RTHK: UN chief warns of 'winter of global discontent' The head of the United Nations warned on Tuesday of a bleak future caused by rising prices, a warming planet and deadly conflicts as world leaders sought ways forward on Ukraine and Iran. The UN General Assembly, the annual gathering of world leaders that clogs Midtown Manhattan, returned in person after two years of pandemic restrictions with only one leader allowed to appear virtually -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the summit with an image of a ship carrying grain out of Ukraine, a symbol of successful diplomacy, but he warned of a dire state of the planet. "A winter of global discontent is on the horizon," Guterres said. "Trust is crumbling, inequalities are exploding, our planet is burning. People are hurting -- with the most vulnerable suffering the most." With global temperatures rising and a chunk of Pakistan the size of the United Kingdom recently under water, Guterres lashed out at fossil fuel companies and the "suicidal war against nature." "Let's tell it like it is -- Our world is addicted to fossil fuels. It's time for an intervention. We need to hold fossil fuel companies and their enablers to account," Guterres said. He called on all developed economies to tax profits from fossil fuels and dedicate the funds both to compensate for damage from climate change and to help people struggling with high prices. "Polluters must pay," Guterres said. The summit still saw disruption due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with President Joe Biden of the United States, by tradition the second speaker on the opening day, instead due to speak on Wednesday. Just as leaders huddled at the United Nations about the war in Ukraine, Russian-backed forces announced they were going ahead with a move the West had long warned against -- referendums on annexation by Moscow. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the votes, to be conducted in the coming days in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, a "sham" that were part of "imperialist aggression" by Moscow. The war in Ukraine, a major grain producer, has sent global food prices spiraling, hitting developing nations especially hard. Senegalese President Macky Sall, the current chair of the African Union, urged a "negotiated solution" in Ukraine to "avoid the catastrophic risk of a potentially global conflict." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has fashioned himself as a mediator and played a key role in arranging the grain shipments, called for an end to the war that recognizes Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Together, we need to find a reasonably practical diplomatic solution that will give both sides a dignified way out of the crisis," Erdogan told the General Assembly. Western leaders led by the United States have made clear they do not want the summit to focus exclusively on the Ukraine war itself, mindful of resentment in the developing world to the billions of dollars sent in weapons. "The brutality of Russia's war of aggression and its threat to the peace order in Europe have not blinded us to the fact that its dramatic effects are also clearly being felt in many other regions of the world," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head a meeting on food security, and Guterres on Monday launched a bid to step up funding for education, badly affected by the pandemic. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-09-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Four-year-old enjoys spectacular paraglide over terraced fields A four-year-old boy has become the youngest paraglider to participate in the ongoing paragliding festival in Yen Bai Province. Hoang Minh Khoi from Son La Province was accompanied by Dang Van My, director of Vietnam Sport and Tourism Company and the co-organiser of the festival on his first experience on September 20. Khoi's father, Hoang Tuan Anh said that he decided to let his son try this new experience after seeing the excitement in the childs eyes. "My wife and I took our son to the festival and we were all thrilled by the colourful parachutes and the breath-taking beauty of this place," he said. "And I asked Khoi if he wanted to fly and see the beautiful scenery, he said yes." The guide, Dang Van My, said that the little boy looked nervous at first but then as he became more comfortable and relaxed, he started to laugh and shouted with joy. As he landed, Minh Khoi was congratulated by many people. In addition to Khoi, between 50-100 visitors also have participated in the paragliding flights daily at the festival that opened on September 2. A highlight event of the festival will see dozens of professional Vietnamese and foreign paragliding pilots gathering to showcase their spectacular and innovative paragliding skills from September 23 to 26. The festival is organised by the Mu Cang Chai District Peoples Committee, in collaboration with Mebayluon Paragliding. Tourists will have a chance to contemplate the breathtaking landscape in Mu Cang Chai, home of one of the 10 most beautiful terraced rice fields in the world while flying together with a professional pilot. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. RBC: Number of cases for evading army in Russia from spring to announcement of mobilization reaches maximum in 10 years Minister: Italy will be able to survive winter with current level of gas flow, if 'catastrophic events' do not occur Russia extradites Norwegian accused of major fraud to Norway German power producer RWE to buy clean energy company for $6.8 billion Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs start meeting in Geneva Eslami: Iran's nuclear power generation capacity is scheduled to reach 10,000 megawatts Spanish MP to Ursula von der Leyen about murder of Armenian POWs: And this is your reliable partner? Armenian FM discusses video of execution of Armenian POWs with Philip Reeker Bloomberg: OPEC+ group to consider cutting oil production by more than 1 million barrels per day Delegation from Bundestag arrives in Taiwan: China protests Secretary of Armenian Security Council to go on working visit to Brussels Afghan authorities disperse women's rally in Herat Pope appeals to Vladimir Putin to 'stop this spiral of violence and death' Crown Prince of Kuwait accepts resignation of government after parliamentary elections in country Armenian FM meets with EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar in Geneva Former Ombudsman: Armenia must immediately apply to International Criminal Court Address by Alen Simonyan to National Minorities: You have been and continue to be members of our extended family Denmark declares gas leakage in damaged Nord Stream 1 pipeline stopped Ombudsman's Office about video of Armenian soldiers' shooting: We have identified the authenticity of the video Liz Truss says she should have done more to set stage for her economic plan Foreign Ministry: Armenia demands clear evaluation of blatant war crimes by Azerbaijani Armed Forces Pashinyan: Armenia will use all available international mechanisms to bring Azerbaijan to justice Latvian Prime Minister's Party wins parliamentary elections Marukyan: Azerbaijani political and military authorities must be hold accountable for this and other atrocities Armenian PM sends congratulatory message on National Minorities Day Applications to international courts will be filed tomorrow in connection with shooting of Armenian POWs Bosnia holds presidential and parliamentary elections Armenian Defense Ministry on video of execution of Armenian POWs: No doubts about authenticity Le Figaro: International media and authorities verify gruesome video of execution of Armenian POWs by Azerbaijanis Brazil's presidential and parliamentary elections begin Toivo Klaar: Another horrible video has emerged of Armenian prisoners of war apparently being executed Blinken says U.S. will help Ukraine on issue of territories Defense Ministry: As of 10 am, situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border remains unchanged At least 129 killed in stampede at football match in Indonesia EU leaders to discuss security of their critical infrastructure Lebanon says it received proposal from US for maritime border agreement with Israel Italy's Eni works with Gazprom to solve the problem of Russian gas supplies stoppage Prime Minister: There are problems in relations between OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs France can supply Ukraine with up to twelve new Caesar howitzers Over half of Britons think Liz Truss should step down as PM Kyiv's bid for accelerated NATO membership comes as surprise to Biden administration Baykar plant in Ukraine to start assembling high-altitude UAV model Bayraktar Akinci Erdogan sues German MP for calling him cesspool rat OSCE may send mission to Armenian-Azerbaijani border Erdogan doesn't rule out meeting with Pashinyan Armenian Defense Ministry urges to stop collecting food, clothing, money for servicemen Kuwait government tenders resignation following parliamentary elections Joint command and staff exercise held during CSTO military exercises in Kazakhstan Over 30 killed in Iran terrorist attack Aliyev announces plans to double Azerbaijan natural gas supply to Europe by 2027 Pashinyan: I am confident that Armenia-Cyprus cooperation will continue to be strengthened, expanded Finland, Sweden, Turkey may discuss NATO membership process this month Artsakh security council meeting to be held at parliamentary forces proposal US court orders Iran to pay $34.8M in compensation to late journalists family Armenian parliament speaker to leave for Moscow Hurricane Ian death toll exceeds 40 in Florida Armenian community stages protest ahead of Azerbaijan presidents Bulgaria visit (PHOTOS) California Governor signs bill declaring April 24 state holiday in remembrance of Armenian Genocide 2 Azerbaijanis severely injured after stepping on landmine in Karabakh FM: Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan Turkey does not recognize joining of 4 regions to Russia South Korea leader threatens with crushing response to North if it uses nuclear weapons Group of soldiers stage coup in Burkina Faso Biden signs law providing $12.4bn in additional aid to Ukraine Japan envoy to Armenia expresses concern about current situation after recent Azerbaijan military aggression Nicaragua severs diplomatic ties with Netherlands Armenia PM congratulates on 73rd anniversary of People's Republic of China World Bank approves additional $530M in aid to Ukraine Newspaper: Russians getting familiarized with options Armenia is discussing with the West Armenia soldier, 19, found dead in combat position Newspaper: Artsakh, Azerbaijan representatives to negotiate with each other? Italy strengthens naval surveillance and control of pipelines Russia vetoes UN Security Council draft resolution that does not recognize unification of new territories In phone conversation with Erdogan, Putin gives principled assessment of sabotage of Nord Streams First African-American woman to officially join U.S. Supreme Court Biden warns Putin that he will not get away with annexation of new territories to Russia U.S. Congress approves $12.3 billion in aid for Ukraine 'Armenian Crossroads': Pashinyan talks about difficulties in unblocking communications with Azerbaijan Pashinyan: Russian authorities must not take actions which cast doubt on sincerity of official positions Pashinyan: Next session of delimitation and demarcation working group to be held in November Nikol Pashinyan does not rule out meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Prague Blinken: U.S. will take action in UN Security Council to hold Russia accountable for referendums Defense Ministry: As of 10 pm situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border remains unchanged Pashinyan: Statement of Ministry of Defense says Russian Federation, but my statement does not say anything about Russia Israel says it will not recognize results of referendums on annexation of new territories to Russia Germany allowed arms exports to Saudi Arabia Putin speaks at rally-concert on Red Square: We know to whom we owe today Pashinyan: Nancy Pelosi's visit to Armenia is not anti-Russian Stoltenberg: Ukraine's admission to NATO requires consent of all members of alliance Pashinyan about Ter-Petrosyan's proposal: Quite wide range of people are aware of negotiation process Pashinyan: We don't close door to anyone Pashinyan: It is impossible to speak of memorial service for era of peace that has not yet begun Pashinyan: Names of deceased should be published through institutionally planned mechanism Japan spends record 2.8 trillion yen on interventions in foreign exchange market Nikol Pashinyan interviews with Public Television Poghosyan: During global rift, Armenia may have to choose one side U.S. imposes sanctions against Armenian company Taco LLC for supporting Russia MFA: Armenia repeatedly proposes mirror withdrawal of troops US keeps stealing Syrian oil Zelenskyy: Ukraine will not negotiate with Russia as long as Putin is president The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Vladimir Makei said that there is a growing gap between the UN and the increasing diversity of the world, and the organization is losing its character as an impartial platform. The FM made the statement in his letter to his colleagues from the UN member states, where he set forth his approaches to the key issues of the UN functioning and the ways for reforming the organization. "Belarus, like many other countries, is forced to note the growing gap between the current UN and the rapidly growing diversity of the world. And if in matters of peacekeeping and security the essence and role of the UN is hostage to its institutional structure, embodied in the veto-wielding Security Council, the organization of effective international cooperation in other non-security areas is hindered by some other factors," the letter says. According to Makei, "chief among such factors is the organization's loss of the neutral, technical character of an impartial platform for ensuring international cooperation of equal members." He said that "the UN has become a victim of the unipolar moment in modern world history." "The loss of neutrality is enshrined ... the overwhelming dependence of UN activities on donor funds provided by developed countries, the predominance of citizens of these countries in politically and financially important positions in the organization. These two factors predetermine the domination of donor countries' interests in any UN decision-making, except for the competence of the Security Council," the minister said. According to him, such one-sidedness of the UN is the basis of the organization's limited ability to respond objectively and impartially to the problems of all its members. The minister added that many UN documents are developed by a minority of countries simply because so many lack the necessary expertise. "Many UN decisions are made by vote, by majority vote, and many are made by a minority because of flaws in the rules of procedure. Such documents do not reflect the common denominator of all parties concerned, and sometimes directly contradict the interests of some of them," he observed. That is why obvious violations of the UN Charter, such as, for example, economic sanctions, adopted without a mandate of the Security Council, remain outside the decisions of the organization and without its condemnation, said Makei. In this regard, he considers it's not surprising that a huge number of resolutions and other decisions of the UN bodies are never implemented. As for the UN Security Council, Makei said that "Belarus is truly committed to the role of the UN Security Council in the maintenance of peace and security in the world and intends to support all possible efforts to strengthen this role. At the same time, he pointed out that "decisions that do not meet the interests of its permanent members are simply not taken in the council. National Interest magazine published an article by Stephen Blank, a senior fellow at the American Institute for Foreign Policy Studies, in which the author insists on the urgent opening of the so-called "Zangezur corridor" in light of the war in Ukraine. This article in some ways perfectly reflects Washington's true sentiments and aspirations in the South Caucasus, despite House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "bold" statements in Yerevan, which were met with near infantile enthusiasm on the part of the Armenian authorities. As Blank notes, "Recent border clashes in the South Caucasus have been all but eclipsed by much more publicized events in Ukraine. But make no mistake: the renewed fighting between Azerbaijan and Armeniathe worst since a Moscow-brokered ceasefire in 2020is of global significance. Ongoing peace talks between those two countries are now endangered and, by extension, the secure transit links running through both countries territory upon which the global market relies are now in jeopardy. Those same transit links were already under threat from the war in Ukraine. Severe disruptions to the movement of energy, food, and commercial goods have caused seismic shocks to economies around the world. European gas prices are soaring after Moscow slashed access to the Nord Stream 1 pipeline while Western sanctions have sparked an increase in the prices of the most basic food items around the world. It is against this backdrop that Armenia can no longer delay the construction of a critical new transport route between Europe and Asia: the Zangezur Corridor. This corridor, long tabled but currently blocked by Armenia, would run from Azerbaijans southwestern border through Armenia to the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan and then to Turkey and beyond. This is the missing link in one of the only East-West trade routes that can bypass Russia. If Armenia is really a friend of the West, as its large diaspora claims, it must return to the negotiating table and immediately allow the opening of the corridor. Armenia is committed to opening the corridor as part of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow in November 2020. However, the terms of that deal left Russia in charge of the corridora dangerous precedent for further mischief-making. More preferable is the formula announced by the European Unions (EU) Charles Michel last December following trilateral talks with Armenia and Azerbaijan. Michels plan would allow each country to control the portion of the corridor which passes through its territory, leaving no room for manipulation by third parties. No wonder the EU has sought, with some success, to reframe the negotiations and rebuff Moscows attempts to manipulate the situation. The search for a secure southern corridor bypassing Russia is not new but the current state of global geopolitics dictates a new level of urgency. In theory, the easiest route of transport should be through Iran. However, given U.S. sanctions and chronic underinvestment in Iranian railways, it is hard to see it as a secure or reliable option. That points to the South Caucasus as a solution. In recent years, different factors have strengthened the region as a transit link. Successful collaboration between Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan has created new links, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway and the Southern Gas Corridor pipelines, that provide Europe with vital Caspian gas and other resources. This initiative gained further momentum when former Soviet republics such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan started sending fuel and goods through Azerbaijan in response to the blockade of Russia. However, relying on the South Caucasus route also has drawbacks. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia in an attack that has been seen as a rehearsal for the recent invasion of Ukraine. The military operations involved Russias consolidation of control over the two puppet republics on Georgian territory, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian tanks are still deployed a mere forty miles from Georgias capital Tbilisi. Ominous signs point to the threat of further Russian incursions. Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has pointed out that after Ukraine the next target is Georgia. Dimitri Medvedev, the former Russian president and currently a high-ranking member of the security council, referred to Kazakhstan and Georgia as artificial creations on social media, pointing out that after the liberation of Kyiv, Russia will become united again. Although the post was taken down ten minutes later and blamed on hackers, it has only confirmed suspicions about Russias possible future intentions. Therefore, the corridor through Georgia cannot be a reliable solution for a long-term investment nor is it a route completely insulated from Russian interference. A better solution is the Zangezur Corridor, which is part of a strategic transportation route that extends from Baku to Kars, Turkeys eastern province, and through Armenian territory near its border with Iran. The Zangezur Corridor would become the shortest land transportation route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Armenia would benefit significantly by opening a missing link in the global supply chain. Yet, so far, Armenia has tried to backtrack on its commitment. With a foreign policy that pays lip service to a partnership with the West, the reality is different. Armenia is firmly embedded as one of Russias closest allies and dependents, presenting a major political dilemma for the countrys leadership. By continuing to block the Zangezur Corridor, Armenia plays to Moscows script of creating a stranglehold on the world economy. At the same time, generations of populist anti-Turkish and anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric have narrowed the space available for Armenian politicians to normalize relations with their neighbors. However, now is the time for Armenia to decide whether it is a friend of the West, as its strong and vocal diaspora in the United States and Europe firmly maintains, or not. If it is, it must resume peace negotiations with Azerbaijan and help open the Zangezur Corridor. In the midst of Russias blockade of global supply routes, there are few viable solutions for transporting goods from East to West. The Zangezur Corridor stands out as the most optimal among them," concluded Blank. There are plans to send aid to Armenia to victims of Azerbaijan's latest aggression on Armenia's sovereign territory, Vice President of the Union of Armenians of Russia German Ananyants told NEWS.am. "Ara Abrahamyan, chairman of the Union, has held meetings on the aggravated situation since the first day and talked about the possibility of rendering assistance. Such a conversation took place, there were two meetings, and all the regions of the Russian Federation were involved. The last meeting was held on Sunday. They discussed general questions of assistance and did not touch any specific areas. So far no real help is being received. Everyone in their region is discussing how and how they can help," said the ATS Vice-President. He said that during the 44-day war, humanitarian aid was provided, and hundreds of trucks with cargo, food and clothing were sent to Rostov. "Sometimes there weren't enough cars to carry those supplies. We asked Pashinyan and his wife Anna Hakobyan where the aid, including the financial aid we had collected, had gone. But there is still no answer, so we have certain questions and doubts. If we are collecting money, we need to find out who it is going through. If it goes through the church, then for God's sake, and if it goes through the Union of Armenians of Russia, then for God's sake. It is important that the help should be addressed. Otherwise it will become a hotbed for theft," he said. German Ananyants added that they also discussed the unity of the nation and the need to help each other, especially in difficult times. "Today, Armenia is on the scales - to be or not to be. It is a very difficult and painful issue for us," he said. The SAR vice president stressed that Ara Abrahamyan is meeting with Russia's leadership and discussing these issues. Ananyants urged not to cheat with Russia. "We should be open to the end and not flirt with one or the other. We would like Armenia to be led by a more competent, more competent and more patriotic person," the NGO representative concluded. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the breaking news as of 21.09.22: Azerbaijani Armed Forces units violated the ceasefire late on Tuesday with certain regularity, using small arms in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Defense Ministry told NEWS.am that as of 10:30 p.m., the situation on the border was stable and there was no shooting. The Armenian side has one injured as a result of the shootings on Tuesday evening by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Srashen village of Syunik Province. As of 8:30am, there is no change in the situation on the frontline with Azerbaijan. Armenian defense ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan told reporters on Wednesday. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan on the occasion of the Independence Day anniversary. President Vahagn Khachaturyan, National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan, numerous other officials, and several MPs of the ruling force were also at Yerablur. There are many police forces there, they have formed a human chain and do not allow anyone to approach that area. Pashinyan stayed at Yerablur for only a few minutes and quickly left. Shortly after that, a large number of police forces also left the area. A huge police force has been concentrated at Yerablur Military Pantheon since early this morning. At some point, special police forces began dragging into custody the parents of the fallen servicemen, including the women, who had come there to prevent Nikol Pashinyan from visiting Yerablur on the occasion of the Independence Day anniversary. The police also hindered the work of reporters and cameramen by pushing them down from the part of the Yerablur church. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has released a press statement Wednesday on the occasion of Armenia's Independence Day anniversary. We will continue to support the Armenian peoples democratic aspirations, sovereignty, and security, he noted in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also issued a statement. We attach great importance to friendly, allied relations with Armenia, Putin said. The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention condemned in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by Azerbaijanis against Armenian servicemen, especially against servicewomen, during Azerbaijan's latest aggression against Armenia. In a statement, the institute called on governments around the world to condemn Azerbaijan and call on the international media to accurately report on the campaign of terror. "In case one is tempted to make the mistake of thinking that these atrocities are isolated events, the Lemkin Institute wishes to point out the terroristic pattern that ties these atrocities to anti-Armenianism practiced in Azerbaijan, in Turkey, and by the Grey Wolves terrorist organization that is supported by both of these states, the statement said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called up 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine and backed a plan to annex parts of the country. It was Russia's first such mobilization since World War Two and signified the biggest escalation of the Ukraine war since Moscow's Feb. 24 special operation. Putin noted in his address to the citizens that the measure of partial mobilization was taken in order to protect Russia, its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the Russian people. Russia has a huge mobilization resource, 300,000 reservists will be called up during partial mobilization, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in turn, noted. Meanwhile, tickets for flights from Moscow to Istanbul, Yerevan, Baku and other cities in neighboring countries have run out after the announcement of partial mobilization in Russia. A collaborative care model designed by Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing faculty members and Emory Ethiopia Office clinicians to increase survival among low-birthweight infants in Ethiopia has been designated an Edge Runner by the American Academy of Nursing. The Collaborative Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) model was co-created by associate professor John Cranmer, DNP, MPH, MSN, BSN, ANP, CPH, EBP(CH); Lynn M. Sibley, CNM, RN, PhD, FANM, FAAN; Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu, MD; Lamesgin Alamnih, BSc, MPH; and Mulusew Lijalem Belew, MHS, BS, AD. It was among 11 innovative models of care to be tapped for the honor. Edge Runners are nurse-designed, innovative models of care or interventions with significant, demonstrated outcomes to improve health, impact cost and influence policy. Each of these programs highlights nurses ingenuity and collaboration in developing new methods to provide care and promote health equity. Drs. Gebremariam, Sibley and Cranmer and team showcase how all global health is local, says Kim Dupree Jones, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN, who serves as associate dean of academic advancement at the School of Nursing. Nearly a quarter of Ethiopian newborns in this region is low or very low birthweight. Their evidence-based interventions are applied directly in the most at-risk communities and are saving lives of the most vulnerable citizens. The Collaborative KMC model was formerly known as Kangaroo Mother Care when it was first developed in 1978. It is a feasible, high-impact, low-cost intervention for increasing survival among low birthweight newborns. There is vast evidence to support KMCs benefits for survival, yet fewer than 5% of eligible infants globally receive this type of care. The Collaborative KMC model uses transdisciplinary collaboration and cocreation strategies to expand access and use. It was designed, tested and implemented within Ethiopias hospital system to maximize sustainability and scalability. The model was optimized using one specialized, one general and three primary hospitals in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. This model was developed collaboratively with the government health system and delivered by workers who were part of the health system, with input from our scientific team, says Cranmer. The implementation of the Collaborative KMC model has resulted in high KMC coverage (63% of eligible newborns at the population level), high KMC quality (16 hours of skin-to-skin contact) and 87% overall survival among KMC-initiated newborns. These numbers represent the preservation of precious lives in the Amhara region. This research can impact low birthweight survival throughout Ethiopia and beyond. Our team is honored to have this important work recognized by the Academy as an Edge Runner. The Academy is proud to designate these unique and timely programs as Edge Runners. The diverse focus of these models highlights the wide range of services, vital support, and team-based approaches that the nursing profession provides, says Academy President Kenneth White, PhD, AGACNP, ACHPN, FACHE, FAAN. In particular, these models highlight nurses as leaders in innovation for improving care and equity in our health systems. The program leads for each of these innovative models of care will be honored at the 2022 American Academy of Nursing Health Policy Conference, taking place Oct. 27-29 in Washington, D.C. About the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing produces nurse leaders who are transforming healthcare through science, education, practice, and policy. Graduates go on to become national and international leaders in patient care, public health, government, research, and education. Others become qualified to seek certification as nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. The doctor of nurse practice (DNP) program trains nurse anesthetists and advanced leaders in healthcare administration. The school also maintains a PhD program in partnership with Emory's Laney Graduate School. For more information, visit nursing.emory.edu. About the Emory Ethiopia Office The Emory Ethiopia Office was established in 2010 to support a major Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing (NHWSN) project on maternal and newborn health funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership project has laid the groundwork for more than a dozen grants in the maternal and newborn health space over the past 12 years. About the American Academy of Nursing The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 2,900 Fellows, the Academy represents nursings most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia. As per local media reports in Pakistan, the second batch of six China-made J-10C aircraft has arrived in Pakistan, taking the total number of such fighter jets to 12. Confirming the development, Pakistan Strategic Forum tweeted, "Pakistani local media (92 News) has confirmed the delivery of additional (2nd Batch) 6x J-10C to Pakistan Air Force, which takes total delivered J-10C to 12. Earlier, serial no. 22-101 to 22-106 (6x J-10C) were delivered, now if report is correct it will be 22-107 to 22-112." Pakistan Strategic Forum (PSF) is an independent think-tank run by an international team of researchers. The Pakistan Air Force had commissioned the first batch of six J-10C fighter aircraft in March this year. At that time, then Prime Minister Imran Khan had said, "Unfortunately, efforts are being made to create an imbalance in the region and to address this, a big addition has been made today to our defence system." Khan was referring to India's acquisition of Rafale fighter jets. Then Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had said that Pakistan will acquire a full squadron of 25 Chinese multirole J-10C fighter jets in response to India's purchase of Rafale aircraft. --IANS avr/arm ( 242 Words) 2022-09-20-22:12:03 (IANS) New Delhi [India], September 21 (ANI/NewsVoir): Following the overwhelming response to the previous editions of the Global Franchise Meet, ExpanGlobal, a leading specialist for companies in market entry and expansion, is back with the 4th edition of the Global Franchise Meet. As part of its expertise in helping global brands find potential investors, this year's edition would be held at the Sheraton Mall of Emirates, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on September 25, 2022. The purpose of this edition of the franchise meeting is to assist global brands to develop a base in the region and brief the investors to convey the organizational mission, vision, and operational plans. Sectors such as Retail, Health & Wellness, Food and Beverage, Education, Consumer Goods and service sector are expecting accumulative investment commitments worth USD 300,000 approximately at the meet. This year more than 25 globally renowned brands will be part of this exclusive experience. The Indian delegation would comprise more than 15 renowned brands from across industry verticals. Some of the popular Indian names this year include Archies, Titos, Glam Studios, The Poly Kids, Maspar, and Idli. Besides, some of the popular brands across Europe and the Americas include Osmows International, ICAN Education, Desert Chill, and Asia's Lashes. Owners of global conglomerates and veterans of the business world along with eminent Middle East venture capitalists are the investors whom the brands will pursue investment. These investors have minimum profiling worth more than a million USD. Therefore, it becomes imperative for ExpanGlobal to maintain a robust brand selection process for the franchise meeting. Brands have to undergo certain criteria before they are eventually invited. One of the premium brands from India said that they plan to open up around 200 units across the Mid-East and expect approx. USD 50 Million as an initial investment. Speaking on the announcement of the franchise meeting, Raghav Khatter, Founder and CEO, ExpanGlobal said, "We are delighted to announce the launch of the 4th edition of Global Franchise Meet in Dubai. This year we are taking renowned brands from India and around the world to make a successful foray into the middle-east, which provides one of the finest business environments. Going forward from mid-east, for the next editions, we plan to take global brands to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and United Kingdom. We would also like to thank our patrons for their continuous trust in making the previous editions successful and hope to continue the momentum going forward." ExpanGlobal is a leading market entry and expansion company and assists international brands by their tailor-made services and solutions on expansion in emerging markets. Our value lies in the strength of our understanding of our client's needs for international expansion. We are working together to provide our associated brands with service excellent, as we adapt and innovate to meet and exceed their needs with local know how, experience and expertise to scale the various business concepts from multiple sectors. ExpanGlobal commits to be the best expansion partner for your business. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) The cabinet approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy's proposal for the implementation of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (Tranche II) on the 'National programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules', with an outlay of Rs.19,500 crore for achieving the manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules, according to an official statement released after the cabinet meeting. The national programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules aims to build an ecosystem for manufacturing of high-efficiency solar PV modules in India, and thus reduce import dependence in the area of Renewable Energy. It will strengthen the Atamnirbhar Bharat initiative and generate employment, it said. Solar PV manufacturers will be selected through a transparent selection process. PLI will be disbursed for 5 years post commissioning of solar PV manufacturing plants on sales of high-efficiency solar PV modules from the domestic market will be incentivised. It is estimated that about 65,000 MW per annum manufacturing capacity of fully and partially integrated, solar PV modules would be installed. The scheme will bring a direct investment of around Rs 94,000 crore, according to a statement released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The scheme will lead to the creation of manufacturing capacity for the Balance of Materials like EVA, Solar glass, Backsheet, etc. It is estimated to provide direct employment of about 1,95,000 and indirect employment of around 7,80,000 persons. The scheme will lead to import substitution of approximately Rs 1.37 lakh crore. It will give impetus to Research and Development to achieve higher efficiencies in Solar PV Modules, the ministry said. (ANI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 394 pieces of foreign-origin gold bars weighing approximately 65.46 kg from different locations in Mumbai, Patna and Delhi, the Union Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday. It is one of the biggest seizures of smuggled gold in the recent past. The seized gold is valued at around Rs 33.40 crore. The gold was smuggled from neighbouring northeastern countries. Specific intelligence indicated that a syndicate is actively planning to smuggle foreign-origin gold from Mizoram and using domestic courier consignment of supply chain and logistics company, the ministry said. In order to interdict the contraband, "Op Gold Rush" was launched by DRI and a particular consignment declared to contain 'Personal Goods' destined to Mumbai was intercepted. Examination of the consignment at Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) on 19.09.2022 led to the recovery and seizure of 120 pieces of foreign origin gold biscuits weighing approximately 19.93 Kg and valued at about Rs 10.18 crore. Further analysis and investigation revealed that 2 other such consignment, sent by same consignor from the same location to the same consignee, destined to Mumbai and in transit, were despatched through the same logistics company. The location of the consignments was traced. The second consignment was located and intercepted in Bihar. Upon examination at the Warehouse of the logistics company, it led to recovery of 172 foreign origin gold bars weighing approximately 28.57 kgs and valued at about Rs 14.50 crore. Similarly, the third consignment was intercepted and examined at the Delhi hub of the logistics company which led to recovery and seizure of 102 pieces of foreign origin gold bars weighing approximately 16.96 kg and valued at about Rs 8.69 crore, the ministry said. These series of detections have helped unearth novel modus operandi of smuggling foreign origin gold into India from the north eastern part of the country and through domestic courier route of logistics company. Such detections reinforce DRI's ability to detect and combat unique and sophisticated methods of smuggling. "A total of 394 foreign origin gold bars weighing approximately 65.46 Kg and valued at approximately Rs 33.40 crore were recovered and seized in multi-city operations," the finance ministry said. (ANI) New Delhi [India], September 21 (ANI) Emphasising on the need to adapt to new technology and innovations, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari suggested on Wednesday that a time was coming when tickets issued to passengers should be phased out and mobile phones used in their place. "We need to accept the new technology of electric vehicles and that we should try to end the use of tickets and instead use mobiles for tickets," Gadkari said. He was speaking at Catalyst 2022, StratNewsGlobal's first annual event here. In his speech, Gadkari also emphasised that lithium battery production in the country should be encouraged. He said the cost of production of these batteries was not an issue as it would come down once manufacturers scaled up the production level. "The cost of production of lithium batteries can be reduced if the manufacturer increases the volume of outputs," said the minister. On luxury buses, he said that the buses that link big cities like Delhi and Mumbai can be electric and double-deckers. He said that the government through Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) had put out a Rs 5,550-crore tender to procure 5,580 electric buses and this includes 130 double-deckers. "The automobile industry is one of the important sectors in our country." The minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a dream to make India a $5-trillion economy and make the country self-dependent or Atmanirbhar Bharat. "It is our responsibility to how we reduce the imports and increase our exports," he added. For that reason, we need to plan new appropriate policies for the future and this is how the automobile sector is a very important sector for the economy, the minister said. Gadkari said the automobile is giving new economic growth to the country. "That is why we need to have a long-term visionary policy. Our mission in the ministry is to make the automobile segment a Rs 15-trillion sector in five years. The ancillary industry is also well-developed." He also praised the start-ups in the country, saying: "It is really a game-changer that there are 400 start-ups which are manufacturing electric two-wheelers and making good products. Hero, Bajaj and TVS are exporting 50 per cent of their production." Gadkari said he has full confidence that 8 lakh to 10 lakh electric buses can be produced in the country and added that the government had issued tender for 5,550 electric buses and the rate came at Rs 39/km for non-AC buses and Rs 41/km for AC buses. "The running cost for diesel buses of BEST was at Rs 115/km." (ANI) Producer Ronnie Screwvala is coming up with a web series titled 'The Support Group'. On Wednesday, RSVP in association with House of Talkies announced their upcoming project, 'The Support Group', an edge-of-the-seat series that is truly Indian but unlike anything else out there just yet. Prashant Nair has come on board as the director/showrunner. Produced by RSVP, with Sidharth Jain as the co-producer, 'The Support Group' is the story of 3 characters from very different backgrounds who form an uneasy alliance to escape the consequences of an accidental killing. It is a multi-season series about normal, everyday people pushed to the brink, deeply conflicted by the choices that have led them to the very dark places they find themselves in. This would be Prashant and Sidharth Jain's ( House of Talkies ) second collaboration, having just completed shooting for the show 'Trial By Fire', a limited series soon to be released on a major OTT Platform. "With 'The Support Group', our goal is to create the kind of show that keeps you on the edge of your seat, full of twists and gasp-out-loud moments you can't help but binge straight through the night. A show that pushes the envelope and doesn't hold back from shocking - but never gratuitously and always with integrity. A show full of iconic moments made to be discussed endlessly during lunch breaks and cocktail hours," Ronnie said. Echoing the same sentiment, Prashant adds, "It's great to collaborate with RSVP, known for churning out-of-the-box and clutter-breaking successful stories on celluloid. The darkness depicted in 'The Support Group' will be infused with humour and irony, ensuring that for every shudder there's also a laugh. The show will dig deep into the rich cultural heritage and nuances of contemporary life in India as a springboard for what will hopefully be a unique viewing experience." "Really excited to produce my second series with Prashant Nair as director/showrunner and a first with RSVP. Have always looked up to Ronnie and couldn't have found a better mentor and partner for this project. Just as we created a universe of stories based on books, at The Story Ink, with House of Talkies, we are producing a compelling slate of high-concept projects, both series and films, beginning with The Support Group" said Sidharth Jain, Producer, House of Talkies. Details regarding the series' cast have not been revealed yet. (ANI) English actor Paddy Considine, who has been getting positive response for his role of King Viserys in the streaming series 'House of Dragon', recently spoke about how his younger brother in the series, Prince Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith), is not someone whom he can trust to take over the kingdom of Westeros. Talking about his character of King Viserys, Paddy said that he is in a difficult position because he loves his younger brother and is constantly forgiving of his frequent transgressions but he knows, too, that Daemon cannot be trusted to rule Westeros. He said, "Daemon is unpredictable, he's like an addict in that you never know what he will do next." The prospect of the unstable Daemon as ruler worries not only his older brother but his closest advisors, including Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the Hand of the King. "And Viserys becoming King has forced a massive wedge between them," he added. 'House of Dragon' is a gripping saga that takes us deep into the extraordinary world of Westeros and explores the Targaryen family -- the all-powerful dragon riders who are the seemingly invincible rulers of the seven kingdoms. The 10-episode series is streaming on OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar with new episodes dropping every Monday at 6:30 a.m. IST. --IANS aa/khz/ ( 229 Words) 2022-09-21-19:34:03 (IANS) Tamil director Soundarya Rajinikanth, who was inundated with birthday wishes on Tuesday, thanked all those who greeted her and said that God has blessed her this year with the best gift, her child Veer. Taking to Instagram to thank all those who wished her on her birthday, Soundarya, who posted a picture of her dad Rajinikanth standing behind her, said, "To every person who took time to wish me on my birthday yesterday, thank you so so so much. "The Gods have blessed me with the best gift this year, my Veer papa. And having this amazing God's child behind me always, life is a true blessing!!!" The youngest daughter of the superstar had only 10 days ago announced that she had given birth to her second son, whom they have named Veer. She had said, "With God's abundant grace and our parents' blessings... Vishagan, Ved and I are thrilled to welcome Ved's little brother Veer Rajinikanth Vanangamudi today 11/9/22. A huge thank you to our amazing doctors Sumana Manohar, Srividya Seshadri." --IANS mani/arm ( 190 Words) 2022-09-21-19:52:02 (IANS) Fire personnel Krishna Yadav told ANI that, the fire broke out after a suspected short circuit and it has been doused down after several hours. "Fire broke out in a hotel located in Brahmpura thana area of the district. We have rescued three people from the fire and the fire has been doused now after several hours. It is suspected that a short circuit triggered the fire," the fire personnel said. (ANI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday denied speculations that he may contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh's Phulpur, saying he only has ambition to unite opposition parties in the country. He also said that promoting the new generation is his motive, while indicating his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who was standing just behind him. "I have no personal ambition to become MP or any other post in the country. My supporters may promote my name but I am looking to contest the election. "The way some people (BJP leaders) are dividing the society through communal agenda of Hindu-Muslim to take advantage in election, I am against it and hence I am working for the unity of maximum opposition parties in the country to get success in 2024 Lok Sabha election and my efforts will continue," Nitish Kumar said. "The present government in the centre is dividing the country. They are trying to take control over every organisation including the media. You people better know about it. There is no work in the country done by the Central government. The strong opposition is in the interest of the country to teach lessons to the people working on divisive politics," he said. --IANS ajk/vd ( 220 Words) 2022-09-20-20:34:07 (IANS) The Delhi Police has busted a sextortion racket and arrested one of its members from Alwar in Rajasthan, officials said on Tuesday. The accused was identified as Mustkeem (20), a resident of Alawara, Tehsil Ramgarh, Alwar. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) M Harsh Vardhan said a case was registered regarding forgery at the Cyber Police Station, Dwarka in which the complainant alleged that he received an obscene video call on Whatsapp from an unknown number. The complainant interacted with the girl for some time and then disconnected."On August 1, the complainant received a call from a man who introduced himself as SHO Arun Rawat from Pune. He told him that a girl has committed suicide and the complainant's mobile number was found in her call log," the DCP said. Further, the accused told the complainant he would be charged with abetment to suicide and asked him to reach Pune. The complainant was given another number and asked to contact some SI Vikram Rathore. "On this the complainant contacted the provided number who pressurized him to meet their demands and the complainant paid a total of Rs 18 lakhs in two different bank accounts as asked by the accused persons," the official said. He got another call from another mobile number, and tha caller introduced himself as a CBI official and asked him to rush to Mumbai. The complainant again contacted the aforementioned Vikram Rathore who asked him to pay Rs 3 lakhs. It was at this juncture that the complainant realised that he was being duped and contacted the Delhi Police Cyber Cell. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the law and began probing the matter after constituting a dedicated team for the case. During the investigation, call detail records of the mobile numbers were obtained but all of them were found switched off except one which was active in Alawara. Subsequently, a raid was conducted and the accused person was traced and apprehended by the team. During interrogation, Mustkeem disclosed that he is a part of a gang of online cheaters, and one accused Sahun used fraud SIM cards (total 13) in his mobile for which he took Rs 2600 cash from him. Mustkeem was arrested on September 16 and produced in a Dwarka court which sent him on a 2-day police remand. --IANS uj/bg ( 404 Words) 2022-09-20-20:48:01 (IANS) Days after Jamia Millia Islamia cancelled 2020 riots accused Safoora Zargars Ph.D admission, the university banned her entry in the campus for unnecessary agitation on irrelevant and objectionable subjects. The Chief Proctor of the university said that Zargar was using the students of Jamia as a platform to fulfil malicious and political agenda' which has led the university to issue the order. Zargar was a M.Phil student at Jamia Millia Islamia and the media coordinator of the Razamia Coordination Committee. Zargar was jailed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act from April 10 to June 24, 2020 in the alleged conspiracy case of Delhi riots 2020, making provocative speeches on February 23, 2020. She was released on bail in June 2020 on humanitarian and medical grounds. The university said that Safoora Zargar was involved in organizing agitations, protests and marches on the campus against irrelevant and objectionable issues to disturb the peaceful academic environment along with a few outside students. "It has been observed that Ms. Safoora Zargar (ex student) has been involved in organizing agitations, protests and marches on the campus against the irrelevant and objectionable issues to disturb the peaceful academic environment with few students who are mostly outsiders. She is instigating innocent students of the university and trying to use the university platform for her malafide political agenda along with some other students. Further, she is hampering the normal functioning of the institution. In view of above, the competent authority, for maintaining peaceful academic environment across the campus, has approved campus ban on ex student Ms. Safoora Zargar with immediate effect," reads the order issued by the university. Meanwhile, her Ph.D admission was cancelled by the department of sociology citing unsatisfactory' progress in her thesis work. According to the university, in spite of being given additional chances, Zargar did not submit her Ph.D thesis, after which her admission had to be cancelled. After the cancellation, a section of students started raising slogans in favour of Safoora and against the university administration in the campus, accusing the university administration of discrimination. Zargar enrolled with the department of sociology in the integrated M.Phil/Ph.D programme in 2019. --IANS avr/bg ( 374 Words) 2022-09-20-21:08:01 (IANS) The police said that Leepakshi's statements may prove to be crucial for the case, adding that after recording her statements, they will decide whether to summon Jacqueline again for questioning. Chandrashekhar was arrested for allegedly cheating and extorting money from some high-profile people, including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh. Many Bollywood actors and models have been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for their alleged links to Chandrashekhar, including Nora Fatehi. According to the ED chargesheet, Jacqueline knew about Chandrashekhar's involvement in criminal activities but she chose to overlook them and indulged in financial transactions with the conman. --IANS atk/arm ( 162 Words) 2022-09-20-22:30:05 (IANS) PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss on Tuesday expressed concern over reports that as many as 300 engineers from India, lured to Thailand with promises of jobs, were kidnapped and taken to Myanmar where they are being forced to commit cybercrimes. Noting that the group of distressed Indians include 60 persons from Tamil Nadu, he urged the Centre to depute a team of officials to secure the release of the Indians held captive in Miyawadi forest region by Myanmar gangs. Tagging External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Ramadoss, in a tweet, said that it cannot be tolerated that those young people, who have committed no crime, are being subjected to torture for seeking employment. He also urged the Central government to take tough action against the fraudulent agencies in India that have allegedly cheated the Indian youth by offering them jobs in Thailand. --IANS pvn/d ( 155 Words) 2022-09-20-23:06:04 (IANS) From now on, private educational institutions in Assam cannot hike their fees without prior approval of the state government's regulatory body, officials said on Tuesday. The Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, passed in the Assembly on Monday, has recommended penal measures against private educational institutions in the state that don't comply with the provisions of the Fee Regulation Act. According to the bill, "subject to the provisions of section 10 of the Act, the Fee Regulatory Committee shall recommend maximum limits of fees to be charged by the different categories of Non-Government Educational Institutions in every year before starting of the academic session". Private educational institutions will have to file applications before the government constituted Fee Regulatory Committee for exemption and fixation of their fee structure by October 31. The amendment bill also said that if the non-government educational institutions fail to apply before the Committee, Rs 10,000 penalty will be imposed on them for non-submission of the applications before the deadline. After the deadline, a late fee of Rs 5,000 per month will also be charged. "In the event of non-submission of the proposal by the non-government educational institutions before starting of the new academic session to determine their fee structure, the Fee Regulatory Committee shall suo moto determine the fee structure of that particular institution which shall be binding on such school," the amendment bill added. It is believed that the state government has taken this step after a series of complaints raised against a section of private educational institutes in the state about hiking their fees without any prior notice. A few students and guardians also filed complaints that a few non-government educational institutes abruptly hiked their fees to cover the loss inducted due to the Covid pandemic outbreak. They earlier urged the government to take stern steps to stop this kind of practice by the private institutes. --IANS tdr/vd ( 333 Words) 2022-09-20-23:10:02 (IANS) MLC Dinesh Singh was detained at Patna Airport for around three hours after he was coming from Delhi. The Income Tax Department was seen coming out of Patna Airport with a sealed suitcase. The officials refused to answer any questions regarding the matter. MLC Dinesh Singh said that the Income Tax team had some questions for him and there was nothing to be found. He said that he will give further information the next morning, as he is not well. "The income tax team asked whatever they wanted to, after which I left. They did not find anything, any money, as there was nothing to be found," said MLC Dinesh Singh. (ANI) The Navy Chief Admiral said that China remains a formidable challenge in this regard and has kept on increasing its presence not just on land but also on maritime borders. "China remains a formidable challenge and has increased its presence, not only along our land borders but also in the maritime domain by leveraging anti-piracy operations to normalize its naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region," Kumar said. Kumar further said that a war with potential adversaries cannot be ruled out, but without escalating into armed action. "While competition is being played out on a daily basis, at times testing limits, but without escalating into armed action, a war with potential adversaries can never be ruled out," Navy Chief Admiral said. The Navy Chief Admiral also said that Pakistan has continued its military modernisation despite economic constraints. "To the West, Pakistan despite economic constraints has continued its military modernisation, especially its Navy, which is on track to becoming a 50-platform force," Navy Chief Admiral said. Kumar also said that terrorism is still a major security threat in addition to the existing military challenges. "While these conventional military challenges persist, terrorism remains a major security threat, as it continues to evolve in shape, scale and size. Staying one step ahead of such an invisible enemy, who will constantly innovate tactics, enabled by niche technologies, is a challenge that persists," Kumar said. (ANI) One person was apprehended by the Gopalapuram Police on Tuesday, for carrying fake currency notes worth Rs 3 lakhs, informed the police. The arrest was made at Indranagar colony, Kalimandir, Bandlaguda Jagir in Hyderabad and the man has been identified as Kasthuri Ramesh Babu. He was allegedly moving with fake currency notes. As per the police, he himself confessed his guilt when Police enquired from him. The police seized fake currency worth more than three lakhs from the accused. It comprised 2500 fake notes of Rs 100 denominations, 45 half-printed fake notes of Rs 100 denominations, and 92 half-printed fake notes of Rs 500 denominations. Other than this, one Lenovo laptop, two black and white colour printers, one screen printing machine, one paper cutting machine, one mobile phone, and one four-wheeler were also seized by the police. The police received a complaint on September 19 regarding this case. A man named Gopi Rama Swamy had complained that one person purchased fruits from him and in return gave him a fake note of Rs 200. As soon as he realised this, he along with his friend chased him and brought him to the police. A case was registered at the Gopalapuram Police Station, under section 489 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the investigation was started, the police said. In another case, one person named Kaki Yadagiri was apprehended by the Chilkalguda Police on Tuesday, after receiving some credible information. The Ambulance vehicle was also recovered from him. The case was based on a complaint registered on Monday, a complaint was received by a native of Karimnagar Town, named Lingampally Srinivas. He had said that he had come to Hyderabad Gandhi Hospital from Karimnagar Government along with a patient who had consumed pesticide. He had parked the vehicle outside and left his keys in it. After he came out after 10 minutes, he couldn't find his vehicle. The vehicle was worth Rs 3,70,000 as per the complainant. The police informed that the arrest was made under the supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police North Zone, G Venkateshwarlu, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gopalapuram N Sudhir, Station House Officer (SHO G Naresh, Deputy Inspector K Nageswara Rao, and Sub-inspector Sri N Sai Krishna along with Crime Staff of Chilkalguda Police Station. (ANI) To enhance the connectivity in north India, Alliance Air is all set to recommence its maiden Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) route Delhi-Shimla-Delhi from Monday. With this recommencement, the airline will expand its network in Himachal Pradesh so that commuters can fly to Delhi-Shimla-Delhi daily, Alliance Air said in a statement. "With the vision of connecting New India, it is our endeavour to offer better air connectivity between Tier-2 / Tier-3 towns to their closest city hubs. Keeping with this endeavour, Alliance Air expands connectivity in North India by recommencing its maiden RCS route Delhi-Shimla-Delhi, which will operate daily effective September 26, 2022," said Yash Vardhan Singh, Deputy Engineer, Alliance Air. It further revealed that the flight shall operate with ATR42-600 aircraft. Earlier the recommencement of this flight was scheduled on September 6, 2022 but due to bad weather conditions the flight could not commence operations, it said. The airline further informed that the fare of the flight tickets is Rs 2,141 and said that the Delhi to Shimla flight will run at 7.10 am while the flight from Shimla to Delhi will run at 8.50am daily. "The flight 9I 821 will depart from Delhi at 0710 hrs and arrive in Shimla at 0820 hrs. Flight 9I 822 will depart from Shimla at 0850 hrs and arrive in Delhi at 1000 hrs. The introductory all-inclusive Fares for Delhi-Shimla and Shimla-Delhi will be INR 2141," it said. Mentioning its contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the airline asserted confidence in enhancing connectivity to boost trade and tourism in the state and said that it would contribute in the state's economic development. "Enhanced connectivity will help bolster tourism and trade in the region and contribute to the economic development of the states. Alliance Air is humbled to contribute towards the hon'ble Prime Minister's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative," it said mentioning "Dekho Bharat ke rang, Alliance Air ke sang!" Notably, there are only window or aisle seats in Alliance Air and the aircrafts are also said to have a comfortable leg space with a seat pitch of 30". For more details prior, the passengers can log on to www.allianceair.in . Shimla is the capital and the largest city of Himachal Pradesh, which was built on top of the seven hills-- Inverarm Hill, Observatory Hill, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Bantony Hill, Elysium Hill, and Jakhu Hill. At a height of 2,454 metres (8,051 ft), Jakhu Hill is the highest point of Shimla. (ANI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in a lighter vein, asked Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar what "magic" did he do on a "tough lady" like Mamata Banerjee that she decided to abstain from voting during the VP election. Friendly banter between the two was witnessed during the felicitation programme in the Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday as the Vice President, during his address, also said that he once did magic himself during the state assembly elections. Speaking on the occasion, Gehlot cited the relations Dhankhar shared with Mamata Banerjee during his three-year tenure as the Governor of West Bengal before being elected Vice President in August this year, and said, "Your relations were the topic of discussion in the country till the time you were there for three years. What magic did you do that when you became the vice presidential candidate, the same Mamata Banerjee abstained from voting? Please tell us the secret." "What magic did you do on a tough lady like Mamata? I am the magician," he said. Gehlot further asked if Dhankhar was a "bigger magician" than him. Gehlot's "I'm the magician" remark comes amid the buzz of him being the frontrunner in the race for the Congress president's post. He is believed to be close to the Gandhi family who is said to be backing the Rajasthan CM for the post. Responding to the Chief Minister's remark, VP Dhankhar jokingly said, "I remember when the Rajasthan Assembly elections were underway, Rajendra Rathore was the candidate from Churu. I went to his rally. The magic of the magician is okay (pointing towards Gehlot), but even I did magic that he never lost an election till today". "The Chief Minister asked what was that magic that Mamata Banerjee took the decision (to abstain from voting in vice presidential elections). I am beyond politics. Why are the political decisions taken, how are they taken and on what basis are they taken, Ashok Gehlot, Vasundhara Raje and others can throw light on this," he added. Notably, during his tenure as the Governor of West Bengal, Dhankhar and Mamata were believed to have clashed on various occasions. Dhankhar also joked that he had once sought "help" from former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje regarding Mamata in the form of a "magic spell". "Vasundhara Raje started in the parliamentary area in 1989. I also got this opportunity. Since then my relations with her have been personal. I even sought help from her after becoming the Governor of West Bengal that my Chief Minister is Mamata Banerjee. Please tell me some magic spell," he said. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga to hold another round of talks on the long-pending Assam-Mizoram border issue in the national capital on Wednesday afternoon. "Today my Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga and I met to discuss the Assam and Mizoram border issue. A team of ministers from both states met in Aizawl recently. Today we discussed the progress and reviewed what happened in the meeting and we are satisfied with the progress. We are in the process of forming regional committees to solve this issue", said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after the meeting. The meeting between the two CMs lasted for around twenty-five minutes. Mizoram CM Zoramthanga exclusively told ANI, "We have had a good round of meetings and are satisfied with the progress made at the meeting between the ministers of the two states. We're hoping that we will be able to solve the issue at the earliest." When asked about the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Zoramthanga said, "As of now we have had no talks of a meeting with the Union home Minister." In November last year, the two CMs met in the presence of the Union Home Minister in the national capital to discuss the decades-long pending issue. In July last year, the border dispute turned violent, resulting in the death of seven personnel from the Assam police and injuring several others. Following this, a couple of rounds of meetings have taken place between the delegations from Assam and Mizoram to solve this issue amicably. In 1972 Mizoram was made a union territory. However, the UT carved out of Assam was made a state in 1987. After initial acceptance of the border with Assam Mizoram gradually began disputing the border. (ANI) The posters are believed to be pasted by the Congress party targetting the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state with corruption allegations. The posters have a QR code with CM Bommai's photo in the middle with the message "40 per cent accepted here". The QR code will take people to the '40 per cent Commission Government' website recently launched by Congress to file complaints against the chief minister. This comes when Congress has been running an aggressive campaign against the Bommai government alleging it of corruption while awarding public contracts and recruitments. Last month, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said that charges of taking 40 per cent commission for clearing bills are politically motivated. He said, "Charges must be specific and accompanied with evidence. Without this, only baseless press statements are made." His remarks came after Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah's demand in the State Legislative Assembly for an inquiry into charges of taking 40 per cent commission. Bommai suggested approaching the Lokayukta for probing such cases. "Recently, as per directions from the Karnataka High Court, the powers of the Anti-corruption Bureau had been given to Lokayukta. Everyone has the power to make complaints against anybody in that institution. But politically motivated statements are issued," CM said. He highlighted that there was total transparency in clearing bills. "Total transparency and seniority are strictly observed in clearing pending bills. There are a number of Contractors Associations and strict instruction is given of not giving more than 5 per cent contract to any Association. The bills of small contractors are cleared. The government has brought in transparency and seniority while cleaning the bills. Despite doing all these things, still they are levelling charges," he said. (ANI) Vasudevan, a software engineer, lost balance and fell into a pit outside his home. It was dug as a part of the new stormwater drainage system work all over Chennai. One of the iron rods inside the pit for cement re-enforcing cut Vasudevan's thigh. He also got a head and shoulder injury. Residents and commuters nearby immediately came forth and helped Vasudevan in coming out of the pit. Vasudevan was rushed to the hospital where his wounds were treated. CCTV footage of the accident has gone viral on social media. (ANI) After "PayCM" posters surfaced in Bengaluru targetting the BJP government in the state, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday termed the campaign a conspiracy to tarnish Karnataka's reputation. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai termed Pay CM campaign as a conspiracy to tarnish his and Karnataka's reputation. Officers concerned have been asked to file a case and identify those behind this campaign. Speaking to reporters, Bommai said, "This is a systematic campaign not only to tarnish the State's image but also of my image. Instructions have been given to the authorities concerned to immediately book a case. The government will make efforts to put an end to any attempts made to tarnish the image of Karnataka". "PayCM" posters featuring Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's photograph surfaced in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The posters are believed to be pasted by the Congress party targetting the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state with corruption allegations. The posters have a QR code with CM Bommai's photo in the middle with the message "40 per cent accepted here". The QR code will take people to the '40 per cent Commission Government' website recently launched by Congress to file complaints against the chief minister.This comes when Congress has been running an aggressive campaign against the Bommai government alleging it of corruption while awarding public contracts and recruitments. Last month, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said that charges of taking 40 per cent commission for clearing bills are politically motivated.He said, "Charges must be specific and accompanied with evidence. Without this, only baseless press statements are made." His remarks came after Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah's demand in the State Legislative Assembly for an inquiry into charges of taking 40 per cent commission.Bommai suggested approaching the Lokayukta for probing such cases. "Recently, as per directions from the Karnataka High Court, the powers of the Anti-corruption Bureau had been given to Lokayukta. Everyone has the power to make complaints against anybody in that institution. But politically motivated statements are issued," CM said. He highlighted that there was total transparency in clearing bills. "Total transparency and seniority are strictly observed in clearing pending bills. There are a number of Contractors Associations and strict instruction is given of not giving more than 5 per cent contract to any Association. The bills of small contractors are cleared. The government has brought in transparency and seniority while cleaning the bills. Despite doing all these things, still they are levelling charges," he said. (ANI) The Karnataka Government, while justifying its decision to prescribe a dress code in the educational institutes, apprised the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it had prescribed uniforms which were religion-neutral. Representing Karnataka state, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj said on Wednesday that the state has not banned Hijab but has only prescribed a uniform which is religion-neutral. ASG Nataraj submitted that the state government had neither prohibited nor promoted any religious activity. He was arguing before a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia. ASG KM Nataraj said all religious rights must be balanced and no one can say that they have an absolute right. Countering the submission of the petitioner, ASG Nataraj said that the matter did not require to be referred to a larger bench as it was a simple case connected with the issue of discipline in educational institutions. He also said that no person has been discriminated against and all have been treated equally. Defending the state government's decision, Karnataka's Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi submitted before SC the restrictions of Hijab are inside the classroom. Karnataka's Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi emphasised that there is no restriction on wearing hijab in school transport or even in the school campus. The Karnataka Advocate General said that ground reality was something which has never happened in Karnataka. He further apprised the court of a group of students who have come to education institute were demanding to wear Hijab, and banging the gates. Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi said that there were some groups which were actively associated with this and these facts are in the chargesheet. He also placed the chargesheet and translation of the government circular before the court. Denying that state has acted against a particular religion, Karnataka Advocate General Navadgi said that Rule 11 of Karnataka Education Act is the statutory power for the school to prescribe the dress. He added there is no absolute freedom and every freedom can be restricted. The court which was hearing various pleas against Karnataka HC's judgment upholding the ban of Hijab in educational institutes, will continue to hear the matter tomorrow too. During the day-long hearing, Justice Gupta put to the Karnataka government the petitioner's argument that whatever is stated in the Quran is the word of God and sacrosanct. Karnataka's Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi replied that they are not experts in Quran, but Supreme Court has held every word in Quran may be religious but not essential. Justice Hemant Gupta also shared that he knew someone in Pakistan, a judge of Lahore High Court, who used to visit India, and said that he had never seen his two daughters wearing hijab, at least in India. Karnataka's AG Navadgi said to his knowledge, he has not seen a lot of women wearing Hijab. Justice Gupta also shared facts that he has interacted with many Muslim families in UP and Bihar and have seen women not wearing hijab. Karntaka AG submitted that women are not wearing Hijab in several countries like France or Turkey. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, representing State of Karnataka, argued that today one person says it is my right to wear hijab, another person will say he wants to wear shawl, some other person will want something else. He further argued that how can you have religious symbols in a secular education institution? Secular education is not meant for that, he said. Justice Dhulia asked will you allow someone who wants to enter school wearing a Hijab. ASG KM Nataraj said that school will decide and as a state we respect everything including Hijab and shawl. ASG KM Nataraj said that all religious rights must be balanced and no one can say that they have an absolute right. All religious rights must be balanced, he said. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday inaugurated the Asian Summit on Education and Skill (ASES) and Didac India 2022 and said that the forum is playing an important role to promote peer learning among different countries and educational institutions which are critical for adopting the best practices in education. Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Minister said that this forum must become a platform to provide solutions and the report of this workshop on education must be called 'Bengaluru declaration'. Bommai also said that the government will implement the solutions arrived at in this meeting. "The system of education policy and teaching technique has changed. The change must be in the right direction and must help in evolving a good education system. Any education does not end just after obtaining the degree as they are just milestones and still they will have a long way to cover. All of them are lifelong students as they will learn new things every day," Bommai said. "The education must be pro-learning and clarity on what, when and how much to teach, and that is possible through new technology and methods. This concept can be taught to students through visual media but it reduces their analytical thinking in them. The students must learn easily and happily. The policy must be framed by putting themselves in the level of children," he further said. Bommai stressed technology for all real solutions as the current situation needs technology. "Since from the days of maharajas, the State has a good primary, secondary and professional courses imparting institutions. Our forefathers have successfully included both knowledge and meditation together. While meditation helps in good thinking and knowledge helps to face the world," Bommai said while speaking about education in the state. The Chief Minister also claimed that Karnataka had never lagged behind in technical education. "There are 400 Research and Development centres in Bengaluru and Karnataka was the first state to privatise technical education. The present government has taken a number of important decisions and steps are being taken to upgrade the seven engineering colleges to the IIT model. Next year, Karnataka will have KIT on the lines of IIT and all of them will be student-centric. Education must not end with obtaining a degree. What they have got from society must be given back to society," Bommai added. (ANI) The former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national President N Chandrababu Naidu made it clear that if any injustice is done to the party activists in Kuppam, the whole town will stand by them. Earlier in the month, the TDP activists staged demonstrations across Andhra Pradesh urging the State Government to supply rice for all the white ration card holders in the State. Raising slogans like "Povali Jagan, Ravali Chandrababu", the TDP activists said that the Jagan Mohan Reddy Government, which has become a bane for the people, should be thrown out of power immediately. The demonstrators submitted memoranda to the local tehsildars demanding a free ration supply to all the white card holders as per the norms laid down under National Food Security Act. Talking to media persons at the Kuppam jail after visiting those TDP activists who were imprisoned 'for fighting to save democracy', Mr Chandrababu Naidu emphasised that during the course of his four-decade political career, he never felt the need to visit a prison to show camaraderie with anyone. He further stated, "When injustice is done to the TDP activists, the whole Kuppam moved to the jail with a feeling that they too were subjected to similar oppression, thus sending a strong message that they will all stand by those who are facing such problems". "Kuppam is known for peace and tranquillity and for the past 35 years and the people here voted for me. The majority of the people in this Assembly segment are backward classes and they wanted me to represent them in the Legislative Assembly," Mr Naidu stated. The former Chief Minister made it clear that the law enforcement agencies should take all necessary preventive steps before his visit to the area and should supervise the law and order, he felt. "The police are of the strong opinion that when the plunderers are looting the State, they do not expect me to visit the areas that fell victim to such robbery," Mr Chandrababu Naidu stated. He said that development had taken place only during the TDP regime, whether in the Chittoor district or in the whole State and the TDP always stands by the people, whether the party is in ruling or in opposition. Though certain rowdies from the ruling Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) deliberately tried to create some unrest during Chandrababu's visit, the police failed to send them out, and the former Chief Minister felt and warned the Chief Minister, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, "the day is not too far when the people from all parts of the State chase him out". When the local TDP activists questioned on Kollupalli clashes, they were attacked and cane-charged, Naidu said and clarified that he is not finding fault with all the police officials. "There are only certain elements and I have their total records with me. When the TDP comes back to power, stringent action will be initiated against such elements," he stated. "How dare the local police officers who registered murder cases against those who fell victim to their atrocities and what crime they have committed file cases under various Sections of IPC", Naidu asked. The State Government is very strange that cases under SC and ST Atrocities Act have been registered against the same community, Naidu pointed out. Naidu mentioned that none other than the sister of Jagan Mohan Reddy moved the Supreme Court with an appeal to shift the murder case of her father from Pradesh to another State. Jagan is such a great leader that he is threatening even the Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Naidu said in a sarcastic way and stated, "A day will come when the same police officers, who are working with him now, will take him into custody". He said, "The war has begun from Kuppam and it will extend to the whole State. The former Chief Minister is of the firm opinion that the three-capital issue is not valid and the State should have only a single capital". (ANI) The incident happened on Sunday night and according to the police, the labourer was caught by a woman and was arrested. However, the police haven't been able to extract any video from his phone yet. "He'll be produced in court today. We recovered his mobile and didn't get any video as such", said Maheshwar Reddy, DCP. Further probe into the matter is awaited. (ANI) Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Inspector General, Assam Rifles (East), on Wednesday, recovered 8 cases of foreign origin cigarettes worth Rs 10.40 lakh in general area Balukai, Zokhawthar IMB in Champhai district. The operation was carried out by a team of Assam Rifles based on specific information. A senior official of Assam Rifles said that the Assam Rifles team recovered the items dumped between the Indo-Myanmar friendship bridge and Balukai. The approximate cost of the recovered foreign-origin cigarette is Rs 10,40,000. The seized items were handed over to the Customs department, Champhai for further legal proceedings. The ongoing smuggling of foreign-origin cigarettes is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram, especially along the India-Myanmar Border. Assam Rifles, rightly christened as the 'Sentinels of Northeast' have continued their efforts against the smuggling activities in Mizoram. The same battalion had recovered a huge quantity of foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 91 lakh earlier in June. (ANI) A Special Court has dismissed the bail petition of Gurupada Maji, accused in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal mining scam in West Bengal. According to ED, Gurupada Maji is one of the partners of Anup Majee, the kingpin of illegal coal mining business activities in West Bengal. Special Judge Anurag Sain in an order passed on September 20, 2022, said, "Considering the parameters of Section 45 (1) PMLA, I find no reasonable ground for believing that applicant/accused Gurupada Maji is not guilty of the alleged offences. From a prima facie view of the material placed on record and in light of the gravity of the alleged offences, it cannot be said either that the applicant/accused is not likely to commit any such offence while on bail." While opposing the bail plea, Advocate Nitesh Rana submitted that in the investigation conducted so far, the present accused has received proceeds of crime of Rs. 89.4 Crore and thus, the accused has been involved in the commission of the offence of Money Laundering. Further accused has acquired many Kolkata-based shell companies to project POCs generated from illegal coal mining activities as untainted funds. On August 2, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) filed a supplementary Prosecution Complaint (PC) before the Rouse Avenue Court (New Delhi) in the case of illegal coal mining case by Anup Majee and others. In the said supplementary Prosecution Complaint, Gurupada Maji and six companies controlled by him have been arrayed as accused. Gurupado Maji was arrested by ED on 26/05/2022 and currently was in judicial custody. ED initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI, Kolkata against Anup Majee, several other officials of ECL and other public servants and private persons for illegal excavation and theft of coal from the leasehold area of ECL in active connivance of the officials of ECL, CISF, Indian Railways and concerned other departments for alleged commission of a cognizable offence under various sections of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w section 13(1)(a) of the P.C. Act,1988. The total proceeds of crime identified to date is Rs. 2742.32 Crore. Till now, POC to the tune of Rs. 204.64 have already been attached by ED vide seven Provisional attachment orders and three persons have been arrested by ED to date, said ED in a press statement. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was in the national capital, paid a courtesy call to Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. The meeting lasted for an hour in which the CM apprised Shah in detail of the divine calamity that had occurred in various places in the state in the recent past and the disaster management, relief and rescue operations carried out in those areas. The issue of police modernisation was also discussed between the two leaders. CM Dhami said, "There was a lot of discussion regarding the development of the state in the meeting". Earlier in the day, the CM held a meeting on the Kishau Dam Multipurpose Project under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Water Power Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the National capital. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also participated virtually. In the meeting, CM Dhami and the CM of Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, presented their views on the project. Dhami said, "In case of increase in the cost of project DPR, the power component cost should be kept constant or the increased power component cost should be borne by the other four beneficiary states--Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi so that electricity supply can be made available to the consumers of the state at affordable rates". The CM Dhami further added that this national project would prove to be a milestone for the development of Uttarakhand because during the period of project development, various resources of income enhancement such as permanent and temporary employees would be available directly and indirectly to the local residents and villagers. For the development and welfare of the area, from time to time, with the cooperation of the local public representatives, beneficial schemes for the area will be developed, due to which the problem of migration can be controlled to a great extent. It is worth mentioning that the work of implementation of the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project is being done by Kishau Corporation Limited, a joint venture of the Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh governments. This project was declared a National Project in February 2008. According to the CMO, the Kishau Dam project will be the second largest dam project in Asia which will have a height of 236 metres and a length of 680 metres. The Kishau project is proposed on the Tons river in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand state and the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. In this, the 97,076-hectare land will be irrigated by 1,324 MCAM live storage, and 617 MCM will be available for drinking water and industrial use from which three states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana as per the reports submitted by CM Dhami and CM Jai Ram Thakur. In view of being a national project, 90 per cent of the water component cost (irrigation and drinking water) will be financed by the Government of India and 10 per cent by the beneficiary states for the implementation of the project and the electricity component cost will be shared by the Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh governments. (ANI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government of favouring big business and took a dig at billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, saying "he can monolpolise any business he wants in the country". Gautam Adani was last week briefly ranked as the world's second-richest person on the Forbes real-time billionaire tracker. Addressing a public meeting at Paravoor Junction in Aluva in Kochi here during a break in Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi made a veiled reference to Gautam Adani and said the second-richest man on the planet is from India and asked "who gives him money to build businesses". "He can monolpolise any business he wants in the country. He can buy any airport and port. He can dominate agriculture, power and solar business. Who gives him money to build these businesses? It comes from public sector banks, it is your money," Rahul Gandhi said. He said the money in banks should be used to build social infrastructure and extend credit facilities to farmers and small businesses. The Congress leader alleged that if a common man defaults in loan repayment, he is "called a criminal" but loans of big industrialists are turned into but non-performing assets. "It is the money you give to build schools, hospitals, to give loans to farmers, to support small business owners. If you take loans and default then you are called a criminal. But if the biggest businessman in India defaults, they are not called criminals but non-performing assets," he said. Business conglomerate Adani Group's chairman Gautam Adani last week briefly became the world's second-richest person on the Forbes real-time billionaire tracker. The position see-sawed between number two and number three earlier this week also. Rahul Gandhi had on Monday also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of trying to build a country where a "handful" of people "control" the entire country. "BJP wants to build a country where a handful of people control the entire country, and because of this, millions and millions of people are drowning in poverty, youngsters can't dream of being employed," Rahul Gandhi said at a public programme at Kanichukulangara in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. "Today we can see clearly that India is angry and violent. It is the BJP who has spread this anger and violence. It is in their DNA, and the result is that 4-5 people in this country make billions and billions of dollars. "How can it be that we have the richest man and our people face the highest prices in the world? Is it something that we are going to just accept? A country where an average person cannot dream, cannot give education to his children, cannot take his parents to hospital, a youngster cannot dream of building a business? At the same time a handful of people monopolize their business," Rahul Gandhi had said. Rahul Gandhi along with party leaders resumed the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kochi as the march entered its 14th day on Wednesday. The leaders, who camped in the Kochi district, started the yatra from Madavana this morning. The Yatra is in its Kerala leg and would traverse through the state. The 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir will be completed in 150 days. (ANI) A top woman leader of the CPI-Maoist from Chhattisgarh, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on her head, surrendered before Telangana Police on Wednesday. Madavi Hademe alias Savitri, a Divisional Committee Member, South Bastar Division of Dandakaranya Special zonal Committee and Incharge Konta Area Committee, surrendered before Director General of Telangana Police M. Mahender Reddy here. The police chief presented 46-year-old Savitri, a native of Chhattisgarh, at a news conference but he said she was not willing to speak to the media. According to police, Savitri laid down arms as she was frustrated with the mindless violence and aimless protracted armed struggle of CPI-Maoist and due to humiliation she faced in the party after the demise of her husband and top Maoist leader Ramanna in 2019. Savitri is the wife of late Ravula Srinivas alias Ramanna, Central Committee Member and Secretary of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee who died due to cardiac arrest in 2019. Ramanna, who hailed from Telangana, was a first-generation Maoist leader and strong believer of revolutionary ideology. He joined then People's War Group (PWG) in 1983 and built the organisation in Bastar region. Savitri, who joined the movement at the age of 13, also worked in various capacities in the region under Ramanna. The Chhattisgarh government had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh on Savitri, who during the last three decades of underground life, recruited 300-350 tribals into the Maoist outfit, and was involved in several cases including nine major attacks in which more than 120 security personnel were killed. Savitri's son Ravula Srikanth Ranjith surrendered last year. According to police, she also desires to spend the rest of life with her son. After the death of her husband and surrender of her son, she went into depression and realising the futility of continuing in the outlawed Maoist outfit and attracted by the provisions of comprehensive surrender and rehabilitation policies of the Telangana government, decided to leave the party to join mainstream to lead normal life, police said. As an immediate relief, the DGP handed over Rs 50,000 to Savitri and announced that under the state government's surrender policy, she would be later given Rs 5 lakh. She told police that many cadres are fed up with the protracted armed struggle and mindless violence of the outfit but are compelled to continue as Maoist leadership is not allowing them to surrender. She appealed to alled the Maoist cadres across the country to give arms, stop obstructing the growth of tribals and join the mainstream. She also appealed to the tribal community of Bastar in Chhattisgarh to withdraw their support to the CPI-Maoist and join hands with the administration to facilitate their growth. The DGP also appealed to all underground cadres across the country, especially those who hail from Telangana, to surrender and join the national mainstream. He assured all help for relief and rehabilitation under the state government's surrender policy. These include house sites, agricultural land, and reward money. Replying to a query, he said Telangana Police were on alert to prevent Maoists from entering into Telangana from Chhattisgarh and were working to make the state free from Maoists. "We are keeping a close watch on their movements. We are on alert to prevent them from entering Telangana and to arrest them if they manage to enter the state," he said. He said out of 20 members of the Central Committee of CPI-Maoist, 11 are from Telangana and two from Andhra. As long as the entire central leadership is run by those from Telangana, will they continue to re-establish the outfit in the state. He also revealed that 135 underground cadres from the state were also working in various formations and different states but mainly in Bastar area. He also noted that in recent times, recruitment into the Maoist outfit has come down and even in Telangana formation, only few are Telugu. The DGP said three women Maoists from Telangana were working in state level committees. These include wives of top leaders Ganapathy and Koteshwar Rao. Stating that these women were facing a lot of difficulties, Mahender Reddy said if they surrender they will be provided all facilities to help them join the mainstream. --IANS ms/vd ( 712 Words) 2022-09-21-19:08:01 (IANS) "Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, the Minister of State for Rural Development will be the chief guest for the event. Many other BJP national leaders, executive members, and district presidents are expected. A lot of people are also expected to this semi-urban part of Rangareddy district which is close to Munugode. This will play a significant impact on the upcoming Munugode assembly byelection, " Subash told ANI. He said Telangana BJP has decided to have padayatra at least 15-20 days every month. So far, it has covered around 48 assembly constituencies. The fifth phase will be announced soon. Bandi Sanjay Kumar was detained last month by the Telangana Police in the Jangaon district. Bandi was holding a protest against the arrest of BJP workers in Hyderabad. (ANI) A study on over 1,600 patients suggests a simple intervention to increase breast cancer cure and survival rates, said Dr Rajendra Badwe, Director Tata Memorial Centre (Tata Cancer Hospital) on Wednesday. The landmark multi-centre Indian study on breast cancer gave good results, said Dr Badwe. Out of the Sample size of 1,600 patients, 1,100 were from Tata Memorial Hospital itself and rest 500 patients were from 10 different centres from Kolhapur, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, Dr Badwe told ANI. Earlier on September 12, Badwe presented the results of a landmark multi-centre Indian study on breast cancer at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Paris that shows that simple, low-cost intervention significantly and substantially increases the cure rates and survival of breast cancer patients, with a benefit that is ongoing for several years after surgery. "The trial in women undergoing breast cancer surgery involved the injection of a commonly used drug around the tumour, on the operating table, just prior to surgery The injection requires no additional expertise, is inexpensive, and can result in saving up to 100,000 lives annually globally. These benefits are substantial and were achieved with an intervention the cost of which was less than Rs 100 per patient," Badwe said. Talking about the study, he further said, "For the comparison, benefits of far lesser magnitude have been achieved in early breast cancer patients by much more expensive, targeted drugs which cost more than ten lakhs per patient." Dr Badwe said that the study took a decade from the idea being conceived and the study is completed. While presenting the study at the conference, Dr Badwe had said, "This is the first study of its kind globally, that has shown a sizable benefit by single intervention prior to surgery. If implemented across the world, it has the capability to save over 100,000 lives annually. For scientists, it opens the window of peri-operative intervention to modulate the environment of cancer in such a way as to prevent its deleterious reaction to the act of surgery [observation]. Evolving low-cost interventions for cancer has been a mission of Tata Memorial Centre and Department of Atomic Energy for the benefit of Indian and global population and this study, supported by the Department of Atomic Energy, is a major step towards Atma Nirbhar Bharat." The study, 'Effect of Peri-tumoral Infiltration of Local Anaesthetic Prior to Surgery on Survival in Early Breast Cancer is a randomized controlled trial, conceived and designed by Dr Badwe, who is the principal investigator. The study was conducted by investigators at 11 cancer centres in India including Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai over an 11-year period between 2011 and 2022. The study included 1,600 women with early breast cancer who were planned to be treated with surgery. Half of these patients, constituting the control group, received standard surgery followed by standard postoperative treatment including chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiotherapy as per guidelines. The other half, constituting the intervention group, received an injection of a commonly used local anaesthesia agent, 0.5% lidocaine, all around the tumour, just prior to surgery. They then underwent standard surgery followed by the same postoperative treatment as was given in the control group. Dr Badwe's previous research has suggested that there is a window of opportunity just prior to, during, and immediately after surgical removal of primary cancer when anti-cancer interventions could reduce the risk of development of disseminated stage 4 metastatic cancer later in the lifespan of the patient. Lignocaine, which is a commonly used, inexpensive, local anaesthesia drug, was thought to be one such suitable intervention because of its inhibitory effects on cancer cell division, movement and other anti-cancer properties. Depicted here is the diagrammatic representation of the technique of peri-tumoral injection which is simple and requires no additional expertise. After completion of treatment, patients were followed up regularly for several years to compare the rates of cure and survival between the control group and the local anaesthesia group. When enough follow-up had happened in both groups the data was analysed at a cut-off date of September 2021. As expected, there was no toxicity of lignocaine in patients who received it. The 6-year disease-free survival (cure rate) was 81.7% in the control group and 86.1% in the local anaesthesia group for a 26% relative reduction in the risk of cancer relapse or death with the local anaesthesia injection, which was statistically significant. Similarly, the 6-year overall survival was 86.2% versus 89.9% in the two groups for a 29% reduction in the risk of death with the local anaesthetic injection, which was also statistically significant. Depicted below are the disease-free survival and overall survival in the two study groups over time. (ANI) Former US President Donald Trump had threatened to use his "presidential powers" to prosecute his political foes such as former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and FBI Director James Comey, who cleared her of any mishandling of government documents in the private emails case, according to a new book. "At one point in the spring of 2018, Trump instructed (then White House Counsel) Don McGahn to direct (then Attorney General Jeff) Sessions to prosecute Clinton and Comey and, if the Attorney General refused, said he would do it himself as President. McGahn had to explain that the President had no such power. "You can't prosecute anybody," McGahn told Trump, according to book "The Divider" written by Peter Baker of The New York Times and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker that went up for sale on Tuesday. Trump once required a civics lesson from White House counsel on the limits of his power after he suggested that as President, he could - and would - prosecute his political enemies, according to the new book. Throughout his tenure, Trump had a penchant for skewering his foes via Twitter takedowns and public lashings. But some of his adversaries irked the then President so much so that he sought a more permanent form of revenge against them, the book claimed. According to "The Divider," from which the Business Insider has quoted excerpts, Trump frequently pressured then US Attorneys General Sessions and Bill Barr to bring criminal charges against his opponents, including Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director Comey. Trump eventually fired both Comey and his deputy for not acceding to his request for stopping the FBI's investigations into a 3rd party intelligence report (British MI6 agent) that the Russians were involved in hacking systems and influencing the electoral process in the 2016 elections in which Democrat Hilary Clinton lost. The British spy had alleged that the Russians were influencing Trump with favours against his request for a Trump tower in Moscow. The FBI was in the process of corroborating and dismissing the MI6 intelligence report as it would be embarrassing for an incumbent President if it were to come out in the public domain. "'Congress could seek to 'impeach and remove' the President if it concluded that he abused the power of intervening in a criminal matter,' McGahn wrote, using boldface and italics to emphasize his point," Glasser and Baker wrote. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Several former Trump White House and government officials have since recounted similar stories that suggest the former President was unfamiliar with the logistics of his newfound position. Earlier this year, Barr said Trump didn't have a "good idea" of what the roles of the President or Justice Department were entitled throughout his time in office. In the 2021 CIA publication, "Getting to Know the President," author John L. Helgerson, a former intelligence officer, said Trump was the most difficult incoming President to brief, and an August New York Times report cited intelligence officials who said they often withheld information from Trump for fear of the "damage" he might do if he knew. --IANS ash/vd ( 541 Words) 2022-09-20-22:20:03 (IANS) Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought up Kashmir in his address to the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, taking a seemingly neutral stance, only expressing hope for permanent peace there. India and Pakistan, he said, "after having established their sovereignty and Independence 75 years ago, still haven't established peace and solidarity between one another and this is much unfortunate". "We hope and pray that fair and permanent peace and prosperity will be established in Kashmir," he added, avoiding internationalising it by even invoking UN resolutions. The statement is closer to India's stance that Kashmir is a bilateral issue because of the 1972 Simla agreement between the two countries and there is no room for a third party involvement. India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, is scheduled to meet Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later on Tuesday. Erdogan's latest statement, unlike last year, did not mention UN resolutions on Kashmir, which India has said are irrelevant because of the commitment to bilateral solutions. It is also vastly different from his inflammatory statements in previous years. In 2020, he had called the Kashmir situation a "burning issue" and criticised the abolition of the special status for Kashmir. In 2019, Erdogan had said that in the Indian Union Territory, "despite the resolutions (UN) adopted, Kashmir is still besieged and eight million people are stuck in Kashmir". The Kashmir issue reflects Pakistan's isolation in the UN. Last year, Turkey was the only country besides Pakistan to have brought up Kashmir in the 193-member UNGA -- and this time Erdogan has avoided internationalising it. Turkey, which had not been too keen on Security Council reforms, is now pressing for changes, perhaps with a view lobbying for a permanent seat on it to represent the Muslim bloc. Erdogan said the UN will "have to become an international organization where a common will of the entire human race can be put forward, especially the Security Council has to be more effective, more democratic, more transparent, and more accountable". He presented Ankara as a peacemaker and a facilitator of dialogue in the Ukraine-Russia confrontation and elsewhere. "We have been spending tremendous efforts in order to resolve conflicts from Europe to Latin America, from Africa to different geographies," he said. Erdogan also mentioned the plight of the Uyghurs, but in a manner sensitive to China's interests. "We are very sensitive towards the protection of the fundamental rights and the liberties of the Muslim Uyghur Turks in such a way that will never threaten the territorial integrity and sovereignty of China," he said. (Arul Louis can be contacted at aru.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) --IANS al/arm ( 459 Words) 2022-09-20-23:00:04 (IANS) US national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dialogue, this is not the time for war in Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin was a statement of principle on behalf of what he believes is right and welcomed by the US. Responding to a question over PM Modi's statement on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Sullivan said, "I think what Prime Minister Modi said -- a statement of principle on behalf of what he believes is right and just -- was very much welcomed by the United States and for the Indian leadership, which has longstanding relationships in Moscow, from the very top all the way through the Russian government, to continue to reinforce that message that now is the time for the war to end," as quoted by the statement released by White House. He further said, "And the way this war should end is for Russia to abide by the basic terms of the UN Charter and to return the territories that it has seized by force. This is a message that every country, however they feel about Russia, Ukraine, or the United States, everyone should be able to centre around this basic proposition: You cannot conquer your neighbour's territory by force, and peace will come fastest and most decisively to Ukraine if Russia abandons that effort." Sullivan said they would like to see every country in the world making that case. He further said that sending a clear and unmistakable message to Russia is vital to producing peace in that region. And we would like to see every country in the world making that case. They can do it publicly if they like. They can do it privately if they want. But sending that clear and unmistakable message to Moscow at this time is the most vital thing I think we can collectively do to produce peace in that region. On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's summit, PM Modi said, "Today's era is not of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today we will get the opportunity to talk about how we can progress on the path of peace. India and Russia have stayed together with each other for several decades." Prime Minister spoke this during a bilateral meeting in Uzbekistan's Samarkand. "We spoke several times on the phone about India-Russia bilateral relations and various issues. We should find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. I want to thank Russia and Ukraine for helping us to evacuate our students from Ukraine," PM Modi added. This statement became popular and was praised by international media. American publication -CNN praised PM Modi's hold on world politics and reported " Indian leader Narendra Modi tells Putin: Now is not the time for war" While another US publication Washington Post headline was "Modi rebukes Putin over the war in Ukraine". "India's Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War," The New York Times said in its headline. It was the lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times. (ANI) Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari denied authenticating the citizenship Bill despite the constitutionally bounded provision to ratify it within 15 days after it has been re-approved by both houses. President's political advisor Lalbabu Yadav confirmed that Bhandari has refused to authenticate the bill "in order to safeguard the constitution." "It is stated in Article 61(4) that the main duty of the president shall be to abide by and protect the Constitution. This means protecting all articles of the Constitution. One cannot say by only looking at Article 113 that the president did not fulfil her constitutional responsibility," Yadav claimed. However, Article 113(2) of the Constitution which bears the provisions about the authentication of bills states, "The Bill presented to the President for certification according to this Article, shall be certified within 15 days, and both the Houses shall be informed about that as early as possible." As per the provision, the president is constitutionally bounded to authenticate any bill that is resubmitted by the House after sending it back to the House for reconsideration once. Tuesday past midnight was the deadline for the president to authenticate the bill which has been missed, leading the nation into a situation of a constitutional crisis. Defending the act of the President, the Political advisor further said, "It (the Bill) does not fully comply with the provisions in Part-2 of the Constitution, discriminates against women, and also does not make provision of single federal citizenship with provincial identity." President Bhandari on August 14 returned the Citizenship Bill, which was sent to her for authentication after being passed by both the House of Representatives (HoR) and the National Assembly. She had sent a seven-point message to inform the federal parliament and for deliberation, and another eight-point message to draw attention. A spokesperson at the President's Office, Sagar Acharya, issued a statement and said that President Bhandari had sent back the bill to the HoR for reconsideration as per Article 113(3) of the Constitution. "Except in the case of a Finance Bill, if the President is satisfied that reconsideration is necessary on a bill, the Bill may be sent back to the House where it originated with the necessary information within 15 days of receiving the Bill," Article 113(3) of the Constitution says about an exception to mandatory certification of bills sent to the president. President Bhandari had mainly raised two issues while sending the bill back. She had mentioned that the bill was silent about the provision of naturalized citizenship through marriage as per Article 11(6) of the Constitution. "If a foreign woman married to a Nepali citizen so wishes, she may acquire naturalized citizenship of Nepal as provided for in a Federal law," states Article 11(6) of the Constitution. President Bhandari had pointed out that the Constitution clearly says federal law but the bill passed by the national parliament did not have that provision. While returning the bill, President Bhandari also questioned the provision requiring self-declaration by a woman to provide citizenship to her children. She also drew House's attention to other issues but had mainly asked the House to reconsider the two issues. There is a provision in the bill that 'In the case of a person who was born in Nepal to a Nepali citizen mother and resides in Nepal and whose father has not been identified, he and his mother must make a self-declaration that his father could not be identified'. But at the time of filing the application, if the mother of such a person has died or is not mentally stable, the law also provides that the applicant must make a self-declaration with evidence. The word 'self-declaration' has been kept in other sections of the Act. Similarly, President Bhandari also discussed the issue of naturalized citizenship. She discussed these and other questions focusing on whether naturalized citizenship is a good practice in other countries or not. How is it for our country? Is this practice good or not? The president also discussed whether or not federal laws are needed for citizenship as mentioned in the constitution. In Article 11 of the Constitution, there is a provision regarding the recognition of citizenship of Nepal. Article 113 of the Constitution mentions the subject of Bill Verification and Article 114 of the Ordinance. The Bill sent by the Council of Ministers cannot be stopped, examined and studied by the President. Only parliament can test it, and the constitution provides that the bill sent for certification can be returned with a message that the president is not satisfied. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hailed at the United Nations General Assembly for his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war, by the US and France at the UNGA meeting in New York. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi had said "today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. France President Emmanuel Macron and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday (local time) welcomed PM Modi's statement to Putin on Ukraine. "Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time is not for war. It is not for revenge against the West, or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges we face," Macron said. Sullivan in a White House statement said: "I think what Prime Minister Modi said -- a statement of principle on behalf of what he believes is right and just -- was very much welcomed by the United States and for the Indian leadership, which has longstanding relationships in Moscow, from the very top all the way through the Russian government, to continue to reinforce that message that now is the time for the war to end". Apart from the UNGA, PM Modi's statement became popular and was praised by international media. American network CNN praised PM Modi's hold on world politics and reported, "Indian leader Narendra Modi tells Putin: Now is not the time for war." While another US publication The Washington Post's headline was "Modi rebukes Putin over the war in Ukraine". "India's Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War," The New York Times said in its headline. It was the lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin had said that he knows about India's position on the Ukraine conflict. "I know about your position on the Ukraine conflict. I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible," Putin said. "But the other party, the leadership of Ukraine has claimed... that they refuse to engage in the negotiation process. They said they want to achieve their objectives, as they say, on the battlefield militarily. We will keep you abreast of everything that is happening over there," he added. "The rare reproach showed the 69-year-old Russian strongman coming under extraordinary pressure from all sides," the Post said. Putin said that relations between Russia and India are in the nature of a privileged strategic partnership and continue to develop very rapidly. (ANI) "India and Pakistan, after having established their sovereignty and independence 75 years ago, they still haven't established peace and solidarity between one another. This is much unfortunate. We hope and pray that a fair and permanent peace and prosperity will be established in Kashmir," Erdogan said at the General Debate. Erdogan's remarks come after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Samarkand. Both the leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments between the two countries. "PM Narendra Modi held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Samarkand. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors," PMO India tweeted. Meanwhile, PM Modi was hailed at the United Nations General Assembly for his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine conflict, by the US and France at the UNGA meeting in New York. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi had told Putin that "today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. France President Emmanuel Macron and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan welcomed PM Modi's statement to Putin on Ukraine. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a 10-day visit to the United States, interacted with three presidents and four foreign ministers, on the second day of the 77th session of the UNGA, on Tuesday (local time) at the UN headquarters in New York. Jaishankar is in the US for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting. He met French President Emmanuel Macron, Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo and Comoros President Azali Assoumani in the US. Apart from that, the External Affairs Minister also met four of his counterparts including Denis Moncada from Nicaragua, Alexander Schallenberg from Austria, Najla al-Mangoush from Libya and Mevlut Cavusoglu from Turkiye. To discuss the ongoing cooperation between India and Ghana, Jaishankar called on the President of Ghana at UN headquarters in New York. "Pleased to call on President of Ghana, @NAkufoAddo. Discussed our ongoing cooperation in the UN Security Council, especially on counterterrorism. Appreciated the achievements of our development partnership," Jaishankar tweeted. He discussed the conflict in Ukraine and its implications for the Global South with French President. "Thank President @EmmanuelMacron of France for hosting a high level cross-regional grouping today in New York. Discussions focused on the conflict in Ukraine and its implications for the Global South. Conversations also covered the salience of G-20 in these challenging times," Jaishankar said. In continuation to a series of meetings with different leaders from across the world, Jaishankar discussed a bilateral relationship with Comoros President. "Delighted to call on President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani. Welcomed his appreciation for India's outreach in combating Covid-19 and dengue. Discussed taking forward our development partnership and working together on maritime security," Jaishankar tweeted. As part of his diplomatic meetings in the US, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in a trilateral Ministerial meeting of India-UAE-France with his counterparts and exchanged ideas between the strategic partners. He met Denis Moncada and discussed the global situation and its multilateral implications. "Good to meet FM Denis Moncada of Nicaragua today afternoon. Interesting discussion on the global situation and its multilateral implications," he said. With Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush, he appreciated her perspectives on the evolving situation in Libya. "Glad to meet FM of Libya, @NajlaElmangoush. Appreciated her perspectives on the evolving situation in Libya," Jaishankar tweeted. Jaishankar discussed expanding cooperation in mobility and education with his Austrian counterpart. "Great to meet my dear friend FM @a_schallenberg of Austria. Discussed expanding our cooperation in mobility and education. Appreciate his insights on the Ukraine conflict and its consequences," he said in another tweet. He held discussions over several issues including food security, G20 processes, global order. EAM Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level meeting of UNGA. Over the course of the week, Jaishankar is scheduled to have more than 50 official engagements including bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral meetings. (ANI) In the wake of the ongoing sinicization of Tibetans by China, the regular visits of the China-appointed Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu to Tibet throw light on the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) hidden agenda to spread disinformation about Tibet and hide the real human rights crisis unfolding in Tibet, according to the Tibet Rights Collective (TRC). Norbu has undertaken numerous domestic and foreign trips under CCP's command and made various speeches on Buddhism, Tibet and China. However, the Communist Party's efforts to gain recognition and acceptance from the Tibetans have failed time and again. According to the Tibet Rights Collective, Reports suggest that Gyaltsen Norbu also visited Sangding Monastery in July 2022 where he "expressed the hope to jointly make efforts and make due contributions to the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism". In another meeting in August during his visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the Panchen Lama said, "Tibetans must be grateful to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)" as he hailed the actions of the CCP in Tibet. As per an analysis of the visits of Norbu, the Tibet Rights Collective stated that most of the visits are being executed in the border areas by the Chinese Communist Party to strengthen the border village system and assert its dominance in the region. According to reports, Sangding Temple was the last stop of the Panchen Lama's trip in Shannan. From July 19 to 29, it lasted 11 days during which the Panchen Lama and his entourage crossed the Himalayas and went to Longzi County, Cuona County, Luoyang County, Shannan City with four border counties, Zha County and Langkazi County, carrying out Buddhist and social activities. After the death of the 10th Panchen Lama, Dalai Lama and his search party started searching for the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama and finally on May 14, 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, a 6-year-old boy in Tibet was recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama. However, things turned worst when the 6-year-old boy and his family were kidnapped on May 17. For nearly 27 years, Tibetans have not seen their 11th Panchen Lama pictures. The Chinese officials have only given words to the world that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family are doing well, reported Tibet Rights Collective. The last Panchen Lama, the 10th Panchen Lama stayed back in the region after the revolt broke out between Tibet and Chinese officials. While he was in the region, he submitted a 70,000-word petition to the Communist Party which led to his arrest. The Dalai Lama, another head of the Gelugpa sect, took shelter in India and garnered international support, and made people of the world aware of the atrocities taking place in Chinese-occupied Tibet. (ANI) The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday stressed on the need to take prompt action against the continued violence against Hindus in Leicester and Birmingham. In a letter to British Prime Minister Liz Truss, VHP said they are alarmed at the ongoing violence in Leicester in which a large number of Hindus of Leicester have been targeted. "The Vishva Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) is deeply concerned and alarmed at the ongoing violence in Leicester in which a large number of Hindus of Leicester, their places of worship, and their cultural and religious symbols have been wantonly targeted and damaged by Islamic extremists and hoodlums," the group said. "These violent, hateful and extremist acts are entirely unidirectional and unilateral. However, a strong but false narrative is being constructed that it is the Hindus of that area, who triggered this wanton violence, and are responsible for the same," the letter read. VHP said that several Hindus had been assaulted, and numerous Hindu places of worship in Leicester had been vandalised. The group said Hindus are being terrorised to remove symbols of their heritage, traditions, culture, and religion. "Many houses and properties of Hindus have been damaged. Many Hindus living in the impacted area have not sent their kids to school for several days now," the group said. The cycle of violence was triggered on August 28 after India won the Asia Cup T20 match against Pakistan. A clash broke out among groups of young men in Leicestershire, according to the police statement. At least 15 people have been arrested so far in the matter. Various videos and reports have been circulating on social media about organised gangs seen vandalising and terrorising Hindus in the UK's Leicester City. The incident follows a spate of violence and disorder in the eastern part of the city. On Monday, Indian High Commission in the UK condemned the violence perpetrated against the Indian community in Leicester and sought immediate action against those involved in the attacks. The High Commission issued a statement saying that it has taken up the matter with the UK authorities. "We strongly condemn the violence perpetrated against the Indian Community in Leicester and vandalisation of premises and symbols of Hindu religion. We have strongly taken up this matter with the UK authorities and have sought immediate action against those involved in these attacks. We call on the authorities to provide protection to the affected people," the statement read. (ANI) Pakistan's rejection of Bangladeshi aid amid devastating floods and heavy monsoons, has set off a heated debate in the cash-strapped country. Pakistan reportedly rejected Bangladesh's offer to supply humanitarian aid worth Tk1.4 crore (roughly USD 145,000) after the recent floods and heavy monsoons wreaked havoc in the country and further exacerbated its economic situation, according to media reports. Pakistan Army is reportedly averse to the proposal of aid from Bangladesh as any such relief assistance may undermine Pakistan's global image. Taking any help from a country that was once part of Pakistan could be embarrassing for the Pak Army which still denies the genocide perpetrated by it against Bangladesh in 1971, Bangladesh Live News reported. UN relief agencies on Tuesday said millions of people in Pakistan are still deeply affected by catastrophic flooding which "is not going anywhere". Close to eight million people have been displaced by the disaster and the UN along with the authorities and partners have continued to race to reach affected populations with desperately needed relief items. Echoing the deep concern among first responders, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, noted that 7.6 million people in Pakistan have been displaced by the floods, with nearly 600,000 living in relief sites. Writing for The Nation, columnist Shafqat Ali argued that Pakistan is going through the worst period in history amid devastating floods but aid from Bangladesh is not what Islamabad is ready to accept for valid reasons. Amid efforts to overcome the effects of the unprecedented crisis, Pakistan has received massive support from across the world in cash and kind. Bangladesh also tried to come forward but Pakistan cannot forget the continuous fiery speeches against Islamabad by the Bangladesh leaders. "How can we accept aid from them? Don't you remember what they say in the UN and elsewhere? They abuse us and claims to have defeated us in 1971. When they are making such statements, it will be against our honour to accept their aid. Our integrity is more important," a senior Pakistani diplomat was quoted as saying by The Nation. The diplomat said there was a consensus that the Bangladesh aid should not be accepted as Pakistan wishes to manage the issue with the help of its friends. (ANI) The Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) organised a massive anti-Pakistan protest in front of the United Nations office in Geneva during the ongoing 51st session of the Human Rights Council. They called upon the UN to send a fact-finding mission to Balochistan to investigate heinous crimes being committed by Pakistan Army and other secret agencies. The demonstration was addressed by leaders of Baloch, Sindhis and Pakistan-occupied Kashmiri communities in exile and highlighted various aspects of human rights violations in Balochistan and termed them as genocide. The protesters later submitted a memorandum to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights demanding to send a fact-finding mission to Balochistan to investigate extrajudicial killings and "kill and dump" policy of the Pakistani state. Samad Baloch, Secretary General, Baloch Human Rights Council said, "We are gathered here to protest against barbarism and brutalities committed by Pakistan. To be honest, Pakistan is a curse upon Baloch, Sindhis and Pakhtun people since its creation and its annexation of Balochistan." "Pakistan has made Balochistan a hell for Baloch people. They deliberately deprived the basic and fundamental rights of the Baloch people and we are here to raise the voices of the Baloch people and their grievances. We want the international community to intervene," he added. Earlier, the Baloch human rights activists and those living in exile raised the issue of the grim human rights situation in Pakistan's poorest but resource-rich province of Balochistan at a day-long conference held in Berlin on September 17. They were joined by Sindhi, Pashtun, Uyghur and other human rights activists from Germany and other parts of Europe. They include Sindhi intellectuals and Secretary General of the World Sindhi Congress Dr. Lakho Luhana, President of World Uyghur Congress Dolkun Isa, Kurdish political leader Mako Qocgiri and Junior Joint Secretary of Baloch National Movement Hasan Dost Baloch. The chairman of the Baloch National Movement, Dr. Naseem, renowned scholar and author Dr. Ayisha Siddiqa, Historian Dr. Naseer Dasthi and Bibi Gul, the chairperson of the Human Rights Council of Balochistan also participated in the conference to make the world aware about worsening situation in Balochistan. Dr. Naseem Baloch said that among the many issues the Baloch people face today under Pakistani occupation, the most compelling issue is the enforced disappearances and the kill and dump policy, including the recent fake encounters. He added, "in the recent sit-in protest in Shaal (Quetta) Balochistan, we saw sisters and mothers of the enforced disappeared persons with their infant children. We saw weak and ill children without shoes, their mothers holding them in one hand and holding a mic in the other hand; crying for their loved ones." He also added: "We are indirectly fighting against China, the ally of Pakistan. We are fighting against its presence in Gwader. Our success means safeguarding the interests and way of life of many other minorities who are bound to fall prey to Chinese hegemony. Apart from the exploitation of our natural resources, the Chines presence on the Strait of Hormuz in Gwader Port is bound to have negative economic and military effects on this region and the world." "Earlier, Pakistan was alone in inflicting atrocities on us, the Baloch, the Gilgit and Baltistan, the Pashtuns and the Sindhis. but now it has got an expansionist and aggressive partner in the form of China. China has joined hands to carry on the Baloch Genocide. Their main purpose is to exploit the resources of Gilgit Baltistan, Sindh and Balochistan." He said: "China has vast experience in exploitation and genocide from Tibet to East Turkestan, from Hongkong to Taiwan, China is a country that has no respect for human rights and humanity in its own country. More than two million Uyghur Muslims suffer in their concentration camps." Dr. Naseem Baloch said, "Our national movement is a liberation movement from Pakistani occupation. We believe our liberation movement is an inspiration for the oppressed people of the entire region. Not only because we are fighting against Pakistan the centre of world terrorism but also we are fighting for the survival of cultural diversity, empowerment of nations and the rights of the oppressed ethnic minorities in the region." In response to a participant's question, he said that BNM wants to work with all Baloch political parties. We have also invited the central leaders of FBM and BRP for this program and we will continue to bridge for cooperation and solidarity in the future. He said that he is in close contact with other Baloch nationalist parties. (ANI) External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on Wednesday (local time) met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at United Nations General Assembly in New York. Jaishankar is on a 10-day visit to the United States for the 77th session of the UNGA. The meeting comes after the US and France hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi had said "today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. France President Emmanuel Macron and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday (local time) welcomed PM Modi's statement to Putin on Ukraine. "Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time is not for war. It is not for revenge against the West, or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges we face," Macron said. Sullivan in a White House statement said: "I think what Prime Minister Modi said -- a statement of principle on behalf of what he believes is right and just -- was very much welcomed by the United States and for the Indian leadership, which has longstanding relationships in Moscow, from the very top all the way through the Russian government, to continue to reinforce that message that now is the time for the war to end". PM Modi's statement became popular and was praised by international media. Russian President Putin had said that he knows about India's position on the Ukraine conflict. "I know about your position on the Ukraine conflict. I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible," Putin said. "But the other party, the leadership of Ukraine has claimed... that they refuse to engage in the negotiation process. They said they want to achieve their objectives, as they say, on the battlefield militarily. We will keep you abreast of everything that is happening over there," he added. Meanwhile, Putin on Wednesday announced that he had signed a decree on partial mobilization in Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. "In order to protect our homeland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, to ensure the security of our people and people in the liberated territories, I consider it necessary to support the proposal of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff to conduct partial mobilization in the Russian Federation," he said during nation address today, CNN reported. Further, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday he did not believe the world would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons. Speaking in an interview with Germany's BILD TV, Zelenskyy warned against being cowed by Putin's threats, saying they would invite Russia to attempt to take more territory. Notably, President Biden is expected to focus on Russia's war on Ukraine in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday and will announce new support for countries facing food shortages caused in part by the war, the White House said. (ANI) Israeli envoy to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan walked out of the General Assembly while criticizing Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for denying the Holocaust events which led to the murder of millions of Jews. This comes as Raisi in his first interview with a Western media outlet, which aired late Sunday cast doubts on whether the Holocaust happened and calling Israel a "false regime." Erdan carried a picture of women who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany in then occupied Poland during World War II. Terming "Raisi" as a dictator, he urged the other members of the United Nations General Assembly to leave Raisi's speech. In a tweet, Erdan wrote, "A murderer like #Raisi who denies the Holocaust, (amongst many human rights violations) has 0 place on the world stage. He asked for proof... here are my Auschwitz surviving grandmothers. To the ambassadors in the GA: leave his speech. A dictator deserves no voice." Earlier, speaking with veteran US reporter Lesley Stahl on CBS's "60 Minutes," Raisi also said he couldn't trust the United States in the beleaguered nuclear talks and called Washington's sanctions "tyrannical," as he heads to New York to take part in the UN General Assembly, reported Times of Israel. During the interview, interviewer Stahl asked Raisi: "Do you believe the Holocaust happened? That 6 million Jews were slaughtered?" Raisi said that "historical events should be investigated by researchers and historians. There are some signs that it happened. If so, they should allow it to be investigated and researched." Stahl then said: "So you're not sure, I'm getting that you're not sure." Raisi didn't challenge that conclusion, reported Times of Israel. Asked whether he supports Israel's right to exist, Raisi said: "You see, the people of Palestine are the reality. This is the right of the people of Palestine who were forced to leave their houses and motherland. The Americans are supporting this false regime there to take root and to be established there." (ANI) Chinese President Xi Jinping has tightened the state's control over religious affairs forcing 60 Christians to seek asylum in the US. The Christian group included 29 adults and 31 children who fled from China between late 2019 and early 2020 and settled in South Korea's Jeju Island. These members belong to Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, also known as Shenzhen Mayflower Church, reported JustEarth News. The group was seeking asylum United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR in Bangkok. They have travelled to Thailand on tourist visas recently after failing to get refugee status in South Korea. Later, they decided to settle in the US after multiple courts in South Korea rejected their asylum applications, reported JustEarth News. Xi has been calling for the "sinicization" of religions, re-orienting them to function under the guidance of the CPC which ideologically remains atheist. The message was sound and clear for the minorities including Christians and Muslims as Xi wanted to tighten the state's control over religious affairs in the country, reported JustEarth News. It may be mentioned here that the Chinese government released a white paper three years ago which stated that China has about 200 million believers - the majority were Buddhists in Tibet. Others included 20 million Muslims, 38 million Protestant Christians, and 6 million Catholic Christians; besides 140,000 places of worship. In November 2021, the US listed China under "countries of particular concern" for violations of religious freedom. The CPC's fear is that Christianity may become instrumental in overthrowing it as had happened in Poland where the Church movement was instrumental in overthrowing Communist rule in 1989, reported JustEarth News. The Chinese government has always differentiated between Catholics and Protestants, pegged it at between 23 million and 40 million in 2014. It counted those who take part in religious activities in government-sanctioned churches. A 2011 Pew survey found that around 5 per cent of China's population in 2010 - or around 67 million - were Christians. Beijing has kept a close watch on Christianity since the CPC adopted a conciliatory approach to religion four decades ago. The growth of Christianity in China began at the end of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), a period when all religions were suppressed, often brutally. This coincided with economic reforms, reported JustEarth News. Watchdog group Open Doors USA's 2020 World Watch List stated that around 260 million Christians have been living in areas of high persecution -- that's one in eight believers worldwide -- an increase of 10 per cent compared to 2019. Open Doors USA, a bipartisan grassroots organization, had released a list of the 50 most dangerous countries for Christians. China came into focus in 2020 because of its forced labour camps and oppression of Uyghur Muslims that's expected to spread and worsen. In January 2020, a Chinese pastor described the fear and intimidation believers are enduring under the Communist government. "The Chinese government has now placed severe restrictions and policies on the house churches asking neighbours to spy on one another, pressuring school teachers and college professors to betray and sign a statement to denounce their own faith as well to do the same to students," Pastor Jian Zhu said. Zhu described the Chinese government's alarming actions as Christian persecution has continued to spread around the world. A high-profile crackdown was carried out in Zhejiang province in 2014. Zhejiang is China's Christianity heartland. Authorities took down crosses from nearly 2,000 churches, including government-registered ones, reported JustEarth News. Christians have been under constant surveillance, not just on the streets, but also in their churches which have been torn down, and holy books confiscated. Pastor Wang Yi was sent to jail for nine years for speaking out against the state. The exercise, being implemented by mercilessly crushing human rights, is part of President Xi Jinping's determined efforts to reinterpret Christianity and the Bible according to socialist and communist values. (ANI) As a child growing up in an orphanage in war-torn Germany, Johanna Carrington never had the chance to have a dog. Shes been making up for lost time ever since. The 100-year-old California resident has loved numerous pet dogs over the years including one adorable but hectic time when she and her late husband had eight Pekingese and she just adopted an 11-year-old Chihuahua mixed-breed dog named Gucci. I just love him, Carrington told TODAY. Gucci, 11, enjoys the good life in his new home in Moss Beach, California. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington) Carringtons home was feeling very quiet after the death of her previous dog, Rocky. When she told her daughter Debbie Carrington, 64, that she hoped to adopt another dog, they worried that a shelter might not allow a woman of her advanced age to adopt a pet. Fortunately, one of their Moss Beach neighbors volunteers for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco and thought the organization might be able to help. Sure enough, Gucci (then called Gnocchi) had recently been rescued from a hoarding situation involving 22 dogs. The little dog seemed ready to be the only dog in a household that could shower him with love and attention. Gucci is a soulful senior Chihuahua mix rescued from a hoarding situation. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington) As part of the adoption process, Johanna Carringtons caregiver, Eddie Martinez, agreed to take Gucci on daily walks and help with his care. So on Sept. 2, Guccis foster parent drove the little dog to meet Carrington and he immediately made himself at home. He came to the house like hed been here before. It was remarkable, Carrington said. He saw me sitting on my chair, jumped up on me and sat on my lap. He made himself very, very comfortable. He was just our baby right away. Johanna Carrington, 100, found the perfect lap dog in Gucci, 11 which he proved just moments after entering her home. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington) Shes offered her new companion oodles and oodles of toys that he likes to fetch, and she gives him back massages while they watch TV together. At night, Gucci loves to burrow into blankets on their bed to make a cozy nest. Gucci has no shortage of toys, as Debbie Carrington quipped. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington) Carrington hopes to do something fun with Gucci to celebrate her 101st birthday this December. Though she credits a healthy lifestyle to her longevity shes never had a cigarette or even a sip of alcohol she definitely feels that spending time with pets is one of the secrets to a long, happy life. Story continues Animals bring so much happiness in our home, she said. Its unbelievable. Studies prove shes right. The free database of the nonprofit Human Animal Bond Research Institute contains numerous scientific studies on the benefits pets can bring seniors. For example, one study found pet ownership can positively impact the mental health of community-dwelling older adults by providing companionship, reducing loneliness, increasing socialization and giving a sense of purpose and meaning. Companion animals also provide psychological health benefits following a social loss like the death of a spouse, and contribute to healthy aging by reducing stress, promoting physical activity and even helping people cope with pain. The human-animal bond can have a positive impact for people of all ages, including for older adults, Steven Feldman, president of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, told TODAY in an email. Research has shown that pet ownership and human-animal interaction can provide important forms of social and emotional support for older adults that can encourage routines of daily living, reduce loneliness and improve overall quality of life. Johanna Carringtons caregiver, Eddie Martinez, takes Gucci on daily walks and cooks chicken for him as a treat. Having a strong support system can help seniors successfully adopt pets. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington ) When senior humans adopt senior pets such as dogs ages 7 and up it can be a win-win for everyone involved, according to Alice Ensor, adoptions coordinator at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. Thats why Muttville offers a Seniors for Seniors program. If a senior adopts a dog but can no longer care for them due to death or hospitalization, Muttville pledges to take the dog back and stays in contact in case the adopter needs anything, such as temporary fostering. We want them to still have that time together and experience the full joy of their senior years together, Ensor, 62, told TODAY. I know as a dog lover, if I get to live that long, I hope that someone will adopt to me because I cant imagine my home without an animal in it. Life is better with a dog, whether youre young or old. Christine Falletti contacted Muttville to ask if there was a good match for her 100-year-old neighbor, Johanna Carrington, who wanted a dog to love and provide with a caring home. She came to visit Gucci soon after Carrington adopted him. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington) In August, Muttville celebrated its 15th anniversary by rescuing its 10,000th dog. The Seniors for Seniors program typically accounts for 32% of adoptions each year. Ensor said the team works to find the perfect match, such as a small dog who can be lifted but who isnt so tiny as to pose a fall hazard by scampering underfoot, or a dog who is comfortable around walkers or wheelchairs. In the case of Gucci, he was well-behaved and still active enough to not have an issue with the stairs in Carringtons house. He seemed to be a dog who would love being the only pet in a home. Hes a very soulful little guy, Ensor said. It really is a matchmaking process. Gucci loves making blanket nests at home with Johanna Carrington. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington) One way that family, friends, neighbors and caregivers can help seniors adopt pets is by navigating technology during the adoption process, Ensor noted. Particularly during the pandemic, many rescue organizations have used social media to connect adoptable pets with people, such as virtual meet-and-greets and home inspections through FaceTime or Zoom. Helping the prospective senior adopter handle the technology can be the first step, she said. Senior dogs like Gucci are typically calmer than puppies but still enjoy physical activities like daily walks. (Courtesy Debbie Carrington) Helping her mom adopt Gucci from Muttville through the Seniors for Seniors program has proven extremely worthwhile for Debbie Carrington. The senior dog was already housetrained so they dont have to worry about messes, and he no longer has any teeth, so they dont have to budget for future dental work. But mainly, its heartwarming seeing the loving bond the pair share. After she lost her other dog, it was kind of sad here, Debbie Carrington told TODAY. It was quiet and sad, and then Gucci brought joy into the house. Laughing about him running around and doing funny things, and then also him sleeping on her lap with her while shes in her recliner or sleeping in her bed, its just making her very happy. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Associated Press Russell M. Nelson, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told members of the faith on Saturday that abuse was a grievous sin that shouldn't be tolerated and would bring down the wrath of God on perpetrators. Let me be perfectly clear: Any kind of abuse of women, children or anyone is an abomination to the Lord, Nelson, who members of the faith believe is a prophet, said in Salt Lake City at a church conference. The AP's investigation found the hotline the church uses for abuse reporting can be misused by its leaders to divert accusations away from law enforcement and toward church attorneys. us pow photo Kevin Dietsch / Staff/ Getty Images Saudi Arabia has successfully freed 10 prisoners who were being held by Russian-backed forces, including two American veterans and five British citizens, as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reports. The families of American vets Alexander John-Robert Drueke and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh have confirmed that two are "are safely in the custody of the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia" awaiting clearance to return to the states. Both were captured in June while fighting on behalf of Ukraine north of Kharkiv. British Prime Minister Liz Truss tweeted in celebration of the release of five British citizens who were also part of the group of prisoners. Truss wrote, "Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families." Diana Shaw, a spokesperson for both families, released a statement confirming the release of the two Americans. In it, Shaw said, "We deeply appreciate everyone's prayers and especially the close communication and support of our elected officials, Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova, and our members of the U.S. embassies in Ukraine and Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Department of State." The families were not aware that authorities were brokering the prisoner exchange. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the release of 10 POWS on Wednesday. The group also included Moroccan, Swedish, and Croatian nationals. You may also like Trump claims on Fox News that presidents can declassify documents 'by thinking about it' Bachelorette star DeMario Jackson accused of sexually assaulting 2 women The Space Force unveils its official anthem, 'Semper Supra,' and people don't love it ABC News The National Archives has still not recovered all the presidential records that should have been turned over at the end of the Trump administration, according to a new letter to Congress from the acting archivist. "We do know that we do not have custody of everything we should," Debra Steidel Wall, acting archivist of the United States, said in her letter to Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., suggesting that former officials had still not turned over electronic messages of official business done on personal accounts. Wall's letter was a response to a Sept. 13 request from Maloney seeking an "urgent review" of "whether presidential records remain unaccounted for and potentially in the possession of the former president." NILES Two teenage girls were killed in Niles on Tuesday night in a shooting police believe is connected to two other recent homicides in the area. The deaths are prompting city officials to call for a stop to the violence. Tuesday night's shooting on North 6th Street left 15-year-old Demi Galvin and 18-year-old Yasmeen Scott dead and three other teenage boys were hospitalized. Niles police say evidence indicates multiple people approached the house around 11:40 p.m. and began firing into the residence. Demi and Yasmeen's deaths come after a series of shootings in the area of North 6th and North 7th streets north of downtown Niles. Letters:Freedom from violence is a basic right In the early morning of Aug. 16, Farries Maxwell, 36, was shot and killed on 7th Street, with witnesses saying they saw three people run away after the gunfire. On the evening of Sept. 8, 26-year-old Raquon Glenn was killed near the intersection of 6th and Ferry streets. A few days later, Niles police responded to numerous reports of gunfire along Ferry Street between 5th and 6th streets. There were no reported injuries, but around 30 shell casings were found, police said. Officials say all of those incidents, including Tuesday night's homicides, are connected and are calling on residents to help law enforcement catch those responsible. "The City of Niles has experienced tragic incidents of gun violence in recent weeks," a statement released by Niles Mayor Nick Shelton's office read. "These acts cause devastation to all involved and impact the lives of each and every Niles resident. Upon investigation, it appears that these incidents of gun violence are related to each other and, in most cases, several witnesses to the events have been identified. "City of Niles Officials are imploring the community to come together and share any information pertaining to these cases with law enforcement. Sharing what was witnessed can be difficult, especially when witnesses are recounting actions that result in death. However, it is imperative that the community works together to assist in identifying those responsible and to, hopefully, put an end to these senseless acts." Story continues There have been no arrests announced in any of the recent shootings, but officials ask anyone with information regarding this incident to call the Niles Detective Bureau at 269-683-1313, or Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP or 800-342-STOP. The Berrien County Sheriff's Department and Michigan State Police are helping the Niles Police Department investigate the cases. Email Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@sbtinfo.com. Follow him on Twitter: @marek_mazurek This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Niles police say girls killed as part of series of connected shootings Two U.S. veterans held for months by Russian-backed forces in Ukraine were freed as part of a prisoner swap, Saudi Arabia, which brokered the deal, said Wednesday. Alexander Drueke and Andy Tai Huynh were released alongside eight other prisoners of war, including citizens from the U.K., Morocco, Sweden and Croatia. Drueke, a former Army staff sergeant who served in Iraq, and Huynh, a former Marine, were captured near the Ukrainian border city of Kharkiv in June. The pair had traveled from Alabama to fight against invading Russian forces. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that the prisoner swap was brokered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The country added that its also working to repatriate all the POWs. Its unclear who was released to Russia as part of the deal. U.S. military veterans Andy Tai Huynh (left) and Alexander Drueke (Photo: Jeronimo Nisa/The Decatur Daily, left; and Lois U.S. military veterans Andy Tai Huynh (left) and Alexander Drueke (Photo: Jeronimo Nisa/The Decatur Daily, left; and Lois "Bunny" Drueke/Dianna Shaw, via AP, File) Dianna Shaw, Druekes aunt, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that his mother had spoken to him for about 10 minutes after his release. He sounded clearheaded, with clear speech, Shaw told the paper. He sounded like himself. The prisoner exchange came at a pivotal moment in the Kremlins invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said he would call up about 300,000 reserve troops to bolster his countrys ongoing attack. The effort comes amid staggering losses for the Russians as its seven-month assault drags on. British Prime Minister Liz Truss thanked Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Saudis for releasing the U.K. prisoners, saying the exchange had ended months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families. Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, she tweeted. Russia must end the ruthless exploitation of prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political ends. Story continues Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families. Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 21, 2022 This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... A pair of people arrested last year on human trafficking charges in Fulton County last year are now facing more child sex crime charges in DeKalb County, according to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. Courdale Thayer and Jahaundria Seabron were two of four people arrested and charged with human trafficking after a 14-year-old girl was rescued in early 2021. The girl had been missing from College Park for seven weeks when she was found. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Thayer and Seabron were indicted on charges including human trafficking, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and cruelty to children in January 2022. According to a release from the attorney generals office, a second victim, a 16-year-old girl in DeKalb County, has been found. Arrest warrants include allegations against the pair from December 2020. Both Thayer and Seabron are now being charged with one count of trafficking persons for sexual servitude in DeKalb County. TRENDING STORIES: The attorney generals Human Trafficking Prosecution Unitsay there are more potential victims, who are identified only by an image and a nickname, that they are working to identify. Thayer is still being held in the Fulton County Jail. Seabron was released from the Fulton County Jail in August 2022, according to jail records. Records also show that Seabron has not been booked into the DeKalb County Jail. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] If convicted, both suspects could face life sentences. IN OTHER NEWS: A Pittsburgh man is facing charges for the role he played in the United States Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021. According to the Department of Justice, 21-year-old Thomas Carey and four others communicated with one another ahead of the insurrection and illegally entered the Capitol as a group around 2:16 p.m. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. The group moved through multiple areas of the building, including levels, corridors and rooms. Among the rooms was House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office and conference room. Officials said the group left the Capitol after around 35 minutes. They moved to the north end of the building where they saw the breach of the North Door. Carey and three of the other people in his group are facing misdemeanor charges. The fifth person, 23-year-old Joseph Brody from Virginia, is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers, causing bodily injury, interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, and obstruction of an official proceeding, all felony offenses. Carey was arrested on Sept. 15, officials said. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Officials said 870 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for their roles in the Capitol breach, including over 265 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. TRENDING NOW: State police in Greensburg asking for help finding missing man Man dies after vehicle, motorcycle crash in Pittsburghs Carrick neighborhood Pittsburgh police investigating after 2 people fell from balcony in Mount Washington VIDEO: Bethel Park police investigating distraction thefts from purses at grocery stores DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Three Southridge students are in custody after a series of threats ended with students fighting with administrators. Problems started at the high school during lunchtime on Monday when the four teens cornered another student and threatened to attack him, said a Kennewick police news release. A school resource officer from the police department was called in by school officials to investigate what happened. After the officer discovered the threats were credible, he arrested the alleged ringleader just before lunch on Tuesday. During lunch, staff members observed two of the students from the previous day follow and harass the original victim, police said. School administrators stepped between the two 16-year-olds and the other student, and ordered them to back off. The students didnt listen and tried to push past the administrators to get at the victim, said police. The scuffle created a significant disturbance, and school staff called 911, police said. The two students left the school as Kennewick officers and Benton County sheriffs deputies were on their way. School staff members followed the students and reported their location to police. When officers arrived, the two were detained. All three were booked into the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Detention Center in Kennewick. The suspected ringleader is under investigation for criminal mischief, and the other two are being held on suspicion of criminal mischief, disrupting a school activity, failing to obey a school official and disorderly conduct. Just last week another Southridge High 16-year-old was arrested after he brought a gun to school and it was spotted by another student. IRYNA BALACHUK WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2022, 22:36 As of the evening of 21 September, bodies of 320 civilians and 18 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been exhumed at the burial site in Izium, which was established during the Russian occupation of the city. Source: Suspilne, citing Oleksandr Filchakov, Prosecutor in Kharkiv Oblast, and Stepan Maselskyi, Head of the District Administration Quote from Filchakov: "A large number of the exhumed bodies have explosives and blast injuries, many also have numerous bone fractures and signs of torture." Details: Filchakov recalled that a total of 445 graves were found at the burial site. Two to four people are buried together in some of them. Exhumation works are set to be completed by the end of 23 September. Exhumation experts will then continue working at other sites [in Kharkiv Oblast]. At least three to five other burial sites have been found. Maselskyi said that thousands of people could have been killed in Izium district during the Russian occupation. He said that bodies buried near entrances to apartment buildings and along flower beds and other patches of greenery are being found every day. The head of the district administration also said that local residents had to bury many of their dead themselves, especially those who were killed early on as a result of Russian airstrikes and artillery attacks. Background: Russian forces withdrew from Izium on 10 September, leaving behind much of their military equipment. On 15 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said that mass burial sites had been found in the city of Izium following its liberation. As of 19 September, 146 bodies had been exhumed from a mass burial site in Izium, including women and children. Russian occupiers tortured people at a local police station and at other sites. Law enforcement officers have found bodies of men with their hands tied behind their backs, their jaws broken, their genitals cut off and other signs of torture and abuse. CNN has reported that a team from the UNs human rights monitoring agency, the OHCHR, would be going to Izium and areas around it as soon as possible. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian President Vladimir Putin is bringing his war in Ukraine home. Its a desperate move that could imperil Putins control of Russia and have momentous implications for Ukraines US and European allies. Putin announced a partial mobilization policy on Sept. 21, allowing the government to call some 300,000 Russians with military experience back into service. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Putin has avoided any kind of mobilization that would force ordinary Russians into uniform, relying on a peacetime military staffed with paid enlistees, career professionals, and an assortment of others. But Ukraines successes on the battlefield, including the recent lightning offense in northeast Ukraine, have left Russias army badly depleted and desperate for new troops. At the same time, Putin plans to impose a series of forced referendums in Ukrainian territory Russia controls, with outcomes meant to show that vast majorities of Ukrainians want Russia to annex their land and make it part of Russia. Most people in those occupied areas want no such thing. However, a rigged vote to join Russia will give Putin a pretext for claiming those territories belong to Russia so that any foreign military efforts there is an attack on Russia itself. That fuels Putins bogus claim that his war in Ukraine is necessary because of western aggression against Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with heads of the country's leading engineering schools and their industrial partners in the city of Veliky Novgorod, Russia, Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS It also sets conditions for Russias possible use of nuclear weapons, which Putin has consistently hinted at, including in his Sept. 21 address. If Putin were to take this unprecedented step, hed want to claim he had no choice but to use nukes, because Russias survival is at stake. Thats a fiction none of Ukraines allies will accept, but Putin may think it helps justify the use of nukes or other extreme measures. All of this reveals that Putin knows hes losing in Ukraine and is willing to take some of the biggest risks of his political career to change course. That makes the war more dangerous and the possible consequences more profound. Story continues Here are four things to watch: The energy war. Putin has already weaponized Russias energy supplies, by cutting off much of Russias natural gas flow to Europe and threatening worse. Russia is the worlds third-largest natural gas producer, which gives it leverage to inflict plenty of pain on energy consumers. Prices tell the story. European natural gas prices are 6 times higher than they were a year ago, with rationing and shortages likely this winter. Putin would love to push those prices higher, if he can, by cutting Russias remaining gas supplies to Europe, or other methods. Gas shortages in Europe are pushing up prices elsewhere. US natural gas prices are about 40% higher than year-ago levels, in part because US producers are exporting more to Europe. A view shows the Orenburg gas processing plant of Gazprom in the Orenburg Region, Russia September 6, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk [Follow Rick Newman on Twitter, sign up for his newsletter or send in your thoughts.] Some analysts think Putin could withhold Russian oil from the world market, as he is withholding gas from Europe. Even if he doesnt, Europe is due to begin boycotting most oil products from Russia in early December, which could cut into global supplies and push prices up. During the next several months, Putin is likely to seek every way possible to push up global energy prices, while Ukraines U.S. and European allies do everything they can to keep energy flowing, and prices down. Whoever wins this battle will gain an advantage in the military war. Support for Ukraine. More than ever, Putin thinks he needs to divide Ukraines allies and crimp the flow of weapons and other forms of aid into the war-torn country. Mobilizing reservists wont generate any huge new military advantage for Russia, since it wont address shortfalls in equipment, training, morale, and leadership plaguing Russias military. But it could buy Putin time. I dont think it will alter the outcome for Russia, but it may extend Russias ability to sustain the war, Russia expert Michael Kofman of CNA said during a Sept. 21 Twitter webcast. Its also a significant political signal from Putin and the political establishment in Russia. Putin may think that if he can prolong the war while starving Europe of energy, shivering Europeans will revolt and demand a settlement in Ukraine that involves the resumption of Russian energy deliveries. So far, most European nations seem resolute in their support for Ukraine, especially since Ukraines lightning offense in the northeast. But winter will bring a war of nerves as Putin tries to extort Europes energy consumers and Ukraine pushes to win before allied support weakens. A boy waves a national flag atop of armored personal carrier at an exhibition of destroyed Russian military vehicles and weapons, dedicated to the upcoming country's Independence Day, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine (REUTERS / Valentyn Ogirenko) Nuclear risk. In his Sept. 21 address, Putin said, In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff. That was an obvious reference to nuclear weapons, which have not been detonated in any conflict, worldwide, since 1945. Putin probably is bluffing, given that nobody is attacking Russia or threatening its territorial integrity, which Putin presumably knows. But even a small risk of nuclear weapons use is alarming, given the precedent it would set and the likelihood that the U.S. and NATO would enter the war, turning it into a terrifying global conflict. There would probably be a couple of indications if Putin considers detonating a nuke. First, U.S. intelligence would probably see signs, such as the movement of nuclear warheads or reports from inside the Kremlin, and publicize them as a deterrent. Putin, for his part, may only resort to the nuclear option if he feels its necessary to sustain his hold on power. Firing a nuke as if its another battlefield weapon could trigger the western involvement Putin dreads, and end his reign. A Russian service member holds a weapon on the top of a military vehicle in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict (REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko) Putins future. Putin is clearly a survivor, with an uncanny ability to wield power and neutralize enemies. But many analysts think Putin cant remain in charge if he sacrifices thousands of troops in Ukraine, wrecks the Russian army, and still ends up losing. Putin is painting himself into a corner, Dmitri Alperovitch, chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, said on the Sept. 21 Twitter podcast. This strikes me as incredibly dangerous politically. If he does not achieve his objectives, he can be in a very politically precarious position. If Putin falls, it might be a chance for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and reset, with a pathway possible toward the end of sanctions and the normalization of energy markets. But many Russian analysts warn that any Putin successor could be just as ruthless, or worse. Getting to the point of a Putin departure could be the most gut-wrenching moment of an already brutal war. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube Climate activists protesting fossil fuels blocked commuter traffic in Boston Wednesday morning, leading to several being taken into state police custody. Organizers notified local media that they were going to take to the streets at 7 a.m. local time, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Just minutes after that time, cops were already making arrests. "We are monitoring protestors who have announced plans to block traffic this morning. A short time ago we took five of them into custody on the ramp from Leverett Circle to Route 93 in Boston," Massachusetts State Police tweeted at 7:04 a.m. "We continue to monitor potential protest activity throughout Greater Boston." Among the protesters was former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, who tweeted from Boston's Post Office Square. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST WARNS OF DIRE ELECTRICITY CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA: INCOMPETENCE PILED ON IDEOLOGY "Join us in post office square NOW. Tell the governor and legislature no new fossil fuels!" she said According to local Boston25 News, the climate change protest was organized by the group Extinction Rebellion Boston. The organization apologized for the inconvenience in a Facebook post that explained why they were demonstrating. "In regards to todays disruption: Were sorry. This is an emergency and we need your attention. We demand that Massachusetts ban new fossil fuel infrastructure," the group posted Wednesday morning. The post included images that included a lengthy statement of their goals. WASHINGTON POST STORY DECLARES WEATHER IS NO LONGER GOOD FOR SMALL TALK, A DEAD SERIOUS TOPIC "Our demand today is simple: Massachusetts must stop installing new fossil fuel infrastructure," they said. "New natural gas power plants (e.g. Peabody Peaker), pipelines, and hookups hurt frontline communities. They also cost the taxpayer, as the infrastructure is designed to last many decades, well beyond the mandatory carbon zero timeline of 2050." Story continues Fox News reached out to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's office for comment, but they did not immediately respond. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The statement from Extinction Rebellion Boston went on to say that they planned the protest after previously using "petitions, letters to Congress, and other conventional campaigns" to get their message across. "They haven't worked. Nonviolent disruptive action is the only tool we have left to force our governments into action to avert the collapse of our biosphere," they said. (Composite/PA) After the smash hit of 2017s This Is Going To Hurt, Adam Kay is back with another personal memoir Fiction 1. All Thats Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien is published in hardback by HQ, priced 14.99 (ebook 7.99). Available September 22 Giveaway time! All Thats Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien is a gripping, deeply moving debut coming out this September! Like and RT by next Wednesday for a chance to win one of these proofs pic.twitter.com/kkrsGznSHJ C&W (@CWAgencyUK) August 10, 2022 The story begins when Ky, a journalist and the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, returns from Melbourne to her hometown of Cabramatta, a Sydney suburb, for the funeral of her younger brother, Denny. Back home, she discovers that the police are stumped by Dennys murder. Despite there being multiple witnesses at the popular Vietnamese restaurant where the straight-A student was beaten to death, no one will come forward and even Kys parents are reluctant to push the authorities into action. Throughout the novel, Tracey Liens writing is compelling and you feel Kys frustration as she grapples with the uninterested police, deciding to uncover the truth herself. This debut novel is a slow burn that is thought-provoking as it unravels not only the truth about Dennys death but also the complicated relationship between refugees and their new homes.8/10(Review by Rikki Loftus) 2. Shrines Of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson is published in hardback by Doubleday, priced 20 (ebook 10.99). Available September 27 (Doubleday/PA) Kate Atkinsons new offering, Shrines Of Gaiety, tells the tale of Nellie Coker the formidable head of a family running a Soho nightclub empire in 1920s London. The novel grabs the reader from the outset. It paints a picture of the capitals glittering nightlife and its seedier underside so vivid, that it is almost possible to smell the stale cigarette smoke and taste the alcohol. The pace is a little slow at times, but ultimately the story of Nellie and her family, and the characters they associate with, builds to a satisfying ending as the strands of their lives are deftly woven together.8/10(Review by Alison Kershaw) Story continues 3. Nights Of Plague by Orhan Pamuk, translated by Ekin Oklap, is published in hardback by Faber & Faber, priced 20 (ebook 7.99). Available now (Faber & Faber/PA) The coronavirus pandemic created the so-called lockdown novel, one written during and about imposed social isolation. Nights Of Plague is not an explicit example, both because Orhan Pamuk began it in 2016 and it recounts an outbreak of plague on the fictional Mediterranean island of Mingheria at the turn of the 20th century. Isolation, however, is still the dominant theme with the Ottoman authorities struggling to impose restrictions on the various religious and nationalist factions, before the island is eventually quarantined from the outside world. The framing device, that this is a novelised account written by a modern historian, regularly leaves the narrator explaining her sources or needing to use imaginative reconstruction. As in reality, the regular detail of quarantine measures and death figures can be overwhelming or repetitive, but the political developments and added intrigue of a murder mystery keep the novel engaging to the end.7/10(Review by Joshua Pugh Ginn) Non-fiction 4. Undoctored by Adam Kay is published in hardback by Trapeze, priced 22 (ebook 10.99). Available now I'm OVER-EXCITED to show you the cover of my brand new book UNDOCTORED, which is out on September 15th. You can (and should, maybe even must) pre-order from https://t.co/frgjmI5GlV or from your lovely local bookshop. "Even better than This is Going to Hurt" - Jacqueline Wilson. pic.twitter.com/hhwUOnvWPK Adam Kay (@amateuradam) July 19, 2022 Fans of This Is Going To Hurt, Adam Kays hilarious and heartbreaking diaries of a junior doctor which was adapted for TV starring Ben Whishaw, will welcome more cutting humour and humbling stories in the writer and comedians follow-up memoir. This one looks at life since he hung up his scrubs, the nightmares and PTSD he suffered, the struggles to pursue a comedy and writing career, interspersed with flashbacks to childhood, medic moments and hugely personal events in his life. An eating disorder, the loss of an unborn child and a violent sexual assault are among his most traumatic memories, but Kays survival mechanism has always been humour. He creates light out of the darkness with hilarious anecdotes of a sperm bank, the passing of a painful bladder stone and how he rid himself of a social media stalker. Theres anger too, at former health secretary Jeremy Hunt who he accuses of being supremely out of touch with NHS staff, and at Matt Hancock and the governments inaction when Covid struck. The humour is dark, slathered in sarcasm and yet comes from a voice which at times seems hugely vulnerable. It feels more angry than his first book, but its just as heartrending.8/10(Review by Hannah Stephenson) Childrens book of the week 5. The Girl In The Castle by James Patterson is published in paperback by Penguin, priced 8.99 (ebook 5.99). Available now (Penguin/PA) Troubled teenager Hannah Dory spends most of the book in present-day Belman Memorial Psychiatric Hospital, but her mind is often in the year 1347, trying to save her family and friends from starving to death. She tells her doctor shes actually from the past not the usual storyline for James Patterson, whose books have sold over 400 million copies worldwide. The Girl In The Castle is a YA psychological thriller that will keep readers in suspense until the end. Student nurse Jordan Hassan slowly realises why Hannah suffers such violent mood swings and hallucinations, becoming obsessed to find the truth even if it means bending the rules and turning to detective work rather than more medication. Youll love the way tension builds in both the past and the present, with obvious empathy for Hannahs fellow patients perhaps helped by Pattersons job as a psychiatric assistant in a hospital while at university.8/10(Review by Alan Jones) BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 17HARDBACK (FICTION)1. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman2. The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith3. The Ballad Of Never After by Stephanie Garber4. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes5. Lessons by Ian McEwan6. Act Of Oblivion by Robert Harris7. The Butcher And The Wren by Alaina Urquhart8. Fairy Tale by Stephen King9. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie OFarrell10. Babel by R.F. Kuang(Compiled by Waterstones) HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)1. Undoctored by Adam Kay2. One by Jamie Oliver3. Landlines by Raynor Winn4. Im Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy5. Calling The Shots by David Dein6. Colditz by Ben MacIntyre7. Menopausing by Davina McCall & Dr. Naomi Potter8. Who I Am by Melanie C9. Guinness World Records 2023 by Guinness World Records10. Elizabeth II: Princess, Queen, Icon(Compiled by Waterstones) AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)1. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman2. Fairy Tale by Stephen King3. The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith4. The Myth Of Normal by Dr Gabor Mate & Daniel Mate5. The Fellowship Of The Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien6. Undoctored by Adam Kay7. Atomic Habits by James Clear8. Act Of Oblivion by Robert Harris9. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith10. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman(Compiled by Audible) Architect John Marx and artist J Abinthia Vermut's Museum of No Spectators, as featured at Burning Man 2022. Burning Man came back in a big way after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus. Not only did this years event in remote Black Rock City, Nevada draw an incredible 80,000 attendees and end with an epic eight-hour traffic jam, it also featured a record 88 official art installations. This years theme was Waking Dreams, aimed at explor[ing] the transformative power of dreams, both literal and figurative, and celebrat[ing] the dreamers who channel this potent energy in eye-opening, often surrealistic, sometimes life-changing ways, according to the festivals organizers. Here are 6 of our favorite works of art from Burning Man 2022: Nighttime shot of the Empyrean Temple installation featured at Burning Man 2022. Nighttime aerial shot of the Empyrean Temple installation featured at Burning Man 2022. Every year, one monumental art installation is set ablaze along with the Burning Man effigy. This year, it was Empyrean Temple by Laurence Renzo Verbeck and Sylvia Adrienne Lisse, an architectural structure thats revealed to be a compass rose beacon in the shape of an eight-pointed star when viewed from above. The installation represents the region just beyond our physical realm that is the highest center of wisdom, and the source of energy-consciousness, according to the artists. Visitors passed through portal gates and into the multiverse of the temple, where numerous navigational choices offer different experiences. Made of reclaimed lumber and trees burned in the CZU Lighting Complex fire in Santa Cruz, an interactive grove of geometric trees sprouts out of the sand. Paradisium by Dave Keane and Folly Builders of San Francisco creates a play of shadows across the desert floor and offers climbable structures and walkways among the canopies. The artists explain that Paradisium is a grove made out of trees, long fallen, that remind us of the forests beauty and our interconnectedness and interdependence with nature, while also fostering a sense of community and an investment in our shared future. Colossal This colossal sculpture by Marco Cochrane and Julia Whitelaw measured 40 feet by 12 feet and was made out of stainless steel rods based on a flower of life pattern and covered in stainless steel mesh with LED lighting effects. Story continues Inspired by and in honor of nurturing energy mother energy love and connection: and the joy we feel when we act on the imperative to take care of each other and our planet, the artists explain. Julias vision for Gaia was inspired by the joy she and her children experienced those times when, as a young mother, she took her children to the beach and watched as they ran, jumped, dug, built castles, bickered, buried each other, and made new friends, and by her own memories of being that child. Architect John Marx and artist J Abinthia Vermut created this spectacular open-air art gallery challenging the elitist nature of typical galleries. The radically inclusive and interactive museum space creates a space for everyone to make art and become an exhibiting artist. Located on the edge of Black Rock City, the unusual shaped structure invited guests to create their own art on the spot, contributing directly without gatekeeping. The artists add: When participants exit, they find themselves on a stage, the Theater of the Participant, which opens you back up to the vast potential of the Playa and the World beyond. This is the stepping-stone to becoming the change you want to make in the world Arthur Mamou-Mani's fractal Created by French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani, Catharsis is a fractal gallery and amphitheater featuring a wooden roof that tilted toward the center from all sides. The piece represents a portal to our dreams at the intersection of mathematics and nature, with seven galleries filled with art from around the world. It will feel like a dream within a dream: A rabbit hole in which burners will get lost, whilst finding themselves again!, says Manou-Mani. Maybe we need dreams to understand our reality? A collaboration between Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuck, this piece is inspired by embroidery patterns from Filipchuks birthplace, Ukraine. It is not possible for us to think of this year without thinking of her homeland and wanting to represent the beauty and spirit of Ukraine while working through the emotions of this challenging time in our artwork, the artists explain. The post 6 Unforgettable Art Installations from Burning Man 2022 first appeared on Dornob. Story at a glance More workers and students are reporting doing the minimum amount of work required for school and in the workplace. This trend, dubbed quiet quieting is likely a response to pandemic-era burnout. Its growing popularity indicates employers may have to adapt to better appeal to young workers. Quiet quitting has become the latest buzzword for workers and students alike, as more individuals report not going above and beyond in their place of employment or at school in order to prioritize other aspects of their lives. Now, new data suggest the concept is resonating with young employees the majority of whom find doing the minimum amount of work at their job to safely remain employed and maximize their leisure, wellness and time outside of work appealing. A poll conducted by The Generation Lab and Axios among 828 individuals between the ages 18 and 29, showed 31 percent of respondents said doing the minimum amount of work is extremely appealing while 39 percent said it was pretty appealing. Another 12 percent of workers said they already do the minimum amount of work required to stay employed. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Pandemic-related burnout likely contributed to the quiet quitting trend, although some workers have reported not feeling cared for in the workplace or issues with opportunities to learn and grow at their company. The appeal of doing the minimum amount of work was similar between young men and women: 85 percent of women found the practice appealing compared with 79 percent of men. However, the young workers did report wanting to work an average of 8 to 9 hours each day, suggesting theyre willing to still engage with work. Thirty percent reported their bosses had asked them to work outside normal hours in the past week. When asked about their attitude toward that request, the majority of workers said they complied, albeit grudgingly. Story continues Nearly 60 percent of individuals also said work hours and boundaries should be relatively strict and that any extra work completed should be an exception and properly acknowledged. The appeal of not going above and beyond expectations was common among white, Black and Asian respondents, along with Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The widespread popularity of the trend indicates employers may need to adjust how they hire and retain young employees. With regard to other priorities, individuals tended to rank work below family, friends, wellness and hobbies. Previous research has shown Millennial and Gen Z workers value the alignment of personal ethics with their employers when it comes to seeking a job. In the Generation Lab/Axios poll, 52 percent of respondents said money motivates them to work at their current job or previous job, while 15 percent said the jobs mission or purpose serves as a motivation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Vietnam Business Integrity Index launched The Vietnam Business Integrity Index (VBII), the first of its kind in the country to assess enterprises in this regard, was launched on September 21. Part of the Diem Thuy Industrial Park in Thai Nguyen province (Illustrative photo: VNA) The index, introduced by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and UNDP Vietnam, has been designed for enterprises of all sizes, forms of ownership, sectors, and structures, regardless of whether they are a listed company, a domestic private company, a foreign invested firm, or a State-owned one. It was built with support from FairBiz, a UNDP regional initiative funded by the British Government within the framework of the ASEAN Economic Reform Programme, which aims at promoting a fair business environment in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Vietnam is one of the few countries with a higher position in the Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International, jumping 26 places to 87th in 2021 from 113th in 2017. It is also an exception among ASEAN countries having moved up to the 88th position in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index last year. However, corruption still occurs in certain areas. A survey by VCCI and UNDP released last June showed that at least one in three enterprises engaging in public procurement reported informal payments to win contracts, heard the VBII launching ceremony in Hanoi. VCCI Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh said sustainability is no longer an option but the only way for businesses to exist and develop at present and in the future, noting that the VBII is a new push to help Vietnamese enterprises move closer to international business transparency and integrity standards. UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Patrick Haverman noted if used honestly and transparently by enterprises, the VBII will help improve the countrys stature and brand, create data and information-based trust, attract investment, generate property, and better peoples life quality. Deputy British Ambassador Marcus Winsley said together with Vietnamese and international partners, the UK is ready to help Vietnam realise its commitments to create a fair business climate, effectively reform the economy, and make progress in many other fields, including climate change response, education, healthcare, and reform./. By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - The lawyer who represented the Mississippi clinic at the heart of the U.S. Supreme Court case that resulted in the overturning of women's constitutional right to abortion pledged during Senate testimony on Wednesday to follow that ruling despite her past advocacy if she is confirmed to the federal judiciary. Julie Rikelman, nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden to serve on the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, told the Senate Judiciary Committee in her confirmation hearing in Washington that she would follow the June ruling despite having fought to preserve abortion rights. "Dobbs is now the law of the land, and I will follow it, as I will follow all Supreme Court precedents," Rikelman said, referring to the Supreme Court case by its name, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Her role in that and other cases made her a target for Republican criticism throughout the hearing, with some of the panel's most conservative members questioning her support for what Senator Josh Hawley labeled "radical" abortion rights laws. Related video: How conservative justices answered previous Roe questions "You have spent the majority of your professional life as an extreme zealot advocating for abortion," Republican Senator Ted Cruz told Rikelman. "That is clearly a heartfelt and personal passion of yours." Democrats are seeking to highlight Republican opposition to abortion rights ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections in which control of Congress is at stake. The conservative-majority Supreme Court overturned its landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade that had legalized abortion nationwide. Rikelman represented Mississippi's only abortion clinic in challenging a Republican-backed law that banned abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Several Republican-led states have since moved to ban or restrict abortions, including Mississippi. Republican Senator Mike Lee took issue with Rikelman's claim in an article by Axios that the Dobbs ruling would result in the "biggest public health crisis that we have seen in decades." Story continues "In a world in which more babies are being born and being born alive than being aborted, you call that a public health crisis?" Lee asked. Rikelman did not shy away from having advocated for the ability of "women to be able to make their own personal medical decisions" and against the overturning of Roe v. Wade while working as a lawyer at the Center for Reproductive Rights. But Rikelman said her personal views do not matter because as a lower court judge, she would be bound by U.S. Supreme Court precedent, including its decision in the Dobbs case, which she promised to "absolutely" follow. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Will Dunham) (Bloomberg) -- A company controlled by Abu Dhabis royal family offered to buy a stake in Colombian food maker Grupo Nutresa SA for as much as $2.15 billion. Most Read from Bloomberg The group, International Holding Co., had previously partnered with Colombian banker Jaime Gilinski in his bid for Nutresa. IHC said it has filed a request to tender for 25% to 31.25% of the firm at $15 per share, a substantial premium to the stocks last close. IHC is the United Arab Emirates largest company by market value and is led by Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan -- the UAEs national security adviser and brother to the president. Since November, Gilinski has spent more than $2 billion in a bid to win control of an alliance of Medellin-based businesses known as the Grupo Empresarial Antioqueno, or GEA. Nutresa, along with Grupo Argos SA, and Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana SA, or Grupo Sura, are part of the GEA, which uses a strategy of cross holdings to defend itself against the very type of takeover attempts that Gilinski has been making. Nutresas shares closed at 36,980 pesos ($8.36) on Tuesday, implying a premium of almost 80% in IHCs bid. Trading in the securities will be halted until the term sheet with details of the offering is published in local papers. Sura was up 6.7% in regular market trading on Wednesday while Grupo Argos was up 7%. After seven previous takeover bids, the move marks the first time that Gilinski hasnt directly participated in the offering for one of the three GEA holding companies. Its also the first bid launched after Gustavo Petro, Colombias first leftist president took office in August. Story continues The price is no doubt attractive, BTG Pactual analyst Daniel Guardiola said in a phone interview. You also have a new government which implies greater country risk and new Argos and Sura boards which will have to consider this offer closely. Together, Sura and Argos own around 45% of Nutresa. Gilinski owns a 31% stake, which makes him the food producers second-largest shareholder, and he is also the largest shareholder in Grupo Sura, with 38%. The previous bids launched by the Colombian billionaire for Nutresa had a credit agreement with First Abu Dhabi Bank, which is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon. IHC is at the forefront of a drive to diversify the UAE economy and deploy its oil windfall overseas. Its investments range from Elon Musks SpaceX, to a local fishery and Abu Dhabis largest property developer. The firm plans to invest billions of dollars in markets including Colombia, its chief executive told Bloomberg last month. IHC will target sectors such as food, infrastructure and health care, with investments ranging from $1 billion to $5 billion depending on the country and opportunity, he said at the time. (Updates with comment in sixth paragraph and details throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Sep. 20GREENSBORO The Atlantic Coast Conference will move its headquarters to Charlotte next year, the conference board of directors announced Tuesday morning. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips called it "a transformational day for the ACC. "The board decided that Charlotte an amazing and vibrant community not only meets but exceeds the needs of the ACC," he said. The board's unanimous decision completes a comprehensive review to ensure that the conference office is best positioned for the changing dynamics of intercollegiate athletics, the conference said in a press release. Criteria that were considering included location within the Eastern Time zone, population size and growth trends, access to a large hub airport with effective accessibility to and from all ACC member schools, anticipated benefit to the overall ACC brand, and financial considerations. ACC Board of Directors chair and Duke University President Vincent E. Price thanked Greensboro "for what has been a truly wonderful relationship ... over the last 70 years. The ACC's new headquarters will be in Uptown Charlotte as part of Legacy Union's Bank of America Tower. The development includes the world headquarters of Honeywell and major corporate offices for Bank of America, Deloitte, JLL, Robinson Bradshaw and Parker Poe. The conference said it will use the 2022-23 academic year as a transition period to complete the relocation process. The man accused of being the mastermind behind a botched drug deal/robbery that wound up with one participant dead at a Cross Florida Greenway trailhead park in Ocala has been arrested. Jeovanni Alexis Pulgarin did not fire any shots and wasn't even inside the car where the shooting took place on Sept. 12, the Marion County Sheriff's Office says. But deputies said that because he put the plan in motion, and gave a firearm to at least one individual who participated in the robbery, he's responsible in the eyes of the law. Pulgarin, 22, of Silver Springs Shores, already was locked up in the Marion County Jail on unrelated charges. He was notified about the new charges second-degree murder and attempted robbery with a firearm on Tuesday. He's being held without bail. Earlier coverage: Fatal encounter at Cross Florida Greenway trailhead in Ocala tied to drugs, robbery plot A conviction: Reddick man convicted of killing Ocala homeless man in 2019 Ruling: Ocala man charged with providing drugs in fatal overdose sentenced to 15-year prison term Pulgarin is the second person charged with second-degree murder in this case. Previously arrested was Jordan Matthew Neal, 19, who is one of the accused robbers. Like Pulgarin, Neal is not accused of firing any shots. An interview with a co-defendant led to the charges against Jeovanni Pulgarin Detective Andrew Canterberry said in his report that Neal, who is out on bond while his case works through the court system, went to the Sheriff's Office on Monday to talk about the shooting. The Belleview man said Pulgarin, known as "Geo," asked him if he wanted to help rob two people of their marijuana. Neal said "Geo" promised him $1,000. Neal told the detective that he, Pulgarin and a third man, Camereon Cole Dalzell, met at a friend's residence. According to a law enforcement review of Pulgarin's Snapchat account, the men had a detailed plan of what to say and how to execute the robbery. Story continues Neal and Dalzell went to the greenway's Banyan Road Trailhead, which is at Banyan Road and Almond Road, just east of Baseline Road and north of Maricamp Road. There they met two other men. Law enforcement officials were told that Dalzell sat in the front seat of a car and Neal was in the back. Dalzell showed the driver some cash and then pulled out his gun. The driver also took out a gun. Neal removed his gun, but it was taken away by a fellow backseat passenger. Shots were fired and Dalzell was hit. The driver was shot in the hand. The driver, whose name has not been released, was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Dalzell, 18, of Silver Springs Shores, was killed. He had been shot in the head. When the robbery attempt went off script, Pulgarin got the news about the killing via text message, according to the arrest report. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb. This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Second arrest in Ocala shooting death near Cross Florida Greenway (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Gautam Adanis group set aside shares valued at about $13 billion in two Indian cement firms as part of a lending agreement, reflecting the worlds second-richest persons hunger for capital as his ports-to-power conglomerate expands rapidly. Most Read from Bloomberg Stakes in two of those companies -- about 57% of ACC Ltd. and 63% in Ambuja Cements Ltd. -- have been encumbered for the benefit of certain lenders and other finance parties, according to separate filings made to Indian stock exchanges by Deutsche Bank AGs Hong Kong branch. The transaction is a so-called non-disposal undertaking, which is essentially a way for companies to borrow funds against their shares. In most NDUs, the borrower promises not to sell or transfer shares unless there is a trigger event like a missed payment. This results in whats called encumbered shares. The agreements are in the nature of a negative lien given in favor of a lender, and can be terminated upon the request of both parties, according to a 2017 circular by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. NDUs are liens typically used by the borrowers to fulfill the management-control clause in the lending process, said Girish Rawat, a partner at Luthra & Luthra Law Offices in New Delhi. The founder stake is generally marked as a lien, which disallows any selling, thus ensuring theres no change in control, according to Rawat. The transaction comes as the tycoons ambitious dealmaking in an array of new sectors from green energy to media raises concerns over the high level of debt across the Adani group. While the conglomerate has moved to curtail share pledges across its listed entities, other units continue to have elevated leverage ratios that stand out among peer companies globally. Story continues Adani Group Debt Still a Concern But Researchers Soften Tone Buyouts from Holcim earlier this year marked Adanis entry into the cement business and the tycoon plans to double his companys annual capacity by 2027 following the deal thats made his conglomerate Indias second-largest producer of the construction material. The acquisitions give Adani Group access to about 110 billion rupees ($1.4 billion) of cash with the two listed companies, according to Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Along with a 200 billion rupee fund infusion from their new owners, the combined entity has enough of a war chest to scale up new expansions, organically or inorganically, Prateek Kumar, a Jefferies analyst, wrote in a note on Monday. Adani Greens 2,021% Debt-Equity Ratio Is Second-Worst in Asia Based on Mondays close, the encumbered stake in ACC and Ambuja is valued at $13 billion. Endeavour Trade and Investment Ltd. and Xcent Trade and Investment Ltd., entities linked to the Adani Group, are part of the agreements. In August, Endeavour Trade received approval from Indias antitrust agency to buy a stake in Holderind Investments Ltd., a Mauritius-based holding company of Holcims India unit. An NDU generally doesnt give the lender a right over the shares, said Makarand Joshi, founding partner of Mumbai-based MMJC and Associates, a corporate compliance firm. Its not a security, while lien or a pledge are used to secure a loan, where lender gets the control. Adanis move into cement and the recent easing of commodity prices has led to a rally in cement stocks in India. ACC and Ambuja shares surged about 30% and 60% through yesterday since Holcims sale was announced in May. Stocks of most companies controlled by the Adani Group declined on Wednesday, as the MSCI India Index lost as much as 1%. ACC, Ambuja Cements and Adani Enterprises Ltd., the groups flagship firm, each fell as much as about 7%, while Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. dropped as much as 5.5%. (Adds stocks prices in penultimate and last paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. An investigation by the New York State Attorney General's office has concluded that an off-duty Rochester Police Department Sergeant Melvin Williams murdered Janet Jordan, a 911 dispatcher, in her home March 14, 2022, before taking his own life a few hours later. The report, released Wednesday, offered little insight into the motive for the killing, but detailed the evidence from surveillance video, cellphone records, witness interviews, and forensic evidence. The five-month investigation concluded that Williams acted alone in committing the murder. Because of his death, no charges will be filed in the case. Read report:Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigation Report on Death of Janet Jordan Since 2015, the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation has been tasked with investigating and, if warranted, prosecuting offenses arising from any incident in which the death of a person is caused by a police officer, whether on or off duty. New York State Police are investigating a homicide on Wetmore Park near Lyell Avenue in Rochester on March 14, 2022. New York State Police say a Rochester police officer is a person of interest. A surveillance camera at Jordan's house showed her returning from her job at the Monroe County Public Safety Communication Department at midnight on March 14, 2022. The video showed that no one else entered the house until shortly after 2 a.m., when a person turned a surveillance camera mounted at the front door to face the house and used a key to open the door and go inside. An hour later, the surveillance camera footage showed Sgt. Williams leaving Ms. Jordans house. Video also showed Sgt. Williams walking to his car, parked in a lot behind a nearby pizzeria, and driving away. Jordans husband arrived home at 7:15 a.m. after his work shift ended at the Monroe County Jail. He went into his house and called 911 moments later, reporting he had found his wife dead. According to the report, phone records showed that between 4 and 5:30 a.m., Williams sent messages to his wife, family members, and a fellow RPD officer indicating that he planned to take his own life. Authorities then pinged his phone and found it was near a public park. At 9:18 a.m., members of the New York State Police found Williams dead in his car at Veterans Memorial Park in the town of Henrietta. Evidence suggested he had shot himself in the head with his RPD service weapon. Story continues More:RPD officer's involvement in 911 dispatcher's killing under Attorney General investigation Evidence found at the scene Williams DNA was found on cartridge casings found inside Jordans house, and Jordans DNA was found on the sleeves of the jacket Williams was wearing when police found his body. Additionally, a key to the door at Jordans house was found in Williams pants pocket. The medical examiner determined that Jordan died of gunshot wounds to the head and deemed the manner of death to be a homicide. The medical examiner determined that Williams died of a single gunshot wound to the head and deemed the manner of death to be suicide. According to the Rochester Police Department's Open Data Portal, Williams was an acting lieutenant, officially ranked as a sergeant within the department. He had been employed by the Rochester Police Department since July 2007. According to city spokeswoman Barbara Pierce, Jordan was a city employee for 11 years and worked as a 911 dispatcher. She was also an instructor in the city's Pathways to Public Safety program. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans described Jordan as a "beloved and respected colleague." This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: AG investigation concludes 911 operator was murdered by RPD officer Its behind you! David Malpass, president of the World Bank Group in front of a stuffed grizzly bear at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, in Wyoming (Reuters) Former US vice president Al Gore has described the president of the World Bank as a climate denier, during an event held in New York as the United Nations General Assembly gets underway in the city. Mr Gore suggested Joe Biden should aim to have David Malpass removed from his post, pointing out that the bank was continuing to allow damaging fossil fuel companies working in developing countries to access capital. On stage hours later, Mr Malpass failed to put it on the record that he recognised the international scientific consensus on the causes of the worsening climate crisis. During a panel discussion organised by the New York Times, Mr Malpass was repeatedly asked about Mr Gores claim, and whether he recognised the scientific consensus that humans burning fossil fuels is rapidly and dangerously warming the planet. He refused to provide a direct answer to the question, instead telling the audience: Im not a scientist. Mr Malpass was appointed to the role of president of the World Bank after being nominated by then president, Donald Trump, in 2019. According to an account tweeted by the events host, the New York Times David Gelles, Mr Gore told the audience on Tuesday: We need to get a new head of the World Bank. This is ridiculous to have a climate denier as the head of the World Bank. Today I asked World Bank president @DavidMalpassWBG if he believed in the scientific consensus that the man made burning of fossil fuels is rapidly and dangerously warming the planet. Im not a scientist, he said. Heres a thread about the remarkable exchange. 1/ pic.twitter.com/t0nQheybzi David Gelles (@dgelles) September 20, 2022 Mr Gore told the audience: Since almost 90 per cent of the increased emissions going forward are coming from developing countries, we have to take the top layers of risk off the access to capital in these developing countries. Story continues Thats the job of the World Bank. When Mr Gelles later quizzed Mr Malpass on Mr Gores allegations, he reportedly filibustered for a few minutes, talking about the Banks climate work. Eventually, he said of Mr Gores comments: So very odd. Ive never met him. This resulted in increasing agitation from the audience, who apparently shouted from their seats that Mr Malpass answer the question, and eventually he said: I dont even know Im not a scientist and that is not a question. He added: What we need to do is move forward with impactful projects. He defended the banks climate record, saying the organisation has been a world leader in focusing attention on resilience, on adaptation and change, and said the bank had directed $31.7bn to climate finance, with half of it allocated to projects to adapt to extreme weather events, and other climate transformations, the New York Times reports. John Kerry, the US special envoy for climate change, who took part in a separate panel discussion was also asked whether the World Bank president has the confidence of the White House. Mr Kerry declined to comment, saying: Thats the presidents decision. However, he indicated support for the banks stance could be thin on the ground in the Biden administration. Speaking about multilateral development banks and the role they play in the climate crisis, Mr Kerry said: We need to have major reform, major restructuring. Its up to us to pull people together and get that reform, and theres a lot of discussion about us doing that right now. The Independent has contacted the World Bank for comment. Two U.S. military veterans who were being held captive by Russian-backed forces in Ukraine have been freed, according to the mens families and a member of Congress. Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh of Alabama had joined the Ukrainian Army when their unit reportedly came under fire on June 9. On June 15, the families received evidence of their capture two days after learning they went missing in action. The family of Drueke received a call from the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, his aunt, Dianna Shaw, told WBRC. After identifying herself during the call, his mom, Lois Bunny Drueke, spoke to her son. He sounded strong, spoke clearly, was thinking clearly, sounded like himself, Shaw recounted. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) confirmed both men were at the embassy in Riyadh undergoing medical evaluations. They were expected to return to the United States at an undetermined time. I know we all look forward to seeing them back safely, on American soil, Aderholt said. The two fighters were freed as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine that was reportedly brokered by Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that 10 prisoners from Morocco, the U.S., the U.K., Sweden and Croatia had been freed. British Prime Minister Liz Truss tweeted that five British prisoners were among those liberated. Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families, Truss said. Alex Jones testifies in his defense at his defamation trial in Texas on August 2, 2022. Briana Sanchez/Pool via REUTERS David Wheeler, father of a Sandy Hook victim, testified in Alex Jones' defamation trial Wednesday. Jones has already been found liable for defamation; the trial is about how much he owes in damages. Wheeler said Jones' "hoax" talk led people to come to his home asking for his son who died in the shooting. David Wheeler, the father of a Sandy Hook victim, testified Wednesday that the harassment stemming from Alex Jones' conspiracy theory that the mass school shooting was a "hoax" led strangers to show up at his home demanding to see his dead son. "Someone came to the house and knocked on the door. The person demanded to see Ben, saying 'I know he's here, I know he's alive,'" Wheeler said. Wheeler said it was a friend who first broke the news to him that Jones was spreading the falsehood that the shooting had been staged. "After the shock of Ben's murder, it felt like I was underwater and I didn't know which way was up. You're grasping with that, trying to get your head around that. To have someone publicly telling the world that it didn't happen and that you're a fraud and a phony is incredibly disorienting... I couldn't figure it out," he said. "It felt like I was delegitimized in a way. It makes you feel like you don't matter. Like what you went through doesn't matter," he added. Jones is currently standing trial in Connecticut after being found liable for defaming the families of victims who died in the Sandy Hook shooting, claiming it was a government orchestrated scheme. The trial is to determine how much in damages he owes the victims. It's expected to be a four to six-week long trial involving 15 plaintiffs most of whom were parents of the victims. Twenty first-graders and six adults were killed in the December 14, 2012, shooting. Wheeler was the first witness called to the stand on Wednesday, during the second week of the trial. He spoke about the havoc Jones wreaked on his life. In the aftermath of the December 2012 shooting, Wheeler said people harassed him on Facebook, calling him "a fake" and "a liar," and that clips from his unsuccessful acting career were used as evidence that he was hired to play a part in the shooting. Story continues He said strangers showing up at his home forced him to eventually install a security camera system. Wheeler also had to have several conversations with his surviving son, Nate, who was 9 years old when they lost Ben, he said. "For years he would ask me why anyone would do such a thing Why Alex Jones would say these things," Wheeler said. At one point, Wheeler became emotional on the stand as he was asked to describe what Ben was like. "Every parent thinks their kid is the greatest, but he had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a really funny kid. He moved really quickly through the world, nothing moved fast enough for him." He recalled a night when Ben was acting out at the dinner table, and as he took him aside to have a talk, Ben bit him on the arm. When he asked his son why he did it, he said Ben responded: "But Dad, I had to bite something." Wheeler said he's now grateful Ben bit him because it left him with a scar that serves as a physical reminder of his late son. This is the second of three similar trials. The first wrapped up in August, with an Austin jury ordering Jones to pay the parents of 6-year-old Sandy Hook victim Jesse Lewis nearly $50 million in damages. A third trial back in Texas is pending from Leonard Pozner and Veronique de la Rosa, the parents of victim Noah Pozner. Jones skipped the first week of his Connecticut trial but arrived in town for the second week. On Tuesday, he showed up to court but was not called to testify. Outside, he gave a statement to the media, branding Judge Barbara Bellis a "tyrant" and saying he didn't think he had done anything wrong. Read the original article on Insider ALONA MAZURENKO WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2022, 19:29 Dmitry Nizovtsev, host of the "Popular Politics" YouTube channel, phoned Nikolai Peskov, the son of Putins press secretary Dmitry Peskov, live on air pretending to be a military commissar and asked him to report for an examination at 10:00 the next day. Peskov refused. Source: Popular Politics Quote from Peskov: "Of course I wont go there at 10 am tomorrow. If you know that I am Mr Peskov, you should realise how entirely wrong it would be for me to be there. I will resolve this at a different level. I need to understand in general what is happening and what rights I have To be taken away tomorrow - believe me, neither you nor I need that. I have no problem defending my homeland, but I need to understand whether its feasible for me to be there - Im talking about certain political nuances." Details: Asked if he was ready to sign up as a volunteer, Peskov Junior said no. Specifically, he was asked whether a tick could be put against his last name next to the question "Do you agree to volunteer for the front?" Quote from Peskov: "No, dont tick that box for me." He added, "I am ready to go, but not at your request: if Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin - ed.] tells me to go there, I will go." Background: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilisation on the morning of 21 September. In anticipation of a speech by Putin, which did not take place as expected on 20 September, Russians began to actively search up how to leave the country and how to defer army service. Sergei Shoigu, Russian Minister of Defence, announced that 300,000 reservists will be mobilised in Russia. On 21 September, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia has lost 55,110 military personnel since 24 February. Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, has described the announcement of partial mobilisation in Russia as Vladimir Putin's plan to "get rid" of Russian citizens. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts have arrived safely at the International Space Station (ISS), NASA said Wednesday, after blasting off on a Russian-operated flight in a rare instance of cooperation between Moscow and Washington. The Russian space agency Roscosmos and NASA both distributed live footage of the launch from Kazakhstan and commentators speaking over the feed said it was stable and the crew was "feeling well". NASA's Frank Rubio and Russia's Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin made up the crew that launched from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome at 1354 GMT. The three will spend six months on the ISS along with three other Russian cosmonauts, three other US astronauts and one Italian. Rubio is the first US astronaut to travel to the ISS on a Russian Soyuz rocket since President Vladimir Putin sent troops into pro-Western Ukraine on February 24. In response, Western capitals including Washington have hit Moscow with unprecedented sanctions and bilateral ties have sunk to new lows. Space is one of the last remaining areas of cooperation between the two countries. Russia's only active female cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, is expected to travel to the orbital station in early October aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. She will become only the fifth professional woman cosmonaut from Russia or the Soviet Union to go into space, and the first Russian to fly aboard a spacecraft of SpaceX, the company of billionaire Elon Musk. Russian cosmonauts and Western astronauts have sought to steer clear of the conflict that is raging back on Earth, especially when in orbit together. A collaboration among the United States, Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency and Russia, the ISS is split into two sections: the US Orbital Segment and the Russian Orbital Segment. - Russia leaving ISS - At present, the ISS depends on a Russian propulsion system to maintain its orbit, about 250 miles (400 kilometres) above sea level, with the US segment responsible for electricity and life support systems. Story continues Tensions in the space field have grown since Washington announced sanctions on Moscow's aerospace industry -- triggering warnings from Russia's former space chief Dmitry Rogozin, an ardent supporter of the Ukraine war. Rogozin's recently appointed successor Yuri Borisov later confirmed Russia's long-mooted move to leave the ISS after 2024 in favour of creating its own orbital station. US space agency NASA called the decision an "unfortunate development" that would hinder scientific work on the ISS. Space analysts say construction of a new orbital station could take more than a decade, and Russia's space industry -- a point of national pride -- would not be able to flourish under heavy sanctions. The ISS was launched in 1998 at a time of hope for US-Russia cooperation following their Space Race competition during the Cold War. During that era, the Soviet space programme boomed. It boasted a number of accomplishments that included sending the first man into space in 1961 and launching the first satellite four years earlier. Experts say Roscosmos is now a shadow of its former self and has in recent years suffered a series of setbacks, including corruption scandals and the loss of a number of satellites and other spacecraft. Russia's years-long monopoly on manned flights to the ISS is also gone, to SpaceX, along with millions of dollars in revenue. bur/rl/to/ec Robert Drueke, 39, (left) and Andy Huynh, 27 (right), were reportedly captured by Russian forces following a battle in Kharkiv, according to Russian military claims. The men are the first Americans fighting with Ukraine to be captured during the war. (social media) Two American men who were captured by Russians while fighting for Ukrainian defense forces have been released, their families said. Andy Huynh and Alexander Drueke, both military veterans from Alabama, have reportedly been released after they were captured by Russians while fighting for Ukraine. According to a joint statement released by their families, the men have reportedly been turned over to the custody of the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia. "We are thrilled to announce that Alex and Andy are free," the families said. "They are safely in the custody of the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and after medical checks and debriefing they will return to the States." The families said they "deeply appreciate everyone's prayers and especially the close communication and support of our elected officials, Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova, and our members of the US embassies in Ukraine and Saudi Arabia and the US Department of State." According to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the men among 10 prisoners of war Russia released thanks to "mediation efforts" done on behalf of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. British, Swedish, Croatian and Moroccan nationals were also released as a result of that deal. Two U.S. military veterans who were captured by Russian-backed forces while fighting for Ukraine and held captive for months have reportedly been freed. Multiple news outlets reported Wednesday that the families of Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, both military veterans from Alabama who had been serving as volunteers in Ukraine, have been informed by U.S. officials that the men were released in a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. We are thrilled to announce that Alex and Andy are free, Diana Shaw, a spokesperson for both families and Druekes aunt, told CNN. They are safely in the custody of the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia and after medical checks and debriefing they will return to the United States. Shaw thanked U.S., Ukrainian and Saudi officials for their close communication in working to free them. Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh were released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap, according to their families. (Lois Drueke/Handout via Reuters, Handout via WAAYTV) The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shaw told the Washington Post that Druekes mother spoke to him for about 10 minutes, and said he appeared to be in good condition. He sounded clear-headed, with clear speech, Shaw said. He sounded like himself. Drueke, 39, and Huynh, 27, were captured while fighting in a battle northeast of Kharkiv on June 9. The families reported them missing on June 13 and received evidence of their captivity two days later. The men were among hundreds of Westerners who traveled to Ukraine to help defend it from Russias military invasion, which began on Feb. 24. They were the first known Americans taken prisoner in the months-long conflict. Earlier Wednesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced the release of 10 prisoners of war captured in Ukraine by Russian forces in an exchange of POWs by Russia and Ukraine. The freed prisoners were American, British, Croatian, Moroccan and Swedish nationals, the ministry said in a statement that did not identify the prisoners by name. Robert Jenrick, a member of the British Parliament, tweeted that Aiden Aslin and other British prisoners held captive by Russia were released and are on their way back to the U.K. Aidens return brings to an end months of agonising uncertainty for Aidens loving family in Newark who suffered every day of Aidens sham trial but never lost hope, Jenrick wrote. As they are united as a family once more, they can finally be at peace. This article was first featured in Yahoo Finance Tech, a weekly newsletter highlighting our original content on the industry. Get it sent directly to your inbox every Wednesday by 4 p.m. ET. Subscribe Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 Congress failed, so now states are stepping up Congress has vowed to pass legislation to rein in Big Tech companies for years. But as legislation aimed at taking firms to task stalls, U.S. states have stepped in to fill the void. The latest strikes come in the form of a first-in-the-nation California law designed to protect kids online privacy. AB 2273, which goes into effect in 2024, joins a controversial Texas law upheld by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday that conservatives hail as a win against sites they say censor their speech. But those arent the only states attempting to bring social media platforms to heel. States across the country from Mississippi to New York have introduced bills seeking to hold companies like Meta (META), Twitter (TWTR), Snap (SNAP), and TikTok accountable for the content they host or choose to remove. And the raft of laws is unlikely to stop anytime soon. I think, to some extent, what we're seeing right now is people have some experience about what social media is over a 10-year period now, so you're seeing a lot of people react in various ways to that, Anthony Fargo, associate professor at The Media School at Indiana University Bloomington, told Yahoo Finance. The main problem with that outside of potential free speech violations is that regulating global companies on a state-by-state basis will create a morass of potentially conflicting laws and case law. That could make it impossible for platforms to govern themselves and for users to see any improvements to their online experiences. How are we going to fix that problem? The solution might be on Capitol Hill. Taking social media platforms to task Texass and Californias laws are strikingly different. Texass HB 20 came about as a result of conservatives complaints that social media sites censored their speech. While no evidence of a collective effort to silence conservatives has been uncovered, Texas moved forward with the law, which allows residents to sue companies that remove their content. Story continues Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pushed for a law that would penalize social media companies for moderating their own platforms. REUTERS/Marco Bello Florida passed a similar law, though a federal appeals court found it unconstitutional because it infringed on social media companies First Amendment rights. Both the Texas and Florida laws will now likely end up before the Supreme Court, where theres a chance that the conservative majority could uphold them. Californias AD 2273, meanwhile, is designed to keep platforms from letting kids publicly post content online by default. It also seeks to prevent services from collecting, selling, and storing location data about those same children, and to stop platforms from encouraging children to provide personal data. I think it's probably fair to guess that we're seeing [these laws] now because of the cumulative experience with social media, the inadequacy of social media companies own self-regulatory step, and the pressure, in some of these instances, of our hyper-partisan political environment, and those influences have been building and are kind of breaking through now, explained NYU School of Law adjunct professor Paul Barrett. And its likely that more states will jump on the bandwagon moving forward, with approaches being split between red states and blue states, Barrett added. Red states, he explained, will likely continue to focus on supposed censorship of conservative voices, while blue states will aim to protect privacy and curb hate speech. A mishmash of laws wont work While both Republicans and Democrats will likely run into problems with their respective laws, critics already predict Californias law could hurt children and suppress free speech via age gating technologies that require users to provide their year of birth to prove theyre old enough to access content. Texas and Floridas laws, meanwhile, have been bashed for stifling platforms free speech rights by forcing them to host content they dont want to. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law that requires social networks to protect young users. But it's been criticized for potentially being used to track vulnerable members of society. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Despite the criticism, legislatures will likely continue bringing laws forward unless Congress passes federal laws that govern social media sites. To be sure, Congress has faced pressure to pass laws that specify how social media can regulate speech and how it should protect kids. Heck, none other than Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey have specifically called on Congress to pass legislation governing their services. Of course, theyd assuredly like to have a say in how those laws are crafted. Part of the reason Zuckerberg and Dorsey want those kinds of laws put into place is that it would make running their companies a heck of a lot easier if they had to abide by one sweeping piece of federal legislation rather than a cavalcade of state laws with different aims. It's great that the states have privacy enforcements and regulations associated with it, explained Carnegie Mellon University Heinz School of Business professor Ari Lightman, but what does this mean for a social network that operates globally? Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called on Congress to regulate social media platforms. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Weve seen tech firms in different industries beg for federal regulations rather than a patchwork of state laws in the past. Self-driving car companies have repeatedly called on Congress to pass legislation governing how those vehicles are regulated so they can streamline their designs and requirements, rather than having to meet the demands on different state legislatures. And while you wont be driving a Facebook-powered car anytime soon, I hope, social media companies are no different in wanting to deal with one piece of legislation than laws from 50 different states. How and when Congress acts, however, is entirely up in the air. Weve seen any number of legislative proposals come forward including those that limit how much data sites can collect on younger users, bills that allow users to opt out of using social media sites algorithms, and laws that force sites to share information about how their services work with third-party researchers. But so far, Congress has nothing to show for it. With the midterm elections approaching and lawmakers more focused on getting re-elected rather than passing new laws, its unlikely any of these proposals will become the law of the land. It looks like we might end up stuck with a mess of state laws for years to come. By Daniel Howley, tech editor at Yahoo Finance. Follow him @DanielHowley Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn Watch: Denise Gough and Kyle Soller discuss Andor villain costumes Denise Gough and Kyle Soller had no problems at all entering into their villainous roles in new Star Wars TV show Andor, thanks to their evocative costumes. Both stars play middle-manager Imperial officers in the series, with each of them fighting to prove themselves by tracking and shutting down insurgent groups of rebels. Set before the events of 2016 film Rogue One, the show traces the early anti-Empire activities of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his recruitment into the Rebel Alliance. Read more: Alan Tudyk on the challenging production of Rogue One Gough revealed to Yahoo that she and Soller made similar requests at their costume fittings in order to enhance their sinister performances. She explained: "As both me and the character, I wanted to make sure that her uniform was nipped and pulled in and the boots were a little bit more and everything is super sharp. Kyle Soller and Denise Gough play key Imperial officers in Star Wars series Andor. (Lucasfilm/Disney) "Then she will stand a certain way so there isn't a single crease on the front and anyone she sees [slouching] just drives her crazy. "When I was told by the designer that Kyle had done the same thing, I thought 'we're gonna be just fine'." Read more: Everything we know about Andor Soller said his costuming was "100% effective" in helping to construct his ambitious, desperate young office climber Syril and that he wanted his "specific tailoring to be perfect". "[Creator Tony Gilroy] had written these characters so wonderfully fully-fleshed. A mix of light and shade and very complex and relatable," he said. Kyle Soller said his Andor character Syril is dangerous because of his desire to prove himself within the Empire. (Lucasfilm/Disney) Soller added: "They're two people who actually don't listen to the word 'no' from their superior officers. That's extremely dangerous when you're putting that within the fascist regime." Gough said that Syril and her character Dedra are "not just baddies", but are prepared to go to "quite extreme" lengths in order to raise their status within the Imperial hierarchy. Story continues Read more: Ben Mendelsohn wants his own Rogue One spin-off series "If you're in a Nazi or a fascist regime and your end goal is to get to the top of it, you're probably gonna have to do some pretty awful things to get there," she said. Gough added: "They're rebels within the regime. They're doing things like getting around and going under the rules and bending the rules. Denise Gough plays Imperial officer Dedra in Andor. (Lucasfilm/Disney) "Dedra gets in serious trouble for something that she does in order to prove that she's right about what's happening. It turns out okay, but she could be killed for going against the regime, even if it's for the protection of the regime. "They're staging their own individual rebellions within the Empire, which is why all of these characters are so interesting." Read more: Hayden Christensen discusses playing Darth Vader again Following a number of figures within the Rebellion and the Empire, Andor has an ensemble cast around Diego Luna's title character, including Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgard and Fiona Shaw with Genevieve O'Reilly and Forest Whitaker reprising their roles as Rebel leaders Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera. Andor will debut on Disney+ with the first three episodes on 21 September, followed by weekly episodes in subsequent weeks. Watch: Trailer for Disney+ Star Wars series Andor Adria Arjona in the "Andor" trailer. Disney+ "Andor" star Adria Arjona said that she didn't want to take her costume from the set as a souvenir. Arjona plays new "Star Wars" character Bix Caleen in the Disney+ series. She told Insider that she was "hopeful" her costume will end up in a "Star Wars" museum. "Andor" actress Adria Arjona said that she didn't ask to keep her costume from the set and that she hopes that it'll end up in a "Star Wars" museum. Arjona joins the "Star Wars" canon as a completely new character, Bix Caleen, who is an ally of the titular character. Despite being a newcomer to the franchise, Arjona told Insider that she was adamant about not grabbing a souvenir. "There's something quite interesting about 'Star Wars' that everything is very much all about the fans and they have a whole warehouse with like a million things of 'Star Wars,'" she explained. "So I didn't even ask if I could keep something. I was like, 'One day, they'll have a little museum and maybe they'll have my boot. So maybe I'm not gonna ask for my boot.'" Arjona continued: "It was just me [being] hopeful and wishful thinking that one day it'll be Bix's costume somewhere." During the interview, Arjona also said that her mother persuaded her to audition for the role during the coronavirus pandemic. "She, like a good Puerto Rican mom, never hangs up the phone on me. But she just told me: 'You're a swan. You could swim in the lake of shit and not get stained. Let the force be with you, my daughter,' and she hung up the phone on me," she recalled. "I was like, 'Okay, well, then I guess I'm going.'" In the past, many stars have kept their lightsabers or clothing from their time filming the franchise. Samuel L. Jackosn got to keep his purple lightsaber from the prequel trilogy, which had a "Pulp Fiction" inscription. Earlier this year, the Marvel star said on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," that he didn't ask for the engraving, which was a homage to his character in the Quentin Tarantino film. Story continues "No, they did that because they loved me," Jackson said. "I didn't ask for it. When the shoot was over, when they presented it to me, it had 'BMF' on the on-off button." "Andor" is streaming now on Disney+. Read the original article on Insider Anne Heche had almost completed her new memoir "Call Me Anne" prior to her death at the age of 53 following a fiery car crash last month. In an interview with Fox News Digital, editor Rene Sears, who worked with the late actress on her follow-up to her 2001 biography "Call Me Crazy", shared details about the memoir, which will be released in January 2023. "She was so enthusiastic about the book, and she really had no ego about the work," Sears said of Heche, who she described as "very easy to work with" and open to rewrites. Anne Heche had almost completed her new memoir "Call Me Anne" prior to her death at the age of 53. Jesse Grant "We'd worked on it so much with her and then the final pass, of course, has been without her," she said. ANNE HECHE'S SON PAYS TRIBUTE AFTER MOTHER'S DEATH: HOPEFULLY MY MOM IS FREE FROM PAIN' Viva Editions, an imprint of Start Publishing, will publish the memoir, which will be distributed by Simon & Schuster. Per a synopsis provided by Start Publishing, "Call Me Anne" will feature the Emmy award-winner's personal anecdotes of her life and rise to stardom. The memoir delves into Heche's history of childhood sexual abuse, her highly publicized relationship with Ellen DeGeneres and its effect on her career, her relationship with on-set mentor Harrison Ford, her encounter with Harvey Weinstein, her relationship with God and her journey to love herself. Sears explained that the "Donnie Brasco" star had written the first draft longhand in journals and the experience had helped her process some of her past traumas. "I think most of it was kind of her processing and her approaching her creativity as a way to think more deeply about what had happened to her and how to move past it," she said. "And I know that's what she's hoping that other people will get out of this book as well," Sears continued. "It's a sort of way to creatively examine their own lives and move past whatever trauma or troubles might be affecting them personally." Rather than focusing on the minutiae of Heche's relationship with DeGeneres and their split, Sears said that the actress wanted to address the impact that it had on her career. Story continues Heche was on the verge of becoming a household name in the late 1990s when she and DeGeneres went public with their same-sex romance. The pair were one of the first openly gay couples in Hollywood at a time when society was less accepting. "After she and Ellen went public with their relationship, she lost a lot of opportunities," Sears said. "I think she was focused in this book more on the fallout for her career and also the people that she encountered for whom it didn't matter, which made a big impression on her." Harrison Ford, who co-starred with Heche in the 1998 romantic comedy "Six Days, Seven Nights," served as a mentor to the up-and-coming actress and later supported her after she and DeGeneres made their relationship public. In Heche's memoir, Sears revealed that the "Hung" alumna, who she said was a "very funny storyteller", included a humorous anecdote about meeting Ford for the first time at a reading for their movie. "She was so excited because Star Wars was the first movie that she ever saw in the theater," Sears recalled. "So she was all excited to tell him how much it had meant to her and how impressed she had been. And then she started talking to him and all the sentences just kind of fell out, and it maybe wasn't the clearest. And he just looked at her for a beat, and then he said, 'Don't ever tell that story again. It makes me look too old.'" Sears said that Ford became a mentor to Heche and gave her tips on the craft as she made the transition from acting in television and soap operas to starring in major studio films. In addition to acting as a mentor, Sears explained that Heche was touched that Ford immediately reached out to her after she faced career backlash over her relationship with DeGeneres. "He reached out, during the midst of all that, when she had just had these deals canceled and said, 'Yes, I want to work with you and I don't care about your personal life because you're a good actress.' So I think in both of those respects, he meant very much to her." Heche said she was blacklisted from the industry after her breakup with Ellen DeGeneres. Kurt Krieger/Corbis However, Sears said that in a less positive anecdote from her memoir, Heche claimed that the late "Six Days, Seven Nights" director Ivan Reitman had asked her, "Why can't you be more like Jodie Foster?" Sears explained, "Because of course, the rumor was that Jodie Foster had also had relationships with women, but it wasn't public. And I think she felt very deeply, you know, that was a difficult ask for her because she just really wanted to be true to herself and to this relationship." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER According to Sears, Heche, who had previously accused disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, "didn't go into any gory details" about the encounter in her memoir. "But she definitely has some very spicy things to say about Harvey Weinstein," Sears added. Harrison Ford, who co-starred with Heche in the 1998 romantic comedy "Six Days, Seven Nights," served as a mentor to the up-and-coming actress. Getty Images In addition to personal stories and anecdotes, Heche also included creative prompts for readers at the end of each chapter of her book. "She was so enthusiastic about this direction, and she really just wanted to help people as much as she could," Sears said. Though publisher Jarred Weisfeld confirmed to Fox News Digital that Heche "dedicated the book to her children," Sears said she was unaware of what her sons Homer, 20, and Atlas, 13, thought of their mother's memoir. "I do know that she only ever spoke very highly of being a mother and of what joy that brought to her life," Sears said. Though a blood test revealed that Heche had "the presence of drugs" in her system following the horrific car crash that later led to her death, Sears shared that Heche "didn't talk about drugs or alcohol in the memoir or in any of the conversations I had with her." She added, "The trauma she referenced in the book was predominantly the abuse she endured as a child. Substance abuse never came up in our conversations, and the circumstances around her crash were a sad surprise to me." Sears said that Heche had wanted her readers to take away an uplifting message from her memoir. "I think for her, it was that everyone is worthy of hope, of self-examination," she explained. "Of love and kindness. And yeah, that was basically she would want the reader to know, that they're worth helping." "Call Me Anne", which is set for release on January 24, 2023, is available to pre-order now on Amazon. Former President Clinton speaks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who appears virtually during a Clinton Global Initiative event on Sept. 20. (Julia Nikhinson / Associated Press) The world's leaders converged on the United Nations on Tuesday for the opening sessions of the body's annual General Assembly, held in person for the first time in three years, but with twin crises of war in Ukraine and famine in Africa weighing heavily on the gathering. President Biden, who addresses the assembly on Wednesday, and his diplomatic team are working to buoy unity among allies to continue arming and supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion. With winter coming and fuel prices soaring, U.S. officials fear some European countries may be tempted to slim down their support. The war has hurt gas supplies but done even more damage to the export of millions of tons of grain, fertilizer and cooking oil, exacerbating famine and food shortages in many parts of the world, but particularly in Africa. As a result, some African governments have refused to join Western efforts to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the Biden administration hopes to offer reassurances to them. But those options are elusive. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, insisted that the sessions, which take place over two weeks, will not be dominated by Ukraine, but also acknowledged that the war has triggered a "crisis of confidence" for the U.N. "Certainly, other countries have expressed a concern that we have not as we focus on Ukraine, we are not paying attention to what is happening in other crises around the world," she said. "We know that as this horrible war rages across Ukraine, we cannot ignore the rest of the world." Another senior State Department official said later that countries of the global South were in fact receptive to U.S. efforts, especially in renewing grain exports out of Ukraine. "They see us meeting them where they are," the official said, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations. "Everybody, not just Europe and Ukraine, is paying the price for this war, especially the global South." Story continues The goal to shift focus beyond Ukraine, however, was made all the more difficult Tuesday when Russia-backed separatists announced plans to plow ahead with referendums in regions of Ukraine they occupy. Western officials have called the vote a sham that would be used by separatists to falsely claim that the regions Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia should be part of Russia and that residents support the idea. Biden is expected to roundly criticize that and other aspects of what the administration calls Putin's escalation. There are concerns that Putin may launch a full-scale mobilization of Russian troops that would significantly intensify the fighting, just as Ukrainian forces have made important gains in retaking some of their territory. "The United States will never recognize Russia's claims to purportedly annex any parts of Ukraine," said Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor. "And we will never recognize this territory as anything other than a part of Ukraine. We reject Russia's actions unequivocally." Other world leaders attending the General Assembly, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, joined in the condemnation. Putin is not in attendance and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is the only official who will be allowed to address the assembly remotely by video. The last two General Assemblies were virtual or partly virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic along with climate change were already depleting agricultural output and food supplies in many parts of the world. Then Russia's Feb. 24 invasion cut off shipping from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, plunging more regions into dire food insecurity. The World Food Program estimates at least 160 million people are facing possible starvation, primarily in the global South. The U.N. brokered a deal with Russia that liberated grain shipments, and senior State Department officials said the amount of exports is approaching pre-invasion levels. About half of the exports are going to the global South, the officials said. "It has been a real life-saving mechanism," one of the officials said. Meanwhile, the U.S. effort to shore up support for Ukraine got some good news from Britain. Prime Minister Liz Truss said her government would match or exceed the record amount of military aid it committed to Ukraine this year, about $2.6 billion. But the overall mood at this year's General Assembly was grim. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres summed it up, citing myriad conflicts beyond just Ukraine financial crisis and poverty in much of the world and lack of education for children, along with climate and health emergencies and the prospects of famine. Underlying it all is the inability of world leaders, including the U.N., to solve the problems. The divergence between developed and developing countries, between North and South, between the privileged and the rest, is becoming more dangerous by the day, Guterres said. It is at the root of the geopolitical tensions and lack of trust that poison every area of global cooperation, from vaccines to sanctions to trade. Nations are gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction, he added. "Our world is in peril and paralyzed. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ABC News Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a member of Republican leadership in the upper chamber, said Sunday that he does not "condone violence" after Donald Trump lashed out at Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and suggested McConnell had a "death wish"-- but Scott stopped short of condemning the former president. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social website last week, wrote that McConnell must have a "death wish" after supporting a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. Trump went on to criticize McConnell's wife in racist terms, writing that he should "seek help and advise [sic] from his China loving wife, Coco Chow!" Trump was referring to Elaine Chao, who is Taiwanese. Man Convicted of Threatening Gay Calif. State Sen. Scott Wiener A jury in California convicted a man for threatening out state senator, Scott Wiener, via email earlier this year. Erik Triana, 51, was convicted on seven of eight counts related to an email he sent to Wieners web portal shortly after the senator introduced a bill that would have allowed minors 15 years of age or older to obtain a vaccine without the consent of a parent or guardian. Triana, a father of three, was also convicted on multiple weapons charges. Vax my kids without my permission and expect a visit from me and my rifle, Triana wrote to Wiener in an email sent on January 22nd. He signed the email Amendment, Second and listed the Moscone Center as his address. Wiener testified at trial that this threat was unique because the Moscone Center was named after the late San Francisco Mayor George Moscone who, along with iconic gay activist, Supervisor Harvey Milk, was assassinated in 1978. Death threats against public officials undermine democracy, Wiener said in a statement posted to social media following the conviction. A public official should make decisions based on what benefits the community, not based on whether a decision will get the official killed. Modern politics can be polarized and toxic, but we must never normalize or tolerate death threats. During the course of their investigations, police linked the message to a computer Triana used at his work in Pleasanton. Police executed a search warrant in March on Trianas home and car and found an unregistered AR-15 assault weapon with nine loaded magazines, two handguns without serial numbers, two loaded handgun magazines, and two loaded AR-15 style magazines. Triana was found guilty of threatening the life of Senator Wiener, two counts of possessing assault weapons, two counts of manufacturing or assembling unregistered firearms (known commonly as ghost guns), and two counts of having a concealed firearm in a vehicle. The jury found Triana not guilty of making a criminal threat of death or great bodily injury. Story continues Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Kang, who prosecuted the case, echoed Wieners concerns. While free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy and a Constitutionally protected right, there is a clear line between political discourse and threats of violence, Kang said in a statement. The jurys verdict in this case highlights the fact that threats to seriously harm or kill a public servant because of disagreement with their policies is not protected speech and will not be tolerated. Triana will be sentenced on September 29. "L.A. shaped me to who I am," says Blxst. "I could never turn my back on the city." (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) On a suffocating afternoon in early September, the cavernous Hollywood Palladium was unnaturally empty. Inside, the South-Central hip-hop artist Blxst (pronounced "Blast") ran through a soundcheck before his second sold-out show at the 4,000 capacity venue. Midway through, he and his band rehearsed their rendition of "Die Hard," the Kendrick Lamar song on which Blxst begs for another chance despite missing each one prior. Live instruments illuminated the track's layered melodies, the emotion swelling each time they reached a section's apex. But Blxst wasn't satisfied. He and a stage manager huddled with the violin-toting Grandmaster Vic, instructing him to "go crazy right there" in the absence of Lamar. They ran the song back and Vic unleashed a riveting solo, racing across octaves and punctuating it with well-timed ricochet bowing. The song ended, and Blxst subtly nodded his approval. Later that night, his reactions weren't as reserved. As he strolled onto the stage to sing "Gang Slide," which served as the theme song for Issa Rae's "Sweet Life" reality show about aspiring Black L.A. creatives, phone lights from the crowd bounced off his gleaming teeth, the smile betraying his joy at returning home after trekking across the country. He was just as happy to welcome onstage a parade of L.A. heavyweights who surprised the crowd by performing their collaborations (and their own biggest hits): Ty Dolla Sign, YG, Tyga, Kalan.Frfr, Bino Rideaux and Dom Kennedy. "It's your time, Blxst," YG exclaimed. For at least the last year, the soundtrack to Los Angeles has run through Blxst. He's done it by taming the city's bounce to fit his own laid-back groove, highlighted by the muted synths and punchy drums that have become synonymous with his sound. You can hear his music booming from car speakers across the city. He's been the connective tissue throughout L.A.'s multifaceted landscape working with global superstars such as Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg, but also artists with a strong local foothold like Rucci, 1TakeJay and Kalan.Frfr. Story continues But Blxst, 30, is well aware that his hometown is only one piece of the puzzle. His tour has taken the new sound of L.A. across the map, and he'll soon take it overseas for the tour's international leg. "The first time I went to London, the love was so real, it makes you want to move to these cities," he said backstage at the Palladium. "But L.A. shaped me to who I am. I could never turn my back on the city." Blxst, real name Matthew Burdette, was born in South-Central L.A., the youngest child alongside three sisters. His grandparents were strict Jehovah's Witnesses and with his parents kept a tight leash on the household. His time in Los Angeles came with "ups and downs," but that was cut short when his parents separated and he moved to the Inland Empire. Out there, life moved at a slower pace and he became a self-proclaimed nerd on everything music. "I used to go on YouTube and look at all kinds of s," Blxst said. "I would type in 'Kanye West in the studio, Jay-Z in the studio.' Just trying to see how they were coming up with their ideas." Blxst's mother educated him on neo-soul pioneers, while the rap came from a sister and uncle (who were in a group together). Once Blxst decided he too wanted to rap, his uncle gave him guidance, introducing him to the studio and telling him to look up a new word in the dictionary each day to improve his vocabulary. He began producing using a trial version of Fruity Loops (now known as FL Studio). The dream started to feel real once he scored a placement on Hitta J3's "Do Yo Gudda" in 2013, a local hit that earned a remix with Kendrick Lamar, YG and Problem. The skeletal, ratchet bounce was a distant cousin of Blxst's eventual brand, but the song stayed in rotation at parties across the city, giving him faith that he could turn the passion into a career. "That was all I needed," he said. "It lit a fire." Blxst's true identity as an artist came into focus in 2017, when he fell in love with the Rhodes keyboard and added chords to his production. He produced Kalan.Frfr's breakout hit "Right Wit It" (which also got a YG remix), and in 2019 his own star shot up when he released "Hurt," foreshadowing the vulnerability he'd soon pour into his future releases. Love and betrayal would inspire much of his 2020 EP "No Love Lost," his formal introduction as a solo artist. The deluxe version of the EP followed, including "Chosen," featuring Tyga and Ty Dolla Sign, which peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became his first platinum song. "I'd never really made a party-type record," he said. "Usually my songs are conversational, talking to a specific woman. This one felt more free." By 2021, the movement had grown bigger than Los Angeles. Artists outside of the city had taken notice, and he appeared on songs with Rick Ross, Nas and even Dame D.O.L.L.A., a.k.a. N.B.A. superstar Damian Lillard. Blxst's sound further expanded in April with his debut album "Before You Go," where he relished in his newfound success while toying with brighter sounds and fuller instrumentation. But Blxst's biggest moment of the year arrived soon after, when he appeared on the fourth song of Kendrick Lamar's feverishly anticipated album, "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers." Several months before, Blxst had received a text from an unknown number claiming to be Lamar's manager Anthony Saleh, and almost let it go unanswered. "I hit up my attorney and asked 'you know Anthony Saleh?'" Blxst recalled with a laugh. "He was like 'yeah he's official, tap in with him.' So I hit him back and he told me Kendrick was going to call me in five minutes. [Kendrick] FaceTimed me, and as soon as I heard him say 'What's the deal,' I was like that's for sure Kendrick." "I was in Miami, listening on an iPhone because I didn't have any speakers," he added of hearing the final song for the first time when it released. "I was tripping, bro. Hearing your voice next to a legend is crazy. You grow up listening to these artists and they find the respect for you. What more could you ask for?" Blxst performing at the Hollywood Palladium. (MaccThaShooter) Blxst has done it all while pushing Evgle, the company he owns alongside Victor Burnett and Karl Fowlkes that houses a record label, clothing brand and investment arm. The company's name is a nod to the bird that soars alone, speaking to the company's do-it-all mentality. "The eagle is the highest-flying bird that doesn't fly in flocks," Blxst said. "I look at that as confidence." Burnett had long made his name in Los Angeles as a party promoter, tracking all the way back to his days as a teenager. In 2017, he'd just finished designing merchandise for the Tupac Shakur biopic "All Eyez on Me" and was at a production facility in Culver City with the film's lead actor who'd invited Blxst over for a studio session. The two built a rapport and Burnett gave Blxst free studio time in exchange for beats and graphic design, which he distributed to other artists and used for his own brand, respectively. As the partnership solidified, the team prioritized vertical integration, keeping the various facets of the creative process in house as much as possible. When it came time to sign a deal in 2020, they spurned the major labels to partner with Red Bull Records, an independent label that aligned with their strategy. Blxst credits Burnett and Fowlkes for helping him see how he could expand beyond just being an artist. "Traditionally artists aren't super vocal in the first half of their career," Burnett said. "You'd see a lot of people start to invest a little bit later, and try to get a foothold in the music department. We decided to attack both at the same time, because we understood that our cause mattered." Family is also central to Blxst's vision. Balancing his responsibilities to his partner and their 4-year-old son was the hardest part of his being away on tour. "It's helped me become more present," he said. "Making sure the time I spend with him is actually intentional, not just physically being there but mentally too. It's so important. Those genuine connections will actually shape his future." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Asteroids wobbled the moon so much its poles have moved. (Getty) A study that looked at billions of years worth of asteroid craters on the moons surface has concluded that space rock impacts wobbled the moon so much its poles moved. Over the past 4.25 billion years, the moons poles have wandered by 186 miles or 10 degrees in latitude. The study could be important to finding water on the moon, as NASA returns to the satellite with manned missions in coming years. Vishnu Viswanathan, a NASA Goddard scientist who led the study, said: Based on the moons cratering history, polar wander appears to have been moderate enough for water near the poles to have remained in the shadows and enjoyed stable conditions over billions of years. A team based at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland used computer simulations to erased thousands of craters from the moons surface, as if turning back the clock 4.25 billion years to a time before the craters formed. Read more: What are fast radio bursts, and why do they look like aliens? They found that the locations of the moons north and south Poles moved slightly over this time period. Information about wandering poles can be useful for understanding the evolution of the moon; specifically, the condition of resources, such as water, on its surface. Scientists have found frozen water in shadowed regions near the moons poles, but they dont yet know how much there is. If the moon had drastically shifted the locations of its poles toward a warmer, less shadowed region, such as the equator, some frozen water could have sublimated (changed from a solid state to a gaseous state) off the surface, with new water having had less time to accumulate at the new poles. The phenomenon behind the shifting poles is known as True Polar Wander, and its what happens under the laws of physics to an object, in this case the moon, thats trying to keep itself spinning when faced with obstacles, such as changes to the way its mass is distributed. Read more: Telescope detects 100 mysterious radio signals from billions of light years away Story continues As asteroid impacts excavated mass, leaving depressions in the surface or pockets of lower mass the moon reoriented itself to bring those pockets toward the poles, while bringing areas of higher mass out toward the equator via centrifugal force. Its the same force that acts on dough when a pizza maker tosses and spins it in the air to stretch it out. The researchers became interested in using gravity data to figure out how far the moons poles have wandered after serving as deputy principal investigator of NASAs Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission. GRAIL mapped the moons gravity field in great detail before the mission ended in 2012. David E Smith, principal investigator for the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA), aboard NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft, said: If you look at the moon with all these craters on it, you can see those in the gravity field data. I thought, Why cant I just take one of those craters and suck it out, remove the signature completely? Viswanathan said his team is getting closer to figuring out the true degree of polar wander on the moon, but the scientists still need to refine their estimate. They plan to erase more small craters from the moon and to remove other features, such as volcanic eruptions, that could have contributed to shifting the poles. Watch: NASA's Artemis moon rocket faces critical test this week ALONA MAZURENKO WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2022 23:18 Ukraine has arranged the release of soldiers who defended the city of Mariupol, including soldiers from the Azov Regiment, from Russian captivity. Source: Maksym Zhorin, former Commander of the Azov Regiment; photographs by reporter Volodymyr Zolkin; Suspilne Quote from Zhorin: "A prisoner exchange took place and some of the Azov fighters have arrived home. We have finally managed to free a number of the Mariupol defenders, including some fighters from the Azov Regiment. The exchange which we have all been waiting for took place tonight [on 21 September]." Details: The exchange took place in Chernihiv Oblast. Mykhailo Vershynin, Head of Mariupols Patrol Police; Kateryna Polishchuk, a paramedic known as Ptashka (Bird); and Mykhailo Dianov, Senior Sergeant of the 36th Marine Brigade, are among the freed Ukrainians, as suggested by the photographs that have been circulated on social media. Mariana Mamontova, who was pregnant when she was captured, has also been released. Militants of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic ("DNR") stated that during the exchange, "service members who were taken prisoners during the retreat in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as captured military pilots of the Russian Armed Forces" have been handed over to the Russian side. PHOTO: VOLODYMYR ZOLKIN PHOTO: VOLODYMYR ZOLKIN Background: On 29 June, during the largest prisoner swap since 24 February, Ukraine managed to bring back 144 service personnel, 95 of whom are the defenders of Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol who had been taken away from Azovstal in May, were detained in a penal colony in Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast. UP sources in the Ukrainian government stated that the number of Ukrainian POWs [prisoners of war] held in Olenivka amounted to 2,449 people. Mariupol defenders were taken to Russian-controlled territory on 1620 May. Russia claimed that a total of 2,439 fighters left the Azovstal bunkers. Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross registered the Ukrainian soldiers who left Azovstal as prisoners of war. On 19 June, Russian media reported that the commanders of the Azov Regiment were taken from the Russian-occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast to Russia for conducting "investigative actions". Earlier, Denys Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov Regiment, handed over his duties to Mykyta Nadtochii. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! An 8-month-old child died after she was unintentionally left in a car, authorities in Florida said. The child was in the car with her father on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Jacksonville, according to a news release from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. The father stopped at a residence and went inside to do some work and accidentally left his daughter in the backseat, the release said. The father remembered the child was left in the backseat about an hour later, according to the release, and he rushed out to get her. When he opened the car, he found the baby unresponsive. He started CPR and called 911, according to the release. The child was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead. No charges have been determined and the incident remains under investigation, according to the news release. Always check your vehicle when you exit it to ensure no one is inside, the sheriffs office said in response to the incident. The temperature inside the car can quickly rise about 100 degrees. Tuesdays high temperature in Jacksonville was 89 degrees. At least 29 children have died inside hot cars this year, according to Kids and Car Safety. Anyone with information is asked to contact the First Coast Crime Stoppers or Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at 904-630-0500. Kitten found on porch turns out to be rabid and bites Alabama resident, officials say Woman visits man she met online, steals AR-15, Xbox and leaves state, Louisiana cops say One-of-a-kind. 9-year-old, grandpa die when car veers off interstate, SC officials say Parents swarm Texas high school and clash with police after false report of shooting Vladimir Putin addressing Russians on television on Wednesday with the announcement of a partial mobilisation (AP) Last week, important developments pointed to flickering hopes of peace in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Xi Jinping had expressed deep concern about the war, and Narendra Modi publicly criticised the Russian leader over his invasion. China and India, significant economic and military powers, had hitherto avoided condemning Moscow over the conflict and indeed had weakened international sanctions by buying discounted Russian oil. Their change of stance was held up by the West as a highly damaging erosion of support which could drive the Kremlin to accept that a military victory was no longer possible and seek a ceasefire. President Putin was emollient in his response to the strictures at a summit in Uzbekistan, telling Prime Minister Modi that we will do our best to stop this [the war] as soon as possible and address the concerns that you express. He told President Xi that he understood your questions and concerns about the war. On Tuesday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that Putin was seeking an end to the conflict and a significant step was on the horizon to achieve this. The Turkish president said Putin is actually showing me that he's willing to end this as soon as possible ... because the way things are going right now are quite problematic." Twenty-four hours later, Putin had ordered a partial mobilisation of reserves for his special military operation, with defence minister Sergei Shoigu adding that 300,000 Russians with combat experience will now be called up to fight. Putin also used some of the most incendiary language to date since he sent his troops into Ukraine, raising the prospect of nuclear strikes. When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we, of course, will use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people, he said. This is not a bluff ... Those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the prevailing winds can turn in their direction. Story continues Putin and his supporters blame the West for introducing the nuclear card over Ukraine. But the threats of nuclear strikes have all come from hawks in Moscow. The latest was from Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the state-owned broadcaster RT, who said: Judging by what is happening and what is about to happen, this week marks either the threshold of our imminent victory or the threshold of a nuclear war. I cant see any third option. By what is about to happen, Simoyan was talking about the situation on the ground, the sweeping gains made in the current Ukrainian offensive, the Russian reverses which Erdogan has referred to as problematic. The pace of the advance and the crumbling, in places, of Russian lines has caught everyone by surprise, including the Ukrainians. Not only have they taken key Russian military strongholds in the northeast, they have also recaptured settlements in the Donbas. As Putin announced the partial mobilisation, the Kremlin also declared that referenda will be held in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. This will be followed, undoubtedly, by annexation into Russia. But some of the fighting is now near the borders of the separatist republics of Luhansk and Donetsk which have been Russian controlled since the 2014 war. Putin had stated that one key aim of the military operation was taking control of reunifying the parts of the Donbas in Ukrainian hands. Around half of the territory is now held by Moscow, including towns such as Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. But now there is a real possibility that the Ukrainians may not only get those places back but retake land taken by Russia in 2014. It is the type of humiliation that would be unthinkable for Russia. Putin has been backed into a corner. He is lashing out, and another level of uncertainty and danger has been added to the Ukraine war with repercussions for Europe and beyond. PureWow One of the most highly-anticipated films of 2022 was Blondea Netflix drama based on the Joyce Carol Oates novel of the same name, which tells a fictionalized version of Marilyn Monroe's life and stars Ana de Armas (Knives Out) in the lead role. And although the film met a mixed reception (including from PureWow) upon its release, it still managed to sit strong at the number-one spot on Netflix's most-watched movies list from the day it premiered. That was, until a new movie just overtook it. Th After receiving $3.2 million donation, Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, will reinstall a wall work that Keith Haring made there more than 40 years ago. That untitled work, a wall drawing from 1981 featuring five of the artists signature radiant baby figures in a row, will now be permanently on view at the schools Center for Curatorial Studies, which is host to an esteemed graduate program and a museum. More from Robb Report In its announcement, Bard said the works reinstallation was meant to honor a grant of $800,000 made by the Keith Haring Foundation. George Soros and the Marieluise Hessel Foundation supplied matching funds. Tom Eccles, the Center for Curatorial Studiess executive director, said in a phone conversation that the wall drawing had for years resided in the office of an art history professor named Tom Wolf. Haring had been invited to speak at Bard about the ethics of graffiti during the early 80s and unexpectedly drew the image using Magic Marker. With Wolf now set to retire, plans are underway to find a new home for the piece. Tom saved the work, having it cut out of the wall, Eccles told ARTnews. Its been sitting in his office ever since. Were going to restore the part of the wall in which its set and install it in the [CCS] library. The influx of money will also go toward the endowing CSSs Keith Haring Fellowship in Art and Activism in perpetuity; it was originally conceived of as a five-year program. The Egyptian writer Haytham el-Wardany will be the next person to receive that honor. Of the fellowship, Eccles said, It gives an important contextualization for undergraduates and graduates, not only for what activism in art can be, but also how it functions in different types of contexts. Story continues 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. PANAMA CITY A long-awaited roadway improvement project is around the corner for a busy intersection in Bay County. The Bay County Commission on Tuesday approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation and Panama City to realign Star Avenue with U.S. 231 and create a smoother flow of traffic in the area. "That intersection, as we all know, is a mess (with) all those roads coming together and then going through a red light," Commissioner Tommy Hamm said. "I'm glad to see (the project) coming through finally. It takes a long time for this stuff to transpire, and it's just another great use of the sales-tax money." Roundabout: Get a look at the roundabout opening this fall at Bay County airport entrance Construction: Panama City Beach jump starts Back Beach 6-laning with relocation of utilities According to Keith Bryant, chief infrastructure officer of Bay County, it will cost about $2.7 million to design the project and purchase right-of-way. Construction will then be about $12.5 million. Through the agreement approved Tuesday, Bay County and Panama City will both fund $2 million, and the FDOT will cover the rest. Bryant noted the county's portion will be funded by surtaxes. Bay County officials on Tuesday approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation and Panama City to realign Star Avenue with U.S. 231. He also said plans call for Star Avenue to be realigned with U.S. 231 at Titus Road. "The agreement provides for transfer of local match funding for the project to FDOT, and the state will manage the design and construction of the project," Bryant said. Kohen Johns Brannon, a spokesperson for FDOT, said in addition to improving the flow of vehicles, the development also is important because traffic accidents often occur in the area. "We as a department ... are always looking (to improve) safety and reduce the number of crashes at any intersection, and this one especially," Johns Brannon said. "This particular intersection being offset the way it is right now has been something the department has been looking (to fix) for quite a while." Story continues Construction proposals will be accepted toward the end of 2024. Once construction breaks ground, it will take about two years to complete. "I think the general public is going to be really happy to have that realignment done," Johns Brannon said. "It's going to make it safer to get in and out of that intersection, (and drivers) are going to be able to see better. ... It's just going to be better and safer for everyone." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: FDOT agreement to realign Star Avenue approved by Bay County Commission Some of the highest-ranking Catholic clergy in Belgium have snubbed warnings from Pope Francis and the Vatican against straying from Catholic moral teaching on sexuality. Belgian Catholic bishops on Tuesday announced they would begin allowing the blessing of same-sex couples a practice repeatedly condemned by Pope Francis and the rest of the Catholic Church leadership. Cardinal Jozef De Kesel of Mechelen-Brussels, one of the highest-ranking members of the clergy in the country, published his decision to support the change in a Tuesday message titled, "Being pastorally close to homosexual persons For a welcoming Church that excludes no one." Archbishop Jozef De Kesel (R) crosses the forehead of the new Bishop of Gent Lode Van Hecke (L) during his ordination and installation at the Sint-Baafskathedraal cathedral in Gent on Feb. 23, 2020. YORICK JANSENS/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images GERMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS FAIL TO UPDATE TEACHINGS ON SEX AFTER CLASH WITH POPE FRANCIS The cardinal and bishops, by going against the teachings of the Catholic Church and disobeying the direct order of the pope and Magisterium, have driven a firm wedge between themselves and the international church. Clergy and lay Catholics worldwide await an inevitable response from the Vatican, though what sort of action the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and Pope Francis will take is still up in the air. POPE DERIDES BIDEN'S ABORTION VIEWS, CATHOLIC SELF-IDENTITY AS 'INCOHERENCE' Pope Francis has repeatedly ruled against attempts to change the church's teachings on sexuality. In a previous letter on the matter of blessing same-sex couples, Pope Francis and the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith dismissed any further questions on the matter, saying: "This all implies a power that the Church does not possess, because she does not have the power over God's designs, which would otherwise be rejected and denied. The Church is not the arbiter of these designs and the truths they express, but their faithful interpreter and witness." Belgian Cardinal Jozef De Kesel, archbishop of Malines-Brussels and "primate" of the Catholic Church in Belgium, leads a Mass For Peace to express support for the Ukrainian population and to denounce Russian invasion at the end of February, at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St Gudula, in Brussels on March 13, 2022. JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE/Belga/AFP via Getty Images The letter went on to state that blessing those in an illicit relationship even if not a marital blessing would cause confusion for the faithful. "Because of the connection between blessings of persons and the sacraments, the blessing of such unions could in a sense imply a certain imitation or analogue of the nuptial blessing, imparted to a man and a woman united in the sacrament of Matrimony," the letter read. "This would be erroneous and misleading." Story continues Belgium is not the only European battlefield in Pope Francis's fight to keep progressive clergy in line with the Church. After months of controversy, progressive German bishops failed to pass a similar document updating their teachings on sex, gender and masturbation. The document, "Living in Successful Relationships," was narrowly rejected by bishops. The German prelates were pressured heavily by the Vatican to abandon the proposed changes. At the final vote, 33 bishops voted to adopt the document, 22 voted against. The synod requires a two-thirds majority to pass the document. By Steve Holland and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden accused Russia on Wednesday of making "reckless" and "irresponsible" threats to use nuclear weapons and said Moscow had violated the core tenets of United Nations membership by invading Ukraine. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Biden slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for starting an unprovoked war that some 40 U.N. members were helping Ukraine to fight by providing funding and weapons. Earlier on Wednesday, Putin ordered a Russian mobilization to fight in Ukraine and made a thinly veiled threat to use nuclear weapons, in what NATO called a "reckless" act of desperation in the face of a looming Russian defeat. Biden echoed the NATO statement. "Again, just today, President Putin has made overt nuclear threats against Europe, in a reckless disregard for the responsibilities of the nonproliferation regime," Biden said. "A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," he said. Biden said no one had threatened Russia, despite its claims to the contrary, and that only Russia had sought conflict, and he used the U.N. setting to underscore his view that Moscow had violated the body's values. "A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded its neighbor, attempted to erase a sovereign state from the map. Russia has shamelessly violated the core tenets of the United Nations Charter," Biden said. "This war is about extinguishing Ukraine's right to exist as a state, plain and simple, and Ukraine's right to exist as a people. Wherever you are, wherever you live, whatever you believe, that should ... make your blood run cold." Russia's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Biden's remarks. While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in New York for the U.N. gathering, a deputy Russian U.N. ambassador was in the chamber for Biden's speech. Story continues Later on Wednesday, a senior White House official told reporters Putin's announcement "indicates a very pressurized environment in Russia" but said it was too soon to tell how serious anti-mobilization protests in Russia are. Putin has been forced to "resort to something he clearly didnt want to do," the official said, "a reflection of the fact that his campaign in Ukraine is failing." COMPETING FOR INFLUENCE The United States and Western allies are competing with Russia for diplomatic influence. The United States has acknowledged that some countries are concerned the Ukraine war had drawn global attention away from other crises. Washington has also long been vying for sway with Beijing. "Let me be direct about the competition between the United States and China. As we manage shifting geopolitical trends, the United States will conduct itself as a reasonable leader," Biden said. "We do not seek conflict. We do not seek a Cold War. We do not ask any nation to choose between the United States or any other partner," he said. Biden also called out China for suspending bilateral cooperation with the United States on climate talks after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Aug. 2-3 visit to Taiwan. "The United States will work with every nation, including our competitors, to solve global problems like climate change. Climate diplomacy is not a favor to the United States or any other nation and walking away hurts the entire world," he said. Biden announced $2.9 billion in additional U.S. funding to combat global food insecurity, building on $6.9 billion in U.S. funding already committed this year. The United States has strengthened its focus on food supplies since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine worsened a global crisis that was already fueled by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia and Ukraine are major grain and fertilizer exporters and shipments were disrupted by the war. Biden pushed back against Russian complaints that Western sanctions are harming its exports, stressing that U.S. sanctions explicitly allow Russia to export food and fertilizer and that it was "Russia's war that is worsening food insecurity." He also urged countries not to hoard grain while so many people are suffering: "In every country in the world, no matter what else divides us, if parents cannot feed their children, nothing, nothing else matters." The United States has accused China of stockpiling grain. China's grain stocks at the end of the 2021/22 season were estimated by the International Grains Council to be 323.5 million tonnes, more than half the global total of 602.9 million. They dwarf those of the United States, the world's top grain exporter, which were estimated at 57.5 million tonnes. Biden also pushed for the extension of a deal, brokered in July by the United Nations and Turkey, that allowed Ukraine to resume Black Sea food and fertilizer exports. Russia has cast a shadow over whether the initial 120-day deal should continue. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Michelle Nichols; additional reporting by Nandita Bose and Andrea Shalal; writing by Jeff Mason; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool) (Bloomberg) -- The Biden administrations top antitrust enforcers asked Congress for more money to continue their ambitious enforcement strategy, telling a Senate panel that theyre outgunned by the legal power wielded by giant corporations. Most Read from Bloomberg During a Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee oversight hearing on Tuesday, Jonathan Kanter, the assistant attorney general for antitrust, said the Justice Department would litigate more mergers this year than any fiscal year on record and remains committed to bringing difficult cases. Kanters testimony came the day after a federal judge rejected the departments bid to block UnitedHealth Group Inc.s $7.8 billion acquisition of Change Healthcare Inc., dealing a blow to the divisions aggressive agenda. While I am proud of the work we are doing, we lack the resources to fully address these challenges, Kanter said, pointing out that the antitrust division has 350 fewer people today than it did in 1979. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan said in its monopolization case against Meta Platforms Inc., the commission is outgunned one to 10. Read More: UnitedHealth Wins Court Approval for Change Healthcare Deal Khan said vigorous antitrust enforcement is critical to economic growth, adding that that when industries become more consolidated, prices rise, wages fall, and our markets become more fragile and less resilient. She said that the agency has had significant success with at least six mergers being abandoned due to an FTC lawsuit. The abandoned deals include Lockheed Martin Corp.s proposed acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. and Nvidia Corp.s deal to buy Softbank Group Corp.s ARM. Three hospital groups also quit plans to merge as did Great Outdoors Group, the closely-held owner of Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas, which sought to buy Sportsmans Warehouse Holdings Inc. Story continues Khan and Kanter, together with White House adviser Tim Wu, were hailed as the Holy Trinity of a new antitrust movement that advocates for a stronger government hand in addressing market concentration. Their calls to return trust-busting to its more aggressive roots breaking up the steel barons and oil tycoons of the last century have found enthusiastic support from progressives, as well as more populist Republicans who also decry the abuses of corporate power. This attitude has found an especially rich target in technology giants -- both in legislation that seeks to restrict anticompetitive practices in the internet economy and in federal antitrust enforcement. Kanters Justice Department division is suing Alphabet Inc.s Google and investigating Apple Inc., while Khans FTC is suing Meta and investigating Amazon.com Inc. Such cases, however, are challenging after decades of what progressives view as lax enforcement and conservative rulings that built up case law favoring the view that consolidation can benefit consumers with lower prices. Khan and Kanter have indicated that they are prepared to bring aggressive cases -- even if they are hard to win -- to force companies to reconsider mergers and acquisitions that theyll have to defend in court. This year alone, the Justice Department has gone to trial seeking to block four deals, an unusually high number of cases for antitrust prosecutors to be pursuing at the same time. Decisions in three of the cases remain outstanding, and the antitrust division heads to court next week in a fifth suit against American Airlines Group Inc. and JetBlue Airways Corp. over a joint venture between the airlines. The UnitedHealth merger challenge wasnt the Justice Departments only trial loss this year. In June, five chicken industry executives, including the former Pilgrims Pride Corp. chief executive officer, were found not guilty of price-fixing after an unprecedented two mistrials. Following the June trial loss, prosecutors dismissed charges against most other executives, Koch Foods Inc. and Claxton Poultry Farms Inc. Kanter defended his divisions strategy, saying too much is at stake in the US economy. Part of the job that we have before us is to litigate cases and to take risks when its appropriate and necessary to defend the American people, Kanter said. We are not going to back down from bringing meritorious cases and seeing them to conclusions. The FTC and Justice Department are now rewriting federal guidelines on mergers with an eye toward persuading courts to block more deals. Republican senators criticized Khan for what they described as the politicization of the FTC. Mike Lee of Utah, the top Republican on the subcommittee, needled her for being willing to sacrifice actual enforcement for flashy headlines. Getting good press isnt enough, Lee said. What little we have seen from the FTC is legally questionable and ill considered. Republican FTC commissioners Noah Phillips and Christine Wilson submitted a statement disagreeing with parts of the testimony approved by the three Democratic commissioners. Phillips and Wilson said the majority misrepresented the agencys work under Khan and complained about an unfortunate departure from the agencys tradition of working towards bipartisan consensus. Amy Klobuchar, the chair of the Senates antitrust subcommittee, praised Khan and Kanter. She also reinforced the need for new legislation, such as her American Innovation and Choice Online Act, to give the FTC and DOJ new rules and authority to prevent the largest US technology companies from abusing their market dominance. We have many opportunities to create some common sense rules of the road to make sure entrepreneurs and small businesses can compete on a level playing field, and also to give those that appear before us today more tools to do their job in a modern economy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, said at the hearing. However, momentum is slowing for Klobuchars bill, which has advanced further than any US legislative effort to address the market power of some of the worlds richest companies. The Senate only has a handful of weeks and several competing priorities before leaving Washington for Novembers elections. (Updates with Kanter quotes beginning in the 14th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. President Bidens approval rating has reached its highest level since last December in a new poll. The Politico-Morning Consult survey, published on Wednesday, found that 46 percent of all respondents approve of the job Biden is doing as president. Eight-five percent of Democrats surveyed currently approve of the job Biden is doing, while only 10 percent of Republican respondents agree with the sentiment. Thirty-five percent of independents in the survey approve of the job Biden is doing as president. A similar Morning Consult poll in early June showed that 39 percent of respondents approved of the job Biden was doing as president, which marked an all-time low for him. Recently, Biden and his administration have seen a slew of legislative victories, which include the passing of his climate, health care and tax package, his signing of a bipartisan gun safety bill and the announcement of an initiative to cancel student loan debt for millions of Americans. When asked in the new survey about the upcoming midterm elections, 46 percent of registered Democrats said they will vote in November, compared to 41 percent of registered Republicans. The new Politico-Morning Consult poll, which was conducted earlier this month, has a margin of error of 2 percentage points for all respondents and 4 points for party breakdowns. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The leaders of the U.S., Ukraine and Iran addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday as the world faces multiple deepening crises. President Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy both fiercely denounce Russias ongoing invasion as the worst threat to peace and security in a generation. This war is about extinguishing Ukraines right to exist as a state, plain and simple, and Ukraines right to exist as a people, the American president said. Whoever you are... that should make your blood run cold. Bidens speech was part of an effort to maintain Russias isolation on the global stage as the costs of war mount, worries about energy this winter loom and Congress is likely to look more skeptically on spending more on military defense. The president called on all nations, whether democracies or autocracies, to speak out against Russias brutal, needless war and to bolsters Ukraine effort to defend itself. We will stand in solidarity against Russias aggression, period, Biden said. During his time at the U.N. General Assembly, Biden met with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and held his first meeting with new British Prime Minister Liz Truss, during which they discussed Russias war, energy security and China. He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking by video to the U.N. General Assembly meeting of world leaders hours after Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement, Zelenskyy insisted his country would prevail in repelling Russias attack and forcing its troops out. We can return the Ukrainian flag to our entire territory. We can do it with the force of arms, the president said. But we need time. Putin, who is not attending the event, has said he sent his armed forces into Ukraine because of risks to his countrys security from what he considers a hostile government in Kyiv; to liberate Russians living in Ukraine especially its eastern Donbas region from what he views as the Ukrainian governments oppression; and to restore what he considers to be Russias historical territorial claims on the country. Story continues Zelenskyys speech was striking not only for its contents but also for its context. It took place after the extraordinary mobilization announcement. It was the first time he addressed the worlds leaders gathered together since Russia invaded in February. The war in the heart of Europe is front and center for the world body as it has already caused a global spike in food and energy prices, which could, in turn, plunge the world economy into a recession. The invasion has also raised fears of a nuclear disaster as fighting rages near Europes largest nuclear plant near the front lines in partially Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Leaders from scores of other countries are hoping to prevent a wider conflict and prevent the conflict from spreading to other flashpoints in Europe, with some like Turkey positioning themselves as neutral arbiters. But there is little hope for progress towards an end to the hostilities as both sides are determined to make progress on the battlefield before coming to the table with meaningful compromise proposals. Irans President Ebrahim Raisi insisted Wednesday that his country is serious about reviving a deal meant to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear bomb but questioned whether Tehran could trust Americas commitment to any eventual accord. After former President Donald Trump walked away from the deal brokered by the Obama administration in 2018, Tehran steadily abandoned every limitation the accord imposed on its nuclear enrichments, but efforts to salvage the deal are now nearing a take-it-or-leave-it inflection point. In exchange for agreeing to the terms of the new nuclear deal, Iran would receive relief on economic sanctions and be given greater access to global financial markets and the flow of U.S. dollars. There is a great and serious will to resolve all issues in the nuclear talks, Raisi said, but he added: Our wish is only one thing: observance of commitments. Despite the array of seemingly intractable problems, some leaders saw signs of hope as the UNGA returned fully in person as the pandemic eases. For each and every one of us, the U.N. is a unique platform for dialogue and for cooperation, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spoke of his country being an optimistic nation for whom solutions are within our collective grasp. As humanity strives to defend freedom and build lasting peace, the U.N.s role is indispensable, said South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. With News Wire Services President Joe Biden made a strong rebuke of Russias war against Ukraine on Wednesday, telling the United Nations that the country has violated the core tenets of the charter with its aggression. Let us speak plainly: A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded its neighbor and attempted to erase a sovereign state from the map, Biden told the General Assembly, adding that the war was chosen by one man, to be very blunt. Russia has shamelessly violated the core tenets of the United Nations Charter. Biden mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement on Wednesday of a partial mobilization to call up 300,000 reservists in response to Ukrainian forces retaking control of large stretches of territory near Kharkiv. Putin also announced plans to hold referendums to annex Russian-occupied regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, and accused the West of engaging in nuclear blackmail. The reservist announcement has led to Russians rushing to book one-way flights out of the country while they still could. President Joe Biden addresses during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. Headquarters in New York, United States on Sept. 21. (Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) President Joe Biden addresses during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. Headquarters in New York, United States on Sept. 21. (Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The world should see these outrageous acts for what they are. Putin claimed he had to act because Russia was threatened but no one threatened Russia, and no one other than Russia sought conflict, Biden said, adding that Ukraine now faces taxes on schools, railway stations, hospitals, and attacks on centers of Ukrainian history and culture. Biden also mentioned the latest evidence of Russias war crimes: a mass grave discovered earlier this month in the recently liberated northeastern Ukrainian city of Izyum. Investigators found over 440 men, women and children at the grave, their bodies showing signs of torture. Ukrainian authorities said they also found evidence of torture chambers in the Kharkiv region that Russia had occupied. Story continues This war is about extinguishing Ukraines right to exist as a state, plain and simple, and Ukraines right to exist as a people, Biden told the U.N. Wherever you are, wherever you live, whatever you believe that should make your blood run cold. Because if nations can pursue their imperial ambitions without consequences, then we put at risk everything this very institution stands for. In his remarks, Biden announced that the United States would provide $2.9 billion to support strengthening global food security, which he said is at risk due to the climate crisis, the pandemic and the consequences of Russias invasion. According to the president, about 193 million people around the world experience acute food insecurity an increase of 40 million from last year. Russia, in the meantime, is pumping out lies trying to pin the blame for the food crisis on the sanctions imposed by many in the world for the aggression against Ukraine, Biden said. So let me be perfectly clear about something: Our sanctions explicitly allow Russia the ability to export food and fertilizer, no limitation. Its Russias war thats worsening food insecurity, and only Russia can end it. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... President Joe Biden has told the UN General Assembly that Russian President Vladimir Putin is making overt nuclear threats against Europe. Mr Biden said the war was chosen by one man, to be very blunt. President Putin has made overt nuclear threats against Europe, and a reckless disregard for the responsibilities of a non-proliferation regime. Now Russia is calling up more soldiers to join the fight, and the Kremlin is organizing a sham referendum, Mr Biden said. Mr Biden accused Russia of crossing the UN charter. Let us speak plainly. A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded its neighbour, he said. This war is about extinguishing Ukraines right to exist, he said. A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, he added. Mr Biden argued that the post-World War II order will fall if nations can pursue their imperial ambitions without consequences. We will stand in solidarity to Russias aggression, he added. More follows... A new bill hoping to end the deportation of noncitizens convicted of certain crimes was introduced on Tuesday. The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act would allow judges to grant relief to those with prior convictions who are also facing deportation. About 15,000 Southeast Asians in the U.S. have final removal orders, according to the Southeast Asian Freedom Network, a coalition of grassroots organizations that supports people facing deportation to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. These community members have already served their time and rebuilt their lives only to now face threats of deportation to countries they fled as children, the group wrote on Facebook during a livestream of the bills introduction on Tuesday. We call on Congress to stop this cruel and inhumane punishment and support #SEARR. More from NextShark: COVID locked-down Xi'an sees tragedies, food complications mount In 1996, the Illegal Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton. The law had a disproportionate impact on Southeast Asian immigrant communities that lived in low-income and high-crime neighborhoods. It also expanded the list of offenses a noncitizen could be deported for, according to the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), one of the new bills sponsors. More from NextShark: Father in China begs police to arrest him because his daughter couldn't solve a math problem 68% of legal permanent residents who are deported are deported for minor, non-violent crimes, the nonprofit organization wrote in 2018, citing a study by the Immigration Policy Center. Deportation places unbearable burdens on families, who may lose a spouse, parent, caretaker, or child. If passed, the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act would limit the Department of Homeland Securitys control over the deportation of people from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos who came to the U.S. before 2008. It would also give permanent authorization of employment for individuals who have a final order of removal. Furthermore, the bill would end in-person Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency check-ins. Story continues More from NextShark: NYC Mayor Turns His Back on Chinatown Bakery Manager Pleading for Help in Video Ke, a refugee from Vietnam, is just one of many who have shared their stories with SEARAC and what would happen to him and his family if he were to be deported. I made a terrible choice when I was a kid, I can never take back what Ive done, Ke said in an anti-deportation PSA for SEARAC, with Hmong subtitles. My goal is to save our community, to heal our community. Legislators and advocates also took to Twitter to express support for members of the Southeast Asian community who face deportations. We should not be deporting vulnerable community members to countries where their basic human rights & safety are threatened, wrote Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D, MA-7). We should not be deporting vulnerable community members to countries where their basic human rights & safety are threatened. Proud to join @RepLowenthal & partners on the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. This is about immigrant justice & keeping our promises to community. https://t.co/HlgVOA9uZv Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) September 20, 2022 #SEADRA is a bill that will prevent the unfair and cruel deportations of Southeast Asian refugees, ensure access to work permits, and end ICE check ins, wrote the Asian American Legal Twitter account. In short, it keeps families together. Tell Congress we need the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. #SEADRA is a bill that will prevent the unfair and cruel deportations of Southeast Asian refugees, ensure access to work permits, and end ICE check ins. In short, it keeps families together. Tell Congress we need the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. https://t.co/BlkpoKAlpR pic.twitter.com/spS95dDRVk (@aaldef) September 20, 2022 Featured Image via seafnofficial Arriving seven weeks later than in 2021, Black Womens Equal Pay Day 2022 indicates Black women make $.58 to every dollar made by their white male counterparts. Amid an ongoing pandemic and tremendous losses in employment that disproportionately impacted Black women, Black Womens Equal Pay Day arrived on Aug. 3 in 2021. It marked the date in a successive year a Black woman would have to work to earn the annual equivalent made by a non-Hispanic white man and noting that Black women make, on average, $.63 on that dollar annually. This year, the date is seven weeks later and the deficit has increased. Black women are currently making $.58 on the dollar, and while the disparity exists across sectors, lower- to middle-income women remain the most vulnerable. To better understand the increased disparity, the persistent obstacles Black women are facing and the ongoing fight for equal pay, theGrio spoke with Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, and Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage and director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley. Black women are currently making $.58 on the dollar (compared with non-Hispanic white men), and while the disparity exists across sectors, lower- to middle-income women remain the most vulnerable. (Photo: AdobeStock) Black womens Equal Pay Day this year is based on comparing all Black women workers to all white, non-Hispanic men workers. This is a change from earlier years when we focused on full-time, year-round workers only and thats what is primarily driving the change in the date, said Frye. We and other groups working on equal pay made this shift, which is led by women-of-color-led organizations, in order to be more inclusive of all workers. For example, by shifting to include all workers, instead of limiting to full-time, year-round workers, we included 33 million more women workers in the wage gap calculation. Refining the data is crucial in addressing wage inequality, particularly when considering race, gender and other factors, Frye said. It is critical to take concrete steps to strengthen enforcement against pay discrimination and collect better quality data about pay practices to ensure that Black women across the workforce are paid fairly. Story continues Continued Frye, Its essential and long overdue to focus on women who are less well-paid by raising the minimum wage and eliminating the subminimum wages for tipped and disabled workers, ensuring equitable access to paid family and medical leave; high-quality, affordable child care and other essential caregiving supports, and improving access to higher education though wage gaps still exist at all education levels. In tandem with Black Womens Equal Pay Day 2022, One Fair Wage published Intentional Inequality (pdf), a report on the pay gap for Black women in the restaurant industry one of the largest employers of women generally and Black women, in particular, Jayaraman noted. As theGrios Michael Harriot previously explained, the restaurant industrys notoriously low wages the lowest of any American industry dates to Emancipation and a post-chattel slavery model intended to undermine the earning power of newly freed Black women (and men) by forcing them to rely on tips as their sole income in place of a livable wage. With the practice persisting well over a century later, inevitably conditions worsened for women of color during the pandemic, said Jayaraman. [F]or example, Black women workers in our report were more than twice as likely to report that their tips are now so low that theyre not even earning their states minimum wage, she added. Black women restaurant workers reported that their tips went down far more than other workers particularly when they tried to enforce COVID protocols on customers, for which they were retaliated against much more than other workers. With the largest pay gap compared with other industries and one that overwhelmingly employs women (two-thirds of its workforce, according to One Fair Wages data) the restaurant industry in continuing its resistance to ensuring a livable minimum wage further enforces the gender wage gap. As Jayaraman noted, it also ensures that Black women remain vulnerable to their customers biases, even when they provide perfect service, another driver of the wage gap. As NPWF found in new research, this dynamic termed occupational segregation is an issue midterm voters should consider when heading to the polls in November. [I]ts critical that everyone turn out to vote. Thats how we exercise our power and invest in the health of our democracy, said Frye. Its also essential that people know where the candidates stand on the issues that are essential to women. Fair pay is one of many issues critical to womens well-being and economic security, but its not alone. Paid leave and other caregiving supports are also on the agenda, as are womens fundamental rights and access to abortion care. Doing your research and making an informed choice and then acting on that choice is more important than ever. Everyone should be asking candidates where they stand on equal pay laws, including and especially letting candidates know that voters will support candidates who pledge to raise the minimum wage and end the subminimum wage for tipped workers, added Jayaraman. Frye holds out hope that the confirmation of employment attorney Kalpana Kotagal to lead the countrys Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will result in the data we need to identify when people are facing discrimination and the power to fight back against it. However, she also noted that when considering the impact of policymaking, equal pay for Black women is unfortunately not an issue prioritized or specifically mitigated by the passage of the 2021 infrastructure bill, meaning further and persistent action is essential. Our analysis shows that if the status quo persists, Black women will get less than 4% of the new jobs created and will miss out on 18,100 infrastructure jobs annually, said Frye. We need to make sure Black women can access these jobs which are typically higher paying and have better benefits While fair pay impacts people individually, its truly a systemic issue and Black women are doubly harmed by the impact of racism and sexism. Maiysha Kai is theGrios lifestyle editor, covering all things Black and beautiful. Her work is informed by two decades experience in fashion and entertainment, great books and aesthetics, and the brilliance of Black culture. She is also the editor-author of Body (Words of Change series). TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post Its Black Womens Equal Pay Day, and it still takes 263 extra days to catch up appeared first on TheGrio. WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 21: U.S. Park Service employees remove graffiti on the Washington Monument on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Overnight, a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint onto the the base of the Monument. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) A Bloomington man was arrested after the Washington Monument was vandalized with red paint Tuesday evening, according to the U.S. Park Police. Shaun Ray Deaton., 44, of Bloomington, Indiana, man allegedly used paint to vandalize the outside base of the 555-foot-tall marble monument located in Washington's National Mall around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, U.S. Park Police public information officer Sgt. Thomas Twiname told USA TODAY. The National Park Services conservators have begun the process to restore the monument, Twiname said Wednesday. More: Wanted Indiana man arrested after hourslong search of city's sewer system The National Park Service began the restoration process for the monument "at first light," the service tweeted Wednesday morning. "The top layer of paint is coming off and the pigment that seeped into the stone will be treated with many rounds of cleaning product application," the NPS tweeted alongside pictures of a crew cleaning the monument. The NPS added: "A week of sunlight will also help return the monument to its usual impressive state. Thanks to our expert team for their hard work." The area around the monuments base was temporarily closed, the U.S. Park Police tweeted Tuesday night. The restoration process was not expected to impact Wednesday visitation for the monument, Twiname said. WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 21: A U.S. Park Service employees remove graffiti on the Washington Monument on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Overnight, a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint onto the the base of the Monument. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bloomington man arrested for vandalizing Washington Monument An inmate with a history of assault is now accused of attacking a caseworker and threatening to have staffers at a jail in Boston killed. Ahmad Maiden, 43, was arraigned Wednesday in Boston Municipal Court on charges including assault and battery on a correctional facility employee, disturbing a correctional institution, and threats, according to the Suffolk District Attorneys Office. Maiden was meeting with a caseworker in a room at the Nashua Street Jail on Sept. 15 when he allegedly started punching the woman in her face and head. Correctional officers and another inmate quickly separated Maiden from the victim, who then taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment. Maiden also allegedly threatened to have the officers killed as they worked to restrain him. The DAs office noted that Maiden is in jail awaiting trial on several cases, including an Aug. 2 incident in which he punched a correctional officer at the jail, and a 2021 case involving an attack on a family member. Maiden has since been transferred to the Essex County Sheriffs Department. He is due back in court on Oct. 5 to face the new charges. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW School officials at a Boston suburb public high school informed faculty that political items such as Black Lives Matter and gay pride flags are banned from classrooms. "We need to avoid placing items in the classroom that can cause disruption or distraction," Stoughton High Principal Julliette Miller wrote in an email to staff last week, according to The Boston Globe. "We are an inclusive environment and want to maintain that inclusivity." Officials at Stoughton High, located about 22 miles from Boston, announced the rule at a faculty meeting last Wednesday, according to an anonymous employee of the school who spoke to The Boston Globe. The anonymous employee voiced disappointment with the directive, arguing that displaying gay pride flags or BLM flags are not political in nature. MARYLAND SCHOOL BOARD TO ADOPT NEW FLAG POLICY AFTER TEACHERS BULLIED INTO SUPPORTING LGBTQ PRIDE FLAG "Pride flags help LGBTQIA+ students feel safe and welcomed in school. Taking down Pride flags could hurt students well-being and make them feel like they have nowhere to run," the faculty member said. "Having a rainbow or BLM flag in our rooms isnt pushing your beliefs on someone or displaying any political views. It is just saying, Hey, youre welcome here, and we support you." In addition to pride and BLM flags, pro-police thin blue line flags are also banned from being displayed, according to the outlet. The unnamed faculty member said that staff were also told not to "say the words DEI: Diversity, Equity Inclusion" because it is "politically charged," according to The Boston Globe. CALIFORNIA TEACHER BOASTS NOT HAVING AMERICAN FLAG, TELLS STUDENTS TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO GAY PRIDE FLAG Superintendent Thomas Raab said in comment to the outlet that there is no official rule banning faculty from discussing DEI initiatives. "We simply wanted them to be aware of the sensitivity of these topics," he said. Raab added in comment to Fox News Digital that he is "committed to diversity, equity and inclusion" and wants all students at the district "to know that they are supported and welcomed in school." Story continues "Over the last couple of years, teachers have been asked to remove potentially controversial items from their classrooms. This is part of a consistent effort by the district to limit potential disruptions to students learning so that our students and faculty can focus on educational lessons inside the classroom," he wrote in an email Tuesday. Principal Miller added in her email to staff last week, following the faculty meeting, that the schools directive is intended to create a welcoming environment for all students. She continued that the school district purchased LGBTQIA+ ally stickers for doorways of all classrooms that will be distributed once they are delivered. Raab told Fox News Digital Tuesday that the ally stickers had been placed "at the entrances to our high school classrooms" as of Tuesday and the stickers will also be added to the district's middle school classrooms. Raab did not immediately respond to a question inquiring why ally stickers do not fall under the same category of political items as pride flags. "Lessons and conversations around complex topics are an important part of the education our students receive, and I believe they can and should be addressed within the structured framework of age-appropriate lessons," Raab continued in his Tuesday statement. WISCONSIN SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO BAN PRIDE, BLM FLAGS FROM CLASSROOMS A woman holds a Black Lives Matter flag during an event in remembrance of George Floyd and to call for justice for those who lost loved ones to the police violence outside the Minnesota State Capitol on May 24, 2021, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Kerem Yucel / AFP via Getty Images Stoughton High joins a growing list of schools across the country that have made similar moves, including in Wisconsin last month. The Kettle Moraine School Board in Wisconsin voted in favor of a policy in August to ban gay pride flags, BLM flags and "We Back the Badge" signs from classrooms due to their political messaging. Brad Pitt is taking a more serious foray into the visual art world. Nine sculptures by the Bullet Train star are now on display as part of a group exhibition led by British artist Thomas Houseago in Finland, reports CNN. This news shouldnt come as too much of a surprise. Pitt has frequently waxed poetic about his love of design and has particularly taken to sculpture and ceramics in recent years. The actor enthusiastically proclaimed his love of The Great Pottery Throw Down during a Bullet Train press tour and reportedly installed a home sculpture studio in which he and his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood costar Leonardo DiCaprio allegedly made pottery together. Photo: Jussi Koivunen Pitt previously discussed his sculpture obsession following his divorce from Angelina Jolie in a GQ profile. The A-lister said he logged many hours experimenting at Houseagos art studio. I'm making everything. I'm working with clay, plaster, rebar, wood. Just trying to learn the materials, he told the magazine in 2017. I find vernacular in what you can make, rather than giving a speech. I find voice there, that I need. In the apparent culmination of the time that the Ad Astra actor spent at Houseagos studio, Pitt is making his formal artistic debut at the Sara Hilden Art Museum in Tampere, Finland. The exhibition is titled We, and also includes pieces by Houseago and Australian musician Nick Cave. For me its about self reflection... It was born out of ownership over what I call a radical inventory of the self. And getting really brutally honest with me and taking account of those I may have hurt and the moments Ive just gotten wrong, the actor-turned-artist said of his work at the opening of the exhibition. Among Pitts displayed works are two house-shaped sculptures. One, made of silicon, is studded with bullets. The other, reportedly the first sculpture that he ever completed back in 2017, is called House A Go Go" and is made up of tree bark and tape. Story continues The exhibition will be on view until January 15, 2023. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Stories From AD Cars drive over the Poe Avenue bridge in Spring Lake on Monday, March 28, 2022. SPRING LAKE Former Spring Lake Finance Director Gay Cameron Tucker pleaded guilty on Wednesday to embezzling more than $500,000 from the town, the office of United States Attorney Michael Easley announced. A news release says Tucker pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of embezzlement from a local government receiving federal funds, and one count of aggravated identity theft. She could be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison, it says. A sentencing date was not immediately available. Tucker, 64, of Fayetteville, wrote checks from the Towns bank accounts for her personal use, forging the signatures of other town officials, including the mayor and town manager. These forged checks were made payable to herself, used to cover her personal expenses, and deposited into bank accounts she controlled, the news release says. Tuckers lawyer could not be reached for comment on Wednesday afternoon. More:Former Spring Lake finance director charged with embezzling more than $500K from the town More:NC auditor's report on Spring Lake: Evidence of financial wrongdoing, including embezzlement More:What happened to the money? Records reveal details of Spring Lake financial investigation The conviction could lead to further consequences for her. State Treasurer Dale Folwell on Wednesday said his office is seeking to make Tucker forfeit the years of government service she accrued while committing her crimes. That would reduce her pension. Tuckers thefts occurred from 2016 to 2021, the news release says. In that time, Tucker was an accounting technician and toward the end was promoted to finance director. She had control of the towns bank accounts and hid her transactions by keeping them out of the towns financial books, State Auditor Beth Wood said on Wednesday. The thefts went unnoticed for so long because no one was checking the bank records against the towns financial books, Wood said, and the town was not conducting routine audits. Story continues But eventually, someone noticed something amiss, and Woods staff auditors stepped in. In March, a report from Woods office said Tucker wrote checks to herself; that she deposited town money into her personal banking account at a credit union; and that she used more than $113,000 in town money to pay for her husbands care at Heritage Place Senior Living. Tuckers malfeasance was one of a number of problems that the Auditors Office found with town officials handling of finances and town property. For example, records indicate the town lost track of several dozen town vehicles. Also, town employees made more than 600 credit card purchases totaling nearly $103,000 that lacked sufficient documentation to show whether they were for town business. Woods office contacted law enforcement with the findings, and Tucker was indicted in June by a federal grand jury. As a result of the mismanagement, Spring Lakes finances are now under strict supervision from the North Carolina Local Government Commission. This board and agency work to keep city, town and county governments from getting into financial difficulty. Its the closing of a chapter, Spring Lake Mayor Kia Anthony said on Wednesday afternoon shortly after she learned that Tucker pleaded guilty. Its about time that the citizens of Spring Lake receive some closure. And although we cant recover the funds that were taken from us, its good to see that justice is going to be served. Anthony, who was elected last year after many of the town troubles were made public, said Spring Lake is making progress in getting its finances in order. She said the town will begin interviews for a new town manager next week to replace the interim manager, and then it will hire a new finance director. More:Can Spring Lake solve its financial problems? Mayor says new procedures are helping The offices of State Auditor Wood and State Treasurer Folwell have been pressuring the Board of Aldermen to resolve Spring Lakes problems. Wood serves on the Local Government Commission and Folwell is its chairman, and the commission staff is part of the Treasurers Office. I am sad that this has happened to this person, I am sad that the town has suffered this loss, Wood said. But I am job-satisfied that my staff did a great job figuring this out and catching the right people to go through our legal system. And hopefully, it will be a deterrent to anybody else thats thinking about or is in the process of doing this. Folwell has been especially critical of Spring Lake. He was glad to see the case reaching a resolution. What Im satisfied mostly about, given the tragedy of this, is that it may restore confidence that people have in government, Folwell said. The conviction was the result of the joint efforts of his office, Woods office and the U.S. Attorney's Office, he said. Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at 910-261-4710 and pwoolverton@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Spring Lakes former finance director pleads guilty to embezzlement LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's health minister on Thursday pledged to cut waiting times for doctors' appointments and launched a fund to support social care, in a plan that drew criticism for not doing enough to solve a staffing crisis in the National Health Service (NHS). Britain's state-funded NHS, which has provided healthcare free at the point of use since 1948, has seen the COVID-19 pandemic increase demand from patients and create backlogs for elective care while facing its worst ever staffing crisis with thousands of vacancies. Record numbers have been waiting to start routine treatment, ambulance response times have ballooned while face-to-face appointments with general practitioner (GP) doctors are hard to come by as staffing problems hinder the health service. "We expect backlogs to rise before they fall as more patients come forward for diagnosis and treatment after the pandemic," Health Secretary Therese Coffey told lawmakers. In her first major statement in the role, Coffey said that she would make changes to take the burden off GPs, by providing more services through pharmacies and changing staffing rules, with the aim that anyone who needs to see a GP should be able to within two weeks. Coffey said her A, B, C and D of priorities were ambulances, backlogs, care and doctors and dentists. She said that improving how quickly patients were discharged could help free up beds in hospitals and reduce ambulance delays, and launched a 500 million pound ($564 million) fund to help get people out of hospital and into adult social care. She also said that the million volunteers who stepped forward during the pandemic should do so again, but lawmakers were sceptical of the plan. Conservative Jeremy Hunt, a former health minister, said "it's not more targets the NHS needs, it's more doctors," and the opposition Labour Party also said the staffing crisis needed to be solved. "There is still no plan that comes close to meeting the scale of the challenge," Labour health spokesman Wes Streeting said. ($1 = 0.8860 pounds) (Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by William Maclean and Jonathan Oatis) SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria inched closer on Wednesday to buying a second batch of eight new F-16 aircraft and related equipment from the United States in a deal valued at $1.30 billion, interim Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said. The European Union and NATO member country, which had ordered eight Lockheed Martin F-16 jets in 2019, is seeking to replace its ageing Russian MiG-29 fighter jets and improve its compliance to NATO standards. "Acquiring new aircraft is extremely important for the Bulgarian air force. We have old Soviet aircraft, which we cannot maintain because of the problems that occurred following the conflict in Ukraine," Stoyanov told reporters. The interim government has approved the project to acquire eight new F-16, Stoyanov said. The deal needs to be approved by the parliament, which will be convened after the Oct. 2 general elections. The U.S. in April approved the potential sale. "The new package includes capabilities for strikes air to surface and air to air, meaning we will have one fully-fledged squadron of 16 aircraft," Stoyanov said. The Black Sea country is currently holding talks with Poland for the purchase of eight engines to keep its MiG fleet operational until the end of 2023, Stoyanov said. With the first F-16 jets expected to be delivered to Bulgaria in 2025, the country is looking to lease other military aircraft to cover the expected gap and protect the country's airspace. Bulgaria has already sent requests to the United States, Israel, the Netherlands, France and Sweden for the lease of military aircraft that can be used for air-policing activities. (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi) A former California DMV employee in the San Joaquin Valley pleaded guilty to producing illegal truck drivers licenses. Ulises Pena, who used to work at a Department of Motor Vehicle location in Bakersfield, accepted bribes in exchange for illegal California commercial drivers licenses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced Monday. According to court records, Pena, 39, was responsible for processing drivers license applications. He then started accepting money to alter written test scores to pass students from a truck driving school in Bakersfield. The scheme between Pena and co-defendant Bikramjit Singh Pannu for the Skyway Truck Driving School in Bakersfield lasted from approximately January 2015 through August 2016. Court documents stated Pena improperly accessed the students DMV records and altered them to show that the students had passed the tests when that was not true. His alterations caused the fraudulent issuance of CDLs to the unqualified students. Penas guilty plea included cooperating with the U.S. government in its ongoing case against Pannu, whose charges are pending. Pannu and Pena were both arrested in March 2018 following a 13-count indictment by a federal grand jury, charged then with criminal conspiracy, one count each of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, five counts of unlawful production of an identification document and five counts of unlawful transfer of an identification document. With Pena now having pleaded guilty, he is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba on Dec. 12, 2022. Pena faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A man was shot and killed in a road rage incident in San Lorenzo, California, while he was on a video call with his wife. Rienhart Asuncion, 30, was chatting with his wife Princess on Facetime while driving his Toyota Tacoma pickup when he got into an altercation with several people in another car at an East Bay intersection at about 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 18. According to Princess, who resides in the Philippines, someone had cut into her husbands lane. The dispute reportedly led to a chase that ended at the intersection of Lewelling Boulevard and Hesperian Boulevard. When Asuncion got out of his vehicle to approach the other car, he was shot dead. I tried to stop him, I shouted at him dont go out from your car, instead stay inside the car. He left me on the phone. The screen camera is open, I heard a lot, several times of gunshots and thats it. He didnt come back, the only one who came is the sheriff, Princess told ABC7. More from NextShark: Singapore Airlines' most luxurious first-class suites are now available from the US take a look inside UPDATE: They got married in the Philippines just 4 months ago. Now, the newlywed is newly widowed, after he was shot dead during a road-rage incident in San Lorenzo - which she heard unfold while they were on a video chat. @ACSOSheriffs on the case. 4,5:15,6,7:30 p.m. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/xnfaygbAzn Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) September 19, 2022 More from NextShark: Orange County NAACP president resigns citing alleged anti-Asian racism Asuncion worked as an installer at Tesla in Fremont. He married Princess in May in the Philippines after being in a long-distance relationship of more than two years. The couple had just completed their paperwork for Princess to live in America. Story continues I cant sleep here because every time I try to sleep, every time I close my eyes, I can hear a lot of gunshots, Princess said. The hardest part is that Im here in the Philippines and I can't do anything. The incident is currently under investigation. Authorities are actively searching for the suspects. No arrests have been made, and no suspect information has been released. More from NextShark: Indian parents sue their son demanding he either give them a grandchild or pay $675,000 compensation Lt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said the shooting was a reminder to not engage with angry drivers or passengers. If you are involved in an escalating road-rage type incident, take steps to get away from the situation, Kelly told East Bay Times. Take an exit, make a turn or go to another safer place where you are less likely to be harmed. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by Asuncions family and friends to help raise money for his funeral. More from NextShark: Brands drop former EXO member Kris Wu after allegations of sexual misconduct Rienheart was always selfless, compassionate and loving to his friends and family and touched the lives of those around him, the fundraisers description reads. We are all devastated by Rienhearts loss. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Alameda County Sheriffs investigators at 510-667-7721. Featured Image via @henrykleeKTVU Canada to Drop COVID-19 Vaccine Border Policy OTTAWA (CTV Network) The federal government plans to drop its COVID-19 vaccine border requirements by the end of September and make the ArriveCan application optional, sources confirmed to CTV News. The government is expected to make this policy change by the end of the month, and the sources indicated the Liberals would also end the outstanding random COVID-19 testing for travelers. The federal government said in late June that existing border restrictions, including showing proof of vaccination to enter the country, would remain in place until at least September 30. The latest news suggests the federal government may simply choose not to extend these measures any further. Also in June, the government began allowing unvaccinated Canadians to board planes and trains heading to either domestic or international locations, but they were still required to follow the current testing and quarantine requirements upon re-entry from international destinations. As of that last update to COVID-19 border rules, foreign nationals coming to Canada were still required to be vaccinated in order to enter. It was not immediately clear exactly which vaccination-related rules will change come the end of the month, with an announcement expected in the days ahead. It is also unclear whether the United States will follow suit with Canada. Non-U.S. citizens traveling to the country are still required to be fully vaccinated. And with the Toronto Blue Jays vying for a spot in the post-season, they could face teams with unvaccinated players who couldn't visit the city due to existing restrictions. The move comes after calls from some in the aviation industry and opposition MPs for the government to drop its outstanding COVID-19 border rules and scrap the ArriveCan app completely. Appearing on CTVs Power Play on Tuesday, Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault declined to comment on the changes specifically but said as tourism minister, he is interested in ensuring the border is as unsticky as it possibly can be. Story continues What I can say (is) that my colleagues and I are going to make sure that we do the right thing to boost the economy but also keep Canadians safe and make sure that were moving on in this post-acute COVID phase, he said. Conservative MP Michael Barrett, also appearing on CTVs Power Play on Tuesday, said it is high time that they scrap the app. Certainly, we support this because its based in science and border communities have been crying for this, he said. Our tourism sector has been hurting bad. Appearing alongside Barrett on Power Play, NDP MP Rachel Blaney said people need to be kept as safe as possible. But as things get better, I think we all have to do our best to make sure that were as welcoming as we possibly can, but we need to do that cautiously, she said. But around the ArriveCan app, Ive just heard so many horror stories, so really hopeful to see that dealt with in a meaningful way. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. By Ismail Shakil OTTAWA (Reuters) -Preliminary tests found no signs of external trauma that could have caused the death of a mass stabbing suspect who died in police custody after one of Canada's deadliest mass violence incidents earlier in September, a coroner said on Wednesday. Myles Sanderson, 30, and older brother Damien Sanderson, 31, were suspected of killing 10 people and wounding 18 others in a stabbing rampage in the James Smith Cree reserve and nearby village of Weldon in Canada's Saskatchewan province earlier this month. Myles was caught after an intense four-day manhunt and subsequently died in police custody, clouding prospects of investigators ever clearly determining the motive for the deadly attacks. Damien was found dead earlier. "The preliminary results of the autopsy for Myles Sanderson has found no blunt force trauma causing his death," Saskatchewan's chief coroner Clive Weighill told reporters. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), citing an unnamed senior government official, reported late Wednesday that Myles died after consuming pills just before his arrest. The Canadian government directed questions about the CBC report to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Saskatchewan, which did not immediate respond to a request for comment. Weighill said officials were still waiting for other test results, including toxicology and neuro pathology reports, before determining the cause of Myles' death. It could take three to fourth more months to get those results, he said. "This is very, very preliminary, but that's the best I can give you right now," Weighill said. Weighill was speaking to reporters after announcing a public inquest, where a jury would hear all available evidence behind the cause of deaths in the incident. The inquest, which cannot be held until the investigation is complete, is expected in late spring or early summer of next year. Police has said Myles "went into medical distress" after he was detained, despite the efforts of emergency personnel on the scene. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Richard Pullin) Four distinct attacks have been launched against Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic legislators in the past couple of weeks. 1 The Scream: If you watch Chicago TV, you likely saw a striking TV ad called The Scream. The ad featured surveillance camera video of a white woman being mugged in broad daylight by three men in hoodies while she screams. Its a jarring spot, to say the least. The ad was paid for by Dan Profts People Who Play by the Rules PAC, which is backing Darren Bailey for governor. The ad stirred plenty of controversy, and an attorney for the victim eventually objected to her attack being used in a campaign ad. Shes trying to heal, lawyer Tom Leinenweber told me, and the Scream ad isnt helping. Most Chicago stations had pulled down the ad by weeks end after viewers complained, but the damage was done. 2 Trespassing: Republicans have claimed that the SAFE-T Act has essentially decriminalized trespassing. Darren Bailey said on Facebook that police officers could only write a warning They cannot forcefully remove these people. Congressional candidate and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau went massively viral on TikTok and Twitter with a claim that, Someone could decide to live in your shed and all we could do is give them a ticket. Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley recently told ABC7 that come Jan. 1, his deputies wont be able to arrest anyone for trespassing. SAFE-T Act proponents have called this argument a lie. And the Illinois Supreme Courts Implementation Task Force decreed of the new statute: Law enforcement do have discretion to remove the person from the location of the alleged criminal activity, and then cite and release the person from another location. 3 The meme and the newspapers: An internet meme about the SAFE-T Act has been widely shared across all social media platforms. The graphic was produced by WFCN News, which, despite the use of authentic-looking call letters, is not a broadcast station but a website with a distinct attitude. Its also been used by publications designed to look like newspapers that have been linked to Dan Proft. Story continues The meme and the Proft papers list several non-detainable offenses beginning January 1, 2023, including 2nd degree murder, kidnapping, threatening a public official, drug-induced homicide, burglary etc. SAFE-T Act proponents and the governor have repeatedly said that the laws abolishment of cash bail would mainly benefit non-violent offenders. While they are not actually non-detainable, those crimes would indeed qualify an accused person for release, as long as the person isnt a flight risk or if the accused is on release for another alleged crime, or is on probation or parole. Second degree murder was added to the list because in the year prior to the SAFE-T Acts passage nobody was initially charged with the crime in Cook County. Its almost always used as a fallback position for plea deals. And burglary, according to a proponent of the new law, is most often a charge used on the homeless who are sheltering in abandoned buildings, and those folks end up languishing in jail because they cannot make bail. Some states attorneys and sheriffs also claim they will have no choice but to release people from their jails when the law takes effect Jan. 1, but SAFE-T Act proponents say local authorities can make a case to a judge that it would be unsafe to release the accused. 4 Migrants: As with previous influxes of asylum-seekers, the state, Chicago and Cook County are using hotels for temporary housing, including in the suburbs. Fox News has (reported) about the migrants for months, and some worry that theyre bringing guns and Fentanyl with them. Two suburban mayors have complained that hotels in their towns are being used to house the migrants and local TV news eagerly lapped up the story. One of those mayors, Craig Johnson of Elk Grove Village, demanded to know whether the migrants had been searched for guns, according to the governors office. Individual Democrats and activists have tried to push back on all of this, but theyre swimming up Niagara Falls. The governor didnt help matters by admitting last week that the SAFE-T Act may need to be tweaked and then wouldnt say what he wanted changed. The Democrats say that crime isnt moving any needles in their campaigns. But the Pritzker campaign finally launched a new TV ad on Sept. 16, which attacks Baileys legislative voting record on crime. Its a start. Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Rich Miller Capitol Fax Pritzker Democrats SAFE-T Act Joe Haden will finish where he started. A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback for seven seasons with Cleveland, Haden will sign a one-day contract with the Browns so he can retire as a member of the team that drafted him in the first round in 2007. The Browns will honor the 33-year-old Haden at a game later this season. Haden was a productive and popular player during his time in Cleveland. He made 81 starts, played in 90 games and made 19 interceptions before the Browns released him before the 2017 season. After he was cut by the Browns, Haden quickly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and played in 68 games for Clevelands biggest rival. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 15-year-old boy killed a year ago honored during basketball tournament Male hospitalized after being shot, crashing car into house in Pittsburghs Knoxville neighborhood Florida cruise line offers free trips to military, educators and first responders VIDEO: Volunteers thank first responders in Pittsburgh area by delivering meals on 9/11 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Kentucky State Police said they believe a call about a possible shooting in Anderson County Tuesday evening is actually a case of swatting, and officers have cleared the area. State police said they are investigating the incident, which was reported just before 5 p.m. in the Salt River Road area, which is just south of Lawrenceburg. Swatting refers to a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to draw a large presence of armed police officers to a residence, potentially putting officers and citizens in danger, state police said in a news release. In Kentucky, it is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, state police said. State police asked anyone with any information to call the Frankfort post at 502-227-2221. KIRO Students aboard bus 678 in the Clover Park School District experienced a chaotic ride to school Wednesday morning. I was screaming at the bus driver to like pull over because she was having a seizure then he started yelling at me because I was in the aisle way, Sofie said. Within 23 seconds of students notifying the driver that a student was in distress, the driver pulled over to the side of the road, the Clover Park School District said. Cable company Charter Spectrum has been ordered by a judge to pay $1.147 billion to the family of an 83-year-old woman killed by one of its cable technicians, according to a news release from the familys attorney. The cable company in July was found by a Dallas County jury liable in part for the robbery and killing of 83-year-old Betty Thomas in her Irving home by Charter Spectrum employee Roy Holden Jr. Jurors at the time awarded the family with upwards of $7 billion in damages. Dallas Judge Juan Renteria set the final amount the family is owed at $1.147 billion on Monday. That money will be divided among Thomas adult children, according to the final judgment. Charter Spectrum had previously said it intends to appeal the decision. Attorneys for Thomas family said in the news release that trial testimony showed Charter Spectrum ignored red flags regarding Holden from his first day on the job until the day he killed Thomas. Holden last year pleaded guilty to Thomas murder and was sentenced to life in prison. One day in December 2019, Holden made a service call at Thomas home. He returned the next day, in his Spectrum uniform and driving his Spectrum van, to rob Thomas. So I had stopped there because I was broke, Holden told Irving detectives, according to court documents. I was hungry. During the holdup, Holden stabbed Thomas multiple times on her neck and forearm, leaving her body on the living room floor in front of a television. Holden later told Irving detectives that he had used his Charter Spectrum knife and work gloves when he killed the woman. During the civil trial, testimony noted that Holden made multiple outcries to supervisors about significant personal and financial issues having to do with a divorce that left him no money, even crying at a meeting. He then began scamming elderly female Spectrum customers, stealing their credit cards and checks, according to testimony. Thomas family later received a $58 charge for Holdens service call, and the bills continued to come after the murder and eventually they were sent to a collection agency, according to testimony. We are grateful that, after careful consideration and review of the law and trial record, the Court entered judgment ordering Charter to pay more than $1 billion in total damages to the victims family, the familys attorney Chris Hamilton said in the news release. The final judgment includes findings that Charter further committed felony forgery in causing harm to the plaintiffs, which properly eliminates the cap on punitive damages under Texas law. Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt. So should Chesser Resources (ASX:CHZ) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn. View our latest analysis for Chesser Resources When Might Chesser Resources Run Out Of Money? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. As at December 2021, Chesser Resources had cash of AU$5.4m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$8.9m. So it had a cash runway of approximately 7 months from December 2021. To be frank, this kind of short runway puts us on edge, as it indicates the company must reduce its cash burn significantly, or else raise cash imminently. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below. How Is Chesser Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? In our view, Chesser Resources doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just AU$16k in the last twelve months. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis we'll focus on how the cash burn is tracking. In fact, it ramped its spending strongly over the last year, increasing cash burn by 124%. That sort of spending growth rate can't continue for very long before it causes balance sheet weakness, generally speaking. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Chesser Resources due to its lack of significant operating revenues. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth. How Hard Would It Be For Chesser Resources To Raise More Cash For Growth? Since its cash burn is moving in the wrong direction, Chesser Resources shareholders may wish to think ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. Chesser Resources has a market capitalisation of AU$46m and burnt through AU$8.9m last year, which is 19% of the company's market value. As a result, we'd venture that the company could raise more cash for growth without much trouble, albeit at the cost of some dilution. How Risky Is Chesser Resources' Cash Burn Situation? Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Chesser Resources' cash burn relative to its market cap was relatively promising. After looking at that range of measures, we think shareholders should be extremely attentive to how the company is using its cash, as the cash burn makes us uncomfortable. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 6 warning signs for Chesser Resources (of which 3 are potentially serious!) you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Getty Images Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears The Jane Doe lawsuit accusing comedians Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears of forcing a woman and her brother to separately perform inappropriate, sexually suggestive acts on camera when they were minors has been dismissed, according to a filing provided by the defendants' lawyer. EW has confirmed that the pseudonymous plaintiff asked a judge to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. In a statement obtained by TMZ, which first reported the news, the plaintiff said, "My family and I have known Tiffany Haddish for many years and we now know that she would never harm me or my brother or help anyone else do anything that could harm us. We wish Tiffany the best and are glad that we can all put this behind us." EW has reached out to the plaintiff, Haddish, and Spears for comment. In a complaint filed last month, the 22-year-old plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, accused Haddish (Girls Trip) and Spears (Mad TV) of intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse of a minor, claiming that the comedians made her and her brother film sexually themed comedy sketches when they were underage. The incidents were alleged to have occurred when Jane was 14 and her brother, identified as John Doe, was 7. Representatives for Haddish and Spears quickly denied the allegations. Haddish's attorney Andrew Brettler said in a statement to EW that the plaintiff's mother had "been trying to assert these bogus claims against Ms. Haddish for several years. Every attorney who has initially taken on her case and there were several ultimately dropped the matter once it became clear that the claims were meritless and Ms. Haddish would not be shaken down." Spears' attorney Debra Opri similarly said that her client wasn't "going to fall for any shakedown." The complaint described two sketches that the siblings had alleged they were made to participate in, one of which was said to have been titled "Through a Pedophile's Eyes" and posted on the website Funny or Die before being taken down. The complaint charged that Spears played a pedophile in the sketch, which allegedly included him massaging baby oil onto John's back and observing the boy nude in the bathtub while smoking a cigarette, among other sexually suggestive acts. After the shoot ended, John "called his mother crying, saying he did not want to film anymore," the complaint claimed. Story continues A few days after the suit made headlines, Haddish said she deeply regretted the sketches in a statement posted on social media. "I know people have a bunch of questions," she wrote. "I get it. I'm right there with you. Unfortunately, because there is an ongoing legal case, there's very little that I can say right now. But, clearly, while this sketch was intended to be comedic, it wasn't funny at all and I deeply regret having agreed to act in it. I really look forward to being able to share a lot more about this situation as soon as I can." Related content: Official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Wenbin Read also: Russians google how to leave Russia, get deferred from conscription ahead of Putins address Beijing was reacting to the announcement of a partial mobilization in Russia by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Read also: Russian stock market falls gain after Putin's mobilization and nuke threat speech Chinas position on Ukraine is consistent and clear, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a media briefing. China has failed to publically condemn Russias unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read also: Russian dictator Putin announces partial mobilization, threatens to use nukes Russian dictator Vladimir Putin early on Sept. 21 declared a partial mobilization in Russia and his readiness to use nuclear weapons in the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of Russia. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that 300,000 reservists would be called up during the partial mobilization. Read also: Russian share prices nosedive on rumors of mobilization and plans for sham referendums Earlier, on Sept. 20, the Russian State Duma, the Kremlins rubber-stamp parliament, rushed through votes introducing the concepts of mobilization, martial law, and armed conflict into Russias Criminal Code. Now in Russia, desertion, absence from service and voluntary surrender will be punished more severely. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine China on Wednesday called on Ukraine and Russia to kick-start peace talks just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated the war by mobilizing conscripts to join the fight. "We call on the parties concerned to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation and find a solution that accommodates all parties legitimate security concerns," Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin told reporters. "We also hope the international community will create conditions and space for that." Ukrainian soldiers sit on infantry fighting vehicles as they drive near Izyum, eastern Ukraine, on Sept. 16, 2022. Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images BIDEN IN UN SPEECH ACCUSES RUSSIA OF 'EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT' VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL CHARTER Wenbins comments echoed talking points Beijing has spouted since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly seven months ago, accusing the West of prolonging the war by not taking seriously Russia's alleged security concerns. When asked Chinas position regarding Russias announcement this week that it intends to hold "referendums" on annexing at least four regions in Ukraine, including the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas, Wenbin said Beijings stance was "consistent and clear." "We believe that all countries deserve respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, that the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter should be observed, that the legitimate security concerns of any country should be taken seriously," he added. PUTIN INITIATES CONSCRIPTION TO BOLSTER MILITARY INVASION AS UKRAINE MOUNTS COUNTEROFFENSIVE China has consistently refused to condemn Russias war and has called on the international community to "take seriously" Russias expressed security concerns, particularly as it relates to NATO. Putin attempted to justify his "special military operation" in Ukraine by saying it was a necessary measure to ensure Ukraine did not join NATO, which he views as a chief threat to Russia. President Biden struck down these claims Wednesday at the 77th U.N. General Assembly, saying, "No one threatened Russia and no one other than Russia sought conflict." Story continues "Putin's own words make his true purpose unmistakable," Biden said. "Just before he invaded, Putin asserted and I quote: Ukraine was created by Russia and never had real statehood." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday warned against the expanding relationship between Russia and China amid the war in Ukraine, and said the threat it poses to Western nations is getting "closer." "China is becoming a more and more important part of the security environment that we have to respond to," he said. "This increases the importance of NATO allies standing together and realizing that China is part of the security challenges we need to face today and in the future." China has said that it was on high alert after US and Canadian warships made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, a move that has angered Beijing amid heightened tensions in the region. The drill was the second in a month by a US Navy ship and the second jointly by the US and Canada in less than a year, since October 2021. The US Navy said: Cooperation like this represents the centrepiece of our approach to a secure and prosperous region. It added that the US Navys Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Higgins and the Royal Canadian Navys Halifax-class frigate Vancouver made the transit through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state. Canadas defence minister Anita Anand said that the exercise shows her country is deeply committed to upholding global stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Todays routine Taiwan Strait transit demonstrates our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, she said. The exercise was welcomed by Taiwan despite condemnation from China, which claims Taiwan as a part of its own territory and objects to the islands democratically elected government. This operation though the Taiwan Strait is, even more, a concrete demonstration of the resolute opposition of democratic allies to Chinas expansion attempts, Taiwans foreign ministry said in a statement. It added that the ships sailed north through the waterway and its forces observed the mission but the situation was as normal. The Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army condemned the exercise and said that its forces monitored the ships and warned them. Theatre forces are always on high alert, resolutely counter all threats and provocations, and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said. On Wednesday, Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news conference in Beijing that China was willing to make the greatest efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. Story continues Beijing has proposed a one country, two systems model for Taiwan, similar to the formula under which the former British colony of Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The proposal has been rejected by Taiwanese political parties. Earlier this week US president Joe Biden said that American troops would come to Taiwans defence in the event of an attack by the Peoples Republic of China but stressed that longstanding policy towards the island has not changed under his administration. (Additional reporting by agencies) China's top livestreaming sales influencer has returned to screens after a three-month-long absence following his presentation of an ice cream tank on the eve of the Tiananmen Square protest anniversary. Li Jiaqi, also known as the Lipstick King, is known for his livestreaming channel on Alibaba Groups Taobao Marketplace, where he sells products ranging from cosmetics to food brands. On June 3, Li and a co-host presented a Viennetta brand ice-cream that resembled a tank during a live broadcast before his show was suddenly cut short. On Jun 3rd, Chinese biggest influencer Li Jiaqi presented a tank looking cake during his live stream and it was cut off immediately, people thought it was some software issue at first but soon they found out all the hashtags related to him on Weibo got censored as well. pic.twitter.com/nn7KwtvWWt More from NextShark: Dior sparks local controversy over photo of Asian woman at Shanghai exhibition Shia Majer (@ShiaMajer) June 6, 2022 The multi-layered ice cream, which was decorated with Oreos and wafers, resembled the military tanks that became a widely recognized symbol of the pro-democracy protests at the Tiananmen Square in 1989. The student-led protests led to the massacre of several thousands. More from NextShark: Asian Americans are still rarely represented in video games here are 10 of our favorite characters Li blamed the abrupt livestream cut to a technical error, and two hours later, he told viewers that the broadcast would not be resuming. Many online users speculated that his broadcast was cut due to the accidental Tiananmen Square reference, of which the Chinese government has always been quick to censor. Story continues Upon his return to streaming, Li did not give any explanation for his disappearance nor did his studio. However, his fans were quick to flood his livestream with comments welcoming him back. Viewers reportedly bought out the goods he was selling faster than expected, which caused Li to end the show earlier than usual. More from NextShark: Chinese crypto influencer makes over $5 million in 10 days selling her photos as NFTs Today, the goods have been prepared in a hurry, and many girls couldnt grab it, Li said in his livestream. How about we end it for now, and then we will continue to broadcast when we have enough goods. See you tomorrow, girls. Beijing has reportedly intensified its crackdown on Chinas booming livestreaming industry. Livestreaming hosts are required to uphold correct political values and social values of the new rules that bans 31 misbehaviors. More from NextShark: Ex-officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane found guilty of violating George Floyds civil rights Featured Image via @ShiaMajer, @JerryDunleavy File: Students walk on campus at the University of South Carolina in Columbia (Getty Images) The parents of a film student who was killed along with two peers while working on an assignment in April have sued the University of Southern California for wrongful-death. Peng Wang, a student at Chapman University, was filming for a project sanctioned by USC when the off-road vehicle in which he was travelling was involved in an accident in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, according to the suit filed filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court Monday. His parents contend that USC knew that the teams of students would be using off-road vehicles to shoot in the desert and bears responsibility for the safety of its students on a project which was to be graded in the class.. Safety should trump everything on student film projects made in fulfilment of USC class requirements, it said in the lawsuit, according to a South China Post report. The cost of damages sought by Wangs family is not specified. The lawsuit said that the renowned university bears a responsibility to return the people who make its films back to their families intact. USC is liable for its negligent failure to exercise control over, and to ensure safety on, the Finale student film project. That negligence resulted in [Wangs] death and the ensuing damages for which plaintiffs bring suit to recover, the students family said in the lawsuit over the project which listed Wang as director of photography. Officials at the university have denied responsibility for the death of its students. It had earlier said that the cinematographer and the other students had gone rogue in making the short film Finale and were unaware of the approvals needed to use off-road vehicles, alongwith shooting their project in a far-off part of the desert that is three hours away. The location of the shoot was more than 370km (230 miles) from the USC campus, officials said. In a statement shared on Tuesday, the school said: USC was not responsible for Mr Wangs tragic death. We will be sharing the facts about our robust safety procedures and safety record in court, the SCMP report added. Story continues The 29-year-olds father Hualun Wang said that he was left stunned after learning of his sons death one April morning, reportedThe Los Angeles Times. In life, there is no greater pain than this type of bereavement. After our son is gone, we have to endure all the hurt, all the societal pressure and the pressure to take care of ourselves when we get old, Mr Wang told the LA daily in June. Wang succumbed to his injuries on 15 April and the cause of his death was listed as blunt neck trauma due to the off-road accident. His parents have argued in the lawsuit that the varsitys film school had cleared a student certification for the film that was submitted on 5 April and slotted it a production number. The film crew met with an accident after the driver of the vehicle lost control of the vehicle as the team was driving across the sand dunes. The vehicle rolled down one of the dunes and Wang, despite wearing a seat belt, was thrown out partially in the accident, a police report of the incident states, according to the report. Wangs family has said that an experienced driver, or one with proper training, familiar with the dunes would not have made this obvious error in the court filing. Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook announced the sheriffs office disrupted a major drug operation between California, Fleming Island, and Orange Park. The bust includes the seizure of more than 8,350 grams of fentanyl, which officials said could kill more than four million people. Investigators believed the drugs came into California over the Mexican border and likely has links to a well-known cartel. RELATED: Sheriff gives details on major fentanyl bust in Clay County The seizure also included illegal guns, cocaine and marijuana. The network stretches up to Duval and Nassau counties, and deputies continue to investigate and expect more arrests to come. Jason Setzer and Alvin Mercado Jr. are now charged with trafficking fentanyl, among other charges. They face a combined 200 years in prison. Setzer has a $17 million bond, while Mercado has a $10 million bond, which Sheriff Cook said speaks to the severity of the crimes involved. It comes as fentanyl has become a public health emergency, according to doctors. RELATED: Death by dealer: Man sold fentanyl to Clay man who died of drug overdose, deputies say These deaths are more than just numbers. They are sons. They are daughters. They are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, Cook said. She was joined by Attorney General Ashley Moody at a press conference in Green Cove Springs Wednesday. Moody has urged awareness of the fentanyl crisis statewide as of late, with the slogan one pill can kill. This is a substance that will kill, and people are selling this and poisoning Floridians knowing that it can have deadly consequences, Cook said. As one example of people selling the deadly drug, the sheriffs office also announced Michael Stanley was charged with manslaughter at Wednesdays briefing (Death by dealer: Man sold fentanyl to Clay man who died of drug overdose, deputies say Action News Jax). Deputies said he sold fentanyl to a 31-year-old in Green Cove Springs neighbor, who died from an overdose. Story continues Dr. Christine Cauffield, the CEO of LSF Health Systems, said they see the epidemic in their emergency room daily. Drugs like Xanax and Adderall are now also laced with fentanyl. Rainbow fentanyl looks like sprinkles, Cauffield explained, and targets children and young teens. Now you dont know what youre buying, and I cant emphasize the danger of this enough. This is a real public health emergency, she told Action News Jaxs Robert Grant. Cauffield said LSF Health Systems has specialists to help patients with recovery. Click HERE for help with drug addiction and recovery. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. An all-clear has been given in a police investigation Tuesday night outside of the Spectrum Center in uptown Charlotte. A contracted bomb-sniffing K-9 was alerted to a trash can that was emptied out. It was determined there is no threat identified at this time, CMPD tweeted. There is no bomb threat to the Spectrum facility or to the concert. This was a routine check to the facility and a dog alerted to a trash can. Active investigation. CMPD will share more as it becomes available. https://t.co/uq0AkL10SW CMPD News (@CMPD) September 21, 2022 Traffic will resume and roads will reopen shortly after equipment and personnel are cleared from the scene, CMPD tweeted. ALSO READ: 1 killed, another hurt in uptown shooting, CMPD says The Transit Center was evacuated and the CityLYNX Gold was shut down during the investigation, CATS tweeted. The Blue Line was also delayed. The CTC was temporarily relocated to South Mint Street and West Carson Boulevard, CATS stated. Due to police activity in the area, the CityLYNX Gold Line is not operating at this time. The Charlotte Transportation Center (CTC) has been evacuated. The LYNX Blue Line is also experiencing delays. Please stay clear of the area for your safety. Updates to follow. #CLTNews CATSRideTransit (@CATSRideTransit) September 20, 2022 Normal transit operations resumed after 9 p.m. Popstar Karol G performed at the Spectrum Center Tuesday night. The Transit Center is shut down and CMPD has the entire block roped off to the Spectrum Center. CMPD has not released any information thus far @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/Lxw1wONeqx Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 20, 2022 The Spectrum Center tweeted earlier, Important info for guests coming to tonights Karol G concert: The Trade Street Entrance is currently closed. All guests should enter from 5th Street. Story continues Important info for guests coming to tonights Karol G concert: The Trade Street Entrance is currently closed. All guests should enter from 5th Street. Spectrum Center (@spectrumcenter) September 20, 2022 Many fans were not deterred by the police presence. Nothing will stop me, said Paula Beltran. Not even my husband will stop me. Return to this story for updates. VIDEO: Student identified in connection with bomb threats made at schools this week Liz Truss's government has been urged to stick to net zero target to boost green investment. Photo: Toby Melville/Pool/Getty Setting out "clear and consistent policies and regulations" on decarbonising the wider economy will be the most effective way to unlock and stimulate UK leadership in green finance, a new report argues. According to analysis from TheCityUK and PwC, around 70% of the $125tn (110tn) of investment required globally to reach net zero must be found through private financial markets. "There is a strong appetite in the UK to accelerate the reduction in carbon emissions as we move towards net zero, but we are not moving quickly enough," Jon Williams, partner at PwC Global Banking & Capital Markets ESG leader and PwC UK Sustainability Chair said. "The required effort must come from everyone from policymakers to business leaders and consumers themselves." The 'Enabling the net zero transition: the role of financial and related professional services,' details the risk factors across each sector which are preventing greater investment and capital from flowing to greener investment. Read more: UK cuts business energy bills in half to stop firms collapsing It lays out a 10-point plan to empower the government, regulators and wider industry to leverage the opportunities presented by expanding UK-based green finance. Those include technological risk, business model risk, and policy risk. It then sets out how to address or reduce these risks to unlock the necessary investment. It also explains how to achieve decarbonisation, including phasing out new combustion engine cars by 2030, or gradually increasing the energy efficiency requirements from all residential rental properties in England and Wales. Read more: Climate change: Shared goals could pave way for US and UK trade deal Miles Celic, chief executive office at TheCityUK, said: "Delivering the transition to net zero will take more than good intentions. It will require the government, regulators, and industry to work in close partnership. "We all have our own role to play, and action by one cannot compensate for inaction by another. Financial regulations cannot substitute for government climate policies, and consumer spending choices cannot substitute for public and private investment. Story continues "We are calling on the government to take forward a 10 point action plan to help unlock the vital investment needed to reach our net zero ambitions. We also need a clear and sustained cross-party commitment to net zero, with well-signalled policies to drive forward proactive decarbonisation across the whole economy." The 10-point action plan calls on the UK government to: Deliver effective, quantified, detailed and long-term national net zero policies, incentives, and regulations for the real economy industries Develop and publish interim national net-zero capital raising plans, to set out the UKs investment needs to 2030/2035 and how it intends to raise the capital required Address and share investment risks through the scaling of blended finance and other incentives Facilitate deeper collaboration between policymakers, regulators, corporates and SMEs to scale up investment and address greenwashing and support the Just Transition Continue to engage with other jurisdictions to drive global convergence and interoperability on sustainability disclosure and reporting standards so that the UK as an international finance centre can build on its strengths to deliver green and sustainable investments in the UK and beyond Improve disclosures by extending the scope of Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and net zero transition plans to include smaller and privately owned businesses in a proportionate way and ensuring that the UKs green taxonomy and Sustainability Disclosure Requirements distinguishes between green and transitioning activities Seek to increase the level of disclosures for direct and indirect GHG emissions, as and when data availability and accuracy improves Commit to producing an initial assessment of how markets are using climate-related data within its forthcoming update to its Green Finance Strategy Further develop the role of carbon pricing through carbon and environmental credit markets by widening carbon cap and trade schemes appropriately, and working on an international carbon price floor Establish a regulatory framework for carbon and environmental credit markets to achieve transparency, environmental integrity, and standardisation of methodologies for carbon and environmental credit certification Watch: Top tips for helping the environment on a tight budget By Julie Gordon OTTAWA (Reuters) -The death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth has collectors scrambling to secure rare coins and bills bearing her likeness, even as her portrait is set to remain in circulation for years to come on money throughout the Commonwealth. Coin dealers say demand for rare-issue notes and coins - such as such as a pre-World War Two Canadian $20 bill featuring Elizabeth as a child or Australia's Platinum Jubilee 50-cent coin - has surged since the queen died in Scotland on Sept. 8. Queries have been coming in from both seasoned collectors and novices eager to commemorate the death of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who appears on a record 33 currencies around the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. "There's been an incredible upsurge in demand," said Peter Hutchison, heritage coin specialist at Hattons of London. Inbound queries surged 45-fold following the queen's death and have come in from as far as Australia, he said. In highest demand are limited-issue collector items, like British Platinum Jubilee 50-pence coins struck in real platinum, the 2022 Her Majesty's Graces gold sovereigns, and sets issued in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth's coronation, along with curiosities like Canada's 1954 "Devil's Head" note series, where the queen's hair gives the illusion of a grinning devil. With seasoned numismatists eager to fill gaps in their collections, prices are already rising. "I think we'll see them increase a considerable amount more now as more people enter the market and try to chase them down," said Hutchison. Jon White, owner of The Britannia Coin Company near Swindon, located about 80 miles west of London, said he has an overseas buyer willing to pay handsomely for a 2022 Maundy set, coins gifted by the monarch to elderly individuals for their community service. "We are finding it increasingly difficult to source items our customers want," he said. Story continues In Australia, coin expert Joel Kandiah posted a video on TikTok this week saying the value of the country's 2013 Purple Coronation $2 coin had "shot up" to as high as A$180 ($120). At Alliance Coin & Banknote in Almonte, Ontario, near Ottawa, owner Sean Isaacs is preparing for an auction this month featuring some "significant" royal-themed items, including the 1935 Canadian $20 bill featuring then-Princess Elizabeth at the age of 8. "It's one of the top 10 most desirable notes of the 20th century anyways, so I'll be interested to see if there's an above-and-beyond fervor around those notes," he said. The bills that Isaacs plans to auction range in estimated value from C$300 ($226) to "a couple thousand" dollars each, based on condition. A rare French version of the note without faults could fetch C$18,000 to C$22,000, he said. Advance activity is strong, with the auction night expected to be the best gauge of interest, he said. In a separate online auction, a 1935 $20 bill featuring young Elizabeth was being bid at C$2,100 with 10 days to go. LONG WAIT Looking ahead, Isaacs expects a rush of interest in any commemorative coins issued to celebrate the queen's reign. He is also eager to see the first coins featuring Charles as king. "That will be another momentous day in collecting," said Isaacs. But it could be some time before coins and bills displaying King Charles find their way into people's pocketbooks, particularly outside Britain. The Commonwealth spans 56 countries. Central banks in Canada, Australia and New Zealand have all said bills featuring Queen Elizabeth will remain in circulation for years to come. Canada's mint says it will continue to strike 2022-dated coins as needed to supply the market. New Australian coins will eventually feature King Charles, though not anytime soon, according to the Royal Australian Mint. "Historically, coins bearing a new Sovereigns effigy were released approximately 12 months after coronation," it said. Indeed, Commonwealth countries looking to use King Charles' image on coins and notes will likely find themselves in a queue behind Britain. The Royal Mint and Bank of England have not yet given any details, but experts anticipate that once the mourning period ends work will be under way on designs, including preparing and approving a portrait of King Charles. "My guess is this process will take a minimum of four months and possibly up to six," said Hutchinson. "They will usually aim to have the new coinage and banknotes out before the coronation or in time for the coronation." No date has been set for King Charles' coronation. ($1 = 1.3276 Canadian dollars) ($1 = 1.4950 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Julie Gordon in Ottawa; additional reporting by Praveen Menon in Sydney, Sarah Mills in London;Editing by Deepa Babington and Leslie Adler) Port Royal shut down a fiber optic project on Paris Avenue, its main street, on Sunday because it says the company didnt have a permit to do the work and the town didnt know anything about it. The town owns Paris Avenue, Town Manager Van Willis said, and a contractor for Comcast/Xfinity did not have an encroachment permit, which he says is required to do that kind of work. The contractor, he added, caused damage during the job. They hit water lines, irrigation lines, tore up a power pole, Willis told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet Monday morning. The contractor had the necessary encroachment permit from the South Carolina Department of Transportation for the state-owned Ribaut Road, Willis said, but not the town-owned Paris Avenue. The town owns Paris Avenue and all the road south of Ribaut Road, so an SCDOT permit will not suffice, Willis said. They have to have an encroachment permit from the town to work on any town-owned road. On Saturday, workers could be seen digging trenches and pulling and burying the cable in the boulevard along a roughly 10-block stretch. Comcast owns Xfinity, which provides TV, internet and phone services. Comcast/Xfinity was installing fiber optic along Paris Avenue before the Town of Port Royal shut the work down. Comcast is installing a new, fiber-rich network that will provide services to The Preserve at Point Royal apartments, Comcast spokesperson Alex Horwitz said. The work is expected to be done by mid-November. The Comcast contractor, which had been working under the South Carolina DOT permit, is now pursuing the necessary additional permits, Horwitz said. We are working closely with the Town of Port Royal to resolve any outstanding issues, Horwitz said. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. At 5:19 p.m. Sunday, Port Royal police officers received a call for service at 1748 Paris Ave. regarding a suspicious company installing fiber optics infrastructure without the towns approval, according to a police report. When officers arrived, they saw workers with a contractor hired by Comcast/Xfinity installing fiber optic and spoke to a foreman, who presented an officer with the alleged work documentation, the report says. Story continues The officer then got word from Police Chief Alan Beach to tell the workers to stand down, which they did. Willis said he ordered the project stopped. The workers then finished re-leveling the work area and left, according to the police report. Hes happy to have the fiber optic cable in Port Royal, Willis said, but not about broken water lines, irrigation lines, and other related issues. Permitted work issued by SCDOT was at the intersection of U.2. 21, or Ribaut Road, and Paris Avenue within the right-of-way limits, said Pete Poore, a SCDOT spokesman. Comcasts contractor performed work outside of SCDOT right-of-way and is now working with Town of Port Royal to secure an encroachment permit with the Town. Willis said he has met with contractor and there is a plan to finish the job and make repairs. A nonprofit is calling out a congressmans office for scheduling a military event in his southern California district on one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. In a letter to Rep. Juan Vargas (Calif-D), the Military Religious Freedom Foundation demanded the lawmaker reschedule an upcoming Service Academy Night on Sept. 26, the first day of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. A Service Academy Night held on Rosh Hashanah excludes your many Jewish constituents, is insensitive to their religious faith, and goes against the Democratic platform of inclusion and diversity, Michael Weinstein, the groups founder and president, said in the note. It also hinders the Department of Defenses goal of developing a diverse officer corps that reflects the public it services. How harshly should DoD punish political, religious proselytizing? Weinstein, a retired Air Force judge advocate, asked for the event to be moved to a date that does not conflict with a Jewish holy day or that of any other faith. When he spoke with the congressmans staff, they suggested prospective applicants to the academies would still be able to watch a streaming or recording of the event if they could not attend in person, Weinstein told Military Times. Service academy information nights are typically put together for high school students and their families to learn more about the nomination process for joining one of the military academies, something Weinstein affirmed was important, especially in light of the Armys recent recruitment issues. Other California lawmakers have recently held similar information sessions on less problematic dates, including congresswomen Michelle Steel (Calif-R) and Julia Brownley (Calif-D). According to the letter, the congressmans district includes multiple synagogues and over 100,000 Jews of various demographic backgrounds. It is a disservice to your constituents, Weinstein said. Obviously, you wouldnt schedule such an event on Easter or Christmas or any other day of religious significance to Christians. Story continues Vargas, who was first elected to Congress in 2012, has previously made comments in support of the Jewish community. We must call out bias, bigotry, and prejudice in all forms, especially from our leaders, he said in a 2019 statement regarding anti-Semitism. The letter concluded with the consideration that the incident may have merely been a scheduling oversight, but that it still shows an egregious lack of common respect and decency. The congressmans office did not immediately respond for comment. Conservative political activist Glen Morgan was involved in a shooting early Monday on family property near Tenino, according to Morgans attorney. Morgan confirmed the shooting when contacted by The Olympian, then referred the newspaper to Angus Lee, his Vancouver, Wash.-based attorney. Lee released a statement about the incident late Tuesday, and Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza later confirmed some details. The Thurston County Sheriffs Office responded to the Monday morning incident in the 1200 block of Oak Drive Southeast, west of Tenino off Old Highway 99. Sometime around 4:30 a.m. Monday, Morgan and his brother, who had heard a noise outside on their adjoining property, went out to investigate when they encountered two men hiding their identity and faces with headgear, according to Lees statement. Snaza said the two suspects drove onto the Morgan property in off-road vehicles. When they were caught in the act of breaking into a storage unit on the private property, and then confronted, one of them charged at and assaulted Mr. Morgan, the statement reads. The man who charged Morgan was holding something that looked like a baseball bat, Lee said. Morgan was armed and the gun was fired during the assault, although its not clear how, Lee said. Lee said he has not seen a police report. Snaza said when the suspect confronted Morgan, investigators were told the gun accidentally went off, and the bullet went through the mans left bicep. The injured man was almost taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but instead went to an area hospital, Snaza said. The other suspect fled from the area, according to Lees statement. The Morgan brothers called police. When police arrived they conducted an investigation. As it was clear that Mr. Morgan acted in conformity with the law, the police departed the area with the trespasser, Lees statement reads. It is believed that the second trespasser was arrested a few hours later and found to be carrying a firearm at the time, according to Lees statement. The Monday morning incident is under investigation, Snaza said. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, who attended Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral earlier this week, has tested positive for Covid-19, the royal court in Copenhagen said on Wednesday. The 82-year-old head of state, who has been on the throne for half a century, has cancelled her appointments for the week. Queen Margrethe, who has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, was also diagnosed with Covid-19 in February this year, showing mild symptoms at the time. Her half-century reign now makes her Europes longest-serving monarch following the death of Elizabeth II, 96, who ruled for 70 years, on 8 September. Out of respect for the late British monarch, Margrethe had asked her court to adjust the programme for her own 50-year anniversary commemorations earlier this month. Among the events she cancelled at short notice was appearing on the Amalienborg Palace balcony to greet well-wishers and a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through Copenhagen. Margrethe was proclaimed queen in January 1972, a day after her father, King Frederik IX, died following a short illness. The funeral of Queen Elizabeth took place on Monday amid great pageantry. Queen Margrethe was among the hundreds of world leaders, current and ex-monarchs who attended the event. Other monarchs in London on Monday included those from the Gulf, while the US president Joe Biden and Frances Emmanuel Macron were among the highest-profile political leaders. The event was watched widely across Britain and the world, with the BBC claiming a high of 28 million people watched its coverage. Meanwhile, live footage of the Queen lying-in-state was streamed 25 million times across BBC online, it said. (With agencies) Distinguished American combat officer Benedict Arnold met a British commander in secret with a plot to trade the colonial stronghold at West Point for cash on this day in history, Sept. 21, 1780. The meeting with British Major John Andre took place at the Hudson River home of New York loyalist Joshua Hett Smith. General George Washington soon discovered the treachery. Arnold escaped to British-controlled New York City and served in the losing army for the remainder of the American Revolution, which ended in October 1781. He died in London in 1801. Andre was captured and executed. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, SEPT. 20, 1973, TENNIS STAR BILLIE JEAN KING WINS BATTLE OF THE SEXES The name Benedict Arnold remains a synonym in American English for "traitor" nearly 250 years later. "Historians have several theories about why Arnold became a traitor: greed; mounting debt; resentment of other officers; a hatred of the Continental Congress; and a desire for the colonies to remain under British rule," writes the National Constitution Center, noting that the Sept. 21 Arnold-Andre meeting "was a disaster for both men." Engraving depicts American army officer Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) left, seated at the table as he hands papers to British officer John Andre (1750-1780) during the American Revolutionary War, mid-to-late 18th century. Arnold formally switched sides and joined the British. Photo by Stock Montage Arnold was reportedly offered 20,000 British pounds to hand over the American fortification on the Hudson River, now the home of the U.S. Military Academy. A successful Connecticut merchant before the war, he reportedly coveted wealth above patriotism. "One officer presciently stated that 'Money is this man's God, and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country,'" writes History.com. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, SEPT. 19, 1796, PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON ISSUES FAREWELL ADDRESS Yet Arnold had served the cause of independence with great distinction from the earliest days of the American Revolution and rose to the rank of major general. He joined the army of New England Minutemen in their 11 month-long siege of Boston in April 1775, immediately following the battles of Lexington and Concord. He then helped Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys capture the British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain in May. Story continues U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., c. 1915, Vintage Photograph. Benedict Arnold commanded the American stronghold at West Point when he offered to trade it for cash to the British in the American Revolution. Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The cannons from Ticonderoga, in one of the more heroic feats of logistics in American history, were dragged by ox train to Boston the following winter and mounted on Dorchester Heights. The show of firepower over the city forced the British to flee Boston in March 1776, liberating the city after years of conflict with the crown four months before the Declaration of Independence. BENEDICT ARNOLD REEXAMINED: HOW ONE OF AMERICA'S HEROES BECAME ITS MOST INFAMOUS TRAITOR Arnold was wounded in the ill-fated Battle of Quebec on New Year's Eve 1775/76, then wounded again, this time badly, helping lead rebel forces during the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. The stunning colonial victory at Saratoga encouraged France to join the American cause. A proclamation by American commander Benedict Arnold, circa 1780, exhorting other officers and soldiers of the Continental Army to join him in his defection to the British cause, during the American War of Independence. For his treachery, Arnold was given the rank of brigadier general in the British army under Sir Henry Clinton, whereupon he led led several expeditions against the colonial militia. Photo by MPI/Getty Images Washington trusted Arnold enough to give him command of West Point, a fortress critical to control of the Hudson River, which divided New England from the rest of the colonies. "Washington thought of Arnold as his fighting general,' and supported him as much as he could up to the time of Benedict Arnolds defection," biographer James Kirby Martin told the library of George Washington's Mount Vernon. His heroism on the battlefield made his treachery all the more appalling. "Despite his military successes, Arnold felt he did not receive the recognition he deserved. Indeed, many of his fellow officers reportedly found General Arnold to be vain, emotional and greedy," reports History.com. Colonel Henry Knox, Washington's chief of artillery, brings guns and mortars from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. Hand-colored engraving by Van Ingen. Photo by MPI/Getty Images "He resigned from the Continental Army in 1777 after Congress promoted five junior officers above him. General George Washington urged Arnold to reconsider." Arnold's first wife, Margaret Mansfield, died in Connecticut in June 1775, while the soldier was already serving the colonial war effort. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER He married American loyalist Margaret Shippen, a British spy, in Philadelphia in 1779. She was a friend and reported love interest of Major Andre and helped facilitate their plot. Arnold reportedly received only 5,000 of the promised 20,000 pounds for his treason. Benjamin Franklin discussed the betrayal in a letter sent to hero of two revolutions Marquis de Lafayette in 1781, reports the National Constitution Center. "Franklin compared Arnold to Judas and said it was a miserable bargain, especially when one considers the quantity of infamy he has acquired to himself and entailed on his family," the center writes. Sep. 21A Honolulu police officer was justified to use deadly force when he who refused repeated commands to surrender before lunging at the officer with a knife following a traffic stop and foot chase in Kapolei in 2019, Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm announced this morning. Dana Brown was allegedly on a moped when he sped by a patrol officer at about 12 :35 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2019, prompting a pursuit, according to the findings of an investigation by HPD's Professional Standard's Office and deputy prosecutors. Brown was on probation at the time and wanted on an $11, 000 bench warrant. The moped he was riding was stolen, police said. The officer, who has 16 years of service with the department, caught up to brown on a grassy mound near the boat harbor, in the area of 91-550 Malakole St. Brown ignored repeated commands from the officer, who yelled "put the knife down " and "police " while asking Brown to show his hands and get on the ground, authorities say. In body-worn camera video aired in Alms office today, the man can be heard saying, "Take a shot, " while brandishing an 8-1 /2 inch-long knife and rummaging through the compartment beneath the seat of the moped. The officer twice fired a Taser at Brown, who toxicology reports revealed had methamphetamine and amphetamines in his system at the time. Brown is seen pulling the probes from his chest, undeterred by the electric current. The officer continues to order Brown to surrender when Brown starts up his moped, prompting the officer to kick the back tire, knocking it over. A witness who was with a fisherman nearby and body-worn camera footage show Brown lunge at the officer before three shots are heard. The officer retrieved his radio that he dropped during the foot chase and called for emergency medical services. The officer provided first aid to Brown while waiting for paramedics, according to PSO's findings. Alm, speaking to reporters this morning, lauded the officer's repeated attempts to get Brown to surrender. "The officer was doing his job. It is tragic for Mr. Brown's family but he brought it on himself. The officer gave Mr. Brown every chance to stop, get on the ground, and give up, " said Alm. "No doubt, there is some trauma killing another person. That's something that police officers have to live with." A man was arrested Tuesday after deputies say fentanyl he sold to another man led to that mans overdose death. Michael Stanley is now facing a manslaughter charge in the May death of 31-year-old Aleksejs Kovilov, according to the Clay County Sheriffs Office. The arrest was announced Wednesday afternoon as part of a major drug bust in Clay County that netted two other arrests. A warrant was issued for Michael Stanley on Friday and he was taken into custody by CCSO and U.S. Marshals Caribbean Regional Task Force. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] On May 11, Kovilov was found dead on the kitchen floor of a home on Wall Road in Green Cove Springs, CCSO said. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were found at the scene of his death and an autopsy determined that Kovilov died of a drug overdose, including fentanyl. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Detectives found communications on Kovilovs cellphone between him and Stanley about buying drugs. CCSO said detectives also obtained video surveillance of Kovilov and Stanley meeting at a local retail store. Kovilov bought 0.5 grams of fentanyl, making payment to a Cashapp account belonging to Stanley, CCSO said. Deputies said that while Stanley was being interviewed, he admitted to selling fentanyl to Kovilov. Stanley was booked into the Clay County Jail. 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. Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Del Monte Foods, Inc. WALNUT CREEK, Calif., September 21, 2022 Del Monte Foods, Inc. is committing $5 million over the next ten years to nourish the physical, mental and social-emotional wellbeing of youth and communities across the U.S. This commitment is in support of the companys Growers of Good purpose to grow a healthier and more hopeful tomorrow by making nutritious foods more accessible to all. In addition to supporting a variety of organizations focused on the health and wellness of youth and communities, Del Monte Foods announced plans to team up with non-profit Alliance for a Healthier Generation (Healthier Generation) to reach 7.5 million students and their families through a signature Nourishing Families by Nourishing Schools program. The partnership announced at Clinton Global Initiatives 2022 meeting in New York City earlier this week, seeks to improve health equity and redefine total health and wellness in the United States with direct-to-family and direct-to-school support to increase food and nutrition access. By mobilizing K-12 schools as an important vector of change, especially in under-resourced communities, the program aims to help students and their families improve their physical, mental and social-emotional wellbeing through nutrition education, resources and content. Together, Del Monte Foods and Healthier Generation will work to ensure that 75% of students and families reached are from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) populations. Nutritious food makes us feel better it fuels our bodies minds and social health yet theres such a large gap today in who has access to good, healthy food, said Greg Longstreet, President and CEO, Del Monte Foods. At Del Monte Foods, were excited to team up with Healthier Generation to bring family education and nutrition resources to schools as an evidence-based approach to improving the overall health of our young people. Story continues Kathy Higgins, CEO of Healthier Generation, added There is a growing need for more resources to support family nutrition amid the staggering effects of historic health inequities. Recognizing that schools are where many children can access such support, this vital collaboration with Del Monte Foods will equip schools and families with the tools needed to improve whole child health for current and future generations. Together, through Nourishing Families by Nourishing Schools, Del Monte Foods and Healthier Generation will positively impact the overall health of students and families through education and resources that improve and increase: Food access and nutrition Social-emotional learning skills Connectedness and positive relationships between children and adults who support them, including parents/caregivers and school staff Staff awareness and training to support students who have or are experiencing trauma and challenging situations Learn more about Del Monte Foods commitment to growing good for people, communities and the planet in its Sustainability Report. About Alliance for Healthier GenerationAlliance for a Healthier Generation is a leading childrens health organization that advances equitable whole child health. Driven by our passion to ensure that every mind, every body, and every young person is healthy and ready to succeed, our work has reached over 31 million young people across the country. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation was founded in 2005 as a partnership between the Clinton Foundation and American Heart Association (AHA). To learn more and help make a difference, visit HealthierGeneration.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter. About Clinton Global InitiativeThe Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global and emerging leaders to create and implement solutions to the worlds most pressing challenges. CGI works with partners to drive action through its unique model. Rather than directly implementing projects, CGI facilitates action by helping members connect, collaborate, and develop Commitments to Action new, specific, and measurable plans that address global challenges. Through CGI, the community has made more than 3,700 Commitments to Action that have made a difference in the lives of more than 435 million people in more than 180 countries. About Del Monte FoodsFor more than 135 years, Del Monte Foods, Inc. has been driven by our mission to nourish families with earth's goodness. As the original plant-based food company, we're always innovating to make nutritious and delicious foods more accessible to consumers across our portfolio of beloved brands, including Del Monte, Contadina, College Inn, S&W and Joyba. We believe that everyone deserves great tasting food they can feel good about, which is why we grow and produce our products using sustainable and earth-friendly practices for a healthier tomorrow. Del Monte Foods, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited (Bloomberg: DELM SP, DELM PM) and is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd. For more information about Del Monte Foods and our products, please visit www.delmontefoods.com or www.delmonte.com Media Contact:Courtney MainsEdelmanCourtney.Mains@edelman.com408-835-5323 Related Linkshttp://www.delmontefoods.com SOURCE Del Monte Foods, Inc. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Del Monte Foods, Inc. on 3blmedia.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/del-monte-foods-inc-commits-5-million-to-nourish-the-wellness-of-youth-and-communities-across-the-united-states-over-next-ten-years-585572727 This story has been updated. Read the latest at this link. Original story below Fresno County Democrats, labor and nonprofit leaders joined forces Wednesday to call on California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and her use of her offices Public Integrity Unit, alleging the Republican and Fresno Countys top law enforcement officer weaponizes her office against elected Democrats of color. The group held a news conference Wednesday morning in front of the Fresno County M Street Courthouse where Fresno City Council President Nelson Esparza, a Democrat, appeared in court the day before for a hearing related to his felony attempted extortion charge. The group included staff and officers from the Fresno County Democratic Party, Fresno County Young Democrats, Central Labor Council and Fresno Building Healthy Communities. They called on Democrats and residents alike to file complaints with the attorney generals office regarding Smittcamps actions. Its really time that we hold, ultimately, Lisa Smittcamp, accountable for using her office to advance her own personal and political agenda, said Sandra Celedon, president and CEO of Fresno Building Healthy Communities. Bontas press office on Wednesday said the office is aware of the request and will review it once received. Bonta is scheduled to attend a Fresno County Young Democrats fundraiser Friday hosted by Democrat Deputy District Attorney Andrew Janz, who previously ran for Congress and mayor. The group at the news conference compared incidents in which Smittcamp charged Democrats with crimes but not Republicans. Since establishing the Public Integrity Unit, Lisa Smittcamp has weaponized the unit to open up bogus investigations in order to put out statements that would have the public believe those being investigated are already presumed guilty before their trial begins, said Andy Hansen-Smith, the office manager and former chair of the Fresno County Democrats. She continuously fails to bring charges against those she investigates and fails to practice any self-control when releasing statements to the media. Meanwhile, Lisa Smittcamp has failed to charge Republicans. Story continues Hansen-Smith pointed out that Smittcamps office brought charges against Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, who later was acquitted in a misdemeanor child abuse case. She also charged Esparza with felony attempted extortion; investigated but didnt charge Fresno City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria on Brown Act violation allegations; and investigated Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias on allegations he didnt live in the district he represents. Smittcamp, however, did not charge Fresno Unified Trustee Terry Slatic after an altercation with a student on a school campus. Slatic currently is registered as Independent but previously was registered as a Republican. Smittcamp also did not charge Sanger Mayor Eli Ontiveros after he was booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence. Earlier this month, the chair of the Democratic Party, Ruben Zarate, submitted a complaint to the Public Integrity Unit accusing Councilmember Mike Karbassi of violating the Brown Act. Smittcamps office told The Bee it received the complaint and is evaluating it. While Karbassi is a registered Democrat, he often votes against the Fresno City Councils Democratic majority and with the lone Republican on the city council. Dillon Savory, of the Central Labor Council, called on Smittcamp to welcome an investigation by the attorney general. Lisa, I cant say if youre completely corrupt, but clearly questions are being raised about your office, Savory said. Just like youre falsely investigating other things, you deserve to be investigated by the Attorney General. So if youre open and clear and you have nothing to hide, I think you should welcome the investigation. You should let the people see behind the curtain and prove to everybody that you have real merit in your office and that you have real integrity left in your soul. When Smittcamp first ran for office, Savory said she touted her fathers legacy as a union president. As her time in office progressed, she became the most powerful of the Smittcamps, a wealthy local family with large agricultural interests, by using her office and married last name, Savory said. Members of the Smittcamp family regularly donate to Republican candidates and causes. Its not the first time Smittcamps ethics and politics have been questioned. Local attorney Kevin Little earlier this year called on Bonta to investigate Smittcamp for how shes handled questions and investigations related to Granite Park. Arias in March also accused Smittcamp from the dais of prosecuting Democrats in the court of public opinion. During Wednesdays news conference, Brian Beltran, president of Fresno County Young Democrats, said young people dont feel safe while Smittcamp is in office because of her failure to charge people such as Slatic. That inaction emboldens others to harm young people, Beltran said, pointing to the incident in which a Fresno elementary school principal struck a special needs student. The principal is charged with one misdemeanor count of child abuse. Celedon said its important for all Fresno County residents to have the same level of justice and safety available to them as anyone that has political power or has some type of political connection. Thats not happening in Smittcamps office, she said. Smittcamp disproportionately investigates people of color, registered Democrats and people she doesnt like, Celedon said. In fact, what weve seen is that the Public Integrity Unit actually has no integrity. It lacks the integrity necessary to actually investigate cases, Celedon said. Smittcamps office responded late Wednesday afternoon. Read her full statement here. Venezuelan migrants transported to Marthas Vineyard by Governor Ron DeSantis have filed a class-action lawsuit in a Massachusetts federal court. The migrants are asking for a permanent injunction that would stop state governments like Florida from moving any more migrants around the country. Florida wasnt the first to do so, but the migrants attorneys said in a virtual press conference Wednesday that Floridas actions were essentially the straw that broke the camels back. Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal is the Executive Director of Lawyers for Civil Rights. The firm is representing a portion of the 50 migrants transported from Texas to Florida and then onward to Marthas Vineyard in their class-action lawsuit. Espinoza-Madrigal argued Florida and other states like Texas and Arizona have overstepped their authority by shipping migrants throughout the country. Because the defendants specifically intervened in the orderly administration of federal immigration law, said Espinoza-Madrigal. The class-action lawsuit not only seeks to bar future transport of migrants but also asks for damages to be paid to the migrants sent to Marthas Vineyard. The migrants attorneys argue they were deceived with false promises. DeSantis and other scheme organizers induced our clients to travel with promises of employment, housing and immigration assistance, said Mirian Albert, a staff attorney with Lawyers for Civil Rights. The DeSantis administration has responded to the lawsuit, asserting the migrants signed consent forms agreeing to the journey and calling the lawsuit political theater. If these activists spent even a fraction of this time and effort at the border, perhaps some accountability would be brought to the Biden Administrations reckless border policies that entice illegal immigrants to make dangerous and often lethal journeys through Central America and put their lives in the hands of cartels and Coyotes, ((correct capitalization on coyotes unless the emailed statement is correctly represented here)) said DeSantis Press Secretary Bryan Griffin in an emailed statement. Story continues But the migrants attorneys argue the Spanish translation of the consent forms was incomplete and misleading. How the relocation would occur, and where they would go were not included in the forms. Especially in the Spanish translation portion, said Espinoza-Madrigal. The migrant flight is also becoming a new issue in the race for governor. Former Florida Governor and Congressman Charlie Crist also held a virtual press conference Wednesday, condemning his opponent for the move, calling it inhumane. Crist argued DeSantis violated state and federal law by transporting the 50 migrants from Texas into Florida and onto Marthas Vineyard. He also called the flight a political stunt intended to shift the focus of the race off of abortion. That was inconvenient for him because hes spent the last few months trying to avoid talking about his ban. So, instead, he decided to change the subject. He didnt care that Florida taxpayers and refugees fleeing socialist dictatorships would pay the price, said Crist. We reached out to the DeSantis campaign for comment on Crists remarks but didnt hear back, but in the statement issued in response to the class action lawsuit, the Governors Press Secretary addressed the decision to facilitate the flights. Floridas program gave them a fresh start in a sanctuary state and these individuals opted to take advantage of chartered flights to Massachusetts. It was disappointing that Marthas Vineyard called in the Massachusetts National Guard to bus them away from the island within 48 hours, said Griffin. According to the migrants attorneys, theyve been transported to a military base in Cape Cod and are receiving pro-bono assistance from immigration attorneys. They scored their first victory in federal court already, with a federal judge agreeing to allow the migrants named in the case to remain anonymous. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) office is pushing back against a class-action lawsuit filed by a group of Venezuelan migrants the state flew to Marthas Vineyard, Mass., calling it an act of political theater. It is opportunistic that activists would use illegal immigrants for political theater, DeSantis Communications Director Taryn Feske said in a statement Tuesday. If these activists spent even a fraction of this time and effort at the border, perhaps some accountability would be brought to the Biden Administrations reckless border policies that entice illegal immigrants to make dangerous and often lethal journeys through Central America and put their lives in the hands of cartels and Coyotes, Feske continued. Three unnamed migrants and immigration activists filed a class-action suit against DeSantis and the states transportation secretary earlier Tuesday, alleging they misled the migrants into boarding the flights through false promises. The suit alleges DeSantis violated their Fourth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. When reached for comment on the suit, DeSantiss office provided a copy of consent forms they say the migrants signed before boarding. I agree to hold the benefactor or its designated representatives harmless of all liability arising out of or in any way relating to any injuries and damages that may occur during the agreed transport to locations outside of Texas until the final destination of Massachusetts, the English version of the form states. Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, the executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, whose attorneys are representing the plaintiffs, said the form was not properly or fully translated into Spanish. Our clients could not have provided knowing or informed consent because material information and facts are missing from the document, he told The Hill. The documents released by the defendants are further evidence of the fraudulent scheme. The Spanish version of the form provided by DeSantiss office is different from the English version. The Spanish version does not mention Massachusetts, instead referring to the final destination as the sanctuary state. Story continues The relocations have sparked fury among Democrats, who argue DeSantis and two other GOP governors who have also transported migrants across state lines are using them as political pawns. The GOP governors, who also include Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, argue the relocations provide relief to overwhelmed border communities that received an influx of migrants because of Democrats immigration policies. Feske in the statement stressed the relocations were done on a voluntary basis. The immigrants were homeless, hungry, and abandoned and these activists didnt care about them then, said Feske. Floridas program gave them a fresh start in a sanctuary state and these individuals opted to take advantage of chartered flights to Massachusetts. It was disappointing that Marthas Vineyard called in the Massachusetts National Guard to bus them away from the island within 48 hours. The suit provides the most detailed narrative yet about how the migrants came to board the flight. The plaintiffs allege the migrants were located at shelters in Texas, where individuals approached them and falsely portrayed themselves as good Samaritans. The suit states the individuals promised benefits such as housing and financial assistance, luring the migrants to eventually board the flights. Some of the migrants say they were told they were being sent to Washington, D.C., or Boston, only to be told while en route that they were instead heading to Marthas Vineyard. Updated: 4:53 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Designers including S.S. Daley honoured the Queen with their London Fashion Week shows (Yui Mok/PA) London Fashion Week was swiftly scaled back following the announcement of the death of the Queen a longstanding supporter of the UKs largest creative industry just a week before the biannual event was due to begin. As a business-to-business event London Fashion Week will continue while observing Royal Protocol and the event will be dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with our own moments of respect, the British Fashion Council said in a statement. Having spoken to designers and industry members, we as an industry want to unite as a creative and business community to celebrate Her Majestys legacy and commitment to creativity and design. Queen Elizabeth II at Richard Quinns London Fashion Week show in 2018 (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive) Parties were called off, some catwalk shows (including high profile designers such as Burberry and Raf Simons) were cancelled or postponed, and all presentations due to take place on the day of the funeral were rescheduled. Designers who did go ahead as planned paid tribute to the late Queen on the catwalk in a variety of ways. Heres how London Fashion Weeks big names marked the occasion during a subdued spring/summer edition S.S. Daley S.S. DALEY SS23 (Alamy/PA) Winner of the LVMH Prize for Young Designers, Steven Stokey-Daleys third runway presentation was based around a dramatised reading of the love letters between Vita Sackville West and Violet Trefusis. The show opened with bells tolling, before seven black-clad models carrying white candles processed down the catwalk which many saw as a mournful tribute to the late Queen. I was the first to tell her [my grandmother] the Queen had died, and she burst into tears on the phone. And I dont know why, I felt really emotional about that, Stokey-Daley told Vogue, admitting he has mixed feelings about the royal family: I grapple with my personal standpoint on the monarchy, as regards to class. Nensi Dojaka Nensi Dojaka SS23 (Eeva Rinne/PA) Attendees at up-and-coming designer Nensi Dojakas show walked over a white petal-strewn floor to reach their seats (white flowers are often used in memorial bouquets). Story continues On the catwalk, models including Emily Ratajkowski carried delicate floral sprigs during the finale thought to be lily of the valley, one of the Queens favourite flowers. JW Anderson Perhaps the most literal tribute of London Fashion Week came at the JW Anderson show, which was held in a casino arcade against a backdrop of neon-lit gambling machines. The final look at the colourful collection was an oversized black T-shirt dress emblazoned with a simple Thank you message to the late monarch. Christopher Kane Christopher Kane SS23 (Chris Moore/PA) A minutes silence was held in remembrance of the Queen before Christopher Kanes show at Londons iconic Roundhouse venue. The SS23 collection featured Kanes signature blend of the weird (prints straight out of human anatomy textbooks and transparent latex straps that gave models fake six-packs) and the wonderful (pastel-hued blouses and lacy LBDs), as well as vibrant floral prints reminiscent of the kind the monarch used to wear. In the show notes Kane said he was inspired by the young Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret roaming the grounds of Balmoral, and a cape detail jumper and skirt combo was inspired by the Queen in her last official photograph. Halpern Michael Halpern honoured the memory of Queen Elizabeth II with the regal opening look of his show, which was presented in silence. Inspired by a conversation Halpern had with the late monarch, in which he expressed his love of ostentation, the billowing blue cape was topped with a mint green headscarf similar to the kind worn off-duty by Her Majesty. Erdem Erdem SS23 (Jason Lloyd Evans/PA) Erdem Moralioglu, a designer popular with royals including the Princess of Wales, dedicated his SS23 collection to the late Queen, citing one of her most famous quotes in his show notes: Grief is the price we pay for love. A collection of largely pastel, white and chartreuse dresses in the designers typically ornate style was bookended with a handful of black and white Fifties-style tailoring and full-skirted evening looks, topped with black mourning veils. Richard Quinn The late monarch famously sat front row at Richard Quinn in 2018 and presented the young designer (now a major fixture on the LFW schedule) with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. Recalling that iconic moment, the London-born talent dedicated SS23 to the Queen, opening the show with a series of all-black looks featuring many of her sartorial signatures from headscarves and crowns to belted coats and ballgowns while archive footage from her youth played on a big screen. Black confetti rained down on the catwalk during the finale, the dramatic show celebrating the life of Quinns most high profile and influential supporter. Protesters gather in August 2021 across from the Hamilton County Public Health building in Cincinnati's Corryville neighborhood, displaying anti-vaccine and anti-vaccine mandate signs to passing cars Using strong words to characterize what he called attempts by Deters Law to delay and multiply litigation over vaccine mandates, U.S. District Judge Timothy Black sanctioned the Northern Kentucky firm and declared it a "vexatious litigant" Tuesday in court filings. The characterization came as the Cincinnati judge granted a motion for sanctions from five major health care organizations in the region that were sued by Independence-based Deters Law over COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Black, in his ruling, said he was not punishing Deters Law and Glenn Feagan for the litigation it pursued but rather was sanctioning the firm for "improper conduct and procedural abuse of the judicial system." Black ordered Deters Law to pay the health systems a number of attorneys fees and costs incurred. The total amount won't be known until the hospitals submit documents. The health systems include Christ Hospital Health Network, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Mercy Health, TriHealth and UC Health. Click on this link to read the full 15-page decision. More:'Unsupported conspiracy theories': Judge slams suit opposing hospitals' COVID-19 vaccine rule More:Lawsuit seeking sanctions against Deters Law in COVID-19 vaccine case dismissed "The court sanctions Deters Law and Mr. Feagan because they needlessly delayed, unreasonably multiplied, and increased the costs of the proceedings," the judge wrote. "This court cannot, and will not, condone Deters Law and Mr. Feagans gamesmanship, delay tactics, and publicly confessed judge shopping." Eric Deters, a spokesman for Deters Law, said the firm will appeal the order. He accused the judge of "being vindictive" towards Deters Law. "Judge Black hates our law firm and he hates me, personally," Deters said. "We will win on appeal. The decision is mean and political and wrong." Deters noted that the law firm represented healthcare workers at no cost, in an effort to help them. "We did all we could to help healthcare workers and this decision we believe is based on politics, not law and justice," Deters added in a text message. "Judge Black is an Obama-appointed judge and never hid his anger at us for even filing the lawsuit." Story continues "Quite simply, he's not only wrong, he's being vindictive," Deters further said. The ruling is not the first time Black has been critical of the attorneys who sought to block COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Last year, the judge said the firm made false claims and espoused "unsupported conspiracy theories" in a decision refusing to block the mandates. The sanctions in Cincinnati come after a federal judge in Northern Kentucky dismissed a motion for sanctions against Deters Law in February. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Failed suit mandatory covid shots for health workers results in fees KYIV (Reuters) - Residents of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv dismissed on Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin's callup of military reservists as a mark of desperation and expressed confidence in their own armed forces to drive Russian troops from their country. In the first such mobilisation in Russia since World War Two, Putin called up 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine and said Moscow would respond with the might of all its vast arsenal if the West pushed what he called its "nuclear blackmail" over the conflict there. "The threat would be bigger if there was a general (Russian) mobilisation, but I think at this point Putin is afraid to undertake such a step because Russians prefer to fight with words," said Viktor Chekhnii, 46, a geographer who works at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He added that few Russians wanted to go to the battlefield. "I still believe Putin isn't insane, there is some rationality in him. So if nuclear weapons are used, this could endanger the existence of Russia as well as the whole world." Another Kiev resident, Oleksandr Sharkin, 31, clutching a bunch of flowers as he walked near the neo-classical opera house, echoed that sentiment. "If they (the Russians) are forced to fight a war, the motivation of their soldiers will be even lower than that of the contractors," he said. Kyiv and its Western allies have cited Russian soldiers' low morale as one of the reasons for the slow progress of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. 'EMPTY WORDS' There was strong support among Kyiv residents for Ukraine's own armed forces, who helped by Western arms have been battling Russia's much bigger military for nearly seven months on several fronts and recaptured swathes of land in recent weeks. Russian forces gave up their attempt to seize Kyiv itself in the early days of the war after meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance and turned their focus instead to other regions. Story continues "I think we have to trust our armed forces and no one else. Threats will always come from them (the Russians) while they exist, so there is no point in listening to them or negotiating. These are all empty words," said Kyrylo Kundik, 23, a student. Hanna, 42, who declined to give her surname, said she believed Putin no longer knew what to do in Ukraine and was trying to "make people fear his words". "He is a mentally ill person. I believe in Ukraine's armed forces and hope that nothing bad will happen and that we will be defended. So we trust in our guys at the frontlines," she said. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Meteorologists at the FOX Forecast Center are closely monitoring a tropical disturbance near South America, which has a high likelihood of developing into a stronger system in the coming days. FOX Weather has named this system Disturbance 1. The National Hurricane Center has designated the disturbance as Invest 98L. "Invest" is a moniker used by the NHC to identify an area of weather that is being investigated for possible development into at least a tropical depression within the next several days. WHAT IS AN INVEST? Hurricane Hunters have been flying missions into Invest 98L since Wednesday. The data collected by these flights are crucial to helping refine tropical-weather forecasts. Once the disturbance gains a center of circulation and has sustained winds of at least 38 mph or less, it is classified as a tropical depression. Once it has winds of 39-73 mph, it is called a tropical storm and will receive a name. Heres everything you need to know about Invest 98L, which FOX Weather has dubbed Disturbance 1. As of Thursday evening, Invest 98L had developed into an area of low pressure and was located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. It was just north of the Venezuelan coast. It has been producing stormy weather across parts of the Windward Islands, as well as northern Venezuela and the so-called ABC island chain of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. 7 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT HURRICANES In the short term, Invest 98L is in the southeastern Caribbean, and producing heavy rain, gusty winds and rough seas across northern Venezuela and the ABC island chain of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. It's likely that a tropical depression forms in the next couple of days as the disturbance continues its trek through the Caribbean. Next week is when forecast models want to bring the system closer to the mainland U.S., where both the Gulf of Mexico region and the Florida Peninsula have possibilities of being affected. HOW TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON It is too early to say with any certainty where Invest 98L is headed next week. Several factors will play a role in determining the ultimate destination of the system, including the speed at which it develops and the position of the jet stream. Anyone with interests along the Gulf Coast or Florida should pay close attention to the forecast. Story continues Invest 98L Journey Invest 98L is facing a rather tough environment for much development through Friday thanks to Category 4 Hurricane Fiona which is moving toward Bermuda. Upper-level winds from Fiona are creating lots of wind shear winds that change direction and speed at various heights which is keeping thunderstorms associated with the disturbance from growing. That is expected to continue through at least Friday. WHAT IS WIND SHEAR? Invest 98L Shear Forecast Beyond Friday, Invest 98L is expected to move into the Caribbean Sea and an environment much more suited to the development of tropical systems. Wind shear is expected to be much lower in this region this weekend. Water temperatures in this part of the ocean are in the upper 80s, which is a couple of degrees above average, providing ample fuel for development. Invest 98L is forecast to move through the Caribbean Sea this weekend, where it is expected to strengthen. It could become a tropical depression or tropical storm within the next couple of days. It is too soon to say with any certainty how strong the system could become. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE? Long-range forecast models suggest the disturbance could pose a threat to areas along the Gulf Coast and Florida Peninsula in the U.S. late next week. It is too early to say for certain where it is headed next week. Anyone living in those areas should pay close attention to the forecast. Sexually-transmitted diseases are on the rise, and the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the problem is only going to get worse. Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes was outside the CDC headquarters on Wednesday, where doctors said people who paused a lot of doctor visits during the pandemic are just now catching up on checkups and screenings. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Even regular check-ups though are not helping when it comes to one particular STD. Antibiotics that used to cure gonorrhea just arent working like they used to, so people who think theyre in the clear could still be spreading the disease. TRENDING STORIES: Dr. Danny Branstetter is the director of infection prevention at Wellstar. He said that no matter how much public health officials warn people about protecting themselves during sex, theyre still not listening. Thats why the numbers for HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea have gone up. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Were talking men, were talking women and unfortunately even transmission to babies, Branstetter said. So congenital syphilis for example is on the rise. And women who may not have been able to get screened during their pregnancy during the pandemic have now passed it on to their children. Branstetter said that HIV cases are also up 16% because people arent as afraid of catching it now that there is advanced treatment. People arent using protection like they should, which is the only thing that keeps people disease-free. We still need to use barrier protections to prevent most of the other STIs, and I do find that an alarming trend that most people are goin away from that as compared to the early 90s when that was the primary method of prevention for those other STIs, Branstetter said. Now that monkeypox and COVID-19 are also in the mix, Branstetter said using protection is definitely the safest thing to do. (Photo: Tetra Images via Getty Images) (Photo: Tetra Images via Getty Images) If youve made even the slightest effort to shop for wine glasses recently, you know the options are seemingly endless and the whole ordeal can be a bit confusing. Theres stemware and stemless; glasses shaped specifically for red, white or sparkling wine; and even more derivations beyond that. Truthfully, we wouldnt be surprised if you abandoned your search with no wine glasses in hand, but lots of questions you didnt even know you had. With so many different types of wine glasses available, settling on just one can be seriously overwhelming. It also leaves many people wondering: Does the type of wine glass you use even matter? To find out, we reached out to a few people who work in the wine world and would know best. It turns out there are many different opinions floating around about glassware, even among wine experts. Heres what you need to know. Does it matter what type of wine glass you use? The answer to this question depends a lot on what kind of wine drinker you are. If youre a serious wine drinker whos interested in deciphering nuances of flavor, then the type of wine glass absolutely matters, said Kara Flaherty, a certified sommelier and the beverage director at restaurant group Take Root Hospitality. But more casual and novice wine drinkers dont need to stress about wine glasses. Erica Taylor, a sommelier, wine marketer and educator, said that glassware helps people fully experience the wine theyre drinking. This includes noticing the wines flavors and aromas, and the way it hits your palate. If youre drinking wine for the alcohol content alone, you could chug it right out of the bottle, she said. However, if youre after that full experience, youll want to put a bit of thought into your glassware choices. Paul Lysek, service manager at Safta in Denver, Colorado, is of the belief that drinking wine is about enjoyment and fun, and it doesnt really matter what type of wine glass you use. Story continues The most important element is loving whats in the bottle glassware is only a vehicle for that, Lysek said. If drinking wine out of a coffee mug makes you happy or if you love collecting top-tier, hand-blown glassware, there is never a wrong way to enjoy your favorite bottle of vino. What type of wine glass should you use? Each type of wine glass has subtle differences designed to draw out the flavors and aromas of different styles of wine. Lets start simple with the main differences between red wine glasses and white wine glasses. White wine glasses have a smaller bowl meant to preserve the aromatics, highlight acidity and keep the wine cooler, Taylor said. Red wine glasses have larger bowls to allow more air [to come] in contact with the wine to highlight the aromas and mitigate perception of higher alcohol. Beyond red versus white wine glasses, here are a few of the most common types of wine glasses you might come across, with some tips for when to use them. All-Purpose Glass Also known as a universal wine glass, all-purpose wine glasses will get the job done no matter what type of wine youre drinking. If youre looking to go minimal with just one type of wine glass that works for everything, this is a solid choice. These are great for white wines, Flaherty said, but you can use them for red wine, too. A Burgundy glass is shaped like a big, round fish bowl at the bottom. (Photo: Jay's photo via Getty Images) A Burgundy glass is shaped like a big, round fish bowl at the bottom. (Photo: Jay's photo via Getty Images) Burgundy Glass These are the ones that kind of look like big fish bowls on the bottom, Flaherty said. They have a wider and larger bowl than Bordeaux wine glasses and then taper up towards the rim of the glass, which allows the wine drinker to notice more delicate and fine flavors. These work well for lighter red wines, like Gamay and pinot noir. Bordeaux Glass Bordeaux glasses are a large and tall style of red wine glass, with minimal tapering toward the rim. The shape of the glass helps you experience the wines flavor and aromas. These are a good choice for drinking full-bodied red wines, like cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Champagne Glass Champagne flutes you know, the ones you use to make a toast at a wedding are slender and tall. Champagne glasses are celebratory and can be used for any type of sparkling wine. The narrow and elongated shape helps keep your wine nice and bubbly. But theres a caveat: The shape of the glass makes it hard to smell the wine, which can actually disguise the flavor a bit. Think about how if you plug your nose and you eat something, you cant really taste it, Flaherty said. Thats kind of what youre doing when you use a flute. For optimal bubbles and aromatics, Taylor recommends a tulip-shaped champagne glass. If youre considering a coupe glass, you may want to rethink that a coupe isnt ideal for drinking sparkling wine. A coupe glass may look sexy, but it causes too much of the wine to be in contact with the air causing the aromas to run away and the bubbles fall flatter sooner, she said. Is it OK to use a stemless wine glass? This is another matter of preference. If you are drawn to stemless glasses, go for it. If you prefer a stem, that works, too. For casual wine drinkers, stemless wine glasses are totally fine, but some experts are in favor of wine glasses with a stem. Holding the glass by the bowl can cause your wine to warm up more quickly, which changes the aromatics and experience, Taylor said. If you hold a white wine by the bowl it will warm up and then you might feel the need to add ice, which dilutes the flavors and aromas. Stemless glassware is a good option for anyone who tends to knock over their glassware. (Photo: Sabine Scheckel via Getty Images) Stemless glassware is a good option for anyone who tends to knock over their glassware. (Photo: Sabine Scheckel via Getty Images) If you only want to buy one type of wine glass, what should you get? Taylor recommended that you think about the type of wine you drink most, and buy wine glasses based on that. If you are a person who mostly drinks big bold reds at home, buy that kind of glass, she said. If you love crisp whites and roses but rarely drink a big bold cab, go for what [fits] your drinking preferences. You can also go with an all-purpose or universal glass. If youre going to buy one type, all-purpose would be the one to get, Flaherty said. Is there anything wrong with drinking wine out of a mug or tumbler? A lot of this really comes down to personal preference, so if thats what you prefer, go for it. If you feel safe and more comfortable drinking your wine out of a coffee mug, do it, Flaherty said. Its not going to destroy the wine, by any means. Wine glasses can elevate the flavors and aromas of your wine, which can be helpful if youre a wine connoisseur or trying to learn more about wine. But if youre just trying to enjoy a glass of wine without diving deep into all of its nuances, reach for whatever type of drinking vessel you like best. At the end of the day, however you enjoy wine is the right way to enjoy wine, Taylor said. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Home Insurance Loophole If you own your home, check your bill: Half of all insurance policies in North Carolina have a loophole disclaimer that leaves the customer paying up to hundreds of dollars more per year than state officials intend. We investigated to bring you answers. Half of homeowners in the Charlotte region are paying more each year $352 extra, on average than the states approved maximum cost for home insurance. Your insurance company has to follow some rules in setting the price you pay for coverage. North Carolina regulates the cost of insurance to make sure homeowners across the state pay fair rates. But theres a legal way home insurance companies can charge you more than state regulators agreed upon maximum for your premium. Its called consent to rate, and such policies have become increasingly common in North Carolina over the past decade, recent research shows. Statewide, about four in ten policies charge more than state-set limits by using consent to rate, a recent analysis by The Charlotte Observer found. In the Charlotte region, they account for 49.9% of all home insurance policies. Heres how to check your bill and what to know about consent to rate. What is consent to rate in North Carolina? Consent to rate was designed to give insurance companies flexibility, says David Marlett, managing director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State University. Insurers in North Carolina calculate your cost of coverage according to factors like location, construction type and the age of your home. But, when properties dont quite fit the model, Marlett said, insurers can ask the homeowner for their consent to rate, meaning they will be charged more than what would otherwise be the maximum under state regulation. Without this option, he said, some consumers wouldnt be able to find coverage. Story continues You can tell the consumer Look, we cant insure you at the rate approved by the state. However, we will insure you for a certain percentage above that, but you have to agree, he said. Prior to 2019, insurers were required to send a letter to North Carolina customers detailing the higher rate and get the policyholders signature before implementing it. Now, the insurer makes a disclosure on the declaration page of your new policy or renewal letter, and customers signal their consent by paying. Its less paper and less signatures, Marlett said. How can I tell if I have a consent to rate policy? Insurers legally must disclose that youre on a consent to rate policy and tell you how much more theyre charging you on your home insurance premium compared to the state limit. You can find the disclosure on your policy renewal letter, on or right before the declarations page, as well as on any endorsements to your policy. Its required by law to be printed in bold font, in all caps and in large type. It might say something like this: In accordance with G.S. 58-36-30(b1), the premium based upon the approved rates in North Carolina for residential property insurance coverage applied would be (amount). Our premium for this coverage is (higher amount). If youve made a payment on that policy, youve signaled your consent to that rate increase. Can I negotiate my insurance to be lower? You can start by calling your insurer, the NC Homeowners Alliance suggests. They may offer options to adjust your coverage or lower your costs. You can ask your agent why your premium is higher than the regulated rate. If youre not satisfied with their response, your best option is to shop around, experts told the Observer. If you get multiple quotes, you can get a better sense of if youre getting a fair price, Marlett said. The North Carolina Department of Insurance also encourages consumers to evaluate different options when it comes to insurance. But make sure youre comparing apples to apples when it comes to coverage and costs, says Barry Smith, N.C. DOI spokesman. For example, an insurance company may offer a lower annual premium but higher deductibles, meaning your out-of-pocket cost will be higher if you have damage to your property. Premiums also may be cheaper if the insurance policy covers less for example, a lower amount of coverage to rebuild your house, in the event of a total loss. The DOI also suggests checking to see if youre eligible for any discounts on your policy. You can get discounts for installing an alarm system, for owning a new home or for buying home and auto insurance from the same company. There are also other ways to save on your bill, said Michelle OConnor, president of Charlotte-based OConnor Insurance Associates. Two tips she recommends to customers: paying a higher deductible if you can afford it and thinking twice before filing a small claim. Thats because, from an insurers view, filing a claim makes you riskier to insure. After filing, your insurance company will likely charge you a higher premium going forward. So for small repairs or minor damages, the increase in your yearly bill may outweigh the cost of just paying for the fix yourself, OConnor said. From the consumer standpoint, if you have to turn in a $50,000 claim, it doesnt matter if youre paying $200 extra a year, she said. Turning in small claims is where you can make a mistake. Protesters gathered at Seattle City Hall on Tuesday to condemn the construction of a homeless shelter in Seattles SODO neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon. About 100 people congregated outside the government building and expressed concerns that the planned shelter will be situated very close to the International District, which is composed of Chinatown, Little Saigon and Japantown. Entrepreneur Tanya Woo, who is also a member of the Friends of Seattle Chinatown-International District, said the plan is not too different from decisions made in the past by local governments regarding predominantly Asian neighborhoods. This was approved back in May, and were just hearing about it this month, Woo said. We are most disappointed in the lack of transparency, lack of outreach, and engagement with the community. It follows the history of forced policies onto our community, which we had no input in. More from NextShark: Over 60 Volunteers Are Now Patrolling Flushing for Anti-Asian Violence According to Woo, the lack of outreach, engagement and consultation with the community is systemic racism. I feel like theyre taking advantage of our Asian politeness. Woo also highlighted the recent trend of hate crimes against Asian Americans and the impact of the pandemic on small businesses in the Chinatown-International District and the rest of the country. Our community is struggling, she added. The anti-Asian hate, pandemic racism we just really need to heal and get over all that past trauma. And having this project sprung on us without any warning it feels like a betrayal. More from NextShark: Indian Troops Reportedly Attacked With Nail-Spiked Bamboo in Intense Standoff With Chinese Troops Speaking during the City Council meeting, Woo expressed the need for proper outreach and engagement with the community. Another speaker, who has been a resident and business owner in Chinatown for three decades, lamented: I am horrified to learn that the government is going to put together a problematic shelter or campsite very close to Chinatown. CID is a special community unique. Seventy percent to 80 percent of the residents are seniors and they dont speak English and then they cannot communicate with the homeless, and they are afraid of them. Story continues Woo explained that the community members have nothing against the homeless but are concerned about criminal elements that the shelter might attract. More from NextShark: Suspect in Brooklyn subway shooting in custody after NYPD offers $50,000 reward The unhoused are not the problem, Woo added. Its the people who prey on them the drug dealers. The plan, announced by King County in March, involves the preservation of the existing Salvation Army shelter in SODO and improvements on its current 270-person capacity to add accommodations for 150 people in the form of micro-modular units, or tiny homes. The construction of the expanded shelter is part of the initial phase of the countys goal to house 500 homeless people in the city. The project will utilize funding from President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan. More from NextShark: Portland man charged for punching 5-year-old Japanese girl accused of earlier attack on Filipino woman Revisions of the SODO shelter plans will be conducted during a community planning session on Sept. 28. Featured Image via KING 5 University College London, Department of Computer Science, London. Dr Vijay M. Pawar & Robert Stuart-Smith, Autonomous Manufacturing Lab An international team of engineers have taken 3D printing to a whole new level by designing a fleet of drones that can build structures while in flight, unlocking new approaches to construction in hard-to-reach, unstable, or otherwise inaccessible places. These robots are the first of their kind to 3D print and hover simultaneously, and in proof-of-concept research published on Wednesday in Nature, researchers showed that the drones were able to coordinate and build tall cylinders out of polyurethane foam and a cement-like material. We've demonstrated the first-ever robots that are 3D-printing in flight, and it's a pretty amazing achievement, Robert Stuart-Smith, an autonomous manufacturing researcher at University College London and the University of Pennsylvania, and a co-author of the study, told The Daily Beast. By working with swarms of small robots that can make decisions as they build, tomorrows architects will be able to change building designs halfway through construction and tailor projects to fit a dynamic environment, he added. The potential implications are myriad. The new drones could provide new opportunities to construct buildings outside of the formulaic one-floor-after-another approach. Or, after a natural disaster like an avalanche, drones could 3D print tools for an entrapped survivor to free themselves. They might also be able to quickly construct temporary shelters for displaced individuals and families. Since they are free-roaming and dont need to be plugged in, 3D-printing drones could assist when theres a power outage from a storm or other weather event, making quick repairs to vital infrastructure (especially if there are obstacles preventing humans from getting close). University College London, Department of Computer Science, London. Dr Vijay M. Pawar & Robert Stuart-Smith, Autonomous Manufacturing Lab Taking inspiration from insects like bees and wasps, as well as recent research into teams of mobile robots that can self-organize, Stuart-Smith and his colleagues wanted to build a system of 3D-printing drones that could build in locations that traditionaland even state-of-the-art 3D-printed construction technologiescant reach. So-called additive manufacturing is currently limited by the size of its equipment; 3D-printed structures cant be wider than the printers base, and printers must maneuver around layers they have already deposited, creating time-consuming situations. By contrast, a flying 3D printer can deposit material below itself and move anywhere in space, allowing for structures with unlimited widths and complex geometries. Story continues These solutions can actually be very cost-effective, efficient, and provide a whole new way of working that otherwise is quite prohibitive using normal techniques, University College London computer science researcher and study co-author Vijay Pawar told The Daily Beast. The novel building material designed specifically for the new construction drones. University College London, Department of Computer Science, London. Dr Vijay M. Pawar & Robert Stuart-Smith, Autonomous Manufacturing Lab But creating the first flying and 3D-printing robots came with a slew of challenges. The researchers had to design a system that could deposit material and remain stable in flight. Additionally, the robot would have to remain light enough to take flight even while carrying the printing material; building materials are purposely heavy so that structures stay sturdy. To bypass the weight issue, the researchers used rapidly hardening polyurethane foam and then developed a lightweight version of cement for the robots to use. Basically, we had to engineer a brand-new material, Stuart-Smith said. The team of engineers tested the drones out over several trials, each of which would be relevant to future applications in construction. First, they programmed one drone to build an almost seven-foot cylindrical tower of foam (a second drone scanned the progress after each layer to chart the robots progress and verify that material was being deposited as planned). Then, a pair of drones built a seven-inch woven cylinder using the cement-like material (the end result looked like a cross between a wicker basket and drip sandcastle.) The researchers also simulated builds of cylinders and domes with groups of three and more drones, using beams of light instead of physical materials and taking time-lapse images of the results. It took the drones 300 seconds per layer to construct the cement-like cylinder, or 2.3 hours minutes in total. Stuart-Smith said that the robots will get faster and more efficient as the technology is refined, particularly when testing begins outdoors and researchers can use larger, more powerful drones. Rahul Pranat, a mechanical engineering researcher at Carnegie Mellon University who was not involved in the study, said that the research represented steps forward for both 3D printing and robotics. [Aerial robots] would remove roadblocks to many applications of 3D printing and go beyond the limits of current technologies, he told The Daily Beast. Before a fleet of drones can be contracted to build the next skyscraper, however, researchers need to improve both the manufacturing and robotics sides of the technology, Pranat added. Standards-setting must play a role, too, since companies that build swarms of drones code them in dozens of different programming languages. The Climate Disaster Era of Global Farming Will Be Defined by Drones With continued development, swarms of drones could provide an alternative means to support housing and vital infrastructure in remote locations or places made inaccessible due to natural disasters and the effects of global warming, the authors wrote in the study. But they could also play a role even closer to home: Construction that takes place just one or two stories aboveground currently requires human crews and can put these workers in dangerous positions. Drones, on the other hand, would still allow for human supervision without the potential for fatal accidents, Stuart-Smith said. All-in-all, a future construction site may no longer be dotted by men and women in hardhats and steel-toed boots baking under the hot sun to get a building done in piecemeal fashion. It might instead just be a swarm of drones printing the whole thing out in one fell swoop. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. E. Jean Carroll photo The Washington Post / Contributor/ Getty Images Former Elle advice columnist E. Jean Carroll is taking advantage of a new law in New York to file a civil suit against former President Donald Trump for allegedly raping her in the 1990s, according to court records released on Tuesday, The New York Times reports. Earlier this year, New York state passed a law that grants adult victims of sexual assault a one-time opportunity to sue, even if the statute of limitations has expired. Carroll sued Trump in 2019 for defamation in response to him branding her a liar and denying he assaulted her in a New York department store dressing room. In a letter to the federal judge overseeing the defamation lawsuit, Carroll's lawyer, Roberta A. Kaplan, wrote that they intend to file the new case against Trump on Nov. 24. The day marks the beginning of the one year that the law allows for such suits to be filed. Kaplan added that she plans to ask Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the Southern District of New York to try the two cases simultaneously on Feb. 6. Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, responded with a letter of her own, telling Judge Kaplan that granting the request from Carroll's lawyer would be "extraordinarily prejudicial" for Trump and would violate his rights. Both letters were dated in August and were not available publicly until the court filed them on Tuesday, per the Times. Carroll wrote about her allegations against Trump in a 2019 book and an article published in New York magazine. She initially filed her defamation lawsuit in state court, but the Justice Department removed the case and moved it to federal court at the request of the White House. You may also like Trump lawyers acknowledge criminal peril from classified documents in 1st filing with special master Republicans are threatening to tank Manchin's pro-oil bill over 'bad blood' from climate deal Princess Charlotte wears horseshoe brooch that the queen gave her at funeral EAST LANSING The East Lansing City Council on Tuesday agreed to demand that Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel drop charges against a man who was shot by city police officers in April or, barring that, have his case transferred to Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon. Mayor Ron Bacon and Councilmembers Dana Watson and Jessy Gregg voted in favor of the motion. Councilmember George Brookover was the dissenting vote and Councilmember Lisa Babcock abstained because she is a 54B District Court judicial candidate running unopposed. These type of motions coming in front of us let's our community know how we stand as a city council, Watson said during council discussions. East Lansing City Council also voted to send a letter to Nessel requesting the investigation file for the case. The Department of Attorney General does not make documents and files of open and ongoing cases available, Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for Nessel, said in an email Wednesday morning. "Officer-involved shootings are complex cases that elicit passionate reactions from the community," she said. "The Attorney General understands that there are those who disagree with the decision in this case, but she is duty-bound to evaluate the evidence and pursue appropriate charges in accordance with the law." DeAnthony VanAtten runs out of the Meijer at 1350 W. Lake Lansing Road in East Lansing on April 25, 2022. In April, 20-year-old DeAnthony VanAtten was shot by police officers Jose Viera and Jim Menser in an East Lansing Meijer parking lot. The shooting happened after police responded to a 911 caller's report of a man with a gun entering the Meijer store on Lake Lansing Road. The caller told a dispatcher the man was Black and was wearing a mask that covered "every bit of his face except for his eyes." Police chased VanAtten from inside the store to the parking lot, where Viera and Menser fired rounds at him after an officer yelled VanAtten had a gun. VanAtten was shot in the leg and abdomen. Nessel cleared the officers of wrongdoing, making the announcement during a Detroit news conference in August. She also announced seven felony charges, including four counts of assaulting or obstructing police, and a misdemeanor retail fraud count against VanAtten. Story continues The motions came before East Lansing City Council at the request of East Lansing's Independent Police Oversight Commission, which had previously voted to ask that Nessel drop all charges against VanAtten or to have the case moved to Siemon's office. Siemon has been critical of the criminal justice system's disparate impact on Black residents. In June 2020, the Ingham County Prosecutors Office worked with Nessel to develop and announce a policy that the prosecutor's office refer cases involving an officer-involved shooting or death of an individual in police custody directly to the Attorney Generals Office for review, the prosecutor's office Juvenile Justice/Community Outreach Coordinator Scott Hughes said in an email. "We dont typically comment on how other prosecutors exercise their discretion or comment on the facts of pending cases. There are ethical constraints on what attorneys can say in certain circumstances," Siemon said via email. During Tuesday's meeting, Watson said Nessel requested a meeting with her, Bacon and Elaine Hardy, East Lansings director of diversity, equity and inclusion. Both Watson and Bacon said that after they spoke with Nessel it seemed it was not likely the charges would be dropped. Bacon said he thinks the political implications of not charging VanAtten for Nessel, who is seeking a second term in November, may be too high. He said Nessels press conference clearing officers Viera and Menser announcing the charges against VanAtten was political theater. She wanted to show she was tough on officers, criminally charging an Ogemaw County deputy, Matthew Viviano, in connection with a 2021 incident, and tough on crime with the charges against VanAtten. So this is really complicated for me, Bacon said. Read More: Brookover said he voted against the motion because there are pending charges and a city shouldnt discuss evidence, either implicitly or explicitly. I believe in the work of the police commission I do believe that it is one of our most critical advisory bodies, and its one that has been put to the test before our eyes, he said. However, he thinks VanAtten should have his day in court. Theres a continuing internal investigation by the East Lansing Police Department and I dont think this is a judicious use of our resources at this point in time, Brookover said. VanAtten's preliminary exam is scheduled at 9 a.m. Oct. 6. Contact Bryce Airgood at 517-267-0448 or bairgood@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: East Lansing council demands Nessel drop charges against man shot by police Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. (Ray Ewing / Associated Press) Despite widespread outcry, the governors of Florida and Texas say they will continue to bus or fly more migrants to unexpected locations across the nation to raise awareness about the crisis at the border. Using vulnerable humans as pawns in a political game is morally wrong and further destabilizes an already dysfunctional immigration system. Buses began transporting confused and mostly Spanish-speaking migrants in April, dumping them without resources in Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York City. Last week, three buses deposited migrants in front of Vice President Kamala Harris' official residence, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis chartered jets to transport migrants to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Another flight last week delivered migrants to Sacramento. The next destination may be Delaware, the home state of President Biden. Most of these migrants are coming from politically unstable countries like Venezuela and have made harrowing journeys through jungles and other dangerous terrain across various countries. The are not undocumented immigrants, but asylum seekers. And there are processes in place designed to help them during their first few days and weeks in the U.S. An immigration officer conducts interviews to determine whether they have a credible fear of persecution or torture. Those allowed to temporarily remain in the U.S. are determined to have viable claims for asylum and are released with notices for immigration hearings to further determine their cases. These are systems that also help control the border by ensuring migrants are processed correctly. By circumventing the normal process, DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and others involved in the transportation of migrants are making the situation much worse. What's going on may also be a crime. Some of these migrants reported being lured onto planes and buses by government officials using deceptive tactics. A lawsuit filed Tuesday by the nonprofit migrant organization Alianza Americas against DeSantis states that migrants were given $10 McDonald's vouchers and promised jobs, housing and other assistance. The lawsuit says migrants were sequestered away from the migrant center, and from the possibility of actual good Samaritans finding out how the class members were being abused. Story continues Legislators and a Texas sheriff are also looking into whether it's legal to ship migrants across state lines. Aid organizations are experienced in providing assistance to migrants after they are released by border officials. These groups mobilize volunteers, help connect migrants to temporary housing and provide transportation to other cities where they have relatives or other resources. Importantly, they make sure that migrants are ready to attend their scheduled immigration hearings, which determine whether they get to stay in the U.S. There is no question that there is a crisis at the border. Apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol are on the rise, increasing more than 22% from July to August. But it is a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by political posturing, not one caused by an uncontrolled border. Its an emergency that has been created by the lack of goodwill by politicians more interested in their own political viability than the stability of the country and fueled by decades of failure by Congress to tackle comprehensive immigration reform. Given the volatility of Venezuela and other regions, we can expect more desperate migrants to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. Many organizations helping migrants are supported by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Legislators should make sure that this program has the resources to provide the needed assistance. But we also need leadership. This political stunt may have called attention to the pressures that migration places on border states, but it has also illuminated the callousness by some elected officials who would manipulate desperate, scared people to score political points. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. El Salvador has bought back a portion of its sovereign debt bonds maturing in 2023 and 2025 totalling $565 million, President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday. According to official information, El Salvador purchased 54% of the bonds maturing in 2025 for a total of $432 million. And it bought 22.4% of the bonds maturing in 2023, for a total of $133 million. Bukele said that El Salvador will launch a new offer for the remainder of the 2023 and 2025 bonds in eight weeks. As with the latest repurchase, it will be done at market prices, Bukele added. According to Bukele, the initial repurchases have saved the country more than $275 million. The bond repurchase, launched on Sept. 12, is seen as an attempt by El Salvador to dispel rumors of a potential default on its debt. The Central American country has had strained relations with the traditional credit market, particularly after it established bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender in September 2021 El Salvador has successfully completed the first advance purchase operation of bonds maturing in 2023 and 2025; managing to repurchase bonds for more than $565 million. And generated more than $275 million in savings for our country https://t.co/lT20GLG6nd Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) September 21, 2022 Last week, Fitch Ratings downgraded El Salvador's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) from CCC to CC and indicated that the country is likely to default on its bond maturing in early 2023. Elizabeth Burke Bryant is stepping down as executive director of Rhode Island Kids Count. PROVIDENCE -- Elizabeth Burke Bryant is stepping down as executive director of Rhode Island Kids Count after 28 years. Burke Bryant has been the leader of the agency since its inception in 1994. Under her direction, Rhode Island Kids Count has become the states leading child advocacy organization. It has a national reputation for its work to improve the health, education, early childhood development, economic well-being, and safety of Rhode Islands children. More: Women-led families in RI hard hit by COVID crisis, data shows More: Annual Rhode Island Kids Count report shows worsening mental health, learning conditions More: Child care bills would pay for universal pre-k and support childcare workers The organization's annual factbook has become a go-to source of data and policy information for multiple indicators of child well-being across the state. Under Burke Bryant's guidance, the organization has focused on disparities in child outcomes by race, ethnicity, and income and has called for dismantling the structures that led to these inequities. 'A hero for children and for justice' In a statement, Rhode Island Kids Count cited the following accomplishments that the organization helped achieve: a nationally recognized Pre-K program, full-day kindergarten, childrens health insurance coverage, a significant reduction in childhood lead poisoning, and reversal of a law that allowed 17-year-olds to be tried as adults and sent to adult prison. Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, a former director Planned Parenthood, said Burke Bryant has been "a hero for children and for justice. The state is a better place because of her efforts. Thank you, my friend." Burke Bryant was a fixture at the State House, advocating for policies to improve the lives of the states children, youth, and families. According to the release, Burke Bryant has also built an experienced team of child advocates who collaborate with other advocates, community-based organizations, and partners inside and outside of government to elevate the voices of those most affected by these policies, including parents and youth. Linda Borg covers education for the Journal. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Burke Bryant steps down as leader of Rhode Island Kids Count Donald Trump (L) and Eric Trump. Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images The NY attorney general filed a fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump, his business, and three of his children. Trump's son Eric, who was also named in the AG suit, immediately lashed out at the attorney geernal. "Letitia James is the most corrupt Attorney General in United States History," he wrote on Truth Social. Former President Donald Trump's son Eric lashed out at New York Attorney General Letitia James immediately after she filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing him and his family of years of business fraud at the Trump Organization, where he's an executive. "Letitia James is the most corrupt Attorney General in United States History - she campaigned on the promised to sue my father watch for yourself!" he wrote on Truth Social. The former president's son, who is executive vice president of the Trump Organization, posted a video of James, created by Donald Trump's Save America PAC, that says she campaigned on suing Trump and shows her saying "his days are numbered." During James' campaign for attorney general in 2018, she said she would investigate Donald Trump and his business. The day after she was elected, she was more explicit, saying: "We're definitely going to sue him." The lawsuit, which comes after a 3-year investigation, names the former president, his business, and his three eldest children and says it has evidence of over 200 instances of false and misleading valuations of their assets. James' office said "Trump falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to further enrich himself and cheat the system." James said the conduct detailed in her suit may violate state and criminal law, including "issuing false statements to financial institutions and bank fraud." She said state investigations would refer these allegations to the US attorney for the Southern District of New York and the IRS. Read the original article on Business Insider Erica Banks has ruffled feathers once again for saying that she wont go out with certain friends if they dont have a voluptuous body. A Certain Look Only few months ago, Erica Banks went viral after saying that Nicki Minaj did not collaborate with talented rappers, rather, cosigned other female rappers who did not have the talent. This led to massive backlash, and when Minaj caught wind of Banks comment, she cut off all contact. Following the incident, it seems like Banks is currently back on the blogs because of the recent comments that she made about what she wants her friends to physically look like. In the circulating video, Banks is seen looking into the camera and saying that her friends have to have a certain type of look if they will be clubbing with her. In her own words Banks further said: If she dont look how I want her to look, physically, I dont want her to come, because the look of everything is so important to me. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tits and Giggles (@titsandgiggles.tv) In another part of the video, Banks says that if a person doesnt fit her brand, or doesnt have curves in all the right places, she can go to the cookout, but not the club. Understandably, that triggered a lot of strong reactions online, with many people calling Banks out for being a snob, especially since it was public knowledge that she had undergone plastic surgery. After several people called the Texas native out for sitting on a high horse, she took to social media to double down on her earlier comments. Everybodys entitled to their own opinion & Ive never been one to convince people of liking mine. My preference of who I club with when it comes to my brand has nothing to do with yall. Yall never liked me anyway so why would I care about what yall think about anything I say? FLOW QUEEN (@realericabanks) September 20, 2022 The Buss It rapper also had some strongly-worded retorts for people who pointed out her seeming big headedness and ignorance. She further pointed out that she could hang out with whomever she chose to bless with her presence. I was still Erica Banks, dumb bitch. A BBL doesnt solidify who I am & I can hangout with who I choose. https://t.co/kJUEm8ogve FLOW QUEEN (@realericabanks) September 20, 2022 Banks sentiment echo the problematic views that were shared by a TikToker a few months ago who said that she only wanted to have friends who aesthetically looked like her. This is a troubling sentiment that has been perpetuated by societys pretentious and ever-evolving beauty standards. Xi's thought guides reform of armed forces (China Daily) 08:27, September 21, 2022 A formation of People's Liberation Army Air Force takes part in a military parade celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, Oct 1, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua] President's goal is to build stronger, more integrated and more flexible PLA Editor's Note: To mark the 95th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, China Daily is publishing a series of stories elaborating on Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, expounding its main ideas from different angles. The People's Liberation Army has been undergoing a historic reform guided by President Xi Jinping since late 2012, when Xi became the top leader of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese military. Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military has also made it clear that pursuing reform and encouraging innovation are key to military's strength. The reform has resulted in the biggest, most important overhaul of the PLA in decades. The senior governing bodies of the world's largest military have been reshuffledup to the Central Military Commissionto optimize the command chain. The regional command systems have been reorganized to boost joint combat capabilities. Group armies and institutions have been merged to improve efficiency, and new high-technology units have been set up to prepare for operations in nontraditional fields such as cyberspace. Experts said the president's goal is plain and clear: The PLA must become stronger, more integrated and more flexible so it will always be able to win modern wars. Not long after Xi became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in November 2012, he announced his determination to revolutionize the PLA and build it into a mighty force capable of safeguarding China's security and interests. Since then, the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core has been making theoretical and practical efforts to identify what kind of military should be built in order to respond to the new realities of the new era and help make the great Chinese dream of national rejuvenation come true, and what steps should be taken to build such a military. The outcome of these discussions has come to be known as Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military. "China is at a crucial stage in its path toward becoming a world power" and "the country is facing new situations and new challenges when it comes to its security and development", so the Chinese military must be aware of its responsibilities and problems and make comprehensive changes, the president said. Under the reform, changes have taken place in the life of almost all PLA personnel. Many officers, including hundreds of generals, have been moved to new positions, while some have returned to civilian life. Soldiers are now spending more time in battle training and live-fire exercises, and corrupt commanders have been expelled and punished. "Without a strong military and strong national defense, we could not achieve our goal of building a strong country," said Major General Luo Yuan, a retired researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Science. "To safeguard national security and development interests, we must have a compatible military force." In November 2013, a plenary session of the CPC Central Committee declared a formal decision to undertake massive military reform. Four months later, the Central Military Commission established a group under Xi's leadership tasked with drawing up a road map for the reform and guiding its implementation. This marked the first time that the Party's general secretary had personally headed an authority dealing with reform of the national defense system and the military. To prepare for the reform, Xi presided over two plenary meetings of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to listen to experts' thoughts, research findings and suggestions. Xi also convened three meetings of the Central Military Commission's reform leadership group to solicit and discuss ideas and advice from top PLA authorities, service headquarters, regional commands and research bodies. Moreover, the commander-in-chief personally arranged the research and making of major reform policies. Under his instructions, the military organized more than 800 workshops and asked over 2,900 high-ranking officers, government officials and researchers to share their ideas, considerations and suggestions. The armed forces also encouraged service members to submit their opinions, and finally received over 3,400 suggestions. After over 150 rounds of revision, in July 2015, an overall reform plan was approved by top Party and military authorities. Four months later, the plan was unveiled. The once-in-decades overhaul soon took effect. The last day of 2015 saw the establishment of the PLA Ground Force Headquarters, the PLA Rocket Force and the PLA Strategic Support Force, an unprecedented step that formally started the historic military reform. In January 2016, the top four PLA departmentsgeneral staff, political, logistics and armamentwere disbanded and their functions and duties handed to 15 new agencies under the direct control of the Central Military Commission. Soon after, regional command systems, which administered frontline forces for more than 60 years, were reshuffled into the eastern, southern, western, northern and central theater commands. These replaced seven regional commands named after their headquarters cities: Beijing, Shenyang, Jinan, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu and Guangzhou. The commission also established the Joint Operations Command Center and the Joint Logistics Support Force. In the reform, the PLA cut its troops by 300,000 and its Ground Force reduced the number of its group armies from 18 to 13. Also, the number of the PLA's universities and colleges was cut from 74 to 43. However, the Navy and Rocket Force were expanded, while the number of noncombatant personnel was reduced. "The military reform greatly cut the size of the Ground Force and the staff of the Ground Force has dropped below 50 percent of the entire PLA," said General Li Zuocheng, chief of staff of the Central Military Commission's Joint Staff Department, who was commander of the PLA Ground Force during the troop reduction. He said the reform would turn China's traditional massive land force into a strong and modern army. Key to strength Xi has repeatedly stressed the role of science, technology and innovation in the Chinese military. Upon his request, the CPC Central Committee established a Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development to foster this work. The military also reorganized its top research institutionsthe PLA Academy of Military Science, the PLA National Defense University and the PLA National University of Defense Technology. Shao Dan, a researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Science, said the reform is expected to make the Chinese armed forces better suited to modern warfare and give them greater deterrence capabilities to safeguard the nation's sovereignty and interests. "The past military system that relied heavily on ground forces has been abolished, while new capabilities in strategic early-warning, long-distance marine defense, long-range strike, strategic power deployment and information support have been extensively strengthened," she said. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said the reform is intended to shape the future of the PLA and has become the deepest and most comprehensive shake-up of the military. The reform has established a new command system, with the Central Military Commission at the top of it. The regional commands are responsible for inter-service exercises and combat operations, while the headquarters of the Ground Force, Navy and other services take charge of training and unit development. "The reform has restructured the armed forces, giving them new momentum and strengthened morale," Wu said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Du Mingming) Johnny Ndebe is a national dispute resolution monitor for The Carter Center in Liberia. Last year, I was notified that a crowd of protesters had blockaded a bridge a few hours from Monrovia, Liberia, where I work as the national dispute monitor with The Carter Center. The demonstrators were upset that the person elected to represent them in the national legislature had not been seated a year after the election because of legal proceedings. They were blocking a key bridge to bring attention to their complaint, blocking traffic for miles in each direction. I drove the four hours from Monrovia to the scene of the protest, where police appeared to be preparing for a violent confrontation with the demonstrators. While on the way, I had called few traditional stakeholders from the region who I know, who have been benefiting from Carter Center training and other activities, and they informed the protesters that I was coming there to engage with them. When I got there, they recognized me, and they had confidence that I was there to listen to them and get this situation resolved. HIGHLAND COUNTY A Middle River Regional Jail inmate who escaped from a Highland County deputy Tuesday morning during a prisoner transport remains at-large, according to a press release. Shaun W. Gwin, 34, who was being held at Middle River Regional Jail, escaped while he was being taken back to the jail following a court hearing in Highland County. Authorities said Gwin, of McDowell, was in a Highland County deputy's vehicle when he reportedly kicked out a window. Following the escape, the Augusta County Mobile Command Post was deployed to the Mountain View General Store in Deerfield, and the press release said there was an increased presence of law enforcement in the area for "many hours." Augusta County Sheriffs Office personnel assisted with searching multiple addresses in Highland County, set up a roadblock at the Augusta County-Highland County line, and interviewed known associates of Gwin. The Augusta County Sheriff's Office deployed members from its Patrol Division, Investigations Division, Narcotics Division, two canine deputies, and members of the Drone Team during the effort. The jail lists Gwin as being 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing an orange jail jumpsuit. He was being held on theft charges, according to the jail, and also has pending drug and gun charges. Anyone with information on Gwin's whereabouts is asked to contact the Highland County Sheriffs Office at (540) 468-2210, the Augusta County Sheriffs Office at (540) 245-5333, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-2017. Our youth will inherit climate crisis. We talked to a Staunton teen about what that means. New waffle shop to debut during Queen City Mischief and Magic in Staunton Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Escaped inmate from Middle River Regional Jail remains at-large (Bloomberg) -- The European Union aims to push Hungary to strengthen the independence of the countrys judges as a condition for obtaining 5.8 billion euros ($5.8 billion) in grants from pandemic recovery funds. Most Read from Bloomberg The European Commission is discussing with Budapest the final details of its recovery plan as the blocs executive arm leans toward including milestones related to the judicial system to unlock the funds, EU officials said. Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government has said the EUs executive had no right to make additional demands following weeks of intense talks that led to Budapest agreeing to more than a dozen measures to battle corruption and shore up the rule of law. Its not only about the fight against corruption, but also the independence of the justice system, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders told Bloomberg. The commission proposed on Sunday withholding 7.5 billion euros of funds earmarked for Hungary from the EUs multi-year budget, pending their implementation. Thats separate from the Covid-19 recovery funds available for each member state. The EU executive found systemic deficiencies and irregularities in Hungarian public procurements, with companies connected to Orbans ruling party having much better odds of winning contracts and local prosecutors often unwilling to investigate these. Hungary pledged 17 steps by Nov. 19 to address these and related concerns, according to the European Commissions conclusion of its rule of law probe. Orbans government filed the first bills to parliament on Monday, mandating stepped up cooperation with the EUs anti-fraud office and expanding the entities required to conduct public procurements. Story continues EU officials said that the procedure to block EU funds could be suspended if Hungary completes the reforms before member states confirm the commissions decision within the next three months. New Conditions Hungarys proposed measures include a so-called Integrity Authority -- charged with reinforcing the prevention, detection and correction of fraud, conflicts of interest and corruption as well as other illegalities and irregularities relating to EU funds -- as well as the setting up of an anti-corruption task force. Their implementation may also be included as milestones in the approval process for Covid recovery funds. But key commissioners also want to go further and include new conditions related to the independence of judges after years of criticism from Brussels about Orbans increasing sway over the courts, including the supreme court, or Kuria. The EU also wants Hungary to strengthen a body of independent judges tasked with overseeing the judiciary, whose leadership has complained of being stonewalled when trying to address deficiencies. If we want to go further in the plan, we need to take into account the different reforms that we have asked for in the different procedures, Reynders said. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also backed including demands related to judicial independence in the recovery plan during a meeting of commissioners Sunday, officials said. A spokesperson for the commission declined to comment as discussions are confidential. Tight Time Line Hungary needs to submit its recovery plan in coming weeks, as the approval process has to be completed by year-end or the country could lose 70% of its Covid funds. The country is expected to submit its plan around the end of September and the commission could give its approval by early November, followed by member statess endorsement in early December at a meeting of economy and finance ministers, another EU official said. That would leave some time to finalize paperwork by the year-end, although the time line is very tight, EU officials acknowledged. Hungary is the only EU country to have failed to clinch the commissions endorsement of its Covid-recovery plan. Even if Hungary does get its plan approved, it may face hurdles similar to Polands case. Warsaw has seen rule of law probes and has failed to actually tap recovery funds due to continuing concerns over judicial independence. The risk of losing EU funds and market pressure over the past months have pushed Orbans government to meet some of the blocs long-standing demands after years of eroding the rule of law and interfering in the judiciary system. Under his leadership since 2010, Hungary has plunged in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index and now ranks lowest in the EU after Bulgaria. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. His Toyota Matrix has driven the equivalent of four times around the world and it would never pass an inspection in Europe. But for its delighted new owner, Adam Adebiyi, the ageing hatchback with more than 170,000 kilometres (105,000 miles) on the clock may just as well have rolled off the factory floor. Like millions of other Africans, the Beninese computer scientist has turned to the second-hand market to buy a quality car that would normally be well beyond his budget. Africa is the world's biggest destination for used vehicles. More than a quarter of second-hand autos exported between 2015 and 2020, or 5.6 million vehicles, ended up on the continent, according to the UN. These vehicles come mainly from Europe and Japan, and increasingly from South Korea or the United States, but are often very old or high-pollution models. Adebiyi's Matrix Toyota went into circulation in 2004 in Canada, before it was shipped by sea 15 years later to Benin, where it was purchased by a first owner, who then sold it to him. Not far from the port of Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin, sales lots packed with second-hand vehicles, mainly from Europe, stretch for kilometres. Benin is one of the five largest importers of used vehicles in Africa, according to a UN report published at the end of 2021. The West African country has only 11 million inhabitants, but it is the gateway to the markets of Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and especially its giant neighbour Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. In one of these huge car lots near the border with Nigeria, Zakari Cisse recently sat with his hand on the steering wheel of his just purchased car, a model put into circulation in Belgium in 2002. He would have liked to buy a new one from a dealership. But lacking resources, he fell back on this 20-year-old second-hand vehicle, which is "clean and well maintained". "The engine responds very well and you can tell by the noise," he said. "We don't import rubbish," said Ossama Allouch, an importer of used vehicles in Cotonou, who says vehicles are subject to controls before purchase. Story continues "They are not just any vehicles that are banned from use." In Benin, a 15-year-old imported saloon, also called a sedan, typically changes hands for around 1.5 million CFA francs ($2,300). That's quite a bargain in a country where a brand-new model will cost a dozen times as much, and the average salary is little more than $100 per month. - Stolen converters - According to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report in 2021, most vehicles exported to developing countries are old, polluting, energy-inefficient, potentially dangerous and undermine efforts to reduce carbon emissions. During an inspection by Dutch authorities at the end of 2019 in Amsterdam port -- from where boats transporting these cars to Africa leave every week -- the average age of the vehicles waiting was 18 years and they exceeded 200,000 kilometres (120,000 miles) mileage on average. No fewer than 93 percent were Euro 3 or lower -- a category meaning they were marketed before the start of the 2000s. Some of the vehicles had broken down and some had been stripped of their catalytic converters -- attachments that reduce emission of polluting toxic non-carbon gases such as nitrogen oxide. To filter the noxious gases, converters use precious metals such as gold, silver, rhodium and platinum. Their value can exceed $100, providing a rich incentive for them to be removed and trafficked. Amen Djidjoho, head of one of the sales parks in Benin, dismissed those concerns. "All imported vehicles come with catalytic converters because in Europe and America, it is strictly forbidden to remove them," he said. To avoid converter theft after the vehicles have arrived, security guards watch over the assignments until they are transferred to Beninese sales parks, Djidjoho said. Importer Ossama Allouch said converters are often stolen after the purchase, resold by owners or removed from garages. - Pollution worry - Conservationists say pollution generated by these old vehicles is a major concern, given Africans' thirst for a set of wheels. Old cars, together with the poor quality of fuels used in West Africa, are "one of the main causes of the increase in air pollution levels in the cities of the region", UNEP said. "Children, who walk to schools and use busy roads, and informal vendors along these roads" are most at risk, it said. Regulating this important sector of the Beninese economy and a major provider of jobs is predictably not an easy task. The 15-member regional bloc Economic Community of West African States adopted a directive in 2020 aimed at bringing cleaner fuels and vehicles to the market, with implementation planned for January 2021. Imported second-hand vehicles must in particular meet at least Euro 4 standards, which means they have been put into circulation after 2006. But it is clear that in Benin, vehicles sold in car parks are much older. Contacted several times, the Ministry of Transport had not answered AFP's questions about legislation in force in the country. str-cma/pma/ri/rox/gw Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Disney+/Des Willie Star Wars has another prequel in its roster: Andor, its newest Disney+ series. Andor follows Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the Rebel Alliance intelligence officer and pilot who was introduced and then sacrificed his life in 2016s Rogue One. But after seeing Cassian, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), and the rest of their team perish on-screen, fans never thought that more stories starring those characters were in the cards. But thanks to the franchises affinity for hopping back and forth through time for their various projects, Cassian Andors story will continueby going five years backward. Why focus on a character that fans know is going to die not long after the show wraps? Doing that is kind of Star Wars MO. We knew that Darth Vader would kill Sidious and die in Luke Skywalkers arms in Return of the Jedi, the third Star Wars film released. But that didnt stop the franchise from spawning an entire set of prequels 20-plus years later, which showed Vaders (a.k.a. Anakin Skywalkers) origins. Andor Is Hoping for a New Han Solo in Diego Lunas Cassian Andor But unlike the prequel trilogy of movies, which end 19 years before A New Hope, Andor takes place only a handful of years before Rogue One. And while it does show Cassian as a child, the series doesnt offer a play-by-play of his life. Instead, Andor is more concerned with the momentum of the Rebel Alliance, and how Cassian found himself fighting for their cause. As Luna told Good Morning America in August, the two-season drama series introduces us to a Cassian who doesnt know [what] hes capable of. Not only do we get to see the dark and brutal origins of the character, but well also be treated to more of the storytelling that Rogue One highlighted: the human side to the rebellion and war we saw in the original trilogy. Even though weve seen some of this time period in Star Wars before, things can get confusing. Weve got you covered with a handy guide to what you need to know going into the Disney+ show, whether or not youve already seen Rogue One. Story continues The series takes place at a breaking point for the rebellion Andors 12-episode first season is set to take place over the course of a year, five years before the events of Rogue One. Per Deadline, Season 2 (of two total) has been confirmed and will take place over the course of the following four years, leading up to the moments before Rogue One starts. Diego Luna as Cassian Andor. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Disney+/Des Willie The end of Revenge of the Sith showed the Republic overturned into a dictatorship with heavy militant law enforcement in the form of Stormtroopers. The Jedi Order has fallen, and so there is no formidable opposition to a powerful Empire run by a Sith. But after nearly 14 years post-Order 66, the growing rebellion against the Empire is about ready to burst. If you felt like the trailer to Andor was like one big climax pusher, youd be correct. At this point in time, the Rebel Alliance exists, and things are fermenting, as one security officer says in the trailer. Theres imagery akin to the early uprisings in The Hunger Games, or even something like police riots in our own time period. Andor works with a similar formula that made Rogue One such a hit. Its still one of the most beloved Star Wars movies to come out after the Disney acquisitionand one of the most cherished overallbecause of its lesson and heart. The movie stars a group of heroes consisting of mostly marginalized characters, a team who represents the relentless human efforts in the battle to save the galaxy. They are the sole reason why Luke was able to blow up the Death Star in one shot in A New Hope. Best of all, Cassian and his crew werent Jedi, nor were they rebels we already knew the names of. They were a cast of new characters who were able to make you care about them in the 138 minutes they had on-screen, and then crush your soul with their death all the same. Andor, like its predecessor, shows the truly human toll that living under a fascist regime takes. And it shows the human effort that can turn the tide of war and win. Cassian Andor is not a part of the Rebel Alliance yet Andor shows how he got to be a rebel officer in Rogue One. We know that, in the beginning, Cassian is very much against joining any type of group resistance to the Empire. While he steals Imperial property and is very much not a fan of the fascist regime, his biggest goal is self-preservation. What Andor delves into is how the jaded, aloof schemer seen at the beginning of this series turns that into a dedicated rebel. While Cassian only has one movies worth of development and background to show for thus far, hes already a pretty rich character. We know, for instance, that he is whats known as a Fulcrum informant, a title used by spies in the network of rebels developed by the famed former Jedi, Ahsoka Tano. (You may remember her from such shows as Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, or The Mandalorian.) Rogue One Kicks Ass: The Best Star Wars Movie Since The Empire Strikes Back Ahsoka wanted to gain recruits to help the rebellion and help those in need after the Empire took over, creating the so-called Fulcruma title whose relationship to Ahsoka and the rebellion was only clear to those in the know. She was the original member of that group, but all of the spies used this title to confuse their identities for anyone who might listen in. As seen in Star Wars: Rebels, Fulcrum gave the necessary information to rebels to carry out heists and plans against the Empire as well. Does all of this mean that Ahsoka herself will show up in Andor? While its possible and could make narrative sense, nothing weve seen of Andor so far has hinted at this potentially happening. But theres plenty of time for us to be surprised. A lot of new faces are involved, but keep an eye out for familiar ones too Dont expect to see all of your old faves from Rogue Oneor many other Star Wars storiesin this series. Andor introduces several new characters to the franchise. Adria Arjona as Cassians mysterious friend Bix and Kyle Soller as stringent Deputy Inspector Syril Karn. Fiona Shaw also makes her Star Wars debut as Maarva Andor, Cassian Andors adoptive mother. From left: Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard), Mon Mothma (Caroline Blakiston), Bix (Adria Arjona), and Maarva Andor (Fiona Shaw). Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Disney+/Des Willie Most intriguing of all the newbies, though, is Luthen Rael, whos played by Stellan Skarsgard. While we dont know his motives yet, Luthen seems to really want Cassian to join the fight against the Empire. He sees the capabilities Cassian possesses but hasnt fully tapped into yet; in order to convince him, he gives Cassian an encouraging speech thats very similar to the one Cassian gave Jyn in Rogue One. The Empire is choking us so slowly, were starting not to notice, Luthen says in the Andor trailer that premiered in August. What Im asking is this: Wouldnt you rather give it all to something real? Again, we dont know Luthens full story. But considering hes shown in the Senate in the trailer, he might be a double agent of sorts like Senator Bail Organa or Senator Mon Mothma. These were individuals that still had a prominent position in the (now powerless) senate, but who were also deeply invested in creating resistance against the Empire. This is briefly shown in Kenobi the with Organas on Alderran. Speaking of Mon Mothma, she is a pretty familiar face to see in Andor, played again by Genevieve OReilly. Senator Mon Mothma has a long history in Star Wars canon. OReillys version of the character appeared in Rogue One and Revenge of the Sith. But Mon Mothma first appeared decades ago, in Return of the Jedi (portrayed by Caroline Blakiston). The reason Mon Mothma continues to pop in Star Wars media is that she has been at the forefront of the fight against the Empire since the beginning. Another character who appeared in Rogue One and is back for Andor is Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker). While he became a rebel extremist by the end of his life, Saw has ties to Luthen, so he might be working closer with the Rebel Alliance during Andor. But fans of The Clone Wars know that Saw Gerrera is more than just the injured leader of this radical group: He also fought in the Clone Wars as a young man alongside the Republic and Ahsoka Tano, who was a commander at that point. Even with some familiar faces and some new, Cassian Andors story is obviously the one to watch. And while we could get more cameos from characters we know, its all tying into Cassians journey. The journey of a reluctant hero who is about to find his purpose and become one of the most dedicated in the Rebel Alliance, willing to sacrifice it all for the cause. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A former Alaska attorney general has been indicted by a state grand jury on three felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor, a special prosecutor announced Wednesday. The allegations against Clyde Ed Sniffen involve an Anchorage West High School student while he was in a position of authority in 1991, according to a statement released by the current attorney generals office on behalf of Gregg Olson, the special prosecutor. Sniffen will be arraigned Monday. Olson in May filed the charges against Sniffen, 58, and the grand jury returned its indictment of the three felonies against him earlier this week. A message sent to Jeffrey Robinson, who is listed in online court records as Sniffens attorney, was not immediately returned. His office said he was out of town. Sniffen was a longtime attorney with the Alaska Department of Law. In January 2021, Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed him as attorney general, the state's top law enforcement officer. However, he resigned shortly afterward, before his appointment was confirmed by the Alaska Legislature. Sniffen was chosen to replace married and socially conservative then-Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson, who resigned in 2020 shortly after details of text messages he sent to a female state employee were revealed. The Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica in 2021 reported Sniffens resignation was announced as they were reporting on allegations of sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl three decades earlier. The woman had told the news organizations that she and Sniffen began a sexual relationship in 1991 while she was a high school student. At the time, he was a 27-year-old attorney with a local law firm and a coach of her schools mock trial competition team, the news organizations had reported. The Anchorage Police Department investigated after the relationship became public in January 2021. Olson reviewed the investigation independent of the attorney generals office. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) A judge sentenced former Honduran First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo to 14 years in prison Wednesday on corruption charges, the second time Bonilla had been sentenced. Bonilla will be allowed to appeal the sentence within 20 days, court spokesman Carlos Silva said. The first time Bonilla was convicted and sentenced to 58 years in prison, but the conviction was tossed out due to inconsistencies in the process. She was re-tried in March and convicted of fraud and embezzlement. She embezzled more than $1 million in government funds between 2010 and 2014, when her husband Porfirio Lobo was president. Last year, the United States government barred former president Lobo from entering the country due to allegations of drug trafficking. In July, Bonilla and Lobos 23-year-old son Said Omar Lobo Bonilla was killed along with three others when they were ambushed by gunmen leaving a club in the capital. Bonillas private secretary Saul Escobar was also sentenced Wednesday to seven years and three months in prison for fraud. An ex-adviser to Vladimir Putin has claimed UK cities could be a nuclear target for the Russian president and blamed the Ukraine war on the West as he launched into a bizarre rant on British radio. Sergey Markov made a host of unsubstantiated claims - including that Western countries are using Ukrainian soldiers as slaves - before shouting down the phone line during his interview. He threatened the West with nuclear war before he was asked any questions on BBCs Today programme on Wednesday morning. Good morning to you, the presenter said, to which the ex-Putin advisor replied: Good morning. Well its not good morning ... for everybody. He continued: For Western countries, for you, British listeners, I would say that Vladimir Putin told us he would be ready to use nuclear weapons against Western countries, including nuclear weapons against Great Britain. Mr Markov said your cities will be target.. before being interrupted. Mr Putin warned he would be prepared to use weapons of mass destruction to protect his country in an address to the nation on Wednesday. When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal, Russias president said. The former Putin advisor launched into a rant about nuclear war within seconds of his BBC Radio 4 interview (Sky News / Twitter) Mr Markov was asked if he believed the Russian leader had made a clear threat not just to use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine but also to start a general nuclear war that would kill everyone. He replied not everyone but added it could kill a lot of people in the Western countries. The former Putin advisor said: I would say that everybody in the world is thinking about nuclear war. This nuclear war could be result of the crazy behaviour of the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and prime ministers of Great Britain, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Vladimir Putin warned he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons to protect Russia (Russian Presidential Press Service) He claimed Russia doesnt want everybody in the world to die in a nuclear war but that it wanted to resolve the war in Ukraine, that he claimed was being fought by Western countries using Ukrainian soldiers as their slaves. Story continues After claiming Russia wanted peace, Mr Markov was challenged by the BBC presenter who said: You havent been talking much about peace, have you? Youve just threatened us all with complete destruction, nuclear missiles coming to London, you said, and now you talk about peace. Mr Markov replied: If Great Britain continues to be aggressor against Russia, if the prime minister of Great Britain, Liz Truss, still has a plan to destroy Russia, people in London should understand this threat comes from Liz Truss who is aggressor. He concluded the interview shouting at the presenter, claiming Russia did not invade Ukraine and blaming the West for the war. A foreign office minister, who was the next guest on the Today programme, was asked what she made of the interview. More of Putins lies. A complete rewriting of history. A bit of sabre rattling, Gillian Keegan said. And talk of nuclear war is very unhelpful and we would urge calm. Russia invaded Ukraine seven months ago (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) She added: It is a serious threat but it is one that has been made before. Mr Markov has previously made baseless claims about the war in Ukraine to UK media, telling Sky News Volodymyr Zelensky was a puppet of the US and Russia invaded Ukraine to liberate it from neo-Nazis. He also said Talk TV presenter Jeremy Kyle was probably disinformed when asked about Mr Putin being responsible for deaths in Ukraine. SheKnows It seems that along with pushing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle down to the lowest level on the official royal family website, they dont want either of them to be considered part of the Fab Four anymore. While Prince William and Kate Princess of Wales continue to hold that title, it seems the other half [] (Corrects paragraph 16 to show Cheniere is not the only LNG company subject to the EPA rule) By Nichola Groom and Valerie Volcovici (Reuters) -Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy Inc said it will repair and replace equipment at its Louisiana terminal after tests showed it exceeded newly-imposed hazardous emissions limits on certain known carcinogens, but the work will have no material impact on operations. A round of testing showed at least one of Cheniere's turbines at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Louisiana failed the new standards, while the turbines in Texas at the company's only other U.S. LNG facility were meeting the rules, according to documents obtained from state regulators through a series of information requests and reviewed by Reuters. At issue is a rule under the U.S. Clean Air Act called the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Pollutants, which imposes curbs on emissions of known carcinogens like formaldehyde and benzene, that was re-instated in February to apply to a type of gas-fired turbine only used in the LNG industry by Cheniere. Cheniere, the top U.S. supplier of LNG to Europe, earlier this year asked the Biden administration for an exemption from the new rules, arguing they could undermine U.S. efforts to ramp up shipments to Western allies to offset supply cuts from Russia. The Environmental Protection Agency denied the request. Cheniere told Louisiana regulators in an email Sept. 8 that its initial testing showed one of eight generator turbines at its Sabine Pass LNG facility had failed to meet the newly imposed requirement, and that it would conduct repairs on the turbine to bring the emissions down. Our turbine engineers determined a repair could improve the emission performance of the turbine," Robert Gray, senior environmental coordinator for the Sabine Pass plant, wrote. In the same email, Cheniere requested approval from the state to re-test eight compressor turbines and said it was replacing four others, but did not detail the results of initial tests on those pieces of equipment. The company had conducted initial testing on 44 stationary turbines at the facility, according to the email. Story continues Cheniere spokesperson Eben Burnham-Snyder told Reuters this week that the company was "continuing to test and analyze data at Sabine Pass to gain insights and develop solutions that ensure compliance." He said the measures will have no material impact on operations. EPA spokesperson Tim Carroll said "the agency will work with Cheniere to assure they meet Clean Air Act obligations." A spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Gregory Langley, said in an email that the agency expected to receive official results from Cheniere in early October and more through the rest of the month. Cheniere's Corpus Christi facility in Texas submitted testing documents to the state last week that showed emissions from all of its 18 refrigeration turbines were well below the EPA's threshold, according to a copy of the documents seen by Reuters. A spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the agency has not yet completed a review of the test results, which is required to confirm compliance. Colin Cox, an attorney with the Environmental Integrity Project, said it was important for Cheniere to monitor the turbines to ensure continuous compliance moving forward. Louisiana and Texas regulators are responsible for overseeing compliance with federal clean air laws and regulations for facilities in their respective states. The EPA announced in February that the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Pollutants rule will apply to two types of gas-fired turbines that had been left out of the regulation for nearly two decades. Under the rule, these turbines must comply by September with an emissions limit of 91 parts per billion of formaldehyde, a level that is meant to control other dangerous chemicals too. Cheniere's facilities and one other are the only LNG plants with turbines subject to the rule, according to a list on the agency's web site. The EPA years ago had raised concerns to Cheniere about its decision to install higher-polluting gas-fired turbines at its Gulf Coast LNG terminals years before they began operating, Reuters has previously reported. (Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Josie KaoEditing by Marguerita Choy) Moscow on the day of Putin's announcement of partial mobilization in Russia The figure of 300,000 can be called into question just because that while the decree contains paragraphs six and eight, paragraph seven is missing, Kirichevsky said. Read also: Losses of invading Russian troops now exceed 55,000, Ukraine says It turns out that paragraph seven is marked for official use only. And paragraph seven spells out the real number of people who must be mobilized. ... The Russian public is still trying to understand why, if there are no losses, ... (and) the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been half defeated, why another 300,000 reservists are required. And it (could) turn out that even more are needed. However, given the rush of Russians to leave the country, the expert doubts that it will be possible to mobilize even the officially announced number of the military. Read also: Russian activists announce nationwide anti-mobilization protests It is not clear whether they will be able to complete this task, that is, to recruit 300,000, Kirichevsky said. And its hard to say if that 300,000 will go to the front in an organized manner to supplement the current 200,000 occupying troops that are on the territory of Ukraine now, because it is still unclear what exactly the Russians will spend this human resource on. Perhaps they will be staffed with partially mobilized units in the Far East that were withdrawn for the war against Ukraine. Perhaps they will be staffed with troops from Syria. However, Kirichevskiy said that even if such a large number of Russian troops ends up in Ukraine, the soldiers will not be combat-ready, as they will have neither high-quality training nor support. It will not be a problem for the Russians to equip this mass of cannon fodder with small arms, the expert said. As for the more complex items, like helmets, bulletproof vests, proper first aid kits, even some drones for reconnaissance at the platoon level theyve already have serious problems with that. ... We can imagine a situation in which 300,000 Russian soldiers come to the front and, of course, there is no combat-ready army there. We can say that it will just be a mass that will delay the advance of our troops. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Photo: Contributed If you were going to declare an international day of observance, what would it be? Whats something so important to you that youd want the world to pay attention and join you? There are myriad such days held around the world, from the light to the more serious. Who knew there were special days such as National Hot Tea Day and National Kazoo Day in January? I certainly did not. National Poutine Day is in March, World Laughter Day and World Coconut Days are in May. Along with these more unusual days of observation are meaningful ones, offering us an opportunity for awareness and engagement. Today, Sept. 21, is one such day, acknowledging two very important daysWorld Gratitude Day and The International Day of Peace. Its perfect that these two days coincide, as the state of peace arises easily as we practice gratitude. Gratitude is acknowledging the good in our lives and a little bit of gratitude can go a long way. I was struck by the words of Dan Rockwell in his Leadership blog some years ago. Ungratefulness spoils everything it touches. Ungratefulness slithers out of a black muck thats called, dont like, dont want, dont have and not enough. There is no positive side to the slimy beast of ungratefulness, he said. I think hes right, and a sense of ingratitude and entitlement may be costing us more than we know. According to Gallup Organizations Julie Ray in 2019, the world took a negative turn in 2017, with global levels of stress, worry, sadness and pain hitting new highs. Over the past couple of years, that trend increased even more. Gratitude is one way we can change the trend for the better. If we can do one little thing to increase our own health and happiness, practicing gratitude might be that one little thing, not only for ourselves but for others when we express it. Consider how gratitude feels for you when you express or receive it. It feels good. Its sure easy to see whats missing or challenging and get stuck focussing on the negative. This very human tendency costs us our health and happiness. Its also easy to take things for granted and overlook the many good people and things in our world. The benefits of living a grateful life have been revealed by research: Improved physical health Reduced cellular inflammation Reduced negative rumination and fewer toxic, negative emotions Greater life satisfaction, happiness and positive mood Less materialistic Prevents burnout Improved sleep, less fatigue Improved patience, humility and wisdom Greater resiliency Group gratitude encourages: Stronger relationships and prosocial behaviours Increased job satisfaction Facilitates helping behaviour While expressing gratitude directly to people is wonderful, the benefits of gratitude are experienced though simply thinking or writing about what were grateful for. Even on our most challenging days, theres always something to be grateful for. As I practice gratitude by acknowledging the good in my life, I experience a sense of enoughness as I recognize how much good existsfrom the simple to the amazingand I am filled with a sense of peace. For this reason, I see the coinciding of the World Day of Gratitude and the International Day of Peace as perfect partners. World Gratitude Day was born in 1965 at an international meeting in Hawaii and has grown into a global movement in subsequent years. It is a time for individuals and organizations to acknowledge the good in their lives and extend the benefits of appreciation and an attitude of gratefulness. The International Day of Peace, or Peace Day has been observed globally since its inception in 1981. In a world where so much can divide us, I think we can all agree with the United Nations resolution commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and people, is of vital importance to us all. At noon today, we have the opportunity to marry the two and participate in a PeaceWave, when people around the globe will pause at 12 p.m. in their time zone to hold a consciousness or prayer for peace. The PeaceWave began on Sept. 21, 1982 and has continued to spread globally in multiple ways. You can check out the United Nations website for more information (https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace). If you miss out on the opportunity at noon, dont worry. Just stop where you are and add your little bit to the ideal of peace and gratitude. Notice how you feel when you do this, you might be surprised. Im inspired by the words of Desmond Tutu who reminds each of us to: Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. So take a moment today, and hopefully every day, to add to your personal good and the good of the collective. Add your little bit of good to the world. It matters. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. The parents of a Chinese graduate student and cinematographer who died in a sand dune accident while working on a student film are suing the University of Southern California (USC) and two of its students. Peng Wang, a 29-year-old Chapman University student, volunteered to help with a student film project for a directing course at USC as the director of photography. On April 15, Wang was in a Can-Am Maverick UTV along with three USC film students at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area to shoot their short film in the desert when their vehicle rolled over the crest of a dune. Wang, who was the only passenger without a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries in the rollover. Wangs family is seeking unspecified damages in a wrongful-death lawsuit that was filed against USC and two of its students. The family alleges that the university approved the project and knew that the students would be using off-road vehicles in the desert, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday. More from NextShark: Asian American Satirical Play 'Ching Chong Chinaman' Draws Backlash for Being 'Racist' Safety should trump everything on student film projects made in fulfillment of USC class requirements, the family reportedly states in their suit. USC has a responsibility to return the people who make its films back to their families intact. USC is liable for its negligent failure to exercise control over, and to ensure safety on, the Finale student film project. That negligence resulted in [Wangs] death and the ensuing damages for which plaintiffs bring suit to recover. However, USC officials denied responsibility for Wangs death. Officials claimed that the students had gone rogue in making the short film and that the school was unaware of the approvals needed to use off-road vehicles. USC also previously noted that shooting more than 50 miles from campus or involving all-terrain vehicles require specific approvals, which none of the students had requested or obtained. Story continues USC was not responsible for Mr Wangs tragic death. We will be sharing the facts about our robust safety procedures and safety record in court, USC reportedly wrote in a statement. More from NextShark: Woman, 40, Beats Up Teen Girl Who Called Her Auntie in India Wangs family claims that the university had approved a student certification for the film that was submitted on April 5. The approval included the location and budget for the film and the use of an off-road vehicle, according to the lawsuit. In other words, the location of the shoot, and the intentions of the students in regard to filming, were open and obvious to the faculty and staff at USC who were in charge of approving the project, Wangs family wrote in their filing. The family also sued two of the students that Wang was working with: Biangliang Li and Ting Su. Li, the driver of the UTV, lost control of the vehicle, according to the suit. They also claimed that Li and Su knew that Wang was unfamiliar with the gear being used for traveling off-road. More from NextShark: 'Murder Hornets' From Asia is 2020's Latest Way to Kill Us An experienced driver, or one with proper training, familiar with the dunes would not have made this obvious error, Wangs family wrote. This should have placed Su and Li on heightened alert regarding [Wangs] lack of familiarity with the proper operation and safety protocols for the [off-road vehicle]. Wang was previously awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree posthumously by Chapman University. The cause of his death was listed as blunt neck trauma due to the accident. His remains were reportedly laid to rest in Chengdu in Chinas Sichuan province. In life, there is no greater pain than this type of bereavement. After our son is gone, we have to endure all the hurt, all the societal pressure and the pressure to take care of ourselves when we get old, Wangs father told the Los Angeles Daily News in June. More from NextShark: Jordan Peterson quits Twitter after calling plus-size model Yumi Nus SI Swimsuit cover 'not beautiful' Featured Image via DesertUSA Associated Press A famed extreme skier from the United States who was killed after falling from one of the world's tallest mountains was on Sunday given a traditional funeral at a Sherpa cremation ground as Buddhist monks officiated over a ceremony attended by family, friends and government officials. Hilaree Nelson, 49, fell off the 8,163-meter (26,775-foot) summit of the worlds eighth-highest mountain. Nelson's body was taken to the Sherpa cremation grounds in Kathmandu from a hospital morgue on the back of a open truck, which was decorated a poster of her and bedecked with garlands of flowers. Sep. 20It has been a month since 30-year-old Krystal Channel Anderson, of Wagener, was reported missing, and her family wants closure as well as answers. "We know we need some type of closure, and that is what we are looking for," Shadira Smothers, her sister, said. Anderson was last seen by her family on Aug. 20, and her family is seeking answers as well as help from local law enforcement on what happened to her. Anderson was first reported missing by her mother, Wanda Sumter, on Aug. 23, according to an incident report from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. Police have not seen Anderson's boyfriend Tony Lee Berry, 48, since he reported her missing to the Wagener Police Department, the report said. Police still have not made contact with Anderson or Berry, and both of their phones went to voicemail, police said. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office doesn't have any new leads on the case and no arrests have been made. The case was originally reported to the Wagener Police Department before being handed over to the sheriff's office. Smothers knew something was wrong because it was odd for her sister not to post on social media because her sister would post several times a day. Smothers described her sister as bubbly, a good mother to her four children and overall a good person to be around. She said her sister was trying to become a hairstylist and becoming a social media influencer on TikTok. Smothers said her sister would post videos with her children and took pride in being a mother to them. "Even with four children she was determined to do things," she said. Smothers said her family has been in contact with Wagener Police Department and the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, but feels like nothing is being done. She said the family wants more support from law enforcement. "We felt like law enforcement has not been helpful at all," she said. In the meantime, Smothers said she and her family have been conducting searches in hopes of finding her sister. Story continues "We don't know where my sister is," she said. "We don't know if she is still with us, if she is alive or dead ... we are just in the dark. "I am not going to let my sister's story go as a cold case and for it to be forgotten," she said. More information The family created a $10,000 reward for any information about Anderson and can contact Smothers at 973-474-0064. Police said anyone with information can contact the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at 803-642-1761. Many parents dream of their children growing up and seeing the world. But Edith Lemay, a mother of four from Canada, worried her children were running out of time to do that. When her first child, Mia, was little, she noticed she would bump into things. Lemay worried about her daughter's vision and brought her to a doctor. In 2018, Mia was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. "What it does is that the cell in the retina dies over time and they lose their field of vision. They're going to lose their vision from the outside to the center and in the end, it's like seeing through straw. And there's a chance they will go completely blind by midlife," Lemay told CBS News. The disease is genetic, meaning Lemay's other kids were at risk. She soon noticed two of her sons, Collin and Laurent, had the same symptoms. They were soon diagnosed, too. Lemay and her husband, Sebastian Pelletier, with their kids, Mia, Leo, Collin and Laurent. / Credit: Edith Lemay "Of course it was devastating. And when you have a kid, you always have an image of what their future is going to be like and what your future is going to be like and all of a sudden, you get that news and you need to erase that and think it over. And it really is a grieving process," Lemay said. Lemay said she talks openly about the disease with her children, but her younger sons might be too young to fully realize what will happen to their vision. "My little one ... what I didn't realize was that he didn't know what it means to be blind," Lemay said. "And of course, he's five, so he started asking hundreds of questions: how am I going to cross the street, how will I drive my car, will my wife be blind?" "It was a gut-wrenching moment, because I was trying to keep it as positive and normal as possible ... but inside it was really hard," she said. Fortunately, she said, her daughter is realistic about it. "When people ask her, 'How do you feel about that?' Her answer is always the same: 'Today is today. Today my vision is good, so I'm going to make the most of it. And in the future, when challenges come, we'll face it and find a solution.'" Story continues Lemay wanted to prepare her kids for what was to come and thought about teaching them braille, but a specialist had another suggestion. "They said, the best thing you can do is to fill their visual memory," Lemay said. "And they were talking about reading books and seeing pictures of elephants and giraffes in books. And that's when it clicked. I'm like, 'I'm not going to do that in books, I'm going to see them in real life.'" In March, the family left Canada to embark on a world tour. They expect it to last a year, and have already been to Africa, Turkey, Mongolia and Indonesia. / Credit: Edith Lemay In March, Lemay, her husband, and her four kids left Canada and embarked on an epic journey, traveling the globe for a whole year showing their kids the world, before it is too late. Now, they're in Bali already having crossed Africa, from Namibia to Tanzania. They also visited Turkey and Mongolia and plan to work their way through Asia. "They're kids, they're excited about pretty much anything. They don't go through it with the urgency of seeing things and remembering things. They don't think about, 'Oh it might be the last time I see that thing.' They're really in the moment and they enjoy it," Lemay said. During their trip, Lemay is homeschooling her kids. The family also made a bucket list of fun activities they want to accomplish, so each kid can see their dreams come true. Mia, 11, wanted to go horseback riding. They crossed it off their list in Mongolia. "She felt so free. After the horseback riding, she had tears in her eyes. It was really beautiful to see," Lemay said. 5-year-old Laurent on a camel, with a juice box. / Credit: Edith Lemay Collin, 7, wanted to sleep on a train. "So, we went on the Tazara [Railway] in Tanzania and we had all our bunkbeds in the train and we slept being rocked by the movement of the train. He was super happy," she said. Laurent, 5, had an interesting idea. "He wanted to drink juice on a camel. That was really specific and we thought it was so funny," Lemay laughed. "And we actually did, when we were in Mongolia, we went camel riding and we got a juice for him just to take a picture and he was super happy." Lemay said her kids are not only making visual memories. They're also learning important life lessons, like focusing on the positive. "It's not an easy travel. It's uncomfortable. Sometimes they're tired and there's frustration and we're hungry. It's difficult. But with the travel, I want them to be resilient," she said. "I want them to know that any situation that's hard is temporary, because through their life, they'll need lots of resilience," she said. "They're going to adapt to a situation with their eyesight and then in a few years or a few months later, they'll lose a chunk of their eyesights and they will have to readapt and adapt again and fall and get back again," Lemay continued. Many parents want to give their kids the world and this mom did. Lemay says her kids are not only making visual memories, but they're learning important life lessons, like focusing on the positive. / Credit: Edith Lemay New York attorney general sues Trump Organization Concerns grow over children's mental health Oscar-winning filmmaker hopes new docuseries inspires viewers to embrace failure Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman failed to preside over 33% of the state's Senate legislative sessions as lieutenant governor, but holds a perfect attendance record as chairman of the state's Board of Pardons. Since taking office in 2019, Fetterman has presided over the state Senate 131 days out of the 196 days the legislature was in session from Jan. 15, 2019, to July 8, 2022, according to a review of Senate session journals and video feeds. State Senate journals are currently unavailable for April 13 to July 8, 2022, but the Senate Republican Policy Development & Research Office reviewed video recordings of the sessions showing Fetterman's absences. Some of Fetterman's absences from his duties as lieutenant governor came during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when he showed up for only 50% of the sessions. In 2021, he missed nearly 30% of the meetings, and in 2022 has only attended 44%. In May, Fetterman suffered from a stroke and had to undergo surgery to have a pacemaker implanted, which may account for many absences this year. FETTERMAN AGREES TO A LIVE DEBATE WITH DR. OZ IN LATE OCTOBER Democratic Pennsylvania Senate nominee John Fetterman holds a rally with U.S. Reps. Madeleine Dean and Mary Gay Scanlon on Sept. 11, 2022, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Mark Makela/Getty Images During his tenure as lieutenant governor, Fetterman has not had to use his constitutional prerogative to cast a tie-breaking vote in the state Senate. Joe Calvello, a spokesman for Fetterman's campaign, told Fox News Digital that the Senate nominee "takes his constitutional duty serving as president of the Pennsylvania Senate incredibly seriously" and that he is "proud of his record as mayor of Braddock," insisting that his absence from Senate sessions in the spring of 2020 were out of his control due to efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. "John takes his constitutional duty serving as president of the Pennsylvania Senate incredibly seriously," Calvello said. "During the spring of 2020, beginning in March, much of the commonwealth, including John's home county of Allegheny, and Dauphin, the county where the state Capitol is located, were under restrictive red and yellow phases to stop the spread of COVID-19. After Allegheny County and Dauphin County returned to green phase status on June 19, Fetterman returned to presiding." Story continues As president of the Pennsylvania state Senate, which allowed members to vote remotely for several months during the coronavirus pandemic, Fetterman's duty is to "take the chair on every legislative day," according to rules of the Senate of Pennsylvania, which stipulates that the president pro tempore presides in the lieutenant governor's absence. FETTERMAN CAMPAIGNS WITH OUTSTANDING COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT CALLS TO DEFUND THE POLICE' In 2019, Fetterman marked a near-perfect attendance for legislative sessions held by the Senate, presiding over 48 of the 51 sessions. However, in 2020, amid the spread of COVID-19, Fetterman only appeared for 50% of the Senate's legislative sessions, presiding over 26 of the 52 that were held. The following year, in 2021, Fetterman presided over 42 of the 59 legislative sessions held by the Senate, marking a 21% increase from the year prior. A large art piece featuring neon to simulate a steel pour glows on the side of the old Superior Motors Building in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images As for the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, which is chaired by Fetterman, the lieutenant governor has had perfect attendance at the quarterly meetings even after his stroke. According to documents obtained through a public records request that were reviewed by Fox News Digital, Fetterman attended every Board of Pardons meeting from March 2019 through December 2021, and video shows him in the April and August meetings this year. Fetterman also attended the June meeting of the board, a source confirmed to Fox News Digital, though video was not available for that meeting. In addition to his absence from presiding over the Senate, Fetterman, during his tenure as mayor of Braddock, a small borough located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, failed to attend several monthly meetings, attracting criticism from his successor. Fetterman's absence from several of the gatherings held by the council, which meets at least once a month, were recorded from 2006 his first year in office to his final year as mayor in 2018. As mayor, Fetterman missed at least 53 Braddock City Council meetings during his 13-year tenure, according to meeting minutes obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. DEMOCRATS DEFEND FETTERMAN'S LACK OF PUBLIC APPEARANCES, DEBATES "John is proud of his record as mayor of Braddock and the honor of having been chosen four times by the people of Braddock to serve them," Calvello added. "During his tenure as mayor, John succeeded in building the Braddock Community Center, bringing new businesses, jobs, affordable housing, restoring affordable health care to Braddock after their hospital closed, and confronting the gun violence epidemic with Braddock going 5 years without the loss of life through gun violence. Unfortunately, for much of his tenure, John's efforts to revitalize Braddock were resisted by the Borough Council who made clear they had no intention of working with him." Fetterman, who will face off against Pennsylvania GOP Senate nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz in the state's Nov. 8 general election, has been criticized for his absences at the council meetings by his mayoral successor. Fetterman will face off against his Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz for U.S. Senate in the state's Nov. 8 general election. Mark Makela, Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images Braddock Mayor Chardae Jones, who filled Fetterman's position in 2019 after he was elected lieutenant governor, brought into question Fetterman's "relationship" with residents in the borough due to his absence from council meetings. "When youre not present at council meetings, theres not much of a relationship there," Jones said, according to a 2021 piece from Politico. She also insisted, according to the outlet, that she never had a conversation with Fetterman when she took over his post. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Fetterman cast only one vote during the 13 years he served as mayor. That vote came in 2012 when he "helped the borough council choose a president," according to the Tribune. Last week, Fetterman agreed to a televised debate with Oz on Oct. 25, just two weeks before Election Day. OSLO (Reuters) - Finland is closely monitoring the situation in neighbouring Russia following President Vladimir Putin's order of military mobilisation, the Nordic country's defence minister said on Wednesday. "Regarding Finland's surroundings, I can say that the military situation is stable and calm," Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen said. "Our defence forces are well prepared and the situation is closely monitored." (Reporting by Esi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik) LevelK continues to terrify international distributors with Finnish horror The Knocking, directed by Max Seeck and Joonas Pajunen. The film has now been sold to over 70 countries, Variety has learned, with the company sealing further deals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Alamode Film), Latin America (Gussi), CIS (Capella Film), France (KMBO), Indonesia (PT. Falcon) and Taiwan (AV-Jet International Media). More from Variety We have been looking at many Nordic projects, especially the Finnish ones. We definitely see a shift in not just more genre projects emerging, but also in the subjects and the creativity, says CEO Tine Klint. The Knocking ticks those boxes in providing a Nordic horror with an original story, told through classic genre tropes, which is exactly what the buyers are looking for at the moment. The film is produced by Markus Selin and Jukka Helle for Helsinki-based Solar Films, also behind Mika Kaurismakis The Grump: In Search of an Escort, which scored the biggest opening of 2022 for a Finnish film. As well as Emmy-nominated doc End of a Line: The Women of Standing Rock by Shannon Kring. The Knocking directors Max Seeck and Joonas Pajunen In The Knocking, three siblings return to their childhood home, where their parents were allegedly murdered. They want to sell it and the forest around it but old traumas quickly resurface. Expected to premiere domestically in February 2023 and starring Pekka Strang, Saana Koivisto and Inka Kallen, it will be distributed in the Nordics by Nordisk Film. We got the idea for the film when we were walking around in a forest, listening to its sounds, says Max Seeck, also an internationally recognized writer. His New York Times bestseller The Witch Hunter has been optioned by Stampede Ventures. Right now, people are making bad decisions everywhere in the world and there is no going back. I think we show the consequences of that, and they are terrible. For us as individuals, but also for the entire humanity. Story continues We were also inspired by old Finnish stories and myths. So many of them are about spirits hiding away in the woods, adds Joonas Pajunen. This story could be seen as brutal and cruel, but when people decide to destroy nature, there are no questions asked we just do. Here, nobody asks questions either. Its a message we wanted to have. The debuting filmmakers and childhood friends have been considering a move into features for a while now. We made our first film when we were 15, it was a school assignment. It was a mafia movie called Cosa Nostra, laughs Pajunen, with Seeck deadpanning: Very original title. Many years later, the pandemic gave them a chance to revisit the dream. But then Max had a beer with Markus Selin. Or coffee, depending on whats better for this article. Markus was interested in making a horror movie, he read our script and asked who will direct it. We looked at each other and said: We are. Our background is quite unusual in this industry. We just popped out of nowhere, says Pajunen. While Finnish horror continues to generate interest abroad, thanks to Sundance discovery Hatching or Don Films Lake Bodom, followed by Teresa Palmer-led The Twin, the genres sudden resurgence caught them by surprise. We were inspired by Jordan Peele, by The Haunting of the Hill House, which is also about childrens trauma. It has been happening internationally, but [when we started] we thought we were crazy, making a horror movie in Finland, observes Pajunen. Its nice to be a part of this wave. But the duo tried to make sure that jump scares dont overshadow the complicated family dynamic. Although, in true Finnish manner, many things are still kept under wraps. We wanted it to be interesting even without the horror aspects. It could be about three siblings who had a hard time and are just trying to get along, says Seeck, with Pajunen adding: People would tell us: They should talk more about what happened before. No! Its about not talking! In Finland, we call it puhumattomuus. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Getty More than a million people in Puerto Rico are without electricity on Wednesdayand many lack phone service or running waterafter Hurricane Fiona battered the archipelago this week with 100 mph-plus winds and heavy rain that have so far left at least two dead, a number that could rise further, according to officials. The National Weather Service says the Category 4 storm, which overwhelmed parts of the island with up to 32 inches of rain, is headed northward toward Bermuda and parallel to the United States. Before veering off the island, the hurricanes heavy winds and catastrophic rain caused massive flooding and mudslides, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Wednesday. Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi on Wednesday said that he hopes a large part of the island will regain power by the end of the evening. Since Tuesday, LUMA Energy announced it has restored power to about 95,000 residentsmeaning only about 27 percent of the island has power, with nearly 1.1 million Puerto Ricans in the dark. According to Bayamon Mayor Ramon Luis Rivera, most of his city is without electricity, including four hospitals. Jose Gonzalez, the mayor of Juaya, told El Nuevo Dia on Wednesday that his city has not yet received tank trucks of relief supplies and that at least 100 homes are devastated after floods and landslides. Why Hurricanes Are Such a Disaster for Puerto Rico In the south of Puerto Rico, there is significant damage to the power grid, Pierluisi said. In those towns it will take time. I want a large part of the subscribers throughout the island to have their service today. A cellphone for Pierluisi was out of service when The Daily Beast tried to reach him for comment on Wednesday. The ongoing devastation in Puerto Ricowhich has still not yet recovered from Hurricane Maria five years agohas prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday to declare a public health emergency on the island. The declaration comes after Biden issued a disaster declaration that authorized FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate relief efforts. Story continues A White House spokesman pointed The Daily Beast to official updates from FEMA and the EPA, detailing their work in Puerto Rico. The EPAs initial task is to assist the Army Corps of Engineers with shoring up infrastructure for drinking water and wastewater, the agency said in a news release. FEMA staff and support workers are focused on getting impacted community lifelines back up and runningthat is, power, communications, and water systems, according to a separate release. I do anticipate that I will have communication with the president of the United States in the coming days. That is being planned, Pierluisi said Wednesday, adding that damage assessments have already begun on the island. HHS sent a 15-person Health and Medical Task Force to Puerto Rico, along with a 10-strong incident management team, the agency announced. They will work alongside other emergency responders to determine what, if any, additional federal public health and medical resources can be brought to bear to aid the territory in responding to the hurricane. Several Puerto Rican residents and their families have taken to social media to expose the devastation on the ground. One GoFundMe page described how a pregnant woman and her husband lost their home from the flooding and mudslidesas well as many of the items they had purchased in anticipation for their daughter. Another woman started an online campaign for her aunt after her entire home flooded. The funds, she said, would be used to help her elderly aunt fix her home to make it livable. I dont have words to describe what I experienced during and after the hurricane. It still feels like a nightmare..But it is real, an artist who lives near Rio Hondo said in a Facebook video on Tuesday, adding that while her house is still intact it suffered major flooding and several of her art pieces were destroyed. Many Puerto Ricans have lost their houses and everything they possessed. Puerto Ricos present troubles are a product of a perfect storm of ill will, decrepit infrastructure, red tape and official ineptitude, according to The Washington Post editorial board, which said the treacherous combination had enfeebled the islands defenses and left it ripe for a knockout blow. Maria, which struck Puerto Rico exactly five years ago this week, left nearly 3,000 dead. The storm also demolished the U.S. territorys already-enfeebled power grid, which was still in the process of being rebuilt when Fiona roared through. And while Fiona seems to have killed far fewer people than Maria, the compounding effect is making things even worse for those on the ground. In many areas that had never seen flooding, there has been an unprecedented accumulation of water, Pierluisi said at a press conference on Monday. In fact, in many areas it was greater than what we saw during Hurricane Maria. At least two people in Puerto Rico died due to Fiona, according to FEMA. That number could in fact be as high as eight, according to Maria Conte Miller, director of the Institute of Forensic Sciences, as officials continue to assess the damage. , In one instance, a 70-year-old man was burned to death when he poured gasoline into a generator while it was running, according to the Associated Press. In a second, a 58-year-old man died after being swept away by a river swollen from extreme rains. In the neighboring Dominican Republic, two people were reported dead from Fionas ferocious intensity. One, a 58-year-old man, was killed when a tree fell on him. The other, an 18-year-old girl, was fatally struck by an electrical pole after it was knocked down by severe winds. Paige Storti, an independent documentary filmmaker, told The Daily Beast she has several friends in the Dominican Republic who have lost their homes due to the hurricane. She said one of her friends family homes in Punta Cana collapsed on one sideand they were already barely getting by. My other friend's family is in Samana where the heart of the storm was and their house also collapsed on one side so I am trying to help his family as well, Storti said, noting she has set up a GoFundMe page to help rebuild their lives. Its awful how they live despite the hurricane but with the damage thats caused on top of it all is devastating. Despite the devastation, Storti said, her friends have stressed to her they are just grateful to be safe and healthy. Maria moved faster than Fiona and was more spread out, with even stronger winds and heavier rainfall, experts said. Former FEMA administrator W. Craig Fugate told The Washington Post that damage from Fiona is extensive but much more concentrated. There were communities that flooded in the storm that didnt flood under Maria, National Guard Brig. Gen. Narciso Cruz told the AP. Ive never seen anything like this. Cruz told the wire service that emergency crews have used kayaks, construction equipment, and other methods to rescue hundreds of peopleamong them 19 people at a retirement home that was teetering on the brink of collapse. Others at first didnt want to leave their residences, but eventually gave in when they saw their lives were in danger, Cruz said. For some, the arrival of Fiona meant seeing their progress in rebuilding after Maria rendered nearly moot. While clearing mud from her nutrition store, owner Christy Torres Melendez told NPR, After Hurricane Maria, no one really wanted this building. It was absolutely destroyed. I got it and I was still fixing it up when Hurricane Fiona arrived. But you see what happened. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Tuesday said he had asked the federal government to cover 100 percent of Puerto Ricos disaster response costs, instead of the customary 75 percent that had been authorized. Five years to the day after the arrival of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico needs help to recover from Hurricane Fiona, Schumer said in a statement released by his office. We need to make sure this time, Puerto Rico has absolutely everything it needs, as soon as possible, for as long as they need it. Speaking to Reuters, lawyer Ramon Luis Nieves, whose San Juan condo had lost power, said, We had a horrible experience in the aftermath of Maria. They promised it would be better. It hasnt [been]. Although the worst of the storm has passed, Puerto Ricans continue to face perilous times ahead. Due to continuous days of rainfall from Hurricane Fiona, risks of mud, rock and landslides persist across Puerto Rico, FEMA said in a statement on Wednesday. Additionally, an excessive heat advisory is in effect for the island for the next couple of days. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. CAGUAS, Puerto Rico (AP) More than a half million people in Puerto Rico remained without water service three days after Hurricane Fiona slammed into the U.S. territory, and many spent hours in lines Wednesday to fill jugs from water trucks while others scooped water from mountain runoff. Sweat rolled down the faces of people in a long line of cars in the northern mountain town of Caguas, where the government had sent a water truck, one of at least 18 so-called oases set up across the island. The situation was maddening for many people across an island once again left without basic services following a storm. We thought we had a bad experience with Maria, but this was worse, Gerardo Rodriguez said in the southern coastal town of Salinas, referring to the 2017 hurricane that caused nearly 3,000 deaths and demolished the island's power grid. Fiona dumped roughly two feet of rain on parts of Puerto Rico before blasting across the eastern Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Swelled to Category 4 force, the storm was on a track to pass close by Bermuda early Friday and then hit easternmost Canada early Saturay, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm played havoc with Puerto Rico's electrical grid, which had been patched but never fully rebuilt after Maria caused a blackout that lasted 11 months in some places. As of Wednesday afternoon, roughly 70% of Puerto Rican customers lacked electricity, according to government figures. In Caguas, the air conditioning of Emayra Veguillas car wasn't working, so the bus driver propped up a small fan in the passenger seat. Earlier, she had blasted the song Hijos del Canaveral (Sons of the Sugarcane Field"), written by Puerto Rican hip-hop star Rene Perez as an ode to Puerto Rico and its peoples bravery. I needed a shot of patriotism, she said. I needed strength to do this once again. Veguilla had waited in line Tuesday, only to be told that the water had run out and that another truck would not be available until Wednesday. Story continues Some people ahead of Veguilla gave up and drove away, with tensions running high the longer people waited. Move! yelled one driver, fearful of people trying to cut in. Some who saw the line opted instead to drive to a nearby highway where fresh water trickled down the mountainside via a bamboo pipe that someone had installed. Greg Reyes, an English teacher, stood in line in muddy flip-flops to collect water for himself, his girlfriend and their cat. He had brought a large bag holding all the empty containers he could find in their house, including more than a dozen small water bottles. Reyes said he and his partner had been buying water since Fiona hit, but couldnt afford to do so any longer. Standing behind him was retiree William Rodriguez, surrounded by three large buckets and four gallon containers. He had been living in Massachusetts and decided to return to Puerto Rico about six months ago. But I think Im leaving again, he said as he shook his head. Those in the line grumbled about the slow pace of recovery and accused the government of not helping them as people on social media and even a gym said their doors were open to anyone who needed water or a shower. This hasnt been easy, said Juan Santos, a retiree who held the hand of his 5-year-old grandson. We are suffering. None of those in line had power either, and many wondered if it would take as long to restore as it did with Hurricane Maria. Power company officials initially said it would take a few days for electricity to be restored, but then appeared to backtrack Tuesday night, saying they faced numerous obstacles. Hurricane Fiona has severely impacted electrical infrastructure and generation facilities throughout the island. We want to make it very clear that efforts to restore and reenergize continue and are being affected by severe flooding, impassable roads, downed trees, deteriorating equipment, and downed lines, said Luma, the company that operates power transmission and distribution. Officials said crews found several substations underwater and inaccessible. But Luma said it expected to restore power Wednesday to much of Puerto Ricos north coast, which Fiona largely spared. The hum of generators could be heard across the territory as people became increasingly exasperated. I continue to hope that by the end of today, a large part of the population will have these services, said Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi. The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency traveled to Puerto Rico on Tuesday and the agency announced it was sending hundreds of additional personnel to boost local response efforts. On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration, which would allow for more federal assistance. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency in Puerto Rico and deployed a couple of teams to the island. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, officials reported relatively light damage and no deaths, though the eye of the Category 4 storm passed close to Grand Turk, the small British territorys capital island, on Tuesday. Turks and Caicos had a phenomenal experience over the past 24 hours, said Deputy Gov. Anya Williams. It certainly came with its share of challenges. Officials said school on Grand Turk would reopen next week. The Hurricane Center said Fiona had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) late Wednesday. It was centered about 550 miles (885 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda, heading north at 10 mph (17 kph). Fiona killed a man in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe and two others in Puerto Rico swept away by swollen rivers. Two died in the Dominican Republic: one killed by a falling tree and the other by a falling electric post. Two additional deaths were reported in Puerto Rico as a result of the blackout: A 70-year-old man burned to death after he tried to fill his running generator with gasoline and a 78-year-old man police say inhaled toxic gases from his generator. ___ Associated Press journalists Maricarmen Rivera Sanchez and Alejandro Granadillo contributed to this report. By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - Florida on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive a state law aimed at stopping social media companies from restricting users' political speech after a federal appeals court blocked it earlier this year. The law, which had been challenged by industry group NetChoice, would require social media companies to disclose the rules they use for banning or censoring users and to apply them consistently, and would limit their ability to ban candidates for political office from their platforms. NetChoice's members include Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms Inc, Google parent Alphabet Inc and Twitter Inc. The ruling comes days after a different federal appeals court, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, allowed a similar Texas law that had also been challenged by NetChoice to take effect. Florida argued that the conflict between the 5th Circuit and the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit, which struck down the Florida law, must be resolved by the nation's top court. NetChoice general counsel Carl Szabo said in a statement that the group agreed the case should be heard by the Supreme Court, and was confident it would prevail. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed the state law in May 2021, saying it was needed to prevent "censorship" by "Big Tech." The move came as many Republicans criticized Facebook and Twitter for banning former President Donald Trump after he praised supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Tech groups have sought to preserve rights to regulate user content when they believe it may lead to violence, citing concerns that unregulated platforms will enable extremists such as Nazi supporters, terrorists and hostile foreign governments. The 11th Circuit in May found that most of the law violated the social media companies' right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, upholding a lower court judge's ruling. Also in May, the Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, temporarily blocked the Texas law while lower courts considered NetChoice's challenge. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch said in a dissent that it was not clear how the First Amendment should apply to large social media companies. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot) Photo: The Canadian Press Statistics Canada says the country's homeownership rate is on the decline, with young adults in particular less likely to own a home in 2021 than they were in 2011. According to the latest census release, two-thirds of Canadians owned a home in 2021, down from a peak of 69 per cent a decade earlier. The decline in homeownership rates between 2011 and 2021 was the largest for younger Canadians, with the rate falling from 44.1 to 36.5 for those between the ages of 25 and 29. Canadians between the ages of 30 and 34 experienced a similar but slightly smaller decline in homeownership, falling from 59.2 per cent to 52.3 per cent. Meanwhile, the renter rate increased. Statistics Canada says the number of renter households grew at more than twice the rate of owner households between 2011 and 2021. The federal agency also says newly built homes are increasingly likely to be occupied by renters, with 40.4 per cent of new homes built between 2016 and 2021 now rented out. The share of homes that are condominiums continues to rise, with most being built in large cities. The report says monthly costs rose faster for renters than homeowners in the latest census period. The median monthly shelter cost for renters went up 17.6 per cent between 2016 and 2021, outpacing inflation, as the consumer price index rose by 9.5 per cent over that same period. For homeowners, the median monthly shelter cost went up by 9.7 per cent. Housing affordability actually improved in 2021, but one in five renters still spend more than 30 per cent of their income on shelter costs. Statistics Canada says the improvement in affordability was the most pronounced for low-income renters and can be largely attributed to temporary COVID-19 income supports. The family of a slain University of Tampa student who was shot while he was trying to get into the wrong car is struggling to grasp the "senseless tragedy," his father said. Carson Senfield, 19, of Orchard Park, New York, had been out with friends and took an Uber ride to his home near campus when he tried to get into a parked car that wasn't his early Saturday, Tampa police said in a statement. The man in the car opened fire on Senfield and has been cooperating with investigators, police said. "It was a senseless tragedy that were still trying to figure out, but at this point, it doesnt really matter," the victims father, Darren Senfield, told NBC affiliate WGRZ of Buffalo this week. "We dont have our Carson with us." Carson Senfield. (via WGRZ) No matter how the law enforcement probe ends, Senfields father said, his family will never be the same. To us the details play themselves out," he said. "We don't have our son. We're mourning. We're heartbroken. We're devastated." His son had been celebrating his 19th birthday hours before he was killed. "He enjoyed his people, whether they were in western New York or his people in Tampa or if he was anywhere else," Senfield said. "He was such a generator of great vibes." Florida authorities have not publicly identified the shooter, and it's not immediately clear whether he will face any criminal charges. "The driver, who did not know the individual or why he was forcing his way into his vehicle, shot the man, striking him in the upper body," Tampa police said. "The driver said he feared for his life." Carson Senfield was pronounced dead on the scene at about 1:30 a.m., police said. The shooter remained at the scene and cooperated with detectives. A Tampa police spokeswoman declined to comment Wednesday and referred all questions to State Attorney Susan Lopez. Gary Weisman, Lopez's chief of staff, said the investigation is still weeks away from determining whether criminal prosecution is warranted. "I don't think it'll be soon,.I don't think it'll be days. It's going to take us some time," Weisman said Wednesday. "I don't think you're talking about hours or days. How many weeks? I don't know." Story continues Florida has long been associated with so-called stand your ground laws, which offer wide latitude for deadly force if one "reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the others imminent use of unlawful force." The slain student was first identified as a 2021 graduate of Orchard Park High School by Orchard Park Central School District Superintendent David Lilleck. Two of his siblings still attend the high school near Buffalo. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Senfield family during this difficult time," Lilleck said in a statement. "Carson was a light in this world and will forever be a Quaker," the school's mascot. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Florida Commissioner of Education is extending an olive branch to educators fired in New York City for failing to comply with the districts COVID vaccine requirement and encouraging them to apply in Florida. It started with a headline: 850 New York City teachers fired for refusing to get the COVID vaccine. This tweet from Floridas Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz followed. Come on down to the free state of Florida! We are proud to offer reciprocity to New York teachers, said Diaz in the tweet posted Monday. Florida is experiencing a teacher shortage. According to the Florida Department of Educations last count, it was roughly 4,000 teaching vacancies. To fire that many teachers and deplete your forces, we welcome them here in Florida, said Diaz in an exclusive interview with Action News Jax. We see at this point even the President has called the pandemic over and I think people here in Florida have the ability to live their lives to make those decisions and those people who are educators can make their decisions for their own health. Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar told us hes skeptical the offer will bear fruit. Salary rankings from the National Education show New Yorks average teacher pay is nearly double that of Floridas, which ranks 48th in the nation. They treat their teachers with more respect, way more respect than they do here in the State of Florida. They still have job protections in New York so they can speak up for their students and their families without fearing retaliation or retribution, said Spar. Whether the plan works remains to be seen. Maria Quinones, who was picking up her nephew from high school Wednesday afternoon, told us shes on board with anything that will get more teachers in the classroom. I mean, we need them. Cause we got too many kids in one room, said Quinones. Commissioner Diaz pointed out the Florida Legislature has invested roughly $2 billion in recent years to raise teacher pay. Story continues He also noted the teachers fired in New York City are currently receiving no salary or benefits. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Associated Press Residents in central Florida donned fishing waders, boots and bug spray and canoed or kayaked to their homes on streets where floodwaters continued rising Sunday despite it being four days since Hurricane Ian tore through the state. Ben Bertat found 4 inches (10 centimeters) of water in his house by Lake Harney off North Jungle Street in a rural part of Seminole County, north of Orlando, after kayaking to it Sunday morning. Only a day earlier, there had been no water. Associated Press Thousands of people in hundreds of cars took over northern Nevada parking lots and intersections Friday night and into Saturday, performing stunts in souped-up vehicles and leading to crashes and arrests, police said. Police beefed up nighttime staffing after social media posts urged people from San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, to come to the sideshow in Reno, Police Lt. Michael Browett said. The disturbances started late Friday as several hundred cars and their occupants met in the parking lot of a still-open Walmart store. A Florida man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was found guilty of molesting underage girls. 32-year-old Jacob Ramirez of DeFuniak Springs was found guilty of sexually abusing three children that were left in his care. According to the Walton County Sheriff's Office, the victims were between the ages of 7 and 12 at the time. Ramirez was sentenced by Judge Kelvin Wells to serve two life sentences, in addition to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. 13 MEN ACCUSED CHILD SEX CRIMES IN POLK COUNTY STING Ramirez was initially charged in July 2021. "This is part of our relentless pursuit of charging sexual predators who prey on children and getting them out of our community and behind bars," Sheriff Michael Adkinson said at the time of the 2021 arrest. The Emerald Coast Childrens Advocacy Center assisted the Walton County Sheriff's Office with its investigation. RHODE ISLAND SEX OFFENDER INDICTED IN MURDER-FOR-HIRE AGAINST 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO NEEDED TO END UP DEAD' Ramirez's charges included two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years of age. Another count involved lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim 12 years or older. Defuniak Springs is a small city of roughly 7,000 people located in the Florida Panhandle. No other details about the case were made public. Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former President Donald Trump's administration has not turned over all presidential records and the National Archives will consult with the Justice Department on whether to move to get them back, the agency has told Congress. A congressional panel on Sept. 13 sought an urgent review by the National Archives and Records Administration after agency staff members acknowledged that they did not know if all presidential records from Trump's White House had been turned over. "While there is no easy way to establish absolute accountability, we do know that we do not have custody of everything we should," acting Archivist Debra Wall said in a letter Friday to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Florida Republicans prefer Governor DeSantis to former president Trump in a hypothetical matchup for the partys 2024 presidential nomination, a notable shift since February, when the same poll found that a majority of Floridians preferred the former president. DeSantis leads Trump 48 percent to 40 percent, according to a recent USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll University poll. Thats an improvement in support for DeSantis presidential prospects since February, when he lagged behind Trump 40 percent to 47 percent. This doesnt necessarily mean DeSantis would lead in any other GOP primary state, said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, told USA Today. But it is one data point suggesting a shift in preferences from GOP voters away from Trump and toward DeSantis from Republicans who know both potential combatants quite well. The polls projection doesnt necessarily translate to other states. An August 16 poll released by the University of North Florida (UNF) showed similar results, with a slim majority of registered Florida Republicans favoring DeSantis over Trump in a primary 47 percent to 45 percent. DeSantis, currently conducting a reelection campaign for governor in the Sunshine State, has consistently stayed on the GOPs 2024 radar as he has harnessed the states executive power and legislative majority to achieve conservative policy goals. This week, he roused Republicans and outraged progressives by sending planes of 48 illegal immigrants to Marthas Vineyard, using funds previously authorized by a state legislature-approved package. Democrats characterized it as an inhumane stunt, while many Republicans believed it sent the appropriate message to the Biden administration that unprecedented mass border-crossings overwhelm and harm unwilling communities on the border. In November, DeSantis faces former Republican governor Charlie Crist, who converted to a Democrat after losing a 2010 GOP Senate primary to Marco Rubio and then running against Rubio as an unaffiliated candidate in the general election. Crist has come under fire for his confusing record on abortion, historically supporting both a womans right to choose and claiming to be pro-life. His teachers union head running mate Karla Hernandez-Mats, a school shutdown proponent and colleague of American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, has also made him a target. Last week, she was caught at a campaign event claiming that her experience working with special needs children prepared her to deal with the states Republican-controlled dysfunctional legislature. More from National Review Frank Hammerschmidt/picture alliance via Getty Electric planes might seem futuristic, but they arent that far off, at least for short hops. Two-seater Velis Electros are already quietly buzzing around Europe, electric sea planes are being tested in British Columbia, and larger planes are coming. Air Canada announced on Sept. 15, 2022, that it would buy 30 electric-hybrid regional aircraft from Swedens Heart Aerospace, which expects to have its 30-seat plane in service by 2028. Analysts at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab note that the first hybrid electric 50- to 70-seat commuter plane could be ready not long after that. In the 2030s, they say, electric aviation could really take off. That matters for managing climate change. About 3 percent of global emissions come from aviation today, and with more passengers and flights expected as the population expands, aviation could be producing three to five times more carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. Aerospace engineer and assistant professor Gokcin Cnar develops sustainable aviation concepts, including hybrid-electric planes and hydrogen fuel alternatives, at the University of Michigan. We asked her about the key ways to cut aviation emissions today and where technologies like electrification and hydrogen are headed. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan land onboard the Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft, a light two-seater single-engine electric aircraft. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Why is aviation so difficult to electrify? Aircraft are some of the most complex vehicles out there, but the biggest problem for electrifying them is the battery weight. If you tried to fully electrify a 737 with todays batteries, you would have to take out all the passengers and cargo and fill that space with batteries just to fly for under an hour. Jet fuel can hold about 50 times more energy compared to batteries per unit mass. So, you can have 1 pound of jet fuel or 50 pounds of batteries. To close that gap, we need to either make lithium-ion batteries lighter or develop new batteries that hold more energy. New batteries are being developed, but they arent yet ready for aircraft. Story continues An electric alternative is hybrids. Even though we might not be able to fully electrify a 737, we can get some fuel burn benefits from batteries in the larger jets by using hybrid propulsion systems. We are trying to make that happen in the short term, with a 2030-2035 target for smaller regional planes. The less fuel burned during flight, the fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The P2010 H3PS hybrid electric aircraft from Italian aircraft manufacturer Tecnam is hoisted by a forklift to be assembled in an exhibition hall. Photo by Felix Kastle/picture alliance via Getty How does hybrid aviation work to cut emissions? Hybrid electric aircraft are similar to hybrid electric cars in that they use a combination of batteries and aviation fuels. The problem is that no other industry has the weight limitations that we do in the aerospace industry. Thats why we have to be very smart about how and how much we are hybridizing the propulsion system. Using batteries as a power assist during takeoff and climb are very promising options. Taxiing to the runway using just electric power could also save a significant amount of fuel and reduce the local emissions at airports. There is a sweet spot between the added weight of the battery and how much electricity you can use to get net fuel benefits. This optimization problem is at the center of my research. Hybrids would still burn fuel during flight, but it could be considerably less than just relying entirely on jet fuel. I see hybridization as a mid-term option for larger jets, but a near-term solution for regional aircraft. For 2030 to 2035, were focused on hybrid turboprops, typically regional aircraft with 50-80 passengers or used for freight. These hybrids could cut fuel use by about 10 percent. With electric hybrids, airlines could also make more use of regional airports, reducing congestion and time larger planes spend idling on the runway. What do you expect to see in the near term from sustainable aviation? Shorter term well see more use of sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF. With todays engines, you can dump sustainable aviation fuel into the same fuel tank and burn it. Fuels made from corn, oilseeds, algae and other fats are already being used. Sustainable aviation fuels can reduce an aircrafts net carbon dioxide emissions by around 80 percent, but supply is limited, and using more biomass for fuel could compete with food production and lead to deforestation. A second option is using synthetic sustainable aviation fuels, which involves capturing carbon from the air or other industrial processes and synthesizing it with hydrogen. But thats a complex and costly process and does not have a high production scale yet. Airlines can also optimize their operations in the short term, such as route planning to avoid flying nearly empty planes. That can also reduce emissions. Is hydrogen an option for aviation? Hydrogen fuel has been around for a very long time, and when its green hydrogenproduced with water and electrolysis powered by renewable energyit doesnt produce carbon dioxide. It can also hold more energy per unit of mass than batteries. There are two ways to use hydrogen in an airplane: either in place of regular jet fuel in an engine, or combined with oxygen to power hydrogen fuel cells, which then generate electricity to power the aircraft. The problem is volumehydrogen gas takes up a lot of space. Thats why engineers are looking at methods like keeping it very cool so it can be stored as liquid until its burned as a gas. It still takes up more space than jet fuel, and the storage tanks are heavy, so how to store, handle or distribute it on aircraft is still being worked out. Airbus is doing a lot of research on hydrogen combustion using modified gas turbine engines with an A380 platform, and aiming to have mature technology by 2025. Australias Rex airline expects to start testing a 34-seat, hydrogen-electric airplane for short hops in the next few years. Due to the variety of options, I see hydrogen as one of the key technologies for sustainable aviation. A scaled model of an Airbus Blended-Wing Body zero emission concept aircraft powered by hydrogen combustion through modified gas turbine engines. Richard Baker/Getty Will these technologies be able to meet the aviation industrys goals for reducing emissions? The problem with aviation emissions isnt their current levelsits the fear that their emissions will increase rapidly as demand increases. By 2050, we could see three to five times more carbon dioxide emissions from aviation than before the pandemic. The International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency, generally defines the industrys goals, looking at whats feasible and how aviation can push the boundaries. Its long-term goal is to cut net carbon dioxide emissions 50 percent by 2050 compared with 2005 levels. Getting there will require a mix of different technologies and optimization. I dont know if were going to be able to reach it by 2050, but I believe we must do everything we can to make future aviation environmentally sustainable. Gokcin Cnar is an assistant professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Sep. 20A former Bakersfield DMV employee pleaded guilty to illegally producing California commercial driver's licenses in exchange for bribes, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Ulises Pena, 39, a former California Department of Motor Vehicles employee in Bakersfield, pleaded guilty Monday to illegally producing California commercial driver's licenses (CDL) in exchange for bribes, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court records, Pena was a motor vehicle representative at the DMV and was responsible for processing driver's license applications. From January 2015 through August 2016, he arranged for the passage of written tests for students from co-defendant Bikramjit Singh Pannu's truck driving school who were having trouble passing the tests, in exchange for payments from Pannu. Pena improperly accessed the students' DMV records and altered them to show that the students had passed the tests when that was not true, according to a DOJ news release. His alterations caused the fraudulent issuance of CDLs to the unqualified students. Pena faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at a sentencing hearing Dec. 12, according to the release. Charges are pending against Pannu. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis collected another endorsement for re-election on Tuesday. Palm Beach County Commissioner Dave Kerner announced he is planning on backing DeSantis bid to return to the governors mansion in November. DEMOCRATIC FLORIDA MAYOR DEFENDS DESANTIS: 60 MINUTES SHOULD BE ASHAMED "Im very proud that you felt that my endorsement was worthy of acceptance," Kerner said during a Palm Beach County Police Benvolent Association meeting. "This was not a difficult choice for me. This was not the proverbial lesser of two evils.'" DeSantis' campaign announced the endorsement Tuesday afternoon. "Florida is a law-and-order state because we put the safety of Floridians first and we stand up for law enforcement and reject the Lefts anti-police movement," DeSantis said in a statement. "We are focused on protecting victims and not coddling criminals, and no one knows that better than Dave, who served Floridas communities. Commissioner Kerner knows first-hand the threat of the Defund the Police movement and understands the important role that our local law enforcement officers play in keeping Florida safe." Kerner, a Democrat , was Palm Beach Countys mayor for two terms and is now on the Board of County Commissioners. Palm Beach County is the third-largest county in the state and one of the remaining blue counties in the state. In 2020, President Biden won 56% of the votes in the county. Tuesdays endorsement isnt the first time the Democrat has made headlines for allying himself with the governor. After an explosive "60 Minutes" report that accused DeSantis of engaging in a "pay-for-play" scheme early on in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, Kerner said the reporting was "intentionally false." Kerners office did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Premier Jason Kenney shakes hands with Kaycee Madu, in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The premier is declining to weigh in on one of his cabinet ministers lauding protesters and freedom convoys fighting COVID-19 restrictions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is declining to weigh in on one of his cabinet ministers lauding protesters and freedom convoys fighting COVID-19 restrictions. I actually dont monitor Twitter, said Kenney, speaking to reporters in Toronto Wednesday, while pitching a renewed ad campaign to get more Canadians to move to Alberta. If you want to hear (Labour) Minister (Kaycee) Madus views or a clarification from him, I suggest you talk to him. Madu made the comments on Twitter Tuesday, reacting to news the federal government is debating whether to renew COVID-19 vaccine mandates and mandatory random testing for travellers when those rules expire at months end. It (the slate of restrictions) was never about science but about political control and power, Madu tweeted. Thanks to all those citizens, freedom convoys, who had the courage to mobilize against these tyrannical policies. They endured a lot (of) hate (and) name calling, suffered and vilified on behalf of all of us. I thank them! Madus office didnt respond to a request for an interview. He has served in cabinet since the start of Kenneys government in 2019 in three portfolios: municipal affairs, justice and now labour. Madu became labour minister in late February, when Kenney removed him from the justice portfolio after an independent report determined Madu had tried but failed to interfere in the administration of justice by calling up Edmontons chief of police to complain about a traffic ticket. Alberta had its own COVID-19 restrictions, gathering limits and vaccine mandates during the pandemic. As justice minister in May 2021, Madu, who is also a lawyer, told reporters that while he doesnt direct police and prosecutors, "it is my expectation that law enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Service will deploy all tools available to them to ensure that the (COVID) public health orders are enforced." Kenney will cease to be in charge in two weeks, when United Conservative Party members pick a new leader and premier on Oct. 6. Madu is backing leadership candidate Danielle Smith. Smith has promised to reject any COVID-19 rules and restrictions deemed harmful to Alberta's autonomy and well-being. Albertas main U.S. border crossing at Coutts was one of a number of sites along with downtown Ottawa that were snarled earlier this year by Freedom Convoy protesters demonstrating against the Trudeau government and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The Coutts standoff paralyzed cross-border traffic for two weeks, ending in mid-February soon after RCMP made mass arrests and seized a cache of firearms and ammunition near the protest site. A trial has been scheduled for June of next year for four men charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the blockade. Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir said on Twitter: Kaycee Madu needs to go. He shouldve been removed from the cabinet for interfering in the administration of justice (in the traffic ticket incident). Kenney agreed with Madu on the travel rules. At present, foreign nationals are typically not allowed to travel to Canada unless they have completed a primary series of approved COVID-19 vaccine. Unvaccinated travellers allowed to enter Canada are subject to mandatory arrival tests and a two-week quarantine. Its no secret that our government has been consistently opposed to unnecessary federal travel restrictions, specifically the ones that are still in place, said Kenney. He said he and other premiers made their concerns clear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that there was no scientific rationale for the rules. Kenney said Trudeau wanted to be seen taking action on the pandemic. "It has been clear to me from the beginning that at least this latest round of travel restrictions were political and optical, not about reducing transmission," said Kenney. "I think its become a huge inconvenience." E. Jean Carroll in a New York courtroom for her defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump on March 4, 2020. Seth Wenig/AP E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle columnist, accused Donald Trump of rape in a memoir published in 2019. The writer sued Trump for defamation after he denied sexually assaulting her in a dressing room in the 1990s. Carroll's lawyer is asking to combine the defamation trial with a civil sexual battery suit. A former Elle columnist, who accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s, plans to sue the former president as soon as a New York law that opens up the statute of limitations for abuse cases goes into effect on November 24. E. Jean Carroll, who made the accusation public in 2019, plans to file a suit for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress under New York's Adult Survivors Act, Roberta A. Kaplan, Carroll's lawyer, wrote in an August letter to a New York judge that was made public on Tuesday. The writer was unable to pursue a case against Trump due to the state's statute of limitations on certain sexual offenses. But with the Adult Survivors Act (ASA), victims of sexual assault now have a one-year window to file a civil case regardless of when the incident occurred as long as they were 18 years old or older at the time. This means that once the law goes into effect on November 24, 2022, a plaintiff has until November 24, 2023, to file a case. The law was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on May 24. Carroll previously made the accusation against Trump public in her 2019 memoir, "What Do We Need Men For?" She alleged in the book that, in 1995 or 1996, Trump pushed her against the wall in a dressing room and sexually assaulted her, claiming he forced his "fingers around my private area" and thrust "his penis halfway or completely, I'm not certain inside me." Trump vehemently denied the allegations. "I'll say it with great respect: Number one, she's not my type. Number two, it never happened," Trump told The Hill in 2019. In response, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump, which is set to go to trial next year in February. Story continues Carroll's lawyer hopes to also try Trump for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress in the same trial, according to the letter dated August 8. "In our view, because ... the facts between the two cases overlap to such a significant degree, we believe that there is no reason why both actions could not be tried together starting on February 6, 2023," Kaplan wrote. Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, wrote in a response to the letter that her client "wholly and adamantly objects" to the proposal of consolidating the cases. Carroll's legal team also is seeking a deposition from Trump after alleging that the former president's responses for discovery in the defamation case were "deficient." "To date, discovery in the above-referenced defamation case has been entirely one way," Kaplan wrote. Trump's attorney responded that the letter "mischaracterizes the discovery efforts" her client has made. Attorneys for Carroll and Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Sep. 20Salva Dut, former "Lost Boy of Sudan" and founder of the international nonprofit Water for South Sudan, was a featured speaker Sept. 15 at an assembly at Fallston High School. Students from the eighth-grade class at Fallston Middle School and the ninth-grade class at the high school attended the assembly. A panel discussion was held with freshmen and seniors who have participated in previous service projects with the organization. "It touched my heart to see that kids are stepping out of their comfort zone and have a passion for helping other people," Dut said. Dut's life is the subject of the bestselling novel, "A Long Walk to Water," written by Newbury Award-winner Linda Sue Park. Dat met with the eighth-grade class at Fallston Middle School, which is currently reading the book. "A Long Walk to Water" is based on the true story of Dut, one of some 3,800 Sudanese "Lost Boys" airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid 1990s. Born in Sudan, Dut was separated from his family by war at age 11 and forced to travel on foot through hundreds of miles of hostile territory. As the book recounts, he survived starvation, animal attacks and disease, and ultimately lead a group of about 150 boys to safety in Kenya. Fallston Middle School teacher Jennifer Brown as well as students and faculty from both the middle and high school organized an event to raise money for Water for South Sudan's annual Iron Giraffe Challenge contest. Schools that raise $1,000 or more are automatically entered to win a visit from Dut. Fallston students won the challenge's grand prize, which earned them a visit from Dut. Fallston participated in the Iron Giraffe Challenge in 2019 and 2022. Fallston Middle School has raised $20,300 since 2018, said Elissa Rowley, development and communications coordinator for Water for South Sudan. Dut was eventually resettled with a family in upstate New York. He learned English and graduated from college. Story continues The Morning Sun According to the Water for South Sudan website, when Dut learned that his father was still alive and suffering with disease caused by waterborne parasites, he was inspired to help both his father and his country. He established a foundation in South Sudan that installs deep-water wells in remote villages in dire need of clean water. The nonprofit also repairs and rehabilitates older wells, provides hygiene education in every village it serves and constructs school latrines and water storage and distribution systems. "It's crazy because I read this book, and I never got to meet the actual storyteller until just now, "said student Shaianne Montamvault. "It's great to see that he's appreciative of everything we do because you read a story about somebody and you can't really do anything to help. But, we read the story and we could actually do something about it." During the visit to Fallston, Dut talked about the nonprofit, which has now drilled more than 570 wells in South Sudan since 2005. He shared the life-changing effect of clean water on those who lack it. "This keeps me going all the time and is why I had to meet with these young people to be able to help people who can not help themselves to clean drinking water," Dut said. "It's a simple as digging a well and water comes out. People enjoy it, and it's very touching. They celebrate and you see people put their hands up in joy. You see the light and spirit of the people change when they get water." The former finance director of an alternative school in Providence was arrested Tuesday on charges he embezzled $3 million from the school, according to the Rhode Island State Police. Nathan Kaufman, 35, was the director of finance and operations for the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program from 2011 until this June, the state police said. State police detectives arrested Kaufman on Tuesday; he is charged with embezzlement and access to a computer for fraudulent purposes, according to the state police. Kaufman was arraigned in District Court, Providence, and released on $15,000 surety bail, the police said. He is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on Jan. 4. In August, staff at the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program in Providence contacted the state police about financial irregularities, the state police said. State police detectives discovered that $3 million had been diverted from UCAP funds to a private account, according to the police. As director of finance and operations, Kaufman had access to all UCAPs financial accounts, the state police said. Investigators allege that Kaufman transferred UCAP funds for personal use. UCAP opened in 1989 and serves students at risk of dropping out in Providence, Central Falls and Cranston, according to its website. "We are the only middle school in Rhode Island to partner with other school districts to identify and help students catch up with their grades and return to high school prepared and ready for success," the school says on its website. The school accepts private donations. The alleged embezzlement "has not impacted operations at our school in any way," Executive Director Lynn Prentiss said in a letter to parents. "In fact, following a successful opening of the school year, UCAP continues to move forward, as always." She said the school has started implementing new programs, "including physical education and art on a daily basis." Story continues "We owe it to everyone who works here, and everyone who depends on us, to continue our important work. At the same time we will be as transparent as possible about what happened and do everything we can to protect the integrity of our organization, she wrote. She said the school has hired an auditing firm to "conduct a deeper, independent financial" audit and has "implemented additional" financial controls. jperry@providencejournal.com (401) 277-7614 On Twitter: @jgregoryperr Be the first to know. Sign up for our breaking news alerts This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Former school finance director accused of embezzling $3 million A three-time felon who hid behind legitimate businesses such as a mortician, restaurateur, tax preparer and even a pastor was sentenced to 29 months in prison. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Action News Jax broke the news in October of 2021 that 45-year-old Mack Devon Knight of Kingsland had been accused of applying for CARES Act funds and using a portion of the money to buy a Mercedes. The United States Department of Justice said in a statement that Knight admitted lying to receive COVID-19 small-business assistance. Knight will also have three years of supervised release and must pay $149,000 in restitution for previously pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud. When Congress provided more than $6.5 billion through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security Act to help small businesses struggling financially during the pandemic, fraudsters like Mack Knight came out of the woodwork, said U.S. Attorney David Estes. With our law enforcement partners, we are identifying and holding accountable these scam artists attempting to steal taxpayer funds. Read: Sheriff gives details on major fentanyl bust in Clay County As a result of frequently filing for Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Businesses Administration on behalf of multiple Camden County, Georgia businesses, Knight received $149,000. He used a large portion of the funds to buy a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. As part of his plea deal, he is forfeiting the car to the U.S. government. Knight has at least three prior felony convictions for other acts of fraud. So many businesses needed federal emergency assistance to stay afloat during the pandemic, and this defendant misdirected hundreds of thousands of dollars of that money to his own pockets, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. Mack Knights actions affected every taxpaying citizen, in particular those who needed help the most. The FBI will continue to make every effort to ensure federal funds are used as intended. Story continues The FBI investigated the case. Knight was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonanthan A. Porter and E. Greg Gilluly Jr. To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling the NCDF Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories Sep. 20SUPERIOR A former Superior Police sergeant accused of killing two people and injuring two others during a July traffic crash pleaded not guilty in Douglas County Circuit Court Monday, Sept. 19, to criminal charges connected with the incident. Gregory M. Swanson, 42, of Solon Springs, was initially charged with one felony count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. An amended complaint filed Aug. 22 contained 11 additional charges two counts of homicide by use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration, two counts of hit and run resulting in death, an additional count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, two counts of causing injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, two counts of causing injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration and two counts of hit and run resulting in injury. Swanson waived the reading of the charges Monday and pleaded not guilty, according to online court records. He also pleaded not guilty to a trailing citation for first-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration. A 15-year veteran of the Superior Police Department, Swanson was off duty at the time of the crash. He resigned from the department Aug. 4, according to Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander. According to the criminal complaint, a vehicle Swanson was driving struck a disabled sedan with no lights in the right lane of the 5200 block of East Second Street at about 1:17 a.m. July 15. A 23-year-old man was reported dead at the scene, according to a Superior Police Department news release. He had been behind the vehicle pushing it at the time of the crash. Another occupant of the vehicle, 2-month-old Elijah Michael Ojanen, died four days later from blunt force trauma suffered during the crash, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner. A blood draw indicated Swanson had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.190 at the time of the crash, more than twice the legal limit, the amended complaint said. Story continues Two additional occupants of the vehicle a woman and an older child were treated for injuries caused by the collision at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center, including whiplash, a laceration and bruising from child safety restraint straps. After striking the vehicle, Swanson reportedly drove to the Holiday gas station a few blocks away. A witness at the gas station told a Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputy they saw Swanson get out of his vehicle with a six-pack of alcoholic beverages and throw them into a garbage can. Following his initial appearance July 18, Swanson posted a $15,000 cash bond and was ordered to have no contact with the victims' family or occupants of the vehicle, no use or possession of alcohol, and no operation of a motor vehicle without a valid license or permit. Swanson's next court appearance was set for Jan. 9, 2023. A former employee of Weatherford College alleges in a lawsuit she filed against the school that she was the victim of sexual harassment and retaliation by the president of the college, Tod Allen Farmer. A spokesperson for Weatherford College, the colleges attorney and Farmer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Weatherford College is a public community college in Parker County with about 10,000 students. Shelley Gipson worked as the colleges external relations officer from September 2020 to July 2021, according to her lawsuit. Gipson alleges in the suit that she was a victim of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment from day one, when Farmer told her she would be perfect for the job in part because she was not married or dating anybody. After she began work, according to the lawsuit, Farmer made inappropriate comments and unwanted advances and told Gipson about problems he was having with his wife. He told her on numerous occasions that his wife was angry with him for hiring Gipson and that he found her attractive, the suit alleges. Farmer told Gipson they could not take photographs together or be seen together in front of the colleges financial aid office because his wifes friend worked there, according to the suit. Once, he told Gipson he wanted her office to be close to his so he could hear her giggles, the lawsuit states. These comments continued until at one point, Gipson said in the lawsuit, Farmer asked her if their relationship would ever be anything but professional and said he wanted a personal relationship with her. After she rejected him and told him they would never have anything but a professional relationship, Gipson alleges, she was punished by being bounced around to different college departments without any training. Gipson eventually filed complaints against Farmer with the colleges Title IX office and human resources, according to the lawsuit. Both promised investigations, she said in the suit, but she doesnt think college officials conducted an investigation. Eventually, Gipson said, the retaliation grew to a point she felt she needed to resign. Story continues Gipson is demanding back pay, front pay, legal fees, punitive damages and any other monetary awards for which she legally qualifies, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 22 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth. In response, the college filed a motion seeking to dismiss some of the claims, which a judge denied, ruling that the case will continue. According to the Dallas Voice, female faculty and staff members are planning a #MeToo protest on Thursday outside the colleges Marjorie Black Alkek Fine Arts Center, where Farmer will host his annual Presidential Luncheon. The college told the Dallas Voice in a statement that Weatherford College has not and will not restrict or discourage any expression of First Amendment rights on our campuses. Students and individuals of any race, gender, religious affiliation or sexual orientation are welcome here. DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian authorities and a Kurdish rights group reported rising death tolls on Wednesday as anger at the death of a woman detained by the morality police fuelled protests for a fifth day and fresh restrictions were placed on social media. Iranian media and a local prosecutor said four people were killed in the last two days, bringing the total death toll according to official sources to eight, including a member of the police and a pro-government militia member. The demonstrations erupted over the death in detention last week of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old from Iranian Kurdistan who was arrested in Tehran for "unsuitable attire". The protests, which were concentrated in Iran's Kurdish-populated northwestern regions but have spread to at least 50 cities and towns nationwide, are the largest since a wave of demonstrations in 2019 over gasoline price rises. Reports from Kurdish rights group Hengaw, which Reuters could not verify, said 10 protesters had been killed. Three died on Wednesday, adding to the seven people the group said had been killed by security forces. Officials have denied that security forces have killed protesters, suggesting they may have been shot by armed dissidents. With no sign of the protests easing, authorities restricted access to the internet, according to accounts from Hengaw, residents, and internet shutdown observatory NetBlocks. INTERNET CURBS Activists expressed concern that the internet shutdown echoed a government move before a crackdown against the 2019 fuel price protests, when Reuters reported that 1,500 people were killed. NetBlocks and residents said access had been restricted to Instagram - the only major social media platform that Iran usually allows and which has millions of users - and that some mobile phone networks had been shut down. "Iran is now subject to the most severe internet restrictions since the November 2019 massacre," NetBlocks said. WhatsApp users said they could only send text, not pictures, while Hengaw said access to the internet had been cut in Kurdistan province - moves that would hinder videos being shared from a region where the authorities have previously suppressed unrest by the Kurdish minority. Story continues Meta Platforms, the owner of Instagram and WhatsApp, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Amini's death unleashed anger over issues including freedoms in the Islamic Republic and an economy reeling from sanctions. Women have played a prominent role in the protests, waving and burning their veils, with some cutting their hair in public. Amini fell into a coma while held by the morality police, who enforce strict rules in Iran requiring women to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothes in public. Her funeral was on Saturday. Her father said she had no health problems and that she suffered bruises to her legs in custody. He holds the police responsible for her death. The police have denied harming her. A top aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei paid condolences to Amini's family this week, promising to follow up on the case and saying Khamenei was pained by her death. Activists said they feared an escalating crackdown. "We are worried that the world will forget about Iran as soon as the regime shuts down the internet - which is already happening," one activist told Reuters. Fars news agency, close to the elite Revolutionary Guards, carried videos accusing protesters of torching a mosque, an Islamic shrine and buses, attacking a bank and pulling off a woman's veil. Such accusations against dissidents have preceded violent crackdowns after protests dating back to unrest in 2009. "We are getting warnings from the security organisations to end the protests or face jail," an activist in the northwestern Kurdistan province said. Fars said on Wednesday a member of the Basij, a militia under the umbrella of the Revolutionary Guards, was killed in the northwestern city of Tabriz, while the official IRNA news agency said a "police assistant" died from injuries on Tuesday in the southern city of Shiraz. A prosecutor in Kermanshah said two people had been killed on Tuesday in riots, blaming armed dissidents because the victims were killed by weapons not used by police. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan police chief confirmed four deaths earlier this week in the province, blaming "gangs" for their deaths. Hengaw said 450 people had been injured in addition to the 10 protesters it said had died in protests mainly in the northwest. Reuters could not independently confirm the casualty reports. Videos shared on social media have shown demonstrators damaging symbols of the Islamic Republic and confronting security forces. One showed a man scaling the facade of the town hall in the northern city of Sari and tearing down an image of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution. On Wednesday in Tehran, hundreds shouted "death to the dictator" at Tehran University, a video shared by 1500tasvir showed. Reuters could not verify the video's authenticity. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Writing by Tom Perry and Dominic EvansEditing by David Gregorio, Rosalba O'Brien and Howard Goller) (Bloomberg) -- Climate change is the focus of dozens of events in New York City this week, as world leaders, corporate executives, activists and artists all converge for both the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week. Most Read from Bloomberg That includes the Race to Zero and Resilience Forum Wednesday, organized by the UN Climate Action High-level Champions and Michael Bloomberg, majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News. The event has connected government leaders and environmental activists, with the goal of delivering capital globally to groups working to reduce emissions without exacerbating debt in vulnerable communities. Speakers including California Governor Gavin Newsom and renowned naturalist Jane Goodall are discussing significant achievements that have been made and also key next steps that are required. More information about the event can be found online and on the Bloomberg Terminal. Colombian President Questions Whether Market Can Stop Crisis (3:20 p.m.) Gustavo Petro, who took office as Colombias first leftist president this year, questioned whether markets have the ability to arrest climate change, chiding leaders for following capitalism as a solution. We have to wonder whether capitalism can overcome this climate crisis or lead to the destruction of society, Petro said. If you want to solve the climate crisis, that means a total change of technology of consumption. That means we have to look at it from another lens, which isnt the market. In a 25-minute speech that meandered into political theory, lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of a fossil fuel-based economy, Petro urged world leaders to act to save the planet from the point of no return. We play ostrich with our heads in the sand and go from COP to COP to COP until time runs out, he said. Story continues The former mayor and senator took office as president in August, pledging a transition to sustainable energy for the oil and coal exporter. Californias Newsom Slams Texas Energy Policies (3:45 p.m.) California Governor Gavin Newsom talked up his states investment in green technologies while criticizing Republican politicians for not taking similar stances. An extreme heat wave earlier this month pushed Californias power grid to the brink of failure, but Newsom said the state was able to avoid widespread power outages because it has invested heavily in big batteries. In contrast, he said, Texas has clung to fossil-fuel generation after a winter storm last year left much the state in the dark for days. Look what happened in Texas last year. They doubled down on stupid, he said at the forum. Why the hell are they doubling down on the policies that created those conditions? Newsom praised climate efforts from President Joe Biden, but was also critical of the White House. Notably, he compared the size of Californias electric infrastructure package with national investments. As the talk was concluding, Newsom was asked whether he would run for president. No, I want to do something for a living, he said. I like being governor of California. I can get stuff done. Standards Needed to Match Ambition With Action (3:12 p.m.) Stronger standards are vital to ensuring emission-cutting pledges and programs translate into real action on the ground, former Canadian environmental minister Catherine McKenna said at the event, telegraphing an upcoming UN report on the issue. The UN secretary-generals High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments, which McKenna chairs, is set to release its analysis before the COP27 climate summit in November in Egypt. The effort comes amid a wave of national and corporate net-zero commitments. And its driven by concern regarding greenwashing and the need to match ambition with action, McKenna said. Theres a limit to voluntary initiatives, she said. Many communities and corporations simply arent part of those voluntary programs and even those that are may not face consequences for failing to hit their targets. You need some consequences, McKenna said, and the issue will be a big part of the report. Carney Says Some Race-To-Zero Bank Guidance Went Too Far (3 p.m.) Mark Carney, co-chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, said some of the climate groups guidance for banks went too far and has been amended. Carney, who is also vice chair of Brookfield Asset Management, was responding to reports that financial giants including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley are considering leaving GFANZ because theyre concerned the organizations strict requirements for decarbonization may make them legally vulnerable. Carney didnt mention any financial companies in his presentation at the event. Also See: Banks May Leave Mark Carneys Climate Group on Legal Risks Race to Zero, the body behind the criteria that underpins GFANZ, issued a clarification Friday, updating its guidance around fossil fuels and new coal projects. It said it was aware there may be cause for legal concern around these areas while reaffirming its members have always been required to phase out coal and align to the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Wealthy Nations Must Address Trust Deficiency, Shoukry Says (2:30 p.m.) Rich nations must work to overcome lingering distrust over their failure to fulfill climate finance pledges, according to Sameh Shoukry, president-designate of COP27, underscoring a source of tension that threatens to undermine upcoming negotiations in Egypt. There is a deficiency in trust, and we must regain that confidence, Shoukry, Egypts foreign affairs minister, said at the forum. Wealthy nations have yet to satisfy their promise of providing $100 billion in annual funding to help poor countries address climate change a shortfall that still needs to be filled. A plan for after 2025 also is still being developed. Although the upcoming COP27 climate summit is meant to focus on implementation, Shoukrys comments emphasize the extent to which other concerns may intrude. Climate-vulnerable countries are pushing for the establishment of a loss and damage program that can help nations deal with devastating floods, droughts and other consequences of the warming planet. On loss and damage, its still a question whether its going to be sufficiently addressed, Shoukry said. Countries Must Boost Climate Ambitions, Stiell Says (1:55 p.m.) Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, stressed the importance of corporate action to buttress national emissions-cutting commitments, even as he urged nations to boost their ambitions. Paris, Glasgow and a host of other conferences proved that climate change has slowly moved to the center of the international agenda, but its time to move it to the center of each national agenda, Stiell said at the event. His comments come about six weeks before the next UN climate summit in Egypt, and days before countries are due to submit any new or revised emissions-cutting pledges under the Paris Agreement. Initiatives around transparency and accountability are also critical, he said. The commitments made must be commitments delivered. Nordic Real Estate Partners Pushes to Make Cities More Walkable (1:20 p.m.) Nordic Real Estate Partners A/S is partnering with a group of about 100 mayors around the world to promote making cities less dependent on cars as part of the fight against climate change. The collaboration announced Wednesday between the Copenhagen-based firm and the group, C40 Cities, will promote the so-called 15-minute cities concept -- the idea that cities should be designed to have everything residents need within a 15-minute walk, bike ride or public transit ride. The effort will begin with pilot programs in several cities, which have not yet been announced. Claus Mathisen, NREPs chief executive officer, did not disclose how much money the firm is committing to the initiative but said it made a significant financial contribution. Nordic Real Estate Partners has 18 billion euros ($17.8 billion)in assets under management, he said. Dense, multi-purpose neighborhoods see a reduction in emissions, Mark Watts, the executive director of C40, said during a press conference. The concept helps to reduce carbon emissions and reclaims space in cities from polluting vehicles back to people, he added. Bloomberg Targets Growth of Petrochemical Plants (12:30 NY time) Bloomberg Philanthropies announced an $85 million program to slow the expansion of the petrochemical industry, building on past initiatives that pushed to close coal plants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The effort announced Wednesday will target 120 new or proposed oil, gas and petrochemical plants across at least five states, from the US Gulf Coast to the growing gas hub of the Ohio River Valley. The world is transitioning to renewable energy, but oil and gas companies are turning to plastics and petrochemicals as a lifeline, Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice, said. We cant afford a new investment in fossil fuels. Funding could help arm front-line communities already battling plastics and chemical plants, including in Louisianas infamous Cancer Alley. Those activists are like David fighting Goliath, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., chair of the Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign, said. Its time to give David some new stones for his slingshot. Cheap Hydrogen Offers Magic Path to Clean Industrial Processes: Gates (12:10 p.m. NY time) Hydrogen has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from industrial processes, if it can be produced at a low-enough cost, according to billionaire Bill Gates. Industrial processes for products like steel and cement are significant sources of emissions. While there are new ways to produce them, high costs remains a barrier. Technologies to produce hydrogen can help address these challenges, Gates said during the event. If you get the hydrogen cheap enough, you get the super-magic thing, which is that the green product doesnt cost more, Gates said. Innovation Key to Climate Fight, New Zealands Ardern Says Fostering new technologies and new environmental policies will be a key element of the global fight against climate change, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit. Her comments reflect the growing awareness that limiting global warming is a monumental challenge that will require significant backing from governments and businesses. While New Zealand has historically contributed a small portion of the air pollution thats driving climate change, Ardern has won praise for her aggressive stance on curbing emissions, making her a leading voice in the environmental debate. We cannot expect environmental innovation to happen in a vacuum, Ardern said. As governments, we have a responsibility to create the incentives and the space for you to flourish. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Photo: The Canadian Press A row of De Havilland Dash-8 airplanes sit outside the Downsview plant in Toronto on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. has announced plans to build a new aircraft manufacturing plant east of Calgary that could eventually employ up to 1,500 people. The company says the facility, dubbed De Havilland Field, is to be located in Wheatland County between the communities of Chestermere and Strathmore. De Havilland says it has acquired about 600 hectares of land in the area. It says construction could begin as early as next year, with its first buildings operational by 2025 though the project's full buildout could take years. De Havilland Field is to be the site of final assembly for the DHC-515 Firefighter aircraft, DHC Twin Otter and the Dash 8-400 aircraft. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called it a "game-changing investment" for manufacturing in the province and a major sign of the economic growth, job opportunities and diversification happening there. "This is just another step forward in the huge growth in our aviation sector with more big news to follow in that sector in just the weeks ahead," Kenney said in Toronto Wednesday ahead of the formal announcement. Tanya Fir, the province's minister of jobs, economy and innovation, called the announcement a "huge win." We wanted to find ways to leverage Albertas strengths, like our available land close to logistical hubs and our young, skilled and motivated workforce, to find a path back to our position as Canadas economic engine," she said in a statement. De Havillands investment in Alberta, to help carry forward its aircraft into its second century of operations, proves that our plan is working." Company co-owner Sherry Brydson said the full project will take a long time to complete and will depend on the growth trajectory of the business. "De Havilland Field, like Rome I have to warn you won't be built in a day. We anticipate the full buildout will take somewhere between 10 and 15 years. We're planning to take it slowly and seriously and we're going to make sure it works." Company co-owner Rob McDonald said De Havilland doesn't need government handouts and aims to be self-sufficient. "We need people to buy our planes. We don't really need or want support from the government," he told a news conference. Michael Palacios the messenger who last Friday swung a hatchet all over a Lower East Side McDonalds, busting through glass and terrorizing customers should surely be charged more stiffly by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. Palacios now-viral freakout, for which he has been hit with just two misdemeanors, happened after he was punched by three men who were reportedly responding to him going at a woman who had rejected him, according to a witness. Penal Law 145.05(2), Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, is a Class E felony. An individual is guilty when with intent to damage property of another person...he or she damages property of another person in an amount exceeding $250. Given the glass Palacios shattered, he certainly qualifies. But heres the rub for foes of Bragg: Even that felony charge isnt bail-eligible under New York law. The problem, again, is the statute. In a sane state, a judge would be able to look at the totality of a case and (hopefully) set high bail to ensure that a defendant is not immediately free again to terrorize patrons at another McDonalds, or in the park, or on the subway, or on the street. But this is New York, the outlier of the 50 states and the federal system, where despite some real improvements to the state bail laws won by Gov. Hochul this year, judges still have no discretion to consider the potential danger a defendant presents when determining pretrial detention. If a charge is on the approved list or meets other conditions described the law, bail or remand is a possibility. If not, not. A judge may only consider the likelihood an individual will return to court. (Judicial discretion, by the way, is no magic bullet. Judges often make mistakes.) Holding a man like Palacios in jail will not fix him long-term. But it does send a signal that violence has consequences, and it does, for a time, keep the rest of New York safe from his violent outbursts. That ought to count for something. Sep. 20WASHINGTON Nonpartisan voting rights organizations The Civics Center and Fair Elections Center have released a new report, entitled Introducing Students to Our Democracy, evaluating how public high schools in Georgia and North Carolina are complying with their state's youth voter registration laws. While citizens across the country can register to vote before the age of 18, very little infrastructure exists to support and promote voter registration in high schools. State laws in Georgia and North Carolina require public schools to make voter registration applications available to eligible students. The report provides insight into how public schools in Georgia and North Carolina are complying with these laws. Key new findings include: In both states, public high schools' compliance with state law is positively correlated to 18-year-olds' registration rates; Factors such as multiple opportunities to register to vote during the school year, good communication with the student body about these opportunities, district leadership in registration opportunities, and district policies supporting high school registration efforts are key to increasing youth voter registration rates; Registration rates among 18-year-olds in North Carolina, where select districts generally comply with the law, are on average higher than Georgia, and those The Civics Center has calculated in select districts of any other state. The report comes at an urgent time for youth voting rights, with all eyes on young voters as the nation approaches midterm elections. Research shows that our democracy's youngest voters have the ability to play a significant role in the outcome of these elections if they are registered. "High school students are the newest members of our democracy, and the American education system has a responsibility to teach these young people how to participate in our elections," Mike Burns, national director of Fair Elections Center's Campus Vote Project, said. "These state laws exist to fulfill the promise of American democracy, and we know that they work when fully implemented. It's essential that all school districts comply with these laws and support students in this undertaking." "Young people can be the agents of their own political empowerment when they create a climate in their school communities to support democracy and civic engagement," Laura W. Brill, founder and director of The Civics Center, said. "Roughly 1 million high school students nationwide will be old enough to vote in November, and schools have an ideal opportunity to put civics into action through equitable, inclusive, and nonpartisan programs that provide young people with the resources they need to register to vote." A new public opinion poll in the crucial general election battleground state of Georgia indicates that Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is viewed more favorably by registered voters than his Republican challenger Herschel Walker. But the survey from Monmouth University, which was released on Wednesday, suggests that poor opinions of the Democratic Party in the Peach State are keeping the race between Warnock and Walker close. The Senate election in Georgia is one of a handful across the country that will likely determine if the GOP wins back the Senate majority in Novembers midterms. 11 SENATE RACES WILL DETERMINE WHETHER DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE CHAMBER AFTER MIDTERM ELECTIONS According to the poll of registered voters, which was conducted Sept. 15-19, Warnock has a 48%-44% favorable rating while Walker is underwater at 42%-48%. But the race between the two candidates is closer, according to the poll, with 45% saying they would definitely or probably vote for Warnock and 41% saying the same of Walker. The survey indicates that the image among Georgia voters of the Democratic Party (44%-55%) is notably more negative than that of the GOP (53%-47%). Monmouth University Polling Institute director Patrick Murray cited "the drag caused by a weak Democratic brand in Georgia" as a contributing factor in the close Senate race. Warnock, the senior pastor at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr. used to preach, defeated GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler by a razor-thin margin to capture the seat in the January 2021 runoff election, prompting Republicans to view him as very vulnerable in his re-election bid for a full six-year term. Sen. Raphael Warnock in the U.S. Capitol on May 24, 2022. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Walker, who won a Heisman Trophy and helped steer the University of Georgia to a college football national championship four decades ago, jumped into the GOP race to face off against Warnock a year ago, after months of support and encouragement to run for the Senate by former President Donald Trump, his longtime friend. Thanks to his legendary status among many in Georgia and his immense, favorable name recognition in the Peach State, Walker easily captured the Republican nomination in May over a handful of lesser-known rivals. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll released on Tuesday indicated Walker had a slight two-point advantage, while a Marist College survey showed Warnock with a similar two-point edge. An average of all the most recent public opinion polls compiled by Real Clear Politics shows the showdown is tied. By Kirsti Knolle and Paul Sandle BERLIN/LONDON (Reuters) -Germany nationalised gas importer Uniper on Wednesday and Britain said it would halve energy bills for businesses in response to a deepening energy crisis that has exposed Europe's reliance on Russian fuel. Russian President Vladimir Putin added to the upward pressure on energy prices by announcing a partial military mobilisation, in the biggest escalation of the Ukraine war since Moscow's Feb. 24 invasion. European governments had already earmarked almost 500 billion euros ($496 billion) in the last year to shield citizens and companies from soaring gas and power prices, according to research by think-tank Bruegel. Uniper has been among the biggest corporate casualties, with Germany earmarking an additional 8 billion euros on Wednesday in the latest step in a 29 billion euro bailout. France, also among the high spenders, will allocate 9.7 billion euros to take full control of utility EDF. Britain said its new plan to help businesses would cost "tens of billions of pounds." "We have stepped in to stop businesses collapsing, protect jobs, and limit inflation," Britain's finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng said of the cap on wholesale electricity and gas costs for businesses, which is set to apply from Oct.1 More than 20 British power providers have collapsed, many crumbling because a government price cap prevented them from passing on soaring prices. Uniper's full nationalisation will involve the German government buying out Finland's Fortum to give the state a 99% holding. "This is clearly not sustainable from a public finance perspective," Bruegel senior fellow Simone Tagliapietra said of Europe's overall energy crisis bill. "Governments with more fiscal space will inevitably better manage the energy crisis by outcompeting their neighbours for limited energy resources over the winter months." 'DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE' Story continues German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, announcing the Uniper move and other steps to avoid energy rationing this winter, said: "The state will ... do everything possible to always keep the companies stable on the market." The Uniper ationalisation gives the German government control of some assets in Russia, a government spokesperson said, adding that it was examining what to do with these. Germany was more reliant than many others in Europe on Russian gas, mostly supplied via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Russia halted flows through the pipeline, blaming Western sanctions for hindering operations. European politicians call that a pretext and say Moscow is using energy as a weapon. The German government has already put Gazprom Germania, a unit of Kremlin-controlled Gazprom, and a subsidiary of Russian oil company Rosneft under trusteeship - a de facto nationalisation. Including Uniper's bailout, the bill amounts to about 40 billion euros. WINDFALL TAX Meanwhile, a debate is raging in Europe over whether oil companies making record profits because of the energy crisis should pay additional taxes to help consumers cope with soaring inflation. TotalEnergies' CEO Patrick Pouyanne said on Wednesday that the French energy group was likely to face more than 1 billion euros in additional levies if a proposed EU scheme to impose extra taxes on oil and gas companies was approved. [L8N30S2HW] European gas prices on Wednesday hit 212 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), below this year's peak of around 343 euros but up more than 200% from a year earlier. Oil prices rose by as much 3% in early trading, but later gave up these gains. [O/R} "The partial mobilisation (in Russia) is definitely a bullish factor as it increases the risks of a prolonged war in Ukraine," said Viktor Katona, lead crude analyst at Kpler. Russia's gas flows to Europe via Ukraine were steady on Wednesday while eastbound gas flows via the Yamal-Europe pipeline to Poland from Germany were halted. In the United States, Democratic and Republican senators on Tuesday proposed that President Joe Biden's administration use secondary sanctions on international banks to strengthen plans for a price cap by G7 countries on Russian oil. Moscow has said it would cut all oil and gas flows to the West if such a cap was implemented. Several countries have banned imports of Russian crude and fuel, but Moscow has managed to maintain its revenues through increased sales to Asia. The move by U.S. lawmakers came hours before Putin ordered Russia's first mobilisation since World War Two, warning the West that if it continued what he called its "nuclear blackmail" Moscow would respond with its vast arsenal. ($1 = 1.0087 euros) (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Edmund Blair, Jason Neely and Jane Merriman) (Bloomberg) -- Germany will nationalize Uniper SE in a historic move to rescue the countrys largest gas importer and avert a collapse of the energy sector in Europes biggest economy. Most Read from Bloomberg Chancellor Olaf Scholzs administration will control about 99% of the Dusseldorf-based utility after injecting 8 billion euros ($8 billion) into the company and buying the majority stake held by Finnish utility Fortum Oyj. The final package will likely run into the tens of billions of euros, including credit lines to keep the company operating with energy markets still in turmoil. Germany is paying the price for building up a reliance on Russia, which supplied more than half of the countrys gas before President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Scholz is now overseeing a rapid overhaul, but the implications will last for years. Nobody wants to pretend that everythings fine, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Wednesday at a press conference in Berlin. But the governments resolve and willingness to make far-reaching decisions is a guarantee that we will get through this period in good shape. Uniper shares tumbled as much as 39%, with its market value falling to about 1 billion euros. Freed from its risk related to the German utility, Fortum shares surged as much as 20%, its biggest ever jump. Nationalizing Uniper is Germanys biggest step to date to protect the country from blackouts and rationing this winter and beyond, and more will likely follow. The government is also in advanced talks to take control of VNG AG and Securing Energy for Europe GmbH, the former German unit of Russias Gazprom PJSC. Story continues Uniper is at the epicenter of Germanys energy crisis. Its massive gas contracts with Russia exposed the company to the Kremlins moves to slash supplies in retaliation for sanctions. The utility has accumulated 8.5 billion euros in gas-related losses after prices for alternative sources soared. Todays agreement provides clarity on the ownership structure, allows us to continue our business and to fulfill our role as a system-critical energy supplier, Uniper Chief Executive Officer Klaus-Dieter Maubach said on Wednesday. This secures the energy supply for companies, municipal utilities, and consumers. The companys problems are tied to its creation in 2016. With Germany setting the wheels in motion to gradually shift to wind and solar energy, the need for hulking power plants that burn coal and gas was declining. To focus on operating renewable capacity, EON SE pooled these assets into Uniper and spun it off. Read more: The Weakest Link in Germanys Energy Security Is Fraying Despite Unipers issues, Germany cant allow it to collapse for fear of setting off a chain reaction that could leave factories halted and households without heat. Those concerns are motivating discussions to nationalize VNG and Gazproms former unit. The government also seized control over the local unit of Russian oil major Rosneft PJSC to secure a key refinery that supplies Berlin with fuel. The risk of energy shortages has rippled across Europe. Public spending to contain the crisis has swollen to half a trillion euros across the European Union, the UK and Norway, according to think tank Bruegel. Germanys exposure to Uniper includes an existing 13 billion-euro credit line from KfW. The state-owned lender will continue to provide financing until the deal is completed. The total rescue package will cost the government around 30 billion euros, according to reports in German media. Unipers losses from finding alternative suppliers to Russia will likely surpass 18 billion euros this year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. The company already reported a loss of more than 12 billion euros for the first half, ranking among the biggest in German corporate history. Talks to rescue Uniper were complicated by the involvement of the Finnish government, which has come under pressure over its handling of the rescue from opposition parties. Prime Minister Sanna Marins administration said it was satisfied with the deal. For Scholzs ruling coalition, the tensions are likely just starting. The effort to shore up the energy sector is being overseen by Habeck, a member of the Green party, and the process of putting billions of euros of taxpayer money at risk could put him at odds with Finance Minister Christian Lindner, a fiscal hawk who heads the business-friendly Free Democrats. The Uniper rescue also raises questions about the implementation of the governments planned gas levy. The temporary measure, which is supposed to take effect from Oct. 1, is designed to allow suppliers to share the burden of high prices with consumers but has prompted a public backlash. Around a dozen companies have applied for compensation totaling about 34 billion euros, according to Trading Hub Europe, which is overseeing the levy, with Uniper guzzling most of the aid. Habeck has said he plans to revise the controversial levy to shut out companys that arent affected by surging prices. On Wednesday, he said the plan is being revised, but said questions whether the measure can benefit a state-owned company is being intensively discussed. If the levy fails, financing energy bailouts and aid to households and businesses could put Lindners plans to restore constitutional debt limits at risk. Lindner said Germany can press ahead with the measure without a further review, in an apparent contradiction to Habecks comments. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. BERLIN (Reuters) - Any threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons is "unacceptable" but Germany will continue to support Ukraine and try to prevent an escalation in the war between Russia and Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told ARD television on Wednesday. "We are sticking to our balanced, decisive course in supporting Ukraine and preventing an escalation of the war beyond that between Russia and Ukraine. We will continue to do that," Scholz was quoted as saying in an excerpt of the interview to be broadcast later. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Chris Reese) UNITED NATIONS (AP) This week, the United Nations is the world's premier venue for current events which, one could say, is the forte of the U.S. Coast Guard. So naturally the military branch's boats are a familiar presence during the U.N. General Assembly, guarding the aquatic border of the United Nations alongside New York City police boats. While three sides of the perimeter around the U.N. headquarters are lined with barricades, the United Nations' adjacency to the East River requires a different security arrangement. The U.N. General Assembly makes for the largest maritime security operation in the nation, said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Kyle Weist, the emergency management chief for the New York sector. In addition to patrolling the stretch between the United Nations and the Long Island City section of Queens, the Coast Guard also has teams boarding ships that arrive in the ports of New York and New Jersey. The entire operation lasts two weeks and consists of 20 small boats and crews, four Coast Guard ships, two helicopters and 12 law enforcement boarding teams. Weist said via email. These assets and crews are mobilized from units throughout the nation and deploy to NYC to support this critical maritime safety and security mission. While it's mostly a sheer drop from the U.N. grounds to the water, there's a Coast Guard cutter capable of breaking ice that's moored at a makeshift dock. That cutter, the Penobscot Bay, serves as a platform from which to oversee the Coast Guard operations on the East River. The land barriers are notoriously disruptive to New Yorkers, and the summit similarly rocks the boat on water. Several NYC Ferry routes were delayed or suspended altogether Wednesday, with a service advisory in place for the duration of the General Assembly. ___ Mallika Sen is on assignment at the United Nations, covering the U.N. General Assembly. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mallikavsen, and for more on the U.N. General Assembly visit https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-general-assembly Google is releasing a tool that makes it easier to remove search results containing your address, phone number and other personally identifiable information, 9to5Google has reported. It first revealed the "results about you" feature at I/O 2022 in May, describing it as a way to "help you easily control whether your personally-identifiable information can be found in Search results." If you see a result with your phone number, home address or email, you can click on the three-dot menu at the top right. That opens the usual "About this result" panel, but it now contains a new "Remove result" option at the bottom of the screen. A dialog states that if the result contains one of those three things, "we can review your request more quickly." Google results about you privacy tool You can then monitor the request in a new menu item in the Google app called "Results about you," available by tapping your user profile at the top right. You can then monitor the progress of requests via filters "All requests," "In progress" and "Approved." The same page also lets you make a new request with a "Why would you like to remove this result" step. Options there include "It shows my personal contact info," "It shows my contact into with an intent to harm me," "It shows other personal info," "It contains illegal info" and "Its outdated." Previously, though, Google has said that not all requests may be granted: Its important to note that when we receive removal requests, we will evaluate all content on the web page to ensure that were not limiting the availability of other information that is broadly useful, for instance in news articles. And of course, removing contact information from Google Search doesnt remove it from the web, which is why you may wish to contact the hosting site directly, if youre comfortable doing so. The new feature has only rolled out to a limited number of users in the US and Europe, 9to5Google notes (I've yet to see it in France and I'm in the Google app beta). In the meantime, you can remove other personally identifiable information or doxxing content from Google Search via a removal request there's more information about that available here. J.R. Majewski, Republican candidate for U.S. Representative for Ohio's 9th Congressional District, takes the stage at a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on September 17, 2022. Tom E. Puskar/AP PH GOP House candidate J.R. Majewski lied about aspects of his military service, according to the Associated Press. Majewski has repeatedly said he served in Afghanistan, but military records indicate he actually served in Qatar. Insider previously discovered Majewski violated federal law by neglecting to disclose his personal finances. A candidate for House of Representatives from Ohio, J.R. Majewski, repeatedly misrepresented aspects of his military service, according to the Associated Press. During his campaign for office in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, Majewski stated on several occasions that he served in Afghanistan, where the US fought a nearly 20-year war. After obtaining records from Majewski's Air Force service, however, the AP found that he never actually deployed to that war-zone. Instead, Majewski actually loaded planes at a base in Qatar. Majewski's claims of serving in Afghanistan can be found online in at least one podcast and on his personal Twitter. In a video interview with "One American Podcast" in 2021, Majewski was asked if he served in Afghanistan. "Yes I did," Majewski firmly replied before noting that he doesn't like talking about his military experience as "it was a tough time in life. You know, the military wasn't easy." Additionally, Majewski claimed he was a veteran of the Afghanistan war on Twitter, saying he'd gladly "go back to Afghanistan" to rescue Americans who were left behind when US forces left the country a year ago. The AP also found that Majewski lacks several medals that are typically given to people who have served in Afghanistan, such as an Afghanistan Campaign Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Majewski has had a turbulent transition to the general election phase of his campaign after scoring an upset victory in his four-way Republican primary. Story continues In August, Insider found that Majewski was violating federal law by neglecting to publicly report his personal finances. It was not until after Insider inquired about them to his campaign that he filed the financial disclosure. The disclosure revealed Majewski and his wife have up to $750,000 in personal debt and own up to $200,000 in assets, not including their home. Majewski faces incumbent Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in a race that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has declared a "toss-up." Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Majewski, stating that Majewski "bravely served in the U.S. Air Force" and would be a "fantastic congressman." Read the original article on Business Insider The Congressional Leadership Fund rolled out new ads in 11 House districts on Wednesday, including their first spots in five districts. The Republican group is launching its first ads in Iowas 1st and 3rd districts, New Yorks 19th District, Californias 40th District, and Pennsylvanias 7th District. The latest ads are apart of the groups ad reserves for the general election. The ad in New Yorks 19th District is a part of a total $500,000 reserve for the general election, with the group adding $50,000 to its initial investment last week. The ads in Iowas 1st and 3rd districts are a part of $1.1 million and $975,000 reserves, respectively. The ad in Pennsylvanias 7th District is a part of a $7.2 million reserve, and in Californias 40th District its part of a $600,000 reserve. Additionally, the group is rolling out ads in Kansass 3rd District, Maines 2nd District, Michigans 10th District, Pennsylvanias 17th District and Nebraskas 2nd District. The Hill was the first outlet to see the groups ads on Wednesday. The spots seek to paint the Democratic incumbents and candidates as extreme and out of touch with voters. Democrats have left our economy in shambles and our neighborhoods less safe than ever before, Calvin Moore, the Congressional Leadership Funds communications director, said in a statement. Americans everywhere are seeing for themselves the consequences of the lefts failed leadership and are desperate for new leadership to turn things around. The ads come as House candidates enter the final stretch of the midterm campaign, with less than 50 days to go until Election Day. Like their GOP counterparts, Democrats are also pouring money into House races. The Democratic House Majority Pac has reserved more than $122 million in television ads, compared to the Congressional Leadership Funds more than $162 million. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A manager at the Crab Du Jour restaurant in Greenfield who threw a drink in a customer's face in August has been fired a month after he was cited with disorderly conduct for the incident. The customer, Mariah Luckette, wants the manager to face more charges and has hired an attorney. She said she is still dealing with eye damage and mental health concerns. Jason Diong, the now-former manager at Crab Du Jour, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he threw the drink in reaction to being called an Asian racial slur. Luckette who tossed a chair at Diong after he threw the drink says the incident stemmed from complaints she made about her food, and that she did not use any racial slurs. Surveillance footage obtained by the Journal Sentinel from the Greenfield Police Department shows the Aug. 16 incident, but does not include any audio. Diong did not tell police officers that Luckette called him a racial slur, according to the police report. At the time, he said he was frustrated because Luckette would not pay or leave. Luckette said she'd complained her food wasn't up to par Luckette said she took a friend to the restaurant, at 4638 S. 76th St., because she had been a fan of their food in the past. But, this time her food wasn't up to par. "My food was nasty, the corn was hard, the potatoes was hard. I told Jason, look this is my friend's first time here, I done bragged about this place and y'all bring out these plates," Luckette said. Luckette requested new food and said Diong started giving her attitude. Luckette said she then told Diong she didn't want him to handle the food because she thought he would spit in it. She also told him she wouldn't pay for the food. The video shows Luckette gesturing toward Diong, while holding her phone in her hand. According to the police report, Luckette was on the phone with her boyfriend at the time. Then, Diong picked up Luckette's drink and tossed it in her face. Story continues The video then shows Luckette pick up a chair and throw it across the bar at Diong. An officer wrote in the police report that Luckette's eyes were red and watering. Luckette said she was treated at a hospital for chemical burns in her eyes, because the drink had alcohol and lemon in it. Luckette is also seeing a therapist, she said, for what she calls "a traumatic event." Though Diong has since said that Luckette called him a racial slur, Greenfield officers did not record that he reported that at the time. Officers also said Diong lied about his location during questioning, saying over the phone that he was no longer at the restaurant. They wanted to enter the restaurant to obtain the footage, but the doors were locked. Officers then spotted Diong leaving the restaurant shortly after saying he was at home, according to the police report. Diong was cited for disorderly conduct by Greenfield Police. Diong told the Journal Sentinel he will pay the citation and is sorry for throwing a drink in Luckette's face, but he was reacting to being called a racial slur. "She's blaming me for everything, I'm not even being defensive. She can say whatever she wants," he said. Luckette returned to the restaurant with the Black Panthers About a week after the incident, Luckette returned to Crab Du Jour to confront Diong, this time with support from members of the Original Black Panthers. She posted the video to Facebook. In the video, Diong apologizes for his actions, but reiterates that Luckette made "racial remarks." Darryl Farmer, the leader of the Black Panthers in Milwaukee, asks Diong why she didn't receive a ticket if she made racial remarks. Diong doesn't answer. Luckette and Farmer want the restaurant shut down and for Diong to be charged with assault and battery. Crab Du Jour owners 'shocked and enraged' by the incident, are investigating Crab Du Jour is a national brand, with most locations along the East Coast and in the southern U.S. The stores are not franchises, but individually owned and operated. As of Sept. 16, a month after he threw the drink in Luckette's face, Diong was still serving customers at the Greenfield restaurant, but said he would be quitting in the coming days. "I don't know what I'm going to do, I'm going to take a couple months to figure it out," he said. On Tuesday, five weeks since the incident, the ownership group for the Greenfield restaurant released a statement to the Journal Sentinel. "We are both shocked and enraged by this incident. We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior and take this incident very seriously because the trust and safety of our customers is our highest priority," the statement reads. "The employee in question has been terminated and an internal investigation and corporate policy review is currently underway to ensure this does not happen again. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement during this ongoing investigation." For Luckette, she said it's "great" that Diong was terminated, but she wants Diong to face more charges and plans to file a lawsuit. "I hope anyone who feels it's OK to assault women, would not work at any serving businesses," she said. "... He needs to be charged with assault and battery. A month later I'm still suffering externally from loss of vision and internally I am in therapy and I hope I can get over this depression. It's changed my life." Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Crab Du Jour Greenfield manager throws drink at customer, gets fired Leon County Schools superintendent Rocky Hanna on Tuesday accused state Republican lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis of intentionally defunding Floridas public schools by expanding voucher programs and school choice. They will not stop until every family and every student has an educational savings plan to do what they please with, Hanna said. 'In a good place': Leon Schools has more to spend in 2023 but federal funds are drying up Previous: Leon superintendent Rocky Hanna slams DeSantis, supports teachers unions in Facebook post His remarks came during a live-streamed press conference held by the Florida Policy Institute and the Education Law Center. The two organizations jointly released a report that estimates the amount redirected from public schools for private schooling this year will reach $1.3 billion, $1 billion more than the 2019-20 school year. The money represents 10% of the $13.2 billion in state money for public schools. The Florida chapter of the League of Women Voters, Southern Poverty Law Center and other public school advocates also blasted Republican-led efforts to expand voucher programs and school choice. Whats happening is we are diverting funds for students with special needs, for students who otherwise are going to lose programs that are vitally important to their academic success, said Hanna, the only superintendent present at the press confr. Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna speaks to press after a safety drill at Chiles High School on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla. Hanna said three years ago the county saw around $4 million redirected to private institutions. This year, mostly because of the expansion of Family Empowerment Scholarships, that number is $16 million. Lawmakers expanded the scholarship program during this years legislative session to include the McKay Scholarship and eased the restrictions to families who apply. Now, dependents of military members and law enforcement officers qualify, regardless of income, and a family of four with an annual income of $111,000 can apply. State Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, who has long championed school-choice legislation, sponsored HB 7045 in the House. Story continues When schools failed my family, I was able to put my child in a private school immediately because I'm able to afford it, said Fine during the 2022 legislative session. I believe every parent should have the same ability that I do in my own life. Take a look: A nonpartisan school board race in Leon County is entangled in party politics. Heres why And: School choice expansion leaves Leon County Schools in $11.5M budget deficit Students at Bond Elementary School talk ahead of the start of the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla. Hanna said funds are being diverted from students with special needs, and "for students who otherwise are going to lose programs that are vitally important to their academic success. Over 2,000 students are receiving public funds, public tax dollars to attend private mom and pop schools, many of those being religious-based, with no accountability whatsoever or monitoring from the department of education, he said. In a statement, Step Up for Students, a nonprofit, state-approved scholarship funding organization, said the report "grossly distorts how the state funds education choice scholarships." "The school districts never receive the money so it cant be redirected," the group said. "Scholarship students no more divert funds from districts than students who pay out of pocket for private schools do." There are two branches of Family Empowerment Scholarships. One is income based, and the other is for students with disabilities. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities allows for parents to receive an education savings account for their student, according to the Florida Department of Education. An ESA can be used to fund not only items such as private school tuition and fees, but also online learning programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education expenses and other approved customized learning services and materials, the website states. The report authors call on the Florida Department of Education to increase transparency and accountability over the voucher process and to end further expansion of voucher eligibility. They also urge the state to put into place restrictions on how much money can be redirected from a public school district and to provide support to the districts seeing significant increases in voucher costs. Hanna has been fiercely defensive of public school funding during his tenure as superintendent and has butted heads with the governor and Republican lawmakers on topics like masks, unions and social issues in schools. He's previously called state Rep. Fine a "bully" and has accused DeSantis of spreading "misinformation and lies." Gadsden County is the school district most highly impacted by voucher costs, according to the report, having 9% redirected of what it gets from the Florida Education Finance Program, districts primary source of funding. Miami-Dade County will have 8%, or $225 million, sent to private schools. We still live in an era of segregated and unequal education, said Bacardi Jackson, interim deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Centers Childrens Rights Practice Group. These education inequities are at the root of poverty and ongoing racial injustice. The greatest threat to us ever achieving educational equity, she said, is the intentional defunding and destabilization of public education. USA Today Network-Florida government accountability reporter Douglas Soule is based in Tallahassee, Fla. He can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com. Twitter: @DouglasSoule Contact Ana Goni-Lessan at AGoniLessan@tallahassee.com and follow her on Twitter @goni_lessan. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon superintendent Rocky Hanna blasts Family Empowerment Scholarships Courtesy of HBO A year later, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is still a blur. For those of us watching from afar, the hasty airlifts looked more like the climax of a war movie than a coordinated military operation by the worlds only superpower. The month of August 2021 was filled with minute-to-minute updates on the chaos: the desperate masses trying to escape, the rapid advance of the Taliban, the terrorist attack at the Kabul airport, and the thousands of migrants filing into planes and arriving at makeshift resettlement centers across the world. Now, director Jamie Roberts and the team at Amos Pictures have turned those events into a documentary, Escape From Kabul, premiering Wednesday on HBO Max. In a tight 77 minutes, Roberts merges hours of on-the-ground footage with stirring interviews from Afghan evacuees, American troops, and the Taliban for a compelling look into the human instinct to survive. We watch, for instance, as people stand in a flooded sewage canal in unbearable heat, hoping that a U.S. Marine will take pity on them and pick them out for resettlement. In another disturbing scene, a group of Afghan citizens, feeling like they have nothing to lose, hop on the wing of a massive C-17 military plane. The crowds rush toward the aircraft, but the American troops overseeing the evacuation still dont know whos who in the melee. The plane is ordered to take off, and a single body falls and splatters on the runway. Roberts and his team started plotting the film within days of the U.S.s withdrawal on Aug. 31, reaching out to the British and American military and figuring out how to make it over to Afghanistan. From January to March, they treaded carefully in Kabul, cautious not to provoke the Talibans ire. The Daily Beast spoke with Roberts over Zoom about the making of the documentary, the Biden administrations initial pushback, and the ripple effect of the disastrous evacuation for thousands of Afghans and their families. Story continues It seems like with your past couple of documentaries [Escape from Kabul, Four Hours at the Capitol], youve worked pretty quickly. Is that new for you? Do you prefer it? Ive spent good amounts of time on films in the past where Ive embedded for like a year with a groupa jihadi group, a far-right groupbut I guess I like working at pace. Obviously if youve got longer, thats great, but theres some stories that feel like they are quite urgent. With this, HBO wanted something within the year. A deadline focuses the mind sometimes. It was fascinating hearing from some of the evacuees who actually went through that nightmare, and seeing them side by side with uninterrupted footage of that horrible waiting period for weeks at the airport. Howd you get in touch with them? Speaking to charities, speaking to people involved in the evacuation, and going through networks. We have Afghans working on the film, people Id met and filmed withtheyre all on social networks. Everyone is messaging, especially because theyre spread all over the world, on WhatsApp, on Facebook. We really wanted people who had been down in the gates where the Marines were and the Talibs were, people who were in the frontlines in the canal where the bomb went off, to be able to keep the story very focused. Courtesy of HBO To me, the most surprising get was the U.S. servicemen and servicewomenI guess because I thought the U.S. would want to keep that closer to the vest, since it was, in so many peoples opinions, a bungled evacuation. Did you go through official channels to get them? With the Marines, on our first approach, we were rebuffed. We tried different ways and we spoke to Marines who have since left, and then we started rounds of talks with an intermediary that we met. And I think there was a groundswell within the Marines. They were frustrated that they hadnt seen their story represented, that they hadnt been heard. So I think the Marines as an organization decided maybe they would let their people speak on this. Over time, we managed to open that up, and when we turned up on the base, we were kind of amazed. Here they were. And the first guy who came in is [Lt. Col.] Chris Richardella, who is in the film and basically sits down and gives you a start-to-finish of when they deployed two days before the Taliban arrived, and then what happened when the Taliban got there, and what happened afterwards. And it felt like, OK, all of a sudden were right in the inside of the story. Some of their stories seem like an indictment on the Biden administrations handling of the evacuation. [The Marines] talked about the lack of focus or clear directions and everything they had to witness because of it, but of course, the administration has control over the Department of Defense and the military. Did that ever come up? It came up. Thats why we didnt get access to start with. We kept trying to knock on doors and explore why this was happening, and we were told it was coming from the administration. None of [the Marines] really sat there and gave it to Biden, but youre right, there were frustrations about the situation they were put in. I think some people did link that back to Trump. Especially Afghans who were saying, This is the deal Trump signed with the Taliban and didnt have the Afghan government at the table, and obviously Biden took the bat and continued that. He repealed almost everything else Trump did, but he continued this policy. Was there anything you were surprised to uncover over the course of your reporting? One of the things I hadnt heard beforeits alluded to in the DOD report, but it isnt made explicitis how the Marines actually got control of the airfield. They said, Well, this Afghan special forces unit turned up and said, OK, were gonna partner with you. They had different rules of engagement, so they started running people over and shooting them, and it was only then they got control of the actual airport and could start the evacuation. The first person that told me that, I didnt actually believe them. Then another person says it, and another person says it. Then you start to triangulate it, and you look back at the paperwork. That was shocking. Courtesy of HBO You also see theres several really strong, brilliant characters. Theres Hasina Safi, who was a member of the Afghan government. Shed been told several times before that the Taliban were going to kill her, that she was gonna be assassinated. Its shocking to see a woman like that whos so gentle, who doesnt pose a threat to anybody, whos intelligent, to then have to try to round up her family, wade through a canal, [and] go through this deadly assault course to get out in the way that she did. I helped report on the evacuation myself. I was glued to the updates in the form of videos and photos, but it wasnt until your film that I saw it all so clearly and uninterrupted. How did you get so much raw footage? I got some from the Taliban. One guy I met, we got talking and it turns out he was actually part of the special forces unit who went into the airport directly after the Americans left and he filmed his buddies going in. He was like, This is our moment. After a few meetings over coffeegreen teahe ended up giving it to me. I was quite amazed because its a scene. You get taken through their experience. You can see theyre happy but quite terrified because they think the whole place is rigged with bombs and theyre gonna go off. Theres one guy, I feel like he was a citizen journalist, but he filmed the Taliban coming in. I think he just realized it was such a historic moment. And it was something they hadnt seen in Kabul before. Theres the footage there with people who were filming right in the drainage canal where the suicide bomb went off. So its not just pulled from archives from all the normal broadcasters and from a remove. Youre seeing it from the experience of the people right at the center of it. Courtesy of HBO And after all that, Biden called it an extraordinary success. The acting ambassador himself says it wasnt a success. I was surprised he even said that, because he was very diplomatic in his interview. You could see that none of these people thought that. The servicemen were very respectful of the president and the government. Im sure when they went out of the room, they were angry, but they were quite professional. They all thought it was a complete shitshow. They were lucky to get out alive, and they saw 13 of their colleagues and hundreds of Afghans die. A lot of them thought they were gonna go in and fight the Taliban. They got there and they figured out it was a completely different thing. HBO Exposes the Violent Chaos of Trumps Jan. 6 Rioters in Four Hours at the Capitol Speaking of the Taliban, I think weve seen from news clips and other documentaries that the Taliban are not press-shy, especially not after theyve taken control. But how was it for you to sit in front of them? Were you scared? When we got to the point where we sat down, wed kind of gone past the point of threat. I mean, theyre there with all their machine guns. Theyve turned up with RPGs, but it becomes quite normal, I suppose. The main feeling of threat was when we were filming around Kabul at night or going through checkpoints. There were journalists getting arrested. You go through a checkpoint and theyd stop your car and they had booze all over the road because theyd been stopping people looking for alcohol. They were going house to house, kicking in doors, breaking peoples equipment, looking for spies. It all seemed very reactionary, and you didnt really know what, day to day, might happen. Almost every other week there would be a Western journalist or contractor getting picked up and arrested. Theres no U.S. or British embassy there, so youre there kind of on your own. The times I saw people get in trouble was when they did things that basically pissed off the Taliban immediately and stepped outside the rules. Like taking a picture of someones face for no real reason, and then you end up in jail and youre not gonna get out for God knows how long, because youve now become a political asset. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. IRYNA BALACHUK WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2022, 21:39 The Kherson Oblast Military Administration has urged residents of the Russian-occupied territories of the oblast to evacuate as soon as possible in light of the partial mobilisation declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Source: Yaroslav Yanushevych, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote from Yanushevych: "In the light of the latest developments and the announcements by the Russian leaders regarding the sham referendum and the partial mobilisation, I want to once again appeal to the residents of Kherson Oblast who remain on the Russian-occupied territories: evacuate." Details: Yanushevych stressed that there is a high probability that the so-called "partial mobilisation" will also take place on the occupied territories of Ukraine. He added that those men who were, for various reasons, forced to obtain Russian passports or to share their personal details with the occupiers are particularly at risk. Head of the Oblast Military Administration called on Kherson Oblast residents to evacuate to the Ukrainian-controlled territory before the occupiers make this completely impossible. Background: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilisation on the morning of 21 September. A total of 300,000 reservists will be mobilised. Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Russian-occupied Melitopol, called on men of conscription age to leave the city in light of the announcement of partial mobilisation by the Russian president. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A portion of highway was temporarily shut down in Florida on Wednesday after a semi-truck was involved in a minor crash, spilling out a sea of Coors Lights onto the road. Today in health, President Biden sought to explain what he meant when he said on 60 Minutes that the pandemic is over, sparking a wave of backlash and confusion. Welcome to Overnight Health Care, where were following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. For The Hill, were Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Biden: Pandemic basically is not where it was President Biden on Tuesday sought to clarify his comments from days earlier that the coronavirus pandemic is over, telling guests at a fundraiser that the COVID-19 situation is not as bad as it was. Biden attended a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in New York City ahead of his speech Wednesday to the United Nations General Assembly. At one point, speaking about efforts on the pandemic, Biden referenced his comments to Scott Pelley of CBS last week in which he said the pandemic was over. Restating himself: Biden acknowledged he was criticized for the remarks, adding, But it basically is not where it was. The president also urged those in attendance to get their booster shots if they have not already. Highly contagious variants have spread throughout the globe, making it nearly impossible to fully eradicate COVID-19. The White Houses approach: As a result, the Biden administration has focused its messaging on the importance of getting vaccinated and receiving booster shots to increase immunity as well as the wide availability of antiviral pills and other forms of treatment for those who contract the virus. Read more here. Judge strikes down Head Start vax, mask mandate A federal judge in Louisiana on Wednesday struck down a mandate from the Biden administration that required staffers at Head Start child care facilities to be vaccinated and to wear masks. Story continues U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty issued a permanent injunction against federal agencies enforcing Head Start vaccine and masking requirements. In his ruling, Doughty found that the plaintiffs had satisfied the requirements to warrant a permanent injunction. He ruled that the plaintiffs a group of Head Start teachers from across the country along with several state governments faced a substantial threat of irreparable injury if the mandate wasnt taken down. Plaintiff States will incur the increased cost of training and of enforcing the Head Start Mandate, will be unable to enforce their laws, and will have their police power encroached. The Court finds that this would be an irreparable injury, Doughty wrote. Semi-redundant now: The masking requirement for Head Start grant recipients is one of the only remaining federal mask mandates. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would be dropping the requirement in the near future to align with current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the mask mandates continued existence, HHS officials have not been checking for compliance with the rule since February of this year, when updated CDC guidance was issued. Read more here. WISCONSINS GOV EYES STATEWIDE VOTE ON CRIMINAL ABORTION BAN Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) on Wednesday called a special session of the state legislature for October in an effort to enable voters to repeal the states 1849 abortion ban through a referendum. Everss office said Wisconsin voters have no ability to change the ban through a referendum under state law, and urged Republicans, who control the state legislature, to allow voters to bypass the body and repeal the measure if they so choose. On the ceiling of the Governors Conference Room in the Capitol is a phrase Ive often repeated over the last three years: the will of the people is the law of the land, Evers said in a statement. Well, right now in Wisconsin, when it comes to reproductive freedom, the will of the people isnt the law of the land but it damn well should be, he continued. The states nearly two-century-old law which prohibits abortion except to save the mothers life was unenforceable following the Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade ruling, but the statute is now the subject of a legal challenge led by the states attorney general after the court overturned the landmark 1973 abortion ruling in its June Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision. Read more here. HHS DECLARES PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN PUERTO RICO Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a public health emergency in Puerto Rico on Wednesday due to the flooding caused by Hurricane Fiona. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has deployed a 15-person task force from its National Disaster Medical System and a 10-person management team to Puerto Rico. The agency said staff members from the National Disaster Medical System, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are prepared to provide services and support if needed. We will do all we can to assist officials in Puerto Rico with responding to the impacts of Hurricane Fiona, Becerra said in a statement. We are working closely with territory health authorities and our federal partners and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support. According to local reports from Puerto Rico, more than a million customers on the island are currently without power. El Nuevo Dia, the largest newspaper in Puerto Rico, reported on Wednesday that only about a quarter of customers have access to electricity. Read more here. Juul sues FDA over documents justifying marketing ban Electronic cigarette maker Juul Labs is suing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the agencys refusal to disclose documents supporting its order to remove Juuls products from the U.S. market. In a complaint filed Tuesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., the company alleged the FDA is violating the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to turn over the scientific disciplinary reviews underlying the FDAs sales ban. The agency invoked one of the most widely abused exemptionsthe deliberative process privilegeto withhold the majority of those materials, the lawsuit claimed. But the withheld materials are central to understanding the basis for FDAs marketing denial order and whether the agency balanced the public health benefits and risks of Juuls products as legally required, as well as whether the agencys reasoning is scientifically sound. The FDA in late June announced a ban on the sale of Juul e-cigarettes nationwide, saying the company did not prove that keeping its products on the market would be appropriate for the protection of the public health. The next day, a federal appeals court granted a temporary administrative stay of the decision. The FDA then suspended the order about two weeks later, and announced there were additional scientific issues that needed to be reviewed. Read more here. WHAT WERE READING This programs really saved us: As Canada offers safer opioids to curb overdoses, will U.S. follow? (Stat) Formula may be right for infants, but experts warn that toddlers dont need it (Kaiser Health News) Cancer deaths in US declined by 2% every year since 2016, report says (ABC News) STATE BY STATE A complete guide to Spotlight PAs investigations of Pennsylvanias flawed medical marijuana program (Spotlight PA) Georgias 988s rollout exposes more mental health needs (Axios) Arizona Dept. of Health Services encourages Pfizer vaccine amid Moderna shortage (Arizona Public Media) THE HILL OP-EDS Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Health Care page for the latest news and coverage. See you tomorrow. VIEW FULL VERSION HERE For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Conducting a social experiment during a national period of mourning seems like a normal thing to do. So, the Financial Times asked people in the miles-long queue how much it would cost to give up their spot in a line that took days to reach the front. In an apparent about-face though he says otherwise Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said abortion access was not a states rights issue. Welcome to Overnight Health Care, where were following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. For The Hill, were Peter Sullivan, Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Graham: Abortion not a states rights issue Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday said abortion is not a states rights issue as he continues to promote his legislation that would ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks. In an interview on Fox & Friends, Graham acknowledged that his legislation goes against conservative ideas of federalism and letting individual states decide their own laws. This is not a states rights issue. This is a human right issue, Graham said. So, no matter what California or Maryland will do I am going to advocate a national minimum standard. Grahams comments come a week after he introduced the bill, the most serious effort to date by Republicans in Congress to pass a nationwide abortion restriction after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abrupt reversal: Graham, who just last month said the Supreme Court made the correct decision by leaving abortion decisions up to states, last week said he didnt see a contradiction and was motivated to act following attempts by Democrats to enshrine abortion protections into federal law. Graham said elected officials have the power to define and regulate abortion, including in Congress. Abortion is not banned in America. Its left up to elected officials in America to define the issue. States have the ability to do it at state level. And we have the ability in Washington to speak on this issue if we choose, Graham said at a press conference introducing his bill. I have chosen to speak. Story continues Read more here. CVS, Walmart reach $147M opioid settlement CVS and Walmart have agreed to pay more than $147 million to settle lawsuits related to their alleged roles in West Virginias opioid crisis, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) announced Tuesday. The state alleged the pharmacies failed to maintain effective controls as a distributor and dispenser against diversion that contributed to oversupply of opioids in the state. These settlements wont bring back the lives lost from the opioid epidemic, but these and other settlements will hopefully provide significant help to those affected the most by this crisis in our state, Morrisey said in a statement. Morrisey said Walmart agreed to a settlement of $65,070,000, and CVS agreed to a settlement of $82.5 million. The two were part of a larger trial involving other pharmacies that have yet to settle. Litigation against the remaining pharmacy defendants Walgreens and Kroger continues before the Mass Litigation Panel with a trial date on June 5, 2023. Read more here. TASK FORCE RECOMMENDS ROUTINE ANXIETY SCREENING A key federal panel for the first time on Tuesday recommended that all adults under age 65 be regularly screened for anxiety. A draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is not final, and comments are open until Oct. 17, but the recommendations from the panel are usually adopted. The task force also recommended screening for major depressive disorder in adults. The recommendation comes as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge of new anxiety and depression among many Americans. The good news is that screening all adults for depression, including those who are pregnant and postpartum, and screening adults younger than 65 for anxiety can help identify these conditions early so people can be connected to care, said Lori Pbert, a task force member and co-author of the recommendations. Read more here. NEARLY 1 IN 10 AMERICANS SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION A growing number of Americans are struggling with depression and most are not seeking treatment or are undertreated for the mental health disorder, according to a new study. The study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found almost 1 in 10 Americans reported suffering from depression in 2020, with rates of the mental health disorder higher among adolescents and young adults. Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and City University of New York analyzed 2015-2020 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is a nationally representative poll of Americans aged 12 and older. Researchers found that in 2020 more than 9 percent of Americans 12 and older experienced a major depressive episode over the past year. The studys authors note depression has increased over the past several years, rising from 6.6 percent in 2005 to 7.3 percent in 2015. Skewing younger: Depression, which is the most common mental disorder in the nation, was most prevalent among young adults ages 18 to 25 at more than 17 percent, an increase from 10.3 percent in 2015. Read more here. Fauci: Were not where we need to be on pandemic Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious diseases expert, said Monday that the U.S. is not where it needs to be regarding the coronavirus pandemic, a day after an interview with President Biden was broadcast in which Biden said that the pandemic is over. In a talk with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Fauci, Bidens top COVID-19 adviser who last month announced his pending retirement from the government, said that much depends on how the country handles future virus variants. How we respond and how were prepared for the evolution of these variants is going to depend on us. And that gets to the other conflicting aspect of this is the lack of a uniform acceptance of the interventions that are available to us in this country where even now, more than two years, close to three years, into the outbreak, we have only 67 percent of our population vaccinated and only one-half of those have received a single boost, Fauci said. He noted that the country is still experiencing more than 400 daily deaths due to COVID-19, though that number is down from a year earlier. But we are not where we need to be if were going to be able to, quote, live with the virus, because we know were not going to eradicate it. We only did that with one virus, which is smallpox, and that was very different because smallpox doesnt change from year to year, or decade to decade, or even from century to century, Fauci added. Read more here. WHAT WERE READING Some people are finally getting their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine (Wall Street Journal) Ad spending shows Dems hinging midterm hopes on abortion (AP) Doctors say Graham abortion ban would force women to have transvaginal ultrasounds (NBC) STATE BY STATE Nearly 1 in 4 Flint residents may have PTSD after water crisis, study finds (ABC News) NYC COVID Vaccine Mandate for Private Sector Ends Nov. 1, Stays for Public Workers (NBC New York) Texas, battling teen pregnancy, recasts sex education standards (Kaiser Health News) THE HILL OP-EDS Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Health Care page for the latest news and coverage. See you tomorrow. VIEW FULL VERSION HERE For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The city of Newark and the Delaware Division of Public Health have allowed a fried chicken restaurant to reopen after an August kitchen fire shut down the business for nearly a month. Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken at The Grove at Newark, formerly College Square Shopping Center, was allowed to resume operations Monday after health inspectors and city fire/code enforcement officials deemed the restaurant no longer had "imminent health hazards." "We are back!" read a post on the restaurant's Facebook page on Tuesday. "We are up and running! Thank you for your patience." Bonchon, a new, fast-casual restaurant serving deep-fried chicken, opened in early July. It's part of a chain that has been operating in Korea since 2002. This is its first Delaware location. Newark restaurant closed: State closes Newark's Bonchon chicken restaurant for 'imminent health hazards' after fire The Division of Public Health office received a call on Aug. 24 from the city of Newark Code Enforcement as well as from the owner of Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken regarding an Aug. 21 fire, according to a state inspection report. The restaurant owner told a state health inspector that a fire that began around 1 a.m. on Aug. 21 severely burned a deep fryer, but fire alarms did not go off. The fire left a large black mark on the side of a refrigerator and black soot was found on plastic forks, to-go containers, floor and equipment. Grease deposits also were found on a work table next to the deep fryers. A cease-and-desist order was issued, effective immediately, after the Aug. 24 inspection, according to state public health records. The city of Newark's fire/code enforcement officials also said at that time that they "identified several issues with the fire suppression system that requires correction." The Division of Public Health told the owner to replace the damaged equipment; discard all food and open items that have been contaminated by soot and smoke debris; and clean and sanitize all utensils, cooking equipment, floor, walls and ceilings. Story continues More: Satisfy pumpkin spice cravings at Delaware restaurants, shops and bakeries According to a Sept. 19 health inspection follow-up report, the restaurant has complied with all of the state's requests. The deep fryer was replaced, and the kitchen cleaned and sanitized. "All food has been discarded since they have been closed," read the report. "Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken may resume operation." Contact Patricia Talorico at ptalorico@delawareonline.com and follow her on Twitter @pattytalorico. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Bonchon Fried Chicken allowed to reopen after August kitchen fire Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree during the Operation Grace press conference at the Richmond County Sheriff's Office South Precinct on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. During Operation Grace, police officers seized 176 guns and large quantities of drugs. A three-month, multi-agency law enforcement operation in the Augusta area recently netted more than 100 arrests, several dozen confiscated guns and the seizure of multiple pounds of illegal drugs. The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force worked with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office to conduct the operation, which was focused on disrupting and dismantling dangerous drug and gang organizations in the community. "Through proactive steps involving dozens of traffic stops and other investigative means, law enforcement officials made 119 felony arrests," according to a news release issued Wednesday from the FBI's Atlanta office. In case you missed it: Shots fired at Josey High School homecoming tailgate, second shooting in 24 hours More: Richmond County school board not canceling homecomings because of 'a few bad apples' Firearms seized as a part of Operation Grace sit on tables during the Operation Grace press conference at the Richmond County Sheriff's Office South Precinct on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. During Operation Grace, police officers seized 176 guns and large quantities of drugs. Around three dozen of the people arrested are being referred for potential federal prosecution, according to the release. Authorities seized 176 guns, more than half a pound of fentanyl, 483 pills, more than 600 grams of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of meth, more than 45 grams of heroin, 33 pounds of marijuana, and $214,763 in cash allegedly tied to illegal acts, according to police. Police officers wait to be briefed on Operation Grace during the Operation Grace press conference at the Richmond County Sheriff's Office South Precinct on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. During Operation Grace, police officers seized 176 guns and large quantities of drugs. Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said the operation continues his commitment to reduce gun and gang violence. "Operation Grace is what happens when all of our federal, state and local partners work together and the numbers speak volumes," Roundtree said. "What is even more impressive are the hundreds of contacts made with law abiding citizens in the afflicted areas. We want the citizens to know that you do have a voice and we hear you." Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force and its law enforcement partners will continue to work to disrupt violent gang operations and seize illegal weapons and drugs, noted the release. Jared Williams, District Attorney for Augusta Judicial Circuit, speaks during the Operation Grace press conference at the Richmond County Sheriff's Office South Precinct on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. During Operation Grace, police officers seized 176 guns and large quantities of drugs. Operation Grace included participants from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, FBI Atlanta, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, U.S. Marshals, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Guns, drugs seized by FBI, Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Augusta People navigate flooded roads after heavy monsoon rains in Hyderabad, Pakistan, on Aug. 24. Heavy rains have triggered flash floods and wreaked havoc across much of Pakistan since mid-June. (Pervez Masih / Associated Press) The wettest August in Pakistan since 1961 has killed 1,300 people and washed away thousands of homes, displacing more than 33 million people. The incessant rainfall in the provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan has submerged whole communities, and the threat of cholera, dengue and other waterborne diseases looms. Local, national and international organizations are aiding the country, including UNICEF, which said relief and rescue operations remain "extremely hard to carry out" because "many communities are still cut off by floodwater." It says it has been working closely with the government and other partners to get children in the affected areas the critical support they need as soon as possible. In addition to UNICEF, here are some of the local, national and international efforts looking for your help to support the flooding victims in Pakistan. The Citizens Foundation Young Professionals Los Angeles What it does: The Citizens Foundation's Los Angeles chapter is made up of social workers, philanthropists and community activists trying to make a difference in the lives of young children through education. The chapter is part of a larger organization that funds schools and educational programs for underprivileged children in Pakistan. How you can help: TCF school communities in Baluchistan and Sindh have been overwhelmed by the flooding, and other areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Punjab are at risk. Many of the schools in those areas are flooded or serving as refuge for displaced families. The organization has created the TCF Flood Relief Appeal to help address immediate needs and fund repairs in the future. You can make a one-time or monthly monetary donation on the group's website. Direct Relief What it does: The Santa Barbara-based nongovernmental nonprofit mobilizes essential medicines, supplies and equipment to aid disaster victims around the world. How you can help: In August, Direct Relief prepared a 23-pallet shipment containing chronic care medications, trauma supplies, hygiene kits, anti-seizure medications, personal protective equipment and prenatal vitamins to Pakistan. The supplies will be distributed to public health facilities providing care to 33 million people that were affected by widespread flooding. You can support the organization's efforts by making a one-time or monthly monetary donation. Story continues Islamic Relief USA What it does: Islamic Relief USA spearheads relief efforts and collaborates with other aid groups to deliver humanitarian assistance faster and more efficiently. How you can help: In the coming year, Islamic Relief plans to help rebuild Pakistan by reconstructing damaged homes and infrastructure, revitalizing the agricultural sector, establishing shelters for women and children and providing mental health services. It will also continue to support the country through food aid and cash assistance. To support these efforts you can make a one-time or monthly monetary donation. Shahid Afridi Foundation What it does: This nonprofit organization in Pakistan has chapters in the U.S., U.K., Australia and South Africa. Its mission is to spread education, healthcare services and access to water across Pakistan in order to empower underprivileged communities. How you can help: Under the organization's Emergency Relief Response project, the group has provided support to those affected by flooding in Baluchistan and Sindh. As of Aug. 24, the organization has assisted 4,000 households. The funding goes toward providing people with nonperishable food, tents, clothes and other essentials. To support the emergency project, you can make a one-time or recurring monetary donation. International Rescue Committee What it does: Active in Pakistan since 1980, the International Rescue Committee recently launched an emergency response to provide immediate assistance to those affected. How you can help: IRC's latest assessment shows people are in urgent need of food, drinking water, shelter and healthcare. The organization says that, according to everyone it surveyed, women and girls do not have access to menstrual hygiene products. IRC has been able to provide 50,000 women and girls with dignity and hygiene kits to meet this need. Since early July, it has also extended emergency supplies to nearly 950,000 people in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. To support these efforts, IRC is accepting monetary donations. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. With seven weeks until Election Day and the Senate majority on the line in key races, polls across the country suggest the possibility of photo finishes. In Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and elsewhere, close poll results and skepticism about the accuracy of this years midterm surveys leave campaigns scrambling for advantages with 48 days to go. In Georgia, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) is leading Republican challenger Herschel Walker by 5 points in the states Senate race, according to a Marist poll released Tuesday. The poll of registered voters shows Warnock with 47 percent, while Walker trails at 42 percent (The Hill). Warnock and Walker appeared deadlocked Tuesday after Walker posted a modest 2-point lead over Warnock in early September (The Hill). The challengers early campaign efforts included stumbles and revelations that prompted hand-wringing among top Senate Republicans, The Hills Max Greenwood reports, but party officials said theyre beginning to see a more professional operation from the former football players campaign. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wants to leave nothing to chance in key contests that could put his party in control of the upper chamber next year. He will host a fundraiser for Walker on Thursday. McConnell came under scrutiny last month after he said Republicans were more likely to win the House than the Senate, citing candidate quality as a factor (The Hill). As congressional races come down to the wire and both parties vie for control, measures of voter enthusiasm beyond polls are in focus, including voter registration, fundraising and advertising. Democrats want to capitalize on the Supreme Courts June ruling that turned abortion restrictions over to the states. Their hope is that momentum within the party will translate into higher turnout among women, young voters, minorities and perhaps independents. Democrats are on a voter-registration tear since the Supreme Court decision, but theres a hitch they are digging out from major Republican registration gains in the previous 18 months (Politico). Story continues Republicans are confronting emerging signs that former President Trump could be complicating their prospects in key congressional races, writes The Hills Brett Samuels. Recent polling has shown hes struggling with voters as he grapples with a slew of investigations including the key demographic of independents. But polling isnt an exact science, as both sides of the aisle have learned over the last few election cycles. Democrats had to contend with a surprise Trump win in 2016, while recent surveys may again be underrepresenting Republican voters (The New York Times). Nationally, a new NBC News poll finds the two parties registered voters tied at 46 percent in generic congressional preference, with Democrats narrowly trailing Republicans in election interest. We often think about wave elections, Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates told NBC News. But this year, we may think instead about a waves election where unprecedentedly strong crosscurrents push voters in different directions, with an end result that may not be what we expected. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, Democratic Senate candidate and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is stepping up his public appearances after weeks of heavy scrutiny over his health, including from his Republican opponent, Mehmet Oz. Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May, only recently agreed to a live debate against Oz, which is scheduled next month, writes The Hills Julia Manchester. Fetterman, a social media standout against Oz, had a 52 percent to 47 percent lead among likely voters against his opponent in mid-September (The Associated Press and The Philadelphia Inquirer). The Senate contest is tighter in Wisconsin, where Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D) leads Sen. Ron Johnson (R) by 1 percentage point among likely voters, according to a Tuesday Spectrum News-Siena College poll. The race is considered a toss-up (The Hill). The Spectrum News polls results are the exact opposite of a Marquette University Law School poll from last week, which showed Johnson leading Barnes by 1 point among likely voters, 49 percent to 48 percent. Related Articles Time: Why the polls may be feeding liberals another blue mirage. NBC News: New poll shows Democratic midterm message outperforms GOPs message. The Hill: Voters are split on which party they trust more on education, guns and inflation. The Hill: A Republican super PAC cuts more than $9 million in ad reservations in Arizona. The New York Times: Perfectly reasonable question: Can we trust the polls? The Hill: Rep Ted Budd (R) holds 3-point lead over Democrat Cheri Beasley in North Carolina Senate race. LEADING THE DAY CONGRESS Senate Democrats, who pushed four major pieces of legislation into law in recent months, now want to play it safe in Washington for the next seven weeks. That means no government shutdown ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline, no votes on controversial issues until after Election Day and avoidance of GOP accusations that Democrats are weak on defense. The Hills Alexander Bolton translates the Senates must-dos from its will-dos, reporting that Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), who wants to crack down on the power of Apple and Amazon, is an example of a Democrat who will have to wait to see action on a bill she is sponsoring on a hot-button issue. Members of both parties in both chambers insist there will be no lapse in government funding next week, even if a planned stopgap spending bill envisioned to last through mid-December needs a mini failsafe backup for days or hours if the fiscal year ends without a budget. Democrats want to seal off any potential openings for Republican colleagues to assail the majority as equivocal about U.S. defense, so a defense authorization bill is a must-do before leaving town. Defense spending is important enough to both parties ahead of Election Day that some Republicans want to lock in new Pentagon funding as soon as possible and are balking at some House conservatives who want to wait to lock in spending in case Republicans control the House next year (The Hill). Democratic senators think they have the votes to fund the government without stumbling, but an add-on backed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), which has stirred criticism from the left and the right before any of his colleagues have seen the legislative language, appears vulnerable in both chambers. And Manchin is unhappy. The West Virginia centrist says hell unveil legislative specifics today to explain a deal he struck with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in exchange for his vote for a major climate, health and tax bill enacted in August. House progressives have erected hurdles, but Schumer is uncertain they would effectively force a government shutdown in an election year to put the brakes on federal help for the fossil fuel industry (The Hill). Manchin on Tuesday defended his proposal, arguing that we do not bypass any of the environmental reviews, which he said is a difference between his package and a separate proposal from Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). The language, according to Manchin, explicitly speeds up the approval process for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which is a controversial proposed project that would carry natural gas from West Virginia to Virginia. Its like the revenge politics, basically revenge towards one person: me, Manchin said in response to resistance hes receiving from Republicans as well. And Im thinking, this is not about me (The Hill). The Hill: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday urged his members to vote against a stopgap spending bill as a way to challenge border and immigration issues. The Hill: The House today plans to vote on a bill led by a bipartisan duo on the Jan. 6 panel that would reform the Electoral Count Act, moving swiftly on legislation designed to prevent interference in elections. A competing measure is pending in the Senate, which means such legislation will likely stall until after the elections. The Hill: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on Tuesday that Democrats are eyeing a vote this week on a trimmed policing bill. The Hill: A competitive GOP House contest for a potential opening to be majority whip next year features three contenders actively vying for colleagues support. MORE POLITICS Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has said many things about abortion rights over the years, not all of them welcome within his party or consistent. His latest assertion that abortion is not a states rights issue at the same time he is urging federal legislation that would create a 15-week federal ban on most abortions against the backdrop of a conservative Supreme Court that turned abortion back to the states gave some Republicans pause again on Tuesday, The Hills Al Weaver reports. GOP candidates are in a dogfight to capture control of the Senate and would much prefer to discuss inflation, crime, border security and prudent federal spending, all of which the conservatives say put Democratic candidates more firmly on the ropes before Nov. 8. Democrats say they are happy to let Graham keep talking. The abortion debate is as tough as any candidate wants to make it. The reality is voters who remain undecided at this point are not voting on abortion. Theyre voting on the economy, crime, border, one GOP strategist told The Hill. Anybody who has very strong feelings about abortion is not an undecided voter. Its very important for Republicans to talk to the voters who are still gettable at this point, and those are the people who are struggling to buy their groceries and hoping for change. The Associated Press: Ad spending shows Democrats are hinging their midterm hopes on abortion. Separately, migration out of countries led by authoritarian dictators, including Venezuela, has increased, a trend now spotlighted by red-state governors decisions to bus and fly immigrants across their borders to convey a domestic crisis, explains The Hills Rebecca Beitsch. The Hill: On Tuesday, Venezuelan migrants who were flown to Marthas Vineyard last week by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) filed a class-action lawsuit against him and the states transportation secretary. The Hill: In news about the Mar-a-Lago documents battle between the Justice Department and lawyers for Trump, special master Raymond Dearie on Tuesday advised the Trump team, You cant have your cake and eat it, referring to its reluctance to assert in legal filings whether the former president officially declassified sensitive documents he took when he left the White House. He says he did. Theres no evidence. IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES ADMINISTRATION International and domestic money trails: Officials with the Treasury and Justice departments on Tuesday defended the effectiveness of wide-ranging U.S. sanctions on Russia following the Kremlins February invasion of Ukraine. During Senate Banking Committee testimony, they challenged criticism that sanctions are not working. The administrations view: Coordinated Western efforts to cut Russia off from the international financial system and energy markets are working to drain resources from Moscows war effort and are bolstering Ukrainian military gains, including the recapture this month of territory held by Russian forces. Analysts point out that despite a U.S. embargo on Russian oil enacted in March and European and Russian measures that resulted in fewer natural gas shipments to Europe, India and China have filled energy market voids that help Russia maintain export volumes close to pre-war levels (The Hill). The Justice Department charged 47 people on Tuesday with creating shell companies in Minnesota to launder $250 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic assistance originally intended to provide meals to children from low-income families (The Hill). The Education Departments announced policies this year to try to reduce or forgive student loan debts and lower the costs of higher education remain under scrutiny among education analysts, who assert that the administration is failing to directly tackle rising college tuition and fees. They say reforms would require Congress but that the Education Department could also introduce new regulations and revive campus-based aid programs (The Hill). OPINION Mental health is political, by Danielle Carr, guest essayist, The New York Times. https://nyti.ms/3ShQx5I I paid off student loans but support relief for those who cant, by Erin Lowry, Bloomberg Opinion columnist. https://bloom.bg/3DGz5Ul WHERE AND WHEN The House meets at 10 a.m. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. and will proceed to executive session to consider an amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) will participate from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. in a Q&A newsmaker event about climate and energy hosted by Axios. President Biden is in New York City and will speak at 10:35 a.m. during a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. He will meet for the first time with British Prime Minister Liz Truss at 1:15 p.m. The president will host and speak at a conference of the Global Fund at 4 p.m., which is focused on battling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Biden hosts a reception at 7 p.m. at the American Museum of Natural History for global leaders who are in Gotham. Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff at 11 a.m. will attend a Service of Thanksgiving for the late Queen Elizabeth II at Washington National Cathedral. The vice president at 2:15 p.m. will join a call with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and the news media about the Emergency Capital Investment Program benefiting states. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in New York for events tied to the United Nations and has a full schedule with the president. He will participate at 6:10 p.m. in a Group of Seven working dinner. Economic indicators: The Federal Reserve at 2 p.m. releases a statement at the conclusion of its two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell holds a press conference at 2:30 p.m. The National Association of Realtors at 10 a.m. releases an August snapshot of existing home sales, which have fallen for six consecutive months through July. First lady Jill Biden has a packed schedule while traveling with the president in New York. She and Queen Letizia of Spain at 12:15 p.m. will tour and speak at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center to champion cancer research and global cooperation to try to end cancer. Two hours later, the first lady is scheduled to speak at the Concordia Annual Summit. This evening in New York City, she will co-host with the president a reception for the United Nations gathering at the American Museum of Natural History. Hill.TVs Rising program features news and interviews at http://thehill.com/hilltv, on YouTube and on Facebook at 10:30 a.m. ET. Also, check out the Rising podcast here. ELSEWHERE INTERNATIONAL Russian President Vladimir Putin announced early today in a rare address from Moscow that he ordered a partial mobilization of troops, which he said was necessary to defend Russian sovereignty against the West. Putin, in fact, gave his order to invade Ukraine in February, describing at the time a special military operation to seize territory he asserted belonged to Russia. In his address (Kremlin transcript is HERE), Putin suggested that western countries are attempting to divide and destroy Russia and claimed a loss of 6,000 troops. Experts believe Russias toll in Ukraine has been much higher. He made an ominous reference to possible use of Russias nuclear arsenal, saying, we of course will use all the means at our disposal, this is not a bluff (The Washington Post). The Russian president, who had been expected to deliver his address on Tuesday night until the Kremlin postponed it, spoke as Ukraine is in the midst of a counteroffensive and as Kremlin-backed officials press ahead with staged referendums that could result in Moscow annexing occupied parts of Ukraine an act that could mark a major escalation in the conflict. Reuters: Putin mobilizes more troops for Ukraine, accuses West of nuclear blackmail. The Associated Press: Putin sets martial military call-up, wont bluff on nukes. World leaders today are gathered for the U.N. General Assembly in New York, at which Biden will speak this morning about Russias naked aggression (The Hill). In speeches defending Ukraine, global leaders at the U.N. have been describing Putins war as a threat to global order and world peace. On Tuesday, four Russian-controlled regions of eastern and southern Ukraine announced hastily planned votes this week on whether to become part of Russia. The Moscow-backed referendums could set the stage for a new phase of escalation (The Associated Press). U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesdaywelcomed General Assembly participants with somber remarks describing the worlds current woes, including war, poverty and environmental destruction. Our world is in peril and paralyzed, he said. We cannot go on like this (CNBC). Biden and Guterres will meet this morning. The Associated Press: French President Emmanuel Macron said in New York on Tuesday that no nation can stay indifferent during Russias war with Ukraine. He said any possible negotiated ending to Russias aggression can succeed only if Ukraines sovereignty is respected, its territory liberated and its security protected. PANDEMIC & HEALTH New York City on Nov. 1 will end its COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private-sector employees and students participating in sports and extracurricular activities, Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced Tuesday. The city at the same time is trying to kick-start a public campaign to promote COVID-19 boosters tailored for the BA.5 variant of omicron (The Hill). Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported as of this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (trackers all vary slightly): 1,054,333. Current average U.S. COVID-19 daily deaths are 355, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. THE CLOSER And finally Members of Congress tonight will get some help from former NFL players to take on a team of U.S. Capitol Police at Audi Field stadium in Washington for a now-annual sporting event to raise money for charity. Ticketed at $12.50 and open to the public (information HERE), proceeds go to the U.S. Capitol Police Memorial Fund, Our Military Kids, A Advantage 4 Kids and the Boys & Girls Club of America. Football has a way of unifying our country, no matter our politics, and this game brings us together for an especially important cause, John Booty, who played with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, said in a statement as the coach. The Guards police team, with approximately 29 Capitol Police players, will take on The Mean Machine team made up of usually necktied-and-loafered lawmakers. The roster includes Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), serving as captains, Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Blake Moore (R-Utah), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.), Colin Allred (D-Texas), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Tracy Mann (R-Kan.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Kaialii Kahele (D-Hawaii), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.). The former NFLers who are lending their expertise in addition to Booty include Cliff Crosby, Lamont Jordan, Rocky McIntosh and Ken Harvey. Stay Engaged We want to hear from you! Email: Alexis Simendinger and Kristina Karisch. Follow us on Twitter (@asimendinger and @kristinakarisch) and suggest this newsletter to friends! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NEW YORK (AP) Home Depot workers in Philadelphia have filed a petition with the federal labor board to form what could be the first store-wide union at the world's largest home improvement retailer. The petition, filed with the National Labor Relations Board this week, seeks to form a collective bargaining unit for 274 employees who work in merchandising, specialty and operations. The federal agency's database shows no other attempts to form a store-wide union at the company, though a group of Home Depot drivers successfully unionized with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 2019. Sara Gorman, a Home Depot spokesperson, said the company is aware of the filing and we look forward to talking to our associates about their concerns. While we will of course work through the NLRB process, we do not believe unionization is the best solution for our associates, Gorman said in an email. Vincent Quiles, a store employee who is leading the petition, said he delivered the petition with 103 workers' signatures to the federal labor board Tuesday. He said discontent with compensation and working conditions rose as employees felt strained during the pandemic. Quiles, who makes $19.25 an hour in the receiving department, said he and other workers felt they could have benefited more from the record profits Home Depot made during the pandemic, as demand grew for home improvement projects. He pointed to two bonuses he received last year that amounted to less than $400. Meanwhile, Quiles said his store felt perpetually understaffed, and employees were routinely asked to work in other departments with little training, sometimes angering customers when they could not provide the expertise expected of them. I would see corporate visits. They would say you're doing a great job, you are so essential. You have to walk the walk. You can't just come in here and say a bunch of nice things, Quiles said. This is a long shot but I think we can do this. This is just the beginning. Story continues Home Depot, based in Atlanta, employs about 500,000 people at its 2,316 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Worker discontent has galvanized labor movements at several major companies in the U.S. in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which sparked tensions over sick leave policies, scheduling, safety and other issues. In a surprise victory, Amazon workers at a Staten Island warehouse voted in favor of unionizing in April, though similar efforts at other warehouses so far have been unsuccessful. At least 238 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize over the past year, according to the NLRB. Last week, rail workers won key concessions in a tentative agreement with rail companies that averted a potentially devastating shutdown of the nation's freight trains. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - A Honduran court sentenced the country's former first lady, Rosa Bonilla, to 14 years in prison on Wednesday on charges of fraud and misappropriation of funds destined for social programs, a judicial spokesperson said. Bonilla, wife of former President Porfirio Lobo, spent some 12.2 million lempiras (then worth around $590,000) meant for low-income children on personal credit card payments, her childrens' school fees and real estate construction, according to the public ministry. Her lawyer, Juan Berganza, said he would appeal the sentence. "The former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla has been sentenced to 14 years and one month in prison for the crimes of continued fraud and misappropriation of public funds destined for social programs," Carlos Silva, a spokesman for the Supreme Court of Justice, told reporters. Bonilla had previously been sentenced to 58 years in prison in an earlier trial, which Honduras' Supreme Court annulled in early 2020, arguing it was full of inconsistencies. The Supreme Court ordered a re-trial by a lower court, which found Bonilla guilty in March of this year. (The story corrects USD conversion in paragraph 2 to $590,000 from $590 million.) (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sandra Maler) WASHINGTON The House approved bipartisan legislation Wednesday to clarify how presidential Electoral College votes are tallied and challenged, aiming to prevent confusion and a repeat of the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. The vote was 229-203, largely along party lines. Republicans largely opposed the bill as an attack on former President Donald Trump rather than a way to fix problems with the 1887 Electoral Count Act. The House bill from Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., must still be reconciled with the Senate version, which hasnt been voted on yet. "If your aim is to prevent future efforts to steal elections, I would respectfully suggest that conservatives should support this bill," Cheney said. "If instead your aim is to leave open the door for elections to be stolen in the future, you might decide not to support this or any other bill to address the Electoral Count Act." Republicans who opposed the bill argued it was rushed to a vote without a committee hearing. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., said rioters who attacked the Capitol should be prosecuted. But Davis said Trump was justified in filing lawsuits challenging 2020 election results and lawmakers of both parties have challenged state electors over the years. The processes in place have worked," Davis said. The Democrats are desperately trying to talk about their favorite subject, Donald Trump." The White House issued a statement supporting the House bill. "This bipartisan legislation seeks to improve the integrity of the process of appointing Presidential electors and of tallying those electors votes," the statement said. U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., is working on legislation to revamp the Electoral Count Act. Lawmakers are trying to clarify the Electoral Count Act because it was central to Trumps strategy to overturn the 2020 election, which played out the same day as the Capitol attack. By law, Jan. 6 is when Congress is required to count Electoral College votes for president from the states, historically a tedious ceremony two months after the election. Story continues Trump lawyer John Eastman proposed a strategy for his supporters in seven key states that President Biden won to send alternate slates of electors to Congress. If those states flipped to Trump, Eastman argued he could potentially have won the election. If fake electors created enough confusion about a states results, Eastman argued Vice President Mike Pence single-handedly could have thrown the election to the House where GOP lawmakers could potentially have kept Trump as president because Republicans controlled a majority of state delegations. But Pence refused to participate in the scheme, which is why rioters set up a gallows outside the Capitol and chanted hang Mike Pence as they rampaged through the building. Michael Luttig, a retired federal appeals judge who is influential among conservatives and counseled Pence's aides before the attack, supported the House bill. "Had this bill, the Presidential Election Reform Act, been the law during the 2020 presidential election, there never would have been the fateful January 6 that the country witnessed and experienced that day," Luttig tweeted Tuesday. Rioters stand outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. A federal judge ruled in a civil case that Trump and Eastman more likely than not acted unlawfully in the scheme. But neither has been charged. Federal authorities and a Georgia prosecutor are investigating the fake electors for possible crimes. Trump has denied wrongdoing. He said if his legal strategy wasnt sound, Democrats wouldnt try to change the law. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the insurrection that erupted at the Capitol on Jan. 6 sought to nullify the results of a free and fair election, so that it was an attack not just on the building, but on the Constitution. "Now we have a solemn duty to ensure that future efforts to undermine elections cannot succeed," Pelosi said. The House and Senate bills each affirm the vice president, as president of the Senate, has only ceremonial duties during the counting of electoral votes. Current law allows a challenge to a states electors from just one lawmaker from each chamber, a threshold the House and Senate legislation aims to increase. Objections were raised Jan. 6 against electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania, but Congress rejected both challenges. The House bill would require one-third of the lawmakers from each chamber to sign a challenge to state electors before it could be considered. The Senate version calls for 20% of each chamber to mount a challenge. A majority of each chamber would still be required to reject a state's electors. The bottom line is this: If you want to object to the vote, you better have your colleagues and the Constitution on your side," Lofgren said. "Dont try to overturn our democracy." More: A breakdown of the 187 minutes Trump was out of view on Jan. 6 as aides urged him to act Another difference between the bills deals with extending voting in presidential elections in states that suffer "catastrophic" events. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said current law allows state legislatures to appoint electors after a catastrophic event, which he argued was broad and dangerous. That very vague provision is dangerous dangerously unclear and it was targeted by former President Trumps supporters in 2020," Raskin said. This is an absolutely urgent and necessary update of the Electoral Count Act." The House bill defines "catastrophic" events as those that prevent a substantial number of voters from casting ballots and would permit a state to prolong its voting period by five days. Such events include terrorist attacks, natural disasters or power outages, supporters say. The House bill also would allow a presidential candidate to challenge a state's certification of electors in federal court. A three-judge District Court panel would hear the case and the Supreme Court would handle any expedited appeal. But if the court found the candidate hadn't acted in good faith, the candidate's lawyers would be liable for paying three times the attorney's fees and other expenses from the court action, under the bill. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks to supporters at a primary night event Tuesday in Jackson, Wyoming. Cheney conceded her loss in the Wyoming GOP primary. The House bill blamed Trump supporters for the Capitol attack in a section called "findings," a step the Senate bill didn't take. "On January 6, 2021, a mob professing support for then-President Trump violently attacked the United States Capitol in an effort to prevent a Joint Session of Congress from certifying the electoral college votes designating Joseph R. Biden the 46th President of the United States," the House bill said. "The Electoral Count Act of 1887 should be amended to prevent other future unlawful efforts to overturn Presidential elections and to ensure future peaceful transfers of Presidential power." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House votes to overhaul election law to prevent another Capitol attack Campaigning for a northwestern Ohio congressional seat, Republican J.R. Majewski presents himself as an Air Force combat veteran who deployed to Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, once describing tough conditions including a lack of running water that forced him to go more than 40 days without a shower. Military documents obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request tell a different story. They indicate Majewski never deployed to Afghanistan but instead completed a six-month stint helping to load planes at an air base in Qatar, a longtime U.S. ally that is a safe distance from the fighting. Majewskis account of his time in the military is just one aspect of his biography that is suspect. His post-military career has been defined by exaggerations, conspiracy theories, talk of violent action against the U.S. government and occasional financial duress. Still, thanks to an unflinching allegiance to former President Donald Trump Majewski once painted a massive Trump mural on his lawn he also stands a chance of defeating longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in a district recently redrawn to favor Republicans. Absentee voting: Heres what military and their families need to know Majewski is among a cluster of GOP candidates, most running for office for the first time, whose unvarnished life stories and hard-right politics could diminish the chances of a Republican red wave on Election Day in November. He is also a vivid representation of a new breed of politicians who reject facts as they try to emulate Trump. It bothers me when people trade on their military service to get elected to office when what they are doing is misleading the people they want to vote for them, Don Christensen, a retired Air Force colonel, said of Majewski. Veterans have done so much for this country and when you claim to have done what your brothers and sisters in arms actually did to build up your reputation, it is a disservice. Story continues Majewskis campaign declined to make him available for an interview and, in a lengthy statement issued to the AP, did not directly address questions about his claim of deploying to Afghanistan. A spokeswoman declined to provide additional comment when the AP followed up with additional questions. I am proud to have served my country, Majewski said in the statement. My accomplishments and record are under attack, meanwhile, career politician Marcy Kaptur has a forty-year record of failure for my Toledo community, which is why Im running for Congress. FILE - Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, speaks during an event at the Shipyards on Feb. 17, 2022, in Lorain, Ohio. Kaptur is seeking to retain her seat in Ohio's 9th congressional district. (Ken Blaze/AP, File) With no previous political experience, Majewski is perhaps an unlikely person to be the Republican nominee taking on Kaptur, who has represented the Toledo area since 1983. But two state legislators who were also on the ballot in the August GOP primary split the establishment vote. That cleared a path for Majewski, who previously worked in the nuclear power industry and dabbled in politics as a pro-Trump hip-hop performer and promoter of the QAnon conspiracy theory. He was also at the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Throughout his campaign Majewski has offered his Air Force service as a valuable credential. The tagline veteran for Congress appears on campaign merchandise. He ran a Facebook ad promoting himself as combat veteran. And in a campaign video released this year, Majewski marauds through a vacant factory with a rifle while pledging to restore an America that is independent and strong like the country I fought for. More recently, the House Republican campaign committee released a biography that describes Majewski as a veteran whose squadron was one of the first on the ground in Afghanistan after 9/11. A campaign ad posted online Tuesday by Majewski supporters flashed the words Afghanistan War Veteran across the screen alongside a picture of a younger Majewski in his dress uniform. A biography posted on his campaign website does not mention Afghanistan. But Majewski hasnt been forthcoming when asked about the specifics of his service. I dont like talking about my military experience, he said in a 2021 interview on the One American Podcast after volunteering that he served one tour of duty in Afghanistan. It was a tough time in life. You know, the military wasnt easy. A review of his service records, which the AP obtained from the National Archives through a public records request, as well as an accounting provided by the Air Force, offers a possible explanation for his hesitancy. Rather than deploying to Afghanistan, as he has claimed, the records state that Majewski was based at Kadena Air Base in Japan for much of his active-duty service. He later deployed for six months to Qatar in May 2002, where he helped load and unload planes while serving as a passenger operations specialist, the records show. While based in Qatar, Majewski would land at other air bases to transfer military passengers, medics, supplies, his campaign said. The campaign did not answer a direct question about whether he was ever in Afghanistan. Experts argue Majewskis description of himself as a combat veteran is also misleading. The term can evoke images of soldiers storming a beachhead or finding refuge during a firefight. But under the laws and regulations of the U.S. government, facing live fire has little to do with someone earning the title. During the Persian Gulf War, then-President George H.W. Bush designated, for the first time, countries used as combat support areas as combat zones despite the low-risk of American service members ever facing hostilities. That helped veterans receive a favorable tax status. Qatar, which is now home to the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East, was among the countries that received the designation under Bushs executive order a status that remains in effect today. Regardless, it rankles some when those seeking office offer their status as a combat veteran as a credential to voters without explaining that it does not mean that they came under hostile fire. As somebody who was in Qatar, I do not consider myself a combat veteran, said Christensen, the retired Air Force colonel who now runs Protect Our Defenders, a military watchdog organization. I think that would be offensive to those who were actually engaged in combat and Iraq and Afghanistan. Majewskis campaign said that he calls himself a combat veteran because the area he deployed to Qatar is considered a combat zone. Majewski also lacks many of the medals that are typically awarded to those who served in Afghanistan. Though he once said that he went more than 40 days without a shower during his time in the landlocked country, he does not have an Afghanistan campaign medal, which was issued to those who served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in the country. He also did not receive a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, which was issued to service members before the creation of the Afghanistan campaign medal if they deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror. Matthew Borie, an Air Force veteran who worked in intelligence and reviewed Majewskis records at APs request said its odd that Majewski lacks many of the medals you would expect to see for someone who deployed to Afghanistan. Theres also the matter of Majewskis final rank and reenlistment code when he left active duty after four years of service. Most leave the service after four years having received several promotions that are generally awarded for time served. Majewski exited at a rank that was one notch above where he started. His enlistment code also indicated that he could not sign up with the Air Force again. Majewskis campaign said he received whats called a nonjudicial punishment in 2001 after getting into a brawl in his dormitory, which resulted in the demotion. Nonjudicial punishments are designed to hold service members accountable for bad behavior that does not rise to the level of a court-martial. Majewskis resume exaggeration isnt limited to his military service, reverberating throughout his professional life, as well as a nascent political career that took shape in an online world of conspiracy theories. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn: Government insider to holy warrior Since gaining traction in his campaign for Congress, Majewski has denied that he is a follower of the QAnon conspiracy theory while playing down his participation in Capitol riot. The baseless and apocalyptic QAnon belief is based on cryptic online postings by the anonymous Q, who is purportedly a government insider. It posits that Trump is fighting entrenched enemies in the government and also involves satanism and child sex trafficking. Let me be clear, I denounce QAnon. I do not support Q, and I do not subscribe to their conspiracy theories, Majewski said in his statement to the AP. But in the past Majewski repeatedly posted QAnon references and memes to social media, wore a QAnon shirt during a TV interview and has described Zak Paine, a QAnon influencer and online personality who goes by the nom de guerre Redpill78, as a good friend. During a February 2021 appearance on a YouTube stream, Majewsk stated, I believe in everything thats been put out from Q, while characterizing the false posts as military-level intelligence, in my opinion. He also posted to the defunct right wing social media platform, Parler, a photo of the Trump 2020 mural he painted on his lawn that was modified to change the zeros into Qs, as first reported by CNN. Then theres Majewskis participation in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Majewski has said that he raised about $25,000 to help dozens of people attend the Stop the Steal rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol. He also traveled to the event with his friend Paine, the QAnon influencer, and the two later appeared in social media postings near the Capitol. Majewski acknowledged he was outside the Capitol, but denies entering the building. Still, he lamented the decision on a QAnon livestream a week after the attack, stating that he was pissed off at myself for not going in to the building. It was a struggle, because I really wanted to go in, Majewski said on the livestream, which was first unearthed by the liberal group Media Matters. Majewski has not been charged in connection with the attack. But he has falsely stated that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and said that the insurrection felt like a setup by police who were targeting Trump supporters. In his statement, Majewski said, I deeply regret being at the Capitol that day and did not break the law, while calling for those who did to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The mischaracterizations extend to his professional career, in which he has repeatedly described himself as an executive in the nuclear power industry, including in a campaign ad last spring. But a review of his now-deleted resume on the website LinkedIn and a survey of his former employers do not support the claim. He most recently worked for Holtec International, a Florida-based energy conglomerate that specializes in handling spent nuclear fuel. But he is not listed among the executives and members of the corporate leadership teams in current or archived versions of the companys website. A spokesman confirmed Majewski was a former Holtec employee, but declined to offer details on his position or role, which Majewskis LinkedIn page described as senior director, client relations. Majewskis campaign declined to address his claim of being an executive, but said he participated in weekly conference calls with executives. Majewski also described himself on LinkedIn as project manager - senior consultant for First Energy, an Ohio based power company, a position that he stated he held since shortly after leaving the military. The company, Majewski explained in a biography posted to his website, quickly recognized him for his intellect and leadership capabilities Yet records from his 2009 bankruptcy raise questions about his seniority. They show he was an outage manager who earned about $51,000 a year. In the bankruptcy, Majewski and his wife gave up their home, two cars and a Jet Ski to settle the case, court records show. Still, in a nationalized political environment, some Republicans suggest none of this will matter to the voters. At the end of the day, this will be a question of whether they want Nancy Pelosi leading the House or Kevin McCarthy, said Tom Davis, a former congressman who led the House Republican campaign arm during George W. Bushs presidency. These elections have become less about the person. I wouldnt say candidates dont matter, but they dont matter like they used to. LaPorta reported from Wilmington, North Carolina. AP investigative researcher Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) Progressive and centrist Democrats in the House have clinched agreement on a long-sought policing and public safety package that will be brought to the House floor just weeks before the midterm elections. House Democrats announced the deal Wednesday, ending months of intra-party tensions over what the package should contain. A series of four bills that will include an increase in funding for local police departments will come up for a vote on Thursday. The breakthrough came after intense negotiations in recent days between Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat and leader of the centrist coalition, and Rep. Ilhan Omar D-Minn., one of the leaders of the progressive faction. Joyce Beatty, chairwoman of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus, and Hakeem Jeffries, chairman of the Democratic caucus, facilitated a number of the conversations after it was clear in recent days that progress could be made. We have people who still wont like this bill, and I respect that tremendously, Beatty, an Ohio Democrat, told reporters shortly before the deal was announced. And we have people who will say we move the needle by listening and working with everyone. Their deal, reached with little time to spare on the House calendar, could help unite the party on a public safety platform more than two years after the police killing of George Floyd. Im proud to have worked closely with Republicans, Democrats, and a broad spectrum of stakeholders to make real progress for public safety," Gottheimer said in a statement Wednesday. The package includes reforms to ensure police funding is used to support smaller police departments, along with investments in de-escalation training and $250 million for mental health resources for officers. A major goal is to reduce fatal encounters between police and people with mental illness. To get the more liberal members on board, the final package also includes limited language around police accountability that would allow the Justice Department to have preferential consideration over which police departments are permitted to receive the grants. It will also allocate $50 million of the funding to go toward data collection on police practices and community safety. Story continues With this package, House Democrats have the opportunity to model a holistic, inclusive approach to public safety, and keep our promise to families across the country to address this issue at the federal level, Omar and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said in a statement. The police funding package is modest in comparison to the bill that Democrats introduced in the weeks after Floyds death in the summer of 2020. That sweeping package, which passed the House more than a year later, went much further as far as police accountability, including banning police chokeholds and altering so-called qualified immunity for law enforcement, which would make it easier to pursue claims of police misconduct. The unprecedented effort by lawmakers to curb police violence was stalled in the Senate for weeks as Republicans tried to push forward a competing plan by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., which would have diminished the use of chokeholds --not ban them -- as well as increase federal reporting requirements for use of force and no-knock warrants. Senate Democrats blocked the plan, saying it did not go far enough to address racial inequality. The new package, Gottheimer said, has gained the support and input of law enforcement groups like the National Association of Police Organization and the Fraternal Order of Police. Other policing bills proposed by Reps. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Dean Phillips of Minnesota are not part of the package. But Spanberger, who has worked for the last year on a bill that would help increase officer pay and allow police departments to hire more officers, said its important that the party take action. It is unclear if the bills will have any Republican support. Some quickly criticized the package. These are efforts to repair their image with voters who blame them for higher crime rates," said Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., the chair of the Republican Study Committee. The Democrats know that their anti-police rhetoric over the last few years has harmed them in key districts that they need to keep the majority, which they are not. This is a top-of-the-list item for voters. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., said he's not betting on bipartisan support, given the GOP plans to make crime a focal point in the fall campaign. I'm not worried about the other side, Horsford said. I'm worried about saving lives and reducing crime and breaking the cycle of violence." I lost my father to gun violence when I was 19, so its personal, he said. ___ Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. The House voted Wednesday to update the rules for congressional certification of presidential elections, a response to then-President Donald Trumps questioning of the 2020 contest that Democrats and Republicans such as Rep. Liz Cheney say led to an attempted "insurrection." The Presidential Election Reform Act was sponsored by the Wyoming Republican and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., both of whom serve on the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 election protest at the Capitol that turned violent. It passed the House with support from every Democrat and just nine Republicans. Their bill targets Trumps attempt to convince then-Vice President Mike Pence to challenge the electoral vote count as it was taking place on Jan. 6, 2021. Democrats said the perception that Pence had the power to overturn the electoral count contributed to the Capitol Hill protest. The bill that passed in the House on Wednesday amends the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to clarify that the vice president only has a ministerial role and cannot interfere with the process or make judgments about the validity of electoral college votes. Cheney said that language was aimed at preventing a repeat of Trump's actions. CHENEY-BACKED ELECTION REFORM BILL STRIPS VP OF ALL AUTHORITY WHEN COUNTING PRESIDENTIAL VOTES "January 6 was not Democracy in action,'" Cheney said during floor debate. "Our oath of office is to support and defend the Constitution, which provides the method by which we elect our president. Legal challenges are not improper, but Donald Trumps refusal to abide by the rulings of the courts certainly was." Cheney added that the Jan. 6 committee has shown that Trump knew what he was doing was illegal, "but he did it anyway." The bill also makes it much harder for lawmakers to object to the validity of electoral votes. Currently, one member each from the House and Senate is needed to lodge an objection, but the bill would require one-third of both chambers before an objection can be heard. Story continues Democrats accused Republicans who failed to back the bill of supporting violent extremism. "Our Republican colleagues who are opposed to this legislation once again find themselves on the side of violent extremists," said Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. He said passing the bill is a move to "protect rule of law, strengthen the Constitution and vote against insurrection." The bill targets Trumps attempt to convince then-Vice President Mike Pence to challenge the electoral vote count as it was taking place on Jan. 6, 2021. Getty Images Republicans fumed that they were left out of the process of developing the bill and noted the bill appeared without any hearing to change to amend it. They also accused Democrats of trying to keep voters attention on Donald Trump during the midterm elections. "Given all the majoritys righteous and high-minded talk over the last two years about how democracy itself is in peril, dont you think it would be better served to have operated through regular order with real member buy-in on a topic that is as important to the American people as this one?" Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said this week. AFTER LANDSLIDE PRIMARY DEFEAT, LIZ CHENEY ANNOUNCES NEW ANTI-TRUMP GROUP, SAYS SHE'S THINKING ABOUT WH BID "The midterm elections are just a week away, and Democrats in the 1/6 committee are desperately trying to talk about their favorite topic, and that is former President Trump," said Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., who chairs the House Administration Committee. Republicans did acknowledge that clarifying the vice presidents role as ministerial is a welcome idea, and several agreed that no vice president should have the power to pick the winner of the presidential election on the fly. But some Republicans said the Cheney-Lofgren bill goes too far in prescribing election rules for states. The legislation requires governors to transmit their election results to the Archivist of the United States by Dec. 14 and allows candidates to file legal action against governors who fail to meet this requirement. NEW YORK AG SUES TRUMP OVER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS It also requires states to determine their election results according to rules in place at the time of the election but allows states to extend elections in the event of a natural disaster that prevents a "substantial portion" of voters from voting or destroys or makes ballots unreadable. Davis said he opposed this language because it establishes federal guidelines for elections that should be run by the states. "The Constitution is clear," Davis said. "States have the primary role in federal elections, with Congress us playing a secondary role. Yet some of the provisions in their proposal would trample on state sovereignty and grant Congress unprecedented authority to interpret state laws." Some Republicans added that allowing candidates to seek natural disaster exemptions to extend the election could lead to a more chaotic post-election period and predicted that candidates would seek any option available to prolong the process in close elections. Others rejected the idea that the bill is bipartisan simply because it has the support of Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., the only two Republicans to serve on the Jan. 6 committee and two of 10 House lawmakers who voted to impeach Trump over the Jan. 6 protest at the Capitol. At least 876 protesters have been detained in 38 cities across Russia as protests swept the country on Wednesday following Russian President Vladimir Putins decree to call up more reservists to fight in Ukraine. Around 337 protesters were detained in the capital of Moscow, according to the independent human rights organization OVD-Info, which has published a list of the detained protesters in a tracker. In the port city of St. Petersburg, another 301 protesters were detained. Protesters have been arrested in nearly every major city across Russia. Putin delivered a rare address to the nation on Wednesday announcing the partial mobilization, which could see up to 300,000 new soldiers drafted. Russia has suffered heavy losses in Ukraine after Ukrainian forces launched a massive counterattack this month. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A startup claims its hydrogen fuel cell tech is now more efficient than diesel at current prices (Getty Images) A hydrogen fuel cell startup has claimed that its latest technology provides better fuel economy than a diesel engine. Canada-based Loop Energy unveiled its new hydrogen fuel cell at the IAA Transportation 2022 conference in Germany this week, saying it marks a milestone for the transport industrys transition to clean energies. At current fuel price levels, a commercial truck equipped with the S1200 hydrogen fuel cell could travel 179km (111 miles) with $100 worth of fuel, compared to 175km for a diesel truck with the same amount of fuel. This is another sign to the transport industry that the transition away from fossil fuels must happen now, Ben Nyland, CEO of Loop Energy, told The Independent. Already hydrogen-electric trucks are on our roads, and we expect them to become more commonplace in the years ahead, especially for the commercial vehicles industry, which is quickly embracing this technology as a way forward. Hydrogen fuel cells work by combining hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, with the only by-products being water and a small amount of heat. Several leading vehicle makers have invested heavily in the technology for use in freight trucks, as they seek to transition to zero-emission transport. Alternative battery technologies are currently seen as too heavy for medium- to heavy-duty commercial vehicles, though automakers like Tesla have built fully battery-powered trucks. By making it a cost effective alternative to fossil fuels, the new system developed by Loop Energy overcomes one of the main challenges to mass adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology. One major obstacle still remains, however, with refuelling infrastructure for hydrogen vehicles severely under-developed in the UK and most European countries outside of Germany. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Shares in companies that are part of Colombia's largest conglomerate GEA rose on Wednesday after Abu Dhabi-based investor International Holding Company (IHC) launched a bid to buy a stake worth up to $2.15 billion in Nutresa. Grupo Empresarial Antioqueno, or GEA, is a conglomerate of more than 100 firms, including Nutresa, where many own significant stakes in each other. IHC's bid is the latest in a long-running saga of moves to snap up stakes in GEA companies. Jaime Gilinski, one of Colombia's richest businessmen, moved to buy up to 62.625% of Nutresa's shares last year with support from Abu Dhabi's Royal Group, which is the majority owner of IHC. IHC has bid to buy between 25% and 31.25% of Nutresa's shares at $15 each - 79.3% higher than the closing price on Tuesday. The IHC bid boosted shares in the conglomerate's other companies. Shares in investment holding company Grupo SURA, the jewel in GEA's crown which owns the largest stake in Nutresa, rose almost 7% in the morning session. Shares in industrial conglomerate Grupo Argos also rose around 7%. "The rises in (shares of) Grupo Argos and Grupo SURA are due to speculative movements in the market associated with the possibility of new takeover bids for these companies," Camilo Andres Thomas of brokerage Alianza Valores told Reuters. Shares in Colombia's biggest bank, Bancolombia, another GEA company, also rose as much as 5% during the session. Trading in shares of Nutresa, a processed food producer, were suspended following the IHC offer which, if successful, would be worth between $1.72 billion and $2.15 billion. Grupo Gilinski, supported by Royal Group, whose chairman is Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a brother of the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates, took control of 31% of Nutresa in two takeover bids last year. A third bid was declared void by the Colombian Stock Exchange in May this year. IHC is a partner of the Gilinski Group, stockbrokers told Reuters. If the latest bid is successful, Grupo Gilinski will become Nutresa's largest shareholder. Story continues Nutresa operates in 14 countries and has 47 production plants for processed meats, coffee, cookies, chocolates, pasta and ice cream, in addition to a line of restaurants and ice cream parlors. Gilinski Group also secured a 38% stake in Grupo SURA following several bids and transactions last year. A bid from Gilinski to buy up to 32.5% of Grupo Argos was declared void in July. ($1 = 4,420.38 Colombian pesos) (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta and Oliver Griffin; Writing by Oliver Griffin. Editing by Jane Merriman) Amanda Darrow, director of youth, family and education programs at the Utah Pride Center, with books that have been the subject of complaints from parents in Salt Lake City on Dec. 16, 2021. The wave of attempted book banning and restrictions continues to intensify, the American Library Association reported. Numbers for 2022 already approach last year's totals, which were the highest in decades. (Rick Bowmer / AP) Congratulations to this years notable authors of banned books. According to the Chicago-based American Library Association, whose Office for Intellectual Freedom keeps track of such things, schools and public libraries are headed toward another record-breaking year of attempts to ban or otherwise challenge books. Advertisement As a fellow scrivener, I offer my congratulations to those authors as my way of expressing both sympathy and admiration. Sure, nobody likes to wind up on someone elses list of deplorables, but cheer up, folks. Some of the finest books Ive ever read or put on my to-be-read list have been banned by somebody. You can tell a lot about shifts in the cultural winds by what we supposed grown-ups disapprove for our kids. Advertisement In 2001, the ALAs Top 10 included such titles as Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling partly because some religious folks thought it was teaching witchcraft, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (racism violence, offensive language), I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (offensive language, sexually explicit) and Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (language). By 2021, the list showed the rise of LGBTQ themes with such books as Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe, Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison and All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson, topping the list. Two notches down was one of my favorites, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, repeatedly banned and challenged because of an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda. Maybe its depiction of what struck me as real-life for too many unfortunate Black teen girls was a little too real for some people. Such a sincere desire to tell the rest of us or, more precisely, our kids what they should read is a pretty familiar sentiment these days in the crusades against critical race theory. The national moral panic over CRT has caused me to give up arguing that real CRT, a college-level legal and academic argument about the impact of historic and systemic racism, isnt even taught in public schools. Ever since Republican Glenn Youngkin beat expectations by winning Virginias gubernatorial race as an anti-CRT crusader, conservatives nationwide have applied the label to any diversity talk or study that they dont like. That national movement to scrub indoctrination out of public schools has something to do with the news that more than 70% of the ALAs reported 681 attempts to restrict library resources targeted multiple titles. In the past, most challenges to library resources only sought to remove or restrict a single book. The unprecedented number of challenges were seeing already this year reflects coordinated, national efforts to silence marginalized or historically underrepresented voices, ALA President Lessa Kananiopua Pelayo-Lozada said in a news release, and deprive all of us young people, in particular of the chance to explore a world beyond the confines of personal experience. Some things dont change, just the names and authors do. I was not surprised to see another of my favorite perennially banned books, Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn missing from the latest list. I guess the classics use of the N-word more than a hundred times finally is doing it in. Advertisement As Ive written before, Im a Black man who defends Huckleberry Finn precisely because it is brave enough to use the N-word as freely as a lot of white folks used it back then and not only in the South. More important, Twain used the language of those times to put us into Hucks head as his heart leads him to help his Black enslaved friend Jim run away from his masters, an act that Huck has been painfully taught will send him straight to hell. In a momentous coming of age decision, shedding all that he has been taught by his conservative elders, he decides his loyalty to Jim is worth that fate. Not surprisingly, not everyone shares my love for Twains work, especially Black folks and liberal intellectuals who accuse Twain of stereotyping. But the book touched me years ago when I was a kid coming of age in an even less racially tolerant world than we have today. If Huck could look past skin color to the conduct of his friends character, to paraphrase Martin Luther Kings famous quote, so could I. Conservatives these days like to take that King quote out of context and make it an argument for pretending racism no longer exists. I think they need to read more. Sign up here to receive Clarence Pages columns by email as soon as they are published. Advertisement Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime Several of the illegal immigrants who were sent on planes to Marthas Vineyard last week by Ron DeSantis filed a class-action lawsuit on Tuesday against the Florida governor and other Florida officials. The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs, Venezuelan migrants that fled to the U.S., were authorized to remain in the country, as they immediately turned themselves over to federal immigration officials once they crossed the border. The defendants, identified as DeSantis and Jared Perdue, Florida Department of Transportation secretary, orchestrated a plan with other unnamed individuals to troll streets outside of a migrant shelter in Texas and other similar locales, pretending to be good Samaritans and offer humanitarian assistance, the lawsuit stated. The unnamed individuals gave the illegal immigrants $10 McDonalds gift certificates to gain their trust, and falsely told them they would receive assistance in other states if they boarded planes, the lawsuit claimed. The immigrants were falsely told they were flying to Boston or Washington, D.C., but instead were flown to the posh vacation destination of Marthas Vineyard, the lawsuit said, adding that DeSantis spent $12,300 per passenger. These immigrants, who are pursuing the proper channels for lawful immigration status in the United States, experienced cruelty akin to what they fled in their home country. Defendants manipulated them, stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process, and equal protection under the law . . . in furtherance on an unlawful goal and a personal political agenda, the lawsuit claimed. California governor Gavin Newsom has also requested the Department of Justice to look into the states, including Florida, allegedly kidnapping illegal immigrants and flying them to other states. The lawsuit comes as Customs and Border Patrol announced Tuesday that the number of migrant encounters had reached 2 million for the fiscal year the most in history. More from National Review By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea may be preparing to launch a new submarine believed to be capable of firing ballistic missiles, a U.S.-based think tank reported on Thursday, citing commercial satellite imagery. Images of the Sinpo South Shipyard, on the east coast of the country, from Sept. 18 revealed six barges and vessels gathered around the construction hall quay, said 38 North, which monitors North Korea. "While barges and a dry dock have been occasionally observed around the submarine launch quay at the main construction hall, the presence of six vessels and barges in this area has not been observed before," said the report, which concluded that the activity suggests preparations to launch a submarine. The report comes as U.S. President Joe Biden accused North Korea of "blatantly violating U.N. sanctions" in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, citing the country as among the reasons to strengthen international nuclear nonproliferation efforts. Analysts first spotted signs that at least one new submarine was being built in 2016, and in 2019 state media showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a previously unreported submarine that was built under "his special attention" and that would be operational in the waters off the east coast. State media at the time did not describe the submarine's weapons systems or say where and when the inspection took place, but analysts said the apparent size of the new vessel indicated it was designed to carry missiles. North Korea has a large submarine fleet but only one known experimental submarine capable of carrying a ballistic missile. Analysts have debated whether the apparent new missile submarine is a new design, or whether it is based on a modified Romeo Class of submarine originally acquired from China in the 1970s before North Korea began producing them domestically. Amid an unprecedented flurry of missile tests this year, North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in May from near Sinpo, where North Korea keeps submarines as well as equipment for test-firing SLBMs. Observers say North Korea has made preparations to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017, amid stalled denuclearisation talks. (Reporting by Josh Smith; editing by Richard Pullin) A former business manager for the Independence Examiner newspaper is accused in Jackson County Circuit Court of embezzling more than $400,000 from the company over the course of three years. Deneane M. Hyde, 58, of Blue Springs, is charged with one felony count of stealing more than $25,000, court records show. She withdrew money from the newspapers bank account, over which she had individual authority, and deposited funds into her personal bank account between 2018 and 2021, authorities allege. A representative for the newspapers parent company, CherryRoad Media, did not immediately respond to The Stars request for comment late Tuesday afternoon. According to court papers, Independence police began investigating after being contacted by an attorney for the Independence Examiner on Jan. 31. Police were told that the money had been noticed missing from the bank following the recent transfer of ownership of the company to CherryRoad. After contacting the bank, the company learned that there was $1,800 left in the account, according to court papers. The bank provided statements to police that did not match those in the companys finance department. Detectives later found that Hyde was the only employee with access to the affected account and had sole authority to sign checks, according to court papers. Detectives found alterations to financial records that appeared to have been made to conceal the theft, court papers say. Among them was a document, allegedly created by Hyde, that showed the account balance was roughly $425,000 in November when there was around $2,800 in it. Overall, investigators found a total loss of $428,470. Statements reviewed by police included branch withdrawals authorized by Hyde, checks deposited into her personal checking account and other withdrawals containing no signature, authorities allege. A warrant was issued for Hydes arrest on Tuesday. In charging documents filed with the case, an Independence detective wrote that police had not been in contact with her since early June. A detective working the case wrote in an affidavit seeking criminal charges that Hyde had canceled appointments to meet with investigators in April and May, including for a root canal and feeling under the weather, according to court papers. Authorities also allege Hyde filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018, a case that remains active. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Shaun Kings nonprofit amassed millions of dollars in donations in the months following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, while its signature project to review and redress prosecutorial injustices in three major U.S. cities flounderedand while King himself and his associates raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation. Representatives of the Grassroots Law Project produced the 2020 financial reports for the King-led outfit in response to questions from The Daily Beast. These materials have yet to appear in any public records database, and the Internal Revenue Service did not respond to queries about why the King nonprofit did not show up in its online files. But the Grassroots Law Projects lawyers noted the agency had suffered internal delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tax documents reveal that during the first year of its existence, a period that coincided with the largest racial justice protests in the nations history, the organization collected more than $6.67 million. Further, Federal Election Commission records also show that two political action committees tied to the controversial activist have poured close to half a million dollars into the organization. The single largest expenditure the Grassroots Law Project made in its first year was $2,654,434, which the disclosures only state went to bridge the gap between grassroots organizing and legal expertise to reform the American justice system. The organizations representatives acknowledged to The Daily Beast that this referred, at least in part, to the groups flagship program following its launch: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commissionsostensibly modeled on those instituted after the fall of apartheid in South Africathat the Grassroots Law Project would go on to help set up in the district attorneys offices of San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Boston. These restorative boards received considerable publicity and fanfare, along with their own website, fundraising page, and multiple social media accounts, when the Grassroots Law Project and the local prosecutors announced them in early July 2020. Story continues This system is not broken. Its functioning exactly the way those who designed and built it intended it to function. It was not built to give marginalized communities justice, King said in a joint press release with Philadelphia D.A. Larry Krasner, then-San Francisco D.A. Chesa Boudin, and then-Boston D.A. Rachael Rollins. It was built to oppress them. And moving forward, we must build brand new pathways for truth, justice, and reconciliation. The old ones will never get us there. But, more than two years on, the commissions online pages appear largely stagnantmuch like the initiative itself. The Boston district attorneys office told The Daily Beast that its commission unfortunately, did not get off the ground, while the San Francisco D.A.s office said its committee had yet to hold a single meeting. Philadelphia D.A. Larry Krasnerwhose exceedingly close political ties to King and one of his PACs have gotten him slapped with thousands of dollars in campaign finance violation feesdid not respond to questions about the commissions status that were left with his office and on his personal cellphone. In a statement to The Daily Beast, the Grassroots Law Projects representatives blamed the distractions of Krasners re-election bid and Philadelphias recent crime wave for the apparent failure to make headway on the project. He is today the only one of the original trio of prosecutors still in office. The nonprofit also asserted that the COVID-19 pandemic was partly to blame for all three commissions failure to launch. Nonetheless, they said the initiative only accounted for around $500,000 of the $2,654,434 figure. The remainder, they indicated, went toward various policy pushes and campaigns for prosecutorial leniency, phone-banking, donations to other groups, and legal defense funds. (L - R) Shaun King, Sen. Cory Booker, and Remy Ma attend the Our Vote, Our Power midterm election special in 2018 at Times Square Studios. Bennett Raglin/Getty The group also took credit for having helped ensure that Officer Derek Chauvin was arrested, charged, and convicted for murdering George Floyd and said they had successfully advocated against the California Attorney General appointment of [Rep.] Adam Schiff. The Grassroots Law Project is extremely proud of the civil rights work we have accomplished since our inception, the organization said in a statement. Weve made over 1.6 million phone calls, sent over 100 million advocacy emails, hosted over 1,000 unique events, with 35 brilliant staff members fighting against police violence, mass incarceration, and racial injustice. The 2020 tax filings The Daily Beast received show King earned a salary of $104,167 as the Grassroots Law Projects executive director during the groups first 12 months. But the groups representatives told The Daily Beast his compensation has since swelled to a quarter-million a yearor, around twice the median compensation for nonprofit executives. The organizations representatives maintained this income was lower than some other groups with a criminal justice mission. The documents also show the nonprofit paid $135,486 to the Social Practice, a consulting firm that handles the groups financials and which is based out of a box in the same San Francisco mail drop as the Grassroots Law Project itself. The Daily Beast previously reported that the Social Practice was also on the payroll of Krasners D.A. campaign at the same time the prosecutor got in trouble with Philadelphia authorities for coordinating with Kings PAC and failing to report it. As The Daily Beast also previously reported, the Social Practices co-founder Becky Bond serves as treasurer of that exact same PACcalled the Real Justice PACwhich she co-founded with King. Bond and future Grassroots Law Project co-founder Lee Merritt were also part of the financial review board that produced a 2019 report apparently intended to address questions about the fate of millions of dollars King had raised for various social justice causes. Public records and materials the groups divulged show that entities associated with two other members of the team of experts in justice reform, law, finance, and compliancea nonprofit founded by activist Tamika Mallory and the law firm of attorney David Mitranihave received regular disbursements of cash from the Grassroots Law Project or the PACs. Mallorys group said it only received donations from the Project in the period between March and August 2021, while campaign finance filings show payments to Mitranis firm continued through May of this year. According to the panels report, King himself received monthly payments via the Social Practice at the time, though representatives for the Grassroots Law Project maintained that those disbursements have long since stopped. The most recent records available show that, to date, the Social Practice has received a combined $940,812.20 from the Grassroots Law Project, the Real Justice PAC, and the Grassroots Law PAC, a third King-founded committee where Bond now serves as treasurer. The groups representatives insisted Bond and King were uniquely qualified for these roles, and deserving of their compensation. The pair sent a joint statement to The Daily Beast. Were extremely proud of the work weve done for Real Justice PAC and Grassroots Law PAC, helping to elect champions for criminal justice reform in jurisdictions all over the country, the pair said in a statement. The campaigns we have both launched and supported span pages, and we will continue to fight alongside the amazing community members who have experienced harm at the hands of a brutal legal system. The relationship between the Grassroots Law Project and the Grassroots Law PAC is particularly idiosyncratic. Since the Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United decision, its become increasingly common for nonprofits to launch a political action committee. But, in the case of the Grassroots Law groups, the PAC spawned the nonprofit, emails King sent his financial supporters show. The Grassroots Law PAC first registered with the FEC as The Action PAC in July 2019, almost a year before the Projects founding. The filings list Merritt as the PACs treasurer and King as its point of contact, roles which records show they held into the fall of 2020, before they ceded them to Bond. From the outset, it listed the Real Justice PAC as an affiliate. On June 1, 2020two days before the Grassroots Law Project incorporated in Delaware in June 2020and one week after the Floyd murderthe Action PAC sent a fundraising email to supporters under Kings name. Tomorrow, our team will officially launch the Grassroots Law Project, the missive from King read, asserting the organization had already hired five staffers. Between now and tomorrow, Im asking you to become a founding donor to help kick off the Grassroots Law Project. The Action PAC would continue sending fundraising emails from King and Merritt on behalf of the Grassroots Law Project for more than a year afterward. It wasnt until February 2021 that the PAC changed its name to match the nonprofit. The Action PAC heralded the rechristening with a tweet and a Facebook post asserting it was merging with the Grassroots Law project. By that point, payments from the PACs to the nonprofit marked payroll and software had already been underway for a month-and-a-half. Today, those payments total $461,768, as of the most recent FEC report. In an interview with The Daily Beast, the groups representatives asserted that, today, neither PAC has any staff of its ownrather, they rely on the Grassroots Law Project to do their work and reimburse it for staff time and other expenses. The PACs and the nonprofits representatives said this arrangement saves money and allows for the staff to receive full-time benefits. It also has the effect of concealing who exactly gets paid for doing what. The groups refused to provide a breakdown of the specific services King had rendered to the PACs' efforts to support specific political figures, saying they didnt want to compromise the safety of the candidates whose careers he had helped advance. Attacks on Mr. King have been used against candidates and elected officials by trolls and people who may pose security threats, a representative for the nonprofit told The Daily Beast. GLP does not want to subject candidates Mr. King supported to harassment by publicizing those strategic services. The group maintained that King only received $28,364.84 out of the payroll reimbursements last year for services rendered to the Real Justice PAC, and no money at all from the Grassroots Law PACproviding a screenshot from the timesheet app Clockify to substantiate this claim. But ethics advocates said the groups rationale for concealing the exact range and scope of work King provided to the PACs did not pass scrutiny. Brendan Fischer, of the nonprofit investigative group Documented, noted that the PACs did not disguise either their connection to King or the candidates they supported. Its a matter of public record that King is associated with the PAC and its a matter of public record what candidates the PAC support, said Fischer, who added that he did not believe the groups had violated any law. If you dont want your enemies knowing Shaun King is working to support these candidates, its already too late. Shaun King accepts an award onstage during Rihannas 5th Annual Diamond Ball Benefiting the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2019. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Meanwhile, Robert Maguire, research director for the good government group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, argued that donors and the public should know who gets paid for what political workespecially when the payee is somebody like Shaun King, with a record of concerns and complaints about the disposition of money he has raised. This is why we have the campaign finance reporting system, that has been around for the better part of 50 years at this point, because we have a right as a free society to know the activities of people who are engaged in electoral activities, said Maguire. Strange to Maguire, too, was the Grassroots Law Projects decision not to list the two PACs as related organizations on its tax forms. Dr. Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a nonprofit and campaign finance expert at the University of Notre Dames law school, agreed. Grassroots Law Project did make a mistake by not identifying the two PACs as related organizations, he wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. Since the PACs are controlled by the same individuals who control Grassroots Law Project, they are considered brother/sister related organizations. Mayer said that the IRS could impose fines on the group for this omission, though he noted the agency almost never takes this kind of enforcement action. Grassroots Law Project disputed Mayers argument, maintaining that the PACs and the nonprofit are in fact separate, non-overlapping control groupseven though for part of 2020 King and Merritt led both the Grassroots Law Project and the PAC that now shares its name, even though Kings own webpage says he leads both the Project and the Real Justice PAC, and even though Bond handles the financial documents for all three entities. Because we are constantly under attack, we work with some of the most diligent and experienced attorneys in the field of tax and election law, the group wrote in a statement to The Daily Beast. Any suggestion that GLP is not compliant is totally false. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. An intoxicated man in rural Maine recklessly led police on a chase while riding an ATV through a residential neighborhood, according to officials. Police officers in East Millinocket, a town of less than 2,000 people, were alerted to a man who had flipped his ATV outside a convenience store in Millinocket, a neighboring town, and got into a dust-up with another patron on Sept. 19, according to a release from the department. A short time later, officers saw the suspect, later identified as a 40-year-old man from Millinocket, driving the ATV rapidly and recklessly down a main road, according to police. Officers attempted to stop the man, but he eluded them for some time, driving through residential streets. With the assistance of locals, police followed the all-terrain vehicles tracks and eventually located the suspect, who had hid behind an apartment building, according to officials. When an officer attempted to detain the suspect, he became highly belligerent, threatened to harm police and resisted arrest, authortities said. With the assistance of other officers, the man was taken into custody and, on his way to the county jail, he purposefully urinated inside the police cruiser, according to the release. He was charged with operating under the influence and eluding an officer, among other charges. He also had an existing warrant for a previous criminal charge, according to officials. The East Millinocket Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. The investigation remains open and additional charges are possible, according to officials. East Millinocket PD wants to remind citizens that ATV access trails in town are to be used to access ATV trails and town streets are not to be used for ATV joy riding, going to the store and visiting friends, officials said on Facebook. East Millinocket is in northeast Maine, about 130 miles from Augusta. Chicago to pay $15M over womans death in police chase crash Story continues Officer convicted of manslaughter in Black motorists death Bay Area company horrified buses it sold are being used to transport migrants across US Doctor admits to fraud involving more than 2,000 patients Iowa Republicans are calling on Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken to release a former staffer from a nondisclosure agreement that could preclude her from talking about her accusation that he kissed her without permission. Kimberley Strope-Boggus, the former campaign staffer, reported the incident to the Des Moines Police Department, which classified it as potential misdemeanor assault. The case was closed as "unfounded," and no charges were filed. In the police report, investigating Officer Abby Giampolo wrote that after discussing the case with Assistant Polk County Attorney Meggan Guns, "it was determined that there was insufficient information and evidence to pursue a criminal investigation." Franken denied the allegations Monday, telling the Des Moines Register, "It didn't happen." More: Former staffer accused Democrat Mike Franken of assault; police closed case as 'unfounded' In the police report, Strope-Boggus said she signed a separation agreement with the Franken campaign that included a nondisparagement clause. Republicans said Tuesday that Franken should release her from that part of her contract so she could speak freely about the alleged incident if she chooses. Wednesday afternoon, Julie Stauch, Franken's campaign manager, issued a statement after this story was published saying, No agreement exists that prevents any employee of our campaign past or present from speaking out on this issue. These accusations are false and deceitful insinuations from political opponents." Reached by the Des Moines Register Wednesday, Strope-Boggus said she is seeking legal counsel before commenting. Why Iowa GOP says Mike Franken should release staffer from NDA clause Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken has denied a former staffer's accusation that he kissed her without permission. "It didn't happen." "(Nondisclosure agreements) are used to keep victims silent," Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann said. "While he is free to call the victim a liar he has a First Amendment right to do that he's forcing her into silence." Story continues Franken is running against Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, whose campaign pointed to legislation that Grassley cosponsored last week in the Senate Judiciary Committee called the Speak Out Act. If approved, the law would ensure victims of workplace sexual assault or harassment could discuss their experiences even if they've previously signed a nondisclosure agreement. From August: Mike Franken launches first general election TV ad in race against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley "If the allegations are false, as Mike Franken claims, then there is no reason to prevent his staff from speaking freely so Iowans can determine for themselves what is credible," Grassley's campaign communications director, Michaela Sundermann, said in a statement. What Mike Franken's campaign says about GOP comments Stauch, Franken's campaign manager, pointed to comments Grassley made Tuesday morning. He told radio reporters that the allegation is "not a campaign issue that I'm going to follow up on." "This morning Chuck Grassley said on the record that this is not a campaign issue,'" Stauch told the Des Moines Register. "Maybe Grassley staff need to follow up with Chuck before they continue to push allegations that both the Des Moines Police Department and the Polk County Attorneys office determined to be unfounded. What other Democrats are saying about the accusation As Republicans have piled on, Democrats have remained largely silent. Democratic State Sen. Liz Mathis, who is running in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, released a statement Monday reaffirming her "victim-focused and zero-tolerance stance against all forms of sexual harassment." "Although it is my understanding investigators found that no criminal act occurred and the case was closed after being deemed unfounded by police, it is an important reminder that workplaces and law enforcement should encourage women to feel comfortable coming forward with any allegations of inappropriate conduct," she said in the statement. More: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken calls for 'country over party' during Soapbox speech Other top-of-the-ticket candidates, including 3rd District U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne and gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear, have not commented. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa GOP pushes Democrat Mike Franken to release accuser from NDA Iranian dissidents and ex-prisoners including a Western academic on Tuesday announced the filing of a civil suit in New York against Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as he attended the UN General Assembly. The Islamic republic's hardline president is the target of the complaint for his role as a judge in the 1980s when thousands of people were sentenced to death in the country, according to the advocacy group National Union for Democracy in Iran. The suit had yet to be made public Tuesday evening by a US federal court in Manhattan. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian-British academic imprisoned in Iran from September 2018 to November 2020 for espionage, appeared by video at a New York press conference and painted a harrowing picture of her ordeal behind bars, including a year of solitary confinement. "I was subjected to a range of different psychological and physical tortures and was routinely subjected to cruel and degrading and humiliating mistreatment," Moore-Gilbert said. The litigation "is a step towards justice and an attempt to help victims regain their dignity," former prisoner Navid Mohebbi told reporters. "I have seen the very worst of what this regime and Raisi have done to my compatriots," Mohebbi added. The civil suit invokes US legislation protecting victims of torture. NUFDI political director Cameron Khansarinia said "the plaintiffs in this case, Iranian dissidents, former Iranian hostages, former Western hostages, are coming together in an unprecedented fashion to take a step forward for justice." He said that the dissidents and former prisoners were "echoing the cries we hear today on the streets of Iran," a reference to a deadly crackdown against protests that erupted after the death of young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini after she was arrested by morality police who enforce restrictions on women's dress. The complaint is not the first against Raisi on American soil. In August in New York a civil lawsuit filed by a separate exile group challenged US authorities to take action against Raisi ahead of his UN appearance. Story continues According to that filing, Raisi in 1988 was a member of the so-called "death commission," four judges who directly ordered thousands of executions as well as torture of members of the armed opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, known as the MEK. Raisi, elected in August 2021, is due to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. Earlier Tuesday he met in New York with French President Emmanuel Macron, who said he discussed Tehran's nuclear program and "respect for women's rights" after the demonstrations in several Iranian cities. aml-nr/mlm/sct/dw DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iranians experienced a near-total internet blackout on Wednesday amid days of mass protests against the government over the death of a woman held by the country's morality police for allegedly violating its strictly-enforced dress code. An Iranian official had earlier hinted that such measures might be taken out of security concerns. The loss of connectivity will make it more difficult for people to organize protests and share information about the government's rolling crackdown on dissent. Iran has seen nationwide protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained for allegedly wearing the mandatory Islamic headscarf too loosely. Demonstrators have clashed with police and called for the downfall of the Islamic Republic itself, even as Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday. The protests continued for a fifth day on Wednesday, including in the capital, Tehran. Police there fired tear gas at protesters who chanted death to the dictator, and I will kill the one who killed my sister," according to the semiofficial Fars news agency. London-based rights group Amnesty International said security forces have used batons, birdshot, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse protesters. It reported eight deaths linked to the unrest, including four people killed by security forces. It said hundreds more have been wounded. Iranian officials have reported three deaths, blaming them on unnamed armed groups. Witnesses in Iran, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said late Wednesday they could no longer access the internet using mobile devices. Were seeing internet service, including mobile data, being blocked in Iran in the past couple of hours, Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, Inc., a network intelligence company, said late Wednesday. This is likely an action by the government given the current situation in the country," he said. I can confirm a near total collapse of internet connectivity for mobile providers in Iran. Story continues NetBlocks, a London-based group that monitors internet access, had earlier reported widespread disruptions to both Instagram and WhatsApp. Facebook parent company Meta, which owns both platforms, said it was aware that Iranians were being denied access to internet services. We hope their right to be online will be reinstated quickly, it said in a statement. Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Telecommunications Minister Isa Zarepour was quoted by state media as saying that certain restrictions might be imposed due to security issues," without elaborating. Iran already blocks Facebook, Telegram, Twitter and YouTube, even though top Iranian officials use public accounts on such platforms. Many Iranians get around the bans using virtual private networks, known as VPNs, and proxies. In a separate development, several official websites, including those for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the presidency and the Central Bank, were taken down at least briefly as hackers claimed to have launched a cyberattack on state agencies. Hackers linked to the shadowy Anonymous movement said they targeted other Iranian state agencies, including state TV. Central Bank spokesman Mostafa Qamarivafa denied that the bank itself was hacked, saying only that the website was inaccessible because of an attack on a server that hosts it, in remarks carried by the official IRNA news agency. The website was later restored. Iran has been the target of several cyberattacks in recent years, many by hackers expressing criticism of its theocracy. Last year, a cyberattack crippled gas stations across the country, creating long lines of angry motorists unable to get subsidized fuel for days. Messages accompanying the attack appeared to refer to the supreme leader. Amini's death has sparked protests across the country. The police say she died of a heart attack and was not mistreated, but her family has cast doubt on that account, saying she had no previous heart issues and that they were prevented from seeing her body. In a phone interview with BBC Persian on Wednesday her father, Amjad Amini, accused authorities of lying about her death. Each time he was asked how he thinks she died, the line was mysteriously cut. The U.N. human rights office says the morality police have stepped up operations in recent months and resorted to more violent methods, including slapping women, beating them with batons and shoving them into police vehicles. President Joe Biden, who also spoke at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, voiced support for the protesters, saying "we stand with the brave citizens and the brave women of Iran, who right now are demonstrating to secure their basic rights. The U.K. also released a statement Wednesday calling for an investigation into Amini's death and for Iran to respect the right to peaceful assembly. Raisi has called for an investigation into Aminis death. Iranian officials have blamed the protests on unnamed foreign countries that they say are trying to foment unrest. Iran has grappled with waves of protests in recent years, mainly over a long-running economic crisis exacerbated by Western sanctions linked to its nuclear program. The Biden administration and European allies have been working to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear accord, in which Iran curbed its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but the talks have been deadlocked for months. In his speech at the U.N., Raisi said Iran is committed to reviving the nuclear agreement but questioned whether it could trust Americas commitment to any accord. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. It began ramping up its nuclear activities after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 agreement, and experts say it now likely has enough highly-enriched uranium to make a bomb if it chooses to do so. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly while holding a photo of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020 (AFP via Getty Images) Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday slammed former president Donald Trumps authorisation of the January 2020 drone strike which killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Guard Corps General Qasem Soleimani as a crime for which the ex-president must face justice. Speaking at the 2022 United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Raisi described the late military leader as a freedom seeking man who became a martyr at Mr Trumps hands. Though he avoided using the twice-impeached ex-presidents name, the Iranian leader said the previous president of the United States of America had effectively managed to sign the document of what he described as a savage crime, and illegal crime and immoral crime. The proper pursuit of justice in the face of a crime that the American president admitted to have put his signature on will not be abandoned. We will pursue through a fair tribunal, to bring to justice those who martyred our beloved general Qassem Soleimani, Mr Raisi added. In remarks delivered the morning after the strike against Soleimani, Mr Trump said the Iranian general had been caught in the act and terminated while plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel in Iraq. He also blamed him for the deaths of American servicemen from rocket attacks in Baghdad. Iranian forces later responded with ballistic missile attacks against US positions in the region that did not kill any US soldiers. A series of tit-for-tat attacks and threats would continue for five days after the death Soleimani until Mr Trump backed off threats to escalate, citing Irans apparent standing down following the missile strikes. Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks to the crowd as she presents her anticipated memoir "Becoming" during her book tour stop in Washington, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Michelle Obama plans a six-city tour this fall in support of her new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, beginning mid-November in Washington. D.C. and ending a month later in Los Angeles. Im looking forward to making some new connections and of course, seeing some familiar faces from the last tour, the former first lady said in a joint statement Wednesday released through her publisher, Crown, and tour promoter Live Nation. Advertisement This book means so much to me its a collection of perspectives and practices Ive used to keep me afloat amid uncertainty. On this tour, Ill be sharing some personal stories and lessons that have helped me along my path, and I cant wait to tell you more. Obama will open at the Warner Theatre in Washington on Nov. 15, the publication date for her book. She will then travel to Philadelphias The Met, Atlantas Fox Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and San Franciscos Masonic, before closing at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. Advertisement The venues have seating capacities ranging roughly from 2,000-6,500. The settings are far bigger than for most book events, but smaller than Obamas stops on the first leg of her tour for the 2018 memoir Becoming, when she appeared at the United Center in Chicago and other arenas holding 15,000 or more. Becoming was a near-instant million seller and went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide, making it the most popular book in modern times written by a former White House resident. As with Becoming, Obama will speak at each city with guest moderators, to be announced later. Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross and Sarah Jessica Parker were among those who joined her for Becoming. In partnership with Live Nation, Obama will also set aside tickets at each venue for a select number of community members. Iranian women have been using TikTok as platform to protest the death of Mahsa Amini last week, by posting videos of themselves shaving their heads, cutting their hair and burning hijabs. It comes as the 22-year-old womans death sparked a wave of protests across the country, following her death after being detained by Irans so-called morality police. Amini was in Tehran with her family when she was arrested for wearing an improper hijab. She was allegedly beaten and died on Friday (16 September), three days after being detained. Tehrans police chief Hossein Rahimi has denied the allegations and said claims that Amini was mistreated in any way are completely false. According to local reports, police said she suffered a heart attack, but her family has insisted she had no health problems and alleged she was assaulted while in custody of the morality police. The public anger that erupted over her death has seen an outbreak of political unrest in Iran, with protests reported in Tehran, Qazvin, Arak, Mashhad, and several other cities. Women who are unable to take part in the protests have turned to TikTok to express their outrage at Aminis death, with the hashtag #mahsaamini receiving more than 66m views at the time of writing. A number of videos show Iranian women cutting their hair or the bottom of their hijabs in solidarity with Amini, who was punished under the Islamic republics strict dress code that demands women wear headscarves in public. One TikToker who posted a video of herself snipping her hijab wrote in the caption: I cannot show the video of me cutting my hair out of [sic] religious reasons so as a symbol of solidarity I made a video cutting my scarf as well in order to spread the message. Story continues Another woman, who cuts her long hair in her video, wrote: Say her name, bring her justice, Mahsa Amini. Others have taken their hair protest a step further by shaving their heads entirely. Some men have also joined in on the protest and shaved their hair off in solidarity with Iranian women. Since the protests began, five people have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. In the city of Saqez in the Kurdish region, two people died after authorities opened fire on protesters. A further two people died in Divandarreh city, while a fifth was killed in Dehgolan. The head of the morality police was reportedly suspended following the deaths. Aminis death has been condemned by other countries including France and the US. A spokesperson from the European Unions foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described it as a killing. Human rights organisation Amnesty International responded to the incident: The circumstances leading to the suspicious death in custody of 22-year-old young woman Mahsa Amini, which include allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in custody, must be criminally investigated. The so-called morality police in Tehran arbitrarily arrested her three days before her death while enforcing the countrys abusive, degrading and discriminatory forced veiling laws. All agents and officials responsible must face justice. Isabella Rossellini has no regrets when it comes to her decision not to have plastic surgery in her 40s and 50s. In a recent interview with Vulture, the Death Becomes Her actress revealed that she has never gone under the knife for cosmetic procedures. I feel ambivalent. I havent done any plastic surgery," she said, admitting that she did consider it in the past but always backed out. Some day I woke up and said, We have all these new technologies in surgery. Why dont I take advantage of it? Im going to call a plastic surgeon, Then when I started to call a plastic surgeon, I ran out of courage, she said. Her decision was based on a fear of succumbing to the patriarchal precedents. Most of the time, I have to say, Im thinking, Is this based on misogyny? she asked. Now, Rossellini simply feels she has outgrown the need or desire for plastic surgery. Im too old. Im not going to do plastic surgery at 70; my skin will not sustain it. But in the years before around 45 or 50 I didnt do it. Now I look back and say, Maybe I was right, I think it is misogyny, she said. Despite her personal stance on having work done, Rossellini is not opposed to the concept of plastic surgery it's just for other people. I had a friend, for example, who always hated her nose. Luckily, she fell and broke her nose. She said, I took advantage of it! So that I understand, she said. Currently, Rossellini runs Mama Farm in Brookhaven, New York, and finds that filler and other procedures simply dont align with the genesis of her life at the moment. I always say, jokingly, because I run an organic farm and try to eat healthy, that I cant reconcile eating organically and having Botox. How do you reconcile the two? she says. Beyond her penchant for healthy living, Rossellini enjoys serving as a representation for older women opting out of going under the knife for the illusion of youth. Story continues Meanwhile, I became old and Im working with Lancome. They hired me back, and a lot of people send emails and comments saying they feel represented by me. The photos are all about cosmetics and looking your best, and theyre very appreciative that there is a 70-year-old woman doing it and not even attempting to look like what Im not. I think I was right not to do it, she said. And despite working in a notoriously vain industry, Rossellini has had no issue staying booked and busy without the help of cosmetic enhancements. I have many friends and relatives who have done plastic surgery, and Im not against it. Also, I can gladly announce that even though I havent done it, I am still working all the time. The fear is that maybe if I dont do plastic surgery, Ill work less. But it hasnt happened to me. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday for the first face-to-face talks between leaders of the U.S.-allied nations since 2008, Lapid's office said. Israel-Turkey relations, long-frosty amid feuding over the Palestinian cause, have warmed in recent months, with energy emerging of as a key area of cooperation. They are expected to exchange new ambassadors soon. As well as discussing energy, Lapid thanked Erdogan for the countries' intelligence sharing and noted Israel's demand for the return of four of its citizens - two of them soldiers - missing in the Gaza Strip since a 2014 war, Lapid's office said. NATO-member Turkey has been hosting members of Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist movement that rules Gaza and which much of the West designates as a terrorist group. That relationship has often been a sticking point in bids to rebuild Israel ties. Ankara, for its part, was outraged by the 2010 killing of 10 Turkish activists in brawls that erupted when Israeli marines stormed a ship trying to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Michael Perry) By Matteo Berlenga PREDAIA, Italy (Reuters) - Apple farmers in the north of Italy are using natural refrigerators carved under a hillside to store their harvest in a controlled environment that remains at a constant temperature in all seasons. Three hundred metres beneath their fruit orchards in Predaia, a small town in the Trentino region, the Melinda group has created 34 refrigeration areas in vast caves, where they are able to keep 12-13% of their produce and cut their energy costs. Inside the refrigerated areas of the caves, the apples are stored in stacked up plastic boxes and moved around by workers in safety helmets operating fork-lift trucks. "On an environmental impact level, we have seen more advantages and returns," said Mauro Erlicher, manager of the underground plant. "One of them is definitely in terms of energy levels, because from a test done last year...we measured a 32% saving of electricity in the cave." The caves currently store around 30,000 tonnes of apples, a figure expected to increase to 40,000 tonnes in the near future. Erlicher explained how large refrigeration storage chambers above ground use a sandwich panel insulated with polyurethane and sheets of metal to keep the inside cool. In the underground caves, the rocks act as the "sandwich panel", so it is "as natural as possible" Before the caves can be used, the rocks are cooled with a gas to a depth of 5-7 metres (16.5-23 feet) which means they then maintain a constant temperature of 1 degree Celsius (34 Fahrenheit). As summer comes to an end above ground, the harvest has begun and farmers are at work picking apples from orchards, which will continue for 30-40 days. One of the farmers, Loris Calliari, said they were sceptical when they first heard of the cave idea, but were quickly won over by the results. "We were hesitant at first, then we realised that it works, because there is a good saving of energy, and it is very sustainable. We hope to be able to keep going with our project." (Writing by Emily Roe; Editing by Keith Weir and Mark Heinrich) The search for the next James Bond is officially on. So say famous Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Its still early days, the pair told Variety in a recent interview about the goliath casting. Daniel Craig played the worlds most famous spy for 15 years and the producers understand that its a weighty commitment for any actor. Idris Elba, a longtime candidate to become the first Black 007, recently stated that the job isnt a goal for my career. Hes great, Wilson said. We love Idris, Broccoli added. Idris Elba (Getty Images for BET) The thing is, its going to be a couple of years off, she noted. And when we cast Bond, its a 10-12-year commitment. So hes probably thinking, Do I really want that thing? Not everybody wants to do that. It was hard enough getting [Daniel Craig to do it]. Wilson added: And he was in his early 30s at the time! Speaking about the commitment required to shoulder the weight of the franchise across many years, Broccoli said: A lot of people think, Oh yeah, itd be fun to do one. Well. That aint gonna work. She quoted former 007 actor Pierce Brosnan, who once said: More people have walked on the moon than have played James Bond. Tom Hardy (Getty Images) According to Ladbrokes, British Superman star Henry Cavill is the bookies favourite to don the tuxedo at 2/1. Ex-Bridgerton actor Rege-Jean Page is next at 7/2 followed by Idris Elba at 4/1 (despite his denials) and Tom Hardy at 5/1. Page has the backing of famed Marvel directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who recently directed the actor in Netflixs The Gray Man. The brothers recently told Radio Times: Hes fantastic. I mean, he has more charisma in his pinky than most people do in their entire body. For a breakdown of the most likely candidates to be the next Bond, click here. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed disappointment Tuesday over the failure of the United Nations Security Council to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine because of Russias right of veto, calling for reforms that would allow the U.N. to better defend global peace and order. The United Nations used to play a central role in maintaining world peace, but the foundation of the international order is violently shaken right now, Kishida said in a speech at the U.N.'s annual assembly of world leaders. Russias invasion of Ukraine tramples the philosophy and principles of the U.N. Charter and the notion that all nations should follow the rule of law, he said. Russia is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, and has rejected criticism of its actions in Ukraine. We must face the reality that the integrity of the United Nations is at risk because of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which is a U.N. Security Council member, Kishida said. Reforms have been discussed for nearly 30 years, he said. What we need is action toward reforms, not just talk. Japan has long sought to reform the U.N. Security Council, saying it was designed by the victors of World War II and does not reflect the reality of international society. Japan has promoted a reform plan with Germany, India and Brazil as the Group of Four since 2004. Achieving changes, however, would require a hard-to-pull-off U.N. Charter change. Kishida said Japan is committed to providing greater support for the United Nations to help it play a greater role in keeping global peace and security. Japan is to serve as one of the non-permanent members of the Security Council beginning in January. Kishida pledged that Japan will sincerely listen to the small voices, not only the big voices, in order to strengthen the rule of law in international society. Kishida, who is from Hiroshima, the first city to be attacked by an atomic weapon, said he is committed to creating a world without nuclear weapons. He expressed disappointment over the failure of negotiators last month to reach an agreement on the U.N.'s Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty considered the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament because of Russias rejection. Kishida said he has not given up hope. He said he is also open to holding talks without preconditions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on that countrys nuclear weapons ambitions as well as the abduction of Japanese citizens to the North. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday renewed his offer to meet North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong Un, as tensions simmer over Pyongyang's nuclear program. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Kishida said that Japan still stood by diplomacy set out two decades ago by former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi on his historic visit to Pyongyang. "Japan is prepared to engage in dialogue on matters of mutual concern," Kishida said. "I am determined to meet with Chairman Kim Jong Un without any conditions and will miss no opportunity to take actions with all my dedication," he said. Kim met three times with former US president Donald Trump, easing tensions but reaching no permanent solution on its nuclear program. Japan is a close ally of the United States but some in Tokyo were privately uneasy with the outreach to North Korea, an arch-enemy that abducted Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies. North Korea recently passed a law declaring its readiness to launch preventive nuclear strikes, raising concerns that the impoverished state may soon resume tests. US President Joe Biden's administration has voiced a readiness for working-level diplomacy with North Korea but has found little interest in return. sct/des TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government is considering allowing hotels to refuse entry to guests who do not wear masks and follow other measures to control infection during an outbreak, Fuji News Network said on Wednesday. The government will submit a bill at an extraordinary session of parliament next month that would revise the law governing hotels and inns, allowing them more power to enforce infection measures, the network said. The move would come at a time when Japan is expected to further ease its COVID-19 border controls, waiving visa requirements for certain tourists and removing a limit on daily arrivals. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is scheduled to debate border easing measures on Thursday. Japanese Prime Minister, who departed on Tuesday for the United Nations General Assembly Meeting, may announce the border easing during a speech at the New York Stock Exchange, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. Currently, the wearing of masks is not compulsory in Japan but is strongly recommended indoors and on public transport. (Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Jeremy Vine has spoken to BBCs Newsnight about his stalking ordeal (Lauren Hurley/PA) (PA Archive) Jeremy Vine has accused YouTube and Twitter of failure to act and said his jailed stalker has already released a video promising to return online. Former BBC local radio presenter Alex Belfield, 42, was jailed for five years and 26 weeks last Friday after being found guilty of waging a campaign against a number of figures from the broadcasting world. Jurors accepted he caused serious alarm or distress to two victims and found him guilty of simple stalking in relation to Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Mr Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany. Asked about the response of the social media companies, Mr Vine told BBC Twos Newsnight: I am amazed at how hard it is to get them to realise. So we went to YouTube and said: Come on, what is going on with his guy? You cant allow him to just defame. And then we said: OK, there is a libel action now based on that video, that video, that video they still wont take them down. Eventually I have to go through a lawyer, they take down individual videos, and then when he is convicted they demonetise him. But half the videos about me are still up there. His technique was to say copy and share so you will have someone who takes his video in Moscow and hosts it. It will always be out there, I have got to live with that. But the fact that YouTube hosts this stuff, they have no responsibility. They dont care. They dont give a toss. Sorry for my language but I am disgusted by their lack of values. Story continues And Twitter as well. He is in prison and he has still got a Twitter account. What the hell is that about? I dont understand it. Former BBC local radio DJ Alex Belfield (Jacob King/PA) (PA Wire) Mr Vine said both the victims and their friends had flagged Belfields content in a way that was both continuous and constant and one person even went to YouTubes headquarters to ask its reception if anything could be done. Its not a mystery to them which are the problem accounts and they just need to take them down, he said. He added that Belfield had put out a video saying he is going to be right back up and running. Twitter declined to comment, and YouTube has also been contacted for comment. Jurors convicted Belfield of four charges committed between 2012 and 2021. During sentencing, Mr Justice Saini told him: Your offences are so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified. Belfield, who has 357,000 followers on his YouTube channel, The Voice Of Reason, and 43,000 on Twitter, directed his attacks via social media in highly negative and often abusive terms, the judge said. As well as jailing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini issued indefinite restraining orders banning him from contacting his victims. In 2008, Democrat Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman defended then-candidate Barack Obamas comments calling small-town Pennsylvanians "bitter." While running for president, Obama made his infamous comments about Pennsylvanians from small towns being "bitter" while clinging to "guns or religion or antipathy to people who arent like them" as reasons behind their frustrations. "You go to these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothings replaced them," Obama said. FETTERMAN CAMPAIGN WALKS BACK APPARENT CALL TO FREE EVERY CONVICTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDERER Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania and Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman defended then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's comments calling small-town Pennsylvanians "bitter." DUSTIN FRANZ/AFP via Getty Images "And its not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who arent like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations," the then-presidential candidate continued. Fetterman who was the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, at the time defended Obamas remarks in the press as the now-former president was engaged in his contentious primary election against then-New York Senator Hillary Clinton. "It is not patronizing, it is not condescending, it is not elitism," Fetterman said to local press . "We need hope and we need a plan and we need someone who is not part of the system in Washington." Fetterman also told local media that small-town Americans were mad and frustrated, saying everyone "acknowledges Mr. Obama may have slipped in different words if he could do it over again, but its not patronizing, its not condescending, its not elitism." Fettermans campaign did not respond to Fox News Digitals questions on whether he stood by his defense of Obamas remarks and if he believes that defense resonates with Pennsylvanians living in small communities. Instead, a campaign spokesperson said, "Seriously, this is all youve got left? The scandalous news that, 14 years ago, John supported the candidate who won Pennsylvania by 10 points?" Story continues "Remind me, what was Oz doing in PA in 2008? Oh right, he was living in New Jersey," the spokesperson added. Then-president candidate Barack Obama came under fire in 2008 after calling small-town Pennsylvanians "bitter." Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images The Pennsylvania Democrats campaign has been sailing through rough waters recently, with the candidate enduring a stroke and his team walking back a statement from last year appearing to call to "free" every convicted second-degree murderer in the Keystone State. The campaign said Fetterman does not support releasing all prisoners serving life without parole for second-degree murder and that he believes there are individuals convicted of life without parole who deserve to remain in prison. In response to a follow-up inquiry, the Fetterman campaign said his 2021 remarks at the PLSE conference "are being taken out of context," and that it is not clear, based on Fetterman's phrasing at the time, that he was talking about freeing people from prison. Fetterman is running against Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz for the open Senate seat. Shauna Clarke, left, talks with concertgoers Ashley Salatino and Lukas Pasten at the Grassroots booth at The Salt Shed on Aug. 25, 2022. Curaleaf, which sells cannabis products, has entered into a multi-year partnership with The Salt Shed, where it will have a permanent on-site kiosk. Concert attendees can receive cannabis education and pre-order Grassroots products for pick-up at Curaleaf dispensaries. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) The smell of pot smoke frequently pervades concerts, but cannabis presence is a bit more tangible at shows at the Salt Shed. One of the first things attendees at the new music venues summer shows encounter is a kiosk from Curaleafs Grassroots where they can learn about the brand, grab free rolling papers and tote bags, and preorder products to pick up less than a mile away at Curaleafs Weed Street dispensary. Were really excited about a lot of whats going on in the music scene in Chicago and a lot of our consumers that visit us at our dispensaries and buy our products are the same people that are attending these festivals and shows, so those are places that we want to be, Curaleaf CEO Matt Darin said. Advertisement The green tent decorated with palms, ferns and lounge chairs piqued the interest of plenty of attendees at an August show from indie rock band Mt. Joy. While they were happy to pick up some swag, all of the visitors the Tribune spoke to said theyd like to be able to actually purchase cannabis products to consume at the show. People stop by the Grassroots booth at The Salt Shed during a concert on Aug. 25, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) People are going to bring it in anyway, said Maddy Dobnar. Its just like alcohol, but I think its safer. Advertisement If the option was there, Id rather smoke than drink, especially at a Monday night concert, added West Loop resident Jessica Grahek, 30. Grassroots has a multiyear partnership with the Salt Shed and wants to see the citys cannabis regulations change so it can fulfill those desires. Cannabis consumption is currently banned in public places in Illinois, though the Local Cannabis Licensing Act proposed to the Illinois General Assembly last year could allow counties and municipalities to issue special licenses for events. The notion that theyre not legally allowed to consume cannabis at some of these shows when theyre freely consuming alcohol is really not consistent with where our culture is at and what people want, Darin said. Ultimately, we are hopeful that some of these rules are going to change to allow for this to take place legally and professionally in settings that are appropriate. You can now drink a cannabis beverage that gives you the experience of drinking at a concert, yet is not going to give you a hangover the next morning to go to work. Recreational cannabis consumption became legal in January 2020 and as concerts and festivals have returned to pre-pandemic operations, more brands are looking to tap into the connection between marijuana and music. Chicagos Green Thumb Industries sent brand ambassadors to the Sacred Rose festival in Bridgeview in August to offer attendees wearing 21+ wristbands hats and other swag, and to provide suggestions on what strains and cultivations from its Rythm brand might be best for their needs. Joint cases are organized at the Grassroots booth at The Salt Shed on Aug. 25, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) We love music and we love weed, in no particular order, said Ryan Marek, Green Thumbs senior vice president of marketing. We thought this was a great opportunity for us to help bring the brand to life and really showcase what it stands for among a culture that generally has an appreciation for our product. Green Thumb also operates the RISE cannabis dispensary and consumption lounge in Mundelein, where it hosted DJ sets and ticket giveaways ahead of the festival. Marek said hed love to be able to sell products at future events. You have people who are openly consuming [cannabis] whether its allowed or not, he said. People are smuggling it in their socks, their bras, their pockets, you name it. You can sell beer and liquor on site. One day wed like to see the same thing happen with cannabis. Quirks in regulation mean similar products are already for sale at music events. The 2018 U.S. farm bill classified products with less than .3% THC as hemp and ruled they were no longer a controlled substance. The North Coast Music Festival in Bridgeview in September featured a large space set aside for brand activations where Corona sold beer, Monaco offered cocktails, and Lifted Mades Urb doled out hemp-based joints and psychedelic gummies made from mushrooms and kava. At Urbs space, 21+ festival attendees could lounge and smoke, fill out surveys to get swag, and chat with budtenders in an air-conditioned trailer. Advertisement Its great to be able to bring quality products into these environments where a lot of people try to bring in cannabis products off the streets, said Lifted Made founder and CEO Nick Warrender. I dont think it could have gone any better. We sold a ton of product. Warrender wasnt concerned by the idea that other cannabis brands offering products with more THC might eventually be able to sell at festivals. These products are different in nature with different effects, he said. There are people who want lighter options so they can still be fully functional. Were offering the market more options. Both the Rythm and Urb activations were arranged by Chicago-based marketing agency Groundswell Experiential. While they were the first cannabis partnerships for their respective festivals, Groundswell Executive Vice President Joe Lucchese said he expects theyre just the start. I think in the next two years theres going to be a lot more traditional cannabis brands activating at large events, he said. I think youll see a larger increase if festivals and large events are able to have designated areas for sales, but I think its important for those brands to just get out there. People stop by the Grassroots booth at The Salt Shed on Aug. 25, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) North Coast founding partner Pat Grumley said he expects the presence of cannabis at festivals will slowly increase. Advertisement The interest from our fans is there, he said. We like to be a progressive festival and celebrate our differences and that can be extended to however people want to treat their own body. As long as its safe, doesnt affect other people and it is lawful, were definitely open to it. The Salt Sheds summer series wraps up on Sept. 24 with a sold-out Death Cab for Cutie show, but Grassroots expects to continue to grow its presence once the venues indoor space is complete. The brand also sponsored the Labor Day weekend Out of Space concert in Evanston and is looking into future collaborations with Chicago festivals. Thats just scratching the surface of what were ultimately going to be able to do, Darin said. Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Associated Press The Trump-Pence sign still hangs on the older building off Main Street in this historic town, a lasting vestige of the campaign fervor that roused voters, including many who still believe the falsehood that the former president didnt lose in 2020 and hope he'll run in 2024. The enthusiasm for Donald Trumps unique brand of nationalist populism has cut into traditional Democratic strongholds like Monongahela, about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh, where brick storefronts and a Slovak fellowship hall dot Main Street and church bells mark the hours of the day. Republicans are counting on political nostalgia for the Trump era as they battle Democrats this fall in Pennsylvania in races for governor, the U.S. Senate and control of Congress. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by BuzzFeed News and the outlets investigative reporter Jason Leopold, who sought documents from U.S. Capitol Police related to the directives given on Jan. 6, 2021. In summary judgement dated Tuesday, D.C. District Judge Beryl A. Howell concluded that BuzzFeed and Leopold have no right to demand disclosure of the documents requested, including Office of the Inspector General reports, semiannual disbursement reports and written directives on the day of the Capitol riot. BuzzFeed had originally requested documents from the Capitol Police following the Jan. 6 insurrection, and a representative for the force denied the request. BuzzFeed and Leopold filed a petition to the D.C. federal court asking for an order that would require Capitol Police to release the documents. The plaintiffs argued that though the Capitol Police is a legislative agency, and is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, its documents should be released to the public. The Capitol Police however, maintained that the documents requested were law enforcement sensitive and, if made public, would reveal confidential sources and methods, investigative activities and techniques, according to Howells decision. The Capitol Police also argued that because officers were sued in their official capacity under a legislative agency, the documents are protected under the federal governments sovereign immunity, meaning the force could not be sued without the consent of Congress. Howell ruled that the Capitol Police had no duty to disclose the requested documents and that no exception should be made to the agencys sovereign immunity. This case is therefore dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, Howell concluded. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NEW YORK (AP) Aaron Judge sent a sinker soaring into the left-field bleachers, another of his no-doubt drives, and circled the bases for the 60th time. Modest throughout a march into history that now has him level with Babe Ruth, Judge then took a moment far more rare than one of his long balls a curtain call. I really didn't want to do it, especially, we're losing, it's a solo shot, he said, recalling how his leadoff homer in the ninth inning only cut the Yankees' deficit to three runs. Eleven minutes later, Judge and the Yankees felt free to let loose. Giancarlo Stanton followed Judge's drive with a game-ending grand slam, completing New York's stunning five-run, ninth-inning rally to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8 on Tuesday night. I kind of lost my mind," said Judge, one homer shy of matching Roger Maris' American League season record. "That's a signature Giancarlo Stanton 10-foot(-high) laser to the outfield. I had a good front-row seat for that one. I think the whole team lost its mind and the stadium erupted. Judge homered on a 3-1 pitch from Wil Crowe (5-10) to match Ruth's total from 1927, which stood as the big league record until Maris broke it 34 years later. Judge got to 60 in Game 147 no debate on the length of the season, like what surrounded Maris' pursuit to the point his hair fell out. Judge is on pace for the AL's first Triple Crown in a decade, leading in home runs, RBIs (128) and batting average (.316). No one else in the majors has more than 40 homers. To be that far ahead of the field, Yankees manager Aaron Boone marveled, it's hard for me to grip. Judge dropped his bat near the plate he never flips and when he finished his trot after his 430-foot drive, he exchanged a high-five with Anthony Rizzo, a hug with Gleyber Torres and slaps with Josh Donaldson. Judge walked up and down the dugout to receive congratulations and then emerged from the dugout steps and ever so briefly tipped his helmet to fans. Story continues I kind of joked around with Matt Carpenter earlier in the year, I think he had two homers in a game or something like that and he got a curtain call," Judge said. "Man, I've been here six years and Ive only got one curtain call. So I guess it takes hitting 60 to get another one. Rizzo doubled, Torres walked and Donaldson singled to load the bases. Stanton, mired in a 9-for-72 slump, sent a changeup half a dozen rows into the left-field seats, capping a 19-pitch sequence that will long be replayed and set off a raucous celebration among what remained of the crowd of 40,157. The drive, Stanton's record-tying third game-ending slam, was calculated by MLB at 118 mph. "I think they need to recalculate the 118. That felt more like 130, Boone said. Roger Maris Jr. and Kevin Maris, sons of the former player, were both on hand. Stanton noted Judge's understated manner. He hit 60 tonight, and it's like nothing happened. He's got more work to do, said Stanton, who hit 59 for Miami five years ago. Crowes great-great uncle, Hall of Famer Red Ruffing, was Ruths teammate on the Yankees in the 1930s. Crowe visited Ruffings plaque in Yankee Stadiums Monument Park before the game. He did what he was supposed to do with it, Crowe said of Judge, 3-1 count, Im not going to put him on. I felt like I wanted to go after him. Started away, came back in. He put a good swing on a bad pitch. Aroldis Chapman (3-3) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth as the Yankees maintained a 5 1/2-game AL East lead over Toronto. Bryan Reynolds had tied it 4-4 with a solo seventh-inning homer off Lou Trivino, then hit a go-ahead single off Jonathan Loaisiga in the eighth for his fourth hit. Rodolfo Castro the player suspended for a game by Major League Baseball last month after a smartphone flew out of his pocket during a headfirst slide followed with a three-run homer against Clay Holmes. Harrison Bader had a pair of go-ahead singles and drove in three runs in his debut for the Yankees. Once Judge hits No. 61, the only ones with more in a season will have been Barry Bonds (73), Mark McGwire (70 and 65) and Sammy Sosa (66, 64, 63), accomplishments all from 1998-2001 stained by the Steroids Era. Judge's accomplishment is without taint. I think it puts it a notch above, Boone said. I got to believe its right there with some of the best very short list of all-time seasons. SLAMMING Donaldson hit a game-ending slam that beat Tampa Bay 8-7 in 10 innings on Aug. 17. The Yankees joined the 1956 Pittsburgh Pirates (Danny Kravitz and Roberto Clemente) as the only teams to hit multiple walk-off slams when trailing by three runs. Clemente's was inside the park. WHOOPS Pittsburgh made two errors and leads the major leagues with 108. FAMILY MATTERS Former Yankees 3B Charlie Hayes, who caught the final out of the 1996 World Series, threw a ceremonial first pitch to his son, Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes. MOVING UP Pittsburgh promoted six players to Triple-A Indianapolis following the end of the season at Double-A Altoona: RHPs Quinn Priester and Colin Selby, 2B-C-OF Endy Rodriguez, INF Aaron Shackelford, 3B Malcom Nunez and OF Matt Gorski. Now we have another 10 days of at-bats we can get them, manager Derek Shelton said. Losing 2020 was so vital for organizations like ours. The more reps we can get them, the better it is. TRAINERS ROOM Yankees: RHP Frankie Montas received a second cortisone injection in his ailing right shoulder and went on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Saturday. ... LHP Zack Britton (Tommy John surgery) pitched a one-hit inning for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his eighth rehab outing. RHP Miguel Castro (strained shoulder) pitched a hitless inning for the RailRiders. UP NEXT New York RHP Luis Severino (5-3, 3.45 ERA) starts Wednesday after recovering from a lat strain that has sidelined him since July 13. RHP Roansy Contreras (5-4, 3.24) pitches for the Pirates. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports A high-profile Beaver County homicide conviction may soon be reconsidered by a new group of jurors. A panel of judges from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh heard evidence Tuesday morning of improper jury influence during the trial of 24-year-old Sheldon Jeter. Last year, Beaver County jurors found Jeter guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting of 30-year-old Tyric Pugh. He was later sentenced to life in prison. Jeter's defense on Tuesday argued that allegations of outside jury influence should have been investigated by the trial court ahead of deliberations. More:Jury finds Sheldon Jeter guilty of murder Jeter was questioned years prior by police in connection with the unrelated 2018 shooting death of teacher Rachael DelTondo. While he had never been named by investigators as a suspect in the well-known case, police records indicate the 33-year-old woman had intimate interactions with Jeter, who was a teenager at the time. Jeter supporters in Aliquippa had raised concerns about the possibility of a fair trial in Beaver County given his connection to the DelTondo case. More on the sentencing:Sheldon Jeter sentenced to life in prison Shortly after Jeter's trial last year, his defense lawyer said one juror responsible for his conviction failed to mention during jury selection that she was DelTondo's next-door neighbor. The juror told the court she was in the process of divorcing a distant cousin of Jeter, who the defense claims is her now ex-husband who suffered PTSD following the DelTondo shooting. Judge Kim Tesla denied a motion for a mistrial, calling the claims "hearsay." Superior Court judges on Tuesday also heard allegations that the juror improperly discussed the trial with her father; the two had "prayed on it" to come to a decision, Jeter's team said. Defense lawyers also pointed to allegations that two courtroom spectators were heard openly discussing the DelTondo case; it's unclear if those conversations were within earshot of the jury. Story continues More:Sheldon Jeter defense: Juror in recent homicide trial was DelTondos neighbor The prosecution and defense both agreed to keep DelTondos name out of the jury selection process at the time in an effort to ensure impartiality. Superior Court judges have not yet made a decision in the appeal. If the court rules in Jeter's favor, the case will head back to Beaver County and an evidentiary hearing will take place to determine if the case should be retried. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Superior Court judges hear evidence for appeal in Sheldon Jeter murder case California Democratic Rep. Katie Porter a former law professor who was paid more than $285,000 one year during her time at the University of California, Irvine earned thousands of dollars in royalty fees from law school textbooks that she required her own students to purchase for the courses she taught. In 2017, Porter, who is now seeking re-election to the House this November, was paid $286,674 to teach two courses per semester at the institution, according to Transparent California. Since her arrival in Washington, Porter has campaigned on making education more affordable for Americans and stated in 2020 that the American political system has "favored the wealthy and well-connected for far too long" as "powerful people live in one reality while the rest of us live in another." For several of the courses she taught, Porter made it a requirement for her students to purchase textbooks she authored and received royalties from, according to documents obtained through a FOIA request to the UC Irvine. REP. KATIE PORTER CLAIMS INFLATION REINFORCES THE NEED FOR ABORTION ON MSNBC Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat from California, speaks during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the need to address the gun violence epidemic in Washington, D.C., US, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Andrew Harnik/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images During the 2017 academic school year, Porter taught a total of four courses, the school records show. During the fall 2017 semester, Porter taught LAW 523, a bankruptcy law course, and LAW 5225, a consumer law course. During the spring 2017 semester, Porter taught LAW 299, a directed research course, and LAW 5901, transition to practice. The seventh edition of "The Law of Debtors and Creditors: Text, Cases, and Problems" a book co-authored by Porter and a few other others, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was required material for Porters Bankruptcy LAW 523 class in fall 2017, according to a syllabus for the course. Another one of her works, "Modern Consumer Law," a book authored by Porter and released in 2016, was required reading material for Porters Consumer Law 5225 class in fall 2017, according to a syllabus for the course. Additionally, the same 2016 book from Porter was required reading material for an online class she taught in summer 2017. She did not, however, require students to purchase the book during that semester, according to the course syllabus. Story continues Porter also taught LAW 523 during the spring semesters of 2015 and 2016 and required her students at the time to purchase the seventh addition of "The Law of Debtors and Creditors," according to her course's syllabus. Throughout other points during her tenure at the university, Porter, who has repeatedly pushed for lower education costs, required her students to utilize her own books for courses she taught. In 2015, Porter taught Law 5225 and required students to use "draft pages from my forthcoming book, Consumer Law," according to the course syllabus. She did not charge her students at the time for the materials required for the course. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., during a press conference on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG Katie Porter earned thousands in royalty fees between 2016 and 2017 from her academic books from Wolters Kluwer, a publishing company with several legal works that were later acquired by Aspen Publishing. KATIE PORTER DEFENDS VOTE ON INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, EXPANSION OF IRS Porter reported earning $7,795 in "publishing royalties" in her financial disclosure for 2018. She also reported receiving $1-$200 in royalties from Stanford University Press for an academic book she authored. In a 2017 financial disclosure, Porter reported earning between $2,501-$5,000 in royalties from her law books. In the same disclosure, Porter also reported earning between $201-$1,000 in royalties from the Stanford University Press for a book she authored. Specific amounts for royalties Porter earned in 2016 were not disclosed in the 2017 filing. A 2020 financial disclosure that was filed by Porter in 2021 revealed that she earned as much as $5,000 in "royalty payments from Wolters Kluwer on two academic law textbooks." The cost of the required textbooks Porter co-authored and used in her courses have varied throughout the years. "The Law of Debtors and Creditors" cost $267 in 2019 but increased to $298 as of 2022, a nearly 12% increase. Porter's book "Modern Consumer Law" has increased in cost from $216 in 2019 to $275 in 2022, representing an estimated 23% increase. Earlier this month, a report from the Associated Press highlighted Porter's home in Orange Beach, California, which, according to the outlet, is located in an area where homes are estimated to cost $1 million. Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA45) conducts a town hall meeting at Mike Ward Community Park. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The progressive Democrat and law professor, who has lamented the cost of housing in her district, purchased it in 2011 for $523,000, a below-market price secured through a program the university uses to attract academics who couldnt otherwise afford to live in the affluent area. The only eligibility requirement was that she continue working for the school. For Porter, this version of subsidized housing has outlasted her time in the classroom, now extending nearly four years after she first took unpaid leave from her $258,000-a-year teaching job to serve in the U.S. House. But the ties go deeper, with at least one law school administrator, who was also a donor to her campaign, helping secure extensions of her tenure while she remained in Congress, according to university emails obtained by the AP. That has allowed Porter, a rising Democratic star and fundraising powerhouse whose own net worth is valued at as much as $2 million, to retain her home even as her return to the school remains in doubt. In an interview with the Associated Press, Porter declined to say whether her housing arrangement was appropriate. But she said she "followed the applicable (University of California) policies, as well as all applicable state and federal law." "I am always happy to be transparent with voters," Porter said. "I take a lot of pride in my record on transparency and good governance and have been asked about this before by voters and have always been happy to give them full and complete information." Porter has consistently championed the notion that the cost of college education is too high, writing in a 2018 tweet that the "cost of college is too high and it is threatening the future of those looking for better opportunities." Porter has also campaigned on the issue of making "college more affordable so that every student who works hard can graduate from California's great public colleges and universities debt-free." Porter has faces scrutiny for her housing arrangement with UC Irvine. Porter bought her home in an affluent neighborhood near the school in 2011 for $523,000 securing a below-market price through a university program that is offered to employees of the school. Porter remains in the house, but is on indefinite unpaid leave from her teaching position in order to fulfill her duties in the U.S. House. Porter will face off against Republican Scott Baugh in the Nov. 8 general election in California as she aims to represent the Golden State's 47th Congressional District in the House. Fox News did not receive a response from Porter's campaign. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is leading his Republican challenger Blake Masters by a 12-point margin in the race to hold his seat in November, according to a new poll. An Ohio Predictive Insights (OHPI) poll released Wednesday found that Kelly is backed by 47 percent of likely voters, while Masters has support from 35 percent. Libertarian Marc Victor received support from 6 percent of those surveyed, while 12 percent said they were undecided. Kelly has mostly led in recent polling but has generally seen more modest leads in the mid-to-upper single digits. He has the lead in key demographics in the Wednesday poll, contributing to his large edge. Kelly has considerably higher favorability than Masters. The incumbent is viewed favorably by 51 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 43 percent. Masters is viewed favorably by 40 percent and unfavorably by 49 percent. Much of Kellys lead comes from his support from Republicans, 20 percent of whom said they plan to vote for him. Masters only received support from 65 percent of members of his own party, while Kelly received support from 86 percent of Democrats. Kelly also leads among independents by 15 points 43 percent to 28 percent. Ten percent of independents surveyed said they would vote for Victor. Twelve percent of Republicans and 19 percent of independents said they are unsure. Mike Noble, OHPIs director of research, said in a release that Kelly is performing well among key underrepresented groups like Hispanics and independents and is in decent standing with Republicans. But Noble said Kelly cannot count his chickens yet as early voting does not start for three weeks. Kelly leads Masters among Hispanics by 40 points and among voters aged 18 to 34 by 44 points, his most notable areas of support. He leads by 25 points among voters making less than $50,000 per year and has tight leads among those making $50,000 to $100,000 annually and those making more than $100,000. The poll comes a day after a Republican super PAC with ties to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced it was pulling a $9 million ad campaign for Masters. The poll was conducted from Sept. 6 to 9 from 654 likely voters. The margin of error was 3.83 points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Kelly Marie Tran will be juggling acting and producing in a biopic about her friend: civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen. Tran, who is best known for her work in the Star Wars franchise and Raya and the Last Dragon, will star as Nguyen in a story about her journey as a survivor of sexual assualt while attending Harvard University and then a civil rights activist for survivors rights, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Over the years, Amandas activism has changed the lives of billions, as she continues to make our world safer for sexual assault survivors everywhere. Her courage inspires me every day, and I am honored to help tell her story Tran said. The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee drafted a Survivors' Bill of Rights, which inspired a federal law passed in 2016. She also founded a civil rights accelerator organization called Rise. This month, Nguyen attended a United Nations session where the general assembly adopted a resolution addressing justice for survivors of sexual assault, which Rise helped to trailblaze. More from NextShark: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 director expresses interest in creating 'Super Smash Bros.' film Tang Yi, whose short film All the Crows in the World won the Palme dOr last year at Cannes, is in talks to direct and write the biopic. BAFTA-nominated Nina Yang Bongiovi of Significant Productions and Nguyen herself will help produce as well. Ngyuen said in a statement about the project: I am deeply grateful to Kelly Marie Tran, Madica Productions and Significant Productions for telling not only my story, but also the story of billions of survivors across the world who are fighting to have our voices heard and our rights recognized. Stories are how we tell ourselves dreams are possible. Societal stigma silences rape survivors. My story is not mine alone. I hear from countless survivors the strength they gain from hearing other survivors share their story. My hope is that this will make them feel less alone. I am grateful to Kelly for her friendship, for her understanding of our shared Vietnamese American heritage and for her belief that this is a story worth telling. Story continues More from NextShark: 'Single's Inferno' season finale: Who ended up together and who ended up going home alone Feature Image via @TheAVClub More from NextShark: Michelle Yeoh, Daniel Wu join cast of Destin Daniel Cretton-helmed American Born Chinese adaptation Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Im embarrassed: Friends co-creator apologizes for shows lack of diversity with $4 million pledge (Bloomberg) -- Theres still room for progress on climate talks with China despite its suspension of global warming discussions with the US, John Kerry said on Tuesday. Most Read from Bloomberg Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate, stressed that Beijing could resume those negotiations, which were put on ice in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan. They suspended -- they didnt terminate, Kerry said at a New York Times climate event, adding that it was a conscious word choice. I really hope China will decide sometime in the next days it is worth coming back to this because we owe it to humankind. Kerry spoke optimistically last year about the opportunity for the worlds two largest economies to find common ground and make progress on climate change -- despite tensions over human rights, intellectual property and other issues. And he has been able to leverage a close relationship with his counterpart in China, Xie Zhenhua, to forge consensus, resulting in a joint agreement to advance clean energy, combat deforestation and tackle methane emissions at the UN climate summit in Glasgow last year. Now, Kerrys entreaties to Xie are going unanswered. But it isnt stopping him from trying. I have emailed, Kerry said. Hes not allowed to answer me, and its very complicated. And he hasnt, he quickly added. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. A woman running for the Key West City Commission was arrested Tuesday, along with her stepson, after police were called to their home about a family argument two nights earlier. Kimberley Denney Highsmith, 52, and Thomas Highsmith, 18, were each arrested on a misdemeanor charge of battery and taken to the county jail on Stock Island. She is in a runoff election Nov. 8 with Lissette Cuervo Carey for the District 4 commission seat, left wide open after the incumbent Greg Davila said he wouldnt seek a second term. The arrests came two days after Thomas father and stepmother were arguing throughout the night. He tried to intervene and she became extremely physical with him, he told police. The Sunday night family dispute escalated when Thomas said he threw water directly onto his stepmother and she slapped, punched and scratched him in return, according to the arrest reports. The two criminal cases began Monday morning, after Kimberley Highsmith called police to the familys home after her husband and Thomass father, attorney and Monroe County School Board member Bobby Highsmith, put the familys dogs in his vehicle, and said he was dropping them off at the SPCA, police said. Police said she appeared to be extremely emotional, while speaking with them. Bobby Highsmith returned home with the dogs and put them in the fenced yard while police were still speaking with his wife. He asked officers if he needed to speak with them and one replied, No, sir. Police told Kimberley that an issue with the family pets would be a civil matter, legally. Thomas was at school Monday morning. Kimberley Highsmith said Thomas threw water on her and that she defended herself, and that he may have gotten some small scratches on his neck as a result, police reported. She described her relationship with Thomas as volatile and aggressive at times. She later declined to speak further with police. Thomas, a Key West High School student, first met with officers at the school, 2100 Flagler Ave., on Monday as he was leaving class. He wouldnt answer their questions or say how he got at least two scratches, each about a half-inch long, on his neck, the reports say. Story continues Officers said Thomas appeared to be very distraught and emotional during the brief time they spent talking with him. The next day, Tuesday, he told police his scratches were a consequence of him throwing water on her, the report said. Thomas was arrested at about 1:40 p.m at the high school and taken to jail in handcuffs. His stepmother was arrested at 5:15 p.m. at the Key West Police Department headquarters on North Roosevelt Boulevard, after she said she wouldnt speak with them and said she would get an attorney. They immediately put her in handcuffs. Both were released from jail at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, without having to post bond. Each has a court date set for Sept. 30. Bobby Highsmith declined to comment when reached by an FLKeysNews.com/Miami Herald reporter via text Wednesday. He said both family members have attorneys: Hal Schuhmacher is representing his wife and Michael Halpern is representing his son. Reached by phone separately, Schuhmacher and Halpern each said they wouldnt comment at this time. Campaign trail Kimberley Highsmith and Carey have been actively campaigning to become a member of the 7-person city commission. In the August primary, Highsmith came out on top of a four person race, taking nearly 46% of the vote. But that wasnt enough to win outright, so the top two vote-getters will meet in the Nov. 8 election. Carey, a Key West native and former City Hall employee, was right behind her with almost 30%. Only voters who live in District 4, which is made up of neighborhoods in the New Town area that includes the three major grocery stores and several retail chain locations, will decide the commission race. Candidates for commission dont run by party. But during the campaign Highsmith called herself a Democrat married to a Conch Republican, saying she knows how to compromise in politics. People born in Key West call themselves Conchs. China likely to start suborbital space travel in 2025, with tickets costing 2-3m yuan: rocket scientist By Global Times (Global Times) 08:47, September 21, 2022 File photo: Xinhua China's commercial space sector is entering its best development phase, and the country is expected to start suborbital space travel in 2025, with fares likely to fall between 2-3 million yuan ($286,400-$429,600), a senior rocket scientist said. Previously, Virgin Galactic announced plans to open space trips priced at $450,000 per seat, media reports said. The sector in China has entered the 2.0 era, driven by applications and market forces, from the 1.0 era that featured basic manufacturing and research and development, and it will likely catch up with the development level of the US within 10 years, Yang Yiqiang, a senior rocket scientist and founder of CAS Space, a Beijing-based rocket company, told the Global Times. The comment came as major economies are competing fiercely in the emerging space industry, with China and the US having developed markets of a certain size in this regard. On September 9, US Vice President Kamala Harris called on agencies to submit proposals for the authorization and supervision of "commercial space activities" over the next six months to maintain its leading position in the sector, media reports said. Thanks to a complete series of intellectual property rights and a system to nurture talent, as well as the central government's strong support, China's commercial space industry posted an annual compound growth rate of 22.09 percent between 2015-2020, Yang said. However, he said that domestic commercial space enterprises are still at the "accumulation" stage, as their scale is comparatively small, and few companies involved in the rocket and satellite sectors make a profit. The US started promoting the commercialization of the space sector in the 1980s, and the industry was relatively mature when SpaceX was established in 2002. In comparison, China explicitly began encouraging private enterprises to develop commercial space industry in 2015, but the industry has taken shape after seven years of high-speed development, covering many fields such as rocket launches, satellite and ground equipment development, satellite operations and satellite applications. According to an industry report, there are more than 370 Chinese enterprises that focus on satellite manufacturing, rocket launches and relevant downstream services. Yang said that the domestic commercial space industry should be boosted by market demand and technological innovations. "The key for the development of China's commercial space sector is applications rather than rockets or satellites," he said, noting that "We need to ensure that common people have access to the sector." In addition to developing reliable products and sound services, domestic private space companies need to build public experiment platforms and shoulder the responsibility of setting international standards and servicing for the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Yang. Given the current growth rate, China's market for commercial aerospace could reach 100 billion yuan by 2030, Wang Yanan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times. In terms of long-term development, it is crucial for companies to enrich their talent reserve, enhance their core technology and keep improving the capacity of their rockets, including larger loading capacity and reusability, he said. A dozen cities across the country including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province are racing to develop their own local space economies. In March, Wuhan announced that it would support leading firms in the aerospace industry to set up R&D centers as well as manufacturing and assembly facilities in the city to accelerate the development of the national aerospace industrial base. The city is offering companies up to 50 million yuan in incentives for each project related to the production of satellites, rockets and spacecraft, according to a government notice. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Du Mingming) Welz Kauffman, the Ravinia Festival's CEO and president, will leave the organization after next season. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Welz Kauffman, president and CEO of the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, will leave the institution after the 2020 season, the festival announced Saturday. Advertisement When Kauffman steps down, he will have finished his 20th year in a post held by only two other full-time, professional leaders, according to the festival: Edward Gordon (1974-1989) and Zarin Mehta (1990-2000). Next season also will mark the opening of the RaviniaMusicBox experience center, a multimedia theater and exhibition space on the festival grounds that Kauffman has been envisioning for years. Advertisement After much reflection, Ive decided that this milestone anniversary would be the right time to make way for someone new to shape the festivals future, Kauffman, 58, said in a statement. My goals were to give our board ample time to find that right person, and to oversee the inaugural season of the RaviniaMusicBox experience center next summer. It seems like the past two decades occurred in just a minute, and I have other interests Id like to pursue maybe even a summer vacation. Before coming to Ravinia, Kauffman worked at the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras; Olympic Arts Festival; J. Paul Getty Trust; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. We are grateful to Welz for his significant contributions to Ravinia, said Ravinia board Chairman Jennifer Steans, in a statement. Welz is leaving Ravinia in a very strong position with a seasoned leadership team who will carry us through this transitional period. Kauffman has been a restlessly creative figure at Ravinia, playing piano at occasional concerts, commissioning work from Chicago jazz legend Ramsey Lewis and others; and last year launching a multiseason celebration of Leonard Bernsteins centennial. That venture resulted in a landmark staging of Bernsteins infrequently performed Mass, a production filmed for national TV broadcast next year (details to be announced). Howard Reich is a Tribune critic. hreich@chicagotribune.com King Charles IIIs goddaughter, India Hicks, has reflected on attending Queen Elizabeth IIs state funeral and how it was a privilege to be there. The 55-year-old writer is the granddaughter of the Queens cousin Louis Mountbatten, and was a bridesmaid at Charles wedding to Princess Diana. She posted a photo of her and her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, on Instagram on Monday to share how meaningful it was to be a part of the Queens services, along with few details about the experience. What a privilege. To have seen the sun set over Westminster Abbey last night and to return today, beside my mother, for the State Funeral, followed by the Committal Service in St. Georges Chapel, Windsor, she wrote. Service in life, hope in death said the Archbishop of Canterbury. God Bless The Queen. Long Live The King. Last week, Hicks shared another tribute to the Queen on her Instagram following the announcement of her death on 8 September. Along with sharing a throwback photo of the royal, Hicks praised the Queen for her 70 years on the throne. A rare constant in a world of exceptional change, the Queen saw 15 prime ministers come and go, she outlived 5 popes and for 70 years has been the nations figure head, from swinging sixties and moon landings to the advent of computers and Instagram, she wrote in the caption. The British designer went on to share a memory about the monarch and recalled how the Queen would bring box of chocolates for herself and a box for her hostess when staying with Lady Pamela Hicks. During one such visit she came to my mother with a small complaint, about my mothers pet mongoose, named Neola, Hicks continued. The Queen said she really didnt mind Neola coming into her room, she really didnt mind him helping himself to one of her chocolates, but she did mind when he took a small bite out of each! The Queens memorial services came to an official close on Monday after her state funeral. During a private burial, she was laid to rest at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle, next to her late husband, Prince Philip, alongside her father, King George VI, her mother, Queen Elizabeth, and her sister, Princess Margaret. Following the burial, Buckingham Palace shared one late tribute to royal, posting an old photo of her walking through a field on Twitter. In the caption, the account wrote: May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest. In loving memory of Her Majesty The Queen. 1926 - 2022. South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol promised to increase efforts to protect Koreans from hate crimes, placing emphasis on support for overseas Koreans. On Tuesday, President Yoon met with overseas Koreans in New York City. During the meeting, Yoon presented efforts to protect Koreans and Korean Americans against hate crimes, including a bill to establish a ministry dedicated to overseas Koreans. The [South Korean] government will spare no efforts to protect Koreans from hate crimes and discrimination. Also, the government will ask U.S. authorities to pay greater attention to improve the rights, interests and safety of overseas Koreans here, said Yoon, according to The Korea Times. The decision to create a new ministry was reportedly a collective effort from both the People Power Party of which Yoon heads and the Democratic Party of Korea. The president hopes the bill will be passed during this plenary session of the National Assembly. More from NextShark: 26 Chinese female athletes receive top honor for winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games Yoons statements come after a continuous rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. According to data released earlier this year, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 342 percent across eight major U.S. cities in 2021 from the year before. Earlier the same day, President Yoon joined the 77th United Nations General Assembly, delivering his keynote speech at the U.N. headquarters. In his speech, Yoon emphasized threats to humanity and his dedication to freedom and peace during the crisis in front of us. He concluded by pledging his unity with the U.N. and expressing hope for an international coalition. More from NextShark: University of Toronto hands out hell bank notes meant for deceased to students on Lunar New Year Yoon also met with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres regarding nuclear weapons and North Korea, issues that South Korea recently addressed at its 2022 Seoul Defense Dialogue. North Korea has continued their nuclear pursuits, passing an irreversible law declaring themselves a nuclear weapons state. Story continues President Yoons arrival at the assembly follows his attendance at Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in London. During his time in New York, Yoon will hold various summits, including highly anticipated meetings with Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden, in addition to attending the U.N. General Assembly. More from NextShark: Missing diver in Mukilteo identified as beloved Seattle-area chef Hans Korompis Featured Image via United Nations Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Malaysian Baker Creates Epic Bernie Sanders Meme Roll Cake Landlords who pay their tenants' bills will need to pass down the cost-of-living payment of 400. (PA) Renters whose landlords pay for their energy bills will still benefit from a 400 discount being brought in by the government. Earlier this year, the then chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that households would receive the payment in the autumn to help them cope with the cost-of-living crisis. At the time, housing and homelessness charities expressed fears that people with bills included in their rent agreements would end up missing out on the support. Shelter chief executive Polly Neate warned many tenants would be 'at the mercy of their landlord' as there was "no specific legal obligations" for discounts to be passed on to renters. But details on the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) released on Wednesday said new legislation will force landlords to pass on relief payments to tenants who pay all-inclusive bills. Read more: Cost-of-living crisis: Key dates in the coming weeks An energy price cap that means the typical UK household will pay no more than 2,500 a year for energy for the next two years from 1 October. (PA) Additional funding will be made available so that the 400 payments will be extended to include people who live in park homes - mobile homes located on protected sites. The latest guidance adds: "The government will also provide an additional payment of 100 to households across the UK who are not able to receive support for their heating costs through the Energy Price Guarantee. "This might be because they live in an area of the UK that is not served by the gas grid and is to compensate for the rising costs of alternative fuels such as heating oil." During her first week as prime minister, Liz Truss announced a energy price cap that means the typical UK household will pay no more than 2,500 a year for energy for the next two years from 1 October. Read more: UK economy slows as demand falls in August Market prices have soared this year as wholesale energy costs soared to record levels. (Getty Images) Read more: What is trickle-down economics and how does it affect business and consumers? Without the government introducing a limit, the average household energy bill would have jumped 80% from that date, from the current 1,971 to 3,549 a year under Ofgems latest price cap. Story continues Individual household's energy bills could still exceed 2,000 depending on the amount they consume. The government is also rolling out a separate Energy Bill Relief Scheme for businesses, and public and voluntary sector organisations, who aren't subject to the same energy price cap as households. It provides a discount for all non-domestic customers, with the government setting a supported wholesale price - expected to be 211 per MWh for electricity and 75 per MWh for gas. This is almost half the wholesale prices anticipated for this winter. The scheme will apply to fixed contracts agreed on or after April 1 this year, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts. It will apply to energy usage from 1 October to 31 March, with the first savings to be seen in October bills, which are typically received in November. Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has said the non-domestic support package is likely to cost "tens of billions" but that it is needed to keep businesses going. Watch: Liz Truss admits her tax cut plans will disproportionately benefit the rich Economist Paul Johnson told the Today programme: I think something like this was inevitable. Some businesses were seeing their energy bills going up by five times or certainly that was likely to happen from October. One of the positive things about the business announcement is that they appear to be looking at reviewing this and coming back with something more targeted in six months time. I rather wish they had done the same for households because for households and for businesses this is something of almost a panic reaction. You have got to do something and the only thing that they can do immediately is protect everybody, whereas in the medium term if this goes on we really want something that is more targeted. The head of the Foreign Ministry of Latvia, Edgar Rinkevich, said that no visas will be issued to Russians According to him, this decision was made for security reasons. Latvia will not issue humanitarian or other types of visas to those Russian citizens who evade mobilization, and will not change the restrictions on border crossing for Russian citizens with Schengen visas, introduced on Sept. 19, the Latvian foreign minister tweeted. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin early on Sept. 21 declared a partial mobilization in Russia and his readiness to use nuclear weapons in the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of Russia. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in a later address, announced that 300,000 reservists would be called up during the partial mobilization. Read also: Estonia bans re-entry to Russians going to fight against Ukraine After that, Russians rushed to buy tickets to other countries en masse to avoid being called up for the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian army on several parts of the front continues. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have kept the strategic Antonivsky Bridge and other crossings across the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast under fire control, thereby preventing Russian troops from restoring critical supply routes. As Ukrainian troops block the deployment of Russian units, the capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces in the region have been severely diminished. In addition to Kherson Oblast, an active counteroffensive also kicked off in Kharkiv Oblast on Sept. 6. Read also: Lithuanian Rapid Reaction Force on high alert amid mobilization in Russia, says defense minister And while the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has refrained from commenting on updates regarding the liberation of Kherson, today it is already known about the liberation of a number of territories with a total area of more than 8,000 square kilometers, in particular Balakliya, Kupyansk and Izyum, which had been key positions for Russia. This course of events forced the Kremlin regime to initiate through its puppet authorities in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories urgent pseudo-referendums on the "accession" to Russia. Additionally, Ukrainian partisans continue to eliminate pro-Kremlin collaborators who have voluntarily agreed to work for the invading Russian forces. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine VILNIUS (Reuters) -European Union members Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, which border Russia, will not offer refuge to any Russians fleeing Moscow's mobilisation of troops, their ministers said on Wednesday. One-way flights out of Russia were rocketing in price and selling out fast as President Vladimir Putin ordered the immediate call-up of 300,000 reservists. "A refusal to fulfil ones civic duty in Russia or a desire to do so does not constitute sufficient grounds for being granted asylum in another country", Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in email to Reuters. On Twitter, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics cited security concerns for the refusal. The Lithuanian Interior Ministry said each asylum case would be weighted separately. The three countries, and Poland, began turning away Russian citizens from their borders at midnight on Monday, saying they should not travel while their country is at war with Ukraine. The ban excludes Russian dissidents seeking refuge in the EU along with lorry drivers, refugees and permanent residents of EU countries as well as those visiting close family members. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas, editing by Terje Solsvik and Grant McCool) Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) narrowly leads state Attorney General Derek Schmidt (R) in the states gubernatorial race, according to a new Emerson College Polling-The Hill survey released on Wednesday. Kelly leads Schmidt 45 percent to 43 percent among very likely voters in the state, falling well within the surveys 3-point margin of error. Another 8 percent said they were undecided, while 3 percent said they were planning on voting for Independent candidate Dennis Pyle. The poll also showed the Democratic governor with a lead among independent voters. Forty-six percent of independents said they favored Kelly, while 30 percent said the same about Schmidt. Kelly is seen as one of the most vulnerable Democratic governors up for reelection this midterm cycle. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up. The Democrat was first elected to the states governors mansion in 2018, defeating Republican nominee Kris Kobach. Republicans argue that Kellys victory was due to Kobach being a weak candidate, while Democrats point to the governors high approval ratings. The poll found that 53 percent of Kansas voters said they viewed Kelly favorably, while 37 percent said they have an unfavorable view of her. Forty-five percent of the states voters said they had a favorable view of Schmidt while 37 percent said they had an unfavorable view of him. Democrats have also expressed optimism in Kansas after the states voters overwhelmingly rejected an anti-abortion ballot initiative last month. The Emerson College-The Hill poll found that 48 percent of voters said their views aligned with Kelly on the issue of abortion, while 44 percent said the same about Schmidt. However, Democrats still face an uphill battle in Kansas President Bidens approval rating sits at 36 percent in the traditionally red state, while his disapproval rating is at 58 percent. And Republicans are leading in other down-ballot races as well: According to the poll, incumbent Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) leads his Democratic challenger, Mark Holland, 45 percent to 33 percent. Meanwhile, in the race for state attorney general, Kobach leads his Democratic challenger, Chris Mann, 41 percent to 39 percent. The Emerson College-The Hill poll was conducted Sept. 15-18 among 1,000 likely voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lawmakers in Congress introduced a bill on Tuesday that aims to keep more Southeast Asian refugee families together, advocates say. The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act would place limitations on the Department of Homeland Securitys authority to deport refugees from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. The bill could have a significant impact for an estimated 15,000 Southeast Asian refugees, roughly 80% of whom were convicted of a crime and have completed their sentences but have final orders of removal and face deportation. Quyen Dinh, executive director of the organization Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, which advocated for the bill, said that the legislation would be a way for the U.S. to honor its unique responsibility to stay accountable to the trauma that had been created. She explained refugees who commit crimes are penalized with a sentence and an order of removal something thats referred to among activists as double jeopardy. In our system, a person can make a mistake. They can pay their debts to society and move on and build a new future. They should not be deported to a society where they no longer belong and may not even remember, Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., said during a press conference at the House Triangle. It is profoundly wrong for us to send refugees where their human rights are not protected and guaranteed. The legislation would prevent DHS from detaining or deporting Southeast Asian refugees who arrived in the U.S. prior to 2008. Additionally, it would put an end to in-person check-ins with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, a practice that ultimately creates prolonged anxiety within families, advocates say. It would also authorize permanent employment eligibility for those with final orders of removal. While the majority of Southeast Asian refugees who face deportation have spent years without any contact with the criminal justice system and have become involved members of their communities, Dinh said they continue to feel perpetual anxiety that they will be separated from their families. ICE check-ins are sporadic and they evoke panic, she said. Story continues The fear and the trauma that comes with in-person check-ins means that you leave your home, you leave your family, you drop off your kids not knowing if youre going to be detained, Dinh said. And from that moment, your family has to have a rapid response backup plan in case you are detained. In addition to contending with additional punishment, Dinh said that refugees green cards are revoked when they commit crimes, effectively making it difficult to secure employment. Most have to apply for work authorization annually, undergoing the application process every six months. So families have to go through this process over and over and over again when theyre trying to find work and oftentimes, folks actually end up working for employers without as many benefits because these are employers who dont require that authorization, Dinh said. When it comes to refugees who have been entangled with the criminal justice system, their circumstances cannot be removed from their stories, Dinh said. The U.S. wars in Southeast Asia in the 1960s and '70s ultimately resulted in the resettlement of the largest refugee population in the nations history. This is our opportunity to really tell the story of how our communities are such a uniquely American experience, and how weve been devastated uniquely by our immigration policies, Dinh said. Many from these communities, she said, were placed in areas that lacked the infrastructure and support necessary to heal trauma from war, genocide, displacement or poverty. The impacts are far-reaching. The Hmong community, who fled primarily from Laos, for example, continues to fare the worst across nearly all measures of income, compared to all other racial groups. An estimated 60% are considered low-income and a quarter live in poverty. It led them to crimes of poverty and youth and survival that they have served decades ago. And that still threatens their lives every single day through these deportation orders to countries that they fled as refugees, Dinh said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A group of migrants huddle on a sidewalk in front of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Martha's Vineyard. Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Two lawmakers say they've gotten death threats over their support of the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard. "You should see my inbox right now and how ugly it is," Massachusetts State Rep. Dylan Fernandes said. Last week, about 50 migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard in a move planned by Florida Gov. DeSantis. Two Democratic Massachusetts state lawmakers representing the island of Martha's Vineyard say they've gotten death threats as a result of their support for the migrants who were flown to the coastal enclave by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. State Rep. Dylan Fernandes and State Sen. Julian Cyr said they received the threats after coming to the aid of the roughly 50 migrants from Venezuela who were brought to Martha's Vineyard from Texas unannounced last week. "You should see my inbox right now and how ugly it is," Fernandes told WGBH's Greater Boston on Tuesday, adding that Massachusetts State Police has been notified of the situation. "My poor staff has had to listen to voicemails, and we've had to alert the state police of death threats, and you know, I'm getting stuff all the time," he said. The legislator said that the hateful messages he has gotten speak "to the nature of where we are at in this country where treating human beings with dignity is a controversial thing." "I mean it is mind-blowing to me that any human being could be this depraved to think this is an acceptable thing to do to use women and children as political pawns," Fernandes said. Cyr told Insider on Wednesday that he is not "surprised" by the backlash he has received, explaining, "There is nastiness in national American politics." "Our focus remains on these new arrivals who found themselves on Massachusetts," Cyr said, adding, "We are treating them with dignity and respect and compassion." A spokesperson for the state senator told Insider that she was aware of at least one death threat against Cyr. Last week, DeSantis sparked a firestorm of criticism after he had the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard on two chartered planes in what attorneys for the immigrants called a "shameful political stunt." Story continues A group of the migrants on Tuesday filed a federal class action suit against DeSantis and other state officials, alleging that they carried out a "scheme to defraud vulnerable immigrants to advance a political motive." Lawyers representing a majority of the migrants have called on state and federal prosecutors to open a criminal probe into the situation. The immigrants have since been relocated to a military base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Fernandes told WGBH's Greater Boston that the threats he's gotten "is nothing compared to what these people have gone through." "Some have walked 60 days just to get to the border followed by gang violence, some were robbed, others were physically harmed," said the lawmaker. "Don't worry about my voicemail what does matter is the incredible plight these people have gone through." "And once they finally got here after going through all of that they weren't met with human decency, they were met with a lie and shipped off and used," he said. "We're going to treat people like human beings here." Read the original article on Business Insider A photo of a tower leaning dramatically is circulating in posts claiming it shows the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck Taiwan on September 18, 2022. However, the photo is old. It was taken after a quake that hit the island in February 2018, killing 17 people, including 14 inside the tower block. "A 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook Taitung county in the southeast of Taiwan at 2:45 PM Taiwanese time," reads a Burmese-language Facebook post shared on a page with more than 30,000 followers. "There were reports of building collapsing and casualties in Yuli of Hualian county, but the official numbers haven't been confirmed yet." The post was published on September 19, one day after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan, tearing up roads and bringing down a handful of houses in the town of Yuli where at least one person was killed. A less powerful jolt hit the same region the day before, with local media reporting no injuries or damage. Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes as the island lies near the junction of two tectonic plates. Screenshot of the false post, taken on September 19, 2022 The photo was shared in similar Facebook posts here and here and on Twitter hereand here. However, the photo was shared in false context. 2018 quake A reverse image search and keyword search on Google showed the photo was taken after an earthquake struck Hualien, a popular tourist city in Taiwan in February 2018. Taiwan News published various photos of the tower in an article on February 7, 2018 reporting that the quake had killed 17 people and injured more than 290. Photo credits identify the building as the Yun Tsui apartment building, and credit the image to Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency (CNA). A photo of the apartment block in an article by Taiwan News from February 7, 2018 AFP also published a photo of the building, taken on February 8, 2018. The photo caption reads: "Taiwanese rescuers continued the terrifying task on February 8 of searching for survivors in a dangerously leaning apartment block that was partially toppled by an earthquake." Story continues A photo of the apartment block taken by AFP ( AFP / ANTHONY WALLACE) A total of 17 people died across the eastern coastal city, 14 of them in the Yun Tsui building. The building's developer, architect and a civil engineer were each jailed for five years in 2019 for neglecting building safety codes. The tower was later demolished, footage from Taiwan's Apple Daily shows. AFP previously debunked posts misrepresenting the same photo. Fresh off Emmy wins for show creator Quinta Brunson and star Sheryl Lee Ralph, Season 2 of Abbott Elementary returns as confident as ever sharp and searingly funny, but with a baseline warmth that feels meaningful in a world thats become increasingly cold to the idea that were meant to look out for one another. Its been a long few months since weve had new episodes of this sitcom and its fictional portrayal of life in a chronically underfunded Philadelphia public school. I didnt realize how much I had been holding my breath for its return on ABC (and Hulu). Watching the first two episodes provided to critics, I laughed all the laughs and choked back all the feel-good tears. Its such a perfect amalgam of talents both in front of and behind the camera. Advertisement In the years since streaming became ascendant, older sitcoms like The Office and Friends became hits all over again while so many newer sitcoms struggled to catch fire, regardless of where they aired. Abbott is a reminder that theres still value in this format if you do it right. Even on a broadcast network. Especially on a broadcast network. The show manages to be unflinching but also hilariously self-deprecating about the human condition. Thats quite the balancing act from Brunson and her team of writers. Sheryl Lee Ralph (who just won an Emmy for her performance) in Season 2 of Abbott Elementary. (Gilles Mingasson/ABC) Abbot doesnt pretend that having a full-time job in present-day America automatically means you can afford to pay rent. But its also fundamentally rooted in an even more basic reality: Were all weve got. So lets figure out a way to band together even if we dont necessarily like each other and work around and subvert all those systems that are seemingly too big to fail. Advertisement Thats a really powerful idea around which to center a show, and Abbott doesnt fall into the kind of traps that make it feel preachy or naive or pushily earnest. Its simply firm about the importance of workaday people doing their best in ridiculous circumstances. Its striking how well-defined the adult denizens of Abbott were from the start and remain. Its the start of the new school year and Gregory (played by the underrated Tyler James Williams) is overwhelmed by the sheer tonnage of schoolwork theyre expected to teach, according to the district-mandated curriculum. So he draws up a schedule to map out his lesson plan, down to the minute. His more veteran and practical-minded colleague Barbara (the inimitable Ralph) stops by to see how hes doing and is alarmed. Gregory, what if something goes wrong and you get a millisecond off this very impressive map? Ralph is the kind of actor who can deliver a blunt critique and still make it sound like shes in your corner. I accounted for that, Gregory assures her intensely. Imagining the worst thing that could happen is one of my best qualities. His cool customer exterior never quite masks his anxieties and its such an entertaining blend of qualities. Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa and Chris Perfetti as Jacob. (Gilles Mingasson/ABC) Brunsons perpetually optimistic Janine hasnt lost her spark. Shes well-meaning, corny and a bit much. But even she knows it: A bit much is my brand. To thine own self be true, Janine! Or as fellow teacher Melissa, the gruff softy played by Lisa Ann Walter, says drolly: In the end times, its just going to be cockroaches on the empty streets and Janine holding up a sign that says Turn that frown upside down. Sometimes a sitcom has a breakout star, and its not uncommon to see the show gradually readjust its priorities to give that character a bigger focus. I appreciate that Abbott has avoided this. I think its largely because the show has such a well-formed concept of why this ensemble works, particularly as that relates to the genuinely hilarious Janelle James as Ava, the schools over-the-top, frequently ineffectual principal. Im curious to see how long the show will allow her characters sexual harassment of Gregory to persist. Its really my only critique; too often these moments are treated as just another cringey example of Avas inappropriateness, when really theyre just gross. I dont think its enough to have Gregory turning to the camera with an uncomfortable look. But the writers have been so smart that I have to think theres a long-term plan to reframe the Ava-Gregory dynamic in different ways. Or at least have Gregorys colleagues acknowledge that this is happening each time Ava eyeballs him. The show works as well as it does because of its blend of personalities, which also includes William Stanford Davis as the unpredictable, no-filter janitor Mr. Johnson, and Janines best pal at school, the wonderfully awkward and loyal Jacob, played by Chris Perfetti. Brunson has long said shes a believer in the kinds of sitcoms that were once the backbone of broadcast TV shows that have cross-generational appeal. Abbott never does that hacky thing where someone undermines someone else is the only way to create drama or comedy. In fact, the show understands that often, larger forces are the real nemesis most people face in their everyday lives. Over the years, there have only been a handful of TV comedies that take place in public schools. Welcome Back, Kotter from the 70s comes to mind, as does its indelible theme song: Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out. Advertisement Welcome back, Brunson. Your dreams were your ticket in. Tyler James Williams as Gregory and Janelle James as Ava. (Scott Everett White/ABC) Abbott Elementary 4 stars (out of four) Where to watch: 8 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC and streaming on Hulu Nina Metz is a Tribune critic nmetz@chicagotribune.com What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. Sign up for our Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Managing cap tables and equity at high-growth companies can be a complicated (and sometimes messy) business, a fact that founders and employees often discover too late. That's given rise to a wave of companies building software to help, and today a European leader in that pack is announcing some funding to fuel its own growth. Ledgy, a startup out of Zurich that builds cap table management software specifically for companies and their employees working across multiple countries, has raised $22 million, a Series B that it is using for hiring, further product development and to bring on more users. Ledgy's platform today covers tools for finance, HR, legal and VC teams as well as employees themselves, and is used both to provide a snapshot of the state of a company's equity at a given moment, and to help employees and companies manage what they may choose to do with that over time. The company today has some 2,500 companies as customers, up from 1,500 a year ago, and revenues have tripled, CEO and co-founder Yoko Spirig said in an interview. Significantly, its rise dovetails with an interesting moment for European tech. We are starting to see a lot more European startups opting to remain in Europe to raise funding and scale rather than transplant to the U.S. as they would have been expected to do in the past, and with that the issue of equity awards for those companies' employees is only growing. Ledgy counts some of the bigger startups in the European ecosystem among its customers, including Peak, Getir, Kry, Monese, Selina Finance, Gorillas, Choco, Alan, Pennylane and Scalapay. Ledgy itself has some impressive names on its own cap table. This round is being led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with Sequoia Capital, Speedinvest, btov, Visionaries Club and unnamed angels also participating. Sequoia (as part of its much bigger move into Europe) led Ledgy's Series A of $10 million a year ago, and with this latest round NEA partner Jonathan Golden is joining Sequioa's Luciana Lixandru on the board. It has now raised $33.5 million to date. Ledgy's sweet spot is working with companies that have employees situated in different jurisdictions, and building a product for them that acts both as a finance and HR tool. While a number of companies like Carta, and more recently AngelList and Pulley (respectively valued at $6.8 billion, $4 billion, and up to $300 million for the younger Pulley) continue to make waves in the U.S. market, Ledgy has spotted an opportunity to build for scenarios where companies want to provide international employees with equity and need to balance the differences in regulations and culture when doing so. "We started in fragmented Europe, which was a curse and blessing," Spirig said. "It forced us to serve customers with international teams." Ledgy stumbled on this almost by accident, Spirig said. She and her co-founders (CTO Timo Horstschaefer and CPO Ben Brandt) were working on a different startup in Zurich, in the area of security -- "a Signal version of Slack" was Spirig's catchy description of it. They were chatting to another co-founder who showed them how he was managing equity and his cap table: it was all on a spreadsheet. "It was a massive Excel file," she recalled, "and each single share took up a single line." Managing that "was a complete nightmare," she continued, but that wasn't the only problem. Not only was the startup's team situated beyond Switzerland, but "that team didn't really understand what equity was about." Surprisingly there wasn't an off-the-shelf product on the market to address that triangulated scenario: equity management, with tools for employees, able to be used across multiple countries. "The way we approach this is different in that historically people used to manage with paper, then Excel, then software like Shareworks," Spirig said. "But in Europe people werent understanding the value of equity, so we wanted to make sure employee experience was part of it. It's a switch from being a finance-only product to one that's aimed at people, too." That founder and his company are still customers of Ledgy, Spirig said. The company today focuses very much on primary equity and providing tools to companies and their employees to understand and manage that. This includes integrations with a third-party, Semper, to manage secondary trades; Pave and Figures to benchmark compensation; and some 40 popular HR platforms used by companies to manage other kinds of compensation and benefits. That also opens the door to functionality and features that Ledgy may choose to build itself (or bolt on through acquisitions) in the future. The fact that the company also covers services for employees themselves is the kind of thing that it will hope helps it also keep a moat around its business as companies like Carta extend their sites further afield. (Indeed, Carta acquired a U.K. competitor, Capdesk, earlier this year, which also has been building equity management for European companies, so we will have to watch this space. As Spirig pointed out when I mentioned Capdesk to her, it's present in Europe, yes, but it is not addressing the challenge of managing equity for its customers across multiple international jurisdictions simultaneously.) Through my lens as an investor at NEA, combined with my past experience at category-defining companies like Airbnb, Dropbox and Hubspot, Ive seen the central role ownership plays in building enduring companies," said Golden at NEA in a statement. "The equity management challenge is especially acute in Europe, with different legal structures governing equity in every country. Ledgy has created a smart and powerful equity software platform and built an incredible, best-in-class team to support it. Yoko, Ben and Timo understand the challenges faced by companies as they scale, and we are thrilled to partner with the Ledgy team as they continue to reinvent how companies think about equity and ownership. Updated with updated customer and revenue growth numbers. New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday filed a civil fraud lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, three of his adult children, and other senior members of the Trump Organization. The lawsuit which alleges business and insurance fraud as well as conspiracy marks the culmination of a three-year investigation into Trump and his business. I am announcing that today we are filing a lawsuit against Donald Trump as part of his efforts to generate profits for himself, his company, and his family, James said Wednesday, claiming that the defendants grossly inflated the former president's personal net worth to the tune of billions of dollars. James alleges that for about a decade from 2011 to 2021, Trump and the other defendants fraudulently misstated the value of Trump Organization holdings to evade taxes and secure favorable loans. The alleged scheme, James said, centers on annual statements that Trump and his trustees certified to attest to the valuations. The suit names Ivanka Trump as well as Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump; the two sons serve as senior executives at the Trump Organization. "The statements were personally certified as accurate by Mr. Trump or by one of his trustees when being presented to financial institutions with the purpose and intent that the information contained in the statement would be relied upon by those institutions," James said in a press release. The Trump Organization violated New York laws by manipulating asset values and, in the process, the defendants cheated all of us, James says. In addition to the civil claims, she said she would refer additional criminal charges to relevant authorities. Donald Trump has repeatedly said the investigation is politically motivated and that James, who is Black, is racist. He repeated the charges Wednesday afternoon in a post on his Truth Social site. saying that James was only bringing charges due to "her really bad poll numbers." Story continues A three-year investigation The latest legal setback for the former president comes amid a swirl of investigations into Trump, but the probe by James has gone most directly after Trumps bottom line. In some instances, the complaint says, Trump overvalued his real estate properties. For example, Trump reported that his own condo at Manhattan's Trump Tower was 30,000 square feet when in fact it was 11,000 square feet, according to the complaint. Trump's valuation of the property in 2015 of $327 million, the lawsuit says, rested on "objectively false numbers." In recent days, James and her team rejected a settlement offer from Trumps team, The New York Times reported. Her team questioned Trump directly in August, prompting the former president to Trump invoke the Fifth Amendment more than 440 times that day. Answering a question from reporters on Wednesday, James didn't take another new settlement off the table but said she didn't want to "negotiate in public." The investigation focused on the claim that Trump undervalued his properties when reporting taxes to the IRS, but then overvalued those same properties when it came time to use them as collateral in bank loans. In a court filing last January, Jamess office said it has developed significant additional evidence indicating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent or misleading asset valuations to obtain a host of economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions. James is seeking to permanently bar the family from serving in officer or director positions in any corporation or business licensed in New York State. The attorney general also seeks to bar the former president and the Trump Organization from entering into any New York real estate acquisitions for 5 years, and to claw back all financial benefits obtained through the allegedly fraudulent practices, estimated to total $250 million. According to the complaint, the defendants violated New York State laws targeting executive fraud, including falsification of business, financial, and insurance records, and conspiracy. Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. New York Attorney General Letitia James responded in real time as Donald Trump Jr tweeted that the bulls*** Dem witch-hunt continues! after she announced a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and three of his children. Today, I filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for engaging in years of financial fraud to enrich himself, his family, and the Trump Organization. There arent two sets of laws for people in this nation: former presidents must be held to the same standards as everyday Americans, Ms James tweeted on Wednesday. With the help of Donald Jr, Eric, Ivanka, and other defendants, Trump variously unlawfully inflated and deflated his net worth by billions to obtain and satisfy loans, get insurance benefits, and pay lower taxes. In short, he lied to gain massive financial benefits for himself, Ms James added. The state attorney general was asked about Mr Trump Jrs tweet during a press conference on Wednesday, saying that with regards to the name-calling, as you know, theyve basically attempted to delay this investigation. Two judges have dismissed those claims that this was a political witch hunt, she said. So I give no credence to those names that he has referred to me. Mr Trump, the Trump Organization, as well as his family, will still have to deal with this complaint, they will still have to respond ... to the allegations they are in, she added. If in fact, he decided to move to Florida, the reality is that he still has to deal with the great state of New York and respond to the complaint, Ms James said. Mr Trump Jr posted a video compilation of clips showing Ms James blasting Mr Trump, urging people to vote to get rid of him, and saying that she would be a pain in the a** of the former president. Other clips showed Ms James saying we need to follow his money, focus on his abuses and that Mr Trump built his wealth off the backs of New Yorkers. The bullshit Dem witch-hunt continues! pic.twitter.com/FQM0MZt6Wp Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 21, 2022 Ms James tweeted on Wednesday that her investigation found that Trump, his family, and the Trump Org used fraudulent and misleading asset valuations over 200 times in 10 years on his annual financial statements. These statements were then used to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and insurance coverage. Trumps crimes are not victimless, she added. When the well-connected and powerful break the law to get more money than they are entitled to, it reduces resources available to working people, small businesses, and taxpayers. Former President Trump responded on Truth Social, writing, another Witch Hunt by a racist Attorney General, Letitia James, who failed in her run for Governor, getting almost zero support from the public, and now is doing poorly against Law & Order AG candidate, highly respected Michael Henry. I never thought this case would be brought - until I saw her really bad poll numbers. She is a fraud who campaigned on a get Trump platform, despite the fact that the city is one of the crime and murder disasters of the world under her watch! Bookish and fervently pro-European, former premier Enrico Letta returned from self-imposed exile to take the fight to Italy's far-right as leader of the centre-left Democratic Party. Since snap elections were called for September 25, the 56-year-old has emerged as the main rival to Giorgia Meloni, whose post-fascist Brothers of Italy party looks set to lead her right-wing coalition to power. Letta has long been a fixture in Italian politics, becoming the republic's youngest ever minister in 1998, at 32, before rising to become premier in 2013 -- only to be forced out within a year by a party rival. He moved to Paris, heading up the School of International Affairs at Sciences Po for six years from September 2015, returning last year to take the helm of his Democratic Party. Letta, a restrained, bespectacled expert in international law, has warned the prospect of a far-right victory threatens democracy and Italy's place in the post-war order, from the European Union to NATO. Opinion polls suggest the Democratic Party, allied with the ecological far-left, has almost no chance of catching up with Meloni and her allies, Matteo Salvini's anti-immigrant League and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia. But Letta, who is campaigning on a platform of social justice, the environment, civil rights and help for young people, is pinning his hopes on the substantial minority of voters who have yet to decide. - 'Cruel' ousting - Born in Pisa on August 20, 1966, Letta spent a large part of his childhood in the western French city of Strasbourg. He was an active member of the Christian Democratic party -- heading its European youth wing -- in the final years before it collapsed in a storm of corruption scandals. Letta joined Massimo D'Alema's leftist government in 1998 as minister for European affairs, later serving in other governments as minister for Europe and for trade and industry. He was deputy head of the Democratic Party when, after inconclusive results in 2013 general elections, he was called by Italy's president to become premier. Story continues Letta presented a "post-ideological" fresh face to lead a grand coalition. His uncle was Gianni Letta, a close advisor of former premier Berlusconi, who was part of the new government. This connection did not prevent Letta from being one of Berlusconi's strongest critics. Within months of taking office, however, the even more youthful Matteo Renzi, then mayor of Florence, took over the Democratic Party leadership, challenged Letta and eventually replaced him as premier. Asked about this painful episode a decade later -- by which time Renzi had left the Democratic Party and started his own movement -- Letta expressed no resentment. "The political world is cruel, as any kind of complex relationship is cruel, but the political world also knows how to be generous," he said. Letta has written numerous books about the challenges facing Italy and Europe, although he is also a big fan of comics. He has rejected the "personality politics" of his rivals, refusing to put his name on the party logo and arguing that its policy platform must speak for itself. But he has also admitted having to learn to become "less shy and more decisive". gab/ar/cdw The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Netflix/HuluJeffrey Dahmer is the latest leading man on Netflix. His name is a familiar one to many viewers, especially fans of true crime. But the details of what he did have been obscured by time; I was a very young child when Dahmer was nearing the end of his reign of terror, inflicted primarily on Black people.Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is both a standard entry in the true crime genre and a unique one. Instead of unfolding from A Los Angeles city councilman is raising questions about a burglary involving U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, a mayoral candidate whose home was broken into earlier this month. City Councilman Joe Buscaino is asking Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore and City Attorney Mike Feuer for answers about the theft in which only two guns were stolen despite the weapons being secure, and why Bass' guns were targeted. He called the circumstances of the burglary "very troubling" and expressed concern about the "lack of information being provided to the public." "While the news of the burglary itself was shocking, what was even more unnerving was the fact that the only items stolen were two guns," the letter authored by Buscaino reads. "Karen Bass' mayoral campaign explicitly stated that despite there being cash, electronics, and other items available, the only items missing were two guns that were, according to them, safely and securely stored.'" LOS ANGELES MAYORAL RACE: AMERICANS WEIGH IN AS CRIME, HOMELESSNESS TAKE CENTER STAGE Fox News has reached out to Moore, the LAPD and Feuer's office. Bass, a Democrat, previously told Fox Los Angeles the weapons were registered and stored in a safe and stashed in a closet. She said she purchased them years ago for protection. "I had guns for personal safety, as do many people. I think that gun control is extremely important," she said. "But I have never believed that people if they wanted to have guns should not have them." Two suspects Patricio Munoz, 42, and 24-year-old Juan Espinoza have been arrested. Munoz was charged with residential burglary and is being held on a $500,000 bond. Espinoza was also charged with residential burglary and is being held on no bail. LOS ANGELES MAYORAL SHOWDOWN: BASS, CARUSO FACE OFF ON DEBATE STAGE FOR FIRST TIME Buscaino called the burglary a "teachable moment" to the public about the city's safe storage gun law, which requires firearms to be stored in a locked container or disabled with a trigger lock approved by the CA department of justice. Story continues Among his questions, he is asking if Bass' guns were in an approved container or trigger lock and if so, how were the thieves able to "penetrate those safety measures" and why have details about the crime have been withheld from the public. "I would like a response to these questions to ensure the public can get a true picture of what occurred with our next potential Mayor and her ability to follow the laws of Los Angeles relating to safe and secure storage of guns," he wrote. The incident prompted Bass to express misgivings about safety in Los Angeles after saying months ago during a debate that she said she felt safe in the city. "I would say a 10. But I do understand that a lot of people around the city do not feel safe, and I respect that." French President Emmanuel Macron Read also: Macron confirms more Caesars coming to Ukraine In particular, Macron called for limits on the use of the veto by U.N. Security Council permanent members in case of mass crimes. "I would like us to finally start reforming the Security Council so that it is more representative, so that there are new permanent members, Macron said. And so that it could really play its role, through limiting the use of the veto in the case of mass crimes. Read also: Macron calls for not humiliating Russia, speaks of isolated Putin He called on U.N. members to act to ensure that Russia halts its war against Ukraine. "This is not about choosing a camp between East and West or North and South, the French leader added. Its about the responsibility of all those who respect the U.N. Charter and our greatest value and good peace. Because, apart from the war, it is about the division of the world as a result of direct and indirect consequences of this conflict. Read also: Russia may be kicked out of UN thanks to Ukrainian activists Macron said some countries are in a neutral position regarding Russia's war against Ukraine, and those who want to pursue such a policy of non-alignment are making a historic mistake. After all, this is a struggle in the name of peace, for the benefit of the sovereignty of states, for the territorial integrity of everyone, Macron said, adding that those who are silent today become accomplices of modern imperialism and cynicism. Our values are universal, which is why they should never be at the service of a force that violates these principles, Macron said. He added at the same time that in recent years, we have been very liberal with these values, and this is a mistake. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine PORTLAND, Maine (AP) The state of Maine and a fishing group are appealing a federal judges decision that new rules intended to protect endangered whales must stand. The judge earlier this month denied a request from fishermen to stop federal regulators from placing the new restrictions on lobster fishing. The rules are intended to protect North Atlantic right whales, which number less than 340. Maine Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Lobstermens Association said this week theyre appealing that decision. Lobstermen have long contended the new rules are based on flawed data and are too punitive to the fishing industry. The fishermen sued the National Marine Fisheries Service in its lawsuit. The fishing group is escalating its fight to save Maines lobstering heritage from a plan that the agency itself admits is not needed for the species to survive, said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the lobstermens association. The whales are vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear and have been listed as endangered since 1970. In recent years, the baleen whales population has declined even further, with the latest data estimating there are fewer than 100 breeding females in the wild, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The state and the fishermen have appealed their case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Environmentalist groups who have advocated for stricter fishing rules to protect the whales cheered the lower courts decision. Scientific research shows that overlap between fixed fishing gear and right whale habitat results in entanglement risk, said Brenna Sowder, an outreach volunteer for the Maine Coalition for North Atlantic Right Whales. The U.S. lobster industry is based primarily in Maine and is one of the most lucrative fishing businesses in the country. Maine lobster were worth more than $700 million at the docks last year. Mills described the federal court ruling as a wrong and out-of-touch court decision that jeopardizes the livelihoods of thousands of Maine families. 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 makeshift boat washed ashore on Crescent Beach in St. Johns County off Old A1A, leaving neighbors scratching their heads, wondering how it got there, and who it belonged to. STORY: 2 Jacksonville officers arrested for battery after confrontation with inmate caught on video St. Johns County Sheriffs Office told Action News Jax that the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted it in South Florida, where the boat drifted ashore to end up in St. Johns County. David Micallef, a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard (Sector Jacksonville), said the command center has no information about who may have been onboard or their status. The origin of the vessel is also unknown. Micallef explained that whenever a makeshift vessel like this washes ashore, the Coast Guard treats it like marine debris. He said the Coast Guard has inspected the boat and marked it, and SJSO confirmed that it is scheduled to be destroyed. STORY: Sheriff set to give details on major fentanyl bust in Clay County But in the meantime, neighbors were able to get a good look at it, and it stopped a lot of them in their tracks. Skye Taylor was on her daily stroll with her dog when she spotted the stranded vessel. The boat looks like it had been in the water for a while, she pointed out. STORY: Biden to UN General Assembly: Russias invasion of Ukraine is brutal, needless war Taylor sails often and noticed distinct features on the boat. It looked like they tried to gaffer it with tarp, because you can see the boom on the bottom, the shape of the main sail is a gaff rig sail, she described. Taylor said that given her experience out on the water, traveling in a boat like this is extreme. Ive been sailing out to sea but nothing that small, she emphasized. Thats scary to be out in the ocean in anything thats maybe 14 feet long. It was really brave to set out in that little boat. STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories HOPKINTON A Taunton man who is accused of causing a fatal head-on collision last month on Interstate 495 remains held in jail. Devin Arroyo, 29, was scheduled to appear Monday in Framingham District Court for a probable cause hearing. But that hearing did not occur, and was rescheduled for Oct. 24. Arroyo is charged with motor-vehicle homicide while under the influence of liquor; operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor; driving to endanger; and driving the wrong way on a state highway. More: Judge sets bail for driver charged in wrong-way fatal Hopkinton crash He was also cited for a marked-lanes violation. Probable cause hearings are scheduled for cases in district court in which the charges are too serious for a district court to have final jurisdiction. Typically, probable cause hearings are postponed, the defendant is usually indicted and the case is moved to superior court. Devin Arroyo is accused of driving the wrong way and causing a fatal accident last month on Interstate 495 in Hopkinton. Authorities say Arroyo, formerly of Framingham, was driving a van at 12:15 a.m. on Aug. 17 on I-495 in Hopkinton. He is accused of driving south in the northbound lane before crashing into an Infiniti driven by Samuel Ibikunle, 72, of Westborough. A tractor-trailer that was driving behind the Infiniti could not stop in time and struck the car from behind. Ibikunle was declared dead at the scene. More: Police have identified the victim of Wednesday's fatal accident on I-495 Authorities say Arroyo crawled from his van, which had rolled onto its side. Troopers at the scene and a nurse who stopped to assist emergency workers reported that Arroyo was slurring his speech and had red and glassy eyes, authorities said. Troopers also found three empty vodka nip bottles and an empty can of hard ice tea in the van. At the time of his arrest, Arroyo was on probation out of two seperate courts. A prosecutor requested $100,000 bail at Arroyo's Framingham District Court arraignment on Aug. 17. She also asked, if he posted bail, that Arroyo be placed on house arrest with a GPS monitoring bracelet, and require he drink no alcohol with random tests, be prohibited from driving and have no contact with the victim's family or any witnesses. Story continues Judge David Cunis adopted the recommendation. If convicted, Arroyo faces a minimum of five years in state prison and a maximum of 20 years. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hearing postponed in alleged wrong-way driver in Hopkinton fatal crash Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette/AP) BOSTON Venezuelan migrants flown to the upscale Massachusetts island of Marthas Vineyard sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his transportation secretary Tuesday for engaging in a fraudulent and discriminatory scheme to relocate them. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, alleges that the migrants were told they were going to Boston or Washington, which was completely false, and were induced with perks such as $10 McDonalds gift certificates. Advertisement No human being should be used as a political pawn, said Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, which is seeking class-action status in the lawsuit filed on behalf of several migrants who were aboard last weeks flights and Alianza Americas, a network of advocacy groups. It is opportunistic that activists would use illegal immigrants for political theater, said Taryn Fenske, DeSantis communication director, in a statement late Tuesday. Advertisement The lawsuit, which also names Secretary of Transportation Jared W. Perdue as a defendant, alleges that migrants were induced to cross state lines under false pretenses, a line that some Democratic officials are using to urge a federal investigation. On Monday, Javier Salazar, the sheriff of Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, opened an investigation into the flights, but the elected Democrat did not say what laws may have been broken. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, whose district includes San Antonio, have asked the Justice Department to begin a probe. Guesswork was rampant among government officials, advocates and journalists Tuesday about DeSantis next move, consistent with the element of surprise that he and another Republican governor, Greg Abbott of Texas, have sought to achieve by busing and flying migrants across the country to Democratic strongholds with little or no notice. Asked Tuesday about speculation that DeSantis may send migrants to his home state of Delaware, President Joe Biden said: He should come visit. We have a beautiful shoreline. DeSantis declined to confirm speculation, based on flight-tracking software, that more migrants were on the move. He again defended his decision to fly about 50 Venezuelans to Marthas Vineyard, saying their decisions were completely voluntary and, without evidence, that they were in awful condition when Florida got involved. CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) A Missouri man was sentenced Wednesday to life plus another 40 years in prison in the 2019 shooting death of a suburban St. Louis police officer. Bonette Meeks, 29, was convicted in June of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest in the killing of North County Police Cooperative Officer Michael Langsdorf. Prosecutors said Meeks was trying to cash a stolen check at a market in the St. Louis County community of Wellston on June 23, 2019, when Langsdorf arrived to investigate and that he shot the officer as they struggled. Defense attorneys sought a minimum sentence of 10 years, while prosecutors asked for two life sentences plus 17 years. Langsdorf was a 17-year law enforcement veteran and father of two teenagers. His parents, fiance and daughter all testified at the sentencing hearing. A psychologist testified for the defense about how being incarcerated as a youth had affected Meeks. The five-time prior felon was incarcerated in North Carolina from the age of 16 until he was 24. By Mariko Katsumura and Elaine Lies TOKYO (Reuters) -A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office on Wednesday in an apparent protest at the government's decision to hold a state funeral for former premier Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated earlier this year, media reported. The man was taken to hospital suffering burns to his entire body, while a police officer who tried to extinguish the flames was also injured. The man, in his 70s, was unconscious when first found but later told police that he had deliberately doused himself in oil, media said. A letter about Abe's state funeral and the words "I strongly oppose it," was found nearby. Police declined to confirm the incident, which took place on what would have been Abe's 68th birthday. "I have heard that police found a man who had suffered burns near government offices, and I'm aware that police are investigating," chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference. Abe, Japan's longest serving premier who stepped down in 2020 citing ill-health, was gunned down at a campaign rally on July 8. His state funeral is set for Sept. 27, with some 6,000 people from Japan and overseas set to take part. Opposition to the event has been growing due to revelations after Abe's killing of links between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), of which he was a powerful member, and the controversial Unification Church. The suspect in Abe's death has said the church bankrupted his mother and he felt the former prime minister supported it. Links to the Unification Church, founded in South Korea in the 1950s, have grown into a huge problem for current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the LDP since they emerged following Abe's killing. The LDP earlier this month said a survey showed nearly half of 379 LDP lawmakers had some form of interaction with the church. Public sentiment was narrowly in favour of a state funeral at the time it was announced, shortly after Abe's death, but opinion has shifted sharply. Story continues Numerous polls show a majority of Japanese now oppose the ceremony, helping to send Kishida's support plummeting. A poll by the Mainichi Daily conducted at the weekend showed his support at 29%, down six percentage points from late August - a level that analysts say makes it difficult for a prime minister to have enough support to carry out his agenda. Support for the LDP fell 6 points to 23%, the Mainichi said. Kishida has defended his decision repeatedly, but a vast majority of voters remain unconvinced, also questioning the need to hold such an expensive ceremony at a time of growing economic pain for ordinary citizens. The latest government cost estimate is 1.65 billion yen ($12 million), which includes security and receptions. In 2014, two men set themselves on fire in separate incidents in protest at Japan's shift away from postwar pacifism under Abe's administration. One of the men died. (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko and Elaine Lies; writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Richard Pullin) (Bloomberg) -- A stalled $6.6 billion natural gas pipeline would get preferential treatment under legislation intended to fast-track energy projects that was made public on Wednesday evening by Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Most Read from Bloomberg The measure, expected to be included in a must-pass funding bill to keep the government operating past the end of the month, would speed approval of clean energy and fossil fuel operations, including the Equitrans Midstream Corp. Mountain Valley Pipeline, which crosses Manchins home state. The legislation requires federal agencies to issue all approval and permits necessary for the construction of the Equitrans project, according to a summary of the bill. If passed, the measure would mark a victory for the oil and gas industry and other energy developers that have long sought to accelerate the securing of federal permits and scale back environmental reviews that can lead to years of delay and hundreds of millions of dollars in extra costs. Yet its path forward is uncertain. The bill faces hostility from Republicans seeking political payback for the pivotal vote by Manchin, a moderate Democrat, on President Joe Bidens climate and spending legislation that was passed by Congress last month. Theres also opposition from progressive Democrats, who see that same legislation as a bad deal for the climate. Manchin, who has estimated he might need as many as 20 Republican Senate votes for his permitting bill to counter Democrat defections, said Tuesday that Republican opposition is the result of revenge politics. He said the Senate leadership still plans to attach his bill to government funding legislation, setting up a possible confrontation could force a government shutdown Oct. 1 if its not resolved in the next week. Story continues In addition to helping, the Mountain Valley Pipeline, the bill, would also establish new deadlines as short as one year for some federal environmental reviews, set time limits on court challenges and expedite Clean Water Act permits needed for pipelines and other projects, according to the bill summary. But the changes might not be enough to satisfy Republicans who have argued the effort would fall short without major changes to bedrock environmental law and voiced concern it could add new layers of bureaucracy and deadlines that are unenforceable. You gotta put a timeline, because in American we dont do it, Manchin said in an interview earlier Wednesday. It takes us two to three times longer than any nation in the world to get anything done. Democratic reaction to the legislation was mixed on Wednesday night. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, the chairman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, called it a principled compromise after a lot of discussion. But Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia expressed unhappiness with the measure as written. He said that while he was receptive to many of the permitting reform provisions, the pipeline extends through 100 miles of his state and he wasnt given an opportunity to share his constituents concerns. Republican senators, whose votes will be needed to pass the bill, said they would study the text but expressed skepticism. We are not sure that the administration is committed to implementing the changes that are needed said Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, said Democrats should support a GOP version of permitting reform introduced by Shelley Moore Capito, also of West Virginia and a Republican, indicating a hardening of positions on the issue. As for the Republican side, our colleague Senator Capito has put forward a real, actual, substantive permitting reform bill that would make the commonsense changes our country needs, McConnell said. The bill received praise from the American Clean Power Association, which said it would improve the nations outdated system for permitting critical energy infrastructure. Making common-sense reforms to our current permitting process will help us unleash the full potential of the clean energy investments spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act and keep us within striking distance of the emissions reduction targets and climate goals we need to achieve, said Heather Zichal, chief executive officer of the Washington-based association, which has executives from wind turbine maker TPI Composites Inc. and the utility American Electric Power Co. Inc. on its board of directors. But Jamal Raad, executive director of the environmental group Evergreen Action, said, A dirty backroom deal to force through fossil fuel infrastructure has no place in a continuing resolution to fund the government. Completion of the stalled 303-mile (487-kilometer) Mountain Valley Pipeline has long been a priority for Manchin. The project, years behind schedule and over budget, stalled after a federal court in January rejected a permit to cross a national forest. Manchin said last week his bill would direct the court system to do the job in a timely fashion but rotate around. Weve had the same three judges from the Fourth Circuit 10 times ruling against, Manchin said. All we are asking for is a good shot at this. (Updates with Manchin quote, more reaction, starting in 10th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Manulife Financial Corp. and Sun Life Financial Inc., Canadas two largest life insurers, each finance emissions roughly equal to those of Ontario and Quebec, making it imperative for the firms to accelerate their climate plans, according to an advocacy group. Most Read from Bloomberg Manulife finances emissions of about 277 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and Sun Life has about 222 million tons, according to a study conducted by Dutch sustainability researcher Profundo and commissioned by Investors for Paris Compliance. The two figures each are on par with the combined 226 million tons of emissions for Ontario and Quebec in 2020, according to the study, released Wednesday. Global banks, insurers and asset managers have been committing to zero out the emissions from the firms they finance with their lending or investing activities by 2050 to help the world avoid catastrophic global warming. While Manulife and Sun Life have pledged to reduce financed emissions, the companies manage combined assets of C$2.84 trillion ($2.13 trillion) and need to be aggressive to hit their goals, according to Investors for Paris Compliance, a shareholder group that seeks to hold companies accountable for net-zero pledges. Its important to put into context the influence that these companies have on the Canadian and global economies, and how important it is for them to be taking meaningful action, Kyra Bell-Pasht, director of research and policy at Investors for Paris Compliance, said in an interview. Hopefully our report is helping them understand what that climate action really involves. Manulife and Sun Life need to do a better job of measuring and reporting financed emissions and set interim targets to reduce them that align with climate science, the group said. The companies also need better strategies to meet those targets, including fossil-fuel phase-out policies, plans to engage with portfolio companies that arent transitioning to net-zero emissions and better investments in climate solutions, the group said. Story continues Aviva, APG The group highlighted firms with more-advanced policies already in place, including London-based insurer Aviva Plc, which has pledged to divest from companies that make more than 5% of their revenue from coal unless they have signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative, and Amsterdam-based APG Asset Management NV, which has committed to an absolute interim emissions-reduction target of 50% from 2019 levels by 2030. Manulife and Sun Life both plan to release interim targets for reducing financed emissions later this year or next year. We give credit to them for the fact that theyre trying and putting systems in place right now, said Matt Price, director of corporate engagement for the finance sector at Investors for Paris Compliance. But it still feels like early days, and it feels like theyre a bit behind their international peers. Price also said the Profundo estimates of the firms emissions involve a significant amount of extrapolation and that the firms could have legitimate criticisms of their figures. Manulife rose 0.3% to C$22.72 at 10:12 a.m. in Toronto, while Sun Life gained 0.4% to C$57.52. Both companies are based in Toronto. Manulife is in the final stages of setting short-term financed emissions targets for its general-fund investments and aims to disclose them in its 2022 ESG report, Chief Sustainability Officer Sarah Chapman said in an emailed statement. The availability of high-quality emissions data, particularly in private markets, is an issue in the industry, and the company is constantly improving its measurement and disclosure, she said. Green Assets The company also continues to expand its C$42 billion portfolio of green assets, engage in developing climate-related public policy, maintain strong ESG standards for its own business and monitor and push portfolio companies to use best practices, she said. We remain focused on contributing to global goals that seek to combat climate change alongside industry stakeholders who share the same values, Chapman said. Sun Life believes climate change is the defining issue of our lifetime and welcomes the chance to engage with Investors for Paris Compliance and listen to new thinking, Chief Sustainability Officer Alanna Boyd said in an emailed statement. Sun Life already has work in progress on many of the groups recommendations and plans to set interim emissions-reduction targets for its general account later this year, she said. The company also is advocating for more rigorous sustainability disclosure standards, which is one of the toughest challenges in the push for net zero, she said. Were confident in our approach and committed to working with the companies we invest in to further their transition to a low carbon economy, Boyd said. We believe the steps were taking will allow us to achieve our long-term goals, and were committed to ongoing engagement with all our stakeholders and our industry. (Updates with share prices in 10th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. A Venezuelan migrant gathers outside of St. Andrew's Parish House in Martha's Vineyard to board a bus to the Vineyard Haven ferry terminal on September 16. Carlin Stiehl for The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Many of the migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard were families, a local lawmaker said. Massachusetts State Sen. Julian Cyr said the migrants were in pursuit of a "better life." Dozens of migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard in a move planned by Florida Gov. DeSantis. Many of the asylum-seeking migrants flown to the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were family members in pursuit of a "better life," a local lawmaker told Insider on Wednesday. Among the 49 mostly Venezuelan migrants, who were taken to the upscale coastal enclave from Texas last week, were 27 "family units," Massachusetts State Sen. Julian Cyr said, explaining that some pairs and groups were brothers or cousins. The majority of the migrants were men in their 20s and 30s, said the Democratic politician. The group included six children, he said. One migrant, a 26-year-old systems engineer, traveled to the United States with his two brothers from Venezuela, said Cyr. "These are people trying to make a better life," said Cyr who personally spoke to several of the immigrants after DeSantis had them flown on two chartered planes to Martha's Vineyard unannounced last week, sparking a political firestorm. Cyr said that Venezuela is "a failing regime under a communist dictatorship." The migrants, Cyr said, spoke "about how they're fleeing that regime for opportunity, for democracy." "I think we need to continue to remind everyone involved that we're talking about human beings and to see human beings, vulnerable, who were lawfully seeking a better life who were used as political pawns," Cyr said. A group of the migrants on Tuesday filed a federal class action suit against DeSantis and other state officials, alleging that they carried out a "scheme to defraud vulnerable immigrants to advance a political motive." Lawyers representing a majority of the migrants have called on state and federal prosecutors to open a criminal probe into what they have called a "shameful political stunt." Story continues The immigrants have since been relocated to a military base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. "This is not about finding solutions to immigration," Cyr, who represents Martha's Vineyard, told Insider. "This is about a political stunt at the expense of vulnerable people that's disgusting. That's un-American." Read the original article on Business Insider By Caleb Davis GDANSK, Poland (Reuters) - Moments after President Vladimir Putin called up 300,000 reservists on Wednesday in Russia's first such mobilisation since World War Two, a human rights lawyer said citizens had already started getting orders to enlist. In St Petersburg, Pavel Chikov said recruitment offices had handed packs of conscription papers to homeowners' associations. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the army was calling up people with experience of service and military "specialists" to fight in Ukraine. But there was little clarity as to who these would be. The Kremlin said parts of the decree had deliberately not been published. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the state media outlet RT and a vocal Putin supporter, said in a post that the list of specialities being recruited was classified, but offered to gather questions from the public and pass them to the Defence Ministry. But medical skills appeared to be in demand, because Chikov, who has advised objectors looking to avoid the draft, said medics in Moscow were "receiving summonses from recruitment offices en masse to come and receive mobilisation orders". Some companies reportedly asked employees to urgently provide details of their military service. "We already have employees who have received summonses for tomorrow. Everyone should be aware that it is possible they will be summoned in the morning and be unable to work the next day," one major company told employees, in a note seen by Reuters. "Keep managers informed so we don't lose track of each other." On the Moscow metro, men could be seen studying call-up papers, and on the streets, some residents were concerned about the biggest escalation of the conflict since Russia invaded Ukraine almost 7 months ago. 'NOT LETTING US OUT' "You always feel worried at moments like these. Because you have a wife and kids and you think about it," one resident told Reuters. Story continues One-way flights out of Russia rocketed in price and sold out fast after the announcement, amid fears that men of fighting age would not be allowed to leave. But for some it was already too late. In the city of Kursk, one woman married to a soldier said: "They're not letting people out of Kursk. There are police cordons everywhere, checking each car. If a man is driving, they inspect; if it's a woman, they ask her to open the luggage compartment. If the man is from Kursk, they turn you back." A Telegram social media channel created on Wednesday to share the locations where enlistment officers had been sighted quickly amassed more than 13,000 subscribers. It posted photos appearing to show officers in various public spaces carrying papers. Reuters was not able to immediately verify these reports. "I'm probably not eligible for mobilisation, but I'd rather go to jail," said one member of staff at an investment company who declined to be named. Moscow may be counting on its ability to head off any unrest triggered by the mobilisation by either limiting the numbers called up from major cities or clamping down on protests, just as it has stifled almost all domestic political opposition. The Vesna anti-war coalition called street protests in dozens of major cities but by early evening, Moscow time, more than 100 protesters had been detained, the independent monitoring group OVD-Info said. For now, Shoigu said Russia would not call a general mobilisation, nor recruit students or send current conscripts to fight in Ukraine. (Reporting by Caleb Davis; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling went viral earlier this summer when paparazzi pictures of them filming their new movie "Barbie" began circulating online. During a recent appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" Robbie admitted she and Gosling werent exactly thrilled when hundreds of fans began showing up to watch them film while they were out shooting on location in Los Angeles. The pictures of the two on set were everywhere over the summer and really increased the hype surrounding the film, but Robbie referred to the experience of going viral as one of the most embarrassing things to happen to her. When Fallon held up the viral pictures, Robbie explained just how embarrassed they were. "I can't tell you how mortified we were, by the way," she told Fallon. "We look like we're like laughing and having fun, but we're dying on the inside. Dying. I was like, 'This is the most humiliating moment of my life.'" RYAN GOSLING COULD BE THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE UPCOMING 'OCEAN'S ELEVEN' PREQUEL WITH MARGOT ROBBIE Margot Robbie revealed she and Ryan Gosling were "mortified" when fans showed up on set and began taking their pictures. MEGA/GC Images Robbie said she knew some fans would want to come watch the making of the movie and catch a glimpse of her and Gosling, but she never expected as many people to show up, noting there were "hundreds of people watching all (the) time." "I mean, I knew that we had some exteriors to shoot in LA. I knew once you're doing exteriors, you're gonna get pap'd," she explained. "There's probably going to be a little crowd of people who are going to take notice because, you know, we stand out a little in those outfits. So, I knew there would be a little bit of attention and probably some photos would get out there, but not like it did. It was like mad." In the photos, Gosling and Robbie are on rollerblades wearing bright pink outfits and fluorescent elbow and kneepads. Robbie is starring in the film as the popular Mattel doll Barbie, and Gosling is starring as the dolls boyfriend Ken. Robbie didn't expect the pictures to go viral like they did, saying she knew there would be fans on set but not as many as there were. MEGA/GC Images During an interview with British Vogue last year, Robbie opened up about how people have come up to her expressing skepticism about the movie. But, she addded, once they find out who directed and wrote the film, the skepticism faded. Story continues CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "People generally hear Barbie and think, I know what that movie is going to be. And then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they're like, 'Oh, well, maybe I don't ...'" Gerwig wrote and directed the 2019 adaptation of "Little Women" and "Lady Bird," the latter of which received 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. "Barbie" is scheduled to premiere in theaters July 21, 2023. MEGA/GC Images "Barbie" is scheduled to premiere in theaters July 21, 2023. Marjorie Taylor Greene filmed a 10-minute rant complaining that she was being asked to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. The Georgia lawmakers bizarre video from her congressional office came as Vladimir Putin announced the call-up of 300,000 Russian reservists and hinted he would think about using nuclear weapons. But the QAnon-supporting congresswoman was more worried that a Ukrainian lobbyist had visited her office and left a letter, and a used Russian shell. The right-wing politician told her followers that unlike Joe Biden she did not care about Ukraines border. There is a countrys border that he (Biden) cares about and it is not this countrys border, it is Ukraines border, she said. And while we are all concerned and we care very much about what is happening to the people of Ukraine and are praying for them daily, I have voted no to every single penny going to a proxy war with Russia, Bidens war with Russia. I believe our American tax dollars need only to be used for this country while we have so many problems, security crises. Why are people from Ukraine lobbying my office? pic.twitter.com/RfhO2B3PPY Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) September 21, 2022 She then complained that Congress was being lobbied this week not by the American people but by people in support of Ukraine, people from Ukraine. And she explained that Andrey Liscovich, the President of the Ukraine Defense Fund, had visited her office to try and speak with her to try and get her to back increased military aid to the country. It doesnt matter who the president of the United States is, I have a major issue with billions and billions, tens of billions of Americas hard-earned dollars being spent for another countrys border, for a proxy war with Russia, nuclear Russia, when this administration could care less about our own southern border. Story continues She then showed off the Russian shell that had been left for her and said it had been fired near a Ukrainian nuclear facility. I have no idea if this is contaminated, she complained as she showed a map of Georgias 14th district, which she represents. All of these people here are not calling my office, in fact, they are not coming to my office begging me to send $11.7bn to Ukraine, she said. And she claimed that the most important issue to her voters was actually impeaching Joe Biden. The most calls I have got this week from my district and other people across the country is - impeach Joe Biden, she said. UNITED NATIONS (AP) It was 31 years ago when the Marshall Islands first president, Amata Kabua, appeared before the U.N. General Assembly to sound the alarm over global warming. Today, his son current president David Kabua is still sounding the alarm, which has only gotten more dire. Speaking to world leaders gathered at the high-level leaders' meeting Tuesday, the younger Kabua described the longstanding fight to keep his low-lying island nation above water. Today, we renew our call to the world to declare total war on this centurys greatest challenge the climate change monster, he said. Kabua bemoaned the fact that after so many years, the world has failed to break our addiction to fossil fuels. We are not investing enough in life-saving adaptation, particularly for small island states, he said. He urged world leaders to drastically increase renewable energy while also taking on sectors that rely on fossil fuels, including aviation and shipping. He pointed to the Marshall Islands carbon levy proposal for international shipping that he says will drive the transition to zero emission shipping, channeling resources from polluters to the most vulnerable. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has likewise encouraged going after the worlds largest polluters. During his opening remarks to the assembly on Tuesday, he pushed for richer countries to tax the profits of energy companies and redirect the funds to both countries suffering loss and damage caused by the climate crisis and those struggling with the rising cost of living. Kabua, along with the leaders of Tuvalu and Kiribati, plan to launch the Rising Nations Initiative on Wednesday to press for innovative efforts among Pacific atoll island countries to combat climate change. Also on Tuesday, Kabua described his growing concerns over nuclear weapons testing and detonation, calling the Marshall Islands ground zero for the testing of the 67 nuclear and thermonuclear weapons for 12 years during the U.N.-U.S.-administered trusteeship era. Story continues The exposure of our people and land has created impacts that have lasted and will last for generations, Kabua said. These impacts to our human rights, land, culture, health and lives, are burdens that no other nation or country should ever have to bear." ___ Pia Sarkar, a Philadelphia-based journalist for The Associated Press, is on assignment covering the U.N. General Assembly. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PiaSarkar_TK and for more AP coverage of the U.N. General Assembly, visit https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-general-assembly After an overwhelming number of requests from tourists and locals to bring lobster rolls to the Oceanfront, a second Masons Famous Lobster Rolls opened in Virginia Beach just before Labor Day. Franchisees Deborah and Craig Leonard and their sons, Wes and Colt, opened the new restaurant on Aug. 31 in a 2,600-square-foot building at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and 7th Street near the Turtle Cay Resort. Its been wonderful. The response has been overwhelming, Wes Leonard said. Formerly a Sunsations souvenir and gift shop, Wes Leonard said they had a clean slate for their newest location that boasts the growing franchises largest indoor dining area, outdoor seating and expanded bar options. The family signed on together as franchisees after falling in love with the Annapolis, Maryland-based brand five years ago. They opened their first location on Shore Drive last November in the former free-standing Sugar Shack location. Founded in 2014, the fast-casual restaurant serves four different New England-style lobster rolls classic, Connecticut, lobster BLT and lobster salad all sourced from Maine lobster. One of the things that I fell in love with was the simplicity of this brand, Wes Leonard said. And the simplicity is great because it allows you to be consistent. Every visit and every classic roll will look and taste the same. The limited menu also includes clam chowder and lobster bisque and side choices of chips, coleslaw and potato salad. Moving forward, the Leonard family are in discussions for two more Virginia Beach locations including one at Town Center before they expand Masons Famous Lobster Rolls into Chesapeake. Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) came closer than previously reported to voting to convict former President Trump in the impeachment trial that followed the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, according to a new book set to be released next month. The Washington Post released an excerpt from UNCHECKED: The Untold Story Behind Congresss Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump, by the Posts Karoun Demirjian and Politicos Rachel Bade, that discusses how McConnell wrestled with whether to vote to convict Trump for inciting the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. McConnell was pleased to see the wide range of Republicans who had turned against Trump following the riot and called on him to resign. But he was stunned by the speed at which the GOP turned back to support Trump, with only 10 House Republicans voting in favor of impeachment, the excerpt states. McConnell knew many Senate Republicans would look to him for guidance on how to vote on a motion from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) about whether the conviction of a president who was no longer in office was constitutionally permitted. The House voted to impeach Trump a week before the end of his term, but the Senate trial would not begin until after he left office. The authors based the information in the excerpt on interviews with people familiar with McConnells thinking and deliberations. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. McConnell was drawn to voting to convict Trump, an outcome that would have potentially barred him from running for office again. Weve all known that Trump is crazy, he reportedly told aides following the insurrection. Im done with him. I will never speak to him again. But McConnell did not know if he was up to leading a rebellion against Trump, according to the authors. He was not convinced by an argument from conservative attorney J. Michael Luttig that the Senate was constitutionally unable to hold a trial for a former president. But other members of the Senate Republican Conference thought differently. Story continues McConnell discussed the argument with fellow GOP senators who were skeptical. His legal adviser from Trumps first impeachment trial, Andrew Ferguson, advised him that some constitutional scholars do not believe that the Constitution allows an impeached president to be barred from future office. However, these scholars are in the minority. Ferguson told McConnell that Trump could use that view to run again in 2024 and sue states that keep him off the ballot, turning it into a legal battle that could lead to a political comeback. The authors reported that McConnell also feared turning Trump into a martyr if he was convicted. The Senate Republican leader sent a letter to his fellow GOP senators the day after Luttig made his argument that he was open to voting to convict and firmly blamed Trump for causing the riot, according to the excerpt. McConnell ultimately voted to acquit the former president. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky applauded Republican governors' transportation of migrants for showing "well-to-do blue enclaves" a glimpse of the border crisis. McConnell made the remarks Tuesday on the Senate floor in reference to recent relocation programs by Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and more. "Out of desperation, a few governors along our southern border are now giving some Democrat-run states and cities just a tiny, tiny taste of what border communities have been enduring, literally, for years," McConnell said. DESANTIS RIPS INTO OUTRAGE OVER MARTHA'S VINEYARD FLIGHTS: I DIDNT HEAR A PEEP' ABOUT BIDEN FLIGHTS Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks at a news conference in the Capitol on Aug. 2, 2022. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images He added, "These well-to-do blue enclaves are finally witnessing the smallest fraction of the challenges that open borders have forced on working-class communities all across our country." DeSantis followed through on his promise to drop off illegal immigrants in progressive states, sending two planes full of migrants to Marthas Vineyard last week. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Racheal Rollin s said she plans to speak to the Department of Justice about possible actions regarding the transportation of migrants to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. TEXAS SHERIFF INVESTIGATING DESANTIS SAYS AMERICANS SHOULD EMBRACE MIGRANT SURGE, GIVE THEM JOBS Rollins made the comments last week during a press conference. The migrants boarded a bus Friday that departed the liberal island haven and arrived at Joint Base Cape Cod, where Republican Gov. Charlie Baker opened a shelter. DeSantis dismissed criticism of him flying migrants to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, claiming his political opponents have ignored similar initiatives from the White House. "So when Biden is flying these people all over the fruited plain in the middle of the night, I didn't hear a peep out of those people," DeSantis told the crowd Tuesday. "I haven't heard a peep about all the people that have been told by Biden [migrants] can just come in and they're going, they're being abused by the cartels. They're drowning in the Rio Grande. You had 50 that died in some shed in Texas. I heard no outrage about any of that." Everything starts with education Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Medtronic Losier sports an orange shirt throughout September to raise awareness of the residential school system and its impact on Indigenous communities Guy Losier didnt know his First Nations heritage until his early 40s when his mother found historical papers for his great grandfather while researching genealogy. One word stood out: Savage. That moment changed Losiers life. More than a decade later, he still gets a chill up his spine remembering seeing the slur. He began learning as much as possible about his tribe, Mikmaq. It wasnt long before he started taking action first in his role as a respiratory therapist, then as a sales representative at Medtronic. So, when news of mass graves at residential schools in Canada came out in 2021, Losier was not surprised. But it was a wake-up call for many. I believed my elders and heard the stories, he said. But its also like war; sometimes they dont want to talk about what they saw or who they did not come back with. Its a real-life trauma. As a leader in an employee-led group of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis employees and allies at Medtronic Canada, the news spurred him and other employees to act. And the perfect opportunity was just around the corner. Looking back to move forward Every June, the Medtronic Foundation kicks off year-round volunteerism and giving with an initiative called Project 6 aligned to Tenet 6 of the Medtronic Mission to be a good corporate citizen. The group put together a series of six lunch and learn sessions, leveraging the University of Albertas Indigenous Canada course. Learning about what happened at the residential schools is an important way for people to connect with our Canadian history and understand the inequities First Nations face, said Roxane Belanger, a communications specialist and member of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis group. Were helping our employees gain more empathy and understand intergenerational trauma and inform how they interact with our indigenous community in healthcare settings and in the community. Story continues For Suzanne Thomson, a senior program manager in Medical Education, who has been in education at Medtronic for 15 years, the initiative combined her passion for education and social justice. "Everything starts with education, so I am very grateful that Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation recognize the value of education pertaining to volunteerism and that education is the first step towards positive change, she said. Manon Desrochers has volunteered for Project 6 many times in her 10 years at Medtronic, from participating in food drives to bringing feminine products to a women and childrens shelter. But this years Project 6 initiative was different. I have knowledge now and can be an ally for the Indigenous community, she said. Before the six-week course was even complete, she found herself sharing her learnings with family and friends. Thats exactly what Losier hopes for other employees who came to the lunch and learn sessions. He remembers wanting to speak up while witnessing inequities in his time as a respiratory therapist. I couldnt teach before because I didnt know, but now because of the knowledge I have gained, I can speak up, he said. During this years Project 6 kick-off, 9,164 Medtronic employees around the world participated in volunteer events and 3,995 Medtronic employees donated to their favorite nonprofits. Learn more about the Medtronic Foundation . View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Medtronic on 3blmedia.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/medtronic-employee-finds-new-take-on-volunteering-657451411 Criminal defense attorney, real estate closing attorney, and reality TV star, Kendra Robinson, is sticking to the bottom line and representing Black homeowners with her state-of-the-art firm, SRS Title & Associates. Originally born and raised in a small industrial community in Clinton, South Carolina, Robinson learned at a young age to dream big. Growing up there [in Clinton] at one point in time was all I knew. The living was easy, like, I guess if I had to compare it to what I know about life now, looking at it back then. I mean, life was easy, you know, Clinton was sort of like a mill town. You see, we had two textile mills there. Most of everybodys parents worked in the mill. I really loved it, Robinson stated. After graduating from high school, Kendra decided to attend Kentucky State University where she studied pure mathematics with a minor in Spanish. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Robinson realized where her true passion laid: her community. A big big part of why I wanted to become a lawyer is because back then it was like people didnt have adequate representation or have an adequate voice [in society]. [Some people] didnt have people who look like them who would fight as hard [for them] as other people and understood what they went through, you know, [someone] who looked like them. So, I just always had the sense to want to be better than that [for people], Kendra said. Inspired by her humble beginnings, Kendra recognized that she could make a real difference as a criminal defense lawyer. Shortly after her matriculation at Kentucky State, Kendra enrolled in law school at the University of Louisville a choice that would foreshadow a pivotal moment in her career. Once I just said to myself, look, I got to transition. Im not trying to live and die being a criminal lawyer, and thats it [I decided to go through with it]. Ive had so many of my mentors, you know, [that told me] Hey, kid, you dont want to do this. I need [you] to find you something else in addition to this.' Story continues View this post on Instagram A post shared by Attorney Kendra Robinson (@attorneykendra_robinson) So, earlier on when I got into being a real estate closing attorney, the people drew me in, and then, you know, as I worked in criminal defense, and that was all I was doing. When I got introduced to real estate, which is very early on in my career, I gravitated towards it a lot, because, you know, [because] I was still able to help people. But it was like a happy thing, Robinson stated. Ultimately her devotion to people would prompt her to start her own firm with the mission to serve Black families seeking homeownership. Thus, the foundation for Kendra Robinson & Associates and Sanders, Robinson, and Scott Title & Associates was created. A 360 Black women-owned firm founded by Robinson and her business partners Kendra Sanders and Yashica Scott, theyre the perfect dynamic trio. Now, seeing both sides of the aisle, Kendra advocates for Black homeownership with an end goal already in mind: true financial freedom. Every time a transaction closes out of my office. I know when people are walking out, somebodys walking out with a check because they sold it and somebody is walking out with some keys, but the world is like a better place because I know somebody has a house [and] theyre not homeless. And I know somebody has just made a profit. So its just Im able to make sure both people are taken care of, Kendra said. Currently, Kendra and her husband Jasiel Amon Robinson otherwise known as Young Joc are in the business of flipping houses and are preparing to list their first house in South Carolina. Queen Elizabeth's last two corgis appeared at her funeral committal ceremony in Windsor. The Queen loved corgis, and all but two of her dogs descended from her first, named Susan. Susan once bit a servant and a police officer, but she could do no wrong in the eyes of the Queen. One of the most poignant moments at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was the glimpse of her corgis waiting for her casket to pass by. It was as if they wanted to pay their final respects to their beloved owner. The moving images of the dogs together with photographs of Emma, the late monarch's last pony struck a chord with mourners across the world. Corgis had been a signature of the Queen for more than seven decades. She doted on the short-legged pets, including Muick and Sandy, the dogs that her footmen brought to see her committal ceremony at Windsor Castle on Monday. Queen Elizabeth II was given her first and favorite corgi on her 18th birthday Muick and Sandy were relative newcomers to the royal household. They were given to the Queen as puppies to keep her company during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they offered comfort when her husband, Prince Philip, died last at the age of 99. But Sandy and Muick the latter is named after one of the sovereign's favorite lochs on her Scottish estate, Balmoral represented a break from tradition. Neither of them descended from the Queen's first dog, a Pembroke Welsh corgi known as Susan. The young Elizabeth was so enamored by Susan, whom she received in 1944 as an 18th birthday present from her father, George VI, that she bred her. She wanted Susan's legacy to be preserved through her puppies. Princess Elizabeth with Susan, her first pet corgi, at Windsor Castle, in May 1944. Lisa Sheridan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Susan, who stayed at Elizabeth's side for 15 years before she died, played a such significant role in her life, the dog will be the subject of a forthcoming children's book, "The Corgi and the Queen," set to be published next month. The author, Caroline Perry, told Insider that Susan's family tree showed that she had dozens of descendants. Perry said many of them were raised by the monarch. The Queen was believed to have owned at least 30 corgis during her unprecedented 70 years on the throne. Story continues The Queen wanted Susan's legacy to be upheld "Susan was the Queen's first love and their friendship sparked a dynasty across 14 generations," Perry said. "She was clearly in love with this little animal and didn't want things to end," she added. BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) September 12, 2022 The monarch put a stop to the breeding program in 2018 following the death of a treasured corgi named Willow. Willow turned out to be the last of Susan's descendants. "The Queen said she didn't want them to outlive her," Perry said. Perry, a former journalist, spent months researching Susan's story for her book. She discovered that the UK's head of state yearned for her precious corgi whenever they were apart. She smuggled the pet inside her wedding carriage so Susan could join her on her honeymoon in Scotland, following her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947, Perry said. "She hid her under a woven rug on the floor of the carriage when she rode across London to greet the hundreds of thousands of well-wishers," Perry said, adding, "It was probably a breach of royal protocol." Queen Elizabeth II even took Susan on her honeymoon in 1947. She and Prince Philip frequently played with the dog. Getty Images Perry said that none of the Queen's other dogs saw her through such "challenging times" as World War II and her coronation in 1953, "which happened under the sad circumstances of her father's death" the year before. Perry said that Susan was 'feisty' and 'a little bit wild' "A Queen can't really choose her own friends, but Susan was her chosen friend," she said. Perry added, "She was very much a confidante and Elizabeth could show her true emotions to that little dog." Perry described Susan as "feisty," which, she said, "was interesting because the Queen was very much not that way." "The Queen was orderly and disciplined, and I think that's part of what she loved about Susan," Perry said. "She was sweet and affectionate, but she was a little bit wild. Maybe she was doing things that the younger Elizabeth wasn't allowed to do." Caroline Perry's book, "The Corgi and the Queen," will be out in October. Courtesy of Macmillan Susan once sank her teeth into a clock winder at one of the Queen's residences, according to Perry, and once bit a police officer. "Luckily she didn't cause any damage," Perry said. "Corgis are playful and occasionally ankles do get nipped." Susan was buried in a pet cemetery that was first established for royal pets by Queen Victoria "In Elizabeth's sights, Susan was a staunch defender who could do nothing wrong," Perry said. The Queen was heartbroken when Susan died in 1959. She was buried in a pet cemetery that Queen Victoria had founded on the Windsor estate of Sandringham. Perry said that Elizabeth chose the inscription on Susan's grave and visited the spot. Queen Elizabeth described Susan as her "faithful companion" in the inscription on her gravestone in a pet cemetery on the royal estate of Sandringham. Getty Images "She wrote a letter to one of her correspondents, saying that she'd always dreaded losing Susan," Perry said. The author concluded, "A lot of people might say, 'It was just a dog,' but the Queen never forgot her." Read the original article on Insider A 41-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking in Memphis. Craig Parham was sentenced to 180 months, according to a release from the Department of Justice. According to information presented in court, from September 2017 through March 2020, Parham and his co-conspirators formed a group named the Smokey City Bullies, or SCB. This group distributed illegal narcotics in the North Memphis area (Smokey City), officials said. Most of the individuals displayed their affiliation to the group through their Facebook accounts. The Facebook accounts depicted the individuals displaying SCB memorabilia, inside locations where controlled purchases during the investigation were made, and in front of other locations where state search warrants had been previously executed. They also posted photographs of themselves displaying drugs, guns, and cash, according to the release. The SCBs primarily sold illegal narcotics out of two residences in Smokey City. The first residence was a duplex on North Dunlap Street in Memphis; the second was located on Keel Avenue, also in Memphis. According to the release, members of the Smokey City Bullies worked rotating shifts to sell illegal narcotics to customers at those houses. These residences were around the corner from one another, and their backyards were adjacent. The long-term investigation involved confidential informants, undercover buys, undercover surveillance, and Facebook search warrants, officials said. Parham participated in the following controlled buys: On Dec. 19, 2019, he had a gun in his waistband when he sold approximately 54 grams of cocaine base to an undercover ATF agent. On March 4, 2020, he sold approximately 28 grams of cocaine base and 14 grams of powder cocaine to an undercover ATF agent on Dunlap. He pled guilty on March 3, 2022. On Sept. 15, he was sentenced to prison, followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Story continues Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: Memphis has wrestled with processing rape kits for decades. Even now, results from the state lab take nearly a year, on average. Issues with rape kits are not new to Memphis, its police department, and unfortunately, to the victims who submit them hoping for justice. A backlog of 12,000 untested kits, kept by city police more than a decade ago compelled a state lawmaker to act, and he said Eliza Fletchers life would have been saved had his legislation passed. RELATED: Rape victim sues city for negligence over case with Eliza Fletchers alleged killer The untested kits were uncovered in 2013, but by then, many were decades old. That meant some victims never found justice, that either the statute of limitations had run out, or in some cases, a serial rapist remained on the streets. A bill introduced into the General Assembly in 2014 called for eliminating that backlog by law. However, it stalled, and blame is pointed squarely in one direction. Had this bill been enacted, Eliza Fletcher would be alive today. I blame the leadership at the time, in 2014, for not making this a priority; not making the safety of the women in our state a priority; not making the rape of a woman in the state of Tennessee a priority, said state rep. Antonio Parkinson, D- Memphis. Efforts to contact the former Speaker of the House at the time this legislation was introduced for reaction to that claim were unsuccessful. FOX13s reporter Dakari Turner reached out to the former Speaker of the Senate as well, but no response at this time. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: Sep. 21METHUEN The Methuen branch of the Merrimack Valley YMCA was one of 17 organizations to be selected to receive a state grant from the Early Education and Out-of-School Time capital improvement program. Located on Haverhill Street, the Methuen branch will receive $250,000, which will be used to install a new roof and HVAC system. Claudia SooHoo, chief operating officer of the Merrimack Valley YMCA, said that in addition to a leaking roof, the current HVAC system stopped working in January. The facility, which serves 200 children every day, has been running off an emergency system. During an event Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito spoke about how the COVID-19 pandemic altered childcare across Massachusetts. "The way people work has changed, children's care has been re-examined," she said. "We know that investments in early education and care settings are vital for children and families through providing high quality early childhood education and out-of-school time programs in enriching and engaging settings." Amy Kershaw, acting commissioner of Early Education and Care, highlighted the role of the Methuen YMCA. "You are part of the fabric of the community," she told staff members. Like Polito, Kershaw said the pandemic created an entirely new playing field. "The pandemic changed everything, including this grant program," she said. "The Commonwealth runs on childcare." State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell said she remembered when the YMCA first opened in the early-2000s. "This is a very special place, you see joy in this place," she said, adding that some employees have been with the YMCA for 15 years. "This serves a very special need in the Merrimack Valley." The grant is part of a $3.9 million effort from the Baker-Polito administration to fund projects at early child care facilities that primarily serve low-income families. "Our administration is proud to make significant investments to renovate, repair, and expand child care facilities across the Commonwealth so children have quality learning environments," said Gov. Charlie Baker in a written statement. "This critically important funding makes it possible for families to work while their children are cared for in nurturing and safe child care and after-school programs." Financed through the state's capital budget, the EEOST program has awarded $42 million to 90 organizations since 2013. "All children deserve to learn in safe and enriching environments and their teachers deserve well-equipped spaces to facilitate learning," said Theresa Jordan, director of the Children's Investment Fund. "The EEOST Capital Fund is creating those environments across the Commonwealth and leveraging additional resources in support of high-quality early childhood education and out-of-school time care." MADISON - Republican candidate for governor Tim Michels is attacking Democratic Gov. Tony Evers over the parole of state inmates convicted of violent crimes, with Michels calling on Evers to stop paroles altogether a move that in some cases would violate state law. Michels this week sent a letter to Evers demanding he suspend the prison releases after a conservative website Wisconsin Right Now published a series of stories on some of the offenders being paroled, including men who decapitated, strangled and stabbed women. In some of the cases, families weren't notified of the killers' releases, the website reported. Evers appoints the chairperson to the state parole commission, but does not make parole decisions. More: What to know about parole, truth in sentencing and when people can get out of prison in Wisconsin The commission chairman has authority over parole and the commission is required by state law to regularly interview eligible inmates. In many cases paroles are mandatory under state law. Only inmates sentenced before 2000, when a law known as truth-in-sentencing took effect, are eligible for parole. Evers could hinder the commission's work by withdrawing the appointment of chairman Christopher Blythe and not replacing him, but state law also requires the commission to regularly consider paroles. State records show the commission has been granting discretionary paroles at a slightly higher rate since Evers took office than during the previous eight years when Republican Gov. Scott Walker was in office. The number of discretionary paroles being granted in recent years is far below commissions during previous administrations of both parties due in part to changes in sentencing laws. More: The embattled chairman of the Wisconsin Parole Commission resigns at the request of Gov. Tony Evers The issue of crime has become the centerpiece of Republican campaigns for statewide offices in Wisconsin, a battleground state where elections can be decided by a few thousand votes. Story continues In the letter, Michels detailed cases of men who were recently released after serving sentences for committing brutal murders and accused Evers of not caring about "just how heinous their crimes were and just how upset the surviving victims and their families are that you set them free." Evers said Wednesday that Michels "is obviously unprepared to be governor of the state of Wisconsin." "Paroles have to happen by law," Evers said. Britt Cudaback, spokeswoman for Evers, said in an earlier statement that Evers has no authority to suspend or end paroles and doing so would violate state laws and the U.S. Constitution. "In Wisconsin, parole is required by state law," Cudaback said. "This is clearly an uninformed stunt to score political points by someone who has no regard or appreciation for the laws of our state." Michels' spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded, "if Evers can't do anything about anything, why is he running for another failed term?" Earlier this year, Evers asked Blythe's predecessor, John Tate, to resign after granting parole to Douglas Balsewicz, who in 1997 stabbed his wife to death in front of their children. The parole decision was rescinded weeks later under massive criticism after the victim's family was not notified before learning of Balsewicz's expected release. More: Wisconsin Senate Republicans split over convening a session to fire Tony Evers' parole commissioner More: 'We're better than this': An angry week in Wisconsin politics leaves Tony Evers, GOP lawmakers cemented in division It prompted Evers to publicly criticize his appointee and ultimately ask for his resignation. He then replaced Tate with Blythe. Since Evers took office in 2019, the commission has approved 461 discretionary parole grants 51.5% of the total number, according to parole commission data. Between 2011 and 2018, when former Republican Gov. Scott Walker was in office, the commission granted 663 discretionary releases, or 47.5% of the total. Of those who received a discretionary parole since Evers took office, 78 offenders or 16% of the total paroled have absconded, been accused of new crimes, or were sent back to prison, according to commission data. During Walker's administration, 81% of those who received discretionary parole reoffended or absconded. The parole commission is required to take into consideration three factors when granting a discretionary parole: Depreciation of the seriousness of the offense resulting from early release; risk to the community; and reasonable certainty of a crime-free reintegration of the inmate into society. In addition to discretionary paroles, the commission is required to parole felons who have completed either the Earned Release Program or the Challenge Incarceration Program, both of which allow inmates who committed certain offenses to be released early. Under the Challenge Incarceration Program, for instance, inmates must complete manual labor, military drill, physical exercise and treatment to qualify for parole. Overall, the Evers administration has released 895 felons under discretionary and mandatory parole under the two programs, compared with 1,397 during Walker's two terms, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis of Department of Corrections data. Of the total number of offenders paroled during Evers' tenure, 593 were convicted of offenses classified as violent, such as murder, rape and armed robbery. The number for Walker's time in office was 744 violent offenders. Numbers higher in past administrations The number of discretionary paroles granted under Evers and Walker are fewer than under previous administrations of both parties. Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's parole commission granted more than 5,000 discretionary paroles. Doyle served eight years. Under Republican Gov. Scott McCallum, who served three years, that number was 2,500. Currently in Wisconsin, a judge will specify how many years someone will spend in prison, known as initial confinement, and how many years a person will be monitored in the community, known as extended supervision. This system is known as truth in sentencing and has been in effect in Wisconsin since 2000. The truth-in-sentencing law was approved in 1998 and had broad bipartisan support at the time. It was introduced by Walker, then a state lawmaker, and signed by Gov. Tommy Thompson, both Republicans, but also had support from then-Attorney General Doyle before he became governor. During the 14 years Thompson was in office, largely before the truth-in-sentencing law took effect, more than 23,000 discretionary paroles were granted. The truth-in-sentencing law, among the toughest in the nation, requires all prisoners to serve every day of the sentence imposed by a judge. From the archives: $1.8 billion: The price of truth in sentencing Before truth in sentencing, a judge sentenced a person to prison and after a certain time period, he or she became eligible for parole. Then it was up to the parole commission to decide if the person should stay behind bars or go out into the community on supervision. Only those who were sentenced under the old system, which means anyone convicted of a crime committed before Dec. 31, 1999, are eligible for parole. About 8% of the state's 20,235 in-custody prisoners were sentenced under the parole system, according to Department of Corrections data. The state reported that 1,784 people in custody had at least one parole-eligible offense at the end of August. The average age of those individuals is 52.4 years old. Finger pointing around state funding to fight crime Evers told reporters this month crime could improve if the state increased its payments to local municipalities so more law enforcement officials could be hired. "The state has to do their job and it has not done their job," Evers said. "I've put the money in the budget for the two budgets I've had access to doing and surprise, the Republicans took it out of the budget. We need their help. At the end of the day, these things are about resources and the state is willing and has the money to do it. All we need is to get the resources behind it." Michels said he's willing to increase state funding to local municipalities for police departments and believes Evers "coddles criminals," by giving them second chances. More: Tony Evers spending $50 million in federal funds to boost police forces, clear court backlogs More: $45 million in federal aid to be spent on violence prevention, crime victim services, Gov. Evers announces Michels also has touted his endorsement from Thompson, who has repeatedly said that he regrets having built as many prisons as he did during his four terms. We lock up too many people for too long. Its about time we change the dynamics. I apologize for that, Thompson, the states Republican governor from 1987 to 2001, said at the Marquette University Law School in 2018. Asked if Michels agreed with Thompson, Kelly said, "Unlike Tony Evers, people actually felt safe when Tommy Thompson was governor." Michels wouldn't say if he favors shutting down early release for prisoners, but he did say Evers is letting out too many criminals. "The benchmark is Gov. Walker. Gov. Walker did zero early parole," Michels said, confusing pardons and paroles. "Gov. Evers is on his way to almost 1,000 today. What is the right number? It's certainly a whole lot less than Gov. Tony Evers. Is zero my number? I don't know, but it's certainly going to be a very low number." Walker did not parole zero criminals. Rather, he did not grant a single pardon during eight years in office. A pardon clears a conviction from someone's criminal record. Parole allows criminals to leave prison before filling their full term and finish their sentence under supervision in the community. The issue of crime also emerged during the 2018 race. Walker ran a television ad criticizing Evers' support for the idea of cutting the prison population in half, arguing it would result in the release of "felons who've committed rape, assault, robbery and even kidnapping." Evers said the TV ad was "a lie." "We will not release violent criminals," he said. On pardons, Evers has taken the opposite approach of Walker since taking office, seeking to issue the most pardons in history. Michels also has asked Evers to halt pardons. From the archives: Iraq War vet faces losing battle for pardon from Scott Walker Told that Michels had confused parole with pardons in his comment, Kelly criticized Evers on both issues, saying Michels believes the Democratic governor and his administration were issuing too many pardons and granting too many paroles. You can find out who your legislators are and how to contact them here. Ashley Luthern and Vanessa Swales of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. Contact Molly Beck, Corrine Hess and Daniel Bice at molly.beck@jrn.com, chess@gannett.com and dbice@jrn.com. THANK YOU: Subscribers' support makes this work possible. Help us share the knowledge by buying a gift subscription. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Republican candidate Tim Michels wants to stop paroles in Wisconsin Story at a glance Michigan senators on Monday approved a resolution condemning videos from the Michigan Department of Educations (MDE) LGBTQ+ Students Project that advise teachers they are not required to disclose a students sexual orientation or gender identity with their family. The departments training videos drew sharp criticism from other state government officials after clips were shared online and labeled radical gender theory. MDE has defended the training videos. Michigan senators on Monday voted to adopt a resolution condemning instructional videos distributed by the state Department of Education this month that educate school faculty and staff on LGBTQ-inclusive student policies. The resolution, introduced by Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R), condemns the departments training videos on student gender orientation and intends to reaffirm the fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children. The videos, part of a training for the 2021-22 school year from the Michigan Department of Educations (MDE) LGBTQ+ Students Project, drew sharp criticism from state officials and parents after clips were shared online by conservative writer Christopher Rufo, who denounced them as radical gender theory and accused MDE of using state resources to push a destructive ideology onto public-school children. Michigan senators, including Shirkey, took issue with a portion of the training advising teachers that while they do have a legal obligation to report to an LGBTQ+ students family if the student is experiencing suicidal thoughts, they do not have an obligation to share the students sexual orientation or gender identity. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. This should alarm and concern every single parent in this state, Shirkey said Monday on the Senate floor, urging his colleagues to vote in favor of the resolution. Story continues This shouldnt need to be said, it shouldnt require resolution or a vote, but here we are in 2022 having to reaffirm that it is parents not bureaucrats who should ultimately make educational and health decisions for their children, he said. The MDE training videos have been criticized by other state government leaders, including the office of Michigans Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmers Chief Operating Officer Tricia Foster in a letter to State Superintendent Michael Rice said the videos went beyond the departments scope and argued that the perspectives of parents should be better prioritized. We urge you to review your trainings to ensure they comply with all applicable regulations, maintain department guidelines, and are reflective of best practices, Foster wrote in the letter, obtained by Bridge Michigan. On Tuesday, Tudor Dixon, Whitmers Republican opponent in the states gubernatorial race, called for Rices resignation. Our schools have lost their way, Dixon said during a news conference held in front of the Department of Education building, the Detroit Free Press reported. Somewhere along the way, radical political actors decided that our schools are laboratories for their social experiments and our children are their lab rats. Rice has no plans to resign, a department spokesperson told the Detroit Free Press. MDE defended its training program in a Sep. 16 news release, where it called accusations made by Rufo that the department was secretly instructing teachers how to facilitate gender transitions patently false and deliberately divisive. Professional development for educators on this topic has long been offered by MDE and is not secret, the department said. Peter Tchoryk, the parent of a transgender student in Dexter, Mich., said in the news release that his son feels safe and respected at school because of welcoming educators. His school is filled with compassion, Tchoryk said. In addition, staff members have knowledge, resources, and confidence to support him. They have been equipped with the tools they need to support our son, so that he may flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Advocates wait for the possible arrival of a group of people seeking asylum at the Delaware Coastal Airport terminal. (Andrea Castillo / Los Angeles Times) As the Republican governors of Texas, Florida and Arizona continued to wield a political tactic of transporting migrants outside their states, Delaware officials and immigration advocates prepared Tuesday to offer help after reports suggested a private plane bringing a group of migrants could land at an airport near President Biden's summer home. Flight tracking websites appeared to show that a plane chartered by the same company used by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to transport migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Mass., last week was set to take off from San Antonio on Tuesday morning with a brief stop in Crestview, Fla., before landing at Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown around 1:30 pm. But by early Tuesday evening, the plane hadn't arrived in the town of nearly 7,500. Flight trackers showed the plane instead went from Nashville to Teterboro, N.J. The office of Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, said Tuesday that it was coordinating with federal officials to prepare for a possible arrival. And Jill Fredel, director of communications for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon that the agency had not been in touch with the offices of DeSantis or Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, who has also sent migrants to other states. She said Delaware officials were working with state agencies and community groups to offer migrants food, shelter, transportation and healthcare services and had readied a centralized donation website to go live. "It's a humanitarian effort on our part," she said. "We want to support people who might arrive in our state." Councilwoman Christina Diaz-Malone said that Georgetown was ready for the possible arrival of migrants and that she saw an outpouring of support with an experienced network mobilizing to help. She noted that Georgetown previously welcomed Guatemalans who arrived to work in poultry farms in the 1990s. This is not Georgetowns first rodeo, she said. Story continues White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters earlier Tuesday that the Biden administration had "received word of the flights" and was "coordinating closely with state officials and local service providers who are prepared to welcome these families in an orderly manner as they pursue their asylum claims." Asked about the situation, Biden remarked that DeSantis should visit Delaware himself. "We have a beautiful shoreline," the president told reporters. While Delaware officials continued preparations for a possible arrival, some migrants who boarded the flights to Martha's Vineyard last week and the advocacy group Alianza Americas sued DeSantis on Tuesday in Massachusetts federal court. The class-action complaint alleges that migrants were fraudulently targeted and induced "to board a plane and cross state lines through misrepresentations and false promises." On Monday, Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County, Texas, said that he was launching a criminal investigation into the flights that took 48 migrants from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard last week. In addition to DeSantis, Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey have sent thousands of migrants on buses to other Democratic strongholds Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago in recent months. Those who arrived on Martha's Vineyard were predominantly from Venezuela. Rossana Arteaga-Lopenza, a volunteer with Casa de Venezuela Delaware, said she arrived Tuesday morning feeling sad but ready to welcome any arriving migrants and to serve as an interpreter. Arteaga-Lopenza described herself as a stay-at-home mom who cares about the community, the state and fellow Venezuelans who are suffering amid the humanitarian crisis that has driven more than 6 million from the South American country. Migrants have been stopped along the border more than 2 million times this fiscal year, an all-time high driven in part by an increase in Venezuelans, Cubans and Nicaraguans fleeing authoritarian governments and economic hardship, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. That number doesnt represent individual migrants because many try to cross the border and are apprehended multiple times. Casa de Venezuela cant offer financial aid, Arteaga-Lopenza said, but does provide arriving Venezuelans emotional support and access to food, shelter and information such as how to enroll their children in school and where to look for jobs. Before the flight was scheduled to arrive, Arteaga-Lopenza hoped to welcome migrants with a hug and a smile, but said that she believes their vulnerable situation has been exploited. I hope they dont come not because they arent welcome, she said. We shouldnt use them as a political stunt. News outlets have reported that Florida repurposed federal COVID-19 aid to pay for flights. On Tuesday, DeSantis declined to confirm whether he spent public dollars to fly migrants to Delaware but defended relocating migrants to so-called sanctuary destinations such as Martha's Vineyard, saying that "it's already made more of an impact than anyone thought it could possibly make." What were doing is not the ultimate solution," he said. "I think its opening peoples eyes to the solution, which is, let's have a secure border, let's have them remain in Mexico." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis filed in federal court Tuesday claims he violated the rights of the migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard last week. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< The lawsuit was filed by an organization on behalf of three of the migrants who boarded the plane. READ: Senate investigation finds DOJ undercounted nearly 1k deaths in jails or prison in 2021 DeSantis office responded to the lawsuit late Tuesday with a statement that said, in part, It is opportunistic that activists would use illegal immigrants for political theater...The transportation of the immigrants to Marthas Vineyard was done on a voluntary basis. The immigrants were homeless, hungry, and abandoned - and these activists didnt care about them then. The Governors office also shared a consent form they say one migrant completed. It says the person agrees to be taken from Texas to a sanctuary state, and the person waives any liability claims from damage during the journey. In Florida, we take what is happening at the southern border seriously. We are not a sanctuary state, and we will gladly facilitate the transport of illegal immigrants to sanctuary jurisdictions. pic.twitter.com/YeEbMzy8yG Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 15, 2022 Attorneys note that the last line of the statement makes it clear that the government knew none of the migrants were illegal immigrants. Additionally, while the English version says the planes final destination would be Massachusetts, the Spanish version doesnt. As the world watched the tiny island of Marthas VIneyard step in to care for the 50 unexpected migrants, the story of how they landed there has started to unravel. The lawsuit claims the migrants were given promises of housing, jobs, and immigration assistance that never materialized. Story continues Its also been discovered that DeSantis spent $600,000 of money meant to be used to remove illegal immigrants from Florida on asylum seekers from Texas. Everyone down there, well say between the third and 40 percent of the people coming across are seeking to end up in Florida, DeSantis said during an event defending the flights. READ: More than 1 million Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder in 2021 That hasnt stopped the governors legal problems from growing. Before a federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of three of the migrants, a democratic sheriff from San Antonio launched a criminal investigation into the flights. You cant go pluck people out of another state who are seemingly there legally, going through the legal process, and then send them to parts unknown, Attorney Mark NeJame explained. In the lawsuit, the migrants say they were kept in a hotel room for days, out of sight from aid workers. They were told theyd head to Boston or Washington D.C., not the isolated island. TODAY, @LCRBOSTON filed a lawsuit, with @ALIANZAAMERICAS as a plaintiff, that seeks to hold @GovRonDeSantis & the State of Florida accountable for deliberately tricking a group of nearly 50 people to board a plane from San Antonio, TX, to Marthas Vineyard https://t.co/OuS26pn5g9 pic.twitter.com/HbT3LZyiPD ALIANZA AMERICAS (@ALIANZAAMERICAS) September 20, 2022 The suit alleges they were also given brochures about Massachusetts aid programs that none of them were actually eligible for. Immigration Attorney Frank Symphorien-Saavedra said he wasnt surprised the lawsuit was filed. Everyone is entitled to due process under the law, Symphorien-Saavedra said. And there are additional concerns...Policy analysts are also coming out against Floridas program as records show the state is sending another $900,000 to the same charter flight company for an expected second round of flights. $12 million is a lot of money, Alexis Tsoukalas with the Florida Policy Institute said. Theres so many other things that didnt pass this season that would have really benefited Floridians. READ: US: 48 exploited pandemic to steal $250M from food program Tsoukalas adds the government failed to pass bills cracking down on wage theft or rising college costs that couldve been paid for with the money. She also said the pool of money was created without much transparency, appearing in an early draft budget as a much smaller amount before falling off most lawmakers radars. Read the full lawsuit below: Alianza Americas v. Ronald DeSantis by Charles Frazier on Scribd See the full response from the Governor below: It is opportunistic that activists would use illegal immigrants for political theater. If these activists spent even a fraction of this time and effort at the border, perhaps some accountability would be brought to the Biden Administrations reckless border policies that entice illegal immigrants to make dangerous and often lethal journeys through Central America and put their lives in the hands of cartels and Coyotes. The transportation of the immigrants to Marthas Vineyard was done on a voluntary basis. The immigrants were homeless, hungry, and abandoned and these activists didnt care about them then. Floridas program gave them a fresh start in a sanctuary state and these individuals opted to take advantage of chartered flights to Massachusetts. It was disappointing that Marthas Vineyard called in the Massachusetts National Guard to bus them away from the island within 48 hours. Communications Director Taryn Fenske Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. MILAN The R word is looming, but executives at Italian fashion brands are ready to challenge the recession, leveraging the flexibility adopted during the past two years through the pandemic, raising the creativity bar and investing in the countrys craftsmanship and manufacturing pipeline. Case in point: Last week, Prada Group revealed it had acquired a 43.7 percent stake in Superior SpA, a tannery based in Tuscanys Santa Croce SullArno, a deal that chief executive officer Patrizio Bertelli said represented another important step in the vertical integration of the companys supply chain, investing to increase its industrial know-how as well as control quality along all manufacturing stages. More from WWD It was only the last such deal for Prada, which last year teamed with the Ermenegildo Zegna Group to buy a stake in cashmere and precious yarns specialist Filati Biagioli Modesto SpA. Meanwhile, other Italian companies have been pursuing a similar strategy, including Brunello Cucinelli, which in March bought a 43 percent stake of Cariaggi Lanificio SpA, its longtime cashmere supplier. OTB founder Renzo Rosso also believes that, as increasing costs of raw materials and energy impact small and medium-sized Italian firms and artisans in particular, one solution is to connect the pipeline directly to larger and more established companies, which can shoulder and support some of the costs, integrating the supply chain. Fitch last week forecast a 0.7 percent contraction in Italys gross domestic product next year because of the higher cost of energy, and the countrys largest business association Confcommercio estimated the arrival of a mild recession at the end of the year, with 3 percent growth in GDP. Rosso was among the key members of Italys Chamber of Fashion in talks with the Italian government to receive funds of up to 3 billion euros as part of an immediate intervention to support all the small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But no funds have been allotted yet, he said. Actually, after the fall of the government, a tax on research and development was reinstated, he lamented. Story continues Prime Minister Mario Draghis resignation remains a sore spot for the industrys executives, who praised his international credibility, prestige and steady leadership. New general elections are scheduled on Sunday, at the tail end of Milan Fashion Week, which kicks off in earnest Wednesday and closes on Monday with digital shows. Polls are showing that the far right coalition led by the nationalist Brothers of Italy party and also involving the League party and Forza Italia is leading. Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Meloni is looking as the likely choice to be the countrys first female prime minister, although it is a divisive one, given her radical and extremist views. On her Instagram handle, Donatella Versace on Tuesday posted a heart with the Italian flag, urging her followers to vote on these very important elections for the country to protect the rights we have acquired, thinking of progress and eyeing the future. Never look back. No matter. Despite the uncertainties caused by local and global challenges, the war in Ukraine and the lockdowns in China, the Italian fashion industry is on track to see revenues jump 10.5 percent this year to 92 billion euros, according to preliminary projections from Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana. It is the industrys best performance in 20 years. The first half of the year was particularly brilliant and although we expect energy costs to weigh on the top and bottom lines, growth for the full year would still be remarkable, said the associations president Carlo Capasa. Fendi chairman and CEO Serge Brunschwig was upbeat, following the celebrations of the Baguette bags 25th anniversary with a show in New York that he described as spectacular and the drop of the collection in stores from Nov. 3. Fendi is rolling out a number of flagships in key cities around the world, after New York last year and Madrid this summer, ranging from a boutique in Dusseldorf next month to a unit in Dubai Mall later this year, doubling the selling space. Stores in Tokyo and Seoul will follow in early 2023. New plants for leather goods and shoes, in Tuscanys Bagno a Ripoli and in the Marche region, respectively, will soon be inaugurated. The new Fendi boutique in Madrid. Asked about the increasing cost of energy, Brunschwig said Fendi has been working on initiatives to be responsible in our consumption, aligned with the [parent] LVMH Group, for example, within the retail network, with lights turned off from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., temperature adjustment by 1 degree for heat or air conditioning. Also, in keeping with our continuous commitment toward sustainability, Fendis factory in Tuscany has complied to obtain the prestigious LEED Platinum certification. The Rome-based company has not had supply or shipment issues even though production capacity is a crucial topic today and especially in the future, as well as the ability to recruit and train the artisans of tomorrow. Sustainability also means supporting the community, which helps to preserve and transmit unique craftsmanship not only from generation to generation but also around the world. This circularity of work is a true productive force and a fundamental component of environmental responsibility. Citing the strong dollar, the executive said this has encouraged American tourists, as well as others, to travel to Europe over the summer. Fendi has also been performing extremely well in the Americas, Japan, the Middle East and South East Asia. As for China and its lockdowns, we do our best to adapt to the situation in the best interest of the teams locally and clients expectations, as we have learned over the past two years, Brunschwig noted. Also pointing to an exceptional first half of the year, Moncler chairman and CEO Remo Ruffini is banking on the solid foundations of the brand, which he believes can rely on its uniqueness and clear vision and the companys operational flexibility and financial solidity, although he is well aware of the impressive current volatility of the moment. In the first half of the year, Moncler beat analysts expectations with a 46 percent surge in group revenues to 918.4 million euros at constant exchange, bolstered by a double-digit increases at Moncler and Stone Island, acquired at the end of 2020, and a strong response to the spring 2022 collections. Ruffini touted South Koreas strong business and the solid growth of Japan historically an important market for Moncler. Following a 28 percent growth in the Americas in the first half, led by the U.S., Ruffini has plans to further penetrate the latter, which he believes offers huge potential and where the brand is underrepresented. I am interested in learning more about the communities in different cities and reach out to them. On Saturday evening, Moncler will celebrate its 70th anniversary with a major event in Milans Piazza Duomo, as reported, with around 550 guests on the terraces surrounding the square, where 1,952 musicians and dancers will perform, and opening up to the city. Diesel on Wednesday is also embracing inclusivity, inviting at the Allianz Cloud Arena its own employees, 1,600 students from fashion schools and 2,000 people, of whom 70 percent will be aged between 18 and 25, who signed up for free to attend the show on Diesel.com. The company said the tickets sold out in 90 minutes. Glenn Martens and Renzo Rosso (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Diesel) Aeffe is also eyeing further growth in the U.S., which in the first half of the year registered a 40 percent jump in sales. The group that comprises Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and Pollini will next year mark its 70th anniversary. Aeffe reported sales of 176.5 million euros in the period ending June 30, up 13.2 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Last year, the company took full control of Moschino, and of the brands distribution in mainland China, involving around 20 stores, opening 18 direct retail doors in China. Executive chairman Massimo Ferretti acknowledged a decrease in traffic in main cities in China of between 50 and 60 percent caused by the zero-tolerance COVID-19 lockdowns, but said that second- and third-tier cities are performing well. We are following through with our projects in China as planned, Ferretti said. Like Rosso, he lamented the retroactive taxation on research and development investments, which he believes is harmful for the sector as it relies on and fuels innovative techniques and craftsmanship. Last week, Moschinos new Via Spiga boutique in Milan was officially inaugurated and Ferretti said coming up next is the revamp of the brands unit on Conduit Street in London. The new Moschino boutique in Milans Via Spiga. Moschino, which will hold its spring show on Thursday, is also investing in its childrens collection through a strategic agreement with its longtime licensee and partner Altana for the production, marketing and distribution of the Moschino Baby, Kids and Teen collections via Moschino Kids Srl, a newly incorporated company in which Moschino and Altana hold 70 percent and 30 percent, respectively, starting from the fall 2023 season. The new structure will also allow Moschino to have more control in developing the childrens collections, pointing to the relevance of the category and aiming for further growth. Ferretti said Aeffe is evaluating a slight increase in prices, deeming this inevitable, given the increase of the cost of energy and of raw materials. The company is giving products much longer shelf life as pre-collections will now be delivered in stores at the end of November, not in December as in the past. For Alberta Ferretti, Aeffe is planning to open a shop in shop in Doha within Printemps in October, and the launch of a dedicated capsule. A special capsule collection is also lined up for Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, which has teamed with Swarovksi. This will be unveiled on the runway at the brands show on Saturday, to be held at the Milan Bourse where Aeffe is publicly listed. Following the brands successful summer pop-up at Cafe de lEsplanade, Serafini is planning to repeat the experience in other countries around the world, starting with the Middle East in October. Milan Fashion Week will see the debut shows of designers at storied brands, such as Filippo Grazioli at Missoni, although he introduced his first mens collection in June; Rhuigi Villasenor at Bally; Andrea Incontri at Benetton; Marco De Vincenzo at Etro, and Maximilian Davis at Salvatore Ferragamo. Etro is going through a new phase under the lead of CEO Fabrizio Cardinali and De Vincenzo, after the acquisition by L Catterton last year. Cardinali is aiming to more than double Etros 2021 sales and reach 500 million euros in five years. He was encouraged by the brands performance in the first half, reporting a double-digit growth in revenues, despite the loss of the Russian market and the restrictions in China, where Etro is growing triple digits. Cardinali is focused on expanding business in Asia, where China is under penetrated, and in America. There are seven directly operated stores and three outlets in China, and the plan is to open 20 units with a new partner. In February, Etro will launch a new website and a new store concept to reflect De Vincenzos creativity. The brand is healthy, but the company needs additional dynamism at the level of innovation, product and communication, said Cardinali, who is aiming to reach out to a younger and new customer base. Asked about the rising costs of energy, shipments and raw materials, Cardinali said that right from the start, coinciding with the change in governance, we began a collaboration with suppliers in Italy, who embraced the project, and bought the raw materials. This move helped us cover the structural increases for 12 to 18 months. Despite the challenging macro environment, Ferragamos CEO and general manager Marco Gobbetti earlier this month expressed his satisfaction with the excellent progress on our strategic priorities and on building the foundational elements to accelerate our growth, as the company reported revenues totaling 630 million euros, up 20.3 percent compared with the first half of 2021. Gobbetti said that barring significant crises, he believed the growth opportunity we have from the repositioning of the brand and the recruitment of a new customer will not be significantly affected by the macro [scene] because the market is so broad and the opportunity so big. This reinforces Gobbettis ambitious plan, laid out in May, that sees Ferragamo aiming to double revenues in four to five years and to double marketing and communication spending as a percentage of revenues beginning in 2023. Benetton CEO Massimo Renon is tasked with a turnaround of the brand, which he expects to achieve also through Incontris appointment last July. The designer will present his first collection on Sunday at Benettons megastore in one of the citys busiest shopping streets, Corso Buenos Aires. Its very important to be part of Milan Fashion Week, to engage with the press, emphasizing our fashion codes, Renon said. The executive has brought production and distribution in-house, and together with a global network of 3,500 stores, he believes Benettons democratic fashion will allow flexibility to invest in the markets, depending on macroeconomic and social issues. Benetton is entering China through Tmall in October and Renon is eyeing a development in South East Asia, is returning to Australia through the David Jones stores, and is aiming for growth in the Americas. Our quality yet democratic fashion is in sync with a moment when consumers are more attentive to spending and our sustainable credibility and reliability is helping to take advantage of new opportunities, contended Renon. He said the performance in 2022 so far has been very encouraging. His goal is for the company is to surpass revenues of 1 billion euros in 2022. Last year sales amounted to 847 million euros, including the Sisley brand. After the refit of the Paris, London and Milan flagships, Renon is looking to open 200 additional stores and is evaluating a fourth location in Milan. Sep. 20BEMIDJI As part of their biennial budget listening session tour, representatives from the Minnesota State System of Colleges and Universities had a stop at Bemidji State's American Indian Resource Center on Thursday. Amongst a room filled with community leaders, campus stakeholders and students alike, the session was a chance for system leaders to engage with Bemidji State and Northwest Technical College on key initiatives to inform the system's biennial budget request to the state legislature for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. "Our challenge is to position ourselves so that we can become the catalyst to provide affordable, accessible and equitable education," Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra said. "In order to do that, we have to ask the tough questions, whether we have the capacity. And if we need to build the capacity, what are the strategic investments that are needed?" Much discussion revolved around the system's three priorities: workforce and economic development, student success and equity, and Minnesota State stabilization. Bill Maki, vice chancellor for finance and facilities, said stabilization is the most important priority because it covers operating cost increases due to inflation. He noted that 75% of the system's expenses are compensation-related and that non-compensation expenses have skyrocketed. "Everybody's feeling inflation right now," Maki said. "Utilities, travel, supplies at the technical college, those prices have increased significantly. We need operating funds just to be able to do these things." Maki also pointed to the relationship between state appropriation and tuition costs, and the fact that technical colleges are typically funded more by appropriation while universities are more tuition-funded. For the 2021 fiscal year, BSU's state appropriation covered just over 40% of its costs while the remaining 60% was funded via tuition. Story continues On the flip side, NTC's state appropriation covered nearly 60% of its costs with 40% supported by tuition. "Much of that goes back to the history of the merger. You see more of an immediate effect of tuition revenue when you're growing (in enrollment) and when you're declining at a state university," Maki said. "Appropriation is generally a more stable resource." BSU Philosophy Professor Dennis Lunt views stabilization and the priority of student success and equity as going hand in hand, stating that an unstable campus is an inequitable campus. "What I hope comes through our budgetary ask is the truly dire situation we're in. Our ability to provide addiction resources, nurses and teachers to an area that's struggling, lives and dies with this budget," Lunt said. Ward 4 Bemidji City Councilor Emelie Rivera observed an interplay between student recruitment with housing and transportation throughout the broader community. "Those pieces of equity are really important in keeping students here, to encourage them to be here," Rivera said. "I would really encourage the systems to work with those municipalities to advocate and lobby for these clean water issues, sustainability issues and equity issues." Noting decreased enrollment at BSU, Student Senate President Kendra Draeger addressed tuition costs as being a barrier preventing students from enrolling in classes. Following a tuition freeze in 2019, Minnesota State colleges and universities have seen 3% tuition increases each year since the 2020 fiscal year. "I chose to come to BSU because it's a smaller community. I couldn't afford to go to a bigger school, and at the time, BSU offered the lowest tuition," Draeger said. "At the same time, you have students who might be in a worse situation than I am, students who come from low-income backgrounds and first-generation students." AIRC Executive Director Chrissy Downwind spoke on behalf of American Indian enrollment noting around 400 Indigenous students attending BSU a year and the possibility of a tuition waiver for those students similar to a University of Minnesota tuition assistance program. "Being at an institution that's sitting on seeded land within 60 miles of more than 70% of the American Indian population in the state, I feel it is only a move that could benefit us as an institution and the system as a whole in order for us to figure out how we can do better, pushing forward for our American Indian students," Downwind mentioned. Alongside other discussions of the morning including facilities maintenance, workforce shortages and community partnerships Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allen Bedford spoke to the many pieces of the puzzle that must come together so Minnesota State can fulfill its role. "How do we take these large pieces, put them together to anticipate these community needs and collaboratively meet them?" Bedford said. "It's possible that we, as Minnesota State, have a role to play that's not reproducible by any other entity. We are the ones to take action and we can't take that action alone." In Minnesota State's 2022-2023 request, the system received $56.4 million of their requested $120 million. The allocation included $45 million for campus support, $3 million for equity and affordability, and $8.4 million for additional legislative-funded priorities. The higher education percent share of the state's general fund budget has also dropped from 12.2% in 1995 to a projected 6.5% for the 2023 fiscal year. The Minnesota Legislature will convene on Jan. 3, 2023, to develop a two-year budget, which will include Minnesota State. The NBA has fined Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $40,000 for making anti-LGBTQ remarks in a video on his Instagram account. In it, Edwards, who was in a vehicle and being recorded, rolls down a car window and calls a group of shirtless men queer." The video, apparently from the weekend of Sept. 10, was posted to his Instagram account but soon deleted. On Sept. 11, he posted a message of apology and regret on his Twitter account. "What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and Im incredibly sorry," said Edwards, 21. "Its unacceptable for me or anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way, theres no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that!" The NBA on Tuesday called Edwards' language "offensive and derogatory." The fine was in line with the NBA's reaction to similar situations. Kevin Durant was fined $50,000 last year for homophobic and misogynistic private messages sent to actor Michael Rapaport, who posted them. Durant, the Brooklyn Nets forward, also apologized. In 2011, the Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah was fined a similar amount for hurling an anti-gay slur at a fan. Sports Equality Foundation board member Anthony Nicodemo, who coaches high school basketball in Yonkers, New York, said the fine was light and may not be enough to change players' behavior. "When a league like the NBA opts for a light fine following an extremely homophobic post from one of their players it sends a message that this behavior is allowable," he said by email Tuesday. "Rainbow jerseys and marching in Prides are impactful, but quickly canceled out if homophobic behavior is allowed amongst players." NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recommended that Edwards volunteer for an LGBTQ organization. "I dont think an apology however heartfelt is enough," he wrote on his blog. "Edwards needs to repair the damage with some voluntary community service with LGBTQ+ organizations, particularly youth groups, to show his support." Story continues Edwards' representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. He is entering his third season as a shooting guard for the Timberwolves, who previously reprimanded him. We are disappointed in the language and actions Anthony Edwards displayed on social media, the teams president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, said in a statement. The Timberwolves are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming organization for all and apologize for the offense this has caused to so many. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Speeding through a neighborhood could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a new city ordinance passed unanimously last night. They fine as long as they aint too bucky, but if they are too bucky, you know they make you hop when you run over them I dont like the kind, I like the ones you go over easy cool, a resident said. Thats North Mississippis Shiela Daniels talking about speedbumps, under the city of Hernandos new ordinance. In 30 days residents will be able to come to the planning department, and put in a request to have speed bumps in their neighborhood. The planning department will work with you on the specific area, and where you need to get signatures for your speed bump petition. Youll need 75% approval from that area to get it passed. For safety, we got children we have pedestrians that are walking so to prevent accidents whatever they decide to do I go with the neighborhood, DeSoto Countys Bernard Montgomery said. The Hernando Police Department will also do a 48-hour speed study of the proposed area to decide if there really is a problem and a need for speed bumps. Speed bumps can only go on streets where the current speed is 25 miles per hour or less. The city told FOX13s reporter Tom Dees, that they will put them in as they are approved and as funds become available. It depends on the location like where I am there are a lot of little kids around and people speed a lot through there, so there is a need and that is a good thing, Hernandos Haley McIngvale said. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: TOKYO (Reuters) - Moderna Inc Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton said on Wednesday the company is "eager" to collaborate with China on supplying its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines to the country. The comments follow those of Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel, who last week in Tokyo said the company has held talks with the Chinese government about supplying vaccines but no decision has yet been made. "We would certainly be very eager to collaborate with China if they felt that there was a need for a vaccine there," Burton told a media briefing to reporters in Asia. "Currently, there is no activity going on, but we'd be very open to it." (Reporting by Rocky Swift, Editing by Louise Heavens) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has agreed to settle charges against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MSSB) for its astonishing failure to protect the personal identifying information of some 15 million customers. MSSB, now known as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, is the wealth and asset management division of banking giant Morgan Stanley, which this week agreed to pay $35 million to settle allegations that it failed to properly dispose of hard drives and servers containing its customers personal data over a five-year period as far back as 2015. Morgan Stanley hired a moving and storage company with no experience or expertise in data destruction services, according to the SEC and failed to properly monitor the moving companys work. Some of the hard drives were later found on an internet auction site with customers' personal data still stored within. While MSSB recovered some of the devices, which were shown to contain thousands of pieces of unencrypted customer data, the firm has not recovered the vast majority of the devices, the SEC said in a statement. The SEC also alleged that Morgan Stanley lost track of 42 servers that potentially contained unencrypted customer data when it decommissioned local office and branch servers as part of a hardware refresh program. The regulator added that, during this process, MSSB learned that the local devices being decommissioned had been equipped with encryption capability but had failed to activate the encryption software. MSSBs failures in this case are astonishing. Customers entrust their personal information to financial professionals with the understanding and expectation that it will be protected, and MSSB fell woefully short in doing so, said Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SECs Enforcement Division. If not properly safeguarded, this sensitive information can end up in the wrong hands and have disastrous consequences for investors. Todays action sends a clear message to financial institutions that they must take seriously their obligation to safeguard such data. Story continues In a statement given to TechCrunch, Morgan Stanley didnt admit or deny the findings but said it is pleased to be resolving this matter." We have previously notified applicable clients regarding these matters, which occurred several years ago and have not detected any unauthorized access to, or misuse of, personal client information, said Susan Siering, a spokesperson for Morgan Stanley. News of the SECs fine comes after Morgan Stanley was caught up in a data breach last year as a result of the Accellion hack. The investment banking firm no stranger to data breaches admitted that attackers stole personal information of its customers by hacking into an Accellion server of a third-party vendor, which it uses for file-sharing and transfers. If women can legitimately have multiple-partnership relationships as well, the patriarchy wants nothing to do with that under any circumstances (iStock) I get asked a lot of questions about being polyamorous. How I allocate time. How I navigate conflicting relationship styles. How I get any work done around the presumed bacchanalian nights of group sex and opium dens. But to answer the most popular enquiry: yes, I do sometimes get a little jealous. Not of my partners, I should clarify. Or indeed any of their partners, all of whom are out here living their best lives, no doubt more concerned about how many jumpers they need to put on this winter to stay warm than finding someone elses in their laundry basket. What I envy instead are the legal protections and social recognition that is yet to be afforded to set-ups like mine. Or many other domestic scenarios that dont resemble a 1950s family photograph. Those felt barely realistic back then, and feel even more cruelly anachronistic today. Nonetheless, to see polyamory or ethical non-monogamy (ENM) as new, shiny relationship models is, for the most part, to view global history back to front. Monogamy is both a relatively new and perhaps surprisingly unpopular way of life: not only do less than five per cent of mammal species on the planet practise it (and those animals that do pair for life, like swans, are rarely sexually exclusive to their chosen partners), but the monogamy practised by humans generally involves multiple partners, too. Theyre simply spread out over time or sequestered away in the form of secret affairs. Giulia Smith, founder of the newly formed UK Polyamorous Association (UKPA), believes that polyamorous and ENM communities are sorely lacking in representation, and wants to provide support and advocacy for those people who face discrimination or stigma for their way of life. Basically, polyamory isnt recognised by the law in the UK, Smith tells me from their living room in Bristol. A common issue is harassment: polyamorous people can often experience verbal abuse, be accused of immoral or unethical behaviour, or be excluded by their family or workplace. That can have a ripple effect across all areas of life, including social isolation. It means people can be discouraged from being open about their relationships, which in turn limits polyamorous visibility in society. The fear of coming out is huge, Smith adds. Story continues How do we change that stigma? As well as advocating for people currently facing discrimination, Smith also hopes to provide as part of the UKPA training and education within key institutions to create a better, more inclusive future. That could include health clinics, domestic abuse shelters and most crucially schools, where sex education doesnt currently acknowledge polyamory. Its a project that necessitates fighting battles on multiple fronts, though there are urgent priorities. We think there are two key policies that need amending, they say. The first is family law. Marriage, I think, is a very long way away, in terms of being able to have more than one spouse. The first step is more likely to be civil partnership. But before that, [we need] inclusion in the Equality Act. That would then automatically raise the perception of employment law, property law, healthcare legislation, harassment. It wouldnt necessarily mean the legislation in those areas would change straight away, but it would be the first step. Dr Elisabeth Sheff, an author and expert in polyamory in the US, agrees. Those two [policies] are the most important, she tells me over the phone from upstate New York. Family law would not only cover custody of children, but also sharing of benefits and things like that. In the UK, thats not as big of a deal, but in the US, where we have enormous gaps in our healthcare insurance, being able to cover multiple spouses under insurance makes an enormous difference to some people. As in the UK, employment law technically exists within the US to protect minorities, but Sheff admits its very shaky at the best of times. That even applies to more commonly acknowledged forms of discrimination. In theory we have protection around things like race and gender, she says. But in practice many places of business are what they call at-will employers, which means they dont need any reason to fire you. They can fire you if they feel like it. Polyamorous folks are among those with insecure employment in the United States. It seems all the stranger when you consider that strict monogamy accounts for only about 17 per cent of human cultures. Of course, thats not to say that the remaining 83 per cent come under the banner of ethical non-monogamy; far from it. Laws do exist in the world regarding multiple partners polygamy was decriminalised in Utah in 2020, primarily with regard to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as Mormons but the common denominator is patriarchal households where men take multiple wives. These kinds of communities have historically been rife with various forms of abuse. To have a bigger network than just the people were having sex with is a deeply human desire, and that is largely unmet in many societies, even by religion What makes conservative lawmakers uncomfortable, it seems, is when agency particularly, but not exclusively, sexual agency is no longer the exclusive preserve of men. Or as Sheff puts it: If women can legitimately have multiple-partnership relationships as well, the patriarchy wants nothing to do with that under any circumstances. Its much easier to slut-shame someone when they dont have any alternative. Part of the problem, Sheff says, is that many of our legal frameworks are still built around the somewhat nebulous concept of morality, rather than ethics. This is particularly pertinent when it comes to child custody law: if a religious judge deems a gay couple to be immoral, for example, would we accept that this constitutes an accurate or fair assessment of their ability to raise children? If we could refocus from morality, which is incredibly subjective and religious, to a more neutral, ethical framework, I think thats a much better base of laws and decision making. While lifestyles involving multiple partners may be nothing new, however, there is a growing sense that some of these changes may reflect an adaptation to pressures faced by younger generations today. Or, to quote a viral tweet from last year, Why is everyone poly these days? Motherf***er it takes seven people to be able to buy a house. Millennials and Generation Z are generally not that enchanted with monogamy, Sheff argues. A lot of them have two or three jobs, and the idea of also trying to have kids is difficult. So that kind of white picket fence marital dream is really not feasible. Youre not likely to be living in the same place or have the same job in the next five years. So I think it goes generationally with this more rapidly shifting, nomadic society. In a way, its a coping mechanism its well suited, its adaptive to postmodern society. The real challenge is to build a world where polyamory is accepted by everyone (iStock) But people arent just choosing to be polyamorous out of dire necessity. Its also worth remembering that, despite misconceptions to the contrary, the term partner in ENM circles doesnt merely equate to sexual partners. For people who identify as asexual, for example, its not a priority at all. But for most, I would suggest, its more about building something bigger forging a chosen family (or logical family) based on the people you want to share your life with, however much or little of it that may be, and not just the people who arrive in your life by circumstance or birth. In short, its about community. Its the kind of community that people used to more commonly find in church, or with their neighbours, or the one person they chose to provide all the sex, intimacy and companionship they would need for the rest of their lives. Some of those institutions still hold strong, though many are being questioned or left behind. But were left with that hunger, Sheff tells me. For connection, [or] a larger sense of wanting to know whos close to us. To have a bigger network than just the people were having sex with is a deeply human desire, and that is largely unmet in many societies, even by religion. People still want to feel part of a congregation. I feel that pull too. I want a life where the people I love can live their lives freely and authentically and with as much joy and sense of connection to the world around them as their hearts can take. After all, the hard work isnt balancing multiple relationships. The real challenge is to build a world where theyre accepted by everyone else, a world where loving more than one person isnt seen as a deviant character flaw. That starts with re-examining the antiquated legal framework that still defines our lives. Crucially, I want a world where the first question I get asked in the pub is the one my dad asked me when I first came out as poly: Isnt it expensive going on all those dates? It is. But were also very good at sharing jumpers and Netflix passwords, too. A mother is fighting for her life after suffering a gunshot wound to the head outside of a New York City school in what police believe was a suicide attempt. The 36-year-old woman, who has not been named, was reportedly seen arguing with a man believed to be the father of her child before the shooting on Tuesday, ABC News reported. Around 4pm, she was found lying injured on a bench next to JHS 278 Middle School in Brooklyn. The woman was transported to Brookdale University Hospital, where she remains in critical condition. A man who was at the scene was placed into an ambulance before being questioned by police. NYPD Assistant Chief Michael Kemper told a press conference that investigators believe the shooting could have potentially been a suicide attempt. According to ABC, the woman had allegedly sent a text to a family member moments before the ordeal, saying: Im sorry I had to do this...Im in such a better place. Im not hurting no more...Please dont be mad. Students who were on school premises at the time of the shooting had to stay inside until the area was cleared around 7pm, the New York Post reported. A sixth grader told the Post that school officials did not reveal why they were being kept inside. Everyone was scared because they didnt know what was happening and they just told us they couldnt tell us what was happening, the student said. In a statement, the Department of Education said the lockdown had been enforced to ensure the safety of students. Following an off-campus non-school related incident in the community, this school went into a shelter-in, which has now been lifted. If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. MEBANE, N.C. The mother of Devin Clark, an 18-year-old who was murdered along with 14-year-old Lyric Woods over the weekend, is speaking out after authorities arrested another juvenile in their deaths on Tuesday. "At this point I just wanted justice for Devin Clark and Lyric Woods," Tiffany Conception, who goes by Shant'ae Conception on social media, said in a Facebook Live video on Tuesday after the Orange County Sheriff's Office announced the juvenile suspect's arrest in her son's death. "I want to find out who this 18-year-old juvenile is," she said in the video. "He had to be angry at someone. He had a lot of anger in him, and I pray for him and his family." ATV riders found Woods' and Clark's bodies on private property off a rural stretch of Buckhorn Road in Mebane, North Carolina, on Saturday after the teenagers' parents had reported them missing. NORTH CAROLINA 17-YEAR-OLD CHARGED WITH 2 COUNTS OF MURDER IN SLAYINGS OF MISSING TEENS, SHERIFF SAYS The 17-year-old suspect was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the teenagers' deaths. Juvenile suspects are not automatically charged as adults in North Carolina, but Sheriff Charles Blackwood said the case could be transferred to an adult court if the court finds probable cause. NORTH CAROLINA SHERIFF EYES FOUL PLAY AFTER 2 MISSING TEENS FOUND SHOT DEAD IN POWER LINES Blackwood thanked the Woods and Clark families for trusting his office in a Tuesday statement. "I hope the apprehension of this subject will bring them some comfort as they mourn their loved ones," he said. Conception said she will be hosting a memorial for her son sometime this week possibly on Thursday. The 17-year-old played football at East Alamance High School and wore a No. 4 jersey. His teammates called him "Deuce, two times," to represent the number, his mother said in her Facebook Live video. "I'm not a bad parent," she said. "I feel bad for this juvenile's parentsso, at the end of the day, I pray for everything that's going on and everybody that's in this situation." Story continues Lyric, 14, and Clark, 18, were last seen by family members on Friday, according to authorities. They were friends but not dating, family members told Fox News Digital, and are believed to have been picked up by an unidentified adult in an unknown vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call Orange County Sheriffs Office Investigator Keith Goodwin at 919-245-2918. Woods was a ninth-grade student at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough. Clark was a junior at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane. Reports of rising Christian persecution in India have reached the country's Supreme Court, which last week directed eight Indian states to verify the claims of Christian groups that filed a petition for protection. The petition, which was filed by Archbishop Peter Machad, the National Solidarity Forum and the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), noted approximately 500 reported attacks against Christians in 2021 and about 200 attacks just within the first five months of 2022. The Christians pleaded for both a government investigation and for police protection of churches. The Indian government dismissed such claims as based on "half-baked and self-serving facts and self-serving articles and reports based upon mere conjecture," and speculated on "some hidden oblique agenda" driving the petitioners, according to the Hindustan Times. Before rendering a judgment, the high court therefore ordered the chief secretaries of eight Indian states to compile information on the incidents and send their report to the federal interior ministry within four months. The petition from the Christians in India comes amid increased attacks against them from far-right Hindu groups as multiple Indian states have passed so-called "anti-conversion" laws. Such laws ostensibly aim to prevent forcible conversion from one religion to another, but critics claim they are being used to violate the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Indian Constitution. INDIAN BISHOP DENOUNCES OPEN SEASON AGAINST CHRISTIANS AS STATES PASS ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS Christian nuns wave placards as they demonstrate against the tabling of the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill on Dec. 22, 2021, in Bengaluru, India. Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images A report published Dec. 13, 2021, by EFI's religious liberty commission claimed that continuous talk from the government about anti-conversion law has emboldened anti-Christian vigilantes and created "an atmosphere of fear and apprehension" among the Christian community in India. At 80% of the population, the vast majority of India's 1.4 billion people are Hindus, and more than 10% are Muslims. There are an estimated 30 million to 70 million Christians in India about a 5% minority but the government does not release accurate statistics about its Christian population, according to international humanitarian nonprofit Voice of the Martyrs. Story continues In the prayer guide it releases each year, Voice of the Martyrs labeled India a "hostile" country, where "Hindu-nationalist informants live in nearly every village and report on the activities of Christians, resulting in attacks and arrests." According to the persecution watchdog, Christian churches in India are subject to demolition or arson, worship services are disrupted, Bibles are confiscated, and pastors have been beaten, imprisoned or even killed. The clergy who face legal trouble often face accusations of forced Christian conversion that later prove to be false. CHRISTIANITY QUICKLY DIMINISHING IN US, ON PACE TO BECOME MINORITY RELIGION IN DECADES: STUDY A Christian touches a cross at Mount Mary Church on the eve of Mount Mary Fair, at Bandra, on Sept. 10, 2022, in Mumbai, India. Vijay Bate/Hindustan Times via Getty Images In an interview with Fox News Digital last year, Archbishop Joseph DSouza said he is concerned about India's image in the world because of the escalating attacks against Christians. D'Souza, who is archbishop of the Anglican Good Shepherd Church of India, said it has "become an open season for attacks against Christian minorities" in the country. "This is not ultimately about India's Christians and Christian community," said D'Souza. "It's ultimately about the rights of the low caste and the untouchables." Noting the appeal Christianity has for society's outcasts, he said he sees the ongoing attacks as a concerted effort "from an upper-caste Hindu elite that does not want these people to exercise whatever rights they have, including the right to believe or not believe; to stay within the caste system or not stay within the caste system." CHRISTIAN FORUM ASKS BISHOPS IN INDIA TO TAKE STAND AGAINST RISING ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE Todd Nettleton, chief of media relations for Voice of the Martyrs, was not surprised that the Indian government has dismissed the claims of Christian persecution, explaining to Fox News Digital how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is one of India's main Hindu nationalist organizations. Nettleton doubts Modi will admit to Christian persecution in his country, noting how members of his own government have called India "Hindustan," or "land of the Hindus." "The anti-conversion laws are one part of the story," said Nettleton. "But even without laws or without the government formally sanctioning Christians, any radical Hindu that attacks a Christian knows that he is acting in accordance with government wishes, and knows that he likely will not face a fierce, motivated prosecution for his crimes." Nettleton said his organization has also received reports of "a nationwide anti-missionary network" that hands out cards with a phone number on it for anyone to call if they witness Christian missionary activity. "Then they send in people to make trouble for the Christians doing outreach legal trouble or physical threats," he added. Predicting the Indian Supreme Court's ultimate response to the Christians' petition is difficult, Nettleton said. "There is such an attitude within the government against Christianity, against anything other than Hinduism. So you hope that the Supreme Court will follow the law and hold out for religious freedom, but it's hard to feel super hopeful when you see everything else that's going on in India." The presence of Movistar Plus+, Spains biggest pay-TV/SVOD operator, is hard to ignore at this years San Sebastian film festival, with two original TV series and one feature film helmed by the streamer scattered throughout the program. The Telefonica-owned platform also had a hand in every Spanish feature in the festivals Official Selection. Domingo Corral, director of original fiction at Movistar Plus+, caught up with Deadline at San Sebastian to discuss the companys drive into original production, the current boom in local Spanish productions, and how he competes with global streamers like Netflix and HBO. DEADLINE: Domingo, hows business? More from Deadline DOMINGO CORRAL: We are in very good shape. We are presenting two shows here in San Sebastian: Facil and Offworld, which is part of the Official Section. Its the only show thats part of the festivals Official Selection. And then we opened the festival with Modelo 77. DEADLINE: What are the biggest challenges facing your company and sector right now in Spain? CORRAL: The biggest challenge right now is the production costs because they are increasing dramatically, and not because all the players are making more money or because the subscriptions are growing. But because a lot of production is happening, which is good. Thats much better than having the opposite scenario, but you also have to be careful. We will always produce here because we are a Spanish company, but others might decide to go elsewhere. DEADLINE: Do you see yourself in competition with Netflix and the other global streamers? CORRAL: Of course, we compete with them, but we follow our own path. I know what theyre doing, and I have a lot of respect for what they do. They are tough competitors. But I firmly believe that competition makes you better. I think its good for us to have players like Netflix, HBO, or Disney+ competing with us. I think that makes us better. In the beginning, I was worried because I was thinking, wow, with all these guys landing here in Spain with their big pockets are we going to be able to survive? Because we dont have the scale. I thought that five years ago, and here we are. Story continues DEADLINE: Netflix and Amazon are investing big in local Spanish productions. Is this actually financially beneficial to the Spanish industry or is the money just leaving the country? CORRAL: Its a good thing. Theres no question about it. Just take Netflix, for instance. I dont know how many shows theyre making, but theyre investing here. Netflix has this global platform, and in that sense, of course, they have a tremendous advantage. They can make a show popular around the world. Theres no question that this is good. Theres a lot of content being made, and a lot of it is irrelevant or bad. But Id rather have that than the scarcity of the past. DEADLINE: Theres so much change happening in the streaming business right now. HBO merging with Discovery, for instance. What do you see happening in the future? CORRAL: Im optimistic. I think theres gonna be some restructuring. I think the level of production is going to decrease. US platforms are now making huge bets on shows like Lord of The Rings, so maybe that could be a trend. And when it comes to HBO, I truly hope that the traditional HBO keeps making the excellent shows they have been making all these years. HBO has been an inspiration for me. I owe a lot to them and it would be very sad to see them abandon their approach to TV. I hope that doesnt happen because television is not about quantity. Its about quality. To make television, you need to spend time in development. You need to write many versions of a script and then you need to put resources in. Time is critical to make television. And what I see now is this quantity approach, making loads of shows, and most of them are totally irrelevant. The good thing HBO taught us is how to make good television. So I hope that whatever happens, that doesnt change. If you ask me, its sad to see whats happening. Being sold to AT&T and then to Discovery. Now they have to make loads of cuts with very valuable executives being laid off. Its sad. Warner, HBO, and Turner are great, amazing brands. Im an optimistic guy and I think they will find a way to survive this corporate turmoil. DEADLINE: What do you think has been your biggest success at Movistar Plus+ so far? CORRAL: We are a telco company. When we started, we didnt have any brand recognition in the content business. We didnt have any credibility. We were not HBO or Sky or Canal Plus. So thanks to the amazing creators that we have managed to work with, we have built a brand that is associated with good quality television. What our clients tell me, which is very important, is that one of the reasons to stay with us is the original programming. What we do has been based not on making loads of shows, but making relevant, unique, distinctive shows. I think we have been successful, not all the time, but sometimes weve been successful. Im very proud. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to rally domestic support for his war in Ukraine amid real hostility internally as Moscow struggles to make gains in Ukrainian territory. Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on MSNBCs Morning Joe that Putin was mostly speaking to a domestic audience in his Wednesday address announcing a partial call-up of military reserves and threatening to use all the instruments at its disposal to hold off threats to Russias territorial integrity. Murphy said Putin has been increasingly facing resistance from his own political advisers who see the war as going horribly. Ukraine has retaken thousands of square kilometers of its territory as part of a counteroffensive it launched earlier this month. The campaign has increased optimism among U.S. and Ukrainian officials that Kyiv can hold Russia back, and experts have said the counteroffensive could signal a major shift in the war. Murphy said Moscow is moving toward a massive recession that is going to create instability for Putins leadership, so he needs to justify to the Russian elite and public why the war must continue. Murphy said he is concerned that aid to Kyiv could be reduced or eliminated entirely if Republicans retake control of Congress in the November midterm elections. He said a third of House Republicans voted against the May aid package for Ukraine, and many closest to former President Trump attacked those who were supportive of the measure. I just see a freight train coming, and that is Trump and his operation turning against aid for Ukraine, he said. He said he expects House Republicans will be against anything that President Biden supports, including aid for Ukraine, leading to a crisis where House GOP leadership refuses to support additional aid. He said no legitimate national security argument exists for ending the assistance. Story continues Murphy pointed to 2013, when Republicans opposed then-President Obamas proposal to strike Syria as Syrian President Bashar Assad was using chemical weapons on his people. Republicans who normally would have supported such an endeavor opposed it simply because it was being proposed by President Obama, he said. I think the same thing is likely to happen if the House falls into Republican control. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A survey conducted by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding found that Muslim Americans are just as likely to join the military as any other demographic within the countrys general population. Conducted by the nonprofit, non-partisan organization between February and March of this year, the 2022 American Muslim Poll surveyed more than 2,100 adults, with around 800 identifying as Muslim, nearly 300 as Jewish and the remaining 1,000 representing the general population. Despite being less likely to hold U.S. citizenship compared to other groups roughly four out of five Muslims interviewed were U.S. citizens compared to the 92% to 99% citizenship rate of other groups answers by Muslim respondents indicated a willingness to serve at a similar or higher rate when compared to other demographics. Eleven percent of Muslim respondents said they would serve, a number exceeding the 10% of Catholics and Protestants and the 9% of non-religious participants polled. White Muslims, meanwhile, indicated the highest likelihood of military service compared to their non-white counterparts, with 17% of those polled responding affirmatively versus 4% of Asian Muslims and less than one percent of Arab Muslims. And while Black Muslims were also found to be more willing to serve than Arab practitioners, they were also found to be just as likely as Black non-Muslims to sign their names on the dotted line. Perhaps most surprising, however, was the finding that white Muslims polled were actually more likely to join than white non-Muslims, with 17% of white Muslims and 11% of white non-Muslims indicating a willingness to serve. The survey comes amid a period of intense discussion regarding religion in the military, with the topic frequenting headlines as service members continue various legal battles for religious expression. The Army, Navy and Air Force all have policies protecting the religious expression of service members including Sikhs and Muslims with few exceptions, such as the wearing of turbans in combat. Story continues The Marine Corps, however, does not. On Aug. 24, 2022, a federal judge denied an appeal of the Marines ban on Sikh buns and turbans and the wearing of other religious articles while training. The courtroom loss marked just another chapter in the ongoing fight for such freedoms in the military, said Eric Baxter, senior counsel for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. No one should have to choose between living according to their faith and serving their country, Baxter said of the case, which is expected to continue via a federal suit in Washington. The courts ruling sets up a false conflict between faith and service but as the Marines have rightly said for decades, spirituality makes Marines stronger and more resilient. Numerous religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccinations may also have been improperly denied by the Defense Department, according to a letter from acting DoD Inspector General Sean ODonnell to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. In the letter, ODonnell warned that early findings of a review of the waiver process showed generalized assessments rather than the individualized assessment that is required by Federal law and DoD and Military service policies. The denial memorandums we reviewed generally did not reflect an individualized analysis, demonstrating that the Senior Military Official considered the full range of facts and circumstances relevant to the particular religious accommodation request, ODonnell wrote. Additionally, the volume and rate at which decisions were made to deny requests is concerning, ODonnell continued. The appeal authorities of the services we reviewed indicated that an average of 50 denials per day were processed over a 90-day period. That processing rate means that if reviewers were working 10-hour days, sans breaks, requests would be analyzed no longer than 12 minutes each. More than 3,400 troops across all services have been involuntarily separated from the military for vaccine refusals, and of those appeals filed, fewer than two dozen have been granted. The Defense Departments current stance on religious expression falls under DoD Instruction 1300.17, Religious Liberty in the Military Services, which was unveiled in 2020. In furtherance of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, DoD components will accommodate individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs, the policy states, provided there are no adverse impacts on readiness and unit cohesion. Our Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories of Northeastern Wisconsin shares photos, memorabilia, documents and personal stories collected in the LGBTQ community by the UW-Green Bay Archives Department. Some of the collection will feature prominently at the N.E.W. Pride Alive event on Sept. 23 and 24, located at the Brown County Fairgrounds. GREEN BAY It might surprise some to learn that, in decades past, Green Bay's residents were trailblazers for LGBTQ advocacy. Residents established the first AIDS care center in Wisconsin in the 1980s and recognized same-sex marriage at one of the community's churches in 1999, well over a decade before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the legality of same-sex marriage. Those are among the historically significant events that captured the attention of Deb Anderson, director of archives and area research center at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Anderson has made being an "archivist evangelist" for the region's LGBTQ community one of her chief professional missions. "As an archivist, it is my job to build archives that reflect the community or the people," Anderson said. "And we need to make sure the voice of people who are not usually heard in a broad context are uplifted, too. There are voices here that need to be heard." There was the newsletter from Northern Womyn, a lesbian organization in Green Bay established in the 1970s; drag "races" at Baird Creek that held contests to see how quickly folks could transform into their queenly attire; the Bay City Chorus, a gay singing group that distributed educational, social and cultural materials about LGBTQ matters wherever they performed; and the Argonauts of Wisconsin, a Green Bay-based LGBTQ social club that holds the distinction of being the first gay organization in the state. All that and more will be available for the public to peruse at the 14th annual N.E.W. Pride Alive event taking place on Sept. 23 and 24 at Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere. A history tent has always been a part of N.E.W. Pride, but the monumental work of UWGB's archives department, professors, undergraduate students and the local LGBTQ community has provided this year's tent a more comprehensive trajectory of the past. The UWGB Archives Department formally released the project "Our Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories of Northeastern Wisconsin" in summer 2021 at Green Bay's Art Garage, but with 30 oral history interviews in the books and 15 more scheduled, archival work is a living and evolving process. Story continues That's been part of professor Kimberley Reilly's undertaking since 2017 when she was approached by two undergraduates who craved to learn about the history of their queer elders in the region. Reilly, who teaches history and women, gender and sexuality studies at UW-Green Bay, first offered an independent study and, after conducting four interviews, realized this project required more mining by completing more oral history interviews, collecting memorabilia and creating the archive. A matchbook from The Manhole is part of the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project's archive. The Manhole one one of the first Green Bay bars that openly catered to northeastern Wisconsin's LGBTQ community. The bar was open from 1976 to 1981. "It's not surprising to find LGBTQ in northeast Wisconsin but it does kind of go under the radar from a straight perspective, from the average Green Bay person's perspective," Reilly said. "It's not necessarily something that's visible, but if you're within that community, you definitely know where to go, where to look." Reilly and Anderson collaborated with the two seniors to conduct four oral history interviews, with a focus on the experience of coming out as queer. That led to a course being taught in 2018 and again in 2020, with more this semester and beyond. Learning of the obstacles, Anderson said, helped LGBTQ students gain a better sense of the environments that lent or more appropriately, did not lend themselves to a person's coming out journey. The validation, Anderson said, went two ways. Elder generations finally have an opportunity to tell their stories, and those younger generations can appreciate the strides taken by their elders. Both generations can feel less alone in their coming out journeys, she said. Those interviews offered a clearer look at generational differences, Reilly said. She shared a recent conversation she had with a man who'd came out in the 1970s. It was very important for him to come out to circles of people at a moment in history, after World War II and through the Cold War and AIDS epidemic, when LGBTQ people were not especially tolerated. "Visibility really means something different when you've been living through this era when people are forced to be closeted versus now when it's certainly not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but you can come out on social media (and) there are resources online that you can use," Reilly said. "It's just a different experience. It has a different meaning in people's lives." Why LGBTQ history matters today A banner from Green Bay's Center Project, the first AIDS care facility in Wisconsin, commemorates local victims of AIDS. Josh Kilgas, president of N.E.W. Pride Alive, struggled with his queer identity while growing up in a small community in northeast Wisconsin, which turned into significant anxiety and depression as an adult. Before he was president of N.E.W. Pride Alive, he was an attendee. His now-husband had taken him to the event to offer him a more diverse lens into the LGBTQ community. "I could go to Joannes Park right now and point out the tree that I was sitting underneath as I was processing that Green Bay, the northeast Wisconsin area, had welcoming people," Kilgas said. "I saw people who were proud of themselves. I realized that if they could be proud, that I could start my journey in that way too." Kilgas hears often from LGBTQ people in the area that they need to move to Chicago, the Twin Cities and Milwaukee to get a sense of belonging. He wants to change that narrative by bringing progress close to home. Personal experience and research tell him that belonging to community engenders a sense of mental well-being in its residents. Rural communities, Anderson said, have LGBTQ stories that deserve to be told. Those stories may have remained in diaries and letters if not for the call from the community to show up and be part of the archival process. At the Napalese Lounge and Grille in Green Bay, Anderson said she would hold photo ID events on Friday nights in which community members were invited to help identify people in old photos. One time, someone asked to borrow a photo quickly so they could hold it against a regular at the bar to confirm it was the same person. Another time, someone pointed at their partner and then to the photo, excited to learn their partner was such a young stud. Then there was the time a woman handed Anderson a box filled with her late girlfriend's photos, letters and memorabilia, asking the archivist to make sure her story was told. RELATED: 'Born out of bars': Clubs and bars vital to northeastern Wisconsin LGBTQ community for almost 50 years now Being queer in a rural place in the 1960s, '70s and '80s meant it was harder for people to find role models and outside guidance. Closeted folks feared checking out LGBTQ literature at their local libraries because they worried gossip could spread, Anderson said. As an archivist, Anderson sees the importance of capturing the perspective of queer people living in more rural environments. Small-town LGBTQ living, she said, is rarely captured in the conversation, but those lives are just as important as those living in New York and San Francisco. It's about creating a legacy, from history, that helps young people learn acceptance, tolerance and how to celebrate the range of voices that make a region powerfully itself, Kilgas said. "There are so many simple things we can do. It's about being kind and making things less taboo and unknown," Kilgas said. "We're people's neighbors or coworkers. We're all part of this community. So come celebrate with us." Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert. If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: NEW Pride Alive celebrates role of rural LGBTQ life at fairgrounds Alleging a widespread effort to manipulate property valuations by former President Donald Trump, three of his children, and their eponymous company, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday her office is suing them, seeking $250 million and an end to their operations in the state. James' office alleged in a 222-page complaint filed Wednesday that Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, as well as others who have served as company executives at the Trump Organization engaged in a yearslong scheme to enrich themselves by inflating the values of a wide swath of properties, stretching across his international real estate empire. "Claiming that you have money that you do not have does not amount to the art of the deal, it's the art of the steal," James said at a news conference Wednesday. She added that the investigation involved interviews with more than 65 witnesses. During the press conference, James said she was seeking to dissolve Trump's company, but later clarified that dissolution is not among the remedies being sought by her office. James' office is asking a judge to revoke the Trump Organization's business certificate, effectively barring it from doing business in New York. Her office is seeking to permanently bar Trump and his children named in the suit from serving as officer or director of any business entity in New York, including their family's company. It is also requesting a five-year ban on Trump and the company from acquiring real estate in New York or applying for loans from any New York-based company. In a statement to CBS News, Alina Habba, an attorney for Donald Trump, said "today's filing is neither focused on the facts nor the law rather, it is solely focused on advancing the Attorney General's political agenda." "It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General's Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place," Habba said. "We are confident that our judicial system will not stand for this unchecked abuse of authority, and we look forward to defending our client against each and every one of the Attorney General's meritless claims." Story continues The complaint accuses the company of more than 200 instances of false asset valuations. "The number of grossly inflated asset values is staggering, affecting most if not all of the real estate holdings in any given year," James' office wrote in the complaint. New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference regarding former US President Donald Trump and his family's financial fraud case on September 21, 2022 in New York. / Credit: YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images It alleged Trump and the company used "objectively false assumptions and blatantly improper methodologies with the intent and purpose of falsely and fraudulently inflating Mr. Trump's net worth to obtain beneficial financial terms from lenders and insurers." In one instance highlighted in the complaint, the state claims Trump's company said a dozen rent stabilized apartments in Trump Park Avenue were listed on corporate paperwork as being worth more than $49.5 million. In fact, the suit says, they had been appraised at a combined $750,000. In another example, the complaint says that a property in suburban New York known as "Seven Springs" was appraised by a bank at $25 million, and the next year $30 million. The complaint said Trump's company valued it as high as $291 million in financial paperwork. James' office launched its civil probe in 2019 after Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, testified to Congress, raising questions about whether the Trump Organization "had issued fraudulent financial statements," according to court filings related to the investigation. The initial focus of the investigation was on whether the Trump Organization inflated the valuations of assets while seeking loans and insurance coverage and deflated the value of other assets to reduce tax liability. It grew into a sweeping probe of dozens of Trump properties and years of Trump Organization finances. Investigators for James' office examined more than a million pages of documents, according to and issued subpoenas to dozens of current and former executives working for the Trump Organization and other companies with relationships to it. Ultimately, in August, Trump and two of his children Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. sat for depositions after a nearly yearlong fight. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and refused to answer hundreds of questions. The investigation played out as a "special proceeding," in which a New York judge presided over years of contentious disputes over subpoenas and other challenges in often public filings and hearings. The proceedings made public developments that might otherwise have remained confidential, such as a letter sent to the company in February by its longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, cutting ties with the Trump Organization and saying a decade's worth of its financial statements "should no longer be relied upon." In court, attorneys for James' office described an effort to untangle finances at properties from Los Angeles to Scotland. They repeatedly said their investigation was uncovering evidence that Trump and his company "fraudulently" valued multiple assets and "misrepresented" those values to financial institutions they partnered with. Attorneys for the Trump Organization decried the effort in hearings and filings as an unprecedented "fishing expedition." The company repeatedly tried to halt the investigation and shield the Trumps from depositions but they were rebuffed each time by New York courts that ruled the investigation and its subpoenas were legal. Trump and his company have repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing, calling it a "witch hunt" and "a political crusade." Attorneys for Trump did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The lawsuit comes as Trump and the company face mounting legal peril. The Trump Organization is being prosecuted in a criminal trial on Oct. 24 in Manhattan, where it will fight charges of fraud and tax evasion. The company has entered a not guilty plea in the case. Trump is at the center of at least two federal investigations a grand jury probe into his alleged role in the events leading up to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and a separate investigation into his handling of documents labeled "Top Secret" found at his home in Florida. He is also the focus of a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, which is investigating Trump's conduct after he lost the 2020 election. Trump, his children sued over alleged fraud scheme Ukraine's nuclear power plants under threat from Russian shelling Iranians see widespread internet blackout amid mass protests over woman's death The National Guard is expected to miss its recruiting goals by 9,000 members when the fiscal year ends next week, the chief of the National Guard bureau said Tuesday. The Army National Guard will miss its goal by 6,000, and the Air National Guard will be about 3,000 short, Gen. Dan Hokanson told reporters Tuesday. "[Recruiters] have told me pretty much unanimously, in every location I go, just how difficult the current recruiting challenges are that they're facing," Hokanson said. "For many of them, it's unprecedented in their time as a recruiter." Some of the obstacles Hokanson cited include competition from private companies and universities as well as the small pool of the population that qualifies to serve. According to Hokanson, only 23% of 18 to 24 year-olds meet the requirements to join the U.S. military. The U.S. Army National Guard members stand outside the Army National Guard office during training, Thursday, April 21, 2022 in Washington. / Credit: Mariam Zuhaib / AP In addition to its short falls this year, the Army National Guard expects it could discharge about 14,000 guardsmen over the next two years for refusing to take the COVID vaccine, according to Anson Smith, the deputy chief of the Army National Guard Strength Maintenance Division. Smith said the Army National Guard has not discharged any Guardsmen yet but anticipates a memo from the Secretary of the Army soon that will lay out how discharges will be handled. The Guard is exploring potential incentives to fix its recruiting woes going forward, including providing health insurance to all of its members. Guardsmen receive health care through the Defense Department when activated, but they have to rely on civilian providers when not in active-duty status. Hokanson said about 60,000 Guardsmen currently have no health coverage when they are not activated. "When you look at overall the fact that there is no health insurance provided by the National Guard for folks, and we ask them to be ready, really at a moment's notice we really need to make sure that they're medically and healthy and ready," Hokanson told reporters Tuesday. Story continues Some of the other potential incentives would include expanded educational benefits and bonuses for recruiters who bring in potential recruits who finish their military training. The Guard is not alone in its recruiting woes - the military service branches across the board, especially the Army, are facing challenges. A Senate Armed Services subcommittee is holding a hearing Wednesday with representatives from the other services on this issue. President Biden addresses migrant influx at U.S.-Mexico border Iran faces global criticism over woman's death while in police custody Trump legal team pushes back against Mar-a-Lago special master By Sabine Siebold CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo (Reuters) - NATO has brought in reserve troops assigned to its KFOR peacekeeping mission to Kosovo for training, one of the mission commanders said, as a deadline approaches in a spat between the Serbian minority and the government that may spark fresh unrest. KFOR's regional commander east, Colonel Christopher Samulski, told reporters the reserves had been brought in "as part of normal contingency planning." Samulski spoke at Camp Bondsteel, one of KFOR's bases. The U.S. officer did not give any concrete figures of how many reserve troops have arrived in Kosovo but spoke of a "battalion-size" unit. A battalion usually comprises between 500 and 1,000 troops. Protests by Kosovo Serbs in the summer over a requirement for them to use state-issued car number plates have increased friction between Kosovo and Serbia, more than two decades after NATO bombed Serbia to end repression of Kosovo's Albanian majority. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's independence, declared in 2008, and Serbs in northern Kosovo consider Belgrade, not Pristina, to be their capital. Around 3,700 NATO peacekeepers are still stationed in the former Serbian province to prevent violence between ethnic Albanians and Serbs. Roadblocks erected during the summer protests were only dismantled when NATO peacekeepers stepped in to oversee the process and Kosovo agreed to postpone the licensing rule, with a deadline now running out on Oct. 31. On Tuesday, KFOR's deputy commander said NATO could not rule out fresh tensions in the north as the deadline approaches, adding that NATO was ready to bring more troops to Kosovo should tensions among minority Serbs flare again. Samulski emphasized that the reserve troops had been brought in for training. "The First Fuseliers from the UK are here as the strategic reserve, which is a normal rehearsal of their entrance and integration in normal operations", Samulski said, referring to a British infantry unit. Story continues Beyond this, Samulski said KFOR could also draw on reserves outside Kosovo. "Additionally, there are other reserves that lie outside Kosovo that have different time frames in which they are expected to arrive here should KFOR request that they become available," he noted. "And those are available should we deem that they are required, based on the current situation on the ground", Samulski added. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi) Jens Stoltenberg We will remain calm and continue to support Ukraine, Stoltenberg said. Putin's speech demonstrates that the war is not going according to his plans. He has miscalculated a lot. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons is "dangerous and reckless rhetoric," Stoltenberg added. Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin announced on Sept. 21 a partial mobilization in Russia. Read also: Expert: How many Russians can be mobilized, and why most wont be combat-ready Shortly after, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that 300,000 reservists would be called up during the partial mobilization. He estimated the total mobilization resource of Russia to be almost 25 million people. Earlier, Kremlin-controlled authorities on the territory of the occupied Donbas announced the dates of sham referendums on accession to Russia. Representatives of militants in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraines Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts stated that the sham voting would take place Sept. 23-27. Kremlin-installed officials in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts also announced plans to also hold referendums on joining Russia on the same dates. Read also: White House taking Russias nuclear threats seriously, but not going to change plans The statements were made shortly after a rapid counter-offensive by the defenders of Ukraine: on Sept. 14, the Ministry of Defense reported that since Sept. 6 (in the space of one week), the Armed Forces had liberated 388 settlements and about 8,500 square kilometers in Kharkiv Oblast alone. Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrii Yermak said Russia's blackmail regarding the holding of sham referendums in the temporarily occupied territories was the product of the fear of defeat. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in other comments said that none of the pseudo-referendums that Russia is trying to organize in the occupied territories would help its position. Now in Russia, desertion, absence from service and voluntary surrender will be punished more severely. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Sixteen-month-old Kingston Jenkins had eaten some oatmeal and fallen asleep on a bed between his two babysitters when the women decided to watch a morning movie. Thats when Haley Godshall pulled a bag of fentanyl from her bra and passed the powerful synthetic opioid to her friend, Daisy Bare. Both women used the drug with Kingston still napping between them before they, too, drifted off. When they awoke, they noticed that something was seriously wrong with the little boy. That night, Kingston died at a nearby hospital. The cause: a lethal dose of fentanyl. Haley Godshall of Long View sheds tears as she listens to Assistant District Attorney Nancy Lee explain how 16-month-old Kingston Jenkins died, during a hearing at Catawba County Superior Court, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, in Newton, N.C. Godshall pleaded guilty on Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the 16-month-old boy. An autopsy listed fentanyl as the cause of death for the toddler. On Tuesday in a Catawba County courtroom, Godshall, 24, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Kingstons death. Superior Court Judge Karen Eady-Williams of Charlotte sentenced the Hickory-area woman to at least 33 months on the manslaughter charge and at least 20 additional months on additional drug- and larceny-related charges. In all, Godshall will serve between four and seven years. Bare is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24. According to the Hickory Daily Record, Godshall was close friends with the childs mother, Alexia Jenkins, and had called Jenkins on the morning of Nov. 7, 2021, to ask if she could keep Kingston for the day. But prosecutors say Godshall and Bare both smoked methamphetamine before they picked the boy up and drove him to Godshalls home in nearby Long View. I lost my son, but I also lost someone I trusted, a friend, someone I loved, Jenkins told the judge during Godshalls hearing, according to the newspaper. I wish things could have been more careful. I dont hate anyone. In this Aug. 9, 2016, file photo, a bag of 4-fluoro isobutyryl fentanyl which was seized in a drug raid is displayed at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Testing and Research Laboratory in Sterling, Va. Acting United States DEA administrator Chuck Rosenberg will visit China next week amid efforts to cut off the Chinese supply of deadly synthetic drugs, like fentanyl. China disputes U.S. claims that its the top source of opioids. Still, Beijing has already banned fentanyl, an opioid some 50 times stronger than heroin, and 18 related compounds. Fentanyl facts Fentanyl, which is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, was originally developed as a pain medication for cancer patients. Illegal dealers often pass it off as a powerful form of heroin, which leads to frequent overdose deaths, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. As little as 2 mg can be fatal. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 71,238 deaths nationwide from fentanyl overdoses, a 23% increase over the year before. Story continues In North Carolina, the figures remain equally grim. In 2020, for example, the state estimated that up to 70% of the states overdose deaths that year were linked to illicitly produced fentanyl. On Aug. 29, Iredell County deputies seized 1.4 pounds of fentanyl, an amount large enough to kill all of the countys 250,000 residents, authorities said at the time. A mystery remains How Kingston ingested the drug remains somewhat of a mystery. At Godshalls hearing, Eady-Williams asked Assistant District Attorney Nancy Lee if the level of fentanyl in the toddlers body was more than what he would have ingested from the air while Godshall and Bare passed the drug between themselves. Lee said it was, adding that it remained unclear whether Kingston had absorbed the lethal dose while the women slept. I have no doubt Miss Godshall loved the baby, wanted to care for the baby, Eady-Williams said during the hearing. But based on her addiction, the disease of addiction, (she) was not in the best position to care for anybodys child. I am grateful that the family has a forgiving heart ... The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has released its MBA Class of 2022 employment report Let MBA employment report season commence! And what better way to commence it than with a record-breaking report from a leading U.S. business school? The University of Michigan Ross School of Business released its jobs report today (September 20) and its a doozy, with five new school records, including massive jumps in median salary and median total pay: 99% of graduates received job offers three months after graduation, up from 97.5% in 2021 98.4% of graduates accepted jobs within three months of graduation, up from 96.1% Graduates landed a $165,000 median salary, up from $144,000 Graduates received a $192,270 median salary package, up from $171,450 42.2% of graduates went into consulting, up from 35.1% Ross MBAs were in so much demand that they had the offers pouring in even as they donned their caps and gowns last May, with 93.1% of the Class of 2022 receiving first job offers by graduation (up from 90.2%). That includes 93.2% of U.S. citizens and 92.9% of foreign nationals. ABOUT 60% OF ROSS CLASS OF 2022 MBAS WENT INTO CONSULTING OR TECH These record-setting results for acceptance rates, offers, and salaries reflect the exceptional quality of our students, the hands-on experiences they receive at Michigan Ross, and the depth of support and connections our Career Development Office provides them, says Heather Byrne, managing director of the Career Development Office at Michigan Ross. Which industries do Ross MBAs go to? Last year, Michigan Ross sent a combined 60% of its Class of 2021 MBAs into consulting (35.1%, down slightly from last year) and tech (24.9%, up slightly). The MBB firms McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group represented more than 50 hires between them, while Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Apple, and Dell accounted for nearly that many. Finance, meanwhile, saw renewed interest, with 15.5% of Ross MBAs going into that industry, up from just 11.9% in 2020. Story continues This year, consulting-bound Ross grads grew in number to more than 42% of the class, while tech slipped to 17.3%, for a combined total of just under 60%. Twenty-three percent of all graduates and 55% of consultant hires were made by the MBB firms of McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. The number of finance-bound grads stayed about the same at 15%. In total, 93% of the class were career switchers, about the same as last year. About one third of 2022 Ross grads found jobs in the Midwest (30.2%), mostly Chicago (18.9%), with another quarter heading to the East Coast, mostly the New York area (21.6%). The West is another big destination with about a quarter of grads going there, mostly San Francisco (10%). 'WE ARE DELIVERING' Michigan, which had one of the biggest salary increases of any top-25 B-school in 2021, now reports a median salary that one year ago would have topped the list of every business school in the United States. The Class of 2022s $165,000 base salary is a $21,000 increase over the Class of 2021, while the median salary package of $192,270 was also up nearly $21,000 versus the previous year. Ross graduates also received an average $30,000 signing bonus, reported by 91% of the class, matching last year's bonus average. As they do most years, consultants paced the class's pay but this year they had company. Consulting offered the highest median salaries at $165,000 in 2021, a number that ballooned to $175K this year but finance grads also reported a median base of $175K in 2022, and had the biggest bonuses median $47,500 to sweeten the deal. Finance grads also reported the highest high end of salary range, at $200K except for someone in "Other" who reported $215K. Ross's international grads kept pace with their domestic U.S. colleagues this year, with a median pay of $137K compared to U.S. citizens' median of $150K. See page 2 for more salary and placement details. Michigan Ross strives to equip our Full-Time MBA students with the skills, knowledge, and real-world experience they need to not only to be successful in their chosen post-graduation career paths, but also stand out to potential employers, says Brad Killaly, the Ross School's associate dean of full-time MBA programs. We believe this years tremendous employment results really demonstrate that we are delivering upon those important endeavors. See the next page for more data from the newly released Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2022 employment report, and see the full report here. The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan announced record pay and placement for the MBA Class of 2022 In 2021, McKinsey (26 hires) and Amazon (25) led the list of employers of Michigan Ross MBAs, with BCG (19), Deloitte (16), and EY-Parthenon (15) the others hiring in the double digits. This year