,000 animals a year. If you see an injured animal call 239-262-CARE (2273). They have hands-on, for-the-kids animal talks about invasive species and what you should do if you come upon them. Many educational displays and interactive stations. The Conservancy has protected thousands of acres of vital and biodiverse lands and waterways, representing Floridas oldest natural habitats that are home to imperiled and iconic wildlife and plants. Some of the wildlife they have protected are the Florida panther, bald eagle, manatee, wood stork and gopher tortoise. Most important to us is they, with the help of willing donors that believe our waterways, wildlife, and lands should be protected, have and will sue the Florida government, or builders, to protect Floridas biodiversity. Governor, when you were first elected to the governorship in Florida, you made a speech that we cheered. You said you were going to clean up our waterways. Respectfully sir, you did not do that. As a matter of fact, you have given way to our waters to degrade. Florida is one of the best states in the union, or it used to be. You have used it for your own agenda, I believe, and not for us or the wildlife and waterways we treasure. So sir, I hope all the people who care about our beautiful state will join The Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Please help us get back on track and protect what we believe is sacred and probably will save us. Call 239-262-0304 or email at info@conservancy.org. And by the way, the volunteers at the Conservancy have now donated more that 430,000 hours. They know their stuff too. Thank you all for helping save us. Debra Hodroff of Estero says she has no other affiliation to The Conservancy of Southwest Florida other than caring for our environment and our wildlife. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Conservancy saving wildlife and waterways we treasure The host of the United Nations COP28 climate change summit cast doubt on whether eliminating fossil fuels would help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, saying there is no science behind it. Scientists told The Guardian, which first reported the comments, that his remarks are incredibly concerning and verging on climate denial. There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is whats going to achieve 1.5C, Sultan Al-Jaber, who is CEO of United Arab Emirates state oil company ADNOC, said in November during an online SHE Changes Climate event. He also claimed that phasing out fossil fuels would take the world back into caves. Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, he said, unless you want to take the world back into caves. Former vice president Al Gore critized the UAE for Al-Jabers appointment as president of COP28, saying the UAE is abusing public trust. They are abusing the publics trust by naming the CEO of one of the largest and least responsible oil companies in the world as head of the COP, Gore told Reuters in an interview from the summit. During his presentation to COP28, Gore called out the UAE for increasing its greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5 percent in 2022. Al-Jaber made the comments in response to Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former UN special envoy for climate change, who urged him to push COP28 toward eliminating the use of oil, coal and gas. We have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel, Robinson said. That is the one decision that COP28 can take under your presidency, and in many ways, because youre head of ADNOC, you could actually take it with more credibility. Al-Jaber said, 1.5 is my North Star, and a phase down and a phase out of fossil fuel in my view is inevitable. It is essential, but we need to be real, serious and pragmatic about it. The science is very acute now, Robinson retorted. We dont have any time. Scientists at COP28 released a new report warning that without a rapid and managed fossil fuel phase-out, the 1.5C threshold is unobtainable, and surpassing it is almost inevitable. Bill Hare, the chief executive of Climate Analytics, told The Guardian that Robinson and Al-Jabers conversation was an extraordinary, revealing, worrying and belligerent exchange. Sending us back to caves is the oldest of fossil fuel industry tropes: its verging on climate denial, he added. Al-Jabers stance contradicts the position taken by the UN and Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who told COP28 delegates on Friday that eliminating fossil fuels is necessary to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius: The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate. Environmental activists sounded the alarm in January when Al-Jaber was announced to lead the 2023 COP, expressing concern that his position as an oil executive constitutes a conflict of interest. Like last years summit, were increasingly seeing fossil fuel interests taking control of the process and shaping it to meet their own needs, Teresa Anderson, global lead of climate justice at ActionAid, said in a statement at the time. The summit, which runs through Dec. 12, is charged with putting together a climate agreement, though it remains to be seen whether that agreement will call for a phase out or phase down of fossil fuels. Currently, more than 100 countries in Africa, Europe, the Pacific, and the Caribbean back phasing out widespread fossil fuel use. This breaking news post has been updated to include Al Gores comments. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone There is no doubt that divine providence has a sense of humour. As our King and Prime Minister joined tens of thousands of eco-warriors at Cop28, in Dubai, to decry (and contribute to) the threat of carbon emissions warming the planet, Alpine ski slopes were covered in pre-seasonal snow and Britain has had its earliest snowfall in 15 years. It reminded me of the night, 15 years ago, when Parliament passed the Climate Change Act amid terrifying predictions of catastrophic heatwaves. Then, too, providence teased us as, outside Parliament, snow fell in London in October for the first time in 74 years. I was one of the Infamous Five who voted against that Act. Not because I doubted the science I studied physics at Cambridge and know the basic science of global warming is rock solid. An exceptional cold-weather event no more disproves global warming than fires in Greece prove it is getting worse. Incidentally, Nasa satellites show that the area burnt annually by forest fires has declined by 25 per cent since they started collecting data. But I had read the Impact Assessment the cost-benefit analysis which governments must produce for any Bill. Officials said I was the only MP to ask for a copy. It showed that the potential cost was twice the maximum benefit. Unless you disputed the accuracy of the Impact Assessment (which no one did), no rational person could vote for the Act. But, then and since, our political class has put reason aside, preferring to use this issue for virtue signalling. Why bother about costs which in 2008 were far in the future? Now, those costs are imminent, as people face replacing oil and gas boilers with more expensive heat pumps, and diesel and petrol cars with more expensive electric cars. This prompted Rishi Sunak, very sensibly, to promise a more pragmatic and proportional route to net zero. Of course, if it were true that any delay would risk the extinction of humanity as implied by the very name Extinction Rebellion, and claims by our leaders that climate change is an existential threat no cost would be too great to avoid such a fate. So, I asked ministers if they know of any peer-reviewed study accepted by the IPCC (the UN body established to assess the science of global warming) that forecasts the extinction of humanity if the world takes no action to phase out fossil fuels. The answer was clear: there are none. Nor is there a serious threat of humankind being reduced to poverty, hunger and wretchedness if we dont reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The central conclusion of Lord Sterns official review of the economics of climate change was that if the world does nothing not if we do not do enough, but if we do nothing it would be equivalent to making us all 5 per cent poorer than we would otherwise be, now and forever. But a 5 per cent loss does not remotely amount to impoverishment of the human race, just setting us back by two or three years growth. More recently, Prof Nordhaus, who won the Nobel Prize in 2018 for assessing the costs and benefits of action on climate change, concluded that the optimum target for the world to aim for is not 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, but nearer to 3C, which means there may be scope to delay our net zero target beyond 2050. If a Nobel Prize is not enough and you want the imprimatur of the IPCC, these are the opening words of its chapter on the impact of climate change on the economy: For most economic sectors, the impact of climate change will be small relative to the impacts of other drivers. Changes in population, age, income, technology, relative prices, lifestyle, regulation, governance, and many other aspects of socio-economic development will have an impact on the supply and demand of economic goods and services that is large relative to the impact of climate change. As a Conservative, I want to prevent avoidable change even if it is not catastrophic so long as this can be done at reasonable cost. But we should weigh the cost of actions to reduce emissions against the cost of inaction. And we should harness the power of the market to develop lower-cost alternatives to fossil fuels for heating, transport and so on before forcing people to adopt new technologies whose cost has not yet come down to those based on conventional fuels. I fear, hoewver, that will not be the approach of this conference. Lord Lilley is a former trade and industry secretary 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. Climate activists protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza at COP28 in Dubai Climate activists protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza at COP28 in Dubai By Alexander Cornwell DUBAI (Reuters) - More than 100 protesters gathered on Sunday on the sidelines of the COP28 U.N. climate summit to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, an unusual sight in the United Arab Emirates where freedom of expression is limited. The UAE tolerates little dissent and bans organised groups like political parties and labour unions, but as hosts of the annual U.N. conference, the Gulf state is allowing protests to take place at COP28 itself. Holding banners calling for a "ceasefire" and "climate decolonisation", activists in the Dubai Expo City chanted "Free, Free Palestine". "We are seeking an end to the siege, end to the occupation," Palestinian-American Tariq Luthun told Reuters after taking part in an earlier, smaller demonstration calling for a ceasefire. Jacob Maurice Johns, an Indigenous activist from North America, said Palestinian voices were being silenced and needed the world to stand in solidarity with them. In a statement issued on Sunday at COP28, Israel's Consul General Liron Zaslanaky said her country was fighting in self-defence and doing its best to avoid harming civilians. Israel says Hamas gunmen killed about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners and took around 240 hostage when they stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7. Gazan health officials say more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's subsequent bombardment and invasion of the coastal enclave. There so far have been no demonstrations outside the COP28 site, unlike at previous U.N. climate summits such as COP26 in Glasgow where thousands of climate activists rallied in the streets. Even within the confines of COP28, climate activists said they were trying humor to draw delegates' attention as they sought to delicately navigate UAE restrictions on freedom of expression even as they stayed within the summit's compound. American activist Alice McGown dressed up Sunday as a dugong and held a sign saying "no more fossils" to protest the planned expansion of state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co's offshore gas operations in a protected marine area that is home to the aquatic mammals. Some activists at COP28 expressed worry about UAE surveillance. "This is a very restricted political space," said Lyndinyda Nacpil, a Filipino activist who said she had to navigate strict U.N. rules in helping to organise Sunday's larger Palestinian rally. Others at the rally said there could be "no climate justice without human rights", but they were careful not criticise Israel by name to adhere to U.N. guidelines. A COP28 spokesperson said the UAE protects the right to protest in line with international agreements. UAE authorities did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the protests. The war in Gaza has featured prominently at COP28, where several world leaders on Friday spoke critically of Israel's bombardment. While country exhibition spaces typically focus on climate-related issues, the Israeli pavilion this year features a book of photographs of hostages taken by the militant Palestinian group Hamas. ___ For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Katy Daigle and Jan Harvey) Under Senate leader Phil Berger, Republican state lawmakers have entrenched their majority through gerrymandering, taken authority from the governor and helped elect state Supreme Court justices who will protect their legislation from constitutional challenges. But now the architect of that statewide power expansion may be facing a weakening of his local base. A recent report by the News & Observer said Berger a state senator since 2005 may face a Republican primary challenge from a popular sheriff in his home county of Rockingham County. The report said Sheriff Sam Page, a candidate in a crowded field of Republicans seeking the GOPs nomination for lieutenant governor, fared well in a recent poll pitting him against Berger in a state Senate race. The poll was requested by a group called the North Carolina Conservative Project, but the groups membership was not disclosed. Page, the Rockingham sheriff since 1998, told the News & Observer, Whatever I decide that Im gonna do, I want to do whats in the best interest of the state of North Carolina and the people that I serve, our citizens. Page could not be reached for further comment. Jennifer Mangrum, a Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Berger in 2018, said she saw enough local unhappiness with the Senate leader to think that a Republican could defeat him. Polls during my 2018 campaign showed he was not extremely popular in Rockingham County; however, the common opinion was a not-so-well-liked Republican is always better than a Democrat, said Mangrum, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. If a strong Republican candidate arises for the 2024 cycle, those same people will most likely support him or her as well. The idea of the ruler of the General Assembly being toppled by a local challenger is far fetched. Berger, who has served in the Senate since 2001, regularly wins reelection by large margins. Berger dismissed the poll results. He told reporters, I generally think its unwise to put any credence in an anonymous poll, and I certainly have not received a reception in my district that leads me to believe that that poll is in any way accurate. But there are signs that Berger, who spends much of his time in Raleigh protecting and advancing Republican gains statewide, may need to reassure local voters that he represents rather than dictates to them. This year, Berger overreached in a way that has left him vulnerable to a primary challenge in his safely Republican Senate District 26, which includes all of Rockingham and part of Guilford Counties. He unsuccessfully championed adding as many as four casinos in North Carolina, including one in his home county, despite conservative opposition to state-sanctioned gambling and local opposition to bringing a casino into Rockingham County. A September poll by the Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling showed that 60 percent of voters in Bergers district opposed expanding casino gambling, while only 28 percent supported it. Berger also threatened to use legislation to de-annex 973 acres in Summerfield, a town in his district, if the town did not accommodate a developers request to allow denser development on the acreage. The town acquiesced, but hard feelings remain. In these two instances, Berger got out in front of issues that conservative Republicans generally dont support state-backed gambling and state interference in local government matters. Still, Berger has enough political capital that he may be able to afford to burn some on issues he personally cares about. Berger is on track to win reelection easily, but a primary challenge by the Rockingham sheriff would be a significant test. If Berger is unseated at the peak of his power in Raleigh because he dismissed the concerns of people back home, it would be an extraordinary confirmation of the adage that all politics are local. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com SHANGHAI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- An air route linking east China's Shanghai with Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, was launched on Saturday, marking the start of a direct flight between the two destinations. The round-trip service, operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, is currently scheduled for every Saturday. The air service will be expanded to operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting from Dec. 20, according to Shanghai Airport Authority. The opening of the direct flight route will build a new bridge for the "air Silk Road" in South Asia, which will better promote the economic and trade exchanges, cultural exchanges and tourism development between China and Nepal, the airport authority said. At present, 101 airlines operate regular flights from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, connecting 274 destinations in 45 countries. The Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv border crossing between Ukraine and Poland will be opened on Dec. 4 for empty trucks, the State Border Guard reported on Dec. 3. According to the report, "empty heavy-duty vehicles with a total permitted mass exceeding 7.5 tons will be allowed to pass from Ukraine to Poland," starting from 1 a.m. on Dec. 4. "The opening of 'Uhryniv' is the first step on the list of measures being implemented to unlock the border, reduce queues, and increase the capacity of the Ukrainian-Polish border," the State Border Guard wrote on Facebook. Polish truckers started blocking three border crossing points on Nov. 6 in protest of the liberalization of EU transport rules for Ukrainian trucks, causing huge lines on both sides of the border. Earlier on Dec. 1, Poland and Ukraine agreed to take steps to ease the border truck blockages caused by Polish protesters. After meeting for talks in Warsaw, Ukrainian and Polish representatives agreed to open a crossing point for empty trucks at the Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv border crossing, create separate electronic passes for empty vehicles at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk and Krakivets-Korczowa crossing points and launch a pilot electronic queueing system. On the following day, however, the Polish government said that it would tighten controls on Ukrainian trucks crossing the Polish border, which was one of the demands of Poland's protesting haulers. The two sides did not discuss canceling or changing the visa-free regime between the two countries, which the protesters demanded. Still, the Polish government said it would crack down on "unscrupulous competition on the transport market." Read also: Opinion: Polands democratic rebirth pains Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. David Davis said The Telegraph is one of the most important newspapers in the country - Jamie Lorriman Ministers should block the sale of The Telegraph to a company backed by Abu Dhabis ruling family, a former Cabinet minister has said. David Davis, a senior Tory MP warned the Government that it would be able to do nothing to protect the titles independence if the deal went ahead. He said the Telegraphs massive influence during general elections and Conservative leadership contests means it should not be foreign-owned. Mr Davis made the remarks three days after Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, triggered a public interest investigation into the sale. Speaking to Camilla Tominey on GB News, the former Brexit Secretary urged Ms Frazer to go further by putting a halt to the planned takeover. He said: I just think its wrong. We shouldnt normally, in my view, allow people who are outside the reach of our country to own major newspapers. The Telegraph is one of the most important newspapers in the country. It has massive influence both at elections and on peoples general views. And indeed, when there are Tory party leadership contests, as may happen in the next few years, then they have a massive influence there too. Why should we give that power to the Emirates? In this case a country which, in the past, has not exactly treated press freedom with any sort of respect. Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, issued a statement last Thursday announcing that she was triggering a Public Interest Intervention Notice surrounding the planned sale - LEON NEAL/GETTY/GETTY He also raised the issue of womens rights in the UAE, adding: There are all sorts of areas where it clashes with what Id think of as the national interest. Asked whether he thought Rishi Sunak and the Government should step in and stop the sale, he replied: Yes, in my view absolutely. Mr Davis said that ministers should learn from what happened when The Times was sold to Rupert Murdoch, the Australian media tycoon, in 1981. He said: At that time there were conditions put upon it and those conditions were broken and there was nothing we could do about it. We were told that the editor of The Times would be independent. Eventually one of them got sacked and we could do nothing about it. The same would apply with the Emirates. Frankly, we could do nothing to protect it. Mr Daviss intervention comes after a group of senior Tory MPs urged ministers to intervene over the deal, warning it had serious national security implications. Both The Telegraph and The Spectator are up for sale and are subject to the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover bid, which has led to concerns over national security. Public Interest Intervention Notice triggered Lloyds Banking Group took control of Telegraph Media Group, the titles parent company, in June from the Barclay family over an outstanding debt. The family is pursuing a 1.2 billion deal to hand over control of the titles to RedBird IMI, a fund backed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the UAE vice-president. Ms Frazer issued a statement on Thursday announcing that she was triggering a Public Interest Intervention Notice surrounding the planned sale. It means both Ofcom, the media watchdog, and the Competition and Markets Authority will look into potential issues surrounding the deal. Ms Frazer added that she reserved the right to take such further actionas I consider appropriate including personally intervening in the deal. RedBird IMI said any sale would be subject to regulatory review and it would continue to cooperate fully with the Government and the regulator. In a statement it added: Redbird IMI are entirely committed to maintaining the existing editorial team at The Telegraph and The Spectator publications and believe that editorial independence for these titles is essential to protecting their reputation and credibility. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is kicking off DMV Black Restaurant Week on Monday by announcing the fourth round of Food Access Fund grantees. The Food Access Fund is a grant program Bowser launched in 2021 that focuses on increasing access to grocery stores, restaurants, fast-casual restaurants and other food access points. The fund particularly focuses on Wards 7 and 8, the mayors office said in a press release. 50 firefighters respond to Washington County housefire that caused $150K in damages The kick-off event will take place at the ribbon cutting of Miss Tonyas Southern Cajun Kitchen, a new Black-owned restaurant in Ward 7 and previous Food Access Fund Recipient. DMV Black Restaurant Week was established in 2018 and promotes many local Black-owned restaurants and food service providers in the D.C. Metropolitan area. T his year, the week will take place from Dec. 3 to Dec. 10. Visit DMV Black Restaurant Weeks website for the full list of restaurants participating in each ward in D.C., as well as those participating in Silver Spring and Hyattsville. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Gov. Jay Inslee wishes the federal government had more respect for local priorities. Many Washingtonians can only hope thats more than a governors passing fancy. The instigation for Inslees interest in local policies is the expansion of a natural gas pipeline from Canada to the West Coast. The pipeline would pass through Washington near Tri-Cities. In October, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized the expansion, much to the dismay of Inslee and other environmental-minded Western leaders. The attorneys general of Washington, Oregon and California filed a formal petition asking FERC to reconsider its decision. Inslee supports the request. Pipeline opponents cite the usual concerns. Fossil fuels contribute to climate change. They are yesterdays energy sources. They can harm fish, wildlife and waterways. And so on. You dont wean a state and a nation off fossil fuels by increasing the supply. Washington has set the ambitious and probably unattainable goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to 95% below 1990 levels. Most of the critiques arent wrong, though they do tend to gloss over the economic and industrial benefits of energy projects. More than one-third of Washington homes rely on natural gas as their primary heating fuel, and many of them also have gas stoves. Inslee explained the request for reconsideration at a virtual press conference. Were doing so because this FERC decision totally ignores both the legal requirements in the state of Washington and our vision to decarbonize our economy, and wean ourselves off of dangerous toxic methane gas, he said. He doubled down on the notion that those who govern should pay attention to what the governed want. It is incredible to us that a federal agency would allow a project to move forward which is diametrically opposed to the policies and the laws of the state of Washington, he said. Hearing Inslee stump against greenhouse gases is nothing new. But hearing him criticize a federal agency for pushing through a project he says the state doesnt want is ironic. Does he now realize how Tri-Citians feel about unwanted projects being pushed on our community? The states Puget Sound-based Democratic majority, including Inslee, has forced its agenda on Eastern Washington for a long time. Tri-Citians dont want the massive Horse Heaven Wind Farm to mar the Mid-Columbia landscape. One might even say that the project is diametrically opposed to the values of a community that cherishes its rural character and wide-open vistas. They dont unilaterally oppose wind turbines, but they do believe that the people who will live near them have a better understanding of where they could best be located. Will Gov. Inslee now reconsider his support and align himself with the locals who will have to live with the consequences? Theres also a disconnect when environmentalists oppose a natural gas pipeline but support removing hydroelectric dams. Removing the dams will increase demand for other sources of energy, and right now green energy alone cannot make up the gap, even if the Biden administration has a secret $1+ billion plan. Maybe now that Inslee has felt the sting of being ignored by distant policymakers, hell have a new appreciation for what it feels like to live in Eastern Washington. Its hard to take his complaints that the federal government doesnt listen to Democrats in Olympia when they dont listen to so much of the state. Deputies from the King County Sheriffs Department responded to an assault near Military Road South and South 164 Street around 8:38 a.m. Saturday morning. The victim told deputies they were assaulted with a gun but nobody was shot before the suspect, a 48-year-old man escaped. Sea-Tac police tracked the suspect and determined they were around South 161 Street & 49/51 Avenue South. When police checked the neighborhood, the suspect got cornered inside a house and eventually surrendered to law enforcement around 12:45 p.m. The assault survivor was not seriously hurt. Ron DeSantis, who in the Congress voted three times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, is now promising a less costly, better plan of his own to supersede it while bashing Donald Trump for failing to fulfill his vow to repeal and replace the popular health care legislation. He also ducked a question on whether he would sign a federal abortion ban but promised to restrict access in other ways. During a Meet the Press interview on Sunday, the Florida governor claimed that his plan would lower prices but offered no concrete details about how he would make that happen. DeSantis track record on this issue is not great. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Florida ranks among the five most expensive states for health care in the U.S., and he has prevented Floridians from accessing necessary health care, including gender-affirming care for trans youth and abortions. WELKER: Can tell me what specifically your health care plan is and what the plan is to ensure the 40m people who now have health insurance through Obamacare keep it? DeSANTIS: Well, we're gonna be working on it. Probably in the spring we'll roll out a big proposal. pic.twitter.com/T6WBf0bW0T Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 3, 2023 Former President Trump said he wants to repeal and replace Obamacare, something he tried and failed to do when he was president, host Kristen Welker said. You were in Congress at the time. If you were president, would it be your plan to try to repeal and replace Obamacare, something you voted to eliminate three times? Youre right. President Trump promised that he would repeal and replace Obamacare. And he didnt do it. And that was a promise that he made a lot of times, said the governor, who trails Trump in the polls by nearly 50 points, according to 538s average. DeSantis continued, This is part of a pattern, where [Trump is] running on things that he didnt do. Heres what I will do. What I think were going to need to do is have a plan that will supersede Obamacare, that will lower prices for people so that they can afford healthcare while also making sure that people will preexisting conditions are protected. And were going to look at the big institutions that are causing prices to be high: Big Pharma, big insurance, and big government. But its going to need to be where you have a reform package thats going to be put in place. When Welker asked how DeSantis would ensure those enrolled in ACA plans would keep their insurance, he offered yet another vague answer: Well, were gonna be working on it. Probably in the spring well roll out a big proposal. Ive got a lot of input thats been coming in from a lot of good people around the country. But we will definitely be addressing insurance, well definitely be addressing big government, and we will be addressing Big Pharma. A 2022 Forbes analysis of Kaiser Family Foundation data ranked Florida the fourth most expensive state for health care, and Floridians were the fifth most likely state population to skip seeing the doctor in the last 12 months due to cost. DeSantis has also signed a law making it a felony for doctors to provide gender-affirming health care to transgender children, even if they seek treatment outside the state of Florida. And he instituted a ban on abortion procedures after only six weeks gestation, which is before many even know they are pregnant. During the Covid pandemic, he sued the Biden administration over vaccination mandates for federal workers and banned mask mandates in schools. WATCH: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) who signed a six-week abortion ban in Florida says he supports federal abortion rules that "would have consensus. But DeSantis says, "Congress is not going to do any type of abortion legislation." pic.twitter.com/5T6YW5iiDu Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 3, 2023 When Welker pressed DeSantis on whether he would sign a six week federal abortion ban, the governor refused to answer, instead saying that Congress is not going to do any type of abortion legislation. But he did say he would restrict access to abortion in other ways, including prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion, ending Pentagon reimbursements for abortion care and protect[ing] the rights of states to enact pro-life protections. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Never Back Down the super PAC supporting Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has parted ways with its interim chief executive officer after she served nine days on the job. Kristin Davison replaced former CEO Chris Jankowski on Nov. 22. Jankowski said in a statement through a group spokesperson that it has become untenable for me to deliver on the shared goal and that goes well beyond a difference of strategic opinion. Davison has not commented on her departure from the organization. Scott Wagner will now fill two roles, the organizations chairman and CEO. Wagner, a longtime DeSantis ally, was a member of the super PACs board, the groups spokesperson Jessica Szymanski said in an emailed statement. Davisons departure is the latest in the super PACs shakeups. Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R) also recently stepped down, leaving his position as the groups chair on Friday. He said he spent nearly 26 straight months of being in a full-scale campaign and needed to return his attention to his family and law practice. Despite the staffing changes, the organization insists it has the most organized, advanced caucus operation of anyone in the 2024 primary field. We look forward to continuing that great work to help elect Gov. DeSantis the next President of the United States, Szymanskis statement said. The GOP presidential campaigns are nearing the final stretch ahead of the Iowa caucuses in January. DeSantis is in Iowa campaigning this weekend, fulfilling his promise to visit each of the states 99 counties. DeSantis earned the official backing of Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds early last month after she credited him for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida and championed him as one of the most effective leaders she had ever seen. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) Government officials condemned the explosion that killed four persons in Marawi City on Sunday, urging authorities to quickly bring those responsible to justice. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the act "senseless and most heinous." He said additional security forces were being deployed to ensure the safety of all. "Rest assured we will bring the perpetrators of this ruthless act to justice," he said, thanking local officials for quickly responding to the incident and for promptly assisting the victims. Bangsamoro chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim called the act "atrocious and cowardly," saying they were against "any form of violence and extremism" as these negatively impact people's lives and peace of mind. "We urge authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to swiftly bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice," he added. "The Bangsamoro government is fully committed to supporting and cooperating with the investigative agencies to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their wicked actions." Authorities reported that at least four people were killed in the explosion at the Dimaporo Gymnasium inside the Mindanao State University campus on Sunday as mass was being celebrated. The suspects have yet to be identified nor their motive for the blast. Lanao del Sur governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. was among the first to denounce the explosion and condole with the families of the victims. "We will make sure justice will be served," Adiong said in a statement. Marawi City mayor Majul U Gandamra also spoke up against what he called a "senseless act of violence." "We are closely coordinating with the security task force on campus to ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are found and brought to justice without delay," he added. Gandamra asked the public to stay calm and to avoid spreading unverified information about the incident as it could cause panic and further add distress "to an already traumatized community." The mayor also said the incident should not be allowed to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians, adding that Marawi has long been a place where both communities coexisted peacefully. Several lawmakers have also condemned the incident and asked all Filipinos to unite against forces that want to sow disharmony. European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron spoke up against those responsible for the explosion saying "violence has no place in schools." In this difficult time, my thoughts are filled with concern for those students who have suffered injuries, and my sympathy extends to the families who have lost their loved ones," he said in a tweet. GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said his health care plan will replace ObamaCare if he is elected to the White House, promising that his full plan will be released in the spring. NBCs Kristen Welker pressed DeSantis, the Florida governor, to address former President Trumps vow to repeal and replace ObamaCare a promise that he failed to keep during his time in the White House. Heres what I will do. What I think theyre going to need to do is have a plan that will supersede ObamaCare, that will lower prices for people so that they can afford health care while also making sure that people will preexisting conditions are protected. And were going to look at the big institutions that are causing prices to be high: Big Pharma, big insurance and big government, he said Sunday on Meet the Press. However, he offered scant details for his proposal when asked what supersede meant. He said that his plan will have coverage that is different and better at the lowest possible price. We need to have a health care plan that works, he said when asked whether he will repeal and replace ObamaCare. ObamaCare hasnt worked. We are going to replace and supersede with a better better plan. He said his teams proposal would definitely be addressing insurance, well definitely be addressing big government, and we will be addressing Big Pharma. When pushed for specifics, DeSantis said there would be more transparency, more consumer choice, more affordable options, less red tape, less bureaucracy weighing everybody down. And, for example, we need price transparency. If you want to lower prices, you need to have markets actually work, he said. Look, nobody knows how much anything costs. Well, of course its not going to lower prices. Theres third-party payers. So were going to have transparency, and then were going to have folks have health plans available, so that if they do choose a procedure thats cheaper than the one down the street that they actually share in the savings with lower premiums, he continued. Trump emphasized last week that he wanted to replace ObamaCare, not terminate it. He also said last week that he was seriously looking at alternatives to one of former President Obamas signature pieces of legislation. This came as a surprise to Republicans, who have largely strayed away from the health care debate in recent years as the topic has become a losing issue for them. Trump also noted that the failure to repeal the law in 2017 was a a low point for the Republican Party. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is facing high stakes ahead of this weeks Republican primary debate in Alabama, as he looks to regain lost ground in the final weeks before the Iowa caucuses. The forum, which is hosted by NewsNation a news organization owned by Nexstar, which also owns The Hill comes as former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley poses a major threat to DeSantis in polling out of Iowa and New Hampshire. Additionally, Haley is appearing to shore up support from the donor class as well as the powerful, Koch-aligned group Americans For Prosperity (AFP). The primary debate also comes shortly after DeSantis participated in an unusual televised debate Thursday with Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is not running for president but has stoked White House speculation of his own. Both men were able to land a number of jabs at each other during the Fox News event, with DeSantis accusing Newsom of running a shadow campaign for president and calling his California counterpart a liberal bully, while Newsom mocked DeSantis over his lagging poll numbers, asking the Florida governor when he was going to drop out of the race to give Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump. DeSantiss performance, like Newsoms, was generally well-received by members of his party at the end of the night. He needs to carry on that momentum he had last night from the Gavin Newsom debate where he comes in as very substantive, said Ford OConnell, a Florida-based GOP strategist. Go after Nikki Haley in some of the ways that Gavin Newsom tried to come after you, he added. The Newsom debate was friendly territory for DeSantis, given Fox News host Sean Hannitys self-proclaimed conservative lean. The forum was also an opportunity for DeSantis to contrast his record as governor of Florida, which has trended red in recent years, with Newsoms job in California, a reliably blue state. However, DeSantis faces a very different environment heading into next weeks debate, where he will be on stage with Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. As of Friday, it was unclear whether former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would qualify for the stage. I dont think that most people think that Vivek is going to be the nominee of the party or has a chance at being the Trump alternative, so I think that the opportunity exists for Gov. DeSantis to show why hes the best alternative for President Trump over Nikki Haley, said Justin Sayfie, a Florida-based Republican strategist. DeSantis has been in a battle with Haley for second place for months, as she has steadily gained on him in the polls following several strong debate performances. Polling out of New Hampshire shows Haley surging to second place, while recent polling out of Iowa shows her tied with DeSantis. According to the RealClearPolitics national polling average, Trump leads the pack with 62 percent support, DeSantis comes in second with 13.6 percent support and Haley comes in with 9.6 percent. Gov. DeSantis remains the only candidate close to the front-runner, said Dan Eberhart, a DeSantis donor. Theres been movement among the pack but it hasnt changed the basic order of the front-runners. Eberhart called on DeSantis to take an aggressive tone against Trump in an effort to maintain his second-place perch. DeSantis shouldnt punch down. He needs to target the front-runner, and when hes not doing that, he needs to speak directly to voters about what hes going to do for them when hes president, Eberhart said, adding that getting into verbal battles with Ramaswamy and Haley only elevates them. However, other Republicans argue that DeSantis should take Haley head-on amid recent praise she has received from donors and nonpopulist Republicans. You want to paint Nikki Haley as not America First, OConnell said. The point isnt that shes on the side of American workers, shes on the side of Wall Street. In addition to receiving the AFPs endorsement this week, Haley also received praise from JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. On Wednesday, Dimon said Democrats should help Haley in her presidential bid, saying she would be better than Trump. Trump, in turn, hit Dimon in a Truth Social post, calling him overrated. Highly overrated Globalist Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan, is quietly pushing another non-MAGA person, Nikki Haley, for President, Trump wrote. Ive never been a big Jamie Dimon fan, but had to live with this guy when he came begging to the White House. Sayfie noted that having the support of the wealthiest Americans in a GOP primary is not going to lead to much support from primary voters. Trump and DeSantis have both appealed to many of the same populist Republican voters throughout their political careers, and still do. An October NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom survey found that 67 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa say they are considering both DeSantis and Trump. And while Haleys backers say she has a broad appeal for Republicans across the partys spectrum, other Republicans say that Trump and DeSantis are more reflective of the partys populist base. I was a Jeb Bush supporter in 2016, and I watched it happen, Sayfie said. He had the money, he had the resources, he had the endorsement, he had the organization structure. He had everything. He checked all the boxes. The only path to winning the nomination is from the populist wing of the party, period. End of story, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Sunday that the House GOP focus on issues voters care about instead of an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, arguing that it will likely not lead anywhere. DeSantis told NBCs Kristen Welker on Meet the Press that while he believes the Biden family is corrupt and that opening an impeachment inquiry is justifiable, the effort will likely not lead anywhere. He said that House Republicans have been ignoring issues that voters care about, such as border security, the economy and the overstepping of federal agencies. However, I think they run the risk of doing an inquiry that doesnt necessarily lead anywhere while theyve been ignoring a lot of the problems that our voters are talking about, DeSantis said. Three GOP-led House committees have been investigating Biden and his familys business dealings for months. Their findings pushed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to open an impeachment inquiry in September a move that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has also backed since stepping into the leadership role. DeSantiss comments also come as House Republicans plan to hold a vote to formalize their impeachment inquiry into Biden within the next two weeks. An impeachment into Biden lacks the support needed in the Democrat-led Senate, where Senate Republicans have also been signaling opposition to the move. DeSantis reiterated that House Republicans need to address other issues as they are conducting the inquiry. And so if youre doing the inquiry, which, again, I think is justifiable, you also have to be addressing all these other issue, DeSantis said Sunday. And I think that theres a feeling out here that theyre not focused on the key issues that they wanted to see addressed. Clearly, on the budget, theres been no progress on that. So, make sure youre not ignoring all these other issues. And dont use that inquiry as kind of a Trojan horse to not then meet your responsibilities on all these other things, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jeremy Hunts tax-cutting Autumn Statement has delivered little of the sort amid frozen thresholds and a higher corporation tax rates - CHRIS RATCLIFFE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock After describing his new tax cuts as the biggest in history, Jeremy Hunt came under fire for being fundamentally dishonest. While the Chancellor reduced employee National Insurance contributions from 12pc to 10pc in his recent Autumn Statement, his predecessor Nigel Lawson slashed personal taxation by the same amount in the late 1980s and did so two years in a row. Hunt also extended full expensing so companies can deduct the full cost of new plant and machinery from taxable profits permanently, a policy originally meant to last just three years. But many smaller companies, whose balance sheets are still ravaged by lockdown and the cost of living crisis, cant finance the investment needed to benefit from the tax break. Many would have preferred Hunt simply to reverse the stinging corporation tax increase, from 19pc to 25pc, that he introduced last spring. The reality is, though, that Hunts drop in workers National Insurance a 10bn tax cut was swamped by the impact of freezing thresholds until 2028. As wages and prices rise, this callous policy drags some seven million workers into higher tax brackets, adding a massive 44.6bn to the tax bill of hard-working people. So the tax-cutting Autumn Statement delivered less than a fortnight ago was nothing of the sort. The Chancellors measures actually increase tax revenue as a share of GDP to 37.7pc over the next few years, a 70-year high. Perhaps the Governments bungled spin operation is why Hunt went on the offensive last week, calling Labours tax-and-spending plans fundamentally dishonest. As legislation enacting lower NICs from next month went through Parliament last Thursday, the Chancellor said Labour couldnt responsibly back his tax cut while pledging to borrow up to 28bn a year for green investments. Labours numbers just dont add up, declared Hunt. The Chancellor is either being dishonest, economically illiterate, or both, replied shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves. Were still possibly over a year from a general election. But as polling day approaches, the fiscal claims and counter-claims, the finger-pointing about unfunded spending pledges and budget black holes, will only get more frequent. But when news emerged on Thursday that Alistair Darling had died, aged just 70, there was an outbreak of warm tributes from across the political spectrum. Just hours after he accused Labour of being fundamentally dishonest, Hunt was lauding his Labour predecessor chancellor during Gordons Browns premiership, from 2007 to 2010 as one of the great chancellors who did the right thing for the country at a time of extraordinary turmoil. Darling was a shrewd, pragmatic politician whose greatest strength was his understated personality and his calmness under pressure. Ever-present in government for 13 years after Tony Blairs 1997 landslide, Darling epitomised New Labour a one-time Left-wing firebrand who came to accept that UK elections are generally won and lost on the centre ground. So like many fellow frontbenchers, he tempered his views and rhetoric, while helping his party implement reforms he felt would make Britain not just a more prosperous, but also a fairer society. Successive New Labour governments were riven with increasing antagonism between Blairites and Brownites. While naturally closer to fellow Scot Gordon Brown, Darling was unusual a senior New Labour figure able to move between and broker deals between the two camps. This reflected not just his political skills, but respect for his judgment across his party, the broader political and media class and the public as a whole. Alistair Darling was able to deftly navigate Labour internal politics during the course of his long career in the party - Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images As panic ensued from the 2008 financial crisis, and with No 10 pre-emptively blaming him for a banking sector meltdown, Darling was pivotal in shaping and implementing rescue plans, in the UK and elsewhere. While far from perfect, his measures probably made the best of an extremely bad situation and certainly averted fully-blown financial disaster. As MP for Edinburgh South West, Darling also led the cross-party Better Together campaign during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, seeing off efforts to break up the UK another huge achievement. He fully deserves the fulsome tributes to his memory this weekend, from across the political spectrum. Last week I joined shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds on the latest leg of Labours small business road show. In a bid to gain power, Sir Keir Starmers party is cosying-up to commercial types just as Darling and his colleagues did during the mid-1990s, the so-called prawn cocktail offensive. Reynolds was bold opting to visit a logistics company in Basildon, Essex. Ordinarily a Tory stronghold, Labour snatched Basildon in 1997, a fact not lost on the partys campaign team. Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said Labour wants to reform business rates so they reward expansion - Carlos Jasso/Bloomberg While Reynolds was received politely by local business leaders, there were concerns that Labour would raise the minimum wage sharply from 10.42 an hour to 15, imposing huge costs on business. Following Hunts Autumn Statement, the rate is already set to rise almost 10pc to 11.44 from next April. Reynolds countered by pledging to introduce root-and-branch reform of business rates a much-hated tax, levied on the rateable value of commercial premises and due whether or not a company generates any profit at all. Bearded and understated, Reynolds reminded me of a younger Alistair Darling. And while he talked a good game on business rates which raise a huge 25bn a year, roughly the same as fuel duty he was determined to avoid specifics. We want to reform business rates so they reward expansion, he told me. They should be more market responsive, reacting to real world conditions not spreadsheets in Whitehall. Revenues from business rates have fallen in relative terms from 5pc of total revenues in the early 1990s, to around 3pc now. That share is set to rise over the coming year, as various lockdown-era exemptions expire. Having previously vowed to scrap business rates, though, leaving a huge hole in the public finances, Labours message is now more nuanced. In fact, when I asked Reynolds if Labours new business rates regime would raise more or less than todays 25bn haul, he refused to confirm either way. The plaudits from all quarters for Darling are apposite and welcome. But it wont be long before normal service is restored, as the fiscal mud-slinging resumes. 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. With dice rolling across the craps table at Medinah Temple, it may be worthwhile to recall that unsanctioned gambling long flourished in Chicago, giving rise to Patrick Healys admonition when legal casinos in Chicago were discussed in 1983. You might as well bring back Al Capone, said the head of Chicagos Crime Commission. Capone died in 1947. But the Tribunes archives are replete with accounts of the illicit gambling and casinos over the decades when Capone and Chicago were synonymous the world over. Capone came to Chicago in 1919 at the invitation of Johnny Torrio. They had shared a mobsters apprenticeship on New Yorks mean streets. Torrio had moved here to be an assistant to Big Jim Colosimo, whose eponymous restaurant was a favorite of high society and the demimonde. Its origins were a humble joint on South Wabash Avenue where blue-collar workers gambled away their paychecks. In 1913, Big Jim remade it into a glamorous nightclub decorated in rose and gold and with an elevating stage where showgirls pranced. You saw thieves and gamblers and crooked coppers and lords and dukes of the badlands, a Tribune reporter noted. But you could see, too, millionaires and merchants and bankers and novelists and teachers of kindergarten. Torrio wasnt there on May 11, 1920, when Colosimo was assassinated, prompting the assumption that he had ordered the hit. To counter that, Torrio organized a massive funeral for Colosimo that became the template for gangster funerals. The feds shut down Colosimos in 1926, somewhat belatedly realizing it was violating Prohibitions ban on booze. Having survived an assassination attempt the previous year, Torrio went back to New York. Capone inherited his criminal enterprises and established a dynasty of casinos. One was the Hawthorne Smoke Shop at 4837 W. 22nd St. in Cicero, and subsequently at other locations in that suburb. As its moniker suggests, it appeared to be a cigar store. But as an FBI agents deposition notes, the profits didnt come from stogies and breath mints: The business consisted of taking bets on horse races, roulette wheel, craps and poker. There were approximately 40 to 50 people employed in the business. There was a branch operation in the nearby Hawthorne Race Track, and no doubt about who the owner was. The 22nd Street casino was raided on May 16, 1925, by sheriffs deputes accompanied by the president of a Cicero citizens organization, a local man of the cloth. Capone showed up in his pajamas and threatened the commanding deputy: This is the last raid you will ever pull. He took the citizens leader aside. Reverend, cant we get together? Capone asked. I give to churches. I give to charity. Besides muscle and money, Capone used his talent for public relations to deflect attacks on his brazen disregard for the law. I give the public what the public wants, he once told a reporter. One thing Chicagoans consistently crave is satisfaction of their fascination with gambling, notes Joseph Epstein, a retired Northwestern University professor and student of local mores. It was an ideal compounded of a good deal of movie going, of watching adults in card rooms of town and country clubs, and in part of Chicago itself, Epstein wrote in a 1972 Tribune essay. Chicago, after all, had a reputation of being a tough town, a mans town, and of course a hoods town, too. Kids in other towns grew up that way, too, Im sure, but without the tradition of machismo that Chicago provided. So its not surprising that entrepreneurial hoods saw the potential windfall from running gambling operations. Dividing the loot often led to violence. Dean OBanion, a florist, doubled as a bootlegger and was granted part ownership of the 22nd Street casino, also known as The Ship, by Torrios gang. In 1924, OBanion was murdered in his floral shop on State Street, kitty corner from Holy Name Cathedral. Presumably the hit man was hired by a disgruntled partner or rival for the betting, rather than the boutonniere, business. Capone was involuntarily retired as a casino impresario by the federal government in the early 1930s. Convicted of income tax evasion, he was locked up in Alcatraz Penitentiary. His henchmen and their successors took up the slack. Jake Greasy Thumb Guzik, a trusted adviser to Capone and subsequent mob leaders, ran the Dome, at 7466 W. Irving Park Road. It was hardly a penny-ante joint, as the states attorney police discovered when raiding the casino in 1943. They seized, by the Tribunes count, 7 roulette wheels, 6 dice tables, 6 poker tables, blackjack tables, chuck-a-luck cages, and other casino paraphernalia. The manager, Bill Bennett, was listed as a distributor of graft payments on the Guzik ledger sheets examined by several grand juries two years ago. In the citys Black neighborhoods, an illegal predecessor to the Illinois Lottery known as policy flourished. To win, bettors had to pick a series of numbers that changed daily. In 1949, police raided a casino at 610 E. 50th St. that a Tribune headline proclaimed a Swank Policy Racket Depot. A sign at that address advised patrons to carefully check the sequence theyd written on their tickets before leaving the counter. Girls Are Not Responsible For Mistakes Hereafter, the sign noted. Those clerks and myriad others in similar casinos were part of a policy empire run by Theodore Roe, the son of a Louisiana sharecropper who came to Chicago to work for a tailor and wound up taking over the local numbers operation. Time magazine noted that the Capone mob was attracted by the $1.12 million Roe and a partner made in 1946. After being kidnapped, the partner paid a $100,000 ransom and retired to Mexico. Roe declined to give up what became a solo operation and in 1951 killed a mobster named Leonard Fat Lennie Caifano during a kidnapping attempt. Roes luck ran out the next year, when he was killed by a shotgun blast outside his South Michigan Avenue home. The acting boss of the Outfit at around that time was Tony Accardo, also known as Joe Batters. En route to succeeding Capone as the mobs capo di tutti capi, Accardo went into the wholesale end of the betting industry. He took control of the wire services that casinos depended upon for setting the odds on a customers wager. Encouraged by his wife, Accardo stepped back from day-to-day mob leadership in the 1950s. He became its consigliere, the elder-statesman adviser. His successor, Sam Giancana, loved the limelight and those who performed in front of it. He dated Phyllis McGuire, a member of the famed singing-sisters Las Vegas act. Giancana had a piece of the Villa Venice, an over-the-top but under water nightclub on Milwaukee Avenue between Northbrook and Wheeling. In a failed attempt to bail it out, he booked the Rat Pack Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. for a show in 1962. The price of admission virtually assured patrons of a seat next to at least a minor-league Mafioso. And as an added attraction, a mob-run casino operated out of a Quonset hut nearby. High rollers were whisked between the supper club and the dice and roulette tables in a shuttle supervised by Sam Slick Rosa, identified by the Tribune as the syndicates chief of limousine service, and his assistant, Joseph Joe Yak Yacullo. The Villa Venice burned to the ground in 1967. Consider, then, the honor roll of mobbed-up casinos and their rogues gallery of owners: Colosimos, the Hawthorne Smoke Shop, Johnny Torrio, Theodore Roe and Dean OBanion, the gangster-florist. What are the odds theyre going to be eclipsed in Chicagoans collective memory by the faceless operators of a legit casino? Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa In front of an enthusiastic crowd, former President Donald Trump took jabs here Saturday at the man he considers his biggest rival in the race for the White House President Joe Biden. The former president, who faces felony charges for trying to overturn the 2020 election, called Biden "the destroyer of American democracy" in front of the hundreds of attendees who packed Kirkwood Community College's Johnson Hall gym Saturday afternoon. A projector screen hovering above the makeshift stage where Trump stood flashed a campaign slogan that read: "Biden attacks democracy." Trump has pleaded not guilty to 91 criminal counts in four separate cases in federal and state court, including allegations of subverting America's democratic elections. He told attendees that the American dream had "died" once the Biden administration took over a dream, he says, that was alive and well while he was in office. "We built the greatest economy in the history of the world," he said, referring to his administration as "incredible" and touting rising wages and low mortgage rates and gas prices. More: Donald Trump jump-starts turnout efforts for Iowa Caucuses, blasts Kim Reynolds in Ankeny Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who was among the event's guest speakers and has endorsed Trump, said she recalled a better economy, a more secure border and more job opportunities when Trump was in the White House. "He's a patriot. He loves our country just as much as we do. We need him in there," she said. "But to do that, I need you to get out and caucus." During the event, the audiences cheers grew longer as state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, one of Trumps endorsers and guest speakers, yelled into the mic and asked: Who else in this room thinks Trump is a rock star bad a--? Who thinks President Trump is a rockstar badass? pic.twitter.com/3532fZVcuj Acyn (@Acyn) December 2, 2023 Trump has remained the dominant front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential race nationally and in Iowa. A compilation of national polls from the polling analysis site FiveThirtyEight shows Trump in the lead with 60%, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in second at 13% and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 10%. In Iowa, 43% of likely Republican caucusgoers named Trump as their first choice for president, an October Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll found. The poll also showed DeSantis and Haley behind Trump, tying in second at 16%. At the event in Cedar Rapids, those in attendance told the Des Moines Register they want Trump back in the White House. And some such as Waterloo resident April Melton say they see Trump as the only plausible Republican nominee. Just minutes before Trump set foot on stage, Melton, 54, told the Register she "can't even envision" anyone other than Trump as the nominee. "Teens have rock stars that they follow like Taylor Swift. Grown-ups have Trump," said Melton, whose red hoodie carried a portrait of the former president, the word "legend" stamped underneath. Melton, who voted for Trump in 2020, criticized Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for endorsing DeSantis after Reynolds initially said she would stay neutral. Melton believes the governor's endorsement is a "great disservice to Iowa residents and voters" and "hurt" them. Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks to the crowd during a caucus event, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette via AP) Others, including Emma Aquino-Nemecek and Joe Mikecin, said they continue to stand by Trump because of his policies on national security and immigration. For Aquino-Nemecek, the latter is personal. The 64-year-old Marion resident said she came to Iowa from the Philippines in 1992 and went through the process legally, filing the proper paperwork and paying all the expenses. "I don't want an open border. I came here legally," she said. "I want everybody to fall in line and do the process instead of just letting everybody (come) in." Mikecin, 61, shared a similar sentiment. "We want immigration, but we don't want illegal immigration," said Mikecin, who traveled from St. Louis to see Trump at the community college in Cedar Rapids. "We are a melting pot and we should be. That's what America is. But you can't butt in front of the line. That's just not right." Like Melton, Mikecin believes Trump is the only option for president. A supporter of Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump wears a Trump "Wanted" T-shirt during a caucus event, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette via AP) "It's Trump or not," said Mikecin, who was among dozens who stood in line hours before the doors to the event opened. Mikecin believes the other presidential contenders can't match Trump's "conviction." He says Trump's absences in the Republican primary debates speak to that trait. "He doesn't need to because we know who he is," Mikecin said. "We know where he stands, and that's where the conviction comes in. We know his policies are going to help all of us who are standing here." F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on Twitter @writefelissa. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Trump adulation on display in Iowa as he attacks Biden on democracy WASHINGTON Ex-President Donald Trump has been indicted over alleged efforts to steal the 2020 election and, in recent weeks, drawn comparisons to dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. But Trump tried to turn around the anti-democratic allegations on Saturday during a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, accusing President Joe Biden and other Democrats of being a threat to the nation. "Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy - Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy," Trump said. Biden aides and their supporters balked at the comments, noting that Trump has proposed stocking the civil service with politically motivated loyalists and pledged to use the Justice Department to prosecute Biden and others. It's not clear whether Trump will embrace his Saturday argument as a new direction for his campaign, but his comments could signal voter rights and other democratic issues will be at the center of the the 2024 election. Donald Trump 'Attempt at distraction' Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, described Trump's democracy argument as "his latest desperate attempt at distraction" from issues like health care: "The American people see right through it and it wont work." "Donald Trumps America in 2025 is one where the government is his personal weapon to lock up his political enemies," Moussa said. Biden and Trump in recent weeks have escalated some longstanding debates that will loom large in the fall campaign, including arguments over health care. Biden and his reelection campaign officials last week zeroed in on the former president after he said he's considering "alternatives" to President Barack Obama's signature 2010 health care law, which Trump claims is driving up costs. His plan is to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, Biden said at a campaign fundraiser Tuesday night in the Denver area. His plan is to throw every one of them (who receive insurance) off that legislation. ... Trump gets his way, its all gone. Trump v. Biden already? Trump and Biden are acting like it's the general election already, as they clash over health care and other policy issues. But democratic institutions will certainly be a major issue in the 2024 contest. In Cedar Rapids, Trump again accused Biden of being behind the four criminal cases against him, though federal and state prosecutors brought those charges. The former president also protested the results of the 2020 election, and attacked litigants who have sued to try and keep him off state ballots because of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. So far, those lawsuits have failed. Opponents "think they can do whatever they want - break any law, tell any lie, ruin any life, trash any norm, and get away with anything they want," Trump told supporters in Iowa. Trump continues to argue that the 2020 election was stolen from him, though there is not evidence he defeated Biden in the contest. 'Sleepwalking into dictatorship'? The campaign clash over democracy comes as a number of political leaders describe Trump as one of the biggest threats to democracy in history, citing his plans to enhance presidential power at the expense of anybody who disputes him. Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who voted to impeach Trump over Jan. 6 and later lost a primary to a Trump-backed candidate, told "CBS News Sunday Morning" that too many Republicans are being "co-opted" by the ex-president. "One of the things that we see happening today is a sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States," said Cheney. who is in the midst of a book tour. Trump said he is fighting Biden and what he called "the anti-Democratic Party." The election, he said, will be "a political earthquake that will echo around the world!" 'Bad things can happen' Before he can contest Biden again, Trump must still get past former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican rivals in the convention delegate race that starts with the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15. But while Trump has been criticized by a handful of prominent conservatives, such as Cheney, it's not clear Republican voters agree with their arguments. In a Real Clear Politics average of national polls on the GOP field, Trump is nearly 50 percentage points ahead of his rivals. While Trump also enjoys a huge lead in polls of the early states Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina - he did warn backers in Cedar Rapids against complacency. "Nothing's over," Trump said. "Bad things can happen." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump lashes out at Joe Biden in Iowa as he faces fraud charges Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) Four people were reported dead and at least 46 were wounded after an explosion at a gymnasium in Marawi City on Sunday morning, the regional police reported. According to the Police Regional Office of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the blast at the Dimaporo Gymnasium in Mindanao State University occurred at 7 a.m. during the Sunday mass. As of writing, all injured individuals are at Amai Pakpak Medical Center while the bodies of the victims remain at the site for further investigation. Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend that of the 46 wounded, 38 were already discharged. Police Chief Benjamin Acorda said in a press conference that five were in critical condition. Officials said that classes in MSU would resume on Monday as the situation had been declared to be under control. Suspects are yet to be identified and their reason for the alleged bombing has not been determined. Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. condemned the "violent bombing incident." "To the families of those whose lives were lost in this senseless act of violence and terrorism, please accept our deepest condolences and sympathies. We will make sure justice will be served," Adiong said in a statement. House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman also condemned the blast, calling the incident "plain and simple terrorism." "Wala na tayong ibang salita para ilarawan ang karahasan na ginawa sa mga estudyanteng payapang nagdadaos ng misa kanina, isang malayang pagpapahayag ng kanilang relihiyon," Hataman said in a statement. [Translation: We have no other words to describe the violence done to students who were peacefully holding mass earlier, a free expression of their religion.] RELATED: Remembering the Marawi Seige Adiong and Hataman urged authorities to immediately investigate the incident. Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said his office will closely coordinate with authorities and extend assistance to the victims. This story will be updated. For more than a decade, Ellie Hidalgo has been campaigning to expand the role of women in the Catholic Church. The Miami woman is co-director of a nonprofit, Discerning Deacons, which invites other Catholics to consider ordaining women as deacons a clergy role that has already been opened to married men. That would allow women for the first time in centuries to preach the Gospel, preside at baptisms, direct charitable services and perform other duties long confined to males. From her past work, she knows the value women can add to the church. As a pastoral associate at a Jesuit parish near downtown Los Angeles, she worked with immigrant women from Mexico and Central America. In times of need, Hidalgo, who is trained in pastoral theology and fluent in Spanish, was called on to preach, assisting a priest who had trouble communicating with congregants. Shes also met with Catholic indigenous women in the Amazon region of Brazil who are on the front lines of defending human and land rights. Hidalgo, who now attends Our Lady of the Divine Providence in Sweetwater, knows her devout Cuban grandmothers would never question why only men could serve pastoral roles. But thats definitely not the case in conversations with her own nieces they want to hear someone with their own lived experience, from somebody whos a sister or a daughter or a mother. Now, for the first time in years, Hidalgo can envision a day when the church might actually open some leadership doors to women. Her hope springs from attending the Synod of Bishops, a monthlong assembly of church leaders in Rome that can shape future policy for the Catholic Church. The question of involving women in church leadership was widely discussed during the October gatherings, with a culminating report sending favorable signals for lifting some gender barriers in the future. Although no concrete decisions were made this year, the tenor of discussions encouraged Hidalgo and others who share her goal for a more inclusive church. On the issue of ordaining women as deacons, the report called for continued research and discussion to be taken up at next years session. We were very pleased that that made it in there, Hidalgo said. Its a very big step forward. Ellie Hidalgo at the Holy Mass in St Peters Square for the Opening of the Synod of Bishops in Rome on Oct. 4, 2023. The synod included 480 members appointed by Pope Francis from all continents. They participated in a process the church calls conversations in the spirit. It involved listening, praying and drawing up recommendations for the pope. What is the Holy Spirit asking of the church in the third millennium? What are the needs? said Hidalgo. In these times where we see a lot of profound woundedness in the world, more wars, and famine and drought and tons of migration these were some of the topics that were being taken up. What is causing all that and how is the church to respond? Synod signals a possible shift A synthesis report released by the pope appears to reflect a significant shift in centuries of resistance to putting women in leadership roles: It is urgent to ensure that women can participate in decision-making processes and assume roles of responsibility in pastoral care and ministry. Along with considering making women deacons, other proposals called for the expansion of theological study and seminary programs to women. The report also said cases of labor injustice within the church need to be addressed, as women are too often treated as cheap labour. It also proposes expanding the responsibilities of a lector someone who reads Scriptures during Mass to become a fuller ministry in the Word of God, which in some contexts could include a woman preaching. The role of women in the church has long been a divisive issue. But Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said that on many fronts, voting delegates agreed. Every paragraph included in the report must be approved by at least two-thirds of voting members meaning the majority felt strongly about expanding womens roles. There were many points of convergence and so the Synod participants were not as divided as some looking in from the outside imagine, Wenski wrote in an email to the Herald. He said that many of the proposals involving women are already implemented in the United States. Our seminaries have women teaching on their faculties, some are involved in supervising seminarians in the pastoral assignments, he said. And they vote as other faculty members do ... Our chanceries and our parishes do have women in roles of great responsibilities. Archbishop Thomas Wenski at the Archdiocese of Miami on March 10, 2022. The synod report also touched often cautiously on other lightning-rod issues, including immigration crises across the globe. In the face of increasingly hostile attitudes toward migrants, we are called to practice an open welcome, to accompany them in the construction of a new life and to build a true intercultural communion among peoples, the report read. There was a call to to eradicate the sin of racism, including within the church, though not much detail was given on how to do it. And although there were discussions about LGBTQ people Jesuit priest Father James Martin, for instance, was chosen as a synod delegate because of his commitment ministering LGBTQ Catholics there were no official recommendations in the report. Synod firsts for women Still, the changes in this synod were significant. While past meetings consisted of solely bishops and cardinals, this years participants included priests, deacons, religious women and men, laymen and women and three young adults the youngest was a 19-year-old student from the University of Wyoming. Out of the 363 voting members, 54 were women, a first in synod history. One of Pope Francis strong beliefs, and a belief of the synod process, is that the Holy Spirit can speak through anyone, Hidalgo said. We know that when Jesus chose his apostles, he didnt go to the people you would expect. He went to fisherman. To ensure synod members heard each others perspectives, delegates were seated at round tables composed of clergy and lay people a stark difference from the usual theater-style set-up more akin to lectures than discussions. The changes reflected a papal mission to create a more unified church. Why do I insist on this? Pope Francis said in 2021. Because sometimes there can be a certain elitism ... the priest ultimately becomes more a landlord than a pastor of a whole community as it moves forward. Leading up to the assembly, millions of Catholics also participated in meetings at local parishes, praying together and discussing issues. It was the first time during a Synod of Bishops that everyone on all levels of the church was asked to participate. Pope Francis presides over a mass for the closing of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican in Rome. In Miamis listening sessions, people were concerned about declining membership, young people becoming less engaged in their faith and the lingering fallout of past clergy abuse scandals. Many wanted clearer answers on controversial issues that have divided the church. There was positive feedback, too: the church providing a sense of belonging, admiration for priests dedicated to their mission and appreciation for the churchs ongoing commitment to charitable causes. Our own synodal process here locally has helped us look to the future with great hope, Archbishop Wenski said. The Church in Miami is alive we are concerned about many of the same issues that concerned the Synod members in Rome, but like them we acknowledge that God is in charge and we want to follow the Spirits lead. There is room for everyone Although Hidalgo was not a synod delegate, she traveled to Rome for associated public activities, spending a lot of time listening to the group of young adults who traveled with her organization. Young people I have listened to worry about their LGBTQ friends and family members, their divorced and remarried parents, the poor, migrants who face a hostile welcome, war-torn places, and our common home, the natural world, she said. They also want women to have more of a voice and to be at decision-making tables. At the opening Mass of the Synod in St. Peters Square in Vatican City, Hidalgo and the group of young adults donned T-shirts that read En la iglesia hay lugar para todos! Its a reference to World Youth Day in Portugal when Pope Francis told the youth in Spanish, In the Church there is room for everyone. Everyone, everyone, everyone. The words resonated with the 20-to 30-year-old Catholics, she said. They understand the struggles of those who feel like they dont belong. In Rome, they listened to Pope Francis share this same message during his homily, this time in Italian. Come, you who are weary and oppressed, come, you who have lost your way or feel far away, come, you who have closed the doors to hope: the Church is here for you! The doors of the Church are open to everyone, everyone, everyone! Every Saturday night during the month-long synod, thousands of people gathered for a rosary prayer. The war between Israel and Hamas was top of mind for attendees, and the mood was somber, Hidalgo said. The bombing and mounting human deaths a reminder of the problems plaguing the world around them. We realized theres so much at stake, not just for the church, but for the world. Our ability to figure out how to be peacemakers and how to resolve conflicts, and how to be able to dialogue about very difficult problems. Human lives are at stake. Thousands of Catholics gather with synod delegates and Pope Francis for Holy Mass in St Peters Square for the Opening of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Oct. 4, 2023. This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work. Duke and Duchess of Sussex should be stripped of their royal titles says Bob Seely, a Tory MP - MISCHA SCHOEMAKER/AKGS Parliament could consider stripping the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their royal titles under legislation proposed this week. Bob Seely, the Conservative MP, has said the House of Commons should consider the nuclear option of denying the couple their Duke and Duchess standing amid the royal racism row. The Duke and Duchess have remained silent following the naming of the two Royal family members alleged to have made remarks about the colour of their unborn childs skin. Their identities first emerged in the Dutch translation of the book Endgame by Omid Scobie that were then reported by news organisations around the world. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Seely, the MP for the Isle of Wight, said that few believed that Harry and Meghan were not behind claims made in the book and that the use of the race row to smear the Royal family was poisonously insidious. Mr Seely, a member of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, wants to adapt laws originally passed in the First World War to strip enemy German nobles of their British titles. He wrote: In the next couple of weeks, I shall present a Bill in Parliament to strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their royal titles. Im not a republican and support the monarchy, but after the latest instalment of the couples feud with the rest of the Royal family, I believe that Parliament and the Privy Council should consider a nuclear option. Bob Seely has said House of Commons should consider nuclear option of denying couple their Duke and Duchess standing Mr Seely has applied for his Titles Deprivation 1917 Amendment Bill to be listed on the Commons Order Paper next week. The move would resurrect the wartime powers by removing references to enemies or present war. He added: My aim is simple: if someone doesnt want to be royal, that is a decision we respect but they should not keep the titles and privileges if they trash an institution that plays an important part in our nations life. Sources close to the Sussexes have stressed that Harry and Meghan are not behind claims made in Omid Scobies book. But I suspect that few people believe such denials. Of all Scobies allegations, the use of race to smear the Royal family is the most poisonously insidious, guaranteed to leave a whiff of stigma and impossible to prove when false. It is the catch-all slur of the modern era. Mr Seely said that the allegations jarred with the extraordinary work by the late Queen and King Charles and unproven and incendiary attacks on the Royal family were indefensible. The allegations jar with so much of what we know about the royals and this country. The late Queen and King Charles have done extraordinary work over decades reaching out to everyone in the country, including ethnic minorities and those from Commonwealth nations. I feel genuine pity for Harry and the life choices he has made. It cant have been easy for him. But the couple and their supporters have a track record of attacking the Royal family with unproven and incendiary allegations, which they then appear to deny or refuse to back up, which is indefensible. Duke and Duchess have remained silent following naming of the two Royal family members - Getty Images Mr Seelys intervention comes as it was reported the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been excluded from the wedding of the Duke of Westminster next summer. Hugh Grosvenor, 32, has invited the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales when he marries Olivia Henson, 30, at Chester Cathedral on June 7, which will be the society wedding of the year. Separately, the former head of royal protection claimed Harry and Meghan are chipping away at the foundations of the monarchy through their role in accusations of racism against the King and the Princess of Wales. Dai Davies, a former divisional commander in the Metropolitan Police who worked closely with Elizabeth II and senior members of the Royal family, said the false narrative being created about alleged comments could prove damaging to the institution. Mr Davies, who was responsible for royal protection until his retirement, told the Telegraph: Prince Harry and Meghan and those who purport to talk for them are slowly damaging the status of the Royal family. There is a false narrative that is being peddled about Palace racism. Its not at all unusual to ask what a baby will look like. What the Duke and Duchess are doing is giving succour to those who would want to replace the monarchy and get rid of it. They are chipping away at the foundations of the institution. 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. Sarah Neggazi holds a sign that reads "this is a climate emergency" during a demonstration at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) With Planet Earth running a fever, U.N. climate talks focused Sunday on the contagious effects on human health. Under a brown haze over Dubai, the COP28 summit moved past two days of lofty rhetoric and calls for unity from top leaders to concerns about health issues like the deaths of at least 7 million people globally from air pollution each year and the spread of diseases like cholera and malaria as global warming upends weather systems. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it's high time for the U.N. Conference of Parties on climate to hold its first Health Day in its 28th edition, saying the threats to health from climate change were immediate and present. Although the climate crisis is a health crisis, its well overdue that 27 COPs have been and gone without a serious discussion of health, he said. Undoubtedly, health stands as the most compelling reason for taking climate action. After two days of speeches by dozens of presidents, prime ministers, royals and other top leaders in the background and on-stage participants were also turning attention to tough negotiations over the next nine days to push for more agreement on ways to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. Pope Francis, who was forced to abandon plans to attend because of a case of bronchitis, on Sunday said that even from a distance, I am following with great attention the work. In remarks read at the Vatican by an aide, the pope called for an end of what he called bottlenecks caused by nationalism and patterns of the past. Protests began in earnest Sunday at COP28: In one, a group gave mock resuscitation to an inflatable Earth. Well, I mean, its cheesy doing CPR on the Earth, said Dr. Joe Vipond, an emergency room physician from Alberta, Canada, who took part. Were kind of in a lot of trouble right now," he said, so will do "anything we can do to bring attention to this issue. Saturday capped off with conference organizers announcing that 50 oil and gas companies had agreed to reach near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030. They also pledged to reach net zero for their operational emissions by 2050. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the promises made clearly fall short of what is required. In comments Sunday, he called the methane emissions reductions a step in the right direction. But he criticized the net zero pledge for excluding emissions from fossil fuel consumption where the vast majority of the industry's greenhouse gases come from and said the announcement provided no clarity on how the companies planned to reach their goals. "There must be no room for greenwashing," he said. Germanys climate envoy Jennifer Morgan said Sunday the oil and gas industry needs to go beyond just cutting emissions that are generated to make those products and slash emissions from indirect activities too, as well as fossil fuels burned by the end users. Its 2023, the former Greenpeace International co-director said. I was already speaking to Shell about this in 1998. Temperature rises caused by the burning of oil, gas and coal have worsened natural disasters like floods, heat waves and drought, and caused many people to migrate to more temperate zones in addition to the negative knock-on effects for human health. Our bodies are ecosystems, and the world is an ecosystem, said John Kerry, the U.S. climate envoy. If you poison our land and you poison our water and you poison our air, you poison our bodies. He said his daughter Vanessa, who works with the WHO chief, repeats to me frequently that we should not measure progress on the climate crisis just by the degrees averted, but by the lives saved. A COP28 declaration backed by some 120 countries stressed the link between health and climate change. It made no mention of phasing out planet-warming fossil fuels, but pledged to support efforts to curb health care sector pollution, which accounts for 5% of global emissions, according to the WHO head. In the United States, 8.5% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the health sector and the Biden Administration is trying to use funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to try to cut that down, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Admiral Rachel Levine said. U.S. officials said one of the main issues has been waste anesthesia emissions from hospitals and greenhouse gases that escape when patients are treated for respiratory diseases like asthma with albuterol inhalers. Part of the solution may come through raising awareness: when officials used a system that showed anesthesiologists how much gas they used and how much escaped, emissions fell by as much as half, said Dr. John Balbus, the Health and Human Services climate change and health equity director. Dr. Yseult Gibert of Montreal said 70 percent of operating-room emissions come from the way patients are given anesthesia. She said some types of anesthesia are more climate-friendly than others, without sacrificing on quality or effectiveness when it comes to care. A report last week issued by Unitaid, which helps get new healthcare products to low- and middle-income countries, explored how product redesign, improvements in manufacturing and other measures could reduce the carbon footprint of 10 products used for health emergencies, women's and children's health, and HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Forest fires caused in part by climate change can have dramatic effects on homes, health and lives. Heat waves, which can be deadly, also can weigh on mental health, Gibert said, while poor air quality can make life harder for those facing lung and heart ailments and cause respiratory issues, like asthma in kids. Not a lot of people know that the climate crisis is a health crisis, she said. The impact of human activity on the climate was visible to conference-goers in Dubai, an oil-rich boom city that often faces higher levels of air pollution than other places on Earth due to its location. Haze is common. The Dubai government, on its web site, listed its Air Quality Index level mostly at good on Sunday. IQAir, a Swiss vendor of air-quality monitoring products, listed Dubai as the city with the 18th-worst air quality in the world with moderate air quality levels as of noon local time on Sunday. It cited high levels of two types of particulate matter in the air and advised mask-wearing for sensitive groups and a reduction of outdoor exercise. ___ Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell, Seth Borenstein and Peter Prengaman in Dubai and Frances D'Emilio in Rome 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. Dear readers, At The Telegraph, were committed to providing unbiased news that is essential to our community. In this past year, our reporting team has produced quality journalism time and time again. Some examples: Reporter Micah Johnston reported that Bibb County investigators lost and damaged evidence in a Macon murder case. A judge ruled that the district attorneys office acted in bad faith when it falsely told the court it never had the evidence. Reporter Joe Kovac traveled to Plains after former President Jimmy Carter was placed in hospice to learn how his beloved hometown was preparing to say goodbye. Reporter Jenna Eason told readers how the shooting death of a Black man by a white police officer led to real changes in Macon. This didnt happen in the George Floyd era, but rather more than 50 years ago. We know our community needs more. But todays marketplace realities limit the depth and breadth of our journalism, which is expensive to produce. To expand our coverage, we need your help. We hope you will consider a tax-deductible contribution to help us better serve the Macon area. Gifts of any size make a difference. You can donate through this link here. Or, if you prefer to send a check, please put The Telegraph in the memo line and mail it to 1601 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816. Please include your email address. Your support keeps us at the forefront of our community, bringing you the news that matters most. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Sincerely, Blake Kaplan Executive Editor Californias two big public pension funds have been under increasing pressure to divest from fossil fuels as other big institutional investors move to shed their holdings in oil companies and other heavily polluting industries. And its not hard to see why. CalPERS and CalSTRS have billions invested in fossil fuels, from multinational oil giants such as ExxonMobil and Chevron to government-owned companies in China and Saudi Arabia. In a state that prides itself on its climate leadership, there is obvious hypocrisy in using the retirement money of state employees and teachers to prop up companies that profit from the burning of oil and gas that's causing a catastrophic overheating of our planet. Its no wonder that so many Californians, including lawmakers, environmental activists, young people and retirees, have called for these influential funds to divest from these dangerous industries. Last month CalPERS, which manages a portfolio of more than $462 billion, announced a new sustainable investments strategy that seems designed to address those calls, but not satisfy them. It includes a plan to more than double investment in low-carbon assets and other climate solutions to $100 billion by 2030. There's a commitment to make more selective investments in high emitting sectors" and to hold companies accountable for reducing their carbon footprint, by establishing a process to exit those without credible net zero plans. Read more: Editorial: On climate change, world leaders are saying one thing and doing another Its good to see the nations largest public pension fund taking initial steps to shift its portfolio away from some of the highest-polluting companies that refuse to switch to cleaner technologies. But the approach is far too timid, incremental and ill-defined, and doesnt go nearly far or fast enough to respond to the scope and scale of the climate crisis. And it doesn't change the need for a real divestment mandate. Leaders of the pension fund said the plan would accelerate their move toward their preexisting goal of achieving a net-zero portfolio by 2050. But the 28-page plan is short on details, hazy on the criteria that will be used to determine which companies to reduce investments because of insufficient climate plans, and lacks a timeline for those decisions. CalPERS staff has promised its board to come back with those details next year. CalPERS officials dont see the strategy resulting in any across-the-board divestment that would exclude an entire sector of the economy. Instead, they believe in supporting even heavily polluting oil companies so long as they have committed to transitioning to lower-carbon technology. Read more: Commentary: The fossil fuel industry wants you to think Latinos are against EVs. That's not what I found In many ways, this plan seems like new wrapping on the fund's old approach of using its shareholder power to try to coax fossil fuel companies into acting more responsibly. But that has not proved very successful. Just look at the oil industry's recent actions to walk back climate pledges and launch new disinformation efforts to derail the shift to renewable energy. CalPERS' new strategy also seems designed to head off legislation to force the pension funds to sell their investments in the largest fossil fuel companies by 2031. The bill, Senate Bill 252, passed the state Senate, but has yet to advance in the Assembly. The pension funds leaders oppose the legislation on the grounds that it would reduce the diversification of their holdings and violate their fiduciary duty to make investments solely in the interest of maximizing returns. CalPERS rationale for its new strategy is similarly divorced from morality. The funds leaders say that any decisions to reduce or shed assets will be based on the financial risks of high-polluting companies not having plans to decarbonize. But as supporters of divestment have argued for years, casting off fossil fuel assets is at its core a financially prudent move. In a world that is rapidly shifting toward renewable energy, these investments are becoming too risky to keep. Read more: Editorial: Trees are essential in a warming world, but L.A. still lags in shade equity State Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), who wrote SB 252, commended CalPERS for taking a step in the right direction, but said the strategy won't stop the divestment push. While it is encouraging to see CalPERS officials start to take seriously calls to dump fossil fuels and prioritize renewable energy, their solution would only prolong the power and influence of an industry whose reckless and deceitful actions going back decades continue to fuel a worsening climate catastrophe. It seems clear that the only way to ensure that public pension funds move out of this risky business is by forcing them to do so through legislation. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The efforts of both Russia and Ukraine to overcome each other's ground-based air defense systems remain one of the most important contests of the war, reads an intelligence report by the UK Ministry of Defense published on Dec. 3. The Tor short-range air defense missile system plays a critical role for Russia. It is used by the air defense units of the Russian army and is designed to protect the front line of ground forces. The Pantsir air defense systems operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces usually protect command nodes, longer-range SAMs, and Russian air bases. Read also: Russia hastily deploys poorly-trained Airborne Division to Kherson Oblast UK intelligence UK intelligence has noted that the Russians are particularly active in using the Tor SAM to counter Ukrainian UAVs. It acts as the first line of the Russian army's air defense network in Ukraine. One of the key limitations of the Tor in Russia's war against Ukraine is probably the endurance of its crew. Read also: Given that each system is manned by only three people, maintaining a high level of combat readiness for a long time is an extreme test of endurance. Earlier, UK intelligence reported that in November 2023, Russia moved the S-400 air defense system from Kaliningrad Oblast, its enclave on the Baltic Sea coast, to compensate for recent losses on the Ukrainian front. 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 Senior FDNY officials worried during the early days of Mayor Adams administration about how the agency was being asked to fast-track building safety inspections for politically connected real estate firms over developers of projects like schools and housing complexes, according to emails reviewed by the Daily News. The emails, which date to mid-January 2022 and were obtained by The News through sources, revolve around the so-called DMO List, named after the office of the Deputy Mayor of Operations, where the document was established in 2021 under former Mayor Bill de Blasios administration, a lawsuit filed by several former and current FDNY chiefs alleges. The suit claims the list was created at the behest of the Real Estate Board of New York, which the influential industry group has strongly denied. Adams says City Hall has not maintained a DMO List on his watch, though the emails obtained by The News suggest that such a list was used at least in the early days of his administration, largely overseen by the FDNY. Adams has said he strives to help property owners that are having the challenge of navigating an entity. The emails outline how fire officials used and debated the list. On Jan. 26, 2022, about four weeks after Adams took office, then-FDNY Chief of Fire Prevention Joseph Jardin messaged several colleagues saying he was concerned about the direction the DMO document was heading. In the email, Jardin wrote that top FDNY leaders had instructed him to arbitrarily expedite six projects listed on the DMO roster. We cant readily permit this to be the opening of a Pandoras box and start of bad trend! Jardin wrote in the email after referring to the list simply as DMO. Within 15 minutes, Assistant FDNY Chief Anthony Saccavino wrote back to Jardin: I agree. That was followed by Kevin Brennan, another assistant chief, also chiming in: A lot of times these clients claim they are waiting on us, but in fact we have sent the contractor back requests for changes and are waiting on the contractor they hired to get back to us. Its not clear from that exchange which six projects Jardin was concerned about. The DMO List first landed in the headlines last month after it emerged that the FBI, as part of its investigation into Adams 2021 campaign and ties to the Turkish government, has obtained a copy of it. The feds interest in the list comes amid reports that, prior to his election as mayor, Adams asked then-FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro in September 2021 to look into inspection issues that were threatening to delay the opening of the Turkish Consulate in Manhattan. The consulate opened soon after. FBI investigators have interviewed several former and current FDNY officials, including Jardin, about the DMO List, according to a source directly familiar with the matter. The emails obtained by The News do not mention the Turkish Consulate matter, but shine a light on other projects. Finalize Old Farley On Feb. 4, 2022, Julie Greenberg, a lobbyist with the government relations firm Kasirer, emailed then-Buildings Commissioner Melanie La Rocca and others, asking that they finalize inspections of the old Farley Building at 421 Eighth Ave. in Manhattan that used to house the citys main post office branch, a copy of the correspondence obtained by The News shows. The property at the time was waiting to open after being developed into a 740,000-square-foot office space by Vornado Realty Trust, the citys second-largest commercial landlord, which had hired Kasirer to lobby the Adams administration on real estate issues, according to disclosures. La Rocca forwarded Greenbergs email to FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, who was at the time the departments first deputy commissioner. This needs to be top priority, Kavanagh wrote in an email forwarding La Roccas message to members of her executive staff. They, in turn, passed it along to Jardin and other FDNY chiefs. With Jardin and the others looped in, FDNY Capt. Brian Cordasco wrote in response: They are looking to add this to the top of the DMO LIST which I guess tops the newest high priority (Amazon HQ) in Manhattan that they sent just an hour ago. Writing back to Cordasco, Jardin voiced concern about the way the list was being used and argued it wasnt jibing with its original purpose. Maybe we should raise the issue of the scope/purpose of the CRT meetings and the notion that aiding small business was the focus of the effort, Jardin wrote of the DMO List, using an acronym for cutting red tape. Its unclear if the email was subsequently shared with Kavanagh. Jardin, who left the FDNY earlier this year and is among a number of chiefs suing Kavanagh and the department over alleged age discrimination, did not get his way, other emails show. On April 5, 2022, Luis Martinez, a special adviser to Kavanagh who by then had been appointed FDNY commissioner by Adams sent an email to department officials informing them they had created a new Top 7 list for expedited building inspections. The subject line on the email was DMO-Priorities list update. New Top 7 List The top item on the new list was 50 Hudson Yards, a 77-story office tower on Manhattans West Side developed by Related Cos., one of the citys largest real estate firms, the email from Martinez shows. Ritz-Carlton on Broadway, Vornados Farley Building project and Amazons new headquarters on Fifth Ave. were also on the new priority list in slots two, three and four. On the fifth, sixth and seventh slot of the Top 7 list was a new therapeutic unit at Bellevue Hospital, the Cornbread restaurant on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn and a St. Francis College building on Remsen St., also in Brooklyn. Kavanagh was especially interested in getting immediate updates on the top two projects, 50 Hudson Yards and the Farley Building, Deputy FDNY Chief Kevin Murphy wrote in a subsequent email on April 6. Getting a quick inspection for the 50 Hudson Yards project, in particular, was a top priority for City Hall and would require cancelled inspections at other properties, Murphy added. Canceling Other Inspections The emails obtained by The News show that a total of 13 inspections had to be canceled to accommodate the 50 Hudson Yards project. Among them was an inspection at Brooklyn Independent, a middle school in Fort Greene, several small residential buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan, as well as a Target on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn. Despite the cancellations, 50 Hudson Yards, which is one of the citys largest commercial office buildings, required more inspections in May, emails show. The group has asked for HY to be expedited again, despite the recent history, Murphy wrote in a May 11, 2022, email to Cordasco and other officials forwarding a message from Madelyn Adams, the FDNYs intergovernmental coordinator, asking for the project to get another fast-tracked inspection. The recent history referenced by Murphy was the inspections that had to be canceled in April. Can I assume there will be some pushback on moving HY up due to last inspection results? Murphy asked in a separate email to Cordasco. Forwarding the chain to Rocco Bonavita, the FDNYs executive director, Cordasco wrote: I already wrote back to Chief Murphy to agree there is definitely concern. I recommend we do not drop everything like last time, cancel a bunch of jobs, and try to do this week. After its inspections, 50 Hudson Yards opened in October 2022. Mayor Adams attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the building, calling its opening a major milestone in New York Citys continued economic recovery. Spokesmen for Vornado and Related did not return requests for comment this weekend. A spokesman for Adams declined to comment Friday when asked about the emails uncovered by The News. The FDNY did not return a request for comment. As previously reported by The News, beyond Vornado and Related, real estate giants like the Durst Organization and SL Green have landed on the DMO List. Between them, those firms own millions of square feet of property across the five boroughs and are considered among the most politically influential businesses in the city. The New England Aquarium is treating a large number of hypothermic or cold-stunned sea turtles that have washed onto Massachusetts shores in critical condition, officials said. The turtles began to strand on Cape Cod in early November. Staff and volunteers from Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary have been walking the beaches along Cape Cod Bay in search of cold-stunned turtles and transporting the animals to the Aquariums Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, where they are treated for life-threatening medical conditions resulting from hypothermia and the inability to feed. So far this season, Aquarium staffers have treated 214 sea turtles: 189 critically endangered Kemps ridley turtles, 19 green turtles, and six loggerheads, officials said. In an unusual occurrence, five cold-stunned sea turtles have washed ashore in Hull and Hingham this season, which could indicate that more turtles in Massachusetts Bay are inhabiting a wider range of locations, officials said. This sea turtle stranding season has gotten off to a later start than the past few years. We are ramping up now and have seen 134 turtles in just the past five days. Whether it is 1 or 100 turtles in a given day, our team at the New England Aquarium is ready to help give these turtles the best shot of being returned home, Adam Kennedy, the Aquariums director of rescue and rehabilitation, said in a statement. When a sea turtle arrives at the Aquariums Sea Turtle Hospital, staff evaluate the rescued turtle by performing a thorough physical exam, bloodwork, and X-rays, officials said. Many of the animals suffer from dehydration, pneumonia, and various injuries such as fractures of their shells, and may need weeks, months, and sometimes more than a year of treatment before they can be released back into the ocean. These turtles are often critically ill and require a variety of medical treatments to ensure they have the best chance for survival, Senior Veterinarian Dr. Kathryn Tuxbury said in a statement. Each fall and early winter, hundreds of cold-stunned sea turtles wash up on the beaches of Cape Cod. Due to the rapidly changing water temperature and wind pattern, many turtles cannot escape the hook-like area of Cape Cod Bay before becoming hypothermic. As the Aquariums Sea Turtle Hospital reaches full capacity, the team works closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Fisheries Service, the nonprofit organization Turtles Fly Too, and other partner organizations to help transport and rehabilitate the animals. To make room for new arrivals at the Sea Turtle Hospital, some stabilized turtles are transported to secondary rehabilitation facilities, where they continue care before being released into the ocean. Volunteer pilots with Turtles Fly Too began transport flights last week, flying 35 turtles from the New England Aquarium to North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Another 15 turtles made their way to National Aquarium by ground transport last week. Other more critical turtles remain at the New England Aquarium, where many will complete their full rehabilitation process before being released back into the ocean in the spring and summer months. 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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday condemned the blast at Mindanao State Universitys (MSU) gymnasium in Marawi City, which he said was "perpetrated by foreign terrorists." "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the MSU and Marawi communities early this Sunday morning. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society," Marcos said. He also urged the public to remain calm, circumspect, and conscientiousto ensure that the horrific eventsare not further compounded by inaccurate, unvetted, and unofficial information. At a briefing on Sunday, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the president's statement was based on consultations with defense and security officials, and there are indicia of foreign elements here which we are looking into." However, he said they cannot release details on the supposed foreign element as it could hamper their investigation. AFP chief: MSU blast could be a retaliatory attack Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. believes the MSU blast could be a retaliatory attack of terrorist groups. He said several incidents happened prior to Sunday's explosion: the neutralization of Abdullah Sapal, a leader of the Daulah Islamiyah-Philippines on Dec. 1, and an operation on Dec. 2 which led to the death of Mundi Sawadjaanthe alleged mastermind of the Jolo bombings in 2020. A sub leader of the Maute group was killed Sunday morning, he added. "Tinitignan po namin yung anggulo na ito dahil nga sa mga sunud-sunod na operation natin against the terrorist groups in whole area of Western Mindanao," he said. "Maaring retaliatory attack yung nangyari kaninang umaga." [Translation: We are looking at this angle and are trying to find out if these operations against terrorist groups in Western Mindanao could have resulted in a retaliatory attack.] Because of these incidents, Brawner said all of their units in Mindanao, as well as in the National Capital Region, have been placed on alert. 'We are looking at all possible angles to see what led to the bombing incident in Marawi City," he added. Brawner also said he will be heading to Marawi on Monday for a command conference with officials from the AFP and PNP. As of writing, four people were reported dead and more than 50 were wounded due to the Marawi blast. Philippine National Police spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said of the wounded include five who are in critical condition. Teodoro said authorities are ready to provide medical as well as psychological care to those affected. Suspects are yet to be identified and their reason for the alleged bombing has not been determined. The president offered condolences to the families of the four victims who were killed. Marcos said he instructed the Philippine National Police and the AFP to ensure protection and safety of civilians and affected and vulnerable communities. His office is also coordinating with the government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and all concerned local government units. RELATED: Remembering the Marawi Siege Estonia may close borders with Russia if Finland travelers continue after recent border traffic increase Estonia may close border crossing points with Russia "very swiftly" due to a significant increase in the number of people crossing since Finland began blocking the border with Russia, Eve Kalmus, head of the Border Guard Directorate of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, told news outlet Yle on Dec. 2. A surge in traffic has been recorded at the Narva checkpoint in Estonia after Finland completely closed its border crossing points with Russia. Around 1,000 more people crossed the Estonian-Russian border than before Finlands decision. The increase is almost entirely due to traffic from Finland to Russia. If Estonia decides to close the border, it will be done very quickly. Crossing points can be closed within an hour following a government decision. Read also: "Please do not travel to Russia," an Estonian border guard representative said. Those who have already traveled to Russia may find themselves in a situation where it will be very difficult to return. The Estonian government reported that they are considering several ways to deport those who decide to obtain Russian citizenship. 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 Fisker, the California-based EV startup, cut its annual production guidance in an effort to free up $300 million in working capital, the company said in a business update Friday. Fisker said it expects to produce about 10,000 vehicles this year. The decision comes less than a month since Fisker cut its production target to between 13,000 and 17,000 vehicles for 2023. The production guidance is just a quarter of Fisker's bullish forecast from a year ago. In November 2022, Fisker said it planned to produce 42,400 Ocean SUVs by the end of 2023 due to strong demand in the U.S. and Europe. That rosy projection was slashed in May to 32,000-36,000 vehicles and then cut again in August to 20,000-23,000 vehicles. This latest update makes four reductions since the spring. The production cut will allow the company to access $300 million in working capital, giving the company "flexibility," according to the business update. "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," Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker said in a statement. "We may not have hit our original forecast but taking current market conditions and negative sentiments around EV sales into account, I would say we are doing quite well, as we continue to accelerate sales and deliveries. 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. The company continues to sharpen its focus on growing its current markets and enhancing our sales and service offerings for the Fisker Ocean." Fisker said in its business update that it has also launched a new strategy to improve deliveries in the U.S. and Europe, which helped it overcome early logistics hurdles. While Fisker didn't elaborate on exactly what those challenges were, it appears the strategy involves adding more transportation logistics companies to speed up deliveries, increased outreach to reservation holders and opening more facilities dedicated to retail, deliveries and service. The company said it's also launching a leasing program in the U.S., Canada and Europe, but didn't include details on when that might occur. Fisker also provided an update around hiring, importantly Dan Quirk as its new executive vice president of finance and accounting. The hiring comes after Fisker lost two chief accounting officers in short succession and delayed the filing of its quarterly earnings report with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hires include Axel Buhr as vice president of finance and controller operations, Ram Iyer as senior VP of EE integration and validation and Wolfgang Hoffmann as country manager in Canada, where Fisker is about to begin deliveries. Sofia Vergara has taken on her darkest role yet in Griselda. In her first role since being the fun and sassy Gloria Pritchett in Modern Family, the Emmy-nominated actor underwent a total transformation to portray the notorious drug queenpin Griselda Blanco in the Netflix crime drama. The first trailer for the six hour-long episodes dropped on Nov. 30, showcasing a killer side of Vergara. The first look shows how Griselda has successfully been distributing cocaine in Miami and the danger that she puts not only her family and friends but herself in. Produced by Vergara and the team behind the Narcos franchise, Griselda also includes the on-screen debut of Karol G, as well as co-stars Alberto Guerra, Christian Tappan, Martin Rodriguez, Juliana Aiden Martinez and Vanessa Ferlito. What is 'Griselda' about? Griselda follows the ambitious Griselda Blanco (Vergara), who would go on to be known as La Jefa (The Boss) and Godmother, after she builds one of the most profitable cartels in the 70s and 80s in Miami. Per the show's notes, Griselda spent 10 years as the brains behind her husband Albertos (Dario Sepulveda) drug trafficking operation in Medellin, Colombia, and New York. When she gets the chance to escape to Miami with her three sons, she uses that knowledge to build her own empire. The miniseries shows the Colombian queenpin known for being ruthless, savage and yet charming use her lethal blend of unsuspected savagery to handle the dark business of drug trafficking all while raising her sons. Sofia Vergara in her darkest role yet in As shown in the trailer, Griselda's journey will not be an easy one as she goes head-to-head with other notorious drug dealers, putting her life at risk. At the same time, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeks to bring down her highly successful operation. "She didn't walk like a woman who's a girlfriend," one woman can be heard saying in Spanish in the trailer. "Well, how did she walk?" another asks. "Like the boss." Is 'Griselda' based on a true story? Griselda is inspired by real events and the real-life Griselda Blanco. Born in 1943 in Cartagena, Colombia, she would relocate to Medellin when she was a child and have a rough and violent upbringing, per Vice. According to the BBC, Blanco was one of the first to engage in large-scale smuggling of cocaine into the United States from Colombia. During her reign, she established many of the smuggling routes that the Medellin cartel would eventually take over after she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking in the U.S. After returning to Colombia, Blanco was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding assassination when she was leaving a butcher shop in Medellin in September 2012, NBC News reported at the time. She would become known as Godmother of Cocaine and Black Widow. However, in her depiction of Blanco, Vergara said they were not trying to "glorify her" in the show. Sofia Vergara as Griselda in Most of the people know of Griselda as the ruthless, violent drug lord that she was, Vergara said in the press notes. So we were very careful not to glorify her in the series. But we also wanted to take time to uncover the deeper story of Griselda, how beyond all odds, a poor, uneducated woman from Colombia managed to create a massive, multi-billion dollar empire in a male-dominated industry, in a country that was not her own, through tactics that she devised that were both ingenious and cruel. Vergara is quick to note that despite breaking down barriers, Griselda is definitely not a hero and she should not be idolized. She added that its an exploration and origin story of the making of a monster. When will Griselda be released? Fans can see Sofia Vergara as the titular character in Griselda when it streams Jan. 25 on Netflix. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The shortage in US air traffic controllers is not new, but it has reached a critical juncture. As controllers endure lengthier workweeks, they're becoming increasingly susceptible to making mistakes, per The Times. The problem is exacerbated by waves of retirements that have affected the workforce over the years. For years, air traffic controllers have seen their ranks diminish, to the point where 10-hour days and six-day workweeks have become increasingly common among this group tasked with preserving safety in America's skies. And the strain on controllers has led to a workforce that's become demoralized and exhausted, which in turn has led to controllers becoming increasingly susceptible to making mistakes, according to The New York Times. The Times examined a series of complaints made to the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency that regulates civil aviation in the United States, where controllers expressed concerns over dire staffing shortages, mental issues among some workers, and buildings that have become inhospitable for workers. In the set of complaints reviewed by the newspaper, there were no fewer than seven reports where controllers were found sleeping on the job and at least five reports of controllers having signs of alcohol or drugs in their systems. Earlier this year, The Times published a detailed report on how close calls at US airports were occurring, on average, multiple times a week a stunning revelation given the overall safety of air travel in the US. In that report, the shortage of controllers was noted as issue that seriously threatened their ability to perform their jobs properly. However, the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers is not a new phenomenon. In August 1981, then-President Ronald Reagan fired 11,000 striking air traffic controllers, in what was a pivotal moment for the labor movement in the US. Reagan imposed a ban on the rehiring of striking controllers, but by 1986, some were permitted to reapply for their jobs. In May 1993, then-President Bill Clinton rescinded the ban on the remaining employees who had participated in the strike. But while some of the former controllers sought their old jobs, many chose not to do so. Since that tumultuous period, waves of controllers have departed the workforce as they hit retirement age, which has led to the current strain on the workforce. The problem was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, when a slew of controllers left their roles and the FAA scaled back on the training of new controllers due to the strict health guidelines that were in place at the time, according to The Times. The Times this past summer noted that over the past decade, the number of trained controllers has declined by 10%, even as airline traffic went up by 5%. Neil Burke, a former controller who worked in the New York metropolitan area, which features major facilities like John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, told The Times that controllers in the region have long worked six days a week and for 10 hours each day. Burke, who left his role due to a medical issue, told The Times that he found himself and others making mistakes due to the strain of the work schedule. "What happens when you stretch a rubber band too much?" Burke said to the newspaper. "It breaks." FAA spokeswoman Jeannie Shiffer in a statement to The Times said that the agency "maintains the safest, most complex and busiest airspace in the world." "The nation absolutely needs more air traffic controllers, and growing the work force will result in better working conditions and more flexibility," she added. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainian soldiers on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast In an assessment of the ongoing military situation in Ukraine, Oleksandr Musienko, the head of the Center of Military-Law Studies, is optimistic about the possibility of the Ukrainian army crossing the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast in force during winter. Speaking on Radio NV on Nov. 30, Musienko referred to the foothold on the left bank of the Dnipro as a foothold of hope, saying there is still the potential for Ukrainian forces to make significant gains in the counter-offensive this year. Success in this endeavor hinges on support from Ukraines allies and the execution of a Dnipro River crossing operation, said Musienko. Responding to inquiries about the feasibility of these conditions in winter, he said, Considering that combat operations are ongoing, our forces there have the opportunity to transfer reinforcements, armaments, and equipment. As of now, this is possible. Read also: Expert: Ukraine's top 2024 goal is to cut land corridor to Crimea to prevent Russian-dictated peace in 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a meeting with military officials in Kherson on Nov. 29 to discuss the operational situation in the oblast. The discussions covered developments on the left bank of the Dnipro, outlining future military plans, according to the Presidents Office. The marine infantry officially confirmed on Nov. 17 that Ukrainian fighters had secured several beachheads on the occupied left bank of the Dnipro. More than a thousand invaders and dozens of pieces of equipment were eliminated during the operation. Former Aidar Battalion platoon commander, Yevhen Dykyi, announced on Nov. 26 that Ukrainian forces on the left bank of the Dnipro were advancing towards the road connecting Crimea to Melitopol. 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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday said it monitored a swarm of over 135 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMV) scattered around the Julian Felipe Reef on Saturday, Dec. 2. The PCG first monitored 111 CMMVs on Nov. 13 around the low-tide elevation of the Kalayaan Island Group located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan. The Armed Forces of the Philippines later revealed that there were 125 vessels. The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea then ordered the PCG to patrol and document China's illegal presence in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Last Dec. 2, the PCG deployed two vessels, BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra, to the area and found that the swarm had grown to 135 Chinese ships. The PCG vessels issued radio challenges against the Chinese ships but these were ignored. China's latest incursion on Philippine waters adds to the growing tension between the two countries. A maritime law expert said that Beijing has been escalating its aggression against Manila's vessels since 2021. Last month, the largest contingent of 38 Chinese ships were observed in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal during a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre outpost. An arbitral tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 2016 nullified China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea, one that overlapped with the portion Manila calls the West Philippine Sea. Beijing continues to reject this. Claim: During a Dec. 2, 2023, campaign speech, former President Donald Trump said "We've been waging an all-out war on American democracy." Rating: Rating: False Context: Given the context of the remark (he was talking about Democrats), Trump presumably meant to say, "They've been waging an all-out war on American democracy," but flubbed the sentence such that he actually said, per the audio recording, "We've been waging an all-out war in American democracy." Not long after former U.S. President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivered a campaign speech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Dec. 2, 2023, a short video clip made the rounds on social media, particularly among accounts espousing left-leaning views, in which Trump supposedly said, "We've been waging an all-out war on American democracy": Trump: Weve been waging an all-out war on American democracy pic.twitter.com/HubnEyJsyF Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) December 2, 2023 TRUMP CONFESSES Weve been waging an all out war on American democracy. Donald Trumps cognitive decline led him to tell the truth to voters in Iowa. pic.twitter.com/HZFpS13H0M MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) December 2, 2023 Did Trump actually say that? In Snopes' judgment, based both on what we actually hear on the audio track and on the context of his remark, he did not. Here is our transcription of the statement, drawn from CSPAN's video recording of the event: For decades, you watched as a corrupt political class in our nation's capitol looted your money, trampled on your dignity and pushed their radical agenda into every aspect of your lives. You know it very well. But in 2016, you voted to stand up to those liars, losers, crooks and creeps, and you elected an outsider as your president. And it was about America first. We want to put our country first. They haven't done that in a long time, but we did it for four years and that's why we did so well. That's why it was one of the great presidencies, they say. Even the opponents sometimes say that he did very well, I have to say, "Take it back," his people scream. His people say "Take it back." From that day on our opponents, and we had a lot of opponents, but we've been waging an all-out war in American democracy. You look at what they've been doing, and becoming more and more extreme and repressive. They have just waged an all-out war with each passing day. To our ears, Trump unambiguously said, "we've been waging an all-out war in American democracy" (and CSPAN's transcript reflects the same). We did not hear, nor does the context support the claim that he said, "We've been waging an all-out war on American democracy." It's clear that Trump was out to accuse his political opponents of waging war, not himself. Given the context, Trump likely meant to say, "They've been waging an all-out war on American democracy," but those weren't the words that came out of his mouth. We have reached out to Trump's campaign for comment and will update this article should we hear back. Sources: Arnsdorf, Isaac, and Marianne LeVine. Trump Attempts to Spin Anti-Democracy, Authoritarian Criticism against Biden. Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2023. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/02/trump-speech-authoritarian-criticism-biden/. Campaign 2024: Fmr. Pres. Trump Delivers Remarks in Cedar Rapids, IA | C-SPAN.Org. https://www.c-span.org/video/?532074-1/fmr-pres-trump-delivers-remarks-cedar-rapids-ia. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023. Gold, Michael. Trumps Defense to Charge That Hes Anti-Democratic? Accuse Biden of It. The New York Times, 3 Dec. 2023. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/02/us/politics/trump-iowa-biden-democracy.html. Updates: Updated Dec. 4, 2023: This fact check was clarified to acknowledge that, given the context, Trump likely intended to say (regarding Democrats), "They've been waging an all-out war on American democracy." Art Basel Miami Beach This is the main event. Fairgoers also have expanded ticket options that include early access and the Thursday night vernissage and Collectors Lounge access during the public days. Dec. 6-7 VIP; public days Dec. 8-10. Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach; starting at $75, $58 tariff for seniors, students and Miami Beach residents; artbasel.com/miami-beach. DesignMiami\ Located across the street from Art Basel, the fair features the latest in extraordinary furnishings, collectibles, textiles and objets dart. Dec. 6-10 at Meridian Avenue and 19th Street. $35-$225; designmiami.com. Art Miami/CONTEXT Ever-popular Art Miami and sister fair CONTEXT return to the bayfront at NE 14th Street the former Miami Herald site. VIP Dec. 5, Dec. 6-10 at 1 Herald Plaza, Miami; $40-$285; Artmiami.com. VIP Dec. 5, Dec. 6-10 at 1 Herald Plaza, Miami; $40-$285; www.contextartmiami.com UNTITLED This year the independent fair brings 163 international exhibitors centered on curatorial themes of Gender Equality and the Digital Age. VIP Dec. 5, Dec. 6-10 at Ocean Drive at 12th Street. $55-$90; untitledartfairs.com. NADA NADA Miami 2023 will showcase a diverse selection of 140 galleries, art spaces, and nonprofit organizations spanning over 50 cities around the globe. VIP Dec. 5, Dec. 6-9, Ice Palace, 1400 N. Miami Ave., Miami; $35-$150; www.newartdealers.org. Art of Black Miami Comprises panels, celebrations, events and fairs including: Prizm which presents the aptly titled Civilization is not Civil at 1501 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; Tickets start at $25; prizm.art Point Comfort Art Fair at Overtowns Historic Ward Rooming House, 249 NW Ninth St., Miami hamptonartlovers.com Afrikin Art Fair at 1600 NE 126th St., North Miami; afrikin.art MUSE Art Fair at 660 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; free; museartfair.com Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora presents a digital exhibition miamimocaad.org Full details on Art of Black Miami at miamiandbeaches.com. Red Dot/Spectrum Red Dot features site-specific installations, collaborations and contemporary art galleries. Spectrum offers up-and-coming galleries and independent artists. Dec. 6-10, Mana Wynwood, 2217 NW Fifth Ave., Miami; $25-$85; reddotfair.com, spectrum-miami.com. Pinta Pinta focuses on artwork by Latin American artists. Dec. 7-10, The Hanger in Coconut Grove, 3385 Pan American Dr., Coconut Grove; $20-$60; pintamiami.com Fridge Art Fair Quirky Fridge Art Fair sell small, less expensive art that one could put on the fridge, in theory. Dec. 6-10, Courtyard Miami, 2649 S. Bayshore Dr., Miami; free; fridgeartfair.com Miami River Art Fair Located in downtown with enviable views from a penthouse, Miami River Art Fair returns with a focus on AI. Dec. 7-8, Penthouse at Riverside Wharf, 125 SW North River Dr., Miami; miamiriverartfair.com Scope Scope Miami showcases international emerging contemporary art and multi-disciplinary creative programming at a huge ten on Ocean Drive. Dec. 5-10, 801 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; $60; scope-art.com Aqua Art Miami Aqua Art Miami features works by young, emerging and mid-career artists. Dec. 6-10, Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; $20-$285; aquaartmiami.com Satellite Art Show Exhibitions by 30 galleries plus special exhibitions, workshops and performances. Dec. 5-10, 700 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Free entry with RSVP at satellite-show.com Ink Miami Ink Miami is the premiere fair for works on paper. Dec. 6-10, Suites of Dorchester, 1850 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; free; inkartfair.com Fairytale of New York by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl is heading towards the number one slot this Christmas after an outpouring of support from fans following the death of the bands frontman, Shane MacGowan. Originally released in 1987, the track has never reached the top spot in the UK chart, peaking at number two. Spearheaded by MacGowans widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, calls are growing for the track to finally claim the coveted Christmas number one title in a few weeks time. MacGowan died aged 65 last Thursday from pneumonia. Last Christmas by pop duo Wham!, the late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, is currently on track to take the top spot next Friday after climbing four spaces, according to the Official Chart Company. Mariah Careys classic All I Want For Christmas Is You is less than 1,500 chart units behind at the moment, climbing from sixth to second. Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues, featuring the late Kirsty MacColl, has seen an even greater surge, rising 15 places since last week to claim the third spot. Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan promoting the single on its release in 1987 - Tim Roney/Getty Images Its jump in the last seven days puts it in contention for the Christmas title, which will be announced in less than three weeks, on Dec 22. The track is also a huge odds-on favourite with bookmakers. Fairytale Of New York was written by MacGowan and fellow Pogues founder Jem Finer and later re-recorded to have MacColl duet with MacGowan, which led to the best-known version of the track. It has returned to the UK Christmas top 40 every year since 2005 but never reached the top spot, according to the Official Charts Company. MacGowans wife told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Saturday that she is in favour of the bands best-known song reaching the milestone in his honour. She said: It would be nice, wouldnt it? It should be the Christmas number one, it absolutely should. Im very much in favour of that. Eurovision star Sam Ryders new festive offering, Youre Christmas To Me, is currently placing at number four in the first look at the UK singles chart, while Jack Harlows Loving On Me has fallen four places to number five. 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. Originally published by The 19th At The 19th, were committed to publishing journalism that you can trust throughout the critical moments that shape our democracy and our lives. Show your support during our Fall Member Drive, and your donation will be matched. Double your gift today. Jody Freeman is still trying to find gender-affirming care for her 17-year-old son, Finn. She hasnt been able to get a refill for his testosterone prescription since mid-September. In the past few months, theyve been denied at various pharmacies near where they live in Grove Hill, Alabama, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and a mom-and-pop store. Finns doctor keeps transferring the prescription, and pharmacies keep refusing. Gender-affirming care for minors is still legal in Alabama, for now. But in a town with three stop lights and not much else where putting a McDonald's on the highway is big news it might as well not be. A legal fight over Alabamas felony ban on gender-affirming care means it cant be enforced right now. But that pause hasnt changed the reality for Finn and his family: there is nowhere to go. Every state bordering Alabama has also banned gender-affirming care for trans youth. Although there are exceptions for several nearby Southern states Louisianas ban does not go into effect until January, and Arkansas care ban has been blocked by a judge Freeman has still been unable to find health care for her son. She looks at a map of the South and sees a wall of gender-affirming care bans in limbo or bans that have already gone into effect. Freeman knows that eventually, the family will have to find care for Finn out of state. In addition to travel costs, they may have to pay for care without insurance, since a few clinics that shes reached out to one in Illinois, and another in Mississippi informed her that they recently changed to private pay only. Freeman isnt alone. Across the South, families of transgender youth who want to find gender-affirming care for their children are wading through a morass of pending legal cases and being turned away at pharmacies without crucial information on what their rights are. This gauntlet comes with mounting financial costs. Some families decide to flee their states to areas more protective for trans youth, which usually saddles them with a higher cost of living. Others try to get back-and-forth doctors appointments across state lines, which require hours-long car trips taken monthly or every few months, depending on how many check-ups their medication requires. In response, a few LGBTQ+ organizations are raising money to give directly to families seeking gender-affirming care for their transgender children. The grants, ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, are primarily meant to cover travel costs, but can also be used for things like gender-affirming clothing and supplies. Right now, Freeman has a $500 grant from the Campaign for Southern Equality stashed in a savings account. That money can help the family with travel expenses for if, or when, they find an out-of-state provider that will refill Finns medication. So far, the LGBTQ+ advocacy groups emergency project has distributed roughly 350 similar grants of $500 to families of trans youth living in Southern states. The Campaign for Southern Equality is how Freeman found out that Finns care is still legal in the first place. When the organization contacted her in August about grant money that its offering to families of trans youth seeking gender-affirming care, she was told that the legality of the care in Alabama is still in limbo for now. In addition to funding, the project has focused on getting accurate information to families about the legal and political status of gender-affirming care bans, and helping families find health care providers. The legal landscape is confusing: Alabama is one of 21 states in the country that has banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth, and legal challenges have affected whether those laws are enforceable. Many trans adults and families of transgender youth are simply confused about what their state law says, how it affects gender-affirming care for their child, what bordering states laws are, and whether they actually have to jump ship to another state. Carolyn Jones, project manager for the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project, has had direct conversations with many trans people and their families who are rattled by misinformation. If you dont have a connection to an organization like this or to an attorney, its almost impossible to understand whats going on, she said. A lot of families incorrectly thought their state law on gender-affirming care would cause them to lose custody of their kids. Another, smaller organization is also offering aid to families of trans youth. Genderbands, a trans-led nonprofit, is offering travel grants for transgender youth who are seeking gender-affirming care. The exact amounts for cash grants given by the organization vary each year, but last year they were typically $5,000 each. Adam Polaski, communications director for the Campaign for Southern Equality, said that most families who apply for help with their organization are looking for a way to live in the state where they currently reside. But some families are using the money to move to other states to find health care. Erica Mannery-Barkers family in Mississippi is one of those families. She works for the ACLU of Mississippis legal department. Unlike other parents in the state, she had a heads-up on what was coming before the state banned gender-affirming care for trans youth in February. She and her husband have twins, who are both in middle school. Their daughter is transgender, and her twin is nonbinary. As early as August last year, her family was having conversations about what the best course of action would be. Once the law was signed, it was clear that finding gender-affirming care for their daughter by driving to and from a neighboring state would be impractical and possibly dangerous. It was one of her own colleagues that told her about the available emergency funds for Southern transgender youth being offered. The Mannery-Barker family received $1,000 from the Campaign for Southern Equality, which was used to offset costs on a drive from Mississippi to Alabama in an attempt to find gender-affirming care there. She eventually deemed such trips to be too risky. Mannery-Barker believes that the Mississippi attorney general is likely to prosecute parents of transgender youth living in the state who seek gender-affirming care elsewhere, since the law says that the attorney general will enforce compliance with the states gender-affirming care ban. The states law, like several others, also mandates that adults cannot aid or abet the provision of gender-affirming care to a minor which some advocates see as implicit no-travel clauses. That threat of potential prosecution is what, Mannery-Barker said, ultimately drove it home for her family: we have got to get out of here. In March, the family made a decision: they would have to move. Mannery-Barkers husband has already relocated to Nevada, while she and their two children will follow in about two months. Mannery-Barker feels bittersweet-excited about the move. Her kids will be in a better environment, especially at school, where she and her husband have already had refreshing conversations with knowledgeable staff about how to be respectful towards gender-expansive students. But the family doesnt have friends or family in Nevada and the move has already cost $50,000, a price tag that she expects to keep climbing. I was about to say our situation is extreme, but actually its not. Because a lot of other families have opted to do the same, Mannery-Barker said. And even in states without statewide gender-affirming care bans, families are still facing restrictions. At the Campaign for Southern Equality, Jones worked with one Texas family that found a clinic appointment in New Mexico for gender-affirming care. The clinic canceled three weeks before the appointment. Thats happened a few times, she said where clinics have decided to stop seeing out-of-state patients traveling from states with gender-affirming care bans. South Carolina is one of two states in the South that has not enacted a statewide ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth. But Aryn Kavanaughs kids still cant access their care. Kavanaugh lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with her husband and two teenage children both of whom are transgender. Last December, her kids care was interrupted. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) started canceling the familys doctors appointments. Her son was receiving testosterone as part of his transition and her daughter was being prescribed puberty suppressants. Kavanaugh would reschedule an appointment, then the office would cancel again. She was especially worried about her son, Parker, not being able to get his testosterone prescription refilled. He was about to turn 17, and had been on testosterone for several years at that point. Gender-affirming care was, and is, still legal in the state. Eventually, Kavanaugh found out through the news that MUSC was no longer providing gender-affirming care to adolescents. It took until the end of January to get verbal confirmation of that from the hospital, she said. Me and the kids were just terrified about what the next steps were gonna be and, were other doctors going to be canceling their services? she said. Earlier in 2022, the state legislature had banned the Medical University of South Carolina from using state funds to provide gender-affirming care to minors under sixteen through adding a measure to the state budget. Conservative state legislators were putting pressure on the hospital system. And Kavanaugh was left to figure out how she could continue her sons prescription. Suddenly stopping a hormone treatment can have adverse side effects. She had to figure out where to turn next. She couldnt find an endocrinologist specializing in treating transgender youth in Myrtle Beach. So she knew they would have to travel. The closest option she could find was three hours away in the state capital, Columbia. Her kids go to the Prisma Health Childrens Hospital there now. Her daughter, Grey, who recently turned 16, has been able to get her estrogen prescribed for the first time. Kavanaugh was first introduced to Prisma Health Medical Group through the Campaign for Southern Equality. Grant money from the LGBTQ+ organization helped the Kavanaughs pay for that first three-hour drive, plus insurance co-pays and some gender-affirming clothes for Parker and Grey. The Kavanaugh family has received $1,000 in total from the advocacy groups emergency project for Southern transgender youth. This spring, they were given $250 per child, then over the summer, another $500 total was granted in the same way. On top of the costs of travel, insurance co-pays for medication, and buying gender-affirming clothing, both of her children see therapists weekly. It costs $40 a week for both of them. They are required to see a therapist in order to get gender-affirming care so thats another mandatory expense. They will have to make the drive to Columbia every six months for the kids to get routine blood tests done and to get refills on their prescriptions. Those bills really add up. So having a little bit of a crutch to land on and just feel like there are people out there that care is huge, she said. The Kavanaughs are a dual-income home, but part of why they moved to South Carolina in the first place was for a lower cost of living. Aryn teaches 10th grade English, and her husband works in real estate. It feels like a desperate and hopeless time for many families, Polaski said. But families of trans youth have options to seek financial aid. There is a way to continue to receive the care that you need, he said. I want people to know that help is available. Its going to be more expensive. Its going to be harder. It is a confusing and chaotic time, but its possible. The changing landscape has also affected Genderbands approach. This is the first time that the volunteer-run organization, which has existed since 2015, has expanded its gender-affirming care grants to trans youth in addition to trans adults. Ian Giles, founder and executive director of Genderbands, said that the nonprofit's mission has become more critical than ever. With every anti-trans bill that comes out, I feel like its more and more important that we are there and we are visible, he said. I feel like I need to get out as many grants as possible as soon as possible before theres so many laws that were not able to do what we do, he said. Trans youth are under attack right now, Giles said and hes determined to keep going, even if the constantly changing legal landscape affects whether they can get grants out the door. They will just have to change their approach, he said. In Alabama, Finn wont legally be an adult until hes 19. So accessing gender-affirming care in the state isnt as simple as waiting until his next birthday. By October, he had two vials of testosterone left. Hes been rationing injections, skipping a week or so at a time, in order to make the medication last. He only has a few shots left. His mother has applied for a Genderbands travel grant ahead of the organizations November 30th deadline and is still trying to find a clinic in New Orleans that will take new patients. Were getting to that point of desperation, Freeman said. A four-year-old boy witnessed the wounding of two relatives Russian forces injured a family with a 4-year-old child when shelling the community of Semenivka in Chernihiv Oblast, which is located on the border with Russia, regional governor Vyacheslav Chaus said on Telegram on Dec. 2. The family came under fire when visiting the border village for the weekend to see a relative, Chaus said. "The man suffered shrapnel wounds and received assistance at a local hospital, the governor wrote. Read also: His daughter is being transported to the regional hospital, where she awaits surgery. Fortunately, the 4-year-old grandson was unharmed." Chernihiv Oblast Police Department helped evacuate the injured and also reported the incident on Facebook. The youngest child, who witnessed two relatives being injured, is receiving psychological support, law enforcement officials said. The boy's father has arrived to be with him. Read also: Ukraines Air Defense eliminates 18 of 25 Russian drones and 1 of 2 Kh-59 missiles overnight This incident follows an earlier Russian shelling attack that resulted in one fatality in Donetsk Oblast. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Nearing the end of what he calls the longest single term in office of any leader in Farmingtons history at five and a half years a period that in many ways served as a transformative chapter for the city newly re-elected Mayor Nate Duckett already has turned his attention to what lies ahead over the next four years during his second term. Some benchmarks have not been met, he said. And some projects we kicked off during the last term are just now breaking ground. Its not that Duckett isnt interested in revisiting the recent past in fact, hes said hes proud of the progress the city has made, the way it has weathered the challenges it has faced and the role he has played in making those things happen. Its just that hed rather talk about how the city might prosper in the near future as the strategies developed over the last several years begin to have an effect. Certainly, there were times that became more challenging than other times, that make you question yourself, he said. But I believe in the direction were going. Farmingtons best days are ahead, and I want to be a part of that mission. Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett was re-elected in early November after serving the longest single term of any mayor in the city's history. Since he was elected mayor in March 2018, Duckett has overseen one of the more consequential periods in the citys history. In that time, the city has experienced numerous highs and lows, including: the reopening of the Farmington Civic Center after an $11.5 million renovation and expansion he opening of the $8 million Bisti Bay at Brookside Park aquatic park $500,000 in improvements to recreation areas at Lake Farmington the nearly $12 million streetscape and infrastructure renovation of the downtown district as part of the Complete Streets program a global pandemic that was devastating to the nearby Navajo Nation in its early stages the closure of one of the countys main economic drivers, the San Juan Generating Station and the coal mine that supplied it, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs an aborted attempt to keep the plant operating through the use of experimental carbon-capture technology the $1 million renovation, acquisition and reopening of the Totah Theater downtown millions of dollars in upgrades to the Four Corners Regional Airport as part of an effort to bring back passenger air service a mass shooting by a Farmington High School student earlier this year that left three victims dead and two police officers wounded and a concerted, county-wide shift toward promoting an outdoor recreation-based economy. Duckett played a major role in some of those developments and only a peripheral role in others, but they all occurred during his first term, which, because of a consolidation of municipal elections and a shift in the election calendar, lasted significantly longer than the normal four years. Perhaps it was the demanding nature of that five-and-a-half-year period that made it seem so much shorter to him. Its amazing how quick that time goes by, he said. Duckett said he takes the fact that he ran unopposed after his only challenger, local businessman Alexander Chambers, was declared ineligible after filing for the race in August as a signal that voters believe he and the City Council are doing the right things. Were still focused on economic diversification, he said, explaining that a major part of that effort involves creating and promoting quality-of-life and cultural amenities that will serve as a mechanism for attracting visitors from outside the region and keeping them here for a longer period. That will remain our focus for the next four years. 'It couldn't just be dark and gloomy' When Duckett began his career in public service in 2014 by being elected to the City Council, he said he was struck by the fact that his relative youth made him an oddity not just in Farmington, but among the leaders of most governing bodies and large entities in the county. Most of his fellow city councilors in Farmington had been at it a long time, he said, and they were entrenched in positions that often left them at odds with their counterparts. Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett says the focus of his second term in office will continue to be economic diversification and improving the quality of life in the city. Prior to 2014, that council was very split on a number of initiatives, he said, describing how difficult it was to achieve substantive change in the city in the face of those often-conflicting perspectives. But, beginning with Duckett and continuing to the present day, the Farmington council has seen an infusion of relative youth. We brought in a younger generation much younger than when I was elected (to the council), he said. Most of those younger leaders San Juan College President Toni Hopper Pendergrass, San Juan County Manager Mike Stark and Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director Tonya , among them had something in common, Duckett noted. They had families with small children, and they wanted to build a different future for their kids than what San Juan County, seemingly caught in a downward economic spiral brought on by stagnant or declining energy prices, offered at the time. They didnt see hope, he said. The energy sector that had sustained the countys economy for decades was floundering in 2012 and 2013, Duckett said, with many companies selling off their interests here and moving on. Things got even worse a few years later when it became clear the San Juan Generating Stations days were numbered with the passage of the states Energy Transition Act in 2019, which began a phase-out of coal-fired power plants in New Mexico. It was a crisis moment, Duckett recalled. There were legitimate concerns this city didnt have a future based on the exodus of those companies. Duckett shared the sentiment of other young leaders who saw the community was overdue for a transformation. Weve got to change the mindset, he said, describing the consensus the group quickly reached. It couldnt just be dark and gloomy. The first thing is, weve got to change the attitude about the place we live. Duckett credits Stinson with being the one who articulated what that new vision should be. "She came up with the marketing campaign that basically said, Were more than an industrial town, he said, referring to Farmingtons long history of relying on the fossil fuels sector for its economic well-being, as well as its identity. That campaign sparked a sea change in local economic development efforts. Government, business and academic leaders across the county quickly rallied around the idea that the county was missing an enormous opportunity by failing to adequately develop and promote its outdoor recreation amenities. Everythings just an idea or a thought until it gets funded, Duckett said, describing the difference between talk and action. But in 2019, we said, Were going to fund outdoor recreation because we had to. In retrospect, the lack of attention that was being paid to the economic potential of outdoor recreation in San Juan County seems like a glaring oversight, Duckett acknowledged. There was so much low-hanging fruit in that arena, even in relatively urbanized Farmington, that it was difficult to know where to start. After all, he said, 60% of the states surface water flows through San Juan County, rendering it relatively saturated compared to most of the rest of bone-dry New Mexico. And with 94% of the county in federal, state or tribal hands, there are practically limitless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, four-wheeling, fishing, camping, kayaking and sightseeing in what Duckett refers to as Farmingtons fantastic backyard. Yet, until recently, all those natural advantages rarely came up in local economic development discussions. Prior to 10 years ago, you couldnt recreate at Lake Farmington, he said, shaking his head in amazement and ruefully adding that it was only a few years ago that the first river rafting company began operating in the city. How in the world was that the case all these years? he asked rhetorically. Positive feedback, improving attitudes Since 2019, the inventory of outdoor attractions throughout Farmington and the rest of the county has multiplied exponentially. New camping areas, trails and boat ramps open with regularity, and plans for additional outdoor amenities including the construction of a standing wave suitable for surfing on the Animas River near the Farmington Museum and two large mountain biking parks abound. Nate Duckett says he sees himself remaining in the role of an elected official for Farmington for a long time, but he is unsure about whether that will come in the form of another run for mayor or a possible stint as a state legislator. Additionally, the city is committed to building a new, $13 million all-abilities park on the site of the old Tibbetts Middle School just north of downtown, as well as a high-profile, showplace park on the banks of the Animas River on land surrounding the Farmington Museum at Gateway Park. The first phase of the latter project will include an enclosed farmers market pavilion, an amphitheater and extensive landscaping on what is now an unsightly, weed-infested patch of bare earth. Duckett pointed to two large in-state gatherings held in Farmington in recent months the annual meeting of the New Mexico Association of Counties and the New Mexico Municipal League and said the reaction he heard from attendees about the citys makeover was gratifying. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, he said. People were blown away by what we have done in the last decade. That attitude has filtered down to local residents, Duckett said. We are taking more pride in places where we live now, he said. But we still need to set the bar higher than that, and that always starts with yourself. The mayor said he makes a habit of going out to pick up trash on his own street on a weekly basis. And when he speaks to out-of-town visitors, he said he commonly hears them remark on how clean the city is something he chalks up to an aggressive street-sweeping campaign overseen by public works director David Sypher. David is adamant about how important it is to the life span of pavement to keep the streets swept, he said. A more inviting community Other changes are perhaps more difficult to measure but just as important, Duckett said, citing his belief that the citys Navajo population is far more integrated into the fabric of life in Farmington than it was even a generation ago. I think people find this community more inviting, he said. My goal is always to create an environment where everybody felt comfortable. We want to present the best opportunities for everybody. And when it comes to opportunity, its open to everybody. Duckett said he senses a change in Farmingtons identity over the last four years one that extends well beyond its economic fortunes to the way its residents view their civic responsibilities. I believe the collective attitude has shifted and people want to be part of the solution instead of complaining about a problem, he said. As for his own future, the mayor figures to continue leaving his own mark on the city for the duration of his second term and perhaps even longer. I see myself staying in an elected role on behalf of Farmington for a long time, he said, explaining that might involves a third term as mayor or perhaps a stint in the state Legislature. In the meantime, Duckett still has plenty of items on his agenda for his second term. Ensuring the return of passenger air service to the Four Corners Regional Airport, helping other leaders in San Juan County secure the construction of a railroad spur here and the continued expansion of the outdoor rec economy are at the top of that list, he said. If the mayor has a pet project in mind, he said its seeing to it that the planned Gateway Park is completed and built to the standards he envisions. I think its going to an iconic park and another extension of our riverfront, he said, citing the project as a place where he hopes the entire community will gather. You need a place on Main Street everybody drives by and says, Man, thats beautiful. Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e. This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Farmington mayor has overseen consequential period in city's history French gendarmes patrol the Trocadero plaza near the Eiffel Tower after a man targeted passersbys late saturday, killing a German tourist with a knife and injuring two others in Paris, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. Police subdued the man, a 25-year-old French citizen who had spent four years in prison for a violent offense. After his arrest, he expressed anguish about Muslims dying, notably in the Palestinian territories. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) PARIS (AP) France's anti-terrorism prosecutor said Sunday he has opened an investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 23-year-old German-Filipino tourist near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, allegedly by a man who had been under surveillance for suspected Islamic radicalization. Jean-Francois Ricard said in a news conference that suspect Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab could face a preliminary charge of murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. He said Rajabpour-Miyandoab is a French national who is being held in police custody. Rajabpour-Miyandoab recorded a video before the attack in which he swore allegiance to the Islamic State group and expressed support for Islamic extremists operating in various areas, including in Africa, Iraq, Syria, Egypt's Sinai, Yemen, Iran and Pakistan, Ricard said. The video, in Arabic, was published on Rajabpour-Miyandoa's account on X, formerly Twitter, where his recent posts included references to the Israel-Hamas war, the prosecutor said. It wasnt immediately clear if Rajabpour-Miyandoab had legal representation. A message left Sunday with the prosecutors office seeking to locate him for comment was not immediately returned. Ricard said Rajabpour-Miyandoab was born in 1997 in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, outside Paris, in a family with no religious affiliation. He converted to Islam at the age of 18 and quickly adhered to Islamic extremist ideology, he said. In 2016, he had planned to join the Islamic State group in Syria. The same year, he was convicted and imprisoned for four years, until 2020, on a charge of planning violence. He was under psychiatric treatment and was on a special list for feared radicals, the prosecutor confirmed. Since the end earlier this year of a probation period during which he received mandatory psychiatric care, Rajabpour-Miyandoab was placed under the surveillance of intelligence services, Ricard said. His mother had in October expressed concerns over her son isolating himself, but no evidence was found that could have led to criminal proceedings, he added. Three other people from Rajabpour-Miyandoab's entourage and family have been detained by police for questioning, Ricard said. The apparently random attack near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night has drawn special concern for the French capital less than a year before it hosts the Olympic Games, with the opening ceremony due to take place along the river in an unprecedented scenic start in the heart of Paris. In a sign of that concern, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called a meeting for Sunday evening with key ministers and officials charged with security for a total review of measures in place and the handling of the most dangerous individuals, her office said. After killing the tourist, the attacker crossed the bridge to the citys Right Bank and injured two people, a British and a French national, with a hammer, authorities said. Ricard said both of them were able to get back home on Sunday. Video circulating on the internet showed police officers, weapons drawn, cornering a man dressed in black, his face covered and what appeared to be a knife in his right hand. The suspect cried Allahu Akbar (God is great) and a police officer twice tasered the suspect before arresting him, authorities said. Questioned by police, the suspect expressed anguish about Muslims dying, notably in Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, and claimed that France was an accomplice, Darmanin said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on X that the news from Paris was shocking. My thoughts are with the friends and family of the young German man, she wrote. Almost his entire life was before him. ... Hate and terror have no place in Europe. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, in a post on X, expressed condolences for the victim's family and friends and hope that Europe stands together against terrorism. A heartfelt thought to the family members and loved ones of the victim," she wrote. May Europe stay united against every form of terrorism." The French media widely reported that the man, who lived with his parents in the Essonne region, outside Paris, was of Iranian origin. This person was ready to kill others, Darmanin told reporters, who along with other government members and President Emmanuel Macron praised police officers for their response. Well-known emergency physician Patrick Pelloux, who was among the first at the scene, told BFM-TV there was a large quantity of blood. Pelloux said he was told by the victim's entourage that the suspect stopped them to ask for a cigarette, then plunged his knife into the victim. He aimed at the head, then the back. He knew where to strike, Pelloux said. Ricard, the prosecutor, said the suspect had a history of contacts via social networks with one of the two men notorious for the gruesome killing of a priest during Mass in 2016 in Saint-Etienne du Rouvray. He said the suspect was also in touch with the man who killed a police couple at their home in Yvelines, west of Paris, a month earlier. France has been under a heightened terror alert since the fatal stabbing in October of a teacher in the northern city of Arras by a former student originally from the Ingushetia region in Russias Caucasus Mountains and suspected of Islamic radicalization. That came three years after another teacher was killed outside Paris, beheaded by a radicalized Chechen later killed by police. The Saturday attack brought into sharp focus authorities' concern for potential terrorist violence during the 2024 Games. Just days earlier, the Paris police chief had unveiled detailed plans for the Olympic Games' security in Paris, with zones where traffic will be restricted and people will be searched. The police chief, Laurent Nunez, said one of their concerns is that vehicles could be used as battering rams to plow through Olympic crowds. Speaking Sunday evening on TF1 television about security concerns during the Olympics, Darmanin said this year's Rugby World Cup "took place in good conditions. So did the Popes visit to Marseille, and so did the King and Queen of England (visit to France). He added that police plans prior to the attack include a security perimeter with checkpoints around the Eiffel Tower. ___ Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris and Frances D'Emilio in Rome contributed to this report. Isla Bryson, a transgender woman found guilty of raping two women before she transitioned, was sent to Cornton Vale, an all-female prison - Police Scotland/Reuters Fewer than five transgender women are being held in female jails after a major transfer programme in the wake of the Isla Bryson scandal. Around 10 transgender women are believed to have been deemed potential security risks and moved out of womens jails following a tightening of the rules in prisons in England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) imposed a retrospective ban on transgender prisoners with male genitalia or with a conviction for violent or sexual offences to be held in womens prisons. It was introduced by Dominic Raab, then the justice secretary, after Bryson, a transgender woman found guilty of raping two women before she transitioned, was sent to Cornton Vale, an all-female prison. The subsequent outcry forced the Scottish Government to reverse the policy and led to a review of the rules south of the border. According to new MoJ data, the number of transgender women in female jails has fallen to between zero and five, excluding those in possession of a gender recognition certificate. The MoJ refuses to be more precise because of the risk of identifying individuals. However, The Telegraph understands that there were more than dozen transgender female prisoners in female jails last year, including those with certificates, and their number has fallen since the transfers. Last year, 168 legally-male trans women prisoners were being held in England and Wales six in womens prisons and the remainder in mens prisons. A further 11 prisoners had legally switched gender and obtained gender recognition certificates. Research shows that men jailed for sexual offences are twice as likely to identify as trans women as men jailed for other types of offences. Transgender prisoners can be held in mens jails or in wing E at HMP Downview, a womens prison reopened as a transgender unit to house transgender inmates who could not be safely held in male jails. The MoJs approach differs from Scotlands. In England and Wales, transgender women can only be held in a female jail if a risk assessment by a Complex Case Board says it is safe to do so. In Scotland there is a presumption they will be held according to self-declared gender identity unless there are concerns about risk. The rules in England and Wales stipulated that no prisoner with intact male genitalia or a conviction for violent or sexual offences may be housed in the general population of the female estate. Having a gender recognition certificate does not exclude prisoners from the retrospective policy. The MoJ says exceptions will be considered only when evidence demonstrates the highest degree of confidence in a low level of risk to female offenders. Exceptions must be signed off by the Justice Secretary. 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. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that the battle for Ukraines fate is expressed by doing specific things in support of the state, not through social media discourse and squabbling. Source: the Presidents evening address Quote: "In every Ukrainian city where the day was relatively calm today, everyone who is in the rear, who can just stay at home, should bear in mind that the battle for Ukraines fate continues, and it is not continuing on social media, or in arguments about political matters, or in squabbling. This battle is where Ukrainians need support every day. Specific things that strengthen Ukraine. Things that add strength to our positions, to our state. Things that allow us to respond to the enemy's attacks with our intense acts of bravery." Background: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces, believes that the situation at the front has reached a stalemate in which neither side can advance because they are technologically equipped at the same level, and the war has reached the stage of positional warfare. For his part, Zelenskyy said he did not think the situation on the front in Ukraine was a stalemate, adding that Ukraine will not negotiate with Russia. Zelenskyy told British tabloid The Sun on 21 November that military personnel who intend to enter politics should not "deal with war". On 29 November, The Economist wrote that along with the grim reality of trench warfare, tensions are also growing on the "political battleground" in Kyiv. President Zelenskyy sees Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi as a rival, and political infighting is harming Ukraine. Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, has stated that Ukraine is moving towards an authoritarian regime and could become no different from Russia, where everything "depends on the whim of a single person". Klitschko added that "it would be stupid" of him to have presidential ambitions when Ukraines existence as a state was at stake. Support UP or become our patron! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) The execution of two Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking in China might have been a consequence of the Philippines tougher stand on the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, an analyst said. Dr. Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Society for International Security Studies and a board member of China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea, said Beijing might have disregarded the Philippine governments humanitarian appeal for the two Filipinos due to strained bilateral relations. He said that while China has every right to enforce its laws, it also considers appeals from other countries depending on the state of their relationship. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the two Filipinos were executed in China on Nov. 24 for bringing shabu weighing nearly 12 kilograms to Guangdong in 2013. READ: 2 Filipinos executed in China for drug trafficking China can be considerate if we were considerate also. However, we did not pay due regard to Chinas national position in the West Philippine Sea. It hardened Chinas position when it came to the two Filipinos, Banlaoi said. Banlaoi also said China might consider the Philippines appeal to commute the sentence of two other Filipinos on death row if the Marcos administration works on improving its ties with Beijing. If we want to request for humanitarian consideration from China, then we also have to offer something for China that will change its mind. Thats a better relationship, a friendly relationship, he said. We just have to open our channels of communication with China to peacefully settle our territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea, he added. In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, a government official maintained that the Philippines must keep its independence and not submit to any foreign power. Hostage diplomacy is incompatible with a modern and civilized society, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said. Individuals who attempt to connect the principled stance of the Philippines regarding the West Philippine Sea issue with the tragic execution of Filipinos in the People's Republic of China likely aim to create divisions among Filipino policymakers and the general public, he added. Tarriela said that the Philippines must even more advance its national interest, covering Filipinos abroad and the countrys fight for sovereign rights in the disputed waters. The two issues are not mutually exclusive, he said. No one was injured in a Sunday afternoon fire at the Swift Mansion, a historic house in the Bronzeville neighborhood, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Firefighters responded earlier in the day to 4500 S. Michigan Ave. after a fire broke out on the mansions third floor, Fire Department officials said. They said the fire was extinguished around noon. At about 2:45 p.m. the fire started again in the roof, officials said. It was extinguished about an hour and a half later, and no injuries were reported The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said. The castlelike mansion with hand-carved oak walls was built in the 1890s for a daughter of Gustavus Swift, founder of the famed meat company. Later, it was a funeral parlor, office quarters for the Chicago Urban League and home to the Inner City Youth & Adult Foundation. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com An elderly woman and her cat were rescued by Ohio firefighters after a house caught fire Friday. Firefighters responded to the fire at 11:37 p.m. and found smoke showing from the first floor of a 2.5-story home, WOIO reported. Crews found the woman while extinguishing the fire on the first floor through a second-story window, the station reported. >> 2 dogs dead, firefighter injured after house fire in Butler County Firefighters also found a deceased cat in a cage on the first floor of the home. A second cat was found unconscious on the upper level of the home, WEWS reported. He was revived and given to a relative of the occupant. The woman was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Firefighters said the fire was accidental, WOIO reported. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A long-time relationship between a famous Kansas City artist and her customer became a life-saving link during the pandemic. Now the duo is collaborating on a one-of-a-kind piece of art to commemorate the sacrifice of health care workers who battled COVID-19 for millions of patients. For nearly seven decades, Irma Starr has perched behind a pottery wheel perfecting her style. See what Christmas is like at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate in Independence Its from the 17th century and its a lost art, said Starr. Shes had her hands in clay since she was a student at the Kansas City Art Institutemolding and sculpting art that would one day become a masterpiece. Her slip-style pottery is showcased in European museums, at the Smithsonian, and even the white house came to Irma in 2002 for an anniversary plate for Bill and Hillary Clinton. But in 2022, everything stopped. Doctors told Irma that she had an aortic aneurysm and that her heart could give out at any minute. That had to be removed because it was large and about ready to burst, the potter said. She was busier than ever with commissioned work and the surgery was complicated. Just before the scheduled procedure, Irma tested positive for COVID-19 and almost no one wanted to risk open heart surgery on a COVID-19-positive woman in her 80s. But Dr. Charlie Porter changed that. GloWild Around the World at the Kansas City Zoo this holiday season Her aorta was out of warranty and needed to be replaced and she wasnt keen on that, said the doctor. Dr. Porter hooked Irma up with a cardiologist here at the University of Kansas Medical Center willing to do surgery. Irma recovered as both a heart and a COVID-19 patient. They put me in a separate room cuz I had COVID. I observed this wonderful nurse who took care of me, she said. The whole time Irma was in the hospital, everyone who entered the room took time to suit up. 15 minutes, Starr said. Put on a yellow coverall and something else in a plastic mask and gloves. As soon as she was out of the woods, the artist and Dr. Porter dedicated themselves to the creative task of thanking healthcare providers who suffered through the pandemic, risking their lives for their patients. One of her nurses became her prototype for a new Nurse-A-Gnome figurine. It was Charlies inspiration. And Irmas elbow grease and expertise. Its an artistic partnership, Dr. Porter said. Kind of wrote this song and she plays the music. More than 2 years after the idea was hatched they created a song. I think its adorable, Starr said with a laugh. A fitting gift of gratitude from a doctor and an artist, who together endured a global pandemic, and lived to offer thanks uniquely and tangibly. I hope they feel appreciated like they realize they went through something like this they should think that are appreciated by others, mentioned the doctor. Download the FOX4 News app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for FOX4 email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on fox4kc.com for Kansas City and all of Kansas and Missouri. I think theyre really going to look back at covid and say boy I did something really great, added Starr. You know they could have died. They sacrificed themselves. There are only about 30 Nurse-A-Gnome figurines available for purchase. You can order them through Irma Starrs website or come to her holiday open house at her studio in Dec. 15-17th. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. (CNN) Some 220 flamingos have been found dead in the province of Catamarca in northwestern Argentina due to an outbreak of avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, an official told local media. Bird flu is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease that naturally spreads through wild aquatic birds, such as ducks, geese and swans, but can also infect other bird species, such as domestic poultry, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The H5N1 strain of avian influenza has spread in more than 80 countries since 2022, according to the World Health Organization, and experts have concerns amid its ongoing impact across continents. H5N1 is the predominant version causing problems in the Americas and Europe, and there are several subtypes of the virus reported as the disease continuously mutates, according to WHO. Around the globe, there have been reports of bird flu outbreaks flaring in various mammals such as seals and farmed mink, detection of H5N1 viruses in domestic cats and dogs, as well as a few cases reported in humans. Currently, there is no effective treatment for the virus, according to the New York State Wildlife Health Program. Risk of spread through bird migration The infected species known as James flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), or the puna flamingo is one of three types of flamingos found in northwestern Argentina. The birds pose a risk of spreading the disease to new areas during migration. Originally, the H5N1 strain spread from North America to South America through migratory birds in a span of three months, according to Dr. Johanna Harvey, a postdoctoral researcher of environmental science and technology at the University of Maryland who has studied the strain. It only takes one infected bird to pass on the virus to a whole flock in a matter of days, Harvey said, adding that flamingos are known to be highly gregarious, social animals that live in large flocks. The H5N1 strain poses a low risk to humans since December 2021, 11 cases of the strain have been reported in humans globally, according to the CDC. But experts are closely monitoring the lethal pathogens spread to other mammals, such as when more than 50 sea lions were found dead in August in Argentina due to infection of the virus. My concerns are that its in a lot of birds, birds are clearly continuing to move it, and its not going away and as these mortalities pile up, the impact on populations, and potentially even (entire) species, is really great, Harvey said. The true magnitude of loss here, I do not believe is well understood and has not been documented, because its a really hard thing to do. In this latest outbreak, the provincial director of biodiversity for Catamarca, Anabella Ahumada, confirmed the cause of death of hundreds of flamingos to local media, following positive test results for H5N1 in 3 out of 6 samples taken from the dead birds by SENASA, Argentinas National Food Safety and Quality Service. Park rangers detected the high rates of mortality in the birds near the bodies of water Laguna Grande and Laguna Diamante, Ahumada told local media outlet Catamarca 12. The province has been under epidemiological surveillance since the start of November, Catamarca 12 reported. The Argentine government has recommended that people do not come into contact with sick or deceased birds without adequate protection. More on the bird flu Across the United States, zoos have been moving their captive birds indoors as the rate of infection continues to rise. In 2022, the Pittsburgh Zoo, the Denver Zoo, the Maryland Zoo and other facilities moved their bird species indoors away from people and other wildlife. Last month, the Dallas Zoo moved its flamingos indoors, NBC 5 in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area reported. The virus has spread through saliva, mucus and feces from infected birds, according to the CDC. In mammals, some scavenging species have come in contact with the virus by eating infected bird carcasses, Harvey said. As far as people interacting with wild birds, there doesnt seem to be a huge risk to them, because the number of human cases have remained low globally, so were not too worried about that, said Dr. Krysten Schuler, an assistant research professor in the department of public and ecosystem health at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York. But the mutation potential and the wide distribution of this virus are the major risk factors. James flamingo is listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species, Schuler noted. The main threats to the bird include habitat loss caused by mining, as well as human disturbances due to recreational activities, according to IUCN. When the virus affects birds that are already struggling population-wise, it can have the potential to eliminate species, Schuler said. There is not much that can be done to stop the spread of the virus, but Schuler recommends that people report any unusual animal deaths without an obvious cause to their state wildlife agencies, so they can be notified of what areas the disease is spreading. If there is any potential to do something about it, our best option is right at the beginning, Schuler said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Latest outbreak of deadly bird flu kills 220 flamingos in Argentina. The virus global spread concerns experts" TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A South Florida woman is behind bars after she robbed a Publix and threatened to blow it up, according to Miramar Police. NBC affiliate WTVJ reported that the robbery happened on Saturday at 9951 Miramar Parkway, just half an hour north of Miami. Caught on camera: Florida man walks out of Publix with 12 bottles of wine According to a police statement obtained by WTVJ, the woman, identified as Rebeca Navarro Rodriguez, allegedly walked into the supermarket and handed a note to an employee demanding money, or she would blow up the grocery store. WTVJ said the employee was able to get Rodriguezs license tag as she fled the store. Officials later spotted Rodriguezs car and pulled her over during a traffic stop, where she was arrested. She was charged with robbery with sudden snatching, according to police. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. FILE - An Aiken County sheriff's deputy was arrested for alleged assault and misconduct during a March 7 incident. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating an alleged case of violent misconduct. Christopher Lamar Williams, 31, was arrested on Dec. 1 for assault and battery first degree as well as misconduct while in the office of an Aiken County sheriff's deputy, according to SLED Spokesperson Renee Wunderlich. Copies of the arrest warrants provided by Wunderlich claim Williams made a traffic stop in Warrenville on Schley Street for failure to maintain lane on March 7. He asked the driver to exit the vehicle, at which point the driver fled in a Nissan Pathfinder. Williams drew his gun and fired, striking the rear side of the driver's side of the suspect's vehicle. The warrant goes on to claim that, according to Williams' in-car video footage, Williams caused the potential for great bodily injury or death to occur while the suspect took no overt action to endanger Williams other than fleeing from the traffic stop. Williams was booked at the Aiken County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 2nd Circuit Solicitors Office. Walmart shooting: Barnwell man arrested in connection to Aiken Walmart shooting Closing business: Longtime jeweler in Augusta's Surrey Center closing shop after 57 years in the business This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Aiken County sheriff's deputy for assault, misconduct at traffic stop A former prep school teacher who served 11 months for sexually abusing two students in Pennsylvania is going back to prison for an earlier incident when he was a camp counselor in New Hampshire. Matthew Scavitto, 39, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, was sentenced Friday to 2 1/2 to five years in state prison for incidents involving a boy from 2002 to 2003 at Camp Tecumseh in Moultonborough, New Hampshire, according to Eric MacLeish, a lawyer for the victim in the case. The victim, Will Addis, of Camden, Maine, said future abuse at an all-boys boarding school in Pennsylvania couldve stopped if camp officials had alerted New Hampshire Child Protection. In 2015, Scavitto pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct with students at The Phelps School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Had the camp reported the abuse, Scavitto would have been prosecuted 20 years ago and he would never have been able to gain access to other victims at the camp and the Phelps School, Addis said in a statement. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been victims of sexual assault, unless they go public, as Addis has. He said he was assaulted from about age 10 to 12 at the camp. Addis attorney said a camp counselor walked in on Scavitto and Addis in bed and reported the incident to a superior but the abuse continued because nothing further was done to stop it. Scavitto, who was taken immediately into custody on Friday, took full responsibility for his actions and hopes the victim can begin healing, his lawyer, Jesse Friedman, said Saturday. Matt Scavitto was a child himself during the timeline of the offenses in this case. There are no winners in these types of cases and the impact on so many lives is profound the victim, the accused and the families of all involved, the attorney wrote in an email. 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 To blow up the Crimean bridge for the first time, 21 tons of hexogen were hidden in rolls of plastic wrap Ivan Stupak, a military expert and former operative of the Ukraines SBU security service, has revealed to NV the various ways explosives can be transported to Russia to carry out attacks on the enemy. The SBU has successful experience; 21 tons of hexogen were transported across the Crimean Bridge, Stupak said in an interview with Radio NV on Dec. 1. He was referring to the truck bomb Ukraine used to attack the bridge linking Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula with Russia in October 2022. (We managed to transport) precisely 21 tons through a large part of the Russian Federation, reaching Crimea and detonating it on the Crimean Bridge, Stupak said. The ex-SBU operative disclosed that certain cargoes could be transferred by smugglers. Certainly, there could be some diplomatic mail through third countries. But this is avery cautious assumption, he added. SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk told NV in August that for the initial explosion of the Crimean Bridge, a bomb containing 21 tons of hexogen was concealed in rolls of polyethylene film. The SBU calculated the thickness of the film layer was sufficient to conceal metal cylinders filled with a hexogen mixture from customs scanners. Darya Dugina, daughter of the Russian propagandist Aleksandr Dugin who likes to call himself a philosopher, was also killed by a bomb planted by the SBU, U.S. newspaper the Washington Post reported in October. Four weeks before the car explosion involving Dugins daughter, Ukrainian operatives reportedly installed a secret compartment in a cat carrier transported in another disguised car with a mother and 12-year-old daughter, hiding bomb components there. This raised no suspicions at the border checkpoint. And on the night of Nov. 30, SBU caused an explosion in the Bessolov Severomuysky Tunnel on Baikal-Amur Mainline in Buryatia. Four explosive devices were detonated while a freight train was traveling. Another fuel-laden train exploded on the Baikal-Amur Mainline on Dec. 1. This railway plays a crucial role as a vital link between Russia and China, serving as a mainline that the Russians employ for various purposes, including military logistics. 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 FORT TOWSON The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation were investigating a fatal shooting Saturday that involved a trooper and a Choctaw County deputy at a bar just outside of town. A release posted by the highway patrol just before 5 p.m. Saturday said the Choctaw County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a disturbance at Tommy's Bar at about 2:10 a.m. the same day. A deputy and the trooper found someone believed to have been involved in the disturbance in a vehicle parked at the bar when they arrived, a release issued by the highway patrol stated. That person was armed and was shot when gunfire was exchanged, it stated. The deputy and trooper began life-saving measures and called for emergency medical services to assist. However, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither the deputy nor trooper were injured, the release stated. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: State authorities investigate fatal shooting that involved trooper, deputy Police on Saturday arrested four Boston residents for attempting to steal vehicles in Hyde Park, one day after some local residents woke up Friday morning to find their cars vandalized. Jay Moses, 27, of Dorchester; Diamond Carter, 27, of Boston; Justin Creech, 24, of West Roxbury; and Thomas Perkins, 24, of Hyde Park were all arrested on Saturday and charged with breaking and entering of a motor vehicle and attempted larceny of a motor vehicle. At about 5:08 a.m. Saturday, Boston officers responded to the area of 1409 River St. for a report of shots fired, police said. Officers located ballistic evidence on scene. No injuries were reported. As officers were searching the area for a shooting suspect or victim, officers learned that four suspects had just attempted to break into multiple motor vehicles, police said. Officers were advised that the motor vehicles were left running to warm up due to the cold weather. Detectives responded to the area of Beaver and Cleveland streets and were told that the suspects moved the vehicles up the street, police said. Detectives were provided descriptions of the suspects, and broadcasted it to responding officers. Officers investigating the shooting scene saw four suspects matching the descriptions of the suspects involved in the motor vehicle break-ins, police said. Officers stopped all four suspects, and placed them into handcuffs. A day earlier, around 8 a.m. Friday, officers responded to the area of Maple Street for a report of a breaking and entering of a motor vehicle. When officers arrived, they found four cars on the street with their windows smashed out, according to a Boston Police report. It was unclear Saturday if the four weekend arrests were connected to the vandalism to motor vehicles reported on Friday. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston detectives at 617-343-5607. Community members wishing to assist in this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). All four suspects are expected to be arraigned in West Roxbury District Court. 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 UPDATE La Union Elementary has been added to the list of schools that will be going remote on Monday, Dec. 4 because of ongoing water issues in the Santa Teresa and Sunland Park area. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Gadsden Independent School District is moving some campuses to remote learning starting Monday, Dec. 4 because of concerns over water quality affecting parts of Sunland Park and Santa Teresa. This decision follows the recent notification from Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) about compromised water quality in the area, read the announcement from GISD. Parts of Sunland Park, Santa Teresa remain under water advisory The affected campuses include: Sunland Park PreK Riverside Elementary Desert View Elementary Santa Teresa Middle School GAC On-Track PreK Santa Teresa Elementary Santa Teresa High School La Union Elementary School The move to virtual instruction is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff in light of the water quality advisory issued by CRRUA, urging residents to refrain from using tap water for human consumption or bathing, the announcement read. The selected campuses listed above will begin Mondays instruction after a two-hour delay to allow students to retrieve their Chromebooks. Campus administrators will provide further instructions to staff and students on accessing buildings to retrieve electronic devices for remote participation via the Remind messaging app. The decision to implement remote learning for these campuses was made independently by GISD after conducting an analysis of water quality concerns, according to the news release. The rest of the school district will continue with regularly scheduled in-person instruction, as their water supply remains unaffected by this issue. GISD remains committed to the safety of its students and staff and will continue to monitor the situation closely, providing updates as developments occur, the news release said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. A Richmond woman is in jail on Sunday after authorities used gas to force her out of a Berea residence following an hours-long negotiation. Around 1:30 p.m. Saturday deputies responded to Fentress Lane in for a domestic complaint call. Once there they found 46-year-old Misti Robertson, who had barricaded herself inside the home with handguns, according to the Madison County Sheriffs Office. The initial investigation indicated that Robertson went to a family members home uninvited and assaulted a victim after an attempt was made to disarm her. The initial investigation indicates Robertson was armed with handguns, authorities said. After many hours of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate the Kentucky State Police Special Response Team introduced CS gas into the residence, the office said in a Facebook post. Robertson exited the home and was captured. She was taken to the Berea hospital were she was treated, released and taken to the Madison County Detention Center. Robertson is charged with first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, fourth-degree assault, two counts of unlawful imprisonment and third-degree terroristic threatening. The investigation remains active. Kentucky State Police Post 7 Richmond, Kentucky State Police Special Response Team and Madison County EMS assisted at the scene. Mirna El Helbawi sits on a Cairo rooftop, her face illuminated by the moonlight and a phone in her hands, as she texts a terrified father whose wife and children are trapped in Gaza. I dont want a single thing from this world right now, he writes to her in Arabic, except to be able to talk to them, even if its for the last time, let me tell them goodbye. El Helbawi, more than 200 miles away, cant shield his family from the Israeli missiles raining down. But she can provide them with the chance to say one more I love you. Mirna El Helbawi - Mirna El Helbawi The Egyptian writer and activist is the founder of Connecting Gaza, a grassroots initiative that uses eSIMs or virtual SIM cards to help Palestinians skirt telecommunication blackouts amid Israeli airstrikes across the territory. El Helbawi, along with a small group of volunteers and a legion of international donors, says theyve restored telephone and internet connection to more than 200,000 Palestinians in Gaza, and will continue the effort until the devastating war between Israel and Hamas is over. The right to telephone and internet access is a basic human right just as important as food and water, El Helbawi, 31, told CNN. Without the ability to communicate, Palestinian civilians caught in the line of fire are unable to check on each other or call for help; emergency and medical workers cant coordinate their responses; and journalists cant document atrocities on the ground, including possible war crimes, she says. After all this pain, they cant even share their grief with the world or scream for people to demand a ceasefire. They have to endure bombardment and attacks in absolute silence, El Helbawi said. Its like being murdered while someone is putting a hand over your mouth, so you cant even scream for help. Gaza falls silent El Helbawi, like millions of others, has been anxiously watching the war unfold since October 7, when Hamas launched a brazen attack in Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 240 others hostage. Israel responded by imposing a siege and launching deadly airstrikes across Gaza, destroying homes, schools and hospitals in the densely populated territory. An estimated 15,200 Palestinians, 70% of whom are women and children, have so far been killed in the attacks, and 40,000 others wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which draws its figures from sources in Hamas-run Gaza. Almost immediately, telecommunication services experienced disruptions. Israel cut electricity to the territory and service providers said the bombardment destroyed vital network infrastructure. Some Palestinians were still able to make telephone calls and access the internet, but connection was spotty. Smoke rises from buildings in Gaza after being hit by Israeli airstrikes on December 2, 2023. - John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images For weeks, El Helbawi followed the news closely. Images and videos posted on social media broke her heart entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble; doctors struggling to treat patients without medicine; parents mourning the deaths of their children. Then on October 27, as Israel prepared to expand its ground operations, Gaza fell silent. We regret to announce a complete disruption of all communication and internet services with the Gaza Strip in light of the ongoing aggression, Paltel, the leading telecommunication company in the Palestinian territories, said in a statement. It was the first of several blackouts to strike Gaza. Fearful that a blackout could provide cover for war crimes, El Helbawi became consumed with finding a solution. At first, she joined others on social media platform X, calling for Elon Musk to deliver his Starlink satellite internet service to Gaza and was excited when Musk said he would. But when talks on those plans stalled, El Helbawi decided to try something else. At the suggestion of a social media follower, she purchased an eSIM with roaming service and had a friend try to connect to a foreign network. To her surprise, it worked. I felt it in my whole body the moment we realized there was hope even if it was very small hope that we found a solution, El Helbawi said. It was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Within 24 hours, she posted on X and Instagram asking followers who wanted to help restore telephone and internet for Palestinians to donate eSIMs by purchasing them online and sending her the QR codes. El Helbawi felt confident she could find people in Gaza with service to distribute the eSIMs throughout the territory. Giving voice to victims As El Helbawi began executing her plan, Ahmed Elmadhoun was in Gaza struggling with how to report on the war without telephone or internet service. As one of the few journalists on the ground, Elmadhoun felt obligated to keep the world informed of the latest news, sharing photos and videos of the aftermath on social media. Its a significant responsibility, Elmadhoun, 27, told CNN. People here are dying in silence, and no one can hear them. We are the voice of all these victims. Journalist Ahmed Elmadhoun was the first person in Gaza who El Helbawi helped reconnect to the internet through an eSIM. - Courtesy Ahmed Elmadhoun He also worried about his family, who were displaced throughout Gaza and could not be reached. More than 40 of his relatives were killed in airstrikes, Elmadhoun says. Gaza was incredibly isolated, with only fear present. We were alone, very alone, he said. We couldnt reach our families or inquire about them, and the airstrikes were incredibly intense. Even the ambulance and emergency teams couldnt determine the locations of the bombings or reach the injured. Amid his fears, Elmadhoun managed to access the internet using an Israeli SIM card before it was blocked. In that time, he posted on X asking: Someone told me about an eSIM who? Minutes later, El Helbawi saw his question and responded: Me! Me! Me! Send me a message urgently. El Helbawi quickly gave Elmadhoun an eSIM QR code and helped reconnect him to the internet, making him the first person in Gaza to get one. At that moment, Connecting Gaza was born. The solution goes viral News of the initiative quickly spread on social media, with concerned people from all over the world buying and donating eSIMs. Donors have sent QR codes from as far as the United States, Switzerland, Pakistan and the Netherlands, El Helbawi says. Most buy them on mobile apps like Simly and Airalo, which allow donors to see when the eSIMs are activated and top them off when funds run low. Graeme Bradley, a donor from Scotland, says he was drawn to the initiative because its an easy way to have a big impact on a conflict where so many lives are at stake. Its horrific to see the level of destruction and death inflicted on innocent civilians living in an occupied territory with nowhere to go, Bradley, 38, told CNN. There is no escape for them. By helping Palestinians tell their stories, he hopes theyll be able to turn public opinion and pressure world leaders to call for a ceasefire. But not everyone who gets an eSIM lives long enough to tell their story. Palestinians struggle to charge and use their mobile phones amid electricity cuts and telecommunication blackouts across Gaza. - Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua/Getty Images Noha Elkomi, a 25-year-old donor from Egypt, says she excitedly watched on her app as a Palestinian activated the eSIM she donated. But when it fell inactive, her heart sank. She shared her concerns with El Helbawi, who told her, You never know what happens, Elkomi recalled. I understood what she said. Maybe the first one who took it is gone. Maybe they got killed. This is the reality of it, as sad as it is. Every minute counts and you dont know how long they are staying, Elkomi said. An eSIM can only be activated once, and it can go inactive depending on where in Gaza the person is trying to connect. If they move to an area with weaker signal, the eSIM might not work. This gave me a little bit of hope but at the same time it made me start imagining, what would the person be going through? Where are they now? Elkomi said. I started feeling as if I know them personally. The first eSIM she donated eventually lost signal altogether, Elkomi says, but she wont stop giving more. Days later, tears streamed from Elkomis eyes as she saw her second eSIM go online and connect another person in Gaza. I will say that regardless of what stops in front of them, they (Palestinians) find a way to go around it or climb on top of it or to break through it and continue thriving and this is what they want to show the world, Elkomi said. The blackout was, yes, some darkness, but theres always going to be light shining through the darkness. This is humanity El Helbawi admits shes obsessed with Connecting Gaza. Its the first thing she thinks about in the morning and the last thing at night. We barely sleep, connecting eSIMs is our first priority in life, she said. Even though I feel like Im doing something big for Gaza, I can never stop feeling that still we are not doing enough. To date, an estimated $1.3 million worth of eSIMs have been donated to Connecting Gaza for distribution, according to El Helbawi. The initiative, which partnered with Simly for a time, connects more than 1,000 Palestinians daily, and each person can turn a phone into a hotspot for five others, she says. Connecting Gaza has been so successful that El Helbawi recently leveraged her growing social media following into a nonprofit organization called Connecting Humanity, through which she hopes to reconnect vulnerable people in other conflict zones. The eSIMs are not cheap. To know that so many people are spending their time and money to help says so much about the solidarity the world has with Palestine, El Helbawi said. Some people donate eSIMs and then wait for their next paychecks to send another. They do this to save someones life. This is humanity. El Helbawi stands at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt with a Palestinian flag draped across her back. - Mirna El Helbawi The war has significantly changed since the first blackout. There was a short-lived truce, some hostages released, and more aid allowed to enter Gaza. But the violence has resumed and more than a million Palestinians remain displaced, their homes destroyed, little access to health care, food, clean water or electricity and no means of escape. The grief and isolation Palestinians feel is compounded by the frequent blackouts, Elmadhoun says: Whats happening in Gaza is a massacre. Theres no safe placeand we feel like we are alone. But El Helbawi, along with thousands of donors across the world, says she refuses to let Palestinians suffer in silence. We are sending a message to Palestinians, she said. We do not stand for this. We will not let you lose your connection with the world. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com News broke late Saturday that the disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos will be the subject of a new movie by HBO Films after the studio bought the rights to Mark Chiusano's new book on the gay ex-lawmaker The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos. The book came out on November 28 and examines the myriad of lies the Republican from New York has told from going to college to being a star athlete to where he previously worked. Deadline reports that the "meteoric political rise of George Santos and the web of fabulist tales it was built on" will be explored by Frank Rich, the executive producer of HBO's acclaimed satire comedy Veep and HBO's drama Succession. The outlet, which was first to report the news, writes that the project will be a dark comedy that delves into the congressional race on Long Island that eventually led to Santos's rise. Mike Makowsky (HBOs Bad Education) will write the film. Related: George Santos, the Fabulist Lawmaker, Is Expelled from Congress "The film tells the story of a seemingly minor local race that wound up a battle for the soul of Long Island, and unexpectedly carved the path for the worlds most famous (and now disgraced) congressman. It follows the Gatsby-esque journey of a man from nowhere who exploited the system, waged war on truth and swindled one of the wealthiest districts in the country to achieve his American Dream," Deadline reports. Chiusano will serve as a consulting producer. Santos was expelled from Congress earlier this week in a 311 to 114 vote, making him the sixth lawmaker to be ousted from the House of Representatives. It came after a House Ethics Committee report that found Santos had probably broken federal law and that he allegedly used campaign cash to pay for luxury goods, OnlyFans subscriptions, and Botox treatments. He was also accused of sexual misconduct by a former staffer. Additionally, Santos is facing 23 criminal charges over various fraud allegations. He's pleaded not guilty to the charges. A special election will now be held to fill the vacant seat that belonged to the fabulist Santos. (CNN) A massive underwater mountain, otherwise known as a seamount, has been discovered on the floor of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Guatemala. The seamount is most likely a remnant of an extinct volcano, as most seamounts are, according to NOAA Ocean Exploration, a federal program that is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) tall, its nearly twice the height of Dubais Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, according to a news release from Schmidt Ocean Institute, a nonprofit organization that advances oceanographic research. The discovery of the massive structure which covers 14 square kilometers (5.4 square miles) and sits 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) below sea level occurred in July during an SOI expedition, which are part of the institutes efforts to further explore the ocean, using a research vessel known as Falkor (too). The ship is designed to map the seafloor by using a multibeam echosounder, which sends out sound waves to the ocean floor in a fan-shaped pattern, then measures the time it takes for the sound to reach the ocean floor and return. Tomer Ketter, a hydrographer and marine technician with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, was also on board, a spokesperson for the institute said, and Ketter confirmed that the seamount was not in any database measuring ocean depths, including the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans. A seamount over 1.5 kilometers tall which has, until now, been hidden under the waves really highlights how much we have yet to discover, said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, executive director of Schmidt Ocean Institute, in the news release. A complete seafloor map is a fundamental element of understanding our Ocean so its exciting to be living in an era where technology allows us to map and see these amazing parts of our planet for the first time. The seamount was discovered 84 nautical miles outside the Guatemalan Exclusive Economic Zone. It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 seamounts taller than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in the world, but less than one-tenth of a percent have been explored, according to NOAA. Seamounts have been explored only relatively recently due to the advent of human occupied submersibles and very capable remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), said Les Watling, an emeritus biology professor with the University of Hawaii at Manoa, via email. Watling was not involved with the discovery but was part of a Schmidt Ocean Institute exploration in 2019. Finding a seamount The fact that it is not on the chart is a bit amazing, Watling said, noting that most of the ocean floor is unexplored. (NOAA estimates less than 25% of the ocean floor has been mapped as of 2023.) Ocean researchers know where most seamounts even ones that havent been mapped and explored are in the world due to satellite radar altimeters, which are used to detect slight differences in the height of the sea by measuring the time it takes a radar pulse sent from a satellite to reach the oceans surface and return, Watling said. Above a seamounts location, the surface of the ocean will bulge slightly, allowing for detection of the large underwater mountains. About 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) away from where the seamount was mapped, satellite altimetry had shown a modeled seamount, which was most likely this recently mapped seamount, Ketter said, since the pinpoint location of the model may be off due to other land masses in the area. The seamount was not mapped or known before, only its location was predicted from satellite data, he said. The recently discovered seamount may be taller than the worlds tallest building, but some have been found to have a height of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) or more, Watling said. The tallest mountain in the world, Mauna Kea in Hawaii which measures more than 10,210 meters (33,500 feet) from base to peak started out as a seamount, according to NOAA. Seamounts act as biodiversity hot spots Due to a seamounts geological formation, the mountains tend to serve as biodiversity hot spots, providing a hard surface to which corals, sponges and other marine invertebrates can cling. Seamounts create distinct ecosystems because the normally sluggish currents above the deep seafloor accelerate as much as 10-fold as they flow around these obstructions, said Tony Koslow, an emeritus research oceanographer with Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, in an email. The accelerated currents create the hard rock substrate to which invertebrates attach themselves while also drawing in other fauna that feed on food particles swept around by the currents, said Koslow, author of The Silent Deep: The Discovery, Ecology, and Conservation of the Deep Sea. He was not involved in the discovery. Researchers estimate that 15% to 35% of endemic ocean species live in a seamount ecosystem, and migratory species also seek out the structures to breed, feed or seek refuge, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. The incredible diversity of life on seamounts has been recognized only relatively recently, Koslow said. Perhaps the most significant aspect of this discovery is that it confirms that the seafloor is still poorly mapped. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Giant seamount discovered in Guatemala is nearly twice the height of the worlds tallest building" Having said he would leave Congress graciously were he expelled, disgraced former congressman George Santos appears out for revenge against those lawmakers who supported his expulsion in Fridays landslide vote. After his exit from the Capitol on Friday afternoon there was silence from the ex-Republican congressman. That is, until 11.35pm when he took to his personal account on X and wrote of his intention to file ethics complaints against four of his former colleagues. The Independent has contacted their offices for comment. First in his firing line was fellow New York Republican Rep Nicole Malliotakis. Mr Santos made allegations of insider trading against the Staten Island congresswoman while making insinuations about her personal life. He added that he would be filing an ethics complaint about her. Lets talk about hypocrisy, he wrote. Can someone ask Nicole MalioStockTips when did she become a savant in stock trading? The signature bank trades she did REEKS of insider trading much like Paul Pelosis every trade! Nicole is in it for herself! Just look at her record and it speaks for itself. Nicole MalioStockTips is a dirty dishonorable swamp creature selling the American people down a river for her own benefit. In a further catty dig, he said @NMalliotakis the difference between you and I is that I dont live in denial, Im a PROUD GAY man and Im not afraid to say it. Lets talk about hypocrisy. Can someone ask Nicole MalioStockTips when did she become a savant in stock trading? The signature bank trades she did REEKS of insider trading much like Paul Pelosis every trade! Nicole is in it for herself! Just look at her record and it speaks https://t.co/PFZ2qfDdNm George Santos (@MrSantosNY) December 2, 2023 In a separate tweet, he wrote: Monday I will be filing an official complaint with the Office of congressional Ethics against @NMalliotakis regarding her questionable stock trading since joining the Ways and Means committee this Congress. Before joining the committee the congresswoman didnt have an active trading habit or a high volume stake. The question is, what set of information is she trading with? He wasnt done there. Three other tri-state area representatives are also in Mr Santoss sights as his apparent revenge tour gets underway. Next up was Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of upstate New York. Mr Santos wrote that the ethics complaint against him concerned questionable campaign finance violations. Congressman Lawler owns [a] portion of Checkmate Strategies and he uses the same firm that he is a beneficiary of to pay for services related to his campaign, Mr Santos wrote. The concerning questions are; is Mr Lawler engaging in laundering money [from] his campaign to his firm then into his own pocket? I will let the Office of Congressional Ethics be the judge of that. Nate Soule, a spokesperson for Congressman Lawler, told The Independent: Being attacked by a serial liar and con man like George Santos is a badge of honour. His bogus allegations against Congressman Lawler mirror ones made by Democrats over a year ago that were rebutted in a City & State story. Disgraced former US Representative George Santos (REUTERS) As he was embarking on his run for Congress, Mr Lawler and Checkmate Strategies reached out to the FEC through their attorneys at Squire, Patton, and Boggs LLC to ensure 100 per cent compliance with the law. After receiving a favourable response, Mr Lawler then went above and beyond, instructing the firm's accountants to firewall him from any profits resulting from his campaign, he added. Since being sworn into Congress, Congressman Lawler no longer plays a role in the firm and is 100 per cent focused on his job serving the people of the Hudson Valley. The third congressman Mr Santos named is Nick LaLota, a Republican representing Long Island. It has been raised in the local media that congressman Lalota obtained his JD attending Hofstra in day school while he was supposed to be working at the Board of Elections at the same time, said Mr Santos. The questionable actions are? Did Rep Lalota no-show to his tax pay funded job while going to school and if so he can potential have stolen public funds form the tax payers of NY. He added: I will let the Office of Congressional Ethics determine the validity of this grave allegation raised in his local media. Finally, he turned his gaze on a Democrat, Congressman Robert Menendez, son of Senator Bob Menendez, currently under investigation regarding foreign donations to his campaign. While congressman Menedez has not been invoked by the diligent investigation of the DOJ into his father, there remains a question of what did he know and when did he know it, the complaint is to seek clarification from the freshman congressman on his involvement with his fathers overseas dealing over the years and any potential compensation he received, he tweeted. Mondays 4th Ethics report will be filled on Congressman Menendez (not to be confused with the senator). While congressman Menedez has not been invoked by the diligent investigation of the DOJ into his father, there remains a question of what did he know and when did he know it, George Santos (@MrSantosNY) December 2, 2023 I think its a fair point to make sure we weed out the doubt surrounding Rep Menendez and his business associations with his father. I will leave it to the office of congressional ethics to investigate the material Ill be submitting to them. When reached for comment, Michael Zhadanovsky, communications director for Mr Menendez, told The Independent: George Santos is neither Rep Menendezs colleague nor a constituent so we will not expend any energy responding to his Botox-fueled fits of rage. Mr Santos also pondered whether any of his former colleagues would have the testicular fortitude to push for an expulsion of New York Democrat Jamaal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building. A resolution seeking his expulsion was Mr Santoss final act as a lawmaker. Lets see who will be the Republican that will have the testicular fortitude to pick up my privileged motion to expel Bowman and reintroduce it! he wrote. Even before his revenge tour began, Mr Santos was hitting out online at lawmakers who had said they would vote to expel him notably Republican Rep Brandon Williams of New York, who was caught on camera threatening his former campaign manager the night before the expulsion vote. Yup this is real congressional behavior! tweeted Mr Santos. Hes done similar to this to my staff inside an embassy event I encourage the former staffer to file a OCE complaint tomorrow morning. Earlier that day, Mr Williams said of Mr Santos on CNN: We dont know who he is at all. Hes a dedicated, committed con man in the halls of Congress and has access to government secrets, to a lot of things that could be damaging to this country. He has to go. It will be seen on Monday as to whether Mr Santos goes ahead with his threats to file the complaints but his bio on X has been changed to the following: My community service will be to clean up Congress of its corrupt frauds in a Bipartisan way. My road to redemption will be serving the American people!ai The life of former New York Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the House last week, will be dramatized and likely lambasted in a new movie in the works from HBO Films, Deadline reports. The production company optioned the rights to a new book from Mark Chiusano, The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos, that came out last week. Frank Rich, of Veep and Succession, will executive produce along with Mike Makowsky, who will also serve as writer. Chiusano will be a consulting producer. According to Deadline, the film promises to be a romp, telling the story of a seemingly minor local race that wound up a battle for the soul of Long Island, and unexpectedly carved the path for the worlds most famous (and now disgraced) congressman. It follows the Gatsby-esque journey of a man from nowhere who exploited the system, waged war on truth and swindled one of the wealthiest districts in the country to achieve his American Dream. Congress gave Santos the boot (after many prior unsuccessful attempts) on Friday, following the release of an incriminating report from the House Ethics Committee that discovered substantial evidence of potential violations of federal criminal law. The committee found that Santos repeatedly transferred funds from his campaign to his personal checking account, where he used the money to make purchases at Hermes, OnlyFans, and Sephora, in addition to paying off his credit cards. Santos also reported to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) payments for beauty and spa treatments, a luxurious Hamptons getaway and taxi and hotel charges during his honeymoon. The committee is referring the matter to the Justice Department. Santos is already facing 36 federal charges and has pleaded not guilty. He was arrested in May and charged with 13 counts, including lying to Congress, wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors charged him with 23 additional counts in a superseding indictment this past October. Those charges include conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, identity theft, wire fraud and lying to the FEC. The defendant a Congressman allegedly stole the identities of family members and used the credit card information of political contributors to fraudulently inflate his campaign coffers, Long Islands Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, a Republican, said when Santos was charged. Santos falsely inflated the campaigns reported receipts with non-existent loans and contributions that were either fabricated or stolen, said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace. The disgraced congressman has promised to seek revenge against those in the Republican Party who expelled him the vote to oust Santos was 311-114 although it seems that the films audience will get the last laugh. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone During a visit to Rome in 1938, Hitler was captivated by the statue because of its apparent embodiment of Aryan aesthetics - STOCK PHOTO/ALAMY A German museum has requested the return of a Roman sculpture bought by Adolf Hitler but later given back to Italy. Munichs Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek asked the National Roman Museum to give back the 2nd-century Discobolus Palombara, a copy of a long-lost Greek original. Hitler was captivated by the statue during a visit to Rome in 1938, for its apparent embodiment of Aryan aesthetics. Despite refusals from Italys education minister and culture officials to sell the statue, its owner agreed under pressure from dictator Benito Mussolini. The Discobolus, which was found in a Roman villa in 1781 and was owned by Prince Lancellotti, remained in the museum in Munich until 1948. It was then returned to Italy in 1948 as part of the works illegally obtained by the Nazis. The German museums request for the statue comes amid a wider spat that started when the Italian museum asked for the statues 17th-century marble case to be returned to it. Italy's response to the German request was furious. 'Over my dead body,' said the minister of cultural heritage, Gennaro Sangiuliano - MARCO CANTILE/LIGHTROCKET The German museum declined and asked to have the statue back, prompting a furious response from the Italians. Over my dead body, Italian culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, who must approve the return, replied. Its an absurd request because at the time the work was already restricted and couldnt be exported. The minister also said he found it serious that the museum referred to a purchase made by Hitler with the complicity of Italys fascist regime. Having said this, our cultural ties with Germany are excellent. I think the government in Berlin doesnt know anything about this request. Between me and German [culture] minister Claudia Roth there is great cordiality, he added. Germanys government didnt reply to a request for comment. Statue was legally bought The museum in Munich justified its request by saying the statue had been illegally transported to Italy, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported. It also said that the statue was legally bought by the German state at the time, with the Italian authorities permission. The Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek couldnt be reached for comment. The Discobolus was part of a recent exhibition in the Scuderie del Quirinale museum in Rome, along other masterpieces, including Tizianos Danae, which the Nazis brought to Germany during the Second World War and whose restitution was obtained by Italy years later. 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 British man was among two people injured in a suspected terror attack on a central street in Paris that left one tourist dead. The attack, involving a knife and a hammer, happened near the Eiffel Tower just before 9pm local time on Saturday, according to French police. A 26-year-old French citizen was arrested after shouting Allahu Akbar as he stabbed and killed a German citizen and injured two others, Frances interior minister Gerald Darmanin said. The man who died, who is said to have been born in 1997, was with his wife when he was attacked and fatally stabbed on Quai de Grenelle. His wifes life was saved by the intervention of a taxi driver, Mr Darmanin added. The suspect then fled across a nearby bridge and attacked two more people, hitting one in the eye with a hammer. He was then tasered by police and arrested on suspicion of assassination, which is defined in French law as premeditated murder. A forensic team investigate the scene following a knife attack in Paris, France (EPA) On Sunday, the Foreign Office confirmed that one of the two people injured in the attack was a British man. A 60-year-old French citizen was also injured, police said. A spokesperson told The Independent: We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris and are in contact with the local authorities. Mr Darmanin said the alleged attacker was heard shouting Allahu Akbar, Arabic for God is greatest, and that the man had told police he was upset because so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and in Palestine. He added that the suspect had served four years in jail after being convicted for planning another attack in 2016, and was on the French security services watchlist. French president Emmanuel Macron said his thoughts were with the family of the German citizen, and thanked emergency services. I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening during the terrorist attack in Paris, and think with emotion of the people currently injured and in care, Mr Macron wrote on X, formerly Twitter. My most sincere thanks to the emergency forces who made it possible to quickly arrest a suspect. The national anti-terrorism prosecutors office ... will now be responsible for shedding light on this matter so that justice can be done in the name of the French people. Germany announced a new military aid package for Ukraine on Dec. 2, with an official statement on the German Federal Governments website listing the weapons, systems and vehicles to be provided. Read also: Germany extends protection to Ukrainian refugees through March 2025 The new aid package includes: 250 sets of tools with explosive materials 25 laser rangefinders 3,840 artillery shells with a caliber of 155 mm 2 vehicles for border guards 1 mobile antenna-head system 5 systems for detecting drones Four 88 HX81 trucks and four semi-trailers 8 Zetros model trucks 3 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) 15 high-precision HLR 338 rifles with a stock of 60,000 rounds 229,800 shells of caliber 155 mm 725 laser rangefinders 435 high-precision HLR 338 rifles with 9.9 m cartridges. Read also: The German Ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Eger, previously announced that Ukraine would receive two additional IRIS-T systems to protect against Russian attacks in the winter of 2023/2024, bringing the total to five by year-end. Germany plans to double its military aid to Ukraine in 2024, increasing the allocation from 4 billion euros to 8 billion ($4-8 billion), Germanys Bild newspaper reported on Nov. 11, citing sources in the German Ministry of Defense. In response, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the planned increase in support as a strong signal for Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Germany is attempting to lower the amount it contributes to the US$20 billion European Union weapons fund for Ukraine. Source: The Daily Telegraph with reference to a document at its disposal, as reported by European Pravda Details: In the confidential document leaked to the press, the German side notes that the European Peace Facility ought to account for the billions of euros that Germany has bilaterally provided to Ukraine in military aid. "Military support for Ukraine can be provided either through financial contributions to the Ukraine envelope in the EPF or as direct deliveries of military equipment to Ukraine," the document says, to which the newspaper refers. Berlin feels that contributions to the fund should include direct arms sales to Ukraine. The report sparked concerns throughout European capitals that Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, might thwart any upcoming efforts by the EU to aid Ukraine in fending off the Russian invasion. At the same time, Scholz informed his fellow European Union members that while he remained fully committed to providing financial support for Ukraine, further obligations regarding hard-to-fulfil expenses were rendered unfeasible by the recent ruling of the German constitutional court. According to another document the publication examined, France suggests shifting its focus to "general purchases" from European arms manufacturers and is in favour of ending the European Peace Facilitys capacity to supply weapons from EU member states' stockpiles. EU leaders will discuss the reform of the European Peace Fund at a summit in Brussels on 14-15 December. Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence of Germany, indirectly confirmed reports that Germany will double military aid to Kyiv by 2024, calling the plans "a strong signal to Ukraine that we will not leave it". Support UP or become our patron! Baroness Glenys Kinnock of Holyhead, the former minister, MEP and wife of ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock, has died at the age of 79. In a statement, her family said: It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Glenys Kinnock. Glenys died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning, at home in London. She was the beloved wife and life partner of Neil, the cherished mother of Steve and Rachel and an adored grandmother. Neil was with her in her final moments. They had been married for 56 years. A proud democratic socialist, she campaigned, in Britain and internationally, for justice and against poverty all her life. Glenys and Neil Kinnock prepare to cast their votes in Pontllanfraith, Gwent - Barry Batchelor/PA Glenys Kinnock leaves her home on her way to a television interview in 1994 - Paul Grover Baroness Kinnock served as minister for Europe and minister for Africa and the United Nations under Gordon Browns Labour government between 2009 and 2010. She had represented Wales in the European Parliament from 1994 until 2009, when she was appointed to the House of Lords. Her family said: Passionate to the end about education, she was a valued and respected schoolteacher before she began her own political career, as a member of the European Parliament, then being made a peer in the House of Lords from where she served as minister for three of the great passions of her life, Europe, Africa and the UN. She was a great friend to many people and causes, and was truly loved. Glenys endured Alzheimers after being diagnosed in 2017 and, as long as she could, sustained her merriment and endless capacity for love, never complaining, and with the innate courage with which she had confronted every challenge throughout her life. The family is of course devastated and and would ask that their privacy be respected. Funeral details will be communicated in due course. Baroness Kinnock visits the Krishnas Temple at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Hertsmere, in 1992 - Eric Roberts Among the first to pay tribute to Baroness Kinnock was Sir Keir Starmer, the current Labour leader, who described her as a true fighter for the party. On behalf of the whole Labour Party, I want to pay tribute to Glenys Kinnock on the sad news of her passing, he said. Glenys was a passionate lifelong campaigner for social justice at home and abroad. She supported Neil through his leadership and went on to have an impressive political career of her own as a member of the European Parliament, in the House of Lords and as a minister in the last Labour government, focused on Europe and Africa. Neil and Glenys had the most wonderful partnership, there for each other through thick and thin, with a love and commitment that was instantly obvious when you saw them together. As the family have detailed, in recent years that meant looking after Glenys as Alzheimers did its worst. But what we will all remember is Glenys as a true fighter for the Labour Party and the values of the Labour movement, a pioneering woman to whom we owe an enormous debt. My sincere condolences to Neil, Stephen, Rachel and all the family at this sad time. 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. (CNN) Israeli authorities recalled their team of negotiators from Qatar after reaching a dead end in talks to release hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, according to a statement released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office. The talks in the Gulf nation had led to a tenuous truce between Hamas and Israel that lasted seven days before collapsing on Friday morning. In the statement, Israel blamed Hamas for failing to fulfill its part of the agreement, which included the return of all women and children held hostage. The negotiators were from Israels Mossad intelligence service and the statement said it was the head of the agency, David Barnea, who recalled the team. A source familiar with the talks told CNN that they broke down on Saturday after Israel continued to insist on the release of a group of women and Hamas refused. As the diplomatic process stood at an impasse, Hamas pushed to begin discussing the release of men possibly on a different set of terms, according to the source. Israel rejected that idea, insisting that it was imperative that all women be released first. Hamas in a statement held Israel and the United States responsible for ending the dialogue. The militant group said Israel refused its offers to exchange prisoners and hand over the bodies of hostages it said had died during the bombardment of Gaza. Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas political bureau, confirmed to Al Jazeera TV on Saturday that negotiations had ended, adding there would be no more hostages released until there is a ceasefire. The remaining hostages still being held by Hamas are current or former soldiers, Al-Arouri said, adding that adult males will be subject to different standards by Hamas. We said from day one that the price for releasing Zionist prisoners is the liberation of all our prisoners, after the ceasefire, Al-Arouri said. Qatari and American mediators are still working to find a way to bring back a temporary stop in the fighting, Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Saturday after speaking with the Emir of Qatar on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. Our work is ongoing to support some ability to reopen the pause and to have a deal going forward where there will be a pause so that we can get hostages out and get aid in, Harris said at a news conference. Harris also said that while the US supports Israels legitimate military objectives in Gaza, the civilian suffering inside the enclave has been too high. As Israel defends itself, it matters how, she said. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering, and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating. Israeli offensive resumes The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out more than 400 strikes in the first 24 hours of renewed fighting that began Friday morning, targeting both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group in Gaza. The Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Saturday that most of the victims were women and children, and dozens are feared dead after the apparent bombardment of a multi-story concrete building in the Jabalya refugee camp. Among the victims was Dr. Sufyan Tayeh, a prominent Palestinian scientist and the president of the Islamic University of Gaza, according to a statement by the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He was killed alongside his family, the statement said. Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said in a statement late Saturday that it had launched a barrage of rockets from northern Gaza toward Tel Aviv. The group claimed the attack was in response to what it called Zionist massacres against civilians. Despite the resumption of hostilities, the two sides on Friday continued to negotiate in Qatar through mediators to pause the fighting in exchange for the release of more hostages, sources said. However, negotiators began expressing concern before Fridays collapse that Hamas may no longer be holding enough women and children to get Israel to continue pauses in fighting. Israel had agreed to extend the truce daily for every 10 hostages Hamas released. It released three Palestinian prisoners in exchange for every hostage. The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that there are 136 hostages still being held in Gaza, including 17 women and children. It is unclear how many of those are being held by Hamas as opposed to other militant groups that operate in the territory. Israeli and US officials believe that Hamas continues to hold hostage a number of women in their twenties and thirties, many of them kidnapped from the Nova music festival. Hamas has insisted that some of the remaining women they were holding hostage were considered a part of the IDF, which Israel denies. This story was first published on CNN.com,"Israel recalls negotiators after reaching dead end in Qatar talks" GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday called Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin naive for believing further civilian casualties in Gaza could produce even more insurgents and said he has lost all confidence in him. Hes so naive, I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy, Graham told CNNs Dana Bash, adding later, This is a radicalized population. I dont want to kill innocent people, but Israel is fighting not just Hamas, but the infrastructure around Hamas. Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum Saturday, Austin said he has personally pushed Israeli leaders to avoid civilian casualties, and to shun irresponsible rhetoric, and to prevent violence by settlers in the West Bank, and to dramatically expand access to humanitarian aid. You see, in this kind of a fight, the center of gravity is the civilian population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat, Austin said. Graham, on State of the Union, disagreed: Strategic defeat would be inflaming the Palestinians? Theyre already inflamed. They are taught from the time theyre born to hate the Jews and to kill them. The South Carolina Republican said the retired Army general and former commander of US Central Command is telling Israel things that are impossible to achieve and called on Austin to quit criticizing Israel in public. Secretary Austin, the reason Palestinians are dying: Gaza is so condensed, Hamas has tunnels under apartments, under schools, under hospitals, Graham said. Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 15,207 people and injured at least 40,652 others, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza, saidSaturday. He added that he understands the theory of what retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal has called insurgent math, an idea that collateral civilian death in warfare can be a catalyst for creating insurgents, but argued Gazas population has been radicalized for decades. If we were attacked like this, which we were in 9/11, if somebody called for us within two months to have a ceasefire against al-Qaeda, we wouldve laughed them out of town, he said. Graham also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, who on Saturday during a news conference in Dubai said that too many innocent Palestinians have been killed as she met with the leaders of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan during her trip to the COP28 climate summit. Graham questioned, What is too many people dying in World War II after Pearl Harbor? Vice President Harris, tell Israel how to destroy Hamas in a way not to hurt innocent Palestinians, and Ill pass it along, he said. No Republican believes this, by the way, he added. No Republican is telling Israel to change your military tactics. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com From North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, in response to a Nov. 26 op-ed on his green energy efforts. A better future is being built in North Carolina, one great job at a time. An economic shift to clean energy is taking place across the world, demanded by communities and businesses and supplied by private markets. When I took office in 2017, we saw this shift coming and planned to make North Carolina a leader in clean energy so that our entire state would benefit from good new jobs and historic investments. Nearly seven years later, North Carolinas efforts clearly are paying off. Gov. Roy Cooper Clean energy isnt just about producing electricity, which is vital. Its about the shift to electric vehicles. Its about zero carbon commercial aviation. So were not just helping to create jobs to build offshore wind turbines, were helping to create manufacturing jobs for that supply chain, and for automobile assembly, and for jet liners. There are already tens of thousands of new N.C. clean energy jobs and the potential for so many more is astounding. Companies across the world have known that clean energy is good for the planet and great for the bottom line. As the global economy moves toward clean energy, I want N.C. communities to benefit. If you dont think energy jobs are a real part of economic development strategy, people whose careers are built on energy would like to have a word with you. How do we unleash the power of the private market to create these great jobs? Weve started by building the well-trained workforce and infrastructure necessary to attract them here. With billions of federal dollars available from the Biden administration, weve committed unprecedented funding to rebuild resilient and efficient roads, bridges and aging water systems in communities large and small. Were strengthening our ports and rail infrastructure so people and goods can move more quickly and affordably. Were connecting homes and businesses to high-speed internet a necessity in todays world. Were investing in our workforce development with a cradle-to-career strategy, partnering with high schools, community colleges, and the clean energy industry to build work-based learning, apprenticeships and more. And were aligning our government with the direction of the private market. I worked with legislators to implement carbon reduction requirements for the power sector so private employers in North Carolina can access reliable, affordable energy while meeting their own climate pledges. Working with legislators and state and local economic development officials, were focusing on recruiting clean energy companies, particularly in advanced manufacturing. Finally, were building relationships with the clean energy companies and recruiting them to make investments in our state. In Randolph County, Toyota is investing $13.9 billion and creating 5,100 jobs to build batteries for electric and hybrid cars, likely the largest single clean energy investment in American history. In Chatham County, VinFast is investing $2 billion and creating 7,500 jobs to build electric SUVs. In Siler City, Wolfspeed is investing $5 billion and creating 1,800 jobs to build the processors needed for clean energy initiatives. In Greensboro, Boom is investing $500 million and creating 1,750 jobs to build the first supersonic zero carbon commercial airliner. And the list goes on. When global employers invest billions of dollars in a N.C. project they are committing to stay. And many of them are locating in rural communities that have too often been left out of our states growth. Thats a win-win. As a result of these efforts and the most skilled, dedicated and diverse workforce in the country, North Carolina has been named the Best State for Business by CNBC two years in a row. And weve been hailed as the epicenter for clean energy jobs. Clean energy is the right thing to do to protect our planet and combat climate change. But its also the right thing to do for our economy and putting more money in the pockets of our small businesses and families. In North Carolina, were now leading the way, and were just getting started. Roy Cooper is serving his second term as North Carolinas 75th governor. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a panel discussion about tolerance hosted by Cox and leaders of Tolerance Means Dialogues at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis had a chance Sunday to show how their Disagree Better initiative works with one of the thorniest issues in public policy the conflict in the Middle East. Cox and Polis were on CBS News Face the Nation, and host Margaret Brennan pressed Cox on a statement he made about free speech on college campuses. I know you told state colleges in Utah to remain neutral and stop commenting on current events, Brennan said to Cox. You said, I dont care what your position is on Israel and Palestine. I dont care what your position is on Roe v. Wade. We dont need our institutions to take a position on those things. That just sounds like agreeing not to disagree at all. But Cox said it was the exact opposite, and that he wants more students to engage in discussion on difficult issues on campus. (Colleges) come out with very strong statements that are very political statements and end up silencing dissent or disagreement on campuses, he said. We want campuses to be a place of robust discussion. Polis said the primary responsibility of colleges on the Israel-Palestine issue or any issue is keeping students safe to allow for conversation to happen. Cox agreed with Polis and said university presidents were eager to speak out on issues as long as they were leaning one political direction. But then as soon as Israel and Hamas happens, there was silence across campuses, because, well, if we speak out in support of Israel, then we might offend, you know, a very vocal part of our campuses, said Cox. Thats embarrassing, and it shouldnt happen. Its better that the institutions themselves stay neutral on it. Related Brennan followed up by bringing up Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis decision to ban the group Students for Justice in Palestine on public college campuses in Florida, which led to a lawsuit by the ACLU. Instead of responding directly, Polis took the chance to pivot back to his and Coxs Disagree Better initiative. So, Margaret, thank you by the way for drilling down on one of the most divisive topics we face today, because if we can disagree better about Israel and Palestine, we can disagree better about everything, he said. Part of what the goal is, is to get people to stop shouting at one another, whatever the issue is, whether its abortion, whether its Israel, Palestine, whether its the border and immigration stop shouting, start talking and listening, said Polis. On immigration, Brennan pointed out that Polis has sent migrants from Colorado to other states. How is that different from what Gov. (Greg) Abbott was doing in Texas and how do you get along better with your fellow governors on this one? she asked. Polis said he thinks Republicans and Democrats want better security at the border. Now, the flip side is, its not easy. Its not a soundbite. Its not a flashy wall. Its a thoughtful, high tech approach to border security, asylum reforms and immigration reform generally, he said. He pointed out the National Governors Association has launched an immigration task force, bringing together governors from red states and blue states to try to find common ground on the issue that they can then bring to Congress. Cox pointed out immigration was another perfect example of how people can disagree better on a divisive issue. We put Republicans and Democrats in a room together and we start hashing it out. This is not about agreeing on everything. Its not about being nicer to each other, although we certainly need that. It really is about disagreeing in productive ways and finding common ground, he said. Related Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, left, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox greet attendees at the Pathways to Purpose conference hosted by Clancy at the Provo Recreation Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News While Utah is often held up as an example for its relatively positive social and economic outcomes compared to other states, Gov. Spencer Cox cautioned that without strong institutions, the countrys fraying social fabric will continue to tear here, too. This upward mobility, this social capital, they still exist here. But they are on the decline, Cox told the crowd of roughly 150 local officials, students and influencers. And its up to us to decide, as a people, are we going to allow that to happen, or are we going to protect and preserve the things that have made us so unique and so special. Cox spoke about family formation and economic growth on Saturday morning at the Pathways to Purpose conference in Provo, organized by state Rep. Tyler Clancy, the states youngest lawmaker. Clancys goal was ambitious: to expose the disconnection at the root of Americas problems and equip state lawmakers to reverse those trends. Related Despite being forced by a fire alarm to evacuate the building shortly before attendees arrived, the event went off without a hitch, featuring keynote messages from Cox and Utahs 4th District Rep. Burgess Owens, as well as panel discussions with nationally recognized scholars and community leaders. Cox has made national headlines in the nearly three years since he entered office because of his willingness to apply conservative principles to meet the modern demands being placed on families. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the Pathways to Purpose conference hosted by state Rep. Tyler Clancy at the Provo Recreation Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News Early in his term, Cox announced the creation of a new state agency, the Office of Families, which was tasked with analyzing and recommending policies to support vulnerable families, bolster the supply of child care, tackle youth mental health and promote family-friendly workplace rules. Cox has also been recognized for his outspokenness on the role social media plays in exacerbating youth mental illness and stoking political polarization. In the last year, Utah has spearheaded national efforts to regulate social media companies for failing to protect minors on their platforms. Related But the issue runs deeper than a market failure, Cox warns. Per the theme of the event, Cox said problems with social media are actually a symptom of an underlying need not being met. Quoting Alexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in America, Cox said the art of associating of creating engaged, tight-knit and self-sufficient communities must be developed and perfected or else social stability will crater, and the American family with it, no matter how much money is thrown at government programs. This message was also articulated in Clancys opening remarks, which Cox praised, saying every word he said is true. Might I suggest that at least equally important as economic growth, social fabric and the ties that bind us are critical, Clancy said, referencing the conferences four points of emphasis addiction, the family, loneliness and meaningful work. Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, speaks at the Pathways to Purpose conference hosted by Clancy at the Provo Recreation Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News Upon entering his second legislative term, the Provo lawmaker has already drawn attention for his unorthodox approach to practical, conservative governance. As a full-time police officer, and frequent neighborhood volunteer, Clancy believes Republicans should feel comfortable leading out on discussions of how public policy can support the values of family and hard work that prevent criminality and despair later in life. If legislators neglect this important factor to strong communities, Clancy said their work will be in vain. We can pass the greatest laws in the world, but if we sit by and do nothing while the family unit and the core building blocks of civil society are destroyed, it will all be for nothing, he said. Related Earlier this year, Clancy formed the bipartisan Blue Collar Caucus to advocate for working families and is currently advancing legislation to expand the states apprenticeship programs to facilitate meaningful work for those without college degrees. He is also planning to introduce legislation that would include the so-called success sequence in school curricula to teach students the importance of marriage, in addition to education and work, to a happy life. We need to have the courage to share and promote the fundamental principles we know to be true, Clancy said. The event held at the Provo Recreation Center was the first of what Clancy hopes will become annual gatherings. Attendees included former Utah House speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Brad Wilson; House Majority Whip Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield; Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi; Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner; and Utah GOP Chair Rob Axson, as well as several other state lawmakers and political insiders. In addition, Eric Teetsel, vice president of government relations at the Heritage Foundation, and Patrick T. Brown, a family policy scholar at Ethics and Public Policy Center and Deseret News contributor, spoke at the event. Following Clancy and Coxs remarks and two rounds of panel discussions, the concluding speaker was Owens, who endorsed the conferences message while emphasizing the importance of focusing efforts at the state level. Im definitely, very much into making sure as much power is pushed to the states as possible, he said. Thats where the innovation comes in, thats where people understand what we really need. The occupiers in Ukraine's south are forcing government employees to donate blood for the needs of the Armed Forces of Russia. Source: the National Resistance Centre Quote: "Due to heavy losses in the southern direction, the enemy is looking for donors in the temporarily occupied territories. The occupational administration is forcing government employees to donate blood for the needs of the Russian Army. At the same time, additional payments are promised, but in fact no payments are provided to the blood donors." Details: The Resistance also reports that the occupiers send haematologists to the captured lands due to a lack of personnel, because the locals refuse to work for the Russians. Support UP or become our patron! Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) labeled Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as naive Sunday for saying Israel risks a strategic defeat if it doesnt take steps to protect civilians and said he lost his faith in the secretary. Hes so naive. I mean, Ive just lost all confidence in this guy, Graham said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union. How about focusing on protecting our soldiers, men and women in Syria and Iraq? Strategic defeat would be inflaming the Palestinians? Theyre already inflamed. Theyre taught from the time theyre born to hate the Jews and to kill them. Theyre taught math by, If you have 10 Jews, you kill six. How many would you have left? Graham rejected the idea that Israel is fighting a tranquil population that was only inflamed after Israel goes in to defend itself, saying that idea is really naive. This is a radicalized population, Graham added. I dont want to kill innocent people. But Israel is fighting not just Hamas, but the infrastructure around Hamas. Look what happened to the Israeli hostages when they were presented to the Palestinian population. Its beyond naive. When pressed by CNNs Dana Bash to elaborate on his lost faith in Austin, Graham doubled down on his disappointment in the secretarys response. Well, I like Secretary Austin personally, but this war has shown to me he doesnt understand: If we were attacked like this, which we were in 9/11, If somebody called for us within two months to have a cease-fire against al Qaeda wed have laughed them out of town, wed have run them out of town. Secretary Austin is telling Israel things that are impossible to achieve, he continued. Secretary Austin, the reason Palestinians are dying [is that] Gaza is so condensed, Hamas has tunnels under apartments, under schools, under hospitals. If youve got a better idea of how to destroy Hamas, pass it on. Quit criticizing Israel in public. Austin gave a speech Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, Calif., and talked about his efforts to push Israeli leaders to lessen civilian casualties as Israel resumes its offensive in Gaza. The center of gravity is the civilian population, and if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat, Austin said. We will continue to press Israel to protect civilians and to ensure the robust flow of humanitarian aid, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Pro Food Systems Inc., known as PFSbrands, founder and CEO Shawn Burcham has provided more insight into its purchase of Moser's Foods stores from Roger and Jeanie Moser. PFSbrands announced the acquisition earlier this week of the eight stores and one Auxvasse Show-Me Oil gas station with a full business transition completing by March 2025. "Most importantly, all full time Mosers employees will now become employee-owners. PFSbrands is a 100% employee-owned company," Burcham wrote in a follow-up message to the Tribune. "Our PFSbrands leadership team, along with the current Mosers team, will be exploring many different ways to improve work life for our employee-owners while delivering even better service to our loyal customers." Checkout employees help shoppers May 2022 during the grand opening of Mosers Foods at 4420 Faurot Drive. PFSbrands this week announced its acquisition of all area Moser's. He was not able to share specifics about customer service changes at this time, but did write customers can expect new "options to be available in the coming months and years." "We want to continue to be known for high quality products while providing locally owned customer service," he wrote. Many other area grocery stores offer delivery services through applications, such as Instacart. PFSbrands is discussing adding delivery service capabilities as part of a service enhancement for customers, Burcham wrote. There are Moser's locations that offering catering services, and that will expand to all locations as the transition progresses. The meat department serves fresh-cut meats at Mosers Foods in May 2022 at 4420 Faurot Drive in Columbia. Another major change is upgrading the store website and mobile application, among others. "You can expect website updates, loyalty program updates, social media enhancements, mobile app enhancements and an overall effort to enhance our services through technology," Burcham wrote. Moser's was founded in 1982 by Roger and Jeanie Moser when they bought an existing grocery store in Fulton. There are now eight Moser's locations in central Missouri, including three in Columbia. The Mosers also founded Show-Me Oil Co., which PFSbrands also is acquiring with its Auxvasse location still owned by the Mosers as part of the business sale. PFSbrands, a foodservice company founded in 1988, includes such brands as Champs Chicken, BluTaco and Hangar 54 Pizza. Champs Chicken is sold at all the Moser's Grocery Stores and at the Auxvasse Show-Me Oil. "Ive been doing business with PFSbrands for over 25 years so I am confident that their leadership team will continue to operate the stores with the same high standards of excellence, commitment to quality and a commitment to the communities we serve," Moser said previously. PFSbrands' acquisition of Moser's Foods represents an expansion of PFSbrands in the retail food sector, the company said in the earlier announcement. Moser's Foods will remain under local ownership, and PFSbrands has brought in new executive leadership to aid the transition to the PFSbrands umbrella. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Employee, customer enhancements coming to Moser's Foods after purchase A groom who shared his extravagant wedding on TikTok could face prison time. The charges stem from a March incident where police say Jacob LaGrone shot at them. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison. A groom whose multimillion-dollar wedding in Paris captured the attention of millions on TikTok is facing life in prison for shooting at North Texas police officers, according to multiple reports. Dubbed "the wedding of the century," the five-day wedding celebration for groom Jacob LaGrone and his wife Madeline Brockway, the daughter of a car dealership tycoon, became a hit on the video platform because of the jaw-dropping opulence on display. The November 18 ceremony featured floral arrangements draped throughout the 18th century Chateau de Villette , a drone show above the 185-acre property with views of the Eiffel Tower in the background, and a performance from Maroon 5, multiple outlets, including Harpers Bazaar Arabia, reported. Behind the curtain of their lavish wedding were multiple charges stemming from a March 14 incident involving three police officers, WFAA reported. LaGrone was indicted in March after officers said they were shot at while responding to a report that a firearm was being discharged at a home, per WFAA. LaGrone was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and could face up to a life sentence, per reports. LaGrone posted his $20,000 bail, The Washington Post reported. LaGrone had been offered a 25-year plea deal but did not take it, The Dallas Morning News reported. He attended a hearing in Tarrant County on Thursday but did not comment about the case to reporters from WFAA, who tried speaking to the groom in the Tarrant County courthouse. Representatives for LaGrone did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Paris (CNN) French police have arrested a man suspected of killing one person and injuring two others in a knife and hammer attack in central Paris. The attack took place at Bir Hakeim, near the Eiffel Tower, Frances Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters at the scene on Saturday night. He said that the man arrested was a French citizen previously known to intelligence services. One man a German tourist born in the Philippines was killed in the attack and two others sustained non-life threatening injuries, he added. One of those wounded was a British national, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Sunday. One of the police officers responding to the scene used a taser to neutralize the attacker, Darmanin said. The suspects life is not at risk, he added. After his arrest, he said he could no longer bear to see Muslims dying in both Afghanistan and Palestine, Darmanin said. Suspect was known to intelligence services Addressing reporters, Darmanin said that the suspect was born in France in 1997 and had been sentenced to four years in prison back in 2016 for planning violent action. The suspect was known to intelligence services for having serious psychiatric disorders, Darmanin added. The minister said he had been told by police that the attacker had reportedly shouted Allahu Akbar during the assault. French President Emmanuel Macron called the incident a terror attack and said Frances anti-terrorism prosecutors office would investigate. I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening, Macron wrote in a post on X in the early hours of Sunday. He also thanked the French emergency services. The national anti-terrorism prosecutors office now will be responsible for shedding light on this matter so that justice can be done in the name of the French people, Macron wrote. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was shocked by the incident. Our thoughts are with the injured, families and friends of the victims. Once again, it is clear why we are resolutely standing up to hatred and terror, Scholz wrote on X. Videos taken at the scene showed police cars, ambulances and the Paris Fire Brigade arriving, with heavy traffic being diverted away. Numerous cordons were also set up. Members of the public have been advised to avoid the area. This is a developing story and will be updated. Six Mississippi police officers were convicted of torturing two Black men in August. A report from The New York Times now details several other instances of abuse over two decades. Business Insider previously sued the sheriff's department for records related to police brutality. A number of deputies within the Rankin County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi got away with abusing people for years, almost entirely unchecked. Five deputies from the department, who called themselves the "Goon Squad" for their willingness to use excessive force, pleaded guilty to torturing and sexually assaulting Michael Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, two Black men, during a raid in August 2023. But that was only the culmination of years of violence. Court documents and incident reports previously reviewed by Business Insider showed two of the officers involved, Christian Dedmon and Hunter Elward, were also present at the deaths of two other Black men in 2019 and 2021. Business Insider also successfully sued the Rankin County Sheriff's Department in 2022 for records related to the death of three people held in their custody and discovered that at least five people died in the custody of the sheriff's Department during an 8-month period in 2021. The judge sided with Business Insider in March after Business Insider's lawyers argued that the records sought should be made public under Mississippi's public records law. The sheriff's department argued unsuccessfully that the records were "investigative reports," which are not public. The department said the records could not be turned over until the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation had finished its inquiry into the deaths. "This ruling cements that law enforcement agencies are subject to our state's public records act the same as any other state agency," Paloma Wu, an attorney for Business Insider, said at the time . And now, a new report from The New York Times uncovered several other instances of abuse, often at the hands of the same group of sheriff's deputies. Reporters for The New York Times and Mississippi Today reviewed hundreds of pages of sheriff's office reports and court records and interviewed dozens of people who say they saw or experienced torture at the hands of the sheriff's department's narcotics unit over the course of two decades. Deputies assaulted people during drug raids The witnesses interviewed by The Times described violence and abuse by the deputies that sometimes went on for hours and appeared intended to strike terror into the victims, according to the report. At least 12 of the 17 cases described in the report began after a suspect was set up by a confidential informant. In six cases, sources said the deputies threatened to continue hurting them until they disclosed the location of drugs. According to the report, Brett McAlpin, a former chief investigator for the department, was connected to at least 13 of the arrests and was described by witnesses as leading the raids. Christian Dedmon, a former narcotics detective, was also involved in eight incidents, the report says. Rick Loveday, a former Hinds County sheriff's deputy, told The Times that Rankin deputies even assaulted him during a raid on his home in 2018. McAlpin arrested Loveday after Loveday says he violently assaulted him during the raid, accused him of consorting with drug dealers, and ordered him to leave town, according to The Times. "Brett McAlpin came in my house, accused me of things I didn't do, beat my ass, stomped my ass, sat on my chest where I couldn't protect my head and punched me in the face," Loveday told the outlet. When Loveday told McAlpin that he was taking blood thinners and the blows could cause him serious injury, he told The Times that McAlpin continued to hit him. "Every time he punched me, he said 'I, don't, give, a, fuck,'" Loveday said. "He didn't care if I died." Loveday said he fled the state over fear that police would target him again. "If they did that to me, how many other people have they done it to?" Loveday told The Times. Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who was reelected in November after running unopposed, repeatedly declined to comment when reached by The Times. When told that several high-ranking deputies were involved in the arrests that sparked accusations of abuse, he replied, "I have 240 employees, there's no way I can be with them each and every day." A spokesperson for the Rankin County Sheriff's Department did not return a request for comment from Business Insider. "Goon Squad" officers present during multiple deaths Incident reports and court documents obtained by Business Insider previously connected two of the deputies, Christian Dedmon and Hunter Elward, to the deaths of two Black men in 2019 and 2021. In one of those reports, Elward wrote that he punched Damien Cameron at least three times and tased him three times before his death. Monica Lee, Cameron's mother, told Business Insider that deputies knelt on her son's back for more than 15 minutes even as he complained that he could not breathe. The Mississippi state medical examiner found Cameron's cause of death inconclusive, according to Lee. A Mississippi grand jury declined to press charges against Elward and other deputies involved in the beating due to insufficient evidence in October 2022. Lee told Business Insider that she didn't understand the jury's decision because the evidence of the beating was "in his face." I didn't get it," Lee said at the time. "I don't know if they have pictures of my son or what," she added. Warning: Graphic content Damien Cameron in the hospital after his arrest on July 26, 2021. Monica Lee Elward and Dedmon were also present during the police shooting of Pierre Woods in February 2019, according to court records. In 2021, Vanessa Barrett and Dris Mitchell, two women who have children with Woods, filed a lawsuit against Bailey and more than a dozen other officers who were there when police shot Woods. Court documents filed in August noted that Elward and Dedmon were defendants in the case and had since been fired from the sheriff's department due to their convictions in the torture case. A federal judge denied Bailey immunity from discovery in the lawsuit in March. Bailey appealed the decision, and a federal appeals court denied his appeal in October, court documents show. The sheriff's department reached an undisclosed settlement agreement with Woods's loved ones in October after the judge rejected Bailey's appeal, according to appeals court records. Read the original article on Business Insider SOUTH BEND The city of South Bend and the Jewish community will celebrate the first night of Hanukkah from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Jon R. Hunt Plaza in front of the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St. Events will include the lighting of the shamash and the first night's candle on the giant menorah that will be on the outdoor plaza. Leaders in the community are scheduled to speak, and refreshments that include sufganiyot (doughnuts) and hot cocoa will be served. The event is open to the public. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Hanukkah event planned for Thursday at Jon R. Hunt Plaza in South Bend When she met a jagged-eared German shepherd puppy named Pickles at the Palmdale Animal Care Center, rescuer Alyssa Benavidez thought the former stray was being overlooked by adopters and wanted to find him a home. To draw attention to the playful 10-month-old, Benavidez recorded videos of Pickles to post online in a red bandanna with heart designs, rolling on his back for belly rubs, a red rose rope toy in his mouth. The shelter, though, did not give her a deadline when she emailed to ask how much time she'd have to work on his exit plan before he would be put down. A day after her inquiry, on Valentine's Day, Pickles was euthanized. Shelter volunteer Alyssa Benavidez managed to rescue German shepherds Cupid, foreground, and Mindy to foster while they await permanent homes. Others were put down before she could save them. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) The Palmdale shelter, the newest of seven run by Los Angeles County, was touted when it opened in 2016 as a state-of-the-art facility that would relieve overcrowding and reduce the number of dogs being euthanized at the nearby Lancaster shelter. But the two shelters now euthanize more dogs and at a higher rate than other county facilities, as well as those operated by Los Angeles, Long Beach and other municipalities, a Times investigation found. Together, the Palmdale and Lancaster shelters' dog euthanasia rates have nearly doubled in recent years from about 15% in 2018 to 28% through this August. They're on track this year to kill dogs at nearly twice the average rate of the other five county-run facilities. A lucky pooch is led out of the Palmdale shelter's kennels to meet a new foster. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The Palmdale and Lancaster statistics are especially striking compared with those in the city of L.A., which has six shelters with dog euthanasia rates that range from 3% to 11%. Read more: 'Were inundated': Animal shelters across the U.S. are overflowing The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has pressed the Department of Animal Care and Control to reduce euthanasia at its shelters. But department director Marcia Mayeda said in a June report to the board that severe staffing shortages were hampering efforts to provide basic animal care and bring down euthanasia numbers. Read more: 'Were inundated': Animal shelters across the U.S. are overflowing The Palmdale and Lancaster shelters euthanized 1,576 dogs in the first eight months of this year, accounting for 60% of those put down at the county's seven shelters. "We're so understaffed at both care centers that I can't say that one is markedly better or worse than the other," Mayeda said in an interview. "They're both really suffering." Department records show that more dogs are being euthanized across the entire county shelter system because space is limited and there aren't enough being rescued or adopted to compensate for those coming in. Visitors look over lists of available animals at Los Angeles County's Palmdale Animal Care Center. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times Fliers describe dogs available for adoption at Palmdale Animal Care Center. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times At the Palmdale shelter in particular, limited public access to kennels may be a factor. Most dogs are kept in an area that the public can visit only with a staff or volunteer escort. People wanting information about dogs available for adoption can view a corkboard pinned with the animals' photos, but those are often dark or of poor quality. The time from when dogs enter the shelter until they're euthanized for lack of space or interest is briefer than at other shelters, The Times found. The Times analyzed documents obtained through public records requests on more than 14,600 dogs euthanized since 2018 in the seven shelters operated by the county which has contracts with 45 cities to provide animal care and control services. The reasons cited for killing the dogs were that they were too sick or injured to treat, or too dangerous to be safely adopted; that there was not sufficient kennel space to house the animals; and that there was no interest from potential adopters. Some of the many dogs that have been euthanized at the Palmdale shelter amid overcrowding and other issues. (L.A. County Animal Care and Control) The Palmdale shelter euthanized 981 of its 3,429 impounded dogs last year, and is on track to reach those numbers again this year: Through August, the shelter had put down 765 of the 2,694 dogs that had entered. Lancaster has surpassed last year's figures, having euthanized 811 of 2,895 dogs that came in through August of this year. Last year, it put down 738 of the 3,718 dogs impounded. The two shelters each took in more than 330 dogs a month on average through August this year, making them the highest-intake county shelters. Under department policy, euthanasia cannot be performed while the facility is open to the public without explicit permission, unless the animal is injured or suffering. Time stamps on records reviewed by The Times appear to show that euthanasias were performed during those hours for nonmedical reasons at most county shelters. Palmdale and Lancaster, in particular, consistently entered time stamps that appear to show animals were being put down during public hours some months, dozens of times since the shelters reopened for walk-ins in May of last year. The number of euthanasias performed during those hours at the Baldwin Park shelter could not be determined because many of its time stamps were missing from records. Animal Care and Control Deputy Director Raul Rodriguez said that veterinary staff often update computer records after completing all procedures, so the time stamp may not accurately reflect the time of euthanasia. He said he could not say for certain when the procedures were carried out in specific cases. Department records also show the two Antelope Valley shelters failed to follow their own department's process to enlist help from rescue groups before putting a dog down. But the guidelines have been haphazard and have evolved. For example, it has long been the department's practice to ask those organizations whether they can take dogs that are most at risk. But only in January did the department adopt a policy requiring shelters to reach out to rescue groups. And a department spokesperson said it was not until February that shelter staff members were briefed on the new requirement. Now, Mayeda said, "if there is an error, it would be an anomaly." The Times reviewed a number of cases at the Palmdale and Lancaster shelters that showed no indication that rescue requests were made. The paper's request for complete records of such rescue requests for all of the county shelters is pending. Mayeda said she could not recall any disciplinary actions against staff at the Palmdale or Lancaster shelters based on not complying with the new policy. In April, Mayeda instructed shelters to send three requests to rescue agencies before an adoptable dog is put down. :: Babs and Bugs were two stray Belgian Malinois picked up Jan. 21 and kenneled together at the Palmdale shelter. The 1-year-old dogs were euthanized less than two weeks later, recorded one minute apart during walk-in hours, to make room for other dogs coming in, according to shelter records. The shelter did not send out rescue requests, known as "pleas," for either dog even though Palmdale's behavior team had approved the two for adoption with restrictions, according to the records. Bugs was required to go to an adults-only home with no other dogs, Babs to one with no children under high school age. Raul Rodriguez, deputy director of the Department of Animal Care and Control, attributes Palmdale's high euthansia rate in part to its high intake of dogs and small size relative to county shelters such as Baldwin Hills'. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Rodriguez, who oversees three northern L.A. County shelters, including Palmdale and Lancaster, said Babs and Bugs were euthanized because they showed behavioral problems during their time in the shelter, lunging at other dogs through their cages and then each other. Some experts who work with rescue dogs argue it's unfair to judge a dog's behavior in a loud, stressful shelter environment, saying it doesn't reflect how it would do in a loving home. "To me, the easy way out is to euthanize and I think that is unacceptable," said L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the Antelope Valley. She added: "I think that we need to hold administration more accountable," and "rather than react, be more proactive" in saving animals. Restrictions adopted during the pandemic to reduce overcrowding prioritized the intake of dogs that were sick, injured or dangerous to the public, Rodriguez said. He said euthanasia decisions are made at weekly meetings among top shelter officials, including members of the behavior, medical and management teams. They review a list of dogs and make decisions based on how long they've been housed, as well as their behavior and medical history. He attributed the higher euthanasia rates at the Palmdale shelter to its small size: It has 68 dog kennels, but through August this year had taken in more dogs than larger shelters, including Baldwin Park, which has more than 190 dog kennels, and Downey, which has 180. Department officials said more dogs than usual were coming into the Lancaster shelter, which has 176 kennels blaming the influx partly on the closure earlier in the pandemic of the Mojave shelter about 30 miles away in Kern County. Strays that once would have been taken there are now being brought to Lancaster, they said. A dog is returned to its kennel at the county's Lancaster Animal Care Center after a play date with a prospective adopter. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The number of dog deaths at the Palmdale shelter has angered some local officials, who also complained about a $400,000 increase last fiscal year in county charges to manage shelter and animal control services. The city's total annual budget for shelter services ended up at $1.4 million. Palmdale city officials earlier this year brought in two animal shelter consulting firms, Animal Arts and Team Shelter USA, to provide recommendations on how to better serve the community, including what it would take to open a new city-owned shelter or pet resource center. Their report, provided to Palmdale officials in September, has not yet been released publicly. Its hard to stomach, to pay so much money to euthanize, Palmdale City Councilman Austin Bishop said earlier this year. The cost is going up every year, and services keep going down." :: When it opened, the Palmdale facility equipped with all indoor kennels, a spaying and neutering clinic, a grooming room and turf play yards outside was hailed as a model for other shelters. I want everyone to know that were gonna do 100% adoption. ... Our goal is to really have a no kill at all' shelter, Barger said at the facility's one-year anniversary event. Kat Ramsburg greets her new foster dog at the Palmdale Animal Care Center. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Benavidez, who in addition to working with rescue groups is also a shelter volunteer, said that is far from how things have turned out. Its a death camp there, she said. Patricia Saucedo, a longtime Palmdale resident, was one of the shelters first volunteers. She now "networks" dogs, posting their photos, videos and personality descriptions online to help find them homes. She remembers Palmdales promise and the expectation that preceded it. It really just kind of backfired, Saucedo said, criticizing the shelters design and size. Too many dogs are hidden away behind too many doors, and the shelter is understaffed, she said. As of June, there were 13 animal control attendants, animal control officers and clerks at the Palmdale shelter and 18 in Lancaster. But county animal welfare officials said in a report that month that the two shelters would need more than triple the number of staff in the next five years to reduce euthanasia. According to the report, Palmdale would need 39 more staff positions and Lancaster 44. The rest of the county shelters are similarly short-staffed, the report said. Mayeda, the county animal department's director, said she did not expect the board to approve all of those positions. They asked me what I needed, and this is what we need, she said, adding that theyll do their best with what they have. She said that the euthanasia rate in the Antelope Valley is still lower than it was more than a decade ago in 2010. The county purchased about six acres from Palmdale to build the shelter, but used only a fraction of the land for the $20-million, 25,500-square-foot building, one of the smaller of the seven shelters. Much of the land sits unused. After The Times began asking questions about the Palmdale shelter's euthanasia rates, the Board of Supervisors passed a motion, written by Barger, asking that the department look into expanding the facility, saying its limited housing capacity was inadequate to serve the region. Saucedo recalled an early case that, for her, caused concern about euthanasia decisions: Star, a 7-year-old terrier with one ear, was surrendered to Palmdale in June 2018 by her owner. This little lady is Palmdale Shelters longest resident, Saucedo wrote on her Facebook page, Paws of Sunshine, about seven weeks later. Super sweet, mellow and affectionate. Shes a bit shy when you first meet her, but once you spend some time with her and give her some love, you can see what a happy girl she truly is. She paired Star's description with photos and a video of a small, scruffy terrier jumping up onto a bench to sit beside her for chest scratches. An hour before the post published, Star had been euthanized for her behavior, according to shelter records, which said she was fearful and noted several instances when she tried to bite staff. Saucedo thought Star had been timid, but not aggressive. She was stunned that Star was put down, she said, because she seemed so adoptable. Two of the many dogs of all ages that have landed at the Lancaster Animal Care Center. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times :: Some rescue groups, volunteers and animal advocates say the shelter system's public visiting hours can discourage prospective adopters. Before August, the seven county facilities were open for appointments and walk-ins only a certain number of hours each day. Visitors are now allowed to walk in from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but shelters are no longer open Sundays or on Wednesday evenings for prospective adopters who work during typical business hours, something Mayeda attributed to staffing shortages. "The responsibility doesn't lie just with the animal shelters and the animal rescues," says Kery German, Palmdale's public safety supervisor, seen speaking with with City Councilman Austin Bishop. The city now has a low-cost spay and neuter program to help address the boom in the area's dog population. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) But the operating hours don't fully explain why euthanasia rates are higher at the Antelope Valley shelters. Kery German, the city of Palmdales public safety supervisor, says some of the difference may be due to the nature of the dog population in the area. She and others who work with shelters said shepherds, huskies, bully breeds and other large dogs that have bigger litters are more popular in rural Antelope Valley communities than in city centers. Those rural areas also have become dumping grounds for unwanted animals from elsewhere. That, German said, along with irresponsible backyard breeders and owners who dont have their pets fixed, results in more homeless animals. The city has started a low-cost spay and neuter program to help remedy the problem, and since June last year has altered about 1,400 animals. The responsibility doesnt lie just with the animal shelters and the animal rescues, she said. Data from the county's Department of Animal Care and Control show pit bulls and German shepherds are the most common breeds put down at most county shelters and theyre euthanized at even higher rates in the Antelope Valley. In May 2022, a senior animal services department staff member complained to top officials about kill practices in Palmdale and Lancaster, including the euthanization of dogs for what were cited as behavioral reasons, according to an email reviewed by The Times. The staffer did not respond to requests for comment. Ive noted that Palmdale and Lancaster have a disproportionately large amount of euthanasias labeled as behavior, the senior staffer wrote, adding that they had decided to look more closely at the numbers for those shelters. I find it to be significantly concerning. The staff member wrote that a large amount of animals are either never assessed or are approved for public adoption but then euthanized for behavioral reasons. The staffer created a list of 58 animals, a majority of them dogs, euthanized at the two shelters from February through April 2022. One of those dogs, a gray and white Siberian husky named Tundra, had been approved for public adoption with no restrictions, but Palmdale shelter records indicate he was euthanized due to aggressive behavior, with no requests sent to rescue groups on his behalf. The department's behavior team described him as tense around other dogs but friendly with handlers, and medical staff wrote that he did not appear aggressive. "Fearful tense did ok going slow NO signs of aggression," a veterinary technician wrote the day he came in. Rodriguez, the department's deputy director, said Tundra could not be kenneled with other dogs and the shelter was full, so he was euthanized. Asked about the staff member's email, Chief Deputy Director Danny Ubario, Mayeda's second in command, said that both shelters were at capacity at the time and that dogs were put down for a "combination" of reasons, though the records system only allows a single justification to be entered. "We did look at it," Mayeda said of the staffer's complaint. "I don't think that there [were] any errors or mischaracterizations or misuse of the system." The number of dogs euthanized due to a limited number of kennels has increased in Palmdale and Lancaster. Department records show the Palmdale shelter put down more than 330 dogs last year due to space constraints or because all other options to find them homes had failed the most at any shelter. The shelter had already surpassed that number as of August this year. In Lancaster, the number of dogs euthanized for those reasons was on track to more than double from 231 for all of last year to 422 through August of this year, the records show. One of them was Blue, an 11-month-old mutt with white socks and pointy ears. In February, networker Danielle Vogt sent an email to the Lancaster shelter about Blue and another pup for whom she hoped to find foster homes. Increasingly anxious after not hearing back for a week, Vogt decided to foster Blue herself. Thats when she learned Blue had been euthanized a day earlier. No rescue requests had been sent on Blue's behalf. Devastated, Vogt alerted Bargers office. Shelter staff explained the oversight by saying that Vogt had provided the wrong animal ID number in her inquiry. We recognize that we can do better based on what transpired with Blue, Ubario wrote to her, adding that the shelter had put into place a new protocol to better monitor emails. Kristin Loch, who works at a rescue in the Santa Clarita Valley, said she fields calls daily from owners who need help giving up their dogs. She typically sends them to county shelters in Castaic or Agoura rather than to the Palmdale location despite the longer drive, because the dogs will have a better chance of leaving the shelter alive, she said. The Times identified several dogs featured at adoption events or online that were euthanized within days. In February, the Palmdale shelter posted three photos on Instagram of Stormy, a 1-year-old Siberian husky with black-and-white fur who had entered a month earlier because her owner was moving. Two days after the post went up, Stormy was euthanized, according to department records. The reason given: unable to place. :: Since January, county shelters have been required to reach out at least once to rescue organizations for most dogs facing euthanasia. The policy change came after Bowie, a 4-month-old terrier at the Baldwin Park shelter, was put down without any rescue requests, sparking outrage from many rescue groups and the public. Earlier this year, state Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona) introduced a bill named after Bowie that would have required California shelters to provide at least a 72-hour public notice on their websites before euthanizing adoptable animals. It did not pass, but Essayli said he plans to reintroduce similar legislation. The inconsistency of the plea system has frustrated some rescue workers, who say the Palmdale shelter doesn't always indicate which dogs are in most urgent need. The German shepherd Teo, for example, entered the shelter the first week of January. On Feb. 4, the shelter sent out what was marked a 1st rescue plea in an email to rescue groups, which suggested others would follow. Teo was euthanized three days later. Rodriguez said the dog had been on his second round of medication to combat a contagious upper respiratory infection, and that factored into the decision to put him down. Benavidez has volunteered at the Palmdale and Lancaster shelters since 2017, walking and playing with animals, introducing dogs to potential adopters, cleaning kennels and preparing food. She had been monitoring Angel, a 2-year-old black German shepherd, who was kenneled in the back at the Palmdale shelter, in an area that required an escort. She said she expected to see a rescue plea, but it never came. She later learned he'd been euthanized because there was no longer space for him. Benavidez wasn't the only one who'd wanted to save Angel. The person who turned him in told shelter officials her mother would adopt Angel if he became a candidate for euthanasia, according to department records. Shelter records don't mention efforts to contact the woman or her mother, whose names were redacted. Rodriguez said it was erroneous to assume from the records that no outreach had been made, but also acknowledged that any attempt to reach the family would have been noted. He added that Angel's behavior he had lunged at other dogs and had to be kenneled alone factored into why a rescue request wasn't sent for him, even though the behavior team had approved him for adoption. The Times also found mistakes in several emails from the Palmdale shelter to rescue groups and networkers and on its website including deadlines listed that had already passed or dogs marked with the wrong identification number or breed. One email was marked as both a second and third plea, and the deadline to save the dogs had come and gone two days before it was sent out. Another message included a photo of a 1-year-old black pit bull, but described a 7-year-old Siberian husky. Rodriguez said the Palmdale shelter has had to rely more on public adoptions because overburdened rescue groups are pulling out fewer dogs than before the pandemic. According to figures provided by the department, groups rescued 303 dogs from Palmdale in 2022, compared with 898 dogs in 2018. Sixteen kennels at the facility, though freely accessible to the public, are behind a door, next to a sign that says "Dog adoptions," and visitors may not realize they can enter. That was the case on a July afternoon, when Kayzanique Palms and her brother came to the shelter hoping to interact with the pups but left thinking they could only see photos of its dogs. They didnt know until a reporter told them that there were two rows of kennels they could walk through behind the marked door. The rest of the kennels require an escort. Dog rescuer Alyssa Benavidez shows a frame from her video of Pickles, a 10-month-old German shepherd that was put down at the Palmdale animal shelter. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Pickles, the German shepherd puppy who was euthanized on Valentine's Day, was in one of the publicly accessible kennels when Benavidez first saw him. Shelter staff had recommended in his file that he be placed in a home with no other dogs, though Benavidez saw him kenneled with another dog in the shelter with no apparent issues. She remembered worrying that a note like that would deter adopters. She emailed the kennel sergeant, asking when time would be up for Pickles and another dog as she hastened to find them homes. In an email exchange reviewed by The Times, the kennel sergeant, Nelson Gonzalez, said that Pickles had already had a rescue plea sent out and that he'd been featured as pet of the week by the Board of Supervisors. He didnt give me a direct answer," Benavidez said. "They put the dog down the next day." Gonzalez did not respond to a request for comment. In California, the Hayden Act, a set of animal welfare laws approved in 1998, requires that in most cases a shelter must release a dog to a rescue group that has requested it, rather than putting it to sleep. Benavidez said she wasnt given that opportunity. A department spokesperson said that because the networker never asked for more time or said she had someone ready to take Pickles home, and because the facility was full, the dog was put down. That one really killed me, because I felt like there was something that I couldve done, but they didnt really give me a chance, Benavidez said. George LeVines, The Times' deputy director for data and graphics, contributed to this report. 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. Dear Readers: At the Miami Herald, we are committed to providing unbiased news that is essential to the South Florida community. In this past year, our reporting teams have kept a watchful eye on critical issues in our community, pushing hard and digging deep to deliver stories like these: We know the community needs more. But todays marketplace realities limit the depth and breadth of our journalism. To expand our coverage, we need your help. We hope you will consider a tax-deductible contribution to help us better serve South Florida. Gifts of any size make a difference. You can donate through miamiherald.com/donate. Or, if you prefer to send a check, please put Miami in the memo line and mail it to 1601 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816. Please include your email address. Your support keeps us at the forefront of our community, bringing you the news that matters most. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Sincerely, Alex Mena Executive Editor of the Miami Herald & el Nuevo Herald A miscarriage turned a joyful pregnancy into heartbreak last year for Jada Bahls-Kargalskiy, a married mother of two and longtime nurse from Decorah. The emotional strain also came with a financial hit from the unexpected emergency room bills. To make matters worse, her husband was temporarily laid off. The monthly bill to pay off her medical expenses represented not only a financial hardship but also a painful reminder of their loss. Thats when Bahls-Kargalskiy turned to Embrace Iowa, the Des Moines Registers annual holiday giving campaign, which has helped Iowans in need since 1984. Embrace Iowa paid off the bill and also helped the family heal. Jada Bahls-Kargalskiy reached out to Embrace Iowa for help with her medical bills. Im once again asking readers to support neighbors whove hit a rough patch by donating to Embrace Iowa, which provides grants of up to $750 to help families who face unexpected expenses. Writer Richard Lane told of Bahls-Kargalskiys ordeal in the latest of a series of stories about the families helped by Embrace Iowa. An earlier story told of the assistance provided to Jason Wurdinger, a disabled man who learned about the program from a flier on a wall at The Well Resource Center in Fairfield. Embrace Iowa paid for repairs to his car, which he uses to get to medical appointments, shop for groceries and do other errands, especially on days when hes having difficulty walking. The Register conducts Embrace Iowa in partnership with the nonprofit Iowa Community Action Association, whose member agencies serve low-income residents in all of Iowas 99 counties. Association staff members vet and select applicants, whose gross annual income can be no higher than 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Because of the associations help, not a dime donated to Embrace Iowa goes to administration; 100% of donations go directly to Iowans. Most Iowans who come to Iowa Community Action agencies for assistance are working, and many have never sought help before, said Katherine Harrington, the associations executive director. The biggest need statewide is for help with rent, she said, followed by car repairs. Families who usually make ends meet get thrown into disarray by job loss, illness, eviction or costly repairs to cars or appliances. COVID-related programs that helped families pay rent and water bills have ended, and there are no statewide rental assistance programs, she said. Embrace Iowa can step in, pay off back rent and get a family back on track. There are a lot of people struggling, and we try to help as many people as we can and make the process as accessible and streamlined as possible, but the need is greater than the funding available, Harrington said. Embrace Iowa She admires the Iowans that the associations agencies serve, describing them as courageous and resilient. But theyre also vulnerable. Recognized challenges for even higher-income Iowa families affect them disproportionately, such as lack of access to safe, affordable child care and ever-escalating rent and housing prices. And theyre the ones most affected by gaps in services, such as food and medical deserts and lack of public transportation. Embrace Iowa accepts funds year-round, but the official fundraising campaign runs from Thanksgiving through Feb. 1, 2024. Last year, your generosity raised $334,000, which helped 679 families. During my 19 years at the Register, Ive been continually impressed by Iowans willingness to help neighbors in need. This is a season that emphasizes thankfulness, care for the stranger and new hope for a new year. If this is a year when your bills are paid and you have some money to spare, please consider helping Iowans who arent as fortunate. Carol Hunter is the Registers executive editor. She wants to hear your questions, story ideas or concerns at 515-284-8545, chunter@registermedia.com, or on Twitter: @carolhunter. How to donate to Embrace Iowa To make your tax-deductible donation, follow step-by-step instructions for online giving at iowacommunityaction.org/about/donate. Or mail checks to Embrace Iowa, P.O. Box 10611, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0611. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Donate to Embrace Iowa to help neighbors in need this holiday season Seniors. Surfing. Setting organizations up for successful collaboration. Though their areas of work vary widely, the three finalists for FLORIDA TODAY's Citizen of the Year Volunteer Recognition Awards share a passion for helping people in Brevard, whether that's through providing aging residents with resources, raising funds for a new aquarium or simply by bringing a smile to their face through a holiday tradition. This year's finalists for Citizen of the Year are: Joe Steckler, founder of Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation and Helping Seniors of Brevard. George Trosset, founder of Surfing Santas. Neal Johnson, volunteer with numerous organizations and creator of the Johnson Family Legacy Challenge for Brevard Zoos Aquarium Project. Joe Steckler, finalist for Volunteer of the Year award. He is the president and founder of Helping Seniors of Brevard. Joe Steckler: a passion for Brevard's seniors At nearly 90 years old, Joe Steckler is still working hard to help seniors in Brevard. Steckler, founder and president of Helping Seniors of Brevard a nonprofit that connects seniors with information and services around the county started working with the elderly population about 33 years ago. He was a naval officer, and his last assignment was as the commanding officer of a naval retirement home. After a couple of years there, he came to Brevard, where he quickly began working with seniors, helping those with Alzheimer's, dementia and everyday needs that come with getting older. He plans to continue his work as long as he can. More: Transportation cuts for seniors and those with disabilities impact Space Coast | Opinion As long as God lets me wake up every morning, Im just going to keep on working until I dont wake up, the Satellite Beach resident said. When Steckler first began working in Brevard in 1993 with the East Central Florida Alzheimers Association, there were few adult daycares and little help for seniors, he said. Thats what led him to found the Brevard Alzheimers Foundation, a nonprofit that works with Alzheimer patients and their families, and to raise money to build daycares in Melbourne, Titusville and Micco. He stayed with the foundation until 2011, working to help seniors in any capacity he could, he said. Any time we got a call, we responded, he said, adding that peoples needs are often requests for help with basic tasks, like getting ready in the morning or just a need for companionship. Though he left in 2011, he felt there was still a need for services for seniors. That same year, Steckler went on to found Helping Seniors of Brevard with the goal to inform, educate and connect seniors with resources they (need) to age with dignity. Steckler said hes compelled to do this work because hes seen firsthand how difficult simple tasks can become without assistance among older people, giving an example of a woman he knew who would cut her medication dosages in half because the cost of transportation for simple grocery runs was so expensive. We have retired people in this county that would love to be connected to help people, drive them to take them to the palace, and somebody had the gumption to get out and set up a program to help these people, he said. And thats what I did. His work has been wide-ranging, from answering phone calls, connecting seniors with community members and speaking on radio shows and TV to writing newspaper columns and newsletters about resources for seniors. Its his goal to make things as simple as possible for those in need of a little help. Our job is to do the very, very best we can to determine, research, grab on to anything we hear about how a senior can be helped, put it in our files and in our notebooks so that we know when somebody calls us, that theres a possible resource there that we (can) help refer them to, he said. There have been other surfers in the past who surfed in a Santa suit, but George Trosset of Cocoa Beach is the one who started Surfing Santas. In 2009 he went out surfing on Christmas Eve behind his house in Cocoa Beach in a Santa suit. The photo of him surfing made the front page of FLORIDA TODAY. The next year some friends showed up in Santa costumes to join him and the outing grew into a yearly event. George Trosset: bringing smiles with the 'red suit effect' It started 14 years ago as a fun idea with his son and daughter-in-law: surfing as Santa, with the two of them dressed as elves. Now, its grown into an event known around the world. George Trosset, a 70-year-old Rockledge resident, started Cocoa Beachs Surfing Santa event in 2009, inspired by a car commercial that depicted surfers dressed in holiday gear. Each year, the event gained more attention both locally and worldwide online, with about 8,000 to 10,000 spectators attending each year and anywhere from 300 to 500 surfers participating. More: Surfing Santas to remain in downtown Cocoa Beach after public pressure Online, Trosset tracks the engagement articles and other content about the event get, and by his estimate, billions of people have heard of Surfing Santas over the years. Surfing Santas makes people smile, Trosset said. Weve created 10 billion smiles around the world. Thats why he does what he does to make people smile. He calls it the red suit effect, saying that if you do things as Santa, good things will happen. Its a powerful motivator for me, he said. Each year, from about August to December, Trosset works to organize the event. The biggest aspect of preparation is printing and distributing T-shirts around Brevard County. Funds from T-shirt and merchandise sales, along with donations, go toward the Florida Surf Museum and Grind for Life, a Cocoa Beach nonprofit that helps cancer patients travel to and from medical treatments. Funding has also been donated in the past toward surf and swim teams at Florida Tech, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School, Satellite Beach High School and Melbourne High School. The joy Trosset sees on attendees faces or even strangers hes run into in other countries, who say theyve heard of the event makes the months of work worth it all. Trosset recalled dozens of special moments, from twins celebrating their birthday at the Christmas Eve event every year, to visiting children in Florida hospitals to take photos with Surfing Santas, to sending a plush Surfing Santa up on Pineapple owner Steve Youngs rocket. One of his favorite moments was a simple one: seeing a man take a photo with a Surfing Santa and watching his face light up. He (told me), I felt like I was 10 years old again, Trosset said. He got his picture with Santa as an adult, and it took him back to his childhood. And it dawned on me what was going on here. Citizen of the Year candidate Neal Johnson's volunteer work ranges from helping military veterans to teaching life skills to teens. Neal Johnson: bridging the gap in nonprofit and business Neal Johnsons volunteer work has touched a variety of areas on the Space Coast, from helping military veterans to teaching life skills to teens to contributing to Brevard Zoos aquarium project. The 63-year-old Melbourne resident has been working on various committees and boards since 2005, including the Economic Development Commission of Floridas Space Coast, the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce, LEAD Brevard, AMIKids Space Coast, Space Coast Home Builders and Contractors Association, Business Voice Political Committee, Tied Together Space Coast, Brevard Civilian Military Council and the Brevard Zoo Aquarium Project Campaign Cabinet. Hes also volunteered with Space Coast Honor Flight, accompanying veterans on three trips to Washington, D.C. More: Economic Development Commission's grant allocation from Brevard County cut by 10% Ive been able to leverage my community involvement and the visibility thats given me to help some other organizations get visibility, and I think all of that makes it a better place to live, work and play, Johnson said. Bridging the gap between various nonprofits, government and other organizations has been a big part of his work, he said. An example of that is the work he did in 2005 as chair of the EDC. The Naval Ordnance Test Unit at Port Canaveral was set to be closed by the military as part of the Base Realignment and Closure project. Johnson worked with a committee to encourage them to reconsider that decision and ultimately, NOTU was spared. (It) has created thousands of jobs since then, Johnson said. When you have more employment here, you have more people participating in many ways with our nonprofit organizations through philanthropy, through participation. In August, Johnson created the Johnson Family Legacy Challenge for Brevard Zoos Aquarium Project, a move that was inspired by Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoing $2 million in funding for the zoo in June. The fund has raised about $270,000 since August. It really was just a matter of talking to people as Im out and coming from the standpoint of, My family is doing this, would you care to join me? he said. This year's winner of the Citizen of the Year award will be announced at an invitation-only ceremony. Last years finalists were Bob Barnes, Michael Cadore and Marcus Ingeldsen. Barnes, founder of the Children's Hunger Project and Aspiration Academy, won the Citizen of the Year award. Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finchwalker. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard's Citizen of the Year finalists share passion for community Taras Ratushnyy remembers receiving a phone call from his son Roman during Ukraines deadly 2013 Maidan Revolution. Im okay, we are coming back home with my friends from (Kyivs Maidan Square). Dont worry and good night, Roman said over the phone even while Taras heard that same voice blaring from his television as his 16-year-old son declared the protesters plans to storm a building. The protests, which spread across Ukraine and came to symbolize its existential tug-of-war between Europe and Russia, set into motion a young generation determined to shape the nations future and at the fore was Roman. In some ways, his political convictions began long before Maidan. Both his parents were previously activists and journalists; his mother Svitlana Povalyaeva, also a writer and poet, took part in the Maidan Revolution alongside her two sons. But that path became clear as Roman came of age against the backdrop of Russias illegal annexation of Crimea, and violence between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern regions. A young Roman Ratushnyy, who joined the Maidan Revolution at just 16 years old. - CNN By 2022, he had become a well-known environmental and anti-corruption activist, with a following of supporters and admirers. Then, Russia invaded Ukraine. Roman immediately enlisted with the military, as did his brother and father. Nine years after the Maidan Revolution lit a spark, he was again fighting on the front lines for the future of his country, and for the democratic hopes shared by many of his generation. But he knew he might not survive this fight. By May that year, Ukraine was losing up to 100 soldiers a day, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. That month, Roman who had a plan for everything he did, Taras said wrote his last will and testament on a single sheet of A4 paper, using both sides. He laid out requests for his funeral the ceremony, the music, the Cossack cross monument. He quoted one of his mothers poems. And he dedicated his love to the city where he was born, as were his parents, and grandparents: Kyiv, I died far from you, but I died for you. Two weeks later, on June 8, 2022, Roman was killed in action near Izium, in eastern Ukraines Kharkiv Oblast. He was 24 years old. My son is a true hero of Ukraine, Taras told CNN during a recent visit to the oak-lined cemetery in Kyiv where Roman was laid to rest. It was the 10th anniversary of the Maidan protests; Taras had just one day at home before he returned to the battlefield. He used to be a hero every day. Taras Ratushnyy visits the grave of his son Roman, in a cemetery in Kyiv, Ukraine, in November 2023. - CNN Fighting for a European future The Maidan protests were sparked by Ukraines then-President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly scrapping a trade deal with the European Union. Supporters of the deal had hoped it would bring Ukraine closer to the West, generate economic growth, and open borders to trade. Instead, Yanukovych a pro-Russia leader turned toward Moscow, striking new deals with Vladimir Putin, and dashing the oppositions hopes of stronger ties with Europe. Furious, thousands of demonstrators occupied Kyivs Maidan, or Independence Square. Over the months, the protests swelled to represent broader outrage over Yanukovychs policies, widespread government corruption, and police brutality as well as the movements pro-democracy, Europe-leaning dreams. In the midst of all this was Roman. At the time, the best way to find the 16-year-old was to go to the hottest point (of the clashes), said Taras. Ninety-nine percent (of the time) he was there, and one percent he was sleeping somewhere because he was out of batteries. Anti-government protesters clash with riot police outside the parliament building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 18, 2014, during the Maidan Revolution. - Efrem Lukatsky/AP As violence escalated, Roman would sometimes get caught in scuffles but he forged ahead, an early sign of the idealistic, passionate spirit his father would later describe to CNN. In her book about the revolution, history professor Marci Shore recalled asking Roman whether his mother was upset about his participation in the protests. The teenager replied: My mother was making Molotov cocktails on Hrushevskogo Street. The ensuing crackdown came to a head on February 20, 2014, when police and government forces opened fire on protesters. About 100 people are believed to have died during the revolution, which ultimately saw Yanukovych ousted and exiled from Ukraine. The movement triggered a chain of events that would roil Ukraine for years, including the annexation of Crimea and the simmering conflict in the east near Russias border. But it also brought a spate of government reforms and hope to a generation of young Ukrainians hungry for change. Just like (how) you cant see the forest for the trees, we, as participants of the Maidan, may not be able to see now what impact this event had on the whole history of Ukraine, but I hope it had a serious impact, said Roman said in a YouTube video uploaded in 2014, near the anniversary of the protests. For me, all that was not in vain, he added. I see a huge number of positive changes in this country. And they happened only thanks to Maidan. My youth, my life, and my fight When the war broke out in 2022, Roman who had become known for fighting to protect a green space in Kyiv from real estate development joined the Battle of Kyiv to push Russian forces from the capital. He then joined the 93rd separate mechanized brigade, helping to liberate a town from Russian occupation and fighting in Ukraines northeastern Sumy Oblast. A photo posted on Instagram by Roman on May 30, 2022, a week before he was killed in action. - CNN Through it all, he posted occasional Instagram photos of himself and fellow soldiers at one point posting a poem by the executed Ukrainian intellectual Mykhail Semenko. When I die, I will die not of death / but of life, reads one translation of the poem by Ukrainian-American writer Boris Dralyuk. When all nature grows calm, Ill depart, / ahead of the last stormy night / in a flash, when death seizes my heart, / my youth, my life, and my fight. His father, meanwhile, tried not to think about the danger Roman was in. All I can do is ask, how are you? How can I help you? But (those were) kind of stupid questions from a father who is very far and cannot make any impact on his condition, Taras said during his visit to the cemetery in November. After Roman was killed in June 2022, his body was brought back to Kyiv, with the funeral and memorial service attended by hundreds of mourners including the city mayor. Large crowds gathered in Independence Square to pay tribute the very place he had fought as a young protester in 2013, when his future stretched long and bright before him. Crowds of mourners pay their respects to Roman during a farewell ceremony in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 18, 2022. - Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images Now, more than a year later, the memory of Romans legacy and that of the Maidan Revolution continues to resonate with Ukrainians as the war grinds on into its second winter, and as Ukraine pushes hard to join the European Union. This longtime ambition took a step forward in November, when the blocs executive body said detailed negotiations for membership should begin next year. During CNNs visit to Romans grave, two young women stopped by to pay their respects; several fresh flower bouquets and candles sat next to his photograph. I wish him to be proud of us. I see that its one year and more (since his death), but almost every day something is going on connected with Roman, Taras said, visibly emotional. Thousands of Ukrainians are stepping into the battle in his name trying to continue what he did. I see that Roman is still in action. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (CNN) A person was in critical condition Friday after setting themselves on fire outside the Israeli consulate in what Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said was likely an extreme act of political protest. The incident happened around noon outside the Consulate General of Israel, according to police. Schierbaum said investigators didnt believe the incident had any nexus to terrorism. A security guard at the midtown Atlanta building saw the protester outside around noon and tried to stop them from setting themselves on fire, police and fire officials told reporters at a news conference. The security guard sustained burns on their leg and wrist. A Palestinian flag that was part of the protest was recovered at the scene, and gasoline was used as an accelerant, the officials said. The chief said staff inside the Israeli consulate were safe and did not appear to be in danger during the incident. The incident was contained to outside the building, and the chief said he was not aware of any effort to enter the building. The community is safe, Schierbaum said. This department is aware of the tensions that are present right now in the Jewish community and in the Muslim community And we will continue to remain vigilant to ensure that everyone remains safe. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosts portrait unveiling of the 67th Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department in Washington By Elizabeth Piper and Valerie Volcovici DUBAI (Reuters) - Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Sunday for reform of the insurance sector, where companies are increasingly withdrawing assistance against climate shocks. Lower-income countries and workers in nations most affected by climate change are struggling to access insurance to help protect them from economic shocks. "We need to rethink the insurance industry," Clinton said during a panel on women and climate resiliency. "Insurance companies are pulling out of so many places. They're not insuring homes. They're not insuring businesses." Clinton earlier this year joined the Arsht-Rock Foundation Resilience Center as a global ambassador on heat, health and gender. The center has pioneered new forms of so-called parametric insurance that offer payments once disasters hit a pre-set extreme. During Sunday's discussion, Clinton recalled meeting Indian women who described working outdoors in construction, farming or desert salt flats, forced to work in "almost unbearable conditions" because they had no economic alternatives. But "as the climate changes, as storms increase and drought and heat increase," she said, "it's not just ... poor, hard-working women in India. It's people everywhere who are going to be left out with no backup, no insurance for their business or their home." In the U.S., insurers have already begun pulling back from risky regions such as California's fire-prone forests or along southeast coastlines hit by hurricanes. Clinton warned that this trend would escalate. "People in the United States, Europe, they're going to wake up and say, 'What do you mean, I can't get insurance?'" (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Katy Daigle and Jan Harvey) MEMPHIS, Tenn. A woman was severely injured after getting struck by a car in Frayser Saturday evening, Memphis Police say. Officers responded to the pedestrian involved incident in the 3400 block of Range Line Road at 6:15 p.m. A woman was reportedly transported to Regional One Hospital in critical condition. Cordova shooting leaves man dead The individual responsible for the crash fled the scene, according to police. If you have any information regarding this incident, call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. At 28, Matthew Shoemaker spent a week in rehab and then checked himself out, walking from Lancaster to the St. Vincent de Paul homeless shelter in Newark, desperate for refuge. After an eight-year prison stint that started when he was just 17, he struggled to reenter society, secure housing and work a stable job. I almost killed myself working two jobs, he said. Thats when I came into contact with methamphetamine for the first time. His Adidas-clad feet were planted far apart on the cold concrete, and the bright orange Lorax hat did little to hide Shoemakers weariness while standing under the Newark Homeless Outreach Pavilion earlier this year. As the dual housing and overdose crises grow in Ohio, some groups are implementing harm reduction strategies and systems prioritizing safety for all to help reentering and unhoused citizens like Shoemaker, but advocates say its not enough to meet the growing need in Licking County. Just last year, 58 people died of overdoses in the county, up from 47 the year before, according to the county coroners office. Finding stable housing is a first step to combating both homelessness and addiction, advocates say Shoemaker had to spend four nights outside before he was allowed into the St. Vincent de Paul shelter. His criminal record and urinalysis kept him out, so he waited until they would let him in and then stayed for four months before he relapsed. This experience is common and potentially dangerous. People who use drugs or who are in recovery and who are unhoused are at risk of overdose. According to a study published in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, people returning from incarceration experience rates of fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose many times higher than the general population. Stable housing can be a step towards recovery for those living on the street. If we can get them a house first, then we can tackle everything else, said Laura Kennedy, the returning home Ohio and community transition program case manager for the Licking County Coalition for Housing. But that can be a challenge. The coalition had 146 households on its waitlist for housing as of Oct. 20. On top of the housing delay, Shoemaker faced many systemic difficulties. It took him months to find a job, and the only one he was able to hold was at a Speedway, where he said he was not allowed to take any time off. Its barrier after barrier, and if you were out on the street and you kept hitting this roadblock and you didnt have people like some of our volunteers help you, what do you think you would do? You would stay on the street, said Nancy Welu, a volunteer at Newark Homeless Outreach. Maybe youd turn to drugs and alcohol to help you cope. Many people in need of housing help have also turned to Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, an organization working to provide civil legal aid to people facing housing discrimination and security, as well as domestic issues, retaining Social Security benefits and getting their drivers license back. Both lawyers Ann Roche and Bill Canterberry echo the common belief: Licking County lacks affordable housing. Supplies (are) so limited, and its crumbling, and we dont remodel when we need to, Roche said. The housing stock is small, and its just old in Ohio. Legal Services said some of the challenges with the aging affordable housing stock make it even harder to secure housing for those who need it: lead pipes and paint in homes, as well as inaccessible units for those with disabilities and older adults, coupled with discrimination from landlords, create major barriers across the board. Some landlords in Licking County have refused vouchers from the Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority for subsidized housing, a practice that remains legal in the county, according to Legal Services. Other parts of Ohio, though, including Cuyahoga County and the city of Columbus, have passed ordinances deeming it unlawful to discriminate against someone based on how they pay their rent. It is discrimination on the basis of poverty, which on its face is legal, Roche said. There are ways you can show its disproportionate impact on women and racial minorities. On its face youre allowed to discriminate against poor people. There's a severe lack of shelters that don't discriminate based on sobriety status or criminal history Licking County faces a severe lack of low-barrier shelters, where individuals are allowed to stay regardless of their sobriety status or criminal history. The challenge of housing unhoused people in the county is typically remedied through the use of shelters like St. Vincents Haven or the Salvation Army, both of which have barriers or mandate people be sober before they can stay at the shelter. St. Vincents requires conferences with case workers twice a week, background checks and mandatory drug tests, and residents must be out of the shelter from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For people who use drugs and need housing, these are hurdles. Low-barrier means that individuals can access immediate emergency shelter regardless of their status, said Deb Dingus, executive director of United Way of Licking County. Perhaps with a charge thats outstanding, or despite their drug use and testing, all those sorts of things that may preclude them from other places of emergency shelter. Dingus is also the pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Newark. Shes worked with several volunteers to create a drop-in shelter at the church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This drop-in time allows unhoused people to come inside, get a sack lunch, use the bathroom, charge their phones and rest. Its helped fill a hole left by Vertical 196, a day shelter in Newark, which recently closed. Dingus also helps to run a weekly dinner on Wednesday nights which anyone is welcome to attend. Volunteers bring food, and everyone sits together, shares their faith and enjoys a home-cooked meal. Were just a church extending Gods love, feeding the hungry, trying to shelter unsheltered people, providing services where we can, Dingus said. Mallory Meeker, a formerly unhoused person who now works for Whole Living Recovery, a sober rehabilitation house, said that living on the street can be mentally and physically dangerous. Drugs like heroin and fentanyl are appealing to numb pain, and methamphetamine is appealing to stave off fatigue and stay sharp, Meeker said. The issue of substance use and the housing crisis go hand in hand, and the many regulations of shelters in the area and lack of broader resources hold people back from getting proper housing and proper care, she said. We owe that to this community, the nonprofits, this organization, Newark and our county, Meeker said. Theres so many people that have donated their time, money, food, clothing to help save our lives. Shoemaker understands what its like to live with substance use disorder, and understands that housing is harm reduction. A week after I relapsed I started shooting again, and I shot all the way up to almost 60 days ago, Shoemaker said. Now Shoemaker volunteers at Newark Homeless Outreach, providing resources for unhoused people. Despite all of this help, the problem is growing, and these organizations still need more support if theyre expected to expand their solutions. Ellie Owen and Noah Fishman write for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of the Denison University Journalism Program, which is funded in part by the Mellon Foundation and donations from readers. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dual housing, addiction crises compound homelessness in Licking County Note to readers: The News-Press reported Nov. 20 that the median single-family home in Lee County sold for $513,500 in August, a 20.8% increase from a year ago. Meanwhile, the average monthly rent was $2,362 in October, a 3.5% year-over-year increase. Affordability is a growing concern for families, but what about seniors on a fixed income? Randy Thibaut, founder and CEO of Sage Communities, shared his thoughts about affordability, housing options for seniors and a solution for a new way of living that is rising in Southwest Florida. For two decades, you were CEO of LSI Companies, which your son has taken leadership and ownership of, so what is your focus now? THIBAUT: I am still actively involved with LSI and an emeritus member of Lee BIA Builders Care, but have turned my primary attention to senior rental housing while I continue to invest in land throughout Southwest Florida. The regions population has grown to 1.5 million, and although more families are moving into Southwest Florida, baby boomers are driving our growth. The latest census shows 31.6% of Southwest Floridians are 65 or older. The regions health care system adapted, as evidenced by the addition of hospitals, clinics and cancer treatment centers. Unfortunately, we cannot say that housing has responded to the senior surge, particularly the affordability angle. Every day, 10,000 baby boomers nationwide turn 65 and most of them are not millionaires. Therefore, senior rental housing is a great choice for those who dont want all of their retirement funds tied up in their personal residence and most either dont need or dont want to live in assisted living facilities for a variety of reasons. Mostly, its due to the fact that seniors are healthier now than ever before and no one looks forward to living in an assisted living facility. Can seniors afford to move here? THIBAUT: Yes, but its becoming increasingly difficult if you werent making six figures during your career. Retired teachers, nurses, social workers, bank tellers, restaurant managers and others are getting hit with sticker shock. If you put 20% down on a $513,500 median home, youre looking at a monthly mortgage payment of about $2,800, plus property tax, insurance and any HOA fees. You could easily be looking at $4,000 per month. What housing options are available for seniors? THIBAUT: Seniors really have just three housing options: stay in your current home as you age, move into a retirement community or find an apartment complex. What are the problems with those three options? THIBAUT: If you stay at home, youre stuck with all the maintenance and upkeep. When I retire, the last thing I want to be doing is mowing the grass and calling around to find a reputable handyman to fix my appliances. If you move into an assisted living community, you might be on the hook for a hefty buy-in or be forced to pay for bundled services, like health care or a meal plan, that you dont need or want. Most age-qualified residential communities in Southwest Florida fall on the high end of the price range. If you move into an apartment complex, your neighbors might be families with children, college students or 20-somethings who dont go to bed until 2 a.m. What do you envision as a solution? THIBAUT: Renting. Generations ago, people worked into their mid 60s and stayed in their homes a few more years before their health started to decline. Thats when they moved into a retirement community or assisted living center. There wasnt really a need for any sort of transitional housing. Now, people are retiring in their 60s or early 70s and still have another 10 or 20 years of relatively good health before they need to move into a residential care facility or group home. Randy Thibaut talks during Market Trends 2022. Is there a stigma attached to renting? THIBAUT: When we were children, we always heard about homeownership being The American Dream. Financial analysts hype homeownership as a great investment, and it is, and they often downplay renting as throwing away your money. Renting has always been a good transitional option, but its predominantly been associated with younger adults who just moved out of their parents home, graduated from college or got married. Is that what inspired you to create Sage Communities? THIBAUT: Yes. We spoke with many seniors, retirees and soon-to-be-retirees when developing the concept for Sage Communities. There was a solid consensus on some factors: They no longer want to deal with the headaches of maintaining a home. They want to cash out equity in their homes while the real estate market is high. They want to live somewhere that feels and looks like a resort. They want to be surrounded by people with similar interests. They dont want to be locked into long-term contracts or pay unnecessary fees. The solution was to become a renter. What does your vision look like for a 55+ rental community? THIBAUT: A standard apartment rental is just a place to sleep, eat and relax. We are building a concept that pairs safe, comfortable living spaces with elements of an active adult lifestyle. Our first community, Seneca at Oak Creek in North Fort Myers, just finished construction this fall. Units feature a full kitchen with energy-efficient stainless-steel appliances, upgraded cabinetry and granite countertops. Bathrooms have chrome-appointed fixtures and tiled showers. Each suite offers an in-unit washing machine and dryer, as well as a private, screened-in porch and an option for an attached garage. Accessibility is a key feature with barrier-free entrances and single-story buildings. What qualifies as "resort-style amenities" at Seneca at Oak Creek? THIBAUT: Every resident has access to the Amenity Lifestyle Center, which offers a 24-hour fitness center and active fitness room, swimming pool with barbecue grills, resident community room, library, dog park with cleaning station and bocce courts. The community also employs an on-site wellness and activities coordinator who plans social events, community gatherings and fitness classes. Is a 55+ community a retirement community? THIBAUT: Not exactly. Although most residents in Seneca at Oak Creek are retired, some are still working part-time or full-time. Remote work is increasingly common among all generations, so you can feasibly have a resident with a job in New York or Massachusetts who lives in a retirement community in Southwest Florida. How do your prices compare to other rentals in the market? THIBAUT: Our floor plans start at $1,890 per month and include maintenance, as well as unlimited access to social and fitness activities. The price is in the ballpark as some apartment communities, but the amenities and spirit of community at Seneca at Oak Creek is the difference maker. Our one-story residences, most with garages, are comparable in rent to most of the areas multi-story traditional apartments, so our residents are getting a great value for their money. What is on the horizon for Sage Communities? THIBAUT: In addition to Seneca at Oak Creek, we are in the development phase for similar communities in Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and other suitable locations throughout Southwest Florida. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What are the options for affordable housing for seniors A Hungarian official has commented on the Ukrainian Security Service's explanation of the decision to deny the fifth president, Petro Poroshenko, permission to travel abroad, and claimed that Ukraine is not ready for EU membership. Source: Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs; European Pravda Details: The official's tweet said Hungary "does not wish to play any part in President Zelenskyy's internal political struggles". "News reports such as this and these political purges are yet another indication that Ukraine is not yet ready for European Union membership," Kovacs claimed. Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), commenting on the decision to deny Poroshenko permission to travel abroad, explained that this step had been taken because Russian special services were preparing provocations targeting Ukraine in the international arena. The SSU stated that "the Russian secret services plan to launch a major psychological operation to shift sentiment in anti-Russian coalition partner countries". The SSU believes that Russia was planning to use individual Ukrainian politicians to engage in psychological operations during their visits to third countries. "Counterintelligence reports suggest that the information on the planned meeting between Petro Poroshenko, leader of the European Solidarity party faction, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has consistently expressed an anti-Ukrainian stance, is a friend of Putin and advocates lifting sanctions against Russia, should be viewed in this context," the SSU stressed. Background: Poroshenko said border guards had refused to let him leave for a business trip abroad to Poland and the United States. The former president labelled it as "anti-Ukrainian sabotage". Border guards explained that they had refused to let Poroshenko leave as the Ukrainian parliament had cancelled his business trip. First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko stated that he had cancelled Poroshenko's international business trip after receiving a letter classified as for official use only, the contents of which cannot be disclosed. Support UP or become our patron! AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sunday called on Israel to respect the international rules of war and said he was accelerating his investigation into violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. "In Gaza, there is no justification for doctors to perform operations without light, for children to be operated upon without anaesthetics. Imagine the pain," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in a video message posted online after a four-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. "I was crystal clear, that this is the time to comply with the law. If Israel doesn't comply now, they shouldn't complain later." Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas and says its aim in Gaza is to destroy targets linked to the group, while urging civilians to leave those areas. The Iranian-backed Hamas is meanwhile sworn to Israel's destruction. Khan also called on Hamas to respect the rules of war and to not misuse any humanitarian aid that is brought into the besieged Gaza strip. "Civilians must have access to basic food, water and desperately needed medical supplies, without further delay, and at pace and at scale." The ICC prosecutor said atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7 were "some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity," and said his court was ready to assist Israel in investigating them and prosecuting those responsible. At the same time, he said violence by settlers in the West Bank was "unacceptable" and could also not go unpunished. "We have been investigating and we are accelerating investigations," he said of the situation in the West Bank. "No Israeli settler armed with an ideology and a gun can think it's open season against Palestinians." Israel is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognise its jurisdiction. But Khan in October stressed his court had jurisdiction over potential war crimes carried out by Hamas militants in Israel and by Israelis in the Gaza Strip. The ICC has had an ongoing investigation in the occupied Palestinian territories into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity there since 2021. Accusations of war crimes and human rights abuses have been made on both sides since Hamas gunmen overran several Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and seizing around 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. In response, Israel launched air strikes and an invasion by tanks and ground troops in the enclave, killing more than 15,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health authorities. (Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Bernadette Baum and David Holmes) Yoav Gallant, Israels Defence Minister, said the military was "returning to combat" in full force after Hamas violated a cease-fire agreement with Israel, calling the results of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) offensive "spectacular". Source: Gallant, quoted by The Times of Israel Details: Gallant said he ordered the fire to resume Friday morning after Hamas refused to release 15 women and 2 children as part of a truce deal. Quote: "We are continuing exactly where we left off." Details: The minister also said he had inspected Gaza from the air and the border area from the ground over the past two days, calling the results of the renewed IDF offensive "impressive". Quote: "Thousands of terrorists have been eliminated, dozens of headquarters [have been struck], hundreds of terabytes of information are in our hands, hundreds of terrorists have been captured and are being interrogated in Israel." "An achievement of 110 hostages returning alive, no army in the world has achieved this against a terror organisation. We achieved it because of the strength of the IDF." Background: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had resumed operations against Hamas in the early hours of 1 December as the terrorist group allegedly broke the operational pause. Since the end of the ceasefire, the Israeli Air Force has carried out airstrikes on about 200 targets in the Gaza Strip. Later, the Israeli military struck terrorist infrastructure targets in the Gaza Strip. For reference: Earlier, it was reported that Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for the eighth day. Support UP or become our patron! (CNN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the countrys military to increase its number of troops by 170,000, as Moscows war in Ukraine enters its 22nd month. The increase would take the overall number of Russian military personnel to more than 2.2 million, including 1.32 million troops, according to the decree published by the Kremlin Friday. Russias defense ministry said the move was in response to growing threats to our country including the war in Ukraine and the continuing expansion of NATO. It said the increase would be implemented in stages through a recruitment drive, and that there were no plans for conscription or a new wave of mobilization. Putins decree marked the second such expansion of the army since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In August 2022, Putin ordered an increase of 137,000 troops by January 1, 2023, which put the militarys staffing at just over 2 million personnel, including 1.15 million troops. The next month, Putin ordered the immediate partial mobilization of Russian citizens following a string of defeats that caused recriminations in Moscow. The mobilization meant citizens who were military reservists could be called up and that those with military experience were subject to conscription. The mobilization led to angry demonstrations particularly in Russias ethnic minority regions and prompted hundreds of thousands to flee the country. It was suspended in November of that year after officials said the target of recruiting 300,000 personnel had been met. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, said Friday that more than 452,000 people had been recruited to Russias military under contract from January 1 to December 1 2023. But Russias casualty numbers remain shrouded in secrecy. In September 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said 5,937 troops had been killed in the war. The ministry has not published an update since. Western intelligence assessments put the toll much higher. The United Kingdom defense ministry said in October it is likely that Russia has suffered between 150,000 and 190,000 permanent casualties, meaning killed or permanently wounded, since February 2022. Putins latest decree comes as Russias war in Ukraine is set to enter its second winter, with both sides suffering heavy losses without making significant gains on the battlefield. Ukraines top military commander Valery Zaluzhny said in an interview with The Economist magazine last month that the war had entered a stalemate. He warned that without technological improvements there will most likely be no deep and beautiful breakthrough, but instead an equilibrium of devastating losses and destruction. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky disagreed with Zaluzhnys assessment, telling NBC the situation is difficult but denying that the war had reached a stalemate. Ukraine, which imposed martial law in response to Russias full-scale invasion, is also attempting to enlist more troops. Earlier this year, the rules of registration were updated to include women. The measures, however, stopped short of full conscription. Muizzu, the newly elected president of Maldives speaks during his inauguration ceremony in Male NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's government has agreed to withdraw its soldiers from the Maldives, the Indian Ocean archipelago's President Mohamed Muizzu said on Sunday. Muizzu won the presidential election in September, having campaigned to alter the Maldives's "India first" policy and promising the removal of a small Indian military presence of some 75 personnel. "In the discussions we had, the Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers," Muizzu told reporters. "We also agreed to set up a high level committee to solve issues related to development projects." Muizzu made the remarks following engagements on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit with Indian officials. India provides certain military equipment to the Maldives, assists in disaster response and has been helping build a naval dockyard there. A senior Indian government official in New Delhi told Reuters discussions took place between India and the Maldives on the matter, and both sides recognised the importance of the assistance India provides. The Maldives "acknowledged the utility of these (Indian) platforms ... Discussions on how to keep them operational are ongoing. The core group that both sides have agreed to set up will look at details of how to take this forward," said the official, without commenting directly on Muizzu's remarks. India's ministry of foreign affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. India and China have been vying for influence in the region, with the coalition that supports Muizzu considered to have a leaning more towards China. Most of the Indian military personnel were in the Maldives to operate and manage two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft given to the Maldives by India. At his inauguration last month, Muizzu said he would ensure that his country has no foreign military presence. He had made the request of Indian troop withdrawal to Kiren Rijiju, India's minister for earth sciences, who represented India at the president's inauguration. (Reporting by Mohamed Junayd in Male and Krishn Kaushik in New Delhi; Writing by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Sharon Singleton) Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) carry a hoarding of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah for celebrations in Ahmedabad Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) carry a hoarding of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah for celebrations in Ahmedabad By YP Rajesh, Rupam Jain and Krishn Kaushik NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's ruling nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday won regional votes in three out of four major states, in a big boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a national election due by May. The central states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and the southern state of Telangana, voted last month in the last set of provincial elections before the national poll, in which Modi will seek a third term. BJP comfortably won Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the main opposition Congress and retained Madhya Pradesh, vote-counting data from the independent election panel showed. BJP's performance was better than widely expected as opinion and exit polls had suggested a close contest between Modi's party and Congress. Modi remains widely popular after a decade in power and surveys suggest he will win again next year. However, a 28-party opposition alliance led by the Congress has come together to jointly fight the BJP, posing a renewed challenge. But the alliance did not feature in the state polls due to internal rivalries and it was a direct contest between BJP and Congress. Although Congress won Telangana, its second victory in the south this year, Sunday's outcome is seen as a setback. The four states are home to more than 160 million voters and account for 82 seats in the 543-member parliament. "We always said we will win the heartland states," BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda told Reuters. "The results are the outcome of our finest political strategy and work on the ground." BJP members and supporters burst firecrackers, distributed sweets and danced in the streets in the three states. Modi told jubilant BJP members at the party headquarters the results suggested a third term next year was guaranteed. "The results ... indicate that the people of India are firmly with politics of good governance and development, which the BJP stands for," Modi posted on X. CONGRESS DISAPPOINTED BJP had suffered a setback itself when it lost the big southern state of Karnataka to Congress this year, as Gandhi worked hard to revive the party since its drubbing in the 2019 election and went on a 135-day march across the country covering more than 4,000 km (2,500 miles). He also helped build the opposition alliance, called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA, after the Karnataka victory and his temporary disqualification from parliament after being convicted in a defamation case. Gandhi posted on X "the battle of ideology will continue". Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the party should not get "disheartened by this defeat" and should start preparing for the general elections with INDIA parties with "double enthusiasm". Modi and leaders of Congress, led by Gandhi, criss-crossed the states, addressing campaign rallies and promising cash payouts, farm loan waivers, subsidies and insurance cover, among other incentives, to woo voters. Politicians and analysts say state elections do not always influence the outcome of the general elections or accurately indicate national voter mood. Results of the last round of state elections before national elections have been misleading in the past. Sunday's outcome is, however, expected to boost market sentiment. "Markets may have had a whiff of the likely results given the gains last week but the margin of victory will be a surprise," said Gurmeet Chadha, managing partner at asset management firm Complete Circle. Markets should gain on Monday on the results, he said, adding it could be a "big move". The small northeastern state of Mizoram also voted last month and votes there are due to be counted on Monday. (Additional reporting by Ira Dugal in Mumbai; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Christopher Cushing and Alison Williams) Five years after federal agents raided then-Ald. Ed Burkes City Hall office, jurors at his corruption trial last week got to hear whats fast becoming known simply as the tuna call. In one of the trials most highly anticipated moments, federal prosecutors played the secret recording of Burke allegedly asking then-colleague, Ald. Daniel Solis, if the developers of the massive Old Post Office had agreed to hire Burkes private law firm. So did we land the, uh, the tuna? Burke asked. Burke made the now-infamous May 2017 inquiry as he was allegedly using his clout as Chicagos longest-serving alderman to intervene on the developers behalf on a host of issues with the $600 million project, including fights with Amtrak, restoring water service and two massive tax incentives that would have to go before the city Finance Committee that Burke chaired. By the time Burke made his tuna remark, Solis, the 25th Ward alderman and Zoning Committee chairman, had been working undercover for the FBI for nearly a year, helping the feds build the racketeering case that ended Burkes record 54-year run as 14th Ward alderman in May. The behind-the-scenes intrigue surrounding the Old Post Office renovation is the centerpiece of the high-profile trial and was the focus of the third week of testimony, where prosecutors unleashed a memorable string of dozens of secret audio and video recordings of Burke playing the dual role of City Hall powerhouse and private lawyer prowling for legal work. Prosecutors said Friday they have about a week of evidence left to present in their case in chief. The recordings showed Burke welcoming the post office developer, Harry Skydell, and his son at one City Hall meeting, then sliding two Klafter & Burke business cards toward them. Later, he was caught on camera smirking as he told Solis he was reluctant to help Skydell because the cash register has not rung yet. And, after months of being stonewalled, Burke was captured sitting in Solis office with his legs crossed, calmly remarking hed had it with the Skydells, and as far as Im concerned they can go (expletive) themselves. Before the Old Post Office became the focus of the trial, jurors heard evidence of how Burke, with the help of longtime 14th Ward aide Peter Andrews Jr., allegedly shook down the Texas-based owners of a Burger King on South Pulaski Road, also in an effort to win business for Klafter & Burke. Prosecutors on Friday began presenting evidence related to claims that another developer, Charles Cui, hired Burkes law firm in exchange for the aldermans help in a permit fight over a pole sign for a Binnys Beverage Depot in Portage Park, miles away from Burkes power base. The jury has also heard details of a fourth alleged scheme centered on Burkes alleged threats to block a fee increase at the Field Museum after top officials there failed to hire the daughter of his longtime ally, former Ald. Terry Gabinski, 34th, for a paid internship. Lawyers for Burke, who turns 80 later this month, have said there was nothing wrong with Burke soliciting business for his law firm and painted Solis, who only began cooperating after he was confronted with his own wrongdoing, as Exhibit A of corrupt elected official. Mr. Burke never asked for anything from anyone in this case. Not for money, not for legal business, not for anything never, defense attorney Chris Gair told the jury in his opening statement last month, claiming Burke saw not one dime from the alleged schemes. In the coming days, prosecutors are expected to expand on the Burger King and Binnys chapters as they aim toward wrapping up their case in chief by Dec. 11, when Burkes defense team will then make a final decision on whether to bring in Solis to testify. Meanwhile, the recordings played so far in the case seem to reinforce the old school, cynical view of Chicago as a city that works as long as powerful politician can get a piece of the action. Videos of the white-haired Burke, with his trademark pinstriped suits, finely tucked pocket square and American flag lapel pins, speaking candidly with Solis gave jurors a fly-on-the-wall view of two elected officials, far removed from news cameras or public speeches. The recordings also painted the picture of how the intersection of big bureaucracy and big money can make a massive project such as the Old Post Office rejuvenation ripe for corruption. When Skydell and his company, 601W, bought the dilapidated building straddling the Eisenhower Expressway in 2016, it had been neglected for years. Jurors heard testimony that concrete was falling onto the railroad tracks running below the building into Union Station, and train fumes were leaking inside. In an effort to get the building updated and back on the tax rolls, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped broker the deal wresting control from a previous owner. In a statement announcing the sale to Skydells company in April 2016, Emanuel said the agreement called for a strict timeline for the redevelopment that would turn the site into an economic driver for the city. From the get-go, however, the need for Skydell to cut red tape and seek taxpayer assistance for a project of that magnitude played directly into City Halls Bermuda Triangle of confusion, one that often necessitates seeking help from an alderman with clout. In Skydells case, it was a perfect storm, as he wanted both a Class L tax incentive for the property, which at more than $100 million represented the largest such tax deal in state history, as well as $20 million in tax-increment financing to fund the reconstruction of the sites west plaza along Canal Street. He also desperately needed help dealing with Amtrak, which was making rehab expensive and time consuming due to archaic rules governing work at track level. Prosecutors have painted a picture to show that conditions were nearly perfect for the then-mighty Burke, dean of the City Council, to make a move. Testimony showed Burke bragged to Skydell at their initial meeting that he had a good friend on Amtraks board of directors, Jeff Moreland, and that we made his daughter a judge here in Cook County. Burke also knew what levers to pull to get action at City Hall, where his Finance Committee could tighten the purse strings on any agency that failed to respond when he said jump. Burkes attorneys have repeatedly suggested in their cross-examinations that Burke was a responsible steward of the publics money, including when it came to the revamp of the Old Post Office, a historic 1920s-era Art Deco building representing so much of the old Chicago that Burke held dear. But prosecutors maintained Burke wouldnt lend a hand to the Old Post Office for purely altruistic reasons. He allegedly would use his know-how and experience only if he could make it pay off for himself, a message that meant developers needed to show their gratitude by supplying his law firm with tax work. In a May 2017 recorded call, Burke was updated by Solis about the frustrations Skydell kept having with hurdles thrown up by Amtrak and the city Water Departments failure to open lines at the post office job site. You know, Ive never heard anything from these people about getting hired to do the tax work, so, Im not ... Im not motivated, Burke said on the call. When Burke first employed his tuna analogy, Solis had a ready response, saying he told the developers were not very motivated, cause nothing has happened. I said, Look, I think youve got to help Ed out. Prosecutors have said Burke illegally offered to pay Solis a consulting fee in exchange for his help in getting business from the post offices New York-based developers. Burke even allegedly returned to his favored fishing metaphor when he made sure in one call that Solis understood he too would benefit if Burkes law firm reeled in a financial windfall. If we land the tuna, there certainly will be a day of accounting, Burke said. You can count on that. As the months dragged on, Burke allegedly grew more frustrated that 601W had not formally committed to hiring his firm despite his work with Amtrak, the Water Department and other city issues. Recordings and testimony showed Skydell started considering how to give Burkes firm property tax work on other projects, leading to a pivotal face-to-face meeting on Oct. 17, 2017, with Skydell and his son, Joseph, as well as a lawyer representing the Old Post Office project. As they pitched their proposal for the TIF money, Burke, off camera, could be heard saying it couldnt be a worse time to ask for a TIF break, especially with the Chicago Teachers Union then-President, Karen Lewis, complaining that TIF money siphons tax revenue from schools. After Skydell and his team left the room, Burke and Solis spoke alone. I told them that this will go up to your committee, Solis said. Burke shot back, Good luck getting it on the agenda, and Solis laughed. Eventually, though, both the TIF request and the Class L tax incentive sailed through Burkes Finance Committee and the full City Council. Along the way, Skydell allegedly told Burke a deal to buy the Sullivan Center, an 800,000-square-foot, Louis Sullivan-designed skyscraper on East Madison Street, was coming together and that Klafter & Burke would receive the property tax work. Well, very good, Burke said. I appreciate you thinking about our firm, and well do a good job for you. The deal, signed by Burke on Aug. 28, 2018, called for a $15,000 flat annual retainer fee plus 20% of any refund as a result of a reduction in assessed value of the Sullivan Center property. In wrapping up their evidence on the Post Office episode Friday, prosecutors played a final wiretapped recording made by Solis on Nov. 9, 2018, just 20 days before the FBI raid that thrust the investigation into the public spotlight. As instructed by his FBI handlers, Solis told Burke during the in-person meeting that he was planning to retire midway through his next four-year term, and go off into the sunset. He also told Burke he had a line in on some big-time developers who were planning on a development near South Clark Street in Solis 25th Ward and would steer them to Klafter & Burke for a consulting fee. He says thats gonna go, that would go really quick. And so Im thinking within the next few months, or whatever, maybe hes somebody else I can bring you and we can talk about a consulting situation for me, Solis said on the recording played in court. Sure. As long as you remember me, yeah, Burke responded. We come from the old school. Meanwhile, after pushing so hard to get the tax work, Burke stunned developers by returning the tuna on Dec. 20, 2018, in the form of a letter stating Klafter & Burke was pulling out of the deal before receiving a single payment. That was three weeks after the feds raided Burkes offices. rlong@chicagotribune.com jmeisner@chicagotribune.com mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) An infant was found dead as his father was found naked in a sleeping bag on the side of the road, according to Idaho deputies. Around 9:17 a.m. on Saturday, the Bonneville County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call from hunters regarding a man in a sleeping bag on the side of a road near Idaho Falls. Pinellas County middle schooler arrested for threatening school shooting, deputies say The hunters told authorities that the man was naked and making odd statements. The man was identified as 48-year-old Jeremy Albert Best, who was wanted in another county for homicide. He was treated by paramedics for injuries. Near the area where Best was sleeping, deputies found his 10-month-old child dead at the scene, down an embankment off the roadway, along with his vehicle. Man, 15-year-old charged in Ybor club beatdown that left victim in hospital On Nov. 30 around 11:39 p.m., deputies found Bests 38-year-old wife dead at the home. They believed Best left the area with the baby. Earlier that day, Best was seen walking nude through a local store. He was later evaluated for medical and mental health concerns. Best was taken to the Bonneville County Jail after a medical clearance and will remain in jail until arraignment before the court. Our thoughts are with the family of the victims involved in this case, the sheriffs office said. The incident remains under investigation by state police, Bonneville and Teton County deputies, and the FBI. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Doctors in southern Gaza have warned that infectious diseases are spreading rapidly through the territory, due to overcrowding caused by the mass evacuation of civilians as Israels military campaign moves south. Asem Mohammed, 24, a volunteer doctor at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, told The Independent the area surrounding the hospital was full of infectious diseases and epidemiological issues, including fungal infections, dermatological infections and pneumonia. Khan Younis has become the main target of Israeli military operations in the three days since hostilities restarted, after the end of the week-long truce that saw over 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners released. The situation right now inside the hospital is catastrophic, Yousef Adnan, 24, a volunteer doctor at Nasser Hospital, told The Independent. We are treating thousands of cases of diarrhoea due to the lack of access to clean water. In addition to treating disease, doctors are dealing with a renewed flow of victims of Israeli airstrikes, which have centred on Khan Yunis in recent days. Witnesses inside the hospital described seeing pools of blood on the floor, with doctors stepping over dead bodies as they moved from case to case. After a team from the World Health Organisation visited Nasser Hospital on Saturday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the conditions there as unimaginable. Patients were receiving care on the floor, screaming in pain, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Palestinians inspect a building damaged during Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty) The area around the hospital has become a makeshift camp for people who have been forced to flee their homes since the war began. In recent days they have been joined by residents from nearby neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, who have fled there for safety. The severe overcrowding has created optimal conditions for the spread of disease which is compounded by a lack of medical supplies, limited access to clean water, and poor sanitation. As of 29 November, the WHO had recorded 85,899 cases of diarrhoea, 2,335 cases of chickenpox, 24,355 cases of skin rashes, 116,829 cases of acute respiratory infections, 25,456 cases of scabies and lice, and 1,150 cases of jaundice throughout Gaza. Cases of diarrhoea among children aged five and older were more than 100 times normal levels across Gaza in early November. On Wednesday, WHO spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris warned: Eventually, we will see more people dying from disease than we are even seeing from the bombardment, if we are not able to put back [together] this health system." The situation is getting worse and worse, said Mr Mohammed. As the war continues, a key concern for humanitarian groups working in Gaza is the spread of lethal water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Local doctors have described how a lack of essential vaccines for newborn babies allowed disease to spread faster through hospitals. They have noted an increase in hospital-acquired pneumonia. On Sunday, Israel ordered the evacuation of five more areas in and around Khan Younis, dropping flyers ordering residents to move towards Rafah. Khan Younis is a dangerous combat zone, read leaflets dropped over the area by Israeli warplanes. Throughout the day, Israeli bombs continued to pound the city. The pattern of Israel Defence Forces operations has led to expectations that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion in the south of the territory. This has caused concern that the prospects of a renewed ceasefire are moving further and further away. On Saturday, the deputy chief of Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, reportedly told Al Jazeera that no further hostages would be released until a new ceasefire is agreed. The statement came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Mossad negotiators to leave Qatar and withdraw from talks over a new ceasefire. Elsewhere, the ripple effects of the war continued to play out globally. The British government announced it would send surveillance planes to conduct operations over the Mediterranean, including Israel and Gaza. Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue, it said in a statement on Saturday. The safety of British nationals is our utmost priority, the Ministry of Defence said. By Paradise Afshar and Jay Croft, CNN (CNN) Penguin Random House, one of the countrys largest publishers, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging an Iowa state law that bans books in schools and limits what can be taught on sexual orientation and gender identity. Four bestselling authors including John Green and Jodi Picoult who have had their books challenged or removed from Iowa classrooms, are among the list of plaintiffs, which also included Iowa teachers, a student and the Iowa State Education Association. The complaint argues SF 496, which Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed in May, deprives students of literature that portrays and describes critical aspects of the human experience and discriminates against LGBTQ+ viewpoints and authors. It also marks the second time in a week that the state has been sued to block provisions of the law from taking effect. Earlier this week, Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Iowa, and the law firm Jenner & Block LLP also filed a lawsuit arguing that new law seeks to silence LGBTQ+ students, erase any recognition of LGBTQ+ people from public schools, and bans books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content, according to a news release. Gov. Reynolds responded to that lawsuit saying SF 496 shouldnt be seen as controversial. Protecting children from pornography and sexually explicit content shouldnt be controversial. The real controversary (sic) is that it exists in elementary schools, the governor said in a statement. Books with graphic depictions of sex acts have absolutely no place in our schools. SF 496 requires K-12 school libraries to only carry books deemed age-appropriate, and requires libraries to exclude any book with descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act, CNN previously reported. Employees found to be in repeated violation of some of these provisions could face disciplinary action, including termination and loss of license. The Penguin Random House lawsuit targets portions of the bill that call for books to be removed from school libraries and classrooms, arguing the law violates the First and 14th Amendments. According to the Iowa State Educators Association (ISEA), without clear guidance from state lawmakers on which books violate the law, districts have proposed removing a range of award-winning novels, including Alice Walkers The Color Purple, James Joyces Ulysses and The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. Mike Beranek, president of the association, said the organization stands behind the expertise of the education professionals and librarians who are trained to make determinations for what is age-appropriate content to include in schools. We stand firmly on the side of the experts in our schools and the parents supporting their children, Beranek said in a news release. We take issue with a law that also censors materials for everyone elses child. Author Malinda Los novel Last Night at the Telegraph Club won the 2021 National Book Award in Young Peoples Literature. The book, a coming of age story about a Chinese American girl who discovers her identity as a lesbian during the 1950s McCarthy era, was later banned in some school districts in Iowa. Lo said she chose to become a plaintiff in the lawsuit because she wanted to stand up for immigrant and LGBTQ communities in America. In the two years since it won the National Book Award, it has been banned, challenged, or restricted in over 40 school districts and communities across the country, including six in Iowa alone, Lo said in a statement about the lawsuit. She added she wanted to join the lawsuit because I feel a responsibility to my queer and Asian American readers a responsibility to stand up for them and their rights to read about people like them. CNNs Katie Lobosco contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. The content circulating social media offers a poor representation of what happened in Israel during Hamas' attack on Oct. 7. Credit - Kenneth CheungGetty Images Today, the images and videos circulating, especially across social media, are offering a very poor representation of the truth of what happened on Oct. 7 in Israel. This is partly due to the Israeli governments understandable efforts to protect the privacy and dignity of the victims, and abstaining from publishing evidence of the atrocities committed to the public. At the same time, the content that is flooding social platforms now reveals that something is fundamentally broken in how millions of people around the world are consuming information about the events of the Hamas Massacre and the subsequent Israel-Hamas War. Rightly, there is ample heart-wrenching footage from Gaza across social media platforms amidst significant civilian casualties; but there is also sadly rampant misinformation fomenting anger, and extremist antisemitic and Islamophobic hate alike, on those platforms. The problem appears particularly prevalent on TikTok, whose short-video format is not wholly conducive to providing accurate, verifiable context. The fact that pro-Palestinian hashtags on TikTok have more reach than 10 top mainstream news sites from across the political spectrum combined, according to research conducted by data scientist Anthony Goldbloom, may not sound particularly disturbing on its own. And likewise with the fact there are 54 views of videos with pro-Palestinian hashtags for every view of a TikTok video with a pro-Israel hashtag in the U.S. or that #freepalestine is one of the top-performing hashtags across all of TikTok. But what is disturbing is that even a cursory scroll through these TikTok videos and Photo Mode on a random search reveals what many argue is rampant atrocity-denying antisemitic content. Some of those many examples can be seen in this catalogue by Jonathan Greenblatts Anti-Defamation League, with some posts blatantly denying any atrocities occurred or peddling antisemitic tropes. These posts are still pervasive even though TikTok claims that they have beefed up their content moderation team, removing millions of videos promoting Hamas, hate speech, terrorism, and misinformation. Unfortunately, their content moderators may still be outgunned with even TikTok acknowledging that they have seen spikes in fake engagement as well as a rise in content promoting terrorism in unprecedented scale and scope. TikTok recently spoke out after videos promoting Osama bin Ladens Letter to America racked up millions of views on the app. Written by the former Al Qaeda leader in 2002, the letter heavily criticized the U.S. and attempted to justify the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In a statement, TikTok said: Content promoting this letter clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism. We are proactively and aggressively removing this content and investigating how it got onto our platform. Further suggesting that TikToks content moderators can barely keep up with the sheer volume of misinformation is the fact that graphic videos produced by Hamas celebrating terrorism have garnered millions of views, despite nominal bans, according to Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz of NewsGuard. More From TIME Perhaps, then, it is not entirely surprising that one survey by Generation Lab found that even though much questionable TikTok content emerges from overseas countries such as Pakistan and Qatar, spending 30 minutes a day on TikTok increases, by nearly 20%, the chances an average U.S. respondent holds antisemitic views. TikToks defense, that the attitudes of many TikTok users, particularly young people, are pro-Palestinian long before the video-sharing app existed does not inspire confidence amidst what Deborah Lipstadt, President Bidens Special Envoy for Antisemitism, calls a gobsmacking rise of instances of antisemitism. Lest anyone think that antisemitism is the only form of hate speech on social media, TikTok competitor Instagram, owned by Meta, has drawn fire for allegations of systemic Islamophobia and unfairly discriminating against Arabic content posters. According to the Wall Street Journals Jeff Horwitz, and confirmed by Metas own internal reports, Metas automated content moderation tools have long struggled to parse different Arabic dialects, in particular the Palestinian Arabic dialect. In one particularly egregious recent glitch, Instagrams automatic translations started censoring innocuous content by accidentally, unjustly rendering the word Palestinian along with an emoji as Palestinian terrorists. In response to these incidents, Meta was forced to apologize for translation glitches and acknowledged that they are in the process of improving their algorithms. X, formerly known as Twitter, has drawn scrutiny for its own numerous stumbles. NewsGuard recently found that blue-checked, verified users on X produce a startling 74% of the platforms most viral false and unsubstantiated claims peddling both antisemitic denials of atrocities as well as doctored footage meant to stoke Islamophobia. X responded by issuing an ad hominem attack against NewsGuard, with owner Elon Musk tweeting, NewsGuard is a propaganda shop that will produce any lies you want if you pay them enough money echoing Musks earlier call for NewsGuard to be disbanded immediately, though NewsGuard stands by their substantive data findings. Furthermore, Media Matters published a report finding that X placed corporate advertisements for companies such as Apple, Bravo, IBM, Oracle, and Comcast next to pro-Nazi, antisemitic, and Islamophobic content. Although X denied these claims and filed a lawsuit against Media Matters, Musks recent taunt to advertisers of Go f--k yourself at Andrew Ross Sorkins Dealbook Summit does not exactly inspire confidence in Xs practices. Sure, cynics could point out that social media platforms have long struggled with how to police misinformation across a variety of issues ranging from vaccine conspiracies to election meddling to teen risks. But the distortions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the rampant antisemitism and Islamophobic hate they have spurred, strikes at something more fundamental. 80 years ago, when Allied troops liberated the emaciated, diseased skeletal survivors of Nazi concentration camps, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower insisted on having international press see the horrors of the Holocaust with their own eyes to preempt the propaganda of historical denialism. As Eisenhower wrote, the visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty, and bestiality were so overpowering as to leave me sick we made the visit deliberately in order to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to propaganda. Now, with rampant denial of Hamas atrocities on the rise, Eisenhowers warning seems especially prescient as this is not an abstract debate over preferred statistical methodology or about competing intellectual theory. Much as how historian Tim Snyder and Special Envoy for Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt have called out Holocaust deniers as perpetuating fraud, or when Pulitzer Prize winning historian David Blight called out slavery deniers as fraudulent, there is such a thing as the truth, and there is such a thing as evil. Each should be clearly recognized as such with no ambiguity. Contact us at letters@time.com. Israeli soldiers stand by, as a mobile artillery unit fires on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants traded fire across the Israel-Lebanon border on Sunday for the third consecutive day and Israel said several if its soldiers were hurt, following the collapse of a truce between it and Hamas militants in Gaza. The Israeli military said its soldiers were "lightly injured" when an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit a vehicle in the Beit Hillel area of northern Israel. Israeli forces fired artillery in return, the military's statement read. Iran-backed Hezbollah said it had targeted a number of Israeli positions with what it called "appropriate weapons". 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 launched air and artillery strikes in south Lebanon. But the border was largely calm during a week-long truce in Gaza that collapsed on Friday. It has been the worst fighting since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, a Hamas ally. Just over 100 people in Lebanon have been reported killed during the hostilities, 83 of them Hezbollah fighters. Tens of thousands of people have fled both sides of the border. (Reporting by Beirut newsroom and Jerusalem newsroom; Writing by Maggie Fick; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Israel issued another round of evacuation orders on Sunday in southern Gaza after it resumed fighting with militant group Hamas in the wake of a weeklong truce. The Israeli military ordered evacuations in and near Gazas second-largest city, Khan Younis, on Sunday, The Associated Press reported. The AP noted that there was heavy bombardment overnight in the area, as well as near Rafah in the south and in the north. The evacuation orders come after thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza to avoid Israeli attacks in the north, resulting in many of Gazas 2.3 million people cramming into the southern part of the territory. It also comes after a weeklong truce between Israel and Hamas ended on Friday, meaning that the two sides have began exchanging fire again. Just minutes after the truce ended, Israeli fighter jets hit Gaza on Friday. The military started warning residents of southern Gaza to leave their homes that day and expanded those orders Sunday. This signals that Israel is aiming to expand their operations in the south. During the temporary cease-fire, Hamas released more than 100 people it had taken hostage in the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel in exchange for about 240 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel prisons. U.S. and Israeli officials said the expiration of the truce was Hamas fault because it failed to produce a list of hostages just women and children to be released Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also pulled his countrys negotiators from Qatar on Saturday, saying that they reached an impasse with Hamas. Its unclear when, if at all, negotiations for a temporary cease-fire will continue. Residents in southern Gaza told the AP that the Israeli military dropped leaflets ordering them to move south to Rafah or to a coastal area in the southwest. These evacuation orders were dropped in at least five or more neighborhoods near Khan Younis. Khan Younis city is a dangerous combat zone, the leaflets read, the AP reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Top American officials have begun publicly offering stark warnings to Israel about the consequences of the rising civilian death toll in Gaza. Israel is listening, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Sunday. What I can tell you is that in our conversations with them they have said that they agree with our idea here that the approach they take matters, that the reduction of civilian casualties and, quite frankly, minimizing damage to civilian infrastructure is important to them, that they understand that, Kirby said during an interview on NBCs Meet the Press. On Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cautioned that Israel risks strategic defeat in Gaza if it doesnt do more to protect civilians. While speaking to reporters at an annual climate conference, Vice President Kamala Harris was even more forceful. As Israel defends itself, it matters how. The United States is unequivocal: International humanitarian law must be respected, Harris said after her meetings at COP28, which is being held in the United Arab Emirates this year. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating. The fighting began on Oct. 7, when Hamas led a surprise attack on Israels southern border, killing 1,200 people. Israel has since launched a siege of Gaza, killing more than 15,000 and periodically choking the flow of food and fuel into the region while Hamas continues to launch rockets into Israel. We believe they have been receptive to our messages here in terms of trying to minimalize civilian casualties, and I can tell you we saw that when they went into north Gaza, they did that in a more precise way, a smaller way, Kirby said during an interview on ABCs This Week, pointing to the map that Israeli forces have published online that shows evacuation zones the IDF says are meant to help reduce casualties. Israel has also been dropping leaflets urging civilians to exit areas before attacks. There's not a whole lot of modern militaries that would do that. to telegraph their punches in that way. So they are making an effort, Kirby added. But one U.N. agency noted it is unclear where the roughly 2 million people living in Gaza are supposed to evacuate to. Reportedly, the map is intended to facilitate orders to evacuate specific areas ahead of their targeting. The publication does not specify where people should evacuate to, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pointed out in an article. It is unclear how those residing in Gaza would access the map without electricity and amid recurrent telecommunications cuts. The conflict has roiled the Biden administration, as President Joe Biden and other top officials try to balance the need to support the U.S.s most vital ally in the Middle East with calls from the left to push for a ceasefire and greater protections for civilians in the besieged region. "If we want to defeat terrorists, we have to abide by international humanitarian law. That is just my fundamental belief," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) on Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." Defenders of Israel said the criticism is misplaced. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday that the United States would never accept the types of limitations that the United States is advocating. "No Republican is telling Israel to change their military tactics, because I don't know how to change them," he said on "State of the Union." "I think the goal of destroying Hamas is important for Israel, really important for the Palestinians, and Hamas is making it impossible for Israel to fight without hurting innocent people." But Republican Rep. Mike Turner, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, agreed Sunday that the U.S. is troubled by the rising death toll. "Broadly, as you've reported, the United States is very concerned" about the "extent that Israel is not doing enough to protect civilians," the Ohio Republican told CBS' Margaret Brennan during an interview on "Face the Nation." JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli forces have found 800 shafts leading to Hamas' vast subterranean network of tunnels and bunkers since a Gaza ground operation began on Oct 27, and have destroyed more than half of them, the military said on Sunday. The Palestinian Islamist group said before the now eight-week-old war in the Gaza Strip that it had hundreds of kilometres of tunnels - a network comparable in size to the New York subway system - to protect and serve as operational bases. That has made them prime targets for Israeli air strikes with penetrating munitions and army engineers using mapping robots and exploding gel that can be poured into the passages. "The tunnel shafts were located in civilian areas, many of which were near or inside civilian buildings and structures, such as schools, kindergartens, mosques and playgrounds," the military said in a statement on Sunday. The statement, summarising anti-tunnel operations so far, followed near-daily accounts to the media by troops who said they uncovered access shafts in civilian sites. The war's civilian toll has increasingly worried world powers. Washington urged Israel to use caution on Saturday. Of some 800 shafts discovered, the military said, 500 had been destroyed using a variety of operational methods, including by "detonation and by sealing off". It added that "many miles" of main tunnel routes had also been destroyed. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Angus MacSwan) FILE PHOTO: A dinner table is set with empty chairs that symbolically represent hostages and missing people with families that are waiting for them to come home, following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv FILE PHOTO: A dinner table is set with empty chairs that symbolically represent hostages and missing people with families that are waiting for them to come home, following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Even as it tries to recover hostages through indirect talks with Hamas and army operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel has been declaring some of the missing as dead in captivity, a measure designed to grant anxious relatives some closure. A three-person medical committee has been poring over videos from the Oct. 7 rampage by Hamas-led Palestinian gunmen in southern Israel for signs of lethal injuries among those abducted, and cross-referencing with the testimony of hostages freed during a week-long Gaza truce that ended on Friday. That can suffice to determine that a hostage has died, even if no doctor has formally pronounced this over his or her body, said Hagar Mizrahi, a Health Ministry official who heads the panel created in response to a crisis now in its third month. "Designation of death is never an easy matter, and certainly not in the situation embroiling us," she told Israel's Kan radio. Her committee, she said, addresses "the desire of the families of loved ones abducted to Gaza to know as much as possible". Of some 240 people kidnapped, 108 were freed by Hamas in return for the release by Israel of scores of Palestinian detainees as well as boosted humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza. Since the truce, Israeli authorities have declared seven civilians and an army colonel as dead in captivity. Israel says 137 hostages remain in Gaza, their condition not always known. This has not been confirmed by Hamas. It has previously said dozens of hostages were killed in Israeli airstrikes, has threatened to execute hostages itself and suggested that some hostages were in the hands of other armed Palestinian factions. Hostages have been kept incommunicado despite Israel's calls on the Red Cross to arrange visits and verify their wellbeing. Mizrahi said she and her fellow panelists - a forensic pathologist and a physical trauma clinician - have been watching clips shot by the Hamas attackers themselves, cellphone video by Palestinian spectators and CCTV footage of the hostage-taking "again and again, frame by frame". That has allowed them to map out life-threatening wounds and spot any cessation of breathing or other essential reflexes. Additional considerations have been hostages' rough handling by captors, the reduced chances of them getting adequate medical care in Gaza and accounts of deaths by former fellow hostages. RELIGIOUS EXPERTISE The panel has been consulting with a religious expert, she said, given Jewish laws that prevent a widow from remarrying unless her bereavement is formally recognised by authorities. "We assemble the overall picture," Mizrahi said, adding that every determination of death has to be unanimously agreed upon. The risk of getting it wrong was laid bare in the case of Emily Hand, who went missing on Oct. 7 and whose father Tom was initially informed "unofficially" that she had been killed. The girl had in fact been taken hostage and was freed in the truce. Being denied a burial may pose a psychological barrier for grieving kin, however. Last week, the Israeli military - which has rabbinical and intelligence units scouring Gaza battlefields for information about the fate of lost soldiers, as well as remains of hostages - declared dead Shaked Gal, a conscript missing since Oct. 7. His mother Sigalit said in a Facebook post addressed to the 19-year-old that she would not observe the traditional Jewish mourning period for him "until your body is returned". Mizrahi said her panel had yet to encounter a family that refused to accept its determination, but was prepared for that. "We are here to provide the professional side. We do not, God forbid, debate or confront the families regarding their decision, and we accept their choices with understanding," she said. The military has recovered the bodies of one captive soldier and two civilian hostages, and freed one soldier in a rescue operation. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Howard Goller, Alison Williams and Stephen Coates) The Russian Ministry responded to President Vladimir Putins Dec. 1 decree increasing the size of the Russian military and said that the ministry is implementing the increase in stages on account of citizens who express a desire to perform military service under a contract. This language may refer to volunteers, whom the ministry has courted through a widespread crypto-mobilization effort in Russia, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in their latest update on Dec. 2. The ISW explained that the phrasing used by the ministry suggests that the Russian military may use volunteer recruitment for long-term force generation. On Dec. 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to increase the size of Russia's army by 170,000 people, bringing it to a new total of 1,320,000 military personnel. Russia's Defense Ministry said that it was a response to an "increase in threats" that are associated with its full-scale war in Ukraine, as well as "ongoing NATO expansion." The Defense Ministry clarified that Putins decree does not portend a significant increase in the number of conscripted Russians nor a second wave of mobilization. Putins decree, which formally increased the size of the Russian military from 2.039 million personnel to 2.209 million personnel and total Russian combat personnel from 1.15 million to 1.32 million, "is likely an official acknowledgment of the actual end strength of the Russian military and not an order for an immediate increase," according to the ISW. Read also: US Defense Secretary Austin: We will not let Hamas or Putin win Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Listed by Biggs Freeman and Sotheby's International Realty, the enchanting property is complete with towers, turrets and a 3,000-square-foot ballroom. Courtesy of Briggs Freeman/Logan Campbell. Ever dream about becoming royalty? This Central Texas castle is the perfect place to live out your fairytale fantasies and it could be yours for a few million dollars. Listed by Briggs Freeman and Sothebys International Realty, the Parsons Castle in Clifton hit the market last month with a price tag of $5.5 million. The enchanting property is straight out of a storybook, with towers, turrets, a ballroom and a drawbridge spanning two adorable heart-shaped moats. All that's missing is a throne. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If youve ever considered owning an event space, this could be your golden ticket. Perched atop cliffs overlooking Lake Whitney, the five-story castle is the perfect location for a dreamy, over-the-top wedding. It offers ample space for guests with 10 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a bridal suite and a grooms dressing room. Beyond the grand foyer, a curved staircase leads to a 3,000-square-foot ballroom with elegant chandeliers, a tin ceiling and scenic views of the lake. The room has a fully equipped commercial kitchen and functional bar, making it ideal for hosting weddings or other large-scale events. The space is filled with ornate chandeliers, elements of stone, wood and iron and large windows that illuminate it in natural light. Take an elevator up to the third floor and youll find a 3,000-square-foot residential penthouse with a kitchen, living area and dining room, and on the fourth floor is an expansive gazebo-style balcony designed for outdoor weddings and events. As guests flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces, they'll revel in the grandeur that this property exudes, feeling like royalty, the Briggs Freeman website says. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The outdoor amenities mirror the castles opulent interior. Its manicured lawn exceeds two acres, and its luxurious pool and spa are the perfect place to unwind. Oh, and if the more than 11,000-square-foot structure isnt enough room for you, theres also a detached three-bedroom ranch-style guest house on the property. Built in 2018, Parsons Castle is located 30 minutes from Waco, an hour from Fort Worth and two hours from Austin. Listing agent Eric Hacker of Briggs Freeman says the towering mansion is a canvas ready for an imaginative buyer to make their own. Thucydides, who wrote about the Peloponnesian War in 431 BCE, as well as other political and military science subjects of interest to esoteric philosophers, is popularly known for the trap, where there is a compulsion to war between an established superpower and a rising superpower, such as the United States (herein U.S.) and China. This theory is not without its academic critics, as is any prominent theory. The basic idea is that the dominant state lives in a status quo largely to its liking. With the rise of another state with its own interests, parts of that status quo come into conflict, like the status of Taiwan, or the fisheries of the South China Sea. Even if the two states want to maintain peace, real conflict of the zero-sum type will arise. Even Xi Jinping himself has urged the avoidance of the Thucydides Trap. (Alek Chance, The Problems with the Thucydides Trap, ICAS, May 19, 2015). James W. Pfister The question here is whether the recent Chinese-U.S. summit of November 2023, held in San Francisco, moved the needle regarding the Thucydides Trap. My thesis is that there were positive developments especially in the area of communication, but that the U.S. continued emphasis on competition, the status quo, and containment was inimical to peace. Perhaps, it is natural that the challenged state be more conservative and defensive regarding the future. I believe most progress was in the area of communication. Xi undertook what David E. Sanger called a charm offensive, with emphasis on practical issues and not polemics. (New York Times, November 16, 2023). Gone was the wolf warrior tone, where China criticized the U.S. in an aggressive way. An example of the practical approach was the agreement regarding fentanyl chemicals, which our Secretary of State called concrete stuff. (Sanger, Ibid.). Likewise, the agreement on military-to-military communications at various levels will be useful in avoiding misunderstandings and misperceptions. Also, the emphasis on senior officials of each country traveling to the other for talks should contribute to concrete perspectives in search of win-win outcomes. Xi and Biden met for four hours in talks. Throughout the trip Xis tone was described as businesslike. (Vivian Wang and David Pierson, In Talks with Biden, Xi Seeks to Assure and Assert at the Same Time, Nov. 16, 2023). Xi suggested he and Biden get on the phone to talk if a troubling issue arises. (Editorial Board, The Xi-Biden summit accomplished little. But it really mattered, The Washington Post, Nov. 16, 2023). Xi requested that China not be portrayed as a villain in American communications. (Sanger, Ibid.) Xi also communicated with American business leaders where he pushed for investments in China. At the banquet dinner Xis communication was personal, speaking of American assistance with China during World War II. He recalled his own personal time in Iowa in 1985 as part of an agriculture exchange. (Wang and Pierson, Ibid.) The business leaders gave him a standing ovation. Xi also urged that the U.S. lighten up on the competition theme. He stated that competition only sows mistrust.' (Wang and Pierson, Ibid). He said: The number one question for us is: Are we adversaries, or partners? ... If one sees the other side as a primary competitor, the most consequential geopolitical challenge and a pacing threat, it will only lead to misinformed policymaking, misguided actions, and unwanted results. (Wang and Pierson, Ibid). Very importantly, Xi criticized the U.S. attempt to contain China, which he said was futile. He said the Earth is large enough for both nations; he had earlier criticized Americas myopic, competition-centric view of the world. (Wang and Pierson, Ibid.). Sanger saw Biden as competitive and wanting to contain China, hoping he (Biden) will have more time to rebuild manufacturing competitiveness and hem in Chinas gains in the Pacific. (Sanger, Ibid). Certainly, in the area of military weapons, competition is necessary for self-defense. Technology is also involved with military development. AI-related projects are involved. Here, competition is to be expected. But in the economic and political realms, cooperation for mutual benefit is possible. To avoid war in the trap, it is necessary for China to expand. The U.S. should negotiate a reasonable expansion of China. Taiwan would be a good place to start. James W. Pfister, J.D. University of Toledo, Ph.D. University of Michigan (political science), retired after 46 years in the Political Science Department at Eastern Michigan University. He lives at Devils Lake and can be reached at jpfister@emich.edu. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: James Pfister: Thucydides and the Chinese-U.S. summit TOKYO Japanese authorities handed over pieces of the wreckage from an U.S. Air Force Osprey that crashed off southwestern Japan to the U.S. military on Sunday, as the search continued for seven missing service members. The only body so far recovered has now been formally identified. The wreckage had been collected by a ship from the regional coast guard headquarters and by fishers from the town of Yakushima since the CV-22 aircraft crashed into the water near the town Wednesday during a training mission to Okinawa. Japan Coast Guard 10th Regional Headquarters said the unidentified pieces of wreckage, which had been kept at the town hall, were handed over to the U.S. military for further examination. Debris collected by the fishers had been picked up by the U.S. military earlier Sunday, and that collected by the coast guard was also to be handed over later in the day. The handover is procedure according to the Japan-U.S. Status Forces Agreement, under which Japanese authorities are not given the right to seize or investigate U.S. military property unless the U.S. decides otherwise. That means it will be practically impossible for Japan to investigate the cause of the accident. The agreement, known as SOFA, has in the past repeatedly made Japanese investigation difficult in criminal cases involving American service members on Okinawa and elsewhere, and has been criticized as unequal by rights activists and others, including Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki, who call for a revision. The Air Force Special Operations Command formally identified the one confirmed victim as Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, after tributes had begun pouring in the day before. Family mourns airman killed in Osprey crash as search continues Gallihers family issued a statement Saturday saying it was in mourning and asking for privacy and prayers for his wife, two children and other family members. Jacob was an incredible son, brother, husband, father and friend to so many. His short life touched and made better the lives of hundreds, if not thousands in Pittsfield, in this region and everywhere he served, the family said. Jacob lived to serve his family, his country and the people he loved. The U.S. military said it was continuing to look for the rest of the crew. We want to assure our air commandos families that our efforts will continue and include every possible capability at our disposal, said Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams, Pacific commander for the Special Operations Command. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, in a statement Sunday, said your heart and your spirit are torn when you see a young man with such promise lose his life in the service of a set of ideals. He said the top priority is the safety of the servicemembers, as well as the communities where they operate, and pledged to make sure the equipment, the aircraft, anything that youre using is safe. Emanuel thanked the Japanese Self Defense Forces, the Coast Guard and the local fishing communities for their support in the search for the seven still missing, and promised full transparency. Obviously, in a fully transparent way as we investigate what happened, to rectify it, we will be transparent with our partner, Japan. And while there are a lot of questions to be answered, we are focused like a laser on the search and rescue operation to secure the safety of the other servicemembers, Emanuel said, but did not say if the U.S. side would allow Japanese authorities into the crash probe. Sharp reported from Portland, Maine. The program was launched on December 1, reportedly primarily "for people from Ukraine" Japan has launched a new program extending rights equivalent to refugees to foreigners who have been forced to leave their homes due to armed conflicts but who do not meet Japans current criteria for refugee status, Japans NHK publication reported on Dec. 2. Starting from Dec. 1, this program primarily targets people from Ukraine. Under this initiative, eligible individuals may attend Japanese language classes and courses on adapting to life in Japan. Participants will also have the right to legal financial support. Read also: Japanese FM initiates historic talks in Kyiv, paving way for bilateral security agreement with Ukraine According to the Immigration Services Agency, the Japanese government is committed to seamlessly implementing the program and providing appropriate assistance to those who meet the criteria of individuals displaced due to war. Japan has been providing diverse humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion. Read also: Japan to provide Ukraine with drone detection system Ukraine and Japan initiated the first round of security guarantee negotiations on Oct. 7. The East Asian nation became the fourth, following the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, to engage in such discussions with Kyiv. 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 During a podcast interview on the war between Israel and Hamas, actor Julianna Margulies asserted that Black people should be completely supporting Israel but have been brainwashed to hate Jews. The claims that are just going viral were delivered on a Nov. 21 episode of The Back Room With Andy Ostroy, a podcast described as a humorous and honest take on politics and pop culture. The conversation was on the war in the Gaza Strip and Ostroy brought up The U.S. and the Holocaust, a 2022 documentary by Ken Burns. Margulies, who is Jewish, jumped on it. It should be mandatory watching, especially for the Black community, if I may, because Hitler got his entire playbook from the Jim Crow South, she said. Julianna Margulies (Roy Rochlin / Getty Images file) Margulies, star of The Good Wife on CBS and Apple TV+s The Morning Show, added: The Nazis were watching how the Jim Crow South were treating slaves and said, Oh, great call, lets do that playbook. Thats what well do to the Jews. Which is also why, in the Civil Rights Movement, the Jews were the ones that walked side by side with the Blacks to fight for their rights, because they know. And now the Black community isnt embracing us and saying, We stand with you the way you stood with us? Margulies added that Jewish allies died for the cause of civil rights. But decades later, as the Israel-Hamas war ramps up, Democratic voters, and specifically Black voters, have been less emphatic about expressing support for Israelis versus Palestinians. Wheres the history lesson in that? Whos teaching these kids? she asked. Because the fact that the entire Black community isnt standing with us, to me, says either they just dont know, or theyve been brainwashed to hate Jews. But when youve been marginalized so much as a community, the way I feel we have, isnt that when you step up? She added that this country would be in an uproar if bus drivers had walked out, stranding about 900 area people from a Detroit-area Jewish group who were trying to attend a march for Israel in Washington, D.C., last month. But because it happened to the Jews, for some reason, its laughable, she said. Margulies also mentioned a flyer for a screening of Black lesbian films on campus at Columbia University in October. A message shared with the flyer online read, Zionists arent invited. While doubling down on her messaging, the organizer of the event told the New York Post that it did not mean all Jewish people were disinvited. And as someone who plays a lesbian journalist on The Morning Show, I am more offended by it as a lesbian than I am as a Jew, to be honest with you, she said. Because I wanna say to them, You f---ing idiots. You dont exist. Like, youre even lower than the Jews. A, youre Black, and B, youre gay, and youre turning your back against the people who support you? Because Jews, they rally around everybody. Margulies issued a statement apologizing for her words. I am horrified by the fact that statements I made on a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, communities I truly love and respect, Margulies said. I want to be 100% clear: Racism, homophobia, sexism, or any prejudice against anyones personal beliefs or identity are abhorrent to me, full stop. Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to combat hate of all kind, end antisemitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and forge a united front against discrimination. I did not intend for my words to sow further division, for which I am sincerely apologetic. This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Sir Keirs comments were described as an insult to working class communities - UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Reuters Left-wing MPs have attacked Sir Keir Starmer over his Mandelsonian ploy to woo Tory voters by praising Margaret Thatcher. Angry backbenchers warned that he risked alienating traditional supporters and called his attempt to win over Conservative backers a fantasy. The Labour leaders remarks, in an article for The Telegraph, may further inflame tensions within a party that is deeply divided over his stance on Gaza. Senior figures on the Left pointed the finger at Lord Mandelson, the former Blairite Cabinet minister who has been informally advising Sir Keir. Sir Keir heaped praise on Baroness Thatcher for effecting meaningful change and setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism. He later said he was making the point that she was one of Britains most consequential leaders rather than saying he supported her policies. Sir Keir Starmer said Margaret Thatcher had a driving sense of purpose - Hulton Archive/Sir Keir Starmer said Margaret Thatcher had a driving sense of purpose Speaking to the BBC, he said few postwar prime ministers have had a sense of mission and most just drifted through their time in office. He listed Clement Attlee, Baroness Thatcher and Sir Tony Blair as three leaders he wished to emulate by bringing about radical change. He wrote: Thatcher did have a plan for entrepreneurialism. That doesnt mean I agree with what she did, but I dont think anybody could suggest that she didnt have a driving sense of purpose. The Labour leader said he hoped to win over people who had previously voted Tory, but who felt let down by how the party has governed. When it was put to him that his remarks would anger Left-wing MPs, he replied: My focus is not on the Labour Party members and the Labour Party movement. Weve spent a decade before I became leader obsessing about our membership and having a discussion with ourselves. But one unnamed Labour MP said: Does he really think that Thatcher followers will be fooled into voting for him? In the meantime, he is jeopardising long-time Labour voters. It is a damaging piece of Mandelsonian fantasy. Last week, Lord Mandelson was spotted in Parliament holding talks with Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keirs election strategist. Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, retweeted a post arguing that the Labour leaders praise of Baroness Thatcher would only benefit the Tories. Momentum, the Left-wing campaign group set up to support Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, said his remarks had brought shame on our party. It said: Margaret Thatcher represented the opposite of everything the Labour movement stands for. Starmers praise of her isnt smart politics. Its a shift to the Right and a failure of Labour values. The SNP also leapt on the remarks, with Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister, saying they were an insult to working class communities. Meanwhile, senior Tories said the remarks showed that Sir Keir will say anything to get elected and suggested he did not really mean them. Richard Holden, the Conservative chairman, said: This is yet another classic example of him saying what he thinks people want to hear, despite having a track record of doing exactly the opposite. Jacob Young, the MP for Redcar and Cleveland, added: Starmer has gone from wanting Corbyn to be PM to pretending he likes Margaret Thatcher. There isnt a fence he wont sit on. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A brewery in Kentwood spread holiday cheer by having local artists set up throughout its pub. Broad Leaf Brewery and Spirits hosted its holiday bazaar from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Local artists sold paintings, glass ornaments, candles and more. The brewery hosts local art events like the holiday bazaar every other month. They typically fall on the first Sunday of the month. Jared Rader, the general manager at the brewery, said the events are important because they help show off the incredible talent in West Michigan. We wanted something that was user-friendly for not only the really seasoned artists, but for a first-time person to feel comfortable, coming and showing off what creative aspirations they have, Rader said. You can find out when the brewery is holding its next events on its Facebook page. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Opinion. I missed the opening weekend of the much-ballyhooed Killers of the Flower Moon in October because I was on assignment in Anchorage, covering the Alaska Federation of Natives convention and The Road to Healing tour. The Road to Healing listening session that Sunday was filled with difficult stories of abuse told by Alaska Native elders. They recounted stories of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Later that evening, I got a ride to the airport from Shelly Lowe, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, along with a member of her staff. Lowe told me they had seen Killers of the Flower Moon the night before on Saturday evening. She inquired if I had seen it yet. No, I said, but I may try to see it Monday evening after I return to Michigan. Shelly warned that I might want to wait a few days. While the trauma depicted in the movie was different from what we heard at the Road to Healing session, she said, there are still gross abuses against Native Americans. 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. Having read David Granns 2017 non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, I knew the abuses involved white greed and murders of Osage members. I took their advice and delayed seeing the film. It was a busy fall for me. Since Anchorage, I covered two more Road to Healing listening sessions, and went on a business trip to Arizona State University. Then I covered the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) convention and marketplace in New Orleans. A trip to the movie theater was not going to happen. Finally, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I went by myself to see Killers of the Flower Moon in my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Co-produced and directed by the award-winning Martin Scorsese, who also co-wrote the script with Eric Roth, the movie proved to be just as disturbing as Shellys warning. The movie unveils the story of the Osage, who, because of oil on their allotted lands in Oklahoma, became some of the worlds wealthiest people on a per capita basis. During the 1920s, dozens of Osage died under mysterious circumstances. In many cases, those circumstances turned out to be murder. The film concentrates on the family of Mollie Burkhart, played by 37-year-old Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet and Nimiipuu), who had several members of her family murdered, including two sisters. Scorsese relies on two of his go-to Academy Award-winning actors to help tell the story of white greed. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Mollies husband, Ernest Burkhart, and Robert De Niro stars as Burkharts uncle, William K. Hale. DiCaprio has previously collaborated with Scorsese in six feature films and De Niro in 10 films. This comfort level between the director and actors, coupled with the power of their acting talents, diminishes Scorseses opportunity to tell more of the Osage side of the story. However, I give Scorsese credit for casting Gladstone. Her performance is Oscar-worthy. She has a dynamic presence on the screen throughout the film and in scene after scene, I thought to myself: She represents every Native woman. She was burdened with so much tragedy, forced to handle the affairs of death, including identifying the body of one of her sisters, and providing care for her elderly mother, played by Tantoo Cardinal (Cree and Metis). Gladstone played the part with so much grace, but the intensity of the look on her face and the powerful eyes exemplified the resiliency and strength of Native women. Filmed on location where the story happened a century ago and the Osage still live today, Scorsese hired Osage citizens as extras, including some relatives I recognized. This added authenticity to Killers of the Flower Moon. The film gained praise from the masterful Steven Spielberg, who recently interviewed Scorsese. Detailed in a November 16, 2023 Hollywood Reporter article on the interview, Spielberg told Scorsese, For me, this is just an exceptional experience, watching your film. You know how I feel about all of your films, but this one stands out in a way thats so impactful for me. Its an epic journey, but its not a Hollywood epic, for me; its a humanitarian epic. Unfortunately, watching the film in my hometown proved to be both a disappointing and disgusting experience. During a scene when an Osage woman was shot in the back of the head, some adults in the audience laughed out loud. As the theater emptied out, I sat and watched the end credits and listened to the musical score by the late, great Robbie Robertson. Tears welled in my eyes because I had just cinematically witnessed yet another epic tragedy against Native Americans and someone thought it was a funny matter. I was the last person to leave the theater. After my experience, I am thankful my friends from the National Endowment for the Humanities gave me sound advice about spreading out the time between watching the different types of trauma Native Americans experience. It is emotionally exhausting to continually confront the trauma our community has endured. Still, the acknowledgement of this pain in federal government listening sessions and Hollywood blockbusters signifies a step toward progress because non-Natives are learning the true history of our countrys treatment of Native peoples. It shouldnt be our burden, but this uncomfortable visibility is crucial for our journey towards justice and healing. Thayek gde nwendemen - We are all related. 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 CEO of CWS Robert R. Puente, City Mgr Erik Walsh, Fr. Jimmy Drennan,St. Margaret Mary,Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and District 3 councilwoman Phyllis Viagran listen to presentation. COPS/Metro is holding a second accountability session with Mayor Ron Nirenberg and City Manager Erik Walsh - along with nearly a dozen companies - to secure commitments of which specific jobs they'll hire Ready to Work graduates to fill at St Margaret Mary Catholic Church on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. Ronald Cortes/San Antonio Express News Chief William McManus and a grass roots community advocacy group will walk today along a South Side neighborhood recently rocked by deadly gun violence. The neighborhood walk is hosted by Communities Organized for Public Service/the Metro Alliance, known as COPS/Metro, and will take place Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., starting and ending at the school building next to St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church, 142 E. Lambert St. The chief will be joined by San Antonio Fear Free Environment officers, or SAFFE officers, who act as community liaisons and facilitate the exchange of information between neighborhoods across town and the officers who work them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They will be joined by Father Sean Stilton of St. Philip of Jesus, students from San Antonio College, and parishioners from area catholic churches and parishes, including St. Henrys and St. Margaret Marys. St. Philip parishioners have expressed concerns about the future of their church, according to organizers. They worry about increasing property taxes thanks to developers and gentrification, as well as an increase in gun violence. On Oct. 19, five shots echoed through the neighborhood when two men exchanged gunfire at a Halloween party in the 300 block of Roslyn Avenue. A 40-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were killed by gunfire, police said. A 13-year-old girl was among three others who were injured. COPS/Metro recently met with the San Antonio Express-News editorial board and expressed concerns about increased gun violence in San Antonio, calling it a public health crisis. They said they are meeting with public officials and local employers in search of solutions. The organization has pressed area employers and utilities for a commitment to interview people who graduate from the citys Ready to Work program. And they also received a pledge from the city for $200,000 to distribute gun safes to help people secure their firearms. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby defended the United Statess diplomatic approach in the Israel-Hamas war and would not commit to imposing any hard red lines on support for Israel. We believe that the approach that weve been taking, Margaret, has had an effect, Kirby told CBSs Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation, adding that the United States has been very clear in calling for Israel to take precautions to minimize deaths in Gaza. We are having these discussions with our Israeli counterparts every day about being careful, precise and deliberate in their targeting and trying to minimize civilian casualties to the maximum extent possible, Kirby said. We dont want to see a single more innocent life taken here. And so were going to continue to work with Israel about this, but the approach that weve been taking has delivered some results, including more than 100 hostages getting out, he later added. When asked about remarks last week from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) expressing concern about Kirby refusing to commit to red lines on aid for Israel, Kirby underscored the pressure the United States still places on Israel. Everything that we do for a foreign military, including Israel, when you give them security assistance, there are expectations with that security assistance that its going to be used in keeping with the law of armed conflict, the law of war, Kirby said when asked about Van Hollens criticism. And we are in constant touch with our Israeli counterparts about the way that theyre prosecuting these operations, Kirby continued. [Secretary of State Antony Blinken] has said himself, its not just what you do that matters. Its how you do that matters. Kirby also underscored the difficulty Israel has faced in minimizing civilian deaths when evidence has demonstrated that Hamas deliberately places civilians in harms way, counting on the public backlash against Israel. I think its also important for people to remember what theyre up against here. Hamas deliberately shelters themselves inside residential buildings, hospitals and schools, basically, on purpose putting civilians in the line of fire, and what Israel is trying to do is get them out of the line of fire, Kirby said. So its an added burden that Israel has as a modern military, we recognize that, but its also a very difficult burden and obstacle for them to overcome. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that he does not know when discussions to resume a truce between Israel and militant group Hamas will restart after the fighting reignited over the weekend. Well, I wish I knew the answer to that one, Kirby said when NBCs Kristen Welker pressed him on what the potential timeline was to get the negotiations back on track on Meet the Press. I what I can tell you is that we are still working it really hard hour by hour to see if we can get the sides back to the table and see if we can get something moving. We would like that to happen today. But honestly, I just dont know, he continued. The weeklong truce between Israel and Hamas ended on Friday after the militant group failed to produce a list of hostages to be released. Over the weeklong truce, Hamas released more than 100 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing about 240 Palestinian prisoners. Kirbys comments also come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pulled his countrys negotiators from Qatar, saying that they had reached an impasse with Hamas. He blamed the militant group for not upholding its end of the deal. Kirby also blamed Hamas on Sunday for the truce falling apart. Well, there are no official negotiations going on right now, Kristen and thats because of Hamas, Kirby said. Hamas failed to come up with yet another list of women and children that could be released and we know theyre holding additional women and children not combatants, not female IDF soldiers but innocent civilians, women and children that they have that they couldnt put on a list and and turn that in. So unfortunately, the negotiations have stopped. That said what hasnt stopped is our own involvement, trying to get those back on track and trying to discuss with those partners and all those interlocutors, see if we cant get it back in place, he continued. Israel has since escalated its bombardment on Gaza and issued more evacuations in southern Gaza on Sunday, according to The Associated Press. The Israeli military said Saturday it struck 400 targets in Gaza, including 50 in southern Gaza, where an estimated 2 million civilians shelter from the conflict. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the intelligence community was not aware of a document detailing militant group Hamas plans to attack Israel that The New York Times reported on last week. The intelligence community has indicated that they did not have access to this document that theres no indications at this time if they had any access to this document beforehand, Kirby said when NBCs Kristen Welker asked him about The Times report on Meet the Press. The New York Times reported last week that Israel was aware of Hamas plan to launch an attack on its soil more than a year before the Oct. 7 attack that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead. The Times article outlined a 40-page report named Jericho Wall that described what kind of incursion Hamas was planning into Israel and what kind of destruction it could cause. However, The Times reported that Israeli military and intelligence officials dismissed the report, saying that the plan was aspirational. The Times cited multiple interviews, documents and emails to back its reporting. Kirby dodged answering whether the U.S. should have had access to the document when pressed further by Welker, who pointed to the coordination between the two countries intelligence agencies. Intelligence is a mosaic and sometimes you know, you can fashion things together and get a pretty good picture, he said. Other times, you know, theres pieces of the puzzle that are missing. As I said, our own intelligence community said that theyve looked at this. They have no indications at this time that that they had any advanced warning of this document or any knowledge of it. The plan reported by The Times included Hamas saying they would bombard Israel with rockets and use drones to disable security abilities near the border. The Times also noted that a 2016 memo by Hamas and obtained by the newspaper said the militants wanted to take hostages into Gaza. The attack on Oct. 7 echoed the details laid out in the plan, with more than 1,200 Israelis killed and another 240 people captured by the militants and taken into Gaza. Both Israeli and U.S. officials have previously said that they will look into what intelligence may have been missed leading up to the attacks after the conflict is resolved. I think theres going to be a time and a place for Israel to do that sort of forensic work, Kirby said on Sunday. I mean, Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu has already spoken pretty candidly about this and calling it you know, a failure on their part. Theyll take a look at this at the right time. They need to do that right now though, the focus has got to be on making sure that they can eliminate this truly genocidal threat to the Israeli people, Kirby continued. The Associated Press contributed. Updated at 10:52 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Sunday that the United States is not sure where Hamas is holding any remaining Americans hostage or of their conditions. Well, particularly in Americans, we think the number is about eight, he told ABCs George Stephanopoulos on This Week when asked about what the U.S. knows about the hostages. We dont have perfect visibility on where they all are. We certainly dont have perfect visibility on their on their physical or mental condition. Were trying to do that as best we can, but its about eight, and now we also believe that the total population left is somewhere in the neighborhood of about 140, he continued. Israel and Hamas agreed to a weeklong truce to release some hostages captured by militants in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. During the truce, Hamas freed more than 100 hostages in exchange for about 240 Palestinian prisoners who were being held in Israel. The truce ended Friday after Hamas failed to produce another list of hostages which would only include women and children to be released. Since then, Israel and Hamas have resumed fighting. Two Americans were released as part of the truce, President Biden confirmed last week. This included 4-year-old American Israeli citizen Abigail Idan and Liat Atzili, a mother of three whose husband is still being held by Hamas. The truce agreement only included the release of women and children from Hamass control. U.S. officials have said that Hamas had two American women and one child held hostage, meaning that at least one American woman remains in Hamass captivity. Hamas has signaled that it will ask for more in exchange for the release of the male hostages. The U.S. has said Hamas captured seven men who are U.S. citizens. Its unclear whether talks will resume to negotiate another pause in the fighting to release the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pulled his countrys negotiators from Qatar on Saturday, saying that they reached an impasse with Hamas. Kirby also said Sunday that neither side is willing to come back to the table in Israel-Hamas negotiations. The Oct. 7 attack left more than 1,200 Israelis dead, with an additional 240 taken hostage by Hamas. Since then, Israels attacks on Gaza have killed more than 13,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Las Vegas Metro Police Department is still searching for the person they say shot five homeless people Friday night, killing one and seriously injuring another. Metro hasnt released a clear description of the gunman, but stated he fled from the scene near Charleston Boulevard and Honolulu Street in a dark sedan following the shooting. We didnt choose to be homeless, and we dont do nothing to nobody. Were out here trying to make a living like everybody else and try to survive, Lamar White said on Saturday. White and his wife live near Charleston Boulevard with their dog, but they are several miles away from that deadly shooting in the east valley. Still, White said he worries about the violence and hate directed toward those similar to him who are unhoused. People just come by, walk by, and say mean things, like you dont know what that person is going through at that time. You dont know what theyre feeling, White said. A man who lives near the scene named Raj witnessed the investigation on Friday. Police search for suspect after 5 unhoused people shot in east Las Vegas Theyre homeless. They have nowhere to be, you know what I mean? And for somebody to come and do that kind of stuff. Thats kind of uncalled for, thats inhumane, he said. Catrina Grigsby-Thedford who serves as the executive director of the Nevada Homeless Alliance agrees with that sentiment. We need a sense of humanity, like these are people. These are someones mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, right? Grigsby-Thedford said. Theyre experiencing a housing crisis as well as other health challenges. We need more empathy. She adds that part of the solution has to be more affordable housing options and an understanding of the struggles people experiencing homelessness face. These are very vulnerable Nevadans, these are our neighbors, Grigsby-Thedford said. Metro said a man in his 50s died at the hospital Friday night from the shooting, while another man is listed in critical condition. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. We recently arrived on Maui, and it initially felt like the old Maui I used to visit years ago on family trips when I was rabbi in California. The beautiful weather still shined on with pure blue skies and even the Maui clouds felt spiritual, reminiscent of the ancient Hawaiian religious world view. One cannot drive by the majestic hills overlooking the oceans without imagining the ancient Hawaiian people organizing their religious rituals and culture. Even the perfectly manicured hotel landscapes along the coast leading to Kaanapali draws the tourists back to their beloved Hawaiian refuge or sanctuary from the hustle bustle of life on the mainland. Hawaiian natives teach visitors like myself about the interconnectedness between human life and the rest of nature from the birds in the skies to the fish and coral reefs beneath the seas. That interrelationship between all these elements of the physical world combined with the oversight from the divine realm has made Maui an intriguing place to visit and to settle, a healing island for all who are open to that spiritual domain. The physical and the spiritual realms of Maui are, however, facing their greatest challenges since the tragic fires back in August. Driving along Route 30, one can get a glimpse of the places from downtown Lahaina to other patches of communities surrounding it that have burned to a crisp. Even now, the remnants of this city of 13,000 residents are forbidden to visitors and residents as well. I asked myself, How will this part of Maui ever renew itself? There are so many challenges to rebuild the physical and spiritual infrastructure. My wife and I decided we wanted to do something for the people in our small way. She set us up to volunteer for the local Humane Society, passing out food to those who are dislocated and who lost their homes and apartments four months ago. The next thing I find is that I am at the Hyatt hotel, where our food stand was set up. An arrangement was worked out with the help of the Red Cross and FEMA that there are over 7,000 dislocated people living in tourist hotels. Another 1000 live in Airbnbs. It is a beautiful thing to see how the business community has been working with government and the nonprofit sector to provide desperately needed shelter and food. But what about pets? According to news reports, over 3,000 pets are also dislocated from their human pet parents. The Humane Society has initiated volunteer programs to support the mostly dog and cat populations. Many animals were transported to facilities on the mainland due to the overcrowded shelter facilities on Maui. I greeted so many local residents coming by to pick up animal food. They were all grateful and gracious to receive the support. Of course, this is not how they want to live, but what choices do these workers and their children have at this point? Many spoke to me about their gratitude. Yet, despite the sunshine on the outside, the inner world is different. Every one of the residents wants the old normal of their previous lives restored to them. I could see during my stay in Maui groups of Army Corps of Engineers around town. I am praying that they are coming up with a strategy for providing longer term housing until Lahaina can be rebuilt. Officials and residents spoke with me and explained that one of the greatest concerns is when will these hotels end the hospitality. Everyone lives with that fear. It is the fear of what comes next. People say, Where does one go? Will I have to live inside a tent on the coastline? How and where will I feed my family? One large hotel just announced that all dislocated residents had to leave by the end of November. There are many other questions as to when will the feds, the state government and even the city and county councils get the momentum going to start to reconstruct this beloved town which looks like a bombed out shell of what once was a vibrant place to work and live. This is a time for strength and hope. We in Hilton Head had a taste of that feeling of when will it end after Hurricane Mathew. The challenge grows from getting through the initial trauma and then not seeing a long-term solution. That is where the soul faces the reality and struggles with the angels on high just like Jacob in the Bible did with the spiritual being until the angel renamed him Israel, meaning one who struggles with God and prevails. In Maui it may be a more nuanced struggle, but it is nonetheless intense and weighs heavily on the dislocated residents every day. Living in exile is difficult for those who were forced to leave their homeland or for those like in Maui who are in exile from their old normal way of life. We see all over the streets and tunnels, We are Lahaina strong or Maui strong. Clearly faith in themselves and in God guides Mauis citizens. The renewal comes from the healing waters, mountains and total beauty of nature as well as a strong community where there is respect for the dignity of the people. Maybe that is what helps make Maui and Hawaii such a sacred and special land. The Hawaiians say, E heel me is puolo. Always take an offering with you. Make every person place or condition better than you left it always. This is the sacred Hawaiian way, the way of abundant flow honoring Ke Akua (God) and his creation which is nature. An SAPD officer was taken to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle Saturday night. kali9/Getty Images/iStockphoto A San Antonio Police bike patrol officer was injured Saturday after he was struck by a vehicle downtown. The officer was hit around 11 a.m. near the intersection of Commerce and St. Marys streets. Police said the driver was following his wife in another vehicle and did not see the officer on the crosswalk when he made a turn. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The officer, who has 13 years of service with SAPD, was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said. There are no criminal charges pending. Dear Editor, I am old enough to remember the 1960s when Democrats were the crazy ones and Republicans were the adults in D.C. Now, its the other way around. The Crazy Eights led by Gaetz caused a three-week government shutdown while freshman Sen. Tommy Tuberville was holding Americas military readiness hostage over his personal, one-man vendetta. The U.S is supposed to be a democratic republic. However, in this case, it took only nine misguided public officials to inflict that much damage on the rest of us. Jack Simpson Destin This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Letter: Trouble in D.C. is a concern Smoke rises after Israeli attacks hit Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday. (Anadolu via Getty Images) To the editor: When a State Department arms expert quits over a policy that has cost more than 13,000 Palestinian lives and proposes multiple ways the U.S. could pressure Israel into a cease-fire without undermining that country's national security, it's time to listen and take action. In our foreign policy as at home, we seem not to have shaken a deep-seated cultural belief that the lives of disadvantaged community members somehow count less than those among us who possess more power, education and money. It is way too reminiscent of our own country's slavery days when there was literally a formula for how many Black slaves equaled a white person. As op-ed article author Josh Paul asks, how many Palestinian deaths will it take to build enough congressional support to demand a cease-fire? Catherine Smith, Los Angeles .. To the editor: I have a better solution than Paul's for a cease-fire. It's actually a way to stop the war in Gaza: Tell Hamas to raise white flags and its fighters to step out of their hideouts. This will free Gaza from the murderous rule of Hamas, and give Israel what it must otherwise do by force. Nahum Gat, Manhattan Beach .. To the editor: I am heartened by Paul's wise suggestions for helping move Israel's leadership beyond violence (and self-preservation for the politicians in power) toward diplomacy. But I am distressed that his resignation from the State Department suggests his perspective was not welcome there. I feel the same mixed emotions of respect for our Congress members who have spoken out in support of a cease-fire, and disappointment over how many of our California representatives (and both senators) have chosen to remain silent. Carol Flint, Santa Monica .. To the editor: One wonders how soon after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor or Germanys invasion of Poland Paul would have asked for a cease-fire. There was already a cease-fire in place until Hamas effectively declared war and launched a massive surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Why should Israel now agree to a cease-fire? That would be a surrender to Hamas. What makes much more sense is for Hamas to surrender to Israeli forces. That would bring peace to the Hamas-abused Palestinian civilians in Gaza as well as to Israel. It would also promote a more peaceful Middle East by reducing the influence of a major Iran-supported terrorist organization. Gary Nudell, Palm Springs This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said that a Republican House majority in 2025 would be a threat to the country because of the way Republicans have disregarded the Constitution to back former President Donald Trump. In an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Cheney told host John Dickerson that the House of Representatives must not be overseen by a Republican majority in 2025. She added that newly chosen House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) given his support of Trump and involvement in the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the government after the 2020 election should not remain speaker either. So, you would prefer a Democratic majority? Dickerson asked. I believe very strongly in those principles and ideals that have defined the Republican Party, but the Republican Party of today has made a choice, and they havent chosen the Constitution. And so, I do think it presents a threat if the Republicans are in the majority in January 2025, Cheney said. Cheney was on the Sunday show to discuss her upcoming book, Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning, which details Trumps attempt to overthrow the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden. Cheney told Dickerson that the country is sleepwalking into dictatorship. 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. One of the things that we see happening today is sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States. The former lawmaker said that she believes a sworn member of Congress who is loyal to the Constitution cant simultaneously support Trump. In my view, fundamentally, there is a choice to be made, Cheney said. You cant both be for Donald Trump and for the Constitution. You have to choose. Cheney has been a staunch critic of Trump which many believe caused her to lose her latest election and was on the Democrat-led committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Related... Liz Cheney, the former Republican congresswoman and one of Donald Trumps greatest foes, has given a dire warning about the possibility of the former president returning to the White House. Speaking on CBS Sunday Morning she even went as far as saying she would like the GOP to lose its House majority to prevent collaborator Mike Johnson from holding onto his role as speaker. Ms Cheney spoke with John Dickerson of CBS News about the looming danger to democracy posed by Mr Trump as explored in her new book Oath and Honor. After saying that Mr Johnson was absolutely a collaborator in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election, Ms Cheney was asked what would happen if he is still speaker come January 2025. He cant be. You know, were facing a situation with respect to the 2024 election, where its an existential crisis and we have to ensure that we dont have a situation where an election that might be thrown into the House of Representatives is overseen by a Republican majority. Dickerson then asked if she would prefer to see a Democratic Party majority. Ms Cheney explained: I believe very strongly in those principles and ideals that have defined the Republican Party, but the Republican Party of today has made a choice and they havent chosen the Constitution. And so I do think its, it presents a threat if the Republicans are in the majority in January 2025. The former representative for Wyoming has said that if Mr Trump is re-elected it would be the end of the republic and hopes to break through the publics political numbness to lay out the case for why he is such a threat to the Constitution. WOW. Liz Cheney suggests she'd like to see Republicans lose House of Representatives: "I do think it presents a threat if the Republicans are in the Majority in January 2025." pic.twitter.com/KIgRwfNIWw Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) December 3, 2023 Hes told us what he will do. 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. One of the things that we see happening today is a sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States, she told Dickerson. Ms Cheney was also asked if she believes the former president and current frontrunner in the Republican Party primary is a fascist. I think that he certainly is employing fascist techniques. I think that the the tools that hes using are tools that weve seen, used by authoritarians, fascist tyrants around the world, you know, the things that he has said and done, in some ways are so outrageous that we have become numb to them, she said. What I believe is the cause of our time is that we not become numb that we understand the warning signs that we understand the danger, and that we ignore partisan politics to stop him. Ms Cheney was one of two Republican lawmakers, alongside former congressman Adam Kinzinger, to sit on the House select committee to investigate the events leading up to the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot, and then-president Donald Trumps role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and incite the violence that followed. Speaker Johnson assumed the role of speaker of the House following the ousting of Rep Kevin McCarthy. Following the expulsion of disgraced former congressman George Santos and the vacancy it created, the Republican Party has a majority of just eight, controlling 221 districts to the Democrats 213. BELLE CHASSE, La. (WGNO) Nearly 300 airmen in the Louisiana National Guard were honored at a farewell ceremony in Belle Chasse ahead of deployment. Lt. Col. Ryan Reeves is proud of the hard work of the airmen. He says he always notices the work they put in to take their team to the next level. Heavy rain, power issues cause flooding across New Orleans Everyone has really risen to the occasion, and, from all standpoints of their life and mission, improved. Now, we are ready to take it down the road, says Reeves. Family and friends gathered in prayer and support. For one mother, this is an emotional moment. As she smiles, she admires the woman her daughter has become. She has blossomed into this woman that is ready to take on whatever and ready to go wherever because of her call to the military, says Tenisha Dyson Foster, mother of airman Chloe Foster. As she sees her daughter deploy for the first time, she says shes excited for her future opportunities and is counting the days until they reunite. Im also very proud of her because I have always wanted my children to experience things that I didnt. Through this deployment, she will visit places I have never been, something I have always been proud the military would offer her, says Foster. Knowing they will continue to do an outstanding job, Reeves reminds the airmen how important it is to be one with your fellow airmen and family. People first. You know if we take care of the people, and they take care of each other, then we can accomplish the mission. Do their best to make us proud. Take care of their families back home and let us know what they need to keep moving forward, says Reeves. 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. (FOX40.COM) The Chico Police Department said it is searching for a man who allegedly robbed a bank in the city. Around 5 p.m. on Friday, police said they received calls about a robbery at Tri-Counties Bank on 780 Mangrove Ave. Police said the man walked into the bank and gave a note to one of the bank tellers demanding cash. Sacramento fire respond to marijuana facility fire He was given an undisclosed amount of money and left the bank in an unknown direction, police added. The alleged bank robber has been described as an adult man, of medium build, wearing a grey corduroy jacket. He also left the bank wearing sunglasses and a mask. Anyone with information about the robbery is encouraged to call the Chico Police Department at 530-897-4900 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Toyota says it's starting to accept orders for its budget-friendly pickup trunk IMV 0. Toyota Toyota says it starting to accept orders for its budget-friendly pickup trunk IMV 0. Toyota Popular Japanese car brand Toyota says it's beginning to take orders for its new $10,000 pickup truck. Toyota held a launch event for its model IMV 0 pickup truck on Nov. 27 as part of its IMV 0 series. The truck was originally launched in Thailand in 2004 before being introduced to more than 180 countries and regions around the world. Since then, it's been used to meet the needs of communities and has become a favorite among locals, according to Toyota. The company says its relaunching the series after thoroughly researching customer lifestyles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With a suggested starting price of $10,000, the base model is unlikely to have any bells and whistles, but the design is compact and is meant to be customized to meet each customer's needs from business to leisure. It comes in three engine types 2.0L gasoline engine, 2.7L gasoline engine and 2.4L diesel engine and the deck has bolt holes on various areas so accessories can be attached with bolts and nuts. Toyota's configurations show how it can be built into a mobile store front or the perfect off-road vehicle. Toyota says it's starting to accept orders for its budget-friendly pickup trunk IMV 0. Toyota Toyota says it's starting to accept orders for its budget-friendly pickup trunk IMV 0. Toyota The company says the IMV 0 has contributed to the Thai economy, with domestic sales totaling more than 2.7 million units and exports totaling more than 4 million units. CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) A suburban St. Louis man who narrowly avoided prosecution as a teen in the killing of a 13-year-old has been convicted of fatally shooting a father of two during an attempted carjacking. Ramon White, 21, of Pine Lawn, was found guilty Thursday of second-degree murder, attempted robbery and two weapons offenses in the July 2020 death of Dwight Henderson, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. It all happened after Henderson, a 32-year-old manager of Amazon delivery dispatchers, went to a gas station. While inside buying water, he spotted a man trying to drive off with his rental car and ran outside. He then tried to grab the robbers gun and was shot once in the chest. Whites public defender, Jay Kanzler, suggested people in the car with White might have been the culprits. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence tying White to Hendersons rental car, footage of a police interrogation with White and social media messages that showed White trying to sell a gun two days after the killing. Three years before killing Henderson, White was charged in the killing of a 13-year-old boy, Anthony Wilson Jr., near a St. Louis playground. White was 15 at the time but was charged as an adult. St. Louis prosecutors dropped all charges in February 2019, the same day his trial was set to begin. Former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office said key witnesses were not available to testify. Most people dont get second chances, but Ramon did. And what did he do with it? Shayla Powell, Hendersons fiancee and mother of his two children, said after the verdict. Hendersons daughter was just a newborn and his son just 1 when he was killed. White was charged again just two months after his release with stealing cars out of driveways in St. Charles County. He was out on bond in those cases when he shot and killed Henderson. The Bail Project, a nonprofit that helps people who cant afford their cash bonds, paid $1,000 10% of Whites $10,000 bond to bail him out on the St. Charles County cases in October 2019. The nonprofit has faced criticism over crimes committed by other people after posting their bond. The nonprofit argued on Friday that the purpose of bail is to ensure that defendants follow bond conditions and show up for court dates not as a means to keep someone imprisoned indefinitely before trial. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Detectives are actively investigating a drive-by shooting that took place Saturday evening and sent a man to the hospital, according to the Fresno Police Department. Police say around 5:50 p.m. they responded to Kings Canyon Road and Recreation Avenue for an eight-round shot spotter activation. Upon arrival, responding officers reported finding a man likely in his mid-40s suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. He was transported to a local hospital where he remains in stable condition. Investigators say a suspect vehicle had pulled up to the scene and fired multiple rounds in the area, hitting several things including cars and a nearby taco stand. Detectives say they are unsure if the victim, who was attempting to buy food from a vendor, was the intended target of the shooting. No other injuries were reported. Fresno police detectives are actively searching for the suspect(s) involved. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCDP) said that the Idara Jaferia Islamic Center in Burtonsville received a bomb threat and was evacuated Friday. In a press release about the incident, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, called on state and federal law enforcement authorities including the FBI to investigate the threat. Arlington police investigating gunshots fired at car The mosques officials said police came to the mosque during Friday congregational prayers (Jummah) and said someone had called in a bomb threat, according to the release by CAIR. The mosque was evacuated. Because of this alleged threat to a house of worship, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to bring hate crime charges against the perpetrator when they are apprehended, said CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry in a statement. We thank the Montgomery County Police Department for its swift and professional action in this case. Police said in a post on their X page that the threat was determined to be not valid. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Florida Rep Matt Gaetz is worried. The controversial right-wing lawmaker fears that following the expulsion of disgraced former congressman George Santos , the slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives is in peril Specifically, he believes that other GOP lawmakers may also soon exit the lower chamber of Congress. Speaking on The Charlie Kirk Show, Mr Gaetz, who in October led the ousting of former speaker Kevin McCarthy , said: Our willingness to self-mutilate on these things really impairs our ability to get the job done. He called the expulsion of Mr Santos tactically stupid in the context of the narrow majority. Congressman Bill Johnson of Ohio has taken a college university presidency that can knock us down to two. And I dont really think Kevin McCarthy is sticking around long, he said. As The Independent has reported, there are signs that Mr McCarthy is heading toward a possible exit from Congress following his unceremonious defenestration by Mr Gaetz. The Florida Republican continued: We got a bunch of these octogenarians in our conference. If God forbid, any of them were to cross the Rainbow Bridge, we would be in a situation where we could literally lose the majority because we were so eager to throw George Santos out before even being convicted. Gaetz says GOP could lose the House majority in next few months because Santos was expelled, Bill Johnson & McCarthy are leaving any day, which would put them at a 1 seat majority, and they have a bunch of members who are old and could die any day. pic.twitter.com/zVNqxBHyS7 Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 2, 2023 For his part, Mr Gaetz did push against expelling Mr Santos, arguing for due process, despite the weight of evidence against him and the damning ethics committee report into the Long Island lawmaker. The committee alleged that Mr Santos blatantly stole campaign funds. He is facing a 23-count criminal indictment. Since his dramatic exit from Congress on Friday, Mr Santos has lashed out at four of his former colleagues posting allegations against them on his X account and threatening to file ethics complaints against them. There is an argument that voters in the district did not have a lot of information about George Santos, @maggieNYT says after the New York Republican was expelled from Congress over alleged ethics violations and other accusations of wrongdoing. https://t.co/ptLpp5wXS9 pic.twitter.com/Ej5oumCM0j This Week (@ThisWeekABC) December 3, 2023 Mr Gaetz is also under the scrutiny of the House Committee on Ethics , to give the body its full name, concerning allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, which he denies. A similar investigation by federal prosecutors led to no charges . Former speaker McCarthy has alleged publicly that the Florida congressman sought to depose him because he wouldnt get involved in the investigation. Mr Gaetz has denied this and called it an urban legend . Wilma Mankiller was chief of the Cherokee from 1985 to 1995. J. Pat Carter/AP Mattel released a new Barbie honoring a late Cherokee chief in its "Inspiring Women" series. But the doll's box has a spelling error that says "chicken" instead of "Cherokee." The tribe expressed appreciation for the tribute and regret that Mattel didn't consult the tribe. A new Barbie doll from Mattel honoring the late chief of an indigenous tribe is seeing mixed reactions in part due to a spelling error on the box. The doll, made in the image of the late Cherokee Nation chief Wilma Mankiller, was rolled out for Mattel's series of "Inspiring Women" dolls, the Associated Press reported. But among the Cherokee symbols used on the box, one that was supposed to say "Cherokee" actually says "chicken," a Cherokee woman named Regina Thompson told the AP. "Wilma's name is the only thing Cherokee on that box," Thompson told the outlet. "Nothing about that doll is Wilma, nothing." Mankiller, who died in 2010, was the Cherokee Nation's first woman principal chief and was known as an education and healthcare champion. She led the tribe for a decade until the mid-90s. But some who have seen the toy wish it had more Cherokee details, such as indigenous symbols and traditional moccasins instead of the black shoes worn by the doll. "Regrettably, the Mattel company did not work directly with the tribal government's design and communications team to secure the official Seal or verify it," the Cherokee Nation said in a statement to the AP. "The printing mistake itself does not diminish what it means for the Cherokee people to see this tribute to Wilma and who she was and what she stood for." Mattel did not consult Mankiller's surviving daughter, Felicia Olaya, who told the AP she found out about the doll shortly before it was publicly announced. However, the company did consult Mankiller's estate, which is led by her husband, who is Olaya's estranged stepfather. "I have no issues with the doll. I have no issues with honoring my mom in different ways," said Olaya, noting that she was frustrated she wasn't told about the project in advance. "I'm not sure how she would feel about this." Spokespersons from the Cherokee Nation did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider on Sunday, nor did a spokesperson from Mattel. Read the original article on Business Insider Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was third in line to the presidency just a few months ago. Soon, he may not be in Washington at all. The California congressman endured a grinding nine months as leader of a fractured and bitter Republican caucus, one that may have been destined to cast him aside from the very beginning. Following a last-minute deal with Democrats to avert a government shutdown in October, he was unceremoniously ousted by one of his most polarising foes: Matt Gaetz of Florida, leading a cadre of Republican malcontents with their own varying complaints about Mr McCarthys leadership. It was no secret within Washington DC circles that Mr McCarthy, 58, had long pined for the speakers chair. He had assumed the role of Republican foil to Nancy Pelosi years ago, and was hoping to begin his term this year at the helm of a reinvigorated Republican majority propelled into office by a red wave in November of 2022. The red wave never materialised. Instead, Republicans eked out only a single-digit majority, unable to capitalise on growing concerns about Joe Bidens performance and age and dragged down by a politically-toxic ruling by the Supreme Court tossing out the legal precedent set by Roe vs Wade. In the Senate, the party fared even worse; Democrats expanded their control of the chamber by one vote, prohibiting most legislation that leaves the House from ever reaching the presidents desk. Mr McCarthy assumed control in the midst of all of this. Support from moderates in his party was hamstrung by his partys aforementioned electoral troubles, and conservatives were eager to exact meaningful concessions from the new speaker including a lowered motion to vacate threshold which eventually was the cause of his demise. Just one member could trigger a vote to remove the speaker from their job. Just a few short months later, he was out. Republican rightwingers cited a lack of trust in his leadership, unmoved by his ploys for their support including an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden launched without a full House vote. Now, reports indicate that the onetime GOP standard-bearer is more uncertain than ever about his future in Washington. This past Wednesday, he addressed his future with remarks that exemplified that uncertainty during an interview following an appearance at the New York Times DealBook summit in New York. And he confirmed directly that he was considering leaving Congress altogether. I just went through losing, so you go through different stages, said the former speaker, according to the Times. I have to know that when I go, that theres a place for me, and what am I going to do, and is that best? I have to know that if I decided that wasnt for me and I leave, I dont want a year from now to think Aw, I regret I shouldnt have left, he continued. So if I take a little longer than most people normally, thats just what Im going through. Mr McCarthys own comments during the effort to oust him indicated that the successful vote to fire him caught him by surprise. His actions and those of his allies in the weeks following the vote (and the subsequent eruption of turmoil in the House) reinforced that idea, and suggested a personal animus towards those who ended his career. Democrats who had supported the vote saw themselves expelled from hideaways within the main Capitol building by a key McCarthy ally, while Mr McCarthy himself been unrestrained in his public criticism of Republicans like Mr Gaetz, Nancy Mace and Tim Burchett who were behind his removal. In one wilder incident, an NPR congressional correspondent witnessed a confrontation between Mr Burchett and the former speaker in the halls of Capitol Hill after the former speaker physically collided with his colleague from Tennessee during the latters interview. Mr Burchett maintains that Mr McCarthy deliberately elbowed him in the back; Mr McCarthy denies this. In October shortly following his removal from the speakership, he stressed to reporters that he would not resign and intended to run for reelection. Im not resigning. I got a lot more work to do. Donald Trump and his lawyers have been throwing a fit about Justice Arthur Engoron's clerk. The clerk, Allison Greenfield, an experienced lawyer, once ran to become a judge herself. Trump's attacks now banned under a gag order led to antisemitic harassment and threats. There's a famous joke among lawyers: A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge. But what about the law clerk? These pillars of the court tend to fade into the background. Attorneys usually focus on mustering arguments that will persuade judges, who can make or break a case, to side with their clients. In Donald Trump's civil fraud trial, however, his attorneys have spent a disproportionate amount of time and ire on Allison Greenfield, the judge's principal law clerk. Trump's attacks on Greenfield have prompted a deluge of antisemitic harassment and hundreds of slur-filled threats and disparaging messages directed toward her, as well as threats against the judge and his family. A transcript of the threats and harassing messages totaled 275 single-spaced pages, an affidavit filed to the court said. Greenfield, 37, has sat at the side of New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, the trial judge overseeing the case, since before the beginning. Before New York's attorney general, Letitia James, filed her enormous fraud lawsuit against Trump along with his family company, his children who worked for the Trump Organization, and two other executives Engoron oversaw a protracted legal battle over the subpoenas in the case. James had filed subpoena after subpoena forcing the Trumps to sit for depositions and hand over corporate documents as her office investigated what it believed was a sprawling fraud operation where the company fudged its numbers to get favorable rates on loans, taxes, and insurance. Those claims made their way into her office's 222-page civil lawsuit. The trial began in early October and is expected to last through mid-December. The former president's lawyers, led by Alina Habba, fought each subpoena tooth and nail, even as the appellate court allowed them. In one hearing over a set of subpoenas in February 2022, Habba gave long soliloquies arguing that the case was politically motivated and questioned why James didn't investigate Hillary Clinton instead . Greenfield cut in , acting as Engoron's enforcer. "When the judge speaks, you have to stop speaking," Greenfield told Habba. It's clear that Trump's lawyers see Greenfield, and not just Engoron, as an obstacle to winning the case. And now they're trying to take Greenfield down. Notes and whispers During the trial, Greenfield is quiet. She enters the courtroom in lower Manhattan each day from an entrance used by the judge, separate from the large, imposing doors the public and parties enter through. As the attorneys settle their paperwork on the wide wooden desks covered in computer monitors and black wires snaking to the floor, she might exchange a brief smile and a few words of small talk. But once Engoron walks in "Come to order!" a bailiff shouts she remains stone-faced and silent, seated 3 feet to his right on the bench. While Trump's four criminal cases could land him in prison, James' case against him is perhaps his biggest legal problem. It may cost him the Trump Organization itself. Engoron has already issued a summary judgment concluding the Trump Organization is liable for fraud and giving it the so-called corporate death penalty by ruling that it should be dissolved (an appellate court has put that decision on hold). At trial, Trump's team made up of Habba; Christopher Kise, Florida's former solicitor general; Clifford Roberts, the family members' lawyer; and Jesus M. Suarez, a self-described anti-"woke" lawyer seeks to stop more damage and is planning to appeal any adverse decisions. James wants to disgorge the Trump Organization of more than $250 million in what she describes as ill-gotten gains and prohibit the Trumps from running any business in New York state ever again. Trump is flanked by his defense attorneys Alina Habba and Chris Kise at his civil fraud trial in New York. AP Photo/Seth Wenig Greenfield rarely says a word aloud during the trial days, except to ask the attorneys about scheduling issues. But during witness testimony and arguments from the lawyers, Greenfield often whispers to Engoron , who huddles with her and appears to listen intently. She passes notes, sometimes appearing to prompt a question or idea that Engoron will raise with the lawyers before him. It's these notes and whispers that have enraged Trump and his lawyers. They say Greenfield is an unchecked and "openly partisan" Democrat who acts as a "co-judge" in the case. They say Engoron and Greenfield are not merely judging the facts and the law but are playing a political game meant to destroy the leader of the Republican Party. "She constantly passes him notes, whispers in his ear, and publicly consults with him on nearly every ruling," Trump's lawyers wrote in a recent filing . "Counsel has noted that this can happen between thirty to forty times a day. This extended consultation occurs primarily when Petitioners' counsel, rather than the Attorney General, interposes an objection." Trump, as usual, has been much less discreet. "Schumer's girlfriend, Alison R. Greenfield, is running this case against me," he posted on Truth Social along with a photo of Greenfield and Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer. (A representative for Schumer said the photo was taken "at an annual brunch," one of "tens of thousands" of pictures with constituents in New York.) Greenfield declined to comment for this story. In Engoron's view, the way a clerk and judge may communicate is no one else's business. He has declared during the trial that he has "an absolutely unfettered, unrestricted right" to get legal advice from his clerk and "may consult my law clerks any place, any time, about any matter." The lawyers must deal with his rulings, not with how they're made. Letitia James, New York's attorney general, stepping out of the courtroom doing a short break in the civil fraud trial against Trump. AP Photo/Seth Wenig Because of the enormous public interest in the Trump trial, it's held in the New York civil court's large ceremonial courtroom. It's set up differently from Engoron's usual room, placing Greenfield next to Engoron on the bench instead of at her own desk farther away. The odd arrangement has been further inspiration for Trump's and his lawyers' ire. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that setup, "the optics of it look terrible," said Ruth B. Kraft, a former New York state judge. Trump and his legal team have seized on the unusual arrangement and taken advantage of the relatively obscure nature of a law clerk's role to change the narrative. Their rhetoric focuses not on the potential penalties for the Trump Organization but on whether the whole trial has been a partisan operation rigged from the start, said Kraft, now an attorney at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman. "I have no doubt that Justice Engoron is firmly at the helm of the case and that any decision made in the case will be Justice Engoron's," Kraft, who hasn't personally practiced before the judge, told Business Insider. Early in the trial, Engoron issued a gag order forbidding Trump and later his attorneys from disparaging his staff, including Greenfield, citing numerous threats. Engoron found that Trump violated the order when, while ranting to journalists, he blasted the "person who's very partisan sitting alongside of him." Engoron fined Trump $10,000. Trump addressing reporters on the opening day of his New York civil fraud trial. Seth Wenig/AP An affidavit submitted by a New York state court security officer in late November said Greenfield told him she'd received 20 to 30 calls to her personal cellphone and up to 50 messages to her social-media accounts daily since Trump's initial attacks in early October. The affidavit indicated security officers concluded that many of the threats, which typically included antisemitic sentiment, were "serious and credible and not hypothetical or speculative." "The implementation of the limited gag orders resulted in a decrease in the number of threats, harassment, and disparaging messages that the judge and his staff received," the court security officer wrote in the affidavit. "However, when Mr. Trump violated the gag orders, the number of threatening, harassing and disparaging messages increased." When an appellate judge put the gag order on hold, Habba was thrilled. "She's in the judge's ear time and time again. You see it every single day," she told journalists. "If she had a real threat, she should get off the bench and stop having her photograph taken. But she hasn't done that. It's completely absurd." Trump, too, almost immediately went back to attacking Greenfield on Truth Social and in statements. He also attacked Engoron's wife, highlighting posts on X critical of him from an account he claimed belonged to her. ( Engoron's wife has said that the account doesn't belong to her and that she doesn't use the social-media platform.) On Thursday, the appellate court reinstated the gag order, once again forbidding Trump and his lawyers from attacking Greenfield. Moments later, in court, Engoron gave Greenfield a nod. With a smile, he said he wanted to set deadlines for posttrial filings and told the lawyers to talk to "the person sitting at my side." Greenfield is an experienced attorney who ran to become a judge herself When people think about judicial clerks, they usually picture Supreme Court clerks, typically recent law-school graduates who help the justices write their opinions and keep the chambers running smoothly. In some states and in much of the federal court system, it works the same way. Engoron has a second clerk, a recent law-school graduate who fulfills that role. In the New York state court system, however, clerks especially principal law clerks like Greenfield can do much more. New York state judges tend to be overworked and have immense backlogs; lawyers often complain that cases run much faster in New York's federal courts or in other jurisdictions . Depending on how the judge handles their chambers, they might delegate a clerk to set deadlines and give them a free hand to draft rulings in the early stages of a case. That gives some principal law clerks "tremendous, tremendous power in the pretrial levels," said Kraft, the former New York state judge. The dynamic might be pronounced with Greenfield, an experienced attorney in her own right. "She is the most senior member of his chambers, an accomplished attorney, an aspirant herself to the bench with years of experience who, under his direction and control, participates in the pretrial of the case and participates at his direction in preparing responses to be able to rule on various issues," Kraft said. Justice Arthur Engoron and Greenfield on the bench in the ceremonial courtroom. Jeenah Moon-Pool/Getty Images Greenfield attended Cardozo School of Law from 2007 to 2010 after graduating from New York University. She spent the summer of 2008 as an intern for US District Judge George B. Daniels, a federal judge in Manhattan, according to her LinkedIn profile. Years later, Daniels, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, dismissed a pair of lawsuits brought against Trump alleging he violated the US Constitution's emoluments clause , ruling that the issue should be left to Congress. Greenfield then spent less than three years in the private sector at Jaffe & Asher, a national law firm with practice areas in debt collection, real estate, and corporate litigation. Gregory Galterio, the firm's managing partner in New York, confirmed that Greenfield had worked there but declined to comment further, citing the firm's policy not to comment on former employees. Online court records show only one case she worked on, where she represented a financial institution against an individual who didn't pay their credit-card bills. The case was settled after four months. After Jaffe & Asher, Greenfield entered the public sector, working for the special litigation unit in New York City's law department from 2013 to 2018. SLU (pronounced "slew") has a reputation as an elite group within the department, taking on high-profile and complex lawsuits filed against the city, including particularly sensitive cases against the New York Police Department. It's not clear which cases Greenfield worked on while at SLU. A New York Law Department representative said a list of her cases was "not readily available." Greenfield also returned to Cardozo in 2015, for a year, to teach as an adjunct professor. In 2019 she began clerking for Engoron. Aside from the Trump case, Engoron in that time has handled numerous high-profile cases, including lawsuits over a pay hike for Uber drivers and shelter for homeless people during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, a dispute over a subpoena Johnny Depp issued to the American Civil Liberties Union for his lawsuit against Amber Heard , and a dramatic contempt hearing for a former lawyer for Anna Sorokin (aka Anna Delvey) who had withheld documents from her. "I like her," Sorokin, who served nearly four years after being found guilty of larceny in a trial overseen by a different judge, told Business Insider. "Seemed to me like she didn't tolerate any nonsense. She was very straight to the point and didn't waste time to be overly polite." Donald Trump Jr. outside the Trump civil fraud trial in New York. Brendan McDermid/Getty Images Engoron, Kraft said, "is very lucky to have somebody who's this experienced." While Engoron is no legal lightweight himself he's been a judge for 20 years Greenfield can be helpful by asking the lawyers smart questions during hearings to tease out their precise arguments and inform the judge's decisions, Kraft said. "The reason you're seeing her take more of an intense role is because she is a very, very well-trained trial lawyer," Kraft told Business Insider. In 2022, Greenfield ran to become a judge herself. In New York, trial judges are essentially handpicked by local party leaders . And in Manhattan, that means Democratic Party groups make the decisions. As part of her race, Greenfield courted Democratic Party chapters in the city for their support, hobnobbing with local political leaders and talking about her judicial philosophy. Records show she donated to groups including West Side Democrats, Grand Street Democrats, Hell's Kitchen Democrats, and Village Independent Democrats, among other candidates . Greenfield didn't get the nomination. But in Trump's lawyers' view, that history is untenable. At a candidate forum Greenfield said she'd weigh whether judicial precedents would support "what would the people who elected me want me to do," which Trump's lawyers argued in a mistrial motion was an admission that she's driven by partisan motives. In court, Kise has frequently argued that, in appealing the case, the lawyers need to have a record of Engoron's arguments supporting his rulings. By whispering in Engoron's ear, Kise has argued, Greenfield is effectively a "co-judge" making rulings with no record. After the gag order was briefly suspended, Habba said Greenfield had no one to blame but herself. "She has a choice not to sit up on the bench," she said. "She has a choice. She had a choice not to put out things. Anything you do in life, it's called accountability." Kraft said the notion that Trump's appeal would hinge on Greenfield's conversations with Engoron is absurd. "Just seeing the prior rulings that he's made, those decisions have been beautifully written," the former judge said. "And so to say to the appellate division, 'Reverse this decision because he has his principal law secretary sitting up there' as opposed to sitting down by the stenographer or sitting in the front row and him taking bathroom breaks to confer with her is preposterous." Laura Italiano contributed reporting. Read the original article on Business Insider A passenger waits at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport. The lack of direct flights from San Antonio to Reagan National undercuts the many military missions our region supports. Congress can change this. Susan Walsh, STF / Associated Press Marc Anderson Contributed Every five years, we have the opportunity to secure nonstop service between San Antonio International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by changing the outdated perimeter rule, which artificially restricts long-distance direct flights to and from Reagan National. We have come up short in the past, but this year could prove to be successful. Congress has until Dec. 31 to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill, which means there is still time for Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to build on the recent momentum surrounding strengthening affordable access to our nations capital and authorize nonstop flights to and from Reagan National. As president and CEO of Visit San Antonio, I am at the forefront of advancing tourism to support the economic growth of our city. In 2022, tourism and conventions contributed $19 billion to San Antonios economy. More than 80% of the conventions that take place in our city are hosted by a wide variety of national associations, making the Washington, D.C., metro area our largest travel origin market. The Reagan National-San Antonio route has high demand, which we can see in annual data and travel trends. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2019, approximately 493,000 passengers from San Antonio traveled to the Washington, D.C., region, but there were 30,000 fewer seats on nonstop flights making for a lopsided supply-demand ratio for San Antonio travelers. Likewise, 44% of passengers flying from the Washington, D.C., region to San Antonio had to connect at another airport compared with 25% of passengers flying from the top-25 metro areas to our city. Regardless of which way you are going, traveling between San Antonio and Washington, D.C., comes with unnecessary obstacles that Congress has the power to remedy. Securing nonstop access to Reagan National has implications well beyond the benefits for tourism. We are proud to hold the title of Military City, USA, as roughly 16.7% of our residents are either actively serving in the military or are esteemed veterans. These brave people, who have made and continue to make incredible sacrifices for our nation, rightly deserve efficient and affordable access to the capital region. Northern Virginia also serves as the epicenter of the United States military establishment and its associated industries. It is only fitting that our service members, veterans, retirees and their families have nonstop, cost-effective access to not only the historic memorials and monuments, but also our nations military leaders and the companies that support them. San Antonio is also progressively becoming a hub for cybersecurity, largely thanks to the expertise and knowledge of our large military and veteran community. The growth and success of cybersecurity enterprises in our city significantly hinge on this industrys continued presence here, and having a direct connection to DCA is critical not only for economic growth, but to support cutting-edge security research to help defend our nation against ever-increasing cyber threats from our global adversaries. SAN DIEGO A brand new, giant menorah arrived at Chabad San Diego Saturday morning in time for Hanukkah. The 20 ft. tall, 1,500 pound menorah arrived Saturday morning bright and early from Florida to replace the one that was vandalized in March of this year. Why Hanukkah starts on a different day every year Its going to be a sign of hope, a sign of light fighting over darkness, Rabbi Chalom Boudjnah said. This year, Hanukkah arrives the evening of Thursday, Dec. 7 and lasts through Friday, Dec. 15. New Menorah arrives at Chabad San Diego A brand new, giant Menorah arrived at Chabad San Diego Saturday morning in time for Hanukkah. The 20 ft. tall, 1,500 pound Menorah arrived Saturday morning bright and early from Florida to replace the one that was vandalized in March of this year. A brand new, giant Menorah arrived at Chabad San Diego Saturday morning in time for Hanukkah. The 20 ft. tall, 1,500 pound Menorah arrived Saturday morning bright and early from Florida to replace the one that was vandalized in March of this year. The rabbi noted this marked the third time in two years the menorah has been damaged. Enough is enough. Something has to be done and were not going to be discouraged. We are going to build it stronger and with more pride, the rabbi told FOX 5 back in March. A forklift pieces were taken off the truck and workers are working to assemble it for public display in front of Chabad House SDSU at 6115 Montezuma Road. Wanna get paid to watch Hallmark Christmas movies? One company is offering $2K Local residents stepped up back in April to help raise funds for the construction of the new menorah. The community is invited to attend the lighting of the new menorah next Thursday on the first day of Hanukkah. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Russian troops killed two Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered as prisoners of war (POW) in Donetsk Oblast, the Strategic Communications Directorate of Ukraines Armed Forces confirmed on the evening of Dec. 2. In a video published by the Ukrainian DeepState Telegram channel on Dec. 2, a group of soldiers appear to kill two other soldiers emerging from a trench. One of the two had his hands behind his head. The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office has launched an investigation into the violation of the rules and customs of war. Killing of POWs violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime. According to prosecutors, Russian troops entered Ukrainian positions near the village of Stepove in Donetsk Oblast. When two Ukrainian soldiers were forced to surrender, the Russian soldiers shot them dead. The DeepState Telegram channel reported that the soldiers served in Ukraine's 45th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade. Russia has once again proved that it is a terrorist country for which there are no laws and norms of international law, Ruslan Stefanchuk, a speaker of Ukraine's parliament, said on X on Dec. 3. Oleksandr Shtupun, the spokesman for the Tavria group of forces, told the Kyiv Independent on Dec. 3 that a group of Russian troops participated in killing Ukrainian POWs were killed in action. According to the report on the ground, that group of the enemy (no longer) exists, Shtupun said. Read also: I want to go home: Inside a Russian prisoner of war camp in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Over 500 settlements in a dozen Ukrainian regions experienced power outages due to bad weather, and over 400 more lost power due to Russian attacks and equipment disturbances, the Energy Ministry reported on Dec. 3. The worst situation caused by the showing and gusty winds reported in Lviv, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts. In Lviv Oblast alone, 41,000 households in 388 settlements have been left without power. Repairs are underway, said the ministry. The ministry said 422 settlements have been without power due to hostilities and technological disturbances. The State Emergency Service reported on Dec. 2 that over 500 first responders along the 330 equipment units were repairing the power supply over the past week. Read also: With winter approaching, is Ukraines energy system ready for renewed Russian attacks? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) Fairfield County authorities are asking for help in locating a man who went missing over three months ago. According to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, a missing persons report was filed on Aug. 24 in an effort to locate 44-year-old Michael Messmore of Lancaster. Messmore, who is 5 feet 9 and 160 pounds, was last seen by family on Aug. 21. The attorney generals office website reports that Messmore walked outside of his parents home that night and never returned. Since his disappearance, his phone has either been turned off or is no longer charged. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to Messmores whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fairfield County Sheriffs Office at 740-652-7900, Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and e-mail your tip. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. A short Thanksgiving week meant a short list of inspections and a short list of inspection failures by restaurants in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. In fact, the list was so short that three counties didnt put a single eatery on the list. Once again, we remind you that we dont choose the restaurants inspected nor do we do the inspecting. We just tell you some of what state inspectors found. Restaurants that fail inspection are closed until they pass. If a place triggers your disgust too much, file a complaint with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. In alphabetical order: Pokeman, 1949 N. Pine Island Rd., Plantation: Complaint inspection, nine total violations, three High Priority violations. Pokemans failed inspection in October and had a reprise of those violations, along with a front counter ice machine with an accumulation of black mold-like debris. Last time, 21 dead roaches. This time, 15 dead roaches were counted, five of them in the box on a prep table holding cling film. A dead roach and a roach egg were in a box on the front counter with packs of gloves. And again they had a live roach issue, with the October count of 7 now up to 11. Unclear if this is the same cling film box that had the five dead roaches, but a cling film box had 10 live roaches. In October, they were using non-food grade bag to hold cuts of meat and, again the inspector found cuts of meat stored in non-food grade bags. Anyone who wanted to wash their hands at the handwash sink had to flap their hands. No paper towels or electric blower present for drying hands. And, just like last time, Pokeman failed re-inspection. This time, the ice machine remained moldy and the inspector saw two live roaches crawling from the front counter onto the glass food protector at the front counter. Pokeman eventually passed a second callback inspection. READ MORE: Unsafe food among new food and too-old food at a Broward supermarket Red Ginger Asian Bistro, 9710 Sample Rd., Coral Springs: Complaint inspection, four total violations, one High Priority violation. .Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Throughout the kitchen, the floor area was covered with standing water. Apparently able to roach paddle through the water were the five live roaches on the kitchen floor behind the soup station and the 10 live roaches under a cookline wok station. Red Ginger was back open after passing its first re-inspection. As of the morning of 3 December, more than 2,500 lorries are queuing in Poland to cross into Ukraine. Source: Andrii Demchenko, State Border Guard Service spokesman, during the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote from Demchenko: "Unfortunately, the blockade is continuing for the time being. The four areas where those participating in the action on the other side of the border are obstructing the movement of lorries on access roads are the Jagodzin, Krakovets and Rava-Ruska checkpoints, and from 23 November, the Shehyni checkpoint was added. As of this morning, according to the information we have from the Polish border guards, more than 2,500 lorries are in the queue heading towards Ukraine." Details: As Demchenko said, the largest number of lorries are at the Rava-Ruska checkpoint, where there are 850, and another 600 are queuing at both Krakovets and Shehyni, as well as 450 at Jagodzin. Demchenko specified that a certain number of lorries do cross the border, but they are very few compared to the time before 6 November, when the protests began. For reference: Polish hauliers, who have been blocking three checkpoints on the border with Ukraine for lorries since 6 November, began blocking another checkpoint on Thursday Medyka-Shehyni. Their blockade might last until 3 January. On 22 November, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraines Parliament) appealed to the new Sejm and Senate of Poland with a proposal to unblock the border for hauliers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv has an understanding of how to act and that "it will take some time" to make progress. Support UP or become our patron! Editor's note: Events are subject to change, and contacting your church ahead of time is recommended. Churches may send updates to worship services, events or schedules, including upcoming Christmas events and special holiday services, via email to kwood@lubbockonline.com. Please note that this is a partial compilation of local religious congregrations, and listings are sorted below by newest information. First Church of Christ, Scientist Amarillo 2701 Julian Blvd. Everyone is welcome at our Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School meets at the same time for children and teens. Our weekly testimonial meetings on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. are a wonderful opportunity for inspiration and fellowship. For more details, see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/First-Church-of-Christ-Scientist-Amarillo-104483494978237 or our website at https://www.cschurchamarillo.com/ . Grace Church Grace Church was founded by Pastor Bill Gehm, his wife, and a small group of believers in 1985, and has grown over the past few decades into a much larger and diverse group of believers in Christ. We are Making Disciples verse by verse at the corner of Plains and Western (4111 Plains Blvd.) in an old grocery store, on the radio at 88.7FM with the Radio by Grace network, and online at GraceAmarillo.com. Service times are 9 & 11am on Sundays and 7pm on Wednesdays. The Colonies Church of Christ 4500 Wesley Road, Amarillo, TX 79119. Please join us Sundays for Bible class at 9:30 a.m. and worship service at 10:30 a.m. Any questions, call 806-355-7303. For more information visit our website at: thecolonies.org Grace Communion International (GCI Amarillo), 1400 Wolflin (Covenant Presbyterian) Saturdays 2:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Fellowship Group gathering for worship music, prayer, Bible study, and seasonal messages. Multi-generational service. New participants of all ages welcome. Refreshments following and potluck on the 1st Saturdays. For information and schedule confirmation call 806-473-8753 or 806-340-4704. During our fellowship group this fall, you are welcome to bring items for children or filled shoe boxes for Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child through Nov. 11. Hartley, Texas A life-size marble casting of Michelangelos Pieta has been placed at St. John Paul II Family Life Center, 1400 Central Avenue, in Hartley. The famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. The Vatican Observatory Foundation has authorized and licensed the creation of only 100 Pieta marble castings from a mold derived from the original Pieta. This Pieta has been donated as a legacy gift by the Catholic Loyalty Foundation of Santa Clarita, California. Polk Street Methodist Church Please worship with us in person at 8:30 and 10:55 a.m. in our historic sanctuary at 1401 S. Polk St., or worship online with us at 10:55 a.m. at www.polkstreet.org or on our Facebook page. From Bible studies and small groups to exercise classes and outreach to the impoverished, there is a place for you. If you would like more information, please visit www.polkstreet.org and either email us or complete a contact form. Messiahs House 6901 Bell St. Sunday morning services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. For more information, visit their website at https://mh.church . First Christian Church 3001 Wolflin Ave. Sunday school at 9 a.m. and worship service at 10 a.m. FCC Facebook page: facebook.com/FirstChristianAmarillo , FCC YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCkyDAlGKrx82S5qCbiBlS_g Christian Heritage Church - 900 S Nelson St. Service times are Sunday at 9:45 a.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m. For more, email info@chcamarillo.com . Amazing Grace Amarillo (Lutheran Church - WELS) - Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. at 8700 Clinton Glenn Dr. Amarillo, TX 79119. We've moved! We also offer children's Bible school at 9:15 a.m. along with our teen/adult Bible study on Sundays. You can stream our services at AmazingGraceAmarillo.com and join us for Bible Study on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Message our pastor at pastorhans@amazinggraceamarillo.com . The Loft Church 4400 S. Georgia. Services at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Power Church 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (bilingual) Sunday service. Also Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Sandell Drive In Theater, Clarendon Sunday service at 10 a.m. Add in a beautiful Sunday drive out to Clarendon and experience church. Accelerate Church, 4400 S Crockett, and Accelerate North Campus, 1300 E Central. Triumphant Truth Church, 1701 S Manhattan St. Central Church of ChristJoin us on Sundays for class at 9 a.m. and worship at 10:15 a.m. Youll find us in person at 1401 S. Madison St. and online at www.amarillocentral.org. Paramount Baptist Church 3801 S. Western St. in Amarillo. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. with worship at 10:15 a.m. We also have a Spanish speaking service at 10:15 a.m. Visit www.paramount.org for more information. St. Luke Presbyterian Church 3001 Bell St. Visit the churchs website at stlukeamarillo.com for a link to the bulletin and live streaming videos. In-person and live streaming service on Sundays at 11 a.m. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2101 N. Coulter St. "The Cross" in Groom, Texas Information: Cross Ministry Jason Eugea, 806-248-9006. Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 4109 Cornell St. Fellowship at Sunday at 11 a.m. Our services are in-person and also live-streamed on our YouTube and Facebook pages. For more information about AUUF, see our website at uuamarillo.org. Redeemer Presbyterian Church 7603 77th Ave. Sunday school at 9:30 am, followed by worship service at 10:30 and evening worship service at 5 p.m. We offer live streaming on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHc6sCADFHQ6xD91jMxktfQ. Please visit our website at http://redeemeramarillo.com/ for more information. Pleasant Valley Methodist Church 316 Valley Ave. Everyone is welcome at our Sunday worship service. Visit with us in person at 10 a.m.; Sunday School is at 9 a.m. From Bible class Wednesday at 5 p.m. to food cupboard, AISD ministry and outreach to the impoverished, there is a place for you. If youd like more information, go to Pleasant Valley Methodist Church (Amarillo) on Facebook, or call (806) 383-3342. Mail us: info@yourpvumc.org . Olsen Park Church of Christ invites you to visit our worship services and Bible studies at 4700 Andrews Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106, Sunday: 9 a.m. (short service), 9:30 a.m. (Bible class), 10:30 a.m. (worship); Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class). For more information, go to www.olsenpark.com and Olsen Park Church of Christ on Facebook, or call 806-352-2809. Second Baptist Church 419 N. Buchanan St. Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for worship followed by Sunday School at 10:45 a.m. For more information please visit sbcama.org or call the church at 806-373-1737. Also, our sermons are broadcast on KAMR channel 4 every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Life.Church Amarillo Located on the northwest corner of I-27 and Hollywood Road; services held at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Life.Church is made up of people from different backgrounds linked together by a common mission: leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. For more, see www.life.church/amarillo. South Georgia Baptist Church 5209 S. Georgia St. You're invited to join us each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for small group Bible study and at 10:30 a.m. for our morning worship service. Our 10:30 a.m. service streams live at sgbc.co/watch. Visit sgbc.co for more information. Bell Avenue Church of Christ Amarillo 1600 Bell St. For more information, please contact the Bell Avenue Church of Christ at 806-355-2351 or visit our website, www.bellavenue.org . Pathpoint Fellowship Church, 6215 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, 79110, 806-463-7284. Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church, 1801 N. Hughes St. For more info, please call 806 373 2576. Bible Believers Baptist Church, 12,200 W Rockwell Rd. Services at 10 a.m.; Bible Study at 11 a.m. Preaching and Worship at 7 p.m. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., prayer meeting and Bible Study. On Friday at 7 p.m., Youth Night. Services streamed on our website biblebelieversbaptist.com . Call 806-499-3231 for more information. Westminster Presbyterian Church Sundays at 10:30 a.m.; available to watch from the churchs website at wpcama.com, click on Sermons. Church is located at 2525 Wimberly Road. Coulter Road Baptist Church 4108 S. Coulter St. Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. and worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship is streamed on our website, www.coulterbc.com. Contact info: 806-352-5278. Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Amarillo worship/communion service is at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday. The service is also available on the churchs website on Sunday evenings at https://www.beautifulsavioramarillo.org.videos. Covenant Presbyterian Church in Amarillo 1400 Wolflin Ave. We invite you to join us for worship where we praise God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - every Sunday at 10 a.m. We have Sunday School for adults at 9 a.m. If you would like more information, you can call the church office at 806-376-5244. Trinity Fellowship Family Worship and Prophetic Nights: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Visit TFC.org/Sundays. Church online at 9 and 11 a.m. on all viewing platforms. Anna Street Church of Christ 2310 Anna St., across from Olsen Park Elementary. Sunday: 9:45 a.m. classes; 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship. Wednesday: 6:45 p.m. Song Practice; 7:35 p.m. Evening Teaching. Visit http://www.annastreetchurch.org/ for more information. Southwest Church of Christ Come see us Sunday for Bible class at 9:30 a.m. and for Worship at 10:30 a.m. A list of current classes can be found on our website: www.southwest.org. First Baptist Church Gathering at 12th and Tyler. Sunday morning worship service times are 8:30 and 11 a.m., with Bible study for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Sunday evening worship meets at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. Bell Avenue Church of Christ Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30 a.m., with classes immediately following. Sunday evening worship begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday night devotional and classes at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Bible Believers Baptist Church Sunday school at 10 a.m.; preaching at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study at 7 p.m. Visitation and Soul Winning: Saturday at 10 a.m. Minister, Glen A. Stocker. Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church Morning and evening worship services. Hillside Christian Churches www.hillsideonline.com. Arden Road Baptist Church Sunday School, children's ministries and nurseries. Service times: Sundays, 9:30 a.m., Sunday school, 10:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Amarillo First Nazarene Church, 5201 Soncy Road; 806-374-2242, https://onenaz.org/ . North Beacon Church of the Nazarene, 1601 N. Nelson St., 806-367-8544 Valleyview Church of the Nazarene, 7601 S. Western St., 806-358-8829, https://www.facebook.com/vvnazarene/ , http://www.vvnaz.org/ This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo faith calendar for Dec. 3, 2023 A delegate attends the second general meeting of the Republican Party of Texas convention at George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer The Texas GOPs executive board on Saturday overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting Israel and condemning antisemitism but members narrowly rejected a provision barring the party from associating with people or organizations that espouse antisemitism, pro-Nazi sympathies, or Holocaust denial. It was the partys first meeting following reports that former state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, a far-right activist who served as head of the deep-pocketed Defend Texas Liberty PAC, hosted white supremacist Nick Fuentes at his Fort Worth office in October. Fuentes has publicly praised Adolf Hitler and denied that the Holocaust occurred. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Fuentes meeting set off a firestorm among Texas Republicans and prompted nearly half of the GOPs executive committee to sign a letter calling on the state party to cut ties with Stickland, the PAC and other affiliated activist organizations. The letter said the state party should not accept donations from the PAC until Stickland, who was quietly removed as president, explains the meeting and is no longer affiliated with the organization. Saturdays resolution offered a softer version of the letter, declining to call out Stickland or the PAC specifically but denouncing all forms of antisemitism and violence against Israel, Israeli Americans, Jewish Americans and supporters of Israel. The ultimately unsuccessful call for the party to cut ties with groups that espouse hatred was controversial for some board members who said it would be difficult to define antisemitism. Jim Pikl, an executive committee member who represents the McKinney area, said that language takes the resolution a step too far because now were resolving to disassociate ourselves from people who somebody, somewhere, somehow decides, based on non-known metrics are espousing antisemitism. Members who signed onto the letter defended the provision, questioning why it was a contentious issue and noting that the resolution was already a watered-down compromise. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If we cant define what an antisemite is, or a Nazi sympathizer or a Holocaust denier, then how can we define what a communist is? asked Christin Bentley, who represents East Texas. We dont understand in this body as professionals, as capable adults with life experience what an antisemite is? she continued. Im sorry. If you dont know what that word means, you are not worthy of the position that you hold. It is clearly defined. It is, to me, shameful that we even have to sit here and debate that last clause. The vote to remove the language from the resolution was 32 to 29. Matt Rinaldi, a former state representative who chairs the state party, was in the same building as Stickland and Fuentes when they met on Oct. 6. But he said he didnt know the meeting was happening and has since denounced Fuentes. He did not participate in the debate on the resolution. The executive board separately voted Saturday to censure the retiring House member who led the impeachment effort against Attorney General Ken Paxton, and a subcommittee advanced a similar measure targeting House Speaker Dade Phelan. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction, who led the chambers investigation into corruption allegations against Paxton, announced late last month that he would not seek reelection. Still, the executive committee said Murr should face repercussions for his role in the impeachment and, additionally, his opposition to private school vouchers. Members called his stances egregious. The board will soon consider punishing Phelan, a Beaumont Republican who is seeking reelection, for similar reasons. The speaker voted to impeach Paxton, and he has not taken a stance on the voucher plan, which would give families state-funded education savings accounts to spend on private schooling. FROM OCTOBER: All eyes on House Speaker Dade Phelan as school voucher session nears The voucher proposal is a top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, but it has been held up in the House, where rural Republicans and Democrats repeatedly have rejected the plan. The party must give at least two weeks notice to Phelan to allow him an opportunity to defend himself, and board members can take a vote on the censure afterward. If the committee decides to censure Phelan, the party then could spend money against him in the GOP primary. The speaker is facing three challengers, including David Covey, Paxtons preferred candidate and an alumnus of the state GOP executive board. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Phelan also has been a vocal critic of Rinaldi and the state party, especially after reports of the Fuentes meeting surfaced. On Saturday, he slammed the executive board on social media for rejecting the provision that would prohibit the party from associating with organizations that promote antisemitic views. Story at a glance One in five stay-at-home parents are dads, a recent Pew Research Center study found. That share has swelled in recent decades. The reasons dads choose to stay at home are varied. But for many, economics play a role. The ranks of stay-at-home parents are perennially dominated by mothers. But as women make educational and economic strides, turning some of them into the bigger earners in their households, a growing number of dads are opting to care for their kids full-time. One in five stay-at-home parents are now fathers, a recent Pew Research Center study found. The percentage of parents who do not work for pay has hovered at 18 percent for roughly the past 30 years, according to the Pew study. But the share of stay-at-home parents who are fathers has gone up, growing from 11 percent in 1989 to 18 percent in 2021. Experts attribute the rise of the stay-at-home dad to changes in economic conditions for families. Womens earning potential has risen considerably over this time as their educational attainment has steadily increased, said Jocelyn Wikle, assistant professor at Brigham Young Universitys School of Family Life. Women have been steadily outpacing men in educational attainment for years. The U.S. Census Bureau found that in 2021, 53.1 percent of all adults aged 25 or older who had completed a bachelors degree or more were women, while 46.9 percent were men. A 2022 Pew study found that women are also gaining ground in the highest-paying professions in the country. According to the study, women make up 35 percent of the workers in the U.S.s 10 highest-paying professions, such as physician, lawyer and pharmacist. That figure is 22 percentage points higher than in 1980, the study also shows. These economic realities mean that for some families having a stay-at-home father and breadwinner mother is best, Wikle added. The difference in earning potential stemming from education played a big role in why Chris Braaten, a 40-year-old father of two in Bakersfield, Calif., chose to be a stay-at-home parent. Before they got married, Braaten and his wife agreed that one of them would stay home to care for their future children. And after their first daughter was born, Braatens wife initially did so, while working at a local college. But she missed her work in the nonprofit sector, and given their different education levels Braaten has an associates degree while his wife has a bachelors the couple knew that she would be able to earn more in both the short and long term. On top of that, Braaten was unfilled at work and more interested in caring for his child. So when the couple got pregnant again, Braaten offered to stay home. It felt like a no brainer, he said. The Hill spoke with half a dozen full-time stay-at-home dads who, like Braaten, said their wives had more earning potential stemming from a difference in education. Many of the men The Hill spoke to said that having one parent stay home to care for the children was something both they and their spouse wanted. Many of the fathers, like Braaten, also expressed dissatisfaction in their work and said that staying at home with their children provided them with a deeper sense of satisfaction than their jobs. I did not like my job and all I thought about all day was what could I be doing with our kid, said Braaten. For most, that difference in earning potential played a role in which, if any, parent stayed home with the children early in their marriages. But for some, that difference didnt factor into how caregiving work was distributed until later often becoming a bigger consideration when the skyrocketing cost of child care caught up with families. The cost of child care is really, really high and hard to get, said Noelle Chesley, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. So thats going to force a lot of parents to do things that they wouldnt have otherwise considered like have the man stay home. Child care is becoming increasingly out of reach for many families. The cost for a single child ranged from $4,810 a year for school-age home-based care in small counties to more than $15,000 for infant center-based care in large counties in 2018, the most recent year data was collected, according to a U.S. Labor Department brief released earlier this year. Those price ranges are equivalent to between 8 percent and a little more than 19 percent of a median family income per child in paid care, according to the brief. The price of child care played a role in Cannon Ingallss decision to stay home after he, his wife and five children moved in 2017 from Missouri to Minneapolis. Ingallss children struggled to cope with the change from living in suburban Missouri to an urban environment. So, he and his wife discussed having one of them stay home to help make things easier for the kids. Ingallss wife made more money as a nurse practitioner than he did as a paramedic. From a financial standpoint, most of my paycheck was going towards child care and putting gas in the car and that was about it, said Ingalls. Everything else was being paid for by my wife. Jeff Carlson, a 43-year-old stay-at-home dad in Breckenridge, Colo., also said that a lack of access to affordable day care played a part in his decision to stay home full-time with his son. Like Ingalls, about 80 percent of Carlsons salary was going towards child care at one point, he said. That wasnt enough, with my wifes business being successful, to lose out on time with him, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. No issue has energized letters to the editor of The Fresno Bee like the proposal to create a panel to screen childrens books at Fresno County libraries for age appropriateness. More letters came into The Bee before the county Board of Supervisors gave final approval to the plan on Nov. 28. Here are those letter-writers opinions, as well as several others on different topics. Tad Weber, opinion editor Trust the librarians Fresno County has decided they know better than our trained librarians. Masters degrees mean nothing when a couple of young moms show their ignorance regarding the library and how books are chosen and displayed. The library is a place for all and has rules regarding supervision of young children. These parents should review the books their children pick, but they dont have the right to review the books my grandchildren pick. Thats my job. If you dont like the public library, please go to your church library, but remember the Bible has some really inappropriate passages and as a parent maybe your kids shouldnt be allowed to read those pieces. Trust our librarians they are highly trained, and from what I can tell, no one on our Board of Supervisors has ever taken a class in library science. Paige Addington. Clovis Book bans equal dictatorship This is how it starts, a book ban here, a restriction there, this is how freedom of ideas, freedom of thinking, freedom of will begin to die. Do you know who else has book bans ... dictatorships like North Korea. Do you know who else hated books? Hitler, Nazi Germany burned books that it didnt agree with. An open mind, understanding, and patience are a better tool to bring people together, but instead the Fresno County supervisors are choosing fear and alienation to rip apart the community instead of bringing it together. A select group of parents who watch Fox News and are being poisoned by bad Christian values, they need to open their hearts as Jesus did and actually love thy neighbor and not live like in hypocrisy. Choosing understanding, open heart, and tolerance is how we get through the next century together. Choosing to hate each other for having a difference of ideas, and banning other forms of thought, will only keep us fighting with each other. Choose paradise on Earth by loving thy neighbor, or create a new hell by picking up that rock like Cain did against his brother. Choose paradise. Francisco A. Velasquez, Fresno Opposes Parents Matter resolution I strongly oppose the Parents Matter resolution rash, reckless government overreach, solving no problems while creating many. Fresno County already has an established Request for Reconsideration process. We also have a vast, acute need for public health and social service improvements that our supervisors are failing to prioritize while they direct time toward this misguided resolution. The resources required to create a new government committee; ensure its compliance with the Brown Act; and defend the county from resultant litigation are significant, making this resolution fiscally imprudent. Fresno County residents expect supervisors to direct our tax dollars toward improving public safety and well-being not toward setting up new committees restricting freedoms. It is indeed a freedom for parents to choose what media their children access. As stated on the Fresno County Public Library website, Parents, guardians, and caregivers have the right and responsibility to restrict their childrens access to Library resources. Our libraries are not nannies. Our government agencies are not babysitters. Parents concerned that their children may encounter content they deem inappropriate about guns, religion, sex, or another topic are the ones responsible for restricting their childrens access, and for supervising their own children accordingly. Erika Leonard, Fresno Outraged with supervisors I am outraged with the Fresno County Board of Supervisors taking an approach in reviewing age-appropriate childrens books in Fresno County libraries. I thought librarians were hired for this; theyre the ones with degrees and knowledge as to what is appropriate and what isnt. Even so, parents and guardians are the ones who should take on this responsibility not the Board of Supervisors. There are plenty of other ways to help the children in the Valley including asthma and poverty, just to name a few. The supervisors need to put their attention to issues that are critical for our health and the environment and leave the librarians alone so they can do the jobs theyve been trained to do. Brenda Markham, Fresno 1st Amendment violation I am proud to say I am against the Parents Matter movement. First, libraries have licensed and trained individuals to make decisions about the books within it. Second, David L. Hudson Jr., a professor at Belmont University College of Law and a First Amendment law expert, stated Book bans violate the First Amendment because they deprive children or students or the right to receive information and ideas. We can trust individuals to make their own decisions about what they read and believe. Libraries allow parents the right to guide their childrens reading. Parents should not be making decisions for other parents children. Specifically, a small group of parents should not dictate what books other peoples children are allowed to read based upon their own values, interests, cultures or religions. Books are tools for understanding complex issues. Limiting young peoples access to books does not protect them from lifes complex and challenging issues. Removing and banning books from public libraries is a slippery slope to government censorship and the erosion of our countrys commitment to freedom of expression. Please reject any efforts to ban books and allow individuals to make the decision about what they can read and believe. Andrea L. Reed, Clovis Editors note: The following letter is being republished. It originally appeared with a link to an unrelated story. Militarization biggest threat What a mess. At a time when we should be desperately trying to save the planet, we just go to war instead. Makes total sense on the screw-it-all scale. Lets face it, militarization worldwide is the greatest threat to our environment and global health and well-being. But we love our guns and bombs more than ourselves, so grab your AK47 and a martini and party on. Keith Seaman, Fresno Got her mammogram Ive delayed making my annual mammogram screening appointment for weeks until I read Francine Farbers column in The Bee. Ive got one now thanks to her revealing story. Her name always catches my eye. Thanks, Francine. Barbara Moats, Fresno Fake study on EV cost I rarely use the phrase fake news and never about The Bee. But the article, Study finds the true cost of owning an electric vehicle equates to $17 per gallon, by Ian Krietzberg fits the definition. The research behind this study was funded by Texas-based oil industry money from a political group that denies the climate crisis. It is part of an aggressive anti-electric vehicle (EV) propaganda effort that fossil fuel companies and lobbyists who care more about their profits than their descendants or humankinds future. Behind the article is the misleadingly named the Texas Public Policy Foundation, in reality a conservative think tank in Austin. James R. Leininger, its founder, promotes public-school vouchers, the Right on Crime project, and Fueling Freedom. The latter claims to explain the forgotten moral case for fossil fuels, as if such exists. TPPF rejects the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. Articles and videos with accurate information on EVs from reputable sources can be readily found. An animated video that compares the total pollution, health, and energy costs vs. benefits of internal combustion engines (ICE) and EVs can be found online at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oVrIHcdxjAvideo comparing actual costs of ICE vehicles vs Electric Vehicles. Kim Leslie, Clovis Russian authorities in Moscow raided gay bars and clubs Friday night after the countrys Supreme Court ruled that the LGBTQ movement is extremist, the Associated Press reports. Police checked the documents of patrons and took their photos, per eyewitnesses. Other LGBTQ sites were forced to close under the new ruling, part of Vladimir Putins crackdown on same-sex marriage. The Russian president has long sought to ban public endorsement of the LGBTQ movement, wielding his power to ban what he characterized as gay propaganda and decrying what he called the Wests degrading influence. Read it at Associated Press Read more at The Daily Beast. ST JOHNS An investigation into why a Santa Parade trolley overturned, injuring 16 passengers, most of them children, in downtown St. Johns will begin in earnest on Monday, City Manager Chad Gamble said. With plenty of eyewitness accounts, investigators will work to determine matters that include whether there was a mechanical malfunction and if the driver should be charged. Those are some of the things that were going to be looking at, Gamble said Sunday, indicating the investigation could take a few weeks. That falls into the realm of the police department. The police department, Im sure, is going to do their due diligence in investigating any accident This would be no different. A brightly lit truck makes its way through downtown St. Johns as part of the Annual Festival of Lights and Santa Parade Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. St. Johns holiday celebration kicked off at 5 p.m. Friday. Gamble said he was just arriving at city hall for a festive night when he learned of the trolley incident. He jogged the few blocks necessary to the 200 block of North Clinton Avenue so that he could help. First responders had been milling around for the festivities and in preparation of the 6:30 p.m. Santa Parade. When he was near the trolley, Gamble saw ambulance crews, police and firefighters offering assistance. It was a fairly organized scene, as organized as it could have been with that type of an incident. Certainly, it was scary, he said. We were so very thankful. Many of the bystanders that were there offered help. I think thats what St. Johns is all about. Its a great community in offering assistance in times of happiness and joy and even when theres an accident that happens. St. Johns Police are investigating why a passenger trolley in a recent parade tipped over and injured 16 people in the 200 block of Clinton Avenue. Photo: Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The trolley that tipped, Gamble said, is a former airport luggage tug thats been converted into a train used for several years at a minimum throughout the communities in mid-Michigan. Police said it was transporting about 20 parade attendees when it overturned. Gamble said health privacy rules and the ongoing investigation prevented him from providing details about the ages of the hurt children and their injuries. Commenters on the citys Facebook page, though, indicated broken bones, swollen joints and bruises. The police departments Saturday report indicated the 16 injured were treated at Sparrow Clinton Hospital in St. Johns and Sparrow Hospitals main campus in Lansing before they were released. The annual parade did happen, as did the annual Christmas tree lighting. Gamble said what makes St. Johns a wonderful, tight-knit community is that theyre freely and willingly and gracefully offering their assistance to their friends and neighbors in need." Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: St. Johns trolley incident injured mostly children, investigation set When her son William returned home from school on Wednesday, Mollee Campbell knew that something was wrong. The usually healthy 14-year-old was extremely pale, had trouble breathing and appeared as though he was about to pass out. By the time he arrived at the emergency room, doctors told his mother that his lungs were full of fluid and his oxygen levels were dangerously low. They said that if he went much lower it could have caused brain damage in some way, Ms Campbell told DailyMail.com. He was extremely scared. William was exhibiting symptoms of what doctors would later diagnose as mycoplasma pneumonia, also known as white lung syndrome, a bacteria that can cause infections by damaging the lining of the respiratory system, according to the CDC. The illness has been deemed an outbreak in Warren County Heath District in Ohio due to the spiking cases in recent weeks. William is one of 145 pneumonia cases between the ages of three and 14 that have been reported since August. Ohio mother Mollee Campbell is speaking out about her sons frightening pneumonia symptoms as cases spike in the state (Mollee Campbell/Facebook) Ms Campbell said that her local hospital was overwhelmed with cases of paediatric pneumonia and that paediatricians were struggling to treat the rising number of patients. They said they were overloaded with it in the last two or three days that that was all they had been seeing and they were just trying to make sure they had all the medicine they needed for all the kids, Ms Campbell told the Mail. They did say almost the whole floor was nothing but children with pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumonia is the same strain at the centre of outbreaks in Denmark and China. However, Ohio health officials have insisted that the outbreak of pneumonia in the state is not linked to any viruses circulating in China. According to Ms Campbell, William went from showing mild signs of a cold to having his oxygen levels drop to 75per cent in the span of two days. The mother-of-two is now speaking out about her sons frightening experience in hopes that other parents act swiftly if they suspect their children are experiencing the pneumonia strain. Even when your kid just has a little cough and it doesnt seem like a normal one, just to go ahead and take them no matter what, even if it is just to check, Ms Campbell. It was a nightmare and I wish I would have taken him a little bit sooner than waiting a day, but these days you can never tell with kids. If your child doesnt feel right, just contact somebody. The average person affected by the illness is eight years old. 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. 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. Once someone becomes infected, symptoms can appear after one to four weeks and usually last longer than typical pneumonia. The district said that the illnesses are not unusual and reported that no deaths have been recorded in relation to the outbreak. Health officials warned that the cases are not suspected to be a new respiratory illness, noting that it is not uncommon for respiratory illnesses to spread among communities during the colder months. Similar cases have been seen in China on a larger scale, with one Beijing childrens hospital telling state media CCTV that at least 7,000 patients were being admitted daily. 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. Warren County Health District said that there has yet to be any evidence linking the Ohio outbreak to other surges, whether statewide, nationally or internationally. Health officials said that the uptick in cases in Warren County follows typical seasonal bacterial and viral activity trends. 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. Mourners gathered in a narrow alley on a bitter cold rainy day downtown to remember a little boy whose body was found near a spot that on Saturday was marked by a memorial of teddy bears, toys and candles lit in his memory. It was a diverse group of about three dozen people that assembled in an alley of an apartment building at 1006 Grand Blvd., where a 5-year-old boy plunged 17 stories on Nov. 27, according to police officials. The Kansas City fire department also paid its respects by parking fire trucks near the memorial. In memory of the child identified by authorities as Grayson OConnor, mostly adult mourners held green and white balloons at a 2 p.m. memorial, where tributes were filled with tears, sniffles, and heavy hearts. Before opening remarks to remember the life of an innocent child, gatherers sang in unison, Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. The Star reported that Kansas City police responded to a medical call on Monday and found Grayson suffering from apparent head trauma in an alley. The child was pronounced dead at the scene. His death has brought a community to mourning and caused people to question whether they could have done more to save the child. The entire building shaken As mourners stood inches away from the spot where the childs body was found, residents who knew Grayson stepped away at times to comfort each other. For some residents like Shakaela Bruce, 26, a sense of guilt permeates the hearts of those who remember seeing a cheerful boy from the 17th floor walk up and down the stairs. The entire building is shaken, Bruce said. Bruce, who described herself as Graysons neighbor, remembered often seeing him walk in their apartment building with his mother. Bruce recalled leaning down to touch his arm and say, Hey Grayson. Some residents have said they noticed signs of child neglect and abuse. During the memorial, a man in the crowd said he felt compelled to drive from Blue Springs to attend Graysons memorial, which has impacted his family. He expressed anger while attempting to fathom the death of a child who should have been protected and who neighbors previously told the Star had allegedly experienced neglect and abuse. Gatherers listen as members of the community give remarks on the tragic death of Grayson, in the alley of Grand Loft Apartments, located at 1006 Grand Blvd. Police have not filed charges in the case, which remains under investigation, including how the child fell from his apartment window. Police have also said that the childs mother is considered the subject of interest by police, although exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Contacted on Saturday evening, Captain Corey Carlisle, a spokesperson for the Kansas City police, said there are no updates in the case. Bruce, who has been a resident for two years, was shocked to hear of allegations of abuse while watching the news on television. When I saw him, I didnt know any of this was going on until they said it on the news, Bruce said. If everybody knew, why (didnt) nothing happen? she said. Five days after Graysons death, Bruce said she now avoids walking with her daughter past the alley where Graysons small body fell from the high-rise to the cold hard ground. I havent told her, Bruce said. I cant even take my trash out because I dont want her to ask whats going on if she sees the memorial. On the sidewalk Saturday, Kelsey Grzib, 35, cried as her neighbors hugged and comforted her. She recalled finding Grayson once alone outside sometime in March and decided to take him in because his mother allegedly could not be found. Grzib said she and other residents suspected abuse and made calls to the authorities to rescue him. Ive called CPS four times and other residents hotlined her (called authorities) Grzib said, tears filling her eyes. We all knew this was going to happen, thats why he have this guilt. As the memorial came to a close, mourners placed stuffed animals, lit candles and tied balloons to a silver gate, where Grayson took his last breath alone in the alley five days earlier. A soft rain fell amid their tears. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A blaze broke out in Williamson County Thursday night, damaging several structures and burning dozens of tires. Williamson County Fire/Rescue said crews responded to a barn on fire along Old Carters Creek Pike, just outside the Franklin city limits, shortly after 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30. When units arrived at the scene, they said a bard was fully-involved in flames, which were spreading into other small outbuildings and trailers. Meanwhile, a brush fire had also spread to the adjacent property. 2 found trapped in car down Maury County embankment following head-on crash According to officials, multiple fire engines responded to the call, as well as two tankers, but because of the amount of materials inside the barn and the limited hydrant access in the area, another tanker was requested from the Arrington Volunteer Fire Department in order to help sustain the water supply. (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) (Courtesy: Williamson County Fire/Rescue) Williamson County Fire/Rescue said three small buildings, two trailers, a 30-foot boat, and 50 tires were destroyed in the fire. However, there were no reports of injuries. Due to the burning tires, the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency reportedly responded to the scene to help monitor the air quality. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Meanwhile, the Williamson County Highway Department brought out a skid steer loader to move the debris, making sure all of the flames were extinguished, officials said. Foam was also applied to ensure the fire did not rekindle. In addition to the agencies already mentioned, Williamson County Fire/Rescue thanked the Williamson County Sheriffs Office, Box 94, Middle Tennessee Electric, and the Spring Hill Fire Department for their assistance at the scene. No additional details have been released about the fire, including what caused it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Alex Murdaugh unleashed another pack of lies in the Beaufort County Courthouse last week, but his whopper about family legacy should spur us to avoid the pain and suffering of future Alex Murdaughs. The convicted killer of his wife and son yammered on for almost an hour at his sentencing hearing for a long string of financial crimes. Murdaugh was sentenced to 27 years in a plea deal accepted by all parties. David Lauderdale The 55-year-old son, grandson and great-grandson of powerful solicitors in these low reaches of the South Carolina Lowcountry doled out typical hogwash, like how deeply he cares for each of the poor clients he stole collectively millions of dollars from while acting as their trusted lawyer in civil cases. But the part that made some of us gag was when he expressed profound remorse and anger that his actions had slandered the legacy of his father and grandfather, our John Monk and Ted Clifford reported. He described them as fully and wholly committed to justice. Two men who were most honest and most decent two men who would be devastated by what I have done. His father, J. Randolph Murdaugh III, who was 14th Circuit solicitor from 1986 to 2006, was known as the best of the bunch but showed his colors on the night the Murdaugh mystique was blown up in a boat crash. Alexs slain son Paul was charged with driving his fathers boat while drunk, hitting a pylon in the dead of night and killing one of the six passengers. Alex and his father rushed to the hospital and began manipulating who would say what and who would say anything at all. Immediately after the crash, the folks in rural Hampton County rose as one to say the Murdaughs always got away with everything by manipulating law enforcement and the courts, and that it would happen again, and they were sick of it. Thats the Murdaugh legacy that Alex has ruined. His grandfather, J. Randolph Buster Murdaugh Jr., who was solicitor from 1940 to 1986, was absolutely not wholly committed to justice. And this is where we could learn a lesson today that South Carolina should have learned almost 70 years ago when solicitor Buster Murdaugh was indicted in a massive public corruption case called the Colleton Whiskey Conspiracy. He got off, though testimony in the two-week federal trial in 1956 showed Buster Murdaugh to be up to his eyeballs in a case where law enforcement took payola to enable moonshiners to thrive. Murdaugh was the only one found not guilty by a jury that heard evidence against some 30 defendants, including a sheriff, deputies and judges. The conspiracy included fake raids on moonshine stills, which testimony showed was Murdaughs idea. A witness quoted him as saying: For Gods sake make the raids even if you have to warn them in advance, catch them and set up fines. Ill take care of them. Thats the Murdaugh legacy Alex practiced and now laments with crocodile tears: Ill take care of them. That is done by bending the law, not by being wholly committed to justice. It requires co-conspirators. Buster Murdaugh laid out the blueprint for the family legacy in the whiskey case. You rush to the scene. You use your badge to manipulate the story and evidence. Interfere with witnesses and jurors. Hire a flank of high-priced, big-name lawyers. Remain a hale and hearty fellow who knows everyone and engenders trust, with the belief that a Murdaugh can always take care of them. The federal judge who tried that case called Murdaugh grossly unethical and didnt understand how we would re-elect him, which we did for 30 more years. Today, we still see things that are wrong. This time, we should act and not look the other way. Legislators who are lawyers place judges on the bench, then practice before them. It is grossly unethical. A judge can be accused of wrongdoing, but we never hear another word about it as the judicial systems foxes guard the henhouse. When something is grossly unethical, fix it. Or pass this way again. David Lauderdale may be reached at LauderdaleColumn@gmail.com. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stressed that allies should continue to support Ukraine in the war unleashed by the Russian Federation. Source: Stoltenberg in an interview with ARD, quoted by DW, as reported by European Pravda Details: Stoltenberg stressed that further support for Ukraine is in the interests of NATO itself. Quote: "We need to understand that if President Putin wins, tragedy awaits Ukraine. But for us, it will also be dangerous. So it is in our own interests for Ukraine to survive," NATO Secretary General said. He went on to say that the allies should "be prepared for bad news" and continue to support Ukraine. "We must also be prepared for bad news. The course of wars is not a constant, but a variable process. We must support Ukraine in good times and in bad. The current war is a war of attrition, it is a battle for efficiency, a battle for logistics," Stoltenberg explained. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, also expressed confidence that the Allies will continue to provide Ukraine with significant amounts of military aid. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba insisted that NATO countries are showing no signs of fatigue from the Russian war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! At least four people were killed after an explosion occurred while Catholic Mass was going on inside the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University in the predominantly Islamic city of Marawi on Sunday (December 3). Campus security chief Taha Mandangan said that the morning service was underway when the explosion happened, which caused panic among students, teachers, and others in the congregation. Several people were also wounded, with at least six of them taken to hospital in critical condition, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. added. Two of the deceased - a male and a female - have been identified, while the identities of two other women who died remain unknown. "This is clearly an act of terrorism," Mandangan told the Associated Press. "It's not a simple feud between two people. A bomb will kill everybody around." In its statement, the Mindanao State University "unequivocally" condemned the incident. They have also suspended all classes until further notice. Military and police units have been tasked to cordon off the scene as investigations are underway. Christian Deaths in an Islamic City Marawi is the capital of the province of Lanao del Sur and one of the major cities of the Bangsamoro region, which has a Muslim majority in a predominantly Roman Catholic nation. Christians in the region have been living in relative peace with Muslims in the area. The city has since been on edge after Islamic State-affiliated local terrorists held the city back in 2017. The blast, which was caused by an improvised explosive device later identified as a 60-millimeter mortar round, sparked a security alarm across the island of Mindanao, as well as other parts of the archipelago, including the capital Manila and regional centers Cebu and Davao, as the Christmas season kicked into overdrive. Regional military commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III said that at least 50 people were taken to two hospitals in the area for emergency medical treatment. Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. - a veteran commander of government forces in Marawi during the five-month-long battle in 2017 - added that the bomb attack could be retaliation by Muslim militants for a series of battle setbacks as state troops and police units in Mindanao have been flushing out Muslim extremists in the island. Brawner further cited the killing of 11 suspected Islamic militants in a full-scale military offensive on Friday (December 1) in the province of Maguindanao. Bangsamoro police chief Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza added that the slain fighters belonged to Dawlah Islamiyah, an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State. For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard said it would order its personnel to assist defense and public security forces by intensifying its intelligence gathering, stricter inspections of passenger ferries, and the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs and sea marshals across the country's ports. Read Also: Joint Patrols by Philippines, US in Waters Near Taiwan May Escalate Tensions With China Filipino Officials, Churchmen Condemn Killings Meanwhile, authorities from both church and state have condemned the incident. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao State University (MSU) and Marawi communities early this Sunday morning. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) December 3, 2023 In a statement, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he vehemently condemned the attack in the university, claiming that it was "perpetrated by foreign terrorists" without elaborating further. "Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society," he added. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro later told a news conference that there was a strong indication of a "foreign element" in the bombing, but also did not make any elaborations. Adiong said that his province has been advocating the promotion of basic human rights, including the right to religion, and that the attack being executed in a school only made it worse. "I urge the security sector to get to the bottom of this immediately!" he added. Provincial representative Zia Alonto Adiong also echoed the governor's remarks, adding that the province "[stands] in solidarity" with the Christian community of Marawi and the Bangsamoro region. On the other hand, the Bishop of Caloocan, Pablo Virgilio David, issued a statement on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), saying that they were condemning the attack on the first Sunday of Advent, the first day of the Catholic liturgical year. David stated that the attack also happened merely days after "Red Wednesday," a commemoration held by the Catholic Church every last Wednesday of November to remember Christians persecuted, harmed, or killed for their faith. "Such violence should not only be denounced; it should also be renounced as a way of seeking redress by every peace-loving Filipino," he added. In a separate statement, Filipino Cardinal Orlando Quevedo - whose final appointment prior to retirement was the archbishopric of Cotabato, also in Mindanao - said that the attack was a "crime that literally cries out to heaven." He also called on law enforcement agencies to hold the perpetrators accountable. He also recalled the bombing of Jolo Cathedral in the archipelago province of Sulu back in 2019. The cardinal has been named a member of the council of leaders in the Bangsamoro region, Rappler reported. Related Article: Chinese Jets Shadow Filipino Planes While on Joint PH-AU Patrol @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Homeless people gather Nov. 6 in Celebration of Life Park, 301 E Main St. in downtown Shawnee. That city recently passed an ordinance that limits feeding four or more homeless people without a permit in the downtown area. A national push to criminalize homelessness is impacting the state as cities and lawmakers introduce policies aimed at regulating encampments and other support for unhoused Oklahomans, legal experts say. Efforts to criminalize homelessness through tickets, fines or arrests arent new, but have increased in the last few years partly as a result of the issue becoming more visible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis from the National Homeless Law Center. According to the center, which has tracked legislation across the country since the 1990s, Oklahomas push to punish homelessness is moderate compared to other state legislatures, which have passed laws forcing homeless people to get mental health treatment or attempted to ban camping on state-owned land or criminalize sleeping on sidewalks. More: An Oklahoma city now requires a permit to feed homeless. Advocates say they're being 'punished' Still in the past few years, theres been growing efforts across Oklahoma to regulate everything from homeless encampments to panhandling to feeding unhoused residents. Criminalization doesnt work, said Eric Tars, senior policy director for the center. If it did, there would be no homeless people. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Oklahomas unsheltered homeless population has increased by 15% over a decade. It has steadily risen since 2015. Estimates show 1,317 people were living on the streets in 2022. Politicians said theyre feeling increasing pressure from constituents to address homelessness in their communities. In the past two years, two GOP state lawmakers have led unsuccessful legislative efforts to address homeless encampments. Two Senate bills would have effectively banned the encampments by requiring them to comply with building codes. One of them also required cities to monitor encampments for possible contamination of city water supplies. More: Oklahoma City's first permanent winter shelter is now open to house 300 during cold months Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, who ran one of the measures, said in an email that his Norman constituents are concerned with crime and sanitation. This is very difficult as we have court decisions that seek to prevent mistreatment of all citizens, including homeless, and this is not necessarily bad, but makes addressing the issue difficult, Standridge said. Hailey Drylie-Junker, who works with the Homeless Alliance's Curbside Chronicle street newspaper, walks along a creek Jan. 26 in northwest Oklahoma City during the Point in Time count of the homeless population. Cities take steps to ban homelessness City leaders in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Shawnee and Norman also have tried to tackle the issue by passing local ordinances. A poll in Tulsa, by the Cicero Institute, found its residents favor tougher policies like forced treatment for mentally ill homeless people and prioritized funding for those services over subsidized housing. Nearly half of Tulsans also disapproved of the city councils handling of the issue. The institute presses for what it calls system-wide accountability and real solutions to homelessness. It calls for banning unauthorized street camping, paying nonprofits based on performance, and amending civil commitment laws for homeless people suffering from chronic and untreated mental illness. Cicero officials did not return a message seeking comment. More: Motel 6 east of Bricktown to be converted into housing for chronically homeless State Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, who is also running for mayor, said his citys homeless population is growing, and residents are frustrated. The most recent data for Tulsa County shows homelessness grew by 6.6% in 2022. The issue needs more attention from city and state leaders, Nichols said. I think one of the biggest challenges we continue to face is this balancing between having services that are widely and immediately available and matching that with anything we might do on the enforcement side, he said. The state should be a partner with cities to help fund housing solutions and treatment services that address the underlying causes of homelessness, Nichols said. Norman business owners have urged city leaders to crack down on homelessness amid complaints about panhandling, encampments and violent crimes in the wake of two recent stabbings and one shooting that police said involved homeless people. The citys homeless population is up by 16 people from the previous year. Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila said there often is little the city can do to address some of those complaints, such as panhandling. Constituents have complained to me about panhandling, but the Supreme Court has said panhandling is freedom of speech, Heikkila said. It also can be difficult to evict encampments because its not against the law to be homeless, he said. Shawnee recently passed an ordinance that limits feeding four or more homeless people without a permit in the downtown area. Tars, with the homeless law center, believes its unconstitutional because the restriction violates the right to free assembly, freedom of speech and when performed as part of religious beliefs, also violates religious expression. Shawnee City Manager Andrea Weckmueller-Behringer did not respond to phone and email messages seeking comment. Efforts to criminalize homelessness in Oklahoma City have failed in recent years, including a panhandling ban on public easement like medians. It was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The city has since pledged to invest millions of dollars in affordable housing initiatives to help end homelessness. City leaders declined to approve camping bans on public and private property last year. Some cities policies overlook long-term solutions that could lead to far better outcomes, said Dan Straughan, executive director of the Homeless Alliance. The nonprofit assists people out of homelessness through partnerships with housing advocacy groups. City councils view themselves as having relatively few tools in their tool belt, Straughan said. Their kind of knee-jerk response is, Well, well just pass an ordinance to outlaw that when there may be more constructive ways to address that. He suggested city leaders partner with nonprofit organizations to boost affordable housing supply rather than filling up jails at taxpayer expense. Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma pushing efforts to criminalize homelessness The National Security Councils coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said Sunday on NBC News that the U.S. intelligence community has indicated it was not aware of Hamas plan to attack Israel. The New York Times recently reported that Israeli officials obtained Hamas plans for its Oct. 7 attack more than a year before it happened, citing documents, emails and interviews. The Times reported that the document was circulated among Israeli military and intelligence officials, but experts dismissed the plan as one that would be too difficult for Hamas to execute. In an interview on Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker pressed Kirby about the report, asking: Was the United States aware of this intelligence, and if not, why not? The intelligence community has indicated that that they did not have access to this document. That theres no indications at this time that they had any access to this document beforehand, Kirby said. Should they have? Given how closely U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials coordinate and are supposed to coordinate intelligence? Welker asked. Intelligence is a mosaic and sometimes you know you can fashion things together and get a pretty good picture, Kirby said. Other times, you know that theres pieces of the puzzle that are missing. As I said, our own intelligence community said that theyve looked at this, he added. They have no indications at this time that they had any advance warning of this document or any knowledge of it. Asked whether this was a failure on the part of Israeli and U.S. intelligence, Kirby said: I think theres going to be a time and a place for Israel to do that sort of forensic work. I mean, [Israeli] Prime Minister Netanyahu has already spoken pretty candidly about this and calling it, you know, a failure on their part, he said. Theyll take a look at this at the right time. They need to do that. Right now, though, the focus has got to be on making sure that they can eliminate this truly genocidal threat to the Israeli people. In recent days, Israel has intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip after talks to renew the truce with Hamas collapsed. More than 15,000 people in Gaza have been killed and about 1.8 million have been displaced after weeks of Israeli attacks, according to health officials. The IDF estimated that more than 1,200 people died and over 200 were abducted in Hamas attack on Oct. 7, with around 140 people still held captive in Gaza after more than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce. Welker noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Israeli government has agreed to a clear plan for averting civilian deaths before resuming its assault on southern Gaza. Welker asked: Can you give us an indication what is that plan, John? And what specific assurances has Israel given to the U.S.? I want to be careful that I dont speak to Israeli military operations and get ahead of what theyre doing. That would be inappropriate for me to do, he said. What I can tell you is that in our conversations with them, they have said that they agree with our idea here that the approach they take matters, that the reduction of civilian casualties and, quite frankly, minimizing damage to civilian infrastructure is important to them. Welker then pressed Kirby, asking, What is the United States prepared to do if it feels as though Israel is not following a specific plan to mitigate civilian casualties? Whats the fallout? Thats a hypothetical, and I dont want to get ahead, again, of where we are right now, he said. Asked if the U.S. will deliver consequences if it feels Israel is not following a specific plan to protect civilians, Kirby said: Again, I dont want to speculate one way or the other, Kristen. I want to make two things clear. One is were going to continue to support Israel as they go after Hamas the security assistance continues to flow. Thats not going to change, he said. Were also going to do everything we can to make sure that they are properly accounting for the civilian population and minimizing the damage and the casualties as much as possible. NBC News has not independently verified the Times report about Israel obtaining Hamas attack plan, or obtained a copy of the 40-page blueprint document that Israeli authorities reportedly code-named Jericho Wall. Kirbys remarks echo those of a U.S. official who told NBC News last week that American intelligence agencies appear to have not received a document of the blueprint. There are no indicators at this time that the intelligence community was provided the Jericho Wall document reported last night by the New York Times, the official said, adding that the U.S. intelligence community will continue to review its information. On Friday, an Israeli official familiar with the matter told NBC News that analysts in the countrys military alerted their superiors to Hamas plan designed to start a war. But their superiors dismissed their concerns. A female Israeli intelligence analyst who focused on Hamas described in a July 6 email with a subject line that read, Death in the Kibbutz, at any cost a May training session by the militant group that began in the early-morning hours and lasted late into the evening. The training included jeeps and motorcycles, and a scenario of shooting down an aircraft. A senior Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to NBC News the emails that were first reported by Israels Channel 12 news and the Financial Times. The Israeli intelligence analyst followed up the initial email with information about Hamas militants discussing awaiting instructions. Six days after the analyst sent the emails, an IDF commander commended the analysts work, but dismissed the training session as an imaginary scenario rather than a concrete battle plan, according to an Israeli official. Addressing the Times report, Blinken on Friday vowed that there would be accountability, looking at what led up to Oct. 7. Right now, the focus is on making sure that they can do everything possible to ensure that it doesnt happen again, Blinken told reporters on a tarmac in Dubai, where he attended the COP28 climate summit. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WASHINGTON In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. Legislation Introduced to Protect Bison Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK), the first Alaska Native ever elected to Congress, with Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), and Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), have introduced H.R.6368, a bill to assist tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and the re-establishment of buffalo on Indian land. A similar version of the bill, sponsored by the late U.S. Representative Don Young (R-AK), passed the House of Representatives in late 2021. 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. This is a pivotal moment for Indigenous people and a true testament to the hard work and determination of countless Native advocates. For hundreds of years, the American buffalo was central to the culture, spiritual wellbeing, and livelihoods of our nations Indigenous peoples, Rep. Peltola said. Alaska proudly hosts a thriving buffalo herd on Sitkalidak Island, managed by the Alutiiq people. The ruthless decimation of buffalo herds that occurred in the mid-19th century dealt a devasting blow to Native communities that have long relied on these animals. We must reverse the damage done to the American buffalo and to the ways of life of Native peoples across our country. This bill is an important step toward restoring once-flourishing buffalo herds, which have been vital to the cultural, spiritual, and subsistence traditions of Native Americans throughout many states. I now call on my colleagues to help us get this vital bill across the finish line. Almost $2 Million Awarded to 10 Tribal Organization to Help Native Families & Communities Indian Affairs announced on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. the award of nearly $2 million in Indian Child Welfare Act grants to 10 tribal organizations to help support off-reservation Indian child and family service programs. The programs selected are to provide services intended to stabilize American Indian and Alaska Native families and Tribes, prevent the breakup of families, and ensure that the permanent removal of an American Indian or Alaska Native child from the custody of parent or custodian is a last resort. The Indian Child Welfare Act represents a national promise to fulfill our moral and legal obligations to protect American Indian and Alaska Native children and families and respect Tribal sovereignty, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said. These grants will expand access to child and family services to help protect Native children and keep Native families together. The grant recipients and funding amounts are: Southern Indian Health Council, Inc., Alpine, Calif., $200,000 American Indian Child Resource Center, Oakland, Calif. , $200,000 Indian Child and Family Preservation Program, Santa Rosa, Calif., $200,000 Denver Indian Family Resource Center, Denver, Colo., $200,000 The ICWA Law Center, Minneapolis, Minn., $200,000 Minneapolis American Indian Center, Minneapolis, Minn., $200,000 Rocky Mountain Tribal Leadership Council, Billings, Mont., $200,000 Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition, Inc., Bloomfield, Neb., $200,000 The American Indian Community Center, Spokane, Wash., $200,000 Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, $170,788 Off-reservation Indian child and family service programs are authorized under the Indian Child Welfare Act, enabling Tribal organizations to provide services which may include, but are not limited to, supporting Indian foster and adoptive homes; providing counseling to families and foster and adoptive children; family assistance, including homemaker and home counselors, day care, afterschool care, and employment, recreational activities, and respite care; and guidance, legal representation, and advice to Indian families involved in child custody proceedings. 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 HONOLULU The U.S. Navy estimates it will cost $1.5 million to salvage a jet plane that crashed on a coral reef in Hawaii nearly two weeks ago, officials said Saturday. Navy spokesman Mohammad Issa said the salvage efforts are focused on protecting the environment and safely recovering the aircraft in a way that retains its combat capability. He said $200,000 has already been spent on the operation. The Navy plans to use inflatable cylinders to lift and roll the jet plane off the reef where it crashed on Nov. 20. The P-8A, the militarys version of a Boeing 737 jet, slammed into an environmentally sensitive bay about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Honolulu when it overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. None of the nine people on board were injured. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 who is leading the salvage effort, said Friday he is confident the operation can be carried out without further damaging the reef. The Navy released underwater video on Wednesday showing the aircrafts landing gear wheels resting on parts of crushed coral and much of the rest of the plane floating above the reef in Kaneohe Bay. In this image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy, Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One conduct an underwater survey of the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (U.S. Navy via AP) A Navy team has removed nearly all of the estimated 2,000 gallons (7,500 liters) of fuel from the aircraft. Hawaii state officials are due to examine the reef for damage once the plane is removed. Kaneohe Bay is home to coral reefs and a range of marine life, from sharks to octopus and fish. The area hosts an ancient Hawaiian fishpond being restored by community groups. Contractors performed a similar feat when they removed a barge weighing 1,000 tons (907 metric tons) from sensitive seagrass habitat in the Outer Banks of North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2015. The plane weighs about 60 tons (54 metric tons). The Navy considered floating the jet within range of a crane on the runway and then lifting the plane onto land. But Lenox said the inflatable cylinder option was the safer method, was expected to have little to no effect on the coral and would not impact the aircraft. The jet is in good condition and the Navy hopes to get it flying again, Lenox said. The Navy uses the P-8A to search for submarines and conduct surveillance and reconnaissance. The Boeing-made plane is assigned to Patrol Squadron 4 stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state. A separate crew from Whidbey Island has deployed to Hawaii to take over the squadrons patrol missions near Hawaii. The North End Community Improvement Collaborative is making a pivot. NECIC will turn its immediate attention to acquiring the former Volunteers of America property at 280 and 290 N. Main St. That does not mean, though, that NECIC is moving away from a planned community impact center for the North End. The agency announced plans in April 2022 for a multi-million-dollar community center to be built at 486 Springmill St., at the corner of Bowman and Springmill streets. "We are not divorcing ourselves from the community center at all," said Melissa Drozda, development officer. "This is a way for us to have an immediate solution to what is happening right now. It's actually going to be a huge stepping stone to the community center. "We're going to be able to bring to life a couple of elements of the impact center sooner, but this is going to help us with the other work we're doing that plays into the youth violence prevention." Melissa Drozda Mansfield has seen 11 homicides this year, most involving young people and most happening on the city's north side. NECIC has planned to raise $16 million for the community impact center. The goal is to renovate and expand the existing property to house NECIC's programs and bring vital services back to the community. NECIC's proposed Community Impact Center would be built around a former credit union building at the corner of Springmill and Bowman Streets in Mansfield. The community impact center will serve as a central access point to employment, health care, mental health services, arts, education, small business development and recreation for people in Mansfield and throughout Richland County. Community center to include medical and mental health services Among other services, the building will be home to a business assistance center, a medical clinic, mental health services, art studios, recording and podcast studios, and conference rooms. Part of the money for the community center was to come through American Rescue Plan Act funding. Mansfield City Council allocated $1.5 million toward the project. ARPA money has to be appropriated by the end of 2024, and the projects have to be in place and operating by the end of 2026. NECIC officials did not think they could make the 2026 deadline. Deanna West-Torrence "We wanted to keep the ARPA money for the community center. That would have been our hope," NECIC founder and executive director Deanna West-Torrence said. "The deeper we've gotten into the construction plans, we realized the timelines might not coincide. "We didn't want to put the city in a situation of us not being done with it in time." Instead, NECIC will apply the ARPA money toward the acquisition, rehabilitation and some of the program equipment for the former VOA property. West-Torrence said NECIC is in the "early stages" of negotiations. "We can get started now as we raise money for this building," she said. NECIC received grant to help with preventing youth violence NECIC has acquired a $321,000 youth violence prevention grant through the Ohio Commission of Minority Health to focus on ages 6 to 24. "We're hoping to get some youth violence prevention equipment, which would be vocational-type equipment and which will eventually go into the impact center," Drozda said. "We can get it going now. "Everything just perfectly fell into place. As we've been fundraising for the new building, we've unlocked some funding sources compatible to the other work we do." For example, Drozda said NECIC has outgrown its commercial kitchen and needs more cooler space. The VOA property will help with those areas, along with an incubating space for businesses. "I think this will help fundraising for us, too," she said. West-Torrence added, "This (VOA property) was a more immediate use." The property could support micro-businesses and have space for podcast and recording studios. West-Torrence emphasized the organization is continuing its work while fundraising. "For the public, sometimes they might think that our whole work is the campaign," she said. "No, that is an addition." In 2006, a group of Mansfield's concerned North End residents and community leaders came together to address their neighborhood's decline. The result was NECIC, which was formed to improve the quality of life and economic landscape for the North End. Putting out word on community center may have been premature NECIC officials talked about the community impact center at their annual meeting a couple of years ago. West-Torrence now says that might have been premature. "The community center project went public far too soon," she said. "We didn't have a single partner identified when it went public. Now there's a spotlight on us to raise $16 million by the end of 2023." Drozda said counting ARPA money, NECIS has raised about $4 million toward the community center. "There's a lot of big dollar amounts that are coming up that are not going to be on the timeline for fundraising this year," she said. "ARPA got us going and moving." West-Torrence elaborated on her previous point. "Because we were going for public dollars, we had to show our hand. It (announcement) put a microscope on us," she said. "If you were raising money for Kingwood, half the money is raised by the time the public knows about it." In February, county commissioners declined to dole out any ARPA money for the community center. NECIC had asked for $2 million toward the project. "When we saw that we weren't going to get the county dollars, it just made sense to take a breather for a minute," West-Torrence said. In the meantime, she said NECIC now has the personnel to manage a capital campaign of this size. It also has had soil and environmental work done at the site. West-Torrence is eager to combat the issue of youth violence, noting NECIC has more than 45 community partners willing to help. "Our children are not well. We as a community are not well," she said. "That is why we need this community center. We need to increase the opportunities for these young people, so they have an alternative to picking up a gun." Drozda added, "They can walk into a building in their neighborhood and see other pathways in life. There will be an architect in the building, banking services, music, arts." While the plans for a community center have changed for the time being to focus on the VOA property, West-Torrence said 2023 has been a productive year. "This is the best solution for everyone," she said. "I feel good about it." mcaudill@gannett.com 419-521-7219 X (formerly Twitter): @MarkCau32059251 This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: NECIC going forward with community center while seeking property Nelson Mandelas granddaughter has called on Britains royal family to pay reparations for colonialism in Africa. Ndileka Mandela, an author and climate activist, appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg where she urged Britain to acknowledge its role in colonising parts of Africa, and referred to climate apartheid as a painful ripple of its colonial legacy. If there can be an acknowledgement of what was done to countries to colonise because we are still suffering a great deal from colonisation, in as far as our culture as Black people is concerned, she said, speaking from the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai. So there has got to be first admission of the fact that yes, we acknowledge that we displaced you as a people. Then we can talk of reparations. Pressed on whether she would want to see reparations from the royal family, she replied: Yes I would. Thats where healing begins. Mandela said she wanted acknowledgement of the royal familys role in colonialism before reparations (BBC) If you are arguing with the next person and you come to a tiff, when you sit around the table and admit your part, both parties admit their part in the disillusion of whatever it is that happened, it is then that healing begins. If that happens, the healing will definitely begin. Her remarks come two months after King Charles was praised for acknowledging the more painful aspects of Britains relationship with Kenya during a historic speech notable for its contrition over colonial injustices. Charles said at the time: ...we must also acknowledge the most painful times of our long, complex relationship. The wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret. They were abhorrent, unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans, as they waged a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty. And, for that, there can be no excuse. Mandela was then asked about the treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in a week where discussion has returned to the alleged royal racist who is said to have raised concerns over the colour of Prince Archies skin. The names of two members of the royal family King Charles and the Princess of Wales were given in the Dutch-language translation of Endgame, a new book about the royal family written by royal reporter Omid Scobie. Scobie did not write the names in the English version of the book, and has denied adding them to the version released in the Netherlands. Asked if she felt the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been victims of racism in the UK, Mandela said: I believe Harry and Meghan had to find their own voice, in a similar way Grandad had to find his own voice. They should be given, like any other person, room to voice out whatever their misgivings are. I cannot speak to whether Harry and Meghans children have been discriminated [against], because I dont have first-hand information of that. However he should be allowed to voice out whatever he wants to voice out and choose his own path. In this handout photo provided by Sunil Babu Pant (far right), same-sex couple Surendra Pandey, second left, and Maya Gurung, who got married six years ago, pose for a photograph with their marriage registration certificate at Dorje village council office, located in the mountains west of the capital Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. The couple became the first in the nation to receive official same-sex marriage status. In a landmark event in Nepal, a couple made history on Wednesday by becoming the first to officially register a same-sex marriage, a significant step for LGBTQ+ rights in the region. Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandeys marriage registration in the Dorje village council office, set against the backdrop of the mountains west of Kathmandu, was the first time a municipality allowed a couple of the same legal sex to be married. Gurung is a transgender woman but is legally recognized as male in the country. She and Pandey held a Hindu wedding ceremony in 2017, according to Human Rights Watch. Sunil Babu Pant, a former parliamentarian and a key figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, was present at the registration. Pant, who is out, expressed the significance of this moment to the Associated Press. After 23 years of struggle, we got this historic achievement, and finally, Maya and Surendra got their marriage registered at the local administration office, Pant said. Related: Marriage Equality Hits a Challenge in Nepal This development follows Nepals Supreme Courts interim order earlier in the year, which, for the first time, allowed the registration of same-sex marriages. Despite initial refusals from officials and legal hurdles at both the Kathmandu District Court and High Court, the couple persisted in their quest. The Home Ministrys recent procedural changes were pivotal in this breakthrough. It was quite unexpected, and it was a positive breeze for us, Pant shared with the AP over a phone call, highlighting the sudden but welcome shift in the governments stance. Nepals gradual progression towards LGBTQ+ inclusivity has been notable, especially since a 2007 court ruling urged the government to enact changes to support LGBTQ+ people. The country recognizes the existence of transgender people and allows the option of a third gender on official documents for those who do not identify as male or female. The country's 2015 constitution prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. In that same year, a government committee recommended that Nepal grant marriage equality. A court ordered the government to recognize a same-sex marriage conducted in Germany back in March, HRW notes. Alex Cooper contributed to this report. Over 400 strikes have been carried out by Israel in Gaza in the past 48 hours after Hamas allegedly broke the truce they had agreed upon last week. Since the resumption of the war, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted hundreds of bombardments, while Hamas announced rocket barrages against Israeli towns and cities, including Tel Aviv. Israel also conducted airstrikes in the Nuseirat refugee camp late Saturday night (December 2), killing at least 13 people, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. The Daily Mail also reported that the truce, brokered by Qatar and supported by Egypt and the United States, allowed for the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for around 240 Palestinian prisoners. Read Also: Hamas Members Suspect in Jerusalem Bus Stop Shooting Identified What's Next After the Truce According to Israeli authorities, Hamas had tried to fire a rocket before the end of the truce, as well as failing to produce a list of further hostages for release. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant told reporters that fresh military action was needed to force Hamas to "pay a heavy price," which meant the release of hostages. In the meantime, Hamas deputy chief Saleh al Arouri told Al Jazeera that there will be no further exchanges of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners until "the war on Gaza is over." Meanwhile, Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Jerusalem needed a "security envelope" around the coastal areas to prevent Gazans from accessing the border fence on foot. On the other hand, Netanyahu revealed that his country planned to create a buffer zone within Gaza to stop Hamas from repeating the October 7 attacks. Related Article: Israel-Hamas War Continues After 7-Day Truce Runs Out @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. PORTSMOUTH A local bank executive says he was the victim of a racist attack in downtown Portsmouth the night before Thanksgiving. State police and the New Hampshire Attorney General's office are leading criminal and civil rights investigations. Mamadou Dembele, a vice president with Bangor Savings Bank, who is Black, alleges he was assaulted and injured Nov. 22 on a Portsmouth street. Last Wednesday I was attacked on a public Portsmouth Street. The words used by my attacker leave no doubt that this was a racist act," Dembele said in a written statement provided by his attorney. "My physical injuries are still hindering me but will hopefully heal with time. The fear and fury of being attacked in my home community because I was seen as other will never go away. I am grateful that law enforcement is investigating, and I will give them space and time to complete their work. But I look forward to seeing my attacker held accountable in a court of law. Mamadou Dembele says he was the victim of a racist assault in Portsmouth on a city street on Nov. 22, 2023. Robin Melone, the attorney representing Dembele, said Friday afternoon she believes the assault was a hate crime. She called it an unprovoked act by a white assailant with more people involved, adding Dembele had never previously met them. Melone declined to describe the attack or say what Dembele's injuries were. Dembele and supporters are planning a protest and press conference at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at the African Burying Ground Memorial Park in Portsmouth. Representatives from the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the Business Alliance for People of Color New Hampshire, Black Lives Matter New Hampshire, the Seacoast NAACP and the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity are expected to attend. Chief says former Portsmouth police employee may have been involved The Portsmouth Police Department responded to a report of a fight on Fleet Street around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 22 in the vicinity of Gilleys Diner, according to Portsmouth Deputy Police Chief Michael Maloney. He said Monday city police were investigating but did not provide details. New Hampshire State Police have taken over the investigation because a former employee of the Portsmouth Police Department may have been involved in the alleged incident, according to city Police Chief Mark Newport. We are not going to investigate due to the conflict of interest, Newport said Friday. New Hampshire State Police Lt. Joe Ronchi confirmed Friday state police will be investigating. He was notified Wednesday of the handoff from Portsmouth police and expects to receive more information in the coming week. The details of who is involved, it would be irresponsible to comment at this time, Ronchi said. On Friday, the New Hampshire Attorney General's office also confirmed its active involvement in the investigation. "The Attorney General's Office Civil Rights Unit is actively working with the Portsmouth Police Department and our law enforcement partners," said spokesman Michael Garrity. The public Portsmouth police log from Nov. 22 states a report was taken after six people were fighting in front of a business. The call reporting the incident came in at 10:37 p.m. that night, the log shows. The information from the police log is preliminary and not confirmed by an investigation, according to police. Police have not said how many people were involved. We believe one individual from the group committed the physical attack," said Melone, Dembele's attorney. "But there was a group who initially approached him and were present when Mamadou was physically attacked. The others in that group are just as responsible for Mamadous injuries even if they did not make physical contact with Mamadous body. They were part of this. Dembele thanks those who are supporting him Dembeles statement says that supporters, allies, and victims are welcome and encouraged to attend Sunday's event in Portsmouth. He also expressed gratitude for his friends, colleagues, and the community partners who have rallied to support me and every victim of racist violence. Our country and our state cannot continue to welcome overt hatred, Dembele wrote. I did not choose to be a victim. But I am choosing to not be silent. Dembele joined Bangor Savings Bank in 2019, according to the bank. He sits on the Portsmouth Music and Arts Centers board of directors, graduated from Furman Universitys Consumer Banking Associate Executive Banking School and has undergraduate degrees in education and psychology from the Aix-Marseille University in France, according to the bank. His attorney is calling for the state attorney general to get involved. I think any time we have an unprovoked attack on a Black man by white individuals, it would be appropriate for there to be consideration by law enforcement about whether or not this was a hate crime, Melone said. I have no question that this was a hate crime and I hope that the attorney general will consider it as such. Michael Garrity, spokesperson for the New Hampshire attorney generals office, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. More: Arvelo: Join us Sunday at 1 p.m. at African Burying Ground to protest racist attack This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Black man, bank VP, says he's victim of racist assault in Portsmouth Dear readers, At the Bradenton Herald, were committed to providing unbiased news that is essential to our community. Our reporting team works tirelessly to improve our community through impactful stories such as these: Reporter James A. Jones took an early look at the impact of a new Florida law that cracks down on illegal immigrants and how the Bradenton areas hospitality industry could suffer as a result. Reporter Michael Moore Jr. shed light on a poaching problem in Sarasota Bay. Local experts say it could have a dramatic effect on the marine ecosystem. Reporter Ryan Callihan continues to provide the latest in-depth coverage of progress toward the final closure of Piney Point, a long-stewing environmental nightmare along Tampa Bay. The Bradenton Herald recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, and we remain committed to delivering hard-hitting local journalism for readers like you. We know our community needs more. But todays marketplace realities limit the depth and breadth of our journalism. To expand our coverage, we need your help. We hope you will consider a tax-deductible contribution to help us better serve Manatee County. Gifts of any size make a difference. You can donate through bradentonherald.com/donate. Or, if you prefer to send a check, please put Bradenton in the memo line and mail it to 1601 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816. Please include your email address. Your support keeps us at the forefront of our community, bringing you the news that matters most. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Sincerely, Bradenton Herald Staff Nikki Haley on the campaign trail at Twin Barns Brewery, in Meredith, New Hampshire - CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Nikki Haley has laughed off being nicknamed bird brain by Donald Trump as she continues to make ground in the polls. The insults, the former South Carolina governor said, were evidence that her rivals were panicking. Look, all these guys know that were surging in the polls so theyre all starting to hit, Haley told Fox News. The nickname, [Trumps] losing it, its not even a funny nickname. I dont even think it was that great, she added. But you look at everything else he says, he knows how strong I was when it came to China. I was actually tougher on China than he was. As Ms Haley emerged as a potential major challenger to Mr Trump, the former president deemed she was a sufficient threat to accord her the dubious distinction of an insulting nickname. Not only did he give his former UN ambassador the soubriquet bird brain, but a member of his staff left a birdcage and feed outside her hotel room. While the polls still give Mr Trump a commanding lead in the race for the Republican nomination, Ms Haley is threatening to eclipse Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, as the most likely alternative. On Thursday, they were running neck and neck, with Mr DeSantis holding a narrow two-point lead. Ms Haley is gaining ground or above him in polls in the key early primary states, Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. And a raft of polls suggest that Ms Haley would defeat Joe Biden in a presidential election. Fox News gives her an 11-point lead and CNN has her six points ahead. Her strong performance in candidates debates has not gone unnoticed, including her savage takedown of early insurgent Vivek Ramaswamy. Donald Trump's staff reportedly left feed and a birdcage outside Nikki Haley's hotel room - REUTERS/Carlos Barria More significantly, Ms Haley is winning the support of major corporate donors, whose backing is vital in meeting the astronomic cost of running a presidential debate. In late October, Ms Haley impressed Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, in a phone call. And last week, Charles Koch, arguably the most influential conservative donor, publicly threw his weight behind Ms Haley. Emily Seidel, senior adviser to AFP Action, the Koch-backed political network, was fulsome in her praise for Ms Haley in a memo. Its now time to help rally those voters behind a candidate who can win the primary and win the general election. That candidate is Nikki Haley, she wrote. Kenneth Langone, the billionaire co-founder of the DIY chain Home Depot, has already donated to her campaign. Im a long way from making my mind up something could change but Im very impressed with her, he told the New York Times. I think shes a viable candidate. I would certainly like her over Trump. Speaking to the same paper Eric Levine, a Republican fundraiser, said that some corporate big hitters believe that Ms Haleys rise in the polls shows that Donald Trump could be stopped. Mr DeSantis, whose campaign disarray was laid bare by the abrupt departure of his political action committees chief executive after only nine days, has turned his fire on Ms Haley. Last week, he campaigned in South Carolina and dismissed her record as governor in the state. Ms Haley was unimpressed. I think he went after my record as governor because hes losing. I mean, who else can spend $100 million (78.8m) and drop half in the polls? My record as governor is clear. I took a state that had 11 per cent unemployment, we dropped it down to 4 per cent. We were known as the Beast of the Southeast because we created so many jobs and brought so many companies in. 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. If current trends hold, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley will stand on the GOP presidential primary debate stage Wednesday and give Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a wedgie before stuffing him in a locker. Such is the state of Haleys rise in the Republican primary race and DeSantis ongoing parade of humiliations. Along with strong poll numbers, Haley received a huge boost last week when the influential and deep-pocketed Koch political network endorsed her, presumably leaving DeSantis once hailed as the Republican Partys next big thing to reckon with the fact that few people actually like him (whomp-whomp). Nikki Haley gets Koch cash while Ron DeSantis gets another kick in the ... While Haley was counting all the new campaign cash she would get from Americans for Prosperity Action, linked to bazillionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, DeSantis was desperately vying for attention by debating a Democrat whos not running for president. Thats right, the once-heralded presidential candidate, who now trails Haley in polls in New Hampshire and South Carolina (where she's also the former governor) while falling into a tie with her in Iowa, spent Thursday night on Fox News debating Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Why? I dont know. Maybe he hoped Sean Hannity, who moderated the debate with his thumb pounding the scale in DeSantis direction, would make him look good. DeSantis' Fox News debate marked the return of 'Awkward Ron' It didnt work out that way. Viewers again saw Awkward Ron, a guy who struggles with smiling and other basic human facial expressions. They heard him parrot his usual culture-war blah-blah while Newsom who again is not running for president and really doesnt matter battered him with facts and lured him into exchanges like this one regarding Floridas pandemic response. Newsom: You followed science, you followed facts. DeSantis: Thats not true. Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis (L) and California Governor Gavin Newsom (R) appear on screen from the press room during a debate held by Fox News, in Alpharetta, Georgia, on November 30, 2023. (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images) The Florida governors campaign workers must have bruises from the constant face-palming. Prior to the weird and unnecessary debate, leading GOP presidential primary candidate Donald Trumps spokesperson released a predictably crass statement that wound up being prescient: 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. At the debate, Ron will flail his arms and bobble his head wildly, looking more like a San Francisco crackhead than the governor of Florida. This isnt a prediction. Its a spoiler. Ouch. Gross, but also ... ouch. Shutting Trump up would help GOP win: Trump battles gag order, but Republicans should pray he shuts up if they want to win 2024 Haley might be surging, but there's still the matter of this guy named Trump While the DeSantis campaigns death rattle is satisfying to those of us who have found him, his often-cruel policies and his bullying demeanor repulsive, there is an orange-hued elephant in the room that minimizes Haleys admirable progress. Trump remains miles ahead of both her and DeSantis in every poll, state or national. The former president again wont bother to attend Wednesdays debate, and while the Koch endorsement of Haley clearly irked him, its going to take more than money for anyone to overtake Trump and his 90-plus state and federal indictments. Flanked by his attorneys Chris Kise, left, and Alina Habba, former President Donald Trump waits to take the witness stand at New York Supreme Court on Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. If it comes down to Haley vs. Trump, she's going to need some big-time help If we assume DeSantis eventually takes his non-woke ball and goes home, making it a race between Trump and Haley, one of several things will need to happen for Haley to prevail: Aliens abduct Trump in an attempt to understand all the flaws of humankind. Trump starts spreading lies at a speed that bends time and space, sending him back to Germany circa 1933, where he belongs. Trump drops out or gets imprisoned. The latter likely wont matter and the former is never, ever going to happen. DeSantis tried to out-bully Trump, and that's a fool's errand So the only thing about Haleys rise to most-favored No. 2 that matters is that shes delivering another kick to the shins of DeSantis and what is arguably one of the worst presidential campaigns ever witnessed. Checkmate, haters! George Santos voted out of Congress, despite all his fake achievements From his decision to run to Trumps right a space that doesnt exist to his painful debate performances and inability to muster an ounce of likability, DeSantis has gone from right-wing rock star to sad little fellow who thought being mean to LBGTQ+ kids was a winning strategy. I don't like Haley or her policies, but ... go Nikki? Personally, I salute Haley for running a smart, drama-free campaign that has turned the Florida governor into ground jerk. I hope she uses this weeks debate to finish the job. Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attends the Thanksgiving Family Forum at the downtown Marriott on November 17, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. And then I hope Trump is sucked into some alien spacecrafts vacuum tube, giving Haley a chance to actually win. Not because I like her or her policies I dont, at all but because shes the only one of the bunch who doesnt completely scare the tuna salad out of me. Plus her winning would be an additional insult to DeSantis. And Im always always in favor of bullies getting their just desserts. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Haley's GOP primary field surge is death knell of DeSantis' campaign Police officers arrive to conduct a search operation at Karachi, Pakistan. Reprsentational image (Associated Press) Militants attacked a bus in northern Pakistan, resulting in the death of nine people, including two soldiers, the local police said on Sunday. Over 20 others sustained injuries in the incident. The attack on a bus occurred on Saturday at about 6.30pm along the Karakoram Highway in the northern Gilgit Baltistan region, police officer Azmat Shah told the Associated Press. Authorities reported that unidentified gunmen targeted a bus operated by a local private company from nearby hills. The attack led to the bus swerving into a goods truck, resulting in a head-on collision that claimed the lives of both the bus and truck drivers. The impact resulted in a fire, claiming the lives of both drivers at the scene. Two soldiers of the Pakistan Army were also killed in the incident while a police official was injured. Police said that more than 20 people were injured in the attack. Among the injured was one local Islamic cleric, identified as Mufti Sher Zaman. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, police said. An unfortunate incident occurred in which a cowardly act was done, targeting a bus, the regional police commissioner was quoted as saying by Dawn. The area was also cordoned off by the law enforcement authorities and traffic had to be redirected. No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Karakoram Highway in the northern Gilgit Baltistan region in Pakistan serves as a vital link between Pakistan and China, traversing through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This region has been a historical hotspot for terrorism, marked by the presence of the Pakistani Taliban and various other militant groups. The home minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Shams Lone, called the incident an act of terrorism. Pakistans interim prime minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, condemned the attack, saying anti-state elements would not be allowed to sabotage the peace of Gilgit Baltistan. He vowed to continue fighting against terrorists. An investigation has been launched, the chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Gulbar Khan said. Additional reporting with agencies Dr Sultan Al-Jaber (centre), the president of Cop28, with Xie Zhenhua (left), Chinas special envoy for climate and John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg There is no science behind the demand to phase out fossil fuels, the United Arab Emirates politician and Cop28 president has said in the latest difficult revelation for the summits Emirati hosts. During a meeting in the run-up to the summit, Dr Sultan Al-Jaber, who also heads the state oil company Adnoc, said the phase-out of fossil fuels was not necessary to achieve the Paris Agreement target of limiting warming to 1.5C. There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is whats going to achieve 1.5C, he said in response to a question from Mary Robinson, the former Irish president. The revelation will put further pressure on the UAE, the wealthy petrostate that faces the task of securing a global agreement on reducing emissions by the end of the two-week summit. Dr Al-Jaber, also the head of the renewable energy company Masdar, has already come under scrutiny following reports that he planned to use meetings with other governments to push oil and gas deals. He and the Cop28 team have repeatedly dismissed the reports as false. In the recordings, originally reported on Sunday by The Guardian, Dr Al-Jaber suggested a phase-out of fossil fuels would mean countries missing out on sustainable socioeconomic development and could not be achieved unless you want to take the world back into caves. He added that a phase-down and a phase-out of fossil fuels is inevitable, it is essential, but we need to be real, serious and pragmatic about it. Dr Sultan Al-Jaber heads Adnoc, the UAEs state oil company - Stuart Wilso /Cop28/Getty Images His comments, revealed by the Centre for Climate Reporting, are at odds with messaging from the UN, which convenes the Cop28 summit. Prof Sir David King, a former UK chief scientific adviser, and the chairman of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group told the Guardian that they were incredibly concerning and surprising. On Friday, Antonio Guterres, the UN chief, called for a total oil and gas phase-out, saying: Not reduce. Not abate. Phase out with a clear timeframe aligned with 1.5 degrees. The comments from Dr Al-Jaber were seized upon by climate activists, who pointed to analysis finding that phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to stick to the Paris Agreement goals, including a new report released on Sunday at the conference in Dubai. The report, Ten New Insights in Climate Science, which was produced to advise the UN, finds that warming beyond 1.5C is fast becoming inevitable and that scenarios that include oil and gas in the future were no longer feasible to limit warming. The only way to do that is to phase out fossil fuels by 2050, Prof Johan Rockstrom, the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told the conference But he acknowledged that Dr Al-Jaber may be right in a limited sense in that it may not be an absolute zero [fossil fuels] by 2050. There will be a residual that will have to be abated through carbon dioxide removal technologies. Critical decade of accelerated climate action Simon Stiell, the head of the UNs climate change body, which convenes the Cop28 summit, said scientific findings from reports like these should inform the ambitious and evidence-based action plans needed in this critical decade of accelerated climate action. Mr Stiell had been expected to attend a press conference on Sunday afternoon but pulled out shortly after Dr Al-Jabers comments were reported. Responding to Dr Al-Jabers remarks, Prof Joeri Rogelj, a contributor to the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said: I strongly recommend him asking around for the latest IPCC report. That report, approved unanimously by 195 countries including the UAE, shows a variety of ways to limit warming to 1.5C, all of which indicate a de facto phase-out of fossil fuels in the first half of the century. A spokesman for Cop28 said: This story is just another attempt to undermine the presidencys agenda, which has been clear and transparent and backed by tangible achievements by the Cop president and his team. The Cop president was unwavering in saying reaching 1.5C involves action across a number of areas and sectors. The Cop president is clear that phasing down and out of fossil fuels is inevitable and that we must keep 1.5C within reach. We are not sure what this story was supposedly revealing. Nothing in it is new or breaking news. 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. This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what the country said is the launch of the Malligyong-1, a military spy satellite, into orbit (AP) North Korea has said its military satellite has begun its reconnaissance mission, days after the country launched its first spy satellite into orbit and drew condemnation for violating sanctions. The reconnaissance satellite operation office at the countrys space agency will discharge its mission as an independent military intelligence organisation and report acquired information to the army and other major units, state media KCNA said. The satellite will help equip the countrys nuclear-armed units with a more solid readiness posture, it added. In a launch overseen by Kim Jong-un, North Korea placed its Malligyong-1 spy satellite into orbit on 21 November, a breakthrough that came after two failed attempts in May and August. Pyongyang later said its satellite released detailed pictures of major target regions such as the White House, the Pentagon and air force bases along the US north-east coast and in its Pacific territory of Guam. The US, South Korea and Japan have confirmed that the satellite has been placed into the orbits but have raised doubts over the capabilities of it as claimed by the Kim regime. The launch sparked immediate condemnation from the US, South Korea and Japan for violating the UN security council resolutions and sanctions from the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea. South Korea responded by partially withdrawing from the historic 2018 peace pact, prompting North Korea to fully suspend and move soldiers and weaponry to its border. North Korea said that the countrys space agency National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) has established a dedicated Reconnaissance Satellite Operations Office to carry out the work. It comes as North Korea warned the US directly that any attempt to destroy or interfere with its new satellite will be deemed as a declaration of war and will be met with a thermonuclear attack. It mentioned a North Korean military commentator who blamed the South for the breakdown of their military confidence-building agreement, justifying its spy satellite launch as what other countries also do. South Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite on Saturday on Elon Musks SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from the Vandenberg US Space Force Base in California. It was part of South Koreas contract with an American company to launch a total of five satellites into orbit by 2025, an effort to accelerate its goal of having 24-hour watch over the Korean peninsula. Additional reporting with agencies COLUMBUS The Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday passed House Bill 81, legislation that honors former Carroll County Sheriff Dale R. Williams, announced state Reps. Don Jones (R-Freeport) and Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana County). The legislation designates a portion of State Route 39 between Carrollton and Dellroy as Sheriff Dale R. Williams Memorial Highway. Williams began his career in law enforcement in 1969 as a dispatcher. After working as a full-time road deputy, he moved to the Carrollton Police Department and was elected sheriff in 2004, where he built a law enforcement department focused on protecting its community for 18 years. He died in September. House Bill 81 now moves to the Ohio Senate for consideration. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio House passes bill honoring former Carroll County Sheriff The 2023 UN COP28 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) is now focusing its discussions on climate change's contagious effects on human health. During the first two days of the international climate conference, which took place in Dubai, top leaders shared their concerns about the adverse health effects of climate change. One of the topics they talked about was the 7 million deaths globally linked to air pollution. They also discussed the spread of malaria, cholera, and other diseases because of the now-unpredictable weather system. The question is, why is the UN suddenly discussing the health effects of climate change? Here's what a top WHO official explained. 2023 UN COP28 Now Discussing Climate Change's Human Health Effects According to Local10's latest report, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained they are suddenly discussing the negative health effects of climate change. He said that it is the best time for the UN COP28 to hold its first Health Day, especially since the contagious health effects posed by climate change were immediate and present. "Although the climate crisis is a health crisis, it's well overdue that 27 COPs have been and gone without a serious discussion of health," said the top WHO official via the Associated Press. "Undoubtedly, health stands as the most compelling reason for taking climate action," he added. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry also said it took the United Nations long enough to finally make climate change's linkage to health issues its centerpiece discussion. He explained that the human body is similar to Earth since they are both ecosystems. Kerry further stated that if humans poison the water, land, and air, they are also poisoning their own bodies. Read Also: UAE Allegedly Planned To Push for Oil, Gas Deals During COP28 Summit, Leaked Documents Suggest COP28's Declaration Supported by Hundreds of Countries (Photo : Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) The declaration of the UN COP28 regarding climate change's linkage to health issues was backed by over 120 countries. However, the United Nations didn't clarify if it will make efforts to phase out fossil fuels. Instead, COP28 leaders said they would make drastic efforts to reduce the healthcare sector pollution, which accounts for 5% of global emissions. WHO's climate and health head, Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum said that the worsening high temperature across the globe is already putting great pressure on human bodies since it leads to higher rates of infectious disease. Related Article: COP28 Climate Summit: Millions in Donations Put Pressure on Wealthy Countries To Make Pledges @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A predominantly white community in Ohio is urging a public official to resign from his role on the townships trustee board after he used a racial slur during a discussion about incorporating Juneteenth into the new calendar for the fire department. Despite being recorded using the offensive epithet, the Scioto Township trustee is adamant about not stepping down from his position. At an open meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30, Trustee Barton Fannins public use of the N-word was addressed. Not only did community members step up to blast the trustee for his remark, but so did his colleagues. All asked him to resign, stating that his comment did not reflect the spirit of the little over 60,000 members of the Pickaway County community and that he should do the right thing. Pickaway County, Ohio Trustee Barton Fannin (Photo: YouTube screeshot/WBNS 10TV) Im begging, absolutely begging Bart Fannin to resign, said Trustee Chairman Ralph Wolfe, as he sat next to the official at the meeting. That is not, and Ill repeat, that is not who this community is, Trustee John Maynard also said. One Black woman present said, We are mere weeks away from 2024, and the excuse that you did not know better is not valid. When asked to resign, Fannin replied flatly, according to 10 WBNS, Absolutely not. He also apologized for what he said, sharing that he learned a lot in the last two weeks since he uttered the word. The remark was made as the board was deciding on the inclusion of Juneteenth in the new calendar during the public meeting on Nov. 17. I did not realize that was a freakin federal holiday, Fannin said. Wolfe and Maynard attempted to explain Juneteenth to him. Wolfe asked, You know what it means though, right? He said, They took a nger holiday, right? Immediately, the chairman said, Whoa! Dont say that, before going into detail about how the celebration is a marker of the de facto end of slavery in the former Confederacy as Union troops moved into Texas after the Civil War ended. Wolfe is adamant that Fannin must step down. Initially, my approach was to seek a private resolution out of respect for our community. However, despite private attempts to encourage Trustee Fannins resignation, he remains resistant, the chairman said, according to NBC 4. Continuing, It is crucial to emphasize that no racial or derogatory slur is accepted within the realm of Scioto Township. I recognize and commend his work ethic, but the use of such language is fundamentally at odds with the values of Scioto Township. While Fannin refused to relinquish his role as a public figure, he did release a public apology. I used language that was not only disrespectful but extremely hurtful and unacceptable, Fannin wrote. My deepest sympathy goes to every individual and family that I have hurt. I have learned a lot from my actions, and I feel embarrassed by them. I hope over time I can earn this communitys trust once again. Nana Watson, president of the Columbus chapter of the NAACP, has weighed in, stating that his use of the word is disgusting. To hear that word coming from the lips of an elected official is appalling. Its disgusting, Watson said. That community should be horrified that he lives there and has no regard or value for differences in our community. The board does have a strategy to remove Fannin, who was elected to the board in 2022. To oust the politician from his role, residents must generate a petition with signatures from 15 percent of registered voters in the recent Ohio governors race. Following that, the petition will be presented to the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas. The court will make the final decision. Should the community not get all the signatures and the courts not remove him, Fannin will remain in office for two more years. His term expires in 2025. A knifeman who killed a German tourist and wounded a Briton in a bloody attack in Paris on Saturday night said he was motivated by the war in Gaza. The suspect, Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, is a convicted terrorist with a history of psychiatric problems. He reportedly shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) before being arrested near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. Video later emerged of police officers approaching the suspect, a French national born to Iranian parents, with stun-guns drawn. The man shouted he was wearing explosives and was ready to die. After his arrest, Rajabpour-Miyandoab expressed anguish about Muslims being killed in Gaza and claimed that France was an accomplice, according to Gerald Darmanin, Frances interior minister. Western nations are on high alert for terror attacks motivated by Israels war on Hamas, with The Telegraph reporting that an asylum seeker has been arrested for carrying out just such an attack earlier this year. In a video that circulated online after the Paris attack, the alleged assailant claimed responsibility, saying: We do not forget your crimes against Muslims, especially women and children (...) and we will fight you and kill you until the day of last judgement, while wearing a hat, sunglasses and a medical mask. The attacker allegedly went after a German couple with a knife, killing one man at around 8pm GMT on the Quai de Grenelle, near the Eiffel Tower. A taxi driver intervened to keep the suspect away from the wife of the 23-year-old victim, a German-Filipino citizen. Patrick Pelloux, an emergency doctor on duty at the time of the attack, said the couple were both nurses, adding that the woman was severely shocked but unhurt. A 66-year-old British citizen and a 60-year-old French national were also wounded in the attack. The British victim was hit in the eye with a hammer after the attacker crossed the Pont de Bir-Hakeim over the River Seine. French police cordon off the area around the Bir-Hakeim bridge - Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters The UK Foreign Office said: We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris and are in contact with the local authorities. Mr Darmanin said that police had courageously arrested the male suspect, who appeared to be randomly targeting passers-by. This person was ready to kill others, Mr Darmanin said at a late-night press conference. French prosecutors said they were investigating the knife and hammer attack. Rajabpour-Miyandoab is suspected of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist plot. Investigators would scrutinise his medical history, a security source told AFP, saying the attacker was very unstable and easily influenced. Rajabpour-Miyandoab was being monitored in a way that did not mean he was being hospitalised, he was supposed to follow a course of treatment for his mental health issues, said Aurelien Rousseau, the health minister. As often in these cases, theres a mixture of an ideology, an easily influenced person and, unfortunately, psychiatry, he added. A police officer stands guard at the scene Emmanuel Macron, the French president, praised police after commiserating with the family of the murdered German national. My most sincere thanks to the emergency forces who made it possible to quickly arrest a suspect. The national anti-terrorism prosecutors office now will be responsible for shedding light on this matter so that justice can be done in the name of the French people. Mr Darmanin said the suspect had already been convicted in 2016 for plotting a terror attack in Pariss business district La Defense, and that he had been under police surveillance. Three people close to Rajabpour-Miyandoab were being held in custody on Sunday afternoon, prosecutors said. Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said that he was devastated by the attack. Nancy Faeser, his interior minister, had earlier warned that the war in Gaza after Hamas terrorist act has worsened the threat of Islamic terrorism. The suspect was born in a Paris suburb to Iranian parents, who are not Muslim and had fled the Iranian regime. He was a biology student when he started to become radicalised by Isis supporters in 2015, abandoning interests like music and photography for religious songs, Le Parisien reported. Emergency services respond to the attack He was Facebook friends with convicted terrorists including Larossi Aballa, who stabbed two police officers to death in Magnanville in 2016, and Adel Kermiche, who stabbed a Catholic priest in Saint-Etienne du Rouvray in the same year. At one point Rajabpour-Miyandoab expressed regret at his radicalisation and said that Islamism had ruined his life. However, he landed on Frances anti-terrorism radar again in 2020 for liaising with the radicalised Chechen who decapitated school teacher Samuel Paty for showing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed to his class. The latest violent attack has prompted calls to implement a back-up plan for the opening ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic games, which is expected to draw up to 400,000 spectators to the banks of the Seine. I imagine that it must be done to think of a possible plan B, if terrorist acts were to continue in our country, said Frederic Pechenard, vice-president of the Ile-de-France region, in an interview with France Info on Sunday. Before the attack, Laurent Nunez, the Paris police chief, said one of their concerns is that vehicles could be used as battering rams to plough through Olympic crowds. France has suffered several attacks by Islamist extremists, including the November 2015 suicide and gun attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 people were killed. There had been a relative lull in recent years, even as officials have warned that the threat remains. But tensions have risen in France, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations, following Hamass attack on Israel on Oct 7 and Israels subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip. 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. CHOCTAW COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said one man has died after a shooting involving a trooper. It happened around 2 a.m. Saturday morning in Choctaw County. According to OHP, the Choctaw County Sheriffs Office was called to a disturbance at Tommys Bar in Fort Towson, Oklahoma. A Choctaw County deputy and a trooper responded to the scene. When law enforcement arrived, they reportedly encountered one of the subjects involved in the disturbance in a vehicle in the parking lot of the bar. OHP said the man had a weapon and shots were exchanged. The suspect was was hit by gunfire. OHP said the deputy and trooper began life-saving measures and called EMS. The suspect died at the scene. No further details into the shooting were released but OHP did say no one else was hurt. OSBI and OHP are now investigating. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Kelly Montgomery, representing the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, speaks to jurors during her opening statement as the trial proceedings for Danie Jay Kelly Jr. and brothers Robert James Watson III and Johnny James Watson, who are accused of killing four members of the Careaga family in the greater Seabeck area in January 2017, begin in Kitsap County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. PORT ORCHARD Opening statements in the trial for three men accused of the killings of four members of the Careaga family in the greater Seabeck area in 2017 began and then promptly ground to a halt in Kitsap County Superior Court over the last week, after an attorney for one of the defendants was reported to be ill. Two opening statements have been completed, and two remain. Kelly Montgomery, on behalf of the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, presented an opening statement to jurors throughout the day Monday, and Matthew McGowan, one of two attorneys representing Bobby Watson, had been slated to give an opening statement Tuesday. It was reported on Tuesday that he was ill though, and Judge Kevin Hull excused jurors until Thursday after Tom Weaver, one of two attorneys representing Danie Kelly, gave an opening statement. Then on Thursday, Hull reported that McGowan was again unable to proceed and recessed the trial until Monday. Trial activity does not normally occur on Fridays. Said deputy prosecuting attorney Philip Bacus to Hull on Thursday: The states not happy. We have concerns. This seems very convenient. Theyre going to have a week basically to prepare off Ms. Montgomerys extremely compelling opening statement. John Cyr, Bobby Watsons second attorney, replied: I take issue with Mr. Bacuss characterization of conveniently getting sick. Theres nothing convenient about Mr. McGowan getting sick. People get sick. Hull said that he expected the opening statements for brothers Bobby and Johnny Watson to proceed on Monday and addressed Cyr: Were going to be doing your opening on behalf of Mr. Watson, whether its you or Mr. McGowan, on Monday morning. Absolutely, Cyr said. Johnny Watsons attorney Craig Kibbe will offer opening remarks on behalf of his client. Jury selection wrapped up the week before Thanksgiving, and a panel of 18 jurors six women and 12 men began hearing opening statements on Monday, Nov. 27. More: Trial for Careaga quadruple homicide suspects underway in Kitsap County Superior Court Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Kevin Hull opens trial proceedings for Danie Jay Kelly Jr., and brothers Robert James Watson III and Johnny James Watson, who are accused of killing four members of the Careaga family in the greater Seabeck area in January 2017. Openings It was a 911 call placed by Hunter Schaap at about 11:30 p.m. on the night of Jan. 27, 2017, that brought authorities to the Careaga family home on Tenino Drive near Tahuya Lake, the teens pleas for help what would touch off a sprawling investigation into the killings of four members of his blended family. Montgomery told jurors that it took first responders about 12 minutes to get to the familys rural property following that initial 911 call and noted a motion-activated light at the familys property that was still on and then turned off as one of the first Kitsap County Sheriffs Office deputies arrived at the scene. KCSO barely missed the killers, Montgomery said. Christale Careaga and two teens, Schaap and Johnathon Higgins, were shot, and their remains were found at the family's home, which was set on fire. John Careaga was also shot, and his remains were found in his burnt truck on a tree farm in Mason County on Jan. 29, 2017. Investigators eventually linked the killings to drugs and money connected to the family. Montgomery told jurors of the investigation that law enforcement pursued, both immediately following the murders and in the years since then, of the links that investigators made to Kelly, Bobby Watson and Johnny Watson, who were each associates of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club. "You're going to hear a lot about the Bandidos in this trial," she said. "But what you're not going to hear, because there is no evidence of it, that these four homicides, the killing of Christale and Johnathon and Hunter and Johnny, these were not sanctioned Bandidos hits. This was personal." What the evidence is going to show you is that one thing leads to another thing, leads to another thing and that everything connects, she added. Everything connects in this case to show you that Bobby, his brother Johnny and Danie were the ones who planned this murder, they executed this murder by executing the family. And at the end of the evidence, this isnt a case of whodunnit, this is a case of they did it. In his opening statement, Weaver Kellys attorney told jurors that what happened to the Careaga family was tragic but said that it would be equally tragic to double down on the tragedy, for an innocent person to be held responsible for what happened. He laid out for jurors a timeline of Kellys activity in the Bremerton area on the night of the murders through cell phone and electronic records and the testimony of a woman who Kelly met for a drug deal that night. We know a lot about who was where and when on the night of Jan. 27, Weaver said. We know from cell phone records, from internet records, from eyewitnesses, we know a lot. And when you put it all together, the time doesnt work, the geography doesnt work, and the math just doesnt work. Defense attorney Tom Weaver answers a question about a witness as trial proceedings for his client Danie Jay Kelly Jr., and brothers Robert James Watson III and Johnny James Watson, who are accused of killing four members of the Careaga family in the greater Seabeck area in January 2017, began in Kitsap County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. John Careaga would regularly bring bricks of cocaine from a supplier in California back to Washington and would pass off the drugs to an associate who in turn sold to customers, one of whom was Bobby Watson, Montgomery said. A fallout between John and his friend led John to begin communicating directly with Bobby, Montgomery said. Weaver conceded that 12 days before the murders, Kelly, who at the time was a hang-around with the Bandidos, purchased a burner phone that plays a key role in the case it was only used for communications with John Careaga but said jurors would hear that the phone was passed off to Bobby Watson, who at that point was the vice president of the Bremerton chapter of the Bandidos, and said that after that, there was no evidence that Kelly ever saw or had possession of the phone again. Investigators linked that TracFone to Bobby Watson's residence in Bremerton and have said it hit off a cell tower that serviced the Seabeck area on the night of the murders. One key eyewitness, a neighbor who lived near the Careaga residence, eventually reported that he had seen Kelly driving John Careagas truck away from the family home on the night of the murders. Weaver dismissed the identification, noting that the neighbor came forward with the information after investigators had publicly named Kelly as a person of interest. Hes making himself into a big shot, Weaver said. Johnny James Watson sits with his attorney as the trial for him, his brother Robert James Watson III, and Danie Jay Kelly Jr. begins in Kitsap County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. In her opening statement, Montgomery said that initially, the man had been scared to come forward with the information but eventually came around to disclosing it: Hes going to tell you that he was scared, that he didnt know whether he wanted to give up that information and deal with potentially some risk to him and his family. He knew Danie Kelly, knew Danie Kelly was involved with the Bandidos, and he doesnt want anything to do with it. Investigation connected to the murders continued even into this year. Montgomery told jurors of a reluctant witness who she described as Bobby Watsons best friend at work while the two had been employed by Kitsap County Public Works who came forward earlier this year to report something he said Bobby had done on the Monday after the murders. When he picked up Watson that day, the man had a small cooler, and as they were driving near Bremerton National Airport, Montgomery said, Bobby put the cooler in his lap, opened a window and began throwing something from the cooler out the window. That information prompted a search over an area of roughly 9 acres earlier this year. This was a very difficult search because No. 1, they didnt really know what they were searching for. Was it pieces of a phone? Was it shell casings? Was it Lego pieces in a cooler? Montgomery said, noting that jurors would hear from a member of the search party who found "something very, very interesting out on that search." Robert James Watson III, looks on from his seat in the courtroom as the trial for him, his brother Johnny James Watson and Danie Jay Kelly Jr. begins in Kitsap County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Opening statements in trial for Careaga murder suspects delayed President Biden made the case for war aid to Israel and Ukraine on Oct. 19 from the Oval Office. (Jonathan Ernst / Associated Press) Conventional wisdom suggests Americans know little about foreign policy and care about it even less. Opinion polls regularly show that international issues take a back seat to topics more prosaic (economics, education) or provocative (culture wars, gun control). Next years presidential election, however, might be a bit different. Continued international crises could focus attention on the benefits and burdens of American global leadership, and our polarized politics may turn on battles and events far from home. We might experience the rare phenomenon: a foreign policy election. Israels war against Hamas has become a domestic political focal point, either praised as a righteous campaign of self-defense or criticized for bringing humanitarian catastrophe to Gaza. Some experts now believe Ukraines war aims are out of reach, and call on Washington to encourage Ukraine to pursue a cease-fire. Read more: Opinion: What Biden's staunch support for Israel's war in Gaza will cost America One might think a president with Joe Bidens experience would perform well in a foreign policy election. So its surprising that his approach to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine an approach he doubled down on in a recent op-ed that touted the U.S. as the essential nation, worried about Russian leader Vladimir Putins drive for conquest and reduced Hamas motives to murderous nihilism instead appears to be endangering his reelection. Hamas Oct. 7 attacks and the presidents nearly unconditional support for Israels response have brought to a boil the simmering divisions within the Democratic Party on the issue of Palestinians. Many young, diverse and progressive voters are critical of Israels occupation of the West Bank and the open-air prison of Gaza. They believe the Gaza war is unjust and disproportionate. Fully 70% of U.S. voters under age 35 disapprove of Bidens handling of the war, according to a Nov. 19 NBC News poll . Other polls show that a majority of young voters do not support sending weapons to Israel, and less than half of Gen Z and millennials even want the U.S. to publicly voice support for Israel as the president has so consistently done. The issue could tip the scale in the crucial swing states, such as Michigan, where razor-thin margins of victory are common. Support for Israel has been uncontroversial for most of Bidens political career. A decade ago, a pro-Israel lobbyist described his work to me as pushing against an open door. But as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to the right and threatened Israels democratic institutions , he has infuriated many Israelis and tested the patience of otherwise sympathetic Americans including many American Jews. Today, Washingtons pro-Israel lobby is dominated by evangelical Christians in the Republican Party base, borne by what one commentator called solidarity with a particularly aggressive strain of Zionism. Read more: Column: Biden's balancing act is the only choice: Support Israel against Hamas and help Palestinians in harm's way Democrats have sweated the electoral consequences of being seen as insufficiently pro-Israel since before it was even a country. In 1947, as the United Nations considered recognizing a Jewish state, President Trumans general counsel, Clark Clifford, penned a private memo to his boss: Unless the Palestine matter is boldly and favorably handled, there is bound to be some defection on [Jewish voters] part to the alert [GOP nominee Thomas E.] Dewey. Unlike Truman, Biden has to contend with a voting Middle Eastern diaspora, new human rights norms and mass media capable of relaying round-the-clock images of Palestinian suffering. Apart from the Israel-Hamas war, a foreign policy election would present Biden with other fresh challenges. In broad terms, independent voters dont seem to share Democrats and the presidents expansive view of the purpose of American power. A survey released in October by the Institute for Global Affairs at the Eurasia Group found that Republicans and independents, when asked what the primary goal of U.S. foreign policy should be, chose to protect America from foreign threats and stop other countries from taking advantage of the U.S. Democrats, on the other hand, chose to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the globe as the leader of the free world. Read more: Column: Biden and Blinken are planning for 'the day after' war in Gaza ends. Make that years after When House Republicans recently cut Ukraine funding from a plan to keep the government running, they elicited howls from some Democrats about abandoning Ukraine. But independents arent howling. The survey shows that many share Republicans skepticism of alliances, concern over diminishing weapons stockpiles and desire to withdraw U.S. troops stationed in Europe. In other words, independents echo the rhetoric of Donald Trump more than that of Joe Biden. The president has lately dialed down his trumpeting of a worldwide battle between democracy and autocracy. Perhaps his campaign realized this resonated with those inclined to vote for him anyway, and could fail to win over swing voters. Historically, a foreign policy election benefits the incumbent. During the Cold War, politics were said to stop at the waters edge, as Americans sought to show the world a united front. International crises often generated a rally round the flag effect for leaders seen as taking decisive action. However, voters today dont agree on the dangers the U.S. faces, let alone the best way to address them. Republicans greatest perceived threat immigration threatens the countrys national identity ranked last among Democrats on our survey. Climate -change-induced natural disasters were seen as the top threat among Democrats, but the second-to-last among Republicans. Political leaders can usually be forgiven for not heeding the publics foreign policy preferences. Voters can be capricious or ill-informed, and expertise is crucial for foreign policy decision-making. But if foreign crises continue to focus Americans attention next year, Biden ignores their views at his peril. Mark Hannah is a senior fellow at the Institute for Global Affairs at the Eurasia Group and the host of its "None of the Above" podcast . If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Alabama is taking the lead in helping to address a key defense deficit a dearth of U.S.-born high school graduates skilled enough in science, technology, engineering and math to enter the national security workforce immediately upon graduation or after earning a university degree. The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, which opened its doors in 2020 during the height of the pandemic is the nations only high school focused on the integration of cyber technology and engineering into all academic disciplines. It is located in Huntsville, home to the Army Aviation and Missile Command and several major defense contractors. A publicly funded commuter and residential 9-12 magnet school serving students from around the state, the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering offers free tuition for a diverse student body that is about 30% African American and 37% female. Some 120 of the 333 students live in the schools dormitory. Students are charged only for the cost of food, which they split with the state. Local contractors help sponsor the school through donations. Support The 74's year-end campaign. Make a tax-exempt donation now. The school is both college preparatory and vocational aimed at readying students for well-paying careers upon graduation in high-demand, science-based fields, with the Department of Defense and with military contractors. Underpinning the schools focus is the urgent need for more American citizens to enter the national security workforce, because the country is falling behind technologically in several areas and U.S. citizenship is required to receive a security clearance. The need is substantial. While China has four times the U.S. population, it has eight times as many STEM grads, and Russia has almost four times more engineers than the United States. And the problem will only get more pronounced as the need grows for a workforce that can develop new and increasingly complicated technologies that will be essential for national security. Related Houston Space Programs Keeping STEM Dreams Alive Many of the proposed advanced manufacturing and technology solutions to workforce shortages (particularly automation) and manufacturing issues (including additive manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing and digitalization) require a higher level of baseline skills. To implement these solutions, individuals must be trained and able to work in teams that combine deep engineering expertise with data analytics and policy knowledge to enable innovation and transform the manufacturing space, the Department of Defense wrote in its most recent report on U.S. industrial capabilities. STEM curricula focused on technical careers must also be expanded into middle and high school education to attract and prepare candidates for advanced manufacturing at all levels from engineering to the factory floor, the report said. Thats exactly what the Alabama school is accomplishing. During its first year, in 2020, the school had 70 students set up in classroom space at a local university. By the following year, enrollment had doubled. When the current school year started in August, the headcount was 333 students, with more expected in successive years as word spreads about the schools focus and unique approach to education. No formal entrance exam is required. Prospective students provide three years worth of academic transcripts, attendance sheets and disciplinary records, as well as recommendations from a current STEM teacher and another from a guidance counselor. They submit letters of interest from themselves and their parent. Applicants from home schools or private schools additionally must provide results from a standardized assessment, such as the SSAT. But there is no minimum qualifying score for admission. Scores are one of many evaluation criteria and are meant to provide insight into the academic potential of incoming applicants. Students who advance in the application process also undergo a personal interview. Once admitted, students are not allowed to fail their classes. Rather, they must master concepts to advance; they must repeat the class until they achieve proficiency. Proficiency is particularly important because higher-level math and science classes, with their keen focus on cyber technology and engineering, build on concepts from earlier courses. The school doesnt use a traditional grading system; rather, teachers rate students on a continuum reflecting various levels of mastery of concepts, then correlate those to a 4.0 grade-point scale. Related Mastery Learning Backers Launch New HS Transcript to Help Grads Apply to College Students receive four years of instruction in math, science, language arts and social studies, but with cyber and engineering curriculum woven throughout. So, for example, in the first year of social studies, students are taught the history of engineering and technology. The second year is the history of cryptography taught through the lens of world events, such as World Wars I and II. By the third year, students are taught civics and economics, touching on cyber-related concepts like cryptocurrency and blockchain. They engage in real-world learning through internships with defense companies such as Raytheon, a major corporate sponsor, which accepted 16 students from the school as interns this year. Tailoring the education for high-tech industries and ensuring proficiency in concepts all along the way ensures that students are math and science literate but also well-rounded. Thus far, the results are impressive. Some students are receiving job offers upon graduation, while others have been accepted at top-notch schools like Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, the University of Texas, Georgetown University, American University and the University of Southern California. The nation is facing a sweeping talent gap in STEM that is a national security vulnerability. Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering offers one powerful model for closing that gap while driving student achievement. Diminish our humanity Will Morro Bay get new aquarium? Plans for facility stall, (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 24) Lets hope compassionate and fiscally responsible minds prevail. Though I reside in Seattle, I spent months in Cayucos with friends (so please regard my opinion as a part timer in your part of the world that I love). The captivity industry causes immense suffering and often premature death to animals who are unfortunate enough to be captured or bred into a life of impoverishment. There is nothing modern about this archaic business model. One look at the picture of a poor seal in captivity is evidence that an aquarium cannot replicate the complex ecosystem in which this animal belongs. Please, no aquarium. It would diminish our humanity. Alyne Fortgang Seattle, Wash. Doing good SLO County charities seek holiday donations, (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 22) I want to thank you for the article featuring some of the many charities doing good work helping people in our county. I would like to add one organization to your list: Meals That Connect/Senior Nutrition Program. We serve nutritious meals five days a week to over 1,600 seniors in our county (190,000 meals total last year). We offer congregate dining at our 10 dining sites countywide, and our over 300 volunteers deliver meals to homebound seniors. Of our clients, 85% are homebound, 65% are over 75 (35% are over 85) and 38% are living below the poverty line. Our meals truly are a lifeline for these seniors, and our volunteers deliver not only food but social contact and a chance to chat. Anyone wishing to donate can visit our website (www.mealsthatconnect.org) or call our central office at 805-541-3312. Juliane McAdam Public relations manager, Meals that Connect Los Osos Opinion Correcting the record SLO can lead California toward carbon-free future by investing in nuclear technology | Opinion, (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 19) This letter assumes that next generation reactors are smaller, safer, more efficient and create less waste. But recent research out of Stanford holds that waste will be between three to 20 times more per kilowatt hour than whats currently being produced per hour by the enormous nuclear reactor at Diablo Canyon. The fact is that the proposed designs of small modular (nuclear) reactors have never been built to scale, and funding was simply pulled out. Nor is the concept new: Proposals to build them were attempted in the 60s but economic and safety problems caused those projects to be abandoned. Even if the problems were somehow resolved, it would take more than a decade to launch and test such projects, which would not be completed in time to address the growing climate crisis. Additionally, small modular reactors would be much more costly than renewable energy sources which continue to be less expensive each year, and all companies proposing these reactors are demanding taxpayer subsidies. Each small modular reactor plant has been estimated to cost around $1 billion. There are also unresolved safety issues with the various designs. Some propose the use of liquid sodium for cooling, but sodium coolant will burn if exposed to either air or water. A fire in any type of nuclear reactor is extremely dangerous. Readers wanting more detailed information about this can search for Advanced isnt Always Better by Edwin Lyman, Ph.D in physics, or look on our website. Bart Ziegler PhD, President, The Samuel Lawrence Foundation True representative democracy Federal appeals court deals a blow to Voting Rights Act, ruling that private plaintiffs cant sue, (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 23) Many Americans across the country know enough history to understand that what is going on with the country is not new. What is new is the influence (good or bad) of social media on the public. I have been of the opinion, for at least 40 years, that the two-party system does not work. There has been a third party, without an official name, called independents, and a rising fourth party, called forward, slowly becoming known to the electorate at large. Elected officials, from SCOTUS to the local dog catcher, have continued to impose their religion on the rest of the nation with no regard for the separation of church and state. Why should we have separation of church and state? Because I do not want your religion to be imposed on the rest of the nation. When the majority of our citizenry will be allowed (or compelled like Australia) to vote, this country will be a true representative democracy. This has not happened yet in the 56 years I have lived in this country. What next? Fabrizio Griguoli Shell Beach Omid Scobie's book "Endgame" creates issues within the royal family. With that, King Charles has to prepare for crisis talks regarding the racism allegations he faces because of the controversial title. 42-year-old British journalist and writer Omid Scobie released his controversial book "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival" on November 28. What he said in his book led to criticisms against King Charles and other members of the British Royal Family. Because of this, the British ruler needed to prepare for the public anger that Omid Scobie's book caused. Omid Scobie's 'Endgame' Book Puts King Charles on Spotlight According to The Daily Mail UK, King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, allegedly made racist remarks regarding the skin color of the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Archie. This is what is stated in the Dutch edition of Omid Scobie's "Endgame" book. BBC News reported that the allegations were shared by Prince Harry and her wife, Meghan, during an interview with Oprah back in 2021. However, the context and circumstances of the rumored interview regarding their son's skin color are still unclear. As of writing, Harry and Meghan haven't released any public statement regarding the alleged comment of King Charles on their beloved baby's skin color. But, some sources who claim to be close to the Duchess of Sussex said that Meghan has no intention of making the names in the book public. They are insisting that the letters leaked to Omid Scobie didn't come from the side of Meghan. Since the issue involving King Charles, Meghan, and Prince Harry is a very serious topic, an anonymous source close to the British Royal Family said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should start speaking publicly about the racism allegations against the U.K. ruler. "For the couple that talked about 'death by a thousand no comments', the silence at this point is deafening," said the source. Read Also: Prince Harry Spotted in Windsor Castle Visiting Late Grandmother Elizabeth II's Grave Omid Scobie Denies Dropping Names Omid Scobie said that in the English version of his book, he only said that two people were involved and that he knew their identities. However, the author never mentioned their exact names because of legal reasons. But, in the Dutch version of "Endgame," titled "Eindstrijd," the two Royal Family members were identified: King Charles and Catherine. "All of this is frustrating because it feeds into something that couldn't be further from the truth. And also, quite frankly, I've always felt the names weren't needed to have this discussion," said Scobie. As of writing, Omid Scobie is accused of acting as a "mouthpiece" for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which he strongly denies, saying that he isn't "Meg's pal." Related Article: Report: UK's King Charles Secretly Profited From Dead British Citizens' Money @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Government, military and defense industry leaders attended a grand opening event for the University of Oklahoma's new Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab. The lab enables research and workforce development to support the growing defense industry in Oklahoma. NORMAN The University of Oklahoma has opened its new Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab, which uses metal 3D printers and other technology that will help in the production of aircraft parts and in conducting research to support military and industrial aerospace partners, particularly in Oklahoma. Housed in a nondescript building next to a convenience store in north Norman, the 5,000-square-foot lab formerly home to a pipe organ institute held its official opening ceremony on Tuesday. The lab provides a collaborative space for work done by faculty and students in OUs Gallogly College of Engineering and the Oklahoma Aerospace Defense Innovation Institute (OADII). The lab serves as an OU hub for "additive manufacturing," a computer-controlled process that creates three-dimensional objects by depositing materials, layer by layer. All sorts of materials can be used in additive manufacturing, but the 3D printers at the OU lab will focus on creating objects out of titanium and stainless steel. Its a big step forward in capability, said John Auld, a retired Air Force officer whos the labs site director and the innovation institute's project manager. Its integrating multiple departments from within OU. You have computer scientists, youve got industrial systems engineers, you have aerospace and mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and thats not the whole list. Well continue to see what grows as we move forward and the research opportunities out there as more folks get involved. Government, military and defense industry leaders attended a grand opening event for the University of Oklahoma's new Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab. How the Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab was imagined and built The idea for such a facility began about five years ago and received support from throughout the university, said Yingtao Liu, the chairman of the graduate programs in OUs School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. The whole university recognized how important additive manufacturing can be and the broader impacts it could bring to this entire community, he said. We could not make this happen by ourselves. The centerpiece of the lab is a pair of GE M2 Series 5 Metal 3D printers, one of which uses titanium and another that uses stainless steel to print items. The printers, which cost about $1.3 million each, sit in a climate-controlled room within the lab and are equipped with hundreds of sensors that wouldnt be practical to use in a production environment, said Chris Billings, a research assistant engineering professor. Those sensors allow researchers to precisely determine the necessary specifications of an object and to meet the critical requirements of the highly regulated military and aerospace industry. Col. Brian Moore speaks to government, military and defense industry leaders attending a grand opening event for the University of Oklahoma's new Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab. The lab also maintains cross-cutting equipment for testing parts, digital twin, Computer Aided Design modeling, precision cutting and polishing, and more. We can mirror production, but our main focus is research, Billings said. We have hundreds of sensors throughout, to find the best way to optimize production, whether that be safety, output or final part tolerance. We can figure out all of the issues that happen in production in additive manufacturing and then go to our partners, like the Air Force, and say, Weve done all this testing in a lab thats very similar to yours, and heres what you can take over to your lab and make it work. University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. speaks to government, military and defense industry leaders attending a grand opening event for OU's new Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab. That saves the labs partners both time and money, Auld said. For example, OU researchers can help in reverse engineering and creating parts for old military aircraft for which original drawings or design specifications might no longer be available. That will allow those planes to stay in service longer, he said. More: These military bomber and surveillance plane engines will be serviced at Tinker through 2034 While much of the labs current work will focus military applications one of its primary partners is nearby Tinker Air Force Base the technology used in the lab could be used in other research areas, such as in the energy or biomedical industries, said Zahed Siddique, the assistant dean for research for OUs engineering college. This is just the start, Siddique said. We started with these two specific ones because of what our partners wanted to do. The next phase is going to vendors and other manufacturers and looking at a broader application. The University of Oklahoma's new Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab enables research and workforce development to support the growing defense industry in Oklahoma. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU opens Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab for aerospace research The outcome of the war in Ukraine will determine the future of global security, as the Russian army has been significantly weakened thanks to both Ukrainian troops and decisive U.S. measures, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Dec. 2. Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Pentagon chief expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian military for their outstanding courage, and emphasized that Ukraine's achievements were the result of joint efforts of the bipartisan leadership of the United States and a coalition of about 50 countries. Read also: Pentagon head Austin arrives in Kyiv, pledges robust US support Austin said Ukraine was fighting for its independence and sovereignty, countering Russian aggression, and has received the support of the international community. The Kremlin is waging an unjust war of imperial aggression but Ukraine is fighting a defensive war for national survival, he said. He noted that Ukraine has a strategic advantage in this struggle and stated that Ukraine is important to the United States and the world at large for four key reasons. He also emphasized the serious security threat posed by Putin's war in Europe and beyond, as well as the clear challenge to NATO allies. Read also: Umerov, Austin discuss ammunition supplies, Ukrainian armys key needs and Future Force preparations The Kremlins deliberate cruelty is an attack on our shared values of democracy and decency, Austin said. Putins war is a frontal assault on the international rules-based order. He said that the outcome of the struggle would play an important role in shaping global security for decades to come, and stressed that the United States cannot passively observe. The United States seeks a free and sovereign Ukraine that can defend itself todayand deter more Russian aggression in the future, he said. The head of the Pentagon also reported on U.S. cooperation with allies to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and its ability to resist future challenges emerging from Russia. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Hisham Awartani, one of the three Palestinian college students shot in Vermont over the Thanksgiving weekend, is now paralyzed from the chest down, his family confirmed. Awartani, a junior at Brown University, was shot while walking with two friends in Burlington, suffering a broken clavicle and a fractured thumb. He had an incomplete spinal surgery, his family wrote, and is now paralyzed because of a bullet lodged in his spine. He will likely spend up to four weeks in spinal trauma care and attend extensive physical therapy after being released from the hospital. We believe that Hisham will meet this challenge with the same determination Ive witnessed this week, Awartanis mother wrote. The fund will help cover costs associated with his rehabilitation, air travel of his family and expenses related to the adaptive needs of his new reality. Read it at CNN Read more at The Daily Beast. Hisham Awartani, one of the three Palestinian students who were shot in Burlington, Vermont, last weekend is paralyzed from the chest down. On Thursday, Awartanis mother, Elizabeth Price, told NBC News that her son was paralyzed from the midtorso downward and may not be able to walk again. He has what they call an incomplete spinal injury, which means that he can feel, but he cant move the areas that are currently paralyzed, Price said. He is going into intensive rehab later this week, and we hope that that will help with his prognosis. In a GoFundMe created Saturday to raise money for Awartanis medical expenses, his family and friends disclosed that one of the bullets that struck him is lodged in his spine and has left him paralyzed from the chest down. The family is committed to his recovery and remain hopeful, in spite of the grave prognosis, Awartanis family said in a statement on the fundraiser page, which NBC News has confirmed is authentic. Awartanis family and friends describe him as a kind, gentle, brilliant young man with enormous potential. A Palestinian Irish American who grew up in the West Bank, he speaks seven languages and is a teaching assistant at Brown University, where he studies math and archaeology. Awartani is dedicated to his studies, and is determined to start the next semester on time, according to his family and friends. NBC News has reached out to Awartanis family for comment. muslim college students shot (Rich Price / AP) Awartani was walking near his grandmothers home on Nov. 25 with Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, all 20 years old, when a suspect pulled a gun on them without provocation and shot them. The students were speaking Arabic when they were attacked, and two of them were wearing Palestinian keffiyehs, scarves that have become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. Awartani and Abdalhamid are U.S. citizens and Ali Ahmad is a legal U.S. resident. Awartani, a student at Brown University, was shot in the spine. Ali Ahmad was shot in the chest, and Abdalhamid was shot in the glute, according to court documents. Jason Eaton, 48, was arrested in connection with the shooting. Eaton has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree attempted murder. The families of the victims and advocacy organizations are encouraging law enforcement to investigate the shooting of their children as a hate crime. We believe a full investigation is likely to show our sons were targeted and violently attacked simply for being Palestinian, a joint statement from the families read. Full justice and accountability is important, and needed to ensure that this type of brutal and violent attack does not happen again. Police have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, saying it is an ongoing investigation. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com One of the college students of Palestinian descent shot in Vermont last weekend has been left paralysed from the chest down, his family has said. Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, all age 20 and attending colleges in the eastern US, were visiting Awartanis family in Burlington during the Thanksgiving break. The three men, who all grew up in the West Bank, were out for a walk on 25 November when a man approached them and shot them without saying a word, according to police. The young men were speaking in a mix of English and Arabic and two of them were also wearing the black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarves when they were shot, authorities said. A suspect has been arrested in the case and charged with three counts of attempted murder, while prosecutors are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime. Mr Arwatanis parents Elizabeth Price and Ali Awartani flew in Wednesday from the war-torn West Bank just as their son underwent surgery, The Associated Press reported. The family revealed in the description of a fundraiser to cover hospital bills that one of the bullets that struck Mr Arwatani, a student at Brown University, lodged in his spine and left him paralysed from the chest down. When my nephew came to this country to pursue his studies and when he came to stay with me for Thanksgiving in Burlington, Vermont, it never occurred to me that he may be victim to this type of violence, Mr Awartanis uncle Rich Price also told the AP. And so I feel a sense of shame, I feel a sense of outrage, and its been a really difficult awakening to the fact that even here even in this country, even in this town that many of the risks that exist for my nephew and his friends in Palestine exist for them here. Hisham Arwatanis parents Elizabeth Price and Ali Awartani flew in Wednesday from the war-torn West Bank after their son was shot last weekend (GoFundMe) The bullet is unlikely to be removed. Mr Price said doctors treating his nephew have not reached a consensus on a long-term prognosis. A GoFundMe page created by family members has raised more than $497,000 as of Saturday evening. The family said the funds will be used to aid Mr Arwatani in the complex recovery and rehabilitation process that lies ahead. We, his family, believe that Hisham will change the world, the description of the page read. Hell change the world through his spirit, his mind and his compassion for those much more vulnerable than himself, especially the thousands of dead in Gaza and many more struggling to survive the devastating humanitarian crisis unfolding there. Mr Arwatani and her parents had agreed it would be safer for Hisham to stay in the United States instead of coming home for the holidays after the Israel-Hamas war erupted in early October. Mr Price said one of the most difficult things following his nephews attack was reckoning with the fact that the dangers Palestinians are facing in Gaza and the West Bank extended to the US, where Mr Arwatani and his friends once felt safe. Tahseen Ali Ahmad, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Hisham Awartani were walking on 25 November when a man approached them and shot them without saying a word, police said He was concerned for his friends, who were with him, their well-being and recovery. And he was also deeply concerned that so much attention was being brought to him and hes thinking about the thousands of people that are dead, Mr Price said. There are dozens of Hishams that are in the list of the dead in Gaza, and hes saying, Im the Hisham that you know. What about the Hishams you dont know? The shooting last weekend came as threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities have increased across the US in the weeks since the war began. The suspected gunman, 48-year-old Jason J Eaton, was arrested on 26 November at his apartment, where he answered the door with his hands raised and told federal agents he had been waiting for them. Mr Eaton has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder and is currently being held without bail. The Associated Press contributed to this report. James Walker Fannin, Jr., had arrived in Texas only in 1834. The 30-year-old planter brought his wife and two daughters with him. A fight with Mexico was brewing, and Fannin jumped in with both feet. In the first battle of the Texas Revolution in October 1835, Fannin led his Brazos Guards from Velasco against Mexican forces at the Battle of Gonzales. In spite of this initial success, the fortunes of Texas in battle would soon change dramatically. The tides of war and fortune would cost Fannin everything. As Texas began moving toward independence, a provisional government was established in November. Former Tennessee governor Sam Houston, now a Texas resident and also an advocate for independence, was named commander in chief of the army. Houston offered the position of judge advocate to Fannin, but Fannin wanted a field command instead. Houston named him colonel. Bridges By January 1836, Fannin was planning on taking a group of volunteers to seize Matamoros on the south side of the Rio Grande. By February, Mexican forces under Gen. Jose de Urrea had taken the city, forcing Fannin to prepare for the defense of Goliad instead, a position southeast of San Antonio. Mexican forces were flooding into Texas. Houston and Fannin initially considered sending forces to relieve the defenders at the Alamo in San Antonio, but Houston instead ordered the Alamo abandoned. The Alamo defenders stayed and were wiped out by March 6. Fannin had sent forces to Refugio, but he received orders from Houston on March 14 to assume a position near Victoria. Fannin delayed, hoping to hear news of his force at Refugio. Five days later, he learned they had been captured. Only now did he begin his retreat. Fannin was quietly criticized by his troops. Though he had spent a brief time at West Point as a cadet and his short period in the Georgia militia, he had difficulty winning the confidence of his men. He delayed while his position worsened. And it soon rose to beyond his worst fears. While he delayed, Urreas forces had managed to catch up to Fannin. At Coleto, on March 19, Fannin and his 450 men were surrounded by more than a thousand troops under Urrea. Fannin ordered a defensive square, but tall grass impaired their vision and they came under cannon fire and the force of Urreas cavalry. The Texans put up a furious defense, repelling three bayonet charges. Fannins casualties were growing ten men were killed and 67 wounded. By daybreak the next morning, Fannin offered terms of surrender to Urrea, which included help for the wounded and fair treatment for the men. Urrea initially agreed, but his superior, Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, had other plans. The prisoners, now being taken to nearby Goliad, were to be shown no mercy. Though Urrea pled for clemency, Santa Anna ignored him. On March 27, Palm Sunday, Col. Jose de la Portilla began carrying out Santa Annas orders to execute all prisoners. Men who could not walk were shot were they laid. Others were marched out a few at a time and shot in a nearby field. Fannin was made to witness each death. They tortured him with the sound of executions. A gunshot, a shriek, and then silence. Over and over again. Fannin was executed last. Nearly 420 men were slaughtered. Fannin would never see the results of the war. In the weeks after his death, his loss became a rallying cry for Texas troops. Remember Goliad! was shouted in the same breath as Remember the Alamo! At the Battle of San Jacinto in April, the battle cry led Texas to a surprise victory over Mexican troops, securing the independence of Texas. In the years after his death, Fannin was honored across the state. Fannin County was named for him in 1837. His home state of Georgia named created its own Fannin County in 1854 on the Tennessee state line in his honor. Across Texas, numerous streets and schools have been named for him, including schools in Dallas, Grand Prairie, Amarillo, and Midland. The small community of Fannin, not far from Victoria, is named for him and has a memorial to him. The Goliad battlefield was made a state park and memorial in 1939. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: When James Fannin fell, Texas troops rallied to Remember Goliad, Alamo Two independent reports this year have illuminated some of how the Des Moines Police Department does its work. But if you tried to assign a grade for police performance based on the reports, the fairest rating is probably incomplete. Thats because both Public Works and 21CP Solutions made the absence of robust data collection a main takeaway from their investigations. Without better data, we cant really assess, for instance, whether a concerning proportion of traffic stops involves discriminatory conduct. The city has already hired employees to remedy this, City Manager Scott Sanders said during a Nov. 20 work session with the City Council to review 21CPs 76-page report. More hiring is planned, with the aim in the next year or so of setting up online dashboards with timely information. Those are responsible steps. Council members and police administrators next need to move aggressively on other recommendations in the report. In particular, the council should stop hemming and hawing and construct a board to review police activity and publicly report findings. And the data the police collect must be thoroughly analyzed and used to sharpen department policy and training practices. The long-awaited completion of these twin reports can and must mark a watershed moment for improving police operations and community relations in Iowa's capital city. Purposeful action will be required of Chief Dana Wingert; Sanders, his supervisor; and Mayor-elect Connie Boesen and the other members of the City Council. A fair report shows many ways to improve policing 21CPs experts, which include former police officers, have written reports on numerous American law enforcement agencies. They praised Des Moines polices overall performance and noted that "the trainings that we observed were thoughtful and well-crafted with attention to modern approaches to technique." The consultants have included harsh judgments in some reports, so this one shouldnt be dismissed as a rubber stamp. But it's also true that for years, city residents and not just a few have voiced persistent questions about the fairness and equity of law enforcement in Des Moines. Although no single incident pushed the city to hire these consultants, accusations of racial profiling, excessive force and other misconduct have led to an ever-growing string of settlement payouts. Many people arrested during racial justice protests in 2020 were acquitted or had their cases dismissed, supporting a narrative that the police response was overbearing. And critics of the police arent the only people to notice a lack of openness to criticism and resistance to change among DMPD leadership, according to 21CPs report stakeholders who are often critical of the department and others who are generally supportive made these observations. All of those facts reflect problems that can be fixed. Clearer policies and better training can help officers make better choices. Chief Wingert and other administrators can focus energy on rebuilding community relationships. This report does not make a case for leadership changes in the department, instead citing "a consistent and strong leadership team." In the next year, however, police supervisors must demonstrate they are embracing and leading changes to make the department more transparent and responsive. Otherwise, it will be time for the council to pressure Sanders to consider new leadership. Better data will mean both tangible and intangible benefits Hiring to improve data collection and analysis is a justified investment. It also competes with other priorities in an increasingly strained city budget. At the same time, Black Liberation Movement activists and others have questioned the level of police spending. Police employees, in contrast, told 21CP researchers that they feel theyve been starved of necessary resources. Any drastic increase or decrease in police funding is unlikely. But spending on data is important because it can produce tangible improvements in efficiency and even savings and because the transparency could ultimately produce intangible benefits for the departments reputation. Were not using data to inform what we need to do or where we need to focus, said Councilman Josh Mandelbaum. The city has made genuine strides in cooperating with Broadlawns Medical Center on responding to certain calls involving mental health crises without police involvement. The 21CP report notes some ways that initiative can be improved. Disclosure has to be followed by reform; a community board can push for that The Police Department has for years been at loggerheads with independent groups and the news media over incident data. The polices internal systems, whether by happenstance or design, seem ill-suited to easily sharing useful information with external entities. Then police criticize how news stories and other reports characterize scraped-together data but dont clarify what, exactly, is wrong. Better disclosure is imperative. We need to get to the point where we have the staff that are posting this information in real time, Sanders said. But disclosure has to be followed by reform, if data shows concerning trends in how officers spend their time and interact with residents and visitors. The City Council can insist on this reform. But an equally important mechanism for advocacy on those matters is a dedicated board that can develop expertise and reach independent conclusions. As the consultants put it, This approach could help begin to surface community concerns before they occur and productively develop a policy-making partnership. Council members need to set the parameters for this community review board and appoint people to serve on it. Also of critical importance: more transparency when allegations are raised of officer misconduct. The report recommends police leaders "work more intentionally to describe the 'what and why' in each of these incidents why it occurred, and what actions were taken by the Department in response to any problematic conduct discovered." These reports were a necessary initial step for the city. Sanders promised quarterly updates on implementing recommendations. Administrators and the City Council now should be driven by achievement. Before the end of 2024, they need to remove remaining obstacles to gathering, analyzing and publishing meaningful data. Wingerts leadership cant be almost entirely behind the scenes, as has been his pattern. He needs to participate in public forums to demonstrate engagement with critics and visibly show he's leading the way in implementing these needed changes. The report's recommendations should not be viewed as a check-the-box to-do list, but as a generational opportunity for the Des Moines Police Department to become world-class in effective, equitable policing. The report's writers believe the department has that capacity. That's what residents deserve, and city leaders should settle for no less. Lucas Grundmeier, on behalf of the Registers editorial board This editorial is the opinion of the Des Moines Register's editorial board: Carol Hunter, executive editor; Lucas Grundmeier, opinion editor; and Richard Doak and Rox Laird, editorial board members. Want more opinions? Read other perspectives with our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook or visit us at DesMoinesRegister.com/opinion. Respond to any opinion by submitting a Letter to the Editor at DesMoinesRegister.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: To improve Des Moines policing, transparent data, review board needed Lloyd Austin, US Defense Secretary, said the Russian dictator was wrong to think he "can outlast us" and that support for Ukraine would weaken. In addition, the head of the Pentagon named the key reasons for the importance of Ukraine for the United States and the world. Source: Austin speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum Quote: " Now, in both Israel and Ukraine, democracies are fighting ruthless foes who are out to annihilate them. And we will not let Hamas or Putin win. And we will not let our enemies divide or weaken us. So as we surge support into Israel, we remain focused on Ukraine." "And so, 21 months into Putins failed campaign of conquest, the Russian military has been badly weakened. Above all, thats because of Ukraines incredibly brave troops. But Ukraines achievements also flow from bipartisan U.S. leadershipand from the coalition of some 50 countries that weve forged." " we still urgently need bipartisan support in Congress to pass the supplemental to rush security assistance to our partners in Ukraine, Israel, and elsewhere." " Now, despite his isolation, Putin believes that he can outlast the Ukrainians. But he is wrong." " Now, Putin also thinks that he can outlast us. He believes that our coalition will splinter, that our willpower will fade, and that our democracy will just get distracted. But once again, Putin is wrong. And we must continue to be clear to the American people about the stakes in Ukraine." Details: Austin noted that the Kremlin is waging an unjust war of imperial aggression while Ukraine defends itself. He emphasised that "that gives Ukraine the huge strategic advantage of a just cause." The head of the Pentagon once again stated that Ukraine is of great importance for the USA and the whole world for four key reasons: Putin's war is a serious and direct threat to security in Europe and beyond. Putin's aggression is a clear challenge for the US's NATO allies. The deliberate brutality of the Kremlin is an attack on the common values of democracy and decency. Putin's war is a frontal assault on the rules-based international order. "So the outcome of this struggle will define global security for decades to come. And we dont have the option of sitting it out," Austin emphasised. Quote: "So President Biden has laid down a clear objective: The United States seeks a free and sovereign Ukraine that can defend itself todayand deter more Russian aggression in the future. And so we are working, together with our allies and partners, to help Ukraine build a future force that can ward off more Russian malice in the years to come." For reference: Austin arrived in Kyiv on 20 November with an unannounced visit. In Kyiv, he met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine; as the head of the Pentagon noted, this is another opportunity "to confirm the unwavering support of Ukraine from the United States". Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine is now investigating the allegations against Russia, claiming that Moscow executive some Ukrainian POWs even when they were unarmed. This was revealed by the Strategic Communications Directorate of Ukraine's Armed Forces on Saturday, Dec. 2. The Ukrainian DeepState Telegram channel even posted a video showing the alarming war incident that happened. Ever since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both of them have been accused of violating the Geneva Conventions. The POW execution allegations against Russia are the latest humanitarian law-violating accusations that Moscow faces. Ukrainian POW Execution Allegations Against Russia According to BBC News' latest report, Russia is accused by Ukraine of killing two Ukrainian prisoners of war despite surrendering to Russian troops. On the footage (can't be shown) published by Ukraine's DeepStateUA Telegram, some people wearing Russian uniforms were seen shooting at the surrendering Ukrainians. The Kyiv Independent reported that one of these Ukrainian POWs had his hands behind his head before Russians mercilessly killed him. Although the footage was a bit grainy, it still revealed important details about the alleged POW executions. DeepStateUA claimed that the Ukrainian POWs were killed near Stepove. It added that this happened after Russian soldiers seized the positions of Ukraine's 45th Rifle Battalion. After that, the captured Ukrainian soldiers decided to surrender since they already run out of ammunition. When the two Ukrainian fighters came out of a dugout, they were forced to face down on the ground. A few moments later, the Russian soldiers were seen opening fire on them, leading to their demise. As of writing, news agencies haven't verified the footage's authenticity. Although it is still unclear if Russia really carried out the Ukrainian POW executions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy still urged world leaders to respond to the incident. Read Also: NATO: Russia's 300,000 Soldier Casualties in Ukraine Not Enough to End Invasion-Here's What Top Official Explains Ukraine Investigates Alleged POW Executions The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office confirmed that it launched an investigation into the alleged rules and customs of war violation that Russia did by killing unarmed Ukrainian POWs. The office argued that executing POWs is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention. It also constitutes a war crime. "Russia has once again proved that it is a terrorist country for which there are no laws and norms of international law," said Ukraine's parliament speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk. Oleksandr Shtupun, a Ukrainian forces group (Tavria) spokesperson, claimed that the Russians who executed unarmed Ukrainian POWs were already killed in action. Meanwhile, Russia already commented on the alarming footage, saying that what happened was "awful." However, Moscow added that the video's authenticity should still be checked to know who was really behind it. 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. The Pentagon said Sunday that USS Carney and multiple commercial ships came under attack in the Red Sea in an assault thats since been claimed by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Carney shot two drones down, one out of self-defense and the other to protect Unity Explorer, a nearby bulk carrier that was Bahamas-flagged. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, later claimed the attacks saying, The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops. Read it at The Associated Press Read more at The Daily Beast. A Missing Endangered Alert has been canceled for a Person County man who was last seen at a Charlotte Greyhound bus station. Fred Fitzgerald Kelly was reported missing on Sunday and was believed to be headed to Raleigh. He is 58 years old and stands at 5 feet 11 inches, and weighs 175 pounds. RELATED: Alert canceled for missing Concord man He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt, jeans, a leather jacket, gray Reebok sneakers, and dark-frame glasses, according to the alert issued by the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons. A picture of Kelly was not released in the alert. He may suffer from a cognitive impairment. The alert listed a vehicle description, but it was unclear whether Kelly may be driving it. It is a silver 2018 Chevrolet Equinox with a North Carolina license plate HHS4448. On Monday, the alert for Kelly was canceled. (WATCH: Union County parents desperate to find missing daughter) History has been invaded by God in Christ in such a way that nothing can stay as it was. All terms of human community and conduct have been altered at the deepest levels. This description from scholar David Bentley Hart on the impact of the Christian message was borne out visibly and conspicuously in early Christian communities. One historian noted the social diversity in these congregations, accompanied by an ideal of human equality stating, in Christ, taught the Christians, all were equal, and the distinctions of rank and degree were irrelevant. In church meetings, educated people sat as equals among other mens slaves and petty artisans. The new faith emerged in the context of cultural structures organized around brutal inequalities: freedmen and slaves, rich and poor, men and women. Christianity could not initially challenge the social status quo in the larger society. However, the gospel could and did remove such limitations and boundaries within the circle of the Christian community. Many scholars have confirmed that in these early congregations, members of different social strata became extremely close to one another, supporting each other. While freedom from broader political oppression may have been of limited scope, equality within the Christian community was not. But why not? One family in Christ Intrinsic to such fellowship is an astonishing idea that may be hard for modern minds to grasp namely, that God walks among us as a minister and mentor and fellow traveler. He breaks bread with his friends, weeps over the death of a friend, dines with sinners, and washes the feet of his apostles. Following this model, some of the first Christians successfully turned ad hoc communities into a society governed by love. A historian of early Christianity confirms the world-defying novelty of a group joined by Spiritual power into an extended family. Morwenna Ludlow uses the same language, writing that the Christians described themselves as a kind of extended family or household. This is not just nostalgic fantasy. Early Christians were in fact ridiculed because we call each other brother and sister. Indeed, as these early Christians insisted to a skeptical world, We are your brothers and sisters as well. The feature marking these early believers was their practice of lovingkindness as one writer Tertullian observed, Only look how they love one another. The words of one contemptuous critic, Lucian, confirm how well Christians at times cared for those otherwise despised: Well, what do we have in the end? An impressive god indeed: one who desires nothing more than to adopt sinners as his children; one who takes to himself the creatures who stand condemned by another, the poor wretches who are (as they say of themselves), naught but dung. Related A more global humanity Until the arrival of Christianity, most forms of community even religious communities were ethnic or kinship based. As one scholar observed, Christianity now allowed religion to be conceived as an entity independent of the ethnic-cultural components that were normally (and inevitably) attached. The sociologist Joseph Henrich confirms that Christianitys transformation of Western culture was cataclysmic, signaling the demise of various forms of tribal loyalty to kin and clan in deference to voluntary associations with groups of strangers. In this way, Christianity inculcated and motivated a version of love that transformed the world. This was not an incidental side effect, but a deliberate strategy. Any bonds strong enough to transcend tribal and familial loyalties had to be more than theoretical. Wayne Meeks argues that Pauls letters reveal universal hybridization as a deliberate strategy of community-building with each church by intention becoming ethnically and socially mixed. Each of these revolutionary cell groups was deliberately developed to be a microcosm of the global reality that Paul and other early leaders believed was coming. In the letters of Paul that shaped early Christian society, Wilhelm Wrade notes, his zeal for community always takes first place; the question he always asks is, what builds it up? Staggering, shocking love Christian love surpassed anything the ancient world had seen. Rodney Stark notes how through recurrent plagues, as citizens fled infected areas, Christians remained behind to nurse and minister to the sick at the cost of their lives. Around A.D. 260, at the height of yet another epidemic, the Christian Dionysius recorded an especially poignant glimpse in the wake of our own recent pandemic: Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains. Many, in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead. A century later, the fourth-century monk Rufinus described how Christians in Egypt treated arriving visitors: As we drew near to that place and they realized that foreign brethren were arriving, they poured out of their cells like a swarm of bees and ran to meet us with delight and alacrity, many of them carrying containers of water and of bread. ... When they had welcomed us, first of all they led us with psalms into the church and washed our feet and one by one they dried them with the linen cloth they were girded with, as if to wash away the fatigue of the journey. ... What can I say that would do justice to their humanity, their courtesy, and their love? Nowhere have I seen love flourish so greatly, nowhere with such quick compassion, such eager hospitality. Skepticism and continuing challenges In trying to decipher the appeal of early Christianity, the cynic Friedrich Nietzsche could only marvel at the seeming gullibility of the throngs of converts who had found this better way. Power and dominion were the source of the only real happiness, he insisted. The rich, the well-born, the noble these possessed the genuine article, until clever priests convinced them that some phantom joy was only found in pity, humility, selflessness and fellow-feeling. Yet even that great skeptic could not really explain how so many of the noble, the powerful, the rich were also persuaded to willingly forsake their privilege and aspire instead to humility, to selflessness, to compassion. Christianity exposed the deeper roots of our being: fragmented individuals finding fullness only in a thriving web of relationships. Christianity quenched a thirst that had never found perfect resolution: as Martin Buber diagnosed the essential human condition, The longing for relation is primary. Beneath the world of transactional relationships based on commerce, power dynamics and self-interest, Christianity exposed the deeper roots of our being: fragmented individuals finding fullness only in a thriving web of relationships. The template for a society of perfect love and deep unity had been drawn: Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or free. Nor, said Paul, is there male and female. The Magna Carta of Humanity, one scholar called this Pauline pronouncement. There is nothing like it in all of antiquity. A revolutionary peace A second-century witness marveled if one or other of them have bondmen and bondwomen or children, through love towards them they persuade them to become Christians, and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction. Justin Martyr wrote how we who hated and destroyed one another, and on account of their different manners would not live with men of a different tribe, now, since the coming of Christ, live familiarly with them. Even leaders in such a community are encouraged to act as servants of all, like the angels who call themselves humankinds fellowservants. And even Christ, God embodied, washed the feet of His disciples and said, I do not call you servants ... but I have called you friends. Certainly, the revolution never found its perfect form. Paul beseeched Philemon to treat Onesimus as no longer a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother; but he did not repudiate the institution of slavery. And while denying that male and female were no different in Christ, Paul went on to make men the head. Still, the deeper threat to social hierarchies like slave/master and patron/client was real, and opponents of the Christian revolution were not slow in recognizing the transformations afoot, however incomplete. Revisiting those witnesses to the transformative impact of the gospel revealed in Christ is important for two reasons. It is a testament to the ways in which we have often fallen short of an original vision. But it can inspire us with the confidence that we, too, might yet be able to astonish our contemporaries by a more conspicuous, godly love that sees the image of Christ in everyone. SAN DIEGO The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is set to host multi-platinum rock music legend Peter Frampton next spring. The San Diego Symphony announced Friday that it will present a concert with the GRAMMY Award winner as part of his 2024 Never EVER Say Never Tour. Frampton is internationally celebrated as one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. San Diegos WNDR Museum transforms into winter wonderland Aside from being a solo artist, has had several collaborations with legendary artists such as George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, David Bowie, Dion, Hank Marvin, Ringo Starr, B.B. King, Mike McCready & Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam), Buddy Guy, Steve Miller, and many others. Frampton has also been apart of influential bands The Herd and Humble Pie. When it comes to accolades, Frampton was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2020. His 1976 seminal album Frampton Comes Alive! remains one of the top-selling live records of all time with over 17 million units sold worldwide. This tour marks Framptons 60th year of touring. Tickets for the concert go on sale on Friday, Dec. 8th at 10 a.m. at www.TheShell.org. The show date is set for Sunday, April 14, 2024. For those who want to attend, be sure to create a reminder for yourself labeled Show Me the Way. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A 13-year-old boy was arrested Saturday for threatening a school shooting at Carwise Middle School, according to the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office. Deputies said the student sent messages in a Snapchat group chat to another student regarding participating in a school shooting. Hit-and-run driver flees deadly crash after witness says hes calling police: PCPD The boy then said he would shoot the other student first if he reported the incident to anyone. The student who received those messages told his parents, who then notified deputies. Authorities showed up at the teens home, where he admitted to sending the messages but claimed it was a joke. The 13-year-old was arrested and charged with written threats to kill or conduct a mass shooting. He was taken to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center. Anyone with information on any threats is asked to notify the sheriffs office immediately at 727-582-6200. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. When recently arrived migrants, mostly from Venezuela, began to show up at Juana Arreguins ice cream shop in Pilsen over the summer some begging for money, others asking for a job all she could do was feed them. Sometimes, she said, she would give them a few dollars or point them to someone who could maybe hire them. I wish I could help them, I know how it is to start from zero, said Arreguin, 52. With the help of her husband, she managed to open the shop after nearly 30 years in the U.S. The couple, both of whom entered the country illegally from Mexico, said they used all their savings from working without job permits in the Chicago area their entire adult lives to open the shop. They prayed the risk they were taking would be worth it. It hasnt been easy, Arreguin said, but shes grateful for the ice cream shop with a dozen colorful tables and even more flavors and Mexican snacks. Lately, however, shes felt a little disillusioned, perhaps frustrated. Some of those new migrants who shes been helping feed and guide in the city shes called home for decades can now apply for job permits after President Joe Biden expedited work permits for migrants from mostly Venezuela, as well as Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti. Though Arreguin celebrates the increased opportunities for newly arrived Venezuelans in Chicago, she feels abandoned. She couldnt hold back the tears as she implored government officials to expand the program to other immigrant groups, like herself. Please dont forget about us. We need job permits too, she said while sitting in one of the benches of the ice cream shop. Shes joining the voices of thousands of other immigrants who live in Chicago without legal authorization and are demanding the Biden administration give them the opportunity to work legally as well. Bipartisan advocates leading the Work Permits for All campaign say Biden could change the lives of workers like Arreguin through the existing federal parole program that he used to provide work authorization for the newly arrived migrants. Thousands of workers without permanent legal status mostly from Mexico traveled to Washington, D.C., last month along with community organizers, political leaders and even employers to push for the executive order. Though Arreguin couldnt go, she said she shared her story with the Tribune to empower other immigrants to speak up and bolster the movement that could materialize work permits for the estimated 7.8 million workers in the U.S. without legal permission. The work authorization, advocates say, would allow those immigrants to step out from the shadows and improve their lives exponentially. They would receive workplace protections and legally set wages that they may be too afraid to demand under the current circumstances. And they could visit their home countries without sacrificing the lives they have built in the United States. Many living in the country illegally go the rest of their lives without seeing family because they would be barred from reentering the U.S. if they left. For a long time, Arreguin who missed her fathers funeral in 2004 kept these hardships to herself. She was afraid to talk about her immigration status and lived in fear that she could be deported at any moment. It made her feel invisible. Not anymore. If I dont speak up and show people what were capable of doing even without government support, who will? she said. They (politicians) need to realize that were no different from the new migrants who are also coming here for a better life. The only difference is that we have been here for decades and they have not acknowledged us even though we pay millions in taxes. Working without authorization, reporting taxes In Illinois, there are more than 300,000 workers without permanent legal status, mostly Mexican and many now in mixed-status families, who have been working and paying taxes without a job permit, according to the most recent Pew Research data. Most use an individual taxpayer identification number provided by the federal government to report income instead of a Social Security number to file their taxes. Some people find work by using fake documents. Others use somebody elses Social Security number or work under the table to get paid in cash. The only legal way for those who dont have a job permit to work is to become contractors, like Arreguin. Regardless of how they pay into the system, most file their taxes using the ITIN number even if theyre not eligible for government entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicaid. Arreguin was able to get her business license with the ITIN number shes been using to pay her taxes since she arrived in the country in the early 90s. She named the shop Neveria El Sabor de Mexico. Last year, she paid more than $13,000 in taxes. Undocumented workers in Illinois pay an estimated $900 million in federal taxes and $700 million in state and local taxes, according to the latest report from the American Immigration Council. And in the past year, some have decided to make their presence known in more than just dollars and cents. At a recent rally in Pilsen, several of those workers took to the stage to share their stories and, for some, their heartache in hopes that officials recognize their economic contribution and put them back on the agenda. Many cried, holding signs with the number of years that they have been working in the country without a job permit: 17, 20, 29, 30, 33. We are being forgotten, Consuelo Martinez, a mother of two, said in Spanish when she took the stage as she held a sign with the number 27. Martinez isnt afraid anymore either. She is stepping out of the shadows on behalf of herself and the estimated 180,000 workers in Chicago without permanent legal status. Biden, listen to us, we want to work without fear, like our Venezuelan brothers and sisters, she said. It is only fair The song Mojado' by Ricardo Arjona played in the background of the Pilsen rally. An ode to the millions of people who have crossed the southern border into the United States through the Rio Grande, its title means Wetback in English. When Erendira Rendon heard the song, she couldnt hold back tears. She cried as she hugged some of the women who stood by her side telling their stories. They reminded her of her Mexican parents who made their journey north in 1987. As a young girl, Rendon was inspired to pursue advocacy work because of her own immigration status, living in the country without authorization, and the desire to help her family. In 2012, she got a job permit and protection from deportation through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama-era policy for which she pushed hard. Now as the vice president of Immigrant Justice at Resurrection Project, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrant rights, Rendon has been at the forefront of addressing the needs of the migrants since the first group arrived on a bus sent from Texas by Gov. Greg Abbott in late August 2022. Rendon and her team are now organizing legal clinics across the city to help new migrants apply for expedited work permits. The group is also helping Venezuelan migrants apply for the extension of temporary protected status, a program that allows people whose home countries are considered unsafe the right to live and work in the United States. Though she has been making a difference in the lives of asylum-seekers, Rendon suddenly felt futile when the Biden administration announced it was granting work permits to recently arrived migrants. It is something she has wanted for her community all her life, she said. We deserve a job permit. It is only fair, Rendon said. But longtime unauthorized immigrants have little hope of ever fixing their status. Many of the Mexican immigrants who entered the country came with the understanding that they were crossing illegally and went into hiding, said Rendon. Some are still afraid to ask for community resources or apply for government resources for their U.S.-born children because they fear deportation, she added. Despite crossing without authorization, most immigrants reunited with family or friends and had a support network already in place. Venezuelans do not. Most new migrants are part of the first wave into the country, many of them seeking asylum. Without a safety net in place, the state of Illinois and city of Chicago have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the past year to provide shelter, food, permanent housing, health care and now legal aid to process work permits for the new migrants. Resentment and frustration That government help has raised feelings of resentment and frustration among some who arrived in the country decades ago from Mexico and other countries. Many say they also ran away from violence and poverty, but did not receive and will never receive that kind of public aid. It has been voiced in community meetings hosted by the city regarding the opening of new shelters and, more notably, in the number of protests against the erection of winterized tents to house the migrants from the cold in Brighton Park, a predominantly Latino immigrant neighborhood with a growing Asian population. Its a resentment stoked by the governments own tangled policies. It begins with a federal humanitarian program that allows migrants from certain countries to seek asylum but does not grant them automatic work authorization. Its further compounded by a system that regards some migration as forced and others as voluntary regardless of the similar hardships endured in their native countries. In each and every turn, longtime undocumented immigrants in the United States have seen other populations move forward and have been told to take the back seat and to wait, said Angela Garcia, a sociologist and assistant professor at the University of Chicago whose work focuses on unauthorized immigrants from Mexico in Chicago. There is little hope that anything will change soon. Efforts to legalize the 11 million people living in the country without authorization have stalled for decades, with the last relief coming in 1986 through the Immigration Reform and Control Act, also called the Reagan Amnesty. Rendon predicts that the lack of action from political leaders will have an impact in the upcoming presidential elections. And even affect local politics. U.S.-born children of the longtime unauthorized workers who are eligible to vote are most likely keeping tabs on how their parents and elders are being treated by the leaders, Rendon said. A recent poll commissioned by the American Business Immigration Coalition showed that voters in seven key states support the expansion of work permits for immigrants living here illegally. The poll, by Lake Research Partners, found even deeper support among certain groups of voters. Eight in 10 Mexican American voters in these states and over eight in 10 Democrats support the policy. U.S. citizens in mixed-status families are essentially unanimously in support, with nearly nine in 10 strongly supportive. Arreguins daughter, Johanna Rangel, 23, said she is planning to vote in the upcoming elections. For my parents, she smiled as she looked at her mother. Everyone eager to work Arreguin knows that some people are angered by the amount and type of assistance that new migrants are getting. But she is not one of them. She remembers the day she crossed the southern border with her husband and the eldest of their three children, who was only 1 year old. Fleeing a world with high crime, organized crime and no access to education, the young family found refuge at her brothers home in the United States and lived with him until they could rent their own place. Arreguin easily sees herself in some of the Venezuelan mothers shes encountered, including a young migrant mother who recently came in with her child and asked for a job at the shop. I know that it is difficult for them, especially for the parents. I cant imagine living in a shelter, eating cold food or that your children are hungry, she said. It makes me sad but we can barely keep the business running on our own, said Arreguin. Her two young grandchildren, Rangels children, often play in the store while their mother works. One of the tables has their smiling faces painted on it. The shop is their second home, she said. Despite the significant efforts to push for the expansion of the policy, Arreguin doesnt expect the Biden administration to step in for them anytime soon. Either way, she says, making noise is worth the try. One day, God willing, well be recognized for all the work weve done, Arreguin said. Her faith in God is rooted in the hope that she will get to see her mother, 85, who still lives in Michoacan, Mexico, one last time. She still thinks about her late father every day. As autumn leaves fell on the ground, a customer entered and Arreguin stood up from the bench to walk behind the counter. Buenas tardes, she said. Como le puedo servir? Good afternoon. How can I help you? larodriguez@chicagotribune As the prevalence of mental health issues among young people in the United States continues to rise in the modern age of technology, more and more schools are implementing telehealth treatment programs. An investigation by the AP News shows that internet therapy sessions are now available to millions of children in at least 16 of the 20 biggest public school districts in the US. More than $70 million worth of supplier contracts had been signed by schools in those districts alone. The expansion of this trend is indicative of a new, very profitable industry that has emerged in response to the mental health epidemic among American adolescents. In fact, venture capitalists are pouring money into a slew of school teletherapy startups. However, a number of authorities have voiced worries over the quality of care provided by rapidly expanding technology firms. On the other hand, educators are claiming that teletherapy is helping many students and filling a huge need, especially as schools deal with shortages of in-person practitioners. It has made treatment more accessible, particularly to schools in remote areas and children from lower-income families. More Accessible According to Trish Wilson, the supervisor of counselors for the Lancaster district in California, the school system's 13,000 students face the same problem as many others: a shortage of qualified mental health professionals. As reported by ABC News, Wilson said that due to therapists' heavy caseloads, sending pupils for urgent treatment is not feasible. Virtual sessions may be arranged by students in a matter of days. Since launching the online therapy service, the Lancaster district has sent over 325 pupils to over 800 sessions. After experiencing difficulties with emotions like depression, isolation, academic pressure, and anxiety, students and their parents sought help via teletherapy. A lot of people had a terrible time going back to regular schooling after taking classes online. Anger, lack of social skills, and broken friendships were all symptoms of a more serious problem. A number of schools are using funds allocated for government pandemic relief initiatives to address the increasing rates of adolescent depression, anxiety, and suicide, which experts have expressed concern about. Public education systems are increasingly entering into agreements with commercial businesses. Still, others collaborate with community organizations, governmental initiatives, or local healthcare professionals. Also Read: Tennessee Implements School Choice Policy Statewide, Expands Educational Opportunities for Students Potential Risks Mental health professionals much appreciate the additional help, but they warn of possible dangers. School psychologists and counselors are in high demand, but they are difficult to fill due to rising wages and increased competition from telehealth services. Doreen Hogans, supervisor of school counseling in Prince George's County, Maryland, said that 20% of school counselors who resigned had opted for the more flexible schedules offered by teletherapy. Some are concerned about the therapists' credentials, their background working with kids, and the corporations' privacy policies in light of the fast expansion of these businesses. Also Read: US Teachers Concerned About Students' Performance-Claiming They Don't Meet Grade Level Standards @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Poland has announced its intention to tighten inspections of lorries on the Polish-Ukrainian border at the request of the transport industry. Source: Polish Infrastructure Ministry, as reported by European Pravda Details: The ministry said this issue was agreed upon during a recent meeting with transport industry representatives. The authority added that the tightening of inspections was one of the Polish hauliers' demands. "Today we are proving that we are keeping our word: the Road Transport Inspectorate, the State Tax Administration, the Border Guard Service and the police have sent additional forces to the region," said Polish Infrastructure Minister Alvin Gajadhur. The official further noted that the government will also take measures in European institutions to combat unfair competition in the haulage market. The minister added that the EU Transport Council summit scheduled for Monday, 4 December "should address the issue of the consequences caused by cancelling the obligation to obtain permits to enter the EU for Ukrainian drivers". Background: On Friday, 1 December, representatives of the Ukrainian and Polish agencies responsible for infrastructure met in Warsaw to discuss measures to lift the blockade of Polish hauliers at the border and agreed on several points. Polish hauliers commenced a protest on 6 November, demanding that the EU, among other things, reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian drivers entering the EU. Support UP or become our patron! The Polish government announced on Dec. 2 that it would tighten controls on Ukrainian trucks crossing the Polish border, which was one of the demands of Poland's protesting haulers. Polish truckers started blocking three border crossing points on Nov. 6 in protest of the liberalization of EU transport rules for Ukrainian trucks, causing huge lines on both sides of the border. The two sides did not discuss canceling or changing the visa-free regime between the two countries, which the protesters demanded. Still, the Polish government said it would crack down on "unscrupulous competition on the transport market." On Dec. 1, Poland and Ukraine agreed to take steps to ease the border truck blockages caused by Polish protesters. After meeting for talks in Warsaw, Ukrainian and Polish representatives agreed to open a crossing point for empty trucks at Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv border crossing, create separate electronic passes for empty vehicles at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk and Krakivets-Korczowa crossing points and launch a pilot electronic queueing system. An organizer of the protests, Rafal Mekler, tweeted an intention to extend the blockade until Feb. 1, 2024. Mekler is the owner of a logistics firm and a member of the far-right Confederation party in Poland, which has been vocally pro-Russian and skeptical of Ukraine. The protesting haulers 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. Although the protesting Polish truckers said that the blockade would only apply to non-essential goods, Ukrinform reported on Nov. 20 that trucks carrying humanitarian aid or fuel and other essential goods had been on standby at the border for days. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Kyiv Police dismissed the claim of Oleksandr Dubinsky, a lawmaker charged with treason, who said on Dec. 2 that he had been beaten and injured at a pre-trial detention facility. Dubinsky was charged with treason and taking part in a criminal organization following his arrest in mid-November for working for Russian intelligence services along with former pro-Russian lawmaker Andriy Derkach and other suspects. They allegedly colluded to spread fakes meant to discredit Ukraine and the West. Following Dubinskys claim published on his Telegram channel, the police visited the detention center to conduct a forensic medical exam. According to the results of the inspection and forensic exam, the information claimed in the (Telegram) post was not confirmed, the Kyiv Police said on Facebook on Dec. 3. According to a statement on Dubinsky's Telegram channel, he was heavily bruised, and the unknown assailants possibly cracked his rib. The lawmaker demanded the presence of the chief of Kyiv's pre-trial detention center and a reaction from Justice Minister Denys Maliuska, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Dubinsky's lawyers also demanded his immediate transfer to a different detention facility, claiming his life was threatened. Dubinsky was once former ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky and head of the president's Servant of the People party in parliament. He was expelled from the faction in 2021 after it was discovered he had assisted Rudy Giuliani in his unsuccessful efforts to uncover information about Joe Biden at the behest of then-President Donald Trump. Earlier in August, he was charged with forging documents to leave Ukraine. In early November, he was also charged with helping his partner's brother illegally cross the border and flee to an EU country. Dubinsky, along with his mother and ex-wife, engaged in high-risk financial transactions from 2008 to 2023, according to the investigators. These transactions substantially surpass their officially declared income, suggesting potential involvement in money laundering through the acquisition of highly liquid assets and the transfer of funds to deposit accounts, according to the investigators. A total of 39 real estate properties, in particular, 23 apartments in Kyiv, eight land plots, two houses in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, and 15 cars belonging to Dubinsky and his family members, were seized. Read also: Judicial reform in limbo as only few tainted judges are fired or convicted Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MANASSAS, Va. (DC News Now) The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said it is investigating an attempted armed robbery in Manassas. What to know about mysterious dog respiratory illness The incident occurred Sunday morning in the 9700 block of Liberia Ave. Police said the suspect is in custody and the victim was not hurt. As of 10 a.m., Sunday, PWCPD said residents in the area can expect an increased police presence. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Officers with the Lexington Police Department are investigating two shootings that happened within the span of an hour late Saturday night and early Sunday morning that left one man in critical condition, and another injured. According to Lt. Joe Anderson, police received a call of shots fired around 11:45 p.m. on Saturday at Breckenridge Street and Shropshire Avenue. A short time later, a man arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound and was determined to be connected to the shooting. His injuries were not life-threatening, Anderson said. Less than an hour later, officers received another call of shots fired at the 1300 block of Alexandria Drive, Anderson said. When officers arrived, a man was found suffering a life-threatening gunshot wound and taken to a nearby hospital. The shooting allegedly stemmed from a disorder. A juvenile was charged on Sunday afternoon for the shooting on Alexandria Drive, according to Hannah Sloan, spokesperson for Lexington police. The 16-year-old was charged with first-degree assault, possession of a handgun by a minor, and tampering with physical evidence. The juvenile is currently being held at a juvenile detention center, according to Sloan. Both investigations are active. Anyone with information is asked to call Lexington Police at 859-258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling 859-253-2020, online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips app available at www.p3tips.com. Police in the nations capital are investigating the death of a 41-year-old Quincy man whose body was reportedly dumped from a car and into an alley. Hes been identified as Alan Chi Chen. On Sunday, police in Washington, D.C. told Boston 25 this is an active death investigation. A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police Department in the District of Columbia says investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. According to a document obtained by Boston 25 News, a person reached out to police on November 30th saying he ...witnessed on his camera someone dropping a body out of a vehicle in the alley. Officers arrived on scene to find (the body) on the ground unconscious and not breathing from unknown circumstances. according to the report. According to the report, the video seems to indicate the Chens body was dropped on November 29th, after 11 p.m. in Northwest. D.C. The date of death is also listed as November 29th on the report. The victim was wearing a pair of blue jeans, black shoes and had lip balm on him. No other information was provided. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A school district in rural northeast Kansas is withdrawing its membership from the Kansas Association of School Boards, claiming the nonprofit's priorities no longer match that of the district's conservative community. If Jackson Heights USD 335 follows through, it would be the only one of Kansas 286 public school district in the state without a membership. Over the years, we have observed a growing misalignment between our values, beliefs, and the direction KASB represents, superintendent Jim Howard wrote Nov. 14 to KASB executive director Brian Jordan. Our vision for public schools and the educational landscape has evolved, leading us to believe that continued representation by KASB may not be in the best interest of USD 335. "Additionally, we have realized that the membership fees we contribute need to be more commensurately reflect the value or benefits we receive from the association. KASB is a nonprofit that offers legal advice, research, training, executive staffing and legislative advocacy for school districts around the state. Jackson Heights takes issue with some of the organization's priorities when lobbying the Kansas Legislature and the financial expense that Howard says isn't worth the investment. Jackson Heights USD 335 says financial burden and political bias are the reasons it plans to leave the Kansas Association of School Boards. Jackson Heights objects to legislative lobbying priorities Howard told The Capital-Journal that he views KASB as being increasingly liberal in its lobbying efforts to legislators and advocating for items he said hurt his district. The chief concern from the last legislative session was a school funding provision in Senate Bill 113. KASB opposed changing the funding formula that uses the enrollment from the previous year or the year before to current or last years enrollment. The amendment to the funding formula survived in the bill, but it was the sole provision vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly when she approved SB 113. Jackson Heights enrollment grew this school year after a nearby school closed, and the district wasnt able to secure more per-pupil funding for the students currently enrolled. Howard said the district lost almost $600,000 in funding while shrinking districts received the same amount of money. My two cents would be that the three things that they tend to push blindly is: More money, less accountability and no school choice. And we fundamentally disagree with that, Howard said. KASB said it determines legislative positions by garnering input from across the state. Its board of directors is comprised of 18 school board members, each representing one of 18 geographic regions. Its legislative platform is built by a committee process that includes a larger sampling of school board members across the state. We represent districts of all shapes and sizes from the tiniest rural district to the largest urban district, and there are a lot of different opinions and ideologies, said Kristin Magette, assistant executive director of communication and engagement at KASB. We have a really well-developed process where we spend late July through the end of September traveling the state and the KASB regions that we have identified and getting feedback from, from members on what they believe the most important issues are for their local board, their local districts, their communities and counties. Magette said the final legislative platform is the culmination of that information-gathering process and is approved by a vote by members at its annual conference. Delegates are allowed to make amendments and strike provisions before the platform is approved. When issues arise during session, KASB returns to its legislative assembly for consultation of how to proceed. Every time we hear from those districts (that disagree with a position), we really look at it as a chance to listen, to hear about what their local perspectives are, and then certainly to adapt where we can, while still being true to our legislative platform," Magette said. "We can't change because what are the things that have been approved by our delegate assembly. We have to stay true to those. Many Kansas school boards are becoming more conservative Though KASB currently represents all public school districts in Kansas, there has been some discontent in the past. Jim Karleskint, a former Republican state representative from Eudora and former superintendent, now lobbies on behalf of the United School Administrators of Kansas. Karleskint said he heard similar complaints of liberal bias when he was superintendent of Holton USD 336, as well as those saying they received too little return on the investment. Though he is personally supportive of KASB, he said he still hears complaints in his role as a lobbyist. In the last, say, two to four years, school boards have become more conservative," Karleskint said. "Members of school boards are becoming more politically conservative. And some feel that KASB does not represent them as well as they should when it comes to lobbying efforts. Jackson Heights first announced its intent to leave KSAB last week in a Facebook post responding to social media chatter alleging liberal bias in a graphic depicting positions taken by Democrats and Republicans on a variety of issues. The post said Jackson Heights upholds its communitys conservative values but offer a balanced perspective of topics of debate. The decision to leave KASB is mentioned in reference to the conservative values. Although its the first time the district publicly stated its desire to leave KASB, Howard said the school board is on board. The district wont technically be out of the organization until it doesnt pay the next round of dues, but he said the district is unlikely to use KASB services before the membership expires in January. Howard said he thinks Jackson Heights decision to leave KASB could lead other districts to consider a similar course. We feel like we feel like this is an opportunity for other schools to see what (KASB) is about," he said. "And frankly, I've tried to explain to other superintendents that the Legislature doesn't listen to them anymore. What will happen next for Jackson Heights schools and KASB? If Jackson Heights does end up leaving KASB, it will have to take on some responsibilities the organization previously handled, such as finding alternative sources for legal advice and policy review. It also wouldn't be able to access some insurance plans they had as members. Howard said KASB has been accommodating in discussions and has offered to continue offering services to the district even if they revoke their membership. If there's something we still feel we need, (they're) willing to help just like a service center like any of the others," Howard said. "We don't have to be members to still buy the service. Jackson Heights paid $5,835 for memberships into KASB and $2,750 in legal fees for the past school year. KASB said its funding is allocated as a fraction of school budgets. With 512 students, Jackson Heights is close to the median size for a district in Kansas, which KASB said is 550. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jackson Heights schools to leave Kansas Association of School Boards Pope Francis attends the weekly general audience at the Vatican on Nov. 29, 2023. Pope Francis skipped his window appearance to the public Sunday in St. Peters Square after announcing that he wasn't feeling well. However, in televised remarks, the pope said he's doing better after being diagnosed with infectious bronchitis. He delivered brief remarks from the chapel of the Vatican hotel, which thousands watched from giant screens set up in the square. On Tuesday, Francis canceled his planned trip to Dubai for the United Nations climate change conference. He had been scheduled to leave Friday but said he's following the conference from afar. "Pope Francis accepted the doctors' request with great regret and the trip is therefore canceled," Bruno Mattei, spokesperson for the Holy See press office, said in a statement. More: Pope Francis says he's 'not well' amid public audience after canceling Dubai trip Francis had a "flu-like condition and inflammation of the respiratory tract" that were improving, the Vatican said Tuesday. While speaking to health care workers on Thursday, Francis said he was advised against the Dubai trip since it's "very hot there, and you go from heat to air conditioning." He said he was grateful it wasn't pneumonia. People watch Pope Francis on a giant monitor set up in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Dec. 3, 2023, as he blesses the faithful gathered in the square for the traditional Angelus noon prayer During his public appearance on Wednesday, the pope spoke briefly and asked an aide to read a prepared speech. "Dear brothers and sisters, good day. Also today, I wont be able to read everything. Im getting better, but the voice still isnt enough to read everything, Francis said. Health history of Pope Francis Francis, who turns 87 on Dec. 17, has been hospitalized at least twice this year. In June, he had abdominal surgery to repair a hernia and remove scarring and left the hospital in Rome nine days later. The Vatican said at the time that scarring from previous surgeries had been causing him pain and put him at risk of other health problems. In March, Francis was hospitalized for three days after having difficulty breathing and was treated for bronchitis. "Still alive," he joked with reporters both times upon release from the hospital. He also had colon surgery in 2021 and ocular surgery in 2019. He has sometimes used a cane or wheelchair because of knee trouble. As a young man, he had part of one lung removed in his native Argentina. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pope Francis skips second window appearance but says he's doing better PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Across the nation, the state and the city of Portsmouth, more foster parents are needed. 10 On Your Sides Kiahnna Patterson met with the Portsmouth Department of Social Services leaders on Saturday, Dec. 2, to discuss their call to action. DeAnna Valentine was hired as the city of Portsmouth director of social services about a year and a half ago. Since then, she has been working to improve the quality of life for social workers and families under their care. Were expanding our reach into the community and offering more services than what we used to offer, said Valentine. The group of dedicated staff hopes to connect with the community in creative ways, including a free viewing of Instant Family at the Commodore Theatre. Were trying to spread the word for the need of foster parents here in the city of Portsmouth, where the children that we currently have in care, Valentine said. Right now, the city of Portsmouth has 27 children in care. However, we only have very few foster parents. There are only seven foster parents in Portsmouth, and Valentine said they dont have enough to meet the needs of these children. This ultimately means that children will be placed farther away from their homes, which is not the ideal situation, Valentine added. Were trying to make sure that were reaching the community and doing the best that we can to find some support systems in the community for our kids that are here especially our teenagers as well as some of our children that have some really complex mental health issues [and] physical issues, Valentine said. Theres been trauma thats associated with it. Just being in contact with social services and being removed from your family is traumatic. Thats not to mention everything thats happened thats led up to those events. The group of social workers hopes to address any misconceptions about becoming a foster parent. Those interested must be at least 18 years old, and take the online training. There are no restrictions on marital status, home ownership, religion or sexual orientation, according to the city officials. What our children need is safety and stability, love and care, and someone thats going to show them the patience that they need to grow and thrive, Valentine said. Valentine said she understands not everyone is ready to jump the frying pan, but hopes that people will be prompted to help, and know they are making a difference. She added that children need a healthy environment, an environment where they can grow, where someone understands that, you know, we all didnt [come] into this world perfect. Weve all made mistakes. If you would like to learn more or reach out to the department of social services, visit portsmouthva.gov/415/Foster-Care. Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. PORTSMOUTH Market Square shimmered with holiday lights and festive flair during the citys annual holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony Saturday. It also served as the closing act in Portsmouths 400th anniversary celebration. The event had a new feature as the 40-foot spruce tree downtown was illuminated with colored lights for the first time. The change came after a petition from 7-year-old resident Cody Bureau. The first-graders efforts paid off, as he was invited by Mayor Deaglan McEachern to flip the ceremonial switch to turn on the trees lights before Saturdays parade stepped off from Islington Street. Seven-year-old Cody Bureau is cheered on by the crowd in downtown Portsmouth on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 as he flips the switch to turn on the city's holiday tree lights. Bureau was joined by his mother, Christine Bureau and Mayor Deaglan McEachern, far left. "Its unbelievable because it shows that a 7-year-old can truly make a difference, said Christine Bureau, Codys mother. We worked hard as a family and here we are.His father, Chad Bureau, said Cody prefers colored lights on holiday tree. He and his family wrote a letter to the city, fundraised for colored lights and created an online petition calling for colored lights to adorn the city's 2023 holiday tree. Santa Claus waves as Portsmouth celebrates its holiday parade and tree lighting Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. The Bureaus successful movement led to more than $2,000 being raised for the lights. Cody Bureau was born with a cleft palate, and he and his family are donating the remaining funds to Smile Train, as well as local good deeds nonprofit I Got Bridged.We've got about $1,000 left over for charity now and we want to continue raising through the end of the year to see how much we can raise before the end of the year, Chad Bureau said. Cirillo grand marshal for final parade before retiring from Portsmouth schools Steve Cirillo, performing arts director for the Portsmouth school district, waves to the crowd before the city's annual holiday tree lighting and parade on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Cirillo was named the grand marshal of the 2023 parade. Steve Cirillo, performing arts director for the Portsmouth school district, served as the grand marshal for the parade. In 1988, he was hired by the district as the junior high school band director and percussion teacher. Since 2011, he has been in charge of all performing arts program activities in the citys K-12 schools. Cirillo joined the Bureau family and McEachern in turning on the lights strung on the Market Square tree. Cirillo, who will retire at the end of school year, watched his final parade as a school district employee from atop the downtown viewing platform with city and state elected officials. Portsmouth celebrates its annual illuminated holiday parade and tree lighting Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. To be part of this spectacular celebration, especially on the 400th anniversary of our city, Im just so proud of Portsmouth, he said. Portsmouth 400th finale Leaders of Portsmouth 400 NH stopped in front of the holiday tree during the parade to mark the end of the anniversary year. They performed a passing of the torch in front of the illuminated tree, handing candles to city high school students to honor the next stewards of the community. History Lights Our Way, the slogan for the 400th anniversary, was the theme of Saturdays parade. Portsmouth celebrates its annual illuminated holiday parade and tree lighting Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Brinn Sullivan, parade planner and city assistant recreation director, said the parade had approximately 1,200 participants, with dozens of organizations and six marching bands. Portsmouth City Council members and city state representatives were driven through the procession on a trolley, followed by local skateboarders, representatives from Cross Roads House and WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio, bands from area schools, and staffers from Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Gather food pantry had a vehicle representing the organization at the parade, which also included the Seacoast Area Bicycle Riders, Village of Hope, the New Hampshire SPCA, Extreme Air of New Hampshire jump ropers, I Got Bridged, Friends of Italian Americans and the Portsmouth Thriller dancers of Halloween lore. With assistance from the Portsmouth Fire Department, Santa Claus was perched atop a ladder truck at the conclusion of the parade to wish all a good night. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth holiday parade brightened by 7-year-old Dallas-based Mi Cocina opens in River Oaks on Wednesday. Jacob Power Photo Houston is known for its global flavors, but recently Dallas restaurant groups have been stepping onto the scene. In the past few months, a number of Dallas restaurants have announced openings or future openings in the Bayou City. Dallas' Western Addition Restaurant Group, which is behind Balboa Surf Club and Il Bracco, even announced a new corporate office in Houston. Here are six of the latest Dallas restaurants to announce recent openings or plans in Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mi Cocina Mi Cocina is known for its signature Mambo Taxi drink, which is a frozen margarita with a sangria swirl. Tony Fay PR The most recent entry from a Dallas-based restaurant group, Mi Cocina, opens in River Oaks on Wednesday, serving fajitas, enchiladas and its signature Mambo Taxi, a frozen margarita with a sangria swirl. Mi Cocina is a longtime favorite destination for elevated Tex-Mex in North Texas; it previously made a Houston debut. It entered the Houston market under different management in 2004 with a Woodway location that eventually closed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This time around, its location is the largest of its 24 restaurants in North Texas and Oklahoma. 4410 Westheimer Road Drake's Hollywood Drake's Hollywood, a swanky restaurant and lounge from Dallas-based Vandelay Hospitality, is slated to open in Montrose in fall 2023. Vandelay Hospitality In Montrose, Drake's Hollywood is set to open at the former Georgia James space. From Vandelay Hospitality Group, this is the third location after a second opened in Los Angeles earlier this year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It's a steakhouse with a side of Hollywood glam. The dimly lit space has leather banquettes, amber-hued walls, and murals of Oscar-winning actors and actresses. The restaurant offers premium cuts of wagyu, bone-in steaks and its popular spicy salmon crispy rice spiked with gochujang and serrano peppers. Vandelay previously landed in Houston with East Hampton Sandwich, which opened in 2018. It had two Houston locations that have since closed. 1100 Westheimer Hudson House Spicy tuna crispy rice is seen Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Hudson House in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Also from Vandelay Hospitality Group, Hudson House opened this month, serving the "World's Coldest Martini." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The restaurant opened in River Oaks with a familiar formula comfort food, refined service and martinis. On the menu, you'll find raw oysters, a burger, steak frites, lobster rolls and crabcakes. Its martini glasses are kept in a freezer to earn that "World's Coldest" moniker. The drinks feature Wheatley vodka and Blackland Gin, shaken and garnished with two olives. Before the martini is gone, a server or bartender will whisk it away, swapping out the glass for a fresh, icy one. 1966 West Gray Balboa Surf Club Balboa Surf Club is a seafood restaurant located in Uptown from the Western Addition Group. Western Addition In September, Balboa Surf Club opened. It's from Western Addition Restaurant Group, which opened Il Bracco in 2021. This is the first seafood concept. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pacific-inspired, it caters to customers looking for lighter and less meaty menu options. Its starters include crispy fried oysters, a tostada crowned with diced halibut and shrimp cocktail. It also has a sushi counter that produces rolls and nigiri. So far, CEO Robert Quick and COO Matt Gottlieb have said they don't plan on replicating Balboa Surf Club because they want their restaurant to feel special in each city." 1753 Post Oak Lombardi Cucina Italiana In the works is Lombardi Cucina Italiana, slated to open in December. This will be the second location for the Italian restaurant; the original is in Frisco. Lombardi Family Concepts has opened multiple swanky Dallas restaurants, including Lounge 31, Penne Pomodoro and Regines. The only other Houston restaurant is Toulouse, which opened in 2016 in River Oaks. It also has restaurants in Austin, Atlanta and Mexico. Houston's Lombardi Cucina Italiana will add a modern touch to authentic Italian cuisine. It will offer a large selection of pastas and wines. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd. Post Script HTX Rendering of PostScript HTX, a new restaurant and lounge from GAP Concepts, operators of XOXO Dining Room in Dallas. PostScript HTX will open fall 2023 at the Shops at Arrive River Oaks, 2800 Kirby. GAP Concepts A buzzy, all-pink restaurant is coming from GAP Concepts, the group behind hot pink XOXO Dining Room in Dallas. Post Script HTX announced in May it would open here before the end of the year, but an exact date has not been set. Management recently posted on social media that the restaurant is hiring for the Houston location. It will open at the Shops at Arrive River Oaks. Chef Bryan Caswell, who formerly worked at Reef, El Real Tex-Mex Cafe and Jackson Street BBQ, is set to create the menu. Meant to be a place for girls to meet, the menu will feature shareable plates, cocktails and press for Champagne doorbells. 2800 Kirby Drive Suite A-132 The Mexican The Mexican, a fine dining restaurant in Dallas, plans to open a Houston location in Uptown's Four Oaks Place. The Mexican A newer fine-dining restaurant from Dallas has made plans to open in Houston in 2026. Nuveen Real Estate signed a lease with The Mexican at The Four Oaks Place office campus north of the Galleria. Expect the traditional flavors of Northern Mexico, such as enchiladas and tacos, along with elevated items like steaks and a raw bar. The Duke of Sussex will argue tomorrow that he was treated unfairly when denied security protection after claiming members of the Royal household should not have been able to influence the process. Prince Harry is preparing for a three-day High Court battle after winning the right to challenge the Home Offices decision not to grant him automatic police protection when he is in the UK. The claim, which will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice, comes amid continuing tensions after the King and the Princesses of Wales were named in relation to alleged speculation over the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs unborn child. The hearing will take place as senior aides meet to discuss the issues arising from the claims, made in Endgame, a book about the Royal family written by Omid Scobie a journalist and friend of the duchess. At a previous High Court hearing in March last year, the Dukes legal team were warned not to include evidence that was inadmissible and should be excluded from proceedings after being told that legal proceedings did not exist for the purpose of putting irrelevant matters in the public domain. The Dutch edition of Mr Scobies book, which alleges the King and Princess made remarks about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs child, Archie, has been withdrawn from sale. Prince Harry is taking legal action against the Home Office over the February 2020 decision - Fiona Goodall/Getty The Sussexes have not commented on the claims and sources close to them have repeatedly emphasised they have had nothing to do with Endgame. At the High Court, the Duke is taking legal action against the Home Office over the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) not to afford him the same degree of personal protective security when visiting Britain. The decision was made shortly after he announced he was stepping back as a working member of the Royal family to move abroad. At a hearing in July 2022, it emerged that Sir Edward Young, the late Queens assistant private secretary and the Earl of Rosslyn, the Master of Prince Charless household, were on the committee. The Duke argued that Sir Edward should not have been involved in the decision due to significant tensions between them. Shaheed Fatima KC said the Duke should have been given a clear and full explanation of Ravecs composition and it was procedurally unfair that he had been deprived of the opportunity to make representations to the committee on whether it was appropriate for certain individuals to be involved. The Duke was cleared to bring the challenge in July 2022 on the grounds he should have been able to make informed representations directly to Ravec before the decision was made. 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. Pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow releases from prison after serving nearly seven months for her role in an unauthorised assembly during the city's 2019 anti-government protests, in Hong Kong By James Pomfret and Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) -One of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy activists, who was jailed as part of a China-imposed security crackdown, said on Sunday she had left Hong Kong for Canada after pressure from authorities left her with mental health issues. Agnes Chow, 27 - a core member of a now-disbanded group of younger activists, including Joshua Wong, who helped drive Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement - said on her Instagram account late on Sunday that she had left Hong Kong for studies in Canada. Their group, Demosisto, dissolved hours after Beijing passed a sweeping national security law in 2020. The law has stifled the pro-democracy movement and led to more than 280 arrests, drawing criticism from some Western governments that the legislation is a tool of repression. Beijing says the law has brought stability to Hong Kong after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. Chow's posts - her first public comments since her release from prison in June 2021 - detailed how she had remained under "supervision" from the authorities. Chow was sentenced to 10 months in jail in Nov 2020 over an unauthorised assembly charge. She was later released on bail on the condition she check in with police regularly, and her passport was confiscated as she faced an alleged national security charge, along with others including pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai. Chow said it was as if the police wanted to remind her that she hadn't regained her freedom, and to "not try to do anything". She said the pressures led her to be diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. "Several emotional illnesses put my body and mind in a very unstable state," added Chow. Reuters could not reach Chow, who arrived in Canada in September, for comment. Hong Kong police in a statement on Monday condemned Chow's "irresponsible behaviours that blatantly challenge law and order" and urged her not to be a fugitive for the rest of her life. Chow said it was only this year, after she was accepted by a university in Toronto, that the police agreed to return her passport if she travelled to the Chinese city of Shenzhen. The trip included visits to Chinese tech major Tencent and a "patriotic" exhibition on China's achievements. "I was forced to go to mainland China in exchange for the opportunity to study abroad," she wrote. Chow was due to report to Hong Kong's security police this month but decided not to return out of consideration for her personal safety and well being. "Maybe I won't return for the rest of my life," she wrote. (Editing by David Holmes and Gerry Doyle) PROVO, Utah (ABC4) Friday marked one year since Isabelle Parr, 21, was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Provo. Police are asking for help to find the driver responsible for her death. In a statement on social media, Provo Police said, We are still asking for anyone with information to contact us. We are appealing to the driver to please come forward and talk with our detectives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Parr family. Police are asking the public if anyone was in the area of 820 North 800 West in Provo at around 5:20 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2022. Parr was struck and killed while jogging in a crosswalk at this location. Infant allegedly abducted by Idaho man found dead The suspect vehicle reportedly did not stop, and police said it is unknown whether the driver was aware they hit Parr. Detectives have worked tirelessly to follow up on all leads received, but we are unable to identify and locate two vehicles recorded on camera footage, in the area at the time of the collision. We are looking for the drivers of a Blue crossover SUV, and a dark four door pickup truck, police said. A reward of up to $20,000 is reportedly being offered for information leading to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of the driver responsible. We ask anyone with information to please contact us at 801-852-6210. Your tip could be the crucial information needed to solve this tragic case. No further information is available at this time. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ABC4 Daily News For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Putin fears the wrath of soldiers' wives as the Kremlin tries to 'pay off' potential protesters, report says Russian service members take part in a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9, 2023. Reuters Russian soldiers and their wives are becoming increasingly unhappy with long deployments. The Kremlin is trying to prevent military wives from protesting by speeding up salary payments. Wives and mothers of mobilized soldiers have influenced public opinion in past conflicts. The Kremlin is concerned that the disgruntled wives and relatives of conscripted soldiers unhappy with long deployments could become a significant political headache, reports say. On Saturday, a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) intelligence update on X, said, "The Russian authorities are likely attempting to quash public dissent by wives of deployed Russian soldiers, including by attempting to pay them off and discrediting them online." Two sources in federal and regional authorities told the Russian opposition outlet Verstka that to prevent the women's discontent from bubbling over, and regional officials were instructed to give soldiers' salary payments to their wives as quickly as possible. The outlet reported that the Kremlin believes most wives are more concerned about the paycheck than their husbands returning from war. The report comes after the wives of deployed soldiers held a rare public protest in Moscow on November 7. Earlier, the UK MoD said the women gathered in the city's Teatralnaya Square with banners demanding their husbands be rotated away from the front line, but police broke it up "within minutes." "The apparently indefinitely extended combat deployments of personnel without rotation is increasingly seen as unsustainable by both the troops themselves and by their relatives," the MoD said. In its latest briefing note, the MoD cited that On 27 November 2023, a prominent online group for soldiers' wives published a manifesto against "indefinite mobilization." Days later, the group was pinned with a "fake" warning label likely at the instigation of pro-Kremlin actors, it said. "The authorities are likely particularly sensitive to any protests related to those citizens mobilized in September 2022, who have now been at the front line for over a year," the MoD said. Wives of Russian soldiers rally in Moscow to demand return of their "liberators" home pic.twitter.com/RkeSEZILBt Slava (@Heroiam_Slava) November 7, 2023 Officials were also instructed to prevent protests from spreading at a three-day conference near Moscow, the Times of London reported, citing reporting by the Russian outlet The Insider. They were told: "Persuade, promise, pay. Anything, as long as it doesn't go out onto the street, in any quantity, even 50 people." Recent requests by soldiers' wives to hold protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg have been denied. The Kremlin appears to be increasingly concerned with public discontent, especially with Russian presidential elections taking place in March 2024. They are "inexplicably concerned," the think tank The Institute for the Study of War said in a recent update, considering "apparent widespread Russian approval" of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Levada Center, an independent Russian polling organization, said that 82% of surveyed Russians approve of Putin as of October 2023. Some analysts have said the accuracy of these polls is unclear because many may fear expressing opposition to Putin. But Putin faces no serious threats at the ballot box because of long-term crackdowns on the opposition and the prevalence of state-controlled media. But in previous Russian conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya, wives and mothers of mobilized soldiers have proved influential in shaping public opinion, and analysts believe Putin fears they could become the kernel of an anti-war movement. "In a country without an independent media or other effective systems of government oversight, and that has repressive state policies toward all kinds of civil society activism, mothers and wives are really the only legitimate critics of the military," openDemocracy, an independent international-media platform, wrote. The war in Ukraine has put Putin under pressure, with international sanctions hitting the economy and the partial mobilization of more than 300,000 reservists sparking protests in September 2022. The chair of Russia's Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, made claims this week about Russians who have left the country trying to discredit the upcoming elections. The Institute for the Study of War said Pamfilova's statements suggest "the Russian government will continue to intensify censorship efforts under the guise of fighting attempted internal election meddling ahead of the presidential elections." Read the original article on Business Insider PORTSMOUTH Racial justice leaders spoke out Sunday in support of Mamadou Dembele, a Black man who says he was the victim of a racist assault by a white attacker the night before Thanksgiving. Mr. Dembeles assault is not so very unusual for a Black man who lives in New Hampshire, said the Rev. Bob Thompson, president of the Seacoast NAACP. Although not many of us have been targeted in such a brutal and outrageous manner, most Black men in New Hampshire carry ourselves as if Mr. Dembeles assault was a possibility. We need to manage this anxiety every day, an exhausting, unnecessary reality. Portsmouth Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley embraces her friend Mamadou Dembele after she spoke during a protest held at the African Burying Ground Memorial Park in Portsmouth Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. Dembele alleges he was the victim of a racist attack in Portsmouth. Dembele, a bank executive, was flanked during the protest at the African Burying Ground Memorial Park by Portsmouth Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley and leaders from the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the Seacoast and Manchester NAACP chapters, Black Lives Matter New Hampshire and other groups. He did not give formal remarks at the protest but spoke with and hugged dozens of Seacoast supporters after the event. Thompson told the crowd hostility persists in New Hampshire and racial animosity seems to be as American as apple pie. We're here today to inform and educate our fellow citizens about the unneeded anxiety suffered by many New Hampshire residents, Thompson said. We are also determined to continue to work for a country where men and women, boys and girls, are not judged by their skin color or other physical conditions. Instead, we work toward the day when we will be judged by our worth as determined through our service, our contributions to our communities, and because we share a common concern that America continues to grow into a land of freedom and justice for all its citizens. Alleged attack under investigation Mamadou Dembele, a vice president with Bangor Savings Bank, is seen Sunday Dec. 3, 2023, during a protest at the African Burying Ground Memorial Park in Portsmouth, held to support Dembele after an alleged racist assault the night before Thanksgiving in Portsmouth. Dembele, a New Hampshire resident and a vice president with Bangor Savings Bank, has said in a prepared statement he was assaulted the night of Wednesday, Nov. 22, by a person who used language that made it clear it was a racist attack. He said he did not know the attacker. Dembeles attorney, Robin Melone, has said she has no question the alleged incident was a hate crime against her client. The New Hampshire attorney general's office has said its Civil Rights Unit is working with police to investigate. Melone and Dembele have not stated publicly the injuries sustained by Dembele in the alleged assault. New Hampshire State Police have taken over the investigation from the Portsmouth Police Department. City police responded to the alleged incident on Fleet Street. They handed off the investigation to state police because a former Portsmouth police employee may have been involved, according to city Police Chief Mark Newport. Previous story: Mamadou Dembele says he is victim of racist assault in Portsmouth Manchester NAACP president James McKim on Sunday read aloud a statement shared by Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Sean Locke. The statement applauded New Hampshires diverse population and credited marginalized groups for making the Granite State stronger. The attorney general's office is committed to working with our communities and our local law enforcement partners to ensure that when hate crimes occur, they are identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible, Locke's statement reads. Hate will not have a home in the Granite State. Anyone who believes that they may have been a victim of hate-motivated conduct is encouraged to contact the (attorney generals office) Civil Rights Unit. JerriAnne Boggis of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire speaks in support of Mamadou Dembele during a protest held at the African Burying Ground Memorial Park in Portsmouth Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. Tanisha Johnson, a Black Lives Matter New Hampshire leader, called for authorities to conduct a swift investigation. She urged charges to be brought and for the attack to be prosecuted as a hate crime. We want our community to stand up in solidarity and not remain silent for the injustice of space for our Black and brown community, she said. We want a commitment from this community to ensure New Hampshire is a safe and belonging space for our Black and brown children. We should feel outraged that (Dembele) currently has to walk around with physical injuries that are confirmation that New Hampshire is not innocent, and that racism does live here." Portsmouth assistant mayor points out city has seen acts of hate in recent past Kelley, the assistant mayor, recalled the antisemitic, racist vandalism on her downtown business, Cup of Joe Cafe and Bar, and a string of other storefronts in February as proof Portsmouth is not immune to hateful acts. Kelley also blasted speculation by some in social media about the credibility of Dembeles claims. She urged community members to rise up and speak out. Mamadou is a good friend of mine, and Portsmouth is a place that I love. But it also is a place that, unfortunately, things like this are commonplace," Kelley said. "Attacks like this on residents, on businesses, on assistant mayors and leaders (who are) people of color, people of different races of ethnic backgrounds and religions. It's too commonplace and too often we are silent in it. And so it is our duty to stand out in rainy, cold days like today and to be loud and to say that we will not go quietly. We will not be victims, she said. Our community does not welcome this, but we need to be louder. The response to the alleged attack on Dembele followed recent community showings of support after incidents of hate in Portsmouth. In December 2021, scores of people rallied to support the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth following a demonstration by a neo-Nazi group against the theater's drag story hour. In February, days after a city teenager allegedly spray painted hateful symbols and messages on city businesses, Temple Israel and other buildings, Kelley and community leaders organized an event called Love Blooms Here, distributing flowers in support of those targeted by the vandalism. Dottie Morris, Keene State College associate vice president for institutional equity and diversity, said Dembele will not fight this battle alone. In this show of support for Mamadou, we're not only supporting him, but we're supporting all," Morris said. "Were putting everyone on notice that when you hurt one of us, you're going to have to deal with all of us. Student group in Portsmouth offers support Will Arvelo speaks in support of Mamadou Dembele, right in red with Portsmouth Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley at his side, during a protest held at the African Burying Ground Memorial Park in Portsmouth Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. We Speak, a student social justice club at Portsmouth High School, expressed its deepest concern in reaction to the alleged assault in a prepared statement. There is no place for hate in our community and we condemn any kind of racism and physical attacks not only in Portsmouth but anywhere. Portsmouth is better than this and we should be a guiding light for towns around us to look up to, not a place where hate and injustice live, the group's statement reads. Our children are watching, the students are watching, and we know what is right and wrong. We will not stand for this kind of behavior in our city, and we strive for excellence in our compassion and kindness towards one another. We will need to wait and see how the State's investigation turns out. But we hope and expect that justice will prevail and that everyone - no matter their race, gender identity, religion, background or ability - can feel safe living and working in our community without fear of verbal or physical violence against them. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Leaders speak out in Portsmouth after alleged racist attack Police lights File photo Houston police initiated a high-speed car chase early Saturday morning that left one teenager dead and four others injured when they crashed into a pickup while fleeing authorities in northwest Harris County, police said. The chase lasted three minutes and ended on Veterans Memorial Drive after the teenagers crashed their car into a silver pickup, police said. Three of the teenagers in the car were taken to the hospital, but one became trapped in the car and died at the scene, Executive Assistant Chief Chandra Hatcher said at a news conference Saturday morning. Police said they believe the teenagers are between 16 and 17 years old. Police said they initially saw a vehicle driving recklessly around 1:00 a.m. The chase started after the teenagers refused to stop and then turned off their headlights in an apparent attempt to evade arrest, Hatcher said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Speeds reached around 80 mph during the chase, she said. One additional person on the scene was taken to the hospital, and another bystander stayed in the area to help with the investigation, police said. The fatal crash comes less than three months after Houston police vowed to end pursuits for less serious infractions, like theft and minor traffic violations. Houston police supervisors can continue to approve chases of suspects in ongoing investigations and people driving vehicles with stolen license plates, no plates or plates that belong on another vehicle, under the policy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hatcher did not say whether a supervisor had approved the chase. It was not known which officer or officers initiated the chase. The Houston Police Department has struggled with ongoing issues with its pursuit policy. Over the last five years, 27 people have been killed, and at least 740 have been injured in around 6,300 police pursuits. Many of those who were injured or killed were bystanders, according to a Chronicle investigation. One in three car chases with the Houston Police Department ended in a crash, the Chronicle found. Houston police made significant changes to their vehicle pursuit policy in September, an attempt to prevent more injuries and deaths. High-speed chases started by Houston police dropped by 40 percent the month after the policy change. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is leading the criminal investigation into the crash and will determine whether criminal charges are warranted. The Harris County District Attorney's Office will also conduct a parallel investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The remains of an airman who died in a U.S. Osprey military aircraft crash in Japan have been identified, while the seven others aboard are still missing. The man has been identified as U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Jake M. Galliher, who was 24 years old. Galliher was a direct support operator and assigned to the Kadena Air Base in Japan, the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) released Saturday. Galliher is originally from Pittsfield, Mass., and enlisted in the Air Force in 2017. AFSOC said the U.S. military is still working alongside Japanese allies to continue the search and rescue operation for the CV-22 crew. According to Japanese coast guard officials, an Osprey crashed near the island of Yakushima on Wednesday afternoon. A Department of Defense spokesperson said the crash happened while the aircraft was performing a routine training mission. A Japanese news service reported the aircraft rolled over mid-flight, describing a fire in one of the engines and an explosion that occurred before the aircraft headed toward the water. AFSOC said the cause of the crash is still unknown. The current search and rescue operation for the remaining individuals consists of air, surface, and subsurface area searches of the water and coastline, AFSOC said in a statement released Saturday. Our focus is to enable the ongoing, extensive, 24/7 search and rescue operation while we care for the family and loved ones impacted by this mishap, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, an AFSOC commander, said in the statement. As search and rescue operations continue, our joint force and Japanese allies stand united in our determination to bring our Air Commandos home. Japanese allies have been integral in the search, AFSOC said. Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams, a Pacific commander for AFSOC, said he wanted to assure the families that the search and rescue efforts will continue and include every possible capability at our disposal. We want to extend sincere gratitude to the Government of Japans Self Defense Force, Coast Guard, law enforcement and civilian volunteers for their tireless assistance in the search and rescue operations for our Airmen, Williams said in a statement. Ospreys carry special operations troops and are hybrid aircraft that are similar to helicopters but are much faster. They have been criticized after several crashes occurred in recent years. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. RemArms, formerly Remington Arms Company, informed union officials Thursday that it plans to close the gun manufacturing facility in Ilion, N.Y., this coming March, the Observer-Dispatch reported. I am writing to inform you that RemArms, LLC (the Company) has decided to close its entire operations at 14 Hoefler Avenue, Ilion, NY 13357 (the Ilion Facility), the letter read, according to the local paper. The Company expects that operations at the Ilion Facility will conclude on or about March 4, 2024. The Company did not arrive at this decision lightly. Remington, the nations oldest gun manufacturer, was founded in Ilion, N.Y., in 1816. In recent years, however, the company has been burdened with financial difficulties. RemArms twice filed for bankruptcy and, in 2022, reached an historic settlement with families of Sandy Hook for a total of $73 million. The lawsuit was the first time a gun manufacturer was held responsible for a mass shooting. Remington had manufactured the rifle that shooter Adam Lanza used when he killed 20 children and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. In an auto-reply email from the companys press team, the company confirmed that RemArms is excited to expand our facilities in Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry. The local news outlet, citing the letter, reported that layoffs at the company are expected to happen between March 4 and March 18. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil Roberts issued a statement responding to news of the closure, urging the company to reconsider and explore alternative solutions to keep the plant operational. Roberts called the decision extremely disappointing and a slap in the face to all of the workers, especially noting the proximity to the holidays. The timing adds insult to injury for those affected. Merry Christmas from RemArms, Roberts wrote in the statement. The simple fact is that RemArms will never be able to match the experience and dedication of the workers in Central New York, who for generations worked in this plant and kept this company alive. The workers in Ilion enabled RemArms to rise from the ashes of the Remington Arms bankruptcy in 2020-21. Without these workers and their dedication to producing the best firearms in the world, this company simply would not exist, Roberts wrote. Our members, the community, local political leaders, and the UMWA worked tirelessly to keep this facility open and to return the workers to the jobs they have had for over 100 years. Roberts pledged to keep fighting and exploring all legal avenues to keep the jobs in Ilion. As the affected workers and their families face an uncertain future, the UMWA rallies behind them, offering support and solidarity. The UMWA is committed to exploring all legal avenues to keep these union jobs where they belong, in Ilion, New York. Together, we will continue to fight for justice and the preservation of their jobs, Roberts wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Japayal on Sunday reiterated her call for a ceasefire in Gaza, even as fighting has resumed following the collapse of a truce on Friday. Its what has to happen, and I do think its realistic, Jayapal told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union. We did have a temporary ceasefire and what happened? We were able to see a significant number of hostages released, we were able to get humanitarian aid into Gaza, and I think the long-term plan for what happens is incredibly important, she continued. Her comments come after the seven-day Israel-Hamas truce ended on Friday when negotiations reached an impasse and Israel accused the Palestinian militant group of violating the agreement by firing at Israel. Within minutes of the truce expiring, smoke could be seen billowing across parts of the densely populated enclave as the Israel Defense Forces declared it was once again out to destroy Hamas. Pressed by Bash on why she thinks Hamas would be willing to comply with a longer ceasefire, Jayapal called the situation very complicated. We dont have all of the information in front of us, we obviously can rely on statements that are made, but I think that in these negotiations, everybody wants something, she said. I think Qatar has said that Hamas is still at the table, Israel should still be at the table. In fact, some of the hostages, the Israeli hostages, are saying that Israel should still be at the table. It doesnt happen unless both sides are willing to come to some kind of an agreement, thats how we got the first seven days. Members of Congress and the Biden administration have faced increased pressure to publicly call for a ceasefire in the conflict, with President Joe Biden having fielded sharp criticism from inside his party over his refusal to do so. Instead, the Biden administration has consistently advocated for humanitarian pauses to facilitate getting fuel into the war-torn strip and getting civilians out. Administration officials have maintained that a ceasefire would give Hamas time to regroup and launch another attack on Israel. When asked about Hamas potentially remaining in the area if a ceasefire were to occur in Gaza, Jayapal said she didnt think that would happen. I think what is true is Hamas needs to be taken out. It is a terrorist organization. But, I think the way to do that, as many terrorism experts have said, is to create a durable and strong coalition of allies within the Middle East with the United States, with Israel, to make sure that we have a long term political solution, that there is an alternative to Hamas to lead in Gaza, and to establish a state for Palestinians. Bash, pushing Jayapal to speak on allegations of rape perpetrated against Israeli women by members of Hamas now being investigated by Israeli police asked why some progressives have been downright silent on what we saw on October 7. I mean, I dont know that thats true. I think we always talk about the impact of war on women in particular. In fact, I remember 20 years ago, I did a petition around the war in Iraq, Jayapal said. Have you talked about it since October 7? Bash asked. Absolutely, and Ive condemned what Hamas has done, Jayapal said. Bash pushed her again, Specifically against women? Absolutely, the rape, the of course. But I think we have to remember Israel is a democracy. That is why theyre a strong ally of ours. And if they do not comply with international humanitarian law, they are bringing themselves to a place that makes it much more difficult strategically for them to be able to build allies, to keep public opinion with them, and morally, we cannot say that one war crime deserves another. That is not what international humanitarian law says, Jayapal said. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Jack Forrest contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A second trial for a former high-profile Atlanta attorney accused of killing his wife is expected to get underway this week. Claud Lee Tex McIver III will be retried after the Georgia Supreme Court overturned his felony murder conviction last year. In 2018, a jury convicted McIver in the death of his wife Diane McIver, but the state Supreme Court ruled that jurors didnt receive proper instructions. McIvers retrial is expected to start on Monday and attorneys believe it will last about two weeks. Ahead of his new trial in December, McIver and his attorneys requested bond in order to prepare and better address his medical needs, according to court documents. Last month, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney denied the defenses request. While (the) defendant enjoys anew the presumption of innocence as to the counts of conviction that were reversed, he also carries with him a felony conviction for improperly seeking to influence a key witness in his case, a prior bond violation so serious the court revoked his bond, and weeks of evidence about his character and (mis)conduct, McBurney wrote. The court has considered all this and concludes that (the) defendant is not a good candidate for bond on the eve of the re-trial of his (felony) murder case. The temptation to abandon this replay of the drama of his wifes shooting death is simply too great. RELATED STORIES: The original Tex McIver trial drew national attention as nearly 80 witnesses testified over the course of 19 days. Tex McIver admitted to shooting his wife, but the question was whether or not it was intentional. On Sept. 25, 2016, the McIvers and their friend Dani Jo Carter were heading home from a party. Carter drove the SUV, Diane McIver sat in the front seat and Tex McIver sat in the back seat behind his wife. McIver asked his wife to get his gun from the center console of the car and that is when McIver shot his wife in the back. Carter drove the McIvers to the hospital, where Diane McIver died. During the trial, prosecutors argued that McIver wanted to kill Diane McIver because he was in debt and needed his wifes money to continue with the lifestyle he wanted. The state pointed to an estate sale that McIver held after his wifes death. His defense refuted that claim, saying their client loved his wife and her death was an accident. McIver said the estate sale was what Diane wanted based on her will. After four days of deliberation, the jury found McIver guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and influencing a witness but acquitted him of malice murder. RELATED NEWS: Wake County sheriffs deputies responded to a call about a person barricaded inside a home off Banks Road on Saturday evening, and say the incident ended without incident. The sheriffs office closed Banks Road between Chelsea Drive and Shield Circle about 7 p.m. and asked people to avoid the area. By 8:20 p.m., it announced that the standoff had been resolved and the road reopened. No other details were released. Rob Rinder with Ophir Tor, who decided to volunteer with Israels ambulance service after his best friend and comrade had died in his arms It was 5am when Rob Rinder touched down in Tel Aviv. The airport, usually bustling with life, was eerily quiet a ghost town. He headed towards Sderot, a city by the Gazan border, just an hour away. The massacre was so close to everyone in Israel not just emotionally, but physically, too, he says. Britains much-loved broadcaster, barrister, former Strictly quarter-finalist and author was in Israel to visit first responders from Israels ambulance service, Magen David Adom (MDA), meaning the Red Star of David. Accompanied by the chief executive of the British fundraising wing of MDA and a cameraman, his mission was to capture the stories of those who helped save lives on October 7. Hes no hero, he insists, but admits he didnt tell his 70-year-old mother, Angela, about the trip until he was home, for fear of worrying her. His brother Craig, though, was given the heads-up. I have the unconditional support and love from my family which, of all of the privileges in life, is the most important one, he adds. Rinder, 45, is no stranger to Israel: he spent two and a half years working with a community of courageous colleagues to make The Holy Land and Us Our Untold Stories, a two-part BBC documentary exploring the stories of both Palestinians and Jews following the establishment of Israel, including some of his own family. It was made with a great deal of time, heart and passion, he tells me (indeed, the documentary is shortlisted for Best Specialist Factual Programme in the 2024 Broadcast Awards). He is also familiar with conflict he was in Sierra Leone at the civil wars end to help teach non-violent debating skills (the head of his chambers was the Chief War Crimes Prosecutor at the time) and two years ago he went to the Ukraine border to interview those fleeing from the east. But this, he says emphatically, is different, adding, Theres denial of this massacre happening in real time, and theres an increasing and truly malignant metastasisation of anti-Semitism. Rinder says he heard stories of 'savagery and depravity' while in Israel but also 'stories of hope' His maternal grandfather, Morris Malenicky, was a Holocaust survivor, while last year, Rinder, alongside his mother, received an MBE for his work in Holocaust education. Rinders acclaimed BBC documentary series My Family, the Holocaust and Me is now being used by UCLs Centre for Holocaust Education in schools. For Rinder, the rise in anti-Semitism is personal and deeply disturbing. We discuss some of the experiences Jewish people have shared with him over the past two months teenagers being racially abused on the streets, adults being ostracised by colleagues at work, children being bullied at school. And also the online hatred. Whether its being called dirty Jew or a Zionist shill what I thought was only in the darkest recesses of society, is coming out in the public sphere. He tells me about a conversation hed recently had with a reporter for a major American television network. Hed interviewed survivors from a kibbutz and showed me messages hed received from people claiming that those in his reports were actors. Ive grown up in a family with a Holocaust survivor. Ive spent time trying to teach about the dangers of anti-Semitism. But here, my friend was warning me that it has reached horrifying new levels. Rinder (fourth from left) at his bar mitzvah, next to his grandfather, Morris Malenicky (third from left) Rinder grew up in a working-class community in Southgate, north London. His father was a black-cab driver, and his parents divorced when Rinder was young. It was rich in love if not in other things, he says of his childhood. He was brought up to believe that nobody gets to write your narrative a spirit he credits to Morris, his Lithuanian grandfather. Rinder had always had a passion for theatre, but at Manchester University, studying politics and modern history, he discovered debating, which brought him to law. He was called to the bar in 2001, taking on court cases involving bribery, corruption, fraud and manslaughter. In 2014, he was asked to front his own reality courtroom drama, Judge Rinder, the ITV version of Americas Judge Judy. He puts the career pivot down to a series of random incidents. Rob Rinder hopes his powerful video interviews with 7 October responders, screened at charity events and across social media, will help highlight the work of Magen David Adom - Heathcliff O'Malley for The Telegraph In his spare time he wrote scripts, and he wrote one for a different reality-based show (which never went ahead) that led to a meeting with a producer in search of a TV judge. He was a natural and the show became cult daytime viewing. Unexpectedly, it just captured the imagination. Rinder now fronts the BBCs Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, with Monica Galetti (a festive episode airs on Christmas Eve), and had another history documentary on Channel 4 last month. And, drawing on that legal experience, his second novel, The Suspect, is out next summer his first, The Trial, came out earlier this year. The year before his television career took off, Rinder had tied the knot with fellow barrister Seth Cumming. (His university friend Benedict Cumberbatch officiated at the Ibiza ceremony.) But after four years of marriage and 11 years together, the couple amicably split. Rinder as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 - Kieron McCarron/BBC When we chat over FaceTime, Rinder is backstage at the Cliffs Pavilion, in Southend, rehearsing for his panto role as Captain Hook. Hes just flown in from Rome (filming a future project he cant disclose), but his mind is very much back in Israel. I felt that the response to this denial and everything that goes with it had to be to listen. And who better to listen to than the paramedics of MDA, Israels emergency ambulance service, he says. These people have no incentive but to save lives and to run towards danger the very best of humankind. MDA was established in 1930 by a Jewish doctor as a medical volunteer service, but it was only in July 1950 that MDA officially became Israels national emergency service. Fast-forward to 2023 and the organisation has about 1,500 permanent staff and 27,000 volunteers, with approximately 10 per cent of MDAs income still funded by charitable international donations. Its workforce reflects the nation it serves and Israeli society as a whole, so includes Jews, Muslims, Christians and others. Today, MDA is in urgent need of funds and hopes that Rinders powerful video interviews, screened at charity events on social media, will help. The lives of 11 MDA paramedics were lost that morning, along with 12 emergency vehicles. For Rinder, it is that humanitarian spirit that draws him to MDA To capture personal testimonies, Rinder journeyed south from Tel Aviv with a videographer. Rinder shows me one of the videos it packs an emotional punch. The stories speak for themselves, but Rinders sensitivity and empathy on screen is very moving. In Sderot, less than a mile away from Gaza, there are only 15 seconds between the sound of sirens and rocket impact, hence the need for bulletproof vests. More than 200,000 Israelis have been evacuated from border towns as Hamas rockets continue to fall. Out of the window, it was those outward vestiges of modernity that struck me the things that superficially seem to protect from inhumanity and horror a McDonalds, a supermarket. He has subsequently discovered that his first stop, the citys ambulance centre, was intended for massacre it was listed as a target on plans found in the possession of terrorists. There, he met the volunteers who took calls, drove ambulances, and treated the wounded on October 7, including former paratrooper commander Ophir Tor, 61. Before our interview, Rinder sends me some chilling CCTV footage posted on Instagram. A man in a T-shirt is seen swerving bullets. As he goes out of shot, three armed terrorists come into view. An unsuspecting minivan approaches. One of the terrorists stands in the road and points a rocket at the windscreen. And then an explosion. A group of elderly people, on their way to the Dead Sea, blown to smithereens. After narrowly missing those bullets, Ophir (the man in the T-shirt) tried to warn others to hide. He saved the life of a mother and son by ushering them away from the carnage and then helped others to the relative safety of the centre, before starting his shift. He saw bodies in the road childrens bodies, headless bodies and described it like watching a horror film. And he remembered hearing the terrorists laughing. They were enjoying it. They came only for death, he told me. Ophir immediately went into survival mode, says Rinder, adding that something about his quiet understanding reminded him of his own grandfather. In 1942, Morriss mother, father and four sisters and brother were taken to Treblinka concentration camp, where they were murdered. Morris, then 19, was sent to forced labour in a glass factory before being sent to concentration camps, where he miraculously survived until liberation. He was one of 300 survivors known as the Windermere Children, brought over to the Lake District by the Jewish charity the Central British Fund. Back in Sderot, Ophir retraced his steps with Rinder, as if deconstructing a crime scene a head blown off here, a rocket attack there. We ended up in the ambulance centre car park, where he listed the bodies of that day, scores of them: Holocaust survivors, children, young IDF soldiers, adds Rinder. He had what Rinder describes as a kindness of eyes... and was so stoic, so logical. Ophir Tor, 61, is a former paratrooper commander After the army, Ophir decided to volunteer at MDA after his best friend and comrade had died in his arms. He became a paramedic to heal people because he couldnt save his friend, Rinder says. From there, he travelled 45 miles to Kibbutz Magen, where a civil defence team managed to fight off terrorists, with only one member of the 350-strong kibbutz killed. They have all now been evacuated. Driving south, Rinder passed the site of the Nova Festival a right turning up an innocuous road. What were learning now is that many of those young people were engaged in activism for a peaceful two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. On Kibbutz Magen, Rinder met Shunit Dekel, 43, who had landed in Israel that morning and went straight to serve at MDA. She couldnt get to her children, who were at home under attack. She told me that the ambulances were being shot at and the volunteers going to save lives were being murdered, too. She told me how people who escaped the festival were ambushed by terrorists from every angle. Just as theyd thought theyd reached safety, they were shot dead. There was just no place to hide. If you drove north, you were shot. If you ran, you were shot. If you went to a shelter, you were shot. Rob Rinder with Shunit Dekel Another testimony he shares is that of Sharon Temis, 25, whom he met in the regional dispatch centre in Ashdod. She is a trainee doctor and also volunteers as an emergency dispatcher. On October 7, she was on the way to the airport for an overseas trip when she saw her phones red alert. She immediately turned her car round and went to the control centre. On a normal day there are a few red calls, for high-emergency situations. On that morning, the screens of every dispatcher were entirely red. There were too many calls to answer. Rinder says: She described the screams of children, of men, of women, of grandmothers: Save us, Where are you?, Help us!, Please come now. The ambulance tyres and doors were also being shot at. And the paramedics, too. Their radios started to go silent making that soft sound the sea makes. She spoke of a boy Yotam, 12. He was whispering on the phone to her: My parents and my brother and sister are dead. Sharon asked him where he was he was hiding under a bed in his room. He could hear voices. She said to him: I will stay with you, Yotam. You must be quiet for your Ima and Abba for the sake of his mother and father. And she did. She answered other calls along the way, but she stayed with him on the call until he was rescued. He is the only survivor from his family. She does not know where he is now, says Rinder, but she hopes he is with grandparents. Sharon Temis is training to be a doctor and volunteers as an emergency dispatcher in her spare time Before Rinder leaves, Sharons colleague tells him that they also had to dispatch an ambulance to treat a terrorist that day. I asked her why and she smiled a real smile and said: Because we are for humanity. We save lives. Whatever kind. For Rinder, it is that humanitarian spirit that draws him to MDA. The night before his trip, he posted an image on Instagram of him standing alongside members of the Jordanian Red Crescent (Jordans equivalent of the MDA). In the caption, he highlighted that the Jordanians joined the International Committee of the Red Cross on the very same day as MDA [back in 2006] with a quote from Maya Angelou: Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. The picture was taken on a charity bike ride a few years back but represents so much more, a collaborative ethos Rinder feels is key in this age-old conflict. The starting point at the beginning of any mediation, before we can even come to a table, is to do the preliminary work of understanding that you and me share a common place on this earth as human beings, he says. And thats where we start with goodwill. For me, MDA and its volunteers are the best example of that goodwill, even against the backdrop of conflict. MDA also shares blood between Jews and Palestinians, and its impossible to think of a more, not just poetic, but profound and clear illustration of a shared humanity than sharing blood. MDA donor blood is used in Israeli hospitals for both Palestinian and Israeli patients and MDA exchanges blood with other members of the International Committee of the Red Cross if a rare blood type is needed. Now that MDA is a member of the International Red Cross it is also sharing its advanced medical technology. (The Jordanian Red Crescent team has recently visited Israel for that specific purpose.) Rob Rinder on his visit to Israel to interview paramedics from Magen David Adom I ask Rinder how he felt as he headed home from his mission, but the seemingly simple question stumps him: I dont know. All I know is I wanted to capture on film these accounts of humanity and thats what I did. And just like the other work Ive done, if you walk away feeling touched by the stories youve captured, thats always a good starting point. What touched him most? For that, he has a swift response: The thing that always touches you most isnt the horror, it isnt the savagery, its always the good and the hope. Back in the UK, last weekend he was on the streets too, along with more than 100,000 others, to march against anti-Semitism. This weekend Rinder plans to attend a vigil of humanity and hope with Israelis, Palestinians and all faiths, organised by Together for Humanity, which perfectly chimes with his ethos. Sadly, he feels the battle against anti-Semitism will be a lifelong fight. You cant disinvent the hate, he says. You can only do what you can to educate children and empower them to stand against it. To find out more about the work of Magen David Adom UK and to donate, please visit www.mdauk.org 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. Just over one month before a critical test for his campaign, Ron DeSantis is watching his presidential bid become mired in personal conflicts, disagreement on strategy and the shadow of two surging opponents who appear to be slowly bleeding his campaign dry. On Sunday, CNN reported that his allied Never Back Down PAC the vessel for outside spending in support of his bid and more barbed attacks against his opponents was losing its CEO after just nine days on the job. Two other senior operatives are also out, according to CNN, with one source describing the incident as firings, according to the network. The end of their service to Never Back Down comes following a profile of the sputtering DeSantis presidential movement in The Washington Post, which described the Florida governors bid as in extraordinary turmoil. Senior campaign staffers were described as gloomy by a close ally of Mr DeSantis, the Post reported. Chris Jankowski, the PACs previous CEO, quit just two weeks ago. In a statement explaining his departure, he alluded to dynamics of the presidential race that had turned against the Florida governor. Never Back Downs main goal and sole focus has been to elect Governor Ron DeSantis as President, he said. 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. The reason for Mr DeSantiss woes is clear: He has been on an extended polling slide since practically the day he entered the race, having failed to catch any positive momentum. His two main rivals include Donald Trump, the former president and frontrunner for the nomination, whose base of support Mr DeSantis has been utterly unable to chip away, and Nikki Haley, whose own polling numbers have been rising steadily amid strong debate performances and her own campaigns careful strategy. A spokesperson for Never Back Down insisted to CNN on Sunday that the PAC has the most organised, advanced caucus operation of anyone in the 2024 primary field, adding that it look[s] forward to continuing that great work to help elect Gov. DeSantis the next President of the United States. The Florida governor is in an all-or-nothing bid to win the state of Iowa, the first contest of the 2024 presidential nominating race. Set to caucus on 15 January, the state will be a crucial benchmark for Mr DeSantis, who has spent the last few weeks completing a 99-county tour of the entire state. A surprise victory in the Iowa caucuses has, in the past, been a momentum-booster for underdog candidates, while putting underperforming frontrunners in the position of answering awkward questions about their futures. Its not any guarantee of continued success, however; in 2016, Donald Trump came in second place behind Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Iowa, only to swiftly overtake his rival and storm his way to the GOP nomination later that year. On Sunday, Mr DeSantis sounded a confident note in a rare mainstream media interview on Meet the Press. Nikki Haley, who now trails Mr DeSantis closely, is pursuing a very similar strategy in New Hampshire. She has already overtaken the Florida governor in Granite State polling, and is hoping her own potential upset victory over Mr Trump in the state could propel her past Mr DeSantis once and for all. Her campaign won a crucial victory over Mr DeSantis this past week with the announcement that Americans for Prosperity part of the powerful Koch network would throw its ready-made ground operation behind her presidential bid. Elizabeth Sander is a Hearst Fellow for the Houston Chronicle covering suburban education, local politics and breaking news. She can be reached at elizabeth.sander@houstonchronicle.com. Elizabeth spent the first year of her fellowship at the San Antonio Express-News, covering education and breaking news. She is a graduate of Columbia University's School of Journalism and Tufts University. Find her previous work in The New York Times, San Antonio Express-News, Observer Media and Horse Illustrated. A 21-year-old man from the Roseland neighborhood was charged with first-degree murder in the April killing of a 40-year-old man, according to Chicago police. Police arrested Daeshawn Hill on Friday in the 400 block of Miami Street in Park Forest. He was charged with fatally shooting Donte T. Shorter on April 30 in the first block of West 113th Street, police said in a news release. Police said Hill resided about five blocks from the site of the shooting. Shorter was on the street when someone shot him multiple times at about 12:54 p.m. The 40-year-old was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiners office ruled Shorters death a homicide, with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com Want to be the host with the most? Try setting some boundaries. Want to be the host with the most? Try setting some boundaries. Dinner is cooked, your place is spotless and the table is set; your guests are all thats missing. But what should you do when your friends and family show up and act less than appropriately? Whether your best friends or not-so-close acquaintances (your sisters new boyfriend, for example) engage in minor indiscretions or major faux pas, HuffPost has you covered. We spoke with etiquette experts and therapists to guide you through the holiday party season. Its all about setting boundaries. Are you a subtle signaler? Do you hope your hinting and facial expressions will change others behavior? Or worse, do you not say anything out of fear of being impolite? According to Tina Alvarado, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Seattle, we often struggle in these scenarios, as they require us to set boundaries. (Boundaries are communicating to other people what is or isnt acceptable with you.) There are many reasons someone would struggle to communicate their boundaries, Alvarado said. Most often, it is because they learned that it is impolite to do so, especially to a guest. If youre a boundary beginner or new to asserting yourself, Alvarado suggested walking through potential scenarios before your event. You may feel silly practicing scenarios in your head or out loud, but just like any new skill, communicating boundaries takes practice, Alvarado told HuffPost. If you know someone in your family always seems to cross the line, you can prepare yourself for common scenarios like these that might come up. Creating a warm and convivial environment for guests is part of your job as the host, and if one person is threatening that, its impolite not to address the situation. Take this tip on discretion from Jodi R.R. Smith, an etiquette consultant and author of three books on modern manners based in Boston: If a host is concerned about confronting a rude guest, the host can do so without embarrassing the guest by asking the guest to help in the kitchen and having the conversation away from prying ears. Scenario 1: The guest who makes rude or inappropriate comments. Its typically not a surprise when your disruptive guest (we all have one in our family or friend group) begins their soliloquy on women these days or all their other inappropriate opinions, so head off these remarks before your event. Take time before your event to talk to them about your expectations of their behavior during the event, Juulia Karlstedt, an accredited counselor specializing in anxiety management in Edinburgh, suggested. Be clear about the consequences of engaging in inappropriate or combative conversation. And if they do engage in the behavior during the event, follow through on those consequences. Pull the guest aside, keep your tone neutral, and hold the boundary you set. In the moment, try changing the topic of conversation to diffuse any conflict, ignore the remark and choose a more neutral topic. Smith suggested this script: Lets leave that for the politicians to argue. Where are you spending the holidays? To minimize the chance of awkward conversations or one rude person dominating, hosts should prepare conversation starters or parlor games to keep the night fun and festive, Smith suggested. As a guest, you should arrive at the event with some interesting tidbits and stories to share, Smith said. When someone asks Whats new? you should have an answer at the ready. Oh nothing or same old is a conversation killer. Scenario 2: The guest who wont leave. Growing up, my best friends grandfather would go upstairs to put on his pajamas, slippers and robe. Then he would call down from the top of the stairs, Thank you all for coming! It is time for me to sleep and you to go home. This worked well for a lovely and avuncular gentleman, but wont work for most hosts, Smith said. If changing into your jammies is a step too far for you, winding-down activities like tidying up, stopping the music and turning on the lights is a great way to signal to guests that the party has ended. Guests who dont (or wont) take the hint may need a more direct approach. Try this script from Alvarado: Gosh, its so late, Im getting sleepy. Im going to have to call it a night, or Ive had such a great time with you tonight, but its time for you all to head home. Im really looking forward to the next time we do this. Let me walk you out. When sending out invites, consider letting guests know your events start and end time to prevent misunderstandings. A lot of issues with boundaries come from us assuming other people can read out hints, but if someone isnt picking up on subtle cues, they may need you to be very clear and non-ambiguous about the fact the party is over, Karlstedt said. Scenario 3: The guest who drinks too much. Tis the holiday party season, and your event may be the second (or third) in a night of festivities, meaning your guests could be buzzed and rowdy by the time they arrive. Depending on where you live, the partys host can be held liable if your inebriated guest injures someone else. Your best bet could be to send them home or offer to let them sleep it off in a guest room, according to Smith. If they are not agreeable, you will need to enlist the aid of some strong friends to assist the guest into a taxi or ride service home, Smith said, advising a sendoff like: Sweetie! It is so lovely to see you. We can tell you have already had quite a bit of fun this evening. Here we go; your carriage awaits! We will have to catch up more later this week. Another option is to take the guest aside and talk to them (depending on how intoxicated they are) about the next steps, whether asking them to limit their alcohol for the rest of the evening or eat some food. Remember, it is your house or event, and you can decide what you deem acceptable and nonacceptable behavior, Karlstedt said. If a guest is not engaging with you, see if you can engage the help of a second person and be very clear about what will happen if the guest continues to not cooperate with you. If your guest overserves themself at your function, offer a nonalcoholic drink or a glass of water. Its not your job to monitor others drinking habits, but if their behavior is becoming uncomfortable or dangerous, you should step in, Alvarado said. Try this script: Whew! Seems like youre really feeling it already. You might want to slow down. Have you tried sparkling cider? Its delicious! Related... Ukrainian air defences have destroyed 10 out of 12 Russian Shahed attack UAVs launched towards Ukraine on the night of 2-3 December but failed to shoot down a Russian Kh-59 missile. Source: Ukrainian Air Force Details: The Air Force reported that the Russians launched 12 Shahed kamikaze drones from the area of the city of Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia) and a Kh-59 guided missile from the airspace of Belgorod Oblast (Russia). Quote: "The attack UAVs came in several waves, infiltrating Mykolaiv Oblast through the occupied Kherson Oblast. "Air defences shot down most of the Shaheds over Mykolaiv Oblast, the area of responsibility of the Air Command Pivden [South]. The rest were heading north-west and were destroyed near [the town of] Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast." Details: The Air Force noted that the air defences of the Ukrainian Air Force and Defence Forces shot down 10 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs during combat activity. However, "the Kh-59 guided missile did not reach its target". Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces launched a Shahed drone attack from the south late on Dec. 2, Ukraine's Air Force announced at 10:30 p.m. The drones were reported to be moving out of Kherson Oblast towards Mykolaiv Oblast. Afterwards, several groups of enemy UAVs were seen moving west from Mykolaiv Oblast towards Kirovohrad Oblast. Read also: As sanctions bite, Russia eyes Ukraines mineral resources to fund its invasion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces launched several Shahed attack drones from Crimea on mainland Ukraine on the evening of Sunday, 3 December. Source: Ukraines Air Force Details: At first, the Air Force reported that Russian forces launched attack drones from Crimea. The Air Force later clarified that Russian Shahed drones were advancing from Kherson Oblast towards Mykolaiv Oblast. Air-raid warnings were issued in both these oblasts. Later it was revealed that the Shahed drones were heading towards Kirovohrad Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces shelled seven areas in northeastern Sumy Oblast on Dec. 2, the local military administration reported on Telegram. At least 22 strikes were recorded in the past 24 hours which hit the communities of Yunakivka, Khotin, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, and Seredyna-Buda. No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported. The Russian military targeted the settlements with an onslaught of shelling, mortar fire, artillety, and grenade launcher attacks. The village of Yunakivka, home to roughly 1,700 residents, experienced the most intense attacks, with 50 explosions originating from artillery and mortar strikes. The village is located six kilometers west of the Russia-Ukraine border. Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. Residents of the Sumy Oblast vulnerable border settlements endure multiple attacks per day. Read also: Ukraines fight to heal millions of children scarred by Russias war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian troops launched a heavy artillery attack on Kherson, hitting a residential building and two medical institutions, local authorities reported on Dec. 3. The attack killed a woman and injured four people, according to the Kherson Oblast Prosecutors Office. It occurred at around 3:30 p.m. Roman Mrochko, the head of the citys military administration, initially reported the attack at around 4 p.m., saying that one person was killed and three more were injured. Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram that two medical institutions in the city were hit. No further details have been reported yet. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements west of the Dnipro River in the fall 2022 counteroffensive. Russian forces were pushed to the east of the river, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. Read also: Under deadly attacks, Kherson fights to keep life going 1 year after liberation Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Clearing of the territory near Stepove by the Russian invaders A video circulating online, captured by a reconnaissance drone, allegedly shows Russian troops shooting two unarmed Ukrainian military personnel who were attempting to surrender near Stepove on the Avdiivka front. The incident reportedly took place as Russian occupiers infiltrated the positions of the 45th Separate Rifle Battalion in the Stepove area, Deep State monitoring group analysts said. Read also: The analysts said that the Ukrainian soldiers surrendered due to a lack of ammunition when the Russian forces discovered their dugout during a sweep. The video footage shows that as a second Ukrainian serviceman emerged from a dugout, the Russian troops shot and apparently killed them. Read also: UN chief Guterres horrified by video of beheading of Ukrainian soldier Official comments from both sides are pending, and the videos authenticity remains officially unverified. The incidents date has not been specified. The act of shooting unarmed military personnel attempting to surrender constitutes a war crime. Russia has been consistently accused of violating international law and conventions in Ukraine since 2014, engaging in war crimes that target both military personnel and civilians. Read also: Ukraine identifies Russian war criminal who decapitated Ukrainian POW Ukrainian Intelligence A UN report released on March 16 by an independent international commission further confirmed Russian war crimes, including attacks on civilians, systematic torture of prisoners, sexual assault, and murders in the occupied territories. 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 Kim Taylor admires the monument modeled in the image of politician and civil rights activist Barbara Jordan following a dedication and unveiling ceremony Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Nearly 40 years ago, the U.S. Post Office named its regional post office at 401 Franklin St. after trailblazing congresswoman and Houston icon Barbara Jordan. Jordan was remembered again Saturday at the same spot with the unveiling of a monument titled I Am Barbara Jordan at the site, now home to POST Houston, which bills itself as a dining, cultural and workplace hub. The sculpture, designed by artist Angelbert Metoyer, features Jordan sitting, facing south toward the skyline with her right hand outstretched. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This monument will be a reminder to them that it doesn't come easy, Mayor Sylvester Turner said during the ceremony. It doesn't come without hard work. It doesn't come without sacrifice. It doesn't come without criticism. But you stand anyway because that's what Barbara Jordan would do. A crowd gathers to pay their respects and to admire the monument modeled in the image of politician and civil rights activist Barbara Jordan following a dedication and unveiling ceremony Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Jordan, who was born in Houston and grew up in Fifth Ward, was the first Southern African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She was also the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate. She served there from 1967 to 1973 and then in the U.S. House from 1973 to 1979. She died in 1996 at the age of 59. A graduate of Phillis Wheatley High School and Texas Southern University, Jordan had not been memorialized in her hometown with a monument until earlier this year with "The Meditative Space" at the African American History Research Center at the Gregory School. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Barbara Jordan is an archetype, Metoyer said. She represents a source of inspiration and a guide. I think young people should recognize that. https://twitter.com/thepeterwarren/status/1731094385155084723?s=46&t=8ZEytjciwYcYVBnbb-e0-g Turner was one of many notable local politicians to speak during the ceremony. Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green spoke as well. Jackson Lee is facing state Sen. John Whitmire in a runoff election next Saturday that will decide who becomes the city's next mayor. Houston Poet Laureate Emanuelee Bean, known as Outspoken Bean, was the master of ceremonies and read a poem specially crafted for the day. Jordans sister, Rose Mary McGowan, attended the ceremony. She said she was overwhelmed by the work that was done in honor of her sister. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It's an outstanding tribute, McGowan said. Kim Taylor admires the monument modeled in the image of politician and civil rights activist Barbara Jordan following a dedication and unveiling ceremony Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer After the ceremony, which lasted about 90 minutes, Metoyer and POST Houston managing director Kirby Liu joined Texas Southerns museum director and curator, Alvia Wardlaw, for a conversation about the design and making of the monument. Metoyer first started sketching the designs about five years ago before finishing the pillars about two or three weeks ago. He said the time Liu and his team provided him to work on the project allowed him to create many signifiers or physical representations of ideas about Jordan. He compared the signifiers to a constellation in the sky. Constellations can be appreciated without knowing the history, he said, but people gain greater appreciation of their significance once they know the backstory. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An example of that in his piece are the medallions that adorn Jordan's jacket, which represent the many honors bestowed on her. Another is the bricks that make the base of the statue. They are from the old Barbara Jordan Post Office and were saved during demolition. Liu said the Jordan monument was part of POST Houstons original plan and that it has other art pieces in the works for years to come. He added that the monument was strategically placed on the property to accommodate and influence other projects down the line. We have built this monument because monuments build bridges across time, Liu said. How much richer is our city, our downtown and our history when we can look to our forebears and remind ourselves of their visions for a better Houston. Russian forces hit an apartment building in the city of Kherson on Sunday, 3 December, killing one civilian and injuring another three. Source: Roman Mrochko, the Head of Kherson City Military Administration, on Telegram; Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Details: Mrochko said that Russian forces launched an attack on Khersons Tsentralnyi (Central) neighbourhood from their positions on the left (eastern) bank of the River Dnipro. One woman was killed and three other civilians were injured after the Russians hit an apartment building. The injured are currently being treated. Mrochko shared the photo of the woman who was killed. Later, Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that five people were reportedly injured in the attack. Meanwhile, Prokudin reported that Russian forces attacked two hospitals in Kherson. "Hospital buildings were damaged. There are no casualties according to the early reports," he wrote. Later, Mrochko said that two people were killed and seven more were injured in the Kherson City Territorial Hromada as a result of the attack by the Russians. All the injured were taken to hospital and are receiving medical treatment. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces injured three civilians, attacking over 100 settlements in 10 regions over the past day, regional officials and the Ukrainian military reported on Dec. 3. Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Kherson oblasts were attacked with different types of weapons, including artillery, multiple rocket launchers, tanks and guided bombs. One civilian was injured in southern Kherson Oblast, while Russian forces attacked the southern region 76 times over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported in the morning of Dec. 3. In northern Chernihiv Oblast, Russian attacks injured two civilians and destroyed one house in Oleksandrivka, according to Ukraine's Northern Command. Russian forces attacked Kherson, the regional capital, 27 times, damaging a plant and power line, the governor said. Russian forces hit 19 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, launching 86 attacks over the past day, Governor Yurii Malashko reported on Dec. 3. Russian forces attacked the front-line town of Nikopol and the Chervonohryhorivka community of neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with heavy artillery, Governor Serhii Lysak reported on Dec. 3. In northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces hit at least 16 settlements, a five-story residential building in Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, a front-line town, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on Dec. 3. No casualties were reported in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Casualty and damage data on other Ukrainian regions are yet to be published. Read also: As sanctions bite, Russia eyes Ukraines mineral resources to fund its invasion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. One civilian was killed and two were injured in Russian attacks on Avdiivka and Kostiantynivka (Donetsk Oblast) on Sunday, 3 December. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Quote: "The Russian army shelled the city of Avdiivka on 3 December 2023. A 64-year-old resident of Avdiivka sustained a penetrating wound. He was outside of his house, which is located not far from where the hostilities are taking place, when the attack happened. The village of Kostiantynivka in the Pokrovsk district also came under Russian attack. A 70-year-old woman sustained shrapnel wounds; another 69-year-old woman from the village died on the spot from the wounds she sustained. Both were outside when the attack occurred." Details: The Prosecutors Office explained that the Russian Federation likely deployed tubed artillery to attack Avdiivka and Kostiantynivka. Private houses were damaged in the shelling. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces expect improved weather conditions in the Avdiivka region of Donetsk Oblast and will again deploy military equipment in their assaults, the citys military administration head Vitalii Barabash said on national television on Dec. 3. Barabash highlighted the persistently harsh conditions in Stepove, Koksokhim, and the Avdiivka industrial zone, where continuous assaults are being carried out by Russian forces. He underscored the strategic importance of the Avdiivka coke plant for the occupiers, akin to the significance of Azovstal in Mariupol, emphasizing that the plant is frequently targeted, resulting in recurring fires. Barabash reminded that the ongoing third wave of assault actions is in progress. The first wave they (occupiers) paraded on their (tanks and APCs). The second wave they realized it wasnt effective. They divided these columns into smaller ones and attacked from several directions. The third wave mostly involved infantry... Now they are trying to wait for better weather conditions and will attempt to assault with greater use of equipment, said Barabash. During the third wave of assaults, Russian occupiers opened two additional directions of attack, namely the Avdiivka industrial zone and from the side of Donetsk through Spartak. Read also: Avdiivka frontline faces unprecedented challenges, says military observer Oleksandr Shtupun, Tavria front defense forces spokesperson, reported on Nov. 22 that the invaders attempted to assault Avdiivka by deploying several mechanized columns but suffered a loss of 80% of their equipment. Previously, Shtupun informed about Russia significantly escalating the number of assault actions near Avdiivka. Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi earlier informed that Russia has suffered significant losses, estimating around 10,000 military casualties during a month of active assaults on Avdiivka. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed this sentiment, saying that the occupiers are losing soldiers and equipment faster and on a larger scale under Avdiivka than, for example, near Bakhmut. 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 still from the video of the fighting near Bakhmut, published by the Russian Defense Ministry on November 29, 2023 Russian forces have not even partially succeeded in the Bakhmut sector, Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the Achilles company of the 92nd Separate Airmobile Brigade, whose unit is fighting on the outskirts of the Donbas town, told Radio NV on Dec. 1. "There are some fluid positions in some areas," Fedorenko said. But one cannot say that the enemy has had at least a partial success on the Bakhmut axis. The (Ukrainian) Defense Forces are repelling enemy attacks around the clock. Read also: Ukrainian military wont allow mass rotation of Russian troops on Bakhmut frontline, says unit commander The company commander explained that positions change hands from time to time. "Under the enemy's pressure, the Defense Forces maneuver and take up more favorable positions," Fedorenko said. Due to the precision fire of artillery and our firepower, the enemy, who is drawn into the position, is destroyed. After that, we maneuver and take up these positions again. Read also: Russia deploys fresh, well-trained reserves to Bakhmut Over the past month, the Russians have become more active and have been conducting attack and assault operations both during the day and at night. "In some places (the enemy - ed.) storms with manpower after massive artillery shelling, and in other places they first throw (mobilized soldiers) to establish our firing positions," Fedorenko said. When the Defense Forces destroy the (mobilized soldiers), they try to use copters from the air to find out where we are firing from. After that, they straddle us with artillery and leave under the cover of armored vehicles. But it is worth noting that 80% of the enemy's vehicles - armored, lightly armored, as well as vehicles that provide logistics if they appear in the area of our artillery and UAVs, are eliminated and destroyed. Read also: Liberation of Andriyivka foiled Russian counterattack south of Bakhmut Earlier, Oleksiy Tarasenko, senior lieutenant, deputy commander of the 2nd Assault Battalion of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said that the enemy has strengthened as much as possible in the Bakhmut sector, as the Russians have brought fresh reserves with well-trained personnel. As a result, the occupation forces have had some small tactical successes. "The enemy is currently trying to find the most vulnerable spots in our defense, and has been attacking our units very intensively in many areas for two to three weeks," he said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Strategic Communications Department or SCD of the Ukrainian militarys General Staff confirmed on Telegram on Dec. 2 the authenticity of a video circulating online of two unarmed Ukrainian soldiers being shot by Russian forces as they were surrendering. The SCD condemned the actions of the Russian invasion forces, accusing them of violating the laws and customs of war, as well as international law. On the footage published in the media, the execution of two prisoners of war from the Armed Forces of Ukraine is seen. According to confirmed information, Russian occupiers again treacherously shot unarmed soldiers, says the SCD statement. Read also: Russia released footage of Ukrainian POW execution for intimidation, Kyiv says Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesperson for the Tavria front defense forces, emphasized the gravity of such crimes, asserting that they are not subject to any statute of limitations. Shtupun stated that all evidence would be submitted to relevant international institutions specializing in war crimes. The SCD issued a plea to the global community to condemn Russias actions and called for accountability of Russias military leadership for the violations. Earlier, a video released by analysts from Deep State depicted two military personnel shooting unarmed soldiers who had surrendered near Stepove in Donetsk Oblast. Read also: UN chief Guterres horrified by video of beheading of Ukrainian soldier The enemy entered the positions of the 45th Separate Forces Brigade. During the sweep, the katsaps (a derogatory term for Russians) came across a dugout where our guys were sitting. Due to a lack of ammunition, they were forced to surrender, read the statement accompanying the video. Parliamentary human rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has said Ukraine will formally approach international organizations regarding the incident. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian occupation forces in the city of Melitopol are searching peoples homes and cars in an effort to find "partisans". Source: Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov Details: Fedorov said that Russian occupation forces are searching peoples homes in an effort to determine whether they have any links to the resistance movement. Quote from Fedorov: "[The Russians] are planting weapons and ammunition [in peoples homes]. They dont trifle. The occupiers seem to think that a village house is a very likely place to keep 16,000 shells. They are also carrying out so-called road raids: they pretend to check whether drivers are complying with traffic rules but are in fact checking their documents and searching their cars." Previously: On 1 December, members of the Ukrainian resistance movement in Melitopol killed several Russian invaders and damaged a Russian fuel tank. The Ukrainian Defence Intelligence reported that the fuel tank was out of service. Support UP or become our patron! The Russian invaders who executed unarmed Ukrainian servicemen have been killed, said Vitalii Barabash, Head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration. Source: Barabash on Freedom TV channel Quote: "They [the two Ukrainian soldiers ed.] surrendered because they ran out of ammunition. As far as I know, a little later our guys stormed these positions, and all who were there were killed." Background: On Saturday 2 December, a video was posted online of Russian occupiers shooting some Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered at a location believed to be near the settlement of Stepove, near Avdiivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are checking the video. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine declared that an investigation has been launched following the release of the video showing Russian invaders shooting Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered. Support UP or become our patron! No mercy for aggressors: Ukrainian forces eliminate Russian captors in retribution The Russian troops who shot two surrendering Ukrainian soldiers were quickly eliminated, Avdiivka military administration head Vitalii Barabash said in an interview with Freedom TV on Dec. 3. They (the two Ukrainian soldiers) surrendered because they ran out of ammunition. As far as I know, a little later, our guys stormed those positions, and everyone present there was eliminated, Barabash said. Read also: Russian forces prepare for renewed offensives in Avdiivka amidst harsh winter conditions A video surfaced on social media on Dec. 2, depicting two Russian military personnel shooting two Ukrainian soldiers who had their hands behind their heads, surrendering as prisoners of war. Later, the Strategic Communications Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that Russians had indeed shot two Ukrainian military captives. Read also: One every five minutes Ukrainian sniper kills 12 Russian invaders in an hour near Avdiivka video According to preliminary data, the incident occurred in the vicinity of the village of Stepove in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast. The Prosecutor Generals Office announced the start of an investigation into the shooting of Ukrainian captives by Russian soldiers. 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 (FOX40.COM) A reported dispute involving a firearm in the 2800 block of 19th Avenue on Friday night evolved into a barricaded suspect incident, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Reports came into police at around 8 p.m. of a dispute where a firearm was brandished and gunshots were heard some time later. Shooting in La Riviera neighborhood hospitalizes two, including young girl: Sacramento County Sheriffs Office When officers arrived on scene they found evidence of a shooting and found that one suspect was inside of an upstairs apartment. For several hours, officers worked to establish communication with the suspect in the apartment, but eventually had to hand the incident over to their Crisis Negotiation Team and SWAT. Motorcycle crash closes Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights for several hours The police department said SWAT were called to the scene due to the suspect being armed. Crisis negotiators also tried for over an hour to make contact with the suspect. At 1 a.m., the suspect exited the apartment on their own. Roseville police recover over $6K worth of stolen merchandise They were taken into custody without incident and several firearms were found on the scene. There were no reported injuries from the shooting. Three arrests were made on firearms and assault related charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Mourners carry the casket of Hezbollah fighter Youssef Karam Jawad, killed during cross-border clashes with Israel on November 24. -/AFP via Getty Images On Nov. 8, 2023, news broke that Mossad, Israels external intelligence service, had worked with Brazilian security services and other unnamed foreign intelligence agencies to thwart an alleged terrorist attack on Israeli and Jewish targets in Brazil. The Israeli Prime Ministers office said it was planned by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. According to media reports, the arrival of an alleged plotter on a flight from Lebanon triggered the disruption, which, at the time of this writing, has resulted in two more arrests in Brazil. One of the accused perpetrators allegedly told Brazilian police that he had traveled to Beirut in April to meet with a recruiter seeking people able to kill and kidnap. According to the Associated Press, a Brazilian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Hezbollah recruited and financed the suspects. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a rare public statement, Mossad thanked the Brazilian security services for their cooperation in derailing the plot, which involved an extensive network that operated in additional countries. This operation bore a strong similarity to events I was aware of while posted overseas more than a decade ago. One day in May 2008, early in my tour in one of the Central Intelligence Agency stations, we learned that two Lebanese nationals and four Azerbaijani citizens were arrested for planning terrorist strikes against Israeli targets in Azerbaijan. The agencys counterterrorism mission is global, and we gained detailed insights into the plot. Azerbaijani authorities, acting on intelligence from Mossad, intercepted a vehicle carrying two Lebanese nationals and containing explosives, surveillance gear and suppressed pistols. The arrests led authorities to raid safe houses in the capital of Baku and uncover a local terrorist cell. The target of the plot, which was in its advanced stages, was the Israeli embassy. Housed in the Hyatt Regency, it was in a complex of buildings regularly frequented by many foreigners. The two Lebanese citizens were identified as Ali Karaki a high-level member of Hezbollahs terrorist arm, the External Security Organization and Ali Najem al-Din, an explosives expert. In October 2009, an Azerbaijani court found the cell members guilty on terrorism-related charges. Karaki and Najem al-Din received 15 years in prison, and their four Azeri co-conspirators received between eight and 14 years. In November 2010, following significant pressure from the Iranian government, Azerbaijan agreed to release the two Lebanese citizens on the condition that Iran cease its subversive activities in the country. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Iran did not hold up its end of the bargain, and three years later, Azerbaijani authorities disrupted a similar plot. Meanwhile, Karaki quickly returned to the ranks of Hezbollah and rose to become a senior leader of its Jihad Council, leading to the State Department declaring him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2019. The recent disruption in Brazil demonstrates that what we called the Karaki plot was but one link in a long chain of Iran-backed attempts to wage a proxy war against Israel beyond the borders of the Middle East. Hezbollah continues to prepare operations to kill Jews wherever it can, laying the groundwork in advance with infrastructure, a local network and detailed attack plans that can be used on short notice. Though Mossad is an exceptional intelligence agency, it is not omnipotent. In 1992 and 1994, Hezbollah succeeded in carrying out attacks in Argentina that killed more than 100 people and wounded hundreds more. As the Israel-Hamas conflict rages on, the West must be prepared for the shadow war between Israel and Hezbollah and its patron Iran to burst suddenly and violently into the open on our streets. On Oct. 20, Fox News reported that a leaked internal memo by the San Diego office of Customs and Border Protection warned its agents that terrorists, including Hezbollah, may attempt to infiltrate the United States via the southern border. Advertisement Article continues below this ad SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) The San Marcos Police Department said it was searching for a missing man. SMPD said it needed help finding 45-year-old Jacob Newhouse, who was reported missing to police by a family member Friday. The family member told SMPD that Newhouse was last seen Tuesday, November 28 when he left his home on Escondido Circle in San Marcos without his wallet, phone, vehicle, or keys, SMPD said. Police contacted his work and he failed to show up on November 29. According to police, information suggested Newhouse might have intent to harm himself, and he is considered endangered. Police described Newhouse as 5 11 and weighing approximately 180 pounds. Officials said he might have been wearing the green plaid clothing when he went missing. SMPD said anyone with information on the whereabouts of Newhouse should call the non-emergency SMPD number at 512-753-2108. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A new species of tarantula has been found in Thailands mangrove forests, and while scientists are thrilled by the discovery, there is already concern for its habitat. Mongabay reported scientists found the electric-blue colored spider in the Phang Nga province in 2022, and the findings were published in the ZooKeys journal in September. The arachnid was previously seen in the pet trade, but the sighting marked the first time it had been seen in the wild in Thailand. Meet Chilobrachys natanicharum, a dazzling electric blue #tarantula found in the heart of Thailand! Discover the secrets behind this spider's #vibrant hue and the urgent conservation questions it raises: https://t.co/eMagXcWnth pic.twitter.com/0mP4xd9qsG ZooKeys (@ZooKeys_Journal) September 27, 2023 According to expedition lead Narin Chomphuphuang, the tarantulas were seen in hollow trees, and two were captured for study. Their unique coloring is due to nanostructures on the creatures hairs that react to light. While black, green, yellow, and red have been seen before, this was the first in blue. Further study after the discovery has revealed this hue can be seen in at least eight different species. But Narin is concerned about forest clearance to support the palm oil industry in the area where the spider was found. Global Forest Watch has shown the levels of forest loss across the Khura Buri and Takua Pa regions in the last two decades, with a 13% loss of forest cover in the former and 19% in the latter during this period. It is essential to take these steps to prevent further declines in tarantula populations and protect them for future generations, the study advised. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), palm oil is used in food, cosmetic products, and detergents, and it is found in around half of the packaged food products that United States residents consume. Not only has the destruction of forests to clear space for the cultivation of oil palm trees led to habitat loss for endangered species like rhinos, elephants, and tigers, but the WWF noted the burning of land to make way for agriculture is a significant contributor to planet-warming pollution. This human-caused deforestation led the studys researchers to ask a few key questions, per the Pensoft blog. Are we unintentionally contributing to the destruction of their natural habitats, pushing these unique creatures out of their homes? Or should we advocate for the protection of mangrove forests, not only for the sake of the Electric-Blue Tarantula but also for the preservation of this remarkable jewel of the forest? The EU, for example, is set to enforce a new law that would fine companies profiting from deforestation. This is just one way global leaders can help stop a practice that is putting some remarkable species at risk. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. By Jake Spring SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Hundreds of scientists at the United Nations COP28 climate summit on Sunday launched a research coalition aimed at correcting a historic lack of information about the Congo River basin and its rainforest, the second largest in the world. The Science Panel for the Congo Basin, backed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, aims to issue a report in 2025 that offers the most detailed scientific assessment to date about the Congo Basin. "We are talking about a unique ecosystem that supports hundreds of millions of people, and also it plays a crucial role in the regulation of the Earth's climate," said Raphael Tshimanga, co-chair of the panel and a water expert at University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Our current knowledge of the functioning of the Congo Basin ecosystem is really very, very limited." The Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to most of the forest, had the second highest rate of tree cover loss in the world last year after Brazil, according to Global Forest Watch. That destruction releases greenhouse gas, helping to drive global warming, and destroys vital plant and animal habitats. The scientific effort is modelled on the Science Panel for the Amazon that in 2021 issued a roughly 1,300 page report summarising the scientific consensus on the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest. That report showed that more than 10,000 species in the Amazon risk extinction, explained its role in the global climate system and quantified how much carbon the forest contains. More than 300 scientists are expected to contribute to the Congo report, Tshimanga said. It will include sections on how the Congo regulates the regional climate, human impacts on the forest ecosystem and how scientific data can be used to inform government policy, he said. For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up here for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. (Reporting by Jake Spring; editing by Barbara Lewis) The Seattle Department of Transportation is hosting a planter adoption event after making Healthy Street locations permanent. With the adoption event neighbors can choose to replace the standard concrete sign base with a planter that will be communally managed. Healthy Streets provide a unique community feature to improve health and provide greater spaces for people walking, rolling, and biking, said a spokesperson. The Seattle Department of Transportation said it has been working with neighbors to best decide where Healthy Streets can be made permanent. More information is available on the SDOT website. Planter adoption is now open for the following permanent Healthy Street locations. Sign up by January 18. High Point Lake City Cedar Park Lake City Olympic Hills Othello and Rainier Beach Info: https://t.co/p5YiO0GsvA pic.twitter.com/xF5Thf529H Seattle Department of Transportation (@seattledot) December 3, 2023 Update 3:33 p.m.: Johnnie Williams has been located. Thanks to all who assisted by sharing the information. Original story: The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is currently searching for a missing endangered adult on the Westside of the city. The missing adult, Johnnie Lamar Williams, was reported missing today, Sunday, December 3, by his family. Relatives advised they last saw him in the 3700 block of Tyndale Drive near Cedar Hills Boulevard. Williams and his 2014 burgundy Dodge Caravan bearing Florida tag 622 7YN have not been seen since Friday, December 1. Due to Williams age and memory loss, we are concerned for his safety, JSO said in a news release. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Name: Johnnie Lamar Williams Age: 74 Race/Sex: Black/Male Height/Weight: 60/ 120-140 lbs. Eyes/Hair: Brown / Balding Clothing: unknown Anyone with information which could lead to Mr. Williams whereabouts, are asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at 904-630-0500 or 911. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Yankovski brothers from Odesa Oblast, who were injured by a Russian missile attack, returned to Ukraine for further treatment after a year of rehabilitation in the UK. The children were found to have a new problem a neurological one, the First Medical Association of Lviv reported. The children's mother and stepfather were killed on the night of 1 July 2022, when Russia attacked the village of Serhiivka in Odesa Oblast. Neighbours rescued 8-year-old Yakiv and 14-year-old Volodia Yankovski from under the rubble. "Yakiv was hit in the neck by a piece of wreckage. For the boy to survive, rescue workers had to clamp the damaged vessel. This caused oxygen starvation and a stroke. As a result, the child was paralysed on the left side of his body. The eldest brother Volodia had multiple injuries, in particular, a severe traumatic brain injury and a complex fracture of the radius bone of his right arm," the medical institution notes. First aid was provided to the children in Odesa Oblast, and then they were transported to Lviv to the St Nicholas Hospital. The children's cousin came to the medical facility, took them under her care, and later took them abroad for rehabilitation. After a year of rehabilitation in clinics in Austria and the UK, the children have almost fully recovered younger Yakiv walks, and older Volodia moves his arm. The children's cousin took them under care and then took them abroad However, a year after the Russian missile attack, the orphans received the dangerous consequences of their mine-blast injury. Yakiv began to have neurological disorders seizures. He has already been hospitalised twice because of them. Yakiv was diagnosed with latent epilepsy and suspected of having the moyamoya disease The cause of the seizures could not be determined, so his guardian decided to seek help from Ukrainian doctors. In Ukraine, the children underwent an electroencephalography - a brain test that revealed the cause. Yakiv has latent epilepsy and suspected moyamoya disease when nodules form in the brain blood vessels. There is a huge risk that the stroke will recur. Both brothers were prescribed anticonvulsant therapy. All Photos: First Medical Association of Lviv The examination revealed similar problems in the eldest of the brothers, Volodia. During the active phase of sleep, he also begins to have seizures. Now, both brothers have been prescribed anticonvulsant therapy. In half a year, the Yankovski brothers will again come from abroad to Lviv. Children dream that when Ukraine wins, they will come home forever. Background: On 1 July, the Russian Federation launched a missile attack on the village of Serhiivka in Odesa Oblast, as a result of which 22 people were killed. Support UP or become our patron! Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. She can be reached at jen.rice@houstonchronicle.com. A native Houstonian, Jen graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and earned a master's degree from University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs. Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now. The unintended consequences of digital news Electronics have lots of unintended consequences. While stuffed in a pocket or purse they are out of sight. We miss headlines in newspaper racks, newsstands, papers read and left in public places where a casual reader may see them. The electronic reader never sees them while Googling something else. The chance for public discourse equals zero. The printed word remains. While discovered later, what may not be as timely remains where it can be, well, discovered! Electronics change stories, daily, hourly, up to the minute. The chance to miss something goes up, not down. Public discourse goes down, not up. We could go to the counter of our local newspaper and do business. The same person is there day in and day out. We have no idea who or what has generated the electric story. Electronics have washed (over) modern society like a tidal wave. What has sunk is our chance to exchange ideas. We are drowning in a sea of calling names. Lack of public debate over ideas is as rare as a life-raft-bound reader floating the Pacific and spotting an island. Ron Buckland, Pasco Making Kadlec great once again Before Kadlec was taken over by Providence Health & Services, staff were happy, appreciated and appropriately scheduled. They had ample time to do their jobs and were valued employees. The service was wonderful. Providence appears to value profits over their employees and the community they serve. Providence had instituted a program created by McKinsey & Company to request payments from patients to cover the cost of care left over following Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. It took a lawsuit from the attorney general of Washington for them to stop using debt collections on this most vulnerable population. I have spoken to multiple staff members receptionists, imaging technologists and doctors. I have had to email my doctors offices because phones are so understaffed. Everyone is overscheduled in the name of profit. No wonder so many are unhappy. Job dissatisfaction leads to job turnover, and quality of service suffers. Providence Health & Services is listed as a not-for-profit Catholic Health Care system. Replace current management and go back to their core mission of serving the community. Value their staff. Give them sane schedules and let the staff do their jobs. We all win from this strategy. Amy Small, Richland Trump is indeed a menace This responds to a Nov. 26 letter in the Tri-City Herald from Donald Havre. He states, Democrats are telling us if Trump is elected, its the end of democracy. Yes, Trump will destroy democracy. Havre blames Democrats for open borders. The cause is Congress failure to pass laws to seal our borders, e.g., laws requiring aliens to obtain work/asylum visas before being allowed across our borders. Trump didnt fix this, and the Democrats made it ... a two-party problem. He says Democrats send illegal aliens to communities where social and educational services are overwhelmed. Republican governors in Florida and Texas do this to mitigate illegal alien problems in their states and claim Democrats are hurting them. He also implies Democrats use our government to prosecute political rivals. These prosecutions are based on facts involving Republicans violating laws. I dont like Biden or Trump. Both are out of control, too old and too easily influenced by others or ignore sound advice. But I will be forced to vote for Biden or a viable Democrat. Since 1956, I have voted for every elected Republican and Democrat president. I will continue to vote for Rep. Dan Newhouse. I am neither Democrat nor Republican. I just dont believe what I read or hear without a lot of research. Jim Tow, Richland A South Carolina man faces multiple charges following a shooting at a Walmart Supercenter, according to the Aiken Department of Public Safety. Arrest warrants were issued for 22-year-old Barnwell resident Brandon Perry Buckmon, the department of public safety said in a news release. Buckmon faces charges of shooting a firearm into a vehicle while occupied, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, armed robbery, unlawful carrying of pistol as well as assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, arrest warrants show. The shooting happened Nov. 26 in the parking lot of the Walmart at 2035 Whiskey Road, according to the release. Law enforcement responded to a shooting at a Walmart. Officers responded to the Walmart and were told there had been an altercation involving several people and shots fired at a vehicle, according to the release. Buckmon and his co-defendants were involved in an armed robbery of a person who was sitting in his vehicle, and Buckmon was in possession of a handgun, arrest warrants show. The victim refused to give up money and was shot in the shoulder, according to the warrants. All of the people involved in the shootig, including the victim, had left the Walmart before officers arrived, the department of public safety said. But later that day, officers learned a person had been shot and was being treated at Aiken Regional Medical Center, according to the release. The department of public safety said it believes the person, who has not been publicly identified, suffered what it called a non-life-threatening injury during the shooting at the Walmart. Further information on the persons condition was not available, and no other injures were reported. But the parking lot was full of vehicles and there were numerous people in the immediate area of the shooting, arrest warrants said. Buckmon was arrested Nov. 29 in Williston on unrelated charges and is being held in the Orangeburg County Detention Center, according to the release. Information about how Buckmon was connected to the Walmart shooting was not available. On Dec. 1, Buckmon was charged with kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery and burglary from a separate incident, Orangeburg County court records show. Once Buckmon is released on the unrelated Orangeburg County charges, hell be extradited to Aiken County and formally charged on the counts connected to the Walmart shooting, the department of public safety said. The shooting remains under investigation, and more arrests are expected, the department of public safety said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the department of public safety at 803-642-7620, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip. Information from the community is vital to solving this and any crime, the department of public safety said. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Aiken County Sheriffs Office and Williston Police Department has assisted the department of public safetys investigation. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) in the Socorro Independent School District, and the El Paso Childrens Hospital will host the second annual Winter Wellness Land from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 5 at El Paso Community College Administrative Services Building. According to SISD, 200 Eastlake feeder pattern elementary students will receive wellness gifts, enjoy live book readings, holiday performances, learn to make healthy holiday treats and create holiday artwork to take home to share with their families. Students also will take photos with Santa and a festive holiday background. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The latest episode of Saturday Night Live poked fun at former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) for being expelled from Congress on Friday with a mock press conference and a musical number. The cold open begins with Sarah Sherman playing CNNs Wolf Blitzer, who announced that there is a breaking news press conference coming from the Capitol. The scene cuts to Bowen Yang playing Santos, who called a press conference shortly after the expulsion vote. This entire country has been bullying me just because I am a proud gay thief, Yang said. Yang is referencing the House Ethics Committees findings into Santos last month, which discovered that Santos blatantly stole from his campaign and deceived donors into providing what they thought were contributions to his campaign but were, in fact, payments for his personal benefit. Santos has also pleaded not guilty to 23 criminal counts on allegations that he misled donors, unlawfully received unemployment benefits and charged his donors credit cards without authorization. The House voted to expel Santos in a 311-114-2 vote on Friday. When calling on reporters, the fake Santos demands that they give him their bank routing numbers, mothers maiden name and childhood pet name. When asked how he felt about the Houses move to kick him out, he emphasized that he doesnt need Congress anyway. To hell with Congress, I dont need them anyway. Because my new movie opened this weekend, its called Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce. At one point, the impersonated Santos compares himself to the late Princess Diana and actress Marilyn Monroe before he announces that he would like to sing a tribute to himself. The scene then cuts to Yang at the piano, singing a parody of Candle in the Wind. It seems to me like Ive lived my life like a scandal in the wind / Never knowing who to cling to when the law closed in, Yang sings. It seems to me like Ive lived my life like an evil Forrest Gump / Im the guy who lied even too much for Donald Trump, Yang continues. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A South Carolina man died days after being involved in a crash on a Midlands road, officials said. Marcelino Rojas, a 57-year-old Newberry resident, died Nov. 29, Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece said. The single-vehicle collision happened Nov. 27 in Newberry County, according to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Rojas was driving a 1997 Ford pickup truck east on S.C. 34 when the vehicle ran off the right side of the road and hit a ditch then flipped over, Bolt said. Rojas was airlifted by helicopter to Prisma Health Richland hospital where he died, officials said. Bolt said Rojas was the only person in the pickup, and no other injuries were reported. There was no word if Rojas was wearing a seat belt. Information about what caused the pickup to veer off the road was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroners office. Through Wednesday, 881 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported. At least eight people have died in Newberry County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. There were 10 deaths reported in the county in 2022, DPS reported. Students, teachers, community members, elected representatives and faith leaders gathered on Sunday to band together after a 14-year old student was stabbed to death at Southeast Raleigh High School last week. The vigil, which began at Word of God Fellowship off Rock Quarry Road, was an opportunity for residents of Southeast Raleigh to unite, converse and heal, faith leaders who spoke said. Pastor Joe Stevenson of the Macedonian New Life church speaks during a vigil following the death of a 14-year old Southeast High School student We are gathered to say to our children, you are important to us, Pastor Stanley Byrd of Kingdom Harvest Church told the crowd of more than 200. They are our children, and we will do everything that we have to do to ensure that they come on the other side of this whole, he said. From Word of God Fellowship, the coalition marched in silence to nearby Southeast Raleigh High School. There everyone encircled the pastors and a group of somber students from the school. People prayed, sang and held hands, and some cried. A 14-year-old Southeast Raleigh High student was charged with murder after a fight broke out Monday, Nov. 27. In the melee that spilled into the gymnasium, police say the student stabbed 15-year-old Delvin Ferrell and a 16-year-old. Ferrell died of his injuries. Several other students involved in the brawl were disciplined, according to Principal Eddie Harden. Classes were dismissed early on the day of the fight, and the school did not reopen until Thursday. Place of Love Byrd said a key to healing is letting community members and students know they are supported. Also key is sharing information on resources that exist in the area, particularly those that help young people serve with conflict resolution and recovery from traumatic experiences, said Byrd, who is president of the Raleigh Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Byrd pointed to the ImWELL network, a training program for religious leaders across the country, founded by Pastor Toshiba Rice of Wilson. Coming out of the pandemic, many people, including pastors, struggled with mental health issues, Byrd told The News & Observer. We have to make sure were well, so we can continue to effectively make sure other people are well, he said. Little People Preschool owner Shawnonne Pickett attended a vigil following the death of a Southeast High School student For one Word of God member, Shawnonne Pickett, solutions would follow communion. This is a place of love, a place of friendship. This ZIP code is, those within the community, within the schools. And were really here to be a blessing to them, said Pickett, one of the owners of Little People Preschool in Raleigh. Sometimes its a smile, sometimes its a hug. But really, when relationships are built, there needs to be a time of listening. Then we can go from there, to seek solutions, she said. Sharing a meal After the gathering at the school, the group walked over to Montague Plaza, a new shopping center composed solely of Black-owned small businesses to share food and beverages outside. The plaza, which opened in October, is an example of a positive force in the community, faith leaders said during their speeches. Real estate developer James Montague, who grew up two blocks away, broke ground on the plaza in 2021. On Saturday, Montague was there showing support. Real estate developer James Montague attends a community vigil following the death of a 14-year old Southeast Raleigh High School student He told The N&O the plaza was built as a solution. The thing that happened last week, it happened last week, but its not new to the area, he said. We built that as a solution, to offer encouragement, to give business owners, to give young people, an opportunity to grow, to expand and just get out positive energy and to be able to do positive things in the community, he said. Montague said he plans to create a center to teach students about the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. He also plans to incorporate conflict resolution lessons in the center, he said. And while the event focused on one community, Marcus Bass, deputy director of the N.C. Black Alliance, said the incident last week is not unique just to Southeast Raleigh, or to the city or even the county. This is something that there has really been a growing need to address. Homicide was the leading cause of death for children between ages 15 and 17 in North Carolina, a Child Fatality Task Force report analyzing data from 2021 showed. That year, the state also saw its highest suicide rate in two decades, killing 62 children, the report showed. After the vigil, the Raleigh Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance hosted a time of healing, comfort, and support for Southeast Raleigh High School students and their families at the Macedonia New Life Church, closed off to the media. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks during a human trafficking news conference held at Crime Stoppers, 3001 Main St., on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer The Harris County Democratic Party will consider a contentious resolution condemning District Attorney Kim Ogg after a committee narrowly agreed Saturday to bring the measure to a full party vote. The party could formally admonish Ogg at its Dec. 12 meeting if the measure receives support from a majority of precinct chairs in attendance. OGG RESOLUTION: Harris County Democrats vote to move forward with proposed resolution condemning DA Kim Ogg Advertisement Article continues below this ad Members of the steering committee voted Saturday to move the resolution forward with a 14-12 vote. "Political party in-fighting has become the norm in primary election contests," said Michael Kolenc, Ogg's campaign spokesperson. "Unfortunately, D.A. Oggs opponent has taken a page from the Republican handbook, hoping to win by dividing our Democratic Party." Ogg, a second-term Democrat, faces a well-funded primary challenge in March from former prosecutor Sean Teare. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announces 15 new charges against six Houston Police Department officers in the Harding Street raid during a press conference Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in Houston. Additional to former officers Gerald Goines and Steven Bryant, four more officers, including supervisors. Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Teare's campaign shot back on Saturday, saying the resolution is coming from "rank-and-file Democrats" and that Ogg is "scapegoating" her opponent "to avoid accountability for her own failures." Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The truth is that the grassroots activists, who have worked so hard to elect Democrats, are no longer willing to look the other way," Rocky Saligram, Teare' campaign spokesperson, said in a statement. "They see for themselves how she would be more at home running in the Republican primary instead." It was the second vote Ogg's critics won by a slim margin this week. The party's resolutions committee voted Thursday to advance the resolution to the steering committee for further consideration with 11 votes in favor, nine opposed and one abstention. In their resolution, a group of precinct chairs has accused Ogg of working against fellow Democrats, aligning with Republicans and opposing the party's efforts to reform the misdemeanor cash bail system. Critics said Ogg has made "false claims" that fellow Democrats "defunded" law enforcement. They also cited a recent Chronicle investigation that found Ogg has launched multiple criminal investigations against officials within her own party with whom she was publicly feuding. In a lengthy rebuttal sent to campaign supporters, Ogg dismissed the claims against her as a "misinformation campaign" from precinct chairs who "seek to create dysfunction" within the party. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After Thursday's committee vote, Ogg called her critics "a few partisan extremists" who do not represent the Democratic voters of Harris County. Her supporters have blasted the resolution, defending her record and saying that the party should not take sides during a primary election and instead should leave the matter to voters at the ballot box. State Sen. Carol Alvarado, a member of the steering committee, voted against the resolution on Saturday. "There's a process," Alvarado said. "It's called a primary, which is three months away. To bring this on the heels of a primary is just pure politics and it's out of place." Alvarado warned that supporting the resolution would lead to disunity among Democrats. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Supporters of the resolution, however, said they are critical of Ogg as an elected official, not a candidate. Increasingly within the many news stories about the perceived and real failings of colleges today are laments about the fading content of the required general education or core courses to which college students should be exposed. Michael MacDowell Traditionally college students are required to take a broad spectrum of introductory courses in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. Collectively these core courses are designed to give college students grounding in the essential skills that promote reasoned thought, compassion and understanding about the country in which they live and the world around them. The core represents the minimal knowledge with which a student should be familiar upon graduation. The rationale for requiring a specific set of courses in the core is that collectively they offer a framework for reasoned thought. They should teach a student how to think, not what to think. They represent the shared values deemed essential to holding societies together. Recent circumstances, global and otherwise, along with a deterioration in civility with which people and institutions conduct themselves, have suggested to many that young people are graduating college without the admirable skills gained by exposure to a solid core curriculum. The answer to many is to reinforce the essential components of a solid general education curriculum which many feel has lost its way. Florida is one of the first, but it will not be the last state, to consider requiring a more defined content and rigorous set of general education courses that promote reasoned thinking and shared values. The most often cited as the reason for core revision is that the introductory courses that make up the core sometimes mirror the interest of particular faculty members and as a result focus upon extremely specific and contemporary topics which do not represent the purpose of a general education curriculum. Instead, they focus only upon a few contemporary issues deemed important by a faculty member or considered fashionable by their discipline. The contention is that these specialized courses do not provide the basic insights that will be useful throughout a students life. They narrow, instead of broadening a students thinking. While such specific topic oriented courses should still be taught, they would not be considered part of the core curriculum. Conceptually, the idea of a states higher education board or commission pressing state-owned colleges and universities to adopt a stricter cadre of core courses is not necessarily problematic. Most faculty would agree that the core should provide a framework of reasoned thinking, cordial behavior and a commitment to the key characteristics deemed important for graduates to possess. However, my experience in working in higher education for 40 years is that the incentives that drive many faculty are antithetical to dictates from above whether they come from commissions, higher education officials, governors, or even their institutions president. Faculty hold allegiance to their disciplines. Within their individual departments there exists a strongly held belief that the content should be decided upon by faculty because they have spent their lives honing their expertise in their fields. For this reason, faculty will balk at an agency telling what they should teach in their classrooms. This attitude is reinforced within their academic departments. On the other hand, faculty will mostly agree among themselves on 90% of the content of an introductory course, especially one that is part of the core curriculum. Most faculty would agree that the idea of firming up the general education core curriculum and examining closely the introductory courses taught therein is a good one. However, pressing such changes down from above is not. Instead, Florida, and other states considering firming up the general education curriculum should consider following the recommendations of the National Association of Scholars, a nonprofit organization that has, for years, upheld the standards of a liberal arts education by fostering intellectual freedom and honorable citizenship. The Association has developed a general education curriculum, to be based in an existing or new college of general studies. It should oversee the general education curriculum, review courses taught there, and evaluate the faculty that teaches those courses. Michael A. MacDowell of Estero is president emeritus of Misericordia University. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: State mandates for college core courses often resisted WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) Jamestown Settlement is asking for art submissions for its annual Black Artist Showcase. Submit work here The showcase will be shown through February 2024. New and returning artists must submit their work by Dec. 15, 2023, according to a release. The theme is the beauty of our lives. The annual event reflects on the legacy of African diaspora by celebrating modern African American life and culture, a release states. The 2022 Black Artist Showcase featured Ezra: Reparations Groove, a linoleum cut by Steve Prince (at right), as well as The Calm, an acrylic painting by S. Ross Browne. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation photo. Jamestown Settlement is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in James City County. Jamestown Settlement admission is $18 for adults, $9 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under. Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. By Yi Whan-woo Foreign investors returned to a buying spree of Korean stocks for the first time in four months in November, adding to optimism that such a pattern of purchase will go on this month as Korea is set to end a regulation to make stock investing easier for them. According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), Sunday, offshore investors net purchased 4.68 trillion won ($3.6 billion) worth of shares on the Seoul stock market in November. It marked a turnaround after they net sold stocks worth $910 million in August, $1.33 billion in September and $2.22 billion in October. The buying spree was heavily concentrated on chip stocks, with Samsung Electronics accounting for 2 trillion won and SK hynix taking up another 679 billion won of the total values of the shares purchased. Analysts said the net purchase last month is partly attributable to positive market sentiment ahead of the new rule taking effect, on Dec. 14, to accelerate foreign investors access to the market and to bring more money. The Seoul financial regulator will remove the three-decade-old rule that requires foreign investors to register with authorities to trade local stocks. Offshore investors will thereafter be allowed to open accounts with an internationally accepted identification, such as a passport for individuals, or a legal entity identifier for institutions. The deregulation is believed to help attract more international investors to the stock market here, coupled with a highly anticipated rebound for semiconductor stocks, said Mirae Asset Securities analyst Kim Seok-hwan. He noted the regulation was criticized for blocking foreign investments in stocks and deviating from the global standard after it was introduced in 1992. Kang Jae-hyun, an SK Securities analyst, voiced a similar view, saying, Foreign investors appear to be testing the water on the Korean stock market before the new changes take effect, by purchasing large-cap stocks. The analysts said the U.S. Federal Reserves possible move to extend the rate pause is another plus factor to draw foreign investors to the Korean stock market. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week it is too early to say confidently that the Fed had achieved a sufficiently restrictive stance or to speculate on when rate cuts would happen. The U.S. rate remains at a range of 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent. It is higher than Koreas 3.5 percent and has been a source of concerns that foreign investors can pull money out of the Korean market as they seek safe-haven assets. Under the circumstances, an extended rate pause and even rate cut could be possible beginning early next year, against a backdrop of a sharply slowing economy and rising unemployment, said Lee Sang-ho, head of the economic policy team at the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI). Meanwhile, foreign investors offloaded some of their stocks in Samsung SDI, POSCO Future M and Korean rechargeable battery companies in November as the pace of sales in electric cars (EVs) slowed in the global market. A Frenchman with a history of violence and psychiatric problems went on a stabbing spree near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night, knifing to death a German tourist and injuring two other people because, he told police, he could no longer accept that Muslims die in Afghanistan and Palestine. The suspect, whose name was not released, shouted Allahu akbar before the slaying and was arrested as he tried to kill others. He had been sentenced to prison in 2016 for planning violence and was under monitoring by security services, authorities said. Read it at The Wall Street Journal Read more at The Daily Beast. Two suspects were arrested for a series of armed robberies targeting Southern California residents. The suspects were identified as Justice Bloodworth, 21, of Los Angeles and Cameron Woods-Harvey, 23, of Long Beach, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department. From July through October 2023, residents in L.A. and Orange Counties were targeted by the armed suspects. The robbers primarily narrowed in on victims wearing luxury watches and jewelry, police said. The suspects are wanted for at least six robberies throughout L.A. County and are connected to a home invasion robbery in Brea. To track down the suspects, Beverly Hills police collaborated with several agencies including the Santa Monica Police Department, L.A. County Sheriffs Department West Hollywood Division, L.A. Police Department Robbery-Homicide Division, LA IMPACT, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The multi-agency investigation resulted in numerous search warrants at locations across Southern California and Flagstaff, Arizona. Suspects stole over $1 million worth of luxury cars in Riverside County Two of the victims stolen property was recovered which led authorities to a wealth of evidence linking the suspects to the crimes and provided crucial leads for the ongoing investigation, police said. Evidence found from the search warrants includes six guns, including assault weapons, stolen luxury watches, fine jewelry and other valuable items. Bloodworth was arrested on Oct. 12 and charged with four counts of robbery, one count of conspiracy, and one count of felony reckless evading. Police discovered Bloodworth was released on bail for several other armed robberies when he was arrested again. He is being held on no bail. Woods-Harvey was arrested on Oct. 27 on three counts of conspiracy and two counts of weapons-related charges. He was located in Arizona and is awaiting extradition back to L.A. County. He is being held in the Coconino County Jail on $235,000 bail. Ventura County woman killed man during weed-induced psychosis Anyone with information on these robberies is asked to call Beverly Hills police at 310-285-2125. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting BHPDALERT followed by the tip information to 888777. The public can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submit online tips at lacrimestoppers.org. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. An early-morning house fire made stronger by ammunition present on the property led to the death of two people, fire officials said. (OnScene.TV) The bodies of a man, a woman and a dog were discovered Sunday by firefighters battling an early-morning fire in Sylmar that also set off a large cache of ammunition at the property. Los Angeles firefighters were on the scene in the 13700 block of Glenoaks Boulevard about 4:30 a.m. and found a home and two other structures on the property ablaze, authorities said. The body of a woman was found in a pool, while the remains of a man and a dog were discovered "in the rubble" of the house fire, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department. Firefighters' efforts to knock down the fire were hampered by the presence of ammunition in one of the homes, according to L.A. Fire Capt. Erik Scott. The blaze's heat then set off the ammunition, leaving the impression that a gun was being fired, he said. Once the fire was under control, firefighters found the human remains as well as multiple guns in one of the three structures on the property. Police later confirmed that "thousands of rounds of ammunition" were at the location. "I saw at least two, what appeared to be, automatic weapons a rifle, ammunition lined up," Scott told KTLA-TV. "That obviously concerns us Why is that out?" The LAPD's bomb squad responded to the scene to determine whether it was safe. Authorities said the cause of the fire and what led to the deaths of the two people had not been determined and was under investigation. Authorities have not released any information about the identity of the deceased people. Dogs were used to search for human remains, and homicide detectives were combing the property. Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report. 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. Sir Jackie Stewart said it was 'very touching talking to people on the phone who are also affected by dementia' - Eddie Mulholland/Eddie Mulholland Sir Jackie Stewart and Anneka Rice were among the celebrities manning the phone lines for The Telegraphs Christmas Charity appeal on Sunday, as the total raised reached 241,000. The stars and Telegraph columnists took over 1,000 calls as readers on the phone gave 96,000, in addition to gifts online and earlier donations. Richard Madeley joined fellow TV personality Ms Rice and three-time F1 champion Sir Jackie on the phones. Telegraph writers Allison Pearson, Camilla Tominey and cartoonist Matt Pritchett also took calls from readers over the eight hours the lines were open. Anneka Rice was among the celebrities manning the phone lines - Eddie Mulholland/Eddie Mulholland The four charities benefiting from this years Christmas Charity appeal were Marie Curie, Britains leading end-of-life charity; the RAF Benevolent Fund, which supports personnel, veterans and their families; Go Beyond, who gives vulnerable children a break in the British countryside and Race Against Dementia, set up by Sir Jackie after his wife Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Overall, 241,231 has been donated so far, which includes online donations. The total sum raised yesterday alone by readers who called in was just over 96,005 - 6,255 more than was donated by callers last year. The average donation given by each caller to The Telegraphs offices in Victoria, London, was just under 95. Speaking in between calls, Richard Madeley, said: Its non-stop, you know, theres no break. The newspapers Agony Uncle said readers were keen to give their views on Abu Dhabi-backed fund Redbird IMIs bid to take over The Telegraph. The newspapers Agony Uncle was flat out - Eddie Mulholland/Eddie Mulholland Mr Madeley said: Almost all of them want to talk about the takeover. They are expressing their concern, their interest and all the rest of it. Everyones got an opinion on the takeover and I keep telling them, Its above my paygrade, you know. Meanwhile, Anneka Rice was quizzed on her time as the face of the TV series Challenge Anneka. She said: This has been utterly joyful, I havent done this before for The Telegraph, but its lovely. The first lady [who called] had lost her husband and Marie Curie had supported the family with End of Life care, which is literally what it is all about. Sir Jackie said: Its very touching talking to people on the phone who are also affected by dementia. I want someone to find a cure for dementia in my lifetime, so we need to fund young people to do PhDs and research for that to happen. Readers can continue to donate by phone or online. To make a donation, please visit http://telegraph.co.uk/2023appeal or call 0151 284 1927. 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 Texas GOP executive committee has voted against a measure that would ban Republicans from associating with Holocaust deniers and Nazi sympathizers, The Texas Tribune reports. By a 32-29 vote, the committee removed the clause from a pro-Israel resolution. It would have disallowed the party from associating with people who espouse or tolerate antisemitism, pro-Nazi sympathies or Holocaust denial. The measure came after Texas ultraconservative Jonathan Stickland hosted an event for Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes. It could put you on a slippery slope, committee member Dan Tully said of the ban. Read it at The Texas Tribune Read more at The Daily Beast. TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appealed to voters on Sunday to think of what had happened to Chinese-controlled Hong Kong when they cast their ballots next month, saying peace must be backed up with a commitment to boost defences. Taiwan prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 13 as China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own territory, ramps up military pressure to assert its claims, including two major war games around the island in the past year and a half. China and Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), have cast the election as a choice between war and peace. China detests Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its presidential candidate, Vice President Lai Ching-te, calling them dangerous separatists. Addressing supporters at a campaign rally for Lai in the capital Taipei, Tsai said the opposition was using "alarmist talk" of war and peace. "I want to ask you all here, does anyone want war? Nobody does," she said. "Look at Hong Kong and think of Taiwan. We don't want Hong Kong-style peace. We want dignified peace." Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide autonomy under a "one country, two systems" framework, which China has also offered to Taiwan - with little support on the island. Beijing in 2020 imposed a tough national security law on Hong Kong, which it said was vital to restore stability after the city, a global financial hub, was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019. Tsai, barred by term limits from seeking re-election, has made bolstering Taiwan's defences a cornerstone of her tenure, a stance that Lai, leading in the polls, has pledged to continue. They say only Taiwan's people can decide their future and have repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed. "To ensure peace we need to strengthen our ability to defend ourselves. Our house will have locks on it, but not to provoke our neighbours," Tsai told the rally. "Only with determination can we defend dignity, and only with strength can we ensure peace." KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih said on Saturday a vote for the DPP was equivalent to "sending everyone out to the battlefield" because supporting Taiwan independence would touch off a war. The KMT traditionally favours close ties with China but strongly denies being pro-Beijing. It has pledged to reopen talks with China if it wins election. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard) An additional two-year grace period will be sought for small companies as the workplace safety law punishing employers for serious industrial accidents is set to expand to companies with less than 50 employees, ruling party officials said Sunday. The decision was announced by the ruling People Power Party (PPP) following a consultative meeting among officials from the presidential office, the government and the ruling party at the prime minister's residence in central Seoul. Under the law, business owners or CEOs of companies with 50 or more employees are subject to at least one year in prison or up to 1 billion won ($769,822) in fines in the event of deadly on-duty disasters caused by lax workplace safety measures. For companies with 50 or fewer employees which account for about 80 percent of all serious accidents the government gave a grace period until Jan. 27, 2024. Companies with less than five employees are not subject to the law. Under the latest decision, the party plans to push for a law revision giving a further 2-year grace period for companies with less than 50 employees, which number about 800,000 nationwide. During the meeting, the sides also agreed to launch a pan-governmental task force tackling administrative network disruptions. Last month, the Saeol administrative network, used by public workers, and the online Government 24 civil service portal had gone down for several days, causing massive delays in and disruptions to public access across the country. Under the latest decision, the task force will come up with a comprehensive plan to prevent any recurrence of such problems on government administrative networks by January, the PPP said in a written briefing. The upcoming plan would include initiatives to utilize private cloud services, establish a control tower overseeing related issues and conduct a blanket inspection of aged network equipment to enhance the management of public digital infrastructure, according to the party. (Yonhap) Almost one in three parents who send their children to independent schools are struggling with the costs, research suggests. The findings come with Labour set to impose VAT on private school fees if it wins the next election. If schools decide to increase fees as a result, annual fees of 15,000 could rise to 18,000. In a survey by the charity Parentkind, parents named school trips, uniforms and materials for art, music and PE lessons as among expenses they were concerned about. It found that the households of as many as 2.8 million children in both state and private schools could be struggling to afford the cost of their education. Uniforms were among the most cited cost, with more than half of parents with children at state schools saying this was an expense they were particularly concerned about, along with a third of parents of private school pupils. School trips were cited by 44 per cent of parents with children across the state and private sector. This research makes unhappy reading Overall, one in four of more than 5,000 respondents to the National Parent Survey, conducted by YouGov, admitted to struggling with the everyday costs of sending their children to school. This rose to 50 per cent among respondents whose children were entitled to free school meals. Julie Robinson, the chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, said: This research makes unhappy reading but chimes with the findings of our own survey of independent school parents, showing they often make sacrifices in order to choose the school that is right for their child. We know that the cost of living crisis is hitting families hard and schools are doing what they can to ease the pressure on these families when it comes to school costs which is why our schools have provided over 1bn in fee assistance in the last year alone. Many parents also told researchers they were pessimistic about the future, with just four in 10 saying their child would have a better standard of living than them and only 48 per cent believing they would have better career prospects. Jason Elsom, the chief executive of the charity and a former teacher, said: This survey is wake-up call to schools and politicians around the country. The cost of living crisis is hitting more and more families who used to have comfortable incomes but are now concerned about the cost of sending their children to school. 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 Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) - Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing at a Catholic Mass in the Philippines on Sunday that killed at least four people and injured 50 others. The attack was carried out in a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city in the south of the country besieged by Islamist militants for five months in 2017. The Islamic State group, which wields influence in the country's south, said on Telegram its members had detonated the bomb. Earlier on Sunday, before Islamic State's claim, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned "the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists". Police and the military strengthened security in the country's south and around the capital Manila. In Rome, Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims during his Sunday address, and, in a separate written message, appealed to "Christ the prince of peace (to) grant to all the strength to turn from violence and overcome every evil with good". Law enforcement operations to bring to justice the perpetrators of the "terrorist activity" will "continue unabated", Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told a press conference. There were "strong indications of a foreign element" in the bombing, Teodoro said, refusing to elaborate so as not to compromise ongoing investigation. Fragments of a 60-mm mortar were recovered at the scene, senior police official Emmanuel Peralta told the press conference. HIGH ALERT The blast in Marawi, capital of Lanao del Sur province, followed a series of military operations against local pro-Islamic State groups in the southern Philippines, the military chief said. One on Sunday in Lanao del Sur led to the killing of a leader of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute group. "It is possible that what happened this morning was a retaliatory attack," Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner told the press conference. The Islamic State-linked Maute seized Marawi on May 2017, seeking to make it a Southeast Asian "wilayat" or governorate - for Islamic State. In the ensuing five-month battle, Islamist fighters and Philippine forces killed more than a thousand people, including civilians. Images shared by the Lanao del Sur government on Facebook showed military officials surveying the gym at the Mindanao State University where the blast occurred, which appeared intact except for burn marks in the centre. Videos posted by DZBB radio on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, showed rescuers carrying injured people out of the gym on plastic chairs. Police offices in Mindanao and the capital region were placed on high alert and police checkpoints tightened "to prevent possible follow-up incidents", police official Peralta said. The coast guard directed its districts to intensify pre-departure inspections at ports. Mindanao State University said in a Facebook post it was "deeply saddened and appalled by the act of violence that occurred during a religious gathering". "We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless and horrific act." The university said it was suspending classes until further notice. (This story has been corrected to say 60-mm mortar, not 16-mm mortar, in paragraph 8) (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema; Editing by William Mallard and Sharon Singleton) The following is a transcript of an interview with National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby that aired on Dec. 3, 2023. MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're back with the coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby. Always good to have you here. COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, JOHN KIRBY: Thank you, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about this breakdown in the hostage negotiations. The Mossad has pulled their negotiators out of Doha, saying that there's no use in continuing to talk. Is this insurmountable? There are still Americans being held. KIRBY: We don't believe it's insurmountable. In fact, even while the negotiations have stopped, Margaret, we haven't stopped our efforts on the National Security Council and according- and all the way up to the President, trying to work hour by hour to see if we can get this pause reinstated and get those hostages out. I will say, while the pause has been lifted, and no hostage exchanges are going on, what is still going on, importantly, is humanitarian assistance getting in including- including fuel, which is- which is critical. MARGARET BRENNAN: It wasn't- it's restarted, you're saying. KIRBY: Yeah, so even when the pause ended, what didn't end was humanitarian assistance. MARGARET BRENNAN: We heard from your old boss, the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, there in the beginning of the program, and he said that the lesson he learned from the ISIS campaign was that in urban warfare, you have to protect civilians. He was pretty sharp in his words, he said he has pushed Israeli leaders to avoid civilian casualties, shun irresponsible rhetoric, prevent violence by settlers in the West Bank. It certainly sounds like the Netanyahu government has not made the changes that they have been asked to make for the past few weeks. KIRBY: They have been receptive to those messages, those messages that he delivered in public, we are also delivering in private. They have been-- MARGARET BRENNAN: For three weeks or more now, including on this program, KIRBY: They have been receptive to those messages. Now, again, I want to make it clear, the right number of civilian casualties is zero. And clearly, many thousands have been killed, and many more thousands have been wounded. And now more than a million are internally displaced. We're aware of that. And we know that all of that is a tragedy. We grieve with all those families. That's why we continue to work, as Secretary Austin said, with our Israeli counterparts, to get them to be as careful and as precise and as deliberate in their targeting as possible. And I would tell you, as I said, they have been receptive, they went into North Gaza with a much smaller force than what they had originally planned to do. And here you have-- MARGARET BRENNAN: Because the United States slowed down those operations. KIRBY: And if you have in the last 24 hours, they have been putting a map online of places where people in Gaza need to avoid and need to go. MARGARET BRENNAN: They don't have connectivity widely in Gaza, you know that. KIRBY: But they've also been doing it with paper and leaflets and that kind of thing. But my point is, Margaret, that it's very rare for a modern military to take those kinds of steps, basically telegraphing their punches before they actually conduct operations. So I think they're listening. I think they're receptive. MARGARET BRENNAN: But you're continuing to deliver this message at pretty high levels, including the Vice President is saying this, that- that number, you say thousands, the Gaza Ministry of Health says it's over 15,000 people who have been killed since October 7. Does the U.S.- have- had- U.S. have an assessment of civilians? KIRBY: We don't have a specific number that we can speak to, we know many, many thousands have been- have been killed. And again, many, many thousands more had been wounded. But we don't have an exact figure. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Hamas when it attacked, so brutally, on October 7, you were very strong. You reflected the President's emotion on this, his defense of the Netanyahu government. But Senator Van Hollen who was on this program recently faulted you. I want you to listen to it. SOT: Many of us were concerned, just a few weeks ago, when one of the White House National Security spokesperson was asked if the United States has any red lines. And the answer was no, which means anything goes and that cannot be consistent with American interests and American values. MARGARET BRENNAN: He's talking about what you said October 24 from the podium. That's a Democrat saying they need clear language from the White House. KIRBY: But everything we do for a foreign military, including Israel, when you give them security assistance, there are expectations with that security assistance, that it's going to be used in keeping with a law of armed conflict, the law of war and we are in constant touch with our Israeli counterparts about the way that they're prosecuting these operations. Secretary Blinken has said himself, it's not just what you do that matters. It's how you do that. MARGARET BRENNAN: But are their red lines? KIRBY: We believe that the approach that we've been taking, Margaret, has had an effect. It has allowed Israel to continue to go after a very viable terrorist threat to their existence. And at the same time (CROSSTALK) MARGARET BRENNAN: But you're correcting (unintelligible) correct course, are there red lines? Because what we're seeing right now as the Journal was just reporting, I mean, bunker buster bombs, 2000-pound bombs being handed over. The United States is a really strong supporter of Israel here. Should there be brighter lines? KIRBY: We are having these discussions with our Israeli counterparts every day about being careful, precise and deliberate in their targeting and trying to minimize civilian casualties to the maximum extent possible. I think it's also important for people to remember what they're up against here. Hamas deliberately shelters themselves inside residential buildings, hospitals and schools. Basically on purpose, putting civilians in the line of fire and what Israel is trying to do is get them out of the line of fire. So it's an added burden that Israel has as a modern military, we recognize that, but it's also a very difficult burden and obstacle for them to overcome. So look, we're- we don't want to see a single more innocent life taken here, but- and so we're going to continue to work with- with Israel about this, but the approach that we've been taking has delivered some results, including more than 100 hostages getting out. MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, but you understand the implications for U.S. national security, to be seen as endorsing all of this, which is what Van Hollen was raising, but I want to ask you about Venezuela as well, before I let you go, the U.S. lifted some sanctions off the Maduro regime and set some goals. November 30, there were supposed to be three Americans who are determined to be wrongfully detained, released. That didn't happen. KIRBY: No, it didn't. Nor did the release of other political prisoners. MARGARET BRENNAN: Exactly. So what happens now? Will you put more sanctions on? What is the status of those Americans? KIRBY: I don't want to get ahead of where we are in the decision making process, but we're reviewing our options right now. They- they had until the evening of the 30 to- to make these kinds of decisions. Unfortunately, they didn't. And so we're now going back to- to the- to policy options and reviewing what our chances are, but I don't want to get ahead MARGARET BRENNAN: Including snapback sanctions? KIRBY: Again, I don't want to get ahead of where we are, but we were extremely concerned that they didn't take those two extra steps: release of political prisoners and getting our wrongfully detained Americans home. That's something we take very seriously, getting those folks home, and we're going to keep at it. MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, admiral. Thank you for being here in person. KIRBY: Good to be with you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be right back. Cary Grant: The man we thought we knew Rock legends KISS to hold final concert Saturday "All aboard!" Alaska Railroad turns 100 By Anna J. Park If Korea fails to raise the current birthrate the lowest in the world with appropriate policy measures, the country's growth rate may fall below zero percent by 2050 with its population dropping below 40 million by 2070, the central bank warned in a report. According to the report released by the Economic Research Institute of the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Sunday, the young generation's growing uncertainties over employment, housing and childcare are analyzed to be the primary causes of the country's severe low birth rate. Korea's total fertility rate the average number of expected births per woman aged 15 to 49 is 0.81, as of the first quarter of this year, which is the lowest figure among OECD member countries. The rate of decline is also the fastest out of 217 countries and regions around the world. If the current trend continues, Korea is expected to become a super-aged society with the proportion of people aged 65 and older reaching 20.3 percent of the population by 2025. By 2046, it is projected to become the country with the highest proportion of the elderly among OECD member countries. The report's analysis of the fertility rate trend without factoring in any policy interventions shows that there is a 90 percent chance that the total population could fall below 40 million by 2070. Additionally, the same analysis model warns that there is a 68 percent probability that Korea's growth rate falls below zero percent by 2050. Structural policies required to address low birthrate The paper identified structural policies as the most crucial measures to address the low birthrate of the country. Such structural policies include measures on the labor market, stabilizing housing prices, household debt and easing concentration in the metropolitan area, as well as alleviating competition in the education system. As of 2022, the employment rate for people aged 15 to 29 in Korea stands at 46.6 percent, which is significantly lower than the OECD average of 54.6 percent. When compared with the employment rate for individuals aged 25 to 39, Korea's figure 75.3 percent is much lower than the OECD average of 87.4 percent. The quality of youth employment is also worsening with an increasing prevalence of non-regular jobs. The proportion of non-regular workers among wage earners aged 15 to 29 has increased from 31.8 percent in 2003 to 41.4 percent in 2022. The percentage of employed people intending to get married (49.4%) exceeded that of the non-employed (38.4%). However, for non-regular workers, their intention to marry (36.6%) was even lower than that of non-employed individuals. Based on data of 35 OECD countries from 2000 to 2021, the report highlighted that Korea's birthrate can improve considerably if the country's various economic and social factors were to improve to the average level of OECD countries. For instance, if Korea's urban population concentration (431.9%) drops to the OECD average (95.3%), the total fertility rate would increase by 0.414 births from the current level. Likewise, if Korea's employment rate for those aged 15 to 39 increases to the OECD average, it is anticipated that the birthrate can further increase by 0.119 births. Furthermore, the total fertility rate could be raised by a maximum of 0.845 births, when the country's key indicators, including the rate of the actual utilization of parent leaves, government expenditure on family support, and the real housing price index, are to be improved to the average levels of OECD countries. LINDEN - A 22-year-old and a teenager were taken into custody Sunday morning after the stolen vehicle they were driving crashed during a police pursuit, Linden Police Capt. Christopher Guenther said. A 22-year-old and a teenager were taken into custody Sunday morning after the stolen vehicle they were driving crashed during a police pursuit, Linden Police Capt. Christopher Guenther said. The driver, Marc Pierre, 22, of Maplewood was charged with second-degree possession of a stolen motor vehicle, second-degree eluding, third-degree trespassing and fourth-degree resisting arrest. Pierre was taken to the Essex County Jail pending a scheduled appearance in Superior Court, Guenther said. A 17-year-old male juvenile from Newark, who was a passenger in the stolen vehicle, also was taken into custody. Juvenile complaints were filed for second-degree possession of a stolen motor vehicle, third-degree trespassing and fourth-degree resisting arrest. The juvenile was released to his guardian pending a scheduled appearance in Family Court. According to police, officers responded to the Aviation Plaza parking lot at 6:51 a.m. after receiving multiple calls about a red Porsche driving recklessly. Officers located the vehicle, which was reported stolen out of New York, but as officers attempted to make contact, the vehicle fled the parking lot at a high rate of speed, Guenther said. Officers followed the vehicle, but the pursuit was terminated in the area of West 15th Street. More: 10 residents displaced in Linden multifamily house fire According to Guenther, a few minutes later, officers located the vehicle again at the intersection of South Wood Avenue and Route 1. "Officers again attempted to stop the vehicle, and a second pursuit was initiated," Guenther said. The stolen vehicle fled northbound on Route 1 where it collided with another vehicle at the intersection with Morses Mill Road. The driver lost control and struck the center median, rendering the vehicle disabled, Guenther said.Pierre and the juvenile ran from the vehicle and climbed a fence into the Phillips 66 Refinery. Officers continued to give chase, and both Pierre and the teenager were taken into custody a short time later, Guenther said.The driver of struck vehicle was evaluated at the scene of the accident and refused further medical treatment, Guenther said. email: cmakin@gannettnj.com Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Two caught after crashing stolen Porsche on Route 1 By Kwon Mee-yoo The Korea Foundation (KF) will host a Korean cultural event in Dubai, coinciding with the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). This event, running until Dec. 11 at the Dubai Expo City, showcases Korea's commitment to addressing climate change through innovative and engaging mediums. The KF's participation in COP28, a platform for discussing carbon neutrality and the implementation of the Paris Agreement, reflects Korea's stance in the global climate conversation. The "Pale Blue Dot" exhibition, previously showcased at the opening of the KF's XR Gallery earlier this year, traveled to the Korea Pavilion in Dubai Expo City. This exhibit features works by Korean artists such as Moon Kyung-won & Jeon Jun-ho's "Cosmos" and Zin Ki-jong, Cha Dong-hoon and Kang Ji-young's "Universal Manufacture." Their creations delve into pressing environmental issues, including the climate crisis, carbon emissions and the plight of endangered species. The KF will also screen video works from the winners of the Korea-U.K. Creative Commissions for the Climate project. This initiative, a collaboration between KF and the British Council, further emphasizes the role of art in climate advocacy. The centerpiece of the event is a performance on Dec. 4, featuring the renowned B-boy group Gambler Crew and the female rocking crew Rolling Hands. Known for their impressive achievements in international competitions, these groups will present "No More Opportunity" on the Green Zone stage, sending a message to the global community underscoring the urgency of collective action against climate change. The performance incorporates "Point of Observation," an interactive artwork by Kim In-kyu and Cha Dong-hoon, creating a unique blend of dance and media art. Russia attacked Ukraine with 12 Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones overnight, with air defense forces shooting down 10 of them, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram on Dec. 3. Air raid alerts sounded in a number of regions across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported a missile threat. Air defense forces were operating in the Khmelnytskyi district. Read also: What was Russia targeting in its Nov. 28 drone attack on Khmelnytskyi Oblast? During the attack, the Russian military launched 12 Shahed suicide UAVs from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk area in south-western Russia, and an Kh-59 guided missile launched from the airspace of Belgorod Oblast, to the north-east of Ukraine. The air force noted that the enemy UAVs attacked in several waves and entered through the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast and through Mykolaiv Oblast. Read also: Ukraine could gain air superiority once modern F-16 fight jets arrive, air force says Air defenses destroyed most of the Shahed UAVs in the area of responsibility of Air Command South, in Mykolaiv Oblast. The remaining Shaheds, moving in a northwestern direction, were later shot down near Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. The Air Force added that 10 Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs were destroyed as a result of combat operations by the Ukrainian Defense Forces air defense systems. At the same time, the Kh-59 guided missile did not reach its target, the air force said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine On the Tragedy at MSU Mindanao State University- Marawi City. A vile crime occurred while our Catholic brethren were attending Mass. Along with my family and my Senate office, I extend my condolences to the families of those who died, and my sympathies to those who were wounded. Ukol sa Pagsabog sa MSU Mindanao State University- Marawi City. Isang karumaldumal na krimen ang naganap habang nagsisimba ang mga Kapatid na Katoliko. Nakikiramay at nakikidalamhati po ang aking buong pamilya at opisina sa pamilya ng mga nasawi at nasugatan. Untimely death of monk causes mass reflection on his major influence in Buddhist community By Lee Gyu-lee The abrupt death of Ven. Jaseung, former Jogye Order head, has left many people in shock, given his life's aim of helping to spread Buddha's teachings. Adding complexity to the situation, his prominent status in Korea's largest Buddhist sect, closeness to political circles and being posthumously awarded a state medal have intensified the controversy and speculation surrounding his unexpected death. Ven. Jaseung was found dead at the scene of a fire at Chiljang Temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, last Wednesday. Notes believed to be written by him were found at the scene, indicating a possible suicide. Authorities, including the police and the National Intelligence Service, investigated the scene, assessing the potential for arson or external involvement, to better understand the circumstances surrounding the monk's death. In an official announcement from the Jogye Order, Thursday, Ven. Jaseungs death was described as an act of self-immolation," intended as a spiritual gesture for the stability of the Buddhist order and the global spread of Dharma teachings. Additional notes discovered at Ven. Jaseung's residence seems to support the theory of self-immolation. According to the Buddhist sect, his hymn to nirvana the state of enlightenment in Buddhism was: "There is no life and death, but there is no place where there is no life and death. There is no longer anything to be sought, so the relations are gone." Ven. Jinwoo, the current leader of the Jogye Order, noted Friday that Ven. Jaseung had always pursued nirvana. "I think he decided to come to that moment by himself," Ven. Jinwoo said, adding that the concept might be challenging for those outside the Buddhist community to comprehend, but such actions are not unprecedented among devout Buddhist practitioners, precluding any potential controversies regarding the incident. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who met with the monk several times and sent congratulatory words when his association returned home from a religious walk in India, earlier this year, visited Ven. Jaseung's memorial site Saturday to pay respect to the late monk and sent a eulogy for Sunday's funeral ceremony. The government posthumously awarded Ven. Jaseung the Mugunghwa Medal of the Order of Civil Merit, acknowledging his contributions to stabilizing Buddhism and facilitating harmony among religious communities in Korea. Funeral held Sunday His unexpected death has shed light on his influences and achievements in Korea's Buddhist community, as he is regarded as the most influential figure in the order despite not holding any official position in the order at the time of his death. Born in 1954, Ven. Jaseung became a monk at the age of 19, joining the countrys largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, in 1986. In 2009, he became the president of the order with the highest approval rating at the time. He succeeded in taking consecutive terms until 2017, becoming the first to hold the position for two terms. During his first term, he drew attention as the first figure to bring together the order, gaining support from all four different politically divided congregations. From 2011 to 2017, he also served as the chairman of the Korean Council of Religious Leaders and the Korean Conference on Religion and Peace from 2014 to 2017. Although he didnt hold a specific title after his terms ended, he remained an influential figure in the order. In 2019, he formed the Sangwon Association with his supporters with a focus on practicing and spreading Buddhist beliefs through retreats and religious walks. The monk also kept cordial relationships with political figures, meeting with presidential candidates from both political parties and President Yoon. He visited North Korea three times in 2002, 2010, and 2011 to promote Buddhist exchanges between the North and South. Ven. Jaseung was also committed to supporting education and spreading Buddhist ideology among young people. He founded a committee for college students within the Sangwon Association this March, which raised 15.1 billion won ($11.62 million). He held the chairmanship at a committee of his alma mater, Dongguk University, newly founded in 2021 to promote the schools founding beliefs and offer scholarship programs. He donated 300 million won this January to the school. As an alumnus of Dongguk University, I want to give a sense of pride for people to confidently say, I am a graduate of Dongguk University, he said during a press conference last week. His memorial service commenced on Thursday at Jogye Temple and was concluded by a funeral service on Sunday. After the funeral, his body was moved to Yongju Temple in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province to be cremated. Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine's Interior Minister, has reported that the troops of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) have killed four Russian soldiers in their own trench. Source: Klymenko on Telegram Quote: "Four invaders were killed right in their trenches as a National Guard soldier bearing the alias Neo, and his brother-in-arms Vienia gave the enemy an unexpected 'surprise'. During a combat mission overnight, they [Ukrainian soldiers ed.] had to reach their unit's trenches, situated fairly close to the adversary's positions. Recognising this, they managed to get undetected right up to the enemy trenches in poor visibility conditions." Details: Klymenko said the Burevii ("Hurricane") Brigade soldiers entered the Russian trench, and then Neo opened fire. Klymenko added that afterwards, the National Guard troops headed back to their unit and carried on with their combat mission. Support UP or become our patron! The office in charge of operating North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite has commenced its mission, the country's official news agency said Sunday. The North successfully placed the reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, into orbit on Nov. 21 after two failed attempts. The North has since said that a "fine-tuning" process on the satellite was under way and the Malligyong-1 would begin its official mission on Dec. 1. "The reconnaissance satellite operation office, organized at the Pyongyang General Control Centre of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA), started to discharge its mission on December 2," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The office will perform its mission as an independent military intelligence organization, it also said. The KCNA said the information acquired through the mission will be reported to "the relevant permanent executive department of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea and ... offered to major units regarded as war deterrence of the state and the General Reconnaissance Bureau of the Korean People's Army." The KCNA also quoted the country's defense ministry as expressing "expectation that the war deterrence of the DPRK would assume more perfect military posture." The DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap) North Korea warned Sunday that a "physical clash and war" have become a matter of time on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the scrapping of an inter-Korean military tension reduction accord, threatening that South Korea will face "total collapse" if it undertakes any hostile act. A North Korean military commentator made the threat in an article carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency, blaming the South for the scrapping of the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement that called for a series of military measures to reduce tensions along the border. The North effectively scrapped the agreement last month after the South suspended part of the deal in protest of the North's successful launch of a military spy satellite. The North has since restored guard posts and brought heavy firearms along the border. "Owing to the reckless and imprudent moves of the puppet group of traitors to nullify the north-south military agreement, the extreme military confrontation as serious as that before the adoption of the agreement has been created again on the Korean peninsula," the commentator said. The 2018 deal was the "minimum mechanism and the final line for preventing accidental military conflict in the area along the Military Demarcation Line where huge armed forces stand in highest density and sharp confrontation in the world," the commentator said. "The physical clash and war on the Korean Peninsula have become a matter of time, not possibility," the commentator said. The commentator also said the North's satellite launch was the country's "legitimate and just right of a sovereign state" and that it makes no sense for the South to suspend the deal in response to the satellite launch that is not banned under the agreement. If the North's satellite launch constitutes a violation of the 2018 accord, South Korea's launch of its own military spy satellite would be no different, the commentator said, referring to Friday's launch of the country's first indigenous military spy satellite. "Any hostile act of the puppet group against the DPRK will lead to the miserable destruction of the puppet army and the total collapse of the ROK," the commentator said, using the acronyms of the official names of the North and the South. "The prevailing situation proves once again the validity of the choice of the DPRK which has pushed forward with the bolstering of nuclear war deterrence and modernization of armed forces," the commentator said. "The provokers who completely nullified the north-south military agreement will have to surely pay a high price." (Yonhap) Kim Jong-un's elevated title for daughter raises questions on possible succession plans By Kang Hyun-kyung North Korean leader Kim Jong-un referred to his daughter as "Morning Star General," just days after the North's reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, successfully entered orbit on Nov. 21. The young girl, known as Ju-ae, was previously referred to by North Korea's state-controlled media as "dear child" or "respected child." The dramatic change in the way she is addressed has fueled speculation on whether the new title could be interpreted as a confirmation of her status as the North's heir apparent. Cheong Seong-chang, a research fellow at Sejong Institute, took the title change seriously, arguing that it is an important move related to leadership succession. "I think it's definitely associated with the fourth-generation leadership succession," he told The Korea Times. "Kim made it clear that his daughter will succeed him by referring to her as 'Morning Star General.'" In North Korea, the term "morning star" has been used figuratively to refer to a leader in waiting. In the propaganda movie released in 1987, titled "Star of Choseon," Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea and Kim Jong-un's grandfather, was likened to a morning star. Set in the 1920s and 1930s when Korea was ruled by Imperial Japan, the movie depicts the elder Kim as a heroic independence fighter. Kim Jong-un was referred to as "Morning Star General" before ascending to power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in December 2011. On Tuesday, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that Kim Jong-un called his daughter "Morning Star of Choseon" in a speech he gave at an event held on Nov. 23 to celebrate the country's successful spy satellite launch. Citing a Pyongyang-based source, RFA quoted the North Korean leader as saying, "In an era of space, North Korea's future is brighter because of the Morning Star General of Choseon." Kim reportedly addressing his daughter in this manner has drawn keen attention from North Korea watchers, because such a title has only been given to an heir apparent. Rep. Tae Young-ho of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), a North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker, said the title change from "respected child" to "Morning Star General" has significant implications about the leadership succession. "If North Korea uses the successful launch of the spy satellite as an opportunity to dignify Kim's daughter, this certainly means that she was confirmed internally as an heir apparent to succeed her father as North Korea's next leader," he said in a commentary released after the media report. Reports of the title change have sparked speculation about whether North Korea is ready for a female leader. Cheong said North Korean residents have no choice but to accept it under Kim's autocracy. "North Korea is operating like a monarchy, because if a current ruler dies, his son succeeds him," he said. "North Korea became the first socialist state that experienced leadership succession from father to son when Kim Il-sung's son, Jong-il, rose to power after his father's death in 1994. Since then, North Koreans took the father-son leadership succession for granted." In a country like North Korea, where a leader with absolute power dominates the decision-making process and cannot be challenged, Cheong said the gender of a successor would not become an issue. "If the leader has sons but he believes none of them are capable enough to lead the state, he can pick a daughter as his successor. This is not something unusual," he said. But Hyun In-ae, a professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University, remained cautious about the prospects of Ju-ae succeeding her father, saying she would wait and see how it turns out, rather than making any hasty predictions. Hyun, a North Korean defector-turned-professor, said North Korea is a patriarchal society, male-dominated and far behind in gender equality. "I believe North Korea's high-ranking officials would feel very uncomfortable about a female leader. Many would feel strange about Kim taking his daughter everywhere and showing up with her at major events," she said. Hyun said she is not sure whether the media reports are based on facts. "If Kim really referred to his daughter like that, this would mean that he is seriously considering her as his successor," she said. "To be honest, I am not quite sure whether the media reports are true. We need to verify them." Hyun explained that Kim's daughter is not the first female North Korean royal family member to earn such a title, adding that Kim Jong-un's grandmother, Kim Jung-sook (1917-1949), was glorified with a similar title. "She was addressed as 'Female General of Baekdu' when North Korea moved to dignify Kim Il-sung and his wife," she said. "All I can say now is that that if someone is introduced as 'Morning Star General' or something similar, this means she is almost certainly a successor or someone with a status akin to that," she said. Kim Jong-un, who is in his late thirties, is still relatively young and is expected to stay in power for a good number of years to come, although he has a family history of heart disease. Both his grandfather and father died of heart attacks. Kim's height is estimated at around 170cm and his weight of about 120 kilograms. Therefore, he could be considered obese, which places him at a high risk of heart disease. Those who are skeptical about a link between Kim's motives behind his frequent public appearances with his young daughter and leadership succession said that it is way too early for the leader to pick his successor. Cheong said Kim may have learned from his tough succession process after his father's death. He said Kim had to learn everything by himself and overcome doubts by critics about his leadership skills until he could prove himself. "Kim would have found it tough to make himself seen as a leader, because he had to build and solidify his power base on his own and convince naysayers both at home and abroad who were skeptical about his untested leadership skills," he said. "Through trial and error, he would have learned from his own experiences. He would have realized that his successor would need time to develop herself and hone her leadership skills as a leader in waiting," Cheong added. He said Kim's frequent public appearances with his successor would also help the North Korean people believe that she is a prepared leader. Govt's push for wider services sparks opposition from medical professionals By Jung Da-hyun The government is set to expand the eligibility for its telemedicine services, a non-face-to-face medical service option, starting Dec. 15, despite lingering concerns by medical professionals over the potential for misdiagnosis and proxy treatments. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced, Friday, that it plans to augment the telemedicine pilot project by expanding coverage areas and time spans under which one can receive telemedicine services. Telemedicine services, which are technically illegal under the current Medical Services Act, have been temporarily allowed in Korea since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilot project commenced in June this year after the government lowered the COVID-19 threat level. Under the existing pilot program, only returning patients were permitted to use non-face-to-face treatments, limited to those who had received in-person treatment for the same ailment within a certain time period. As an exceptional measure, the program restrictively allowed telemedicine services for first-time patients if they lived on islands or mountain areas. In a bid to improve medical services accessibility, the supplementary plan will considerably expand the areas to which this exception applies, adding 98 cities and counties. This covers nearly 40 percent of all the cities and counties in the country. In addition, first-time patients across all age groups can receive telemedicine services, including counseling and prescriptions, after 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 1 p.m. on Saturdays. These services are also available on holidays. Previously, only first-time patients under 18 could access non-face-to-face counseling services at night or during the holidays, and prescription medication was not allowed. This limitation drew criticism, as traditional hospitals are often closed during holidays and at night. The plan to expand eligibility for telemedicine services for first-time patients is drawing backlash from doctors and pharmacists who raise concerns over the inability of telemedicine to guarantee patient safety due to possible limitations in accurately diagnosing patients and prescribing suitable medication. The Korean Medical Association on Friday, criticized the measure as prioritizing convenience over improving the quality of medical care and that it was not safeguarding a patient's right to health. On the same day, the Korean Pharmaceutical Association called on the government to retract its decision, highlighting the unilateral push forward despite opposition from many experts. Mindful of the opposition of doctors, the health ministry decided to specify the doctor's "right to demand in-person consultations" in the guidelines for non-face-to-face treatments. This clarification emphasizes that if a doctor, based on a medical judgment, decides that a patient is unsuitable for remote treatment, this does not constitute a refusal of medical care under health care laws. This supplementary plan aims to enhance public convenience and safety, establishing suitable medical models and grounds for implementation through pilot projects in preparation for the institutionalization of telemedicine service, said Park Min-soo, the second vice minister of health and welfare. DES MOINES Iowa Democrats will have the opportunity in the states 2024 presidential caucuses to express their preference for either of two longshot candidates challenging incumbent President Joe Biden. The Iowa Democratic Partys leadership committee during its meeting Saturday approved a plan to include former Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson in addition to Biden on the formerly first-in-the-nation caucuses by-mail presidential preference cards. Iowa Democrats scrapped their long-standing system of in-person caucuses for presidential preference and instead, for the first time in 2024, will gauge grassroots support for presidential candidates by selections marked on a card that will be conducted via the mail. The reform was an attempt by Iowa Democrats to address criticism of their complicated caucus system and maintain their leadoff spot in the quadrennial process of selecting U.S. presidents. While that effort failed the national Democratic Party opted nonetheless to reorder its candidate nominating calendar and removed Iowa from the early voting window Iowa Democrats have proceeded with their new caucus format. Instead of gathering in school gymnasiums and organizing supporters in huddles, Iowa Democrats will simply nominate a presidential candidate via mailed preference cards. The state party at Saturdays meeting determined which candidates would appear on the cards; there had been some question whether the cards would include anyone other than Biden, since he is an incumbent president and the partys unofficial leader. With Saturdays action, the Iowa Democratic caucus cards will include Biden, Phillips, Williamson and an option to remain uncommitted to a candidate. There was no discussion about the candidate list during Saturday mornings meeting. When the list was made official, Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Rita Hart issued a statement saying she plans to caucus for Biden. President Biden has done more in his first two years than some presidents have done in two terms, and I believe he will win our 2024 Iowa Caucuses, Hart said in the statement. Incumbent presidents rarely face serious challenges from within their political party during their re-election campaigns, and no incumbent president has ever lost a primary challenge. Biden finished fourth in the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses before going on in other states to earn the partys nomination and win that years general presidential election. Biden finished fifth in the 2008 Iowa Democratic caucuses, which were won by Barack Obama, who then selected Biden as his running mate. Biden served as vice president for both of Obamas two terms in the White House. The Iowa Republican caucuses remain first-in-the-nation in 2024. The Iowa Republican caucuses also are scheduled for Jan. 15, which will be the first official step in the partys nomination of a challenger to presumably face Biden in the 2024 presidential election. 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. && Ali Bongo Ondimba, the ex-leader of Gabon, has rejected all plans forcing him to go into exile without his family members, as his wife and eldest son are hallowing in prison over multiple charges, reports say citing one family member. A junta led by current transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema removed Bongo on August 30, putting therefore an end to his 14-year power control. The junta accused him of bad management. It has since then held him under house arrest and cut him off from all outside contacts. The new authorities also froze all his accounts. A family member who did not want to be named told Paris-based RFI that a month ago, the junta made available a jet so that the former leader goes into exile to a country of his choice but he rubbished the offer that came without his family members. He mainly referred to his wife Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and eldest son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, who are both currently in prison, waiting for their trial for several crimes, including corruption, embezzling public funds, and money laundering. Ali Bongo, according to the family source, believes the former First lady and Noureddin have nothing to do with the charges leveled at them. Ali Bongo is taking full responsibility for charges, the source added. No legal action has been taken against Ali Bongo himself yet. Nguema who was Alis presidential guards Chief at the time of the coup, had indicated that the former President will not be sued following his removal. Chads transitional leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno welcomed home earlier this week the countrys contingent that operated in Mali under the UN peace keeping Mission known as MINUSMA for 10 ten years. The Chadian leader congratulated the soldiers and paid tribute to those lost during the counter-terrorism and peace keeping Mission in northern Mali, especially Kidal, Alwihda Info reports. Chad reportedly lost over 80 troops during the Mission. President Deby Itno indicated that the return of the contingent symbolizes not only the end of an important stage in Chads commitment to fighting terrorism in the Sahel, but also the countrys continued commitment to regional stability and African cooperation. The Chadian troops were sent to Mali in 2013 to join a France-led international military mission after the West African slid into chaos. The Chadian contingent positioned in Kidal, the capital of Malis eightieth region controlled since 2013 by rebels, began their pullout in October 2023 after the UN Mission left the last camp it controlled in haste citing insecurity. In July 2023, Mali demanded withdrawal of the UN Mission that it believed has not been efficient in eradicating terrorism in the West African country. Last month, the Malian army announced the seizure of Kidal from the rebels and terrorist groups. Morocco ranked second in Africa for renewable energy investments, totaling $9.36 billion from 2010 to 2021, according to findings collected by international research group Zero Carbon Analytics. South Africa leads the continent with $23 billion spent in the same period. In wind energy, Morocco ranks second in installed capacity at 22%, following South Africa, while in solar energy, Morocco, South Africa, and Egypt collectively contributed up to 65% of Africas installed capacity in 2021. South Africa leads in renewable energy investments with $23 billion, followed by Egypt with $7.14 billion and Kenya with $6.69 billion. Most investments in Southern Africa focus on renewable energy (86%), while East African and North African countries had percentages of 82% and 67%, respectively. Experts from the International Group said that while Africa represents less than 3 percent of global renewable energy capacity, the deployment of renewable energy sources has witnessed significant development over the past decade, recording a doubling between 2012 and 2022 to approximately 59 gigawatts. Yet, annual investments need to double to achieve energy access and climate goals, requiring around $200 billion yearly until 2030, as estimated by the International Energy Agency and the African Development Bank Group. Morocco, which is actively participating in the ongoing Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, got 50 million donation from European Union to promote clean energy and decarbonization in development sectors and signed a joint declaration with Portugal on electrical interconnection between the two countries. The deal with the EU was signed by Moroccos Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, and Director General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, Gert-Jan Koopman. Under the deal, the funding, spreading over 5 years, 43.6 million will support the budget and 1 million will go as additional support for technical assistance and twining and capacity building. This agreement is part of the implementation of the bilateral Green Partnership programs, and support of the reforms undertaken by Morocco in renewable and new energies, including green hydrogen, and the strengthening of research and innovation in these sectors, as well as the decarbonization of development sectors, Benali told the press, adding that the Kingdom is the first country to sign such a partnership with the European Union. For his part, Koopman pointed out that the agreement relating to the promotion of clean technologies and green energies in the Mediterranean region is vital for the economic development of both North Africa and the European Union. The European official highlighted the enormous renewable energy potential in the region, which we want to exploit for the benefit of the populations of the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean and for industrial development. The Morocco-EU Green Partnership is an extension of the Joint Political Declaration adopted in 2019 in Brussels during the 14th meeting of the Association Council between the two parties, which underlined the ambition to develop a true Euro-Moroccan partnership for shared prosperity, and in cooperation with the European Green Deal, launched by the EU on the eve of COP25. The Morocco-EU Green Partnership, launched in 2021, is a cooperation framework to support the transition towards more sustainable modes of production and consumption, to jointly face the challenges of ecological transition and climate emergency, while supporting growth and economic recovery efforts of both partners after the Covid-19 crisis. Also, on the sidelines of COP28, Morocco and Portugal signed on Saturday a joint declaration on an electrical interconnection project between the two countries. The joint declaration, signed by the Minister of Energy Transition Leila Benali and the Portuguese Minister of the Environment and Climate Action Duarte Cordeiro, aims to strengthen the development strategies for renewable energies between the two countries, as well as the possibilities for energy exchange between the African and European continents. This declaration also aims to intensify dialogue to ensure a resilient and inclusive energy transition that aligns with global goals in sustainable development and climate change. This includes encouraging the use of renewable energies and accelerating the implementation of strategic projects of common interest, such as the electrical interconnection project between the two countries. Given their geographical positions as gateways between Europe and Africa, Morocco and Portugal intend to jointly address the challenges of energy transition, particularly by strengthening the integration of electrical markets in an international context marked by market instability and supply chain disruptions for energy products. Benali told the media that the implementation of the electrical interconnection project between Morocco and Portugal is significant for both the European and African continents. She added that the signing of this joint declaration aims to update the technical studies and the financial cost of funding this project on a global scale. On his part, Duarte Cordeiro emphasized that the two countries share the same strategies for the development of renewable energies, as well as green hydrogen. The Moroccan director, screenwriter, and producer, Asmae El Moudir, has won the Grand Prize of the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival, for her film The Mother of All Lies, a first time in the festivals long history. The 96-minute Arabic-language movie thus becomes the first Moroccan film to win LEtoile dOr in the history of the International Film Festival of Marrakech, held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI. The movie, released in 2023, had also won the Best Director award in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. In addition to the Grand Prize won by Asmae El Moudir, Morocco was also represented in this editions awards by the Jury Prize which went to the film Gangs by Kamal Lazraq, which tied with Bye Bye Tiberiade by Lina Soualem from Palestine. Kamal Lazrak dedicated this prestigious win in his homeland to the main actors in his movie. This one is for Wlad Chaab, Ayoub El Aid and Abdellatif Mastouri (the actors) who participated in this adventure, said the winning director. The Palestinian film Bye bye Tiberiade is an emotional distressing documentary on loss of mothers and land. Lead character and mother of the director Lina Soualem, Hollywood actress Hiam Abbas received the trophy in tears and thanked the Moroccan public for their reception of the film. The director, Lina, couldnt make it to the awarding ceremony due to the death of her father-in-law. However, she sent a very heart drenching speech on the ongoing bombings in Palestine. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 20th edition of the Festival, Asmae El Moudir expressed her heartfelt thanks and immense gratitude to the King, The Father of all Moroccans. She also expressed gratitude for the Foundation of the International Film Festival of Marrakech and the Atlas Workshops, which allowed her, one of the programs graduates, to win the first Etoile dOr for Morocco. She thanked the Atlas Workshop program, an industry talent-development program initiated in 2018 by the FIFM, for giving Moroccans chances to meet international cinema professionals, and the proper funding to make high quality movies. The Grand Prize winner took the opportunity to share her story with the audience. She emphasized her journey from one workshop to another to meet directors and screenwriters participating in this platform, ensuring that she fully benefited from their knowledge and experiences. We, the laureates of the Marrakech Film Festival Foundation, have created this Etoile that we dedicate to all Moroccans who have been eagerly waiting for it, she said. The Mother of All Lies tells the story of the young filmmaker Asmae, who visits her parents in Casablanca to help them move out. While packing, Asmae begins sorting through the old belongings of her childhood. Suddenly, she comes across a photo that becomes the starting point of an investigation where Asmae questions all the little lies her family told her. Asmae explores the memory of her neighborhood and her country as she delves into the past. Born in Sale in 1990, Asmae El Moudir has directed documentaries for several Moroccan and foreign television channels. After several short films, she directed La Carte postale in 2020, selected at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the International Film Festival of Marrakech. The 20th FIFM paid tribute to both Mads Mikkelsen and Faouzi Bensaidi this year, two completely different artists who share the love of film, Marrakech and art. King Mohammed VI will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates as of Monday. The official visit takes place at the invitation of the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Ben Zayed Al-Nahyan. The announcement came in a press release published this Sunday by the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery. Morocco and the United Arab Emirates enjoy multidimensional, strong and long-term strategic relations, supported by a strong political resolve repeatedly expressed by the Heads of State of the two countries to establish this exceptional partnership as a model. The Kings official visit to the UAE as of Monday Dec.4, is in line with this momentum of all-out cooperation and confirms the determination of Rabat and Abu Dhabi to move forward in strengthening and diversifying their partnership, based on the values of genuine brotherhood, respect and mutual esteem. This historic visit, the first of the Sovereign after the Federal Supreme Council of the State elected, on May 14, 2022, Sheikh Mohammed Ben Zayed Al Nahyan as President of the United Arab Emirates, will give strong impetus to the partnership relations between the two countries, which are marked by active brotherhood and unfailing solidarity. This active solidarity between the two countries was illustrated after the violent earthquake that struck several provinces of the Kingdom on September 8, when the United Arab Emirates dispatched a research and relief team to participate in the rescue efforts, a generous humanitarian action that embodies the deep bonds of immutable brotherhood uniting the two heads of State and the two peoples. Morocco-UAE political relations have always been marked by continuous consultation and convergence of views between the two Heads of State and mutual support in regional and international forums. It is important to cite, in this respect, Moroccos firm and constant support for the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over the islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa. Morocco also condemned, in January 2022, the heinous attack perpetrated by the Houthi militia and its supporters against the Musaffah region and the Abu Dhabi airport. For its part, the Gulf country has repeatedly reaffirmed its unwavering support for Morocco and its territorial integrity, as evidenced lately by the UAE statement following the vote of Security Council resolution 2703 that extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Sahara, MINURSO, by one year. This constant position was also expressed on the occasion of the opening, on November 4, 2020, by this brotherly country of a consulate general in Laayoune. Rabat and Abu Dhabi constantly coordinate their respective positions on regional and international issues and adopt a moderate and balanced foreign policy, based on the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, respect for national sovereignty and international legality, and the fight against all forms of extremism and terrorism. Such a policy has enabled, according to many observers, the two countries to position themselves as major players in their regional environment and on the international stage. At the economic and trade levels, relations between the two countries have experienced significant development over the years, strengthening fruitful and strong ties that serve the progress and the prosperity of the two brotherly countries. Fueled by a common vision of economic development and strategic cooperation, Morocco-UAE relations have promoted a fruitful partnership, dynamic exchanges, and mutually beneficial investments. Regarding bilateral trade, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates have reached record levels, with constant growth in both imports and exports. The Kingdom exports to the United Arab Emirates a diverse range of products, such as agricultural products, textiles, and phosphates. In return, Morocco imports several Emirati products, including petroleum and chemical products and electronic equipment. This momentum is the fruit of the efforts made by the two countries to remove tariff barriers to boost their bilateral trade. According to statistics of the Foreign Exchange Office, Moroccan exports to the United Arab Emirates reached more than 1.41 billion dirhams in 2022, compared to 494.38 million dirhams in 2018. For the first six months of this year, Moroccos exports to the UAE exceeded 1 billion dirhams. Regarding Moroccos imports from the United Arab Emirates, they increased from 7.68 billion dirhams in 2018 to more than 14.48 billion dirhams in 2022. They stood at 8.37 billion dirhams in the first half of 2023. In terms of investments, the United Arab Emirates have always shown particular interest in investment opportunities in Morocco, particularly in real estate, finance and infrastructure sectors. An interest which continues to materialize with increasing Emirati foreign direct investments (FDI) in Morocco. According to statistics of the Foreign Exchange Office, the United Arab Emirates have the second largest stock of FDI in Morocco, with more than 137.43 billion dirhams in 2021. For their part, Moroccan companies have also found favorable ground in the United Arab Emirates to invest and expand their activities in the Gulf region, to benefit from the attractiveness of the market and the dynamic business environment. Moroccos outstanding direct investments in the United Arab Emirates increased from 525 million dirhams in 2018 to 1.55 billion dirhams in 2021, according to the Foreign Exchange Office. The royal visit to the UAE will surely give a new momentum to the multidimensional cooperation and strategic partnership binding the two countries. Korea will further strengthen trilateral ties with the United States and Japan for supply chains of advanced industries while cooperating with China as key trade partners to navigate the intensifying Sino-U.S. technology competition, Seoul's industry minister has said. Industry Minister Bang Moon-kyu stressed the need for such "pragmatic strategies" in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on Friday, as Korea is facing challenges in striking a balance between the two global giants for security, industry and the broader economic security realms. "The competition for technology hegemony between the U.S. and China is likely to continue. We need to seek utility by prioritizing national interests while adhering to our principles," Bang said. "Our basic stance is boosting the trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan to ensure stable supply chains of the semiconductor industry, in particular. Given our economic structure, continued cooperation with China is also a must, which should come along with efforts to diversify our trade portfolio," he added. China is the No. 1 trading partner for Korea, accounting for 19.7 percent, the largest share, of Seoul's total exports during the first nine months of this year. Korea is also heavily reliant on the neighboring country for key industry materials, such as lithium and nickel, though the Seoul government has sought to reduce its dependence on China amid the Sino-U.S. rivalry and global uncertainties. In the latest front of the technology war with the U.S., China began imposing exports restrictions of graphite on Friday, a key raw material in electric vehicle batteries and other electronics. "Given major impacts of such moves on our trade and industry, we want to build multiple communication channels with China for information exchanges and prior consultations and that is what I've requested during last month's meeting with my Chinese counterpart," Bang said. During a meeting between Bang and China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao last month in San Francisco, the two nations agreed to establish a working-level discussion channel on such restrictive moves and to hold talks of a joint free trade agreement committee this week. Speaking of a yearlong deficit in trade with China, Bang called for new strategies to respond to changes in the two-way trade structure. "China has rapidly achieved technology advances, and it has outstripped Korea in display, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, among other sectors. Such development has led to the fall in our exports of components and intermediate goods to China," Bang said. "It is an urgent task for us to speed up efforts to secure technology prowess in advanced fields, diversify our trade portfolio by tapping into Vietnam, India, Indonesia and other nations, and expand our presence in the Chinese market with premium goods and other high value-added consumer items," Bang said. Korea enjoyed a surplus of $62.82 billion in trade with China in 2013, but the figure fell to $1.2 billion in 2022. Since October last year, Korea has suffered a monthly deficit in trade with China. Intermediate goods accounted for about 80 percent of the bilateral trade, and consumer items took up less than 10 percent, government data showed. Next year, Korea is expected to enjoy marked growth in exports, which will lead the country's overall economic growth amid weak consumption and investment, the minister said. "Exports could rise around 6-9 percent on-year in 2024, as shipments of semiconductors are forecast to log double-digit growth," Bang said. "If the Chinese economy makes a turnaround, the figure will rise further." After a yearlong decline, exports rebounded in October and further accelerated to a 7.8 percent on-year expansion last month. The Korean economy is forecast to grow over 2 percent next year, compared with about 1.4 percent this year, according to major economic institutions. This year marks the 60th anniversary of designating the Day of Trade, as the government in 1964 celebrated the country's achievement of $100 million in exports for the first time ever. Since then, exports have expanded exponentially to surpass the $1 billion mark in 1970, the $10 billion level in 1977 and $100 billion in 1995. The country achieved a $500 billion milestone in exports in 2011 and reported a record level of $683.9 billion last year, according to government data. "Our economy has been driven by exports over the past decades. Export was like a relief pitcher for our economy as we've been able to overcome crises through overseas sales, and the strategy still works," Bang said. (Yonhap) This holiday season, the Salvation Army Lee County Service Center is in full swing with its Red Kettle Campaign and Angel Tree Program and needs your help. Volunteers play a crucial role in the organizations mission to serve others. The Red Kettle and Angel Tree campaigns provide vital support to local individuals and families facing crises throughout the year. If you would like to help volunteer, you can volunteer as a Bell Ringer through the Red Kettle Campaign or volunteer to adopt an Angel through the Angel Tree Program. If youve never volunteered with The Salvation Army, now is the perfect time to dive in, Divisional Service Center Director Suzzette Bogan said. Weve got options for everyone, whether youve only got an hour, a morning, or a full day to spare. The Red Kettle Campaign A bell ringer rings the Salvation Armys red bells for the annual Red Kettle Campaign. Every dollar dropped into the red kettles supports a wide array of local services and programs throughout the year, including food assistance. The Red Kettle Campaign started in 1891, when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was distraught because there were so many poor individuals in San Francisco going hungry. During the holidays, he would provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken. To find the funds for the project, he placed a sign on a pot that read Keep the Pot Boiling. Today, the U.S. Salvation Army assists more than 4.5 million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods. The Angel Tree Program Through the Angel Tree Program, you can volunteer to adopt an Angel or assist in sorting and distributing gifts to program participants. The Angel Tree Program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. A child or a senior adult can be accepted as an Angel, and once accepted, their Christmas wish list is shared with donors in the community who purchase gifts such as new clothes and toys. The gifts are distributed to the family and placed under their Christmas tree. To volunteer or learn more about how you can support The Salvation Army this Christmas and beyond, please visit SalvationArmyALM.org, email suzzette.bogan@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 601-572-6076. The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. The organizations message is based on the bible, and its ministry is motivated by the love of God. The Salvation Army helped nearly 24 million people in 2023 overcome poverty, addiction and spiritual and economic hardships. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment and more, The Salvation Army is doing the best at nearly 7,000 centers of operation around the country. For more information, please visit salvationarmyusa.org. I have always wanted to make people smile, Well, mission accomplished! Reply Thread Link I have always wanted to put good into the world Lmao, imagine saying this while attending an event in Saudi Arabia and getting money for it. Reply Thread Link The second paragraph is such word salad. Like hes going to announce hes part of the Twin Flame Universe next. Reply Thread Link Seriously that part of his speech alone would make me think he was a Scientologist even if I didnt already know he was one Reply Parent Thread Link This is the man who once announced that he and his child discovered a new kind of maths. I think coherence is a thing of the past for him, unfortunately. Reply Parent Thread Link sounds like me when i thought i invented fractions at 7yo. i figured out that you can put together a quarter and another quarter and you get a half, i was v proud and excited until i discovered some ancient bastard got there before me. i could've been a brilliant mathematician!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Honestly if I didnt already know he was a Scientologist Id say he was joining a cult Reply Parent Thread Link Everything he said is almost a riddle Reply Parent Thread Link just started watching Twin Flames yeesh! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The greatest thing that has happened is I have been deeply humbled and deeply inspired to perfect my light. Thats what this next phase of my life is going to be perfecting and shining my light as brightly as I can on as many people as I can. That some Church of the Collective shit right there (if you've seen The Boys yk) Reply Thread Link I don't watch The Boys but I was thinking Church of Scientology Reply Parent Thread Link The Church of the Collective is basically a parody of Scientology so it makes sense Reply Parent Thread Link There's actual rapists running around Hollywood with zero consequences while he has to discuss a slap between two grown men over and over and over. Reply Thread Link Betty White could have *died*! Reply Parent Thread Link actors are so dramatic about their place in the world Reply Thread Link i'm so over him :c Reply Thread Link i love him and alway will Reply Thread Link I had a therapist who I went to once because she made a VERY strong reco that I watch youtube videos of him and I was like this this is just me getting whatever therapy he is getting secondhand lol. Reply Thread Link Will Smith addresses his infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars, where he slapped Chris Rock did he, tho? lol Reply Thread Link Idk what's sadder, that he's bringing this up again or that he feels he needs to keep apologizing Reply Thread Link I wish we stopped making fun of people for entertainment. Chris shouldn't have made any comments about anyone and Will shouldn't have slapped him, but I'm not out here crying trauma because he did it. Reply Thread Link Okkkkkkk let's allllllll move on. Reply Thread Link This little light of Xenu, Im gonna let it shine through Reply Thread Link It's a shame only one of these people lost representation over this. Reply Thread Link which one lost representation? Reply Parent Thread Link Susan is such a good egg. Julianna.... idk her other than this, but she seems dumb as a box of rocks. Reply Thread Link Susan has repeatedly said dangerously stupid things over the years. Reply Parent Thread Link Do you agree with Susans original statement? Reply Parent Thread Link Susan Sarandon said Trump was less dangerous for America than Hillary Clinton. That alone shows what a fucking imbecile she is and always has been. She keeps showing her ass and her apology is just desperation to keep her career from ending. Reply Parent Thread Link Good morning to Archie Panjabi, and only to Archie Panjabi. If you know, you know. pic.twitter.com/MZ3xx2wQez hellresidentNY (@hellresidentNY) December 1, 2023 Reply Thread Link both of their original comments were terrible. It's not my apology to accept and it's not a contest, but like OP said Susan is at least acknowledging how/why she fucked up. Julianna's is just a bunch of words. Reply Thread Link Julianna's statement is bs. She says racism is abhorrent, yet didn't apologize for specific racist things she said on the podcast. And she still doesn't acknowledge the humanity of Palestinians (or Muslims in general for that matter) and focuses on hamas. It's disgusting that people like her, Debra Messing or Amy Schumer say or share the most islamophobic things and can go on with their day. Debra Messing actually shared a clip of Wilders who is a far right European politician. Reply Parent Thread Link Julianna was SO fucking racist. Besides the BLM black square bullshit, her whole "Queer people should be pro Israel" completely ignored the existence of queer Palestinians who *are* actively being killed by Israel rn. Not to mention the shitty implications (that Amy Schumer also made) that Black Jews don't exist, ig. I'm sure I'm missing something else. She said so much bullshit in so few sentences Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Messing shared a clip of Wilders??? Geert, clown prince of dutch racist asshats, 'we should keep black pete and get rid of the Moroccans' Wilders??? jfc Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Julianna has evil energy, I see her and I just know she's rude to everyone she deems below her. Like I said, ugly demon. Reply Thread Link This is very old, but a friend of mine lived in her building during the Good Wife and said she was horrible so you're not wrong. Reply Parent Thread Link For real she gives off a terrible vibe Reply Parent Thread Link Julianna was speaking like she had those thoughts for a while. Like it was just a casual dinner conversation. Shes nasty. Reply Thread Link The soccer imagery was genuinely depraved stuff. Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously! She sounded so sure of herself and her hateful beliefs, she got called out immediately but only apologized after big outlets picked it up that doesnt sound like she cares about anything but it hurting her career Reply Parent Thread Link Totally! I was fully expecting her to drop the n word. It felt like it was on the tip of her tongue, but she managed to pull it back just in time. Reply Parent Thread Link Glad Susan apologized. Reply Thread Link I wanted to say I was shocked by Julianna's comments but after the way she acted the last year(?) of TGW, I am not surprised. Always admired Susan, she's 100% correct. Reply Thread Link Yeah. I think people want her to be a girlboss who was misunderstood during a more misogynistic time but its increasingly clear shes just an asshole. Reply Parent Thread Link Julianna made her shitty remarks more than a week ago, and she only 'apologised' because the mainstream media finally picked them up and pointed out how insane and hateful they were. That's why there is no actual apology. Susan tried to clumsily make a point but as evidenced by her apology, she understood why it came across so badly. Reply Thread Link Susan's is a far better apology and actually addresses the things that she said that were wrong. Whether or not it's heartfelt, I don't know. But Julianna's is a "sorry you were offended" apology. Reply Thread Link Im sure she means it. I just think by now she should learn to think before she makes public statements. Reply Parent Thread Link Susans comment were bad but it never felt like she was coming from a place of hate, she tried to make a point completely missed and apologized. Compared to Julianna who does feel like she is coming from a place of hate and is apologizing to protect herself. Reply Thread Link What does an American Jew have to do with Israels persecution of Muslims? Why should AMERICAN JEWS deserve a taste of it? She wasnt coming from a place of hate, yet specifically name drops a group of people who literally have nothing to do with the way a foreign government behaves? Get out of here. Reply Parent Thread Link the number of people saluting Susan Sarandon in this post is disturbing. Imagine someone saying black people were getting a taste of what it was like to be [other persecuted group]. Then rightfully apologizing, and getting your ass eaten with praise for being a 'good egg' and 'admirable/100% correct' and for 'clumsily trying to make a point' But it's about jews so it's forgivable Reply Parent Thread Expand Link DENEE BENTON EVERYONE !!! pic.twitter.com/sRhZsYX8Mr di | , the lady kisser (@_dianesflowers) December 2, 2023 denee benton's response to julianna margulies was on point (and also she posted a screencap of christine baranski's character in the good wife slapping alicia captioned with "new episode of the gilded age today!" lmao) Reply Thread Link margulies' was not an apology. it was bullshit. sarandon's was an actual apology and it was a good one. Reply Thread Link Julianna and her little black square on instagram can kiss my black ass tbh I dont accept her apology and I noticed she didnt apologize to the Muslim community or Palestinians either. If anyone between these two shouldve lost representation or job opportunities it shouldve been Julianna. At least I understood what Susan was trying to say, she just chose her words/phrasing so poorly that it was easily misinterpreted. Reply Thread Link As much of the world accelerates its plans for decarbonization, developing its renewable energy capacity to shift away from fossil fuels, it is becoming apparent that many major oil players are unwilling to follow this strategy to combat climate change. While countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia have announced ambitious green energy plans, they are not hiding the fact that they will continue to push their oil and gas agendas for decades to come. A recent investigation has shown that Saudi Arabia has plans to artificially raise global oil demand, creating a whole host of moral questions about the future of global energy. A recent U.K. investigation by the Centre for Climate Reporting and Channel 4 News showed officials from Saudi Arabias Oil Sustainability Programme (OSP) admitting that the Saudi government is planning to boost demand in Africa and Asia for petrol, oil and diesel products, as part of a public program by the Ministry of Energy. In a recording, an undercover reporter asks, My impression is that with issues of climate change, theres a risk of declining oil demand and so the OSP has kind of been set up to artificially stimulate that demand in some key markets? The Saudi official responds, Yes. It is one of the aspects that we are trying to do. Its one of the main objectives that we are trying to accomplish. The official goes on to say that the plan is supported by the Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The plan includes a fleet of power station ships off the coast of Africa, using heavy fuel to generate electricity. It also aims to develop technologies to launch supersonic commercial aviation, which would require around three times more kerosine than conventional air travel. Saudi Arabia also plans to increase the number of combustion engine vehicles in the Asian and African markets to drive up fuel demand. Meanwhile, officials stated that they aim to counter market incentives and subsidies for electric vehicles at a global level, to maintain the international reliance on fossil fuels, particularly in emerging markets such as Africa. Saudi Arabia has hardly hidden the fact that it intends to continue pumping crude for as long as possible, so long as the global demand is there. In fact, Saudi Arabia is expected to boost its crude output by over 1 million bpd to more than 13 million bpd by the end of 2026 or the start of 2027, it announced in May. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia expects to maintain that level of production if demand permits. Saudi Arabia is the second-largest oil-producing member state in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which has a major role in determining global crude production and pricing. In September this year, OPEC responded to an International Energy Agency forecast that suggested that the demand for fossil fuels would peak before the end of the decade by saying the narrative was extremely risky, impractical and ideologically driven. The secretary general of OPEC, Haitham al-Ghais, explained Cognisant of the challenge facing the world to eliminate energy poverty, meet rising energy demand, and ensure affordable energy while reducing emissions, OPEC does not dismiss any energy sources or technologies, and believes that all stakeholders should do the same and recognize short- and long-term energy realities. This statement reinforced OPECs stance on fossil fuels, suggesting that it believes a weakening global demand for oil and gas is still a long way off. Despite the clear ambitions of Saudi Arabia and OPEC to maintain, or even increase, oil output so long as the demand is there the recent phrasing of artificially creating oil demand has drawn criticism. This news came just days before the beginning of the COP28 climate summit, which is being held in Dubai. There has been widespread criticism around the latest summit, with worries that the aims for a green transition being promoted at COP are at odds with the objectives of the UAE and other oil-producing Middle East states. This once again raises the question of the need for funding for developing states to participate in a green transition. The head of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, recently emphasized the need for rich countries and companies to help developing countries leapfrog over fossil-fuelled economic growth in favor of developing their renewable resources. Banga said that this would be the only way to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreements aims, to restrict global heating to below 2oC. Recently, there has been greater optimism around the funding of projects in developing countries to support a green transition. Last week, Indonesia announced a $20 billion investment plan to develop its renewable energy capacity with funding coming from global lenders. Shortly after, Mozambique approved an energy transition strategy worth $80 billion, appealing for funding from wealthy nations. Mozambique is home to one of the largest untapped coal reserves in the world, as well as lots of offshore natural gas, which could remain largely untapped if it is successful at financing its renewable energy sector to support economic growth. Financing schemes such as these could help counter the ambitions of oil-rich countries and major fossil fuel companies to maintain the global demand for fossil fuels by supporting economic growth through the development of renewable resources worldwide. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In a move that has prompted many to wonder which is the bigger banana republic, Venezuela or the US, Joe Biden's new BFF, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro (who has promised to export a few barrels of oil to the US president - now that draining the SPR is no longer an option - to keep gas prices low ahead of the 2024 presidential election in exchange for sanction relaxation and defacto recognition by the White House that Maduro is the dictatorially "democratically" elected president of Venezuela, making a mockery of a decade of Western virtue-signaling sanctions), on Sunday Caracas is set to hold a referendum among Venezuelans on annexing (i.e., invading and taking over) a whopping 160,000 sq km of extremely oil-rich land in neighbouring Guyana. Why now? Why only now when Caracas has for more than 200 years claimed rights over Essequibo, a vast swath of the territory Guyana? Simple: because as we said several days ago, it was only a few months ago that Maduro realized he has leverage over the US president of the "most powerful nation in the world" and get away with anything... even invading a sovereign nation. Of course, (oil rich but extraction poor) Venezuela's heightened interest at this expanse of Amazon jungle springs in part from its resource riches, including offshore oil deposits that have since 2019 made Guyana the worlds fastest-growing economy. Another reason lies closer to home for Venezuelas strongman leader Nicolas Maduro: elections next year. But at the end of the day, had Biden not signed a smoky back-room deal with Maduro, admitting he needs the dictator's oil in exchange for what appears to be a diplomatic blank check, none of this would have happened. Instead, we are now facing actual war between two nations which between them have some of the largest oil deposits in the world. Related: U.S. Adds Three More Shippers to Russian Sanction List over Oil Price Cap As the FT notes, the potential for Venezuela, an ally of Russia, to follow the referendum with an incursion into western-leaning Guyana has raised concerns in the region. Brazil this week said it had increased the military presence in its northern areas, which border both countries. On Sunday December 3, we will respond to the provocations of Exxon, the US Southern Command, and the president of Guyana with a peoples vote, Maduro said during a broadcast of his weekly television program on November 20. Guyana correctly fears that the referendum is be a pretext for a land grab, and has appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to halt the referendum a move that Caracas has rejected, though its claim to the land is largely internationally unrecognised. It isn't: on Friday, judges at the World Court on Friday ordered Venezuela to refrain from taking any action that would alter the situation on the ground. The court did not expressly forbid Venezuela to hold a planned Dec. 3 referendum over its rights to the region around the Esequibo river, the subject of the long-running border dispute, as Guyana has requested. However, judges at the International Court of Justice - as the World Court is formally known - made clear that any concrete action 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 This is a textbook example of annexation, Paul Reichler, a US lawyer representing Guyana before the ICJ, said in The Hague last month, claiming that Venezuela was preparing a military build-up in the Essequibo region in case it wished to enforce the outcome of the referendum. For its part, Caracas said that its troops were carrying out anti-illegal mining operations near the territory, a sparsely populated region that is home to about 200,000 Guyanese who speak English and indigenous languages, though little Spanish. Meanwhile in pro-Maduro Brazil, local media reported that a senator for the state of Roraima said the defense minister had agreed to his requests for military reinforcements in the municipality of Pacaraima, a strategic location for access to Essequibo. The defence ministry said: Defence actions have been intensified in the northern border region of the country, promoting a greater military presence. It wasn't immediately clear if Brazil's socialist leader Lula is planning on aiding his comrade Maduro in invading and pillaging Guyana's oil, but it would be par for the socialist course, especially when the US president is implicitly approving your actions. That said, analysts question whether Venezuela will genuinely seek to annex the territory. They argue the referendum exercise is aimed at bolstering Maduros domestic support ahead of elections that Venezuela agreed to hold in exchange for relief from debilitating sanctions imposed by the US. Political calculations are driving Maduro to escalate tensions in an attempt to stir up nationalist sentiment, but those same political calculations also limit his military options, said Theodore Kahn, director for the Andean region at the consultancy Control Risks. An actual invasion would shut the door to further negotiations with the US and force the Biden administration to reimpose oil sector sanctions. Come to think of it, that's a joke of a deterrent, considering Maduro had no problem living with sanctions for years. If Maduro were to get his grubby hands on some of the most state of the art oil facilities in the world - as a reminder, Guyana is where Exxon has invested billions to extract much of the country's oil- he would do so in a heartbeat. Still, Maduro needs to mobilise party loyalists to defend two decades of socialist rule during which his party and its predecessors have turned Caracas into an international pariah, shattered its state-run oil industry, fueled mass emigration and empowered violent gangs. Luis Vicente Leon, who runs Caracas-based research company Datanalisis, said the government was using the referendum to reduce the perceived impact of a pre-election primary held by the opposition in October despite government disapproval. The primary drew 2.4mn voters to the polls, well above expectations. Its also a test of the governments capacity to engage its political machinery and mobilise voters, Leon said. Alongside that, it pressures the opposition to take a position on a sensitive subject and gives [Maduro] a potential excuse to declare a state of emergency and avoid the election altogether. Maduro, in office since his firebrand predecessor Hugo Chavez died of cancer in 2013, has yet to officially announce his candidacy in the upcoming elections. However, he is widely expected to run despite approval ratings of just 20 per cent, according to Datanalisis, amid an economic and humanitarian crisis. Hilarious, Maduros re-election in 2018 was regarded by the US and its allies as fraudulent, but so much has changed since then, well not that much: just Biden becoming president and folding to Maduro's demands in exchange for oil. Seeking to entice him into allowing a free and fair election this time (please don't laugh) the US last month relaxed sanctions on oil, gold and secondary financial markets for six months. The move followed a deal between Maduro and a US-backed faction of the opposition to resume political talks. Yet hopes of a political opening were tempered when just days later, the government-backed Supreme Justice Tribunal suspended the results of the opposition primary, which was convincingly won by Maria Corina Machado. Machado, a pro-market former lawmaker who once called for external military intervention in Venezuela, is banned from holding office at present, something she claims will not stop her from running. While the government and the fractious opposition agree that the Essequibo region is part of Venezuelas territory, Machado has said the referendum is a distraction that must be suspended. She advocates settling the dispute at the ICJ. The referendum will put five questions to Venezuelas public. One seeks approval for granting all residents of the Essequibo region Venezuelan citizenship and creating a new state within Venezuela, while another asks voters if they recognise the jurisdiction of the ICJ to rule on the matter. Both would likely lead to a military invasion. In April, the ICJ ruled that it had jurisdiction to decide on the territorial dispute, following a request from Guyana in 2018 to confirm the border that was drawn in arbitration in 1899 between Venezuela and what was then British Guiana, a colony. A final ruling could take years, however. It is not an exaggeration to describe the current threat to Guyana as existential and the need for provisional measures as urgent, Carl Greenidge, who leads Guyanas delegation at the ICJ, told judges in The Hague with reference to the referendum. A specialised US army delegation visited Guyana this week, and discussed processes to enhance both countries military readiness and capabilities to respond to security threats, said the US embassy in Georgetown. Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyanas vice-president, said last week that all the options available for us to defend our country will be pursued. Every option. Caracas has long held that the Essequibo river to the regions east is its natural border, as it was during Spanish rule before 1899. But Venezuelas interest in pressing that claim has fluctuated. In 2004, while seeking international support for his Bolivarian revolution, Chavez said in Guyana that Georgetown had the right to grant concessions in the Essequibo territory. But since 2015, when ExxonMobil announced it had found oil beneath the waters off the Essequibo coast in the Stabroek Block, Caracas has adopted a more bellicose tone (well, of course). In October this year, the US major which leads a consortium producing oil in the South American country made another find in the waters claimed by Venezuela. Drilling bids were awarded to companies including Exxon, French major Total, and local company Sispro. Francisco Monaldi, a Latin America energy expert at Rice University in Houston, said: So far Exxons wells and discoveries are in the area north of Guyanas undisputed land territory, but the awarded oil blocks do go into the disputed waters. Oil is transforming the Guyanese economy, which grew 62 per cent last year, according to the IMF, and is projected to expand another 37 per cent this year. With around 11bn barrels in reserves and a population of just 800,000, the country has the largest amount of oil per capita in the world. Meanwhile, Venezuela has the worlds largest proven reserves, and in its heyday at the turn of the century pumped about 3mn barrels per day, but mismanagement, corruption and sanctions led production to collapse. In September this year, it pumped 735,000 bpd. Exxon said that border issues are for governments and appropriate international organisations to address. Still, we wouldn't be surprised if Darren Woods is quietly putting together a mercenary army to quietly take out Maduro. It should cost him at most 2-3 days worth of oil extraction revenues. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: An Omaha couple have honored the memory of their daughter who died of leukemia through a growing donation to Goodfellows since 2016. Bobbi and Mike Gatrost donated $430 to this years Goodfellows campaign in memory of daughter Tammy Gatrost, a high school teacher in Missouri Valley, Iowa, who died seven years ago. Tammy was 36 when she died and that year, the Gatrosts made a $360 donation to Goodfellows in her memory. Every year since then, theyve added an additional $10 to their donation to mark the age she would have been, Bobbi said. I know that Goodfellows is the organization that helps people when theyre down on their luck, Bobbi said. Founded in the 1890s, Goodfellows exists to provide one-time emergency assistance to people in crisis. Since 2020, the Omaha World-Herald and United Way of the Midlands have partnered to administer the Goodfellows program. The 2023 Goodfellows fundraising campaign started in mid-November and will run through Dec. 31. Tammy began teaching in 2001 after graduating from Midland University. She was a dedicated teacher and had talked about wanting to find a way to help others who were less fortunate, Bobbi said. She was always trying to help others, she said. After Tammy was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011, she went through treatment, including a transplant, but those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. The Missouri Valley community showed up for Tammy as she went through treatment and for the Gatrosts as they mourned their daughter, Bobbi said. The community of Missouri Valley was just wonderful, she said. That little community, they have done so much for her. While Tammy never married or had children, she enjoyed spending time with family, including her sister, niece and nephew, Bobbi said. Tammy also loved Christmas. We had talked around Christmastime about doing something for others, and I just thought that Goodfellows was a good thing, Bobbi said. Photos: The Goodfellows fund through the years 1926 1936 1938 1938 1939 1939 1939 1941 1941 1941 1942 1948 1948 1948 1951 1953 1953 1957 1960 052123-owh-liv-reminisce-p2 1962 1963 1963 1965 1968 1969 1974 1975 1975 1976 1976 1976 1978 1978 1982 1982 1982 1988 1989 1989 1989 1991 1991 1991 1992 1994 1994 1995 1996 I get asked how I come up with column topics. This one started with a Hallmark ornament of Fred Astaire as the story-telling mailman of the Christmas TV chestnut, Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970). The story of Fred and Adele Astaire needs to be set straight of their childhood days in Omaha, before their mother whisked them to New York City and future stardom in vaudeville, the stage and, for Fred, motion pictures. They were the only children of Fred and Johanna Austerlitz. A marriage that would have stirred up social media. Johanna Geilus, known later as Ann, was 16 when 25-year-old Fred wed her on Nov. 17, 1894, at the First German Lutheran Church. Austerlitz was a recent immigrant from Vienna whose father was a widely known writer and poet in Austria. According to Fred Astaires memoir, Fred and Ann met at a party while she was attending parochial school. Times were different then. Adele was born Sept. 10, 1896, when the young couple was renting rooms in the rear of a house at 1112 S. 11th St. Her first newspaper mention was in 1899, when a palmist had his predictions recorded in The World-Herald. For little Adele, barely 2, Carl Perin said, Will make an excellent musician. Close. The Austerlitzes were living at 2326 S. 10th St. when their son was born on May 10, 1899. That is the only one of the Austerlitz family homes in Omaha still standing. Within the next year, Fred Austerlitz moved his family closer to his workplace, the Storz Brewery at 16th and Grace Streets. He was sales manager. The Austerlitzes were at 1429 N. 19th St. (Florence Boulevard) in the 1900 city directory, then at 1426 in the 1903 directory. In his 1959 memoir, Steps in Time, Fred recalls the wooden frame homes were about a 20-minute walk to downtown and not much faster by buggy. On Sundays, hed ride with his father to visit friends at Saks Cigar Store. He remembered the sounds of the railroad switchyards on the bottoms east of the house and having a quarantine sign on the front door because of scarlet fever. Astaire maintained he never was enrolled at Chambers Dancing Academy at 24th and Farnam Streets, only Adele. She was featured in school recitals and was a local prodigy. While he believed he was able to walk on his toes at 4, it more likely was to show off than inspired by ambitions of dancing. Adele has real talent, my father said, and maybe Fred will come around to it someday too. Both Astaires attended Kellom Grade School when it was at 1115 N. 22nd St. Fred was enrolled in kindergarten on May 16, 1904, following a common practice of families sending children to school on or shortly after their fifth birthday even if it fell midterm. In 1967, a neighbor recalled she would walk the Austerlitz children to school because Ann wanted an older child to take them because a streetcar track crossing on 20th Street was required. They were such cute kids. Fred was such a tiny little fellow, Lydia Landen of Tekamah, Nebraska, told World-Herald columnist Robert McMorris. When I called at their home they would be practicing their dance steps on the brown-colored linoleum-covered kitchen floor. Mrs. Austerlitz would be at the piano in the front room. The Austerlitzes were prosperous enough that Ann and the children spent the summer of 1904 at a hotel at Lake Okoboji. It was Jan. 21, 1905, when Adele was 8 and Fred 5, when they left Omaha for good. As recorded in a World-Herald society-page item, Ann was taking them to New York City to enter the Alvienne School of Dramatic Art. They were graduates in 10 months. Immediately they went on the New Jersey vaudeville circuit as the Astaires. Their stage name is said to have been derived from kinsmen of Alsace-Lorraine called L Astaire. When they appeared at Keiths Union Square Theater in the city, they were short-circuited, taken off-stage by the worlds first child protective agency. The Gerry Society insisted on by-the-book enforcement of the child labor law in Gotham. Their first act, which moved onto the park circuit in Pennsylvania, was called In Dreamland. Reviews raved about the elaborate staging, which included expensive costumes and 200 electric light globes. From the Atlantic City Daily Press in June 1906: The Astaires, a couple of real small children, do some mighty clever singing and dancing and they are also presenting a striking novelty in the shape of an electrical musical feature which is decidedly enjoyable. Their first Omaha performances were in a weeklong engagement in December 1906 at the 15th Street Orpheum Theater, as they had joined the Orpheum circuit. They were fifth-billed, the Omaha vaudevillians who delighted the east, back to entertain their home folks. At the Saturday matinee, instead of the customary bouquets of appreciation, a dog a white Spitz was passed to them over the footlights. The World-Herald said their week was one of triumph. Omaha kicked off their tour of the West, the act running afoul of child-labor laws again in Los Angeles. Ann Austerlitz protested, saying her children were allowed to perform in other California cities including Oakland, which had a similar law. Maybe she was misquoted in the Los Angeles Herald, but she claimed Freds age to be 13. He was nine. The Astaires left vaudeville behind with their Broadway debut in 1917, in the patriotic review Over the Top. They were dance partners on Broadway and the London stage until they split in 1932. Adele retired from show business after marrying Lord Charles Cavendish. Fred became a worldwide star, starting with his seven years at RKO making movies with Ginger Rogers. He twice announced he was retiring from dancing in films, not backing off from the second in 1957. Television specials and dramatic roles fleshed out his career. The Astaires mother died of a stroke at Freds Beverly Hills home in 1975 at 96. Their father, who initially stayed behind, was with the family in New York City by 1920. He died in 1923 of heart failure and throat cancer at a sanitarium in Warnerville, Pennsylvania. Adele, twice married, died in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1981. Fred, also twice married, died in Los Angeles in 1987. Astaire returned to Omaha rarely, the last time possibly in 1959 when he received an award from Mutual of Omaha, but always was protective of his hometown. Say, whats the idea of pulling that Omaha gag? he told the writer of a Broadway play in 1928 that was a star vehicle for the Astaires. People here will think Im plugging Omaha just because Adele and I were born there. Some of our friends back home might think its a knock. Definitely a subject Fred Astaire didnt dance around. Sarah Joslyn gave $3 million to build a 155,000-square-foot memorial to her late husband, George. She labeled it simply a home for Omahas arts community. On Nov. 29, 1931, what was then called Joslyn Memorial opened to the public. The memorial now named the Joslyn Art Museum has transcended its patrons intent and emerged as the areas largest and most comprehensive visual arts center. Paintings and sculpture had a place at Joslyn, but its music-loving patron saw the 1,000-seat concert hall as the buildings crown jewel. Over the years the Joslyn has housed the areas largest exhibits of eclectic artwork, including pieces from most major eras and movements. Did you know that the museum has been hosting major traveling art and history exhibits since the 1960s? Even though it has grown beyond Sarah Joslyns mission, the museum is still motivated by her vision and philanthropy, as well as the philanthropy of others over the years. Lets reminisce on a museum that exhibits high-end attractions that are truly for everyone. Anti-abortion groups are firing off a warning shot for 2024: Were not going anywhere. Their leaders say theyre undeterred by recent election setbacks and plan to plow ahead on what theyve done for years, including working through state legislatures, federal agencies, and federal courts to outlaw abortion. And at least one prominent anti-abortion group is calling on conservative states to make it harder for voters to enact ballot measures, a tactic Republican lawmakers attempted in Ohio before voters there enshrined the right to abortion in the states constitution. For us, this is a civil rights battle. We have innocent human beings whose lives are being destroyed, said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, one of the countrys largest anti-abortion groups. And were going to keep fighting because we think those are human beings who deserve protection. The movement is no stranger to the long game, working over decades to get the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion that the high court nullified last year. But Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion candidates have struggled to coalesce around a unified message ahead of the 2024 elections. In addition to the Ohio defeat, voters in Virginia on Nov. 7 effectively rejected Gov. Glenn Youngkins proposal to ban abortion after 15 weeks by giving control of the state legislature to Democrats. Democrats are expected to keep capitalizing on anger over the Supreme Courts 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. In its aftermath, abortion rights supporters have successfully won campaigns in seven states. In Ohio, a state Donald Trump won by healthy margins in both 2016 and 2020, 57% of voters supported a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights. Voters in 11 more states could see abortion-related initiatives on their ballots next year, including in Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The Ohio vote makes clear its essential that the critical work of the pro-life movement must carry on with renewed energy and enthusiasm, Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, said in a statement following the Nov. 7 election results. The GOP already tried the ostrich strategy in 2022 of ignoring the issue and hoping it would go away. It didnt work, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said in a memo after the Ohio vote that urged the Republican Party to clarify its stance. As abortion opponents push ahead, there is some disagreement over the best tactics, said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California-Davis and historian on the abortion debate in the U.S. Some anti-abortion groups want to focus more on strategies that dont depend on voters, instead going to the points of access you have, which are state legislatures and federal courts, Ziegler said. Other organizations insist they need to win over voters, either by doing a better job selling their positions or moderating what theyll accept, to secure lasting change. Theres a sort of underlying, How much do we care about voters? divide, she said. So far, 14 states, mostly in the South and Midwest, have enacted near-total abortion bans, and an additional seven states have instituted bans between six and 18 weeks of gestation. Anti-abortion groups are also deploying strategies to limit if not eliminate access to prescription medicines used for most abortions in the U.S. A lawsuit threatening access to mifepristone, one of two pills for medication abortion, is making its way through the federal courts. And several anti-abortion groups are trying to revive enforcement of the Comstock Act, a 19th-century law that prohibits the mailing of obscene materials and information, as a way to ban the mailing of abortion pills nationwide. The anti-abortion movement could cancel out some of these victories at the polls that I dont think voters are aware of, Ziegler said. This is a movement that formed not to win elections but to advance fetal rights, she said. Anti-abortion groups arent unified in their messaging. SBA Pro-Life America, for example, is pushing Republican candidates to back a national 15-week abortion ban. Others say it is time to do away with that type of incremental strategy according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93% of abortions in 2020 occurred at 13 weeks or earlier. Tobias, of the National Right to Life Committee, said its ongoing strategy will be lobbying state legislatures, and focusing more on when abortion should be allowed, such as in cases involving rape or incest, rather than just gestational limits. She said the organization is not calling on Congress to pass a national abortion ban because there arent 60 votes in the Senate that would be needed to overcome a filibuster. Abortion rights supporters say the next steps for their opponents arent so simple. People are never going to accept this idea of having fewer rights, said Gabriel Mann, spokesperson for Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, the ballot committee that spearheaded the state constitutional amendment campaign. Theyve had five decades since Roe to convince the American people that somehow everyone would be better off sacrificing their own reproductive rights, Mann said. They failed. From Washington, D.C., to Omaha, alarms are blaring louder than ever that when it comes to nuclear weapons, the United States needs more, better and faster. In October, a bipartisan congressional commission warned that the country needed to take urgent action to counter Russian retooling and Chinese expansion of their nuclear arsenals. In fact, the 12-member Strategic Posture Commission used the word urgent 40 times in its 160-page report, warning that the U.S. is utterly unprepared to contend with two rivals with nuclear arsenals on par with its own. Today the U.S. is on the cusp of a fundamentally different global setting which we did not want, did not plan for, and are not well-prepared for, said Madelyn Creedon, the commissions chair, in testimony last month before the House Armed Services Committee. In 131 findings and 81 recommendations, the commission called for developing new delivery systems for theater nuclear weapons, overhauling the National Nuclear Security Administration (which maintains the nuclear stockpile), boosting the U.S. industrial base, and creating architecture for homeland missile defense and space-based warfare. The report raised concerns about the development of next-generation weapons, such as hypersonic space weapons, in which the U.S. lags, and about a gap in certain types of low-yield weapons, and urged greater preparation in both nuclear and conventional forces for the possibility of a simultaneous war with Russia and China. We clearly have a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it, said Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer called the report thoughtful and clear-eyed about the threats, and honest about how underprepared we are to address these threats. The road ahead is difficult, and there will be a cost, said Fischer, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committees Strategic Forces subcommittee, at an October hearing on the report. But we are at a crossroads. The commissions findings echo warnings from several recent leaders of the U.S. Strategic Command, the Offutt-based command tasked with outfitting and controlling the nations nuclear arsenal. In November 2022, then-StratCom chief Adm. Charles Richard told a Naval Submarine League audience that ship is slowly sinking when it comes to deterring China. He predicted a war and called for rapid, fundamental change(s) in the way we approach the defense of this nation. The Strategic Posture Commissions report is part of a cascade of recent news on issues related to nuclear arms a field mostly out of the headlines since the Cold War ended in the early 1990s with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Defense Department released an alarming assessment of Chinas nuclear buildup, estimating that it currently has 500 operational nuclear weapons about one-third as many as the U.S. and Russia and will deploy 1,000 by 2030. The report also raised concern about Chinas deepening partnership with Russia and its resistance to military-to-military contacts with the United States. Russia withdrew from the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the 1990 Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty which, respectively, banned all atomic weapons testing and imposed equal limits on NATO and Warsaw Pact tanks, combat aircraft, and heavy artillery on the European continent. The Pentagon announced it was pursuing construction of B61-13 gravity bombs, an updated and more powerful variant of older weapons delivered by strategic bombers. They could potentially take out hardened and deeply buried sites such mountain command posts that have been targeted by the now-obsolescent B83 bunker-buster bomb. The first flight test of Northrop Grummans new B-21 Raider stealth bomber took place. The first of 100 B-21s is scheduled to join the Air Force fleet in 2027, and it is expected to fully replace the B-1B Lancer and the B-2 Spirit bombers. Christopher Yeaw, associate executive director for strategic programs at the University of Nebraskas National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI), said this falls convergence of events could be an inflection point for U.S. nuclear policy. Im hopeful (Congress) will take this as an urgent message for action, said Yeaw, an author of the Trump administrations 2018 nuclear posture review. During the Cold War, Americans were keenly aware of the nuclear threat. The whole world watched as the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis brought the U.S. and the USSR to the edge of nuclear war and led to the first arms control talks between the two sides. In November 1983, The Day After, a TV movie that dramatized a nuclear war and its impact on the U.S. heartland, drew more than 100 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched television programs of all time. The nuclear freeze movement of the 1980s swept college campuses. When the Cold War ended, interest in nuclear issues waned. Easing tensions led both the U.S. and Russia to drastically reduce their nuclear arsenals, which now stand at 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 800 launchers (missile tubes and bombers) for each side since the adoption of the New START treaty in 2009. The U.S. saw little reason to develop new weapons. But relations started to chill after Vladimir Putin was elevated to power in Russia and showed an eagerness to confront the West. We went to sleep for several years after the Cold War, said former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, vice chairman of the Strategic Posture Commission, in his Nov. 15 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. Well, not everyone went to sleep. The Chinese and the Russians both have developed some very sophisticated systems that we did not work on until very recently. Kyl described a U.S. nuclear deterrent force that is in poor condition, with hanging wires and rusty walls in the ICBM silos of the western Great Plains. The B-1B and B-2 bombers, once on the cutting edge of technology, have among the poorest maintenance records in the Air Force. Our current system has deteriorated and aged to the point that we wouldnt be confident in the deterrent value of it, out into the future, Kyl said. Some systems have to be retired. They just dont work anymore. More than a decade ago, during lean budget times that followed the 2008 financial crisis, Congress pledged to modernize an aging arsenal that included gravity bombs from the 1960s, ICBMs and ballistic missile submarines from the 1980s, and strategic bombers from the 1990s. Even through years of congressional dysfunction, a bipartisan consensus kept the rebuilding effort moving forward, if slowly. In addition to the bombers in the late 2020s, the Columbia-class submarines and Sentinel missiles are due to be delivered in the 2030s. What were seeing now, that was put in motion awhile ago, said Tyler White, director of the National Security Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Its not surprising, and its not new. At the same time, Russia was retooling its own arsenal even as it embarked on a war in Ukraine, and China began expanding its own nuclear and conventional forces. They are rivals roughly aligned, and both aligned against us, Yeaw said. Both of these demonstrably dangerous rivals have developed the ability to implement any type of nuclear strategy they choose. Though its membership spans the political spectrum, the Strategic Posture Commissions report has drawn some criticism. Tara Drozdenko of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit geared toward fighting climate change and nuclear proliferation, called the report deeply disappointing in a recent article. A new nuclear arms race would mean diverting resources from other pressing security issues, like responding effectively to climate change, said Drozdenko, director of the groups Global Security Program. Those in Congress should take lessons from the Cold War and try something different this time around like realizing the United States already has enough nuclear weapons to maintain a credible deterrent. Drozdenko said the report placed too much emphasis on building more nuclear weapons, and more kinds of them; of risking a new nuclear arms race given that Russia and China would certainly try to leapfrog the U.S.; and placing too little emphasis on diplomacy and arms control which, she argued, is what led to the end of the Cold War. (T)he Commissions report paints a bleak picture of the near-term international security environment, she said in the article. Quite frankly, things do look grim. But as it manages this difficult period, the United States needs to be careful that its activities and developments around its nuclear arsenal do not make a bad situation worse. The U.S. and China held preliminary arms control talks in early November, and Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping discussed the topic during their recent summit. But any agreement is likely far in the future. And Yeaw, who represented the State Department in talks with the Russians in Vienna in 2020, called the prospects of further agreements exceptionally dim. White said he is sympathetic to the goal of a nuclear-free world, laid out by then-President Barack Obama during a speech in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2009. But I have yet to find a convincing explanation for how we get there, he said. What he hopes is that the blunt and urgent warnings of the Strategic Posture Commission might help to get nuclear weapons back in the national conversation. In a busy world, nuclear weapons issues are out-of-sight, out-of-mind, White said. Through his work, White has met many of the military and civilian planners at StratCom who are spending their careers thinking about nuclear strategy even when the public is paying little attention. Theres a lot of really smart people working really hard to study the first, second, third, and fourth-order effects, White said. Theyre working long hours. Theyre not getting much sleep. Former Sen. Kyl said there is no longer any time to waste when it comes to updating the nuclear arsenal. We are replacing whole systems in a just-in-time manner. But we may not be in time, he said, adding that deterring a nuclear conflict should be the nations No. 1 priority. Were trying to prevent war, he said. What could be more important? Photos: StratCom Experience Day at Offutt Air Force Base By Ko Dong-hwan Korea on Saturday vowed to share its nuclear power technologies with the world to reach global carbon neutrality at an event in Dubai, under which 22 countries agreed to jointly spur the use of nuclear energy, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Sunday. Vice Minister Kang Kyung-sung encouraged countries to join the NetZero Nuclear Initiative to recognize nuclear energy as a clean energy, saying that the key energy type has been behind Korea's industrial development. Calling Korea the "world's nuclear leader," he said he strongly supports the initiative's goal of tripling global nuclear energy capacity from that of 2020 by 2050. "Since 1972 when Korea took its first shovel to build a nuclear power plant, we have built 36 such plants in the country," said Kang in Dubai, where COP28 UAE has brought countries together to discuss how to cope with the climate crisis until Dec. 12. "Stable power supply from those plants enabled our key industries like semiconductors, rechargeable batteries and shipbuilding to grow and compete in the global market." Kang said Korea has been participating in nuclear power plant construction projects overseas and built up technology and experience in planning, construction and operation of plants. He said the country will share this knowledge with the world following the new pro-nuclear global initiative. "Korea has already joined global movements to fend off the climate crisis using nuclear energy," he said. "We are also considering expanding nuclear energy's portion in our national energy mix." Leaders of 10 countries including French President Emmanuel Macron, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and ministers from 11 other countries including Finland, Canada and Ukraine signed in support of the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy. Among the endorsing countries, Europeans accounted for the most with 13 signatories, while two African, four Asian and two North American states also signed. Nuclear energy, the world's second-largest source of clean dispatchable baseload power, is required to reach global net-zero emissions by 2050 and decreasing its use will make the goal more difficult and costly, according to the declaration. New nuclear technologies can occupy a small land footprint and can be sited where needed and partnered well with renewable energy sources, it added. Question: There are thousands of cemeteries in Illinois. Can you name the largest and most visited one? Answer: Its Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. It is, in fact, a sprawling final resting place of 365 acres and the second most visited cemetery in all of America. Its where Abe Lincoln is buried, too. (Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, is No. 1.) An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a businessman to 48 months imprisonment for stealing a 2015 Model Toyota Corolla Saloon car valued at GHC127,000. Hope Elikem Afortukpe, charged with stealing, pleaded guilty. The court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo convicted the accused person on his plea and sentenced him accordingly. The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer told the court that the complainant Patience Dukuly was a housewife and resident of Tema Community 25. The prosecution said Afortukpe also resided at Woe in the Volta Region. Chief Inspector Lawer said the complainant and the accused person, now convict, had been friends since December 2022. The prosecution said in February 2023, Afortukpe lured the complainant to sell her white 2015 model Toyota Corolla car with registration number GR 2819-23 valued at GHC127,000. The prosecution said Afortukpe took the car from the complainant and sold it to one Dorcas at Kintampo at a cost of GHC90,000. It said the accused person, after selling the car, went into hiding and efforts by the complainant to get back her car or money proved futile. It said luck eluded Afortukpe when he was nabbed in a fraud case, and he was identified by the complainant. The prosecution said Afortukpe admitted the offence in his caution statement. Source: GNA 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 Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, has disclosed that he played a part in the arrest and prosecution of his nephew, George Kwame Essien. Essien was an Assistant Technical Enrollment Officer at NIA's Walewale Office. In a Facebook post, Professor Attafuah wrote: THE CONVICTION OF MR. GEORGE KWAME ESSIEN, AN ASSISTANT TECHNICAL ENROLLMENT OFFICER AT NIAS WALEWALE OFFICE On Sunday, 26th November 2023, I dispatched a team of Police Investigators from the CID Unit of the National Identification Authority (NIA) Headquarters in Accra to Walewale in the North-East Region to investigate sundry allegations of criminality including corruption, registration offences and breaches of NIA's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) leveled against Mr. George Kwame Essien, an Assistant Technical Enrollment Officer. Incidentally, the said George Kwame Essien is my nephew. Mr. Essien had an uncommon opportunity to serve Ghana as an NIA official. Instead of doing so with integrity and professionalism, George Essien engaged in bribe-taking, registration of an ineligible foreigner, forging the signatures of his office colleagues, and generally involving himself in misconduct tending to undermine the integrity of the National Identification System (NIS) Project -- the very foundation of our nation's digitalization agenda, and bringing the name of NIA into disrepute. In the morning of Monday, 27th November 2023, when Essien was arrested by the Police, he sent me WhatsApp messages informing me of his calamity, admitting his guilt, pleading for forgiveness, and seeking my intervention to secure his release, with a promise not to ever repeat his misconduct. He stated that he was a first-time offender, and that so many people depended on him. Apparently, Essien had forgotten that more than his people, the entire nation Ghana depended on him! I told Essien to be a man and face the consequences of his actions. He misconducted himself in the manner he did, knowing fully well that I am his uncle and the Chief Executive Officer of the NIA! He ignored the potential adverse impact of his conduct on the nation, and the huge embarrassment the family would suffer. I told him he may have my forgiveness, but the law can not and must not forgive people like him who deliberately work to undermine the state. 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 Press Aide to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Kofi Abrefa Afena has debunked reports alleging a wrongdoing on the part of Energy Minister and former Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in the matter of the appointment Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot and Dr. Vincent A. Ankamah -Lomotey as Vice Chancellor and Registrar respectively of the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences in the Upper East Region. Mr. Afena said the reports are purely based on mischief and intentionally skewed to sully the image of the Minister. According to him, a Minister is not the appointing authority of officers of a public University but rather the University Council. However, the first appointments of any new public University are done by the President of the Republic and this include the appointments of foundation governing Councils, he expounded. So, in the instant case of CKT-UTAS appointments, the situation was no different. You can check this incontrovertible fact from UG, KNUST, UENR, UESD and indeed, all public universities, he stressed. Addressing the issue of the post-retirement appointment accusations of the CKT-UHAS appointees against Dr. Prempeh, Mr. Afena described same as having no basis in truth and lacking logic because when the two people were appointed, they were not retirees. In July 2021, when the officers reached their retirement age, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh was no more Minister for Education, at which time there was now a university council fully in place with legal capacity to be able toremedy the situation", he added, asking "so, on what grounds, do you accuse Matthew Opoku Prempeh of even the slightest of wrong doing or of something illegal or untoward?" He continued; Let people in positions be responsible for their actions without apportioning baseless blames on others." Mr. Afena also rubbished the publications saying they were part of a grand scheme by the Energy Ministers detractors to cause public disaffection for him. This response from the Energy Ministers outfit, according to the Press Aide, is necessary because of deliberate spins around a court ruling by a Bolgatanga High Court terminating the appointments of Prof. Wilmot and Dr. Ankamah-Lomotey. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Majority in Parliament has maintained that the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumanu Bagbin, was biased against them during the proceedings to approve the 2024 budget statement on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The Majority indicated that some members of the minority were not in Parliament at the time of the proceedings; therefore, the speaker, in their view, deliberately delayed proceedings to allow the opposition lawmakers who werent in to arrive to participate in the proceedings. A statement issued by the Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, on Thursday, November 30, said, 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, Mr. Armah Kofi-Buah, rose on account of Order 113(2) to contest what he (Mr. Armah Kofi-Buah) deemed 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. The two raised procedural issues with respect to 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, the statement noted. 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 circumstances, leading to their decision to stage a walkout. It is essential to note that despite the Speakers indication that the ayes had prevailed, and despite a petition presented to him, a petition that hadnt followed due process, the Speakers 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. Parliament could not approve the budget on Wednesday, November 29, after the Majority side of the house boycotted proceedings, making it the second time they are walking out on their budget after they first did so on the 2022 budget statement, which introduced the e-levy. They disagreed with the way Mr. Bagbin was conducting the business. They accused the Speaker of delaying proceedings for the Minority to have their full numbers in the House. Sam George is not here, Zanetor is not here, Mahama Ayariga, is not here so five of their members are not here. All the speaker is doing is to delay time for their members to come, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told journalists after they walked out. Source: GBC 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: Overview of the experimental setup during a trial. (A) Underwater view of a dolphin stationing inside the apparatus during a trial. (B) Close-up view of the dolphin stationing inside the apparatus. (C) Close-up schematic view of the experimental setup during a trial. Credit: Journal of Experimental Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245845 A small team of bio-scientists from the University of Rostock's Institute for Biosciences and Nuremberg Zoo's Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Lab, both in Germany, has found evidence that bottlenose dolphins can sense electric fields. In their study, reported in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the group tested the ability of two captive bottlenose dolphins to sense a small electric field. Many creatures in the animal kingdom are able to sense an electric fieldsome sharks and the platypus, for examplebut only one type of marine mammal has been found to have the ability: the Guiana dolphin. In this new effort, the research team wondered if other types of dolphins have the ability. They chose to study bottlenose dolphins for two reasons: a pair of were available for testing at the nearby Nuremberg Zoo, and prior research suggested that neural cells in the vibrissal crypts situated along the dolphins' snouts strongly resembled the electric-field detectors observed in sharks. The experiment the research team set up consisted of affixing a sensing device to the inside wall of a small tank of water. The sensing device consisted of a rack holding a red rubber target behind a metal bar. Just above the bar, the team placed an electrode capable of emitting small amounts of electricity. Running the experiment involved teaching the dolphins to rest their snout on the bar and to wait for a burst of electricity. If one appeared, they were taught to swim away. If not, they were expected to hold still for 12 seconds. In running the experiment, the researchers observed that both dolphins were able to feel or sense the charge from the electrode. Additional testing showed that both were able to sense DC fields under 125 microvolts per centimeter with 90% accuracy. Both were also able to respond to electric pulses. The researchers suggest the ability to detect electric current likely helps bottlenose dolphins to detect and capture prey, and might also help them navigate using the Earth's electric field. More information: Tim Huttner et al, Passive electroreception in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): implication for micro- and large-scale orientation, Journal of Experimental Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245845 Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The existing wooden judging tower in Teahupoo is believed to be unsafe. The president of French Polynesia has questioned whether 2024 Olympic surfing can go ahead at the planned site in Tahiti, saying he was concerned about safety and damage to coral from a planned judging tower. A construction barge slated to install a new judging tower broke more of the beach's corals in a new test in the French Pacific territory on Friday, which was filmed by environmental groups. That could leave an old wooden tower as the only space for the judges. "Today we're breaking coral, and tomorrow we may be endangering people's lives if we use this old equipment," Moetai Brotherson told local broadcaster TNTV on Saturday. "If there's no solution in the end... we must call into question the survival of the surf contests at Teahupoo," he added. Brotherson cancelled tests he was supposed to observe as well as the start of construction work on Monday. And he said that "there's no way we will be able to re-use the old foundations... or the old tower". Brotherson told AFP that it would not be possible to move the competition to another beach in Tahiti, as Teahupoo was the site originally filed with Olympic authorities as part of France's candidacy. And it would cost several million euros (dollars) to move the surfing events to a site in metropolitan France. But Barbara Martins-Nio, the Tahiti Olympics site director, said she was "confident a technical solution exists". "A new tower and new foundations are the only way," she addedwhile acknowledging that "it's true that it's difficult to access the site". "If we don't manage it, all of us together will have to ask ourselves what happens next," Martins-Nio said. More than 168,000 people have signed an online petition against the planned aluminum judges' tower, supposed to reach a height of 14 meters (46 feet), while hundreds have protested at the Teahupoo site itself. It "doesn't make any sense to need such a giant tower for a 2 days event," American surfing legend Kelly Slater posted online last week, calling to "give the money to local infrastructure" instead. Vai ara o Teahupoo, the main association opposing the new tower, has stopped speaking to the media about the case. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A gas flare from a refinery in Ecuador. Fifty oil and gas companies representing 40 percent of global production pledged to decarbonize their operations by 2050 at the UN's COP28 climate talks in Dubai on Saturday. Saudi giant Aramco and ADNOC of the United Arab Emirates were among 29 national companies to sign a non-binding agreement that also envisaged zero methane emissions and eliminating routine flaring this decade. Aramco, the world's biggest oil company, and ADNOC, whose CEO Sultan Al Jaber is president of CO28, had already announced similar CO 2 -reduction targetswhich do not include emissions when their fuels are used by customers. "While many national oil companies have adopted net-zero 2050 targets for the first time, I know that they and others, can and need to do more," Jaber said. Unlike the Western oil majors, which are intensely scrutinized by the public, few large national oil companies had announced such targets. PetroChina and Brazil's Petrobras also signed up to the new accord, named the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter. The National Oil Company of Libya, Malaysia's Petronas and Sonangol of Angola were also among the signatories, along with France's TotalEnergies, US firm ExxonMobil, and Britain's BP and Shell. The charter is part of a set of initiatives designed to accelerate the decarbonization of the global energy industry, prepared in the year leading up to COP28. They are voluntary commitments unlike the decisions of COP28, which are taken by consensus between nearly 200 countries under the aegis of the United Nations. Melanie Robinson, of the World Resources Institute, a non-profit research body, said the agreement showed that non-binding pledges from the industry were not sufficient to address climate change. "This charter is proof that voluntary commitments from the oil and gas industry will never foster the level of ambition necessary to tackle the climate crisis," she said. "We can't meet our climate goals unless governments set policies that rapidly and equitably transition our economy away from fossil fuels." 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: Patients at Manuel J. Santos Hospital in Butuan City, southern Philippines, are evacuated after an earthquake, Saturday evening, Dec. 2, 2023. A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: AP Photo/Ivy Marie Mangadlao A powerful earthquake that shook the southern Philippines killed at least one villager and injured several others as thousands scrambled out of their homes in panic and jammed roads to higher grounds after a tsunami warning was issued, officials said Sunday. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake Saturday night had a magnitude of 7.6 and struck at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia, but later dropped its tsunami warning. The USGS recorded further earthquakes Sunday with magnitudes of 6.6 and 6.9 but but there were no tsunami alerts. In Japan, authorities issued evacuation orders late Saturday in various parts of Okinawa prefecture, including for the entire coastal area, affecting thousands of people. A pregnant woman died after she, her husband and daughter were hit by a 15-feet (4.5-meter) concrete wall that collapsed in their neighborhood as the ground shook and prompted them to flee from their house in Tagum city in Davao del Norte province, the city's disaster-mitigation chief, Shieldon Isidoro, told The Associated Press. Her husband and daughter were injured. Two other children and their parents jumped from a second-floor window in panic as their house swayed but were not injured after landing on a grassy lot, said Isidoro, who was at his home when the ground started to shake. Patients at Manuel J. Santos Hospital in Butuan City, southern Philippines, are evacuated after an earthquake, Saturday evening, Dec. 2, 2023. A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: AP Photo/Ivy Marie Mangadlao "Initially the swaying was weak. Then it quickly became stronger and I could hardly stand. My perfume bottles fell off a table, pictures on my wall swung and I heard people screaming outside: 'Get out, get out, earthquake, earthquake!"' Isidoro said. While he feared the roof of his house would collapse on him, Isidoro said he was more worried that there could be many casualties in Tagum, a city of about 300,000 people, where he had led regular earthquake drills that he thought helped prevent more deaths and injuries. Hundreds of patients were evacuated from a Tagum hospital but later were escorted back after an inspection showed no major damage to the building, officials said. Thousands of residents stayed outside their homes for hours in many towns due to the earthquake and tsunami scare, including in some that were drenched by an overnight downpour, officials said. A motorcycle passes by a partially damaged grocery store caused by an earthquake in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, southern Philippines, Sunday morning, Dec. 3, 2023. A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday, Dec. 2, off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: AP Photo/Ivy Marie Mangadlao Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr told a news conference that authorities were assessing the quake's impact but initial reports indicated there were no major damages except for two damaged bridges and pockets of power outages. One death was reported with a few injuries, he said. Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told The AP shortly after the quake hit that his agency advised residents along the coast of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces, which were near the epicenter of the undersea quake, to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland. Pictures posted on the Facebook account of Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur province show residents fleeing to higher ground on foot or aboard cars, trucks, motorcycles and tricycle taxis overnight. In this photo released by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, villagers stay inside a temporary evacuation center at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines, late Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. A powerful earthquake struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: Local Government Unit of Hinatuan via AP In this photo released by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, villagers evacuate after an earthquake at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines, late Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Credit: Local Government Unit of Hinatuan via AP In this photo released by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, villagers evacuate after an earthquake at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines, late Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Credit: Local Government Unit of Hinatuanvia AP In this photo provided by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, villagers evacuate after an earthquake at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines, late Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: LGU Hinatuan via AP In this photo provided by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, villagers stay outdoors after an earthquake at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines, late Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: LGU Hinatuan via AP In this photo provided by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, villagers stay at a temporary evacuation center after an earthquake at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines, late Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: LGU Hinatuan via AP In this photo provided by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, villagers stay at a temporary evacuation center after an earthquake at Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines, late Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: LGU Hinatuan via AP A fish vendor passes by a partially collapsed multipurpose covered court in Tagbina town, Agusan del Sur, southern Philippines on Sunday Dec. 3, 2023. A powerful earthquake struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: AP Photo/Ivy Marie Mangadlao In this handout photo released by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, a villager walks beside a damaged house after an earthquake struck Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines on Sunday Dec. 3, 2023. A powerful earthquake struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: LGU Hinatuan via AP This handout photo released by the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan shows a damaged house after an earthquake struck Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province, southern Philippines on Sunday Dec. 3, 2023. A powerful earthquake struck Saturday off the southern Philippine coast, prompting many villagers to flee their homes in panic around midnight after Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning. Credit: LGU Hinatuan via AP Many villagers who fled to evacuation centers returned to their homes on Sunday, officials said. After undertaking inspections, civil aviation officials said there was no major damage in several airports in the south and there was no disruption in flights operations. The Philippines, one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. By Jon Dunbar The Liquid Arts Network in Busan is hosting its Books & Authors Festival on the afternoon of Dec. 16. Authors of various kinds of books, from fiction to nonfiction, from zine to comic book, will be on hand at Gorilla Brewing Companys taphouse near Gwangalli Beach, offering their books for sale and greeting book lovers from 2 p.m. until officially 6 p.m., although Kenneth May, director of Liquid Arts Network, hinted that the ending time may be a little more fluid. The event will also feature a number of spoken word and music performances, as well as a one-hour storytelling workshop by Ryan Estrada, the author of dozens of books including Banned Book Club and Occulted. May noted that Estrada's "Banned Book Club" recently faced a ban of its own from a library in the conservative U.S. state of Kentucky. Estrada traveled all the way there earlier this month to speak at Daviess County Fiscal Court after the Daviess County Citizens for Decency called for removing the book from the library. The story, set during the authoritarian 1980s-era Chun Doo-hwan regime, has reportedly been inspiring students across the U.S. to create their own banned book clubs in response to censorship issues occurring in the present day. Other creatives participating in the book fair include illustrator Min the Elephant, American writer Chris Tharp, Irish writer-photographer Niall Ruddy and traveler-adventurer Dennis D. Feeheley. Events such as this are important because they serve as reminders to the general public that there are real creators who have poured their blood, sweat and tears into the creations that many people view digitally in their hands, May said. The Liquid Arts Network has been presenting art, supporting artists and connecting communities throughout Korea since its first event on Nov. 11, 2000. Prior to 2019, it was known as Poetry Plus. We originated the single-night presentation of mixed performative arts like poetry, music, film, theater, visual arts, comedy and whatever else in Korea, May said. We consider our platform amorphous and cumulative. We are willing to undertake, engage in and present any sort of creative arts event. So, we are always open to collaborations and making new friends and contacts. May also claims the network may have come up with the worlds first artistic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2020, the pandemic threat forced them to cancel their March event, and on Feb. 28, they introduced a Create and Submit Remotely function, which ultimately resulted in three online events under the title Empty Venue. In September this year, Liquid Arts Network held its first Books & Authors event, inviting former acting Prime Minister of Mongolia Dendeviin Terbishdagva to give a talk. It turned out to be a wonderful event, May said. It blew our minds that the day before he was with former Korean President Moon Jae-in, and then with us the day after. At the event this weekend, entry is free of charge. Liquid Arts has always been a labor of love, May said. Due to visa regulations, all of our events are free and organized by volunteers. There is never a cover charge and the organizers have never made any money off of the enterprise. Matter of fact, theyve only lost money; however, the experiences, friendships and connections made through our events are priceless! Busan Book Swap will also be participating in the event, so all visitors are encouraged to bring along books to exchange. Visit liquidartsnetwork.com or fb.com/liquidartsnetwork or follow @liquidartsnetwork on Instagram for more information. By Prince J Musa in Kenema The Veterinary Officer attached to the Livestock Division in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Kenema District, has told Politico that their office recorded 119 cases of Animal bites suffered by residents so far since the start of the year. Paul Ngegba said they had received cases associated with dogs, snakes, and even cats though at the time of the interview, he couldnt give a breakdown of the different cases received by the vet division. Ngegba said for a dog bite, they collect the sample by taking the severed head of the dog in question to Telco veterinary laboratory in Kenema for testing to ascertain whether the bite was either negative or positive for the rabies virus. He said that not all dog bites can be associated with rabies as some could be a result of anger manifested by especially young mothers protecting their puppies. Rabies vaccine is free for people coming with cases of dog bites, he said. The District Veterinary Officer further stated that from the four samples recently taken from dog bites, he could not give the actual statistics of deaths associated with rabies. In describing the signs and symptoms of a dog with rabies, he said they become aggressive and could be seen with saliva running from the mouth and nostrils. He said they normally get rabies vaccine from partners like the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and Ministry of Health and Sanitation and do provide treatment for victims of rabies, especially children. He stated that the rabies vaccine is free of cost but when it is not available they do referrals to Freetown. Talking about the rampant presence of street dogs in Kenema, he said they work in collaboration with the Kenema City Council which is in charge of registering all dogs within the City, in getting the data of the animals. Ngegba encouraged people to look after their pets at home as proper care will stop them from roaming the streets. He ended up by saying that rabies is a zoonotic disease that affects dogs and could in turn infect humans. Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (24/11/23) By Chernor Alimamy Kamara This years Leone Rock sponsored Salone Premier League started with a bang with all participating teams determined to at the end of the League season, carry the giant champions trophy home to their fans. Three weeks into the league, 38 goals have been scored so far by 32 players in 20 matches. The race for the top goal scorer is tight and intense with six players from different clubs having registered 2 goals each so far. They are Suffian Kalokoh from Bo Rangers, Emmanuel Bangura of Luawa FC, Ibrahim Kargbo-Wusum Stars, Foday Komeh-Diamond Stars, Sulaiman Turay - Lamboi FC and Kwame Quee- Old Edwardians, all recording two goals. Lansana Thoronka of Ports Authority has the highest assists- 2 assists followed by other 14 players from different clubs with one each. Also, Mohamed Turay of Luawa FC after playing three matches won two man of the match awards while Alusine Fornah this years debutant for Bhantal FC was also twice crowned man of the match. Further, 5 clubs in Luawa FC, Mighty Blackpool, Bhantal FC, Wusum Stars and SLIFA have emerged as the clubs with the highest Man of the Match winners, with two each. Referees have awarded 4 penalty kicks in the league so far -Wusum Stars got a penalty in their match against East End Lions in which Abdul Bangura scored from the spot. Also, Abdul K. Turay of Freetown City FC scored a penalty kick against Real Republicans. In the match between Kholifa Stars vs. Mighty Blackpool, Fabio M. Kodah of Kholifa Stars failed to convert the spot kick awarded them. Kwamie Quee of Old Edwardians FC scored his against Bhantal FC. This years premier league is the first to be named after an institution after Leone Rock Metal Group emerged as the key sponsors and hence claimed the name Leone Rock Premier League. Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (24/11/23) By Mabinty M. Kamara The other day a colleague returned to the office expressing fascination at the impressive and swift service he received at the National Social Insurance Trust (NASSIT) head office, having gone there to replace his missing Card. Beaming with smiles, Alpha Abu narrated how upon announcing his purpose at the reception, he was given a form to complete which he then took to the Bank Desk and paid NLe 10 as replacement fee. He then took the receipt to another employee inside a cubicle who then gave him a piece of paper to take across to a man seated in front of a machine. Abu was then asked to write his NASSIT ID Number on a huge register, his name, and date of birth, phone number, and signature. He got another ID card right there, all the processes lasting only 5 minutes. He said the workers were very courteous too and described the service that day as the best customer service he had ever had in Sierra Leone, matching his international experiences. Another great experience was at the office of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) but for that, I am still wondering if its because I came across a former university friend there or otherwise. It took me and my other colleague less than ten minutes from the front desk where the client's personal information is collected, to the commercial bank where payments are made within the authoritys building, and then to the soft-spoken and professional young lady who took a snapshot of me. I was also amazed by the automation and SMS alert service at every given point of the service. And in less than three days I was alerted for pickup, no asking for arjoe or lunch by the staff in charge to facilitate those services. I am highlighting these two instances because many readers can agree with me that such services come once in a blue moon in this beautiful land that we love and I actually thought about writing this article just as we were concluding what was called Customer Service Week during which every institution including commercial transport workers, banks and mobile network operators displayed so much love and care for their customers on social media and through personal communication lines. But one would wonder whether or not such manifestation of love and concern for the customers could merely be a deliberate effort to blind the world to the reality of the terrible services customers mainly Sierra Leoneans are gradually being compelled to accept as the way to go. The Problem Most times you approach institutions in Sierra Leone for services they are obliged to perform and are paid for, they treat your issue with a pinch of salt. This in itself is due to many factors such as a lack of professionalism and good work etiquette, possibly lack of motivation because most staff are not motivated and hence lack passion for their jobs. They are always tempted to vent out their workplace frustrations on the people they are supposed to be serving at any time they have the opportunity to do so. Regular professional training is needed for public officials including the local public transport operators. It is sometimes forgivable when you get such treatment from people who are not in a formal setting, such as conductors in public transport commonly called apprentices, and other groups of people but certainly not from those who are expected to have gone through diverse professional training and are in such a setting. Quite recently, a first-time visitor to Sierra Leone from India was sharing her experiences in Sierra Leone; talking about the beautiful green scenery, the beach and ocean view, the countrys peaceful atmosphere, and its natural outlay, among others. However, though she didnt say it directly, she was left disappointed with the customer service and general work attitude. As the discussions went on, she asked about employment conditions in the country and workers' motivation. I then told her the minimum wage which is 650 equivalents to $30. She calmly then expressed her frustration over the services she got right from the online booking processes to when she was actually staying in that hotel. This was not a busy period when they may have a lot of customers to attend to. Imagine if it were the reverse what would have been the case. The reverse As a journalist, I am a frequent traveler, especially along the West African Coast and in most places I go, the kind of professional and ethical customer service I get mesmerizes me and I wonder what is happening to my own country. The hospitality industry is playing a pivotal role in some of those economies. And the players in that sector could be a major contributing factor to such a boom. How costly it is Everybody likes to be treated well but if somebody visits and cannot get the desired treatment, the next time they have an opportunity to choose a destination, they will, like in the case of my dear friend, opt for a friendlier and more caring place as their preferred destination. And such a host countrys economy will benefit one way or the other during such visits. Most times in business advertising, word of mouth goes a long way in uplifting or destroying a brand. That is why it is always good to leave a good impression on a visitor. Reviews are very important in this digital age in which we find ourselves. Countries and businesses should package and market themselves well at all times so that others will not hesitate to choose their services, however modest. I must say that I was perplexed by the hospitality I got during my recent stay in Abuja of all the places I have visited. It was splendid! The way forward To turn things around, I think we need to go back to former President Ernest Bai Koromas attitudinal and behavioral change initiative for us to succeed in rewriting our customer service narrative both locally and internationally. In Present day Sierra Leone, People are more engrossed about what others should do for them instead of what they can offer to others. No country or institution is always one hundred percent satisfied with what they receive as salary because even employers arent always satisfied with the turnover they get from some of their businesses. However, for the time that you are still serving at a particular place or position, please try as much as possible to be professional and diligent in your work. Employers in public service businesses should ensure they hire professionals to deal with the clients or customers or better still train them on the job and ensure they are happy with what they do so that they do not transfer that negative spirit in the discharge of their duties. Its important. Also, as Vice President of Sierra Leone Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh recently emphasized that one needs skills and certificates to get a job but they certainly cannot keep you in the job. What keeps people there is their social intelligence, work ethic and general relationship with people. I am hoping that after the recent 2023 youth employment and entrepreneurship fair, we will begin to see a change in our service delivery. As we prepare to welcome the New Year, I think it is best that proprietors/managers of service-providing entities do a self-reassessment of their staff and think of devising possible new ways of treating customers with respect and the seriousness they deserve because as the economy is at the moment, the hospitality business, in particular, is crucial to our revenue generation as a nation. With the ongoing efforts to transform public transportation into a more organised business, I am also asking that proper orientation is conducted for both the conductors commonly known as apprentices, and the drivers so that they treat passengers well. Not everybody who boards public transportation is a pauper and therefore should be treated with disdain. That sector is also very crucial in the growth and rebranding of our hospitality industry. To make the economy better, we need all hands on deck, public-private partnership, youth employment, and empowerment through skills development and entrepreneurship. We are looking forward to celebrating your services to us next October - the customer service month. Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (24/11/23) By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah Former All Peoples Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara has called for transparency in the review of the electoral process. He made the statement whilst addressing a gathering at State House to witness the Launch by President Julius Maada Bio of the Cross-Party Committee on the Review of Sierra Leones Electoral Systems and Electoral Management Bodies on Tuesday 21st November. He said all activities, proceedings, and documents related to the committees work must be made accessible to the public, noting the respect for privacy and confidentiality throughout the process. Regular updates should be provided to the public and relevant stakeholders as well, regarding the process, findings, and emerging issues during the investigations, he added. He suggested that the government and opposition be given the opportunity to submit relevant information, evidence, or concerns to the committee and to ensure fair representation of their perspectives. He noted that the final report of the committees findings and recommendations should be published, adding that it will ensure accountability and enable the public, citizens, stakeholders, and authorities to take action. By adhering to the terms of reference that will be presented, Dr.Kamara said Sierra Leone will work towards achieving a legacy for free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections. It is my hope that this committee will pave the way for a more inclusive democratic society where the voices of all citizens are heard and respected, he said, adding the committee must be restricted to its partners. He said actions should not be taken unilaterally by any party in the committee, and that the general public should be engaged in the committees outreach programmes. He urged the committee to uphold the sacred responsibility for the good of the country. In his statement, President Julius Maada Bio said in the midst of their individual differences, there must be a commonplace in their shared national interest. He recalled following his re-election as President, he proposed the setting up of a National Electoral Systems Review Committee borne out of post-elations concerns; a committee, that he said would strengthen the institutional legal and operational regime for future elections. Bio noted a seven-point resolution adopted by the government and the opposition during the inter-party dialogue in October this year, which he said is a framework agreement for national unity and cohesion, adding that his proposals for Electoral Systems Review were adopted. He commended the APC party for honoring resolution two in the agreement by ending their non-participation in governance. Political dialogue is not a sign of a weakness, he said, noting it is a symbol of peace and national cohesion. The countrys main opposition party, APC raised a series of electoral concerns believing there were irregularities in the June 24th elections, and as a result, they decided not to participate in governance. However, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion in collaboration with the Commonwealth and Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) played a key role in facilitating a three-day dialogue between the government and the opposition which brought an end to the non-participation of governance by the APC. Seven resolutions were passed, one of which is the setting up of the electoral systems review committee. Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (24/11/23) By Saio Marrah After presenting seven witnesses and documents at the ongoing tribunal set up to look into alleged misconduct by the Auditor General, Lara Taylor-Pearce and her deputy, Tamba Momoh, Lead State Lawyer, Ahmed J.M. Bockarie has closed the case for the prosecution. This saw Lead Defence Lawyer, Rowland Wright representing the first respondent, suspended auditor general, applying for an adjournment of the tribunal to next week Thursday for him to properly prepare to defend his client. Meanwhile, on Thursday 23rd November 2023, Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) tendered the attendance register of top management of the institution spanning from 2015 to 2021 and a letter written by the suspended auditor-general addressed to the Secretary to the President on 22nd October 2021. This was at the request of the state lawyer, last week. The Principal auditor/divisional head, Special Unit ASSL, Ibrahim Barry as the States first witness, laid the foundation before the tribunal of how the procedure of audit process ought to be executed. The second state witness, Abubakarr Amara also a principal auditor/divisional head of state-owned enterprises at ASSL, explained to the tribunal how third-party confirmation ought to be handled by auditors when executing their job. Musa Jajua, accountant II in the Office of the President, testified before the tribunal that he did not provide hotel bill receipts relating to the presidential entourage travel at the time ASSL requested them because according to him, it was not in his possession, but with the chief state of protocol by then. Jonathan Lamboi, a private audit consultant, who was the States fourth witness, gave his expert opinion by telling the tribunal that ASSL violated audit ethical conduct relating to the third party confirmation, but did not however cite a particular authority, saying that it is the standard procedure. According to him, ASSL should have sought permission from the auditee (office of the president) before contacting the third party for information relating to clarification of the audit process. He also noted that ASSL ought to have gone back to the auditee (office of the president) in connection to claimed discrepancies in hotel bills relating to presidential travel receipts. Augustin Siaka, Credit and Marketing Officer of the Apex Bank in the Kamakwie community told the tribunal about how he used to see the second respondent, Tamba Momoh working for a private audit company during official working hours in Kamakwie. The states sixth witness, Alfred Saffa who was the team lead of the performance audit, set up to audit the Freetown Transform Project (TFP) under the Freetown City Council, testified about how the suspended auditor-general disapproved execution of the said performance audit of the TFP. The states last witness, Aiah Gbondo Toubawa, now the deputy auditor general also testified last Tuesday that Tamba Momoh said in his presence that the Freetown City Council Mayor was credible and had integrity enough to audit her project. The tribunal resumes next Thursday 30th November this year for the defence to present their arguments. Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (24/11/23) CAPE MAY Sometimes a two-letter word can make a significant difference. That was the case Tuesday as the citys Planning Board weighed whether to allow the Ugly Mug on the Washington Street Mall to continue to operate a kitchen across Decatur Street in a former bank building now used as a clothing store at 502 Washington St. In the end, the board decided unanimously that the plan did not require a use variance, and then voted 5-2 to approve a site plan for the current use. As Planning Board attorney Richard King explained it, the permitted use in the malls zone allows the sale of clothing, retail goods or food service. In really simple terms, we have to decide what does the or mean, board member Dennis Crowley said. Cape May zoning allows one use in each property, King said. The question was whether the clothing store could operate in the same property as a commercial kitchen. If the businesses required a use variance, that would send the matter to the Zoning Board. Otherwise, the Planning Board could still approve a site plan for the operation. King described the Ugly Mug as awesome, but said that does not enter into the decision for the board. Cape radio station expands playlist to cover greater variety of alternative rock Planet 106.3 WJSE, based in the Rio Grande section of Middle Township, has set itself up to take advantage of a big year in alternative rock in 2024. This has nothing to do with the quality of the business or the merits of the people involved, he said. The kitchen has been in use for years now, so the approval does not change the facts on the ground. As Tony Monzo, an attorney for the applicant, explained the situation, the kitchen reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city allowed a considerable expansion of outside dining in an effort to keep restaurants viable. The city shut down Decatur Street to traffic and allowed dining tables to be set up in the intersection. To keep up with the considerable demand from the now-expanded seating and an increase in takeout business, the Mug began to use the kitchen across the street to support the existing kitchen. Building owner Bogle Investment Properties LLC applied for the site plan approval. The building had long operated as a book store and later became a Stewarts Root Beer burger restaurant. That business closed at the end of 2020, next reopening as Sunflowers, what King described as a very nice clothing store. The former Stewarts kitchen remained and was reopened to help the Ugly Mug, Monzo said. The Ugly Mug continues to rely on the additional kitchen, both for takeout orders and for six outside tables along Decatur that are used in the summer. Otherwise, Ugly Mug owner Mike Slawek told the board, the restaurant would have had to stop offering takeout in the evening. It doesnt take much to tip a kitchen over, he told the board. It you have a lot of people that want takeout, it just buries the kitchen. Cape May to cut the ribbon on new fire HQ Wednesday About two years after the demolition of the city's former firehouse, Cape May officials and firefighters plan to cut the ribbon on a new fire station at 712 Franklin St. Police reviewed the application and did not have any safety concerns. But Crowley and board member Marilyn Reed expressed concerns about servers crossing the street and additional traffic, including from third-party delivery services such as Grubhub or Uber Eats. Crowley described the plan as the equivalent of running a drive-through window on the mall, and Reed described the area as one of the most chaotic in town. It just is adding to the chaos for everybody, Reed said. During the extensive discussion, board members spoke about how closely the zoning could be parsed. For instance, can bars and restaurants sell T-shirts or wine glasses, or would that be a mixed use? Mayor Zack Mullock, who is a Planning Board member, said there are already multiple mixed-use businesses on the Washington Street Mall, and the current business has been in operation for years without a problem. He also said the applicant had already had about five hours in front of the board over more than one meeting. I think we should hear it, Mullock said. Weve put them through a lot to say they have to go to the Zoning Board. The Navy's SM-2 ship-to-air missile has successfully hit its target in the first live-fire exercise involving the weapon conducted in Korea, officials said Sunday. Navy officials said that the first domestic live-fire training session involving the SM-2 missile, designed to intercept enemy missiles and aircraft from the sea, took place in the East Sea on Friday. The Navy's live-fire SM-2 exercises had been exclusively conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii as part of the biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercise in the absence of a live-fire maritime test site and a test analysis system at home. The first local SM-2 test occurred as the Agency for Defense Development established a maritime research center in the eastern coastal city of Samcheok in 2021 along with an analyst system for maritime live-fire tests of guided weapons. During the latest training, an SM-2 was fired from the 4,400-ton destroyer Gang Gam-chan in the East Sea and intercepted a target drone approaching at a high speed, the Navy officials said. The Navy said the test enables the mobilization of SM-2 missiles in future live-fire tests in Korea, enhancing the Navy's response capabilities in antiaircraft defense and battles. Officials also said that domesticating the process would spare the Navy the training cost of 1 billion won ($769,822) per session. In 2004, the Navy adopted the SM-2 missile by American defense manufacturer Raytheon. It has an attack range of 150 kilometers and costs 1.8 billion won per unit. (Yonhap) Following a spirited start at its 14th edition, the much-celebrated music festival received an enthusiastic response on its second day. Music aficionados from diverse age groups gathered at Teerth Fields in Pune to witness a historic moment in the Indian music festival landscape. Embracing themes of empowerment, identity, and diversity, the British pop icon M.I.A. delivered a groundbreaking, genre-defying performance as the headline act. The audience, captivated by her set, passionately called for an encore when she concluded. Paying homage to her South Asian heritage in a spectacular closing set, M.I.A. performed her radio hits like Time Traveller, Paper Planes, Come Around, Borders, and Bad Girls. The overwhelming support for the all-female-led lineup was evident across both the BACARDI ARENA and the Bat Stage, with the venue filled to capacity. Debuting in the region, rising Swiss-based R&B sensation Priya Ragu, Copenhagen's global bass star Alo Wala, and Canadian hip-hop duo Cartel Madras uplifted the atmosphere with bold lyricism, an unapologetic attitude, and uplifting melodies. Their performances left attendees feeling ecstatic, nostalgic, and empowered simultaneously. Opening acts by Bengaluru-based musicians Mary Ann Alexander, BeBhumika, Lavi, and Pune-based multi-instrumentalist Aarifah set the stage with smooth-flowing R&B, jazz, and hip-hop styles, exemplifying the talent present on the all-female-led bill. Homegrown favourites Gurbax, Lothika, Hanita Bhambri, and emerging acts Katoptris, Naalayak, and Dorwin John kept the energetic crowds engaged, building anticipation for the headliner acts on the CASA BACARDI and Pineapple Stage during the latter half of the evening. Returning to India after half a decade, the New York-based duo MEMBA and certified gold music producer Jai Wolf received an enthusiastic reception from electronic music enthusiasts. MEMBA sampled sounds from their new EP 'East Meets West,' and emotions ran high as the duo's performance featured a special appearance by MEMBA's wife on stage, with his mother cheering from the audience during 'For Aisha' from The Sky Is Pink film. BACARDI NH7 Weekender, an initiative by NODWIN Gaming and presented by BACARDI Experiences, began in Pune in 2010 and has since been synonymous with the rise of independent music in India. A Davenport man arrested with eight other men during a federal sex crime sting has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. During a sentencing hearing held Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Peoria, Auston M. McLain, 38, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each count of attempted enticement of a minor and travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activities. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow ordered the sentences to run concurrently. McLain will receive credit for the time he has served in custody awaiting trial and sentencing. There is no parole in the federal system. Darrow also ordered that McLain spend 10 years on federal supervised release once his prison sentence is completed. A federal jury found McLain guilty of the charges on June, 2023, after a two-day trial. A charge of soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor was dropped. McLain was arrested in November of 2020 after he traveled from his Davenport apartment to a house in Rock Island to meet a person he believed was boy for sex. The person McLain had been chatting with and agreed to meet was actually an undercover federal agent. Eight other men were arrested in the sting that targeted adults attempting to entice minors for sexual exploitation. Only one other man from the nine awaits sentencing in the case. Jeffrey Alan Bosaw, 55, of Bloomington, Illinois, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of attempted enticement of a minor after a one-day trial held Aug. 17 in U.S. District Court, Peoria. Bosaw is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 19 in U.S. District Court, Peoria. The other seven men have either been found guilty by a jury or entered into a plea agreement and have been sentenced, with sentences ranging from seven years and three months to 17 years. Douglas L. Christensen, 58, of East Moline was sentenced Nov. 3, 2021, to 10 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. He is scheduled to be released Sept. 16, 2028. Michael Robert McKinney, 26, of Silvis was sentenced July 20, 2021, to 12 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Marianna, Florida, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. He is scheduled to be released March 29, 2031. Douglas Michael Speer, 33, of Johnston, Iowa, was sentenced Oct. 20, 2021, to 11 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the Federal Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. He is scheduled to be released May 18, 2029. Nicholas Bryan Swank, 34, of Muscatine was sentenced Jan. 6, 2022, to 17 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. He is scheduled to be released Oct. 11, 2035. Charles Walter Christopher, 45, of West Liberty was sentenced Dec. 15, 2021, to 22 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the U.S. Penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. He is scheduled to be released July 2, 2040. Joseph Allen Wilcher, 42, of Cedar Rapids was sentenced Feb. 24, 2022, to 10 years in prison. He is currently being held at the Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas. He is scheduled to be released Nov. 2, 2029. Damien Pernell Shepherd, 38, of Moline, was sentenced Nov. 22, 2022, to seven years and three months in prison. He is currently being held at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan. He is scheduled to be released Jan. 19, 2027. Four hours wasn't enough for the Eldridge City Council to decide the fate of the city's police chief Tuesday night. Chief Joseph Sisler is accused of failing to promptly investigate allegations that one of his officers was sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. Eldridge Police Officer Andrew DeNoyer was arrested on Sept. 28, 2021, on three charges of third-degree sexual abuse. On June 14, 2022, DeNoyer pleaded guilty to the three counts and on July 29, 2022, District Judge Patrick McElyea sentenced DeNoyer to 10 years in prison on each count, to run concurrently. On Aug. 9, 2023, the girls parents filed a lawsuit against the city of Eldridge and Sisler, claiming that the girl's father had made a statement to Sisler that DeNoyer was sexually abusing his underage daughter. The statement asked that DeNoyer not have any contact with their daughter and asked Sisler to investigate the allegation of DeNoyers sexual abuse. Sisler denies the girl's father asked him to investigate any such claims. Eldridge placed Sisler on administrative leave with pay on Oct. 16 for allegedly violating city guidelines for not activating his bodycam during an incident with the girl's parents, and for allegedly not investigating the claims that DeNoyer was sexually abusing their daughter. Sisler was interviewed Oct. 19 by Eldridge Mayor Frank King and City Administrator Nevada Lemke. Sisler's attorney, Skylar Limkemann, argued during the meeting Tuesday that King and Lemke are not certified to perform such an interview. As a U.S. Army veteran, Sisler requested and was granted a Veterans Preference Hearing, held Tuesday, throughout which he said he had done everything by the law with regard to DeNoyer. Under the Veterans Preference law, Iowa allows for termination only for incompetency or misconduct after a hearing upon due notice of stated charges. A veteran can ask for a public hearing, which Sisler did. During Tuesdays hearing, Eldridge City Council chambers were filled with about 30 people, all there to support Sisler. At times, Sisler cried over the fact that his integrity was being questioned by the city he said he has served since 2011. Sisler and Limkemann told city council members that the girl's father never made a complaint. They said the girl's father made a written statement that he said he wanted to be on file and said that he did not want DeNoyer to get into trouble. The girl's father said he wanted DeNoyer kept away from the family. According to a timeline of events provided by Limkemann, on May 15, 2021, DeNoyer held a graduation party for his wife at their Davenport home. DeNoyer's father-in-law was at the party, as was the girl and her parents. Limkemann said that while at the party, DeNoyers father-in-law made an allegation that there was some sort of involvement between the (the girl) and DeNoyer. According to Sisler, he talked to the girl's father over the phone and encouraged him to come to the police station and make a complaint. The girl's father went to the police station on June 23, 2021. However, instead of filling out a complaint form, he wanted to make a written statement and have it placed on file, Sisler said. A complaint is a formal written allegation that is signed by the complainant that wishes to have an investigation done, Sisler said. The complainant must be willing to cooperate with the agency receiving the complaint. If a complainant is not cooperative, nor wanting anything done, then nothing is done with the statement and our hands are tied. Sisler said he never read the statement, and therefore never signed it. He handed it to Sgt. Andrew Lellig to file. According to the lawsuit, DeNoyer was friends with the victim and her family. Between the time of the party and the time that he was appointed chief, the girl's mother had helped Sisler with his resume to go with his application for the chiefs position. Sisler had been a sergeant under former Chief Dave Kopatich who retired April 20, 2021. Sisler said that neither of the girl's parents ever questioned him about any investigation into DeNoyer. Both Sisler and Jack Schwertman, who is the departments school resource officer and who also handles sex offenses, said they never suspected that DeNoyer was sexually abusing anyone. On Sept. 23, 2021, however, Schwertman and DeNoyer were giving a presentation at the high school. Limkemann said that according to the DCI investigation, the victim repeatedly walked past the room where Schwertman and DeNoyer were giving their presentation. She then had a medical incident outside of the classroom. While Schwertman went to get a cot to move the girl, DeNoyer stayed and held her hand. When the girl's mother got to the school, she became irate as to why DeNoyer was around her daughter. Much of the interaction with both of the victim's parents was caught on Lellig's bodycam. Schwertman said he called Sisler to the scene at the mother's request as she needed to speak to Sisler immediately. Limkemann said the video shows Sisler using standard police interviewing techniques to try and get to the bottom of what is going on. He still wanted to know what the issue was. It wasnt making sense to him. Throughout the video, Limkemann said, the girl's parents stated they did not want to make a complaint or start a criminal investigation. Limkemann said that in the video, Sisler and the girl's father are going back and forth about whether theres a case. Sisler then requested the parents come by the police station the next day. When they didnt show up, Limkemann said, Sisler contacted the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. According to a police report with the county, the victim's mother contacted Scott County Sheriff's Detective Ryan Strom on Sept. 24, 2021, the same day Sisler says he contacted the DCI. Strom took her statement and then consulted with then Sgt. Thomas Leonard and Major Jason Roth. All agreed to turn the information over to the DCI. In that report, Strom said he spoke to DCI special agent Ryan Kedley who advised them that their office had been requested by Chief Sisler to launch an investigation into allegations against DeNoyer. According to the lawsuit, at least one of the incidents occurred after the June 2021 statement the girl's father filed with Sisler, after Sisler was to have told DeNoyer to not have any contact with the family. However, Scott County District Court documents are inconsistent on the dates the abuse occurred. In one area of the court documents, two of the offenses occurred on Aug. 19, 2020, while the third occurred May 1, 2021. Sisler was a sergeant for the Eldridge Police Department up until May of 2021 when he was named interim chief. DeNoyer was hired by Chief Dave Kopatich. When Kopatich retired, Sisler was named interim chief. The trial information charges DeNoyer from Aug. 19, 2020, through the date of his arrest on Sept. 28, 2021. Limkemann said that until the argument with the girl's parents outside of the school, Sisler hadnt connected all the dots, but that's when he decided to contact DCI. Sisler said he now wishes he had read the initial statement. But he said with the father not wanting anything done, there was no reason to. Sisler said he never knew or suspected that DeNoyer had committed sexual abuse until the investigation by DCI was done, nor was he covering anything up. On Sept. 27, 2021, agents with DCI interviewed DeNoyer at 8 p.m. at his home. DeNoyer resigned that night. Limkemann told the city council that had Sisler begun an administrative investigation into DeNoyer before a criminal investigation was completed, it could have tainted the criminal investigation. Limkemann said it was well that things unfolded as they did, otherwise DeNoyer could still be walking the streets. You dont open up an administrative investigation until a criminal investigation has run its course," he said. The city also had accused Sisler of not turning on his bodycam once he had arrived at the school. However, Sisler and several officers stated that the current bodycam system the department uses is faulty and does not always work. A new system is being put into place. Limkemann said that it was the city's burden to prove the charges against Sisler, but the city presented no evidence at Tuesday's meeting. Since he has been on administrative leave, Sisler has not had access to any of his files. Limkemann said those files would give the council more clarification and information. While council member Bruce Cheek was ready to reinstate Sisler as chief, councilmen Bernie Peeters and Brian Dockery said they both wanted more information. The council voted to keep Sisler on administrative leave but allow him access to his records for Wednesdays executive session. Once the executive session is completed, the council plans to take a public vote on whether to retain Sisler or fire him. Correction: A correction was made to this story to properly identify whose body cam was on at the school. Pleasant Valley schools moved forward on elementary playground upgrades and swore in new board members at its latest board meeting. With all board members present, president Nikhil Wagle kicked off the meeting on Monday, Nov. 27, off by reading a proclamation in honor of American Education Week. The board also recognized the following high school achievements: Next, the board also took time to recognize retiring board members Jodi Hoskins and Tracey Rivera. First elected to Pleasant Valley's Director District 5 seat in 2015, Hoskins did not run for re-election this fall. Rivera appointed to the board in October 2022 was narrowly unseated by challenger Jameson Smith earlier this month for the Director District 6 seat. However, Rivera requested a recount, with the county board expected to meet to possibly act on the recanvas on Monday. Next, all recently-elected board members were sworn in: Incumbent board president Dr. Nikhil Wagle, for Director District 3. Incumbent vice president Molly Brockmann, for Director District 4. First-term board member Adrienne Wheeler, for Director District 5. Smith, for Director District 6. though the recount may change these results. Next, the board and administration voted to reelect Wagle board president (Smith voted for Director Kathryn Kunkel), unanimously re-electing Brockmann as vice president. The board also appointed Deborah Dayman as secretary bonded at $10,000, per the Iowa Code. After unanimously approving all monthly financials, the board did the same for all old district business: Revisions to the district's "603.13 - Internet Appropriate Use" policy, to align with Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) language and post-pandemic academic offerings, as all students now have district-issued devices. Minor changes to board policies "401 - Selection and Appointment," "406 - Evaluation Criteria for Certified Employees" and "501.1 - Attendance Requirement" for the state's annual Universal Desk Audit. This audit due Friday, Dec. 15 assesses Iowa school districts' compliance with federal and state regulations. The board discussed new business items next, staring with the district's Project SEARCH collaborative with Bettendorf and North Scott schools. Project SEARCH director Stacie Kintigh gave an overview of the program, which aims to provide students with intellectual disabilities or other employment barriers with transferable work skills and transition services via a nine-month internship. Placing up to 12 students annually, Pleasant Valley's program partners with UnityPoint Health - Trinity for its internships. Students in Project SEARCH work in an integrated, non-seasonal setting earning minimum wage of higher, for at least 16 hours a week. Next, Pleasant Valley curriculum leaders shared three new high school course proposals: English 105 - Composition I, AP Pre-Calculus and AP Microeconomics. These will come to the board for a vote next meeting. The board then unanimously approved all action items. Highlights: Moving forward on a project to upgrade all elementary school playgrounds to rubber surfaces, scheduling a RFP (request for proposal) on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. Site work for this project is tentatively slated for June 1, 2024, aiming for full completion (of all district playgrounds) by the summer of 2025. A $295,290 modified supplemental amount (i.e. spending authority) request to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) for open-enrolled out students not included in the districts certified enrollment count last year. A $11,367 SBRC request for the district's English language learning program specifically, for students exceeding five years of (intermediate services) weighting included on the fall 2023 certified enrollment headcount. All October financials. Next meeting: Monday, Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. (change in time due to high school concert). Photos: Pleasant Valley dancers perform solo routines at state competition (Oct. 28, 2023) Rock Island County's property tax levy is expected to see another decrease in the upcoming fiscal year budget. The county's budget will see a reduction of more than 6% in county property tax levies. It will represent an over $2.2 million dollar in savings to the taxpayers of the county, a media release stated. County Finance Director Ryan Berger said the expected rate is the lowest it has been since 2016. According to county finanical reports, the rate in 2016 was 1.125%. For fiscal year 2024, it is 1.04%. The board does not set the rate directly, but the expected tax rate is determined by the requested levy. The reduction equates to an average savings of about $37 on properties assessed at $150,000, according to announcement. Board Chairman Richard "Qujias" Brunk said the reduction in property tax levies is a result of "tough decisions, well managed opportunities, and a tremendous amount of teamwork". "We will continue to engage best practices in fiscal planning, to best serve county residents," Brunk said. The board approved the Fiscal Year 2024 budget at its Tuesday, Nov. 21 meeting and it went into effect on Friday, Dec. 1. Clean energy incentive The county also is hoping to spur more clean-energy projects by offering a new financing incentive. The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program is a program offered through the Illinois Finance Authority that provides low-cost and long-term financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other resiliency projects in commercial buildings. It is a financing tool that can help lower development costs for new and existing clean-energy real estate projects. The board unanimously approved to enact the program. Under the program, any owner or developer located in area with a PACE ordinance can obtain financing, refinancing, or interim financing of a project that could qualify under the program. According to IFA'S application process, it requires a property valuation, an executed term sheet, and application that has been approved by the IFA, and a compliance certificate from the PACE project administrator. It also requires an energy audit in some circumstances. It also is another tool in which counties and municipalities can avoid using their own resources to issue bonds or notes to fund projects that fall under the program. Funds can be used on improvements that cover a wide range of clean energy projects such as high-efficiency heating, ventilating or air conditioning, solar panels, cooling towers and electric vehicle charging stations. Brunk said he is pleased that the board adopted the C-PACE program to help existing businesses. "The new Rock Island County C-PACE Program will benefit our existing businesses with an additional financing option for expansions or renovations, as well as help position the county for new economic development," Brunk said. Privately-owned commercial, industrial, non-residential agricultural, or multi-family property or any property owned by a nonprofit can apply for loan incentives, according to the announcement. Chris Meister, IFA executive director, said he is thrilled to see Rock Island County adopted the PACE ordinance to provide a competitive advantage to the community. "PACE provides a valuable financing solution for business owners to implement energy efficiency upgrades on their properties, resulting in both cost savings on utility bills and a reduced carbon footprint," Meister said. The program also is another path for the state of Illinois to achieve 100% renewable energy within the next 30 years. Set forth in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, or CEJA, the legislation aims to combat climate change and invest in renewable energy around the state. It aims to have the state to 40% renewable energy by 2030, 50% by 2040 and 100% renewable energy by 2050. County Board Member Porter McNeil said the program will not cost taxpayers but will help lead to new economic development growth. "This is a positive step for Rock Island County that should serve as a catalyst for new clean-energy improvements and jobs," McNeil said. Other municipalities and counties that utilize the program are Jo Daviess, Sangamon and Tazewell counties and the cities/villages of Decatur, Galena, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Rochelle, Roselle and Springfield. Once again the secrecy in Davenport City Hall leaves the public in the dark. In light of separation agreements with three city administration employees, we have many questions: - Why did the city approve separation agreements without a public vote? - What is the extent of sexual and other harassment against City Administrator Corri Spiegel? - How was harassment allowed to go on in City Hall for eight years, as is stated in a release by the city? - How were the amounts of payouts in the separation agreements determined? - Who signed off on them other than the outgoing city attorney Tom Warner? - Why was the separation agreement with Spiegel kept quiet for a month and not released until after a city election in which the city administration was a campaign issue? Let's start with that question of timing. A separation agreement was signed Oct. 6, four days before a city primary and a month before the Nov. 7 election, both of which included multiple city races including a contested race for mayor. The separation agreement with Spiegel for $1.6 million was made public Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving and a four-day holiday weekend where big stories will receive less attention. Did those who were running for reelection decide when the information would be made public? Who did decide, and why the delay? We need to know if this is as bad as it appears. The two other separation agreements, which paid out to administration staff members $157,000 and $140,500, were not made public until FOIA requests were made, after Spiegel's agreement was announced. Here's what we know about the timing of these agreements: Aug. 31: Two staff members request separation agreements. Sept. 6: City files charges to remove Alderman Derek Cornette. Sept. 7: Council votes 7-3 to remove Cornette. Sept. 8: Agreements for two staff members are signed. The public should have known about these agreements immediately, and they should have come before the council in a public vote. We don't know how these developments would have impacted the election, but the point is we shouldn't have to wonder. The public deserved this information, and the city withheld it. The public also deserved to see a public vote on the Spiegel agreement. City Attorney Tom Warner, who is retiring after the first of the year, argues that the city code authorizes the city legal team to settle claims against the city with consent of the council and so the council need not publicly vote on it. So then why in 2015 was former city administrator Craig Malin's separation with the city approved 9-1 in open session? We disagree with Warner. The agreement must come before the council in public session. The details of the agreement can be discussed in closed session, but the approval should be in front of the public. Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, sides with us: "Otherwise," he said, "the taxpayers in Davenport would have no way of knowing about legal conflicts that are resolved through settlements." That was clearly the case with the other two separation agreements that have only now come to light. The city sent a release saying: "The amount of compensation (for Spiegel) is small when compared to what a lengthy lawsuit and an ultimate finding of wrongdoing would have cost the taxpayers." We're not in a position to know whether this is true, but if a lawsuit had been filed at least we'd know the details of what happened in Davenport City Hall that precipitated these payouts. As it is, the city and Spiegel have agreed not to release information about the harassment. Only through the separation requests from the two administration employees do we have a sense of what went on in City Hall, and it appears that only happened because the city mistakenly released this information un-redacted when responding to FOIA requests. It's not pretty. The two staff members describe inappropriate behavior, some of it of a sexual nature, that led to a hostile work environment. And, while Cornette's behavior is the centerpiece of these allegations, the incidents date back several years and include other public officials. The employees said they reported these incidents to their supervisor, which, in recent cases, would have been Spiegel, yet the actions were allowed to persist. In February, Cornette and Alderwoman Judith Lee were prohibited from communicating with staff and required to communicate only through Warner. That clearly was a step to put a barrier between Cornette and these employees. It's worth noting that the staff members did not complain about Lee until after the communication restriction, which they said Lee violated and that made them uncomfortable. We will give the council credit for finally removing Cornette, but clearly it came after the separation requests were made by the staff members. Cornette is suing the city over his removal. All of this is in front of a backdrop in which the city is named in multiple lawsuits related to the the partial collapse of The Davenport apartment building May 28 that killed three men. The city's credibility with the public has eroded and the mistrust has deepened. The public can't make good decisions without information. The first step has to be transparency. The city needs leadership now. As Betsy Gaines Quammen sought to write a book about the American West, she found that every one of the 100-plus people she interviewed defined the region differently, conjuring a distinct story about its past and present. Her book, True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America, explores the ways in which people with vastly different perspectives coexist within this storied landscape, a task made increasingly difficult as misinformation and polarization run rampant. At the Nov. 30 Mansfield Center Dialogues event, authors Kathleen McLaughlin and Chris La Tray joined Quammen on stage at the University of Montana to discuss ways that mythology of the American West has fueled many of the current tensions in Montana and places like it. Alan Townsend, dean of the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, moderated the conversation. Its very notable how the mythology has overwhelmed the reality, said McLaughlin, who grew up in Butte. To me, Montana has always been weird weird people, weird stories. Her experience stands in stark contrast to the popular representation of the American West today. McLaughlin directly connected the housing and affordability crises troubling Montana today to the falsehoods of cowboy homogeneity and untouched ruggedness thats been construed in the national consciousness. Referring to what she termed the Yellowstone effect, McLaughlin said wealthy people increasingly see the West as a place where they can make a new identity by buying it. If Quammens book makes the case that the reality of the American West cant be neatly packaged and marketed as a single narrative, that contention was affirmed among the panelists themselves. La Tray, a Metis writer and Montanas current Poet Laureate, said he bristles at the use of the West as a term: I immediately feel like an outsider because we dont usually talk about what this place was before white people staggered upon it, he said. And while Quammen said she grew up being taught a version of Western mythology that celebrated cowboy culture and westward exploration, McLaughlin said that as a child of Montana it always seemed like a difficult place, somewhere where it was hard to make a living and tough to endure winters. The three panelists agreed that much of the divisiveness in the American West could be improved by recognizing shared humanity among people, even those who hold disparate beliefs. We all have the opportunity to make some changes, La Tray said. One such change? Spend more time learning about and participating in local issues and local politics. Start caring about things closer to home, McLaughlin said. If you dont have their books, you should, Townsend said. And Im an annoying academic trained to critique things, so I dont say that lightly. By Daniel Hall Nepal, a small country situated between two global giants, India and China, plays a vital role in maintaining regional stability. Despite persistent efforts by China to distance Nepal from India, the historical and cultural ties between Nepal and India have remained strong. These connections have not only fostered close people-to-people relationships but have also facilitated economic and military cooperation. The India-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 serves as the foundation for the special relationship between the two countries. Under this treaty, Nepalese citizens enjoy the same privileges as Indian citizens in terms of facilities and opportunities. In recent years, India has provided significant development assistance to Nepal, including financial aid, lines of credit for infrastructure projects, and military support. However, China has been actively increasing its influence in Nepal, particularly since Nepals transition to a federal democratic republic in 2008. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to develop infrastructure and boost bilateral trade, reducing Nepals reliance on Indian goods. While this presents economic opportunities for Nepal, it also raises concerns about the nation falling into a Chinese debt trap, potentially compromising its independence. Furthermore, China has offered to enlist Nepalese Gurkhas into its Peoples Liberation Army, providing long-term absorption opportunities that India has not offered. This development, along with the provision of Chinese weapons and training to the Nepalese army, raises alarms about the increased presence of the Chinese military near Indian borders. Despite these challenges, the close ties between Nepal and India have endured. Trade and investment between the two countries thrive, with India being Nepals top trading partner. Additionally, cultural exchange, cooperation in water management, and advancements in agriculture further strengthen the bilateral relationship. Both Nepal and India must remain vigilant in safeguarding their interests while also engaging with China. Nepal serves as a strategic buffer between the two giants, and maintaining healthy neighborly relations is essential for regional stability. As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, it is crucial for Nepal to strike a delicate balance between its relations with India and China. FAQ 1. What is the historical relationship between Nepal and India? The historical relationship between Nepal and India is characterized by close cultural, historical, and geographical ties. Religious connections, people-to-people exchanges, and economic cooperation have strengthened the bond between the two nations. 2. How has China increased its influence in Nepal? China has intensified its activities in Nepal by supporting local communists, developing infrastructure projects, offering military recruitment opportunities, and signing agreements like the Belt and Road Initiative. These efforts aim to enhance Chinas economic and strategic interests in Nepal. 3. What challenges does Nepal face in maintaining its independence? Nepal faces the challenge of balancing its relations with India and China while safeguarding its independence. The risk of falling into a Chinese debt trap and the increasing presence of the Chinese military near Indian borders are concerns that Nepal needs to address. 4. How does India support Nepals development? India provides significant development assistance to Nepal, including financial aid, lines of credit for infrastructure projects, military support, and educational scholarships. Trade and investment between the two countries are also substantial, contributing to Nepals development. Source: EnergyPortal.eu By Max Hunder KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's security service said on Saturday it had prevented former president Petro Poroshenko from leaving the country on grounds that Russia planned to exploit a planned meeting with Hungary's prime minister to hurt Ukrainian interests. Poroshenko's political party, European Solidarity, said the former president had scheduled only meetings in Poland and the United States and warned the SBU security service against becoming involved in politics. Poroshenko was turned away at a border post on Friday. The SBU said he had planned to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains ties with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and opposes opening talks on European Union membership with Ukraine. An SBU statement said Russia was preparing a series of "provocations" to discredit Ukraine among its foreign allies as the war against Russia stretches beyond 21 months. It provided no evidence to support the allegations. Of the possible meeting with Orban, the SBU said: "Russia planned to use this meeting (like other 'working meetings with ... representative of countries voicing pro-Russian narratives) in psychological operations against Ukraine." The SBU said Orban "systematically holds an anti-Ukrainian position", was a "friend of Putin" and sought the removal of sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Orban, who is open about his friendly ties with Putin, opposes the start of EU membership talks with Ukraine, to be considered at the bloc's forthcoming summit. He called this week for the creation instead of a "strategic partnership" with Kyiv. Orban has frequently been at odds with Zelenskiy on several issues related to Ukraine's EU membership bid. European Solidarity, in its statement, called for dialogue with Orban who, it said, had a veto right over accession talks. Under martial law, Ukrainian officials must secure approval to travel abroad. Parliament's deputy speaker, Oleksandr Korniyenko, said Poroshenko's permission had been cancelled after he had received a letter, which he could not comment on. Zelenskiy's office has made no comment and Orban's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Poroshenko, president from 2014 to 2019, accused Zelenskiy's administration on Friday of cancelling the permission and playing politics ahead of elections. The dispute comes amid slowly growing tensions between government and opposition - mostly over internal matters such as budgets and appointments - in contrast to the near-total unity at the start of the conflict. Zelenskiy and Poroshenko fought a bitter, often deeply personal battle in the 2019 presidential election, when Zelenskiy defeated the incumbent Poroshenko in a landslide. Zelenskiy said 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. RENO, Nev. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has halted the use of spring-loaded traps that disperse cyanide powder to kill coyotes and other livestock predators, a practice wildlife advocates have tried to outlaw for decades due to safety concerns. The M-44 ejector-devices that critics call "cyanide bombs" have unintentionally killed thousands of pets and non-predator wildlife, including endangered species, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services. They have a scented bait and emit a poisonous cloud when triggered by a physical disturbance. The Bureau of Land Management quietly posted a notice on its website recently that it no longer will use the devices across the 390,625 square miles it manages nationally an area twice the size of California much of it where ranchers graze cattle and sheep. Other federal agencies including the National Park Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service already prohibit the devices. But the Forest Service and 10 states still use them in some form. Eight unsuccessful bills have been introduced in Congress since 2008 to ban the the traps on federal and/or state lands. Sponsors of legislation pending in the U.S. House and Senate that would ban them on both say they're optimistic the bureau's new position will help pave the way for broader support. Brooks Fahy, executive director of the Oregon-based watchdog group Predator Defense, has been working for 40 years to ban the use of sodium cyanide in the traps. He emphasized that it's registered under the Environmental Protection Agency as a Category 1 toxicant, the highest level of toxicity. "I can't believe they're still being put on the landscape and they continue to harm people," Fahy said. "I've seen M-44s set right on the edge of a trail." M-44s consist of a stake driven into the ground with a spring and canister loaded with the chemical. Marked inconsistently and sometimes not at all, humans have mistaken them for sprinkler heads or survey markers. Federal agencies rely on Wildlife Services to deal with problem animals whether in remote areas or airports across the country using lethal and non-lethal forces. The change on Bureau of Land Management land came under a recent revision of a memorandum of understanding with Wildlife Services. Wildlife Services has used M-44s for decades, mostly in the West, as part of a broader program to control predators that dates to the 1930s. The American Sheep Industry Association and National Cattlemen's Beef Association were among 100 industry groups that wrote to Congress this year, stressing the importance of the program. They said predators cause more than $232 million in livestock losses annually. About a dozen people have been seriously harmed over the past 25 years by M-44s on federal lands, according to Predator Defense. Between 2000-2016, Wildlife Services reported 246,985 animals killed by M-44s, including at least 1,182 dogs. From 20142022, the agency said M-44s intentionally killed 88,000 animals and unintentionally killed more than 2,000 animals. Public outcry over the devices grew after a family dog was killed in 2017 in Pocatello, Idaho, and Canyon Mansfield, then 14, was injured after accidentally triggering a device placed on public land about 400 feet from their home. In 2020, the federal government admitted negligence and agreed to pay the family $38,500 to resolve a lawsuit. "We are so happy to finally see one federal government department banning another's reckless and indiscriminate actions," Canyon Mansfield's father, Mark Mansfield, said last week. Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California, who is the lead sponsor of the bill that would outlaw use of M-44s on all state and federal lands, has named the current version "Canyon's Law," after Mansfield. Fahy, from Predator Defense, acknowledged efforts in Congress to ban the use of M-44s have gained little traction over the past 15 years. But he said publicity over the Mansfield case has changed the political landscape more than anything he's seen since 1982 when President Ronald Reagan revoked an executive order issued by President Richard Nixon in 1972 that had banned use of all poisons by federal agents on federal lands. Several weeks after Canyon Mansfield was poisoned, Fahy said Wildlife Services agreed to stop using M-44s in Idaho. Two years later, Oregon banned them statewide and a partial ban soon followed in New Mexico. Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming also still allow M-44s. Pyongyang says 'war on the peninsula has become a matter of time' By Lee Hyo-jin A space race is heating up between North and South Korea following Seoul's successful deployment of its first military reconnaissance satellite, Saturday, just over a week after Pyongyang's launch of its own satellite. The competition is expected to intensify further as the two Koreas seek to send up additional satellites in the future to bolster their space-based surveillance capabilities, which is heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula. On Sunday, the North threatened war in the near future, criticizing Seoul's recent decision to partially scrap an inter-Korean military accord signed in 2018 to ease cross-border tensions. South Korea's first indigenous spy satellite was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, at 10:19 a.m., Friday (local time). The satellite was placed into designated orbit about an hour after liftoff, and successfully established communication with the ground station around 4:37 a.m on Saturday, according to South Korea's Ministry of National Defense. The launch was a part of South Korea's 425 Project, under which one electro-optical infrared telescope (EO/IR) satellite the one launched on Saturday and four more synthetic aperture radar satellites (SAR) will be sent into low Earth orbit by 2025, aiming to enhance the military's reconnaissance capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign intelligence sources. SAR satellites have the capacity to capture data in all weather conditions, circumventing the limitations faced by EO/IR ones which cannot penetrate thick clouds. Once operational, the five satellites will conduct high-resolution surveillance on the nuclear-armed neighbors key military facilities at two-hour intervals, thereby significantly enhancing South Koreas Kill Chain system, which is a platform designed to preemptively counter North Korean threats by detecting signs of an imminent attack. Seoul's successful launch of its indigenous spy satellite came slightly over a week after Pyongyang claimed to have placed its first military surveillance satellite, Malligyong-1, into orbit on Nov. 21. The North Korean satellite began full-fledged operations on Saturday, according to an article released by the North's official mouthpiece Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Sunday. Little is known about the technical capabilities of the North Korean satellite, such as camera operating technology, data processing and the transmission ability of its communication devices. But for one thing, the spatial resolution of Pyongyang's satellite significantly falls behind that of South Korea's, critics say. "The South Korean military satellite, which is capable of detecting an object as small as 30 centimeters, will be able to capture the movements of North Korean military vehicles," Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank, told The Korea Times. "But the North Korean satellite is known to have an estimated resolution of around three meters. It's not sophisticated enough to conduct meaningful military reconnaissance activities other than detecting huge naval vessels," he said. North Korea has claimed that its recently launched satellite has sent back detailed images of major South Korean cities and American military bases in Guam and Hawaii, as well as several nuclear aircraft carriers in U.S. naval bases. But Pyongyang has not disclosed any of those photos yet, Shin pointed out, saying that the regime could be exaggerating its capabilities. South Korea's military satellite launch comes amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea warning of a "physical clash and war," blaming Seoul's decision to partially scrap the inter-Korean military accord following Pyongyang's satellite launch. "On Nov. 22, the political and military gangsters of the 'Republic of Korea' abruptly announced the suspension of some provisions of the September 19 North-South Military Agreement...And since the afternoon of the day, they all went into the military confrontation racket, reminiscent of the eve of a war, in the area along the Military Demarcation Line," a North Korean military commentator said in an article released by KCNA, Sunday. The Republic of Korea (ROK) is South Korea's official name, while DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic Korea, North Korea's official name. "The physical clash and war on the Korean Peninsula have become a matter of time, not a possibility," the article read. The reclusive regime reiterated its stance that the Nov. 21 satellite launch was the "legitimate and just right of a sovereign state," arguing that it is no different to South Korea's latest launch of its own spy satellite. "If the DPRK's satellite launch is a 'violation' of the north-south military agreement, what are the satellites launched by the enemies so far? What about the launch of a reconnaissance satellite, which was finally carried out with the backing of the U.S. master on Dec. 2 after delaying it from Nov. 30?" wrote the KCNA. Some Virginia school boards that over the past few years have increasingly become hotbeds for culture war issues saw a shift this election cycle away from candidates who focused on controversial subjects like book bans and transgender issues. High-profile school boards like Spotsylvania and Gloucester are two examples. Three of the four open seats on Spotsylvanias School Board flipped blue, and the fourth seat was held onto by a Democratic-affiliated incumbent. The electoral shift follows more than a year of controversy, most recently involving the removal of books from school libraries. Three seats were flipped on the Gloucester County School Board, known for its refusal to let transgender student Gavin Grimm use the boys restroom, spurring a lawsuit that almost reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Although Virginia school board seats are nonpartisan, many across the state saw political parties actively involved by way of endorsements and donations to candidates. In Loudoun County, which has become the forefront of Gov. Glenn Youngkins parents matter movement, each candidate of the nine-member School Board was endorsed by a political party, making the partisan lines apparent. The new board will remain a majority of Democratic-endorsed candidates, despite the unflattering controversy the board and school district have faced over the past year that set off a firestorm of political controversy and breeded ripe grounds for the parents rights movement. A Loudoun high school student sexually assaulted a girl on campus in May 2021 and was then transferred to another county school, where he abducted and sexually assaulted another girl just five months later. A special grand jury found that county school district administrators were looking out for their own interests, leading to a preventable sexual assault in a county school. Both statewide and national groups poured time and resources into Virginias school board races this year. One of the most involved organizations was the newly formed We the People for Education, a nonpartisan 5014 that works with candidates across the political spectrum. The nonprofit group provided general support for about 60 school board races across Virginia, including a majority of first-time candidates who won their elections. The organization, which says it champions common sense leadership on local school boards, says it focused intently on races in which an incumbent or candidate was a far-right extremist or someone who championed anti-public schools efforts. The organization invested additional resources in 34 races statewide. Of those, 24 won on Nov. 7. Overall, we saw a very decisive rejection of these cultural war, far-right policies and I think this election, if anything, brings out the need for us to support local leadership that actually is focused on students in schools, said Tiffany Van Der Hyde, the groups executive director. Voters need to be extra diligent about learning about local candidates because there is no party affiliation, or any kind of disclaimer of who someone might be, like there is on those up-ballot tickets. I think it calls for a little bit more voter education, which is challenging in Virginia, where every year we have elections and theres just so much political electoral noise going on. Although the group worked to defeat many far-right candidates, it supported both Republicans and Democrats who believe in our local schools. Locally, We the People for Education was involved with the Henrico County and Chesterfield County school board races with the former turned blue and the latter remaining a 3-2 Republican-affiliated majority. The Henrico School Boards current makeup is split, with two members explicitly backed by Henrico Democrats, two who received donations last election cycle from the local GOP, and one who has not received endorsements or donations from either party. The position this year that determined the makeup of next years Henrico School Board was the Three Chopt District seat. It is now occupied by Micky Ogburn, who received more than $2,000 funding from the Republican Party of Virginia last election cycle. She stepped down as board chairwoman in 2021 after she shared an offensive Dr. Seuss meme on Facebook, and was called on by the Henrico NAACP to relinquish her leadership post. The next Three Chopt representative will be Madison Irving, a teacher endorsed by the local Democratic Party and supported by We the People for Education. He won against self-described moderate Kristen Vithoulkas and GOP-backed Eleina Espigh, a parent who described herself on Truth Social as Anti-mask, anti-vax, anti-abortion the school boards worst enemy. Espigh was part of the roughly dozen families in the school district of nearly 50,000 students last January who refused to follow the districts mask rules. During a School Board meeting in January 2022, she said her son was a political prisoner at his Henrico high school. The other two contested races on the Henrico School Board had all Democratic candidates. The other Richmond-area school board that had an election this year was the Chesterfield School Board, which oversees the largest school division in the area. We the People for Education was involved in campaigns for three of the five open seats on the board. Chesterfields Dale District seat was left open by the departing Debbie Bailey, who has been supported by Republicans like former House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, and former state Senate candidate Tina Ramirez. The seat flipped and will be taken over by Dominique Chatters, an Army veteran who is an educator and course director for the Army Sustainment University at Fort Gregg-Adams. Chatters beat Charletta Barringer-Brown, who had received donations from the Chesterfield County Republican Party and the Blacks Electing Conservatives PAC. Barringer-Browns largest donation of $6,700 was from the New York-based 1776 Project PAC, which endorsed more than 100 school board candidates across the nation this year and gave significant money to candidates who oppose critical race theory. We the People for Education also supported incumbent Dot Heffron, who won against a candidate supported by the conservative Middle Resolution PAC based in Mechanicsville. The nonprofits one loss in the Chesterfield School Board race was for the Midlothian District seat held by Democratic-affiliated Kathryn Haines, who is not running for reelection. Lauranett Lee, an educator of more than 25 years, was beaten by Lisa Martin Hudgins, a retired teacher who was supported by the conservative Middle Resolution PAC as well as the state and local Republican parties. So although the Dale seat was flipped blue, the Midlothian seat was flipped red and Chesterfields School Board will remain a 3-2 Republican-affiliated majority. 5 spots for Santa pictures in the Richmond region Legendary Santa at Children's Museum of Richmond Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Soul Santa at Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia Smile with Santa at Hardywood West Creek Santa photos for pets and families at Short Pump Town Center Her dad moved the family out to the Powhatan County dairy farm in 1963, and thats where Trish Nice grew up. Its where three generations of the family 29 in all gather at the back pond to celebrate birthdays, holidays and just being in the rural, rolling countryside. And now she, her husband and three sons, along with two neighbors, are promising not to develop their land, but instead to preserve farms, woods and open spaces under Powhatans newly revived Agricultural and Forestal District program. Five other landowners in different corners of the county have also joined a program that has been unused in Powhatan for more than 20 years. In return for their promise not to develop their AFD land for 10 years, they will get a tax break, while county promises to consider the impact on their land of any of its decisions about nearby development. But the real driver is something else. There are so many memories here, Nice said. I want to preserve this for my children and my grandchildren. Head west on U.S. 60 and cross the county line some five miles past fast-growing western fringes of Midlothian and the intersection of Route 288, its clear youre in the country. Powhatan wants to keep it that way. Keeping Powhatan rural is important, said Terry Adcock, who runs a horse farm in western Powhatan and serves as chairman of the county Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee. Just about every candidate for supervisor this year said it was a top priority, she said. The basic vision that shaped the countys long-term comprehensive plan is that Powhatan County will be a place where people can see the stars at night, be in touch with the land, and yet be able to work, live, play, shop, and learn without leaving the county. It will be primarily rural in character with a preserved natural environment and ample open spaces. Land that can never be developed As Pete Sisti struggled with the Johnson grass that kept popping up after he cut his organic hard red winter wheat on his land, he figured Mother Nature calls the shots, and two years ago decided to put a permanent conservation easement on his 250 acres in central Powhatan. That means the land can never been developed. He is planning to add to the roughly 150 acres by planting trees on some of his cropland. Those will be good for keeping his land from eroding into the creek behind his house, as well as filtering out nitrogen or phosphorus from farm runoff. The waterway eventually leads to the Rocky Ford Creek that flows into the Appomattox River and then the James River and Chesapeake Bay. Cutting the flow of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment into the bay is a top priority of state and federal officials trying to restore the Chesapeake. Sisti also decided to join the Agricultural and Forestal District program. If you have an AFD, then your neighbors can add their land, he said. He has been talking up the idea and says plenty of them are interested. We could create a district of maybe more than 1,000 acres, he said. Its important for the county to develop but not to develop everything. Weve got to keep some chunks of land undeveloped, for water quality, for wildlife, for open space. State law dating to 1977 allows localities to create these districts, as a matter of state policy to conserve farmland, woods and open spaces. This has become even more important in recent years, as an intensive state and federal effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay some 100 miles to the east of Powhatan has turned attention to what flows in the creeks that flow into the rivers that flow into the bay, including the James River that makes up Powhatans northern boundary and the Appomattox River that makes up its southern border and that meets the James at Hopewell. That is because one way to filter out pollutants is to make sure there are trees and undisturbed wetlands alongside streams. But a lot of that land is private property, said Bob Reilly, a member of Powhatans Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee. An AFD, with the commitment to refrain from developing land for a set time, is a way to keep privately owned stream banks and wetlands on the job filtering nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment out of the water that eventually flows into the bay, he added. There are all kinds of reasons for getting involved in an AFD, he said. Thats one of the most important ones, to me. So are wildlife corridors you know, were right on the main East Coast flyway and, if birds dont have a place to stop here, theyre going to disappear, he said. A county priority Keeping Powhatan rural has been a priority for decades. The country authorized Agricultural and Forestal Districts more than three decades ago and for the first few years some 5,620 acres were protected from development. But after that first rush, landowners brought no additional land into the program. This is a buried program, not much touted by the county, despite the fact that it has been in the comprehensive plan for decades as a prime land-use tool to help local government recognize its intent to manage growth, according to a 2020 white paper from the AFD advisory committee of the day. In response, the Board of Supervisors funded an outreach program and agreed to decrease the application fee to match the level in nearby counties. Another challenge is that over the years, owners have divided land into smaller tracts sometimes, this is to give the next generation a home site; sometimes, its simply to raise money. We sold one small piece, Nice recalled. We got the money for a time, yes. But that land was gone forever There was another dairy farm, across the road from us, but now its a subdivision. Theyre nice neighbors, yes. But I just thought I wanted to preserve this, she said. Chopped-up land is an issue, since a core of 200 acres is needed to set up an AFD. The Nices between them had 202 acres just enough. Still, when Trish Nice asked neighbor Michael Lindsey, who had worked summers on the old dairy farm when he was a teenager, if he was interested, he willingly signed on with his 24 acres. So did neighbor Steven Wampler. On the other side of Powhatan. Wilson Denoon is adding his 137 acres to the Agricultural and Forestal District launched by his cousin Jimmy Willis in the early 1990s. The rolling pasture and woods have been in his family since 1883 really earlier, except that they lost it before the Civil War, only getting it back decades later. Denoon grew up in a subdivision but, as a kid, spent summers on the place and fell in love with it. I pretty much lived on 1 acre until I was 21, but I always wanted to live here, he said. I finally moved back in my 50s. With the land now preserved from development at least for the next several years, Im kind of twisting my kids arms to stay, he said. The connection is rooted deep. My daddys 93 and, when he comes out, we drive around, check on the cattle, talk about things. He did the same with his daddy and granddad, and tells me about that I hear about things that happened a century ago, Denoon said. Although being in a district allows him to cut his woods, Denoon says he isnt going to. The trees block some of the sound of cars and trucks on what feels like a busy street to him. When I was little, I could lie in the field for hours and never hear anyone else, he said. Across the way, there were no houses. Now, my house is way back there, but (I) can still hear the traffic. Im just trying to preserve whats here. How property tax breaks work An AFD opens the door to Virginias land use tax program, a property tax break for owners of farmland, forest and open space. A state group comprised of the state Tax Commissioner, the Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, the State Forester, the director of the Department of Conservation, and the dean of Virginia Techs College of Agriculture and Life Sciences take a hard annual look at income from these lands for each participating county or city to determine an assessed value. That value rather than the assessments that local governments assessors use, which are based on sales prices of nearby land will be the base on which landowners local real estate taxes are paid. The assessments derived by the state officials differ depending on the quality of the land as well as how the owner derives income. In Powhatan, for instance, assessed value for orchards is a bit less than cropland. Land that the owner rents for crops is lower still; land rented for pasture is still lower. For the Powhatan landowners moving their property into AFDs, that could translate to a drop of thousands of dollars an acre in their assessment, depending on how local officials grade their land and determine its current use, a Richmond Times-Dispatch review of current assessments suggested. But to get the tax break, a landowner needs to have at least 5 acres under cultivation, or 20 contiguous acres of healthy forest, or 5 acres of open space that meets a public interest test for instance, use as a park or, as is the case for several Powhatan AFDs, location in the countys already designated priority conservation areas. These areas run along the James and Appomattox rivers, as well as along several creeks feeding this and a band connecting the James, the state wildlife management area and the Appomattox in the western part of the county. David Moyer, who raises corn, soybeans and wheat and has two chicken houses on his farm by the James, was one of the first landowners in the county to sign up for an AFD, back in 1992. The farm, along with land owned by other family members, is the keystone of a 1,392-acre AFD next to Powhatan State Park. It gives you peace of mind to be in an agricultural forestal district, said Moyer, who farms the same land his father and grandfather did these days, alongside his son and grandson. The big reason is that the state law setting up the AFD program says all local land-use decisions, ordinances, comprehensive plans, or zoning and permitting decisions affecting land adjacent to an AFD must take into account potential harm to the AFD. For me, I guess I feel like it gives me a little assurance that Im not going to have neighbors who will complain if they dont like the smell, he said. I dont have to worry about whats going next door. This place means so much Perhaps the key point about AFDs, said Rachel Henley, Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for Powhatan, is that they help rural landowners with the challenge of transition. Thats an issue in a county where, as the 2020 white paper noted, there is heavy and continued pressure to develop land, while farmers and timber-cutters are getting older and finding it hard to people to take on that sort of hard work and the rising cost of land can make it hard for people to keep up with their tax bills. This can be a big help with heirs property, for instance, she said, referring to the challenge of land that has been in a family for decades when the original owner dies often theres no decision about what do with the land for generation after generation. Family conflict or loss of the land is often the result. Its a chance to think about what you really want: Is it something for the kids? Do you want to keep it as a farm if the kids dont want to but a neighbor would? she said. Its not just about the taxes, but that is important to some. For Nice, its as much about that back pond, or the chimney that is the only remnant from the home of a family who long ago owned the land, or the old graveyard where a family named Booker buried their own and where she found the stone for Washington Booker, born 1856 and died in 1921, the same year that a 4-year-old child also died. The sunsets here are just spectacular. When I was a teenager, I used to come out and paint them, she said. This place means so much; I want to preserve it, she said. I love that my children and grandchildren can know it. PHOTOS: A small country town with a Mayberry vibe in the village of Powhatan IN THE NEWS Feds agree to pay $900,000 for VA death A settlement has been reached with the family of a military veteran who committed suicide hours after being discharged from the psychiatric unit of the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The federal government agreed to pay $900,000 to settle a potential lawsuit from the family. The name of the 62-year-old Air Force veteran was not made public. Her family hopes their loss will be a wake-up call for the Salem VA Hospital and a nation that fails to appreciate the significant trauma suffered by our veterans, attorneys Thomas Bo Frith and Lauren Ellerman said in a statement. The attorneys say staff changed the patients medication and released her despite clear warnings that she was a suicide risk. PHOTOS: North Korea officials said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong Un reviewed imagery taken by a spy satellite that showed Virginia military installations. The New York Post cited state media that said the images were of the "Norfolk Naval Station, the Newport News Dockyard, and an airfield of Virginia." North Korea said it successfully placed the Malligyong-1 satellite into orbit on Nov. 21 and that it also took images of Guam, Hawaii, South Korea, the White House and the Pentagon. SENTENCE: A former guard at a minimum-security federal prison in Petersburg has been sentenced to three years for not helping an inmate who had a medical emergency and died. Michael Anderson, 52, was a lieutenant at the prison and pleaded guilty in July to one count of deprivation of civil rights. The inmate, identified only as W.W., became incoherent and couldn't stand up, then fell into a door frame, prosecutors said in court documents. He died of blunt force trauma to the head. His cellmate, correctional officers and suicide watch observers told prison supervisors and asked for help, prosecutors said. Anderson's attorney, Jessica Richardson, said in a court filing that Anderson clearly failed to act, but the inmate's death was a collaborative failure on the part of multiple staff members. ODDS AND ENDS TREE: A tree from Floyd County is on display in the Virginia Executive Mansion in Richmond this holiday season. The Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association on Monday presented Gov. Glenn Youngkin and first lady Suzanne Youngkin with the 10-foot Fraser fir from Sweet Providence Christmas Tree Farm and two wreaths made by Lori Grove of Caritas Tree Farm in Mount Solon in Augusta County. Youngkin on Monday issued a proclamation declaring December as Virginia Christmas Tree Month. DEAD: The so-called "dead zone" of Chesapeake Bay has diminished to its smallest size since monitoring started 38 years ago. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science calculated the summer zone at 0.58 cubic miles. Dead zones are oxygen-starved waters that kill fish, crabs and oysters. Efforts to reduce the flow of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment, as well as below-average rainfall, contributed to the decline. THEY SAID IT After the hit, I just kind of realized my body go numb in a sense that I hit the ground, didnt even really feel myself hit the ground. Just kind of was sitting there like, what in the world is happening? Virginia running back Perris Jones, who was discharged Tuesday from the University of Louisville hospital, where he was being treated for a spinal injury he suffered during the Cavaliers' Nov. 9 game Whenever you have a public university with such a tragic event, its important for the public to know what happened. I think they should release it immediately. Former federal prosecutor John Fishwick on the University of Virginia's move to not release an investigation into last fall's on-campus shooting that left three students dead BY THE NUMBERS 460 Christmas tree farms in Virginia, according to a Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association tally. Virginia is the seventh leading U.S. state in terms of total Christmas tree inventory. 42 Number of state parks in Virginia. IN THE NEWS CHARGED: An Arlington man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he stormed the U.S. Capitol while wearing a Captain America backpack and stole items from desks on the Senate floor during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, court records show. Ryan Joseph Orlando, 28, was arrested on charges including theft of government property, disorderly conduct and unauthorized entry on the floor of a House of Congress, an arrest warrant says. Approximately 1,200 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. SHOOTING: Classes resumed at Christopher Newport University after an apparent shooting on campus early Tuesday. The Newport News school in a statement said campus police found evidence of gunshots and broken glass near the student union. A suspect with a firearm was later found and that person, who didn't have any ties to the school, was taken into custody, the university said. Many of you were frightened and had to experience a sleepless night of worry and support services are available, university President Bill Kelly said. BIBLE: A Bible carried by a Bedford County soldier who died on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944 is now a part of the National D-Day Memorial's artifact collection. Lucille Hoback Boggess, who lost her brothers Raymond and Bedford Hoback on D-Day, presented the family heirloom to April Cheek-Messier, the foundation's president. A soldier found Raymond Hoback's Bible on Omaha Beach after the invasion. "We are so honored that the family has decided to entrust us with this precious gift," Cheek-Messier said in a statement. Two Americans injured in Tulum condo gas explosion die Tulum, Q.R. Two Americans who were severely injured when their Tulum condo exploded have died. The man and woman had recently purchased the condo and had arrived the day before to furnish it. Maricela C and her husband Gabriel N, both from Grand Prarie, Texas, died in a Mexico City hospital from injuries sustained when their bottom floor unit exploded. Both suffered extensive third degree burns. They were taken to a Tulum hospital but quickly transferred to Playa del Carmen. However, due to the extent of their injuries, both were transferred to a hospital in Mexico City. Maricela C died from her injuries on November 24. According to her family, she suffered third degree burns to 85 percent of her body. Her husband Gabriel N died on November 29 after suffering third degree burns to 98 percent of his body. LP gas has been the said cause of the explosion. It is not known if there was a leak or if an unlit appliance went unnoticed. Emergency bodies are at the scene of the accident that killed the two American condo owners. Photo: Direccion General de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos Tulum November 18, 2023. Clarabeth Hernandez, legal representative of the family, has been quoted as telling a US publication that unfortunately, in Mexico explosions like this are not uncommon especially in high tourist areas like Tulum where there is a lot of new developments. Unfortunately, we see a lot of shoddy work and so for that reason, youll have explosions because of gas lines or whatever the reason may be, Hernandez is quoted as saying. According to the report, Hernandez says there were warning signs. After the explosion, the owners of Selva Norte, where it happened, held a Zoom meeting with residents. Several of them said they complained about gas leaking. The next day the explosion happened. They knew of a gas leak, they did nothing about it, and then the explosion happened. It was forcible, Hernandez is quoted as saying. Hernandez has filed a lawsuit. Personal injury is almost nonexistent in Mexico. Save for except a few situations, this may be one of them where the developers are going to be held liable criminally, said Hernandez. Tulum firemen inspect the bottom floor unit that exploded. Furniture, glass windows and doors were all blown to the outside of the condo. Photo: Direccion General de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos Tulum November 18, 2023. The LP gas explosion happened early on the morning of November 18 inside a bottom floor condo unit. The powerful explosion inside the main floor apartment left it completely destroyed. All the windows and doors were blown out as was most of the stationary furniture inside the unit. The woman refused to sell Captain Saleha Jabeen a hijab to don with her military uniform. While many civilian Muslims tell Jabeen she makes them proud, others are horrified by her decision to serve. Youre gonna go kill Muslims, the store owner told her that day. Major Rafael Lantigua Jr. has experienced the flip side of that struggle. Angered by an attack on U.S. troops in Iraq, a fellow service member once barked at Lantigua: Why cant you call your people and tell them to stop? The words stung. Just as Jabeen thought the woman saw her as a bad Muslim, Lantigua felt the implication of the outburst directed at him was: You dont belong. (The service member later apologized). In the years since, Jabeen and Lantigua have become part of the small group of Muslim military chaplains who tend to the souls and spirits of U.S. troops of all faiths and no faith their work highlighted in a new film that offers a peek into their worlds. Among other duties, they give talks on suicide prevention, provide counsel on relationships, and advise commanders on matters of religion and morale. When the going gets tough, they offer comfort, hope and companionship. They sometimes break barriers and celebrate milestones, like Jabeen becoming the first female Muslim military chaplain a few years ago. At other times, they navigate tensions stemming from the views some have of their faith or their service when those get questioned, scrutinized, debated. Were bridge builders, Lantigua said in an interview. Were trying our best in this tension to get like-minded individuals to see the humanity of the other. Jabeen and Lantigua are featured in Three Chaplains, a documentary that recently aired on PBS and is now available online. (The third is Army Col. Khallid Shabazz). In the film and in interviews, they provide a window into the struggles and victories of Muslim chaplains and service members in one of the most American of institutions. Lantigua said his familiarity with Islam has helped him maneuver through this tension that fraught space, squeezed between skepticism by some non-Muslims and dismay by some civilian Muslims, especially over U.S. wars in Muslim-majority countries. The friction, he said, ebbs and flows. It was heightened during such times as 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the aftermath of a 2009 deadly shooting rampage on a military base in Texas by a Muslim Army psychiatrist. These voices from both sides of the aisle start piling on upon Muslim service members, Lantigua said. That can be especially hard for new troops, said Lantigua, whos served for nearly three decades, including deployments in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Born to a father from the Dominican Republic and an African American mother, he was raised as a Christian before becoming a Muslim. Lantigua said he reminds those with concerns over Muslim service members of the First Amendments guarantee of religious freedom. Similarly, he tells disapproving Muslims that there are Muslim-majority countries that have been part of military coalitions alongside the United States, that the U.S. military has rules of engagement that service members must abide by and that breaking these rules carries repercussions. Three Chaplains director David Washburn, who has done previous work on Muslims in the military, said he found that the chaplains occupied a space where all sorts of compelling story lines intersected: religious freedom, Islamophobia, interfaith dialogue, diversity in military today. Jabeen, who was born in India, sees the curiosity that comes with her being a Muslim female religious leader. Sometimes, questions follow, over lunch or chats, about the place of women in her faith. She shares stories about her life and strong Muslim women from the Prophet Muhammads wife, Khadija, to American Muslim politicians and community leaders today. Theyre like Thats interesting. We never thought, she said. We connect on a whole different level. Jabeen said shes also bringing Islam to the table, so when decisions are being made, Im a part of it. Recently, a Muslim service member sought her help. The woman was worried could her loyalty be questioned if she appeared sad or teary-eyed over the war in Gaza? You make us all proud, Jabeen told her. You belong here. Youre part of this military. The woman broke into tears of relief. We were cut out to bring hope to our people in the middle of madness, Jabeen said. We were like Were exactly where were supposed to be. Now is the time for us to go work. Not long ago, being a Muslim military chaplain was uncharted territory. Retired Lt. Col. Abdul Rasheed Muhammad said he became the first to hold that position in the 1990s. The 1991 Gulf War, in which U.S.-led forces expelled occupying Iraqi troops from Kuwait, highlighted the need for military Islamic chaplaincy, he said. Then and now, he said, the presence of Muslim military chaplains helps chip away at misunderstandings, fears and bias. They get to see you as a human being and they see your work, he said. Prejudice, racism, Islamophobia, all of those things, begin to dissipate because now they have to deal with the reality of things, not what they imagine. BLACKSBURG Over the past three years, artificial intelligence technology has progressed in ways that used to be relegated to science fiction. Any person with an internet connection can use generative AI services like Deep Dream Generator or ChatGPT to create images and text based on nothing but a brief description and a set of modifiers. But the new tech is controversial and is sparking a lot of discussion on issues such as copyright law, plagiarism and the many ways people might use generative AI to do their work for them. The applicationsand the views surrounding itare changing rapidly, from day-to-day to week-to-week. One of the biggest concerns many people voice, especially at colleges such as Virginia Tech, is that the technology opens all sorts of new avenues for academic dishonesty. Whats to stop a Virginia Tech student from writing a paper entirely through ChatGPT? According to Jill Sible, the associate vice provost for undergraduate education, its a combination of the current limits of the technology, and Virginia Techs review process. A lot of people on our campus are starting to learn how to use AI in different ways, seeing a lot of its promise but also its limitations, Sible said. You can usually spot that something was written using AI and if misconduct is suspected, the work is thoroughly reviewed. Suspected misconduct is reviewed by a panel, and that the panel would include people who have background on generative AI and how it works, Sible said. Many students at Virginia Tech speak openly about the limits of AI for doing anything other than augmenting their work. Especially for engineers, whose work often involves writing code, AI cant really create finished work, according to some students. One student, a mining engineering major, said that they use the tech very sparingly in coursework, mostly to help reinterpret instructions for math work. AI can clarify the approach for how to solve something, so that even though its solution to the problem is wrong, you can learn a lot about the method for solving it, the student said. Allison Pitzl, an electrical and computer engineering major at Virginia Tech, said that AI is useful for answering questions about common math concepts without having to spend hours scouring a textbook or searching online. ChatGPT has an advantage over human instructors because I dont feel like Im bothering somebody by asking it to clarify certain points, Pitzl said. And it doesnt care that Im asking at 4 a.m. With this in mind, many professors at Virginia Tech have begun incorporating AI into their instruction. Cayce Myers, the director of graduate studies in the School of Communication, said that he works to incorporate generative AI into all of his classes, allowing his students to learn how to use a tool that he feels will be a major part of the future of all communications careers. A lot of people in this field worry that AI is going to replace them, Myers said. I dont think thats true, but I do think that communications professionals who know how to use AI are going to be in a better position than people who dont, going forward. According to Myers, AIs limitations make it incapable of doing things like writing news stories or press releases. One limitation he focused on in particular is something called hallucinated content. When tasked with writing something, like a press release, the software will often do things like just create a speaker, or create a quote that someone didnt say, Myers said. Other big concerns, especially for AI image generators like Googles Deep Dream Generator, have to do with copyright. AI image generators create images from an amalgam of works by photographers and artists. Large portions of work by artists could be reproduced without the artists themselves seeing any money for the reproduction. Many of Deep Dream Generators built-in modifiers have to do with reproducing art in the style of, various popular artists. Many of the engineering students consulted for this article specified that, while they didnt feel much concern that AI could do their jobs for them, they knew that many students whose fields are more creativity-focused might be more concerned about being replaced. Many artists have made serious accusations of copyright infringement and art theft pertaining to AI art generators, which is one of many factors that has led to polarizing opinions about generative AI. Researchers at Virginia Techs Pamplin College of Business recently conducted a study to determine how political values affect peoples opinions on AI. Specifically, the study outlined how media outlets portray AI based on their perceived political leaning. The study found that, while both left- and right-leaning news outlets have a fair amount of distrust for AI, more left-leaning publications tend to have a worse opinion on the technology. Angela Yi, a Ph.D candidate and one of the people who organized the study, said that the findings at least partially align with the social values of news outlets. More left-leaning people tend to be more concerned with AIs propensity to use art without credit, and de-emphasize marginalized voices, Yi said. People with more liberal values tend to emphasize issues of social justice more than conservatives. However, while AI remains polarizing, and creates big concerns for people who work in the arts, as an educational tool, people such as Myers believe it may be invaluable. I think that AI can help to lower the barrier for people who are learning how to read and write, Myers said. AI is a valuable tool for educators. BLACKSBURG Montgomery County supervisors and school board members hope to rebuild ties and take some of the sting out of their yearly budget talks. That was a takeaway from a joint meeting of the two boards last week at Blacksburg High School, a session that officials said they want to repeat more frequently than they have in recent years. If the boards share their priorities on an ongoing basis, each should feel less blind-sided by spending decisions, they said. School board member Marti Graham said that with new members joining both boards in January, she hoped there could be a fresh start to their relations. Those relations have been strained in recent years by questions about the school boards firing its superintendent last year, by bids coming in higher than expected and plans being scaled back for a long-awaited renovation and addition at Christiansburg High School, and by supervisors adopting a record income tax rate reduction this year while declining to fully fund what the school board asked for its next budget. Sniping between the two boards included school board member Penny Franklin saying this year that supervisors budget decision was based on spite. Last year, supervisors Chairwoman Sherri Blevins called it unacceptable that millions of dollars were spent renovating a school without fixing known roof problems and that issues with another schools fire sprinkler system werent being addressed. Tension is seemingly baked into the system in Virginia localities that elect school boards, such as Montgomery County. School board members run for office on plans to improve the schools, but they have no taxing authority. It is up to the supervisors who often campaign on keeping local taxes low to decide a significant portion of the schools spending. Adding to the disarray is that most of the schools budget is funded by the state, but the General Assembly sometimes does not approve a state spending plan until months past the local officials deadlines this year supervisors passed a county and schools budget in May, but legislators did not decide the state figures until September. Also this year, the Virginia Department of Education made an error in a funding calculation that resulted in Montgomery County getting $900,000 less than expected. During Wednesdays meeting, one area of focus was an ongoing plan for maintaining the countys 19 schools and associated facilities. School board members said such plans had seemingly fallen by the wayside in recent years. Chairman Mark Cherbaka said that while there had been a capital plan for the school system, it had not been updated for some time. Graham said that Deputy Superintendent Annie Whitaker now is in charge of revamping the capital plan. County Administrator Angie Hill said that she intended to merge the schools capital plan with the capital plan for the rest of the county so that supervisors and other officials could more easily look at overall facilities needs. Bringing the two plans together was tried a few years ago and didnt work but it will work now, Hill said she believes. Whitaker made a short presentation Wednesday asking supervisors to consider increasing the annual $2.3 million that the county now gives the schools for maintenance. But a larger emphasis was on what school board members said was a five-person staff charged with carrying out all cleaning and upkeep for the school system even including donning rain suits and mowing playing fields during downpours because there was no other time to do it, school board member Jamie Bond said. Some of the custodial and maintenance staff are paid only $13 per hour, Bond said, calling the amount shameful. Franklin said that school board and supervisors needed to come up with better compensation for the workers. How can we hold our heads up and say were a community when we dont support the people who live here and work hard, Franklin asked. Supervisors said that they wanted to keep the conversation going but warned that there are many competing demands for the countys money. Supervisors cited as one example a new, digital radio system that was the subject of a presentation at another county meeting last week. The new radio system would be shared by law enforcement and emergency services across the entire county, including Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Virginia Tech. Early estimates were that the countys portion of the bill could top $9 million but it would benefit the schools too, several officials said, noting that the presentation included recent recordings of school resource officers garbled transmissions from some schools, and the much clearer communication they would have with the new system. At the end of the day, theres not enough money to do everything, Blevins said. A last-gasp legal attempt to slow the Mountain Valley Pipeline is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. Last Wednesday, the owners of property that was taken by eminent domain for the divisive project filed an emergency injunction request, asking the Supreme Court to pause construction while their case is heard by a lower court. Although it may be too late to pose a significant setback for the nearly completed pipeline, the request frames the issue of eminent domain in a broader context that could affect future cases. From the Bronx to the Appalachians, from the inner cities to John Denvers country roads, these forced takings have been dismal failures, Roanoke attorney Mia Yugo wrote on behalf of the landowners. Filed just two days before the death of Sandra Day OConnor, the application quotes the former Supreme Court justice as saying that government-sanctioned seizures of private land for economic gain have resulted in abandoned malls and failed projects, all in the name of efficiency and progress. In a legal odyssey that began nearly four years ago, the owners of three pieces of property in Montgomery, Roanoke and Franklin counties contest Mountain Valleys use of eminent domain. Their lawsuit contends that Congress improperly delegated its power to seize private land to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees the construction of natural gas pipelines. FERC then gave that eminent domain authority to Mountain Valley, after finding there was a public need for the gas it will transport. While eminent domain is often used by government agencies for public projects such as power lines and highways, it has more recently been expanded to include private ventures such as the one building the 303-mile pipeline. Mountain Valley was allowed to seize about 300 parcels of private land in Southwest Virginia in order to begin construction in early 2018. Landowners were paid after the fact, and in some cases the process of deciding just compensation has yet to be resolved. In asking the Supreme Court to pause construction on the three properties at issue, Yugo argued that Congress violated the Constitution when it passed the Natural Gas Act, which delegated the power of eminent domain to unelected government officials and private companies. The Constitution does not contort itself to achieve progress, pipelines or profit margins, the petition states. The Constitution does not account for such concerns. But it cares a great deal about individual liberty. The landowners Cletus and Beverly Bohon in Montgomery County, Robert and Aimee Hamm in Roanoke County and Wendell and Mary Flora in Franklin County would be irreparably harmed if construction continues on their property while their lawsuit is pending, the petition asserts. While acknowledging that the odds of winning an injunction were not good, Yugo emphasized that the underlying case, currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, will continue nonetheless. In general, such injunctions have been granted quite infrequently by the Supreme Court, according to Xiao Wang, a professor at the University of Virginia who heads the law schools Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. But Wang said there has been a shifting landscape in recent years in which the high court has been more willing to consider emergency litigation. Further, some of the current justices have shown an appetite for the kind of non-delegation questions raised by Yugo. It is thus possible that those factors would give these plaintiffs a greater prospect for relief, Wang wrote in an email. Eminent domain has long been a hot topic that can cross traditional political lines. OConnor, for example, often sided with the Supreme Courts conservative bloc while serving as its first female justice. But in one of her final cases, she dissented in a 5-4 ruling that allowed the taking of personal property to allow private developers to build shopping plazas, office buildings and other facilities warning that the majority had unwisely ceded yet more power to the powerful. The specter of condemnation hangs over all property, OConnor wrote at the time. Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory. A Mountain Valley spokeswoman declined to comment last week on the injunction request, citing a policy of not talking about pending litigation. As the federal lawsuit continues to move slowly through the courts, construction crews have been at work since July. For years, work was delayed by legal challenges from environmental and community groups. The groups argued often successfully to a Richmond-based federal appeals court that government permits issued for the pipeline did not adequately protect the environment. In the early years of construction, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality cited Mountain Valley with more than 300 violations of erosion and sedimentation control regulations. But there have been no findings of non-compliance since work resumed this year, DEQ spokeswoman Irina Calos said Friday. After suffering rising costs and repeated delays, Mountain Valley had a turn of fate. In late May, Congress passed a law that fast-tracked a project it declared was in the national interest. The Supreme Court acting in a different case than the one now before it lifted a stay on construction two months later that had been issued by a lower court. When it resumed work, Mountain Valley still had a long way to go to meet its goal of completing the $7.2 billion project by the end of this year. In October, it pushed its target date for having natural gas flowing through the buried pipeline to the first quarter of 2024, the latest of many delays. A recent construction update posted to the companys website showed progress, however. As of Nov. 26, construction crews had completed 321 stream and wetland crossings one of the more time-consuming aspects of the job out of 428 that remained when work resumed over the summer. Just 92 of the crossings had been completed through Oct. 1. Meanwhile, Bloomberg Law News reported Friday that the lead partner in the joint project, Equitrans Midstream Corp., was in the early stages of considering a sale. Citing people familiar with the matter, the article said a potential sale would make sense, with the pipeline close to completion, and would likely attract interest from industry peers. Equitrans CEO and Chairman Thomas Karam, who will step down at the end of the year, has already received a huge financial windfall from the project. According to a September filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the companys board decided to award Karam a $7.5 million bonus. The filing cites Mr. Karams relentless efforts towards navigating legal and regulatory setbacks to the MVP project to a successful end. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.